All right. Shall we call the select board meeting for September 15th, 2025 to order? Um, in our agenda, we have approved minutes from uh September 10th. Uh then followed by Lake Wyola storm
water erosion task force report presentation. Um then the energy and climate action committee presenting the community choice aggregation products to us. Um review group insurance commission letter
uh review and vote on sending a letter to Franklin Regional Transit Authority um regarding advisory board member. Um, appointment of Rich Strong Strongman to Council on Aging. Uh, appointment of
Kathy Salvador to police chief search committee. Um, and appointment of Jill Braftoft as part-time police officer. Then review and sign a special permit application for the third annual townwide birthday party. And then we
will go into executive session not to return. Was there anything else? Oh, town administrator report. I'm sorry. I forgot. >> Um, anything that has popped up in the last 48ish hour?
>> All right. So, let's get started with approving the minutes for September 10th. Do I hear a motion for approving the minutes for September 10th, 2025? >> So, moved. >> Second. >> Um, were there any edits or
clarifications to the minutes? >> There's one on the second page. McNichols. It's Donna McNichols. That's all that's really >> McNickel. Okay. Um, that was >> actually another one right there. >> Alert under
>> be alerted the town. the under public comment section A second to last line alert should be alerted >> and Donna McNichol in the um page two
halfway down um half second half of the page u vertically uh Donovan Nicole uh spellings. Okay. >> All right. Um, that's it. Okay. Do I
hear a motion to approve the minutes as amended? >> So move. >> All those in favor? >> Dr. I >> may be Sonial. >> I um next is the Lake Wyola storm water
erosion task force report presentation from Jennifer. Jennifer, do you want to slide up to the uh here and put your computer down? and go ahead and >> you can watch TV. >> Um, can you uh go ahead and share your
screen when you're ready and we'll leave it over to you? >> Um, no, you'll be on the video here, so you don't need your video on >> Can you all see that back there? was missing. >> Just I know I feel like that.
>> Okay, good. >> Good to be here. Good to have you here. >> Brennan, I'm just going to check with Bren. Brennan, can you see what Jennifer is sharing? I just want to make sure that that's working on your end. >> Yes, I can see what she's sharing. >> This is so
Oops. What happened? I lost it. Now I'm screen sharing right there. >> Yeah, you're right there in the middle. >> I know, but I'm only seeing this. >> Oh, we we see what you see.
>> Oh, no. She's seeing >> No, I'm seeing the Zoom. >> Oh, share your screen again. You may have >> uned your screen. >> No, no, you're there. >> I think on that. >> Yeah, double click that. Okay, good. Thank you.
>> All right. So, this is a mirrors and a half worth of um work and what I have here for you all is a a bridged version of the webinar that we did with Furog and I've tried to pull out the key
slides and also I have our recommendations and so on and a few discussion points and questions for you all. I also have most of that in hard copy because I wasn't sure. Our report, you know, was 10 attachments long and
also all transmitted digitally. So, um, you'll see I have a question about that later. >> Sorry. >> Can everybody hear Jennifer? I just want to make sure. >> Can you hear Jennifer? Okay, Brian. >> Yeah, I can hear her just fine. >> Okay, good.
>> Okay, good. >> Uh, so I see I'm trying to see who else is here. um from our committee. Tom um Seafford is here and uh Mark Rivers from Elwack said that he was going to tune in. I see that he's tuned in. So, who
are we? Uh Bob Douglas who's a Concom member is on his way. Uh Charlene Galinsky who is a Lake Wyo association board member and their less on our group couldn't make it today. David from the highway department is a
consultant. Eric >> Stalwart member Jim Moore Joe Salvador. >> Oh, there it is. He showed up. >> Eric is the only man who came out uh two times, two rainy days in a row. So that's
committed for you. uh we worked really hard and there have been a lot of different meetings and presentations but I just want to give this group of people a real shout out because I don't think there was only one time which was last Thursday that we
weren't able to reach a quorum >> and people really people really showed up >> I would just interrupt and give you a shout out chair serious >> I think I think you're fantastic chair >> thank you I I try hard but you can't be a good chair Unless you have a good comm.
>> All right. >> So now I'd like to get rid of Oh god, I did it again. >> I'm trying to get rid of a thing that's in my visual field, but I'm just going to ignore it. Okay. So what were our guiding principles
from the very beginning? We had all reviewed multiple studies that the town had commissioned. We had also observed events of high storm intensity ourselves. Uh we can see the firsthand effects of erosion on the
ecosystem and we also noted that there are multiple stakeholders involved you know municipal departments, municipal um select boards, uh private entities, private homeowners. Uh so these are some
photos that we've taken and uh showing road erosion after big storm events showing storm water pouring off someone's property into the lake. I want you to pay particular attention to these sediment plumes here because they're
going to come up again on the next slide and also the sedimentation in the north co. Okay. So what were our guiding principles that erosion is not one entity's problem. I think that at Lake Wyola it's been identified as a road
problem for a long time. That proves not to be the case. Water doesn't care who owns what. It just flows where it's going to flow. This slide down here, which is Long Island Sound, shows a similar but much larger sediment plume
after a big storm event where all of the sediment is coming from Vermont and New Hampshire and Massachusetts and affecting the fisheries in Long Island Sound. So a systemsswide approach is what was recommended by FURCOG and and
we embrace that wholeheartedly as a necessity to bring all the parties together and work independently where we have to work independently and work collaboratively where we have to work collaboratively and where collaboration proves to be the best um approach. I
want to say special thanks to Furcog and also to Tamson Flanders, our contact there, um Kimberly McI too. They've been um fantastic resources for us. We got the town got the direct local technical assistance. You'll see some of the
results of that and and this webinar um a lot of it was together with me and Tamson and working on this. So, okay. So, what were our responsibilities? Uh this was a charge from the select board to develop strategies for reducing
sedimentation to cultivate an entire watershed systemsbased approach to develop infrastructure maintenance and water and education strategies and to build capacity for partnerships.
