Good evening everyone. We're actually at 602 603. My name is Laura Shiffren and I will call the meeting of the select board of July 30th, 2025 to order at 6:03 p.m.
I have the roll call, please. Veronica present present. Please join me in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under
God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. I'd like to thank all of our veterans as well as all of our military that are serving here as well as abroad. all of our emergency response people as well as
their families. We have a debt of gratitude. The meeting is being recorded and it will be uploaded to YouTube. Is anyone else recording the meeting? Yes, I am. Thank you.
Chairman circulations don't think I have any for five. We do not have any meeting tonight, so we can go right to 2.1. That's okay with everyone.
We're addressing the one day special license application for towns and economical outreach to for summer celebration and fundraiser. We did have an application for 823 and
that's been changed to September 6, 2025. We do have that application. The event is from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Townsen Town Common, 27 Main Street, Townsen, Mass.
So, seat the application. You all have that um in front of you as well as the response for uh Kim. Do you want to speak to this and all the documents that are attached? Sure. I'm going to give you a couple.
When do you want me to you? So, thanks for hearing this. Unfortunately with multitude of cutbacks um TEO finds itself in a spot of having to do intentional fundraising um to help serve the community. So we're going to
do this event. Um I'll pass this to you. This is um an email from Jen Fors. She's a professional event planner. She is donating her time to to the tip certified bartenders. So she's helping with it. Um, are excuse me, are these
things that you're passing things that are available um online here? Um, yes. This just came in at 5:31 p.m. Yeah. So, that was something that was in
an email from Sabrina that wasn't in the the policy. Yeah. But it's normally the licensed like bartender or the person holding it that gets the license though the permit for the alcohol and that's
what's needed. So so we as the nonprofit are applying for the one-day license through the nonprofit as per the policy. So, we are the license holder. That's in your town policy.
And then we hire the distributor Atlas, which is indicated on our form. And then we will have the tip certified bartenders. And TEO has a license policy, which LF Robbins provided you
with the uh the liquor liability policy that we have. And then while Jen Kors is donating her time, we're not going to hire and contract with bartenders until we
actually have a um a signed permit. We're not going to sign a contract till we have that. Um so am I hearing that we are not uh that since you have liability insurance, you feel we don't have to know that the
bartenders are tip certified? Is that what you're saying? Not at all. They will be tip certified, but in the policy that is online for the town, it didn't require a copy of their certification.
So, in my information to you, we stated that we would be hiring TIP certified bartenders, that we would be roing off an area of the common designated specifically for alcohol consumption,
that everybody would be IDed and everybody would be wristbanded and that the wristbands, and I did bring a picture of those for you to see, would have the number of tickets for tokens that they would have to exchange. change in order to get the alcohol. So, each
person has a wristband and they can only have the number that's on their wristband and once they're done, they're done. That That's cool. I just want to know about certification. Yes. So, it wasn't until Sabrina emailed requesting a copy of certification,
which is not in your policy, but it's what we've always done that we've always done. I I've never seen it done otherwise even five years ago. So in the policy it does not ask for a
copy of the tips certification and I would offer you this as well. It does not actually ask for a limit for the alcohol and I would suggest to our community that you add that to your policy as well. Okay.
Yeah. So that's not in there either. Um, so that might be something that you want to add. We certainly would never hire anyone. I was a TIPS instructor. I would never hire anyone that was not TIP certified. We can certainly supply
um before the date copies of their certification, but that was not in the policy. We could approve subject two. Subject two. Yeah. We would have to see them beforehand. Yeah. And there's no problem with that whatsoever because we would never do it.
I mean, our insurance wouldn't allow that either. So, that that's okay. And thank you for the suggestions on the policy, but we've always done it that way before. Nobody's ever asked. Yeah. They've just provided it. Yep. Um, and then also not in the policy, but no
problem whatsoever. You wanted the schematic of where we would serve the alcohol. I do have a copy available in here for you to Y. So there's the the copy of the the
permit itself um that has Atlas listed there that actually the transporters of the alcohol um and that is the liability insurance um with the limits there and you provided the schematic
here also be subject to Nope. There's the schematic. Um, it is the area in red. So, if you're looking at the common at the gazebo where it intersects at the lake, it would be to
the right in a cordoned off area so that all of the sidewalks were still able to traverse. And this is a copy of what the wristband would look like. Not five tickets, however. That's just what was um What is going to be your donut? um four
for the entire three hours. Okay. And if you think um it's I would only need one, but yeah. Um and and they are they can't be used if they're detached. So like someone can't collect them and
go. They have to be on the person and they detached as they're served. Yep. And so the the whole event would be going throughout the day 10 to 9. Um the alcohol service would only be um during
those hours and cut off a half an hour before when I talked to the chief. Um it says noon to 4, but we have the we have the questions later, right? But we have to set up and such. The cornhole would be starting at noon.
Um, are you saying that you're going to be serving alcohol starting at 10? Oh, absolutely not. 5:00. Okay. Yes. 5 to 8:30 here, too. Yes, it is on there. Um, down 5 to 8:30. Yes. 5 to 8:30.
Um, and the event itself would end at 9:00. So, it gets a half an hour before the end. And in talking with the chief, he was not requiring a detail. I left it to be determined if you one we're once this is all set we would do an online
interest form one for ourselves if we started to see there was lots of interest we would want just for crossing a detail so we want to leave that open um for the next few weeks and if it made you feel better we have no problem you know to hire one but we wanted to
discuss that with you is there a motion Um, I would make a motion to grant a one-day special license um, application to the Townsenical Outreach for summer celebration and fundraiser on September 6th, 2025. The event from 5:00 p.m. to
8:30 p.m. at the Towns and Town Common 257 Main Street, Towns, 0469. subject to um receiving yes tips appropriate certification and to be signed out of session.
I will second that. Any further discussion? Yeah. Is there a rain date that isn't in May that we've already passed? Um so we are not going to do a rain date. No rain. Bring your rain coats. Yeah.
Because everything I see says rain. Okay. Is that still a Saturday? It is a Saturday. Yeah. And we deconlicted because Pepper is doing their 250th that day and we didn't want to have something on the same
um a question. Um the detail, do we want to discuss that and add that? Um, when Evans does their things on the, you know, their outdoor markets, do we require a detail?
Has that been required in the past? Pardon me. I mean, we could that's what I saw. We could bring if everybody's comfortable bring that up at a later date once no attendance and we can just look into the evidence thing. Not if we're approving it today.
Well, after two, but um I have no problem going back two weeks prior to check in with you all um to see how it's going and if you require it at that time, I I don't have a problem. Well, I was thinking just during the hour, it's it's a 4hour detail window.
So, if it were 5 to 9. Yeah. Um the time that the alcohol is being served, that's all. I think it would be prudent Yeah. Yeah. And it for for me quite honestly um even though the chief you
know based on our numbers wasn't alarmed it is more for us the crossing in in the dark. So I don't if it if it makes everybody feel better to a detail from 5 to 9. Yes.
like the alcohol condition. Yeah, they're right here. One day condition. It's in there. Atlas and um we have Yeah. Yep. We have our contact and it's we're just pending our application with her pending this because we don't want them
to do work. So this is number three. Do we actually have the name Atlas? Yes. Yes, it's on the permit. Oh, it's on the permit, not on the conditions. The one day liquor license and then the other permits that I had asked about on Friday, the the big O
permit. Um, I don't know if you're going to entertain that or not. Um, I know there was confusion that I got an an okay from one person and then one person said that what was the what are we talking about? Um, so we had also had the chief um he
did sign off on it um yesterday. I believe the bingo permit it's included. Yes. Raffle permit. Yes. Is that the same day? Yes, it is in the Is it during the event? Yes. And Townsen is a bingo approved town.
Yeah. Yes. Yes. And so it's it's a little bit interesting. There's a spot for the chief to sign, not a spot for you all to sign, but it says kind of thing. And then the regular raffle just for your awareness
spots for authorized officer. This is actually our proceeds that we have to turn in. This is the regular raffle that you don't have to sign, but I just wanted you to be aware in case anybody asks like what are they doing? We did apply for that for
whatever reason. It doesn't come through you, but the bingo one does. So, there's a lot of moving pieces and parts. And I feel like I want to make you guys a little um flowchart. Oh, here's the bingo.
Yeah. So, we do need to improve the bingo. What day gam separately? Yeah, they would be separate signatures. Did you we didn't vote yet on the motion?
And the motion includes the tips certified and the detail right now. The detail and the conditions. Yes. Any further on the main motion? Can we take the good separate? Uh, I'm good with doing it. It's not
It's not listed on here. That's something that we're considering. Okay. Can Can we vote on the menu then? Go back. Absolutely. We can. Okay. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't care, but Yeah. Right. Okay. Um, are you that
we're going to take a motion? Yes. Okay. And any further discussion on that? No, I'm good. Okay. Roll out and cacao. Yes. Yes. Yes. Now, do I hear a motion for the bingo
permit? Um, can we issue that next week and put it on the agenda for that? I mean, the the only thing with that is getting it to the state. And I would ask cuz I had called them Friday and I did
get a email back on Sunday that said okay and then I got an email back from someone else that said that they couldn't that my it was inaudible. So it was conflicting and I would just request that under the that it was a permit that it was agendaized and that the chair
does have the latitude of is this dino d. I learned that it's the same thing as bingo. Yeah, I never knew these things. No, I did not know that either. Okay. Um,
it's not on the agenda is what I'm saying. Veronica, Veronica, I I promise not. We're having a meeting and you need to address the chair. I will not I will not file if you It doesn't matter. If you would like to address the chair, you may talk to her,
please. We do. Cindy, you are the real deal, right? I just want to make sure that's who's talking. Yes. Yes. And I just want I'm I'm certain that Well, I'm assuming that Veronica is concerned that I'm going to file an open meeting law complaint if
you approve a bingo permit. And I will not be doing that if that is her concern. If she's got some other reason, I'm sorry for interrupting, but I was just wanted to make that clear that that's I see that is part of the same thing and pretty silly. Thank you. Well, you are not the only person who might
file a complaint, so I would prefer to see it on the agenda. So, understood. Um, the permitting was on the agenda and there is under the MGL's that the chair has the opportunity um to add something that is not um
overly controversial um within the 48 hours after it's posted. I'm not wording that exactly correct, but it is in there. Additions or deletions 1.4. There were no Thank you. So, yes, you know what it is.
It's It is allowed. Okay. Does the board allow me to go back to 1.4 chairman's additions? Certainly. Thank you. Under that, I would like to add under
2.1 the bingo permit for the same event on September 6, 2025. Good. I I am good with that. Do we need a motion? Yeah. I move that we add to 2.1 um
consideration of a dino bingo. Keep it Dino. That's what the words are on the form. um application for the same event listed on two. Second. Okay. Any discussion? No. Further discussion hearing? None. Roll.
Veronica Kelly. Yes. And Laura. Yes. I hope you had a successful event. Well, wait. We have to vote on the permit. We voted on adding it to the agenda. Now we have to vote on the permit. So, is it is it just that one page,
right? Yeah. Yes. Oh, I think it is. There are there's two pages or there's two one for the 6th and one for October 25th. If you want to hold the one for October 25th till next meeting. Yeah, let's just do the one
the one for the one event so that there's no question. Okay. So, we have a main motion and we have an add to the main motion. Any further discussion?
Main motion as amended. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Make another motion. We need to make another motion to approve the permit for 9625 for BEAN. So if I thought that's what we were doing. I thought we voted the first one in
No, we voted to put it. Yes. And then we vote to put it on the agenda. To add it to the agenda. Now we have to vote on the actual permit. Is everybody on the same page? Just checking.
Okay, we have the main motion. We added to put the bingo on it. No further discussion. Well, I have to make a new motion. Make a new motion, please. Is the first one approved? Yes, we voted that already.
Yes. Yeah, we voted that already. All right. Um, second motion. I would move to grant application for a one-day license to conduct a one day game commonly called vino for September 6, 2025 for the
technical outreach for summer celebration and fundraiser. Towns and town common 257 Main Street towns 01469 second to be signed out of session to be signed out of session. Any further discussion? No.
Hearing none. Roll call. Veronica Cal. Yes, I'm going to address and on behalf of my board members that are here for TEO. They came in case you had additional questions about TE. So, thank you. Um, appreciate it. Um, and please no brain.
Yeah. And will this be up on the website so we can direct people to it? It's just a description of Yes. Now that this is all approved, we'll have the JPEGs and everything circulating. We just wanted to have everything in handed and have it formally in front of you before we started advertising.
