you know, we're talking. >> Okay. Good evening everyone. Welcome to the Oh, thank welcome to the uh what is the date today? That's Tuesday, October. >> Thank you. 8th >> I never know how >> Wednesday, October 8th meeting of the select board. Please call this meeting
to order. If you could please rise for the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and
justice for all. >> As a reminder to folks, this meeting is being recorded. So uh first we will start with the reading of the indigenous people's day
proclamation. So this says, "Whereas instead of commemorating conquest today, here in the town of Swampscott, we recognize our history. And since time immemorial,
people indigenous to the lands we now call Swamcot built communities, fostered culture, and stewarded the land sustainably. And whereas for the first time in our town's history, we recognize indigenous people here and anywhere in
the United States, as we pay respect to the cultures and populations that existed long before European contact with this land. So too, we celebrate the contributions of all indigenous peoples to the culture of diversity, innovation,
and resilience that has had an indelible impact on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. And whereas the town of Swampscott recognizes that the indigenous people of the lands later known as the Americas have lived on these lands since time immemorial. And we honor the fact that Swampscott has
been built upon the traditional and ancestral homes of Native Americans referred to as num num sorry >> Num keg thank you and called swampscott the land of red rock and whereas indigenous people's day was first
proposed in 1977 by a delegation of native nations to the United Nations sponsored international conference on discrimination against indigenous populations. in the Americas. And whereas the town of Swamska is committed to protecting and advocating for
justice, human rights, and the dignity of all people who live, work, and visit our community, and to supporting the principles contained in the United Nation Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, the Declaration endorsed by the United States on
December 16th, 2010. And whereas the Declaration of Human Rights recognizes the right of indigenous peoples to the dignity and diversity of their cultures, traditions, histories, and aspirations, which shall be appropriately reflected in education
and public information, and places an obligation to take effective measures in consultation and cooperation with the indigenous people's concerned to combat prejudice and eliminate discrimination and to promote promote tolerance,
understanding, and good relations among indigenous peoples in all other segments of society. And now therefore, on behalf of the entire select board, we do hereby proclaim October 13, 2025 as Indigenous People Day in the town of Swampscott,
Massachusetts, and encourage all faith-based, nonprofit organizations, residents, businesses, and public institutions to acknowledge, honor, value, and celebrate indigenous people's historic and current contributions locally and beyond, while also
recognizing the ongoing and interconnected struggles of all indigenous communities. ities locally and beyond. In witness hereof, we have here unto set our hands and caused to be affixed the great seal of the town of Swampscott, Massachusetts this 8th day of October, 2025 by the Swampscott
Select Board. Um, so I think we often I mentioned last time we read these proclamations and then we move on to the next topic because we have a lot on our agenda. But it's important that we reflect on what those words mean and
how we conduct ourselves in those words. And I do want to let everybody know that at the farmers market this past weekend, we had um an indigenous people's celebration which was really lovely. some singing and um dancing. There was
also a ch a children's craft activity that worked through. It was quite lovely. And um so I just wanted to acknowledge that you know it's not just about proclamations. It's about learning and making sure that we are actioning on the
words we speak. So uh we are going to move on to the town administrator's report. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. Um, good evening everyone. Um, so I'm planning to sort of change this up a little bit. Uh, and
I've got some initial discussions with members to sort of understand that. But in light of the fact that I'm new and I'm getting up to speed, I wanted to give a little rundown of what my week has been like this week. Um, and not just recite the things that uh, Gino and the team have completed uh, prior to my
even coming here. So, I have a little bit put together. The idea that I that I was planning going forward and I'm happy to take feedback is that I will have sort of high level highlights um talk about events and hiring and things that might be going on but the report will still be compiled as is uh you'll
receive it in your packets and it'll be posted for residents to review as well um which is usually on Thursdays that it gets posted online I believe so people can still track what's going on in the in the deeper report but we can spend a little more time here on high level things or on questions that you all may may get out of the report that's given
to you. Um so giving you a rundown of the week I first I want to you know add to the the thanks that have been shared with Gino. I know you all thanked him at the last meeting when I was appointed but um you know any transition is difficult. He's handled it both on the front end and the back end has been
really great for me uh in the days that I've been here and leading up and it's very clear from meeting with the staff that that he did everything he could to support them during the time he was wearing multiple hats. So I want to start by just saying thank you and thank you to Eugino from me from the staff and as I expressed in the department head meeting I think you know they really
appreciated all the work that you did. >> Thank you. >> Sure. Sure. Um so just to talk a little bit more about uh sort of what's been going on. I've started meetings with some elected officials, the folks at the table uh chief among them and department heads individually but we had our first department head meeting today. Uh really
basic for me the conversation I wanted to have with them. It's things that I didn't want to have go unsaid. Um there's a a few key messages. Be on time. Be responsive. Uh do our best to respond as soon as possible. The real goal is within a day or so. Understanding there's staffing and
resource constraints. That's something I asked them to flag for me. If there's anything that can be done to speed that up or if that's an issue, but it's something that I think is an absolute baseline expectation. I want to make sure they understand it's something I have and I know it's been shared in different ways and in different words by folks up here at this table. So that was
number one. Um, I let them know that there'll be a regular cadence of department head meetings. Uh, the first one that I'm going to have with each limb is to learn about their organization. Uh, caugh issues either that they've had identified by elected officials uh with HR ongoing issues that have, you know, sort of knots that need
to be untied to see what I can do to help with those things that may have been um sort of lingering over time because everyone is just doing their best to continue to move the ball forward. Uh, and there'll be an ongoing uh effort by me to get out to actually be with the different departments. Um, I want to do skip level meetings and meet
folks that are below just the department head. I want to know people below just the department and the deputy or assistant. Um, so that we can start to identify, you know, future leaders, people that we can help develop if they're interested in that. And I want to have those conversations directly and hear about things that they think are challenges or opportunities. Um, I also
let them know finally uh that my interest is to begin the initial discussions around the budget maybe earlier than normal so that it will give me an opportunity to get up to speed but certainly also an opportunity to share with you all as I gather information and we compile things where we are in the process and what the projections look
like knowing that everything firms up uh as we move throughout the year and at this point it is very much projections on revenue and projections on spending. Um but really just starting to get our arms around that. Um, the last message that I mentioned uh individually with folks, I've done it as I've spoken to you all and with department heads and I
think this is important for the community at large. My door is open to volunteers, elected officials, appointed officials, residents, anyone who has a question. At this point, I will probably not have the initial answer when someone has a question. Just to be fair, uh, I'm going to disappoint you if you come in
looking for the answer when I when when we have a first discussion. Um, but that's something that I'll get up to speed with quickly. But I want people to know that, you know, whether it's through Dian's office or through mine, right? The door that's right there, we're here to to help. I want to get up to speed quickly. The best way for me to do that is to hear from everyone. Uh and
not just the individuals at this table or at any other elected board. I want to go outside of that group and and I welcome those conversations. Um, in addition, I would love to talk and I think um, Katie, you and Danielle had mentioned in the past the idea of, you know, a
regular round of outreach uh, that I can do and I I'd love to hear from folks where that might be good uh, outside of being at an event. Like what is an opportunity that I can sort of sit there and for lack of a better terms have office hours to meet someone uh, hear hear concerns and and have discussions
with them and understand what's important. Um, on the staff side, a couple things that I do want to pull out of the report. I think some of them may have been discussed when Gina was last here, but uh, there's a couple of positions that were, you know, in the interview process right now. Public safety admin, customer service rep, and
rec coordinator. Uh, we're moving through those, uh, as we go. And in addition, over the last couple of weeks, uh, there's been a few new hires. Again, I apologize if I'm repeating them. Uh, Tim Milikin, the new land use planner. Nathaniel Snow is our library head of technical services. Whitney Wilkinson is
the new library aid. Um, and then Kevin Kaufman was hired as a police officer and will be going into the academy on the 14th. Um, so I'll continue to refine this. I want feedback. I want to know what you guys would like me to focus on. But I I wanted to really dial in uh the amount of information that we have. We
still share that, but we focus this time on things that are important to you guys. If you have questions that are prompted um or if you can redirect me to make sure I include things that you'd like to hear. And with that, I think Gino and I are here to answer any questions that may have come out of this report. Uh, if you all have any.
>> I do have one. Um, thanks for those comments. >> Sure. >> Um, I think this may be for Gino. >> Most likely is >> um, so on the UV pilot. >> Yep. >> And the draft and you know it says Kleinfell has completed the final draft
report. King's Beach UV pilot study has been reviewed by both the city of Lynn and towns Scott stakeholders. It's currently being reviewed by Mass D. I anticipate the final draft being released by the end of the week. I'm trying to understand like they're
reviewing it uh technically uh just kind of the order of things in terms of like us getting it last before it goes to mass D I guess is my question. Well, Mass D was a stakeholder for the meeting and I got a call from Eric Wall from Mass D because the city was Lynn was ready to release it and he just didn't
think that was a good idea. He wanted to make sure that all our assumptions were on the same page and we were going to be on the same page going forward. So, that's why we agree we initially we were going to release it this week, but after talking with him and talking to the mayor, we decided to let them look it
over before we release it. >> Got it. Thank you. Anybody else? >> I have a question on that as well. It says town of swampscott stakeholders. Did the water and sewer commission review that? >> They have not seen it yet.
>> So, who are the swamps stakeholders? >> Me. >> So, it should be swamps stakeholder. >> Yeah. >> All right. >> It's representative of many of us. >> Um, >> okay. >> Well, actually, there was another stakeholder too. Liz Smith has been a
part of the group there. So she she's seen it as well. >> But Liz is not on the on the committee. No, we have a and we do have the water and sew. So is the water and sewer committee getting this report? >> They will get it right when you guys get it as well. Again, they're not going to see it prior to that. >> Okay. >> You know, Liz Smith's role was I made
her and the administrative assistant is she's been involved with it from day one. >> It was important for her to see that. >> Okay. Um and then I have a question. Um, >> ma'am, can we go ahead?
>> Would it be Yes. >> Would it be appropriate for us to have that on the next agenda? Is it warrant that level of Yeah. review at that point? >> Yep. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I would assume there will be some sort of compilation of information that could be rolled out in a little PowerPoint or something so that we can
understand. >> Yeah. Right. We invested 32 page report. >> Yeah. >> I'm sure I'll forward you all. 32 pages. I'm just wondering if the water and sewer commission should get it first and then >> we jump in after. I just >> come with their review. >> Yeah, I think come in after them.
>> It's basically just facts. >> Whatever. >> Yeah, the data that we collected. >> I I guess they didn't have much participation in the process. So there may be some reaction to it and they're welcome to comment on it, but I would
assume that the folks who sort of facilitated it would be the ones who are presenting it. But we can flesh out the details >> and the next steps going forward. >> Yeah, the next steps. >> Yeah. >> Anything else? You said you had a followup.
>> No, I think I'm I'm good. The only um the only question I'm going to have is with the hiring at what point um I think we have to have a discussion at what point on right now we have a we're advertising for a town accountant and I think we should have a discussion about
making a change on that as far as a director of finance and what uh what arena do we do that in? How do we go about doing that? I >> think you want to look the other way. >> I I think I I was waiting. Thank you for
um I think from my standpoint it would be useful knowing that that's uh something that you'd like to discuss for me to do some research and be able to come in with a recommendation that's backed up by having spoken to both individuals and looking at the employment landscape in the area.
>> Um as opposed to jumping into it before we I can do the survey in advance and that way have some information. You guys can have an informed discussion about what direction you'd like to like to go in if that works. >> Whatever works. I just want to have this conversation as soon as possible.
>> Okay. >> Get that forward. >> Right. To that point, I mean, I just do want to say that um I I think some background work needs to be done, right? To understand whether it's town accountant, finance director, senior accountant, whatever you want to call it, right? Could be a multitude of
things. So, I think that if Nick puts some time in to actually understanding our situation and municipalities neighboring, you know, what they're looking at, what they do, just so we're sure we get the right actual JD and scope for what we need.
>> That makes sense to me. >> Yeah. I mean, we lost multiple people in that department. So I mean there's when we structure >> the structure maybe now's right for >> analyzing and seeing if it works for >> you and for us. Um so I think we should
just we need to think about that now more than ever. >> So >> y supportive and yeah I mean I think some background a memo and then if we can add that to our next to our next agenda to discuss fantastic. >> Great. >> Awesome.
Okay, one last uh town administrator report item. If you wouldn't mind, I will take some liberties here to say this will fall under the TA report, which is we have a little presentation of appreciation for Mr. Cresta
for his hard work as interim TA. We um >> we have procured a lovely bowl made by the infamous John Pigarella >> from a tree the tree out of Linda Park. >> So it is both meaningful and beautiful >> and we want to present this to Gino on
behalf of all his hard work. [Applause] Don't think you get another one. >> Can't go around chopping down trees just to get more bowls. >> Yeah. Well, he he can't. He's the tree warden, so he's not allowed to chop anymore down. >> Oh, we want to take a picture. Diane
says we need to take a picture. So, let's get a picture. >> Yeah, for Jod's newsletter. >> Katie's going to cook something to fill the bowl. >> That's right. Yeah, exactly. >> All right, let's come this way.
>> Guys, please. >> Perfect. Thank you. place to recycle. >> Yeah, >> he knows where to bring it for cardboard. Doug, >> I don't want to spoil the flow there, but um that last conversation about the
positions, maybe I just missed it, but we have the town accountant and assistant town accountant posted. >> We do. >> Yes. >> Right. And that last conversation sounded a little bit like we wanted to come back and talk about it next time about the structure, but meanwhile we have interviews going
on. We don't want to slow this down, do we? >> Do we have interviews? >> I don't know that we have >> Yeah, we do. >> Yeah. Yeah. So we can still assess the field, right, and continue the interviews, but that doesn't mean that we're we're hardressed to stay within that confine because from my
understanding, I don't think we have a lot of um we've had this open for a considerable amount of time of not a lot of response, right? >> Oh, yeah. I see. >> Okay. >> But that doesn't mean that we won't necessarily restructure it based on
maybe some thoughts from the new TA. >> Yeah. Yeah, I think anytime there's a new leader in town that we should reconsider. And if we haven't hired the position and there needs to be a reconsideration, we could talk about it. And if there doesn't need to be and we're all on the same page, then
>> you might land with one of those anyway. Right. >> Right. We shouldn't stop the process, but just take a fresh set of fresh set of eyes, take a look at it. >> Okay. Just wanted to make sure we weren't sending mixed messages about like are we continuing or not or you
know >> and also I forgot to mention this but I think it would probably make sense to speak to finance for their input right because it >> supports the finance committee and they have considerable interaction with this role so that might help also.
>> Okay. Um, we will now move to public comment. Um, we invite, excuse me, any person to come up for public comment. Please state your name and your address and then public comment will be limited to three minutes. If some um Danny
Danielle, would you mind take like just keeping time with his mic on? >> You got it. Yep. >> Um, we have anybody Oh. Good evening. >> Good evening. My name is Louis Shulo, 48 Farragate Road, Swamp Scott. um on
behalf of the rec commission and in celebration of Italian Heritage Month um at on October 19th at the um at the farmers market, we'll be uh doing a
celebration uh tying in and um Italian heritage into the farmers market and doing a celebration. There will be um Sicilian arts and crafts for the kids. There will be some Italian um uh vendors that will be showing up to kind of um
have a have a little of their product to on display. There'll also be some Italian performers that that will be coming uh to perform. So, it's going to be a really hopefully we get some nice weather and it'll be a hopefully a nice day to celebrate Italian heritage and tie in with the farmers market and kind
of wanted to make this announcement so that we could get everybody to come and uh have a good time and celebrate. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Shazula. >> Miss Laauo. Uh before the timer starts, if I could just do my um public service
announcement for master plan committee, I would appreciate it. Okay. So, uh, October 16th is our, uh, last open house for master plan. It is our third open house. The first one we had, uh, I'd say about 50 people. The
second one about 30. So, we hope to at least get 80. So, if folks could please come out, uh, we'd appreciate it. We, we didn't have a super robust response to our survey. Um, so we hope that the couple of surveys that are out there now
that are on our, you know, town website, uh, will be responded to a bit more briskly. Uh, I'm going to give my plug that what our community has to say is really important. So, I do hope you come to this. Um, and I do know that there's a
another meeting ahead of it for at six o'clock um, ahead of this on October 16th for the Glover. Um so as much participation in everything is uh is certainly helpful. Thank you. Okay, seeing no additional comments, we
will move on to old and new business. The first item on the agenda was climate action and they had some emergency scheduling problems. So we are tableabling that item until um two weeks from now and in lie of that I will bump
up the conversation on the memo of understanding for the Clark school. So if we could start there that would be great. Who wants to start? Oh you guys need a mic. Would you mind? >> Bob would you mind passing your mic back
to you because I think the rec director's behind uh you. >> Thank you. Perfect. >> Thanks everyone. Um Max Casper, facilities director here with Jason Callisman, the superintendent. Um we're
back here discussing theou um between the town and the school department for the recreation use of the Clark building. If you recall, um we met u almost a year ago on the same subject. Uh we weren't able to finalize it at
that time. Um but there have been some changes in uh leadership in the recck department and you know a new look taken to the to the agreement and um it's back before you for your consideration. Um I think you you have theou it's you know
substantially similar to the one that we um had last year. Um and happy to answer any any questions on it. Maybe we can just hear from the rec director if she doesn't mind.
