All right, everyone. I will call the Tuesday, September 16th select board meeting to order. Tonight's meeting is being recorded uh by RCTV and broadcast on Zoom. Um and starting on the first we will go with the pledge of allegiance.
>> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God indivisible. >> All right. All right, I will go over the uh agenda.
>> Hi, you guys are still muted. >> Okay. >> Uh so once again, we're being broadcast on RCTV and recorded uh on Zoom. We just did the pledge of allegiance. Um so overview of the meeting 7:05, public comment for items not included on the
agenda. Uh 7:15 town manager report 720 community spotlight. 725 discuss potential over override budget review valley parking fees. 740 update and discussion on trash and recycling contract. 755 discussion and vote on
three-month extension of RCD license agreement. 810 discuss and vote on new annual all alcohol restaurant liquor license for champion golf va champion indoor golf located at one general way. discuss and vote on a transfer of an
annual allo liquor license for Yatawind DBA restaurant and bar located at 26 Walkersburg Drive. Uh public information at 8:30 public information session two review the charter changes and preparation for town meeting including
potential discussion and vote to amend the town manager removal and town manager resignation sections not applicable to that currently. Uh 9:00 potential invocation of the rule of necessity under the conflict of interest
law to allow board action on warrant and snow removal bylaw article. 910 vote to close uh the warrant uh for subsequent meeting. 925 discuss and vote to authorize town to participate in the settlement of national opioid uh
litigations with Purdue Sacklers and secondary opioid manufacturers. 935 discuss a lease amendment and memorandum of under understanding regarding parking for the reading center for active living recal and pickle ball courts with reading ice authority and
authorize a select mode member to engage in negotiations on behalf of the board. 9:45 brief update on status of Monastery Malbury School. 9:50 select board leaison on updates. 10 o'clock future agendas. 10:05 approved meeting minutes
from September 9th, 2025. Uh, and first is Mary on by chancellor now? >> Um, I don't see her. U we can ask if she's there. >> Mary from the Malbury School, are you on the Zoom yet?
Not yet. >> All right. So, we'll move on to public comment. Um, please take no more than two minutes. We're going to play some fancy music. Name and address. Angela [Music]
>> Angela Binda 10 Orchard Park Drive. I'm unable to stay for the meeting later. I don't know if I'll be able to get on Zoom. So I'm actually speaking on 935 agenda item. Discuss a lease amendment and memorandum understanding regarding parking for recal and pickle ball court
to thread authority. We need to be very clear here. Recal does not need additional parking. It has sufficient parking. It is the pickle ball courts that have no parking, zero parking, and they need
about 20 spaces. I'm very concerned that recal parking and recal visitors, primarily senior citizens, will lose out in order to trade parking use with Burbank for pickleball parking. It's unfortunate the town did not foresee this problem, did not provide parking as
part of the pickle ball project. You'll be deciding in the select board member to represent the select board with contract negotiations and I believe that members select board members Karen Herrick and Karen Roselis are the only valid options to represent the interests
of the town objectively. Karen Herrick I believe is the liaison to Burb bank in the contract. Karen Rosecillis should be afforded this opportunity also. She's demonstrated interest and willingness to participate as a new select board
member. Mr. Bachi with whom I served for I think a year and a half on the Simons way executive uh Simons exploratory committee should not serve um considering his time on swack as chair
where he continually promoted his interest as a pickle ball player and instructor and which was acknowledged not just by me but a majority of the committee members I don't believe he can operate in an objective manner you know if to negotiate the contract. Mr. Haley
has demonstrated that he does not fully understand or care about the contract and the relationship between the ICE authority and the town in his comments at a fincom meeting where he stated that our bank rent money was Burbank's money to decide how spent and very recently implied that he did not care if funds go
to the town by the arena and he did not care about violating the contract. Uh, Miss Murphy is currently working with the town to negotiate the RCTV contract. So, I do hope that Miss Herrick or Miss Rose Gillis is able to work with the town staff on the amendments to the
lease regarding parking for pickup courts. I believe they're the most objective people to go forward with this. Thank you. >> Thank you. We need to get Adam from the MBTA. He made a very well public comment. We're limiting people to always
two minutes. Uh, anybody else in the room? I don't know your name, but name and address, please. >> My name is Joseph White. >> Yep. >> My name is Joseph White. I live at 65 West Country Street. Um, I again would
like to encourage the board to renew the contract for RCTV. I think they've done a lot of good for this town and um I think that this is this really shouldn't been a long protracted argument. They've done a lot of good. They they continue
to do a lot of good and many people have been trained by them in this town and I think that they do a a good job doing the recording of these meetings, other meetings and that they should be their
their contracts should be renewed. Um so that's pretty much all I wanted to say. I've talked with numerous other people who also believe that RCTV should be um their contract should be renewed. So um
I just wanted to convey that to the board and encourage the board to renew their contract. Thank you. >> Thanks. Anyone else? Nancy name and address. >> Nancy Dr. Pearl Street. Um this is regarding I guess both contracts for
Burbank and RCTV. Um in the agenda you talked about having a leazison assigned to RCD TV to be part of the executive director annual review. So I'm assuming that's going to be written in also to Burbank and you'll be doing that for the
four directors and Dennis Hughes. Is that correct? Because you can't single out one agency and not the other. I'd like this board to be consistent. So I'd like that to be in the contract as well for Burbank that you will assign the liaison and you'll be reviewing their executive director on an annual basis.
>> Thank you. >> Thanks Nancy. Anyone else in the room? >> Maddie, anyone online? >> Not seeing any hands online. >> Mary is in fact by chance. >> I don't see her. >> All right. So we'll bring it up during
the 9:45. Okay. ction and that'll be that. >> Yep, sounds good. >> Point of information, who requested this agenda item? Was it who who requested this agenda item? >> The which the update on the monastery Malbury school? Uh, I set the agenda.
So, I made the request just like every single other item that's on the agenda. >> So, you asked the director of the Malware School to come in here on a command performance. >> Uh, no I didn't. >> Okay. I'm >> So, she doesn't need to be here. >> She doesn't need to be. She said that she was going to be and then I uh she
said that she could only do it during public comment because she's having health issues and can't stay late. So, I'm being amendable to what she requested. >> But to be clear, I think um staff could give us an update on the situation and there's no need for anyone related to
this to be here. >> Staff update section Karen that it's it's already been discussed behind the scenes and I was being accommodating to her if she wanted to. Otherwise, we're going to bring it up at 9:45. That's Hey, listen. >> I'm just being clear. You've requested
this agenda. >> I am. And you demanded that she show up. >> I did not demand that she showed up >> because there's no reason for her to be here tonight. >> You are correct. As of an hour and a half ago, you are correct. Prior to that, you were incorrect.
>> No, I was not incorrect. >> Okay. Well, we will move on then to uh the town manager report. Matt. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chair. A few updates on some things going on in Reading. Um, first of all, and
importantly, tomorrow the Reading Coalition's A Time together, which is an event that will remember those that we lost to suicide and substance misuse, is happening um from 5:30 to 7:30 outside Town Hall. Um, many of you might have
noticed the exhibit is already up, the flags, the posters. um that's some pre preference for the the event tomorrow. Um there's also going to be music and a candle light vigil and also I have the honor of presenting the first ever reading poetry prize to the winning
student tomorrow night which I'm very excited about. So I hope everybody could gather outside town hall tomorrow night for that very moving event. The NBTA turnback track. Um, so many of you know they've had uh at least two public meetings, one with the director
Butters and one just last night with the general public. Um, so I attended that in person. That was um informative. They had they had answers to some questions. They had studies and whatnot. Um, we had asked them, I think over the summer to come back to a select board meeting
before they filed the notice of intent. I believe they agreed to that. They didn't mention that last night. So, we've reached out to them to see if that is still the case. want that to be the case because I'm sure we'll have questions about mitigation and whatnot uh directly from the board. So after
that, they said last night they they want to file a notice of intent which goes to conservation. Um when they do that, that'll trigger a series of public meetings just like we did last year. Um and I'll let everybody know as soon as I hear that that's coming. So nobody
surprised by that. Last year they didn't tell us. Uh this year I've insisted that they do tell us. It's a quick update there. the snow shoveling bylaw, which is on the warrant tonight. Mentioned this last time, but it bears mentioning again. Um the bylaw committee is recommending
proposed snow shoveling bylaw for the downtown area to be debated at town meeting. Um they've scheduled two public forums. Unfortunately, one is a Zoom Zoom only forum that's taking place right now tonight at 7:30. Um it was just that with all the scrambling and to
avoid the holidays, um there was only so many nights they could do it. So, that's going to be that's tonight in that Zoom only, but there is still a live event at the library that's scheduled for the 24th um at 7:30 live at the library where the bylaw committee will be there
presenting the same information and asking questions. So, there's link links to all this information on the town website. But I just wanted to mention that because I know there's been a growing interest in that bylaw. uh mentioned this before, but the finance committee is scheduled a financial forum to kick off budget
season. That forum will take place October 8th at 7 p.m. at the library. Um that's when they'll discuss free cash usage, give me some direction and the department heads direction on how much we can use for the budget, what they would like to see parameters. They'll
take input from obviously the select board and the public at large as well. So that will really kick off our budget season. We've been preparing for that. I've been meeting with the school department and department heads uh to prepare for that meeting. And also I had the pleasure of attending the swearing in ceremony yesterday for
our newest police officer. So congratulations to officer Zachary Castiglleion. He comes from a police department up in New Hampshire but is actually a Reading High graduate which is good to see somebody staying in the community here that went to Reading
High. He holds a BS from UMass Bull and I would like to officially welcome him to Reading. I think he's going to be a great addition. And one one note, I see Laura Jim is in the audience today. Today's actually her birthday and she's here with the select point. So, happy birthday, Laura.
>> Oh, yeah. Happy birthday, Laura. [Applause] >> Okay. And that's the report. >> Jane, you have anything? Uh, in the interest of time, I'll save my comments later, but we're we're moving right along on a million different projects and things in my
department. Thank you. >> Thanks. All right. Uh, 720 community spotlight. >> Okay, back to me. And I do have a volunteer spotlight for tonight. Um, so tonight I'd like to thank and shine a light on a volunteer. His name is
Randolph Kazazzian, but he's better and affectionately known as Biff the lamp man at the Pleasant Street Center. Um, Biff has been donating his lamp repair services uh to people in Reading at the Senior Center Reading Seniors for many years. He charges only for the parts,
not the labor. It's really a labor of love for him. Um, he sees this as a way of giving back to the community and enhancing community spirit, which I wholeheartedly agree. That's a great way to do that. I understand that our own Nancy Doctor, who's in the audience tonight, had the honor of being her his
500th customer recently. So, good for Nancy. That was quite a something to behold, a piece of history. Um, so that's a lot of lamps, 500 lamps. So on behalf of the town, I'd like to thank Biff the Lampman for all that he does for our senior community and keep up the
great work. Thank you. >> Thanks, Matt. All right. 7:25 discuss potential override budget review parking valet fees. Uh, page five of the packet. I guess Lieutenant Jones, you'll be presenting instead of
>> uh I don't have anything present. I'm just in case you have any questions on the chief's um chief's letter. The both chiefs are the training conference um for the week. So >> yeah. >> Um so I went over this I'll just give a
little background real quick with um regarding this. I went over it with Matt Jane uh the whole scenario. essentially what um you know not everything that we come up with to raise money in town is going to be home runs. Nothing is going to be you know like last week was
obviously a ton of money um with the ambulance private fees. This is minuscule kind of money in the grand scheme of things. Um but you know it's good to see things in writing here from the police you know that they don't support the idea of having valet fees.
Um uh while you know at the same time I I disagree to a to a point on this only because I know Hayden Street at nighttime if we're going down there now two spots over there is fine but the understanding
with that is we have to open it up to the town um for ballet services. We can't just pigeon hole that we only want this particular street to do it. Um, but we can impose our own kind of rules and regulations how we would want to set up a license agreement with that. So, you
know, obviously we have the board obviously we have the police's um memorandum here in the packet. So, I just wanted to put it up for the rest of the board to see how they felt on this if they thought it was a a good idea. Wrong time because it's not just my
opinion. So that's kind of and I can somewhat answer some Max questions how we could do it instead. Um obviously open it up to everybody. Um Venishian Moon might want it. Zaka on Ratty's and I
understand the slippery slope that's written in here that now we're adding more and more on. But we can structure a license agreement that puts all of the liability on um the person that we would be issuing the valet permits to. So
towing or you know upkeep of the spots they would have to have a parking plan in place where the vehicles are going not using our land for it. No parking at either one of the the lots that we have. So they have to have that agreement in place. And I think that um while minimal
uh it will bring a bit more traffic to the downtown. I don't think this is Bostonlike atmosphere. It's going to obviously be like hingenting upon lots of people that go there only because of this for ballet anyway, but it's food
and for the meals tax and everything else involved with that, it is more income beyond just a valet parking spot income in my mind. But with that, I will open up to the board and you know that's where we're at.
the restaurant. >> Um, so for that I was having in full transparency. I was having dinner at Post maybe three, four months agoish and Jason brought it up that he was in talks with Kevin, I think, a town hall economic development director. Um, and
the police kind of didn't want it or whatever and I was like, I mean, I don't see a problem with it. Now we have two pages of why there's a problem with it. But at first cursory glance, I did not see the issue and I thought of it of another way to raise funds uh funds for the town. So that's that's kind of how
it happened. It was in the works before I even got wind of it, but I just, you know. So, is he complaining that there's not enough parking for his >> No, he just thinks that valet would bring more um people to his business and he'd be able to either lease out Eastern
Bank or something for the cars to park at and and that kind of stuff >> was offered as a service. Is it >> I I understand what it is. I just I think >> we're very familiar with Reading and that's parking issues and um I completely agree with the police
department. I think we're opening a can of worms that we will never be able to satisfy or close with all the businesses that could be potentially coming downtown that their needs. You know, you can't put one over the other. I just don't think it's a camp I want to open.
>> No, I I agree with you. But like I said, the the the tipping point for me on this is I know Hayden Street if we went down there right now, it's a semi goes down other than over near post because they're driving traffic to that section. And then obviously during, you know,
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Main Street is slammed as as uh as you know. Um if this was during the day, absolutely not. Like I've already been on the record for that. There's not enough parking. It's been beaten to death. But
for nighttime, I figured why not leverage the opportunity to make some money off of uh a couple parking spots that we have on the street, not in our lots, and kind of leverage that. And if a couple people joined on, >> it's income we didn't have before.
>> Is it You're going to laugh when I say this. >> I won't. >> You will. Um, so why can't we put the kiosk activated at night and have them use the pay for parking spaces behind in the old, you know, Atlantic parking lot?
>> I would caution against me and you specifically talking about anything within 100 feet of um that area. >> So I would leave that. >> So as long as we're not >> still on the agenda item, we are we're
in a public >> I will not be discussing anything within 100 ft of my office which happens to coincide with what Karen just mentioned. >> So how do we talk about the parking lot? >> Well, we can I'm just saying I said parking lots in general. None of our
municipal lots would be used for valet services. That's what I said that that none of those spots would be used. doesn't matter where it is in general. >> Okay. So, I guess I'll throw out there for another discussion someday that perhaps that's a direction we may want
to go into and then we can stop the discussion >> behind CVS. Absolutely. >> We can talk about behind. >> Yes. >> But I I just want to get the general board's overall feel of of this. Is it a good idea? It sounds like you don't
think so. So, you know, >> thank you for it is what it is. >> Yes, Karen Carlo. >> Sure. I'll go. Um, thank you. Um, thank you also to Chief Clark for taking the time to look into this and yourself coming tonight and having to write this
memo. Um, and um, that's a great idea. We already invested in this equipment and the software and the training and um, thank you for bringing that up. Um, so I'm going to defer to um writing police on this topic and say that this I
don't see this as a high priority. >> Carlo. >> All righty. All right. My knee-jerk reaction was uh no. And then I thought about it more and having been in the restaurant business
at the S level, marketing is paramount for a lot of your customers. Uh we all know that after 5:00 pm they're the main driver of of parking uh on Haven Street. So
I I I don't see it in here, but is there a number of spaces that Jason wanted? It would be we can do up to two. It's whatever the board and then you know whatever police etc would go on beyond that. But it it looks like it's
typically one to two is the the maximum. >> Yeah, I I could argue both sides of this. Um agreeing with police and then you know giving post props for trying to do
better for his restaurant which in turn hopefully to potentially higher revenue, higher meals tax for us. But um if it was anywhere else and yes, do it for one, do it for all. You know, Main Street is a whole another can of
worms. Uh this is going to be a fee. They're going to have to pay an additional fee to park cars somewhere. So, how many people would actually take advantage of this? I don't have an answer to that. Um Officer Jason is putting himself out there requesting
this. No one else has. And if we do some kind of regulation that yes, it's open to all the other restaurants in town. But in this particular area, you know, obviously we have two members who are against it. One of us is not here. I could argue both sides.
Tonight's discussion, but I can see the merits of this in this particular location. other locations there's a a lot of different um issues with them but you know Venetian Boon has the benefit of this at night the cobblestone and the
lot um on the weekends we don't have meetings on the weekend so they already have that added benefit that's good for them that's great it works out I'm happy for that post is two two busiest nights of Friday and Saturday um if we limit
the valet to the weekend nights not seven days a week. You know, I I don't I don't I don't do valet. I'm cheap. I try to find free parking wherever I go. But as far as I think that's another option limit to Friday and Saturday night, the
two busiest nights and I think there's a way that that this can work, but obviously, you know, would have to three of us would have to agree to it. So, those are my thoughts. If I could follow up real quick. I
didn't think of the Friday Saturday scenario and probably without asking or would say that we can do whatever we want but we have to open it up to everybody on Friday and Saturday. But I could see where eliminating it would, you know, kind of uh limit our exposure to it. And then
while you were talking, I realized that we can't do enforcement after 5 anyway. So, even if we wanted to hypothetically turn CVS's parking kiosk on after 5, we cannot enforce it because the regulations for the entire town end at 5. So, I understand we'd
have to change stuff and do all this for the other things, but the the police aren't writing tickets after 5:00. They don't even want to do two valet spots. So, because obviously you have more important stuff to do than, you know, deal with valet parking spots, you know
what I mean? So, and that is 100% warranted as well. So, I don't know. I guess, you know, it's it's never good having four people. But I guess we can just explore
maybe I'll broach the subject maybe of a weekend only kind of thing, Friday, Saturday, or Matt or Kevin can reach out to Jason at Post and just see if if that's something is amendable to to kind of make it You know what I mean? Just something like that. Just it'll be less impact for
less impact. A little less and you know it's the weekend kind of thing. So >> Okay. >> But Lieutenant Jones, you don't So do you have something >> kind of So is he com is he just trying to provide it as a service to his customers? Yes.
>> Because there's no reason his customers can't park in the Atlantic parking lot. >> Correct. It's just >> just the space is probably in front that they would take a car and go park it somewhere. >> Yes. >> No reason or is there a reason why his he couldn't just not offer a pseudo
valet where they go get the car and park it in the parking >> lot some liability. You sound like you want to loophole things like I >> No, I just I hear they take your car. I have no idea where they take. So, okay. I I think there's probably some regulation that we
can't do that if I had to guess. Um but no, nothing prevents someone from over there. But as you know, people don't want to walk two feet. They want to park up front. >> So this distance is about the same. >> We know this, but that's not everybody.
