Welcome to the town of Southwork select board meeting for December 1st, 2025. It is 6 pm in we are in the land use hearing room at town hall and also remotely via Zoom and on channel 15. This open meeting is being recorded. If anyone else is recording, please advise
Russ Anderson. And we will start with a roll call for attendance. >> Nicole Parker, Diane Gail, >> Doug Mglin, Russ Anderson, Nen Signon, >> and then the pledge of allegiance. I pledge to the flag of the United
States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Uh before we begin tonight's agenda, I want to address some statements that have been circulating regarding the
legally required and onschedule reevaluation process. The department of revenue and property assessments in Southwick. It is true that during this reevaluation cycle, additional files were sent to the do by staff in the assessing department.
This was an error not directed by the select board and not intended to affect revenue generation as a way to increase staffing or spending. When the do reviewed the extra data it received it identified inconsistencies
in some past assessments and as a result the do required and expanded review to ensure that all properties were fairly and accurately valued in accordance with state law. Assessing at far fair market value for
residential properties is not discretionary. It is required by Mass General law and it is employed statewide. Some properties did experience adjustments to reflect their current and fair market value. These adjustments were entirely based on the best
available corrected data and compliance with the state law, not on select board decisions or policy. It is important to remember that reevaluation does not increase the town's revenue. Proposition 2 and a half still limits the total amount the town
can collect unless you, the voters, override, approve an override. Additionally, any claims that the select board influenced property valuations or forced the departure of the prior assessor are incorrect.
Only the assessor's department determines valuations by standards and methods produced and certified by the DOR. The select board's involvement has been limited to ensuring continuity and compliance with the law.
The former assessor was on extended leave and later retired, submitting her voluntary resignation at the end of November. This was a transition known to prior town leadership and other parties making those false claims, including the
board of assessors who documented the known retirement as far back as July 2024. Our goal in sharing this information is truth and transparency. I personally committed to the residents and taxpayers that I would ensure that
transparency and I remain steadfast in that promise despite the contrary advice from former select board members and administration suggesting the opposite. We encourage residents and other taxpayers to contact the assessor, Randy
Austin, for concerns on their property valuation and to visit the town website for information on coming community information events that will be held to explain the valuation and abatement processes. And always feel free to reach out to the
select board at 569-5995. Our administrative assistant, Margaret McCarthy, will take your information and notify me. and I always respond as soon as I am able and almost always immediately. Thank you for staying informed and engaged in the open governance of
Southwick and then we shall go on to public comments. Is there anyone in the room with anything they'd like to address the board with? Sir, >> board 40 Birchwood.
>> This is basically a question uh with the with the new lawsuit that South just served for the water on a uh piece of property.
After reading through this, there's obviously an error somewhere. Is there any plan? I know you guys don't answer, but I'm just throwing it out there. Is there any plan on auditing
the water department billing process so this doesn't happen again? I don't know how you can over somebody over 10 million gallons a year and now they're looking to get back their money
of 333,000 some odd dollars. It would seem to me that and and it's very possible it's an honest mistake, but is there any plan so
others out there might have an issue like this? because it says the town overcharged the planet by adding an additional zero to the end of the actual water meter readings.
Therefore, causing the planiff to be charged an extra 10 million gallons per bill. In total, the town overcharged the pliff by over 40 million gallons. is. So, I'm just throwing it out there
saying, is there anything that the town can do, we can do to prevent oversightes or anything like this so we don't go through this again? And I know you guys don't answer at public comment and that's okay. I'm not looking for an answer. I'm just throwing it out there
that maybe there should be another way to to check this. That's all. Thank you. >> Thank you for your concern and bringing that forward. Anybody else? Sir Hills Road. Did we hear this ch?
>> Thank you. >> I think it's your unplugged duck. >> It was on back under the table. >> Anybody else? Thank you. >> Anybody online? No hands.
>> Okay. All right. Um, new business. Discuss and appoint local emergency planning committee members for the term of 1212025 to 6:30 2026.
These are new appointments. Rich Bozac as the DPW representative and Kaen Simons as the board of health interim health director. >> So these are replacing replacements for >> three employees that left. Correct. >> Andy and
>> correct. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Roll call vote. Diane Gail. I >> Doug Mglin. Yes. >> Ros Anderson. Yes. And um also there's a request by the chair of LEAPC to
consider the bylaw update to to local emergency planning that um includes a COA seat, Council on Aging seat. So if you want to, it's not on the agenda, but we can
think about that and get it on the next. or it might have been >> Cindy used to be on it >> an invite. >> Just assumed it was part of it. >> So, but we can officially appoint if we put that on the agenda next week unless
uh and have some discussion on it next week. Um, while we're talking about LEAPC and emergency response, uh, we did receive a very nice letter from the town of Ammerst, Massachusetts on behalf of the
residents town of Ammerst. We want to express our deepest gratitude for the immediate response and exceptional assistance during the catastrophic fire at the Olympia Drive apartment in Ammerst on November 7th.
Um, and this is uh a citation from the town of Ammerst to the Southwick uh fire department for their great response. Um, talking about how they uh
all the communication went so smoothly and I don't know what was it 46 communities responded in all on that. So quite an accomplishment and reasons we have things like LEAPC and
so forth. So we'll we're going to present that to you. >> Um and also while we're talking about appointments um the open space committee, the new three
member current three member open space committee had their first meeting last week. And Doug, I know you were there um and giving them a little guidance where you could. I was deeply disappointed that no one from the conservation
commission was there to give them some initial guidance. Um and all in all, they did an outstanding job. I was h also happy to see that they referred to the commission handbook and
they referred to it many times in the meeting. They actually read it and used it. They do still need some guidance on general matters, communications, meeting protocol. They did decide they were going to ask for an appointment with Concom to get
their marching orders um stated clearly. But I did note that the select board protocols and the handbook mentioned and and Russ you had asked about this as well once had mentioned that the select board assigns liaison to key boards and
commissions. Um and we haven't done that. We I can't recall that happening in my recollection of selfboard ongoings not just mine but prior. Which of these do we feel are key and
why don't we have liaison? Um and my thoughts were one should we modify the charter of the open space committee that one member must be a concom representative
and two should we be assigning ourselves to some of these other boards and commissions not to participate but just to be their liaison should they have questions concerns issues to bring forward and do we want to carry this for discussion on
a future agenda. Not tonight because it's not on the agenda. >> Yes. And back to the open space committee because they were headlong into doing the open space and recreation plan all by themselves, which I talked to the chair after and said, "That's
that's a lot to bite off." So, um, they clearly had very limited direction of where they're supposed to be going. And I talked to the chair after and said get on conservation's agenda, meet with them as a board at their meeting um and kind of set the direction of where you you
know they asked very for a long time to have this committee and now they have it and they need to steer it. So hopefully they will do that. I I was really it was really comforting that the three were not shying away from going headlong into
it either, but they they did >> need some direction >> and and you know I I happened to be a town hall and I kind of just sat in the meeting to be a fly on the wall and >> I didn't want to interject into their meeting but I just at the end I said you know you guys need to have a little bit more >> direction from
from from conservation in order to to do what they're looking to do. And I, you know, I appreciate those three people stepping up to volunteer to help the town. So, we need to give them >> some direction and support as to what they're going to be doing and not cuz they were all over the place, right? Yeah. Um,
>> and kudos to them for just battling through that meeting such as it was and just getting familiar with what was what and who was who. And as far as liaison, yeah, we should definitely carry that because I think we kind of de facto kind of do that today. some boards and committees I know the finance committee
for one they actually go through and actually appoint a liaison to each board um and commission and I don't know that any one board or commission would be considered >> major because that would imply that >> others are others are minor >> and I don't think that we have any such
boards or commissions so I think that >> you probably got to look you know some are larger some have bigger budgets >> boards and commissions not the elected boards >> but even you even have you should have a liaison even whether it's the CEO or the or a person
that's that is a um a go-to person for the say the planning board chair or the water commission chair or somebody else to reach out to um you know I would say you know water probably would be the DPW director and then they could focus where they need to go you know planning board
has a planner um but I think we should carry that for discussion on a on a future agenda because I think we all kind of find where We have our strengths and we all kind of fall into those roles, but um if we need to be more particular about them, I guess we could.
