Good evening everyone. My name is Laura Shiffman and I am calling the meeting of the select board to order and April 29th, 2025 at 6 p.m. I have a roll call vote, please. Veronica, not a vote. I
always do that. Roll call. Call Veronica Cal present. Valerie Kitch present and welcome. Thank you. And Laura Shiffren present. With us is Nelson and Sabrina. And we do have some in the audience. And anyone is anyone else recording either
online or in Okay, Cindy King is recording. Anyone else? All right. Thank you. The meeting is being recorded and uploaded to YouTube and I already did
confirmation of who is recording. 1.4 chairman. Thank you. Must be a different day. Please join me in the pledge of allegiance. I apologize. I pledge algiance 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. all of our veterans and all of those currently
serving here and abroad. All of our emergency response people and um and their families. We certainly owe them a debt of uh service. We're hearing them a lot
lately, too. So thank them. On under additions and deletions, we are deleting the minutes of March 10th, 2025 and March 11th, 2025 since these minutes were approved in the previous
meeting and added to the agenda in error. No minutes to approve in this current meeting. Minutes for March 18th, 2025 and March 19th, 2025. move to the next meeting of May
6th. So that takes care of the deletion of 1.5. Nothing under appointments and hearings. Under three, we have 3.1. Is there a motion? Um I move to appoint
Aroujo as summer intern to the water department with effective start date of 519 2025. Is there a second? Second. Any discussion? Um, this is a general discussion for all these appointments. Okay. I was wondering if any of these
are related to any town employees and if any disclosures need to be filed for any of the appointments. Do we know? How about 3.2? I'm not sure. Um, I would check on that
with another water department employee. Um, possibility. I don't really know, but I just want to make sure that all disclosures are in place. Do you want to add to the motion
uh to amend that? No, I would appoint anyway. I just want to make sure that the if any disclosures are needed that they are put in place. Okay. So, Any other discussion? None.
Everyone in favor. I We didn't have anybody remote today, do we? Yeah. We don't have to say our names anymore. All right. 3.2. Is there a motion? Um I
move to appoint Conor Tassini as summer intern to the water department with effective start date of 623 2025 is a second. Any discussion same as before regarding the disclosures
um are in favor I yeah my comment before was for all three of those. Okay. 3.3. Um, I move to appoint Lucas Kazangjin as summer intern to the water department with effective
start date of 623 2020. Is there a second? Second. Any discussion? Hearing none. Everyone in favor? I I Thank you. 3.1 4.1
sorry reorganization of select board. Is there a motion? Um I make a motion to reorganize the select board as follows. Laura Shiffren, chair. Veronica Kell, vice chair. Valerie Goodrich, clerk. Is
there a second? Second. Discussion. Um additional duties for clerk. You get to make the motions from now on. I think that's the way it works. That's just making sure. And then you would be second. I would be the second. Yeah. So this is um
But the trustes we did a little different. So I just making sure. Generally what I used to hear them say was the last one in was always the clerk. That's fine with me. Same on me. No desire for the other ones.
Okay, no further discussion. All in favor? I I to reorganization for leaison assignments. Me? Yes. Okay. Yes. I move to assign Laura Sherman to
the following leans. And I I think he would look here. Yeah. see the sorry pass the point and actually I think we need to adapt we want to discuss
yeah let's just discuss I think that makes sense um so so basically to process except for Veronica um but we have been involved in
the town hall four. So, there's a lot of boards that we are more familiar with than others. And my my thoughts um as long as you are new, but you still have library trustee, I mean, there's certain ones that are probably better suited for
all of us. Y so if we could just go through the list, not not necessarily the the government, you know, the way it's set up now. Um but if we could just go through the list and say, "Yeah, I'll take that one or I'll take that one and that." Okay. And we'll redo the list
because it'll make a lot more sense. I think we should do the big groups and then go through and say, are there any within each of the big groups that would be better suited for a particular individual because they are on that
board or um whatever. I'm good with Okay. Well, I'm good with going through, but I want to go through each one. Yeah, I I agree. But I think and I don't have a copy list. You don't?
I do. Sorry. Um I I would right now I'm general government and public safety. So I would put Valerie for general government for the most part, but then there may be specific ones in there. I I would keep public safety and you would
keep elected boards because we've only been a few months and why change it at this point when people are getting used to fine. We can All right. and and then on the back there are the um committee assignments that we have um and that these are the
things that you go to as a select board member. You get assigned to these. We can look at those too. But um does that make sense? and and now so in general do it with the big groups but
then let's go through each and see if there's any that okay makes sense as opposed to a single per you know as opposed to okay so we'll go through the list
for which is general government and So my thoughts on one is yes to um bylaw review committee bylaw review committee we should talk about I'm an appointed
member to that committee not as a select board member or anything like that. I'm a I'm an a current appointed member to that committee. So I could keep that one. Okay. But on this list further down, we're going to need to change the
um chair of that committee and the address. So, this committee hasn't met in a while. So, um there's a lot of updates that have to be made. Yeah. And not just here, but on the website. So, hopefully we'll just Yeah, because I'm not chair
of trustees anymore. So I don't even know who all is appointed to that committee right now but it was reappointed last June or something like that and um so but I would keep that one if in fact I am a
member of that committee and Bill Katakan isn't he resigned right so so if it's okay with everybody I would keep the bylaw review committee until such time as I'm not a member I think it makes sense if there's a sitting member
not have to. Yeah. Well, we couldn't then we'd have to post as a meeting. So, okay. And uh so right now, just so that you know, there is no master plan committee and that is part of committing board. Yep. And they usually assign that.
So, I don't have a problem with it staying there. Um The only one I would change maybe is housing authority only because um I sometimes go to those meetings
uh because of housing trust. Yeah. Yes. Housing authority. It's under flag committee. Yeah. Um so and let me look back to it.
I'm not listed as the I'm the um select board appointed member on the affordable housing trust and that isn't here for some reason. I don't know why. So maybe because I'm not a
liaison. Um I I am the appointed member. The afford housing trust is that should be Yeah. on the list of committee assignments. Yeah. And so sometimes I go to or we
have joint meetings, that sort of thing. I'm okay with that. All right. So, I'm good with the whole rest. I am too. Okay. So, public safety is Veronica.
Yep. And I'm happy with that. Okay. What about you, Sally? Good. It's fine. I need Okay, everybody switch. Just let me know. Okay, I'll get up to speed slowly. So an elected boarding
I mean I'm happy to if you want me to. Yes. And recreation. I mean I'm trying to if people call cultural Yeah. I was going to say because recreation kind of works with library and senior center so that's fine. Yes. So you're gonna take that
one? Yeah. And I know Emmy. So uh recreation I want to keep all of that. I want recreation commission and school committee. School. Recreation school committee.
It's good because I took two of the government. Okay. Perfect. All right. So now on that Oh, you would be would have the towns and cultural council
small. Yeah. Can she do that? Um small town collaborative. That's under me. Does it have to be the chair? No, but be a good experience. Okay. They meet once a month on Friday morning.
9:00 here. Oh, or once a month. Yeah. You know, Friday morning is the one morning. In the fall, I won't be able to do Friday mornings. We can share. Okay. Let me Okay. There is a Zoom option. Okay. Yes. Yeah. If she's doing something else, she Yeah.
Friday morning obligation work. Yeah. During the school year. But Yeah. Yeah, we can, you know, if somebody can't make something, we can um and it would be good for me to cover it. Yeah.
And then so Veronica, I think everything else under these committee assignments, I think we should just leave as is because it's usually the fall where those assignments are made and we can change it up at that
point. Just leave it as is for now. continuing things through the year. Okay, sounds good to me. All right, so do we need a motion for this? I can have a lovely
motion. Um, I move to assign Gloria Shiffren, elected boards, commissions, officials except for Middle Sex and Recreation and two others and cultural council and small town collaborative. which go to which will be assigned to me
instead in general government. Yeah. And then out of general government. Yep. How general government would move by review committee and housing authority to run account public safety stays the
same. I think that didn't change anything else. All right. Second. Oh, what? What? Do you want to be the MRPC alternate?
Let's wait until the fall for that. No, it's not fall. Well, don't the assignments usually get done in the fall for MRPC? Oh, yeah. I have my I have to finish in through June 30th. Yeah. So, it's usually after that that we do the assignment. Okay, that's
fine. all you know first part of the fiscal year. Okay. So you follow us Sabrina. Sorry for all the back and forth. Okay. Any other discussion hearing? None. Is everyone in
favor? All right. Hi. Because we have some folks here. Sure. If the board please the board absolutely we can move down to 4.7 use of second generation anti
graulanticides sorry in town. Why is there an unmoved to here? Uh in case there was a motion but okay. Did you want to make a presentation? I could do a little one.
Sure. And I do think the more full-blown discussion will be at a different date. I think um I think might be a joint meeting with the board of health, right? Um I think oh they
want is the one that wrote the letter. Okay. Um when we're talking about rodenticide um but the letter we have here is from the town board of health. Okay. The chair of the board of health is on
Zoom. Pardon me. The chair of the board of health is on Zoom. If may, if I may, Mr. Chairman. Yes. Hi. Well, I'm doing okay. My I apologize if I don't sound clear. I have a swelling
after a rose canal procedure that I had on Saturday. It's kind of infected. So, um um so the board of health um had received um some citizens that presented um their concerns about first and second
generation roads sites, I think. Um and um and they presented to us their concerns about um how this can affect the wildlife like u on the owls and things like that. And we the board
decided to send a letter to to the board of selectmen um as supporting their concerns about it. And I have Rick McCra from from from uh who wrote the letter on behalf of the board of health. Um and
um and Jennifer who who's here who's who was um going to present about that. Um basically what the board wanted was is the board of health wants is that um for the for the board of selectment to to acknowledge the the letter and provide
us a response um uh preferably a written response about um their thoughts about the rodent sites first and second generation rodent sites. um uh uh and having that um that um not to be used on
town property um is um their concern and that's what we were supporting we are supporting them on their concern about that. So that's why we sent a letter to the board and um and for and for further discussion for your consideration.
