Okay, I understand we do have a quorum. So, we'll get underway shortly, but uh first we do have a couple of announcements. Uh first, I was uh going to announce that as many of you may know, we are in towns. We're having a
celebration of America's 250th birthday. Uh this is involves some uh events uh talks on April 12th by Gary Entwistle about his book April Breeze. Uh the Minutemen will be mustering and drilling
on the common on April 19th. And there is a Model T uh story about a 1927 road trip in a Model T, not exactly bysentennial, but historic. And that'll be at Memorial Hall on May 3rd. Uh there's some information up front as you
pass out of the meeting. Uh well, don't pass out at the meeting, but pass out of the meeting. Um, and if you want more information about it, the big the big event though is the parade on June 20th of 2026, which is 250 years after
Townsen voted to instruct its representatives to vote for independence from Great Britain. So, we hope that you all participate in the parade and uh there is an old home day on the common after the parade. That's Sun, Saturday, June 20th. Uh the parade starts at uh uh
10:00, no stepping off at 11:00, sorry. And we are having some devotional services in the morning at 9:00 at the Methodist church and followed by a reenactment of that town meeting back in 1776. Uh so if you want more information,
there's some information out back and go to was it Beltown 250.org towns250.org org and you can get more information about it. Uh now, uh Kelly, I think you had an announcement you wanted to make.
>> Yeah, please. Are you guys you good? >> Hi, my name is Kelly Kelly. Um I along with a few other people are on uh project 211 plus which is a community grassroots effort to change the state
funding formula for uh school districts across Massachusetts. There are currently 272 districts in the state of Massachusetts that are impacted by a state funding formula that has impacted towns like North Middle Sex where it has shifted the burden of financing the
school budgets dramatically on the towns which has then impacted municipal budgets. We've made progress over the last couple years um with outreach um in community efforts to have a large showing at the Ways and Means hearings
in the budget hearings. And we have finally started to get the attention of the state and all the state reps. So the state reps from those 272 districts are all well aware that school districts are hurting, municipalities are hurting in turn be because we are not able to get our
funding because we are called minimum aid districts and our schools districts are not getting increases because we're minimum aid. We're asking on March 23rd. Uh there's a ways and means hearing in Lawrence, Massachusetts, and then there's another
hearing at the state house on March 31st where people can testify. The more emails and phone calls that the state house receives, the more this pressures our representatives and senators to pass a budget that gives more money to the schools, which in turn allows the school
the municipalities to have more money in their budget. We are pushing for a commission to be formed by the state to fix the funding formula. The student opportunity act ends this year and the state house is agreeable hopefully to start looking at that formula to fix
this long term which should hopefully then end the need for these overrides and the municipality versus the school fight that seems to be happening. So how can you help? Uh we have a website. It's called fixedfundingformmulma.com. on this website. It's information about
what has happened, where we the progress we've made. We got some supplemental funding last year. We're actually hopefully um this the House representative just passed some supplemental funding for this year. We're hoping it makes its way through the pro through the process. >> Ask Adam um >> to advise.
>> We need letters, we need emails, we need phone calls. If you go to that website, there's a button on the very first page that says click here. It brings you to templates that have already been made for you as well as the email addresses of everybody on the ways and means. You just have to copy and paste. Uh we were told that the state house is getting a
ton of emails from parents about the schools and what they really the state reps really want are now emails or calls from municipalities and citizens saying this is how it's now affecting me. I don't have kids in schools but as
>> a police officer in town we can't get our contract raises or We're losing officers. We're losing firefighters. We're paying for trash. We're um having to cut hours at the senior center. Whatever way it's affecting you, you're tired of override votes. Whatever we can
put the pressure on to let them know that these districts are hurting, that'd be great. So, there's a template there that you can um send as is or you can add additional information. There's also, which I'm going to put somewhere out back, maybe by the registration table. Um,
>> yep. You can put them out there by the tables. I've got my notices out there, too. >> If you're not an email person or a letter person, we do have, um, a two-page handout here. There's a QR code that brings you right to the website and it's also there. On the back there's a script. Um, and we provided all of the
phone numbers to everybody on the Ways and Means Committee. Take some time, read the script, call them. Um, just get on record. the more they hear from us, the more impact it has and they feel the pressure. So that the the state reps that we're working with are really
asking for us to flood the emails so that they can come back and say this this has to get done. Um so we're asking for your help. You don't have to read the script, but it's provided for you if it it's right there. So take 10 minutes. We're doing all we can and if you're
tired of it, do more than complain on Facebook. Take some action. get out there and help us because it benefits everybody in the community. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Kelly. Are we good? We good? Okay. Um
All right. Uh Kelly, you might get a chance to repreeze a little bit of that later because I don't think we were on record yet. So, you got the notice out to everybody in the hall, but we're just now online. I think >> it's recorded. >> It's it's recorded anyway. Okay, good.
Um, okay. So, we have uh one more announcement. Uh, sadly uh many of you will remember Shirley Kite, our former emergency uh management uh director, civil defense director, would always
make a presentation uh here before the start of the meeting and explain to people what they needed to do to be ready in the event of an emergency. Sadly, Shirley passed away on December 7th. Um, and there will be a celebration of life uh for her uh this Saturday,
March 21st, at 300 p.m. at the Methodist Church, which is the large colonial church on the hill in the center of town. So, I'm sure all of you uh uh will remember Shirley and uh uh and thank her
uh for her service to the town. And I'd like to ask for a moment of silence now as we uh remember Shirley's contribution to our town. Okay, thank you folks. Um now
the uh Tcam is recording uh for anybody who wants to uh watch the meeting. It's on cable uh television with channel 8, channel 9.
And uh I think we're all set up. Uh we have we don't have the scouts here tonight. So I'd ask people when you if you want to speak uh to raise your hand be recognized u and come up to the microphone if you um we may have some lines at the
microphones and then I'll take each person in line in in in a line. Uh I'd ask that people you know keep their comments directed uh and uh professional and not engage in any uh personalities.
Um, also I would ask people to, you know, make your statements and I I will allow follow-up questions, but uh I don't want people to go on and on and on unless they're making a cogent point that needs to be explained, but um uh I
we're going to try to let everybody that wants to speak speak. So we have to let everybody take their turn. Um and so my understanding is that there is a quorum. All right. Uh, there being a quorum present, I call this special town
meeting March 19th, 2026 to order. And Mr. Clerk, uh, well, we don't have the scouts, but we do we have a flag.
Uh, oh, there's no flag in the >> uh, no flag in the high school auditorium, huh? Okay. >> Well, I think we we'll have to uh pass on that. I would think that we'd have a flag here someplace, but
>> we're looking for a flag. One's coming. >> You got one? >> Okay. Thanks. While we're looking for the flag, I'll remind Are there any visitors here in the hall? They're not voters. Okay. visitors need to sit down in this
section in the front please because I need to know who is voting and who is not voting. So um because we generally will do a voice vote. So any visitors should be down in the front
of the hall please on my left your right. Well, >> we do have a flag. Okay. All right. We'll let everybody get their seat. Uh the chief, you don't have to sit down there because you're a department head. Uh
as long as you don't vote. Um Okay. Thank you folks. Um All right. I'm going to say the pledge of allegiance and I guess I'll lead us. Everyone, please rise. I pledge 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 and justice for all. Okay. Um I am going to uh tonight I'm going to omit the introductions. I think
everybody knows everybody up here and uh if they you don't you'll find out pretty soon. Um we are cond the meeting is conducted under the rules in town meeting time. It's a manual for municipalities town meetings. Uh and so
um just to review some of those points. Um before you speak you need to be recognized uh by me. Uh once recognized, you can approach the microphone and uh please when you are recognized, please state your name and your address clearly. Uh my hearing is starting to
go, so I' appreciate if you speak up. Um all motions that are made need to be uh brought in writing, must be in writing and brought to the clerk. Uh any matter that's finally voted tonight may be reconsidered uh tonight. Um I if there
is a uh majority vote tonight if per chance chancing goes into a second night it would require a 9/10 vote to be reconsidered. The votes are taken uh by eyes and nose. Uh and I the moderator determines the
outcome of the vote. uh if there is a doubt in my mind, I will ask the counters to come forward. If uh if anybody questions my determination of what the outcome is, if seven people stand and rise to ask for a standing
count, we'll have a standing count. If you have confusion about what's going on um and you wish to raise a point of order or you think something is in error, uh you can interrupt the speaker. You can stand and say, "Point of order, Mr. Moderator." Um, and then once I
recognize you, but you have to be recognized, you can I'll ask you to state your point of order, and then I'll rule on that point of order. Um, if there's something that's interfering with your ability to hear or participate, like there's a noise or talking or uh some something that's
inconveniencing you, then you can rise to a point of privilege and let me know what that is. Um, mo move the motion to move the question. For those of you who aren't familiar, this is a motion to cut off debate. Uh it only requires it's not debatable and
only requires a majority vote. Uh however, um our practice has been in town that it's not appropriate to file or make a motion to move the question if there is uh not very many people have
spoken. If there's still a lot of people that want to speak, we have to give them a chance to speak. If we're going over and over the same ground and there's still people that want to speak and someone makes a mo motion to move the question, I will probably uh recognize that. Um ask everybody to be courteous
and keep applause to a minimum. Um visitors may speak if there is no objection. Um if there is an objection uh depending on what the visitor if the visitors information would be helpful to the town meeting to make a decision, they can still be recognized. But
generally we defer to the meeting to determine whether or not the person should uh address the meeting. Uh this is our town meeting. So it's it's up to all of us to make these decisions. Um except there is an exception for department heads. They they can speak
since they have important things to convey to the town. All right. Um that's question. I have to just check if Mr. Rahala is here.
I don't think so. All right. So, we uh hopefully won't need him. If so, Mr. Mayot will have to take over if something happens to me. Okay. Um now, MA,
is there a return of the warrant? Mr. moderator there is. Pursuant to the within warrant, I have notified and warned the inhabitants of the town of Townsend by posting up attested copies of the same at Memorial Hall, 272 Main Street at the center, police
communication center at 70 Brookline Road, West Towns and Reading Room at 264 Dudley Road, Harbor Fire Station at 47 Main Street, and Harbor Church at 80 Main Street as within at least 14 days before the date of the meeting. as
within directed. Signed, Mark Francis, police officer of Townsend. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. All right. That brings us to article one to see if the town will vote to transfer from free
cash the sum of $41,599.79 for the purchase implementation and initial subscription of budgeting and financial planning software from clear clear gov including onboarding and setup services or take any other action relation there too.
>> May I present some information in regards to this? >> Uh we need a motion first Mr. Karen. Is there a motion? >> Um, Mr. Moderator, could we have our interim town administrator uh do a presentation? >> Not without a motion.
