Good evening. I'd like to call the meeting of the select board on June 30th, 2026 to order at 6:04 p.m. Roll call. >> From here, Sarah Logan here get here and um do a pledge. We don't have a flag in
the room. There's one outside just that direction. >> All right. All right. I pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty for justice and all. For all. [laughter] Well, that would be nice if it was in all. I wonder if that wasn't our guardian. I'd like to thank all of our veterans as well as our current militaries serving car and
abroad as well as our emergency response uh individuals, our elected and appointed officials, our staff, and their families. >> Thank you, Lori. >> Thank you. >> Um and I like to announce that the
meeting is being recorded and uploaded to YouTube. Is there anybody else recording? I think we're all good. Um item number three, review agenda and announcements. So I think the plan is to um pretty quickly go to an executive session under
9.1 just for the board to review the prime minister's contract. Um Kieran will probably be here at some point during that time and we can invite him in if we so choose and then um we'll go back to open session. It shouldn't take too long, I don't think, but there we'll
have to wait just a little bit. Um, in terms of announcements and communications, um, there was kind of a back and forth that happened regarding this agenda last late last Friday night. Um, originally,
if you look under all the appointments, there was an additional item. We have about 60 some odd appointments on there for today. And there kind of was an in incidental inclusion of um the burial agent which is just it does not need our
approval. It's just the board of health. It was under a recycling committee which again the board of health recommends that we have to approve. And so the town clerk had some pretty serious concerns about that that he brought up to the attorney general and those communications are in that folder for
you all to run them view as well. >> Okay. And so um and we can bring it up at a future meeting if you guys would like or we can talk about that during agenda development. All right. Any other communications announcements?
No. I think the only other thing was um some people have reached out to me about the next couple days which are supposed to be pretty warm about a cooling center and I haven't heard back from the chiefs yet. It was late in the afternoon when I asked them. And just a reminder that the library is open tomorrow and Thursday
from uh 10 to 8 and it's air conditioned in here. So come on in. >> And it's working. >> Yeah. Exactly. >> Yeah. Exactly. So if you don't have air conditioning your house and you're getting a little hot, come over to the library. It's senior cent's normal operating hours. I think Friday it is
closed. Um number four, approve meeting minutes from 6:16 2026. Um yes. So I had an issue with the minutes. Um I was seeing 2027
um under the special town election. I that needs to be changed to 2028. >> 2026. >> Yeah. Um so seat one and a half year term expiring at the annual 10 election in April 2027. It should be 2028.
>> Yes. >> Yes. >> Does the other one say 29? >> Yes. 2 and a half year term expiring at the annual town election April 2029. Okay. So that was the only thing I saw in those minutes that I thought needed to be changed before they're approved or if we can approve with that amendment happening. Yeah.
>> Okay. Um, so I, Sarah Logan, move to approve the select board meeting minutes of June 16th, 2026 with the amendment of the seat one of the board one and a half year term expiring at the annual town election in April 20 27 changed to 2028.
and I Laura Shiffren second that motion and also add that um one of the statements made was attributed to myself but it was actually yours and so uh Sabrina knows about it and there was an additional um explanation of the MMA
meeting because apparently I must have been mumbling and people didn't hear what I said so it's all spelled out now in the minutes >> um of the date and everything >> and there were some other edits but Sabrina has acknowledge them. >> Yes. >> So with all of that sounds good.
>> Sounds good. >> Roll call vote. >> Um Sarah, yes. Laura Sheper, yes. >> And Valerie Goodrich. >> Yes. >> Um number five, accept the resignation of Kevin Keith effective August 14th, 2026.
>> I san move to accept the resignation of Kevin Keith effective August 14th, 2026. Laura Sherman second. Any discussion? No. Roll call vote. Sarah Logan, yes. Lauren, yes. And Valerie Goodrich, yes.
5.2. Appointments. >> Um, I, Sarah Logan, move to appoint reappoint the individuals listed on the appointments and reappoint schedule as presented in the agenda for the terms indicated. Um, and everybody can take a look at
that long list. Um, but it has been >> reviewed y >> multiple times. Um, that's what it says. Read this. >> We are going to let everybody come to that. It'll be posted.
>> Yeah. I mean, >> you want a second, Lauren? >> Council council agreed that it if it's all in the agenda. Yeah, >> it's all printed here. >> This would be posted anyway. I don't know what to say. >> Second, Laura Sharm. Thank you.
>> Um, is there any questions? Like I said, it's just to summarize, um there's recycling committee, conservation, art, library restoration, some flag committee, and then all of our fire department individuals. Thank you again for all your work. All of the um a lot
of the police department individuals and control officer, it's a quite lengthy list we kind of have to go through at the start of each fiscal year so that those people can be appointed and reappointed as necessary. and thank all of them for
>> whether it be volunteering or serving in those roles. We couldn't run this town without all of them. >> Yes, I'll second that. >> Yes. [laughter] Um any other questions, discussions? >> No call.
>> Clarin, yes. Laura Shepern, yes. >> And Valerie Goodrich, yes. So, um I think now is a good time for us to I'm going to make a motion for 9.1 and then um and 9.2 and we can come back into open session after those two discussions
and I think the town administrator who's with finance committee right now hopefully will arrive sometime within the next half hour especially for 9.2. So, um, I, Valerie Gooditch, move to enter into executive session at na 6:12
p.m. pursuant to Massachusetts General Law Chapter 3A section 21A2 to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with non-union personnel and contract negotiations with non-union personnel regarding the town
administrator. Um, 9.2 2 executive session pursuant to mass journal law chapter 30A section 21 A3 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining for an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the public body and the chair so declares regarding police union
I good so do declare and again we will reconvene an open session before 7 for sure okay um I second chair Logan second any questions Yeah. I just wouldn't add the time.