Thank you. Can I say something? Yes. The letter is asking for a response by May 27th. I just want to note that. Yes. So, right. So, it's not necessarily that we need to respond today. No. No. We do acknowledge that we received it and we
are planning to have a joint meeting. That's what I heard. Yes. Before that date. We're hoping to. Yes. Um I would also like to hear from uh our our
provider one exactly the same meeting. That's the plan. Okay. They join everyone. We won't respond until after we have all that information. Do we have a date for that? No. Um we would do that tonight. We might go over some dates for
the upcoming few months now with Valerie on board. She might have a different schedule than Okay. what what you guys have decided. All right. I think you guys kind of set a preliminary schedule through July, I want to say, for select
board meetings. We did. Um, so we might want to share with Valerie later to see what what if she's able to make those dates. All right. We need to
change them. Okay. Do we want to read the letter? Is that or the thing? My understanding is that you the contract with the pest control provider is usually made in June. Is
that correct? At least last year, I believe. June 1st, starting July 1st. Yeah, it's usually for the fiscal year. Um the re I would like to move this along as fast as we can because the longer we have
denticides out you know there's animals giving birth now feeding their babies poisoned rodents and so the sooner we could make a decision um hopefully in favor of going to another alternative. there are many
alternative not many alternatives but there are alternatives um could be done as soon as possible because I think I wrote a letter last year in 2024 trying to
address here right right um um I did you want to read the letter into the record shall we Sure. Excuse me. My allergies are all for you. You probably have a better voice. I'm
happy to. Um, do you make concern? I'm going to butcher names. I'm sorry. Recently, a group of residents led by Jennifer Pet. Yes. presented to the towns and board of health on the harmful effects
that the use of anti-coagulant rodenticides have can have on the environment. Anti-coagulant rodenticides are a group of potent poisons designed to kill animals by preventing the clotting of blood resulting in internal bleeding that causes a slow and painful death. These poisons can take days to
work and when the affected animal becomes a prey, it can cause severe consequences for birds, mammals, and other animals as well as our ecosystem. Further, these anti-coagulants have been proven to persist in both soil and water. According to the National Pesticide Information Center, these
poisons break down in the soils 45 to 78% after 21 days and 50% in water after 392 days. Please refer to the attachment from the Harvard Law School for additional information on the harmful effects of these poisons. After listening to the presentation by
the residents and completing independent research on the subject, the towns and board of health voted to send this letter to you to encourage you as our town leaders to take action. The town of air and several other towns recently adopted the attached policy on the use of second generation anti-coagulant tenticides and the towns and board of
health is asking that you adopt the same or similar for the town of Townsen. This policy would prohibit the use of second generation anti-coagulant rotenticides on town owned property and set an example for the rest of the town. Should the board of select and choose not to adopt a policy prohibiting the use of these poisons on town property, the
board of health may choose to adopt a set of road regulations that would accomplish the same. Please let the board of health know if you have any questions or if we cannot or we can connect you with the group of residents that approached us so that you can make an informed decision. Look forward to your future discussion on the topic
especially transport. We are requesting a written response. Oh, sorry that was not on my Yeah, we are requesting a written response by May 27th, 2025 and look forward for your future discussion on this topic. Thank you. No worries. And it is our
intent to do that to do to respond prior to May 27th. So, we're going to try to get us all together before that. Um, I thought I would hand these around. There's one of those. This
is I can hold this up with you. It just lists the number of all the different animals that are affected by rodenticides all the way from insects up to the I became aware of it when um all
people was poisoned in Arlington and that was the beginning of save Arlington wildlife. Um there's different groups there. Save Lexington Wildlife. We started a group out here, Save Nashoba
Valley Wildlife. Um, and you can get much information. There's raptors are the solution. Um, I can read off just information that I have here pretty quickly. Um, one thing that it doesn't
indicate on this toxic food web um, poster is that 25,000 549 children were sickened by rodent poison from 1990 to 2003.
Um na na we're forming national and regional groups are mobilizing to educate the public about the serious threats from second generation anti-coagulant rodenticides. We refer to those as seagars s g a ars.
When you see that, that's what it's it represents. And it's lethal poisoning of non-target wildlife because they are so unsafe. Sagar sales to individuals was banned by the federal government in
2014. Bald eagles, hawks, owls, and mammals in Massachusetts are dying from internal hemorrhaging after eating seagars treated rodents. So, a rodent can eat these poisons and live sometimes
three I've heard anything from 3 to 8 days. And while they're alive, they're ingesting more and more rodenticides. So, they're becoming more and more um deadly. Wildlife clinics and wildlife
rehabilitators are seeing Sagar's deadly effects. TU's Wildlife Clinic has found it in 100% of redtailed hawks and at the time this was written was 95% of bald eagles.
I think at this point it may be up to 100%. In Massachusetts we've we know that there were four bald eagles poisoned by rodenticides. um what's happening now like with a bald eagle that I believe was found locally
two were found locally but the they were tested for bird flu and if a bird is tested for bird flu then they don't go on and test for rodenticide so that that bird could have been impacted by
rodenticides but it's not tested for excuse me Sagar Sagars are killing our most effective rodent exterminators. Our birds of prey are foxes, coyotes,
bobcat, and other predators. One barred owl consumes approximately 4,000 mice and 1,000 rats annually. Sagars persists in soil and water. That was in the letter.
Um, in soil it breaks down 45 to 78% in 21 days. In water it remains at 50% potency after 392 days. And that information is from the National Pesticide Information
Center. Um, MSPCA Angel reports treating dozens of cats and dogs annually for SEOs. And I read to you about the children. Um, and then you had the letter here. It
says, "We the board of health advocate for safe rodent control." Um, and urge town government businesses and individuals to question their commercial rodent control providers. They should inquire about the use of seagars and ask
to see what companies are using in bait boxes. They're usually, well, they say they're usually bright blue or green around the town hall. They look like gray boulders.
Um, and they usually they're black, you know, the black boxes with holes on the ends. Um in speaking with um our provider for the town in town um one of the
employees I was told that uh rat x or mouse x which is considered a safe alternative because they don't cause secondary poisoning. They're not anti-coagulants. They will poison the rodent but if a hawk eats the rodent it
won't impact them. Um but that the concern was whether they had appropriate uh wafers um in these black boxes in the pest boxes there's a rack that the poisons
hang on or the rodent controls hang on and I was told they didn't think that rat x or mouse x had wafers with holes in them. Well, I Googled and called around and Saloo found that yes, they do
have them. And today I was in the town of Conquer and they've they haven't used first or second generation rodenticides on their properties for years. They have on number third I think it's number 36
on their town warrant is for the entire town of conquered to ban the use of sears and other commander I have lists of different communities that do and I can get you those lists you know I'll try and get
you information to review um and when I spoke with someone at the in the maintenance department at the DPW. Um I asked I said is there an is there much of more of an
expense if say we were to go from first generation rodenticides to rat X or mouse X which is considered a safe control and that's what many other communities like conquered use and he
said no he he he felt it was minimal. Um, I can get you the name of the people that I spoke with there and their numbers at least for conquer. Um, I could go even further and get more if you'd like. Okay. Um, but that's
essentially what it is in town. I just two two or three weeks ago had a report of a dead bard owl over off Pierce Road. Um, before I fully understood about rodenticides, I
found a dead ray horned owl about a mile from here in the Adams Land, the old sand pit. And I examined it closely. You know, I ruffled its feathers and everything. I found nothing indicating
that that animal had been shot, attacked by another animal, nothing. and it looked like it had just landed and laid down and died. And that was the same with the bar down. And that's what I hear with the different.
Um, so essentially what's happening is we're killing off our main wild animals that protect us from rats and mice. um everything you know as I say they're
even finding it in otter um in the river they've there is a I should mention this too I don't know if any of your packets the Harvard Law
School animal law and policy clinic um on May 134 um They have a petition to suspend the registration of anti-coagulant rodenticide products in
all of Massachusetts. So, you have that in your package. If you have any questions about rodenticides or poisonings, you will find the answer in in this information from our
the Harvard Law School. when is this coming up with them? Um, I'm not sure. There is there's a bill before the legislature.
Don't worry, okay, I can I can get that to you. That's that's coming up. And actually the bill before the legislature for public comment, I think the public comment ends tomorrow being
Wednesday the 30th. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I'm sure we'll see you again soon. Thanks. Okay. Um, should we set up a date and time or for
a um joint meeting with board of health and are they still on? Could you speak up please? I'm still here. Okay. Okay. I I'm just wondering if while we still have board of health on, we should look for a date
um and then invite one that you sit either before or during or at that meeting or whatever. 13th would be out of cycle meeting for two months. I know exactly. I'm just twice a week. I know. I'm just
pointing out that Valerie the select board typically meet on the first every other first and third Tuesday of the month. But I can't say that that's what's going to happen. I'd expecting um after the tummy okay with the 13th. What about
next Tuesday? A week from Tuesday. A week from today. Two weeks from now. A week from No, two weeks. Two weeks from today. Yes. What day? We really can't do the sixth. The 13th. Two weeks from today. I think the 13th
we have board meeting. Am I correct, Carla? Oh, that might be perfect then. Yes. Why don't we do it jointly and for that particular part of it anyway? Uh on let me let me check here.
Hey Kristen, it's uh Rick. Um we do have our next meeting on the 13th, so it would work out well. Okay. Thank you, Rick. Well, let's do it on the third. Let's do it on our joint meeting then on May 13th. On May 13th? Yes. Do you want
to do that at What time do you start your meeting? We start at 6. Do you want to do it at six? I mean, do you want to do it the same time you or do you want to do it at 7? They can finish theirs and we can get into ours. Either way is fine with me. What works
best for them. What works best for you. Uh, start at the same I think after we have our business meeting, we can definitely do it afterwards so that um since we we're going to have more people and give some time to to this, I think
we can do it after our meeting. We can join the select board on on on um 7 7:15 having a select board and um meeting after 7 do you want to do it?
