Okay. Uh, if you could join me and stand for the pledge of allegiance. 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. Okay. First off, our key action items and number a 1. A is SWEB division road solar file number 24-23
SP- S- SPA-LIV. Close out and release consultant review fees of $3,800 plus interest. >> Excuse me, Mr. Chair. Do you need to open a meeting at a certain time or no?
Does that >> Yeah, I opened it at 6:00. Oh, I didn't hear you. >> Um, yeah. So, this application was withdrawn in September 2024 in good standing. We touched base this past April. Um, and he said he'd reach out to
the applicant, but there hasn't been any further communication. So, the town planner made the decision to release the funds. Um, if they want to resubmit, they'll have to reapply and resubmit those funds. >> Okay. So this is a different one than the one that was under construction on
division. >> Yeah. >> Yes. This is the one that would have done directional boring underneath the wetlands to get over to Division Road. If you recall, >> they did a pre I think it was a pre-application with the board. >> Okay.
>> You want a motion, Mr. Uh, I move to close out and release consultant review fees in the amount of $3,400 plus applicable interest for the SWB Division Road Solar Project. >> Second. >> All those in favor?
>> I. Next uh 1B is 202 Pinehill Road, Potter file number 19-012 SP- S-PA-LIB closeout and release CR fees of $1,68 plus interest.
>> Yep. The peer reviewer signed off on the project, so we are releasing the CR fees. We released the Shy back in July. This is the one that was >> cancelled or is it under construction? >> It's um >> finished. It's
>> finished. Yeah. >> It's up. >> Want a motion? >> Please. >> Uh I move to close out and release consult and review fees in the amount of $1,68 plus applicable interest for the uh 202 Pine Hill Road Potter project.
>> Second. >> All those in favor? I >> I >> uh 1 C is from the Route 88 Sulkage Westport Solar 1 file number 18-011 SP-S-
SPA-LID construction reports update material change termination and building inspector. >> Okay. Yep. So I have some construction updates. Um the culverts have been placed on the bed of compacted stone and
filled um 12 in with rip wrap. Retaining walls were installed. He includes pictures of the culverts and wall. Then on 821 to 26 the completion of the retaining walls um occurred and completion of the roadway. They show images of the wall 92 to 94. The
culverts number two and number three were installed. Trenches were excavated then backfilled and compacted. They show images of the digging and installation after the three-piece culvert. Um, but the main thing to discuss is the site visit and material change determination.
The issue being that the plans detail a stone line trench along the side of Sullivan Drive. The contractors feel that it would be best to eliminate these stone trenches for the following reasons. Number one being that there's not enough depth not enough depth to install and number two being that the
stone trenches will retain water causing ponding in the adjacent field icing on Briggs Road and a softening of the roadway. So they propose improving the gravel roadway and letting water sheet flow into the woods and SWO is in agreement that this is an improvement.
Um there was a site visit conducted by the building inspec building inspector pardon on 9:30 2025 to assess and I was present. It was determined to not be a material change. The modification will be reflected on the asbuilt per the conditions of approval. Any modifications determined to not be
material by the building inspector are allowed. So that's that update. >> Take any action. No, >> just a one question. What does it mean it's not enough depth? >> So on the original >> dig as deep as you want
>> on the direct on the plans they show like directional drilling where in the plans it was shown that they'll have to drill around it and I guess I guess they feel that yeah when it was installed there's not enough depth and and
that's directional drilling is is kind of difficult to achieve. Um I >> I'm not sure the full reason on the directional drilling. It more seems to be about retention.
>> So our consultant concurred though >> he did. He did. Yep. So, is is this all the uh road construction that's near Briggs Road if it's going to impact BR? >> Well, there um with this gravel improvement, the water will shoot flow
into the woods that um before it crosses the road, Briggs Road and the fire into the fire station. So it'll pause and be diverted before the Sullivan Drive roadway meets Briggs. >> But the
I could be thinking of the wrong place, but it seems that that place when you say into the woods is a thin strip of land between Sullivan Drive and Route 88. >> I agree. >> Very narrow.
