Welcome everybody to the Seattle South Select Board meeting for January 12th, 2026. It is 6 PM. We are in the land use hearing room at town hall and also remotely via Zoom and on channel 15. This open meeting is being recorded. If anyone else is recording, please advise Russ Anderson
audio and video. >> Thank you. And can we start with the roll call for attendance? Nicole Parker Vanale, >> Doug Mgling, Ros Anderson, >> Nan Signi, >> and we will go to the pledge of allegiance. So does Doug takes his place.
I 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 before we head into public comments,
uh we will ask you to join us again in a moment of silence for Paul Sleeper, who passed away last month. Mr. Sleeper served in the US Army from 1965 to 69 and he worked many years for the Southwick Department of Public Works.
Thank you. And then is there anyone with public comments tonight? And anybody online? See none. All right. Um then we are going to move
into the continued public hearing for Verizon New England. Petition for one jointly owned poll to be placed on the east side of the following way of North Lumis Street. Um, and do we have
>> I'm here for uh Eversource and Verizon. >> Okay. Is that Jason? >> Yes, ma'am. >> All right. Name for the record, please. >> Jason Ferrero. >> Okay. All right. What would you like to add to this discussion?
Well, first off, the poll that was already set was supposed to be set on private property. However, um it wasn't done that way. The stake wasn't placed on private property. So, we did set a poll in the public way. Verizon was
supposed to send a new petition in. I believe we also sent a new petition in um with a drawing for that poll. Then the other pole, we ended up um working with the neighbors to come up with a solution to move the pole closer to um
the little uh side street, I guess you would call that, so it's not directly in front of the the neighbor's home. Um and I stick to that location as well. >> Okay. So that original pole on the other side physically moved.
>> Yes, ma'am. Okay. Any questions from you? >> My understanding that it was resolved with the homeowners and everything, right? >> That is that is correct. Uh my name is Mr. Steinhart, one of the owners of 304
North Lumis. That is a that's a direct interested party on that pole petition. uh sir and we did meet with everybody and Jason and uh we were able to work out other locations that were um more amendable to all the parties.
>> Okay. Is there anybody else online that wishes to speak on this? If not, um, then I guess I'm looking for a motion to close that hearing. >> So move.
>> Second. >> Roll call vote. Diane Gal I. >> Doug Mglin. Yes. >> Anderson. Yeah. >> Okay. And then if no further discussion on the application. I'm looking for a motion to approve the petition for Verizon New England Northeast
Eversource. The jointly owned bull located as shown on the application on North Lim Street. So move. Second roll call vote Dian Gale I. >> Doug Mgun. Yes. >> Bill Sanderson. Yes. >> Okay. >> Can I ask one more question before we
let the gentleman from Verizon leave? >> How did the p how did the poll get constructed in the public way? >> It wasn't staked on private property. So what happens is the my colleague went out to the site, put a
stake in the ground, and that's how we go out and put poles in. So, the stake was on in the public way, not on private property as originally designed. >> So, who st the pole? >> Somebody that no longer works in our
department. >> No on that one. >> Touche. >> Yeah. >> And and just to be clear, this revised application includes both those polls. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. Fair enough. >> Okay. Thank you, sir.
>> Yeah. Our apologies. >> Thank you, Jason. >> Of course. Have a good one. >> All right. Uh then on to new business. Uh just an update on the cannabis retail situation.
Last week we received the first receipts from the state. Um, Pioneer Valley Trading opened on 84. This payment was for the short quarter of 84 through 930 and the total payment
was $19,33011. Um, haven't found where we can track those receipts online yet, but we're investigating that. And it appears that the quarterly payments are a full quarter following the quarter to the U municipalities, but we'll see if that
holds true in the future. Uh then we have a discussion on the conservation commission, a request for open space management and the and planning commission.
Um, we received a letter from them. You all saw that letter, right? Um, very thorough letter. If you'd like to come up, you may. But, um, pretty much
spells out what your needs are, I think. Um, I have a question. Do we have a floater with hours available? Um Rene is has eight hours of photo. Yes.
