don't have to talk. >> Hello everyone. My name is Laura Shiffren and I will call the meeting of the select board of December 18th, 2025 at 300 p.m. Order.
>> Roll call. Veronica Cal present. Good present. Laura from present >> remote >> remotely. >> Thank you. >> Um >> would you all join me in the pledge of
allegiance? >> I pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice. I'd like to thank all of our veterans as
well as those um military currently serving here and abroad. I would also like to thank all of our emergency response people, all of our elected and appointed officials and
their families for helping to make this community a better place. We appreciate all of you. meeting is being recorded and can I do it? Thank you. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Um, I would like to thank the troll
under the towns in Trestle for sending me a link to the finance committee um meeting for North Middle Sex after our last meeting. um at the point where I um
said I was unable to view the um the meeting. So I I assume that the troll announced themselves at the finance committee meeting as recording the meeting. So um I I would just like to
thank them for that. >> Oh, thank you. Veronica Val, did you have other thank yous? >> No, not today. Okay, thank you. Appreciate everyone. Pros and cons. We learn every day.
Um, there may be some additions or deletions, but I'll have to address that as we reach them if the board is okay. Hearing no objection. 1.5 Review and approve the meeting minutes
of 128 2025. Is there a motion? >> Valer Gooditch move to approve the meeting minutes for December 8th, 2025. >> Veronica Cal second. >> Any discussion? >> Hearing none. Roll call vote.
>> Uh Veronica Cal I get a chai >> and Laura Shiffron I. Um, we are going to go, if it pleases the board, out of order and going to go to executive session for 7.1.
I don't have my motions. Oh, they should be right here. Correct. Do you want to or do you want me to read the motion? Either way is fine. >> Do you want me to read the motion, Lori? I can do that.
>> Please do. >> Sorry, I was never emailed the motions. >> This is not the This is not it. This is the um >> Did you get emailed the motions? I'll just read. Um, >> please.
>> I have them. I have them. >> Okay. But go ahead. >> So, this is for all three that we're doing. Is that my understanding? >> No. >> Just just this one. >> I think Are we going into them one at a time, Lauren? >> Yes. Going into them one at a time. And
>> Okay. >> Yes. >> Are we going to come out and reenounce 7.2? >> Um, yes. I think we should um only because we have >> Okay. Why don't you do the two of them?
>> Lori, we should come back out after >> and then go back in. >> And then go back in. Yes. >> Yes. Thank you. >> Okay. Sorry. >> Go ahead, Rona. You want me to read the motion?
>> I can. Um >> um I Veronica Cal uh as the vice chair move to enter into executive session at 3:05 p.m. and to return to um open session
uh pursuant to open meeting law chapter 30A section 21A2 to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiation with non-UN personnel or contract negotiations with
non-UN personnel. Uh in this case it's the um interim town administrator. I Laura Shiffren second that motion virtually. >> No, we are only going into one at a time
so that we can come back out of purpose two. >> Okay. >> All right. Motion has been made and seconded. >> Any further discussion? Hearing none. Roll call vote.
>> On Veronica Keel. I >> and Laura Shiffron. I thank you very much everyone. >> Cam. We will be back. So uh just keep everyone uh in the the meeting. Yep. We'll be back.
>> 12:07 right now. Okay, everyone. Thank you for your patience and we are reconvening the general meeting at 3:57 p.m.
Do I need a roll call vote to reconvene? >> I think I have >> Valerie Gooditch present. Um, Veronica Cal present >> present by >> sure you had this wording. >> Um, >> um, so I
>> maybe I don't >> Adam is waiting for us. So, uh, I think we should go into 7.2. >> I know we have a 4:00 for the health insurance, >> but we can uh >> the the health insurance can can wait a little bit. >> Okay.
Did you want to go to 3.4? >> Do you know the word? >> I'm going to Okay, I'm going to do 3.4 first and uh Veronica. >> Um All right. I'm I'm announcing this for
the chair. After meeting in executive select select um after meeting in executive session, the select board can report that we are not taking any votes today
but cont but um contingent upon finalizing the terms of the agreement with town council review which would be vote which will be voted on at um a subsequent meeting during open session. We intend to vote on the appointment of
Kieran Mian as the interim TA candidate um and as interim town administrator. So this will happen at a subsequent meeting most likely next week, early next week. >> Okay, Veronica, thank you for the report
and different is Adam on online. He's going to be at the executive session. I sent you the link, Lori. Um,
so we'll jump out of open and go into executive and Adam will be there waiting for us. >> Okay. I apologize everyone who's in attendance for the interruptions here, but we will be going into executive session again. 7.2. Veronica, would you
read the motion, please? Um, I, Veronica Kell, uh, vice chair, move to enter into executive session at 400 p.m. and to return to open session. Um,
pursuant to open meeting law chapter 30A section 21A3 to discuss strategy with respect to litigation, namely RFS corporation versus town of Townsen on the litigating position of the board and the chair so
declares. So Laura >> I Laura Shiffron chair so declare >> seconded Valerie goodie I val second. >> Any discussion hearing? None. Roll call
vote. >> Um Veronica Kell I Val Gooditch I >> and Laura Shiffron I. Thank you again everyone. Can you get through? >> Yeah. and welcome to the roller coaster day we're having. Uh sorry for any delay
is to our 4:00 appointment. I'm reconvening our general session at like to make the motion so I can roll call vote for the reconvening. >> Um I make a motion that we reenter open session at 4:28 p.m.
>> Veronica Cal second. >> Okay. Any further discussion hearing? None. Roll call vote. Kelly I virtually
and welcome to Calie and your insurance. >> So may I am going to do something I don't think I've ever done before. I'm going to read off a page of notes because I was literally just putting these numbers together as Jennifer and Bill who are
from Combined Insurance were on their way here. Um, and so I usually would be more prepared than this, but we have a very short amount of time and I want to boil down a lot of this into the crux of what I believe the select board here would want to know. Um, and then I will
hand it over to Jennifer and Bill. So the class continued to uh rise with another anticipated increase. The conservative projection would be 13% and that's what these numbers are based on. Um tonight I believe in SharePoint and maybe Sabrina printed them out. I
presented four different simulations. Um all of them were projected from employee data over the past three years. All of them include a 13-year um projection or increase and all of them um include four separate enrollment thresholds at which
to determine the savings, the potential savings. U first off, let me just say that I'm quite disappointed in the um in the variance between our standard plans and the pricing for the high deductible plans. We expected those quotes to be um
far lower. Uh that said, um as you can see from the spreadsheets, we've worked these numbers up and down. I've come to the conclusion that it isn't feasible for the town to contribute toward the cost of supplemental plans for employees who enroll in high deductible plans,
which from uh the last meeting you might have heard was um part of the intent. However, um adding high deductible plans to our lineup of offerings is always a good idea. It's adventious for the
employees when not involved the um the union's involvement. I first ran simulations on deductibles of 750 and 2250. Um if you're looking at the spreadsheet, you'll see that didn't hardly make a dent at all. Um I then ran
uh numbers on deductions of a,000 and 3,000. That looked a little better. Um, and I also ran uh simulations on uh contributions on the town's part of 75% versus 70%.
>> Um, >> can can I just say I think that 75% is contractual. >> Well, I was just going to get into that. So okay, of the four spreadsheets, I'm going to ask you to disregard the two that refer to the 750 and 2250
deductibles and the four spreadsheet which includes a reduction in our contribution from 75 to 30 because as Veronica pointed out that may be contractual and would involve the union. So now we're looking at numbers for um
deductibles of a,000 and 3,000 with our our split that we have now 75 and 25. And this would be an addition to our our products u not replacing anything. So um if you look at the next page on the
third spreadsheet >> so we're saying everybody would still have access to the same plans. >> Yeah they wanted their standard plan they could. >> This is just an additional option. >> An additional option which would save them a little bit of money by the end of the year. Um and would save the town
some money too. It's not going to save as much as our increase is going to be for our costs over the previous fiscal year, but it's going to mitigate some of those costs. And what percentage increase are we expecting? >> 13% is what I projected it. That's the
projection for calendar year 26 for those plans that are coming out now. For fiscal year 27, it could change between now and then. Right now, if we were doing this as of January, the projection would be pretty solid. I looked at several sources and it would be
approximately 13%. A little lower than I thought, actually. I know last year we were looking at maybe 20. We negotiated it down to 13.59. So, we're very successful with that, but um but I think 13 is a very conservative projection. It
could be higher than that. I doubt it will be lower. Um but if you look at the last page on the third spreadsheet, the um the increase over fiscal year 26 is
projected as well I shouldn't say is projected. These are my projections. I could own them. Um, I project that there would be uh approximately $190,000 increase and that the FY27 projected
cost in whole would be approximately 1.4 million. That is um to assume nobody moves into one of the high deductible plans and that is um to assume very similar uh enrollments. So, I took the
last three years and averaged the enrollment and then just slid them over. Um, and you can see from the sheet, sorry, I know I'm rushing through this, but um that there are different
thresholds here. So, if 20% of employees converted uh into one of these high deductible plans, we would save approximately 15,000. Not a lot. >> Do you have numbers on that somewhere? Yeah, on page two at the top under the
20% on spreadsheet three >> on the right hand side there's a projected overall cost of 1.388 million and >> 20%. So that's 20% of our employees
converted into one of the thousand or 3,000 uh deductible plans and those projections are based on our actual enrollment. Um and then an averaging of of so projected enrollments. So they're very conservative. Um and then if you
jump like there's also a 30% threshold, a 50% threshold. If 70% converted, it would be approximately 51,000 a year that we would save. Okay. Um, can I ask about the savings? It's because
>> the cost of the plan is less expensive >> less expensive to the town >> to um to the employee >> and to the employee. And so if they elected um the plan that we're talking about today in addition to the high
deductible plan, >> they would get addition additional coverage, which is what you're going to tell us about. And the high deductible plan um is elective, therefore it's not
something that the town is obligated to cover. Is that true? >> Right. Right. Yes. So, this would be a voluntary supplemental plan that we would encourage the employees to purchase to bridge the gap and some coverage perhaps and they can use it to
pay toward the higher deductibles. So the um I don't have those numbers with me, but I did run a scenario where an employee who was uh with um New England, Blue New England um when in an
individual plan chose the $1,000 deductible plan um and then added I think it's $15. Is that correct? Something like >> it was I think $18 or $18 a month for the hospital >> for the hospital coverage. So that would
cover the deductible which normally they would be paying 250. So really they're 750 ahead, right? Um and then the difference in the monthly cost of them is not going to change all that much except that everyone's going up 13%. But
um so that would um equalize the cost and cover any gaps in coverage and cover deductibles. And I I have a whole lot more to say and if you have questions, but I think that that's a nutshell of the most important
pertinent details that you probably need. Um >> did you say I just want to for clarification and maybe I didn't hear correctly. Did you say that the premiums are going up 13%. >> Well, that's a projection. That's what I
projected the that's what I'm projecting. So that's what these calculations are all based on and all the um on the front of the pages you can see the costbased projections what they're based on here and what the employee data enrollment projections are
based on. All very conservative um you know I mean if we if if it costs more and it goes up more we save more because the high deductible plan should um help us with that. So I think you know there might be an even further savings even
though overall we're spending more. Um but without it the projected increase is is as it is 13 or 20 or whatever it might be as of July. >> Okay. >> 26. >> Any other questions from the board?
>> I guess I'm just looking at this is on your page one. So we have 70 employees who are benefit eligible. Is that correct? >> Yes. >> Even even though we have 186 employees, >> right? >> So
the 116 of them are under the 20our per week mark. >> Okay. So of those 56 of the 70 56 left to take benefits. So last year that's my
projection and that's based on if you look on the last page of the thing. So we have fiscal year 24. And these are as of October, October 31st of each of 23, 24, 25. And so if um so we have fiscal
year 24, actual is 56 and 25, fiscal year 25, um 58, fiscal year 26, 53, and a projected 56 for fiscal year 26. 27, excuse me. Okay.
>> And um if if there are no other questions about the numbers, I'm happy to um meet with any of you individually. If it's not a discussion about doing anything with them, I can just explain the numbers to you individually. Um but I know the next person needs to be
somewhere. So, if I could turn it over to Jennifer and Bill. >> Sure. >> And they could tell you about what they have to offer. >> Thank you. >> So, thank you so much for your time. Um, so Cali and I have been working for a
number of months on um what combined can do. Um, we are a Chub company. Um, you might be familiar with Chub. Many or if not most towns use CHUB for some of their um coverages. One of the things that I had brought to
Cali as an idea is we do have um and what we would like to offer and these would be voluntary for the for the employees. We do have a hospital policy that is very affordable um that people could get and we would sit down with
employees um go through their different options including perhaps some of their health insurance options to make sure they understand that they could see cost savings on their side if they get something like a hospital policy which
will help them defay um the deductibles if they were to be hospitalized. So, um, one of the things we would like to do as a service to the town is help, um, educate and perhaps that helps encourage
employees to feel more comfortable going to a higher deductible plan, which at the end of the day will also mean the town has um has lower cost as well. Um it's health insurance which seems to be driving the biggest increases in costs
across the board, not just for towns but for private businesses. Um we also are hoping to become your preferred supplemental carrier. We have other options that people can choose outside
of the hospital policy. I believe you u may be using another carrier that offers these. ours do um tend to offer the coverage at a again a reduced cost to
employees um also um that offers a few more let's say bells and whistles as well um because we are chub um our the most popular type of policy would be the accidental injury policy um couple of
features of ours that is different from what we see um with other carriers. First of all um if we are coming in and doing open enrollment in May for a July one date when people sign up with us for the accident policy that day they have
coverage. Other carriers don't do that. There is a wait. Um we also offer a health and wellness benefit with that. So any year that they go get um seek a just basic
physical, we will send them money. Um and that covers themselves and any covered family members. Um and we also offer folks a benefit if they um end up injured enough that they had been hospitalized in a rehabilitation center. We do offer some payments for when they
go home for up to a week of further recovery at home. So those are some of the benefits of it. Um probably the one I should mention even the most is our disability policy is really top in class. Again uh we see that usually
folks um who get this see cost savings. Um but our policy has a few things to it that we don't see with our competitors. One is um elimination period absolutely waved. So when somebody is hospitalized
or going for outpatient surgery, whatever elimination period they have is waved and we actually pay them from day one. I will mention that this is really good for the women, the younger women in your employee um who might be going out
on maternity because the other plans out there um the maternity benefit is the maternity is considered an illness and so there's always a week to two weeks elimination depending on what somebody chose that they are not paid for their
time out. But with us, a woman who's going to be hospitalized um for giving birth, she's going to get her um disability payment from day one with our coverage. And we also offer a 50% payment if somebody's going out because
of a mental health or substance abuse issue. So if somebody's monthly benefit with us was say 4,000 a month, if they were going out because of a mental health or substance abuse issue, we're actually going to pay them 2,000 a month. I would like to add to that the other um
providers don't offer that particular thing. >> Yeah, I'm not even sure they offer the day one coverage. Um but they certainly don't offer that. Um and then on the the critical illness side, um
our policy is again top class. I tell folks, you can think of it as your own personal GoFundMe on steroids because you choose how much of a lump sum amount you would want to receive if you got diagnosed with cancer, heart
attack, stroke, and host of other critical illnesses. Um, but it's really a triple benefit. So, somebody gets a benefit that's $25,000, it's actually putting $75,000 in reserve >> to help them out financially um when they have another diagnosis or have
recurrences. So, um these are the policies we would love to bring in and offer the town and employees. Again, this would be voluntary for them, but it will help them fill those gaps so that we can explain to them how they
could feel more comfortable saving money on the health insurance side as well. Um, and then the other thing I will just quickly mention that I've been talking to Calie about, um, which is we for our, um,
organizations, towns, businesses where we are their preferred supplemental carrier. We do offer employee navigator. It is a full um HIS system and we offer it at no charge
permanently. So as long as we are working um with the town to um be able to talk to and and meet with employees, this is something that we would offer at no charge. Um, and this is actually great savings for the town because these
kinds of systems usually run um, tens of thousands of dollars a year, >> 40 to 60,000. Also, our current provider did at one point offer us the exact same product. In fact, and as I'm told, um,
the town uh, tried it I for whatever reason didn't use it. Um I they didn't have HR at that point either so probably didn't need to but um but and I've asked several times but they um insist that
should we resurrect it so to speak um that we would pay a monthly um per employee charge. So uh like a household in charge or a user charge not user charge but how many employees. Um,
so that's disappointing and um, they'll offer it to us for free indefinitely. So that's a that's clearly some motivation for the HR department, but that's not why we're here today. It is an added bonus. I'm not I'm not going to I don't want to discount that. Um, but the
intention originally is just to save the time and money on skyrocketing health care costs. And if HR gets something out of it, that's great, too. So there's no look back on these. There's no um pre-existing condition issue, which I know isn't allowed so
much anymore, but that could change. Who knows? Um so in other words, if you if you were to go with the regular plan, not the HDB DP plan, could you also purchase this if
you so chose? Absolutely. Yeah. So, employees can um get these policies regardless of what health insurance plan they choose. Um, part of what we would hope to do is be able to talk to
employees and explain to them how, you know, hey, if you get this policy or these two policies and it's going to help you fill those gaps for those higher deductible plans, let's look at that because you might save some money on your end going to a higher
deductible plan, too. Um, and when we have the conversations with employees about that and take a look at that with them, you know, it ultimately if some folks step up to a higher deductible plan, it will help the town, but you know, there's no requirement that people
step up to a higher deductible plan. they may just want um to get this kind of coverage because there all kinds of things that that don't get covered right when particularly when something more
critical happens. >> And one of the benefits of these um products is they don't necessarily have to be used to cover those gaps. They can also be used to cover their everyday living expenses. So if someone's out of work for a period of time, they don't
have money coming in. They can use that cash to pay their mortgage, pay their rent, their car insurance, uh put food on the table. There is no restrictions. And a lot of these benefits do not coordinate or offset. So if health insurance pays something, we're also
going to pay. There's no there's no what we call coordination, which means well this much. So we're going to distract. If we say we're going to pay someone $1,000 because they broke their ankle or whatever, we're paying them $1,000.
