Yeah, these they're in the town clips mailbox in a little envelope. Okay, thanks. Wow, that is that's so much better. Are we waiting for Rita or is Rita is Rita? Um I did hear that she wouldn't
be. She was feeling better, too. So, we'll give her a minute. Okay. Um, when we get to the presentation, I'm going to hop up onto my computer. Sure. And do it from there. So, I think you
can see her and then I I'll switch I'll slide over there for anything that might be going on here. Because I did it in Canva and sometimes when you download it as a PowerPoint, it doesn't translate. No, that's fine.
Come on. Okay. I'm not worried. Yeah. Well, I'm under two and a half weeks into this. Oh, no. I'm sorry. I know. But I told you. You're good.
Yeah. You're not feeling better at all. Oh, I'm feeling like she was a little slow to warm up today. I know. This kind of went on and on and on. No, I'm feeling much better.
That's good. Yeah. Oh, no. It's going. I need to get a new computer. I have to lose
her. I don't know. No one has that um today just occurred to me. We'll bring it up when we do the All right. Let me just see if this real
quick because I didn't do it when I should for Haley. Um, all right. Shall we start our meeting and call ourselves to order um
for September 5th, 2025? Wow. Okay. Um the review of the agenda, we have our public comment and under general business, we have um review and accept
uh Nathaniel Massiey's letter of resignation. Uh review and accept Grace Banish's letter of resignation. Discussion of town clerk position. Review and vote on town meeting warrant articles. um the appointments for the police chief
search committee. Um and after we discuss that, we have town administrator report. And is there anything that's popped up, Haley, in the last 48 hours that we need to discuss that that isn't
under your administrative report? No. Or not that I can think of right now. Does that order work for the two of you? Yeah. All right. So, let's go to um public comment. If you have public comment and you're in the room, please
raise your hand. If you're online, please do raise your hand picture. Um, okay. Uh, Marian, go ahead. I'm sorry. Were you calling on me? Yes. I'm sorry. Yes, Mary. I didn't face the Marian.
Morning. Um, I'll make my comments brief. I'm speaking uh on behalf of the 43 residents who recently signed a letter to you asking that you deliberate upon and adopt a resolution in support of democracy, the US Constitution, and the rule of law. While only 43 signed
the letter, we're confident that a majority of residents in Shootsbury would support such a resolution. It's no overstatement to say we are all in a state of emergency in this country. Cascading harms from federal actions are affecting every single one of us. It's
time for town governments to signal loudly to the community and our elected state and federal representatives that we do not support authoritarianism. And we expect courageous actions from our congressional delegation who are already showing great courage, but also from our
governor AG and our state house elected representatives. The mass state house remains a bottleneck that is preventing important legislation from moving forward that would help us. There's far more that needs to be done to save our democracy and our way of life. This resolution was submitted in honor of
upcoming Constitution Day on September 17th, a day in history when our Shootsbury forebears culminated their fight for democracy by supporting the establishment of the Constitution, the core defining document that protects our democracy and our values. Towns across
Massachusetts are already adopting similar resolutions, including Ammeris, Boston, and others. There are efforts away underway in Leverett, Wendell, and New Salem. We would welcome a healthy debate among town residents before the adoption of such a resolution and we
hope the select board will facilitate that discussion and then adopt it. We considered but were unable to submit signatures in time for the citizens petition for the upcoming special town meeting which would have allowed it to go on the warrant. We could collect 200
signatures for an additional special town meeting later this fall but believe time is of the essence. So we asked the select board to facilitate the public debate in a different manner perhaps with a listening session or a special zoom call and then vote to adopt the
resolution. We hope you will act quickly on this request. Thank you and please keep us informed. Thank you Mary. Is there any other um public? All right. Uh moving on to general
business. We have received a resignation letter from our part-time patrol officer Nate Massie and so we have to officially um accept review and accept. So
do I hear a motion to accept Nate Massiey's letter of resignation? So moved. Second. Okay. Um all those in favor I. Starker I. Mate P O'Neal I. And uh we'd like just to thank Nate for his time service to
pro for protecting Shootsbury and working with our police department. Can you have Brennan? So we can sign the letter now. Like that. Perfect. Perfect. Um
so while that's being signed um do I hear motion we also received resignation letter from our town clerk Grace Banish and so um may did I have a motion to uh accept Grace Banish's letter of
resignation for the move. Okay. Second. All right. All those in favor? Frell. I stopper I. And um also if you'd like to thank Grace for all of her years of service and dedication to the town. And um by chance
did Brennan prep the letter for That's awesome on his aame. All right. Thanks, Brennon. Brennan, thank you for prepping these ahead of time. We appreciate it. Okay. And next on our list is a nice segway into the discussion of the
account clerk position. I'm going to pop upstairs view a presentation but I printed out the slides. Perfect. Do you want a copy? Just give me a couple minutes. Do you want to slide over into Haley's chair? So if anything goes wrong with technology.
Oh, you have it. I will be here. For those on screen, um Haley's just gone upstairs to be able to do her um presentation with a computer that has the program she needs.
We don't usually see each other this early in the morning. No. So, good morning. Good morning. Morning. I kind of like that where I sit earlier. I did. Oh, here she is. I'm gonna rename the one down still
here. So, okay, you're all set, Haley. I'm going to rename the one down here just to select meeting room. So, sounds good. And let me just share my Sure.
Okay, we're in business. Actually, yes. Not quite. Here we go. Okay. So, I did some research on town clerks and what I
found is that we we're in a position where we can modernize which I think would be of benefit to the town. So, where we're at is we have an issue. Um there are statutory and administrative demands on the position of town clerk which have grown
exponentially over the last decade. um it requires a lot more technical knowledge and skill. So the traditional elected model doesn't really meet those demands because it doesn't have the same requirements as if it the position were appointed.
Um so our solution would be to transition to an appointed model. Um that gives a little bit more stability to the role. Um it makes easier for succession planning. So for long-term um effects which is critical function
um so some of the key responsibilities of the town clerk as chief election officer that's the full responsibility for all elections in town including systems like voting by mail um and there are a lot of deadlines that have to be
met or say you know if we missed a deadline for this special town meeting that would throw everything offkilter and then we'd have to cancel the meeting, do it all over again. Um, you're also the gonna admit Leslie real quick.
