the recording. Okay. The re the meeting has started at 4:01 p.m. Um Sam Spisiac, Barbara Bigalow and Bighgam and Christine Robinson are in attendance. Um Christine
M and Elaine were are not able to be here. So, first order of business, you will all be very proud of me. The minute um does anybody have any comments, changes they want to make to the minutes from the last meeting?
And if not, is there a motion to accept the okay and second? And all those in favor? And it is unanimous. Okay. So, um, the person who's going to be coming is Jessica Carlson Baler, who
is interested in joining the committee, and she will be a wonderful addition from everything that I have seen and heard about her. I'm really looking forward to meeting her. Um, so I'm going to just kind of let that one move forward as we go through the others. So,
um, soccer update, S. Oh, yeah. So, um, there's a friend of mine, uh, who lives on Pelen Hill who works for Ammeris College, and she put me in touch with, um, one of her colleagues who coaches the women's Amoris High School soccer team, and they
want to come. The whole team wants to come to soccer and coach the kids. Um, so she texted me today to confirm. Um, and it's really exciting cuz it's just kind of like been this laidback unstructured thing um with I'm I'm
making up as I go along. And so I think it'll be fun to have like a real team come and coach the kids. So that is on this Sunday. Um, so I think I'm going to send out a town announcement to make sure that we get a like a good turnout and it's like a pretty special thing.
Um, really special. So I'm excited about that. Yeah. Sunday and so far it's been going great. Like we had like 20 kids the first week and then last week it was less but still like a still a good turnout. So and then everyone stays
after and plays in the playground. So it's really nice. That's fantastic. Yeah, it's been good. Yeah. Well, welcome Jessica. So, uh do you want you can do you want to unmute and I'm actually gonna let Sam introduce you because she knows you better than I as in this is the first
time we've met. Yeah, it's nice to meet all of you. This is Yeah, Jessica. She works at the school and is does um the Moose on the Move program um for the kids there where they do a it's like a running club. And uh I cornered her and asked her if she'd
be interested in hearing about our committee because I thought she'd be great at it. And I'm guessing the answer was yes. Yeah, I am interested. Um, I feel like I have always thought about um the sense
of community that we have here in Shootsbury and all of the collaborations and ways that we can help make things happen and help um people to feel a part of the of the community. So, I love some of the things that the rec committee has
been doing and um I haven't felt like I've had all that much time previously, but um if if you're willing to take someone who's just learning about the committee um and might have some ideas about uh
different serving different populations, um I would love to be a part of it. Well, you just you just um checked all the boxes on the things that we ask about and look for and somebody who's interested in being in the committee. So, um I'm going to make a wild guess
that we could take a vote right now and I can tell you what the outcome would be and then we'll tell you a little bit more about it before you do this. So, everybody in favor raise your hand. It looks like it's unanimous. Um, and for the record, um, Jessica Carlson Baler
has just, um, is is here as a visitor, and the committee just voted to have her as a member of the committee. So, I already wrote to Jessica just, you know, sort of one of the things that we had established two or three years ago about
um, how we decide what things to do. And mainly if somebody is willing to do it and take that on, we do it. we can have the best idea in the world, but everybody's just sitting there and nobody wants to take it on. Then we don't um you know, and sometimes it'll
pop back up and be done in a in a future year, but um you know, we're we're a a smallish committee. There's two people who are missing, so there are more people than are here right now. Um, but we we do try to make sure that what we do has some buy in from people in the
committee and um interest in from people in the community. So, I think we've been pretty pretty successful at that. Um, Barbara, can I just say one thing? Yeah, please. Sorry. Hi, Jessica. I'm Ann. It's nice to meet you. I'm filling in for our