So uh Lieutenant Jones, so you're so obviously you guys don't want to uh enforce this kind of stuff. You have criminals to catch. >> We wouldn't have We wouldn't have any enforcement. We wouldn't have anything to do with this information wise. It's just about opening a can of worms. Yeah. Changing the traffic rules and
regulations of the downtown. There's dozens of businesses. Each one has their own opinions on parking. They all have their own wants and needs. So when um the park committee that was back during
co the uh changes came in 20 22 2023 >> um it was the most fair way. encompass the entire downtown area. Um, and then giving one business a preferential treatment where now, like you said, other other restaurants, you
know, we're going to be given more spaces away and they're going to have to have find more dedicated parking spaces for valley um parking areas that um whereas the police have the discretion
to take it somewhere who's in an incorre incorrect place. the valet stand would either be looking to tow the car because that's their own remedy. So, if someone stays on Haven Street where they want to hold their valet stand and that person either missed the sign or didn't realize
they were there and they had to um parked in the the spot for valet stands, the only remedy is for the restaurant to tow their vehicle. It's not like the police can go down there, run their plate, find out who it is, give them a heads up, and at most they're getting a
$25 ticket. They're getting at least a $100 toe, plus the inconvenience of having their car missing because they stay in the valet stand spot. All right, understood. Um, so Matt, if
you just want to follow up Jason uh and Kevin and just provide the feedback that that you heard tonight where you know obviously the police have have these concerns. Is this something that he still wants to go ahead with and then like it's not specifically him. It would be open up
yes to everybody else in the town. Um, but you have to have plans in place and that is what would limit people from just snagging every spot over on on uh on Main Street. You have to have a parking plan and XYZ amount of spots in a lease agreement with somebody else.
Like there's lots of checks and balances to prevent um I don't want to say fraud, but someone abusing that kind of option. Just followups here. Yep. I just want to I don't think it's fair to call it pref preferential treatment
just because Post is the first one. He's advocating for himself just like any other business has the right to do. So I joined this board five years ago to advocate for small businesses. I'm not saying this is the right solution, but I don't want to have that on the universe
as preferential treatment post his thinking to how to enhance his business. And this is an idea that he has that he wants us to consider. If it if we don't do it, we don't do it. If we do it, I think Friday and Saturday makes sense
for me. And you know, let's pick Zuka for example, real quick. Where is Zuka going to get a shared parking agreement with another private lot that's close enough and safe enough for the valley drivers to go back and forth? Is that going to be worth the expense and effort
for Zuka as an example? Right. So, I commend Jason for opening up that restaurant, taking a big risk. Costs are crazy, and he seems to be doing well, and he's just trying a different way to enhance his business, and that's it. I'm
not saying I agree with this 100% or disagree with this 100%, but I think it's worth a look and we put it to a vote. I don't want to burden the police, but if police don't have any jurisdiction on two spots, then it's up to the business to take care of those two spots and that alleviates us. So,
it's just something to consider. I forget the context where I said preferential treatment but >> I think it was co really >> what I was mentioning what I was mostly getting at is when we have pre-construction meetings with other businesses and um coming to downtown
they are also requesting for separate parking regulations and we tell them sorry these are the regulations in place so it's not like we're giving one separate treatment versus the other >> yeah I don't want to put words in your mouth that's right I Just want to clear that up.
>> No, no, that's fine. I didn't want >> We follow what the regulations are downtown. Everybody has a separate opinion on on what and separate needs on what they have for their business. >> No, just like you wrote in the They wrote in the memo. Yeah. 50 minute half hour. No, I totally get it. >> Yeah. Know, I agree with you. It's the
same thing outside of where is it? Mathnasium and um Delur. They wanted 30 minutes and extra. And I know they came in here before and it's like, you know, you obviously take your recommendations. you've been doing it forever and you see the es and flows and
all of that. It this is just I think a just an add-on to something and it alleviates you and now it's just is it unfair to everyone else kind of scenario. Um then it is what it is. But I guess we'll we'll just follow up on this and and then you may or may not
have another meeting regarding it. But obviously it'd be anyone from the public questions, comments. Nancy, >> Tony, go first. >> Tony, go first. Two minutes. And just an FYI, police and
anyone else doesn't have to respond, but I if they want to. So they do. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Tony DZo, 130 John Street. Uh looking at the site for post, there's 25 parking spaces to the left that they actually well are part of
the development. I don't know why the um valley parking could not start there and then if they have an agreement with um Eastern Bank or whomever move the cards across. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, Matt. If you can add that to the
list, please just find out if they'd asked that before. >> I can ask. Okay. >> All right. All right. Well, now we will get an answer in real time. Uh, so they have 70 uh I believe they have 70 parking
spaces. Um, but it's all dedicated to the residents at uh at the post. There's no >> So the post itself has zero parkings, >> correct? because it's within 300 feet of public parking, they are exempt from
having any kind of um on-site parking. >> Correct. But they so they they built that entire development and ascribed zero spots to that, but everybody else in the whole building got one and a half or two, whatever the ratio is. >> I believe they required 1.25. They have
1.4 um spaces per per unit in there. >> Okay. Thanks. Yes. Nancy, Dr. Pearl Street, two things. One, I'd be very concerned if this board ruled against something that the police
department is not supporting. I'd be very concerned about that. Um, the other thing is when this restaurant came into town, they knew the limitations of the parking. They knew where the public parking was. This isn't something that just happened. This is something that
they've been aware of and I also would be very reluctant given my comments earlier not to be consistent in our policies. Whatever this board decides, it has to be consistent for everyone and this does open up a can of worms. I caution you
against that. >> Thanks. Anyone on Zoom? Manny, >> not seeing any hands on Zoom. Okie dokie. Um, so we'll put a pin on that and we'll see if it gets revisited
in the future. Okay. All right. Fun time 7:40. Update and discussion on trash and recycling contract page seven in the packet. So if you could just bring that up, Maddie. Um, starting on page seven. I
know it's like a 100 pages, but >> yeah. And you know, most if I may. Yes, of course. So, um, I did provide a memo to because I know it's a lot of pages with an executive summary and whatnot to let the board know what's been going on.
It's been a 14month process. Um, going through procurement and going, uh, having a lot of engagement meetings and whatnot. Um, that's all outlined in the memo. Um Jane has worked on it quite a bit as has Chris Cole who's here tonight and I believe Mike Kesman our assistant
DPW director is in on the Zoom. Um so I'm going to give a few highle things and then we can turn it over to them to flesh it out more. We're all available to answer questions. We're not asking for a vote tonight. The vote won't come till October, but this is a lot to digest. So I wanted to give it to you
early. You can read the memo, read the packet. Um it's no secret because it's already been on the front page of the paper that we're recommending waste management as the new provider. Um for several reasons, a lot of them are outlined in the memo, but for both technical specifications and pricing, um
they seem to have the best uh the best proposal. Um I and there may actually be somebody from Waste Management here tonight. I'm not sure. >> Christine D. Roza >> Christine D. Roza from Waste Management is here in the audience as well tonight. Um, so we can go through some of the particulars. One thing I did want to
highlight, and this shouldn't be a surprise to people because we were talking about this all along when we rolled up new bins, is that we're recommending a switch to bi-weekly recycling instead of weekly. Um, it's a big costsaver to us. And that's really one of the reasons why we rolled out the
um the bins at the sizing that we rolled them out, the larger bins for recycling, because we anticipated this a lot of the market forces were driving this way. So, that's going to be one big change, but I think in terms of other changes, there's going to be some some great additions in
terms of apps, communication, education, um, a lot of the detailed transition plan because to transition is no no easy feat. You know, we wanted to make sure that was in there as well. Um, so I can allow Jane and and Chris go into some of
the details and we could all answer the questions, but those are sort of the the highlights. The pricing, the recycling, the schedule that we followed is in there as well. Um, it was an exhaustive process. We felt it was a very good process. I have the scoring in there and not not just the proposals, but the
scoring that our team put together to show you what the scores are. Uh, so I will um turn it over to Jane and Chris. You can come up to the microphone as well uh to add a little more color and answer questions. That would be great if that's okay with the chair.
>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'd also like to um in addition to Chris Cole and Mr. Kesman who participated uh heavily in this process were key individuals also included um Katie Gabriella our director of operations and Josh Delone who is our
executive assistant in operations are both our MCPO certified um so I wanted to to give a shout out to them they were also key um personnel in contributing to this work um we conducted an RFP process as you know to find the most
advantageous uh mix um for us going forward. And um we first opened up the technical proposals before we looked at the price proposals. And as we rated and ranked all of them um there was strong consensus across all individuals that
waste management was the preferred when we did the rating and ranking. Um we also invited Matt and Sharon to join those conversations. Um, so waste management was our first choice quality-wise, which concerned us when we were going to go open the price
proposals and be like, "Oh, they would be the most expensive." So, it turned out they were also the the lowest price um comparatively. So, um, it's a complicated process. We gave them a very complicated price sheet to work with. Um, we um also engage them afterward
when you go through your documents and you probably already have, I'm sure, um, but just for the public who who might be watching at home after the memo. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Sorry about that. I know what that was. >> I don't know what that was. Um so we
include all of the engagement activities that we undertook as a team um throughout the whole process particularly regarding the roll out the carts because they go hand in hand. Um we also did something called a recycling audit and this is a fundamental
difference from the way uh solid waste has been managed and recycling's been managed in a in the past it's been a much lower cost. I think in our current contract, we're spending $42,000 uh budgeted for recycling.
Um those costs are going up. So what towns are doing is this thing called a blended value where we analyze through a recycling audit what the community is throwing away or what the community is recycling rather. And that is a process where the truck goes to um
a municipal recycling facility, drops all the contents on the ground and hand reviews everything in the recycling of that truck. And Mr. Kessine went to observe every single instance where it's done. So the audit spells it out and the
bottom line information is that we h and reading is you may already know quite tremendous at how we recycle and we have a valuable blended value. Paper and cardboard have higher value on the commodity markets than glass or not and
in tin. So, municipalities now pay attention to these prices and we work very hard to achieve a good uh pricing from the vendors who provided proposals so that we would have a more advantageous um
look at what our recycling would be. We did this audit in the spring so it wasn't around a particular holiday season that might have a lot of packaging that being recycled. This is what our typical mix is. um we didn't notify residents so they would have a more advantageous please recycle this
stuff this week. It wasn't a situation like that. So um this helped us a lot. Um you will see in your packet the initial quote that we received from in this case waste management and then what they came back with when we asked them to look at blended value. Um so you can
see that that that was advantageous to us and we appreciate um that waste management did do that. So, um, that's that's all in your packet. You can read all about how recycling works and blended value, and it's all there. This is a summary report, believe it or not.
There's a longer one. Um, we also put in the um the RFP, our instructions to our proposers, the evaluation criteria, the uh worksheet that's done when it's when each proposal is evaluated. Um, and we also put in a link to all of the um, all
of the proposals and in your packet is the full proposal from waste management which you can you can go through. Um, so that's kind of the process that we undertook. This is the information. There's a lot of detail here because we required a lot of detail from all of these um, proposers and we we left it
somewhat open open-ended. How are you going to address education in the community? How are you going to address transition? How are you going to address um issues? One of the things that we put in was that we required that they either have a a service request ser system or
they use our cyquick fix system. So one thing that we found interesting with waste management is they have an app that they use. Um other things that they do uh they will have they have cameras on their trucks that will show if a if a trash bin is out when they show up to
pick it up. Um because sometimes we get calls from people who didn't get their their bins picked up, but sometimes they weren't they weren't out. Um they also have a camera that looks in the truck to see if there is contamination of what's being put into the truck. Um and so they
can answer questions directly also to the residents. You can contact them directly. Um and there's there's quite a bit more. So I don't Chris, is there anything you want to add on to that? >> I don't think so. I mean that was it in a nutshell. You know as I um I'll also be back on your October 7 with me to
give a more detailed presentation with a lot of the uh more finer details of all the proposals. So >> yeah and um what this turns out financially from a bottom line perspective which will be more in the presentation but we want to give you we're looking for feedback and questions
and so forth. So we'll have all of your questions and you don't have to give now you can contact us after the meeting or you know anytime next week. um is it looks like it's going to be a 25% increase over our current solid waste uh collection budget. So
that's right now we're paying for curbside collection, curbside recycling. This will be a 25% increase over that which I think uh I was going over some of the figures earlier today. It's about,
let's see, well, we'll get more into the figures, but that's what it is, 25%. >> And it was expected that this was going to be a major increase. We knew that for a while. We had a very advantageous contract, a 10-year contract going back with JRM. And so, we knew there was
going to be and we we we thought maybe it could even be higher than 25, but 25 is what we got settled on. Yeah. >> Um, yeah, a couple questions. Um, so just, um, was JRM on here? And, and you know what? I'm going to apologize. My battery was sick and it just died
tonight. So, this is my computer tonight. Um, >> JRM is Republic. >> Republic services. >> Republic did. >> Thank you. Um, so, um, in general, has waste management been having these labor
issues and strikes that communities are still dealing with? Like what is your general >> I'm not aware of any strikes that areffecting waste management. I don't know if um the represent >> they're not. >> Okay.
>> All right. Um, oh, so the only thing can we talk about, um, how bulk collections might change a little bit from our current contract? >> It's a great question. >> Thank you. >> Because we all have a lot of bulk. So um
so the price proposals we asked for included options for as we're doing now with one bulk item allowed per week and then um with all bulk being paid um solely by the residents and the pricing proposals that came back were all uh
that the resident would pay for all bulk and any um extra items that they wanted to get rid um rid of. the white goods, the CRT TVs, um even scrap metal. Um if you have something to get rid of, you just call up uh Waste Management,
schedule payment pickup with them. Um they submitted a whole um list of rates for what these would be for and um yeah, then they'll just come to your house and pick it up. >> Can you give us an idea of Sus? I don't know who they're using. They have a really nice system. The residents buy
stickers for $2. You slap it on. I'm gonna exclude TVs because we can bring those down to DP DPW and drop it off. Anything with a cord, but chairs, things that don't fit in a way a bin that people have that they ended up getting rid of. That's a really nice system. Is
it $2 sticker versus $20 every time I need? So, that's what I'm wondering. Like, >> we can look into what that would cost, but that would that would be the town subsidizing bulk collection with this contract. And so it would be an additional cost on top of the 25%
increase to be able to do that. So we can look into it though. >> So if we have to put a kitchen chair out to the curb, let me be very specific. What does it cost to get that taken away? >> I believe it would be $35 >> for a chair >> for items >> for a kitchen chair. Wouldn't one?
>> I think Karen and I are agreeing that that sounds kind of ridiculous for a chair. But like that's like this chair right here is 35 bucks. Like >> what you find in many communities who have pro programs like this is folks get good at recycling and recycling and
things like that. >> Well, no, you are not going to get any argument from anyone up here about about uh doing that kind of stuff. Um but I have a question. >> This is a very long document. >> It is
>> and I read the important stuff and scanned the rest. I thought I saw uh yard waste is not including which may equals to leaves. Are we paying for leaf pickup now with our current contract? >> Yeah. Yes, we are. And yard waste would
be included. It would still be the same as we're do doing now. Um that we would have a series of pickups throughout the year. Um some in the spring, some in the fall. >> I think it's you have six in this contract >> and we're paying extra or it's just I thought I thought I'm just asking. I thought I saw
>> it's all included in that pay in that pricing >> included. Okay. All right. I thought I saw no yard waste or something like that. Okay. Thanks, >> Kevin. >> Do you want to go before I ask? No. >> Okay. I'm still on the topic of bulk. I'm just wondering um the community is
good at recycling and and I try to recycle um a lot. Um, so sometimes there are just things that you cannot get rid of and that was when those stickers can come in handy. Um, or things that just aren't going to go in a garbage bag. But, um, does this contract also cover
um, plastic collections, which we're kind of having twice a year, which some communities just it's a lot easier to bring your bulk plastic somewhere. >> We would still continue to have the two bulk um, bulk the rigid plastic events each year >> that we do now. one in the spring, one
in the fall. >> So, how does that factor into the pricing? Some communities, it's just a lot e you're not hanging on to these things for so long, >> right? So, it would be um a dumpster rental for the event, for the day of the event, and then we would now have to pay
um for the cost of disposing of processing the plastic, >> what whatever the market >> outside of this contract. It's not. >> No, that would be included under this contract, but it would be whatever the market rate was at that time for rigid plastics. So, we'd be charged a fee to
dispose of or recycle plastic. >> No, I I Well, so maybe I don't understand what what role does the town play because obviously DPW is down there staffing it. So, you're you know, the guys are and and women are working on a Saturday or whenever we have it. So, they're staffing it. Understood. You
have to collect it. So where where is waste management's role in it or is this something we do as a town anyway? >> Well, waste management would provide the dumpster to us, but that would be a rental cost for the day that the town would have to pay. >> Okay. >> And then when waste management takes the dumpster away, they would then charge
the town a processing fee, whatever the market rate was at that time, to get rid of the or recycle the rigid plastic. >> So it just becomes we're not getting any service unless we we request it. It's not part of the contract. Yeah. It's an
ad no ad hoc service that that company can provide. And is that consistent across all five? >> Is that how it has been under our current contract? >> Um I'd have to I'd have to look back on the proposal. I think there were a couple that included them under the base price
and then others that um said they were going to be separate. But um when we look at the overall totals though the we we add everything up and those those are included in the totals that you see there >> two days just two days because that's my concern that's not enough
>> I think to Karen's point is in our current contract are we paying in the scenario you just said renting a dumpster they're doing whatever do we already pay for that anyway >> right right now in the proposal it is included in >> No say a year ago
a year ago. >> The JRM >> current service. >> Yeah, the current service is is the two events are currently included in what the annual price that we pay >> included >> and the disposal is also included. >> The disposal is included because we don't pay for any recycling.
>> So it is a change going forward that we will have to pay. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> And did all the vendors are changing it that way? >> So >> Oh yes. >> Yes. I just want to make sure they're all >> all vendors of a process. >> Okay. So, Waste Management's price
proposal when you look at it, it's very detailed. It's not just a bottom line number. So, you can see how each piece breaks down, but it's still that piece of it is still included in that $1.9 million price that we're looking at >> two days per year. >> That's right. It's priced. It's included,
>> but nothing prevents us from doing four days a year. It would just have to be negotiated with DPW. Plus, we'd incur twice the amount of dumpster rentals. Correct. >> Yeah. >> So, I think we brought this up before that was how we could alleviate traffic and by doing it more times a year than
just the two. >> Yeah. >> And to Karen's point, yes, we're going to end up a lot of people are going to be saving stuff if we did it quarterly. It kind of alleviates that. And we're on the hook for more money. I understand. But, you know, does I have other concerns that we're on the hook for more money in this
>> with bulk collection. to your point, um it may be useful to increase those plastic events and those those kinds of things we could look at for the additional dumpster. >> Um not everybody is physically able to like
really haul that stuff. I mean I I still am and I love that we can drop off anything with a cord at DPW and so I don't know where that factors in this new contract. That's great. But understanding not everybody can. So, that's another reason why those stickers are kind of attractive to certain,
>> you know, residents because I can get it to the curb or I can get a neighbor to help me get it to the curb, but I don't I don't have a car or I can't really get it anywhere else. >> Okay. Well, no, it's good to understand the parameters and what's included and what isn't. >> Carlo, anything? I'm good.