So, great. Do you want to go for your records? I'll just Great. Thank you so much. Thank you. Um, what about this? Go with it. Um, yeah, we have a Yeah, if there's a folder that would be good,
we will make an announcement under announcements that'll be read again. Okay, great. Thank you so much. Okay. Down to three appointments of officials, personnel, votes may be taken. Um,
real deal. Cindy, I have a question. Cindy King, are you there? Yes. I stepped away for a moment. What What can I help you with? Well, we h seem to have a majority of the
historic district commission here without a joint meeting. So, they're in form. They're in formal. Yep. This has to be understood and noted. If they are young, they stand in a form.
Yeah, they're form. This is a power. Okay. I'm sorry. Can you can you start that question again? I'm not quite sure I understand. We're going to be appointing to the historic commission. The select board is it's on our agenda. Okay.
There's a quorum of the historic district commission here and they have not posted. Okay. Then they can't speak. If they sit there quietly as long as they don't deliberate. If they do not speak, if no one speaks,
then they're not considered deliberating. But if they if somebody on that commission wants to speak, they need to go below a quorum. Okay? So if if one of them leaves, I don't I can't see who's in there. I'm not
looking at the whole thing. So, but if if they have a quorum and they're not posted, it's a violation. If they I mean they can sit there quietly with the whole board. Of course you and Lori counts. Lori counts because she's on the board. But if if they reduce their
numbers to less than a quorum, then one of them can speak about whatever they want. Um but if if they have a quorum there, they cannot speak about anything that's within their jurisdiction, which I assume that the reason that they're there is because they want to speak
about the appointments that you're doing. But I suggest to the commission that they reduce their number to below a we just have the chair here and myself because I am on the commission. But you're not a quorum.
You're less than a quorum. Not a quorum. They historic district commission does not have a quorum. Okay. Then then they can speak about they can speak about the appointments. They can they can be there. They can speak about whatever they want. But it's but I think somebody mentioned that they might have a quorum. But if they're
under a corn, that's good. No problem. They left the room. We closed the door. Okay. So, we are going on now to 3.1. We just know that conversation had already begun when they were in quorum.
Well, this conversation had already begun while they were in a quorum status. Okay. Well, the cats are already out of bag and now they're out of they're not anymore. I want to work with the commission, right?
But it was already in violation when we witnessed conversation between these four of them and the discussion only in Okay. Well, we understand that, but but now we're in we're in the select board meeting, right?
Okay. 3.1 Appoint James Dorian to the historic district commission effective July 30th, 2025 until 6:30, 2028. Is there a motion? I moved to appoint James Deronian to the
historic district commission effective 7:30 2025 until 6:30 2028. Second. Second. Jim, do you want to come up to the table? Sure. Sure. Absolutely. Next to you.
Absolutely. Don't say anything. I want to thank you for volunteering. I know you're doing other things for the town as well. Trying to do appreciate your retirement so that you can retirement's good. Did you want to thank your words? Um,
as I understand, Mary Jane, you had sent me a letter. I thank you. I thank But I think my curiosity of it, it was for the 14th for me to sit down with you to move through this process. Is that what your
intentions were with the letter when you sent it to me? Registered I don't know. Registered letters were sent out to the volunteers. No. Could you letters were sent out to James Ryan because I could not get a email
address from him? I don't listen. That should have nothing to do with it. I want to stay on Let's stay on point. No, I want everything in writing because again, but you said you were calling. I said I was. And after I left that
meeting, I decided I wanted things in writing for this very reason. I want people to know number one, I think that you should be recused from this because you're a member of the HDC and a leas
I'm just running the meeting. I don't have to vote. Okay. Just so that that is noted, Sabrina. And um also I have an issue with the fact that you being our leasison have
not brought information to the board during the leasant period. You talking about I sat on the board. I'm talking about this board. The board slept. You didn't tell them that we were working on this but we had we have a very important issue right now
at the HTC. As you well know, we are on the brink of losing the HDC and you know that because I discussed it at the meeting several times. Uh we have an appeal in process right now. So having applicants on a board that may
not even exist after August 6 was not a priority for me. I have contacted Jennifer uh Ravlet, Maria Milikin, and James Droyan. If he doesn't like and you don't like that I sent a certified letter for information so I could have
stopped writing hear about it till now. No, I'm not asking. I'm just saying if he doesn't like it and you don't like it, I am sorry, but that was the only communication. I'm not doing verbal because if he said, she said, I'm not going there. I don't know what we're talking about.
We're talking about his disgusting remark that I sent him a letter and he's insulted by it. Um, just a minute. Let me go. Can I say something? I will end this right now. I will eass and I will go forward in a
different format. I will not tolerate this. Let it be known you need to curb your disposition talking about or to me. Ma'am, please. Okay. How do you want to proceed?
Okay. So, well, let me go back. Do you want to read the letter and then you can talk? Go ahead, read the letter. I don't know anything about it. As a member of HTC, I do not know anything about it. I'm fairly acclimated with certain
procedure and going forward. We have never in any way since sent a registered letter to an advocate for conservation, agriculture, or anything of the sort. I was just I think it might have been more confusion and I wanted some clarity to
it so I could better understand what I was reading and what was truly behind a registered letter for an appointment for a volunteer board. Okay. Can you answer I can answer the registered letter part.
Could you maybe address your comment to me prior to that with the disgusting please? No, I don't want to go back there. Well, it'll be noted. Thank you. Okay. But I can discuss the registered letter. Yes, ma'am. Because I was not sure about your
address because you've been there since 1959. I understand that. But I was uncertain because you have a rural um you don't have a post office block. Do you have a number? And I wanted to make sure that
you got the letter. So the only way I could make sure according to the post office guy was to have it registered and that way I knew you received it. That doesn't that's not flying with me.
Been here since 1959. Everybody in town pretty much knows the farm. I'm on conservation. I do agriculture and I'm pretty much here on a regular bas. I don't bother too much but I Okay. Nelson sees me if you needed to
get in touch with me. But I didn't want to do it over the phone. I wanted to do it in writing because I wanted you to understand what the specific qualifications were as we intended to tell Maria and Jennifer when we needed them.
You could have come to my house coffee and it would have been fine. It's communication. Actually do have a motion on the floor. Um, we have a volunteer response form and that's what we're considering, right? So, there's a letter here, but that's
came in. What was the date the forms came in? James is on June 3rd. Beginning of June. Okay. Here we are almost two months later. Okay. We are um So, you're not going to further the discussion? Yes, please.
You're not going to consider the fact that um as members on boards all the time. We all learn. No, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. No, no, no, no, no. Would you please pull up, seeing that you have this, can you pull up the towns and bylaws for the
composite of the HDC? Yes. I'm trying. And one of the things that we need on the board is an architect. And I we discussed this how often um I'm curious like how often
the the makeup has actually had those individuals on it. It was since the beginning. So it's always had well there was an architect but he resigned several years ago. He resigned two years ago
but up until that time there was always an architect. So do you have an architect in mind? No, we're looking for one. Oh, okay. We're actively looking vacancies. Two vacancies and one
alternate position. Two alternates and two vacancies. We only have three volunteer forms. We still can get an architect. Yeah. No, I have We have another There is another volunteer form. I guess you
don't have it yet. Correct me. Kathy's. Yes. Oh, you don't have it? I have it in my box. How did it get there? It's stamped. Don't they go to you first?
I didn't I volunteer forms. Yes. Usually, unless it says separately when it's submitted, but Well, is there a motion? I guess. Well, wait. I have to say some other
things. So, the comp Did you bring it up? Composition. Yeah. So, the composition of the board is supposed to be an architect, a real estate person, residents of the historic district, and res and members of the
towns and historic society. That is two two members. How many members are on the board that are historic society? Two, right? Two. Three. Is it just you and Claire? No, Jerry is. Me, Jerry.
So, three of you are. Yeah. Susan and Claire both live in the district. Yeah. You're a real estate agent. We need an architect. So, um, but we have three other positions. They don't have to be anything. You can have
two two at large. Two doesn't say at large, does it? So, in the bylaws, it does not specify the makeup. Correct. It says I mean I could go through it.
Please read it. Go to four. Are you on 54-4? Please hereby establish historic district commission under provision of historic district act general laws chapter 4C consisting of seven members of the board appointed by the board of select including one member where possible from
two nominees submitted by the historical society or the society for preservation of New York New England antiquities one member where possible from two nominees of the Massachusetts state chapter of American institute of archetypes and one member where possible from two nominees
of field so It's it's not a hard and fast. It's a whereable. So, in other words, you're going to appoint these people regardless of the of them not being vetted by HDC. Is that what we're getting here? You're you're taking your executive power to
override the um HTC meeting and vetting the people that they're going to serve on. Right. My take on this is we are getting volunteers on boards to fill the board. We don't want warm bodies on the board. We want people who are committed to the historic preservation Veronica because
I considered Jim to be a warm body and I've worked with him on the conservation commission but is he a member debating at time is providing um pardon me. So you're going to a warm body. Okay. We need people on your
We've been asking for volunteers at every single meeting. We've only had two since we've had this. And we have a more important issue and we have the select today appointing have been asking for months. You were given these the beginning of June.
Yes. And I have and I've had two meetings with you and I have not been able to concentrate on these applicants because I'm really worried about the zoning appeal. That's what's really bothering me. Let them learn.
Let them learn. What's wrong with learning? Everybody's been new. This is not about learning word. This is about defending the historic district commission in the number two one, two, and three districts. I think all the boards and committees are important and
they all serve a purpose for the town, but it's up to the board. Sir, are you ready to vote? I'm ready for a motion. Um, hopefully I just make a brief
comment just to get on the page. I gota like her enthusiasm to her commission. That's a lot of dedication and I get it. We have trouble bringing people on board with
conservation. We would only hope to have some particular people that are understanding of hydraology, soils, plant. I could go on is a litany thing that I've learned from the baronic over my time.
She has a problem. I do not like being addressed by her like that when I want to come on to the sport, learn from them, help out with it, and be productive
and and do things to my town. It's hard to want to say, I I'd love to get into this commission. Is this what it might be like? want. Okay. Thank you. And I take
on that. Were you saying that you're not saying the bat? Are you saying something? Oh, is the bat still here? He was flying down the hallway. I put him in the great hall, but you want me to try to get him out? No, leave him in the great hall. But he
might find his way back down. He's very crafty. Okay. He's a known known document. Okay. I opened the front door. It was flying around down here this afternoon. I opened the front door. The dynamics of
town hall. I love it. I love it. We are off topic. Okay. So, let's let's go to 3.1 and move forward. Um, comments on the motion. I made the motion.
You made the motion. I didn't hear it. So, second. Okay. Yeah. and we had discussion and I I mean I would like to add a thought as this blackboard maybe you're allowed. Um so where I fall in this is in reading
this it's where possible. Yes. And I understand the best intentions are to get this exact breakdown of two and two and two, but we have such a shortage of volunteers for boards in town right now that in an
ideal world, absolutely we could wait. But I also feel that there's an even bigger importance of having full boards at times, especially when there seem to be issues that require a forum and a vote. And if any of those members
are out, those votes aren't going to be able to be taken. So that's just my thought on that. It has a seven member board form is four. Yeah. So if any member is not present, but it sounds like they have a lot of
important things to vote on right now. So if you're ready to vote, I'm Veronica Cal. I did. and I will abstain and welcome. Thank you. Thank you for volunteering. Thank you. I
apologize for I will applicable and I'll listen and be a good, you know, but I hope when we're new, we have to learn. I'm learning every day. If we don't, where do we go?
Thank you very much. Thank you. I'm upset this week. Okay. 3.2. I do have garlic. Oh, good. Thank you. Sure. Thank you. Thank you. You are Maria Milikin.
Oh, you're Maria. That's right. Do you want to introduce yourself and tell us what you do? Sure. Maria Milikin. I live in Townsville with my husband and two boys. Uh we were not originally from Townsen.
So we've lived here about um seven years. I work for Murphy Insurance Agency. I'm an insurance sales. Oh, okay. Did you? So, at our last at the last historic I won't vote, but at the last historic meeting um that we had
there were in fact there was an issue brought up about the insurance on historic homes and how they would have had the committee members were actually saying that they either were not given their insurance again. Yeah.
Or told to go someplace else or it was raised really high. And it was all because their homes were be uh built before 1900. And I said, "Why don't you call the insurance person that put the volunteer form in?" Oh, yeah. Right. Yeah. I did not get a phone call that I
recall, but yes, I've been in the insurance business for 20 years. Oh, good. And um I've lived in Vermont. I born and raised in Portland, Maine, and live here now again with my husband, Drew, and my two kids, Parker and EMTT. Um, and they,
um, you know, I want to be involved. I have not a lot of time, but I've seen the work that's been done in town and it's refreshing. Your own hours because they tend to, which is different. They tend to meet uh, at 3:00. Yeah, it's fine. I'm flexible. I'm in
sales. I think it's a second. Yeah, I got an email. Actually, Mary Jane, is it? She did send me a lovely email. Oh, good. Good. Okay, good. Okay. It seems like there's a lot going on and that's fine. I'm just here as a new, you
know, fresh perspective to listen and give my um my help where needed. So, we like perspectives. Yes. Exactly. As the newest member of this board, I think it's very helpful. Good. And me new in this position as well. Okay. So, thank you.
