Good evening everyone. Welcome to the town of South Select Board meeting for February 2nd, 2026 at 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. And we will start with a roll call. Diane Gail, >> Doug Mglin, Russ Anderson, >> Nine Sign, >> and do we have Nicole online? No, I don't think she's I don't think she's
coming. Okay, then we will move on to pledge of allegiance. >> Good job. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice of all. Is there anyone in the room with a public comment tonight?
None. Anybody online? See none. Moving on to new business to discuss and vote the wick 338 2026 schedule. Is Mr. Johnson with us? >> I am. I'm right here. There you are.
Welcome, sir. >> Thank you so much. >> Okay, so we received your schedule. It looks pretty packed. Um, anything you'd like to discuss in particular on this? >> Yeah, normally I I bring everybody up to
date on LA a quick update from last year and what we're looking forward to going forward. First, I wanted to apologize for not being able to be there in person today. the schedule just didn't allow it, but I appreciate doing it on Zoom. So, uh 2026 uh 2025 was a good year
other than uh what mother nature uh gave us. We lost 10 significant events. You know, even though you see a lot of events on there, many of them never come to fruition only because of the uh the the weather in most cases. But we're fortunate that we have as a title
sponsor for the National Crest View Construction. Uh and they're with us all year helping uh take care of some of that stuff. It's really uh nice to have them in our in our on our side. Uh the Southwork National went well. The attendance was about even to the year
before. Um we uh this year it'll be a couple of weeks later. It'll be on July 11th. Uh so that'll a date to watch out for. Um, after disappointing online sales last year, we did switch our online platform to a new one, Ticket
Spice. Very happy to report that we're pretty far ahead of last year. So, that looks good. Insurance for this sort of event uh always uh is difficult, but it's becoming even more difficult. As a matter of fact, I'll be in a Zoom meeting right after this uh for this upcoming insurance. Um, it's a
challenge. the uh 2026 plan. The schedule is pretty much the same, almost the same as last year. We have dropped a few events. There were there are some racing organizations that have been struggling to cover expenses and unfortunately they won't be joining us for 2026, but we have been able to add
instead of a Loretta Lin. The Loretta Lin is the amateur version of the national championship and um that is in August. And we've always had the area qualifier um up in uh at the at the wick, but this year we're going to have the regional qualifier. So that means
every rider who wants to compete in the national championship in Tennessee and August will have to go through Southwick. And that includes all of New England, New York, really as far as Ohio and down to Virginia. So it'll be a a well attended event. And we we're going
to have our first ever AMA Massachusetts State Motocross Championship. Believe it or not, there's never been one in the state in all the years that the racing has been up here. And we're going to have a new event called the the the Wicked Hair Scramble, which is a little
bit of woods, a little bit of um on the track. So, we're trying to add new things and spice it up a little bit and uh keep the people coming out. And that's about it. >> Excellent. >> Excellent. We have the chiefs here. Do you have
anything you'd like to add? >> Well, we've been working with Rick um on an improved safety plan for the involve Department of Homeland Security, local law enforcement, um and a couple other state agencies, BMR, and so on and so forth. So, um he's a great partner. We
have had great results every time we talk. We've made some really good progress this year and every year it gets better and better. Um, so yeah, there's going to be a few more events this year, but he's a really good communicator. So, we're on top of everything. So, I don't think we anticipate any concerns on the fire
department side. Um, he keeps us a breast of what's happening. We often are supporting him with the ambulance as well as a private service and things. So, I think that relationship is a good one. We'll continue. >> Thank you, Chief. >> Thank you, Rick.
>> I really don't have a lot to add. Um, obviously if something boils down on the street, we'll be looking for for coverage on that record, but otherwise everything's pretty much gone to schedule the last couple of years. >> Yeah, as always, if we if we anticipate
an issue like that, I'm always in contact with you to make sure that we cover it properly. >> Any questions? Rick, do you think um you're at a point where the nationals is it it kind of I don't want to say maxed out, but that that that's going to be
our our yearly attendance kind of thing. >> We we we showed some very nice increase over the last few years, Russ. And um you know, it it does come to a point where how much can you get out of it? And I'll tell you what, now that we're getting
such great television coverage from NBC, it makes a little bit more difficult to compete with that. You know, uh if if you're going to have a real hot day, uh they're not going to show up. They're going to sit on the couch in the air conditioned room and watch it. So, that's always a challenge for us. And we
we can we'll never know what to expect until the day before. >> You know, we we invest in it as though it's going to be the the biggest event in the world. um and then hope it comes true. >> No, you always do a great job. >> Thank you.
>> It seems like it, >> you know, I don't I don't expect ever to see a surge. Just seems like you might see 10% or, you know, 5%. >> No, no, it, you know, the uh the increases that we've seen over the past few years very seldom get into the double digits. You know, it's uh
moderate increases and this past year wasn't really an increase at all. uh it was just about flat, almost uh less than 1% increase. But that's fine. Listen, we we have a a nice event. It works well. It's manageable. Uh we have the great team of
of all of uh all of the the the town um departments backing us up all the way through the uh everywhere, the highway department, water department, everybody. They're always there to to help us out. Will you vote to uh
>> endorse this schedule or >> second? >> Roll call vote to Gail. I >> Doug Mglin. Yes. Anderson. Yes. >> Thank you, sir. >> Are we all set? >> Yep. >> Yes, we are. >> Thank you so much. Have a good evening. >> You too.
>> Okay. then discuss the electric sign at South Regional School. Would you all like to come up? >> Well, thank you for having us. Uh Russ, I'm a member of the South Regional School Committee and I have the principal of South Regional here, Dena
>> Bonavville. Bonavville and the vice principal >> Chris Barbarata. [clears throat] >> Welcome. >> Thank you for having us. >> And I asked them to come because and I guess Chris, you're gonna go first. Talk about >> actually.
Sorry, man. >> Come in. I I apolog >> So the current sign that we have, I don't even know how old it is. um very 1950s when you drive by it and to change it is very difficult. First off, it's
time consuming and so therefore I only ask the VPs or our custodians to go down there about once a month. And now that it's winter time, it's frozen. So we're kind of stuck where we can only open up one side and that's that's sometimes. And the one time that I went down there,
I had to hold the glass over my head with the letters in this hand and kind of try to stick them in. It's just very uh non-efficient and productive. And it would be great if we had an electronic sign. Um I've had one in my other school
districts and it's easy. We could do it from our offices, from home if something happens. Um but one of our goals for the school year is to improve school climate. So that sign is really important for us just for that reason alone. Um we're really trying to re
rebrand the rams and so like when school starts we put up a sign on one side that said um when the when the challenges arise so do the horns. So we're trying to do all these put up these little messages to encourage students and to really celebrate their achievements.
like Avery Burke Holder received her thousand point, but after she after she scored it, it took a couple days to get the sign up and it would have been nice to have that done immediately. Um, and it really shows our philosophy of our of our community just that we are
community and that's really what the message that we want to to get out there. So, another thing that we are trying to do is build camaraderie with the community. Um, we have done a new
initiative called kindness in motion, which hopefully you will not only hear about, but you'll experience and see it. Um, it will go into full effect in the spring. And basically, it's getting our students involved in a positive way in the community. um whether it's shoveling
um for for some elderly people in their neighborhood or or going to nursing homes and and playing um playing games or volunteering at youth organizations. Um so it's called helping hands. Um it
originated as kindness emotion, but it's we want to be partners with the community. Um it seems as though that has kind of gone away in recent years from what I hear. Um, I've only been here a little over a year now. Um, and we really want,
>> you know, it's Russ was telling me how in the in the past there would be a large number of people at our sporting events that no longer had kids. Um, in in the district,
uh, it's our senior night tonight for girls. Nobody knows that because we don't really have a way to get it out to the community. if that was on the board today, we may have a whole different crowd going because somebody might have driven by and it's, you know, it's zero out. What else are you going to do? And
and that way the community is then supporting our kids and and it it's a partnership. So, it has several different benefits. Um, but just for for parents and and students and and the community to know, if you're a business owner, you would probably love to know
if there's going to be a half day. you know, you might need some extra staff or or or MCCAST testing or or all kinds of things that we could put up on a daily basis. And then again, it goes the opposite way. When there's big events in the community, our kids wouldn't help to
see it on their way out if it's up on the board. So, it it seems like a great partnership. All right. I just want to talk about some of the benefits this why. a win-win situation for our region, school region, and for
the town of Southland. And one of the top things that I think about, especially during the winter time, black ice, and having a digital sign out there that telling people what the temperature is, because we got a lot of new drivers coming out of there at
nighttime after a sporting event or a play or anything, and it'd be one more little thing to kind of remind them, hey, temperature dropped while you're in there. watch out for black guys. So, it's a safety and also let's face it, Route 57 is heavily traveled road. It'd
be good for the public, too. The second thing, and and this alludes to what uh Chris was talking about, community involvement. I mean, this is an opportunity to let people know what's happening at our schools and and get them involved, you know, get that
Southwood Ram spirit going again. Uh one thing that we have agreed to uh when we started talking about this is the school would also help promote Southlic events i.e. town meeting voting
special town meetings uh if there's a public service announcement from the police or fire something like that uh they would be able to uh put those things out there. Uh so that would help with uh the people that go to the school. Uh obviously tremendous amount
of traffic up at South Region. Tremendous amount. I would I would wager it's probably the most uh traffic area in the town of South other than maybe Big Boy or something like that. So we're getting a message out. And I
know one of the biggest challenges I've faced as a public official over the years is getting the message out to the citizens of the town of Southman. And this is a great opportunity. We have a lot of younger people that are bringing kids up there to school or going to
events up at the school. uh this is a way of getting the message out to them about town meetings, about special town meetings, about voting and and hopefully getting more involved in in our community. But the good thing is we're not going to use tax dollars. We're asking to use PEG
money. Uh this is something that I spearheaded years ago to get the first town crier sign. You know, we use peg money. Uh it's not on the tax rate. you know, it's it's it's money that's collected by Comcast from its users and
given to the town of Southway. So, it's it's it's a again a win-win situation. Uh if there's any concern, um this is still going to be town property just like all the buildings that belong to the town of South at least to the
region. It's not going to go anywhere if the region effort went away for some reason. Uh but the good thing is it's maintained by the region so it doesn't become a cross burden to the town of south instead of tapping.
