All righty. I will hereby call to order this regularly scheduled meeting of the Sunderland Select Board. The time is 6:30 p.m. Our first order of business will be to approve the minutes from our last two meetings from December 8th and December 15th.
>> I motion we approve December 8th and December 15th minutes. >> I will second that. We have a motion made and seconded. All those in favor? >> I I do nothing. Thank you very much. All righty. Up next, uh we're going to do the highway quickly and then we'll get
to y'all in a second. Um so we have two appointments today for the highway department. Uh both for part-time uh temporary snow and ice positions. One of them is Ryan and the other one is Jeffrey. Um I had a chance to read through their
little packets. Everything looks good on my end. Crystal, do you have any questions on that? >> I have no questions. >> Um the the rates of pay. Um, you see the rate of pay for Ryan uh at $17 an hour. The rate of pay for uh Jeffrey will be
$25 an hour because he is a driver. >> Gotcha. That makes sense. Okay. All right. Um, at this time I entertain a motion. Do you want a separate one for each one of them? >> I think you probably should and name names. >> All righty. >> So, I motion we appoint Jeffrey Hubard
to temporary position Snow and Ice as a driver. I second that. All right. We have a motion made and seconded. All those in favor? >> I >> I two nothing. All right. Other one. >> So I motion we appoint Ryan
Cosma as a temporary seasonal winter position at a rate of $17 an hour with the highway department. >> All right. I second that. We have a motion made and seconded. All those in favor? >> I. I two nothing. Thank you, Margaret.
All right, guys. Out of the way. Uh, our third order of business today will be uh the appointment of a new full-time benefited police officer. And thank you all for coming in today for that. Um, Chief, would you like to tell us a little bit about the position and uh here? [clears throat] >> Sure. So, thank you for having us. Um,
today we bring you a candidate uh that was through a pretty decent uh interview process. Uh the sergeant led a team of the full-timers through the interviews with u u a slew of candidates. Some of them were weeded out based on what we
needed uh for the town. Uh then they held interviews and then they brought me uh who they felt was the best candidate. I then had the uh second interview with Mr. Matthew Mannheim. Uh felt the same same way that they did. Uh we we went through the questions that we had to go
through that would normally happen for a second interview. uh as well as some of the questions that now post requires us to have. Uh and then after that [snorts] I presented that information to the board in that letter and just expressing that um you know Mr. Manheim already
works for the town of Sunderland as a Sunderland firefighter. Uh he's local. He's grown up in the area and he wants to give back to the community and we're very excited to uh bring you him as a candidate for the full-time position. >> Wonderful. >> Well, thank you very much for coming in. Do you prefer Matt or Matthew or >> uh anything's fine, Matt. Thank Thank
you for having me. >> Absolutely. Um so I don't have any um huge personal questions. Um I appreciate that we're getting the the backing of the department. Um that goes a long way. Um but also it was great to know that you already work as a firefighter for the town. Um you know, we love this
town. We we also want to see, you know, public safety is hugely important to us. Um my only question is actually for the chief and that is [clears throat] my understanding is is that you will need to go to the academy. Is that correct? Yes. So, the next uh the next full-time academy, well, the closest full-time
academy is in Holio. Okay. Uh that will start March 2nd, I believe. So, um it's actually I was talking to the sergeant about this a while ago. I think it's one of the first full-time civilians we've sent to the academy since before me. Uh we've been able to
put people on from part-time to full-time. But, as you may remember, a lot of the part-time abilities have been pulled apart. there's no more part-time academy. Um so and that doesn't take anything away from Matt. Um but sending
a civilian to the full-time academy has to be sponsored and things of that nature. So um we're looking forward for a uh an appointment so he can attend that academy and upon successful completion of that would be a fully sworn police officer from the time of Sun. >> Okay. So the the start date for the
employment would be at the conclusion of that or would he be >> Well, no. He would be employed prior >> but the his going out on the road Yes. >> would be after the academy. >> Yeah. He would graduate from the academy. Uh he would take part in a field training uh with the staff and the
sergeant and all the other officers and myself. >> And upon completion of that, he would then be able to fly solo and go on by by himself. Um we're pretty confident that the geography part of the uh FTO is going to go swimmingly because he grew up here.
