Okay. Can someone on screen just let me know if you can hear us? I can hear you. Thank you. All right. Okay. Um, so I will call
Shbury Select Board meeting to order for today, August 12th. Um, and we will look over the review the agenda. First, we have public comment. Uh, then our general
business will be to review and approve our minutes from two meetings on July 29th and August 4th. uh appoint men to the historical commission um Katherine Powers. Review and accept John
Latererno's letter of resignation as a plumbing and gas inspector. Uh discuss Franklin County Regional Council of Government's plumbing inspection. discussion of Elliot Park watercraft
storage opening law complaint from Tom Seaffort on June um sorry August 6th discussion of the horse rink fence removal at the fire station and uh fire chief contract and then we'll get the
town administrator report from Brennan as Haley is not here tonight um so I have a couple people to admit can One moment. As they're coming in, I will open it up to public comment. Anyone in the room
who has public comment, please raise your hand. Anyone on screen with public comment, please use the raised hand feature. So, if anyone has public comment, please go ahead and do that now.
Okay. Not seeing any. Um, shall we review and approve the minutes for July 29th and August 4th? So, with that, do I hear a motion to approve the minutes from July 29th? I move that we approve July 29th, 2025
minutes. Okay, I second with um very very minor changes. Um, there's one place where uh it says blue cross, blue shield. The first blue is it's not capitalized. I guess it should
be. I mean that's that's as I said minor. It's in section five letter E. Okay. And I think in section five letter A, I think the word it's the word off is used
as opposed to the word of. I think it's just a typo or whatever. Okay. That's the word from the grammarest the child of the English teacher for today. Okay.
So, all those in favor of approving the minutes as amended. Barl I. Docker I. M O'Neal. I um do I hear a motion for uh to approve the minutes of August 4th? So
moved. Second. All right. Um, are there any minor edits or changes or major major edit? Um, clarifications we need to include. I was okay, but I'm fine.
No, those are okay by me. All right. All those in favor of approving the minutes? Carol, I stalker. I Mary Lou, I see your hand. Um, did you have something to chime in about our minutes? Hi Melissa, I came in late. I
was listening to your like closing public comment. I just have a question and it's in reg it's on your agenda. It's in regard to the gentleman John who is resigning. He was supposed to give me some information a while ago about um a
permission for plumbing that we had to get from him and he never you know I never contacted or got in touch properly with him. I just wonder what you know what do we do now that he's resigning?
Where would all his records be or is that something for Grace? Uh uh Haley, I think. Um so, uh let one of Haley or Brennan will get back to you on h on how to proceed forward. Okay.
I'm sorry. Brennan or Haley will get back to you on how to proceed forward with with getting that information. Thank you, Brendon. You pop that. Yes. Yes, I did. Thank you. All right. Um let's see the
next is appointment of Ken Powers to the historical commission. Um so there was a vacancy and she is um here. Hey
fill us in on Catherine joining the historical commission. Yes. Uh may I speak then? Yeah. Yeah. Go ahead. Right. Um yeah, we uh we have uh an
unusual situation on the commission where uh three of our members terms expired June 30th. And um our last meeting I guess July 29th we uh we did not have a quorum you
know and and this is a problem. Uh fortunately we do have a a uh Katherine Katherine Powers has has uh express an interest in the commission. She has uh a
background in uh archival management uh which is something that we're looking for, writing skills, research skills. Um so that's sort of a a priority for us is to fill uh vacancies uh when so many people have
ended their term and gone on elsewhere. Thank you. Um, with the select board, do I hear a motion to appoint Katherine Powers to the historical commission to fill one of the vacant slots? So move.
All right, I'll second. Just a second. Okay. Um, all those in favor? Carol, I stalker. I p O'Neal. I Brennan, can we let um Grace know that they've been appointed?
Yes, I can certainly let her know. Yeah. And Henry, while we have you here, um we um are looking for someone from the historical commission to someone to represent the historical commission on
the um reuse committee for the amen. So I now now two notices have gone gone out but specifically we were looking for somebody from the finance committee the historical commission and
there was a third one oh the building committee so I think we already had the building committee covered um and I spoke with uh the finance committee chair today so now I'm have you so you could see if somebody on the
historical commission would be willing to serve. Basic that the charge for the committee is up on the town website. I think it's right on the cover page, but basically it's it's looking at how um that building might be put to to use.