>> We're more available. >> Okay. Uh we need to acknowledge and approve a $144 donation from D. Alexander and Big Y to be deposited into the Southwick Animal Control Medical Gift Fund and Southwick Animal Control Gift Fund.
>> So move second. >> We'll call Diane Gale. I >> Doug Moin. Yes. Russ Anderson. Yes. >> Uh we next is the intermunicipal agreement with AWAN. We do not have that ready yet. Correct. So move that.
Next topic is to refer largecale photovoltaic and battery energy storage system moratorium to the planning board. Um this was um
the planning board had some discussion on potentially a moratorum for the basically the battery energy storage system large battery or energy storage systems and our bylaws are not current as related to the advance advancement of
solar technology like this. Since they are currently in the midst of reviewing updates to the zoning bylaws, um they're requesting that we um
make this recommendation to them so they can do the notifications, public hearings, etc. to get this on the upcoming special town meeting in time. So, they're going to be addressing this tomorrow, hoping we are going to refer it to them today.
>> That's backwards, though. They should vote be absent a petition to put on a town meeting warrant, it's the planning board should make a motion for a zoning change bylaw. Um,
and they should send it to the select board who sends it immediately back to the planning board to hold a public hearing. So, technically that's the process, right? So they they talked about it during their meeting >> last week or the week before when they met >> and they said there was, you know, they
were thinking about it and they might be hearing more about it, but they need to vote as a board to request a bylaw change to hold a public hearing which comes to us which we then just send right back to them. So, I don't think we are in a position to vote on it. And I
don't I haven't heard any I know there's been a lot of discussion about this in other towns both souththeast and um and south and east of us um with different companies making proposals for, you
know, larger battery storage facilities. And I think that there's already one that's been approved in the town of Southwick. Um albeit on a much smaller scale, but the planning board needs to just draft that request to us for a zone
change with under chapter 185. Send it to us and we'll vote to send it right back to them. >> What's the purpose of it? >> And you have to go in front of town meeting anyway. So there's not like there's a whole lot of time lost here. it. They want to have a moratorum until they can craft and put a bylaw in place
to better regulate it than they feel that the zoning bylaw regulates it and or state law regulates it today. >> So, how how is it failing to be regulated when it has to go through all the hoops today or is it more of I don't want it is
>> it's a little of I I can't speak for the elected planning in this case. >> Let me just add lib for a minute. Currently, there are three bills under consideration in the house right now. that would significantly control development of these new battery
storage systems. They would impose a permanent a a permit moratorum period and setbacks from populated and ecologically sensitive areas and give local governments power over construction. House Bill 4690 is the temporary
moratorum for 18 months while the commission same as us want to do um a commission of state and local reps, environmental advocates, safety and industry experts review the fire safety, environmental risks, emergency response
and adequacy of the current regulations. Bill 4689 would create buffer zones for those facilities, 2,000 proposed 2,000 ft from populated areas
and 3,000 ft from ecologically sensitive or protected areas such as wetlands, aquifers, wildlife reserves. And bill 4685 would require a local approval before the state can permit those. and
it would give local zoning, additional sighting criteria, safety standards, and environmental requirements beyond state regulations. The Senate also has another bill very similar to that last one allowing they are trying to allow us to
be able to site them appropriately. But don't don't we already have those guidelines under authority have in jurisdiction either through local through emergency you know through the fire permit through the whatever we have today. >> We have not examined all of the safety
issues yet in our zone and incorporated those into the zoning. That's the kind of thing they want to review with fire safety >> I think >> with conservation >> upside down.
it. There's been numerous of them around. I know the chief probably works with the fire service on the one we had on on Hudson. Um I hear about it across the state. >> It's not solar field. It's not >> No, I'm not saying so. I'm talking battery >> battery. I'm talking battery storage. And the thing I'm hearing from a lot of
other chiefs is it's not as big a deal as it's first meant to think it was. And I just >> it's I don't I don't believe it's backwards. I believe we need to be in front of it, not behind it and reacting. and our and >> they have a lot of tools.
>> But that so I think >> I think >> but that's for the planning board in a public hearing. They're asking us to refer it to them so that they can do that. >> I would just hate to miss an opportunity because of it. That's all I guess because we know because we know this
isn't going to be a six-month operation. It's going to be a fiveyear operation. So >> well I think you have to go in front of so the it has to go in front of town meeting at >> to put the mortorium >> to put a moratorum in place and we've had moratoriums on different things in
the past we had and um you know we had it on cannabis for a while while we were crafting regulations around zoning and and so on and so forth for cannabis and one of the votes at town meeting was to put it in place and then the next town meeting a year later was to remove it right if they can get those common sense
things done and and then release the the moratorum. But again, the moratorum process in itself is a zoning amendment. So it would have to go have a public hearing, be heard in front of the planning board. People can go and speak pro or against it. Then it has to go to
town meeting and pass twothirds at town meeting because it's a zoning bylaw amendment >> and and it would have a date certain. I would and I would suggest the planning board what you know they're elected is have a date certain. They'll just have a moratorum until we get zoning. It would be 18 months or six months or nine
months or whatever the period of time that they have to come back or they expire and then they go away, >> right? So the moratorum just ends on its own. You don't need further legislation in order to get >> they're waiting for the state legislation to come through because we know how >> and that could die. He's talking about
an 18month. We aren't going to need the 18 months cuz we're in the middle of doing we're we're at the beginning. that legislation may or may not pass either, right? There are interests at play, right, at at the state level. We've seen common sense, >> common sense legislation at the state
level has died every year for many years because there's other interests at play that over override common sense. >> Um, so I I'd let the planning board make make they should send a motion as for the basis of why they want to do it and
then send it back to us and let them have a public hearing on it. We've got plenty of time to get this done before May anyway. >> And what did >> um but the the key to it and and it's been a while since that happened. But the key is there's some publication
dates around if someone were to try to rush into apply, etc., etc., but you've published it and advertised the hearing for it going into town meeting. There's certain things that can happen if someone were to try to rush in an application. But I think the planning board should should take a vote next was
it tomorrow their next meeting tomorrow to send it back to the to us they and we'll send it right back to them. >> So this was the whole thing was to get it on the January special town meeting was to have the select board be the proponent and not the planning board that refers the select board that refers
back to the planning board for the public hearing. So the select board being the proponent sends over the recommendation to have the referral to have the public hearing and they have it in in December and then it's able to get on the special town meeting uh during this entire zoning uh reform and then be
able to site them in the appropriate places where they belong. >> We haven't even had one minute of discussion on this board about this topic until tonight. I don't feel comfortable making making that recommendation to the planning board. If they feel that strongly about it, and
that's fine if they do, and if we had a discussion about it, with a little bit more facts behind it, I would be all amendable to it. But I I'm not comfortable with doing that now based on um just bringing it up tonight for a hearing to to send it back to us
tomorrow. I I would not I'd let the planning board take care of it tomorrow. and and if we want to move, I still think you'd be okay for a January town meeting. I'm also a big proponent of things like this. I don't know that a
special is the right forum for them because it is a zoning bylaw change and a significant moratorum. Um I think those are best left to the annual. But um I am but one member on this board. But I would just I would not be in favor of of
being the sponsor of a of a moratoria at this time until you know I would go and listen to the planning board hearing and maybe weigh in on it there as as a resident. But um you know and there are very serious concerns about battery storage and you know I I listened to
what happened in Westfield and I think there was one in Granby and maybe there was one in Suffield as well. Um, there are very real concerns around that battery storage and how it's how it's handled and when something goes wrong, it can be a huge problem. I'm not
not minimizing it one bit, but I haven't had any exposure to the facts or from either side on this to make a to to propose an outright moratorum on it. >> What other facts will you be looking for? I'd love for somebody to come in in front of us and tell us why we should,
you know, maybe even the gentleman from Westfield who was very vocal about it. Um, and and was a key um was key to getting the that company to to pull their application back in Westfield because they had concerns it
was over an aquifer. They had concerned about it being in the Pioneer Valley and it trapping, you know, certain aspects if there was a significant fire event there or where those uh chemicals would float in the air. But I just don't have enough other than what I read in the paper.
