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Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=kgH_oNDMspQ

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All right, welcome everybody. Uh, today's Thursday, April 16th, and calling the meeting to order, we have Kevin O'Neal, Denise Luciano, uh, Bob Kimble, Roger Masan, and myself. Let's start with the

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pledge of allegiance. Go ahead to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

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>> Okay. First order of business is select board reorganization. Uh, I'd like to uh congratulate Denise in her successful reelection. So, thank you. >> You're welcome, Mr. Town Manager. Um, so

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as tradition has it, I chair this part of the meeting and it's my pleasure to help the select board reorganize as they do after every April election. Um, so, um, I'd be happy to entertain a motion.

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>> Mr. the town manager or Mr. Chair. I'd like to make a motion to nominate Roger Masan as chairman. >> Second. >> Second. >> Um motion by Mr. Rich, second by who? Who was the second? >> We were motion >> Mr. O'Neal.

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>> Mr. O'Neal. I think everyone was seconding that which is a good sign. Um any discussion? If if not, all in favor? >> I opposed. looks to be unanimous. With that, u I'll turn the table over to

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Chair Marson. Congratulations. Thank you. Um and I'd uh like to thank the board for u their faith in my ability. Um I would uh entertain a motion for vice chair. >> I'd like to nominate myself for vice

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chair. We'll >> second. Chairman, >> I'd like to nominate uh Mr. Rich for vice chair. >> Second. So, we I believe we have uh two people that are nominated. Um

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I didn't hear the first one. I'm sorry. >> Me? >> Oh, you. Okay. Um >> can I pen, please? >> So, all those in favor of uh Miss Luchiano as vice chair, >> I say I >> I. >> All those opposed? >> No.

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>> No. No. >> All those in favor of Mr. Rich as vice chair. >> I >> I >> I. >> All those opposed? >> I congratulations to Mr. Rich as vice chair.

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I would uh like to make a motion uh for Bob Kimble to be uh clerk. >> Second. >> Motion and a second. Any discussion? Um Mr. Chair, I'd like to make a motion for Denise Luchiano as chair.

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says clerk. Clerk, I'm sorry, clerk. >> A second. >> Any further discussion? >> All those in favor of Mr. Kimble as clerk, say I. >> I. >> I. >> All those opposed >> I.

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>> I. >> All those in favor of Miss Luchiano as clerk, >> I >> I. >> All those opposed? I >> I >> I >> congratulations to Mr. Kimble. Uh as clerk

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now that the board is uh reorganized, we'll move forward with the meeting. >> Um we have proclamations, resolutions, and citations. Um Miss Luchiano, I think you miss Mr. Chair, we have Representative Howitt with a

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proclamation from the state. Okay, Mr. How it >> is the one? >> Okay. >> One is not in here. >> We have congratulations to the new uh officers of the select board.

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Uh now, as you know, Norton does have a board of selectmen, but they also have an unofficial mayor. And the unofficial mayor is sitting right here. >> And I understand you just recently turned 40. >> 40. That's great.

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>> That's amazing. >> That's right. 40 years old. >> So my colleague Michael Chasen, Rep. Chasing was unavailable tonight and so I'm here representing the two of us and we have something special for you. >> What is it?

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>> I I don't know. Do you have room on your wall to put this? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. I just wanted to make sure cuz if you didn't, I wasn't going to give it to you. >> Okay. Well, what this says is the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the House of Representatives, be it hereby known to all that the Massachusetts House of

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Representatives offers its sincerest congratulations to Peter. Is it J or F? I can't read these. J. Okay. Wiggins, honorary mayor of Norton, in recognition of the celebration of your 40th birthday. The entire membership extends his very best wishes and expresses the

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hope for future good fortune. Where you going? for future good fortune. >> Yes. Good for good fortunes and continued success in all endeavors. Given this 12th day of April, that was your birthday. >> At my birthday, 226.

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>> Yep. Okay. At the state house, Boston, Massachusetts by Ronald Mariano, Speaker of the House, and by State Representative Michael Chasen, and offered by State Representative Steven S. Howitt. Congratulations. >> Thank you. Thank you.

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WAIT a minute. >> Just uh right here. >> Thank you. Yeah, >> there you go. >> Yeah. Where's your camera? >> Just say where you were looking before you.

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>> Okay. All right, I'm good. >> Unlock it. >> I didn't get one. Unlock. >> Unlock it. >> Yeah, from the side. I can do it. I don't need your fingerprint. >> Happy birthday. Good job. Thank you.

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>> Come. Come in a little bit. Okay. There we go. >> Got it. >> Yeah. Thank you very much. 50 going to be at 40 and I continue to be your mayor of Norton for a long time.

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I'm a proud sport of everything that Norton has to offer tonight. Love it people and it citizen. >> Thank you Peter. >> This is the library. >> Oh, excellent. >> Library. >> Well, I guess they took care of that.

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>> All set. Check it. >> Okay. Okay, if that works. >> Sure. Whenever you want. >> Go ahead. >> Okay. The uh librarian Amanda. >> I know. I know. This is the fun stuff

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though. So um you had contacted our uh representative Chasins in my office about a resolution. Now a resolution as you know goes through the legislative process and it becomes permanent record

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within the record of the state house. So we did this resolution commending the Norton Public Library and we hope you frame this and put it up. I will. >> Okay. I just wanted to make sure. Oh yeah. >> So excuse me. The Massachusetts House of

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Representatives resolutions commending the Norton Public Library during the 2026 National Library Week. We have a few of these whereas, so just bear with me. Uh whereas the Norton Public Library in the town of Norton will celebrate

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April 19th through April 25th, 2026 as National Library Week. And whereas libraries spark creativity, fuel, fuel imagination, and inspire lifelong learning, offering a space where all individuals, regardless of background, can find joy through exploration and

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discovery. And whereas libraries serve as vibrant community hubs, connecting people with knowledge, technology, and resources while fostering civic engagement, critical thinking, and cultural enrichment. And whereas libraries partner with schools, businesses, and organizations to maxi

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max maximize resources, increase efficiency, and expand access to essential services, strengthening the entire community, and libraries nurture young minds through story time, STEM programs, and literary initiatives, fostering curiosity, and a love of

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learning that lasts a lifetime. And whereas libraries protect the right to read, think, and explore without censorship, standing as champions of intellectual freedom and free expression. Therefore, it is resolved that the Massachusetts House of Representative hereby commends the

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Norton Public Library during the week of April 19th through the 25th, 2026 in celebrating National Library Week, encouraging all residents to visit the Norton Public Library. Explore its resources and celebrate all the ways that the library helps our community

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find joy. And be it further resolved that a copy of these resolutions be forwarded by the clerk of the House of Representatives to the Norton Public Library. Uh adopted by the House of Representatives, April 13, 2026. Ronald Mariano, Speaker of the House, Tim Cah

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Hills, Clerk of the of the House, and offered by Steven S. Howitt and Mark Chason, your state representatives. Congratulations. >> Thank you so much. And we're also delivering our library, our beloved library director, a similar proclamation from the town manager and

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the select board that says the same thing. >> Thank you for reading. >> Oh, it was difficult. >> Got me off the hook. >> Get in a little bit closer. >> There we go.

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Great. >> Thank you. Thank you all. Congratulations. I appreciate it. Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Feel proud of me. >> Glad you could make it. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> We have some information for you on the gasoline thing. I I'll I'll send it to you later.

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>> Okay. We filed it as a amendment uh to the budget. >> Yeah. Ends up being like >> Oh, that's okay. Great. >> Thank you. Mr. Town Manager, Mr. Chair, I believe we have another uh resolution.

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Uh we do. I have the the language here. If whoever you would like to read that resolution, >> Mr. Chairman, >> you have a copy. >> We have it. >> Or or should I You want Let's explain what it is first. Introduce it. Sure.

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Um, so many uh towns and cities are recognizing the duty of government to be transparent to its residents and that starts with all levels of government, federal, state, and local. And we're rightly considered um justified in

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considering where our our tax money goes, that the people we elect to represent us are in fact doing a a good job. So in 2024, November 5th, the state election, Massachusetts resoundingly

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72% declared that we would like the leg the legislature to be audited and people in Norton even more resoundingly supported that by 74%. Uh rarely do you see such a a resounding

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message to to the state from everyday residents. So, we've had numerous requests by residents to put this on the agenda. And uh that's what we're doing tonight to to determine um if if they would like to speak and um

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uh take a take a stance, maybe tell the the state legislators how we feel on the issue. Um so, the before the board is a potential proclamation and letters that would go to the legislative delegation, Rep. Howitt that was here, Rep. Chason,

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Senator Feny, the state auditor, Diana Daglio, and the governor Mora Healey. >> Mr. Chairman, couple things. First, the I I asked the town clerk today what the actual vote was in Newton. There were uh 10,723

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registered voters voted on question number one. 7 7,393 were yes, 2,638 were no and 692 were blanks. So, it kind of gives you a general idea where the

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74% came from. There is a letter to the select board uh indicating that on November 5th, 2024, the state election was across America for across Massachusetts. approved question one by a strong margin of 72% statewide. This

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measure clarified by the that the state auditor has the authority to audit the legislature. Milton voters were even more decisive 74% locally reflecting the community strong support of transparency and accountability in state government. Despite the claim mandate, subsequent

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efforts have been made to limit or challenge the auditor's ability to conduct such audits. The purpose of the resolution urges the Massachusetts legislation only attorney general and governor to honor the will of the voters by permitting question one to be fully executed as intended. And it is a

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recommended that the Norton select board adopt the attached resolution and formally transmit it to the state legislature, the attorney general, the governor and the state audit. I'll read the resolation. Resolution signed by the board. It's a resolution

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urging Massachusetts legislature to honor the vote of the con constituents on question number one. Whereas there was a presidential and state election held on Tuesday, November 5th, 2024. And whereas in the above mentioned election, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts had five referendum

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questions on the ballot. hand. Whereas referendum question number one on the ballot asked whether the state audit should have the authority to audit the legislature. And whereas question one passed in the Commonwealth was 72% approval statewide. And whereas in the

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town of Milton the the question carried at 74% locally and whereas despite the coin mandate there has been continued attempt to learn to challenge audited the Aago's office in conducting a full audit in the legislature as intended by

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question one. And now therefore, be it resolved that the Norton Select Board urges the Commonwealth House elected officials in the House of Representatives in the state house along with the attorney general and governor's office to allow question one to be executed fully as a vote is intended.

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Adopted on this uh by the Norton Board of Selectman on 16th day of April, 2026. >> Thank you. And um Mr. town manager, you'll make sure that that uh letter gets sent out to the appropriate parties. >> Um I I will, Mr. Chair, if that's the

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the will of the board, >> please. I think all five of our signatures are on the resolution. >> Okay. Okay. Appointments, resignations, and retirements. Um, I think we're just going to put one in here right at the beginning so that uh we can make an

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introduction. And uh uh yes, Mr. Chair, I'm pleased to introduce the board to our newest uh member who actually starts on the 29th but is already appointed. Um, so we're not asking for a vote, just introducing

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the board to um, Miss Lindseay Graasso, who is currently serving as treasurer collector in another community. And we're very fortunate uh, to to find her after multi-round interview process um,

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with many qualified applicants. U, Miss Grasso rose right to the top. her experience in leadership roles in another community as well as the Plymouth County Treasurers Association, the Massachusetts Strategic Health Group, and just her clear understanding,

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her knowledge, just just talking with her. She's a municipal finance expert. She gets it and will position our community for a strong financial position for years to come. Um, so maybe Miss Graasso could just just introduce

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yourself briefly if that's okay. >> Thank you for having me this evening. Um, my name is Lindsay Graasso. Like he said, I've been a treasure collector for close to seven years for another community. Um, in my accomplishments, I've been the president of Plymouth County Treasures Association as well as

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um served on the board of a master strategic health group. Um, some of my other accolades, um, I've implemented new systems for the town. I've cleaned up cash and accounts receivable. um and you know, keep going. I oversee um another department as well. So, I'm

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it's a pleasure to to be here and I look forward to working for the town of Doran in the community. >> Well, thank you, Lindsay. Does anybody have any questions for Lindsay? >> No. Well, we can't wait for you to get started.

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>> Thank you. I can't wait. Look forward to it. Thank you. >> Welcome to >> Thank you. It's very nice to meet you and happy birthday. You want another picture? Sure. Go >> on. Picture day today. >> It's picture day.

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>> Guys, we don't usually have this many pictures, but we're so excited. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Right here in a minute. Right over here like you belong. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Welcome. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good luck. >> Congratulations. >> I didn't meet you both at the meeting.

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Glad to have you. Nice to meet you. >> Nice to meet you. There's a little more of that. >> So, uh, Miss Graasso's, uh, first or second day will be, uh, helping us host a, uh,

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Hicks meeting. So, >> yeah, >> she'll be wellversed in how the Hicks fund works by then. Okay, Mr. Town Manager. Mr. Chair, uh, next up we have, uh, some

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appointments. Um, so I understand uh Miss Luchiano uh served uh very diligently on the serpent board and we'd like to thank her for the for keeping me updated and um for keeping tabs on all the

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transportation initiatives and um all the great programs that Serpent has and she's asked to um to step down and we have uh Justin Czecha who's interested our DPW director. So, it would be fitting in

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to have our DPW director plugged into the the local transportation and community group there. So, I would put him forward for the board's consideration to be appointed as a commissioner of Serpent. I'm and he's very familiar with SERPED. Um, if you'd

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like him to speak to it, I'm I'm sure he can share his interest in the position. >> Mr. Chair, >> if Mr. Rich, >> if if I may, I'd like to make a motion to appoint Justin Cher as the commissioner of Serpentid. Uh standing

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appointment uh as a commissioner of Serpent. >> Second. >> Uh motion and a second. Is there uh any further discussion? Seeing none, no questions from Mr. Trick. All those in favor? >> I I >> I >> opposed.

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Congratulations. >> Just want to double check. Justin has a meeting next week. Are you going? All right. >> Awesome. >> Uh, Mr. Chair, next next up we have another appointment of Mr. Chika before the board as commissioner of MFN. And

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we'd like to thank myself for serving as a commissioner, >> but I will defer to Mr. Chickasantly served. >> I'll I'll stay plugged in. It's it's it's Lee who was Mansfield's DPW director who runs MFN and he does a

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great job. Um and it's a it's actually a part-time job for him. Um but he he runs it well and I have all the confidence that Mr. Czecha can add to it and we're doing big things with regional groups which are the future. Um we got SEMR in

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full swing and MFN and just being a part of these regional groups strengthens all the towns. It dilutes the cost and helps the efficiency. >> Mr. Chairman, >> Mr. Campbell, >> I'll make a motion to um appoint Dustin

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Chica as a commissioner of MFN standing appointment. FN by the way, FF MFN is Mansfield, Fox, Norton, and it's our waste wastewater treatment facility. Just so people understand that. >> Second. >> Motion and a second. Any discussion?

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Um I just got a question for you. Uh, Mr. Tricker, >> Mr. Chair, >> do they have uh So, I'm assuming there's regular meetings that you'll be attending. >> Monthly meetings. >> Monthly meetings. All right. If you could uh keep us up to date in what's going on with those just uh

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>> Absolutely. As you you probably are tuned in right now, uh sludge removal is our biggest concern over at MFN. So, um it was also a concern of mine in my past position. So, uh, I'm look forward to working with Lee and the, uh, commission

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to come up with a long-standing resolution for that. >> Thank you. There's a motion in a second. Seeing no further discussion, all those in favor? >> I >> I >> Congratulations. Thank you.

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>> In your free time, go to the MFN. >> Next up, Mr. chair, we have um the GATRA advisory board. Um so I was looking at the general law. So the general law is chapter 161B section 5 and it actually uh makes the chair of the board the

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advisory board member, but the board is free to designate anyone they they choose. So we would put forward Mr. Kevin O'Neal as the Gatra uh design of the board uh term ending April 30th, 2028. Mr. Chairman, >> Mr. Kimble,

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>> I make a motion to appoint Kevin O'Neal as the Gatra Advisory Board member and designate with a term expending April 30th, April 30th, 2028. >> Second motion and second. Any discussion? >> Just one question. Is that okay with you, Kevin?

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>> As long as I can rely on Peter as my my adviser locally, I don't think I don't think anyone's going to have regional advisor as much as uh with the insight like Peter does with Yatra. Absolutely. Wait, cuz I know very well. >> You do, Pete. >> You do. >> Uh, there's a motion and a second. Any

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further discussion? >> Seeing none, all those in favor? >> I I >> Mr. Chairman, did get an email from Serpent about an appointee and a designate to the joint transportation planning group. Mr. Town Manager, I guess we have to do that um probably at

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our next meeting. That's yet one more group that we uh I believe maybe uh >> Jared might be the >> that's another one for Serpentid. You said >> JTPG. Yeah, >> our last appointee was Ralph.

