This government meeting is brought to you by Eastworks and our local cable subscribers. Okay, let's call to order the meeting of the Southampton Select Board for July 8th, 2025 at 6:00. If we could stand and
say the Pledge of Allegiance, please. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all for all.
Thank you. Okay. All right. So, this is uh our four-person meeting. Uh Dan has turned in his resignation. Uh Dan Lavali is moving to Greenfield and so we'll take that up formally. Um it didn't come in
in time to actually be on the agenda, but I'm just announcing why he's not here with us tonight. Uh and so we will keep on moving with the four of us until such time as we can elect to fifth, which is going to be a few months. Citizen Speak. Anybody here for Citizen
Speak? If not, I'm just going to introduce our new Gazette reporter, Sam Furland. So thank you for coming in and replacing Alexa. So looking forward to working with you and I'm sure we'll have odds and ends of information from Southampton that you can feature in the gazette. So
thanks for coming to our meeting tonight. Of course. Thanks for having me. All right. Good. All right. Let's start with some appointments and chair first as a packet without objection. Sure. I move that uh David De Roas Greenway Committee reappoint three-year term to
expire June 30th, 2028. Charles Fischer Historical Commission reappointment three-year term to expire June 30th of 2028 and a Kathleen Rooks Grant Search Committee reappoint two-year term to expire June 30th of 2027. Caitlyn Rooks or Caitlyn
Caitlyn Rooks. Yeah. Second. Okay. Second by Steven. Okay. Uh all those in favor? I I I Okay. Motion passes for all three of those persons. Okay. And then take up as a package resignations without objection. Jennifer Day, treasurer collector, resignation
effective July 1st, 2025. And Angela B M B M B M B M B M B M B M B M B M B M Baldick, assistant treasur collector, resignation effective July 15, 2025. Second. Second by Steven. Okay, just um some comments of this is um we had been expecting Jen's resignation and that um
actually did did come in writing. So that took effect on the 1st of July. And then u Angie we weren't totally expecting or at least I wasn't. Um but she has uh found a a more interesting uh job and uh probably better wages than Southampton can pay. So she's moving on.
Uh actually I think um Monday is her last day maybe or f Monday will be her last day. So thanks to both of them for manning the treasure collector's office all this time and we will take a vote. All those in favor? I I I All right, that passes. Thank you.
Scott, town administrator report, please. Um, so I'll talk about the treasure collector a little bit more detail coming up. Um, Megan's looking to start next Monday. Um, and, uh, hopefully I can get her in. I know we're trying to,
it's been a little difficult. She's on vacation and with her kids right now, so it's a little bit of a difficult transition with her being in Connecticut again to meet with the psycho board, but hopefully next week we can uh get something together. Um I did start the FY26 performance evaluations for the management employees. Um so that's been
out. I'm going to try a little bit of a different format and see how it works and get their opinion on it. More goal oriented than number um crossing out. Um, so I'll share that with uh the select board once uh once we get a little bit further. Um, on Thursday
we're going to have Michael Kennedy from the uh center for uh living and working. Uh, this was part of a uh community compact grant from about 3 years ago. we finally got working on. Um he's going to
be coming in with uh his group to uh discuss primarily to department heads, but obviously all the boards and commissions are we invited them as well if they're available. Um to talk about our ADA self-evaluation. So, part of that is I've never been
through one. Um, but part of that is going to be um a survey to all the different um boards and commissions. Hopefully, they can complete that by July 18th. Just another reminder to anyone who's
watching. Um, programs and services, you know, the physical um aspects of of their departments. Um, so it's not just building related, is it? I mean, it sounds like it's broader than that. Yeah. Yep. And then they will be doing a infrastructure
um type of thing. So they'll be going actually around um looking at all the buildings, looking at all the different uh facilities that we have. Uh let me bring up there. Um one moment.
I think I've seen in the news that other towns are doing this too. So, it must be a a time frame where they've finally gotten their people together to do this kind of work. Yeah. Here we go. So, they'll they'll actually do measurements of, you know, different heights and widths of doors and and
they'll put together a report and uh they'll present it to to the town. Um the grant was for about $15,000. So, normally cost a little bit more than that. So, it's going to be a little bit of a paired down version focusing more on, you know, the buildings and things like that. But they are going to do like some of the trails, some of the outside
stuff nor you know um Conan Park, things like that. So would it include our senior housing? No. No, that that would only actual municipal um direct uh that we're in charge of. So yeah, in the um I think way back when if
you mentioned you mentioned some trail work. I know in the open space plan in the appendix we had done a um there was an evaluation there of the ADA compatibility on some of our trails at the time which I don't think we had too much that were ADA compatible at the time but be interesting to see how they
approach it. Um this will take into account the library the school as well or just Yeah. Everything. Okay. Y interesting. So things like uh compliant toilets, charging stations, um a lot of different um
you know processes as well. So if anyone does have a complaint how that's handled. Um so I probably defer to them when they come in and do a little bit more information. So Mhm. So this will be what? This is on uh Thursday.