>> You're making the argument just did it, which is just northeast of Sturbridge because the wear river watershed feeds the Quabin Reservoir. They just did it. Boston, Tukesbury, Awam, Westfield, Pittsfield, Wendell east of Greenfield, and now Blandford just two weeks ago
because they're downstream affects the Cobb Mountain Reservoir for the very same reasons. We want to protect our reservoir. >> Totally get it. I just I would love to hear someone else come in and tell me why this is or isn't as big a concern. You always hear, you know, we've been
through this with cell towers. We just went through the thing with the Eversource smart meters and we heard a lot of different sides of it and I was able to, you know, hear all sides of it and make an informed decision. I just don't think I'm in a position right now with the information that I have in front of me at this moment to make that recommendation.
So again, I'm one member. If some of you guys want to make a motion and second it and send it to a vote, go ahead. But I also don't see it a big issue. If the planning board wants to do that, they should make that motion and send it to us and and then we'll send it right back to them and have the hearing and get everyone involved to come and make their
presentation as to why it is or isn't a good idea to have them >> window of time. >> Probably not. >> Well, we have a meeting next week, right? >> We do. Yeah. >> But I I think that wasn't going to give them all the proper notification and hearing time.
>> All you have to do is open and you have to close your hearing ahead of that meeting. You could meet the Monday night before town meeting as long as that hearing has been held and closed ahead of that town meeting. And I don't think one week in and this is this is a
significant policy. It's not, you know, we're going to change parking spots from 10 to 9 ft. This is a moratoria on, you know, on something for a period of time that's undetermined because once you send it to them, they might make it four years. We don't know. And that's gonna what's going to be in in the legislation
that would go to town meeting. So let them do their thing. >> This doesn't say battery. It says photo >> the amended the amended agenda. There's an amended agenda. >> Refer large scale photo vote
agenda. >> That is the >> That is the amended agenda. I clicked on it tonight from the from the town meeting from the town calendar. I think >> there's there's >> that's what was
>> I got an amendment amendments. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. There's no agenda. It's just the 121 meeting agenda posted. There was an amendment posted on November 26th and one posted today.
>> All right. Next, set special town meeting date. Uh we met with um the moderator Celeste St. Jacques and town clerk
Christine Vayette. Um January 13th, 2026 was the uh selected date with a snow date of January 20th. Are we all in town? >> I'm good.
>> Yep. As of now. >> Anything you would like to say about that? Either of you good. Okay. Anything else we need to discuss or just set the dates? >> Set the date.
>> Okay. >> Did you put the start time? >> Uh I think you said 6 p.m. Correct. >> 6 p.m. 6 p.m. on either date. Yep. And we were going to use the auditorium.
Uh >> the gym. Yep. Okay. All right. Moving on. Other new business. Um, there's nothing listed, but this is a good time to bring up the code red. And
Chief, did you want to be great talk about that a little bit? Like >> to address kind of chron the chronology of what had happened and where we stand right now. Um, a while back, uh, when Margaret started with the town, she had contacted Code
Red and said, "I'd like to sign up for some trainings." And at the same time, they made her the chief administrator for Code Red. It didn't impact anybody's services or functionality within the town. It just made her the chief administrator. So, she was the first one that was notified um that there was a problem with the code red system. So,
code red onsolve is our not emergency notification system townwide. It allows us to plot mapping areas and send out specific messages to certain groups. Um, you can use geo fencing on it. You can do call down lists. There's a whole bunch of categories. And the police
department uses it for both emergency and non-emergency notifications. Fire department's been using it for emergency notifications as well as the town for non-emergentformational information as well too. Um so on the 13th of November um we received a notification that their
system uh for the notifications was down. Um it was no indication as to why. It's just that the system was down. They thought they had they were having um some technical difficulty. At the same time they were trying to move uh to a
different platform. So uh on the 14th of November um it's now called uh they changed the name and they put it on a temporary uh administrative uh platform for notifications. Um at that time they admitted that they believe they might
have had um unwanted uh information cyber attack but they didn't get into what was affected or how extensive it was at that point. on the 14th um I contacted customer service to find out what was working and
what wasn't working. So they had sent out a process for us to get on the notification system which we did. Um everything seemed to go well but we realized right away that there were some missing features. So you couldn't go and
select your audience. So I called customer service and asked them about that. They walked me through the system. They showed me that there was just a map, a perimeter map of Southwick and that if you clicked on that, that's where your message would go. I asked them who gets the message and they said, "Well, whoever's part of the national
database." So, um, MIMA stores a national database. FEMA has a national database. And this was just South. So, I said, "Well, how do we know who receives our messages?" At the time, they couldn't answer that question. So, that was on the 14th. And they said they'd have their their back-end team get in
touch with me. They contacted me again on the 16th to say that anything uh that we send out is only basically a one-way message. That there's no way for them to know and send that feedback back to us who had received the message. They did
tell us that it's going out to nearly 4,000 numbers, but they couldn't tell me who the numbers were. Whereas before, we knew fully who we had and what we were sending out for messages. and we'd get the feedback back that the message the phone message had been answered the text
messaging Brenda those types of things. So unfortunately none of that has changed to date. Okay. Um on the the 16th after contacting them and hearing back from them uh we had access to the new platform. So at that point um we
went back and and and I uploaded all the users um back into the new system with new usernames and passwords. Previous to that though, Code Red had shut down completely the their old system. So, we were still using this new temporary thing.
>> Okay. >> All right. So, on the 16th, we went and set up um new accesses for the people that were using it, the administrators and the users. Um and that's was, you know, we confirmed that the system was up and running. Um, on
the 18th, Code Red admits the cyber attack had damaged some of the Code Red platform and that there was quote unquote an abundance of caution for users to change passwords in users names. So, to define users, um, if I live in town and they have my cell phone
number and they send me a text message, that's all I have. Okay? So, I'm only a receiver at that point. Users are people that have an account with Code Red. So, um, people that are the administrators and things, which we've already done. We've changed all their passwords and things like that. But other people who
log in and provide other information, their information included email addresses, street addresses, phone numbers, passwords, and usernames. Okay? But that's the only information that was on there. To the best of their knowledge, Code Red has said that none
of this has been distributed publicly. They haven't seen any of it, nor do they believe that that was the intent here. They don't elaborate on what the attack was about or how it happened or anything like that, but they're still working on it. Okay. Um updated again by on the 18th as well too. Um that the national
data is still available. They're trying to figure out and get our most recent update that was not continued back into the system. So our most recent update was March 31st, 2025. So they're trying to get that data loaded into the new platform. We're still waiting for that
to happen as well too. Um, the undamaged information, as I said before, is from March 31, 2025. That is pretty solid information. They're going to try to also find out how many people might have been added in that time frame, but they won't know who they are. They might only be able to
give us a number. >> On the 24th, um, Code Red sends out anformational email requesting acknowledgement that I've received what the system is capable of doing and not capable of doing. So the email I had sent out was about whether or not there
was information weather related and emergent related that we needed to send out. It wasn't part of the system we were using anyway. So it wasn't something we felt we needed. We acknowledged that we're using this system. Um on the 26th I received an email from the Department of Fire Services who had forwarded an email to
us from the Fusion Center which is statewide who handle all notifications for criminal acts including cyber attacks. Um and they informed us about the code red attack. It had been nationwide. Um they also admitted at that time they weren't sure the extent
of the attack. Just make people aware. >> It's going to kick them out. Kick them out. That's fine. Let's see if there >> you're back on. >> Thank you.
