I pledge allegiance >> to the flag of United States of America >> and to the republic for which it stands, >> one nation >> under God, indivisible with liberty and
justice for all. >> Since this is a virtual meeting, I have to read the chair's announcement. This meeting is being held remotely in accordance with the governor of Massachusetts March 28th, 2025 order suspending certain provisions of the
open meeting law GL chapter 38 section 20 allowing remote and hybrid meeting options for public bodies through June 30th, 2027. This meeting is being recorded.
So the review the first item is some there's some okay the review of submissions first was is by the Westport affordable housing trust 300,000
uh the project manager is Leonardi Arai um the housing trust uh this will be passed over uh and brought to the next meeting Um, uh, Deborah and I have been working a
little bit with the, uh, housing production plan, and I think Deborah wanted to say something about that and the trust, the communications that we've been having with with, uh, Leonardi and Craig Dutra.
>> Sure. Um, when we read their proposal that I'm sure all of you saw and read, it just seemed like it was very uh rubber stamp oriented, not really specific in many ways and only a very
light nod to the production report that was just um accepted by the select board in October. And we thought that they really should embrace that production report and almost do their own business plan around it because there were so many ideas that were put forth in the
production report about how to tuck in affordable housing in different ways, not necessarily just one big project. So, we gave them some feedback about how they should approach their proposal and try to um address some of the strategies
that were outlined in that production report. And also the other piece that they had in their proposal was how they interface with residents using um certain funding. And to us, they they should have had a whole separate
dashboard for that piece of their proposal talking about how many do they serve, what's their capacity, how many unique people approach them in their in their role to service these residents that have um some sort of support from
the affordable housing trust. So, it was really lacking we thought in detail. So, we gave them a lot of feedback how they could amend their proposal and make it more meaningful and give us a real plan that we could talk about how they will
endeavor to put forth some new affordable housing. And specifically, the high school that is now being looked at again for affordable housing. They didn't address that very much except for one phrase in one sentence. So, those were the kinds of comments we gave them
back on their proposal and hopefully in December they're going to come back to us with a much more detailed business plan about how they approach increasing affordable housing in Westport. So >> we also um
said that the historic that the U CPC um has been pushing hard for this land acquisition uh for opportunities to 30 or more homes. Uh and we have we are now
thinking about maybe we should broaden that in connection with the housing production plan. Um because we see and they do too. They see a lot of opportunities uh there maybe smaller types of things
that they they can do. The other is uh with the housing authority Tim Tim Kaitton we suggested that they maybe they can work with the housing authority because there is some room there for possibil possibilities for some
development there. So, it's just general we're saying we're kind of opening up and uh gives them an opportunity to open up and make some more plans and they seem quite enthusiastic about it. Okay.
So, we'll pass on to the um this is a this is under the opaces of the Westport Youth Athletic Association um an application. You want to pull that up,
Tim? Application for uh $700,000 for three tennis courts at the WIA site. The WIA site we all know has a uh preservation
restriction on it for recreation which is very attractive. It was the first one that was done in the state actually. Uh and so any uh activities there has to be only recreation
activities on that property and it is uh supposed to stay there forever. So they can't sell it off and do something else with it. To us that was very important that we protect recreation
uh that has been majorly financed by CPA funding. So Martha Sullivan is here. She is the uh project uh manager. I think there's Emily Huffle and Ellen. >> Ellen Hagglin's with us. Uh Laura Nelson
is with us. Emily, as you mentioned already, >> um and that's a small subsection of the folks that are really interested in supporting this project. >> Martha, do you want to put anything up or do you want us to leave the
application up? I think the application is fine. Betty, would you would you permit me just to to make a a a brief statement about sort of how we got to this point? >> No, I'd like I'd like for you to do that. I just want to give you that choice. We if we leave up where just
leave it as it is now and then you'll make your statement. >> Yeah, I think that's fine. I think that's a good place to leave it. >> Okay. Go ahead. >> Okay. And so, thank you for letting us do that. uh we recognize that that's a that's a big number and we really wanted the commission to understand how we got
here and also kind of what time it is in the project. So um let me give you a little bit of background. Uh today as of September of this year based on an edict by the current school administration there are no publicly available courts
for tennis in Westport during normal school hours. And the thing we'd like you to understand is this is an a quite an abrupt change to over 20 years of past practice, resulting in about a 70%
reduction in days these courts are available during the school year. This change has eliminated the possibility of league or tournament play. It's reduced time for instruction that's creating tension among racket players as folks
compete for what is now very scor scarce court time. So for over 20 years there's been a collaboration between a group of private tennis tennis and pickle ball playing citizens and the town to make courts available for both public and
school use. It began over 20 years ago with the Diane B. Snider Tennis Organization. It's a private group of citizens who raised money for the refurbishment of the old tennis courts at the middle school and who continued to fund their maintenance. And it lasted