>> 6:13. Yeah. >> No, I wouldn't add them. >> Oh, before 7 [laughter] by 7. >> We're going to try to get back as soon as we can. >> Yes. We'll try and get back into probably before if I'm not going to make any promises. Who am I kidding? >> Okay. [laughter] >> Roll call vote. >> Sarah Logan. Yes. Laura Shiffman. Yes.
>> Valerie. Good chess. So, we'll come back to you cam soon. Okay. Hey, give me a minute and I'm going to push people out into the waiting room >> unless they jump out on their own.
>> So, hang on one second. >> Thank you. We'll come back. >> Yeah. Uh, you're going to have to notify me when you do come back. Okay, we'll do here is fine.
>> So, I can take you out of the waiting room. >> Okay. How would you like us to know? >> Oh, wait a minute. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. >> Are you Everybody that's in the room right now is going to participate. >> Well, no. Do you have somebody coming in
remote for the executive session? >> No. >> Okay, then let me let me bump all of you then. Everybody back. Okay. Hi everybody. Welcome back. We are moving right along here. Sorry, we're
just getting organized and um Marian's laptop is taking a little bit of time, so hoping he'll be able to share screen eventually. >> Working on it >> maybe. Um so we are back with uh six unfinished business and um 6.1 FY26
legal expenses. So um we had talked about this at um our last meeting and our desire to allow for some transparency into what um our FY26 legal expenses had looked like. Um,
I was hoping to get a little more delineation, but it was so cumbersome the work of sorting through those 10 minute sections, um, that I was able to do basically grouping it into general, government, um, labor, and then
litigation. And then breaking out the litigation was fairly easy because there wasn't a lot of line items there. >> And so Kieran was able to present this information last week to the finance committee >> and [clears throat] How's the
how's the screen looking? >> Getting there. >> Getting there. So, I'll keep summarizing until you can pull it up. So, basically um the league of Spencil is this analysis that hopefully will go up on the select board website soon is um is for generalformational purposes. It
should not be considered official accounting record because it's we didn't have money to have MTC go through everything and divide it all up. Um it's basically I had to go through it because it's protected 525 privilege runs some
some of the questions through council and um there's still one or two invoices that are missing from the last uh you know 15 days of the calendar year. So the exact amounts shouldn't be done based on this presentation. It's from the municipal transfer will be accounted
here. Um, so just in the summary of our FY26 legal expenses for general government, we were at 48,000 in change. It's again, it's going to be a little higher. This was from our last invoice. And that covers all areas of
governance. Select board, town administrator, board of health, planning, zoning, conservation, water, town meetings, town clerk, public record request, open mean law questions, accounting, general contracts, even such things like a question on, you know, the west towns and meeting room
trust fund that would go under that general government just so people kind of are aware of what that is. Um, any other department's legal request, I don't think like the library trustees use council, but they had it at the end of that general government. Um and then at labor council this year we're over
80,000 in labor council. So that includes all union negotiations and agreements um some personnel and HR matters whatever they happen to be personal service contracts and non-UN negotiations also. So um you know any personal services contract you do that
has to run through council union and non-UN agreements. So that's kind of what that 80,000 and then any personal matters that require labor council's involvement. This year also um litigation we're over 18,000 um and that
gets divided up into uh two things right now. I'll I'll preface it by saying the town cannot comment on pending litigation. However, the select board in consultation with town council has agreed to make certain documents available for transparency andformational purposes when disclosure
is determined to be unlikely to affect pending litigation or way of may benefit re benefit residents. So the goal here is is with these pending litigation numbers, if there's information that we feel does not affect our litigating position or council feels it does not
affect our litigating position and we think residents would be benefit from having that information if it's already public in the court records, we could link it from those expenses so that there's some examples of what that money is being spent for. Same thing with, you know, the the contracts like when they
get approved, you can say, "Okay, council helped with this contract. council helped with you know just give some examples this policy whatever it is so for the litigation is over 18,000 now and RFS was about 125 and then Ramirez
may is at 5260 and I think um this is going to be up around like 7 probably at the end of this week >> sharing your screen now sorry >> no I'm not sharing >> hey TKM do you mind if I request to share so I can um >> you should be able to I saw your message
and I lifted you to co-host post which gives you automatic capability. >> Awesome. Thank you, sir. >> Just to help illustrate this for folks. >> Are we going to make these slides public? >> Yeah, that's the easy format.
>> And again, there's tons of disclaimer in here because it's not an official accounting record. You know, it would cost a lot of money for someone to go through every single one of those invoices and redact everything that was >> attorney client privilege. So this is just a really good best analysis and
it's not the final numbers but so this will be linked off the cycle website so residents can kind of get an idea of where those overages came in this year and um this is what I was just talking about here with some of the areas for those legal
expenses and again this was the last invoice was the 15th of June >> so there'll be another one that covers the 15 days from June 15th to July 1st and um I can put that in there too actually before we publish this that might not be a bad idea just to get out
last >> and it is something that you know having to spend some time with fin you I think the first one or two summary reports of it and do you think it's a monthly report or are you guys thinking quarterly what type of time frame it's most >> that's on the next slide
>> excellent [laughter] um come on doesn't want to work programs Maybe Kieran's computer is a little bit slower right now. >> Your end
>> has a year end. >> Your endeavor is what to expect. Okay. >> So, um this in addition to detailed invoices, the slackers requested council to provide an additional invoice by broad categories during an FY27 that will allow for more transparency regarding ongoing legal expenses while
protecting attorney client privilege. This also allows for a better analysis by the administration to control costs where possible. Um these particular categories have since been confirmed as we we you guys agreed last meeting
>> to ask them to do with um council general government contracts land use labor union labor non-union and then litigation will be broken up by any suits. Hopefully there's not more but if there was any additional ones we could add those in. Um, if after a month or
two we decided we wanted to change some of these categories, we could. That's, you know, it's it's a it's an accounting change on their part. It doesn't change how what the amount we're build. It doesn't cost additional for us to get
those summaries. So, I think it can really be kind of a nice little tool for us to use. And the goal is to publish these. I mean, we could do it monthly, could we could do a summary quarterly. I think it actually might be less work just to do it monthly. >> Yeah, I think it just but really
identifying the buckets from >> council and and those right there are important and maybe also checking with our fincom friends to see if >> there's any additional ones. >> Yeah, because we did lean into them a bit, you know, to get some of the transfers here at the year end. Um, so I think it's being more collaborative that way to
>> make sure we're satisfying all the different folks in town. there is like a certain amount like this is kind of a very typical this is actually a tool that's used by bigger towns not often smaller towns >> but um I think it's just a good idea for this next year for us to see where we're using it. We have you know
>> your town administrator for their office to kind of see where that money is going to and really try and get a handle on it and see where we can improve and what skills we may need in town or what areas in the public do.
