Welcome everybody. This is the select board meeting for June 2nd, 2025 in the land use hearing room. It is 6 pm. Uh this meeting is being recorded and if anyone else is recording, please
let us know. And uh with us today, let's go around the table. Nicole Parker, CEO, Diane Gail, vice chair. Doug Mglin, Russ Anderson. Okay. And
then um who would like to do the pledge of allegiance? Chief Bench. Why not? To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God,
indivisible with liberty for all. Thank you, sir. And then is there anyone in the room with public comment? None. Anyone online for public comment? No hands. Oh, don't say. Yeah. Okay. So, then we have a
continued public hearing for uh Verizon request for permission to erect a line of polls on Nicholson Hill Road. And I think we have an Andrew online for that. I I one really quick. I don't know how to put us at the top, you know, with
the I don't know how to do that. The view the view. Just click on us and pin it. Margaret, she's there. You just scroll to the right, the right arrow until you see us.
There should be a picture of us somewhere. There you go. And then just hover over that and click that and click pin. Thank you. Winning. She's in the She's hovering in the hallway for you. All
right. And then if you can find Andrew from Verizon from Eversource. Can you hear me? I'm sorry. Eversource. Yep. Can you hear me? Okay. Or Yes. Yeah. So, it's um it's to put two poles
on Nicholson Hill Road to accommodate the uh 24 and 26 uh home that is being built homes. Okay, just for correction, the agenda said Verizon, it's Eversource.
Sorry about that. No problem. Um so, I'll make a motion to reopen the public hearing that was continued to today. Second. Oh, sorry. What? Roll call vote. Diane Gall. Doug Mglin. Yes. Russ
Anderson. I Okay. All right. So, you want to just give us a brief description of what this is all about, sir? Yep. Um, there's a new home being built or two new homes, uh, 24 and 26 Nicholas Hill Road. Um, in order to
get power there, we need to install two new poles and guides to go along with them for support. Um, we're looking at one new pole across from uh 16 Nicholson Hill Road and then one right on the border of the 2426 lot.
Okay. And we know where those were. We looked at those last week. Yep. Okay. And was Mrs. Goa on? She's online. I can see her. Other comment questions?
She's right there in the middle. Oops. Nothing tonight. Thanks. Okay. Any questions? But not from me. Usually you there's usually a little playbook, but you ask if there's anyone here to speak in favor of the
application. If there's none, then you ask if there's anyone opposed to the application. Is there anyone to speak in favor of? None. Anyone opposed to the application? None. Okay. So, I guess we would want a
motion to approve it. We need a motion to close the hearing. So, move. Motion to close the hearing first. Second. Roll call. Vote. Dang. I. Doug Moin. Yes. Russ Anderson. I. And then a motion to approve the application for
the polls. So move. Second. Roll call. Vote. Dian Gail. I. Doug Moan. Yes. Ros Anderson. Yes. Okay. All right. I think that's it then. You should be all set. Mr. Andrew from Eversource. Thank you very much for your time. All right.
Thank you. Have a great rest of your evening. You as well. Thank you. Okay. And then uh we have reorganization of the board since we have a new member. Welcome Russ Anderson. Thank you.
Congratulations. Glad to have you. And um we need a nomination for a new chair. Uh as is customary, uh I will nominate Diane Gail to be the chair of this
select board for this year. Second. Okay. Thank you. Roll call vote. Diane Gail. I Oh, can I vote? Of course. Should I vote? Dang Alli. Doug Mglin. Yes. Russ Anderson. I Okay. And vice chair. As then would be customary, the clerk becomes the vice chair. So I will
nominate Doug Mowglin for the vice chair. Second. Roll call vote. Dian Gail. I Doug Mglin. Yes. Russ Anderson. I Okay. And then that makes Russ the nominate Russ Anderson to be the clerk of the select board. Second. Roll call.
Vote Diane Gail. I Doug Mogan. Yes. Breasters tonight. Okay. Thank you. Then and we didn't even have to move around. Usually there's a ceremonial moving of people, but chairs. Yeah. Like literally, we pick up stuff and drinking chair. That's Yeah, we've done that a few times this past year. So, it's
musical chairs. All right. And then uh we need to assign a member to the capital expenditures committee. And Doug, would you want to continue that? Certainly. Okay. Then I will nominate Doug for that to retain that position. Certainly. Roll call vote. Diane Gai.
Doug Mo. Yes. Yes. Anderson. And then assign a member to local emergency planning committee. And I can think of no one better than Mr. Anderson. And I will second that. Roll call vote. Diane Gail. I Doug Moin. Yes. Russell Anderson. I All right.
[Music] Um, do we do the high-speed internet now and MEC now as the select board representatives or when we come up to renewals? I would let those be for now. Uh, when you're the you're the designate on EMP
through whenever I I want to hold uh high speed until we get to old business. Um, so I don't think there's any or discuss it. Right. Okay, agreed. Um, need an authorization for the chair to sign payroll and payable
warrants. So move. Second. Roll call vote. Dian Gale. I Doug Morgan. Yes. Russ Anderson. I and authorize the chair with the CIO for hiring approvals and all other personnel actions below department head level.
So move. Second. Roll call. Vote. Nail. I Doug Moin. Yes. Russ Anderson. I And authorize the chair to handle year-end municipal modernization act transfers between light items and any finance committee reserve fund transfers
through 63025. So move. Roll call vote. Dang. I Doug Morgan. Yes. Ros Anderson. Okay. That dispenses of that business. And then um we're going to go a little bit out of
order if you don't mind. Chief um we have you got to narrow that down. Chief Stfanowitz. We have a patrol officer interview. Just one if we can move him ahead of your four. Okay. Then um let's
see. Michael McCarthy, you want to come on up? We knew this was coming. So, uh, Nicole, we all went to his graduation. Well, welcome back. All right. So, we all went to his graduation ahead of time.
So, the way it works is we have eight questions here and we're just going to bounce those questions by you and um shotgun. Perfect. So uh what motivated you to become a police officer? Uh growing up always kind of
looking towards it. My father was a police officer Northampton for 30 years. Um so I kind of got into it through family and I enjoyed, you know, uh being out there,
not being at a desk all day doing something new every day and meeting new people through that. So, okay. Thank you. How would you be able to relate to citizens from different generations? Different generations. Uh
just having good uh family relations, good family with grandparents, parents, uh just working in general uh at a college right now. It's a lot of people
around my age. Um, so I think getting out there and uh being with different generation will be somewhat newer, but just being around in everyday uh
activities deal with all uh ranges of people. Good. Yeah. Thank you. The department operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You will be asked to work a variety of shifts, holidays, and in some cases days off with occasionally
ordered overtime. How does this fit into your work life balance? Uh right now I'm I work the overnight shift at Smith College. So my normal schedule is uh 10 45 p.m. to 7:15 a.m.