Thursday. Yep. Uh Thursday at 11. 11 o'clock. Okay. There will be a written report for us to see afterwards or Yep. It'll take a few months cuz we're we're in the um they're finishing up a lot of other towns right now. So, it took about 6 months to finally get them out here.
And there's not a lot of not a lot of people locally that do this. So, he's actually based out of Hoyok, but his um his group is Eastern Mass. Okay. So, we're fortunate enough to find them. Good thing that we have the one ADA door opener in in place. We need a couple more.
Good. That's good for the Yeah. For the bathrooms. That would be great. Super. All right. Glad that's happening. That That was a grant that we did get I think three years ago. You're right. So, it's finally coming to fruition. Good. Um the highway planning group is going to be meeting on the
27th or 24th, I think, in a couple weeks. So, that's we're going to be uh planning out the next steps for the fall. Um still moving forward. Um so we did receive the updated request for the highway superintendent contract which we can probably discuss in um
executive session as well as the uh police union moving forward with that. Ian's going to be joining us uh for the executive session as well and uh the highway union contract is ready for uh signature tonight. Um the public safety building committee met last week and
they did vote to not recommend moving forward with um the special town meeting and ballot question in the fall. Um post that was just for their issue is we may have a special town meeting for other things but y they did not want to be on the ballot this year. We need a little bit more time to kind
of evaluate everything and since July is almost done believe it or not um I know it's coming quickly. um post committee agreement. Just uh almost finished up with that. Just two more items I got to run. Um Isaac, the attorney, and I were just kind of going back and forth and
just two minor things. Um but that's pretty much all wrapped up. And um job descriptions will probably have to wait until September. Um with all the turnover and everything, I just and all the new new board of health and everyone getting kind of situated. It's going to
be a little bit of a financial focused couple months and then we're going to start budget season. So, um, and that's about it. Yeah. And just for clarity, the host community agreement is with our cannabis facility in town, just so Okay. My dad
knows that. So, it's to be renewed basically or re rewritten pretty much. So, and just just an FYI, I mean, once we agree on everything, the um cannabis control, the CCC could throw it out. So, even though we agree, even though we agree, they could just
Yeah, they could void it. So, hopefully everything is within their guidelines and they they accept it. So, we didn't deviate too far from the template, right? Okay, sounds good. Okay, thanks. Any other questions for Scott? If not, how about any select board reports? John, you got anything
from here? Just update from Norris's last meeting. Uh we reorganized and Kim Shaw is the chair for the upcoming year. So she'll be the point person for Norris. Okay. Not everything's fine. Okay. You're still on the committee, which you're just not chair. Oh, yeah. No, I'm on my This is my last
year. I'm taking my retirement tour as just a committee member. Sounds good. All right. No new news here. No news. All right. and we haven't got you on a committee yet, so we'll get there. Um, get there.
And I think just from my end, um, grant committee has spent time working with open space and park commission and, uh, resulted in two grant proposals being submitted, um, by the deadline basically, uh, over the last couple of days. Uh, the land grant is to, um,
tried to purchase some land on Fulmer Road, uh, 27 acres near Alder Pond. Uh and that was submitted at the end of last week with open space and then the park commission uh has put in a grant request to the park grant program P arc
grant program for funds to complete the installation. We have actually bought the u the spray deck that was to be at Conent Park and this is to complete the actual installation of it and the walking path over there. So applications are in. Well, we won't know for two or three months probably as to whether
anything will happen, but that's all that the grant committee has been working on and the bylaws committee is still working on the um scenic scenic roads bylaw. So, that's still on the agenda for this week to keep on chugging on some details on that one, but that's about it. Okay,
new business. How about FY24 updates? Scott, anything to um not honestly not a lot of movement. Um Bradley did everyone Dave and Bradley both got their login. They started uploading things. So Bradley uploaded other documents. Um but yeah, it's it's
still there. Uh Bradley's still on schedule at least. I'm a little bit behind and assessors are mostly there. Um and obviously the big one is going to be treasure collector, right? Okay. And we'll talk about that in a minute. The um any further news on the 23 though is that moving on their end?