all the way through June of this year as we worked with Tom Elben, the previous superintendent. And in the spirit of that continued collaboration, uh Tom made the courts that are at the school available to the public when they
were not in use by the school. So up until June, actually up until September of this year, those courts were available um most for most of the hours uh that school was in session. We met with the current superintendent
to really understand the reasons for the abrupt change in policy and to offer solutions including Corey checks and required registration for court users. The superintendent has made it clear that is no compromise on the current
school position as it is a security issue. This is despite the fact that the library and its parking lot are in the same proximity to the school as the courts and are used by the public and by students. The bottom line is the tennis
courts are school property and they will there will be no public use of school property when when school is in session. So, I just want to be really clear that if these courts were town property or if they were as available as they had been,
we would not be seeking this funding. So, uh with that said, um we are where we are and the reality is what it is and we are we are pursuing a project now. Um and we have very preliminary information about that project. I'd like you to know
that the project has been endorsed by the recreation department who provides tennis and pickle ball instruction to the community and that the beginning statement in that letter is that that they enthusiastically uh support this project. We we um we
made that that um letter available to Betty and want to make sure that the committee sees that. Um to be really straightforward here, we're we're preliminary in the process. We do expect to continue to refine the budget and to build our sources of funding. So, we are
specifically requesting funding for three tennis/pickleball courts and fencing to be added to the Westport Youth Athletic Association complex. Um that that that is a complex that this committee has been instrumental in making successful and we
think it's a wonderful site. We continue to seek competitive quotes for this project. Um, at this point only one quote that we have covers the entire and that's one of the reasons that it's as high as it is. Um, as I said, we'll
continue to seek competitive quotes. So, I just want to close by thanking you for the opportunity to put in front of the committee. This is a project that not only ensures the vitality of the racket playing citizenry of Westport, but it really offers the opportunity to extend
the community use of the YAA complex. Um, so those are my preliminary remarks. Betty, I'm happy to answer questions about our proposals. We're here to get feedback from the committee. >> Did anyone else on the team want to say anything? Your team, Martha, do you
know? I think Ellen Ellen mentioned today when I talked to her that um >> this is Laura Nelson speaking. >> Oh yes it is. >> Um that the Council for Aging also
enthusiastically supports this endeavor. So >> because why why are they supporting it? because it's it's an healthy opportunity, you know, it's an opportunity seniors in the community to
remain healthy. Um, so and you know, they they right now are are they have a pickle ball court they're trying to create in their parking lot. >> So, okay. I think Tim has his hand up. Tim
Gillespie. >> Yeah. I'm going to try to talk without coughing on you. I have pneumonia at the moment. Um, but I just wanted to add that pickle ball, the interest in pickle ball in Westport has been growing in leaps and bounds. It's become a
phenomenon and I had no idea this thing was even a thing until a few years ago when people started clamoring for it. And one of the big issues with pickle ball is it makes noise that annoys people. And having courts near housing
and all that stuff is one of the big issues. And it's one of the reasons recreation has struggled trying to find a place where we could do this. And I had talked to Ken Sullivan a couple of years ago about whether we could put pickle ball up there. And he said,
"Sure." And so recreation was sort of gearing up to try to start something. And I think it's fantastic that this group has formed so that another project is driven by a private group, fresh new
faces providing energy towards helping out the town. And I think that this particular site couldn't be better. It's going to not affect anybody except people that are going to enjoy the sport. And uh I just wanted to say that
that this site in particular is really the place where it belongs. Tim, I following up um there is the going to be the development at the bsentennial playground
and that's also going to be very close to the new if they do the new um playground playground. And so I was wondering is there cooperation going on? I mean you you were thinking of pickle ball courts there. We were
we're going to be taking out the skate park and we're going to be doing some public deliberation on what we want to do with that extra space. It could easily hold several pickle ball courts, but again, we're we're dealing with the
issue of noise and whether it would be a factor and it it has to come out of a public process. And I think if this uh Westport Youth Athletic Project can get set and see how much it meets the needs. How many pickle ball courts
are we talking about here? >> This original proposal is for three courts. Let let me give you a little bit of background. In um in in doing the research on uh what are the economics around putting a court in place, what you find out is the largest slab that
you can put down is for three courts. Now, that doesn't mean you're limited to three courts. It means that you don't get a lot of scale of economy when you put down, you know, um four or five, you know, so it's it's a good place to start. Um you can always add on over
time, but for that reason, um we've we've scaled this at three courts. >> Yeah. And I I don't know my uh my son-in-law and other people that I am closely connected with do play pickle
ball and they go to Fair Haven and they go to other places and they have to sign up and there's such a demand for it. People waiting in line and they'll just go up there and sign up and play with people they've never met before just to so they can play.