And we've seen a lot a lot a lot of of need out there because of what Jennifer has been speaking to Cali about the increase in in health insurance. In the last 10 years alone, the deductibles have grown by 179% and today 62% of us
are living paycheck to paycheck. And even a $500 expense that they've not accounted for can put them in debt. And I don't mean bankruptcy. I mean just debt where they put it on their credit card or or some other or they have some kind of payment plan. So these plans are
designed to meet both a person's need as well as their budget. >> Any other questions from the board? >> Not right now. Okay. Wow. Well, thank you. >> Thank you so much for giving us your time.
>> If you have any questions, you know, I'm sure Callie can >> y Thank you. I hope everyone has a great holiday. >> You happy holiday. Happy New Year. >> We appreciate you listening to us. >> Thank you. Thank you for coming.
>> Very nice, Tom. Very nice meeting you, Nelson. >> Thank you. Thank you. Nice meeting all of you. >> Nice meeting you. Have a good day. Thank you. Uh, I had stepped out for a couple minutes, gave Bill Solomon a call. He's
on his way here. So, um, you know, while we're waiting for him, we can probably, um, you know, continue with the agenda. Um, he does have a hard stop himself because he has a prior engagement to get to. Um,
but I don't anticipate um we'll need to spend too much time on on on on his um agenda item. >> Is he going to be virtual or he's coming in person? >> He's coming in person. >> Okay.
>> Yep. Actually, I hear him now. Uh yeah, Bill wanted to do this in person. >> Okay. So where he is the agenda >> he is under five point
>> two >> 5.2 >> there's bill right now. Um so we could probably jump right to 5.2. Lori. >> Yep. >> Sit here. >> Yeah you can bill. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Good timing.
>> Thank you. You know, it's been a a week of multitasking, but I'll let you know that Townsen was always number one. >> Appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> That to everybody. >> The floor is yours, Phil. >> Pardon me.
>> Floor is yours. The floor is yours. >> Okay. Thank you. I apologize. It's like the Wizard of Oz. There's a voice, but you don't see. Well, thank you for uh for having me here. Bill Solomon, your special cable counsel. I never worked with the town for began
maybe 30 years ago doing cable licenses and I'd have to say that and we used to have some large disputes and towns and was a leader in really representing itself. Um, but I'm pleased to be here today because I'm I'm I'm really
thrilled with this renewal and uh a product of uh Nelson, New Town Administrator, working hand in hand throughout the process negotiating uh Dave uh cable chair and head of the
uh community media uh invaluable on the capital plan and other things. So, let me just if I can I updated the summary I provided in October. Can I just briefly go through that? Would that be all right? >> Of course. >> Okay. So, um if everyone has the summary there and if anyone
doesn't >> which which one is >> Nelson, >> the title of it in here? >> Yeah. Um >> we have three documents. Yeah. Two are senior things. >> Let me see. Did you just send this
>> Comcast draft license forwarded to Comcast senior manager? We got >> what would have been the first document today that came into the PDF uh >> proposed side letter. >> So this is >> this is all senior managers.
>> This is from yesterday. So if it came today it wouldn't be >> okay. I did not um >> Okay. Well, let me let me take you through. It's all on the license. I and I'll reference those sections. I just put it on. If >> you like we can make a paper. >> I just put it on SharePoint. >> Okay. Oh. >> Do you want me to?
>> Yeah. Okay, no rush. >> Let me log into Zoom and we can >> Are you going to screen share, Nelson? >> Yeah, just give me two seconds. >> While while you're doing that, I also
want to just reference uh the Comcast government affairs manager, Pat Sherns, was invaluable to work with and really cared about the town's needs. uh uh became really familiar with towns and and uh and really was a product of Comcast working with the town to get,
you know, license to work for both parties and most directly working with Pats. So, can I ask a question while we're waiting? >> Sure. Yeah. >> What What is the status overall? Like, are we ready to sign this today? >> Yes. If if if you so choose, I'd
recommend that. Uh we have full agreement from uh Comcast. They actually provided the documents back. So the the license has been fully agreed to the side letters provided and so um when I get through this I'm going to recommend
the board move ahead uh and vote and uh and and you know if you have the docu paper document signed today otherwise you can sign you know tomorrow or Monday. >> What I reviewed had a couple of uh what seems to be maybe just a couple of edits
or errors. >> Okay. Thank you. um go over those after >> and and are we going to go over the um the payments to TCAM and the equipment thing and all of that that we had talked
about the last time you discussed this? >> Um where does that stand? >> Yeah. So sort of a two-part process. uh in order to get a a good cable license, what you need to do uh is is is
to to show the cable company what your needs and interests are. That's under the cable act. So that capital plan uh was produced to provide to Comcast to say these are our needs. Here's our plan as we see it and this is
the funding that we need. And so the license then provides the dollar amount for funding and and that it doesn't say what has to be bought. But the beauty of cable licensing, it gives you a chance to think where you are in community
television and where you want to go. So then when that funding comes in and gets to TCAM, they'll then be able to spend it uh as they see fit. But L, you know, but you know, largely based on the capital plan, but but there's nothing in
the license that says what the town or TCAM has to do with that with that money. And that makes sense because even though people like to misunderstand this, that's money that's provided to the town because cable company's using
your public way just like if they used a building or they used uh any property, they would have to pay compensation and so that they're providing that compensation which in Massachusetts can only be used for PEG, public education,
government related purposes. So that's how we got the good license but doesn't get reflected in the license. >> I see. Okay. >> Great question. I mean that is it's just so All right. So taking you through the license. Uh it's a 10-year license.
That's the maximum allowed under Massachusetts law for a cable license. And like a um I say like a good long-term mortgage. When you you have a good deal, you want to lock it in there. So it's it it's interest to the town to have the full 10 years because we're
deciding those those payments now under the current environment. And secondly, we don't have control over technology. So there's nothing we can no reason to say, well, we want to do this again in five years since the law prevents us to
control their technology. Um, and secondly, thirdly, we're, you know, they're really the leading cable company, so they make those advances. So 10 years is good for both parties uh and less so for their attorney but that's that's okay. >> Does this does this fall outside the you
can only sign threeear? >> Yeah, great great question. Yes, because under uh it's this uh it's not uh governed by the uniform procurement act and the ca state cable law provides the the 10-year limit. So it it but but excellent question as is an agreement
with an access corporation outside of 30B. The um the cable subscribers Comcast at the end of last year, we always get the numbers for December 31st had 1,85 subscribers. That was down from 1,970 a
year before in 2,187, which is a materially smaller decrease in subscribers than you find in many communities. So the people seeing the value of cable and seeing the value of
course of community television. The uh operating support remains at 5% of gross revenues. The maximum allowed under law is 5%. It's 5% of the cable company's revenues and importantly in the definition versus revenue of their
affiliates. The capital uh and uh okay and you know I I'm going to say I'll update this for your record. This had Oh no, that's right. current. So, the current license had $30,000 capital and it had also over like
$130,000, I believe it was, um, payment to to move this to to move the studio. Uh, the new license has a $1.49 per subscriber. Why per subscriber? Well, the cable company
pushes for that. So, if they lose subscribers, they're paying less capital. Why a$149? We push for that. is that's a materially higher number. So that even if the number of subscribers goes down, there's a pretty big cushion bit built in there
to help protect the town. So that was the compromise. We gave them their paradigm and they gave us our number. >> Can you repeat that math again? So it's a $149 for the,50 or so subscribers.
>> Yeah. Per uh that's $149 per month. >> Per month. >> Yeah. So, for instance, if you I have it on my sheets, but if you if you use the and it's probably, you know, a little lower now, but let's say you used uh 1,750.
Let's use that as a number. Say it's 1750* 1.49 49 equals time 12 = $31,290 for for for the year. And if you had 10 years, if it remained around that, that'd be 300,000. You know, we expected
to be somewhat lower. But that's a nice cushion that's built in there. And that was that's the compromise that was made here and other places I've worked with. >> More to that so that it doesn't go below a certain threshold. >> Well, that's a great question. more and more people are not using
like what's the point? >> Yeah, which I may ask. So the answer is there is no floor. Um but you know in the first years here we're going to build up uh you know double or if it was 30,000 it's 10 times as much as the
number was last time. So, if you looked at the last license as having $30,000 capital and the payment to move the studio just being separated apart, which was it wasn't even in the license. Uh, so instead of 30,000, the number at this
point would be 300,000. That's 10 times the amount. So, I've never seen a flora built in. It's a great question. And what it leads to is that if if there continues to be people who are quote cutting the cord, shaving the cord, then
yes, cable will cease to be uh the business it is now. And even in your 5% you'll be sharing in less money. So what that means is that the taxes corporation has to think about and continue fundraising, thinking other ways to
raise dollars. At one point it may be that if folks uh companies want that programming for their their telecommunication video system that an access corporation says fine then you
have to reach an agreement with us so that if their companies want to have it streaming in fact you have a payw wall maybe paid for uh directly by those companies. So, we don't know what the future holds, but we also do know in the state legislature, there's a bill now
that would, if passed, and it's allegedly pretty close, but we'll see. Um, that would impose a fee on every video company that uses the public way in any way for peg access and some going
to the town instead of the state. So that would apply to companies that that provide streaming that use in part the public way because it goes to wires that are on the public way. It wouldn't apply uh to to satellite if they don't use the
public way. So, um, that lack of a floor, I've never seen a floor. And, um, uh, and it said at one point if the revenues are so low that the town will have to figure out how it wants to try to support this if it can.
All right. Cable casting uh, will continue from the existing sites that are connected. It's the town hall, the Spalding Elementary School, the uh Squanic Cook Elementary School, Hawthon Brook Middle School, and the the North Middle Sex High School. Those are
connected by fiber and and need to continue. >> Are they I mean, I guess this is a question for Dave. I thought the North Middle Sex um regional high school connection was no longer there. >> Well, the license requires it it be
there. Someone needs to work with the school on that because I know the school has had a problem with their >> meet school committee meetings I thought because of something with this. >> Yeah. So one of the things I would say is that it it you have a license and a license requirement and during the term
of the license it could be at any time. It could be one week >> after the license. If there's something that's not met that's a requirement that that we'll discuss and would need to be met. >> I know that when the old school was there it was. Yeah, >> but I thought that >> I think I've heard discussions of a
problem but but but it's like anything it's a requirement and uh and it's so therefore now there are other ways to to return video uh it could be on municipal fiber it could be done on the internet
wirelessly uh so for our purposes I'd suggest that and I thank you and I have heard that there were issues with that but from our purposes it's a requirement in the current license. It's requirement in the new license and uh if something
needs to be done uh to either repair or replace that would be an obligation of cable company >> of the cable company. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Um and the cable company for instance during the term of the I think it was
the last license built the connection to TCAM at their at their new studio. >> All right. So additionally um that uh the the town can request that additional apart from what's required uh additional
connections be made and that would be at the cost of the town and very importantly the town has the right to directly or through the access corp to build your own fiber connection to locations for lo for video origination and that's important because there's
company out there for instance contract uh and others that that build many fiber um systems for communities uh and extensions and oftentimes it's the most cost-effective way and of course if you build that you could also use it for
your own municipal purposes whether it's telephone or security monitoring or other or getting rid of a T1 line so that there's two options for any additional buildings going forward and that is request Comcast or require
Comcast to build it at your cost and they would have to show what that cost would be or to build it yourself. And those are two provisions that are not in many many licenses. Uh so that's a real plus that we have here that makes this
more of a living document. Um cable service availability. Uh there's a density requirement. Uh the current density requirement was is 20 unit dwelling units per aerial mile
where the system is aerial and it was 40 dwelling units per mile or fractional proportion thereof for underground. And what I was able to do, and I I really thank Pat and Comcast on this, and they're agreeing with it, is lower
the density requirement for those underground uh dwelling unit areas that already have conduit so that the Comcast doesn't have to put conduit in. There can be a lower density. That number is 30 and that can make a difference in
cost certainly or getting something done. And I was I was pleased to be able to get that. Do we have any underground funding? >> Well, you know, if you build new subdivisions, you will, >> you know, if >> maybe within the subdivision itself, but
not on the town roads, >> but we do get two fiber optic projects that are going on. Phase two of the contract will be beginning March. That'll be a continuity of the phase one fiber optic project. >> Okay. >> Municipal buildings and this being the
hub. Are you with town it? >> I'm just an employee. >> Okay. Yeah. Um I play an attorney also on that. Uh so is is contract the builder of that? >> Brian Hopkins. >> Yeah. And they're fantastic. They know
one better. And while that's being built, you should have a conversation with TCAM to see if there's something that that could be added to that with cable money to explore. It can always be extended, but if being built coming up,
now's the perfect time to have that conversation. Nelson, no one better to, you know, to act as the uh spokesperson for the town together with everyone else uh to see if there's something that would be added with with cable funding.