Um it's not my first choice obviously, but it's something I've gotten used to and uh I think that's just part of the job. I understand that that's not going to be a problem for me and I do sign a lot of
overtime. Um, so that's something I enjoy doing my spare time. Just the follow up, you said you assign you you take a lot of overtime now where you Yeah, I do. We have a lot uh for especially in May uh graduation time, a
lot of events, everything like that. So, it was a busy month. Mhm. How do you feel about being told no? Uh, I'm fine with being told no. If you know, depending on what it is, you got
to listen to your supervisors, um, everything like that and follow their direction. Um, it's okay being told no if you don't agree with it. It is what it is. You can explain why you don't agree with it. Um, but you still
have to follow the lead of the your supervisors to go with what they have to say. Thank you. What do you view as the main responsibilities for police officers? Does that change due to demographics,
population size, or geography? No, I don't think it would change. Um the role is just to be there for people in the community when they need help and a wide range of situations you
could be going to. Um sometimes it's the it's their worst day and sometimes you're you just make their day with a little axe kindness. So, I don't think it changes who or what you're dealing with
as long as you keep a professional standard. What types of specialty positions would you be interested in pursuing during your career if at South Police Department? So, I've been thinking about it. I haven't narrowed it down on one
specialty per se. I think it's I would enjoy getting training and finding that path. Um I'm not set on anything yet. Uh but I know the department has a lot
to offer whether it's the K9 or the boat even. Um I do a lot of fishing. I like being out on the water so that might be something I enjoy. Thanks. describe an instance where you were involved in a stressful situation and
explain how you handled it. Uh at Smith the most stressful situation. We had a death of a student um who committed suicide and I was the officer on that night. Um just handling
it. Just went through the steps I had to take in that moment. And then after that just talking to um they have a lot it's a school so a lot of counselors for students but they also offer that to staff. Um there's a
lot of opportunities to talk to people and and then just talking to people in the department who have been through situations like that helped. Thank you. I'm thinking if there's a followup. Does everyone who's pulled
over for a traffic violation deserve a ticket? No. I think it's a good opportunity for in more of an educational purpose. Um, of course there will be some tickets, but uh I think if you have a set
standard um of what you're going to give a ticket for, then stick to your set standard. But if not, use it as a educational opportunity. Eight doesn't divide by three. Need to know math problem here.
Yeah, right. Wow. Is there anything you'd like to add? Um, no. I appreciate the time. Tell us about yourself and your motivation or I think uh for me just going into law
enforcement. Uh, I eventually found that path after I went to Westfield State for college. Um, I grew up in Northampton, but I moved to Westfield my sophomore year, so about
five years ago. Um, I've been here ever since. I like this area. Um, even though Northampton's not too far. Uh, I do enjoy it out here and so I was looking at towns to work around here. Um, I knew
South Lake had the opening. I knew a couple people in the department and they seemed to all enjoy it. Seemed to enjoy the community. So, thought it was going to be a good place for me to um keep going with my career.
So, you recently joined Smith. Why why move to South at this point? Um I'm kind of just looking for something more. It is a smaller college. um kind of used as a good it was a good
starting point. Um but I'm just looking to do a little bit more. Um especially now in the summer, there's not a whole lot of people there. Nights go by pretty slow sometimes. But yeah, just looking I knew
eventually I was going to move to a town. Um but I knew some people at Smith and they were like, "H, why don't you give it a shot?" And so I started there, but I do just want to move to
a bigger populated area. And I'm not one for a to go work in the city. Not necessarily a big city person. So I knew Southwick. I like the small town type of uh town. So it would be a good fit. So
you think you think Southwick's enough big enough then? Yeah, it's bigger than Smith College. I'll give you that. Yeah, perfect. Okay. Anything else you'd like to add? I'm not. Okay. I think I'm all set. All right.
Thank you for coming in. Awesome. All right. Appreciate the time. Um, what do you recommend for? Good job. Should we come back to this? do all the interviews and then come back. Thank you. Thank you so much. Nice to meet
you. Do you want to do all the interviews and then come back in a wave? It's up to you. Let's do that. All right. Then I guess we're going to go on to firefighter interviews. Do you want
to hang tight? Um and we'll go to Christopher Barry. We have four candidates in Dina who present to the board for three positions. Our first candidate is Chris Perry. Good evening. Thank you. How are you? Hi. Long time no see. Thank
you very much. Amazing. Welcome and and thank you for coming in for this opportunity in Southwick. Um we have nine questions this time, so we'll get three each. Uh and we're just going to go around the table. So, first of all, can you tell us a little bit about
yourself? Absolutely. Um so, my name's Chris Barry. I'm a uh a paramedic of about 15 years now. Um, I uh have worked in anywhere from inner city urban environments out to uh suburban and uh rural. Um, I'm very excited the concept
of uh getting involved with the fire service. Right now I eat, sleep, and breathe EMS. Okay. Russ, do you have a copy of those? I have one. Okay. Thank you. Can you give us an example in which you had to work as a team in order to achieve a common
goal? Absolutely. I uh in my last interview I mentioned an extremely critical call that involved an unbelievable amount of teamwork. Um about two years into my paramedic career I had a woman who had delivered two premature twins. Both of
the children were very very ill. Um we were doing CPR on both of them and mom was hemorrhaging. Um I started by myself in an SUV. Um and then as people arrived I was able to delegate tasks. Um ultimately mom went in one ambulance and both babies went and another ambulance
with me. We were able to combine it. So I had a police officer I believe doing CPR and a paramedic on either side of the child. Um front loading was huge in in achieving that level of teamwork. When people walked in, the first thing I said to them was, "I'm gonna be asking a lot
of you in the next 45 minutes. Um, I'm sorry in advance, but we're going to work hard today." Um, I felt good about the way that the call went, as good as you can. I felt good about the follow-up I was able to do after where I was able to check in with the other crews. We set up a CISD debriefing. Um, there were a
lot of us who got involved with some EMDR after that. Um, but it definitely was a strong cohesive event from start to three months after. Yeah. What is the most essential duty of a
firefighter? Representing the town that you're in with dignity. I think that saving lives is huge. I think that the EMS side is huge. I think that property protection is huge. But first and foremost, you've got to be able to
present yourself as a strong, responsible pillar of the community. Thanks, sir. Thank you. What is your greatest strength or ability that you will bring to Southwork Fire Department? enthusiasm and grit. This is something
that I want. This is where I want to do it. Um, and I'm going to come to work every day looking to better myself in one way or another. I My goal is to be a successful member of the South Department. That's um pure enthusiasm and a drive to
succeed. Okay. Thank you. follow up to that. Yes, sir. Where do you see yourself in five to seven years? I absolutely love what I do now being on the road. I absolutely love being boots to pavement. I also do recognize that
I'm more 40 than 20. Um so I would hope that in five to seven years I had some level of um training or management or uh upward momentum. Thank you. Thank you. So in your opinion, what is the most
important issue confronting firefighting in 2025? Skilled staff retention. I think that doing things to advance training, to advance job um enthusiasm,
um and prevent burnout are tremendous. I think that it's much better to keep a strong firefighter than to make a new strong firefighter. As a followup to that, what's um what do you do to prevent burnout?
I think that I have a good strong work life balance. Um, fitness is pretty essential to me. Um, if I have a bad shift, I don't care if I'm coming off of 72 straight hours, I'm I'm going to the gym to decompress before I get back to my house. Um, and just generally loving
what I do. Um, I mean, on my way up here, I was catching up on my EMS podcasts. If I'm if I have downtime, I'm trying to better myself towards my career. Good. Who has inspired you and how did they do it years ago? I worked for New Britney
EMS um and there was a doctor Dr. McDade for um who phenomenal physician um but watching their bedside manner was absolutely incredible. they've treated everyone professionally and like they had true compassion for them.
Um, I try have tried to emulate that level of empathy and compassion throughout my career since since seeing that. I think that you see a lot of burnout in the emergency medical system. You see a lot of frustrated, angry people, but to see somebody at the height of that career still being kind
and gentle to everyone that they saw, that was huge for me. Thank you. What is your own greatest accomplishment as a first responder? I think where I came from skill and knowledgewise to where I am now is a uh
tremendous achievement. Um I made a mistake. I went to paramedic school before I was ever working as an EMT, which is not common. Most people go work as an EMT for five or 10 years and then they go to paramedic school. So I had a very rocky first year. The subsequent 14s have been very good. Um but I came
into the profession with everyone telling me that I wasn't going to be able to do it. And uh I'm now a very successful, very wellrespected medical provider. Okay. Well, it kind of rolls right into eight. What have you done to prepare yourself
for a career as a firefighter, EMT, paramedic? So, I certainly mentioned continuing to keep up on best practice medicine. Um, being as uh in love with the job as I am certainly keeps me more prepared for the next call. I'm very enthusiastic about
learning new modalities of treatment, etc. Um, I think that physical fitness is very important. You see a lack of that on the EMS side fairly frequently. I think that staying in shape to take care of the people around me matters.
