I will start us off and if we'd all rise to say the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with
liberty and justice for all. Thank you. All right. All right. There being a there being a quorum present, I hereby call this annual town meeting to order. The 6th day of May,
2025. Um, is there a return of the warrant? Special town. Um, annual town meeting first. Thank you, Mr. Moderator. Pursuant to the within warrant, I have notified and
warned the inhabitants of the town of Townsen by posting up attested copies of the same app. Memorial Hall, 272 Main Street at the center, West Townsen Reading Room, 264 Dudley Road in West Townsen. The Police Station, 70 Brookline Road, Harbor Fire Station, 41
Main Street, and Harbor Church, 80 Main Street, at least 7 days before the date of the meeting as within directed signed Michelle Do, Constable of Townsen. Okay, the warrant has been read and returned. Uh, and we can open the annual
town meeting. However, I understand we do have a special town meeting. So, I'd entertain a motion to recess the annual town meeting until we resolve the special town meeting. Is there a motion? All right. All right. Is there a second?
Second. All right. Motion been made to to recess the annual town meeting and convene the special town meeting. All those in favor say I. Those opposed say no. The eyes have it. All right. Is there a return of the
warrant for the special town meeting? Yes, Mr. Moderator. Pursuant to the within warrant, I have notified and warned the inhabitants of the town of Townsen by posting up attested copies of the same at Memorial Hall, 272 Main Street at the center, West Townsen Reading Room, 264 Dudley Road in West
Townsen, the police station, 70 Brookline Road, Harbor Fire Station, 41 Main Street, and Harbor Church, 80 Main Street, at least 14 days before the date of the meeting. As within directed, signed, Michelle Dold, Constable of Townsen. All right, the return of the warrant
being read. I declare the special town meeting open this 6th day of May 2025. Before we do get started right into the meat of business, I want to remind that any visitors should be seated in the my left the right hand side of the hall. Um
the meeting is being recorded by Towns and Community Access Media. Uh and uh I won't I like hopefully everybody will find a seat. I don't think we'll have a problem with that tonight. Um, I'd like to introduce the folks uh up here on
this the stage. Uh, there's uh our new town clerk, Harrison Mayot to my left. Uh, Jane um Freeman uh standing in for Adam Costa is the town council. Nelson Mui is our town
administrator. Lori Shiffren uh is chair of the board of selectmen. Veronica Kell and Valerie Goodrich members of the board of selectmen. And I can't see everybody on the finance committee, but I believe we have Don Hayes, David Walker, Mary Jane Churchville. I'm not
sure if I'm in the right order here. Jerry Bazikas, and Carol Hostess. Sam Grant. Oh, and Sam Grant. All right, Sam. Thank you. Uh, first, can I get a round of applause for our newly elected
town clerk and newly elected selectman? All right. I think uh I believe Melissa Dunit's here. Where are you, Melissa? Some place. Okay. All right. Um, and uh I don't know is town accountant Katie
Kazian. Kazangjin. She's here, too. All right. All right. Again, customarily we follow town meeting time for our rules of procedure. Please recognize be recognized before you speak and clearly identify yourself by name and address uh
to the floor. We're going to use the two microphones up here in the front. So, if you do want to speak uh on some matter, uh I'd ask you to come forward and I'm going to go back and forth between the two uh microphones recognizing people to speak.
Um, I'm I'm going to ask that you direct all your comments to the the chair and I'm asking that everyone conduct themselves in a respectful and uh courteous manner. Uh, we're we're trying to get through this business. We got a lot of work to do. Um, all motions must
be in writing and brought to the clerk. Um, and any motions to amend need to be in writing and brought to the clerk. Um, the debate is limited to the motion before the meeting, so try to stay on target. Um, and uh I'm just going to ask
people that uh avoid personal attacks of any sort um because we're we've um we want to try to keep this uh pleasant um and we don't want to scare people away from public service. Um let's see. The
votes are taken by eyes and nose. Um I determine the outcome by voice vote. If I'm in doubt, I I may ask uh to do another vote by voice. Uh if I'm still in doubt, uh I might call for a standing count. Um if I declare the vote and if
seven people rise to challenge that declaration, um if by seven people, then uh we will do a standing count. Um Harrison, we have the counter sworn in. Yes, we do. Okay. Um, if you have if you're confused about the situation on the floor or you have a procedural
question, you may raise a point of order by standing in place and uh asking to be heard as a point of order. I will recognize you. You can interrupt the speaker and ask you to state what your point of order is and then I I will rule on that. Um, if you have uh something
interfering with your participation in the meeting, you can't hear or uh I know some people complained at the last meeting at town hall that people were uh talking while the meeting was going on and they couldn't hear the meeting. So, I'd ask everybody to be quiet um unless
you're actually addressing the meeting um or at least keep it down to a whisper like you're in the library. Um, and then, um, if you want to state your point of privilege, uh, I can figure out what we need to do to fix the
problem. Um, as you all know, I think a motion to move the question cuts off debate and is not debatable. Uh, however, our practice has been one cannot rise to debate a motion and then move the question thereby getting in the last word. So, to move the question, you must be first be recognized to speak and
you may not interrupt the speaker. Um, also a motion to move the question. If there appears that there's been insufficient discussion and there are a lot of people that's still raising their hands, uh, I will deem that motion to move the question out of order. Uh, unless the questions and answers become
so redundant that it seems that the meeting needs to move on and there is a motion to move the question. Um, visitors may speak if there's no objection. And even if there is an objection, uh, I may still allow them to speak if they have specific information
that's important to the meeting. Uh, I think we only have one visitor and he's a department head, so department heads have a right to speak. Anyway, um, so we've had the return of the warrant and this is the annual town meeting, so I'm going to uh appoint a
deputy moderator for the year. I'd like your endorsement of uh Gene Rahala as the deputy moderator. All those in favor of Jean, please say I. Those opposed say no. The eyes have it.
Unanimous. All right. Um I sort of skipped over a few things because we're right into the special town meeting, but I don't think that matters. So, uh we can start with article one. uh to hear the reports of boards, committees or commissions or take any
other action in relation there too. Is there a motion? Mr. Moderator. Uh Miss Shiffron, I move that the town vote to hear reports of the boards, committees, or commissions. Second. Okay. Motion's been made and
seconded. Um any debate, discussion? Yeah. Miss M. Lord. All right. I have a concern and I'm going Okay. Um, I'll address this to the chair. I watched the last Zoom meeting
of the select board and what is the purpose of the executive session? Could you tell me? Um, I I think that's quite frankly out of order. Uh, well, it has to question whether or not the meeting wants to hear Excuse me. The question is whether or
not we want to hear reports from the boards and commissions of of the town. Does a meeting want to hear those reports? All right. But it has to do with the report for the from the board of selectmen. You want to hear a report from the board of selectmen? I do. But this has to do
with the reports the report of the board of selectmen. Well, I think if the meeting votes to hear the reports, if they have a report to give, we can hear it. Okay. And then I can speak afterwards. Yes. Thank you. All right. All right. Uh, all those in
favor of hearing reports of boards and commissions or committees, please say I. Those opposed say no. The eyes have it. Are there any reports from any boards, commissions or or committees?
Miss Kell. Yes. Um, this is a report of the select board on the fiscal year 2026 budget process. The budget process began in December with the TA developing the budgetary guidelines that were distributed to the departments. On
January 6th, budget requests meeting these guidelines were returned to the town administrator to be input into the omnibus budget, which is a collection of the budgets of all the departments. The town's joint budget summit for all
departments, boards, and committees was scheduled for Saturday, March 1st. On January 30th, a joint meeting between the select board and the FINCOM set joint meeting dates for the month of February for the presentation and discussion of each town department's
budget. Department heads were also present at these meetings. These joint meetings were held on February 11th, 13th, 18th, 20th, 25th, and 27th. Joint school department meetings
were held on January 31st at Nishoba Valley and February 6th for North Middle Sex. These school budgets were incorporated into the omnibus budget. At the March 1st budget summit, the omnibus budget that was developed
was short $1.3 million, even with the two and a half% increase in property taxes that is allowed by law. The North Middle Sex Regional School Committee had requested all three towns have a special town meeting on March 10th to ask the
town's people for an override of the 2.5% property tax limit in order to fund the North Middle Sex School's proposed budget, a part of the omnimous budget. So what happened on March 10th? The Towns and Select Board asked for a
$611,000 override question for the boards. We also noted that there would need to be an override of over $700,000 to fund the town part of the omnibus budget. The
$611,000 needed for the schools was voted to be funded with $200 of free cash and $411,000 from the general fund, which meant the town's omnimous budget was left with a $1.1 million shortfall. Cuts
needed to be made. The select board looked first at what the consequence would be of closing buildings one day a week. This was not an adequate solution. Nelson, our town administrator, asked each department to cut expenses by 20%
and if able more. The result was the omnim omnibus budget which included residential trash pickup but still needed an override. Without the override, residential track trash pickup
could not be funded by tax revenue. Staff reductions would be necessary as expenses were already at a minimum and some services would be reduced, such as band concerts. In anticipation of the
override failing, Nelson spoke with department heads where possible to see what additional cuts could be made, and there are very few, and what staffing recommendations would keep the departments functioning. These staffing recommendations are for the most part
required to be collectively bargained via the unions. The affordable housing ARPA funding of $101,000 that had not yet been dedicated was put forward to be used for salaries.
The omnibus budget presented at the annual town meeting this evening reflects many hours spent by the town administrator to develop with the departments a budget that keeps town hall cemetery parks and recreational
services though with some reduced staffing levels. The ARPA money now available is used to offset staff hours in the expectation that free cash and other funding sources will replenish these hours in fiscal year
2027. The senior center, library, and public safety services that towns and residents enjoy are preserved. Residential trash pickup was just over half of the override ask and as a consequence is not included in the
select board's budget. The select board does support residential trash pickup provided that it is kept outside of the tax levy and stabilization funds and is funded only with other than tax dollars.
The select board has listened to the overwhelming voice of the people who voted that there be no override. The tax increase in this budget is.5% as opposed to the 2.5% increase allowed by law. We hope
you will support this well-considered omnibus budget that is being put forward for fiscal year 2026 by the town administrator and select board this evening. Thank you. Okay. Are there any other reports from
any boards or commissions, committees? All right. Hearing none, I think we can go on to article. Oh. Uh, yeah. Mr. Churchville. No. Can you hear me now? Yeah. Okay. Um,
thank you very much, Selectman Kell. Um, I would just like to tell you all what the fincome the finance committee has been doing during this time and particularly after the override was not accepted. So the finance committee has
developed a fiscal year 26 budget grounded in the principle of financial clarity and preservation of essential services and staff. Recognizing the importance of transparency and engagement for the
voters, FINCOM decided to construct an alternate budget that strives to maintain departmental staffing levels and is organized in a departmentbased format. This format differs from the board of selectman's pres
presentation which combined line items in a manner that obscured the impact of proposed reductions particularly making it difficult to identify specific positions that were cut or restructured. The finance committee
provides the draft working budget to the town administrator who sent it to the department heads. The department heads are allowed discretion over internal line item adjustments so long as the overall department bottom line is
maintained. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive to our budget and departmental heads made themselves available for lastm minute questions and input. Finom has chosen a department-based format to restore
clarity among the several versions of the board of selectments budget during the process grouped together unrelated departments and made it difficult for FINCOM members and residents to understand the full financial picture.
Albeit a lot of us on Fincom are new and we are learning and we also come from the place that you're at right now not knowing all the backstory all the information and the input. So we were you this
year further it should be noted that the fincom budget is relying on line reallocation of ARPA funds. Those are the funds that were given to the town by the federal government for COVID relief that had specific requirements on how they were
allocated. It is well documented that ARPA should not be used for new positions that levy funds were not to be used. I'm reading this to support ARPA funds and if it did not work in the budget, the positions
would end. There was also funding from ARPARE that housing did not use which will be reallocated that selectmanuel discussed in her report. Fin is aware that the fire department is assisting PPL as we would
hope another town would assist towns and if needed we have given this effort we have given that this effort goes beyond mutual aid and we hope funds are recouped for this effort. The finance committee recommends the use
of stabilization funds which is a bit opposite what select McKel just said um to support a pilot program for the townwide trash services. As you all know the trash has been a big issue and we have worked very closely with the board
of health. Um they have been overwhelmingly cooperative. They have offered services to us so we could understand better and we feel that we've come to a really good end with the board of health which will be presented
tonight. Okay. Now just a bit about the fincom. Massachusetts general law creates fin for any town that has a budget over $10 million. The fin is supposed to work in conjunction with the board of selectmen. The board presents
their budget. The fin reviews the budget and makes recommendations to you the taxpayers. And that's where we are tonight. Thank you. Okay. Uh report from the finance committee has been made. Are there any
other reports? Hearing none. I think we can uh ask a question. Is it about the budget? We got one more report, John. Oh. Okay. I think I think what we're we're trying to do now is just hear these
reports. They're not really debatable. I think let's reserve the discussion about the budget when we get to the budget. I think these reports are more explanatory to give people information about what the boards and committees have done. So,
there's another report. Yeah. Yep. Good evening everyone. My name is Dr. Christian Roman, chairman of the board of of health. Um we wanted to present our alternative as board as we presented
to the board of select men pre um before this meeting um we have a presentation if someone can um connect it so other people can see it please. Nelson has it. How long is this going to be? It's going
to be 5 10 minutes. It's not going to be too long. Okay. So, we as a board, we presented a recommended alternative. We had two options whether the override would would pass or not pass. And since
the over override did not pass, the board of health had presented a alternative of curbside trash and recycling which would include a flat fee. Um if you can pass the next slide.
So the challen the challenge that we have with the town budget, the goal will be consistent funding. The challenge residents budgets the goal is affordable public health prevent infestation and illness clean community
prevent illegal dumping stability create a long-term plan environmental prevent water and air pollution and accessibility to make it easy. Next slide please. So the strategy is to remove the
curbside trash and recycling from the tax levy to the board of health utilizing the solid waste fund revolving fund as per bylaws. Continue with the pay as you throw program back program for fiscal
year 2026 in order to maintain access to available grant funds and gather important data in order to best plan for the next steps. As we know, the board of health is still working on getting more
information and more data in order to provide to the people affordable curbside pickup trash at a small fee to fund and maintain the current level of services. In fiscal year 2026, the fee will be
subsidized to allow more residents the opportunity for service during this pilot year. Next slide please. So here we have the cost and what the board of health has proposed to the board of selectmen and
to the people for their consideration. Uh we have the contract only collection which will be $4889,480. That is what the board of health has recommended. And the trash tip fee will be $110 ton
estimate per 1,300 tons with sum of 143 $143,000. The recycling tip fee will be 130 ton estimate 850 towns tons excuse me and
would and the cost will be $110,500 meaning the total hauler cost of $742,980. And probably the people are asking well the funding where's it going to come from? Well, we have the pay as you throwback receipts which are between
28,000 and 32,000 monthly um which sums three 360,000 $360,000. The user fee that the town that that the board of health has proposed and the
board of selectment had recommended before was a user fee, an annual fee of $125 per household. And this is not a obligated fee. This is a voluntary fee.
Whoever wants to continue with the program with the town of Townsen, which at we estimate for the families that we have uh will be 225,000 $22500,000 and we will use from from
pilot funding fiscal year 26 the stabilization fund $15700,980. Tell me the revenue total revenue of $742,980 and and this is a conser conservative estimate. What would be the savings if
we compare with private trash right now 64 gallon trash recycl recycling recycle excuse me with the least expensive of $45 a month. It would soon it would add
to the people who are on the private $540 per year. If we decide with the pay as you throw program with paying for for for the purple bags the unlimited
recycling and with a user fee of $125 per year and with a pace as you throw bags of $168 per year. The savings will be between
$293 and $29 per year. So the projected savings for family will be um 247 two $247 and the projected savings for a family of two $331.
and the board of health is is very has presented these numbers and we got and based on the input from the from the people of towns and and zoom with the finance committee also. Thank
you. Uh thank you Dr. Roman Ramirez. Um, uh, for the report from the board of health. Okay. So, I think are there any other reports? I think this is the first time we've heard this many reports on this article.