>> He's been into a lot of the houses with the fire department, see many of the uh of the streets cuz he's a local person, works in the farm and then also in the fire department. So that part's going to be rather easy. Uh at least that's what we think. Um, and then, uh, the law part
of it and all that's just going to come from the academy, what he's going to learn there, and then he's going to learn how to apply that in a in a community such as ours. >> Um, he'll pick up all the nuances that are over hundreds of years of uh, uh,
experience that our staff has. That doesn't make you old or make me old. It's just we've been around for a [snorts] while. So, we can apply all that and show him really what small town policing is about. Um and then go from there. And then once that's done, he'll pick up his shift and go from there. >> Wonderful. >> Yeah.
>> Um and then the the town picks up the bill for the for the training. >> So the Yes. So the tuition's going to be 3,200 for the tuition. Um then there's going to be some, you know, the uniform costs. Um the uh psychological he has to
pass that. Uh there's going to be a what they call the Cooper standards. So, the physical fitness abilities, make sure he can pass all that before he goes in. >> And then he's going to have a a rigorous physical uh setup within the academy as well as the academic.
>> Um, but as far as costwise, what I believe uh outside of paying him to go there day by day, 40 hours a week, if you will, uh the cost to send him for the tuition is 3,200. uh the uniforms, things of that
nature. We'll probably run about six grand. Um and then going from there, like I said, he'll get paid hourly uh for the 40 hours a week to to attend. Um he'll have uh the academy uniform and
then then when we get closer to the end, he'll have to get the Sunderland uniform. Um but firearms we already have, cruisers we already have. So when he has to go do the the cruiser test and all that, we would supply that. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Great.
[snorts] >> I just have two questions for you. Um for the hiring process, um once the board appoints, what is um what is Matt's effective date of hire? Is it the first day of the academy? Is that when he starts getting paid? >> Well, we're going to have to send him to
the uniform shop, get fitted for the vest, get fitted for the uniforms. Uh we're going to have to send them to the psychological. So, that's something I think I would have to talk to you guys about. Are are we going to be paying him to go on those days or we not? Um, and then, uh, but I believe that when he
goes to the academy, he would be getting paid to go to the academy. >> I would think that a provisional appointment today would be enough to give me the authority to then assign him into the academy seat. Right [clears throat] now, I think there's as of this morning, there was 44 spots still open.
>> Uh, and that will fill up rather quickly. Um, so the only reason why is because the closest academy from here is now the Central Mass one which is now in Malboro. It used to be in Boilston. So that's quite a ways. Uh, and that's the closest one. Um,
>> now you mentioned sponsorship. Is that what you're talking about now? Is the town sponsoring him? Is that this process here? Okay. >> Yeah. So they have back in the day you used to be able to sponsor yourself. Um, but that I haven't seen that in a while. So, the department will sponsor you um
and you'll either get two forms of sponsorship. One that you're sponsored without a confirmation of a job once you graduate or one with a confirmation of a job when you graduate. >> He would be the latter. He would be once you graduate, >> you're going to be here. >> Y >> um
>> and that kind of gets him a seat above. So, if there's ever a wait list, he would get that seat above the people who don't have a definite job after. >> Right. We want to train officers who are actually going to work. >> Yeah. And we don't we don't want to just send someone to the academy and be like, "Oh, we just wasted all this money." You know, we want to be able to send them
and then take them back. >> Yep. >> Yeah. >> Cuz there there have been towns uh that will sponsor a candidate and then they either don't have a job afterwards or they thought they had a job and then they left the town and went to a
different town or a bigger city. So, we want to make sure that we have a candidate that we know is going to go through an academy and then stay with us. >> Yeah. >> And I know there are agreements for that. Um, what is the what will the starting rate of pay be? So, an for an
academy trainee, what is the what is the rate of pay that the board is appointing at? >> So, the contract that the town has already authorized with the CBA that with the union, uh, it would be uh the starting rate for that for this fiscal year. I don't know the exact number, but I know it's in the contract. Okay.