Um, you are also the official record keeper. So, all the vital records, the marriage certificates, the death certificates, um, all the bylaws in town, all the town meeting minutes, the posting of the recordings online, and
you are a liaison to state agencies. So again that's um you know an election function you know and please stop me if you have questions. So the position has become so highly specialized um you know the the legal
knowledge, the technical skills um requires so much more proficiency especially with the digital platforms that um pertain to elections that you really need a a deep understanding of the role. So elected versus appointed, what does
that really mean? So, the pros of an elected model would be, you know, you're directly accountable to the voters and you're kind of buffered from any potential um, you know, influence from select board or your town manager, town administrator.
But when you have an election, it can sometimes be a popularity contest or you run into a situation where the only requirement is that you're registered resident of the town. So you may not necessarily have the skills, have the technical abilities to fulfill the role.
Yeah. Um but with an appointed model, you have a merit-based selection process. So you can set a job description, you can set qualifications that you're looking for, and you can integrate the town clerk more easily into the the overall government structure, making the office more
efficient, more collaborative. Um, it also allows for enhanced personnel practices, you know, performance evaluations, professional support, that structured secession planning that I was talking about earlier. Um, you know, and
again, there there is a potential for some political influence and, you know, the the voters in town may feel less connected to the role. So, that is something to consider. But overall, I think that there is there's a precedent for changing to an appointed town clerk and there's a
process to get there. So the precedent um it's an ongoing trend. We are up to 117 municipalities in Massachusetts pivoting to an appointed model and you can see that's up from 78 10 years ago.
And the Massachusetts state laws um provide a really clear pathway for doing that. The first step in that is a warrant article being passed by a majority of voters and then you would have a ballot question at the next annual town meeting. So there's a really
smooth process for doing so. It's not particularly complicated. So in conclusion, the elected model is not sustainable for Shootsbury because of the technical demands and because an elected model only really requires that you live in
town. Um the demands have outgrown the framework that we have now. So my professional recommendation is that we initiate the process under Mass General laws and begin to pivot towards an appointed town clerk position. So again,
that we can have that enhanced accountability for elections, records, we can have that personnel oversight, we can make it um, you know, a position that can really grow and be solidified within the town government.
So I will stay up here if folks have any questions and then I'll run down. I'll stop sharing. Thank you, Haley, for that wonderful presentation. Does anyone have questions on the select? No, just another key point I think and I
maybe maybe I kind of missed it and all these which in this presentation which were was fantastic but uh it allows a much bigger pool of people to offer. Yeah. Now that's really that's not unrelated to Haley's point about the technology and so forth.
So somebody who wasn't from town, right? Exactly. I mean, exactly. Or if they were like, could either way, right? But still, you do get a larger Well, the electric thing. It's just that it just doesn't work, frankly. And at one point it did and probably
functioned for us for 40 years that way. Oh, yeah. I know. But with the technology changes, right? So, is this the only I was just thinking about um the other positions. Is this the only kind of
town hall position right now that it is an elected position? I mean the treasurer accountant that's appointed town administrator fire chief police chief um highway super you know as
that's the only person tax collector treasurer everybody is appointed except for the town clerk so in some ways it's just it's a logical extension of what's already done and I assume if you ask the tax collector or the
treasurer about political intervention in their jobs by the select board that there's no you know you would get you find out that that's not the way the select word either this word or previous select boards has have operated. So that
argument to me seems um you know es especially when statute dictates um things are done a certain yeah how things are done right. So that um so much of what might be politicized
is you know you do by state law you know you have to follow the law and we all have to take our ethics training online that do every couple of years. So, you know, the other reason why I think this is a good idea, you know, in this situation.
So, we had an elected official resign um well before, you know, to replace somebody now to either we would have to do a special election and now we're going to have to do an inter person.
Be a whole lot easier if we could just go into hiring somebody and make the transition. and make the transition, which sounds like um although we have a mass general law sometimes is cumbersome, it looks like that they've made it easy for this thing to happen
to happen which um is a good thing. So So right now the our we have an interim person, correct? Um yes. And is she who's the current town clerk in
lever? Yes. And is is she available until we can until this process goes through? I mean, is she willing to to work now?
I will clarify with her there. The only question we had is whether or not we were pivoting to appointed versus elected. So that would have changed the timeline of when she, you know, could theoretically stay. Um, but I can certainly work with her on that. Okay.
Um, and we still do have our assistant town clerk, right, with Okay. Um, I mean, I'm not sure, of course, this is shoot, you never know, but I'm not sure there'll be push back or on this whole idea. I think it's people would think
it's pretty logical and town meeting does get to vote, right? Right. So, So we put we put this on the warrant. So there's two opportunities, right? And the discussion, you know, kind of the points
that you um put forth um will be made at town meeting and then again um at this town meeting and annual town meeting. And I can certainly print this out and make copies for folks at the town
meeting so they can kind of understand the differences. Yeah. I I would also point out I um when I was just doing a a search about um towns switching over from um an elected
to an appointed position. Um, I had to chuckle because the town of Graten, where Grace is now working, made this change three, four years ago, I think, in in uh 2021, that they had an elected town clerk, and they chose for
the very reasons, Haley, that you discussed um about the, you know, the complexity of the job um that that they moved to an appointed position rather than an elected
position. Interesting. Yeah. Yeah. So, this will be on the special town on special town meeting board. Yeah. Okay. And that'll inform if we move forward based on that, right? Yeah. Yep.
Well, thank you. I'll come back downstairs. Oh, it's a Yeah, it's a What's that? Abraham Lincoln. Cool. Oh, that's what it is. Yeah, it says whatever. Whatever you are, be a good one.
Yeah. Oh, it does say one second. Now reviewing now we'll move on to that was a nice segue into reviewing the special word articles. over here.
