WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=d1VsKXudr5M

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: d1VsKXudr5M):
- 00:00:00: Meeting Call To Order and Pledge of Allegiance
- 00:01:27: Approval of April 7th, 2026 Meeting Minutes
- 00:03:11: Discussing Posting Warrant for a Special Town Meeting
- 00:05:21: Senior Center Per Diem Van Driver Appointment Approval
- 00:06:46: Affordable Housing Trust Member Appointment Discussion
- 00:08:07: Adobe Acrobat Pro Subscription Purchase Approval
- 00:11:42: Townsend Trails Association Partnership Endorsement
- 00:20:48: Public Comment - Meeting Room Discussion Interruption
- 00:21:20: Recycling Center Attendant One Position Approval
- 00:22:41: Solid Waste and Recycling Enterprise Fund Budget Review
- 00:33:24: Releases Draft Tip Comment Period Presentation
- 00:36:53: Citizen Petition Feedback - Medical Marijuana Bylaws
- 00:44:15: Annual Town Meeting Warrant Review and Approval
- 00:54:59: Annual Town Meeting Budget and Expenditure Discussion
- 01:08:30: West Townsend Reading Room and Other Properties Discussion
- 01:23:01: Motion to Approve Warrant with Edits from Discussion
- 01:34:15: Discussing TASA 50-Year Lease Extension
- 01:40:10: Discussing Earth Day Schedule and Table Setup


Part: 1

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Good afternoon everyone. My name is Laura Shiffren. I will call the meeting of the select board of fe April 21st, 2026 at 4 p.m. Roll call. I believe present

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>> and Laura Shiffman present. Would you join me in the pledge of allegiance, please? I pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and

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justice for all. I would like to thank all of our veterans and all of our service members members here and abroad as well as all of our emergency response individuals, our staff

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and all of our appointed and elected officials as well as your families. We appreciate all of your service to our town. The meeting is being recorded and will be uploaded to YouTube. Is anyone else recording?

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>> Hearing none. Uh, >> should we ask Cindy if she's recording if she may not be listening at the moment? >> She may not be. She probably has this on. She's live. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> We'll just assume she's recording. >> Yeah. Okay. Um, the minutes of 47, 2026.

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Is there a motion? I get it to move to accept the meetings minutes of April 7th, 2026. >> Um, Veronica Cal second >> and I have some discussion. >> Yes, I have some changes. >> Okay. >> I don't know if you guys already sent

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them in. >> I had a few, but >> which mine were the um OPE study contract is $4,750, not 47, 500. I about rolled on that one. Okay.

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Um, >> that was not one of the ones that I got. >> Um, uh, the vote on the second reading of the social media policy. My, um, my minutes show that you abstained and I voted yes. And it's reverse in the

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minutes. And the last one that I'm I'm going to give is it says that the motorcycle donation came from Harbor Freight and it actually came from Harbor Auto Body. So those are my three. >> Okay. Um I'll amend my motion to include um

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edits as read by >> um I will second to have amend them. >> Okay. You've accepted Okay. You've accepted her edits actually. Okay. Any further discussion? >> Uh no. >> Hearing none vote as amended

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>> and la. Thank you. If it pleases the board, I would like to go down and take care of 6.1. >> It's the first part of 6.1. >> The first part of 6.1, which is this the posting of the special

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meeting, >> the special part. >> Oh, just the special part. >> Just the special part >> because that has to be posted like right away. >> So, I will um screen share. Just give me one second. So this is in regards to um towns in

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sort of tradition to have a special town meeting within your annual town meeting. Um for this year it's truly just to cover the snow and ice deficit for the uh current uh fiscal year 2026 deficit. Um yeah, we had hoped to have it under

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$310,000. It came in just a smidge over at 312817. And before you as well as the SharePoint is the special town meeting warrant for us to sign now and then um maybe while you guys are doing one other thing, I'll

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raise it down to the town clerk's office so they can get in touch with the officer to have it posted today. Um because we're within the two week uh window >> to satisfy that. >> I make a motion if you want to. Sorry. I make a motion to accept the special town meeting warrant article for May 5th,

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2026 at 7:05 p.m. as presented. >> Second. >> Any further discussion? Hearing none, we'll call vote. I chair and Laura. >> Do we have

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>> We've got it right here. So, we'll go Lori to Valerie and then to Veronica and I'll race it downstairs. So, either. Yeah. >> To those watching our agenda, that's just our first part of the 6.1. We just

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wanted to make sure we got that on the on the docket. >> Right. So again, again, my intent, if it pleases the board, is to continue with the old

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business. Well, no, I'm not. I'm going to take the um I'm going to go to 5.3. >> Excellent. Yep. >> Because we have 545. Um my intent is to get almost all the business done before

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we enter into the joint meetings >> and then um and have everything done so that we can go into executive and not return. >> Love that idea. >> Okay. >> Uh 5.3

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uh as we jump around a little bit is appointing uh Mr. Rob Foster as the perdm band driver for the townsen senior center uh with an effective start date of May 15th. Um you know he's gone through the other obligations of um

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hiring and his appointment is before you. >> Is there a motion >> have I good to move to appoint Rob Foster as pdium van driver for the towns and senior center with an effective start date of May 1526 second. Any discussion?

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>> Thanks, Rob. >> Okay. Uh, roll call vote to check and la. >> 5.4. >> Uh, 5.4 is um before the select board to appoint someone to join the affordable

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housing trusts as uh your current select board member is finishing up uh her term as select board. And does that have to be done immediately? >> It does. >> Um the next meeting is the 30th. Um we

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have a an RFP out. Correct. >> We have a um so the next meeting of the housing trust is 30th of April. I'll post it. Um you should make it effective on the 27th April.

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>> Or 28th. Yeah. >> The day after. >> Yeah. The 28th. >> It's up to you. I've been doing the housing stuff. If you want me to do it, I can do it. >> If you want to do housing and then if it's we can switch if it's too much or anything, but that's fine with me. >> Okay. >> I mean, it's in my wheelhouse or or do

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you want to? >> No, no, no. I've been doing more of the budget stuff and everything and you want to keep in the housing plate as as well as I do. >> We can kind of bring anything back to us because I mean I obviously support the initiative. So, >> okay. I'll understand a motion.

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Um, I valich move to appoint uh Laura Shiffren as the select board of >> be a select board to the affordable housing trust. >> Select board to the affordable housing trust effective April 28, 2026 through April 26, 2027.

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Second. Okay. Any further discussion? Okay. Roll call vote. more ship or thank you. Next >> um next 5.5 is Adobe Acrobat Pro purchase proposal. Um there are some materials in SharePoint in regards to

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this. Um Adobe Pro or you know as we all use PDFs for our computers and such. Um they now charge a subscription. >> Um we are currently looking at uh with Sabria's help getting Adobe Acrobat Pro. Um, and we get sort of 10 user licenses.

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>> Um, the cost is about 30, it's about $3,600 for the year, about $300 a month. Um, we probably use professional services or dues and memberships um bucket for this. Um, it is something that you have some staff members

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consuming on their own. Like I have it for my own personal stuff, but it's 2,000 a month. You're >> 3,600 for the year. 300 $300 a month. making it 3600. >> Yeah, >> I think that's a pretty good price

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compared to what they pay on mine and I don't even know what I'm doing with it. >> Yeah, Sabrina was pretty good with um you sort of asking them to work with us and come up with a pretty fair number. Um it I think it's just a product you have to have. It's like Microsoft Office. You

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have to have it on everyone's computer or you have memberships so people can sign in and use their documents and then sign out, you know, and another user can sign in. >> I wish there was a better way. >> Um, so this will cover fiscal year >> 27,

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>> correct? Yeah. >> Okay, with that I'm good. Um, because it really isn't budgeted in 27. >> So, um, yeah, but if this >> goes through fiscal year 27, I'm good. Yeah, >> I think you need it. >> We do. Yeah.

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>> Um, so is there a motion? >> Yep. Um, I would move I move to approve the purchase proposal for Adobe Acrobat Pro, including the addition of users and plan update as presented. >> Uh, Veronica Kelse. So, will each

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department get a license? Is that what you plan to do? >> Yeah, if you look in the folder, there was a department list. >> I never >> I mean, it wasn't there. Oh, what may >> 10. Okay, that's right. >> It's 10. It's 10 licenses. I thought it was supposed to be in there because I

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know her and I were so um initially we thought, oh, does the police need one? No, no, police probably has their own because they have their own documents. Same with like fire, water, so we kind of pulled them off the list. >> Um, >> you know, we did, you know, select

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board. Um, we did one for plan like land use. um you know departments of that nature that will run into it from time to time um but won't be using it you know openended all day long. So but those with revolving funds this would be a revolving fund expense.