So we have a group of we're looking for seven seven people three from those committees and then four at large um members and having their perspective from historical commission I think would be really valuable.
Yes. No, absolutely. I I saw that announcement. I read it. Um we did not discuss it at our last meeting. In fact, uh in part because we didn't, you know, we we we had uh we we inst instituted some kind
of special meeting arrangement because we didn't have a quorum. Fortunately, uh a couple of the old members had uh turned up at the meeting in which case we we we able to discuss the the new membership and that was it. Um but I
will I will get back to you. Is there a time frame for this response? Um, I think the sooner the better. Uh, you know, I'm not sure that it needs to be officially sanctioned by the committee itself. I mean, just if somebody from
the is is interested and wants to step up, I think, right, that would suffice. All right. So, and it's a relatively, you know, I think we envision this committee meeting
over the course of maybe four months and then um presenting a report to the select board and hopefully we would have something for um town meeting just is moving forward and building's going to
be vacated uh later this fall. Yeah, sure. I will do. Uh before we uh move on, I I just quickly wanted to um uh ask about two uh members of the
commission whose whose membership has expired as of June 30th. Um and uh they've they've expressed an interested in in continuing on um you know for the next year in the
case of Janice Stone and uh uh on a rolling basis until uh you know the other person Bert Fernandez position is filled. Is that something that that you could entertain at this point or or
should we leave that for another meeting? We need to do it at another meeting, right? We would have that on our agenda. So, um why don't you email the select board and and include the TA and admin
secretary or sorry, admin assistant and um we'll put on the next agenda. Okay. All right. We'll do. Thank you. Okay. Um, moving on to reviewing and accepting John Lerno's letter of
resignation. Um, so just for those who may not know who John Lerno is, he was our building inspector. Um, plumbing I'm sorry, plumbing inspector. um and he had been um for about 25
years, over 25 years um and has now a full-time job, but we wanted to thank him for all of that work for over 25 years. Bren, can we get him a thank you letter so the SL board can sign that for him? Um and so with that, do I hear a
motion to accept John Lerno's um resignation letter from plumbing inspector? So moved. Second. Okay. Um all those in favor? Barl I. Stalker I.
Lisa Neil I. Okay. Thank you. Um and then with that we um need to have a plumbing inspector. So um there's been a reach out to the Franklin Regional Council of Governments affectionately known as VROG um for their services and
I know we have a contact in our um in our section here um and they do our buildings. They do. Yeah, that's why I Yeah, the building um section popped up for me. Um
have you and Rita and Eric, have you had time to read through the um contract that we were given? Okay. Um yeah, I have there any were there any questions or such uh that we needed to talk about
before we vote to approve? I just how the money differed from the this that arrangement to it's a good idea I think um but um how just how just curiously how does the money differ from one the old system to the new system in terms of
what the town has to pay um you know that question Brennan I know you were part of and we may not have the answer specifically tonight Brennan did you um it was per inspection I think for John
Um, and some flat flat for the Franklin County, right? Yeah, I don't have the exact numbers on my end at the moment. Um, that would definitely be something we'd have to look into
a flat fee and there was an initial just to get part of their program. Um, and it looks like for here they're telling us it's no more than $7,56. um for
fiscal year 2026 which includes 4738 for membership to the build for the building inspection program which we're part of and then 2318 for the plumbing and gas program. Does that make sense?
Um so $2318 I see two hands. Uh first Gail and then we'll go to Frank. Go ahead. For the web there's a listing of inspectors and services and they were just recommended that plumbing has been allowed to be in there when it is not.