I again not to be repetitive I think it's a win-win situation and it be great if uh we could get the support get an article written and uh get the money and get this signed and thank you. The only question we have is when I
checked with Comcast, it was not allowable. PEG money. The PEG money is only allowable for PEG productions and PEG to support the TV program. >> So that I talked with him a couple weeks ago. Um, so I don't has this gone to the
school board at all for funding or >> No, we we we just our original thought was to go through the PEG money because we had used that before with the original town prior. I don't know what we need to get an official. >> Yeah, we need to we need to ask them
officially and get an opinion because I think for unless it's changed for fact the original town prior sign was done under the pack, >> right? >> So if they changed it, that's one thing. I don't know, but we need to find out. That's how old is that? Hold on. 20 years.
>> No, no. Uh 15, 16 years, something like that. But that was a pretty good deal because we got TJ owned the property at the time. He gave us a right, >> you know, dollar lease or something, >> right? And I think the power ran off the
bank and that was part of the agreement, you know, so it was a win-win all the way around. >> Well, if the school could come up with half of the money, would the town be willing to um >> I personally I think it's a great idea.
I think the town should find money >> or team up to find money whether it's peg or something else. >> Yeah, I you you know my first thing was to go after the peg money because I I thought it it was a >> right >> there wasn't any problem doing that. Our next thing because it's a region we
[clears throat] have to put it under capital, >> you know, and and try to do it that way. But it goes on to the tax rate. Um and we we're facing over a million dollars and uh you know due the boilers, you know, so just be
one more thing. >> Did um and getting the prices. Do you do you know if you did you look for a lease option like a 5-year lease option to buy? >> Yeah. >> Because then it goes under operational money and not capital money. >> Yeah. >> And people could absorb it little
especially if it was 5050. might be easier to do. Um because you're not I mean personally I think our prior sign needs to be up upgraded as well. >> Y >> um we have someone coming out I think this week or next week to kind of give us a real assessment of it.
>> Yeah. >> Some of the cool technology is now though that we could literally let's just say we could wave a magic wand and get all kinds of money. We could put one at town hall, put one at the choir, put one at the school and time all together through, you know, through the internet
or PC cloud or whatever. >> Yeah. >> And have multiple messages everywhere because >> as a board we recognize that communication pretty much is pretty weak to to the community. Getting getting the community involved. >> Absolutely. >> Um I've been trying to champion and I'm
waiting to meet with Jen about channel 15 and getting the schools involved. So schools are doing programming, schools are doing, you know, their sports and all that stuff and getting it on 15 and they're so it's all kind of in the same package perhaps
Ken if it's packaged right. I don't you know I don't know it was it was a straight no that's that's not part of it's not part of the production but if we're promoting production >> stuff does it count I I don't know. Yeah, I just, you know, again, not me not to be repetitive, we used it in the
past and nobody, >> nobody said anything, you know, uh, uh, and it's I always thought the tag money was used for community projects, you know. Uh, >> yeah, it's pretty literal as, >> you know, production of
>> capable TV shows. >> Yeah. >> Or or or related there. So, um, whether there's a stretch in there, I don't know. We We'll talk to them, find out. >> Yeah. >> But even aside from that, I think my personal opinion is we should be trying
to find some money to >> increase all our signage. So, >> yeah, >> I agree. And I think, you know, this was a, you know, when you had first talked to me about it. I thought it's a great idea and it's a good place to have a, you know, collaboration between the schools and the town and it's in a pretty good spot for it. and you know
with the aging of the the existing one whether we're going to eventually tie them all together or do another one or replace it or what have you and potentially also even at town hall at some point too. Um >> I think at the other end of town there's a good opportunity for another sign as
well. >> Where do you mean north? >> No, south at the other large intersection road area. >> Oh wide. >> Yeah, there's a lot of traffic.
in and out, you know. Um there's um there must be some software maintenance costs that are ongoing with these things. I would assume >> there are, but it's it's not I mean I know with the uh town prior we that was
state bid company was out of Florida and it's it's pretty simple. They just send you the modules if anything and they can diagnose from from Florida. So, uh, but we were looking at local companies so that we'd have something even be closer,
you know, uh, so if there was any problems, you know, could be repaired quickly because I know we've been having a little difficulty with that north side. >> I ended up holding Steuart there got a guy coming out of Rhode Island. >> Yeah. >> That actually builds the signs and sells
them to the sign. >> Yeah. Yeah. um in discussions I know of multiple [clears throat] quotes you got I think when I went through some of the stuff with them you said is it firewatch or fire something of the brands you said was one of the better easy to repair
easy to get part yeah so you got bunch of price so >> yeah and uh actually one of the companies that we did was did a high school sign out there and I don't know
if you've gone, it's down now, but >> that was one of the better signs I've ever seen uh for graphics. Pretty amazing, >> you know. So, >> and it happened to be a local company, right? Right. I guess in AWA that uh does that. So, >> is that one of the ones you got the quote from? >> Yeah. Yeah.
>> But, uh I I guess what I would say then if you could get some sort of legal determination as quickly as possible so that we can >> because we want to get some. >> Sure. you know, uh uh and and obviously >> you're looking for spring kind of
from what I >> Yeah. I mean, if if we could get a warrant article, get it approved in May, you know, uh the town would have to handle the bid process because it's town property. >> Okay. >> Um but >> were any of those state contracted races? >> I forget, Chris. I don't think any of
them were on the state bid. >> I don't think any of them were on the state. So what we what we'd probably have to do then is pick the resolution. So you want the best resolution you can get, >> right?
>> My only concern was that coming west it gets hard to see because you have a library sign and library sign poles then that sign. >> Yeah. >> And I know you don't really want to move it because you already got your power and all that stuff there, right? >> Um I think Diane had mentioned is would
there Would it make sense to incorporate the library in that as well? Any of the library needs? >> I mean, we could al always work, you know, with the library, you know. Um
I I see this more as a community sign. >> Uh because that's what we're trying to build. We're trying to build a school and community support. Um I I I would envision I hope some sort of in inspirational thing on that sign every
morning for the students >> and the polar >> right like [laughter] >> but also for going by you know inspirational message for people who >> well do you like the one at Woodland
School they they do theirs they do a little inspirational thing >> I I think it it works you know you go by, you read it and sometimes it might be for kids but it it hits for adults too. >> Yeah. >> Um >> but anyways the bottom line is as [clears throat] soon as we could get a
clarification hopefully there's a gray area where we could use this money and >> and uh get it through uh because it is >> I don't know it's community. It's uh we're reaching the community and but maybe it's not a channel 15 but it's
still a a visual community uh reaching the community through visually. Uh so hopefully we can do it. If not we we have to go through the capital uh request and I'll have to go back to the school committee and and then we'll have
to look at the dollars and cents. >> Well, was it 20 to 40 depending on >> it's like 40 grand all in, right? 46 for one of them from 27 to 60. >> The fire I was looking at that fire watch one
>> 69 is the high. >> Um is there a multi-sign discount? Could you ask? >> We'll reach out to them. >> You know because if we want to upgrade the town crier maybe we'd go the lower end on that one.
>> Technologies changed a lot. That one went up. >> Absolutely. Yeah. >> Do you remember what that costed? >> I think it was like 20 something like that. >> Probably about, >> you know, and I think that could have included the masoner and everything, you know,
>> uh, and the logo on top of it, the whole thing. It it was uh, >> but that was cutting edge at the time, >> right? >> Cutting edge. And they were, again, >> usually what happened, the price doesn't change all that much. It's what you get for those that college, you know. >> Sure.