Um, so, uh, we can go forward to article two to see if the town will vote to authorize the select board to appoint all town officers unless other provisions are made by Massachusetts general law, by town chatter, or by vote of the town. Oh, I'm sorry. We are I was reading on
the wrong warrant. Where'd that one go? Here we are. Okay. Article two. Thank you, Miss Kell. To see if the town will vote to transfer from free cash or other available funds in the treasury the sum of
$291,600 or any other sum for the purpose of offsetting fiscal year 25 snow and ice deficits under the provisions of Mass General Law Chapter 44 section 31D or take any other action relation there too. Is there a motion? Yeah, Miss Cal. Um, I move that the town
vote to transfer from free cash the sum of $291,600 for the purpose of offsetting fiscal year 25 snow and ice deficits under the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws chapter 44 section 31D.
Okay, motion's been made and seconded. Is there anything to be said? Fairly standard article. Um, I'm going to have to ask people to come up to the microphones because we don't have wandering uh microphone folks this time.
My name is Chris Noeller. I'm from South Harbor Road. Um, one question for the uh, selectman. How much money is left in the um, free cash? Question comes on the motion. U, someone from the Nelson. Um,
if we uh vote to transfer this $291,600 uh from free cash to pay for the snow and ice deficit, by my math, there'll be $58 left in free cash. Thank you. Wow.
Um, okay. Uh, question answer comes on the motion down here. Yeah. Hi, Don Priest. State Pine Street. I just wanted some clarification. I believe the department head had about $20,000 remaining in unexpended funds that could go to that.
Is that factored into this 291,000? No. Uh there's not enough free cash to cover um the entire deficit. So the finance committee has agreed to uh use some of their reserve funds to cover the
remainder of the deficit. Does the $291,600 reflect the $20,000 that the highway department head said was available to be applied to it? What a question comes on the motion
about $61,000 the highway department had about $20,000. I was just looking for clarification on it in unexpended funds. I mean his the highway FY25 budget is
not complete yet. So he probably there probably is um unexpended funds but that's not uh at this point an appropriate place to take the money from to cover the remainder of the snow and
ice deficit. Okay. Yeah. again, you know, the the finance committee the finance committee um uh appropriated 16,000 um dollars from their reserve fund to
cover part of the the deficit. Okay, questions come on the motion. I think we uh have I believe this obligation to pay for expenses that we've incurred due to snow and ice. So
um I I appreciate I guess the effort that people are trying to find money but as I understand it that even if the highway department has some extra money it's not in free cash yet. No. Correct. Okay. Um, so, um, is there anything else
to be said? Not seeing any. I think we're ready to vote. All those in favor of the motion on article two, please say I. I. Those opposed say no. The eyes have it. Article three to see if the town will
vote to close out old warrant articles and reallocate to the to renovations of Memorial Hall, including the replacement of exterior trim, painting, and storm windows, the balances, as indicated below for a total of $53,784.74 or any other sum or take any
other action in relation there too. And um I will just briefly refer to the uh the it's in the warrant before you. Uh there is uh article 14 from the st special town meeting in December of 20 December 20
2018 uh associated cost with a charter of 3,82740. Uh there was a funds left over from a special town meeting article 4 allocation for town hall roof and and
and wreck stairs uh $26,749.34 and I believe it's um an article at the annual town meeting uh on May 3rd, 22 uh where funds have been appropriated for Memorial Hall and the Harbor Fire Station that are left
over of 23,28 8 for a total of $53,784.74. Is there a motion? Mr. Moderator, I move that the town vote to close out old warrant articles and reallocate to renovations of Memorial Hall, including the replacement of exterior trim, painting, and storm windows the following balances for a
total of $53,784.74. Okay, motion's been made and seconded uh to allocate those uh funds that are left over to Memorial Hall renovations or repair. Is anything to be said? Uh Miss Priest,
I'd like to amend the motion on the floor to see if the town will vote to close out old warrant articles and reallocate the payment to the payment of fiscal year 2026 police cruiser lease payments. the balances as indicated
below for a total of 53,78474 with no change to the table. Okay. Is a response to to that? Um I would just like to say that these um three articles
were considered by capital planning and voted at the end of February to be put towards needed work at um Memorial Hall. The idea was to put them on the special town meeting warrant so that they could
be combined with other funds that may be available in the facilities budget so that the work could be done during fiscal year 25 in May and June when the weather is good and might be conducive to doing those repairs. Um after the
vote was taken um a uh vendor was approached um for um an estimate for the work. That estimate came in at approximately um 68 or
$69,000. So we're short but only by about $16,000. I am certain that that vendor, if in fact there aren't funds available in the current fiscy year budget, could be asked what part of this work could be
done. Um, this was work that facilities felt was important and that the capital planning committee um supported to put the um I I I could go on, but I think we'll stop there. Um, as
far as putting the money towards cruisers, that money is in the um general fund of the of the um police budget. And it it is funds
that if we don't um that if we use these if we were to take these and decide not to fund the repairs in Memorial Hall, put it towards the cruisers, it would create a deficit of $53,000 in the police budget for the
fiscal year 2027. Um the the police budget is about $2 million, a little bit less. This 50,000 roughly comes out to about 2 and a.5% of that budget. And that puts the police budget already in a deficit in
fiscal year 27 by 2.5%. Before any new budgeting is done. So that's about all I have to say. Thank you. May I give my reason for the amendment? U briefly because we've got some other folks who want to speak to. I think I'm
supposed to make the amendment and have the first right to speak as to why, but I I I'm making the amendment because there was a grant available for these funds and the select board failed to submit it and we can access that grant in fiscal 2026. Also, the windows listed up here
in the quote was $68,900. Um, windows are not a part of that quote and windows according to the facilities department head who I also spoke with are the most critical part of this. Therefore, we could utilize the fincom
reserves to cover that expense and reduce the out-of-pocket cost to taxpayers by $53,000. Okay. Comments come on the article three. Uh, sir, hello. Um, I'd like to
know if uh this I'm sure you to state your name and address, please. Yeah. Colobby Streeter, Wild Sil Road. Uh, I'm curious if uh this money will be available and uh held in escrow so that grants can be applied for. Um there are
matching funds available through uh MA ma excuse me m Massachusetts uh preservation projects fund. Um but they have to have money allocated um um in order to apply for the these uh
grants. Will that will it be available or does it have to be uh paid out directly to contractors? question comes on the motion. Um any uh anything
uh in response? Um I guess the only thing I can say is that grant required a um it's a reimbursement grant. So, you had to have the funds available at the time of application and it's a 5050 grant and the grant um funer requires that
75% of the grant amount be available in cash um at the time of the application which is the reason that we did not apply. We had planned not to use these funds but to use free cash but we knew after town meeting on March 10th that we
would not have the free cash available to use as the match. So consequently we did not apply for the grant. It is available next year and hopefully we will be in the position if the work that was not funded through these funds if
there's additional work to be done. So that's the reason. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Uh, Miss Craraven, yes. Kim Craraven, Lunenberg Road. I'll start with the grant in order to actually have
the funding to say that it would match the grant. the funds would have had to have been thought through and encumbered at special town meeting because you just can't take the money and say that that's where it's going to go because that is
actually the responsibility of this body. So the special town meeting preceded the deadline for the grant. So when special town meeting occurred, there should have been an item on special town meeting to ask for the
funding to apply for the grant. That was not done. So there was no way unless there was other funding available that was not at the discretion of the taxpayers that that money could have been written down that it was obligated because it's only this body that could
obligate it and you were not asked to obligate it at the special town meeting. So the funds that were at special town meeting could have been if the select board decided to put it on the special town meeting warrant to go for that. You
can't do it after the fact. You have to do it before. They can't take town funding and put it towards something without your all permission. So that's on the grant. So, we are hopefully going to get the certification for free cash
from the buildings that just sold. Um, 245 for one and 75 for the other if I'm not correct in some change. So, there would be some free cash to plan ahead for that because it is an important grant to go for. Um, it would be great for our town. To this motion in
particular, the cruisers, this was capital funding. cruises or capital. I don't think anyone in this body would penalize the chief or the police department knowing that this came out of another fund. Um I think we all have
pretty good memories here that that would be something that we would understand just like when ARPA funds were applied it changed some of the line items. We remember those things. The other thing that taking the money here,
it relieves the burden of the overall budget allowing other funds to be applied for other departments so that the cuts that they would feel are not so great. And also talking to the facilities manager,
um there is money left in his budget that could pay for paint and supplies in this year. And as pointed out, the storm windows are not part of the $68,000. So the $68,000 is more than the 53 and does not
include the storm windows. So this motion is asking for something that there's not even a bid for. So, in my estimation, it's better to take that 53,000, apply it to the cruisers, lifting up that money to be
used for other departments. The facilities manager can use what he has left in his budget by June 30th and proceed in that manner. Any comments come on the motion on article three? Miss King.
Hi. Uh, Cindy King, West Elm Street. Um, I'm I'm not sure if I have a point of order or not. I'm I'd like to I'm confused right now as to whether we're still talking or we are speaking about the main motion of article 3 or if we're debating the uh motion that was made to
amend the article 3. I don't remember hearing was was a written motion submitted. Did you ask for one? Uh well that I at the beginning of the meeting I said that any motions or amendments to the motions have to be in writing. Okay.
I think here it comes. Thank you. Is there a second? Nice. Okay, I just want to see that. Make sure I read it. Okay. Okay. Uh, there's been a motion to
amend article three. Um um uh to see if the town will vote to close out old warrant articles and reallocate to payment of fiscal year 26 police cruiser lease payments the balances that is indicated below for a
total of $53,784.74. Say again. I can't hear you. I'm sorry. All right. So, the the article this actual it's it's worded a little bit differently than typically you would you
would have it I move to amend the motion on article three as follows. So, I'm going to take that as the intent of this motion. Um, all right. So, the motion to amend is before you. Already had some discussion, I
guess, about it. Is there anything further to be said? The motion to amend would take the money in the original motion from use for Memorial Hall and use it for police cruiser leases. Miss Lizio, take the mic, please, so
people can hear. Okay. Uh, hold on, Miss Lizio. I think we're having some technical difficulties here. This is not power. Um, we are having a problem with the power on the someone here that that can
help with the power connection here because it seems to I don't know if it blew a fuse or what, but um, anybody good with electrical? I I don't know. Yeah, Mr. Moderator,
maybe we could continue the discussion. My question is we're voting on whether or not we want to amend the article, not whether not to vote on that amended article. Is that correct? Right. We're we're we will be voting to amend the
motion on article three to instead use the money for police cruisers. So it's a So if the motion is amended, it's completely obviously it's a completely different allocation. Um if the motion is voted to amend that
becomes the main motion and then we would vote on the main motion and that's what I wanted you to clarify. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. All right. Technical difficulties have been fixed. Um yeah sir. Hi uh Vindulis um
Burchley. Um I'd like to get Mr. moderator, would you ask someone from the FINCOM to please comment on what they feel about the machinations of these funds and frankly ask them to comment on every article that concerns
money? Thank you. All right. Thank you, Mr. Dvolas. I think good point. Well taken. Um, does the fin folks folks, if we're going to take 20 seconds every time for clapping, we're going to be here till over midnight and we're not
going to stay there that long. Um, Fincom, do you have any recommendations? Our recommendation, as we voted in our meeting, was to recommend this article as it stands with the money to repair uh, Memorial Hall. We thought it was a very good case to
um repair the facility before it requires a lot more work. Okay, comments come on the question on the motion. Uh we have another person uh Brad Han Brown Road. Um is Memorial Hall
considered a historical building? Yes. So then we just voted on a CPA tax that goes into effects in July, does it not? It'll be two years till we realize that. Yes. Um we did just vote on that. However, in annual town meeting tonight,
um there's a bylaw to set up a committee. The funds won't be realized until a year from now. The end of fiscal year 26, early fiscal year 27 will be the earliest those funds are available to the town. Um and the bylaw committee
needs to be in place. the committee that considers projects that are asked for. So, if you're thinking that CPA money is going to um fix a repair that's needed now, um that that's probably not the
best way to think about those CPA funds, but they will be available in the future. So, what repairs are absolutely necessary for right now? Uh it's a shame that the facilities department head isn't here, but from what um he put on the capital plan, it was the first was
paint and trim, then it was storm windows. After that, I believe there was some um roofing, and those of you on capital plan can help me out on that. I don't have the five-year capital plan in front of me, but it was definitely the things that are listed here. Okay. Um
Thank you. And the re the reason I bring that up is because really as we as we start start to talk about a overall budget increase and override the town has to remember we're actually looking at really a 1.5 versus a.5 when we start
to realize the 1% CPA tax that's actually coming as well. So I think for the community we we do have to remember that no matter what the number is that comes up. Thank you. I I just want to be clear about one thing. The 0.5% is regular property tax. property tax can go up
2.5%. With the budget we've pres presented, it does not go up 2.5% for fiscal year 26. it goes up 0.5% over the um over the FY25 amount
which means that the 1% which is on less than your assessed value actually so it's not exactly a total 1% but in any event that's details is less than a 2 the regular 2.5% increase that we've all been
realizing over the past x number of years. So, just know that there's no override included in this budget. The override failed. Okay. So, we are not going back for another override vote today. Is that correct? Um, not from the
select board's budget. You're not? No, I don't know otherwise. Excellent. Thank you, Miss Priest. Um, how much is in the FINCOM reserves right now? in the FINCOM reserve fund this year.
Right now, there is $34,954 um still meant to be for um emergencies and unanticipated changes in in a budget. It is not for normal items. So, that a
repair and maintenance item would not really be considered. um unless it was brought on an article and brought before this book the whole town to vote, that's the only exception to using reserve funds for a non-emergency item.
So, with the department head saying that the windows are actually the most critical item and not having it in that quote, um, if the department head is communicating that as an emergency situation, would it not be considered by
FINCOM? At this point, it would not be considered an emergency because there are still funds in his existing account. So, it's not an emergency until that fund would go negative based on an expenditure. So once he's expended all of his available funding, then it would be considered by FINOM. It would be a
consideration, but not a guarantee that it would be approved. So again, I would say if they are that dire that we cannot wait to get 50% of the funds through a grant, then they're
probably not that dire to do right now. And if they are, we could utilize that 34,000 in addition to whatever is in the facilities account. Miss Craraven. Thank you, Mr. Moderator. Kim Craven, Lunenberg Road. So, two things to add to this. This vote was
taken on February the 24th prior to even setting an override amount. Um, you might recall there was a straw poll. 94% of registered voters that put their name down said that they would prefer to
actually have town meeting and discuss some of these things before even going to an override. So that's one thing. The second thing is we're saying that he has money left in his budget and we can't do something that not to be contradictory
Mr. Fincom chair but Mr. Hayes, I'm pretty sure that you said at a meeting that the storm windows could actually be an e situation because they were loose and could get blown out along with the emergency exit signs. So there is, I think, a little
confusion on what is an emergency and what is not. But I would say that a cruiser is more of a need under capital than it would be for point of order, Miss Craven. Yes,
Mr. Roello. What's your point of order? Yeah. What? Oh. Thank you. That's the point of Oh, wait. Mr. This topic has gone past the point
of the motion. We are talking about emergencies under the finance committee's rules. That's not embraced within the motion or the amendment.
Uh, I I think your point of order is well taken that we're getting a little bit beyond ourselves trying to cover all sorts of possible contingencies when the question is whether or not to uh amend this article or not. Thank you, Mr. Rahala. Miss King.