>> Would that be available? Some of them. >> Some of them. I mean that's maybe not in the summer. I mean if people are taking vacations something like that you know there's really no guarantee
they are available generally. >> Um are they generally meeting once a month >> or more frequently every two weeks? took two weeks. What are your thoughts on that? As far as
dapping, >> I don't know. Not every board has a secretary. We went through I think um you know we just that's towns don't generally do that. We don't we don't can't afford board uh secretaries for
every single board. Um I don't I are you working on an open space direct plan? Are you open? Are you actively working on OSRP? >> Yes, it it's due December this >> Okay. >> So that I think is the I haven't read
the letter that may be one of the concerns. Yes. >> Um, as far as I know, we're coordinating and putting that filing and putting it together. So,
>> the group is fairly very committed. Yes. And we're just trying to get a little bit of traction moving on because, you know, SRT looks like a fairly significant task. So, anyhow, if we could get to get us off the ground, we'd be
>> It's an update. It's not a rewrite. So don't think you have to rewrite from from ground zero, but but I'm not belittling the task at all. >> No. NPV pieces should be helping. >> Don't don't diminish it. >> I'm not at all going to rewrite. It's taken months and a lot of money and a
lot of time. >> I I'm not at all. So >> sorry. Dennis Clark, vice chair of the conservation commission and previous chair of previous two open space committees. And um I can tell you it's a lot of work
and we want volunteers to help out. We need to give them some support. You know, a little bit of support to give them a secretary so they're not over there making copies. See those drawers over there? At least two of them are just for the open space plan, recreation
plan. And for them to go through that is going to take so much time. If they had somebody to help them out, it would help the town out, too. But trying to get volunteers to do everything on their own without giving them any support isn't fair.
>> Well, one of our discussions was having um a member of the conservation commission be a member of the open space subcommittee as well. >> We'd like to know what the mandate of the open space committee is because we
went to the meeting and it was really unclear. Is it just to update the open space plan or are there other functions that they're mandated to do as far as what their charter is? >> Well, are they conservation commission commission or
>> conservation commission brought that to us asking for land management bodies as well as working on the open space update. Yeah, that's what we were asking if there were dual roles here because
that's separate >> and from my recollection be is this was the conservation chair before you all from my recollection um it was to assist conservation
with those not stand alone. Is that your recollection or actually you weren't here then? >> I was. I was and I I went to their first meeting and I came out of that meeting a little confused too. Hence why we asked them to come back to you guys. You know
the OSRP is a big undertake. >> It is >> no argument and I know Dennis you did yman work on on the last couple and there was also a lot of other stakeholders involved in the development and implementation of and completing the OSRP. Park and Rex involved planning
board was involved. Pioneer Valley Planning was involved. I think that's a separate I thought that was going to be a separate committee than this one, not one and the same. Though there could be overlap. Folks could more than welcome
to volunteer to be on more than one subcommittee if they so choose and and want to help. That's great. But I I that's where I saw the disconnect between >> confusion there on both of our >> and there was some confusion as to whether or not we reported to conservation commission or whether we
were an ad hoc committee as well. >> Are they a subcommittee of the conservation commission or are they an ad hoc committee appointed by the select board? >> Well, that was a discussion you were strong about was it was a select board. They're all select
board >> because we're the appointing authority. But it's a it's a it's a work. I thought that this committee was going to be for to help with and identify opportunities to do things with town owned property,
>> land management. >> Correct. >> So that's >> that's separate from the >> OSRP and recreation plan. >> Absolutely. That that was my impression of it from the beginning. And if it's changing, that's okay. I guess, but that's not what >> we probably need to change because it's
due in when? December. >> December. So I think we need >> So but the the OFRP is was a last time around I mean I I think I haven't looked at it in a while but there was probably 15 folks on that >> committee that participated to some
extent >> in in the submission of data and the the creation of the OSRP. So, if we need to move on that, we should move on that here this week. But I I wouldn't put it on the these, you know, two or three folks's shoulder.
>> You get clarified. We might be able to get some people from conservation to join in on that, but we just don't know if we're, you know, >> sure. >> Again, this was presented to us as as this the subcommittee was to support
conservation with the land management, including support on the open space report. However you utilize them, if you're going to turn that over to them, they still need your guidance, you the expertise you have in building that
first report and on all the lands in town. >> Well, I would think it'd be a multi-functioning committee by priority of the open space and recreation plan to get that submitted as soon as possible. And then after that,
you know, as far as recommending and implementing what is in the open space and recreation plan, that would be the other part of this committee, >> but under the direction of they're not going to be under our direction.