This was in our drive, right? Yes, I have I have looked at it, but I couldn't remember. I couldn't Okay. All right. Um, so we have to go through and vote on each one or I believe we do
each one. I can't remember. Yeah. Yeah. All right. Okay. Um, Fincom did this last night in their meeting, I believe. And we're all set there. So, um, let's go through them. Uh, are you Oh, put them up. Oh, I didn't share.
Put them up. Oh, wait. Hang on. Let me log into the meeting. I didn't go that far. Okay. Give me two seconds. Coming in less. Uh, coming in. I did go to last night's not to speak, but just to listen.
Just to cough. No, just a cough. At one point I was talking to Michael about ice cream and I turned my mic. So they all got to hear me saying, "Okay, there's ice cream."
It was nice though. Are you excited? That's all I said. It'll be nice on the recording. I'm gonna shut my I have to shut these off so that I don't have to interfere with the right. So that has to be off. My speaker is off. My video will have to be
on. And okay, it's recorded. I got it. All right. So share. Hang on. Share. Make myself a I can't see from that side. Hold on. Okay.
All right. Now I can share. Sure. Can I just have confir Never mind. I have confirmation. All right. Um All right. So, shall we go through these
um individually? I'm going to turn my camera off. We don't need to see me more than once. Okay. Um so the first one is highway superintendent salary increase. Um I can give some background to this if we
want background at all or do you want just a real brief? So um when the budget was put together there was a salary increase and Dave's salary increase starts in September or October. The date is escaping me, but
the adjustment wasn't put into the line item on the budget. So, this is to make the line item match the contract um contracted second year of his contract amount. Okay. Yeah. Um his contract wasn't made to end at the
fiscal year end. It was made in in September. Uh was hired highway. Okay. Um so that was oversight. So, we're correcting that with this one. So, okay. Um, all those do I have a motion to
accept our one for the warrant? So, move second. Okay. Um I just one thing um I just might point out when the finance committee was talking about the articles there was going to be I I don't know if it was Susie or if it
was AJ was just going to be doing a um a brief explanation. So we should just make sure that we see whatever those are so that accurate um in advance of town meeting. Okay. So, and it was going to be put up
in advance of the finance committee was meeting I think on the 20th is it September 23rd of September and they were going to advertise um they weren't going to do a special session to go over the Warren articles,
but they said they would dedicate a portion of their meeting on the 23rd just to answer any questions. So, that was just an FYI. Perfect. Um so all those in favor I don't think we went around to article one
start uh number two is the tax collector salary increase um this one was a um a situ so before we discuss we have different motion I'm sorry um do I hear
a motion to approve uh art two for the town warrant special meeting so moved all right um This one was a uh oversight on uh the market adjustment um that five
other positions got at town meeting in the in the budget. Um the tax collectors was missed in that. So this is to correct for that. You know, for anyone who was an FF income, the the salary
alignment study inadvertently used the wrong total salary. So it looked like her position was inflated when it actually was lower than they had thought. So um and that inflation caused it to be skipped over for them like a like a greater content trick.
Yeah. All those in favor for approving article two for the special town meeting warrant. Carol I make peace I um the next one. Shoot. Hold on. Got myself into a little bit of a There we go. I just need to click on
something. Um, article one to three is emergency management director stipened. Um, do I hear a motion to add article three to the special town meeting? So moved. Second. Um, do you want to fill us in on how this one came back up? Um, so that came
about during contract negotiating sessions with the fire sheet. Um, what I like about this is that it gives us some flexibility in terms of if for whatever reason he maybe felt like he had to do deputy instead of director, you can flip
it um because it's his own individual line item. And it's also, you know, if we're talking about salary alignments, it does fit in with the practices of other municipalities in Franklin County where they do a stipend on title salary and they have it separate, right?
Yes. Yeah. Okay. Any questions? No. All those in favor? Farrell I. Starker I. May peace O'Neal I. Uh, article. Oh, can I interrupt? So, I think that there is one more salary we may need to look at,
but I have not spoken with the land use clerk directly, but I have reason to believe that he may have also been missed in the salary alignment. Yeah. I mean, he had raised that with us. Does anybody else recall that? I
vaguely do. Yeah, I don't remember. I just looked for it and um you know I don't it might be too late for town meeting. It might be something we have to deal with with the finance committee and personnel board
because it didn't go through the process. But I just wanted to make sure we didn't ignore that. Yeah. Yeah. Um so LG was Yeah. if you could I know the the personnel committee's meeting what next week or the week after?
Um we had him cancel our meeting last night. Um so the 18th. The 18th. Okay. Is it? So yeah, if you could if you could meet with him. Yes. And then um uh I can't if anybody can find that
email and forward it. Yeah. I can't I just couldn't I couldn't find it in my inbox. Okay. All right. I think I separated it. This is an email from hotel. Yeah. Yep.
I would if I wasn't sharing I'd pop in and take a look at Yeah. Um Okay. Yeah. I'll take a look at it. Right. Um so that can be handled through those other two the other method then. Um Okay. Perfect. Uh so article four. Do I
hear a motion to add um our poor health insurance to the special town meeting warrant? Uh so moved. Okay. Second. Second. Okay. Um do you want to give us a quick synopsis? Um yes. So this was really the catalyst for
the special town meeting. um the FINCOM in conjunction with the treasurer um have settled on a sum of $124,000. And I just want to emphasize that this is not an exact figure. There's no way
to really know what the exact dollar amount will be because there are so many variables with health insurance plans. you know, say that, you know, one teacher goes on leave, they hire another teacher, that person's got maybe three dependents, they're all on the plan. So,
there's a lot of variables, but when Hampshire County Trust initially pitched the 19% increase, we had allocated $99,000. And so, with the 20% increase, uh, you know, everybody on the the the finance team feels like that's a a pretty safe
ballpark. And I know that Ryan estimates conservatively. So I have good faith in that being the number to get us where we're going to be. So it's a good it's a good um good solid guess. Not guess but good solid recommendation.
Guess which is you know unfortunately that's really where you are with this. You know you're not really at any point. Oh, this is the exact number to the cent, right? And you know, we're we're not alone and there there are a lot of municipalities
who are facing this. South Hadley is going to an override vote. Um, so and the other the other thing is I, you know, just to emphasize from the employee perspective, you know, we need to be able to offer benefits. You know, you know, we understand that this is a
big ask for taxpayers, but, you know, we want to keep our employees insured. Um, and Hampshire County Trust has also pivoted away from uh, what's the acronym? TLP. GLPs. Um, so that should help bring the costs.