Uh, yes. Um, I think some one thing that's that's being missed in this conversation about at least about about the article or the amendment is that this article is not is not asking the main article is not asking to fully fund the replacement
of exterior trim, painting, and room windows. This is closing out this is a closeout motion article to close out old articles from previous town meetings where we allocated money. And when we do that at any town meeting, the money can't the these are over these are
unexpended amounts that were in different articles years over the last god knows how many years. And they were they were not completely spent and the money is being returned to we're voting to return the money to some available
purpose. And this article is put on here so that the 53784 that's captured back from these old articles is going to be available for our facilities to do for the replacement of exterior trim,
painting and storm windows. I do not read anything in this article that is saying that it is to fully fund. It is part of it's going towards that cost and somewhere in the budget possibly or even if it does come from a grant somewhere
or or future uh uh free cash that this is um this is intended just to supplement and this is where the selectmen who have made this article to exist uh to fund this uh important function and just to as a side note I
know over the years I've listened to the facilities manager beg for money And even a few years ago, he was concerned that the windows were going to fall out that the the structure was so failing if I and I don't believe that's been repaired. So, I think this is ordering
on emergency. But, um, this this article is to clean out old articles and put it towards the the Miss King, with all due respect, I think you've said that three or four times now. Okay. Sorry. So, I got to get my point across, you know.
Yeah. Uh, I think you did, Mr. Templeton. Yeah, Rob Templeton, Hillside Drive. Could we move the question, please? All right. Motion's made to move the question. This will cut off debate. Um, all those in favor of moving the question, please say I. Those opposed
say no. The eyes have it. The motion before you is whether or not to amend article three. I think you all know what the amendment is is uh to apply the the funds listed in article 3
towards um police cruiser lease as opposed to memorial hall repairs. So all those in favor of moving the question, please say I. Oh, I'm sorry. We did that. Now we're voting on the amendment. All those in favor of the amendment,
please say I. I. Those opposed say no. No. The nos have it. The main motion is before you. I think we've pretty much agitated this thing to this horse to death. Um, all those in favor of the motion on article three, please say I.
I. Those opposed say no. All right. The eyes have it. Article four. to see if the town will vote to close out old warrant articles and reallocate to the capital stabilization account the balances as indicated below for a total of 26,32920 or any other sum or take any
other action in relation there too and they are what's your point of order oh this is something that yeah I'm not able to see so good point we got a
new article line l line there now. Okay. Uh well, as printed in the warrant, um is there a motion? Mr. Moderator, Mr. I move that the town vote to close out old warrant articles and
reallocate to the capital stabilization account the following balances for a total of $26,32920. Do you want me to read the lines of the individual? Um, you did that before. Didn't that I I think
properly you should. Okay. Um, from the CP American Legion cash, $22,900 from CPW West Towns and Fire Station cash $3,8720. and cash from the tanker
$342 and the total being $26,32920. Second. Okay, motion's been made and seconded on article 4. Is there anything to be said? Appears we're ready to vote. All those in favor of the motion on article four, please say I. I. Those oppos say
no. The eyes have it. Unanimous. I think that um closes out the uh special town meeting. Is there a motion to dissolve the special town meeting? Second. Motion made, seconded to dissolve the special town meeting. All
those in favor say I. Those opposed say no. The eyes have it. Special town meeting is dissolved. And that will automatically bring us back to the annual town meeting. as we only recessed it till the
conclusion of the special. So, um we already have read this warrant uh the uh the return of the warrant and so article one motion uh is to move now looking at the motions here. Okay. Article one to see if the town will vote to hear the
reports of boards, committees or commissions or take any other action relation there too. Is there a motion? Miss Cal to hear. I move that the town vote to hear reports of boards, committees, or
commissions. Second. Okay. Motion's been made to hear the reports of boards, committees, or commissions if there are any. Uh u all in favor any discussion about this? I don't think there needs to be.
Um but if you want to say a question, uh but basically see if there's any other reports. Um, all those in favor of the motion to hear reports, if there are any, please say I. Those opposed say
no. Okay, the eyes have it. Are there any other reports to be made? Apparently, we already heard our reports, so that's good. Um, um, moving right along. Article two to see if the town will vote to authorize the select board to appoint all town
officers unless other provisions are made by Mass General laws by town charter or by vote of the town or take any other action relation there too. Uh is there a motion? Mr. Moderator. Uh yes. I move that the town
vote to authorize the select board to appoint all town officers unless other provisions are made by Massachusetts general law, by town charter, or by vote of the town. Okay. Motion's been made and seconded. This is a fairly standard article. Is
there anything to be said? Not, Miss Lord. Is this similar to the last town meeting where there was an or or was it on the ballot? I can't remember. Might have been the ballot that uh wanted to
have the town clerk's position appointed. Is this similar to that? No, no, this is just authorizing the selectman to appoint uh people to positions if there's a vacancy or uh the by town bylaw provides their authority
to appoint people as as it does. Okay. So, it's not across the whole board. In other words, across the it doesn't mean they have the authority to appoint people in opposition to people who are elected. People who are elected are still elected. Oh, okay. Thank you very
much. Okay. Any other questions, comments? I think we're ready to vote. All in favor of motion on article two, please say I. Those post say no. The eyes have it. Um,
article three, uh, to see if the town will vote to amend zoning bylaws being chapter 145 of the town code, article 9, entitled special provisions, section 54.1 entitled age restricted development
as is printed in the warrant. I am not going to read it with your permission and uh I'd ask for is there a motion. Mr. moderator. Uh, Miss Sheffron, I move that the town vote to amend its zoning bylaw being chapter 145 of the
town code article 6 entitled special provisions section 54.1 entitled age restricted development as as printed in the warrant. Second. A motion has been made and seconded. Is
there a report from the planning board? Article, article 9, not article six. Oh, okay. Was that misspe? I apologize. Sorry. Brush up on your Roman numerals.
I I accept the correction. All right. Friendly amendment. Um, is there a report from the um, planning board? Yes, I can read the report. Okay. Uh, Miss Shiffron, in accordance with general law chapter
48, section 5, the planning board held a public hearing on April 14th, 2025 to review a proposed a proposal submitted by the planning board to amend zoning bylaws article 9 14554.1 age restricted development. The
planning board voted unanimously to recommend adoption of the proposed amendments for the following reasons. One, the proposed amendment aims to reduce the minimum lot size from two acres to 1 acre, promoting the development of
properties within walking distance of town amenities and local attractions. Despite this reduction, developers will still be required to adhere to the same regulations and meet the same criteria as they would for any
other permit issued by the town. Two, the proposed amendment to add section C8 will allow the planning board to use reasonable discretion in its review to work with the developer and grant reduction, alteration, or waiver of
basic development design requirements if set action would advance the purpose of this section and further public interest. Three, eliminating section C.5 of the bylaw, which pertains to waving minimum setback requirements between buildings
or internal lots will streamline the wording as this issue will be generally covered by provisions of section C8. Four, making age restriction um
obligator obl I can't even say it an obligation by adding section F. This proposal aims to ensure that all homes in age restricted developments are occupied by at least one person who is 55 years or older. This requirement will
be legally enforced and recorded in the property's title. Therefore any occupancy certificates are issued before any any occupancy certificates are issued. The restriction will last in indefinitely or as long as the law
allows and that's our report. Okay. The report's been received and is uh in writing. Miss Shiffron. Yes ma'am. We submit that with the clerk. Um all right. The matter is before you. Is
there anything to be said? Um, Miss Lord, I have a concern regarding the first part of it where it says going down from 2 to one. I talked to a former board of health and the
former board of health member did not think it was a good idea with regards to septic systems and I would I would love to hear from a current board of health member to weigh in on this as well. Question comes on the motion relative to
the board of health requirements. Uh Dr. Roman uh Miss Shiffren, can you address that? Yes, I'm happy to. Um, Miss Lord, thank you for coming. You we're actually at our public hearing and
um, as I explained, part of this and as the uh, report explains that part of this is so that we can encourage more density in a walkable area. It has to be town water and it has to be able to have
approved septic system permits by the water of health. I also explained it doesn't matter if you have 2 acres or 5 acres or 10 acres, there may still only be one portion and I cited a recent um issue here in town,
you know, where it's 5 1/2 acres and a failed system and the only place on that whole entire property where you could build another septic system, install one, was the same spot that it was in.
less than a half acre of that lot was able to be used. So if an acre you can you can have a septic system that works really well with town water and we have plenty of them on Main Street. They're only quarter acre lots. So this is the
intent of this bylaw change is for age restricted housing in a walkable area. I understand perfectly what what this the intent is. Um, I'd love for the former board of health member to get up and speak because um, he was the one that
uh, was alerted me to the possible problems of this. We're talking about new developments. We're not talking about existing I mean existing uh, buildings. I'm talking about new developments. Correct. And as I explained, age restricted has to have
town water and it has to get a permit for the septic system from the board of health. So there are checks and balances in place already in town for that. All right. Well, that's not really answering my
concern because uh were you ever on the board of health? Perhaps you I don't think we really need to go into who was on the board of health. Your question is, is there anybody from the board of health that can speak to this? Yes, I would like to I don't know if there is.
Uh Dr. Roman Ramirez, can you Dr. Roman Christian Roman Ramirez, chairman of the board of health? So at this time um I don't we we we as the chairman of the board I don't
have a a specific response for that and especially that um different um I don't know which member who had respond giving you this response to you my husband he was a former board of health member okay
Can I um Yes, I do. John Ward. Uh when I was on the board of health, the reason why we had bigger lots was it was all about the septic systems. you know, you have if you jam.
One of the reasons why Timberly Park really wasn't a great idea is because they had such a small septic systems and then when those systems broke down, it was just a nightmare to try to get those systems approved and up to up to title five. So, I think if
you're going to start minimizing the size of the lots, you got to make sure that you're going to have a, you know, area for an expansion. That's why they had these bigger lots. That's why I understood that's why we had the bigger lots is to have an expansion area so we wouldn't be jamming lot on top of lot on
top of lot. That's you know that's my only uh thought on that. Okay. Comments come on the motion uh to amend the town bylaw zoning bylaw. Anything else to be said? Mrs. Barrett? Yes. Mary Barrett, 38
Highland Street. I just I have a similar concern where you have eight units of townhouse dwellings on an acre. So, I'm assuming that could be 16 people. It's two adults over 55. That's 16 people. If the system breaks down, where's that going? Where's that septic going? It's a
problem with one house. Now, you have that many people with going into one septic system. So, that's one of my concerns. Okay, I understand that. And I think that that's why we have um good people not only in our board of health, but in showa boards of health. We have a Rick
Rick Medcaf is great and he's good at what he does and they do not issue permits that they do not feel will work. Now granted um and I'm not going to talk about mine but um if you take care of your system
it's going to last okay and there are some will last 20 years some will last 40 years some will last seven. I've seen that happen on Proctor Road. So, and that lot was over two acres. So, really, you have to have the right soils and the
right location on the lot and you'll get a good system. May I ask one more question? So, there's occupancy permits that are being issued and there's two bedrooms that are being allowed up to two bedrooms in these units. Yes. So, is it limited to
two people? Is it three people? Is some somebody's 55, they have a husband, they have a child living with them. I mean, how many would be total in each unit? Well, I think it would be per the square foot and what the board of health would allow. This restriction is for one
person must be 55 and over and they're only two bedrooms and I believe that they're one and a half bath like minimum, but they're age restricted. But they're also um most of the plans that we're seeing are like aging in
place. And I can tell you that the three that have been sold and occupied on Fitsburg Road, you have um two singles and one couple that live there. No one else. Okay. Comments come on the motion. Mr.
Theion. Uh yes, Robert Theion from Fitsburg Road. Um I'm also on the uh planning board. Um, I just want to make a couple of comments here. The planning board worked pretty
diligently on several aspects of this uh article. Um, and so there the article has a lot of improvements on what the current bylaw says um, in terms of
clarification. It's taken an attempt to put more muscle into the occupant requirements on age. The problems that I feel it doesn't
achieve is one by increasing the density you actually lower the environmental area for the people that would be living there. So in recent applications
um I've seen the developers that do this they're all focused on the optimum number of units they can get but very little emphasis on the services that those facilities need. And
then um the other part of this that I have trouble with and there really isn't a confirmed way. Even though we can record these on
the deeds and everything, it still becomes an enforcement issue. And how does that get addressed for the people at large here? the the there are examples of a
restrictive housing already in town that you can compare to and then comparing them to what's now available um and to what this proposed amendment is to increase the density will give you
a better feel for what this article is all about. That's all I have to say. Thank you. comments come on the motion. Uh, Miss Priest, I think from a financial p perspective,
I really am I'm encouraged by age restricted housing. I think that if we have the ability to have more area that we can put that, that's a really positive thing. It can increase our tax base while not increasing our expenses
in the schools. I think that's an really important thing. So, I would just en encourage an open mind. Um, as far as enforcement, I'm not really sure. I know my parents lived in one for a while and there was like an association that took care of all of that sort of thing. Um,
but I I would say from a financial perspective with all the checks and balances that Miss Shiffron mentioned in place for this, I think it's a it makes a lot of sense financially for our town as well. All right, Miss Greeno. Thank you, Mr.
Moderator. Kim Green, Wallace Hill Road, former conservation commissioner. Um, so I'm very familiar with how problematic small lots can be. Um, the it depends where you are in town for sure. So all fair points. My question about 55 plus
housing and and this proposed bylaw or change the bylaw. Does it count towards any affordable housing minimums that were had rammed down our throats? And if not, are we looking at potentially more bylaws for more small, potentially
problematic lots being rammed down our throats so that we meet our affordable housing minimums? I guess the question comes on the motion, Miss Shiffron. Um, this is this is not um doesn't have
anything to do with affordable housing. This particular bylaw, it's the age restricted only Missing that's unfortunate because I can sort of envision this town could be looking at a future of many, many, many problematic
lots. And I said when I was on the conservation commission, some of these lots should not be built. I mean, Don's point is fair. Everybody's making fair points, but it's really something to be considered. Again, the permits have to be issued and there has to be town water, you know. So, mostly what you're
seeing with the age restricted is um not the other two that we did, but the most recent one um was near downtown. So, near the central plaza, the you know, eating areas, the bank, and post office, that sort of thing.
That's great. I guess maybe what I'm asking for is is PL or planning and zoning planning. Yes, planning has been planning for a while for affordable. We can't seem to get it all together, but we have
vacancies on the planning board. There's three. There you go, Kim. So, come on. There's vacancies on conservation, too. But no, pardon me. Yes, there's vacancies everywhere. Yeah. Yeah. I wonder why
housing. All right, that's a plea for all of you to if you're not on a board or commission, please consider joining up. Mr. Mueller, Mike Mueller, 76 Tyler Road and six years on the planning board years ago was plenty to fill me up. Uh, I have a question on this age
restriction. I'm sure this is addressed and buried in there, but I just want to be reassured. Uh, let's suppose that I'm 78 and I've got a 25year-old wife and I move in there because one of us is over 55. I'm sure my wife is going to watch.
You're in for it now, Mike. Just kidding, dear. Uh, and I die at age 80. What happens to my 25 year old 26y old wife? Is that covered in this? The question comes on the motion.
Um, or does she get to live there for 40 more years or 30 more years? Either that or, you know, she gets another 78-year-old. Well, that I was I was going to suggest that, but I didn't want to dig a deeper hole. No, she could just get a 55year-old,
Lori. That's why I said 30 years. Uh I I don't know if if um the town has an answer for that. The bylaw is clear. The bylaw is clear that that the person
would be able to remain there. No, they would not. They would not. So if if this is a Are these units something that people would own? But if she's 26, she'll get a 55y old. I'm sorry. She'll get what? Yeah. She's
26. She'll get a 55year-old. No, but seriously, what happens? Or her mother will move in. Good idea. Her mother will move in. Okay. Well, I'm not sure nothing will happen to her. That's my question.
She has to move. Okay, folks. Hang on. I know Mr. Mueller is looking for an answer. Um I'm I'm not sure if um I don't know. Town Council, do you have any uh opinion there? Um okay. The um statute the bylaw
references several um statutes, state law as well as federal. So um the enforcement would be based on the provisions of the law that are applicable. the law requires um 80%
um occupancy over 55. So um if there were um a household that had um the el the older um resident passed away and the 25
year old wife was still living there. um she probably could stay there for a period of time because the 80% might not be exceeded at that moment depending on the occupancy at the time. Um but it would be based on occupancy. So if she
owned it, she could um rent it to someone who qualified for the um for the over 55 requirement. Okay. So help answer the question. that comes as a um an averaging of the the
population in the development basically. So it would be it would be have to be looked at at the at the time as to what the composition of um the residency was and as long as they have 80% the person would be okay apparently. Miss King.