Um, so I had a couple questions. So, how long is Sorry. Uh just for the public to be aware, how long would this contract be for? For five years? >> Five years? >> Five years. >> Okay. And is there options to renew beyond the 511 or >> is it just five?
>> Just five. >> Okay. Um and then the I wrote down percent increase, but I'm not sure why I did that, but >> a percent increase is 5%.
>> Oh, so yeah. So what I'm So after So is the price the same for all five years or it scales year to year up to? >> No, it's a 5% increase every year for that. >> Okay. All right. I mean that's pretty significant. Um and then recycling. What is the deal? I know, you know, obviously
we save money by going to the bi-weekly recycling. We have the bigger bins. I'm currently filling the current one I have and I know um people can get a second one uh for no cost. But what is the cost to just stick with the weekly recycling?
Is that >> it'll be about $400,000 additional every year? >> And is that skew the whole who gets awarded contract thing or this is already done and dusted and now we're just >> No, that was a separate bid item. So that would that would come come into
account for every >> every vendor. >> Every vendor. Yeah. >> I think that was the lowest price for weekly recycling and not every vendor offered weekly. >> Some didn't. Right. I think >> yeah not every bend a raw we >> and does did waste management do 400,000
>> or roughly okay >> I guess that's the only problem that I have obviously the price is going up we all knew that um all along I guess there's a lot of changes at once no more collection bi-weekly recycling
um obviously there's a lot more good it sounds like things will be picked up which is fantastic and if thought there's some, >> you know, YouTube show that Waste Management can start putting on the air um with everyone's trash. Um, but
I guess that's my only pause is just seeing what we can do to minimize the the uh bug collection and maybe going with the weekly recycling. I know it's not in the bud. I know >> the current $2 million is not in the budget to begin
with. it is. Sharon kind of put it, you know, as a placeholder what she thought it would be. So, I'm I'm aware that there's no money in the budget for any of this stuff, even though there sort of was, but like obviously we were getting hammered in this contract and we knew it that it would be going up. >> So, I guess for me, I would just like to
see what the 400,000 looks like in her ratios that that she so greatly puts together. Just give us a forecast of what this would look like. >> With Sharon's done, that's great. if she knows upand >> I I will tell you um based on our conversation earlier this contract will
be $5556,000 more than FY26 >> 550 >> $556,000 more than FY26 current budget >> what was she forecasting when she talked about this some >> she's she's done we can ask her >> she was looking originally I think she
was hoping for a 20% increase is what she was planning for so bringing in a 25 isn't bad but that's um that's as low as we go We did push every vendor to come back and even do we >> we did not. Yeah. Well, we we pushed.
So, we pushed. Christine knows we pushed. >> So, um Yeah. >> So, Sharon, that's accurate that we went up 25% you budgeted 20 and you know adding 400 grand onto that even skews even more. That would be >> if I added another 400
we'd be up. Did I put too many zeros? >> 43% if I added the 400,000. >> So, it's just it's not it's not doable. >> Can't say I didn't try. >> Can I ask another question? I'm just thinking about I mean, every one of us
like Yeah. Facebook Marketplace is great. Thrifting is great. All we do the Yeah, it's great when you can find a home for things that things get broken and they're bulky and are we supposed to hide them in the trash bags or are other
communities considering let's just say let's say you got a frame that gets crushed and broken. I mean that's wood. We're supposed to stick that in the trash or this kitchen chair which is like split and cracked. It's just end of life and it's bulky and it's heavy. Do
other communities consider hiring a dumpster and or doing a a a collection like twice a year? You know, that's stuff that's hard to get rid of that really. It's not trash. It's not normal trash. It's not recyclable. Like $35 for like Flatsom and Jetsum is silly.
>> Well, I mean, I do something like that, but then it's another added expense to the town. >> Yeah. I mean, >> not not a small expense either. >> Oh, and and and Mr. chairman through you to um Miss Caitley Herrick. What some communities do is they
subsidize that bulk collection. So it's it's $20 the first year and then it's $25 the second year. So it goes up. So the shock isn't quite there necessarily for the bulk. >> I mean, what I'm afraid of is people used to throw everything in their
backyard. >> Well, in dumping, right? >> Yeah. So >> Well, that's it. Or you know what? I if people can't put it in their trash and they're thinking that these fees are too high, whether it's $25 or $35, I I am worried kind of the unintended consequences.
>> That's right. >> And then and the numbers you're providing are are grim and and I appreciate the work. I'm not arguing them. >> Thank you. >> Well, we have time to train everybody. Get ready. It's coming. Start getting rid of your stuff now. Do you know what
I mean? Like I think education is going to be a huge thing here and we've got time and is there a limit to the number of extra recycle barrels we have to offer people. Like if all of a sudden 50% of the town wants another barrel, will we be able to provide that?
>> If 50% of the town wants another barrel, I'm not sure we have 50% more barrels in storage right now. >> Well, no, they're not all tomorrow, but but between now and when it's done in the next year, >> barrel or a second barrel? second recycling barrel which is free.
>> We we have a budget to procure more of those. Um and we have some in we have some in stock that we've overbought to for that purpose. >> So I think um >> and we do our best to cover the demand, you know. >> Oh yeah. I I don't think we'll have a
rush on it soon. Maybe. Um my next question was you said that we have an excellent trash rating as far as a town goes recycling wise. Will if we get to be even better than that, will we get credit? Do you know what I mean? Like is there any way at
the end of the five years if we're such a good town or we're still recycling well, do you think that there's any way to keep the percentages down? >> I think that um and you can correct me if I'm wrong, Chris, there's conversation that we will that the blended value will be checked um more
than once a year actually. >> So, and that can work in our favor or against us. So the blended value is a moving target. >> So the training and the education is >> that's why I'm talking so much about blended value and we'll work on that as part of our educational piece because
it's it's really good news for us right now. Um reading is is a very active community in recycling, composting, all the great things, right? It is a leading community for that. But we want to keep that >> right under value is a combination of how good the qual the
makeup of the recycling is with what the market price >> right because I read about it was very interesting >> who knew who knew I know >> Carlo question if Chris can't answer it hopefully the representative from waste
management can I know when we had the public here this past year they were talking about going electric because waste management considering the same thing eventually. >> That is a great question and um there is
some of that technology in the area. There's a truck up in New Hampshire in some town >> London. >> London and they are trying it out, but currently what they're seeing is that the batteries in those trucks are only lasting like maybe upwards of six hours a day.
>> And with the cold climates, you know, the battery technology is just not there yet. That's why I see more of it in the warmer climates. So maybe someday, but not right now. >> Not in this package. >> Not not in this not in this area right now. Anyway,
>> I I would just add that even my own truck, I see a massive 30 40% drop off in in electric. So that's what you brought up the last time with my with Republic the same thing that might work somewhere else. We are in New England. Uh sorry, you got to move.
>> You would need a shorter route to be able to accommodate something like that. probably all over Arizona. >> I lived there for a week. Um, all right. Anyone from the Oh, Karen, >> I read that you were thinking of having a dumpster for cardboard at the lot. And
is that to prevent to make less trash picked up at the homes or >> Well, that is just more so because everyone's going to be confined to putting recycling in the carts now. And so if you don't have to fill your cart up with cardboard, you can bring it down to the garage and get rid of it in >> any day Monday through Friday. >> Monday through Friday.
>> Okay. Thanks. >> And as I said, I will have a more detailed presentation for you all on your meeting October 7. >> Okay. Thanks. >> And we actually encourage that because we make money off cardboard. >> You like Well, make money. It costs less. It costs less.
>> Yes. >> Can I ask a question? Would you um would you consider um Monday through Friday to 2:30 doesn't work for everybody. Would you consider like once a month Saturday hours or? >> Yeah, definitely. >> That might be very helpful for a lot of people.
>> One of the reasons we like having it at the DPW yard is to prevent dumping. And we've seen this I've seen this happen in other communities where there's a cardboard recycling in sort of a public easily accessible area and people just come down and
>> dump other stuff as well and then it's up to staff or the hauler to come and clean it up. So if it's at the garage it affords them the ability to use that have that convenience but I think your point is is well >> taken hours. I mean, the for folks that get on the train and going to Boston,
like, when are they ever going to ever be able to take advantage of this? Have to take up a day to go and bring my stuff with a cord down there. But it's fabulous that it's that everyone should use it. It's so easy. There's no lines. That's wonderful. >> It's true.
>> All right. Anyone from the public questions? Anyone online? Maddie? >> Nobody online. >> Okie dokie. Thank you, Chris. Thank you for waste management person coming in. >> Thanks Christie. >> Thank you. >> Um thank you for the questions. These
are very helpful. If you think of other items or as you speak constituents just let us know. >> Thank you. >> Okie dokie. Moving on to 7:55. Little behind discussion and vote on three-month extension on RCTV license
agreement page 102 in the packet. So Matt, if you want to. Yeah. So, I I did add a memo to this. Sorry, it was a little bit late. We're getting our thoughts together on it, but so we have been negotiating. We've met um every weekly or sometimes twice a week. I
think there have been a total of like eight meetings to negotiate with RCTV. Um we've made a lot of progress. I I feel Melissa couldn't be here tonight, which is unfortunate because her comments would I think be valuable. So, and we do have I noticed in the audience
uh Phil Rushmore who's the executive director is here, Ron Powell from the board, Kathy Cook from the board, and there may be others that I'm missing online. Um, so Kathy, Phil, Melissa, Jane, and I, um, also Bob Beckman on the
negotiation team >> and Angel Andrew Lomero as well. We forgot the assistant director there. Um, so in the memo I just put together, you know, fairly quickly some of the changes that we're we're agreeing on currently. Um, you know, some I I thought about
putting in the redline version that we have, but it is still under legal review for some issues. So, we're not quite ready to make it public yet. So, that's why it's not in here. But, I think the memo covers a lot of the a lot of the changes that we are working on. Nothing is set in stone. That's why we need more
time. There's also been some changes at RCTV since June when we started this whole process. I've highlighted those in there as well. Um, you know, I won't read the memo verbatim to you. It's there for your perusal. U, but that's
essentially what has been going on. And so we do feel we do need more time. Not a lot. Um, you know, by by right I think the town could go up to an additional three months. We could even try for one month just to try to wrap it up. um really quickly and then come back to you
with something. So, I'd at least ask for one month for an extension um on this on this process. Let us keep working on it. I think like I said, we're moving we're moving ahead and um I I don't want to speak for Melissa, but she was on board
with this as well without speaking for her. So, uh and I can open it up. Jane's been on the negotiation team as well as I'm sure during public comment uh the folks from RCTV may have something to say about it. So >> board members, any questions?
>> Karen, >> thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I appreciate this update and um I I took away um an an approved collaborative um approach going forward with some of these suggestions, which I think is a good thing. And it struck me that um I'm not
sure if the public comment exactly addressed it, but in my head I thought that boy, if we could take some of these and also use them for Burbank, it could make things much better working with that organization as well. And as the person did say, it would be more
consistent. Um, I had one. Um I'm a little concerned and I know things aren't set in stone set in stone but since we do have a select board designate who is committed to representing the select board on the board I wasn't sure that
the necessity of having one of the liaison then be involved in the um evaluation of the director and and I don't mean to use the wrong language but there was a line item in there about that. I'm not sure that that would be
necessary. If our design is is having open communications with the board members and understanding what the select board would like, I would think that the that designate could adequately do that job. Obviously, liaison um we depend on them to stay in close contact
with, you know, changes and updates, but that's just uh one area that um I question the need. Thank you. >> Thanks. Anyone else? Carl, >> thanks. I know you guys have been working this for a long time. Um, when I
when I read the memo, I, you know, wasn't involved in this. It's it's Melissa. So, I see a lot of good things uh in this memo, but I see a lot of things that give me pause. Uh, especially in the in this the second
section, RCTV changes since June. um running post uh is dissolved. Uh you know, why was it dissolved and who was it given it to? Uh fundraiser scheduled for October. Why has that been the first
fundraiser in years? Uh podcasts, um executive director has been involved in workshops to be able to better offer this service. Podcasts have been popular for at least 10 years. uh sponsorship. Uh why are we doing that? Now, as far as
I know, pe money is going downhill. It has been going downhill. So, someone reading this that doesn't have any information on this would think, gee, these are all good things. And yes, they are, but why haven't they been done? And
then the last item is really alarming that there's a clause in here that in writing that the executive director, whoever it is, is required to get back to us within one business day. Why is that even in there? I know why it's in
there, but that's really that's a red flag to me and as are the other things I stated. So, I would like someone um uh Phil's here to answer some of these questions, especially on the post. Why was it given up? Who is it given to? And
why? And if writing post was going well, why did you give it? Why did you not keep it? >> I guess Bill, do you want to answer? Phil Rushworth, Milwood Road Reading, executive director of RCTV. Um, RCTV's
involvement with the Reading Post is been dissolved. The post has not been dissolved to my knowledge. Our my involvement and RCTV's involvement with it is has no longer connect. There's no connection. >> Why was it dissolved? >> Our connection?
>> Yes. >> Because this board asked us to dissolve that connection. >> Okay. And who was it given to? >> Was it given to? Yes. Who runs it? I guess >> the the editor is Katherine Katherine Robertson. >> Okay. And what is the relationship to Katherine Robinson to anyone?
>> To anyone. >> Why why was it why >> she was on the she was on the editorial board and helped start the writing post? >> Okay. Did she ask for it? Was it given to her? >> I believe the post elected her the editor. >> I don't know.
>> Was it offered to anyone else? I >> I don't know what your I don't understand your question. You guys created the post in my mind's illegally, right? But that's that's a separate topic. Um, there have been some issues with it. You did the right thing
by getting rid of it. But I'm guessing this wasn't your sole decision. It was the board's decision and only two people are here. So, anyone could answer this. Why was it given to Katie Robinson and why wasn't it put out to other people? Why? Why this one individual? the the
RCTV did not own the reading post. I started the reading post with some friends and um RCTV became involved with it. So that relationship between RCTV and the post is no longer existing. So RCTV did not own the post. >> You didn't use peg money to to allocate
funds towards the post. >> RCTV with the app approval of the board of directors helped fund the writer for covering meetings. >> Okay. So the answer is yes. >> Yes. >> Okay. All right. Can anyone in the audience answer why it was given to Katie and why was it offered to anyone
else? >> Well, I just up to the podium. Kathy, thank you once again. Thank you for being here. Uh Phil, Kathy, Ron, can I miss someone else? No. Um um Cath um Kathy Per
Pleasant Street um current president of the board of directors for RCTV when um RCTV originally got with Phil as he said with his friends got the idea for the post. Um we went for you know we
went forward saying oh this is a this is a good thing. It helps the town. Um when based on the May and June meetings here at the select board, it became obvious that
um we needed to dissolve the relationship and what we had offered the post of outside of the um the funding one writer. um we offered them 501c3
also and under the opaces of RCTV. So what we did when we dissolved the relationship they went on and did you know they're they're taking and running with it. They're their own entity. They make their own
decisions. They decide who is going to be on the editorial board, who is going to be editor, who they are completely on their own. So why Katherine was chosen over others, you're gonna have to ask
them. That had nothing to do with us because at that point our relationship was um she was on the editorial board when our relationship was together. But when she became editor and chief, our relationship was separate.
>> Who's asked who's asked them? Who's them? Who am I asking? >> The board. >> The post. The editorial board of the writing post. >> Okay. So, it wasn't RCTV board's decision to get rid of the post. >> I thought it was
>> uh you know I So, I've been on the board for quite a while. I've been advocating do we need to be part of it? Um, we had conversations about it, but it was after the conversations that the
select board had about RCTV in May and June that we went forward with kind of requesting, are you strong enough to be on your own? That was basically it. >> Okay. So, just so everyone understand
like I'm a three-year-old. the RCTV board, including Phil and Angela, whoever else decided we need to separate ourselves from the Reading Post based on a couple of meetings here. Is that correct? >> Based based on the conversations, okay,
that you brought up. Yes. >> And then you dissolve it and then the reading post separately anointed, appointed, whatever, gave it I don't say gave it. Uh Katie Robinson's in charge. >> They took their they created their own
leadership. >> They created their own leadership. So the RCTV board did not create that. They just separated the two. Okay. That's what I was trying to understand. >> Okay. >> That's all I I >> Right. No, that is we when they create
their own leadership. >> All right. So I wanted to answer to my question. I would have to go to the running post board. >> Correct. >> Okay. Thank you. I just wanted to clear that up. >> I'm sorry for the line. >> No, no, no. I it's it's I I know it was under the umbrella of RCTV. That's why I
was getting I wanted to get it sorted out. >> Right. >> That >> right. But we should stop. >> Right. Okay. >> Does that answer your >> that answers? Yeah, that answers it. I have obviously a lot of concerns, but I don't want to take up the whole meeting
on this one topic because there's a lot of alarming things on here. >> Thanks. Um, so obviously, um, we had to put this on the agenda.
Unfortunately, Melissa was away. We had to schedule things because of the holiday and, um, obviously the clock is is running out. um on this scenario. Um what also was uh added into the packet
starting at page 104 was an additional uh incident that Matt had noted uh from Friday's uh football game. Um people can read about that in the packet. Um, and and my
my sense with everything is I don't want to sit and um pick apart um an email, a response. Um, I know people might think that I do other things for a living, but I own an
IT and security company. That's what I've done for the last 12, 13 years. That's what I specialize in is IT and security. So those kind of things in my area of expertise are paramount. So when
uh when it's noted that there is a a a Mac computer in the back room unsecured without a password and anyone can go on it, that's a problem in my world. Maybe not a problem in someone else's. I disagree with that. But um that's a problem. uh having a device on Windows 7
L that lost up security updates in 2020 is a massive problem too. If anybody if Kevin Filla had Windows 7 devices in town hall right now, I don't think I would have any confidence in him at all to be you know supporting our network
here. and Kenan is a top tier um employee when it comes to security and access and the way that he set everything else um back up there. Um but like I said, I don't want to sit and hash and slash out an email um amongst
other things um relating to this because you know people are going to have difference of of opinions one way or another and uh like it's as as just one example no one can give many. There's an incident
how it's mentioned that the tricastaster scenario during the CPDC meeting back in um June. The issue with that ended up being that um it was human error. And believe me, I agree with the human error scenario, but the way that it's written in the memo is
that it's human error that this uh it wasn't return to the home screen, so continue the live video, not the audio feed. The point blank end of discussion issue is it's not Rob that didn't return the thing back to the home screen and human
error and pushing blame on to him. Rob shut down that meeting with a master power switch like it was supposed to be installed, shut down the meeting and left. The on air light was off. Rob did what he had to do. I don't want to start
putting things onto employees that clearly had nothing to do with it. Rob did not rewire the room in there. He didn't. So, um, so when I see something like that, that that that's just one example that that doesn't sit well with
me in an IT and security kind of world where where I'm reading something and I have to read between the lines. So, I essentially have uh one other question for Phil if you wanted to come up real quick. Um and I'll preface this with
that. Um the way that you answer this tonight is how I will be voting tonight and how I will be voting uh at the next meeting. And I thought a lot about this because believe me, the meeting I had with Matt and Jane, they could tell that
I was torn on what I was going to be doing here. they'll be the first to admit that it this wasn't automatic like everybody thinks. So, I preface it with that however you answer this is how I'm going to be going going forward. Um my
uh uh daughter's 13 years old and what I tell her is that if something happens, there's some scenario you come to me and you tell me the truth. and if you tell me the truth, you're not going to get in trouble. We're going to work through it
together and everything's going to be fine. But if you lie to me, that's a different story. And that's how I'm raising her and uh obviously my younger one, when she can understand what I'm even talking about,
I'd be doing it the same way. Um, so my question to you is the Friday night broadcast at the football game, did you simply forget to hit the stop live recording button on the screen? Yes or
no? It's a yes or no question. Yes. You know, >> I had to travel from the point of order. We are getting off the agenda.