Nice to meet you all. Stepping forward. Sure. Yeah. We appreciate it. Is there a motion? Yeah. Um I move to a point Maria Milicanin. It is right Milikin. Yeah. Milik to historic district committee effect commission. Sorry. Effective 7:30
2025 until 6:30 2028. Second. And this is as a full member. Yes. Yes. Okay. It was the same for the other one. Did they have to be stated in the in the motion? I think the time period states it. Yeah.
In in and of itself. Well, I can I can make sure to specify the speify. Yeah. But this is right. Okay. So that's understood by everybody. Yeah. Um no further discussion.
Veronica Cal I Gage. I Jane about welcome. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for volunteering. Read up about open meeting law. Okay. It's on the state website. I will we'll need it in the All right. Lots to learn. Yeah. There's a lot to learn and we will
have a training. I don't know when it'll be yet, but it's coming up. Thank you. Thank you for volunteering. All right. Okay. So, on 3.3, um Jennifer is not here, but did you speak to her about the alternate? Oh. Um
Jennifer Revallet. I don't see someone. I'm not on the Zoom, so I don't know. I mean, she gave a pretty good description in her in her volunteer. She wrote a whole thing. Let's see if I can get that up here. Okay. Um,
so can we Oh, the alternate. Okay, thank you. She was what? interested in the alternate position. Okay. Yeah, that is what we still have a vacancy for alternate, right? Even after that. So, okay. Um, is
there a motion for Jennifer Ravallet? I move to appoint Jennifer Jennifer Ravallet to the historic district commission effective 7:30 2025 until 6:30 2028 as an alternate. Second.
Any further discussion hearing? None. Will call Veronica and Laura Fern. Thank you to all three of the new appointees. And please remember to go to the town clerk's
office and get sworn in. Right. And you want to do that before. I think it's August 14th is their meeting. So, as soon as you can go to the town clerk's office,
um well, yeah. Oh, yeah. If they want to go to the hearing, thank you for saying that. True. Please get sworn in um soon. Is there a hearing? And if there's a zoning board hearing where the historic commission has
appealed a decision of the building inspector. Oh, okay. So that certainly would be a great groundbreaking. And and when is that something new? I don't know what time. 6:30.
6:30. Thank you, Nelson. Okay, I guess we can go to um 4.1 select goals for fiscal 26. I will start by handing out mine.
These are this is something that's in um Nelson's contract. Okay. Um just review and so some of So I did this I assume that we all wrote our own goals on
online. Okay. I'm just going to excuse myself for one minute. You guys keep looking at this. Okay. I got there too. All right. I I will tell you that mine are to catch up on everything like ASAP because we have been so
distracted by so many things not just being new to everything but just all the um blindsided events that have happened plus and I am learning every day and I apologize for any of the
unintended for sure mistakes that I've made with the open meeting law violations, but I am learning. Um, and the public records requests have taken up so much time and I'm and that's not normal. Although it happens, it's
not normal for this town this much in the last five or six months or eight almost eight months now. So, I'm hoping that we can resolve a lot of these issues and that the training
um will happen sooner than later. And do you have a date yet? I do not. Uh we reached out to Adam. I will reach out to him to see if he can, you know, give us something. He he said almost any time. And he will
do two for us so that we can have one during the day and one in the evening. So anybody who's in town hall and it's easier during the day, they can come in and do it. Or if it's people who are uh working all day, they can come in at night.
Okay. I will uh I'll reach out to him to solidify a date. I am hoping as soon as possible. um the latest the first week in September. Everybody's asking for it. Everybody's got questions all the time. We
constantly get more um open meeting law violations even though we went June 13th and thought we were okay and that was in progress, but apparently we're not even answering things when we're supposed to. But I want all that to change. That's my biggest goal.
Veronica, you have the floor. All right. Um, so I I think I'm the one that asked for this to be on the agenda. I don't know if anybody else did as well, but in the town administrator's contract, it states, "An annually between June 1st
and July 31st, the board of selemen and the town administrator shall define measurable goals and performance objectives which they determine necessary for the proper operation of the town and in the attainment of the board's policy objectives and shall
further establish a relative priority among these various objectives. Goals and objectives shall generally be attainable within the time limits specified and within the annual operating and capital budgets and appropriations provided by the town and
the events that have occurred during the year. The town administrator shall prepare in writing and submit for the board's approval such goals and objectives which shall be signed by both parties and shall be attached to and become a part of this agreement. And we are now behind
and yeah we are um the board and the town administrator will work together to develop an evaluation document to be used for the evaluation of the town administrator. This year the town meeting process took much longer than it ever has in my experience in my three
years as a select board member. So I I don't think this is terrible, but I wanted to get the process started and I think over the next two meetings if we can the way we always did it in the past when I was a selectman prior was that
the select board brought our goals and we discussed them and then the town administrator considered and we worked together to come up with what the evaluation tool would be. So seeing as how it was July 30th coming up and you
know I I knew that we weren't going to do this prior, we've had so many budgetary considerations which we're not done with but um it's time to start moving towards the year. So we are a little late. We're about two months late. Yeah. Of where we normally are with this
process. So that's what our goals. On the other um the flip side of that is we also have the TA's evaluation coming up and that will be Wait, I thought we already did that in March.
Yeah. The year one year the annual is due for the contract in March. We already did it. No, we did not. His contract is um August 24th. This contract was signed in
July of 24. We're at a year. We're not at a year altogether, but per the contract, we're at a year. I've talked to Calie and um we'll work on the forms and I think that we
probably should meet um for the Okay. August. I'm just reading in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year. So, we did this in March, April. Um, I read the contract. I'm looking at the contract
and it says annual which would bring him to this August. But uh I think the what Veronica is referring to is the very first sentence is that it's in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year that
the board uh review shall review and evaluate the performance of the TA and and the fourth quarter would be from April May or June of that particular fiscal year.
Okay. I just want to do goals. Uh we can work out that you understanding that the same way the goals is being defined between June 1st and July 31st. And you know to Veronica's point we've been okay very
yeah working on the goals and then it's the fourth quarter that you evaluate how I've performed um relative to those goals. Is Kelly saying that there should be I So are we do when would
in my mind looking at the contract we were going to be doing it in August for the year of his contract not the fiscal year but the year of his contract because his contract ends in August or whatever of 27. Well we could certainly
do that if So, why did Callie have us evaluate in March? I did. Cuz we were new. I mean, I don't I don't think you guys were necessarily uh we really had nothing
because to go on. You know, the the fourth quarter starts technically in April. So I think doing it in March isn't you know that um the norm so to speak
this agreement shall be for a term report next week. Um so let's put this on the agenda for next week and we can discuss but can we talk about goals? Yes ma'am. All right let me get back to um
All right. I need to get back to Valerie's. So, um I think those are somewhat similar. I I think they are too. I think that my number one financial management is is your number two goal, budget process and timing. I I took it a little
bit further. Um Well, I took the other one further, so it's good. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. policies in place, including updating those in existence and developing those that are not, meaning that do not exist. Purchase and
budget for industry standard financial management software for the town such as clear glove gov so that we have financial management software in place. So there was a you know a big brewhaha
about there not being a budget book. Well, we don't have the software to do that. Sure, you could do it with Excel. It would be so time consuming. Um, and uh I I didn't see the finance committee putting stuff together and they're the ones that do the Excel thing.
They just for large part people's knowledge previous budget books were because people were using software in this town. Um the ones that from from fiscal year 21 to fiscal year 20 21 22 23 24 there were no budget books.
No but the previous ones the old ones were um probably in the 2017 time frame and that was a contract with um UMass. They provided a proprietary
software for the town. people send me as a reference for what they feel is very informationational. Yes, they often send one of those ones to me and this was very helpful for me from that time frame and and it was right and that disappeared
when um when I came in in 2020 for and we did the FY21 that software was not in existence in the town. There had been a changeover from Basam or whoever was the
IT person who must have managed the software files for the town to Guardian. And in that transition, that software disappeared. Um, and why that happened, I don't know.
I couldn't say. I just know that I never saw it. It's always been Excel. Um, so we got clear gov and you guys have heard that whole story. So, um, and I fully expected when I came back as a selectman
after being away for a year and a half or so that we would be using that for the budget process. So, I was really really surprised that we were. So, I don't know what happened there. I can't explain that either. So um because when
I I have actually logged in to clear gov for townsend and looked at the data and they were populating it and all the select board members and all the fincom had login for it and the trainings were
supposed to happen after the budget process was completed in you know April May time frame. So, we haven't had one for 5 years anyway. And um I would like to see something in place
that is industry standard, not something that someone makes up and that we can lose. I want it somewhere where it's accessible, usable, tested, doesn't make $87,000 mistakes. something that you and I encountered in our first meeting that
there was an 87k shortfall in the budget of last year because of a um what's her name didn't want to talk about it but because of a um formula that apparently didn't get propagated to a line
in a spreadsheet that won't happen if we have tested software uh shouldn't happen revamp the budgeting process um including meeting with the finance team the TA having I should say the
finance team meeting on a regular basis that's the TA the assessor the treasurer the accountant and all the I mean this is in our policies a representative from the select board and pincom also there correct um not necessarily
pincom and finance and the TA because that's actually part of his contract too what he's responsible for doing with the to get the budget ready. So, if that team is in place, I think that's going to be better than the two um committees.
Look at the process, make sure the process is there and make sure everybody's on top of the budget. I would I agree with this. I I do think it would be handy to have one member from select, one member in finance meet with those people regularly. That would be fine. Yeah, I'm I'm on
board. But just having something in place and um I know that apparently from an email I I saw it uh the DLS was um it's the finance reviews that they do on
a regular ba basis for any town that requests it. So um I would like to make 2011 I think. Yeah, it's been a long time. Um and so I think Andy was here as RTA at that point. So, in any event, um I would like
to see that the select board is on board with that as well. So, um so that's number one. Did um I think there's someone on Zoom that has their hand up. We want to recognize um I I want to go on with
Do you have something quick? Um, Cindy, I ju I just want to speak to Veronica's uh statement which I know she's made before regarding the budget book and and this imaginary software and I'm sorry I used that term imagining hold on hold on can I please speak
I was on the I was on the fincom from like 2013 to 2015 and then from 2015 to 2019 I was on the board of selectmen I know very well how the budget book was created particularly during my time as selectman because it was created by the town administrator. It was there was no
soft I was also on the board of selectman when um Collins senator came in there was no magic software that provided something so that you could easily just plug in some numbers to come up with the budget book. This is a tra a
standard document. You can go back to the town meeting information from those years and before 2015. Andy had a budget book and it was it's a combination of using Excel to produce nice graphics.
Unfortunately, we don't print in color so it's kind of hard but it's a word document and then it includes the very spreadsheets that the board of selectmen in this past town our meeting you provided all those spreadsheets to provide the budget. I don't think somebody did it for you, but the budget
is included as well as an explanation, a little bit of history, and it talks about some projections. The budget, thank you, Cindy. I understand what a budget book is. There is software software created during those years. There was never
software. I think I think Sueio, who was on the board with you, would speak differently about that. I think she did when she was and she did when she was here. So was not on the board with me between
2015 and 2019. She came on well actually she came on the board in 2018. I was on the fin from 13 to 15 and the select board from 15 to 19 and there was no software the software. In fact, Sue used to use Excel and she used to brag about how good she
was at Excel and I'm not just criticizing that, but it was Excel and Word puts together a bunch of books. All right. Thank you. Thank you, Cindy. All right. Next. Um, all right. So, back to our our goal setting.