Um, and I think just generally learning to interact kindly and respectfully with everyone around you regardless of how high acute an emergency you're dealing with. How do you feel about the firefighting side of this this deal? I'm very excited
about it. Uh, I love the idea of going to the academy. I'm I'm a little bit nervous because it's not something that I've done before. Um, but I plan to be successful. I think that it's uh going to be extremely rewarding side of things. Great. Why do you want to be a
firefighter in South? So, when I first got the interview, I wasn't overly familiar with Southwick. Um, after I got off the phone with the chief, I started looking it up. I started asking people in the area. I started trying to get an idea of where it was that I was going. Um, and I heard
phenomenal things about high medical standards and aggressive firefighting and um, fire prevention programs. I like the idea of being in a department that matches my enthusiasm for the job and it seems like that's the
case here in Southwick. Thank you. Okay, that was the end of our questions. Is there anything else that you think you'd like to add? I don't believe so. I'm just uh very grateful for the time you guys spend
with me and uh I hope to be working with you in the future. Okay, then. Thank you. Thank you very much for your time. Thank you. Thank you. Have a great night. Y Thank you very much. Okay. And then we're looking for Anthony Seagull.
Yeah, we were saving paper today. That's all right. It's a good idea. We'll give Margaret right after that. You have to hand him in right at the end anyway. Yeah. So, our second candidate tonight is Anthony
Seagull. So, Anthony is currently with firefighter EMP. What was your name again? Good to see you. All right. So, Anthony, you've done this with us before. Yeah. Um, so we're gonna go around the table a few times. Okay.
First of all, tell us a little bit about yourself. So, my name is Anthony Sheagel. I am 23 years old. Um originally grew up in Southwick. Um moved to South Hadley, went to school there for a little bit and then moved back. Um didn't know what
I wanted to do, so I joined the fire department and I've had the best time of my life ever since. So here I am. Okay. Anthony, can you give us an example in which you had to work as a team in order to achieve a common goal?
Um, with my time here, um, there's been many calls, I can't think of one in particular, um, that we've all had to get our minds together, um, and try to formulate a plan
for, you know, any. So, we had a flooding. um we couldn't figure out how to get the water out of the basement. So, we all had to formulate a plan
and to try to meet that goal. What is the most essential duty of a firefighting? Um I would say teamwork is a very big one. Um hard work is definitely another
um there's a lot of uh tough things that you have to do. So I think being hardworking is is another one. What is your greatest strength or ability that you will continue to bring
to Southbook Fire Department? I like to think that I'm good with teamwork, um, dedication. Um, I want to say my biggest one is my will to learn. Um, I think that this job is ever changing. So,
being up to date and being ready to learn whatever comes next is a good asset. Thank you. Hey Anthony, in your opinion, what's the most important issue confronting firefighting in 2025?
I would say um staffing. Um, I think that there is a shortage of people who either don't know what the job of a firefighter is like
or people that just want to do the job. So, I think that having more people, especially in this kind of work, when you have to put a lot of people together to get to a goal, um, is is huge.
What is something that the average person doesn't know? I think that you meet a lot of great people. Um, you really get to get into your community. Um, learn a lot about your community. um get to know everyone that lives in
your community and make great connections. Who has inspired you and how did they do it? I think my biggest inspiration is going to be my grandfather. Um he's taught me a lot growing up. Um to being
hardwork um got to work for work for what you get. Um, and he's always right there to tell me when I'm doing horrible or to when I'm doing good. Um, he's always the first one to give me a pat on the back.
Good that you appreciate that. Yeah. What has been your greatest accomplishment as a first responder? my biggest accomplishment, one that I wasn't really too much involved with, um, but got to
work with a team to save a man's life on Point Grove Road. Um, I think another big accomplishment um is getting all the certifications and stuff that I need um in a timely manner.
um so that I could actually get to work. Can I ask a leading followup to that? Didn't you win an award from the Southwood Fire Department at a banquet less than a few months ago? I did. Uh what was that, sir? That was for picking up the most shifts
um responding to the most calls um as a call member of the department. So, that is another big one, I guess. I think so. Yeah, that'd be under the dedication below, right? And yeah, like 90% of life is
showing up, you know, 100%. Is it my question too? Uh, so what have you done to prepare yourself for a career as a firefighter, EMT, paramedic? Um, kind of back to that last question. um showing up um really getting to learn
the job um and learn everything that comes with it. Um I think that there's a lot of different challenges that are thrown at you. So being prepared um has been what I've been trying to focus on.
Do you plan to go on for your paramedic? I do. Awesome. Sir, why do you want to be a firefighter in South? So, growing up, uh, my dad was a part of the department um, for a while. And so,
when I was a kid, I got to run around the station and, you know, go crazy. So, then when I went on through school and through high school, I didn't really know what I wanted to do. So, I kind of looked back
on that and thought I'd give it a try. And now that I'm here, um, I've met a lot of great people, made a lot of good friends, and I love the job. Okay, that's the end of our questions. Is there anything else you'd like to add
in closing? Don't believe so. Okay. All right. Thank you. Thank you. surrounded by left-handed. I just realized this now surrounded by left-handed. Two out of three.
All right, then we got Megan McCutchen. So candidate three is Megan. Hi. Nice to meet you. Hi. Nicole Parker. Nice to meet you. Okay, Megan, we got some questions for you. We're going to go around the table. So, first, can you tell us a little
about yourself? Sure. Um, I've been an EMT for a over a year now. Um, I volunteer in the town I live in in West Hampton. I do EMS and fire out there. Um, in West Hampton, I love to talk
about I have like a little homestead. I have some cows, some goats, chickens, uh, ducks, but um, I'm in paramedic school right now. at Westfield State. Um we're in like the seventh week, but it's
great. I love it. Um I'm looking forward to moving forward in my career. Uh I've been in private EMS and I'm ready to move on. Can you give us an example in which you had to work as a team in order to
achieve a common goal? Um, I'd say, does that have to be EMS related? Interview. All right. Um, I used to be an electrical apprentice. Uh, I used to work on some commercial job sites, so we'd run pretty far distances. And you
definitely needed good communication to pull the long distances and um work as a team and work efficiently to make sure you didn't snag any wires or mess anything up. What is the most essential duty of a
fire? I would say protecting the community. Um whether that is during a fire or doing outreach and bettering the community and keeping the community safer. What is your greatest strength or ability that you would bring to the
Southwood Fire Department? I would say I'm very passionate and compassionate about a lot of stuff. Um I work very well in a team or independently and confident and if I'm not confident in something, I will do
all the training and ask for help if I don't know. Right. Okay. So, in your opinion, what is the most important issue confronting firefighting in 2025? I would say training.
Um I I don't think there's never enough training in situations, but um like experience through the training that you could use and bad situations that you get yourself into. Um but you can never do enough training.