>> Yeah. And and steep. >> And steep. So, it's is it going to drain into the state right away? >> I believe there's um a concrete retaining wall on that side. So, I'm not
sure about bleeding onto Route 88. So, >> well, there's a ditch there. Yeah, >> I think they feel that it will already be recharged in the wooded area since
>> So, this will be um sculpted out in the asules. >> Yes. Yes. But if you'd like me to follow up or maybe adjust, you can do that. I don't They might be in the middle of it now.
Ralph has already provided his determination. >> I think we're just concerned that there's enough absorption. >> Yeah. >> In that narrow strip of wood, >> right, >> between Sullivan and the Route 88. >> Is it enough to right to mitigate?
>> I can have Derek look at it again. >> What's the roadway surface going to be when they're finished? >> Is it permeable or imperable? I >> think it's it's gravel. Wait, let me double check. >> Yeah, >> I'm not sure. >> I I would have to guess that Dererick's
assumption was that the storm water is going to run parallel in the direction of Sullivan Drive. So, it's going to go south southerntherly, run along Route 88, and then eventually it will discharge to the the stream and wetlands and then there's a crossing that goes
under Route 88. >> Right. So, but I guess I just don't understand how the ponding on the fields could impact Route 88. I mean, not Route 88, Bridge Road. So,
this must be at the entrance. >> Yeah, cuz there's there's a that so-called Sullivan Drive. That's a that's a very long stretch before you get to the uh Solar, >> right? And I think it would drain
southerntherly as opposed to northerly. >> Right. Not not going to go into road. It's going to go the other way. >> I think so. >> Yeah. >> It's because it comes to like a point right before bridge. So they feel >> but the entrance could could be the the the problem.
>> But I don't know. So I I would just ask if you could ask Derek to explain further. >> Yeah. And uh I agree with that. And and also to get back to Mark's original question about
what exactly is the reason they couldn't dig the trenches that were originally planned out? Why why can you not do that? Seems to be really good. Okay. Okay. Bentley Estates 2 15-
09C construction reports and site visit email correspondence and bond reduction regarding sidewalks. >> Okay, I'll go through the construction reports first and then discuss um the
sidewalks in the email correspondence. So on 94 and 95, the base and uh top coat paving were documented, including images of the prep and paving on the driveway on a driveway apron and the sidewalk. And then on 9:10, the asphalt placement of Bentley Lane was detailed,
including images. So, regarding the site visits on September 16th and 18th, um I I went to two site visits, one with the town planner just to assess some resident complaints about the installation of the sidewalks and then followed up with Derek from S SW Cole on
September 22nd to address um the following five items. The width of the seed and loom area should be uniform, which on the plans was highlighted to be 4 in. The uneven curving curbing and pour of the asphalt must be corrected if possible. Poorly applied top coat
particularly in the driveway open of or particularly near a property owner with um like a gravel area on his property. Um the slope of the sidewalk and grass areas must be addressed in some spots. um especially when thinking about drainage and the paving over concrete
bounds that del delineate the parcel boundaries uh which after my visit with Derek it seems like any issues regarding that would be between the developer and the homeowners. Um, so to address the other issues,
Derek met with JH Landscaping on 923 and they said that the uneven top coat particular to that gravel parcel will be addressed with the homeowner and a suitable solution for the curbing which is Cape Cod BM um was identified as a priority to address along with the
sloping but they have not provided me a follow-up response as to what those solutions would be. um to finalize. Kafuri is requesting um he requested on September 14th to reduce the bond from 194,000 to 46,565.
Um that's for the ongoing installation of the sidewalks. I feel that it's probably best to hold the full shorty just because of the ongoing issues with the installation. >> You feel what? I couldn't hear that. >> Oh, sorry. I feel like it's best to hold the full shorty.
>> Okay. So if we're going to hold the full shorty, we don't need to take any >> Yeah. Is that right? >> Right. If if that's what you would like to do. >> I think it would be good to make a motion to deny the request to reduce it. >> You want a motion?