Um, did I Oh, here it is. Um, I want to look at number one of Valerie's the coordin. So my number one was the same as Valerie's number two essentially. Um Valerie's
number one is coordination and regional regionalization for sustained fiscal stability and some areas to start. The first one was discussions with Ashb and Pero for opportunities to regionalize and
letter towns. Any response to the two towns I need? Um I I have a quick update on that during my TF. Okay, good. Good, good, good. And then B, um Department of Public Works. So
that's DPW and that goes with my number two. So 1B of Valerie's is my number two. Looking at the organization and structure, create a department of public works incorporating highway facilities, waste management and recycling,
cemeteries and parks and excluding water and then create a separate minutes clerk position to support the board of health, the historic district commission, and any other board that doesn't have staff to work on minutes so that we can get those all organized. So
with the similar one of the things that I hear a lot is the agendas from town are kind of different formats and all over the place. And again I think having that person to remind new board members of things like open meeting law in a
meeting say oh we shouldn't that's off topic that's off agenda that individual to be that. Yeah. And a lot of them are still sending out to everybody on the board. They're not blind copying anything. Right. So that that would help with that too and that open meeting law training that
is being planned. Part of that too. So number three um I I put human resources because we know that's a position that we will lose halfway through FY27. So I I put number for my number three
primary goals was to provide for this function by reorganizing the executive office to include a town administrator, an assistant town administrator and a clerk and incorporate the HR function
into that somehow. uh and I think that where DLS can provide support for financial management, I think they could also provide support for an organization structure and so maybe that's something to explore
um to what's the process for getting this going and how do we go about it. These are my suggestions. It's not the end all be all. This is the way it must be. But these are just ideas that I mean
so so then I'm going to go back to Valerie's her number three is communication and collaboration with the school district and number four communication with citizens. I would put that looking at my number one under my secondary
goals. These are are similar things that could be munched together. Um mine is provide support and training to the existing staff so that each department is updating their portion of the website on a regular basis. That would help so much with communication and maybe there
are other ideas around that. I don't know too and our our website is is um in need of uh a boost. So, however we do that, that's something that I think that also too is there's I know there's MMA training on towns, not board
members using Facebook and social media. Yeah, it's very often just surveying know read only. It's justformational but getting that so that people can link to it because that's where a lot of the discussions are having happening. Yeah. Yes. And you know the town administrator can put out a small
report. The you know board of health can put out a small report on that same page. It's only read only. So it's justformational purposes but it it's all in one place. Yeah. So that would be related to this I think. So so I would be more than happy to move
my number one secondary up to a number. Oh, no. I don't think I can we uh Everyone should be muted. Choose it. Watch. Oh, watch it there. Can you go to right there now? Um
Okay, that's good. Okay. All right. So in any event that is um pretty much and then training and communication with employees and elected employees board members and that's that and what Lori was saying about open
meeting law and the keeping the agendas consistent having some consistency there. So that that would be really useful. Um and how are we going to get more funding that's at the top? We'll worry about
that separate. But um we'll get there. We'll get there. We're making Well, I look back at my goals from three years ago, and one of the things was make use of the grant programs that the state has as a town.
We weren't, but we are now. Oh, yeah. And we should put back on the agenda a report on the grants. We had that. Is it on there? It's on there for tonight. For tonight. Status update on grants. Oh, good, good, good, good. Okay. Because we we really
are making use of that where we weren't before. So, as a town, so that's that's a positive. And so, there may be other options there. All right. So, I had several more secondaries, which are all like pie in the sky. I mean, it might be
all we can do, but it's all you always could get a Anyway, number one, uh, two, develop long-term plans for vacant town bill buildings. Resurrect the previous RFP for the heart library that have been put out before. We might want to look at
that. This is like an on the side when we get bored with everything else. Well, we can talk about it. It just hasn't had time to do anything. And and then this is just my it would be fun to create a roadway, pedestrian and bicycle corridor and have a map for the town
showing where these are. Um develop a document strategy for historic documents and going forward documents going forward that is written down. So we have the money for the um digitization the digitization project. We should have
a almost a policy, a written this is how it's going to be so that it is consistent over time as town administrators and town boards change and town staff so that everybody knows
how documents are kept, how they're digitized. And I mean the heart library there is so much paper in there that it's There's so much mold in there. Well, could be, but
No, there is. Oh, is there? I haven't been in there for a while. Yeah, it's sad. So it would be nice to have as we're doing the project for digitization to develop a policy for how this is done, where we store things,
what are our um our you know uh um blah blah blah.com. Where are we keeping things? What's our file structure? Um what's our software? Th those sorts of things. number 32. That's something that was
discussed at the economic forum. So, as we do the branding or promotion motion for Townsen, that would be a great little that corridor
and and we're on the way there. Uh, number five, continue to work on recommendations from the MVP plan, municipal vulner vulnerability plan to make sure towns is a climate resilient community. Um, and and there are little
things being done with the consultant that we have from that regional grant. Well, the energy committee too, the energy committee tomorrow night at the library, there's a um I think it's six o'clock. that paper
that that that's part of my um okay updates but but it is that sort of thing to keep that moving forward um making sure that we have a river that goes through town and you look at things that happened in you know central Texas um could that
happen here what do we do to make sure that structures are high enough that we are climate resiliency on that on there is actually I didn't check on it yet. There's an MA upcoming
meeting on um sweatboards and emergency preparedness that might be interesting for people to look at related to that. I haven't looked at I haven't registered for it yet, but I have all these MMA things that I've just kind of set to the side.
This one was in particular how a select board would respond in those situations situations. And then my last one, and that this you might be more aware of, but I'm not on the economic thing, and I haven't seen a report on it. I have no idea what that economic group is doing
that's been meeting with Margaret for about a year, but it's considering plan for the economic future of the town in a measured and thoughtful way. The town collaborative, not not our economic development grant, the town's economic grant or the town
collaborative. the collaborative, the one where people meet about everything. Yeah, I can give a report on that when we get to that. Yeah. Okay. July meeting because I I have no idea what that committee is doing. Not a single clue. So, um I'm not on the committee. I'm not
and there are no no reports anywhere that I can find that has to do with communication for people to know that this is what's happening. I wanted to know because I um And I stopped there because I figured
from that and with Valerie's and that we could I did mine before I read Valerie that we could um amongst the four of us come up with goals for the town that are reasonable for the time period and
measurable. Um and that's I I agree with a lot of these. I think based on the timing of the year, we probably should keep it. That's why I did primary and second there. Pretty primary. In particular, your
number two, which is my number one, I think requires a lot of um time-sensitive decision making because some of that would require approval at special town meeting in order to incorporate into the
budget for next year. So if if that is a goal that we really want to go forward with we really should probably consider that because I think there's and I know it it seems alarming to like to talk about organization and
mutilation and these like moving to DPW a lot of towns have done those things and it's not like everything happens all at once you know there's the first year we do this the second year we do this the third year we do this so the change
wouldn't be all at once, but in order to do that, we have to get the structure situated with the town in order to even move forward. There is a document, it's about 10 years old now. BLS put it together uh for a for a DPW in town. It was never
acted on. I'm not sure why, but it wasn't. Um and so I think it was about the time that we started having a lot of turnover. Yes. Exactly. Police department. So in any event, it just got set on the way by the wayside.
And so that might be another opportunity to work with DLS to um look at that because from a a financial perspective and the state that the town's in um and the which
you know with the lack of support for additional um taxes we there has to be something because the costs do not decline for the town. So something has to be done to um to
consolidate um regalize to regionalize um to um be more efficient at at the um jobs that we as a town are required to provide
uh for the not jobs, I shouldn't say services. Mhm. Um, so there we go. So should we Yeah. What else did I have? I think you covered most of it, Veronica. In in
particular, um, yeah, my big one was that that first one of the financial management and then any sort of restructuring that we think would be helpful for financial management. Yeah. and and the human resources thing
might just fit into that as we go. So, Sabrina has something. Oh, yeah. I did add that too, which would probably fit in with the finance part, financial management. Um because I know we need to get a fiveyear.
Yeah. I didn't write that down, but absolutely. And I know Don from Pincom, I don't know if he's still he's still Yeah, he's still I don't know if we want to ask him to come out plan, but I know that's big priorities of his too. So
yeah, I think that's part of the whole financial management piece. So um so those two together would make sense to the you know the financial and the organization. So I guess the question is how many goals do we want to
realistically set for this year? We I I like primary and secondary. So um but I think in my my mind and Lauri you can weigh in on this. You two Nelson I think it's worth thinking about and
putting it on the agenda for next week. Yeah. for, you know, what's reasonable, what are where are some um places we can go to get support because we don't have funds in the budget right now to um to
pay a lot for support. So looking at MMA or DLS uh would make sense um something that's funded other than through tax dollars to help us where we need to look at things
So good with that. So to put that on the agenda next week. Okay. I don't have anything else on that unless you do law. I don't we can revisit next week and forward. Um
I'm not in opposition of anything you said. I just added what my short list is. Mine is more like emergency. Um, okay. So, we have 4.2. We're ready to move on. Is the second
reading it. I'm sorry. So, we need public policy. Okay. Um, this is policy number 062025. It replaces policy number 0720 2019
animals and public buildings policy purpose. The town of Townsen is responsible for assuring the health and safety of all employees and members of the public who either work in or visit our municipal buildings. Animalists may pose a threat or may cause allergic reactions. Some individuals may also be
distracted by the presence of animals, particularly dogs. Policy. The town of Townsen does not permit employees or visitors to be to bring animals into municipal buildings other than service animals as defined herein or authorized police dogs, canines in service with the
towns and police department. An employee or a visitor who requires the help of a service animal as defined by federal regulations in 28 CFR 36.104. Any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit
of an individual with a disability will be permitted to bring a service dog animal into a municipal building provided that the animals presence does not create a danger to others and does not impose an undue hardship upon the town's employees or operations.
Therapy or comfort animals are not considered service animals and are likewise prohibited unless they are brought into a town building with the express authorization by the select board or a design as part of a town town sponsored. So first meeting was on July 15th
meeting is today July 30th. Any other comments? Motion to approve and sign. I make a motion that we approve and sign the animals in public buildings policy. And I will second that. Okay. Any discussion? Hearing none.
Veronica. Do you want this right here? Okay. Cuz mine's marked. Yep. Yeah. Just do that one. I don't know why that I just burned. Oh, so
Oh, this is a dollar receipt in case someone needs Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Thank you. Now we're on policy. Would you mind sending us the um policy for the permits and licenses and stuff for us to review
and we can bring that up if we want to make some adjustments to it if we should add things in writing. Okay. Is that okay with you guys? Okay. Um, okay. 4.3
status update on grants. I just talked it out. Yeah. Could you screen share that um so that it can be seen? Sure. Uh, who would like to screen share? Uh, that will be me. Uh,
oh, hold on, Harley. I need to join in on the meeting first. Okay. Give me two seconds while I lo. You want to take a recess for a second? Um, we'll take a recess for 60 seconds, please. Or two minutes.
again. Thank you. Thank you. Um All right. Um a lot of these grants have been completed. It's just part of um our sort of tracking. Um actually
from when to when these these grants began when? Um, most of them are, I would say, from 2024 onward. Some grants typically take a year or two to to finish.
So, um, and we're in the middle of some, correct? Yep. So, I'll just go through um them sort of one by one. Some I'll I'll speak more than others. Um, we received a grant a couple years ago to do a ADA
study. So, we got some money from the the state to sort of evaluate all of our town buildings and properties to see what what might be ADA
compliant and what might not be. So a company did come out um to each and every building and you know there was a report that was provided by the contractor. Um so that has been completed and uh
this report is pretty important for potential future grants. A lot of grant opportunities require this sort of study to be done. Um that way we can uh target. So this was just a study to look at
buildings to see where it needs work, where corrections need to be made. Yes. Um so now moving forward, we can apply for certain grants uh that might build ADA
um compliance. Um you know, some of these uh measures are very expensive and you know, the town certainly doesn't have the money to do it, but now that we have this evaluation done, we can target
certain grants to pay for projects. Um, we have a um energy manager. Um, you've met the individual Michelle Zika. She also uh is part of um Peral
uh Littleton and Dunstable. So um yeah, it's grandfunded. It's for um it's for a year and uh currently she is working on the climate action plan
that we um uh kind of have a lot of the pieces she's kind of uh using all kinds of various reports that we received throughout the years and you know putting it together
into a cohesive climate action plan. Um and I guess I'll talk about the you need to have that as well in order to apply for a grant for assistance in I that goal. I don't think that was a primary goal of
ours. Um but I think having the climate action plan moving forward um there may be some great opportunities for that. Um talking about the climate action plan um Valerie had mentioned the climate action forum that's
actually was supposed to happen um the senior center library um tomorrow evening. Um, unfortunately, we are going to cancel it due to low registration numbers. Um, I'm not that surprised it being in sort
of the middle of the the summer. Um, and I think part of it also is the the subject matter itself is not I guess that um exciting. That might be a certain way to to put
it. Um, so I So what we're going to do is re regroup, try to have it in the fall, get more participation, um, maybe uh, advertise a little bit more. We were planning on using the electronic signs,
but we've been using for to the special time election. So timing wasn't the best. So, we're gonna cancel regroup for the fall and hoping we uh get more participation. That sounds good.
Um, green communities, that's another um grant that uh every year we uh apply for. We did apply for again this year with the help of MRPC as well as the energy committee themselves. Um we should hear back um later this
summer. Um if we received a grant, what are these the projects? Seven. Um I don't have the list in front of me, but uh you know most of the um projects
this go around was related to the the schools. Yep. So um there's still a bunch of lighting that needs to be replaced in a couple of the schools. So we're that was done with the municipal buildings two years ago, right? Um I think it was like two years ago.