Sound good? >> Yes. >> Any questions? >> What up? Okay. >> Um >> I don't think help me out here. >> I don't think we need anything for this. >> Okay, great. >> Because you guys already told me I could do that and you said we could put up in
line. I just wanted to give it all to you before I >> suddenly had it on the slide real quick. Great. >> And I think I would I would wait. I know there's one that'll be coming like tomorrow for the 15th through July 1st. So, I'll just put those in there. So, these numbers are a little subject to
change. Again, this is not the actual accounting numbers because this is I took all the invoices and added up. That's what this was cuz they weren't all separate. Okay. Um 6.2 FY26
municipal transfers. It's all you Karen. >> Sure. So, if I can find a way to share this, I will. Um, in general, we had a pretty good budget year for the town. Uh, give me one second here. Um, you sort of the typical year end transfers.
We had a few um, you know, overages and legal spending. Um, we just talked about >> everyone's favorite topic. Um, and I will share a few others with you. Um, did review these and we had great debate. Um, I'll pass these around the
room just so you guys can see them. Um, and I'll get this up on the screen so our folks at home can see this. So I'm gonna get into >> Yeah, we don't have the >> you know actually if we use this one again in the future I can set up the TV
so that we can all look at that actually too. >> Actually I had a chance to look at these more. So >> um so I'll start right from the top. Thank you Tam for giving me the sharing access again. I had to log out log back in. Um you notably we start from the top
of our own budget and the BVA the spend down budget we have as a town and the first transfer would be to cover town administrator expenses. So you had some overages related to you know transitioning between myself as an intern and then previous town
administrator Nelson um as he finished up. Um and then there was vacation that was owed to Nelson and different, you know, expenses that came up, you know, in regards to professional services for the um town administrator bucket. Uh so we reviewed this with uh FINOM and it's
being transferred u from the Medicare town share um you know, unexpended funds and it's $13,610. Um [clears throat] do you want me to go through these all at once and then go back and approve them or do you want to approve them one by one? um what's best for you guys.
>> Either way is fine with me. Whatever is easiest. >> I think if you just go through them and then we'll approve them all. >> We will we will go through and say each account what we're sorry. Yeah. >> Oh, we do have to say each one. >> I think I would approve it one by one. >> Okay, let's do that. >> Um do you want me to create a motion for
you and say you have this information? So, a request for a transfer of appropriations um from the Medicare town share bucket to the town board of board of selectman salary town administrator bucket um for $13,610
uh to close out fiscal year 2026. >> Sarah Logan so moved. Laura second. Any questions on this? You already explained it pretty well. Roll call vote. >> Sarah Logan, yes. Laura, yes. >> Yes. You'll see on my sheet for those that are watching at home. I just put
notes on there as I was working with fin. But I do and I have the signed sheet here. It's not it's messy, but it's will satisfy the accountant as needed. So, >> we'll go to the next one. Let's see. >> Oh, come on.
>> Sorry for our technical differences today. We're being accommodating because all the rooms were taken over in Memorial Hall. So, >> yep. Uh second one is um a wage um uh correction for the assessor uh the
assessor's office, Miss Vicky Tidman um for $1,825. Um this again is also coming from the Medicare town share bucket which was um not fully spent this past year. Um this is for wage appropriation for a union employee. um due to her years of service
with the town. Um [clears throat] my understanding is that she was at the top end of the step goal but was owed owed some union wages. So this is sort of correcting that matter. Um so $1,825 to be transferred from Medicare town
share fiscal 2026 to board of assessor salary principal assessor union position Miss Vicky Tidman. >> Sarah living so moved ship and second. Any questions? Yeah. Pearl cuff. >> Sarah Logan. Yes. Laura Shep. Yes.
>> Valator. Yes. >> Um second one. This was of great debate and uh interest to our friends in fincom. Um in regard to our legal expenses. Um so we as we just sort of touched on really over spent our legal
bucket this past year. Busy year in general. We've had a lot of turnover staff-wise, unionwise, land use contracts, um, investigations, litigation, you know, quite a year, um, for expenditures for legal costs this
past year. Um, so FINCOM approved $25,100 transfer from the unexpended health insurance line um to Town Council Professional Legal Services. Um, so the ask is $25,100
from the 2026 health insurance line to the town council 2026 professional legal services bucket. >> Sarah Logan moved second. >> And any discussion on this? I think it was just part of 6.1 there legal
expenses. A lot of these things legal's hard. You know, there was some things that came up that no one could have planned for. Yeah. >> And but I think hopefully this analysis we're going to start getting back will really help us to kind of get a better handle on it for FY27.
