--------- Good evening everyone. My name is Laura Shiffren and I will call the meeting to order of the select board of September 25th, 2025 at 4:34 p.m. Veronica Cal present and worship present. Please join me in
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.
I'd like to thank all of our veterans as well as all of those serving currently and abroad. all of our emergency response people as well as their families who help support us. I'd also like to thank
all of our volunteers, the elected and appointed officials for Townsen for giving up your time for our community. The meeting is being recorded and will be uploaded to YouTube. Is there anyone else recording?
Hearing none. 1.4 four chairmans and deletions. Uh 41 413 is being deleted because it's a duplicate of 411 and
I I would like to take out of order if it pleases the board. um 4.9 to be addressed first as those members
are here. Okay. All right. And 1.5 approved the meeting minutes and we have none. Um I'm surprised at that because I thought we had four that we were I think we're going to do them on the
30th. All of them? Yes, I believe so. There's going to be a huge amount of um Yeah, I know that. But I I'm the This is not today's agenda. No, I know this is next week's agenda, but I was under the impression that we
were doing four of them tonight. Okay. Hearings are not until 5:30. So, if we could go to 4.9. Would you like to come up to the table or all of you if you like so um I am Selena Thomas. I am the vice
president of Towns and Ashb Soccer Association. This is James Gates. He is our field director. Um, we are here because we have requested to extend the lease. Um,
I just got the lease renewal documents about a half hour ago and I noticed a small issue with it today. Um, so do you guys have the lease document? Okay, good. Um, under the premises, it
describes the premises as um being 40 acres. It shows the fields uh sorry, the well field as well as the soccer fields. But if you go to exhibit A at the very end,
um it doesn't have the right exhibit because this is a really bad version of just the soccer fields, I think. Um so I looked back at a previous lease that we
have and I have the old one. It says old. The previous lease used to have a site plan um that included Horseshoe Drive and it talks about the restricted area
which is also talked about in the text of the document um as well as the fields in the well field. So I am and the one in the current document also says that
the red outlined area is approximately 500 ft by 900 ft which is not 40 acres either. And you can't see the red outline. So I think something happened with the
map at some point. Um this is from 2006. So it's a gold one. I looked at 2021, it still had this. Um, sorry, in 2020 when we were working on getting the
renewal done, it still had this. But then the lease that we got in 2021 has that other map. Is that the one that began October 4th of 2022, which I have no idea why they just cross out the word
and don't put the That's the That was the lease that um is currently going to expire at the beginning of October. I mean, we could we could agree subject to review of
that if everybody's comfortable with that. Um I I would like to take some time to go through the wording on this and if it helps and make sure that it's uh I'm looking at what I have from 2022.
I can send this particular map. I have that map. You have that one? You can send it to all of us. But I have that that was in the like 2006. Yes. Yeah. That I have that here. And I exhibit A diagram of least property
which is that yeah exhibit B was um Do you know why that wasn't carried over to all the leases? I don't know what was kept on here. what I have is not official, but I take what
what was disseminated and I download it usually and keep my files and um but I don't always agree with what's in the office because I don't know I'm not doing the office stuff. That's the town administrator and the um
secretary. Um so yeah, so legal counsel at the time. I mean, no, it was the same legal town 2006 though. Well, but to but what we did in 2022 was
reviewed by town council. So, um Yeah. So, if you read what it says for the premises, it describes this map. Yeah. Where you can see all of Horseshoe Drive. Yeah. um versus this exhibit, you can't
even see all of Horseshoe Drive, right? So, we can certainly uh uh attach that exhibit to the new uh renewal contract and that probably would sort of close the loop on that. Yeah. And I understand if you need
the CR though. Um I don't think it changes CR because the lease allows for expansion. Just make concern. Yeah. No, it should not affect that at all. And that's for the last lease. I know it was
exhausting for everyone. Well, we tried to because the older lease didn't allow for the expansion, right? And so what we had done and James worked on the committee when we worked on this lease way back when. Yeah. Yeah. It was darn
four years ago. Yeah. And so we updated the lease to allow for the possibility of expansion. And that is in that is in the text. Yes. And that's good. I saw that and it was just that the property description does not match
the map. That's correct. That's in there. And um and I think something just got like shuffled or you know during all of that back and forth and I I don't have access to my email from my first somehow this just got dropped and
someone just tried they put a Google map in there because it was a closer I was probably someone couldn't locate this and they just put the Google map in there. That's probably what happened and they like zoomed in on the field. Yeah, that could very well be what happened. You mentioned 400 by 900, but this old
one says 525 by 900. Um, which still doesn't make sense to me, but 525 by 900. Yeah. So, that's in the draft of the renewal. Um, but the on that first page it says consisting of 40 acres more or less.
Um, which is this, which is the entire property. Correct. And it explicitly calls out that it excludes the water well test field. Mhm. So, and that's that is in this diagram, right? But it's not in this.
So, this is we just need this diagram. I don't have the new language. Does it refer to select board versus select? So, we need to make sure we'll just change. It says select is that that's part of I think
that is part of one of these lots. It's part of our proposed not this this little this little here. Yeah. That goes out to the road and it actually should include the entrance the the existing one.
this. Yep. So, this is our existing driveway and then this area over here, it does say park area here. So, yeah, this right away. Yeah. And we are going to put another rightway here to make it so that the
traffic can flow a little more easily. And this this renewal also we're saying that we want to at least they discussed going for a longer renewal next time. Yeah. And um so that you guys can apply for more grants. Yes. And that was one of the struggles
with the last uh goound of release um and just trying to figure out the wording when but knowing that we have to go um do it at a town meeting. Yep. So that' be January. So we So we went with the three three-year
well three three-year terms and that's what we could do legally without Yes, that was what we could do with that, right? Um and did that you said that arrangement um may prevent you from applying for certain It does prevent us.
Oh, okay. What What's the bare minimum to qualify for some of these grants? Like I don't think we've asked that explicit question. Was it 20 year? That was at a town meeting. Yep.
Maybe last year, a year ago, maybe. Um I two No. Is it two years ago? I I don't think I was on the select board when that went through. But I mean, would 20 years make it easier? Probably. Yeah,
we can, you know, circle back to it as as we get closer to another county meeting, right? So, I will also do some investigating and kind of see what's Yeah. out there before that period. Also, you know, look at
what they have. Yeah. I always say comparison usually does wonders. Yeah. So, we do conservation. Yeah. I've already looked at a few like PPE doesn't lease their land. Um, but that's
okay. When would you like to meet again? When do you think? Can I see that? Yeah. Well, we'll give you enough time to have it in a fashion that we can vote on. Um, I can update exhibit A to include
that little tiny portion. Okay. This section right here um is part of the lot that we are leasing or trying to continue leasing. Um so just making sure that this is
included. Um so I can update this and get it to you. I have this but it's really a lousy Yeah. Um copy. I have a better copy of it. So I can definitely send you this. um
probably tomorrow and then if you wanted to meet again next week that would work but if you need more time the select board meeting next Tuesday morning um would that be enough time to
should that's before October 4th right just keep extending it month by month like we did last time which is what we do we're trying to get out of exhausting And I think that's how that picture and the satellite image ended up in there.
Yeah, we're trying to get out of that pattern. Yeah, agreed. And so, do you need to be here for us to approve it or um as long as I reviewed it, you change it
like but I can also most likely come and have a flexible schedule most days. Okay. Well, we we were beginning that meeting at 9:15. and um we'll put you on as the first
appointment, but you know, if you can't make 9:15, we have a bunch of stuff to go through. So, you can always come a little bit later as well. Yeah, whatever whatever you feel is right, SA, we'll put that on. And that's good for you.
Tuesday. Tuesday. Okay. Yeah. Tuesday morning. I'm open right now. So, thank you for get it smoother this time. Sorry, we're getting there. Didn't catch the And hopefully we can.
All right. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. [Music] Thanks. Could have taken it with you. We'll go down to 3.1
of Karen and Clement to the Kids Country Playground Committee effective September 25th, 2025 until June 30th, 2028. Is there a motion? I move to appoint claren comment to kids country playground committee effective 9:25 2025 until 6:30
2028 second any discussion hearing none call please Laura 3.2 Two, appointment Kristen Byron to the kids country playground committee effective 9:25 2025 until June 30th,
2027. Is there a motion? I move to appoint Kristen Bon to the kids country playground committee effective 9:25 2025 until 6:30 2027. Second. Uh second. Any discussion?
Um how many members are on this 23? Is that correct? We we created this during my first round of selectment. I think it's three. I I was just wondering um who the other personalists.
Maybe it's Amy Harrington. Could be. Yeah. And the I'm looking at the dates. Um because these two are the same. Oh, no. There's one 27 28. So there must be one 26. Well, that that's kind of what I was
wondering about. Um, so it will be 26 which is the next year. Next year. Okay, I'm good. That was the discussion. So, okay. Roll call vote. Veronica.
Thank you to Kristen as well. It's Karen. 3.3. Appoint Lorraine Farmer as a senior center appointee representative to the meeting hall Gallery committee effective 92525
until June 30th, 2026. Is there a motion? I move to point Lraine Farmer as senior center appointee representative to the meeting hall gallery committee effective 9:25 2025 until 6:30 2026. Second. Any discussion?
Hear anything? None. Focus. 3.4. Appoint Mary Jane Churchville as a finance committee representative to the town properties committee effective 9 2025 until June 30th 2026. Is there a motion? I move to appoint Mary Jane Churchill as
the finance committee representative to the town properties committee effective 925 2025 until 6:30 2026. Second. Any discussion? Anything? None.
I a good motion. Okay. Thank you to FM for volunteering the term 4.1. Approve and sign outside of meeting all 2026 renewals for common theular
licenses contingent upon receipt of required documentation and payment. Is there a motion? I move to approve and sign out of session all 2026 renewals for common particular fiddlers fiddlers licenses contingent upon
receipt of required documentation and payments. Second. Any discussion hearing? None. We'll call a vote. Veronica. 4.2. Review and approve name change of Bullion Beastro LLC
to Susie Puland DBA Bullion Beastro Franchise LLC as of September 1st, 2025 and reflected in the common I just think of it as fiddles
documents. Is there a motion? I move to approve name change of Bulan Beastro LLC Jusi Puland BBA Bulan Beastro Franchise LLC as of 9125 reflected in common
fiddlers license renewal documents good is there a second okay any further discussion hearing none vote I give it a try
it really does look like thick two hours. It does. Well, how do you pronounce? Okay. 4.3 Highway's request to increase plow contractor rates for upcoming winter. Is there a motion? I move to approve the increase plow
contractor rates for upcoming winter. Um I will second it for discussion. Yes, discussion. Um I I have a concern with this um because I am not convinced that we will I would like to see what the
what the increase is in snow and ice projected increase in snow and ice based on the number of hours we had last year. Um because free cash uh could be a concern. Um, and I will
also say that uh this letter that says the 10-year average that we're we're so far behind. Okay, I was a selectman in the September. If you go into the um SharePoint for September 7th, 2022 or thereabouts,
it also said that we were we used that basis to increase the rates and to allow in 2022 and we did it every year after that. So I am trying to understand how we keep increasing the
rates and we still are below average for the surrounding town. I think it's because their rates are going up so quickly. I I think the surrounding communities have also increased their rates. How much?
It's the same letter that we got every year. It seemed I mean they laid it out here what the other towns are going at and it is a lot higher than us. I mean I just think we we have a financial issue. Oh, I understand that. And I think that and I looked at what we
paid last year. I'm not sure how I get the 10. Um because I really saw only one occasionally a second or third person and the one vendor was running probably four trucks every time.
Um, and and it's just a lot of money. And I know we need to plow the roads, but we have a situation where we cannot pay our staff. We're asking our staff to forego colas and reducing hours on some, etc., etc.
We don't have anything necessarily set in stone, but we're we didn't get the override and now we're going to allow for higher rates for plowing. And I understand that that's not part of the budget, but in the previous letters, it
gave an amount that they expected it to be to increase by based on the prior year. Um, I can pull that letter up. Um, and I'll pull the 2022 one up. I I went and
looked because sorry, I remember things and it looked really similar to other letters that I've read in the past. So, it was uh me in business
for 11 September 7th, 2022. And so I was looking for the lawn with these averages. $4.34 increase would add approximately $4,296 [Music] to the snow and ice account. This would
bring Townson closer to the current rates that are offered in the surrounding communities. Um this is after the um you know anyway I um I I don't
I don't see how we can vote to do this. That's I I don't see how I can vote to do this um at this point in time. And I have a real concern about using the amount of free cash that we've used for snow and
ice, especially given that we are probably going to have to put 200k of free cash towards the schools because we're that much in the hole um because we used 200k of free cash
this year this year um for this fiscal year. And so but so I'm sorry. Go ahead. I can I can't do it. So just know that I I mean the one thing I would say about
that is is is snow and ice like schools is after snow and ice. So like in No, this year it wasn't. Well, it took the it took the free cash before we snow and ice happens at annual town
meeting time in the special town meeting. Yeah. This happened in March, right? and we did not have the opportunity to even speak about it in the meeting. Um, and anytime I tried to say anything, I was shut down.
That that's not what we're talking about. And so I'm talking about it now. I don't see how we can agree to this when we are in the situation we are in. Our our police are not are working out
of contract. So, they're working on last year's contract because we are still negotiating next year's um and we didn't get the override that we we were hoping to get to allow salaries and wages.
Oh, yeah. I understand last year's rate but not the unions. I I I understand all those details. All I'm saying is is that if we have a hard time securing contractors to file because we're not paying if they can get paid elsewhere, not that they would,
that that's a that's a very short-term problem. That's November potentially. It is. It is, but I can't agree. And what's is there is there if if if the highway super
highway super superintendent Yes. Yeah. Sorry. Sometimes I get the titles wrong. I apologize. If if he is saying this is what he needs and expecting that
what was our precaution snow ice last year that we put towards it? Um about 291,000. And how much are we estimating free cash is going to be certified at? Just a rough estimate. Do you think? I I no idea. It's We're still working on that,
but everybody wants it. Oh, everybody's asking for it. Wow. We can get a cash. They said it yesterday. I I understand. I'm just saying this is this is public safety, too. free cash income every year establish
and this is what it's for. But we saw what they did to us. Oh, I understand. I just don't I don't want to base our vote my my vote today on what happened last year. I'm just looking at this and saying our our current the guy the person the employee who we rely on to tell us what's needed in this case is saying this is what's
needed. And I'm not I've always voted for it. I understand. I can't this year. I just can't I I don't think it's um I can't um and I do rely on department heads. Oh yeah, absolutely. I I do public safety.