Yeah. So, that was a big a big cost was the that that they did not anticipate was the GLP drugs that they were using, you know, for for diabetes but for weight loss. Yes. For weight loss. And it was they're really super expensive.
Yeah. So they will continue for diabetes but for weight loss they will not be covering that any longer and that was millions of dollars in and visits too that it wasn't just drugs that popped up. It was because now there's more visits with their doctor so that the insurance went up. I do know and I have
heard recently that there is something out in the market world to handle it too. So other insurance in general will figure out a way to handle and the individual individuals and and families insured their premiums are going up. Yes.
So in case you hear that so retire for retirees and anybody who's covered under our municipal insurance their premiums are increasing. So it's a shared Yeah. Um and just one last thing is that Ryan is still looking at other options,
you know, ways that we, you know, other providers. Um so we're taking it very seriously. Yeah. Good. So if the if the um those drugs are eliminated for weight loss, will our rates go down next year?
It's hard to say, but I I would imagine yes to some degree. I think the the issue that the trust ran into is that they had I don't have the exact figure, but let's just say they had like 5 million in reserves. They went through that because of all those types of claims, right?
So, there should be some savings from that. It may take a less next year. It might take a two-year recovery just to to adjust to those plus other costs go up toate, right? It might negate some of it.
Something else, right? That was a driving factor. It was one of them. Wasn't the only one, but it was one of them. Pretty detailed spreadsheets. I mean, I I I didn't go through them in detail, but I did take a look at them. So, they they
detailed where all of the um sort of where they missed the mark. Yeah. Yeah. And and where all those increases were. So, at least they they did put in the effort to understand the problem and not just say, "Hey." Oh, yeah. So I appreciate that.
Um, okay. So, uh, all those in favor of article 4 for special town meeting, Carol I, Stark, I pal. I slide into the next one. Okay. Article five is for prior bills. So, do I hear a motion to add article five for
prior bills to the uh, special town meeting? Um, a motion. I'm sorry. I No, it's a motion. Oh. Oh, motion. So, move. Sorry. So, we're not used to doing this in the morning.
We're doing exactly, right? Um Haley, do you want to give us a little synopsis of Becky had reached out um first to Gabe and then to me, she had some prior to the town getting its own credit card. She had used her personal card to pay
for Zoom, Google, G data, and Mailchimp subscriptions. Um and so she would like to be reimbursed for that. makes sense to me. Uh but because these payments happened from 2024 around that time
period, um thought it best to go this course of action because it's a prior year. Okay. Any other questions related? No. Okay. All those in favor? Carol I start peace. I uh do joy motion for
article six snow and ice to be added to our special town meeting. So move. All right. Um, you have more information on this one. So sometime in the spring, the school
boiler needed repairs to the tune of $5,695. So the final voted to transfer the funds from their reserves to the school boiler or to the school accounts. However, that message did not get to our town accountant. And so at the end of the
year, because you can legally carry a deficit in your snow and ice line, she had moved that expense there. So this is just kind of zeroing everything out. Okay. Any further questions? All those in favor of adding article six
to the town meeting warrant. Barl, I definitely say somebody make a motion. Um and we did um we did confirm that we need the twothirds vote on any stabilization.
We're gonna check with Donna ask. Do you do you recall any stabilization capital or stabilization? Yes, I think and free cash is just majority. That's good. That is definitely I think it but they're both
I did look it up last night after the meeting and it did say twothirds but yeah. All right. I'm pretty sure it is. Okay, we will have Donna just double check. Uh, article seven, the elementary uh, transportation. Do I hear a motion
for article 7 to be added to the special town meeting warrant? So moved. Second. Okay. So, this one pertains to when this elementary school set its budget for FY25, they have anticipated, you know, they
they didn't plan for 6,800 um and overages that was due to or believe gas costs. Um so, this is filling that deficit for the school. Okay.
All those in favor of article seven barrel I ster I uh article eight ammeris regional public school middle school roof project. Yes. Do I hear a motion to add article 8 to
the special time meeting? So moved. Second. Yeah. Okay. So this one is a little interesting. So this is basically asking or giving the go-ahad the the encouragement for the school to
pursue a grant through the municipal school building authority. So this is not a set expense right now. They want to go after the grant to pay for 61.95% of the roof costs and then the four
pounds in the district would pay for the remainder. And there is a calculation for that. Um, it's based on the regional agreement for capital expenses. So, it's not committing the town to this expense at this point, but it is encouraging the school to go after the grant, which
would lessen the cost for the town. Okay, that sounds reasonable. Um, do I hear a motion to add art to the tummy or do it perfect? Um, can I just I I just want to make
sure on the wording. So, it says to see if the town will vote to appropriate borrow, but we're not um we're not committing an amount. Well, we're we're only committed to what
our portion of the bill would be. So, the town share will be calculated, right? So, we're just saying at some point in the future, we will pay our portion of the 9,834,344. The school roof is in disrepair. There's
leaks and falling tiles. So, Right. Right. And and I guess what they were saying last night was that it might be somewhere in the neighborhood, but George was just doing some fast calculations of like 200 our portion might be like $270,000
over um borrowing period of 20 years. Okay. Yeah. But it's it's not insignificant because there's so much other debt possibly coming from the regional schools. But um
Okay. Um and that's the language they gave us, right? Yes, they gave us language. Okay. Um so has a motion been made? Motion. Yep. So all in favor? Barl I. Starker I. make the zone.
Um for number nine, do I hear a motion for number nine appointed templated to do the special town meeting? So moved. Okay. Second. All right. Um we kind of went over this a little bit with presentation whether two this one.
