All right. I will hereby call to order this regularly scheduled meeting of the sun board. The time is 6:30 p.m. on the nose. All right. So, I'm actually going to we'll start with approving the minutes. We have two sets of minutes this time. Are both of them ready for us? Um I'm sorry. We don't have any.
You don't have any? So, we'll go to saying the 22nd will be available next week. Oh, I'm sorry. You're right. Sorry. That's giving you best. Yeah. No, no, you're you're good. That was me. Um, so going to new business, we're going to actually, um, just swap the first and second items because we have the gentleman here today. Rather than
making him sit here and wait, we're going to get right to you. Sure. So, uh, that item is the Big River Chestnut Fall event. Um, asking for an entertainment license. So, we, uh, got your your packet information, which is very helpful. So, thank you very much for that. Great. Um,
have any questions on this or No, just want to tell us about the event at all or anything? Sure. Yeah, we have a chest farm just down the road south. And um yeah, so this is the harvest season, so
we do kind of a little celebration around chestnuts, but also other nut trees and breading crops. And so we'll um have some vendors selling things related to nut trees and chestnuts and our chestnuts and roasting and fresh
chestnuts. And there'll be a little bit of music. There's a couple nurseries coming, selling plants. Um, pretty small, but I mean there's a there'll be we think two or 300 people. So, we've done this in the past. Yep. Yep. And it's uh Yep. 10 to four.
So, um just the day. And uh um anything new this year compared to other? Well, there is going to be an actual band, a small group that's uh actually a real a real band playing for a couple hours. And um there's there's
some new vendors, bunch of different food people like there's a honey company and then there's the micro terra the mushrooms and um yeah, we get different bakers who are baking different kind of related
products and demos and such. So, um yeah, so we have a we have um parking um you all probably know um John who's across the street from street. Yeah. And so we're using his feel for
parking and um so I feel better about that and probably keep everybody off the road rather than Well, this is a pretty easy one. So, um, I would entertain a motion at the time to approve the, uh, one day license. I motion we approve the one day
entertainment license for the Big River Chestnut Fall event. Second. All right. We have a motion made and seconded. All those in favor? I. I. Three nothing. And that's this Saturday. That's this Saturday. So, in case anyone's watching or watching it later,
Route 47, come on down. Absolutely. That's right. Shoot. All right. Well, good luck. Hopefully we get great turnout this year. The weather is supposed to be wonderful, so be good. Yeah. All right. Well, thank you very much. Absolutely. Thanks for coming in. Y
All right. So, next up on our new business is um a discussion about uh the Buffalo Barbecue liquor license that was um suspended at our last meeting. Um, so since then, uh, Bubs has come in
and provided us with, uh, a copy of his, uh, new insurance policy, which does include liquor liability and also the general, um, liability insurance that he was also missing previous to, um, rectifying that and the required amounts of coverage, he
even went above um, above a couple of them. Okay, cool. All right. Um, so the discussion is about what to do about his liquor license currently. Um, from my perspective, the board had a number of
options ranging from reinstating it now to, um, having the period of time where it's revoked extends to some arbitrary length of time as a punitive measure to encourage people not to, you know, try
to operate without liability insurance. um to not returning it all this year and making him sign up for a new one next year and go through the process again and potentially have extra checks and balances um due to the history. Um so it
kind of comes down to us to decide what we want to do about that. Um any opinions from either of you before I start? So I mean again I think we have a couple options. We can, you know, do like a one week suspension
for every month he was without insurance. We can I'm going to struggle with just flat out returning it effective immediately because
there was a significant amount of time um with no insurance and you know we found out about it by accident. It wasn't It could have been 2 years, 3 years before we found out as opposed to
Well, no, because every year they have to renew it, right? They have to provide us information. But but he could have also doubled it this time, which is get us, show us proof, and then default on it. But I think this time we're we're on calling. We know who the insurance
carriers are, but it's not our job to call. Yeah. Correct. And the the insurance company should notify the town whenever there's a lapse in coverage. Would that be more likely than this one or is that was the prior one a local
this one? I tell you who the prior one was. I just know it was about $4,000. So it was more expensive than So here's my thinking on it. Um, number one, what he did was rectify going
forward, but not bring us proof that he was in compliance all along. If he had come in and said, "Oh, I'm sorry. I had paper all along, but I just couldn't find it. My filing system is whatever. Here it is." That's a, you know, exoneration and that would be, "Oh,
great. Wonderful. Thank you for bringing that information. Here's your license back." Because you were in compliance. You just had to go through some process to drag it out. um still don't love that it would have taken us getting to that point to do so, but that would be what it is. Um in this case, that's not the case. What happened
was after the real effect of us taking it away, it went to effect, he then bought the insurance to get his license back. Um, so I do kind of agree that there should be some kind of consequence for having gone 9 months without that
policy other than just, oh, well, two weeks go by, he gets his license back, everything's fine again. Because the what's what's preventing him and other business owners from choosing that as a well, I save $4,000 and all I got to do is go two weeks without my liquor license, but I get it back in fine
damage. Um, so I do I do feel like there needs to be some kind of punitive measure here to reinforce the the reason that one would follow the law. Um, whether that's something like what Chris just mentioned, a week for every month
that he lo, you know, we go time served plus two more weeks or whatever we decide to do. I do feel like there needs to be some kind of financial penalty to that. Does this policy run out the end of the year?