>> Yeah. And I will, you know, take the opportunity to spend um additional time with FinCom and help sort of investigate the different quarterly reports, monthly reports, but also um notate that we could look to maybe revisit that trust concept um where we did not pass that uh
special town meeting in March. Trust concept. I used the analogy of if you ever had a singular cell phone bill that you could like play snake on when you were a kid. >> Yeah. >> Um that always let you roll over your unused minutes. That was sort of the analogy I used for a truss. And I think that resonated well with that group. They're like, "Oh, so if we hadn't
expensed it all in one year, the trust would have kept us building it." >> Um and that would enable you if you have a down year and you don't spend as much, it's great for the following year because you're not as dependent um on that on that allocation. So, >> and it gives you that that leeway for when unexpected things come
up. >> Yeah. Um, so that's um you guys voted on that for number three, correct? >> We did not vote yet. >> Nope. Roll call vote. >> Sarah Hogan, yes. Laura Shiffren, yes. >> Yes. >> Um, number four is also legal bills. So, um, the remainder of the delta that we
had there was $32,745. $32,745. Um and our fing friends generously offered their reserve fund uh under duress because they you know again have questions of how the makeup of this comes together which I totally respect
and appreciate. Um but they um approved a transfer from the fincom 2026 reserve fund to the town council professional legal services fund for fiscal year 2026 >> of how much? >> Say it. >> How much was it again? $32,7445.
>> Sarah Logan moved floorship and second >> same as the last transfer. >> And um yeah, I will add one more thing about this. The last thing I'll say about this is this meeting. It's been really it's been a little frustrating even for our board. Not I know you know
the TA's office and you know some of the things that have come up this month to be like we don't have the money for it. it gets put off some legal questions that probably would have been nice to answer to just keep getting put off till July. So, >> roll call vote. >> Sarah Logan, yes. Laura Sha, yes.
>> Yes. >> All right. On to number five. Um, town clerk's office. So, town clerk um headed that unexpected spec special election in um July of 20 uh July 29th of 2025. Um with every election comes unexpected uh
expenses. The next few transfers will be um to help assist the town with covering those costs. Um so we are going to be asking for $1,600 from the general liability insurance bucket um to cover uh expenses for um this special election
that took place to go to the town clerk salary operations staff union member. >> Sarah Leo moved second. >> Any questions? No. >> Roll call vote. >> Sarah Logan, yes. Laura Shiffrin, yes.
Yes. >> Thank you. Town clerk's office. Uh, next one. Also, town clerk's office. Um, different wage bucket, but this is for your town clerk ENR wages, the operation staff. So, uh, folks are doing your recounts and their ballot checkers, things of that nature. A really
important role. Um, so here they're asking for $1,823 again from the general liability insurance bucket um 2026 to cover that town clerk ENR wages operations staff 2026 bucket. >> Sarah Logan moved lower second.
>> Any discussion? No. >> Roll call vote. Sarah Logan, yes. Lower Shifflin, yes. Val, yes. Um number seven, um we have this is the a $296 transfer u from the town clerk 2026 bucket uh street listing professional
services um to again cover town clerk ENR professional services related to the election in July of 2025. >> Sarah Logan moved second. >> Any questions? >> No call. >> Sarah Logan yes Laura Shiplin yes.
>> Excellent. Um, number eight, a little different. Um, this is from our accounting select board. Uh, interest uh it's interest for short-term bands. So, our short-term loans that the town has, there is interest related to those um buckets. And we did not have the proper
appropriation in our budget um for fiscal year 2026. So, we need to transfer $8,834 um from the veteran benefits um unspent funds. So, there was about $24,000 or so in that bucket that was unspent. Um, and
it go into the interest on short-term loans issuance bucket for 2026. >> Sarah Logan. So, moved or should second. >> Yeah. >> Questions, discussion? >> Yeah. Any veterans at home, um, if you're in need or you have any questions about how veteran benefits work, please
reach out to myself, Treasure Collector's office, your VSO, Miss Natalie call. Um, this is something that's supposed to be an opportunity and a way for us to help uh those that served our country. So, please don't hesitate to reach out. >> Second that. Roll call vote.
>> Sarah Logan. Yes. >> She val. >> Uh, number nine. Um, one more from the town clerk's office. This is a $200 transfer um from our highway operations staff bucket. Um if you remember we
hired the mechanic almost mid year or so. So there was some unspent dollars there. Um so this is an opportunity um to have a transfer to again cover the election wages and operations staff uh bucket for that um 2026 operations. So
>> Sarah Logan moved motion and second questions. >> Yes. Roll call vote. >> Sarah Logan. Yes. Shipping. Yes. Uh number 10, last but not least, um during the year, um facilities had begun a painting project on town hall,
Memorial Hall. Um they had gone out the bid, they'd followed all the proper procurement steps. Um the previous town administrator had worked with the director manager of our facilities group, Mr. Rob Boschamp. Um and they thought there would be enough wiggle room within the professional services
bucket to cover that cost. Unfortunately, um there was not. Um so before you was a transfer for $6,659.70 from the highway operations staff bucket um to go towards facilities professional services for 2026.