I did ask um CBiz for an update. I haven't received one yet. Okay. So I'm guessing maybe the July 4th. Yeah. But if I don't hear anything by Wednesday or Thursday, I'm going to bug them again. Yeah. So it should be done by quality your quality report by now. Get that closed off. And usually what we
do is we invite them to come in and present the findings to us. So I'd like to be able to know that that's there so we can schedule them if that's going to be the case. But um Okay. All right. Uh HMP hazard mitigation plan update. Uh so I sent the rough draft from Mimi uh from
PVPC to the select board. Um it still has to go through a few different revisions. It's going to go to the uh the committee for any other um drafts or you know issues that they need to um kind of revise. I'm not sure if we're going to have an actual meeting. I'm going to have to touch base with Mimi.
Um but I think we might might probably need one more with all the changes. Um then once the committee is okay with it, the draft is going to be sent to the final draft is going to be sent to the select board for approval and then there is going to have to be a uh final public meeting that we'll have at the select
boardroom. Mhm. Okay. One of the meetings and that won't necessarily have to be as part of the select board meeting night. It could be another Oh yeah, it could be. Yeah, absolutely. Okay. Um so um yeah so we usually in the
past we folded in the the public meetings with the select board. Mhm. So yeah well and we have to post on also post on the website and make it public and advertise. I forgot about that part. Yeah. It might be good to have just a separate meeting on it and to get the word out and see if people want to join in and you know because if it could be a half
hour 45 minute meeting that would take up a lot of time on a regular select board night if we combined it. So maybe we can think about that as a separate meeting. Maybe make it zoom. Mhm. Yeah, exactly. So, okay, good. All right. Um, then I
guess down to treasure collector update, which is what we have got in front of us. We know we have some challenges with, um, two of the three key people in the treasures office resigning. So, um, so starting from the top, um, so Megan has agreed, I'm going to bring, hopefully get her, Megan Kaine, uh, from
Westfield, uh, has agreed to come on, uh, temporarily and part-time basis. I'm going to have her come in and meet formally with the psych board. Um unfortunately, we're in a position where um Megan uh the previous treasurer had just given us a few days notice on the
resignation. Um and then we found out that Angela Bullduck, who is the assistant treasurer, had accepted another job uh out of state. Um so it's a little bit of a crisis mode at this point. Um, the main goal is going to be to keep payroll, keep warrants,
um, keep taxes. I know people probably don't want to hear that part, uh, but keep the taxes coming out. Um, you know, municipal lean certificate. There's a lot of stuff that the treasure treasur collector's office does that people don't see on a daily basis. Um, that does that's just, you know, the the
heart of our financial systems. Um, I I mean, like if you get a building permit, you're not going to be able to build until you get the municipal lean certificate cleared. Oh, it it can have a lot of impacts. Mhm. Um, so starting from the the top, um, Megan
has agreed she is a uh former treasure collector. Um, let me just bring up her resume uh for the uh the city of Westfield. Um, she has u probably about 78 years of experience. Um, she was also has a lot of financial background,
senior auditor, assistant controller. Um, you know, she's proficient in a lot of the the finance uh software. Um, she used Munus, not as much Vadar, but it's a little bit of a different thing. But if you can use Munus, you can use Vadar. Um, so I'm not worried about that. Scott, when you say she agreed, she
agreed to the treasure collector position in title. Yeah. In the title. Yeah. Um, so she's going to start on Monday. um Angela Bullduck, who is the uh the assistant. Um she's doing her best to get a transition plan together.