really good secretary, Christine. So, um, I'm not as good. So, just so you know, if I'm not looking at you and I'm unmuted, it's because I'm trying to take minutes. So, welcome. It's nice to have you here. Thank you. Thank you. Um, I wanted to say, too, that because I have, um,
connections with a bunch of different age groups in town. I have, um, you know, the connection because I work at the school. Um, I actually spoke to my lunch group today about what kinds of fun things they would like to see in town and they suggested basketball. So, um, we might have to do a basketball
similar to the soccer that's going Andy's interested in doing that as well. Yeah. Oh, that's great. Um, but I also have a I have only one teenager left. I have three children who grew up in Shootsbury. Um, so we've been
up through Shootsbury Elementary School and the middle school and the high school. My youngest just left for college this year, but my oldest just moved back in to town, so she's 23, so I have my eye on the like younger 23 population. And my mom also lives in
town who used to work at the school and now lives down at the lake. Um, and so I said to her as a senior in town, like, you'll have to talk to me a little bit about what kinds of things you'd be interested in. and she brought up like they have hikes in Turner's Falls, like
historical inform informative hikes that are like about a mile long, but they stop and they chat and they learn about different things in the town. And she was like, "That would be really fun if it was closer in Shootsbury." So, there's all these different pieces of my life where I'm like reaching out to
people, thinking about what kinds of things can bring people together and also promote like a healthy um healthy lifestyle. So, I feel like there's like a lot of things and like you said, I sometimes my ambitions are like big, but
I found that if you start something, there's always people to help. So, um I and I think our ways that we can collaborate in town are also great. like if we have access to someone on the historical commission or have
connections with the library group or the senior um council on aging or even community network for children with Gileian um I feel like there's so much more we can do with those collaborations. So yeah, it'll be great.
Right. Well, before I respond to that, Christine um is the only member that you haven't uh heard from or been introduced to. This is Christine Robinson, the longestterm member of the committee cuz you were here long before I came on.
We know each other. Oh, you do? Oh, okay. Great. I should know. Hi. You need a You need a tiara with longest running wreck member written on it.
I'm so happy to have you, Jess. Oh, it's good to see you, too. I'm excited to be a part of this crew. Yeah, it's I like that idea about um doing some kind of historical walk and a short one because something that was someone mentioned to me some time ago is that there really aren't things for for
older people who have mobility issues and so having shorter walks. Somebody even said you could just do something around the town common depending on the ability of people. but to really think about ways we can um appeal not just to the people who like
to go for a hike in Breg, but who would like to be outside learning something with a smaller group. So great. Okay. I think we should do a ghost walk next year. Next year. Too soon. Next year.
That would be awesome. So, my daughter, who's 23, who lives in town, is also uh graduated with a major in history, a degree in history, and she works at the New England Air Museum down in Connecticut, but ghost walks would be right up her alley. That is a great
idea. Okay, we've got an idea for next year then. I I was going to ask you about that. Do you have a running calendar with like the events that you are planning right now and the events that happen yearly?
No. And we should. So, I appreciate you bringing that up because Sam and I have talked about it and then it's, you know, one thing happens and then another, but we do now have events that are every year. Um, and then we have the ones that are more
episodic, like last year going to um Christine Marglin's uh orchard and having a talk about growing fruit trees. Um, so this will spur me to finally do that. So, thank you already. You you're
worth your weight and gold. Um, okay. So, any other things anybody wants to say or ask um or that you would like to ask? Uh, Jess? Yeah, Christine. Um, do we have a date for Tom for the
No, no, that was one of the things I was going to talk about. He is I don't have a date from him yet. Um, so that's going to be fourth on the agenda, so we'll we'll get to that very shortly. Okay. Thanks.