You know these entities exist and we talk about partnership but because historically everyone has worked separately from each other. The capacity for partnership needs to get built before you can even be partners. And I think that our task
force is a good um uh example of how those partnerships can form. Okay. So, uh, this is a map that shows Lake Wyola land cover and landmarks. It also shows what our primary study areas
were. So what we notice pretty quickly and you'll see that in the next slide is that while down along the lake shore is where most of the residences are, the water is flowing to the lake through
those private properties and over the the dirt roads from uphill locations. And so our approach was to track the water from uphill locations looking at how it gets down to the lake and what the discharge points are. We did not
look in depth at the Fisk Pond uh watershed subwaterhed that flows into North Cove. Um but we have recommended that that be studied and you'll see that that will um pick up when we talk about the engineering studies.
So, what have we done to date? Well, we did field walks and identified hotspots and key drainage systems. We received estimates from two engineering studies in April. We sought them from three companies and settled on one. We filed a
grant application for these studies with the rural development fund. Next month is the date of finding out whether we get that grant that would fund these same engineering studies. We created a short-term road maintenance project list
for both the association and the highway department. We developed education programs. These are slides from the program that we ran uh in August which was sparsely attended but everyone who came was super interested. Furco helped out too. We
have our own Bob Douglas who was doing water filtration based on different u land materials. We had watershed models. We had erosion models. We had kids making murals. Uh it was again it was the first step at building capacity. We
also had multiple meetings and presentations with concomwac the association and the highway department. So, what did we find out? Uh, there's a lot of text here. It's not my favorite
way to go. I tried to highlight um our main conclusions. Uh, sediment heads to the lake from uphill locations from both townowned paved and dirt roads, Locks Pond and Wendell being primarily the two
roadways at the uphill locations. There are privately owned uphill properties that impact sedimentation too. lake association roads as well as directly from lowland private properties. It's necessary to slow the flow of water
from the uphill locations to trace the water flow to various discharge points and there's not been a coordinated appro approach to bringing relevant parties together. In addition, homeowners and property
owners have a variety of DIY fixes which work great on their little um plots, but there isn't a lot of conversation about how that impacts their neighbors or even the lake, which they may not even
consider as a neighbor necessarily. The association has limited financial ability. They've made significant capital improvements over $55,000 since 2020, but their financial capacity is limited and their operational capacity
is limited to um ways that they might participate. There's no central mechanism with the responsibility to coordinate all these parties and furog has identified that there needs to be additional research about the impact of offshore activities.
Our focus has all been from the land to the water. But there are uh effects say of wakeboats, beaver dams. It affects lake deaths, vegetation growth and bacteria in the lake. And you'll see some updated slides as of this morning
about that. So what do we recommend? We recommended conducting this hydraulic and um hydraologic engineering study as well as a geomorphic study of Fiskbrook. Um we talked about that we have the estimate we're waiting for the rural
development fund word. If that grant doesn't come through there'll need to be additional research about funding the studies and also funding the infrastructure that those studies recommend. We need to research alternative funding for engineering as well as
infrastructure. We need to continue and be consistent with our public education sessions. We need to have a coordinated town and Lake Wyola operational and management plan that would be developed in coordination with everybody that would
lay out what needs to happen, what are the assessment things so that that becomes a living document that can be the core of this partnership. We need to create a coordinated storm water management maintenance process either
through an existing committee or a new body. Technically, our task force's charge ends today. Um, and so what do we do? What does the town wish to do with these findings?
Um, I just wanted to put this in here. Uh it's an example of what we're calling the new approach and that is uh taking a systemswide uh engineering study approach. What's great about these engineering
studies is that it's not tied into this can only be used on municipal properties. This can only be used on private property. So this is going to be the beginning and it's the first time that we're really saying let's try to
address these problems in a in a comprehensive widespread way. We have a contribution from the town of 4,000 and the association of 4,000 which provided the 8,000 that the rural development fund likes to see in their grant
applications. Uh I'm hoping I don't know if anyone's heard any skittle but on your end but I think they're pretty tight lipped about it. Uh I don't know if you were interested in this. This is the time frame that GZA puts forward. These are
the steps of what their um what their uh studies would would intail. I could zoom in on that if makes it any easier. I think I can zoom in on it. Yeah. So probably the main thing here is their timeline. So even if we do get the
grant, which we'd find out in October, it's unlikely that they would probably begin until November. This is November 25, December, December, January, January, February, all the way through February, March, April,
and May. So we're not looking to have any any designs or anything like that until next spring if we're lucky. in that timeline that they'd be able to see what snow melt was going to fall. >> That's right. Yep. There's good that is one thing that that they said to us that
that is will be a plus. Uh there's besides what they'll be doing is modeling out these flows, looking at drainage areas just like we started to do and then we realized you know we're just you know like volunteer people and
we needed some people with expertise. Uh they're also and this is one thing that distinguished them from the other firms we talked to. They're going to identify conceptual solutions and prepare sketches with us which would you know put us in a very good position for
applying for any kind of funding we would need for implementation that would already be done. Um these are a couple of other recommendations. uh we have some short-term maintenance projects that were recommended by FRC
COG and we verified with our visits. So I think there's there'll be a need to follow up with the highway department and the association about um how to to get engaged with those projects. That is quite outside
anything about the engineering study. These are things that could be done and need to be done um in the meantime. Uh the dirt road management handbook of furox talks about the need to or recommends that a highway department develop an area for storing sandy soil.
The lake association remove sandy soil from culverts and things and they're looking to work with the town to um to see if we can identify such an area and if they can begin to participate with the town in that way. And finally this
brook uh this came directly from Elwack. This recommendation, this brook has been a large source of sediment and infrastructure recommended by the studies should be implemented where possible. Uh this is a photograph I took today of
the growing beaver dam under the culvert on Lake View. Um this is back there in Pinebrook area and this is the leads into wake lake Wyola. And you can see the water levels here are quite different. This isn't few logs.
>> Um, and I know that Beaver Solutions went in and removed some and they made a nice little pile next to the cover of what they removed. So, it's like the beavers just go, "Oh, boy. We didn't even But this is I mean, I used to go down there and then call Howard and say,
"Hey, there's wood in there." But this is like a fully functioning beaver dam now. and a good example of of jurisdictional partnerships too. You know, I think there are questions about how such a thing would get um dealt with and who
would deal with it, but the flood risk removing the dam all at once would release a lot of sediment and bacteria into the lake. So, it's a delicate kind of uh arrangement, but but I just thought that that was a really good case study and very current because I was
just over there. >> Right. So, what are we asking? Will the task force, which was originally a working group charged with making recommendations, continue in a
second phase with a new charge? And I've reviewed the recommendations. I have hard copies of those for you all, too. Will the task force transition to it become a standing committee? Same question. Should it be a standing committee? Should it be folded in with
some existing committee? Does the select board feel like this work should continue etc? Um these are a list of all the attachments in our in our digital filing of the the or to you all. and is there a need for a
hard copy of the full task force report including all the attachments. So in that report we have a list of all of Lake Wya's capital improvements. We have Massachusetts alternative funding. We have more education initiatives.