>> You do not have the floor. >> Mr. Chair, >> you do not have getting off the agenda. >> Mr. Chair, you need to read Robert's rules of orders. There are officers in our committee who are not following the rules.
>> Point of order. >> Back to the agenda item. is the agenda item. I asked him a question. He answered me truthfully. Did Did I mention that right? He answered me truthfully because back in our private meeting that we had in May
um with Phil, Chris Kridler, and all that, I asked um I asked Phil what the reason was that the election didn't get covered because I didn't believe what the reason was. um that was given publicly that the tririccaster device we've already went over this but Phil
told me that he didn't feel it was important and he answered me honestly then and he answered me honestly now and I think that that is something that we can work with
you know I I I I [Music] I'm not here to be the evil person that Some people make me out to believe. I believe in second chances, fourth chances, fifth chances. I told you I can argue this film blue in the face. You
answer truthfully. I'm going to agree to the 30-day extension here. And more likely than not, I will approve the contract myself. I'm just one person um in October if that comes up. So, I thank you for your time. Um, I would just leave the board
with this is you heard Bill's decision and if that squares away with what you were told, great. If it doesn't, then you have your own decision to make. It's not mine, it's yours. So, thank you. >> Anyone else from the public have any
questions? Aaron, go ahead. So, just to be clear, the memo, are we going to have an opportunity to once you're finalized, do we have an opportunity to revisit some of these line items that there's a little more clarity so I don't have to bring up specific? >> Yes, I I specifically brought that up
because while I believe that Melissa's going to do a good job, RCTV is going to do a good job in this scenario, um, that obviously there's some other items that I'd like to see added. I gave Matt and Jane some feedback the other day on what I think can be done within reason that
um they can bring back to the board. Like I said, I've been staying on it. >> So, we can give you feedback based on this by Yeah. I'll just >> Yeah, we'll take we'll take any feedback you have. >> That's wide open. >> Thanks. >> So, to clarify for everyone, the agenda
item we have is to vote on a three-month extension. >> It's >> Is that what the motion is as well? No, it's up. So, it's the way that the agenda item was written is different than what Matt's Matt's recommendation. >> I understand that. And according to open meeting law, we need to follow an agenda
item that we published 48 hours in advance. So, our agenda item is we need to discuss and vote in a three-month extension on the RCTV license or we can table the agenda item. >> If you want to table it, I will let Matt and Jane explain to you what happens. >> I'd like to call for the motion if when
everyone's done. I'm telling you, Karen, if you want to table this until after September 31st, 2025, that is within your right. But I have uh uh unfortunate news for you is that RCTV will cease to exist after that date. >> Mr. Chair, I'd just like us to focus on
the agenda. >> All right. So, feel free to to vote uh accordingly. Karen, I'm advising against it, but >> Karen, do you have a motion? >> Well, I asked for anyone from the public first. Sorry. So I have a motion in
front of me but the agenda is something different >> public I think. >> Okay. So we have an open meeting law and it is said that you will put the agenda items and you will discuss those agenda items and we are not
>> allowed legally to to discuss things that we have not previously published. So if you do not want to vote on a three-month extension tonight, you know, we can vote to table it. I I don't think that's a wise decision. >> I personally disagree because the information is contained in the packet
uh mentioning October 31st. Karen has a motion of October 31st, but uh in the interim while I entertain public comment, Matt, I know was coming on for the charter. >> Yeah, and I believe she's I believe she's on already if we wanted to >> as well. If she's on, fantastic. Then
we'll take public comments. Do >> you want me to go appine or do you want to take public comment first, Chris? >> Um, I'll just get your opinion if you on the agenda item. >> So, go ahead.
>> It's my position that you can grant them up to a three-month extension. We don't have to read the agenda item as rigid. Members of the public were advised that there was a possibility they could get a three-month extension. I would equate this to something similar like a town meeting warrant article where we may say
we're going to appropriate $50,000 but then the motion at town meeting is for $25,000. Anyone that was interested in the in the appropriation around $50,000 would have attended and therefore the lesser is part of the motion. I would say the same is true here. Anyone that
had interest in the fact that there might be a three-month extension would know to come and you're giving them less than what was possibly noticed. there would would be a potential issue just like at town meeting if you sought to exceed the amount of time established in the agenda item four months or if you
went for $60,000 at town meeting. So I'm comfortable with the board proceeding with a vote um that's you know what month two month or three months. >> Thanks. That's helpful. That's how I was interpreting it as well.
>> All right. Anyone from the public? Nancy, I don't think you spoke on RCTV, did you? I'm not sure. >> No, I didn't. >> All right. All along >> spoke about the board being consistent. >> Yes. >> Nancy, doctor, Pearl Street. Um, so I'm curious, um, other than three select board
members, how many residents, um, submitted to the board or to the manager that they would like you to, um, not renew the contract because I am interested um, as a
community member and as a member of RCTV. um since it's read in community TV. My understanding is that there's been a lot of community support for RCTV. But I would like to know from the board
and from the town manager if well actually I can't because it's public comment. You can't answer me, but I would be surprised if you got any requests not to renew this contract from residents. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Nancy. And yes, we don't respond, but I break that rule all the time, so I will. And your answer is zero. Um, and I myself, as well as everyone else, uh, has been in favor of RCPD and the thing they did with the
community. And, uh, I will have a nice presentation for the, uh, final execution of the contract in the future, whatever it ends up being. Um but nobody has ever had an issue with um RCTV in general over at the schools. Phenomenal.
I haven't heard a single IOTA issue of anybody over there ever um with the program that she puts over there and obviously RCTV pays for it. Um which is, you know, fantastic. No, nobody's ever said a negative thing about that at all
ever. Nor have I, Carlo, Karen or Garen or Melissa. Um, but yes, that answers that. Anyone else? Ron and address 328.
>> Ron Pal 328 South Street. Um, thank you, Mr. Chair. Board members. Thank you. Uh, I'm honored to have been recently appointed by you to serve on the RT RCTV Studios board of directors
and I want to thank you for your time tonight. I stand before you with one simple request that you extend RCTV's contract, its current contract for three months. The message from the select board has been clear. You seek better
communication, stronger commitment to innovation, and services that reflect the needs of our community. I share those goals, and I'm excited to continue working with you towards achieving them. The extension will ensure that RCTV can
continue serving the community without interruption. It gives us time that we need to finalize a long-term solution, and it's a practical step that allows us to build something even better for residents together.
We've already made great strides over the summer, and with your continued support, I'm confident that we reach an agreement that strengthens both RCTV and the town. Let's keep moving forward, united in our common goal to serve our
community. Thank you. >> Thank you, Ron. Anybody else in the room? >> Kathy, >> am I allowed to speak? >> You know, I make the rules. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Well, just >> I've never said no.
>> Name and address, but two minutes. >> Yeah. >> Um Kathy Krook, um Pleasant Street. I just have being a part of the negotiating group, we have worked really hard. We are fine-tuning things. You've
got stuff. We've got more uh more stuff to work on. I would like to encourage the full three months knowing we are working hard not to use the full three months. I don't want to have to come back in a month now saying we're this
close and could we have another month? Um, we as and we've said it as a group, as much as we've enjoyed spending time together, we're done. You know, we want to we want to wrap this up as soon as
possible, but I really don't want to see us back here in a month asking for another month. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Um, I guess I don't negotiate with public comment, but I could kind of
just bouncing the idea in my head. Uh, I I still think we always need runway at the end regardless of what outcome I might have just said. But I think that if we could split the difference and go with two months, so November 30 days
come September, April, June, November. So, November 30th, I think that seems fair where nobody's coming back. That's like two months from now. I understand Thanksgiving, whatever else is that, but for me, like that's in the middle of everything and hopefully that makes
everyone here happy. It's not n it's not 30, it's not 90, 60. So, that's kind of where I'm at. So, anyone else public comment online? Maddie? >> Yep. We have two online. Sarah had their hand raised first.
>> Hi Sarah Brookalakio, 48 Maple Ridge Road. Um so glad I went after IA and Ron because um that was a couple of my questions, but I I guess I'm here because uh once again I just want to express um my gratitude to RCTV. I've
known these people that for um both Phil and Angela for a long time going back to the first time they showed me how to um work a camera so I could tape the Pinewood Derby for my son when he was a Cub Scout and he's 32 now. Um but um and
I do I do feel for the um all of the emotional impact this has had on everybody. And I was so happy when I saw the updated um packet that had the information stating um sort of like where all these negotiations have led
to, which is all very very positive. And I agree with Karen that it's probably a similar um um experience that should happen with Burbank. Um so, uh the sooner whatever it is, the sooner that the town manager and RCTV and the select
board thinks that we can get a new contract in place, I'm all for it. And I once again, I just want to express my gratitude to RCTV. >> Thanks, Aaron. Thanks for being on CPA and the our committee as well. Thank you. >> Anything else? Maddie,
>> Angela Binda, >> did she speak on RCTV? You already did, Angela. I gota I got to hold firm on my You already spoke on the topic. Um, so is there anybody else? >> I just spoke on Burbank. I didn't speak on RCTV. >> Spoke on Burbank.
>> All right. Karen agrees with you, so I agree with you. Go ahead. >> Thank you. Angela Bendo, Orchard Park Drive. Um, in the past, Mr. Haley has um been very strict about agenda items and not wanting to stray
for it. So, I do feel that there needs to be a a an understanding of what was on it. And I think I did look at the packet. I'm not sure what the town manager recently submitted. I don't know when that was submitted, but I don't
believe that anything information any information that was just submitted to the to, you know, within a day is really allowing the town um adequate time to know what was there and to digest it.
So, what was on the agenda was three months. I'm going to respectfully I'm not going to disagree with town council, but I am disagreeing with how um the chair has interpreted things before. And I'd also like to say um Mr.
Botchi has uh had this question for so long. I wish that he would speak to the town moderator Alan Foss who was on the board for a long time. I wish that he would speak with Katherine Rob um Robertson. I'm not sure why these
questions keep going to Phil in these um very pointed discussions while he's there. He's had these questions for a year and a half longer. He could get them answered. I would be very happy to hear what Mr. um what our town moderator
has to say. And I I encourage Mr. botchi to speak to the town moderator because he served on um the board of the post. So that would be great. I'd love to hear his uh Mr. Bach's update after he's spoken to Mr. Fos, but uh I agree. Three
months, that's what's on the agenda. That's what should be voted on. Thank you. >> Perfect timing, Angela. Um anyone else online? >> Don't see any other hands. Thank you. Uh, and I just want to point out real quick that RCTV in the post
dissolved in July, uh, not last year. So only things are relevant now. Um, would have to be asked. Obviously, it's a couple months, but it's not a year. Um, so, uh, like I said in mentioned that we can
do up to whatever. I I'm being manageable and doing in the middle. I think it's fair. I I don't think that I don't think that they're not going to get stuff done. Obviously, Kathy mentioned that they can get things done before that. Um, and I asked Matt and
Jane prior how much percent if they had a gauge. It's like 80 85% kind of thing. To Karen's other point, she wants some input, which obviously we need input. It doesn't matter what um what Melissa just comes up with and what their uh two
board members come up with. It's the full board. So, if we want a couple things added, change, tweak, we need time for that um to be added. Um I already gave my feedback to Matt. I would direct everyone else to give the feedback to Matt. Matt can bring it up to the group. They can hash things out and then they'll give us answers so
we're not taking up multiple meetings with this. But, um I'd like to see the motion 60 days for November 30th. Um and we'll see if that passes and then go from there. splitting the difference is 45 days.
>> Well, I meant no between is it >> half of three months is 45. >> I'm giving them extra. >> All right. >> November 30th. Like I said, it's the holidays getting over there. We don't want to do it right in Thanksgiving. I don't know what date that is. So, that's
where I'm at. November 30th. So, Karen, if you just want to change the date to that and read the motion. Move pursuing to section six of the grant agreement with writing community television parenthesis RCTV and parenthesis dated June 20th 2019 to
extend the grant agreement for an additional two months until November 30th 2025 on the same terms and conditions. >> Am I allowed to second? Someone else lost a second. I'll second it. Well, no,
I can't. It It seems as if we are going the uh three month route. So, uh I Nobody seconded your motion. >> So, I'm going to >> So, if you want to go back to the >> You can withdraw. >> Yeah, withdraw. So, go back to Yes. The
>> What's November >> 90 days, >> right? December 31st. Yeah. Okay. >> Move pursuant to section six of the grant agreement with writing community television parentheses RCTV and parentheses dated June 20th, 2019 to
extend the grant agreement for an additional 3 months till December 31st, 2025 on the same terms and conditions. [Music] >> Nobody's seconding this either. >> Second. >> Just giving you guys an opportunity.
Second. Well, I've never seconded anything as chair. Oh, chair. All right. Um, any discussion? >> Oh, yeah. I have something. >> Okay. Okay. I don't know what BS Miss Binda
was spewing, but the writing post just got dissolved and I asked a legitimate question. I'm sick of this that I'm getting accused of just like you did with pickle ball on SW. I never advocated for myself on pickle ball. I advocated for pickle ball. So I'm sick
of this from Angela Binda who keeps on attacking me. >> Point of order. >> Yeah. Good. Point of order yourself. Yes. >> But >> I'm talking now. I'm talking now. You can >> Yeah, I'm talking now. The chair can shut me down if he wants. >> Point of order. We're off topic. >> All right. We're off topic. I got it out
there. I'm just sick of it. I'm You should advocate for yourself. You're being falsely attacked. This is ridiculous. I asked a legitimate question about the post that I became aware of two weeks ago. Two weeks ago. And this wasn't public knowledge that they dissolved the post. I found out two
weeks ago and I'm under the board. So I'm I'm sick of it. She's horrible person and all. >> Thank you. >> Any other discussion? >> Well, it's chocolate. I got extra. [Laughter]
So, it's December 31st is the current motion. >> Karen, are you ready to vote or do you want chocolate? >> No, I have three. But you guys, here, give one to Carl if he needs one. He'll feel better. There you go. >> You want I'm going to die. I think
>> now you're doing a food fight. >> I have my own chocolate. >> You're cursing and doing a food fight in the select. >> I need chocolate for a living. >> Oh. Oh, I'm actually sorry about that. Okay. Sorry. Yeah. >> All right. Uh, no other discussion. So all those in favor >> favor of extending the contract. Yes.
>> Three. All those opposed. One >> three to one. >> All right. Thank you. >> Moving on. >> Hey, at least I didn't offer you a peanut butter cup. >> So, uh 810 discuss and vote on new
alcohol liquor license for champion golf. Who's been waiting here? And it's not as exciting as they thought it was going to be. And more >> more exciting. >> Yeah. Um, page 110 of the packet. >> Notices.
>> Can I >> Oh, after this we'll take a break. >> All right. Thank you. My legs are crossed. >> Okay. Is this going to be quick though? Otherwise, >> I would assume so. They they seem very ready and >> able. We're We're ready. >> Yes. >> Um, Matt, did you have anything else?
Did we have to put something up on screen for them or >> um not that they provide you could we could go to the page in the packet if that they'd like that? >> Yeah. And it's just >> Yeah. No, I I just think >> Yeah. >> So, just one in the packet, Matty, then
just go ahead and >> you're good. >> Okay. Thank you. My name is Matthew Porter. I'm the attorney for Champions Indoor Golf 5, Inc. I'm an attorney in Eastern Massachusetts. Along with me is Andrew Gild. Mr. Gild is one of the principles of the applicant before you. Alongside me on my other side is Andrew
Kochi. Andrew or Aaron, I'm sorry. Aaron is the proposed license manager, meaning he'd be the personal on site at a bare minimum of 40 hours per week. Um, before you is a request for an allcohol license. This relates to the opening uh or hopeful opening of a new indoor golf facility at the Market Basket location
uh Plaza 128 Market uh Place Shopping Center. Um, these folks have been in the industry for several years. Andrew got his start at Pine Hills Golf Club, uh, in Plymouth, working as a pro there. Um, they started an indoor golf facility
with, um, certain bays and technology inside there. So, Andrew got a start there. From there, I decided to branch out on his own. They opened the first Champions in Bridgewater a couple years ago now. It's been a huge success within the town. Uh, the community has really
welcomed them. um you know as part of you know a plethora of things they do but they they offer leagues throughout the winter obviously golf has a very short season in New England um so it's become a really good gathering spot in addition to that obviously there's lessons these guys are all golf pros that are there and they've really
invested in the youth movement of the game as Andrew you know can say more eloquent than I can that the youth is the future of their sport um so they run a lot of lessons through the youth programs as well so you know before you today um you know is the request the
alcohol license. Um, but it it generally just relates more so to the to the opening of their business. Um, both Andrew and Aaron are alcohol tip certified. They go through all their alcohol tips training. Um, but the alcohol really is a ancillary, you know, product to this. If someone is swinging
and they want to have a beer or something along those lines, but it's not a it's not a gathering place. It's not a bar. It's not a sports bar or anything along those lines. Uh, they will offer food throughout that. They're going to have a fully functioning kitchen as well. So, um, again, they they've had a great track record in the other communities they've they've been
in and, uh, they're very excited to be part of this community as well. >> All right. Um, since it didn't say public notice at the beginning of the agenda item, I didn't realize it, uh, it's still a public hearing. So, Karen, you still have to read the, uh, hearing
notice to open the hearing. For the inhabitants of the town of Reading, please take notice that the select board of the town of Reading will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, September 16th, 2025 at 7 p.m. in the selectable main room at Ton Hall, 16 LOL Street. Reading masks are also available
remotely on Zoom. Act on a new license application for an annual all alcohol restaurant license located at One General Way, Unit 90. Reading masks for Champions Indoor Golf Five, Inc. DBA, Champions Indoor Golf. A copy of the proposed documents
regarding this topic will be in the selected packet on the website at www.reingmma.gov. All interested parties are invited to attend the hearing in person or remotely via Zoom or may submit their comments in writing or by email prior to 6 pm on September 16, 2025 to town manager at
running ma.gov. By order of Matthew Pellis, town manager. >> Thanks. Um then did you guys have anything else that you wanted to say? No, I would be remiss to say that we've had a great relationship with the landlord who has been u so kind to spend her time with us this evening as well.
So, um we're off to a great start with them. Um the lease is in place. You know, everything is in order. Um I I would say I spoke with your office today. There's a common vicular license that would have to be applied for um that comes along with the all alcohol license, but I've been told that can just be completed online. this license
if it was approved by the board tonight goes off to the ABCC and gets lost in the ether for three to four months. So, um you know, we'll be able to take care of all the common veicular and local licensing in the meantime. So, that that's it that I would add and certainly I can answer any questions that that the
board may have. Andrew and Narrington as well. >> Carlo, >> thank you. I don't golf, but I think it's a great idea. Um you said you have current location. >> Yes. >> Now, >> yes. And what kind of menu is at that location? >> So, so the other locations are a little
bit different. Um, certain communities have general um on premise licenses that don't require functioning kitchens. Reading does have requires that the ping licenses be restaurant oriented. Um, so the other locations, it's a little bit of a mixed bag. One of them where they don't have a kitchen, they have a
takeout menu from like a local establishment next door. Um I believe in Bill Rich we settled on a hot dog heating machine as a compromise but here this location because of you know writing's requirements we'll have a functioning kitchen. So Andrew can speak a little bit more to the items. Yeah
still minimal kitchen. Um the idea is bar pizzas and a commercial air fryer. So chicken fingers, French fries, you know, really simple sort of bar eats items but um from a food point of view trying to keep it as simple as damn.