>> Okay, so as of the 26th, um we haven't heard anything more um from Code Red. So they're still apparently working on trying to get our existing data preloaded into the system and they're
you know the system that they've given us a temporary platform is still functioning as designed. So they wouldn't give us a time frame term um they wouldn't I called them and asked them about it. They wouldn't give me a clear answer. So, as it stands right now, um we put out a notification
just on our Facebook page to residents saying, you know, that if you're using this and if you have a profile, you should consider changing your password. But most people that are receiving text messages only unaffected. So, they have their phone number just like they would from anybody else that might have sold a cell phone number to somebody. So, we
don't know what the extent of the use is or will that we know so far. What is the website address for the official code red? Because now there's a lot of copycats and different
>> I have it in. >> So if someone wanted to log in or change it, where did they go? >> I'd have to look that up. Check that out and I can get that out. >> So we have southmma.sol.net
net is the new website we're supposed to be using. That was for our temporary access. That's the one I've been using. >> There is an account portal.net now that I did not see this morning
>> or code red.crisis24.com. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I have a crup support at crisis24.com. So, I guess if you could confirm that and we can circulate that for people because other people reported they tried to and couldn't log in. It just spin and
and I tried it this morning and it just spins. >> Okay. >> So, we can check that out later this evening >> and you don't want to go to the wrong one >> and then we can put out a message in the morning. Unfortunately, >> they did move us to the new platform for free though. They didn't charge us for
that. So, that's awesome. Thank you. >> I'm not quite sure. Can't they put out the text to where to refund? >> So if I asked them about that, I'm like, "These are your customers, not our customers. Why can't you do the nullification?" They're like, "No, it's not what we do." >> Well, it's in there. But you could put out your own code red.
>> Yep. >> To to change whatever you needed to change and then it would be just an outward message. Then people, it' be at people's only the people that are supposed to get it would get it. >> You know what I mean? Yes. Because I think what Diane's stating is with the
miss, you know, the fake sites. Oh, go and put in your information and it's a fake site. Correct. >> Where if it comes out from the legitimate one to answer the legitimate one, it's closed network. >> But you think they >> we could either do it, hey, change your password or >> whatever.
>> So that's why I'm saying we can send the message out and I'll include the new website and we can post that as well too as best we can. The problem is we just don't know who's getting the messages yet. And it's going to be a while before they can reload that information and that data to have that function up and
running. >> He's probably okay. >> Andrew, >> I al No, I think I also think we should right because that is a breach, right? No matter how you look at it, we should call through we have a policy through
Maya. were supposed to follow a protocol when something like this happens. It's not necessarily the town website, but this was data that people conveyed through the town for an express purpose and it is personally identif identifiable information. we should
reach out to them and follow through um to see what they advise us to do or what needs to be done under the um you know the insurance policy we have and maybe give some guidance to the residents too. You know,
cyber security, it's a touchy subject, right? A lot of people don't always follow the best hygiene. So, they use the same password at multiple places and then the email and the password, well, that could be used at more than one place. So, that information being out in the wild,
it could be a problem for some people. So, I think we we owe it to the residents and to the town itself to make sure that we've done what we're supposed to do. Um, in that regard, just to make sure that we've covered all the bases on that. >> This is a national,
not a >> correct. see it everywhere. >> But when you, you know, people went through the town website to sign up on code red >> expecting it to be for whatever their expectation is, maybe we need to send a letter or an email or a text message.
>> I asked the question, how many of our users only have text information out and they couldn't provide that information fortunately. So they're working towards that, but I don't know when it's available. Sure. So I don't know if you have time tomorrow. You and I could probably >> spend a few minutes on it. I know you're
you're familiar with the system so we can try to figure out best way to navigate and best way to get the message out. >> Yeah. So is it still the same? You still can launch, right? >> Still. Well, it's a different type of launch. That's the thing. So they were this is what they were coming up with a whole new website and for you to use and
it was going to take away the launch codes and it was simpler to use and all this and then all of a sudden they had the cyber attack. So the two things happened simultaneously. So it was really kind of hard to follow what was going on whether it was an intended shutdown of the platform or because of the it was almost like a day later they
admitted it was the actual cyber attack because the shutdown. So when we launch it is only through that national database. So it's message in out it goes but we don't know who it lands >> right because that's the thing like today we I don't know the code red one I
think I used it once for >> some of the 250 stuff with with someone guiding us how to do it right. Um it was you saw the results of who got what right? So you know >> yeah you know how many answer we reach this many person people or whatever with
the other one it's just it kind of just goes in and you don't know you don't get back the answer >> but I think we owe you know we should put something on the website the town website saying you know this happened go to this website to sign up for the new one maybe we should be looking at that
anyway. you know, and and have people be able to check their information and make sure it's valid. Um, but also encourage people to change that password that they're using. And if you're using that password, a lot of people do it. No, you shouldn't. They use that password
everywhere. And now that's out in the wild. So, >> if you signed up just for text messages, you didn't give a username or password. >> Correct. Correct. But if you did email
alerts, >> you create an account, right? It comes through their website. >> Okay. >> Then yes, and that email and all those other messages come through. >> You can also sign up for other fields. So if you wanted national notifications, you can get those Amber alerts, you get those. That's right. Silva alert, the
phone. >> I think you're uh I remember correctly though, your even if it's just a text message, your phone number is geofenced to an to an area. So that if you wanted to circle a a neighborhood for a gas leak or something, you could. Yes. So you you get
>> add maybe address and phone number, but no name. >> Most of that is considered public information these days anyway. So it's not really protected. Unfortunately, when you put it all together, then it becomes a form of of cyber attack and and identity theft. >> The thought of someone taking over that
and sending out a bogus message is pretty scary. Mhm. >> Mhm. >> And I think that's why they just shut it down. They realized the problem was serious and they paid the consequences of, you know, late notification and the temporary system. >> Sounded like their schedule got moved up
significantly. >> Yes, it did. >> Yeah. >> That's where we're at. But we'll get something out again tomorrow. We'll let people know that. Again, we don't know the extent of it. Nobody really does. But we'll law enforcement's involved in trying to figure that out. We'll more in
the future in the near future. >> We got our best guy working on the Zoom bombing as we speak. >> All right. >> Sorry for the interruptions on that. >> Appreciate the chat. >> I mean, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Chief.
>> Okay. Then, uh, other under new business, um, cultural council has a request. Yes, they requested to have a little ceremony. They want to put their Christmas tree in the front
hallway and have a ceremony um to to in lighting in honor and memory of Ellen Cook Miles who was on the cultural council for over 23 years. Um and she passed away in April after a short
illness. So, we have a tree, too, that Jason, our former selectman, chose last year. >> He's going to come build it, right? >> I hope so. Somebody has to um and that we had decided that we would um decorate
it in the 250 coming up, you know, um >> a patriotic holiday >> tree. So, um anyway, they want to do that Monday, December 8th at 5 o'clock. If you would >> that mean before a meeting >> before the meeting and maybe give a
little um proclamation from the board to her family thanking her for her service while they dedicate the cultural council. Three >> conservation commission. >> No. >> No.
all the way >> down down down the stairs. >> Thank you so any >> I see no problem. I don't know if any issues with that. >> Don't really need a motion. >> Okay. >> Um I think there was some other boards
maybe that wanted >> um >> a tree as well. >> There's I think was it conservation or CRC? >> I don't know. I haven't been in. So I know um >> it was CPC >> CPC maybe. >> So they've really been in communication with Margaret. Margaret has had
everything to do with the decorations that we got through that grant last year and has been in communication with DBW etc. So and and our maintenance team. Um >> Okay. >> So okay
so Monday 12 at 5:00 pm be here. Okay. Um, all right. Any other new business? Took us a while to get there. >> I just want to bring this up for future discussion. I don't know that we
discussed it on this board, but um, there was a survey that got sent to me today from somewhere from the state and I didn't fill it out yet. Um, but it mentioned Mass General Law Chapter 138 section 12D that was passed in June of this year
that you could convert beer and wine licenses to full licenses and still stay under your quota. So, I'd like to bring that back to the I don't even know if we have any beer and wines left in town that are active, but we should probably bring that back for discussion in front
of the board. As a commissioner, I know we lost one license with all the other transactions that happened. We were one over when that one that business closed. We actually lost one license. So perhaps we should take a look at that or just bring it back uh for future discussion
by the board if that's something we'd be interested to do. This is for onrem consumption, not anything else. I believe >> while you brought that up, any news on the Franklin House? What's
>> I haven't talked to him. He's been busy pulling. Yeah, they've been open a few times that I saw and um >> I drove by this weekend. They were too busy getting boats out of the water. I didn't stop to talk to them cuz you're going to get killed with all those boats flying around over there. Um no idea.