But your $500 TV used to be this. Now it's a 75 inch 4K, you know, whatever. Still 500 bucks. [clears throat] >> And we are working on u some class donations
that have not been spent, but there is a uh a process of contacting previous classes to get them to release that money. So that we were hoping that if we needed to, we'd have that money for any
cost overruns or maybe some additional plantings around the new sign to make it more attractive, things like that. Um, I don't know. I don't know if you know, but Mr. And >> I knew I was waiting for it to go. I was I5.
[clears throat] >> Mr. Anderson was part of the greatest class ever graduated from South High School. class of 1975 >> the music [laughter] >> for a class gift from that class. >> So I I I think we donated a bicycle
rack. So and that's long gone. I think guys probably threw that away years ago. But anyway, I just wanted to mention that I'm sure >> you knew it was coming. I knew it was coming. Well, we thank you very much and hopefully you're going to have good news
for us very shortly that >> there's a note in the chat. >> How will grand intolerance be contributed? >> The this is property of the town of South. They will contribute just like they do
for all our town buildings under the regional agreement maintenance and up. It's town property. >> Even if it even if half the project went under the capital, it would have to show up in both. >> If if we go through the capital, you
have to get all three votes. >> So one So one community that >> you'd have to get two, right? It's two out of three. >> No, you got to get for capital three out of three. So, um probably that'd be another good reason
why if we could use the tech money, um it would be good because obviously I think the the the benefit there's a lot of benefit to the south community. >> Well, it's still school information that's going to be on the sign which is
going to benefit the other towns, the other student, right? Those parents come pick up their kids too, >> right? So I mean there's just the same argument >> right exists >> but but but our agreement is that >> that they would promote Southlic
>> uh events to get our message out for the town i.e. that's being the win-win situation. >> Okay. >> But anyways we got to get to the basketball game. So we thank you >> and watch out for black ice out there.
>> Yeah, we we have no sign. >> Thank you very much. Thank you. >> All right, next up >> lake closure protocol and lake health data report. Hello. >> Welcome. >> Hold up. So, people in the audience,
you'll see if >> you can state your names while >> Sorry. So, I'm Dr. Eric Mueller and I'm vice chair of the lakes management committee and I um do the water quality management water quality coordination
for the lakes. and Dick Granles, chair of lake management committee. >> Thank you. >> Okay. So, um if if do you mind advancing slides for me? All right. So, let's go ahead. So, um you know, just an outline. I'm going to talk about algae and and
related concerns. Do an overview there. Um and then I'm going to give a sort of an illustrative example of something, you know, which actually happened here on our lakes. then uh draft a draft process um that I'm suggesting and it's
in flowchart excuse me flowchart form uh two charts one which is focused on uh uh identification of the issue and then creating recommendations and then the second one is sort of actions and communications and then my little thing
of you know what what what are next steps in the discussion so if you can so and and I there's a reason why I'm taking you through all this so that you get the picture for why um why one has to be careful how you make decisions uh with with these topics. So so if you'll
bear with me um there's many different types of algae and cyanobacteria. There's thousands of strains and under a microscope a lot of them may look similar but many behave very differently from each other. Um, each has its own
specific characteristics and I'll give some examples. Some of these can produce a toxin when they die. Not all of them, but some of them can. Not that they do, they can. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. Some will propagate on the
surface if the conditions are favorable. Some will not propagate when they're up on the surface. and the local conditions affect the potential for a algae bloom that we see starting in one place to propagate across the lake. So there's a
lot of things you need to know. So exactly what steps you should take is directly dependent on what specific algae is involved and what are the specific local conditions and the extent of the bloom that you're seeing. So
identification needs to be a key part of an effective decision process. Understanding the local conditions also needs to be a part of that process. And basically having someone who can consult on this who understands the Angaman
specific perspective of the lake chemistry. That needs to be a key part as well if you're going to have a good process. One little thing that's not that little to note, Massachusetts um has some unique requirements. Um and that is um
if blooms get too dense, uh Massachusetts does not allow treatment. This is unique. In all other states, uh it is recognized that you can if you have an algae bloom and you kill it, um that depending on the type of algae, it
may be able to release a toxin, which is not good to have in your water. And so the way most states deal with deal with this is if you get over this 72,000 counts per milliliter and you treat, then you have to go through a testing protocol to see that if did you get a
toxin, has it gone away, what have you. Massachusetts has a very different thing. If you get over 72,000 counts, you're not allowed to treat. If that happens, basically, your leg's closed until the winter, until the winter kills everything off. So, it's really
important that if you've got something that's going to take off, you're on top of it before it gets to the point where you're not allowed to treat it. Um, we used to face this all the time. It was getting more and more prevalent. We were having blooms a couple times a year. since the alum treatment, we really
haven't had to face this issue. And so, so we've kind of um you know gotten off the path that we had. We had a pretty tight approach to dealing with these because they were we were dealing with them regularly so we could identify them quickly, come up with a decision
quickly, react quickly. Um and but we haven't needed to lately. So, so at times speed could be important. Um so the number of people that this is me um
my perspective is so the number of people in the decision chain should be minimized. That doesn't mean you don't want input. You want input but if you get too many people my experience is that'll slow things down and it could be important that we that we react
reasonably quickly. Um, and then we also have to be careful because depending on how the information goes out, the public may overreact to something that they see. And so exactly what we say, exactly how we say it could be important. Um, and I'm recommending that we have one
place for an official message. and whoever gets contacted points people to that one place so that we don't wind up with mixed messages and and people uptight and confused and concerned. So I'm just going to give a quick
illustrative example. Um, so, uh, these happened right here in Congam. Uh, and these are two microscope images of two different, uh, cyanobacteria that if you look at them closely, you can go, "Yeah, I can tell those are a little different,
but they look pretty similar, but they're really not." So, on 6315, there was a sin of bacteria bloom that was starting. Um, we got a sample of it, uh, got it under my microscope. I own a very good microscope. got the image out to
our limnologist. Um Ken Wagner, he looked at it, said, "Yep, that's this particular form of adabana. Very bad actor. You got to treat for that thing immediately." And we did. Then about 6 weeks later, we had another bloom start and I got a sample of that, got that
under my microscope, got a look at it. I'm like, "Looks kind of similar." Sent it to him. He said, "Oh, that one do nothing. It'll be dead in 24 hours." And that's exactly what we did. We did nothing and it was dead. And I kind of asked him, "How does that work?" And he
said, "Well, you know," and he explained this particular type of Santaacteria basically cannot um cannot metabolize in the presence of oxygen up on the surface and so it comes up to the surface and it dies. So do nothing is sometimes the
right plan. It but it you actually need to know what you're looking at to know what you should do. And so it I just thought this was a nice illustrative example. [clears throat] So here is my potential flowchart, you know, looking for input.