Yeah, we changed all LED. Correct. Um schools are a lot bigger. There's a lot more lighting. Um so we still haven't covered more schools the sort of retro Um see
and that's done through the through the grants. Correct. uh the Mass Trail Swan Cook Rail Trail uh 119 brand. Um that's pretty much been completed. You probably have seen it.
It's um at the corner 119 and um South Street. Yeah. Um so use it all the time. Yep. So uh and I think um Bill Ry out gave us a shout out at the I think it's the annual town meeting.
Um, so that's sort of been completed. We're just um maybe some punch list items to to take a look at, but for the most part it's pretty much complete. So, we're doing some closeout activities. Um, but that's
a project I'm happy to to announce that I can't see the numbers. Really small. Do you know what the total is? Um 200 $214,680.
That wasn't for the whole thing though. That was just for the sidewalk. It was for that that sidewalk thing. Yeah. Yeah. The connector sidewalk from the church to the other side of the lights. It's very convenient. Um
safer. Yeah. No, they hit me on my bike. So, we have a uh digital equity um grant. Um I think this one MRPC had uh made a presentation on recently and due
to um pulling of federal funding um things are kind of on pause at the moment, but they're looking for other grant opportunities to sort of um get some of the digital equity initiatives off the ground. I don't know
if this is the place to ask this, but in digital equity, do you know if this is Oh, never mind. That's the library work. Yeah, this is library work. I was going to ask something else, but I'll ask it in a different context. Okay. Um
a uh it was basically providing access to people that didn't have that's one senior center library. That's one initiative, you know. um providing more internet access, more
training, um even providing some hotspots for folks to take cards with them. Um you know, because the library might be great, but you know, folks um may have kids that need it for school work or just
I think this is this is a stop gap, too. I mean, we have sections of town that really need high speed access. Yeah. Like the center of town. I would love to have so you can set up the comment. But anyway, okay, let's go on here.
Oh, that's pretty good. Um, let me see. Uh, the MVP action grant. U, that was storm water related um, activities. We uh
contracted with Weston and Samson to do a bunch of storm water mapping including covert um looking at all the coverts here in town. That's pretty much been completed and uh
we actually have a uh report done by Weston and Samson called the what is it called? had it here. It's basically something that uh Wes and Samsung uh it's a report that they put
together um at the conclusion of their uh storm water mapping. Um is that a report that we could put up on the website? Um I Yeah, absolutely. And I think
Kieran mentioned it. He might even um is in the process of putting it up. I I'll make sure to put up there. That would be great. We'll see if they mention my rose. She's like a river.
That's who I'm talking about. Uh let's see what's next. There there was a one-stop grant for a walk bridge, pedestrian bridge. Is that the one up here that we Yeah. off of near Brooklyn. So that is
um currently being uh worked on on the engineering phase at the moment. Once that's complete, we will um uh I believe apply for a grant to actually build um that uh that
pedestrian more bridge. We have a MRPC grant to help with zone zoning bylaw. I think that's something that Beth has been spearheading on her end. Does it say how much funding or it just
says full? They never give you really a dollar amount for any of the MRPs, the regular DTA or you know those district local technical assistant. You don't really get a dollar amount. They just kind of do it. Yes, it it
tends to be generally around 35,000 or and basically it's for the labor for the planner work. This also like um like this used for the BTA not just
Yes. Yes. the same same type of thing. Perfect. Let me see. Um there's a wild and scenic rivers grant um surveying of common properties. Um
there's a note here that Kieran doesn't really have a um update on that. So I I'll work with him to see if he can dig up some historical findings and see uh what the status of that might be. I know they've been working on that
because they've talked about it in meetings. It's u the Hong Kong business. Okay. Um there's two grants related to the kids country playground. One is the mod grant, the other one is the park grant.
Um the old playground has been demolished and uh we are scheduled to uh and that was one of my updates. there's been a soft opening because that area has been
leveled out so there's no debris or anything um that's dangerous so kids can use it for the time being. Um the equipment is scheduled to be delivered in about two weeks time and so we're thinking everything should
be completed by very late August, early September. So, um um I wanted to thank the uh the highway department and the cemetery and parks department. They did a fabulous job of mobilizing and taking
down the the structure. Uh doing it inhouse saved us um a bunch of money that we would have to pay a contractor to do. So, um so I'm I'm excited to park.
What's that? Park Highway. Uh yeah, see uh the fitness core. Um we're kind of towards the finish line, but we uh still need some money to finish it up. So, we've actually applied for a T-Mobile
grant that would um Is that what was talked about behind the terminal here? Mhm. Yeah. That's where that's where the fitness support would be located once we I missed that. How did that get approved? That was approved years ago.
Oh, years ago. My first round of of select board. Um probably around 2022. And so who was working on it? Emmy fitness on the recreation has been working on that. There were
grants involved that the town accepted to uh obtain the equipment. Um so it's been a process. It has been. And um any insurance for that and who runs it?
It's it's an open area. It is just just like the playground, the kids country. Oh, anybody can go anytime. Yes. Um, so we still need some money to finish things up because we actually need to um
install. We have the equipment which is uh inside the garage here, but uh we need some money to uh actually uh um prep the the the ground and uh I think we have to lay
concrete as well and that's not that that that's not inexpensive to do that. It has to be done right. Correct. So, so we've applied for uh another grant to sort of to to to do
those activities, the site survey and installing the the concrete slab that all the equipment sitting on top of. Okay. No time table for that. you looking for donations or
uh I think I think the recreation department has done some fundraising efforts um over the over the years. We're still not there yet. See,
this is going to be like a accessory to the rail trail. Well, it could be. I mean, that was part of the idea when we did shared streets and spaces. We put bike um a bike repair
station behind the wreck building and uh thinking that it would, you know, cuz you can get right down here from there. I know. So, yeah. Okay. So, I said it. So, what's the whole total?
No, there's a couple more things there. We're not done. Oh, sorry. Um I'll go through these quickly. Uh there's a a grant that Kieran recently applied for is for teleaalth. So that's like um doctor's appointments virtually
versus going in person. That's kind of like uh gaining a lot of popularity ever since co. So, we're trying to, you know, get some funding, you know, to to to get some some tele health options here for
folks who might not be able to, you know, go all the way into Boston or Worcester, you know, for appointments. Um, he also applied for hiphop square dance for seniors grant through the Mass
Cultural Council. Um, not a ton of money, $1,000. So, that might be enough for a couple sessions uh over at the senior center. It's a fun activity. Um, community compact fiber grant. This
is a phase two. Uh, phase one included, um, multiple buildings, uh, town buildings, um, including town hall here. 25 community contact grant phase two.
Oh yeah. So that's actually the the contract itself but this is that is this is the grant um you know um so this is phase two and uh to sort of uh
finish up the project and uh yeah that's one of the agenda items is to um sign the contract. Uh yeah, we'll probably sign out of session pending town council review. Uh what else? The
there's another community compact grant. This is the digitization that we've been sort of talking about recently. Um the town clerk has kind of um shephered that process so far because uh you know he has experience in the previous community
with digitization. So, we've already met with one vendor, sort of um seen a demonstration of their capabilities. We have a couple more lined up. Um I think that one no one from the stack
could actually make. Um but um yeah, something there there's only been one that we've learned about, right? Correct. Presentation. Y Okay. Um so we're still kind of in the factf finding
phase of the the grant. Um you know part of the concern is the grant will pay for you know the actual scanning along documents but um
there is a potentially ongoing cost which is the storage of those files. You know typically it's huge. Yeah. companies will store it on their server or the cloud, but there's obviously a cost to that and you want
permanent access to those files, which in theory means permanent cost involved. Um, isn't there some degree, and I'm sure this is all set, what needs to be kept forever and what has a phase out
seven years. Yeah, there's a there's a whole thing on that. Yep. So, we would be very judicious about what we actually end up scanning and and storing because if this is a a box of files that are 15 years old and that we can actually get rid of um it
would be silly to to be, you know, for it to be part of this process. But my concern is that the store or like certain maps or plans that are you know that are nowhere available except for you know I would think a lot of those would
happen if I was registered though right like if if the only place something exists that's one thing but if we start having duplicate digital copies of things that are required to be someplace else I worry that this project my husband works
in technology could easily wind up costing us a significant amount of money in if if we're not careful of what files we're digitizing just because of the storage side of the municipality. If they are at registries, if it's items
that have been recorded, registered on copies, right? And I'm sure if these people work with municipalities, they understand. Yeah, they know sort of the um the retention periods and you know what
needs to be retained basically forever and what can sort of be uh destroyed after 3, five, seven years. Um my concern as I've told Nelson is that we have we have online permitting which
does store a digital copy of things is to make sure that whatever we're doing is compatible or works with that somehow it's not so that we are not duplicating the process. That's exactly
whether or not Yeah, he would know. I mean, they would know as far as the years and stuff. I'm sure that there's a um somewhere we could find a chart like that. I could I
I did it for land trust. We have we knew what we could get rid of after so many years. Blah blah blah. We had a policy training for new people. Yeah, it could be. Yeah. Um so so we're kind of um just in the
very preliminary stages of um looking into what services are out there. You know, everyone has different software capabilities. Um, you know, the big one that I mentioned was the the permanent storage of these files. So, um,
you know, we can always, uh, have it stored locally. You know, all you need is, you know, an actual hard drive here on site. So, we're looking to connect with Guardian to see if that's possible. We also learned that the website ecode
that has our charter and bylaw um the service that we pay for has some um file storage capabilities. So we're kind of looking into that as well. So um so we're kind of um looking at our options
and you know once we uh need a very long trying to come up with a you know a company to work with. I I would like to see a process document being developed as that work goes on goes forward
so that we have a a a process in place for this that people who come probably eventually it would have to be a policy. Yes. Yes. But there needs to be a process document so it's not just in you
know there's turnover. Yes. I don't want one point of contact that oh you have to go to see that person to do that. My fear is that we would lose that the same way the software that and the problem with that is these
specialties are legal records and that process gets lost. And the final one here is a complete streets grant for the Brooklyn street sidewalk. Um this one
um Kieran and I need to look into it a little bit more. He's been quite busy recently with the um playground as well as the side the 119 sidewalk. Now that those have sort of wrapped up, I think this is the next one that he's really
going to focus his energy on um to figure out what we can timeline for this. Uh I don't have a ton of information regarding that but uh has that been bid yet? We saw pictures. I thought it was bid.
No, I think No, it has not. I think what uh I think the engineering part is done. It is or is in process at the moment because we looked at picture we had a presentation on this might have been April.
Yeah, I think those were like um renderings. Yes. Yeah. Um that has not um been out to bid yet. Okay. So um given it's uh late July, I don't know where the process is at the
moment. But does it have to be extended by? I think this one is uh December 2026. Okay. So we have a year. So we have a time. Yeah. Okay. just just like the one with the digitization we have until uh so we get
it happen next spring. Yes. Correct. Yep. So uh so that's the extent of the uh grants and the grand total is um 1.87 million.
Pretty substantial. Yeah. With a match of 110,000 which is really good. Yeah. investment return on investment. Mhm. Yeah. Yeah. We have to keep doing that.
It's a more than pace writer, right? Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. Um, so maybe an update in a couple months if he has anything coming up and of course watch if something else comes up that he's going to file for. Yep.
I think that's the next tab. The grants available and applied to. We don't have to go over that, but it is the next tab. Y and we're constantly looking for grants to apply for. Um some are more modest in scope and dollar amounts.
Certainly the ones that I've um gone through today, some of them are pretty substantial in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Um, so we're constantly looking for grants to uh I'm guessing also department heads should go when they have specific ones because often they will get grants that
come to them. Well, sends it I mean I don't know about the other ones and more about MRPC as soon as something's out it goes out to all the department heads MTA. I was thinking I was thinking you know
like the like specific area like library or council on aging or highway they may get to them and I just want to remind them to go to here and they don't have to do that process themselves. Right. I I do know some departments kind of keep the grant writing and
application process inhouse. Um I I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing, but certainly Kieran is a resource if um you know um resources uh you know manpower is maybe just bring that up in a department head meeting to remind people too.
That sometimes gets because not everybody is a grant writer. Well, and I think sometimes department heads are so busy something pops up in their inbox and they're just like that would be great if I had an hour, right? or 10 20 even to think about it and if
they they remember they have that there's a resource there to use for um okay so let's go to 4.5 4.4 well we go oh no we have to do 4.4 for you
for the agenda. So Nelson, what are your recommendations? So let's see. I think originally we were targeting um September 30th um the last Tuesday
um to have a special town meeting mainly uh to um the MEA community act. Um, Adam's not able to make it on the 30th and given
his expertise and involvement in it, um, I think it would be wise to find a date that he could accommodate. So, we were looking at the 24th or the 25th of September. Adam did um, indicate he
would be available. I didn't hear that from John Barrett yet. Oh, yeah. Either one. He had set the 24th for the select board meeting. So we could do it that night if that's possible.