>> Sure. My first time. Welcome. Um, no, I uh, you know, upon becoming the recreation director, I have lofty goals for the program. Um, I have increased programming quite a bit. I know a lot of people have noticed. I've been
listening. I held open office hours. Um uh and I heard from a lot of uh residents um just about what they have an appetite for. Um one thing that Swampscott Recreation has always done really really well is kids. We have amazing programming for our kids. Um a
lot of it tends to be in the summertime. Um so that's one thing that I know um you know we're continuing and we will expand on. Um then there's uh an untapped sort of audience, you know, folks that are uh
parents of young children that want to get out at night, learn something new, whether it's a craft or a workshop. And then there's um you know, others, you know, folks that are a little bit older where the senior center might not be appropriate for them or perhaps they don't think of themselves as a senior
where they might be a senior. Um and so I I really want to build upon the programming and I need the space to do it. Um, I have lofty goals. Um, but on the flip side, I this would be a test run, right? You know, everyone is
excited about it. I'm excited about it. I've heard, you know, people that have seen this on the agenda are super excited about it. The Clark is a perfect location. We're using it already. We've used it in previous years for Park League. I've used it um thanks to the um Jason and the team for allowing me to
use it for uh the Jewish holidays when school was closed. We had 52 kids in there for um Yamapour. We had 24 in there for Rashashana. So, it's it's there's a great and I haven't even gone to the second floor. That's just on the first floor. Um some ideas that I would
like to host in there would be um you know ongoing clubs and classes um Friday nights um where kids can go and hang out. Um, one of the ideas that came up on Facebook for my sort of impromptu poll was when DPW floods um, you know,
to make an ice skating rink, let's open up the gym and have concessions in there, games. Um, you know, I, you know, came into this job with really big ideas as many of you know, and I want to continue to do that, but I need the space to expand. Um the wreck uh
assistant role will help me do that of course you know helping with programming and even staffing some of these. Um but you know I'm I'm excited at the idea of it. Um I wouldn't say that I'm you know a little cautious of course but you know we won't know what we won't know until
we give it a try. And I think that the town um we're really lucky that we have a space like this to use and I I know that people would like to you know like to use it. So, um I think in partnership with the schools, I think we will be able to accomplish that. Um and I think it's I think I'm a great tenant for the
schools versus giving it to an outside group. Um I think keeping it in the town um and benefiting the residents of this town is probably our number one goal. Um and I think I can do that. Uh and you know, I would love to I'd love to use it.
>> Great. Thank you. So, um, theou is short and sweet. Does anybody have any questions? David? >> Yeah. Um, yeah, a few questions. Uh, talks about the town will pay all utility costs associated with the main Clark school building. Max, can you give
us that that number for for last year, what that what that entails? >> I can um obviously the um the number is dependent on how it is used. So, you know, two years ago, the the building
was used as a school and there's a certain amount of utility costs and then last year it was a it was a vacant building. If you if you hold on two minutes, I'll give you um both total numbers. Um >> I have some >> Max, I looked on MEI for is that
accurate the two the bills for Eversource and grid that are entered? >> Um it it probably is. Does it have dollar values on them as well? We we also compiled them recently while we were um discussing it with Charlotte. Charlie, should you have that handy?
>> Yeah. So um FY25 numbers are 36,952 and FY24 and to Max's point, that's when the school was being used for roughly half of the year. Uh that's $48,279. >> Okay. So, are you saying that for
utilities last year when the building was empty, you paid just short of 37? >> And what about maintenance? >> What did you have to pay for mainting the maintenance, but what was the >> what did you what did you have to Oh, so the school you're saying will maintain. So the only thing the only thing we're
talking So you would absolutely so you would have 30 369 in your current budget to cover this year at least. >> You talking to school? >> Yes. >> This was not we did not budget for
utilities for this year. >> Who so what was the plan on paying the utilities? >> Well, there were two plans. There was the ideal plan which is happening hopefully that the rec department takes it over but if not we were going to put it out to bid to see if there was an outside agency that was interested in
the facility. >> So you're saying the school schools had absolutely no plan. You put nothing in the budget to pay for utilities. You were just going to >> hope hope that you could rent it out. >> Well, we have a lot of interest in renting it out. So I think we were pretty confident that we could rent it out if need be.
>> Okay. Uh, but we were trying to be fiscally responsible in that the idea was by at least this time we'd have it rented out worst, you know, worst case scenario, November or whatever. Um, and we didn't want to budget for something that wasn't going to be utilized.
>> Okay. But to Mariel's point, I mean, someone's paying the bills right now, right? Schools are paying right now, right? So that's a kind of a negative in your budget. fund >> it is currently but >> if like hypothetically I don't want this to happen I want the record department
to use it but if not >> we we have people that are interested so that was always we knew that people were interested >> meeting five months that have already happened right >> I think reviewed this with with Cheryl um >> at the time that the school department's
budget was developed there was an expectation that Clark was going to be occupied >> most at at that time by the by the recck department. Now, there was also >> by July 1. >> Well, yeah. I mean, we had anou last year that was going to begin in the in
the fall for the recck department, >> but that got shut down. >> Mhm. >> Right. So, I don't >> But we created >> It's news to me that it's news to me that I'm I'm happy because, as you know, I was very supportive of this last year, but it's news to me that this was even on a possibility.
So, that >> why why would it be news to you though? It was your idea a year ago. >> It was my idea a year ago, but it was shot down. So why would I think it was >> But it was shot down by a former rec director who didn't have the authority to shoot it down. So why wouldn't it be revisited with a new TA and a new rec director?
>> I it's news to me that this is this is news. So they they had information. I don't have the information. I'm happy that we're having this discussion. I just want to make sure that, you know, we have a really clear plan and that the revolving account isn't, you know, put
in a in a tough situation. I mean, that was the big thing that was brought forward last year. And, you know, I respect that. I respect um the recreation what the recreation director had to say last year. So, >> well, and also just I just want to be clear, it's a simple question. Who's
paying for the utilities for the first five months of this year? right now the school department >> which you didn't have a budget for >> for something that you're not using. >> Okay. >> Correct. Correct. Because at the time we thought at the time we got the budget we thought that it would be utilized right
now either by wreck or by somebody from the outside >> which the time you did the budget for this year was probably February March of last year when this was a >> done deal. >> I think even before that. Yeah. >> Yeah. which was pretty much a done deal on once by some people
>> like the budget actually begins to be developed right >> in November of >> so why would you anticipate having to budget for it you wouldn't >> that's the point yes >> and if we did budget for it >> and then right >> somebody else took it over >> right
>> then it looks like we're not >> right >> okay >> yeah I mean in a way it's sort of in my opinion a little bit >> a little bit of a red herring right like because We're talking about it because people want to know like is it in your budget? If it's in your budget, then why
should Wreck have to pay for it? But it's not. So, and Wreck is willing to come to the table. I'm I'm sure that this is only a oneyear. So, if the worst I guess the worst thing that could happen is there are zero
dollars added to WCK department's budget. I don't think that'll happen, but say there are and you're out somewhere between 40 and $50ish,000 and then you never make this mistake. Now, that's an expensive mistake to make. I'm not belittling that, but I'm
just saying like without risk, there's no reward. So perhaps we go forward and support the rec director's request and the request of the school and see if it works out. And I mean, we could even come back in six months and
have a projection of >> Well, at the at the time at the time last year, the the director of finance said that we could anticipate $40,000, but that really would probably be an understatement, but that the revolving
account should be able to um sustain $60,000 without really, you know, feeling any type of pinch. So that's what the finance director said last year that she felt that the cushion to to try it last year was there.
>> Okay. I'm getting more and more confused as we talk about this. So >> the idea sounds great. Okay. Uh in a vacuum, but is is the revolving fund paying for this? >> I didn't even hear that. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I mean that's the only this they
don't have this much in their line item. >> Well, that well doesn't say it. I mean I don't know. I'm just kind of inferring that that's what's happening. Is that the plan? >> Okay. So, I didn't hear that. >> Um, are we expecting programming to pay
for that or I mean I don't I have no financial understanding of what's happening. >> Do do you do we ever have a financial understanding of what's going on with recre revolving to be quite honest? >> I don't think we have in the past, but my question would be it kind of is. >> Well, we got we're starting new, so I
just it seems like a a reason. My question would be what is the balance in the record revolving? Does anybody happen to know that answer? >> Well, I asked the question first Danielle with all due respect. Okay. It's just a straightforward question. >> The idea is the idea is that >> goes right to your question, Doug. >> The idea is that the wreck revolving
fund would essentially pay the utilities for this, you know, in turn from, you know, costs from programs, you know, uh or proceeds from programs rather. So the idea is to fill programming, you know, much more than we
have in the past and that way we would, you know, utilize the building. It's not to say though, and I think this was Katie, to Katie's point, if in six months, you know, we've we've said, okay, you know, we've got some great programming going on, but it's not yielding as much money, then we can
think about and revisit. I'm sure there are and I don't know this um and maybe this is for further discussion but there could be possibilities of utilizing the building with other departments in town departments you know um whether if the
senior center ever needed overflow space or or whatever if there was ever a need. But I guess my sort of my dream for this space um is to hold on to it super tight and fill it with amazing programming that benefits everyone in this town. Um,
and that's what a lot of recck departments have. They have a space to call home that where they can have programming. And is it risky? Sure. Um, but is it going to, to Mary Ellen's point, is it going to strap my budget
down to nothing? No. Um, and so I feel very strongly that, you know, we should give it a try and that, you know, I feel that, you know, the town would really benefit from it. Have you um have have you put together like a proformer
of what you think as far as programs just to give yourself a little bit of comfort? You know, >> I have an idea of what it would take from. So, you know, Wreck has two types of programming. In-house programming that we make the most profits off of.
So, meaning we have someone who we hire could be a town employee already. You know, we have some great um folks that not town employee, but someone that we employ to run classes like our nature art class is an amazing class. We really like it. We make great profit off of
those, but then we have others like chess and robotics where we bring in folks. Those ones have a less less of a pro uh profit because, you know, we're bringing outside folks. So, my goal would be to have a combination of the two. Um, you know, I can look up what,
you know, what we yielded from just those three days of uh from the no school days. Um, and just just to give an example, but you know, obviously doing the math, I would want to come up with as much program as possible to at least cover the utilities. Um, I don't
have I don't have that prepared yet, Marielleen, but I but I would for sure. I mean because it sounds like the the only options here are sounds like the options are you issue uh issue it to another uh another entity you know I
know Lynn school was interested at one point someone brought that up I don't know who else you have or we try to take it over ourselves and and um get something going which I think I think if you put together some
type of a proformer you might be able to minimize you what your stress is really going to be and you know make people feel a little bit more comfortable. >> Sure. >> I know that was a lot of stress. >> I think Daniel
>> um does any do you Charlotte do you know the balance of the recre revolving account? >> Um yes I just got it >> to answer. >> Yeah. Hold on. >> Thanks. >> Sorry Daniel. >> David in the meantime. >> Yeah. No, in the me in the meantime,
qualitatively, I'm supportive of supportive of this. I think it I think increased programming for kids, adults, seniors, overflow, I think that's great for me to get comfortable here. I I just want to see some of the numbers. I know that, you know, I know when the town
invested in standup paddle boards, for instance. Um I don't believe the recck department, you know, has recouped that cost through through programming as of yet. And I think that was >> they absolutely have. >> I don't I don't I don't believe they have. >> We can look we'll look at the numbers. >> I I don't I don't I don't believe they
have. But I'm just my my concern is I just want to see the numbers. We can put this on our next agenda and and take a and take a look. >> I would feel comfortable having that quantitative analysis because I do want to make sure that, you know, this this wreck revolving account is is preserved.
I know we have new leadership. I know we have uh a new recreation director. Um, again, supportive of the qualitative nature. I just think a little bit more work needs to be done uh so we have a better understanding of what those numbers are for for this for this
programming. That's going to be a whole lot of programming to cover uh these utility costs, which you know, more or less is $40,000. >> As the liaison to wreck, I I can answer that question. Mary Allen is correct. They have recouped that from the standout paddle boards. I have already
as the rec leaison I've already vetted that that's something I looked into maybe four months ago honestly. >> Okay. >> Um >> and I've been involved with this because I am the liaison. So to your point for that one for the standup paddle awards that is something Mary Ellen is accurate about.
>> Okay. >> Um I do think that >> it's a constant theme in this town that we're running out of space. We're running out of space for senior activities. Um, we have families and parents and people in town craving more
recreation, more programming. You know, we did something so simple as flooding the field at Clark to go ice skating and people were through the roof, right? I think if you ask anyone in this town, they are dying to do more things. Take a look at the flag football league from
the summer that had over 70 people participate in probably a 30-day window, right? So, I don't think this is a stretch is what I'm trying to say. And the last thing that I personally want to see is the school department or anyone
have to go put this out to RFP and have people from other towns have to come in and utilize something that is ours that we potentially will want to use in the future, be it for a community center, a senior center, uh the middle school,
what whatever affordable housing, right? We talked about using it for for the housing department. So, the last thing I want to see is is and I hate to sound this way, but someone come in outside of town and have a use for it when we have a use that we have spoken about for
years. This rec director, the former rec director constantly used to would beat the drum of we don't have a space and and absolutely true to both of their points, right? I you know, I often felt badly for the former rec director because she was always looking for a home. you know, she she had to use
storage space, she had to use reach arts, like whatever she could find. So now we have that we have that option. We had it last year. We were pretty much ready to pull the trigger last year. And you know, why we would not do it again, I don't know. So that's my take. Well, I
suppose I mean that that's maybe like one of the questions which is that we we already do have reach arts and so when we don't really have a sense exactly of how much programming space we need it one could say well we already have that building why do we need to why does the
town need to take on utility costs and the maintenance around Clark if maybe all we need is recharts maybe we maybe we need a lot more that's great it would just just be good to kind of just get a sense of, you know, what is the volume of programming that we're
thinking about and do we do we think that we're in the realm of raising $40,000 or is it is it 80 or is it 10? I think just being a little bit more eyes wide open. >> I mean, some of the I mean, some of the activities just can't be done at Recharts like no pickup like pickle ball
like um like any sort of innium inclusive gymnasium activities like reach charts will never be the answer because it doesn't have a gym, right? So, >> okay. I had no idea. I It sounds like you know what the activities are. I have no idea. >> No, I just I mean I saw if you saw on Facebook, Charlotte put out a call for
ideas for what future recreatory could do and one person wrote and then 57 people commented below pickle ball >> indoor pickle ball >> during the winter. So, so that's a great Clark would be a great space for that. It's not 24-hour pickle ball inside. Uh
and so and quite frankly those are all people who have >> potential ability to pay for pickle ball. So that's a great way for us >> to facilitate a need of the community and also a need of the school and also
pay for I mean one other thing to note we actually had to go outside last year for third and fourth grade basketball that the wreck program ran and we had to actually sublet space from Salem State because we did not have enough gym space
in this town. So parents had to cart their kids over to Salem State where we paid for space and probably took a loss on a program when we have a gymnasium that we could utilize to run that this year. >> So that I mean >> that was% minutes ago.
>> I think Yeah. I mean I just think outline I think it's simple. I think that we just turn around and take a forecasted burn rate. >> Charlotte looks in looks in to her magic bag of tricks there and says these are the programs I think I can run. Um, you
might even have somebody in town that wants to sponsor a room for an art room or something like that. There's a lot of different things. So, I think we could come back if we come back with the proformer. I'm happy to >> put some elbow grease into this. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> Okay, great. So, um,
>> we can um, just answer the question about what is in the rec revolving. >> Um, it's, uh, 276 uh, 978. >> Okay. >> So, that's after. So just so you this number gets quite large in the summer
because of all the amazing programming that happens park league and things like that. So the number I talked to Patrick today the time the number tends to be a little bit lower right now and then it continues to grow obviously as the as the as the time goes on. But um I guess just to everyone's point on the
programming um I will come back to you with ideas of what I think could be. I can even try to forecast what the the cost. I thought about Recharts. Recharts was actually like I I was like feeling really great about Recharts, but then a
couple things. I will have it for less time um based on Pine Street and I would hate to make a home and then get evicted from that home relatively quickly. Um and it's it's uh not entirely e accessible
um where Clark is, which is great. Um and I like the outdoor space. So during our um our recent no school days, um kids were able to have lunch outside. They got to go out for recess, which was really fun because the slime workshop went from 9:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. which parents loved because essentially it was
a full school day. Um but they got to go outside for recess. They had lunch outside. Um and so um you kind of can't beat Clark for all of those reasons. We're doing out uh learn to roller skate is happening at Clark right now. Um that's happening on the hot top. Um,
there's a lot of things you can do at Clark that, you know, recharts would would not be able to, but I I did think about it. I I also thought about just walking away from it, but my conscious I I really couldn't. I just feel like it's we just give it got to give it a try. Um, so
>> we have a rec committee meeting next week and during that meeting we will get more input too from the other the rec committee members and what their thoughts are and we'll put together a list of programming and bring it back for the next agenda. Nick, can you find out um what the legality as far as if we
wanted to issue an RFP to possibly rent out a room there to have a sponsor? Say, >> yeah, >> you know, Katie's Katie's gas station wants to sponsor two rooms and just donate those rooms.