So we need some kind of an official statement that indeed is being inspected through bird and something that I can put up in terms of how to apply for an inspection on how to how to deal with
that as a process. Okay. Um Brennan, can you help us get the process down? Need to keep putting this on you. um find out what the process is for for people to initiate the inspection. Um
would be a subcontractor if it's if it's a sub and it may just be that the contract information is not important. Yeah. I I think at least at the minimum that Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Yeah, I just want to say that Jim Hawkins um said it's the same price no
matter what. If it was done the old way or the new way, all the pricing is the same. There's no difference in pricing. Okay. Thanks, Frank. And the only other right question I only other question I had is there are certain reinsurance requirements that we
have to have. I think we have them anyway, but um I just was just wondering if we do or whatever. Just we should be aware of them. That's all. Uh hang on one second. It's just it's under the it's listed under the um I don't have it in front of me, but it's listed where you just came
up with those numbers down below. Yeah. Yep. It it does have a statement that Furco and the town shall each have in full force during the term of this agreement insurance as provided below. And it goes through I think the standard insurance which is general liability,
automobile liability and workers compensation and professional liability insurance. Um a combination of a million and 500 give or take what the what the endorsements are. So we would have had that for our we have that anyway, right? That's my
question. I guess we would already have that, right? Okay. Any further questions? Do I hear a motion to execute the contracting for these services? So moved. Second.
Okay. All those in favor? Barl I. Shocker. I make the Neil I. And I'm going to sign it right now. Is it just your signature? And today's the 12th, right? Today's the 12th.
Okay, we have that one. Okay, moving on to the discussion of Elliot Park um and watercraft storage. This was something that was brought to us the
last time um with watercraft being stored down. So yes, I am here when I came out last time up just I think people will be able to hear you better. I'll be able to hear you.
Yes, we have this background thing going on right switch. So I'm Katherine Wilson. Um I'm here from Elliot Park Committee. I brought this complaint to the select board last time that people are leaving their
personal boats and junk on the park, removing the grass, etc., etc. And um we want to put out a sign uh telling people to not do that. And uh we left it I
believe that it was pretty much up to the select board to decide basically the content of that sign. And I don't know if you have a suggestion. Um, something has occurred to me that uh I would like to see, but I don't know if you guys
have an idea. We haven't drafted anything as far as I know. So, I I I have a I have a thought of my own as well. Um, that you know, any property left behind will be confiscated and um
we'll have to come collect it. But I don't know what you were thinking. That's just my personal thing. pretty much along those lines. I was thinking of something like um no personal watercraft storage abandoned
property will be removed. So it would be like when you abandon your car by the side of the road, they take a break. And believe me, I would be happy to remove it myself. I don't have to get the highway department in there.
Okay. Um so abandoned watercraft abandoned property abandoned property will remove anything that people leave around will yes okay so the the one thing that I might add to that one thing is it'll be considered
abandoned and will be removed yes okay sounds anything left will be considered abandoned yes I think that's what anything. Do you and not mention boats at all, do you think? Or do you think we should be
specific about that? Well, that's a good question. Well, what else has been there? Has there been anything beyond boats that has been left behind? Well, it's not all just boats, but it's all it's pretty much all watercraft. I
mean, there's always a certain amount of junk that people forget. Um but tubes and boats as we can this watercraft and we can be gentle enough. Yeah. Okay. Okay. I mean if somebody's down there
and has left their life preserver, they come back the next day. I mean obviously we're not going to be going down. Nobody's been going to be going down every night and certainly not me. Right. But is when Right. But I mean These
boats have been there for weeks. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Okay. It's just Yeah. Somebody comes back and said, "Oh, I just left it here yesterday." And Okay. Yeah. That's a They're not going to get in that BFB and go um battle it.
So, we can we can get the a sign made and the highway department gets signs made and I assume we can do it through them. Yeah, we've had we've had signs made for the park already. I can I can do that. And we have we have money in our budget. Yes. Okay. Yes.
I think we're so we can do that. And um do you want like per order of the select word on there? Sure. Because that'd be great. Her order. Police take notice too. Police take
notice as they say. Okay. Do you want to I mean we've got all the elements of the sign here. Um do do you need to work out like every detail of phrasing or would do you want to leave that up to us? If you come if you come up with the
signage just we'll trust you. let Haley know and just if she wants to tweak it, but we're going to I think if we vote to give you authorization to um to create a sign saying that abandoned watercraft or
that watercraft left will be considered abandoned will be considered abandoned and will be removed per order of the soil board. And if you want to tweak it a little bit, um, I think that's fine. And then we vote canvote that. Okay.