Uh the uh standard installation, and I might have done this originally in the license, I did very high distance for a standard installation. So for what $50, $60, uh the cables installed by the company, they'll bring it to the home. If it's
250 ft or less underground, it has to not require boring. That's what you That's on the very high side of standard installation distances. Sometimes you see 125 ft, 155 ft, sometimes nothing. So I'm pleased that you have that and
and it wasn't an issue. We continued it cable service the the public buildings. Um we um we added that originally I had it out you're at 5% of gross revenues uh and
that's the maximum allowed by law and a very unfortunate decision by the FCC in 2019 upheld by appeals court said that well there are certain costs not capital costs but certain costs like cable service to public buildings or um some
other costs I won't get into that are quote inind consideration that that that are not capital which are excluded from counting toward your 5% cap for that operating and these inkind consideration matters like cables are the public buildings those could count toward your
5% so if they were to count to the 5% and the appeals code luckily based on what Massachusetts uh uh argued through mass access said that they should only be able to to value that at the marginal cost what it cost and not the market
cost. So that if you have $70, if it's $10 a month, it costs the cable company to provide cable service to a building that that would go toward the 5% and you get less. Um therefore, I'd like not to have that provision in this license because I felt originally cable
companies came to towns and they said, "Oh, please let us in the public way. We want to provide this cable service. We'll give the town free service. you know, we can except for maybe the most premium channel and uh that's great. And then eventually it got documented and
then like 40 years later you have companies, not Comcast arguing that municipalities and counties are breaking the legs of cable companies to get these things. They offer it for free. So I like not to have it in the license because I I argue if they want to start
counting it against the 5% then they want to stop take cable from Jimmy and Sally then they'll see our response in the newspaper. But because Comcast was so fair here and Pat Shren a manager was so fair. That's something that they like
to have in the license because they point out that Comcast corporate if they don't see it in the license says to the local Comcast why you're providing this service it's not in the license. So at the end of the day, one one of few,
you know, things that we had, well, one of the few late issues that we compromised was to say, okay, we'll put it in there. And I put it, I say that because I do not expect Comcast to start saying, well, this service is a value,
and we want to count it toward the 5%. They haven't done it for 40 years. They're an excellent company. I don't expect they will. Uh but if they do, we've agreed that they can follow the FCC rule, but that doesn't mean we can't call them before the board and say, "Look, you know, we don't you're a great
corporate citizen. We're surprised you're doing this." So, I don't think that'll happen, but we did put it in the license uh at their request because of their concern that they may not quite be able to provide that service otherwise. All right. So, senior citizen discount,
I'm not sure. I you I would think you have a current discount. When I did it originally, I'm I'm 98% sure there was a discount, but it's not a lot. If you have a current discount that's greater, you're grandfathered. It's $2 per month. I have this discussion in all
communities. Uh the this cable act does not allow it a community to require a senior discount. Moy companies, most companies do not, cable companies do not provide a senior discount. two uh $2 is
is is obviously not very much. Um although we get some I'll talk about some benefits we get I get around like I I can get the same discount I say in Caldor and in Hope and Z but they don't exist anymore. So, uh, so
they don't have to do it, but they do. They don't do it everywhere. They're doing it in in towns and and we got some benefits with respect to how you qualify financially. Uh, the property elderly property tax abatement that's run through your board of assessors based on
state law, based on people's income and assets. If you qualify for that, you qualify for this. uh and also if you uh get staff payments which would you know there a lot of staff payments out there in all communities you also would
qualify. So the good part is uh we have that discount uh and also I asked Comcast everywhere including here and not always successfully but but often not to put language for instance that other senior discount letters have that say they have a right to change it at
any time. So that's not in this letter. Um, and uh, and it's a strong letter. So, I'm I'm glad to have it. I've tried many places and unless you had a senior discount that was continuing uh, that they don't do other than the $2. And
again, it it's it's something they don't have to do. And we comparing we have probably the best letter in the state, you know, apart from the fact that we all have the same $2 discount. Uh, side letters and this is very important. Last issue the side we have two addition to
the senior discount side letter we have a side letter on ed public education government access two issues one is additional HD channels comcast is now you know took 20 years to get here um
but is now providing not just one HD channel which we we have going forward and I'll discuss in state uh but has now looking like they they would provide three and that would be in place of your standard definition. You have three
channels now under the license you're within 24 months and usually sooner than you know than later in within that time period. One of those channels will be upgraded to high definition the peg channel. You choose which one that is and discuss that with uh u with TCAM
generally speaking to my surprise if you asked me 20 years ago I would have thought it'd be the public channel but most places like the government channel because you can change numbers and sheets and plans and then when people are home you can read that but that'll be your decision really to discuss with
the board and and decide uh so that one HD channel and the other two channels will be upgraded to standard SDI serial digital interface that video quality and sound quality. Uh the side letter just says that within six years, any six year
period when you want doesn't say one any as often as you want, you can have Comcast come here and discuss getting up two more HD channels um in in place of the SD or the discuss the electronic
program guide. Why does that matter? Because if they now go ahead and provide those three HD channels, uh, and the traditionally what would happen is if you were interested in that cable company would say, well, your license is up in 2035 and you have to wait till the
license is up. But what the side letter says is that no, we've anticipated that those things might happen. And we both agreed that we're not waiting 10 years or eight years, whatever the time period is to discuss this and to get this benefit that you're providing others.
You come, we we have a right to ask you to come here, discuss it, and not only discuss it, which some letters say or discuss the technical and um economic feasibility, but actually providing it. That's what the letter says. So this gives us a chance to potentially get
more HD channels uh sooner rather than later. Very important. And also if Comcast provides the electronic program guide as a general matter, they do in one place, six towns that are an island but nowhere else. They do it there because all the towns have the same head
end. Uh and they find that to be a challenge. But if they were to provide the electronic program guide for peg channels, then the same thing we here in Towns, you here in Towns to invite Comcast in and say we'd like you to do the same thing here. So that side letter
is not a common side letter. I I try to get it. I usually do, but not always. Um and uh it's a real plus and I I thank Comcast for doing that. So then in summary is the license and I'll be happy to answer any questions. Um my question is on this side letter thing that you're
talking about if we want to request additional channels. What I'm reading here is it says upon written request of the issuing authority prior to the sixth anniversary of the effective date. So it's not any time. It's within the first five years.
>> Well within the first well six years let's say sixth anniversary. Yeah. So, but that's I have I always have to think about that, but that's right. And I thought I described that o but only within that time period. Why I picked that originally when I did this letter?
Because the idea is when you get to year, let's say get into year seven, you're in the three-year window for renewal. And in that period, Comcast would like to say, well, we're in the renewal process. We want to make this an issue for renewal. So that six that that
sixth anniversary gets to under federal law when that renewal process and I felt one is to get the letter it'd be helpful to say look we understand we we're not going to do this you know close in the renewal period because then you want to discuss it in that context. So great
great pickup and that's why I have the sixth anniversary and the for the first anniversary of course is next year so it' be end the end I guess six years. All right. No good question. So in summary, I think it's a really strong license and again I want to thank
I mean working with Nelson and Dave particularly just just invaluable and Danielle uh Delucia of of um the name the company now aers
technology who was the outside consultant who I've met worked with other consultants I've worked with came in came the towns in did an amazing capital plan with Dave all at no cost. And that is something as as
the board member mentioned you can build on in terms of moving forward together and in improving and expanding your cable program. >> Any other questions? >> Okay. >> And we need those corrections of course.
Uh Yeah, I'll get them to Sabrina. >> Sure. >> Did anyone else see something >> that should be pointed out? >> No.
>> Okay, I'll get that to Sabrina. >> So, the draft the draft contract is uh in SharePoint. So, uh, you know, with Bill's, um, presentation, I I think, um, making a
motion to, um, sign the contract, uh, out of session, um, you know, probably would be the the the the motion for tonight to sort of, uh, hopefully get this uh, executed by the
end of the uh, calendar year. >> Sorry. Uh Valerie stepped out for a minute, so why don't we wait for her to come back? She uh had a bit of a coughing fit. >> So I understand. Um
I was in the session with the um subcont. and um she was very good at um hoping to get us the most that um could from Comcast. So, our discussions were the locations and I remember Dave
saying there was nothing left at the high school and um I and you're saying that it's mandated for us to be there. I'm not quite sure how that will come into play. Um, I
don't know that we would mind. I'm not sure what the high school thinks. I think it might even be better if we did have one there, but my understanding is that they have something else there. So, we'd have look into that a little bit
more. I know that we were looking for other spaces. Um, and I see on the list the old middle school or the little school, I should say. uh which being rented out. Is that
actually being used? I I was hoping Dave might be here to um give us that information as to what's now at building. So, um I'm not I'm not sure it affects our
signing because we do have that side agreement that allows us to further discuss having um more locations than the five that they're stating and then anything that we in town. So I just
wanted to make that clear of what I understood from the meetings that I attended. >> Yeah, thank you. They're very helpful and um uh so yeah, it does have the flexibility uh going forward. I'm looking at one thing I wanted to take a
peek at. Uh yeah, so you know, I think it says we're we're protected. Uh but but but it's important as you indicate to to look at what makes sense in any location that that is it a location you need to go
live from or can as you said uh companies go live from and then how best to do that. That's why I think it'd be helpful to have the conversation IT people and yourself and Nelson and the board if you'd like uh when contract is coming in here because there may be
there may be certain things less so to a school but there may be certain things where where compract could help out and then we could discuss that with Comcast. So um but I think that given what as you said what the license says and then the flexibility of additional locations in
the sideliner because it's been 10 15 years since game companies want to build connections at their cost and so I think that what we have here is something that puts us in the best position to work together with Comcast but also to
protect your interest in in in the license document. So I I don't have that. I mean it was in SharePoint and I did review everything in SharePoint but I was not able to print that and I don't remember that side agreement does have
on it so it becomes a part of the agreement. Well, you know, the sign agreements are sort of uh that that the licenses say there's anything outside the license doesn't uh that doesn't count. Um, as
you know, which contracts often say, but in my experience, I've, you know, 35 years, I've never seen uh Comcast uh not not comply with a side letter that that they provide. And that's the
beauty of Comcast is that not only are they a good company, but they want to be viewed as a good company. I can think of a company, not Verizon, that couldn't care less. And so since they they want to be a good corporate citizen and they don't want to be looking like they're
they're taking advantage of a town, I I really am very confident, you know, barring, you know, some larger company eating them up, uh that that they comply with and will comply with their their their requirements. And then
additionally uh if there's a location importantly and this is actually used more than having Comcast built to a new location as we have as discussed your ability to to to build it and to connect and they have to accept that signal and
then take it from the studio back to their head end. So I think that you know there uh we're doing the work and the way we would want and uh it'd be hardressed to imagine that Verizon would would object to that. So I think in both
both of those areas I think we're fully protected but but no cable company traditionally unless unless you have like building a new town hall or something that they're not or or maybe a studio that they're not willing to connect to remote buildings at their
cost. It's you know when we began 30 years ago they were smaller companies and now they're large and and they they they certain lines. So I think what this license does is living within the realities of of of the economics of
cable uh is a strong license but I those two provisions I think will be will be fine. Uh uh and both of those both of those provisions are in the license. Uh so the I should have said the the extension language is in the license. So
that's a license requirement. The only thing outside of the license is HD and the electronic program bank. >> I know that one of the things that we discussed was possibly having one either at the police station or the fire
station and the fire station, the central one in particular because it has a training room. Now the water department actually has a better training room. I don't I probably shouldn't say that too loud, but
it's used um all over the state. I'm not quite sure if um it would be allowable there, but I think it's worth a discussion. Um so when a motion is made today, is it just for the license or are we also going to include the um side
letter? >> Great question. And and as I I I usually bring a motion, but I as I was I wanted to get here, I would ask that if you take a vote uh to approve and issue the license that that same vote acknowledge
describing both of those letters as I've described them in the side letter. So that years from now, exactly your point, when people look at the vote, they say, "Oh, there were two side letters." So vote to approve and and issue the cable license uh uh and uh and to acknowledge
the two side letters uh naming them senior discount >> discount and peg access >> peg peg peg uh HD electronically program guide uh uh provided by uh Patrick insurance Comcast
>> manager and so with that great point and that's what I was going to do is to uh is is to let people know that from the record bulletproof something else otherwise they can get lost. >> Bale, do you have a motion? >> You can correct me if I'm wrong, but um
I Gooditch move that we accept and sign out of session the um Comcast cable uh contract as presented on December 18th, >> right? 25 including >> and I would just use the word acknowledging and then
>> those two senior discount >> two side letters the first being for the senior citizen discount and the second being for peg access side letter. >> Yeah, peg access side is fine. >> Veronica kel second.
>> Okay. Any further discussions hearing? None. Roll call vote. uh Veronica Kell. Thank you very much, Attorney Solomon, uh coming here and
assist. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. It's um a lot of work to do. It's a great town and it's been a my pleasure to to work here in towns in and to meet the the people and the boards and uh the town that that took a cable program that had been run
from the company and built it up to uh just an excellent program and it just it's a reflection of the town and as I always say it's also a reflection of your beautiful town hall which is always nice to come and visit uh here towns and town hall. So thank you all again
Nelson. Thank you. >> Thank you, Bill. >> Happy holiday season and happy new year to you. And >> I believe I said you signed out a session. Veronica, you did. >> Yes. Thanks so much. Great job. >> Thank you, Bill.
>> Thank you for your question. >> Okay, ready to move on to 3.1. The appointments of official personnel. Um I val move to appoint Travis
Malsski as recycling tenant one to the recycling center with effective start date December 20th 2025 contingent upon it successful completion of all employee requirements second >> and we do have a clarification from
Calie uh in our share Fair point. So, is there any further discussion? >> No. >> Roll call vote, please. >> Um, Veronica Cal I
>> Laura Shiffren I welcome Travis. Um, next 3.2 Robert as cemetery and parks committee rep to the preservation commission. Uh,
is there a motion? I also have all those those documents. We're all in SharePoint. >> I, Valerie Gooditch, move to appoint Robert Theren as summer parks committee representative to the community preservation committee effective December 18th, 2025 until June 30th,
2027. >> Um, Veronica second. Um, could I ask a question about the community preservation committee in general before we vote? >> Sure. Um,
do we know um who from each board has been assigned already? >> I think that was it. >> Or appointed already. >> I thought that was >> okay. I think that it is um I know we
have another one. Let me see what I have. >> I know, but I was looking to see. So the the bylaw language was in there and um >> posting yes >> the posting was in there but what I wanted to know is
um has someone already been appointed by the conservation commission? Has somebody already been appointed by the historical district commission? I know last was it two weeks we appointed Lance from
planning >> from the planning right >> we have >> we appointed Kim Go as one of our at large she's not on any board um but have we appointed a conservation commissioner
>> um >> and the way this is written it has to be from not an appointee uh I thought it had to be one member uh you have to be a member of the board. Lance is an alternate um on planning board, I
thought. But I think that's okay. I'll take that. Um it's not actually a member. Um the difference there is that it's not someone who was elected and and so in any event, I I was just curious. I
know we haven't appointed that many people to this yet. >> No. and Robert is from the >> park, >> right? And >> is also a planning board member. Um, so
it gets dicey to me um when when we're appointing the same people over and over again. >> You risk you risk having a you risk having a quorum of a different board at this meeting. >> I I think planning is okay.
um probably just something to be aware of, right? >> You just need to learn who is on what from where so that >> so anyway. Okay. So the only two that we're certain of is Lance from the planning board and but but he's an
alternate and is that okay? >> I'm okay with it. >> We have other we Okay. So let I'll just go to town properties. So town properties has so many it it's
cited who's from where five different boards and then the two appointed by at large in any of the other committees cited they can take a representative and who does not have to
be on >> that's right you don't have to be on the board but this committee is different because it says one member of the board. >> So, and I I hadn't thought about this until the reading the things for these appointments today.
>> It is specific. So, um uh I I guess I want clarification that >> Okay. Um, we'll clarify that and and push this one off to
>> So, Robert would be the appointed member from the planning board. Lance is a resident of town. He would be the member at large and KBY Streer who's a conservation agent but not a member of the conservation committee would also be a member at large.
>> But we can only have two at large members. And we have >> someone else. We have already appointed Kim >> and we appointed Lance to the committee but for the planning board it however he's not he's an appointed alternate alternates aren't voted
>> full members >> correct um so I I am questioning Lance's appointment I'm looking at Bob who must certainly want to be on the committee should he be the planning board representative
to CPA so I think before a and Then um I'm looking we haven't we don't have a motion for Kobe yet. So I don't know if it's fair to talk about yet. Um but I I'm just looking for clarification on this committee. So I think we should put
these two appointments off to January 6th. The one for Colby and the one for Robert. >> Okay. What I would just say is Colby is coming here as cemetery and parks commissioner. No,
he's not. Robert is. >> No, sorry. I'm sorry. >> Uh, >> he is, but he's he put his name Robert put his name down as Cemetery Parks Commissioner. >> Correct. >> Committee member, but he's also in fact
a full-fledged planning board member. >> Correct. He's elected to two boards. Correct. Um and and so I I think I would need clarification from the planning board as to who they want to appoint. So
in any event, I I just think that I need clarification for what it means to be a member of a board. >> Oh, I see. >> All of that was I mean the all the members and how they're stated are
attached to in the SharePoint. I did I did >> Exactly. Well, >> okay. I'm I'm okay with looking into more. >> I mean, if there was a an issue or question about lands because he's an
associate member, but Robert is a full-fledged member of the of the cemetery and parks um commission, is he not? >> Yes, but he's also a full-fledged elected member of the planning board.
and if in fact he's interested and that I I just want clarification on this because I think the alternate member what's what's Lance's appointment is it does it end at
the end of um June or April even? I I don't know off the top of my head. So I want clarification before appointing any of these. Okay. >> Would Kobe be okay because he's just an atlarge?