>> Sarah Logan so moved second. >> Any further discussion? >> Yeah, good job. >> Memorial hall looks beautiful. Um, you know, we did drain every other line within facilities because, you know, um, utility cost this year, gas cost, you
you name it, we've we've seen increases, but um, you know, it could have been much worse, but that's a a pretty fiscally um, responsible group and they just came up short a little bit. So, >> well, I'm saying a good job to where you're able to find the money and it's
in different pockets. So, thank you. >> Yeah. Call >> Sarah Logan. Yes. Lord ship. Yes. >> Um I think as a summary I'm going to I'll have um the chair Valerie sign these sheets and then I'll probably put some type of summary in a TA report
maybe for the next meeting just to say here's a summary recap of the transfer so folks know what happened. >> And we do have the first 15 days. >> We do. Yeah. There might be a few others um that I was just thinking of as I was driving over from the fincom meeting but I will um you know sort of figure those
out over the next few days. Again, it's by functional segment. That was a a real fun topic with our fincom friends. Um, where in general government, it's very all-encompassing, but you know, in some of these scenarios where even though we're using highway funds, it's a different functional segment. So,
highway is part of public safety, whereas facilities is within the select board general government bucket. >> Y, >> but it worked. >> It works. And um, you know, it's we do still I am thinking we'll have a okay amount of free cash. Not a not a great
amount, but we'll have some. So, don't want to promise that too soon. [laughter] >> Exactly. Okay. Uh 6.3 Memorial Hall summer hours. >> I think we touched on this last time. Um >> this is just the need for a side at some
point. >> Yep. So, I am sitting down with the union rep uh Thursday morning um to get a formal um side better. So, I'll have that for everybody. Um, you know, thank you from the staff. I guess I'll speak on their behalf. You know, folks that are able to do it with a narrow
department. Um, it really will, you know, think of this heat we're going to get. our highway group's going to start earlier in the day >> and get out so they're not out when it's going to be what feels like 105 tomorrow afternoon like um so thank you to you know from them um for being flexible and
sort of I don't know if modern is the right word or just kind of >> a nice way to help out these groups that are working hard for the town. So >> um I'll take a motion to allow the interim town administrator to approve the side letter for Memorial Hall summer hours. So moved. Sarah Loganship and
second. >> Any other discussion? Roll call vote. >> Sarah Logan. Yes. Yes. >> Okay. Moving on to seven, new business. It's a fun one to start. >> Good luck. [laughter]
>> So, um the first order of business under new business is our town administrator contract. So um as people are well aware we uh had a lovely search process and um our final offer was to our interim town administrator Mr. Kian for a full-time
town administrator position. Um so before the board is a three-year contract. Um staying within the means of what the town is allocated by town meeting. Um, this contract sets up, you
know, hopefully a nice long fun 3 years guarante my hair. >> We'll all have more gray by the end of it. Um it um provides for some initial training for some areas that we think you know are really important um
particularly in finance and HR um for the first year and it allows for some bonuses for completing that training um and then some opportunities for um bonuses as a select board deems it's capable of providing and that's you know kind of a a play area in the contract
that Kieran and the board agreed is appropriate. Um, other than that, it's >> I think it's three years. Um, thank you for taking the chance to continue to take chances on me and forward to working with you folks as well as the
residents. Um, I love feedback. So, if anything I'm doing wrong, just shout >> things right, let's make sure we celebrate it and keep keep [clears throat] on trucking. So, >> and and there's really, you know, I think there's the job description in there. there's we'll be setting goals within the next, you know, 30 60 days
hopefully into the month for Kieran to really follow going into next year. Um it this contract also makes a nod to the board changing from 3 to five members and so it's going to be on you know a member of this board to really educate the new members on what those goals are
for the upcoming year so that they can then help and you know help us with those goals going forward five-year plan getting through the budget season etc. We'll discuss it soon. >> Yeah. >> Any other comments? I mean, I think it was kind of a in some regards it w up
being a six-month interview for Mr. [laughter] >> Yeah, every day is an interview. Wake up every day unemployed. [clears throat] >> So, any questions, comments? >> No. Can I make a motion? >> Yeah. >> Sarah Logan move to approve the town administrator employment contract as
presented. >> Laura Shiffren second. Thanks. I'm eating eating my dinner. So, listen. >> Any other questions, discussions? >> Nope. >> Sarah Logan. Yes. Yes.
>> Chess and we have here and we'll sign at the end of the meeting. >> Thanks everybody. For those at home, it'll be online within a day or two, I think. So, >> yeah. And if if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to I'm happy to explain them because the board allowed me to negotiate on their behalf and I'm happy to just email me purchasmma.gov
and I'll happily explain how we came to some of those, you know, art little sections of the contract. >> Lots of fun reading and it was it was it was a nice I think uh cohesive agreement in the end. So
looking forward to it. >> 7.2 too. I'm actually going to um if everybody's okay um not take action on 7.2 right now because we are waiting for the um attorney general's
office to finish approving the bylaw change >> if everybody's okay with that. And I think by taking action now it may confuse that bylaw change may not be in play until >> next you know winter and there's elections and stuff. So, we've, you
know, I think we kind of have an idea of where the locations would be, but I'd just like to wait until the attorney general officially approves that. But I if everybody's good with that. >> Sounds good. >> Sounds good. >> 7.3 website as the official posting location for required postings under open meeting
law. You, me, I can take it. You can take it. Either one. Um, so I think this is just the goal of um the select board and uh really I think uh should be super helpful for our town clerk's office to um use our website which is wonderful
and you know we'll have some updates over time to use that as the official posting location. Um especially when we have some different hours in the summer and folks are in or out that we can post on the website and then use the board outside the building as a secondary
location. Um, so I think that would be a real nice opportunity for leveraging the website for all its good forms. >> Any questions? >> No. >> Make a motion. >> I Sarah Logan move to designate the town's official website
ww.townsandmass.gov as the official posting location for notices required under MGL chapter 3A section 20, the open meeting law. >> To be signed with signature stamp. Should we sign with signature stamp? Out of session.
>> Out of session. >> Second. >> Any other questions? >> I think it's important to note that for any of our board members listening that you still have to adhere to the town clerk's timing. >> Same. This doesn't mean you can send it
at 11:59 p.m. at night. That's not fair. like you got to be responsible and still the onus is on the >> people to work with the town clerk because they work hard and you got to make sure you're respectful >> and I know the clerk has some has expressed to me that they have some thoughts on how now that this is the
official posting location that they can work with the various boards for postings. So you can I'm sure we'll be hearing from the clerk's office, all those boards and committees, but at this point in time, don't change anything how you're doing the agendas, just where the official posting location it's until the
clerk says otherwise. Roll call vote. >> Sarah Logan, yes. Laura Sheriff, yes. >> Valerie, yes. And this does also help with um summer hours. >> Mhm. >> So 7.4 for MOA for clerical bargaining unit
and MOA for police ask me council 93 local 3470. >> Yep. So we don't have one for clerical. There was one or two little issues we're just trying to work out. Um but we do have a police ask me council 93 local 347 agreement uh MOA uh for the select
board to review. Um a lot of hard work. Uh thank you to the police officers and their union folks. Um, thank you to guys for uh working with the budget confines that we had. Um, we did come to an agreement with them. Um, 2-year agreement, first year's 2% uh plus an 8%
wage adjustment. You know, at town meeting, we saw that people were very supportive of our first responders, police, higher, you know, public safety in general. And our officers are very much at the low end of the range here. Um, so this does help catch them up. not
perfect by any means, but it does catch them up um and enable them to, you know, work the next couple years um under some hopefully some better compensation plans. So, >> and in um this is kind of within the allocations for this year.
