All right. Um, I would like to call the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. Could I have a roll call, please? >> I'm only fine. Remote
>> remote first. >> All right. And Veronica Cal present. Selena Thomas present. >> All right. And Mike, I've got you written down. >> Yeah. Okay. I think we're good at first
just in case. >> All right. I'd like to announce that the meeting is being recorded and it'll be uploaded to the town YouTube channel. Um, is anyone else recording? >> Yes. >> Thank you. Real deal. Um,
all right. Additions or deletions? I have none. Look at that. I misnumbered again. I I have I have two corrections to the agenda. >> Okay. >> 1.4 should be review approve minutes of
1120 25. >> Oh, >> and um >> at 2.4 also known as 2.3. Um the date of the next meeting is not
determined yet. We don't know what the date is. This is >> This looks like the last agenda except the title is for today. >> Did I send the wrong one to
>> I think I have a different agenda than you do. And this one is the stamped one that was received by the town. Do you have the stamp? >> Were you talking about the agenda or the minutes? >> The agenda. Huh. That that is curious. What happened
there? Let me see what's on the town of Townson web page. I think that the wrong agenda got sent to the I think that what's on the web page is correct. Uh, what you want to do, Emily, is go to
the what got posted is the correct agenda. It looks like Sabrina sent out the old agenda to the committee. So, if you go to the Town of Towns and web page on the um
main page, the calendar, if you just scroll down to the calendar, >> I'll have to get there. Wait a sec. >> Okay. Sorry. I'll bet I I have to look and see. I might have centered the wrong one. But
>> at the same time, >> under the calendar, you want it under >> the calendar. Yep. Click on and pull up the agenda. That's the posted agenda. The one I have from Sabrina is the one
that has the stamp on it. >> It came with the minutes. >> It came with the minutes, right? >> Yeah. >> All right. I'm not sure what happened there. Okay. I'm going to have to look. >> That's
so addition. >> Oh, view agenda. Okay, I'm there. >> Okay. So, we were at 1.3 additions or deletions. >> Okay. So, >> and this looks um I don't know that I put a a meeting
date. I didn't for the next meeting. >> Right. Okay. So, we're probably good. No additions or deletions now. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Right. >> Okay. All right, I can take that out. All
right, so our next thing is 1.4. Review and approve the meeting minutes for November 20th, 2025. So, is there a motion? >> Um, Selena Thomas motion to approve the
minutes from November 20th, 2025. >> Second, >> Mike said, >> thank you. Um, is there any comment on the minutes? Any corrections or additions, deletions?
I have none. Anybody else? >> Nope. No. All right. So, uh, we're ready to vote. We'll start with remote with you, Emily. >> We're on approving the minutes. >> Yes. >> Mike said yes.
>> Selena. Selena Thomas. Yes. >> And Veronica Keel. Yes. All right. So, the minutes for 11:20 are approved. I have to take the 114 and the 1120. Uh, get them to the town clerk
for posting on the website. All right. Um, mostly what we're going to be doing today is just reporting on where we were um on the assignments that we made. So the first uh grant assignments um let's start with you
Emily whatever we found out from this >> okay I just want to find the email hold on >> okay um so I emailed Marissa at Natural River Watershed Association and Um, she
wrote, "This project has already been vetted and approved for support from the Marian Stoddard Greenway Fund. So, we are ready to assist with due diligence costs." You are correct that this is a rolling fund. So, there's no due date or
application window. All of the costs you outlined above in my email, which are the due diligence ones, are eligible for support through the fund. But if there is an equal need to find funding for
each, the survey would be the best fit on our end. Um and they wrote um she wrote, "We can commit to covering the cost of the survey at this time and can process the invoice directly with the
surveyor uh contracted to do the work. Um she wants to know if there is a specific firm we would be working with or um and then she said she understands the town may have a specific selection
process it needs to follow to identify the contractor. Um, and they would like to be CCD on email communications with the surveyor. Um, as logistics are being confirmed,
which would give her the a window um um so she can know the anticipated cost and the timing of the work. um and then they can pay um take they can take over when it comes
to processing the payment. >> So So that's pretty much set. >> That's So the survey um is that everything are they willing to pay for
the BDR then and the stewardship and legal aid funds? I think >> um she wrote no I wrote the costs fit into several
buckets due diligence and then I wrote um which is survey costs of $8,000 to $12,000 the and the BDR cost of approximately $5,000. So what she is saying is that they're they're ready to cover the
survey costs that 8,000 to 12,000. >> Okay. All right. Um let's come back to this for timing because I have the report to the uh select board that I I'll share with you
guys at the you know after we talk to anybody. Did anybody else have anything else to report back from any of the other grants? Um >> yeah. So um the DCR conservation assistance grant.