I think it's 12 months. It goes through September 19th of next year. He's got a full year. We got a full year a full year. Yeah. Um his other policy I believe the one that's the workman's comp that is January January. So that one would be up
but that's not pursuant to the liquor license. That's okay. Um but it would be pursuant to the common license but it's in good order. Yeah. And that's been maritime. So that's a whole other ball. But this one is good for a year.
Um I would let the town know it's not necessarily their responsibility to check in with the insurance company in like a month to make sure that nothing has changed since then because at that point money has already changed hands and bank their bank account like nothing can be clawed back at that point in
order. I'm curious what larger places do I because I'm sure it's not unheard of. I mean, somebody would do it. So, they can there's nobody checking and they just start at home. Maybe they, you know, but I just curious to know what other places do
here, right? I mean, not that we have staff that be doing it, which really should be helping the to make it all good and make sure we need when we need it. I mean really like and this is sort of a side point but I I have questions of the initial insurance company why they didn't put the device immediately
back in that seems like a responsibility there was I won't go any more detail or or whatever because I don't have the details but just that is something I'm not super thrilled with. I would be much happier if they have done their rebuilding companies. Yeah. Um that being said, um I believe
this insurance policy is valid currently and as long as we don't get notice of that in the future, we can operate under the assumption that it is a good policy and it will be maintained for the foreseeable future and whatnot. Um which brings back to the question of what we do in terms of returning his license. Um
from my perspective, as I said, I would like to see a little bit more of a punishment for the initial thing. Um, but I also feel it's important that um, we he has to jump through hoops in order to renew his liquor license in coming years
because of the, you know, bark on his on his record. Um, and that we're going to be a little bit more, you know, careful and looking at what making a little bit more oversight on our side. So I wonder if we get n every 90 days get something
ready from his agent or whoever's to tell us if it can still we could just ask him to send a certificate of insurance so he can he can request sending this same one. Yeah. I was saying he need something that's it have to be dated by the
insurance company or backid monthly to prove that it was that's how you prove it's valid. Yeah. which that's the kind of measure I'm interested in doing is having something that in place where um it can't be 9 months. The most it can be is a month or two months or something like that before we find out.
60 days. Yeah, 60 days. 90 days. Maybe monthly ask require back off. We could I think you can require that. I just want to be clear in in conversation with the lawyer because we do not have
any additional um bylaws about um enforcement of the liquor license and the common dick license. We'll uh the lawyer just want to make sure that I advise you we we would be
open to a lawsuit in this situation just because he has he has um provided the required information. Select board has total discretion of what you want to do and making these choices like you're outlining. You have
total discretion. But he also advised me he can if if the person were to probably lose. So just to like you're saying that that because we don't have additional bylaws outlining everything. Anyone who walks in here with liability insurance and
application has to be approved. No. If they already have it, it has to be returned. I'm not talking about the next. So then why did we even have this discussion? But two minutes ago. because you have the discretion and you do have the right
to do the things you're saying. Okay. It's just a question of whether he would then be able to challenge that in court, right? You know, we have to but that doesn't take away your your authority. So what are they doing?