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>> Okay, that was Ralph, wasn't it? >> Just want to come up. >> Yeah, we can do that the next meeting. One second. >> Mr. Tricker. >> JTBG. JTPG is part of SURPED's uh organization and it's it's generally speaking it's the um the organization

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that brings the tip projects forward votes on whether to move them forward and then it moves up to the SER head commission uh before Mass approves them. So uh it would be Jared would be I think he's a designated appointee right now but it would make sense to make him the um standing appointee.

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Sh we have time on this. I just I just wanted to bring it to our attention while we're looking at the other stuff. Okay. >> Pass that down to the towel manager. An application. >> Okay. Yes, we received the same notice. Happy to put that on for the next meeting.

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>> Thank you. >> Um if I may, uh next up is recognition of service. So, I'd like to personally thank our longstanding uh planner, economic director, who's given many years of service to the

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people of Norton, and his work has supported the the planning board, the zoning board, done a lot of work on the bylaws, long range planning, zoning initiatives, um redevelopment opportunities,

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um been part of the the blue our development and he's uh truly given a lot to this town and um thank you Paul and I believe the board has a citation as well.

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>> I don't know if I have it. >> Yeah. >> One more page I think. >> Got it. >> Yeah. Before I read this, by the way, Paul, I want to thank you for all you've done over the years. Uh, one committee we didn't bring up was the joint

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transportation committee and the u any traffic safety committee which was your idea that was formed a few years ago. So, u we thank you for helping us with that project also. Um in recognition of service the Paul

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DJeppy director for planning and zoning and econom economic development whereas follow DJeppy has served the town of Norton as director of planning zoning and economic development providing leadership and professional expertise in guiding the towns planning and

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development efforts. And whereas during his tenure, he supported the work of the planning board, zoning board of appeals, and the economic development initiatives, helping to advance key projects and long range planning efforts that contribute to the town's future.

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And whereas his work has supported important initiatives including the advancements of the Norton master plan, village center planning efforts, zoning implement implementation, implementation and economic development opportunities that will benefit the community for

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years to come. And whereas the service reflects a commitment to the public administration and the continued growth and development of the town of Norton. Now therefore, be it resolved that the Norton Select Boards hereby expresses its appreciation of Paul D. Jazepping

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for his service to the town and extends its best wishes for continued success in the future endeavors. This was adopted on the 16th day of April, 2026. >> Come on up. >> All right. One one more picture, guys. >> YEAH.

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We need a photo. >> Sorry to see you go, Paul. >> You got it. Congratulations. >> Thank you. It's been a pleasure, Paul. Good luck. >> Good. Take care. >> Good luck. Take care. >> Thank you. >> Paul.

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>> Paul, before you take off But wait, there's more. >> I I wanted to add to your list of accomplishments. A lot of people don't realize that you also taped and recorded and interviewed many um business profiles around town. And anybody who has watched any of them on

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on the Norton YouTube channel, they're great. They're insightful. I'm sure they helped with uh promoting the business and gaining, you know, um sales and business for those businesses, if not just recognition. So, I want to mention that because I we want to forget about it, but I was on the planning board uh

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for a while and Paul um is a great gentleman. He he always uh listened, took feedback, advice, even years after I was on the planning board. I would stop into his office and be very congenial and allow me to share my

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opinions even though I don't, you know, I shouldn't have one anymore because I don't serve in that role. Um but we're truly gonna miss you, Paul. I know you've moved around into different positions. I hope that you that you're settling into something that you really like long term because you're a professional and you deserve that uh

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longevity. So, good luck. >> Good luck both. >> Well said, Mr. Mr. Chair. Uh we do have well we have a license and permit next. >> Mhm. Um, so this is a one-day liquor

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license to go go along with our sip and stroll event for May 16th. And who's the applicant? Are they here? This is I know it says William Fuller, but I don't know who that is.

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The bartending service of New England is the usual vendor that the the sip and stroll uses and I believe they're partnering with uh Bog Iron. Okay. So, it's just one request for a one-day license. They don't like to have

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more than one vendor because that could create liability not knowing who's serving who. >> Generous. So, it makes a lot of sense just to have one one-day license for the bartending service of New England. As you'll notice, all the departments have

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signed off respectfully uh respectively. Um, and there's a certificate of insurance as well. Mr. Chairman, Mr. Kindle, >> are there any police details for this or

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I don't see anything on the application that says that they're pointing number expected attendees for 4,000 people. Um I just don't see anything that's uh mentioning anything about details of any sort. >> So I understand that was negotiated

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directly with the police chief between the the vendor and him. Um he is in warmer climates this week. Um, so I was unable to speak with him extensively, but but he did sign off on the application that he was satisfied that the appropriate number, whatever that

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number is, we can get back to you on exactly how many details. I think Nema also is willing to pitch in. And frankly, all the departments are working with us. The library is closing early that day to create more parking and uh

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vendor space. the highways moving their vehicles, so they'll be parking out back. Um, it's going to be a great event. May 16th, put it on your calendar. >> Yeah. Won't be there. >> You'll be there. >> Any other questions?

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>> Chairman, I make a motion to approve a one-day record license for May 16th with bartending services of New England located at 31 Vine Street, Mboro, Massachusetts. >> Second. Motion and a second. Any further discussion?

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Seeing none, all those in favor? >> I >> I >> uh Let's take a roll call for that. Uh Mr. O'Neal, >> yes. >> Miss Luchiano, >> yes. >> Mr. Kimble, >> yes. >> Mr. Rich, >> yes. >> And I am a yes. Announcements.

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>> I have one I think up again. Just another reminder, the uh the United States is celebrating its 250th anniversary this year and we want to remind everyone that Memorial Day will be kicking off the 250th anniversary here in Notton. We're asking to be a part of the community parade. Uh

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we are seeking participants from the community groups, local businesses, high school bands, pipe bands, civic groups, anyone who wants to celebrate America. Your interest in participating, you can contact Gary Cameron at the BFW. His phone number is 508-265442. I think that's all I have.

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>> I have one I'd just like to bring up. I would just like to uh thank the uh the clerk's office, all of the uh pole workers, uh Nema, and um the police department, and everybody that was involved in uh putting together and u

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pulling off a uh well-run election, um which had a couple of glitches in it. we were running another event at the same time. So, that was a little bit of a challenge, but um I think that the clerk's office and the pole workers and NEMA did a great job. So, I'd just like to thank them.

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>> Mr. Chair, Mr. Rich, if I may add another announcement that we didn't have uh actually uh written out, but I'd like to make it through you uh a standing announcement until the date of the event. We have the Norton Veterans

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Council uh carnival coming up June 25th through 28th. Um you know Thursday through a Sunday and part of that we also have founders day on Saturday the 27th. So uh just want to make everybody aware of that as well.

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>> Thank you Mr. Chair. >> U Mr. Chair if I may. Um, so the next one may take a bit of time. So, if I could take uh propose one to be taken out of order. Um, so we're going to be discussing warrant articles. And we have

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a a gentleman here from for warrant article 25 if that's if that's okay to take that one out of order. >> Okay. Um, so you have any problem with that? No. >> Uh, I don't see any draft warrant articles.

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It's What page is that, Christie? Do we have a page? >> I saw it in there. Page 32. >> Yeah, that's just the list, >> right? >> It is. Yep.

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Um Yeah. So, we won't have the the draft article for um until like the the 1st of May, but we'd like to have the board weigh in on um whether or not I mean, it's it's a straightforward thing.

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Either we uh support uh well, let me let me explain it and and see if it makes sense. So essentially what this is is there's a storm water issue on South Worester Street, 44 South Worcester Street. And if you look at the

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the topography, I think there's a video we might be able to bring up. Bassam, are you the eye in the sky? So the way the topography on the street works is 10 houses in either direction approximately. the storm water flows to

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a catch basin which has perennially overflowed every year and it's it's caused a river to flow on private property. So, normally I I wouldn't bring something like this forward, but this is a very unique circumstance. In fact, the resident has been trying to

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seek redress since um 2017 2019. the previous town manager um took an easement in their front yard, dug a pole, pulled put installed a culvert and still hasn't fixed the problem. So, this would be the the next level. And I

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understand there are varying opinions about what needs to happen. What is before you is piping it to the golf course as has been done on the other side of the yard. So, the price would be $100,000 authorization. and hopefully it wouldn't

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cost that much uh but just to be safe so we wouldn't come back and that would solve the the overflowing. And I understand the resident uh with the chair's permission would like to say a few words and our DPW directors here

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also for um for questions if we have any. Uh which which video would you like us to play first? >> Come on up. I'm sorry I didn't get Would you just let us know your name? My name is Trevor McFerson. This is my wife Christine. >> Hi.

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>> Um, we'd like to start with the first video and the second video. They're they go together and then the fourth video if we could. >> Hopefully the sound works too. This >> be a good test. >> It doesn't really need sound. Bass,

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>> we still have the uh email up. I don't know if it's on a different screen, but So, this would be the first video that we captured uh in 2019. That's that would be our sideyard. >> We bought the house in 2018.

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>> It happened a couple times previous to this, but we weren't >> Bass. Make the video bigger. So you can see the road is is full of water and once the drain can't keep up with it, it just overflows >> into into our sideyard

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>> and then into our house. It comes in the back door. >> Well, the next video will be the backyard when this happened. If we could show the second video. Thank you. So, this is at our back door. Um, the water goes to the golf course no

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matter what. We're just asking that it doesn't go through our yard to get there. >> And this this isn't like a hurricane or a really crazy storm. This this has happened dozens and dozens of times. Um, we started reaching out in 2019

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and then I think around 2024 was when we finally Oh, I'm sorry. We started reaching out in 2019. Um, and then finally got a little bit of traction. 2024ish. We've got like a timeline and all the emails and whatnot

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and tons of videos. So, they did eventually come out and do something. So that's the that that would be the fourth video if we could show you. They came and they put the retention >> trench >> trench in. Um and

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it it didn't it didn't solve the problem. Um it made it more frequent because in the video if you if you want to play video number four, you'll see that the ponding issue on the road is gone because it just automatically fills

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up the trench now. So the the road was our saving grace before because it would hold an absorbent amount of water and now it holds no water. It just comes into the trench that they made and the trench overflows and then it does the same thing to the yard. So if we could

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show four >> video four, >> you'll see how quickly it fills up. >> The video is a total of five minutes and it's not time lapse. Um, so if we could Bassam just like skip forward every 30 seconds and not show the full full five minutes.

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>> Yeah, we could you could go a minute. >> That's the trench that they put in our front yard. >> The we gave up the easement. We got a lawyer. They we we were desperate, so we had this installed. >> The the town this was their solution. Um,

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>> you could fast forward to minute four if you want to. And there's, you can see there's no water ponding on the road anymore. And that's when it starts overflowing and it just >> and then it's even worse now because we

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get all the trash and the chemicals and everything else from the road >> Gavin >> flows through our front yard to the side out the back and we have to clean up after every storm. >> And this is just this is not a

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seven-year storm. This is a Wednesday storm of any >> any given rainstorm. um this happens now. >> We've had to put an alarm um in our basement so if it happens in the middle of the night when the water starts coming in, it wakes us up and we run

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down and with a a shop back start >> getting the water out and putting it in the washing machine cuz it comes in the back door >> 3:00 in the morning. >> We can't open the back door. >> It's it's literally 8 in on the back door. I I screw a 2x12 to try and slow it down just so we could keep up with

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the vacuum and it'll be 3 in the morning, 4 in the morning. I mean, four times a year. It's just >> So, the solution didn't work. It kind of made it worse at this point. >> So, I've done we've spent thousands of

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dollars on the on the driveway grading the other side of the house. Um, I've ran 6 inch pipe. I've done everything I could residentially to to try and deal with this, but it's beyond scope for I can't do anything to keep up with that.

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>> So, >> Mr. Chairman, >> Mr. Kimble, >> just just to clarity, um Mark, so this drain was not in the street at some point. Was how long has this drain been in the street? >> The covert was in the street. I

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I'd only be guessing at least a couple decades. >> Okay. So, it it's been in the street quite a while. Unfortunately, you took me down there one day, so I know what we're talking about. So, the land behind that is the

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golf course. The golf course has no standing. And as far as us moving water from the street, >> we would need an easement if if we want to run the the drain pipe to their property. Do we get did we get

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an easement on the property itself before we >> have an easement on the property itself? What we would also ask the property owner is for a waiver that we won't they won't come back and you know sue the the town for trying to help them or

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ask for anything additional after we do this if we do this. And there is a drain pipe on the other side of their yard that already goes to the golf course. Uh there's probably two or three drain pipes from the neighborhood that I noticed on the golf course on that side

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and it's just nowhere near the green. So only guys like me would hit balls on that side. >> I agree with you on that one. So the um so just I'm clear looking for up to $100,000 to correct this issue. Would that involve

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new pipes and all that kind of stuff to get it beong their property? Would that be what the plan would be? Yes, sir. So, this would include design and construction up to a maximum of 100. Hopefully, could be done for far less.

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>> Yeah. I mean, I I applaud you for your calm demeanor. I I probably would have a different uh state of mind myself uh on this matter, but I think it's important that we actually do have to fix something that we we probably started years ago. Unfortunately, you guys

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inherited in what 2018 19? >> 2018. >> Yeah. when you came on board. So, um, as long as we can get the easement through the back and get it onto the golf course, I mean, I think that's probably the most, uh, logical solution to the problem and it looks like we should do

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it sooner than later. So, um, >> I think it's important that we, uh, we probably act on this. >> Um, Mr. Tricker, could you come up and answer a couple of questions? I understand that this is uh kind of uh

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>> this is you're new to the job and this is just >> for the record. I didn't do this. >> You just inherited this like like they inherited it, but um >> could you give us um your perspective on this whole situation? I'm sure you've looked into it. Yeah, from what I know

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of, again, I think the the previous town manager had been approached and he had asked the highway superintendent to to look into this and see what we could do to alleviate this problem. I think at that time the highway superintendent met with uh Mr. Travis and I'm sorry, the

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>> Trevor and Christina, I'm sorry. um and kind of talk through getting the easement and putting this retention pond there as as a first first effort. Um um they're at the bottom of of the storm water system. Um you know, it's a it's

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it's a result of us building homes everywhere. Um not not their fault, just the way life is. Um I think the retention pond went in and I and um to my knowledge at times it still

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overflows. It it raises up above that retention pond and comes over. Now the highway superintendent recommends the next phase be to uh build a a burm a little bit to their side of the of the detention pond. But I also understand

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that the the homeowners have to now look at this detention pond that that they didn't have to look at years ago. So, um I think there there might be an option as to building a burm. I think there's an option of um of naturally making the

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water flow towards the golf course rather than digging up the property, running a line, getting the easement, so so on and so forth. But I I do think that would be our last ditch effort. So, um as I mentioned last night at the

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finance committee meeting, um I'm new to it. I'd like to to have a little time before I I give you my honest opinion on what the next step forward is. Um I was asked to to get a a a quote on what it would cost to run the line to the golf course. Again, provided that they give

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us that easement and the $100,000 uh estimate was what they came up with for design. But I also like the opportunity for us to um to do a few things before we do that. So, um I guess if you ask me my recommendation, it would be to maybe allow the

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appropriation to go forward. Um so that we can move on to the next step and if the next step doesn't work, we don't have to come back and ask for a third step. Um that would be my recommendation. >> Mr. Questions, >> Mr. Chair. Um

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>> Justin, I I don't even know where to begin this. There's a lot of questions that I have. Um the biggest biggest things would be you know what what changed you know what what transpired that would have caused

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any of this water flow to change and you know water you just can't shed it >> one place or another cuz it affects someone else detrimentally >> was it happening previously to them owning the house? I obviously don't know if >> so maybe if you can do a little bit of background and find out what has changed

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cuz we can't go through this and fix it twice and it's still not worked. >> Correct. So, >> I'm more concerned about why it's getting there rather than what to do with it. >> Well, yeah. Where where's the source? What what's going on? And and we can't make someone else someone, you know, someone's problem somebody

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else's problem. Agreed. >> Is there certainty that the golf course would be amendable to this? >> Uh we've reached out. They gave us an easement, I guess, originally for the other side of the house. I don't know if that was prior to you living there or >> Okay. So, at one point they did give us

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an easement which these catch basins all kind of connect. Um, so they did give us one at one time, but I've also understand there's new owners there. Um, I don't know. >> We've reached out and they haven't returned the call yet. >> Okay, gotcha. So there's that

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possibility, you know, and with that, we need a plan B for more permanent fixed if there's more volume needed underground in between the catch basins, which I know you know that. >> Y >> um you know what if it was working before and all of a sudden it doesn't,

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you know, do the catch basins need to be redone? Is is there a >> is there a biomat around the >> Sure. you know, the the the leeching area, the leeching stone. >> And I think that's part of the next step forward would be to investigate. And I don't know what investigations were done

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prior to maybe the homeowners do. Did they go upstream? Did they figure out why is this water coming down there in the first place? Where else could we put it besides just sending it out to the golf course or or anywhere out there? >> Yeah. No, that's I just want to make sure that, you know, we don't act

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hastily. I mean, we recognize the problem, you know, 100%, but we can't make someone's problem somebody else's, number one. And number two, >> we don't want to have this be a perpetual type of thing. You know, more more permanence to it.