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>> So like recreation if they needed one they could use their revolving fund >> to procure it. So >> okay clerk used two maybe >> they could but they may have their own um sort of fund. I think he was on our list though or they were on our list so

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>> okay. Any further discussion hearing? None. Roll call vote I la 5.6. Did you want to >> um Yeah, I so I think it was trying to

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remember the date now. It's all blur. A week and a half, two weeks ago. Um we have the um conservation had a presentation by the towns and trails association which is a new nonprofit that was formed by a couple very ambitious individuals in town longtime

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residents um trying to kind of fill a need understanding that the town doesn't have a lot of resources to maintain its trails and so trying to provide that service for the town. um some of the people who are part of that have

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previously volunteered with conservation and gotten approval to work on the trails. So now they have an official nonprofit um and that's it's been established. It's already you know all stamped approval Massachusetts. So um

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this is you know the presentation that they made to conservation. They're they would like to start um by improving meeting house trails >> and conservation is in agreement with that and they're looking, you know, to

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do it as soon as possible pretty much. >> Good discussion. >> Uh yeah, I I can discuss a lot here. Um okay, >> I would a I looked at their map and I added my own little there's a trail that goes up from here to Highland Street.

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Um, I would like to see that as part of what they do so that they maintain that entrance into the loop trails as well as from the top of meeting house hill. I want to make sure that they um coordinate with North County Land Trust

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before they hit the land trust trails on the right. I don't expect that they will because they're only looking for uh the town pro right now. I mean, they they saw this as a starting for potential future partnerships, but they would work with

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the individual holders. >> I I would >> it would be at the state or if it's not a specific town property, they're they're not there yet. >> I I would like to see something in their plan that shows that they regularly coordinate with the conservation commission.

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>> Um, and this volunteer agreement needs to be vetted by town council before it's put out there. So, I wouldn't approve it unless it was >> vetted. Um, I think it's a great idea. I I really do. This is is very much needed.

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>> Needed. It's really needed. >> Um, I would like to see where they map the trails. Howard Stein I watch the Conservation Commission, by the way. Um Howard Stein is on all trails. I know because I put it there. >> There's also I think I GPS. Yeah, I

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found the MRPC map of all trails too in towns and >> that's okay. But if you look at what Pero has or what Graten has for their trails, it would be nice to have something like that. >> Um, >> so I think this is a great opportunity.

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>> I It is an opportunity. I would just make sure that it wasn't like, yeah, go off and do it yourself. And as far as volunteers go, um the people that helped the land trust build trails up until 2022 was service learning at the high

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school and those were wonderful groups to work with. The um the students were excellent and they have tools at the high school. They they came with tools um you know hand tools, rakes and you

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know shovels and you name it. Um they also helped us paint um markers on the trails, the blue blazes. Um they uh it was Ray Jackson who taught them how to do it and is no longer with us.

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>> So I should mention that to them. >> They were a wonderful group to work with and they were very enthusiastic. Um sometimes their parents would come. We had similar things to this that they would sign. Um

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so anyway, great great um trail maintenance um volunteers and very enthusiastic. >> So I would add that to that. Um I I think this is okay. I would just like

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um I I would just like to uh to see some sort of coordination with the conservation commission. >> I think the intention before they started anything was obviously for us to figure out what we were doing and then for them to have sitewalks with

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conservation. >> It does say work under conservation guidance book. What does that mean? So anyway, um, >> so for now, >> we don't have docs to actually approve unless they're vetted,

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>> updated and vetted. >> I mean, I was just looking for I mean, that's already a fairly good working. I don't think we have something that No, the um volunteer reform that was used last time.

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>> Um, I I would just make sure that it's um It's >> I didn't I didn't want to do that until I had your guys >> because the same ideas. >> Yeah. So, I just wanted to get your guest support before I went did any of

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that. So, so if um the the second half was the snowmoilers and I have different comments with that and I'm not seeing that here. guide. This is just the times and trails. >> If it's humanpowered, I'm good.

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>> Yeah, that's all. If >> there's anything beyond that, then different set of thoughts. I guess >> that's all this was at this point. >> Okay. So, uh >> how do you want to word that?

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>> Um since you're so good sometimes. >> Unless you put me on the spot, Lori. Um I make a motion. I've to make a motion for the sack board to um >> endors moving forward. >> Endorsement. You can make it.

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>> Chairs don't make motions. They're not supposed to. >> They can. >> Yeah, but they're not supposed to. >> A facilitated position, not a session. >> No, not yet. >> Oh, this is a regular meeting.

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>> We started at 4. You guys are at 6 I think with the audit. >> We have 5:45 5:45. >> And when are you going to do old business? >> Um >> after like everything will be in a row. >> Yeah, we're we're we're going through section five right now. New business.

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>> I'm trying to get everything done before the joints. >> Okay. So before 6.1, >> we're done with 6.1. We did we did the first part for approving the special town meeting warrant and we'll do the

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rest of it later on. So it'll be a little bit so >> after six. >> Oh no probably around in a little bit then >> I'm trying to go through everything before we join at 5:45. >> Right.

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>> Okay. Well, our first joint is at 5:45 and the one with you I think is at 6. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. with audit and capital and finance, right? >> Okay. So, where were >> I thought we were pretty good with the endorsement of

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>> um I move that this select endorse the um partnership between conservation commission and the towns and trails association and um assist with uh legal requirements as needed. Are you second or would you like to

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>> add something with the >> pending review of the volunteer agreement >> and well and there's also going to have to be an agreement with towns and trails association. Uh yeah. Um so I I guess >> review by council the rough draft. I

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think I would of uh what's here >> and um and we look forward to seeing >> Yeah. >> Um the agreements between the association and conservation and the volunteers.

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>> So the association >> y >> that's good. So it's motioned and second. I'm a second now. >> Okay, >> that's fine. >> Okay. >> Was that the motion? >> No, that's great. >> Okay. So, are you the motioner? >> Yes. >> Okay. I'm the seconder.

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>> Okay. Is there any further discussion? >> Hearing none. Roll call vote. >> Um I check >> and Laura I I think that's great. We're going to have to listen to the tape to get the motion.

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>> That's okay. >> Sorry. >> Sabrina's good at that. Okay. >> I think we're going to remember it. Uh, five points. Excuse me. >> I'm sorry. I don't mean to interrupt. Um, I was here. Um, you guys talking

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about the meeting room. Did I miss that? >> Haven't done that yet. >> We haven't done that yet. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Okay. >> Okay. Can uh 6 5.7 recycling center attendant. >> Yep. So, we rec um previously approved the recycling center attendant 2

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position. Um we learned after the fact that it's supposed to be recycling tendant one position. Um so, we would be asking for your approval for the recycling intendant one position. Um full well knowing that um they have a potential person in mind who may grow

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into the recycling tenant 2 position. Okay. Um but just to follow the process along, currently we want to make sure we um okay the recycling div one position. Um they still have to get the fincom thumbs up for that just to make sure we're following our hiring freeze

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concept correctly. Um so you know your motion would be move to approve the recycling tended position one subject to finance committee approval. Not we're not naming anybody's posting

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um because of the hiring. >> Okay. I move to approve the posting and hiring of a recycling center attendant one position subject to finance committee approval. >> Um Veronica Kell. >> Okay. Any further discussion? Hearing

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none. Roll call vote. Um Veronica Kell. 5.8. >> Um 5.8. Nate, um just as we're shifting from the recycling tenant position, um thought it was a good time to quickly take a look at our solid waste and recycling enterprise fund budget. Um

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that group has been hard working hard with the board of health. Um you know, with their first sort of first year as their enterprise fund, you know, for trash services in town, um as well as recycling center and management. Um I screen share that. Yeah, I'm going to

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screen share it in just one second, but um we will take a look at sort of what they're proposing. You know, it's really their um their budget to share um and sort of take it from there. But um you know, I think it's important for us to take a look at all these different

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things. Um you know, they are looking at a current subsidy or a shortfall for this this coming year. um having sat with fincom that doesn't come as a surprise because sometimes your first year as an enterprise fund can take a little bit of um takes a little bit of

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time and momentum to get rolling. Um but I did think it was important for the selective select board to be aware of how that um fund is doing. um when you think of their shortfall this year, they do have some coverage from

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the stabilization um kickoff or boosting fund, however you want to define it, and was not alone. It was a you know, stabilization vote to ensure that this program um got its legs off the ground. Um but you just thought

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it was good for you guys to take a look at the different um factors here that are before you. Any questions? >> Um, yeah. Um, yes, I have questions more on FY26 and on FY27.