>> Want the motion for the >> We need a motion to do anything. >> So moved. >> Second. >> No. No. I'm sorry. We need a motion on the art on the article. >> The article is to see if the town will
vote to transfer from free cash. So we need a motion to do that to start our debate and or and take any presentations. >> You guys don't speak >> your first town meeting. >> That's what it is. >> Mr. moderator, I'll make a motion that
we hear the report of the town administrator as it relates to article one. >> Okay. >> I withdraw that. >> Mr. Honorator, I move that the town transfer for free cash the sum of $41,599.79 cents for the purchase, implementation,
and initial subscription of budgeting and financial planning software from clear gov, including onboarding and setup services. >> Second. >> Okay, motion's been made and seconded. Uh, is there anything to be said,
Mr. Karen? >> Hi folks. Uh, Kieran, your new interim town administrator. Um, I'll present um different W articles for the town here tonight. Um, article one is clear gov for the town of Townsen. It's a software product um that your select board and
other residents have reached out to us um for the purpose of budgeting and financing financial planning for the town. The goal being it really uh hones in on transparency and long-term financial planning for the town. So for folks that like projections and impacts
of different agreements and different um changes in employees, projects and such related to those types of focuses in the town. This type of software really enables a town to do that with more than an Excel spreadsheet. Um I know there were some issues with Excel spreadsheets
in the past. Um, so this sort of amplifies the abilities of the town to go through different projections, different financial planning, um, and really have a more modern way of tracking the budget for the town. Um, as part of the research on clear gov, we
looked back at different towns and cities near us that you are using clear gov. Um our neighbors in Peril, Lunenburgg, Ayer, um Littleton, Winchendin, Lanchester, Lancaster, um Stow, Conquered, Bedford, LOL, Shrewsbury, about 16 different
communities in the area are using clear gov. Um it is a really useful tool for tracking purposes. Um and I think it enables us to get information more quickly online and available to folks looking for budgetary information um as
residents and taxpayers. Right. Thank you, Mr. Karen. Is there anything to be said? Further discussion, Miss King. >> Uh Cindy King, one West Elm Street. Um I I just want to speak up strongly in favor of this article. Um, I know that
the town is a little short of money, but I think this is a critical important software that we we need as towns people, as taxpayers, especially those of us, if you're here at that this town meeting, you care about what's going on in our town government. If you didn't,
you wouldn't be here. But so, you want to know what the what's going on, what's the analysis, what where's our money going, how can we tell, you know, what what are we getting worse? Are we getting better? What's the the five-year analysis? What's the trending? Are we
going to have enough money to pay for the things we desperately need? And it's it it's you can't do that with a with an Excel spreadsheet. We can't sit here and look at an Excel spreadsheet and have anybody in here tell us what's going on with the town other than here's the
budget and line by line that you you need to do something else with an Excel spreadsheet to figure it out. And I think many of us could testify that over the last five or six years or longer or often from time to time at least we've
been told there's an error in the town budget. a few years ago. Was it $300,000 error >> close just under >> and where all of was something wrong in the formula in one of the columns and we
ended up with a financial crisis in December and I think that was when Nelson was his he had just walked in the door. We did we just had the our our new select board members after the resignations you know were just thrown this almost their first meeting. We have
a $300,000 deficit because there was a mistake in the Excel spreadsheet. If we use this clear gov, it pre it prevents that. And it also provides a picture with charts and graphs and it's sortable
and it goes on the website so every single one of us can look at it and say, "What's going on with our budget? What's going on with our money? Where's my tax dollars going? What percentage of it is going to snow and ice? What percentage of it is going to police? How much are
we, you know, what does it cost for us to keep the fire department? What about, you know, are we putting, you know, the town hall looks like it needs some work? You know, do we have how much money is going to maintenance of town hall? What about capital spending? You know, you just get this idea you want to look
something up. You have nowhere to look right now. But with clear gov, it's I mean, I just I'm going to say it's awesome. And if you if you can get on the internet right now, you can look up PEPL peril's website. They have clear gov and the clear gov program is on the
towns that have it. They have it on their websites where anybody can look up the the financial picture, not just an Excel spreadsheet of the budget. It and you can sort through it. You can find a number of standardized reports and I
think you can even kind of do your own. you're like, I want to ask this question and and it gets and there's a number of packages that come with it. This is a thing I strongly recommend that we get this. I think it will pay for itself. Miss >> Miss King >> in management. I know. I'm sorry I'm
going on and on, but I just I just think it's really a great program and I just want to encourage my fellow voters to say yes. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh Mr. Straighter. Hi Kobe shar Wal Hill
Road. Uh how much is the yearly sub subscription cost of it? >> Sure. Yeah, great question. Um so for a little background, the 4159979 um is for a one-year subscription implementation in a partial year. Um we
would be signing a three-year contract with um the software provider clear gov. Um it averages about $23,500 a year and they do have an annual subscription increase of about 6% each year built into their um agreement.
>> Thank you. >> Okay. Question comes on the motion. Um yep. >> My name is Jody Desains. I do not live in town, but I work in the assessing office. Um my question is the town currently has Vadar system software which has a budgeting module which we
could get for free. So, I guess I'm not sure why that wasn't considered. >> So, Vadar was considered um and we, you know, I I'll say it was quickly looked at as I've been here for about two months. Um, you know, I think clear gov
has become the real standard in the region. So, I think that's where our head goes in terms of having a more modern tool and more uh easily accessible for those on at home and online. Um, I don't know if Vadar has all those capabilities that we're paying for right now. Um, it does have very
similar backend room module type budgeting functions. Um, for those that remember like your old school Macs that you played Oregon Trail on or you use FileMaker on, it's sort of that older look and feel. Um, and I think Vadar is
probably an older version of what now Clear Gov being the more modern um, kind of approach to technology and using software as a service. So >> I guess to follow up with that question, four departments use it currently. So, are we just going to be left behind with
this clear gov? So, we'll just be on vadar and then clear gov will be just for budgeting. >> Yeah, I don't >> that seems like >> Yeah, sure. So, I don't know all the nuances in terms of implementation and I think we would probably bring clear gov on board. Um they had done this once before a hand handful of years back and
it just didn't um move into implementation phase. So, I think it would be um the residents decide if they want to move forward with it and take it from there. So, >> okay. Okay. Question comes on the motion. Yeah. Um, go ahead. Um,
>> Dr. Christian Roman Ramirez, 172 Fishber Road. Uh, Mr. Moderator, I have two questions. Um, if I may, um, for the intern town administrator, um, what are other options besides this
program um, that has been considered? And number two, I see that the finance committee is not recommending the purchase of this program. And I was wondering if um if the finance committee can talk a little bit more why they're
hesitant on not recommending the purchase of this program. So, one is for what are the other options number one and number two um have the finance committee voice um why they're not recommending for us to to vote on this
particular article. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. Um go ahead, Mr. Yeah. So, uh, first part of your question being other options. You know, Vadar first and foremost as Miss Duchaines just shared with us is certainly an option and it's an internal product we're using now within different
departments. Um, you know, they're you clear gov again is sort of what all our a lot of our neighbors are using and they they've been very successful with it. So, we wouldn't be, you know, the beta testers on this. We'd be the ones that are adopting sort of mid-stream. Um, I can't think of any other products
off the top of my head and I will allow the fincom a moment to speak if that's okay with Mr. moderator. So, >> okay, Mr. Haye, >> sorry. Um, yeah, so we had um been part of it. it. There were two of us that were still around at the time. We we
implement or tried to implement ClickUp the first time. Um it was not successful going through the data out. Didn't seem to match the data in. We couldn't ma marry it to the town. We had one option presented to us at a presentation in
November and it was clear gov. The software itself and the licensing was going to be $23,000 a year um on an ongoing basis. Um, this this adding that into the budget is
would would bust the budget for next year and it would be a continued cost. After 5 years, that would be over $100,000 that we would have implemented and paid. If we decided to back out, we would have nothing other than the lease
and the use of it for 5 years. We thought uh we did a quick Google search. There are about seven other companies that offer municipality software packages that we haven't seen anybody come in and give a presentation as clear gov did. Um the clear gov
presentation was not for towns and data. It was from some other town. So it it does nice um graphics based on databases that are in the background. Um and so that's all you're seeing. This is a user interface program that's going into the
data and bringing it out at different points. Um we are at a point now we could be at a tipping point that a graphics user interface could be replaced by AI in a couple of years and that's where we may want to get out of it. Um it's another system that is not
connected to the systems we use today. Uh, one of the things we need, I believe, is a good understanding of the systems map, how it integrates, and how we're going to continue to be successful in the town with an integrated set of
systems. So, this was just layering on another system that didn't appear to be connected to the others that are already in the system. It has functionality in it that can replace some of the systems we already use, but we don't have a plan. And
um again the free cash we have very little free cash left over for this um if we were to use this I think we would expend it all and not have any other free cash available to use. So it's a multitude of issues why we're re not
recommending passing this motion. >> Okay. Comments come on the motion. I think Miss Priest you are up. >> Thank you. Uh Don Priest 8 Pine Street. Um, I agree a a budgeting software would be really beneficial to the town. I just
have concerns about how we're going to pay for it. I think our free cash was 500 a little over 500,000 >> 558 >> and then after articles budget and snow and ice we're around
35,000 left. >> Yeah, it depends on the final snow and ice number and a couple other moving >> which is exactly the concern, right? Um, we've had this software before. It wasn't successful. So, I'm not sure if it makes sense to spend money we don't
have on it now. There's a lot of free resources from DLS that we can utilize. It takes a little effort and time to to get to know them and learn them, but they're there and they're available to us for no charge. Uh my other concern would be the ongoing cost because at the
meeting that this was discussed at it was mentioned that ongoing cost would come out of free cash year after year. So obviously town meeting has to appropriate that which we can't do before it's certified. So my questions would be
what are we going to do if we don't have the free cash or town meeting doesn't approve that? And I thought free cash wasn't to be used for ongoing expenses. >> Is that a comment or a question? >> Yeah, >> those are questions. >> Question. Sure.
>> You know, I think um it would be something that you would build you would have to build it into your budget. I'm you know, you can't can't cash your checks before you have the money. So, I think that wouldn't you know, using free cash year over year is not a responsible budget policy. Um, if you've been bored by my presentations for the select board
recently, you've seen that I've kind of told the story of how it's come to be for the town. Um, so I would work with the select board to find a way to build it into the budget. Um, and sort of take it from there. Um, and you know, we'd be honoring ideally honoring that 2017
policy that says we're not using uh reoccurring expenses with non-reoccurring revenue. Okay. >> I guess I would rather make sure that we're taking care of our employees and not cutting hours to cover a contract on a budgeting software that we can utilize free resources for then. Thank you.
>> Okay. Thank you, sir. I think you're up first. >> How are you? Brad Han Brown Road Townsen. Um couple statements that were said. Honestly, if you can't add and subtract or use an Excel sheet in a budgetary sense, then I would suggest
you don't do that. Um, on the second standpoint, 41,599.79. When we have our police department being put in article where we need a prop two and a half to fund them, it's a slap in face slap in the face to those who serve
our community if we find money to budget this, but have to have them contingent on a two and a half overhead. That's all I have to say. >> Okay. Comments come on the motion. Mrs. Craraven, >> thank you, Mr. Moderator. Kim Craven, 87 Lunenberg Road. Um, I'm all for
technology and advancements. Um, I'm a bit hesitant on this article for a couple reasons. Um, as Miss Priest stated, there are some free um, but um, a little bit more tedious programs out there that you can use. We also have the
document from the Collins Center that is free. It was given to us. um it was forwarded from u myself to at least two members of the current board of selectmen um that has not been used in the past few years. The other thing uh that I think is equally important is we
are in the process of going to be hiring a new town administrator. Um might be our um current interim, might be somebody else. They might have experience with a different software. I also think that it's vitally important that we follow the procurement laws for something of this cost. Uh we should be
getting three bids um I believe for something of this cost, not just uh one bid and a look at something else. Um, the other consideration that I feel is really important, um, we're going to be low on free cash. We could push this to
a fall town meeting to see where the budget sits and still be in the cycle for next year's budgeting time. I'm hopeful. Kelly talked about the efforts around the schools. I am doing my part for school finessment for the town. Hopefully we do a little
bit better over the next few months and maybe we're in a better position in fall town meeting and that would still allow um whoever the new town administrator is to get something in cycle for next year's budget. So I would just you know ask for that consideration from the
floor that we don't do it right now and just wait till fall special town meeting to maybe consider it then. >> Comments come on the motion Lord. Hi, Sandra Lord, Wellis Hill Road.