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>> Y >> uh because we don't want to fix it twice and >> still have a problem. Yeah. You know, or any of your neighbors for that matter. Uh so that's all that's my Mr. Chairman >> input, >> Mr. Kimble. >> Yeah. And you know you you came on after after we we had to address Barl's court.

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Another same >> very much aware of that and yes same type of situation. >> So you have to keep an open mind on other alternatives because it appears that what we actually did there may be working which is a good thing. Uh we were talking about hundreds of thousands

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of dollars to repair that. And what they found was these massive roots inside in a pipe that had been destroyed along the way and were able to dig it up, replace a section of pipe, and it seems to be working. >> Understood. >> So, you know, to your point, you may have to look at a bunch of different

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options. Obviously, we got to fix it, but we got to figure out a way to do it. And if the golf course is probably my my number one concern would be the golf course, if they say we're not putting any water on my property, then we're going to have to definitely look at other options. But I I appreciate the

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fact that you want to look at different ways of doing it because sometimes we throw money at something and then suddenly after we spent tons of money, it still doesn't work. So there may be some other solutions you might be able to come up with and I encourage you to

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do that. >> Agreed. Thank you. >> Sure. Um, so the town did come out and they opened they actually um realized there was a manhole under our driveway that was covered. So they dug up our

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driveway, found the manhole, looked in and to see if it was what you're talking about and then fed a camera down it and >> it was uh Keith Silver was the was the original person I was working with. Um they did they came out they dug up the

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driveway the the uh the pipe that goes to the retention pond in the golf course goes right down my driveway underneath under my shed. There's a uh a drywall right behind my shed on the golf course and then it goes straight to the

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retention pond on the golf course. They snaked it. They climbed down in it. They they did that. That was the first step and you know >> and it didn't >> and we're here. So unless unless and that's the first thing we should check

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for is the roots destroying the pipe. I just want to save some time because we did that. >> Okay. >> So >> thank you >> Mr. Ch here. Mr. Onion. So I'm familiar with this house. Actually I had a family member look at it when it was on the market back in 2018. So I certainly

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feel your uh pain. I would ask that um Justin, we look back at um any built building permits uh from the previous owner to see what was done and to help to Bob's point to help identify maybe the source of the change because

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that street that house has been there a long time and all of a sudden since these folks move in it's problematic. um so that we don't, you know, we don't do work on it and and it doesn't solve the problem.

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And then um cuz there's got to be something that was done, you know, to create this problem all of a sudden. Um and then the other thing is um what was it going to say? It'll come to me in a minute.

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>> Oh, yeah. did. So, when I was walking the property myself, looking at it, I could tell it was a lot of work that was done, uh, on the property, either to get it to sale or, you know, um, previous work like on the driveway for example. Um, so I would, oh, that was my other

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question. If you get an easement and you run a drain out to the golf course and they're fine with it, will that help any other uh, drainage issues uh, on the street? You mentioned it's a low point. Would it help divert other water problems up and down?

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>> I would not speak to that right now. Okay. >> Um my concern is that the pipe that they talk about on the other side of their driveway wasn't sized big enough to take the volume that's coming down that road. >> That would be my first guess, right? Especially if they say it was came and it's clear, that tells me that pipe

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wasn't big enough. But that still doesn't answer the question is why is the volume so much in that area? So until I can speak to that intelligently, I I I couldn't tell you. >> Great. Sounds good. Thank you. >> Through your chair, >> Miss Lutria. >> Just for clarification, uh this is

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looking for $100,000. It it's written as though it is for design and construction. >> That's the way it that's the way it was quoted. >> So, it will be completely if if it passes, that $100,000 will be enough to do >> design and construction. >> All of it. Okay. Just want to make sure that's clear.

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>> Yep. Absolutely. >> And I'm sorry, um Mr. town manager. Is any of that contingent upon getting an easement from the golf course? I don't see anything about that. >> Uh, yes, it would be. Plan A would be

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contingent on the easement from the golf course. Plan B would be to channel it to an area between 44 Southwester and the neighbors. There's a little wooded area in the back that wouldn't be on the golf course property. >> I would I would switch those. Plan A

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would be to do that first. Plan B would be to try and get it on the golf course. >> What kind of And I understand the homeowners are thinking how long is this going to take? I I want to do everything kind of sim simultaneously and and first of all get somebody there to look at the

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the sewer the storm water. Secondly, like figure out how can we deter it ourselves and thirdly keep talking to the golf course to make sure we can get the easement. So, um, kind of doing three things at once and then obviously doing the most economical prudent way

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forward, right? Uh, for everybody involved, >> Mr. Kimble, >> so the, um, layout design is what you're looking for up to $100,000. Once that project once you we gone through that phase of it, can we use chapter 90 highway funds to to make the repairs or

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we have to come back for more money? >> This isn't really in the road. I think the catch basin is how far off your property. The catch basin that we piped into already. >> Oh, how far it just goes under the sidewalk.

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>> Yeah. I don't think this wouldn't take road. This would mostly be on private property. >> So, in other words, >> a piece of the sidewalk. >> So, in other words, we can't use chapter 94. >> Exactly. >> Right. So, we'd have to come up with some additional cash in order to >> $100,000 would complete this job. Worst

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case scenario. Okay. >> If we go to the golf course. >> All right. Thanks, >> cheer. >> Did the fincom vote on this last night? >> They made a recommendation. I'm sorry. >> Yes. 9 to zero to favorably recommend.

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>> Okay. Thank you. >> Any other questions? >> Mr. Chairman, Mr. Kimble >> make a motion we support article 25 uh 44 South Worester Street storm drainage storm water and drainage easement design and construction

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>> second >> uh motion and a second. Any further discussion? >> Just a quick note, I I will vote on this one tonight cuz I think it's pretty clear, but I I would like to see the articles going forward that we're voting on. Um so I can see the the verbiage

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would be good. Uh, sure. So, the next meeting, not this meeting, but next meeting, we'll have a couple of uh bylaw amendments, and we intend to have the redline versions. >> Perfect. >> Any other discussion?

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>> Seeing none, all those in favor? >> I >> I I >> I, >> Mr. Chair, >> Mr. O'Neal, >> thank you. So, obviously the town meeting needs to approve this. So, as much homework you can do, Justin, to anticipate questions from the town meeting members, they're the ultimate

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decision makers uh between now and then. Thank you. >> Okay, Mr. Town Manager. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair, for your indulgence with that. Um, next up, I don't see anyone else to take out of order necessarily. So, next up would be

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uh the Daget Crannle proposal, I believe. And I'll let them speak for themselves. >> Thank you. >> Did you need something? Do you need the PowerPoint up? >> Yes. If um if we could get the PowerPoint up, >> Bass,

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>> thank you. >> Well, good evening and thank you for having us. Uh my name is Jeremy Vie. I'm director of real estate development at Roger Communities. Uh we're here to tonight on behalf of the Daget Crannle Nukem home which many may know um on Nuland Street

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uh to introduce a proposed redevelopment of that campus here in Norton. We appreciate the opportunity to share the project and begin what we hope is a very collaborative experience uh and discussion with the town. Next slide. >> Yeah, here we go. So just a little bit

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about our history before getting into the project. I want to um mention that Decorandle has been part of this community for over a century. It has been in its current location since about 1968. Um so this is not a new use we're

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proposing. This is an expansion of the existing facility and the existing use um and the next chapter of the long-standing community asset. Next slide. At its core, Dagger Crannle is a missiondriven nonprofit. Uh their focus

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has always been providing compassionate, highquality care for older adults and importantly doing so in a way that prioritizes residents and families. That mission continues to guide how we're approaching this redevelopment. Next slide.

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My organization uh Roger Communities is uh very proud to partner with DCN on this effort. Uh we are also a nonprofit organization with a long history in Massachusetts supporting older adults uh through housing and services and care.

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Next slide. Today we serve re- Rogers serve more than 2,000 older adults across 25 properties uh with programs statewide. Um, some of our work spans independent living, affordable housing, memory care,

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supportive living, and adult day adult day health services for for older adults. Next slide. At a high level, our work falls into three core areas. We provide services and care. We own manage housing. and we

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collaborate with communities like Norton to develop thoughtful missional aligned projects. And the last piece is really why we're here today. Next slide. Our mission is centered on hope helping older adults age with dignity, independence, and connection to their

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communities. Aging in place is a really core aspect of what we do at Roger Communities. This project is a direct extension of that. Next slide. So turning a bit to the project itself, we're looking uh what we're proposing is

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universally designed, environmentally sensitive and sustainable senior living community uh that is you know built on the legacy that DCN has uh already built in this community. The intent is to serve a range of income levels and care needs from independent

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living uh through support and supportive services and memory care all in the same facility. so that as folks age they can remain in the place that they've uh grown up in many cases or lived for decades. Next slide.

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Our program um for this particular project is made up of four primary components. Uh 24 supportive living units uh essentially a studio apartment with no kitchen. Um another 24 memory care units of similar structure. Those

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are all about 300. or so square feet. Uh we have a proposing 103 independent living apartments with a mix of affordability. These were for folks who who don't have the same mobility and cognitive uh challenges as some of the other units. Um, in addition, we're

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proposing 100 independent living cottages uh spread over the acreage um that would target folks that are, you know, looking to downsize but want a lot more independence um and and maybe have a couple cars. Uh all units in this development are

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would be age restricted to to folks 92 and old sorry 62 and older >> different little different 62 and older. to seniors is what we do and what DCN does. Uh the key idea is to create a continuum of care that allows residents

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to remain in the same community from 62 uh on. Uh next slide. A couple other additional program elements that we're looking to add to this is a large community center uh so that folks have amenities that they may

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miss from coming from a larger home. um a farm stand, extensive outdoor amenities for folks. We really want to utilize the site we have and the natural uh integration into nature because we have a really beautiful property out there. Um and we want to provide them

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access to Roger's care coordination services. We have a really uh great team that can provide a lot of services to folks. uh even if they're in the independent um the independent living units, they have access to a suite of services that folks wouldn't get in a

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standard condominium. Um and also very importantly, we are intending to place about 55 acres uh under conservation restriction. Um and we'll talk about a little bit more about that in a later slide. Next slide.

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So the property, the total property is about 92 acres. Um our existing facility is in the right hand uh sort of the upper right hand corner or mid corner there that small bar is the existing facility and the rest of the acreage is

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is spread about over a couple different uh lots over that. Uh and the majority of our abudding towards the back into the sides um is actually existing conservation land. Next slide.

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So some of the environmental considerations which had a big hand in this particular project. Uh key constraint is the rare species habitat where you can see is that hatched area and also um wetlands area which you can see in those yellow and uh and green

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spaces. Um that is informed we can develop and where development can occur and where it cannot occur. We've worked really closely with our environmental consultants and also state environmental agencies to craft this particular layout. As you can see, it's the development is pulled towards the

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Newland Street um and away from the Canoe River uh reservation behind. Next slide. This is a master plan showing the the main building sort of in the center that is going to uh is intended to contain the supportive units and the memory care

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units and the independent living apartments. So in total about 150 units or so on that um on that particular building and then the cottages spread out um throughout the site. But the interconnectivity of these sites and how

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they how the different cottages uh neighborhoods interact with one another and their neighbors were really important in the in the way we designed this. Skip to the next slide. And this is a multi-phase development. We have no interest in doing this all at

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once. Um next slide. We intend to do this over a series of four plan uh phases that would encompass a number of years. Uh phase one would be the uh building the main building with the supportive services to replace our

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existing facility and then phases 2, three and four would be cottages of about 30 units each. Um and they would be built on a rolling basis, you know, really um driven by market conditions and sales and how many uh how many sales

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per year we can we can get. Next slide. From a permitting perspective, we are pursuing a local initiative program approach. This allows flexibility through the zoning board of appeals, but critically it requires community support. Um, it allows the ZBA to grant

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waiverss from the zoning code, but it requires us to collaborate with the community and get buyin from the community. We cannot continue this project without support from the the town. And simply put, we must get your buy in on this. We want it. We crave it.

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Um, we want to work very closely with with select board, planning board, all the various uh residents to craft a project that really is uh in meeting Norton's needs. Next slide. >> Next slide.

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May we may have some technical difficulties. Apologies. >> Bassam, you there? >> Bassam. >> Yes, I am. I'm just trying to go back to the slides. Sorry. >> Somewhere. >> Thank you, Vass.

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>> Thank you. Um, so talking a little bit more about the program. Um the main building uh phase one uh has the 24 units supportive living, 24 units memory care. Each have are on separate floors with their own separate amenity spaces,

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separate um outdoor spaces, dining etc. um that can care to each group's needs which have very different uh needs across that um that product. Uh next slide. And in addition, uh that building will

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have 103 units. As I mentioned, it's a variety of unit sizes, predominantly onebedroom plus dens, but uh there are also some one-bedrooms we propose and two-bedroom units in there. They will all have in-unit dishwashers, washers, and dryers as well. Um very key to this

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project and many of the projects we do is affordable housing. So 25% of these units are anticipated to be incomerestricted at 80% of AMI or below. So, a AMI means a U area median income. Uh, and that

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means folks making about 70,000 if you're a single, 80,000 if you're a couple or below uh would would be approved for these types of projects. Uh, we have all the common area functions. >> Sorry to interrupt. And those count toward our affordable quota,

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>> correct? They do. Yep. SH I believe it's the SHI count. So, of the 320, 20% would be 60 units. >> Yeah, approximately. And I'll touch on that. Um, we have amenity spaces on the first floor. Pretty extensive amenity suite

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for folks that are coming from much larger houses I mentioned to a smaller facility. You want the areas where you can talk to your neighbors, meet people, have functions, have a party if you want. So, we have a wellness suite, a fitness center, a yoga studio, a salon,

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an art studio, a number of other things that I won't bore folks with, but a it's a really robust amenity suite. So, people will have everything and more from their larger homes at at this uh facility. Um, next slide.

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And we have some uh images I wanted to share. We This is our common courtyard. So didn't talk too much about the the exterior and outside uh amenities but we think this is the beating heart of the program uh of the project. Uh it's our outside courtyard. Um we have built a

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pergola structured it all the um the art studio, dining studio, wellness suite all are on the first floor surrounding that. So spill out into that area. Uh we in uh next slide. We envision this as a place that our

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residents can uh meet um in the the few summer days that we have around here um meet and host uh events host events not only for our community but for the greater neighborhood in the greater Norton community. Next slide.

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And one of the ideas we have of course this is uh subject to change is you know small concerts of of some kind. um also you know art festivals or or other types of uh events that we could host in the space. Next slide.

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So talking a little bit about the independent living cottages. We have a 100 cottages that we're proposing developed over multiple phases. All will have their own outdoor patio and driveway and one store living one-story living. Similar to the apartments, we envision one bedrooms, one plus den and

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two uh two-bedroom units. uh the OnePlus den being the most common unit type. Uh and the facilities in that main building would be open to all our cottage residents as well creating really one cohesive community. Next slide.