Yes. I just want to speak in favor of this article. Um I also spoke at the public hearing in support of it. Um, I know that a lot of town residents are concerned about the 1acre zoning and looking at this th this is this article is only speaking of age restricted
housing. This is when they're building age restricted housing. This is the only housing that's being discussed that involves one acre zoning. And even speaking of that to even to be fearful of it expanding anywhere. I mean, I live in West Towns and I live in the historic
district that many of our homes, all of our homes, I think, all along all along Main Street in each of the historic districts, all of us are living in nearly the all quarter acre lots. Some some a little larger, but we're all quarteracre lots. And I don't know of any of my neighbors that have a problem with their septic tank because their
yard is too small. And as as the boards have have spoken that the the the size of the lot is not the big issue when we're talking about septic and conservation because those boards have to approve the building area. The building department has to approve it.
The board of health has to approve it. And I I'll tell you, you know, as those of you that know me know that I watch almost every meeting that goes on in this town because I'm retired and don't have a life. But the the the board of health, it's amazing what they're able
to do with septic that I I' I've seen many people come with septic applications to to repair or replace or on new buildings or whatever they're doing with septic. It's a lot of it's over my head, but there there there's so much new science and technology that the
septics are amazing. And I after speaking with our um the the agent uh Rick Metaf that comes from Nshoba that does all our septic permitting, you know, he um he talked to me about bedrooms that it's based on bedrooms. So
if you're building a building that's got a certain number of bedrooms or or you can stop you you can be stopped by how big your house is going to be or how big your building's going to be based on how much room there is to put a septic tank in. So, if there isn't enough space to
build the building to put the septic tank a certain size, the board of health is going to tell you how many bedrooms are going to be in that building because this is how big your septic tank going to be and you can't put any more bedrooms in that house. And so, it it makes it completely safe and the and the
board of health, they're able to identify and and the designers are able to design septic tanks that work. We haven't had to to stop living in our buildings in in west towns or point lots point of order. Uh we're gonna be here
all night. We are going to be here all night but not because of this article. Can we can we All right, I'll end it. I'll stop. Yeah, I I think I think I just want to briefly say I'm supporting this article and I hope that the one zoning is not what's going to kill it.
That will work. Okay. U M can we move from What's I'm sorry. Keenan Francois Tupac. We move the question. Move the question. Wait. Wait. All right. Motion's been made to move the question. It cuts off debate. It's not debatable. All those in
favor of moving the question on article three, please say I. I. All the post say no. The eyes have. It's unanimous. That is before you. Uh motion to see whether the town will amend the zoning bylaw for age restricted development. All those in
favor, please say I. I. Those opposed say no. No. Passes by 2/3. Article four to see if the town will vote to amend the zoning bylaw being chapter 145 of the town code. Article 9 entitled
special provisions by deleting in its entirety section 45 entitled flood flood plane district and substituting therefore a new section 45 as follows or take any other action in relation there too and it is as printed in the
warrant and uh do we have a new screen up on the board for that? Okay. Um all right is there a motion? Mr. Moderator, Mr. Shiffron, I move that the town vote to amend its zoning bylaw
being chapter 145 of the town code, article 9, entitled special provision, town code article nine. I see in the warrant, what do you see? You're on the wrong slide. Okay, now
go ahead. We're on article article four, right? But we're talking about the zoning. I'm on the We're good. Okay. Go ahead, Miss Jeffron. Where was I? Okay. Um, well, I know it was after
article 9. All right. She She knows the Roman numerals now by deleting in its entirety section 45 entitled Flood Plane District and substituting therefore a new section 45
as printed in the warrant. Motion made and seconded. I have a second. Second. All right. Motion's made and seconded. Is there planning board report? There is. Okay. Uh report of the planning board to
the 2025 annual town meeting proposed zoning amendment to see if the town will vote to amend its zoning bylaw by deleting from article 9. nine entitled special provisions the entirety of section 45 entitled
floodplane district and substituting a new section 45 therefore relative to the regulation of the floodplane overlay district to comply with the requirements of the federal emergency management agency
FEMA and the national flood insurance program. Uh, the planning board voted unanimously. Oh, I should read the public hearing thing. In accordance with general law chapter 48, section 5, the planning board held a public hearing on April 14th, 2025 to review a proposal
submitted by the planning board to amend its zoning bylaw by deleting from article 9 entitled special provisions the entirety of section 45 entitled for floodplane district and substituting a new section 45. Therefore, relative to the regulation of flood plane overlay
district to comply with the regulations of federal emergency management agency FEMA and the National Flood Insurance Program. The planning board voted unanimously to recommend adoption of the proposed proposed amendments for the following reasons. One, the proposed
zoning amendment aims to update the rules for the areas prone to flooding in our town. By doing this, we will ensure our regulations meet latest standards set by FEMA and the National Flood Insurance Program. Two, the update will
protect residents and their properties from flood flood risks and make sure they can get flood insurance coverage. Three, the section 45 title flood plane overlay district has been reviewed and approved by the relevant state agency.
It meets the minimum standards set by FEMA for communities in the National Flood Insurance Program. These standard rule include rules on zoning, building codes, and enforcement to help reduce flood risks.
All right. Thank you, M. Shiffron. That's the report. And the the board voted unan unanimously in favor of the article. Yes, sir. Okay. Um, all right. Is there anything to be said on this article? It's basically something that uh has to
be updated from time to time. Uh, appears we're ready to vote. All those in favor of the motion on article uh four, please say I. I. All oppose say no. The eyes have it. Unanimous. Mr. moderator. Yes. Can I just make an
announcement about the flood plane maps? Uh, no. About the flood plane map? Yes. Isn't that the next article? Um, yes. Um, there on May 14th at Fitchburg City Hall, the Nshawa um watershed is holding
a forum at from 4 to 7:00 p.m. You can go anytime and um it's for all the towns in the district whose flood planes were updated. So, if you have a concern and want to see something, that might be a place to go. Uh, it says that you can
speak directly with local, state, and FEMA experts. Um, whether you live or work in the area, this is your chance to gain vital information about flood risks and insurance options. So, um, I know I I passed this on to be put up on the
website and I think it's going to be up as soon as it's able to be. So there will be a news announcement on the town of Towns and website. Thank you. Okay. Announcement about the flood plane area and the flood plane map which brings us
to article five to see if the town will vote to amend its zoning bylaw being chapter 145 of the town code. Article 3 entitled Establishment of zoning districts section 145-7 entitled location of districts by deleting the sentence the flood plane
district is shown on maps entitled Middle Sex County flood insurance rate map dated June 4th 2010 and substituting therefore the sentence flood plane district is shown on the Middle Sex County flood insurance map rate map FIRM
dated July 8th 2025 and further on the towns Mass zoning map with the note flood plane overlay district is in effect as of 7825. Additionally by adding the latter map depicted below to the zoning zoning bylaw as numbered attachment or take any
other action relation there too. Is there a motion? Mr. moderator. Miffron. I move that the town vote to amend the zoning bylaw being chapter 45 of the town code article 3 entitled establishment of zoning district section
145-7 entitled location of districts by deleting the sentence the flood plane district is shown on maps entitled middle sex county flood insurance rate map dated June 4th 2010 and substituting therefore the sentence the flood plane
district is shown on the middle sex county flood insurance rate map firm dated July 8th, 2025. And further on the towns and map zoning map with the note flood plane overlay district area effective as of
7825 and additionally by adding the latter map depicted in the warrant to the zoning bylaw as a numbered attachment. Motion's been made and seconded on article five. Is there anything to be said?
Do you want the report? Go ahead, Miss Shiffron. Okay. In accordance with um general law chapter 48 section 5, the planning board held a public hearing on April 14th, 2025 to review a proposal
submitted by the planning board to add the zoning bylaw a map entitled towns and map zoning map containing the floodplane overlay district area effective as of July 8th, 2025. The planning board voted unanimously to recommend the adoption of
the proposed zoning map entitled Towns and Mass Zoning Map for the following reasons. One, enhance safety. The new zoning map will help ensure that properties in floodprone areas are built and maintained to reduce the risk of
flood damage, protecting residents and their homes. Two, federal compliance. Adopting the new map ensures that the town remains in compliance with federal regulations, avoiding potential penalties, and maintaining eligibility
for federal assistance programs. Three, community resilience. The updated map will help the town better prepare for and respond to flood events, minimizing disruptions and speeding up recovery efforts. Four, future planning. The new
map provides a clear and updated framework for future development, ensuring that growth in the town is sustainable and safe. That is my report. Okay, that's the uh planning board report and there's a written report to
be filed, Miss Shiffron. Yeah. Okay. Yes, I have that. And um this is the map and it will be on our website so that you can see it. All right. Uh motion and uh report have been received on article
five. Is there anything to be said? Appears we're okay to vote. All those in favor, please say I. I. Those opposed say no. The eyes have it unanimous. Article six to see if the town will vote
to amend its general bylaws by adding a new chapter 139 thereto entitled community preservation committee as follows or take any other action in relation there too and the article I'm not going to read it uh contains the configuration of the community
preservation committee. Is there a motion? U Mr. Moderator, I move that the town vote to amend its general bylaws by adding a new chapter 139 thereto entitled Community Preservation Committee as printed in the warrant.
Second. Motion's been made and seconded. Um, uh, Mr. Ride out. Uh, thank you, Mr. Ride Out. Mr. Ride Out, Mr. Mr. Barrett. I'm Bill Captain. I don't know who I am. Um, Bill Ride Out, 88 South Harbor Road.
Um, I promised uh, Mr. Moderator that if I went over four minutes, he could wave his hat and say huzzah and I would stop. But I'm just going to do a brief review of where we stand with the Community Preservation Act and this bylaw that we're proposing to create a community preservation committee. Um, back in
November of 5th, we as a town voted to pass the Community Preservation Act. um at the particular way we passed it was the 1% sir charge on your property tax except for the first 100,000 of your home's value. Um there are exclusions
for moderate or low income and if you want to apply for those exclusions the town assessor has told me the period of time is come this coming January 1st through the end of February. Um, the exclusions change yearbyear, but in
general, if you're under age 60 and you make less than 80K, you're excluded. If you're over age 60 and you make less than 100K, you're ex you can be excluded. Um, there's a detailed calculator at townscpa.org. Um, the money that we um
get from this sir charge can only be used for open space and recreation, historic preservation, and affordable housing. The money has to go to projects. It cannot go to operating expenses. It has to be a one-time thing that will improve one of those
categories. Um, we are going to be collecting the money when the next fiscal year, but it cannot be spent until we set up a community preservation committee here in Townsen, which is what we're hoping to do with this bylaw. Uh, the money collected is completely separate from normal town money and is
so is um spent in a whole different way. The way it is um spent is that we form a community preservation committee. Um they get various proposals and they vote on which ones they have depending upon how much money they bring in. The projects have to be approved by town
council as appropriate under the community preservation uh act. Um and once the town uh once the committee has passed it, those proposals all have to be approved at town meeting. So basically town meeting has veto power. It can't really modify the proposals,
but it can turn them down or pass them. Um, any money that is not spent or turned down by the town meeting or the community preservation committee is just rolled over in a completely separate fund. It cannot be touched for other funding uh aspects. So, let me talk about some of the details about the
bylaw. A lot of the uh ver verbiage in the bylaw is uh set by state law. For example, the five members that are from town boards, those are all set by state law. We really don't have the ability to amend that at this town meeting. Um the
by the state law allows you to have between two and four additional members. Um and it does not specify how those additional members are selected. Um so there is some flexibility there. Um the bylaw as submitted was basically um to
imitate the towns around us. I looked at the pepper surely and graten bylaws and the way they used they had two additional members and they had those members appointed by select board. Obviously those things are things that could be changed. I I I will say that,
you know, if we do it by election versus um versus appointment. Um I don't know how what you guys thought about the last ballot, but it was pretty much a wasteland of empty spaces and it does raise the bar. Um not that I have a strong feeling of it, but I just want to
make sure that we don't have a board with empty members. And so um I you know I don't have a strong feeling but I do feel that the that's why I wrote um appointed by the select board. Um one other point I would like to point out if somebody wants to volunteer for this
committee or run for it if we change that. Um there is a statewide group called the preservation community preservation coalition which offers training to the new board. So when we set up this board um we'll we'll have experts come in from the state and give
us the rules and help us to get going in a professional manner or with the committee that's formed. And that's all I have to say. Thank you moderator and thank you for not saying huzzah in the middle of my talk. So you just barely made it Mr. Ry. All right. Uh Miss Priest,
thank you. Um, so I think in having community input is important and I I was going to amend but I guess I would ask the CPA pact first. Um, I think I think it would be
beneficial to have elected members not just appointed by the select board and have a community voted presence on this important board. I don't know if the anyone from the CPA pact can answer since the state law provides that we can
have five to nine members. Um, and given Mr. Ry Out's concern of not having someone to fill the seat, I don't know if I should amend to change the language or to add in to additional atlarge elected members.
Okay. comments come on modifying and I defer to Mr. Ry out to respond to that. Uh um those are two independent issues. You certainly have the right to you know we could have anywhere between two, three or four uh additional members and
that's up to this um meeting here to decide. Uh the the bylaw as written says two just because that's the easiest and whether they're elected or appointed is again a completely separate issue. Okay,
comments come. Uh, Miss Hosus. Hi. Yes, Carol Hopsis, 14 Elissa Drive. I just had a question for Mr. Rhino since he knows all about the CPA tax. So, I know in five years you can resend the CPA.
So, what happens? Yeah. Yeah. Use the mic. And if um in fi if if the town decides in 5 years that they do not want to no longer pay the search charge on their property taxes, you have to wait five years and you can request to resend
the CPA tax. So my question is what happens to any funds that are left over if in fact we did resend the CPA? Okay, question comes on the motion. What happens to the money and the CPA? So,
yep. May May I speak as president of Hold on. I don't know who's making the point of order. Yeah. I don't think the comment question about what happens to the funding has to do with getting by.
Uh well, I I think it is relevant to the debate on whether or not the town wants to adopt this bylaw. So, I think it's a it's a it's within the bounds. Um, so if there is an answer, there may not be an answer. I don't know. Mr. Ry,
do you know? I have no idea. Sorry. Okay. You might want to ask town council. Uh, do you want to Right. Right. So, it doesn't really deal with the funds. Have to have to look at
the statute, right? Figure out. that was right now the committee. Yeah. Uh the town council's advises that uh here it's a some maybe a somewhat discreet issue, but here we're just talking about establishing the committee
to operate the um the law that was passed adopting the community preservation act uh last fall. So this the committee doesn't really have anything to do with what happens to the money if the town at some point in time
voted to resend its vote. The committee itself, I think, would just go away. You'd have to look at the statute to figure out where does the money go. So unfortunately, we don't have an answer for that, but that really doesn't relate to this article. So you probably were right, Mr.
Moderator. Mr. Theion, sorry, Mr. I have to defer to Miss Craven. She was in line before you. Thank you, Mr. Moderator. Um, as one of the officers on the committee with Mr. Ride Out and Veronica Kell was on the committee and Emmy Hoff and Karen
Clement and I can't remember who else bill was in our meetings. Um I think everyone articulated that there was a great many um varied uses and the act um passed pretty handily and it has a great
u benefit for our community. So I'm excited to have it on the warrant and hopefully pass. And as um Bill took the the lead on gathering up the um language and we talked about it a bit, I remember um mentioning that it would be great to
have some elected representatives. So I would have no problem with an amendment on the floor to add both the elected representatives and the Miss Craven, if I could just make a point because we don't have an amendment on the floor. You you can't just say I move to amend
it. I didn't yet. I want to know if they prefer seven or nine. Yeah. If they would like how they would prefer. Right. Right. So, I'm just saying either one. I don't mind. Okay. Okay. Comments come on the motion. Uh Mr.
