Welcome to the town of Southwork board meeting for September 22nd, 2025. This was to be a joint meeting with the board of assessors at 6:05. That portion of the meeting is cancelled. Um it is 6:00 p.m. We're in the land use
hearing room in person and via remote hybrid format. This meeting is being recorded. If anyone else is recording, please advise Russ Anderson. And we'll start with attendance. To my left, >> Nicole Parker. Diane Gail,
>> Doug Mglin, Russ Anderson. >> Thank you. And let's start with pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America, to the republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right. And then moving on to public comment. Is there anyone in the room with public comment? >> Had a feeling. >> Yeah. Um >> name for the record, please.
>> Brian Schneider 100A Kangamand. >> That it. >> Uh good evening members of this. On behalf of the town employees, I want to thank you for the opportunity to speak and for your continued efforts to address the issue of health insurance
contributions. We understand that this is a complex matter and appreciate that you're exploring options and manage costs and responsibility. That said, we'd like to respectfully express our concerns about the potential impact of any change to our current health insurance.
The coverage we have now is strong and reliable and many of us depend on it for ourselves and our families. Our primary request is not to change the plan, but to ask the town to consider contributing at a level more consistent with a state average between 75 80% as many other
municipalities in Massachusetts do. We understand the board advised against a special town meeting and we respect your judgment. However, we ask that employees be kept informed and involved before any decisions that are made that could affect our health insurance.
Transparency and collaboration will help ensure that any change reflects both fiscal responsibility and well-being of the talent workforce. We're concerned that a shift of a lowerc cost plan might compromise the quality of coverage and we hope that cost-saving measures won't come at expense of
employee health and security. We're committed to working with you and find a solution that supports both the town's financial goals and the needs of the employees. So that's what we're going to ask just open in communication between the boards
and the and employees just to transparency. >> That's all. Thank you. >> Well, we don't normally respond. I >> Yeah, I know. test firearms. >> Um I I don't believe we
said no to a town meeting. We a special town meeting. We need the time to put that package together to make a decent presentation for town meeting. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Um I don't think we want to cheap
certainly not my intention to cheapen the plan either. It is just to see if there are other cost effective, comparable, or even better plans. >> Okay. No, >> available. >> Um, and I'm certain that any changes are
going to be review. They're not going to be made. There's not going to be a decision made without reviewing with the employees what those are. Appreciate >> what those would be. That that would >> just be >> okay. >> Not good. So, >> thank you. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> Thanks for your time. You can hold it. >> Yeah, you said it pretty well. >> Okay. >> Joanne, would you like to make a comment? >> I would, but uh just to let you know, I don't know if it's because I may have an
updated um app for the Zoom. There's no raise hand option that I can see. >> I can see it on my end. H >> weird. Okay. Um Joan Leblanc, 38 Reservoir Road and um I'd like to
comment on the fact that recently there have been several Comcast Exfinity trucks u in our area for about the last two to three weeks. That area includes uh George Lumis Reservoir
uh Hill Wil uh Will Palmer Hillside and Granville. Um, and I was told by the cable workers because I had I actually stopped because I've been having phone issues lately and people can't call me and I thought maybe they were working on the phone lines and they told me they were not. Um, but they told me that they
were running uh Xfinity uh fiber optic cable. So, I'd like to know if you have any information that you can share with the residents um regarding this and how this
could impact any possible uh future connections with Whip City Fiber in the future. >> I don't have an answer right now. >> I think we'll have to do some investigation and let uh let you know, Joanne.
>> Okay. Thank you. >> Anyone else online for public comments? >> I see Ann. >> Yes. >> Hi. >> Good afternoon. Jason Peron, one Noble Seed Crossing South. Um, I just want to say as a former member of the board, I
think everyone knows how I feel about the health insurance. Uh, one of the most important things to me is taking care of the employees, always has been, as well as the residents. I just want to speak up uh, on behalf of the employees and say I wholeheartedly as a resident
uh, support what they need. Um, and I hope we're able to get to that point with them. I know this that the board and Nicole have been working and Naen have been working diligently on this since before I left the board and but I just wanted to clearly state you know I
really hope there's something we can do to take on an additional percentage to um you know to stop the bleeding as far as the employees. Um we've lost some quality folks over the last couple years um and it's tough. Um, I do have some
documentation I can give to Nicole uh down the road. I I did some research both when I was on the board um and since uh and I'll make sure I get that to Nicole to help you guys out. Um, and just so the the other public that sometimes looks at it and says that's
going to cost me money uh so they have a little bit more information and understand what's going on. But that's all I wanted to say. Um, thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else online? Okay. All right. So 605 we do not have that
meeting. So we will move on to the dog hearing. We closed the hearing. Um and we need to come to some decision on what to do. Um, >> you like
>> Excuse me. >> Would you like to? >> Uh, no. I think this is for board discussion on what the resolution shall be. Um, start with my thoughts on it. Uh, Mr. Matzik agreed that he could raise both
of the upper deck railings to prevent the possibility of Zara jumping over those. Um, so I would recommend that they do that. um and remove any of the blocks that are on the inside.
I noted when we were out there on the property, there was a lead attached to a bush in the front left yard. Um I would also recommend that whenever Zara is not inside that fenced area that
she must be on a lead or a leash. And even if she's chasing golf balls, she should be on that lead. U this is consistent with other dog hearings we have requiring that lead.
And um I think as part of it, the Matic family must all agree that they will continue to be diligent in investigating and monitoring how Zara may be leaving their property, whether by her own mental and physical agility or by human
error on that. Um if she escapes again, she may be declared a dangerous dog. And um if that happens, they may not be able to retain homeowners insurance. She might be removed from the home or she may even have to be euthanized. I think
if they take those measures, um we might have a a safer situ we should have a safer situation and I welcome your thoughts and additional recommendations. Well, I think
even common we have an application or a hearing in front of us and we need to we need to bring it to some kind of conclusion. So we can either find the dog dangerous, we could find the dog not dangerous or we can hold this in
obeyance for a outstanding a period of time subject to an agreement. So, and that agreement would be a consent like almost like a consent decree by the owner in conjunction with the town that
kind of if the conditions of said agreement were based on what we're just laid out that we would hold this in obeyance for a year and if there's no further activity than the then you'd close out the hearing or if there's any other thing we'd come back and and re re
have to rehear or or act upon new information, but I don't I think that that's the only three things you can do here. And so it has to be by agreement. And and then if if the owner
agrees to the conditions herein, then you can proceed with that that disposition. Or then if or if they don't, well then the board needs to come to conclusion whether the dog is dangerous or not and adjudicate that
subject to the bylaw we have in front of us. I because I really think we can't just mandate that. It has to be by agreement because the only thing in front of us to >> just want to be clear as to what we're doing here >> of course. >> So, >> but that's my recommendation that we agree to that. And Russ, you have
>> Weren't we seeking legal counsel as to what we could ask or not ask? >> Never got back to me twice. I even called >> um I don't know. I I mean I know those are minor. That's why with with these conditions these he already agreed that
he could raise the railings. He already has the lead in the front yard. >> Yeah. I guess my only question on the the lead part I mean we haven't declared it a dangerous dog yet. So to tell the to tell the owner
that it has to be on a lead. I don't know if it conflicts with itself and I understand what you're saying. I just it's still his responsibility to control the dog whatever he does whether it's a lead shot collar offense
whatever all the above. So >> to me >> I personally while I agree with most of what there I agree with more of a global it's his responsibility to secure that dog as a possibility of of it being
dangerous. Second half of that is that what you said of up to euthanization and losing the dog if he doesn't fix it. So it just seems like it should be a global answer, not a particular arrangement. So what happens if he jumps over the fence
anyways or there's some he breaks the leash? I mean there's there's still a handful of things that could happen. >> Um it's his responsibility to come up with something to control the dog. That's I I I don't know if we are supposed to make that answer.