We don't have the resources for >> Can you make it a subcommittee of the conservation commission? Would that work doing it that way? I'm not sure. Is that how >> I think those are just words. Yeah, I think how you you were on the OSRP, the last
two of them. That was a proper subcommittee of itself, right? The OSRP, I don't know what you called it, but the the group that presented or put together the OSRP was I don't remember all the folks on it, but there was I know there was park and
wreck, there was planning, there was others even there might even been a select board member on there at the time. and Pioneer Valley Planning. We use some of the >> some of the funding >> funding from there to actually create the document and submit that document to the state because there's there's
particulars around that what they want to have in it. And and it's an important vital document for for for the exact nature of the title, but it's also a basis for grant funding. And if you don't have one, you're not eligible for certain programs and grants. So, it's
it's really important to have one done. So, you're sounding like that's a separate committee, >> but tonight >> and they will and they would both support it, >> at least getting them off the ground, a part-time floater secretary just to get them going because you helped us out and
when we were there, we didn't know how to get on the internet. You know, they had problems with that to start with. If we had somebody in house that already is doing that, they could get them going with all the basics. I think the issue is that Renee cannot
help all the time. I mean, she has eight hours um to help everyone. We only have eight hours of floater time. So if anybody's out or anybody needs any kind of assistance, she would be the person that we would call. And meeting every two
weeks and trying to keep up with minutes and things on top of her planning and conservation work is is a lot. >> Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. That to your point, >> how many are in there? 15. >> Well, there was 12 at least.
>> Yeah. And it was a that was a open space committee is what it was called. Yeah. Then there's contributors >> right >> like yourself was the vice chair I believe the school did most of the work y >> we got input from all the other boards
which you need to get input from everybody. Oh yeah, >> to the town hall. >> I just wanted to say I am doing fine with the meeting minutes. I'm secretary uh Sabrina and Jim set me up uh with a
computer with the town shared uh with uh Ellen Kurd um so that I could if I needed to use the computer here uh at town hall. Um, I personally don't have a problem with
doing the meeting minutes. Um, I thank Sabrina explained to me and you know that it's not taking up a lot of my time. I'm okay. Uh, I was more concerned about the plan and you know who would tabulate all the surveys if we were
doing surveys or who would take notes and uh write up uh public forums if we were doing that. You know, there's an awful lot of work, >> a lot of >> more than just the minutes. Yeah. >> But it's also difficult to do minutes and conduct a meeting at the same time.
And I've done it. I know >> it's not you can't do it right. >> But the the good thing is now with the the Zoom platform, you have the video recording to take your minutes later. You don't have to take minutes in real time like you used to because you can watch the video, play back the video.
And I'm not and I'm not 100% supportive of having a volunteer member have to do minutes, right? I think we need to kind of have a better dialogue around that and and especially when you get to I kind of envision this group as more of
an ad hoc group. Yes, they're appointed, but to about land management on town open town pieces of open space and things that you wanted to do there. I thought that and just my opinion is the OSRP is a larger endeavor and if we had
floater time that's where I would allocate that time because there's going to be documentation there's going to be documents to be prepared documents to send out surveys to tabulate and so on and so forth. Um >> that's what we thought we were doing. I I know and I think we're all I think
we're maybe still a little bit confused and maybe we need to >> discuss that frames for if you're going to get a whole large committee together and get it rolling. >> Was the open space report primarily run through the conservation commission?
Were were you like the lead on it in the past? >> Yeah, took lead on it. Yeah. Had the contacts with the with the state. So should, >> but I was a volunteer on the open space committee, too. >> Yep. >> Did um rally put it together?
>> That's what I was going to say. So does somebody contact? >> No, they wanted $35,000 to do it. We were able to do it with $5,000 grant with the maps. If you turn it over to Pioneer Valley Planning, God bless them,
but you turn it over to them, they're just going to come back and ask us the questions because they don't know. They don't live in this town. >> Well, I'm just looking at the assembly of the actual document is huge. >> Yeah. >> Have you checked with them at all to check with them, see if prints were
available. >> I mean, there could be a temp this is five, six years later than that one. There could be a template now to follow kind of do it yourself, fill it in. >> Yeah. for an update. >> There's classes you go to that they teach you what they what they're looking
for because a lot of it's nonsensical. You know, you know how it is. There's a lot of stuff in there that really doesn't need to be in there and it's not relevant, but they require it to be there. So, you really need to go for all
this training and all this >> work is pretty good. I think they've got a new planners workbook which Sabrina >> Yeah. >> who is into and I've looked at that and >> specifically for the open >> specific for the yeah open space
recreation plan. The format this time is a little different than past years. So if you look at the 2012 plan and the 2019 plan they were following pretty much the same format but they have changed it up since then and there they've added a couple of other things.
Um I can see >> so yeah so it is what they are >> you know that's just what they do right >> so it is going to be a little bit different >> but it sounds like they have a start on it head start on it already so wouldn't make sense not to continue
>> I mean I I guess my first thing would be to contact Piner Valley and see what they have available for resources >> free resources first and >> used to take care of that for us to find out. >> I'm emailing them.
>> That's it. I'm emailing them. That's what I fig the director. >> And Paul, you're familiar with that anyway. She's the one who mentioned Biner Valley Planning. So, >> yeah. So, we can get a start on that at least. And um I mean, from what it sounds like, it is going to be a separate committee
that again, you would support you, the open space subcommittee, would support both them and the conservation commission. um requirements >> department's a big player in itation, right? >> Yeah. Yeah.