>> Yep. So you have um at town meeting u we appropriated it was we had $109,000ish in a bucket under salary contract reserves with the goal of working with our four union groups that were um you know under the negotiation table at the
time and um you know that you know these changes this wage adjustment it's right around $80,000ish dollars depending on how many officers we have at the time of the change and some of the OT you know changes and such. Um so this contract um you know will add about $80,000ish
dollars ballpark to the police um bucket. Uh we had already baked in 4% so that was covering part of it. Um so this is a nice um collaborative move with this group. Um I wish it was a longer contract but um you know they work hard and I think this is you know the town
meeting approved this budget line and um it's before you guys to make that. >> Make a motion. I Sarah Logan move to approve the MOA or ask me council 93 local 3470 police
and authorize the interim town administrator to execute the agreements. >> Second, >> it'll actually be you guys signing it. I don't sign it. So just an FYI just for to be signed by select board or however you want to word it. >> Um to be signed by select board with
Yep. No, I have it right here. Okay. To be signed out of session as well. >> Out of session. >> Okay. But thank you so much and thank you to the officers and roll call. >> Yeah, roll call. Sarah Logan. Yes. Yes. Yes. Again, thank you for that was a
long process. >> Yeah, that's uh they're never easy. Um but appreciative of that department. So >> if if human go ahead, >> we should have clerical meeting. >> I hope so. We're um it's a just with the way the holidays lining up, we're trying to catch them and I'm going to sit down
with the union rep to hopefully iron out just a a wording matter. So fingers crossed. So >> okay, >> if I if you can humor me, one thing that I forgot to add on the town administrator contract is um if anybody's looking through it, the total number right over the three years
doesn't really go much above what town meeting allocated this year. Fun little fact for you. [laughter] >> Very good. >> So okay, moving on. Um 7.5 board of health administrator vacation rollover exception. >> Yeah. So, um, for those of us sitting at
home, it is that time of year where you have to reup your trash, uh, payments and stickers and such. Um, so the board of health agent, um, it really doesn't have the opportunity to get out and use some of the early summer hour vacation time. Um, so she came, um, up to my office to sort of ask like, hey, is
there any chance we could extend some of the rollover? Um, I know we've done this in previous years for her and other staff members along the way. um you know she's got you know sometimes hundred people a day in there and it's it's buzzing down there. Um so it's really
it's a request from her to just extend the usage of her vacation time. I can see you know management wise um it's an easy yes to me but I want to make sure it's fair for you guys and um just try to be accommodating with what's
going on with the pace of that office right now. >> I think the deadline is the 10th of July. Mhm. >> So hopefully she can get some in this summer. I'm okay with the extension. >> It's not there's no cost. Yeah,
>> no cost. Um, you know, I know in other career paths we often say, "Hey, you got to use it by a certain time. Just an idea." But, um, you know, I think it's it's grueling work down there right now. So, um, >> it's just the timing of the sticker program at the end of year. >> Yeah. >> Because I know other departments haven't
been able to take the time in June, >> right? I don't think it's a great precedence is could you put a timeline on it? >> I could, but it's really your >> Yeah, it's to support or not. >> I just don't think it's a great precedence cuz then everybody's going to be asking for it precedent. But you're
working with a department that is now in influx and has been since June because the announcement went out I think a month ago. June 10th around that time. >> Yeah. So, and it was given to July 10th
and so people have been coming in a lot. >> Yeah. >> You can't get the whole 3,000 or 2500 in. But she knew what her vacation time was last July 1st for the whole year. Maybe better planning for the next coming year. >> Okay,
>> that's a fair >> just an opinion. No, it's a valid one. All opinions are valid. Maybe you could put a guardrail that you want to use by 12:31. >> I don't know. I just giving you ideas in terms of what I've seen in other like I lost a week this year.
>> I know. Well, that that that's my that's my point is other people are losing >> and not asking and understand the parameters of their vacation, how much can roll over um and try to plan accordingly in the 12 months that they know they have it. So, >> it's hard to use it when you're a department of one. So, I'll be an
advocate for for her there. [laughter] Um but certainly um you know it's not lost on me how hard Carla's working right. Um but it's up to you guys if you want to put a >> cargo line too. You have a deadline that you want to put on it. >> It's up to you.
>> I I just I I'll probably abstain. Okay. >> So if you guys want to put a deadline on it. >> I'm okay with any. >> Me too. >> I don't want to hamper something that's got a lot of work right now kind of thing.
um unfortunately it's there >> unless they can do it start a month or six weeks before June 30th. >> It's something to consider for next year. >> Yeah. >> So that maybe so but I'll go with Karen's 1231.