>> I'm afraid three courts isn't going to do >> Yeah. Let me do something. >> Three courts per pickle. That would be six pickle courts. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Okay. >> You know, that's my fault. I said three courts. I was thinking tennis. >> Yeah. No, that's much better.
>> They end up being marked usually for both. So, you could end up with six uh pickle ball courts or or three tennis courts. >> Excellent. >> Morton wants to speak. >> Thank you. I had a couple. And I assume
we are reviewing for further investigation at a later meeting. Is that correct? >> Yes. Well, they'll come back in December. Yes. >> Yes, that's what I thought. And just a quick reaction, I don't have any problem with these ideas. I think the 700,000 is
a little hard. However, now maybe there's a program in the background that being developed for contributions which would take some of the heat off that but if so I don't think we need to answer the question and certainly we can consider this. I don't know where we end
up but uh maybe in the next hearing which I guess is December we would have all the in see what decision we want to make. Okay, Deborah.
>> Hi, Martha. On the on the uh proposal, you're looking at three tennis courts and six pickle ball courts because the pickle ball courts are within the tennis courts, right? So, >> right. >> Okay. So, you're saying that the economies of scale are in threes. So, if there's going to be expansion, you do
another three courts at a later date. It can't be one or two courts. It's three courts or nothing. So it's that's where you get your economy on the slab. >> Yes, this is it. >> Learn more about that. Um the other thing I did I sent you some things
earlier today just brief research I did about how to fund these kinds of projects and there could be some other grants available that um I hope you'll explore to try to reduce the >> commitment that CPC would have to fund
so that it's not 100% CPC money but other grants. And I know USA also does some grants if there's a public purpose kind of thing and education for kids. So there's different ways to approach, you know, getting a a group of funes and I
hope we can explore that more fully to get um get to the number 700 is an awful lot to have just the one project. So I agree with Hugh on that. It be good if we can have this reduced a little bit. Um, >> the other question I have, which is
unrelated to your proposal, is in general on the school tennis courts, are there lights there for night play? >> That's a good question. I'm going to ask my I'm going to ask my Yes, thank you.
>> There are lights. Okay. So, the time for play could be into the evening in the summer, early in the morning, I guess, if it's dark. Um, so if they would allow uh the use of those courts on a more um
global level, I mean, you could get quite a few hours of court time if there I don't know how often the kids practice in the high school and the middle school. It can't be that many hours. So, I want to explore that more fully, whether or not this school, the school
courts can be >> put to good use um by the community of tennis and pickle ball players. Just seems like they're not really playing ball, so to speak. >> Yeah, I I think >> before you respond, let's hear what what
uh Tim Kaitton has to say, and I'll get back to you to re you so you hear all the questions. Tim, >> yes. Uh, hi Martha. Um, Martha, my question being is is that at that $700,000,
um, do you expect that once you get into competitive bidding that would come down by 20% or something of that nature? >> Let me be really specific where I think there's room for improvement in the proposal.
