Good afternoon and welcome to the Westport Board of Health uh October, sorry, jumping the gun. September 29th, 2025 meeting under Mass General Law Chapter 30A section 20F. This meeting is being recorded. Um, and please join me in the
pledge of I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Okay, we'll get to business opinion. Be a quick meeting. Um, we'll start with the director written report. Any questions on that? If not, we'll go to any updates from that report.
Okay. So, on the director's report, we're just reporting on the uh local uh risk levels for triple E and Westnile virus. Um, and this is based on seasonal testing from June to October. And the maps in
your uh on your tablets are from September 22nd. But for um triple E, we remain um in the low risk. And then for um West Nile virus, we're in moderate risk.
Just uh what can you do to prevent E and West Nile virus infections? Repair screens, clean up and get rid of mosquito breeding sites, be aware of stagnant water on private property. um like example unused swimming pools is a
big culprit of a place to breed mosquitoes and consult with the local board of health. Wear long sleeves and long plants from dust uh dust to dawn. Use mosquito netting on baby carriages and play pens. Wear mosquito repellent when outdoors especially between dusk
and dawn and dump standing water twice weekly. And then you can um DPH has a um interactive site with these maps that are interactive. If you go to mass.gov uh a bore virus update, you just go
there and it'll take you to the site. Okay. Um, so Governor Moyah Hilly announced immediate measures to safeguard vaccine access in Massachusetts amid federal rollbacks by uh, President Donald Trump
and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The state will require insurers to cover vaccines recommended by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, not just the CDC, making it the first in the nation to do so. The
administration also issued a standing order allowing pharmacies to continue administering COVID vaccines despite despite federal guidance and updated policies to expand pharmacist administered vaccines. Additionally, Healey is spearheading a
multi-state public health collaboration across the northeast to uphold vaccination, disease surveillance, and emergency preparedness efforts as federal support declines. Um, our public health nurse started administering flu vaccine on September
22nd. Um, and if anybody would like or needs to get a flu shot, please contact Linda to schedule an appointment. She can be reached at 50863610:30. Thank you. I just had a a curiosity question on the
uh the barn inspections and the the universe of P12. Is that has that grown or shrunk since we've started? Uh well, it's gone up since we started a number of years ago. It's gone way up. That's what I think. Yeah. It struck me
because I don't I remember I don't remember us uh well not us but the the town having like more than 200 farms that triggered farm inspections. I think in 2018 we had under 170. Yeah. And now we're up to 212.
That's good news. Um okay. Uh director approved plans. Yep. Thank you for moving me along here. Uh okay. Yes. Um report on those. Yep. So we have a four bedroomedroom new
construction on a 94,162 ft lot on Wildberry Way for Riley Homes. Um this has been through Concom. We have a four bedroomedroom new construction on 27 acres on 225 Forge
Road for a David Mendes. This one's also been through Concom. We have a three bedroomedroom new construction. Uh I'm sorry, I'm going to skip over that one. We have a um four
bedroomedroom repair on a 21,200 ft lot on 843 Main Road utilizing a stone bed. This one's been through Concom and this one will require a deed restriction. We have a fourbedroom upgrade on a
314,939 ft lot on 1175 Main Road for an Alex and Rachel Montero. This one's been through Concom. We have a two-bedroom new construction on a 17,293t
lot on 175 Plymouth Boulevard for a Randy Gford. This one has also been through Concom and will require a deed restriction. We have a four bedroomedroom new construction and 229 Gford Road for Emanuel Pachico on a 73,578
ft lot. Also through Concom already and a four bedroomedroom upgrade on uh 765 Division Road for Michael Valley on 74,52T lot. It's also went through.
[Applause] Okay. Um so for the ones you've listed, we'll skip over the banana street one. Um um any questions or concerns? We have two that require deed restriction. There's a
type on that sheet. So just to be clear, 843 Main Road and 175. No, I have no questions. So, um, I move that we endorse the director approved
plans for Wildberry Way, 225 Forge Road, 843 Main Road with a four-bedroom deed restriction, 17 uh 175 Main Road, 175 Plymouth Boulevard with a twobedroom
deed restriction, 229 Gford Road, and 765 Division second. Motion made and seconded to approve the director approved plans. All in favor? I thank you.
Uh all righty. Um moving on to minutes, September 3rd. I have no issues. I'm sorry. Okay. So I move that we approve the minutes for September 3rd, 2025. Second.