Thank you. Who has inspired you and how did they do it? Um, my EMT teacher, Scott, I went to GCC really inspired um, inspired me in this field. He's very encouraging, very
helpful. Um, he's always around if I email him for questions. um when I was testing to get my EMT, he helped me a lot through that and was just able to give me a lot of guidance through this career and how to start it
and how to enjoy it as opposed to getting burnt out and finding what I really enjoy doing. Uh, what has been your greatest accomplishment as a first responder? I would say in West Hampton, um, we were
working a code. Um, and we're all, uh, first responders. We're all volunteer. And the time for, uh, the ambulance to come is like 15, 20 minutes. And um we worked to code and we got Ross before
they came back which was like amazing. I haven't been in EMS for too long but it was a very inspiring thing and um I'd say that's one of my biggest accomplishments. Okay. Thank you. So what have you done to prepare
yourself for a career as a firefighter EMT paramedic? Sure. So I'm in paramedic school now. So I'm doing that. Um, I volunteer in West Hampton. So, now that I'm in medic school, I'm unable to train with them, but I was training with them
um on Tuesdays and some Saturdays. Um, we had some like other towns come in and we would train with them. I went through the basic six. Um, but it's not on my resume because I wasn't able to complete the last day of it. Um, it was during like very dry season, so they haven't
had it yet. Um, our class never finished, but I did go through that to get the experience and to work in West Hampton. Why do you want to be a firefighter in Suffach? I'm I love the town. Um, in my medic
class, there's a bunch of the other employees that work here. Um, one of my teachers works here, and they all have amazing things to say about it. Um, and they're all very positive and
welcoming and they always just tell me about all the training they do here and it just seems like a great um place to work. Hey, that's our questions. Is there anything else you'd like to add? I guess
if I could ask a question. um what I could do to make my resume or be a better candidate uh for the department. I think you have um definitely the drive behind you. I think you're doing the training that you
need to to get there. Yeah. Okay. Um and obviously in your class you have a lot of good classmates and teachers that help. I know. Yeah. They're very inspiring. Yeah. I know you're speak so highly of it. Just it's it's good to get
that feedback too. Yeah. Um you know anything you guys I just had a followup actually on Pioneer Valley. Where were you stationed? You Northampton? Northampton. Yep. So you held Northampton, West Hampton, that whole circle. Yeah, I volunteer in West Hampton. So I mean we respond to
Chesterfield a lot um for Pioneer Valley but um mostly Northampton. I'm good. No, I think it's a good resume. It reads well. I think um you're you're doing the right things
as far as the education and everything else and we'll see how this all shakes out. Thank you. Great. Good luck. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thanks. Thank you.
You don't want to come over the fireside now, are you? Since you always check in. My dad told me to, but I man two on S South Police that went the other way. Two um
two is gone and well there three then. Uh Rob all up in Granville. That's right. And he was I think he was on South Lake Fire too, was he? No. Rob, he was D Granville. Yeah. Okay. He was on Granville. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Granville
Fire. He might still be on there. And our final candidate for tonight is Michael. Michael Russ Anderson. Nice to meet you guys. Hi Michael. How are you? Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you. Hi Nicole Parker. Nice to meet you. I don't
say anything. So, okay. If I sit down, please. All right. So, nine short questions, but you can fill in the answers as much as you like. First of all, can you tell us a little about yourself? Yeah. My name. I'm 23. I grew up in Hampton,
Massachusetts. Went to school Minichog. Um, after Minichog, I when I graduated, I enlisted into the Massachusetts National Guard as a combat medic. got my EMT basic through the military. Um when I got home from basic, I went to UMass
Amherst for a nutrition degree um for about three and a half years um until I deployed the whole year of 2024. Um and within that time, I joined a paramedic program and took that program. It was an online program in Rhode Island. Went
through that program with a lot of the other medics that I was with. um and then came home uh and I've been just pounding away uh studying for that paramedic program. I intended to start clinicals in about two weeks for that paramedic program. Okay.
And also while I was at school I did PDM uh EMS in par. Can you give us an example in which you had to work as a team in order to achieve a common goal? Yeah, of course. Um, just being in the
military, um, there's it's always a team aspect there. Um, it's always doing everything together, um, and working together to complete a job, complete a mission. Um, it's very team- based um, throughout everything that you do. So, I have plenty of experience working within
a team and uh work well and understanding my role and just doing my job that I'm intended to do. You want to give us an example? Oh, sorry. No, no, not at all. It was kind of a followup. I would say just complete mission prep. Um, while I was deployed, we had set
missions that we would have to uh complete certain stuff before missions and after missions. Um and everyone would be delegated a task within a team to get something ready um cuz everything was a little changing. So uh just building a team and we'd always kind of be told right away this is what you guys
are doing and then within that group we would have to kind of complete that task however we saw fit or how leadership saw fit for us. Thank you. What is the most essential duty of a firefighter? I would say the most essential duty is
performing a job at the highest level. Um that's really what it comes down to is the start in my opinion. Um if you can't do your job then you can't be a firefighter. And then just continuing to make yourself better. On top of that, if you are really good at your job, you can
always be better. Just follow up to that. What what would you access to become better? um just continuously reading especially on the medical side given that this is an EMS job as well um multiple studies
continue to study on uh what I've learned and also try to expand my scope um of knowledge that is and then um becoming a firefighter just reaching out to the co-workers that you have who have plenty plenty of experience who have planned interference and insight um to
kind of give you their kind of uh ideas on how they do stuff and build off of that as What is your greatest strength or ability that you'll bring to the South Lake Fire Department? I would say the biggest thing is just working hard.
Um I've always had to be doing something. Um always working uh trying to make things better as I see. Um and then working well the team uh the team aspect is something that I really thrive on and enjoy being in. Um, that's my
biggest strength. What's the most important issue confronting firefighting in 2025? I would say the most important issue is um the job is ever changing. Um as we get into the state of being more EMS
focused on top of the fire uh learning how to manage both and be proficient both at the same time. Um and just kind of being ready for whatever uh the call comes and just being prepared is the biggest biggest thing. Who has inspired you and how did they do
it? Um, when I first got to my unit in the army, there was a sergeant there who on the civilian side has worked as a critical par critical care paramedic. Um, and he's has over 25 years of experience. Um, and his proficiency in
what he does um, really inspired me um, to just be able to do things and know things from experience and just kind of be able to do it without without hesitation. um uh getting to that level is something I strive for. Uh and that's definitely inspired me to kind of be the
best I could possibly be. What has been your own greatest accomplishment as a first responder? I would say um while I was working in EMS and Palmer um we had a code
card we were first on scene um and I was relatively newer um so I wasn't as confident um to start um but I feel like I really jumped in um and gained a lot of confidence from that single accomplishment of being able to perform
my duties do the cardiac arrest do compressions, airway, um everything they needed to do. Um and before the paramedics uh came there, me and my partner actually resuscitator, what have you done to prepare yourself for a career as a
firefighter, EMT, paramedic? Yeah. So I um I feel like I have started to get my professional journey of becoming a paramedic. Um I have a lot of experience on the medical side within the army and civilian.
Um and then becoming a firefighter. I have the drive to become a professional firefighter. Um and I believe that I will be a very good environ uh as well. Save me a followup on that one. Thank you.
Why do you want to be a firefighter in South? Um, I would say the limited experience I've had with um the first interview with with the members of the fire station uh definitely seemed like a group that uh appreciates
professionalism and camaraderie. Um just from the short time that I um was with them, I could sense that which is big for me. Um I love, like I said, love being in a team. I love having that camaraderie. and trust with the team members that I'm with. Um, so I I would really enjoy working with the the people
here, the professionals of of the station. Thank you. Is there anything else you would like to add? I would just say thank you for the opportunity uh and for this interview. Can I ask one more question? Yes. Just I was reviewing your resume and it it just
jumped off at me. You had like a three or four month stint as a surgical obser for surgical observation. What does that entail? That was in high school. Um it was an internship in high school where I shadowed a surgeon uh for one semester
um kind of seeing how he operates and was able to sit on in some surgeries and stuff. Um that was probably my initial uh uh draw to being EMS. Well, I just never had seen it before. So I appreciate it. Thank you for indulging. Awesome.
Okay. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you. Well done. Thank you. Have a great day. You wrote a book. I did. I did. Right. I write I'm the only one who can read it. Well, it's the only one who has to read it.
[Music] Um All right. Do we want to put our thinking caps on and go back to Michael McCarthy as patrol officer? Chief, did you have anything you would
like to add to that before we Um, not a lot. Michael came to us a couple months ago with interest. I believe Robinger. So Doug Sting earlier that she went to a graduation already is true. Actually sat next to me in the uh
in the line for pinning. Um through the interview and everything, I think he would be a good fit for our department and uh I ask that you appoint him to control position. This is the one that's effective July 1st. I would ask
if possible if we could start him early. We do have monies available in the budget. There's two other officers who are waiting to go to thems. Sure. If there's no further discussions or questions for the chief.