Uh it's I think it's because it's that was by statute. That's in the Oh, it is. Yeah. Correct. Um, all those in favor of adding this to Carol. I start. Uh, article 10, moratorum and
prohibition on data centers. I believe this is a bylaw change. Um, do I hear a motion to add article 10 to the town meeting warrant? So moved. Okay. Second. All right. Um
we had a summary of this given to us by Michael Dara and it was to put a moratorium on installation of data centers for now. Um and then by watching I wasn't there but he's they're talking about doing something else at annual
town meeting then more detail. Yeah, this is this is I think if I remember correctly without my notes this was just to kind of get it in um and then then they can okay do a much more in-depth uh bylaw. Um, so
do I hear uh all in adding article number 10 to the town meeting warrant? Barl I start piece O'Neal I let me just scroll past um article seven uh sorry 11 is um
changing the council on aging membership. Um, do I hear a um motion to add article 11 for council and aging membership to the special town meeting? So moved. Sure. All right. Um, this I believe they're going from
7 to 5. Yeah, they have been having a forum issue. So yeah, this will allow them to to do that much more easily. So do I uh all those in favor? Barl, I make peace. All right.
Uh, number 12 is speed limit. Do I hear a motion to add number 12, speed limit to special town meeting? So, this one I is um I hadn't seen some background and I think can give a little background. Can I have a motion first and then Oh, sure. So, moved.
Second. You want to go ahead? So, we all know that speeding is an issue in town. So, if we drop the speed limit townwide to 25 unless posted, that allows us to lower the speed for dirt
roads. So, my understanding from Devon is that you can't legally post a speed limit on a dirt road, but you can set a town wide speed limit that would impact the dirt road. So, this will help kind of curve the speeding that that's there. Oh, okay. And it's only on roads that are not
currently posted at a different speed. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Um, okay. All right. All those in favor I Dr. I make peace of Neil I. Uh, do I hear a
motion to add article 13 date of annual town meeting bylaw amendment to the special town meeting warrant? Uh, so move. Uh, second. Um,
so, uh, we had a request from, uh, just to bring those up who may not, um, have been in the conversation back and forth. Um, our town moderator has proposed an idea of splitting town meeting into two
sessions rather than one session. given this year's town meeting was our longest by far at least in um in calculation and data um with 46 articles 43 articles yeah 46 articles um
and was proposing to split them. So this is the opportunity to talk about it at town meeting and on the floor. Um any does someone want to give more summary than that? Maybe more. So unfortunately Netty works on Fridays
and we have a very tight deadline. So we have to get this to Donna today, get it to the constable on Tuesday and then post it on the 16th. So fortunately she's not here um to speak more about it. I do think it's a smart idea to move the spring session. I totally agree with
her. It's been um well documented that we don't do it in April for a myriad of factors. It's too soon. Yeah. Well, being may make sense. I wish she was here to talk about the fall session because um one factor to consider is that if we
hold it on the third Saturday in November, we are not able to discuss any financial articles. So, say we have um you know an emergency repair or we have a health insurance increase, it's too
late to take action on that. Um our town accountant and our collector have recommended that we aim for late September, midocctober, and not much later. Um because once the tax rate gets set in November, that's it. You're done.
So, is there any reason not to take that advice? I've just seen all these emails going back and forth with the people. I mean, you can take it, but like I said, you you couldn't talk about that. We'd have to dip into some other pot of money. Um,
you know, if if we feel like we can get everything on everything financial on the warrant in May, sure. You know, there's not an issue, but you never know what might come up. Um, well, half the stuff today, for example, is financial stuff.
Yeah. It's unusual. I mean, we don't always have a small town meeting. We haven't in the past. I mean, I think it's it's a good idea. I I said to Haley yesterday that I think
the third Saturday in November is just late regardless. Well, and get it gets close to get to Thanksgiving. Yeah. Right. That's true. Could be Thanksgiving the week before Thanksgiving, right? Um depending on how the calendar goes.
Yeah, but I guess I'm not as worried about the financial stuff because it's um you could always do another special town meeting. Yes, that's right. This doesn't preclude that.
That's it's not certainly taking that away. And there there is things we have to do in the spring and we have to set the budget. There's things we have to do before the end of the prior year. And this this is about doing primarily non- financing. space. So, I'm trying to get zone.
Why didn't have it set up so you could do both though? If you had to do financial stuff could Yeah. Yeah. You could if you Why sort of limit yourself to like the way this is written, you can't. And she made a really good point that, you know, if you have it scheduled, people can plan on it. You know, we can
make sure that we do it around holidays. Um, you know, you could she she is right, you know, everyone's right. We could do a special town meeting. There is an added cost and time factor, too. you know, that's going to take a lot of staff time to prepare and, you know, got all the materials. But if you know you
have a fall meeting, it can also serve efforts, right? Because it's established. So, you know, you already have one coming if it's appropriately established, right? It's not an emergency. Well, it's nothing to discuss. You can call it off today. Wait, exactly. You don't have to
question if I'm Oh, I'm um Thank you. Yeah. Um, does the third Saturday in November have to be specified stipulated in this? It has to. Yeah, you have to put in a date. And the second the second Saturday would
fall on Veterans Weekend. Oh yes. So what what's the date that people are saying it's early enough so it could be stuff? They were saying in October. Yeah, it was October. reason not to make it
October yet. I don't understand the logic not making it that I don't know the full holiday calendar associated with that. And I think it would be good to have Netty involved in this conversation.
Um, could we I mean if we put it if we put it on as written um this could be amended on town meeting floor. Right. Right.
So we could we could meet with her. That's true. We could meet with Netti before that last date and see whether or not um That's a good idea. That's a great point. Okay.
When are when are we meeting next? Uh the 19th. Yes. That's a general question. I I'm so confused about I know because our dates have been I know. I know. Yes. But so we're meeting on the 15th, right? Yeah. One day at 4.
Well, while we're diverting to that issue, when are we meeting? 9:15. 9:15. Yeah. And then it'll be the 30th. We have our special time in 9:30. Okay. So, let's let's go with this and then let's make sure we're settled.
We can walk through the calendar several years out and see what the holiday schedule is and see what nothing falls in October. Right. Thanks. Yeah. So, we should invite probably invite Mandy to it. We should probably discuss this the next town meeting. Yeah. Yes.