All in favor? I see. Thank you. Okay, we have no appointments. We can move on to other business. Um, first item is opioid settlement funds, the administration and oversight of
proposals. Um, so would you like to lead off the discussion? You know, I'd like Matt to lead off the discussion because Matt had had a meeting, Olive and he had a meeting. Could you talk about the meetings that you had? Sure. So, um
Okay. So, on September 23rd uh on Tuesday, last Tuesday, Olive and I met with uh Liz Why Not, she's the senior program officer at Rise Massachusetts uh to discuss the feasibility of splitting the funding.
in this case uh potentially for Olive's position allocating 20 hours per week to be funded by the PHE grant and the remaining 20 hours by the opioid settlement funds. So after you know explaining this to to Liz, she confirmed
that this arrangement made perfect sense as it does not involve the supplanting of funds and directly supports the cleared need for assistance in managing the settlement funds. She also clarified that there are no restrictions preventing the use of these funds to support either part-time or full-time position.
Uh so following her recommendation, we spoke with Cheryl Spara, the senior attorney at MAHB, who agreed that this was a sound and appropriate approach for the youth uh the funds. So we we just wanted to clarify, you know, there's
been some questions about supplanting funds. Can we split somebody who's already part of an existing funding stream? Is there a cap on how much funding can be used for administer administering and how much you can pay somebody and according to the senior um
program officer at Rise Massachusetts there there is no caps and there's no restrictions on that stuff. Okay. So the um the just to give the context um we had discussed this earlier with a um
possibility of the board of health taking on the responsibility of sort of oversight and management in collaboration with the opioid um funds committee. um given that you know it's sort of a it's a board of health issue
and and that but um it is um the board of health has already overstretched and overworked um the staff and that it's just not feasible for us to take that on without staffing support for for
the admin because I know personally from secondhand from my husband who's a volunteer with a town committee and is the treasurer and it is a lot of work. So, um uh it's just not something that
um the board of health can take on without staffing support. So, that sounds like what what you've received is guidance that it is um allowable expenses, it's feasible. So, um whether that's under the board of health or
under the select board and whether the committee wants to recommend using some of the funds that way that is really sort of now I think in the committee's hands. Um how how you think the committee wants to proceed? I there's some resistance.
Um I think there might be more support than resistance, but there's some resistance. I wanted to have enough information to share with the committee about what's been done, what what are our options.
Um, and so I think that one of the things that I'm clear about as the chair of the committee is I don't want to report to two masters, right? I want one entity to report to. And so the I think the big challenge is if if this is
something that the committee um thinks is a um a reasonable use of funds having someone but see for myself the role that Olive would take would just not be to manage um but would also be someone who would be leading and directing education
and outreach and being the community liaison between other agencies to bring in services to um uh to create um something within our town. So her role wouldn't just be to manage the funds. It
would be to create and to collaborate with other entities that are already in place to bring to Westport um to provide um some pro and and also to help identify other programming that could be brought to us. Um it's a lot of work for
committee members. Val has been doing a lot of work in doing the surveys and trying to work with say star to survey the uh I think it's about 70 people who live in Westport who are receiving um support through Star for medication
treatment for opioid um substance use disorder. So so there are people in the community that could benefit for perhaps for having something closer to um in the community. So, I mean, my vision for it is um somebody who's going
to coordinate it all, but also somebody who's going to actually create some programming um um uh whether it's Oliver or someone else, but I I I see that person as not just managing the money, but creating something as
Yeah. I mean, either it's sort of a part-time um clerk kind of position or it's a more comprehensive I think that the so so my understanding um as being on this committee is that the committee is willing to take some
responsibility for oversight for programming like to to evaluate how things are going with how the money is being so forth. Um but um you know the the person who would be in that capacity
and role is going to be the one who's actually going to be doing the um uh you know the nitty-gritty administrative piece to it. I I think it makes sense to have both the um nitty-gritty administrative and the programmatic component that you're
looking for in one person. All of this well situated because that's her area of expertise. She's the one who spearheaded all of this too. She said the passion, right? Um the the experience and the passion needed to help move this forward. I feel like we're stuck right now. We've
created an RFP. We don't have it clear on who's going to manage. And so here's money that's set up to help people that is not being used and I want to move this forward. And if this is what will help move it forward, then that's what I'd like to do. But it
is a decision I think for the board to make and whether or not you want to support and take on that responsibility. Well, and I'm on the board so I'm really in a pickle because I, you know, I I I would like to have one master, one one place where the committee can work with