>> You're not asking for three people to do the work at 12, >> right? >> Correct. >> That's why I felt so bad that night I was at their meeting. I didn't want to weigh in yet. I wanted to be a fly on the wall in the meeting because it was their first meeting and I and so we we chatted a little bit afterwards because that's this is not a small task, right?
This is a I could tell just by looking at ginormous and um And part of another discussion that we've been having is um which will be coming up is select board leaison to all the um appointed boards and commissions
so that you would also have someone here that you could um call if you need guidance on something how do I do where do I go who has that and and and I'll help you do you know if I'm yours I help you do what you're going to
>> I have one other question on I think it's on page 96 basics of our master plan. It's the natural resources section. There is an action item or objective that says to make the open space committee permanent and I think it
also talks about the open space an open space committee monitoring the plan as you know through the through the years. Um and I didn't know if that was a suggestion. I you know I'm so new I don't know a lot about the master master
planning stuff. um didn't know um if that was something that was looked at and good idea but you know we're not going to do that. We're you know we're >> we're at that stage of the master plan. They're all good ideas but we don't know if we're going to do that.
>> They are suggestions. Yeah. >> So there were other places where the open space committee was uh mentioned as possibly taking the lead on things but there was a little asterisk or something or a little star by open space. because you weren't formed yet because that wasn't a committee yet.
>> Nor was in on that whole deal. So, he might be able to >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I there is a lead organization that has that particular task, that lead item that you just mentioned. It's probably wreck, but I don't recall that off the top of my head because there's 140 of them.
>> Yeah. >> I don't remember them all. >> That's a done deal. You know, in the future it may be considered. >> Correct. >> Right. So just for a little history for myself reading there was a a committee that then dissolved didn't get build
sounds like it went away now we're trying to bring it back what what happened kind >> says dropped from their history the town previously maintained an open space committee for nearly 20 years before it was dismantled. So why
>> I don't know why >> when I look at other communities I look for open space committees typically open space and recreation and it's a committee of six eight so are we doing ourselves justice for
two or three people being on this and you kind of have calling it sounds like it has a real has a real function had a real function and needs to be a real function So, are we trying to fill a gap with open space light?
>> Well, I mean, it's a question. Are they are they a subcommittee of conservation or are they a subcommittee of park and wreck? Who owns the property? It's the town. Who's responsible? >> There's multiple owners of properties throughout the town for conservation because I saw Dennis almost come out of
his chair, right? >> Conservation owns land. Park and wreck owns lands. the town of South Lake, the people of >> the town of South Lake own land. >> So I'd like to make sure that you know and all of it is kind of included in the OSRP. >> Any suggestions? >> But I agree about forming an open space
committee. >> Yes. >> In in which >> that's our action item conservation. >> Yeah. I was talking about the book from the state the uh open space rec. We also have a handbook. I think there's some recommendations how to go about it in the handbook.
>> Yeah. In the handbook, but >> about the plan. So that the state has two separate, >> you know, big books. >> Yeah. >> One how to write the plan and one I think more like what you just asked, how how we might be a committee and you know how it all works.
>> We have some excellent volunteers here. We want to make sure that we >> absolutely scare them off. So >> how scared are we, Phil? Wait a minute. Where's your third leg today? >> So, uh that seems like a separate
discussion on I think starting with PBC PVPC seeing what resources they have, what guidance they want to give us on that. It certainly sounds like it is a separate committee whether it's a permanent whether it's
for the purpose of that plan but I agree there are opportunities that are probably being missed because we don't have somebody's eyes on funding sources. Um so I think more conversation on that. Um,
I guess we can see what we can do to provide a floater, but doesn't sound like it's going to be all the time >> at this point. >> OSRP is kind of coming off of our plate
or becoming something we're assisting another group with. I would say maybe our demand for that was done. And I think Mr. Mo's point of if you're going to use those eight hours, I would use them towards that group that is doing that. OSRP is a pretty fair statement. So,
>> or at least until it gets rolling and then there's requirements for going through files or whatever. >> Yeah. >> Um, so we're not meeting next week. That gives you like two weeks to get some information and come back to that on the I said 26 is going to be a
>> piled up meeting. Um, so we'll hopefully have some more information guidance at that >> point statement what the what they're there for, >> what their goals are. >> The open space committee >> for the open space. Well, I think we believe are we in agreement? We believe
>> make sure that we're all on the same page and we agree on that. If we have to go to a conservation meeting, I'll gladly go or go to their meeting to kind of hash that through as to what we're trying to do with that committee. And I still think the OSRP these guys could certainly be a component of the OSRP,
>> but that this group is on has a slightly different mission I believe. So let's make sure that we we we all understand what we're doing and these guy the open space committee as it exists right now can be a key player in
the uh creation and updating of the OSRP. But that's not their sole mission. That there was I thought that there was more to it. And if we if we need to get together outside of here to to talk it through, >> I would suggest that you put together what
your requirements were for what your thoughts were for what the subcommittee would be >> about 10 items of activities they could work on. Warren was insisting on the OSRP >> and and and you know once you latched on to that and saw that you're like oh my god
>> that we better focus on this and we're going to get that done this year and then right all the other nine items kind of fell off. >> I think assist was a >> I think the cavalary is coming on that. Yeah. >> So yeah. So is am I accurate in that the um open space used to be fall under
conservation but then when the wetlands act changed it put the burden of wetlands on you which took up too much space for much time for open space and the reason >> it's it's always been you know there's so much involved with the wetlands protection act that it's really hard for
the conservation commission to have the time to deal with open space properties. So they had a committee to advise the cerbase commission on what they thought we should do with these properties as far as management. >> And this is to resurrect that. >> Yep.