Um so I guess a supplementary question I'm trying to ask now because it'll help advise is what will you have to do in order to come up with some better bylaws around this to give better enforcement? Is that something that has to go through town meeting? No. Or something we can just decide? Yes, it
has to go the the I will be bringing you in another couple weeks um some revised um policies and it's not a by policies that I'm getting templates of now from
our attorney so that we can you know it just keeps it clear that if if any law is being violated and it's not the liquor line liability it's still would hold him, you know, you
still can hold them accountable. Um, if they're violating any other um thing like either the insurance or if they're having um the board of health show up and close them frequently or any other issues,
then it will give you more teeth to support your making sure responsible actions are taken by the people with disease. So that you need to get done um as soon as possible before you know
getting to December and you're renewing policies and then if there's a you know any policies under the new um any liquor licenses under the new policy you'd have more time to okay there's no there's no penalty that would
come from the state or anything of this at all. It's it's only on us. You um the select board is the one who sent the letter to the state. So they are aware of the action but there's no they have no prescription for this type of situation that they
they will enforce. It's all us. Yes. Yeah. I think they're more at um you know when people are drinking underage then they really focus on enforcement. This is a an odd one. If
you go to the insurance, it's not common that this happens. So, you hear what I'm saying? Um, I guess the question is
if we were to let's say impose an additional two week suspension, what would be the motivation to sue at that point? you wouldn't even get in front of the court before it was returned to you. The the the you'd be suming to get it back and yes,
you could sue for lost revenue, but the amount of money you would spend suming for lost revenue over two weeks of liquor revenue is going to be a drop in the bucket compared to what it's going to cost to bring that lawsuit forward. That's my that's my thinking there. Um I'm not saying I want to put in position
to to up the liability. If anything, I'm always the one to be like, where's our liability here and how can we minimize it? Um, I mean, can he just send a letter and get a hearing? Is it I don't know. What's the process? You know, it's okay.
It's okay. Um, he can he has one of the things we told him when he gave me the liquor license. He has the right to appeal your decision in 5 days, but that's I believe that's
if you revoke it. I I think any decision he has the right to appeal in 5 days and he was told that when you guys made the last decision to revoke it. Okay. So I think the process would be he would have five days to proclaim that it's not
it's the suspension is okay. So he can remove the polic. Um I think it was like the day after 22nd. It's like 9:22 we met last time. Yeah. It was the same day we we met last time.
So see he's been out two weeks. So we've been out of it for two weeks. Yeah. Well, he didn't shut down till Wednesday. So, you want the letter? So, it's a little less. That was the 24th.
So, I mean, we could give another two, we give another seven days. Um, yeah. I mean, there should be some way to we penalize them, but only because it came in and found out about it, we had to take away insurance. It
made total sense, but but for for doing that. Yeah. You said there should be something you should be able to do that. And I'd like to put maybe like a tangible number around it. You know, so we could do the he's already been
without it for two weeks. Yeah. But if we said something like 4 days suspension for every month without it, you know what I mean? Because then it get it's
it's associated to the length of time that this didn't exist. You know, it you know, again, maybe a week for every month is obviously too much. You know, because now we're looking at nine weeks. greater
than 2 months. Um, but you I'd like to see something day a month. I mean, it just sounds small when I say it that way, right? Because Right. And that's why I was thinking, you know, 3 days per
month, 4 days per month, you know, I don't I just like it to be tied to the amount of time, if that makes sense. Yeah. Yeah. I just would also need something to be able to then have us use it use it as a measuring stick if this were happening with
somebody else cuz it happened to somebody else as 3 months then we have a prescriptive okay well it's a third of what we gave to bubs because it's that much less time. So I I kind of agree that there being a you know x amount of days per per month. Yeah. Oh,
what if it was two? That's 18 days. So, you'd still have like six more days. I mean, if it's if it's a struggling physy there, so make it worse.
No, I don't want to make it worse either. I just to read up on this thing, but I don't want to be like, we're just going to do what we want to do. Yeah. And that's why I kind of like it somewhat tied to the amount of time without it.
I could Well, the two the two was 18 days. Three. Three would be 27. Okay. 27 two more week penalty. Um and we are So, okay, if we go with 27 days, that's four weeks. That's the two
weeks he's done. And that's two more weeks until our next meeting. That's right, our next meeting. So we can come in our next meeting and and vote to return it at that point. Or maybe we also tonight to return it, you know, in 14 days or whatever. But that would be kind of the that was sort of it was in
my head when I when I was thinking about this is another two weeks. Um so we could do three days per month. So 3 three days and that'll take you to that would take us you know if we we
start counting on the 24th that would take us to the 28th right the 21st 21st so that would be or we call the 20th because um so I I would be immunityable to vote in that direction. You guys feel
comfortable doing that? I think so. I know it's tough because you you he is still able to keep his business open. Yeah. He is still able to serve food. Yeah. Um you know it's not a total shutdown.