an entity and um not have to get approval from the select board and work with a board of health. Absolutely. I agree. It it is much more it would be much more effective to be under one or the other. Um, so, so I was just so in a in a different
context. Um, you know, you're you're chair of the board and you have an organization and that the title that, you know, jumps to, you know, my mind is like kind of an executive director that reports to the board and has the kind of
We're not a board, we're a committee. A committee. We're an advisory committee. Okay. Yeah. You're chair of the committee. I'm just saying it's kind of in a different in a different context. It's like you are um creating you know we've had these you know discussions
before in the context of personnel decisions which is what do what what do you what's the title for this position right and how does that match up with the duties of the that you're describing so and I don't know how that fits into what
um you know what the source of funding is. Um, you know, the different sources are, but it seems like your expectations for or you know, or desires for what this
person would do, you know, would be um kind of a program director reporting to the committee, not clerical position. So, if you know it's not clerical, then it's and Um, you know, and
I I I think I don't necessarily have to go back to, you know, to people, but just to uh, you know, make it clear when, you know, Olive or when we're talking
about that position, you know, we would have a title that we were comfortable using. Um, I I take your point, Phil, and I I think the point I was trying to make is it's possible to se separate the sort of
more clerical function from the program management function, right? But it's probably not there's not enough. It's not, you know, it's better, more efficient to have it all under one roof. Um, I think Olive would be a great candidate, but I don't I'm not trying to
say um the board of health will only take this on if Olive is the, you know, I I would recommend it, but I don't, you know, it's I think the committee needs to um figure out what it, you know, what
it is comfortable with. Um and um so this a scenario what you're looking for from us is do we endorse this proposal um of the board of health um taking on
the sort of the the um town design liaison role and from the select board um and you know what what would the conditions be to do that and I think It makes perfect sense to me. We have,
you know, sort of the it's in our wheelhouse more so than the select board. Um um but it can only come over to this board of health if there are that support staffing support that we
talked about. Um in my that's my opinion. Um I don't know the committee can decide they would prefer to keep it under the select board and then we have no role at all because I agree with you it should be one master um and the
select board can hire somebody all over or somebody else if they would like to keep it under their purview. Um I I'm not clear what the select board uh wants. So um so I think you can make
your committee can decide you know are you willing to um you know is there a majority support for the staff having a program manager resource person um and if so um you know
um with the support of the board of health we you could recommend the select board that it be transferred but the select board would have to vote to say we're handing it over to the board of health including the funding control of the funding.
Yes. I mean sort of all under one roof. Um so um so step one is is the board of health comfortable with that uh recommendation and I would personally say yes. Um uh we would endorse that assuming you
know the control and the funding and the staff ability to hire staff comes with that. Well, if if the select board voted to have it move to the board of health and that the board of health would be responsible for administration and
decision making around where the funds go. Um then it would be up to the board of health to then decide how and who would be hired like how
it would be that right based on recommendations from the committee. Yeah. Um, but if the if the select board said it's okay for the board of health to um manage
the RFPs but not control the funds, what's the board of health stand on that? I think it's all or nothing personally. I mean it it it just it gets too it does for me. I mean because I don't it's reporting with two masters again and I it's it is enough to work with an
entity um but then having to report to the select board I mean it may be something that they want to report from the committee quarterly about how the money is being spent so they can communicate within the the you know to the public which I have
no problem doing that but I just don't want to have to go to the select board to get permission and then you know with the board of all to do the same. Um, and there's and then there's the issue of whether or not I should actually be the chair of the committee if if it
comes to the board of health. So I have that's that's another piece that has to be addressed. But I um uh so so I if if you are all okay after I speak to the committee and let them know and the the committee says it's
fine for the board of health they recommend that then I will go before the select board and say the committee recommends that all the funds and the management of the funds um go to the um the board of health to authorize and
manage those funds. funds. Um, and then it no longer becomes a decision the select board has to make. Right. Yeah. No, I think I think that that I think that that all makes sense. And um
I don't know if it What jumped in my mind when you were talking about it is um is this a irrevocable transfer or could at some point the select board say, "Oh, you
know, we're not happy with the way this is working out." or it's it's such a natural progression or it's such a natural solution because of the person that we have and the way we
can split that person's time and everything and you're going to be getting these funds for a long period of time till 2038 and we don't have to spend it all by 2038. We can take that money and try to spread it out, right? Yeah.