Um, some of my points have been answered already and I really hope that people listen to what the FINCOM has to say that we have them for a reason. Um, I'd like to like to see more research done on other possible systems. I think we're
jumping the gun here whereas our town is at a tipping point. So, I would please ask people to consider that. Um, we need more research on it. Let's not jump into okay let's get clear clear gov I heard something else about we already
have some kind of system we can't afford it >> thank you >> comments come on the motion sir >> Yasakanovski 16 Alisa drive um I would like to point
out that Excel actually is a very powerful uh software package I had to use it professionally for many However, for people who are not really well trained on that software, it may appear fairly simple. So, I would
suggest maybe to take into consideration instead of paying for the software that is proposed here. Maybe we could pay for advanced training on Excel for a few of town employees and then they could use
this software package. probably not much worse than they would be using what's offered here. Thank you, >> Mr. Mayor. >> Quick question uh for town council. If uh council could opine on whether
obtaining one quote and reviewing free options uh complies with the procurement law for a uh purchase of this magnitude, uh that would be great. Thank you. question comes on I guess the procurement issue Mr. Costa
>> thank you through you Mr. moderator. So, I'm not sure it's within the scope of the article, but I'll I'll uh respond. So, generally speaking, service and supply contracts that exceed $10,000 but are under $50,000 require three written quotes as opposed to lesser value
contracts under $10,000, which simply require sound business practices. Or conversely, contracts that exceed $50,000, which would typically require either an invitation for bids or request for qualifications uh process. And so generally speaking, no multiple bids
would be required. I I made the comment that I'm not sure it's within the scope of the article because the article is proposing a transfer, but it's not actually implementing any sort of purchase. And so it's not unheard of for municipalities in anticipation of a purchase to seek town meeting authorization and then to follow uh the
appropriate procurement process after the fact. I'll agree that it's unusual in the sense that this specifically calls out Clear Gov as the as the supplier or the serer. Um, but that wouldn't invalidate the article. Um, but the town would still be required to comply with all all uh provisions of
chapter 30B that might be applicable. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Kasa. All right. I think people have uh vetted their opinions. I think we're ready to vote. Uh, all those in favor of the motion on article one, please say I.
>> I. >> Those opposed say no. No. >> The nos have it. Article two to see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer the sum of $4750 for professional actuarial services to
conduct a retirey health insurance liability study for the town or take any other action relative there too. >> Is there a motion? >> Yep. Mr. Moderator, I move that the town transfer from Freecast the sum of 4750 for the professional actuarial services
to conduct a retirey health insurance liability study for the town. >> Second. >> Okay. I'm going to not that I have a problem with your making the motion, Mr. Mian, but are you you're living in towns? >> I do not.
>> Okay. be helpful for the select board >> and you you are a department head but um and I don't want to impede things but it sort of goes against our practice to have uh if it's in fact the select board doing it but I'll I'll let it go at this time and but
>> I was just going to give a point of order that uh Mr. Mr. U Kieran is not a town resident, town voter, and he's employed here and he knows what he's doing on this. But I don't I don't I protest that he shouldn't be making motions on anything. I I think this is
something that's more vested in tradition than any specific rule. Uh but um I I >> Mr. Moderator, >> Miss uh Shiffron, >> I move that the town transfer from free
cash the sum of $4,750 for professional actuarial services to conduct a retirees health insurance liability study for the town. >> Second. >> Okay. Motion's been made and seconded on
article two. Uh is there any discussion? >> Mr. Moderator, I have a presentation for this. >> Mr. And yeah, >> sure. Uh, back again. Uh, article two, um, o other post employee benefits, OPED actuarial study. Um, currently, Towns in
is one of just a handful of cities and towns in the state of Massachusetts that does not offer retirement um, other post employee retirement benefits to its um, staff. The town is proposing or the select board is proposing that we hire an actuarial consultant to calculate the
town's future retiree health insurance liability. This would be considered an OPE obligation. Um why it matters? Um helps the town understand long-term financial obligations related to providing retirement benefits, health insurance, or potentially other
pensionable type benefits to employees. Um the study is anticipated to take approximately 120 days. We would be you know currently we're part of that 7% of the towns in the state of Massachusetts that do not offer these benefits to
their staff. This would be very helpful for retention of staff and not just being a training ground for staff people to come and then depart. Um the study would be using free cash to complete you know that review of what the liability
could be to the town. >> Okay. Thank you. Comments come on the motion for article two >> cellar south road. Um I'm thinking about this and I'm wondering who retirees need this. Half
of the town employees are union. They have pensions. Who are we looking at? >> Question comes on the motion. >> So, this is a study for all employees. So, they're just because you're in a union doesn't always mean you get pensionable benefits. It'd be depend on
the agreement that the town has with that group. Um, and there's also non-union personnel that love your town and work really hard and this would be a benefit to keep them here and not just train them and have them leave. Thank you. >> Okay. Comments come on the motion. And
Miss King, >> I um as far as what I I think this it's really important for us to provide this the end result to provide this benefit to our employees. We're one
of the few towns in the state, I think there's only four of us who do not provide postretirement health. How many? Three. >> It's three now. It's down to three. Three towns out of 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
that do not provide this benefit to their employees. Um, I would call this one of the reasons why we start losing employees because once they realize that and they understand that it's when you're get to be my age, you kind of
need some insurance and we don't when you can't get it and but other if you worked in Peril, you could get it. If you worked in any other town except for whatever those other two are or other three are whatever they are that they're they're that they get you
can move there even to get lower pay. The cost of health care after you retire will exceed any difference in pay. So the benefit is to get the heck out of towns and and get a job somewhere else when you're approaching retirement. And
we're we're we're losing staff every day. We're going to hear later on about how many staff were losing in other departments, but getting this this has been something that's been tried before. I think the last time we did the actuarial study, I think it was early
2015 and we didn't move forward. Um I think I still have a copy of that. I don't remember what the numbers were, but OPED benefits are expensive. If we have what's called an OPED liability, if once we do this and we're going to have a budget number that will come out of it and it's not going to be pretty, it
could be six digits that we're going to have to fund this um year after year in anticipation because you have to have an account to pay for it in advance. So, it is an expensive undertaking. But I I I'm have mixed feelings about
this particular article over this. I mean 4750 I mean I was in favor of spending 41,000. You said no. So I don't know if I I don't want to go against 4750 but it is going to be pricey later on when we get this study. It's
going to have a high price tag on it. Most likely the only way I can see funding it is through an override because this will be an ongoing expense year after year once we get the the number from the study. And I do support I I think we definitely need a general
override soon because we're running out of ability to pay for anything. But um if you'd anticipate if we already know we're not going to support the cost of the retirement retiree healthcare then I would say you
know we're wasting 4750 right now. But so I just am explaining my per perplexion. I'll vote for this. Uh but I just think we as a town we need to understand some of the costs that we have coming for us. And I know we're going to be talking about the police and
they're going to have there's a lot going on there too. Um that that they have needs. But we we we need a general override. And I it's a it's kind of a little off this article, but this is what this is going to lead to. Uh we need like a million-doll general
overwrite very soon. We're that broke and that's not being proposed anywhere. Okay. But >> yeah. Okay. I'm done. >> Good point. All right. Thank you, Mr. King. Thank you. Uh Mr. Marshan,
>> James Marshian, 10 Pearlbrook Road. This is to study. Is this for a study? Yes sir. This is the study what it would cost. >> Thank you. >> Right now we need to know where we stand
for this so that the town can make an an informed decision on going forward with it. But right now I am a retired police officer in this
town. I serve this town faithfully and gladly and proudly for 35 years. However, if you're in public safety, public safety only, one of the thing, one of the benefits you have is to be able to retire at 55 years old.
In doing so, that gives you 10 years. You have to, if you do that, you have to carry your own insurance for 10 years. in every other town but three in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. If I had worked for them,
I would have had an opportunity to get insurance on retirement for that gap time. It's only for that gap time. That
is a big issue on retention. And it's approximately $125,000 to post for a job, get resumes, interview, background checks, all the things you have to do, and get an an officer through the
academy just so he can get out in the cruiser on work. And it's over a year to do so. Well over a year. Therefore, one of the things where we're losing
people is because if I'm a young fella starting out, all I got to do is get hired here, do a good job for two years or so, and not get in trouble, and I can go to any other town. And that's just one of the benefits of going to the other towns.
Therefore, we are losing people. What are we down four, Chief? We're down four right now. and they and with things the way they are, the resumes aren't coming in like they used to. Used to have a stack of them. Now there's a lot less to choose
from. So when you find somebody who's qualified and we've got a good bunch out there right now, you got a good you got to keep them. And this this is and at least we got to know where we stand
so that we can see where we have what we have to spend and if we're going to spend it, but we got to know where we're going to stand for it first. And I think this would be my own opinion. This would be a good place to start. Thank you. >> Right. Comments come on the motion. Miss
Priest. >> Thank you. Um, I think this is a really important benefit to offer to our employees. So, I just want to make a quick point. Um, we have the similar type of liability for our pension. We don't have to pay for
that valuation every year because Middle Sex County Retirement takes care of that and lets the town know their pension liability. Uh, for OPED, we do have to pay for that. Um, we don't need to prepay that amount of money. It is a liability. So if if in the future
something happens with the pension, we are on the hook for a certain amount of money and this is very similar to that. So it's not really an upfront expense and we don't always even necessarily have to set that aside into a restricted account. We just need to know what that is. We will have to do this valuation
annually once that benefit's offered in order to have an unqualified audit. That's really important. But I think it's a very important benefit to offer to our employees. And oftent times municipalities don't necessarily have it at the same rate. So if if our employees
are paying, you know, 25%, it could be retirees pay 50%, there's some wiggle room in there as well. Um, but my questions would be in implementing this, if we're doing this study now, what's our ultimate goal for when we would implement this and how are we going to
fund that? >> Sure. Yeah. Um, so thank you for those questions. And to Miss King's point, the town had done it, I think, in 2011 and then revisited it again in 2017. Um, I have a copy of that report. I can't remember if it's the 2011 or the 2017, but the same group we're using now
actually broke it out based on liability. So you could sort of see if the town did 50%, here's what the liability would be based on they look at all the employees, the average age, and when the retirement threshold is, and then the insurance liability. Um, so that's sort of how that makeup would go.
How to fund it. Um, you know, that I could there's probably a zillion ways to fund it. Um, so I would probably chat with the select board and see what different avenues they want to go and then um allow the residents to opine and
make a decision. You know, off the cuff, I know my community considered it and did not do it. So, we're one of the three. Um the 93% uh is looking at the entire state, but there's also counties that don't do it out in Western Mass. So they're part of that bucket. Um
Dunstable, where I live, doesn't do it because we looked at the number and we knew we couldn't afford it cuz we didn't have free cash that year. And that was sort of the idea was to put the free cash into an escrow bucket and then keep, you know, contributing to it like a stabilization account when you could.
Um that might be one strategy. you know, towns and could make their own decision as they see fit. So, >> okay, comments motion, but Don, I mean, >> make it quick. All right, we've got some questions. >> I just want to say with all of the talk
of cutting hours, not giving raises, and everything going on. I think that we owe it to our employees to at least look into this. And I think we can get really creative in the funding, whether it's looking at health insurance plans across the board and reducing that cost in order to fund the retirey portion as well. There are options. Um, and I'm
sure creatively we could come up with something. So, I think it's a a good investment in our employees right now. >> Okay. Comments come in the motion. Um, Mr. Trasanowski, 16 Alisa Drive. I would suggest that we
refocus on the motion itself. The motion is really asking for money to conduct professional study and gain vital information. The question is, do we want to know? And my answer, yes, we do. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Mr. Ride Out. Uh, Bill Ry out, 88 South Harbor Road, move the question. >> Okay. Motion's been made to move the question. Is there a second? Second. >> All right. I think we can do this just to wrap it up. All those in favor of
moving the question, please say I. >> Those opposed say no. The eyes have it. All right. The question is before you uh to vote on article two on whether to uh I believe it was to transfer from precache 4750 for the study. All those
in favor please say I. >> Those opposed say no. >> No. >> The eyes have it. Article three to see if the town will vote to establish a special purpose stabilization fund for the payment of legal services provided by town council and to raise and appropriate or transfer
the sum of $50,000 or any other sum there too or take any other action in relation there too. >> Mr. Moderator, >> Miss Shepard, >> I make some I move that the town establish a special purpose stabilization fund for the payment of legal services provided by town council
and to transfer from free cash the sum of $50,000 to said special purpose stabilization fund. >> Motion made and seconded. Uh anything to be said, Mr. Man? >> Sure. Um, article 3, town council trust.