>> You seem to have the news on that one. Okay. >> And I noticed that the um the other establishment, what 100 feet from that one is closed as well. So, >> oh that one. Yeah, on that side of the
Yeah. Anything else for you to >> none of the new business? >> Nothing. >> Anything to bring up? Anything there? >> I have invitations and I will put them in your drawer for uh your attendance at Wreaths Across America on Saturday,
December 13th at noon at the cemetery. And then the Southwick Senior Cent's annual Christmas party on December 16th at 11:38 a.m. at 2. >> When was that one?
>> 12:16 123. Okay. And then moving into old business. Um what this kind of goes with the uh
patriotic holiday tree. One of our select board goals was to coordinate with other boards, commissions, and other organizations for the 250th anniversary of the United States. And I would
like to invite the historical commission, park and wreck and the cultural council as a start to one of our near future meetings to see what thoughts they have and maybe start pooling thoughts on something
where we should go with it and then if we need to bring in other groups or develop some subcommittee do so and get something moving before June. I think you're going to need a subcommittee and I think you should reach out to I I have someone I'd like
to reach out to as well. I don't want to put his name out in public until I've asked him >> and he comes back to the country. >> So, >> um so we'll put that on a future see if we can invite at least um these groups
at least to get a start on it, I guess, uh and see where it goes. Um, other select board goals and objectives updates. Um, >> I got a couple.
>> You've got something? >> Uh, first off, I talked with Beta today. Um, and they they thought that they would have a draft report possibly by Wednesday. Um, I guess they had their department meeting this morning and
updated all their staff and he thought he'd have all the data to give us some sort of a draft report. I don't really know what that means, but um, and then be able to come in and give a report official report to us at some point, you know, in the near future. So hopefully before budget season so that gives us
some ideas, you know, for roads and everything else. Um, that'll be good. Uh, and then on the channel 15 goals and objectives, I've been working on that. I met with the schools a couple times. Um,
I got a little presentation to go through if I can with compliments of Doug's computer. I don't have to worry about shutting it off in a hurry, do I? >> Nope. Unless Unless there's a Zoom bomb in here. >> Uh, screen there. >> Yeah, but I gota use a computer to
actually go through those. >> Go right ahead. Uh, see where where's the actual show? Do you know what's going to happen if you click that? Where? There we go.
>> Okay, they're seeing that thing. There you go. All right. So, um, we talk about channel 15 and whatnot. And then I really want to I just lost it. How do I share it?
if that fingered somewhere. Okay. So, um I think we need to look at it a little bit differently that just saying channel 15. I think we need to be more proactive in our communications and some of our opportunities. Um, you know, it wasn't too long ago that we would
have two or three reporters sitting in in a select board meeting, whether the old Ted Labour or whoever, you know, put pick a name to it. We had the Westfield News, we had the South News, we had the Republican, the Penny Saver, Mass Live. Um, so we had multiple perspectives and and and diverse coverage with a lot of
local newspapers and a lot of local everything. Same happened on the on the TV front. You know, you had channel 40, 22, channel 3, channel 6. Uh and then what did we see happen kind of postcoid is things start to dissolve and merge. Southwick news then became Southwick
Southfield News and then disappeared completely. We have the rep the Westfield News Group that purchased basically by uh the Republican. Um and then the Republican teams up with Mass Live and Western Mass. The news again
consolidate and then they're all one. So what do we end up with? We have a a very less local news than we used to. There's a lot of articles out there, lack of local news, lower voter turnout, less participation in our politics, and
viewer candidates running for office. I think we've all seen that that trying to get people to come on boards is harder and harder. Um, we have a drop in volunteerism, lack of interest in running for office, and there's even articles out there of lower bond ratings and less less effective government
because of basically just communications. Um, then we go back to lack of local sources. We get misinformation spreads. So, social media algorithms amplify the sensational content and then we're we're exposed to false narratives, manipulated
narratives, all for personal goals. Not to mention what we just saw tonight with some uh introductions of people that we may not want in the meeting. Um so again, you know, typical article, we have an article and Cliff does a great job. This is by no means um Cliff, I
know you're out there somewhere. You were out there. Um you know, talking about him. It's just the industry we're in, the world we're in, and how news works with the since co and the media. Uh, so you know, might have a news article, it goes in the Westfield News, it goes to Mass Live, and that's pretty
much the end of it. If it's a hot one, it might go to the Republican, go TV, Facebook, and then it lights up with Facebook with various various different um opinions. And then of course, social media takes everything out of context, misin misinformed, and then there's others that have goals to cast doubt and
and have other motives. So consequences of communication failure, misinformed public, loss of trust in the government, reduced civic engagement, higher municipal costs, and a polarized public. I think we've experienced all of that lately in the last couple years. Proactive
communication builds trust, prevents misinformation, and ensures accountability. So we have two things. We look at this as a problem, or do we look at this as an opportunity? I'd like to look at it as an opportunity. The power of a community television is I
think a goal. I see it in other agencies. I see it in other towns where it's proactive. It's involved. It's it's really showing the fabric of the town. Art Boyalt started this 15 or probably 20 years ago now. Um and his comment, I
don't like to ignore anything that is going on, whether it be an important meeting or a school play. And we're missing a lot of stuff that's going on with our our community television. Westville does an okay job, but I think it was a stop gap measure, you know, at the time of arts passing. Um, and to to
get something going. Um, you click on those channels now, it's it's all about Westfield. The information on the board, I look today and there's there's still stuff on there from June on the on our board. It doesn't change. That tells me they either don't have time, we're not, you know, we're not in their top
priority. Westfield collaboration focuses primarily on Westfield. Repetitive programming is a common complaint. Some of the audio quality that of some of the things we've had go on has been a common complaint. The outdated information board viewers
stop watching. There's very little South programming. Our channel 12 doesn't work. It's never worked since I've been back. I don't know what's up with that. So, right now we have channel 12 and channel 15 that's available for our viewing, our content, and our YouTube channel.
Um, what are we missing? A dedicated collaborator, producer, director, coordination to bring all the resources together and a renewed content strategy focused on South along with our schools, which I'll get into here is a huge opportunity.
South Community Television needs to be resigned in a relaunch plan and a roadmap for telling our local stories. So, one that promotes South businesses and nonprofits, increases our values, encourages civic participation, and a
small investment make will bring a large return. Explore joining forces with the schools. I spoke with them. Um, I spoke with Jen and then I spoke with um the the technician, the guy, >> our garland. Yeah. and uh he was all on
board and actually he's that that's been his specialty at other private schools is getting this type of communications up and going. Um and they're they're very excited to do that a little bit better with that. You know, we have our concerts of course so we can create an
identity for us and strengthen our community and reminds why this town is special. Um, another thing we haven't dealt with is using the this vehicle for emergency plans. So, um, if we have something that's
quick, we can go to a local studio, a local access, you know, the chief can come on board and say, "Hey, we got XYZ going on or there's a big storm coming or the floods, whatever you want to call it." This this will give us another tool with having local access to be able to
do something quickly and and present it. Um, future I would see cable 12 being dedicated to the schools and everything they do. You'll see them now, they're on Facebook starting to put out videos. Um, I know they did one about the the officer about an award they got for the
um Special Olympics. Uh, great stories, but they don't go don't go anywhere. Um, channel 15 stays with our town. We have a YouTube. And then the school's suggestion is there's other streaming technology that we can be using besides
doing a live Zoom. Um, and maybe that stops some of what we just saw that um, you know, whether you're on live YouTube, I don't know all the technology ter terms, but there's a lot of other tools out there that we'd be able to utilize. Challenges we face. Uh, Southwork's not being represented.