That's why I was hoping for legal counsel. >> Wait for legal counsel to >> um we've made these in my time here. This is what the third or fourth one we usually one a year. >> We've made these
similar >> agreements >> agreements >> in absence of a finding because >> it is his responsibility if he agrees to do these. It is his responsibility. This gives us some assurance that the
neighbors will be able to walk by >> if the dog is on a lead in the front yard. >> I I understand. I I mean I >> if if if this goes into effect and the dog still escapes and threatens someone, clearly we have a determination that the
dog is a threat and that is our determination at that point. >> No, I I understand that. I just we some of the stuff wasn't reported before. You know, there we found out other things through the through the hearing, but it wasn't reported at the time. So there's
a lot of variances, but I mean you're you're agreeing, you want to call it a contract, whatever. Isn't that over the top? Let's say I could go with that if that's something we want to do. But I do think we really need to get legal consult as to because everything has a
ripple effect. We tell you to do Z and you know A happens, are we liable? That that becomes my question. >> I see it. I just I just think that the the third the third option is
you know absent legal counsel but the third option is such that you could if they agree to that I don't think it makes >> the town more or less liable by law >> 100% because if based on what we have you have every indication that this dog
could be a dangerous dog >> if you make that finding that has a bad outcome for the homeowner and the dog. No matter how you look at it, they just not from my own personal experience, but from what I've read, a
home with a d a dog a dangerous dog finding is uninsurable. You can't insure your home. That if you have a mortgage, you can't have a mortgage because you don't have insurance. It it just gets it's a cycle that no one wants to get into. So, this is kind of, you know, an agreement like this and and
you know, you enter into an agreement like that. Yes, it's it's more arduous than every other dog in town, but this dog has demonstrated an ability that it doesn't want to stay on its property for whatever reason or it wants to bug people walking by. So, you you go to
this level. If they don't want to agree to it, great. Then we can go to the finding of what we're going to, you know, what we would decide and find. Um, and if something else happens from here, well, then you just come right back. You reopen the hearing that you've held in obeyance, and you find that dog
dangerous, and then you figure out what's going to happen. We've been down this, I've had I, it's uncanny that it is about once a year. So, um, you know, we've had different agreements with different folks. We've brokered or been party to one where the
dog left town and was traded for a player to be named later. We've had dogs that um where people entered an agreement with fences or other things like that. Um at the end of the day for me is
this dog needs to be secured because so far his behavior and and I'm going to circle back to this. His behavior has not been good. And you know frankly 100% of the time I've said this I'll say it again. 100% of the time you can't you have to look at the owner more than the
dog. The dog doesn't know any better. Right. It's the owner's job to recognize the disposition of the dog and to behave accordingly to not have that dog be a menace to the neighbors and to the people of Southwick at large. So, I think it's
it's mag almost magnanimous for us to offer a potential solution that this dog doesn't come out that front of that house without it being on a lead, right? And if not, it needs to be in the back in a fenced in area. And if and and if it's not, we're going to be right back here and we will produce a finding of
that being a dangerous dog if he if he bothers anyone else menacingly in the town of Southwick again. Period. That that's just how I see it. and from, you know, whether um and and I think that's the third option that we've had is kind of to give people
I don't want to say a last chance, but an opportunity to correct the behavior of the dog when they haven't done a real good job so far of of correcting that behavior. You know, we already have, you know, we've been to court once. There's additional stuff that needs to go back through the court and get that finished
up. But if we set this kind of rule up and we did it with the dog off of Powder Mill last year, I believe or maybe been earlier this year, right? And we haven't seen nor heard from that dog since. So obviously something's working out good. As far as I know, the dog is still
there, but he's not bothering anybody anymore. So this is that opportunity. And so if if the owner is willing to to sign on to that agreement under the conditions imposed by this board as the hearing um the hearing
body, then we can move forward. If they're not willing to sign on to that agreement, well then we need to move to the next step, which is for us to vote on a finding for this dog. And then then you go from there. Oh wow.
>> I I think Doug and I >> I didn't want to stay in 18 again. >> I think Doug and I are in in agreement. >> No, I'm not I'm not dis and I'm not disregarding legal counsel's >> I think we as a board we have a duty to act and protect the public. >> Correct.
>> You've outlined something at um that's I think reasonable, manageable. Although it didn't talk about back fees, payment of >> those I think that's a separate issue. >> Okay, >> that's we asked that to be processed through the court, >> right? Um but I would agree if if
they'll agree to that. >> Does that sound like something the family is going to agree to? >> Well, yeah. Um I would just want to know what like exactly what we're we're agreeing to. Um and we have made e
efforts to go in you know like prevent this from happening. I feel like you said we always failed to go and you know like prevent this from happening but it was you know quite a bit of times that happened and then we went and took measures and it's been one time in the last three years. So we have been taking
steps to further prevent this. Um you know lifting up the fence making it higher. That's something I said like you know we could look into definitely. um you know keeping the dog in the backyard if I'm hitting golf balls keeping the backyard um electrical fences that's something like we've been looking into
too we got some e-collars so we have been looking at like stuff um and I think you know when you go and say the dog can't be in the front yard without a leash um yeah I mean that's something we could also do
it's it's >> I just want to We we have not stated that you have not taken measures. We understand that you have been you have been taking measures. >> Okay. No, we Doug just said like five minutes ago that you said that haven't
take any measures. I just want to clarify that we did like we're not just going like trying to be like negligent and letting the dog out like every single time there's been an incident we've been >> No, I don't think I said that. I don't think I said that. And if I did I I misspoke, but I did not say you didn't take any measures. But the fact is we're
still have outstand we we've had a complaint on this dog of recent that caused this to be in front of in front of us for a dangerous dog hearing. And so all I'm asking I guess what I'm asking here is if we give you four bullet points and we'll be very clear about what those four bullet points are.
Not I'll consider this or I'll consider that. You know and and we'll agree as a board and yourself what those four and I'm making four three four five whatever it is. you know this this this and this. If you agree to do this, we will hold
this this hearing in obeyance for one year or 90 days or whatever the term that the board decides by agreement with yourself. If you don't agree to it, then that's fine. That's okay. We'll just come we will come to a judgment on the evidence that's been presented to us so
far as to what we're going to do about this dog. I think obviously an agreement to try to keep this dog not bound as a dangerous dog is the best for yourself. Zara is the dog's name. Zara, right? And the
select board for that matter. Um, and for the residents of town of Southwick. So, let's come to that agreement. And, you know, I I paraphrased what she said was, you know, it was the dog doesn't come off the lead. adjust the height of that fence on the um >> upper deck
>> on the upper deck and the you know and and you know if it's in the backyard it's within a fenced area that she can't get out of that's great and I if there was a four and five that's it simple you know if you take other measures you choose to take other measures
that that's all well and good right and you know whether uh you know whatever those measures are that you think you need to do based on that on Zara's behavior so that she stays within the rails, we're good, right? But those are those three things I think are kind of
non-negotiables from us based on what we've seen and heard so far, right? And I appreciate the fact I saw we saw photos and stuff at our last meeting of things that had been done to the house with levers and handles and so on and so forth to so I I I didn't mean to imply
that you haven't done anything, but the fact is that we're in front of this board for a dog hearing means that whatever's been done today to date hasn't been com sufficient enough to stop the behavior. So, we got to figure that out. And then, you know, on the the fines and the rest of it, I think we've
got to let that play out through the court because there is a process available to someone to hear have those heard in in court and have those decided. And the other thing, kind of a side topic, but the other thing to come out of that is for us as a board and to go to town meeting and to figure out if
legislative legislatively we should not allow people to register a dog or pull a building permit or anything else if they've got out, you know, outstanding fees and fines for anything with the town that are unpaid
that have completed the court process. Right? That's that's something I have in my notes that I want to take a look at, you know. Um, so but I think getting back to this, I think it's three or four items that she she clearly communicated that those are what we
would put into an agreement between yourself as the registered owner of the dog and the town. And and if we all agree to that, then we'll hold this in obeyance for a period of you decide. And you know, we'll revisit that at the end
of that period and say, "Okay, we've had no problems. The corrective measures have been put in place and continue to be in place and you know, we'll conclude the hearing with a you know, a positive or negative finding on the dog until, you know, and
hopefully we never have to see you in front of us for a dog hearing again." >> I agree. >> That's it. >> I And I think having an agreement is obviously what we all want to do. Um, yeah. So, we could go and find out some
more five bullet points and then go and >> I think we have them. So, I think I want to I want to get those agreed to here now and then we'll put it to writing and that we can all execute provided that you agree to the four things in general. We'll put it to writing and then we'll have everybody sign it and then it then
then we'll agree to continue the this without a finding until a certain date. Right. So, That's it. >> All right. Just to recap. >> Sorry. Go ahead. >> Um, no.