Um, M. Shriffin asked for 50 $50,000 from free cash. Um, the goal will be to establish a stabilization fund for town council legal services. Um, why we're looking at this is the town is going to be working with our at least three or four union contract negotiations coming
up in the next year or so. Um, we are working through non-UN personnel matters. So, you know, as you look at potentially hiring a full-time TA and other contractual services for the town, this would be stuff uh discussions you'd want to have with labor council to review those different merits of the
contract. Um, you know, we are looking at various planning board, land use management type issues that also um benefit from the use of town council to make sure we're adhering to different you planning bylaws, storm water management, things of that nature. Um,
and the town is also looking at various RFPs um to be put out for bid for um a variety of projects and having town council review those and make sure we're adhering to proper legal um manners are important. Um the nice side of a of a
fund stabilization fund is that if we don't spend it all this year, it remains available the following year. Um, so it's sort of a strategy so that it, you know, ensures the town some stability in the town council costs. >> Any comments come on the motion? Miss Kane?
>> Yeah, I I I disagree with this article. I I don't think it's appropriate to put uh legal expenses into a stabilization fund. Uh we've got we tried to have other stabilization funds. We almost have no capital stabilization fund anymore. We we used to have multiple
stabilization funds in order to make sure that we were fiscally responsible. But I this just needs to be budgeted and we know we can look at what our expenses have been. We can look at what these lists and what the expenses are going to be going forward. If we need money right
now to supplement the budget for fiscal year 26 for what the legal expenses have been, then I I'm all in favor of that and properly budget for it for as we have going to have our annual town meeting to talk about fiscal year 27. But I don't think it's appropriate to
put legal service fees into um a stabilization fund. That just doesn't make any sense to me. Thank you. >> Okay. Comments come on the motion. >> Yeah, Dr. Christian Roman Ramirez, 172 Fisher Road. Um, Mr. Moderator, I wish to hear
FIMCOM's opinion regarding their hesitation on not recommending this article if it is possible. Um because I mean uh I I have to agree with Miss King on on her point on that this is
something that can be budgeted and I just want to hear Finn's recommendation on why they're not recommending this article so that we can do a informed voting um justly on this article. Thank you.
>> Okay. Thank you Dr. uh Mr. Hay. Yes, on on this article, we did not see the motion. We only had the warrant article to read. So, we couldn't make a determination where the money was coming from. Um the idea is very similar to what we're doing with the elections. We
have money and that is transferred into an account. So, you don't see it in the budget. It has to be paid for. But again, as it as um town administrator discussed, it is the ability to have that money not need to be budgeted year
after year and wait for the free cash to be available to use it. So, it's a little quicker to use um a stabilization fund does require a 2/3 vote to use the money. So, we thought that was another way that the town has the ability um to
do it. But our recommendation we we had it the free cash um we did not have the motion so we didn't know where it was coming from and that was why we didn't recommend we didn't know where and how the impact would be and we can't take a vote here it's not a posted meeting so
we have to go with our recommendation of not recommending it because we didn't know where it was coming from at the time. Okay, comments come on the motion. >> Ma'am, >> Karen reposa 17 ballsome. Um, two questions. What do we currently have for
legal fees in our budget? And secondly, as many of us kind of revisit insurance annually, have we put efforts into revisiting make sure we're getting the less the the best value for our legal services? >> Sure. So, and um I believe you guys at
your last town meeting set aside $82,500 for legal service fees and I believe you encumbered $10,000 from the previous year for No, I'm seeing Veronica shake her head. No, at me. But >> um there was an article in I believe it
was 2018 that was voted to put um 20,000 in a fund. Am I on? Uh 20,000 in a fund. Maybe it was more than that. I can't remember exactly. I think you might have been on the board, Cindy, when this happened. And it was one of the regular
funds that you'll see you'll see one later in this um meeting that we put away at um uh special town meetings or town meetings for things that different departments want and we vote on it and
we set that money aside. usually from free cash and then we keep those articles alive, those those accounts alive >> for longer than uh the term of the
fiscal year. Um so we were going and we had there was 10,000 left in that roughly when we came back in. And so we've been using it for uh union negotiations mostly this past year um to
for legal advice and we don't every year have union negotiations and this is an unusual year and that we have three unions that we need to negotiate. So it would be good to have this and we were advised to make it a stabilization
rather than a an account that apparently by rights at the end of every fiscal year any money that isn't spent from those special town meeting articles should be swept back into the general fund if they're not expended. But as a
town we haven't done that. And so there is, I don't know, 20,000 29,000 for sidewalks that we put aside in around 2007 along 119 that's never been spent and is still sitting there. I don't know. It's
maybe 500,000. I don't I don't know how much >> for unspent articles >> of unspent articles. >> It's been a lot. >> It's nearly six figures and it's some of the articles are quite old. Um, some have intentions and some I think may have just been pushed to the wayside.
So, it's something that as a newbie in your town, I've sort of looked at some different ways to offset your deficits in variety of ways and check with those department heads if they're not going to do the project. >> That's all you got to do? >> And then sweep it back into the general fund when we realize, hey, they're not
doing the sidewalks. Let's bring this back to the regular bucket of money. So, >> okay. Comments come on the motion. Anything further be said? Looks like we're ready to vote. All those in favor of the motion on article three, please
say I. >> I. >> Those opposed say no. >> And nos have it. Article four to see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of $53,500 to fund a one-year collective bargaining agreement with the town's police
bargaining unit AFSCME council 93 local 3470 fiscal year 2026 said appropriation to be funded from available American Rescue Plan Act ARPA funds or take any other action relative
there too. Is there a motion? >> Mr. Moderator, >> Miss Goodrich, >> I move to see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of >> to transfer from Are we on article four?
>> Do you have the motion on the wrong page? Sorry, my bad. I move that the town appropriate for the sum one second. Move that the town appropriate the sum of 53,500 to fund a one-year collective bargaining agreement with the town's police
bargaining unit ABSME council 93 local 3470 for fiscal year 2026 set appropriation to be funded from available American Recovery Plan Act ARPA funds American Rescue Plan >> Rescue Plan Act. >> Everybody get that? You want me to
repeat it? >> Second. >> I think we got it. It's in It's in the warrant. Um is there a second? Second. >> Okay. Uh, article 4 is before you. Anything to be said? >> Mr. Moderator, I have some slides to present. Um,
>> so folks, uh, to give you some background on our Townsen's Police, uh, department. Um, they've been working very hard um with the select board and town council um for the last 18 months uh because they've been out of contract and working off fiscal 25 wages. Um the
town has visited with a Collins Center salary analysis. Um we've identified within article 4 um how we can utilize the remaining wage ARPA funds the town has which is right around 93,000ish dollars left in ARPA funds that are for
wages. Um and I will present to you the next few slides in terms of what the makeup of those increases are for the collective bargaining agreement for one year. So, article 4 is for a one-year vote, and essentially, it would be the town um voting to approve and support a
one-year agreement for the officers to receive their fiscal 26 wages. Um the reason why we would use ARPA funds to do that would be to get us more competitive within the, you know, this is the average patrol officer salary by department. You can see here Townsen
based on this Collins Center study is near the bottom of the you know salary scale based on average salaries. Um and to Mr. Marshian's point earlier this will be very correlated to the retention the town is experiencing and the lack
thereof. Um your police department works 24/7. You know, you have sergeant salaries that are well below the average area within our different marketplace. Grten, Ayer, Harvard, Lunenburgg, Ashb, um they're all higher than Towns in based
on the average rate. And what warrant article 4 is asking for is that towns in fund a singularyear agreement with the police bargaining unit to cover July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026
to back pay the wages for those officers and also bring bring them up to the current wages that um would would get us to the end of the fiscal year. Um the reason why the math isn't perfect on this slide is because it's there's lag
time. We've had some um we've lost a few officers since some of the warrant articles have come together. Um so, you know, working with the police chief and the select board, we identified, you know, a few more dollars that would be um necessary with the increase um due to
that lag time and shift differential. Um so, you know, this is sort of a chart that will help illustrate, you know, the differences in in rates and where it will go from here. I'll only present warrant article 4 now and I know we have five which would be
voting if you approve warrant article 4 that makes five available if you don't then five is move happy to take questions >> okay uh thank you Mr. me and uh comments and questions. Miss King.
>> Yes, I want I strongly support the passage of article 4. Um this is small money and I want to even though I don't always trust them, I do trust that the board of selectman did a fair contract negotiation for this money for for article 4. And I think it's also
important for us to know that this is not coming out of the budget. This is ARPA money. Correct. >> If I may. So, it's going to be ARPA money and then it also includes a 4% increase for the salary for that year. So, there there is some remaining funds to be accounted for cuz we basically did
it from the start of the fiscal year to approximately, you know, March 1stish because again there's lag time and we were banking on a February town meeting and obviously we got pushed. So, that's why that 5711 is a little different than the 535 we were initially asking for.
So, there is remaining funds to be to be built in. So we do some of the money. A small amount of this money is coming out of the budget. Yes, ma'am. >> Or free cash. Free cash for the budget. >> It's going to be in the budget. I see the chief nodding at me approvingly. So that means I remembered that correctly.
So >> okay. No matter what anybody thinks about the next article. This article is small money and I strongly support it. And the the numbers the the salaries comparing our police officers to the other towns is disgusting. and we've
lost an we have four openings I understand in the police department right now and recently two officers left for greener pastures. So we're going to be short officers for quite some time. So we need to do something to try to salvage our department. So I I can't say
we we this article we absolutely need to pass. We can have a different conversation on the next one, but this one we definitely need to pass. Thank you. >> Okay, comments come on the motion. Can I clarify before m I've recognized Miss Craraven. Was was the final number 535 or was it a different number?
>> So the warrant article was written at 535. I wanted to make sure the math was as close to being perfect as possible. So you'll see 5711 there and that's due to the fact that we had to reschedule the town meeting and there has been shift changes and there's been a change
in officers. Um some officers have decided to move on to other communities um since we quoted the 535. So The motion is >> but but the motion is 4535. >> Okay budget.
>> Okay. So the the difference will be made up from elsewhere. >> Okay. I just want to make sure of the number that we have in the motion. Uh Miss Crave. >> Thank you Mr. Moderator. >> My question
might be for the next article. I just want to be sure that I'm clear and this might be for the interim TA or for the chief. So understanding that part of this will come from ARPA, part will come from the budget,
the 4% increase is going to stand and go forward with or without the override. What I'm not tracking totally is what happens with that if the override doesn't go through. So, can can you or the chief just
explain that so that if this passes, what happens if the next one doesn't pass, where does that other money come from in the future? >> Yeah. So, it would involve another a budget buildout. Um, if I had clear gut, it might be easier, but uh that's my
parting shot there. Uh but if you um if you vote article 4 and you don't vote article 5 based on the way the agreement's written, the wage increase that would be expected in fiscal year 27 would be 4% because it's there's union
rights there. Um so we would build the budget um based on 4% and you go from there. So, I don't know if that completely answered your question and I perhaps Chief Sartell may know something else that I'm not thinking of to mention.
>> Um, okay, Chief. >> Sure. to to answer Miss Griven's question directly. Um it would just be cannibalizing our fiscal 27 budget for that 4%. Which is what would happen if that was the uh if that was the outcome. Um I feel remiss not to uh mention uh a
couple things. One is I really do appreciate the fact that we had a very collegial meeting with our union. Um the union met with the uh town approximately 13 or 14 formal times. Our informal meetings were probably the same amount. Uh so I do really express that uh
appreciation there. There was a lot of work that went into this uh contractual agreement for sure and there's multiple moving parts making it very difficult. So I do appreciate the uh the patience as it comes to that. >> Okay. Thank you chief. Comments come on the motion.