Equipment, we have it. In the last three years, we've spent $70,000 in equipment. None of it is here or very little of it is physically in this room. Technology again, we have it. Funding, we have it. We have $50,000 a year um that comes in
from Comcast. We have a large uh pool of money that's in the in the account for technology build out should we need it. Meeting recordings, we have it. Again, all our meetings are recorded. Those could should be playing non-stop over and over again if that's what we want. And location,
we have some here if we need to do a studio. um we'd have to do some creative thinking, but talking with the schools, they believe they have areas that we could commit that we could be able to access easily without going through um uh big rigome, you know, getting into
the schools and all that type of thing, but more to be determined on that. So, phase one, I I recommend suspend temporarily suspend this broadcasting activities that are going redirect redirect the viewers to the YouTube channel. So, all our meetings are being
presented and post a public notice about the restructuring. Conduct a full inventory and get our equipment back here on site. Identify duplicates and non-functional items. Verify the town's assets, the school's assets, and develop
criteria for a South producer director. Phase two is build a substantial transparent modern television service, community service on the school partnership. engage with the school district, share collaboration, partnership agreements, etc., and and
decide if the studio is there, where it is, and work with them to build it out through technology. Um, again, they're they have the opportunity for a million sports presentations, school stories, board meetings. They they probably have as much as we do as as a community.
The school inclusion's key. I 50 years ago, I was involved with doing media at school. I was in journalism class. I was in production, graphics, etc. Um, it was my best year in school. I was a stalled C student till then, you know. Um, but
the hands-on opportunity for school students is is you can't lose it. Um, and it it it teaches them for pathways for modern careers, skills in broadcasting, journalism, graphic production. There's so many things that the the kids could be involved in.
So I see it ending up as a spotlight, you know, for local interests, civic transparency, uh department meet, getting to know the departments, uh school programming, etc. Uh and phase three is finally redesign this land use room to handle a public
meeting so we don't have issues like we just had tonight. um through different technologies, we we have the ability to do more of a live broadcast, if you would, which many of the towns, that's how they handle their select board meetings, so you have one room set up
for a more um solid presentation, if you would. Um what will they accomplish? will rebuild the first programming, the South first programming model, create original community focused content, increase transparency and message consistency, and use existing assets
more effectively. As Art said, let the people know what's going on in town. And that that's as simple as it is, and that's should be our goal and that person's goal to to make this all work. That's what I have for my update.
I don't know if that takes a motion. I don't know if that takes the concept an idea. Um >> I got a question on the current funding. Part of it is grant funding. It's
>> all it's all >> it's all it's all okay. So with that said, >> and what happens if we get our own fiber and we have less peg money then >> I think you're going to when you set up your peg your fiber structure you're I
don't I forget what Comcast is 50 cents or something on the bill. Um >> it's a percentage of the bill. >> Is that what it is >> for the ca for the programming side? It's there's certain pieces that are not in it but >> right so I think as you set up your as internet and streaming becomes more
popular no matter what the product is whether it's a Comcast product or Westfield product I think you need to keep that 50 cents in there for community involvement um as you set up the pricing down the road because this whole thing could shift com cable could go away in 10
years you know completely I know you it's >> suffering now it's suffering >> it's been suffering since they let me They the question becomes of the of the I'm assuming of the viewership they've that's dropped the thousand people that have dropped out of
Comcast are still keeping the the um >> million >> no South was a thousand you when you clicked on the map >> but my guess is they still have Comcast internet >> so because our when I look at the
quarterly returns from um Comcast or you know, uh, we're still getting the whatever it is the the uh the same amount of money, the 50,000ish in. So, I'm guessing that that it's just coming out of a different viewership, but we have to be prepared for down the
road. >> From the internet side, not the cable side. >> That's what I'm thinking. Yeah, >> I think that's I think it's a percentage of the cable is the peg, not the internet. But
>> I but for a thousand we only have 3,000 viewers I think insulted. So for to lose a third of them and not see a reduction in our peg money tells me >> year over year cuz I think and I I see Celeste raising her hand in earnest but I think in the last cable contract or
the one before they actually increased the percentage that goes towards the town. So that may have offset some of the declining revenue. >> Yeah. I only looked at what was brought in. >> Right. >> It's up to the chair to recognize the
moderator. I'm just curious. And I don't watch TV. So >> your name is >> My name is Celest. I don't watch TV. I'm not a big TV watcher. I do watch sometimes at night, but I think people younger than me probably don't even know how to access channel.
And that's probably part of the problem. It's like I don't I don't and I don't have cable. I don't have podcast. So how would I even access channel? >> Through the town website. >> Me too. It's live stream streaming to >> did know that now that you say that, but
I don't think the majority of people even know how to access it. >> We haven't done a good job of >> and it would be if it's launched, it would have a big campaign to launch. >> Yeah. >> The relaunch >> and the schools the schools, my feeling is the schools being involved is going
to be a huge market to help pull, you know, watching the volleyball game, girls basketball, whatever it is. If they can do that, then that's great. >> You could watch some live stream. There was a service that was separate
>> that you could live stream. >> Yeah. >> The barn or something like that, right? >> They charged money for that. >> There was a word their name. I don't remember what company it was, but and it probably still exists because people have told me they watch their kids basketball
live streams through a different company. That's that's the technology side that the school could help us out with tremendously. So >> almost every school now records everything. >> So all I got to do is record it, play it back, and I believe it. You saw it
again. >> So what's your proposal? Your one, two, and three there. >> My proposal is phase one is get our equipment back. We've we've done the >> Thank you. >> We've done the um you know, see what we
got. Um but we don't none of it's here. So, we don't know what the condition of it. We don't know if it's still feasible. Um I would think get our equipment back. Put the you know, just post it. >> Why is it not >> Why is it not here? >> I don't I don't know that that's the
case. I And I don't know. >> That's definitely not the case because I I see the list of what's here and there's one camera in there my grandfather owned and that's it. >> Oh, I got you. So, >> oh, I thought that room was like all over >> there's some there's some distribution equipment in there, you know, react equipment, you know, TV talk stuff,
>> but as far as cameras and I mean, when I go through the list, there's there's probably half a dozen cameras, there's drones, there's you name it, there it's in there that we have an access to. Um, you know, and it's frustrating when there's you look and there see there's three sets of wireless microphones and
yet we do the the Veterans Day parade and we can't hear the audio from the podium or we do the um >> what do we have the Eversource thing and people complaining they couldn't understand anything. So um
>> and it again I think it was a stop gap measure to fill a blank when the parsing part the passing of art but it needs to take this next step and just stop and restart it and and figure out what we're doing. That's my So the first step is
get everything back here. Write up a a job description for uh someone to do that. It would be still be part-time. Not saying putting full-time people on by any means. perhaps to school staff that could um take on part of this through stipens like they do with sports
or something like that. Um there's there's a lot of options out there or maybe it's a mix of a bunch of things. I I don't really know at this point, but I do know we need some central focus to move it forward and and do this. >> We do have what is it a letter of
understanding or is that what it is? Mhm. >> So maybe we want to review that and >> yeah, whatever is involved in that. I mean, because we could still put it up there to go to YouTube. So, we're still doing a communications. Everything can
still be on YouTube. Um, but >> and that's and that's not a bad platform either. I mean, that's the technical piece of it. I mean, and I think there's two two big parts of this. Part of this was coming out of coming out of COVID before that
um you wanted to take in a meeting came down to town hall right everything was in person audio recording >> maybe >> maybe you got an audio recording and literally it was somebody would show up with a tape recorder and they drop the tape recorder off at the clerk's office
the next year or month later right so when we went into COVID right we had conference calls for the first couple of weeks and then we adopted this Zoom platform and then when um in my experience too by the way when when we
started to come back um in person's easy fully remote is easy hybrid's hard right so that this technology that we're using today the second or third generation of it here you know we've done pretty decent with it I agree and I've watched other cities
and towns through the Commonwealth or in other states where they're using a Zoom platform form, but it's it's one way that yes, we deal with some of the nonsense we dealt with tonight, but we encourage and support the two-way communication. So, I want to make sure