>> Are you explaining it to them? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Question. >> I just have a question asked just >> I'm sorry. >> Okay. So let me just recap that we are
suggesting if there is an agreement that we would hold a negative finding in obeyance for a period certain. We'll put a date to it. If we all agree that the upper deck railings will be raised to prevent her from being able to jump out
and any obstacles cleared from there. Um she remains inside the fenced area. If she's outside the fenced area, it is on a lead or a leash. >> What about the backyard? Because the backyard um you know there's a fence on
both sides and then in the very back it's surrounded by vegetation where she doesn't go through. >> That would be outside the fenced area would need to be on a lead cuz I did see she can go anywhere through that back area
that is wide open. I have that too. What's any electric >> electric fence? >> It's electric. Wait, it's um on a remote. So when I go and I play with her outside in the backyard, there's more
grass in the un fenced area, but I it's on a remote. There's a e-collar. And she responds to me without the e-collar. When the neighbors saw her outside in the front, they're taking pictures. The dog never even went up in her direction. It's always when, you know, no one's around, somehow the dog gets out. But
even with the EA collar and I'm out there, she listens to me. But I'm willing to go and put on a knee collar and she responds to that as well. You know, it buzzes first as a warning. And then um you you have the ability to shock. So first, you make a noise, she listens, she's knows the noise, then you
go and buzz if she were to listen. And then the third one would be this app. It's the same thing as the Eagle, but I'm controlling it. So, I'm in my backyard and I control it where that um and I have a picture of it on my phone that like I have it. It's just, you
know, just it's not on a leash. It's in my back door. I was wondering if that's something that >> if you're I I would say if you're out there with her and you have that e-collar on, you can recall her with
that. I would say that's fine. Are you guys familiar with the e-collar? >> Not at all. So I defer on that particular tablet. >> Okay. >> Sometimes they call it a training. >> I think I get it. I just >> they hear buzz. They learn to buzz. If they don't keep the bus shone
any ideas up here, Mr. Grenell. Thank you. >> No, I I get what it is. I I just don't have any experience with it. So I'll let people who know more about it than >> So we will write that in. And then I said the Matsik family must agree, and I'm speaking of the adults in the
household because you've all claimed ownership of that dog at one time or another. Um, that you all agree to be diligent in closing doors, in observing and monitoring how she may be getting out.
So, I would ask that you all sign that. And those would be the conditions and we can put that in writing for you. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. If we can get that ready. Thank you. >> All right. So, we'll get that typed up
for you and give you a call and can uh come in and sign. We'll sign it. You can come in and sign it. Right. on. >> We can say it today, right? >> Yeah. >> No, we have we have to write that up. Okay.
>> Yeah, I hear. >> All right. Satisfactory. >> Mhm. >> All right. We'll get that for you. We'll give you a call. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> I was really hoping that Dick was going to show us the calendar. All right. Then um lake management ramp attendant we had scheduled an update to the conditions to the workload. Come on up.
>> This is a trick. Okay. All right, just state your names for the record, please. >> Ellen Kurd, >> Richard Granles, Norm Chver. >> All right. Want to give us an update
status report on how things are going? >> Well, yeah, this is I think the past what, six or eight weeks, something like that. You've had it set for 30 hours. um >> excuse me, >> 28 hours maximum and that was during the
the busy uh summer voting >> boating season. And so that works pretty well, but that doesn't fit unless there's some other way we can do it that doesn't fit the
u the 18 hours maximum to be part-time summer. And I as I read this thing, I was just rereading and I want to make sure that that I that uh everybody understands this we're on the same page. Um can be classified as a
year- round part-time employee or a seasonal employee, not both. Understand that. The third option is scenario presented is to offer a full-time 20 hours or more per week uh permanent employment and that require town off I
know paid time off. Um, so a year round part-time employee I think is that's still 18 hours. >> A well permanent part-time employee is 20 hours or more.
>> Okay. Permanent part-time is 20. >> That's when your benefit eligible. >> Okay. That's when it triggers it once you go over the 18. Yes. >> Whether it's year round or seasonal. Yeah. To your right. >> Okay. All right. All right. If it's
seasonal, it's it >> it's seasonal, it's >> it doesn't matter. Right. Right. So, our Ellen is year round because she does the um >> lake management secretary. lake management, secretarial work, all our
clerical stuff year round and is currently also doing uh the LPP and and just if you look at how that all stacks up uh LPP is primarily starts in
the uh November, December time frame, kind of peaks in January, February. I hope we can just from understanding because Dennis Clark and I were the authors of the LPP um spent endless
endless hours doing that weeks man many many months but that kind of has gravitated to where it's too late when it's going out. It's really got to move that back so that people get the paperwork in the kind of February time
frame, late January, early February because it's kind of been over the over the years been moving for lack of people to work on the on the uh LPP. it kind of moved into the March, trickling into
April, and people are voting, you know, and so now we've missed the window where you're supposed if you're going to have a dock in because the rule is um all non-permanent docks that are not in other words, chapter 91 licensed, if
they're going to be under LPP, they got to be out of the water by uh December 1st unless there's a variance given. and that and we've granted a few uh but the there's a couple reasons for that. It's to protect from having stuff get loose
and it does happen. In fact, uh lake management has cleared out every year has cleared out debris, uh floating docks and chunks of docks and whatnot. A skier hits something like that or a swimmer or whatever. I mean,
it's just bad news. So, if we're going to address LPP properly, we got to kind of move that back and really start working on it in November and December and have everything ready to pop in January, February, and then there's
follow-up work for uh local permitting. Lake management, the boat ramps start late March, depending on the weather, and again, weather is has a lot to do with hours of >> start. So, it's ice out and we get uh
people out there. Last year we didn't have ice, you know. Um, you know, was it never froze over 100%. >> But, uh, >> two years ago, >> last year. >> Oh, last year we got it. Yeah. Two years ago it didn't. That's right. Two years ago. No idea.
>> And And that's that's true. And so, you know, season starts very early and that starts picking up. And when you get into May and June, as soon as the the kids are out of school and and vacations start, then it really picks up. So, but
it's still busy in in April, if you get good weather, May, June, July. And so the amount of time spent uh overseeing and filling in because there's the other problem is until the
the uh students are out of school, we don't get our our uh student help until late May and then we wind up with, you know, this this again depending on weather. If it's if it's busy, good warm
days, you need to staff. If it's raining, we don't staff. You know, if it's it's horrible weather, there just nobody's going to go out boating, period. You get one or two. So, that's you just ignore it. Um, and once
it gets really cold, we don't. But this year, for instance, we have there's tournaments right up through into uh the end of October, maybe one in November. Two in November. >> So, uh yeah. >> No, thank you.
>> Thinking about, >> but they're but that's fishermen that, you know, they go out, >> they bundle up and they go out and fish. So, you know, we we will be staffing through October. We we staff until the docks are pulled. I
mean, we we don't feel it's fair to charge anybody once those boarding docks are out of the water. Then they just fishermanmen hop over their the bow of their boat. They pull upon the sand and they hop over the bow and they go out. So um you know the the normal boating
season activities are done when you get into late October and we usually pull docks the the boarding docks in third or fourth week of October. >> So what is your goal? What are you
looking to continue? I know we we gave end of September as a test. >> Right. Right. >> With that what do you want to do moving forward? So >> to see if the 28 hours temporarily during the summer covered the need mostly and and how do we do
that? How do we accomplish that so that we go from say June, July, August, September, the voting season with 28 hours? Is that doable somehow?
There's money for it for I mean you so a part-time permanent employee works 20 hours a week or more. It does not have to be >> consistently 20 hours a week. >> Okay. >> Um but generally has to be at least
>> average person. So if it goes up to 28 hours in the summer from 20 hours and during the other months of the year, that's not an issue. >> Okay. >> But that's what you you can't do that
when they're a seasonal employee. Can't just seasonal doesn't last all year. >> Right. Right. >> That's what the position seasonal. >> That's what it was called. Yeah, it was a seasonal. >> Right. But but Ellen is not seasonal, like I say, because she's the average
>> because of >> she has three different jobs. >> There's three different jobs. That's what >> it's not it's not one job. >> No. >> At 28 hours, there are three different jobs totally >> filled by one person. >> Right. Right. >> Three seasonal jobs. Well,
>> well, they're rotating season. >> LMC is not >> Yeah. LMC is is absolutely not seasonal. LP is turning out to be maybe, you know, maybe I might not have to do stuff there for two months, but you know, people
have a deadline when they're supposed to get their stickers by. And also, I was behind because I couldn't get in there to do the to get the stickers out. So, that was crazy in April and May. I was thankful for a rainy June because the
the ramp wasn't so busy. Mhm. >> But then people are still sending in their applications after May 15th, >> right? >> I still have applications that I'm waiting for dock layout sheets and things
that are not getting processed and the voting season's over. So, but when it got too busy and >> sentiment minus requirements, >> but I had to train people because people left. So, >> I understand it's been a backlog.
>> Yeah. >> I'm trying to have you focus on when it's current, what is the requirement? Not now. There's still a remaining backlog. >> When it's current, >> what does it look like?