>> I'll let them know >> for two months for arts and crafts or something like that. >> Do we issue an RFP? Just I want to work with Jason on that as well because I believe you still have care. You have custody of it and we're licensing the use basically. >> Yep.
>> So yeah, happy to look into that. Okay. In as a parallel track to the business plan >> idea that Charlotte's talking about as well so that we'll have both answers. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So that's a great point, Nick. Um like talking about custody of the actual
building, custody will not pass from the school to the town. They will just lease to the town the ability to use it and we will be responsible for the maintenance as outlined. Um, >> is that right? So, who will be keeping
the insurance? You guys >> town pays all insurance buildings anyways? >> Okay. >> Okay, great. >> Just one other thing. >> And it's still it's still actively insured even though it's a vacant building. >> Yes. >> Okay, great. >> Um, it's more >> it might be more expensive. >> It's more expensive as a vacant
building, I bet. >> Okay. Well, I just didn't know because if it's empty and >> vandalism and things, >> right? Yeah. >> So, it would be cheaper if people probably a nominal difference, but pickle ball would save money in that regard, too. >> Not cheaper for them, but cheaper for us.
>> So, the the the one thing to, you know, Charlotte mentioned like not wanting to go to, you know, recharge because eventually she kind of have to give it up. You know, this is a one-year deal, right? And schools still control kind of the ultimate destiny of what happens at
this point. So that is a a little bit of the danger of this, right? Is like hopefully it's incredibly successful, but then are we starting to build in kind of an expectation and then you know what about other uses, you know, um that
we're going to we're kind of um creating that potential tension >> we have the superintendent here. We can ask him what's your plan. I won't put you on the spot, but >> what's my plan for Clark long term? >> Yeah, >> I mean >> at least it's a Charlotte. That's the plan. >> Yeah, that's the plan.
>> Good answer. >> Have a great rec center for the kids and um and adults and seniors in the community. >> I think 247 pickles great and I think there's so many options. I mean, obviously, you know, the Friday night idea we were talking about the, you
know, kids, it's kind of a quiet town. Kids are looking for things to do. when we ever have those open gyms at the middle school for fifth and sixth grade or whatever the you know, we're not quite ready to call it a dance yet, but we have an open gym with a DJ. It is jam-packed. Jam-packed. We do that a couple times a year, but to have access
to a building like that um every week would be amazing. Um as far as years down the road, I I think a lot of that would depend on quite frankly what happens with the middle school. Mhm. >> So, we'd have to see, but I'd, you know, I want to work collaboratively with
Charlotte and um and Nick and you and we'd come up a plan. We'd have plenty of time to kind of figure that out if if indeed that happens. >> Um, one thing I want to ask about because there's a no assignment provision. So, Charlotte can't sublet. Is that right? So, like if youth
lacrosse wanted to run a clinic in the gym, is she allowed to let them and accept payment for that or she cannot? I mean, my opinion on that specific example is that that's probably has enough connectivity to the recreation
where there's not an issue. I think that that clause is is more getting at the concept of we're going to >> issue a separate RFP or look to get another lease to rent out the entire second floor of the building. Um, >> still her umbrella. >> Yeah. I just want
>> Charlie can't subleasase it to Katie's gas station, >> right? Kat doesn't own gas stations to be clear. Right. >> Okay. >> I guess I'll just comment that's a great thought only because we know like today for example, my son plays DTE tackle.
They're on a losing streak sadly and they can't use the fields because they closed them. They would they would have loved to go to a place that they could obviously not no pads, no cleats, but just to go over, you know, place >> Clark gym would have been great for
that. So that would have been an option because they the football program, the lacrosse program, we they they'll pay for gym time. Um but there is usually not gym time, especially this time of year. Yeah. >> Um so that could be a great way to sort of recoup some costs and help,
>> you know, with the utilities. >> Great. All right. So it sounds like we will um circle back with some proformas as Marielen says projections and um we we'll see you back uh two weeks from now hopefully conclude this discussion
>> and so this would be November 1st right so ideally right that way it's right here >> that was the goal >> that's the goal let's aim for it >> thank you guys for coming in joining us >> thanks >> uh we will move on to agenda item number
two which is a community life center committee update. We have a majority of the committee here. We do not >> Okay. Do you want to do that? >> Do you know you move the microphone? >> We're good. Thank you.
>> Um so hi for those of you that I haven't met, my name is Anukica. I'm the chair of the uh community life center task force and I'm here with uh three of my lovely members who you probably all know but if you don't please go ahead yourselves. >> Cheryl Evansson Powell >> Kate Green
>> um oh >> right >> want to come join us up front. >> All right then we might actually have a quorum. >> No we do. We do. Great. >> Thank you. >> Uh well lovely. So, we're here because we know that there were some questions about our work to date. And so, we're really just wanting to give you sort of
an update as to what we've been working on um and give you a chance to ask any questions. So, uh as you probably all know, um we essentially were coalesed in January of this year and have had sort of a series of meetings. We had a a little bit of a slow start getting
folks, I think, fully to the table. So, we lost a few members, had to gain a few more, and uh have put out we've had sort of two milestones to date, which was we put out an RFQ uh over the summer and received four bids from four firms that we believe are quite qualified. Uh so,
we've now extended an opportunity to all four firms to submit uh an RFP. So we are expecting that we will have those by the end of this month with a goal of deciding by uh off the top of my head I think it's either mid November and then a goal of having them start essentially
December 1st with a goal of having that their entire evaluation complete. This is ambitious but um by about midappril mid to mid to late April. So what am I what am I missing? you want to explain a little bit what the RFQ asked
and what they answered and then what they will be answering for the RFP just like generally. >> Yeah. So we looked at um you know as a bit of a reminder we are focused on sort of two primary mandates. The first is to conduct a general uh needs assessment in sort of two pieces. The first is whether
or not folks in the town would want a community life center. So that's I think you know for the conversation we were just having what which was quite timely. uh what is the need in the community for a space for programming of all ages. So really thinking about it as a comprehensive space for people to come
meet and uh play or learn. And I think one of the things that we've run into is much as uh you've just said we've uh are running out of space for I think programming of all ages. So understanding one what is the interest of the of the folks in the town and then
two if there is significant interest what is what does it look like as far as a a structure to then meet those needs um I think do we need gym space do we need learning space do we need and you know there's a whole list of things I think we could go into around what does this sort of look like but really our
task is to understand what does the community want and then what does what would meet the community needs um so the RFQ was focused on a couple of different pieces. We're asking firms to one be able to interact with the town in a pretty substantive way. We want to really solicit real feedback and
understand what are people really looking for. We then need I think there's several sites around town that we would want to evaluate as far as whether or not you know they could fit in their current state or be retrofitted to meet those needs or whether a new facility would be needed to be constructed. And then in that event
having sort of an analysis of those different sites done and uh these different firms have to have some architectural expertise so they can speak to that pretty effectively as well as any estimated cost. Um so having an understanding of their capacity, their history, their history within the state
with other municipalities um whether or not they have done similar work. You know rec centers aren't an exact graft. Um neither are senior centers. We're looking for something sort of in the middle. uh and so really looking to see what kind of experience they have. So we conducted two references per firm and
evaluated they g gave us incredibly comprehensive um packets of information on themselves and the work that they've done to date and uh we conducted those those references. Several of us were at all of those um and I decided to to go ahead and extend the opportunity to
submit an RFP to all four firms. So happy to answer any questions or if I'm missing anything, please please jump in. So I think this is incredibly timely, right? In light of conversations, >> we were all sort of gritting at each other really. I mean, you know, it's
almost like a a good trial run for us to understand, you know, the the breath of use in in the different areas that, you know, potentially recreation in this year could make the case for what we want to see long term, right? So it's it
it's it really matches up nicely to to that degree. So if we're already doing if potentially if we have the possibility of already doing our own test run and our own study, is this really a good spend? If we have
the ability, if if Charlotte comes back and says, "Listen, these are the programs I can do. This is my performer. This is what I think I can do." and everyone feels comfortable that financially it's, you know, there's minimal risk here. Wouldn't wouldn't that answer the
question as far as a community center or something for the community instead of spending? >> If I can if I can just quickly ask to clarify the question, >> are we essentially saying that the needs assessment could be substituted by a trial run using Clark School for recreation purposes? >> Yeah, I >> that's my question. I mean, in my
opinion, >> what Charlotte is going to utilize or the rec director, sorry, is going to utilize at Clark School is one small portion of what the needs assessment is looking at. So, >> yes, the rec director is going to take a temperature and run WCK programming
related to what the community wants, but it's not the breadth of it is not to reach out to community members and to figure out what are we not doing that we could be doing? What are you what are you going to outside communities to do? I mean, she's right now the recck
department is one person >> and so and >> she's not going to offer swimming lessons because there's no pool, >> right? But if the community outreach shows, well, if we had a pool, we could offer swimming lessons and it there's a really big need in town like that. Also,
the rec director is not going around town looking at other buildings to see what other programming could be done in those buildings and if if we retrofitted reach to have a fourth floor and an elevator, could we make it work for uh annex to the as a community life center
to the senior center or whatever. So, I think also Heidi's not substantially involved although maybe peripherilally involved is in the Clark piece. So, um Heidi Weir being the director of the senior center. So I think there's an element there that we need to explore.
So I think while she is one element to the needs assessment, the needs assessment has a breath which is much greater than just wreck >> in my opinion. >> I agree. >> Agree. >> Agree entirely. >> And we would not we would not only we would include the senior center where
we're where we'd like to include the veterans. We would like to make sure that this is a community life center that benefits everybody of all ages, of all, >> you know, interests. >> Um, >> much bigger scope,
>> right? And that would actually free up the senior center for something else if we were and with all together, >> it just makes more sense. It would if we could we could offer more programs. It's really sad and I know that Bob feels the same way. It's really sad the senior
center where we have to turn people away. >> Yeah. >> And I'm sure recreation has to turn people away. >> Um so >> and I think that just to sort of as a as a key piece around what is our agreement for the the task force um which I think
is a fun name uh is is we're just here to provide information. That's our only goal is to essentially say, you know, our re we're a resource to go out and find out what is the temperature of the town >> and what do people need and where I think, you know, to the point of are
people going to the Marblehead Y or the Lynn Y or other, you know, Salem State for programming that we could get an understanding of where is all where all of those folks going and where, you know, potentially are those are those dollars going too just in thinking about that as well that we could, you know, do
sort of accomplish two pieces. one, generate revenue for the town and two, also help create, you know, an additional sense of community here. Um, I'm I'll be totally honest, I'm originally from Boulder, Colorado. So, I'm a transplant. And one of the things that I really appreciated about growing up in that town is we had three
different three for a town of when I was little, it was about 60,000 if you'd excluded the the university. Um, and it was all sorts of programming. It was, you know, dance or knitting or languages. It was things you wouldn't even really think about. And um it's sort of a one-time investment into a
space where you get to they're still there and I'm you know almost 35. >> Yeah. >> So it's one of those things where I think it's what we really want to do is essentially gather as much information essentially map out all of you know what we think this could be and then give it to the town to make it to make a
decision. >> So we're just we're here as an information resource. That's it. >> I think it can be incredibly informative. I mean in cumulatively could just really give us a lot of data on a lot of different areas, right? So I think it'd be hugely beneficial. I I can't see a negative at all.
>> Yeah. So I just have two things to add. One is um though the master plan isn't complete uh there is feedback from the town about a desire for a community life center that will be institutionalized in the final master plan report. And the other is, you know, to be mindful of the
fact that we are called a feasibility study. >> And uh we're really just looking at the the need and is it feasible. And I will just sort of um tell you in one of the RFQ responses, they actually did an initial feasibility of the sites that we've asked them to review. And what was
fascinating es especially as it pertains to Clark is that they cited that there's may not be enough parking >> um to facilitate a community life center that would be so all-encompassing that where it might include among other things recharge anchor foods big blue
bargains vets health etc right so I think it's an ideal site um but you know in the feasibility study we're going to find out that one of the things that it lacks is parking >> because there are a lot of other sites around town that have a more. >> Yeah, exactly. Like um like St. John's
parking lot >> or uh or congregation Sherro Hamm's parking lot. Yeah, there's plenty of places. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I will say like when Hadley came up before we went forward with the hotel piece like part of like you know the Hadley dream. I was like, well, what if
all these nonprofits got together and lived on the first floor of Hadley and you know, Lynn Community Health was now a regionalization with Swampscott and it was Lynn Swanscott Community Health and there were all these things that were available for the community on that first floor. I mean, that would be
fantastic and that would be amazing for our community to be able to offer something like that. But that's just me thinking that it's fantastic. We I mean that's why I've always supported the feasibility study because I don't want to build something I don't want to put my neck out on the line for what I want. I want to build something that the
community needs because you're going to justify a lot of taxpayer dollars going towards something. And the only way we can do that is to listen to gather the information and then fulfill the needs that we've heard. Yeah. >> And when we um in the RFQ or in the RFP,
are we putting any constraints whatsoever on their uh service scope, ages served, communities served, uh places that they can look at or is it just cart blanch? Just give us the best
practice of what you see anywhere and everywhere. obviously within the confines of like it's got to be within this town. >> So, we've made specific requests that they look at making sure that the the center would be inclusive to all communities. So, really thinking about
making sure that it's accessible uh that we are making sure that we're talking to to very diverse groups of constituencies uh so we're not getting, you know, a biased sample. I think that's really important. Um, and that's one of the things that we've asked for in their RFP
is essentially how they're going to do that and how they plan to do that. Uh, we have asked for them to evaluate specific sites, but also we I think and Cheryl, you should speak to this piece. Um, yeah, with we we put some sites in the RFP, but made it clear that they
would need to talk to probably Max about other potential sites. I met with him and he we came up with 20 different places with which even shocked me. >> Um so that would be something that they would do plus get a lot of the community
out you know information going making sure that they do sessions with with the neighbors with the residents to find out what they how they feel about it. I think so. Yes, we did. We we are asking for different sites.
>> And one thing that I think is a little bit of a benefit to that is in having to evaluate different sites, we then actually have additional information as a town to understand how we could potentially repurpose those sites. If we don't end up using them for this, we'll have at least a better understanding of, you know, what they could be used for their current state. that aligns with
select board goal that we came up with last meeting which was figuring out what to do with all the you underutilized or unused spaces in town and how we maybe could project a use for them in the near future. So >> great. >> Two birds, one stone.
>> It's all coming together. just just really want to triple down on that kind of making sure that they really engage in many different ways because I feel like what we consistently encounter with various sites is that no matter how many
people are surveyed or how many meetings there were, it's it's always always feel like we don't have enough input or is it really representative of the community at large. So the more that they can ensure that different parts of
town there are meetings or different times in the whatever it is in many different ways just don't rely on like one survey or you know three meetings or you know there's got to be uh a real effort to reach out to different
constituencies so that we feel as though we're not just sitting here later and oh we know we don't have perfect information or even close to really good information but we have to make a decision. That's kind of the worst. >> So, I think I completely agree with you. I could not agree more. I think the the worst case scenario is we come back and
we've talked to, you know, a handful of people from, you know, one section of town and and not only have we not done a good job, we've also probably pissed a lot of people off um and made people feel disenfranchised. Uh if something comes to the table and and people don't feel like their their voices were heard and I think part of the way that we've
that the task force was constructed was to have liaison from different town departments. So, we do have folks that are on our our task force that I think help us um ground ourselves in ensuring that we're going to make that make contact with all of the different groups
that we can and try to solicit as much feedback as we can from each of those different constituencies because I think at the end of the day, all all of us that are on the task force really feel like um we won't be doing a good job if we don't do that. >> And you could be the first person to the interview to make sure that those are heard.
>> Thanks, B. Any questions? >> Are there any additional comments or questions? >> So, are you looking to us for a vote or no? This is >> just anformational sort of setting the path forward about what the ask is and
an update on where they are going. >> Come back is selected after selected. >> That's great. And I appreciate all the hard work you guys have been putting in. >> Very informative. Thank you. >> Great. Really good. And how methodical you are in the >> Yes. in the both the requests we
originally made from you and sticking within those guidelines. Um I appreciate that. >> How many other committees can we get you on? No, >> we recruit you. >> Um we're we're here anytime and I think if you don't have my contact information, I'm always happy to give it
to you and happy to meet offline if that's ever helpful. >> Thank you. >> You guys need to adjourn your meeting. >> Thank you. Second. Great. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you very much for stopping by and for the update. All right, we will move on to item
number three. Amendment of the entertainment license for G Bar and Grill. All right. Who is speaking to that? >> Do we have a member of town staff or anybody? >> No.
>> Mary's in Spain. >> Marcy's enjoying Spain. All right. Well, I will say this. So, we have a application before us for um amending an entertainment license. Um Greg Broen's here. Gino, would you just grab him that
mic in case he has to speak? Gino, >> can you hand him that mic there? Yeah, I can. >> Oh, okay. Thanks, Greg. Um they are moving from right now their license does not have live entertainment. Correct.
>> Correct. And you are asking for a amendment to your license to include entertainment just on Thursdays and Sundays. >> Correct. >> Okay. And the time of this of the it would be 6:00 to 9 on Thursdays and 4
to 8 on Sundays. They're looking for, just so you know, the application says two to three instrumental m um >> yeah, it's mostly acoustic. No drums, nothing loud, three vocals.