So, I I'd make a motion to appoint Michael McCarthy um to the Southwick Police Department subject to all the yada yada that you have to go through in order to become an employee of the South Lake Police Department. Effective soon as possible.
Second. Roll call vote. Dang. I Doug Mglin, yes. Russ Anderson, I waited all that for that. And there you go. There you go. Thank you.
Gota go back to graduation. Yeah. Yeah. And that was a test of your patience to uh see how you reacted on that. Sorry to talk to you through the chat. Yeah. Absolutely. All right. And then for the
um firefire EMTs, chief, you want to just um certainly. So recap, we had four very strong c we had five very strong candidates. Um in fact, we had nine people we interviewed um and anyone the
bill and it was it was a hard job to pair the legs down. Um but we wanted to make sure that we had people that were a good fit for the department but also were going to fulfill some of the needs that we're experiencing right now. Um, so listing from top to bottom right now,
if I were to pick three from the list of four, um, it would be Barry, um, who's already an experienced paramedic and, uh, is, as you you heard, very eager to go to the fire academy. A little nervous, but eager to go. Um, Anthony Seagull, who can hit the ground running right now. Anthony is currently working
for for us as a fall member, as a PDM as well. Certified firefighter one and two, so he'd be very official department. And for third would be Michael Goliath. Um whose name I mispronounced earlier, but Michael obviously has some military experience which serves us well in the
fire service. He'll do fine at the academy, but he also brings that military EMS experience which is different than what we do in the field but also similar as well too. So he's pretty heavy exposure. Um and that's not to discredit Megan at all. Um Megan was
a late entry into the interview process and we're thankful that she did. Um, but those would be my three top candidates right now. Chief, where are you with um le levels of certification? You know, your holes as far as medics, basics, all that.
Would be awesome to have three medics. Um, this would have more. Yeah, two right away would give us a good level stance where we'd have two on each shift. Um, and then we do have three that are currently in medic
school, so we're juggling that as well, too. Um, so all three of them are in the same school as Megan. Um, so they all know each other. That's kind of how she came to and and that's my only quest question as far as one of them just being basic. It'll be a time before they're in medical school. Yeah. Is that
work in succession of others? And yes, it does. It does. It's not a need to have the paramedic coming in right now. Um but there is a a need for firefighter one and two and Anthony fills that bill because putting two at the academy at the same time is tough, right? Um
Springfield used to offer five classes a year and now they're only doing three. So there's a gap. So if you can get people that already have some of that experience in there and the offset in the long protect long-term projection actually works in our favor. Now would Anthony go to academy or he do he's already firefighter one two through
Connecticut. Okay. Yep. Any further questions? I mean, for discussion, I think I had him pretty much how the chief railed him up. I
um I was impressed with Megan's interview and um I would if depending on how this goes because she asked all the right questions and I I think she had a lot of the right answers and um she I think she would she and she would seem like a good
fit for our environment. Um, you know, this is a constantly evolving situation. So, you know, no matter who any of these four candidates, they were all very, very good tonight. So, um, I think and and for Michael, we
had a couple interviews for a police officer a couple years ago and we told the it was I think it was three for two spots and we told the third guy, you know, don't go anywhere, right? Cuz we knew there were some other things going on and whatnot. And I think I believe that gentleman is going to the academy
shortly, right? So, um, as we continue down the path we're on, I think, you know, she's in a good place, too, whether, you know, as a eventual employee or even, you know, when she gets her medic to be to get some experience that way, too.
So, and I and I to be honest with you, I thought Michael put on a fantastic interview. That's my thoughts. I haven't made a motion yet because I I wanted to get I and there's a lot of experience up here on the board too to with that. I I agree with that order and
and agree Megan is in a in a good place to come into the organization. Would she's not doing PDM at this time? No, she's not. But she did PDM. So yes, there's a motion.
How do you say Michael's last name again? Tlaya. So I'd make a motion to offer employment to um Michael Tlaya, Anthony Seagull, and Christopher Barry, subject to all the yada yada and whatever else we have to go through to become an employee of the South Mic Fire
Department. I second it. Roll call vote. saying that line Doug Moin. Yes. Russ Anderson. Hi. Thank you very much. Thank you. They were great candidates. Yep. Can I have your um write ups there?
Russian. You can have some. You want to nine? Always. Did you print them or No, they came in the packet. Oh, yeah. You want them? Not if you didn't write
on probably good form though. There's some information in there that shouldn't be out there in Yeah, that's it. Yep. Okay. And then Oops. You want to pause for a photo with our new employees?
Absolutely. They already left. Okay. All right. Well, we got one. We got one here. Javish Kyle. That's his so I guess she gets back. John, would you do me a favor? I had
wondering where the call might go. Oh, is your phone ready? It was but you got to be in the picture. Oh no. Oh yeah. I'll wait till everybody is present. Come on. Oh no. You stood in the back row a lot,
didn't you? I did. You get every Can you get everybody here just a little bit? [Music] Yeah. Everybody smile. One, two, three. And one more. There you go.
Saying the film is cheap. I have a job. Hey, congratulations. Thank you. Congratulations for leading me in today. Yeah. Hey, my pleasure. Congratulations. Welcome.
Guess we got it now. Yeah, we got it now. All right. And then Um, I put the cart before the horse. Sorry. Right. Two seconds before it, but that's okay. Um, so now we are
entertaining appointing Kyle Sanders as an acting patrol sergeant. And were you double check that? Was that a valid position? Okay. Um, give us the give the public the uh Sure. basically the lowdown is, as
you're aware, we've had a lot of turnover in the last couple of years here. In the last year alone, we've got a new chief, a new lieutenant, with 401 officers, including the one who just left. Um, we also did
two sergeants a year ago. One of has since left replaced him a couple weeks ago and we have a sergeant right now who's out medically, expected to be out probably in the next five, six months or more. So, uh, with everything together
with the new personnel that we have, we've got probably eight total officers now who have under probably two and a half years of service with Southwick. Um, my thought is we need supervision at this point. And, uh, that is why I'm asking that you appoint Kyle Sanders to
be an acting sergeant for the next roughly six months. And that would be after school's complete, SRO duties are completed on or about June 18th.
Depending what happens with some person. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So he would continue in sergeant in September should he need to be. So right now the sergeant will be out uh is expected to be up probably through
about December or January. At which point I'll get So would you back fill the SRO and leave him in sergeant or so we would trade a new SRO. Okay. So yeah follow here as well. Sure.
Okay. Yep. Any further questions, discussions? Kyle Sanders, I assume you are in favor of this. I am very I told you we'd see you again very soon. You're
in the report last time. I said it was a great interview the last time. Um hope to see you again soon and here you are. So um thank you. I'd gladly make a motion to appoint Kyle Sanders as the acting patrol sergeant.
Second. Roll call vote. Dian Gail I. Doug Mglin I. Russ Anderson I. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. We already got your picture. See, we we're planning ahead. It's like the graduation was before the position. Well, graduation pictures usually are,
right? Right. Really? Thank you again. Thank you. Glad to have you. Good job. All right. Uh and sorry to make you wait again. Well, we're okay. Great. All right. Um and if no one
has any objections, since we have Mr. Goddard here, Thank you. Really um if we could go out of order. Um he has some discussion on community onetop for growth grant applications.
Hello. Oh, I pulled the chair because the chief was talking and the owl was showing the back of the chair. So I wanted to I didn't take it as a person. A little more distance. This is probably not the broken chair. Thank you.