>> I don't know. I just chime in if I could. uh on the on the stickers, we're only about 75% compliant with what's actually on the lake that that requires stickers that has a sticker.
That's both Connecticut and Massachusetts. And the only way you fix that is for additional followup. Okay? And we didn't have any follow-up hours. We had minimal followup hours this year for because there weren't enough hours for the
available for so we need to focus that in the future we need more time just to do the follow >> and we said we have Renee and let's recap Rene's >> contributions
>> sure Renee works 10 hours for conservation um and it's my understanding that that it's on Sabrina's list of tasks the local permitting program So, I'm hoping that Renee could pick up some
of those hours now that she's has 10 hours at conservation. >> And she has floating hours. >> She does. >> And how many floating hours a week? >> 70. >> So, 17 total.
She was 20 hours in planning, 10 hours in conservation dedicated and then she has seven and a half hours >> to float. But that can be for anybody. That's >> But she hasn't, right? >> She hasn't. Yeah. >> So she is in conservation for
>> Yeah. >> 17 and a half. >> She's on that she's in that office for 37 and a half hours a week. How >> between planning and >> between planning and conservation. Yes. Is there
a reason um historically that these the as far as the dock permit isn't handled through clerks or with with where dump stickers are and all the other permits and stickers and everything else we >> there's a there's a lot of checking
um of documents to make sure that everything is submitted. biggest problem. One of the biggest problems we've had and and Norm is very much aware of it is the there's supposed to be a a scale drawing. It's it's
provided with the permitting process. It's in the permitting process and you're supposed to put where is your dock with with respect to your land because the the REGG says you're supposed to be 25 feet from either boundary. Now there are there are uh
lots that are smaller and that's where judgments have to be made. Uh we had one >> I get that for the original doc >> for the original but people are renewing. I mean how many renewals do you have every year versus a new doc? >> Well you get renew you get renewals but
if they change them they have to update that. >> Okay. But what's what's the answer? How many renewals are they with no ch are there with no change? Realistically, 85% of them, 90%. >> I don't track that data.
>> It's got to be pretty. >> How many permits do we have? >> Well, there's 465 homes, waterfront homes. >> 85 845 stickers are shoot. >> That's boat stop >> and that's not everything.
>> That's at 75% of >> Yeah. It should have been higher than 25%. >> Right. Right. and and we do a a survey every year. We've done it now for 20some years of every dock, float, uh moing,
buoy, lift, uh on Congamic MS. And and that's, you know, part of what Norm is saying is that the what we sell versus what is out there, the universe, we're not at 100% of the universe by any
means. So every year you're trying, you know, uh I know Norm goes out a lot of times. I don't know who else may from the from Kcom, but goes out and checks ones that are kind of notorious, problematic
and then we try and get them. >> But that's not Ellen. >> No, >> but that's not Ellen. >> But then it adds it adds >> talking about these out. >> Yes. Right. But then it adds work there. But the question was I got to believe 80 85%
have to be repeat >> repeats >> but but also the thing that has to happen too is is followup where people do not um duly permit their docks or boats or
whatever. And that either has to be a letter and then maybe even a certified letter >> going out uh to say you know you because there's a fine associated with it right in the LPP if you do not comply. >> So
>> understood that >> and that does take a lot more time to generate any of those. Unfortunately that can gets kicked down the road all the time because it's just you know it's not enough hours to to uh do that kind of work. So, so my question on
centralizing that it was we just talked about this with with dog hearings and dog permit. If you if you don't have a dog license, you can't get out of those. You can't. So, if you have a doc that's not licensed permitted, >> how would the rest of the town know that
to hold some vaccin? We don't have a central clearing of your information to our information or the rest of the town. Right. That could that can certainly be done because we have >> I got a note to have Randy Austin tell
me if docs are on your tax bill and then cross reference it to your LPP record. >> Interesting. >> And you know >> that's an interesting >> then you may have docs that they don't have and vice versa >> and and uh I don't know where they're on
the tax bill but I don't see why we couldn't provide that information. So that if there's an outstanding, you know, >> correct, >> house X at address Y, uh, has a dock that's unpermitted, they have
outstanding fines that it's so many dollars per day. Um, it's in the LPP and I would think that could be provided to uh the clerk's office. >> What about our um heat permitted?
>> Yeah, exactly. Why can't we add that? H >> I have asked that question of the town clerk and she said currently she could not do that just for >> this is the ain't permitting like the the health department and the building department >> on the unregistered docs
that go into the same loop as if you if you owe money you can't you can't do other things >> in the town and she said currently she >> currently perhaps we'd have to revise the bylaws to do so but I mean that's a collection in the Yeah. Is it a bylaw
issue or is it a >> system issue? Processing is both. >> But I think you know I think we back on the hours because I was thinking like on the on the LPP piece is you have to get the behavior where you want it to be
too. Like if we can get >> LPPP is X by April 1st and it's X time 4 after that. It's good, >> right? And if you don't submit it correctly,
>> oh, okay, you might want to get it in so that we can get it correctly before April 1st, whatever that date is. Right. That's how you and and I think it's a good idea, by the way, to run it out of a different office and try to where we we have a process to collect money and whatever else. First-time applications,
good. It routes upstairs to get vetted. But if it's a renewal, >> we should be able to >> stamp it, >> staff it and stamp it >> through that. And I believe me, I'm probably going to get a phone call from the clerk tomorrow. But, you know, we should be able to to process it there
where what are they doing? And whether it's via the e- permitting process, we can leverage good, good idea to leverage the existing processes that are at stake to, >> you know, dock license, dog license. We have some of those processes in place. >> Transportation,
>> transportation occurs. We know who renewed, who didn't review. We've got a whole separate >> entail some kind of software update to track it, right? >> Don't know. But but let's take that action to try to get there. >> Yeah. >> And be smart about this. I think this is
>> but so that's a that's a process thing but as far the hours go I mean I I said I had some questions in for Randy already and and part of what I sent you guys the town clerks were doing >> um with the dog licenses pulling all that together
>> um but for these hours I think now that we have the staffing we have Renee in there that's another 17 hours a week potentially to get you into a current state. So, I think we have to I think we
have to determine when we're going to end the temporary 28 and then go forward on the assumption that those extra 18 hours there are going to keep you up and running and
actually get you ahead >> all year. I mean, we were unstaffed for >> and the the the couple things. The LPP is uh again, it's funded, it's a it's a
revolving account. It's no tax money. The ramps are funded by the ramps. No tax money. The only position, the only work that Ellen does that has a town account number is secretarial work.
So everything else is is funded by non tax dollars >> and that's a good reason to get all those illegal docs pony. >> I was going to say that would be all the more reason to drive better compliance around the LPP because it's >> Oh absolutely there's no you will not
get an argument from any one of us >> in that regard. Right. >> And and and that even is going to require should if if PD can help there you know when they're out. >> Yep. and and look for okay this one no
sticker you know this one no sticker yes yes yes no you know and then feed that back and be a part of the uh making sure that people are compliant thing that happens unfortunately is some
people will get the sticker they don't bother putting it on their on their dock and that they the re the all there's two things that go are supposed to be on the dock and it's mandatory by the LPP. There's a a number on it. That number is your address. When you're on the water,
people don't know, you know, if there's an accident and it was deliberately designed with MA, three or four digits for your street address and then a code like Bergkshire's BER. Okay, very simple. You know, they were they're they
kind of tell you where you are. So when you're on the lake and you're on the water, you don't say, "Well, you know, I think I'm on I think I'm on middle pond and I think I'm sort of in the middle of it." You can pin it down to emergency services can come out and they know exactly where you are.
>> Maybe you need to label the la the sticker emergency registration number. Let people know this is for emergency. >> Well, the the end of the dock is got supposed to have I think they're 4 inch or 6 inch high numbers. that that code
goes on the end of the outboard end of the dock. >> I'm saying put put it on the sticker that it's this is for emergency purposes, not just the dock registration, but emergency purchase purposes. They may actually put it there. >> Yeah. >> It's like the >> Well, it is in the explanation. It is in
the explanation. Yeah. >> To be having a recurring theme with stickers and nonixing across different entities and we've got a remedy, right? Same problem with transfer station was you know people >> click on them >> just curious if does that registration
number of the doc go to dispatching do they have a listing of every so they can enter it in their their software >> uh we could provide that >> that would be great because they like you say they're going to call up and if they see I'm near 391 they'll look it up they're going to know the address the house the whole thing
>> they can backfill all that information that would be >> Yeah. Yeah, that's again that's why that's why the docs are supposed to have the that address code on them because that tells you where you are.