>> Yeah, very very simple. >> Okay. Does anybody have >> Well, it's two to three music and then two to three vocal. >> That's right. That's what I said. two to three items of musical
>> and it's two nights a week, Greg. >> Just >> two nights. Yeah. >> Thursday and Sunday it looks like. >> Greg, you want to explain the what's the vibe? What's happening? >> Um, basically just, you know, we we've uh opened up on Sundays uh to kind of
expand. You know, the winters have been difficult for us. Um, we're just trying to be a little bit better for the community. It's fun to have some some live, quiet um acoustic music for the most part. Um some good vocals, a lot of local artists that have been coming in
and out. Um and the the community's responded very nicely to it. Um you know, I I didn't realize that that box was not checked off on my my application in the beginning of the year. So, that's my fault on that. Um but um again,
typically we we've never gone past 8:00 PM. and uh you know the the doors were open a couple times in the in the summertime and I think that's where we we got some some um >> maybe neighbors were upset by that. I don't know. I'm not sure. But um
>> but for the most part, like I said, uh it's two to three hours. It's uh mostly some quiet vocals and uh some not loud instruments whatsoever. So, it's uh it's helped us and the community has has responded nicely to it. So,
>> okay, >> that's pretty much it. >> Does anybody have any questions for Greg? >> Um, I have a I have a couple questions. One is where are you planning on put where did you have these people?
>> We just took out a couple tables. Um, >> is that the blue? That's Is that the blue here? That's >> Yes. Exactly. Exactly. So, we just took out a couple tables and >> So, it's right up by the street, right? >> Um, >> sidewalk. Sidewalks. It's >> in the front in the front >> to the front of the front of the
restaurant. Yeah. >> I got it. >> And you I think one of the problems I have is you received a phone call >> from Mars Alaska saying, "Hey, you don't have an entertainment license. You've
got to stop advertising these these uh events." And yet you went and had the event. it. No, that was the same day. The same day that she called me um and said that they had a complaint and that uh you know she's not going to tell me,
hey, go ahead and stop. But you know, there there was a complaint, so it's kind of on me what I wanted to do. The event had already been planned. It wasn't like, okay, she said no, let me go ahead and market this and plan this. That's that's not what happened. So my conversation with Marzy was that
she had notified she had notified you that you were not in compliance with your entertainment license several days prior to that and then I don't know if it was a Thursday or a Sunday. It might have been a Sunday. >> No, it was a Thursday. It was a Thursday
and all of a sudden you you had your you were having your entertainment without your license knowing that you didn't have your license and then the police came down and asked you to please stop. >> Exactly. >> Is that is that what it was? >> That's exactly what happened.
>> Right. So if >> but but the conversation with Marcy was was different. >> And it was it was not three to four days prior. >> Okay. literally like the same day, maybe a day before, and it was already planned. The band had already been paid
for, not a band, but it was two people vocal singing for two hours. So, I didn't think that it would be an issue. >> Hadn't been an issue any time before that. So, you know, for for me the when I sit here, I want to say, yeah, I
think this is great. No problem. But you you have neighbors there and there's a there's a neighbor there is a neighborhood there. There are people that live right across the street. or people right behind and this is an interruption into their daily to their
daily environment into their their livelihood. I don't say livelihood into their their just into their well-being. >> Yeah, >> that's where that's where I have a problem. Um the doors these are doors that are open. Um,
you know, I know we had issues with um another restaurant years ago and and uh that it just didn't seem to stop. So, this is this is a really this is a tough thing for me. >> Okay. Is are there like parameters or
conditions maybe that you want to suggest to be better like if there's a band that the doors are always shut or there's some sort of soundproofing curtain that could go up against the glass so it's not coming out or >> Can I just interject for one second because we have lot we have music um
playing >> fairly you know at a good volume. the acoustic music that we've had is not much louder. Obviously, when the doors are open, there's there's echoing that would probably hit on the other side of the street. So, I can understand that.
Um, and yeah, that makes sense that maybe the doors need to be closed for for situations like that cuz in 18 years, we've never had an issue or complaint about any noise whatsoever. >> Have you had have you had live music there? Yeah. I mean, but it's it's it's
not much louder than what's playing on our sound system. It's pretty similar. So, I think maybe because the doors were open, that's probably where the difference. >> I don't know. What I'm looking for is I'm looking to not disturb people that
I'm just looking I'm looking to not disturb the neighbors. >> Yeah. you know, for you to be able to have a what you need in your business and for the neighbors to also be able to have what they need. So, if we can Yeah. If we can find a way
to >> Can I just propose just one just I'm not trying to play the devil's advocate here, but you know, the live bands that were that go on all summer long and spring, which have been great. I've attended many of them, especially that that WHO group was great. I could hear
that music at my house by the water tank loud and clear. So, a little acoustic music for a couple hours, maybe twice a week, not past 8:00 p.m. I just don't see it as a major problem. I I I just I don't see it as a
disturbance, Mr. Bman. I agree with you. I don't see it as a problem either. Um, also, you know, furthermore, you know, the the band isn't playing out into Humphrey Street. It's playing into the restaurant. >> Exactly. So, you know, I I do think that uh a little accommodation from the town
to help a local business that's been here for nearly 20 years um you know, to bring a little bit of joy and bring a little bit of foot traffic into your business is something that is the prerogative of the select board. We can amend we can amend this entertainment
license tonight. Support one of our longtime long-term local businesses. one of my favorite places to go, one of my my family's favorite places to go and a lot of a lot of folks favorite place to go um in town. And you know, I think I think there, you know, there certainly
are neighbors. There certainly are um you know, things that you can do, you know, certainly I'm sure if someone came in and said, "Hey, look, you know, it's it's a little louder. Um can you can you do this? I'm sure you're not going to turn them down. You're you're going to you're
going to listen to that to that feedback and that and and that and you know that recommendation from from those from those neighbors and try to make it try to make it a better place. You live here. >> You live in Swampskin. >> Absolutely. >> And I think you've been a I think you've been a pretty good neighbor. Um so I I'm
I'm wholeheartedly supportive of this and you know I'm I'm willing to move it now. So I' I'd make the motion to approve the amendment of the entertainment license for G bar that uh so >> okay well you can do that >> there's a motion on the table we can
second it and still have continued discussion so >> second >> okay so there is some public here who would like to speak and considering it's on the agenda uh you're welcome to if you want to come up >> we have micro so just state your name and address
>> can I just one just very specific um you stated just till 8:00, but on Thursday it's till 9:00. Is that correct? >> Yeah. I mean, >> I just want to be clear that >> I think when we fill that application, we had done one Thursday. So, we didn't really have any any data to kind of but
but I would I would be happy to state keep it at 8. >> Whatever whatever you want. I'm not trying Yeah. trying to push you one way or another. I'm just reading what it says here. So, >> yeah. Yeah. So, you want to be considerably Thursday would be maybe a later night by an hour, 9:00, >> but that's fine. Yeah. >> Okay. So, we should evaluate it based on
what you got here. Thank you. Okay. Y >> Okay. Please. Uh go ahead. Um well, my first thought with these comment just now is, you know, here comes the creep, right? Here comes the president, right? And then all of a sudden, you know, they're doing it at two or we'll do it at 5.
>> Could you state your name and your address? Sorry. >> Right. Sorry. Moira Farerrell. I've been living at Blay Circle for over 30 years. >> Um again, it's this creep business. Um, I'll tell you that frequently our uh the
noise starts in that area at uh 4:30 in the morning with garbage and early deliveries. Um, excuse me. The garbage is often picked up at 4:30 and sometimes um I have it the other way around.
Excuse me. Sometimes the garbage comes at 4:30 and oftentimes delivery trucks like Cisco come way before 6:00, you know, 5:00, 5:30, quarter of 10. You know, it's just all this all creep and continual noise that these uh the
restaurants generate there particularly um uh late at night. Um, so sometimes our day starts at, you know, 4:30, 5 o'clock and then ends with the noise at quarter of two, 1:30, quarter of two.
I'm glad that he's putting it in window for a couple of hours, but again, this is how the creep starts and a precedent is begins. And when they first opened, um, the neighborhood did not object to, uh, G's opening. The time being, the
zoning law was you have no parking for vendors or customers. The town decided to wave that. Fine. They waved it. The reason why we didn't object to G's is that was going to be intimate dining, fine dining. There wasn't going to be a rowdy crowd
there. And these are signals to the neighborhood that oh, they're jacking it up. Jacking this is more noise. more noise that we are continually some again sometimes 4:35 in the morning to 1:30 quarter of 2 at night and concerned
about once again um this becoming a precedent and then all of a sudden there just right there that example 8:00 okay nine okay when does nine become 10 when does 10 become 11 12 it's all this creeping all the time and nibbling at
our privacy our all the neighborhoods. I know a lot of neighbors couldn't be here tonight and it which makes me want why why weren't we informed of this? You know, I see it stamped October 6. Where's our letter?
Why aren't we part of the communication? Where is the more than lip service that people say, "Oh, we'll have this res. We'll respect your rights. We our rights are not our property rights are not being respected." Again, I'm glad that he's talking about a small acoustical
window and when does it become, you know, uh, a Patty Smith punk concert? You know, when does that happen? Oh, we're only going to do this one time. We'll leave at 9. No, they went to 10,00 10:30 and it's okay. I've been listening to you guys since 4:30, 5:00. It it it's
a problem. It's a problem that I don't think this town and this select board with the exception of a few really uh appreciates and it impacts all of our my neighbors many who don't this isn't their jam it's not mine I don't like
public speaking like that but no one's going to no one's standing up for us no one is and that's noise level never mind the parking that we can't get out of blamey circles sometimes because of the parking there we can't you know enjoy our yards
because of the smells, the rats. I mean, we're living here and we have lived here for a long time and when we pay taxes and we've paid taxes for a long time. Please consider our privacy and our peace and quiet. I can't even enjoy my
yard anymore. I mean, if it's it's it's amazing to me. And I'm an avid gardener and that really makes me angry that I'm flushing out rats. I'm hearing noises and it doesn't stop until 2 in the morning and I get a window from 2 to
like 5:00 of peace and quiet. Thank you. >> Can I just interject? >> One second. We'll just hear from the other public comment and then >> Hey, Greg. Um, my name is Jody Watts. I live at 259 Humphrey Street, which is directly across from G and Little G. Um,
I just want to clarify a couple of things that were said. I'm looking at some in Instagram posts. The music has been from 8:00 PM to 10 p.m. consistently. There's four dates listed here. >> Great. >> That were 8 to 10. So, I'm not I just
want to be clear that, you know, 10:00 I have bedrooms right across from the restaurant. 10. >> I think we're we open till 10. Not the m we're open till 10. Not the >> Nope. It says live music Thursdays 8 to 10 p.m. Next up, Leon Kicks Project. Tim
Costello >> on August 14th, August 21st, August 28th, and September 4th, 8 to 10. That's >> You've never had music till 10 o'clock ever. >> Okay. I guarantee you have because I have heard it. >> Okay. >> I'm guarantee you have. So, let's just, you know, let's let's just I'm I'm very
willing. I love the restaurant. I love these people. They work really hard. They have been good neighbors for a very long time. And so have we. So, maybe we can work something out. 8 to 10, I think, is pushing it. Um, it is not quiet. He said it's quiet. It's not just
acoustic. There's a guy with a trumpet. Trumpets are kind of hard to tone down a little bit. So, there's a guy with a trumpet. Uh at least two people. They've got uh an amplifier and microphones. The doors are open. Um my windows are open
because it's hot. Um so, you know, maybe there's a way to rain in the times, rain in the music. Definitely keep the doors closed. Um, the group is right the doors go up. That's the group. I can see them from my house. They're right on the edge
of the outdoors. So, um, it's not it's it's it's almost as if they're outdoors because there's three garage doors that go up. So, you know, I just think it's fair to us to in the neighborhood to uh at least uh cut this back quite a bit or
or not offer it. Thank you. Do >> you have additional followup or >> Yeah, I was just saying that we we closed the restaurant at 10 o'clock. So, I don't see how there's noise past 10 p.m. except for from do side maybe. Um,
and living in Blay Circle, that's probably where they hear the noise. Um, because we close a restaurant at 10:00. So, I don't I don't know where the where the noise is coming after 10 p.m., but >> No, it's not after 10, but it's up to 10. Okay, great. These are advertised to
play till 10, so you know. >> No, I was just I was speaking on the Blany circle, not you. Yeah, >> Greg, I don't know you. Um, but and I want to be super enthusiastic
about you doing this and I know what you're asking for here isn't necessarily what you may have done in the past, but it doesn't give me a warm and fuzzy that Jod's quoting the ad saying when
the music is playing and you're saying that didn't happen. Um, that's that's not it's not really it's not helpful. Um, >> excuse me. Okay, let's um I'm so sorry, but >> yeah. So, um,
so um I I think we collectively we really need to figure this out because it's not just this restaurant. You know, Moira's been here before. um you know it's the collective right like we we're we're trying to balance you know everybody's
needs and um I I don't I don't think we're finding the balance. Uh it's pretty clear we're not completely finding the balance. Maybe there's not going to be any perfect balance but uh you know and I I hear the point. It's not it's not just about you know this
music here or just about the rats or just about the garbage or just about the deliveries. But I mean, you know, I mean, I I I experienced it a lot. I mean, there that that is a, you know, crazy little spot. You know, there's people doing U-turns and there's, you
know, people parked in front of driveways and there there is a lot going on there. Um, and it's, you know, right in front of these people's, you know, homes and I really want the restaurants to thrive and, uh, the music sounds
great. Um, but I do feel like it's not it's not solely just about this. I know we need to decide on this, >> right? >> But I think there's a little bit bigger picture here we need to to figure out so that we don't start getting good people
and good neighbors, you know, cross with each other. >> So, >> there's also six restaurants on the street, just just to be clear. Yeah. >> I'm not the only one. >> Understood. Understood. Absolutely. And that's a collective. I I think Moy was pointing out it's not, you know, not just about you're a restaurant. I mean,
there's >> Well, I just feel like that was direct their comments were directed towards me of the noise and the deliveries and >> I didn't hear it that way. You're the one here in front of us tonight. We've heard before, you know. >> Yeah. To be fair, Greg, we've heard Moira speak before to other restaurants, so that's probably why we don't feel that way.
>> All right. All right. No worries. >> It's not questions for Greg. So, is it possible that your music was you know, whatever time Jody is quoting till 10:00. Could that have happened in the past and then this is
your your request for going forward? Is that pos? It must be. I'm >> honestly I I've ne I mean I've paid every single person that's come through and I've never had music. I've never had live music till 1000 p.m. Okay. >> We only had a couple maybe two two
Thursdays and every other day was on a Sunday afternoon >> and it was an early like 8:00 at the latest. Usually we did it like four to six and it was mostly acoustic. So >> um you know there could have been an error in that in that advertisement but
I but I can assure you that we only had a handful of Thursdays right >> and they were never past 8 9:00 and that's why probably I >> I'm sorry but I have what six seven Instagram posts and they're all 8 to 10. They were different. Maybe they were
after >> they could be Instagram post, but it doesn't mean that we actually that those actually went through or they they happened. We had many many many bands that never showed up. >> It's my word against your but I I I hear it's helpful. >> The other piece too is I I don't feel
like we've had Paul Moore has been here on more than one occasion and I never see and I as much as I ask I never seem to get an answer to the rat question and I'm always interested in finding out what we're doing to help with that situation. I I think it's more on the town side
than it is the restaurants, right? I feel like you're >> for their food. >> Of course. Yes. >> For their food. >> Totally. Totally. >> Rats are dying in my yard. Right. It's just another decomposing rats are just another problem that we have to deal with.
>> Right. So, I think that from the town's perspective on the town side, we need to do more to help with that piece of it. But I don't also want to entirely fault the restaurants for it because I think that we own a little bit of it too because we haven't really done enough to help the people that live in that area.
>> Point, you know, and my point beautiful. It's about the creep and the precedent being set. Do we have to do now I have to you have to monitor these. Oh, it's 11:00. They're still you call the cops. Do I call you guys?
>> Right. It's not should be policing this >> of course. >> So this is >> so you're finding it happening past 10:00 from this restaurant. >> No. >> No. Okay. That was that. Thank you for not that way. >> Thank you. I just want to clarify that piece just so I understand for this
particular restaurant, you know that that's not really >> So I have a question. >> Well, I have hold on. I just have a comment first. >> Um we're here for the amendment of an entertainment license. I think while all these things interplay together. It's unfair to have
just Mr. Bman sit here and take >> all of this on. I think what is probably more appropriate is to have each of the restaurants in the area and like a community meeting so that we could well to be fair we we've seen you multiple
times Moira and people are saying that they're doing the best they can with some of the solutions. you're obviously not satisfied and the town could be doing more. So, the town will be a stakeholder. I mean, I understand that's frustrating to you because you've been living through this for a period of
time, but if you're not the only one, then we need to hear from other community members and we need to understand. >> I hear from them. >> Great. But maybe they maybe we can share some of that information so we can understand better. And I it's not that we're not taking you seriously. I for
sure am. But it is unfair to this restaurant tour to make it feel like he is the only one who is, you know, causing some of the the means to these ends. Again, I'll state regarding this uh U G's restaurant. Uh this window
sounds, you know, appropriate as the fine dining closing at 10 is appropriate for the neighborhood. And if this is a again I'm concerned about the creep and when it goes beyond sure two to three or or beyond whatever >> he's asking for.