Um so I I attached two quotes to the application. Only one of those quotes um provided both the base layer grading that needs to be done and the slab work that needs to be done and then the fencing around it. The other quote uh
provided the slab work which is a much more specialized work. When I was able to do an apple to apple on the slab work, the the first quote was overstated. And so there are a couple things that we can do. Number one, we need more quotes.
Number two, we can find somebody to do the base work that I think will be much less expensive. That's not exotic work. The site has already been dethumped. The level of grade that you have to bring it to is not highly precise. So to in
short, yes, I do feel that our quotes can be improved. I will tell you I I don't see it getting much better than maybe $500,000. So, you know, we're going to make it as good as we can make it. But I don't I don't want to, you know, if the answer
is, you know, at $500,000, this isn't viable, then we need to understand that because I'm not sure we have an answer um to get much below that. >> Thank you, >> Emily. Yes, it's been spoken to a little bit, but I wanted to point out that the um
part of the reason that the quotes are so high is that we are quoting post-tension concrete, which is significantly higher cost. And it seems that I understand now that the courts at the high school are deteriorating pretty
quickly and are in need of repair and we are um for that reason we're we're we're glad that we have been educated in going for this post-tension concrete uh added significantly increased price tag but
supports will last. >> Okay. John Bell. >> Uh, I >> Hello. >> Sorry, John. Betty. Ellen's had her hand up for a while. >> Yeah, I didn't think so. That's why I thought I'd tell you. Sorry, John. Go ahead.
>> You know, she has had her hand up, so go ahead, Ellen. >> Ellen, I don't see her. Yeah. >> Oh, I'm down in the corner. Alan Hegeland, thank you so much for uh for letting us present this and um thank you to Martha for
>> being our project manager. Uh the one thing we also haven't mentioned I I and I want to just put it out there. The Westport Youth Athletic Association and this field that they have made available to us will be fantastic for anybody,
not just pickle and tennis players, but also having access to the walking trail around it. By us going up there right now, I think it's going to bring more awareness and it's going to make the this property so much more useful friendly to everybody in Westport. I
mean, I have access to tennis courts down here, but that's private. Let's let's make this a community that people are proud to live in. >> Okay, back to John. >> Uh
the it it is a large number. So, my my concern is who's going to maintain this once it if it does get done? who's going to because I know with tennis courts and pickle ball courts, the net's going to come off in the for in the winter and it's it's just got to be maintained. So, who's what's the plan for that?
>> Yeah, I think that that absolutely has to be part of our fundraising. Um Emily made the point that we are very very intentionally selecting the the an approach that requires the least amount of maintenance. and we've done our homework
on this, you know, so um we're off looking at what those maintenance budgets are for similar quality of courts. It's quite low um compared to exa, for example, the asphalt-based courts, you know, that you see at the high school and so forth. So, I don't
want to pretend like it's zero. It's not zero, but we're understanding that piece of it and that's got it that has to be part of our fundraising. >> Mark, >> yeah, can you hear me? All right. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Sorry, I'm I'm having technical
problems here. My something happened. I couldn't get internet with my laptop, so I'm using my iPhone and uh >> it's okay. >> But anyway, um so thank you Martha for for all of your work. As has been said, you're you're doing a very thorough job
of this. I will only add one note of caution. Um, and and I think Tim will will concur with me that you have to be careful about when you talk about maybe you could save some money on the I think you
call it the base layer, but you that's it. I'm just going to say that that's very important that you get somebody who knows how to do it and compact it extremely well because otherwise later on the slab itself can start to crack if
you don't have proper compaction spreading and and compaction of the the base layer. So just a word of caution on that. >> No, super helpful. And we may come back to you to to just bounce some names off of you. >> Okay, glad to. Well, I think Ken Ken has
been through it all. >> He hasn't done a slab yet. >> I know, but he knows so many developers. Hugh Morton, >> we can't hear you. I was just going to say that the perfect solution seemed to
me which also I can't imagine could actually get done in the time frame that we're talking about would be have a club that either cooperates with leases from YWA that gives you a revenue source for
maintenance etc responsibility. It also gives you an ability to charge a membership to help finance this thing. I know that's pie in the sky. I know that organizing that knowing where you are in a month is highly unlikely but I just
mentioned it because otherwise etc controls there are a lot of people in town we know that are interested whether that translates into a a viable membership arrangement I have no idea I mention it only because
it seems theoretically it would fit very well So we understand that relisting it probably won't just go off. >> I think long term that's that's a good thing to shoot for. So thank you. >> So
there there is support for the idea and the project. Um the the income of the CPC is about 900,000 a year. uh this would be the at 700,000 would be
the largest project that ever has been done in one year by CPC and it also Martha as you all have recognized has no private support to it. Uh we you it it is we've
had three or four um in the last two years uh recreation projects and also this year the elementary school is coming in for a new
playground at the Matt Cumber school at 500,000. So uh you can see we have other projects that we have to consider. that this is going to be the first year that we've really had to um we're going to have to
say no to some or give less to some in order to give something to all. We have to we've never had to do that decision before. And part of it has to do that the costs are going up so greatly uh of
so many things. Uh projects that we used to be able to do uh are now much more expensive. So, um you have to like last year we had something we had um a senior
playing field but we gave 150 but the they also had a h 100,000 in a grant. >> So that kind of uh and and we're going to be probably having to ask the school to do that too to get grants. So, there's going to be uh different groups
out there trying to get funding for their different projects, >> right? >> It's not that the project is is not good or anything. It's that there's just the funding issue. >> Got it. >> And Hugh has something to say.
