Good evening everyone. This is the town of South Lake Select Board meeting for August 11th, 2025. It is 6 PM in the land use hearing room. This meeting is being recorded. If anyone else is recording, please let us know. And we will call the meeting to order
with attendance. Nicole Parker, CEO, Diane Gail, Russ Anderson, Dean Signi, and Doug Moin will be joining us shortly. And let's start with the pledge of allegiance. I pledge the pledge allegiance to the
flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. And then is there anyone here with a public comment for anything that is not
on the agenda? I'm here. Is there anyone online with public comment? See no raised hands. Hear no voices. I'd like to go forward with Excuse me. I'd like to public comment. Okay.
So, I wanted to take a a chance to address recent questions and allegations that have circulated regarding town hall security conduct and my own actions. Transparency and public trust are paramount, and I believe you deserve the full picture. Today, municipal
operations must be prepared for everything from peaceful demonstrations to severe weather. That's why through a recent $2,900 emergency management grant, we upgraded the public facing cameras at Tom Hall. These cameras cover public lobby and parking areas only.
They are designed for operational safety and and serve as our emergency centers eyes outside in the event of a major incident as the emergency operations centers in the town hall basement. The camera system is simple and practical. It records over itself depending on
motion typically storing 30 to 45 days of footage. The only person who monitors the live feed is consistently is the town treasurer who uses it to observe public service window for assistance needs and to verify transactional discrepancies. To clarify recent events during the
installation and calibration of the new system, Mr. Dee was observed in the public lobby meeting a known contractor that we had a few issues with at the end of a building project. I found it odd that he would meet in town hall as Mr. Dee as finance chairman has no involvement in any town contracts. The
men left the lobby to go somewhere else in the building. A short time later, Mr. Dei returned. This time, he walked through the lobby and he waved to the clerk office staff to be led into a secure staff only area for which he was granted access. Let me be clear, this would raise concerns no matter who
entered the secure area. It is a secured zone containing sensitive records and is monitored and alarmed for a reason. I simply reported the observation to the town administrator. I did not download footage. I did not share images. I I at resetting of the system, I verified the
treasure that her live monitor still had proper screens showing as I know she was seeing what I was seeing. For context, I bring over 15 years of professional video production experience and have been involved in law enforcement investigations, courtroom testimony
regarding video evidence, and multiple state and federal probes, including Medicare and ambulance fraud. I work with the DEA, the Mass State Police, and the Inspector's General's office. I have a complete understanding of the chain of custody and investigative process.
Perhaps this is why both the former and current town administrators has asked for my help when securing our security system. Ironically, Chairman Dy, who now raises security concerns, opposed efforts last year to modernize the building's locks, despite knowledge that numerous master
keys were remained unaccounted for. Allegations that I use the security system to monitor voters to or campaign during the recent election are both baseless and irresponsible. The camera upgrade occurred after the election. On voting day, the only one camera had a
partial view of the back parking lot. There was no visibility to voters entrances or voting activities. The idea that I would shag votes from the parking lot using a camera system is ridiculous. Yes, I was in the building that day. I voted in the morning and spoke briefly with classmates in the parking lot about
an upcoming reunion. There were no posters, no speeches, and in fact, I was criticized for not standing out with signs in the designated area. My conversation about a class reunion does not constitute a violation of policy or law. More importantly, police were on
site to ensure compliance, and our town clerk actively monitors the election integrity. These allegations question their their professionalism, something I do not. I contacted the elections commission myself the following morning and was told it falls under local authority.