So, um, yeah. So, it, you know, it it could be for a variety of reasons that it no long it, you know, it don't no longer doesn't make sense or that there are differences
that can't be resolved and then we just have to address them at that at that point in time, you know. Um so um I think it's an elegant solution uh and but it may be that are members of
the select board who still want to feel that they have what's the right word you know I don't know uh a say or something to they always have a say everybody in the
community has a say that's why we've been doing the surveys is that this is money that everybody has input into how it's going to get used. Yeah. Um and the whole thing is not town money is not on the table. I mean right and so you know that's important as far
as the select boards feeling of responsibility because it's not town money that is you know pay for this position. Yeah. It's not tax money. It's a settlement fund. Yeah. Yeah. So, but anyway, that's just my two cents. So I I would I
would I would support making the presentation to the select board and I think let me just formalize it into a motion that the board of health would endorse the proposal to um take responsibility for the opioid management of the opioid
funds in conjunction with the committee on the condition that um you know it has it's has the respon responsibility and authority to um uh disperse the funds as
the committee recommends and um uh and and the ability to um hire program manager support staff for for the program. Um and if the select board is comfortable with that um you know so that's that's my motion. Let me just
stand. Is there a second? Oh, second. All in favor? I I Okay, so you You've got what you need. Anything else we need to discuss to this? I don't I don't think so. I don't think
so. I I I appreciate the support of Matt um and the board. Um I also have a meeting on Wednesday with two representatives from DPH um the municipality person and the
person who's in charge of all just to clarify. Okay. um about the role that um Olive or someone else might play in helping with this process. So just to uh further support what Matt and Olive are already found out.
Great. Okay. I mean just to postcript is just to say that you know this problem you know opioid addiction I mean is is a real public health problem in Westport. The data shows that. Yes. And it just makes so much sense
that you know the board of health u you know should be the leading voice on this. Yes. And um just as an aside to that um we've never had a narcotics anonymous meeting in town, but apparently someone has posted that they're starting one um
on October 15th and it's going to be at the uh Graange um at 6:00 p.m. Um I can hold this up. Um I don't know anything about who's starting it, but they are anonymous groups. are usually by started
by people who um have struggled with substance use. Um and so um if anybody in the community was looking for a narcotics narcotics anonymous meeting in town um this one will be starting on October 15th.
Thank you very much. I know you've worked uh very many hours umly on this and I really appreciate you taking the initiative to move the town forward. Otherwise that money would have s sat there. But I also want to say that the only I
won't say the only reason but the big reason I did this was because of Olive and because of talking with Olive and hearing Olive's experience working on Rhode Island around this issue about understanding about the the settlement funds and how they could be best
utilized. Um Olive is the one who spearheaded this and has inspired me to get involved this way. Great. Well, thank you for that vote of confidence in all of them. I appreciate um appreciate that as well. Thank you.
Okay. Um moving on. Um the next regular meeting of the select board of health would be on a holiday. So we are looking to on Columbus or just people's day or whatever we were calling it nowadays. Um, uh, we need to reschedu that and I'm
looking at if that's possible to move to the 14th, which would be a Tuesday of October. Um, you mean the um, the following day? Yes. Okay. Is that conflict with uh,
Yes. Well, I I I I only say that because right now our day uh the concom meetings are paired up. we you know are
so Monday and Tuesday are the days and there was a period of time where they were um I had board of health one week and concom um and then you know at various times
holidays mess that up so I don't you know so obvious and solution to me would be to push our meeting on the 13th Mhm. to the 20th to the Monday.
Okay. So that then I would be back on the alternative schedule. Um that is possible until the next holiday comes around, you know. But um the question then is do we have like
the following meeting a week later or two weeks later? We throw everything off, right? I wouldn't be able to come on the 20th cuz I'm in at a D thing in Mansville all day. Okay. And it doesn't get out till uh doesn't get out till 4:00. Oh, no. It gets out at 2:00. But
yeah, but I thought that was on the Wednesday. That's the tabletop exercise with emergency preparedness. Oh jeez. Okay. Um that's on the 15th. Well, I have already we already
indicated that the the um home burial people could come for their hearing um on the on the 14th. I didn't say confirm the 14th, but I just said since we um Okay. Not this meeting. So, um we could push
it till later in the week. I know Matt can't do the 15th. We could do Thursday the 16th. Will you buy me dinner in between? Otherwise, I'm going to be really grumpy comes around because that's a cop's problem, not your guys. Yeah. But Well, I we can manage
something. Um have a meeting catered. Yeah. Um Thursday the 16th is is Okay. We do have a climate resiliency meeting at 5:00 that day.