I do 100%. But so what's the alternative? The alternative is the people who are working in the highway department do the plowing to that and we have we will get people that um
I will do that I that will plow um and that can be called when they can when they're needed because this say no. So right now, I mean, this letter says there's 12 contractors, but if you look at the snow and ice
breakdowns and what was actually paid, it wasn't paid for 12 different contract. Nine, not even. Uh, if I remember right, there was one major contractor who ran several plows, maybe four or five plows, I can't
remember exactly. was that and then there were two others that were called occasional if if I'm reading the um I wonder refers to the number of people or this could be referring to the number of people actually technically nine
contractors you know what I mean and not the individual payers pay these you know I just want to say something um you know given how competitive
this um services, you know, contractors, you know, will go to other communities if they're paid a few bucks more. Um, you know, it also depends because if we have local people that we can rely on, they're not driving to another community.
So, there's gas involved with that. I will I mean, some of these um some of these uh examples ash peeps just next door over. Oh, they pay more. Yeah. But do they have what kind of highway
department do they have in Ashby? Do they have their own trucks? How many of their own trucks and in what condition? So it could be that they pay more because that is they don't have the capability
that is right and so they have to have it. Yeah. Um I I don't know. Um, but nonetheless, I I am for giving the increase to the contractors. We desperately need as many as we can
during the season. We need to keep, you know, a pretty healthy list uh in case, you know, we need to call upon them. Um, I realize if we don't have contractors, we're now relying on our staff and that becomes a fatigue and safety issue. You
know, we are the highways already down people. So to have the existing staff um add more neighborhoods to their to their route um while they can do it, you know, eventually becomes a safety and fatigue
issue. So that's Have they filled any of the positions because they have the right to. We're still working on that with the unions if you recall. No, they have a right to hire one of them. We haven't finalized that yet. So, and
so until we do, we we can't hire that one vacancy, which you know should be we should fin be finalizing that pretty soon, probably with the next um union meeting. We can take this up at another time.
Well, well, at the moment, um, the highway department is very, um, um, putting the rates out there, trying to drum up business or early sign on folks. So, you know, hence what why this
memo was sent from the highway superintendent. It says October 10th is their deadline. You can take it up again next week if you like. I mean my thought is is that this is what free this is what towns and uses
free cash for and if it means we don't have it for other things but it's the last thing that we use it for and there are meetings prior oh I understand and free cash wasn't even on the table in March
and it became on the table and if the town votes otherwise and we've done this, how do we pay our contractors? Do we say at that point we are no longer doing contractors? Do we have the will to do that? Um, and if we
don't, I what happens if we don't have the funds? We keep going into stabilization. That's what we would have to do and we'd have to do that. I understand. I'm just like I think what happened last year there's not a precedence of that happening every year
but it's set precedent I understood but and I'm just it's president I and I don't I don't trust it I don't trust it I don't it was a process that I was appalled at
after going to meetings for 40 plus years you And never had I ever seen anything like that. I couldn't even believe that was legal to be done. So, um I'm good with moving to the next
meeting and we can we discuss if you if you want or if you want to vote, vote. I just have a hard time increasing these rates when we have asked what we've
asked of the staff. I understand. I'm not I'm not Trust me, I don't I don't want to ask the staff for what they're having to do and then increase this, but I also understand that we risk not being able to get the people we need if we don't do this. It's
I It's a little bit of a situation where when you rely on contractors, you're kind of you're at the mercy of the rates that surrounding towns pay. And you know, I think a 3% increase is
it's a modest amount. It's It's not um It's actually 5%. Because it's 3% for the hourly plus 2% for the early sign on. If you don't do the early sign on, you don't get that 2%. You only get the hourly.
But if you do do the early sign on, which most people do that have plowed for town, then it's a 5% increase. It's I see it as any contract that we have is different than unfortunately right now our staff. We have legal
contract. We have accounting. All these things can set a rate that's harder for us because it's outside because we're contracting it. I mean legal increased their rate this year. you know, there's a lot of places where there's increased
and legal not only increased this year but has changed the terms and and so I just think that I don't think this is a lone case because of so much use because of the use, right? I just don't think this is the only
scenario that we're facing and I that's just my thoughts. Oh, we have a motion to second. There's been discussion. What is the pleasure of the board? I mean, as an alternative, if the three
if the 3% and the 2% is uh too much, maybe consider reducing it versus, you know, um voting in the negative altogether. Maybe it's a compromise. I'm just throwing it
out there. It could is the 2% set by the state for the in. So it's what they do is they take the hourly increase it by 3%. Then take that increased hourly and increase it by 2%. So it's actually more than a 5%.
It says the incentive rate of 2% is being proposed. Doesn't say it's that's what this Well, let's go. If you say yes. Oh, no. Of course. Well, that's why that indicates to them. Yes. That's why I'm throwing it out there. If
the three and the two seems too high, then you can bump it down to something lower. Is the incentive rate of 2% usual for each year. It's always been 2%. So, for the incentive and I think a 3%
increase, I I took off 22. Um I'm looking at 25 now. But um anyway that that is the 2% is the typical incentive and I think the state sets that up to 2% or
something. So I mean as Nelson says you know it says towns and highway is recommending that towns and increase the hourly contract rates by 3% across the board. Is 2% more palatable to people and not do the incentive? Well, I I
don't know if that's I mean, if if the incentive is what we've done every year, I think this incentive it really should stay there because um contractors they have to put new equipment on, they have to buy additional insurance and without that
guarantee and basically the the 2% incentive doesn't make a lot of sense for folks to um spend all that money and maybe not be called at all or even or very much at
all. So that 2% I think is is it really gets the folks to sign up and stay on it. What if they just give the uh sign up incentive? I think it's always done. It sounds like Yeah, that's always been there. Then
nothing's really changed, you know. Yeah, but you still have to agree to it each year, right? Yes, you have to agree to it. So we agree to it. We agree to the 2% incentive and there's and then we're saying no
increase in the contractors and the hourly. So the 2% it would be a 2% increase on the hourly if people signed which Yeah. So again, you guys can uh vote
in the affirmative, the negative, or come up with a different amount that might be more amanable to everybody. So we hold this till the 29th. Yeah.
30th 30th and 9:15. I'll put it on the uh Thank you. I'll put it on the agenda again. So 4.3 will be moved to the 30th
4.4 Four, engineering good services contract for GPI on complete streets grant Brooklyn street sidewalk. Is there a motion? I move to approve the engineering/bid services contract for GPI on complete
streets grant Brooklyn street sidewalk and authorize town ministry Nelson Louie as signatory to sign out of session on the select board's behalf. Second. Second discussion. I have none. Uh hearing none. We'll call vote
and thank you. 4.5 review discuss quadrant postage machine contract. Is there a motion? I move to approve the Quadant postage
machine contract and authorized town Nelson Mui as signatory to sign out of session on the select board's behalf. Second second discussion. Um yeah, did we we had looked at the um uh the budget for this? Does it fit
within the budget? Uh it's I think maybe $10 a month more um than what's than what we're currently paying. It was very slight. So I think postage went up.
I bought a roll. Mr. Heavy. What? What have I been? So I think uh it is within the uh what we've budgeted. So I think we can we can handle it. Uh certainly um it
would only be for part of this year and then next year we would u make the necessary uh changes to to account for the full increase. Um but I think the budget will be able to handle it. And I had spoken to town
council. Um anything more than a three-year lease requires a town meeting ro. Um I I would have loved to sign a a fiveyear contract. we would have saved, you know, a bunch of money. Um,
so if we Oh, okay. I was going to ask the question if we when is the contract due on this one? Is it now? Uh, they're looking for a road renewal now. Technically, it's not due until
February, but um they're expecting uh the rates to increase. So, they're hoping to have us, you know, sign before those potential changes come down um you know, come come to light.
What do you think? Um well, if it's okay, what do you what does the board think? Because if it's February, I mean, we could put it on January's annual meeting to see if we could go for a longer contract. Uh we could, but my only concern is
Yeah. the proposals that they have now, it's only good until the end of November. So, uh, by the time January hits, uh, those numbers very well could change and they probably would not be in our favor at that point. I I am okay with signing this now. Um,
but I I do have a question. What's this why wait program agreement and that's in here? Yeah. Um, that's what I was curious about. Uh in addition to making sure that the rate was within the budget,
it's basically we can upgrade at any point. So say we wanted to go to a fiveyear in February even though we had started the three-year now we could technically upgrade. I think that's what it's saying.
I would go I would try to go for that as a warrant article after I would be willing to do that. Yeah. Um but uh new lease term will automatically commence and going entitles you to
upgrade your prior to the end of the term of your current lease. Um, I think it's because Nelson it also because Nelson said it's not up until February. So, we're renewing now, which is before, right? But we don't have this agreement
in place. This agreement is right. They're only giving us the offer now. Yeah. Is there any way that we could sign with the intent to go for a longer contract prior to February if we get the okay at January meeting?
If it's beneficial, it might be at a higher rate. Can can you find out a little bit more? I can I can I can ask the the person at the company, see, you know, what they anticipate things looking like. Um,
yeah. So, we can tangle this issue until I find out a little bit more. If you think you'll know next week, you can put it on next week's or it won't be until the 21st of October. Okay. But even when it's fine, whatever
you think works. Okay, you can come in. It's an open meeting. Oh, is it? Yeah. Yeah, we have we have you on at 5:30, so just another few minutes. Okay. Yeah, that's fine. Nice to see you.
Um, so I Oh, yeah. 4.6 4.6. How many motions and set up? [Applause] take this over. Yep. Uh so I do have the uh the the motions
um finalized with uh town council reviewing them. Um so I think we're just going to decide who's going to read which motion. Okay. So doesn't load and
[Music] is article two of the MBTA. Yes. So that would be planning work. Correct. Yes. Oh, that's right. Um and three I think is also planning
that's the overlay that's part of the MBTA. by law. Okay. And I believe their chairman is going to be speaking to them. So I assume they're going to make the motion on four or read the warrant.
I believe so. Yes. And and six is a citizen one. So that will be read by that person. Whoever the citizen is, right? Correct. So there's only three or three. So you must get one.
I'll do one. One um four doesn't matter. Yeah. Okay. There will be a um
spokesperson that will speak to those motions. Article four and article five and article one. Who's the spokesperson um for four and five? I think um uh town
council would probably be best to speak on that one. Article one, that was I kind of brought that with conservation. I can talk to that because that's the open space for an OSPD. Y
and um and at the time our bylaws were different than they are now. So now it makes sense for that. I mean it essentially we treat it as conservation right now. So right. No, it's fine. Good.
I think so. And artic is basically just clarification because of some stuff that happened recently, right? Well, it's to it's more than just clarification. No, no, but I mean similar to some other
Yeah. town council explain I I know why I'm not going to explain very well. So, as long as town council is aware, yes, this is town council's suggestion at the conservation
when they had the hearing. Oh, the historic historic excuse me, historic with zoning. Yeah. And so town council spoke to that there and the building inspector was under the it works under this that impression in in other towns.
Oh yes. So yeah. So this makes it official or you know quantifies it and it was looked into that the historic commission at the state that gives the guidelines. They don't enforce they
don't come and inspect locally. So it is that's why it's common practice that it's the building inspector who's the building enforcement that takes that over. So yeah, you're right. They should be doing that. Okay. [Music]
All good with the motion. Everything good. All right. 4 uh seven update on solid waste contract. There's nothing. Oh, there's no D. Okay. So, um it there there is none. I did watch the board of
health meeting for last night and there's no no updates on the contract at this point. There was an email that we got based on questions that Fincom had that did have updates in it. I didn't get that. I have updates because I watched the meeting and I was
going to do the rest of my report. Okay. Okay. So, I didn't get an email. Did you get an email? Nope. It was from I watched the meeting. I didn't get any. So,
did you watch the car meeting? No transparency. Sorry. This was Okay. Go ahead. We did not get anything as a squad board. No, I can tell you that. Well, no, no, but I think but I I do have a lean report from voter health. Okay.
If you want to then get one from finance. No, go ahead. You keep going. It's fine. Okay. Um, can you forward that to someone so we can get whatever your update was? Yep. Thank you.
Okay, that was 4.7. So, we do not yet have a contract with Shaw, right? Okay. As of the meeting last night. Um, I did unless something happened today. I don't think so, but I did um I did ask
about the municipal contract for picking up trash for the municipal buildings. um it didn't look like that really had any um movement on it. So uh I I had
uh the more health chair reach out to to Shaws to get an update on that because that should be you know once we have it we can review it and then you know um hopefully sign it because that's a separate issue. Correct. Yeah. And we've budgeted for
that already. So, do you want me to So, I do have I was forwarded by Don and Don asked for an update for the finance committee. I mean, I can tell you what I have here. Don asked for an update.
He got one. Yep. Oh, from um So, there are currently 2,150 stickers that have been issued. Um they anticipate about 50 to 100 more possibly. They haven't received any t
reports from Shaw's. How many? 2,150. This was on I can give you that on my report. Okay. Um 4.8 uh quick report on the BBCC.
Um we already met a second time had uh gotten feedback from a number of departments. They were all read into the record which the the meeting was not actually recorded but it was recorded by Cindy King for the real deal. I have not
watched it. Um and we meet again tomorrow um with all that feedback. I will tell you that one thing that we have voted on to move forward is one form. There will not be two forms. There will not be a
volunteer and a reappoint. It's one form. So now there's no question that you filled out the wrong form. Hope it will be clear enough to fill out correctly. Um, but even for reappoint, some of the questions on the original
form uh work because people could have more experience that they're now putting on their volunteer form than what they had when it's reappoint. So, that's it for that report for now. It's going to be on the next week's agenda as well. So, you have that update from tomorrow.
Um, so now we are at 5:29 and we just finished So going back to 48. So timeline for policy implementation. Um are you thinking end of October? Soon. Soon. Okay. Soon. We're we're we're
going to be meeting almost every week. So far it's every week. Y um until it's done. Okay. because we just want to make it easier for people to be able to do it and not feel frustrated by it.