Yeah. Yeah. Thank you. Um, so the next thing, oh, so before I move on, were there any questions that people had for Jess or Jess, anything you wanted to ask us about? Um, I did I was curious because like I
know we're a small town and I know um budgeting is interesting in our town and even like with the soccer thing going on. Um Sam, I was curious, are you getting all volunteers? Like one of the students was telling me that there's a
coach for the um older kids at soccer too. And I wasn't sure is this all volunteer based or do you have a budget that you work with to run events? We have a budget. We have $3,000 for the year. Usually we give a thousand dollars
um right off the top to the library for the fitness classes that they provide um because that's um that reaches uh like the senior community as well. Um and soccer is all volunteer. The rec
committee uh purchased the equipment and then uh Sean Genro is another dad. Um, and he comes when he can and then it's just it's me and then usually like it we soccer just kind of works like it depends who's there kind of like if
there's a lot of little kids there, one of like the three-year-old moms will kind of take over that group and I'll take over the big kids and it's um it's as relaxed as it could possibly be basically. But um like for some events like for uh brightwater bogw walk or
bird watching, we do often um pay them to do it and then we've kind of run into this weird thing where we offer to pay someone for their services and they decline and um then we have money left over at the end of the year and then we
donate more to the fitness classes. That's what's historically happened like the last year, two years maybe I would say. Yeah. Yeah. That's great. Um I was thinking about it too because we the the connection with the Ammerst High School and the students
that are doing the National Honor Society or like there's a bunch of different groups, but specifically that one um and they need volunteer hours. So like roping in high schoolers to help with different events too could be something
that we could look at. But that's great that you have a budget. We do have a budget and we actually our budget tripled um a few years ago uh we were we wanted to do um is it called geocaching?
it's whatever that thing is where people are racing and anyway um so we talked to somebody about creating a map for us so that we would have something that could continue to be used but there were a number of things one it was very expensive to get the map made two the map actually wouldn't be our map the map
would belong to this other or organization even though we paid for it which made sense because it meant it provided more um places for people in the area to go geocaching than if um we owned it. Um, so I we had requested an
additional $2,000 to our budget to help pay for it. And what I didn't realize is that once you ask for and get more money, you always have more money. So they never took us back to $1,000 and we've never had to justify it. We just have to spend it, right? Oh, this is
being recorded. But it's true. That's the kind of the way it works. But we do spend it. So we've been able to hold on to that. Um, I just wanted to say something about the soccer and it's to some extent it's a kind of splitting hairs but not really. We don't technically
run as a committee. We don't technically run the soccer. um we sponsor so we will help pay for things um like the balls and the nets and all of that but you know for example if Sam were to decide that she didn't
want to do it anymore hopefully it would continue going with other people and we would continue to be a sponsor but it wouldn't be something that we as a committee are running just something like a soccer program is is kind of beyond our um our reach but the the
sponsoring has worked well And I would guess if we did the basketball, it would be the same thing. You know, buy the equipment. Um, and then just like any of the soccer programs in other towns, it's usually the parents at that age. And you know, that not paying for anybody to
come and and do the coaching, but it's it's usually the parents who kind of step up to it. So, uh, so that's, uh, again somewhat splitting hairs because Sam is on the committee, but if she were not, we would still continue sponsoring
it, but we wouldn't be involved in the running of it in the way that you are, Sam. So, um, and speaking of sponsorships, the townwide birthday party is going to be on
the 5th, October 5th, and they have asked if we are willing to sponsor them again and provide $100 toward some of their expenses. So, is there any discussion about that before we vote? No. Are we ready to take a vote? Can
somebody um propose a motion? A motion. Okay. So, it's to um sponsor the townwide birthday celebration and provide them with $100 towards their
expenses. So, all those in favor, please raise your hand. And so, that's unanimous. Okay. I will let Susie know as soon as we get off. was um they were a little bit uh it's very close to this date, but they
were not um they they didn't get to it until fairly recently. So that's the townwide birthday party. The announcements and one of these is the night sky Christine. So uh Tom um so Jessica the town the
night sky is Tom how do you pronounce his last name? she sheathing sheeting. He um is an amateur astronomer who is extraordinarily knowledgeable, has all kinds of equipment and last year and
again this year he offers a night sky viewing and I was not able to go. Christine, you were able to go and and I gather it was great. Awesome. Yeah. and he has offered to uh do it again. But um it got really complicated
last year because we had two dates and then we had rain dates and and it just the whole thing got very convoluted and very difficult to um manage from from my end. So we decided this year that we would just have the one night. Now Tom
has now offered to do another night. Um but and we paid him for that for that night. He's offered to do another one just kind of out of the goodness of his heart. And what I have um kind of been struggling with is if I put it out
again, which I really don't want to do. This is why we only had it once. If I put it out again in a town announce, then we're back to or I'm back to, you know, figuring out who can come, keeping a waiting list and all of that versus
what I'm tempted to do is not have this be really recreation business, recreation committee business. But I will write to all of the people who RSVPd to the original one, some who came, some who couldn't come, and tell them that
this night is happening and if they want to come, they can come. So, we wouldn't be doing any on-site organizing. We wouldn't be doing anything. Just letting them know and then anyone who wants to come can come. So, I'd like some feedback on that.