It's just you can't sell alcohol. I have no sense if that's part of the problem in my head is that so one of the things I want to make sure is that the punishment is harsh enough that he doesn't go oh well you only cost
me $200 for the sales I save $4,000 this year on insurance by not getting it'll do that again there's no consequence that again that's where I'm coming from with all this is wanting there to be a punitive aspect of this that makes him and other people it's not just about him it's about other business owners just
looking at this as a as a use case, not making them want to do that. So, I again I don't know how much money he's lost in 2 weeks. Yeah. But is it the $4,000 he saved this year or the $3,000 he paid this year on on insurance? I don't know. I just, you know,
Yeah. And we can talk about other things we can do going forward when we come up with some something like this. It' be good to get something every 60 days from anybody 90 days. uh something that just confirms it it's a continuity.
Yeah. But someone who's never had a problem, they've been in business for 25 years. No, maybe it's a condition that's part of this company. You know, you got every 30 days until, you know, for some period of time. So, for a brand new liquor license, maybe a brand new one, maybe maybe
somebody trouble, right? Yeah. Yeah. So, we can look at policies regarding that. So, it'll be returning it on the 21st would be the 20th and 21st. Yep. I mean, we revoked
it on the 22nd. So, if we returned on the 20th, that would be 28 days from when we revoked it, but we didn't actually go physically pick it up until the 24th. So, we could also go the 21st. So, 20th, 21st, you know, I guess it would depend on are we planning on We can't vote until the 20th. So that
that's my question is is we can vote tonight to just have it go into effect whenever. Yes, you can vote tonight. That's the best thing to do. Yeah. So So I guess it really doesn't matter. 20 21st. What day? I would say probably honestly I would rather throw my tiniest
the world's tiniest bone and go the 20th just so that he can have it be for the beginning of that week like you know start even open till Wednesday. Oh okay. Then it doesn't matter. Then it doesn't matter. So let's just call it the 20th. Okay. Um all right. All right. So, at this time, I would entertain a motion um for
the select board to decide to continue the um suspension of the Bubs barbecue liquor license through the 20th of October. I motion we continue suspension
of the Bubs barbecue liquor license returning it on October 14th. Second. All right. We have a motion being seconded. All in favor? Hi. Hi. Thank you very much. Um, just just a quick sort of logistical
question. Um, does he then have to come to the town office to pick up the liquor license at that point? Are returning him the same copy he had before? Are we filling out a new one? I was going to return the the same one cuz that's his Yeah, that's perfectly fine. I just wanted to know so we know stuff. Um, and
is that something that you would bring to him or he could bring to us? You should come bring us Um, I guess I can track him down, get his personal number and ask him to come pick it up. Okay. Um,
but is there any Yeah. I guess my question on that is when we do all licenses for the new year, people come in here, get them, right? Yes. So then I won't I don't see why would we do it any differently. If he when he once he's able to get it back, he can
come in and play it. Yep. Perfect. All right, that takes care of that one. Thank you everybody. That was one of our harder things to work our way through. All right. Uh, next up is South County Senior Center update.
We had Yeah, Dan Matt went the boo and had an executive session. We can say who was in it. I don't know if I guess so. Yeah, we and Craig Warner was at
Delta Sand and Gravel was represented at the meeting and there will be another executive session in two weeks and they're working to figure out I can't say we will leave it at that. I love the
surprise Christmas. I know there's presents on the tree and I don't know what's in them yet. We'll find out soon. Um, no, it's great to hear you guys wouldn't be having executive sessions if there wasn't wonderful things happening. So, I'm glad to hear that it's happening. Um, and we will find out all about it once it's public knowledge and we can do so.
Was there anything else you guys want to go over on that or just sort of uh I don't think now I think we'll step on something. Yeah, we'll say the wrong thing. You have a question. No. So my understanding I can't is that South
Deerfield has already scheduled a special town meeting. Weightley has already scheduled special town meeting and we have to so talk to your select. Yeah. And so I think we need to schedule a special town meeting.
schedule a special town meeting because we always have the ability to cancel it. But once we start getting this time of year, you got to pick a date. You know, we get November is between Thanksgiving and Veterans Day and holidays. And
when are you're filming with these? You have days. Um I think October 29th is Deerfield and lately I think it's something like November 9th or November. I'm not remembering that. Yeah, they are coming up relatively.