Okay. 5:30 joint meeting with the planning board. Um I will call our portion of this joint meeting together at 5:30 as chair of the select board. Roll call
present present and ship present. Uh, Andrew, the chair is online. Andrew, do you want to unmute yourself? Absolutely. Thank you, Lori. I'll probably be in the building shortly. I'd like to call the planning board side
of the joint meeting to order at 5:31. All those present, please share your name. Robert Theion here. Fleshaw here. House is here. And did you
Yes. Yes, you did. Okay. All right. We are now called to order as joint and is there a motion? Oh, sorry. There is a motion. Yep. I move to appoint Brent Brett King
as a full member of the planning board until the annual town election of 427206. Is there a second? I second. Okay. Discussion. Brett is here. Thank you Brett for volunteering.
Are you sneaky? Come on. No, you have to come here because you're chair and just just Okay, so everybody's introduced themselves and we made the motion. It's been seconded. We are voting. I believe
we are voting. Okay, roll call. Sorry. Okay, roll call. Andrew Shepard. Yes. Robert and I push. I Carol. Yes. Veronica. I gi.
Thank you so much. You want to close your joint part of the meeting? Uh motion to adjurnn. I make a motion we adjourn. Second. I second the motion. All those in favor? I. Thank you. Okay. Thanks guys. Let let everybody
know that it was unanimous on the planning board to adjurnn and I'll ask for a motion to adjourn our portion of motion to adjourn the adjourn the joint meeting at 5:33 p.m. Thanks guys. Thank you. See you tonight.
[Music] I second. Okay. Thank you. No discussion. Roll call. or and I we have adjourned the joint meeting at 5:33 p.m. Thank you all very much.
You're most welcome to see you. Yeah, pretty soon. Pretty soon. Okay, so now we go on to 4.10 discussion installing EV charging stations. Who's doing this?
Nelson. Yeah. Um, so I think Veronica was interested in, you know, having a discussion on this. I did end up talking to uh the Pepper TA since this email uh mentioned them working with Pepper. Um, not as cut
and dry as the the original email suggested where it was, you know, no cost. Um the purple TA said they're they're probably looking at at least $10,000 in expenses. Right. Yeah. To to get it up and running. And
given they're not really near a tea station, there's actually not a ton of employees or even residents who have an EV. Um they felt like it wasn't worth the investment. Um,
I kind of feel the same way here. We're not necessarily near like a commuter rail station. Um, I don't know of really any employees that have an EV. Um, I'm sure some residents do. Um, if it was no
cost, I I think I would be more. If it was no cost, I'd say put on the library because people do come through, you know. Yeah. It would be a place and there's w there's internet there. Yeah. But if there's a cost Yeah. and and certainly the library trustees would need to agree to as well.
But I'd recommend that they probably would. Yeah, I'd recommend it to them to look into, but if there's a cost then, well, here's the thing. As with Pepper, there's no cost or obligation for me to conduct an analysis and show what's possible. So, did did Andrew did they go forward
with installing or did they just do this analysis? They just did the analysis and but and did that cost them money? I don't think so. Probably not the analysis. Um could you do that? You just analysis.
If it's analysis at no cost. Yeah. Maybe say no. I mean there certainly um it's a salesperson for sure. Um you know, so whatever um incentives or grant programs, they're just the pass through. You know
what about the energy committee? I mean, can they weigh in on this? Maybe this is something that I was gonna say they should explore and then they might know of grants. Pass it off to the energy committee and maybe the trustes grants. That's a good idea. I would say pass off to energy and trustees for the library.
That's how we wound up with aggregation. It was the energy committee that the trustees had some others there. So is that you? No, there are no grants right now.
We have uh six units of de we did the installation for free utility but at 10 years old we the state put them in for free but there's no more there's a
lot of interest put them in but there's no ramps around and there's no free ones could you tell us your name Jim Verer he looks familiar there. I didn't know his name. He was at our most recent meeting. Yes.
Yeah. I found some interest. [Music] So, okay. Um yeah, I can pass it along to the energy committee as well as um maybe the the trustees Selena to see if there's
interest. I think the library is a better candidate because you know, like I said, it's a pass through. 13 goes right by there. people are doing a longer drive. I know they get they get pinged as where is one available if you're coming from New Hampshire down
to a western mass. Sometimes you can go that route and there is internet access at the library. So plus, you know, most folks, you know, probably spend hour, hour and a half maybe at the library or senior center and that's a a good amount of time to
top off your EV. So So you could pass up to them and see if they Yeah, I'll do that. Papa this one. Jim, you looked like you were gonna say something. No, no. I was I was curious who the company was at this.
It's JJ Energy Solutions. JJ Energy Solutions. Okay. I I don't even know where they are. John. Okay. So, do you want to check with Energy and get back to us somewhere?
Yep. And I'll Yeah. and the library as well. I'll see if they have any interest and then if they do, we can at the very least pursue a um you know, an assessment or some sort of study. Again, you know, these folks are salespeople.
Yeah. And it says, you know, I looked at this 100% subsidized by the state. Maybe we'll look into it. I mean, it doesn't hurt to look into it. Yeah. Yeah. And if you have a plan, if you
look at and you have some idea, when something does come up, it's easier to jump on it. So, okay. Um, I thought I passed it off to the library.
All right. 411 letter of support fiscal year state budget on regional school districts. Is there a motion? Um, I move to approve the letter of support for the FY27 state budget on regional
school district Massachusetts teachers association fiscal crisis and authorized town administrator Nelson Muya as signatory to submit the form on the select board's behalf. I will discussion. I mean certainly I support this.
I think a lot of folks um are already starting sort of the the grassroots um trying to drum up support um with the upcoming um FY27 school budget because uh you know it's already the end of September. A lot of folks already having
conversation. We we certainly are talking to the school district already. We can't go through what we went through last year. Um hopefully not. You know they are going through challenges of their own. You know health
insurance is increasing you know at at a double digit rate just like we recently experienced. Um transportation is still you know high. You know the special education uh is still
you know um unavoidable because of their state and federal mandates. Um, I think you'll be hardressed for the school district to come in at, you know, 2 and a half, 3%. Well, how are we going to do it?
Um, you know, certainly in my um the state allowing us to go higher than two and a half%. Changing that because they've crippled everyone, right? And you know, part of my uh TA updates was I was um getting together a
letter with the Ashb and Purple TA with a letter jointly with three TAs to this to Brad Morgan. It was similar to a letter that was sent last year. Um it was Ross Perry last year right before I started that the letter was sent out.
It's a little bit late this year, but um it's still sort of the general message is that you know the the towns simply can't afford more than 2 and a half 3%. Um in um any assessment that they
provide to us um Oh, we really couldn't afford the current assessment. So, how are we going to do 2.5 even? Yeah. Yeah. And that's part of the issue growth because what people don't understand is
or may not understand um the increases from previous years you know the four five 6% they carry over. Yeah. So, you know, you can barely cover it the previous year
and now next year you're in a even worse spot because even at 0% you're carrying over that um increase from last year and we know 0% is not we're going to have
let's let's finish the letter part of this. Um do you want to read the letter out loud? You want me to check? Sure. Fiscal crisis. Thank you. Fiscal crisis. Sign a letter
to influence the FY27 state budget. Join local union presidents, superintendents, school committee members, and municipal leaders as we publicly urge the governor and legislator take decisive action to address school funding in the FY27 state budget. Dear Governor Healey and members of the legislature, we the underside
write to you on behalf of the thousands of students, educators, and community members who we collectively represent. We are writing to demand decisive state action in the FY2027 budget and using available fair share surplus funds to address the fiscal crisis facing our public school
districts. It is increasingly clear that public schools across our state are facing significant fiscal challenges caused by severe flaws in our school funding policies and are rapidly undermining our students constitutional rights to a highquality employee funded public education. Funding from all
sources has not kept pace with growing demands for programs, services and staffing to adequately meet students academic, social, emotional and mental health needs. Federal ESSER funds have been spent and actions in Washington threaten our budgets. Proposition 2 and a half has stalled many communities
abilities to raise revenues locally and state aid under chapter 70 while increasing overall thanks to the student opportunity act has proven inadequate for majority of school districts for a variety of structural reasons. The result has been devastating cuts to programs and staff that are touching
classrooms throughout Massachusetts. This must be addressed. We cannot accept this situation as an unavoidable reality that our students, educators, and local communities must navigate on their own, even in light of a difficult fiscal environment. Given the Commonwealth's proud tradition of supporting public education in an understanding of
solutions that can begin to address the fiscal challenges facing our schools, we believe that you can take steps at the state level to solve this crisis. It is essential that you act with urgency and in ways that deliver resources to its school districts of all types from gateway cities and minimum aid communities to rural and regional
schools. Specifically, we urge you to focus on advancing the following priorities that would provide relief to the school districts we collectively represent. Number one, strengthening the special education circuit breaker program. Two, fixing the chapter 70 inflation cap.
Three, fully reimbursing regional and non-regional school districts for student transportation costs. Four, increasing significantly increasing rural school aid. Five, further mitigating the financial impact of charter schools on traditional public schools. And six, making targeted investments in the staffing and programs
needed to best support student mental health. While addressing these issues would not solve the entirety of the fiscal challenges in public education, doing so would bring urgently needed resources to Massachusetts districts. We are counting on you to take meaningful steps in the coming months to deliver the funds that we need to succeed and
that adequately reflect the Commonwealth's historic historical commitment to public education. Thank you for your consideration. I think we should all sign it. Yes. And Nelson and the three of us. Um that's what I think
that it shouldn't be just Nelson. Okay. Amen that we offer it. Yeah. So there's actually a QR code that you basically it takes you to a separate link. You type in your information who you represent and then you hit submit.
So I think what they do is they just take the information you provided, cut and paste it onto that letter and then it it gets forwarded on. Okay. So I can amend a motion if you want. So do we each have to do that or can you do
all of our names on one? Um, let me see here. I think it's like individuals. So, what I can do is uh, you know, each one of
you I I submit a um I I fill out the form and then submit it on your behalf. Okay. Um I would like to amend a motion uh to approve a letter of support
um and take out I approve a letter of support for FY27 state budget on regional school district and Massachusetts teachers association fiscal crisis. That's it. So we're not doing for all of us to
sign. Well, so it would be assumed, I think, right? We can just say um and and have Nelson submit for each of us or whatever. Or we can each do it our on our own.
But I think we should each do that. Yeah. Okay. Any further discussion? Hearing none. Roll call vote. Veronica Kelly. Yes. Yes. And yes. Thank you very much.
Next is the letter 412. The letter of support for pancreatic cancer foundation. I move Oh god. Um I move to approve letter support for
pancreatic and the cancer foundation as presented on seven and that is for all of us to sign. Yes. Should we vote? Oh yes for I
try and I 4.14 review discuss web master position ition and website management. Nelson, um I think uh we should table this issue because
um there's been ongoing discussions and it involves the union. So uh I think we can discuss it at uh our executive session on next Tuesday regarding this. Can I ask a couple questions? The first
is the web master was not a union position. Is it now a union position? No, but there are some union implications which I I don't want to get into until the executive session next Tuesday. And the second one was I I was under the
impression maybe I was mistaken that uh resumes have come in and that interviews were being held. Yes, they were they were done. I can't it's been feel like it's been so long now. Uh we did we did it over the summer. Um, and then the because of the budget
and then the budget happened, we kind of put a pause on like officially appointing someone and this is kind of where we're at at the moment. Um, again, there's we can discuss a little bit more um in executive. Okay. All right. So,
thank you. And then we can explain what's going on, correct? Or not going on. Okay. Um, okay. So, that's that. and uh five work session town administrator
updates and reports. Um the kid the kids country playground um if you haven't been by there already um you probably have seen some very colorful good colorful equipment. Um it just got paved
earlier this week. Um, so now we have ADA compliant um, paving that's going to be up. We are going to be striping it um, in the coming days. Um, we are the Kids Country Playground Committee is
looking to have a um, almost like a soft opening ribbon cutting on Sunday, October 5th. Um, so we're very excited to be able to open the uh playground up again to the community.
Is that 100 p.m.? Yeah. I'm going to be out of town that day, but I'm at good. Do we have to post that we're going to be there together? I don't. I think it's an exception under
it's some event. Yeah. Just want to bring it up. No, I I kind of when when you said you were both attending, I had the same reaction. Yeah. Right. I think it's one of the exceptions mentioned like a town where it's open for the public. Yeah. Yeah.
I forget the exact exception. Okay. So, I'm excited that that is uh nearing its completion. I just want to thank uh Karen um the cemetery and park staff um and highway department for the hard work
that they've put in. uh without them I think we would have probably been over budget but you know having uh internal staff doing some of the work really saved us a few bucks so
um I want to express my gratitude and thanks to them um I mentioned the uh oh the town accountant position uh we had we're holding first round interviews right
now. Um you know it's the interview panel is myself, the treasure collector, the uh assessor as well as um our current talent continent c Elizabeth Rakia.
We had uh one interview yesterday and we have uh two more tomorrow afternoon. So um couple promising resumes. So I'm I'm hopeful that uh the interviews go well and we'll uh be able to have that person
or pe persons, you know, come in for inerson second interview. The first round has been via Zoom. So are these all certified municipal count? Uh, no.
There is one individual who um currently does work for another municipality as an assistant town accountant. Um, so that gives me it gives me hope that, you know, they uh
have the the skill set necessary to make that jump to uh town. Um I couldn't tell from the resume whether they had that credential or not. So more likely than not if we were to uh
hire this individual they would have to take the necessary courses to uh become would we still need students? That is my question. Um I think I I think we mentioned probably an overlap of some sort would
need to happen. We talked about an open before, but right I did we I thought that we were offering short overlap. Yeah, we did maybe a very short one, but if we're talking about certification and taking courses, we're not talking short
overlap. Um I I don't know how much do you if you need the certification in order to become a town accountant like can you be working towards it and still be employed at the
same time as a town accountant? I think maybe we may have um more of an update on the 30th. Okay. after the other two. And the only thing that I would say about this is I think that we have the right people in
place to be doing the interviews. Oh, that I I don't question that. I'm just questioning Well, we I think we have time before we get to that point once we can identify somebody um to have that discussion. I know what
we want. Um, I know what we can pay for and that's that's where the question comes in. We can't pay pay for a pro a consultant and a person that we're
training, right? And that's what I thought we were trying to avoid. Yes. Yeah. Um, this this resume certainly is um um Were these the only three that you received? No. Were there more?