Furcog recommended lake quality monitoring road retrofits to retrofits to paved not necessarily impervious paving but um paving that can drain in some key areas and the board of health
outreach on septic upgrading I already mentioned the short-term management and we have in one of the attachments all the feedback we did a draft report we gave it to Kong and Elwack and the highway department and the association to ask for their feedback. We got good
feedback and uh folded those into our recommendations. So, um but their first set of unedited comments to us are in that attachment. So, I think we can answer the last one pretty easily just because um open
records request hasn't really caught up with what truck. We probably should have one copy. >> Okay. >> Um and town hall. >> Um >> and I don't know if Bailey could print it out or you could file something. So we would have to have >> we'll work together on that. >> Yeah. So that's the question we can
answer for. >> Okay. Good. That is that check and then I'm open for your questions too, you know. So that was a questions as well. Whatever. >> I'll have the floor. >> Rita, Eric, do you guys have any
questions that you'd like to ask? >> Thank you for the wonderful report back. This is beautiful. >> Very well done. Thank you for reference. >> Go ahead. >> Well, you know, I read through I didn't read through everything, but I read
through the recommendations and uh and some of the, you know, additional documentation and I began to kind of focus on what the next steps were and like how you continue this work. And
obviously the um let's let's keep our fingers crossed that the rural development fund grant comes through to get through the instead of looking at this fund. But it seems to me that
um that there's there's more work to be done with regard to um storm water management. I'm just trying to figure out
what's the best way to do this without um you know is it creating a a standing committee? I mean we have storm water issues in other >> areas
>> areas in the you know I mean this came up when we were when we were putting together an application for the >> MP priorities
>> right so I don't know if there's a kind of a bigger like a broader kind of storm water discussion and then the Lake Wyola's a
part of it and that you know I I don't think it lives within an existing committee. I don't think there's an existing committee that's going to take it on the conservation commission. It's probably wouldn't do this
>> in the sense that it would permit anything that was the undert right so it doesn't it doesn't really have a home within any kind of within any existing committee and you have so you have the lakeololis I mean you have
a lot of different people who are involved here the highway department. So, I'm not sure where the community preservation committee belongs. That that was the only one that seemed kind of >> I wasn't sure,
but we just I think we threw in all of the committees. Yeah. We thought could be possibly involved. >> Yeah. I mean, they those funds can be used for the little dam and open space record. I would add
back because at least the original charge was focused on hazard mitigation plan and uh Mr. bill preparedness plan, >> right? >> Both of which are storm board related. That's a small work, but we've discussed our piece of
>> you want to take it on. >> No, but we're going party. So, so okay. Um or maybe there's like Do we have a swarm water committee
over? >> Yeah, we don't. There's a swarm water committee and then there's a lake >> subset or you know I mean >> it could get the workload for that committee could get divided up according
to geography >> right I don't know >> right >> I feel like Rita we're heading toward a another committee here >> because it doesn't fit with anyone that we have right so we kind of are >> but I think it's really important I mean
I think that you you guys have done a a lot of groundwork here. I don't want to see it lost. I think there's a lot of momentum. So, it's like and and if we get the um rural development fund grant, then that's just going to like add to
the information that we have. I mean, I I think one of the missing pieces um is is getting people around the lake really kind of bought into like, you know, feeling some
ownership of this problem like this. You you kind of own this lake. I mean the town owns the lake but you you have a big investment here in your properties and um if you don't the health of the
lake goes you know your investment in your properties kind of goes so if they can it's this is what I mean about you know I think that it's really important to have a dialogue that involves all the
players because historically it's been like, okay, this is a problem with lake roads, but what we observed is that their collateral damage, you know, so it's really it's as much homeowners that might have water flowing down their property
onto locks pond or onto Wendleber and then it makes its way down to the lake. So this is why >> storm water r that's not entirely focused on the lake but has big has a big role in the town
>> right >> so I don't know I mean Bob and Tom good way and Michael seems to have it to be decided just yet >> right >> but it is that you know our group I know that there one person personal issue
she's going to have to bow I know that Bob and Tom have said they're here for the long run. So have I. Um but there will need to be more of us. Yeah. Whether that's in a townwide storm water committee or our group has
another charge or something. >> Michael. >> Yeah. I was going to say I think the multi committee workforce thing makes sense because it does touch a lot of people and you know just thinking about both experience of ECAT is what I
mentioned planning for the solar sites you know water it's going to affect people's drinking water wells you know and then when we have the rain events and they go down road that hasn't happened so there's the flooding So you know while
there might be site or regional specific sub town dynamics there's also things that are just across um and the players you know the highway department's going to be involved in any comments there areas that need to be addressed so I think
>> and the border does the border >> right so so sort of having a work group where you have representation I think the key is your chair right Right. Yeah. Um I don't know. I I think that would make
some sense. I I guess you know my question would be um in addition to yourselves um is there
is there other staff support or outside technical support that the committee is going to need in order I mean you have the you have the fur hub so you've had the um the technical assistance um
whatever whatever that's called you know the school >> technical assistance >> yeah but is there other in order to kind of you know keep this >> I think we need to I think if there was a group that was focused on this
particular part of >> storm water >> you know so I identified here our group did what some of the things this responsibility that we would have Right. >> So liaison between the town and Lake Wyola, coordinate with the other um
agencies. We wouldn't need special assistance for that. Provide information and assistance to the engineering studies. We got to get an engineering study. It's not just this as geomorphic. It's a hydraologic study of the whole wershed as it impacts the lake. So
there's two studies, >> right? Um, I don't think we need technical assistance for that because we have, you know, we can get access to private property if they need it. We can walk them through some of our findings, but Tom, you can weigh in on if you
think we would need any special thing to advise the engineering. I don't think so. I'm working on on having a plan that would deal with road um maintenance and management. I don't know that we would need special
assistance but the commitment from the highway department and the association to work together and this is going to be a real capacity building kind of challenge because it has never existed. So right it will be rocky the beginning
awkward >> that was the most one of the most valuable site visits because when we went at the film DPW and they were able to just perfectly show see this shower here where it picks up speed where it crosses over the road. So um that was
tremendously helpful to have somebody has eyes on the ground. >> Yeah definitely. So they need to be part of the discussion right I mean they need to be part of the ongoing >> okay very
>> so no I don't see technical at this stage you know I mean we will get eventually whether we we need some fundraising probably you know we need to look for funding both to implement the infrastructure that's recommended or to do these studies if we don't get the
funding from the rural development fund. So is there technical assistance and you know we have a set of grants that are available but do we use fundraising help maybe but I don't see that we need a lot of technical assistance at this stage
once we have designs engineering designs they'll be putting stuff out to bid and all of that stuff so um I guess I I don't see that and I haven't gotten into the work so I don't want include that unit. Yes.