>> It it's closes that loop. >> Um I had a question. Sure. >> Um now you had said you wanted to try I just want to understand um try to get everything 18 across the board for the year. Is that what you're saying? Your >> condition 28
>> trying >> your original hours were 18. >> Yeah. >> Yes. So >> yes, I'd like I think I see 18 hours of your time >> supplemented by the 10 and the seven
half floater. >> Okay. Okay. The 10 for summer time. >> Correct. But in the summer 10 18 doesn't work in the summer. >> Yeah. That's what I wanted to make sure. >> Correct. All right. Correct. So, how do we address the summer? >> Well, let's I said let's I would like to
see the contribution from Renee getting you caught up going into next summer and then let's see if you've got that coverage once you're caught up on all the LPP. Can you then devote that time
to the ramps? The >> I go over 18. >> Yeah, she does. >> I can work like Saturday and Sunday. I can work seven eight hours and then I >> just just ramp stuff >> and actually and then there's two meetings a month for LM for the LMC committee
>> and doing the minutes. It's a it's it's really busy during that especially >> it doesn't fit >> June to midepptember you know Labor Day you know so I definitely
if I had no other even if I didn't have secretary if I just did the boat ramp it would definitely be over 18 hours during that >> and and it traditionally was right wrong or indifferent I mean for literally literally three and a half decades we've
we've managed the ramps and the person who's the ramp supervisor has filled in if if there's a no-show if if you're you know somebody's sick for whatever >> the ramp supervisor fills in >> that too I mean it's just all the
paperwork there's dealing with all the money >> Oh yeah >> there's just yeah just lots of >> there's a lot of paperwork because we do track just for your own comfort. Every ticket is serialized that we sell and they are all logged. The
serial number gets logged on the log sheet and it's a NCR triple NCR. So we know exactly where each ticket went. It was sold, you know, on this date, at North Ramp, at South Ramp at this time.
So we track time, date, type of boat, um you know who the ramp attendant is, they sign it. We, you know, we know all those. >> In this position of the ramp super, is it ramp supervisor?
>> Yeah. >> In this position, is it seasonal term April 1st through December 1st? when you pull the >> octo end of October
>> and November >> November 1st >> November 1 >> generally not more than six months to be seasoned >> and could go above 18 hours a week >> that's eight months
>> that one is 8 months but can we state April through May or 18 hours June through August R 28. Is that what you were doing? 28
>> and then it goes back down. Can it be stated that way >> without triggering through September? >> It is a seasonal. It's just got varying hours. >> It's year round. It's not seasonal. >> I'm sorry. What do you mean it's year
round? >> Part time. >> It's still okay. Start. So it' be April to December is what you're talking about >> to November 1st. You said this particular role, this position, >> if that position was Ellen and he was the LMC secretary and he was the LPP
part-time in that role, can the hours be staggered that way without a permanent position? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> And then in the role of the LPP administrator, it's
You can't add that in. >> No, I just I just got myself stuck there. I just got myself stuck there. >> Yeah, just hit a hit that wall. >> So, basically, uh, >> we're just going to be back here next
year if we have to increase it during the summer again. Correct. Is that what you're all seeing? I yeah, let me let's just think about this for a minute and see what we can come up with. Um, and we weren't making a decision today. We were just recapping
the situation, getting an update on the activity. >> One point of the positions is a stipended position, >> not our >> I don't know. I'm thinking I mean I think then I think
what this sounds like is trying to put a square peg in a >> Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. >> And and I think >> Yeah. The the other problem kind of the other problem is too is it's very weather dependent.
>> You know if we have a a a rainy week >> there's sure there could be no hours. no hours >> trying to accomplish to get benefits or we're dodging the bullet to not do benefits. Is there >> you're trying to figure out how to do it
whether it has benefits or not? I I don't think you you know >> I I I'm not looking to work full-time, >> right? >> I understand that. I'm just saying if it if it trips the thresholds then then you qualify for benefits. The second part of
that question is are the benefits coming out of the revolving account too or it come back under the the main you know get >> yeah well it's so first there's like the insurance benefits which are costly but secondly there's you know paid time off benefits have to come out of the a revolving account the salary comes out
of the revolving account >> so >> and the revolving account is not a bottomless pit >> that's the question >> there there is a finite number that goes into that each year and it may not always be Ellen who doesn't necessarily want the benefit don't want the insurance or whatever, right? It won't always be that same
person. >> Yeah. >> So, >> so we So, we're So, I Yeah, I want to try and recap so we're on kind of on the same page, I hope. Um, the times where
we need the extra time for Ellen for lake management would be May, June, July, August, September. April's kind of I don't know there's so much
>> it's it's getting um yeah it's just >> again that a lot a lot depends on whether >> work done by then >> well I'll be doing that at the same time I mean at least I did this year >> because the deadline >> in April 1 is what I thought I heard right >> which we're trying to get to it has
never been >> yes but now she's got Renee to help her >> yeah where where it's been what three years at least, right? Without somebody. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So, >> it kind of limp along. >> I think you I mean that should be the goal there with Renee is to get you to
that dead. >> Yeah. So that everybody has their paperwork ideally in like January and they have January and February to horse around and make their pretty pictures or whatever they have to do and write the check and and get it in.
And then the other thing, like I said, is is we do the boat and dock and everything else count. And there's a lot of lot of boats and a lot of docks that are unaccounted for in the LPP or chapter
90. You it doesn't matter. You can have a chapter 90 license or you can have LPP, but you have have one or the other. And there's plenty of them out there that don't have either. All right. So, you said the the the ramp the ramp supervisor time is
May through September. September is essentially going to be over. So, we will >> Yeah, we're we're essentially >> bring those hours back October 1st or whatever the end of the week is for the end of September. Agreed. >> Yeah. And then we'll still
>> then we'll figure >> work at this and come up with some solutions if we can and some ideas to help you um >> make that more efficient >> and um you know and definitely get N on board to target those things those
dates. Sabrina was working with her. I know Julie was working on the filing before she left it. And then has been working on I'm sorry. Sabrina has been working on getting a name to speak. And I think one of the things that um
was introduced this year was it used to be a year and it ended and now every single address has a folder and I'm not sure whether you have 100% of them now or still in the process. But the idea is is every home address at waterfront
address has a folder in there so that we also know what people sent in. Did you send in the the uh uh map of what you have? So when they get checked and we go out and find out they doubled it,
>> then we know well the last thing you filed because otherwise it's just they were filed by year. >> That is going to help that that is definitely the longest, right? >> And that should make it a lot easier for renewals to just go bing bing. >> Absolutely. >> So So it seems like that part is getting
finally in order. Yeah. >> So, >> and that's one of the things that that Ellen's brought to the table is is the the time spent to bring things into a a nice clean spreadsheet that covers every year and
>> nobody belittles that effort. Trust me, >> it's a good investment. >> Very good investment. >> Yep. >> Okay. So, we will um continue looking for options and just kind of expect that
we'll be back discussing the temporary >> as we need to. >> Okay, >> good. >> Don't want to leave us sinking. >> No, >> appreciate it. >> Thank you. Thank you.
>> Okay, >> we need to acknowledge and approve a $1,50 refund to be deposited into the library account. >> Um, you know, >> yes, please.
>> Roll call vote. Daniel I >> Doug Morgan. Yes. Russ Anderson. Yes. We have a couple of appointments. Uh, we need to we can list these and then just do them all at once if you
like. Appoint municipal hearing officer Nicole Parker, parking ticket clerk Christina Mette, an interimm tree warden for the period 9225 to approximately 10225.
John Goddard until we hire someone. Fire warden Richard Stfanowitz and local emergency planning commission member replacing Russ Anderson will be Ian White from 91825 to 6:3026 as the SEMA
representative. >> So move second. >> Roll call vote. Zale eyes >> discussion on the hearing officer Nicole. Is that >> is that a general or is that has to do with um
fire binds? >> I don't know. >> Is there there is a hearing officer that needs to be appointed for um ticketing from the fire department which that might be it. That might I believe it is.
Okay. Sorry. Yeah. Fire appeals. Perfect. >> Okay. >> So, did we do did we finish this >> 406? Uh, we got a vote. >> Roll call vote. Diane G.