My opponent, Mr. King, and his convenient timing of social media claims, suggesting favoritism and hiring are not only misleading, they ignore the rigorous process I put in place. Throughout my career, I've conferred and followed state ethics commission guidelines, often going above and beyond
ensuring transparency. When I was fire chief, I implemented a third-party testing for hiring and promotion for all members. This nationally recognized system includes academic and situation exams, thirdparty scoring, and now under the current chief interview panels,
interview panels featuring peers, HR staff, and community members. I'm proud of this model and would advocate for it to become the standard across all public safety departments. Mr. Kane forgets the fire chief I hired him is returning to as a volunteer firefighter at the
request of others. Yet he never attended fires or training. A few months later he poses with a firefighter plate in connection with a campaign for which I believe it was improper. Regarding Mr. Ch Mr. Dei's conduct, I
believe the public deserves to know the full context of chairman Dee's actions. Last fall, Mr. Dei was informed that using town assets for personal benefit was inappropriate. Since then, he has persistently used his position to retaliate, targeting the senior director, myself, family members, the
town administrator, the assistant town administrator, and others. He has been very vocal about his intent to have them all terminated, a fact well documented by former select board chair, media sources, and concerned residents. At the November 19th, 2024 finance committee,
Mr. Dee urging at Mr. is urging a vote allowed him the vice chair to access all town financial documents and approved reserve fund transfers up to $20,000 without full committee discussion or even a vote. Aside from avoiding the democratic process, this unprecedented
move effectively granted him disappropriate authority under the pretense of efficiency. The finance committee has attempted to be advisory, not operational. Yet, this maneuver allowed him to bypass critical checks and balances. Since then, Mr. DD has launched a flood
of public records requests targeting my family, the COA, the administrator, and their contracts. Everything from weed whacker serial serial numbers to pay records. The latest is a formal complaint to the attorney general's office about the failure of the council and aging for posting a meeting. These
tactics are designed to disrupt, not improve government. These actions are evidence of his motives are personal, not civic. Even in his recent grandstanding regarding video footage, he already had submitted the same request. yet the town's window to respond had not expired. I want to thank
the many residents who have reached out and shared their own concerns about inappropriate conduct, undisclosed undisclosed meetings, and misleading promises for Mr. Dei. Please continue to speak up. Mr. Dee was right on one thing. The culture here is changing, but for the better. One of open door
policies, transparency, and accountability. Our residents voted for accountability and common sense governance, and that is what I continue to fight for. Southbook deserves leadership focused on solutions, not vendettas. Thank you. Thank you.
Okay. And then we have uh an appointment for the cult um for Kelly Parker. Would you like to come up rep? There you go. my purse. I'm
welcome. Thank you for coming. Well played, Miss. So, why don't you um tell us a little bit about yourself? There is a uh there's a balance of a term you are looking to fill. Correct. Yes. Um
through 6:30 26. So tell us a little bit about yourself and your interest and ignore the beeping that goes on. Um my name is Kelly Parker. I've grown up in this area. Um I lived in Westfield growing up, but I worked in Southwick my
whole life starting at 15. I worked for Chick Arnold and then I worked for Gibb Arnold all the way through into college. Um I enjoy photography. I'm an amateur photographer and I jud helped I was one of the judges for the cultural council
art show last year and the year before that. I was a participant I've been a participant for two years. I'm a member of CRC citizens restoring congaman and um I've lived here since 2014. I grew up riding my horse around Southwick and working in Southwick. So I
spent more time in Southwick than I did in Westfield pretty much. Um that's about it. That was a lot of the questions that follow. You did a really good job on that. This is not my port.
It's low pressure. Really? It's really Any any questions? Why do you want to be on cultural cons? Well, I amum I enjoy photography and I enjoy cultural things. So, um I know a number of people on the board and I
think I would be helpful in that. That is the type of thing I like and enjoy. Did you participate with photography? Yes, I I've been in the last two um events, the last two shows, and I was a judge for the last show.
So, you have an idea how that operates? Yes. Yeah. Okay. Um any thoughts on expanding other projects with the council? Um to tell you the truth, I'm I'm I was asked to do this and I don't know a lot about what they do. I'm a good workerbe.