I won't be here, but that's okay. You can do it without me. Yes. 25th. I mean, I'm good for a select board meeting on the 25th, but 24th, but I won't be in person. Oh, okay. Most likely.
But is that for the week? Yeah, that's for a long time. So that's for a long time. Yeah. Um that you won't be at meetings. I'll be uh virtual. Virtual. I'm I'm looking at September meetings
though. Um because we looked at this already. Yeah. I'll be there on the 2nd. Yeah. And the 24th. The 24th is virtual and we had the I had the 30th down for select group. So, um, the 30th I'd be here, but the 24th I
will not be, you know, present. Okay. So, it's fine now. You can do it without me. It's not a problem. So, the one trick is is either of us, anything happens. If we're sick, it need like say
because we don't have a quum, right? You need a quorum for the special I think. Oh yeah, you do. Yeah. Absolutely. Understood. So just know that. Okay.
Well, we need the moderator. Yeah. So I I'll I'll touch base with John to see if he's available. So if we just assume that the 24th is available and we kind of work backwards. Um I think the planning board wanted to have
some uh public hearing. Um was it two weeks or up to a month? Yeah. Is it seven days is good but um and then we also will need to open and
close the uh the warrant. And given that it's really for just the Well, they can hold the public hearing anytime, right? Okay. That we don't have to hold up any dates, but they don't have to hold up their public hearing at all, right?
They can have it anytime, right? So, I I think that um the So, they probably they should have it um sooner rather than later. You know, don't want to cut it too close to the to the um the special town meeting.
Okay. So, what do what do we need to have for opening and closing and posting before? Um, so it's a special town meeting which means we need to post two weeks prior.
Um, I think opening and closing the the warrant it doesn't need to be that long since it's really just for the META communities act. Certainly we could if we need to put something else on, we
can, but it's not gonna be a long warrant. Right. Correct. Um I think we have uh you know all August or even into September to sort of uh um determine you know when we want to
open and close the war. Um so how many days before the meeting again do we have to post? Two weeks. the warrant. Uh, is it two weeks? I believe so. Yes. Two weeks. Okay. Close it two weeks before, but um
we want to open and close it in case something else needs to go on. Yeah. Is that it? Correct. Do you have to give any minimum? Um, I don't think you can do it in the same day, I
believe, as long as you um make it known. Yeah. I mean, you know, there's no there's no reason why we would do that. So, I would keep it up open for maybe a week or two. And I mean, you want to do it like the
say the 19th of August to open it and close it the 9th, the 2nd or the 9th of September. Was it the 2nd of September?
And it's second before a board meeting and talk about it, right? Well, the second was it the second. The second is a select board meeting. So maybe we close it the Friday before the 29th. Oh, so we can discuss it.
Okay. I know you want to submit it though before submitted before it's closed. Before it's closed then let's open it on the 19th and close it on the 3. That's fine. Or well close it on the second. We have the meeting on the
second after the meeting. After the meeting. Okay. So or close it at what 5:00 before meeting. But if we wanted want to do the third you would want to review and discuss it and then close it.
No, no, you you would close it and then you would review and discuss. Okay. So, the submissions that have come in noon on September 2nd. Yep. Does that work? So, we're opening on the 19th of August and closing on
September the second at noon. Okay. And then we discuss that night and hopefully And so we're saying we're going to do on the 24th knowing that Yeah. If one of us it'll have to be cancelled if you know. It's kind of what he's doing.
But we're I think we're okay with what we're planning. Yeah. Yeah. Even though get the answer. I mean, if you could find out by next next Tuesday, the 5th, our next meeting. Do we want an alternate date if it's not the 24th? Just so we don't have to come back and forth and back and forth again.
Why not October 7th? That's what I would October. We have a select board meeting planned for October 7th. Why not that day? Because I think Beth asked for it in September. Why don't we stay with the open and
close? Yes. Yes. Why don't we um I'll discuss with Beth. Okay. Tell her what this is looking like. you get the dates that the moderator is ready or can do it and then the dates from Adam and we'll discuss next week. Okay. 47. Yeah.
Yeah. That sounds good. But at least we have our opening and close. Yeah. Okay. Do we need to vote on that? I don't know. Do you want to vote? Motion to open and close that date the warrant.
We could do it. Well, we could open and close the warrant. Yeah, we'll just wait until next week when we have like all the details so we can Yeah, that's fine. Okay. But I think that's what we're looking at for as far as opening and closing. Okay. All right. So, putting that to August
5th. and 4.5 Nelson. Uh so we were talking about the community compact grant um phase two of the fiber project. Um
the uh the vendor that we use for phase one is called contract. Um they are on the state bid list so we can uh certainly use them again. They have you know, done phase one for us. So, uh, you know, it they can quickly mobilize and
work on phase two. So, I'm I'm suggesting that we uh um sign the the contract for the community compact grant with contract um
out of session, you know, pending legal legal uh this is for municipal buildings, correct? This is 4.5. this. Okay, that's this. Yeah, that's the the state contract that
looks under and uh I'm not sure if the in the packet was included coming up any questions. They were used for the first part, excuse me,
same contractor for the first phase, correct? And there's no issues that Okay, there it is. There it is. This is um for the branch. Yes. So, it sounds like phase two is the reading room and the recycling center.
Correct. So, all other buildings are set already. Um the contact name says Eric Slaggel. Should that change? Yeah, I'll I'll have him change that. Okay. And same with the email address.
Yes. Is there a motion to sign this question? I would make a motion to sign the community contract grant phase 2 fiber contract as discussed out of session with
after the review with um operation. What's the exact name of the something contract corporation? Contract corporation. There's like five different names from
the documents. I will second that pending leg. Yes. Any further discussion? No. Hearing none. Roll call. Veronica. Yes. Yes.
Shaker. Yes. Thank you. 4.6 on the six wheel dump truck. All right. So, uh the sixheel dump truck was uh approved at town meeting as a capital
project. Um and what we are doing tonight is um voting on uh the the useful life of the piece of equipment. And why that is important is
because um if we um uh agree on a useful life of 15 years for this piece of equipment, um we can, you know, when we go out to borrow, we can borrow um for a 15-year term,
which would stretch out the payments and uh it would sort of lessen the burden on the the general fund. Sure. Um because if if we were going to do five years, those payments would be pretty sizable and you know, I'm not sure the budget can actually handle
that. So, was the um life described as by the manufacturer? Um I'm not sure what the manufacturer would say, but certainly the one that it's currently it would be replacing is
about 22 years old. So, you know, a 15-year useful life is certainly correct. Um, and you know, we also um have bond counsel that kind of reviews it because, you know, you couldn't say it had a
30-year lifespan, right? Um, so I think 15 years is a pretty good uh compromise and that stretches out the payment and um, you know, it's it's still within reason. Yeah. So, um,
so, um, let's see. Do you Valerie, the packet that you have? Yep. Um, have a whole bunch of stuff in it. Yeah. So, let me see which one it is. It's the document requirements letter. Yep. And if you look on page seven, um,
there is some language there. Yeah. A second. Um, this is from the loan agency. So, this is written as an I statement by the clerk. Uh, so that's
what you would end up signing. And so, um, so it doesn't have to be signed by the whole board. Uh, it looks like it's just you, but the the vote itself that should be, um, you know, there should be a motion for that.
Okay. Um, just in the interest of transparency, too, once as in the packet, once the dump trucks out, capital stabilization is down to $1,936. for everybody listening. Um
so vote of the select board as to use file. Um I this is a motion as read. I, the clerk of the select board of town towns of Massachusetts, certify that at a meeting of the board held July 30th,
2025, of which all members of the board would duly notified and at which a quorum is present, the following vote is unanimously passed, all of which appears upon the official record of the board in my custody voted that the maximum useful life of the dump truck. So this be the
motion. I will get the maximum use life of the dump truck with plow be financed with the proceeds of the 20 $295,000 borrowing authorization by the vote of the town passed June 18, 2025 article 15
is hereby determined pursuant to general law chapter 4471 to be 15 years. Is there a second? Second. Any further discussion? roller
co. Should I read the last part now? Yeah. I further certified that the vote was taken at a meeting open to the public. That the vote was not taken by secret ballot. that a notice, stay in place, date, time, and agenda for the meeting, which agenda included the adoption of the above vote, was filed
with the town clerk, and a copy thereof posted in America conspicuously visible to the public at all hours and or the municipal building of the office the town clerk is located, or if applicable in accordance with an alternative method of noticing prescribed approved by the
attorney general as set forth in 940 CMR 29.032B, 032B at least 48 hours not including Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays prior to the time of the meeting and remained so hosted at the time of the meeting that no deliberation or decision
in connection with the subject matter of this vote were taken in executive session all in accordance with general law chapter 3A 1825 as Thank you. Thanks. Very good.
4.7 review discussed public comment policy. Would you like to take this? The public comment policy. Yeah, we have it here to review. We have the old one
and an updated one. Oh, is this you, Veronica, or me? Oh, do you want to do it? I think it was you. Okay. Um, so this was new I think was when was this passed? It was
passed 2018. No, the newer one was passed when I don't know. I don't know. But we had a first reading. This is the first reading. Draft a draft of the first reading. So this was direct in pass.
No. No. This was this was what was in place when I became a selectman in 2020. The old the old. Yeah. And we used to allow public comment but then No, no, no. I'm sorry. Let me
No, no, no. Let me restart. I was in my head I was doing public records request policy and not Oh, that's different. Yeah. No, you're right. No, public comment. Scratch what I ever This My brain was not caught up with the agenda. Um public comment policy. Yes, this was my thing.
Um, so in speaking with council, this basically was exactly what council recommended after the Supreme Court ruling about language in public comments, which kind of invalidated our previous policy. That's right. Because it speaks to decorum, which we
cannot do. So, the new one here is basically word for word what town council recommends for all boards. Um it is still at the discretion of the chair. So
Oh yeah, understood. How whether or not to have a public comment at any meeting is just that his policy sets the rules under which if the chair so deems to have a public comment would be followed. Would
you like to do it as a first reading for recommendation? Discuss it or Well, then we can discuss. Okay. That's what I think. I I think we should because Yeah, please. Okay. There you go. Um well, hang on. We don't have first
reading on the agenda. We have to discuss. Um, so maybe we should do the first reading at the next meeting. Um, and but if you want to read it. Yes. And then we can discuss and
go along at I'll stop at the end of each section for commentary or thoughts and then I can pass those comments back to council. Yes, that would be good to see if we want because we obviously this is just the template by which um
so to start the town of towns and welcomes everyone to the meetings of its many public bodies. All such meetings are held in accordance with the commonwealth open meeting law and state and federal free speech laws. We are local elected of appointed public officials and believe that public
participation is crucial crucial to town government. Town officials do their best to inform and to listen to the public, but must also ensure that they are efficiently and effectively promptly performing their respective duties to serve the community. Any questions?
That looks good to me. Sounds good. I think the important thing is about effectively promptly forming just because we don't want meetings to last all night and get off track too much. To this end, the following rules governing public participation at the meetings of
all town public bodies. One, the chair or his or her design shall devote a period at each meeting to public comment. The public comment period to the extent that doing so does not interfere with the public body's ability to perform its duties in an orderly, efficient, and timely manner.
The point of the meeting at which the public comment period takes place. The duration of the public comment period. The number of individuals and or entities who are permitted to speak. Which individuals and or entities are permitted to speak. And the time for which such individuals or entities are permitted to speak shall be at the sole
discretion of the chair or his or her design. Provided, however, that the chair shall do to the best of his or her ability. ensure that each individual and/or entity is who is permitted to speak is allowed an equal amount of time in which to do so.
Um two when public comments are not required to pertain no while public comments are not required to pertain to an agenda item for that particular meeting such comments must pertain to a matter within the public body's jurisdiction. Public comments on matters
outside the public jurisdiction will not be permitted because they are not constitutionally protected. The following comments shall likewise not be permitted. True threats, incitements to imminent lawless conduct, statements that were found by a court of law to be
defamator, defamatory, and sexually explicit statements made to appeal to have that cover. Um, so I think the important part here is comments must pertain to a matter within the public by jurisdiction. So like if the board of
health decided to adopt this public comment policy and someone came in and started talking about select board things that would not be within the jurisdiction of the board of health and should not be permitted um because their scope is very limited.