Sounds good to me. Does it sound good to everybody else? Sounds good. Okay. Ann, what do you Yeah, that sounds good. So, Barbara, let me just make sure. Let me say this back to you. So, Tom would decide on a night
and then and a date and you would just reach out to people who've RSVPd in the past and say, "Hey, this is happening on this night." Yeah. Want to go? Go. Yes. Exactly. And Tom would then just, you know, whoever showed up shows up and
it would be on. Yeah. Yeah. would you be willing to add on the people that went to um the program last year and not just this year because I would be interested in going again and I went two years ago but I didn't RSVP for this year.
Okay. Well, Jess, here's one of the wonderful things about this committee. You can go to anything you want. You're not on the list. So, yes, you can definitely go because it'll go out to all of the members of our committee in part because we we do stuff there. So,
you know, if there's anything that the person who's doing it like with the with the bog walks, um, you know, it helped to have people who were sweepers because there werelers and we wanted to kind of keep keep people moving at a reasonable pace. Um, so, you know, there's always
something that can be done. So, absolutely, you are invited and there is actually quite a bit of overlap between the people who RSVPd yes this year and last year. There were a couple of people who were different, but there was a lot of overlap. So, okay.
Well, and I Does it seem okay if I send that out with it's with recreation um email because I'm it's not being offered to everybody. It's just being offered to us. That's kind of the I think it's okay. It sounds fine to me, but I just
wanted another other pairs of ears on this one. Okay. Yeah. Okay. All right. Sam, your thumb hasn't gone up. I'm I'm there. Y I'm not good. Yes. Good. I was watching your hands.
Okay. So, um and then um I I got a hold of um Oh, I'm forgetting his name now. U Al, thank you. Al Warner about the Shberry Geology Walk. He's currently traveling. He's out of the country and
he said he would get back to me. So, I think that that's that one can be any time of years because the rocks don't change, you know, they just kind of stay the same unlike plants. So, it might be wise just to plan on doing that one in the spring. If I hear back from him soon
enough and it looks like we can arrange it for um end of October, beginning of November, then I suppose we could do that. But as of right now, I haven't heard back from him. I'm not going to hound him about it and we'll just see.
The other one is um okay the birding and Sam you may know more about this one than I because the library got a grant to do some education and things around um birding and asked if we would partner
with them and we can pick up the expense of whoever is leading it. We can pay for that which frees up more money for the library to um use it on other birding related things. Have I captured that well? Mhm. Okay, good.
Yeah, Christine. So, is it still with Cliff? It would still be with Cliff. Yeah. Cool. Who won't take the money, but he he sends he he he wants the money to go to the library. But I actually have a
question about that which is um from the point of view of the person giving the money I would think that they they they get they can put it towards their taxes. It's a you know a donation.
A donation. Yeah. Anyway. Yeah. I would guess that because it's like um Yeah. Because they could just we could write them a check then they could write a check to the library. We just skip a step basically. Yeah. Exactly. Yeah. That's I was thinking
that I would start suggesting that it also then less of our flow is directly to the library as well. So okay and I think those were the only three and that one it looks like we'll do in the spring. So, we will find out when the migration um primary migration
is happening and that would be the timing for that and we'll coordinate with Maryanne. Um all right, by am I missing any planned events? No. Okay. So, I'm guess the um
H can I ask um speaking of planned events, are you still doing the knitting groups? Yes, that actually was on my list and I forgot to put it there. Yes, it's actually turned into a stitching group because there's somebody who darns, there's people who do um embroidery,
there are people who do crochet. So, it's now the stitching group. And actually, that is Thank you. because I had forgotten to to list that out under my announcements about things. So, when do we want to start it up again? Do we want to wait until we can be in the
library or start up again in the basement of town hall? That's up to you because you usually have to let the people in. So that's your call. Yeah. I as long as Christine holds my hand, I can let people in. That's right. So we can start it town
hall because I think it's going to be a couple more months. I think I read the heading of a email we just got about the library being complete. I didn't read the whole thing, but Okay. I I want I get motivated.