>> So, how how involved is the operation and management plan? >> Well, we don't have it yet. >> Yeah. But I mean like what does it look like? >> Yeah. Well, so so here's a this is Furog's real picture and I think you would have it too is and we've kind of
started it here. Let me let me um go back to my screen. Let me go to another document for a minute. Um, let's say this is really
Oh, I think I can't open that. Sorry. I have to open the just regular opening. Okay. Yeah. So this is the list of u maintenance recommendations that we've developed based on our work so far and
in essence this is the core of of a maintenance and and operation plan. So well one has developed the plan. Okay, you know each year say you know we go through or twice a year we assess ditches we review um these uphill
locations we uh assess and recommend methods to reduce the flow of water from the culberts near specific locations you know so this is a lot more specified like if there's an actual address the same thing here where there's short-term
solution for addressing drainage and impacts and safety issues on three properties or south end of shore drive. So I mean what I would imagine as a planner is that each year you know the relevant parties would come together and
identify the key things that need to get worked on uh brainstorm solutions and then check in with each other throughout the year. You know how is implementation of this plan progressing? That's just
and you know maybe some people will go oh you know maybe we just go on out there with queens and fix it but I I don't know I'm a planner you know I feel like having a plan is good
both to have the plan have some accountability for who works on the plan and to build the partnership you know working in relationships together because I don't see how anything can happen in this without having >> this is more an idea. I don't know if
we've never really found a reality. However, if there became some sort of standing committee with lots of representatives from other coordin committees and whatnot and with the coordination of the LWA property owners
just all of those committees, I was wondering if um you might think of even a temporary uh paid administrator manager clerk of some sort. And again, this is kind of an ideal, but the engineering study are
going to put us in a position to apply for investment management practice implementation grants. One of those BIPs might be to have some sort of professional who um is tasked with just coordinating and keeping everybody
involved. And I wonder if something like the Collins Center or something get if they, you know, got heard of this and we could interface with them a few times could recommend perhaps under graduate study person I'm even planning to have a one year or
18month assignment and maybe one of the grants we could actually be to pay an individual to work 10 hours a week 5 hours a week on something like this I don't know so unrealistic but it might alleviate everybody else involved feeling as though they're doing either a
lot of extra work if they're already a paid employee and it's not their job description or all of volunteering to um lose it. And so it's one thing I haven't discussed too much yet, but um I'm just noticing
it now that it's really valuable sometimes to have like aside from a board that administrator or manager or coordinator who can do a lot of the work paperwork sometimes and scheduling.
Uh so the th out there could be hard to achieve but then if it were achieved it could be very um beneficial >> especially something that coordinating well especially if it was a townwide
um store water you know water committee >> right >> um >> you know so what are the geographic areas that could be subdivisions within that >> how many people would be needed. Um theoretically I guess these individual
subdivisions could work independently of each other and then come together quarterly or something to uh it doesn't mean that because their issues wouldn't be relevant to each other necessarily other than that they're all knowing that the roads but if it was a centralized
thing I don't know how much staffing would be necessary capacity of the people who are involved probably That's a big that's a great idea. It is. And again, you know what? It it completely is consistent with this whole
systems wide look at things and realize like when I drove up there, I drove up road >> and on that hill there wind there's quite a lot. >> We heard about it, >> but it's further up than quite a lot.
Yeah, >> but it's I'm going if I walked that am I wondering if that would actually at some level make its way down to as so you know so they would be working independently of each other but they
would be communicating with each other's >> the MVP was I'm just trying to think >> yeah I was gonna say it's about time >> yeah to do it Yeah, cut. I was also paid DLT money for a cup, >> right? So, I think we use the DLC.
There's some DLT money. >> Yeah. I don't know if there's any. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Um, so I guess I guess what we have to decide is whether um >> we
>> whether we establish like a a broad storm storm water task force. I don't know, maybe we do it and the the first um undertaking is is the follow through
on the Lake Wyola storm water and then secondary looking at the other roots, >> you know, >> other areas within Shootsbury where there's storm water issues, but kind of at the the highest priority is the
follow through on this because we have so much data now. We have so much momentum. I don't want to lose that, >> right? >> Um but I also don't want to lose any opportunities like on the MVP or whatever.
>> Yeah. And having such a committee could be of a benefit in applying for >> right. The other thing is that you can't predict I don't think you can predict where. So we might have some warm water erosion issues in one place now, but
that doesn't mean they're not other place that hasn't even been on the radar yet. >> We're October 20th. So I think for um Okay. >> Okay. So we should >> I just sent that to you guys. >> Thank you.
>> Um Okay. So, I um I'd like to make a motion that we create a pertinent um storm water erosion committee. >> Okay.
>> And um what we need to do is >> Can we have a second on the motion? >> Oh, yeah, sure. >> I was gonna go ahead. I was going to give a little more detail. >> Okay. I'm sorry.
>> Maybe want like five five or seven. Probably seven probably because we need representation. >> Yeah. Seven >> seven member committee. Um and maybe um Haley, you and I could work
together to put to put together a um >> like a the the charge of the committee. I mean this this is so this is a select board committee. We don't have to go to town meeting. Um but we would want to uh
designate where the representation came from. I think already you know you've made your recommendations here. So it's not, you know, we have the highway department, we have um like Biola association, we already have some of you guys and probably have everybody we need
uh pretty much um and we need don't we need if it's going to be a townwide committee then we need people who might be not having association I mean as a priority also be on this townwide.