>> Well, my thought is if we've already appointed Lance, we could change him to at large. I also have a question about Kesar Conservation Agent and we have a member from the conservation commission. Does that make
us conservationheavy? which is maybe from my standpoint not a bad thing but it but it could be. So I you know I just want clarification on this and I think
the holding off the appointments until January 6th isn't a bad thing. In other words, they aren't meeting in the next two weeks. >> Okay. Um so 3.2 2 and 3.3
will be moved to the January 6th agenda. Um, I, Valerie Gooditch, move to appoint Ronald Murray as temporary seasonal emergency worker to the highway department with effective start date December 1st, 2025. >> Veronica second.
>> Any discussion? Roll call vote >> you're going to try. >> Laura Fai. >> Thank you. Now the
as an alternate to the historic district commission. I, Valerie Gooditch, move to appoint Kathleen Spaford as alternate member to the historic district commission effective December 18th, 2025 until June 6 30th, 2028.
>> Um, Veronica second, >> you all did have all the I could go up anyway regarding the appointments and >> um, so it the board is full and has one alternate. Correct.
Yes, but it is of two alternates. >> Okay, that's fine. >> Any other discussion? Well, I'm, you know, having been to all the historic society things in the past
month or so. I um I don't know and I'm I'm looking at this. Um there's two alternates. Yes. and his or her place shall be taken by an alternate
member designated by the chairman. Um, and we have someone who already was appointed as an alternate. >> I know that you can have a second alternate, but do you have to have one? >> A big group. >> One, two, three, four, five, six, seven,
eight. And this would be a ninth person. >> So, seven members on the board. Seven members. >> Seven members are seated and one is an alter. >> Yeah, they have >> and one is an alternate. >> And you can see by the list they've all
been sworn in, but one doesn't have a swear in date. >> So, does that mean they were sworn in or not? If you don't have a sworn in date, are you sworn in? >> And the answer to that is no. the the clerk I the town clerk's office is
looking into that as we speak but that is for a full-fledged member which is not um >> being considered at the moment >> that makes sense for a seven member board correct >> there's a lot of people that try to
corral >> so having a couple extra people that call the dugout >> as long as >> a quorum is uh four of that board in order to hold a meeting. >> Okay.
>> I mean can attend any time obviously but there appoints one of the alternates to serve if there's less than seven. And I I'm not quite sure
and I I'm not quite sure of the legality of that particular point that I just made as far as the voting of an alternate. I mean if you don't have a quorum I understand the need if you like let's say in planning
have one alternate and they they um and I don't even know about this because I heard about this differently they can if they attend all the meetings they
can make a vote where a super majority a supermajority is needed. So then you have the correct and that's not in all instances. And I heard Adam say something about this at one of the meetings and I can't remember
exactly what it was. I I'm okay with moving this to January 6th and getting a little more clarification on the alternates um and requirement over the quorum.
>> Okay. I only know of one instance in the last year where we didn't have a quorum and it was at a hearing, not a meeting. >> So, I think I've done since September of 24. >> If it pleases the board, I can move this
to January 6 as well. >> Let's do that. Thank you. >> And also, as a side note, when we were talking about CPA, if I may to backrop this that appointment.
Am I okay saying um appointment the uh from HDC was on their agenda and they to another agenda. They didn't appoint anybody. >> Oh, okay.
just to give you that back info on the CPA since we're not doing anything today either. >> Um, >> so I guess the question then is with regards to this is are we looking for information more information on why they need a second alternate if if a second
alternate is >> set allowed how they how they do the voting is kind of their own thing. >> Right. >> Right. So it's kind of irrespective of this particular thing >> sort of. Yeah. I I I'm just looking at Okay. So, the
>> my thought process is the chair >> decides which alternate votes. >> Correct. >> Um and there are two alternates and the chair isn't sworn in. So, oh yeah, she is. >> No, the chair the chair's
>> the chair. Okay. Okay. Okay. I mean, I don't have a problem voting on this one today, but that's just me. >> Okay. But if you don't want to, Lori, that's fine. I say let's do them all on the sixth. >> All right, >> that we just discussed.
>> So that brings us to new business. >> Can't hear you, Lori. Can't hear you. You're fading. >> Your internet might be a little bit uh wonky. >> Oh. Um, it looks strong. >> You're kind of stuttering here and there
once in a while. It's not all the time. Um, if if it continues more, maybe we'll have you sort of turn off your video. Um, but for now, just continue. >> Okay. >> Yep.
>> Just let me know if you can't hear me. >> 4.1. Is there a motion? I Valerie Gooditch move to approve the class 2 license application and transfer of owner associated with a class 2 license for premises 98 Main Street towns and mass 01469
DBA Harbor Auto Body to hereafter be operated by Harbor Auto Body Inc. owner Patrick Murphy >> Veronica Ke second. Any discussion >> hearing? None. Roll call vote. >> Veronica ke.
>> I la. Thank you and congratulations to the new owner. 4.2. >> Oh, we didn't hear you. We heard 4.2, Lori. Nothing after that. >> Is there a motion? >> Yep. Um, I Valerie Goodrich move to
grant the December 2nd, 202 request of Nelson Mui, town administrator to wave the 90-day written notice requirement for his voluntary resignation as set forth in section 3E of his employment agreement dated July 16th, 2024, and that the board accepts
Mr. Mu's resignation effective January 2nd, 2025. >> I think the dates are off on that. I think it board accepts effective January 2nd, 2026. >> Yes.
>> So corrected. >> 26. >> Veronica Keel second. >> Okay. Any further discussion? Hearing none. Roll call vote. >> Veronica Keel. I gay.
>> Laura Shiffron. I 4.3. Is there a motion? >> I valich move to approve theou for the treasurer collector Melissa Dunnet to forego the FY26 stipened as presented.
>> Out of sign out of session >> to sign out of session. >> Is there a second? >> Veronica ke. >> Any further discussion? Hearing none. Roll call vote. Veronica I Gage I >> Laura Shiffren I and thank you to the
treasurer 4.5. >> Is there a motion? >> I Valerie Gooditch move to approve theou for fire department positions EMTA EMTB EMTP and job description as presented.
>> Second >> any discussion >> do we just want >> 4.5 it's 4.4 for >> Thank you. Um, do you just want me to give a brief overview of what this is?
>> Uh, sure. It's basically that in an attempt to increase recruitment. There was a new position created that doesn't require um these individuals to already have their fire fire certifications. So, the compensation is slightly less. And the union put this forward. its way to
increase recruitment and they would be they would be have the ability to move into the higher pay position within the two years of obtaining that >> that's if they stay in the town they don't leave correct >> just train them off and then they
>> be in the contract you fulfill your two-year obligation and then >> it is it double So if the town covers the cost of training, you owe the town two years of work, >> I believe.
>> I think is Sally there because I I that is what used to happen. They train and then lose them. they go someplace else for more money. So that was included for them to serve the two years. >> That it should be in the contract that
there's >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Um >> so that if they leave within the two years of having been trained that they pay us back and reimburse us for the training we've been paying for. >> That makes sense. Maybe we want to put this off for further discussion because
I don't see that in here. No, it just says upon success upon successful completion of firefighter one two training and substance certification recruits shall be elevated to the appropriate step rate to measure it with their respective certification level. >> Right. >> Yeah.
>> So it we need to add a sentence in there. So I don't think we're done on this. Well, I mean, I guess the if we are saying that these folks were going to claw back, you know, um
their training um if they leave, you know, within two years or whatever, you know, couldn't you say uh apply this that same threshold or similar language to, you know, um
other positions? in that union as well. I I think it gets kind of murky at that point cuz you know a firefighter EMT, you know, once they're here, they're probably still getting additional training. You know,
are we now saying that those folks if you know we've paid for, you know, this additional training, we're now going to try to claw back that money? >> No. um they've already previously they
came in trained. Um so we are paying for training that they can then take to another community and potentially make more that they than what they made here. Um and so and we regularly train people
and then they leave. Um, and so I think we have to talk about this. >> Yeah, I think this is going to have to be if there's further discussion, it needs to be an executive session. >> Yes, it does. >> This is not the >> You see it happen in other types of collective bargaining agreement
departments, if you will, where you train up a park ranger, let's say, and then they leave. And then you want to recoup your funding because they came in with zero skills. You trained them up to 10% of the job. They passed their credentials.
The town paid for it, the government paid for it, and then they leave a day later. >> Yeah. >> Sort of a sunk cost. >> Well, this is a bit of an anomaly because we have not typically hired people that haven't come in with that training already,
>> right? So that's like not in the probably >> Yeah. So I think this will >> sure it's not in the union agreement and was probably an oversight here because there's no mention of paying or not. >> So I think this >> should mention whether we're paying it
in addition to that clause as far as reimbursement of things. >> Right. So I think this will just warrant further discussion. >> Yes. It it complicates things because they've already signed theou. So we are if we are suggesting changes then this going
to have to go through their union membership. So I think it's yeah more discussions need to be had. >> It's not a definite even if they did sign the niu until we also sign. >> Understood. >> Okay. January 6th. Are you saying this
may require executive on January 6th? >> Yes. Put it in executive line on January six. Thank you. >> Okay. 4. It's just we discuss unexpended funds.
>> No. 4.5. Lori. >> Oh, sorry. What we just did was 4.4. Okay. >> Correct. >> Okay. So, thank you for keeping me on track. Police chief, is there a motion here?
>> Yep. Um, sorry, chair. I, Valerie Gooditch, move to approve the letter to police chief reason contract renegotiations as presented. And I'll just read the letter. It's super short.
Oh, sorry. You got a second. >> Um, and the letter is simply dated December 17th to James Artell, Townsen Police Chief, and the reason being contract renewal. Pursuant to section 2.1 of your current employment
contract, the select board is providing you with notice with the intention in to enter into negotiations for a new three-year contract to begin on July 1st, 2026. I should have said to be signed out of session also.
>> Second to the sign of session. >> Okay. Any further discussion? >> Lori. Lori, do you want to grant your signature stamp on that or? >> Yeah. Out of anything out of session, you know, we'll send it to me and then I
have to send her back the authority to to use my stamp. Okay, >> because we can sign them all at the end of the meeting. >> Yeah. >> Um, okay. Now we are Oh, wait a minute.
>> You have to vote >> roll call vote. >> Veronica I for an I 4.6 discussed you. So, uh, I reached out to, um, Capital
Strategic Solutions CSS, who was our ARPA consultant. Um and um given how it was reported to the Treasury Department back in April of
this year, um Jennifer Thompson's believes um we could use the money that was originally uh set aside for the housing trust um to be you to be used towards uh general salaries.
um you know through the uh the applicable period which is um end of December 2026. So whether it's the 93,000, you know, cuz some of it had already, I guess,
been paid to the housing trust, or if it's the 400,000, you know, we can work out those details. But, you know, in in general, that money can be used for general um you know, salaries within the operating budget.
So um I included her uh determination, you know, uh in SharePoint. So I think um you know according to you know uh our consultant we can use it towards the general fund um operating budget
>> salaries. Um any any comments from the board? >> I I had sent a follow-up question to Elizabeth and Jennifer and Nelson. I don't know if you guys saw that. I put it this afternoon into um SharePoint. I
had asked um if it was 93 or 100. She said if 7k was already spent and the auditors have indicated 93k remain which is what they did in June when we met with the auditors. >> Um so she would say it's 93k.
Um, it doesn't have to be HR because it it wasn't specified as being for HR. That was the other question. And we the board of suckling can determine how the ARPA funds are spent. Doesn't require a
town meeting vote. >> Right. >> So, um, we I I wanted this settled before our interim TA came in so that we knew what that was there or not. And one option because we had in the budget
planned to use these funds for FY26, um something to discuss could be to reinstate the monies for the non-UN employees that they gave up in FY26. So that's one thing to think about.
These are one-time funds. Another option is to um use it to uh create a position that could be funded uh through the end of um to well to further fund HR however we can think
about that through the end of 26 calendar year 26 um because it's December 2026 so that gives us an additional six months possibly of HR after um
>> I have a lot of thoughts on this money, none of which are housing trust because which is where I was where we had originally in we being the select board from 2020 to 2023 had originally planned
for this to be spent but we designated it at in her final report as salary and it's generic salary. So there are a lot of options. I know that >> I think I think the in the those
employees for go did not receive increases this year. be a small fraction of this which is nice like 13 13,000 of those things >> that well we can all the but the library
essentially >> and then a couple other non a couple other non place scattered >> correct um and so uh we could look at that and I I I hate to again use
one-time funds for fiscal year 27 and these are one-time funds. Um but if it makes it even for if it makes the employees whole, I'm not opposed and there may be others
left which could allow us to fund the HR position through December of 2026. Uh I just want to add that uh the HR position uh when the select board voted December of last year um it
had already funded that position for the first half of FY27. That was already earmarked. So >> I didn't think so. >> That's before me. >> It was before that. I thought it was um
I know that we intended to do that, but I thought it got backed out by half a year somehow. >> Yeah, >> I can >> I could be wrong. Always a possibility. >> I'll take I I'll need to I don't want to
give an answer right now before uh >> it's it's just something that we can think about because >> it's wage money. Can it also go into like consultancy type one-time expenses? or wages for a consultant or perhaps a
>> I am guessing it's probably an employee um because it's ARPA money and it it had to be for an employee like we couldn't use it. We'd have to look at the rules. That might be a question for Jennifer at CSS.
>> Could it be a wage for ABC Consulting to provide >> but is it a wage? Um, yeah, >> that's where the the question comes in. And there were rules around this. Um, I seem to remember >> um there were things that we could use
it for, but and things that we couldn't as far as employees went. >> And I don't remember what all of those were. >> Um, and the rules changed from when we initially did things to when I came back as a selectman. Um, there were rule
changes. Yeah, >> you could also use it to offset, you know, insurance deductibles for employees who are interested in that third option. >> I'm not so sure you can do that. >> That's different from wages. Depends on how you do it.
>> How >> right how you designate it. So >> things to think about. So just good things to think about >> approaches, >> right? >> Yeah. >> It was good to hear that we can use it though. Yep. So, it's
um the board can decide in the coming weeks and months um uh you know the best way to expend the remainder of that money. So, yeah, it's good that we got a determination from um CSS.
>> Okay. Um 4.7 review discuss letter to state refire special municipal employee. I didn't see anything in the Boulder >> this to the six
>> to one six. Yeah. >> January 6th agenda is growing. >> It is, isn't it? Okay. 4. There is a form for notions giving an in executive
session that was in your shareepoint was by the committee. It was also edited. And then you have what we have as an accepted um document to go with
the onboarding and the handbook. >> So can can I talk about this a little bit? Um I think it's good to have this. Um, but I'm wondering um if the language changes in the open
meeting law like should we reference the open meeting law handbook for this? um as as opposed to in general when you're doing something that has language that comes from something that's
generated by the state I feel it's better to reference the place versus so in other words I might make it more um you know more open
as far as >> I understand what you're saying >> I uh making it a template. This is what the motion looks like and then have a blank reference the open meeting uh law handbook that they should all all
volunteers should receive that and it was updated maybe December of last year or something. Um but but it tends to get changed every time a new governor comes in or attorney general or whatever. And
so I I just think that I would make it a more generic motion as opposed to going through for each purpose because even the purpose numbers could change. We don't know and the wording could change. Um
>> reference should be at each purpose. I mean, this is more to Okay, this is more the the language here is more to get them used to what it what it might be in a committee
or on board meeting that they go to. >> I'm just saying that this might need to be updated more frequently than what you would normally want to update it. And so it might be better to just say um generic template I blank move to convene
an open session at time pursuant to and then a big blank open meeting law purposes from um and reference the from the open meeting law handbook. Um and then uh there's a there's a public body
checklist for entering into executive session that also this is what I used previously. It it they kind of there is some overlap but you know it must be listed as it must be community open session first.