What time after 7? 7 7:15 7:30 7:15 will be fine. Okay, there we have it. 7:15 on the 13th. Okay. Will you meet us here? Will you come up when you're done? I think we can meet
you on your chambers. Yes, Mr. Chairman. Chairwoman. Thank you. Good. Okay. Thank you very much. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. And then that gives us another week to to um if we want to work
on a policy or whatever the letter to draft a letter before the 27th. Okay, we should be good. That takes do we was the provider going to be invited too or Yes, we're I'm going to
send out an email. Um they did want to meet with us. So let's hope they can be done for them. Thank you. Thank you so much. Okay. So, next we have discussion of
Daniel results. Thank you so much. And I I'll take 30 seconds to thank everybody in town for their support. It's it's very nice to see and um I hope that you give me patience as I get up to speed on
everything. And um I have my email up and going. So if you have any questions, reach out. I know things can get contentious in town a little bit. So I'll make a small appeal to the angels of our better nature to ask before you assume and just send me an email because
I'm new. If you're not sure, obviously anything I say here is fair game, but if it's anything else, just drop me an email. And um I also want to give, you know, a kudos to our town. just in driving around today, you know, almost all the signs are down and that was
really nice to see how quickly, you know, after the vote that everybody kind of moves along for next week. Yeah, exactly. And that's I think that's, you know, a testament despite how contentious it to get that, you know, it's a lot of goodwill there. So, so
thanks everybody and like I said, shoot me an email if you have any questions. I'm not really on social media, so that's the best way to get a hold of me. You're welcome to come walk the dogs with me or anything on the bike trail and chat for a while. So, I'm around.
Okay. Thanks. Oh, and one last thing, too. Just um I'm sorry if you don't mind me. 60 seconds or whatever. Um, in coming into this position, one of the things that I'm finding a little difficult is the proximity of the election to the town meeting and how
that week is a lot for me to get up to speed on a process that I listened in on but wasn't involved in. So, if I abstain from anything, it's just from lack of comfort with things that happened before I was, not from lack of opinion as a former trustee or as a taxpayer, but
just because I wasn't involved in the process before today. So that's the only reason I might abstain from some votes for the next some of us who have been in the entire process may feel the same way. Yeah. And so that's it just and so again drop me an email. I can usually
explain why and it was you know I've fortunate that I know select boards members from other towns and that's the first thing they said is a lot of them are the it's flipped. You know, I think we should look at that because the uh it does it does, you know, the people
presenting the budget, if one of them leaves right before it's presented at the town meeting every year, it's an interesting position to be in. And I know on the trustees, I experienced that with, you know, we'd bring a new member in their first meeting, we'd be like, "Oh, there's a budget." And they haven't been involved
in that. So, it's just something to think about for discussions for the future when we look at policies. Yeah. Yeah, we are looking at so anyway. Good point. Yeah, the charter. Yeah, I've talked to some talked to Kathy about it
and a couple other people. So, I have some ideas of what would be required, but I'm not knowledgeable enough. So, welcome. Any thoughts on that? Remember, we're not longtime. Oh, I don't think anybody in town is a longtime many things.
Well, I I can't say that. Yeah, some of the boards. Yeah. as far as being in town hall, but as far as being in this position, uh it's different than the others. Yeah, definitely. Um I'd like to congratulate everyone else who did win absolutely for their
seats um this time around and I will still mention that we have plenty of positions available appointed as well as elected. Of course, now the election's over. So if you're interested in filling one of the vacancies there there were a couple
where the write in same write in for for two positions on the same board. So there might be some appointments that could be made there. I don't know how that works. Well though there's two different people for the two different positions. They both were written in for
the two positions. one of them one and depending on which one that person would accept then the other one as long as we know that there's interest will certainly reach out to those people but
we didn't see was um a lot of the other scatters we don't we don't have names um on who the other scattered people were so whoever is um on those committees If those names could be gotten from the
town clerk, then you could reach out to those people whose names were on there and perhaps they can be appointed because there's plenty of positions to go around as we know. So, anything else that you wanted to say
about the elections? Um, the over um something to go ahead. I I certainly was hoping for the override to pass um so that we can sort of um you know go in with a balanced budget
with the override at least one step two-step process completed. Um since that didn't happen, you know, now um the select board now need to come up with a um a balance budget to present at
time. I think tonight at the executive session, you know, we're going to go over some more details of what that it's going to look like. But um yeah, I think we have to be prepared to, you know, present a a balanced budget at town meeting.
So, I I think what I'd like to do at the executive session when we come out, if I'm assuming we will have a balanced budget at some point, is to come back to um uh open session to
discuss. Can we do that? Something to think about. We could talk about it before we get to the executive session. Okay. I I think whatever if you do end up going back to open session, you can only talk about the items that are
not collective bargain. Oh yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. But as far as the budget goes, yeah, because the cuts that we need to make, not all of it is coming from personnel, I think we've all stated that we wanted to avoid those as
much as possible. So there are some cuts that we can probably um talk about and and what we need to have is a budget that it gets presented at town meeting which is next week a week from today and
we don't have another meeting after today is finance meeting tonight is that they're tomorrow I think they're meeting tomorrow. Yeah. So I have the discussions of collective bargaining happened or No, no, you can't. It's it's too soon. We would have to do it after
meeting. So we need to come up with uh what we what the proposal would be and then um you know depending on what happens at how many then engage with their humans come to the marketing table.
So if we don't meet with collective bargaining before we have a balanced budget next week, we would know where we need to um reduce. Yeah, that would that's like it would be in
the so it wouldn't be line items, it would be right. It would be abroad. Yeah, because we're we're not legally allowed. still can't talk about positions or people. Yeah. But the the way the the budget is um voted on at
town meeting is by functional segments. Um so you know we would make the changes and then that was that's what we're able to present. I know the omnibus has all the line items. Um but so will the
omnibus be available? uh the one that is in the book will be available, right? But it wouldn't be the one that people No, cuz Yeah, because then we would be
revealing, you know, proposed cuts that that we haven't even spoken to the union about. But again, the cuts that are not personnel related, I think those are perfectly um we should be sharing that with the with the public. what um what
um cut we're making that we can disclose um at least because that way we're as transparent as we can be um because there are some um aspects of the budget that is going to have to be cut that's not personnel related
so I think for the library too like what is going to happen I know what the trustees voted on for that one. But yeah, I I think that tonight I mean during our executive session we'll
discuss but we need to come out of that executive session with a budget to present that is the budget that is presented at town meeting. We can't discuss the you know the specifics in when it's uh personnel related but we
should have a budget otherwise what is the plan for the budget for town meeting right and when do the select when does the select would vote on it I think can committee vote on it if with broad sections are they going to vote on that or will they want the details
um they can't have the details yet they just can't they're going to have what what we present. Um, they can't have the details. They can make recommendations. Oh, yeah. Of course. Yeah. I would I'm just asking questions. I'm going to ask a zillion questions. They'll know the
same broad strokes that we know. So, we didn't want to ask Oh, no, no, no, no. I'm just I'm just asking questions to try and figure out like how I I have another question. This has to do with schools.
So, do we has the town I know that as a board we have rolled the schools in and we don't plan to make any we can't make any changes there as far as but the override didn't pass. Do we or do we
not? So for the town we know that um the decision is to um be level not level funded to be no more than 2 and a half% increase no overruns. So we have a school budget in
there but we have not yet voted on the school budget the town houses because March was not a vote on the school budget. March was a roll it in and if you're going to do an override, do it for town services, which is what we did.
PEP rules override failed. The override is the vote that that is the definitive vote. So, PEP's override failed. They do not they have not approved the school budget. Our override failed. Have we or
have we not approved the town budget? The school budget? Uh, no. was that town meeting that everything happened? Yeah. Cuz I because uh after everything happened last night, I started talking to my counterparts in Pull and and Ashby and uh so as of today, we do not have a
school budget, an approved school. No. So a town meeting for all three towns. Um Pepil has theirs the same night as us on the 6th. Um Ashley actually has it the Saturday before. Okay. Um so yeah.
So, we'll we'll we'll know Ashby's what they've voted on, you know, by the end of Saturday. Um, but Pepp is literally the same with us. No, Pepper wasn't doing the full amount asked for the school though. Correct. They were had a smaller override. I thought like 300.
Yeah. 300 because last year school Yeah, because last year they passed the larger override. So, they had that to take in extra money. Yeah. So uh so it's it's that town meeting that determines
uh whether school assessment is uh accepted or can rejected and punt it back to the school district to come up with a different number. And I don't know how you feel about it. I mean I'm okay with coming out of
executive with an explanation. I think we have to because we have to give. Yeah. I mean I like if that like I said if I don't feel comfortable just abstaining from voting specifically but I'm comfortable with whatever you guys decid discussion about what we're going
to do and what the budget looks like. But when we come out of executive session we should have the budget that we're going to go forward with. I agree. Yes. Okay. And so we would come back to open session.
Is it this might be a question you can't answer and that's fine. When a a town goes forward without a with with cuts coming into a year, does do is it always sort of collective bargaining? Is there like if you looked at a different town that had had cuts coming, do they
present the full budget or just category with you know general removals? I think it's it has to be pretty broad strokes just like the way that the school district when they say there's layoffs they just say there's 20
layoffs. Yeah. No. Well, so so we have that information number like a number of layoffs or just it's going to be more dollars than numbers of positions or anything like that. I think I mean we'll talk about it
because we don't know. Is it just going to be closing the whole day? Is it going to be just cutting some hours? We only know the dollars that we have to come up with. Okay. Um, we have some business to do.