Yeah. Right. Unless we met earlier. I'm going to leave the Phil. It's either the 14th at 4. I'll buy yourself. I'll be here. I'll be I'm too
16th at um earlier than 5:30. So 3:30. [Music] This is the They have a wedding that Oh, okay. So, nope. Matt can't do that. Um, okay. So, we're at the 14th at 4 or
the 20th at 4. Right now, you're not here on the 20th, right? Oh, that's the man's. Sorry. While going on meeting wise and stuff. The 14th or the 21st. What time is your your meeting for um
seven? Oh geez. We'll be done. No. No. I know. Yeah. We We'll figure out a dinner plan. No, I'm only teasing. I was really teasing. Yeah. No. Are we Are we okay with Sure. the 14th and and we'll try and get on a
different schedule. It's I mean, we we could holiday we, you know, maybe start an hour early so it gives Phil more time in between if that's help you, Phil. Yeah, that probably. So, we'll do that at 3. 3:00. It is
on Tuesday the 14th. Okay. Do we have to vote? Said we have to take a vote. I move that we um um change our Columbus Day meeting to October 14th, which is a Tuesday, at 300 p.m.
Second. All in favor? That's unanimous. Boy. Okay. Let's hope future scheduling is not so challenging. Um although one I did want to talk about um a working meeting which I had thought
about doing on the 20th but obviously um that won't work anyways. Um so uh um while we're talking on schedule um we have various topics of proposed
regulations uh the unknowns project etc etc um that are worthy I think of another working meeting um the week of the 20th not on the 20th
Are there other days that people could have a working meeting? Could be 10:00 in the morning. It doesn't have to be, you know, sort of 4:00. Maybe it's better in the morning. We're fresher. Any day but Tuesday.
Okay. Um, how about Wednesday the 22nd? Should be okay with me. Wednesday usually. Yeah, Wednesdays work out best because the office scores on Wednesday. So, okay. So, um, how about 10:00? Is that okay?
Okay. So, working meeting. What day was that on again? Wednesday. Wednesday the 22nd. 10:00 a.m. 10 a.m. Um, and we have some time before then um for agenda items, but right now I'm I
believe we want to talk about there's some discussion about storm water. I don't know if you're ready about wellreg um the unknowns. Um and well, we're ready with the septic rag revision. We just have to schedule
that hearing probably for the 29th. Um, so but if there are other topics um you want to include, we still have time to add them to the agenda. So just let me know. Okay.
For some reason, you had told me we couldn't do the 22nd. Are you sure? Well, it's still up in the air. I week I don't know yet. Um, but I'll see what I can do. H that's I'm sorry I forgot about that I had said
um so then then the next window of opportunity is November 3rd, 4th or 6th assuming we don't want to do a working in the same week we have a regular meeting. I'm confused. All right. So we have our
regular meeting on the 14th and the regular then the next meeting is the 27th. Yep. So the question is um working meeting um I'm going to withdraw the 22nd from the table.
Oh okay. um because that has a potential conflict which means then we are looking at um November 3rd, fourth or 6th 3rd, fourth or sixth.
If it's a if it's a day meeting it really it doesn't really matter very much to me like a morning meeting. Okay, I can do the third but not the second. Let's see. Okay, the third would be on Monday at 10. Is that
Or I can do the the Thursday. The fourth is election day if that matters. Yeah. Um let's Is the third okay film? Let's just Yeah. That's another month away. So the third the third the third for the month.
Sure. Okay. Sure. That'll be fine. All right. We've got that. So, the third at 10:00 a.m. Okay. All right. Moving on. Um,
next agenda item is the proposed um budget. Yep. For board of health. Um, I'll let Matt do the presentation. Um, and I have a proposal
for a change. Um, which I'll discuss after Matt presents. Okay. So, um, start with the board of health. Um, so we were asked to, uh, look, you know, we're in budget season and get these submitted over to the town
administrator. Um so for the board of health on the personnel side it's just a 3% increase where appropriate. Um and on the expense side it's just all level funded from uh last year. So nothing you know nothing crazy here at the board of
health for the proposed budget. Um transfer station on the personnel side it's 3%. I've also wanted to request an increase in the overtime which last this year we have a $2,000 budget. Um I'd like to increase
that to 4500 for ne for FY 27 just because we're experiencing longer wait times. Um at the facilities they're taking in more trucks, bigger trucks, and we're stuck in line for two hours sometimes. What happens is that just backs us up and we get less runs in
before the end of the day. So on occasion uh throughout the year it's likely we're going to have to ask staff uh you know specifically Colin to come in and drive and run make runs on Tuesday or Wednesday or work late you know on particular days which you know
kicks in overtime. Okay. Uh then on the expense side of the transfer station, vehicle repair, we've already pretty much expended our budget on vehicle repair uh already this year and it's only going to be the beginning
of October because everything has gone up so high in price, labor, parts, etc. Um so our vehicle repair budget for FY26 is 9,000. And I'd like to kick that up to 12,500 for FY27 to cover those
increased costs. Professional services, I believe, uh, this came over to me highlighted in yellow from Jim. Um, probably because he has questions about why we need it. And why we need it is when Colin goes on vacation or has sick