Um she's transitioning all the bank accounts, all the um the login, things like that. She's trying to get a a list of things to focus on as much as she knows. I have a list for her as well that we're going to have to look at zero college borrowing, uh zero college highway borrowing, the the audits as
well. Um the revenues are up to uh May. Um June is obviously not up to date um due to the transition period. Um we have to do close out for the uh FY. Bradley's going to have to work with that. Um Angela thankfully is is up to date on
all the payroll stuff. So that's all mostly squared away. This, you know, she's also agreed to stay on temporarily uh for some nights and weekends just to make sure like payroll and other input things um to keep that moving forward. Um, we're going to we're going to post
the position ASAP as well. Uh, nothing's changing, so we're really just going to post a job description. Um, so we're hoping to get that position filled as well. I did talk to a former employee of the treasures office, Robin Richards, who um actually previously
worked with Megan and Westfield as well. She's uh has experience in our own treasures office, although it was a little while ago. Um, I've asked her to maybe come on board for a little bit of time per week just to help Megan with finding stuff, uh, filing stuff, um,
getting things up to speed. Um, you know, cuz Megan's time is going to be pretty valuable. So, I don't want to waste, you know, having take 5 hours to find one thing. Um, so I'd rather have a re, you know, reach on that. Um, we also met uh with another
uh potential person to help out uh Lynn Lammansky who is a uh former auditor um has municipal experience as well. Um she's she's about an hour away, but she's willing to do come in and do some work and some remote work as well. I
think that might help out on specifics, you know, to like the municipal audits that we have to kind of finalize. She has experience in Vadar. Um I I I did send uh her resume to Megan just to make sure Megan's okay with that. So if she if Megan's okay, we'll we'll try to
bring her on as well. Um so we're kind of patchworking it. Um right now, um Ann, who is currently in the position, she's um a little bit over a year. She's really great. She's doing a great job. She focuses more on the on
the collections though um and and all the billing. So that's going to be okay. Again, sorry to spoil it for everyone. Um, but so that that side's going to be okay for a while. It's just getting all the basic functions uh straightened out and then taking the next step and then playing
catch-up with all the other things that we have to do. Mhm. So, okay. All right. I will say the uh the August 1 tax payments that are due, the bills have already been sent out. The bills have gone out for the for the um have come through saying ahead of time. So yeah, take that off the
That's one one big thing that's already happened with the tax bills going out already. So that's good. But well, I think in, you know, in some ways, I mean, I I agree we're in a a mini crisis mode here, but I think we're very fortunate, too, to be able to have other people nearby that have, you know, got the municipal experience in particular
that can step in, albe it part-time, just to help us out and keep things running. I mean, I think that's our goal. Still early. Let's let Megan get in there and she can start with weekly like Thursday evening update. Here we are. Yeah. And let's see what the gravity of the
situation. Yeah. No, I think that would be good to get an idea, you know, once she gets sort of settled in a little bit and how often, you know, if she's going to come in with, 20 hours a week in total or something at most. Yeah. I give or take her a few, you know, it might be a little bit more in the beginning. She might be in a few hours every day with her if she has family obligations.
Um, so it might be a little bit less a little bit, you know, certain weeks. So, but she does know she's in work a little bit more in the beginning. Yeah. Yeah. But I think, you know, to John's point, I mean, just to be able to give an update to you at least in terms of what what she can't find, what she's, you know, you know, what what we're
missing or something like that that um we need to be aware of. So, I'm sure she'll be, you know, knowledgeable about where to find or what kinds of things have to be submitted. So, that sounds good at least. And and then the the the other big thing is um I did I mentioned
last meeting I contact the uh DLS and their um um uh division that gives assistance to a municipality. So they're going to be coming out on the 14th. Um they're going to be bringing um the former MSON finance director uh another
treasur collector out. Um their their head is going to be coming out as well. They're going to be meeting with all the departments going directly through the department to go through everything. And it's not going to be just u here's our recommendations. They're going to be g developing a calendar for us um as well
and making sure that throughout the year once they get boots on the ground uh that we are following everything. Okay. Um so that's going to be a big help once we get there. And then the big the big question is you know this is all just temporary because this is an
appointment. It's still an elected position. Um, so that's going to have to be brought before town meeting and then the voters eventually to decide which way to go on that. So, regardless, the the goal is to get the department into a position um so no
matter what happens, uh, whoever steps into that role is going to be ready to go. Mhm. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. I think one of the things to you mentioned DLS one of the things that we had talked about I think John had brought up that we wanted to have that calendar available for us in
terms of what what's due when especially you know the all the financial sides things so we should make that visible somewhere I think so to you Scott it's on the DLS website I I couldn't find it on the website for some reason but I think just to promulgate it around so that everybody's aware of that kind
of thing and kind of gives us a double check too in terms of where we are and if things start falling behind Um, so that would be good to know. Good. Any questions for Scott? Is this any concerns or other thoughts? But yes,
but um, thank you for scrambling and putting the pieces together. At least u we've got planned. Yes. Um, Monday is when DLS comes. Uh, August 14th. August 14th. August 14th. Thank you. because I thought Megan's
first day in DLS arriving might be a little intense. That might be a little much. You think? Is is it that um Megan will transition to more hours independent of the um question about the
permanent status of the position or is she just capped it part time? Uh I mean that's a big question. Um I mean the DBD so I mean she could love it here. I mean, everyone does. Um, so if we did transition to a permanent
appointed, I mean, I I would think, you know, depending on what hour she could commit and what's actually, you know, needed for the position. I'm thinking months down the line before we've had a town meeting before we have clearance, can we have a
full-time person in that role as a temporary? We we could, but she's just limited on on her hours. Yeah, that's what I want. A personal thing. Thank you. Yeah. Okay. Good. All right. Very good. All right. Well, thanks. So,
I think we'll keep moving forward. At least we have have a plan and uh should be sufficient to keep all the functions rolling for everybody that needs them. Essentially, getting the bills paid and and payroll especially are at the top of mind for sure.