>> Um it also will cover due diligence costs. Um, I did not contact them to specifically ask uh our list of items, but they um gave examples of the expenses
they include for due diligence, appraisals, titles, environmental site assessment, surveys, legal fees associated with acquisition, which I guess we don't have that one. Um, >> right. Yeah.
They also said that they would cover work associated with the preparation of an open space and recreation plan. Okay. >> But I don't think that would >> that's not the >> work for this. >> Um and then the other
thing that they would assist with is preparing grant applications. Um >> Oh. Oh yeah, that might be good. Yeah. And it said it would complete some or
all of the steps involved in land. Oh, not that one. Sorry. Never mind. Um, so the due diligence and the grant applications. Um, there is a deadline of April 30th to apply for this.
All right. And Mike, how about you? >> Well, uh, the, um, National Heritage, uh, Freedom's Way. >> Um, try to call them, you sort of get the runaround. You sort of get back to where you're beginning. Although, there
is a place where you can schedule an introductory call, which I can do. But at first I wanted to if you look at what they're willing to support with grants, it doesn't seem to quite fit us.
>> Okay. >> Um catalyst for interpretive sites, uh interpretive experiences. The only one that seemed to fit our criteria would be support research documentation and preliminary interpretation of stories that will lay the foundation
for future programs. Okay. So it didn't quite >> That might be a farther down the road if we ever want to do any educational thing. Yeah. Something like that. >> That's right. That seems to be where they're going with it. And the other thing is that the grants aren't really
all that big anyway. >> Oh, how much are they? Just out of curiosity. >> The low um smallest one's 500. The largest one is 3500. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So the some but not a lot. >> Right. Um, I believe they had one called
community planning and resource conservation. Did that one not fit? >> Um, conservation. It wasn't on there that I saw here right now. Oh, right. That was the one. Yeah, I
have that one starred. Actually, that's the the only one that seems to have fed community planning and resource conservation. $1,000 to $3,500. >> That could help with um like the stewardship fund if they would cover something like that.
>> So, I should schedule a schedule a call with them. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. Go ahead and ask them about the stewardship fund. I think that's 3500, isn't it, Emily? Um, hold on.
>> I've got it written down. Just have to find it. >> And legal >> stewardship. >> I didn't write it. I didn't itemize. It was going to be last time. >> So, is that the um plus $50 an acre?
>> Yes. Yeah. >> Yeah. the I think it's 3500 >> for the stewardship. >> Is that the one? >> Oh, that's the Oh, the stewardship fund is $50 per acre. >> Acre. $2,500 total. >> Okay, that one would probably be the one
to check. >> Okay, >> I think >> yeah. says, "Community planning grants support the undertaking of studies such as but not limited to a whole bunch of
um preservation plans." >> Preservation plans. >> So, this could be under that. >> It might be worth asking like and then we'll just spread around everything.
So, Okay. So, time frame. Um, I think we I have a report for the selectman which is uh 2.4 on here. Let's talk about other things before that. But I figured at our next
meeting we'll know whether or not we have a holder and um and that's the point where I I think we should apply unless we want to apply like for the survey anyway regardless you know just do it um to
have it for the soccer fields. Um would the survey expire CRwise? Like if we have to go through finding a new holder, is there a time >> frame that the property has to be
surveyed for the CD? >> Yes, that would be the only >> reason I would say wait until we know we have someone. >> Then let's wait then until the beginning of of um January. What do you think, Mike?