>> Uh Miss Craraven the followup. >> Yeah just as followup. So they would definitely get the 4% no matter what whether the next one passes or not. your budget just suffers in FY27. >> Yeah, that's correct. Basically, what you do is passing this article is you
instill a new pay rate which I would then use to compile my budget for fiscal 27. Um, believe it or not, I I actually put together seven seven budgets for fiscal 27 to cover all my responsibilities and all the different things that could happen. It was very
much a choose your own adventure type of thing with my budgeting this year. If you uh if you catch my drift for those you that remember that but yes it would change the pay rates for fiscal 27 so that 4% stands no matter what that would be the new rate of pay for the officers. >> Okay thank you.
>> Okay comments come on the motion. Anything else to be said? Appears we're ready to vote. All those in favor of the motion on article 4, please say I. >> I. >> Those opposed say no.
It's unanimous. Well, I think I heard one. It It is eyes fab. Article five to see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $327,000 for the purpose of funding a collective bargaining agreement with the town's
police bargaining unit AFME Council 93 local 3470 for fiscal year 2027. such appropriation to be contingent upon approval by the town's voters at the ballot of a proposition 2 and a half override socalled under
general law chapter 59 section 21 CG or take any other action relative there too. Is there a motion? >> Mr. moderate. >> Miss Kell, >> I move that the town raise and appropriate the sum of $197,000
for the purpose of funding a collective bargaining agreement with the town's police bargaining unit. ASME council 93 local 3470 for fiscal year 2027. such appropriations to be contingent
upon approval by the town's voters at the ballot of a proposition 2 and a half override of the under mass general law chapter 59 section 21 CG
>> second >> motion's made and seconded it is before you any comments or questions miss king >> may I if Mr. me and just could explain a little bit for us about why we're >> so similar to warrant article 4 except
this is um you know it's it's a different level of increase for the officers. Um and if you're remembering back to the slideshow where we're bottom of the barrel in terms of where we are for competitiveness for salary and retention. Um this is the ASME um union,
police officers union working with the town to essentially adjust the wages to be more competitive to retain officers and to in general solidify the department. Um that is you know just this past week received another res
resignation letter. Um so again we worked very hard with the unions to get to an agreement. Um the context is it's 10%. They're looking for a 10% wage adjustment plus 4%. And this will bring them up to a more competitive
marketplace. Um we believe it'll help retain officers and why this is important. Um and I'm going to jump ahead couple slides here. Um you'll see sort of what the impact of an override is on the annual tax bill. And to Mr. to
Marian's point earlier, um, Towns and invests roughly $125,000 to recruit, train, and bring on new officers. Um, he is 100% correct when they will stay for 2 years and a few months and then move on to another
community that might offer more more competitive salary. Um, you know, he's he's right. So, I think that's an important thing to be mindful of when you think of the impact of a a two and a half uh prop override. comments come on the motion. Miss King.
>> Yes. Um on this article, I I I strongly recommend that we pass this override over the last several years that we've been asked for a number of overrides. I think this is the smallest one we've been asked for. Um I mean slightly on
the sidebar. I think we need a bigger override, but this is on this article and this article only. This is um we're not being asked to do much. Um yes, it's an override, but the the cost of this given that the cost of training an
officer, the cost of keeping our officers is about the same. This is about the cost of one officer that they're asking us to pay for, but splitting it up between all of them as as to to keep them here to try to make
an attempt to keep our officers in towns and rather than just a revolving door and that because that's what we have right now. They're they have a critical shortage over at the department. They can't we can't we as a town can't sustain this and we cannot sustain a
police department at the salaries. We saw the chart a few slides ago that showed us in comparison with the other towns. This is a small ask. Uh see I mean that's that's horrible. That's embarrassing. And who
would even apply to come here? Um, there's a lot of good police training programs out there and you know, we we really should be getting the best officers. Uh, I think Fitchburg State has an academy basically where you get a master's degree out of it. We're not
going to get those officers. We might I think we might have one or two, but we're just not going to get them to come and stay. They are in high demand in other departments to get that level of training before they hit the streets. And I I just this is as far as overrides
go, this is very small ask. And as I I hate to repeat myself, but it's not asking us to pay more than what it would cost for one officer. That's the cost. That's all. And I think that we we really should support this override.
Thank you. >> Comments come on the motion. Uh Chief Satelli. >> Yeah, I'd like to be recognized if I could, Mr. Marty. you you recognize the time and head. >> Uh just a few comments about um just to to let you know that this wasn't just about money. Uh there were some
significant management gains in this bargaining session. Among them, a better clear much more clear probationary standards uh which would would allow us to um relieve a recruit from duty uh should they not not make grade. Very much uh an appreciated thing. uh
reimbursement provision for if officers leave early, reimbursing us for some of the training costs what we have currently in place is not nearly um effective. Um we did also maintain some authority over assignments and operations and improved our ability to
schedule officers with some flexibility that will allow us to support staffing that we feel is relevant. So this wasn't just we looked at one thing to fix this recruitment issue. We looked at a bunch of things. Um, one thing I'm I will also add is the experience matters for sure.
Uh, this isn't really about um, you know, leading the pack by any stretch of the imagination. It's about instilling a pay skill that allows us to retain officers. The most effective and efficient ret um, recruitment standard is retaining the officers you have
without any question. Uh, we feel as though this actually strikes at this issue from a number of directions and not just in the wallet. I appreciate the time. Thank If I may jump on that, uh, from the chief's points, you know, it's fiscal year 27, there is a wage
adjustment. Fiscal year 28, the agreement's at 2%. So, it's less than the prop 2 and a half, you know, limit that we see our taxes increase. So, fiscal year 28, it, you know, we're making an adjustment and then carrying forward. Um, and that was
part of the agreement that I think was tremendous for the, you know, select board as well as the police union folks to come together on. Okay, sir. Brad Han Brown Road. First and foremost, I'd like to thank the uh uniformed
officers, Chief Sartell, those that are here in the front row that are not in uniform, and all those that have served in this community. Thank you so much for your time. It's pitiful that we weren't able to get you this money sooner. With that being the case, uh I'd like to ask for the 197 versus the 327 that I'm
seeing, what's the number that we're going for? >> Uh 197. >> Okay. I'd like to make an amendment to this article. Is there a formal process to do that? >> Uh, you you can make a motion to amend. You have to have it seconded and it has to be put in writing. >> So, can I verbalize that first and then
go for the second? And if it is, I can put it in writing. >> Sure. >> Might save me some time with the with the hand. Uh, so with that being the case, I'd like to see if the town will vote to raise appropriate the sum of $197,000 for the purpose of funding a collective bargaining agreement with the town's police bargaining unit for fiscal year
27. I'd like to end it there. We deserve as a community to have this police force, our selectmen, our leadership. I challenge you guys to find a way to make it right for them and to get them up. These rates that I'm seeing pitiful. And again, I thank you guys for staying on
board. Can I get a second from someone? >> Second. >> Thank you. Where would you like me to write this? >> Uh, Mr. May I will help you with that. Now, I think while that's being written, uh perhaps the uh town's uh
administrator or the select board or finance can comment on why this was contingent on a prop 2 and a half and perhaps explain why because it's not apparent to me why the original amount of 327 went down to 197. Sure. So that was uh me doing math and then sharpening
my pencil because I was under the gun to get the number into the warrant article and then I worked with the police chief and our select board to make sure I understood the numbers correctly. Um so that's mostly my error but then also doing the math and working together with the police chief and the union folks to
make sure we had the right number for town meeting and that's why the motion number is different than the warrant article. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, now as to the uh implications for Prop 2 and a half, because I'm sure that has implications for the budget. Uh, Miss Kell,
>> if this is if this is not a two and a half. >> Okay. If this is not a two and a half override, it means that we have to find the funds within the budget. And we've been working on the budget for
quite some time. um the budget that we it's still a working budget and at this point um we retain all staff. We do have a hiring free so we aren't hiring positions that
are left but um the funds would have to come from somewhere just know that. So, you have to think about um what it is that the town is willing to give up
um in order to fund an additional 197,000 in the budget. I guess that's it. I mean, right now, I think we have 8 $897 to the good. $897
to the good, something like that. Um, and so that would um put us in the hole by about $196,000. Uh, it it is sure it could be done, but
it has other implications in town. Just know that. >> Yeah, I would echo what Miss Kell said there. And then we'd also uh to another resident's point earlier, we'd be using we would be having to use free cash much
more substantially than I currently look to do for the town for this coming budget cycle. Um we'd also be in the same situation come the following year because we would have used free cash or reduction in other staffing in order to
to make this up. and that permanent raise is permanent and you'd be continuing to find free cash down the road in order to put it into effect. Yeah, it's a tricky one, but could could I make a quick point? I understand it
put us in a hole. What about them? They've been in a hole. So, I think as a community, we can find a place to make sure that we invest into our police. You just said it. We're losing people. I don't know about you guys. I don't want to lose anybody else.
This is a great staff we have here. If you don't believe so, I challenge you to get up and walk out of the room. But it's ridiculous. They've been working on 2025 numbers and we selected this leadership and I'm sorry for that.
comments come on the motion and I'm going to reread the motion to amend. Um, and uh I'm going to make a little codification change here too. All right. Uh because this is a motion
to amend. It's not a a principal motion. So, it should be I I move that we amend the motion on article 4 uh to to state to see I'm sorry, article 5 uh to see if the town will vote to raise and
appropriate the sum of 197,000 for the purpose of funding a collective bargaining agreement with the town's police bargaining unit for fiscal year 2027 without any provisions for contingency on a Prop 2 and a half override. Okay, that isn't stated. That's just the the
new motion. So the motion has been made and seconded. Uh who was the second? M Miss Stockwell. >> Okay. The motion to amend is before you, Miss Priest. >> Uh thank you. I echo every sentiment
about funding this contract. It's hard to save an overrides a way to to do it obviously because we the public haven't seen the budget yet and so we don't know what it would look like to try to find that money. But I just a couple of questions. Do we have anything budgeted into the budget for increases for them
as it stands or is it fully funded by an override at this point? And um is fiscal 28 set up to absorb the next increase at this point? And my understanding is the police union requested this as an override. So if we could maybe hear why
that was from them, that may help too. >> Okay. Any comments come on the motion to amend? >> Okay. Julia Starkwell, 203 Lunberg Road. I just have a question. So, if the override passes tonight, what is going
to be the new It's not going to be Proposition 2 and a half anymore. What will it be? >> I think to clarify what you're asking, Julia, is that if this motion passes, because this is not an override now. The motion to amend is simply to approve
this 197 without an override. >> Without the override. Okay, that's fine. >> But it's also worth noting we haven't presented the town's budget. So, right, there's also some consideration for the entirety of the budget to be presented. So, you'd be circumventing the annual
town meeting process to approve the budget as a whole for the town. That's that's a good point because the idea behind this is that the town doesn't have enough money, correct me if I'm wrong, to appropriate, doesn't have money to appropriate for this contract.
And so by dealing with it now and then voting on the override, the town would know whether or not there is enough money to actually put this in the budget for fiscal year 27 at the annual town meeting. It's a good procedural question as to what happens if this is just voted
to be put in the budget uh before we're even actually voting on the budget because if the budget fails, you've got to rebuild it, right? Um >> so, M. Stockwell, do you have some further?
>> We still need clarification. Okay. If we're limited to two and a half, proposition two and a half for for our budget, and we do an override, what will be the new percentage? It increases now by a certain percentage
because we now are we will be approving an override. >> No, again, this right now we're just talking about the motion to amend. Okay. >> So, that would eliminate the idea of an override. >> Okay. >> Okay. So, let's talk about what happens
if we have an override vote if this motion doesn't pass because >> that still doesn't answer my question though. I like I said, >> you may not have an answer for you, Julia. I'm sorry.