>> So what I'm trying to suggest >> happens a lot people promise right I've experienced people promising things and not delivering. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So what I'm suggesting is maybe we'll talk to Marzy about doing a quarterly Humphrey Street corridor community
checkin. It's going to be the health department, the police department. >> The health department, the police department, community development, the neighbors, the restaurant tours, um a quarterly or monthly check-in where there can be either an erring of grievances or a thank you very much.
That was exactly how I hoped that would go and I hope it doesn't go any further than that. Um, like not to be just negative, but I'm sure there are times where, you know, they're being great neighbors and they're doing the right thing and they're doing the best they can in situations that they can't always
control. Um, so I'll just make that suggestion as something going forward if we were to approve this license, whether or not we approve this license or not, that we should have some sort of conversation that involves a a greater group of people than >> you're talking about something separate.
Yeah. >> Yeah. I mean, I think there needs to be a community discussion for the neighbors in that area and the restaurant tours in that area and members of idea >> town hall staff so that we can work on some of these issues because they don't just fall on one person. They also don't fall on one town hall department.
>> So, I have a question that pertains just to this >> this entertainment request. First, I I am concerned that you were at that you were you were doing this without having a license. That's that is a concern to
me. I'm also concerned that I'm hearing that um it wasn't just acoustics, it was a trumpet and and other things. However, if if they had
they had two to three um acoustics and music and you didn't hear it outside, you wouldn't have an issue with that then. Is that fair to say? >> That's fair to correct. >> Okay. So, if there's a if there's a way
to get to that, can we get to that so that we can make everybody happy? >> And that Yeah. And that was that was my point. It was it was you know Mr. Bman you know what if there was the potential to just have a vocalist and an acoustic guitar. We keep it quiet or you you get
your live music entertainment license. We help the neighbors and it's kind of a everybody wins scenario. >> I have I have no problem with that. Right. >> Honestly it's >> and the doors >> it's only a couple >> and the doors stay closed. That's the big part of it. Um, >> so we we had a major issue years ago
with the mission where people that lived past the fish house heard what was going on at the mission and what we did was we just said you have your music in house and as long as we don't and as long as no one hears it outside you're you're
good to go. So, I think if we could do something like that in this situation, >> I do want to be cognizant of the fact though to Craig's point, we do have outside concerts, right? Multiple a summer, >> right, >> where you can certainly hear that music
>> at 8:00, 8:30 from many points in this town. And I I don't want to see us subject or restrict local businesses, especially one that's been here almost 20 years with an unfair set of parameters. When we as a town, we
love people to come to Swamptoberfest or a concert or this or that and there are rowdy people sometimes. Sure. There's loud music all the time, right? So, what are we really saying? >> Well, I I do think those are two different things, though. I I think that there's a on the surface they seem
equal, but on they're different in a sense, right? One is a very public venue. We have it five times a year, whatever it is, right? This could be 100 times a year, two times a week, right? And it's for a specific restaurant. Um, so those are kind of different audiences
and different uses to it. >> And it's a it's a vocal issue, right? It's a sound issue. It's an interfering with people's time, right? >> Understand, right? But it is still just simply Five versus 100. >> I don't know that it's five. It's more than five. There are more than five concerts. >> 15, >> right? >> 20. But
>> but to but to that to that >> that movie screen when it's up is real loud. >> But but to that to that to that point, I think if you got rid of your brass instruments and you and you and you you had you had acoustic guitars, you kept the door shut. Yeah. >> When the door opens, you're still going to hear some of the some of that noise,
but it is going to be greatly mitigated. >> Um >> I think that's a to me that would be a fair >> Sure. Right. >> That would be a fair a fair compromise. >> Um, again, I came here uh didn't not know my fear was it was going to be a a
license till 10 or 11:00 at night and with all the drinking and all the partying and we've heard the music and then we've heard now we hear them all empty out and that was I was glad to hear that this was a little window that was proposed. Again, I am concerned
about creep you know it going up to 10 and beyond. So, not only has I started my day listening to trucks, I'm finishing my day listening to music and rowdy people. >> Could we just clarify what the hours of
Little G are? >> Uh, we're open from 400 p.m. till 1000 p.m. and usually towards the uh fall and winter. Um, 900 p.m. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> We're a family restaurant. >> In your deliveries, what on average?
What? You don't do deliveries. So, you don't have >> They don't have the trucks. >> No, you mean >> Oh, deliveries for Oh, deliveries for >> Yeah. Your deliveries. Your restaurant deliveries. What time? >> I could I could look at when the deliveries are made. >> Are they typically that early in the morning? >> We only have one uh company. It's our
produce company that comes in the morning, but >> it's probably not. Is it 6:00 a.m.? Is it >> I would I mean, I don't know if it's 6:00 a.m. I I would say >> sometime in the morning. I mean, I've called all my distributors and the trash companies and told them that we have an
ordinance in in town at for 7 a.m. There's nothing to be done to happen before 7 a.m. >> Okay. >> And I've called and complained many times to all my purveyors. Can I pull them? I I mean, what else can I do? >> Absolutely. >> And I need my product, right? So, >> I mean,
>> is it 6 or 7 a.m.? >> It's a great question. >> I thought it was 7 a.m. So, >> we can find out. >> I think it's written anywhere, but it's to reset. >> But if he's but I'm trying to be I've always been in in almost 20 years I feel
like I've always been respectful to my neighbors always and >> and and to the trash for me because because I am a I keep a very clean place. I we wash out our barrels. Our our trash is picked up every single day.
>> Um you know that my back area is is swept and sprayed down. I mean there's >> it's almost like you can't win because if you don't do that you're you're encouraging. If you do do that then there's noise from that. So it's it's a very difficult thing to balance. >> But we do try we do try for sure. I
think as a product of this conversation, what we don't want to happen is we don't want the continued >> we want the relationship to grow and we want the we want the neighborly conduct to continue in a way that creep is no longer a concern because you have built
trust that this is is what he it is what he says it is and it's not going to change and so I think the suggestion would be to approve the license as the limited time frame with the parameters discussed that Mr. Brackman keeps his
word as he's spoken to us and to you and that maybe going forward there'll be we'll start quarterly with like a community conversation in that neighborhood to understand listing out all the issues. you know, some of these discussed tonight, but I'm
sure there are other ones which you haven't thought of. But let's list out all the issues and let's try to figure out which departments in the town can help you solve some of those issues or help mitigate some of those issues both for the restaurant tour and the community. Can I just say one thing with just addressing your your concern for
the creep because I I do respect that. >> Um if our liquor license says 11 p.m. um we're we're to be done serving alcohol before that and all of our um employees need to be out of the building by 11
p.m. Right? So that's the law that's written and what's set on our license. Same thing with our if we are approved with this this entertainment um if we have hours of 900 PM then at 900 PM it ends at 9:00 p.m. and
we have to abide by that. And me as a Christian man and an honest man and a family man I I abide to what I'm supposed to be doing. I've been doing it for 20 years. There's never been an issue at at at my restaurant. So I I just that's there should be no creep
because there's there's there's written rules, right? >> Absolutely. >> Okay. So the motion was seconded. So if if the discussion is completed, we'll move to a vote if everyone's okay with that. >> Okay. So all those in favor of approving the amended entertainment license for G
Bar and Kitchen. >> I I >> Okay. Opposed would be none. So, thank you very much for coming in the conversation and we will have somebody reach out regarding um >> that's your first order of business
>> community uh a community meeting and um >> every Thursday night if you can go by to restaurant at 9:00 there will be >> if you have a list of community members who have concern and it is able to be shared so that Marzy could reach out to them or somebody from town hall could reach out to them to invite them or you
would be willing to invite them and we would love to here, you know, from the neighborhood or if you want to hold a neighborhood meeting and have us join you. >> You know, these these concerns are only going to grow once the hotel is completed, right? >> Yep. >> And that's why we should start. I wanted
to, you know, come here >> because it's it's at a tender >> state right now and given what's going to be down the pike between parking rats, uh, no parking for vendors for
these six big trucks, you know, them U-turning in Humphrey Street, >> it's a lot for very tight space >> and uh, really doesn't seem like the neighbors are being represented and
their concerns. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. >> All right. Moving on to the last item on our old business, which is discussion and prioritization of the select board goals.
So Diane made a very lovely chart from the last meeting. Thank you Diane. which listed out by board member the um the goals that each of us listed. And I think the task today, similar to what we
did um at that Saturday meeting we had um a year or a little I guess it was over a year ago now is to sort of prioritize from our lists, you know, one to five goals so that we can have real clear communication to Nick um what he
should be prioritizing going forward. Um, and I think, you know, just this chart alone is good for us to be keeping track of as we go, adding to or taking away because, you know, for example, we were able to point to one of the goals today when we were talking about whether
or not something should happen. And if it's facilitating a goal moving forward, we should feel confident in the way we're moving. Um and then you know hopefully that helps with discord among us five because if we've said today that it's a goal moving forward and it's
remains a goal then we should feel confident in moving in that direction. So um I guess I think the last time we did this correct me if I'm wrong we sort of like everybody got one or two votes >> three. >> Oh was it three?
>> Okay. Sorry. See I knew somebody would correct me if I was wrong. Three votes. We got two >> and we ranked them. Go ahead, Doug. >> I just want to make a correction. I would love for the climate leader investment decision to be hund00 million, but it was only $1 million. >> I saw that.
>> Come on. >> You and Doug are in cahoots. >> M could be thousand, too. >> Your honesty, Doug. >> Okay. >> All right. So, um, do we want to Doug, you didn't bring your eraser or your markers, but you have some. Maybe I I'm not sure whether
or not now I'm questioning whether or not you know Katie and Mary Ellen they stacked the deck with like all their long list priorities. >> No, my priority list was longer. It's just that Danielle added Danielle got most of them and then
>> David got the rest of them and then you went last. >> None of these are sold here anybody's but >> boy they're they're always to blame David. >> Yeah. >> All right. So >> why we just have this whole I mean like
>> we can't listen we can all of these are select board goals. It's not saying that any one of these shouldn't be worked towards but what is confusing for any particular person who is potentially taking on a leadership role and started on Monday would be how to prioritize the list that we've given them.
>> We want to set Nicholas Connors up for success here. >> That's right. So, I'm just wondering. >> But I'm saying let's hear from >> First of all, he did not participate in the last conversation, although I'm sure he watched this last select board because I was here. >> Oh, you were? Gosh,
>> I totally forgot. Um, but I think it's important that we prioritize them. I think it is for us too because, you know, if something comes up that one of us hears about and we know it's in the top, it's related to something in the top five, we should feel confident to bring it forward, you know, as a group
and and to champion it. Um, >> what about if we rank them ABC? >> What is the difference between ABC and >> Well, because then if you don't have one, two, like if you're saying I can only vote on two, I might say, okay, this is an A, that's an A, that's an A, that's an A. Oh, so you want to
categorize an A group, a B group, and a C group, like a tier system. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Well, I I actually That's interesting. It does because I was wondering about some of these uh I was actually looking at some in your your column, Mary Ellen, and whether or not you felt as though >> Guess all picking on my column. I'm not
going to get you taking it personal, but >> you got to go first, you know, and you had this long list. So, we're trying to prune it down, you know. She went last. >> She went last. >> Yeah. >> No, she did. >> I went last. >> She went last. >> Doug went last. >> We went last. No, David wasn't here. We read David's first.
>> I was here. >> Yeah, Marielen went last. She has a picture. >> Anyways, it really doesn't unnecessary. >> Let's get to the Let's get to the business. >> Okay. So, I think yes, ABC, BC is fine. We can we can do that. Maybe that's helpful. So, going through we could
should just be we'll start at the trash contract. So, are we considering that an A, a B, or a C? And I guess to be fair, we should define what A, B, and C are. So >> exactly >> an A would be like a must accomplish right >> in the very short term future right or priority wise
>> are we talking 90 days 120 days are we are we putting a time on it or no you're just saying >> six months >> okay >> so you would like that completed 6 months in advance of the expiration roughly >> no that's more like in the next six months a priority in the next month okay
yeah >> of today or >> right it expires in the end of June Right. >> It expires at the end of this fiscal year. Yeah. >> Correct. >> Okay. Okay. So, definition. So, you went a different direction than I was thinking. >> Okay. Always. Doug, you and I are always going in different directions.
[Laughter] >> What do you want to do? What would you like to do? >> No, I'm just trying to make sure I'm following the ball. That's So, my mind was going in a different direction. And so I'm just the definition for a for you is a mustdo as opposed to like you know
a broad communitywide biggest goal versus you know like you know review the TA hiring process when I saw that like is that really in the same category as you know you know economic development or Hawthorne you know that that's what I
was >> separating out like >> category categories right yeah okay >> okay so we don't have to put a timeline line on it. We I These are just things that I'm saying like an A would be like a >> a priority >> like the the highest priority, right? Like something we should be working
towards accomplishing. >> So I think we want le let's pick a number, right? Let's say top 10, right? So we want, you know, the top 10 >> on this entire grid, right? And then in order of priority, ABC. Sure. >> Does that make sense? Right.
>> Well, let me ask you another question. What about if we went through each one of these things and just said, is it an A, B, or C? And then we're done with the ABCs. Then we go back and just say out of the out of the A's, what are the top 10 A's you got to get done right away? >> Sure. >> Okay, that's great. >> I mean, some of these things can't be done right away. They're just they're a
work in progress. >> Can I just add one thing like this? >> Yes, please do. >> Strategic versus tactical. >> Sure. >> Or directional. So like the trash contract has to get done regardless of where you guys think it is, AB, or C or it doesn't make the list. >> Yeah. If I'm sitting here in June and I
have not completed that or extended Republic figuring it out, >> Gino can help you be a bad tell you what to do since it's just gone. >> Some of these won't need a grade necessarily. >> I'm I'm just saying like if if you're really trying to narrow things down, something like that is just a straight priority of mine regardless. It's an
experiment or service that we need >> to operate as a community. >> I don't want you to >> use one of your votes on that. >> Right. there's something that is more strategic or requires research like additional regionalization, things like that that are really >> Sure. >> like broad direction ideas that you want
me to make sure staff and myself. >> Yes. And >> you can just get a trash contract or you can just renew the health insurance or you can really rethink the trash contract to really rethink the health insurance. So that's two different
things and I think you're thinking about the rethinks, right? in both of those. So, sure. Yeah. >> I would assume you're going to evaluate for the best possible scenario for the town, right? That's what I'm that's why we hired, right? >> In my chart, >> right? So, that's going to be the
contract and the best which is, you know, part of one or two here, right? >> And that goes without saying, maybe. >> Okay. So, we won't label trash contract because that's a must. >> Yeah. >> Not a want. Okay. >> So, the health insurance contract, having a health insurance contract is a
must, but the want would be whether or not we get out of the GIC or not, >> which is a different animal. >> So, did we ever get a date? Did Did either of you >> Not yet. >> Get a notice date. No. Okay. So, I guess to figure out if that is even plausible,
we need that information first. But >> what is the prioritization of that? If we >> the research on that and the prioritization, is it an A, B, or a C? I would say it's a B right now. >> I would say it's at least a B because we really need to understand how much
notice they need. We have been given conflicting information in the past. So, we really need to understand what what the notice requirement is for renewal, you know, and then it's a whole bigger conversation of is it worth it? You know, what towns around us have done it? I know some have, some haven't. Is it
valuable? So, it's a Yeah. >> Okay. So, we'll temporarily pencil be there. Transition audit clarity on financial status. Those are two total. >> I think it's an A. >> My opinion is that's an A. >> And why don't we let the people that like propose them selfcatategorize? Y.
>> Maybe that can help us speed along here >> because then we'll just have to go back and have a conversation whether it's right or not. >> Most people are going to think all those are A is right. >> Well, Mary, let's labeling some B's. I'll label some. >> So, I'll give you some. So, on the transition audit, I think based on
I just think uh that's an A. The staffing backup, I think that's a a B slash C only because of other things that have to get done. Okay. >> The review of the TA hiring, I think that's a B slash C. Source elimination,
I think that's an A um AB. Glover update, >> stop doing slashes. >> Okay. I'm sorry. So, I would say source elimination is an A. >> Yeah. >> Glover update is an A. Charter review.
Uh, I think that's an A. It's got to get into place. And townwide calendar, I'd say is a B. >> Okay. So, now Doug, do you want to just go through and say, does anybody disagree? I guess I would say the townwide calendar, which sort of goes to the
communication improvements, is an A. >> I would agree with that. >> Um, because I really feel like that is one of the reasons why we keep getting dinged for transparency and and, you know, a bunch of other stuff. And I feel like there are tangible solutions that we could be implementing. Yes, some of
them cost money, but some of them can just be practice based and we should be doing that, >> right? I agree. I'm good with that. >> Okay. Does anybody have any other feelings on other >> I personally think reviewing the TA
hiring process could be a C? Because considering the fact that we're sitting next to one right now, I think that >> agree. >> Right. Not the, you know, I have high hopes here, so I'm going to say a C. Um, the health insurance contract I think is a B. We still have that. I have to say,
um, the charter review I also think is a C given what we have. I really do. I think it's a massive undertaking and I think that with all that we have on our plate right now, it something has to take a bit of a backseat. So, I think that would be a C, but that's just me.