Um, so and that's how I look. That's what I how I operate. So probably why they recruited me. I'm a veterary nurse by trade. So that's um kind of outside their own cultural things. But I do I really enjoy
photography. I always have. I have a journalism degree. Um, and I I wrote for newspapers and magazines. So in my younger days, the creative strength. So I have some creative. Sure. Okay. I know her fairly well. I I think she'll
be an asset to the cultural community. Thank you. Me too. So, uh motion to appoint. Sure. I'll make a motion to appoint Kelly Parker to the cultural council for the um 81, excuse me, 8125 through 6:30 26.
I'll second the motion. Roll call vote. Diane Galla. Doug Moin. Yes. Russ Anderson. Yes. I see that was easy. Yeah. You got one more important job, though. You have to stop by town clerk and get sworn in. Oh, okay. All right. Are there certain times of day to do that?
Regular business. Okay. Just Yeah. All right. Just knock on the knock. I don't have to make an appointment. I just just knock at the window and they'll take care of that. Awesome. Okay. Great. And then show up for the next meeting. All right. Don't miss a meeting. They'll make you care, right? Thank you for for volunteering for that.
Thank you. All right. Thank you. Good to see you. You too. Do you want your chair still? Let's follow that. Thank you. And then we just have to acknowledge the resignation of Bill Terry from Economic Development Commission. Um and the resignation of Erica Emlman from the
South School Committee. Uh that one will require a joint appointment sometime soon with the school committee. With the school committee. Yep. Yeah. And I think they're talking about the end of the month to come forward with that.
How long is that um appointment? Do we know? That is the another that's the one year left on it, isn't it? Yep. Her seat would have been up at the next election anyhow. Correct. Correct. That one is a little different though. If it if she had just been elected, that
one would run through the remainder of the term. Not usually all of our appointments are to the next election, but with that one being the regional school district, the way the governance is set up for that an appointment is to the end of that term.
This one is conc committing anyway because it's only she's in the last year of the term. Okay. What's that? There's no alternate on this whole none. All right. Then we are going to go into
an executive session under chapter 214 section 1B and chapter 30A section 21 for the purpose of a person having the right against unreasonable substantial or serious interference with their privacy. We will reconvene in open
session when we complete that. So, if you'd like to hang out in the hallway or down in the lobby or something, there you go. One, two.
Good. I think so. Okay, welcome back everybody. Thank you for your patience. Um, we're gonna go a little bit out of order. If Mr. Paul Bari would like to come up and address us,
we're we're gonna take just so we don't have to delay you any further. Sorry about that. I knew I wasn't going to hear you when you didn't. Um, I guess you know Oh, there you go. That's okay.
Okay. My daughter Liz. Hi. And your name for the record. Name and address. Your name and address for the record. Boberi. Welcome back everybody. Thank you. Boberi, 92 North Long Road. Been in town
20 years this year. Um, situation started last year. Came in to pay a dog license. This is going to be a it's a small thing, but still it's big to me. Situation started last year. Came in to pay my dog license. Being a
week late, they attempted to charge me $15 penalty on top of the $10 license. I complained to a selectman's office asking to see one of them. The girl assured me they'd get back to me. Never happened. This year I came in to pay it again. I
was three days late. They attempted to find me another $15 penalty. And now they've added us as of since then, which I haven't paid it, they've added a $50 fine. And next we go to court. I'm going to continue to pursue
this $15 penalty. My math is very good. A $15 penalty on a $10 bill is 150%. 150% fine. The math is not good with you people. I don't believe this will fly in court or when the news gets out. If I
was one day late on my $8,000 tax bill and you charge me 150%, you'd give me a $20,000 bill the next day. That would not work. So, something's wrong. It It doesn't work for the T. You'd
never do it on tax. You don't have a right to do it. You're you're restricted to 12 or 15% on a tax. You can't charge 150%. Nobody in town will pay it. This town would be over. The case is not amount about money. My wife and I built
and donated the uh half a million dollar animal shelter. It's about principle. You're trying to take unfair advantage of the animal lovers. In closing, we're all human. We've all had a related uh card that we have sent out. just
forgetful. 88 years old. I forget every now and then a little bit. Might have been three days late. But I think that the fine should be rest be should be lowered. I don't think should be a $15 fine on a $10 bill. That's about as much as I got to say for
that. And I don't know what you can do about it, but um I think it's very unfair to charge that kind of money. I know we're talking small dollars, but if you tried to do it with my $8,000 tax bill, we'd be in court for a long time.