Good evening everybody. Uh I come to you today um not only observing the depth of talent um that I get to see by the time they make it before the select board but also from uh the grand halls of public works. Um as is customary uh we like to
uh approach the select board um for your endorsement and authorization to proceed with grant applications. Um but we'd like to do them individually because it's important um uh to maintain some awareness of both the projects uh that
public works wishes to advance um and also those that um are rising we'll call it in the need um category. Uh so I come to today uh to discuss Powder Mill Road from Depot Street uh nearly clear out to
uh Fitting Hills Road where uh in recent years uh and we've just wrapped up uh design and engineering work to realign a portion of the street, take away the cur some of the curves and dips and rises um to engineer new uh water uh mains and
drainage uh services out there. um and also uh provide for uh pedestrian connection clear along that stretch so we can link our uh our town core um if we're here at the end of depot street
the other end of street I say as well as Wally Park uh the rec center uh the Legion um oh gosh is it Bernwood I forget the name of that subdivision right there and of course the school campuses um so this linking on both ends
um out eventually to College Highway. Um so those drawings are complete. Uh but uh we are seeking um support through the one spot for community growth uh grant if you will uh clearing house. Um they have routed our application to the rural
development fund. Um it is multiple millions of dollars to do all of this work from one end to the other. World Development Fund unfortunately caps um their awards at half a million. But the idea is to uh if you will crack that egg
and start lining up the page the puzzle where we can um attack this both in phases um or if you'll uh find complimentary sources of funding to move forward. Um I note that um this particular program doesn't require the
formality of u select board endorsement as we most recently saw with the uh the deer culvert grant program where they have their form letter but I still think it's important to monument um your support um of the DPW and the rest of the town proceeding to try to find funds
for these projects. What's the time frame? Oh, of award. The time frame for award, if I recall correctly, uh, doesn't take place until October, November, um, of this year. Um,
that might be a month or two on the on the long side right there. Um, there are, you know, there is an expectation that these funds are utilized within 18 months of that award, which is going to be challenging. um seems we're looking at a singular chunk but we have worked
alongside time bond to draw down a look towards phase one uh and within that uh individual phase utilities can be broken out um as a separate line item if we had to work solely with that source of funding.
What would phase one be? phase one. Uh so the effort that we undertook alongside Tyan Ban um and try to figure out what the right size chunk was to start with is going to be from Feeding Hills Road down to the the Legion uh
driveway. Um that component right there being uh both relatively straight requiring only modest realignment of the street to uh to continue the sidewalk. um where it does not exist today. Um but
still involving some of those water and drainage uh components. The further um south we get along Potter Miller Road, the more sophisticated the work gets as you going to be straightening some of those curves. Not well within the existing right of way. The we are
developed on both sides and where we're not developed, we have wetland resource areas and and steep slopes. So, uh, we're going to call it optimization while trying to bring that, well, absolutely bringing that sidewalk into the picture. Is that really the main curve there, right? The telephone pole
is uh that's a that's certainly a big part of it. And this is also an opportunity to correct some of that the geometry of that really broad intersection at depot south yard and powder mill road which got to be the last phase getting to there I imagine. So yeah, unless
there's a great win, a lot of work there, you know, support coming in and we can do this in a sure more significant chunk. Yeah, I appreciate everybody's optimism, everybody's understanding of the curves and everything. Yeah, the big curve. I've seen trees close up
in that curve in winter. Oh yeah. So where do the the sidewalks are on the north westerly side now on powder mill right uh for a length um so just I
believe uh I'm sorry is it th good drive uh that's right across from the um power mill right um that's where we are looking to establish a crosswalk walk and frankly be repeated at other
crosswalk as well and that uh brings the the crosswalk to the east side of Powder Mill Road. So there'll be two crosswalks then under this space. Yep. And stops just before a series. Yeah. Legion drive.
Were you guys looking at safe routes to school at all? Um that would help with sidewalks anyway. I let me put it this way. Not for this uh specific effort, but it's worth looking into and figuring out what components of
this project. Did you complete streets training? I did. You did? Awesome. Good. Very good. And would this be subject to that? The complete streets program. Um I suppose it depends. I recognize that there is
uh a certain burden that comes along with uh obtaining funds to the program, but uh uh I think uh we're all on the same page and that we're not leaving a stone unturned um and seeking out any opportunity to to support this work.
Sure. And that's a good point about the com uh the safe route to school. We've been chasing that a little bit, but it's worth because that you can pile on, right? If you're especially with what you're talking about, work in them. Um, yeah, there. And those those uh come all
the way down. Was it Fernwood? They come all the way down to there now. So, almost at the entrance to the Legion. So, it' be great to have them come all the way down eventually towards Wall-E Park and then connect back for Depot and the rail trail. It's tough walking the dogs there. Yeah,
that'd be great. Well, and you know that whole um that whole road was subject to a huge project as part of a sewer expansion and it were going to catch the pump station down to the bottom and the whole road
was going to get realigned and those sidewalks and everything was going to go in. But when the sewer project got tossed at the great sewer massacre at town meeting, this project went by the the whole project went by the bot. Okay. So hence why nothing's happened over
there in a while. And that road's in not not the best shape right now because it's where it was in its life cycle. It was almost due to be replaced but it was part of a much larger project. So we're going to have to pick up the pieces now and as we're doing
here. So you know I would certainly support a grant application to the onetop portal to see where this goes. Thank you. Multiple of them. Sure. It's a wonderful project to get done. I don't think that's a vote. That's just
you want our endorsement. All I'm looking for eventually. I think there is a letter that may and enthusiasm for it. Yes, of course. Uh if so, if to monument the effort if you don't mind uh signing the letter uh at some point and getting it back to DPW, that'd be great. I'd put it in the form of a motion if you'd like it. Okay. To support an you know,
community one stop growth for a project along Powdermill road to the intersection with depot. That was a motion. Do you want to second that? Sure. Roll call vote. Dian Ga. You want to sign it and you can take it now? Sure. Why not? You were
anticipating the reorg planning involved. I didn't even hear a type. Well done. Thank you, John. That's a great project. Thank you. Always a pleasure to bring these things uh forward. Thank you. You'll have a lovely evening. You too.
Are you headed out, John? Yeah. Can we pick one item out of order? just I was going to carry it under I guess it's old business because it comes up every year but um we usually after we reorganize the board we usually schedule for within the next few weeks the annual tour the
roads to kind of go around and have a look at different trouble spots. So, we kind of allocate some of the chap, you know, Randy and DPW give us a list of about $40 million worth of paving that needs to be done and then we kind of
prioritize said list amongst the we go around and then we come back with a list and then we figure it out. It's over in about 10 minutes. Doesn't take long to spend the money that we have, right? So, but it's it's worth doing. So, I guess that's a request for an update to the
road list. Yeah, update to the road list and then we'll schedule a day, you know, usually a Friday morning or something where we all go around. Absolutely. Know that uh in particular range for a little saw a little input by people working on on that list and I look forward to what
will be my first um road conditions tour through the blue quarter. Great. It's a ton of fun. I can't wait. It's a caravan. Thank you, John. the newest DPW employee and newest selectman have to bring the coffee in and the sorted bag. It totally
seems appropriate. Absolutely. All right. Kidding about that last part, but yes, I can cut a donut follow. All right. And back to the Yep. No problem. Back to the agenda. Uh, in order, we need to acknowledge and approve $920 Sarah Gillette services for
the elderly grant to be deposited into the libraryies gift account. So move. Second. Roll call vote. Diane Gail. I. Doug Morgan. Yes. And Anderson, I acknowledge and approve a $20 cash donation to be deposited into the
library's gift account. So move. Second. Roll call vote. Diane Gail. I. Doug Moven. Yes. Russ Anderson. and acknowledge and approve $1,700 Sarah Gillette services for the elderly grant to de be deposited into the Council on
Aging gift account. So moved. Second. Roll call vote. Diane Gail I. Doug Moan. Yes. Russ Anderson. Yes. And then we have two sewer abatements that have gone
through the water and sewer division. One is for one white street $699.84 for the sewer abatement. Do we have Is there a recommendation for that one? You have it's in your in there
was one in there. Okay. So moved. Second roll call vote Dian I. Doug Moin. Yes. Rosson I. And a second one for 12 Eagle Street. The sewer abatement amount is 2750. And you got that in paper this
time. So move. Second. Roll call vote. Diane Gail. I Doug. Move on. You Russ Anderson. And then we have to sign some of those later. All right. And then we have uh
the fiscal 25 nonun rate adjustments. Last time we met before, Russ um we voted to adopt those, but our motion failed to mention the fiscal 25
retro adjustments in addition to the 26. So this is just for the fiscal 25 retroactive changes. And nothing has changed on the sheet since we reviewed it last time. Showing for a motion. Yes, sir. And we have this
money. Yeah, this was inadvertently just not voted on it. We just said FY26 instead of 25 and 26. This been put aside all along and it's all folks on this list. Mhm. You abstained.