>> Well, could you explain what that again? I don't know. >> So, the survey is being done specifically for the CR holder to know the property that they are going to be in charge of. Um
I don't know if we get the survey now and we don't have a CR holder if once we find a different CR holder they'll want a new C like is there a time frame of when the property has to be surveyed
can we >> um if it's within reason any CR holder would find it probably appropriate if it's like a year or old. So when you start getting surveys that are 10 >> five 10 plus years old when you have the
approachment that is bad >> um >> you know but it's bounded and marked >> well >> and they use utilize GPS >> and and and because I mean the CR I am assuming will be on the whole property
with the excluded area being the area that is active recreation But the CR holder could decide they want to include the entire area, including the soccer field, and then just call out the soccer field in the CR
>> in the CR. Right. >> And we won't know that until we have a holder. >> That's true. >> But won't we know soon? Won't the full board of North County Land Trust be voting soon? >> Uh the 10th, I think it is. December
10th. >> So yeah, I think we can wait until January. I don't think and with the holidays in there, I don't know that trying to get things going right now will really buy us much. >> That's a good idea. So, let's wait until January then and know whether or not we
have a holder and then >> and what they want to include in the CR. >> Okay. >> Or we could meet sometime right after the 10th when we might know. I I am not available
until the 18th. And at that point, I would say no, let's wait until January. That first >> first first Thursday in January. What's that date? I'm not even sure. Um on the calendar,
>> it's actually January 1st is the first Thursday. So >> first Thursday, so second Thursday. So that would be the A. So we'll come back to that when we get down to 2.5. Um
okay. So I I think then that our our breakdown when we go is for uh Marian Stoddard fund for the survey the BDR and we could ask about the legal
fund um with the I don't know if they will I don't know if that's allowable um with the DCR uh conservation assistant grant assistance grant
I think those are the two things there. >> BDR and what else for the conservation >> assistance fund and maybe the stewardship fund and Mike can sus out the stewardship fund with um
with freedom's way otherwise stewardship and legal if nobody else will cover them we may be going back to Marian Stoddard. >> Okay. So that would be two separate asks from them. I don't know if it's better
to do it all in one or two separate pieces. >> I don't I don't think it would matter to them. They they really want this to happen. Then then maybe what we should do then
is ask them when we ask. So ask them for the stewardship fund, the legal defense fund and the survey and then see if we get can get the BBR through DCR conservation assistance grant.
>> You want all of that through >> freedom's way. See if they'll cover it. >> Okay. But um if they won't maybe Marian started well that grant fund >> I'm going to hold off on asking for
anything else at this point. I want to wait till we find out about these others. >> Yeah, that seems reasonable. >> Yeah. >> So, okay. All right. Um,
and I'll have to find out the way. Well, you guys have done survey work through the town, right, James? I'm talking I'm bringing you into this meeting. >> Um, how have you what has been the process? Do you have to go out for bid and all that good stuff? So, we've
broken it down in between or into different parcels and they have all come up less than $10,000, but we'll, you know, um check with Del Roy and a handful. >> Last around Colby sent out um or asked
for quotes from I think four or five companies two back. >> Oh, really? >> And they weren't apples to apples. >> Oh. >> Um >> Okay. you know, at the end of the day. And um yeah, so far Dillis and Roy has been the best to work with. Uh they've
been they give us the the most complete package um at the fairest. >> Okay. At the fairest price, >> right? You know, we get a plan a plan of land that can be recorded with the registry deed when we're done. >> Right. That's what they did. >> The second we had was that wasn't even a
line item. >> Okay. All right. I I like that. So And they're working with you guys too. >> Does does something like that have to be put out for bids?
>> Not if it's under 10,000. >> Yeah. >> This is 8 to 12. So um we I don't know want to see even then it's bidding doesn't happen until over like 25,000.
prior to that you have to get several you know if it's under 10 you don't have to bid it out if it's you know or get but if it's between 10 and like 25 I >> we checked with Nelson and we did it the way that >> that you're supposed to yeah so that's
what we'll do too >> um but yeah I think Roy has done enough work around here that if it's not >> a parcel that they've done they might have a join property >> information that helps speed it up Right. Right. Okay. All right.