Understand? Hear you. Well, I I don't know what we could do about it sitting here right now. I didn't know what your discussion was going to be about either. So, um see what we can do about it. You're just taking under advisement and let me know. We'll see if we can. Is that how you do it? Yep.
Fair enough for me. And I will get back to you. Okay. I appreciate it. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Thanks everyone. Thank you for waiting. All right, then back to new business. We have a one-day liquor license application for the Southwick Rec Center for the Westfield Civil Air Patrol
banquet, which will be on August 16th, 2025 from 5:00 p.m. to 900 p.m. And it looked like all the forms were there and in order. Looking for a motion?
I believe so. So move. Second. Roll call vote. Diane Gail. I Doug Morgan. Yes. And Anderson. Yes. And then we have a one-day liquor license for the wick for the wicked motor foot race.
And if somebody knows the date of that real quick, which is 9725 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 pm. So move. Looking for a motion on that as well. Roll call vote. Diane Gail. I Doug Moin. Yes.
Sanders and I. Okay. Then we have a donation of $2,520 from William and Deb Gore to be deposited in the Southwick Police Department K9 gift fund. This was for the fundraiser they did at Wally Park
this past weekend. Need a motion, please. Yes. So move. Second. That was a very well attended event. It was very nice and it was great weather. It was perfect weather compared to the original date, right? was a little bit damp. It was a flood. Yeah, they it was a
great job. They had great turnout on this. Um roll call vote. Thank Doug Mogan. Yes. Russ Anderson. Um and then other new business. Nothing for me. New
Oh, nothing. No. Okay. All business DDBG determination for the reappropriation of funds. Uh Erica had sent us the list of other potential
avenues for funding. Um I didn't really see anything that made any more any any more sense than continuing with the North Lake AB. Do we have a time period that we have to respond or can that sit for a while or
what's what's the status of that? I mean, learn about it one meeting, try to vote on something the next meeting just seems we might be missing an opportunity in it. Um, I don't recall if she said
I don't remember saying a I can look at that there was a timeline. Were you thinking some other I don't know. I just opportunity. Yeah, I not off the top of my head. I just I mean obviously if we could apply it to
roads that might be a good thing, but there could be other things that we're not even thinking about yet. So you want to look at that list again is that of Well, I think in our chapter 90 the chapter 90 60 whatever the 90 release of funds and that I don't know
if this could be applied it get us somewhere. I don't you know just think there's no rush to spend it only in those affected neighborhoods. Right. Right. Which is where the North Lake project has already started. I mean it could be just simply put it
into that but well that's what what the proposal was. Somebody um I was talking to somebody today about this North Lake and someone said have you been down summer? I'm like yeah that's a CDB project. Yeah. Well, that's
the natural progression as you're working down your way there, right, for a future CDBG project eligible type of thing. So, um I read the list. I didn't really see a lot of ways to go, especially with the the income requirements that are attached to it and
everything else, right? So, I defer if you want to wait till the next meeting and go over this again is I don't think there's any harm in that. But yeah, I it's just and maybe it's the design of some I don't know. I think you my preference would be to
roll forward to get these projects done and get the next one. You know, the next one's going to be a two-year or three-year banding type of thing where you you do a year of you get the CDBG funds designed and then the next two years is funding for construction. So, the third year you do the construction is kind of
how those have gone. Yeah. Okay. So, we'll table this to the next. Yeah. And and make determination then. Okay. And then the roads discussion um chapter 90 numbers came out. Yeah. Yes. You you sent it this afternoon. I
plugged I don't know if I I didn't get a chance to look at your sheet that you had sent. I don't know about uh John Goddard reached out and asked if um a number of public were authorized with that. Um let me see.
