Good evening and welcome to the select board meeting for the town of Southwick for Monday, June 15, 2026. Time is six o'clock. We're here in the land use hearing room here at 454 College Highway at Town Hall. Just let everybody know that all meetings of the select board
are recorded except for our executive session and anyone recording the meeting is more than welcome to do so. Just let the clerk know. Anyone? You, sir. Brent Gore 40 Birchwood Road audio and video. >> Fantastic.
Why don't we call the role? >> Nicole Parker. >> Doug Mowglin >> Russ Anderson. >> A Dean Signon. >> And Mr. Dee is absent this evening. Uh we'll do the pledge of allegiance, please. Nicole, why don't you lead us in the pledge?
>> We're done that. Well, >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
And we'll start off with public comments. And we'll ask the folks on Zoom first if they have any public comments. Anyone? Seeing none, we'll go to the room. Anyone in the room have public comments? >> I do. Do I just sit here? Do you want me to stand? >> I think you're good. If you could just
say your name and address for the record and we'll go from there. >> Good evening. My name is Stephanie Keyser and I reside at 283 College Highway. Um, I have a couple questions and then I will kind of go into like what my concerns are.
>> Yeah. So, I'm curious to know in the town and I tried to look on like your zoning in the town code book, but >> I was a little confused as to some of the things. >> So, for outdoor musical concerts that were to happen in town, not just a
isolated one, but like a series over several months that were to happen. Is that do you just give individually for each series like a one-day permitting process or if it's going to be a series, do they have to get a special permit?
And then I'll tell you why I'm asking that question. Keep going. >> Well, I'm just going to give you a little heads up. We typically don't have a back and forth during public comments. Usually we'll take input and either
reply under old business or in our next meeting when we've had time to gather some facts or whatever. So to make sure that we get accurate information back to you given the huge crowd tonight and I think some of us are kind of familiar with the event you're talking about.
>> Yes. >> We can probably give you some more at least some general information and we may have to come back to you with some more information. Um, is there more to what you're asking or? >> Well, I so I guess I'm a neighbor. I live across the street from there. I'm
not opposed to like people having fun or whatever. But it's the the loudness of the music literally even with my air conditioner units this Saturday. Like to go to sleep, I had to put like earphones in my ear to like drown out the noise of it. So, I'm sure that there is a noise
decibel. I think I looked it up and it said either 52 or 55 in town. Outdoor music concerts are generally between 90 to 115 dB. So my question would be is there some sort of
I I as an abutter wasn't notified that this was going to happen. And if it was just a one-day permit, I understand why I wouldn't be notified. But if there was a public hearing, I am in a butter within 300 ft. I would have liked to have come and heard the presentation and
asked any questions that I had of the petitioner or the event manager that presented at your meeting. Um, so my next question would be, is there going to be any sort of noise mitigation that would be done, maybe aggravates
along the roadway or something in order for the privacy of me and my neighbors and the quiet of, you know, the quiet of the neighborhood. So, I'm not like I don't I'm not trying to complain like I want them to be able to do their thing. I realize, you know,
it's a money maker, but I also have I pay taxes in the town. I own my home. Like I have the right to I couldn't even sit in my backyard, you know. So I just I think it's unfortunate that
if they went through permitting it got passed, but none of the residents were aware of it and that they've had probably about four events since last May now. So I'm assuming this is going to be an ongoing thing that they're going to do.
And that's pretty much all I had to say. >> Well, I I don't I know that they did not need a permit, per se. They did apply and were granted um a one-day liquor license for two events this year, and I
believe they had one last fall. >> I not 100% sure on the numbers, but I'm pretty sure there was two this year and one um last year. Um, but it's it was not
it wasn't there wasn't like a special permit hearing or anything in front of the planning board or or anything like that for this event. So, the the only permitting was for the one-day liquor license that was
approved by this board uh over a couple of meetings. So, I'll take note of what you said though and do a little bit we'll do a little bit of homework and come back to you on on your other question. Um, and also what other future events they have
planned up there and maybe we should have a conversation with them too um in light of where they're located. >> Good. Thank you. >> No problem. Seeing no other public I'm just kidding, Fred. Any other public comments?
>> Yes. >> You all know I record the meetings and I play them. I have gotten my own concerns plus other people's concerns sending me messages that why aren't people divulging
more at this meeting. Meaning when contracts there's no I mean I sat here the other day with Rich and nobody wanted to talk about the amount of the contracts. It's 4% less.
It's three. It's this. What's the number? None of you talk about that. None of you. And you're spending our money. We have a right to know. I don't even know who she's talking about because again, you
wouldn't say who she's talking about. We have a right to know that. And I have people asking me all the time, why are they doing this? I don't know. I write back going, I don't know.