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>> Okay. >> I'm curious as to how the 160 and stabilization hasn't been spent yet. They have they project spending 626,794 on um shaws alone. That's just the way

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services. Um I would be really curious to go over the FY26 numbers because what I see as a shortfall of almost 16K, >> correct? >> Um for FY26 and I thought that incorporated the

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startup funds because the startup which was stabilization. So, I I watched the board of health meeting, too, and I heard someone say, "Oh, the 160 stabilization hasn't been spent, and I'm curious as to how on earth they paid for

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the um July and August pickup without that." Um, and so I I think that this enterprise fund needs a um a look. So I agree with you there. Um I have not

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spent a lot of time on your enterprise fund for solid waste. Very very little time to be honest. Um I don't know if there's a liaison to that group and if if any >> I'm on the board of health.

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>> Okay. But what about like the enterprise fund itself? >> I don't know. >> Is that sort of a dotted line? Okay. Um >> I'm not the math wizard. Veronica is >> um so >> I count on that. >> Yeah, I too have some reservations in terms of how the spending is being done.

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Um >> would would it be worth a sit down between the accountant and >> so the accountant has spent a lot of time with them already and has come back with me with some reservations on sort of how the spending's going and just

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sort of the sustainability of the practice. You know, if they're 15K short this year, looking at 60K short next year at $75,000, you're left to what 90 90 or so thousand left >> for the next year after that.

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>> How are they ensuring viability is >> if that if that is accurate? >> If if in fact the stabilization funds have not been spent, but if I look at the BVA for >> the whole thing that shifted over >> October. Yes. Um, and so I it's a little

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bit of fuzzy math in there. Um, and it may be okay. I just um have failed to see it. >> Um, which doesn't mean it's not okay. It just means that it's not obvious. Um,

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and if we're in the hole for next year and the and it goes up again the following year. Um, >> well, it's it's not clear to me. Is there a plan to incrementally increase the bag charge to help offset some of

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that subsidy? Because you, you know, >> like the federal government, you just have to keep subsidizing like there's only the dollar just loses its value. I mean, right? There's a whole sort of economic theory that will begin to impact this structure. >> The discussion I heard was they were going to increase the sticker fee and

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hope to reduce the bed fee >> um for what I does. >> Yeah, just yeah mathwise that would be a real >> um increasing the budget. I thought it said >> I thought it said here the bag was

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staying the same next for this year. Yeah, it does say that. >> Um there's also a grant that they got 21,000 this year, 21,000 next year, and then it drops off. >> So there so that puts it

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>> once all said and done, you're probably going to be including the increase. This is in FY28, the third year of the program. >> You're going to be at least 100,000 in the whole >> correct >> um between the grant, the increase in

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Shaws, um and the deficit, >> the current and based off current projections for future years. >> Yes. >> And we can't afford to take up that. >> No, I mean, I guess >> you know, enterprise funds, you know, stepping back a bit, do take a few years

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to get rolling. um through fincom I think has been you know sort of acutely aware of the monthly numbers that have come in and out you know I think you know this time next year you'd be really having a a strong conversation with board of health about is this truly

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viable is you do do you have another year and you because you know and based on current math without an increase in you bad costs or shifting some things around in the budget I I don't see it Um >> is it even a midway midy year next year

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conversation when we're looking at long range planning and financials that >> but it's an enterprise fund so the financial aren't on the separate but give them time >> um but they are on the town because if there is a deficit it's the it's this

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board that has to see how it's paid >> well dependent upon the contract with Shaw and it just be as of you know the end of April you're no longer picking up for people they've got it figured out on their Oh, you have to give them maybe two months notice. You have to read the contract,

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>> but there it was like there's a out. >> Yeah, there is an out clause, but you have to give them enough notice so that you have enough funds in the enterprise account to pay for the pickups that have already occurred. >> Um, so

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>> I think they should know that midway. >> So I should be able to get more than two months notice. You want to look maybe three or four months in and see where it is. >> Well, quarterly is not a bad look either. And >> especially the first quarter because that's when they take in the most money.

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>> Well, I would say, you know, see how this the bag the stickers go this year. See what's happening. Look at I was just saying fall because you'd have a couple months in and you're general >> meeting discussion. Yeah, for sure. >> Because maybe it's an opportunity for

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Board of Health to market themselves, but also sort of share with the town um you know, in sort of a report to say here's what we're seeing outlook, >> you know, you you know, folks, we may have to increase your bag costs a few more dollars or however we're going to make it work. And is the town sort of

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responsive to that >> um discussion? Um >> or they sell more stickers than last year >> and they're good. >> Yeah, they've done a fantastic job. um being being a great cost option in the area. Um I just think costs have gone up. You we're seeing inflation

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everywhere. Fuel search charges, you know, you're going to start to see stuff really um get competitive when it comes to those numbers. Um but really the point here was to bring this to your attention um and sort of share with you what we've received

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from the board of health um in terms of um budgets and outlook and you know go from there. >> They're supposed to start their sticker sales in June. >> Okay. >> Effective July 1st. So

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>> we'll deal with it then. You know, I I and I do have questions just on that page one with their budget. You know, I and I'm I do have to take some time to catch up with the board of health and perhaps attend one of their meetings just to understand all the makeups of these different

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items because some of the costs seem a little high to me. I just want to understand the current spend down and how they got to these numbers um and so on. Sure. I in particular K when you get there the administrative stipen versus indirect administrative. I was just that

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distinction which is which because that directly affects our incoming. >> Well and you also have a board of health admin who is compensated by the town but is also being compensated here. Those are questions at a at a different level to understand. So

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>> sort of go from there >> the indirect compensation here. So, do we can we drop the um like how is this working? >> There's an MU. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Should be not some stuff from last

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summer. >> So, no real voting matter here. Just um bringing it to your attention and um probably a good summer task the review and get this under our belt properly. >> Do you have contract?

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>> I think they're online. Yeah, they're online. >> They're on the vendor part of the contract site, I think. >> Okay. >> Okay. Um, that brings us to 5.9 releases draft. Oh, that's for tip

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comment period. >> This was more just for something for you guys to take a look at. Um, bring this up. Just >> I saw it, but I'm not I'm not ready to give a recommendation or anything on it.

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>> It's just for public comment. They already have their list all set up for what's going to happen. >> Yeah, I know. We're not in it either. >> Yeah. And and the thing I noticed we weren't Okay, so we're not in for 20 27 to 2031 and we had no projects for 2022 to 2020. >> No, we we haven't been on the T forever.

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We're just not even >> but it's a proc there's a whole process and I think the corridor analysis that you guys are going to >> attend is um one way to start looking at that because we have this intersection we have the one down by the high school

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that isn't in our town >> part of it is though >> um the inter well the right intersection at >> and we've been trying to do that forever and getting on the tip of the whole process.

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>> But I think we have all the relevant or not relevant stuff. >> So I've been attending those meetings for a couple three years uh cuz when I was chair of MRPC and a lot every single time there was a

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report like there's something in Shirley, there's something in air everything gets pushed out. They don't have the funding >> and it gets pushed out. it does not get addressed within the time frame that it's >> well they they juggle it because things

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change over time and cost change and it depends on how >> it just seems like that center part seems to get when I looked at the map of towns and where they're all from everything it's in that nice little route too and we just >> everything along

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priority that is true >> um but >> I mean I personally like the diner Yeah, >> they've had. So, >> whatever we can do to help with the high school the next year or two. >> All right.

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>> 31 the the Rotary. Um >> Ashby that was on the tip. >> Yeah, >> it probably took five years. Um >> I like it too >> to Yeah, I thought it was a good idea, >> but I can't p and I would love to see

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that down there, but I can't picture how they would work it. I can't picture how they're gonna work a roundabout there. >> Oh, I could I do an intersection multiple times a day. >> No, I know that. And

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>> how much would they have to take away? >> And I don't care. But you're still taking they're going to be taking some corners there. >> Yeah. >> Um, >> but it would slow down. >> The main entrance for buses in and out of the high school should be on Crosley Road,

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>> not on 119. That's what makes sense to me. >> Yeah. Well, that too >> part of the whole thing. >> But anyway, so if anybody ever gets a chance to throw it back thing was stated in this meeting, >> you can you can bring it as a public

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comment. >> Good. >> Okay. Um 5.10. >> Uh 5.10 is in regards to a citizen petition that will come before you at the annual town meeting. Um it first has

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to go to the planning board. So this is your opportunity to share um any comments or no comments if you don't have any for the three citizens petitions that'll be discussed at public hearing. Um now is your time to uh deliberate

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>> because I was on the planning board when these were placed and so were you. >> Okay. So um >> I have the bylaw already. If I'll step back just really quickly um for those listening at home, this is in regards to three warn articles that were citizens petitioned for changing the buffer zone

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related to medical marijuana um within the town of Townson >> and it also changed >> cultivation >> cultivation requirement. >> Um so this is do you want my overall comment? I wrote my comments here and

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then I'll talk about other things, but I could do it at the public meeting on non, you know, the night before the town meeting as well. Um, I would prefer that zoning bylaw changes come from the planning board as opposed to a citizen

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petition. Therefore, I request the planning board not recommend um these articles and suggest that the citizen petitioners work work with the planning board, not through an annual town meeting vote to make a zoning

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change. These are zoning changes and they affect the whole town. So, that's my overall comment for the planning board. Um I would want uh to see maps for that hundred uh yard buffer. So if

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citizen petitioners are listening, they should be making some maps that show where the there there are two of the articles that they're changing the map and there's a contradiction in one of them. Um the uh article two says they

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want to replace it with general any medical marijuana treatment center marijuana cultivation activities permitted shall be located in the industrial zoning district or outline commercial district but um I think it's

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by right in all districts if you look at article article three so there's a there's a um an inconsistency I in this. Uh secondly, the um article 3

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changes. It drops um let me get the word in here. Um it drops uh that it is um I'll get this thing.