Theion. Um my understanding is the town's already voted for this act. Um however, where we are right now is that you really can't do anything
with it. unless we approve this article here tonight. Um, my comments about this is that we all should be aware that this is not an article that
was generated by our town. This came to our town and it has all the white hat legislation with all the buzzwords about affordable housing and
conservation, everything that we all are concerned about in historic properties. So yes, that's all the appeal, but look at the legislation and look at the tax in that
will be encumbered by this. So if we look at the town of Townsen, we have our historic areas. We have a massive amount of conservation now and approximately
onethird of the town's land base is stateowned public property parks and woodlands. So although we already approved to have this preservation act,
it can't really do anything. So now what's happening is every time there's a sale of a property that exceeds $100,000, there's going to be revenues received.
And the question is who's getting those revenues and how they're going to be dispersed if the money is all going to be available to town. Um and then it's going to be exclusively for those
purposes. Um I I just there's just a lot to this that I don't know how it's going to play out. And unfortunately we already voted it. So the tax revenue is already coming
in. So I just wanted people to be aware of what this is and um the unknowns here. And um so again, as the town council pointed out, this is
setting up this committee and um and moving forward so that you can actually enact the article that you voted for last time. Thank you. All right, comments come on the motion. Mrs. Miss
Stockwell. Hi, Julia Stockwell, 203 Lunberg Road. I read the law on this and I'm not a lawyer, but if the money is not used for the purpose that it's slated for, my understanding is that it goes back to the state. So, you can
correct me on that if I'm wrong. Secondly, there is an article in here that I don't need to change the whole thing, but just to comment, um the historic district on one member from the historic district commission um should no historical commission exist. the
member from the towns and historic commission can be there. That is one in the same. It's a historic district commissionhistoric commission that was voted on several years ago by the tow. Okay. One last thing. If you meet the income
requirements where you can opt out of the 1%, you have to file every single year. But use the microphone. If you if you opt out of paying the 1%, you have to file a form every single year. It's a
two-page form, and it's um a difficult form because you have to put in all your income and all your all your um insurance payments. So, I think it's really an unfair situation. I think it's an unfair situation for the people. What's your point of order? This is outside the
scope of this article. She's rehashing what we already voted to enact. Good point. I'm just giving information. So, you're right. I think we should keep it to whether or not we we want to adopt
this article. The act has already been adopted by the town. So, um Miss Lord, thank you. Um um the idea of the CPA is, you know, the in theory
it's great. Historical society great. Um there's a lot of good good could could be done. However, as someone else pointed out with regards to the housing that's being rammed down down our throats and it is literally being rammed
down our throats. Um yeah, Miss King, Miss King, no Lord. I'm I'm sorry, Miss Lord. I'm sorry. Um the act has already been accepted by the town. the however with this um housing affordable housing what people don't
realize is it's not going to directly benefit the people of towns and and that was stated at one of the meetings that I went to and that they were going to have to reward the verbiage of that okay all right comments come on the motion um is anything else to be said
Miss Priest I'd like to do a two-part very friendly amendment uh first part being to change it to read one member of the towns and historical commission
slash towns and historic district commission as designated by that commission. Is that correct? Okay. One member of the historic historical commission slash historic district commission. Yes. As
designated by the commission just to clear that up. Okay. And I would amend it instead of reading two members to be appointed at large by the select board. Um, one member to be appointed at large by the select board
and one member to be at large to be elected by the voters. Point of order. What's your point of order? Are those amendments to what we're actually It is. They are. Yep.
Um there are amendments to the uh the motion uh and the content of the article. So what you're doing is changing paragraph that references the towns and historical commission to say one member of the towns and historical
commission/historic district commission. Yes. As designated by that commission? Yes. Are you keeping the rest of it because it seems uh that would that would No, that would it would replace with All right. So
strike should no historical commission the second sentence of that paragraph. And the second amendment is to change it so that there is one member appointed at large by the select board uh and one member uh elected by the town. Yes. One
member at large elected by the town. All right, the motion's been made. Is there a second? All right, motion's made in seconded to amend the motion. Um, Don, you going to give us something in writing? I
think. All right, we can debate the uh a motion to amend. Um, yep. Over here. I'm sorry. Well, Karen proposes 17 balsam. I was going to move the question, but I think that's Well, let's just see if there's anything
to be said about the motion to amend. Mr. Ride out. Sorry. Yes. The the only comment I have about the motion to amend is that there are two parts. Um in that bylaw you have to specify
um what is the initial term because you need to set up the terms such that they're rotating. And so you have to specify whether the elected one is how long the elected one is going to be for and and just make sure you you specify
that clearly if it's if it's elected how long is the elected position for in in the initial election and how long is the because they want to set it up so that people ro rotate in and out. Can I ask a question about that just to
make sure I have this right? Yeah, that's a good point. Um, go ahead, Miss Priest. Yeah. What what is it with the appointed in the current I think the current says that the appointments by the housing authority and the two select board selections are
for three years, right? So, if you want to change that the one select board uh appointment, then you have to decide how long is the elected position going to be?
Three years. Three years also. Say again. Three years also. Keeping it really all the same terms except one is put in by the voters. Okay. You didn't have a question, right?
You can do that next. Sorry, didn't know it's live. She is, but I'm hoping to. Okay. Motion's been made to amend the motion on article six by
changing two members at large to be appointed by the select board to one member at large to be appointed by the select board and one member at large to be elected by the voters each for a three-year term. Um, and this doesn't include the
amendment to the historic district commission provision. Can that be accepted by the the proponent as a friendly amendment? Um, Mr. Ry out,
I don't think anybody knows what's going on right now. Well, as I understood, there was going to be two motions to amend. Two parts to amend here was one was changing the language in the section that talks about the historic district commission or the
historical commission because in towns and we have a historic district commission that is also the historical commission. So they I think wanted to change that to reflect the fact that they one and the same. Um so that's what I heard. It's
not in the motion. So, I'm going to go with that's not in the motion. We could do another second motion to amend if we get that far. Uh, okay. Um, I I'm sorry, but Rob, I think I have a question. Karen was Oh, she's going to
move this. She's going to move the question after I have my All right, real quick. So, so I think the intent of this amendment was to have more voted members on the committee. Um I believe conservation commission, historical commission, planning board, cemetery and
parks and housing authority is all elected members from the community. So in effect we're electing members and then providing the board of selectmen to appoint to. So I would say as the article is written, we leave it as it is. It's there's been a lot of work gone
into making this article and to just come up and kind of make decisions here a little willy-nilly doesn't make any sense to me. So I would say do not vote on this amendment. All right. I have to recognize Karen Karen repos 17 balsam
move the question. Okay. Motion's been made to move the question on the motion to amend. Okay. All those in favor of ma moving the question on the motion to amend say I. I. Those opposed say no. The eyes
have it. Uh the amendment is before you. All those in favor of amending a motion on article six please say I. Those opposed say no. No. The nos have it. The main motion is before you. Anything else to be said? Karen
repos 17 balls to move the question. I don't think you have to. Uh we're going to go right to a vote. All those in favor of the motion on article six, which is not amended, please say I. Those opposed say no.
The eyes have it. Majority. All right. Uh the next article is article 7 to see if the town will vote in accordance with the town of towns and charter section
3-2 selectmen a composition and term of office to change from three to five members um the board of selectmen. So I'm going to ask for a motion uh without reading the whole article. Is there a motion?
Mr. Moderator, I move that the town vote in accordance with the town of towns and charter section 3-2 select board a composition and term of office to change from 3 to five members as determined by a twothirds vote of the annual town meeting provided that such vote is
ratified by the voters of the town at the next annual town election and that such five member board would have three overlapping terms so arranged that as nearly as as an equal number of members as possible shall expire. expire each year or take any action in relation
there too. Should this article pass at both annual town meeting and the annual town election, we request that an election be called within 90 calendar days to elect one select board member for a three-year term ending at the annual town election in April 2029 and
one select board member for a two-year term ending at the annual town election in April 2028. Okay, motion's been made. Is there a second? Second. Second.
Um, do you have the motion? I do. You have to sign it. Okay. The motion has been made to change the um number of persons on the select board from three to five members.
um if there is a twothirds vote to do so at this meeting. Is there anything to be said, Miss King? Yes. I I just want to say that this um tell a little bit about this article. This was a a citizens petition. Uh the reason it was put forth was first of all, it's the second time
this has been put forth. This was put forth. I think it was 2017. I forgot the year exactly. It passed at town meeting and it failed at the election. So here we are again in 2025. And the reason it went got put back up was because as you
I know we have short memories but just back last fall in September we had two selectmen quit. They resigned leaving us with one member of the board of selectmen on a three- member board which is not a quorum and we are unable to have any we had no board of selectment
between September and November and I hate to say it but to this date I still don't know what happened in town during that time period because we didn't have any elected officials. We had no open meetings. We had no agendas. We had no minutes. But somehow I don't know what the hell happened. Excuse my language. We don't know what happened during that
time period. And then we had to have a special election and elected uh Laura Shiffron and uh um Veronica Kell. And we just now got a third because we actually last fall we had a third member of the board of selectmen resign after we had the special election. So that put this
town in a horrible crisis. And if we have a five member board, we can have two people quit. We can have anything happen with those two people, but we'd still have a quorum. We would have three members of the of the board of selectment to conduct the business of the town that we need them to. Plus, in
support of our board of selectmen, I know there's a lot of stuff they have to do now. There are more regulations. There are more work to be done. And as you know, we're sitting here at this town meeting with all kinds of issues on the budget. And if they had five members to work all the issues that they have to work, that would make their job a hell
of a lot easier. They'd have more people to be able to do the lengthy the large amount of work that that they need to do to work for us. Also, it helps. I mean, I'm they everybody up there knows I file opening law complaints. If there's five
members, two members can actually talk to one another. They can go to boards together and they're not in violation of the open meeting law. They can they can discuss a new member of the board, which I've been there. You come on to a three-member board, you cannot ask the other members of the board for help
understanding anything. You're on your own. And it's terrible. Right now, we have a new member of the board of selectman. She cannot talk to Veronica and Lori about what what does this mean? How do we what what is this about? We can't do that. So, if we have a five member board, you can team up. You can
get help and get answers to questions. Having a five member board would be so helpful. And on one short more thing that I know people are against, some people are against this. Well, we'll never get people to run for five positions. We can't get people to run for anything today. But I've not seen a
problem with people wanting to be in charge. We have not had a serious problem with people running for board of selectmen. We do have pe trouble with people that want to do some of the harder work or this is hard, I'm sorry, but do some of the board meetings that don't get as much attention. But when
people want to be in charge, they're they're sometimes competitive. When Lori and Veronica ran, they had competition, both of them. This time, we didn't have the competition, but we usually do. So, I am confident that we won't have any trouble finding five people to be on that board of selectmen. And I asked the
town's people to support this article. Thank you. Okay. Comments come on the motion. Uh, Miss Stockwell. Thank you. Julius Stockwell, 203 Lindterberg Road. 30 years ago, I worked for a three-member board in this town. So, I
know what it is working for a three-member board, but I've also worked for a five member board. And if you think dealing with three members is difficult, you ought to try five. Okay? It is really difficult to work with five because you get five
different you get five different explanations and five different uh ideas. So we are a town with back in 300 30 years ago we had about 900 9,500
people. Today we have under 9,000 people. So we have less people today than we did then. So I really recommend that you do not do this. This has been brought up several times through my lifetime and it's always been put down. We we have a hard time getting three
members on the board. And when we do have competition, that's great. But look at look at all our other programs here today. I mean, how many how many um committees are missing people? Even the housing authority, I there's not anybody in there that could even take a vote.
So, I really recommend that you really think hard about having a five member board. Thank you. Okay. Comments come on the motion. I'm just going to observe that 250 years ago, we did have five selectmen on the board of selectmen, but the town's budget was about 145
shillings. Mr. Miss, uh, Miss Kell, I think, um, I just want to weigh in on this sitting in this chair, and I don't know which way is the right way to go. Um, I will say that yes, what you see at the meetings
is what you see. we can't talk to each other outside of the meetings. So sometimes the meetings look really messy and really like we don't know what we're doing, but we don't know what anybody else thinks. So if you're someone that
says you want transparency, with a three member board, you have that. With a five member board, there is something really, really good about that because I can talk to each person. And I can't tell them what each of the other people said, but I can talk to each person. So when I
come into a meeting, I know where people stand on things and I don't have to say, "Hey, I have an idea and I'm I'm wondering maybe we should do this. Can we talk about that at a later meeting?" No, because I've already talked to each person and asked to have it put on the
agenda. So that is the good thing about a five member board and I don't know which one is right. That's all I have to say that. Yeah, you just said it. It's a violation, isn't it? You're right. It's a violation. So, you Mr. Rockwell, you haven't been
recognized. Oh, because I gave my opinion. I'm speaking as a citizen. I should have come down there, done what it is. It is not a violation meeting. Same thing. They they are here as members of the select board. They're not in a open meeting of the uh the select
board. They're at town meeting in Julia Stockwell 203 Lunberg Road. You're right. You but you really can't talk to the you can talk to the people in your meeting. That's what the meetings are for. That's where the open transparency is is at your meeting whether it's three
people or five people. So you still can talk to your other members. Okay. Comment comments come on the motion. People I can guarantee you that other boards with five people on them talk to each other outside the meeting. Guaranteed. All right. I want to recognize Miss
Shiffron had raised her hand and then I'll recognize you. Well, maybe you better go down there here. I'll plug my ears. This is This is not our meeting, by the way. No, it's not our meeting. This is John's meeting.
Um, having been in this position for five months now, five and a half months, um, I want to tell you another side of this, and that is that of the town administrator. He has to speak to each
of us individually before each meeting. Mr. Chevron, I'm going to interrupt you. somebody is uh carrying on a conversation. So, I'd ask them to be respectful and let uh Miss Shiffron have her say please.
Thank you. I didn't even notice that. But um so it I would be for a five member board or a seven member board because if you did that, he would only have to speak to two groups because there would not be a
quorum. Once there's a quorum of whatever body you have, it splits his time more than what it should be in order to prepare for the meetings. And there is a lot involved. I mean, I I really would be in favor of five or
seven if people would run. But look at our last election. Half of the positions that were available were blank. So, I mean, whatever the body wants is fine with us. Comments come on the motion. Fine with
me. Um, yep, Miss Goodrich. Um, I really actually agree on this fivep person board, having been on a fivep person board for nine years. And I'd like to reference the board beside us, which in this past couple weeks has had lots of conversations between two people, not in
meetings. So if we're saying this would be a five member board, two people could have a conversation just as the board beside us did in this budget preparation process and we cannot do that. So just for comparison between the two boards and
other boards in town, I served on a five person board and it was it was very nice, very very nice. So that's my opinion. And also there's there's a lot of contention in town right now. I'll be completely honest and a lot of people warn me about that and spreading that out amongst more members of the
community is I think actually more likely to get people involved will be more likely to actually be able to be liaison to the groups that we're assigned to. Right now I've been able to contact three of the groups I'm a liazison to just because it's a really
long list. Most members don't go to those meetings and other times with five members they'll at least go once or twice a year to those meetings. But when we have such a big group that we're assigned to, it's nearly impossible. So that's it. Okay. Comments come on the motion. Uh Mr. Ride Out. Yes. Bill Ride
Out, 88 South Harbor Road. Um so I've been working on the rail trail for 20 years or so. So I've worked very closely with the Towns and uh Board of Selectman and with the Graten Board of Selectman where the rail trail is also going. The
graten board of selectman has I believe five maybe more. Um and it is incredibly stable. It is just unbelievable how many people have been a selectman for 10 years. I mean how many people here have had select been here for 10 years and I
think it it reduces the stress on the selectman. I mean it yes it's going to be a stressful job anyway but I think having that more than than you know three people has really reduced the amount of stress that it takes to be a selectman at least that is the feedback
I've gotten talking to the grten selectman um and they would never go back to a three so just my opinion thank you okay comments come on the motion looks like we are ready to vote um all those in favor of the motion on
article Seven, please say I. I. Those opposed say no. No. I believe the eyes have it by 2/3. of general law chapter 44 section 53 and a half and in accordance with chapter
104 of the town's general bylaws to authorize the following fiscal year 2026 spending limits for the following revolving funds and I'm not going to read uh each she's leaving item it's in the warrant uh is there a motion Mr.