Um, with that So, um, can I say one other thing? Yeah. Back to the, um, because our town clerk is our is the chief executive officer of the Metro Gov Solutions who does our
website, we need to discuss that. Um, because I think meeting or me, probably at an upcoming meeting. Um, I think there was discussion of bringing that back into inhouse because
that was what it was done before Metro gov took over. Um, so, you know, we can we can put that on the agenda for the 13th. Yeah, I think that just it was the attorney said we couldn't use
them. We would we wouldn't be able to use them. It was not a point of disclosure. Yeah, they they Yeah, the state had made a determination, right? Yeah. Um I'll double check with Metro
Gov on that, but I'll sign points. I think the person to check with is ethics at the state, but yes. Okay. So, 4.4 for town policy discussion. Um,
I had lots of discussion under town policy, but what was was there a specific motion that you had? No, that what I want to do is go through each of the selectments policies and this could this could take us a long period of time. um and go through each of them,
get them updated to incorporate references to the new charter to select board as opposed to board of selectmen and also to make sure that the policy that is available on the website is the current policy because there are several
that are not right. There are also additional policies that have been approved that have not been placed on the website. So, um, so I gave you each this list because I did this today. Where is it? Didn't get as far as I
wanted. Oh, it's this. Okay. Because what I did was I printed off and then I actually And you're going to see a couple of dates at the top. Yeah. Because that was mine ended up being pink and
um and hard to read, but I did all the dates of all of them. I didn't get to write it on yours, so if you just want to follow me. Okay. Um, the ADA grievance policy was done July 30th, 2013.
2013. 2013. Okay. Some of these dates really are just so old. Um, ARPA funds allocation reloc reallocation policy was March 2023. ARPA funds expenditure policy was February
23. ARPA uh subre recipient funding policy April 23 and those can actually be removed because they're no long and will we make a motion to do
that when when we not right now but okay but I mean that's how we would do that there wouldn't be a needed policy any longer we would delete the policy is there an archive or anything like I thought of older policies or do they just there there should There used to be I don't know if there
is anymore in the files but I don't know if they are online. Yeah. So we would want to archive that's a good word for the um alcoholic beverage policy was August 2014. I think 10 years is too long. I
really do. Um ambulance hardship policy was 2015. Animals and municipal buildings was July 2019. That's audit committee April
2019. Um board of select and operating policies August 2021 budget policy February 2017. Now, what I didn't catch on all of them, which I started to catch afterwards, you'll see um capital asset inventory
control policy, February 2004. There's no way that should be that has to be looked at. Capital Asset Reporting Policy, February 2004. Uh code of conduct policy, July
2019. Um and I want We'll talk about that later. Constable policy 2023 adopted September 2022, but there's a current one that's not uploaded yet. I'm
just doing more was on the website. Um, Corey policy um number five and Okay, that's the other thing. Every single one of these policies are not consistent. They're not consistent with how they're named or
numbered or dated or in some cases some aren't even signed. There were no first readings and there were no second readings. If you were looking on the website um there the looking at the actual policy on the on the website a
lot of these are not necessarily the latest and they are not necessarily the we got from civic plus the archive prior to just in January February time frame and I haven't had time to go through it
okay um because we rolled into budget and that was that Right. Um but we requested the archive. Um Nelson did and um we did receive it from Civic Plus. So we can look at the policies that were
actually the most recent. So that could be an error. All right. And which is why we need to do this. So when I did this, I did this from home and my Wi-Fi there was really good. Um, when I tried to work on this back at the office, I
couldn't open up any of the links to the policies when I was at home. Dangerous weapons in municipal buildings. The policy did not open, so I couldn't tell you what date it was. What was the date on the Corey policy? The one right above
that? 218. Number five. It was It was I have it down as number five. 218 and then again the the weapons and municipal buildings did not open so I don't have info on that.
Um the depos the disposition of surplus property was number 2015-1. So I mean it's not done consistently. Sometimes it's
1-205 and sometimes it's um the uh fiscal year and sometimes it's the fiscal year. Yes. So I don't know why it's not um I know that the people aren't consistent so I'm not sure. Um,
email communications policy was 2012-02 fuel efficient vehicle policy. This must have to change November 8th, 2011. That was when we did grid communities and this was one of the
requirements of green community. Okay. Um, do so that's probably not our policy at all. Oh, no. It's still We're still doing We are still doing green communities. So, and you have to have a policy in place for how when it's dated
or if as long as it's still current. Okay. So, these are all that we we will eventually discuss, but certain ones I think the ones that are older maybe should be caught up first.
um goods and services contracts the policy was um 08-209 the HIPPA security policy was number two-20 2017 HIPPA privacy policy number one-20
2017 I read that policy and the contact person needs to be updated so there's a lot a lot of these policies If the if there's a person's name in it that has a position that's got to be eliminated and possibly just do the position, right?
You know, versus the name. Um liaison policy number 3-208 media relations policy number two-205 meeting decorum and order for all boards
commissions authorities and committees was amended 22024 policy number 01-21 order sales policy number is
02-207. So that's pretty old. Um personnel policies revised 2020 ADA coordinator. Um, now that I also looked at that one and it's supposed to be
signed by all employees, department heads and it's a very large document there to this policy. There was um nobody from select board signed it and there were no readings.
Petty cash policy number 2015-02 was March 31st. I think that was a 15. There were no readings and no one signed it. Public comment
policy was 2018. There were no readings and it was signed by two select people on July 10th, 2018. Public records policy and guidelines for making
requests. August 14th, 2006. There were no public readings. We're working on that. Yeah. and nobody signed it by the subboard. Policy for Memorial Hall
Auditorium was 0224 replace number 99-2. Um third date on the memorial hall audit uh the latest is and we're amending that
now anyway. So, okay. But that was amended on March 2024. There was a first and second reading and it was adopted on February 20th 24. Okay. Reclassification and
positions number 2013-01 adopted June 4th, 2013. There were no readings and no signatures. That one is strange that there were no readings and no signatures on that one
by recycled policy number one- 2018 replaced 0905 2000 um no readings signed by three
selectman number one-28 replace policy 95 5 2000 no readings signed by three selectman remote participation policy
01-2024 replace number 2012-01 there was a first and second reading and it was approved on February 6 2024 requirements for counter signature policy number
5-01 no readings signed by selectman get the numbering but it was September 27th 2005 so it would indicate it was 20 it was 2001 I
think but then it wasn't signed until September 27th 200 5. However, I did read that as well. And the counter sign is for over
$100,000 in 2021. We're 24 years later. So, that probably has to be looked at. Um, safety belt policy number one-01.
There were no readings. Um, February 6, 2001 and signed by three selectmen. Uh, safety
policy. There are no dates. Safety policy. No readings. Reselect and sign. April 18th, 2000. having another policy needs to be looked at sick sick leave donation policy.
There were no readings and no one signed it. Like one of one of these was um one of them was signed by oh way back by a town administrator. Um
but this one had no signature on the sickly donation policy. That was December I did get a date on it. December 2nd, 2014. Sign board usage policy number
two-2021. There was a first reading, a second reading and adopted August 31st, 2021. No signatures on that policy. Oh, there should be social media policy
uh number 02209 was the first reading. Second reading adopted July 2nd, 2019 signed by three select board members. I'm going to make a comment after I read this one and the other one. The technology use
policy 04 2019. There was a first reading and final approval adoption I guess was in the second reading. It was uh July 11th, 2019 that was signed that
replaced 2012. Both of those policies, the social media policy and the technology use policy, according to the policy, has to be signed by all employees, all elected
officials, and all appointed officials. I have never done that. Nobody's ever asked me to do that. Nine years, never done any of those. But that's what the policy says. I think is there there's a harassment policy somewhere that gets sent around
as well. I don't see it in the it's not it's not on I I only did the ones that were on the website. So I'm sure there's other policies. There's also a meeting hall policy that's not there. Yeah. But the trust is well we just we well we just did west meeting. No sorry between
the senior center and the library there was a meeting hall policy was 2023. It was around the time I was still on the board. So why aren't these when it started? I don't know if it was finished. Well, they used to be. So there's a new website. Why wasn't
everything transferred to the new? Well, one can only wonder. Um, so this is why we're looking at these policies. Yeah. Okay. Because it was pretty obvious to me when I first perused them. Okay.
Um, temporary signs and sandwich board policy 01-10 adopted December 7th, 2010. Um, no no readings. There were no readings, but there were two signatures
on on that one. Townsen Emergency Assistant Funds Policy number 052023 replace number 2014-01 there was a first reading the second reading and signed July 5th 2022
and that has been amended we did it and recently I'm just doing the ones that were on the website right so that's what's there and that's what we know has to change. Um towns and oh towns and first
policy I thought this is kind of nice but there was no readings. Oh no there were um it didn't it wasn't on the policy. Okay. I'm I'm just taking notes from what's we need to get these back to
where they should be. um use of credit card policy. Give us a date for the town first. 0120 signed, but I have no reading notes. Uh signed March 1st, 2022. I I
think um well anyway, we'll talk later. Okay. Um use of credit card policy. 05-205 no readings signed by two selectmen October 27th
2015 and you may be right that maybe there was readings but it wasn't they just weren't reported in the policy Laura if I sorry to interrupt but I I believe you know having been in the seatinal policies I don't believe and
and listening to all your dates I don't think the readings what began yet became policy. Oh, until after until like 2019. Late 2019. Okay. I don't think there was ever none of those years ever had readings as far as
I Okay. Just listening to you. And do you know when that came Do you know where they came from? I saw your signature. I remember. Yeah. Some of the older ones. Yeah. Do Do you know when uh or where they came from? Was that a state mandate? No, I think that might have been because that was right after I
left. I think no readings prior to when I left it. The place that you will find this is in the selectman's policies and procedures. Yeah, I believe it started with uh Sue and Wayne and whoever joined who I think it was Don. I think they
that sounds like something Sue would have started. Okay. Uh so I think that that was something to to make it more formal. I think when there was policy we just kind of threw it around and it would just go like minutes. No, you check you know what do you think of this and it would go to the next meeting till we had us and I think that went on for
years wasn't my just me on you know years that's how policies were enacted with boards would just work on them and then they would become but that's more organized and it makes sense to do the readings the way that's been done that's what I think that's why you don't have
them all right thank you and there weren't that many you've gone the number of policies you're reading I think many of those it would be a nightmare to go through minutes for 10 years, but I think a lot of those policies were removed years ago. I I don't remember.