days, etc. Um, we may have to call in an outside contractor to haul our stuff. Highway department is an option. Um, but we have to pay them automatic double time for anytime they do that for us,
which is digs into the top piece of the budget quite a bit, especially if it's, you know, one week's worth of runs could be $2,000 or more. And really just dig into the personnel side of the budget. So, I'd like to keep the professional services as an option. Um, and not to
mention the highway department's really busy. They have like four or five guys and they have their own stuff to do um to, you know, sometimes it's not easy to get one of them to come make our runs during the day because they got their own highway department stuff to do, work to do. This line item still includes the
landfill monitoring. No, the landfill monitoring is the the next item down. Oh, okay. Sorry. Yep. And that's just going to be level funded. So, um, so anyways, that's where I stand on professional services and the recycling program. You know, we're
paying out quite a bit more to, um, get rid of our recyclables, plastics and, etc. Sometimes cardboard, sometimes not. However, we're taking in more than we ever have. Last year was, you know, a good year. This year is a good year on
return for metals and all of that. So even though we're asking for $6,000 more to cover the cost, we are getting it back and it is going back into the general fund. Okay. So it's not like um you know I think it I think we're getting back more than I'm
asking for. So that's transfer station. Any questions on that? Okay. Okay. So, animal control. Um, again, the $30,000 is highlighted. It came over from the town administrator
that way. Um, so, but it's just 3% across the board um for increase on that. On the personnel side, the 30,000 is cuz we haven't hired anybody, but I do have somebody starting next week, somebody with some experience going to hit the ground running. He's going to
I'm starting him because he's coming through a staffing agency as temporary probably for a week, week and a half. I'm confident that um he'll be able to hit the ground running. It's just I want him to learn our system and you know what how we're going to do things um how we do in Westport.
And then I would make a request to the board. they'll, you know, share his resume that we um bring him on as the um on call part-time animal control officer working for the town, not through a staffing agency, and bring that by the select board
because they have to make the final decision on that. Okay. Um, then moving down to the expenses, the only thing I've asked for an increase in is vehicle repair and maintenance uh to go from 1,000 to 1,800 just because
like the same thing with the transfer station truck. We have uh expenses, labor cost, parts, and that truck is uh 11 12 years old now. And trying to getting the parts is hard. They're often expensive. and if we can
even get the parts at all and and the labor rates are through the roof. So that's my proposed budget on animal control with the exception of I have a capital improvements committee meeting on Wednesday
because I really do think the best option here is to get in is you know the animal control vehicle like I said is 11 12 years old. It's showing its age. It has is it has issues. you know, if it's not the air conditioner not working and it breaks or it's leaking uh around the
back door, it's not very good to transport the animals safely. Um I think it's time that we um invest the town invest in a new vehicle. Um so I did get an updated quote on the new vehicle um which I can present to the committee
on Wednesday. Okay. So um Okay. Um so the um proposal I wanted to put on the table and I don't have it fleshed out but um we have in the past had an alternate budget where
we've asked for additional staffing support um clerk a part-time clerk um um because uh the staff are already um you know overwork hard to keep up. We
each of us in our own way do a lot of um clerical support in essence um like I do the updating the septic database every two weeks and you know it's stuff that really somebody else should be do a staff person should be doing but you
know there's no way um so I'd like to uh explore if the board would support requesting an additional part Yes, sure. Yeah, we know that we I mean we know how
things have been stretched in the amount of um work that the staff are doing. So, yes, we're faced with a potential, you know, at some point in time it's inevitable that we, you know, somebody's
going to move on and we're going to have an open spot in the board of health. Um, and that would be disastrous in a couple of ways if it just happened and we had nobody that had, you know, benefit of learning all that that person does. Um,
to step into the position cold turkey, it just be a disaster for for a while. Um, so it makes sense in that regard. Um, it makes sense to help us with the current workload and we can start maybe delegating some of that work to a
part-time clerk. uh because in this age of electronic documents like uh our electronic files for the septic systems and now we're trying to do this electronic permitting software uh
and it's been it's been a challenge to try to to get everything up and running and you know convey and teach the staff. Um it's just makes you know you in the long run it'll make things more efficient and easier but that's you know long off into
the future it you know so um so um it sounds like there's everybody supporting that can um I would request that you um develop a um I know you've done it in the past so it should be
pretty straightforward um a proposal to add a part-time clerk to the um board health budget. Um, and we'll be happy to support that. So, I I would develop a part uh budget B with the addition of a part-time clerk.