>> Um I can pull it up. Uh but that would be the starting rate and then once he graduates that would still be the same rate. >> Mhm. >> Oh, okay. >> Yeah. >> All right. And so the the uh date of hire um you may have to pay intermittently if he is getting fitted
for a uniform or something like that. But between now and March, >> but it wouldn't be full-time full-time service. Okay. >> No. Um, so I don't have the I don't have the rate of pay or the effective date of hire, but as the chief explained, there might have to be some before.
>> As you said, this is a provisional appointment in order to get the ball rolling on things. Um, and my last question is the many towns if they send somebody to the academy require that officer to work at the town for a certain period of time or
pay back a portion of the academy fees. Is that something we're planning on doing? That's something that I I I'm planning on doing and I think that the board is in agreement or would be in agreement with that. I know Matthew is also in agreement with that. Um he has stated um many times that he's not
planning on leaving, but we want to make sure things are ducks in a row. So, uh, what we would probably want to do is have a [snorts] separate agreement from the the town and Matt that says, for instance, um, give us three years, uh,
without leaving. And if if you do leave in those three years, that cost uh associated would be prrated through those those years. So, if you leave two years out, you owe one/3 left. If you leave right after graduation, you owe all three years. You know, that agreement. >> Okay. And the details of all that kind
of stuff is stuff that we would nail down a bit later date. >> I I think so. Yeah. Before the academy date that top one should be >> 24.82. So the rate of pay is 2482. Thank you, >> Chip. Perfect. >> All right, that was all my questions. Um what kind of how do you want us to
Sorry, Crystal. Any more questions? >> Nope. >> How do you want us to word this? Just a >> that um it's a provisional appointment. Um uh per the chief's recommendation, the starting rate of pay would be $24.82
an hour. Uh an agreement um for employment um uh the provisional employment is to be developed. Um and the effective date to hire is to be determined. Um >> yeah, so full-time would be for the academy. I would I would like to say that the provisional appointment is
today so I can then be authorized to go and place it into the academy. >> Okay. The only the only caveat I put on that is that I would request that in terms of seniority and moving up through the things that the provisional start date is today, but that his official
start date would be the first day of the academy or a day before he's getting fitted or something like that just in terms of hitting milestones or >> Okay. >> Is that would be a date that he becomes a benefited employee as well because he'll be full full-time. >> Yes. So he'll be full-time paid by by
the week start week of the academy. Um, he would have full police powers once he graduates from the academy. >> Yeah. >> Perfect. All right. >> I'm not missing anything from the >> No, that sounds good. >> Uh, any questions from any of you to us before we vote? >> I don't have any.
>> Crystal, are you prepared for a motion? [laughter] >> All right. So, please, please, please, if I do this wrong, let me know so we get it right. All right. So I
motion we appoint Matthew Mannheim as a provisional police department employee at a rate of 24.82 82 per hour. Start date TBD.
Um, with intermittent employment prior to the start of the academy for securing uniforms, evaluations that need to be done with an official start date
as a full-time provisional as a full-time employee. the start date of the academy. Does that >> that all right? >> Wow. Lot of she got it. >> I will second that. We have a motion made and seconded.
>> Not hearing any further discussion. All those in favor? >> I >> I two nothing. Thank you very much. Welcome aboard. We're excited to have you. Thank you so much. >> Thank you for having me >> and good luck at the academy. >> Thank you. Thank you so much. >> Uh Chief, before you go, we had >> so other things talked about. Deian is
trying to get in Zoom, but it's not showing up. He's saying the link he has. >> Ah, so that's a problem that I can tell you exactly why. Uh, because we're [clears throat] we're [snorts] in the wrong meeting. >> That's okay. >> We're in the wrong meeting. >> The thing that pops up when we start it
shows a meeting, but that's not actually the meeting that's that's listed on our our thing. >> Oh, >> the meeting our thing is has a different number. Uhoh. >> So, what we're going to do is we're sorry. No, it's fine. We're going to stop the recording here. We're going to
>> No, we had enough to vote everything. It's just pause the meeting second. >> Okay. You want to stop? >> Yeah, go ahead and stop. It would be two-part recording, but it'll be fine. Go ahead and end the meeting. >> Okay. [snorts] >> Yeah, we're good. >> Small town technology stuff. Always fun.