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So some precedent images of our cottages. Um we have uh these are the views from the driveways from the entry drives. Um but then we also wanted to create a front a front of their home towards the back

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opening to their neighbors. Next slide. So this is uh the other side of the cottages re viewing over what we term the greens, the village greens, the village commons. Um in most cases there are mirror image of the units on the other side and those pathways. So people

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are walking together, they can wave to their neighbors in the morning. um they can have coffee with them and it really fosters interaction um in communication. Next slide. In here you can see where some of those

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pathways come together. We have these pocket parks or u nodes where folks can, you know, meet, rest a bit if they're coming from a fairly long walk, have a cup of coffee, have a cup of tea, um and uh and really interact with the with the

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neighborhood. Next slide. Uh and another just another image of the the cottages. Uh here at this angle you can see those pathways how um the the courtyards between or the spaces between the the units become their own uh their

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own park in a way for our residents. Um and also one thing we're very interested in fostering at this community is uh gardening. Uh you can see raised beds there. We intend to have a farm stand where folks can sell their produce, sell other goods that maybe they make in our

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art studio etc. Uh so we really want it to be a highly programmed space. It programming is so core and experience is so core to uh seniors where where isolation became a real issue and we're trying to do everything we can to avoid

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that in this uh property and this project and bring those folks together to make a really meaningful interactions and connections. Next slide. So, talking about just comm community benefits, I want to highlight I've highlighted many um things that I think

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are beneficial about the project, but just honing in on a few. Uh it provides needed housing, much needed housing in this environment, especially for seniors, uh looking to remain in Norton, both market rate and affordable. a large it activates a large constrained

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stite in a very thoughtful way providing habitat for uh wildlife and also giving back and and retaining some of those walking paths that already exist there for the community's benefit. I contributes to the tax space and it introduces opportunities for community

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engagement like I mentioned the farm stand and some events that we we could host over time. And in closing, I want to just recognize uh this is a meaningful project for the town and we're approaching it with that responsibility in mind. At this stage, we're here to share our vision, hear

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your feedback, and understand how we can best align this project with Norton's priorities. Uh we appreciate your time and look forward to the discussion >> through you chair. >> Mr. Lana, >> um what is the current makeup and volume

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of the rooms that you have today at the facility? So we have currently uh 25 sorry 30 beds but 25 uh residents >> and they're all supportive care. >> Correct. >> So I'm a little concerned that the numbers for the supportive care the

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memory care are so low in comparison to the independent living. >> I think that all the different structures are important but I feel like it's a little imbalanced. >> That is actually something that we are exploring potentially expanding. Um we're in conversations with our board to

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see if that is something and also some market analysts to see if that is something we should pursue and whether the market is there because we we agree it's something that is getting more necessary uh with every passing year. >> Jim, >> Mr. Kimble.

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>> Yeah. To to Denise's point, you know, those folks living in those other units are eventually going to go to the folk care. So, it probably is important to have that kind of, you know, ability to to accept them as as

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needed. I'm familiar with a couple of these programs and u projects. What do you have in the area that uh that you presently run? Is there any any other local town near us that you got a facility like this? >> Yes. So, um Random, we have a facility

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similar to this in Worcester as well that we manage. Um, and we have quite a few in Boston. Uh, Boston is a more urban typology. So, you know, bit taller, um, a bit denser. Uh, but I would say, uh, the pond home, Pond Meadow in Rentham is a is a property we

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manage and that we help that team build. Um, and also, uh, the name escapes me, you'll forgive Brierwood in Worcester is another facility that we we manage. >> And we have one of the main that I attended a few years ago for their dedication. same same concept, same

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idea. It was a beautiful place and I I I can appreciate the the fact personally in my opinion because I'm one of the senior citizens now, but you know, when you get into a class like that, you know, the ability to um downsize and

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stay within your community is important. And by me downsizing, I'm now opening up property to other younger families who can purchase my property, which is which is very important. Um,

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the initiative, the OIP, is obviously very very important to you guys, and we've done them in the past. We've we've dealt with a few of those in the past and I know there's a lot of incentives involved in that to help you defer the cost of and def the cost of trying to do something as as large as this project

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is. So I I can appreciate that. >> I would ask you to consider green initiatives and I'm sure that's probably part of the new program anyway. >> Uh but at least look into that >> in the acreage 50 was it 55 acres you're going to donate to conservation? >> Yes.

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>> Where is that? I mean I know the property Redmill Village I mean Red Road is there. So in comparison to that where would that acreage be? >> So if I don't know if we have we can go back to that slide but it's essentially everything behind. So it's on both the

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um left is the wrong term the northern side of Redm Mill Road and the uides and the both sides. >> Okay. Reason look of it being on the south. >> Reason I bring that up is that's our wall protection area. And as much as I'd like to see conservation get the land, I

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would ask you to work with Mr. Chica. Also, >> we're in need of additional well spaces, wells, and that being on our aquifer could very well have the potential of an an additional well in the future, maybe one or two. So, if we put it under a

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conservation restriction, it gets very tough for us to go in there and put in a well. If we put it under the jurisdiction of the um the water department, that puts us in a different light. Either one is protected. I mean, they're not you can't sell it, you can't build on it, you can't do anything. So,

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I'd ask you to look at u maybe look into that possibility that we might be able to develop that for future uh water capacity and make sure we uh we take care of it. the 40B option, the comprehensive permitting process, the um affordable housing factor is very

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important to me. >> Um I've been dealing with comprehensive permits for 30 years and this town has been very um supportive in stopping that kind of project in the past because it didn't fit our needs.

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>> This does this does and will fill our future needs. So, as far as me supporting the LAP, I'm definitely definitely going to do so. And making them affordable is very important >> uh to me, and I think that's that's going to be another factor in it. But I

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think uh I'm very pleased with what I'm seeing, and I'm I'm going to be in full support of anything you try to do. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Chair. Mr. Rich. >> So, Jeremy, thank you for the presentation. Uh I'm trying to find a downside to this outside of so much

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acreage being uh set aside for conservation. But uh because that's a beautiful piece of property and um if there's any consideration in the future carving out there is a lot more behind that. I think it's

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uh phase 4. >> Mhm. >> Yep. >> Um that appears like that's being set aside as as part of the conservation. Am I correct? >> Portion of it is correct. Yep. >> Okay. Um everything else I mean this is a

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no-brainer for us. What is the possibility uh or what is the approximate value at full buildout? >> At full build full buildout. We're working with our contractors right now to figure that out. So we have had initial pricing. It's about at full

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buildout um would be about 200 million. >> About 200 million. Mr. Town manager. What would that translate to from a tax tax receipt annually >> if it's assessed at the full 200 million? Uh just give me a second.

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>> That's okay. Well, while you're doing that, um you know, I like that uh you're willing to uh upgrade infrastructure as well because it's definitely going to need, you know, water, sewer, power, things of that nature. And that is one

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of the big things that would, you know, any municipality is facing constant upgrades and whatnot with no money. So, uh, being able to do that to facilitate it is is huge. That's just part of it. Uh, the age restricted I see 62 and

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older, >> correct, >> for all of it. >> Y, >> excuse me. >> Um, so is there a way to possibly prioritize even if it's a portion possibly Norton residents? So, we'll have to look into Oh, do you >> Oh, yeah.

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>> And and that would >> my lawyer extraordinaire Carla Chaffy. Thank you. >> That'd be 2.6 billion. >> Second. >> Oh, sorry, Mr. Chair. Yeah. >> Approximately 2.6 million in annual revenue >> in new revenue. >> If the assessments 200 million >> at full buildout at current numbers,

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>> 2.6 million a year. >> That does not include X-rays taxes and other other tax possibilities. also >> personal property, >> right? >> Yeah. Thank you. I just thought I'd jump in real quick. My name's Carla Chaffy. I'm an attorney at Nixon Peody. Um so

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that was a great question regarding um actually what was the question now? >> Preference to Norton residents. >> Norton residents. Yeah. Um so as as you mentioned um this is part of the chapter 40B program and we're calling it local

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initiative, right? because that's feels a lot better and it and it really is different from the typical 40b projects that you see. Um in order to do a lip as I think some of you know we need support from the board of selectman to move

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forward. The state won't accept our application unless we do that. Um, but as part of that program, we're obviously working with the executive a office of housing and livable communities and they'll be overseeing all of the affordability restrictions that are

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placed on the property. And yes, this does get to your question about Norton residents. Um, so when we're working with the state on the affordability restrictions, often a point that's negotiated between the applicant, the town, and the state is the percentage of

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residents or the percentage of unit units that are set aside for residents of the town. So we can make an ask to them, you know, as much as 50% are set aside for Norton residents, but there's often quite a bit of push back on that. So it may end up being more in the range

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of like 10 to 15 to 20%. Um and that's because you know this is state oversight. So they're seeing this as um a benefit to the whole community instead of just the town. So that's a long way of saying we will do our best to work

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with the state to get the highest percentage as we can but to some extent it's out of our hands. >> Understood. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for answering that. Um, uh, if I could add something, I'm Jack Jacobe. I'm lawyer with Kogan Smith and Attboro.

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I'm their local council. And, uh, could we get back up to that slide that, uh, was up there a minute ago? So, one thing I do want to say is that our calculation is that 128 of the units would count for your subsidized housing inventory. And

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as you probably know, you're at 10.02% now, which is sort of razor thin. We know >> you go if you go below 10% then people can do 40B projects that give you very little discretion. Um but if we could

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get that slide back up for one moment I just wanted to answer on the environmental issue. Um, and while we're doing that, let me just add the problem we face right now is that this project cannot be built under your current zoning bylaw. And you can't have more

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than one building on a lot in the R80 zone, among many other things. There are a couple of special permits that could be granted. Um, but we could not build this without doing the LIP program. So that's why we're really here is first of

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all to let you know what we hope to do. We think it's an exciting and a great project, but we need your support in order to go to the state and then in order to go to the zoning board of appeals with what they call a friendly 40B. So if you could go to one more

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slide um beyond that one. Nope. Maybe. No. Backwards. H. I just passed it. Keep going. Keep going.

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Yes. So, this one shows you the spe the protected species habitat. And what you'll see there is the white area is the area we can build on as a matter of right. But everything else beyond that that's in a different color is protected

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habitat for a certain species of salamander that uh lives in this area and is protected. And so we have applied to the state and they have told us that we can build on the areas that we're showing here as long as basically a

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third of the area as long as we protect the other two/3s that will mean that we will not have taken the habitat of these particular salamanders. So that is the overall constraint. uh we are required

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to uh have the property be under a conservation restriction. But if we can build into that restriction uh allowing the town to uh use it for well purposes, we certainly will ask the state to make sure that we can do that. And the other

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thing that I would say is that we have approached the land preservation society of Norton as the party that would hold the restriction. They are a longstanding and wellrespected uh similar agency in this town. Uh and they have other abuing

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land that they use. So just wanted to be clear that without your support we cannot build this project. >> Um excuse me one second. Mr. Rich, you have a question. >> Um yeah, Jack, thank you for that and thank you Mr. Chair. Um so of those

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parcels, are they all a pre-existing non-conforming use? are they uh you know how are they zoned right now? >> The the current uh facility is a lawful pre-existing non-conforming use. Uh it

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does not have the special permit to to to work with, but it's there's only one building out there now. And so that the problem here is that we've got um a bunch of buildings. We've got a 100 cottages. We've got the apartment

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building. We've got the uh memory care uh and um uh assisted living facilities. And so your bylaw just does not allow this to be built. We have spent hours with the planning director who just

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retired, with the conservation agent, and with the building inspector trying to find a way that we could apply to either the planning board or the zoning board to do this. We simply cannot. We we it it just isn't contemplated in your

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bylaw at this point. >> So, we need to change the bylaw. >> Yeah, exactly, Mr. Chairman. >> Well, that would be fine, too. U but that's been somewhat controversial as I understand it over the last few months, >> Mr. Kimble. >> Yeah, I I kind of would agree with that,

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Mr. Jacob. >> We uh we've been we've been on both sides of this over the years, so I recognize you. Thank you for >> Okay. for supporting us on this. The uh LIP program again is very important and I I understand now more so why it's more

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important because of the issue of zoning. So I I totally get it and getting back to the wells, it was just a thought because as you develop 250 300 new units of housing, you got to start thinking about where where we're going to get the water and that kind of stuff

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also. And I would assume that the infrastructure of the road, the interchange on 123 East Main Street, all that has to be addressed in traffic safety, traffic uh studies and all that stuff. Uh so, you know, as we as we move

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along with the project, uh but this town has has uh supported uh friendly 40bs in the past. Um mainly because we wanted to get to that 10.02%. You know, get there as fast as we could. Uh so by by adopting or supporting this

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this puts us in a different light also on that in that capacity. We're making sure that and we've now approved a project that can can kind of hold us in place so we don't have to worry about any additional let's call them not friendly 40bs that we have to deal with

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you know in the future. Sure. >> And and uh as we've pointed out um if you support this and if we get uh through the state process, then what happens is we apply to the zoning board of appeals and there will be extensive hearings with all of the traffic

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studies, the environmental studies, everything that's involved in that. And the conservation commission would be participating as well. So um this is just the first step in a very long process. Um there won't be a shovel in the ground in 2026, that's for sure. Uh

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but we are hopeful that uh well every journey starts with that one small step. Um and so this is our first step coming to you saying we can't build it. We'd like to build it. Please help us.

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>> Mr. Chair, if I may just say that this applicant, thank you. Has been a pleasure to work with. They're a nonprofit. This would have no burden on the schools. Uh just to clarify the affordable uh number of units. I thought you said how many?

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>> 128 count for the subsidized housing. >> So more than the 20% almost double. >> Yes. Yes. We >> attorney >> come on up please. >> I did that calculation a few minutes ago when you were asking to be sure but

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Carla can can respond to that. So, so the rental units when you have purely rental and you meet the 25% at ADA AMI, all of the rental units count towards the SHI. The cottages are categorized a

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little differently under the guidance because of the way they're not rentals. They're kind of a buyin model and they're treated more like home ownership. So for those 100 cottages, only the 25 would count on the SHI. So that's how we get to the 128.

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>> 103 + 25 is 128. And that's what counts for the SHI. And of course, you know, every time you have a subdivision with another 30 or 40 or 50 houses, none of them are affordable. you could slip under the 10%

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and this is going to give you a a good margin to put against other developments that may be planned within the town. >> And and to clarify, this would be built out as people by units. So, you know, as maybe over 10 years, you know, 30 units

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a year and the percentage would be as every 10 units are built, we four would be affordable or something like that. Yes, it would it would depend on which units were built at which time, but the rental units were built first, you'd get those right away.

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>> The cottages, because there's only 25%, you know, the cottages are the the future phases, so you're going to get most of it up front. >> It's great news. Very good. Any other questions? >> Thank you.

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>> Thank you. >> Thank you. Yeah. So, are you looking for a formal vote or are you just >> Well, if the board feels comfortable tonight, you know, with a vote in support, um what would happen is we could submit a letter, a draft letter,

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um for your review and adoption. Um and that letter will be included in our package to um to the state in our in our application under the LIP program. Um, so if I could make a suggestion, if it

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pleases um the board, you could authorize um Mr. Gould to sign on your behalf a letter of support to the state. >> What's the board's pleasure, >> Mr. Chairman? >> Mr. Kimble, >> make a motion that we we sort of ask the

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town agent to send a letter of support uh for the construction of this uh new Dagot Crandle. What is the name actual name of the >> Dagle Nukem? >> Is it still Dagger Candle? Okay. >> Dagand >> Dagger Kandle Nukem U project and that

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the board select uh the select board support the LI >> second a motion and a second. Any discussion? Seeing none. All those in favor >> I >> I >> Mr. Chair very much. >> Thank you very much. So in in addition

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to that, it would be it would be good to um solidify this vote with actual language that perhaps can be provided to the town manager that can outline what is an LIP and 40B. Any language that the the state may prefer to see rather than what we just motioned and then we can at

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our next meeting maybe take another vote if that makes sense to the board just to lock it in a little better with a a little more, you know, formal verbiage. That's just my thoughts. Um, chair, >> Mr. Rich. >> Um, myself, I understand what you're

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saying, Kevin, but I have full faith in town manager and assistant town manager to do that verbiage according to state um >> state standard verbiage. >> I uh I agree with Mr. Rich and um I I would just uh make sure that you're right or right,

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you >> Mr. Chairman, >> we we we got it. We can handle it. >> Mr. Chairman, I agree. Also having a couple of attorneys on the payroll helps. So >> um >> so Mr. Chair, my concern wasn't that. My concern was to read it into record for

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the public to hear it um the full uh vote. But it I'm fine. >> How about uh we can we can have him uh after they drafts the letter and sends it off. Then we can we'll just read it into the >> That's all I'm asking. >> Turn the manager report maybe or something. Yeah. >> Yeah. To town managers report it to me.

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>> Happy to provide that to the board. Great. Thank you. >> Thank you all. >> Thank you all. Thank you. >> Okay. Senior and community center update. So, this is an exciting development that's been a long time in the making. Um, one of my first

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uh things that I was excited to do coming aboard here in Norton is to we give the seniors attention and the the benefits they deserve for all the effort they put into the community. I know the vet the voters approved a

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senior and community center and we're intending to strengthen that within uh the budget limitations that we have and provide benefit to the community. So we've installed um we've shifted the

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leadership there a little bit to provide more strength for the programs, the seniors and to make it more community accessible and friendly. So, I'll I'll let assistant town manager uh Shannon McMahon explain a little bit more. This is probably the first big project she

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walked into and started even before she was on the payroll. Thank you. >> Thank you everyone. Um as Mark stated, yes, uh even before I started here, Mark and I have been working on this project.