This first flowchart is just starts with an initial report received of potential algae and ends with recommendations. So this portion you'll see doesn't involve for example this body. Um but
this is not a this portion does not create any actions. It does not make any decisions. It creates a set of recommendations. And so this is something where most of the time I'll be all over this. And my the output here is to create recommendations to go to a
group who will actually make decisions. So So the idea is that and I'll I'll go through it and you guys can speed me up or slow me down. um we get an initial report that can come in all kinds of different ways and usually it's citizens. They see something on the
water, they take a picture, they call, they text, what have you. And so the first question is, is the water quality coordinator, that's me, uh available. If so, send it to me. If I'm not available, maybe I'm out of town, what have you,
then the question is, is WRS Water Resource Services who we have on a on contract available? If so, forward that information to the LMC chair or vice chair. I happen to be the vice chair right now, but maybe one day it'll be
somebody else. Who knows? Um, and they will contact Ken Wagner, basically water resource services. If neither of those are available, then basically connect provide the information to the chair or vice chair and they will connect they
will contact solitude and who we also have a contract with. What will happen next is there will a decision will be made is more data required so that we can make an identification if yes then we'll take more more data if not then
we'll perform the identification again consult with WRS or solitude the recommendations will be created and then the recommendations spit out of this flowchart which brings up to the flowchart where the action happens action and
communication. So the recommendations come in and then my uh suggestion and uh and I've discussed this with a number of other people is that we get a meeting together and the participants that I'm envisioning in that meeting are the CIO
board of health agent harbor master a rep from LMC and a select board rep. And what that what that group is trying to do is two things. come up based on the input they have. Come up with a decision
of is treatment necessary or not and also come up with the text of what will be the outgoing communication. What's going to be posted? I'm I'm envisioning this on the town website. What will be posted? And basically, if treatment's necessary, then what will happen is
we'll schedule the treatment. We'll post this on the town site, put out a code red. If no treatment is necessary, then the question is should a lake use advisory be put out or not. If so, then that's what will happen. If not, then my
put is that we should still get back to the citizen who reported that and let them know this is what we've done and why. I, in other words, I don't want somebody who reports this to feel like they just got ignored. You know, if because maybe we go through and decide there isn't really anything to do. I
would I still say we should get back to the citizen and thank them for doing this. Okay, we're done. The treatment's done. Then the question is, are there additional measurements required? Um, and basically perform the initial measurements. Then hold the follow-up
meeting with those same participants. And the question at the end of that meeting is, can the code read be lifted and the town website return to normal? Yes or no? No would mean we have to pull four more measurements. Yes would mean we do it. So that's that's kind of what
I'm proposing and my next steps thing is basically you know are there concerns or other factors that you know that I haven't brought into this that we should be considering and what do we need to do next to finalize this? And the other question which Doug brought up when I talked to him about this is could this
flowchart form the basis for handling other lakewide issues. So that we you know that general um methodology could that could that be used for making other lakewide issues decisions. So >> is is there or should there be a time
frame metric to this? >> I wanted to add that because one very important thing about time frame is that in the past when we've had when like Eric showed we made contact with Solitude as soon as we identified it and
it was the bad stuff. Solitude's on the on the docket to provide services within three days. That's in their contract. So, and they usually are able to do that within two. Uh, in other words, you call them in the morning on one day and either the next day they'll show up or
worst case the day after they will show up and treat. So, >> that's one of the things is timing is critical because if you let it go, it it can explode >> too late, >> right? >> Yeah. >> So, that's a good idea. I'm happy to I'm happy to come up with suggested time
time frame metrics to put on each of these and send them out for comment. Yep. We'll do >> the other question I'd have is is it >> is it similar actions depending on [clears throat] which algae it is I mean I know whether it's bad or good algae but whatever but I'm thinking on messaging can we preload the code red
messages so they're already done >> so that you just have yeah if it's this kind this is what happens >> is that sometimes have a meeting at 7 o'clock at night and no one can do the code red till you >> good idea >> um I know used to be able to preload the message and record it and I would sit
there So, yep. So, you just have to pull the trigger. >> So, that that's a great idea. Yep. So, I think we can create again I'm happy to take a first shot at that and circulate it for commentary. Yep. That's a great idea. One I've got a question for you
guys. Is there a spot we can have on the town website for lake condition or something like that? >> My thought is we actually make one, right? That's like >> simple. Y whatever the website is slash congamon probably too hard lake
>> right and then green yellow or red >> y >> traffic light >> and with the conditions below and someone has the ability to update that page y right and it's just bog simple >> similar to that I was going to ask can you put flags on the boomies out there
to say this is a bad day or it's closed >> possible but again now you get into what people can play with that's out there or take. Um I what we generally have done what we Yeah. But what we've generally
done is put signs at the at the ramps and at the marinas. We even have signs pre-prepared. >> Uh for instance, for flood conditions, they're already made up and all we have to do is take them out and >> that's good for >> but we could do the same thing and have
signs pre-made. good for a bit >> where we can put them on uh you know at the two ramps at the uh three marinas and at there's a few other places that where we >> I think what Dian's getting at there's plenty of people that live on the lakes that don't see the ramp
>> but don't go to the >> yeah when we I don't know you were here a couple months ago and we were talking about dock permits >> yeah the names in the dock permits also give their phone number you have that information >> yeah that's in the in the application
Yes, it's in the >> mandatory load every doc information for the code >> and we have somebody that could do that now. Yes, >> that would be part of your re >> that would be Ellen. She's doing all that and she's made a phenomenal spreadsheet for that which we have not
had. It's got all kinds of information that was never tracked. >> Well, we could we could even load those under a separate category within the >> Yeah. And they get a special me that specific message. Yeah. >> Is it ever a localized area that is closed?
>> No. And I it's it's very infrequent that you would close the lake that it you know things have really gotten hand out of hand at that point. It's more that it the most likely thing will be advisories.
>> No swimming, no fishing, no type. Well, and it and the thing is I I think if you talk to the state, they're reluctant to say the words no swimming. What they'll say is, you know, swim at your own risk. We recommend avoiding this and that and
the other thing. You know, the the following things been detected. So, I think that's the most likely. And then there's the what I call common sense message part too where hey if you see a green cloudy area in the lake
>> maybe don't go in it maybe don't let >> don't send your dog in it you know >> um >> are these like clouds that travel kind of >> well they travel they can travel a little bit but more commonly like like what happened this year where was basically in a cove there was this area
of kind of green cloudy water and that was sort of what got this sudden response and I don't fault [clears throat] any you know the folks involved were just you know trying to be on top of it but um you know the message got out of hand because the person who
wound up looking at it didn't know what it was they were looking at and you know thought they were looking at the beginning of a you know of a a major bloom >> which they weren't um and you know so so I think it generated did it generated a
lot of anxiety um and a lot of phone calls. >> Yeah. >> Well, and and looking at the when you and I saw the and and the harbor master saw that bloom >> from this past year, but even just looking at the photos that you sent,
one could argue that's the same photo upside down from one to the other. One looks like a six, one looks like a nation. I mean I respect the process that was followed there but [clears throat] and but in the beginning of the presentation
>> part of this is if we don't if you don't act relatively quickly you can lose the lake for the year >> right so >> it is a very real possibility that if you don't react appropriately that you could lose the lake and I was just googling that up I remember there was one down in
>> a state slightly south of us where they lost it two years running to a cyanobacteria >> oh And it's becoming, you know, I'm glad we treated with alum when we did because it's becoming more common place, >> excuse me, across the country. It's not
>> unique to Massachusetts or or >> interestingly enough, I there was a years ago, not that many years ago, there was a a business unit that reported to me in Finland. And Finland has 180,000 lakes, >> and they're old lakes like ours, glacial lakes, and they're having more and more
of these problems with cyanobacteria blooms. shutting their legs down and it's a it's a very you know what I'm saying. So it's not just like unique to us. >> Sure. >> It's um >> so I think it's it you know from a protocol standpoint it a we have to
react quickly and act swiftly with correct data but also is have the process in place whether it's code red or notifying the folks that live on the lake because you can close the ramps all you want. All these boats already in the water's houses over 600 power boats on
the lake. >> You want to advise the television stations. >> That that's a possibility as well. That that could be part of the communication plan. >> I don't think we can get channel 15 updated that quickly. But team, but the local >> someday Asians
>> and and from the from the perspective of um you know, keeping the lake accessible, meaning having it not get out of the way, that not get out of hand, those notifications, I want to make sure whatever the chain is for who does the notifying, it's not
me because I want to be focused on preventing the lake, >> right, >> from being closed. So, so those are sort of like two different channels. One channel is the communication, the other channel is the let's fix it channel. And I want to be focused on the let's fix it channel myself.
>> Well, the CEO is our chief communications officer as well. >> So, >> y >> that would be where that >> Yep. So, so I think that's a great idea. We can add those things to the protocol and the harbor master is actually in the
room as well. So, and he's also, you know, a participant in this and also has the ability to command code red too, right? What needs to be done. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> But those decisions should then funnel to >> the communication >> the ones that are going to get it out.
Yeah. >> Right. >> Right. >> And we can put on the on the thing at the high school when that goes there. >> [laughter] >> So the the >> very optimistic >> that's a good question. >> So the so the three-year the three-year
contract we have with Solitude is actually up. We we have to put out a new bid and one of the we put in that request to bid that for bid is a maximum response time of 3 days which has been in there >> and some some outfits bail out at that point. They're like we're not signing a
contract says we have to respond no matter what to you within three days. Like, well, what if we have somebody else? Okay, if you have somebody else, that's their problem. [laughter] My focus is this thing. >> Do that. >> Um, they're in Massachusetts. Where's the main office? >> Right in and it's over in um I think
it's Avon, Mass. over kind of over in the eastern. >> You get that when I forward you from MMA. >> Yes. Yeah. >> I don't know what that >> I'm not sure where they're physically based. Um >> uh Brooklyn, Penny, [clears throat] >> but I I also don't know what kind of how
they're equipped. I'll go I'll restart you. >> Yeah, I picked up the card and talked to him for a second. >> And and the u the so the other thing is part of what they have to be able to offer is they also whoever does it has to be able to also offer uh removing the
beaver. Uh >> oh, you're you're talking about the solitude contract. >> Yeah. Yeah, >> when we go out with that RFP, part of that is when there's a dam in an area that we can't the hydro rake >> where they have to go in with a hydro rake again, they have to respond. They're given so many days and they have
to be here and remove it. And that's I think like five days. Uh >> so if if the if everything's blocked and water can't get out, we got to get rid of the so what's blocking it. >> So it sounds to me like you guys are immuneable to this. Um and I've got some
goss. One is to put time frame metrics onto this, which I'm happy to do and circulate. Um, pre-loaded messages. I'll take a first stab at that as well, and we can edit that. Um, so I'm I'm happy to do those. And then and then put a
little bit more meat on the protocol with maybe a that's that'll be a separate page, not a um not a flowchart with the, you know, notifications. Where do they go? you know, at marinas, at the ramps, the doc info, cold red, and TV
stations. And so I'll I'll put that together. So my inclination is to put this together into kind of one document, which I'll then forward around. We can edit it and change it, and then let's get the thing done. You know, we've got time, but it's February. >> Yeah. The ice goes out and,
>> you know, I' sooner or later June this year. >> Yeah. Right. Maybe maybe, >> you know, so you know, my inclination would be I I'd love to see us, you know, be be ready to pull the trigger on this thing in March and say, "We're done. We're blessed. Let's move forward."