>> Uh I seem to be talking a paramount. I apologize, but it seems to me that not being able to fund it this year doesn't say it isn't a good project that might go ahead another year and then my my pie in the sky club arrangement if that
actually turns out to be viable. Then a year from now again Polyana but a year from now you have there's a structure of people who really are interested and there is a promise of funding to help support it coming up next year or even
another year may not the fact that we may not be able to fund it this year doesn't mean that it has to go away. Remember YWA was working for 20 years. I don't suggest that as a project as a goal but still some things that are good
ideas don't necessarily have to be in put into effect right away. >> You might say that probably Hugh you would remember this not everybody here would that uh the reason that CPC was
adopted in Westport really was the WIAA fields if you remember that that because that was the first project. So that was like 2002 and so since that time we've watched the WIA develop and uh having tennis courts,
pickle ball courts and all of that would be a very great addition to a wonderful spot. >> Exactly. And I knew before um before you came on, I was telling them that we have the um preservation restriction on that
property um that it has to remain in recreation so that the CPA funding is protected that way. Um it was the first in the state and it was WIA with help from the land trust that developed that
restriction. >> Yeah. So that's Do you have Would you like us to say anything else Martha? Um >> well I look the main thing we were looking for here we you know we recognize this is early in the process. We were looking for feedback. The
feedback has been really helpful. Um, I think at some point, and it's not tonight, just understanding what's available so we can understand how big the lift is if we want to try to get something in place, >> um, starting, you know, this this
spring, which is really when we would have to start, you know, to get the courts in place. Um, you know, and that that will tell us whether or not it can happen this year or to Hugh's point if we continue to to chip away at it in subsequent years. So I think at some
point just understanding gee what do we think an allocation could be for this project. >> It also given the positive response of CPC to this gives you some backup for fundraising.