It it is important to do. I'm not saying it's not, but I just think there are other more pressing things. >> Mariel, could you just say like the most significant part of the charter review that you're interested in so we can bring that into focus? What you're >> charter review needs to be done in
timely manner and we are I think we're behind. I think we're behind. We should have really done it maybe year. It's not going to be a heavy lift for us because my opinion we should just put together a committee charter review committee. Um when David was the chair, he initiated
having all of the committees come back for their recommendations. So there's work that's already been done. >> Okay. So it's something we have to do. It's something that is required. >> I think it's a best practice. >> Best practice every five every what five years. >> Five years. I think it is. I have a lot of that information. >> Yeah. So I I think a lot of the lifting
has been done. I think my recommendation is we do put together a small committee to do the charter review and then come back. I don't think >> I think it might be in the charter. What the review committee is? I think it might say in the charter. >> Okay. >> How about a B? >> Yeah. >> Okay.
>> Um, so I really think regionalization is a B and not a C. Um, I know Mariellean sort of had a couple other like staff backup plans, consolidate and add roles, but I had regionalization opportunities and I under my name and I would like to
say that that's a B. Um, >> so then I have Bb A B C A A B A. >> What? Say it again. >> B A >> Trash. Are you starting with trash? Okay. >> Is it BB A? >> Yep. >> B C A.
>> Yep. >> A B A. >> Yep. Got it. That's correct. >> Got it. >> All right. Moving on to David's. Do you want to categorize it first and then we'll >> judge you? Sure. Yeah. I mean I mean look the economic development um >> some of these I mean some of these are
longer term goals and objectives that we're going to be working on consistently. So the fact that we're you know we're not going to accomplish the you know economic development in the next six months but completing the hotel the Hawthorne and the downtown parking uh and infrastructure improvements is
going to be something that we're that is going to be you know we're going to be working on today we're gonna be working on probably five years from now. So it's important, but I it's not something that >> Nick is Nick and the board are going to be able to accomplish, you know, by
>> So I I look at that as a as a long-term goal. >> Um >> but it's I guess then said differently, David, where you have these more philosophical ideas rather than practical ideas. Maybe it's like a you want this in the forefront of the person's mind who's making decisions rather than in the back of their mind.
Do you know what I Like, so I would say like complete the Hawthorne Humphrey Street >> Renaissance would be that's an A. I mean, we're driving that and we don't want to take our foot off the pedal doing that. >> Correct. I I'm just looking at this as what's feasible. >> Yeah.
>> And be can be can be addressed in in in a short period of time. So my definition may just be different than than yours. >> I don't think it should be something that can be finished this year, >> but should be focused on focused on. Yes. So that's consistently that's that's an A. >> Okay. >> Um
>> so and then we'll call both those top two A's. Top three. >> Yeah. Top top three A's. And then you know I don't balance revenue was part of um was part of the economic um development efforts. So we'll skip that. >> Yeah. And then collaboration with the housing authority for for an affordable
housing feasibility study. >> Oh all goes together. >> Okay. >> Yeah. That all Yeah, that's all that's all one piece. That was the third uh piece. We're in a housing crisis. Um, you know, previously we had allocated some ARPA funds, um, which in
my opinion could have been multiplicative. Uh, feasibility study could have resulted in tens of millions of dollars being allocated to create new public housing for the first time in 50 years. You know, that's a that that's certainly something that is going to take some time. I would look at that as
a as a B. >> Yeah. I mean, just to say it, we allocated ARPA funds, but then we couldn't get a contract signed in. So, >> well, the housing authority couldn't get I mean, >> right. Well, I I was saying we to be uh
>> generous. So, we as a town couldn't get things lifted up there. So, hopefully in hearing that this is a B priority for us, the housing authority should feel more confident moving forward and coming forward with some of these ideas, although now we have probably less funds
or maybe there's grant opportunities. >> Well, there Yeah. Well, there certainly are grant opportunities and now now we have the CPA effect and you know potentially some of those funds along with affordable housing trust funds along with uh some potential grants from
the state could could get this to to you know to to come to be. All I was saying >> it was yeah I mean we just we need we need to be able to start that. We did have roundts with the town administrator, with the director of the housing authority and with the lead, you
know, the select board as well as members of the uh of the housing authority. Those meetings probably happened for about a year um and they probably should restart um in earnest. There's a different board there. There's certainly a board that's focused on
redevelopment. They've set up their 501c3. Um so I do think that they're ready now. They may have not been ready two or three years ago, but I think they're ready now to uh to really take that next step. >> Great.
>> And then, you know, prioritization of restaffing at town hall, but that's that's in that's in others um as well. >> Okay. >> No, it should probably be listed then on yours, too. >> For staffing, what specific if because I guess staffing is listed a couple of
different ways here. So, which one does it most? Uh, I was looking. So, just in my notes, it was uh specifically finance director and a full-time assessor. >> Okay. Yeah, because that's not listed out here. Full-time assessor
and finance director. And I assume you want to call that an A. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, we have then for David A, A B, and then his new entry is an A.
All right, Danielle. Okay, so kudos to me for my short, manageable list of roles here, I say. >> Um, the Hawthorne is a big huge A++ for me. >> Yeah, we >> number one.
>> She said so consistent. >> She didn't write that, but it's there. Great. >> Um, we we need to figure it out. We need to figure it out quickly, right? That that's just how I feel. financial priorities with finance, schools and select board also an a key critical
piece right financial summit we've talked about it we now have to actually implement it and do it um and start that conversation I hate to say it but prioritizing staffing and FTEES at town hall also in a to me we are at a critical point we have a number of open
positions um finance director assessor there are a couple of others that have recently come We need to get an understanding of the best utilization, the best structure, and we need to implement it, right? That's critical.
Um, complete hotel. Um, I like to think that's on its way. I I could safely say that's a B. I don't think that, >> you know, it's a priority to get it done, but I feel like we're progressing towards that. So, I don't need I don't think we need to allocate >> critical resources to it at this point.
>> Right. You're calling it a B because we've done the leg work and it's sort of like >> playing out. It's in motion, right? It's not because >> execute as opposed to >> correct >> value judgments in the beginning. >> Yep. >> Hopefully we are done with all that work,
>> right? Unused properties review and a master plan for usage. Critical A. I'm sorry. I think it is an A. Um, we just had this discussion about Clark. One affects the other. It's like a domino effect here. So the properties directly correlate to the financial summit to you
know the priorities for budgeting. I hate to say it but I think that's an A. Also that is the end of my short list. >> All right. So we have everything in A under Danielle's except for hotel which is B because it's in sort of >> sorry >> moving along mode
um from the list under feeling but I take no ownership for this because these were all ideas that have come up multiple times. Okay. Well, I have lofty goals. >> Um, employee relations and morale. Again, I think this is an A because as
Danielle just said, we're ripe for it right now because we have so much turnover that we can turn the tide. There's some trust that we need to earn back from current employees. There's some, you know, um, great relationships that we can build with future and onboarding employees. Like, this should
always be an A. um the financial reevaluation summit/policy review this tri chair is working on this right now I think there was a I just to give a quick little update there there is a bit of pressure because we've talked about this
financial summit for so long like what is the financial summit and it looks in different forms for different people so I think I mentioned last time the position that triair is taking is that we will do these mini little breakouts Like we would talk about one well one
idea was we were going to talk about Clark and what should happen with Clark in a breakout. One idea was like okay let's talk about what the financial budget guidelines are and whether or not they're effective. One was like let's talk about capital plan how long is it go out for 5 years 10 years projection. So, I think we've sort of figured out
like a series of little mini events and like um cap we've suggested that a conversation around capital improvements goes first because it it really begets so much other conversation and um so we
are going to be scheduling that and it'll be us and fin stakeholders where you know obviously that one cap will include capital improvements and so we'll sort of do these vignettes rather than a full summit and of an all day pressures on
think of everything we were supposed to think about and talk about and put it in one day. Um rather this sort of little buildup. >> I just want to I just want to just say just a word of not a word of caution necessarily, but I would like to be I hope that we're all
informed of what's happening in these little snippets so that we you know not to take away from the transparency of the process of a financial summit. Yeah. >> Right. because I think part of that goal was to have community involvement and to be public about what what we're all discussing. Right. So I don't want to
get away from that in the tri-chair model. Right. >> Yeah. I think we what I hope to happen is that once we come up with a topic and a date we will bring it each tri member me uh myself um Eric and Amy will bring
it to their meetings publicly >> and then we will have a public conversation individually and then we will bring it forward and then that will help create the agenda and then the meeting itself will be public >> right >> so that is how I sort of thought about it
>> um And we are, you know, the the idea of tri chair is not meant to be secretive in any way. It's more like how do we structure this sort of mammoth thing that we were all talking about and really make it work for everybody's definition, which was different. And it was like, well, maybe we just take the
pressure off a little bit and start in some smaller steps so that we can all feel comfortable. We're moving in the right direction. >> Great. The only thing I would ask, clearly this isn't this isn't easy because it's been difficult to pull together. >> Yeah. >> Um
>> can we get a calendar >> of what those are? So that I'm just worried about the the the clock is we're starting to move through the year already, right? So >> yeah, we can but I guess um part of the conversation will also be like yes, we can we can uh signify some dates
for which we hope to have these conversations. But the topic while we have maybe like three topics right now that we're thinking about, we also want to let like the first meeting exist and then okay while we had these two ideas maybe that's not the direction that we
should be going in or maybe after we have a conversation about the one idea other boards spring forward well we really want to talk about X Y or Z like I we would have thought Clark would have been first but then we had thisou come up and so it was like okay well longterm Clark needs to happen but now it doesn't have to happen so quickly because
there's an there's potential a potential. >> I get I guess that all sounds great, but it feels like we're going to be in the middle of the budgeting process before we get to our second meeting with that type of process. So, I'm just I'm just encouraging
>> I mean to be frank, we are like we are hoping to meet in November and then maybe again in December or January and then maybe again in because this is on top of all the other meetings we're having. So, like then again in like either February or March, like I don't think we're saying like every single
month we're going to have one of these breakout meetings. >> Okay. Um, >> is that what you'd rather do every single month? >> Well, I guess I would I would just uh don't let perfect be the enemy of the good. Don't try to boil the ocean. Like let try to find the two or three things
that are really really important. Like is there one capital improvement meeting? uh is you know whatever like let's get the big things that like have some discussion and then maybe bring it to that >> you know true kind of summit uh version
sooner rather than later so that we don't end up you know basically you know he's got to have the budget done by March 1st right you know it's already we're middle of October you know it's the clock's going to start ticking and I just don't want to be in a position where we haven't had this conversation again because we were trying to have all
these different meetings and then we ran out of We're not trying to have all these different meetings. We're trying to not let as you said not let perfection be the enemy of progress and we are trying to just progress on some topics that we have a good understanding about everybody is on the same page like we need to talk about projected capital
improvements and then we need to talk about like okay are the financial guardrails we have in place realistic going forward and then I think there was one other topic I don't have my notes in front of me so those are the top three that we sort of all came to a discussion on and so like then I assume as we have
those discussions they'll be get more conversation. But to your point, I'm open to the idea that that just beggets a a summit now that we're all comfortable and everybody's earned some trust back and we all have definitions that we're comfortable with. Maybe that just does h facilitate one particular
meeting, but I think we won't know until we start. >> Go ahead. >> Okay. Beaches and pipes. I don't think I called it exactly that. It sounds like that's like a band or something, but um >> you're all the way down there. What did I say? >> Right. Oh, I skipped.
>> So, financial reevaluation was an A. >> Was an A. Sorry. I wrote a communication improvements. I put A just because I also put it like the townwide calendar is part of that. So, I just mimic the A from there. It's really similar. Um, select board unity and respect. I mean,
that's an A+ for me. But, um, I really think, you know, we we now passed a handbook. We have we're looking towards a social media policy. We've uh Maryanne got back with some comments from um peers about what their so social media
policy looks like. So in the upcoming meetings, we'll put that back on to have a conversation about it. Um and so we have that going on in that regard. Um regionalization opportunities, I would call that a B. It's something that
like should always be in the back of my mind thinking for everything that comes to the table like okay is an option here regionalization. What are the relationships? How can we facilitate that? Can we not for specific reasons like we had talked about a health and safety chief and sort of being a
regional thing at one point in time maybe like 18 months ago and part of like the snafu is you know we're at a civil service and not all our neighbors are. So but can is that something that could still be facilitated? Um so you
know some some topics like that. Um, beaches and pipes, obviously it's closest to source elimination on Marielle's list, so we'll call it an A. Economic development, it's on David's list. It's an A. Hadley Glover Hawthorne vacant properties, it's on Danielle's
list. That's an A. A succession plan for buildings out of use. That's a little bit similar. I think both of these are probably uh >> unused properties. >> Unused properties. So, that's also already on a list. So, that's an A. So, um, Diane, we can go through and like
where there's duplication after this, we can meld it down to one list. >> Okay. >> And take the names across the top off so that the ownership is the whole board and not us individually. Um, >> D. So, Doug, you're next.
>> Oh, unless, sorry. Unless anybody disagrees with any of those prioritizations, >> I would just say beaches and pipes are in progress. I feel like that's a B. Personally, I don't feel like there's much more that we need or can do to advance that any further than we already have. Actually, I think that that I
think it should be an A because now that um Nick is here, I think and also with the information that we had from Kleinfelder in the springtime, Kleinfelder identified that we were making big uh big strides in as far as
source elimination and they felt that keeping up how we were doing it, we were going to be able to have everything sealed up and have some good test results. So I I do think that we should really keep the pedal to the metal on that one. But what else can we do to do that? >> Well, pilot results and like what's the next step,
>> right? >> We can also identify >> decision >> identify the speed and the need of what's happening like we went >> that stuff that we can drive, right? we can drive the I mean, are we waiting to get >> Well, we we may have a decision in front of us within this calendar year to
potentially locate and go after grants for $20 million facility. I mean, theoretically, that's I mean, >> I didn't realize that would even happen. >> Whatever whatever it is, you know, something >> but there's also there's also a regionalization component which is which is more intermediate to long term. So
yes, while we're while we're making our decisions in the in the short term, there's also the, you know, the the need to remain in close contact with our with our state and federal partners as well as the city of Lynn to see what uh to see what they're doing. I mean, that's
regionalization uh to some to some extent, but uh you know, but it's also um it's also cleaning up our beaches and pipes. So I mean, it's it's it's been a priority for the last several years. I think it's a I think it should remain a top >> okay >> priority. >> Yeah, I think I almost I agreed with you
at first thinking like oh this is like Hadley, right? Like it's it's go it's it's going. So don't change speed. We're just going to keep going. But I think there maybe are a couple more things that decisions probably have to be made from before we can get to that point. So we're almost to a B situation. But um
yeah, >> can I uh challenge a little bit on the staffing now that I'm thinking about it across here >> and and not truly about whether or not it's an a priority, but how much of that
is a select board controlled managed decision versus uh the town administrator effectuating? I think unfortunately more than you think because our interplay with staff
at town hall greatly affects morale at town hall. >> Okay. So, we've got a we've got an employee handbook. We've all signed off on it. You know, there's not going to be, you know, select board members going directly to town hall staff, right, without going through the town administrator.
So, with that assumption and you know, we've talked about there's so many open positions. I mean, I know there's two key ones in finance. >> Um, you know, we've now hired some people in terms of planning and land use and, you know, so, you know, rec
director, you know, I'm not sure where all these positions are. You know, we've had a little list here. Um I'm just making checking us about yeah we maybe there's a decision if we want to tweak the structure and finance but where is
all the time and energy really from the select board going to be going in terms of this staff morale. I think that I think that the structure of of how town hall exists is not going to be something
we can expect, you know, Nick to come in and just know automatically or feel or know the past history of each position. I I think that we're going to have to do some work with the out the outline almost of the structure and how things work and how they play into one another
from a budget perspective. And I think that's yes, certainly the hiring and and placing positions is is more under the TA, but I think we have to take a hard look at how it all exists and what and what the the staffing, the procedures,
the hiring process, all of it for police, fire, town hall, how it all kind of goes together. I think that structure is is where we would come in. I think this is my comment to this putting it on this list is in direct relation to how the budget process went
this year and how we sat here and >> took $1,000 out of employee growth line items >> and that affected town hall staff in a serious way. And so if we are saying like to Nick that the select board
supports growth at town hall, the select board supports a change in morale at town hall, then that means when the budget comes to us, Nick's going to say this directly aligns with a select board um request, which is that we prioritize
growth in certain departments where we could or we prioritize, you know, um certain educational um items or certain certifications for employees or in and maybe we can't afford to do all that but at least when Nick presents it
to us he can feel like he has the support of the select board saying like I didn't cut this thousand expense for somebody to go to a >> conference >> a conference because it was a select
board priority that we allow town hall to do that and that he has less of a justification to us because we've asked him to do that. So that's really where I came from logically in putting it on here. But >> all right. >> Um Doug,
>> you have it on there. So >> I do I just do want to interject on when you're talking about how we uh we have two openings in our finance department. Yes, we have openings, but people shouldn't feel that we don't have anyone sitting there right now. We have a top-notch consultant. Yeah. out of the
state who's there covering what we do. He's very well known. He's excellent. So, we do have coverage in there right now. But, um I and where I put my where I put this down under my priorities is staffing backup plans. I just want to
make sure that we have a real clear plan on when person A decides they're leaving or they're going out sick or whatever that we know exactly who's jumping in to cover that spot. Just >> like succession planning. >> Succession planning. And then just lateral move movements here and there. That's all.