I like the idea of having a date certain like whatever it is. Yeah. Because it is our bylaw. I mean, we're changing our bylaw and, you know, we're splitting town meeting, right? Right. So, um, and a lot of communities do that. Yeah. Yeah. I make a lot of sense. Yeah.
Yeah. We were there until it was what, quarter 5 that day? Yeah. Yeah. Um, okay. So, has a motion been made? The motion was made. So, all those in favor of adding article 13 I
make pizza. I good point about the invent. I think that's that's it. That's it. We've made it to the end. So, thank you. Yeah. Thank Brennan. Thank everyone else. Thanks, Brennan.
Stop sharing. I'll leave I'll leave it up in case I have to share it. Well, look, Bren. All right. So, moving on to our next um piece of business is appointments for the chief a police chief search committee.
Thank you. And then there for you. Thank you. And you boys and you. Thank you. I have too much technology going on. All right.
So, I can read. So, um, the process looked like drafted a charge in back, I don't know, August sometime, um, to make up a panel of folks that were TA, a select board member, a personnel
board member, um, someone from the COA, someone from the school, and community members. Oh, and someone with law enforcement experience. So we will have to slightly change that charge as no one from the school volunteered which means that we can if I am non-
voting which I prefer to be non- voting um we can do three members so I am thrilled by that um and so I can I'll just read the executive summary um but the the full print out has quotes from people's interviews so we had everyone fill out
an application and then Brendan and I did interviews just ask why do you want want to serve the town. What do you think a candidate on a board should have? How do you handle conflict? Um, things like that. So, can I stop you right there for one second because
that's the first time we've used that process. How did you think it worked? I know from from what we received and and from you was great. It was great. How did it work for you? Good fun. I loved interviewing interviewing um with folks and just getting to know them. you know, we had
11 people apply to be on this committee, which was very robust. Yeah. Um, people brought a whole range of experiences and, you know, backgrounds and professions. Um, and yeah, it was it was really great. I liked it. It was a lot of time, but I think it was worth it,
you know, and now we can look at everyone who applied and say, "Oh, this person's interested in this, so maybe next time we can invite them for this type of commit." Okay, great. I appreciate. Sorry to know. Sorry, I should have said that. Um, so the executive summary is um, you know, this
paper evaluates the the motivations, the experience and the strengths of candidates um, for the police chief search committee. Uh, there was a central theme among the candidates um to find a police chief who deeply understands and is a good fit for the town's rural community. Um several
applicants had highlighted past hiring dissatisfaction um and the need for a leader who can rebuild trust and perform community policing with a focus on mental health. Um the candidates who applied have a wide range of professional and community experience um
from extensive town search committee or town service sorry um to direct public safety and law enforcement backgrounds. Um some of the notable candidates um with that type of background, John Hersy who was a former police chief, Walter Tibbitz, um Michael Dier
and um but all the candidates brought valuable um skills to the table. Um they emphasized things like being impartial, being respectful, being diligent, and effectively communicating with others. Um they've had a commitment to preparing
for meetings, gathering facts, um engaging constructively with differing opinions and several of them highlighted the importance of having a diverse community perspective. So out of the 11 or so who applied, I am recommending
that you appoint um John Hersy, Andrew Reagan, and Kelly Cersei. And the reason for that is like I said, Mr. Hersy has prior police chief experience. Andrew Reagan is a volunteer on the Shootsberry Fire Department. Um, and Kelly is a law
student in town. And the other thing that I really loved about the three of them was that, and this is not, um, you know, a ding for the other candidates, but they've never been on a board before. So, these are people who are totally new to serving on boards and committees. They're going to bring fresh perspectives, and hopefully we can hook
them, get them on other committees in the future. Um, I think you would be totally fine with any of the people who applied, but I liked that they had the direct law enforcement or adjacent experience and they also were new. So,
can I just ask one question because I just saw emails go by. There was a question about whether or not we should have required there to be a finance meeting member. Yeah. On this committee. So, I I did not know that that was past practice and I I acknowledged that at the meeting last night. So when I'm
thinking about or when I got the asked to do the charge um you know I'm looking at okay we need somebody the town administrator to be involved. We need the select board. We need personnel COA that's usually a good um you know you want to have a strong connection with your law enforcement and your your
senior citizens in town. Um had the school been involved same thing. You know you want them to have a presence there. But I wanted to and along an acting chief, you know, Gabe is going to bring a lot of experience. He knows budgeting. He knows a lot. Um, I think
we're really fortunate to have him on board. Um, so for me, it didn't this position wasn't like a finance position where you would you would certainly have someone from FinCom. I think that having the the TAS, a select board and an acting chief kind of covers the
financial component and we really needed to look at someone who can critically evaluate resumeumés for the experience of police chief. We want to be able to carefully vet this person, make sure that they have what's required. Um, and I think to really do that, you need
folks who have that kind of experience of our adjacent. Um, and in fact, if April's on it, she's on the pin. Oh, yeah. I thought April wasn't going to be on her. But no, she keep off for the Oh, she did bought Kathy Salvador. Kathy Salvador.
She used to be on. I just don't mean I just want to ruffle a feathers to the finance committee is something else. I I don't know what if that if this we're still doing that if we don't appoint them. Um well, I did so I in the personnel book that we're still reviewing. I had
come up with a hiring procedure that is pretty much what I followed doing the charge and you know I mean I think we're we're up to eight people with one non- voting. I think that's a pretty big committee and it's not that we don't want the fincom involved but it's just you have to be a
little judicious about who you have on the board. You you don't if we add fing right now then we have to have another person to break the tie because it' be seven then you're looking at nine, right? Um, yeah, the thing I I had read them going back and forth too and I
I could see the argument for adding an or or not necessarily adding there's not a financial question here, right? Where like in a contract where you might preme with them to find out what budget item you could go up to or but there's
not a there's not a financial piece to this process at this point, right? Right. So, um, that's where I'm like, well, maybe, and that's their primary function for the town is, right, finance, right? Um, so that that's where
I found like, okay, well, I can see not having, you know, and as I'm listening to everybody talk, we could certainly ask them if they have questions that they want to ask the applicant either in the first round or I'm assuming we do second rounds, you know, that's a good way to get them involved, but we have people with a
financial focus, but this is primarily a policing job, right? I'm not sure why they thought they were invited in the first place. Okay. I I don't know. I'm just I'm just reading this, so I don't No, really. I mean, they it wasn't in the it wasn't in
there, so they just assumed and then they went ahead and and identified somebody when in fact Yeah. We didn't ask I asked AJ for somebody for the um the library reuse. Right. Which would have a financial piece to it.