I can do it two ways. I can do 19 and 3/4 a week hours a week, which would keep it under the benefited role, which would probably hinder us in hiring anybody. or I could go in add to 20 21
hours a week, but it would be a benefited position. Um, so I could do a budget B and C or I could just show it both ways on budget B. Um, I know that we've gotten push back having been with you before the finance
committee about keeping positions under 19 75 or whatever it is. um uh with but but we have so many challenges recruiting qualified people
um that I would endorse um getting the benefit. So 202 hours a week or whatever the you know sort of something that would um give us a better chance of getting some
fighting shot. I I don't have a strong feeling about it. Just from everything you hear about the labor labor market, I would say that the labor pool for qualified persons
might have increased the period of time that we have been looking. So, but it's always the I mean there's but Westport because of our low tax rate of salaries for 10 employees are
at the low end and You know, it's a struggle to recruit. We've Oh, I know that. Yeah. We've we've you know, animal control the for the collaborative. It's just it's so time consuming. Yeah. Yeah. No, I'm not I I
I just make a suggestion that maybe we don't develop a budget B and just do a budget A include that and push it forward because if it's I'll if it's shot down on if it's shot down when I meet with the town administrator and then the select board and the finance
committee then it's likely we you know somebody will have to stand up a town meeting and fight for it. So, I just think we just include it in one budget and it makes sense to to to do it that way rather than propose an alternative budget. If this is what we you know, this is what we really need, then we
should just move forward with it. Um, I'm fine with that. Um, uh, when do you have to submit the budget, Bob? I think the 10th, I think the the email said. So, okay. So, that's before our next meeting. So, could we vote to support
this budget with the addition of a part-time clerk at how many hours a week? 22 hours a week. Um I I mean, I really hadn't um I have to look at the union pay rates and figure out what's going to work. I just can't make up a pay rate.
No, no, I understand. Um but um I think we would be comfortable with you getting the right pay rate for that. [Music] Okay. Okay. So, a motion has been made and I'll second seconded to uh support the proposed
board of health transfer station and animal control budgets with the addition of um a part-time clerk for the board of health at 22 hours per week. And I mean shoot high and see what they Yeah, maybe they'll let us have some non
benefit and we can spin our wheels and try. But let's try it. I think it's important to try and you know to support this existing staff who are getting burned out.
Um all in favor? All in favor? Unanimous. Thank you. Uh okay. Ward member updates. I think I've done mine. Yes. Oh um let's see. Um
well the um the you know the Pineriidge case the ZBA entered a final decision um last week maybe week before that and um you know it incorporated
what um we are you know we had been proposing the requirement for denaturation the what I'd call the compromise condition regarding um the uh per rate that would be
acceptable. And so, um, and then Matt can kind of go into the details, but Matt informed me that, um, they went out, the applicant went out to with the board
representative, um, to test the site that was the site they proposed in their plan. and kind of as anticipated um you know the soils were
not um qualified either under our regulation or the uh or title five, you know, to you know to act uh as a you know as a
leashfield. And so, you know, they were extremely non-compliant, uh, which kind of was consistent with the fact that they had failed early in February of 2025. And,
um, and so, uh, the so they acknowledge, you know, whatever, you know, the ball is in their court to figure out, you know, what they're going to do. Um um Matt conveyed to me that John, you know, said that it was his and it was
his perspective that the soils it's either the soils or the groundwater. Either the soils are too tight or the groundwater has risen despite the general drown condition uh uh drought conditions that
it may be even more difficult for them to find a site further upland so to speak. So we'll have to see what they have to see what they come up with. Anyway, that's that's the status
on that. Um, and then, uh, Matt and I have been working independently on the revising the stormwater rag. And so I said some thoughts and a really
rough draft over the map and um, we have a plan to meet next week to put our heads together to see what we might do about it. Okay. Um, so I think that would certainly work for the working meeting. Okay. You know, as to, you know, what the
proposals are. And I think it's I'll just speak for myself because I tried to do some research about it. It's just one of those situations, you know, where there are these kind of quantitative standards, but
uh because none of us were involved in the formation or the drafting of the regulation, you know, it's really hard to say, you know, why' they pick this number of square feet or why did they pick this percentage of, you know, the
land being in or out of, you know, so Um, so I got a little bit of perspective, you know, on that. But, um, I can still I think we can still, you know, shrink, you know, shrink the size down. And I I think that Matt and I are
more or less on the same page on most on most of the things. So, we'll see. I'll send it over my draft over to you when I go back upstairs so I don't forget again. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, we have we have a great Well, thank you for your Yeah. dedication to the topic. But just as
long as we can, we're trying to keep it simple and streamlined um because we can't afford complexity at this point. Yeah. I should say one of the things that I did was to um go back and look at
the plans that we had required um uh you know a stormwater submission stormwater submission on and it there was this really large I forget what the
number was but let's say that there was a dozen in 2023 and then there was like two in 2024 and then there was only one the last time I looked in 2025. So,
um just to keep it in that, you know, perspective in that perspective. Well, sorry. No, no. I mean, that's what at least that's what the when I asked Nancy to track him down based on the fees kind of thing. That's what the list you came up with.