They were there were more and this is these were the folks we felt like that deserved. Yeah, I I trust that that it's just I have to. Okay. So, I want to adjust twins before they're born.
Let's see what happens. Um, thank you. We have a surplus auction coming up for uh those various uh vehicles and pieces of equipment that uh you the select board recently um uh you know reviewed
and approved. Um we will be accepting bids uh starting on Monday, October 6th and uh the public will have exactly a month to put in bids and we will be opening
all the bids uh on November 6th. So that uh we'll I'll be doing the highway superintendent will be here. So we'll probably just do it in the select boards chambers. Um open up all the the bids
and uh contact the the the high biders. So we've posted it on um the Bolton board outside town hall. We've u published it in the local newspaper.
the um the Sentinel Enterprise. So, um I'm hoping we get a a good turnout for some of these pieces of equipment on the sixth if you want. Um
I mentioned that letter that um the TAS and Ashby and Purple that we've put together. I think I sent that to the select board a few days ago. Uh if you wouldn't mind taking a look at it, uh providing me with some feedback. Um, I
will then, you know, get that letter revised and sent off to Brad Morgan over at the school district. So, on this in this letter um we're requesting
um that the budget be adjusted for FY26, the assessment be adjusted. Yeah. because uh we have found out that they have some END money which is their version of free cash
um somewhere around three three and a half million. Um I think uh you know asking for reduced assessment across three communities would be you know the the right thing to
do. Certainly here in towns and you know we're trying to cut salaries Yeah, it helps all the and I mean it's laid out in the letter. Yeah. How it would help all the towns and their ramifications. I thought it was pretty clearly written here and I think anybody interested the last
school committee meeting they talked about it. So you can go back and watch that because it is discussed there. So what I what wasn't clear to me is and just because the letter from last August
was brought up in March and used as a weapon. That word might not be what the best word to choose but it was used like well in that letter you committed. Are we committing to anything in this letter
for at fiscal year 2027? I think it it's I think it says to me it says since we cannot raise levy I mean it's it's pretty clear in the last paragraph I don't think we've committed anything
well it talks about you know 3% per year revenue growth is generally limited to about two 3% per year for FY20 27 a 2 and a half% assessment increase is about 1 million in new spending for the
district. Are we committing to anything in that letter is my question. I don't think there's any commitment from any of the towns in this letter based on what I read. Okay, that's what I wanted to make sure of. And I didn't read last year's letter as a commitment either.
You know, some people might have viewed it differently. Obviously, yes. you know, we were just um explaining to the school district what what is the maximum that we feel like we could pay and uh you know that
3% that we in last August's letter it does it does say here revenue growth is generally limited to about 3% per year in FY27 we expect growth to be even lower. Yes. So okay. So there's no commitment on on the
part of the town. No, I think it I think everybody's committed to working with the district. Yes, that would be good. And every I mean the meeting we went to, everybody was clearly trying to get together so we can all get on the same page. They understand our position. We understand their position. All we can do
is try our best to communicate and decide how to go forward and open. I believe that the intention is to hopefully get the state perhaps and senators at the next meeting. Yeah. At the the late October. So hopefully see how it goes. But yeah, the last
school community meeting they talked about the END. So and and what was the general consensus there? I don't think there is necessarily one yet, but you can go back and and when will a decision be made? I'm not sure. I I know that everybody I
know the superintendent and our towns and reps understand where we're coming from. I believe from what um um I I think that's and I I don't think anybody is in is doesn't know where we're coming from at this point in time and so I think it's up to the school committee and the superintendent now to figure out how
best they're going forward but it's it's in their hands kind of in that regard it makes a difference and I think if I mean feel free to reach out to our school committee members I have so and I'm sure they will to discuss it
with anybody who wants to and how their feelings are on it because the more they hear from us probably the better or they could meet with us. Yeah. Individually they'd have to have a joint meeting. We could have we could have a joint
meeting but but they have 12. So then their school committee we could just meet with our members at the school committee at a board meeting cuz what's a quorum? Is two of them a quorum? No. So, I'd have to ask let me ask them how that
would work. I mean, we'd invite them to a meeting certainly and then it can all be out in the open. I I prefer that to individual discussions regarding the school. Yeah. No, I mean I was more saying that
if you are curious to tell them that you personally also support changing that assessment. It's just that if we don't know about the assessment until January, I think I think it's not useful.
I I hear them say that they hope it's sooner than that. They are I think they are trying to work to come up with something sooner rather than later. But I don't want to make any promises because I'm not spoken. They are working on I I mean I remember part of the
discussion of getting the money from free cash was that the school was going to be getting the END money and they would be giving it back to the towns. I remember those words and we don't have that. So I I
prefer an open session. Um um you know you know speaking of Ashby Pepple um on on uh October 8th we are going to have a a meeting with the three
you know Ashby and Petrol but it would just be the select chair one member of of the select board. It was very difficult to have a a tri town joint meeting. you need consensus for nine different people to for a day and
time that would work. I think my only Yeah, I think my only thoughts on that Lori is that I mean we approach them about regionalizing anything we possibly can and that's that's where I'm coming from on that. It only took us what five months to get
in. So I think we started talking about it when we did the uh bus tour with doing the markers. No. Yeah. I remember talking to other select board members there on the bus. And wasn't that in March or February?
That was either April or May. You were on the bus cuz you had your crutch. I had Right. So it was either late April or early May. Yeah. I got photos somewhere. It was April 25th. Oh, there we go. So since then, any opportunities?
Yeah. I think anything's on the table. So, uh I'm I'm excited. that I'll report back on 21st. Yeah. So, I'm excited to have that meeting with the other two towns, the select board members as well as the town administrators. So, I think it'll be a
pretty productive meeting. So, looking forward. Yep. The last update I had was on the paving that you might have noticed going on around um you know, Warren Road, Shirley Road. Um
the precipitation yesterday and today kind of delayed things a little bit. So they're hoping if things dry out that they'll come back out here tomorrow. Um possibly punting to Saturday. Um
so uh I think by early middle next week all the paving for the season should be done. And uh and I think the big one that we accomplished was a small area um neighborhood on Apple Drive that's been
uh on our radar for a few years now. So I'm happy to report that that's finally going to get paved. So now on to the spring time when we can target some more areas to pave. Okay,
go ahead. Um, do you have any reports? Yeah. Um, I think that we I just want to remind folks that we wanted to get conservation in here at some point to talk about a bunch of different little
things. Remember, we wanted to get about the dam and the visa property just actually have come to a separate meeting at some point. I thought that's actually on the uh agenda for next Tuesday. Awesome. Uh there was a day.
Yeah. So, and I think there's a couple other things that Kobe wanted to bring up. You just might want to check in with him. Yeah. I'll 4.2. Yeah. On the next meeting. Okay. So, this scheduled for next Tuesday morning. Uh I'll double check with him to see if anyone's spoken to him about
um participating in the meeting. And it does say Dan removal. Yeah. And just I would just When is that going? just ask him if there's any other things because I just told him whatever things he wanted to talk to us about if he's gonna be here. Sure. So maybe just elaborate on the agenda and other conservation items or
something. It does say etc. Okay. So if we can Yeah, that's fine. Um I think I gave Yeah, we my other board the school like I said I encourage everybody to keep up with school plan if possible and the stuff they're talking
about and we'll see where it goes. and we're meeting with them monthly now. Mhm. Um that's that's that was I'm going to use my phone now cuz I'm I
took pictures of the information. Um the board of health Okay. So, the update this is as of September 18th.
Um, total income. Sorry about that. Totally total. Um, this is because my phone was off and now all this stuff has to come in. Can you mute or silence? It is.
Okay. I don't know how to do it any other way. Um, okay. With revenue, subtotal office payments 161,197 [Music]
online payments 89,000 weight zero purple bags 78,6424 and stabilization 60,000 money. So their total I guess in their
fund now um enterprise fund is $488,26124. Expenses as of September 18th. Creation of stickers $6,187. Low publishing $2724.
[Music] Stipen $3,000. Safe $89.50. Um, hold on. I thought the stipen was paid quarterly. It is. But that's for the whole this is the whole section
like projected expenses. Oh, these are projected. I thought they were actual expenses. Okay, go ahead. Um, land breaks for shared drivers.
I don't know if that's I don't know what that is. $2122. [Music] and TEO stickers. 5,000 TEO. I don't know what that was.
$5,000. So, the town is paying for the TEO stickers, not You know what? I'm looking at this. I wonder if that's income. 5,000 T in No. No. You look at it. The last two lines of
that picture because this is what they screen. This is what the chair screen shared. Just lost it. Oh, sure. Not on my other pictures. I won't look at your pictures. I promise. And I will I'll read the next screen. Labels for shared drivers. 21. Yeah. Teo
stickers. 5. I mean, that's not spelled right. So, I don't know what that is. And what's to stickers? And it looks like 5 million, not 5,000. Yeah, it's meant to be 5,000. But so I guess that's this is exactly what was screen shared at the meeting last night.
Um I can watch it when it gets posted. Yeah, it is posted. Oh, it's I watched it today because I had a holiday last night. I watched it today. I did. I Go ahead. Sorry. As of No, that was 20. This is the 23rd.
It got posted today. As of September 18th, 2025, 2150 stickers have been issued. Four of them are for defective stickers. No report about the tonnage received
from Shaws as of 91 because of the program had started. basically and one stop taking municipal dumper dumpsters on their weekly routes for residents. Those numbers will not be available
until midocctober. Okay. So, I actually sent a message to um Christian. want to send an email to Rick and Christian about last night's meeting,
but I asked um that they get that they get us the tonnage for July and August just to have a comparison even
though that was paid for by the town but it hasn't been paid for yet because it would have to have come out of the Go ahead. Go ahead. Yeah, I have no idea because stabilization and this this the
um enterprise fund was established. Yeah, I guess it was established after the vote after the town vote with our funds. Um but did they
but July and August didn't come out of that would have still come out of it would have budget it would have come out of this enterprise fund. Okay. Had they been paid?
I I assume they have been. I That has to be an expense from Well, everything I just read to you is as of September 18th and and and obviously there's a couple errors in it and so I I don't know what to say, you know, about that about
the about that. But that's all we have. That's what they had on the screen last night. Yeah. I don't think they took into account any the the the actual tipping fees or but we actually should know that because that's going to tell a story
if once you get the tonnage for July and August seeing September's tonnage is going to tell a story. We were still on just a as a reminder July and August was still on the flat monthly
fee um for tonnage. Yes. For for payment. So it wasn't it wasn't based on the tage monthly fee. Yeah. I think it was like 50. Yeah. But they still must know what their tonnage was. Sure. Yeah. They just so that you have the comparison of
what what happened when we went on grounded it was 60. is what I have in my head. It could be 589. I don't know. In my head, I round it to 60. It comes out of the enterprise fund. Okay. Um,
which is still the town paying for it. And no, it Well, it's the because the funds from the stabilization into the enterprise fund, it it is in that respect the town paying
for it. But the payment comes out. It's not from the tax. It's not from the tax. Okay. Got I got it. And it it should come out of the stabilization. So if we've already paid for July and August, it should have been
in the expenses. If not, there's going to be a um that's going to hit in October where they're going to be paying for July and August and September. So that will be the 60 rounded. It could
be a you know thousand give or take 60 60 40 if I remember right but that's rounded the numbers. Um so that's 160 that's going to come out for those three months.
So I think what they were saying I don't think we're going to have any better numbers from them until midocctober that No. So I know um in an email exchange I had
with Christian and Carla I think they were open to joint meeting maybe at the end of October those ones to explain how everything's going. Okay that would be great. I I get a lot communication from Carlo, but I wasn't told that.
Yeah, I just I mentioned again, you know, like just for the purpose of open communication if we're because we have to sign contracts. Yeah, I there are a couple of water department issues.
Um, which I'll report back at another time. And if you have another one, too. I don't know. Um, maybe I'll have more next week.
Okay. Um 5.3. Uh I don't have an updated list. I did ask for one of our vacant positions, but I know that we still have vacant positions and we're working on making the forms easier. We do um
appreciate all those people who have volunteered. I don't think we I don't have them here. Do you have any other announcements? Okay. Only the open house for Kids Country. Yeah. Which we did talk about which we just talked about the open house for Kids Country October 5th at
1:00 p.m. Um and then our next meeting will be 9:30 at 9:15 a.m. here in the chambers and 5.5.
Is there a motion? I move that we review and sign payroll and bills payable warrants out of session. Any discussion hearing? None. Roll call. Motion for an I.
Um motion to adjourn at 6:19 p.m. So moved. Is there a second? Okay. See you all. I'll I'll get the vote. Just reminder. See you all at 700 p.m. at the high school for our special
town meeting. We have some important votes for the town to be taking. Roll call to a journal and Laura Bernard. Thank you all very much. Part: 2
Pepperro Community Media is now testing our audio and video systems performance in preparation for live cablecast of an upcoming scheduled event. Please enjoy the program which is scheduled to start soon.
[Music] How are you? It's probably okay. Yeah. Lights on. Can you guys hear me?
Closer to it. All right. Uh, thank you all for coming out. Uh, on a rainy night and we do have a quorum line, I'm told, so I think we can get underway. Um, without further ado, um, I guess we'll call the meeting to order.
Uh, this special town meeting September 25th, 2025, right? Hope I can get the right century, but this came from a talk by Rachel River. So, forgive me if I go back into the 18th century.
All right. Uh, I think all right, we got uh held here now. And members of the uh I guess we'll go right to the reading of the return of the warrant. Yeah. Could you read the return of the
warrant, please? Pursuant to the within warrant, I have notified and warned the inhabitants of the town towns by posting up test copies of the scene at Memorial Hall, 272 Main Street at the center, West Townsen Reading Room, 264 D Road, West Townsen,
uh, Police Communication Center, 70 Brookline Road, Harbor Fire Station at 47 Main Street, and Harbor Church, 80 Main Street at least 14 days before the date of the meeting. has within direct sign police officer council.