Yeah, you know, in the grand scheme of life. So I would be more in the in the camp of the first week of November than the last week of October just to give ourselves a little bit more time um since we are kind of a little behind the ball on that. Um, but
would you consider moving it to like the second week of November? Yeah, but that's fine. Also, I just mean I would rather go later than earlier as long as we're not going too late, obviously. Um, so the first week, I apologize. I have I don't have
information about my schedule, so Yeah, that is fine. Um 9th is a so we're looking at the week of the 10th then November 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th I mean we don't have to do it on a
Friday night correct right yeah we don't have to necessarily what are the rule like when you have is it quum and all that or yes there's a separate quorum I'll have to get the quum number
um special we could be looking at November nomber 14th potentially that's a Friday or well we have to find availability of the school right so okay we
I mean do we we could potentially also do the library my suspicion would be at county attendance might not be as great but yeah let's let's let's talk to Ben and find out what the the ability of the school is we do a save the date tonight and then
what I'll do the vote next time or maybe one well I think we need to just even know what's available right so let's do this let's let's set next time we meet which is going to be the 20th as our we have to have a decision on that day okay
well and then we need how many days notice two weeks the first the third which is about as early as we looking at anyways um if we go into the 10th we have 3 weeks from right and so we're looking at this as a
holiday the alarm. So that today, but if we're voting on the 20th, the 20th be No, what I'm saying is that's just one day already out of that week. We can't have two. That's a holiday, right?
What day is it? You're alive. Veterans Day. Yeah. What day of the week? Thursday. No, that's a Tuesday. Tuesday. Tuesday. Um, so I I guess the question is would we want to do it before November 3rd? Because if we don't want to do it before
November 3rd, approving it on the 20th gives us 2 weeks to the 3rd. And so any day after that would be fine as long as we're approving on the 20th. Um, November 3rd's election day. No, the 4th is election day. Yeah. I I it's probably better not to do the
same. I wouldn't want to do it. I'm just saying that that we get in to the very beginning of the time period we're looking at if we do it on the 20th. We're not worried about limiting the number of days we have available. Um cuz I don't think we're talking about trying to do it in the next couple weeks. Um
yeah, I I would just see what the school has for availability that we could attend. Yeah, if we need to get in there on the 14th. Um, would you want to do it on a Saturday potentially because then there's a lot more of a chance that there's a not going to be anything at the school that day or any kind of
overlap with school that day, but also basketball they don't play Friday. It could be soccer. So, I think what we're what I'm hearing is we can't make a decision until we hear back from the school about availability period. So, let's get that
information. um we can discuss because this is a scheduling thing. We can discuss that via email. Um and then once we get to a point where we're like, "Yep, this is good." Then on the 20th, we will be able to walk in with the potential dates already lined up and ready to go. So, let's let's do our work
in the next two weeks on the 20th we'll make our decision. Um and by then we'll know what the school's availability is. Um and also potentially have a little bit more information from the the from that process also. um just to help us.
So outside of the senior center, are there any other issues that you see putting on? So I suspect on the agenda will be something from South County EMS regarding the ambulance regarding the purchase of an ambulance.
Okay. And I have he gave me a document about the ambulance. Yeah, we have a meeting tomorrow night. So you probably seen more than I have. Well, you're welcome. Busy. He probably has changed it all by now.
Okay. So action [Music] um and I know we had had some issues a couple months and a half, two months ago um where their handful of accounts in town were not were over
were empty or needed additional funds and we moved some money around. Is that anything we need to do in a special account or has that already been settled to the point? you check with the accountant just because if if not great opportunity for us to be able to potentially move some money around YouTube. Um on that same note, we had discussed um before the meeting very briefly potentially
putting a transfer into the um town administrator line item um to cover um what's the word? Labor costs potential labor costs this fall. Um, we can discuss that more later, but I like to make sure that's on there. Also,
cooking always not to do anything about it. If we find the money, we put down. Um, I can't think of anything else off of my head. Do you guys have anything else you thinking on there? Uh, the only the only thing I we're talking about is on the Mass Trails
Match. We are coming up a little bit short. Uh, we just tried to get all the hours we could. We didn't get as many as we hoped. Um, I think it's around we've got a shortage. So, I was going to talk I was going to talk to you for, but that's fine. We'll talk about now. I I
what I wanted to do was reach back to them and see if we could um throw on them in again and try to make sure we got all the hours that we can uh spend any time on our view and uh see if we can get one more last crack out to see
if we can get that number down. Um, I think we could ask CPC for additional. So that's that's what we're going to if we if we need to the way yeah there's confusion on the way the original grant was written that we're trying to sort out but it's at this point it's not
if we were to go see for the the congregation folk we would need to be at meeting that or well yeah well the only the only I don't know how it all how it all works if it's a way um if there's a way to go back to the community preservation act and see if we can get but I don't know how that
works if this fiscal year and how that community work how we do that. So that was I was going to talk to you about that. See what happens if say we say we send out another note they allow us and we get 22 more hours. We still may be short you know probably short we might be
short probably will be short. I think we need fair amount of hours. Well she was helpful on the hours. I think it's the original the original way they put the numbers. Yeah. So we'll have more to report on two weeks. Okay. Great. That's one thing that
that's the only thing in my end that's a little short that we got to figure out a way to make it square. Okay. Probably good idea to give the CBA. Yeah, I did I did I did mention it to I did mention to J. Okay. Just want to make sure that they talk to me. Talk to me. No, I haven't. I'll
Yeah. You mean just make sure that a I don't want to have anything last minute surprised by it. Also give them plenty of time to m over. Of course. Of course. Of course. Well, that'll be exciting to have a special town
had 18 articles or something. Wow. Special town meeting last week. Wow. Hopefully ours won't be quite that robust, but we'll see. Um, any other discussion on the town meeting before we move on from that? All righty. Um, next
up is the review of the FCAT contract, which I see you gave us a copy of. Thank you very much for that. Um, so the situation I wanted to explain with this is, um, I've been talking with Gearfield about because he he had some
criticisms about the contract that was talking next when it comes up in FYE 27 that they had been thinking of some changes. So, I went to find ours and the most recent one I found ended in 2022.