that whatever we do, we don't lose that, too. Like I I watched um a town meeting in in another town that a relative of mine was was speaking and you can't participate in that meeting when it's just broadcast on YouTube or even people
watching on channel 15 if they're still watching on channel 15 tonight after all that's gone on. Um they can watch but they can't participate. So this platform gives you that advantage. So hopefully we can maintain some semblance of that. You know, I've been a big proponent of from
a transparency point of view is to have, you know, remote participation to encourage people that want to take in or speak at a select board meeting and then go to the conservation meeting that just already started, right? They'll be able to do both from from home or from work or wherever they are. Um, but I fully
agree with you. I think that there's a huge opportunity here and whether it's it's to convert this room or to find studio space somewhere else to be able to do other things. Um, and you know, we've never gotten been able to get off the ground so far. Um, so kudos to you
for getting as far as you have to get off the ground with the schools and to get, you know, whether it's a journalism class or some other other group to be more involved in this to take the ownership and reigns of pieces of it to make it more complete. Um cuz you know
we have the YouTube today. People can go then tomorrow and watch the recording of this meeting or any every other board and commission meeting. >> Oh, that's great. >> And you know what what limited programming that we do in Westfield that they they put on the YouTube channel the next day or day after. Um but yeah, we
certainly need more of it. Um, so I'd be supportive and I and but Diane raised a good point and I was going to raise it as well is and I raised it during the fiber hearings piece is that that peg money is going to be a declining number, >> right? Whether it it whether we do fiber
or what have you in in the town of Southwick, just the sheer number of subscribers that are leaving Comcast is going to diminish the return on Peg. And you have um so you're going to have to figure it out and whether you If we have municipal fiber and we're able to do
something like that in order to to fund something peg like, we'll have to check in to see how that would work. Um, but yeah, it's it's certain, you know, other communities do a good job or, you know, a decent job of offering programming. Some some much larger
cities and towns that have, you know, full-on broadcast groups that come in and there's somebody producing the select board meeting or the, you know, the city council meeting. Um I don't know that we're up to that but um but and and the other point I'd like to
just emphasize is I find that um in Southic with the exception of pretty much one board everyone's adopted the hybrid model where the cameras on they're recording their meeting they encouraged at least for public comment they encourage remote
participation in their meetings. Other boards take a very different approach to almost kind of have a group meeting and that's fine. that's up to the chair to how they want to run their meeting. Um, and like I said, with one exception. So, I don't want to get away. I don't want to lose that. I think that's a very important part of the transparency and
openness that you know, if anything good came out of COVID, that's one good thing that came from that. >> Y >> um, and you know, I want to make sure that we we continue on that on that path. >> So, are you okay with me taking it the next step to the school to a little more
official? >> Yeah. >> I think that's a great plan. >> Absolutely. >> Okay. I think it's a great plan. Is the LOU we have just for channel 15? >> I don't even And I'll be honest, today was the first day I heard of channel 12. >> Honest to God, I know channel 15, but I
never heard of channel 12 before. It's >> always been there, >> but I thought they I thought it was not high. It was something and there was something wrong with it and it we never really used it. >> No. >> And I don't I haven't had Comcast for 10 years. So only time I would I would go is on the town website see channel 15 >> port on in there
>> and what and what you're seeing now is I know like Hadley Media is a great example. >> They um I don't I don't know the technology. I don't know if they're doing Facebook live or whatever but their meetings are live through open you know you don't
have to come log in and do your Zoom meeting. It's it's being presented. You don't get the two-way >> right? You can do that on YouTube. That's what I was mentioning. I was watching one from another community in another state just the other day. They do it. It's live on YouTube and as soon as the meeting's over, the recording is right there. You could watch the
playback almost instantaneously. Today, we're using this platform and then we upload the recordings the next day to >> I was there when they were building it in city hall. >> Sorry, you are >> for the record.
>> Right. And all of theirs are live. All their meetings are live. they want to be live. They just throw the switches on and it's done. But it's also being simultaneously recorded >> to YouTube just like you said. >> Y >> that is the way to do it
>> because and I also think one of the good things about this this format and other even YouTube and and there's there's plenty of platforms out there that you can adopt, right? So I'm not hitching my horse to any one of them is is that for archival purposes though
>> that it's there now. You have a vid a visual history of what happened. Not that anyone's going to go back a hundred years from now and see what any one person said at a select board meeting, but you have it there, right? Versus, you know, the minutes you we've seen minutes back from the 60s and you know
it it I think it's important to have those. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Um >> All right. So what you want to do is put a pause on channel 15. What is that going to do? >> So first step is to get our equipment back.
Notify I don't know if it's Peter. I guess we do we can um is to get our equipment back so we can inventory it based on our um >> assess it our list that we have >> um and double check it. See what what we
have. Once we got that working with the schools, if they're on board, >> we can we can incorporate some of that into a studio or into whatever um they thought they might have a facility area that would work and >> you know trying to what we have and what we don't have, what we need to buy,
things like that. So that's the first step and then at the same time rewriting a job description for um someone to do this whether it's contracted whether it's an employee whether it's a >> stipend so we can review what we currently have
>> which I I have a couple uh from other communities but um some of them run as a 501c3 completely separate and the town pays them to do it some have it within the town so that that's kind of what I'm wrestling with. >> Okay, we can consider that. So, that'd
be step one. And hopefully like first of the year, we're moving forward to see what we get. >> And from an um just as an aside, like some of the equipment now is so good and so inexpensive, it's unbelievable. I I saw somebody do some interviews this
weekend with a microphone and a a GoPro device that's smaller than my phone and it even had a a gimbal on it, right? And >> versus five 10 years ago, you were carrying around a thing. We own three of them and we've never used them. >> Yes. >> Go ahead. Okay. >> Don't know.
>> Yeah. >> All right. I have no problem with it. >> Okay. I'll just keep marching them. >> Okay. Good. >> Did Did you have anything else on our goals and objectives? I know you're working on something. I'll
>> clarify what you need. um on our goals and objectives. One of the points of discussion was the um basically communications network that was assigned to LAPC
that you said was not really LAPC. >> Okay. But I just want to say that the last LAPC meeting a week and a half ago, two weeks ago, was phenomenal. It's phenomenal. They did a tabletop exercise exactly what
that recommendation was all about. that master plan recommendation about >> a an environmental or community disaster event and who's going to do what what the reaction's going to be. How people are going to be notified, who's going to
be notified. It was a fantastic exercise they went through. >> But but that's what they do. That's what that committee is for. >> That's what you argued. It didn't belong with them. So, >> no, I my point was that >> we already have someone doing that.
There's already a committee that's in charge of doing that and you were bringing it under the umbrella of the master plan committee to implement. >> And I was trying the communication part. The part of the communication part is communicating to
the community what that plan is and what how that would be communicated in an event. Just like you're just talking about on channel 15 >> is let the chief put do a presentation on there of in an event in an emergency here's what's going to happen know in
advance. That's part of what's missing in that recommendation. I didn't say the entire recommendation was missing and that this is >> I have to go back to >> and that's where we were talking about your confusion what what it is that the master plan implementation committee is
looking for. If part of what that recommendation is is already being done so state >> I don't think that was clear part that are not being done let's improve on
those those are what we want to act on and that's what we are charged with identifying and moving forward so what I put out on that list if they want to jump to that list um back in October
was I chose the master plan recommendations that sort of aligned with our select board goals and objectives. So I'm giving you that clarification now and I gave you what the strategy was that drove that and then what the
recommend recommend what the recommendation was. If it was completed, we want to say it was completed. If it's partially already in effect, we want to clarify this chunk of that already exists. But we need to examine it. And
if the communication level is what is lacking, and clearly it is. If the community doesn't know, the community who made this recommendation doesn't know there's a communication channel. and what it is that's what needs to be
enhanced moved forward. So what I gave you guys was the things that aligned with some of the things we had gone through on goals and objectives and I have ongoing and continuous. We've done some parts of this. We will
continue other parts. The other piece is if there's something that just doesn't belong, doesn't fit, what's your recommendation? Let's start with this list, not the entire 157 items that we got.