So, I just I didn't mean to interrupt, but I just wanted while you're on the topic, just there's the full storm water plan, which is a trackable by the fee, right? But then there's the expedited which goes on the septic plan with no fee. Yeah. So, depends on how you're tracking that.
We had had one, it could have been two dozen expedited ones. Yeah. So, but you wouldn't know that cuz we don't track them by a fee. Right. Right. Yeah. So, yeah. I mean that didn't that that doesn't say that we shouldn't go ahead and do with this, you know, it's a good idea to to do it
because there is a um but uh yeah, and I can't think of anything else that Okay. Um just to be we voted on the budget, but should we vote on the capital improvements request to endorse? Yeah, we should.
Okay. Should I I could go into more just you know more detail if you want. interest of time. Um yeah. Um you've seen this proposal and you have an updated cost estimate um based on
quotes, right? It just um I guess yeah just proves my point about the rising costs of everything. Um description is says 2014 for van transit van. That's what we have now.
Oh, okay. Okay. Okay. Replacing that 2014 van. Yes. Got it. Maybe you could take a picture of the current van and show how decrepit it is. Well, yeah, I will do that.
Okay. Um, and the revised cost estimate. So, the revised car, I know I put I listed 60,000 on the that request, but the quote came in a little bit higher. Um, I came in at um
79 79 uh 3377. And that's because the box that outfits the back of the truck was nearly 18,000. But it's a necessary. We need it. Yeah. um
to hold animals. Correct. And this quote came from, you know, I went on the the state bid list and and went with the Colonial Municipal Group. So, it's not like I just solicited a quote from some dealership. Right. Okay. So, um I would recommend a motion
to um endorse the capital improvements request without moved. Second. All in favor? I. That's unanimous. Okay. Um just one quick note on um board member updates for me. Um is um I met with the couple
who wants to do the home burial on their property, review the uh plan roughly um you know there's um constraints um but it's in you know I think as good a placement as could be um
far you know more than 200 ft away from all the butter wells. to just their own well is 160 ft away um and more you know other resource areas. Um I spoke followed up with John Hoell at D in terms of the process once we have our
public hearing which will be at the next meeting on the 14th um uh unless they can't make it um but um um for the process to submit for us to submit our request to D. They're really primarily
concerned with public water supplies. There isn't one in the vicinity of this property. So I don't think it's it's you know it's just a performative thing with D and then it has to go to the select board for another hearing. Um and then
they can they can go on their way. So um but they've they've been thinking about this have planned all the elements that they need to for for um you know um both his death and eventually hers I guess.
Um so um they will um you know I think we've we've done our part in terms of uh developing the procedure and they're ready to move forward with getting approval. So we should see that at the next meeting. I just had a question just popped into
my mind. I mean, is there anything in like the zoning our are zoning the town zoning ribs that touches on this issue like locating of cemeteries or something like that? I could ask Michael. I don't believe I
mean zoning is not our perview. No, I know. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Not that I'm aware. I was also thinking about the process of registering some of the cemeteries. so that they're not disturbed. Um they have to record at the D at the
registry of deeds. Their their plan is the family members will it'll stay in the family. Um so um but that is an issue that they're aware of. Okay, that's it. Um, and I just wanted to say before the meeting, I just talked
with Matt a little bit about the dog sanitation um, rag, and I'm going to do some investigating of what other towns are doing and whether or not they've instituted bylaws um, or they have a specific rag. So, I'll start doing that research.
Great. Thank you very much. I forgot about that. Did you say dog sanitation? Dog sanitary dog rag. The sanitary dog. It's one of our rigs. Yeah, it is one of our rigs, right? Yeah. But we were That's one of the things that we were reviewing and I said I
would take that on. Okay. So, um so I can Right. I just met with Matt to see what he would like to see happen. I said I would do the investigation. I would like this to see it be a bylaw. Okay.
I thought you were saying that you were interested in adopting one and I said, "Gee, I thought I would have one. No, not currently. All right. So, if there's no further business, I move that we adjourn this meeting at 5:04 p.m. Second.
Thank you. All in favor? I Thank you. Thanks very much, everyone.