Okay. Yeah. More monkey proof to uh have >> Yeah. And I think the design is, you know, folks aren't there to, you know, to eat, you know, so this gives them an opportunity to grab a snack or something along the lines when they're either in their leagues or, you know, taking lessons. >> No, the reason I was asking because I because I don't golf, but I was invited
to a party at one of these establishments. It wasn't yours. >> And the food was phenomenal. That's why I was asking. >> Yeah. Well, maybe they'll get there eventually. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> The golf is phenomenal. That's good. When do you plan open? If all things go well, >> beginning of this summer.
>> Beginning of summer. All right. >> Good luck. >> I think it's a great location and I really appreciate landlord being here. This is probably the second time in my recollection. Um I think Mr. Vicaro came once on um half and half. So Zuka's behalf and I I would like to see this
more often. I you know I'm really thankful and and sometimes proponents are on Zoom. So thanks again for coming in person. Shows your commitment. And uh thank you very much >> Karen. >> Yeah. Just um can you refresh my memory?
I did as you you were all speaking I was at some point the regulations came into effect that we need to deliver alcohol and food together in writing because we take our um our alcohol regulation and and making sure we're not serving minors
or any underage individuals very very seriously. Um, Matt, can you com is it is writing unique in this? I I actually thought it was a state. I I can't remember. >> I think it's better. Town council may know better than I and she I think she's still on the call. Maybe she could answer that question where it's, you
know, for the statewide issue. So, Avery, are you able to answer that question? >> Yeah. So, there are many communities across the Commonwealth that don't allow what's called like a general onremise license, a license that isn't attached
to a common vicular. Um, so it's not uncommon, but it's not a state requirement. You can have a license, a liquor license under state law without a CV, provided the local regulations permit it. So, how is Reading implementing this?
I'm just wondering, is this a bylaw or is this something the select board made a decision on at some point that this is how we wanted our establishments to function? So, I don't have your liquor license regulations memorized, but my but my
recollection is that it's in your regulations um that you require that. And I haven't seen this application. Did you apply for a restaurant license? >> It was a restaurant license. Yes. It was advertised as a restaurant license as well. >> It was advertised.
>> It was. Yep. So, I did double check the ad when that came through. So, it was >> Okay, perfect. Yes. >> It's just two different distinction. It's a either a section 12 restaurant puring licenses or a section 12 on prem general on premise. This is >> exactly. So at the ABCCC they're also
going to require that this applicant obtain a CV um if they haven't already had it. Uh by the time that the ABCC is processing the application, it generally becomes conditioned on issuance of a CV.
>> Okay. Thank you. Um I golf badly, so I'm excited. I like French fries, so sounds good. I wish you the best of luck. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Karen, you have anything good? >> Oh, maybe I'll take up golf, though. >> Let's do it. >> Why not? >> I'd make a joke and ask if you have an
orange dinosaur, but you know, there's a blue one in Reading now, a bronosaurus, so maybe you guys can do something else to compliment those two. Who knows? Um, but as Karen mentioned, we do take alcohol seriously here and um hopefully you guys do as well. We don't we're not
fond of violations. I think there's been one since I've been on the board maybe. Um but just please know that we do take that very seriously and I know you do but like you can see what can happen here. >> Yes, we can. And um you know, but they
they've had no issues whatsoever at any of their other locations. And um you know, not just Andrew and Aaron getting alcohol certified, but any you know, future employees, you know, they have an internal, you know, requirement, you know, within their company to make sure everybody's alcohol certified as well. So they take it very seriously.
>> Appreciate that. >> All right. Uh anyone from the public questions, comments? >> Hayward, 128 marketplace. >> Just over there, please. >> Welcome. I'm sorry. It's for people at home, not for me.
>> Jody Hayward, 128 Marketplace, representing the landlord. We just want to say we're delighted to um you know, present Andrew and his team. They they're the best of the best in the business. So, I think everyone will be happy. We're happy to provide the service to Renie. >> Glad to hear. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. Uh anyone online, Maddie? >> No hands online. >> Right. Karen, can I get a motion to close the hearing? Motion to close the hearing regarding the new annual all alcohol restaurant liquor license for Champions Indoor Golf. >> Second.
>> Seconded by Karen. Any discussion? Seeing none. All those in favor. >> Well, no. Hold on. Next one. >> Yes. >> To approve the annual all alcohol restaurant liquor license for Champions Indoor Golf. Five pink DBA Champions
Indoor Golf located at One General Way. >> Second. >> Seconded by Karen. Any discussion? All those in favor or zero. >> Thank you very much. Appreciate it. Have a good day. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Uh we'll take a two-minut break. We'll
be back at 9:00. Thank you. Rob, we're back. >> Give you five seconds. Five. >> Are we alive? >> Not again. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> All right. So now we will move on to
discuss and v mode on transfer of all alcoholics license for >> Yachi TVA is Oy's question >> uh in bar located at 26 Walkers Park Drive page 174 in your packet and Karen
do you have a motion? >> Do you have an legal notice to the inhabitants of the town of Reading? Please take notice that the select board of the town of Reading will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, September 16th, 2025 at 7 p.m. in the select board meeting room at town hall 16 little
street reading mass are also available remotely on Zoom to act on a transfer of license application for an annual all alcohol restaurant license located at 26 Walkers Brook Drive from Coke Inc. DBA O to
Inc. DBA O restaurant and bar. A cop I apologize if I misspoke. A copy of the proposed documents regarding this topic will be in the select board packet on the website at www.writingma.gov. All interested parties are invited to attend the hearing in person or remotely
via Zoom or may submit their comments in writing or by email prior to 6 pm on September 16th, 2025 to town manager at readingmma.gov by order of Matthew Grenellis, town manager. >> Thanks Aaron. Um, some Yeah, I have
somebody online. >> Yeah, I believe there's at least one or two people online from OIS. They're on the Zoom right now, so I can uh ask them to identify themselves and speak. >> Yes, good evening, Mr. Chair, members of the board. Uh, my name is Attorney Russell Chen. I apologize to you. My
camera doesn't seem to be working. Um, but I can see you and and I hope you can hear me uh clearly here on behalf of the Utah, Inc. or the restaurant and bar and um joined by Mr. Zean Woo.
Mr. Woo is the um uh president uh and office office holder uh for the corporation. Um we're here applying for a CV license and application uh as well for a transfer of the full liquor license.
This would be an on premises section 12 restaurant license. Um, Mr. Wu has approximately 11 years of experience as a server, including four years at the OAS restaurant. Um, we have provided you
with copies of his tip certifications on page 133 of the alcohol application. Um, we're also applying for an entertainment license, uh, three televisions and a touchtune machine.
um be happy to answer any questions that you may have on this application. Thanks. Um I can't Sorry, Jane, you were in the way. >> Sorry. >> Um all right, board members, any
questions? Um, can I just um, >> not that I'm the most enlightened person about um, trends in restaurants, what kind of entertainment will your you be offering via these televisions? >> It would be mostly um, I think sports
um, types of entertainment as well as uh, I don't know if he's interested in doing the karaoke uh, where the people can can sing, but uh, he might be able to answer that. I believe that these these um monitors strictly for showing
regular sports kinds of uh shows. >> Okay, that seems reasonable. Um yeah. Okay. I didn't know you needed an entertainment license to have televisions in a in a restaurant. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Anyone else?
So, I don't know if you heard our prior speakers who also were going for alcohol license, but um the select takes uh liquor here in Reading uh fairly significantly. It's uh paramount um at
this point. It's ingrained in our minds uh the you know the rules and regulations and we want to make sure that you know nobody is is serving underage or over serving. So, you did mention that Mr. Woo had his chip certifications in there and you said 11
years. Is that correct? >> Yes. Since 2014, including four years at this restaurant. >> Okay, good. All right. So, just please note that uh we do take it seriously. >> Did anyone else have anything?
>> Anyone from the public? Anyone else online? Maddie, >> nobody online. >> All right. hearing. Can I get a motion to close the public hearing? >> Move to close the hearing regarding the new No. Move to close the hearing regarding
the transfer of the annual all alcohol liquor license to DBA or restaurant restroom and bar. >> Second. >> Seconded by Karen. Any discussion? Seeing none. All those in favor? 4. No. >> Move to approve the annual all alcohol
restaurant liquor license for Inc. TBA Oyster Stone and Bar located at 26 Walkers Brook Drive. >> Second. >> Seconded by Karen. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? 4. >> Thanks.
>> Thank you very much. >> Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. >> Have a good evening. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. Moving on to 8:30. Uh public information session number two. review charter changes in preparation for town meeting, including potential discussion
in vote to amend town manager removal and town manager resignation sections not applicable to not currently or in the future or not didn't pertain to him. Um so that is page 310 of the packet. We
went over this last meeting. Um I don't see anyone from the charter here tonight. So is available. I believe the rigomearroll is that the select group can vote on the charter changes, the two minimal ones. One is removing the word
legal from what was there before. And then the second one is what Karen brought up last time. We checked the minutes and we did agree to strike it if it was unless it was going to cause some special act. If we looked into it, we don't have to. So, um the charter
committee then was in agreement with it. So I would say that you know currently we still are and Matt did you have something >> I I just want to mention there are some members on Zoom the charter more than >> I don't I see Jonathan Barnes Jesse Arnold Jeff Strubal
>> I need one more >> no we need five meaning one more >> I don't see a fifth unless there's somebody that I'm not seeing >> four online or three >> there is one two three online >> yeah so we don't have a >> we don't have a quorum but they are there.
>> So, Mr. Chair, >> yep, go ahead. >> Thank you. So, I think you know after looking at it and in some of the emails today, it might have gotten lost in translation. So because we are amending section 51
through special act, section 51 is the section that contains the provision around the town manager's termination pay that I think it just makes sense to send that to the legislature through special legislation. Um because we're
already sending 51 to the legislature. So it feels like a clean complete change. Um, so there's two ways of moving forward. The board tonight, I think, you know, it was recommended that it that this proposal be added to the
warrant as submitted by the bylaw committee. I do think these are dimminimous changes. Um, we could just make those changes or we could wait to the charter committee to meet. um they could vote on it and then on the floor
of town meeting make a motion to amend. So there's two options for proceeding. Um and I defer to yeah I guess the members of the charter committee that are here tonight as well as the Slack board. >> So I already gave mine that this was the
spirit of what we agreed to do before and we are already like you said we're sending a couple items regardless not just five. you outlined it in the memo. Um the other items that are getting sent anyway. Um so in the spirit of that like I'm fine with the select board voting but I will take you know input of
Jonathan, Jesse and who did you say the other one was? >> Um Jonathan, Jesse and Jeff. >> So Jonathan, Jesse, Jeff, do you have any feedback what you think? We went back and looked at the minutes like I said and we did agree to strike the the termination pay clause from the contract
that we discussed. So if anyone wants to say anything >> Jeff Stal um are we going to have a meeting before town meeting to essentially talk about presentation? >> Um I think that we had discussed at the
final meeting where um I believe I was going to do the whole thing. I think that's what was Allen wanted to stay out of it obviously um but but nothing prevents us I don't think from actually doing that. But I think the issue is the way that it's going in the warrant. It's
going in the warrant one way tonight, right? Like that's >> Yeah. And so I think if you add it to the warrant tonight with the changes to 51 and 55.2 um the charter commission committee will need to meet to vote to um make a
recommendation on the suggestion of the select board. Um, so I think another meeting will be required. >> Correct. >> That's why that's always asking about presentation because we could have done it at that meeting, but we're talking about who who says what. >> Um,
>> so to to that point, what we would be doing tonight is deviating the motion on the floor and having a vote and taking time meeting time to just make this change. There may be other changes that they're going to want to come up with which would have more weight than this. This is just
that's why I think that we do it now and then the charter committee can reconvene like October or something. We'll see if we can do something before November. >> Does that sound good, Jeff? Jesse, Jonathan, >> I certainly concur. This is Jonathan. I
concur. >> Well, I do have to comment. Jeff sounds like he's he's ill, so I hope he's feeling well and getting better >> temporarily. Jonathan, >> glad to hear it. Yes, >> I sound like Darth Vader, but sorry. >> I just want it didn't come in person. I
didn't want to contaminate everybody in the room. So, >> no, it's >> Thank you. Uh, Jesse, did you have any feedback? >> Um, I concur with Jonathan and trying to get a meeting before. So, >> okay. >> All right. So, that's kind of the deal. I'd like to see it voted in here
tonight. Then the charter can meet and then we'll, you know, um, put something formal to town meeting. I I just want to alleviate the issue at a meeting for this because >> All right. So, we're not taking a charter vote. We will take a select
board vote on this um when we get to it. Did you have something Karen or Noel? Okay. Um so, let me just double check. So, there's nobody here from the public for me to go over the charter changes again, right? And nobody online, Maddie,
that is interested in any of this that I mean other than Jonathan, Jesse, >> there's a few other people online. >> So I guess I'll just open it to the public right now. In the interest of
time for me not to go over the whole charter again, I'm going to go over just the quick briefing that has um and then obviously the the two big changes. But the the charter is online. It has been for a while. It's been um voted on
unanimously other than rape border on the RMLD section which is kind of mood at this point. Um but you know we put a lot of time, effort, energy in this. There's a YouTube video where we go over all of the changes and why they happened. The last select board meeting
I went over are various changes why they happened. Karen caught one of the sections in that which is good. We went back to the minutes. Lara provided that. That's why we're changing um just that one section to be stricken out of there as well as changing the word legal. Um
so if anyone from the public wants to talk about this, I will go over anything with you now. Otherwise, I'm just going to briefly go over the article changes real quick. I'll give them a moment. All right. So really quickly in the
spirit of time um so on page 310 of the packet because there's opioid stuff and everything else that had to go in here um there's assembled a good cheat sheet on what is happening um with specific
changes other than changing select board other than changing selectman to select board um his her to um they them kind of language other than that and maybe some other random small stuff. There's every
cheat sheet page 310 that kind of outlines the big examples and if it does require a special act from the legislature. So when we started the town um charter review committee, we said that, you know, something was going to
be a an act that had to be, you know, specially reviewed and all that. We weren't going to we weren't going to do it. And we kind of added things up as they went. And as it turns out, there is a couple special act ones. So that's why um uh those are in there. Otherwise, if we didn't if we had one, we probably
wouldn't have uh made any of those kind of changes. Um so specifically that is 1.6 requiring a spectral act which is expanding the definition of local news medium to include the town website and then redefining majority vote to mean a
majority of those present in voting. It seems ridiculous that we have to include the town website. It's a local news medium, but a lot of information is on obviously the town's website. Um, but we so we had to put that in there. Um, and then um redefining majority mo vote to
mean the majority of those present and voting. Um, so then skipping ahead to the next page. So that other special act is 2.6 six and that is to provide an opportunity to be heard before removal
from town meeting. Um and then 2.12.1 clarify the process for appointment when the chair of the finance committee is in the last year of their term. Um which then coincides with the bylaw committee uh underneath it. So those were being changed because
um it was felt that the chairs of those committees voted on themselves did not seem appropriate, warranted and had pause. So we are just removing that um and clarifying that those members um if
they are in their final year of the term then they would be appointing then the that committee would appoint somebody else to vote um on their behalf as long as they weren't in their final year of their term as well. So that's finance committee and the bylaw committee for
that. Uh 2.15.1 is clarify the process for submitting a petition. um no special acts under anything in article 3. Article four um so 4.8 establishes the membership of the historical commission at five
individuals that doesn't require a special act. Um and the same thing for the town forests committee at five individuals. And then moving on to article five, time manager 5.1 is requiring a special act and that amends the qualifications for
appointment to the position removes a provision on termination pay which was brought up last meeting um to the extent that the select board wants to offer termination pay such as pay may be outlined in the town manager contract. So it's removing that provision that
came up two years ago when or three years ago with uh with Bob's contract. So we are striking that gray area from there. Um and then uh the qualifications on that is making a little bit more less
strict requiring prior experience um because there's been um changes in the job market for town managers. Uh 5.3 is amending the title of unbudsman to constituent services officer. Matt brought this up um to be
more genderneutral. That's where we're going with and unbudsman made it seem like they were doing other things. >> Is that the CSS? >> Yes. >> CSS. >> Uh 542 clarifies term of employment may be set by select board that requires a
special act for the town manager. Article six, administrative organization 652 amends the qualification for appointment to the position that does not require special act. And then we skip all of article 7. There's
nothing requiring special acts or any callouts there. Um section 8 is the most significant in changes. Um so 8.8.2 two uh does not require a special act, but it clarifies that copies of rules and
minutes shall be available on the town website. Um they currently are, I believe, anyway, but we're just clarifying. Um 8.11.2 uh which requires a special act amends the number of registered voters that
must submit a recall affidavit. It incorporates additional notice provisions relative to the recall process and expands the time for filing a recall petition. Amends the number of signatures required to trigger a recall election. Um so this was brought up and
discussed you know maybe half a meeting maybe a meeting. Um Jesse was making some proposes. I offered some changes to make it you know you're going to require more to happen. That means we need more days. So that's the long and short of how this got changed. um to require more
signatures but also allow more time for recall and things to happen. 8.12.1 clarifies the removal process for appointed officials. That's Jonathan Barnes. Uh which also 8.12.2 and 8.12.3 which is um amending the number of days
notice required for removal hearing and clarifying the removal process and hearing procedure. So essentially this revolves around more notice to individuals and affording them a a process. Um it's not restricting uh
anyone's rights and that is the long and short of this. So the two motions do we have did you have those Karen so we can kind of just see what they said first
or how are we going to do this? How did I only have a motion to close the warrant. >> So that's step within this. So >> I would just say um that uh move to amend section 55 and section
I'm sorry move to amend section 5.1 and section 5.5.2 um of the charter as discussed. >> Okay. So this Well, hold on. Well, I'm gonna ask public comment still. Anyone else on Zoom? Final chance? Manning?
>> Nobody online. >> Carter changes. Okay. Um, so um just went over um the the changes. Um I think it's more I think it would just
mean so clarification. It was um legal residence, right? So, we're removing the word legal and the other >> it was um legal address um and we're we're um we're striking it so it just says address
>> and then the other one is what every so everyone can know. The other one is we're removing that last block of text in um 5.1 which says that if the town manager provides notice of his term of his resignation within a a period of
time then you can give him additional pay. >> Okay. So we're striking that >> we're striking that. >> Yeah. >> You don't have to do anything here. It's just those are the two that we're getting changed >> and and Yeah. and and you you can just vote to um recommend those changes and
then when you close the warrant you'll close it with those changes reflected in the article. >> Okay. >> So moved. >> I can apply. That's good enough. Yeah, that's good. That's good.