>> So, the the miss with the star sweater, uh the estimated tax increase if you did an override for $197,000 in excess of, you know, the assessed values up here on the lefth hand side. Don't give me the assessed value. Give me the percentage. That'll because
that'll be forever now until you'll never go back to the two. >> Yeah. Use the microphone. >> The percentage then it' be 1% or whatever percentage of $450 if that's what your home's value was and that's what your increase would be $54. So >> it's a varied
>> it's a variable number. So >> if if I can understand what your question is, it's two and a half every year. >> Yes. >> We can't we can't it won't change what we can increase next year. It's just for this FY27. So next year we'll be bound by two and a half. The year after that
we're still bound by two and a half. Anything more than that we would have to come back to the voters. >> Okay. My understanding is that a debt exclusion is for the amount of the debt and it doesn't increase the amount of the proposition 2 and a half. But I've always understood that an override
increases the uh tax evaluation from 2 and a half to whatever the override is. It it would be more than two and a half this year, but then it goes back to two and a half next year because that's the levy limit that the >> I thought it stood forever. Once you do it, >> so the number goes up this year, then it
compounds on the two and a half next year and next year and next year. >> You're right. I think Julia that it it stays in that increase in the levy limit. >> That's right. >> Okay. And then next year we can increase it two and a half% above whatever was creased increased by a prop 2 and a half
increase. I >> um All right. Um I'm not sure. I think Miss King was waiting before you. >> Okay. Um I I still support the override, but we're not talking about that. I think that I really have a concern with this amendment only because if we're
only voting on the police budget for collective bargaining agreement to be $197,000 that means to me that we're voting for the entire police budget for salary budget for fiscal year 27 to be $197,000 which I I don't we're going to pay them
each 10 bucks a piece. I don't this doesn't I mean I think that there's a real legal problem with this amendment. I I mean to me I I I I think we're better off rolling the dice on on the override and uh because this is the
collective bargaining agreement. The select board have got to go back to the either the negotiating table or something if an override doesn't pass to figure out how we're going to do that. And I'm getting a nod from um Miss Kell and if or try to find 197,000 in the
budget at when they're as they're still trying to cuz we're not May 5th I think is the date of the town meeting and that's when the budget is going to be presented to us and it's going to go through a numer number of changes between now and then and I think that they they already know which I think
many of us do know that we don't have enough money to sustain the town anyway whether it's this or the next thing and I I mean I keep saying we need an override for other things, but I'd rather roll the dice right now and advocate strongly that we pass this as
an override. I think the police do deserve this money and it's not much money. >> Then why go to an over >> and I support they I don't like the way they did this either. I I don't like the way they did it, but that's what we got. And I don't think it's too much to ask
for us to fund this collective bargaining agreement for. It's small change and like I said earlier, it's right about the cost of one officer. >> I do too. >> When you think about the training and the the numbers that the chief gave us.
So, I'm I'm not in favor of this amendment. I don't think it really makes sense. I I support your your point. I do support your everybody's point about everybody's point. I understand the point, but I I don't think this amendment really solves the problem. it
can complicate it more and I'd rather roll the dice on the override question. Thank you. >> Okay, Mr. Han, just a couple quick points. Kelly Kelly, I know you're before me. I'm just gonna make a couple quick points. No problem. >> U first and foremost, when we put uh critical infrastructure, EMS, emergency services, first responders, and we put
them up to an override, which I think I can speak for the entire community. We don't want to see. Okay? I never want to be standing between someone at dinnertime. I certainly don't want police standing between me and Override and then the police department. There is no way we should be doing that. So with
May 5th being the time when you need to present that, put something else to override. Don't put something as important as this because these are the people that take care of us and our families. I like how fast that phone gets answered when I call. I don't want to see two more police officers leave and I don't get the response that I need. And I don't think anybody in here
does either. So that's the only reason why I'm saying find something else to put to an override. Don't put such key critical infrastructure to an override. There's plenty of other things you can find or let's just be a little bit more fiscally responsible and move forward. >> All right,
folks. Miss Kelly. >> Kelly Kelly 5 Tourist Lane. So, I support the new contract. I believe these officers deserve what they're asking for. As someone who has advocated for overrides before, I
don't have faith in this community. I'm hoping that with it being the police that maybe will finally pass an override. If it does not pass, and I saw on one of the slides what happens if it fails, it would have
to go back to negotiations, >> right? Can the select board commit that if it goes back to negotiations that at maximum you'll reduce the contract by $1? We want the police funded. The community wants the police funded.
I do not like the idea that they will have to if the override fails that they will have to come back and take a hit for the community. I understand that if it fails, we have to find the money somewhere else. And I'm not saying any positions are worth more than others
in this town. And it's really hard to vote on an override without seeing the overall budget to know what the impact would be. But if the override fails, I do not want to see their contract substantially changed. And that's I I
don't know how to get a commitment. And I know, you know, you probably can't discuss negotiations at this point, but if it's anything more than a dollar, then we're doing wrong by the officers. Thanks.
>> Okay. Comments come on the motion. I I don't know if there's anything from the fincom on this article. Sorry. Um, we we had nothing. As far as this article goes, we support it. We support it being the override going in because if we don't do it with the
override, there's 197,000 that would have to come out of the budget somewhere else. Um, so we're just moving it from police to somewhere else within the budget. >> Okay. Um, we we support funding the
contract and we thought the override was a uh number and it and it fit the requirements from last year of tell me what I'm voting an override on. >> Okay. Um, Miss Craraven and then town
council, I think you wanted to comment. >> Thank you, Mr. Moderator. Um, so I think we have a unique situation where the police union did ask us to put this in as an override. And I'm not speaking for Miss Priest, but I think
that you have three people at this juncture that are typically vocal about not having an override in strong support of the override and and Kelly Kelly who is always a strong supporter of an override in support of the override. So
you've got strong support for the override. I think we also have a fail safe that the override comes before town meeting so that if it doesn't pass hopefully good things continue to happen in other budgetary areas that there's
some relief and that maybe we can recover something. I don't know if it would be that much, but I do have some faith that this year that if any override is to pass, it is this year. And what I worry about is if we don't get out there and
get this override to pass, we're going to be in a worse situation next year and we'll be laying off even more people. So, I would like to take the risk and roll the dice and let the folks that are loud, and I'm one of them, get out there
and support this for our police so that we have some flexibility in our budget moving forward. I think it's the only way possible and practical to get this done. So, they have my full support to be loud to get this passed.
>> Comments come on the motion and I town council Ka, did you were you trying to get my attention? >> I was, Mr. Moderator, only just to offer a gentle reminder that we're only debating the amendment and not the main motion. And I I I mentioned that only because the question was asked of the fincom what its position was, and it
indicated that it supported the motion, but of course, we're not debating the motion. >> Right. Right. I I noticed that there was there were debating the motion to not have the override. The fincom, I think, stated that they supported the override. Right, Mr. Hayes?
>> Yeah. Uh, Mr. Ride out. >> Uh, Bill Ry out 88 South Harbor Road. Move the question. >> Second. >> Okay. Motion made and move the question and seconded. So, cut off debate. Uh, all those in favor of moving the question, please say I.
>> Those opposed say no. The eyes have it. So, this is moving the question on just the motion to amend. All right. So, all those in favor of the motion to amend uh the motion on article 5 uh please say I.
>> I. >> Those opposed say no. >> The nos have it. The main motion is before you and I think we've pretty much mapped out the parameters to that situation. So,
um, is there anything more to be said on the main motion, which is to, uh, appropriate 197,000 contingent on a a Prop 2 and a half override? Yeah. Yeah. Zanowski, 16 Alisa Drive. Uh, let
me try to adjust microphone a bit. So um I hope everybody agrees and it does not need to be repeated that we have to pay our town employees fair wages and I think uh that's understood.
Now many people complain about increase in the cost of living. Uh retirees complain about social security adjustment. Business owners complain about increasing costs. We all complain about costs in a store doing grocery
shopping and we are all correct. Costs increase. They go up. We pay more for different things. Some of us receive additional money. Pay increase. Social security adjustment even if it's
not sufficient for for many of of us. Um and pretty much there's no choice. Prices of almost everything keep going up. But somehow when it comes to our town employees,
every overright proposal so far was voted down. I talked about this before. Inflation vastly increases vastly was vastly higher. Sorry, it was vastly
higher than increases in pay because we limited to 2.5%. So, um somehow I guess there is magical belief that our town employees, teachers, police officers
and town employees, they are somehow immune for uh price increases that we all face. So uh we did agree in this town to pay 1% search charge for community
preservation act. What this uh motion is is asking for is actually just about the same if not less. That's reality. So uh we we really should pay fair wages. We are the employer of our town
employees and if we try to pretend otherwise it's just not fair. Thank you. >> Okay. Comments come on the motion. Mr. Ride out. >> Sorry to be repetitive. Bill Ry out 88 South Harbor Road. Move the question. >> Second. >> Okay. Motion's been made. Move and
second. Uh move the question. This will cut off debate on article 5. Uh, all those in favor of moving the question say I. >> I. >> Those opposed say no. The eyes have it. It is before you the motion on article 5 to see if the town
will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $197,000 for purpose of funding collective bargaining agreement with the town's police bargaining unit uh uh contingent upon the approval of the town's voters at a ballot of the Prop 2 and a half override.
All those in favor say I. >> Those opposed say no. >> No. >> Uh, okay. I'm going to defer because I didn't double check. Majority or a two-thirds vote? >> Majority. >> Majority. The eyes have it by a
majority. Article six to see if the town will vote to authorize the select board. And I'm going to with your permission uh omit reading the rest of this article. It is to lease fields for the Ashby Towns and
Ashby Youth Soccer Association. Is there a motion? >> Mr. Moderator. >> Uh Miss Shiff. Um, favor. >> I'm sorry. I move that the town authorize the
select board to enter into a 50-year lease agreement with the towns and Ashby Youth Soccer Association for the use of certain town-owned land known as open space parcels of Squanuk Meadows shown on assessor's maps
as map 11 block 35 lots 0 21 and 22 and map 11 block 32 Lot zero consisting of approximately 40 acres more or less as described in a deed recorded with the Middle Sex South District Registry of
Deeds in book 41569 page 181 excluding the water well test field shown as fields or as the well field or as existing wells including the
400 ft radius there from located on Mason Road in West Towns in Massachusetts on such terms and conditions as the select board may deem appropriate. >> Second. >> Second.
>> Okay. Motion's been made and seconded. Is there any discussion? Uh, all right. I am going to ask the Oh, Miss Churchfeld, >> do you want me to present the quick synopsis of the purpose here? Is that okay with folks?
>> Uh, or I don't have >> I think it's fairly evident. So, uh, if we need further clarification, Mr. Mean, I certainly would call on you. And I do have a question, but I'll ask Miss Churchville. >> Um, >> Miss Craraven,
>> you want to defer? Okay, Miss Craraven. you were closer, but she was on her way down. So, >> thanks. Uh, Kim Craraven, 87 Lunenberg Road. Um, just I'm going to speak really quickly to the the slide that the um interim TA has up. So, with regard to
this um Warren article and the benefits that he has listed there with maintaining open space, um the deed itself actually protects that. Um it it was a open space uh development under the planning board with the development
of Horseshoe Drive and it is a perpetual open space for Squanakook Meadows and Holly's Playground. Um the worry for me and why I'm going to propose an amendment to this is a perpetual lease for 50 years which is not there. So the
to enter into a new 50-year lease, there is no 50-year lease now. Um long-term leases can trigger some things. Um it can be seen as a transfer. Um it can trigger some things around article 97. It can also trigger some things around
30b. Um so in talking with folks with TASA and coming up with a friendly amendment um to give the most flexibility to the town to organize sports to recreation. Um, I would like
to propose an amendment um to move to amend article six and inserting in place thereof to authorize the select board to enter into a non-exclusive use agreement, license, permit or short-term lease arrangements for each term to not
to exceed 10 years with youth organizations, recreation groups, and others, community users. Provided that such agreements preserve some mun municipal oversight, guaranteed continued public access and ensure the land is available for broad recreational
purposes and organized youth sports serving the residents of the inhabitants of the town of Townsen as so stated in the deed conveyed as part of the open space residential development related to Horseshoe Drive containing approximately
40 acres more or less as described in the deed recorded in Middle Sex South Registry of Deed. reads in book 40156-9 page 181 excluding the well test field shown as the fields in the wellfield
located on Mason Road in west towns of Massachusetts. Um this would allow negotiations for the youth uh soccer leagues to continue to move forward with the great work that they're doing and the fields look great. It also allows
for policies and processes to be put in place to afford the most flexibility with grants. I know that is a concern. Um, for those of you that don't know, I write a great number of grants. I've done an extensive analysis on the grants that could be available with different
arrangements that would support what they're doing. um some that support even more municipal oversight that soccer could still have precedent um but that they would have the ability to get
grants that still have municipal control. Um I certainly won't read all of them, but there's a great many of them that would be afforded to the community and to the league.
um for some um that are just uh applicable to this area because it is protection of the use of open space and recreation um and the turtles. So animal rescue protection and placement uh land and water protection and habitat
restoration. The community foundation of North Central Mass allows it to be 501c3s and municipalities park which is through the Massachusetts executive office of energy and environmental affairs requires a level
of town ownership and the town must lead those applications and those are up to 500,000. So there was concern in the discussions of this that if it wasn't a lease that they wouldn't be eligible,
but they would be eligible with permits in licensing. And that's what Westford and Welssley and Lexington and other municipalities have gone to. It's relevant because there was wary that if it wasn't a lease, they wouldn't be eligible. But there's a lot that the
board could do. So this affords the greatest latitude. >> Hold Mr. Doris as a point of order. >> What the hell are we discussing right now? >> I think it >> Oh, good point. >> Yeah, that's a good point. If you're
going to make the motion and then argue about it. Yes. If it's been seconded, is there a second? >> Is there a second? >> All right. Motion's been seconded. Thank you, Vin. That's a good point. And I was lax in that situation.