They have to be careful that they don't violate open meeting law by getting off track of their agendas. with public comments. Okay. So likewise, what is the jurisdiction of the select pool? Pretty broad,
right? Um yeah, but but this would prevent if someone came in and started talking about the governor or national politics. That's not exactly that's not within our
jurisdiction or even you know some you know issue related to details of the school or something like that that's not within our jurisdiction. We could even say that something that's brought up that's from
another board is not within our jurisdiction to some degree. Right? like if someone was a specific particular thing that we weren't supposed to vote on, right? However, we are each of us and when there's going to be
five, each one of the select board is going to be a liaison to the different boards committees appointed or elected. So, it's broad. I mean I guess I I guess I would have had a question about that like what constitutes in the preview of
the board. Yeah. And I mean I I would want people to speak obviously but we also need to get our business done. I think that you can limit to a minute. You can say you have a minute
and you can bring up their point. You could say three individuals 2 minutes each or some people five individuals 3 minutes each. It depends on how long you want. But as long as you set that sometimes there's no there won't be anybody
and you could you could as the chair you could, you know, have that on an agenda, you know, and sometimes take it off the agenda for that particular meeting if you just thought there was too much stuff going on. Yeah. Okay. All right. And because this
the way I understand it too if this policy is in place it doesn't de facto mean you have to have other power at every meeting. It just means this is the policy if you decide to all right so the only thing then I would say about that paragraph was the word
that none of us knew what it was should be another word. Okay. I don't want people reading it saying what are you talking about? You know, it seems like a very legal word, too. But we're He's a lawyer. Yes. But we're
not. And commonly people are not. Okay. Um section three, individuals and or entities who are permitted to speak during the public comment period shall begin their remarks by stating their name and address, including their town or city of residence. Y. Number four, individuals and or entities
who are permitted to speak during the public comment period shall do so only through the chair. Yep. I think that's really important. I agree. And that's related also to to it is protocol. Yeah, people should know that. Yeah. But I think that's also related to
to the fact that members of the governing body have to understand they're not to respond to the public comment, right? Okay. It's to listen. It's to listen. It's a comment. Comment because you risk violating law
if the board starts commenting on something that's being brought up. that's not on the agenda. Correct. So, it's just a Okay. Um, so that's part of the training. If we have this, um, chairs should definitely
have that fact brought to the attention. Yeah. And this doesn't explicitly state that every board must follow this policy. It's just a if we follow this policy, we say this policy is available to the other boards. Oh, yeah. Sure. you know because they do govern themselves,
right? Um, five, entities who are permitted to speak during the public comment period must select a single spokesperson through which to do so. The spokesperson must identify themselves and the entity for which he she is speaking, including his or her official position within said
entity as well as the entity's physical address. Like in this instance, you know, the PO wanted to make public comment about something one representative about the same thing. Six, individuals and or entities who are permitted to speak during the public comment period shall not be permitted to
assign their time to another entity or individual unless such assignment is required as a reasonable accommodation for such individuals and or spokespersons because they have a disability. Um, seven for a minute. I thought it was
Congress. I I see my time. Go ahead. Okay. Seven. If an individual and or spokesperson for an sorry spokes persons for an entity permitted to speak during the public comment period requires a reasonable accommodation to speak
because of his her disability. He she must contact the chair at least 40 hours prior to the meeting to arrange for such accommodation which may include permitting said individual or spokesperson to speak for a longer time than the other individuals and or entities permitted to speak during the
public comment period. For example, if someone used ASL sign language or um um that 48 hours uh we wouldn't want to find out on Sunday.
um business hours. Um well, Saturday and Sunday doesn't count in the posting. I know, but you get clarification on that. Yeah, get clarification on that. It would be good to know on Friday. Imagine what the wording is postings for
agendas would suffice it here. Yeah. I don't know though. So just just clarify I think. So should if that's in our policy and should that happen do we have a way to accommodate? I
think that would have to be determined. Usually individuals like that have a resource that they can direct you to. Um I know at least for the sign language perspective usually they would have there's usually state from a healthcare perspective usually
just call somebody up and they provide that service and yeah things kind of they usually know what they need in these circumstances and I would default to whatever someone said they needed rather than try. So if you get those two things two
questions uh answered from Adam and to Sabrina to do first reading for the next meeting. That's good. Thank you. That's
okay. 4.8 review discuss open meeting law complaint and public records request response processes. I guess this is me and I want to say that I am learning every day and that I
think I did whatever correctly today by this but I'd like to read it for everyone out there um because I probably haven't read it enough. Um instructions for a public
body that receives a complaint. The chair must disseminate the complaint to the members of the public body. I did not know that that is part of my instruction and I should have I guess before I became chair.
The public body must meet to review the complaint within 14 days, usually 20 to 22 calendar days. After review, but within 14 business days, the public body must respond to
the complaint in writing and must send the complainant a response and a description of any action the public body has taken to address it. At the same time, the body must send an
attorney send the attorney general a copy of the response. The public body may delegate this responsibility to its council or a staff member, but only after it has
it has met to review the complaint. If a public body requires more time to review the complaint and respond, it may request an extension of time for good cause by contacting the division of open
government. So, I just want to read that into the record. And I did also want to apologize for any of the missteps that I have had and um promise to practice more because
I think we're getting a lot of practice on this. But hopefully um not anymore after today. It will be done exactly to the letter. So, thank you for bringing that tonight. Right.
Well, once I send this, we have once I send one, then we would the body will review the complaint. So, we read an open session. direct
the chair or to response. Okay. Okay. What Sabrina is saying is that um town council can draft a response um by the order of the chair or the TA.
And I think you know you're feeling like it's a lot. That's why you have the TA. Yes. sport it to us and on it. Well, I think you won't have something today. So,
it started already. Um, okay. So, I've done that. 4.9 Highway Department Chapter 90 request for Apple Drive. There's one. Sorry. I lost it here.
Um, was it Were we also going to talk? said complaint and public records response request response processes 4.8. So the meeting law but the public records request response
processes. I think that was open meeting law. That's it. That's the process. But that's different from public records request. Public records request response. So it's both of those.
Well, it's a little bit different process. You don't have to talk about a public records request in the meeting. So, do I review similar to similar to the open meeting law how just reviewing how we do that? I
guess the question I had is is the public the public records one is just to individuals but but So my I guess the clarification I'm looking for is I thought recently we put in policy a place we got charged
after the first hour. So for two hours first second after the second hour you actually can charge right away. That's what our policy ended up doing. But by state they can be charged for the first No, our policy is after 2 hours.
Okay. But because we are under 20,000 people we technically can do it. Exactly. So I guess I guess the question I have and this could come with a response from the later meeting if necessary is it seems that we have a lot of time that are being spent on these
and have not charged for anything right. Yes. So so I guess I guess syncing up the proc the policy with action does that make any sense? I'm wondering if there's
Well, I think he's been informed. Well, yeah, I I think there there is some um and I might I don't know if I'm missing something like they all fall under the it doesn't qualify to be charged or I I just think we haven't been doing a good job of um
documenting our time that it's taken to fulfill some of these requests. We just kind of do it as is without really considering how much time we've really spent on it. So, and I think and I think sometimes we get kind of extraneous
requests and by that's why we have that policy so that we don't but I was I mean this has been going on since December January constantly all the time.
Yeah. I don't know if I don't know if this even Kathy Spoker complained about it. Yeah. So, I just think it's like it's I don't it's a pattern I don't see changing. I could be wrong. I'm just talking openly here. And it seems like I know
that the police chief has a lot of experience with wording responses and like how because they also get people who just keep crafting responses and stuff. I don't know if there's someone who can help with that. If we think we can
put this in place. I just don't want to see it go on for a longer period of time. And we I mean we set up a revolving fund for it. Right. We did. And so we set up a revolving fund. Yes. Because if if that person's job is being taken up so much by this aspect of
governance, that's why we put the policy in place. Harrison's saying the same thing. Yeah. And so I just want to make sure that we start thinking about and I know that we're behind on them because there's so many of them, but that we just start thinking of how we respond in order to make sure that's that we're
getting after that two hours we're getting that whatever the fee that's $25 per hour and I think that's also important because as life board members we are volunteers that we figure out who we can give the responsibility to right because we are also special town
employees yes so that we don't so our time counts as well our town counts but we don't but we can't be compensated for it we're not compensated no that's true and so that's a point I Like they clarified like do we
if if there's compensation in if if a request say takes 5 hours and four of it three if it's your time do you actually can we even charge for that or do you have to assign it to someone else asking when you talk
but I don't know I think Nelson is probably you figuring out how we start charging yeah so and cuz he's well aware yeah when you work together. I know you guys work together. What we have done recently is
uh we've uh a lot of times have requested um for the original requesttor to either what's the word? Narrow the scope of what they're looking for. that way we
can, you know, have a better better sense of what uh the level of effort involved. And I I think maybe where we're lacking at the moment is once we receive that clarification, we haven't really um
estimated how long it would take to fulfill that request because that's actually the next step. So uh once they've narrowed the scope and we um received that narrowed scope then we kind of need to estimate oh this is going to take them six hours. Then what
the next step is we actually go back to the original requester. Um we reviewed your your request and we estimate it's going to take six hours to uh produce the records you're looking for. Do you want to proceed? Um, and I think we
haven't done that much at all. So, I can work with the town clerk to uh make sure we really like get an estimate from either the individual or various departments involved like, hey, how long do you think this request would take to
fulfill? The way I read the state law, it can be a best faith estimate. And if it comes back and you know, we overestimated obviously we'd have to back, right? or if it winds up being more request for they don't pay upfront
actually they don't get the data unless they pay but yeah yeah if our estimate is four hours and it ends up being three hours we would only charge for three but if it we estimated four hours and it
ends up being eight eight then you know they would have to pay for the difference So, thank you for bringing that up. And the policy has been in place now since when? Uh, middle of uh May. Middle of May.
Yeah. Okay. June, July. And I know it's been a really busy time, but that's why I just want to bump it up every once in a while to make sure it's policy that needs to be adhered to. I agree. Okay. So, 4.9 I can move on. Oh, yeah. Sorry. No, thank you for
bringing it up. Um 4.9 highway department chapter 90 request for e drive. So the highway department has um put forth a request to the select board to um to pave at the drive
mill and resurface it to be exact. Okay. So 14384. Is there a motion? I to session this is blue. Oh, okay. All right.
Just enough. Okay. Um I move that we approve the highway department's request for chapter 9 funding. Chapter 9 funding to be used for Apple Drive to be signed out of session.
I will second that. Any discussion? Hearing none. Roll call. Veronica Kelly. Yes. Go to Jeff and Maria. Yes. Thank you. Go ahead with that. Okay. Work session five 5.1 town
administrator updates and reports. So I kind of uh updated a few things already on my list throughout the meeting tonight. Um the one thing I did not get to was um I know there was a desire to meet with
the var the other two um select boards in Ashb and Pepper. So, uh I am we are actively working to get that um up and running. Um I I do think there's a desire to sort of um explore options to
collaborate, share resources, regionalize. Um in fact, I actually just had a meeting with the Townsen and Pepple um TAs in this very room earlier this afternoon. The Ashby and Pepper. Oh, right. I'm sorry. Um,
I know what you meant. Um, the purpose of that meeting this afternoon was to uh draft up a letter to the uh to the school department. Uh, we drafted one similarly last year. Um,
the infamous 3% letter. Yeah, that one. Um, so we're probably going to do something very similar this time around because we kind of have the same problems as last year. So nothing really well we're going to have problems that are worse actually and we can't afford
I don't know how anybody can say we can afford four 5 6 8 10% increase when we're capped at 2 and a half and we can't even do that. So if you take off
the two and a half and and and then two and a half, so that's five. And what where are we going? Nobody's going to be able to function in town, right, for services. Yep.
So So um both towns are very interested and very serious about what the long-term plans are for the three of us. Um and we're we're really considering
how to share resources and regionalize um certain things. Uh everything is on the table um at the moment. So we just have to find the right opportunity to make those things happen and um some of those uh initiatives take time. You
know, it's not something that you can sort of affect overnight. It takes sometimes a couple years to maybe even three years to get up and running. Um because I I agree it's not sustainable what we're currently going through. Um
you know there are talks that you know the the school formula may change in a couple years. I while I'm hopeful, it's wishful thinking to to think that something
so dramatic will change that would um you know greatly assist us in the annual budget process. So, um, but nonetheless, you know, we we plan to send a letter from the three TAs to the school
district sort of, um, again reiterating our financial constraints. Are we committing to any percent? I would want to know that and I would want to make sure it's no more than two and that nothing else will be considered
without an override for the schools. I wouldn't I mean we don't have the funds. Yeah. Um and so that's that's so what's in that
levy? We this year. So that's not coming back. Uh we haven't um actually uh drafted it up yet. We we just had a very preliminary discussion. Okay. today. Um,
but I'll also need to share it with the board um once we have something drafted. But even we're going to see it before it gets sent. Even the 3% uh our assessment didn't come in at 3%.