>> Great. >> Just kind of an easy end of year thing and then she you know they could always use some time in the spring before the you know ramp up to the program. >> Exactly. >> Just an idea. >> Exactly. Okay. I Sarah Logan move to allow Carla to carry over her vacation
um to be used by 123126. >> Lorship and second call. >> Um Sarah Logan and Stain. Yes, >> I get a chance. >> Um >> I'll relay that to her. So >> 7.6 human resources software
reimbursement request. >> Yeah. So, um, as you were aware, um, our financial funding through ARPA money was, um, good until today for our human resource manager position. Um, she unfortunately is no longer a an employee
as of tomorrow for the town. Um, you know, while being our HR manager, um, did a lot of wonderful programs and different, you know, kits and onboarding stuff for the town. Uh part of that led to some act, you know, purchasing of
software programs for the town. Um that really benefited the HR office, if you will. Um so she presented to me a few different costs that she had um expended out of her own personal bucket um that she was hoping the select board would
approve for reimbursement. Um you know, one is an Intellstack program, which is a human resource management uh tool. Um, the second one is Adobe Publisher. Um, which many of you know, our forms these days are PDFs. They're so common. Um,
you know, the Teley Stack was about $312. Adobe was right around $700ish. Um, so she was hoping you may be willing to reimburse for those programs. Um, I chatted with her many times about this.
Um, you know, my first gut instinct is did someone approve it? And unfortunately she didn't have any approval channels if you will. Um she just you know felt that you know it's confidential information in a lot of PDFs which I agree with but um it wasn't
as if a previous town administrator had approved the purchases for reimbursement. Um so I you know I said to her on one of her last days I said you know Kelly I'm trying to find a way to say yes but you know management wise I think we have to say no but I'll bring it to the select board. it's, you know,
$1,000, you know, kind of rounding together. It is a lot of money. Um, and I I certainly understand why she would want to keep certain PDFs and different programs confidential because they're human resource related. Um, but really it's it's a it's an ask of you guys if
you want to go ahead and reimburse an employee that um it's unfortunately not able to work for the town anymore because of, you know, onetime funds that we use to fund that role. Um, can I ask a couple questions? >> Sure.
>> So, the software for human resources, is that something that you can use? >> Um, we still use it or are these just hers to keep? >> Yep. So, you one of them Adobe Photoshop
is like a monthly subscription. So, I do that on my own. Um, >> doesn't the town have its own Adobe? >> The town does. Um, >> we've approved that. Yeah, we were and we we had our you know we had one login prior to that that you know you know you could log in and I could too after you
were done with it. Um I do hear her point about confidentiality and having you know human resource specific tools um and and things like that. Um I agree with her there. Um >> well if it was dur Okay, so going back to the Adobe and that's a monthly fee.
If that was during her service, why wasn't the town paying for it >> during her service? >> That I cannot answer for you. Um because I did not approve of the purchase. Um so this was you know some of these invoices
go back um a bit of time. Um >> before you and when she I mean she's was 3 years with us, right? >> Yep. >> Um >> I can I don't know if I want to screen share. >> I think we have to be a little bit we have about 20 minutes. Yeah, I'm going to I'm going to I'm going to be a no on
this one. I think HR should know better to go and spend their own money on services without getting prior approval and then waiting this long to try to get reimbursed. Um especially when we have one of the programs already in house. Um I'm sure there's some way to password
protect certain documents. >> Um I [clears throat] agree with that one. What about the other one? The other one is >> to you or another human resource. >> It was personal for her. It was personal to her. It looks like right here. >> Yeah, it was a personal login. I didn't get a chance to really
>> dig into it just because by the transition, >> but again, no prior approval and waiting until the last minute to ask for reimbursement. >> Any need to make a motion? Do you want a formal motion? >> Sure. >> I think you'd want to deny the reimbursement request.
>> Okay. I Sarah Logan move to deny the reimbursement request by the former HR employee. >> I don't think I can make it a motion. Just make delution and it doesn't pass. >> You want me to do that instead? >> Yes.
>> Okay. I Sarah Logan move to reimburse um the former HR employee for um expenditures made on her own. >> Laura second. >> Roll call vote. Sarah Logan know
>> I will let the former employee know. >> Um 7.7 surplus property parks and cemetery. It's actually a grasshopper machine. >> Y >> it's going to be used for a mower and um library desks. It's pretty straightforward.
>> Yeah, this one um just a mower that we're going to trade in for cemetery park for a mower. >> Trade in for a mower. Yep. And then library desks. There'll be a couple more of these coming because I have a few others to put up on munition bid. Um, but I won't bore you with them. Pretty standard protocol here. So,
>> okay. I, Sarah Logan, move to declare the parks and cemetery grasshopper machine and the library desk as surplus property and authorize their disposal in accordance with mass general law and the town surplus property policy.
>> I will second that. Loren seconds. >> Discussion. No. not on this, but I think I asked in, if you don't mind, I asked in the past about their surplus um stuff down in the TAM room.
>> Mhm. >> And nothing's been done with it. So, could you just put that on your list for surplus? >> Mhm. >> So, it can be gotten rid of. >> Yeah, I'll take a lot of go through that. Yeah. >> Okay. Well, Co Sarah Logan, yes. Loren,
yes. Very good. Yes. Um 7.8 highway department proposed chapter 90 project list. West Elm, Lunenburgg, Blair, Vinton Pond, and Hog Hill. >> Yep. So, you'll see online um a map of some different roadways that are proposed to be using Chapter 90 funds
for paving. Um pretty much an annual project um for our highway departments. Um we know that the roads are in tough shape after a bad winter. So, >> where is Wear Street? >> Couldn't tell you. Neither kind.
>> That's cuz it's named where street. [laughter] >> I'm unaware of where street. >> That's a fun for you to look up tomorrow. Maybe drive by. >> It's Where's Road? >> Where's Road? >> Well, where's Road is in Ashray? >> No. Where's Road?
>> Do you want me to tell you? >> Sure, Cindy. Quickly. >> We got 15 minutes. [clears throat] >> I know. I I don't I don't want to take up your time, but it's off of New Fitsburg. It is where uh Vinton Pond makes the loop all the way around. We used to have the sign was Vinton Pond
all the way around, but they changed several years that sign kind of showed up. So that's one stretch. >> Thank you, Cindy. >> Great. >> Okay. Take a motion. Um, I move to approve the highway department's proposed fiscal year 27 chapter 90 project list including West Elm Street,
Lunberg Road, Where Street, Vinton Pond Road, and Hog Hill Road. >> Laura Shiff and second. >> Roll call vote. Sarah Logan, yes. >> Laura, yes. >> Yes. Here's to new pavement on some roads. >> Yeah. Drive slowly.