Um, all right. I think Miss Craraven, you've articulated fairly well the benefits of your proposed amendment. Now, I want to recognize some other people. Miss Churchville, >> are we are we going to vote on the amendment? We got to we it's before you
it's before you to debate now that the motion's been made. Then we will vote on it >> on the motion. >> Right. On the motion >> the new motion. >> The motion to amend is before you now to
debate >> license. Okay. >> Well, it it would be for any it's comprehensive. So >> yeah. Yeah. Let's use the microphone so people at home can hear and everybody else can hear. >> I did give the the motion to Harrison,
but my motion does not limit it to a lease agreement. It gives broad latitude to the town and to the organization to talk about whether it's a permit or a license. That doesn't trigger anything
with article 97, which is open space. and it doesn't trigger anything around 30B that it gives them the broadest latitude so that they can look at all opportunities to get the most because they're doing great work but so that they can get the most out of it because
there's some limitations that if it's leased they would not be able to afford themselves to some other grants. So that's nuanced that they can work on all avenues so that they can get the most amount of grant money and and still do what they're doing but just with the greatest latitude.
>> Totally. >> I just want to know what >> where we stand with the motion. >> Okay. >> Where we're talking about >> Okay. Um we I want to ask the select me because they brought this motion forward and
they haven't had a chance to speak. um and uh see how uh this affects their their plans. >> I'd like to hear from Tasa, please. >> Okay. >> Towns Nashb Youth Soccer. Okay. Um if you would.
>> Hi, Selena Thomas. Uh 99 Warren Road. So TESSA is um not fully in favor of this change in part or mostly due to the 10
years that was mentioned. Um Tesa has put a lot of work into the fields as they exist. We've also been working quite a number of years on getting some more field space put in. We've been working with the state. We've been
working with um National Heritage about the wildlife species there. We've been working with the town. We feel that a 10-year lease is not long enough. Um the amendment to change it from a lease
to a lease or a I'm sorry, a license or any of those. That wording sounds fine, but the 10 years of the amended article
um Tesa is would end up putting a lot of money and time. We've already put a lot of time into doing this. So to just have a 10-year lease, we feel that that isn't
fully enough to make it worthwhile. >> Thank you. >> Okay, comments come on the motion. Miss Kell, >> um I would just like to note for the town's information that Tesa currently has a they are in the second three-year
term of a lease that we did an RFP on. I'm trying to figure out the dates, probably around 2021 time frame. 2020, the first three years. We've just signed the second three years
um in 2025 I believe it was and the um agreement that they currently have with the town allows them to have an additional first first right of refusal for another 3 years. So TASA is the
current lease holder uh for that property. um they requested a longer lease because they are hoping to make improvements to that field. And because that area is all
priority habitats, um it it takes a lot of um agreements between several organizations to get that done. And they came to the um town asking for a 50-year lease. So, I'll
just defer to Tesa from there, but you should be aware that there is a current lease on that property. >> Uh, Mr. Han, one Brown Road, Townsen. Um, so I'd love for a little bit more open discussion for transparency. Um, can you help me understand the history behind this? It's my understanding that
this property was donated by Mr. Craven. Is that correct? It was the required open space of the Horseshoe Drive um development and Mr. Craraven was the developer. >> Okay. So, with that being the case, um
what is the concern? You've mentioned multiple times because the turtle in the habitat, this is already going to be under some scrutiny and jurisdiction for any changes that they want to make in the future through National Heritage. I would imagine if there's turtles there, there's some wetlands. Can anybody confirm that?
It's the headarters of the Squanuk River. >> Okay. Similarly, um I've just heard that there's been a lot of money that's been dumped into the fields by this organization. Let's once again, I believe it's a 503C organization. Correct. So, there's been a ton of funds that they've already put in that's already elevated the value to this town
in being one of our properties. Additionally, I would like to address the concern that this organization that is extremely well-run is one of the bright spots within the community along with towns and Ashby youth baseball and softball. And I think because of where that's located, we can
see it has clear visibility as to the upgrade that it's brought to the town by having these 503C youth programs and how the benefits been here. So, what my question is is very direct. What is the concern with the previous article as it
was already written? Because it seems to me like if they were to walk away from those fields, correct me if I'm wrong, we can't fund the police. How are we going to maintain those fields and keep them operational? And then how are we also going to be able to
monetize those fields for park and wreck if you got kids running around in there with grass up to their knees? There's a lot of liability here. I fully support moving away from this amendment and sticking with it originally written. Thank you.
>> Comments come on the motion. Uh Miss Craraven and M Stockwell. >> Miss Craraven. >> Yes. Uh thank you Mr. Moderator. So there's some clear things in the deed itself. Um that the deed is for the benefit of the inhabitants of the town
of Townsen. Um, so not to split hairs, uh, Tesa is Ashby and Townsen. Um, and when you get into 50-year leases, there are complications and there's a lot of case law around that. And when there's a lease, instead of the flexibility of a
permit or a license, it actually excludes the user of the field from grants. So the language of a lease actually excludes the sports organization from grants and
I can show you that that there has to be a level of municipal control and when the language is changed from a lease with direct control there's it's just nuance and so the amendment allows more flexibility for our town to negotiate
with Tesa around these nuanced pieces. The other concern around a 50 year is we actually have another youth sports organization. Not to say that Tesa would because they're doing an amazing work, but this is another generation. It's
going to outlive all of us that are doing this. Um, but that organization that isn't under a lease right now, but is actively using fields actually lost their designation in the state. They were administratively dissolved. And so there are things that happen. I don't
think it's going to happen with this board, but that literally the term lease will exclude them from some of the grant funds. So that is a concern. So does it
the town meeting vote could hurt them and the town the select board can actually go longer than 10 years without a town meeting vote. So they could go up to 30 years. I suggested 10, but they could go they could go longer
without our vote. And the nuance of the language would actually help TISA and not hurt them. So if if they're afraid of 10 years, but they've got they've been doing 10 years with the extensions now and it seemed to be working okay
with them. All right, I'm going to ask leave of the meeting to uh ask a question because this is and if you want I will step down and ask the deputy moderator to step in. But my question is is quite frankly, will the youth of Townsen be able to go
and play on these fields or are they going to be locked up like the baseball fields at Fezitin Field are? >> They are fence >> and therefore the kids can't go out there and play. Now, I know that can have an impact on maintenance, but that's my question and
>> not that's not an accurate depiction. I'd love to be able to speak to that, but that's not an accurate depiction. >> So, well, >> I can answer that as >> all right, I'm going to step down. Mr. Rahul, would you take over the chair?
Am I allowed to answer the question or not yet? >> Um, >> I'll let I'll let uh Mr. Raala recognize you. I might not recognize you. Got to get your steps in. >> That's not what I'm doing. So,
>> yeah. children accessibility. >> Uh, the floor recognizes moderator John Barrett. >> Okay, I'm I'm going to defer. Thank you, Mr. Moderator. I'll take my turn and
>> use the microphone. >> Yeah. All right. Now that I've sort of made a total mess of all this. >> Okay. Um I am told that the baseball fields are actually only locked from November 1st to April 1st because of the conditions. So that modifies me
somewhat. Um and so my question is just would that be the same situation with the soccer fields because I feel that it's it's a problem that we don't have enough fields for kids to play and it's I'll I'll defer to your statement that
that's when they're open. But uh there are some times in November you could still play ball. But anyway uh thank you Mr. moderator and I'll take my questions offline. The answer offline. Okay. Selena Thomas 99 Warren Road. Um
the Tesa fields are never closed. There is a gate across the roadway to keep cars out of the field area. We had an issue where somebody drove and did donuts on the field and did a lot of
damage. So, there is a gate across the driveway that you can easily walk around. Many people do park their cars on the driveway in and then walk in. There are um trails also that part of
what TASA is hoping to do is uh put up signage so that people know where these trails are and they can stay on the designated trails and not interfere with habitat. But we also have people that come when soccer is not there and
they'll come and play baseball on the soccer fields. Um anybody is welcome to walk in. We ask that people respect the property >> comments comes up part of the question being answered. >> Hi Kelly Kelly 52 lane. So listening to
this it seems that Tesa is open to the change in language and correct me if I'm wrong. The objection is to the 10 years. Is there a reason, Kim, based on your
grants and all that that 10 is preferable? Is there a reason that why TA is picking 50? I mean, I'll be close to 100 years by the time that lease is up. So, I do understand I I see both sides where TASA does not
want to commit massive financial resources and time to something that is somewhat temporary. I recognize what you're saying about the grants and wanting to make sure we're using the best opportunity. Is there
some middle ground? I I don't think there was any objection to the change in language. It seems to me that the only objection was whether or not 10 versus 50 and can we find a compromise here on the floor something that TA would be comfortable with
and maybe the Craven family would be comfortable with or you or anybody okay >> so Mr. Can I answer that? >> I'd like to go to the next person in line. >> Okay. >> There is two lines Jean by the way. I
understand that. >> Okay. So, um the reason that Tesa is asking for 50 when this all came up, I was working on trying to get grants to fund our field expansion and all the work that goes along with that. Um, and
I was being told repeatedly from different grant funders that the three-year lease, even with the additional optional three-year extensions, was not a long enough period. So, then I went into the town
records and I said, "Okay, what other leases has the town given?" The town recently gave a 50-year lease to a property in town. So I said 50 years is a good long time. That sounds like a
great thing for TASA to be able to get these fields in use. They'll be improved and people for the next 50 years or maybe 48 depending on how long it takes us to build will be able to use what we've done. So that is the
reason for the 50 years. >> Comment comes as part of the answer to the question Mr. Right out. >> Yeah. Bill Ride out, 88 South Harbor Road. Um, I certainly understand the concerns that you want to give the Taser
the best chance of making grants, but ultimately I'm going to vote the way Taser really sees. So, I mean, if you can come to a compromise or some changes that TASA would approve of, I will vote for it. Otherwise, I will vote down this motion. Thank you,
>> Miss King. Hi again. Um I am not in favor of the amendment. I I think that um the TEASA and the select board have worked to create this 50-year lease and they've negotiated the reasons for it. I
think that Tesa has been operating those soccer fields responsibly and they've been running a great program as far as I know. I don't have any kids in soccer or you know I haven't been down there but everything I've seen that they're running they're a good partner. They're a good neighbor in
towns and a good neighbor to the turtles. And I think that there's a lot at stake. And I think g giving them, like she said, we've got other 50-year leases that we've given. What's wrong with these guys? Why can't we give it to them? There's no reason not to. But we I
I think that making it more complicated for the select. I mean, to do all this extra stuff makes it harder for the select board. Giving a 50-year lease. the parameters are all set and if any amendments need to be made, they can also be negotiated. Just because you have a 50-year lease doesn't mean you
can't renegotiate at some time. But I think that we we can lock things in and every everybody, the town, us, the kids and Tesa can plan for the future for as long as soccer is a thing. And I think it's only growing actually, but I
think we're I think the 50-year le the original motion I think is the best deal that we have in front of us and that's what has been worked on. Thank you. >> Yes, sir. >> Brad, >> maintain the decorum.