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It drops a sentence. cultivation of marijuana or marijuana based products shall not be considered an agricultural use. That is in the current bylaw. And here is why. Um if if it is an

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agricultural use, they can put it in chapter 61, which lowers property taxes to almost nothing. So you have a marijuana cultivation facility in an industrial district that is paying

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minimal taxes to the town. Um and that is why that sentence is in there. Um it is uh it is less beneficial to the town and more beneficial to the grower if in fact

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that sentence is dropped from the bylaw. So, I I personally totally oppose dropping that sentence. So, I think that's article three. I would um I would I personally would vote no to that for those reasons. It is not beneficial to

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the town. Um so, town council has not reviewed the warrant articles because they were citizen petition. >> Not for content. No. >> No. So that's there to speak of, but I agree with you that the uh zoning

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the bylaws were done by the planning board when we were on it and they want to affect zoning changes within the bylaws and they should work. I agree with your position that they should be working with the plan in conjunction with the planning board rather than

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trying to do it this way. But because it was a citizen position, it has to be on the warrant. >> Right. So, um anyway, so that's my analysis of the situation and if you want my comment,

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I mean, this is your opportunity to share any feedback for the citizen and um you know, as a board either make a designation or or not. >> I mean, I I would take the planning board's recommendation on this one. >> Yeah, me too. I mean, we we've made our re

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>> No, I won't take the I I would want the me personally. >> No, I think the comment should go in there because I agree with what you said. >> The the comment regarding the process. >> Yeah. >> They they should be dealing with the

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planning board who creates and changes bylaws. >> Zoning bylaws. Yeah. So my point was is if the planning board says we agree with these changes, I would I as a select board member would say the planning board agreed with that. That's what I was saying. Do you understand what I'm saying?

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>> No, I don't think the planning board has agreed with that. >> I'm not saying they did. I'm saying if they did, I as a select group member would not go would do you understand what I'm saying? >> Yes. I was saying I would take the planning board's recommendation >> board had come forward with these three articles. my my response would be

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different and I think the content of the articles may or may not be different but um yeah I I would want the >> and they would have been reviewed by town council >> y >> but this is a citizens petition so >> and if it does go if it gets passed I hope the planning board will work with

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>> to make sure it's done in the way that >> well let me pass this down to thank Well, I I agree with that and I'm good with that comment. >> The side stuff you don't have to pay attention to so much comment about the process.

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>> That's all that that's all that would be coming from us. We're not telling them to change it. We're not telling them to go this way or that way. >> Oh, yeah. Okay. The pro the process. >> Okay. Y. >> So, I'm good with adding that to our comment, Kieran. >> And and that's what I'll sign

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and make don't turn that in. >> No. >> Well, you have the blank form in here. >> Do I? >> You do. >> You can copy it at the end. I'll take care of this with your permission. With the board's permission, that is what our comment will be.

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>> Um, do you want a motion? Please. >> I move that we uh use the comment that Miss Kell provided for the Marijona zoning citizen petition back to the planning board as their referral. Okay. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Okay. Any further discussion? Hearing

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none. Roll call vote. Veronica. So now we will go to the rest of 6.1 because >> yes, >> we are now done until we get to the 545. >> So hopefully we're done in this next hour with uh all of this.

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>> Yes. So 6.1 um how would you want me to start with the budget or would you want me to start with the annual town meeting warrant? >> Uh annual town meeting warrant. >> Excellent. I will um bring this up on the screen share here. Did

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>> SharePoint just crash on anybody? >> Um no, I'm still doing it. >> Um >> a little bit. >> Okay, I'm back. >> Um so, uh here are your here is your

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annual time meeting warrant. Um you know, I can walk through each article. Um you know, the goal here would be If you have any questions, ask your questions and we can make any modifications. We would have a meet, we'd have to have a meeting next week if

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you wanted to make any grand changes, but this has been reviewed by town council. Um, and you know, the wording's been cleaned up and, you know, the the thought process has been cleaned up. Um, so I'll walk through each article. Um, many of them will be similar to what you

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see in prior years. Um, some will open a can of worms for discussion. Um so first one article is just report is this with changes accepted >> I believe so I just >> this has been this has been reviewed by

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town council now >> okay and this is set to go I'd like to do one at a time >> and just and just go through it >> okay >> and approve each one as we pass it okay >> uh article one uh to see if the town will hear to vote the reports of boards

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committees or commissions or take any action um in relation there too. >> No problem. Normal. >> Are we good? >> Yes. >> Article two. >> Article two to see if the town will vote to authorize a select board to appoint all town officers unless other

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provisions are made by Massachusetts general law by town charter or by vote of the town or take any other action in relation there. >> So that's typical. We good, Veronica? Yes. Okay. Three. Article three to see if the town will vote to elect three

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members to the James H. Tucker Trust Fund Committee because it consisting of three members from the West Towns and Village elected by annual town meeting for staggered terms to oversee and administer the James H. Tucker trust fund including the acceptance, management and expenditure of funds in

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accordance with the terms of the trust and applicable law and to authorize the select board to adopt rules and procedures necessary for its operation or take any other action relative there too. >> Explain. >> This is one that was supposed to have been on your previous town meeting

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articles. It had not been. Um Adam had cleaned this up to say that you're going to vote for those folks at town meeting. So, if you could have John Smith, Susie Smith, and Kieran Smith from West Townsen, and we put our hands up, you would elect them on the floor. Uh, you'd say, "You're a one-year

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term, you're a two-year term, you're a three-year term." At staggered evolution, >> it comes and goes on. >> I think that's what we have to do because I don't think >> Did anybody get a list from the town clerk? >> No, but I asked for it. >> Um, did did you get the list? >> I have not had a chance to do that.

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>> We didn't do it last year. >> It wasn't last year or the year before. You skip and choose apparently what years do you do it? So >> I um well you is I don't know who you is. >> The town's a town.

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>> So >> you speak broadly for the Japanese. >> So I remember meetings where people raised their hand and they got a point. >> I remember them. >> I remember them. >> But I don't remember why. >> I remember this is why. Be like what is this that's

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>> okay? So I know this is why but what who are they? When have they met? What do they do? And if it's staggered three years, it must be done every year for at least one person. >> That is correct. Unless it's been neglected because we do it variably. Uh

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in which case there's nobody with who's current in in which case all three people get appointed the way Kieran just explained. >> Okay, I'm good with the article. I just I guess would like the past list from the town clerk of who it was and when was the last time because the town clerk

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would have sworn them in. >> I think the three-year one is probably if they showed up to be sworn in though after the meeting. >> Yeah, you don't know. >> But the town clerk would know, >> but they'd have to be sworn in if they were. >> Yeah. >> Anyway, we can get that. I think it

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should stay on. >> Yeah. This is one of those ones that again something to think about in the summer for your following town meeting is >> does this do people do this like do we do we want to spend time at a town meeting doing this or do you want to work with your moderator to appoint

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someone and create better accountability that way >> that's a charter change then >> it is a charter change we could actually amend it within the bylaw >> okay >> but >> right now I think this is easier okay just get the history and we'll deal with

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Um, continuing on article four, um, to see if the town will vote to appropriate or reserve from the community preservation fund annual revenues of the following amounts recommended by community preservation committee for community administrative expenses, community preservation projects, other

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expenses in the fiscal year 2027 with each item to be considered a separate appropriation. Appropriations from fiscal year 2027. Estimated revenues from the community. Administrative expenses $8,921.50. Reserves. Um I'll run through these

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quickly from FY2027 estimated revenues. Historic revenue historic resources uh reserve 16,243 community housing reserve same number 16243 open space reserve 16243.