>> But it was also, you know, to Doug's point, we need to get to put together a full committee. We need someone from the planning board, somebody from park and wreck. We need people from representatives on and from those boards.
>> Yeah. So, we should stop our work at this point. You know, >> unless you're threequarters of the way done with that, >> threequarters of the way done with that, then >> absolutely.
>> You know, and and you know, I've even been looking at, you know, putting up a timeline. We need this by then. And, you know, I mean, so we we've been looking at that. So, it sounds like, you know, that's kind of overstepping uh that's stepping out of our lane. It really needs to be a committee that has a
planning board person. Uh >> well, they may make you the chair with with what you've already done. You know it sounds like you know >> when you sit on your hands. >> Yeah. I mean the deadline of December
you know I you know I am nervous for the town with the deadline December because I asked Melissa Cryion at the state level you know the deadline extension and she said no. >> Uh she suggested we might apply for um some grants to help us out or whatever.
And I did explain to her that it was a new committee. I was a secretary committee. Um so I I just want to let everybody know that that that is a deadline if we want to stay current so we could have grants and other things.
>> Last time we couldn't make the deadline, but we had >> a planned a draft plan that was submitted and they let us slide on that. That's how we got the extension. >> So we had a draft that was submitted. So, >> has anybody been getting the grants?
>> Has anybody been getting grants through this plan >> over the past years? >> I think we did in a in a >> Yeah. And and take a look at the the last one from 2019, the open space committee. Mr. Clark was
the chair, Mr. Fox vice chair, Dave Spina from the planning board, uh Dave D. Delorei from PNR, Frank Samuelson, resident. John Steiki, resident. And then you get double mentioned, Dennis. Dennis Clark,
conservation agent. These are contributors. Alan Slesler, Sue Gore, Randy Brown, DPW, Dick Grenell's DPW, Steve Presnol, South McTall, and Granville School District, and Gene Nielson for office support. So that was that was the committee,
>> the contributors. contributors but the committee up top was uh one two three there was six >> five >> somehow there's six but it's all good but it there was you know you got representative from obviously from concom select board planning board PNR
and two residents >> right >> so would love to see >> and yeah and and the and the contributors as well so >> we got the two residents >> and we got an expert >> and an expert >> I would be interested in helping out if
I knew what direction we're going in. So, >> all right. So, hopefully by the end of >> I have a question >> on that. Sure. Who's that? >> Uh Connor Flurry, the chair open space. >> Oh, there he is. >> Yeah. I'm in Home Depot right now. I ran into
a problem, but that's another thing. Um >> so it seems like the park and wreck kind of is more kind of handinhand with us more than any other board. Um, would it be possible just to put park and wreck kind of with us and have one big sort of
committee where it's open space and park and wreck? I mean, that kind of solves our issue of not having enough people on open space as well as kind of gives us more people to do the open space plan. I I just I don't know if that's possible. I just, you know, it's a dumb idea, but
it was worth bringing up. >> Nope. Nope. Were you here for the whole discussion? >> Yes. >> Okay. So >> smart guy didn't say a word. >> Yeah, >> we think so. We think if we're going to
use acronyms, um your committee would be OSMPC, the open space management >> and planning committee versus an OS, an open space committee, >> which would involve all those other
parties. >> Okay. So you're saying you might want to do two a different committee to handle the mass >> a whole separate one and you would be part of that other OS committee open space.