>> Does the bloom dissipate when it rains? >> Does it actually It can make It depends on the situation. Sometimes it makes it worse. >> It It depends on what's blooming and and and the and the local chemistry conditions at the
>> at the time. It's uh now again you know the the alum treatment has you know has taken a lot of the pressure off but then we had this event it's like you know let's you know let let's be on top of this. The alum doesn't guarantee we can
never have a bloom. It has kept us from having any for six years which is great considering we were having them a couple times a year. Um but it can happen. >> Y >> it can happen. So, [clears throat] so, so both I'd like to be on top of that. I
I I don't want to be alarmist. I think the alum treatment has made it unlikely for us to have that sort of a bad event. Not that it couldn't happen. Um, that was not the case before. So, yes, that's one focus. The other focus is just to sort of calm things down so that we have
a a um a a decision process and a communication process that makes it platform. >> Right. And one message and then because >> we also have the town Facebook page which everybody did want to put that on there. >> Yep. Good idea.
>> When we had this this year it had been a while because of the alum treatment. >> Yeah. And for whatever reason with change of personnel and people coming and going, the process was a little broke. So >> yeah, >> everybody didn't have all the pieces to the puzzle, >> right? Because I used to just walk in
and see Tom, you know. >> Yeah. Yeah. I I got a I got a thing at around 10:30 in the morning with this picture. I'm like, "Okay." And I I was busy. I was working. I'm like, "Okay, you know, I'll I was thinking I'd get there the next morning. Okay, I'll I'll try and get there, you know, that night." Which I did. But by then you
like my phone was blowing up. I'm like what happened and you know and the difference between now and 2015 was social media. >> Sure. >> Yeah. Oh, sure. >> You know, it was like >> 10 years everyone got spun up and then
you know the picture looked not great, right? But >> we got there and it was basically it's almost gone, you know. So I I got some samples got got back got them. It took me a while to get a good image because there were so few. Got that to Ken. He was like, "Yeah, okay." You know, we
knew what the story was and and then I put out a new message that got, you know, I didn't put it out publicly. I put it out to the folks who would put it out, but by then sort of the horse had left the barn. [laughter] >> Okay. >> So, this hopefully this will bring some stability to that inconsistency to it. >> Yep.
>> And because it it kind of talks by >> notice it talks by position, not by person. So if those positions change, >> those people still know who they are. >> Yes. >> Right. >> Right. >> Yeah. >> Sounds good. >> Okay. Thanks. >> Sounds good. >> Um
>> do you want to do a quick thing on the water quality we normally do at the budget hearing? Do you want to hear that or >> how quick is >> I see there's no money attached to your >> Yeah. So the So >> no, the money is in the in the budget package. >> I know that. >> Yeah,
>> that's what I was looking for. like so what's the value he's putting on this presentation? >> This just tells you what [laughter] I mean we can ignore it or >> give us a you can give us a short >> so the the >> the brief version >> the objective here was to avoid having to come again. [clears throat]
>> Bad news. [laughter] >> You're still going to get to do it again. >> Well, are you still going to have budget hearings or no? >> Uh there's pricey ones. >> But we're not pricey. >> We're not pricey. >> Great. So, >> should should we do this or not? Either
way. >> Yeah, it's up to you. You've got the data. Um the maybe you want to just go over this one page. Do you know >> is there any significant additions to your budget that you want to highlight? >> No. No. In fact, I'll I'll just tell you that the the we're hoping the same thing
happens. We're hoping that this 2007 250k that we got from the DCR grant to treat hydrillaa, we're because that's a three-year grant that ends at the end of 27. So, we're hoping that the funding
continues from the feds to DCR because they're the administrator of the money and they will continue to fund us, the town of Southwick, and maybe another three-year grant that would cover Hydrrella uh going forward. If not, we
put in the 12.5K. And all that does is it it eliminates um Stantech who's doing this >> [clears throat] >> um >> DNA >> DNA and where they can tell oh yeah there's one over in the parking lot somewhere
you know and it and they well it's it's about 150 ft from where we are right now. Solitude does it by they they go out and they use underwater cameras and they check all the shoreline and they just and they map exactly where they find it.
>> So now when it comes time to treat it, they go back to the exact same spots and say, "Okay, cool." >> You know, we have the piece more effective. So So that's the 12K that covers just that. >> So what I'd suggest then based on what I
heard is maybe we just go to the last page. >> Yeah. which is the long-term water quality work. >> That's kind of what we're doing a lot of right now and that speak and I think you know I have a feeling that you guys know bits and pieces of it so just figured
we'd touch it. So >> I do I don't know how familiar that >> you know so >> two large things right so one is this engagement we have now with DRCS so the so um uh national resource uh conservation service
>> so it's so federal agency um and the objective here um their their angle on this is flood prevention you know we have regular flooding events and we can have bigger flooding events and they
that is one of their major charters is management of flood situations to prevent floods >> and so we've got a good engagement with them. There was an init Thank you. there was an initial uh initial study done and
now they've got a boots on the ground engineering study going on. Um and we had a public meeting about it this this past week. So we've got, you know, good engagement going on there with them. Uh, you know, that that will take some time
to play out. You know, this is years, not months. >> Um, >> 12 to 18 months of of the work >> ju just just for this part of things. But basically the the idea here would be the restoration of Canalbrook and potentially Greatbrook so that we have
outlets that actually function. Um and we have wegates in place already so that we would then be able to manage that. That would also give us a benefit in water quality as well. >> Yes. >> The other thing is this engagement with
mass DP and and they've contracted MTC um and you guys know about this this watershedbased plan and you know what we're getting here out of this engagement with them is a few things. One is a wider perspective. you know, we're, you know, we have Ken who gives
us a great amount of perspective and solitude, but these guys give us yet a wider perspective, and there may be things we didn't think of that, hey, we might be want to do this to make things better or that. Um, the other thing we learned is is, you know, we've benefited
from S319 grants. Now, you're not eligible for an S319 grant unless you've got one of these watershed based plans or a TMDL or a TMDL plan. So, we we're not eligible for S319 grants without this going on.
>> Quickly, TMDL is total mass daily load, which is driven by Long Island Sound, where everything that comes from where we are winds up in the Connecticut River, which winds up in Long Island Sound. and they're the ones that are screaming that their t their total mass
daily load is going up and it should be going down. So that's why you read in the papers all the time about the sewage treatment plants and whatnot and any lakes or any any water bodies that contribute
um phosphorus any anything that is not pristine clear water. Okay. and and uh congaman is on the >> is on the list >> is on the list for the invasive species that we have the curly leaf pondweed the
Eurasian watermill foil and hydrillaa but it's also on there because of phosphorus so they want to reduce that but to measure TMDL it's very very costly and to go that whole route so we >> so the the watershed based plan gives us more flexibility and satisfies the
requirements for making us eligible for S319 grants The other thing that is of a particular interest to hear us here is the possibility to leading to a path for shallow area dredging. This is something we've been trying to get to happen for I
don't know how many years now. You know, the alum treatment uh inactivated phosphorus but only in the deeper areas. You can't use it in shallow areas where it's less than about 12 feet deep. So we have quite a few coes around the lake
that are have very thick amounts of muck in them from just many many years of oak leaves decaying and those are a constant source of phosphorus and they're there. They're not good for the water quality. We can't do anything about them. What
we'd like to do is remove that material. Our local farmers would like it. It's very good for soil reclamation. the homeowners, it would be great for their property values because people who now go out into a a muck filled cove, what's
under there is sand. Um, and we're not the only lakes in Massachusetts facing this. And we've gone through the dollars. It's actually cheaper instead of contracting with someone to do these, we have enough work that it's cheaper to buy a dredge and do it yourself and
>> for the state to buy a dredge. So what we what we would like to see happen is the state to buy a dredge and have MASDOT operate that thing. It's the sort of equipment they're used to dealing with. Um and one of the things we learned from Mass D and MTC is there
actually is um a collection of towns that has that has done exactly that in Massachusetts near the Cape. And so so that's the other thing that's interesting about this. Maybe they'll come up with something else we didn't think of, but if there's a path here
where we could get that to happen, you know, that would be a great benefit to water quality and a great benefit to, you know, just the lake in general and people who live on the lake. So, those are the two major things and those things we're not asking for any money
from you from >> Yeah, just letting you know about them. >> I was going to ask it's a state great pond. Where is this? And we can so we agree to their >> pal and we can and we can use um for for
the work that NRCS is proposing uh they they cover 60 >> 65 >> 65% >> yeah they cover 100% of the design 65% of the execution. >> Yeah. and and so we have access by doing this, we also have access to state
funding um to help fund >> so those S31 vaccine grants pay for the >> Well, it's also other there's other state funding available too >> for the NRCS 35% those could be applied, >> right? >> Okay. So, it's a shallow game.