>> Um, so sorry Dan, I apologize that you were trying to join and you were in the wrong meeting. Um, just so you know where we are. We've gotten through um the appointments and we were about to uh jump ahead a little bit and talk about theou um before we go back to other stuff because we have the sheet here with us
today. >> Great. All righty. So, next up is a discussion of >> it. Yeah, you're you're welcome to. I mean, hey, if you really want to, you can hang around. >> We congratulate your board.
>> All right. I knew I had that here somewhere. Here it is. >> All right. So, this is the sameou that we've approved in years past with some edits. >> Oh, yes. Okay. Yep. So, this is uh regarding the uh >> CSO detail. >> Yep. We have a jail diversion program grant that we get. We've had it for a
few years now. Uh this was uh written up uh previously. It was agreed upon this year. All we did was change uh some wording for the rate of pay and it's specific to Sunderland police officers in general, not for the entire uh grant.
So, it's Sunderland police officers that conduct these grant funded shifts >> and the town and the union agreed uh previously to go off of their um uh their overtime rate already approved through the the CBA. So, that's all this
does is references that. Okay, perfect. I was pretty sure that was all it was, but yeah, fig here to ask Crystal, any questions? >> No. >> Dan, any questions on this? >> You are muted. >> No questions.
>> All right. Wonderful. Great. Um, at this time, I'd entertain a motion to uh approve the um MOA with the town of Sunderland and the Sunderland Police Officer Association. And this is goes until June 30th, 2026. >> Yes. The grant is every fiscal year.
>> Okay. >> I motion we approve the MOA between town Sunderland and the Police Officers Association for the This is for the detail rates,
right? >> It was changed the overtime. Okay. >> For the JDP grant, but we all call that the CSO grant because that's who we partnered with. >> Yeah. >> So, the CSO grant formerly, no. >> Yeah. >> Formerly the DS
>> JDP. >> JDP. >> My life is surrounded by acronyms. >> Yes. >> Tell me about it. >> All right. >> Any questions? >> Oh, we have a motion made and seconded. Any further discussion? Not hearing any further discussion. All
those in favor? I >> I >> I Dan Murphy. >> All right. >> I Dan Murphy. >> Perfect. Thank you. >> All righty. Thank you, Chief. >> You have no other >> I think that was all we needed you for, right? >> Yeah. >> All right. Well, you know how to get me
right up the street. >> Perfect. >> Thank you, Chief. >> Thank you very much. >> Have a good one. >> Have a great one. >> Thanks, Chief. Happy New Year. >> Happy New Year. >> All righty. So next up is the review of the Franklin Regional Council of Governments for COG
highway bid signator authorization. >> This is an annual authorization needs to be signed by the select board. You are authorizing highway superintendent George Emory to sign off on the Franklin County regional bid documents.
>> Yes, which we have done many times. All right. Um any questions on this from Dan or Crystal? No, this is a great thing. >> Yep. Absolutely. All right. Um, at this time, I'd entertain a motion to approve the Franklin uh Regional Council of
Governments uh authorization for signatory. >> Motion approved the Fair [clears throat] uh bid rates and the chief's authority decide. >> Second. >> Highway superintendent. >> Highway superintendent. >> Oh, sorry. Superintendent.
>> Yeah. Um second. >> All right, we have a motion made and seconded. All those in favor? >> I >> I demur >> I. Three nothing. Thank you. Wonderful. Next up, we have the review and
authorization of alcohol and non-alcohol common vic licenses, class 12 and 15 alcohol licenses, and we have a list for those various categories in front of us. Um, and correct me if I'm wrong. You said you wanted us to do
a separate motion for [clears throat] the bulk of the list and then another one for these two here. Okay. >> All right. Uh, Dan and Crystal, any questions on We're going to start with the big list. And Dan, I don't know if you have this list in front of you or not, but um, this is the list of the
non-alcoholic common Vic licenses, the alcoholic common Vic licenses, and the class 12 and 15 uh, liquor licenses. um with the exception of two that we're going to handle in it. Any questions on either of these? >> No. >> All right. >> N
would entertain a motion. >> All right. So, do we have to list them all off? >> Yes, please. >> Yes. >> All right. >> And the category. Yeah. >> All right. So, want to just do one category at a time and vote or do them all? >> We I think we should be able to do the whole thing as well. >> Okay.