All right. Thank you, Mr. uh mayor. And uh sitting uh to uh the uh left of town clerk, Harrison Maya is our town council, Adam Costa. Uh then is our town administrator, Nelson Mui. uh
chairman of the boards board of select board uh Laura um right uh sorry about that Laura Shiffren uh Veronica Kell and uh senior moment there and Valerie Goodri
um for this fin we do have uh Sam Grant I'm not sure I think there are a couple other members of fincom that will be attending uh but might be a little bit Um, I guess no problem finding a seat tonight and uh just uh remind everyone
that we uh um are being recorded on Town Community Access Media Channel 8. It can be viewed at home. And uh I think to begin the meeting, we should uh say the pledge of allegiance. We don't have the scout here tonight, but you don't mind
I'll read it. I pledge 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.
Um all right. Um we uh just to remind everyone we conduct meetings according to the rules under town meeting time. Uh request that everybody be recognized before you speak on a a matter. um direct your comments
and questions uh to the chair, to the moderator. Uh all motions must be in writing and brought to the clerk. Uh if a matter is finally voted on, it may be reconsidered uh upon a majority vote. If the motion to reconsider is made tonight, although this meeting goes into
a second evening, it would require a 9/10 to reconsider an article. Votes are taken by eyes and nos. Uh and I will determine the outcome of of a voice vote. If I'm in doubt, I may ask for a redo or I may ask for a uh standing
count. Uh the if the vote tally, as I declare it, is challenged by seven voters, uh we will be we will have to take a standing count. Uh if you're confused about something or wish to make a point of order, uh you may raise the point of order uh by stating so and then
I'll recognize you. You may interrupt the speaker and I'll recognize you. Once recognized, you can state your point of order and I'll rule on that point of order. If for some reason you can't hear what's going on or there's something interfering with your participation, you can write to a point of privilege. Uh
just state your moderator point of privilege and I'll recognize you. You state your what what's bothering you, your point of privilege, and then we'll we'll go from there. Going to ask everybody to be courteous and maintain the decorum of the meeting. Um keep
applause to a minimum. Um and um if there are visitors here that wish to speak and I didn't mention the fact if there are any visitors they should be seated over there and have a tag on it indicating such u and u I think that
concludes everything we need to do preliminarily. Yeah. Um so, um we will uh I guess go right to article one. Uh I move that the town Oh, this is uh
sorry the uh I'm reading the motion. I'll read that. I'll take the article to see if the town will vote to transfer the care custody control of 0 road shown on assessor's map 19 block 80 block zero from the select board presently possessed by for general municipal
purposes to the town's conservation commission or take any other action in relation there too is there a motion Mr. Can everyone hear it? Yes. I move that the town transfer the care,
custody, and control of 0W Road shown on assessor's map 19, lot 80, lot zero, from the select board presently possessed by it for general municipal purposes to the town's conservation
commission. Is there a second? Second. Okay, motion's been made and seconded. Is there anything to be said, any explanation about this article? Uh um this is uh this piece of property is
the um common open space for the open space preservation development at Peter J. Job on Dudley Road. Um when it was um permitted, the rules in town were different for open space preservation
developments. Now, typically they go to a to the conservation commission usually with a CR on them um or to another um organization that will protect them in perpetuity. This one was transferred to
the select board and quite frankly I think the select board and the conservation commission all thought it was the conservation commission's property um that it was um under them and it's not. And so that's the purpose.
All right. Thank you, Miss Kell. Uh any questions, comments? Um yes, Mr. You raise your hand. All right. If if if Oh, yeah. We do have two microphones. So, if you do have a question, if you can approach, you can
raise your hand, too. But then I'll ask you to approach the microphone. So, uh Lindsay, do you have a question? I just want to know where it is. Okay. Uh the question comes on the motion where it is and how much land.
Um it's if you go past um Atwood Acres, it's on the left. It's Peter J Drive and and there are houses there. There's a cluster of homes and it's the land behind it. I think it might even abut um the land around some towns and woods. Um
but and as far as the amount, I didn't look that up, but is James Gates here? Do you know off hand? 20 acres about James said he thinks it's 20 acres about so
my recollection too that the intention was for it to go for conservation or open space purposes. So it was part of a land that was conveyed as a result of the development off of. Uh I don't see any other questions. So I think we're ready to vote. All those in
favor of the motion on article one, please say I. Those oppos say no. Guys have it. Unanimous. Uh article two. Um I am not going to read the entire article. Uh this is a a
zoning article uh which we will have a presentation on. It is the uh accessory unit uh bylaw basically being revised. Uh and uh unless uh someone uh
I think unless someone objects strongly uh and then we'll take a vote if anybody does object. I think we can also uh omit the full reading of the motion. But I'll leave that up to uh the uh planning board. Uh Mr. Shepherd uh on article two
concerning the accessory dwelling unit uh by law uh is this accessory dwelling unit or MBTA. MTA. This is MBTA. All right. Sorry about MBTA. Mr. Sheep, do you have a motion? Uh, I move to see if the town will vote
to amend its zoning bylaw being chapter 145 of the town code as read in the town. Okay. The motion is to and seconded to amend the town zoning bylaw
uh being chapter 145 as printed in the warrant and everyone has a copy of the warrant. Okay. Uh preliminarily we need a report from the planning board which I understand will give us now. I have some brief remarks to if I won't get in
trouble I'll turn face the audience. It's okay. All right. Uh thank thank you Mr. moderator. Uh, thank you everyone for coming out tonight. Uh, my name is Andrew Shepard. I'm currently the chair of the calendar planning board. I'd like to briefly introduce the other board
members. Got to silence the voice. Uh, the other board members that we have present tonight. Uh, so we have Carol Hostess up at the table. We've got Robert Theion. Uh, we've got Charlie, Hartley Pleshaw, and we have Lance McN as well in the back.
Uh, and I'd also like to welcome our newest member who was sworn in only a few hours ago, Brett King, who wasn't able to make it tonight. Uh, so article two and three are part of the MBTA communities bylaw bylaws. This MBTA communities law was passed by the
legislature in 2021 in a desire to affect the state's housing shortage. Under this law, Townsen was designated as an MBTA's adjacent small town community and tasked with zoning for 178 multifamily housing units by right or 5%
of our total housing stock. The elephant in the room on this matter is that the state is attempting to force us to do this. They have tied compliance to grant funding. Internally, the town has estimated that previous funding of grants have totaled up to around $2
million that could be affected. The state has made it purposely opaque as to know how much funding a municipality could lose out on. Other towns have fought this at court in court at expense to their taxpayers and have had limited success. We as your planning board have
diligently worked on this proposal since 2023. At the core, while we do not believe in the state's methods of implementation, we do believe in the purpose. We in the town of Townsen have limited housing options and it would serve our residents to have more options. For over two years, we worked
with the regional planning commission, considered different districts, received feedback from state officials, offered a public survey, and evaluated potential bylaws. What we are proposing is somewhat of an innovative approach. In a district that was already zoned as
outlying commercial, we are allowing for some existing commercial rights to retain to the property and allowing by multif family, two family, and single family development. The intent of this bylaw is not to have one type of building cookie cutter throughout, but a
variety consistent with our community. We also hope that the density may be an incentive to build some commercial spaces facing 13. I want to highlight some of the important parts of this bylaw briefly before we open up to questions, support, or concerns.
This is nothing to do with Blood Road or Article 6 on tonight's warning. Nothing is currently proposed and no one has approached the planning board about any development on this property. This area has already been designated as outlined commercial district and will remain as
such if it is passed or not. This is not affordable housing. This bylaw has no affordable component. This bylaw is designated for market rate units and would be taxed by the town at a market rate. There is no town water or sewer at this location, inherently
limiting the ability for a developer to meet the number of desired units. It is important that you view these articles together. If two passes, it is essential that we pass article 3 to encourage the diversity of building types. I think what this boils down to is a simple premise. The planning board has
thoughtfully chosen a lot and an area at the edge of town. The main decision before the town's people is do we want to access the potential state grants or not? Thank you. All right. That Thank you, Mr. Sheepard. That's the planning board's report. Was
the uh I'm sorry, I may have missed it. Uh Shepherd, but what was the vote of the planning board? Uh the planning board voted to recommend the passage of articles two and three. Okay. Thank you. Uh is there any other
questions or anything to be said? Okay. All right. Um Moran, would you step up please? Or I'm not sure I saw I saw Mr. Moran's hand first, Mr. Reno. So uh All right. Going to defer. Okay.
Reno my understanding from Washington was that can you speak right in the microphone the new overlay district allows this development by right
does does that also mean that someone could develop on that overlay district by right and through chapter 40B is it where they bypass a lot of maybe septic and conservation somebody
with those tools. Okay. Possibly dual use by some. This question comes on the motion. Mr. Sheepard, can you see that? Uh thank you, Mr. Moderator. For the
record, I don't cost the town council. Uh so, uh the simple answer to your question is yes. 40B remains an option uh for a potential developer of the property. I wouldn't refer to it as dual use um because a developer would really have to choose between utilizing the
provisions of the zoning that's proposed tonight, which is in fact an as of right process that would require site plan review but not any sort of a discretionary special permit. Or the developer alternatively could choose to utilize the state's affordable housing law chapter 40b which prescribes an
entirely different process. So, for example, the the zoning that's proposed tonight that's on the warrant that we're presently discussing directs a possible or potential developer to the planning board for the planning board to administer that site plan review process. U a proponent or developer of
uh this property under the zoning that's proposed tonight would still be subject to all non-zoning controls, whether those be requirements relative to sewer or septic, whether those be requirements relative to wetlands protection. There is nothing in this bylaw that would
exempt a a project or a proponent of a project from those requirements. 40B opens the door to exemptions from those other types of law. But 40B is not on the warrant tonight. 40B is a state law that permits applicants to supersede or to evade requirements of local zoning.
There's not a whole lot that we as municipalities can do to avoid that because it's a state law that preempts your local ordinances and bylaws. Uh but uh this would provide uh an alternative to a to a proponent uh and would potentially incentivize a proponent to utilize this process and comply with
those other non-zoning controls as opposed to using chapter 40 which would really be the only other way to get uh increased density on this on this parcel. Thank you, Mr. Casa. Uh is uh Mr. Moran, did you have a follow-up question or do you have another separate question?
If you could approach the microphone and please state your name and address for the record. Uh Lindsay Moran, North End Road, Townsen. Uh question, where exactly is it and how many acres? Next question comes on the motion to
location. So, Andrew Sherp again corner. Uh, in your packet tonight, you should get a handout called the MBTA communities. Um, on the bottom leftand corner, it shows you uh a snapshot of the district. The proposed district is at the end uh
towards the end of Route 13 and the bottom of Old City Road. That's 12. I believe it's 12 acres. You're headed towards Lindberg. Town center back will be on your right. Um down here where more communication questions come on the motion. Is there
anything else to be said? If you have a question, please raise your hand high so I can see you. Oh, all right. My name is Rotherian. I'm on the member of the planning board and I am also a
taxpayer in town and speaking on two levels. Uh first of all, as Mr. Shepherd is presented. Um this was a mandate that came from the governor's office and um in
that mandate the town is either to comply with the requirements or present itself in a position where state funding in very serious
um from 2023 to the current date. Um, I've been on this board and been actively trying to comply with the mandate and in a sense that would be most
beneficial for the community and we explored all different endeavors, different parts of town. I adamantly try to um make the requirement of achieving
178 units by disparity across the community and instead of one concentrated area. That concept was rejected by the commonwealth.
Um and we also tried a concept to establish uh a sort of a another village on the east end of town where there were apparently more services that was also
rejected um because um there was an amplifier concern. So, the end product of what you see tonight is a combination of zoning bylaws
that would comply with the MBTA requirements. Um and the end site selection is a product of various studies uh throughout the town. And the end result is um that
location was selected with the um approval of the state for several reasons. one, it was closest to the Fitsburg
Transportation Center. Um, it was an area that was not developed, that the town had previously planned for commercial use,
um, and met a lot of other environmental requirements and conditions and concerns. So, in my opinion, it's probably the best property in the entire town.
Um, so here you have tonight uh citizens of this town to one accept what's being proposed to you or secondly reject it. The rejection, as been stated
before, could expose the town to up to $2 million of lost funding. Um, so I want to make clear as a as a planning board and as a member of the
planning board, the recommendation tonight is not an endorsement. It is a recommendation and we did not want to jeopardize or make a statement that would prevent you as the citizens making the
determination. Um, and I'm going to close with that comment um, so that everybody has a ongoing perspective. So here you're going to approve an overlay district as we can best present it to the
Commonwealth and here you're going to approve an assortment of designing zoning bylaw changes to comply with that new district. and inclusive in them are
other bylaws that were we were working with regardless of the MPTA district. Um, so what I can present to you is a if
we're going with the zoning bylaw and the MBTA approved uh proposal. Um, we this board diligently worked to make it the most beneficial
method to do that for the community. In the bylaw, we included some other things that would uh would assure that if it was developed um it would be the most harmonic for the community and I can close with that.
Thank you. Comments come on the motion. Anything else be said in the back? Is that Mr. Ponyoli? If you could step down to the microphone, please
Oh, nice Mr. Frank. I just had one question about CL clarity frame Laurwood Drive. Um the question I have is the act it might be premature. Um I I say this is about
to get the zone approved in the criteria at the fine detail. Is um an access road have to go on O city road as well as route 13 or is that too too far in advance to know like what kind of design that would be? Is it just on the map
just basically a zoning or land? But as far as a development I'm not thinking ahead. Yeah. You're saying there's nothing being considered for development at this point? No proposals, but do you anyone have any insight already on what
does this mean once it's approved from a traffic standpoint, things like that? So, I'm just curious a little more detail. So, that's my question. Thank you. Okay. Question comes on the motion and Mr. Shepard can answer that. Thank you, Bob. Nice to meet you.
The Joe, you correct me if I'm wrong. I do not believe it's required to be on Old City Road. The way we shape the district was to have a section of it touch old city road for the the potential for a developer to have two means of access and egress um you know
whether for public safety or just minimizing traffic in that sense. So depending on route 13 one two two passes in and out based on how far down correct? Yeah, it could be uh entry and
exit on Route 13 only. It could also be Route 13 and Old City. Depends on what the developer decides upon reviewing the law. Okay. Thank you. Comments and answers come on the motion. Anything else to be said?
Yep. Okay. Uh Mr. Grant. Sam Grant. um Old City Road or Pittsburgh Road. Um could somebody explain to me um how a developer uh has the um right to block up and destroy
wetlands uh in this town. Uh which is if you go out on 13, you have to. I mean, we have a wetlands law that forbids citizens from getting anywhere near the wetlands.