>> Yeah. Yeah. So, that's kind of a win-win. >> Could be if if it lines up right. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. The one thing u is that that 65% is a total of all federal contribution. So you can't get your 35% matching from
the federal government through another channel. They they calculate the 65 on everything the feds >> supplies. Right. Right. >> But uh they don't care where the other 35 comes from so long as it's not. But >> we're working we've been working I've been working with uh NRCS Ammerst Darren
Davis specifically for now six years. And so this is the product of all this work that we've done and and this is the second engineering company and they're doing the boots on the ground work which they're really phenomenal. Absolutely phenomenal. >> Yep.
>> I give you credit for all the data you have collected and stored >> and managed to archive because it >> it was super helpful to all these agencies. It was clear it >> cut the work a ton. So >> and it gets it keeps their interest
which is important partner that's involved. >> You know the other thing we have you know like I talked about the shallow dredging we have the data we're we're shovel ready. In other words the moment the moment the picture that I have is if that dredge becomes available what will
happen is then towns can apply for that. Well we'll be in a very good position because what normally happens say okay well you're gonna need to measure this and this and this and this. I have all that >> and they actually had army corps of engineers which they did for free. They
they mapped >> the goo in Kangaman in 15 different area. In other words, they they broke it up into 15 areas. The entire perimeter of the three ponds and we know the number of cubic yards for each area. We've prioritized those. We know the
general cost for each area based on cost per cubic yard removed and like that. and and uh so we're ready there. We've also taken corings over the years and know that what's that goo isn't full of metals and hydrocarbons and things like
that. So it's great for fertilizer. >> Yeah. So ba basically we can strike if if that becomes available, you know, we'll be there first and you know and we can just dump on them. Well, here's here here are here's our prioritized list of
here's exactly how much you're going to get out of age one. So anyway, >> great. Good. >> Okay. Okay. Thank you very much. Thanks. Appreciate the hard work on this. >> All righty. >> So Doug, when I do an iteration on that,
funnel it through you. >> Yeah, I'll get it to the board. >> Okay, great. All right. >> See you. Take care. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Um I have no other new business of you. >> No,
>> Russ. lady. Excellent. And we can move to discuss and approve election and town meeting schedule with Christy May. She's still with us. >> Yes. Are you still here?
>> What do you have for us today? >> Um so when I met with you guys last week, um I forgot about Patriots Day. Um for the >> Yes. for the close of the town meeting warrant which would Patriots Day is
April 20th. Um so you guys have to change that date. I don't know if you want to change it to the 21st um April 21st which is a Tuesday or you want to bring it back to the same date that the citizens
petitions are due which is uh Friday April 17th. I would say make them the same. >> I would agree. Are you looking for a motion for the 17th? >> Yeah, I agree. >> There's a motion second. Roll call vote. Diane Gail. I
>> Doug Bogan. Yes. >> Anderson. Yes. >> And what else Christie? >> Um so and I just wanted to let you guys know I did um update the schedule. I did offer nomination papers starting today. Um, I had some inquiries and I let
everyone know that they were available today. Those people had contact me prior. Um, so they're out and we've had a couple individuals pull papers today and um, yeah, that that was it. >> Okay.
All right. Thank you so much. >> No problem. Thank you. >> Thank you, Kristen. Thanks. >> Okay. Then uh we were to come back with ideas on liaons to volunteer boards and
commissions. In my opinion, these are them for us. Have you guys thought about this? Are do you want to discuss this or >> Sure. If you agree
with all the NAS, that leaves us 12 13 12 Well, three of which I think are really all the Is NA McFallen? >> Not applicable. [laughter] Some of those appointees are department
heads. They're not they're employees. They're not the volunteer boards. Well, I don't think the planning board associate is a it's an appointment from the board, not a liaison. >> Right. I'm not quite sure. Some of these
look like they're more positions than they are boards or commissions. >> Correct. That's why they're not applicable to what we're talking about needing a liaison. And I said it's run in accordance with the bylaws of the town not by >> right >> and they have a board
that individual has a board and some of them already include a select board member so they are not applicable. >> So you basically have reduced this to be appointed boards right?
>> Yes. who have no one in particular to go to and may be seeking guidance from time to time. I view cert races in SEMA as
common. It's kind of one one thing >> and mostly the same people. Okay. >> Russ could not be on the could not be the cemetery liaison at this time and Russ couldn't
be the council on aging at this time. me obviously the single one I'm already kind of a there >> agreed >> are you a member >> you're still a member
>> okay of LAPC yes >> and then we just kind of said that I would kind of be there for Ian from >> Yep. I don't mind doing that. You have any you're eyeing here? >> I'm sorry. Did you have any that you
were eyeing that you would like to >> I personally think it should be random, not by choice, so that it doesn't appear like favoritism or I I think it should be random. >> Like literally roll a pair of dice and
you get egg bomb and and I get the thrown the graves. I'm just for example, I mean I was looking at it more from practical experience too like >> agreed. I agree. Yeah, if you don't have to come up to speed on something and you guys have more legacy
>> like I talk to the board of appeals guys more often than not just because they call me on zoning stuff. >> I don't know that I'm the the def not a de facto but just someone the guy they call but I wouldn't mind taking on that role if that's you know if you wanted to be a >> a liaison.
>> So what do you want to be? >> Oh I guess I I guess I hope that that one comes out on the roll of the dice. Russ would be Russ would be the emergency services >> and channel 15 >> and channel 15. What would you So you would prefer board
of appeals >> and the lake >> I worked with them. I mean just by history I it doesn't really matter. I could do any of these, but um and then you and I need to figure [clears throat]
out COA and cemetery graves officer >> which are related. I mean I can take both of those. [laughter] >> Wait a minute. No, I mean by the part current parties by the current parties on both [laughter]
the commissions. >> I'm just going to move over this way. >> You never know where that shot's going to come from. >> Fine, I'll take those. >> I used to work for a healthc care facility that did been birth degrade, [clears throat] so they usually brag about it. There's a little word. I mean,
I didn't it's not as random, but I can certainly take agricultural because I do consult with them all the time as well. It's not exactly random unless someone else wants that. Yeah, I don't necessarily think that the uh
you could certainly split cemeterian Council on Aging even though it's this because there's there is a department head there that sits on and moderates Council on Aging and um the Cemetery Commission which is
the graves officer, but the cemetery commission is elected Yes, I'll gladly take on historical if you want. >> So, is that a yes for egg for me? >> You'd like it?
>> Then that leaves conservation and EDC. I can take one of those because the other two are really not. Um, >> I don't mind EDC if >> what's up? >> I don't mind EDC if somebody else wants it. I mean, the emergency stuff kind of self-regulates itself.
>> Okay, you called it. And then I grouped conservation and open space together. That's up for grabs, Doug. Me either. Doesn't matter. Or you could
split it because I I really think that OSRP is going to be if you if you're the open space is really going to be a subcommittee of the >> have a little more conversation on that got it right after that. >> But when you get to the OSRP piece that's going to have a member of the select board on it probably
>> um >> I believe it did in the last one. I can take conservation for I mean I'm on >> sure >> I'm on Empic which is pretty active but I can if it gets too much I'll let you know forth to one of you.
>> All right >> you can read it. So Diane A, Agricultural Commission, Doug, Board of Appeals, Diane Cemetery Graves Officer, Russ, Community Emergency Response Team, Radio Amateur Civil Services, Emergency Services, Southwick Emergency Emergency
Management Agency, Doug, uh Diane, Conservation Commission, Open Space Land Management, Doug Council, Diane, Council on Aging. We have the same initial Russ Economic Development. Doug Historical Doug Lake
Management LMCC Russ Southwick Community TV channel 15. >> So I will I will volunteer to put something together to these people and introduce and if they have any Yep. any guidance
they need. Here's your main contact. Certainly open to contact anybody, but here's your main thing. All right, good. And then um we're going to get to the other conversation in a minute, but um goals
and objectives, any updates? Russ, you had some questions, I think. Oh, and we don't have Nicole here, so we didn't know unless Naen knows about uh like the website upgrade status. Are you involved in any of that?
>> No. >> And I don't know, you were asking about Munice. >> Yeah, I know. We I know that um they were doing their own deposits now, right? I think they submit their own receipts. I
>> think through the banking >> Yeah. system through through the bank. >> Well, yeah, but they they aren't doing the the warrants the same way. >> I I can't speak to I don't know. I >> I just and I just wanted to my question for Nicole was is every member up on on
access is that part of it 100% at this point and then are we get ready to do part two which is paying their bills and independ >> so why don't you send those questions to her for next week she can follow up on those I guess um any other updates on
specific goals and objectives >> um kind of that our old business the beta we were supposed to meet last week but they had an emergency meeting this Friday. >> Okay. >> All right. All right. Um and then
other old business now going back to the open space um that the sub commmittee open space currently known as open space planning and management committee. We did not clearly state I reviewed our meeting. We
did not clearly state whether this was an ad hoc or permanent subcommittee of the conservation commission. We said it was a subcommittee. Permanent subcommittee is preferred of course because the land and its care do not go
away. This is different than the prior open space um which was called a variety of different things. It was called the open space and recreation committee. It was called the open space planning committee in other town documents.