Yeah. You know, um what was I going to say about this? Oh, we need to find out when the library is having events because last year we just kind of came up with um a schedule and then it turned out that some of those
were days that Janette or somebody else was doing a workshop and we don't want to cannibalize their their activities. So, is that something Sam you would be able to easily find out? Yeah. And then I can send out a calendar um or to all of the members of the of the
group. I guess now we should probably start from scratch and send out a townwide announce at the beginning of the year. Um, so that because I'm sure there may be new people. There may be people who just didn't sign up who enjoy it. It's really really nice. It's just
such a nice such a nice thing to do. We were doing it on Sunday mornings, right? Yes. Yes. Yes. And we had adventures and everything when we set the alarm off, which is why I'd like Christine to come and hold my hand. The poor the hot stadium that show up
whole whole thing with the state trooper. The whole thing we do, are you sure? Are you sure, Jess? You know what you're getting into here? So, and I loved um Jess Sam had mentioned that you had just kind of
floated an idea about hike meetups, hiking meetups. I think that's a fantastic idea and that's something that I would guess would be really simple to do because once somebody says when it is like we can send out a town announce it just says be here at this time and it
wouldn't be collecting names of people who are coming. It would just be showing up which would be really very straightforward. I thought that was a great idea. I don't know. Would you want to say a few words about it? Well, we we kind of do that informally with like the
group of parents that my kids went to school with. Um we've continued um hanging out. We call ourselves the PTO, which I crack up at because we're not the PTO anymore. We're we're the old PTO. Um but we still meet up and do
things like this. And I was thinking how nice it would be to make it a bigger thing and invite other people from town, especially people that are interested in the trails but nervous to explore on their own. Um it would be kind of a cool thing. So um yeah, I would I would love
to do that. Even like a monthly meetup um would be Yeah, would be great. I'm just thinking I ran into a bear on my trail the other day and it like it was the first time that a bear had like turned towards me and kind of bounded towards
me. Usually they just walk away, but this one was like whoa. And like it was a little bit scary, but if you're in a big group and you're all talking, that doesn't necessarily happen, right? Scare away the animals before they can scare you. So tell us the end of the story. I see no
visible marks on you. So nope, I did not get attacked. It just took like three big pounces and then it stopped and I yelled, "Whoa, whoa, whoa." And I just started walking away with my little dog and it didn't try to follow me or anything. So, a neighbor posted the trail cam video with the bear
and two cubs right after that. So, I'm assuming there were probably cubs near the bear that I didn't see. But, um, but we were fine. And, yeah, it was exhilarating. I did not need my second cup of coffee that morning. My heart was
racing. And boy was I awake after that. Like that. Oh my glory. Yeah. But I also just hiked around um Beth Wilson on the conservation commission just took me down to the I think it's called South Conservation
Area or Southbrook Conservation Area and said that the conservation commission is building bridges or redoing bridges. And I was like, "Oh, this is an area that I never really come to." There's just so many spots in town that we could explore with that. So,
I've been going to um New Boston Road. I didn't know about it until recently and I and I love taking my kids there because they can bike and that's flat. That That's like such a gem. That's great. So, I was going to ask these are all places in Shootbury.