>> Brad on one brown road. Um, what I'd like to say is what the soccer program has built is something that's going to be sustainable and last the test of time. I think we all know sports aren't going anywhere, and that's one big bright spot for this community. The
50-year lease makes a lot of sense in my mind because let's just look back at other uh fields in this town. We have a baseball field in Timberly Park we can't touch because now that it's become overgrown just to be able to get approvals. The cost that it's going to take to get approvals to re resurrect
that is ridiculous. We have a group that's already reached into their own pocket, has already been a benefit of the town, and they want to continue that work. There is no reason honestly to even consider this amendment and to stick with the original amendment lasted by the soccer program. Um in regards to the
fields not being open. If you go on their website, you could actually look on the towns and Ashby youth baseball website. You can get onto the fields. They will allow you to use those fields. There is policies in place to be able to get those fields. So it's not an accurate depiction and it definitely skews the view and perception of the
50-year lease. So I I want to make sure I'm adamantly clear about that. And I know we have some people from towns and Ashby youth baseball here that can dive in a little bit more, but I want to make sure that that's very well understood. From my understanding, the soccer program is not looking to keep anybody out. I'd also ask how many towns and
residents actually make up the quantity of the amount of kids that are playing in that program. I would argue a very small percentage of ASP students are there. For all those that were in favor of keeping Ashb open, why wouldn't we want Ashb to come to this community? It only benefits us. So from those perspectives,
other than an emotional response to where this field's come from, I can't understand why we'd be opposed to this. >> So Miss Grain, >> I'm trying to think of Kelly's question. It was compromise on the time. Um, so to
be clear, there's flexibility for the board to go up in years without the town meeting vote. Um, so that's a flexibility for the select board. Legislatively, it's over that threshold
that it has to come to a town meeting vote. But when you go over that threshold is when it triggers um the perception that it's a transfer and just the language used here tonight that it's the TASA fields. They're actually not.
They were deed to the inhabitants of the town of Townsen, not one league. And just the fact that they control the permitting makes it even look more like a transfer. There's lots of legislation around that. So >> well point it's not
>> this is on the motion to amend. So I'd like to ask the question of what the sort of the >> like a an agreement would be on the different lease. I'm I'm still I'm still ruling that this is on the motion to
amend and this discussion is not >> right but the question of what it would be like if if I would amend the amendment I was keeping with the 10 years cuz that's what they were already operating on was a 10year >> again um >> did you ask at this point years it would
be useful >> what's that >> ask Selena how many years would be useful 20 >> she's I mean I'm just saying to help you >> come to him of the minds here. >> Well, right now I'm trying to to get to
the point of of voting on this amendment either up or down. >> Um, so we've been working with the baseball towns and youth ba baseball and
they applied for a loan and were denied because they did not have a long-term lease. So to TA's point of view, 50 years is a long-term lease. I was
told that if we wanted to have more than a three-year lease, we had to come to town meeting. So 30 was not an option. So So I'm not sure who you talk to, but whoever you talk to needs to read the
law. Sorry. Read the law. question. >> Someone would have to make that motion at the microphone so I could identify who it is. >> Cindy King, one West Elm Street. Move the question.
>> Is there a second? >> At this point, I did not hear a second up here. >> Second. >> Thank you. >> All those in favor of moving the question, please say I. I >> all those those who are opposed to
moving the question please say no. The eyes have it. It's unanimous. What is the motion to amend? What is Can someone read that question? Now I know why you said that.
Move to amend article six and inserting in place thereof to authorize the select board to enter into non-exclusive use agreements, licenses, permits, or short-term lease arrangements each for a
term not to exceed 10 years with youth organizations, recreational groups, and other community users. Provided that such agreements preserve municipal oversight, guaranteed continued public access, and ensure the land is available
for broad recreational purposes and organized youth sports serving the residents of the inhabitants of the town of Townsen as so stated in the deed conveyed as part of the open space residential development related to the Horseshoe Drive containing 40 acres more
or less as described in a deed recorded with the Middle Sex South District Registry of Deeds in book 41569 page 181 excluding there from the water well test field shown as fields
the well field located on Mason Road and West Towns in Massachusetts. All those in favor please say I. Those who are opposed say no. >> No.
The nose have it. It's unanimous. >> We're back to the original. >> We're back to the original motion now. Yes sir, >> Mr. Moderator. >> So I think you you can take over. You got us here. >> All right. I stepped into it that time. All right. Is there anything further to
be said, Miss Churchville? >> Mary Jane Churchville, 292 Main Street. I just want to clarify that I am speaking right now as a resident, not as a member of FinCom. >> Okay. >> Okay. Because FinCom didn't take any
recommendation on this at the time. Um, I would like to make a motion. >> What's your motion? My motion is to table this article so that we can get more information on what the lease is going to say and to
get legal opinions if it is in violation of any articles like 97 30B anything that would compromise the lease. And I just want to throw in the fact that I am very
>> well I think I think Mr. Churchville, you can make a motion to table, but that's not debatable. So, you can't really, you know, advocate for it. It requires a 2/3 vote. >> Okay. >> Um, basically,
>> and I wrote it. Yeah, I wrote it out. >> Yeah. I mean, typically what um what we do and although in our practice typically this this will come out at the beginning. So I'm I'm entertaining your motion to table as basically a motion to
take no action. So when you table something, it basically takes it off the table of our discussion now and it can be brought back at a later date. So whether you call it a motion to table or a motion to take no action, the effect is the same that we put off. We're
basically postponing a decision on this until it's brought back at another date. So, um, but it it does require, it's not debatable and does require a twothirds vote. So, all those in favor of, uh,
taking no action on this article, this is the main article, article six, uh, please say I. >> I. >> Those opposed say no. >> No. >> Okay. The nos have it. The motion at the
table is not passed. So the main article is before us. Is there anything further to be said? Looks like we're ready to vote. Uh yes, Mr. Strereer. >> Hi Cobrer also wrote uh I I noticed that
one of the benefits up there is um the endangered species appetite for conservation benefit. Um I uh understand the conservation restriction um to work on it and
that is certainly going to benefit the endangered species there. Um and I thank you everyone for who has worked on that. Um a lot lot of tireless nights on that I've noticed. But um in in saying I the I don't see how
there's a benefit when you know the intent is to um to develop another field um and have a lot more um asphalt and parking spaces, driveway, uh the
lighting the lighting from the lighting structures, the lightning um big lightning rod, whatever you call But um also a hard structure being the um uh
intended snack shack. It's all taking away from habitat that is uh within the uh natural heritage endangered species area. >> All right, comments come on the motion.
Um I'm sorry, your name again? >> Selena Thomas, 99 Warren Road. Um there is not going to be any lighting at the fields. It is part of our lease that we are not allowed to have lighting. Um and
we are full support of that. We are going to have a lightning structure which is a pavilion that people can get under when lightning comes to the fields which it does frequently in the spring and summer.
>> Okay. comments come on the motion. Mr. Ride Out, >> it's also the intent to have much more parking space, a new driveway, and a new another field as well. Um, have you is there really a um been a
study to assess if this these extra areas are needed for the level of um use that they will that the town gets. And there are I understand that they do use Hernand Brook already uh for their
in town league the young the younger kids. Um I have more on that too. Go ahead. So the all right if you can uh >> Selena Thomas um yes there has been some
investigation into different possibilities um using other fields buying other property. Um, and as far as whether or not we need this, currently we do use the Hawthorne Brook Fields,
but we are charged hourly by the school system, um, which has become prohibitive. So, we would like to bring all of our soccer players to the same location. Um, and we also
have worked with the endangered species department in the state and they are approving our current field expansion suggestion like our uh what we have proposed.
>> Mr. Moderator, >> could I miss Miss Kell? Um the uh the additional parking, there's a section of the property that is not within priority habitat. Um and that is the section
where the additional parking is going with that added entrance onto Mason Road. That section of the property is not within priority habitat. So just note that all the rest of the property is but where they are they've really
worked hard to get something that NHSP would approve and and having the parking where they have it um eliminates that concern. >> Yeah, I I understand.
>> Okay, hold on. Mr. Streer, Mr. Streer, you got to be re-recognized. You you you can't just stay there and keep asking questions. I'm sorry. >> May I be recognized? >> Mr. Mr. Rahula, >> we we are now trying to microgotiate
the lease that's being authorized only by this vote. All of this discussion may very well be sound, but it has nothing to do immediately with this motion for approval of this article, which is
simply to authorize the board. Well, I think some some elements of it are within the the four corners of the article as far as do they people want to vote for this because they they need to know more about the lease and the condition. So, I gave Mr. street or some
liberty there with asking questions. But I think we're at a point where uh you're right, Mr. Rahula, that the lease in its specific terms, we are not going to negotiate here at the town meeting. So I think we're ready to vote. Um so
without a motion to move the question. Uh so all those in favor of the uh motion on article 6, please say I. I. Those opposed say no. >> No. >> The eyes have it.
And uh that brings us to and I hope all the soccer players and baseball players will be marching in Townsson's 250th parade on June 20th. All right. Is article 7, I believe. Is
there a I'm I'm going to omit reading article 7 unless you really want me to. >> Mr. Moderator, >> I I'd like to make a motion to table articles 7, 8, and 9 as they will return at a later town meeting.
>> All right. Uh typically, if we're not going to take action, we in towns and we take a motion to take no action. >> I make a motion to take no action on articles 7, 8, and nine as they will return at a later town meeting. >> Identify who you are.
>> Thank you. >> All right. Uh motion has been made to take no action on articles seven >> 7 8 and nine or okay so understand this is a something of a consent decree type
of motion what's being asked is that we take all of the remaining articles which are 7 8 and nine >> 10 and 11 >> oh we still have 10 and 11 >> okay sorry that's just 7 8 and nine to take no action
>> there is a hand up down in income. >> Yeah, probably not. >> So, uh, basically I guess we'll put this off till Do you want to count it? >> Does anybody want to count? >> Looks like we don't have a quorum.
So, uh, effectively we're taking no action on the remaining articles anyway. Is there a motion to adjurnn? rather to dissolve. >> Harrison may so moved. >> Wait, I guess if we don't have a quorum,
we have to dissolve. Mr. Braha, >> right? So, I think we have to make a decision about whether or not it's been made. You're right. If if we don't count, we I'm going to declare that we don't have a quorum. And so I'll have to tain a motion to adjurnn which we'll
decide I guess later whether or not we're going to bring this back at a later date maybe at the annual town meeting. >> Special within an annual. >> Well we do a special within the annual usually. >> All right. Is there a motion to adjourn? Does the select board have a time frame
for another meeting? >> Uh >> it would be at the annual town meeting. >> You'll see on the screen here. Annual town election April 27th. annual town meeting May 5th, 2026 here at the North Middle Sex Regional High School 7:00 that evening.
>> So we can adjourn this the remainder of this meeting to May 5th if you want to take these articles up again on that date. >> You just put them on the annual warnings >> or just Yeah. >> Otherwise you tell me
just put on the closed because I was close to >> I don't know if we can dissolve >> still the sockets warrant so that even when it's closed they can I don't I don't think there's any
prohibition in our just dissolving the meeting >> and and you can bring these articles back in the annual. >> Yeah, we we'll bring them back to the annual. >> Okay. Do I hear a motion to dissolve this meeting? >> Second. >> All right. All those in favor say I.
>> I. That was a post.