>> Okay. >> So yeah the burden is not on you guys alone. >> Right. Right. I just know maybe putting parking wreck with us would help solve that problem and would maybe make it so it's one big thing instead of having all sorts of different committees. I you know I guess that's kind of up to you
guys. I just didn't know what your thoughts were on that. >> Well, they're elected, so I don't think we can tell them that. >> Gotcha. >> Um, >> that was a planning group. >> Yes.
>> So, uh, as far as again back to what their charter is, I think you've already drafted the the skeleton of it. if you want to put that into a a blurb and we can take a look at it and
>> and do, >> you know, add or subtract from it and and we can post that on your page and boom, there you go. >> Okay. >> Okay. Sounds good. Thank you. >> And that relieves your your floater need
at least at the front end here as well a little bit anyway. Okay. We just wait until uh we find out more from this board of conservation commission whether we should do any further about the plan. Instead, we should be focusing on some
of those land management. >> So far, you're under the jurisdiction of the of the select board. So, whatever they tell you, then we'll follow through with that. >> Okay. So I think we I think you're you're still
are we >> I thought that we just we were the appointing authority but they work for you >> right you're managing what they are going to manage >> and they're going to be a subcommittee of conservation >> they I think it's semantics then Dennis >> correct >> we're certainly not looking to come in
and micromanage what they're doing but based on the premise when Mr. Pratt and others came in in front of us of what they were looking to do. That's what we when we appointed for that and if it it if we need to revisit that part of it,
what the mission of that group is right now, let's we can we can have that discussion and move it forward. >> I was clarifying the original request. >> It took a while for it to happen. So it was a while back. All right. So, Norm,
you'll send some send something forward and we'll >> So, that'll be on our agenda for next meeting, Norm. >> Put it on the agenda. >> Okay. >> All right. >> We'll just like to hear from you then. >> Excellent.
>> Okay. Thank you. Good discussion, >> Madam Chair. >> Yes. >> Wow. We have a bunch of members of the Conservation Commission and Sabrina here. Um, I mentioned this in passing last week under new or old business about there was a request from
conservation to have the thought of having an associate or associate members of the conservation. >> Yep. >> Since we're doing subcommittees and so on and there's some folks here from conservation, it might be a good time to
just spend two minutes on this and talk about it. Um, my opinion that I I gave back to Sabrina is I think it's a good idea at by statute under Mass General law was it it's 840 chapter 48C.
It it describes how a conservation commission shall be comprised and there's no provision for an associate member. Doesn't mean you can't have one. It just means they can't vote. So I I have absolutely no objection because and
especially with using the planning board as a an example, the planning board by statute has an associate member. The associate member uh depending on how each town chooses to
implement it. But Southwick takes up u I think the best possible way to do it is the associates can comes to every meeting, participates in every hearing and every debate and every discussion and if they're ineligible to vote, they just don't vote. And if they're
designated by the chair to vote on a matter because of incapacity, somebody missed a meeting or they're conflicted, then they then they sit in here on the application. Well, that's a great opportunity for someone to sit on the bench, as it were, to learn how that board works and what the the laws that
they operate under and what's going to come in front of them. And the day that a seat opens on on that board, it makes them a readymade participant. I'd love to see something like that for conservation. The only thing we can't do
under the law is they can't vote. But could they be could the chair appoint uh I don't see why not why they couldn't make certain members associates or as if we're the appointing authority appoint them with their consent to have
two associate members that could be at a you know a seat at the table as you will in meetings get all the emails get all the documents that are submitted out to the to that board for their meetings attend meetings so on and so forth just can't vote and um Sabrina was nice
enough and and um town clerk was also did a lot of research on this. There's history in the town itself of they had appointed associate members to the conservation commission. Um >> no, they were the formal vote was that they were associate members. I they're
in the minutes from the 80s and 90s, early 90s. Um, but doesn't I I didn't go through all the minutes to see if they actually voted or anything and the statute of limitations is way up anyway, but I think it's still mass general law is clear as to how the
conservation's comprised and so I think it would be possible to do it just as a non in a non- voting role >> and I would support it because I think it's a great opportunity for someone to be a willing participant and and to get
that knowledge that you can only get by being at the meetings and and being a participant in the discussion. >> We took a straw poll at the last meeting and everybody thought it was a great idea. >> I did read section 8 C again. Again, I've read it many times. It doesn't
address associates whatsoever. >> It says seven members. I would just like legal counsel to weigh in. If it doesn't say associates, can we interpret that as we can? before we do.