So moved. Roll call. Uh second that and then roll call vote Dian Gail. I Doug Mgan. Yes. Russ. Okay. Then in our package, we have a potential schedule that we can review
for our dates of absence and come back and notify each other what we can and cannot do for the remainder of the year. And then we have the elevator project award. Are we meeting next week?
I don't know when you guys schedule. We didn't set one yet. Are we available to meet next week? I am not available next. Then I guess you're asking preferably not available next week. So Okay. Oh, and I have well I negotiations but I'm going to be back for all right. Then we
will not meet. What is that date? Next week99. Thank you. Okay. All right. Elevator project award to Worcester Elevator $17,500. Um I didn't have an opportunity
to ask what is the actual work. It's this elevator in this building. What is the actual work? You know what? Russ knows better than I do. Oh, because he was he was the acting buildings. Yeah. So, this this is a um basically a complete rebuild of the
electronics um within the the unit. So, there's a function that happens that the code changed and the um in regards to a firefighter switch when they can turn the elevator off and on. Uh this does not allow them to do that. So, it's been
out of code for about three years now roughly. Um, and we danced with this with the with the officials for quite a while. Um, we did not have went out the bid had some issues. It's we have a responsible and responsive bidder. So,
we had to go back. So, we had to do I know it's been going around. How many bids did we get on the second time? Um, I can't I would be remiss if I said exactly. So, three, but this was the most responsible. We had more than one last time. So, yeah. So, that's good.
Okay. Yeah. Okay. It was just rolling around so long I forgot what the issues were like references. So, and their time frame is within the states. Yeah. We actually So, the last one we kind of missed it even with PVPC on when they were going to do it for us and when we
had their meeting with the state to slap our hand for everything else had gone on for the past few years. um you know they wanted it finished before our the bid that we had that turned out not to be responsible responsive um was so they want it done
ASAP and we have until September 1st they were going to have done by September 30th I think or good start so we change we actually you know when we rebid we put the date change the score y okay okay I'll make a motion to award the bid to
Worester Elevator Company for the $117,500. Did you have another question? No, I was just wondering when the state was going to come in and do it for us if they were so concerned about it. Oh, they'll just shut it off. Okay. And then I'll move all of these offices and I was not
looking forward to doing that. We're shut down three times for them. We had to chase stuff. Was not been pretty. But I'll second the motion. Roll call vote. Dang. I Doug Moin. Yes. Anderson. All right, we already saw John.
Um, and yeah, these are the dates you said are available. Those are all dates for the next mon for Monday for the next after June for starting July 26. And then we generally go to we didn't discuss this. We
generally have a lighter summer schedule. So like every other but unless something critical. Yeah. If there's vacation then we'll meet two weeks and then not meet for a week or right maybe in two weeks. Sorry I didn't
mean to skip by that so fast. Um okay. Any new business from anybody? Nothing. I just um couple of things here. Uh I just want
to acknowledge Sue Anderson's retirement after 38 years of service to the people of town of Southwick, most of which with were with the police department. That's an incredible accomplishment and one where she literally watched and helped young officers grow into leaders and
chiefs. And congratulations to her. Also, congratulations to the senior class of 2025 at South Tollen Regional High School who will be graduating June 7th. Hope they stay safe and make the world a better place.
Um, we do have a vacancy on the planning board for an elected position that uh we are going to have to appoint an interim until the next
election. Is there an alternate? Uh, no. There's also an opening for an associate that um that will hopefully there'll be a candidate when we go through our or as soon as one comes up we can use it. But um but this one is an elected position
so we just fill it until the next election for whatever the remaining term is. Um and then we have a new vacancy on the library board of trustees also an elected position that we'll have to do the same thing. And um I think I asked
uh Margaret to see if they had a candidate in the wings for that. So that'll be coming up too. That term will run through 5207. But again, we're just going to appoint my understanding is to the next election and it' be a short term. So how
does it work with that? Do you you know advertise it to he was interested and then kind of a typical position. Mhm. And I would post it through a certain date and then until filled or whatever, but like maybe our first meeting in July, we
would interview and maybe make that and it and the planning board and I'm not going to answer it because I got I got corrected last time and I was indeed wrong. Uh Miss Thornton was correct. That is a joint
appointment, right, for the planning board seat to fill the vacancy. I'm not certain. I'd have to read that because she she um I think for
the associates definitely, but I thought for some reason there was a quirk in it cuz last time we did this that we uh it was a joint appointment of the two boards. So we we have plenty of time to figure it out, but we should post it for that, you know, our first meeting in July or so. We should have um and and
certainly encourage the planning board to participate too. Those which would be July 7th is. Yes. Assuming we have candidates. I'm on vacation, but we just FYI, but
maybe we can handle it. Okay. Um, and then under old business, you talked about the road list. Um, we have nothing else on the agenda for old business. Is there anything else about I have a I have a couple things. Uh, first of all, thanks to everyone who first of
all came out. Um, and everyone else who helped coordinate the Memorial Day parade. The town center looked fantastic. Police, fire, VFW, Legion. Uh I always leave someone else out. But um
that was a very poignant ceremony, very wellrun. Um glad to see so many people come out um for that for such an important day. Um so thanks to everyone for that. I want to thank the police and fire
departments and also the senior class of 2025 uh for participating in the driveound tradition that we've kind of had the last 5 years or so. a little modified route this year which made it a little more compact. Um but it was wellreceived and everybody was very well
behaved and um it's kind of a great celebration for our graduating class and I hope that tradition continues. Uh we talked about the tour to roads. And then under old business um maybe we carry it as an agenda item for discussion in our
next meeting but um you know article 9 at the annual town meeting failed by 14 or 20 votes or so just short of the twothirds to do the borrowing authorization to execute that entire project.