>> You say it's good. It's good. Um so any discussion? Oh, wait. Does anyone second? >> You can I second? >> Yes. Yes. So seconded by Karen. Any discussion? Seeing none. So all those in favor
for zero. All right. So that squares away. Let me just see what we said. The agenda topic item. Um. All right. So that's Yep. So that was the 8:30. So the session on that and the
changes that we just made now. Um, so thank you again, Jesse, Jonathan, and Jeff for being here tonight. Um, I appreciate it. And then, uh, doodle poll or something like that will go out in the future organizing a subsequent
meeting before November 10 meeting. >> Okay. >> See you later. >> Thank you. All right. So 9:00 uh again uh potential indication of the rule and necessity under the conflict of
enter slide to allow board action on warrant in uh snow removal bylaw article page 344 in the packet. Siria if you can just give us a brief overview of why we have to do this and then we will take
subsequent steps. >> Right. So, um, as was alluded to at the last select board meeting, three select board members, um, have a financial interest in one of the proposed articles on the town meeting warrant,
specifically the proposed snow removal bylaw due to the fact that they have a financial interest in property located within the district. So because of that under section 19 of the state ethics law um those three members Chris Haley,
Carlo Bachi and Karen Rose Gillis are procluded from participating in any matter involving that article. But because three members of the five member board are procluded, the board doesn't have a quorum that can vote to close the
warrant. So, the board is permitted to, in my opinion, is permitted to use what's called the rule of necessity. This is a judicially created doctrine that recognizes that in some circumstances public officials um who otherwise would have to recuse
themselves may participate because the board the body has a legal duty to act. And so the rule can be invoked when the board has this legal duty to act and the board is only is the only body that can act on the matter and you can't achieve
a quorum due to these conflicts. And um here you are the only body legally empowered to close the warrant and call town meeting. And so it's my opinion that the board can can act notwithstanding the conflict. There is a
process for invoking the rule. I've outlined it in the letter. Um, a non-conlicted member, so in this case it would have to be Karen Heric, needs to invoke the rule by stating that there are not a sufficient number of members to act. Then each board member who has a
conflict needs to briefly disclose their conflict. Um, the board will need to recognize that the legal requirement to act. here it's um general law chapter 39 section 10 as well as your charter and general bylaws and then um and then
assert that you are invoking the rule. So those are the steps that that would need to be taken. Now what's a little bit tricky about the rule of necessity is that if the board has a discretionary function, you can't use the rule of necessity to allow the board to take
that discretionary action. So here you're legally obligated to put the bylaw article on the warrant because it was submitted to you by another public body in town and um you are legally obligated to close the warrant and call
the meeting. You are not required by law to actually discuss the article. Um and you are not required by law to vote to make a recommendation on the article. So my my advice is that the three members that are conflicted vote to close the warrant and vote to call the town
meeting. But to the extent there's going to be any discussion of the bylaw article that they let they sit in the audience while Jesse or someone from the bylaw committee makes the presentation. It's a little bit awkward because there' only be Karen um Heric at the
selectboard table and then once that presentation is done the members can return to the selectboard table. And this was all outlined in the public letter. >> Carlo has a question. >> Thank you for that. And you know, we had
a phone call and correct me if I'm wrong. Once people sit in the audience and if Karen will be the pseudo chair for that item and calls for public comment, we can speak as residents. Correct. So, it's a little it's a little awkward
because it's essentially like the board is taking a recess because there's no quorum, but you know, we are trying to give the bylaw committee an opportunity to present the article. Um, and so this was sort of the best case scenario we could think of. Um, you never lose your
rights as a under the first amendment to speak on your own behalf um just because you've been elected to the position of select board. So you can always talk during public comment for yourself. >> Correct.
Thanks. Okie dokie. Karen, >> I was just going to say um Okay. So, um you're not in a town meeting, but the other three are. So, I didn't know whether we even needed to really have any discussion tonight because there will be a full discussion at town
meeting and because we are obligated to put forward um warrant articles brought through a committee. or and we're not going we wouldn't have been voting our opinions anyway. So I didn't it could be we just get it done. We get it on the warrant. We close the warrant and that's it.
>> To that extent I would say the gray area is that we take public comment after every agenda item and I would not want to lose it consistently that we always have. >> So >> true. >> That's kind of but it the ball is in your card at that time.
>> So all right so the next step is that one by one we'll say what our conflict is. We will walk over there and then Karen has to go first. Okay. Karen has to go. >> Karen will first say that we need to invoke the rule of necessity because we don't have enough members that can
participate. The writing select board needs to um invoke the rule of necessary, excuse me, rule of necessity because we currently have a sufficient we currently have an insufficient number of members necessary to take a valid vote as a result of
disqualification of certain members having conflicts of interest regarding the bylaw or regarding this particular warrant article. Mhm. >> And so in your notes, we can permit each board member who has a conflict to disclose the relevant facts that create
the conflict. I don't see that they need to. If I don't know if you want to comment on that. >> They do. All conflicted board members must disclose their conflict during this meeting. So this is just an opportunity. Point two is just saying now it's the the time where you're permitting them to go ahead and do that.
>> Okay. So who would like to go first? >> I will go first. Thank you Karen. Um I own a business at two haven street which is in the smarth overlay griff griffric uh district which uh this bylaw
would be uh taking place. So that is essentially it. >> Yep. That's great Chris. >> Then I leave right over. >> Yes. Uh I live >> no you can say Chris. Um >> well audience right? Well, only if
there's going to be a presentation from the bylaw committee. >> All right, we'll wait for that. >> So, I am the trustee and live at 494 Main Street, which is also in the Smack Road District and have a conflict. >> Thank you.
>> I live at 69 London Street downtown and I have a conflict. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, okay. Okay. So, should we then ask if the bylaw committee would like to make a presentation on this warrant article? >> So, then Karen, you need to say that the
legal requirement that needs board action here is closing the warrant. >> Okay. So, the select board needs to close the warrant article. Should I mention that at that point um charter and bylaws as you outlined?
>> Yes, please. >> Okay. Um so the legal requirement necessit ne necessitating the board take this action at this meeting in this case would be reading charter 2.13 and 2.14 and reading general bylaws 2.1.4 4 um
GLC39 S10 and um as the non-conlicted member at this time I will be asserting the rule of necessity as the select board is the only legal body who can close the warrant for the
town of Reading. >> Correct. So the the rule has been invoked. The board can now vote to close the warrant. To the extent you want to accept public comment on the warrant as a whole, you can do that now. To the extent that Jesse is going to make a
presentation, Jesse can do that now. >> Okay. Why don't we ask if the bylaw committee would m like to make a presentation for us? >> Um Jesse Arnold here as chair of the bylaw committee. Um we
I can certainly tell you about the bylaw. We have a presentation. Um, we kind of were not advised to actually give the presentation at this point. Um, so I don't have it like loaded to the correct people to give the whole spiel. Um, we actually just ran a public meeting on that tonight. I would encourage anybody to come to our public
meeting next Wednesday. Um, it'll be at the library library. Um, I can certainly tell you about the bylaw. If you would like to know more, um, but I also can recognize that it's 9:30 at night and if people would like to kind of move on and don't really have anything to say, I can
also do that. How about um a quick a quick summary? >> Quick summary last week, but just to be consistent. >> If she gives a summary, we have to leave though. Yeah. Right. >> Yeah. So, if she's going to give a summary, you'd have to sit in the audience. So, I think that um it's up to
I would say it's up to Karen. Um but if the intention is to just move on, um we can just move on to a vote. >> Okay. Well, I think it would be good since she's inviting the public to come to his meeting to just quickly summarize why they might want to come to learn more about this war article. >> Thank you.
>> All right. Thank you. >> I will keep this brief. Um being mindful of the fact that there's still things on the agenda. This came to bylaw committee in 2022 from Mary Parr in the citizen position petition at town meeting. Um we have been working on it since then. We
have surveyed what a lot of other communities are doing, including some of our peer communities, that being North Reading, Wilmington, Wakefield, um all have snow removal bylaws. And so kind of our purpose of this is to um make the
bylaw, I mean make the bylaw, make the downtown, um something that can be navigated throughout the winter by all members of the community, make it accessible. um especially being cognizant of those who may have mobility challenges, be in wheelchairs. Um you
know, because recognizing that things can get hazardous and we want people to feel like they can equally access all parts of our downtown. >> Okay. Thank you. So, um usually we just have board members make comments. My only comment is to maybe Thank you. and and just ask when your bylaw meeting is
normally scheduled so that people can join in. >> Sure. Our next meeting u so we had one tonight as I mentioned that was fully remote. We have one next Wednesday at 7:30. Um that is a hybrid meeting, Zoom and in person. Um it's going to be at the library.
>> Um is that September 20 something? >> September 20 tell you 20 4th >> September 24th 7:30 in the library bylaw committee meeting to discuss the snow removal sidewalk bylaw. Like that.
>> Okay. Thank you. All right. That's my only question. Um, are are there any questions from the public in the room? I see one. Um, Mr. Haley, could you go to the podium? Tell us where you live. >> Chris Haley, 71 Tennyson Road. I uh just
walked here. Um uh so my uh question concern or maybe Jesse can answer it in the future is how did this get whittleled down to just the I'm speaking on behalf of myself of course uh how did this get whittleled down to
only the downtown area because as you mentioned um somebody in a wheelchair mobility issues obviously that exists everywhere um and uh I'm wondering how that anywhere near schools wasn't taken into account with this at all because
obviously kids are going to have to walk into the street when people don't do their sidewalks. Why are we allowing this to only be um uh prudent to the members in the downtown area who more likely than not already have things built into their contracts and leases um
for being shoveled. So my property at Two Haven is made into a lease. this isn't really going to obviously affect me. Um, to the extent of that, I know in the bylaw it says up to 14 in or whatever scenario you're transpiring outside of
two haven is massive. That's going to be like, I don't know, eight feet that's out there. And they do the entire thing. Um, I feel as if this is going to actually, if it was me, I'd say, "Well, now I'm reducing it to this small section because you decided to force this on me, so now I'm going to do less
than I was doing before." So, I wonder if you can just um answer why we didn't cover schools because it's a super important obviously and how does this affect people that might be already shoveling and doing all this and now
making it, you know, kind of um a smaller area than what was already being done before. >> Sure. Um, so I can start with >> we don't really respond to public comments, but but I mean, so she's got questions and if any of your other
committee members are on board, certainly is something that they can be ready to address next Wednesday. >> Yeah. So if Jesse can just get back to um me or whatever, I just that's kind of my concern is that um like I said, it's
it's kids. I don't know why we do the safe routes to schools and everything. Have a safe router to school bylaw. Whatever those um kind of restrictions that you did over there, same thing. Why didn't we do that? Believe me, I I my my
I don't want to say my fire with this, but in in 2021 before I joined the board, I was standing in my living room and a and a resident asked me a question over the phone. I thought I was going to get hit with crazy questions over who I want for a library position and all this
other stuff. And this person asked me point blank, "What do you feel about shoveling out in front of my house? Should you be able to force me to do that?" And I said, "Well, I I I do it myself, so I don't see why not." And he told me, I wish I knew who
it was at this time. He said, "You don't have any right to tell me what to do in front of my house. It is not your decision to make." and I remember that to this day. So that's kind of where I'm going with this. So Jesse, you have my questions and I'll probably join next
week or whatever you guys just discussed. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Haley. Is there anybody else in the room that would like to comment? Okay. Is there anybody online that would like to make a public comment? >> Not seeing any hands.
>> Thank you, Maddie. >> Okay. So, >> so we can >> Yeah. >> So, you can rejoin us and we can close the warrant. >> Correct. >> All right. So, can we go back to our normal rules or do you want me to read
the motion? >> Correct. Yes. Correct. move to close a subsequent town meeting warrant consisting of 11 articles to take place on November 10th, 2025. >> Second. >> Any discussion?
Seeing none, all those in favor? 40. Thank you. And thanks. I don't even think I can thank you online. So, um so moving on. Uh thanks. Uh 925 discuss and vote to authorize town to
participate in the settlement of national opioid litigations with Purdue Sackards and secondary opioid manufacturers. 391 of the packet. Matt, are you doing this with what's >> um Sure. Yeah. So I I did include uh not
only the settlement packages and the the sign on packages in the um in the packet which are pretty cumbersome, but I did include a memo that I worked on with IRA. And so I I was expecting we did receive docu sign instructions for the
town to participate in and um and release on on both of these cases. One would be um Purdue Sack of Settlement. The second participation form and release of secondary manufacturers. Um we've already received as you know
opioid money in the past. This doesn't jeopardize that at all that these are separate funds. Um, but the bottom line is writing stands to receive an estimated $82,000 in change over the next 15 years from the Purdue Sackler settlement and also
an extra $16,000 over 10 years from the secondary manufacturers. Um, this would be used uh mostly by the coalition um to prevent you know any sort of drug addictions and um drug misuse. Uh it's
still conditioned on a few things like the bankruptcy court has to approve uh uh the bankruptcy and whatnot, but the more towns that actually join this uh these these um litigation matters, the more we may end up get getting out of
it. I actually spoke to the attorney general's office um directly and to Ira on this. So I'm asking you to give me the permission to do that. Um they have to be done by the end of the month. There's still some time, but you know, I I if you allow this, I I plan to execute
these documents this week. Um you and I've been getting a lot of questions from the attorney general's office and others about when we're going to do this. So, wanted to make sure it was on the agenda. >> Board members, any questions? >> Carlo, I just have a quick one, an easy
one. I would think if more people join the suit, there'd be less money to give out. >> Um, it would seem that way, but it depends on the numbers of cities and towns of the degree to settle. Um, if there's greater participation,
um, there's a more likelihood for a good result for us. So, that's what the attorney general's office has told me on it. it would seem like there's more of a pie to put up, but um to get the maximum payments um I I think that the way they explained it to me and I put it in the
bottom of the memo, the number of cities that are able to settle would increase with with greater participation. So I I again this is what they come into the agent's office. So, I guess to that my interpretation
would have been the same as Carlos. Like, this doesn't make sense. Like, I just got $4.89 from some Facebook settlement or something. Like, the more people do it, the less you get. >> But I think the catch with this is the more people that are willing to settle, they're going to have less individual lawsuits to
>> Yeah, that and that's true. >> Okay. And that is why >> and if we didn't go with this universal settlement, we would have the option to sue them ourselves, but that would be a lot of money down the road and a lot of work. So the the easiest and best way is
to um to to join. And like I said, the estimates came from the attorney general's office on how much we stand to to gain over the next few years. So I would recommend that we do it. >> All right. Anyone from the public?
online. Manning, anybody? >> No hands online. >> Karen, do I have a motion? Move to authorize the town manager to execute all release and participation forms necessary for the town to participate in the settlement of national opioid litigations with one
Purdue and the sappers and two the secondary opioid manufacturers Alvagenex Pikma inior milein sun and situs >> second
share it's a spent all that >> if it wasn't allowed to last. >> Yeah, you know. All right. So, it's seconded by me. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor or zero. >> Good. Thank you. >> All right. So, moving on, we are
catching up. 9:35 discuss a lease amendment and memorandum of understanding regarding pickle ball on the re reading center for active laboring retail and pickle ball courts with the reading ice arena authority and authorize a select board member to engage in negotiations on behalf of the board
uh so who was going to kick that off Matt Jane did you have is there an actual amend memorandum of understanding or where are we at >> yeah we don't we don't have I didn't include anything in the packet because we don't really have a final anywhere doing their final draft on that yet. We
we started working on it, you know, and I know this board wants to have a member appointed to uh join us in negotiations and whatnot. So, I kind of wait once I knew that could put everything on hold until we have that member on board. Um Jane has been working on it as well. She
may have a little bit of an update on it. But, you know, we've gone to CPDC. They want, you know, before they move on their their matter, they want to make sure a lease is in place. Um and um a memorandum the way we've envisioned it
is there there was two documents. The memorandum of understanding would be the actual cooperation memo between us and Burbank. The other would be just to deal with liability issues. So there's two separate documents um that we were working in that direction. So and Jane
could you can add more on that if you'd like. >> Sure. Um CPDC has been very clear that they would like to see some sort of a shared parking arrangement. Um and the the thinking was we would go with a memorandum of understanding um that
outlines what that shared parking agreement would be. Um the town has asked CBDC for a waiver for five spots for the recal uh portion of the site. Uh CPDC believes we need five additional spots rather than design them into the site and then reopen conversation with
Conscom who is closed. We um also proposed a shared parking agreement with Burbank um to accommodate those five spots but then also overflow for large events and um for pickle ball in the rear portion in the gravel lot. So that
was um a proposal back when two projects they're still separate when they were totally separate votes um because if recal didn't pass there would be no parking lot bill. There would be no road improvement or range road. um it would not include any of those improvements
due to cost and so Burbank was immunable to parking in the gravel lot but they requested um a limit of liability that was an amendment that could be added to their lease. So, um, because of CBDC being very strict that they would like
to see a shared parking agreement, um, and the select board's desire for, um, a voice in any conversation visa v the lease or shared parking agreement. We are here tonight to ask you to appoint somebody to do that work with us so that
we can go forward um, and engage Burbank in these conversations. We've given them um uh a heads up on these matters and a draft amendment uh to lease, but then we stopped all back and forth on anything uh pending this conversation tonight. Um
so we are very hopeful. Um we don't we would like to move as quickly as we can with Burbank. Um and uh the select board's design, Mr. McFaden, has been very receptive to phone calls and so forth. We're hopeful that we can move
particularly with Burbank um arena authority so that we can um satisfy CPDC's request for an understanding of the parking arrangements. So, just to clarify because I heard you say and it's conflicting with other
information we heard earlier today, the five parking spots are recal >> that we the town is seeking a waiver from CPDC for five spots at retail. They the >> not the pickle ball court
>> the pickle that's correct. The waiver is for the five spots at recal. >> Okay. It's a very detailed, convoluted process and we've spent a lot of time as staff on it and so it's it's we want to be as clear as possible but it's it's
definitely there's a lot going on for sure. >> Carlo, I just have a question for Jean. So I think to me it's two separate things but CPDC's would would grant the waiver with a satisfactory shared
parking agreement. >> Correct. They want they want to understand very clearly that we are providing for parking and I think that that's fair uh with the pickle ball parking. Um we know that there can be a demand for pickle ball. There's uh
plenty of space in the gravel lot behind uh the arena. Um that is very rarely used. If you see any of the vid the images we showed um previously there's vegetation growing in the gravel because nobody ever parks over there. So um there is ample parking there. Um but
there is the desire to have um asurances that that parking will be available >> and and we agree with that and we want to work with Burbank has been great to work with. >> All right, that makes sense. And since I have a mic on, I've been the longest
serving liaison uh since elected for running ice arena. So I would like to be the design. >> Any other comments? Karen? >> Yeah, sure. Um, so I'll preface this by saying that I've been a liazison for for
the ICE arena for three years and um I appreciate you coming to us. This is a select board contract and um residents are very concerned that the demand for pickle ball will will cause chaos in the recal center and the
projects were separated. So, um, you know, I I foresee that we're already going to have an issue where we're going to have to police those parking spots because because they're going to be the closest and the nicest. Well, unless you go and pave it, but we'll determine that
later. But they'll still be maybe the closest. So, I think I think I foresee an issue that we're going to have to manage and manage folks using the pickle ball court's expectations. a lot of those will be out of town folks that they need to follow the signage and we've talked about signage. So, um but
beyond that, I I um we've attempted to have um good operational meetings with the Burbank Ice Arena Authority and and I'm going to be honest, they have come to some meetings and they haven't even understood their own lease. They haven't
understood that we own the building and the plant except for maybe the Zambbori. some things that they would take with them. And and I am extremely extremely concerned that in 2011 town meeting specifically said and we have the minutes which you can include in our
next packet that in no less than annually the Burbank Ice Arena shall make a rent payment. And I have unfortunately found since you know Mr. Mr. Burbank's passing to your point earlier about RCTV Carlo
there's been no they're a 501c organization there's no fundraising there's no sponsoring there and there most importantly all there is very much an inconsistency in the rent payments that we get for 4 and a half acres and a and a large building which would cost
$40 million to replace. Um, the tour we had a couple weeks ago showed that while the rink looked great, what the public facing spaces looked to me looked clean, right? I'd like to see the ladies room painted because it's kind of dark and scary in there. Um, but the some of the
locker rooms had been redone and the boards were beautiful, but what we saw the real money is in the plant and equipment and a lot of that equipment dates to when the rink was built. And so what I have asked for as a liaison for a number of years is a capital plan.