Moderator, Miss Chevron, I move that the town vote to to pursuant to provisions of general law chapter 44 53E and a half and in accordance with chapter 104 of the town's general bylaws
to authorize the following fiscal year 2026 spending limits for the following revolving funds. One, recycling 45,000. Two, recreation programs 100,000. Three,
facilities maintenance 4,000. Four, cemeter cemetery 35,000. Five, fire alarm 4,000. Six, animal care program 1,000. Seven, fire EMS for fire EMS
services 5,000. 8, conservation, 20,000. Nine, fire EMS for hazardous material supplies replacement, 10,000. 10. Firearms licensing 6,000. 11. Police public records requests 3,000. 12.
Detail cruiser fees 6,000. Second. Motion's made and seconded on article 8. Anything to be said. Appears we are ready to vote. All those in favor of No. Miss. Uh, I have a
question. Jesus. Uh, hold on. All right. Let me defer to the fincom Mr. Walker. So I guess my question is would this be an appropriate place
to put forth the board of health proposal to make a new revolving fund for the solid waste that he showed in his proposal that he did? I I don't think that would be in order. I'm not sure whether that comes into this as far
as an article. Uh okay. I don't know if what was being proposed there is was it amending this to change the amount or something they Well, I guess my propos if it was appropriate that I'm just wondering if this is the appropriate
place to say add a new revolving fund. Yes. Uh amendments to the motion. Go ahead. the fund already exists, so we just have to add it to the list. It's in there from 1992. I'm I'm going to uh have to
defer to town council on that if that's something that this article anticipates. I'm I'm in in doubt whether or not it comes within the four corners of the article. It's not um Mr. Attorney Freeman. Yeah,
Mr. Moderator, if I may. Um, that's just a minute included in the article, Miss Mr. Moderator. I'm sorry, Attorney Freeman. What? It's not included in the article. No, it's not in the article. Right. Right. And my question is, would this be
the appropriate place to add it? But Don seems to say that that would be the the next article is where we would we could add it. Yeah. I noticed that there is an article next article 9 to um add the following revolving funds, right? So I
guess so I think so it sounds like my question would be more appropriate for the next article than this one, which is fine. Yeah, I I would say it would be more appropriate um simply because this article lays forth and to people that maybe didn't
come here tonight, right, they would have thought, okay, there that's what the town is going to be voting about. Yeah, that's fine. I So I I think I'd feel more comfortable if if the motion to amend came under article 9. And I still have reservations there, but let's
take it one step at a time. Yep. Um I don't know. Town council, Attorney Freeman, do you want to Well, on article nine, it's specific as to what the um what the fund is for.
So I'm not sure that based on this Warren, I'm not sure that you can just amend it um to add something different. Right. They're talking about the the problem that we have here, folks, is
it's a it's a call as to whether or not the article that's being offered gives enough notice to everyone apart from the folks here uh as to what action the town is going to be taking. And it can be
sometimes kind of specific. Uh obviously an article can change with the amount. Uh but you you can't propose an article that for example proposes to uh rent a new school building and then because it's still dealing with school decide
that you're going to build a new school building. So there's a kind of a fine line in just trying to determine what things come within the what's called the four corners of the warrant article. um port point of clarification. I just I
would like I'm not adding a new account. I I just there so and I think everybody here would agree that trash is very well communicated to the voters that it was going to be a top of a topic of
discussion given that it was has been said by every board trash would be cut out of the select board's budget. trash was going to be maintained in another form through the fincom's budget and the board of health has brought forward a proposal for trash. But but my my proposed amendment is to an account that
already exists for this purpose. Um and I would I have the paperwork for um town council to take a look at. It's already been adopted. So my amendment would be to add to the list of revolving funds solid waste fund which was adopted on June 2nd, 1992 at annual town meeting
under article 27 in accordance with chapter 37 of the town's general bylaws with a fiscal 26 spending limit of $800,000 for the purpose of funding the fisc year 26 curbside trash and
recycling expenses as proposed by the board of to be funded by user fees, bag revenues, and any other voter approved funding source or grant. And the purpose of this is to be able to continue with the curbside trash
as presented by the board of health and supported by the finance committee. All right. So, the the motion is being made to amend, and I'm I am going to have to rule that out of order because it's not within the four corners
of the of the article. If someone wanted to put in an article to include this, and I know that solid waste fund was adopted in 1992 or thereabouts, but it's not in this article to add a new thing.
The revolving funds, as I understand it, and FINCOM can certainly speak to this, turn on money that the specific department takes in for a certain thing and that then um the town meeting is authorizing that money to be spent by
that department for that per particular purpose. At this point, we don't have a category here for solid waste. As much as I think everybody here would like to see it, we just don't have it. Um I if anybody in finan point of clarification
uh ma'am I'm gonna ask I've got Dr. Roman Ramirez over here and Dr. Christian Roman Ramirez chairman of the board of health. So, in order for and I hope it gets to to to be added to the
budget in order for the pay as you throw program can be successful and not ha not have it managed by the board of selectmen but having it managed by the board of health. There should be an amendment on on on
the revolving account on the solid waste category that needs to be uh amended in order for us to um implement the pro the program and if the people agree to it.
Um any feedback from the finance board about about Well, I think the the feedback we got from the moderator and the town attorney was that this article is not the appropriate place to do that by law. Is that is that correct, Mr.
Moderator? That that would be my opinion. Wasn't brought to Okay. Yeah. There's no activate existing on their That's That's right. It's not on the
warrant. How do you do that? Well, if if I'm going to indulge you just a little bit more, Miss Priest, because this isn't a debate between you and I, okay? Um, I'm going to let the the selectman speak to that because the procedure for
setting the warrant is up to the selectman. And if other departments have things they want to be included in the warrant and the selectman don't do it, then they would have to file a request prior to March 1st that it be put on the warrant. Um, rarely out of order, but I
believe the selectman did it without including FINCOM and FINCOM can speak to that, so I'll be out of order on my own accord. Finom any comments? Um really there there's nothing when we prepare this
it's prepared by the the group code and the existing um uh groups that have been set up and within each of the groups like police you'll see the grouping and each individual account is created and the money is coming in and going out on
those. So this particular one for article 8 um and the only thing under board of health is the recycling that is set up today if we were going to and this artic art article 8 is referring to the balances and the monies that are
going to be coming in and going out of those accounts. Um if we were to be able to do it, it would have needed to be probably in um article 9. So, what would we do? But um but
again, we we didn't see the um have have access to um put in put in port and no in time to get it into the warrant to add that add the board of health comments come on the motion what Miss
port clarification okay I'm dying to ask this okay so please please indulge me um I I attended the last meeting I believe of the select via Zoom and the board went into executive session and the to talk about we're
going to generate the budget and come back with it. Now the co um the executive session usually is what for collective bargaining not to get together a budget to present before the town's people. That's what that's what was said on Zoom. So why was this allowed
executive? I have to rule that out of order. All right. You're talking about something completely different than the article that's in front of us. It has to do with the budget. The fincom didn't know about something here and I mean this is it went to an miss Lord that we can't address at this meeting.
Miss King. Hi again. Um I just want to speak briefly that this this article is pretty cut and dry. It's a it's an article that gets voted on every town meeting that we have. It's a required article to for us to authorize the current revolving funds that are already
in existence to function that we we have to vote on these things and all of these as has been said in one way or another that these are all funds that are actually receiving fees from one place or another from us for different things. Everything from getting a cemetery plot
to asking for police record qu requests, firearms licensing. Those are things that we pay money to and the money goes someplace rather than having it go into the general fund. It goes into these revolving funds so they can continue their their services. If we we can't really I don't I I agree we really can't
add a new one at this point, especially one that doesn't currently have funds in it, which would have to be a process through the board of selectmen. I think it would be appropriate. Oh, a if as we're going through the rest of the evening if somehow we get trash back and
somehow through this alternative budget process to put these fees that uh Dr. Ramirez had discussed in the in the in the slideshow that he gave us. If that were to come back that in the future at a future town meeting between then and now and and the new town meeting that
someone could or the selectman could establish a revolving fund for that in order to cover that that process or it could be done by petition at a future annual town meeting and I think that would make sense but I think it it's it makes no sense even if it were because
it would have no money in it if we were to establish some type of revolving fund. So, I I think we should just just pass this and move on with our night. It's getting later and later. Yep. Thank you. It is um point of clarification. If it's not here,
you think it might be an article 9, but also in the budget that's in the warrant. There is a line item still for trash. So, can it be added? And even in the select board's budget and in the fincom's budget, there is a solid waste
line item. So, can it be added there and then transferred at special town meeting? Yes. Whenever that happens in the summer, procedurally, I think certainly that the budget can be modified, but that isn't really addressing this article right
here. Whether or not that money can later be transferred into a revolving fund is a financial question that's beyond my wheelhouse. And so I think that would have to be referred to the fincom and the selectman. Um but I would have to
say Miss Craraven that it's it's outside the scope of this article about what are we going to do on the budget. Let's get to the budget first. But do you think it's you said you think it might be in article 9 that it's possible. Well, article 9 is to amend uh the
authorized revolving funds by adding another revolving fund. I think it's got more chance of doing something there than article 8 which is pretty finite about the existing funds that exist. Thank you for that point of clarification.
Welcome. Uh Miss Jackson, move the question, please. All right. All right. Move the question. Um, I think if you'll indulge me, I think we're ready to vote. So, um, I think we can skip the motion to move the
question because nobody else seems to want to say anything, right? Good. All right. All those in favor of the motion on article 8 for the revolving funds, please say I. Those opposed say no. The eyes have it. Article 9 to see
if the town will vote pursuant to the provisions of general law chapter 44 section 53E and a half to amend chapter 104 of the town's general bylaws by amending section 1F thereof entitled authorized revolving funds adding there
to the following revolving funds and to assign the following fiscal year 2026 expenditure limit there too and it proposes to add town hall public records request authority to spend funds by the select board for public
records request fees and covers the cost of personnel fulfilling public records request with a spending limit of 5,000. Is there a motion? Yep. Mr. Operator, I move the town vote pursuant to the provisions of general
law chapter 44 section 53E and a half to amend chapter 104 of the town's general bylaws by amending section 1F thereof entitled authorized revolving funds adding there to the following revolving
fund and authorizing the following fisc year 2026 spending limit. Therefore, revolving fund town hall public records requests authority to spend funds. The select board revenue sources public records request fees use of funds to
cover the costs of personnel fulfilling fulfilling public records request with a spending limit of $5,000. Motion's been made and seconded. Uh, Boris Selecman, do you have any comments about this?
I I can comment by saying that there have been many many public records requests coming in that are quite broad over the course of the past several months. And um, a lot of staff time has gone into
fulfilling those requests. and where if it's just something like I want the minutes of this meeting or could you get me this that's an easily retrievable thing but when it's years and years of back records it's it takes a lot of
employee time and so it seems that it is reasonable to um charge some amount of money to um make up for the time that the employees are spending fulfilling public records requests as opposed to um town
hall duties, I guess. Is there anything else to say on that? Okay. No comments come on the motion. Thank you. Uh Miss Sparett Kathleen Sparett 312 Main Street. How will these funds be distributed and to who? Because I've
been I was the REO for eight years and we did not get any extra money for doing any of those services. And if the fee doesn't come from the department that it's requested from, I
don't the RAO does not know what to charge because we don't know how much time goes into it. Um we're those are legitimate concerns and we're working on a new public records um request policy in order to incorporate that and this um
fund is part of that. So, okay. Uh, Dr. Roman Ramirez, Dr. Christian Roman Ramirez, um, chairman of the board of health, if it is possible on this article, and you may correct me, Miss
Mr. moderator to increase the the revolving account on the board of health that manages um solid waste so that uh we can implement the pay as you throw program that I proposed earlier in this
meeting. All right. Question comes on whether or not this article can be amended to add a revolving fund which already exists. it it already ex it's it it's not it's it's adding the
the um hiring the amount if I'm not I'm not a a finance geek but um but what I mean is that increasing the the the the revolving account so that we can
implement and based on on on our people's vote to work on on this because if we don't increase that revolving account and um it will be impossible for us and it's the board of health's
interest is to work on this um trash situation. All right. Um it's it's my opinion that uh given all the agitation that that the town has had regarding
uh solid waste and everything that if anybody didn't think that the the issues regarding solid waste were were not going to come up at this meeting. Uh they uh are very badly misinformed. So, I'm going to rule that a motion along
those lines would be in within the four quarters of article 9 if such a motion is made. But hey, to change the number, I'd like to make a motion to amend. All right. What's your amendment?
um to add the revolving fund solid waste fund adopted June 2nd, 1992 at annual town meeting under article 27 in accordance with chapter 37 of the town's general bylaws with a fiscical year 26
spending limit of $800,000 for the purpose of funding the fiscical year 26 curbside trash and recycling expenses to be funded by user fees, bag revenue, revenues and any other voter approved funding source or grant.
Second. Second. Second. All right. Motion's been made. You get that in writing, Miss Priest? I do. Uh, just make sure we're hitting all the boxes here. The revolving fund is the solid
waste. Revolving fund authority to spend is by the board of health. Yes, it it's in our bylaws and it's under the control of the board of health and the revenue source is uh fees and user fees, bag
revenues, grants and any other voter approved funding source. The use of the fund is for rubbish disposal, curbside, trash and recycling. Okay.
The spending limit is 800,000. Okay. All right. to add to the list of revolving funds solid waste fund which was adopted June 2nd 1992 at the annual
town meeting under article 27 um and uh recorded as chapter 37 in the town's general bylaws with a fiscal year 26 spending limit of 800,000 for the purpose of funding the fiscal year 26 curbside
trash and recycling expenses is to be funded by user fees, bag revenues, and any other voter approved funding source or grant. Okay, that is a motion to amend the motion on article 9. Is there anything to be said? Yeah. Um, Mr.
Moderator, could I Yeah, I'm sorry. Members of the select board, if if you can just say Mr. Moderator because I'm I can't really see you, so I know. Okay. Uh, I would All right. Uh, let me ask this have this person and
then I'll refer to you Miss Kell. Hello, my name is Mary Foster, 22 Hillside Drive. I have a question for town council. So, chapter 37 of the bylaws
that deals with solid waste fund, it references mass general law, chapter 44, section 28. That is a totally different section of Mass General Law Chapter 44
than what the bylaw chapter 104 references. And chapter 104 sets up the revolving funds that we just voted on on article 8. And chapter 104 references Mass
General Law 44 section 53E. So, is it a revolving fund governed by section 53E or is is that the intent of chapter
37 referencing Mass General Law section 28C, which I think refers to debt obligations with solid waste management, such as shutting down a town landfill.