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I I officially call it my baby now. Uh even though it's not mine, it's it's definitely the women and the folks who work over there and spend all their time over there. But Mark and I, Christy and Jen, have spent an enormous amount of time uh looking to create a different

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approach to the leadership over at the community senior center while being cognizant of the financial state that we are in. Um, so what we opted to do and what I'm very proud to announce today is we have implemented a

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multidirectionctor approach that will allow us to continue to support the growing number of participants at the senior and community center. I am pleased to announce that uh Sauy MC I'm going to massac her name. Mardishian

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has become a newly appointed director uh along with Beth Beth Rossi. So we'll have two directors over there. Now Beth Rossi will maintain a director uh a directorship over the human services portion of the senior community center uh with focus being towards the shine

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program that they offer over there, grant writing, fuel assistance and so forth. uh Saui will be taking over uh the coordination of volunteers, senior programming um and and this is a direct result of the massive amount uh that the

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community has put into this this facility. uh when it was at the former Little Red House, which I believe was the old fire station, um they were getting roughly 20 to 25 participants in their senior programming

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andor human services programming. They're looking at over 200 a day over at the new building, the senior community center, while keeping their staff the exact same. It's unheard of. They deserve a a huge round of applause

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for what they've a what they've been able to maintain. Now with two directors sharing equally in managerial tasks, we feel confident and they've already been doing this for some time now and they feel very confident that this is going to be a wild success. Additionally, what

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we've done is we've taken an who is a part-time person over there. Uh she did part-time council on aging uh community center as well as part-time for the veterans. We have taken her out of the veterans entirely. Um, Estelle is going

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to be looking to replace an in that capacity and Ann is now fulltime over at the community senior center. She is being uh using all of her resources to assist Sauy with the coordination of volunteers of which there are about 500

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senior volunteers. I think that number is right about 500. >> There's there's many people that pitch in. So many volunteers. So that we and we definitely need that. We need someone to be coordinating the volunteers, give them direction, have schedules and so forth because that's just a resource, an

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untapped resource that we can utilize. Um, additionally, Ann will also be uh assisting with the coordination of senior service uh senior events such as the uh the line dancing, the chair yoga, and things like that.

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Um, additionally, we've got Karen Ersum who will be assisting Beth with the Shine program. She is Shine certified, so she'll be assisting Beth with those things. She's also going to be spending some additional time learning and developing her skills at grant writing,

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so she can assist Beth with looking for and continuing to market uh and apply for all the relevant grants that are out there. Additionally, again, keep adding additionally. But >> wait, there's more. >> Oh, there's more. Um, we have also, uh,

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added a part-time DPW facilities worker over to the COA, uh, the community center. We're using that from the DPW. Thank you, Justin. Um, and that individual will be there to take some of the weight off of Beth and Sauy's

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shoulders. Um, so that this individual will essentially be in charge of helping with facilities. It's a beautiful building. We don't want everyone who's working in the building to be so overworked that they're forgetting to take care of the four wall walls that surround them. So Justin's DPW guy will

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come in and assist with the facilities. Additionally, one thing I think we're all very happy about is that this individual will be there to lock the doors so we can actually use this facility, this beautiful facility for some of our community events as well. So, we're very excited about that. Uh we

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had I just got word that about 25 minutes ago the job listing went up and is live and is posted. So we're very much looking forward to getting that ball going. Um finally the last puzzle piece to this is uh Estelle. our beloved

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Estelle, our VA agent, uh has agreed to oversee uh kind of ev everything in the process while also adding in VA hours as a satellite office over at the senior community center. This will absolutely

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assist some of our seniors who are also veterans kind of one-stop shopping if they're already at the senior community center getting either senior programming or human services. they can just keep there and Estelle will have hours listed

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there so they can coordinate and they don't have to drive from the senior community center to town hall and then back alleviating some of the stress from the seniors which we are very proud of. Um all in all we've implemented this as of February 16th. Um we didn't announce

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it formally seeing how it went and I'm proud to report that it is going off without a hitch. The seniors are over the moon. Saucy has stepped up and is absolutely assisting. Beth is very happy. Everyone over there is very, very, very relieved

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and very happy with the outcome. We're excited to have Justin's new guy or gal come in and assist and so we can get the senior community center open to not only assist our seniors, but also to our community members who may have uh a

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desire to use that beautiful building. And aside from any questions, that's all I have for you >> through your chair. >> Mr. Luchiano, >> um, these changes all sound fantastic. The concern is the money and how did we

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post for jobs, increased roles and new roles without having that in the budget from last year? >> So, I can take this. We're not asking for an additional dollar. Um, actually, it's budget neutral. Uh if you'll recall, town meeting added a position at

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the senior center last uh budget cycle. So what we did was we took those funds, spent approximately half, a little less than half, and added Ann, who was working halfime in veterans, halftime at seniors center, senior and community

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center, put her full-time at the senior community center, took the other half, little less than half, so we're actually saving money. and the facilities person. Um, so we're not even spending the money that they had allocated. So, this is a

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win-win. Um, >> okay, >> Denise, I'll be honest. It took me a ven diagram to see it. We actually had the entire dry erase board with an entire ven diagram. We were very cognizant of the fact that we couldn't spend any more money. Um and so that's why this

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adaptation or uh maneuvering took so much time and effort was because of that. We did not want to be adding more of a deficit. So we just had to be creative with what we had. >> Thanks, >> Mr. Chair.

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>> Mr. Rich, >> uh Shannon, I just want to thank you for all the work that you and everybody else that was behind the scenes in it did. Uh it's phenomenal and I have heard nothing but good things so far. So >> thank you very much.

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>> That's all the thanks in the world I need. I mean going there today and presenting this and seeing um some very very happy faces and hearing a lot of positive feedback is is the greatest gift. >> Thinking outside the box and maximizing

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resources is common sense. So and and you implemented that. So thank you very much. >> It's all credit to the team. uh in general uh Estelle, Sauy, Beth, everybody, town manager, Christy, everyone worked together. We all got

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together. Everyone had a great idea and we worked together as a team that we should. >> Thank you for leading that. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Shane. Yeah, Mr. Chair, I completely agree and it's almost like a paradigm shift when the look at the extremes versus where they came from before and the management structure that

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had to run it. uh has you know now I'm glad that you addressed the um the facility aspect of it because uh being a member of the building committee um you know we've constantly gotten um feedback uh through the improper channels on facility issues and I'm glad that

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Justin's going to have a person kind of working on that. Any how many hours would that facility person need? I can't see them needing a lot of time. Yeah, even though it is um budget neutral. I'm just curious. Yeah, the plan in place uh

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Mr. Town Manager um is to have them over there x amount of hours a week where we're where roughly thinking 8 to 10 maybe 12 hours a week depending on what um events they might have after hours so that you can stay late and lock up and that kind of thing. But so kind of

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utilize the custodial type work with the locking up of the building at the same time. >> Great. That's great. Yeah, I got to say I'm really excited to hear that it'll be open to the community because that's what we promised when we originally did the debt exclusion for this. >> Um, additionally Kevin, I know um, this

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was asked earlier as well. Um, once we the individual begins work, we're going to work directly with Estelle from veterans and saucy uh, who will have kind of a weekly schedule. The beauty of that um, is usually any events we're going to know

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about in advance. So we'll work directly, Estelle, Justin, myself, uh, Saui, we'll work together so that that particular person is available for those X hours when we're talking about closing up late for community events as as opposed to just being there for the

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senior events. Plus, it adds a little bit of um, relief to the staff at the senior center who's working there all day. Um, so they're not feeling obligated to remain in the facility after hours. Um, so they're feeling some relief on that end as well.

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>> So Shannon, um, just so you know, I'm sure you do know that, um, I've been after this, since day one, since the place opened, when are we going to open the building more? When is it going to become available to communities? When are there going to be programming after 3:00 in the afternoon? So, I can't tell

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you how thrilled I am with what you've done. So, >> thank you, >> Mr. Chairman. One other thing we need to look into is the um the after hours programs you're talking about and that was always critical to me too. I I we've had these conversations so you know how I feel about it.

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the u the importance of allowing others to use the building and pay for the use of it and making sure we have a structure program in place where we can actually maybe I don't know if it's the friends of the of the senior center or who gets the cash for it but a program

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where if I want to rent the hall I can rent it and we should have specific guidelines on where that money goes how it can be used and all that kind of stuff I think that's probably one of the next steps we have to look into, but >> it's absolutely the next step that we have to look into. Um, Mark and I had

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discussed it and I know that we're we're I'll let Mark speak to it. >> So, yeah, that's the select board's policy that we put in place a few months ago. So, if we do intend to charge, we can simply amend that policy. Right now, it says that it's pretty much first

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come, first serve, unless you're making money, then you'd have to put a portion of that towards the town. or if you make a mess, then you'd have to pay a fee, a cleaning fee, and not be able to use it again until you pay the cleaning fee. But we can certainly revisit the fee

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amount at the board's discretion. >> Thank you again. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Traffic uh committee update, Mr. Kimble. >> Yeah, I know we're going to talk about the uh the article for the town center. I'm not going to get into that. I just

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wanted to bring a couple things to everyone's attention. Um the North and South Worester Street um program, the new traffic light system is going out the bit earlier now than we expected. Um I believe what June or July instead of

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October. So that's good news for us. And if it goes out to bid now, we would hope that some kind of construction will be starting next year. So that long awaited traffic signal at North and Southwest Street is in the works. We're working on

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uh with uh Mass DOT on an East Main Street safety corridor coming from the town common down to the entrance to the DPW. Uh looking at trying to come up with a consistent speed limit on that

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road and um any other uh safety improvements we can make on it. It's the traffic safety committee's feeling that that's this stretch of road should be a safety corridor because of all the municipal buildings we have along with the college. So, we're working on that.

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Um, densely populated areas such as Reservoir Street was we're starting to look at um maybe even though it's a 30 mph speed limit. Uh the state the state has a different uh opinion about DOT has a different opinion. and they failed that whatever the average speed is if

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you do a a speed study um whatever that average speed is what it should be and according to DOT a reservoir street has an average of 30 mph uh we don't agree with that we've we've recently uh passed the bylaw and tower we can reduce the

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speeds to 25 mph but in the meantime uh we're going to work with Justin and the de uh DPW to put us through an addition signs on reservoir perhaps even stating that it's the densely populated area and

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maybe help try to reduce some of the speeds in that that area. Water Street is now a no no traffic to trucks street. Um probably one of the only legal ones we have in Newton. Um and it takes quite

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a bit of effort and to uh put up a no traffic, no truck traffic uh street because of the um complications we have with grants and chapter 90 funding and all that stuff. So it's very very difficult to do that. But where we are

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continuing to work on getting better signage on Wood Street. Um just so you know Justin the other day I drove over there and he down the street came a 52footer. So that they're not getting the they're not getting the meshes on the signage. So we have to do something different down there.

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We recently ordered six data feedback speed signs that are going to be um installed working with the police chief and with uh Mr. Chica and they're going to work at putting those around town at no cost to the town. The these were all through

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a grant that we worked on. And last but not least, we realized that on West Main Street spec specifically once we looked at Wheaton College, um they don't need speed zones for schools on West Main Street. And once we saw it, it was like

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slapped us upside the head like why would we not have speed zones for schools? So if you look at the yellow school, look at the high school, Som Middle School. If you're driving down the street, you wouldn't even know there's a school there. So Saw

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Pit is working with us to design some new signage in those areas so we can go back and take a look at it and create school zones which we should have even though it's a state road. Uh they have agreed that they will work with us. The state has agreed they'll work with us

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through the DOT to get those properly signed and segregated so people know what there actually are schools in on West Main. So but that's basically all I have at this time. Mr. chairman. >> Thank you, Mr. Kimble.

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Old business. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh we have a number of town meeting warrant articles for your consideration uh this evening. Um last night, I'm not sure if you tuned in, but the finance committee stayed

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late uh reviewing a number of articles. That's why we've kept Mr. trickery here um for the balance of this meeting. Um so with with your indulgence um since the school vote passed at the ballot

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box, there's a remaining step that would have to take place before the project could move forward and that would be putting it on town meeting where a 2/3 uh majority 2/3s vote would be required. So, um I would put that forward to the

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select board to forward it to town meeting uh for their consideration. >> Mr. Chairman, Mr. Kimble. >> So, the ballot question in my opinion was probably not as clear as it should have been and

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a lot of opposition 2 and a half was was being bounced around out there. There are different versions of Prop 2 and a half rights. There's a general override for funding and there's a debt exclusion. And I think we have to be clear that to people that we're talking about a debt exclusion. Now the

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difference between a general override and a debt exclusion is a dead exclusion has a maximum years that you can that the uh project will be funded and at the end of that term say 20 years it goes away. When you do a general override then that stays forever. It doesn't it

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never goes away. So in this particular case, I think we have to be clear that the Norton Middle School roofing roof funding project is a debt exclusion and that's what we voted on at at the election and now we have to vote it on

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at town meeting. Having said that, I'll make a motion we support article one. >> Second motion and a second. Any discussion? >> Yeah, through you chair. >> Yes, sir. >> What was the fin vote on this last night? Mark >> a unanimous 9 to zero.

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>> Thanks. >> Any other discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? >> I >> I >> opposed. Okay. Next, uh thank you, Mr. Chair.

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Next up, we'll have the budget items for you at the next meeting. There's just a couple moving parts um which I'll address in the town manager's report. Um the capital plan. Uh so we'll wait

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for Mr. Czecha. I guess I can do the non DPW items first. The capital committee voted on these uh unanimously 5 to 0. The finance committee uh confirmed unanimously 9 to

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zero. I can go through it in as little or as much depth as the board would like. It's essentially this uh Excel sheet. Uh do we have a page number? >> I don't think that's in our packet. >> I didn't see that. >> That's right. It's this right here.

428
02:02:07.599 --> 02:02:24.000
>> Oh, yeah. >> Oh, is it separately handed out? >> Wait a minute. >> It was part of packet. I ripped it off. >> 37. Yeah. >> 37. It is. Okay. Uh through your chair, I did have one question, >> Mr. Luchana.

429
02:02:24.000 --> 02:02:40.960
>> Um Mark, the police department has says cruisers, doesn't say how many. >> So they requested three that funds two. >> And is that like a normal cycle of replacement that we're following? Is it is there a I

430
02:02:40.960 --> 02:02:56.000
>> I mean if if you ask them if they want faster, newer cruisers, they do. And if they want less repairs and more vehicles ready, yes, they do. Um, working within fiscal limits, Chief Clark, I don't want

431
02:02:56.000 --> 02:03:11.920
to speak for him, but he understands. Uh, and two per year is something that he can definitely live with. >> How many cruisers do we have in total? >> Total approximately 35. >> Okay. And so this is year one of so many

432
02:03:11.920 --> 02:03:27.199
years of this funding or this >> this would buy them out in full. >> Okay. >> And Mr. Town Manager, would we see the uh cruisers that are coming offline going up for surplus? Is that what we'd say?

433
02:03:27.199 --> 02:03:45.760
>> Exactly. They would go on municip unless public works has a a use for them. I mean, they are, you know, 100,000 miles. I don't know if uh public works has a use for the old police cruisers or if they'd just go right to the auction block.

434
02:03:45.760 --> 02:04:01.360
>> Mr. Chairman, Mr. Kimble, >> we've got into a bad habit over the years of taking giving other departments, old cruises or whatever trucks or whatever and not instead of it going

435
02:04:01.360 --> 02:04:17.119
stable being stable or stable uh inventory, it's been going up and up and up and up. And I think we need to take another look at all our vehicles and determine what we need, what we don't need, and start going either flat or

436
02:04:17.119 --> 02:04:35.520
down. We've got cars sitting around on properties that we're not even using. And it it's not so much that they cost us anything. They probably paid for, but insurance costs money, you know, and all the maintenance and upkeep. And some of these units are electric and batteries

437
02:04:35.520 --> 02:04:51.599
are only good for so many years. So, you know, I think we have to start looking at yes, if another department can use it, that's great. But when you give it to that department, what are they going to give back so we can get rid of it? We don't need to keep adding to the fleet

438
02:04:51.599 --> 02:05:11.440
because I think it's becoming a problem. >> Understood. And I I don't believe we will add to the fleet. We will surplus these. I don't given the looks I'm getting, we're not going to use these vehicles. >> Correct. Okay. >> What else do you have on capital?