>> Yeah. So, let's let's look at um let's look at who we how we work this and if we need to make it a little bit bigger. What do we say? Seven to nine. I just don't want to make it so
big that it becomes unveily. How many how big was your record? >> Well, we started out at 11 that to nine. >> Nine. The nine worked pretty well. >> Drifted down to about seven. >> Seven. We operated with seven. All right, let's say seven tonight, but
let's look at it and then um >> so >> all those in favor creating I >> make peace. >> All right. So stay tuned for some more details. A hard copy of the whole report, but I'll work with
>> Yeah. Yes. You have to print that yourself. >> And again, thank you so much. Thank you, Tom, Bob. Great work. really um you know amazing amount of information um >> for code let's give them
yeah they work kind of hand you guys >> there's a lot more in that report >> and it really is a problem all around I think >> yeah know it is yeah >> it is so we live on a hill I remember >> with a lot of rock underneath right so
>> like at my house you can't go that way you can't go that way. Okay, >> let's make popcorn. >> By doing this, the town is getting ahead of it. >> Not catching up. >> Cooking up a little bit. So, also just getting ahead of
>> Yes. Yeah. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Awesome. Thank you. Thank you, Jennifer. Thank you. >> Thanks a lot. >> Okay. Um >> Jennifer, can you um when you sit down just unshare your screen
>> or stop share? Thank you. Um next up is the energy climate action committee and you're going to present the community choice aggregation products too. >> All right. Cat corner 445 since we had four. >> Okay. >> So that's done. >> All right.
>> So from one big idea to another big idea. So this is the milestones guys. to achieve. So the quick reminder is community choice second across the state we're not there's like
200 plus communities have already done it and the two primary drivers um in aggregating is so that as a group of electric customers hopefully get better prices hopefully
get greener energy do things so they has been our lead and you a few know first guys tower the program then creating expertise etc and then you know we had a plan
which you guys approved and where we are now is the exciting part of offering products so rechoice aggregation is thing that the town is supporting so now we have to say okay what do you want to buy um and so
colonial went out and they got um indicative pricing. So they looked at four vendors and said, you know, for one, two, and three year contracts, what's the what would you anticipate um for a project that would start in December? So they got basically just
spreadsheet and logically waiver for those products. Um and we met with them and then we met last week on September 10, came up with two recommendations. And I think the one thing I would say to
frame the recommendations and credit to Nate is kicked off the discussion but um there's this concept of wax renewable energy credits which on the face of it seems like here expanding green energy availability but what Dane
introduced colonial firm we had discussion about is that you get a wreck when you've developed green energy already. So if it's in the past sort of like you put the law on your house you get a wreck and then buying wrecks you're not creating
anything new and then apparently in Massachusetts the unique thing is there's an alternative it's ACP alternative credit compliance >> compliance payment and so another way in Massachusetts you don't have to create green energy and make a payment and you
get credited with as if you had done it so what explained is ranks are doing don't do what article you want to do is generate more heat energy in the city by being able coming together as an academic. So the two things that we recommended you have to have a default.
So for people who want to participate in the program if they don't make a choice what what product did they get are so the one that we're recommending is meets Massachusetts requirement which has a high level of green energy included as a
percentage 63%. So it's it's going to be better than what we're getting from national grid and the pricing is better um than we would get national. So there's those two benefits off the top. And then we discussed that if people either didn't buy the argument that Rex
were not the greatest sliced in terms of advancement energy um or they still want to do it because they thought well it makes some difference and I want to do it. We offer 100% as an option. So rather than sort of parsing it, you know, if you get 35% or 45 what the
state asked for, we're all in um and then as we pointed out, you know, we didn't want to have too many choices, but people could choose not to participate. So they actually have a better choice, which is keep what they got from national grid. Um so that's what we recommended. And then the other
stuff is we recommended a three-year term. Um just because I think we agreed agreed that instability is probably the only thing that we know is going to be the future. Um so might fall down but locking something in between your space
file putting it for your cursor silly. Um and then before you ask question I just wanted to go through. So assuming that you would you guys have to vote and basically say yes we want to go forward with these
products for this term um then what happens is Colonial would contact Colonial probably tonight and say the select board approved it or you know hey we can reach out whoever they don't need they don't need documentation in the vote they just need a interesting they
go to the four vendors and say okay give us executable prices that are real um and those prices are due back Colonial by 9:30 in the morning next Monday the 22nd. And then at 11:00 has a meeting with us presumably Haley
and any of you or any of us to basically confirm which product which pricing would want presumably it would be the vendors offer the lowest price for both. It has to be one vendor for both of the products you're offering. So if vendor A
lower the price for the mass meets mass requirement and 100% that presumably one that we go to they have to hear that at the 11 o'clock meeting. No they tell us when the pricing is at 11 o'clock and by 2:30 we have to convey to them that that's what we want. So Monday's a busy
day in that regard. Well, I think part of what you have to discuss tonight is gets to know if that officially might, you know, hey get to say up half the town we're agreeing to this contractual. We're not signing it on the dotting line
for that's what we want to do. Um, and then I got one other thing I was going to say, but do you have anything to add or do? >> Fantastic. You know, I I would add um that when
these quotes come in, uh, we don't have to take any of them. Uh so uh you know these pricing offer quotes on are going to be something that we can compare to current national grid
which is in that upper right hand corner uh in the spreadsheet. So we'll be able to compare that at the moment you during this decision and if we don't like it we can we've got I think it's up to two years to you know
to to go through with the the DP approval that that came in for our aggregation plan. It was um and I think but I think the concern amongst ECAC and Colonial is moving forward tea leaves on
the price of electricity one two years um we're a little concerned that uh things don't look like they're going to get a lot cheaper uh over that time period. So we're trying to offer a lower
price offer it but also that stability over time um which other communities that have done aggregation have said this has been like a like a massive benefit to our community to be able to
offer that as electricity goes up and down up and up and down. So, so two other things I just want to mention then I'll shut up. One, just terms the process. So, if we decide next Monday that we're going to go forward that then
kicks in besides the contract part, the community outreach and communications part of it. So, there's a 30-day opt out that everyone people will get mailin letters. Everyone in town, they've already got the list of all of us. So, they'll send out letters. We'll put
stuff on the website. We're going to plan on having a community forum where we and they present. So people are making informed decisions, but everyone's gonna have a 30-day opt out so they can all anyone want to do it and then you can opt out after that at any point any time. So it's it's not that
you're um going to get sucked into something. And then the last thing just what because reps really are not creating the capacity we want. There's a term I've heard um additionality just basically creating more capacity green
energy creation generation market. So what Colono is excited to work with us with them and what they said was if we're aggregating so we're choice aggregation unit and they're a broker
they have a special ability to go out to the solar market and say we are looking for investing cherry CCA in a solar development that's on um the built environment already used
and um you know all the stuff. So no forest, no wetland, no agriculture etc. And in doing that investment what said is that it would all bring us a cheaper price on top of the standard price. So
we could be advancing our environmental goals have specific control as well as further advancing the um the rate you load. So that's we told them we were interested in them researching it. So we haven't heard back but we've heard lots
of enthusiasm was a deep opportunity. So any questions? So I was a little bit confused. So, there were two spreadsheets um that
showed I think they both had the same headings with the town of Shootsberry all requirements retail power supply pricing matrix combined rate comparison. Um, >> and then, you know, showed this, you
know, across the top, the suppliers, but the numbers were slightly different. Um, >> there we go. >> Yeah. Okay. All right. So, >> okay. All right.