And at the same time, you're saying people with money can come in and they can do what they want with those wetlands. And I do not know of any way to put a bridge, especially one big enough to hold a development like that, uh, that doesn't do a lot of damage.
Thank you. Any question comes on the motion? Mr. Shepard, Sam, I'm not sure exactly how to answer your question. It there's no tenative proposals. So, it' be up, you know, that wetlands wouldn't um we're not giving
them the ability to do anything to wetlands that they, you know, in the regular building process that they would be restricted from already. Well, just to do some talk about something that's a whole lot bigger than that. Take down 119 to get
to 495 and Market Basket O'Neals, etc. Um, the state allowed uh a developer to go in there and destroy a whole lot of wetlands in order to build that development there. This is a very micro
version of that. But this is still you there's just no way to get from I know it's good land where the majority of it all the way from uh uh old city back through it. Uh I'm just concerned about you know uh again the people with the
money get to do what they want and the people without it don't. um they would still have to go through the conservation commission and the state even though it's the law to which we are enacting this bylaw the state doesn't have approval on on what would get built
by any means you know I think it's a great idea don't get me wrong about the the place is beautiful uh it's nicely located I guess comparatively speaking to where else you might have put it you all have thought about that I'm just concerned about the
that uh you know one little Thank you. Any comments come on the motion? Mr. Theion, I'm I'm trying to uh clarify a lot of you know, it's hard to envision what
type of development would be proposed in this area. Um, in our zoning changes that we put in here, we've tried to encourage a disparity of building types.
In other words, to eliminate uh a lot of high density concentration in one area. So as prepared, the bylaws that you see that are associated with this will allow for single family, two
family, multif family. Um, so it doesn't particularly um I don't want you to particularly believe that it's going to have a specific prototype regardless of what any developer would
propose for that area. We also have to bear in mind that a developer may not oppose to develop the entire area. two, that they will also be subject to the other regulatory requirements in the
town, including the needs of the health department, the fire department, the needs of the police department, uh, conservation. Um, so any project, no matter where it's located in the
town, is still subject to those regulatory requirements. So when you envision this particular location and envision what a developer is going to have to address, he's not only all
this all this bylaw and this article is about allowing that kind of activity in this part of the community. Um and subsequently the other
requirements for our regular local regulatory agencies are going to uh apply to any project. Um so in viewing this location um the a potential developer is going to
have to address needs for sanitation, the needs of water supply. Um obviously if it's a high-rise multifamily unit that he's proposing um we don't have a current water supply
system that could service that kind of a building. So whatever the developer will be proposing um he has to deal with the economics and financial restraints to deliver what's going to meet the requirements of our
town. So I know the first thing is that the first vision that comes to mind is high density housing and it's zoned for that. Um but then we have to envision the type of structure.
Um so in our bylaw that this our planning board has prepared we've provided other parameters here to whatever divine development is being proposed
it has to meet other uh community requirements. Um and so those are additional burdens that a developer would have to do in entertaining. Um however we can't ignore the fact that
if there is a extreme one project where an developer um has the a project proposal that is financially lucrative for him
that he can provide municipal sewage or municipal water. um that potential does exist. Um so I'm not saying it won't um and I'm it most probably would not happen
immediately that type of project and hopefully a smaller project in nature will happen and therefore prevent a bigger project later. So, we all are guessing what could happen and how it
could happen, but our planning board has tried to entertain all the different potential scenarios and include whatever recommendations we have in our bylaw for you to approve
tonight. Um, so, uh, again, I just want everybody to know what is really happening here. It's an overlay district. It doesn't restrict other uses in that district, but it does basically
sell the world that in our town this kind of thing can happen. Thank you. Comments come on the motion. Uh please sh road. So if we approve this, does this get rid of the requirements
for the NDATA or is there still more requirements that we need to meet? You know what I mean? Is this I think if I can speak for the board, this would satisfy if if it's accepted uh would satisfy uh the uh the office of housing and livable communities and the
statute that requires us to adopt a zoning district that allows right. Right. Uh theion last
uh I have noticed though since this enactment was created by the Haley administration. I have personally witnessed
approval through the legislature of huge million dollar additional funding to support this kind of activity. So this is funding that is being provided to developers
and I don't know the total number because it came in sequences probably about 4 month intervals. Um so obviously um the Haley administration Haley
administration is really adamant about enforcing this to happen. Um, so I want to caution you. Normally a developer um has to risk his funding and his
funding resources, but the Commonwealth is absolutely behind helping him get this objective achieved. Comments come on the motion. Mr. Snake, Mr. Moderator, move the question.
Thank you, John. Okay, motion's been made. Second. Move the question and second it. This will come up to date. If it's passed, majority vote. All those in favor of moving the question, please say I. Those opposed say no.
No. The eyes have it. All right. Um motion is before you. Uh all those in favor of motion on article two, please say I. I. Those opposed say no.
Okay. Um, this does require a majority vote. Uh, and just to make sure we're not going to uh have any complications, I'm going to I'm going to ask for a standing count. I think the eyes had it, but um
well, I I'll declare that the eyes have it. Then does anybody want to challenge that by majority? If you do, please stand. If seven people challenge it, we'll do a count. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.
Okay. All right. We'll do a standing count. The counters come forward. I think we've got Mr. Templeton, Mr. Lewis counting the bottom layer here and Mr. Ride up and Messing counting the balcony. All right.
Phil, where's Heidi? You still here? Okay. Yeah. So, um All right. So, all those in favor of the motion, uh, please stand. Oh, okay. All right. My god.
Hallelujah. Okay. Okay. All people that have voted yes can sit down. All those that want to vote no, please stand. You guys aren't done yet. Sorry. Never mind. Well, I guess we don't even need
capital. Um, the eyes uh were 77, the nose 24. Therefore, it does pass by a majority vote. Um, and I'll just comment on the fact that uh it used to be zoning bylaw amendments had to be passed by a twothird majority. Uh but uh roughly
about five years ago uh the the state changed the law to say that if anything had to do with multif family housing or promoting housing the bylaw uh approval could be just a majority. Um and with that we can go to article
three. And I'm going to just double check with town council because my belief even though the planning board report indicates that this will require twothirds vote I believe it would be a majority vote on article three. So uh through you Mr. moderator, town council. Uh, so article 3 is actually a
two-thirds vote and the reason for that is article 3's purpose is to amend what was just adopted in article 2. And the reason why article 3 wasn't combined with article 2, which would have been a simpler approach, is because what article 3 is doing is it is providing the potential not for multif family
housing but for single family homes as an alternative. And because the legislation you referenced earlier that lessen that quantum of vote required is limited to multif family housing, single family proposals such as article three would not benefit from that simple majority quantum. It still requires the
traditional 2/3. All right. Well, thank you. Stand corrected. All right. So, with that in mind, I'll read the article to see if the town will vote to amend the zoning bylaw being chapter 145 of the town code new section 54.2 two entitled multif
family overlay district adopted via the preceding article as follows. And uh I won't read the rest of the article and I'll ask for a motion. Is there a motion on article two? Mr. Sheff,
thank you, Mr. Moderator. Uh, I move to see if the town will vote to amend its zoning bylaw being chapter 145 of town code new section 54.2 entitled multif family overlay district adopted via the proceeding article as written in the
town hall. No objection to going with the printed version. Um, Miss Kane, I'm sorry, Mr. Lord. Sorry. My question is how is that?
My question is how's that different? Please use the microphone. Yeah, nobody else can hear you. Identify yourself. Sandra Lord. Um my question is without getting into like the whole thing, it's
like what's the difference between the last one and this one? Is it just substituting single homes? So you have the ability to put single homes in there instead of apartments or I I think M if you give Mr. Shepherd a chance to give his report and I don't I'm not even sure we got a second on that.
Oh, sorry. Um I thought you had a kind of a point. We did have a second. So why don't you let Mr. Shepherd explain what that is? It might answer some of the questions you have. All right. Thank you, Mr. Moderator. Thank you, Mr. Bl. Um so in short, um you know, we had we wanted to
tie these together when we were going through the process. Um I believe what what happened was the state looked at when we had them all as one and they didn't like that we were including single family. So we separated it so that it would just be we would
just submit them the original bylaw of multif family to to encourage developers to have that second ramp to be able to have the greater diversity of housing which is what we as a board were really going for. we had to create a second article to to allow by right single
family homes and that would that would give the developer as as Mr. Grant said you know considering wetlands considering whatever they find on the property that dictates how they develop the land the ability to have different style of units in different properties to to kind of break it up and be
consistent with with the community. All right, comments come on the motion and let's recognize Mr. Yeah, just a a question follow up on that. Bill, just if you put give your name and
My name is Bill Ry out 88 South Harbor Road. Um to follow up on that, if this does not pass, does that mean that we do are not in compliance with the MBTA Communities Act? Is this required?
Question comes on the motion. Mr. Chev, thank you, Mr. Raido. Uh if this does not pass, it does not mean we are not in compliance. It just means that the only thing that would be able to be built on that lot by right would be u multif family units. So the goal of this
article is to create diversity of that lot. Okay. Uh Mr. Chman, can you give us the planning board vote and uh and I know it's in your written report, but for the purpose of the record, uh the planning board voted unanimously to recommend this article.
Okay. And is that at the same hearing as as the previous That was the same hearing. It's in the same report in the printouts. Um everyone has Okay. That's correct. Okay. Um
Lol Road, are we This is the opposite of Mr. Ry's question. Um if we pass this I I heard you say the state wasn't happy. And if we pass this, are we sure that we're still meeting the terms we need to
meet to satisfy the MBTA community's law and requirement if we allow for single family housing? I mean, I'm looking at the brochure and it says multifamily zone. I'll defer to Mr. Shepherd, but my understanding was that I I could be wrong about this, but I
thought this was a overlay district so that anything that was otherwise allowable in the district would be permitted. And I believe it was allowable to have single families. So, um I guess I'm questioning why do we need a separate bylaw to say single
families are allowed? You know, great question. Why do we need a separate bylaw? Uh I think we had a similar question. Um you know, right here next to me is Joe Bole. with the Monetus Regional Planning Commission. Um Joe just you know affirmed that we talked
about in our planning meetings that that yes we will still meet the state requirements. Okay. All right. Because I know how serious the state is about this. Thank you. Comments come on the motion. I don't know if Mr. Costa do you want to add anything to that or
no through you Mr. Moderator but I can confirm the statements that have been made. There's nothing in the new MBTA communities act that requires uh that the sort of housing that you must permit to be built actually be built and as a consequence you're allowed to continue
to permit existing underlying uses in the case of an overlay district to permit alternative uses within that overlay district. So, the fact that you're allowing single family homes is no different than the reality that you're also continuing to allow the commercial uses that could be built on that site today without benefiting from
this this proposed or these two different proposed zoning bylaw amendments. So, this won't affect in any way your compliance by virtue of adopting article 2 tonight. Your your town is now now in compliance with the MBTA Communities Act. I I also think and Joe and correct me if I'm mistaken. I
think to your point, Mr. moderator, the the reason that single families homes have been added into this overlay district, even though there may be some ability to build single family homes on the lot today, consistent with the underlying zoning, is that we're working single families in in the same context as we've allowed two families in the
preceding article that you just passed. And what that does is it reduces some of the requirements in terms of minimum lot area setbacks, things of that sort so that you can build more single family homes the same way that you could build more two families or more multif family development uh units under the preceding
article. It's giving the the ability to substitute singles for those twos or singles for those multif family buildings if that is a developer's choice. That would obviously result in much less density than the state is saying you're required to allow to occur here. But just because it's allowable doesn't mean a developer has to do it.
There may just well be a developer that would much prefer to build single family homes in the site than build two families or or multif family buildings. Thank you, Mr. Moderator. Uh Mr. Council, all right. Is there any other questions?
Come on up. Kim Green Wallace over I needed to be at 11 level apparently. So the item three is allowing for instance a single family home on that Armor Lake district to be built with 40
ft of frontage and a 6,000t lot which is what's in the table question comes on well let me tell you my initial thoughts while I look for the table um so the goal of article three is to create the
same leeway that the developer now has had in article two for you know three family and two family. If if the three if we just leave it with article two
the there's not much more incentive to have single family homes because you would be uh restricted by the existing uh setback requirements. So the the goal of article 3 is to make it by right as
well and then minimize some of those setbacks such that right I get the philosophy but the practical nuts and bolts of it it would be single family homes and the rest of town is 200 ft to say but in this one district it would be
less front smaller lots like a third of a 10 lot. So we meet the same table. Thank you. Thank you for making it. All right. Comments come on the motion. I think we're ready to vote.
Um All right. All those in favor of the motion on Article 3, please say I. I. Those opposed say no. So I only heard about four nos. I think we have more than twothirds vote. So, I'm
going to declare it a uh boy more than a two-thirds vote. Uh the article passes, the motion passes. Um article four. See if the town will vote to amend chapter 54 of the town's general bylaws
entitled historic districts by adding a new section 8 thereto as follows. Section 54-8 enforcement. Building inspector shall be the enforcing official here under provided, however, that both the commission and the building inspector are each specifically
authorized to institute any and all actions and proceedings as either of them may deem necessary or appropriate to achieve compliance with foregoing requirements or to prevent a threatened and or imminent violation thereof or take any other action in relation there too. Is there a motion?
Mr. Moderator, M. Good. I move that the town amend chapter 54 of the town's general bylaws entitled historic districts by adding a new section 8 thereto as follows. Section 54-8 enforcement. The building inspector
shall be the enforcing officer under provided, however, that both the commission and the building inspector are each specifically authorized to institute any and all actions and proceedings as either of them may deem necessary or appropriate to achieve compliance with the foregoing
requirements or to prevent a threatened and or imminent violation of error. The motion's been made and seconded. Is there any comments or questions? Uh, Mr. Cherville,
thank you, Mr. Mon. I am addressing you as a member of the Mary J. Could you give your name and address? Sorry. I know I recognize you, but I know. Sorry. Mary Jane Churchville, 292 Main Street. So, I'm addressing you as a member of the historic district,
not the finance committee. Just want to make that clear. And I would like to make a motion that this article be tabled at this time and to be voted on at a date and time specific after the
HTC, the building commissioner and town council have had a chance to talk and collaborate because the HTC was not involved in this at all. Okay. Motion to table.