439
02:05:11.440 --> 02:05:26.560
>> So, going on down the list, police is requesting tasers that were approved by the various committees. This is year one of five. Uh they prefer to have them under warranty, and I understand that's a public safety issue uh to keep people

440
02:05:26.560 --> 02:05:42.880
safe uh to use non-lethal force when they can. Um so, they're coming out of warranty this year. Uh, this year is year five of five. So, next year would be year 105. And it's it's the same company. They

441
02:05:42.880 --> 02:06:00.080
have a monopoly on tasers in America. This is no second company to buy them from. Uh, next is the parking lot. The police parking lot is in deplorable condition. Uh, it's been like that for decades.

442
02:06:00.080 --> 02:06:17.599
It's overdue for a repave. We did receive 25,000 from the state, so we'll use that first. Um hopefully we don't use the full amount, but that's that's what was recommended that will get it done. Uh

443
02:06:17.599 --> 02:06:35.520
next up is schools. Uh tech displays. That's a contractual obligation year 305 for the middle school. Uh tech switches are that's a that's a new request this year. That's actually at 60% reimbursement,

444
02:06:35.520 --> 02:06:51.119
but they're asking that we the requirement would be to allocate the full amount even though we would only spend 40% of that amount. Um, but we would have to tie up those funds while the project is underway. Tech switches,

445
02:06:51.119 --> 02:07:07.119
I'm not a tech guy, but to the best of my understanding, they provide the mechanism that the internet, the Wi-Fi communicates through the school buildings. That's how they get internet to the classrooms and communicate. The the expected life is 3 to 5 years.

446
02:07:07.119 --> 02:07:23.760
They're at 7 to 9 years with this. Um seems reasonable, although it it does come with a high price tag. That's a necessary part of technology. Uh paving, we already have 50,000 set

447
02:07:23.760 --> 02:07:40.719
aside for the lot at the middle school and that's not enough to complete the lot. So this 50,000 with that other 50,000 would be enough to complete the lot. >> Mr. Chairman, >> Mr. Kimbo, >> so when we go off for paving of the school and we have to pave the uh

448
02:07:40.719 --> 02:07:57.280
parking lot behind the police station, can those be can you know can we can we can we bid them in both at the same time? >> But I shouldn't say it that way. I understand you can't. Can we bid them in a way that we can pick one company to come in and do them both so we're not

449
02:07:57.280 --> 02:08:12.560
paying two different companies? >> Yes, absolutely. We we have this bid already through a surge contract where we >> um >> it's a collaborative >> a collaborative Thank you. a collaborative contract with other communities for procurement. So, we

450
02:08:12.560 --> 02:08:30.079
already have a contractor uh on board and we've already gotten prices. So, we know this is an accurate number for both projects actually. Thank you. >> Um, moving to library. Their security system is in need of replacement and the

451
02:08:30.079 --> 02:08:44.400
request is for $2,84. That sounds reasonable. I'm informed they have over a million dollars of books and as well as other artifacts. Um, did you want to go talk about the

452
02:08:44.400 --> 02:09:00.320
highway? Oh, did I miss that? Uh, the asphalt hop. I'll let Jared speak to that or Justin. Sorry. Just don't call me Chica. Um, so, uh, yeah, the highway uh, asks,

453
02:09:00.320 --> 02:09:16.560
there's two two goodiz asks there. One is for an asphalt hot box. As you know that, uh, that's what we use to fill these, uh, beautiful potholes we have in our town. Um, just like every town, the asphalt hot box we have right now is 30 years old and on its last legs. It's

454
02:09:16.560 --> 02:09:34.960
been repaired many times. Um, it needs to be replaced. Uh, the second item in the highway ask is a six-wheeler sander with the sander and plow. Um, again, this is to replace a 30-year-old Peterbuilt that we have. Um, it

455
02:09:34.960 --> 02:09:52.880
saw its last storm during the blizzard. It has a major hydraulic leak that can't be purchased. Um it has u a sanding box that again has been welded uh more times than humanly possible. Um so it's time

456
02:09:52.880 --> 02:10:11.760
for replacement. >> Mr. Chairman, >> Mr. Gimble, >> even in such wonderful condition, we're still going to try to auction that off. >> Yeah, you have to I'm I'm sorry. I don't mean Yeah. Uh yes, you have to follow the procurement laws, right? So we have to uh we mentioned before you have to

457
02:10:11.760 --> 02:10:28.400
ask all the other departments if they're useful life to them which in this case we'll find that it's not and it'll go straight to auction. >> Thank you. >> Or if nothing at auction it'll be scrapped for scrap metal. >> While you're there, would you like to

458
02:10:28.400 --> 02:10:46.159
speak about the pickle ball courts? >> I'd love to. So, we've been asked um uh through through various uh people. Uh the town would like to have a recreational pickle ball court here in town. Um our parks

459
02:10:46.159 --> 02:11:00.960
and recreation director had done some research prior to me getting here. I've worked with her. Um the overall cost of the pickle ball courts is roughly uh $60,000. I say roughly.

460
02:11:00.960 --> 02:11:18.320
It's pretty close to exact. Um there's a $10,000 amount that's coming out our revolving fund from parks and recreation. Um there's some money that was allocated last year for it and and the uh delta is $40,000 and these will

461
02:11:18.320 --> 02:11:34.159
replace two of the four tennis courts at the middle school that was given to parks and wreck from the school department. Um, we're looking to put a uh mobile system in like you see at uh the best example would be Gillette

462
02:11:34.159 --> 02:11:49.360
Stadium where they sell the tiles that create the court on top of the surface that's there. We looked into resurfacing that uh tennis court. Uh we could do it for roughly the same amount, but um we're not confident it'll last in the

463
02:11:49.360 --> 02:12:05.599
long haul. So, uh using these temporary, I call them temporary because you could pick them up and move them. um is the best opportunity for the town. Um I'm also told that there are leagues that are already ready to to to pay to use

464
02:12:05.599 --> 02:12:21.760
these courts. >> Mr. Chairman, >> Mr. Kimble, >> I'm fully supportive of pickle ball courts. I don't have a problem with them, but I can tell you is there many night I turn on the TV and there's neighborhoods complaining about the noise that the noise that they make. And

465
02:12:21.760 --> 02:12:36.400
I understand I know exactly where the courts were in the middle school or are um there are neighbors on Oak Street behind it. So before we get into a situation where we've got a neighborhood

466
02:12:36.400 --> 02:12:52.719
up in up in arms, it would be nice if we when we're bidding out this project that maybe we add some kind of fencing that might defer some of the some of the noise of those ding ding ding balls when they're getting hit. they make a unique

467
02:12:52.719 --> 02:13:08.000
sound, you know, and the the noise carries quite far unlike a tennis ball. So, I think it's important that uh I'm all in favor of pickle ball courts and I think that's probably a logical place to put

468
02:13:08.000 --> 02:13:24.800
it. I just wouldn't caution you that when the word gets out, there could be probably 20 neighbors when that just roughly picturing the neighborhood, at least 20 neighbors coming out and saying, "What are you doing?" You know, the quality of life will go downhill

469
02:13:24.800 --> 02:13:41.679
real fast. So, I just caution you and maybe take a look at some kind of a fencing or maybe on the back of the court, put up something different on the fencing so it it absorbs some of the some of the noise, that kind of stuff, you know. Mr. Chair, as a new member of the park

470
02:13:41.679 --> 02:13:58.320
and rec commission and also somebody who attempted to play tennis at the middle school courts a couple years ago during during the school hours and was kicked off by some teacher was driving away and called the police, police came over. I don't know if people realize that you cannot you cannot be on school property

471
02:13:58.320 --> 02:14:14.719
during the school hours. So, I don't as much as logical as it seems that the middle the old middle school courts might be a good location, I think practically nobody's going to be able to use those uh unless it's summertime or unless you know after 3:30 in the

472
02:14:14.719 --> 02:14:31.360
afternoon. So, I I would ask that you maybe come and talk to the park and rec commission and see um what our thoughts are. Um I just off the top of my head here listening and um I'm thinking Ever Leonard because there are are no homes around Ever Leonard and there's plenty

473
02:14:31.360 --> 02:14:50.400
of land. But um I just want to make sure that I would ask that you come to the park and rec commission and have a discussion with us before putting it out to bid or anything. >> Okay. >> Yep. Thank you. >> Uh sounds reasonable. The fire

474
02:14:50.400 --> 02:15:06.239
department has uh the payment 305 ladder truck um and fire turnout gear for uh to be taken out of ambulance reserve. Um, and then just to note uh before I

475
02:15:06.239 --> 02:15:22.840
let DPW Director Cha speak to water and sewer is that all these requests um there was a handful of these that were submitted to our state and federal partners and if earmarks come through then we just simply would not spend whatever funds are authorized.

476
02:15:22.880 --> 02:15:38.800
So when we go to water where we have two requests out um and when it was brought before the uh capital improvements committee and the finance committee they talked about um um deferring the uh total costs over a

477
02:15:38.800 --> 02:15:55.679
5-year period. So that's what we're asking for. We're looking to uh add a loader to the water and sewer departments. Um this is twofold. Uh currently the water and sewer departments do not have um um a machine

478
02:15:55.679 --> 02:16:09.679
capable of filling trucks in a reasonable amount of time. Um not to mention that during this year's storm um we had multiple issues with removing snow because the town has one

479
02:16:09.679 --> 02:16:28.800
loader that's at the DPW uh highway division. Um, so anytime there was an issue on the other side of town, we'd have to drive a loader from the DPW highway division across town to the other side. Uh, water and sewer also is

480
02:16:28.800 --> 02:16:46.399
responsible for removing snow from there are 19 or so pump stations and um, five wells in town as far as and also the water treatment plant. So, it just makes sense for water and sewer to purchase their own loader.

481
02:16:47.359 --> 02:17:04.200
On top of that, water department has a plow uh has a six- wheelel truck that was purchased, I believe, last year or the year before without a plow. Um it has the capability of taking one. So, we'd like to purchase the plow for that vehicle.

482
02:17:07.679 --> 02:17:23.280
>> Both of those capital requests would come out of retained earnings, not out of uh general fund. So the uh board's pleasure on article 10. >> Motion to support article 10. >> Second.

483
02:17:23.280 --> 02:17:40.479
>> Motion in a second. Any discussion? >> Seeing none. All in favor? >> I >> I >> I >> Mr. Chair, just a comment about the capital improvement uh committee. I know that Eric Norris is no longer on the planning board. I believe there are only five members on the capital improvement

484
02:17:40.479 --> 02:17:57.760
committee that are appointed. I'm fine with Mr. Rich staying on it. I think there's benefit to having continuity, especially with some of these multi-year um expenses, but I just wanted to mention to the planning board, a couple members here, and with uh Paul leaving that they um appoint somebody else so

485
02:17:57.760 --> 02:18:18.120
that you don't go short-handed at your future meetings. Thank you. >> Yep. Um Yep. Something to address before November or October, rather. Uh so up next

486
02:18:18.160 --> 02:18:36.240
for your consideration, West M West West Main sewer expansion. I guess I'll speak on that. Um we're looking to move along the sewer expansion down West Maine. As you know, um, phase one, we'll call it, goes down

487
02:18:36.240 --> 02:18:52.719
past the, um, elementary and high school to, I believe, roughly Freeman Street or thereabouts. Uh, we're looking to expand it now from Freeman Street all the way down to, uh, North and South Worcester,

488
02:18:52.719 --> 02:19:08.319
um, past the Solomon School. Um, we were originally going to stop at the middle school, which as you know is under a uh uh constraint to to get rid of their title 5 septic system that that failed a few years back. So, they're on borrowed

489
02:19:08.319 --> 02:19:24.160
time. Um, but we realize that um the Solommones was also on a septic system and and we we have industry along that way that uh could benefit from it. So, we're looking to expand it down to north and south Worcester. Um what the request

490
02:19:24.160 --> 02:19:41.040
for today is for a uh a study to be done. Um roughly I'm just looking for the numbers. Town manager, do you have that in front of you? >> The the amount we're requesting is 60,000. Is that what you have?

491
02:19:41.040 --> 02:19:57.280
>> Yeah, I'm sorry. 60,000 is for a sewer study. um because of the topography um because of the um uh you know the heights of the road um it's not cut and dry to do a gravity feed

492
02:19:57.280 --> 02:20:12.240
system from the Solommones all the way down to Freeman Street. Um what the stud is going to come back with is what's the best best method to get it down if that's in in fact the best place to send it. um they're going to give us two or

493
02:20:12.240 --> 02:20:29.040
three um solutions with the best practice as well as um help us with grant funding and and um payment possibilities. So the 60,000 today would just be strictly for the

494
02:20:29.040 --> 02:20:45.840
study to be completed and hopefully we'd be back in the fall talking about a design. >> Mr. Chair, Mr. Justin, is there any way um I think everybody knows what the problems that were encountered

495
02:20:45.840 --> 02:21:02.479
bringing it from um you know the common up to Freeman. >> Correct. >> And is there any way uh that can that that engineering can include any testing core samples for material and where the line would >> Great question and uh the answer to that

496
02:21:02.479 --> 02:21:19.439
is obviously yes that would be in the design phase. However, >> questions. >> Um, so Mr. Chair, Mr. >> So, Mr. Kimble, explain the the uh south and northwest street um you know uh light uh

497
02:21:19.439 --> 02:21:34.560
>> traffic traffic. So, I'm sure you're going to try to correlate with the work that they're doing. >> Absolutely. So, we don't have to dig it back up later. >> Great. Thank you. because obviously the you know the I don't want to say obviously the future asks would be to take that line from that area and take

498
02:21:34.560 --> 02:21:51.040
it to the Attlebar line right so we'd have um sewer all the way down West Main Street and then potentially at sometime in the future stop bringing it north and south on Worester so um definitely part of a a a futuristic uh expectation so

499
02:21:51.040 --> 02:22:06.960
it'll be sized accordingly and and uh taken all into consideration >> Mr. Mr. Chair, >> Mr. Rich, >> Justin, with that being said, if for some reason that the testing is going to take longer than uh the start date of

500
02:22:06.960 --> 02:22:24.160
the reconstruction of the intersection at North and Southwester, if they repave overlay that, does that fall under the 5-year moratorum for digging up new ashalt? >> Yes, it would. However, I believe um

501
02:22:24.160 --> 02:22:41.280
that can be waved, which I believe at this point is the DPW director's job >> unless it can be designed to go in the gutter or something >> into the side, right? But we're talking a pretty good size pipe and we try to keep our sewer aligned in the middle of

502
02:22:41.280 --> 02:22:57.359
the road if at all possible, but that's going to be determined on uh what we find in the ground, right? But there's also that I'm sorry. There's also that 4 in that comes from the Somales that I I I'm not sure if it was you and me that talked, but I had spoke to one of the uh

503
02:22:57.359 --> 02:23:13.280
board members that the possibility of removing that and putting it in its place. So >> yeah, that's while they're doing that intersection if maybe that >> something in the ground >> under >> Mr. Kimble. Yeah, that's that's what I

504
02:23:13.280 --> 02:23:29.920
was going to say. you all they got to do is put a stub at the end of that and there's a there's a plaza there that's the school is not going to be impacted the entrance way of the school when that when they do that redesign that's basically basically where it ends so correct we can connect the school that's

505
02:23:29.920 --> 02:23:43.600
not going to be an issue >> the um >> East Main Street is long overdue in getting some of these things done I'm sorry >> I said sorry Mr. which have both schools, the middle school and the >> I mean trying to take them all. As far

506
02:23:43.600 --> 02:24:01.200
as the u the middle school and that sewer line that we have on the ground now is just a forced line that goes from the from the school into the center of town and it's was put in there inside an old water pipe so we could take care of the issue of a failing system and then

507
02:24:01.200 --> 02:24:16.240
our leeching fields weren't working right. So we had to do something and that's what we did when we replaced the water line. We reuse the existing water line and put a smaller pipe in there and use that for for surge. It ends at number 120 West Main. That's where the

508
02:24:16.240 --> 02:24:33.680
senior housing is. So that's where it's going to start. If you think about all the properties along that route from that point on to to Chhatway Corners, um there's a major con major ret uh retail and industrial buildings there that will

509
02:24:33.680 --> 02:24:50.080
benefit from this allowing us for future development in that area on some of these larger, you know, buildings we have. >> Yeah. Especially like Goat Cities Plaza. I know this system's failing, you know, already. Everybody knows it. So, I'm

510
02:24:50.080 --> 02:25:05.439
sure there'll be more than what are wanting to jump on the bandwagon to make sure that happens. So, I think this is all over. I think we need to get going and uh and get started on getting this this section of town uh sewed as soon as we can

511
02:25:05.439 --> 02:25:21.520
through you chair. >> Miss Luchiano. >> Um Mark, I suppose same question for 16, 17, and 18, which is why Justin is here, but have these all been voted on by at FINCOM? Uh yes, all three unanimously 9 to zero. And I do just want to note with

512
02:25:21.520 --> 02:25:38.479
this project, the intention would be to come back in the fall for the design funds and hopefully the following spring, a year from now for construction. I'm pushing them a little bit. >> I'd love to say yes, but I won't speak to that at this point. >> Yeah, that was my next I guess comment.