>> Well, as best I can. >> Okay. Um so the difference maker there is uh this row on top is DASI which is >> ahead ancillary services initiative.
>> Oh >> okay I get it. It is the pricing element that is specific to our eyes of New England. It's the grid um uh
footprint that Massachusetts part of that ends up in New Hampshire and Vermont and Maine as well. Um and I I honestly cannot Well, I mean, I know what it's called.
Um, exactly how it functions is a little less. Um, so yeah, I apologize for not having a better explanation for how >> I think the real question is though given that there are two different
charts of figures are you sign up what are you signing up for this chart or this chart and how >> well I think when we have that call next they're going to tell us I see okay they'll tell us the price and then the
price will be that the category that we'll be looking at is that the first one or the >> so the first bold thing that meets best
requirement third line which is the term says 35 >> y >> don't know why it's not 36 but yeah >> that's 36 month correct and then the last one which is the 100% Last last one, Rex. >> Right. >> Also the third line.
>> Okay. So it's it's the it's it's the first one and the last one. Yes. >> Okay. But it wasn't the >> we're ignoring everything in the middle. >> Okay. Ignore everything in the middle. Okay. So and so the comparison like if you look at this one is like
two cents difference, one is like one cent different, one and a half cent something like that. >> So like national bread is supposed to get 10 cents. Yeah, his car was 13 and wanted 100% right 16.
>> Yeah. Okay. Um, >> that's okay. That makes sense. >> I was like, "Holy cow. >> Oh my gosh." >> I'm learning. I'm learning technology. >> So, I I'm I'm fine with uh the faith
doing that. I can sign the agreement on the 22nd. >> Uhhuh. >> All right. >> The only thing now question and this doesn't necessarily fight our conversation is can you ask make sure there's a number of residents in shoes where you have fuel systems make sure
that it converts over to that and if it's not they may opt to choose national grid if it has to stay there but just have that on your presentation. I think he mentioned that everyone understand current discounts >> just
yeah it could have people >> right so do I hear a motion Rita >> yes so I um move uh that we >> we accept EAC's recommendation for the
community choice advocation law >> attached Thank you. >> Okay. >> Um and and um do we well we'll do that second. Okay. Go ahead. >> Second. >> Okay. Um all those in favor I >> make piece O'Neal I do we have a motion
to appoint Haley to be our representative in that meeting on Monday. >> Yes. >> So move. >> Okay. All those in favor >> Dr. make peace with me. Okay.
>> You're welcome. >> Thanks for all the brain damage for me. >> I do appreciate the spreadsheets though. >> They are fun. But yes, this stuff is >> after. Okay. So, moving on to our next topic of
group insurance commission letter for new membership opportunity. >> May I suggest that we do Jill's appointment? She's in our audience. >> Yes. Yes. Yes. >> She may the other conversation. >> She might, but we can move her up. Okay. Um so, let's move Jill uh the
appointment of Jill Dancra as part-time police officer forward. Now, um, this came about, um, acting chief Devon Peliter would like to add, but Jill to
our, um, police officer, our police department. >> Devin, would you like to um, give us a overview? >> Absolutely. As most are likely aware, the police department has some positions to fill at the moment. Um tonight we
have officer Jill Brangro who's eager if appointed uh to start working part-time in Shootsbury. Um she'd be helping us with time off coverage as well as some overlapping coverage on a regular basis. Uh J currently works part-time in New
Salem and has quite a bit of law enforcement experience and other local departments. I believe she would be a great addition to our team and community. Um, with that I'll turn it over to you for any questions. >> Okay. Um, to fill that a little bit with
Devon Haley, I and Devon sat down with Jill and interviewed her uh last week um and asked her many questions. Um, I felt that she would be a good addition to the police department. She has a very
great way of observing a situation and meeting the need that meet that the situation requires um in a patient way and so I felt that was a very um wonderful thing. I didn't know if there's anything um personality I
thought Jill you had some great answers and you had a great sense of humor which I think is very important. Um so yeah I think she would make an excellent addition to the horse. you either of you have any questions for Jill or or uh acting chief?
>> No, I I'm all I don't. >> So, Jill, uh I just have um one question. So, you've been working in New Salem for a while or >> Oops. You're on You're muted.