>> Doug. Yes. Rose. Okay. >> Other new business. I have nothing new. >> I have one new thing. Um, I've been approached and contacted several times now. We've been getting
and I I personally received them as well is uh letters from Eversource that they're going to come and do some meter replacements with smart meters. Um, I think I get what they are and I think I understand how they work, but I
still think that there's probably some confusion and and um concern about these and I would like to request that we have we reach out to our governmental liaison from Eversource to hold the public
hearing at a publicformational session, if you will, at town hall to demonstrate and discuss what these smart readers are, aren't, and any concerns residents may have their wit. If not, the rumors and and everything
will run wild and people will be off to the races. I think we should get out there in front of it. >> Okay. >> Um that's it for me for new business. >> I have one thing. Um I received a letter
today or we received a letter today from the conservation commission. Now Norm's here. That's great. Um, kind of just requesting that we pay for a tree that's dead on uh, North Pond conservation land. Um, and I think it's the
conservation's responsibility to manage the trees on their land. So, I think it should go back to the conservation commission and they figure out how to pay for the trees on their land that needs to be removed. I was in agreement with that with their land manage with
their land management funds which is what that's what they hold the conservation restriction on it in my opinion. >> So I mean you the letter should be in front of you right now. I asked her to
give a copy to everybody. >> Did she from school? >> Oh right. Well, I will um scan it in and send it to you. Um this you can't make a decision tonight. So because you don't know enough information. That's it right
there. I think no. >> No. No. >> Um and so that will be my recommendation though to you is to is to bring it back to the responsibility of the conser conservation commission. So the the vote will have to be probably next week. This
was just we just received this today. >> Okay. Um Nadine, anything new? Okay. Old business goals and objectives. um discussion or updates on anybody's
particular goals and objectives. Anybody got anything to update on what they >> I mean my only comment would be on the the comment on regards to channel 15 um is I think we need to move that up a little quicker. We're we're paying
substantial money every month and we're getting nothing for it. the uh it's a huge disappointment that the 911 ceremony wasn't >> wasn't done. We're our graduations weren't done. We're we're basically have no nothing being created for Southwick.
Um and >> my husband noted the strawberry supper is still being advertised >> in June. Yeah. >> Yeah. So it's it's like we've been unplugged and my personal feeling >> if you want to spearhead that were you >> I don't have a problem spearheading it
but I'm at a point where we almost have to start regrouping and maybe you know unplug it for a bit and regroup and go you know >> I'm happy to work with Russ and if I mean to have the ability to
restructure channel 15 or or you know make serious decisions >> and plan for the future with fiber if if we're not going to have that >> be part of it, >> right? We're not going to have all that same funding from the peg. So,
>> you know, plan work into the plan. >> Okay. >> Obviously, it has to come back here and do there would be, you know, some hurdles to go. >> I I don't have a problem if you want to take hold of that and >> Okay.
>> move it. I I did want to add um exploring legal incentive options for resident civil servants, educators, um >> senior texts, >> seniors. >> Yeah.
>> Um and also to advertise better those that we already offer because they're very hidden, hard to find, don't even people don't even know. Um in fact, the community preservation needs to be updated. It's from 2023.
The um low and moderate income exemptions. >> You talk about the IT stuff or postings within the the website? >> No, I'm talking about some outreach to residents of these exemptions they may qualify for and and have them current at
least. Um so I I'd like to work on that with you and and put that on my list of >> maybe um >> priorities. >> Maybe what would help is if there's half a dozen things that you'd like to see that outlet too like what what shows do
you want to see what information do you want to transfer you know use 15 as an outlet to communicate >> so I can put that there too sure absolutely yeah >> I'm sorry I thought that's what you meant >> no oh yeah that's just another way to to to do that outreach >> but but I'm I'm talking
>> stuff you want to see you know in your own minds think should be that in that avenue then >> okay um so that was one that I wanted to put on the you know you you had asked for objectives that we can get done before May. >> I I see.
>> Um and then I would like to also we had talked about um reviewing some revenue streams, the meals tax, the fees, the fines, the applications. I would like that um I
don't know if that's doable for you because it's going to be you to have that done. >> Yeah. some kind of comprehensive review of that. Um, and then some other conversation I had, I'd like to add one more thing to
the CAO. The flip side of that um, reviewing revenue streams is in in auditing, the first thing auditors look for is miscellaneous other expenses. I would like to see a
review of all of our miscellaneous annual or quarterly payments to other entities for things like SER services, consulting, facility charges, >> miscellaneous on a line item of the
existing budget or something that was turned in >> on a line item in individual individual expenditures that that might say other goods and services or use of facilities or something. What are
they? Do are they just historical? Is there something behind them? What are they? Let's look at them. Are they competitive? There's a lot that can get buried under repeat other is what I'm saying.
>> I haven't come across a contract or anything, you know, that says other because I would need to know details before I would pay anything. So, I haven't seen anything like that besides the school has some others and >> Okay. So, I think that's just a good
thing to take a look at. >> Hand raising. >> I tried it. It seemed to work. >> Something just popped up. June 14th. December 15. Okay. I think we're they're
talking amongst this. Good. >> All right. Um, anything else on the current goals and objectives? >> I would like to So, I'm going to jump to master plan goals and objectives. These are the
final lead item recommendations from the master plan for the select board with all four um select board members contributions. In the far right, there's
two columns. One is all four people and the last column is the current three on the rankings of of what we all prioritized. Just this is for your information and we will have to address these at
some point whether we are going to recommend not doing some of these and justify why and then those that we do want to pursue. Some of them I've already married into
our goals and objectives. All right. So, you sort of get that one. >> Mute. >> Well, one of them looks like it got transferred to us now and so it's not radiated. >> It's not. It went to the bottom because it wasn't in what we did. It may come. Obviously, it will come to the top. It's
the fiber. One of them. >> One of them and the housing authority, right? >> Yeah. So, so one of them will come to >> and for those following at home, the reason there's four is because there was a change on the select board. So, the previous occupant is in there and then
the new uh the new member, Mr. Anderson, is on here. So, it did shuffle a couple of things >> so that Russ wasn't obligated to someone else's. >> No, I just when you said for selectment, I'm sure somebody is gonna watch this and go,
>> there you go. >> Okay. And then if I can then jump to the master plan first under old business
this eight. Let me pass that to you. This one's not it's yours. The the master plan as as a lead party. We have one for
Nicole. um maybe in followup. So uh for the master plan, all the lead parties have an obligation to report what they are going to do or not going to do, when they're going to do it, what they have done
to those so far in those commitments. As I said, I took our goals and objectives, married into it our lead party actions. This
form is pretty much those items that um got married that we can report. We are working on, we will work on, we are prioritizing along with our select board goals.
Some of them are actually completed and they're highlighted over on the right as completed. There are four that we can call complete. There's a couple more that we can complete in year one, year two,
year five on one of them. And this is the reporting format that the master plan implementation committee has drafted. It may get some tweaking still, but so I would like you to take a look at
these over the next week. see that you agree that these can happen in a decent time frame as illustrated here and we can agree on this and submit it to the ENTIC. And again, these these pretty much I
took our goals and objectives and bold what matches as the first attempts here. Okay. >> Homework. >> Yep. All right. Anything else under that was
my old business. >> Uh, one thing I wanted to bring up just kind of came up tonight. um was trying to get legal opinions on you said you reached out twice and >> and called
>> and that's two weeks right >> on the 9th was when I sent it out >> right so here we are the >> 22nd >> 22nd um that's just not acceptable um I'm involved with two other communities and there's stuff that's going back and forth daily
>> um as the norm nothing critical I just don't know what we do about it, I guess, is the question. I know at one point you were looking at doing an RFP. >> I don't know if you have discussions with them about performance. I don't know. >> Well, at one point, Doug, you were going
to reach out to Ben. >> Yeah. And I I kind of held off. I think we should do that. I if you'd like me to to do that, I will do that this week. And I also think probably should call them in front of us to say, "How we doing? What's going on? Why are we having this issue?" And let's have a discussion. I'll certainly call him tomorrow
>> um and and see what's what. I mean, I know they were >> have a conversation. >> I had a I had a conversation with him. Yeah. Informally, but um you know, I think that they got wind of where they were told that well, we're doing an RFP and you guys are out. And I think >> I never told him anything. So,
>> I understand, but that was communicated to them by me. But um so I think we need to kind of reset that. I'll I'll reach out to them tomorrow. I was dealing with them a long time both on this board and previous boards. >> I have questions outstanding from I
think um February. >> Okay. >> That that I remind you want to shoot me a note of what they are without I don't think we're breaking any laws because I can just bring them to him. But um just shoot me a note of what they are and I'm hoping
agreed it's not acceptable that we went two weeks without on this particular issue because it's a >> well ends up being a month on our end by the time you get a you know >> nothing moves fast. >> Yeah. >> And it's not it's not just us that isn't getting response.
I I've had other board commissions tell me they're lagging. Yeah. >> Anything else? Old Nope. >> No, I'm sorry. >> Okay. Oh, my turn. >> Oh, sorry. You jumped ahead of you.