Right. Right. Well, this I mean I'm not I'm not going going into detail to argue this position, but uh the police chief is in charge of a big chunk of the budget whether you know. So there is there is some aspect really it's about $250,000.
It's not the police for the police department is not that it's not that big of a what when I said in the interview what I was meaning is that there's no dollar amount related to right in the interview the experience we're trying to get out it's not like a treasure there's not a
I see the way we're doing it I'm just I'm as much as anything I do agree there is a there is a budget piece for the for the person that does go into that position it was worth thank Yeah,
always good to have conversation. Um, and um, April Stein has so she herself and Kathy Salvador has stepped up from the personnel board and Kathy was we can't we can't appoint her today because it wasn't on the agenda.
I had April's name and Kathy's out of the country. Oh, okay. Um, but we can appoint her on the 15th. She does know that she is dealing with account. All right. And she has HR experience from from I think it'll be a really committee. Oh yeah. No, it's a good group of
people. I mean to say it isn't. I'm really happy because we can get a meeting of the committee together for the first time in late September and then come October we can start scheduling the first round interviews. And you know theoretically we can have a new police chief by the
end of the year. Okay. There is um I just I just have a question for um the law enforcement person. Um the person here is the chief in Ammerst. Yes. Um so um
and I'm sure perfectly well. Um the one thing that Ammerst is very different from Sheepsbury. Um and I'm I don't I'm not necessarily challenging. I'm just saying that when when we do our
discussions I think um and the we'll have to you know bring him in on what policing is and shoot it would be and and so um but I just want you to know one be conscious of that. Oh totally. Okay. And the role that is that he said it would be an honor. It's definitely a different department, you
know, obviously much bigger. Um, but he's got so much experience and he's local. Um, and I've always liked working. Did he used to be the chief and lever, too? Like he No, he was on the he was he was on him and his brother work on that. Oh, okay. So, he's been a police officer as well. Yeah. He's also an ammeral high school.
So, he's been in he's been in the area for a while. Yeah. Um, yeah. No, that I just it's balanced out by Yeah. I just I just that's just a a worry because she's gray is so different and the population is so different and the mutual aid is very different and all that you know there's all of those
things are so different here than than in English. Okay. Are we um do we want to talk about the candidates that Haley has recommended to us for um the committee? I I do appreciate that
they are new new to serving Shootsbury. Um yeah, I went through all of the um I read through all of the interviews. Yeah. And I do, you know, and I appreciate um Brennan and and
Haley for um both having set up that format and then doing the interviews. I think that was really useful and then coming to us with a recommendation because obviously you know for us to have tried to to try to do that with is
just um out of the question. So I feel very comfortable with your recommendations um uh for the reasons that that you stated. I think we had a great group. It was really encouraging to see that many people step forward. Um,
so, um, yeah, I'd be I'd be very pleased. And if any one of these people decides they can't do it, I think we could go back to this list. Oh, yeah. I don't see anybody here that I'd say, you know, we couldn't appoint. Um, so John Percy, Andrew Regan, and
Kelly Cersei. Okay. Um, yeah, I'm I'm happy with those. I I wonder if our process doing this was what had other volunteers come forward, too. Just something to keep. No. Yeah. So, yeah. Yes. Do you want to do them one by one or
Yeah. Why don't we um uh Well, we technically have to go through the pro professional board ones, too. So, yeah, let's go one by one. So, do I hear a motion to appoint the town administrator to the shoot police committee? She's ex.
All right. All those in favor? Barl. I start. Uh, do I hear a motion to appoint for the council on aging Mary Joe Johnson to the police chief search committee? So moved. Second.
All those in favor? Barl I make O'Neal I. Um, do I hear recommendation to appoint Melissa O'Neal? So move. You're not gonna
second. Okay. Um, all those in favor. I will abstain for voting for myself. So, we will skip the personnel board until next meeting. So, we'll make sure that's on there. Um, do I hear a motion
to um appoint for law enforcement position on the uh police search committee um Chief Gabriel Ting for Ammerst? So moved. Second. Okay. Um, all those in favor? Frell. I Dr. I. M O'Neal. I.
Um, and for the community members, first, do I hear a motion to appoint John Hershey as one of our community members on the police chief search committee? So move. Second. Okay. All those in favor? Carol. I. I.
Make peace O'Neal. I. Um, second. Committee member. Do I hear a motion to approve uh point sorry um Andrew Regan to the police chief search committee? So move second. All those in favor? Carol I
Dr. I. And for the last community position, do I hear a motion to appoint Kelly Cersei as um community member chief police chief search committee? So move second. All those in favor I
perfect just the one to go next time then I'll make you something like um all right and now it's time to appoint the uh appointments for the mm sphere reuse committee
um and we have several that are listed as select boards as Tom Mary Joe as council on aging Paul Lions and Thomas, I think that's a good group. I think that's a great group. I I think I thank all of them and all of
them for the police state group prior, too. Um, so do I hear a motion? We should probably do this one individually, too. Do I hear a motion to appoint Rita Ferrell to the U MMP sphere reuse? Go for it, Eric.
Oh. Oh, he's going to hesitate now. He did. He's so good. Um, all those in favor of myself. I g I do I hear a motion to appoint Susan Moer
to the MM Stewart Reuse Committee? So moved. Second. Okay. All those in favor? Darl, I make O'Neal I. Do I hear a motion to approve point um Mary Joe Johnson to the MMP spirit review committee?
So moved. Second. All those in favor? Carol I stuck I do I hear a motion to piece of me. I do I hear a motion to appoint MM Lions to mm sphere reuse. Move. Second.