Um, I've had a lot of discussion and feedback from folks that were at the town meeting or couldn't make the town meeting or whatever that encouraged encouraged me to say we should still continue to discuss this and figure out how or what a project like this how you
can look at this project in other ways to try to bring it to fruition. Um, so I'd like to bring it back in front of this board again, um, to see how that would look and how that would work and and you
know, I'm not a proponent of, well, we'll just package back up and we'll bring the same exact thing back to town meeting and hopefully get a friendlier crowd. That's not what I'm trying to do here. I'm trying to figure out, you know, take the feedback that we got from from town meeting um and from
others and figure out if there is a way forward. You know, there is a lot of it to me it's an important pro project. I think it's critically important infrastructure for the town of Southwick um for our future
economically. And I also think, you know, it's called out in the master plan. it it's it's just critical infrastructure. Um and the other thing is we also have a grant and ARPA money allocated to this project. Perhaps we need to recast the pro, you know, and
that money cannot be repurposed. It is dedicated to to a municipal fiber project. So perhaps we need to look at that and perhaps we need to get creative with looking at that and say, okay, how about and and this is just off off my
head here. Um, but how about if we connect? We already have the connection here at town hall, but how about and between fire and police and town hall, but how about if we go over and pick up the schools and the library and DPW and and we have to budgetarily
figure that out and see where that puts us within the monies that we have available to us. And by the way, that puts you, you know, if you route that appropriately, that puts you at the doorstep of that Fernwood Birchwood area we just talked about, which is one of
the densest populated areas in town, maybe to do a pilot and then come back and say, "Okay, hey, 60% or 80% or 10% of the people signed up for this project. Here's the viability for the project." Um, and and by the way, you also get near the industrial park. So
those c those are potential higher rate customers. Um so just you know I've got a lot of thoughts around this that I'd like to coales and put together and then you know re maybe it we need to re constitute what was the highspeed
internet subcommittee to almost like an implementation committee and say okay how do we look at this again we also have to reach back out to and I talked to uh the folks in Westfield and said you know we're going to let this simmer for a little bit and figure out you know come back and have it further I don't
know if there are even at all interested in doing a smaller project or if it was all or none. So, and you know, of course, timing is everything. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and today, we got back pole application bills that we don't
have to do yet, but the make ready work is now ready to be made ready. So, of course, we have no money to do it. So, we're going to let those buy the buy. But those applications sit out there for eight or nine months waiting for the utilities to come back with those numbers. Mhm. So, of course, timing have
to reapply if it's a go forward. Oh, it depends. If you let them sit for a little bit, they just cancel it and throw them out and you apply again and start over. So, it's not the money, it's the time, right? The short it was short money to do the applications. But now,
you know, they sat there for the better part of a year and we would have been able to kick off construction. um actually, you know, tell Verizon and Eversource and Comcast and whoever else is on those polls to start moving their stuff around to make way for
construction for us in especially the key corridor and we do not want to give up our location on those poles. So, we need to kind of figure that part out and we cannot wait too long on that. Mhm. So I'm suggesting that we carry
something either the first or second meeting in July um to just as a board kind of discuss this further. Yeah. I mean it the comments I heard it was just the the sticker shock is the big I don't know if there's another way
of doing it or not. I I think you know I got it was all over the place. Like I've talked to a lot of people that were concerned about the the the money, a lot of people that were concerned about the potential fall back if if the the project didn't pay its own bills. Um and
then there was also I had s it frankly surprising to me. I've always been a big advocate that when you have a big policy decision and I see this as none other than a big policy decision, right? To to implement MUN fiber is more policy as well as finance. um that that should not
have been on the annual town meeting. It should have been its own special and with child care and with you know you would have been able to condense that this one issue down to an hour hour and a half have a fuller presentation on the issue. Um I was frankly surprised by the
number of people at town meeting that I don't know any of the details of this. I don't know anything about this. you know, we had had multiple outreach meetings, multiple presentations on it, multiple meetings over many years, plus two full outreach meetings and
everything else. Um, so perhaps something like that needs to be predicated with a presentation at a special meeting dedicated to the project. And and like I said, there was several people that phoned me, um, one that wanted to be here tonight, but
couldn't due to a conflict. um that said, but my my home was only half represented because one of us had to stay home with the kids. And so I actually talked to the moderator about this as well and to maybe if there's something we can do to organize this a little bit better. If you're going to have an issue like that that's going to
bring out that many people, maybe you need to have a single issue town meeting and you know or you know have the National Honor Society kids or the rec center or somebody take over the gym and have something for for the young future generations that are going to be you know affected by this to be able to to
be at at or near their parents at a town meeting so they can the parents can attend that town meeting. And it's definitely town meeting not a ballot question. It has to be it's a it's a f well as it is right now it's a it's a bonding authorization. Now if you package it in a way that it's not that or should we do this project and you
just want to I think if you go to the ballot you're going to get an up or down of if we should or shouldn't do it but then you still got to come back to town meeting to do the actual authorization for a borrowing which is twothirds of town meeting. You know, it's not dissimilar to
um you know, we we did two ballot questions and three surveys on uh cannabis when it was first coming around and it was those all came 49 51 51 49 and then you go to town meeting and it was also very close on for those it only
needed a majority. This issue was you needed a two-thirds vote for the barring authorization and it fell 14 on I don't know if it was 14 or 20. I was 14 14 short on 600. So, you know, it that's that's way above
50% but not quite, you know, the twothirds. So, I think to me that's a clear message that we need to look at this and continue to look at this and see if there's a way that we can do this and be as, you know, I think the project was very financially responsible. I
think we need to do a better job of explaining it and I think we need to and and perhaps maybe with a smaller um you know a test pro you know pilot program or what have you or relate what others have done you know look at what's happened in Westfield look at what's happened in Long Meadow West Springfield
and bring those numbers back in because we have them we had them we shared them proof of concept was important to a lot of people yeah because West Springfield is new right and and Westfield is is long term. It's been it's been growing.
It's a growing thing. Y So that that was important to a lot of people. Okay. So we'll carry we'll put that on. Anything else? No, I've set it up. Um the
uh parks and recreations bylaw also failed. I think that one might have been 20 votes short. Um but I will be meeting with Chief Banish. um Norm Chver, chair of con conservation, and Sabrina Per. Um we're going to be pulling out
the best parts of the bylaw to what will be the most effective new rules and signage um and incorporating more trespass information and implications into all of that as
well. And uh if I can. Yeah, I think I heard loud and clear from folks at right on the town meeting floor and and maybe I was just hearing what I wanted to hear, but I really hear hear that the feedback I got was that this bylaw
really needs to just be follow the rules for each town property and at each town property here's the rules and that gives you the flexibility to do what you want to do and you can amend the rules if you need to without having to go back to town meeting and it I still think and I
you know I I applaud the effort. I know there was a ton of work that went into that from everyone incl and especially including yourself that you worked really hard on that but to have it needs to be much much simpler and not try to be all to all because the
the properties are so different and the activities are so different and and you had to work so hard to make it work that it didn't work. Yeah, I said that right. So it, you know, literally follow the rules that are posted at each property.
Here's the rule, official rules at each property. And then it gives the, you know, you give the law enforcement the ability to do their job on in a civil with the civil proh process that we had laid out in the bylaw and I think it becomes a lot more
uh palatable. We're not done by any means. No, absolutely. Believe me. and and you know and I said it it was a very close vote there too and many people need that right a a bylaw such as that correct and
I you know we're heading into that season right and and you know part of the the the to me the the the scariest part was look we can't have what we had last year we just can't and we're not going to because of some other processes in play here but
the the the coming out of the task force that we need to make sure we get that done. Whether we come back for a special or we come back to next annual for it or what have you, we need to still work and get that done. AB: Absolutely. Um, and that's it for me.
Nicole, did you have anything else you wanted to add? Russ, anything new you want to throw in? No. How was your first meeting? Fantastic. Awesome. You did great. Still here. All right, we got a
couple more things. Uh, then we need to acknowledge payable warrant number 2529B dated May 27,2025 in the amount of $652,6146. And payroll warrant number 2525 dated May 22nd, 2025 in the amount
of $310,244.71. And then we have a number of minutes, you and I, Doug, to acknowledge and approve open session minutes from April. You want to do these like two at a time? Let's do an on the bus motion for all of them. All right. If you've gone through them all, so have
I. So approving motion to approve the open session minutes for April 7th, April 14th, April 28th, May 5th, May 15th, and May 19th, 2025. So move. I'll second that. Roll call vote. Diane Gail.
Hi Doug Mogan. Yes. Sanderson abstain. Okay. And that is all we have there. Any exact agenda minutes? We're all caugh up on those. I believe we are caught up on question for somebody else. I believe we're caught up on those. We did those
last. Nine really does handle that. So virtually. Anything else? How would you prefer to be called? Madam chair. Diane. Diane. Nothing else from me. I'll make a motion to adjurnn then.
Second. Roll call vote. Dian I. Hi I I.