So, I this document um I've been advised to date it. I mean, the original date for this will be the 6th of October when it's voted. Um and I think it's just important to
get it back in place. We've been following it and it was um it might be somewhere that I haven't put my hand on it. I haven't gone back to read all the select board minutes. Um, but given the fact that was the year the director died
and I've been told there was a lot of comm, you know, it was a very chaotic period, it might have been missed here. Um, so I just wanted to have the security of getting this this in place with
So you said he who is he? I said he is. You said he had some the the deer fuel. It's Chris Dunn the town administrator. I wasn't sure where you said he or you. I
just I want to make sure I think it is. Let's say that we had signed one and it's in some some drawer somewhere we just don't know about. As long as we resign this without any material changes and just and have it end at the same time it would have ended before. If we were to find another one and all of a
sudden had two contracts, that wouldn't be a problem. I assume as long as they're materially the same and okay. Um, so on that end, I would be of the mind of not touching a thing on him and signing it as it is because he wouldn't want to end up finding ourselves in a position with two contracts that contradict each other. Um, but if the
old prime minister has concerns, I do think it would be important for us to discuss with them come 2027 when we do this. um as a you know that's the ball to figure out how we want to address that. Um, okay. Just wanted to make sure I was on the same page legally in terms
of like if if he if John came by tomorrow and said, "Hey, I found the the copy of it." You know what? No, that's why I've been just trying to preserve everything in place. I've retyped this. I found nothing on the computer. So, um, we've gotten this.
Okay, beautiful. Um, so yeah, I don't have any concerns with doing so. Any concerns, questions, anything? Shouldn't the meetings? Yes, that's the last thing on the go. All right. Um, wonderful. So, um, at the
time, I would entertain a motion for us to sign the contract starting today going to um it normal expiration date 2027. Uh, June 30. June 30. Motion resign the uh contract for the
end of June 2027 between uh one and action. Second. All right, we have a motion made and seconded. All those in favor? I I I three nothing. Thank you very much. Um and I do appreciate uh you looking into it and finding that because you know we
could have just gone like a couple years never had one. So um I do appreciate you catching on. That was wonderful. Um, and on that same general note, our next item is the FCAT hearing on uh 10725, which is tomorrow. Yes, it is. And it's going to take place here.
Um, the hearing will be here at 7. If any of you can attend to say good things about um the learning experience for the whole community and how it benefits um the
select board because your messages get out and people can watch your meetings and um comment and hear them and or any other issue you might have. I'd say do they ever film the parade for Memorial
Day? I think they they have they've done a lot of things. Well, they're they're wonderful. They do a lot for the training training for the kids. Um I believe I have a commute tomorrow, but it might be done in time for me to make it by the middle or even I've got some kind of EMS tomorrow.
So, I will I will count too. Um and I think you can zoom in. Starts at 7 and I think you can zoom in. So that would that would be much easier for you. And I know they're trying to control things a little bit. If you know for sure you can do it, please let me know.
Just so and just for clarity, what was this hearing on just on the continued operation of FCAT in general or the negotiation of the Comcast contract?