Yep. Okay. Um you going to take the next one? Yeah. The next one is uh open committee uh open space committee. Yeah. Wanted a um revision of their charge reported on that because um the committee is um reorganized with new
chair Mark Cassus. Um he remains in very close contact with Cindy Palmer um for all matter of background and guidance. And one of the things that's come up is the current charge for the committee
includes u specific representation from several boards. Can you put that up, Scott? Sorry, just just we have um it's really a very narrow issue uh because they call out the board of assessors and we have um habitually had
difficulty getting someone from that very small board to also attend the open space committee. We'd like to simply remove that specific um reference um keep the number of the committee the
same. So add one more at large in lie of the assessors. Okay, we can just find yeah just just so I can just mention here. So right now the the way their charge stipulates it's nine voting members which I had thought originally they'd wanted to reduce that but they want to keep the total total
number of members from everything I understand. um carry a chronic vacancy. Correct. Um but nine members right now of which six have to be appointed representing board of assessors, planning board, community preservation, select board parks and conservation and
then three from the community at large. So at large members. So this Stephen if I'm understanding would take off the board of assessors as a designated or required Yeah. representation. And and for people that don't know, the board of assessors uh
has only one person on its on its um on its uh what as the board right now uh there's a three it's a three member board and there's only one person on the board of assessors who's really um doing yman's work to help out in the assessor's office when needed but definitely would not be somebody who
would have the time to also to be assigned to other committees. So recommendation is to eliminate that requirement of a board of assessors person attending and then that would change the number of community large people to four from three I think. One
yes. So there's just two two small changes. So, so eliminate the board of assessors as a requirement and then still keep the and then keep the nine person board but that would be five people will be appointed
from these various commissions. So five people would be planning community preservation select board parks and cons conservation commission and then four will be from the public at large rather than three. So it just show swaps the the numbers a little bit. Okay.
I think except for transition and conservation, we have all of the other mentioned boards covered. Mhm. Okay. Um and we have good number of atlarge members. I mean Mhm. Okay. Exactly. Sure. Good. Anybody have any comments or
thoughts about that? If not, we'll take a motion to to do that. I'd like to move the previously described amendments to the charge the open space committee. Okay. To revise the charge. Yeah. As as mentioned. All right.
Could I have a second? I'll second that. Okay. Ellen second. Any further questions, comments, discussion? So, what we'll do is we'll we'll revise that first paragraph basically and u pass it around at our probably at our next meeting for signature. I think the
charge, if I'm not mistaken, was signed by all of the select board. Scott, do you want me to shepherd the red line? If you sure if you'd like to. Um, yeah. So, we' we'd just pass it around at the next meeting for everybody to sign. Sure. I covered it all, but we'll get it. Yeah. End of the spaces.
I can get you the word version. Yeah. If you don't have the word version, I'll get it to you. So, that's fine. All right. Very good. So, uh, all those in favor? I I. All right. That stands approved. Thank you very much. All right. Uh let's see.