This Zoom is basically useless. Nobody Nobody knows what you're talking about. And the other thing is why isn't the packages put online that you guys get so we can
see what you see? Because when you see a map, we don't see the map. You do. So none of us know what you're talking about. I hope that helps because I'll come back every week and I'm going to ask the same
thing every week. Thank you. Thank you, Fred. Uh, couple of years ago, there was someone in the audience that took great exception to our use of abbreviations and letters. And I know we've been very deliberate in
pronouncing out and saying Pioneer Valley Planning Commission instead of PVPC or uh CD, Community Development Block Grant instead of CDBG. You know, we get all caught up in all this policy wonk stuff every now and then and we know what it is and you're right. Um, I
will endeavor to do better in that regard. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else for public comments? Buddy, you want to >> No, you got nothing. >> Okay. New business. Uh, I believe we're going to table item A, which is discuss
vote fiscal year 22 23. No, we're going to do that one, right? We're not going to do that one. Discuss fiscal year 22 23 Massachusetts Community Development Fund Program Administration amendment number three extension to September 30th. We're going to hold that one um for now because
there's >> Pioneer Valley Planning Commission is looking at consolidating and requesting reallocation of some of these grants that we have leftover funds for. But first, they have to be approved by HLC. So, before it can be approved, >> who is HLC? Um, the Office of
Housing and Livable Communities, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. Perfect. Uh, let's take a shot at the summer schedule. Do any of you have any vacations coming up that we need to be
uh mindful of or or time away that we need to be mindful of in our meeting schedules? gonna have this on my >> I will be away the first week of August 3rd, but I don't know if Naen, you know, you
don't have to worry about me. Uh 29th that week is first week of July maybe. Yeah. >> Say that again, sir. It's first week of July, but it's actually the 29th of June. Could be an issue. I don't I'm not haven't confirmed dates,
although an add. >> And you said which week of August? >> The first week? August 3rd. >> Naen days off as well. So do you think for July actually would work out pretty good >> 2013 and 27th
>> well that to not Friday is a short week of the first week of July because 3rd is the recognized holiday. Right. >> Right. So, we could skip the 29th and then um
and then meet the 6th, 20th, and then I would say the 27th. So, we didn't meet on 3rd August and then we'd meet the 10th August. And when is Labor Day?
>> Later 7th >> of September 7th. >> Yeah, we'll check with um I'll check with Mr. DD and then does that sound reasonable to meet every other week for July and August? >> Yeah, I think that's what we did last year. >> Yeah, >> just put the dates out.
>> Yeah, I'll schedule I'll send them around. >> Perfect. >> Okay. Do we have any other new business in front of the select board this evening? >> No. >> Okay. Under the old business, um, we've
been carrying this item of the right of first refusal for 177 Claus Anderson Road. Um, we were waiting for agricultural commission to meet um to vote on that. So far, every other board
had not had voted to not recommend that we exercise our right of first refusal. Um and ADCOM met last week, Wednesday or Thursday, and they also voted um unanimously not to to recommend that we
not exercise our right of first refusal. So um I'd entertain a motion. What is the motion? The motion is for us to not exercise our right of first refusal for 177 Klaus Anderson Road. Um there's a
sale pending for that property. And if the town's not going to exercise that right, then the sale could proceed. So, does anyone want to make that motion? So, >> I'll second the motion. It's a roll call vote. Doug Mglin, yes. >> Russ Anderson, yes.
>> Great. We'll table item B until we have a full board for future discussion at our next meeting. And the next item is also going to be tabled which is discuss vote DPW community one stop for growth North Lake Avenue phase 2 water main extension and Granville Road drainage
improvement. Correct. >> Also yes also Pioneer Valley Planning Commission um funded right we get those funds up there from the same agency and they're trying to reallocate the funds. So these are labeled items.
>> And item E is uh this was an item we discussed last week which is chapter 7 section 175 of the acts of 2025. And this has to do with the amortization of our our deficit amortization regarding an amount that of money that we have on
file with our current health insurer. And you have an update on that? I called um the state about it because I you know was concerned that we don't know our number for FY26 and if you don't if you
don't vote for 26 it has to be in 27 and um they needed to get some more information to get back to us. We were the first community to ask them about it. So I should definitely have an answer for you next week before July 1 deadline. Thank you. And then item F
is I think we voted on this in in uh last in our last meeting, but we just want to confirm and ratify the fact that we we are in agreement that we're taking no action on the on changing the prrated stickers at the transfer station for
this upcoming fiscal year. Is that your understanding as well? That's my understanding. Yes, I'm sorry. It was put in there by omission. By omission. Oh, I omitted the fact I admitted >> memory.
>> It's all good. And then for minutes, we need to acknowledge and approve the open session meeting minutes from May 11th and June 1st, 2026. I know I had submitted my changes and I believe they've been incorporated. >> Motion to approve.
>> I'll second the motion. Roll call vote. Doug Mglin. Yes. >> Ros Anderson. Yes. >> And we need to acknowledge a payables warrant number 2628B dated June 8th, 2026 in the amount of $328,18.95.
Is there any other old business that we want to discuss? I don't know. >> Did we want to bring up that that other issue with the the state liquor licensing thing or we're just going to let that be for now? >> The 3:00 a.m.
>> Yeah. >> Um >> not to speak in code. It was just something that we had discussed and I don't know worth carrying on an agenda. I was sort of under the impression that none of these establishments even stay
open until 2 am, never mind to stay open until 3:00 a.m. Um, but I could certainly put it on an agenda for it. It's it's supposed to be um it'll be extinguished. I don't know the word. Uh by July 31st will be the So, it's only for the month of July for the most part.
It's it's really regarding the FIFA Cup and allowing the bars that have the events out their way to stay open later. I did take a note to myself. So, it's bill H5478, chapter 96 of the acts of 2026, which
amends Mass General Law uh chapter 138, section 12. And it would allow establishments to stay open later, 1 hour later than their license permits from the period of July 8th to July 31st. And cities and towns could either
designate a district or the entire town. Um, and a community must opt in. It's not an automatic given. Um, personally I I agree with you. I don't I don't see a much of a need for I see it
in Boston where they're having the World Cup games and, you know, even some larger 250 celebrations that may drag on a little longer. Um, so I just wanted to put it out there for, you know, future discussion in case someone wants to do it, but we'd have to move fairly soon because it's going to start July 8th. I
don't see a big demand for it and like I said, no one's come to us and said, "Hey, we really should do this." >> Right. >> Um, so that's it for me. Any other business before the board tonight? >> No, thank you.
>> I'd entertain a motion to adjourn. Uh, >> all in favor? I >> Thank you.