Let's start on this list that already aligns with what we wanted to do and narrow those down, clarify those, modify them, reject them, whatever it is we need to do. Let's start on this list
that I gave you back in October 15th or whatever it was 29th >> and yours and that was one of I think LAPC was one of them. >> One of them was assigning a task to LAPC that was outside their charter. >> That's that's trying to remember what
>> and I agree with you Diane. Think some of it is part of it is the master plan advisory committee was folks from all walks of life and all boards and not necessarily from boards and commissions. So they made recommendations. Some of the things
already exist like LEPC does. >> Well, they are doing it, right? They didn't know that being done. >> In this case, this one, this is that one. Establish a climate change preparedness and resilience committee. Let's call it that tabletop exercise we just had. They're just calling it
something more global. But what it really boils down to is as if there's an event. How are we going to tell people? How are we going to save people? How are we going to tell them where to go? what shelter to go to. That's >> really that's >> if it already exists under LEPC, which
is what I initially said. I believe it already exists under LEPC, but the communication part to the community might be lacking. Let's modify that one then. Well, yeah.
Yeah, that's I spent hours and hours on this this over the holiday weekend trying to catch up to this thing and I I kept >> coming back around in a big circle like that one in particular, right? Yeah. Certain aspects of certain pieces of that are done by other boards and
committees, but we don't have that committee. And this is implying that there was other preparedness and there's other things that need you know if if we've done stuff with municipal vulnerability program grants and so on
and so so forth that wouldn't fall under LAPC that committee might lies with LAPC for some things >> but the other pieces is maybe done by someone else maybe it's done by DPW director maybe it's done by someone else
so it's it's hard to tie them all back together. And like I I think I had, you know, mentioned before, you know, some of the things that came out of the master plan, you know, we don't we don't all have to agree that they're even worth doing. I think there's four and I I've said this before, but I'll say it
one more time just for for clarity. I think there's four or five overarching goals out of the master plan to take a look at. And then you kind of look at any other decision you make on the select board and and try to or whatever
board or commission you're on and go, does this really reconcile with the general master plan? Yes, good. No, well, let's stop and think about what we're doing here. And is if that does it make sense for us to continue? And I think when we try to boil a lot of these things down to concrete action item
42-1-7B6, we run we run completely a foul of what the a master plan is supposed to do and not assigning tasks at different boards and commissions whether they're elected, appointed or employees of the town. And I think that's part of my struggle with
it is because I don't feel that it's a it's our role to assign those things. I think it's more of a communication piece. Have Have you read and understand what's in the master plan? And then take a look at some of the overarching goals. And we'll we'll talk more on this, but I think that that that's really where I
struggle with some of these things. Like there are things that are being done that are in line with the master plan and I mentioned it even while we were still on the MAC. There was good good topics of discussion out of the impact that were influential
to me as a select board member in my decision-making process on this board just keeping in line with what was coming out of that impact. Then we passed the, you know, the master plan was voted on and adopted and and now the master plan implementation committee has
tried to kind of, I think, is boiling it down into two specific acts rather than general tenants of a vision towards South 24. >> Two points. Um, what what and I don't mean to drone on
about this. What I gave you on the most recent version was my suggested response on that item, not to establish a new committee, but to collaborate with now would go
back to LAPC and SEMA to explore enhancing their charter to incorporate routine communications and protocols to the community. That is my suggestion to respond to that recommendation to the
selective that we would go to an LEAPC meeting, review this objective, and see if that's something they can incorporate. Outbound communication on what they're doing. Not just posting a meeting and hoping somebody's going to do something about it, but put it on
channel 15, put it on our page, put it on our town page. >> No. And my >> what to do. My point to some of that is when you when you get into some of these plans, they aren't public information. Um, >> of course, and we're not going to post
things that are confidential. Of course, >> but a lot of it becomes just very cursory. >> But how I'm not suggesting that we're going to put every step everyone is going to take. That would be ridiculous.
But if we have a another blizzard like whatever year that was 2010 or whenever it was, >> do people know where to go? Do they know where to trudge to if they have to get out? No, they don't. And they don't know who to call
either. That's the point of this. But but we'll carry on with that. The other point I wanted to make is you did ask of the master plan implementation committee. I'm going to put that hat on in response to look at some other towns. And I did ask PBPC for a recommendation
of someone who actually did implement a plan. How did they do it? It is and and it was South Hadley. Um they just they they did one in 2010. They updated it in 2020 and they are now
in their going into their fifth year of the update pretty much to the same level. This is how it's the matrix that we have is pretty close to what we have.
The reporting of all of the other parties very similar to what this MIP is asking. uh they did it on a pretty steady schedule at the beginning as things started rolling that tapered off to
quarterly that tapered off to half a year so that the Empic could come back and do its duty to report. It's pretty much what they do and I'm going to dig into a couple more
towns and and review that. But that's what I'm going back to the Empic meeting this week with is the South Hadley update >> because you had asked what are others doing. >> Absolutely. >> And that was Ken's Ken Kami's recommendation was take a look at South Hadley, >> how they're doing it and and it's
ongoing and >> so so we can go through >> Yeah, absolutely. this again later. And but that's what I wanted to focus on was this small list >> that kind of lined up with our goals and objectives.
Enough on that for now. Um >> I thought this was going to be the shortest select board meeting ever with the agenda was pretty light >> kind of. Okay. Anything else from other old business? I just wanted to give you all an update on
um I had a conversation with the guy from Haven that the other dispensary process. They relieved their built they got their building permit last week um and submitted it to the CCC. That was the last thing the CCC needed.
And uh once they sign off, they can get into their remodeling and you know they expect to be done remodeling and open inspected and everything uh early spring, early to mid-spring. So just FYI on that. >> Have we seen any filings from the
existing shop that's open? Have they made any filings to this state? >> I checked. No, nothing yet. Um and just their reporting schedule. I think we would see something in December. So this month something the the lag time the lag time.
>> Yeah, they're pretty busy. So, >> so I I did just check that. There's nothing posted at the moment. Um, anything else? Old business from >> What is our meeting schedule for the rest of the year? >> We are meeting next week.
>> 8:15, 222,29 are the dates. >> We are meeting on >> 8:15 88 8:15 and 8:29. We are not scheduled for the 22nd. that has been submitted. >> I propose that on the 15th we back up to 5:30 and keep a light agenda.
>> I actually have a I mean I can always not go a minute to vote but I have a vote at the school for um the school committee for the unit A negotiations did >> on that Monday. >> On that Monday at 6:00 >> we should be done hopefully by 6:00
on the 5th day. >> Perfect. If we can if the chair will accommodate that earlier start on 50. >> Yep. >> And you said >> and we're not meeting on the 22nd. >> What about the 29th?
>> Yes. >> Yep. All right, moving on. Okay, to move on. Good. >> Acknowledge and approve open session meeting minutes from November 17th, 2025. I had no issues with it.
>> Motion second. >> Will call Dangel I. >> Doug Morgan. Yes. Ross Anderson. Yes. >> We are going to acknowledge payroll warrant 2613 dated November 17th, 2025 in the amount of $31,2923. And if there's no further discussion,
I'll be looking for a motion to adjurnn. >> So move. >> Second. Wolf vote. Dan Gale. I Doug Mglin absolute. >> All right. Thank you.