>> It's harder on the phone. >> Oh, you're on the phone. >> Yeah. Don't Don't worry. It's fine. I I trust uh >> she has been Hold on one second. I have I have my notes here. So, she has been um on the New Salem U Police Department
since uh for a couple of years and then um prior the town of Warwick. >> Um so altogether fiveish years um in police work prior to that um town of Lever. So she's got plenty of small town. Yeah, I was just
going to say small town familiarity with working in small towns. Okay, great. All right, so you made the motion. You make the motion. >> I think I did, didn't I? >> You did. >> Well, I will. Yeah. >> All right. Yeah. >> I I move we appoint Jill to the uh the
department. >> Okay. >> And I will second that. >> Okay. Uh all those in favor? Frell. I >> Dr. I >> make peace on O'Neal. I >> Thank you. >> Welcome. Thanks. Thanks for coming. >> Thanks. >> Bye. Thanks, Jill. >> Okay, so we'll check that one off for
later. Now, we'll move to the group insurance. Thank you for catching them on. >> Yes, this So, we did receive a letter from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts group insurance commission. So, they wanted to let municipalities know um
that we have an opportunity to join them if we were to pivot from our current provider, which is Hampshire County Insurance Trust. um and we could do so July 1st, 2026 is the earliest. Um so I just wanted to flag that, you know, we've been talking a lot about health
insurance um and all the different avenues we've been exploring. So this is certainly one that Ryan and I will work on determining if that would be a good fit. You know, is it going to be competitive or not? Um so I just wanted everyone to know that there are some
options out there that hopefully may be cost savings for us in the future. >> Okay, that's great. I saw that um Kathy didn't pass their override. I thought their vote was on the 29th. >> Well, I couldn't tell because they
didn't. >> So, at their town meeting, they didn't pass the override and then they were going to have an election, too. But the town meeting voted the override down. Okay. I mean, I noticed the money for the
>> the signs they like all display signs yesterday on both sides added this little thing saying June 29th or something must be election there's a ballot I think >> but at the town >> I didn't I didn't understand that I could
>> because it was like $3.2 $2 million, but some of that money was for the insurance, was for the health insurance. >> I thought, "Oh my goodness, what if >> because it's all predicated, it is all predicated on everybody coming up with their,
>> you know, if if we weren't able to pay, then that doesn't necessarily help us at all because we would still have to pay our employees benefits. It just means that we most likely wouldn't be able to afford the trust. um and we'd be kind of on the hook our for ourselves which would be
more expensive. So there's not I mean it's you know I don't mean to like influence anyone when I say this but it is sort of a necessary it's reality >> you know it this is not happening just here it's happening across the state it's happening um in many of our fellow towns and
>> and quite literally across the country we're dealing with it right small towns everywhere. Yeah. >> And our employees, we do have an obligation to them to make sure that we offer them some kind of benefits and that's the chief state requires us. >> Yeah. Yes. In addition to being a good
mindset, it is a state requirement. >> Interesting. >> Okay. So, that's good to know. You'll keep us up to date on Yes. what you find out or we can check in again. Um Okay.
You didn't need a vote on that at all, did you? No. >> No. When I got more info on like pricing because you have to signal your intent, I think a little it was just >> like April December.
>> Oh, December. >> Okay. All right. So, we'll look for updates for you. All right. Um, now we review and vote on sending a letter to Franklin Regional
Transit Authority. >> You appoint me. >> Yeah. >> Yay. As the regional transit authority drop, which actually I have served on that committee in the prior draft. >> Okay. >> So, I'm ready and eager to do my job.
>> Okay. Um, do I hear a motion to appoint Haley as the town's FRTA advisory board member? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> Carol. >> I make you on mute line. Do you have something for us to say?
>> Yes, I have. >> It's two pages. So, are we supposed to sign here? >> Cuz no, I don't have any immediate family members that are working. Okay. >> We just did that. >> Yeah, I should have read the note on it.
>> This might have been helpful. Uh just that front page and then I'll sign out. Um next is the appointment of Rich Strangeman Strangeman Strangeman >> to the Council on Aging.
Um okay good so I remember um remember we had the council on aging was looking for members to meet there even there five >> um so Rich would be one of them >> so do I hear a motion to appoint him to
talk with him yeah oh I'm sorry absolutely lovely >> I know >> yeah he's a good basketball coach yeah um I thought he was great as is a former COA director. It's always really nice to have a male perspective. It's usually a
population that we don't see a lot at senior centers >> and he had some really great things to say, very thoughtful things on transportation, especially for older adults. So, >> great. >> Great. >> Yes. >> Okay, I'll make a motion point to the council.
>> All those in favor? >> Barl I. >> Starker I. >> Make peace. Hi. And that leads right into our next appointment on Kathy Salvador to the police chief search committee as the personnel board representative. Um, >> this would round out
>> would round out the whole committee. Yep. >> Okay. Great. I um that we appoint Kathy Salvador to the police chief search committee. >> Second. >> Okay. All those in favor? >> Darl, I >> make peace. And then our last thing is to review and
sign a special event permit for the town common on October 5th for the 3rd annual shoot spray town my birthday party. I actually don't have a lot of info on this. I think this went straight into Brennan's hands, but from what I
understand, the intention is to continue this as an annual event and offer the opportunity for boards, committees, town staff to advertise and meet people. >> Y do I hear a motion? >> So moved.
>> Okay. >> Okay. Uh all those sorry all those in favor I >> make peace on I Okay. Okay. Uh,
>> it just says chair. >> Oh, there you go. >> Jen has a question. >> No, no, you can ask. >> What? I forgot to ask. So, since our charge is teched as >> Yeah.
>> Does that mean that I as the chair can disband our group in any official capacity or is there a procedure? >> We have to vote to do that. formal. >> We have to formally vote to do that and that wasn't on our agenda tonight to do. >> We'll do it at our next meeting. Yeah.
>> And um and then maybe get the next charge >> and we'll have the charge. >> Okay. >> Okay. Good. >> Okay. Okay. >> Thank you. Good question.
>> Yeah. Yeah, I told you to share. Do you remember me? >> And now the town administrator, >> I have two things. I am proposing that you adopt two policies. One is regarding meetings on religious holidays. So we
had talked about that at the last meeting. So this is very just short and sweet and if there's any additional ones of course add those. But I modeled it off of our discussions and off of Helen same policy.