So, it'd be good for Kaylee just to see kind of the final I'll Yeah, that'd be great. So, I'll make a motion that um that we approve um signage for Bill Elliott Park um not
allowing personal watercraft storage down there. Second. Okay. All those in favor? Daryl. I stalker. I I Mary Lou, I see your hand.
Um, yeah. If if I could I've been down there so I know what is being discussed. If if maybe you might want to say something like after 48 hours or or you know like that. give the person um the
opportunity to read the sign and know that they have to get because it was like a big canoe kind of thing that's turned around and just has been sitting there, you know. Um yeah,
part of the reason going down this route, Marylu, is that it is a risk to the town if someone takes it and and gets hurt or worse. So they not giving them um it just can't be down there unattended
and we don't we don't typically know because nobody's checking it all the time. We don't know exactly how long it's been down there. Yeah. We don't know when when to start the 48 hour clock so to speak. Yeah. Yeah. I think we're just going to have to use our best judgment. Um
Okay. Try to get it out of there though. Good. Okay. All right. That's good. That is excellent. Thank you very much. Thank you. Um, so moving on to an open meeting law
complaint. We had one that was filed on October 6th, sorry, August 6th. Um and this open meeting law complaint was related to um uh one of the select board
members uh erroneously applied replied to all um and sent an email replied to all uh for which a couple minutes later um was acknowledged
that um reply all was was hit and um apologized for the error. So um that's the summary of this. Um, so we are writing a letter to respond to
the open meeting moving all the way and the letter states um uh let's see that we are acknowledging that it h that it has has happened and
in summary um again that alleged that a select board member violated of the meeting law by replying all to an email um that include each one of the select board members. Subsequently, um he did acknowledge the
mistake that was occurred and and the error. Uh the select board agrees to um that replying by all to open does violate open meeting law. um a select board also agrees to acknowledge the violation at our meeting which we're
doing now and that we will um not to do that going forward although I will acknowledge that we are all human and reply all is just so easy to hit. So we apologize we will do better going forward. Um,
so do I hear a motion to sign the letter to Tom Seaffort regarding the open meeting law complaint filed? So moved. Okay. Second. Okay. Um, all those in favor? Carol I
Sher I Neil I. This does have all of us signing it. So I'm gonna I'll sign and there's two. So give us one moment. and you're not back for a while. So, um it can just be done with two signatures
unless you feel compelled to No, that's fine. That's fine with me. Okay. Um, now we're on to the uh discussion of the horse ring fence behind the fire station.
Yeah, it's easier to hear. Yes, there's a horse rank behind the fire station. It is falling apart. It looks bad and at some point I think it could be a public safety hazard with somebody sitting on one of the railings
and the railing coming off. Um I just would like to see it gone. Uh let the highway department mow it like they normally do except they don't have to mow in between all the the fence post. It'll be easier for them. Um, so yeah, I'm just asking permission to
get it removed. Do you um would you would you guys do it yourself with Highway? Would you team up with Highway? Would you hire someone? I asked Highway if they'd be willing to help pull it pull it apart. They said they would, and I was thinking about just getting a dumpster and throwing all
the wood in a dumpster and cartoning it away. We may be able to take it down to the lever transfer station. Is it pressuret treated, Tony? Uh, no. But it's got creasso, so it's arguably just just Yeah. Um,
so you might not be able to bring it to the transfer station, right? Yeah. I think just putting it in a dumpster. Several people have came to me and asking about wanting to use it for old boards and it's I don't know. I'd prefer just to put in a dumpster, but I don't know
if you guys would be fine with just somebody just taking it. Yeah. As long as they know what Yeah. What it is. Are there concrete footings there? I don't believe so. I think it's posts and they got the the bottom of the cro
the post you can see like a tarlike substance kind of similar to a telephone pole at the very bottom when it's in contact with the ground. I mean, the posts don't look too too bad. The railings are basically barely holding up there. So, it's kind of like if somebody
really wanted a horse rank. I mean, bro, I mean, I think you could save the posts and just do the railings all the way around, right? But at what point I've not the last time I've seen a horse in there was probably over 10 year over 10 years ago.