Um and that one dissolved with that apparently with the culmination of that plan. >> Yep. um to avoid confusion and create separation um from the reporting
compilation entity. I'm suggesting we re rename this subcommittee the open space land management committee. They can plan their land management within that frame
and we make that a permanent subcommittee. >> No objection. >> Shall we vote on that? >> I just want to bring just when it comes time to if they're going to form or we are going to form a
committee that's going to complete and submit an OSRP. That's a separate ad hoc committee that'll be formed for that express purpose and then when it's done it'll dispatch. Correct. And that's that was >> Sorry if I stole your thunder from the next page, but that's the segue to that
>> the next part of it. Yep. >> So then I would make the motion to do what you said you wanted to do and I would second. >> All right. And I will I will notify the conservation commission of that. >> Uh because they're meeting and they're
asking Oh, wait. And I >> am the leazison for the conservation committee. You are now because they were asking me are we >> lies? Yeah. What? >> All right. I will be free of lies.
Okay. Then the open space and recreation planning committee was an ad hoc committee for the purpose of updating the OSRP report. >> Correct.
um if this is going to get done by the end of the year and the date end of the year is not exactly clear. I asked um Martha Kaine who's done a terrific amount of work on this already. Um she couldn't find a specific date. They just
kept telling her end of year. Um so that means we need to get this committee together somehow. in the past. I think you guys read this out while you were we were talking about this last time was a town planner, a member from planning, park and wreck select board conservation
commission and or the coordinator because we didn't really have one at that time and it was two residents >> as well. Um >> certainly wouldn't preclude any members of the open space committee. Well, we can
>> from being a either of the citizens. >> They could be the citizens. >> Yeah. If they want, >> you know, you know, they and at their at their last meeting, >> they didn't really want to give it up either, >> which is fantastic. >> God bless them. >> Yeah. I mean, so that's what I was
saying. >> If they're through with this, they'll be convinced that why they didn't belong to it. Um, so I wanted to um ask Nicole if PBPC got back to them, got back to us or not, if they had any
funds or staff or any resources available. But I did want to mention from the last open space and recreation report, it says in June 2018, the town of Southwick made a request that was
approved by the CPC to use CPA administrative funds to update the OSRP. >> Yeah, you can do that. >> So, we should have them look into that. >> Yeah. And then we could actually use those administration funds perhaps for a
project specific temporary floater for the project. >> Administrative funds >> correct >> maybe. >> Right. And that might solve their floater. >> Does the temple exist somewhere for just updating? PVPC has it. Um so does they
she had she had um Martha had the the new guidelines which is basically template and she went through and identified we can just update this section this section this section these we have to read >> but does it exist in a word or some document that's simple to upgrade
>> I'm sure the original exists somewhere in that we can just they can just cut and paste and pull from and many of the maps were really just I was she sent me all that information. Many of the maps were
just done for the master plan. So they must be current enough for that purpose. So that was a lot of the money used the last time was to create those maps. So they're already pretty recent from that project. So I will communicate that to them as
well, those findings and perhaps have them get together a request for CPC funds. um and check into that administrative support that way. >> I think you we we should advertise too the forming of OSRP. >> Yep. >> Ad hoc subcommittee.
>> Yep. >> And what were the members on that again? >> Town planner, a planning board, park and recck select board, conservation, and two residents. And it could be different now. It originally had at in one year it was it
said 15 but in their annual report I checked all the annual reports they were reporting we have 10 members we have nine members the members were dropping off as it progressed um so it doesn't it could be more if we have should we have more volunteers
>> okay >> I'd love to see someone from like management on it too >> yeah that'd be as a you know it's kind of a centerpiece of our relational community. >> Yeah. Yep. Okay. Well, we can talk about
the composition. Well, we can decide that now. Think about us more and come back. >> Yeah, we can come back to it. But, you know, for anyone who's thinking of applying some get some input from conservation on the membership first and we'll come back.
Um, and I don't know if you had followed up again. I wanted to ask Nicole about did we get any info back from legal counsel on the associate members? Did you >> hear from >> for Kong? >> Yeah. >> Not that I heard.
>> So, we'll have to come back to that >> again. I think yeah, we have to hear back from them, I guess, cuz my opinion is my opinion. Whatever the legal guys think. I I don't think it's going to change anything. I think it's it they'd have to be they they just can't be voting members of the
conservation commission, but they could have all the associate members that they'd like as they have had in the past. >> Okay. And then um just want to talk a little bit about the MMA trade show. Um, I think we all had
some common interests there. We all went through separately, but catching up with you guys, we were all pretty much at some of the same places. Certainly insurance, which I'm sure Naen's all over. Um, but also there was a code red replacement. I know you were talking to
those guys. There was some >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Have you done anything with them? >> All of a sudden I'm getting ads all over the place for them. >> Well, they're bigger than just Code Red. >> Yeah. that's appropriate or not. I don't know. But I know code red's been a little challenging lately too.
>> Yeah. >> But what I liked about it talking to her was >> I know the police use it a lot for their seemed a lot easier for sending message >> a lot. >> Huh? >> Used >> you're not used >> you're not using it like you used to because you can't
>> it's not fitting our needs. So what what I'm trying to do is get a a demo together for you and Rich and everybody to look at this product for that reason. So >> what is it your >> uh gov is the name >> go.gov. >> City of West Springfield just changed
their provider to >> regroup. Regroup. Yeah, I saw it somewhere and I I meant to reach out to the mayor and ask him how that's working for him because they were in the same boat as us with code red. >> Um >> there was also a bargaining unit
comparison database system um that loads all the available data they can mine. Could you stop and see those folks? Yeah, they actually um they were at one of my conferences and I actually gave
them our bargain our CBAs a while ago just that they were saying send what you can. So I have sent our current CBAs to them. Um >> have have they tried to sell you? Do you know what the deal is?
>> No, they have not yet. I haven't tried to sell yet. You talk to anyone else there. >> I did talk to the vice president after the presentation we sat through. >> Um, and it's depends on how many CBAs you want to do. Depends. There's a
there's a few variables, but it's not horrible. >> Is it subscription or annual fee? Is it >> annual fee? And it goes by your budget, your population, how many CPAs you have. So, they're kind of throwing around some rough numbers, but I don't we need to
really follow up with them, too. >> Okay. The um rapid response community survey system was also interesting >> that the flash did. >> Uh yeah. Yeah. >> Yep. Um and you talked to them
>> a bit on that too. >> Seemed to be pretty rapid. >> They're not cheap, but So I found that interesting because when I talked to him I was really excited because it was getting trying to get to
the meat of the voters, you know, a little bit more, >> you know, f the foundation of who's really coming to the meetings and who's who's really taking interest. And then when I looked at some of their their data, they'd [clears throat] have a town of 20 or 30,000 and get a thousand responses.
So >> not not huge. >> Yeah. Like I didn't follow up with them yet, but like who are those thousand is the question. >> Yeah. >> Um I don't know. >> Interesting concept, but that's who did who did they get to other than you know
Facebook commentary. >> So they they they mine through like code red subscriptions through their own mailing lists through um other assets that we might have for for contacts. Um
You you know I >> it'd be interesting if the go.gov was two-way. You could send out a message respond. >> So in go.gov is some communication tools in there. I didn't get a good chance to look at them. >> You know, press one if you agree. You know, we could throw out a statement, a
question, press one if you agree, press two if you don't, and tally that kind of response >> because you have to be careful with people. You want people to sign up for >> and you don't want to abuse that list and give that list to somebody else to torture people with surveys or
>> calling people at home or or even if it's just I envision it being more of a thing that pops up on your phone >> for your locality whether we put it out or someone else puts it out and you know you just scroll down on your phone and you yeah I agree or I don't agree and you have room to type something else.