During the open session the chair must state the purpose. That's what this is. >> Mhm. Um the chairman say all subjects chair is publicly announced by the vi will return to open session. Some of the purposes are subject to requirements specific to
that person purpose. So, you know, the public body maybe referencing this is good because it talks specifically about I mean I think a lot of this is probably really only for this select board so far as notifying an employee if
they're going to be discussed. Um well, it could happen in another >> water could have water. Um, I all I'm saying is I would make it as general as possible with getting the specifics in
there when you need to just so someone knows how to do it. That's all. Because because of the nature of the handbook updates, that's all because every time that handbook gets updated,
which isn't all that often, this would need to be updated as well. someone would need to have to go in and check it where if you made it pretty generic and referenced where these purposes are, you know, and and used generic language
to say read the purpose from the handbook and and then anyway, that's that's all I have to say. feedback back to the committee. was just a thought in that actually any
of the templates we areing are starting points for them and may change just like I mean something happened and we saw a need to change a particular form we would do that it's not the law it's
something that anything that gets updated we would update that on board Well, I saw the VBCC as a temporary committee over a few months to get things, you know, uh, standard for all
boards and committees and volunteers. >> Um, and so I don't see it as being a com a standing committee. In other words, I see where it would eventually >> once things are in place, >> um, that it isn't something that somebody would be looking at to update
maybe three years down the road or something. Um that's why I would in other words well it it's whatever >> I mean I would >> that's all I have to say we can't hear
you Lori >> I'll bring this back to them >> okay that would be >> in particular I I just like I maybe reference that I think anybody who is going to be calling executive session and has never done it before you can just call in
to the and be like, "Hey, how do I free? Can you help me with this? This is the purpose." >> Yeah. Just a thought. >> They don't want us to get into trouble. >> Yeah. >> I mean, the harder part is picking which purpose.
>> Yeah. I I think you know and I would not want to provide guidance for so you know otherwise it's just making a motion to move into executive session at a time for whatever the purpose is. Um
>> okay I'll feed that back to them. Uh 49 clarification of town first policy. point. >> Any discussion? >> I wasn't sure. Me neither.
>> Um I >> might be missing some context here. There's Well, I always thought it was just vendors and contractors until I think um Nelson you mentioned
employees. >> No, I don't believe so. Um no, I didn't mention anything, but I thought it was just doing business with, you know, vendors. contractors. >> Paragraph does refer to uh resident and
you know >> Yeah, it does. Um but I I wasn't the one that mentioned it. So, um >> Okay. >> Um it says advertising any job expansion or hiring of new employees, first town
residents. Maybe we want to look at this policy. >> I think you were >> when it was drafted. >> I was on the board when it was drafted. Yes. >> So, I think that's three years. I mean, if it's worth another look, we can do
that, too. It still says >> going on to four years. Yeah. >> This was reviewed by town council. >> Yep. the goal that was to support like a postcoid
>> right right to um to do local as opposed to Yeah. >> Um that was the intent. >> Yeah. But I think the the most important language is all factors being equal. So, you know, you're not going to hire, say,
a town resident whose qualifications are completely um not what you're looking for just because they're a town resident, you know. But if if you know the resume and experience is very similar to an outside uh out living outside Townsen, then you
know the edge in theory might go to the Towns and resident. If everything's the same, but they're for one, two, three Main Street, they get a plus point. And that's what Yeah. The winning Yeah. winning the winning bid, however, they shake out.
>> It's to support local. >> Yeah. >> Is is what it's intended to be. So, >> 123 Main Street might there might be something there. I think there is a structure there. I don't know if someone lives there.
Anyway, it's good to look at things three to five years after they're done, not 10 or 20, which we've been addressing. So, >> I mean, this is about four years. So, um
and and I, you know, I think it's a valid policy still. I I just would want to make sure that we understand the terms of it, the parameters. >> The parameters. Yeah.
All right. Well, um >> I I still support this policy. >> Okay. >> Um >> if either of you see anything different that you'd like it to be brought up again or tweaked? >> Well, I
>> I'm open. It's >> Yeah, I think I would like to look through and maybe what we can do is um uh identify anything that we need to add to this perhaps the all things being equal.
>> Okay. >> Um it does say that the requirement to give preference to the lowest responsible bidder would take preference. >> Yeah. over the t in over the towns and first policy.
>> Right. >> You want to chew it over and I can have it on the second meeting in January if you see some >> Yeah. 96. Let give us a little bit of time. >> Okay. We'll do that. Uh second. >> All right.
>> Is that the 20th? Is that our next our next one? >> Um 410 surplus request towns and fire EMS. >> Motion. >> I Vic move to approve the surplus
request of the Towns and Fire EMS department for 2002 emergency fire E1 truck retired engine number three dated December 9th, 2025. Um second
>> I will second it for Kel second. Um I I thought though that if it's >> should we be signed out of session? >> But is there a >> something more than just the notice to
us? Because I thought that by the um in other words, has there been a sale or some such thing? Um I thought surplus requests were for less than $10,000. or some such thing.
>> I think they're um they're they're trying to do some research to figure out the the market value of the truck and then at that point um sell it. So, I feel like maybe they should do their
research and then come back to the board uh with with their surplus requests. Um, the letter from the fire chief. Um, honorable court, December 9th, the towns and fire department EMS would like to surplus the 2002 emergency fire truck.
Bid number blah blah blah. The intention would be to research and attempt to market the truck for the highest value to a retail customer. Variety of options to sell fire apparatus online or through other affiliated resources. will research, advertise, and hope to enter into a purchase and sale agreement,
which I will keep my liaison informed of the price prior to executing the sale. It is my understanding that these funds will be returned to the general fund from the fire chief. >> So on policies, um it's not surplus
policy, it's something. Um >> so is this saying we agree to whatever prices? It's kind of just >> I don't think we have to >> do anything >> um do a disposition of surplus property.
Um departments desiring to dispose of surplus items with an estimated value of less than 10,000 shall follow these procedures. This policy shall not apply to real property. Now is that real
property? In my mind it is. But it so I >> probably over 10 >> I expected to see this under communications is where I expected to see this not to be um uh
>> well the fire chief lays out the steps that they're going to take. They're going to research >> right >> marketplace report share it with liaison. >> Yes. and then essentially get an approval from the select board or from the liaison to say we got offered $12,000 for the pickup
truck. Can I move forward? >> Right. >> And in this current marketplace and environment, you probably say yes. >> Yes. >> And it does but it doesn't even sound like we necessarily need that vote. >> I I don't think we do, but it's good to know what it's going to be so can make
that determination after. In other words, I think that the fire chief can do what he describes in there. I don't think we have to sign off on it because >> it's over $10,000. >> 10 pass.
>> More than likely, >> it would be a communication followup. So, come March 1st, the truck's been sold, the title has been passed, the leison says the general fund received $12,000 for the pickup truck that the fire department had as a surplus piece of equipment. Exactly.
>> So, we don't need I don't think we need to vote is what I'm saying. >> Probably take no action. >> Yeah. Let the fire department take the action and then we'll see if we need more action. >> Does that make sense, Lori? >> Yeah. So, you're making a motion to take
no action. >> You got it. So moved. >> Second. >> And you are? Oh, sorry. I dollar Udic move to take no action. >> Veronica Cal second.
>> Okay. No discussion is needed. Roll call vote. >> Veronica. I >> Laura Shiffren I 4.11. Did you discuss transition plan and offboarding
administrator? >> How was the party today? >> Paula, it was it was fun. Uh, you know, uh, a good turnout. It was nice to see the staff. Uh, >> someone gave me cake, >> you know,
>> breaking bread, you know, um, smiling, laughing. So, it was it was a good time. So we we have some employee action forms here regarding town administrator to sign by the board. >> Okay.
>> So they include one second. What are we on? >> They're offboarding. >> Um I is it this one or is it Yes. Okay. The offboarding checklist. All right. All of this. >> Yeah. That's part of the HR offboarding
process. So not >> there is um there's a page here for signature for the resource and facility access form. >> Yeah that's uh you know to for um guardian to disable my email
um >> you know my my fob things like that. >> So Lori these all have a place just for department header board chairman. So in this case it would just be you. Okay.
>> I I don't have that form. >> It's it's it's like there's a resource facility access forum change and then there's the the employee action form is in the is in SharePoint. >> Yeah. All All of it is. >> Yeah. All all of them are in there.
>> Yeah. Um >> is there anything that needs to be voted on? No, but I mean if you wanted you could assign Veronica to sign them in your place if you wanted to. I mean >> or val up to you.
>> Okay. Well, uh either Well, certainly the clerk could do it. Do I have to Is there a motion to have somebody sign it is needed? >> Sure. If you want can make a motion to uh sign the time minister's offboarding
documentation. >> Oh, I can't make a motion actually because I Yeah, sorry. It would be for me. >> Um I move Veronica Cal moves that for Valerie um Goodrich the clerk of the board to sign the documentation um for
offboarding of um the town administrator. I Laura Shiffren second the motion and are I'm gonna assume that all the documents are from Cali Kelly and Sabrina.
>> Yeah. >> Okay. >> It's basically just they're all in there. Employee action form. Um and then just the access going to lock you out. Nelson.
>> That's fine. Yes, >> you guys have to vote. >> Oh, roll call. >> Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry. I'm looking for my list.
Okay, >> we going to vote this one or are we still discussing? >> Um, I think that we have to add to the motion to sign out of session. I can sign right now right now. Yep. >> Um
or does that happen on the day of? >> These are just they have dates on them so it's effective so you can sign them at any point. >> Okay. >> Some of them have already been signed. One of them has already been signed by >> Cali.
So the request date is on all of them. So they can be signed at any point. >> Okay. So does Nelson sign those as well? Um, well, town administrator signature is here, but I believe because of the select
board signing it that that would override >> yeah, >> the need for the town administrator signature, but the town administrator signature is not needed on the resource access form. >> I see. Okay. >> Okay. So, signed here. Roll call. vote.
>> Um, can I >> or do you have more to say? >> Um, I'm just asking a question about the general topic on the agenda. It says to discuss the transition plan and offboarding. Do >> you want to vote on this signature first
and then discuss that? >> Yeah, let's do that. Okay. Um, Veronica Cal I >> Laura Shiff I >> I'm staying >> okay >> all right so that is the um offboarding
part and discuss a transition plan >> um so I I guess the question is and we can probably talk about this more uh next week in the meeting that we have um
to appoint the interim but I wanted to discuss transition we could do that next week in that meeting correct >> okay >> and then I wanted to talk about but it might be under 5.1 um what are we thinking that the town
administrator will complete for us before he leaves and where I guess that's more important than what the interim town administr ministrator does at this point. You know, we can talk more about that after we see where we
are. We only see your mouth moving, Lori. >> Geez, I don't understand. Do you hear me now? >> Now we hear you. It might be that you're sitting back from the speaker. >> Okay. So,
>> I would like to go to what you expect before he leaves at 5.1. Okay, then I'm good. >> Transition to Tuesday's meeting sometime. I don't know when, but
sometime on Tuesday morning we will be meeting. >> All right. >> For what discussion? >> Didn't hear you. >> Transition. >> Are you not hearing me? I I >> if you sit back, try it. Move back
>> forward. >> No. Uh I I think it's your connection. It's choppy at times. So yeah. Um so maybe uh turn off your vid. Yeah, that might be >> me now. >> Yep. Well, we'll see if that uh sort of >> I'm talking.
>> Yes, we can hear you right now. >> Okay. >> All right. So, we were at um God the transition is being moved to Tuesday's meeting. >> Okay.
>> And that is the 23rd in the I just don't have a time yet. Item is 4.13. Well, I think it's 42. >> Oh, yeah. You comment on towns and delta economic development project report.
Got the report and do this on January 6. Whatever comments you have, we'll still have time to send to planning board because they're meeting on the 12th. >> Okay. >> Okay.
>> So, let's move it to the sixth. Yep. >> Um, I'm moving the 12 to the 6th, giving the the select board enough time to write down their comments. And on the sixth, we will
forward our comments to planning. >> Okay, >> that works. >> Approve uh JW Shaw residential and municipal contract. Nelson. Uh so
the trash contract which with GW Shaw which is the residential and the municipal buildings has been uh signed by the board of health vetted by um town council
and uh signed off by the town accountant. So I think >> we're fine and good. >> We're This is a The contract is where we want it to be. >> Okay. So I understood at the joint
meeting everyone seemed to be satisfied. Joint meeting with board of health. Is there a motion to sign out of session? I Gooditch. Move to approve the GW Shaw residential and municipal contract contingent upon town council review with
signature stamp out of session. >> Does it need to I thought it was already reviewed. >> Already reviewed by Hasn't he signed it? Does he >> Yes, that's necessarily in the motion. We just need for the um select board to
sign out of session, please. Or no. Yeah. >> Yeah, I sent my signature stamp. Oh, okay. And there was a second uh >> Veronica Kell second. >> Valerie, did you say you your name?
>> Yes, I did this time. >> I'm sorry. Any more discussion? Any further disc? Um, the one the one thing I would like to say is that Elizabeth Brachia, our county accountant, sent me
a um the uh spreadsheet and she asked that I send it to um all of you and to the fin. I forwarded it to Sabrina. It just came. I think it was today. Either
last night or today. I have you seen it? No. >> No. I forwarded it to Sabrina and I asked that she send it to you guys and to the fincom because I don't have the email addresses for the fincom and I don't know if there's a finance
committee dot you know whatever like there's a you know um select board at townsonmma.gov I don't know if there's a finance committee generic that sends to all of them. And she wanted to be
notified of all of the select board email addresses and the fincom email addresses so so that she could in the future she said she would send these monthly. It's the one that we talk about in the joint meeting where it shows what
the actuals are and then also what the you know um projections are >> expenditure report >> pardon me >> the expenditure report each one >> pretty much yeah so that we can see where it is um how it's tracking I I had
a couple questions on it but I'll send them to Elizabeth the questions were it looked like she had 58,000 in there which was the July August contract contract as opposed to the current. And I thought we were paying the tonnage in this. In other words, I thought there
was a monthly and a tonnage in this. Is that right, Nelson? >> Correct. >> Yeah. And I didn't see that reflected, but I might not be reading the thing correctly. So anyway, um Yeah. So that's So you should look for
that in email and then it should be coming monthly. Once she has the numbers in, she'll send it to us so that we can um keep track. >> Okay. >> For the fiscal year. >> That's great. Good idea.
Well, I'll look forward to seeing those. >> Okay. So, down to >> We need to vote. We need to vote. >> Oh, to sign on a session signature stamp. Okay, I got it. Any further
Um Veronica kell I got to give it a try. >> Laura Shiffren I >> just in case I was interpreting more times we vote the better meaning against that you vote too many times. >> Hear me.
>> Sorry. >> Yes sometimes. >> Oh god. All right. 5.1. Oh, no. F. No, we did. >> Yes. Yes. 5.1.
You're right, Lori. >> Okay. 5.1. Get away. >> Okay, let me get to it as I'm going through. All right. This is the report on the goals.
So, um I think we need to put this again. I want to talk today, but I think we need it again on the six um agenda so that we can meet with our interim TA to discuss things. But anyway, I've been
making a list and um the ARPA fund status is taken care of. Um the water lawsuit is taken care of. um the budget. I guess the one thing that isn't covered either today and
there's I I have questions on the MS4 but anyway um is the DLS status the status of the um >> financial review >> the financial review I thought it was supposed to take place in the fall and we are now in winter as of tomorrow I
guess >> we haven't heard anything so >> I think we're just ne we're on a list and they go in order >> so it will be when they get there. >> Okay. >> From what I understand. >> So, could could you confirm the list, Nelson? I think I want to know where we
are in that more for the interim TA than for anything else. >> I haven't seen uh where we are on the list or how long that list is. They said they would contact us and they haven't. So, I'm not >> Are they going to contact the town administrator or are they going to
contact the town clerk? because it was not the select board that made the initial request. >> It was the finance committee. Uh I I don't know who they're going to be contact. >> You did get one email from someone, didn't you? >> Yeah. That they would uh they
acknowledged our um request and that they would get back to us, you know, when they were ready to schedule something. But >> was this >> I have no idea. I think it was the finance committee or something
the contact person basically make your grants. >> Yeah, >> it might have just been like a email to the state. I I don't know. We weren't part of that process. So >> when I reached out they said they coordinate with everybody once they got here. >> Yeah. >> Once they were cool. I'm good with that.
>> So as unbiased these are just the unbiased loss. >> So it it was the letter for the treasure. We did that. the harbor old harbor old central fire stations that's further down MS4 details
um funds uh ARPA fund status uh um lawsuit uh the budget um and we're going to meet tomorrow morning to discuss that correct >> yeah before
>> yeah uh chief procurement officer and hearing officer assigned to the interm status. Those are the things on my list at this point. So, um,
so I don't I don't know if anybody else had anything else. I think that I have a couple things I can just check on. I think we discussed in executive session the document request. So that
was what I was >> I couldn't hear what you said. Val, >> don't worry about it. I'm mumbling. It wasn't important. Um, let me know ready to go on 5.3 the update on TCAM.