And I mean, I haven't, you know, Yeah. I'm not in charge, you know. I'm not in charge of horse ranks. I'm just in charge of a fire station. So, bring my horse down there, buddy. Well, you're more than I You don't need the horse rank there to bring your horse
there, you know. So, um yeah. So, I know I I would just say just make sure whatever removal is done is done in isord legally and accordance with Yeah. Okay.
Uh, I can leave that up to you. Yeah, I'd agree with that. Okay. So, then do I hear a motion because you're asking for our permission? Yes. I hear a motion to give Lenny permission to remove the the the
um dangerous horse ring fence around behind the fire station. So moved. Second. Okay. Um, all those in favor I I. Thank you. So, good. Okay, nice. Perfect. Um, and then you remind us I'll
stay in the hot seat there um for a moment. So, uh, next on our um, agenda is the fire chief contract uh, for which we had successful negotiations and have come to agreement with Lenny to serve as our
fire chief and emergency management director for the next three years. Um and so um we would like to vote on this as we have through an open meeting and to execute it. Okay.
Here if you feel comfortable with letters the same one might fall out. Yeah. Same exact same one um exact same one except there's three copies to be signed in. Okay. And our official book. Okay. So um do we have questions at all? either
select a member before we vote on it. Okay. Uh do I hear a motion to um execute the contract with Leonard Zwankov as fire chief and emergency management director for the next three years?
So moved. Second. Um all those in favor? Frell. I give us a second. and make sure. Yeah. So, yeah, keep a copy in your file.
They seem to have in past years had trouble finding these contracts. So, new sheriff in town. He's he's keeping the contracts. I'm keeping this one though. Yes, that will get yours. Yeah. And
we'll have um uh Eric should sign it when he's back in town. Okay. Okay. Yep. a whole bunch of these until it so you have officially fully executed and you're off. Yep.
But it's been perfect. Thank you so much. Yeah. All right. Thank you. Thanks for coming up. Thank you, L. Yep. All right. Now we're on to Now we're on to the um town administrator report via
Bren. Yes. I'll be filling in for Haley tonight. Um so just give me a few notes. It should be rather brief. I really like it. Um so one of her highlights um she wanted me
to report on was that she just recently um was at the personnel board meeting and she said it was a very productive meeting. Um she said they were looking at the personnel handbook, the new one they're drafting. Um and she said the
meeting really focused on legal updates and just clarifying some definitions. So she said they worked through those and she looks forward to their next meeting. I don't have the exact date coming up, but she said at that meeting they hoped
to again to you know some of the the personnel August August 25th is their next meeting. So that's exciting. um she shared that uh our recycling
disposal rate um is increasing. I guess she talked with me Mandel and Merryill stated that the Springfield Materials Recycling Facility MRF they didn't anticipate market changes
um but there was a drop in the market and as a result we'll need to they'll need to increase their rates is what they stated. So it's going to cost us more money to recycle that. So, her note says the result is a
$17 loss of value per recyclables. Um, $17 loss per that changes every month. The the fee that we have to pay them depends on the market and that changes.
So we were told on the 15th of the month it's too Yeah. So uh Haley may note that the tonnage adjustment be included um with it included the July processing cost is $74.19
a ton. I don't know how that reflects her previous. Um, so that's that. The next thing was the date change for special town meeting. I know previous meeting we decided on
the 23rd. uh shortly after we were informed about um Raj Bashana. Okay. I don't want to mess um so that will be ongoing during the 20th. Is it the 25th or the 25th?
Yeah. Yeah. Um so the new proposed date for special town meeting will be September 30th. Also with the school I believe. Yes. Okay.
So just a week later. So that'll give us an extra week, I guess, to post it. I think that's the 16th. And I saw that he had shared um Yes. Yeah, there's a couple of potential
warrant articles that are and it was so there was a list of some of the warrant articles including something from the planning board, but um uh I didn't see anything that mentioned um to salary adjustments or
hourly rate adjustments. Was that discussed with the personnel board? That was not No, that was not on our agenda. So, we couldn't just that. Okay. So, it'll be on the August. It'll be on the 25th and and I'll I'll gather information so that we get it done that night. Okay.