That's how I envision >> one of those flash mob type survey things. Right. So the thing I liked about flashbot was that the questions were set up scientifically because there's the whole science to how you question. >> Um so that part of it I kind of like the
idea. It wasn't just like a survey monkey and you know >> right you want widgets or not widgets you know. >> Yeah. >> Looks more more to look at I think but it was interesting. I mean, it certainly goes to our, you
know, wanting to expand communication, get more people involved, >> right? >> You know, on that. >> And there was a little irony in this, so bear with me, but there was actually a survey and they just came out that said people don't do surveys anymore. Like that that
the particip participation rate in surveys has been declining for decades, but it's rapidly accelerated now. So, it's hard to even go by your own data when you do a survey because your response population is so small. Be interesting to see if some of these
newer tools reverse that trend. The way they reach people, >> yeah, >> you know, the old things in the mail or, you know, survey monkey or something like that, if it's on your phone and it's a one question, one second answer >> or you know, 5-second answer
>> to see if that drives or do they think it's spam? And >> that's why I don't all the above. Yeah. Right. You know, it's it's a tough call. >> Well, sometimes asking is is part of the goal. You might not get an answer, but if you at least
gave the opportunity to to communicate, >> correct? You know, >> and gives people opportunity to think about it, too. Like, oh, I didn't really think of that before. >> Yeah. Yep. If you can reach them, that's the key. Then there was a transfer station gate entry systems. Um this
stuff >> we should >> like a plate reader type pipe. >> Yeah. Yeah. Which we would need some kind of sticker. One one was a plate reader but I I talked to them about well do you have anything that if we had a sticker with a
QR that you could read that or something like that? Um so she was going to check into that but >> from Canada. >> No. Okay. >> No. And then um there was also a new kind of
developing need not just here but not as much here but um where there's also short-term rental postings um that they scour all of the Craigslists and the traditional short-term rental sites and accumulate a
database of those and report to you by town so you know who's renting that you should Yeah. >> Yeah. >> It's a huge >> Well, I I had another thought about how
to go about that is perhaps we could develop a little program where we give a stipen to verified verified short-term rentals that aren't registered and then we can go get them registered. that whoever the finder is is anonymous and we give them a little
stipend. Or we could even, you know, have a bunch of students or volunteers in their spare time do this and give them a stipen for every verified one because we have a lot of them. They pulled up their map and there's they had
like 14 in a period of time in South Book and we have we know of we know of about six and only five are registered and they're not just on the lakes. >> So we have them. So just a thought. We
can think more about that later. Uh anything else that was um of real good? Yeah, I mean I talked to the folks at um one of the camera guys about the uh
access piece for the transfer station and then and the name of the company escapes me, but the lady was from Canada. That's how I remember. Um they they do a parking systems for cities and privately managed parking
lots. >> I did talk to her too >> and it was kind of an interesting conversation. I'm going to follow up with them. um >> because it's something you could tie in with the lake and uh >> for sure >> for those that have been to Bradley
airport lately, very much more technical but similar system. Um at the airport parking garage, they have all these green and red lights. Well, they change color if the spots are open and they they tell you when you pull
into the lot how many spots are available by level. And it's all done by just looking at the spots and it can keep track of what and just driving down. You can see on a much simpler level you can
run your ramp. Yeah. >> And people can pay by app when they park. You know, you launch your boat, you park, counts that boat, counts boats in, counts boats at, you know, vehicles in, vehicle out. when they reach their capacity, they're at their capacity and
people can pay for those, you know, and use those spots that are at the ramp, you know, obviously subject to discussion with lake management a lot more, but there is a bunch of different solutions. I I'm really trying to see if there's a way to tie it all together. Not sure that you can with the transfer
station, but the the license plate reader, >> we got a gate. I mean, there's no reason we can't get a gate at the transfer station as well. We just have to have a common object that it's going to read. >> Well, it's Yes. And you have to meet with I mean, I talked
I've stopped there a bunch of times and talked to the guys up there. There are like 50 different exceptions to that that you have to add certain license plates of this that and the other or what and that or that they deal with on a regular basis up at the transfer
station. So, oh, my car is in the shop, so I'm using my wife's car today. Or, well, I took the sticker out of the car or I took a picture of it and have it on the phone and they go, "Okay, you have to you have to cover that because if you have a gate now, the person's 50 yards away from being able to get to the
>> transfer station and we're not going to put a man or person down at that station." So, we have to walk through that. But the LPR or some other type of scanner >> is easily achieved. The tech the technology is the easy part. It's all the 50 exception cases that are the hard
part, but we'll keep moving forward. And like I said, and talking to the guys at Axis and a couple other guy uh camera companies, they've gotten so inexpensive now and so accurate. You know, what was a $10,000 camera 10 years ago is several hundred
to a,000 bucks. kind of, you know, the opposite of what we were talking about with TVs, but it the price of those things have just come way down to make them feasible for an operation like ours. >> Any other
big ones? >> Nope. So, are there any of those that we would want to want to say rush get upfront and decide if we want to include something in our
budget for fiscal 20 that >> I think the transfer station one first. >> I do too. Maybe a simple end for that is a simple buzzer communication that goes to the trailer that hey, I don't have my guard, you know, come on in
>> and go check them out, >> right? >> I do, too. I like that. So, um >> I can talk to Parker on where to go with that. I was going to say, would would she do it or would we just have would buildings and grounds or DPW DPW
buildings and grounds and rich? >> Yeah. >> Okay. But we agree that's the big one. That's >> I think >> that's like the easiest agreement we've ever had. [laughter] >> All righty. So >> it I mean I don't I haven't been through
that budget process from the town side yet, but it almost seems like there should be a line item for technology. The things that we don't know that come up the way things are moving so quick these days. If it helps us and saves money in the long run, I I don't know
what that number is. If it's 5,000, 20,000, whatever it is, if it might be worth carrying some sort of a technology line item for the unknowns, 100 pound services, >> right? All >> and it's also a bunch of planning, too,
because I think that we want to make sure um you know, there's one project that was just that's going around that was last year during the budget process. We it didn't go didn't move past the budget process, but we had talked about
enabling certain camera video slacks and card access to town to town hall and then looking at that further out in the future of being able to propagate that out to other buildings and having it all be under one management so that you're not having one system at the fire department, one at the police
department, one at the library. You have one piece that's managed all the same from one place. you know, you can delegate management for certain things because that's important, but it's the same system. Um, so you know, you add an employee, they get added throughout all the town buildings and when you delete
an employee, they're deleted amongst all the town buildings. Um, that didn't move very far through the budget process. Last year was a tough budget, but there's another project going around now that's grant funded, but it's going to get someone started and hey, you know, that that's a good project in itself.
And maybe that's going to end up being the system we end up using across the town just because it's going to come in the reverse way of doing it. But >> um that's a good way to >> Who's doing that one? I mean there's a grant out there or >> they already Yeah, I believe they're trying to grab it.
>> There's a department that's trying to get the >> And [clears throat] it's and it's a good one. And it it's all within good intent. And I think that that's one of those ones where you could if you had some kind of whether it's technology planning or facilities planning, that's one of those
things where you could get those folks involved so that you you have that consistency across all of >> I was going to say we don't really have an IT manager that is looking at every >> not necessarily this isn't really it in itself. It's kind of it's
what we're seeing in in um actually in in my day job too is where it starts to run into OT operational technology, right? And >> it it starts to run into each other. >> Yeah. >> You know, when your when does a door lock be when does a door lock become it?
Well, now it does, right? Because it is right looking at all >> but buildings and grounds is is a key player in that. >> Um public safety is a key player in that. Mhm. >> Yep. >> You know, I know that they were talking about getting um they were going to we're probably going way a field here,
but they were talking about getting a new printer, right, for ID badges because the one we had was many years defunct. I don't think it worked since you've been here, right? >> It works very poorly. >> Yeah. So, they were talking about getting a new one. Every employee in town should have an ID and then if you
get to the point where your ID is also your key, right? So, that's how it starts to all tie together. And moving along in the technology world, um I had also attended um one of
the sessions AI in municipal life. >> Spooky, huh? >> And um for sure we need to develop an AI use policy. Um and I did there Commonwealth, Mass actually has one which I see a number of
towns have just plagiarized. So I'll talk to Nicole about getting that together as well. We should have one which the the meat of it is really you just are responsible for what you're using and you must validate what you're
using and the way to ask it without bias might require some training. >> That's one side of it. The other side of it is data. Right? We have some data that we >> privacy >> that's private and if you were to somehow dump it into >> chat GPT to try to get an answer on
something well you just inadvertently >> put it out there >> disclosed information you weren't entitled to disclose. >> Exactly. So we definitely need to have some policy on that. >> To the breakout the IT cyber security one is always one that sends shivers up your spine.
>> Sure does. >> Sure does. Okay. That was all I had for hold business. Anything else? >> Not for me. >> Okay. Can we acknowledge and approve open session meeting minutes from January 26,
2026? We didn't get those yet. >> We did. >> January 26. That was their last meeting. >> No, it's here acknowledging paper. No, I have open session minutes from January 26, 2026 on the agenda.
>> I know. >> No, it's payroll war. >> Oh, I have an old >> January 26. >> Payroll warrant. >> Okay, we're not going to approve any minutes. That's weird. All right, we're going to acknowledge payroll warrant
2619 dated January 26, 2026 in the amount of 302,33625. >> The open session meeting minutes from January 26 was on there at 7A, right? >> Yeah. >> So, we're just skipping that today. We're going to table that >> uh because we don't have the >> table that till next meeting.
>> Eight, you're good. >> Oh, wait a minute. >> Yeah. Okay. Um, >> that was for the website. >> We didn't get them. >> Okay. What tabled it? We're going to get them next week. She was working on them
today. >> Yeah. >> Um, so our next meeting is February 9th, just FYI. >> Um, we're going to be going into executive session, not to reconvene an open session if there's no other regular business. Can I have a motion? need to
read the >> you have to read the whole number >> before we do executive we are going to go into executive session. A motion is made to go into executive session pursuant to Mass General Law Chapter 3A section 21 number three to
discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body and the chair so declares we will not be reconvening in open session.
>> Motion >> second roll call vote Dai Doug Mooney yes. Okay, thank you.