Double check this. Is there a second? Second. Okay. Motion motion's been made to table uh the motion on article 4. I'm sorry. Yeah, article 4.
uh town meeting time provides the motion to lay on the table or table an article uh requires a second but it is not debatable and it does require a 2/3 vote to pass. So um
we don't have any debate about this. Do we want to lay this on the table? All those in favor of tableabling this article or this motion has I someone up there second. Yeah, I don't think we have to get that in
right. Motion to table. It's procedural. Point of order. Yeah. What's your point of order? Could you explain what we are doing with tableabling? Tabling means we're basically not voting on it and it will come back later at another date. It's conceivable. You
could take it from the table if this meeting went on for another night. But I think in practice it means that um we're not taking action on this article tonight. and at this meeting. All right. Uh so if you want to give
uh the request to have more time to study this uh you would vote yes. And if you want to vote on it tonight, you would vote no and not available. So all those in favor of uh tableabling uh the motion on article four, please say I. I.
Those opposed say no. No. Okay. Um, I know I'm going to call for that one more time. Voice vote. All those in favor of tableabling, please say I. I. Those opposed say no.
No. Can't say it's 2/3. So, counters, please come up. Okay, ready. All those in favor of tableabling uh the motion, please stand. Wonderful.
Okay, everyone that voted I can sit down. All those that want to vote no, please stand. Oh my gosh. Okay. By whist voted I 23 voted no and the in order to
pass 20 by 23 vote we need they needed 71 affirmative votes. They have 72. So the motion table passes. So that puts that vote out of our uh jurisdiction for tonight unless there's
a motion to reconsider. All right. The pie to see if the town will uh accept the provisions of Mass General Law Chapter 53, section 18B, which requires the town to print certain
information relating to each question that shall appear on the town ballot as further specified in state statute, and not later than 7 days before an election at which such question shall be submitted to the voters. send such information to each household wherein a person whose name appears on the current
voting list of the town resides. All right. Is there a motion? Okay, we slid there would like to see what's on on the plate now. I can't see it, but is that right now? Article. Is there a motion?
Mr. Moderator, I move that the town accept the revisions of Mass Generalized Chapter 53, section 18B, which requires the town to print certain information relating to each question that shall appear on the town ballot as further specified in said
statute, and not later than 7 days before an election at which such questions shall be submitted to the voters. send such information to each household where it a person whose name appears on the current voting list for the town resides. Okay. Motion made and seconded on apply.
Is there anything to be said? Any any explanation folks for this? Seems fairly evident. But um I have to question or ask something because this
requires that this notice would go out not later than 7 days before the election and nothing against the post office, but sometimes it takes two weeks to get mail across town. So I wonder what is it something that's subject to
additional time lead for this or is this a statutory 7 days through you M uh again Adam Costa town council so this language is directly from the statute so the seven days is statutory that doesn't prevent the town from providing that
information uh further in advance of a ballot vote if it so chooses but the seven days is statutory and can't be open. Okay. All right. Thank you. Selena Thomas, um 99 War Road. My question is, uh how will the town be
paying for this mailer? Okay. Question comes on the how to pay for this. Uh Mr. Goodidge. Um we don't have a way to pay for it at this moment in time. Okay. Answer me up. King.
Uh, Cindy King, one West Elm Street. I'm going to speak out against this article um for partially that the answer to that question. Um, I'm I'm concerned about we're in trouble financially for a couple years and hearing about overrides and
trying to cut cost and talking about laying off people and um I I think that um trying to pay for something that really concerns me about the extent of the mailing. Uh I know we have I think somewhere over north of 6,000 registered
voters. Uh and I'm getting a nod from the chunkler. Um, and we when we have a municipal election, I mean, if something's really heated, we c we can get maybe a couple thousand come out, but this will go to the mailing will go
to the 6,000 voters. I I've seen after over 40 years and I've seen many municipal elections that had 400 poor 600 people vote. So, and I don't think mailing something to 6,000 people that we can have another conversation about the trash fees on where this stuff is
going to go after you get it to your house in the United States. Mail. I'm trying to get rid of mail. I'm trying to get everything sent to me electronically. I don't want any more mail. And this I I mean, I pay attention to what's going on. So, I know I'm going to throw it right into recycling. I want to opt out of this mailing if I can. And
I would rather see the the people on stage, the town come up with more creative ways to to communicate with the town's people. Uh we have no adopted townwide actually owned by the government, Facebook pages or social media. But I think that our leadership
and even us can come up with better ways to get communication to each and every one of us or those that care that want to listen. People that don't want to listen aren't going to do anything with that mailing anyway. But I've recorded approximately $800 to do a townwide mailing and we've been having multiple
town elections every year because of overwrite questions. And I think that this is just going to add up to a more an expense that we've not had before and it's a new expense and I think it's a waste of money and I'd rather I'd rather find alternative ways to tell me what's going on. Thank you.
Comments come on the motion. Mr. Ry out Phil Wright out 88 South Harbor Road. Um, you know, following up on what Cindy said, what would be the implications if we vote no? I mean, you know, I don't want to lose $2 million in grants. Um,
so what what are the implications for voting no? Because it certainly doesn't seem to be very appealing. Question comes on the motion. If we vote no, what's what happens? Miss Goodw. This would be an addition. There's no
changes if we vote no. Correct. Just just no changes. Whatever we're doing now is what we're doing now. And I don't think that there's nothing affirmative from the state government that requires us to do this. Right. That's correct. Three years, Mr. Moderator, town council. So So right.
This is an opt-in statute. It's been on the books for quite some time. Uh it's not tied to any grant funding or or other incentives from the state. Some communities have chosen to accept the statute. By virtue of accepting the statute, it provides you with the flexibility to provide these mailers. In the absence of having that ability, uh
municipalities are quite restricted with respect to the extent to which they can um distribute information about a ballot question under the rules of uh the laws of campaign finance in Massachusetts. So, um as I said, some communities have chosen to adopt the statute, but if you choose not to adopt the statute, it
simply maintains the status quo. You don't lose access to grants or anything of that sort as a consequence. questions come on the motion. I'm I'm going to make a actually request, but I know the cost of this has been brought
up. I just wonder did uh I don't maybe I missed it, but did we did you guys get a idea of what this would cost to do a mailing of this sort? Um what it actually would cost? I mean, you know, a stamp is 72 cents. So, I imagine you
could do cheaper than that, but I I'd refer to town clerk for this. All right, Mr. Mayor. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Moderator. Um the the cost um that we've estimated so for an every door direct mail because the requirement of the law is that it be sent to every household, not to each
individual registered voter. So the cost for an everyo direct mail to go to everywhere in town is about $800. The cost in materials and staff time would probably be $200 to $300. So about $1,000 per election in additional
expense. All right. Thank you. And she's come on the question. Um I'm going to ask you, sir. Mr. Moderator Chris Thor Paris Road. Um I'm a little I'm a little confused um
through you to uh the town council about the requirement here uh because it says requires but then we the the statute is actually opt in. So do we get to if we if we adopt this are we indeed required to send these mailers with every
election? Yeah. If we adopt it we are required to do it. That's correct Mr. moderator. If you if you adopt that the statute itself is optin, you're not obligated or required to adopt the statute. But if you choose to adopt a statute, then yes, you are then required to comply with the statute
by providing these mailings. And it's not necessarily every election. It's every election on which there is a ballot question. U Mr. Thank you, Mr. Cost. Uh Mr. Arians want to have the citizens entertain this
emotion because throughout my I've been involved with two departments in the town and we no longer have a thousand times we don't and by sending a mailing out
first of all the responsible government of the town is alerting everybody of what's happening and um and can feel confident that they did their
job in notifying the citizens of their town. Um so I endorse it and because otherwise people are at their own um rec resources to find out what is
happening in town and there's so many things that are going on and to expect that they can be done by putting on a uh asking people to go to a website regularly to see the town agenda.
um is one thing, but if you have it in your mail, you certainly have the option to discard it. You have the option to read it at any time that's convenient to you. And as far as the town's concerned
or the people getting that information, we've done everything possible to notify the citizens of our town about what's coming up for ballot. And if you witness what's happened in the last 3 years
um with town meetings um in so many circumstances we didn't even have a quorum and then when it comes to the school budget we have an overwhelming quorum. So obviously the communication is out in the school
district but not in the town proper. Um, so about a town meeting and the importance of one. So if the town is going to make the effort to pay for a town meeting, it certainly should be feel confident it notified everybody
properly. The current standard is it's up to your obligation to find the town meeting being posted at a building in towns and harbor and at the town hall or at another location. Um to me this is a
direct way to communicate with the citizens and it's of major interest to them and gives them every opportunity to encourage voting in our community. Thank you. Uh comments come on the motion and uh
one more question here. That's all. Well, I I guess if you don't mind. All right. Um this is very specific. It wouldn't actually be for notifying about town meetings or anything like that. It's
purely ballot questions. There'd be a yes and a no explanation similar to what you get from the state. You know, when we get that we get the mail out. That is what this would be just on the town level. It wouldn't notify about town meetings or any other thing right now.
Any comments come on the comments? Uh ma'am, um Selena Thomas in Warren Road again. Um clarification. So, if we vote no on this, is the town allowed to disseminate
this information um like through the town email blast that goes out or through another town site? Because in general, I'm very much for getting the information out to people. If this is the only way we're
allowed to do it according to rules, that would be good to know. Uh question comes on the motion. Is is this the only way to do it? Mr. C through you, Mr. Moderator. Um as
an attorney, I don't like to talk in superlatives. So, I'm not going to say it's the only way to do it. I'm going to say that um many of the other ways to do it can be complicated. Um because of what the office of campaign finance has said, no municipal resources can typically be used in the dissemination
of information that could be viewed as either fa either favoring or disfavoring a ballot question. Otherwise, you'd have, let's say, your select board who might be in favor of a ballot question disseminating lots of information about why the voters should adopt it and there wouldn't be nobody would understand the
the the opposite um the opposite effect, the flip side of the coin, so to speak. Um, so municipal resources can't be used. So you referred to, for example, an email blast. An email blast might be a way to get the information out if it were simplyformational and was not
persuasive in any way. Um, but the idea of other sorts of mailings, even the use of public facilities, public buildings for example, uh, can be challenging in these circumstances if the purpose of the meeting is to discuss the pros and cons of a particular ball in question. So I'm not prepared to say it can't be
done in any other way. there's no other way to get information out because there are some other ways it can be done. Um, but the purpose and objective of this statute was to provide a defined way to make it happen. When you read the provisions, and it's not included verbatim within article 5, but when you
read the provisions of section 18B, it defines quite specifically what would be included in this mailing. It includes number one, the full text of the question. Number two, a fair and concise summary of the question, including a one-s sentence statement that describes the effect of a yes or a no vote. And
then number three, an argument for and an argument against, each of which is limited to 150 words. So the idea is that by complying with this very particular statute, you have in one place in the form of a single mailer the information that you need as a voter with respect to a valid question. Um,
again, I'm not advocating for or against it, but that that's the the the context in which the statute arises and some of the challenges in attempting to do these same things outside of this statutory context. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Cas. Um, Mr. Spa,
Kathleen Spaford, 312 Main Street. Although this sounds really good and I think it's important to get the information out to the people, my concern is vote by mail and absentee voting, those ballots go out at least three weeks
before the election. Will this information go out before the ballots? Otherwise, are you disenfranchising those voters by not giving them the information that the other voters will have after the mailing
goes out? Just a comment. That's a good point. I know Mr. Costa earlier I think said that there's nothing that prohibits the town from sending it out sooner. And I raised the question about 7 days might not be enough. So uh whether or not I think a
lot of it depends on the whole timing of things. If if uh if a a ballot question is proposed and I'm not sure what the timing is in terms of absentee ballots. Obviously it would need some forethought. I don't know if anybody has a further
comment. for my observation. All right, I think it's before you. Um, all those don't see any other questions. So, I'm going to call for a vote. Um, all those in favor of the motion on
article 5, please say I. Those opposed say no. No. Requires a majority vote, so I think the nos have it. And that brings us to Mr. Moderator. Yep. Mr. Shepherd.
If I may, Mr. Moderator, Gary Shepard, 90 Old Meeting, Houseville Road, Towns, and I'd like to reconsider article 4. We've uh we've been down this road and uh we've got 100 people tonight making the decisions for the town. As of right
now, there is no method for any arbitrary or intermediary to look at a zoning question other than uh refer back to the HDC. The uh building inspector is a paid professional with a lot of
credentials and experience and knowledge about different zoning and bylaws. So, we make a simple request to table something with no debate or no discussion and we don't understand the validity of what's at risk. And so by simply tableabling that, we now have to
wait until either the fall or next quarter. So I'd like to reconsider number two. If there's ability to debate this, happy to do it. All right. Um, apparently Cindy's got more uh more
throw to get things going. Reconsider um requires a majority vote. And what's your point of order? My point of order is normally at town meeting you don't allow people to make a motion and then give a give a presentation on it and Mr.
Sheepard just made a motion and then didn't just give a whole speech on why. Right. So that's my point of order. So I want to call this motion on order. So you're quite right Miss King uh overindulging Mr. Sheepard because I did not hear a second and a motion to
reconsider. Second motion's been made to reconsider and it's been seconded. I think Mr. Shepherd, you've stated your case. I'm going to ask for any other uh comments. Mr. Moderator, if I could.
Yeah. So my my concern is that uh the typical context in which a motion to reconsider arises is when there has been a vote on the substance of an article and it's been voted up or voted down and there's a desire by the body to later reconsider that vote. In this instance
there was no vote on article 4 rather the vote was on a motion to table. So I think the appropriate motion if the intention is to remove it from the table which can occur at any time within the same town meeting same evening or in future continued session of the town meeting would be a motion to remove it
from the table. It's sort of two sides of the same coin because it's still a simple majority vote non-debatable but I think that's the appropriate motion and that would then place the article back before the voters on the substance. I think you're right Mr. because the the since it was tabled not voted down or up
the vote was to table that article and so the proper motion would be to remove from the table. Uh that is a a motion that um uh is u not debatable and needs a majority vote to pass. So uh it's kind
of like I moved the question. Uh I think sometimes a town meeting time would moderator would be given the ability to say well what has happened to change the meeting's uh opinion about this in order to require some reconsideration.