Next up, uh Katherine Danto, uh COA director, vacation carryover request. Um Scott, I don't know if you know anything more about this, but um Kate's actually coming up on her one-year anniversary of uh being
director. Um so she was just a little bit late with that. She wasn't aware of the uh the process. Um, so she's requesting it's like 26.75 if I'm reading that right to be used by the end of August. I like
the second part. Yeah. I move approval noting that it is um typically handled in the at the end of the fiscal year, not at the beginning of the new but Mhm. And she's pretty sure she can use it
during during this time and through the end of August. move. We have a second. Second for discussion. Yep. John, so the the current policy is that carry over up to one week of time. Is 26.75 greater, equal, or less than one week of
her scheduled time? Uh, less than. Okay. Okay. I'm good. All right. All those in favor? I I All right. Motion's approved. Thank you. Did we like jump over liaison
assignments? Oh, I think we did. Sorry about that. Yes, we did. I got ahead of myself. Got ahead of myself. Can I jump back further because I should have reported about um water commissioners. Oh, sorry. Water commissioners last meeting was a
head-to-head with our joint finance committee meeting. So, I was here select board of finance that Monday night, right? Not with water commissioners. But um I know they're eager to have the select
board act on their requested overtime policy. Um it was actually voted on in my absence um that day. So I've joined on that vote and um
so that's where that is. Okay. And I guess our clarity is which version or what they've voted on because there was a version that Scott passed to them that we had talked about, right? And because I had missed that meeting, I was unclear, but there is a
final version. All right. At least that the water commissioners have voted. They they voted a couple of times. I think that's right. This is the second time. So I have uh I have not been forwarded that. Haven't seen that yet. Okay. So, let's let's hopefully we will
get a copy of it for the next meeting and we will get that done because that was absolutely should. Yeah. I mean, because that was the issue and just a couple issues that we had I know that went back to them and hopefully they took those into consideration. Well, they certainly did and they're having a rough time um rounding out
their crew and we've known that for a long time, but I think that we need to re-engage on that issue. Okay. All right. Uh let's see next up select board assignments. Let's go back up there. Sorry. So I think we had
mentioned at our last meeting that the the thing that we really wanted to focus on given the time requirements and and whatever of being a liazison and many of us having two or three or four committees to also attend meetings whenever those meetings got held uh was
becoming kind of a a time drag on on several people. Um so what we had decided I believe was to focus on the four or five committees that are voting committees where the select board is a voting member. Um and to my knowledge
those are finance, capital um personnel policies. Not finance. Not finance. Sorry. Okay. I have capital PPQ are the two what ones that I have now. Okay. Capital and and Okay. Capital and
personnel policy. And then there's also senior center building and public safety center building. Those four. Is there another one that I'm missing? I think that's it. uh in terms of voting housing trust positions. Um but that's that's an actual
appointment. So that you you've actually been appointed to the housing trust. So you're you're there already as a voting member and the authority uh housing authority. Yeah. Okay. Housing authority may be the
other one. Yep. That could be true. And as we just reviewed, open space committee has specific designation, right? So, and then I'm not sure whether you're including PVPC and the MLO, but that's
another under the Yeah, I think those we had those had already been appointments to go until next year, I believe, until June of 26. I'm just a comprehensive list. Those are those are voting members or your representative on on PVPC. Well, on that no uh Paul Demon, uh the way
you're the you're the alternate the way your correspondence went with the PVPC, I'm an alternate, right? And then on the MO, I'm the alternate for a sub region. Okay. All right. So, I think those are in place, but I think it's more just an
issue of whether we want to just renew the commitments to the people that have been in these positions, if that's okay. Um, does anybody want any of those positions instead of John or myself? John has two of those, capital and PQB, I've got senior center and public safety
building center um committees. Uh, if anybody would like those instead, speak now or forever hold your peace. Otherwise, um, we would renew those just for a year's time uh, at this point in time. And then I think we ought to talk about a couple of other committees that
might need liaison work. Um, and I'm thinking particularly just the board of assessors only because there's one person on the board of assessors and I think it would be good to have some presence of select board there uh when they need us. Um, because I think
they're probably the one that's kind of hanging out there a little bit on their own. Well, and we're not a voting member, but I mean just to be a realist there's two vacancies for failure to elect, right? Correct. There are which so if it's a failure to elect and it's not a select board post then it's
the select board has the authority to appoint someone we could appoint that was that was going to be my next question on let's do an appointment well that's an idea too for the one term so at least there there's voting rights they can get deep into the weeds okay that might be a good idea much better and I think if I'm not
mistaken they usually meet during the day but I think that's maybe changeable but I think that is a a challenge so I don't for example if that would help you out at all or are Yeah. I'm not doing it during the day. Yeah. You couldn't do it during the day. Yeah. Okay. So, that's a challenge there, too. And then the other thing I was thinking
about is and I didn't have time to look at this, but the um the bylaw regarding PPPQ. Yeah. That is it that the select board appoints a person and we just have interpreted that to mean it's one of us cuz I would rather just appoint the town administrator given his specific
background. I think per our bylaws, he can't be a voting member. Well, what do we need to change? So, I think he's he's always an exeicio member of all of our various committees, but he's not a voting member.