>> And yeah, that >> for that from the um Nashville River. >> Okay. So, January 8th meeting um we'll have more information. We'll have action items after that. All right. Um the
letter assignments. Um where is my phone? I have a text. Um Anna couldn't be here tonight, but we had a um discussion about the who the letter should be addressed to,
>> right? And um what she said um the online form asked for land owner and project manager in case they are different but they are both the town
right now and so in that case it should be addressed to the town. I know Emily, you had asked me um was it Misty at NHS, >> right? >> Um who said that she thought it should
go to someone other than the town. I thought it should go to the the letters of support should be addressed to the town because of >> So this is a letter of support for >> a conservation restriction.
>> Okay. on that property. And so it can be just as just something really simple and to the point that they support Yeah. >> getting the conservation restriction. Okay.
And um I did not contact the Mass Historic Commission, but I will. >> Well, I kind of did. >> Did you? Oh, good. >> Yeah. Well, kind of. >> I'm so glad. I um
uh left two messages with um oh someone of his name um Michael Steinets and asked him to get back. I was hoping for some guidance >> so that I could uh he could guide me to the right application or give me some um
advice. >> Uh he did he hasn't gotten back. I don't know if it's just the season or whatever's going on, snowtorm, but uh I do have an application which I think is the appropriate one. And
um the it seems pretty straightforward, a description of the property, does it include demolition, rehabilitation, um new construction and all that. But the one part that I uh wondered about I was going to ask is
the requirement that uh the funding licensing and permitting section must be completed in order for them to review the application. And on the application uh agency license or funding for the
project list all licenses, permits, approvals, grants or other entitlements being sought for state and federal agencies. So it almost is am I interpreting is that this is something that sort of comes at the end. >> It sounds like it, but we aren't really
going for a comment. it might be worth talking to him just saying that the CR and we just want to make sure that the property doesn't mean >> well it it sounds like they have to do
their their survey work to to determine whether or not there's any historical significance and they do that before they write the letter >> right >> sort of signing off on us. >> Yeah. So yeah, it would come near the end then,
>> but I will try to get a hold of him again. He hasn't. >> It would be good to have a conversation >> because it's not like we're building >> anything. Well, I guess you guys are maybe eventually. Um,
>> this whole structure. Yeah. Though other than that, it's not really uh it's just it's just >> I think I think we may have to go through this process anyway, but I'll I'll try to communicate with him directly. >> I or if we
>> I've described twice in my message that I left for him what we were looking for. >> Yeah. >> And he hasn't gotten back. So, I don't know. It sounds like we have to have the whole CR application filled out for them to look at before
they would send a letter of support. >> It sound well it sounds like they're permitting it almost or blessing it. I don't know. >> Well, that was my interpretation as well. But unless there's
>> But actually that kind of makes sense because if I'm going to say yes, I support the CR, I want to know what the CR says, >> right? >> Right. Right. >> Well, I'll I'll try to get hold of >> Okay. All right. Yeah, but it probably
is further out for that. Okay. any any other letter that I'm forgetting. Those were the only two that I could think of from the last. All right, I'm moving on to 2.3
discussion of forest habitat management and how to address it in the CR. Again, maybe we're early on this um because we don't have a CR holder yet. But this is why James is here, I'm guessing, because there should be some
sort of management plan in there. >> I have since seen up um the what national heritage has. >> Um which I think is pretty um
robust and how to do it. Um obviously is all different. So I don't came to listen. So that might be something that we want to incorporate somehow into the CR or have as a an appendex I don't know
you know the >> and there older publications you know 10 15 years old but >> to refer to there's a place in the CR where you list >> well yeah
>> yeah where with the documents called out >> it seemed when when I was emailing back and forth with Mike Jones and Misty that they they it seemed that they've been waiting to receive a forest management
plan from >> towns and >> from the town >> from somebody I don't I don't know it it just it was very confusing to Hey,
>> a forest management plan. It's not >> are are >> a habitat management plan, not a forest management plan. >> No, it was forest management for that property.