>> It's all right. >> You figured me. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Uh I brought this up a couple times. We need to make a decision on this though. Um because the the Rotary has beenounding me about talked about it today. >> We got to either decide to renew it and
send in our monies or decide we're not going to renew it. But we need to decide and let them know either way. >> We just talked about it today. So >> So as a board, I don't I don't know if we've discussed it. I know I've sent a note on it a couple times to have it put on the agenda or to carry it forward, but I just think we owe it to to the
Rotary to either to let them know what our decision is on that. >> I I let them know what our predicament was, but um so I get let by next week we can Yes. >> resolve what I have to ask Lisa back next week. >> And what what is the benefit for you guys to be members? I have no idea.
>> Okay. >> I mean, they do a great job. The Rotary's always done a lot for the community. There are other groups that do a lot for the community as well. Um, the selectmen often actively participate in events that they hold either as a guest or in attendance at certain things
that we do within the community, part of the role of of being on the select board. Um, and I don't I don't remember the exact circumstance that we got involved with actually being corporate members of Rotary for whatever reason. >> So I think what happened was what five
years ago, >> six years ago I think their numbers were dwindling uh and they went out to the community because the association we sponsored you remember two or four members right from the fire association to be on the Rotary.
Uh, I don't think the Lions Club. >> Yeah, you might be right. Might have been the Lions. >> They're on the Lions Club. I don't know about the Rotary. >> No, but I mean that's It gets blurred. >> Yeah, >> I don't think they're on anymore. But um
>> the same you wanted to get a little >> I I don't see how we can be on one particular board. >> That's what I was because you somebody Yeah. Yeah. And that's been my take on it. And you know, frankly, um, I'm a little bit resource
constrained at time and I feel like I haven't done all I should be doing for some of these groups. >> You know, when I know I'm on one of the the text messaging lists for I think it's probably Rotary and >> Y, >> it's the most popular number of texts I
get in a week. Um, you know, and I I I I help where I can, but I, you know, I can't be a full-time member of Rotary on top of being a member of the select board and, uh, have a day job and a couple other things going on as well. So, that's just my
take on I just think we should come to conclusion on it and close the loop on it. >> Um, coverage smart meters. Uh speaking of we one thing I we should bring forward to um to channel 15 is every month we have
there is a radio show called everything around Southic or everything Southwick. That's the third Wednesday of every month. It's been a It's been done by the select board um for years and years, the last few years. Um
Jason, uh it used to be Russell, Joseph, and myself. And we would all every third month, one of us would do it. Uh Jason used to do it. Uh Diane had told me she didn't want to do it. She said when she's ready or had something to talk about, she would do it. And then when
Mr. Anderson was elected. Uh he he hasn't chosen to do it yet either. You've been on it with me once or twice. I've done it. I just show up every third Wednesday at 9:00 or 8:00 in the morning over there and uh and and kind of go through topics of the day and kind of
have a conversation with Peter Cal. But one that should probably be played back on channel 15 here as as a resource available. Certainly making it available to you know the other members of the select board that want to do it. And if we wanted to do it together, we could. We just have to post it as a meeting.
Um, it's it's apolitical. It's kind of just a conversation. It's your show. You can bring a guest if you'd like. You can talk about any topic you'd like. Um, so no obligation, no pressure, but it is a time slot that's available to us. They also now have a diff they also it's
simoc cast on ra on radio and they just moved to FM from from their previous station but they also record it and then it posted on YouTube on their YouTube channel which we could also bring over to here as well. Um, and it's a good way
to kind of expound and I talked probably for 40 minutes. We talked about health insurance, right? It was just it's the topic to discuss right now. Um, but I just wanted to get that out there that we recorded it this past week. Um, and I saw it was on YouTube uh yesterday or
last night. >> Um, and one note just coming out of public comment, you know, I um I had an email discourse with a member of the community. Um, if if Comcast is working on your street
and your phone doesn't work, it's also highly possible you may have Comcast as your phone provider, right? If you got the triple play or whatever, they're also your phone provider. So, that sometimes gets lost in while your phone doesn't work. If they're working on something with the internet, your
internet may be in and out. Your phone's not going to be very responsive until they're done and off the street with what they're doing. So, and I, you know, we met with uh just a fiber quick fiber update. Um, and Nicole
and myself and the Whip City folks met over at a corner of the town facility to try to look at a place for a future location for the hut. And we've identified a couple locations near the edge of Priy Park.
um and the public safety complex of where that could probably go. I then had a subsequent conversation on Friday with uh the DPW guys and the police chief um and showed them where we were
thinking and we're pretty close to where we want to be as far as where that that thing could live. I don't think it can be exactly where we had envisioned it on Thursday due to some new information which I'll share with Miss Parker. Um, but I think we ended up with a better spot.
>> Okay. Anything else? >> That's it for me. Thank you. >> Okay. Moving on to complete streets policy. Um, there was some questions. Um, John is not with us tonight, but he did send
an email and I'll just uh read the read out the part that he said. that at the last select board meeting, concerns were raised about the ramifications surrounding the potential adoption of a complete streets policy for the town of Southwick. Board members observed that the stereotypical complete street is not
always the best fit for a neighborhood, nor is it always the best use of funds. Further, the board raised the question of how becoming a complete streets community would affect roadway projects in our rural community. John, I had the opportunity to speak with Dan Holmes, the PE of Thai and
Bond, who regularly tends to our local infrastructure projects. Dan shared a few key observations. In his time, he has never encountered a circumstance where locally funded projects have been subject to a state
mandate forcing the implementation of complete street elements. In the case of a tip project and similar programs such as recently completed at Congaman Road, complete street elements are mandated whether or not a community
has joined the program. Mr. Holm's feedback appears to align with our understanding that becoming a complete streets community cements a local commitment to carefully consider complete street solutions when considering projects of varying
magnitude. provides a pathway to pursue and receive funding for those elements and preserves local control for locally funded projects. If we have any further questions, we can feel free to reach out. And did you have anything you wanted to add because you were going to research a little bit of
that? I didn't I was not able to find I was like kept researching um you know what went wrong with complete streets and there really was there was no negative feedback on that I could find when I all I did was Google for maybe 15
minutes just trying to find something. So um cuz I completely understand where you're coming from. Uh, but I didn't really find anything that, you know, oh, you have to put a bike lane in every single street and you have to go down to one lane. And I I didn't see any of
that. So, I don't know if that answers any questions we have or makes us feel any more secure about our local control and design.
>> Not me. Um, but if we >> What was the POS? What was the plus on it? There's >> the funding. >> That's what I liked about it. It's like the safe routes to school. Since we have the rail trail, it's like they're really
um, you know, supportive of that kind of transportation. and we may not ever use it if if our projects aren't going to line up with a complete streets um philosophy if if we don't have any further
uh business being evolved around college highway or around the bike trail. We may not ever call on it those those particular grants but I guess if there is the opportunity that's what it I guess to me that's what
it is we will look at it any of our new construction or our reconstruction and see if we can slide some of that in and get some funding if it fits. It's like if it's fit if it fits.
I think any of the major pro I just lary of these programs where it's always optional and nothing ever oh it's no big deal until they tell you you got to do it and then you're stuck >> and then you can't opt out for some reason you're never allowed out of these things but and if and the time bond
gentleman's correct if it's tipped they're going to mandate it anyway. Um but it if it's a tip it might mostly be funded from the state with their with their money to do the project in the first place with a you know generally it's a small local match and usually it's in kind um basically engineering
services from the local >> consider if they're going to if they're going to come in and pave Granville Road will we be able to get sidewalks done all the way up Granville Road. I take that wager now and the I think I
know the answer to that too. The answer is negative. That would be because there would be takings and the engineering work and the design work versus they're going to mill and pave Granville Road and we're going to go in and we've got to reallocate all of our money to do >> sidewalks. Will will we be able to get
some funding to improve the existing sidewalks in those dense residential areas? I don't know. >> It's a it's a perhaps that's >> I just think that the downside of it because I think of where you'd want to do projects that might have some complete
ele elements of what complete streets are, a good chunk of them are going to be part of the tip and they're going to be a tip project anyway. So thinking um at least portions thereof, right? um that you're going to be doing a complete
reconstruction where you'd be relaying out a road. So like 57 from the old old tip project to the center 10 and 202 was just redone. They're not going to be touching that for a while. Kongaman Road was just redone. They're not going to be touching that for a while. The Powder
Mill Road project is one where you might want to be looking at some of those elements because there's there's elements of sidewalk that but that's part of the safe route to school. Not necessarily a complete street and I don't know where those intersect. I just assume leave it alone for right now if it were up to me. But I'm I am but one
member of it member port. There's certainly no rush to do to to commit to the policy. >> Do we um know if the folks with Beta would have any info on that?