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and uh estimated for budget reserve 100,105 579.5. Um so this is your estimates for what you're going to get for CPC funding to be spent and used for obviously the core

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you know the segmented expenses as of July 1, 2027 um and moving forward. >> Okay. >> Yeah. You know, for those listening at home, understanding how CPA funds are used is a great tool for, you know, I

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think of this building. I could think of replacing the glass windows. Um, you could think of acquiring land or you could think of building an ADA walkway in another part of a park. Um, you could think of Westtown's reading room potentially restoring the facade. Things of that nature that fall within the

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bucket of ways to use these funds. um revolving fund. Um the first article, article five for the revolving fund um was a request of the police department to um create a revolving fund for police detail administrative fee. Um this is

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for the coordination of um you know admin fees um you know for budgets, scheduling, payroll processing and software related to those expenses. um police chief said, "Hey, this would be a really good way to, you know, utilize a fund for these types of expenses for the

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town." So, >> using the income or the expenses. >> Okay. So, so this um is this the same as what appears on article six in the list? >> Uh article six is the annual care

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program. >> Oh, it's another revolving fund. So he has a detailed cruiser fee which is a different number a different fee um related to revolving funds >> and if five is approved it would become part of article six.

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>> It would be article 15. >> Okay. Okay. >> I see a numerical order. I missed 13 there. So I'll check my numbers but um >> Oh good catch. >> Yep. >> Um I I think though in the year that you established the fund it I don't know that that's put

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>> it doesn't cuz I had it in there originally. the comments. That's probably why it is because we did that with the public records last year. >> You did? Yeah. Um so I'll clean up the the numbering there. But here are your revolving funds. Um very similar to last

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year except at the way bottom you have your town hall public records request because that was a newly established fund. >> Correct. >> And now it's at the bottom. If police admin fees is approved, it'll go to the bottom below that one >> next year. >> Next year. >> Okay.

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Okay. Um, article seven is, um, this will sort of be like your budgetary space here. Um, article 7 is to see if the town will vote to fix the salaries and compensation of all elected officers of the town as provided by master law chapter 41 section 108 as amended and as

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appropriated in this warrant or to take any other action related to um, your only elected salaried position is your town clerk. Um it is a good practice of all towns to call this out and make sure that you vote to approve the salary for your elected official um which is your

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town clerk's role. Um this segus nicely into article 8 um which will cover the totality of your budget um which is just a bit under $29 million total. Um, you know, I I could read this out loud,

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but um to see if the town will vote to raise or appropriate and transfer all available from available funds in the treasury such sums that may be necessary to defy the charges and expenses of the town for fiscal year 207 pursuant to a detailed budget totaling 28,819,885 or any other sum on line 805 which

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matches currently um or take any other action there related there too. Um it's important to call out the transferring from funds. So you see here your title five um overlay costs u or repayments your ambulance receipts you know that we

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receive your indirects from solid waste and your indirects from water here are sort of you know income you know in for um article 8 and then I've broken it out into different budget or functional segments that you have within your budget. I have a question that somebody

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else might have. Um because you look at this and the percent change is 4.14%. >> Mhm. >> But we're only allowed to go up 2.5%. >> That's true. >> So where is the rest of the money coming

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from if we can't raise more than 2.5%. >> Yeah. So your town is using um pre-cash to balance its budget um as well as greatly dependent upon you know things like ambulance receipts reserved to to buffer its budget. Same with your

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enterprise direct cost. You know even though they're they're indirects they still account for a large chunk of your budget. >> This this is also assuming the police overhead too. Correct. >> Correct. Well, we'll know, >> but I mean that number that 4% is that that particular. >> So, this this could change if we don't

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have the override, >> correct? >> To a worse situation than what we have, >> but different >> bleaker. Um, >> well, I guess there's a lot of words we could use and it'll mean the same thing. >> I do hope to present this somehow. I

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know in previous years you had every line of the budget in there. I'm, you know, for what I hope is April 28th's meeting, it's to be focused just on town meeting and how to present this information. Um, whether it be through just a PowerPoint and really highlight the segments. um just because I think I

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hope it's more consumable that way to the folks at the meeting. Um in a >> as long as people can access the omnibus if they want to if they can get a copy of that there because some people do like to >> Well, these numbers too will be different

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>> if the override fails. >> Yeah. So I have two versions of the budget. So >> So here's the other question. Are you going to do a pre-town meeting? >> I'm going to do one myself. >> Yes. Not not the board. >> People can come and ask questions.

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>> Yeah. The 29th is my goal. >> Okay. >> For that. >> Yeah. Because on the 25th we really won't have any answers either on Earth Day. >> You won't have anything until after town meeting or after town election. >> After election. Um, continuing on article 9, um, to see

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if the town will vote to appropriate PAS settlement money received in calendar year 2025 in the amount of $648,33241 and allocate these funds to the PAS maintenance fund to be used to pay off treatment plant debt, treatment media replacement, maintenance of the

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treatment plant and system improvements or take any other action in relation there too. Um the town received funds from the federal government and the different like Dowo chemicals, the different organizations that were using PASS even though they shouldn't have

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been. Um so the water department um is asking to use this money to um offset some of the expenses but yeah. >> Okay. >> Um >> 10 and 11 um again is related to the water department. Um this is their

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annual ask as an enterprise department for the sum of just under $2.5 million um you know to fund their water department for fiscal year 2027. It also highlights the indirect fund which should match the previous um article 8

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segment there where we call out $482,000 or so um for indirects. Um same for article 11 very um similar to article 10 where it's the you know board of health and again just a hair

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under $800,000 for the solid waste enterprise fund. Um with this article you'd also be voting essentially passely giving approval to their budget as they have deemed it to be related there too. Um up to the audience to decide if they

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have any questions. >> Well they have their budgets available as a handout. I have can't tell you might want to pass down. >> I would leave that up to the >> the leadership of that. >> I'll certainly pass that along. Somebody

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should be there to be able to speak to any questions at the annual from the board of health to be available to >> the grown-ups. Hopefully they can figure it out. Um >> same with water. >> Article 12. >> Article 12. uh to see the town vote and

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raise appropriate borrow transfer from available funds in the treasury and the water enterprise fund. Uh the sum of $268,620 um related to capital planning for 2027. Um we'll highlight here the cat loader.

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Um this is the last payment of the cat loader from capital stabilization. Um Adam noted that it was the fifth year because last year was the fourth year. I couldn't >> good catch >> and and I know that in one of our meetings Jimmy Smith had said, "Well, there is one more payment and it's $1."

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>> Yeah. >> Um but >> I'm going to defer to Adam. >> Yeah, I would agree. >> Yeah. Um so that's artic that's um item number one. Number two is the lease payment on our four cruisers. And this is a general fund item we take care of each year. Um the third

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>> currently um the third is the usage of the sale of properties. the water building for the acquisition of bunker gear for a cost of $135,000 um to support >> these have all been discussed before and on plenty of meetings

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>> I know but I asked the question I sent it to you as one of my comments why does it say water there is sale why is it not just simply sale of properties >> I guess to me it's important to know the sale of properties encompassed a lot of parcels

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>> it did >> and in this definition, it's the sale of a town owned property that we that it that was the water department that can be used for the acquisition of public safety u more land um >> infrastructure >> infrastructure use that it can be used

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for >> because there's other I would I would suggest >> instead of just putting water there put sale of water building >> um water building >> we know what it means

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people aren't going to know what that means. >> Yeah, right. Good point. >> Okay. Um, article 13 is uh a free cash article to see if we'll use um some of our remaining free cash for the purchase

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of assessors fiscal year 27 um their property data verification program. Um this was a new article that um after spending some time with Fincom, Don and his wise knowledge in that group said, "Hey, you know, I chatted with the

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assessor. It wasn't within her line item." And then I guess in previous years she's called it out as an individual article rather than a budget line item. >> Right. For many years, >> it should be a budget line item. It should not be an article. >> That is a terrible practice. It's been

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that way for ever ever since it be it was $10,000 before. >> Um, and it all started when we started having I think it was Patriot Properties come in and do the rebells. >> That's when it started.

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>> So, I'm going to say more than two decades for sure. >> Shortly after shortly after she came, she's been here 27 years. So it should be its own line on their Omnibus budget. >> Okay. Well, we can try to do that next

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year, but here's where we are. >> Yeah. So, we're going to use free cash. >> People are used to seeing this here, by the way. It's been an article for >> But if it's not process, >> okay, it's okay to change. >> Exactly. >> Um >> should be explained that way too

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actually. >> So, we will use free cash for that um acquisition of that product this year. Um, article 14 is your annual PEG access TCAM. Um, and the funds that you allocate to those buckets. Um, I won't

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read all of that just to save you guys from us. This is effective uh January 1st of 2026 because >> you signed your new agreement with them started on January 1st, 2026 to run 10 years from that point on. >> But that's the agreement with Comcast.

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>> That's the Comcast. It is not the agreement between the town and TA. >> We don't have an agreement with them. >> We don't. >> We're working on what >> I would suggest that you we will retrodate that to align with the date of

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the Comcast agreement because that's how the money is allocated. >> Yes, it is. But um >> and I wouldn't do anything else. >> Okay. because any money that was another one of my question that's there in the vote is from Comcast.