Um, and even if it says they can't, doesn't mean that the chair can't run his meeting the way he wants. >> And that's kind of that's kind of my intimation here is, you know, like the every every every chair had >> I'm just saying I don't know if they would be appointed or you would just run your meetings that you would let
everybody participate in the discussion. The usual people that show up, let them participate if we can't officially appoint. I I think you have to be careful with that though because depending on how a meeting goes there may without voting, >> right? But depending on how a meeting goes, the chair can't treat
>> We We should get an opinion from town council, but I wanted to socialize it while everyone was here. >> It was going to be Yeah. you just >> when you're having a meeting, let's say you had a contentious meeting and the chair had to suddenly run a meeting very strictly by the Roberts rules
>> and stop all public comment and back and forth that we normally encourage and and you know sometimes you have to stop it. Well, now you've got two associate members that aren't members. They can't they'd be in the same boat as anyone in the audience, right? So you you can't treat two members or two people from at
that meeting differently than you would anyone else in the meeting just because they've been to more meetings or something whatever that is. So we should probably get that clarification. I wanted to bring it back to this board because we are >> we're kind of the appointing authority to the the conservation but you know the
you know Sabrina and obviously from conservation were asking about it and I the more I thought about it the more I think it's generally a good idea. >> How do we do it? like an ad hoc member. >> Yeah, but statutoily I don't think we have the ability to appoint an associate
member by title because it's not in the statute. And that's how we we did do um Christie did the research that is how we brought conservation to town via town meeting to adopt this mass general law.
So that's how that tells you how the conservation commission is comprised composed. So we're not free to change it. So I don't know how exactly we would do it but I think we should figure out you know there could be a way to make it happen and to make it a worthwhile thing
because there's you know you know as I'm for good or for bad living proof from the planning board. I sat as the associate for three and a half years learning how that board operated and you know listen to different petitions and was able to ask questions and participate and you know 95% of the time
didn't vote but that when the when a seat opened up I was in a better position to to join that board and be a a fully participating member. >> Okay. So we'll get some advice on that. Sabrina, did I capture that pretty well?
You have more to add? >> Um, I guess maybe the one thing that I would add is um we have a um conservation commission handbook from the MACC and there was a section about
associate members and volunteers. Um so other communities uh across Massachusetts for however they do it whether it's through like an official vote at town meeting or if it's just like you know the conservation
commission at a regular meeting is voting an associate member that people do it different ways. So I think it's really um South Lake's decision on how they want to and how we want to move forward with this and also if it if we
want the select board to appoint if the select board wants to appoint them or if you want the commission to appoint them and we do have um somebody in mind um this is what brought this whole thing up again um somebody who's very qualified uh for the conservation commission and I
don't want to lose him so Um, >> honestly, it could be another special act required >> to change the statute >> for our town, >> could be our mind right now. And the commission
does do the open space and wreck plans and they these regulations have full force of law. They're not merely guidelines. They all have associate members. So, it's on MACC, but how >> that's for an OSRP plan. This is for the OSRP. You want to have I kind of switch gears of the conservation.
Massachusetts associated conservation conservation commission. So the OSRP belongs to the conservation commission but the associate members >> are you know they're saying they do don't dedicate a lot of their time. So
it leaves inadequate time for open space protection and other matters to compensate. Many commissioners have created open space land management and other committees involving those members and associate members. most interested in the commission's original mandate >> which is the subcommittee literally what year
>> which we just did >> yeah the open space committee >> so your person would become a member of the open space management committee >> then >> I was thinking this particular person would be an associate of the conservation commission
>> that's so that may require a special act to change that statute to allow for associates. >> Law, right? >> What's that? >> Yeah, we don't change much federal law. >> We do. If we have a special act under
the home rule, >> it would be a Southwick bylaw. >> We'll get it by. It's similar to we were talking about the elected or >> there was a there was a an article at a past town meeting asking to have to
change the composition of the conservation commission that was then voted by the select board to request a special act of the legislature to change the composition of the Southwick Conservation Commission. It's
>> just for Southwick. just for Southick, not for the entire Commonwealth >> to change >> and it it it didn't make it out of committee one year. I don't know the status of it in current legislative session. You could do that process again or I guess we could ask council let's say who would be can can you appoint an
associate a non- voting associate member and what is the ramification of doing that? >> Because I don't think you're increasing the size of the conservation commission. It stays within the bounds of where you are. You you have seven now, right? Mhm. >> So you're at the max under the law that
you can have, but you want to have an associate, which I think is a it's a good idea. So how do we how can we do it without running a foul mass general law and still allowing that person to participate except for the voting part >> and MACC is only a
an association. It's not a government lobby. >> So I would want I would want >> I will certainly reach out to Cong, huh? Yeah, >> we're doing a pretty good job tonight. >> I know. I haven't eaten yet. I thought
it was going to be short. >> Well, you thought I wasn't going to be here. >> Exactly. That's exactly what it said. >> I I got it. I got it. >> And I was right. >> All right. Are you >> He said if he's not either.