Initial feedback rep from Mass for Granville Road which indicates a considerable amount of storm water infrastructure decay is leading to the state to hold up in the paving work from Bugby to Granville line. So they have to meet with DOT to discuss their thoughts on timing and phasing and the amount of
repair work alone is substantial. Not to mention any thoughts toward reconstruction using proper storm water drainage configuration. If we could just hold off until they meet with DOT and he'll come back to you. Okay. on all of it or just that one line about the Granville Road drainage
because there was a Granville Road drainage like 30K. Apparently, he's intimating that there's more to it than that. Yeah. Oh, boy. It's one year construction or if they're not going to do it for two more years if he can put it off and
redirect. These have years, so I don't know if those are current or old, but this is this was Ry's list from this year. I just retyped it, but he had 30k in there and I I don't know if that 30,000 is now.
We'll have to wait till he comes up. So that's you know he says I know the phasing work for you know Fernwood Heights, Finding Hill, Meadow Lane um just he just thought the roughly 300,000 remaining in the original funding should push the prior prioritization discussion
to a future SE select board meeting. I'd also like to see the ones that we had authorized last year. Let's go. South Bumis especially. That one's a a toughy. The road's in rough
shape. And they did all the drainage work. Now they're ready to pave and I think they have the funding to do it and they went out to bid and got bids on it. Okay. Yeah. Randy said they didn't think that would happen till fall or spring.
A little frustrating. can't be soon enough. And I plugged in I thought I saw in from the state uh 6 what's called 615,000 was our amount that's without this year fair share. That's just the chapter 90
allocation. So I plugged that back into that sheet that I had sent to all of you. So I had which was a little more than last year's. Yeah. And then I so I made a minor adjustment here and there to mine. and I'll resend it out. But if we're going
to wait on that Granville Road because if I change it cuz I think I factored in. I forgot which one I factored in. I pulled in another road. Wasn't a sidewalk. It was a paving
talk about Yeah. capital might have been Foster to do that in in sections thirds because I might have pulled that in to get that 200,000ish but again I think you know we never really moved on the beta getting I was going to say investment
I mean we we that should be moving fast so that they we have that information by the fall but I don't know what other if we want to go to other vendors if we I've looked a little bit And the ones that have the analysis and consulting are I hard to find. You can find
analysis, not necessarily consulting. Um, but you know, you you might have better connections with that stuff. I don't know. I know beta comes well recommended by bunch of people.
Yeah. I'll talk to John tomorrow. Are we meeting next week? No following mic and then goals and objectives. Do we want to schedule a work session to
go over those each of them? uh talk about what they are and prioritize them and try to work in the master plan and see what syncs up with the select board goals and we can
tag team two different projects perhaps on some of them master plan a little daunting for a work session of the 43 items of I think no it's our lead items Those were all
the support items. Our lead items were 15 16 and some of them are very authorize a a new organization, a new committee to do this or that. Some of them
um work session. Yeah. If you don't get to, we don't get to. Yeah. So, pick a date. Monday. I can't think. I tried. Good. Tuesday. Are you good any other day of the week? Yeah. Doc,
Thursday. Next uh I can't make next Thursday. If you want me there, what was Tuesday? Was Tuesday no for anybody? Tuesday is no good for me. Tuesday 19th. Wednesday the 20th.
Oh, you said no for you. Thursday. Wednesday the 20th. I have an MPIC meeting. 21st. No, I don't. I could do Wednesday. I could do Thursday. I'll be out of town Thursday, Friday.
Okay. How's January? [Music] Following Tuesday, the Monday the 25th is no good for you. That we're meeting Oh. on that day. Yes, we are meeting that day. Okay.