>> It does. >> Um I and I think you could probably find some some funding to support uh this recreation. Tim Tim Gillespie wants to say something. >> Yeah. I mean, tonight, Betty, are we
looking to vote to move this towards the next meeting? >> No, we don't we don't have to vote. Remember, we we're discussing it. >> Um we we eventually vote to move it on to town meeting and we'll vote probably after we
see the other projects next month and they'll be probably be back. I we'll see. We'll discuss this. Okay. >> All right. And so we'll have all the projects to think about and then we make that decision. Yeah. I would suggest that between now and the next meeting,
I think it would be worth the committee that's running this project to uh to think about whether they want to come in for a lower ask and really seriously ponder a fundraising project like
150,000 and knock the number down to >> 550 or something like that. Um because I'd hate to see this thing have to wait another year. It'd be nice if there was energy to do fundraising, which is the worst thing in the world that nobody
wants to do, but a lot of people are very good at it. And uh so I don't know. It just seems to me that that might be something that you could consider. >> Tim, she said that they probably could get the total cost down to 500,000. That
was my understanding. Um even with quality. So then so it could if we had had some percentage of that it would be helpful impress >> I think it would be impressive to have them ask for less money than the whole
project is going to cost whatever that number is. >> Sure that's fair. Okay. Uh Deborah. >> Hi. Um so I also heard Martha say she's looking for an indication of the allocation. So that sort of working
backwards, how big will the lift be for the group to come up with the other funding sources? And I think that's a valid way to approach it. Otherwise, she's just coming back saying, "Well, maybe it'll be 500." But you don't really know that number yet. So it's unfair to ask you to come up with that
number when it might be more or less. I think if you're building your budget, you want to know what is the allocation from CPC potentially. Now, maybe that's over two payments. I don't know. Can we do multi-year commitments like we do with the affordable housing trust because they get they get an allocation
almost every year I think and they get keep building up their own reserves. I don't know if this project could span a two-year period and if that's what it's going to take then that's what it would take. So you know okay 200 this year 200 next year it's a total of 400. I'm just throwing numbers out. I'm not saying
these are the numbers, but if you know that's the potential commitment, either single year or multi-year, then you fill in the other blanks. >> Exactly. That would be really helpful. Deborah, thank you. >> One second, Martha. Deborah CPC cannot
make a two-year commitment. We only can make a one-year commitment. We can make we can make a statement that we will consider it next year, which is very helpful. We can't do a two-year. And the housing trust, it's an annual. It's not two years. We can't commit to that.
>> Each year they get whatever they get and they bank it basically. They didn't have a project to spend it on. So I I know it's not multi-year commit. >> Housing trust is different from every other project. >> Yeah. Got it. >> Tim Gillespie just and then I'll
>> one more thought. If if say the project goes to town meeting and town meeting votes it, what's the earliest date that they could likely actually have money available? I mean, if they're wanting to start in the spring, that seems a little tight based on what we normally can make
money available for these projects. >> July 1. >> If it's new funding, it's July 1st. If it's all funding, it's as soon as that funding is available, it's usually sometime right after the town meeting.
But usually we do for projects like this, we do part uh reserves. It I mean if looking at what people are asking, we'll it'll take all our reserves that again that's something that CPC has to think about and we have until January to
do that everybody. I mean, next meeting is December. We'll look at all of them and we'll pass them on to January. And in January, we make our decisions. So, the the second uh Thursday of
January. Okay. Uh I think Mark had a had a comment. >> Yeah, just quickly. And and I was going to uh also try to give Martha a little more guidance and Deborah uh jumped in
on that as well. Um but you know and at the peril of being a gross oversimplification here CPA monies are used essentially are spread out amongst three main buckets.
the open space recreation, community housing and historic preservation. So if, as you said a minute ago, Betty, we have a roughly a million dollars, you you might assume to be fair, I mean, it
it varies obviously from year to year, but onethird essentially if we could allocate a third to each bucket, uh that would uh mean about a little over 300,000 towards
recreation. I mean, so that's just a rough guideline and and there are a lot of variables, but that seems to be one way to look at it. >> Yes, we we're obligated to give 10% each year either as a project financing or
reserves to each of the three categories, open spaces with recreation, one category. Um, but we aren't required to do anything else. So, we're flexible to do that. And as I said, we do have uh
some um uh some funding uh in reserve. That's helpful. >> Is that helpful, Martha? I mean, anything else? >> It is, Betty. And yes, you know, so we recognize too it's hard for you until you get a better idea of what we really
need. Uh we did hear we did hear the ask, which is ask for less than the total project is, which means find some other sources. So >> absolutely. Yeah, >> that piece too that that I think was quite helpful. I think the notion of when does the money actually come is
actually really important for us too. This is a project where there's only a window uh I put that in the application because of ambient temperature restrictions. There's a very specific window um you can work in. So if you don't start by a certain day, you can't
have the thing here, you can't paint it. Uh and so that's a little bit the complexity that we'll have to manage as well. So just knowing, you know, once we know we have support, knowing when we would see those funds is going to be quite helpful. >> Well, I'll talk to the town accountant,
you know, again, it it it's not always very clear. >> Okay. >> It depends on how their their their funding is coming in, how many how their taxes are coming in. So theoretically
with reserves they're there but for some reason sometimes they put us off. I know that the affordable housing trust sometimes has to wait two or three months. So I we do our best but if you had some private funding at least you could start with that.