It's it's in in our bylaws because I had had to use it the other day for one of our grants. So, I'm sorry I can't do that right now. Committee, if anybody wants to, you can. All right. So, how about uh capital and um well, capital committee. John,
yeah, I don't have I mean, right now I have Norris, Finance Capital, and PPPQ. I mean, I'd love it if somebody wanted to take over HR, but not sensing that. So, I'm I I can stay with those four. Okay. So, let's move that John is the plan is still to try to fold capital
and finance into one, right? Eventually, I think that's that's where we're going to try to go this year, I think, is to pull capital and finance together into one to be there as a school committee member. So, it does make sense for one viewer to also go. Correct. Okay. So, um, a motion then for John to continue on as the voting member
for the capital committee. Yep. All right. That's a motion. I have a second. Second. All right. All those in favor? I I All right. How about for personnel policy and procedures? That may change over time, but temporarily we need somebody um for a while.
Yeah. And I currently chair it. You currently do chair during the reorg. And we have what? Two two other members. Three. Yeah. including the select board. There's three of the five members. So, it has a quorum. Yeah.
Okay. Would you do it for a couple more months at least? Yeah, that's fine. Okay. I mean, you're the one that knows all the procedures better than all of us trying to read that manual again. All right. Then I'm going to make a motion that John continue as PQB voting member. All right. All those in favor?
I I Well, yeah, I'll accept it on the caveat that as soon as a fifth select board member is appointed, they get it. Mhm. Oh, that may be a while. That may be a while. Okay. Uh, so those
are two. Um, housing authority. We have Steven already there. So, I think that would make sense for Steven to be um the person as the select board voting member for the housing authority. That's that's so recent. It's in the minutes that we're to approve. I think
it is actually if we're unsure about what exactly was done in my absence. Uh I think there is a little typo. Okay, we'll get there. All right. So, how about a motion then for Stephen or I'll make a motion for Steven to be the voting member from select board on the
housing authority. Second. All right. All those in favor? I I All right. Then the other two are senior center building and public safety building which I am currently on. So somebody else can discuss that if you would like. I won't make a motion for
myself. But I won't I won't refuse. I'll continue if if people would like me to. But you're willing. Yeah. For a year. I'm willing to fight the battle a little bit longer, I guess. So unless anybody else Ellen, would you like to make the motion to have Chris continue
on on the um senior center and public safety? Okay, you got it. All right. All those in favor? I I All right. So that takes care of those. Now back to Steven's comment about other things like the members from other like
on these on the um open space committee there's somebody from select board that's is a member that's kind of I think if we now take every print I mean there is a master list out there take that master list we've just identified five or six of them take those off or not necessarily off fill the names correct
here's what's left right divide it by four and then just put one of our names down the next one so if there's, you know, uh, you know, parks commission. Mhm. That they need to talk to a select board member. Who's their point? You know,
here's the person. They're not going to be at every single meeting, but you call them, they're going to talk to you. They're going to be your point person, your gateway into the fine if you need guidance. Yeah. Right. And then Yeah. Because I think the the assumption back to Steven's point and it's similar with master plan too that there's somebody from select board on those
committees, open space and master plan and those are you you're assumed to be the voting member from select board on those those committees. So I think that's kind of a kind of a given. So I don't think we have to worry about those. But I do think other ones like you said maybe parks board of assessors
um um board of health in particular cemetery needs help with their well they got to get those records updated and well maybe we'll see. Yeah. I mean so I think we can we can go down to that list and see which ones need uh need some work but I know Ellen you had expressed interest in the community preservation
and concom. So I think we've got some of those. So let me pull that list together for the next meeting and we'll just clarify that. Um, and that would be good. And then what that means is then for those that can, depending on scheduling, attend those meetings as much as you
can. And just, you know, if you can't, you can't, but at least you're you're that person to be a contact for the committees and commissions if they have a question that needs to come before the select board. Okay. Sound good? All right. Moving on then. Um, 250th
anniversary info. Um, moving on briefly. Uh, we had a great concert up at the vineyard. I think people saw that. And then our next move is on uh a week from Wednesday on the 23rd. Um we are joining in with the Lions Club and actually sponsoring the Wednesday night concert
for the time stretchers which is Barry Surl and his band. So the 250th anniversary is sponsoring that. And um there will be not only the popcorn, but we've also got some ice cream coming in. So come on down to that concert. And then the big one is going to be the big birthday bash which is after Celebrate
Southampton. So, Celebrate Southampton is going to be the week or the week the week day, I'm sorry, weekend day of August 16th at Conan Park. And that's uh the historical society has been haunting that. Tammy and Becky and all the crew have been putting that together and that
will be a long long day uh there. And then on the 23rd, the week, Saturday, the week after that will be the birthday bash, which is actually the birthday of the town. And that's going to be another um concert at Conan Park. Food, ice cream, cupcakes,
August, other things August 23rd. So those are the two big events. So two more concerts from the 250th committee and then we've got other things happening, but the concerts are probably the big things for the summer. If you need help with anything there. Yeah. Well, I might do let you know. Absolutely. Good. Thank you.