Anyway, Thursday the 28th. It's fine for me. It's fine for me. Bingo. Are you saying no? Mhm. Oh, is Thursdays in general bad? No, just I'm on vacation. I'm adding I mean, oh,
if you guys want to have your initial and then I can try to help organize something and like I had thought we can't make a decision anymore that way you just can't take any votes, right? I mean to be honest with you, I always had a problem with work sessions in general. I think you just post it as a
meeting, but with the agenda is very limitless. You post the agenda, but if you post it as a work session, you can't vote on anything. I would post the meeting. If you have business that comes in front of you, you can dispose of it if you feel that Yeah, I know it's an off-cycle meeting, so you wouldn't do anything. But if you had something
routine that came in front of you, you would just dispose of it. Um, and you would dispense with public comment and and all the other old business, new business, that that, and the other, but the agenda would be just this narrowed to that. That's
And when are you away? The are you away for two weeks? Yes. The last week of August, the first week of September back up. Does it? No, we could do the 20th, I guess. Is there going to be a heavy agenda on the next meeting?
Who knows? Oh, wait, wait, wait, wait. 20th. I could do the 20. Well, even the 14th is still time to post. Uh, you can't do the 14th. I could 14th.
Thursday the 14th of August. Correct. This week. This Thursday. You're okay. Oh, okay. There you go. Okay. And are we doing a work session or we'll post it as a meeting and we'll discuss objectives in what we put is I mean we can put all the
agenda items but just put work session for what we're going to discuss what we anticipate. It's just working session. But then you said we can't of anything. I would just put it's an agenda item. Wow. New business, old business, and then
carry that, you know, select board goals and objectives. Okay. And then that's it. Because then you if you decide that you need to vote on something, you can. But it's going to be an out of cycle meeting and Okay. For the, you know, the express purpose
is to discuss this because it's going to take at least an hour. I would say 6 p.m. on Thursday the 14th of August. this Thursday. Okay.
Okay, great. Old business. Um, jeez. What was under business? Actually, I'm out of order today. I don't recall any other old business at the moment.
Nothing much. Just want I do want to congratulate I know it's controversial but I'll congratulate the civic fund. They did put on a great fireworks event and familyfriendly event up there at Wall-E Park and at the motocross I think there was couple thousand people there I
think from the fields of it. Um that's it for me. Anything else nine? Anything? Okay. One I don't know if you want to mention the farm parade that's coming. Ah good point. It is this weekend. And
that's this uh Sunday 10:00 a.m. Make sure you visit all the local Southwick farms that are going to be open for for that on on Sunday and pray for nice weather. 10 to 4, right? 10 to 3. 10 to 4. Yes. 10 to 4.
Good. Thank you. We forgot that last time. Okay. Uh then acknowledge payables warrant 2603B dated August 4th, 2025 in the amount of 3,999 85440. And then we are going into executive
session. Need a motion to go into executive session pursuant to Mass General Law Chapter 3A section 21 part 2 and three and chapter 214 section 1B. Labor Council litigation matters and strategy for collective bargaining with police union coalition firefun
staff and clerk union up executive session regarding mass general law chapter 30 A section 21 and 3 chapter 214 section 1B and exception two move to going to executive session to
conduct collective bargaining sessions with non-union personnel and to not reconvene in open session move to go into executive session to conduct contract negotiations with non-UN personnel and to not reconvene an open session and declare that an open
meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the body and to not reconvene an open session. Exception number three, move to go into executive session to discuss discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining and that the chair move to go into executive session to conduct
strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with non-UN personnel and to not reconvene an open session move to go into executive session to discuss strategy with respect to litigation and the chair declared that an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the body and to
not reconvene an open session regarding chapter Uh, chapter 214, section 1B, person shall have a right against unreasonable, substantial, or serious interference with their privacy. Superior court shall have jurisdiction in equity to enforce such right and in
connection therewith to award damages. You want to repeat that? Let me start at the beginning. Motion move. Second. Roll. Doug moving. Yes.
Yes. Thank you everyone.