>> Um, I can see if I can find Is this recently in your recent discussions, Emily? >> Yes. Um because it was really the three of us were emailing back and forth.
Um let me I'll search for Misty. Let's see. Am I >> okay? >> Here it is. Letter. Okay. Um, that's not it.
No, I'm I'm having trouble finding it. But yeah, they they did seem to be looking for that. I just need to mistake and >> a forest management plan like what's on meeting the meeting house hill property
or the land trust properties in town that sort of forest management plan. >> Yep. Um >> so let's see Misa. So it's
um I think it was Mike who was saying that um so recently contacted Tesa um with some questions and one of the questions was um the management of the large nesting area to the southwest. How
will it the responsibility be divided between Tesa, the town and the land trust? >> I think that's something that gets put in the CR and in the lease to TASA, >> right? >> That you know, two separate.
>> Maybe that is what she was talking about with Emily. >> That could be. >> Um, so we're trying to get a meeting with Miss Deianne. Oh, >> okay. >> Haven't heard back from her yet, though. So, >> it's the holidays. Nothing's going to
happen till January. I honestly don't think so. Anyway. Okay. Um I think then let's just hold off on this. It really until we know we have a CR holder, there's really no >> I don't think it it's really going to
change much either >> from holder to holder because it's it's going to happen no matter what. >> Right. All right. Review the report for the select board from the CR committee. So
this is and this can be changed. This is a first pass, but I did put it on the agenda for next week's meeting. And Emily, you don't have it. I'm going to read it and then I'll email it to you after the meeting. >> What is this?
>> You want it now? It's uh moving on to 2.4. Review the report for the select board from the CR committee. >> Oh. >> Um I I didn't want to um >> Okay. >> do it prior to the meeting itself. So um
the the date of the select board meeting that I was going to bring this forward is December 8th. I just thought I should report on what it is that we're doing. So it says the goal of the CR committee is to protect in perpetuity the permitted activities and interests at
Squanakook Meadows. The town owned required open space of the Horseshoe Drive development. The property has three major purposes. Purposes may not be the right word. Housing the town soccer fields that are leased to Tesa, providing a future well site for town
water. and protecting the pri priority habitat not unidentified but identified by NHSP. Um the CR committee >> maybe you could sorry you were just
talking about the the word purposes. >> Yeah. >> Needs are are concerns. >> Three major needs are concern. Sorry. >> Three major uses.
>> Uses maybe uses uses. Let's say uses >> values. >> I like uses housing. >> All right. >> Providing future wealth site and protecting the uses. Okay.
>> Habitat. Not habit. >> Okay. Thank you. >> The CR committee has been meeting on a regular basis since April 2025 in order to accomplish this goal. Minutes of the meetings can be found in the office of the town clerk and for most meetings on
the town of Townson website. They aren't all up on the website, but hopefully they will be soon. Uh, next one. The committee is currently awaiting a final decision from a prospective holder of the conservation restriction expected by
the end of the month. Further support from the select board includes providing grant writing support for 19 to 23,000 to fund the baseline documentation report, a survey of the recreational portion of the property for
the soccer fields, and funds for both a stewardship fund and a legal defense fund. it's required by the CR holder. Um, and we can discuss whether we want this from the subboard or whether we want to do the grants on our own. The
next one is legal review of the CR at at least one pass of it has to go has to be vetted by town council I think. And the last one is a vote of the select board to support the CR once it is
finalized by EOEA. So, and uh and then just thank you for your ongoing support. So, it's pretty simple, but it you know what the what do what are we asking the town to provide for us if anything and um
and uh just a status of where we are. >> Sounds good. >> Is it okay? >> Yeah. So, >> I'll I'll fix my words. >> And I think we started meeting in March. Did we say 29th or something like that?