I know. I mean, so I mean anything above what we commit to isn't tolerable. I mean that's like that's like a hard and fast especially given that everything was cut in expenses and now we're you
know finding places and salaries. It it goes back to that goal of the um you know TA, accountant, treasurer um finance and stockboard members getting together regularly in some towns the superintendent is a part of that
group because 60% of the budget 58 50 and regional towns as well. Yeah. Just because I mean acting box right that that committee has the or it's school committee representative just because
they're aware of the entire financial picture. I I would rather have the superintendent than a school committee representative in this town. Sorry to the school committee representatives but um next
um That was all the updates I had. So, yeah, we're trying to to get the three select boards together. Um um we're still working on that, but I'm trying to get it together for maybe
late August, early September. Okay. Okay. the general government. Okay. Um I don't have a lot I'll have a better report from the library next time. They're finishing up some reading.
Um in terms of general government, I think uh we should get back on here on the Dunny Meadows that we had all kind of stuff we wanted to transfer conservation because I I think that might have to be on that special meeting.
Maybe if we're doing that. Yes. So maybe that because that's like they're still wondering about that one. I think it keep it just keeps getting dropped. um
general government I guess I'm also have schools I think the finance subcommittee met a couple weeks ago I'm just finishing watching that for the school actually I re watch it because it kind of gives a wrapup of
their fiscal year where they stand oh I I forgot to mention uh in that letter I I think what we are also going potentially request is um for the towns, the three towns school
assessment to potentially be reduced given the uh amount of money apparently that's coming back to the school district and you know for FY26 25 it seems I mean
wait wait wait for FY25 it's there's preliminary again it's in the finance committee and the school committee is meeting I think August I forget sorry it's the I can look it up yeah but I think they'll be discussed
more there so I don't want to speak on behalf of the entire school committee but in the finance subcommittee meeting it seemed like there might be it's up on YouTube like I think it was one or 1.5 million left by 25 and I know they have to replace but
I think it's just it's a a good conversation to start from the perspective of and they're they're not done wrapping up yet. So, I would just pay attention to that. Go look at it and then also the next upcoming school committee meeting for anybody who's
interested in that just for I think it's good attend as long as we don't speak correct. Yes. to help you because you know given you know our our
current financial situation you know a reduced um school assessment would greatly help with the budgetary issues we currently and obviously it's based on the school committee yeah they're under no obligation to
reduce the assessment but I I think if there's um enough um buy in from some of the committee members you we we might be able to get enough votes,
you know, to uh to to reduce the assessment that we currently have. Um so that that's coming up in two weeks. So pay attention to it probably. And um general government, I think Laura,
you also went in small town council, you said. Yeah. So um this is my first meeting with them. Mhm. And um there was a member of blackboard from all six towns and another representative and then Margaret Garzer
was there and um it seems like they're working there aren't bylaws or any sort of formal rules governing it yet. So I think that might be something. I mean there was agreement signed. Nelson was in some of
their original meetings I think. Yeah. like last summer or fall. Yeah. But so what was the agreement? Did you sign an agreement for them? I don't think so. I can get that exact. I mean I there was
I think there was I think that that there's two sides of where there's a lot of potential and then some people frustrated that it was taking a while and things weren't coming together. Yeah. Yeah. So um but I'll I'll be attending the next meeting in August. Um, starting
in the fall, we'll have to sign someone else because I said I'd be able to do it, but Friday in the fall I don't be able to do. So, um, we'll just have to sign someone else by then, but we'll see how August goes. And I think they're working on a website for
the six pounds. Mhm. All right. I did um ask to uh I I viewed the meeting because of a comment that came from MRPC
planning. There did seem to be some Go ahead. So, well, I saw Tracy Murphy was on. Didn't say anything just to reintroduce herself. I saw you were there.
And um I know most of the people that are on that through MRPC, through realtor um work and um they are frustrated. And I went I attended the first one cuz
he told me I had to um in December and then between like January until you went I went to every meeting except maybe one
um nothing's changed. Nothing nothing nothing has happened. Nothing. So when it came to well I didn't see anything different anyway and I don't think I and I know cuz I talked to some
people afterwards that um no it's the same regurgitation every so every meeting so um and it's once in a while there's an idea you know it sounds like yeah they're going to take off you know whatever
but it's the same So, okay. Um, we went through the Chronicle Design Plan Board at the time with me while we were going through the master plan, right?
And kind of the same thing happened. It took so long because meetings weren't held on time or they were cancelled or you lose half of the people. So,
I would I just wanted to get your take on it and and for you to get uh a flavor of what's going on there. I'm not sure how long that's going to last. I really don't. But we can't tie our economic grant
to to to working with the collaborative because we're not going to get anywhere. So that's planning. I mean, I talked to Beth about that and she's very concerned.
So I'm I haven't had a conversation with Tracy Murphy, but Okay. I Everybody wants things to succeed. Oh, yeah. You know, and go forward, but it's really um there's a lot of frustration because it's something that's going to
need a lot of money to sustain any promotion. of the group, the towns, the region to draw people in. So, so we can only hope that things will get
better. Um, elected boards, that's me if you're done. Yeah. Okay. Um, so I have a report from Beth that she would like me to read. Um
the uh one, the town now, this is planning board and zoning. Uh the town now has the final climate resilience drainage master plan funded through a municipal vulnerability preparation
preparedness action grant. Many thanks to our collaborators and stakeholders, town staff, land use, uh, Weston and Samson, the Shoka River, uh, watershed association and MVP staff. The plan is
on the land use department page of the website. So, people want to look at that, they can. So, this was uh this was that grant I was u referring to when we're talking about grant updates. All right. Two, the town of Townsen's
open space and recreation plan has received final approval making the town eligible for division of conservation services DCS grants for the next 10 years. Many thanks to open space and recreation
committee and town staff land use for their multi-year efforts achieving this important milestone. Three, ZBA seeks candidates to fill a full member vacancy
and the planning board seeks candidates to fill a full member vacancy. So again, we're looking for accidents, planning, zoning, and some grant in between.
And I was at the water commissioners meeting and um they just had the only business they it was a very short meeting this week.
um they were only closing out um warrant articles for 2025. So there were three uh warrants that they closed out. It was zeroed. Um I think it's too bad that um I'm
we all know that um Dave is going through something right now. I think it's uh really too bad cuz I've seen his documents and they he clearly to me in my mind as liaison with him um did everything appropriately
but everything was public record. Everything was public record from like the October, November time frame before um I was on the select board and we reviewed it. We've conservation prior to the prior
prior to that date we were asked to review a storm water management plan for the facility. So I'm not exactly sure what this is about and I really think that we should be at any hearings that are held and supporting Dave. I
watched the hearing. There was a hearing um yesterday. Was it yesterday? It was on Monday, I believe. Were you on it? I wasn't on, but I watched it after. I wasn't able to do it on Monday. How did you get to
um I think it's on YouTube. Okay, it's on YouTube. All right. Thank you. And what's really sad is that's so convoluted. Um and to say that um pe I I don't I mean
things were said that I do not believe are factual on this. That's why the town needs to be the comments that people were making. They don't they do not know all the all the ins and outs of it. Somebody had a grind to an an axe to grind and somebody
knows somebody at the state and so they're getting him because they want to get somebody else. But he wasn't even involved in the bidding. What he did went to all department heads. They all went to the same departments. Everybody had Everybody had
it before. Things were approved way before and then it went out to bid by a third party. So to say that the town's going to be sued because somebody got papers uh
beforehand and somebody um you know I say first of all save the town money and it wasn't even have we applied for insurance counsel? Yeah, we're waiting for a uh we're trying to we're trying to get a
a case was opened and we're we're trying to get official determination from our liability insurance company. Right. Okay. I too think we should be helping him. He's got all the documents he needs. Somebody made up a story and somebody at
the state has it in for somebody and that is disgusting because that building is we we're so fortunate to have that happen here for towns and not only that but have it come in at less money than
it it would have cost us and then have Dave who who has a certain license so he could be the superintendent of something else that ended up saving $700,000 and by him working overtime. It's crazy, right?
Just crazy. Anyway, so that's that one. I did that one. Um think that was all of my Oh, yeah. Now that's the executive. Okay. Okay. Nothing else.
Uh the only thing I have I mean it um I know that our fire chief is here to talk to us about um is that an executive um yes um but other than that
um it's uh I I guess the only question I have is the encroachment at Squanook Meadows. Were you able to look into that? Otherwise, I would like it put back on the agenda for the next meeting. I wasn't. I thought
was I supposed to do something? Yeah. I thought you were going to look into it before we determined whether or not to go forward with sending a letter. Um, you were going to find out about the property owner on Horseshoe Drive. I thought that's
what I understood from our last meeting. Oh, God. And who drive doesn't even ring a bell to me. I'm sorry. Oh, okay. Um, let's put this back on the agenda and we'll go forward from there. Okay.
Probably. So, you can put them back on and off, right? Dudley Meadows. Not no Squanook Meadows. Deadly. Well, Dudley too, but Squanook has a separate one. The encroachment there. Okay. On town property. Two sheds that are in
the back. agenda. Both of them. Yeah. We want to get into conservation. So we have to right we have to discuss that could be something that could go on a special town meeting. Could you give me math and lot for those properties and so I can prepare myself
for when we need do it next time? Yeah. I'm very sorry. That's all right. Totally. Like that's it. I don't have anything else. I have no idea how that would leave my mind with everything. Okay. Um um announcements. Okay. I have two. One
is that we received from uh Chelsea Patric. This is the regional coordinator council monthly meeting which is August 19th. I saw that. This is the meeting that we were going to assign someone to. I was supposed to assign somebody to and I don't think anybody
anybody is stepping up to do it. So I think I'm available. I'll go to the meeting on August 19th. I don't want to be on the committee. I don't I'm not the best person at this point, but nobody else is willing
and it's 8:30 to 10:30. I can do it. Regional what? It's the regional coord coordinating council. coordinating council for transportation for um you know to what do we need to get people to doctor's appointments or this and that.
Maybe we can just get a feeling if this is duplicate of other things and it's to discuss the transportation needs of area older adults, people with disabilities and lowincome commuters and to brainstorm ways to collaborate on
solutions. So I guess my question is is the other I don't have all the acronyms down. Is that NJTC? No, no, no. This is this is so this is separate. It's a separate thing. So I'm wondering if it's just duplicate of these other things that
like the yellow PA and the Mort and all that. Yeah. And so I just want to make sure like before I'll go to the meeting. Yeah. Before I really pressure people into seeing who wants to be on it. Yeah. Okay. Is it required?
Uh, I don't think so, but I think it would be a bad idea to ignore it. Yeah, only because um it could be something that we want to have. Martin is showing up here and ride match. And who else has
legislative toolbox transportation for Massachusetts? Anyway, I think it's good to know what's going on. So, I'll go to the meeting then. Oh, let me get to this and sign up. Did you do something else?
Uh, oh, the other thing was that Liberty Tree. Are we doing some kind of tree for the 250th? They keep sending these announcements out and I just want to unsubscribe if we're not doing it and I don't think we're doing it. So,
unless we want to forward it to someone else historic, I don't know. Oh, we could do that. Why not? And then see if anybody else wants to I'll the next time I get it, I'll I'll send it off to others and see if anybody else wants to participate.
That sounds good to me. To say about that, the Liberty Tree. No, but I'm doing those emails myself. Get like one every couple days. I just want to say again before we wrap it up here that um we do need
volunteers. We probably need them more than ever now. Um, considering our financial situation, we could certainly use anybody's expertise of things that they have a passion for.
And um, as James was remarking before, if somebody has, you know, they have a passion for something, you know, they do it, they're going to fight for it kind of thing. So appealing again to all. Our next meeting is August 5th at 6 PM
and we will review and sign payroll and bills payable warrants out of session. Do we have a motion for that? I move that we review and sign payroll and bills payable warrants out of session. Second. Any discussion hearing? None. Roll call.
Honest. Yes. Okay. Uh, executive session and votes may be taken. 6.1 Executive session pursuant to open meeting law chapter 3A section 21A3
to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining if an open meeting may have detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the public body and the chair so declares. This is being
declared as the override did not pass and we have informed you of this in the past. Read the unions and um and that we are uh clerical union, supervisors union, highway, water union, police union, and fire union.
And we are out we are um adjourning we're adjourning out of executive in in executive session. in executive session. Second. Any discussion? Nope. Okay. Roll call. Veronica. Yes.
Yes. Okay. And Laura Brown. This is