I have never seen a capital plan. I have gotten push back. Why am I asking for a capital plan? So you know that's one example that I've had a very different and frustrating experience with our designate. Um and so rent a capital
plan. the the I guess the point is um the point is if we are going to open up this negotiation with Burbank I can guarantee they're going to ask for something and I don't know what it is and so that's
fine. We had the select board with some different members had asked them before we signed the 10-year renewal to talk about this lease and what much like we're doing with RCTV about how we can make it better. Are we serving the needs
of the community? Are we serving the needs of an aging building which is important asset to the community? Um and that at that time we were told by their former attorney Brad Leam, nope, take it or leave it. And that is in fact the way the lease is written and it was
reviewed by town council and it is take it or leave it and the select board took it and since then I think we've had one rent payment when when we had our operational update you know there was no mention of rent and then a week later we're hearing about record revenues.
Well, you know, I'd just like to see I want to know that the member of this um board who is willing to have these conversations with them is going to make sure that we focus on things that are really important at this juncture in
time in addition to the parking the fact that we need rent from them. We are facing an override. I'll tell you in my liazison report about you know the information coming from the state and and we heard what did we hear tonight about our trash contract. So rent rent
rent rent rent rent this is a rent contract. It is very important. I'm not entirely comfortable Carlo that you would would do that. I I would absolutely be um if I was to
serve as this design. I'm not saying I have to, but this is the binder that I have amassed over over the past few years. So, I know what they're spending. I know why they're not paying us rent, and that is because they're spending too much on salaries. And I'm concerned that I have other concerns. I won't get into
it. I I we I need someone from this board who's going to come back and make sure that we aren't just giving to them without getting something in return. and and we were not given an opportunity to really clarify the rent in at the
signing of our last lease. We were told nope, take it or leave it. And again, that is the way the contract was strangely written back in 1992 or 1994. So, um, and and none of my interactions, by the
way, with our design have been rude or pointed or accusatory, or have I ever asked for his removal, nor have I have asked for the general manager to be removed. And yet, I've gotten a lot of public flat uh push back. So, um, I would just
I've been drawing these parallels between how we're working with RCTV and the successes and the challenges we have there and and as one member of the public said earlier tonight, there's a lot of similarities. We can make this collaborative. Those are that board is
composed of residents. a 501c3 organization. There shouldn't be this hostility and and I have some ideas of how maybe it could go away, but um anyway, so I'm open to other select board members
um serving in this role. I would be happy to do it. That's all I'm going to bore you with. Thanks. >> Karen, do you have anything? >> Uh well, I'd like to be the designate. It's going to be a fun night, won't it? Um, I don't have any skin in the game at
all other than my boys at hockey and I feel like um maybe a fresh set of eyes might be helpful and I don't play pickle ball so there's no conflict there and I think um I think that would be a good choice if I
I think Melissa's done a great job with RCTV of everything I've heard and the documents we've seen. Um, and I think that she's got a very neutral approach to RCD and I think I would be a very neutral approach to this as well. So,
not not knowing how large it may get because, you know, we've gone from just dealing with a few parking spaces to dealing with rent and changing the whole thing. So, I feel like there's a really big curve here on where it could go. So, I think I would do a good job.
>> Yeah. I might add I'm a little disappointed that the agenda item strictly just says parking because I'm one of five board members and I made a point that we have this opportunity and this is a valuable community resource and it's our job to do the best we can for the community members. So I have to
say I'm a little disappointed it still came up this parking and on the one hand I can understand we don't want I don't want to slow down pickle ball and I I certainly don't want to get in the way of recal. Those are critically important projects and I think it's wonderful already that the board at Burbank is saying they're willing to come forward
and talk to us and and um our design said some very positive things the other night and the question is just seeing not just saying it but doing it letting talking to Sharon talk she can be very helpful with the capital planning um and
I can roll tape and and go back to the other things that he promised and I think That's just really I think it's I appreciate him coming here and making that um gesture and committing to going forward. Um so I don't know what else Burbank might need. So it but it's not
going to be just like oh the relationship has not been oh you guys need parking. Sure. It's it's no there's something else. >> The agenda item does say lease amendment and >> just so you know. >> Thank you. Good. I just want to make sure because I Yep. Good. Thank you.
Correct. That was what I was going to point out, Carlo, is that it's written the way that it is. And um you seem to have an issue with it. Half the items I put on agendas how they are, which is obviously your right. And I have my
right to put them on here. But this agenda item specifically on here exist for one reason only, and that is because of you. Otherwise, this already would have happened. They would have already had the lease. Everything would have already
taken place. >> So I think you might not understand our role. >> I I perfectly understand our signers of the contract. >> I understand our >> We are the landlord. >> I understand that Karen, but we would have been voting on something tonight and CBDC would have been moving forward
if you didn't consistently make negative comments. >> No, no, no. It's about process. It's about process and see that is see why CPDC said we can't act. You haven't gone through the process. You haven't gotten the select board's buy in and they're correct to do that and and they'll be
the first ones to tell us when we forget to include them in the process and they I've been >> my wrist has been slapped. I've done it. It happens. >> I agree with you. I spoke to Heather Clush like I mentioned at the last meeting and this specifically came up too when I spoke to her on the phone
about this agreement and I said that it was pretty much a done deal. >> Well, that was inappropriate. >> It's not inappropriate because they would present it. >> Yeah, this is on videotape. >> Good. Because they would present it and we would say yes or no.
>> That's the way this goes. I don't make decisions in in a vacuum. Okay. >> I am one vote, Karen. It would have got proposed to us. Every would have been happy and we all would have moved on. >> That's not how that works. If you're >> It is when we take a Oh, I I Yeah, I
don't take it seriously, Karen. I've done I've done more in this town for the last four years than you've done in a week. >> Okay, that's so funny. >> We can talk about people's approaches to including the board in this negotiation because I will say with Burbank, I appreciated the memo we got today. Yeah.
I was begging you for an executive session. I would have liked to have had some feedback earlier in the process. So, we have another opportunity with this design and this contract reopening to to keep the board more engaged.
>> But can't you see like I took a step back in the RCTV thing and said that I could not be the person to negotiate. I understood that I couldn't do it. I understood that. I don't see how you don't have the need to also understand that you cannot do it either
>> on what ground >> you are. You have an entire binder. I've never had a >> I've been doing my job. >> I understand that. But I'm just saying like you have to >> you have to sometimes just take a step back. That's clearly what I did and said, you know what, I can't vote on I
can't be the person negotiate on RCTV because it would have went the way that it went and everyone knows the way it would go. And the same thing here. You have to take a step back and realize that it can't be you. And it's your purview to say that yes, I want to do it and these are the reasons
why I agree with you. But sometimes you got to take a step back and realize >> other select board members doing it as long as as long as we make sure that we are doing what we need to do for the residents. I I've I've already skilled this out in my mind and I already know
which direction it's going, which is why I'm wondering if is still on the line by chance. >> I think she's dropped off at this. All right. So, I'd have to ask her my hypothetical after that. Okay. >> Can I say a quick comment? >> Yeah. Okay. So, camera is right where she has a binder
and she's been following this closely, right? But I I think we all forget that that is a lease. That is an ironclad lease. And when they had the option to renew, there was no back and forth. >> Right. >> Unless they agreed to it.
>> Correct. >> Right. So that's a separate issue. That's a lease that you can go to any court. That lease is binding. Now Burbank is willing to open up that lease when they're in the midst of it. We're
not rene I shouldn't say it could be renegotiated in certain terms but it's not like a commercial space where my lease is up let's renegotiate in terms lease is current lease is not up so they they don't have to do anything but
they're doing the right thing because of the senior center and because of pickle ball and I hope you didn't imply because I play pickle ball I have a conflict you just said I don't play pickle ball correct um
people could perceive there being a a conflict is played by millions of people. >> You're right, but there's not millions of people on the board. So, I just think at a first look, people are obviously going to say pickup ball parking, they just go that way. You know,
>> and and they're entitled to, but I I have never >> say whether you would negotiate in bad faith just because you play pickup ball or teach ball. That's not what I was leading to. I'm just trying to be as neutral as possible and and pickle ball doesn't come into my world. People are automatically going to go that way.
They're going to go that way with you as opposed to me. >> Right. I I agree with that statement. But pickle ball is a very big deal in this community and and elsewhere. And given where it is now and most of us, not all of us play doubles.
So it's four people on a court. You come separately. So, the parking obviously is not adequate where it is now. They're parking in that little tiny parking lot. They're parking on Harrison and they're parking on parking in that five or six spots on um Salem Street
>> and they're parking on private property according to a resident. >> Every now and then every now maybe I I I've never have no I can walk and ride a bike. So I I have never once since I learned a
sport advocated for myself for for teaching it in reading playing in reading. Yes, I play pickle ball just like I don't know how many hundreds of people in this town. So this is a parking agreement and that's why I asked
Jane the question about the waiver. So the waiver they're not asking for five more spots. They ask me for a waiver because that's what waivers are. So this is all-encompassing even though they're two separate projects and I think Nelson
Bang did a great thing as most of the community and I think the rink from getting the behind the scenes look is doing a great job given the age of the building. Sure they're going to have the challenges in the future and they'll put money aside for that. This is a town
asset. Not many towns have a rank. So, I want to be part of a ne negotiation that benefits both sides, us and them. If they I don't know what they want either. They might want who knows what, right? Build a second ice rink. I don't know.
So, whatever it is, let's let's hear it and it's going to be brought back to the whole board. I mean, traditionally, as a board before you joined, we've kind of picked the liaison to do the negotiating. It doesn't have to be that way, but that's been our tradition. Um,
well, not tradition, but that's what we've done with the with the the three of us here that have been here for the past four years and Karen and I longer. So, I'm not saying we have to do that, but I would like to do it and it's up to the board. Yeah. So, the end result is no matter
what, like I said, this comes back to the full board anyway. So Carlo, Karen, Karen, me, we can all renegotiate that they're going to get, you know, seven more buildings and a Snoopy snow cone maker machine. It doesn't matter unless all of us vote on it anyway.
It doesn't get past the full board. So it doesn't matter who any one of us talked to beforehand, anything. It comes before all of us. If we spoke to three people and then did that kind of way, that's obviously a no no. Um, so, uh,
that's why I was asking if she was if she was still on because in my mind when this goes two two two um, if I just can do it regardless because then nothing prevents me from
working with Jane or whatever behind the scenes. And if it has to come to that, then it does. I don't think there's going to be >> Chris, I need to I need to point of order. Chris, have you looked at our policies? Like the chair doesn't have special powers beyond >> setting the agenda based on feedback
from other board members, not based on solely on your preference. That's not how any chair has ever done it. And that's not what it says in our policies. And the other thing you need to do is and and I will be respectful and Neil to a chair is that you you run the meeting
according to accepted um policies that we have and Robert's rule of order. That is it. Besides that >> there are five members and anytime team members want something to happen that that goes on for example that goes on
the agenda regardless of how you feel or how the town manager feels. >> That is incorrect. That is not That isn't our policy. >> It is in our policy and you violated that policy when I added the official town website in 2021. Carlo and I asked for it to be added. You didn't add it
and verbatim from the town manager at the time. I was told it will not be added to the agenda until another chair is selected. >> Feel free to deny that. Karen, >> I don't know what you're talking about, but you have already like >> I don't forget anything
that had anyway. This is like we're getting off topic. >> It's very easy just to say it never happened, but people can >> living through it. I'm living through it every week. >> You change our policies. You change how we run our meeting. You don't ask us whether we want to have public comment all the time. You just do it. And I'm
telling you that's disrespectful. It's not our policy. Can we move on, please? I'd love to move on. I'm still waiting for the first open meeting law violation. Let me know when it comes. I'll be waiting. Until then, I will run the meeting how I like. I will meet Matt with Matt and Kane.
>> No, no, no. That's not how this works. >> This is a board of five people. Why are you so disrespectful? >> I'm not being disrespectful. I said whatever the scenario is, whoever is appointed to doing this or if they're not, it would come back to the full board. It always comes back to the full
board. Nobody ever supersedes the full board >> and requirement. the the request is to be involved and and and I put this on I put this on the agenda. So what happens when this goes two two two we just say you know what we're
going to just let this you know go to another time that's what you want to do >> you want to delay pickle ball and recal and all this other stuff because of this or we'll go to the >> motion to appoint us as a designate for this >> we didn't public comment first please
>> I I'm consistent >> anyone in the room I remember anyone online. Maddie, >> yes. Karen Janowski has her hand raised. >> Karen Janowski. Name and address. Two minutes, please. Thank you.
>> Hi, Karen Janowski. Um, 30 circle. There is so much to say. Um, this has been a 10yearong process. Mike and Judy Coleman started this 10 years ago. We have lost Mike Goldman who wanted to see
this to fruition. Tragically, he is lost to us and he is he and Judy are the reason why this is even something that is coming before the board. And I hope in honor of his memory we can move forward for the best of the community.
While I understand Karen Rose Gillis's I do believe Karen Rose Gillis can be neutral, but I do believe that this particular um agenda item requires someone who understands pickle ball, understands the
uniqueness of this in our community and has knowledge of it. I think Karen Herrick has demonstrated um her opinions that would not necessarily favor a quick resolution of working out the parking um
agreement and I think we have to move on. We have to get this done. A two- two vote really does concern me. And so Chris, I am happy to hear that you are ready to move on because this is something that needs to be done now.
This is important to many members of the community, especially those of us who are 60 plus. And I um ask that you would respectfully reach agreement. And if you can't, I look forward to Chris, you working with Jane and Matt and the
Burbank Ice Arena Authority to resolve this as quickly as possible. Thank you. >> Thank you, Vernon. Anybody else on? >> Nobody else. All right. Are we ready for the vote?
Who should we do first? She had a motion already. Karen said >> Oh, what was the motion? >> We have a second. >> Second. >> Who was it again? >> I I made a motion that Karen Rosillis be our designated for this next negotiation.
>> That's the motion. Uh seconded by Carlo. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? carrying. All those opposed. Two to two. Um, next I will make a motion to nominate
Carla Bachi to serve uh uh in in the lease amendment memorandum of discussion the ice arena. >> Second. >> Seconded by Karen Eric. Uh any discussion? Seeing none. All those in favor? All those opposed?
2 to 10. Any other motions? >> Next agenda item. >> All right. Uh just >> discussion. >> Yes. Uh just consult with every Matt and see if what I just said is possible. I will I will I believe it is. And I have
uh Go ahead, Chrisy. Try it. We can vote. You can move it up to an earlier meeting. We have two members who just request it. You can get to do that. All right. >> All right. Uh, moving on to 9:45 brief update on status of Monasari
Malbury School page 406 of the packet. >> And so for point of order, you requested this. Just nobody else on the board requested this. You you put this on. >> So I put this on the agenda because uh I'll give my input. Not that uh I ever shy away from giving my opinion, but the
reason that this was put on the agenda was a uh as you can tell on the packet there is Sean Brand's memo that the school committee did not get answers to any of the questions that they asked last time which is not in our purview and I completely agree with that. But what is in our purview is on their
website they were still saying that they were doing um they were having the school starting next week in the uh uh kind of vetting millet I'm sorry >> materic cabin area sorry MBTA stuff um that they were still doing it in there
so they were advertising as if they were still coming here so I asked Matt and said Matt do we have an agreement do we have this that he said we have nothing's in writing we haven't done anything cabin's closed we don't have anything. And I said they can't be advertising
that they're here uh in reading when they're not when there's no agreement because they put it up the day after our meeting here that we had our meeting discussing this. They put it up the day after that that town of Reading um area,
etc. on their about us page. So I said to Matt, "Listen, we can't have this on here. This happened in Stonem. same thing that the Stonem board had to get involved and ask them to take stuff off their website. There's meeting minutes for it. I don't want to end up becoming
that person again. Please reach out to them and see if they can just change it on their website. It's a sentence. And as I explained earlier, Karen, at 5:30 today, they finally changed it. An
hour and a half before this meeting, they finally changed it. So that is why it was on the agenda. I told Matt, "Listen, it's going it has to go in the packet. If these people aren't going to get back to us and return phone calls, we have a certain time that we have to do things uh for the public." And like,
listen, he he made phone calls, he did whatever. They weren't getting back to him. And then here we are at 5:30. You spoke to her or whatever. She's sick. Unfortunately, unable to make it um towards the end of this. So that's why I was going to let her speak in the beginning if she had to to maybe give
some color on things. But the end result, it is now moved. It is removed from the pack. It is removed from the website. So we are all good. There's nothing to vote on. There's nothing else to go on beyond that. But this was still an item because up until an hour and a half prior to the meeting, it was a lot
better. >> All right. Next agenda item. Good. Good. >> May May I make a comment? >> Yes. >> Um the way you just described that and um thank you for sharing with that. I um I'm concerned that that is your approach to dealing with um a business that is trying to start up in reading. It feels
like our select board agenda was weaponized. And I would not agree with us treating small businesses that way. I when I have a concern with a small business, I asked Matt if he would address it. Matt sent staff out there.
changes were made and I didn't have to be a bully about it. I would suggest we not use our agenda as a weapon in the future to bully small businesses >> or any business. >> I I'm not sure where in this entire discussion you just got that impression
from it, but Matt reached out just like you said that you would want somebody to reach out. He reached out multiple times, got no answer. What do you want him to do? What do you want us to do? They had that they're at the town of Reading Boteric Haven area. They're not there. They never had a lease agreement
or anything. >> After our meeting, which was like a week ago, >> what do you mean? I mentioned after the meeting a week ago. Yes. >> After our meeting that we had >> then with the M with her with uh the
Malberry School. The next day after our meeting where Brian Bowie gave Bo gave public comment did all that >> they had it up on their website that they were at Reading Mata Cabin area and at that moment >> the wheels were in motion people were talking everyone was getting
>> the conservation commission had approved them >> correct going there all the wheels were in motion everything was good >> and then the school committee meeting happened and then they don't answer them then or they did they went to the school committee meeting which isn't in our purview But they went to the school committee
meeting that got voted down 3 to three. And then um Sean put together a memo that is in our packet that outlined their questions and concerns and wanted, you know, to see what was up. And at the last school committee meeting, which is
last Thursday, he addressed the issue that he reached out, did all this, put the email together, and he did not get responded to. So, for you to say here that I'm weaponizing things, I'm not giving people the benefit of the doubt. We didn't do this, we didn't do that. Sean
did it, Matt did it, and they did it at 5:30 today. They had numerous opportunities to change it. And I'm not going to get into the rigomearroll of a caching issue is what they gave for the reason for the change. That is, as I
explained before, Karen, I'm an IT and security person for the last 12 years. I do numerous websites. The whole cashing thing is a clear cash button. It takes five seconds. >> But other people want to say it. They're not as experienced as me. Perhaps that
was true. We'll give them the benefits of the doubt. >> We gave them multiple chances. >> Let me clarify. We had no purview over this business. Correct. But they're using I they're using our town name and they could not >> they
listen Chris this I also want to make clear for the public and for the other board members that the school committee approval accreditation which is they had decided to get was not required for them to have approval from the conservation commission or to have a working
agreement with the town of Reading. I understand. I understand. I thank you for sharing us that maybe you thought it was too premature. Although it's debatable. We are not in control of material cabin. The conservation commission is. And if they didn't have a problem with it, maybe it was fine and
it probably said coming soon and but fair enough. But I'm going to ask that you not use our meetings and our agendas as some sort of ridiculous deadline without talking to other board members first.