>> Go for it. Has Dave gotten back to you, Nelson? >> Um, I haven't had a chance to talk to him yet. Um, he is aware that, you know, the the TCAM contract also needs to be uh renewed. Um, Bill Solomon, who was
here earlier, uh, representing the town on the Comcast contract, he has agreed to represent us in the TCAM uh, contract negotiations. So, um I'll uh I'll touch base with Dave tomorrow to make sure that you know him
and his and you know, TCAM legal are um you know, this is on their radar so that we can start in earnest, you know, uh discussing the contract renewal once the the Comcast is signed, which is going to be out of session um you know, shortly
after this meeting ends. So, uh, I'll I'll let them know that, you know, essentially the Comcast contract is now signed and we should start working on the TCAM renewal. >> Okay. Fire station and Old Central Fire.
So, I had Adam I had Adam uh draft up a uh a lease agreement for both uh locations. They're in SharePoint for uh your review.
So, you know, you guys can take a look at it and maybe uh potentially sign it um as early as January 6th. Um, who are we addressing questions to? And that's my first. Um, my second
question is, so I have I went through it. I have a bunch of stuff here that >> someone brought up actually an important question that they thought anything over a 30-year lease actually had to go through the legislature. >> And I don't think that's true.
>> No, I think that Yeah. So, I haven't had time to ask because how many voted on a 50-y year lease? It was 2024. 2023. >> It was May 2024 and Adam was >> Yeah, that's fine. As long as it was >> So, I'm sure it was legitimate. >> Just was a question.
>> Um, I don't have any qualms about that. >> That's fine. >> Um, so the the thing I think that I mean this is it's difficult to read this. >> Um, it's not an easy lease to read. It's
not particularly uh user friendly. It needs um to be fed through the AI engine so that someone can summarize it and tell you what it says. But in any event, um I did go through it. I think that um
at some point fire EMS before we sign it, they need to see this as well. >> Um >> not fire EMS, it's the relief association. >> Yeah, relief. Fire EMS relief association. Um, and uh,
the rent for the rent. Um, I that's something I think we could talk about today because I I think that it should be $1 annually paid on the 15th of January during the lease term. Um, and
because that is what we rent the soccer fields for. Um so I had that would be one of the big questions and that's why I chose that. Um it
and then I had a question in section 11 the use of premises and hours of operation. Um I this this is limiting it to 7 a.m. to 700 p.m. 7 days per week. or what if you want to have an evening event or
some such thing. So I I want to discuss the um hours on that. I think that limiting hours is not our in our purview.
>> So I I mean the idea when we wrote and I was on the board when we when the RFP was written, it wasn't posted until a few months after I left. Um but in any event, the the um survey to the town for
the old buildings on what what the people saw as the uses of those old buildings that no one ever bid, as far as I know, on the old library, but it it was the old library, the old fire, and
old Central Harbor fire stations. Um, the idea was to lease it to an organization who would do what they wanted. And so I I don't see limiting the hours of use of the building within our purview. I'm just giving you my
thoughts on this. Um >> uh yeah. So, if we have any um questions or concerns, um you know, we we should address them to Adam because it it was him and his associate who drafted this
up. So, um you know, I don't really have >> And this is for 65 Main Street and 8 Elm Street. >> Yeah. Well, each one would have each one would have a separate lease agreement. Correct. >> Um uh the mechanics leans. I wanted to know
the purpose of that section. This uh repairs, all repairs estimate costs more than $10,000 shall be made only with the town's prior written consent. I I don't see that as
really something that um we can talk about it. Um and then time periods for repairs to the building. Um, I would make those I I I don't say take them out. I would just be
more lenient than what this lease is doing. So, I have a lot of questions on it. So, should I be sending my questions to Adam? When do we get a chance to talk about this is what it comes down to. Um,
Lori. >> Yeah, I'm here. Can you hear me? >> Yep. >> Um, I have no problem with you sending your questions to Adam and then >> I have a couple.
>> Okay. >> What are yours? Just >> similar. Well, I mean, I I have a feeling that yours cover mine. Mine was the I mean I guess my main question was is that if we're good with 50 and if everybody that's an easy question for me to ask and it takes two seconds so
>> yeah I'm good with it was voted by the >> yeah no no I just wanted to make sure it's all copathetic >> and then >> why would it not be the warrant articles were approved by town council. >> Yeah, that's exactly >> okay. Yeah. All right.
you I would say shoot those out and then >> because you had the two that I was wondering about was the hours >> and then repairs and the mandatory nature of repairs. >> Yeah, that was kind of >> because it seems like if someone's leasing the building like they are Yeah, I didn't understand that.
>> Okay. It it was I mean I could >> it's fix the building. >> It's different than Tesa Fields, right? because I mean they're doing improvements on them >> and it's in the lease that we allow that anyway it's you'd have to read their
lease to >> it and Adam also >> very different >> they're two very different leases >> so >> um and so anyway okay so and I would
it's it's in because the other one is just like this so the question are for both of them. >> All right, I'll shoot my questions to Adam. I think it was someone named Joe that worked on this. Can't remember his last name. Joe, somebody. Um
I will put this on um the 6th because I'd like to get this signed and out there ASAP. >> Okay. Very good. We don't need an emo we don't need a motion now but we'll put this on the sixth
>> and hopefully I'll have question uh answers to this by then hopefully and it should get disseminated to all of you as well. So >> because of the holidays or whatever,
>> we got every other word on that, Lori. So try again, please. >> Can >> now we can we can hear you. Yeah, it's just that we can hear you, but it goes in and out every other word. I don't know if this is the reception here or
what. Um, >> this will be moved to the sixth. >> Okay. >> 5.5. >> I uh did ask Don um about the three dates that the select
board had uh floated. um February 3rd, the 10th, and the 17th. Uh he said he would share it with his uh with his uh committee. So I have not heard back yet. >> I also mentioned it outside the joint
meeting with board of health to there was two fin members there just to make sure they heard it more than just from chair. >> Okay. So still waiting to confirm if those three dates would work for them for joint meetings.
>> Okay. Uh so we have time because obviously hopefully we can know that by January 6th. Uh so we can plan for February. Um 5.6 Six,
status of the lease agreement or the draft agreement draft with Spa Memorial School. >> Um, I'd like to move 5.6 and 5.7 to a time when we can get a school committee member here to explain the update. Um, it was a little
short notice because it was just last week that I contacted them. It's busy time of year because um these have a ton of history way beyond us, way beyond >> I had thought scalding was approved. I
we >> I'm particular I'm particularly talking about 5.7 in this case. That one has a whole >> Yeah, because we just mentioned it at the budget meeting this week and they're like, "Yeah, like it's this the school committee is aware of this >> and having them give us an update is way
better in person than me trying to communicate what they're thinking. >> Can we do that on the 20th? >> Yes, >> let me let me reach out and see if we can get someone here." >> Okay, that would be good. I know I attended meetings for the um
district agreement that Randy was running. >> Yeah. And I I reached out and talked to a few other people who were on that and they didn't even it was like they had handwritten notes. They think they didn't even there wasn't even a lot of >> I don't know but I I she did hold meetings
>> on on different parts of it and um anyway >> so there was a lot of work done on it and it's actually and so the trick is is it hasn't moved to the whole school committee. is what the trick is. So it never went beyond that from what I understand. No,
>> I didn't commit. >> Yes. And so the old just so everybody's aware the old agreement still stands. It's not that we don't have an agreement. It's just that the agreement is from like 1960s or what did they say? It was old.
>> Yeah. So >> um I I guess my other question and you're the Leoan so maybe you know is on the for Spalding um I I see that Wreck did there the the idea when we did this was that Wreck
would be able to use Spalding and we were cutting off the ball fields from being under this control. So, is there an agreement with the ball fields with the because they've done a lot of work over there.
>> Yeah. So, that's I have to get clarification. >> And so, I thought this was um what's this was probably fall of 2022 when we did this is my guess. I don't know if there's a a date on this. And I know
that we um the board of sleman in December 2020. Um and I was the chair of the board of selectman and and I am certain we voted on this
but I guess it never went anywhere. Um I'll have to look at old meetings. So yeah, the 20th, Lori, is that good for if we can get a school down. >> Okay, thank you.
>> All right, so now we're going into our first reading of >> Valerie. >> Yes. So, so um I had a question that I posed council when I read the federal funds policy
um and I uploaded that to SharePoint if anybody got a chance to look at it. Yes. So um essentially our federal funds policy has kind of a clarification item to it which is in section two
that it basically says is the policy of select board to respect the authority of town boards. The following are authorized to accept grants and gifts of federal funds for their designated purposes. And it says the select board, the town administrator, the school committee. Um,
and then it says other boards or commissions or departments may accept a federal grant for its authorized purpose with prior approval of select board. So I just because I come from library trustees, the way I understood
um national law with regards to trustees was that they also fall kind of outside of the select board with regards to funds delineated to go to the library. So if they applied for a federal grant, um the select board would not have to approve that. It would have to go
through the normal accounting procedures. But so I just I kind of >> Are you sure on that? Well, so it that's why I went to Adam for clarification >> and and and >> and that's why I I specifically said and he basically said that we have that
section that section where it delineates who can accept and that's what makes this a little different if that makes sense. Do you want me to explain? >> Um no, I think I understand. Um but I
when anything like that has happened before, it comes to the select board. We don't it it's like a blanket approval. >> Yeah. >> Um and I don't want to change that. >> So the the
I guess it's a little bit of like a gray area. >> Here's my reason. >> Yeah. >> That opens the door for exempting all boards in town. Well, but it doesn't because master general law specifically other boards do not have the carrying
custody of property. Usually this the library is separate because the trustees specifically like we can say you have x number of dollars but how it's spent is under the guidance of the trustees not the life board. >> That is correct. >> Yeah. So, in regards to this, it it was
it was just we could put it in there basically is what it it but it doesn't you'd have to have a reason under Mass General law to make an exception. The library trustees kind of do like the board of health doesn't have an exception or the you know
conservation in terms of accepting monies the board itself accepting monies. Does that make sense? Because like the so the library trustees they could enter into an agreement with I'm not saying this is happening with PPE to form a joint library and that
would be the trustees of both libraries that entered into that agreement and like so the trustees enter into the agreement for like the IT services for the library not the cycle >> that is correct >> so I just didn't know if >> same is true with the water department
>> yeah because they're a separate entirely separate legal entity >> well not entirely not there. Um I I am a no on that. >> Okay. >> Um where there's a specific carve out for school committee or for the schools.
I don't see a specific carve out. It's a it's a tangential maybe sort of. >> Yeah. >> It's not a specific carve out. And so I'm a no. >> Okay. Um because it's opens a door that I don't
want to open. Um >> I was >> not for the library. It it's um >> it opens the door and so I'm a no. >> I I find it interesting if it was there I would have thought that because this
policy came from town council I would have thought it would have been put in. I I the the reason I thought it was interesting is because our policy does specifically carve out who is authorized
which is which is is not actually necessary. >> Does that make sense? >> Be necessary. >> What? So um the acceptance of grants Yeah. Yeah. That said, your proposed federal funds
policy does require select board approval except as exempt. So the statute mass general law 4453A the statute doesn't require select board approval of the acceptance of a gift or grant only it subsequent expenditure.
Our federal funds policy does require select board approval. So it's different than master journal law which doesn't actually require select board approval. >> Okay. that that was just the way I was kind of reading it. >> Um, and it's fine
>> that it's no >> not to be not that I wouldn't consider at another time. >> Yeah. >> No, this I just I want to bring it up. I mean, Adam deferred to the select board for this specific thing probably
because it could go either way, but because master library commission say yes could go away. >> That's me. >> Yeah. >> Are we going to have a hearing? A first hearing. A first reading. >> First reading. Not a hearing.
>> Reading. >> I mean, I'm fine doing the first reading and if anything comes up before the second one. >> Yeah, >> that's fine with me. if I if I find anything else out or think of something different or talk to MBLC but
okay we'll have a second reading so got time >> so this this is a new policy >> yeah can I ask when this actually was requested >> it was from the uh the auditors
>> okay so the auditors >> yeah they noticed that we did not have a federal fund policy So part of their audit report >> that's helpful because I wasn't I sometimes you don't know if like a someone requests it and there's background there if and the auditors
requesting it actually makes me feel better if that counts. >> Good. >> Okay. I'll do a first reading. Um this is a new policy acceptance of federal funds policy. Number one purpose. The purpose of this policy is
to establish consistent procedures for the acceptance and administration of federal grant revenue and related funds by the town of Townsend. The town recognizes the value of federal assistance, but also the need for fiscal oversight, compliance with federal and state law, and
accountability to the community. The policy ensures that all departments, boards, commissions, officials set in accordance with MGL chapter 44, section 53A, the town charter, in applicable federal regulations to CFR part 200 uniform guidance when
accepting or expending federal grant funds. Two, town boards authorized to accept federal grants. It is the policy of the select board to respect the authority of town boards, commissions, committees, departments, and officials to accept grants as provided by statute in the town's charter. The following are
authorized to accept grants and gifts of federal funds for the designated purposes. Number one, select board is authorized under Mass General Law Chapter 44, section 53A to accept grants and gifts of money, tangible personal property, or real estate on behalf of the town subject to the conditions of
the grant and town meeting appropriation when required. Number two, town administrator may upon delegation from the select board sign and manage federal grant agreements, coordinate application and ensure compliance with applicable requirements. Number three, school committee is authorized under Mass
Journal Law 71, section 37A and chapter 44, section 53A to accept and expand federal grants for educational purposes subject to school department accounting controls and town accountants oversight. Number four, other boards or commissions
or departments may accept a federal grant for its authorized purpose with prior approval of the select board and subject to accounting and reporting requirements of this policy. Number three, evaluation criteria for federal grants for acceptance.
The don board committee or department must consider the following. whether the grant serves a legitimate municipal purpose consistent with the town's needs. Two, whether the grant is restricted or unrestricted and whether the restrictions are practical. Three,
whether the grant imposes additional long-term cost or obligations on the town. Four, whether the federal requirements are achievable. Five, whether the town has the capacity to administer the grant in compliance with CFR 200. Six, whether the grant's goals or expenditures could create a future
financial burden off the town on the town. Four, protocol for accepting federal grants. Upon award, the department shall provide the select board with the award notice and grant terms of budget summary, funding period, and any obligations or conditions. The select board shall vote to accept the
grant under master law chapter 44, section 53A, and authorize the town administrator or department head to execute next agreement. Number five, deposit of funds. All funds received shall be deposited with the town treasur within five
business days of receipt. A copy of the award and budget must be filed with the town accountant. Each grant shall be assigned a separate fund number to ensure proper reporting. Six, accounting and financial administration. The town treasurer and accountant are jointly responsible for
the financial administration of all federal grant funds. Each department receiving funds shall deposit all revenues to the treasurer provided copies of the award terms and approvals to the account within 30 days of acceptance. Excuse me. The accountant shall
establish separate accounting records for each year for each grant. Sorry. Ensure compliance with uniform guidance and state accounting standards. Report annually to the select board and town meeting the status of all federal achieve active federal grants
interest or program sorry interest or program income generated by a grant shall be held in accordance with grant conditions or related to the town's general fund if unrestricted. I'm going to have you finish it Veronica. >> Okay. Oh, number seven, oversight and
reporting. The town administrator shall maintain a register of all federal grants accepted by town departments quarterly. The town accountant shall provide the select board with a status report on all active federal grants, including expenditures, balances, and
pending deadlines. The town shall comply with all federal audit and reporting requirements. Annual review. This policy shall be reviewed at least every 3 years or sooner if federal or state regulations change. Any amendments shall be approved
by vote of the select board. And that is it. Lori, >> very good you for filling in there. >> Can't do it. Sorry. Okay. >> Not today. >> Do you want me to read the next one? I
don't know. probably. >> Go ahead, Veronica. >> All right, so we're moving on to whatever number this is. >> 5.9 the website contact contact contact contact content policy.