Um if there's some new information or not but since this was such a close vote um I I think that it's proper to to bring the motion to take it from the table. Uh again that's going to be a majority vote. So if people are of the
same mind uh we'll we will not be reconsidering this Mr. Shepherd but we have to take it from the table further. So all those in favor of uh taking article 4 from the table which would bring it back before the town meeting to
debate and discuss. Uh all those in favor of doing that please say I. I. Those opposed say no. No. Uh, I would have to say majority is no. Um, but if there's some people want to question that, we can have a vote.
All right. Uh, the motion to take from the table does not pass. And that brings us to article six, which is to see if the town will vote to amend section 145-26 residential districts. Append text at
the end of section 145 section- 26B14. Notwithstanding any provision of this bylaw to the contrary, an apartment/multif family building is defined by 145-5 is prohibited on the following parcels. Assessive map 10
parcel 52 blood flood road and assessor map 10 parcel 70 west elm street. also to amend one chap section 14547 open space multifamily development OSMD and insert at the end of section 145-47B
quote the provisions of this section shall not apply to the assessor's map 10 parcel 52 and assessor's map 10 parcel 70 or take any other action relation there too is there a motion materi king 72 west
I make the motion for as as just stated and according to the number six article on the warrant as stated in the warrant. Okay. Is there a second? Okay. Motion's made and seconded on article six
is uh written motion and this is a citizen petition. Is there a plane board report? We do have a moderator, Andrew Shepard, chair of the planning board. We held a public hearing on this matter this past
Monday. Uh we'll read the following results from the planning board report said the planning board voted unanimously to not recommend adoption of the citizens petition proposed zoning amendments for the following reasons. One, the comments from the town zoning enforcement officer which states, "I see
no reason that these two lots should be singled out as not to allow multif family. The table of uses allows multif family within the RA and RB districts with special permit from the ZBA and should not be
ex accepted." Robert Garside, towns and zoning enforcement officer. Two, while the planning board acknowledges the concerns raised by the residents in the petition, these matters are most appropriately addressed by the relevant regulatory departments and agencies. Three, potential violations of spot
zoning principles under Massachusetts law, singling out two specific parcels, map 10, parcels 52 and 70, for a multif family prohibition while allowing such uses elsewhere in residential or open space multif family development, OSMD,
zones risks being deemed spot zoning, which is illegal under Massachusetts law. Spot zoning occurs when zoning changes target a small area without a rational bias tied to the public welfare. The petition lacks evidence of unique environmental traffic or
infrastructure constraints on these parcels that justify such restriction, especially since the existing bylaws already regulate development impacts. And for finally approving Not all right. Four was really short.
We are worried about approving the petition could set a precedent for ad hoc zoning changes undermining the planning board's ability to guide orderly development and potentially complicated future housing initiatives. Okay, that's planning board's report.
What? Okay, people couldn't hear your last comments here. All right. All right, I'll read the I'll read the last one. Number four was approving such a petition could set a precedent for ad hoc zoning changes undermining the planning board's ability
to guide orderly development and potentially complicate future housing initiatives. Okay, you hear that? Then all right, Miss Kane. Well, for the we requesting a proposed zoning change in
the designation of parcels on Blood Road, map 10, lot 52 and West Elm Street, map 10 lot 70 for the following reasons that align with the goals of town of housing master housing production prepared by JM Golden for the
town 2022 and 2026. One of them is to help preserve agricultural land and be good stewards of forest through forestry management to help reduce our collective carbon footprint. Keeping land in its natural state would assist with Town and
Massachusetts green energy goals. Trees will contain greenhouse emissions and therefore help to combat climate change and also pleased to help save and protect the wetlands. I believe that the town of Townsen would suffer irreparable damage and harm if there's no effort to
preserve land for these purposes. One step closer to saving the planet, please vote yes on article number six. And thank you for considering this. Any comments come on u the motion on article six. Are there any other
questions or comments? Uh up in the balcony if you could come down. Lois West 35 West Elm Street West the um point I just want to bring up is you know these are the microphones if we
could step up the microphone otherwise people can't hear it they can't hear at home it's westback 35 West Street West Thompson um my comment on selecting
these two out of the realm of the parcels that were chosen are mainly because there's an intermittent stream. There are wells and there are um it's a nice wooded area. There's basically from the top of the hill there's a swamp
here, there's a swamp there, there's a swamp basically in that bed that whole part of the house is sitting kind of in the intermittent streams valley and I really think that's inappropriate choice of land for any building never mind
affordable housing. I think that whole hill is kind of maxed out with the leech systems in it and the drainage. I happen to be the swamp before the swamp at Lynen Street. My threequarters of an acre is mostly swamp.
And if you put in more of these leech fields in the spring, instead of just having this mild smell, it's going to increase unless you're going to change the sewage. So I want to know what they proposed the sewage and how they can think unless they have
city sewage that that would be possible to put that many families on that the ground needs the swamps because we're mostly glacial till and ledge bedrock. So if you don't have appropriate places for these bacteria to gather up and
process our fecal and our urinary wastes and anything else we're putting down our toilets and making our leech field, you know, you have the pucker sucker truck comes. He just pumps out what's in the tank. Your fluids are still flowing through your leech field and into the
ground and into aquifers eventually. So the more, you know, more of these swamps you have that help process this, the less of our E.coli and other nasty bacteria are going to be haunting us. So I think that these two, it's not spot
zoning. You're squat zoning when you chose them in the first place. It's not spot zoning. It is these two are just inappropriate, I feel, for any kind of building.
Any comments from on the motion? Um, Miss Craven. Thank you, Mr. Monator. So, I listened with interest on the first motion or the second article where
we were talking about the um MBTA, which I did before. um consistent with the community. We made exceptions, we made changes so that that could be an overlay district that not just had the high density housing but offered the
opportunity to have other houses in there um a mixed type of development. And here we have two lots that um equal 7 acres. For those of you that might have been at the May 2022
town meeting, I spoke vehemently about the select boards, and I know there's only one of you um up there now that is um from that May 2022 meeting, that we should not be wasting our town's time of putting these two particular lots into
the housing trust because of the difficulty of people that I knew that were building in that very same area that did not want to build on lots because of the difficulty of the terrain, the wet area, the endangered
plants, the endangered species, the vernal pools that were not registered and are still not registered on that land, the fact that there is an intermittent seasonal stream that is in a sensitive area, that that area is
perpetually wet. We have a sports organization that has been put through the ringer, spending an inordinate amount of time to make sure that we are sensitive to the turtles before they can build a soccer field. But yet we have a
town entity and I don't know if the other housing trust folks are here so sorry I'm only speaking to one that's on the stage but we have a town entity that is proposing to put 10 buildings on a lot
to have an imperous surface for 60 vehicles on an extremely sloped lot that is perpetually wet. with an additional building. Now, this is just proposed. It's a
concept. Maybe it will change. But whether this passes or not, we have to start thinking as the housing trust of what would be consistent and what would be appropriate and maybe there could be with some thought and
engineering that there would be some appropriate buildings that could be put on there. But to take the amount of funding that we have to take from the housing trust to put it out to bid to
find someone that would be interested in lots that are difficult at best to develop I don't think with our scarce resources it's the best use of what we should be doing. So whether this is the
right way to address it or whether it's we ensure that what would be needed for any other lots. So you're going to say this is limb. You're going to say this is spot zoning. But in order to get in
RB, which this is residential B, you would have to have for those two lots to be combined, you'd have to have a minimum of 8 acres to have one building. But this concept whether again whether this one moves forward or not, there's
more work to be done. It's it's not the right approach. So again, there's folks that are upset because they've seen this concept drawn. This might not again be the right way, but there has to be work done on the
housing uh trust approach to what is right and consistent for the neighborhood. But most importantly with that lot, those two lots can support. Comments come on the motion. Mr. The
just to address some of the uh comments that have been made here. First of all, I believe this whole thing is very premature. This is all about land that has been allowed to the housing authority to use.
Um it's only property that has been the housing authority has the right to consider or the the opportunity to consider. There is no specific project in mind. Any project that would have to
be proposed would have to be exposed to all the other regulatory agencies that we have including conservation planning board, the building department, the health
department, the water department. So the reasons that are presented by the petitioners here are very valid concerns and reasons, but they don't belong before a town meeting. They belong
before a regulatory board that is looking at a specific project in mind that has the opportunity to view a specific project with dimensions and buildings and topography
and engineering and septic and all the other parameters of environmental parameters that be there. That is why those boards exist. That is their purview. These people that are asking for this petition are asking you to spot
zone an area of town because something that is a sensitive concern and probably very legitimate but there's no reason to do anything through zoning. All right. It has to be done through the
regulatory processes for developing any kind of building project. And so um that is why uh the planning board did not endorse this proposal because we want to assure
that the that the proper procedures that are here and the planning board didn't want to introduce any spot zoning. So I don't believe that this article or this petition should be at a town meeting.
End of story. Comments. Come on. Motion. M. Um, Veronica Cal, 68 Meadow Road. I am the select board um, uh, representative on the towns and affordable housing
trust. Um, I just want to what Mr. Theion says is exactly right, but I do just want to give just a little background. The trust was formed in 2020. Um the first board was seated in
January 2020 by this body. It was seated by the select board in October of 2020. This body gave six pieces of property. Uh actually it was town properties that transferred six pieces of property to
the trust. We got a district local technical assistance grant that the planning board typically puts out there through MRPC to have a 5-year action plan um completed that was done in the spring of 2023.
So the question for us was our task and I wasn't on the board that whole time um but in any event the task was to look at those six properties and see what could be developed. And so we've done our due diligence and we worked with Mass
Housing Partnership to find out which of those six properties could be um developed um most easily. The one that has no environmental constraints, and I know a lot of people here have said otherwise,
is that 7 acres and there was an a wetland study done by Boland Engineering. Trust me, if it was wet, we would not be building there. And anybody that knows me knows that. Um, so in any
event, if you look at the concept, so the wetland study was done in the spring of 2024. If I remember right, it was done in April when the property was wet. Um and the piece of property we've given the an
easement we being the affordable housing trust have granted an easement to the water department. Um it's the corner uh furthest down west down for a pumping station in order to pump water on up. So
there's an easement there and the wet area is across 13 from where that pumping station will be and on the other side of the line of that property there. Um the concept is just that it's
a concept. It came back to us. I believe we got it in February. Um and just to say hey this is something that could be built. It doesn't mean that it's what's going to be built. Um but it is it is a
concept. It was to to answer the question can anything be built on the properties that we were given. Um so we have a concept and what that concept tells us is yes something can be built
there. Will it be that? I don't know. Our next step is to go to the public um to get input and learn what it is that the community wants in the realm of
community housing, work first force housing, which is what this is intended for. It is not section 8 housing and it isn't meant I mean unless we're going to limit development on every parcel in land of land that has woods. Um in any
event um doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Um but there's a concept we are unable to use the funds. Everything that we've done we've done without any funding. We've had grants through Mass Housing Partnership for technical
assistance to look at all the properties that we have. The one on Wallace Hill doesn't have town water. We met with Rick Medcaf. Um, and we would have to put in our own water system up there. And well, that's not going to happen.
So, the one on Wallace Hill won't have affordable housing on it um until we have town water up there. the one on South Row Road, um the property there has a lot of environmental constraints.
There really are streams on South Row Road. Um I have yet to see a string on the one that Bowler Engineering came back and said this one's developable. There's more work to be done, a lot more
work. um and to I mean we can vote it yes, we can vote it no, but there's still a lot more work to be done. We didn't have the money to go out to the public. So, um
we will have the money we do the RFP we've been working on and I did watch the hearing a lot of confusion around the RFP. um the piece of property on Hannes Road that's 3 acres we are
putting up for sale. That's what the RFP is. And that way hopefully we can recoup the funds that we are unable to use from ARPA. um it to do the additional work that needs to be done to go out to the public
to hold the community meetings to um uh we're being thoughtful about it and we've definitely done our due diligence and what Mr. Theion said was exactly right. This is spot zoning. Are we gonna, you know, look at every piece of
property in town and come up with um articles at town meetings to say, "Yeah, we don't want this here. We don't want that there. We really don't need the planning board to do anything more because we'll figure it out here at town meeting." I I I don't go along with
that. So, it is spot zoning and the work has been done to look at it. It's not done yet. Um, and there's a lot more to do. That's it. Thank you. Okay. Comments come on the motion. Uh,
Miss King. Okay. A couple of things. Uh, this petition wasn't about affordable housing. It was about the fact that um it's property was looked at, but it was looked at uh in a period of drought and also that
this is um still considered a drought now. And I believe that it should be looked at again. And this petition was about not developing it because there's lots of wetland and they actually um there is some of the area that is under I have a
map that says that unfortunately I don't have it here with the presentation but it has groundwater what do they call it overlays on that part of that property that's on town record and the um and the people that I and even in the planning
board some of the planning board members and some of the um John Q public that were so to speak, um said when they voted this the um properties into the affordable housing trust, they didn't know what it was all about. So, as far
as not having a newspaper um present in town, I mean, there's some miscommunication and lack of communication about a lot of things, including what has been going on with this because not everybody goes to those meetings or looks at the YouTube meetings. And I feel like some of these
things are going on without adequate community representation. And I believe that this site should strongly be looked at again uh at a time when it's not a drought. And the other thing to be considered is that this high seasonal water table. So that would affect the
building and maybe some of these things are supposed to be looked at in the process but to look at a property during the drought that's not an accurate representation of the process. That's all I have to say. Thank you. Okay. Comments come on the motion. Uh
Mr. Ry Bill Ry 88 South Harbor Road. Move the question. Second. Okay. Motion's been made to move the question. This will cut off the bait. Thank you. Uh all those in favor of moving the question, please say I. I.
All those opposed to moving the question say no. All right. Seems like unanimous to move the question. So it is before you um article six um uh to amend the bylaw as been discussed.
I won't repeat it. All those in favor of this motion, please say I. Those opposed, say no. No. Okay. Uh, this would uh at the very least require a majority vote. I don't think there's a majority in favor of
2/3. So, it definitely does not make a 2/3 vote. I would so declare the vote not to meet the 2/3 required majority. And so, the motion does not pass. Uh believe that's all the articles we have. Motion to dissolve.
Motion to dissolve. Name and seconded. All those in favor say I. I. No. You guys have it. Meeting is dissolved. Thank you everyone.