So, I'd like town council to weigh in on that because I'm not sure we actually have a solid waste revolving fund at the moment in the bylaws. Okay. question comes uh on the
motion uh has certain legal elements to it and I don't know if town council can address those issues tonight because it's a fairly involved track of uh references. My understanding is that
that the town did adopt uh a solid waste uh revolving account. So, this might take a little more time to analyze than we have tonight. Um, right. But it doesn't make sense to me that a
reference to chapter 44 section 28C that the intent of that was the same as the references to uh section 53E which which governed all of the
revolving funds. My point is that I don't think we have already in the bylaws established a solid waste revolving fund. I'm told or at least it's been represented that there was but for some
reason it's not being used. So yeah, you go ahead. So it references subsection F here. Yeah. I mean does that that pretty much covers it doesn't it right
discussion additional to it correct I guess my would be my question is She knew a new account really what should have happened
under but I do think that as far as them having one that exists it does appear that they have one that exists and All right. We're we're looking at master
law chapter 44 section 28 C uh sub sub paragraph F. This is the and the article that was adopted in 1992 uh was
to amend the general bylaws and the following article that the board of health may establish from time to time amend and authorize collection fees for the collection and or disposal of solid waste pursuant to master laws chapter 44 section 28 CF. 28CF talks a lot about
debt, but it's not the only thing it talks about. It talks about any city, town acting buyer through the officer, officers, board, committee, or other body authorized by law, if any, to fix, revise, charge, and collect such fees and other charges. Otherwise, acting by
and through its chief executive officer is hereby authorized to fix, revise, charge, and collect fees and other charges for any facilities or services provided by such city or town as relate to the collection of solid and disposal of solid waste. And then it goes on to talk about if you have debt obligation,
you can use the money for that, but I think that's irrelevant in this situation. But why wasn't it originally adopted under section 53E where all of the other revolving funds
are? I I think there's been some changes in the laws since 1992 and maybe more things have been coming under 53 and a half. Um I know 53E generally deals with establishing
funds the town can put money in. And I'm not sure if they're considered revolving funds, but I'm not positive about that. Are they revolving funds under under 53E? Yes. All right. So, um, the
thing is this article was adopted. I don't know if anybody has the institutional knowledge from the board of health as to why this didn't carry through with the things that we are dealing with today. You know I I have to ask why
don't we have that in article 8 saying solid waste revolving fund. I don't know if selectman have any so Mr. moderator I guess my thank you attorney Freeman my question is how is this within the scope of the warrant that was
posted? Can we as a body post a warrant that these are the things we're going to talk about at town meeting and then decide that oh, we're going to add something that a isn't in the published budget and b is um an addition uh that
people that are not sitting here that might want to be here aren't able to weigh in on. Um, is this within the scope of the four corners of the warrant is my question. This is something that I
asked about because it seemed like a reasonable way to do things and the answer I got was that it was too late to put it into to that you could not amend the motion to add something that's
outside of the scope of what you are um talking about budgetarily. And yes, although trash is definitely a budget topic, it was voted down at the override and therefore off the table for the
warrant that we are discussing now. This doesn't mean that it couldn't come back another way at a different I I think procedurally it it would be better to bring this back on another day.
um because if we do adopt this and and I am wrong about it then it's not going to be valid. The other thing that's I think problematic is the fact that apparently we do have a revolving fund for solid waste. Uh, and it was not put in article
8 to put the money in, collect the money for trash pickup and and for recycling bags and pay as you throw and that if that money had put into that revolving account that exists, we'd be voting on
that now. But Dr. Roman Ramirez, Mr. moderator to to be respectful toward the board of selectmen. Um I personally learned that the trash was not going to be on on discussion and I didn't learn
it from a communication from the board of selemen. I learned it because I saw it someplace and and the board of health had to do a emergency meeting last Friday and last Friday we had a meeting with with was Mr. Laquir was and and I
as as as quorum for the board and we asked feedback to the community about how can we resolve this situation and the fact is that we we didn't had the time because the board had already decided that that trash was not going to
be discussed and what we are asking is to um add or amplify what what um the the the the the the revolving account of the of solid waste that has the board of health for as proposed by Miss Miss
Priest um $800,000 so that we can have a affordable trash program for this community because we as board we are very concerned that if if if we don't
make any decisions about this on the long term this is going to be a a a public health problem and and that is why it was not included because at the end and and and the people have to understand the board of selectment took
the trash contract out of the board of health's hands and they wanted to to work it out on their own and not leaving it to its board. comments come on the emotion to amend um to talk about public records. Yeah,
right. Right over here. Hi, Selena Thomas um 99 Warren Road. My question is if we have a spending limit of 800,000 dollars, I think so. Maybe not close enough. Sorry. Get closer to it. Sorry.
Um, Selena Thomas, 99 Warren Road. My question is, if we have a spending limit of $800,000 and we do not get the revenue that we expect, how is that money? Are we
allowed to spend to the 800 and then we have to get money from somewhere else or do we just spend the money that comes in? Does that make sense? I I think this that if this were to be passed, I think that the
um 800,000 uh would be the limit that could be spent. That that's all. If there's no money, there's not insufficient money, then you can't spend it. Okay. Thank you. Yeah. Um Mr. Templeton. Yeah. Rob Templeton, Hillside Drive. I I guess it
it seemed I I guess for am I allowed to ask question not about trash and on the amendment here not about trash or about this article. You can ask any question. All right. So on the article I I I understand what what we're trying to do
here and um I understand the question around you know the process right so my answer is if you're developing a policy or a process to do these requests then that policy is going to need to come to
town meeting to be approved or no? It wouldn't come to town meeting. It's selectman policy. You're going to develop a policy on how that money is going to be funded. And for $5,000, I can appreciate that. I guess turning my
question to the trash. I haven't seen much on how $800,000 is going to be managed by the board of health from a revolving fund. And it seems like we're trying to jam this thing into this
article here without without a lot of policy behind it. And I guess my concern is is that if we're authorizing the board of health to spend $800,000, I'd like a little more information behind how that money is going to be spent than just the three slides that we went
through earlier tonight. Okay. Comments come on the motion to amend, right? All right. Uh, Miss Priest, I just wanted to address Miss Kell's question on the
scope of this being valid. And so what I would say is in your budget printed in the warrant, trash is fully funded. So why and now we're not voting on that budget. So, who would come to bring a
motion or to bring an article for the warrant by March 1st when the budget printed in the warrant has the full trash amount in it and the override was never specified for a purpose. Um if you were at the August um
April 16th meeting, I am certain that you understood that if the override did not pass, the trash would not be funded. But then how do you was also posted on the website the um the presentation that
was made and the discussion that was had in every meeting that the board of selectmen had. The reason that we came out of executive session and trash was gone was not because we discussed it. We didn't talk about trash at all. It was
the only big item that was on that functional segment and we already knew that the override didn't pass. as did I hope everybody in town when the override overwhelmingly did not pass. That
300,000 that we stated would be gone would not be included in the budget was not included in the budget and the functional segment dropped by the amount of the trash contract. I understand that. But how would we submit something
by March 1st to include specifically this fund if you yourself are saying the decision was made on April 16th? So I think the funding of trash as evidenced by your budget and the full funding amount in the warrant is a topic of the
warrant and I don't understand the select board's position against having a trash plan. I think um you heard my statement I hope in the um in the report that we do
support trash. I think the question that came around with if we're short, how do we fund it? We do not have the funds. And I haven't heard all of what um you know, Finong came up with today on
trash. I and my concern which I have voiced it's on record with meetings that we've had jointly with the board of health. The question is if we don't have enough people participating if we don't
have enough pay as you throw revenue where does the money come from? If we don't have the funds to pay the Shaw contract where does that come from? And that is the question. Um, and
so until there's an answer to that, I mean, maybe I was hopeful that on Friday I was told that Mr. Shaw was going to um was working with the town for a program similar to Dunstables. And I was hopeful
to hear something about that. But what I heard was that Mr. Shaw wanted the town to figure out what we were doing. And the contracts that were in play were the contracts that have been in play all along. And so, how do you guarantee when
we don't have a town that's willing to um fund an override? And it's been pretty clear to me for the past five years that we don't. How do you responsibly say why of course I'll sign
that contract and you know h we might have been better off if the people that went in private paid and I understand why people did if they had stayed with the contract and embraced the pay as you throw. Maybe we could have realized the
monies that we that we hoped to make from that program. But Lori and I in one of our very first select board meetings were told that do said we need to come up with $200,000 more. And people say,
"Oh, it was going to be through cuts." Where where were those $200,000 in cuts going to come from halfway through the fiscal year from the general budget? I honestly don't know. and our stabilization is at 1.1 a little
bit more million. We don't have a huge pot of free cash. If you look at other towns that have lower free cash, uh I mean lower stabilization, they have a large pot of free cash. Anyway, I'm talking a lot. I don't mean to, but I
think the question about the 800,000 and where is the money coming from if we don't have the revenue coming in, where does that come from? If that can be answered, I'm on board. Comments come on the motion. Uh Dr.
Roman Ramirez, I think Miss Hoff is deferring to you. So regarding the 800,000 the money will come from the annual structurebased fee and this is just a consider conservative number plus
the the the payment of of the purple bag. So um this is just a rough um estim a conservative estimate and the money the only money that will be coming from from it will be from
stabilization which uh which will be 157,980 if I'm not mistaken and and and what has what has been um reported by the finance committee conversations with the board and with the community as well. So it's not that the the town the
the the from stabilization they will be funding uh 157,980 but the rest of it the revenue will come from the structured fee that initially the the select board had
pushed it and the board and the board of health adopted it as a plan B if the program if if the override doesn't the didn't didn't pass and it didn't pass. So this is the alternative that we as
board are presenting to the people and in order to to in order for us to to work with this plan this has to be done and uh and other than that um we just need to work
on this and quickly. Thank you. Uh all right. Uh, going back over here, Miss Hoff. Hi, Emmy Hoff, North End Road. So, I work off of a revolving fund and I think there might be a little bit of confusion. I know that the good doctor here just gave you a rundown of where
the funds come from, but I just wanted to reiterate that when we come before with a spending limit of up to, in my case, $100,000, I then spend that year making the money I need to in order to spend it
out. Now, my understanding from the board of health and our um board of health agent that is in town hall is that they have been in negotiation conversations with Shaws and that things are going to be lowered in order to fit where we need to be for recycling and trash curbside pickup. So, that is in
works and it is happening. Now, that does not have to be a firm complete answer. Right now, there is an entire year to produce revenue. You produce programs. You get grants, you do fundraising. It is, in this case,
there's trash bags, you have that year to make your funds in order to do what you need to do. Now, the board of health's job is to get that contract as low as it possibly can be. And then it's their job to go out and get those grants and to find those extra funds to follow through with the commitment that they've
made to the town. But they cannot do that if you don't put the account that is in existence into play. So that's again as somebody that handles the revolving fund, it has if it exists, it should have been on article 8 even if it
had a zero balance for the spending limit. It wasn't. So it does need to be put into play now because it does exist. Thank you. Comments come on the motion to amend this Kelly. Kelly Kelly 5 to Lane.
Um, I do believe that we need to allow this on this motion. Um, if we do not, it means that we can't consider FinCom's budget. It means that as a taxpayer, we're not being given the
opportunity to consider the two budgets that are ahead of that were being presented tonight and that we're completely ignoring the work that FINCOM has also done. As a taxpayer, I would like to see I haven't made up a full understanding of either budget, pro or
con. I have questions about it all, but as a taxpayer, I want to try to see what our options are. If we can potentially save town trash and save more town employees with FINCOM's budget, then I I
need to see that that budget. But if you do not allow this because of a procedural vote or whatever is happening, it means that as taxpayers, we're not being allowed the opportunity to actually weigh in on a town budget that we're only going to be
able to consider the select board's budget and not what FINCOM has done. And that that in my opinion is just disrespectful to the work that they have also done and it's disrespectful to the work that the board of health has done. It may be at the end when we get to the budget articles, we may vote for the
Sleman's budget and say, "Fine, that's the one we're going for." But let the people have the opportunity to make that decision because if you don't allow, we can put this on here and we can put $800,000 and then the selectman's budget passes over the FINCOM's budget. It
doesn't matter because if there's no money in there, you're not spending it anyways. So, we're getting lost in a procedural situation here that will 100% strip the opportunity that the community has to make a decision. Do we want to fund town trash through the option that
the board of health has made? Do we want to attempt to save additional employees through whatever finome budget is being presented? But allow the taxpayers the opportunity and the voters that showed up to make that decision, please. Yes.
Um, okay, Mr. Moderator, M. Um, I see that our our regular town council, Adam Costa, is in the back, and I was wondering if we could ask him to join us at the table to address some of these
questions. Certainly. Uh thank you Mr. moderator. Uh Miss Kell, what's the question specifically? Um we are on article 9. This is the question about adding a revolving fund to the warrant article and whether or
not that is there's an amendment on the floor to add an additional fund. Um so just weigh in on that. Thank you. An existing additional fund.
I'm just reviewing the language of the proposed amendment. So through you, Mr. Moderator, uh to Miss Kell. Um so as you know from my past practice, I I typically defer in the first instance to the moderator because questions of scope are uh within
the moderator's purview. Um that having been said, I know that your moderator will often ask the question of me. Um I appreciate some of the comments. I've been here for the past 10 or 15 minutes, so I've been able to hear some of the comments from the previous speakers. Um, I appreciate maybe the sentiment at least of some at town meeting that the
people ought to be heard or should have an opportunity to weigh in on the budget and maybe they'd be prohibited from doing so in the manner that they'd like uh if the scope of this particular article is not broadened or is not does not include this proposed amendment. Um, my role is somewhat different. I don't
get to make a judgment call as council as to what the people ought to be able to do in a perfect world or when they should or shouldn't be able to voice their their concerns or their preferences. What I have to do is I have to look at the article that's before you and before town meeting and decide in my
opinion um based upon my experience and in in responding to questions of scope whether the amendment uh is something that the public would have had notice of having read the warrant article as it was printed in the warrant. Um, in my in my opinion, and it's nothing more than
my opinion, and you can take it or you can leave it. This one isn't even a close call. This is clearly a warrant article that proposes the creation of one new revolving fund. It provides the title of that fund. It provides the revenue source for that fund. It provides the the anticipated use of
those funds, and it establishes a spending limit for that fund. Um, it does not propose the creation of any additional revolving accounts. And so if we're talking about a different revolving account than the town hall public records request, I would consider it to be beyond the scope of the
article. Now, I appreciate the comment that I just heard sort of voiced from the from the public, which is, well, this is an existing revolving fund. Um, I don't know that that changes the analysis at all. I am aware and I will say I see here the reference is made to the solid waste fund. I'm aware of the
reference that exists because I was asked about it approximately 9 or 10 months ago and it was brought to my attention again uh earlier today or maybe it was even yesterday um that there is a provision in your in your code your general bylaws that make reference to this uh solid waste fund.
What was not clear to me from that code reference is whether or not the fund actually exists. I understand that the code indicates that the fund would be created and effectively adopted the statutory provision that allowed for the creation of the fund. What I don't know is whether in 1992 when that particular
provision was adopted um at town meeting or in the years since 1992 at this point over 30 years whether that action has actually occurred whether that fund has actually been created is actually in existence whether it's ever been funded whether it's ever ever been used. Certainly the authority exists to create
the fund, but whether whether the fund actually exists, I simply don't know. That would probably be a question for your for your treasurer more so than it would be for me. But on the on the question that you've asked whether or not the creation of an additional revolving fund is within the scope of this particular article, article 9, my
opinion would be that it's not. And again, that's not expressing any sentiment as to whether it should be or what effect that might have on other warrant articles. It's simply a question of whether it's within the four corners. And if I were a resident reviewing the warrant online, reading the warrant at
home, and I saw this, whether I would be on notice that there was a potential that town meeting would be creating and establishing a spending limit for an entirely different fund than the one that's referenced here. And I think the answer to that question is no. No, no, not at all.
All right. Um, I uh I have to uh consider town council's opinion and and attorney Freeman is town council's opinion. And although I would certainly like to accommodate the people that have
expressed a desire to do this, I'd have to concur that it would be um outside the scope uh of that specific article. If it had been to see if the town wanted to adopt additional revolving funds, maybe it
could pass because it's a generic article. But here it is a specific one. So I would have to rule that it is outside the scope. So the motion is back to just
um article article nine to uh for town hall public records request. Mr. moderator. Yes. Yes. Can I can I ask a question? Since town council is here. Yeah. Would it be appropriate for him to review whether or
not this fund would have been more appropriate under article 8 and whether or not we can have that reconsidered? I think the pro the same problem pertains because and I'll I'll ask town council if if you
want to respond to that. Attorney Costa, that's article. Thank you. Uh thank you and again through you Mr. Ader. So um so article 8 established the spending limits and so I think that the problem would be the same. It's
obviously a different article but um the the article establishes limits for existing funds. Uh there is no reference to the solid waste fund within that list. Whether there should or shouldn't be I again I can't say because I don't know whether the fund actually exists uh on paper in the records of the the town
or the town treasurer. But what we're proposing to do here is to establish a new spending limit for the account when that account wasn't even listed within article 8. So I would have the same issue of of scope in that context unfortunately. Thank you Mr. Kostas.