513
02:25:38.479 --> 02:25:54.640
>> It's going to take some time. The design's going to take some time, especially because we don't want to have the same issues that we had last time. >> Yeah. Well, these are all great projects and particularly the Elm Street expansion or West Main Street expansion, I should say, um is really important, I

514
02:25:54.640 --> 02:26:10.479
think, for if we want to have economic development. Um I'm a little concerned that we're going to bite off more than we can chew if we try to accomplish all three of these projects in the same timelines. >> I I can appreciate that. I I can put your mind a little bit of these that I'm

515
02:26:10.479 --> 02:26:26.640
very good at scheduling that type of stuff. Um I understand the constraints of of Norton and um the road process of getting around and there's only so many ways to go, right? So uh I think having

516
02:26:26.640 --> 02:26:43.840
our designs completed puts us in a great position to decide then when do we want to construct, whether we want to do one now, one later, what grant funds are out there available to us, what SRF loans are available to us. So maybe we do one this season and one next season, but

517
02:26:43.840 --> 02:27:00.640
getting these designs completed is the step one. >> Mr. Chairman, one final comment is the for those out there saying, "How can we afford to do this when we're cutting positions and we're doing this and doing that?" These are under the enterprise account system. The enterprise is

518
02:27:00.640 --> 02:27:16.319
separate. It's not part of two and a half, prop two and a half. This is above and beyond. Only the users pay for this programs. So all these improvements are going to be paid for by the water sewer users, not the general taxpayer. So I think we need to be clear on that that

519
02:27:16.319 --> 02:27:31.760
we're not just throwing money out there for because we got a lot of it. It's because we have the ability on some of our reserve accounts to use some of that money for this purpose and also to use the to raise the money through our our user fees.

520
02:27:31.760 --> 02:27:48.640
>> Yeah, thank you. I mean this phase anyway is retained is retained earnings but I'm imagining by the time we get to construction we looking at something different >> absolutely >> and this study will give us opportunities >> okay >> I'd entertain a motion

521
02:27:48.640 --> 02:28:03.200
>> on >> which number >> 16 chairman I make a motion we support article 16 >> second >> motion and a second any further discussion >> seeing none all those in favor >> I I I

522
02:28:03.200 --> 02:28:18.720
>> I >> thank you Mr. Chair. If I may briefly introduce the next before I let the subject matter matter expert weigh in. Uh so this is strengthening our interconnection with Mansfield. We already have a connection there. It's a

523
02:28:18.720 --> 02:28:34.800
few inches shorter than we would like it to be. It provides for emergency water flow between the two communities, but in order to sustain that for the future, it needs to be strengthened on both sides. Mansfield is completing a water mane project on their side. And this would be

524
02:28:34.800 --> 02:28:50.960
uh for us to do a metering pit uh widen the pipe and uh design what needs to be designed so we can purchase water if necessary from a community that already invested 50 million plus in PAS and it

525
02:28:50.960 --> 02:29:08.640
makes a lot of sense from my high level perspective. I don't know if you want to add anything. >> Nothing nothing needed to be added. Thank you. Mr. Chairman, >> Mr. Kimble, I >> make a motion we support 17. >> Second motion and a second. Any further

526
02:29:08.640 --> 02:29:24.800
discussion? Seeing none, all in favor? >> I >> I >> opposed. Not. >> And I will let uh Justin speak to this one. There's a lot of moving parts with this one. I I'll say the water meters

527
02:29:24.800 --> 02:29:40.319
need to be replaced. There's 600 no read meters. That's not really optional. We need to not do estimated reads. We need actual reads. Um, so we need to have that water meter ongoing replacement pro program in place. And that's the bulk of

528
02:29:40.319 --> 02:29:56.960
this. But there's some other nuts and bolts. As the town manager stated, uh, we have over 5,000 water users in the town. Um, of those 5,000, roughly 700 were uh, estimated reads. It was 900 last year.

529
02:29:56.960 --> 02:30:13.040
uh we've replaced 200 over the past year. Uh what that means is that you know the the meter replacement program took too long to develop like um so we're we're behind the curve. Um it's important that we have accurate readings

530
02:30:13.040 --> 02:30:28.319
not only for the town's revenue but for the residents as well. Um, so what we're asking for at this point is 216 uh I'm sorry that's 150,000 of that is for uh meter replacements for next year

531
02:30:28.319 --> 02:30:43.520
which would get us about 400 of those 700 um which is well within our capability of doing because we're the ones that go out or the water department is the one that goes out and changes these meters. Um

532
02:30:43.520 --> 02:30:59.840
the other portion of that uh delta is for um work that needs to be done at the water treatment facility. Uh there's a carbon filter that needs to be replaced. Uh we've done the other five I believe or four. We have one left to do. Um and

533
02:30:59.840 --> 02:31:16.319
there are also uh wet wells there. Uh clear wells that need to be drained, cleaned, and uh revamped. So the remainder of that comes from quotes uh from the contractors to take that work and take care of that work. Um also part

534
02:31:16.319 --> 02:31:33.520
of this article is $30,000 from sewer retain earnings. Uh over the years again we've been updating our pump station controls. Uh what that means is there's wells of sewage that come on and off. Pumps come on and off depending on what level uh you know the sewage rate the

535
02:31:33.520 --> 02:31:49.680
sewage hits. uh the control systems in in um three of those pump stations need to be updated and I want to do it or I would rather do it all at one time and not keep waiting for a catastrophe. So, um the money's in the retained earnings.

536
02:31:49.680 --> 02:32:08.000
So, we're asking to to get that all done this year. >> Questions? Mr. Kimble? >> Make a motion we support article 18. >> Second. >> Motion and a second. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor?

537
02:32:08.000 --> 02:32:22.160
>> I >> I. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. And the last warrant article this evening is number 24, reconstruction of 140 and 123. Uh so this is the downtown

538
02:32:22.160 --> 02:32:39.600
area and we've been discussing this for many many years. This would be a design for 140,000. 100,000 is in the form of a optimistically highly anticipated earmark. We're very hopeful that this

539
02:32:39.600 --> 02:32:57.040
one will come through and if it doesn't then we'll be back in the fall and we'll only get 40,000 done of the $140,000 study. So, this would be to get us up to 25% of design. Then the state would come in and hopefully pay for the easements

540
02:32:57.040 --> 02:33:14.000
and pay for the construction. I'm not I mean we would need to pick a design. So we would town meeting would likely pick one of the three designs up for discussion. I understand the traffic committee has weighed in on it. We've had a public

541
02:33:14.000 --> 02:33:30.319
hearing. I I don't know that the select board needs to pick one. They if the select board wants to pick one, they could recommend that one to town meeting to to pick. But we would need to pick what study we're going to do. We wouldn't do all three. Mr. Chairman,

542
02:33:30.319 --> 02:33:46.479
>> Mr. Kimble, >> yeah, the traffic safety committee, um, we've been working on this project for a couple years, I can tell you in our own meetings, the confusion we have between picking from one of four solutions,

543
02:33:46.479 --> 02:34:01.200
you know, the three that we have and plus the fourth would be leaving it as it is. So I would highly recommend to the board that we pick one to bring the town meeting and and and try to try to do that. If we try to

544
02:34:01.200 --> 02:34:18.160
discuss all four options at town meeting, we're not going to have enough days or hours to do it. And I'd highly recommend that we take a position now. And you know, I can explain the four options. I'm sure Jason Justin can can also, but the four options are out there

545
02:34:18.160 --> 02:34:35.359
on the table. Um, I can tell you that s the traffic safety committee meeting had a meeting last week. Unfortunately, we didn't have a quorum, but I can tell you that the the members were sitting there having just a general discussion. The consensus was 4 to one in favor of

546
02:34:35.359 --> 02:34:52.640
option one. And option one is to go straight through the intersection to the left to the right of the church and come back out on the Taton Avenue. That's what we would call the Taton Avenue um extension, >> right? Um the article that allowed the

547
02:34:52.640 --> 02:35:08.560
suggestion to go through the Tom uh common was not looked favorably upon. Uh the roundabout has had some discussion. Um but the traffic safety committee believes at this point that the right way to do it

548
02:35:08.560 --> 02:35:25.920
would be to go directly through for a couple of reasons. Number one, it would be rush intrusive to the intersection. Number two, it does based on the engineers um suggestion cost about six today's world about $6 million and the

549
02:35:25.920 --> 02:35:41.280
engineering firm is firmly believes that the state will pick up all the cost but the other projects will have some cost to the town. So for those reasons, um I personally would recommend uh the uh Taton Avenue connection straight

550
02:35:41.280 --> 02:35:56.880
through. And um we can we can talk about more at town meeting, but uh Justin, you had a you had a public hearing. Maybe you'd like to share, you know, what the general consensus was there also. >> Yeah, we did. We held the public meeting. I from what I understand,

551
02:35:56.880 --> 02:36:12.160
there's been a few. Um, but the one we held the other day, we gave the attendants the opportunity to informally vote and and give us their opinion on what they'd rather see. Um, I can tell you that nobody wanted to see the um

552
02:36:12.160 --> 02:36:27.280
Mansfield uh extension cutting right through uh the town common, right? because that would be the most intrusive to the not only the town common, but it would also take up a lot of um land from the

553
02:36:27.280 --> 02:36:42.319
surrounding houses and properties there because their driveways uh would also be impacted. Um, so just to elaborate a little bit on what um, select board member uh, Kimell mentioned

554
02:36:42.319 --> 02:36:59.600
was um, the source of these projects is basically the commission that you appointed me to earlier today, the the JTPG and the SUREAD Commission. Um, you know, this this work would be hopefully picked up

555
02:36:59.600 --> 02:37:14.880
by the TIP program, which is a transportation um state funded uh conglomerate that uh pays for projects like this that improve traffic safety,

556
02:37:14.880 --> 02:37:30.880
that improves overall infrastructure of the of the town. uh they're very big on pedestrian safety, on ADA compliance, and also on um bike paths. So all well three of the four obviously doing

557
02:37:30.880 --> 02:37:45.840
nothing changes nothing. But uh the other three are impact impacts all all three or four of those phases. ADA compliance, pedestrian safety, right down the list, right? Um the Taton A

558
02:37:45.840 --> 02:38:01.359
um expansion that would go through uh to the right of the church does have some property takings, but because it's a state road, it's not only Beta's uh opinion, but mine as well that the state would possibly pick up those um you know

559
02:38:01.359 --> 02:38:16.800
those easement costs. Um normally normally towns and cities pay for the design and takings, right? That's usually how these work. Masda or the tip foundation would pay for all of

560
02:38:16.800 --> 02:38:31.680
construction, but um the states would be on the cuff uh for those two items. But because it's a state road, uh like Bob mentioned, um it's a good chance that the state would pick up the cost of the easements along that road.

561
02:38:31.680 --> 02:38:49.280
>> Mr. here. Um, so I I also attended the historic district commission meeting last week and I we had a discussion about the the four options and they um they also prefer well they were split basically to be honest with you. They were split leave it as is do nothing and

562
02:38:49.280 --> 02:39:06.000
and um in the tonav bypass. >> Sorry historic or traffic >> historic district. I want I want to be courteous to them. I mean, it's their district. It's going to affect their historic uh landscape if you would. So, um I attended the traffic one as well.

563
02:39:06.000 --> 02:39:21.200
Unfortunately, I'm not on it, so I couldn't help bring them up to a a quorum, but um the historic uh district commission is that's the one out of the three if they had to pick that they uh recommend as well. So I I don't know on

564
02:39:21.200 --> 02:39:37.840
this article if the right way to word it, but my suggestion is to present um the taunt bypass option one to the town meeting and let them decide. Obviously if you know I'm always on the side of

565
02:39:37.840 --> 02:39:51.920
letting the people choose, right? If if they don't choose it, then basically they're choosing to leave it as is. So it's, you know, it's binary at that point, right? Um, so that's my thought. >> Agreed. The suggestion would be to

566
02:39:51.920 --> 02:40:09.040
authorize that 40,000 along with >> your suggestion as a board as to which one to bring to town council. >> Yeah. >> I mean to the town uh vote, I'm sorry. >> Right. >> Yeah. I think that I think the taunt nav uh option one is the one to present to a

567
02:40:09.040 --> 02:40:24.640
town meeting and then they may have questions about it and that that kind of thing as far as beyond the 25% design will be additional design cost when we get to 50. >> Absolutely. >> Okay. They may ask >> 25% is the necessity to bring it to the

568
02:40:24.640 --> 02:40:41.120
tip program. So to get it on a tip project uh after that you go from 25 to 85% and then to 100%. So, >> so the full cost to the town is likely going to be a lot more than 140,000. >> Absolutely. >> Okay, >> Mr. Chairman. >> Similar to the bike pathway. I'm sorry,

569
02:40:41.120 --> 02:40:57.040
Mr. Chair. The the the rail trail years ago, it was a state grant as well, alternate transportation grant or some sort, and it was 3 million and the town had to come up with 10% of the 3 million, which is 300,000. So, I don't know what the percentage is in this case, but if it's an $8 million project,

570
02:40:57.040 --> 02:41:13.840
could be a lot more money than 140,000. >> Absolutely. >> Mr. The state is kicking in a big portion of it. The the full construction, >> right? >> But construction. That's what I'm saying. >> So the estimated construction is 8 to 10 million. >> If that helps you. So I would think the

571
02:41:13.840 --> 02:41:30.880
design is going to be >> 10% maybe. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Great. Thank you. And I would I would add that, you know, we've had conversation with the traffic safety committee about this where it is a state road unlike a bike path which wasn't you

572
02:41:30.880 --> 02:41:46.560
know um we don't feel we should be paying pretty much any of it. we know, we'll get to the 25% level and then we're going to start working with our state senators and reps and see if we can get some additional funding from them because in my opinion, it's not a town

573
02:41:46.560 --> 02:42:02.720
road, it's a state road and we shouldn't happen to be putting in 10% of the cost of the project. And I know based on the first meeting we had with DOT about this project three years ago now, at least three years ago,

574
02:42:02.720 --> 02:42:18.880
the amount of um interest in this. They brought in DOT members from the state level to talk to us about this. So I know this is on their their radar and I know they want to do something about it. So, I think we

575
02:42:18.880 --> 02:42:35.359
need to agree that we may have to pay the 80%. But we're probably going to make every effort we can to get as much money from the state as we can to make sure that this project is done without us having to pay for it. It's the highway. It's not ours.

576
02:42:35.359 --> 02:42:51.280
>> Thank you. And Mr. Chair, that makes sense and that hopefully hopefully that'll be the the case. said the town's people should know that this is just the first step in a multi-step funding appropriation as well as approval process. Right. So, correct. You're asking for 40,000 seed money basically

577
02:42:51.280 --> 02:43:06.240
hoping to get another 100,000 through at the other means, but there'll be multiple >> approvals at future town meetings for additional funding for design work, I'm guessing. >> Correct. >> Okay. Thank you, Justin. >> Mr. Chair, >> Mr. I'd

578
02:43:06.240 --> 02:43:22.319
>> like to make a motion to uh pull forward uh approve um reconstru or recommend rec article number 24 reconstruction intersection of route 140 Mansfield a ton a nav and route 123 east

579
02:43:22.319 --> 02:43:39.200
and west main street option number one the taton a extension >> second motion and a second any further discussion um yes please um are we voting to recommend it to present it option one to the town.