There were never this many policies. No, there were there's actually more when I became a select there were this many. There were more. There's actually more policies because I saw that after when I looked it was like 120 something policies, but the only ones that I could
only do do the ones that had the links. They only did the ones that did the links that I could reach. Wow. The website didn't have this many. Yes, it did. No, no, not when I was that came after. Well, it was in the Civic
Plus. It was in the Civic Plus website that was Plus. So, they dredged up new I think a lot of the policies may have been dredged up from somewhere. Okay. Well, hopefully we're going to clean it
all up. Some of those are outdated and probably not bring it up by state law. Excuse me. Um, you you've uh you you've lost your video. The select board has lost its video. I don't know. Did you deliberately want to take your video off or
do anything click it by accident? All right. Uh I don't know what happened, but uh give it a second. Okay, you're back. You're back now on video. Thank you. Okay. But you heard us, right? There was no problem with the audio. Thank you.
Thank you, Harley. Okay. All right. So, let me get back to this use of Okay. The next one is use of legal council policy uh number 04-218 replaced number
17-05. No readings. There's a there's a more recent policy than this. Yeah, I'm sure. All I can do is go through what I handing you today. Yeah. Uh, two selectmen did sign. It was July 31st of 18.
Vehicle use policy number 01-2023 replace policy number 4-05. There was first, second, and adopted reading and it was signed. And this one we have to review because we
don't have a town vehicle anymore. Yeah. So, so anyway, I start this would be a working meeting, several working meetings, I'm afraid. So, um, do we want to set a time to start
working on this? You know, just a relative time like June. Juna's appointments, but other other than that might be a good time. Yeah, why don't we do that? So, but then, you know, we need to get all the copies
and get the uploads of the new ones and that kind of thing. We'll just do a few at each meeting starting in June. The first meeting in June, it'll be part of the work session. Yep. Okay. All right. So that's 4.4. Uh 4.5 second reading
West Townsen reading room policy. Is there a motion? I made myself notes too about that. So is there a motion?
Um, it just says I move two. Um, I think we should do the second reading and then make a motion to adopt. That's what I think we should do. And do we have it in here? I see memorial. It says
4.5. Okay. So, we went and we updated the last time we did this. It's behind. Yeah. 4.5. Okay. So, we had gone through um the last time we addressed this in the meeting and we had made updates to it.
Um so, I I think there are a couple questions that I have um procedural when we go through this. So, um do you want to do this at second reading and then we discuss it because I have a couple
comments to make too. Um, even I have there may be a third reading. So, okay. So, do you want me to read the or do you want read? I'm happy to if you want me to. It's this correct. It is. Um, select uh select board. We lost both
your audio and video. Can you hear me? Select board. We've lost both your audio and video. Um, uh, Don Hayes, I'm going to text Nelson and see if I can get him that way. Okay.
Thank you, Don. Yeah. What about everybody on Zoom? They're working on it. Okay. Thanks. Thank you. It all goes. Okay. Hello everyone. We're back. Sorry about that. Charged up. Technical
difficulties. Okay. We're going to read the second reading of the West Towns and reading rooms news policy. Correct. Yep. Thank you. Start policy 03205 replace policy west towns and reading
room rules and regulations. West towns and reading room use policy. The west towns and reading room is available to any towns and resident or group. Users must abide by all town policies rules and regulations and execute a rental application. The reading room is located at 264 Dudley Road West Townsen and can
accommodate up to 37 people. It contains six long tables, 10 square small square tables, folding chairs, kitchen with refrigerator, stove, microwave, and dishwasher, and restroom facilities. Rental fees are $35 rental fee per usage for nonprofit groups renting more than
twice a month, $75 rental fee for one time, monthly, nonprofit groups, $125 rental fee for private party. Rental time is 5 hours. Each additional hour will be $15. Smoking and animals with the exception of service animals are prohibited on the premises. A refundable
cleaning deposit of 125 is required at the time of rental. All trash and belongings must be removed prior to vacating the premises. Failure to abide by the town's rules and regulations or failure to return the room to the condition in which it was received will result in a forfeiture of the deposit. Insurance. All individuals
groups renting the space shall procure and maintain for the duration of the rental period insurance against claims for injuries to persons or damages to property which may arise from or in conjun connection with the rental of the facilities and activities of the rental renter lency their guests agents
representative employees or subcontractors. Lency agrees to maintain all necessary insurance to protect itself against claims relating to the use of facilities. Lenc agrees to provide a certificate of insurance with coverage acceptable to the town prior to use of the facility. Users shall
maintain general liability with $1 million minimum limit and two million aggregate. The town shall be named as an additional insured on the insurance on such insurance policy. No changes to this insurance may occur without 10 days notice to the town.
Anyone wishing to rent the reading room should call or email the select board's office at 978-5971700 extension 1703 or select board at townsenmath.gov. Print, fill out and return a sign form with a check for the rental fee and the clean deposit made
out to towns. Okay. I have a couple. Okay. All right. The first one is the $35 rental fee. Should that I know there are groups that rent it frequently. Should this be renting twice a month or more or is it
more than twice a month? So, in other words, do they rent twice a month or do they rent three times a month? Um, I think it should be twice a month or more. But what do we want it to be? Are we saying at least three times a
month gives you the repeat or is it twice a month gives you the repeat? I thought it was twice a month. Okay, then this should read twice a month or more. Okay, next thing is the refundable cleaning deposit of 125 is required at
the time of rental. Looking again at the repeat rentals. What happens on repeat rentals? If in fact it needs to be cleaned in between, are we requiring another cleaning deposit once the cleaning deposit is
extended? So should we say something like um yeah, but it doesn't say that here. It because at the time of rental they might pay for, you know, six months at a time or who knows. No. How does it work? should be for each
rental because like if if they're doing twice a month. So there was an incident that happened recently and it wasn't checked for two or three or four how long wasn't it checked? About a week. So in the policy there has
to be that's the one I thing I wanted to add that there has to be that facilities or someone I don't care who you want to um delegate to do it but it makes sense to be facilities needs to check it immediately
after use then then we need to say a refundable cleaning deposit of $125 is required at the time of each rental each rental or is is required at the ta time of rental for each rental or
something like that. Well, I think each rental for each of each rental a refundable is required at the time of each rental so that we have that on hand. Um
okay. And then the one that you're talking about, who checks if the room is in order? Is that something that we put into the policy or is that something that becomes part of a job? Um, no sir.
Of a job description. How would you handle that? Um, I think that should be outside of this policy. It should be something that we um work on um for you know whatever job description you know
is most appropriate then can we get that job description updated ASAP I guess that that's like this is facilities so it should be with that department however that gets handled within the department but the responsibility needs
to be there that once a rental is completed and and they have left that The building needs to be inspected, right? Yep. To make sure that, you know, there nothing's the water's not running or there's something leaking or the stove is left on, something. Yep. I can
talk to uh facilities to, you know, it's good practice anyways instead of leaving, you know, the property unattended for, you know, up to a week or longer, right? You if the water's running, you don't you don't want that going for a week. Right. It should be
checked after not within, you know, but if it's a Saturday or a Sunday rental, it should be checked Monday morning first thing. Right. Agreed. Okay. I'll talk to facilities about that. By then any water damage could be expensive, but you you know I mean we may have to write
do we do you think we have to instruct people make sure all the you know faucets are turned off. Make sure the toilet's not running. Make sure the stove isn't on. Do we have to say that? Well, it says here checklist. Well, it says here you need to return
the room to the condition in which it was received. When you go in there, the water is not running. So, if you leave it running, you've already violated that condition. That's common sense. Well, but it's all but but it's also in here as well. Black
and white. So, it you need to return it to the condition in which it was received. I do a lot of rentals, so I'm going to tell you. But that same language is in everything that we do and it's common sense. Not everybody looks at it that way, right? So
um yeah. Well, do we want to move do we want to say something about that then? Something additional in all trash and belongings must be uh removed prior to vacating the um premises. Should we say
all trash and belongings must be removed and all um appliances uh and faucets. What if we leave the lights on too? I'm not saying that they would, but I'm
saying once something happens, you wonder. Any one of those things can happen. I mean, just to be do a checklist. I would do a checklist. You should have a checklist. I I would do a checklist. That's just a pro the facility. I mean, I know that you're dealing with adults,
but this happens. And it's not on purpose. I'm not saying that it's on purpose. I'm just saying if you give them all trash and belongings must be removed and the posted checklist um
completed prior to vacating the premises. Yes, that's a little list you could just have right there, right? Or attach it to the the application that they give to you with the check and they they get the list.
All right. So, changes made are on the $35 line, renting twice a month or more. The next one would be um the paragraph that begins the refundable cleaning deposit of 125 is required at the time
of each rental. Right. All tra and belongings must be removed and the posted checklist completed prior to vacating the premises. Are we good with that? Did you check Did you say just say checklist? Yes. Okay.
Sabrina has a question. Um, I just wanted to mention in the past there was one mention um that it was noted that uh cars may have been parked on the grass instead of the parking space provided.
I don't know if that's something that you want to put in there. Well, if we're going to do that then um we should put it in the list at the beginning. It contains six long tables. And then for the next sentence, parking
is in designated areas only. Do you want to also say not on the grass? They make their own parking spaces. Um parking is um uh in
designated or the spots designated or is it does the gravel spaces or it's all gravel? Parking is it's asphalt on um asphalt. There's no lines though, right? So we can't say designated. Uh, parking
is um on solid surfaces only. They're gonna say grass is a solid surface. Um, park in the parking lot, not on the grass. It's It is um paved though,
right? That's what I mean. It's it's it's the same material. Okay. Parking is in paved area. Is in paved area only. Lot of paved areas don't have lines. Yeah. So does parking is in paved
area only. Okay. So you got that more any emergencies during rental time. Who who they should reach out to? That's not me there. 911. What do you mean by emergencies? Um in the past we have the
door lock being a little hard to open facilities. It's on the weekend those rental times. So the renters often called the fire department. Okay. That was that was my I think that's fine. We put it on the
checklist. If you have an emergency, call the fire department. They're 247. So I build the blocks make that part of the checklist. I don't think it needs to be in the policy. Do
you are we good with that? No, that can be the checklist that they have. You hand them that and so they have an emergency contact called the fire department. Okay, I'm I'm good. All right. Is there a motion?
I move to um are we accepting? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Second reading provision. Yep. Move to accept the uh updated west and re use policy as read. Correct. Is there a second? Second.