>> I think I have PTSD from that really long. >> All right, so this is a new policy as well. Was this one also um through the by the um auditors at all or
>> No, this No, this is our >> the website content >> content policy, right? We didn't have we talked about this a lot, but we never really did it. >> I didn't have any questions on this one. This one made total sense. >> I agree. Number one, purpose, this is a
new policy. The purpose of the town's website, the website is one to make updated factual information about the town, its departments, its public bodies, and the services they and their affiliates provide to the public andor
town residents, readily available in electronic form at a single online location, httpsw.zenmma.gov. and two, to collect information from website users to the extent that doing so furthers the town's business
interests and its ability to serve the public and its residents. By creating and maintaining the website and posting content thereon, including without limitation, posting third-party content, and collecting information from the public and town
residents to further the town's business interests, the town does not nor has it ever intended for the website to serve as a form for free expression by the public. Accordingly, neither this policy, the town's choice of what
content to post on the website, nor the manner in which it makes such choice should be interpreted as designating the website as a public forum. To the contrary, all content on the website is an expression of the town's official sentiments. The town is speaking for
itself. The website is therefore a government speech to which the free speech clause of the first amendment of the United States Constitution does not apply. In addition, no ev no event held on town property or elsewhere related to
third-party content posted on the website shall have any effect on the town's intent as set forth above. Number two, website administrator and website user. The town administrator will appoint a website administrator who
will be responsible for ensuring that the website is operating as intended by providing all necessary maintenance and technical support and who shall be the only person authorized to post, remove or modify content thereon. The name and
the town email address and telephone number of the website administrator will be available on the website. For the purposes of this policy, user means a person using the website in his or her capacity as a private individual, not as
an official employee or agent of the town or of any other public entity. Number three, permitted content. The town administrator and website administrator will determine what content is posted on the website. All
content on the website must further the town's business interests and its ability to serve the public and its residents. All town departments, public bodies, and officials are encouraged to contact the website administrator to pay post content to the website that is
consistent with the purpose set forth forth in this section three and section one above. Third-party organization or individuals who want to post content to the website may apply to do so by contacting the website administrator.
Number four, prohibited and that's spelled wrong. Prohibited content. The following and links to the same are within limitation. Examples of what content is prohibited for being posted on the website. A. True threats. B.
incitements to imminent lawless conduct. C. Statements that were found by a court of law to be defamatory. D. sexually explicit content made to appeal to puran interests. E. Opinions or endorsements regarding candidates for
office, political issues, or municipal, county, state, or federal initiatives. F. Promotion or advertisement of businesses or special interest groups. G. Content related to a campaign for
incumbent or challenging candidates for local, state, or federal office. H. Content rel related to political organizations or other organizations advocating a candidate, a position on a local, state, or federal issue or
pending legislation. I content that violates any local, state, or federal law or regulation. NJ content is inconsistent with sections one and three above. Number five, disclaimer. While the town
strives to post accurate information in a timely manner, neither the town nor its public bodies, departments, officers, or employees warrant the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of any information on the website and shall
not be held liable for any losses caused by reliance on the information. Any person relying on the information obtain obtained from the website does so at his or her own risk. Content that is posted to the website may change at any time.
The town therefore will not assume any legal liability for any misrepresentations that may occur. Further, neither the town nor its public bodies, departments, officers, or employees shall be held liable for any damages resulting from
any use of the website or from reliance on content contained therein. The website and its contents are for use by town residents and the public may and may be updated or changed without notice. Attempts to modify, destroy or
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protocol. >> Very good. Thank you, Veronica. >> You're welcome. The one thing that I would change >> I'll do it next time. I promise. >> The one thing that I would change is the place where it says the town administrator will appoint a website
administrator. I would um uh the town administrator um typically the select board appoints
>> employees based on the charter. Correct. So I would change this to um um >> pointing at >> uh yeah the rest of it is okay. I mean the the website administrator works with the
town administrator. There's nothing there that I will would change like under three the town administrator and website administrator. And this does not change >> this does not change departments that are already updating their website from being able to update their websites.
>> I don't believe so. >> This just provides an organizational oversight. >> Correct. you know, if if everybody starts posting XYZ, >> I would I would in the job description
for the website administrator, the boards that and I think this is there now um at least when we did the website administrator job description, those boards that don't have an administrator,
and there are several of them um for them, the website administrator would update their pages for it >> as they requested >> as requested by the board. Um, and I would want to keep that and I don't think this changes the ability to do
that at all. I didn't see anything that that would um and and I'm good with the town administrator um recommending the website, you know, administrator for appointment. I mean,
>> yeah, we'll just change it to >> just this is what you did right here is fine. We'll appoint a website administrator. >> Okay. Um, but I in anyway and >> do you want that changed
to >> who is is it Valerie or is it you Nelson who's been changing this as as I'm reading? >> I just did I did town. >> You did that. Okay. >> I did the select. >> Yeah. So
I think it's changed already in what's there. So >> if everyone's good with it. >> Okay. So this is ready for the second reading on January 6th. >> I think so. Yes. Yeah.
>> Our last one is also you'll get I know that there was a couple of questions but that will be on for the January 6th second reading was on the federal policy. Okay. So, next we have 510 social media
policy, which we also have spoken about for quite a while. Um, do you want to uh Veronica, do you want to read this one too? >> Sure, I'll read it. Um, >> there's no header on this one.
>> Uh, an update. see is what I have on the what I >> pardon me >> but I what I printed off says towns and social media policy >> um I don't think um Sabrina put it on
the the letter head yet >> um does it >> not on the letter head >> it didn't have the letterhead you >> it doesn't have the letterhead so I is this an update to the policy or is this a new policy >> um let me see >> there is an existing policy So Adam says
this does uh effectively replace two separate policies in existence. >> One is pertaining to personal social media use and the other one is addressing
uh town of towns and social media accounts. So >> I I think I want to save the reading of this for um the first reading to one6 so that we can get that header in there and so that we can identify
>> yes the two policies that I I know Nelson just read it but I would like it in writing I guess >> and then I'll read it so you'll be thank you January 6th. Okay.
>> Okay. policy also reminds me um when somebody comes on board as an employee or elected or appointed official, they're supposed to sign off on the social media policy.
Yes. >> Yes. >> That's part of Callie's on onboarding package. >> Yeah. So, um I think that applies to everyone. >> It should apply to everyone. There isn't
anybody autonomous from that, is there? >> Checking. Um >> I'm sorry. I I wouldn't have thought that, but I hear that that might be the case. >> Yeah. And so I I don't think anybody is better than anybody else myself, but um
everybody should be treated the same. So let's see. 511, you discuss setting date of the opening and closing of the special war, which for February 25th.
Yeah, that was that was the date I was able to secure for us at the um uh high school auditorium. Um the 24th and then 26 were taken, but the 25th was available. So I I pencil us in for that.
>> You can um be confirmed with the town moderator with >> Yeah. Town council. Yep. uh both uh town council and the town moderator are available on February 25th, >> right? Okay.
>> Um so then when you and then when you work your way backwards, we need to post it by um it's two weeks before the meeting itself. So that brings you to February 11th
that we need to that's the latest that we can post the the warrant articles. >> Oh. >> Um and then >> you know, you know, I would say all of February is
pretty much open. I mean, you do want to give town council some time to review the warrant articles, but I don't think honestly there's going to be a ton of them. So, I think the lift is pretty light. Um, >> there's going to be a public hearing and
planning. Um, >> I I don't know if if that's the timing is going to work out. I I I I remember you mentioning it at at a recent meeting.
Um, I I didn't really uh think to uh follow up with with them to see what they were hoping to accomplish and when >> I there was they had a hearing on a
uh parcel on Brookline Road and at that night that night we talked I gave them the date of the because they wanted to put a zoning bylaw adjustment on a town meeting. And
so I gave them the 24th that night. So, um, I've since told her it's 25th and we're going to set the opening closing and they know that that once they have their article or whatever they're going to do, they have to have a public
hearing themselves. So, I'm I I'm thinking they're attempting to do that by the end of January. >> So, so I think that the um the warrant
should close on the 2nd of February. >> Close. >> Close. Yeah. because that gives us the third to um to look at the articles >> get um we're meeting perhaps the 3rd,
10th and the 17th joint with Fincom. >> Um and so on the 3rd that would allow us to review, get it to um town council and uh sign off on the 10th. So, I would
have it close on the 2nd of February. >> Okay. >> And then I would um open it on either the 21st or the 28th. We're meeting on the 20th, right? >> Yes. >> Yeah. So, I I would, you know, I think
having it open for a week and a half is fine. >> How long does it have to be, Greg, to have it for? >> It could be an hour. >> It can be a day, you know. It can be I mean we could open it on the 30th and close it on the 2nd. I I wouldn't
recommend that but you know >> Yeah. >> Um >> it could be as short as we want, >> but it and you can reopen it if if you want. Um but in any event, um so I I
would put this maybe on the uh 6th and um and set the dates then. >> Yep. But I will make motions that the date of the town meeting >> of the town meeting. Yes, we should not the warrant >> but not the warrant.
>> We can do that on the sixth but from this meeting people should have some idea what we're thinking. >> So is there a motion to set the special town meeting on uh February 25th at the high school? >> Yep. I, Valerie Gidditch, move to set
the date of the special town meeting for February 25th, 2026 at the North Mosex Regional High School. >> Veronica Cal second. >> 7 p.m. >> Yes. >> 7 p.m. Um, any further discussion?
Hearing none. Roll call vote. >> Veronica, I Gooditch. Hi >> Laura Fai. >> I'll just note that that's a Wednesday. Do not have meetings on Tuesday. It is a different day of the week. >> Is a Wednesday. Yes.
>> Okay. Next uh work session 6.1 reports. Um so last week on December 11th uh
a number of uh communities uh met at the um training room at the water treatment plant to discuss potential regionalization of fire and EMS. It was a meeting attended by
various town administrators and their uh respective uh fire chiefs, you know, deputy fire chiefs. Um it was a pretty uh uh informative meeting. You know, I think there was some good discussion
points. Um but it was certainly decided that the fire chiefs would meet separately on their own. um to discuss, you know, the regionalization efforts and report back
to the the the group um at a meeting that's currently uh tenatively scheduled for January 22nd of next year. >> Um towns were involved to who came to the meeting.
Um, let me I didn't write it down exactly, but let me see if I can find the towns that were part of the discussion. Just bear with me. Um,
so it was uh Asherham, Ashby, Townsen, uh, Lunenburgg, um, Shirley, Prol, Dunable,
uh, Tingsboro, Groten, Air, and, uh, Littleton. And those were the groups, the towns that were invited. And um for the most part, everyone showed up.
Tingsboro could not send someone. Um let me see. Groten could not come. Um and I don't think anyone from Did I mention Devons? Devons didn't send anybody.
Um and I don't think Shirley sent anyone either. Um but but those are the towns that were in involved or that were invited. >> So probably 10 were there if >> yeah thereabouts.
Um so yeah so the the fire chiefs are going to meet separately on their own and report back to the group uh on January 22nd. Um school budget update. We had a meeting this past Monday.
Um, and I I think we're able to share some of those numbers because I think they had their meeting on Tuesday. >> Yeah. I mean, they're the numbers are a little different. I know they're from the finance subcommittee meeting yesterday, Daniel, y'all. So, they I
mean, it's still up in the air. >> Yeah. >> They're thinking like four. >> Yeah. They're thinking overall the the school um >> but it's different for each town a little bit. That's would be they're if they had to put all the towns together I
think that's what >> yeah it would be roughly about a 4% increase for their overall you know for the towns but for townsen I think um we were probably on the higher end out of the >> Ashb is obviously on the lower end
because they're smaller. >> Yeah. um >> um towns and I believe uh we were at the moment a preliminary uh assessment um 4.65%. >> They're hesitant to even say that because so much is up in the air. They don't have the governor's budget yet.
>> Yeah. Correct. >> I think a big driver of their costs is also as we talked about with Cali today is their health insurance >> which they're calculating like 15% I think is what they're calculating at something like that. I think it was
>> 10% for active employees and 20% for retirees. >> Um >> and that's level services. >> Uh I believe so. Yes, >> that's what they're going for. >> Um so you know 4.65 if we just use that
as a discussion point. I think if you recall my my baseline um budget for FY27 was a 3% increase and I also had said every percentage increase is roughly
about $150,000 more that's going to be added to the budget. >> So that puts us $500,000 in the hole >> thereabouts. Correct. Yep. >> Using a 2 and a half% for everything else. Uh no, everything else was still
at 3%. >> 3% >> town uh and also the uh the location the the technical school at 3% as well. So yeah, that's >> so we need to find $500,000.
>> And I got that number from the 270 that Nelson had given us before. >> 4.65. I'm saying that's 150 for the 4% and then 80 for the 65. >> And those are like I said there's they're jump around looks they don't
have the governor's budget until mid January. >> Yeah. >> So that will that's 500,000 in the whole >> and that's I mean and we're assuming I don't know Pepper has been talking about 20% increase in health insurance and we're assuming 13. We can hope that's
good. It's It's not >> No. >> Good. >> It's not going to work. >> Um 500,000 in the whole of like all of our staff.
It's it's uh >> maybe the MMA thing will actually come through and they will um help subsidized all the cities and towns over and above the 2 and a half%.
>> Nelson, you know what the purple tier brought up is you brought up they said they were going to be talking about it. Um, well, I think MMA was starting a new initiative uh asking for the state for more
unrestricted government locally. They call it UGGA. That that's the term. >> So, but uh >> um >> Andrew brought up something that he thought like >> do what? with with regards to if the towns were No, if the towns are
looking at overrides. Um, oh yeah, the there was talks about um an override question just for the health insurance increases because given I
think don't quote me, but I think the the the school budgets um health insurance budget is over 10 million a year. So he was saying that um and this is just preliminary ideas out in the ethers and it is related to school
budget. So I feel fine mentioning it here. Um it was brought up at the school budget meeting with all town administrators as he was saying if you look at the school's portion of the health insurance increase and then the town's
health insurance increase because that's those are numbers that we have literally no control over here. and sending that and saying this is what we're being asked to do and we above the 3%. >> Yeah.
>> To the state to get them to >> No, no, no. To the towns >> as a as an override >> as an override ask. >> Yeah. >> It's just a preliminary idea that capital put out there because they were saying it if all three towns were doing
their portion of that school insurance increase and our It would it would make I mean we're 270 before the health insurance or the the extra percentages of the school. >> Is that with the health insurance at 13?
Is that what that 270 is at? >> Yes. >> Um I think I was I mean in my preliminary budgets I'm I'm more on closer to 15%. I know Cali. Did you already factor that in then in the 270 and the whole?
>> Um I just I just did 3% across the board all the town services. >> Okay. >> Um so you know >> that isn't in there. >> Well in there is a percentage in there but you know
>> it's not 13. It would still be 11. >> Yeah. >> So that just was floated at the school budget meeting. I'm sure we'll talk about it a lot more >> because I mean there are obviously a bunch of different reasons for
the fiscal picture we have. So that's just one aspect of it, >> right? >> But I encourage everybody look at the finance sub committee just had a meeting yesterday morning. I saw that but I did
not see the school. >> I might maybe I'll have to link I didn't see the school committee meeting from yesterday night though. I haven't looked at that yet. So, >> so that's kind of uh where we're at with the the you know the the state of the
school budget. Um let me see here. Um we had a department head meeting. Did I mention that already last time? I can't remember. >> Okay. So, we went over that. um MS4. Um
Beth in in the land use office did submit our MS4 report on time on back on September 29th. Um, but we recently received word from the uh the Massachusetts EPA office that um
apparently some some of our regulations and bylaws related to you know um MS4 storm water um does not comply with their standards. It was news to us um but you know but they were willing to
work with us. So, we um between myself, Beth, and Bob Garside, we had a a call with the uh the EPA office. >> Why Bob Garside? Well, because it was >> I would have thought it would be highway because it's storm water
>> or or what I want to know is what bylaws exactly because unless it has to do with buildings, you know, the storm water from buildings or why would it surprised me to see that it
was the building inspector as opposed to the highway. >> Well, it it has something to do with postconstruction. Okay. >> So, >> post like any construction or residential. >> I I don't know the details about that,
but they point so the EPA office told us the exact language that we actually needed to insert into the our bylaws and Bob has found a what he feels is a suitable area to put it in. So, we've already
engaged with town council for them to review it. the planning board. It's on their radar to um to discuss and you know uh put forth. Um I because I think this would need to this would require a
some sort of public hearing because >> well any bylaw chain. >> Yeah. So so the the the parties that um are responsible this um are aware and we're working towards um putting a
warrant article in the um annual town meeting to >> the annual not the special. No, correct. The annual to to deal with this uh this you know deficiency if you will in our you know >> is it because of the water treatment plants?