580
02:43:39.200 --> 02:43:54.960
>> We're voting to recommend >> recommend >> recommend article 24 with uh option one as a choice. >> Okay, >> Mr. Chairman, just to be clear, let's say someone want decided that we didn't uh they don't like option one, they want

581
02:43:54.960 --> 02:44:10.240
to do the roundabout, they can still offer an amendment on town meeting floor for discussion. So, it's not like we're not going to give them other opportunities if they don't want to do it. I think this board needs to take a strong position on on option one. Doesn't mean that others can't do

582
02:44:10.240 --> 02:44:32.319
something else if they decide to do it differently or want a different option. >> There's a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor? >> I I >> I >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. uh with your

583
02:44:32.319 --> 02:44:50.800
permission on to town manager report. Thank you, Mr. Chica. >> Thank you. >> Uh so town manager report. >> So first up, uh top of the mind budget development. We presented a budget April

584
02:44:50.800 --> 02:45:06.399
6th, a balanced budget, which was not an easy task. The highlevel points are we're weaning ourselves off onetime spending. Um, which current year's budget contained about I want to

585
02:45:06.399 --> 02:45:23.200
say 2 uh 2.3 million at least in one-time spending, free cash, and drawing from savings accounts. And that's simply not sustainable. So, this budget we us down to 1.6 million. Uh the plan for next

586
02:45:23.200 --> 02:45:40.160
year would be to get down to around half a million. Um and then we be we would be in a balanced budget. That requires belt tightening, being responsible with how we spend money, how we fill vacancies. Each vacancy is an opportunity to assess

587
02:45:40.160 --> 02:45:58.560
efficiencies. We're combing through all the departments. We're doing everything we can. Um cutting the cord on cable. um finding uh areas to

588
02:45:58.560 --> 02:46:15.920
use different departments working together um with IT with HR with there's a lot of moving parts. So, I've asked all the department heads to p pitch in and everyone's working

589
02:46:15.920 --> 02:46:32.240
together. School, town, DPW, we're all in this. And there's a path forward. It's We're not in critical emergency territory. We're also not in green light go territory. This is a if we continue on the path where we're

590
02:46:32.240 --> 02:46:48.720
headed, we would be in critical territory. This is a slight course correction. It's not a monumental thing. It's let's get back in the direction we need to be to improve our bond rating to manage funds sustainably within the two

591
02:46:48.720 --> 02:47:03.600
and a half levy because that's the constraints that that we have. So there's been a few amendments recently suggested um you know everyone doesn't get everything

592
02:47:03.600 --> 02:47:20.640
they ask for. It's a balanced budget. If if you look at it actually fire is taking a negative -2%, police is a negative 1% and and don't be alarmed because we're actually not it's actually level service and schools a is a plus

593
02:47:20.640 --> 02:47:38.800
one. Uh so we're being fair all around. Um recently we're looking at the ambulance reserve account to restore so we don't have to cut a a fire officer. Um, and that analyzing that account, we'd use

594
02:47:38.800 --> 02:47:54.160
1.2 million instead of 1.1 million, which would have been ideal, but 1.2 million is also sustainable. Um, and that account also pays for ambulances, fire engines. It's also been draw upon to pay for reconstruction to the fire

595
02:47:54.160 --> 02:48:10.960
department, but 1.2 million is is a solid account. So with that, with an extra 150,000 from our projected savings in health insurance, which we're hoping to agree with the unions and have substantially

596
02:48:10.960 --> 02:48:27.520
more in the coming months and year, but we're putting, you know, through through the hard work of the town manager's office, Christy, Shannon, Jen, endless hours, staying late. Um, so we we're trying to

597
02:48:27.520 --> 02:48:43.040
make it work and this way we wouldn't be down a firefighter, we wouldn't be down a police officer. Uh, we would actually be able to fill a police officer's position halfway through the year. So police would able

598
02:48:43.040 --> 02:48:58.160
be able to full steam ahead. I mean, it takes time to send someone to the academy, both police and fire. So we're maximizing our manpower um working together to find creative solutions which is essentially using a salary

599
02:48:58.160 --> 02:49:14.080
vacancy factor and for the schools um this would you know add I mean to their approximately 400,000 increase from last year this would add another 100 another 200,000 to that um so the schools would

600
02:49:14.080 --> 02:49:30.960
be up a net um probably 1 and a.5% um under the revised proposal which also takes into consideration um a lot of information the revised cherry sheet estimate which came out from the governor's office but the house

601
02:49:30.960 --> 02:49:46.960
came out yesterday or the day before I believe and increased the net to us by 100,000 which is typical that house typical typically increases the governor's ask a little bit it's a little bit of a dangerous game because you don't know what the senate and what

602
02:49:46.960 --> 02:50:02.479
the governor is going to But if we take that $100,000 increase and put it towards the schools, um I I believe that could be the final budget. Um we'll come back in

603
02:50:02.479 --> 02:50:19.920
uh in about 9 days for finance committee. There's a public hearing April 27th. Public will have an opportunity to come and weigh in on it. Um, in the meantime, the next nine days, we'll be combing over it, looking for more efficiencies, more savings, uh, to

604
02:50:19.920 --> 02:50:36.399
keep level service, to to keep, you know, doing what we have to do to keep everything running on a budget, tightening our belts, everyone pitching in. That's the long and short of it. >> Mr. Chairman, >> Mr. Kimble. >> Uh Mark, the uh there's most recent

605
02:50:36.399 --> 02:50:52.319
chatter and emails and conversation about per student cost maybe be elevated by a maybe $10 or whatever a certain amount. Um circuit breaker money might be coming available. Um I know we've got

606
02:50:52.319 --> 02:51:09.200
we declared a state of emergency on a snow snowstorm last year. Hoping to get some of that money back too. Do you see any other possible revenues coming in between now and town meeting that could maybe soften a couple things or do we just take that money and apply it to

607
02:51:09.200 --> 02:51:27.200
next year's uh next year's budget? >> Uh good good question. The finance committee has been asking this too. Um that what you're referring to would actually require an act of Congress. So I wouldn't hold my breath that happening before May 18th. Um but we are hopeful it will

608
02:51:27.200 --> 02:51:42.399
eventually happen. So, I wouldn't want to count on that money. U free cash is essentially going to snow and ice. We had a big snow and ice year and any excess would be recommended to go to accumulated absences

609
02:51:42.399 --> 02:51:59.760
which we had a couple payouts and there's a couple more payouts scheduled for next year with two firefighters scheduled to uh resign. Uh but we're actively negotiating with the unions to limit future payoffs uh payouts when

610
02:51:59.760 --> 02:52:16.080
people resign to limit the accumulated sick and vacation time so we're not seeing these six figure buyouts repeatedly in the future but that's what we have to deal with today. um other funds. I mean, the only thing that comes to top of mind is health insurance. Um

611
02:52:16.080 --> 02:52:33.760
but we're convening the PEC, the insurance advisory committee. So, that's not a short process that probably wouldn't be in time for town meeting. Um but just looking for things that might be in the budget that

612
02:52:33.760 --> 02:52:49.840
we can squeeze a nickel here and a nickel there and adding it all together. um >> through you chair, >> Miss Lutriiana. >> Uh Mark, you mentioned that the without having numbers in front of us, but you mentioned that there wouldn't be

613
02:52:49.840 --> 02:53:10.720
any impact to the fire or police headcount. Uh I didn't hear anything about the rest of the departments though. Is there any impact in headcounts anywhere else? I want to say no with the caveat that I hesitate to speak for the schools. Um

614
02:53:10.720 --> 02:53:26.880
I know their budget is roughly 40 million and every year they have people cycling in and out but I won't I mean there's there's a number of teachers that approach tenure which is 5 years and you know inevitably some people are

615
02:53:26.880 --> 02:53:43.600
non-renewed. There are retirements every year. Um, I know the initial estimate was 8 to 10 layoffs. Um, then with the additional aid, I mean, maybe that's down to four to six. I'm just loosely estimating. Don't hold me to that.

616
02:53:43.600 --> 02:54:00.000
That's the school department. Um, but with with what I just mentioned, I really don't think there would be any effective net layoffs at the school department. Um but don't that that's >> well >> that's me not the schools.

617
02:54:00.000 --> 02:54:15.439
>> Yeah we'll pay attention to >> they have their separate budget. >> Uh Mr. Chair, Mr. Ern, >> thank you. Uh so I know uh early on back in the spring your your goal was um

618
02:54:15.439 --> 02:54:32.160
to to fund uh the new positions through the existing um salary revenue basically self-funded or make it costneutral, however you want to put it. the DPW director, the IT director, your office. Um,

619
02:54:32.160 --> 02:54:48.399
have you been able to do that? Have you been able to be successful with that uh goal? More than successful. We've actually uh have a net savings in the three areas you just mentioned. We created an HR department, DPW,

620
02:54:48.399 --> 02:55:03.279
and an IT department. And for example, in the IT department, instead of spending $100 an hour to have 12 hours a week, we're spending $50 an hour to have 40 hours a week. So, we're getting more service for less money. >> Nice.

621
02:55:03.279 --> 02:55:20.160
>> It's so it's incredible what you can do. and the the sewer and water um >> revolving it. >> When I was running, I went to a couple of their meetings and I know that they spent a lot of money that it's not necessarily Norton staff um salary, you

622
02:55:20.160 --> 02:55:34.720
know, consultants, whatever the case is. So, I'm sure there's some findings there as well with our DPW director. Thank you. Yeah. and and we were able I'll just add since it the re reorganization with it was so successful, we were actually able to find money in the

623
02:55:34.720 --> 02:55:50.479
operating budget to fund the school's uh computer monitors uh for the high school. Um so hopefully we can work those requests um out of capital and into operating moving forward in the future. And I even after that it still

624
02:55:50.479 --> 02:56:12.240
delivered tens of thousands back. Thanks moving on with your report. So, yeah, budget, uh, finance committee and select board, we're just getting ready for town meeting. We have to finalize a couple of, uh, laws which we

625
02:56:12.240 --> 02:56:26.560
have to get redlined back to the finance committee and the select board. Um, besides that, it's just the budget warrant articles and then we should be good to go for May. we've uh locked down and I need to confirm that we have the

626
02:56:26.560 --> 02:56:43.520
company to show up and uh show up with the microphones and the speaker so we can have town meeting runoff without a hitch. Um so I will follow up on that. I know we did reserve them but it's always good to confirm.

627
02:56:43.520 --> 02:57:02.160
Uh the local election was very successful. Um, as as you know, we have a returning select board member and the school committee member also was reelected. A number of other faces. Uh, for the

628
02:57:02.160 --> 02:57:18.319
ones that haven't been announced yet, there were a couple of write-ins on the planning board. Um, one of one person ran, Frank Karns, and he was obviously elected. Uh the other two I have Chris Mami

629
02:57:18.319 --> 02:57:35.279
and Rob Bellis. So Rob has accepted and Chris um has not yet responded. Um one of them had 53 write in votes. The other had 35 write in votes. Looks like 53 was Chris Mina

630
02:57:35.279 --> 02:57:52.720
and 35 was Rob Bellas. Um, so we're getting started with that successful election. Sincere thanks to Jill, all the staff, the seniors, um, the staff in the clerk's office works non-stop preparing for weeks in advance. They had

631
02:57:52.720 --> 02:58:10.479
a big security meeting with police, uh, and a lot of stakeholders there, make sure everything went off without a hitch. Um, Congressman Aenloss came by. We briefed them on our infrastructure needs, public safety, education. um he's looking to partner with us into the

632
02:58:10.479 --> 02:58:29.120
future along with our state partners and continue smart growth. Uh we talked about the senior and community center. Great collaborative effort all around. Um Eric Kernerf is our interim accountant

633
02:58:29.120 --> 02:58:44.640
um to support continuity of financial operations so we're not missing a beat. And special thanks to Maryanne for filling in um in the interim um with our accountant stepping down and we'd like to you know thank him for his efforts

634
02:58:44.640 --> 02:59:05.680
over the years and we're continuing to uh move forward and subject to your questions through your chair. Miss Luchana, >> I know it's super early, but just to get um you to start thinking about uh it the

635
02:59:05.680 --> 02:59:20.240
town hall works really well for local elections and smaller elections. I'm a little concerned we don't have enough space when we get to the the um federal election level in the fall. So, I don't know if we're going to reconsider going back to the one of the schools that has

636
02:59:20.240 --> 02:59:36.640
maybe perhaps more space or I'm just not sure if this will be enough parking spots and flow here. >> Right. We've been discussing whether it makes sense to I mean there is a lot of space in this building but you'd have to set it up in an orderly way so people know what precincts I mean these two

637
02:59:36.640 --> 02:59:52.960
rooms worked well for locally like you said but I mean we'd either have to find a couple more rooms or I mean you're right probably to air on the safe side would be to ask the school department to use I'm not sure was it the the middle school or the high school that was used

638
02:59:52.960 --> 03:00:08.720
in the past. I think years and years ago it was the high school, but most recently it's been the middle school. >> You had a middle school. >> Yeah. >> So, I mean, I'll I'll defer to our clerk's recommendation on that, I think. But, >> yeah. No, I just wanted to bring it top of mind as I saw the flow for local,

639
03:00:08.720 --> 03:00:24.960
which worked well for local, but as I'm thinking ahead. >> Sure. And we always hope for higher turnout. I know we included a a a paper in the the tax mailer to let people know that there's an election cuz it's always great to get more people involved.

640
03:00:24.960 --> 03:00:40.080
>> Yep. >> Mr. Chairman, Mr. In addition to Denise's concern, I I would also throw out the community building is another option only because the schools are in session most of the day while we're trying to do the election where the community building could cancel

641
03:00:40.080 --> 03:00:57.439
everything for the day and even if it was just one one precinct uh one or two, you know, it would be probably >> the senior and community center. >> Yeah. >> Hadn't considered that. >> Yeah. because it's it's the main room is big enough to handle that kind of that

642
03:00:57.439 --> 03:01:12.479
kind of influx. But again, the schools are great, but they're they're in session. So, it just might be another option. >> So, you sound like doing like some some uh >> precincts here. >> Three, four, five in one side, one two in the other or whatever. >> Spin it up. >> Separate them.

643
03:01:12.479 --> 03:01:28.000
>> Is that a Tuesday election state? >> Yeah. Gotcha. they primary. >> So, I'm sure our our clerk will consider all the options and we can continue to discuss. I believe it's this board that ultimately votes to authorize the the election.

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>> As far as parking goes, we've got parking up front. We've got parking on the side. We've got parking at the library. We got 100 spaces behind us at the DPW if we just move our vehicles out of the way. I mean, there's a lot of parking around this building. I don't think that's the problem. I think the

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problem is is how do you bring them in without everyone coming through one door? You'd have to maybe have it set up so you have two doors coming in from different directions. That's all. >> Right. I mean, these are the two big

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conference rooms. If you use the other entrance, I mean, you could go upstairs, but there's not a lot of big rooms upstairs. Well, we we'll we'll continue to discuss it and figure out the best solution. Okay, moving on. We need to have a u a

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designation of a warrant signature. Um I know that was uh Mr. Rich previously. Mr. Chairman, I'll make a motion that we designate Roger to be a designated warranty

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warrant signatory. >> Second. >> Motion and a second. Any discussion? >> Seeing none, all in favor? >> I >> I >> Okay. Warrants. Uh, if I may. >> Yes.

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>> Could we have a backup signer also designated? >> Sure. I'll volunteer if you want me to. >> Unless Mr. Rich wants >> I'm looking for a motion. >> I make a motion that we uh appoint Mr.

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Kimble as a backup signer. >> Second motion in a second. Any discussion? Seeing none, all in favor? I >> I >> I >> I make a motion we approve invoice 26-40

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dated April 2nd, 2026. >> Second motion and a second. Any discussion? Seeing none, all in favor? I >> I chair make a motion we approve 126-41 dated April 9th, 2026. Second

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>> motion and a second. Any discussion? Seeing none, all in favor? >> I I make a motion that we've approved payroll warrant 26-20 for the week ending March 28th, 2026. >> Second. >> Motion and a second. Any discussion?

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Seeing none. All in favor? >> I >> I >> through you chair. >> Miss Luchiano, >> I think we missed an item under town manager report. >> I'm sorry. There's an appointment under town manager's report. >> Um >> I think he mentioned that during the

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town manager's report. >> Oh, sorry I missed that. >> Which one? Accountant or Yeah, the accountantor temporary accountant. Yeah. So I mean I give a brief explanation. Eric is he currently is the accountant for about 20 towns. He comes very highly

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recommended. Um in in fact our new treasurer has worked with him and um we're not missing a beat. Uh so Eric uh we've been working with him close coordination and u hopefully it's just

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until we can get a replacement. Um but we'll we'll see how it goes operationally. Everything is running as smooth as it should be. >> Thanks. Sorry I missed it if you said it earlier. >> No worries here. That sounds great. Um I I don't know who to ask this question

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to. Um but as we ask as as we all know the town accountant goes through the same appointment process as the town manager does for the select board leading that. So I don't know how that's how the how that's going to play out um going forward. So just throwing it out. Don't need any answers. Just want to ask the rest of the board, maybe anyone

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who's done this before, Bob or anyone else what the process is and just to make sure we keep it on our radar. >> Thank you. Yep. Thank you. minutes. >> Chair make a motion we approve the April 2nd, 2026 minutes as written.

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>> Second motion in a second. Any discussion? Seeing none, all in favor? >> I >> I select board report and mail. I don't have anything. Uh we're not going into executive session this evening.

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And a drum roll, please. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> Motion in a second. >> Any discussion? Seeing none, all in favor? >> I >> I >> have a good evening.

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Job, Rod.