Um, I guess in in in relation to town council's comments about we're having a a gap of knowledge here. If the if the solid waste account was set up in 1992, what happened to it?
And is the treasurer here? Does uh, M done, do you have any info on the solid waste account? We don't have any. Can you repeat the question? I guess the question comes is the town apparently
adopted a it sounds like a revolving fund for solid waste or at least an account for solid waste. Is is there such an account? Not to my knowledge. There is an account for the recycling center. I speak
to what? Okay. Okay. Okay. So that's just recycling. That's the recycling account in article 8. Yes. Okay. Okay. Uh unfortunately folks I think you know time goes by and
people you know forget what things were done and maybe they don't do things they were authorized to do. It'd be nice to be able to go forward with this now, but I think procedurally we're going to have to um take a rain check on that and hopefully it's not impossible to call a
special town meeting to deal with this. So, u uh Dr. Roman, Mr. moderator with due with all due respect and um I'm requesting a reconsideration on on the
board's proposal on voting on on on on adding to the revolving account because I mean if we wait for another town hall meeting when is going to be and and and we the board are trying to work on with
with the trash situation and and Shaw is willing to work with us too. But we need to to have the proper the proper legal and financial equipment for the board to work on this since the board is is trying to resolve
this situation and in which either the current or the previous board the board of selectmen um had taken this out of the boards or health's hands and caused this disaster and we need to work on it and I'm I'm appealing to your
consideration and I think that the people here want don't want this to be a public uh an an emergency public health situation. That's those are my words. Thank you.
Um with all the due respect doctor I certainly understand your frustration with this to one question you posed is how long will it take to call a special town meeting? the selectman could call a special town meeting in in 14 days. I
mean, you have to have some time to decide what's going to be on that warrant, but the 14 days notice has to be given to call a special town meeting. So, um, unfortunately, I I don't think
that doing something that's ultimately going to be proved to be wrong is the way to correct the problem. So, uh, again, my my ruling has to be that the to amend article 8 prospectively. I know you're suggesting can we reconsider it, and I
don't think that's a motion to reconsider it, but if it were to be reconsidered, I'd have to rule that adding to that list would be outside the scope of the warrant article. So we have article nine again only
on the town hall public records request. May I speak to article 9? Thank you. So for this particular request, I think it's a bit premature. I think it was Rob Templeton that pointed out where's the policy around it and what would it look
like? And to be clear, um, and I know Veronica Kell experienced this with me as we sat for 3 hours looking at the budget and I said, "This is not here." And she said, "Oh, yes, click here." And it wasn't there. So, there's multiple things right now that we just cannot
access, which has caused a flurry of foyer requests. I can tell you I've never made one in all of my years here. But because we can't access the basic information, we have to ask for everything. And before every foyer request that I've put forward to the
clerk is I've gone to another department's uh municipalities website to try to find the information to make sure that it's publicly available and it's not. So, we have had to be a little bit of a bother just to get the basic
information that would typically be on our website. So, I can tell you if it's there, I hope never to have to make another Freedom of Information request. It's only because all of the all of the links are broken. So, I don't ever want to do it again. I I think we're getting
a little bit beyond the scope of the No, it is cuz they're asking for money for something and there's no policy and I don't think there's a real problem except for I think Veronica might have said vegetables are asking for her phone which I didn't understand and seems nonsensical but I don't think we have a real problem and we have a $130,000
grant I'm understanding to come in that hopefully will fix all of this cuz I I do believe the selectman really wants to fix it like they're not doing something wrong it's just broken. Mr. All right, I'm going to I'm going to recognize Miss Goodrich. Um, we'd actually discussed
this in the slight meeting today and I've uh I've fielded a lot of concern about the current website. I cannot access most of our policy documents for the record. So, that conversion for the town website has some very very serious
errors and this board is aware of that. We no one on this board had anything to do with that and it's a top priority of us or the last board or going record. It's it was had nothing to do with this. It was the company was contracted for the website conversion and that process.
So that contract's coming up. It's going to be rescended at the end of May. And we're going to be hiring someone. And that is first on my personal agenda for this year is to get all of that material up to date. So everybody, there's
members, there's committee members and board members that don't understand that some of these policies apply to the finance committee, the library trustees. I didn't know that because that's not available to anybody. So that is the number one priority. So hopefully the freedom of information requests do go do
go down. But I also do know I believe and town council can say this that because we are a town under a certain population we do we can charge per request because point of order. Yeah. What's your point
of order Mr. I'm I'm done. Don't worry. I said enough. We have just spent an indeterminate amount of time listening to items beyond the scope of this motion. We have to come to the point
where we vote on it. I think that the the discussion that was presently being discussed was the public records request. By all means, I would encourage people to just take a look at this stuff and not feel like you have to. Everybody's got to comment about every little thing because we're not
going to get to the budget tonight, folks. We're going to have to come back tomorrow night. Okay. So, fine. That's fine. You I'm going to recognize the gentleman over there and then Mr. Paduzi. Mike Kelly, 5 Tourist Lane. Uh, Mr. Bond, this goes back to article 8
where you kind of ruled that we should discuss the whole revolving door for the for the recycling move to article 9. Now that we have information about article 9, about article 8 after the fact from town council and the treasurer that there is a revolving account for border
health, I think article 8 should be reopened for discussion because I think the revolving account for border health should be moved to 800,000. All right. I already determined based on town council's advice. You have two separate rulings. You ruled before town council
said we weren't allowed really to discuss it during article 8 had he been here during article 8 and the treasurer had chimed in with what the opening involving account. My it appears that my ruling on article
8 wasn't incorrect. Even if my opinion about article 9 I thought was correct but was not correct. If you want to move to reconsider article 8, I'm going to tell you that it is out of order. It's out with outside the four corners of the
article to amend that article to add Mr. Unfortunately, I think both you and town council were incorrect about article 8 that there wasn't open uh revolving account for border health. Article 8 showed a for recycling and that's under there is an article for
recycling not for solid waste but it's under board of health's discretion all right you're not going to speak unless you're recognized finish your thoughts Mr. Kelly that's all I have with due respect all right Mr. Puzzi,
Jeff Padusi, two Scott Road. Uh, I'd like to correct a couple things that I've heard tonight. Uh, not all of us are on social media. Not all of us spend hours in front of the television. Uh, we've come to expect solid waste recycling, curbside recycling. And I had
no idea whatsoever what the override was for. With all the talk of the schools, that's all the focus has been on in this town. So, imagine my surprise. I get this warrant and the on article 8, the revolving account is just gone. How did that happen? How are we
not informed about something as significant as curbside? The the the purple bag thing was beyond pale to begin with. Just taking it out of the budget all together without most people knowing about it. This is wrong. I I
would like to move to do whatever smart person can write it up to revisit article 8 and just add it in there as if it got deleted accidentally from the Excel spreadsheet. That simple. All right, Mr. Francois. Okay, so I'm going to be
talking about this. My question to the select board is going back to what Kathy Sparford was saying. This revolving account the it you have the list of the use of funds is cover the costs of personnel fulfilling public
records requests. How exactly does the board of selectmen intend to spend those funds in regards to personnel? And then I have a follow-up after that. Question comes on the motion with with
respect to town hall public records request and the select boards uh being the persons to spend the funds. I think the um funds would go into whatever um
like if it was planning or land use where the thing came from the if that was the records that were being requested that's where the funds would go. Um if it were whoever was fulfilling
whatever department was fulfilling the request it is that department's time Okay, comments come on the motion to follow up, Mr. F. So, just to make sure I'm understanding correctly, the funds that are collected from the fees in the
policy that are don't yet exist. So, those fees that are collected will go into this revolving account and then those the funds from this revolving account will then be distributed to individual departments based on whatever the public records request was for.
When a public records request comes in, one of the questions is, is there a charge made to fulfill it? If there is, then that charge is asked of the person making the request.
So those are just like at the police station. They have the same sort of revolving account. When someone goes in, the only thing is their requests go just to the police station. So they get to keep it within their budget. When requests come into town hall, it can go
to one of many departments. And so whoever fulfills the request is where that would go. But it's not settled yet. However, we do have a public request policy. It's on it. Well, if you can get
to it, it's online. You used to be able to get to it, but something happened this week. nobody can do a second um uh link on the website for whatever reason. But that's beyond the point. The point
is that is the idea. Um it's just that the charges aren't necessarily being made um when a request comes in because we're used to having requests that come in for a specific item that you can easily pull
out most of the time. clarification. Hold on. We've got other people. We can't just raise your hand and ask a question. We've got other people waiting to ask questions. Uh gentlemen over there, uh Brad Han, Brown Road, uh moved
the question. All right. Motion been made to move the question. I heard a second, I think. All right. All right. All those in favor to move the question on article 9, please say I. I. Those opposed say no.
No. The eyes have it. The motion is to adopt a new revolving fund for town hall public records request for $5,000 spending limit. All those in favor say I.
Those opposed say no. The eyes have it. Article 10. Mr. Moderator, I move that the town vote to take no action on article 10. Okay. Second. All right. Motion's been
made to take no action on article 10. All right. M uh the selectman explain Why pass over was passed over? Because the override failed. So there's no need to um vote to appropriate the funds from the override.
Okay. Comments come on the the motion. Since it the prop two and a half override did not pass, there's no money to appropriate from it. All those in favor of motion to pass over, please say I. Those opposed say
no. The eyes have it. Article 11 to see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate and transfer from available funds in the treasury such sums it may be necessary to defay the charges and expenses of the town for the fiscal year 2026 pursuant
to a detailed budget totaling uh an amount. Um and the warrant is printed at 28,761,66. Oh, that's or take any other sum on line 786 or take any other action relation there too?
Uh so Mr. Mr. Ready to deal with them? Am I out of am I out of order by making a motion to move article 11 to after article 19? Uh, no. That's a motion you can make to
take out of order. Okay. Motion's been made and seconded to take the articles out of order and to take the budget up after article 19. All right. Anything to be said?
Yeah, Mr. Moderator, I just want to say that I it's the lateness of the hour. Um I'm surprised we're not just going home and coming back tomorrow, but since we're going to give it a shot, I'd like to then and we know the budget is going to be a a lengthy conversation. We've got a few articles left after the
budget, I'd like to get those knocked out and then we can get back to the budget and have that be the big article to talk about maybe even tomorrow. Seems imminently reasonable to me. Uh, I think we're ready to vote given the hour. All those in favor of that
motion to take the articles out of order and to skip over 11 until we get to article 19. Uh, so the next article would be article 12. All those in favor, please say I. I. Those opposed say no.
No. The eyes have it. Okay. So, article 12 to see if the town will vote to fix the salaries and compensation of all elected officers of the town as provided by mass journal laws chapter 41 section 108. Uh, thank you, Miss King. Uh, as
amended and as appropriated in this warrant or take any other action in relation there too. Um, the slide I think we might need to skip over this one too because it does turn on the budget, right? Yes.
12. It's it's appropriating the elected officials from So is there a friendly motion to take this um article after 11 whatever you want. I think I think you're right. I think we do you want to just amend my amendment
or my motion to say articles 11 and 12 after article 19. Okay. So I think what we are trying to do because some of these things are dependent on the budget. Uh, I think
probably to take things out of order practically. Um, probably we ought to just come back. I think Yeah, I think so. I think is there I I think we only have a few articles after the budget and I think
they're largely turn on what happens in the budget. So, I think a better motion would be to uh recess uh until tomorrow night. Mr. Moderator, I just want to ask Miss Kelly, can I just ask a question? Do do we have to come back tomorrow
night or could we respectfully ask the selectman to repost a warrant for a few weeks from now to include so we can have that conversation? You said you can post a warrant and we can meet again in two weeks. Does it impact anything? If we
move it out two weeks, this town budget, so that we can discuss what the board of health wants, we can vote on that and then we can fairly look at both budgets as a community. Do we have to come back tomorrow or can we just No, I I don't think it's necessary that we have to
come back tomorrow and I I would suggest that if we maybe had more time, uh, we would have more ability to reconcile things here. So, Is there a motion to recess to Miss
Bford? I move that the town I have to redo this, I guess. I move that the town vote to direct the select board to immediately adjourn and reconvene this
meeting 14 days on Tuesday, May 20th or a date and time as decided by the um town for the sole purpose of allowing time to engage in good faith negotiations with re relevant collective
bargaining representatives in order to obtain accurate and complete information regarding union salaries contract provisions. No mford that I think that motion is out of order. All all we can entertain right now is a motion to uh
recess the meeting or adjourn the meeting to a set date. Um and it turns on where we can meet. So I ask people not to leave yet because we don't know where we're going and what time we're going to be reconvening. Um the the the discussion we al
definitely understood that we were not going to get through this all tonight and so the school is available tomorrow and I believe it is also available on Thursday. Um I think the the dynamics of the situation suggest that we could use more time but I think where we reconvene
is up to the selectman. Hang in there. Right. No, I know. I know. I know. Okay. Okay. You can't No, no, we just have to we just have to
Okay, that makes sense. Yep. Yep. Do you think 3 weeks? Folks, what we are trying to figure out is to continue the annual town meeting. The special town meeting is already closed, but and we can't repost the annual town meeting, but we can adjourn
it to another date certain. And what's being discussed is the idea of continuing it to a date far enough out that we could incorporate a new special town meeting at the same time and deal with the revolving fund issues. So, uh,
and hopefully come to a better comprehension of the budget entirely. So, we're looking at schedules and possibly 3 weeks. Point of information, Mr. Moderator. Y
um I would request if the select board has no intention of putting this revolving solid fund on the special town meeting that we allow enough time to collect the necessary signatures and follow the process to include that on the special town meeting.
My understanding is that the selectmen if they have three weeks could post a special town meeting. Well, for that purpose. Yes, we will do that. So, you you're telling voters there will be an
article on that warrant specifically to address the funding of trash through that revolving account. Yes. On on so that's what's being suggested. That would make it 18th. Uh May 27th
if and we need to play certain. Uh does anybody here at the school know whether or not we can use this hall? Not on the 27th. Not on the 27th. No. June 18th. Okay. June 18th will give us plenty of time to get everything.
Okay. You want to make a motion? I think if it's any consideration, the schools are expecting to have their budget numbers in 3 to four weeks if we want to have that information before we reconvene our budget discussion. Hold on. It looks like the hall here
isn't available in 3 weeks time. And it's been proposed that we continue the annual town meeting to June 18th. Yeah. June 18th, the Wednesday, June 18th, they're saying to the 30th. June 18th is fine.
Well, the select men are proposing the 18th. I don't know why we Someone wants to do it on the 30th, but um Oh, because you were asking when the school is available next. They were saying May 30th. Oh, that's when this school is available. No, graduation.
June 18th. No, no, no. All right. They're talking about doing it June 18th. June 18th. Um, we have a joint meeting on May 13th with board of health and the intent is to have a
special meeting noticed with a warrant article for a revolving count for the board of health. Thanks. Hopefully that takes care of our trash issue. Everybody wants trash, by the way. Nobody was here. Okay. So, if the selectman can
make that motion to adjourn this annual town meeting to a date certain and place, will you make the motion to adjourn or recess the meeting until June 18th at 7 p.m. uh to be held at the North Middle Sex High School? Right.
Okay. I'm making a motion to adjourn to recess this meeting to Wednesday, June 18th at 7 p.m. at the North Middle Sex High School Auditorium right here. All right. Is there a second? Motion's
made and seconded. All right. Is there anything to be said? All those in favor of moving to adjourn, say I. Those opposed. All right. The eyes have it. meeting is adjourned till June
18th, 700 p.m. here at the high school. Thank you everyone for coming and please remember we have lots of uh volunteer positions available.