>> No, that's fine. While they're here, that was a great >> while they were here. I figured >> Great segue. then we don't need to do an unrolled business again. >> Cool. We'll save a lot of time at the other end of this meeting. >> All right, good. Moving on. Um, thank you all. >> Thank you, Connor. >> Thank you guys. >> I appreciate it.
>> Thank you guys. >> Okay, and then moving on, we need to discuss and appoint Rich Bozac to the Joint Transportation Committee as a member. This is a PVPC committee that Randy Brown was on. Um, it's been vacant
since R and Rich would be taking that seat. >> So, move. >> Roll call. Vote. Diane Gail. I >> Doug Morgan. Yeah. Ros Anderson. Yes. >> Okay. Old business. The master plan documents
um that I rolled through with you. Um, if you are comfortable >> or still need some time, if you're comfortable, I would like to be able to submit the one page commitment sheets
uh that has 6400 and two 12 total uh recommendations that we would act to the master plan. Do you want to see it in person?
I know it's small. Again, I took the the prior thing from October where I did common goals. where >> put Doug's comments into it and then um just kind of rep prioritize the years on
those and with further thought also have the recommendations to modify one and cancel >> two and that process is the master plan implementation committee reviews it decides it's if it's valid to them and
then sends it back to the select board and the planning board to approve move, canceling or changing. Um, so it's two parts. If you're comfortable with that and then comfortable with the recommendations to cancel and modify, I
can send those and we won't be one of the last parties hanging out there. >> Do you need more time? Do you want to look at it more? I'm okay with I mean my my primary focus on this coming out of this has been the the municipal fiber
and we're tracking along on that as best we can >> and it's in here as a as a year five complete year five >> complete phase one of your local declared by that
>> no the project itself and and it's in year five we can change that >> I hope we're done by then >> next year if that's if That's going to be shorter. We can shorten that. >> Okay. >> In year four, year four >> 2040 will have it. >> But it it it's monotonous. I mean, we we
met this week and just talked progress on a couple things and it's it is monotonous. >> And then I sent the insurance over and they're like, "No, we don't want it in the format. We want it in a different format." And then three days later, they'll get back. We need it in a different format.
>> So comfort level. >> Yeah. I I'm fine. >> Yeah, >> I will send this to you tonight. Okay. >> Not last, nor >> it's taken a long time to get there. All right. Um I
had nothing else in old business. You already covered the uh conservation. >> Yeah. All good. >> Membership, right? Um, nothing to update really. >> Any update? Any update? Excellent. Minutes. Acknowledge and approve open
session minutes from January 5th, 2026. >> So, any >> sir live? Yes. >> Sanders. >> Hang on one second. I forgot one thing under Sure. >> new. It's real quick only because it
came in today at 3:00. We should just put it on the clock for for future action is that there's a a petition this afternoon from the developers of Greens East for road acceptance. So that'll be
to get to the town meeting in May. >> What's Greens East? >> Three roads that they have completed. >> Well, a tannery off there. They're ready to come in and ask the town to take >> though to take them. >> Oh, okay. Yeah.
>> So, we have a bond and when they want to release the bond and and go to town meeting and officially lay out and accept the ways that's >> but there's a process. >> There's a process but the the first step of the process is they ask which >> starts. They ask today. So,
>> let's just put that on our radar. >> Okay. >> And is and that is reviewed by planning, DPW, all those are releasing them. Yep. >> We had a problem in the past with that. >> Oh, yeah. >> But one of the other problems that we've had in the past that we've gotten a lot
better at and the Greens was been a an exemplary in this regard is finish go and make that request of the relevant boards to take the ways. you there's still roads out there that were in
subdivisions that we still don't own because the town either gave the bonds back and there just wasn't enough bond money to be interesting enough for the developer to finish the the as builds and the other last three little cheaper to walk away and then 20 years later you're fighting to figure out how do how
do you do that? So kudos to them for at least following through and getting us to this point and they want to be absolved of it too because all those homeowners owns in the middle of that road until >> right >> we take it. So >> yeah, anything else?
>> Few more minutes. No, >> okay. We're going to acknowledge payables warrant 2617B dated January 5th, 2026 in the amount of 153,76063. And before we adjourn, just a reminder that there's special town meeting
tomorrow in the high school gym. Starts promptly at 6. So get there early to get checked in and get your little voting cards. Get your seat. And if there's nothing else, >> motion to adjourn. >> Well, we made up for the second half of the meeting really fast. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. Second roll call. Yes. >> Thank you, everybody.