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>> I know that it's from the Comcast was dated but I know that we don't have an agreement with that. >> Yeah, >> but you'd want those dates to match up to they have to match up. >> Yeah, >> but and the number comes from the accountant. >> So, yes. Yes, it is right the numbers

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question about the numbers in the quarters. It's just the detail of that >> and I I we are we are trying we try more than a weekly basis to try to get that done and uh >> we're having a good time.

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>> We're having a ball. Yeah. >> Okay. Article 15. >> Article 15. Um I did move around some of the articles. So if you guys looked at this earlier um I did kind of change the order a wee bit. Um, article 15, if you remember the last time we discussed this

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was um >> Oh, I don't I want to change the order. I think he did. >> I did. Um, but >> no. >> Yeah. >> Mhm. >> This is a bylaw. This is what's article 18.

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>> Yeah, I know that. But I want the town properties before this. Oh, I was I was saying town property before the citizens petitions, but >> it is now. >> Yeah, I don't think that's fine. >> Yeah, >> I don't have any problem with that. >> Yeah, >> I just want the citizen petition at the

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end. >> It is. >> Yeah. Yeah, >> it's not now. >> It is. >> I updated it after your email this afternoon. >> Oh, this is my print out. >> Thanks so much. >> That's lagging on the big screen. Okay.

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>> Um, >> let me put my glasses on. Look at article 18. >> We all have the same thought. Don't worry. >> Yeah. >> Okay. We all have thought because I there's no way >> just because the amount of debate I just wanted to get in. So, >> okay.

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>> Article 15 is >> having worked with Adam, we're trying to call out basically the locations that warrants get posted. And this would be an amendment to our general bylaw to say that the select board and the office of

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the town clerk keep a list of posting locations in town. >> Yeah. >> So, in the event that um you have a town meeting and a building's no longer accessible or is no, you know, isn't ADA compliant, something of that nature, we would want to work with the select board

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and the town clerk to modify that list. Um, by having this article, it doesn't necessarily call out, you know, West Towns and Reading Room, which I know is a hot topic, or doesn't necessarily call out, um, any other posting locations. This just empowers your select board and

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your town clerk office to work together to help set a list. You know, like we had a town meeting, we had they postponed for special time meeting due to a snowstorm. You know, we ended up having the warrant on the west towns and reading room door, but there was a foot of snow there. So, you know, it's not

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truly accessible. I know it's a historic >> or it's a it's a it's a pattern or a tradition. >> There's a better place it could be. It could be on the fire station in West right on the door. >> Or it just, you know, I think >> hundreds of people go through there each week. >> Every now and then we get these crazy snowstorrms and we,

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>> you know, if I, you know, we have an officer go and do that, if they roll an ankle doing it, then that's not good. If a citizen's just trying to see what's on the door and they, you know, break a wrist, then I would feel terrible about that. Um, so this, >> that's not good either. >> Yeah. This allows us some flexibility. It allows your board some flexibility

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with the town clerk um to amend those posting locations. That's all I have on that topic. >> I like this one. I think it's important. >> Okay. Very good. >> Okay. Um >> so what's that new number? >> That's article 15.

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>> Can I say something on the last one? >> The people need to know where they're being posted though. >> Correct. So, if it's just in on a list someplace, how do they know? >> Well, they would work with the select board town clerk to say the warrants available at 123 Main Street, 978 Main

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Street. >> It' be on the website and it would be on the posting that's on >> because the posting locations now aren't that accessible to be honest within your e-code. You have to go into your ecode to find them. >> So, why not just have an actual landing? >> They've always been there so people are

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aware. >> Sure. So they can go to a website as well. So you can put a link within the e-code to say you can also visit here for the listing of the locations. >> Okay. Next 16. >> Um article 16 is related to 264 Dudley

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Road um which is the west towns and reading room. Um this has been discussed as a possible property to review and declare available for disposition by the select board in accordance with Mass General Laws chapter 30B. um and to take

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any related action there too. Um selling a piece of property is not light-hearted for any town. You'd have to consider um the fact that it has history. It's part of the West Towns and Historic District. Um it does not have a reverter clause as

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our Towns and Properties Committee um investigated. Um it does have some work necessary to bring it back up to septic compliance um historic facade compliance. um and sort of any action necessary. Um like I said earlier, using

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your CPC money, this would be a perfect project for such a CPC fund. Um your town hall may also be >> um for different projects related there too. So, it's it's really a an opportunity for people to decide um as a

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town if you want to hang on to this parcel and invest in it or, you know, relieve the town of the burden of of having to repair and replace different parts of it and um and and let an investor or let a new property owner

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take that take that responsibility. So, >> okay. Can I have a question? >> Up to the chair. question. >> Yes. Um, did you ever find the deed to that property since you have clear title? >> I thought you were looking into that. >> Oh, you told me not to. Remember?

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>> I didn't tell you not to look into the deed. >> You were in town properties. You were looking in the reverber part as well. >> I I don't have a deed. >> So, we would take any steps from once we if we get okay to sell it, then the town has to take certain steps to get it

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prepared for the auction process. >> No, I understand that, too. I'm not understanding. Is this like the cut before the >> You have We have to ask at annual town meeting if we're okay to sell these parcels. This parcel and the ones on the mean it will be. So >> doesn't mean it will be. >> Oh, it's just a cost to the town.

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>> Then then we work with town council and the auctioneer to go through that process because they have certain things they have to do in order to put it up for >> Okay. >> Just just >> All right, I get it. >> Yeah. I have a question. >> Once the list goes to the auctioneer, excuse me, but once the list goes to the

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auctioneer, they're the ones that decide if it's a salailable property. And there have been instances where they have taken properties off the list because they found them to be not to have clear title.

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So, this is not a done deal. This is only letting the town know we own this property and we don't have the money to maintain it. And that's what the town properties look. You're on town properties. That's what the town has looked at here today. >> Okay.

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>> Yeah. >> What? Um Sandy? >> Yeah. I'm sorry. I I this is kind of new, but it's being sold. >> It's not new. It was months ago. It was for some reason I missed that. >> So my question is um well I have a

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comment a question um that we've rented it out for various family functions. >> It cannot be rented now. It is not in rentable condition the septic besides the septic and you can't use water and there's no you can't use the sewer system there.

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when I was there in November of >> it was it was closed at the following meeting. >> So the facilities went in there >> facilities went in there >> and is evaluated the septics no longer functioning without some investment in cleaning out the pipes and the sewer

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lines. >> It's just that >> it was done at a select board meeting in December. >> I missed that. But it was well I had heard it was it was closing for year. That's all I heard from Sabrina. Okay. But yeah, I I'm just a little puzzled because we found it >> it is not rentable.

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>> So there's no other puzzle. It's not rentable. >> Excuse me. Just let me finish, please. Um I found it very I find it puzzling that it's the toilets were working, the water was working, and all of a sudden now it's not working. That's I'm a little confused. I guess if you want any

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of the further information information, you can talk to facilities because he's the one that gave us the information >> and my um my okay >> also um there are a lot of people who want to rent it and there are that would

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promote a lot of funds. There are a lot of people who wonder how to rent it and they were confused as to how to approach the town information. >> Let me just say this. The rental fees that have been charged at the West Towns or reading room do not take care of the expense of the building and we don't

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have any funds now to put a new septic system in it. We are not able to rent it. So I I don't know what else to say but I need to finish the warrant. Okay. Thank you. >> Next. Um, article 17 touches on other

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parcels that were identified um by the towns and properties committee. You know, excuse me. Um, you know, a lot of these were through tax taking. They are more or less wetlands or bog type parcels. Um, you know, this again will follow a

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process that if we get the okay at the town meeting, um, we may then visit with the building commission to say, hey, you know, is this potentially buildable land? Try to get some idea of what the parcels, excuse me, uh, purpose could be. Um

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again at the way bottom part of the list um you know the three primary parcels here to me is your old heart library which is a beautifully old um library but has fallen into disrepair. Um and unfortunately I don't know if there's town funding or capacity available to

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get that sort of cleaned up. um we as a town have a responsibility to empty that building of certainly the the very important um documents that are still legible and are not um sort of moldy and um degraded. Um so that'll be a project

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in itself. Um the second one from the bottom is the 182 Warren Road which um previously had an old bungalow style home on it but now just sort of has some debris and different items. It's a large parcel at um just a bit under 12 acres.