>> Yeah. So I motion we approve for nonalcohol common vic license Frontier Pizza in Sunderland Market for alcohol common vic license Billy's
Beverage Blue Haron Bridgeside goen Sunderland Corner Store the Spirit Shop Golf Mart for class 12 liquor license blue heron side. Go 10 for class 15
liquor license with special Sunday permit. Billy's Beverage, Sunderland Corner Store, The Spirit Shop, and Golf Mart. >> We have a second. [clears throat]
>> Second. Damn. Second. Yeah. >> All right. We have a motion made and seconded. Any discussion before we proceed? Not hearing any discussion. All those in favor? I >> I J Murphy >> I three nothing on those. Thank you very much. All right. Our second uh are we
have two whose approval is going to be contingent um on all fees and taxes paid. Um so if you have a motion for those >> and and satis if if I could just generally say a satisfaction of all permit requirements because proof of of um you know liquor liability insurance
things like that as well. >> Perfect. All right. So, I motion we approve these licenses contingent on all fees, taxes, and >> certificates of of liquor liability
>> and um certificates of liability, insurance, all necessary paperwork. >> Yes. All permanent requirements. Thank you. >> Um and those would be Bub's Barbecue and the O's. >> All right. Any discussion?
>> Second. Nope. >> All right, we have a second. All those in favor? >> I >> All right. Three nothing. Thank you very much. All righty. That
is that. Where the agenda? There it is. Here it is. All right. I believe that is all of our new business. Go through it if I get time. Yes. All right. Up next for old business, South County Senior Center response to tours
of 112 Ammeris Road. Um, I did not have a chance to attend. Crystal, did you have an opportunity to do so? >> I did have a chance to attend. Um, it's a very nice building. Um, it seems to have plenty of space, plenty
of parking. Um the building appears to be in very good, you know, in very good shape. Um it was nice. They had um tape and stuff where they wanted
to add doors where they wanted to block things off or they want, you know, they had, you know, little hangings there where they wanted to remove or re um, you know, redo some some of the floor plan. Um during the tour they you know
kind of gave a nice little status on you know they thought this room would be used for exercise and this room would be used for activities and this would be this one's office and that one's office. Um it was it was a very
nice tour nice building. Um, I know there are some public forums forums coming up in January where there'll probably be quite a bit more information hopefully available by then.
Dian probably knows way more about it than I do, but the tour was nice. >> I know a lot more. I know that they good attendance. I wasn't able to go to the tours. I did get a chance to get in the building um prior and it's a good space. Um I I I mean I like I like that we
found a space that fits everything they need rather than the years and years of uh kind of shared space all over that they've had. So uh we'll see that I'm interested to hear all the questions at the forums. Um and we'll see where it goes, but uh for me it's it's it's seems
like it's a place that can work um if everyone thinks should should go forwards. And uh that's all I've got really. >> Wonderful. And does anyone happen to know the dates in January? >> Do you know the dates for those meetings in January?
>> I do not have them in front of me. No, but uh we can we can get them right to I I can dig it up and get them after the meeting. >> Okay. >> Back and we can share them share them. >> Perfect. >> I'm sure Jennifer's done a a blast too as well. >> Yeah. Yeah, I'm sure. Yeah. Okay.