>> Okay. >> Okay. >> Doug, would you like to go on to your list? >> Uh, sure. Uh, A a B. So for those who are at home and
listening, a uh housing >> housing off housing authority master plan a Hawthorne completion a completion of plan, right? Of course. Yeah. >> Um within this year um completion of the plan for 299 Salem
Street, the Glover uh a uh climate leader investment decision could be a million bucks. uh B and I only say B because I think that's primarily the climate action and resilience committee that will be bringing that forward. So, I don't think there's a like a huge huge
lift for us, but it's just something that I think is significant uh unused property plan uh B and uh and CPA B uh primarily again because it's mostly in motion. The big thing for us is really
to seat the committee. >> So, >> and that shouldn't be an A to seat the committee. >> I I trust that it's it's a one meeting vote. Hopefully, our next meeting on the next agenda. >> Okay. All right. >> Um >> Okay, good.
>> I mean, just to say it because I've said it in the past, I prioritize the unused property plan or like I think we talked about this when historic commission was here at one point in time of creating some sort of historic property plan and like how they may be utilized going forward. That to me is a far more
valuable thing considering the time >> than like yes we're gonna have a plan for the Glover because we have some stuff going on there or not we but it there are there is stuff going on there but that I didn't put that as a priority but because it's not really us it's the
historic district commission but I'm sorry the historic commission not the historic district commission um but if that somehow circles into an unused property plan then that would rep prioritize it to be more of an A than a B if the Glover is an I.
But >> so you you'd like to see that move to an A? >> Well, if it's going to also include like the identification of historic properties and their value and what we could do with them, like I would love it if it did. And you know, like we can leave it at B, but I also don't I think
Glover maybe is a B. So got a lot of A's here, folks. Hopefully there's some dupes. >> There's a lot of dupes. >> Yeah, I think there's a lot of duplicates and we can boil this down to I don't know this I think probably 20
and then if we have 10 a like great >> um >> we just want to make it manageable, right? That's we don't want to be the >> just I wonder if we >> two three >> should I should I do some markering to like >> Yeah, I feel like you want >> to get those markers >> just to get the A's all in one place.
Okay. >> How many in terms of the Duke issue? >> Yep. Trust you, Doug. >> So, clarity on financials, transtransitional audit. >> Excuse me. >> We'll say um for the source of words,
we'll say beaches and pipes. >> Um Glover. Um, we'll >> basically um if you wouldn't mind >> I just don't know how Glover is an A when it this is not our property.
>> Well, you made Glover an A on your column. >> Yeah, you did. >> I did. >> Yeah. >> Glover update. No, no, no. Glover up update. Glover update for the next one. Town under Yep. Um, so we call that communication improvements. Um
uh economic development. >> David, can I ask friendly amendment? Is that is economic development meant to be something different than the hotel Hawthorne Humphrey Street? >> No, not really. Okay. >> Okay. So, let's make it one. So
Hadley Hawthorne Humphrey Street Triple H >> parking is different >> Humphrey and then parking and then full-time assessor finance director. If you didn't write that down,
that was an amendment David made to his Is that different than this overall staffing? This is >> the staffing backup plan. David's prioritization of staffing. The prior Danielle's prioritiz staffing. >> Yeah, I think David's looking for a
full-time assessor to be hired and a finance director to be hired, right? >> Yes. >> So, I think it's >> I think it's different. I mean, the staffing backup plan is really a like we were saying like a >> Oh, that was a B. That's just a strate
make sure you have your strategy. >> Um although it may fall into Doug the FTEES at town hall although I think D actually Danielle and Mary Ellen are more in line with you know whether line whether FTEES
should be consolidated or re-evaluated structure you're talking about structure of FTEEs right? >> Yes. Yeah. I think the both of you are. So but on Danielle's list we listed an A. On Marielle's list we listed a B. So where do we want to land on it? >> You had an A. Or is your employee thing
different? Mariel is more the backup plan, right? In the cross training. Mine is more mine was backup and consolidation. Well, I >> So why don't we call the prioritiz the FTEs and prioritization of staffing as an A and then we'll call the backup succession planning B.
>> Okay. Um so Hawthorne we already have on there. Um, financial priorities I think do we already transitional audit is really also >> financial priorities >> clarity on financial status. So I think we're
we're there together so we can that's an A. Town hall staff is okay. Is that Yep. That's that the unused property review and master plan.
So then if we move on to the feeling list it would be employee relations and morale >> long failing list >> the financial re of Katie's page. >> Stop it. The financial re-evaluation is
already on there. The communication is already on there. See all these dupes? Uh, select board unity and respect. >> So, this is financial evaluation. Yeah. Same thing. >> Yep. And then communication calendar >> is on there. So, that's the same thing.
>> Select board unity and respect. >> I'd say the only >> Yes, please. Right at the top. Chair's prerogative. >> Yep. Chair's prerogative. >> And then do you want like a heart? >> In our house, we say you speak with love
and respect or you don't speak at all. >> Um, beaches and pipes is already on there. Economic development's already on there. Hadley Hawthorne vacant properties succession plan's already on there. So, all the rest of my A's are already there. Housing authority master plan.
Hawthorne's already on there. Glover is Glover >> on there. Glover's there. >> Glover's already on there. That's it. >> That's it. Right. >> One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10, 11, 12. That's not bad,
guys. >> Diane has all that. >> What? >> You have that? >> Yes, I have. >> All right. Well, she'll take a picture anyways. >> So, these are the top 12 priorities of the select board.
And we will obviously there's some secondary and tertiary priorities, but Oh, there it is. Living in one place. Is anybody >> is that you think that's uh you probably
don't know all the details of all those things, but like we >> a lot of them in the last three days. That makes sense, right guys? >> A good starting point. Yeah. >> Good starting point because you feel like you're going to need more work to do this year. Like that's like exactly we'll be done by Christmas. >> Christmas two weeks two week turn
around. >> Excellent. Excellent. And I do want to say one thing, one point that um I just thought of this consultant that we have might be something that we utilize or person that we utilize to help us with this
financial summit piece, right? Or maybe that's >> someone that's already we're >> it's not that's not within their scope now. So there would be additional cost. you saying if it, you know, someone that happens to be there, maybe it's somebody because he has worked in so many towns and he has a perspective that maybe he
could lend some >> as an informal conversation. I'd be happy to talk to him and bring in anyone else to town hall that should and any of you that want to >> just to help facilitate if so. >> Exactly. >> But I would they are very focused on providing that professional service for communities in the same position you're
in. >> Totally need sort of temporary help as opposed to >> very broad. >> Yeah. Right. Absolutely. Absolutely true. >> But happy to talk to them about it, but it's outside the scope right now. That's one thing I would want to highlight. That >> funding >> makes perfect sense. Thank you.
>> Yeah, we're trying to give the most bang for the buck on the financial summit without incurring a financial cost. >> Yes. >> Um so, all right. Um well, that feels great. Thanks for doing that exercise.
Um it's really appreciated. Um uh by way of a suggestion, Nick, I just thought that the prior town administrator did have a list of goals, annual goals. >> Yeah. >> And you have that available to you or you can that >> we can see. >> Okay. Just because I think there are
some themes on some of that goal setting, whether or not we attain some of those goals and you know, sort of where you can go. >> So I mean with this list is where I would want to start building my list of goals. So there couple years we're still hitting >> yes
>> the interim steps that we need to but >> I think for um >> I I don't want to say in two weeks but in the near term I would like to come back and present to you all like starting from here this is what we mapped out as a staff that >> are mostly my goals but things that I've
been working with staff on >> but I do need some time to get up to speed on everything before I >> of course >> yeah do that. Yeah, for sure. For sure. >> Just I'm just thinking like what sometimes we don't know what we missed and then we're like what? How did we miss that glaring thing? So maybe I will look um for the next meeting just to see
if there's anything from the entire um I mean I know Diane provided our last one, but >> let's just check and double check so that we're being super communicative. Um all right, great. >> Great. >> Thanks everyone. Um so now we move on to
the approval of the consent agenda. Um, on the consent agenda today, we have two new appointments for the water sewer infrastructure advisory committee for one-year term, Scott Morel and Bendesh Sharesa. Discussion and possible vote to approve and accept funding on behalf of the
Commissioner for Disability to purchase new benches, a vote to approve the minutes, and we also have um executive minutes um that are being withheld. We are on track to have by
annual reviews of the executive session minutes um that have not been released to the public to ensure that the reason they were not released still exists. Uh so this is the second time we have gone through these um minutes and so um we
need to tell the public when we do that and that we've done that. So, this is our letting you know that these executive session minutes are still being withheld for a particular reason. Um, which has been reviewed by outside council. Um, and that is the end of the consent agenda.
So, I' I'd like you to pull out number one, discussion and possible vote for the water and sewer, pull out uh number two, commission on disability, and to um move the approval of the minutes to the next meeting. Um because I want to just
send something to Diane on the minutes. >> Okay. Can we >> So can we take a vote on discussion? So I would make a motion on discussion of executive session minutes withheld as listed in the on the agenda
>> to approve. >> To approve. >> Yeah. >> Uh second. >> Okay. All those in favor? I >> I Okay. So, you would like to table the minutes. It's not something we can do now. >> Correct.
>> Okay. So, we're tableabling the minutes for uh 9:17 Diane for next meeting. >> Got it. >> And now we will take a discussion and possible vote to approve the new appointments for water and sewer. >> So, on the appointments for new water and sewer, you we have here two members
and then there's one, two, three, four vacancies. And we have had an applicant uh Andrea Moore was put in our application not once but twice and I would like to see her appoint put on to on this committee.
Okay. I mean we've reviewed all the applications. Uh the chair um Kelly Beacon has reviewed uh all the applicants. uh you know when this committee was founded established maybe 18 months ago now you
know there were certainly some lofty goals and objectives uh I think there were probably a dozen or so um objectives that this committee you know was was going to tackle um
you know reality then sets in and says all right we're not going to be able to to to address all 12 we're going to be able to address you know four, five, six of these goals and objectives. We are looking not only for people who are interested in being in this committee
but people who are highly qualified. Uh we have two PhDs uh Scott Mel and Bindes Shreta. Um we think based upon the based upon the interviews from the uh you know with the with the
chair of these individuals this is this is what this these are the two individuals that are have the expertise and these would be the best fit for this particular committee. We did review all the applicants and that was uh that was
the consensus of myself as well as uh the chair of this committee. So I'm supporting uh the recommendation of the uh of the chair Kelly Began uh to support her needs and uh and wants for water sewer infrastructure.
So just want to point out that when we put this committee together, it was uh the goal was to have a balanced committee and not to be all scientists or all engineers. Um and I also want to add that there's one, two, three, four slots open
here. We have people who want to serve, people who are proven to have done an excellent job because you can look at a million different scientists and a million different engineers. And when you have someone who's a a true advocate who really will put it out
there and and try to get the word out and communicate, they make they make a difference. And you know, I'm disappointed that this has taken so long to fill these spots. Um, and I just I'm
I'm insistent. My opinion is Andrea Moore should be on this committee. >> You know, I mean, as far as as as far as as far as your disappointment in this taking uh a long time, >> you know, there was, you know, this is
this is not an appointment to the rec commission. This is not you know this we were looking this committee was looking for technical expertise um and they found their technical expertise and they found the individuals that the chair and the committee feel
would be the best fit for this committee. >> So I would just like to know technically do I need to amend the motion to add Andrea Moore in here and take a vote or does it have to come back because it's not listed here? Can I just ask how many applicants we
had? Um, in general, >> I believe there were I believe there was something like somewhere along the lines of a dozen. >> Okay. So there were a number of interviews uh and there were a number of individuals who were who were uh who were you know
who had conversations with the chair and given the um the nature of social media and given the uh the attacks that other members of this committee and other members of of of committees uh you know
in general that serve in town uh have have undertaken. um a number of very very highly qualified um individuals decided to uh to to forego um their applications uh to serve
on this particular committee. Meaning that fit is incredibly important to this particular committee and this chair. So, I'm going to respect the decision of Miss Began and respect the um you know,
the decision uh that that you know that the that her that her fellow members and and and her um made. I mean, this was a this was a long uh process. I wish we could have, you know, filled these seats sooner. We did have a uh you know, a UV
pilot uh that was ongoing. Um, you know, there has certainly been work that's happened uh behind the scenes, but it was also summertime and you know, it people are a little uh little harder to get in touch with uh in the summer. So,
>> you know, um maybe maybe a little bit to Muriel's point, I'm not sure. She can obviously speak to that, but um I'm trying to remember when we really had a um the last like full readout from this committee. uh you know we've talked
about the you know the UV or particularly the maybe the pipes. I'm trying to think about like you know you you alluded to like the broad scope that would happen in the very beginning >> and you know like kind of what what has happened with the committee in a sense
and like what are the priorities and that might be helpful for at least I say speak for myself helpful for me to understand you know the the focus on the the scientific knowledge or the people that have applied that haven't really been the fit just kind of understand
that you know mostly to get an update more broadly what they're looking that. So, we're we're staying aware aware of it in light of capital planning, etc. that's coming. Um, so I'm happy to support these two people here.
>> Um, but I think it would it would be helpful to me to get an update at some point soon about the >> fair and I Yeah. And just to to that point, Scott Mel is is taking over the uh the GIS uh analysis. that that type
of that type of work that Matt Peland when he resign when he resigned from the committee he's taking that over and um and Mr. Shrea is uh you know is a is a is a PhD a chemist uh he's going to be um taking over a similar role to to Mr.
to where to the former vice chair Mr. Bley. So those are those are the two >> here. >> Okay. So I have one other thought too. I just want to say um so after these two are filled. >> So is this accurate that there are still four that are alternates? They're non-
voting members or backwards. >> Well well right now right now the chair is considering whether whether or not they want to reduce the uh the the number of the number of alternates that may that may sit on the committee. They they may not be they may not be necessary at this at this stage.
>> I didn't take note of that. That's true. It's just alternates. Okay. I mean, does any other committee have four alternates? >> So, so what happens on this committee, what they do is when somebody doesn't show up, which happens >> a bit, um, an alternate is called is is called up. And there's a number of people that are on this committee right
now >> that were alternates and made every single meeting. There are there are people who have applications in who have been at these meetings have been at a number of these meetings have followed all these meetings and they would do a
great job. >> So is this the only committee that has this setup where the alternates just it they randomly if there's not one there then an alternate can just step up at a meeting or is this across all of our >> commo has alternates conservation >> I don't think they have this many
alternates. >> Okay. >> Okay. Okay. So that's an anomal and that's something that's decided by the chair or is that something we >> we structured it? >> We decided it 18 months ago. >> All right. >> It's just at when they have their meeting it's the chair that calls you know is supposed to identify who's going to vote.
>> Right. Okay. So I would say >> I just want to address I >> me being me I want to address the elephant in the room. Okay. Andrea Moore. Um we probably all know she's done a lot for Saves Kings Beach right? She's done a lot over this past summer alone with
Nant in the testing. I don't think there is anybody who's been louder about having clean beaches in this town. Maybe to some might say a detriment. Some might say it's kind of too much or it's, you know, it's a polarizing personality. But I just want
to caution that we need dissenting opinion, right? And sometimes sometimes it's not easy to work with, but sometimes you know it is helpful to see another perspective. So I I understand the delicate balance of a committee too. I get it. Um but I really
don't I hate to see a candidate or someone that wants to get involved. It's difficult when there are open seats to say we still can't look at you because maybe you're too loud or maybe some people think you're too loud. Some people could say that about me. I'm sure
many people do. But, you know, if they have something they can add value to what we're looking for, the ultimate goal of clean beaches, I'm not sure there's many people that have taken on the the the awesome task of trying to trying to clean the beaches more so than
she has. >> I don't think we'd be here if if she wasn't pushing. I mean, I think >> she and Shawn she and Shawn did a lot of work to push to really make this a focal point for us, >> you know, but I I do understand, too, and I to David's point, you know, I want
to support our chairs and it's very difficult to say to a chair that wants, you know, that have made it that's made a decision, I don't really feel like it's the role of the liaison to step on those toes or to overstep. That's not what we're here to do either. We're kind of here to get people back to the middle and say, "Okay, sometimes, you know, you
might feel strongly this way, chair. You might feel strongly this way candidate. How can we meet in the middle? How can we still make this this committee fully functioning and doing what they set out to do, right? How do we do that when we have people at polar opposite ends, right? So, I I don't envy the position
of the liaison here. I I don't um it's a tough one, but I just I feel like that has to be said and you know it would be great if there could be some kind of compromise or some kind of open conversation where we can get everybody together and say what is the problem here really? What what is preventing us from getting this fully staffed with
people that want to be there, right? You know, I I would love to see that. I'd love to help facilitate it if it needs to happen that way. Um because I just I hate to see people turned away when we have what looks to me like four vacancies, right? And maybe it won't be four, maybe it'll be two. But
>> to give context to the conversation that's already been had, David is I know the the path forward was to fill the two active seats. So the like we can I think vote to support that. But as far as the four seats that are still open,
was the thought to take any of those applicants to put them in those seats or you looked at that as well? But were you just prioritizing the two open voting member seats or were you not prioritizing those other vacancies? Because if the thought is like people
feel away about a volunteer, then there's no better way than to slot them in an alternative seat and sort of let them gain the trust of the committee, right? and participate you like I I am trying to fill a role
that Danielle is also talking about which is to figure out some compromise but >> the the the prioritization was to fill the to fill the two roles. The chair indicated that there was there would be discussion at their at an upcoming meeting about the determination of of
how many alternates would be would be needed with a recommendation to come back to the select board regarding that as well as continuing to look at applications of that have already been that have already been submitted as well as new applications that that come in
based upon need. Yeah, I just >> Yeah, I think this is absurd. I really do. This is so absurd. >> Applied and there are four vacancies still left. I don't I'm not sure why we would turn people away. >> Well, fill these things up.