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Um it does have some limitations on frontage. So that might be another topic for the building commission to see if there's any viability there or the zoning board of appeals may need to discuss that. Um and last but not least, as we mentioned previously, is the West Towns and Reading Room. Um at the bottom

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of that list, you know, some of these uh I'm going to take some of the notes out on these on these comments. Um I don't know if it's relevant to town meeting that it's next to ambulance parking or it was a tax taking. Um I may leave in the wetlands concepts here. So perhaps

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if you feel comfortable with the motion approving it would be subject to you know >> minor wording changes. >> Well like emptying the comments column would be my thought. >> Just remove all comments from there >> as long as those those couple ones can be called out for people know what they

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are. build the entire library in the or you can just explain. >> Yeah, you can just talk about it. >> What what I would recommend is is having a handout with a a map that just says they're here, here, here, here, here, here, here, because the last time we did this,

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>> people wanted to know, well, where are these parcels? We're having the map block lot. That's nice, but >> um it doesn't tell you where in town they are, even with the addresses. So, um I that would be nice for a handout.

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>> If you could do that, you'd number number each one here and then number the map. >> Okay. >> So, one is that work. >> Is that something the properties committee could do? >> It would be really nice if they could. >> Um Jody, you think you should be able to

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do that before the meeting? >> Okay. >> Is the committee itself? >> No. and disbanded or >> No, they're not disbanded. >> But they're not going to make your map. >> Yeah. I mean,

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>> if I could do that. >> Okay. Um, what are you going to do with the uh the fund reading fund building? What happens to that money? >> Maybe it'll get disbanded and if it has to be returned, it gets returned or if it has another purpose there, too.

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In the previous, if I may, if in the previous auctions that we've had, um, depending on what has sold, whether it's a town building or if it's a tax taking, they go into different funds and then

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it's whoever is doing the budgets between select board and finance that decides. >> I don't think that was the question. >> You mean the specific trust fund? the specific trust fund that's for the upkeep of the west. >> So the $27,000

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>> I think either the money gets returned to the originator >> originator. I misunderstood >> if there's a family, right? Because it's from the family that that donated the the building >> trust fund the maintenance. It is technically a trust fund in the in the

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category. >> We don't want to call it a category, but legally it's a maintenance to the town. >> It's not like the trust doesn't say the market trust >> trust. >> Where's the money? >> It sits in it's in a special reserve account.

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It is for maintenance on the building. >> It's just not enough money to >> because I think you have to have $10,000 >> set aside for like the interest bearing portion. So then you're left with >> So then you only have seven >> 17 because it has 27. >> Um and it's it's not enough for a septic

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system. Um currently it it would maybe do some pest remediation. Um but our facilities um manager Rob is you said he's like the the building's falling apart. Like there's it's not enough

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money to get the ball rolling. Um, you know, if residents felt that they did not want this to sell, then they could use their CPA funds as of July 1st for this. Um, and then you could vote on this at a special town hall meeting if you wanted to do something different.

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>> Up to the residents. So, >> well, CPA decides where the CPA the CPA board. You apply to them and they decide, >> correct? >> And they can they can or they cannot. They don't have to give it to that. So,

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and so there's a process for that. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> I think the point is that we have to sell properties or if the town decides in their vote that they don't want that property to be sold, that's fine.

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>> Yeah. So, that will be they can the town can say no, we don't want to sell the property. >> Can say no. >> Or does it have to be all of the properties? Can it be specific or does it have to be all the wrong? >> So on town meeting floor, you know, if I got up and I said, you know what, I I

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love that piece of bog land because >> I used to throw my dog a ball there. I could say, you know, I I vote >> for the library. You're going to need them. >> I make a motion to approve all but one, two, three main street. >> And if you get a second, then that's how

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the discussion in the book. >> The moderator would work if you say, "Hey, does anyone else want to discuss this?" And someone may say, "Hey, I'm with Mary Jane. Like, I love throwing my ball to the dog in this piece of land." And we can go from there. >> Yeah. I I would >> I like the table. >> The table, I think, makes it clean for

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folks. And then in the event that a resident's like, "Hey, you know, I love that bungalow on 182 Warren Road. I I don't want that to be sold." Then you could a you can create a motion. >> So, we almost have to consider each of them in the table. and then vote on the

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table. The >> I think it's up to the town meeting floor. >> It is. >> Yeah. Because there to rain them in. >> Yeah. Because some people it could >> a lot of I always say 99% of people there don't have this history and 99% of people might be like,

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>> "Yeah, go for it." Right. But there could be, you know, you could have three different people who say, "I don't want that one." And then another person says, "I don't want that one in." And >> yeah, >> it okay. >> And most of them could say it's time to sell the properties. We don't have the money and we don't want to pay our tax

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whether we have to take it off as it is or >> drop them off or if we can drop things in it. >> Well, that's when >> Well, they can. >> I think you're over overthinking it. I think it's really up to the resident on the floor to decide if they don't want

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to see the West Towns and Reading Room sold that you could make a sweeping motion for all but the West Towns and Reading >> and then someone could say, "But wait, I don't want this." >> Yes, they could. >> I don't want the Heart Library. I took my kids there all the time. I don't want

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that thing sold. I want it to drop down uh fall apart right in front of us. And you know um it could in the premeating >> John has to control that. He has to no

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he has to control that however he's going to do it. >> Yeah. And you know I'm happy to um you know share on town meeting floor. Um I can share some pictures of the heart library. I don't have any pictures of the bungalow or the debris on 182 Warren Road. the bog land I'm probably not

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going to go out into in general because I have ticks all over me from hiking with my own dog right now. Um but I think um you reading room I can share some you know anecdotal information from facilities in terms of um apprehension

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they have about putting folks in there come this spring and sort of the upkeep in general there. Um >> okay so hopefully your premeating is because this is going this is not going to let me get to my schedule. >> Um so then shifting on from uh that

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table we jump into decisions petitions which is articles now 18 19 and 20. >> Thank you very much for us. Again, these are in relation, we already touched on these, the buffer zone with medical marijuana and dispensing facilities um

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and different um bylaw amendments that this citizen group is looking to have amended. >> Okay, we're good. Do motion, please. >> So, the motion would be just to pull Make sure you say I pull the wording out

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of the far right column. Um, and then remove the word water from the funding source from article 12. >> And I think that's it. >> Which was the one with the table? Article

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>> the properties is article which one? >> Article 17. Um I valich move to approve and sign the warmth for the annual town meeting of May 5th, 2026.

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Um pending removal of the far right column of article 17 and removal of the word water from article 12 >> and the correction in the numbering to 13. >> Yep. Right there >> instead of >> 14's not going to be there. So

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>> correct. and directing the numerical order of article six. >> Okay. Is there a second with those amendments? Uh Veronica second. >> Can I ask question about the numbering?

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Is there just one number that's wrong or do you have to remember all the articles from there? >> No, this was this right here. See >> in articles in article six article in article. Yeah. Okay. Got it. Thank you.

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So, I know you you seconded it and she's going to ask for discussion. So, I'll let her do that before I jump to my next point. >> I don't want any more discussion. >> I may just throw out there that if you have any changes you want to make, next

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week is your last drop dead date. >> Okay. But right now, we're good with the edits just made >> and this is tacitly approving your budget because your budget number is here. >> Correct. Okay. So, we need to go over the budget

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before we approve the before. >> You can I would love to know what questions you guys have about the budget rather than go line by line. I I did line by line last Thursday. Done it with you guys four times. So, let me know if this is segments you want me to focus on

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rather than going line by line because we would need two hours to do that. >> But we won't know the real number till after the 27th. So then we have to meet the 28th. >> So the 28th really the goal of the

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meeting would be to town meeting setup and we'll have a new board member at that time too. So I think it's equally important for them to be a part of this discussion for what knowing their responsibilities are that night and it would be like what materials do you want me to hand out at town meeting?

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Do you want me to do a PowerPoint? Do you like the PowerPoint? >> I mean, do you want a final vote on the budget approval budget beforehand or >> I have a recommended budget from PINOM and that is the same budget that >> that you presented us >> and and is in this form. >> What >> can I ask questions about that budget

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then? Can we go to the recap? >> You may. Um because if you're going with the April 7th budget, where is the 8K for the free cash that's in here when we only had like $646

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left? I might not be remembering, right? >> I had kept aside $21,000 or cash. >> The money's there. >> Oh, wait. I want to see this >> move around. 5:00 nothing here.

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Okay. April 7. This is 41 and we had 19K left at that point. >> So now you have, if you look here, let me move some numbers around. you know, it's not really me anymore.

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So, um, >> but I like your question because you're a sharp >> Go for it. >> You're a sharp knife in the drawer. So, >> I am You'll be missing that sharp knife. >> Um, that's not a bad thing really.