>> Sure. Exactly. And quite frankly we could probably get some money fronted if we knew that the money was coming for sure. Well, you'll know you would know only at town meeting of course May, >> early May, which is
>> which is early. >> Well, thank you very much. Um, we we'll work with you. We'll answer your questions. We'll try to get the superintendent to change her mind. >> Just see if we can't get the tennis
courts to not not be school property. If you can fix that, then I think we fix >> Yeah, that that's a that's a political decision. Uh but I don't think that that I thought a lot about that. I don't think that's going to to go. Usually it
goes the other way. >> Well, thank you very much. >> Thank you. Thank you committee for everybody who's come too. >> Okay. >> Good luck. >> All right. Thank you. >> Okay.
So, the minutes were distributed um September 11th, 2025. Uh is there any discussion or do I have a motion for approval of the minutes of September
11, 2025? Do I have a motion? >> I have a on page three, it says, Mr. Bell said the campgrounds are being considered. I think that was were being considered. So, I should read were and not uh they were. >> I can't hear Tim. Tim, you're you're not
talking. What did you say? >> Can Am I being heard? I don't know. Hold on. >> Speaking second speaking. Okay. >> Uh just It said Mr. Bell said the campgrounds are being considered for new
sports fields. I want to say I think I said we're being considered. >> Okay. Okay. >> At one time and then we realized >> they aren't still being considered. >> Okay. All right. >> They were considered. Okay. An amendment. Any other amendments, Tim?
>> No, I was just going to uh put uh put that in the form of a motion. >> A motion as amend to approve the minutes as amended by John. >> Yes. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Second by Hugh Martin. Uh, roll call
vote. Any more discussion? Roll call vote. Q. >> Hugh Morton. I >> Tim Gillespie. >> Tim Gillespie. I >> Tim Kaitton. >> Tim Kaitton. I >> Dale >> Dale Weber. I >> Deborah. >> Deborah Chief. I >> Mark
>> Mark Schmid. I >> John Bell. >> John Bell. I >> Betty Betty Slade. I That's unanimous. Thank you very much. Um, there was a letter from the historical commission. Could you put
that up? >> Yeah. >> This is just for information. Um, as you know, we approve the um, Halen Hall um, project and that hasn't changed at
all. There's no change as a result of the Westport Historical Commission's um uh approval of some changes in the um the entrance to the Do you have the Do you have it? Tim, are you there? Tim
Gillespie, the letter. Could you The letter? >> Oh, um yeah, it's Commission. >> It's after the minute. >> I don't remember seeing that. Hold on. It's there. >> It's in the meeting packet, too.
>> Yeah. Anyway, everyone everyone has seen it and I I'm just telling you that we receive >> Oh, it's in here. Okay. >> Yes. Yes. Keep on past these. >> Oh, I didn't realize all this stuff was here. >> Well, you have pneumonia. You're excused.
>> Oh, God. You sound wonderful. >> Yeah, I feel great. turning my mic off. >> It's You're fine. You're doing fine. Oh dear. All the way through that too.
Anyway, everybody's read the minutes. I mean read the letter. It doesn't change what we approve the amount of funding or anything. I just said this is for the record. Did you want to say anything Deborah about it?
>> As you know I missed that meeting. I was sick so I didn't attend that meeting but I did read it and I did uh talk to Garrett and um this letter just codifies what was discussed and it doesn't make any changes to the
>> um certificate that was already >> we really appreciate what the historical commission is doing. They're taking it very seriously uh looking at the projects. um um they have to put it on their agenda and take their time and they they send us
information. It's very very helpful >> and plans and plans are available kitwise developed uh very detailed plans if anybody's interested in those plans. The historical commission has a full set.
>> Okay. Are there any questions or All right. Uh the list of bills paid um there were two bills this month um for historic gravestone restoration. Uh
Laura Oliviera has taken over that project, the head of that project. Um we invite all of you to come and help us clean stones next year. And so for uh materials $3207
and then clerical expenses for our fine clerk, Maria Branco, $223.74. Do I have a motion? Are there any questions? Do I have a motion to approve? >> So moved. I'll make the motion to approve. >> John Bell.