>> I mean, does it make sense to have the chair come and and talk to us until we can understand her perspective? >> Well, I don't know. I >> I have to be honest, Danielle. I I I don't want I personally don't like having a chair. It's the role of the chair is not to control the whole
meeting, not to control everything that's going on. It's to facilitate conversations and to make sure that a committee is working in a healthy way to to get results. >> And and and I and I and I I'm going to I'm just going to say that this this
individual has stepped up and is doing the absolute best that she can to facilitate this most important committee. So I I I don't believe that she that she should be criticized in the least. Uh she is doing she's doing everything that she can do. She is
working with her committee and she is addressing uh addressing the need to fill these uh these spaces. If you want to have her come in and and give a and give a report, I think that would be great. Let's work with her and we can get her on an agenda, you know, within
the next 30 days. I think that's I think that's that's fine. Uh we're also going to have an update from you know from Gino regarding the uh the UV test. Well, maybe that's something that we can >> I'm talking about staffing. I'm not what they're what they're doing. That's >> my basic but basically what it goes
together. >> Yeah. >> And and and I Yeah. I mean, >> sorry. Go ahead, Dave. >> Yeah. >> I mean, you know, Andrea, there's no doubt uh that she's been a a vital force in bringing attention to this, >> right? >> She she's not alone. Uh many other
people have feel extremely strongly about it as well. Uh and that's one piece of making progress. Um and so I think it's you know just seems to me very obvious that you need to understand
what the work is ahead for the committee to understand what skills you need in order to be effective. So let's hear from the committee exactly what they they see the work to be going forward. You know, if this is about technical
analysis of systems and engineering and testing, that breeds one type of candidate, right? If you need advocacy at the state level, that breeds another type of candidate. If you have something else that you're going to be prioritizing, that maybe is a different
candidate. So, let's hear what they have to, you know, say about their agenda. >> Well, we're already filling these roles, though. >> Yeah. But I >> But we're trusting the chair to understand what that is. We want an update about it. We're not filling all the the uh what are the vacancies. >> We're not we're not eliminating we're
not eliminating them either, but we're giving we're giving them the opportunity to come in and and to and to update update the board, which they they should they should be willing and >> I think somebody is being punished here for being an advocate. That's what it looks like to me.
>> I I hear that's what how you feel about it. But I I sincerely believe that like you know we do have a lot of people that have certain rationale as I understand it >> but I don't know I've said it twice already. I just want to understand >> I I respect what you have to say but I
you know I I feel like somebody's being punished for being an advocate. Um I mean to me it's it's hysterical if we're going to say well somebody was active on Facebook. I mean, I know that there's a significant amount of select board members here that are a little active on
on Facebook. So, I am I'll admit >> see pictures of my kids. >> So, um I I would just say this. I would just caution that while we're looking for a certain skill set and experience, if we look at the makeup of this existing committee, I'm not sure that um that would pass the sniff test there.
Right? So, let's be real careful when we say things like um we're looking for science or this and that because I mean I'm looking at at least two people here that don't have that background that are already on. >> I mean Charlie Patios was a was a was a connection from the from the water sewer rate the rate committee that was
>> sure but he doesn't have a science background. >> I just think that was folded that was folded into that. But I just I want to stay cognizant. I also want to stay cognizant of the fact that there is one woman on this board. Um, right? And I and I really want to >> understand that, right? I I want to see
that we're embracing diversity in in all the ways that we say we should, right? And we're putting a mix of people with differing opinions. Um, which is one of the one of the things that we outlined when we revamped how we appoint people to committees, right? Because a lot of what we got for from feedback was, you
know, you get something based on who you know and Right. >> That's the vibe of this town and you have to know someone to get something. No, we we we want to change that, right? And that um it's painful. It's not always easy, but um sometimes and and again, we might not all be experts in
that. If this is something that, you know, we can't cultivate or we can't help forward or we can't help progress on this committee, then maybe there's somebody else here that can. Maybe, you know, I don't know, maybe Katie wants to facilitate discussion around this committee. if if you know, maybe I I
would volunteer to do it in a minute and and see if we can get people together and and on the same page. I I just I want to be really I I support them both. I would not not support them. I think it's great. I would like to see the chair though in front of us and really
explain her rationale here. And I want to be honest and open about it. I don't think there's any reason for us to pretend like this doesn't exist. And you know, there's a very valid question about someone who's applied and feels like they're being snubbed. So, let's ask the question and let's get the answer and see what what comes of it.
But I'm happy to support these two. I think they're certainly qualified, right? >> Yeah. >> No hesitation. >> I mean, I know it came up as a conversation about one particular volunteer, but it's really about nine or 10 other volunteers that would like to be participate. It's not just about one. No. >> Well, like the whole idea of who, you
know, like >> Yeah. >> that's also a double-edged sword, right? So we have somebody that we're advocating for because you know they've advocated for the beaches and that doesn't mean that those nine other people aren't also valid to fill these
alternate positions and are do the same >> um process and consideration and maybe they have and I'm not saying that they haven't but if there are spots open like I don't want to turn people away. We are constantly asking for more and more support and I think we we can't be
turning people down because they'll never apply again. All right, this we have one shot sometimes to engage community and this could be one shot and now we are losing this person for a long period of time. So I just want to be cognizant of that. I also I'm really not
comfortable with having the chair I think having the chair come in and defend >> why they're not putting a particular person on a committee. I don't think that's the conversation more about alternatives and whether that's an appropriate amount
and the the scope the scope of the committee and how and how I totally agree with you. It's inappropriate and how everything has and how the how the committee started, what the goals and objectives were then, what the goals and objectives are now, what they've seen now that they've been working for 18
months. I think that's valid. But to but I agree to to to >> to call out someone on one particular decision or thought process is is inappropriate. >> And I and yeah, >> and I don't feel like this is punishment either. I will I want to go on the record and say that I don't really think that's the case. I don't agree with that
piece of it, right? is it's not my personal view. I I don't think that I I really >> No, it's probably been six months since they've been in front of us, >> right? So, >> Motion to support. >> Oh,
>> all those in favor of appointing Scott >> Mel and Mr. >> Shesha. Hi. >> I >> So, I am a no. Um I'm a no with appointing anyone on a committee. um
without having all the information out there, without having the alternates and this thing with Andrea Moore who has applied twice and I feel that this is political. Um I'm very unhappy about this. So I am a no. >> Okay.
>> All right. Okay, moving on to the final item which is if I go back >> all the disability >> discussion and possible vote to approve accepting funds on behalf of the commission on disability to purchase new benches. >> Um I have two questions on that is >> I don't know who you're going to ask
them to but we will do our best to answer. >> Uh well I think I >> I don't >> there was a memo there's a memo in the packet. >> Yeah. So on this memo here, I'm not sure.
So the whole idea is to just set up a separate line item to collect the funds. >> Did you line item already? >> We do not. >> Were did we review this with Patrick that we even have to approve this? Because when we had a similar conversation recently for the historic commission, he said select board doesn't
need to approve it. So, um, Patrick consulted Bill, our town consulted. Yeah. And he asked that they request that we do this just to keep it all formal. And >> so, he has no >> So, so do we also need to do it for the historic?
>> Well, you mean that the thing that's live right now? That's different. Okay. >> That's about um >> We don't have to get into it now, but if it's different, I believe you >> because Save the Glover is not a town committee.
Save the Glover is or historic. >> Yeah, why don't we get all the facts? We'll stick with this. Yeah. Yeah. So, on this one here, the concern that I have is for immediate purpose to collect funds for installation of uh benches throughout the town. Who is going to
decide on where the benches go? And like don't we already have a process on where these things go? >> I don't know if we have a process, but if I could jump in that the donor recognition And the timeline that is attached to that is something I would like the
opportunity to make recommendations to the board. >> Okay? >> Because if you just if you pay for the first time something's installed and then we take on future care maintenance, we can never engage a future donor. We can never replace something with outside
funds again. We're just taking on a >> a liability. Yeah. >> Right. And so this is something that I have some experience with from DCR that it turns into >> so we should be rethinking >> my bench or our bench. I don't know that we need to rethink I I just I want to make sure that the recognition part of
it is something that I at least come to you guys with recommendations. You all can tell me that I'm wrong. That's fine. But I I would want to be thoughtful about that because otherwise we are we run into the idea that it's just a line of benches like you see in Castle Island >> and they're all a family or a name or an
individual that is important to the community or or someone, >> right? >> And when they need to be replaced, that then becomes our liability, >> right? >> And it's no longer that it's an investment that's made because it was important to an individual that's this spot was important to them. It just becomes a memorial to that person as
opposed to >> their family is helping to support this place that was special to them, >> right? >> Okay. >> Well, the other So, the the other topic that's come up with these benches is >> how many more benches do we need? >> Um >> because I think Gino brought that up. He's brought that up in prior meetings
like if a bench is the appropriate way to be doing this, can can we offer other ways that we can be helping the community? How many more benches does this community need? >> Yes. though a disability is bringing this up because they'll be these are areas that would help with people when
they're when they're out and about. Um we do need >> there's a listing. I don't know. >> Yeah, it's on the back page there. Um but the other thing is for example we have benches that are popping up that we have benches that are existing that have a nice little plaque that says this is in
>> you know memorial to whoever and then next to it we have a bench looks like a billboard you know all like we're starting to come out of compliance of of you know any kind of unity of what we look like. So >> there are similar questions to what I'm
suggesting to be addressed. So, should we just put this on hold until >> Well, I mean, all we're looking to do is is open an account that allows us to receive monetary donations. So, I think we can approve that and >> within the next within the next >> We'll have a conversation about what those donations will be used for. Yeah.
Where they can be located. So, I think that's that's >> Do they have to be But do we have to do we have to say they're utilized for ventures? Are they open to I mean, you maybe you can't answer this, but >> Oh, that's a good The purpose the purpose is to collect funds for the installation of benches throughout town.
Right. That's the purpose. All we're trying to do right now is is receive monetary donations. I think we can I think we can open the account >> and we can say we're looking into this and we'll have we'll have some additional information within the next 30 days. >> Yeah. And I think it says there's
commitments. So if we come up with a policy or an idea of how we would like to manage this going forward and >> share those with the >> and we share it with the donors, they may agree or disagree and the commitment never has to become a donation. >> So we're explicitly not agreeing to the
stated purpose at this point opening a bank allowing >> for them. >> Yes. >> No, I I think if >> I think we have to state a purpose, >> the stated purpose is fine. Their commitments we have no check in hand. We can let that we can let the eight that are referenced in this memo know that we are just as quickly as possible looking
at how we want to do this going forward in a way that's sustainable for the community and for the people that are making these investments in spots that are important to them or their families. Um and then the commitment will either mature into a donation or it won't. But that that way you all have taken the step necessary to accept those y
>> in whatever form. >> Where does the money go? Where's the money go now? >> I'm in day three. I can't. >> Sorry. You're doing such a great job. I feel like you've been >> That's a great answer. >> The um find out though. The fourth paragraph does say that um the account
may also be used in the future to support additional projects and initiatives undertaken by Swam keep it general. >> Yeah, I would just keep it general. >> Commission on disability >> purposes. Additional projects and initiatives TBD. >> Yeah. >> So I I agree with that.
>> All right. Is that a motion? >> Motion second. >> Second. >> Okay. All those in favor? >> I. Wonderful. >> All right. Now we move on to select board time. >> What's yours? >> Uh >> I never remember what I was going to say by the time the end of the night comes
right down. >> I know. I'm getting old. >> I'm not going first. >> You are going first. Go ahead. >> Oh god. >> Because you said you weren't. Now you are. >> Um yeah. No. What do I have this week? Geez. >> I'll go first. >> Go ahead, Doug. Thank you.
>> I have nothing. >> Neither neither do I. >> Oh, neither do you, Mary Ellen. Um, >> you always have a list. >> Yeah, I have my little So, I just want to remind everybody, >> but I don't have my notes. What I'm reminding people >> about the Fix It Clinic. >> Oh, my phone died so I can't even pull
it up. >> Diane, do you have it in front of you? The repair cafe? >> I don't. I emailed it to >> Oh, wait. Nick's gonna get it. He's on top of it. Nick, >> it is I think October 25th. >> Well, people have to sign up to sign up cafe. So, if you have
>> broken items. >> Yep. >> Um, >> so I actually talked to them at the booth about it. So, it's not just broken items. It's like if you need your suit coat mended or if you text figure out how to use your remote control or you figured you you've messed up the lock
screen on your iPhone. There's lots of things that that can happen in this repair clinic thing. So, it's not like bring your blender and they're going to help you fix it. Although they could, that's not the only reason. Uh, repaired string instruments or if you sign up and let let them know, they'll try to find
you an expert to help do the thing you need help with. So, um, it's trying to help, you know, reduce, reuse, recycle, as I used to say when I was a kid. Um, so, uh, the repair services are free of charge. The repairs are obviously not guaranteed. Um, please bring a spare
part if you know that it's needed. So that because obviously we won't have just like a box of parts. Um, and appointments are required. You can, um, scan the QR code that is available on the town website or you can click the link to make it. It is Saturday, October
25th at a senior center. It's from 9:00 a.m. to noon. And you must make appointments, I believe, by the 20th or the 22nd in order for them to have the appropriate expert to help you. And this is a program that's put on. I was speaking to Wayne and Alex at the
farmers market this past week and it's been wildly successful in neighboring communities like Salem and I think Danvers or Lynfield. And so, you know, they saw it happening and they um mimicked it here and hopefully it will be wildly successful here.
>> Um we also have the pumpkin toss on 119. So, please mark your calendar. Um, and the solid waste committee is working on the trash uh, RFP and they'll be coming in to meet with Nick to lend a hand
there. Um, the board of assessors is working on getting all their information together for the setting the tax rate so we can set the tax rates. Um, and that's uh that's pretty much it. Retirement's
just working on the retirement stuff. just making making decisions on >> retirement's retired. >> They're retiring retirement, but they're making decisions on who they're going to use for consultants. And I also I I want to thank the recreation commission for making adjustments last week. Um so
we've just come through the the high holidays, the Jewish high holidays, and on Rashashana. There were three committees that had meetings on Russashana. And when the recreation commission realized that they were having a meeting, they adjusted right
away just to be supportive and um not to interfere. And I think that it's really important um in a community, we're in a community where we have a large Jewish population. I think it's really important in the fall that we identify when these holidays are. These are high holidays. They're just not average
holidays. And that we respect that and we do not have committee meetings on on those on those dates. I mean I >> you know what will help a townwide calendar >> when we have our townwide calendar >> communications we block those dates right off. >> So I just you know I know it really put
them out and and I really appreciate their hard work. So and oh and before I finish I want to say thank you to uh the boys in the booth Nathan Kent Nate Bishimer Alexander Perez and Mr. Joel
Doulette. Thank you. I just have one thing now I remembered what it was. Um, pirate bike school. Came to Swamot a couple weeks ago, taught my 5-year-old how to ride a bike in 15 minutes. >> I spoke to the owner, Peter Conway, who told me he is in high demand because,
and he was fully booked here for the two-day workshop in 10 seconds. And he told me that he chose Swampscott because of what he felt was a very organized um, recreation department. He made a connection with Charlotte and that is what led him to come here as opposed to
Nem Newton and Welssley that >> what is it called? >> It is called Pirate School and it is um bike ride. It teaches kids how to ride a bike and he wants to bring his program here because he focuses on children with special needs as well as um lowincome
children that can't normally afford a bike lesson. and we've had some very generous people in the town volunteer to chip in and actually bring a bigger program to town for those two um populations. And it's incredible what he can do. In 15 minutes, he got my
5-year-old riding a bike who was never able to pedal with this mother teaching him. Um kudos pirate bike school Pete Conway. Thank you for coming to Swamp Scott and thank you to Wreck for getting him here. So that was my big win for the week. >> That was a big win. and welcome to Nick
Connors. >> Thank you. >> Congrats on your first meeting. >> Yes. >> Welcome, Nick. You made it. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> That's okay. I'll go ahead. No, we've already seconded. Let's just vote. Let's move on. >> I I >> Thank you, guys. >> Thanks.