>> Um 7.9 Hier hiring freeze exemption for heavy equipment operator. >> Yes. So, FINCOM approved this at their last meeting to support a heavy equipment operator position for the highway department. Um, so with that recommendation, the hiring freeze exemption. I guess hiring freeze is a
catch. It's not really a hiring freeze anymore. I guess we got to find some other naming >> context for it, but um for the lack of time we have, this is to support our um highway staff and adding another essentially laborer to their group um for the different projects they employ
for them. [clears throat] But th this is the one that we thought was going to be replaced anyway, right? Because there was two that they lost, but this is one, >> and it's in the budget. This was built into the fiscal 27 budget. So, the person won't be starting till July 1.
They have to go through our different processes and such. So, >> okay. >> I Sarah Logan move to approve a hiring freeze exemption for the heavy equipment operator position. >> Laura, second call. Sarah Logan, yes. Laura Shimpron, yes.
>> Valerie Drich, yes. Um 7.10, Land Production Grant for Squan Cookook Meadows. Yes, we were awarded a grant for Squanuk Meadows um to the tune of about $20,000, which is wonderful. Um so we just have to officially accept
that grant. Um so the motion I believe is to have you guys allow me to sign out of session. >> Okay. Um one second. Let me just Sure. Okay, just making sure it didn't have and this is for >> squ
>> conservation restriction easement work. >> You ready? >> Yes, I am. >> Okay. >> Um, Sarah Logan moves to approve the fiscal year 27 annual agreement between the low regional transit authority and >> you're right. >> That's next. >> Sorry. 710.
>> Okay. I Sarah Logan move to authorize participation in the land protection grant for Squanook Meadows and authorize the interim town administrator to execute any all any documents necessary to complete the grant process. Roll call vote. Sarah, yes. Yes.
>> Do you want to say yes, too? >> Yes. Sorry, I'm already moving. >> Yeah. For those quickly, project overview. This is a CR and Squanuk Meadows. It's a high value turtle nesting habitat along the headarters of the Squanuk River. Funds will be used to establish a habitat management escrow account contract for a baseline
documentation report. um both are required for the next steps in the state CR process >> and that um this process is going to come back up again in July. There's a lot of work that we're kind of again put off because it needs council work on so they'll all come back around in July,
August this summer. Um 7.11 FY27 annual agreement between LRTA and Townsen Transit Authority. I would actually hold off on this cuz they owe me an answer on an indemnification question within the agreement which I
don't think is right. >> So I'll put action take no action until put on 77. >> Okay. >> And then 712 consider this is an incumbrance I think actually but for North Middle Sex concrete pad project. >> Yep. So, um, we were awarded about
$30,000 from an earmark from Miss Margaret Scarsdale as our state representative to assist with the building of a concrete pad to support an NFC fitness court project behind town hall. Unfortunately, um, when we went out through the bid process, we did not get any proper responses that met the
minimum criteria before us. Um at the same time a opportunity arose at the high school, North Middle Sex Regional High School where they were seeking a fitness court and some collaboration is before us if we encumber the funds so that we could shift that $30,000
concrete pad to the high school. It'd be both a benefit to our towns and recreation department as well as the high school folks who could use it for a resource. Um so really a nice collaborative moment to bring um something that will be even more accessible um up at the high school. So
>> and Margaret did elaborate that there is a specific process for extending previous year um >> incumbences >> year marks and that approval would be in I believe the fall she asked the ways and means committee and there's an official approval process to get them to extend it for us. So if that would be
pending that process actually >> finalizing too. Okay. I move to approve the year end encumbrance for the North Middleax Regional High School um NFC concrete pad project pending >> pending you know approval of extension
by means of extension ways and means. Okay. >> Lorship and second >> intention. Um roll call vote. Sarah Logan yes. >> Lori and yes. >> Any questions? >> No. >> No. Okay. Very good to chess and I think
this is a great potential for collaboration. >> Yes, >> between the school and the town. You know, it actually worked out. >> I was going to ask if it might count towards what we [laughter] >> I don't think so. This is an extra nice little win. We have >> get that lucky, >> but it is, you know, it just the timing.
>> The timing worked out really well. We were quite lucky that it all for some reason snuck up together. So, that's nice. Um 7.13. Um, okay. Mine still said 712. >> Mine's 712. >> Yeah, that's mine.
>> Doesn't matter. I, Sarah Logan, move to approve and approve to review and sign the payroll and bills payable warrants out of session. >> Motion second. >> Roll call. Sarah Logan. Yes. >> Yes. >> I get it. Yes. And um I think that
brings us to the end of our agenda. I think um we do have about 10 minutes for executive session. So our next meeting is next week >> 77. >> Anybody can refer to the agenda.
>> Five o'clock. >> Okay. That work for everybody. >> Okay. >> Um so I already had it. >> Um I guess we have one more executive session. We'll see if we can have a little 5m minute conversation before the library closes. So I Vich move to enter
into executive session and um adjourn from executive session at 7:52 pursuant to open meeting law chapter 38A section 21 A3 to discuss strategy with repending respect pending ligation where an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the
town and the chair so declares Roman Mirez versus town of towns in Middle Sex superior court docket number 2681CV01140 and I validated So do declare >> Sarah Logan second. Roll call vote. Sarah Logan. Yes. Laura Sherman. Yes.
Better get a chance. We did that. Look at it. Have got five minutes. >> Thank you TK. Have a good night. >> We're not coming back. >> Okay. Do you have anybody from the coming in remotely? >> Nope. >> No sir. >> And we're done. Have a good night.
>> Thanks. Therapy him.