>> John Bell. >> Second. >> Dale, I'll second. >> Okay. Roll call vote. Hugh. >> Hugh Morton. I >> Tim Gillespie. >> Tim Gillespie. I >> Tim Payton.
>> Tim. I >> Dale >> Dale Weber. I >> Deborah. >> Deborah Chely. I >> Mark >> Mark Schmid. I >> John Bell. >> John Bell. I >> Betty Slade. I That is unanimous.
Um no correspondence. Um any new business? Anybody have any questions? >> Uh, Betty, can you just tell us how far along you are with the cleaning of the gravestones? Are you Are you, you know,
like 50% of the way through or almost done or what? >> I don't I I Well, we've cleaned 120 thou 110,000. >> Whoa. >> Um, 10,000. I'm teasing. Um, I know that
there were uh tw there is about 12,000 stones just at Beach Grove, but when we say we've cleaned them, we've also cleaned some of them more than once. For example, the point >> uh we've cleaned them three times.
>> Um, we've gone but that's just spraying. Once you you spray them in cleaning, you just have to spray again. There are some small cemeteries we have not done in Westport, but we've done 10,000 and probably restored close to 400
stones, broken stones. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Slowing down because the two people who are responsible, Todd and Troy, have formed their own business and now they're working all over the area.
They're working privately, so they aren't taking as much time in the town. Next summer, I'm going to get after them to come and do a few things, but they've done major major repair work in the major
cemeteries, which is what we wanted them to do. >> Yeah. Thank you. And my other last quick question is, do you think for the next meeting you could someone could put together a uh a summary of how much
in how much in CPA funds have gone over I guess from the beginning of when when we started doing this to each of these three different categories, you know, the open space and recre or
maybe open space and recreation and housing and historic preservation. >> There is such a table on the CPC web page. >> It's all there now >> and it's it's it's in different forms. I
have one which is just a list of and without a date but a list of every project divided between the three categories. And then I have one where I put it together and have different categories
like uh community housing is one but then private uh historic projects, public historic projects. So that's all on the website >> and it's on the new website now. >> All right. But it's the one that just
gives a gross amount for each of those three categories or you have to add them up. I don't think I added them up for each. It It's easy to do if you look at the if you look at those because they I mean I could go in and check it out.
>> No, no, you don't. I don't want to make you do any more work. >> That's a good idea. That's a good idea. Why don't you do it and tell us? >> I thought you said it was a good idea. >> All right, >> Betty. I can Betty, I can help you with
that. I think you gave me that list. I can create an Excel spreadsheet from there. >> It's all It's all It's all on the web page. >> Yeah, but I think you want to just have it dynamic so you can play around with the numbers and see different combinations of things. I can I can put that together. >> But we we we've done that too. One of
our tables is is different combinations of take a look at what's there. Okay. Um Deborah and then we'll decide whether we need to do more. Tim, >> yes, Betty question. Um, I was having a
conversation with Cindy Wilson about the Graange project and she says that the project hasn't started yet this year, >> but she wanted to she wanted me to ask >> how the funding start. And with me being
new at doing this, I'd be curious myself. >> What do you mean how the funding starts? >> In other words, when does she get her funding? The first amount of funding. and she sends a bill. >> It's that simple. >> Yeah. But for her particular case, you
have to see what it is that she's doing. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Talk to her what her plans are >> because they're going to be doing some of the work themselves. >> Uhhuh. >> And there's very small amounts. So, you just have to get,
>> you know, I mean, it's like two or three,000. You don't have to go through all of the processes of uh three bids and all of that. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> And she gets she sends the bill to you
or she and the and the bill then you contact the chair and Maria and we pay the bill. >> Okay. Sounds good. and you make sure that it's for what they for the project that they're they're doing and I'll talk
to you more about it. >> Okay. Okay. Thank you. >> Tim Gosby >> move to adjourn. >> Second. >> Second by Dale Weber. All right. Let's just reserve. Hugh.
>> I. >> Tim Gillespie. >> Tim Gillespie. I >> Tim Kaitton. I >> Dale >> Dale Weber I >> Deborah >> Deborah Chely I >> Mark >> Mark Schmid I >> John Bell >> John Bell I >> Slade I the next meeting is December
11th. >> Thank you very much.