>> Please. >> I I move to deny the request for reduction in charity because there's still a considerable amount of work that needs to be done. >> Second. All those in favor? I >> I
some of the driveways of these houses look like landing strips or something. >> They're huge. >> Some of these houses have a threec car garage and then another something on the side. Like
>> amazing. So I mean I think it has turned into a decent development but um I think it just I think we need to hold the sury. >> Okay, next one is South Coast Regional Planning and Economic Development
District Circuit Honor Jim Whiten with distinguished service award. I didn't mean to say that. >> Okay, >> we did. Um, >> I would move that we underline everything in that and put it in bold
type maybe uh at 20.5. >> Add it to the town newsfeed. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Okay. And also I I did get a citation from Senator Rodri's in the Senate for 19 years of service on the planning
commission. So that was very nice of um >> that is longer than surf has been in existence. >> You were there before they were. >> So the next one discussion topics scenic
roadway bylaws or scenic roads bylaws. >> Mark did you have anything you had asked to have this on the agenda? Well, given that I missed the meeting on August 26th where it was I see from the minute. I mean, it was a topic. It wasn't fully
doesn't look like it was fully u thrashed about, but it um there are a lot I think there's several people in the town who are interested in uh
having a bylaw that protects our scenic roads. And uh so I'm interested in what how the other members of the board feel about this. Um you know I I see here from the notes
that of your last meeting that u your proposed action was to schedule a public comment session not a public hearing to discuss the advisability and desiraability of the scenic road designation. And uh that that's That's a good place
to start or uh and if there's enough interest then I'd suggest that we uh that a committee the subcommittee go be formed with the historic commission being the lead. Um because I think if we
were to have such a bylaw the it should be regulated or approvals that is should come from the historic commission. they can come from the planning board, but um I sort of thought
as I read about these these other bylaws um to have have examples from other towns that um the historic commission is not a bad place to to
invest the approvals. So, if you're if you're on a scenic road, if we pass the bylaw, you're on a scenic road and some uh trees are slated to be removed or stone walls displaced or removed.
I think the appropriate I mean it could be the land board, but it could also be historic commission because they may have more knowledge about the area whether there's historic markers in the area, whether there's um
you know, anything significant about the the uh the history of that the ownership of the the surrounding properties um like being one of the oldest farms in Westport, for example. So, or sem of course cemeteries are are visible, but u
it just that's my suggestion. I mean, if if the other board members feel that I I guess I'd want to know how the rest of you feel in general about this uh this issue, whether we should uh pursue a
bylaw governing uh designating certain roads as scenic roads and then having a bylaw that governs that and uh what we think is the appropriate body to administer it. the the body I just wanted to note really quickly the body
who would administer it would be the planning board that's in the the statute for um scenic byways. >> Yeah. I I was just going to say that I I am totally in favor of of having a
scenic by roadway bylaw. Uh, however, I'm not sure that statutoily I think the historical commission
has been designated to oversee the historical area and I don't think um I'm not sure how that would work. >> That's my thought. They don't have jurisdiction outside of the the historic
district. That doesn't mean they can't give us their two cents. But >> um >> well suppose Westport Point was a which is historic area designated part of that and the rest of main road >> was they have jurisdiction already I
think in that area for views >> anything visible from >> anything visible. Okay. So I think I mean when we did the bank they came in force and wanted to we're doing the site
plan for the new bank and they really objected to it being not parallel with the road and the plan board approved it at an angle.