All in favor? I I policy. Will these get signed at a later time or? Yes. Yeah, after. That's fine. Just double checking.
But today's date will be up or when we sign. Uh, it's usually the date that we sign, right? With the second reading today's date. Perfect. Thank you. Um, okay. that now we're on a
second reading for 4.6 the use of Memorial Hall 4.6 council provision or this one 4.6. No, no. I just Which one is it that we're looking? Probably a cleaner version maybe or the other one's not marked. It's the same thing, but it's
probably the old policy. Okay, this one's the old. This one says old. I have three old town council revision and then 41525. So, this is this is the one. Okay. The first one. Okay. Thank you.
The one with all the insurance stuff. Yeah, cuz that's what Okay. Yes, this is the revision. I saw that after. Thank you. No problem. Just making sure somebody do that. Ready? Yeah. Okay. I'm need to
bring water. Um policy number 042025, revision policy 2204. Policy for use of Memorial Hall Auditorium. All inquiries or requests for scheduling the use of Memorial Hall
auditorium will be handled by the select board. To inquire about scheduling event, call 9785971700 extension 1703 or submit a written request to the office select the select board 272 Main Street, towns and mass 01469. Email selectboard
townsm.gov. No more than two events shall be scheduled in any one day. The audit time is available Friday, Saturday, and Sunday only unless special arrangements are made. Town entities may use the audit time 7 days a week if available. Sorry. A calendar will maintain for scheduling events. Events
must conclude before midnight with cleanup completed no later than 1:00 a.m. Rental use includes usage of 228 chairs available and six large white folding tables as well as six short white folding tables. Memorial hall capacity of number of persons per certificate of inspection by story and
by place of assembly/ location. Capacity chairs only 178 capacity tables and chairs 83. Capacity C standing only 250 stage 30 insurance all individuals/groups renting the space shall procure and maintain for the duration of the rental period insurance
against claims for injuries or person to persons or damages to property which may arise from or in connection with the rental of the facilities and activities of the renter/licency their guests agents representative employees or subcontractors license agrees to maintain all necessary insurance to
protect itself against claims relating to the use of the facilities lency agrees to provide a certificate of insurance with coverage acceptable to the town prior to its use of the facility. User shall maintain on liability with a $1 million minimum limit and $2 million aggregate. The town should be named as an additional insurer
on such insurance policy. No changes to this insurance may occur without 10 days notice to the town. Prior arrangements must be made with the facilities department superintendent for all special services such as use of decorations, special seating arrangements, special equipment such as projector, microphones, stage lights,
etc. Delivery and removal of equipment. The organization or individual wishing to rent the hall shall be sponsored by towns and resident or entity and complete an application for use of memorial hall with necessary waiverss if applicable. The applicant is responsible for all fees associated
with use of the auditorium which includes custodial services are payable one week prior to any event and shall be changed as charged as well as town boards, communities, departments, governmental use, no charge. Towns and nonprofits, community groups, 100 for the first three hours, 24 25 for an hour
over that. Private events, 150 for the first three hours, and $50 for any hour over that. All non departmental users are required to submit $150 security deposit. Security deposit shall be destroyed after by the select office provided there are no damages to town property attributable to the events and
the premises left in good condition as determined by the town. Need shall remain responsible for all damages above and beyond the amount of the security deposit. Reservations shall be made on a first come basis. No reservation shall be considered until all forms, waiverss, and security deposit may have been received. A police detail may required
for events. Final determination based on the event and other factors would made by a select bird in conjunction with the chief of police. A 4-hour minimum detail with minimum 24-hour notice is required. The organization is required to arrange for the police detail to pay the costs of same. If a town property is damaged during event, the security deposit shall
be utilized to the town for the repairs. Any balance of funds remaining in the security deposit after completion of repairs will be returned to the organization or individual. The organization or individual shall remain liable for and shall promptly pay to the town any repair costs in excess of the security deposit. Food and beverages may
be served but no alcoholic beverages or on-site food preparation are allowed. No smoking is allowed on top property or within the building. Additional parking is available at the municipal parking lot located off Riverbank Terrace. The select board preserves the right to reject any and all applications. All right.
Any other discussion? No. Did we make a motion to accept? I I'll look for one. We've had the reading. I'll take a motion to approve. I move to approve the policy for use of Memorial Hall
auditorium as read. And I second that. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor? I I thank you seven meeting setup discussion. So I think
um by the way in case people didn't realize this uh the annual town meeting is at the high school auditorium for the folks that might not be aware of that. Um so I think it's traditional to have a select meeting beforehand just to go
over some final details. Um, since we are moving over there, I suggest we probably start the meeting at 5 and adjourn probably no later than say 6 6:15
just here. Yeah. Okay. Um, and uh, so John is, you know, John Barrett's aware of, you know, the location as well. Um, I've been working with Dave at TCAM, um, you know, to to for him and his
staff to, you know, do the on the audio, you know, set up the micro the microphones the same way. Yep. Um, there will be a staff member from the high school um that will be assisting. So, um, similar to, you know,
the form last week. Um, so I think we're in pretty good shape. Uh, there'll be two microphones on either side of the aisle and those can be mobile in case um, someone has um, mobility issues. We can certainly walk it over to them. But
I I think folks lining up on either microphone is is a it's pretty good way of making sure everyone gets a chance to speak or ask any questions they might have. How many people does that hold? I
think it's upwards probably between five and 600 people. Yeah, it's much bigger than the great hall here. I was just going to say, are we going to have Boy Scouts available
to do the microphone thing for people who are immobile? I know we're lining up, but if there's someone who can't get to the microphone, we could get somebody to do it. Yeah. You know, if there's a voice scout there,
you can also ask for mobile ask someone to stand on your behalf until they can ask the voice. That's been tradition as well. Okay. So, do they stay for the whole night? Not always. It depends on how
late it gets. They're usually there till 9:00 or so. Anyway, I can ask uh Derek, Irene's husband, to see if he can get um some troop
members to assist. I'm sure we could get um John usually prepares with counters, so I'm sure they get a counter. But yeah, that's true, too. Yeah, especially if it's later at night. And if the Boy
Scouts are there, they'd like to do something. So, that's okay. But if they're gone, I'm sure we can get a counter. Um I did find out that Adam is not going to be able to represent us that night. Um that night he has his law
firm is representing like 10 other cities and towns. So Jane Freriedman the um okay labor council will be um representing us. Okay. and she's um assisted with um town meetings in the
past with other municipalities and she you might have mentioned she's done one for towns and it might have been like a special town meeting maybe. Not during my time. I don't know. I have no idea when I wasn't on the subboard. Okay. Who
was at those. So, um but yeah, I um Adam that's a busy night for his firm. So, unfortunately, he's not going to be able to represent us. I was I was hoping he would be the one cuz he's obviously the most familiar with our town. Will
she meet with us at 5 so we can go over the warrant? She has a copy of the warrant. I actually need to draft the motions for Adam to review. Um, so I'm going to be working on that over the next several
days um to have them take a look at it. I have I have a couple questions that I would like to run by her then before the meeting. Okay. Oh, uh, we actually I'm
trying to get together a like a like a meeting before the meeting itself. And I'm not talking like literally right before. It's more like a a preparatory meeting to go over some details. Um, you know.
Okay. And who will be at that preparatory meeting? Um, Adam uh said he would join because you know I think he can um you know give a lot of um advice to to Jane you know in terms
of towns and how you know what what to expect. Um, so Jane, Adam, myself, um, would two or three members of the select board be allowed to participate?
Not without posting, but at least one of us should be there. Okay. Um, yeah, then I think at least one select board member should be there. And I was also considering inviting John to it as well since he's moderating. Um, we don't have
actually have a lot of time to get it together. Um, no. So, when do you want to do it? Um, let me see. There's only three days left this week.
Yeah. See, I think so. We can We certainly don't need to do it in person. It could just be It could be a Zoom, I'm sure. Zoom or something like that. Um, who in the select board would like to be
I mean, I could do it, but do you want to do it? I have some questions as long as I can give them to Jane ahead of time or to Adam. I don't have to be on the call. So, um, but I want to make sure that my questions are addressed. Okay.
Um, I have time with Adam on Thursday, so I can talk to him about it then. Okay. Let me let me try to set something up. Adam is here on Thursday. He is his office hours 4 to 7 p.m. Okay. So, so
why don't you talk to him then? I'll talk to him then. Yeah. Okay. But I I'll try to get a meeting. Um town council, someone from the select board, myself, and um John Barrett. Just What time do you have with
Adam? I'm 5:00 pm. Do you want to can if he isn't totally booked with whatever needs to be done. Oh, he says he is. So, we'll have to find another time to to do it. I'll I'll
I'll coordinate something with everyone. Um, can you look at your schedule? Maybe see if Well, if if he want if he's available and wants to come like an hour earlier Thursday, I could meet then if
you wanted to meet at 3. Okay. With the group meeting, that would work. Okay. I'll uh I'll talk to him and I'll ask John as well. Okay. Um, that means it's before I meet
with Adam. Um, you can give me the question and I can Yeah, I want to talk to Adam about it. Um, okay. So, can you do it after?
I can if he will if he does it until seven. We can meet at 7. I'll come here at 7 after he's done. Whatever works. Okay. I'll I'll I'll coordinate behind the scenes and I'll let everyone know.
Um, yeah. So, I think those were the big ones. You know, Adam is not going to be joining us. And so, this is the second town meeting that Adam didn't join us at the the one in March. He had a prior um
he had a prior uh commitment that he couldn't get out of. And this one, like I said, um busy night. There's multiple communities that have um
okay the question is what do we have to do to be one of the priority communities um for since he is representing us that's the question um it I find it uh concerning
um that this is the second time meeting in a row that he's not at Um and I um Okay. No, I I I hear your concerns. I I really was hoping he would be at this in
no time meeting because it's it's a big it's a big meeting. I would say too in the interest of continuity and I talk about this a lot and longevity and knowledge, we have the new town clerk. I'm brand new up there. This is my first annual town meeting
here. Nelson's first annual town meeting and a different so there's only I mean is it this your first regular annual town meeting? So and our town meeting is set by ch by charter so it's known always ahead of
time when it is. So we have one cycle member and one moderator who done it before and know it's just thoughts. Yeah. Should be fun. I I I will um I will I'll bring It's
nice to have people who are very quick on their feet because we like to change. Should be very interesting. We like to change things as we go. I I'll mention it now. That would be good. I'll mention it to you too.