It'll be it'll be a little quicker than the personal board book um the employee handbook. So, we'll get that out of the way first. So, I'll give them the information. Okay. Yeah. I just it just I've already started thinking about the
warrant draft of it. So definitely want to get those articles. Then you probably do you want to put a place in place and reason on there so we don't
look at it. Okay. For those that um do you know when the finance committee is meeting? Um you have your phone. I mean, when I had a conversation with AJ today, just checking with him about
the increase in the um uh in the health insurance cost. Um he said they were still I I didn't get a date out of them, but they were still deliberating as to where that money how they were going to pay for
that increase. Um, so I was just curious about what their time was. I don't see one. Yeah, I don't see him either. No. Okay.
All right. I was just I was going to mention to Haley to um make sure she she talks to them. Um she talks to AJ. If you just make a note and talk to him about that. Then my third and final town
administrator report item would be the planning board. They have a new proposed bylaw for special town meeting um to do with data centers.
So we do have micro here. You can probably talk a little more about it. I can if you wish to join us. Would you like to give us some background in
um so this is our usual drill that doesn't really make sense but in order to for zoning bylaws any potential amendment has to go to the select board to accept it and then send it to the planning board. So even though we generate most of them we send it to you.
you send it back to us. So, all you have to vote is to send it back to us. There's no like approval of anything. Okay. Um, but the background, just so you should know, is last month Matteo got a request out of the blue for information about zoning
bylaws for solar and data centers. So, last month we talked about data centers because it was new on our radar, right? Um, and I was charged with looking into it and reported back last night we met. Um, so data centers are directly corresponding to all the growth in AI,
which is tremendous. And so there's lots of issues with them there. I mean there's different sizes. There's huge ones and then there's smaller ones. But across the board they use lots of energy. They use lots of water. They operate 247. There's noise issues.
There's light security issues, etc., etc. So, what we ended up voting on yesterday is it's complex and it's new, but we didn't want to get stuck um put it. And so, since you all were doing a special town
meeting, we basically voted to do two things. One is to put in for the create a new use in the use table. Um because the only place that otherwise would go would be light industry, which is not really a good fit. And we want to be able to regulate it as they are. So,
we're adding that and as you'll see in the footnote, we're essentially asking the town to accept a moratorum for a year um in all four districts and then we're defining data centers. But the plan is if this gets approved that will then go from September 30th and for
annual time meeting we'll have a fully developed bylaw. But it's just as an example like when I was looking at I can send you guys the research I did but one of the points is you how do you measure how big a a data center is and you can't
do it by megawws used energy used by acreage. sort of a combination of things and you know there were points made about well no one's really going to come to shoot story but as Steve Russell pointed out you know in the 2000s no one thought
we needed a solar bylaw either um and just to be prepared and you know for full transparency some people um wanted to consider you know it could be if it was designed right it could create revenue so you know who knows if it
would fit or not but we That's the work of the next. Yeah, we got lots of discussion. So, this is really a placeholder to say we don't want anything in here until annual town meeting at least we figure it out. And we're meeting Nathan and I meeting with Donna on Friday just to review
this. Okay. But that was my next question. Um Okay. So, you need a motion to send back to the board. So, moved. Okay. Second.
Um, all those in favor I jock or I please send your lines. Thank you. Got to love government. Okay. Okay. Yeah. All right. Was there anything else on our uh town?
Oh, like you said, it was nice and brief. Yes. Awesome. Great. Good job. Okay. I'm sweating. All right. So, I that concludes our business for tonight. So, do I hear a motion to adjurnn?
So, moved. I just want to say I'm not um our next meeting's the 26th and I'm not available that night. Okay. Eric, are you available that night? Yep. I think we have a meeting tomorrow night. Don't we have a tomorrow night?
Excuse me. Our next meeting is tomorrow. That's right. Select board. Next select board meeting is tomorrow. Regular meeting after this. Oh, I I should be here. No. Be there. No problem. Yeah. All right. Well, we'll miss you, Rita.
Yeah. I just have a lot of family. No, no, that's fine. We I could bring my five grandchildren. That would be fun. You could be awesome. All right. Um well, with that, do I hear
a motion to adjourn our meeting? So moved. Second. All those in favor I do I already Nothing happening.