Yeah. Yeah. There's also all the Pine Brook trails. like I hadn't really known about those until co and started hiking those and now my mom lives kind of across from Shore Drive. So, it's like easy um hike
over there and that's also so gorgeous. Um and not very hilly uh down at that end. So, yeah, there's lots of options. I would Yeah, I would I would be interested in in doing that. Um, yeah, like I said,
monthly would be ideal, but if there's a month where I couldn't do it, that's when like I don't know. Well, I I I mean what I I think that that shouldn't just sit on you, but with the people who are coming at the end of each one could just ask, would somebody like to take on the next one if you ever
feel like you don't want to? And then people will both be getting to participate in the walk and help organize something which might then get them thinking about doing other things. So, yeah. I like that idea, Barbara. That tends to work really well, too, because people go out of town or they have other
commitments and so if it always falls to one person, I think even if you like came up with a list of dates, times, and places like maybe one one a month and then we just send that out and then people have it. Um, that could be just enough structure.
Sometimes people just need to know when and where to get together. Yeah. Yeah. Can I can I come up with something and email all of you and Absolutely. and see like a little proposal. Great. The only I love the idea of coming up
with um all the places. My only question around doing the dates and times ahead of time is if you do one on Saturday morning at 10:00. Sometimes it might be nice to do the next one at Sunday at 3. Because if you always do them the same
day and time and there are people who can never make that day and time, you leave people out. So that's just something to consider. Yeah, I think that's a good idea too of do like having a Saturday morning, a Sunday morning that doesn't interfere with the stitching club. um Saturday
afternoon and Sunday afternoon and like feel it out to see what works for most people. Yeah. Um it gets a little tricky in the winter with our trails because they're, you know, a little um a little dangerous, but we can figure
out how I'll I actually have an idea about that, but we I think that's later down on the list. Oh, come on, Sam. That was to actually we could talk about it because I forgot to put it on the agenda that under no that can be under other business the
snowshoes. Yeah, we Marian talked about this before. Yeah. Sorry Sam. Sorry before you start. Sorry. Just a technical question. Is the hike should I put that under new business Barbara? Yes. Yes.
Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah. Um, oh, I saw them putting out snowshoes at Sam's the other day and I was saddened by that and then I was telling Marian, I was like, "Oh god, they're putting us snowshoes." And she said, "Maybe the rec
committee would like to buy them for the new library because there will be room to store them." So, I wanted to just bring that idea here. And I just looked it up really quick before um the meeting. They're like $100 a piece. Um, so that's something to consider. And then I think
it was 150 with polls from LLBAN. So that is um a thought that I will bring to the table. Yeah. Great. Let's talk about it next time and try and try to draft up what a budget looks like for this year because
this past year we definitely had money left over. I know. And $800 would have bought a lot of that would have been three sets, right, of snowshoes at 750 plus some change. Yeah. And I got mine from some place that wasn't llban and they were even
cheaper than that. Yeah. But good. Yeah. I I mean we I had mentioned this a couple years ago and it was like we couldn't do it because there was no place to hold this, you know, to store the snowshoes and all that stuff. So that's right. I'm definitely interested in this idea. So
now there is. Yeah, my math was wrong. That's five sets, not three sets. Okay. Well, that's that's great. that can also be something that we talk more about. Just going back briefly to the um meetups, we could start that as early as um October
because it's just a matter of sending out a townwide email. There's no organization. No one has to get back about anything. So, if you just let me know if you if you feel like starting it that soon, um date, time, place, and then we'll send it out um to the to the
town. Good. Okay. Great. See, I think the snowshoes was the only thing that I forgot to put on. All right, back to that point of date and place. Can you um let me know what date you picked to
start knitting and then I can make the fly up and all that. Okay. Well, let let's assume let me just see. October is very busy. Let's say October, too. I Yeah. Oh my goodness gracious. Um, why
don't we say we're going to start in uh September, I mean in October and see what things look like and we were doing it every other week. Um, there's a bunch of things that are planned in the afternoons like the
townwide birthday party is on the 5th, but I don't think that would interfere. Oh, the other thing with the town Yeah, Christine, we have our um Ry Ryback New York. Oh, yeah. That one that is the 18th, right?