>> This agenda topic was in How would you have liked me to approach this agenda topic beyond what I did? >> So I put in Sean's memo. I I would you want me and Matt's conversations? >> I don't need Sean's memo. We have It has nothing to do with them. >> I agree. But it was going to the point
that they were not responding to the town. >> This is punishment. No, it is not. It is weaponization. Yeah. All right. >> So So it's it's my fault that she did not respond to any of Matt's phone calls. >> Her view. >> It's my fault that she did not respond
to any of Matt's phone calls. >> She's not the only business that has not responded to our request to get their act in order. I'm asking you not to use the select board agenda as a weapon. I have never used it. It was a weapon. Nor would I would I did not. >> You did?
>> Well, >> in the packet. >> In the packet. >> In the packet. Yes. Unfortunately, we can >> the update. >> Yes. Um, but yes, that's the update. So, like I said, it was a moot point because they removed it at 5:30. They did take it
down. That's what she said. >> She did tonight. She was sick tonight and she couldn't make it. She sent an email saying, you know, >> and she did reach out in advance. >> I I've been re I I hadn't heard from him in about a week and a half. And so when I heard it was still on the website, I
actually saw her in person in town hall. She came to town hall to get a business license. And I asked her about it and she said, "Oh yeah, I haven't got around to it yet. Was you at school?" And that's when she told me, "I got another location. It's still in Reading." You know, so that's the first time I heard
about it when she showed up at town hall to get her business license. And then I I still she was nice enough about it. I asked her a few times, are we going to change that website? And it still we were checking it still wasn't changed. I called her again today with Jane. Um said, you know, it's going to be
discussed tonight. Are we going to change it? Because it's not. And so it took a while, but she did the right thing in the end. Andre, you know, and I'm satisfied. I mean, people get busy. I understand she's busy. So, >> and they are at a different location,
which is fantastic. within their >> Camp Rice movie, which is a private Girl Scout camp that she told me that day that she had a lease. Um, and that was the first I heard about it. It was a couple days ago. So, >> so yeah, it's going to work out good for the Girl Scouts over there, right?
>> In the end, it's fine. And this writing, they she told me she was going to respond to to Sean Grant's email. I don't know that she didn't get around to it, whatever. But I asked her about that specifically, and she said she's taking it seriously and there will be response coming. Whether I'm not copied on it,
maybe it went to Sean directly, I don't know, but I didn't. >> No, within our purview, it's already been changed. We We don't have to discuss it anymore. >> Okay. >> Unless they come and they want to do more stuff. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. So I everyone's entitled to their
opinion, but if an X-rated store had their website and said coming soon to 394 Main Street and we asked them to take it down and asked them to take it down and the public comes here and said what's going
on? What what's happening? Like a they're not allowed but it says coming soon. So if you were the chair, you would just do nothing about it. >> That actually happened. That actually happened across from HomeGoods. Used to be Marshalls. I live around the corner. Okay. >> Over the weekend, it opened up and we
could nothing do nothing about it until it burned down. >> Okay. I'm trying to prove a point. >> All right. That >> someone's using our if someone's using our address, >> that's okay. Is what you're saying. That's okay. >> I um I didn't see the website, so you know, I appreciate hearing about this. If there's a if he has a genuine
concern, okay, I have a concern. I think bringing it up to Matt as a concern, fair enough. I might have done the same thing, and I have done the same thing. that that's my objection was the putting it on an agenda and asking that her to come in here and explain herself. >> We did not. >> And again, this is my
>> Let's make that clear because you just said something that did not happen. I never once told Matt Jane or whatever, get her in here. Let's get an explanation. >> Last week, you actually told the public, tell Karen to get over here last week while I was at the MBTA Butters meeting.
I haven't watched the video yet. Did you actually say that? This isn't on the agenda, but I forgive me. Forgive me. >> Are we really asking this qu? Are you in a butter over there? Did you move? >> Of course not. >> You should keep going, m Mr. Chair. I I
>> That reminds >> That reminds me future agendas. I do have to add something on there relevant to the MBTA Butters meeting. So, thank you. I only had two items. Now I'm adding the third one that I forgot about. Thank you. >> Fun minutes. >> It is fun.
Okay. >> Can I ask a question? Yes. >> So, we're not moving to engage in lease amendment discussions until after you discuss who's going to be the liaison or are they still allowed to move forward on discussions? >> The the town can do obviously whatever
they want. >> Not authorized staff to act on our behalf in the contract. So, no. >> I I disagree. they would >> they would put something together and then it's within our purview to say yes or no and it's within mine and Melissa's
perview to actually put it on the agenda. If we don't guess what it doesn't happen >> because that's the way it works. >> You read our policies you and the town manager together jointly set the agenda taking in input from all of your board
members. There are no pins on this >> and I take Melissa's input significantly seriously. Whatever adjective you want to use. Um, that is how I've been doing it this whole time and that's how I'll continue to do it is taking her input and I've added other items that you
wanted on the agenda. Karen Rose Gillis wanted on the agenda. All added into the agenda. I don't know what else you want me to do. Not do it. So, >> I just don't want to hold them up. >> You're not going to hold them up. They are gonna still continue working how they've been doing this without us being
involved in this. >> No, no, we cannot. I mean, no, we need to have a designate tells me that disagree with you again >> and we'll go from there. So, that's where we're at with that. That's obviously not the Malberry topic, but
>> no, that's I said >> yes. >> Right. So, to answer your question, our next meeting is October 7th. >> Sorry, to a different one. >> So, October 7th. So depending what happens behind the scenes. Depending what happens behind the scenes. >> So there shouldn't be anything happening behind the scenes.
>> Let me finish please. >> I'm horrified that you know what I'm going to say. You don't know what I'm gonna say. >> Shut up. You don't know what I'm going to say. I'm speaking. >> I am speaking. Okay. Tell her to be quiet. Why you talking to me?
>> I'm talking to everybody. >> I had the floor. >> I had the floor. >> Now I lost my train of thought. See, cuz I got interrupted. >> Okay. I totally thought what I was going to say. >> Okay. It'll come back to me. >> It'll come back.
>> I was sorry. I got my turn. >> October 7th. >> Our next meeting is October 7th. >> And I agree with Karen. Shocking. >> Which one? >> That should be it should be a designate.
Okay. If you let me finish, you know, you'd have your >> Which Karen do you agree with? >> You. You have your response. Okay. But you interrupted me as you always. >> That's the point of a point of >> As you always do. Okay. Fine. As you always do. So I agree with Karen Heric
that we should have a designate as part of the negotiations. So that's not going to happen till October 7th. That's what I'm point What is the time frame for getting this information back to CPDC or anything like that? Like how how
>> I think they meet on the sixth. This is the problem. We moved the meeting from the 23rd until tonight. This has screwed up multiple things, but it was done for an obviously uh important reason and this is the end result. Things happened.
So obviously we're going to have a separate side meeting over something like this on Zoom for five minutes uh once we have all five members here. But time staff is going to continue work behind the scenes like they always have. I've never told them to do any of this.
Nothing. They've never said discuss the lease agreement. We have to do this. None of that has ever happened. They've been doing it. >> Stuff should really come to the select board and say we'd like to amend the contract. Are you amendable to that? >> That's what they're doing tonight.
>> And and it was sort of a byproduct of town meeting. All this went through town meeting. And you know there are things that are within my authority as town manager like the trash contract tonight. >> Correct. >> There's no design on that. >> We signed this. This is a contract that we signed. >> Yes. Well, you you can anyway
it's it's the same sort of principle though I think you know so we work on things that are in our per purview to work on obviously we bring them to the board we'll ask for a board vote will include the board but to work on things where that we take from town meeting or anywhere else I I we're in our authority
to work on things I think so that's what it's not like we didn't we did anything wrong by working on these things that town meeting wanted us to work on >> when did town ask you to >> when they when they improve the on the projects. I mean, that's a byproduct of that. I don't I don't want to argue
about it either, but I'm just saying it's not like employ parking. We town meeting did approve this, but no parking was designed in this project. We would like to potentially approach Burbank. And that is very common practice for the town manager to come to the select board and
say, "Can I have your approval to to approach Burbank?" that ever happened which is disappointing. >> Well, and I don't agree that it should >> I don't believe that it wasn't done because you weren't trying to do a great job. >> Okay. I just >> Yeah. No, I we are trying to we're trying to get it done as quickly as
possible, too, because they should be doing it the right way. >> No, but we >> we do have to do it the right way, which is a final vote with us, with the five of us, not with one person making the decisions. We've already gone over this. It's the five of us that make the decision. That's it. It doesn't matter
what any one of us want added, not added into this contract. None of it matters until the five of us vote. That's it. I don't know why this is has to be any more clear. He just brought up the trash thing. That's $2 million, a potential 43% increase. And none of us talk to
them. >> Trash is 100% none of us responsibility of staff. >> None of us talk to report to us that they what they recommend and that's exactly what they did. And if you want to read the contract, >> if you want to read the lease, Karen, it says, >> excuse me,
>> if you want to read the lease, then you know that the ice arena only has to meet with a member of staff here, not the select board, not the ice arena authority, nothing. Matter Jane can meet with Carl McFat and their designate and
call it a day. They never have to come here. I don't know what you're talking about. >> Then read the link says they have an office meeting annually and we still haven't had one cuz you couldn't figure out how to schedule it. >> I don't have to figure out how to schedule anything. >> Okay, time out. All right,
the meeting of meetings >> 10:30. >> So, where were we? >> Future agendas. >> No leazison reports. Karen, are we skipping this? >> No, we're doing we're doing agendas. >> Okay, so we're skipping leazison reports. Okay.
>> Sorry. Unless you wanted to. >> All right. I allowed >> We joked beforehand that we're gonna get not get to this. Anyway, uh future agenda is 10 o'clock, page 408. >> I have nothing. I added mine last time.
>> So, May I speak? >> Yes. So, on the 7th, uh a couple a couple things. So the proclamation for Italian heritage month to do was there any proposed language that you could send us? >> Okay, great. That would be awesome. And then regarding the disabilities
committee, I mean Elbert's ready to move on it, but I think we were you going to Ken, were you going to submit some information on that about that agenda? >> No, I am waiting to hear from this is something that I know nothing about and I've said that and I am counting on um staff to say to do the analysis. Here's
what other communities are doing. Here's what we need to do. Do we need timing? Yeah. No, this is >> okay. Rather than later, we'll include that and Albert has a presentation. >> So, in this instance, staff is going to work on something that needs full select
board approval. Just so we're clear because in order to create the committee, the full select board has to vote on that. >> But like, do you not see the like I just can't. It's unbelievable. >> Picking each other. >> It's not picking Karen. It's common
sense. Rate the next sentence that comes out contradicts the entire prior law. Anyway, so Matt knows what to do on on this. >> Okay. All right. I just wanted to be clear that we weren't waiting for anything from Cameron on it. So,
>> uh, so my three items were uh we got the email regarding the water rate scenario that transpired with that condo complex thing. So we have to see >> okay >> how we ended up voting in the past um on
that we all got the the email regarding what's happening over there. So I think that's that's warranted to put maybe on the on the next agenda depending on how how full it is. Uh then the NBTA I know Matt
that we had spoke and you said that their final stop was going to be the select board. It turns out they're going to conservation on the 24th, which doesn't square with the final stop being in the select board. >> So, we have to find out what's happening with the MV. >> Reached out to the MBTA and we'll find out. I don't think they were going to go
on the 24th. >> I'm just going by what I was told. I think that I think they were going to move that to October because it's too late to be on that agenda, I think. So, >> well, that's good to hear. So, we still technically have time on our next agenda. So, MTA wanted to come on the sixth. We'll find out.
>> Fantastic. Yep. Uh and then the uh last item is the uh discuss and vote on a social media policy. So that info will be provided in advance in the packet and what we will be discussing and voting on that night. >> So wait a social media policy. What
what's that about? >> That will be in the packet and we will discuss and vote on it. This is another agenda item that you are uni unanimous unilaterally putting on our agenda that you're not going to talk to us about and you'll just tell us to wait until Thursday when the first version comes out and then we can read the next three
versions that come out in the next three days that you send a Matt >> and so we can like get hourly updates on our packet. >> I'm waiting for Karen Rosalis to interject and uh go ahead Karen. >> I have I want to ask a question about the water advisory committee. It had
nothing to do with your >> right >> discussion >> social media policy that >> yes uh but that's yes it'll be in the packet >> just like every single item agenda item last uh since reading was incorporated uh we asked to to have a water advisory
committee. Is that what you're asking? >> No, we talked about having a water rate advisor. >> That's what I mean. Yeah. >> Yeah. And so a few however long ago it kind of got tabled or or put off until something was discovered. and trying to bring it back into the conversation, >> right? That's what I thought you said.
Yeah. Yeah, that makes sense. >> Yeah. >> So, I think if you can work with Matt on that, what you would envision, how many members or, you know, see what you guys can work out and they're presented to us and uh we can see what we can do for what the makeup is, composition, five
people, you know, that kind of >> I have a question about the other water thing that you brought up. >> Yeah. I I know October 7th is several weeks away, but is the agenda item going to be just discuss that one building?
>> I I I would have I would have to confer with Matt in advance and see how we voted previously to see if what is holding true in the email is actually true or not. And if it has to come back
to the board, then it has to. And if it doesn't, then it doesn't. Sorry. S >> it might not be an agenda. >> It might not be an agenda item, but I'm just putting it out there in the ether that there may be an issue with how we had voted uh on the on the water rights, which would be good for the water
committee that Karen mentioned. Um just to uh discuss that because they sent the email, they put a lot of time and effort into it. We got to do something about it. >> I'm not saying we don't. I just want to make sure that we Yeah. >> do it right.
>> Of course. Any other future agenda items? Anyone? >> All right, seeing none, we will go to meeting minutes from September 9th, 2025, page 410 in the back. So, Maddie, if you want to bring those
up. Did anyone have any edits? I didn't have anything. >> My computer is dead. We need to make sure that it says in there that Chris Haley ordered Karen Herrick to come back from another meeting where she was doing her job and get to this meeting. And I don't know
what the quote was because I haven't read it yet. I want to make sure that is in there. >> I will eagerly await Karen Rose interjecting on this. Nothing is happening. We got to be consistent here. Um I did not say that.
I asked Matt to find out uh when he would be back. So your generalization of what it was, you should have watched the meeting beforehand to realize what it is. Or more importantly, you should have been here. >> Stop telling me what to do. >> Oh, you were elected to be a select board member, not in a butter to elected
to be a king. Correct. You are. >> I I appreciate the normanclature of uh of of using that kind of rhetoric because that's gone well. >> I never used that before. >> I have no changes to the minutes as
always. I I don't because Tom Stout does a wonderful job. >> Karen motion to approve the minutes. >> Unless you have any >> motion to approve the meeting minutes of September 9th, 2025
>> as amended >> as amended. >> Are they being amended? >> Well, I can't see it. Is it is there is it referenced in there that Chris Haley in public instructed the town manager to go chase down a select word number and
tell her to get over to >> and you can and we can use the precise language you used because several residents told me it was quite unbelievable. >> It was unbelievable that you weren't here. >> I just want >> you weren't here. It's my fault you weren't here.
>> I'm not voting on it. So, and I'm not talking it so It's unbelievable. >> There was langu caught up. I will go and rewatch the meeting and I will bring I will send Maddie the exact text. She doesn't need to do it.
>> You don't have to have to vote on these tonight. That's fine. >> I would still like the motion to approve the meeting minutes from September >> or I'll make the motion. >> But I'm not making the motion because she doesn't want to approve them. Well,
decision is one that some select board members are not allowed to amend the minutes and that's why that's meeting is going on so long. >> One person is making the change. The full select board should vote.
>> You decided to skip the minutes and not allow the vote to actually happen. That is one member making the decision for the full board. Once again, you are becoming a hypocrite the sentence after the prior sentence. I'm allowing it to
go to the full vote. >> Yes, >> I move to uh stay approving the minutes of September 9th until 2025 until the next meeting. >> Is there a second?
>> Second. >> Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? All those opposed favored to. It does not carry. >> Could I have another motion? >> Move to approve the meeting minutes once
and amended of September 9th, 2025. >> Yeah. Well, spoiler. Uh, any second? >> Second. Carlo with a second. >> All those in favor? Oppose. Two to two. >> One more. One more. One more. Karen,
>> you can do it. >> You can do it. >> You don't have to do this. We can You guys can make all your motions and we can keep doing this. I think we're tableing this. >> Separate line 2025. >> I made an amendment >> and it was already voted on and it did not.
>> No, the amendment was not a voted on. When have any of your really really detailed specific amendments ever not gotten into the packet, Chris? This is embarrassing. >> What do you mean amendments? What What
are you like? What are you talking about? >> Amen. >> But she's asked to have them amended. Correct. >> And they should she should be allowed to have them amended. >> I agree. But there is a certain way that we've always done it, Karen, in the past
on the way that it is >> and it's up to the full board to vote on it. It is what it is. >> Maddie didn't put it in. I didn't tell her. By the way, this really looked bad for Karen. But somehow it looks bad for me. Please don't put this in the minutes for me.
>> What's that? >> So, can I make an amendment for the minutes? >> Of course you can. You have to send it to Maddie in advance typically. Otherwise, we're debating like this. It's not my fault that Karen's laptop >> can't amend the minutes. >> You can, but typically >> Why are you saying that I have to send them to Maddie?
>> It's typically what we've done in the past is any edits that you want to make have to be done in advance. We can do them at the time, but as you can tell, when you do them at the time, your laptop could die. So then you don't have the actual minute what you wanted amended in writing. Do you see what I
mean? Like it's beneficial if you send them in advance. I've only sent maybe seven since I've been on the board ever. >> Well, you laugh and somehow that's appropriate. >> In all fairness here, you did make you did make the demand to have her come
back and you said that >> I did not make a demand. I said, Matt, can you find out where Karen is? She's supposed to be here. Is she in a butter? that that's that's not we put that in. If that's what you said, put it in the
minutes because >> you're relying you're relying on what I just said to actually be what I said. >> More likely than not, that is what I said. But >> to motion to adjurnn motion, >> I don't have it in front of me. How am I
supposed to know this? >> We have a motion to a second. >> Bizarro world. Uh, all those in favor >> they go. Hit the >> Here they go.