Okay. Any other business that can't wait until our next meeting on July 22nd? Yes. Yes, sir. Um the uh with the uh Senate filing the final uh budget
um as consequence of that there was a 25% reduction in rural aid from last year uh which is going to see an additional cut to us. There's a small offset on the chapter 70 increase, but um it's just another hit where
um you know the rural communities are having to pay for this is the rural aid to schools. Yeah. Yes. So um as one of my last acts as chair of the school board, I sent a letter to our state senator and our representative um
basically tell him how frustrated I was with it. I would like to ask the and I copied Chris as the chair and and not necessarily to um duplicate my letter, but you know I express my deep
disappointment in the fiscal year 26 budget cuts to rule school and how that would impact us here in our community. Um and that uh regardless of what zip code a student lives in, they should be entitled to the same level of education in the Commonwealth. And there's
specifically there's additional money set aside this year to offset that that they chose to ignore. Um so I I would like to move that the select board authorized the chair of the select board to write a similar letter of support for
reestablishing great at least last year's budget and not suffer a 25% cut. Correct. Okay. To whom is this addressed? Well, we can I mean, I wrote ours to our state senator and our state and our rep. Um
maybe as chair, maybe it should go to the governor who has 14 days to do adjustments or vetos. Maybe that makes more sense. We can certainly take it on up the ladder. I think it would probably escalate it a little bit. Sure, why not? Okay. Second. So, that's a motion and a second by
John. I mean, second by Stephen. Okay. Everybody in favor of that idea? Good. Okay. Okay. And I'll I'll take some notes from your your letter, but I'll I'll make it my own and uh we'll put it out on on behalf of the select board and I'll sign and get it out the door. If it's the governor that where the action is, that's really important to
get on the right person. No, I think so. Okay. Very good. I will do that and uh I'll try to ship around a draft for you on email to take a look at. Yep. So, all those in favor? I I All right. Thank you. Good idea. We may as well keep on fighting for whatever money we can get and heaven
knows we need it for the school. So, or at least document our frustration. Exactly. I mean, yeah, it may may fall on deaf ears. You never know, but it definitely will if you don't try. Right. So, okay. We have a variety of minutes to approve here. Um March 18, March 25,
May 27, and June 10. And we could take those as a group unless anybody has seen anything as error. Stephen, you mentioned something or I won't be able to direct you to it. It was a missing letter. It was okay. Not a matter of
content. Content. Thank you. Okay. All right. I'll make a motion to take the packet of four minutes up for approval. Okay. Could I have a second, Stephen? Okay. So, again, March 18, 25, May 27, and
June 10th. All those in favor? I I I All right. Motion passes. Very good. uh old business. I think we talked about just a couple of them, but uh FY23 audit, Scott, you mentioned a bit already. We're kind of waiting on our
auditors to let us know where they're at with that. And if you really don't hear anything in the next day or two, please do give them a a shout out to see what's going on. Um ADA door openers. We have the one on the hallway between the COA and the rest of the building, but we
have three that we were intending to get for the uh restroom in the COA and the two restrooms downstairs. So, I think if that has proved that it's functioning, let's put the order in, get those get those ordered and uh move on that. Uh Stormwater Enterprise Fund, had you
met on that with uh he had a kickoff meeting on that? No. Yeah. No, I did talk to just the PVPC on that. Um Okay. I was thinking it was Tyen Bond. No, no. Oh, I'm sorry. time bond. Yeah. Okay. So, nothing has happened yet on that? No, just waiting for me. Okay. And the broadband committee charge, that's something um that is in
my lap. I told them that I would tinker with what they gave me as a draft. And so, I need to pull that together now. So, I will I will be working on that. Need to get it to the top of my priority list. Um and nothing new on East Street that I'm aware of. Are is there anything happened on the East Street? Tip tip at
all? Nothing. Okay. All right. So our next uh select board meetings are July 22nd, August 5th and August 19th. And with that we will be ending our meeting but we will be going into executive session. So the reason for going into
executive session is per MGL chapter 3A section 21A2 to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with non-union personnel or to conduct collective bargaining sessions or contract negotiations with non-union personnel and that is related to the
highway and the police union. So with that could I have a motion to go to adjourn this meeting and go into executive session. Second. All right. All those in favor I John tonight I fouls eye. Okay, we are adjourned at
about 7:47 thereabouts and we will meet in just a minute and go into executive session. So thank you very much. 648 648. Okay.