Yeah. So, we want to avoid that weekend. What is that? Hm. What is the Reinbeck, New York? Oh, um there's a Reinbeck has this large um what is it? A knitting festival, yarn festival in Reinbeck, New York. and Webs
um chart chartered a bus and then sold tickets on the buses and a group of of people from the stitching group bought tickets um and we'll be going to that and then I I that's on Saturday the 18th and then I have something on the 19th
and the 18th is also no Kings Day. So I you know people may be doing that as well. Um, let's see. What was I just thinking about that I was going to say about the knitting, about the meetup. Um, I don't know if if it's important,
it'll come back to me. Although that's not true once you hit 74. Sometimes it comes back and sometimes it doesn't. Well, do you want to start it on the 12th then? Sure. Yeah, that sounds good. And then every other week from there. Wait, are we talking about knitting or
hiking? Knitting. Okay. Right. Yeah. Meeting is starting on the 12th. 9 to 11. Yeah, that sounds good. Mhm. Yeah. 2 hours is a good length of time. Okay.
Now, the other um agenda item is about the town meeting bylaw. At this point, we're not going to be there will be this will be voted on at town meeting. So this is something that all the individuals the the email that
I'm about to present is from Netti and it's about um finding out whether or not changing the meeting dates and adding a meeting date would make it would be um would affect what's how does the question would this work better for the
board or committee? So what she wrote is that uh she would like to suggest that the select board sponsor an article to amend the town meeting date bylaw. The suggestion is not new and Ann I can forward this to you um
because I think she only sent it to chairs. The first um the first change that she's recommending would be changing shifting the date from April to the first or second Saturday in May. It seems that there's a general consensus that April ultimately feels too early to
many and Grace has pointed this out. So the question is if the town were to hold annual town meeting on the first or second Saturday in May rather than in April, would this work better for the board or committee that you represent?
Now, as a chair, I would say it doesn't make any difference. I agree. Okay. I think historically speaking, I remember they changed it from the first weekend in May back to April because of
all of the Pride events that happened in Northampton that first weekend in May. Um, a lot of younger families were going to the Pride March instead of going to Okay. meetings. So I don't know that to her. Yeah. Still the case, but um
I think that is the weekend. I'm not sure. Thank you. That's really helpful to have that knowledge. Yeah, I I know the Pride March in Franklin County, the one that the elementary school marches in, is usually the first weekend in June because June
is pride month. So, I'm not sure where Northampton stands with it, but it was it was May 4th this year, so Okay, that's spot on. Okay. All right. I will relay that to Netti.
And it might not matter now. I mean, I'm not sure. Um, you know, maybe families go to the Franklin County Pride March instead because the elementary school marches in it. So it might not be as much of a of a thing now, but okay, that's really helpful to know.
Thank you. So that's the first one. Any other comments about that for me to share with Netti? Okay. Um, another change would be to um create a date for a fall town meeting
each year. Considering that in the last 19 years, Shootsbury has held 16 special town meetings, it seems that making this date predictable and reliable would be helpful for voters, boards, and committees alike. So, the the proposal is or the question
is if the town were to amend the town meeting date bylaw so that we held a fall town meeting on the first or second Saturday in November to focus on zoning, planning, and bylaws. Would this adjustment work for the committee or board you represent
from my perspective? Yes. Or wouldn't make any difference? Again, I agree. Any other thoughts on this? Okay, I'll relay that to um to Netti uh
when we get off of here. Um, it certainly makes sense. And apparently in a citizens guide to town meetings, the secretary of the Commonwealth writes that a town may divide its business meeting into two meetings. One business meeting at the beginning of the year, the other uh later where the focus is primarily on
the budget, finances, and taxes. The second business meeting is held in the fall and is still part of the annual town meeting and the focus on zoning, planning, and bylaws. So it's it's s certainly something that is done. Okay, I think that is everything. Jess,
it's so nice to have you here. It was really wonderful to have your comments and ideas and enthusiasm. Thank you so much. And u is there a motion to adjourn the meeting? Okay. Is there a second?
Second. And all those in favor? Okay. Great. Let me stop the recording.