Wonderful. Next up is the 4-year 2027 budget and capital request submission updates. Where do we stand with those? >> Becky um Becky and I had a chance to speak today. She said that all the the large departments have gotten the budget
and capital request submissions to her. So, um she wasn't able to elaborate, but uh she says most of the departments are on track. >> Okay, great. Wonderful news there. Um, do you have, and this may be a question that I have to ask Becky later, but do you have an
idea of when um, those requests will start being available to the select board to look at? >> Unfortunately, I didn't have that information. >> I kind of assume so. Anyways, sorry, we didn't get into that. >> Not a problem at all. Um, I will check in with Becky on that then. All righty. Wonderful. Um, any questions on that
process from Dan or Crystal? >> No. >> All right. >> No, I'm okay. >> Wonderful. All right. That is all of our old business. Um, next up we have uh select board updates. Um, I don't think I have anything this week. Crystal, >> I don't other than, you know, that I got
the chance to see the the proposed senior center space. Other than that, >> all right, Dean, do you have anything for us? >> Oh, I I guess the other thing is we did have that kickoff meeting for um, you know, the joint services. >> Mhm.
>> You know, with the um the multiple towns there. Um, nothing was decided. There's a another meeting scheduled in January and you know this was just a kickoff. There was no this is how we want to move forward anything. It was just you know
meet and greet and >> you know but it was attended well and I think it it could work. >> Wonderful. >> I don't but I did want to hear about the Christmas uh morning deliveries.
>> Oh the food deliveries. Yes. So, um, with the senior center, we did, I believe 98 meals went to seniors and then, you know, they had another handful they dropped off like at South County EMS and some of the um, police
department. There was a wonderful amount of people that showed up. Everything went super smooth. Um, we were able to we were out of there at quarter 9. >> Wow.
>> Christmas morning. We started at 7. So from 7:00 a.m. to4 9 we packaged up and got over aundred meals out the door. >> That's pretty nice. [clears throat]
>> That's wonderful. >> Any? >> No, that's it. All righty. >> I just want to say many thanks. Many thanks to the crew. It was the senior center and um I know the Sunderland men's club does it and then you know some volunteers that come from the
senior center and um you know couple random people. >> Many thanks to the crew. >> Wonderful. Um next up we have town administrator updates. And I know the first item says it says update on the Dollar General versus town of Sunderland
lawsuit. Um per advice from our um legal council, we are going to discuss um any updates on that in a future executive session. Um Margaret, do you have any other updates for us? >> Um the only other update showing here is
the ABCC activities update. Uh Becky has reported that she's tracking the hearings and expecting communications from ABC. She hasn't received anything yet, but she is waiting. >> Okay, great. Anything else from you for us tonight? >> Not for me.
>> Happy New Year. >> Absolutely. All right. Um, next up is correspondence. We don't have any of that. Uh, public comment. Any questions for us tonight? >> So, do we do have a correspondence about the um >> Oh, do we? >> Well, it's not in this packet, but there
was an email about street lighting at the end of Swampfield Road. >> You're right. We did. Yes. Um, let me see if I can pull that up. >> I don't know if anything has >> um I don't think I have that in in my on
my phone. Um, the crux of the email was that there's a light at the end of Swampfield Drive that doesn't work and apparently at one point was supposed to have been replaced and instead it just got sort of shut off and never turned back on. Um, and it's a question about sort of where we go from there. I think
it's probably more a question for George than for anyone else. Um, but if you wouldn't mind or maybe I'll mention it to Becky if you would just note um to to have that conversation with George um about what we can do about about that problem. There may be more to it than I
know. You know, a lot of times I'm just jumping in at the last minute. There's actually layers and layers to it, but um >> I'll pass the message on to Becky. >> You don't mind. Thank you. Yeah, just cuz that is in there and I'm sure it got lost in the >> Christmas shuffle because it looks like
it came on the 22nd. >> You appreciate you [clears throat] remembering cuz I had brought them. >> Wonderful. Did you have any questions for us? Anything you like to ask? >> I have one kind of unrelated to the meeting, so I can leave until after to throw it by you, but I might be asking now.
>> Fair enough. Um, we'll catch you [laughter] then. All righty. Um, we don't have an answer session today. So, at this time, I would entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> I motion we adjourn. >> Second. >> All right. We have a motion made and
seconded to adjurnn. All those in favor? >> I. I. >> Jim Murphy. >> I. Three nothing. The time is 7:04 p.m. Thank you very much.