I mean, I don't know why they didn't want it at an angle, but >> in any event, I mean, I think that it'd be great to have scenic uways in some way to
to control what happens there. Um, and I think that we should have the public meeting. um and then try to figure out how to how to
cobble together a file off for next. And if not the next >> I think it would be nice to have someone from the historical commission come and present to the planning board particularly in areas where they find
that they're in term uh particularly to prioritize areas for this type of bylaw. We haven't been able to get someone to come to a planning board meeting. So that remains to be something to be worked out. But I think their input,
their guidance on where to to to locate this would be key. >> Mr. Chair, I'm I'm totally in favor of this and uh whether it's a public hearing or public whatever it is, as
long as we get public comment on this, I think it's important. I think that the reason this is so important is that um certainly in the historic district area, uh a lot of effort goes into
what does the house look like? What does the yard look like? And all of that effort and investment by property owners can be devalued by s insensitive public works. Whether it's, you know, you look
at signage on bikeways and they seem to have a sign every 10 ft. Um or, you know, guard rails on Drift Road. Um and and so I think that
having people think about I I it can be simple things. I I know when we were doing the waterfront historic district in New Bedford, somebody said, you know, the back of signs are ugly. They're the aluminum color. So we painted the back
of all signs black. And it's a simple thing to do, but it just makes everything look a lot better. And so it's uh getting away from the fact that well the roadway including sidewalks
some in some cases stone walls aren't really part of the property. Well yes they are. They're actually what you see before you see the property. and as much thought should should go into what the the public way looks like as goes into
um uh the investments people make in in their homes. >> So I I think Betty Slade was one of the instrumental people in bringing this to our attention. So I think that we might use her as a
conduit to the historical commission to round up the right people >> if we had a public when we have the public meeting I which I think is a good idea. I think to focus attention
um I think it would be a good idea to have what is the planning board thinking about? What what roads are we thinking about? Um and and I you know I I know Mark down where you live, you know,
thinking about stone walls that that lower Horsen Road where the Almy farm is and all those entrances and and those stone walls are there and those views looking out over Buzz's Bay and and and
across the sound at you know the vineyard. um you know that that's you know just as a as a viewscape is one of the most beautiful you know coastal roads around
you know and I and I think it would be a real shame if someone come in and bulldoze those walls >> well I agree and I think just as attractive is I mean the entire roadway that parallels the east shore of the
eastaster East branch. So, Horsen Road >> starting at East Beach going north, let's say. >> Right up past uh Hicks Bridge and it transitions to Pineh Hill Road. >> Yep. >> And there's some beautiful views again
as you go north beyond Hicks Bridge of the river overlooking the river as Pine Hill Road winds its way all the way to Old County. And then you bring come back
on um on a drift road heading south and I think from drift road all the way to Higs back to Higsbridge that's windy section Buford >> all the way to 88 >> or all the way to the historic district
for that matter the drift road. >> Yep. I mean plus 88 the whole all of I mean if you think of all the people who bicycle that route that you just described
>> uh the view from a bicycle is limited to what the scenic roads is really talking about. you you really focused on that area and so many people come to Westport to bicycle ride because it's so
beautiful. >> Yeah, there's um well, we can think of other examples. I mean, if you if you began if you started at Westport Point and went north on Main Road up to Cornell. >> Yeah. this beautiful street with >> rolling
>> Yeah. >> uh roadway with with walls and trees all the and then perhaps Cornwall Cornell Road itself >> back to where it joins Adamsville. >> Yeah. >> Some of them
>> Cornell Road Adamsville Road um >> even though some of it is new 60 years ago. >> Yeah, it's new. Uh it it is really I see it
>> and I don't know how you feel about the river boat. >> Yes. >> The views again of the west branch from Adamsville. >> It's the only expressive road I know that it's pretty. It goes right along the water. >> Yeah. Beautiful.
So I mean the yeah these are the images which we have in our minds just talking about that people when they come to this area for the first time they're they're amazed at some of the scenic roots that we have here and
it doesn't I mean the only the draw only uh shortcoming I guess I would say the senior road bylaw is it only pertains to protecting public what's in the public way right of way. So you can be just
outside of that in any on someone's private property. We can think of some examples egregious examples. What's happened >> in most cases the the stone walls are the street line as well. So you know we
we get the stone walls at least >> stone walls. Yeah. But, you know, in in not as many cases, I mean, I don't have any proof of this, but it seems to me, you know, I watched I don't know whether it's a Westport uh
brush chopper. Uh but you can eliminate a stone wall by just letting what's in the public way grow and all of a sudden the the stone wall is covered with barbar and other bushes
and it's gone. >> And I think more and more people have made the effort to remove all that so you can reveal the stone wall that's been there for hundreds of years. But that is uh a public way treatment uh
that affects a stone wall that might be on private property and um you know but in in regulations build it been involved in a lot of historic
preservation. It's harder to regulate against the destruction of buildings caused by lack of maintenance and lack of care, but it can be just as destructive as someone saying, "I want to take it down." Just works over time,
but it's harder to do that kind of protection. So, the same thing with a public way, you know, if you don't maintain it, then uh stone walls can be lost to grow. So, I mean, we lost we lost a lot of stone
walls on Sodom Road this past year. Um, and supposedly they asked the highway surveyor if they were in the town right away or or not. And I think he just came and looked and
said, "No, you take them away." But they were kind of rubble falling down stone walls. was is the same kind that you have everywhere along agricultural land. And um
so now the field comes right to the to the edge of the road. And I think a lot of the stone walls that we're talking about are actually in the town right away, not in the not in the on the private property, including
the ones that were just built this year down in the harbor. I think they're in the town right away. Um well, but I think my last comment would be that if we do get to the point of
fashioning a bylaw, um I think we've got to operate on the KISS principle, you know, keep it simple >> because if we get too tangled up with too many conditions, >> whatever,
you know, learned from the short-term rental bylaws that >> yes, >> how conv convoluted it gets and then then you you're in trouble. So, >> right >> to the extent that we can achieve the protection of these these scenic
ways and but not sort of overburden ourselves with regulations. So, it may not be perfect but I mean it's it's it's better, >> right? I agree. So, as a quick starting point, I have a
list, right? So, I've got Drift, Horsene Neck, Maine to Cornell, Cornell to Adamsville, River Road. Um, there were a couple of others mentioned and I didn't catch >> Pine Hill. >> Pine Hill.