So, we're trying to get um, you know, as much funding as we can get for them, especially with we have a large amount of equipment needs. We've had cameras dying one by one and or maybe only one, but
he's been struggling with all the cameras. Deerfields is trying to set up a new town hall uh with audiovisisual equipment. So, we're trying to do our best to to show Comcast we'll be here.
Eileene um from Comcast will be here and we want to try to impress her that our community really cares. The three four towns do care. Conway is in the group, but they're off cycle from us in the negotiations. So, we are part of that
too. So, and there will be an open house starting at 6. Jonathan is getting pizzas and cookies to show people the studio and he's got it all cleaned up to walk people around and tell people about the program as much as possible.
Cool. Um and if we were to miss it because we have other locations. Um is there an opportunity for us to write a letter for that? Yes, if you could write a letter if you want to do a video. Um, so I I will I
will put together some thoughts in a letter and if I can come in person and deliver it in person, wonderful. If not, I will make sure it gets along to you or to Jonathan or whatever. Um, and I encourage anyone watching this who loves FCAT as much as we do to do the same if you're not able to attend. Please.
Um, and that's that hearing is here. Okay. Wonderful. Any other questions or comments on the hearing? All righty. I have one other FCAT thing I want to mention. I think I mentioned it before, but part of what Jonathan has
learned as he's reviewed his bylaws this year is the bylaws say there's supposed to be a select board member from each town on the FCAT board of trustees. Just to put a bee in your bonnet, um you
can also delegate someone to do that. You already have Steve Uncle Holtz on the board, so there's some representation. How often do they um seems more
every couple months? It he tends to when issues come up that he he'll call and it's not regularly scheduled from what I've observed. Um I would be willing to do that. Um I wouldn't hate it if we found somebody
who would want to be a representative. So, if we have somebody who's chopping so who happens to reach out to you, great. Um, if not, I'm I'm willing to just want to make sure it wasn't going to be a weekly commitment or something like that. I didn't think so particularly, but just checking. Um, all
right. Thank you for for reminding us of that. And no, I do agree it is important to have this like number one. All right. Anything else on FCAT? All right. Uh, that's our new business, old business. Um, first up is select
board updates. Crystal, do you have anything for us today? I got South County EMS tomorrow. Um, I imagine the discussion will be quite heavy on uh found an opportunity to purchase an
ambulance. The ambulance that was purchased we're still waiting on and this will get one into South County much sooner then when the actual delivery of the new
one is expected but it involves you know using retained earnings things like that which you know again it will be a bigger discussion I'm sure tomorrow night and hopefully we'll have
real information you know after that and that's why um you know if they are going to pursue this the ambulance will have to be part of the special town meeting because I you know again through past
discussions and stuff we've all been under the impression as towns that the more retained earnings there are that comes off of our town's assessment if we're going to take and use that retained earnings for purchasing an ambulance, which
might be the best decision. Um, you know, we have to understand what that does to So, I guess my my question, maybe this is something that you don't know, but maybe you can find out tomorrow. Um, is what happens to the other ambulance?
Like, are we still going to get them? We are still going to get So we end up having two ambulances in a year or two whenever we finally get the and then that would start getting us on that cycle of replacing ambulances before they are
very old and desperate need of replacement. No, I'm not I'm not certainly not arguing that against it. More just a so I know what's going on in my head moneywise. It's one thing if it's okay, you know, just next year's any higher, but we also cancel this contract with
this or sell the sell the rights to this new truck. That's would still be coming. Do we do we know how much longer on the current one? I believe it's still like more than a year out. Okay. And and the one that we've been
looking at, is this a used one or is this a new one but different? The same. Okay. Um, and it's brand new. And how much? Last question. Um, comparable price between the two. This is actually I believe
it's a little less expensive in the grand scheme of ambulances. Um, you know, we're not talking $10 less, but you know, we're it's I just want to make sure we're not, you know, this one's half a million. We're paying 3/4 million to get it faster.
Like obviously we need it. I just want to make sure the one that would be coming faster would actually be somewhat less than the one that's been ordered. But again, the one that was ordered was exact specifications, right? This one
again I have not looked at the specs of it. We haven't, you know, we're we're meeting tomorrow, but you know, there could be, you know, it may not be a perfect fit, but it's still stock more of a stock model, but there really aren't stock models in the
correct. There's not. So, what is the schedule that we're looking at in an ideal world for replacing ambulances over there? We haven't for a while. My understanding was when they came to us and asked us to do the maintenance, a big part of it was because this one's 20 years old and this one's 17 years old. in that one or you
already and and I think that's all going to be part of the discussion is what is this real cycle? You know, do we want every five year? You know what I mean? And the only reason I asked is because if we're going to get one this year and then we're going to get another one next year that sets us up for a cycle that's
not going to like naturally flow every 5 years or something like that. Um and again, not saying that's a reason to do it. I'm just trying to get right and Right. And that's, you know, hopefully, but we also didn't get a new one five years ago or 10 years ago 15 years ago. And so we're kind of due on those. So we
do end up kind of having to frontload a little bit right now. We got us into a more modern fleet. I do understand. So please ask lots of questions. I will ask you lots of questions. Are you sure? Um I do have one.