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>> I have a question. Okay, I got the AK. Where is Vise? >> I don't know. I haven't had a chance to get there yet because I >> Is it the 3,000 a year? >> Pardon me. >> Is it the 3,000? >> It's not,000. It's probably more. It's

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more than that. I don't know the number because I wasn't on the board whether or not that was done, but in the one town meeting, which so this is the fiscal year we paid for the Okay, let me get my years right. This is 06 2025 I was on

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the board. 2024. I was not on the board. When did we run 2025? >> No, it was November of 24. We went through a terrific 24. Okay. Um, so on the town meeting in May of 24,

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I believe there was an article that took free cash and paid an amount for the upgrades for revised and then a year of um, you know, the the next fiscal year of which would be the fiscal year

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returning. I think we need money to pay for rebonds and I don't think we have it in the budget. Um if if the override passes, we're probably okay looking at this

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recap. But if the override doesn't pass, then that's where the 646 comes from, I think, in free left in free cash. Um, and if that's the case, we don't have money to pay for our website. Um,

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>> where should that be in the US? >> It it was always in prior so before Nelson days and you know >> Yeah. My question is is just why isn't it in the um select board? There was

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>> it got taken out. >> Yeah. because >> because um it we weren't paying for it. We paid for it with repackage. So you wouldn't >> it was one of those articles >> like it's like the assessors.

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>> Why? >> Yes. It's like >> why are these It's just it makes it these things should be in the omnibus. >> Which is exactly why you shouldn't take the police cruisers out. But in that's beside the point. I don't think we have

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a place in the budget for revs. Um here we can if we have free cash left in a town meeting, special town meeting, you just do it. Yeah. >> Um

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but if we don't have free cash, then we don't have the money to do it. That would have to be a stabilization ask or we don't we no longer have a town website because we don't have the money to pay for it

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>> because that's where we are. >> We're going to use Facebook for every >> I'm laughing a little bit, but it's it's really not funny. But >> I hear you. >> No, it's not funny. Um, in any event, okay, >> I mean, if this if it isn't hasn't been

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in here this entire budgeting process. Um, I mean, it's like we're at 11:59 and we're going to try and put it as a new line item. Does it have a number? Did it have a number? >> All right.

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>> Say that again. >> Did it have a number associated with that line item previously in the budget? >> Not in the past three years. I don't think but in the three years before that yeah there was a place for civic plus in the budget we paid for it through the

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budget >> and then it got removed >> um you had board of assessors up there you put that back up >> yeah so I I don't know where we're going to that's all it's just something to know about

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>> kind of like you know how to take this all right now under board of assessors you see those three lines at the bottom. Travel, mileage, instate, dues and memberships, >> training.

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>> Um, is that consistent in all the departments? >> No, it varies from department to department. So, I want to go to um fire and police because I'd like to know where

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memberships, trainings, travel is paid for in those training. So, it's in those three. Okay. Good. Good. Good. In police. And what about in five? Okay.

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What's that? What's after training? Other supplies training slash what? >> Uniform. >> Uniform. >> Yeah. >> Training and uniforms >> that >> are in the same line. >> That's all right.

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>> That's a zero. It is worth noting that some of the lines um are contractually based. So they may change um you know because we are still in negotiations with a few of our department heads and unions. Um but we've been uh thanks to your support

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very abundantly transparent with the unions and staff members, you know, to share with them what our budget capacity is. And you know, um, in this sort of recap situation, you know, even a a small increase for any loan staff member

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puts us basically in a deficit def deficit scenario. Um, so I've been trying to beat this drum since I started in January, and I, you know, I'll touch on it in my TA report, but I think people respect that. I I I don't want to

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interrupt your beating up the drum, but tastes here and can we would would the board let us uh go into 6.3 for the next five minutes before we go into a joint meeting and then we have another joint

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meeting >> and so we'll come back to 61 because we haven't finished 61 yet. >> Okay, I'm fine with that but I don't want to hold them up. Okay. I just want to ask where are we going to look at the budget without the with the override ban

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or are we going to wait until the override? >> I would wait till >> Okay, then I have no questions. All right. So, we can hesitate. >> I didn't think you would. I put it in there. It's there for your review. >> I bet you have questions.

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>> Well, 6.3 Karen and Tasa, would you like to Selena? Jen, you want to come to the table? >> I don't have a lot on this other than you guys were looking for an extension, right? That was the last I believe to be per like I just not that this is low

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priority. It's just >> on the in the medium scale priority. it just hasn't quite >> the basket building. >> Um, so we are looking to change from our current lease, which is three-year with

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the possibility of extension in 2028 to the 50-year lease um that was approved by the town. So, I know you guys were going to be working on it. We saw it was on the agenda tonight, so we

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came to just see what the update was. >> What's the update? >> I don't really have one. So, um I know Sabrina had been working on possibly six because when does the current lease expire? >> 2028. >> We just did it in October 25. Yeah. It

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hasn't even been a year into the second three years of the 333. Mhm. >> Part of the reason we're asking ahead of time is because we're um we're working on the field expansion and we can't get the grant

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>> grants because of the shortterm lease. We need a long-term lease for some of the grant possibilities >> for all of them really. What are the deadlines for those? >> We've missed one. So yeah, we're we're kind of just

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>> as soon as we get it working, then we can start applying. >> Um, and it also applies to if we ever try to get a loan >> toward the field expansion, we need the longer term lease to do that.

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>> So here, >> which the town voted >> Yeah, voted it. So >> working on it. Well, my question is, can't we just ch take out the piece that says 333 and throw in 50?

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>> I was wondering that by council before we did >> the question for council last week or do we need to do an RFP before we do that because they are the >> they are the current lease holders and if we did an RFP, we would be breaking their lease in my book. Um, so we can't

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do an RFP for an a lease that still has two plus years. Um, and the auction for another three. >> So why can't we just say okay?

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>> I think that is a council question. >> It is. >> We Yeah. >> Okay. All right. Sorry. We don't have an answer. >> Yeah. >> Okay. dragged you out here for no reason last time. >> It is. Okay. So, give us a month

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>> and we'll see if we'll relay the message to town council that this is what we want. This is what the people voted for at the meeting and how do we get it done? >> Okay. All right. >> I'll send you guys an email rather than have you come in during my presentation skills

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more. >> If you put something on the agenda that says TASA, we're going to show up. So, >> I probably said don't put it on there, but then some one of your board members may have wanted it on there. >> Well, I wanted it on there. >> There it is. I knew I knew there was an update. So, I was the one that requested

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it. >> I wish I had >> because if you read the minutes, it says there will be >> It does. It does in fact say there'll be an update. >> I put my calendar at the last meeting. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So, we will have an update in a month.

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>> Okay. >> Okay. After town meeting. >> After town meeting. Yep. >> And give us, you know, a little time for council to look. Just just too many fires right now. >> Although I miss something. It's probably on me. I'm sure it is.

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>> It's also town meeting season for council. So getting them is a little >> when we discuss this after town meeting, this will be on the list of things to do. >> Once we have an update, Sabrina will call you.

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>> Okay? so that you know it's going to be on the agenda. You don't have to be looking for it. But if she calls you, we have an update. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> And if we don't hear from you in a month plus a little ord

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I would ask because it is on our list to have done, >> right? >> It is what the people voted. It is what we intend to have done. >> Okay. And it is good to keep on top of us because of all the changes and things have gotten lost in the past. So please do poke poke away.

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>> Sometimes things come up and they say, you know, forget everything else. This has to come first >> and it happens too often. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Nice to see you again. It's good to stay.

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>> Take some candy with you. >> Winter cup. Yeah, there's a lot of interesting stuff. >> Okay, we have two minutes. Do you want to do the Earth Day schedule because we're not going to finish up on your omnibus thing? >> Yep. Earth Day schedule. Um

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Sabrina shared with folks uh sort of first shift, second shift, third shift. Um I will join everyone at 10:00 a.m. I'll bring some I have a fold out table. I think you do too, but I have one I can throw right in my car if that's easier. And I have some white chairs I can bring. >> Doesn't matter.

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>> Yeah. And I think that's all we had was a small table and two or three chairs. >> I have a 10. >> You have a 10. >> I have a 10. I have 10. >> Do you want screens? Do you want sides? >> Just a 10. >> Just the table and chairs. >> Okay. Got it.

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>> And the be >> you. >> Yeah. >> I'm happy to be there. Whatever works for you guys right. >> So should I pick up the >> You're saying no tent? No tent. Oh >> no tent. If it's pouring rain, we won't

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be there. >> We had a rose last time. >> And a and a tent. >> It's up to you. You don't want to come. >> What's that? >> You don't want to come. >> It's a Saturday for me. >> I mean, I don't I don't

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>> Saturday for me, too. >> I'm I'm fine. I'm I personally think the select for members. I don't based on the time commitment of the town ministry at the time from town. I think it should just be selected. >> Just me. I was so surprised to see the schedule. So, um

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>> I will come and help you set up set up >> at 8:00. >> That's fine. >> Are we setting up? >> Sabrina has you like first shift at 10? >> Starts at 8:30. >> Oh, first shift. >> First shift is 10, but set up.

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Oh, you because unless we've been assigned a spot, it's our first serve for spots. I have no idea. I haven't seen that. >> In the past, we always have been >> ahead of time, but I don't know about this year.

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>> All right. Can you can you check on that? Mhm.