>> March 20th is the first meeting. >> March of 2025. All right. Do we want grant writing support? I might say maybe. >> Yeah, I think
>> the town has to apply for the grants, I think. >> Yes. >> Um, so that's why I put that there. >> I think we do. Um cuz generally speaking, if you have somebody who is used to writing the grants, they
know how to write them so that they are more likely to be approved. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Um I think it would be possible that we could figure it out on our own, but I think we >> it has to be submitted by the town. I
think >> it does have to be submitted by the town. >> So, okay. Um, I was going to put in here a discussion of um ownership of the soccer fields uh in order to take advantage of the land and
water conservation grant, but might be a bigger ask. Maybe that's the next report. I was going to put that in there and I thought, nah. All right. And I don't think that's the CR committee. I think that is a maybe
I'm wrong, but town meeting. It's really town meeting, >> right? >> Um a discussion with the select amongst the select board members and then to take it forward to town meeting. Um I don't know.
>> Well, the town oaks the property that the the soccer fields are on. >> Correct. >> What would we be wanting ownership for then? Additional ownership. >> So again, this is outside of the conservation restriction. >> Yes. So
>> the town has the capability of applying for a grant that Tesa cannot apply for because it's a municipal grant and it could possibly pay for the entire field expansion. So it it funds things like
swimming pools or water, you know, slash pad, >> town recreation, >> town recreation, you know. Um it would purchase open space for town recreation, that sort of thing. Um so anyway, it it
just it's the one that I went to the meeting and we talked about it >> thinking it was going to work for this and then finding out that no, it was >> it it's really for the for building the fields, not for >> right >> the conservation restriction. Well, yeah, but there's other opportunities it
could be utilized for because it's open space and rack and >> Oh, yeah. It could be used for other things. So, >> yeah, >> be great to have a splash pad. >> Put it back here.
>> Right. Exactly. Anyway, that's neither here nor there. So, topic for another time. All right. So, that Are we good? Do I need a vote for me to go forward with this? Um >> um so my only question was this part
about the grant writing um the last line the stewardship fund and legal defense fund >> that was to write grants for both of them >> right >> again that is dependent on the seor holder >> yes >> so if
>> these are may >> yeah that's true okay >> these are maybe I just want them to know that we may need may include include because it's dependent on the sentence before, >> right? >> Um, so okay, I'll say may include.
>> Yeah. >> Um, all right. So, is there a motion for me to take this? >> I motion Selena Thomas motion to uh correct the minor typos and bring it to
the select board. >> Is there a second? second like PL said. >> All right. Um any further discussion? I will correct the typos and I will send it out to all of you for blessing, you
know, and then I'll it's Monday that the meeting is. So just need to let me know if there's anything that needs change. All right. Um, all those in favor of submitting this report to the select
board, starting with you, Anal. >> Yes. >> You have to say your name. >> Emily Fine. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> My card said yes. >> Selena Thomas. Yes.
>> And Veronica. Yes. Okay. Thank you everybody. Um uh the agenda and the date for our next meeting. That's 2:45. That's our last thing. Um so the agenda is we'll know whether or
not we're good, whether or not we have a CR holder. And so it would be to discuss that to um do a um timeline something more certain with any grant assignments
contingent on the answer. Um and uh that's about it. working out a a meeting schedule, I guess, with uh the CR holder on how they want to
work on it with us. Is that good? I think so. >> All right. Date for next meeting is January 8th. Do we want to go back to 700 p.m.? Is that better? Do you like 7:30?
>> Well, I forgot that it was 7:30, so I was here at 7:00. It was fine with me. >> How about you guys? >> Either way works for me. So, >> how about you, Emily? >> I like seven. >> You like seven. >> I'm an early to bed, early to rise
person. >> Okay. So, we're back to 7 p.m. >> Okay. >> All right. Um, motion to adjurnn. Mike Pot said makes a motion to adjurnn at 820.
>> 820. >> Is there a second? Selena Thomas second. All right. All those in favor starting with Emily. >> Emily. Fine. >> Yes. >> Yes.
>> Selena Thomas. Yes. And Veronica Kelly. So, um, that is it. Thank you everybody.