Please uh completely treat me. I did I scrambled a little bit but I was able to renew and resubmit the prior application that we put in the complete streets. It was for the RFBs. There was some uh pathway at the school. The question that came up to me that I dug into a little
bit and I'll follow up with the folks over there is whether or not Swampfield Drive is a public way or not. There was some indication it could be, but it wasn't on the chapter 90 list of public streets. Um if it's not a public vein, it wouldn't be eligible for any
improvements uh under the blue streets program. It's something we'd have to go to district school. So could we make it? Well, there's some question that I'm talking to find out if it is because there was some indication looked like Frank referred to
it as a as a public road. But I'm not sure that that's true at least as far as the chapter landing folks are concerned and they're the ones that allocate our funding based on the miles uh of road. Um it's not on that list now but if we ever if the town voted on it made it a
public road then we could get on that list and that would definitely be ultimate. So that's the only question that was outstanding for me. Um and the only answer is if if it's not maybe we can look at doing the piece of old style. Yeah. you haven't started to look at it,
but that's put in some language like that. That was the only change that I made. But it's basically a resubmittable deal. And and if you can figure out what it would take if it's not a public road, what it would take to do that. Not saying necessarily that we want to, but just to figure out what that process would be.
Because if it's not and maybe we don't get into the police training on district for whatever reason, it might be worth looking into making it one. You're talking the driveway to the school. The driveway to the school. Yes. Drive. Yeah. And I don't know. I I know this is Eastampton thing, but it's it's definitely something I think you can do,
but this frontage plans is different, you know, for the for the pascal itself. It seems a little silly in semantics to be to be like it's owned by the town. Of course, the public they want they deal with. Oh, and I I understand I understand the minutia is just is one of those things
where it's kind of just like a little nippy. It's a little nippy like it's not owned by a private entity. It's owned by the town one way or the other. But yes, I understand what you're saying. So yes, please look into what it would take to do that. If we do find out, don't spend a bunch of time until we know. But if we do find out that it is
in fact not a public road, let's figure out what it would take to do that. And also ask the questions of what that means, does that change anything to the town in terms of liability, in terms of responsibility, in terms of all kind of things like there might be an advantage to leaving a nonpublic road. I want to know that before we make the show on
that fact, but let's let's see if we'll see. Yeah, let's see what we got going on. Um, great. Thank you so much for doing that. I know that we uh have largely left that to you to do a scramble when I get back. No, I really appreciate you getting to that. That was I'd love to see it.
Yeah, I'll I'll follow it along. It's all online, so it's not like you get you don't get the PDF. It's all the uh basically they have what they call Grand Central. So, it's everything in one place. Well, that's great news. Thank you so
much, Dan, for doing so. Yep. Anything else, Dan? Anything else for you? Um, I don't have anything new myself. Becky, come in updates. Um, the new assessor is doing quite well. The assistant assessor, he's
working and he held a meeting tonight with his board of assessors and he's figuring out a number of things. I think we will do another training uh with Diane Bishop if that's if you guys are all okay with that too. I think it'd be
important for him to have a session with her just to help him pull all these things together that he's figuring out and do we have the ability to pay for that? Yes, the assessors um I think have voted to pay for it out of their own funds. Okay, great. So that and I think they're going to
write the select letter. Okay. be great. Wonderful. Glad to hear things going well with him. That's what we use. It's good to have that position over the end. So, yes. And people are very happy with the hours that he selected. Some people actually
come in in, you know, in the Monday late afternoon, 6 days till 6:00 on Mondays. And so he's he's driving traffic and uh things are good. Wonderful. That is a blessing. Any questions on that?
Anything else? All right. I believe that is all of our um old business. There's no public comment. Nobody's in person or online since the online is not really working very well anyways. Um all right. No executive session at this time. I would entertain a motion to adjourn.
I motion we second. All right. We have a motion made to adjourn. All those in favor? I 3 nothing 7:23 p.m. Thank you very much. Thank you very much.