>> You're in touch with Beta. >> Yeah, I mean that that was >> I guess you could ask. >> Yeah, >> I can I can email him. see what he said. >> Sure. >> So I guess we will our >> carry the center for another week. No wrong. Yeah. No ref at all.
>> Haven't done it for 250 years. >> Yeah. And and maybe not next week, but sometime in the future that Yeah. Um Oops. All right. Other old business update on
306 Feeding Hills Road potential CPC acquisition. We did go out there um >> I sent a note to the guy today. Promise I would. He's back today. >> Okay, perfect. To get in touch, >> get a contact for who we should talk to. Correct. >> Okay. >> I'm licensing. >> Yeah. Yeah.
>> And I meant I should have asked Mr. Grenell's while he was here because he does that. It's not Mass Highway, but it's a Commonwealth. It's probably the um the same group. What's the group is the official land
holder for the Commonwealth. >> I don't know. >> There's >> that DAM thing. >> That's it. Damn. >> Yeah. >> They're the ones who probably actually control that. You if you if even if if Mass says yes, you probably go back to Lisa. >> But that's a common
>> it seemed like a common sense solution when we were standing there. So, we looked across the street and there's a big piece of property off the >> flat >> south side of 57 >> that's was pre uh cleared off by I want
to say it was former DP director Shiovalier many years ago uh to reduce the amount of icing on that section of road because it it would open it up to sunlight. But it would be an ideal spot if the state would lease us that property to put a couple of a small
parking area. Um, you have to cross Route 57 anyway. The trail comes from the south side to the north side. Right in that area right at the entrance of the old right where the old 57 goes around >> uh go southerntherly. So
>> um >> and across the street is better clearance traffic wise. So, it looked to be like a win-winwin without having to spend town money to buy a piece of property that money >> or you know, well, however you want to, >> but we would only need a half an acre.
>> Yeah. And so, we would just lease a piece of that or, you know, if they would offer >> lease an acre just for max 10 cars. >> Yeah. >> So, good good opportunity. >> That's just, >> you know, more land that you have to clear dead trees from.
>> Well, looks like somebody And it's already clear. We're looking at it. >> Yeah, we already It's already clear. Yeah, >> it's just brush in there. So, and we don't really need to maintain it. We don't have to do anything to do it. >> Famous last words, General Kuster. >> Well, it wouldn't be ours. Well, it'd be
our lease. All right. So, just that update. So, that contact is in process. Um, and then Great Brook dredging update. There was a 912 teams meeting to introduce Darren Davis from
NRCS and his teams from PAR and Tetrate Tech. Those are two organizations working with them on the dredging opportunities to reopen the flows of the brooks and the lakes with flooding and erosion mitigation in mind. They've been
here doing site visits. They were out in boats. They were out in boots. Um and now they're in the data gatherings. They so they've done their visual and photos and stuff. Now they're doing data gathering. They say that that data
gathering can take up to a year and then working it into models and stuff. Um, however, when listing some of the data that they'd like from the town, because of our long-erving um, and kind of forwardthinking and
meticulous lake management committee, they have a ton of the data they're already looking for and they have years of it. So, they were very pleased to to hear that that was available. Um they do expect some
initial alternatives to be developed by December and then draft some plans by spring still while they're gathering data and doing modeling. And they're setting up a SharePoint site to provide current updates. Um, and then
I think they're looking to schedule a public meeting in October, public information session in October for the community on the project. >> It's going to be 12th or 15th or something.
>> October 15th. >> 15th. Is that confirmed? >> Um, well, I you know, I don't know. I I know and I don't know. >> I know it's confirmed. I'm not sure the date. I want to make sure. >> Okay. I had a note to make sure you were I don't remember if you were still here
when they were talking about that and >> Okay. So, somebody's going to coordinate and publish that. >> Um, okay. So, that's all I got under other old business. >> Speaking of erosion and drainage, you sent out a communication over I think it was Friday or Saturday about that. Can we get moving on what's going on on
South Longard there? We've allocated the money. We have identified a huge continuing ongoing problem. Do they got to get in front of Congress? said he has to get I said if we need an emergency order we get an emergency order. I mean >> this is how it goes. We have to fix it. We don't wait a month for
>> John's response to me question. >> Uh no I didn't check my email on that but he did answer it. >> Okay. The local permitting seems to be the delay but >> we don't need to wait. >> We have in all with respect to
conservation too or other state agencies have to approve something. Is that an emergency? >> D had to approve something. >> Yeah. >> Not under. >> But can it be an E? Is it is >> that was the question. Was it an emergency? But I think the photos that they sent this past weekend have shown
even more erosion that and and we don't even have rain >> and in defense that John I don't think it's it it lies with him. It hit the department, but they're also under pressure due to staffing. >> Yes. >> I get it. I'm not picking on. I just want I want to make sure we're not
sending mixed messages like let's go. >> Absolutely. >> And if you know whatever needs to get done and if we declare an emergency then we need to do that. >> I don't know if >> so they can >> I told John that today. >> Okay. >> Is that within our perview to I don't even know if it is. >> Yeah, it is. >> Really? >> Is board.
>> No, I mean what kind we can certain kind of emergencies we can declare. I don't know if that's one of them. >> I don't know. I'm >> I'm just thinking about my last job. I can't tell you how many times we've declared like we need an emergency department. Get ready and do something >> close this hillside to his home.
If it's close to his home and the hillside comes cake. If there can be a landslide, it's an emergency. >> I'd have to look at that. >> They thought John said he had >> I'm more worried about they had a plan. I thought >> I think if it was an eminent threat, I think that he would have done something
more. I think I don't think it's that serious. So if we get another five inch rain then all of a sudden it is >> the problem is it is it's getting it's not slowly degrading >> in October and get an inch on Thursday but
>> and that then it's going to be too late to fix it. >> So it is kind of a threat. >> So if we can declare that yes I think we should >> and do it. >> We already approved it. We already approved. I but I we just got and for
tell conservation you know what what do we need to do to I don't want to I don't want to usurp their authority that's not what I'm trying to do but if they need if they need to call a special out of cycle meeting in order to to grant that order of conditions
emergency order of conditions then they should do that that's that's something that they should do I are they meeting tonight >> no um no that I did send that back to John today. If this is emergency, we can get emergency permit. So, >> correct. So, and so I I I make a motion
that if it is within the purview of the select board to give the the chair the authority to make that declaration for this limited scope. >> So, let me just give you I'm sorry. >> No, please. >> He made a motion. Do you want to second or you still want to discuss that?
>> No, I'll just give you the update from John. um uh notice conservation notice of which requires an application and stamped plan to be submitted to both the local conservation and mass D. Although it is expected that the local half of the
filing fee and local bylaw fee will be waved fees will apply for legal ad and the state. I met with conservation last Monday to provide an update on the matter and discuss a permitting path. Um, >> so you're right, but what happens if the
bridge goes or the culvert goes? >> I don't think the co I mean it's just that whole hillside is heading toward the the the river. >> That's the great book right there. Right. So, it's heading right toward it and it's not getting
uh progressively worse is as it's getting massively worse every time it rains over there. From what I've seen from uh the homeowner in my own eyes over there, >> I just think we the more we wait, the worse it gets. I get that for process,
>> you know, we are at best treading water. I get it half short. >> Um >> and then what do they need public notice and hearings and stuff? I mean, >> John says he can stamp it, but >> I mean, if the bridge is in danger
or >> and I guess maybe we'd have to make that decision or someone's got to make that decision. >> All right. So, he made a motion. If if we can declare that >> if we need to. Yeah, by all means. >> Second. >> Roll call vote. Daniela. >> Yes. Yes.
>> Okay. All right. Any other old business? No. Yes. Nope. >> Minutes. Open session minutes acknowledge and approve from August 14th and September 8th.
this gold item. Was there something supposed to >> No, that was an FYI >> only. What are the 8th and the 16th? >> August 14th was our bills and objectives >> meeting and September 8th our last
meeting. Move. Roll >> call vote. >> Dang. I >> pay uh warrants acknowledge payroll warrant number 2607 dated September 8th, 2025 in the amount of $291,4926.
Acknowledge payables warrant number 2608B dated September 16th, 2025 in the amount of $3383 $338,31123. Anything else? Motion to
>> move. Second call Dan move. >> Thank you folks. Thank you buddy. Thank you folks online.