>> No. Um there's >> it I'm trying to figure out because we do this you know this is and nobody has ever said anything. >> Yeah. Well it was news to us as well that um for >> and so I'm I'm wondering where the
deficiency is. I can send you some correspondence including the language that they want us to insert into our >> okay >> bylaws. Um but you I'm just letting you know that we are aware of the issue and
everyone that should be involved are involved to uh get this straightened out. Again the EPA office was you know happy to work with us to fix this issue that we have. Um, so
>> they've given us six months or a year to get it done. >> Uh, so they asked us for a date and we told them we would get it done at uh, annual town meeting. Uh, which is on May 5th, but they said, you know, they said
end of the month, uh, end of May, you know, just to be, you know, a little bit uh, cleaner. So they said end of May uh you know that we have to to finish this. >> Okay. >> Yep.
Um cyber security I I think folks are um taking the trainings. There is no deadline so to speak of when people need to complete it. It's kind of an ongoing
thing. You know, maybe if uh we're not making progress, the select board may decide to uh make it more mandatory. >> Well, right have about just less than
50% of the employees have done anything but um there's 43. I don't even know if actually I don't know if that they've signed in. What I can tell you is
reading the uh website policy. I thought I was in one of the classes of the training. It It was I Well, I've been going to sleep with it. So,
I'm learning a lot and I'm sending a lot of things fishing, reporting them fishing. Mhm. >> Um, so I don't I don't know if insurance is not mandating it. I don't know what the select board would do.
>> Yeah. So, it's something to think about if you know we don't get enough people to start taking the uh, you know, some of the trainings. Should there just be a report to departments and then they're responsible for ensuring that they're
able to do it? >> It's it's that has a town email address >> to sign in for their own account because they have a town email address. Oh, I just meant I just meant could Guardian
put a list together of those who haven't done it and that be sent to department heads and they as the department head would be in charge of ensuring that they're >> Oh, could you Nelson could you ask them guardian? >> Sure. >> That way we're not micromanaging at this
point. >> Yeah. Right. >> Okay. Um, I haven't made much I haven't made much progress on the towns and Facebook account. I I did
see that uh an individual needs to sign up for an account before they can even um set up another account. So, I don't know who's willing to volunteer that at the moment. So that's something that um I think further discussion needs to be
had to you know who who's the the person to jumpstart the >> well did do we have a website admin yet? I mean we I thought there were interviews for it and then we stopped. >> Well I think with the budget issues we
>> we stopped but it's still budgeted. >> It is. Um >> so weren't there candidates? there were um so you know if it's something the select board wants to uh resurrect so to speak
>> I'm just thinking that that's someone that could do this um >> right >> yep it's possible um but I haven't really touched it because you know like I said an individual needs to sign up for an account before you can then
manage a you know um you know the official Facebook page. >> Can we to January 6th? Is that okay with the >> Yep. >> Um so Kieran uh did apply for a uh a a
engineering study for the Adams Dam. Um, now I I do want to preface by saying that this is just a like a preliminary feasibility study that you know we received the grant for. In no way, shape
or form is Adams Dam being removed, >> right? Um but the but there needs to be like uh engineering um and you know design studies uh on the
dam itself to see you know what kind of shape it's in um how much it would cost to fix the issue things of that nature. Um so that's what the grant is for. Um, but I do want to say that in your
correspondence, you probably will see a letter that was from the uh the Cemetery and Parks Commission who are um very much against the idea of Adams Dam being removed. Um, I think that's very
premature talk, but nonetheless, they did send it. So, you know, it's in your correspondence packet. So um you know feel free to take a look at it. >> I believe also in checking with conservation there was some water
quality issues too related to this at the moment. >> There is correct. >> So >> it's not simply the dam itself. There's some ecoli >> really elevated levels >> swim in there this summer. and that study would would take a look at that as
well the water quality as well. So, I'm just giving you an update on that. So, uh we got the grant and we're kind of moving forward with that. >> Excuse me. >> Can you hear me? >> I can hear you.
>> Okay. I was trying to talk. Um, yesterday was the MRPC lunch and learn and I attended and so did Colby.
Colby talked about asked about a grant. Somebody came on about one of the DTA grants and he asked about um that bridge and I believe mentioned the water.
There's there may be some funding for the study on the water maybe. Is is Karen still there? >> No. >> Oh, so >> when you say the bridge, >> you mean the dam? Do you mean the
trestle? Sorry. >> No, he didn't say trussle. >> He said the bridge. >> Okay. >> Um so that's what caught my attention anyway. But um he's going to talk to somebody there. They've had some change
in leadership uh maners. See, maybe he'll get something out of them. But I'll I'll make sure that um Karen talks to him. uh about that because he can help them through the process too.
>> Okay, >> go ahead. Sorry. >> No worries. Um the electronic um sign boards um I think one of them is um on its last leg. Uh it's not charging
properly. Um, so I need to talk to Highway to see if we can u put a little bit of money into it to to get it to working condition or if uh we need to maybe put in a request uh you know a
capital request to to buy a new one. I think we have two at the moment but um in certain times of year you know both are being used and there's like a need for like a third one. So, um, so with
one down, that puts us in potentially a pretty bad spot and, uh, in terms of, um, pushing messaging out to to the public, whether it's a road closure or, you know, special town meeting or or something like that. So, uh, I'll work
with Highway, but just letting you know because the select board is in charge of approving, um, the sign board request that comes in. So, um, you know, we might have to triage the request if we truly are down to just one working sign
board. >> Okay. >> Um, and my final update is on the um the uh sustainable materials recovery program
municipal grant. It's the grant that the board of health gets. Um, you know, a lot of it is related to the uh the recycling center. I'm just updating you that I'm uh going to sign that on behalf
of the town so that we can um you know get the the grant funding that uh >> does that require a vote? >> I I think it always has in the past to accept grant funds. who can just assign that to you
>> at a different meeting >> um at a different meeting because >> I didn't see and see that in here. >> Okay. So, Lori, put that on six. >> Um
that's the signing of the contract. I thought it was acceptance of what is it the acceptance of funds or is it the signing of the contract? I don't know what it is. >> It's so January 6th for that one.
Um and just as a side note, I brought all my stuff with me from the meeting on the 8th and I knew and I gave um Sabrina two of the things that we all signed. I could have sworn that there were
three. Well, sure enough, there were three and I have it and they are original signatures and it was the sustainable purchasing policy. So, I have that in hand and she'll have it safely once I get back.
>> He's carrying around for fun, right? >> Oh, yeah. That and three other folders. >> Um, okay. >> Sorry, that that's all I had. >> Okay. Can I ask question? Did I see another letter from cemetery and parks? I think
that was just the damn one. >> That was just damn one and >> Oh, no. There was there was one on um >> and I'm not saw there was one on um the monthly reports. >> Yeah. >> So, that'd be department reports. Let's
put that on the six agenda. >> Which one is that? It was a letter from Cemeterian Parks. I think I saw it at the same time, but I don't see it in the SharePoint. So, where did I get it from?
>> Maybe it was in correspondence. >> Is it? >> Do you have anything in announcements, Belle? >> Um, we already talked about North Middle Sex. >> No, no, no. >> No, no. I meant in the
>> We didn't get there yet. Let me get through that. It's not. >> Okay. All right. I I think we need to have a discussion on that letter. >> Okay. I'll make sure that's on uh cemetery and parks that it's on the
January 6th. >> Correct. >> Also, and I don't know why I I didn't see it. There was also a uh rate increase from the police.
>> Oh, that is um that's for details. And we discussed that and signed it. That was anou. >> Yep. >> And so I think that was just his informing people on it. That's all.
Uh the town just to recap the the town has town details have no increase. So if the town itself is paying there's no >> that can you say that one more time because someone asked me about that.
It's for if the town is requesting a detail meaning the municipality >> there's no change but if it's >> I thought the rate was did change >> for the t for municipal
>> well it's the same rate that I could be wrong but I thought it's the same rate whether whether it's an outside job meaning you know a third party or >> if the town requests the detail, there
is no change. If the detail is requested by a vendor >> that could be >> that could be a contractor on a towns and road that is correct. It's not in town. It's who is requesting the detail.
Yeah, >> I'm pretty sure that's what I read. And did we sign something to that effect? >> Yes, we did. There's an MU. >> Yeah. Um I I I'm not 100% certain on the
town portion because the rate just increased and um >> here's my negotiations for >> you're leaving. I mean you want to stay for an 8 hour meeting?
>> Yes. You know I'd like to you happy holidays. Been >> fading fast. Uh Um but yeah any anyways uh we'll you know if there's any questions we'll we'll we'll address it later. It's um
not part of the agenda right now. >> Okay. >> All right. Uh 6.2 too, >> right? I think you already did the school update. >> Yep. >> DT grant report on economic development.
I actually already talked about that when I said it was in your SharePoint and we would move it to January 6 for comments back to planning. Um, oh, I hope I'll sent to you and put in
SharePoint was a planning board update that Beth sent regarding uh 40A zoning changes for development. So, I actually asked for it to be put or
maybe she will do it on the So make application would have the updated legislation that was just passed. Uh yes
have to be here. Okay. Um in announcements, do you have any? Um, we have a couple. Obviously, everybody can look at the board and committee vacancies. We have quite a few. Um,
>> there's 17, everyone. 17 vacancies waiting for some of the community to help. >> Um, I think I probably want to read the Micheloba Valley EMS funding announcement.
>> Okay. Um, so this was from Monday the 15th. Um, it's from Department of Public Health. Um, today the Department of Public Health is excited to announce the release of 5 million in supplemental
funding to reimburse NHA Valley area municipalities for extraordinary EMS costs on closure in the Shoba Valley. Um they utilized Massachusetts ambulance trip record information system and engage proactively with fire chiefs and
EMS providers in the area to develop a reasonable proportional distribution strategy. Each of the 13 municipalities will receive the $100,000 base award and then a proportional allocation of the balance determined by EMS call volume and increased distance travel to nearest emergency room postclosure of north um
NVMC no valley. The grants will be reimbursed municipalities through June 30th. So towns in space was 100,000 as with all the other towns and then the final funding amount is $362,54181. So my question is on this um this is the
500,000 that they they figured out the total amount. If I'm right, this is the stuff the 500,000 that didn't get voted on until like June or July or something like that. Um, and they have weren't
sure if all towns were going to get that amount or otherwise. And I'm just that's just to me that's a whole lot less than what I expected we were going to receive. >> And you can look at the Department of Health. It was a public announcement department of public health put out
there. So you can see what Grot got air devans >> but can you see how they figured out the >> So it says you can request it. They utilize Massachusetts ambulance trip information system. So there's an official system um basically to proportional to the
number of calls that we're going to >> So I guess my question is did they cover calls that we covered for other towns or did they just cover the calls within towns? Do you see what I'm saying?
>> I don't know the formula that they use the to come up with a final allocation. Um it it certainly looks like Townsen is pretty low. Um you know GR is getting like almost a million dollars. >> Well I would imagine that's because
virtually every Graten call went there. We also use other facilities from Townsen. So we go to Fitchburg Lster. We didn't just go to to Valley. >> That is true. So, I I believe that was from what I from how I understood when I
looked up a little more detailed information online that was kind of how but we could put this on a future agenda to talk about more. >> Um I'd like to >> and maybe I'll take the time to figure out >> I mean we could invite someone from Department of Public Health. I'm sure they'd
>> explain it. >> Right. >> Okay. >> It is through June 30th. So we do have time >> June 30th 2027 >> 2027 >> y >> to and that's where you can request the funds >> um these grants will reimburse
municipalities through June 30th >> of 2027. >> So that's we can get the reimbursements through June 30th. >> Correct. >> So a year and a half out. >> Yeah. But now till then the way I understand it. >> So you can't request it after.
>> Right. Yeah. And I get that that's not what but the number probably won't change. >> Um and so it would just be good to know what it was based on. >> Okay. Uh Veronica, if when once you have
an opportunity to ch to look into it and see the formula, if you want to bring it back up, just let me know. >> Okay, that sounds good. Um, next is the Nshoba Valley EMS.
>> No, the Health Equity Partnership. Um, so there's a group that's basically working with Health Equity Partnership of North Central Mass and Ashoba region health equity partnership starting kind
of an initiative when Sha Valley closed. So, uh, they have some working groups. If anybody's interested in town, reach out to us. Let us know. They had kind of a kickoff. I could not attend. I couldn't either. This was last week,
>> but it's um coordinated by the Shoba Associated Boards of Health. So, >> okay. >> Anybody's interested helping with those efforts, let us know. I'm sure we could assign someone else to attend.
>> Oh yeah, I think so. I don't think it has to be >> just like remember, right? >> Please share this information anyone you think would be a good fit in helping to design future public health solutions for your community. >> Y
>> Okay, thank you for reading that. And >> then we have one resignation Lori. >> Yes. >> Um Colin Roseman his resignation as a member of the recycling committee on December 15th effective middle lead.
>> That was that thank you >> for all your work. >> 6.4. Our next meeting is January 6th at 3 PM. Oh, no. It's not >> the 23rd.
>> Do we have a time for that? Yes. >> You could probably discuss it now. Um I think 10 is probably the earliest I would say because we need to post tomorrow morning. And you know, if you say 9, that's cutting it really close.
There needs to be someone at the cl town clerk's office right at 9 to do that. So that's >> for me it might be better if it's noon or one. There's a possibility I could zoom in. I am probably not going to be in person.
>> So uh Laura, you said you could do up to noon your time. >> Yes. And I it it won't be long because I have to leave by then. So like do you think 11:30 might work for you?
>> We could try 11 or 11:30. I I don't know. I I mean I I really don't know. >> Um it it's not an ideal time for me. I'll be here if I can. >> Okay. >> But noon your time, Lori, is 3:00 our
time. >> Oh, two. >> I was thinking noon our time, >> which is 9:00 a.m. >> I have to leave by noon my time, which is 3:00 your time. So, >> okay. So 11 for me is 2 o'clock for you.
>> Oh, well that's different. >> Yeah, if you want to do two o'clock, we can. That would be fine. Or we could do one o'clock. >> How many do one? >> Yeah, let's do one. >> Okay. >> So, this is on Tuesday.
>> On Tuesday, let me just So, it's one o'clock. Your time is 10:00 my time. So that does work. >> Okay. >> 10:00 select board. >> And uh
this is a very short agenda. It's literally just about the interim TA. >> Yeah. Yes. >> Okay. Because we don't have time to develop a full-blown agenda. >> And um I believe Sabrina has been discussing with Jane
what exactly should be on that agenda. So, she should have most of that already. There's like three specific items on appointment and setting up the other parts. >> Okay. >> I I think I've seen some of the emails, but >> signing the contract, etc.
>> Yeah. Okay. >> Okay. >> That's specific purpose. >> Are you coughing now? >> I am. This room kills you. >> I know. Um,
okay. So, we have that and we're we 10 10 10:00 a.m. that is now scheduled. That is our next meeting. >> 1 p.m. our time. >> Okay. >> Just so the audience isn't confused.
>> 100 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. And I'll I've written down when I have to show up my time. >> Okay. Okay. Um, is there a motion for 6.5?
>> I, Valerie Gooditch, move to review and sign payroll and bills payable warrants out of session. >> And um, second. >> Okay. Uh, any discussion hearing? None. Roll
call vote. >> Veronica. Laura Fay. Okay, we are going to go into executive session. Uh Veronica, do you have the motion there for uh 7.3?
and we'll adjourn from executive session because we've completed all the rest of our business. Um All right. Um, I, Veronica Kalis, vice chair, move to enter into executive
session pursuant to open meeting law, chapter 30A, section 21A3, to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the public body.
And the chair so declares. by Laura Shiffren declare and >> get seconding from executive session. >> We won't be returning to general
session. >> So we'll be adjourning from the executive. >> We'll be adjourning from the executive. So, and this motion is taking place at 8:20 p.m.
>> Yeah. 8 8:19. >> 819. Okay. >> Uh, just use the executive uh session link that I sent you earlier. >> Okay. Um,
roll call vote. Uh, Veronica Cal I get I >> Laura Shipper I thank you all very much for joining us this evening. >> Thank you TCAM. Thank you.