>> And so basically this one is just outlining you know in addition to the federally recognized and state recognized holidays Passover, Good Friday, Rahashana for and Hanukkah. Okay. Okay. So, do I hear a motion to approve the
shoots policy regarding meetings on religious holidays? >> So, move. >> Second. >> All those in favor? Darl, >> I pulled. >> Thank you. The next one is a special event policy. So, I don't believe we
have one. >> Fill out this form. Yeah. >> How would anybody know that this event calls for >> I'll take one here. >> Oh, yeah. >> So, I've drafted you one. Um, it's pretty straightforward. I modeled a lot of it just based on the application form
itself, but it just tells people, you know, what the procedure is. It outlines the fees for service. Um, you know, who needs to approve it. I did want to suggest one other amendment to the language in here which is just to add select board or designate because I
think there might be some cases where I could just sign off on it's like a pretty simple no more than 35 people >> have policy I think you do also have that but I don't form okay
>> I just form for the use of the term >> yeah yeah I saw Actually, I think that's what we just signed. >> No, no, it did say special event. Okay. Special event. >> So, this is an addition to that form. >> Creating the policy for which the form
will >> Right. Right. Right. Right. >> I say it. >> Yeah. Yeah. That'll be all together. Because with the policy we can put it up on the website and direct people there.
Gotcha. >> The form itself that how to apply for and then how to get people to understand this same question. Yes.
Would this apply to this? Wouldn't apply to the library. They would have their own. >> No, this would apply for part of the biggest part of the form is do you need a detail? So a special event like are we
doing a road race where we need to have like there have to be. >> So this wouldn't be like if it's like a the library wants to put on like a children's event here, right? >> That's something different. But like >> this is from somebody from the outside typically and not a
>> not a town sponsored. Okay. >> Yeah. Like for example, um a request came in for the church lunchon to happen like on the park. >> Oh. >> So that's not like >> Oh, the bar the thing on the the 28th,
the hot dog thing. >> Yeah. >> Okay. All right. Um I make a motion that we approve the special events policy. >> Second. >> You don't know what we call policy you just did. I would suggest that we have
an example such as you just gave to make clear policy kind of a difference program requires police. >> Yeah. Maybe some examples of of yeah just kind of you know
>> get incorporated into the policy for example what kind of what kind of event >> large group of people. >> Okay. So just allow us to add that. Okay. >> Well, what about a road race like the like the turkey trot that the libraryies
presented? >> Well, that's a town entity. So that's >> the town would just have the police there, right? >> They arranged for that. >> It does say yes. And also in the application form itself specifically talks about food and
beverage, alcohol possibly and then detail rates for fire, police and fire truck. Um and then it gives information on how that is determined what the calculations are. So
yeah and from the language here it says you know name of sponsoring organization. So I take that to mean an outside rather than an inside. >> Yeah, it could be. >> You know, essentially it's we want to make sure that our police and fire know if something is happen. Yeah. If
something that scale so that there's accountability, right? >> I would only say too that that public the last absolute last line there about the fire truck $25 per truck. That's ridiculously cheap. >> I know. You could always vote to raise
that. I just took it off the per hour >> or something. Yeah. $25 per gas. >> Yeah. Okay. That's okay. That's that's means >> $25 per hour.
>> Okay. I guess just I see that it does refer to hourly rate, I guess. Okay. I just make that clear >> because they could be there for 10 hours at $25. >> Yeah, that makes sense. >> Okay. >> But don't forget they're also paying for the firefighter to sit in the truck. >> Right. Right. So,
>> right truck >> because the truck can't go with any the truck can't just be parked. It has to have someone in it to drive it there. Right. >> Right. >> So, >> signs it says per hour. That's I think that's a good addition.
>> I just was reading it literally. Um, Lenny may need and I know um the acting chief has done this for detail, but Lenny may need to come up with an invoice for that. >> Yes. >> To be able to do that. I know that it goes into general fund for Okay. Not >> he may be able to suggest I don't know
when I don't I don't think there's a date on this form like when it was made, but he may want to look at that say, you know, is that really reflective of the true cost of having a vehicle there because it might not be. >> It might not. Yeah. Well, once you have the policy, you can always change the policy,
>> right? >> All right. >> All right. Um, do I hear a motion to approve the special events policy as amended? >> So move. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I make use of. Thank you.
>> Okay. And now we are going into executive session. >> Question. Okay. Okay. Um, are we all set for town meeting? Is there anything? Um, >> yeah. Okay. The constable got it. It's been posted. Uh, school's all set.
School is all set. >> Sure. >> I got to do Wi-Fi. >> Yeah. I don't want to forget that. >> I ate that other little piece. >> Oh, good. I was gonna say >> I started looking for it. >> No, I was I was looking to see if you had eaten it.
That's a good >> little pieces. Um what um when's our next meeting? The 30th. You have a six o'clock right before the town. >> Right before we do, >> do we? >> I thought we did. Hold on. Maybe not.
>> I don't think >> at the select board on the 16th. Oh, wait. That's day. We moved it. >> Yeah. >> So, the 30th, right? >> So, that's two weeks. We could put one on the schedule because I would cancel it if we just need it. >> Yeah.
>> Do we feel like we want have another one? >> Do we just want to meet and have a check-in for town meeting? Because we don't and we have only the part-time clerk. >> Maybe we should. >> When is the clerk? Is she >> Lisa? Well, should be in on Thursdays, I
think, and maybe Fridays. >> Is she wasn't in she in today? >> No, not yet. >> Okay. She's also trying to follow Janette's schedule. >> Oh, >> so that there's time for her to be working with her and understanding our processes, >> right?
>> But yeah, she was here last Thursday. Um, she is definitely reachable by email through our lab. Yeah. >> Okay. So, you don't expect to see her till Thursday this week. >> Okay.
>> Does she have access to the shoots in town clerk? Okay. >> Yes. Yeah, she checks. >> Okay. Hi, John. >> How you doing? >> Good. How are you? >> Hanging in there. >> We're about to go into an executive session. >> Does that mean leave?
>> She's talking. >> We're glad you came. Did you need something from us? >> Is it any time for the police chief and all that? They said Monday night. >> Next Monday. Next Monday. >> Next Monday. Yeah, >> we appreciate that. >> Okay,
>> you're looking good. >> Well, I'm out. >> Thanks for coming, John. >> First person a week week early for a meeting. Okay. So we are going into executive
session for um reason number three to discuss strategy in respect to collective bargaining or litigation of an open meeting may be a detrimental may have a detrimental effect on bargaining or litigation position of public body
and the chair so declares will not be returning to public session. Um, all those in favor of entering the executive session, >> Carol, I >> make peace. So, Neil, I >> did you do you did the mech? >> I just did. Oh, yep. Yep. So, I'm gonna
I'm gonna stop the recording. >> Yeah. And um mother has to leave