Okay. All those in favor I I and lastly and but not least do I hear a motion to appoint Steve Dolmis to the MMP spe committee. So moved second. All those in favor I
thank I. Great. We have another committee formed. Um and now on to TA report. I don't have a lot because we've all been busy with the warrant, but I did want to say that it's almost
my six month mark. You can believe it. I can't um the days bleed together. Yeah, it will go very quickly. Not too much blood, I hope. No, but um I did want to propose and it feels weird proposing an evaluation form
for myself. So, I'm very open to feedback. Um, but I did want to propose something so that we can do that come October. It's in my contract, so I think we should do it. Um, so this is just a really simple one. You know, it's asking on a scale of 1 to five for several key
components of the position like financial management, um, personnel and leadership, public relations, communication, board support, and strategic planning. Um, so that's a one one through five with room for comments.
Section two would be the goals and objectives. So we had or oh jeez got a typo I got to fix. Um that's what I really think of. Yeah. Uh we had set six goals for myself throughout the course of this first year. So the first one was to support
town governance, facilitate effective communications um and support and foster effective meeting management. Um then the goal is to promote investment in technology, record storage and town buildings. um promote fiscal responsibility and
sustainability. Um maintain, develop and increase positive relationships with residents um and explore ways to advance Shootsberry's interests in the region and Commonwealth. Um deliver high quality public services and special project oversight. And those are all the
ones on the TA goal tracker. So I've just put them here and there's room for you to evaluate. Um, and then you would give an overall assessment of strengths, room for improvement, performance rating, and we would set some goals for the next year.
Awesome. Great. And I would be happy to have this posted on the town website on the TA page as a lot of other communities do so folks can look at that. Okay. So, um, when the timeline, yeah, I'm
looking for October. I think it would be October 7th would be the official six month mark. Um Okay. Yeah. So I don't know. I think our next meeting would be the 14th from that. You saying September 14th or
Yeah. Okay. So just going back to meeting for a second. So is our goal after the 9:30 meeting every other week? Is that what I should be putting on my calendar? Yeah. Yes. Actually, so so um I I usually do us a calendar. I'll do us a calendar so we're all on the right page.
All right. Okay. Remember at the beginning I neglected to do that. Well, we also just changed as well. So I I will email that to everybody. So we have a target date for and then we move them on holiday or if we can't you know like on Monday we
moved it to the right. Um so we would each individually complete this. Yes. and then um do the at the October
42 at the October 14th meeting which is Tuesday, right? That is a Tuesday. I am not here on October 14th. So if we and the 13th is a holiday. Yes. Yes. To do a separate meeting. Do you want to
It may be a good idea to do this one in a separate I think. I think we do the entire week in a separate meeting. I think Yeah, I think that's a I think it's important to have its own week, right? Okay. So, October.
Uh you're right. The 13th is a holiday. Yeah. The week before. I know because I I have I have mostly clear week that week. Yeah. Um, other than ready, but other than that, it's great. I appreciate this for
Yeah, I think it's good. I can also do if you want me to do a selfie eval, too. I can do that. Yeah, that's actually a good practice. Why don't you Okay. Do we can we do it during the day? Yeah, sure. Um,
if that works for you, Melissa. Yeah. Yeah, I can I can fit it in. If I know it's coming, I can just adjust my schedule. Like this morning, I started working at 6. That's awful. No, it was good. My neck was killing me. Okay, I know Tuesday morning. I can't do
it this eth or the 9th. The eth. Wednesday the eth. Does that work for you? Yep. What time? I'm flexible. Do you want to do 9:30? I guess. Yes.
Wednesday, October 8 at 9:30. 9. So, do we want to get these back before that? I guess Brennan has a question. Hello. Thank you, G. Hi. Can you hear me?
Yeah. Perfect. Um, in terms of the appointed officials list, I know, um, I probably asked this before, but some of these committees that, um, their charge is say 6 months, do we include them on
that official list? Um, let's see. So, you uh, it goes into the annual town report, right? So I think probably we should and then put the date they start and the
date they end um probably at the end for um you know committees maybe a section that say committees during the year short-term committees or something of that nature um but I think for record because it goes into the annual report we probably should
okay you have a different opinion on that Brennan doesn't the annual report require current postings rather than the history of what's happened during the fiscal year. I believe that's correct. Yes.
So if they're still active at the end of six months. Yeah. So add them and if we can it we can take them off if they're not current. And then of course there'll be an annual report pages for the committee. Usually there's something in there. Right. Right. Okay. Thank you.
Okay. Um, did you did we we had an announcement about a grant at the sound? Let me pull up my email so I can make sure I get it right. It did. Um, Matteo sent something out yesterday
to some folks. Um, yes, it's very exciting news. So, a town announcement will be going out now that I've double checked my email. Um, so on behalf of the select board was what I wrote. Um, but we received $41,325
to do repairs to the Lake Biola Dam. It was part of nearly $1 million distributed by the Healey District Administration um for similar expenses pertaining to dams, levies, and coastal
infrastructure. So, this is a really wonderful opportunity. Um, you know, we were one of a short list of communities who were accepted into the program. Um, and I want to give a huge thank you to the storm water uh erosion task force
because they did a lot of work um to get this going among other people. But um so it's exciting and and um and Mark Mark River. Yes. Yeah. Um so and we we um and the town put up money
CPA money to match the grant so that and then that is um we still have another pending grant for repairs to Lake Wala as well. So we can definitely funnel um some money in and make some much needed repairs.
Yep. That's great. Yeah. Great. Yes. Good. Good. Good. Was there anything else? I don't remember. I don't think there's anything else from our So, I just want to make sure if if we could
just make sure Mir's requested. Yes. Yeah, I wrote that down. So, for the next I I was just writing agenda items down for the 15. So, those board um Netty attending the meeting. Yeah,
Kathy Salvador. Um, I want to see there was something on there might be. I think we might be need an executive session or Oh, yeah. Um, yes, that's probably right.
That probably went that way. Yeah. Okay. All right. So, with that, do I hear a motion to adjourn our first long morning? Yeah. So moved. Okay. All those in favor. Farrell eye. Starker eye.
Make peace O'Neal I. All right. It was a good meeting. Oh yes. Yeah. productive.