Um okay. So that would mean uh our next select board meeting uh will be at 5:00 pm next Tuesday on the 6. The 6. Okay. So that's 4.8. Now we're going
into work session uh 5.1 administrator updates. Anything else? Yep, I have a few updates. Uh the the the the latest version of the annual town reports got delivered today.
I think we got about 38 copies more on its way. Um but the printing company had a snafu and they weren't able to provide all was it 150 copies Sabrina? Um the the remainder will be delivered
in the next week or so. But there's some here. I think there's some downstairs. Oh, so we won't have them at town meeting then. Uh, we should I'm hoping we get the the rest delivered by then.
Okay. Will they be available online? It is available online now. Okay. So, that's good. But it it did come out very well. So, yeah. Um, see here. I I did not meet the the person,
but Cali did. Um I guess this person is uh in pre-production and they're looking to film um part of a movie and they like the facade of the town hall here. So
um I think it's been a while since it's on the cover of our book. Yeah, that's true. Um, I I think uh it's been a while since anything's ever been filmed in towns and I actually looked it up and and I there might have been just a few
years a couple years ago. There was one at the Oh, okay. And there was one at the library that we did maybe four or five years ago. Okay. That we had to do approval things for. So, uh, if you know, if we're interested, I
can research it, see if this is legitimate, and, um, you know, see what they're actually looking to film. If it's just outside the company, did you say um, Search Light Pictures? Search Light Pictures. Yep. They're doing a
comedy. A comedy. Yeah. Yes. What are called to tell me? Yeah. I was just going to say just watch the whole thing. Um, so much come to town meeting. So, looks like they're looking to film
here in um September, I think. Oh, September. Yeah. So, you know, there's a location scout. So, they're, you know, trying to get everything in order. So, we want to put towns on the map. Sure. So, you know, obviously we will get a a
fee for our, you know, for use of our property. Um, so you know, were they just using the exterior of the building? Is that I'm not I'm not 100% sure if they're just doing filming outside. I think if it was inside, that might be too disruptive since, you know, we have
a business to run. If it was the weekend, maybe, but certainly not during business hours, Monday through Friday. So, um, but I can certainly find out more information. So, I thought that was pretty interesting. Yeah, that that came
in. Uh let me see what else we have. Um so the uh the uh Mark bus that that goes through towns, I believe it's currently free at the moment, that service is scheduled to uh end at the
end of June. Um and I don't have much historical insight into that. I think you might, Veronica, I do. Um, we had a transportation group that was put together maybe three years ago. It was
when Emily McCaffrey was here as our um, community services coordinator and we um, uh, we had to join Mark because we were LOL regional transit. And now we're
um Massachusetts as well regional transit and uh uh that was brought around mainly because of the start of the MBTA communities. We are an MBTA community because of our proximity to
Shirley and the line that comes out here. However, our transportation, we were part of the LOL regional transportation, which so l would only take us to LOL places, not to the Fitchburg train
station or the other. So, we petitioned um to join Monachus Regional Transit and we did. Um they accepted us as a community. As part of that, you got $25,000 from the state that they don't
give you. They use it to run the service to your town. So, that is why it was free for us. Um, but it apparently hasn't been well used. It started after I was no longer a select. It um the we
worked for about a year to try to get that. It was a process um to get transit to um the Fitchburg train station and so it does run it was running regular service um twice a day. Now I think it's
like once in the morning and once a day and it's on demand. It's on demand and it didn't really take off. So I guess there isn't a need for it in town. It was been on demand for almost a year. A year. Yeah. That'll be the the year of
the the end. Yeah, the year before that it went twice a day. They dropped we had Saturday and Sunday. Um Sunday we had to pay for so it was in the budget I think for FY23 was part of the budget or FY24. I'd
have to look at the dates but anyway um but we dropped the Sundays pretty quickly I think. Um so so then it just was totally free anyway. So we're d we're losing the service
completely at the end of June. So but I don't if it's not being used there wasn't a need. So yeah if it if it wasn't used then there isn't any need. So maybe when MBTA communities is in place and you know we can re-examine
that. Um the last thing I had was um the uh towns and affordable housing trust. Um I know you guys didn't have a enough folks to have a quorum today, but I think the what the main discussion
point was um the housing trust was was given uh $100,000 in ARPA money a few years ago and that was you know voted on. There was public meetings. everything was, you
know, um, you know, um, for the public to, you know, to to see the the votes and the in the discussion. Um, I guess the one thing that was missing was the subreient paperwork. For some reason, no one can
find it. We we have we have no way of telling if it was executed or not. So, um, the auditors when they were doing the audit, they they came in and they they saw that that, um, paperwork wasn't there and,
you know, in their minds, you know, the that money is still with the town and not with the, um, housing trust. So, um, unfortunately, um, you know, the housing trust is going to lose out on on that money, but that does give us, uh, an
opportunity to use those funds to, you know, um, pay for some wages, um, in, you know, the upcoming budget. And I think that's going to help with the the the budget deficit that we're currently
experiencing. So, um, you know, we can talk more, um, how that's going to be funded, um, you know, uh, you know, in, you know, in our meeting later this evening.
That's a that's a real loss to the trust. Absolutely. I mean that was a couple of years of getting it established number one coming out of the housing authority and then the work that they've
done and it's been yman's work to um get properties talk to different entities about distributing properties selling properties having those funds were seed money for surveys
Um, do you want to talk more to that? There isn't much to say. Yeah, it's definitely a big loss. Um, that is a big loss. It is. Um, but you know, we for the life of us, we couldn't
find the the paperwork to make it like official. There's an email stream, but there's not the document itself. Yeah. And what year was it right? It was uh 2023. Yeah. So when I was no longer
there were open meetings where it was discussed and voted on by the select board. So yeah that that much was you know on the up and down and the and the funds were transferred to a separate account under the um so they are in a separate account right now. Yes. But it was all but it can't be allocated.
There's no record of a town vote on that. Oh there there is. It's a subreient. According to Roselli, there needs to be a subreient agreement. Um, and I could have sworn we did that, but I don't have that hard
copy. I believe I gave it to the former TA and there there's just no record. Yeah, we can't find it. and and do signing something after the fact wouldn't be, you know, necessarily right
or on the up and up. So, um it's, you know, it's just um it's just better that it just gets returned back to the town. Was the former TA contacted to see? No, but I look through I look through all the files. there's not that many hard
copies of stuff and I can't find anything any so you know so this gives us an opportunity to you know use those funds towards uh you know wages which is an allowable uh use to you know help with
the budget so just for this year just for this year for wages that it's used against the money isn't there for FY27 right so and I've It's it's wages only and I
was um thinking it should just go to uh the highway department. It's just and also highway um snow and ice wages. It's it can go in any wages, but I it's
there's enough um flexibility there that you know I just say it's for highway um operating wages, you know. So, and and there's enough people there that I can spread that around. Um, and also nice
wages. So, that's kind of what I'm targeting that um money is spent for spent towards um just to assist us with the uh the budget override that we have right now. So,
that was kind of um you know, a bummer. Yeah. But, you know, it's kind of a on one side, not not so much on the other side, but still a bummer because if you look at FY27, then it's really a bummer. But yeah, because you're using onetime
funds to balance the budget in FY26. Um, but but the expenses will still be there in 27 and you have this this gap that you need to fill. So, um, but you know, we have the FY26
problem in front of us that we kind of have to deal with first. So, that's kind of, um, where we're at. The the ARPA funding um, reporting is due tomorrow, but Jen Thompson at CSS is working on that. I've been in contact with her over
the last few days. I think she's also working with Katie on some uh, reporting as well. So we'll we'll we'll get it in by tomorrow's deadline. And that's the final report for ARPA. Correct. Uh correct. Yep. So So ARPA funds have
flown the coupe. They are allocated or there there's nothing else as of the end of the um day tomorrow. Correct. Right. Yeah. Once you submit that report, so not a topic of
discussion at town meeting. Correct. I mean people can talk about it but there's nothing can be done because we've already submitted our report and this is you know we these are the areas
that we've um we've um we'll be putting towards the the fund we'll be putting towards you know s certain salary line items and yeah that's what we report and that's what we need to adhere to and the select board is the determiner
of how ARPA funds are spent. Correct. Correct. Yep. So, um that's that's all I have. Oh, sorry. There was one other thing. Um our current military leave policy. Um
there's actually a um an officer uh who is part of the uh the the uh National Guard Reserves. And um our current policy only
allows for 17 days of military leave. Um but apparently there's a mass general law that has a more robust number of days um available to you know to um town
employees. So um he wrote us a nice letter and I put it on sharp point. You can take a look at it later. Um, he's looking for us to adopt this mass general law. Um, I think to adopt something like this, I need to talk to Adam, but it probably requires something
at town and he literally just gave this to me like yesterday, I think. So, uh, but we can certainly work on it. Maybe get it on a um the next special town meeting unless it requires uh annual town meeting adoption, but I'll talk to
Adam about it. Um, but I think it's a it's a worthy thing to to consider because 17 days per year certainly is not enough if you're in the What is the amount that um I think
it's I think it's over I think it's over 40 days. Yeah, they give you like 40 days. So much more robust than the 17 currently in the in our policy. So we have to then look at how we're funding a policy like that. I
I'm not opposed to the policies, but I do think in the climate that we're in now, if we're doing things like this, we have to know how we're funding them. Is that paid leave? Um paid by the town for him to serving in the guard. So, uh,
yeah, we would pay the the So, he does get, um, something from the from the, you know, the military. Um, we would pay the difference. So, and is there the job that this person is leaving? I haven't even seen this letter. The job that this
person is leaving, is it one that will incur overtime? It may be paid very. Um, I think that before we adopt a policy, we have to know how we're paying for it, especially if it incurs overtime in in a
public safety sense because overtime there is way more expensive than any other department in town. Um, and we just need to know that we have it budgeted. I'm not opposed to it if it's budgeted. If it's not budgeted, then
whole different story. The same goes for like the Heroes Act. I mean, it's a it's a good thing. Yeah. And yes, you want to do it and you appreciate your veterans, but that is would be 100% funded by the town. And so, you have to be able to put it in your budget. You have to make the
money to spend the money. As far as leave policy in military reserves, they can get leave for up to five years. So, they can't lose their job. The job is held open for them. So if a national guard national anybody that's not paid
correct it's just this is just the law on leave of it's a local policy in order to give like people some communities or civilian jobs will sometimes pay you um up like if you're a federal employee you
get like two weeks of military leave two it's it ends up being like three weeks because it's only work days you you get that pay as part of your federal employment. Apparently, there's a state law for state employees. I don't know if this is municipalities new thing. I
didn't know about that before, but um they keep adding benefits anyway, but a member of the reserve component, whether it's guard or reserve, it doesn't matter. Who can will deploy? You could go to Afghanistan or someplace for a couple years. Your job is still held.
You're not paid for that. That's just you're absent from your job and your job is held. You can't be terminated for that. That's different. But but that would still incur overtime if that position's going. We have to be budging through that and we don't have a town
that's see the matching like some employees will have you know we'll pay a difference in pay. Um some people depending on their job I mean if it's a police officer they're making more money probably than what they would make in in the military. But the military a lot of
you a lot of time nowadays a lot some of the military jobs get paid more than some of the civilian jobs. So it's not that much business. All right. Thank you. And those are all the Okay. I'm general government, I
guess. So I'm just I'm just going to mention that we still have positions available in the town and if there are open positions on boards that can be appointed. If you're interested, please let us know. I don't have any other
reports. Oh, I was um I can I can say for housing. I just did the wrong thing. No, it's okay. Government, but that's you. Well, but I don't have any reports unless someone emailed me in like the
past hour and a half. Okay. I probably don't have any. I did um I did elected boards, but that is my report. Uh for housing um there is uh one of the affordable homes on Copper Smith Way uh
one Lois Lane uh gets advertised starting to today I guess it is. Thank you Jody for sending that to Kieran. He's going to check and make sure that Chapa gets him and Yeah. So thank you
for forwarding that on. But anyway, it's uh 90 days um for if there's anybody that's looking for a home and fits the salary range, which I off the top of my head can't give you. Um uh I believe
it's being listed at 338,000 roughly. Um if we had um if in fact there no buyer is found, it reverts market rate. um we can we the town can
request that it be extended for 60 more days um to be listed at the affordable rate and to give us time to purchase it. Uh we don't have the money to purchase it. Um so anyway, we're going to look at that and see what we can do. But um so
just know that there's an affordable home. We should figure out how we're going to get that advertised. It should be noted on the web somehow so that people, you know, there may be people that are interested. So, I can get the listing
fed to Sabrina and whoever posts on the website without all that information. I think it would be good because other than that, I would not recommend us requesting 60-day
extension for something that we can't buy. I I would if it allows someone in town to come forward or But they're going to get out of town 90 days first to purchase it. They have 90 days first. Well, this will be the best 90 days they'll get. So, right now, well,
anyway, I'm serious. For the market, this is their best 90 days. So, I'll I'll get you that information and it can be posted on the website. That would be good. So, um so there's that. Um, I'm going to the MMA uh small and rural
towns conference on Saturday. Um, I don't know if anybody else signed up for it. Um, but I did. So, and I did get a thing for um there there's a panel for EMS for
small towns and rural towns. And I sent that on to Nelson and the fire chief, I believe, a place where they could submit questions if they wanted them answered. So, um, there's that. I think that's all I
have. I already did the volunteer response. You didn't get any in, right, from yesterday. Did have all of the town hall. Um, the next meeting is wait. Yeah, there are two resations
in the packet. Oh, yes. 53 and 54. 53. Okay. Um there is to the board of selection from Katherine Spoker. Town clerk William J. Katigan has submitted his resignation from the towns and zoning board of appeals and the bylaw
review committee effective immediately. And we thank Bill for all of his service. He's more than 30 years for sure. I think it's 40. 40. Okay. And then board selectman to the
board selectman fire chief from captain colton palader has sub resation from the town fire department effective April 10th 2025
copyrighted retirement notice. I will read it. to may concern. I firefighter Colton Caladu resigned from Towns and Fire EMS effective April 10th of 2025. I started my career with the Towns and Fire
Department in 2015. And learned a lot about the fire service and the EMS from those whom I was working with. It was shortly after that I realized this was something I wanted to do as a career.
And in 2016, I started my full-time career with Massport Fire. I want to thank Towns and Fire Department for giving me the opportunity to serve the community for 10 years and giving me a kickstart into my career. Unfortunately,
much much has changed in my life and with the department since the beginning of 2015, which has led me to make a difficult choice to leave the department. I would like to say thank you especially to those individuals who
have played a large role in guiding me toward my full-time career. I wish the department best of luck in their future president of the organization fire. We thank him very much for his
service to our town. I just wanted to note that I had a confiration from the committee members for the rest of the meeting room but they are not in their term tomorrow
um if renew positions for the western reading room committee. How many positions is it? Three. Three. Three. Are we good? Um, is the board good to post for three positions for the
West Townsen reading room committee? Waiting till tomorrow is over and then Okay. So, your post after tomorrow. Okay. And while we're talking about posting, has the posting been made for
the um state rep for Not yet. Housing authority. Housing. Yeah. housing authority. Okay. Okay. Anything else? Just checking.
Um six executive session. Wait, we need to do 5.4. I Well, I started to do that, right? Next next meeting is um May 6th at 5:00 p.m. here in the chambers and then at
6:00 p.m. at the high school for the annual meeting. 7 7 for the meeting at the high school. Seven. Yeah. Oh, seven. Okay. Thank you for the question. So, it's 5:00 here and 7 o'clock at the high
school. Yep. Okay. Um, is there a motion 5.5 review and sign payroll? I move to review and sign payrolls and bills payable warrants out of session. Is there a second? Any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor? I I. So,
um the next motion uh can be made for us to go into executive session and we will be coming back into public session when we're done. And that's what you'll read. There won't be a time that we're coming back until we know we're coming back.
I have to enter into sorry time now but not the we're entering into exact Executive session at yes uh 8:26 p.m. I move to enter into this weird wording.
Yeah. 8:26 p.m. Executive session pursuant to dopamine law chapter 38 section 2183 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining in an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the public body and the chair so declares clerical union
supervisors union highway water union police union fire union. Is there a second? Second. And now do we add that we're coming back to regular session at this point or no? um on this motion motion you it's we
didn't say we were adjourning from executive session so we came back okay so we we need to tell Hartley to um yes I u I'm going to uh pause the recording uh and if you would uh guys
would kindly mute your video and audio so I won't hear or see anything during the executive session and uh when you come back just come back on audio and video and I'll uh then as soon as you reconvene I'll start the uh I'll start
the recording again. Now um do you guys have the capability of u of of taking out the people who are joining us or will some of them be uh be joining you in the executive session? No one is joining us in executive session. They
will have to leave the Zoom. Um, Heartley, I think we can leave the Zoom, too, and just come back in, can't we? Uh, well, uh, I I guess so. I can let you back in. Um, I'll just, uh, I'll
just pause the recording and then and then when you come back in, I'll let you back in and and we can start recording again. Yeah. And then you can have everybody still on if they want to stay until we get back. Okay. Great. So, that that that's what I'll do. And uh um so
um I guess now would be the time for everyone uh who was not going to be in executive session to um to bid good night. So okay, thank you. This Hi everyone. We just uh adjourned
our executive session and now we will I'll call back to order. our meeting at 10:08 p.m. And uh so we had a work session on the budget that we are
um going to now vote on that will be presented on um the sixth and this has to do with um the fact that we didn't get the override.
So, do you want to make motions? Um, I will as soon as Nelson um screen shares the functional segments. Do we want to vote them each functional segment? I think so. Yeah,
all right. So, um I'd like to move that um the total for general government for the fiscal year 25 um no 26. Fiscal year 26. Thank you.
budget with no override. Um, vote to accept the general government fiscal year 26 no override budget of 1,64,218. Is there a second? Second discussion. Um, I'm just going to be
abstaining just for lack of time in the position for some of these items and not for lack of agreement, but I feel it's best for everything. So, cuz you just walked in. Hopefully in the future maybe we'll be
able to change up people. Vote. I I next. All right. Moving to public safety. I move that um we accept the public safety budget for fiscal year 26 with no override
uh in the amount of 4,352,545. Second. Any discussion? Vote. I I sorry. Next. All right. Moving to education. I move that we accept the
education budget for fiscal year 26 with no override at 16,765,463. Second discussion. Hearing none. I I um the uh I move um to accept the
highways and street budget for fiscal year 26 um with no override at $714,627. Seconded discussion hearing none. I I
um I move that we accept the solid waste budget for fiscal year 26 with no override at $19,700. Second discussion. I I um I move that we accept the human
services budget for fiscal year 26 with no override at $467,987. Seconded discussion vote. I I abain. Um I move that we accept the culture and
recreation budget for fiscal year 26 with no override at $549,774. Second discussion. No hearing. None. I I um I move that we accept the debt service budget for fiscal year 26 with
no override at $45,480. Seconded discussion. No. I I move that we accept the insurancees insuranceances budget for fiscal year um
26 with no override at 2,711,986. Second discussion. Seeing none. Veronica Cal I should finish. All right. Do we need to do the grand total? Sure. All right. I I move
um to accept the grand total budget for fiscal year 26 with no override at 27,591,780. Second discussion only that as you can see it's less than a half a percent
over last year. Vote I and I maintain a motion to adjourn please. Is there anything else? Second. Did we get the motion? But Yep. No, I
was you you did the warrant stuff already. Yeah, that was stated before. Yeah. All right. So, motion again in case it wasn't made. Okay. At 10:14 p.m. has been moved and seconded. Any discussion?
Hearing none. Thank you all very much. Thank you.