>> Old Harbor. >> Yeah. >> Old Harbor Road. Do you think Sodom Road north because it's been from say Adamsville to going north for a while? I would say I
would I would say yeah the southern part of the northern part is pretty much developed >> right but the southern part um in some cases it borders APR land so
that's sort of a regulation in itself But that's where all the stone walls were taken up. >> Well, anything else you think of in the meantime as you're driving around, send me an email. We'll at least use this list as a starting point. We can always
whittle it down. >> Uh cross there's two crossroads. So, the eastern crossroad, let's say I don't know how we got two crossroads. Okay. Um
planners report. >> Okay. So, we had applied to the community onetop for growth um program for doing some village or excuse me for looking at Westport's historic village
centers um and coming up and marine dependent areas as well and coming up with some um long range planning for developing new zoning bylaws for those areas. and we were awarded that grant for $87,000.
So, we'll be kicking that off probably late 2025, early 2026. Um, those are areas that, you know, there's commercial uses that I think a lot of people in the community value,
but the underlying zoning has rendered them all nonconformities. And so if we value those places, it would make sense to make sure that the underlying zoning allows for um them to be continued into the future and as well as allow for some flexibility to support
the small business community so they're not necessarily locked into one particular use on that property. >> So are we going to do we have to do an RFP for that suspension? >> We're going to work with Serpent on it.
So we don't have to do an RFP. Okay. All right. The an update on our hazard mitigation plan. We posted the plan to the Oh, let me back up. Uh on your in your packets, there's a map of the
village center areas. This is just a a draft of where would be we would be looking at for the um new zoning districts. So, that's subject to change. Um, but if there are any other areas that you think might be beneficial to
consider, just let me know and we'll take a look at that. Um, and then also in your packets to bring it to the hazard mitigation plan is the draft hazard mitigation plan which has been posted to the town's website for
the public to view and as well as to um for public comment. There's a survey posted as well on the town's website which you are all are welcome to do. Um you you can also find it on uh the well you can find it on the town's newsfeed and you can also find it on the hazard
mitigation plan web page. So the next step in this project is to finalize the plan document after we incorporate public comment and then we'll present the final plan to the select board for endorsement. At that point, we'll submit
the plan to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and FEMA for approval. And in the meantime, while we're waiting for those approvals to come forth, we'll
be looking at submitting um some applications in the new ECO onetop portal. Um so and this is a a portal well we'll be looking to submit a couple grant applications um and the eco1top portal to advance the plan
recommendations like with the executive office on housing and livable communities and and economic development grants and all those different programs where it's all been combined into one program. Now everything like coastal zone management, the the municipal vulnerability program
has also similarly been combined into one portal where we can all we can apply um just within there instead of doing different uh applying in different portals. So that's what the eco1 step is. Um so the the projects that we're
looking at to advance the hazard mitigation plan is to do storm water improvements at the head of Westport. We had submitted an MVP application for that and it wasn't successful but it did rank very closely to the threshold and I
think with the feedback we we received we could have a competitive application next year a townwide storm water management and and improvement plan. So, we're working on um doing a a storm water analysis for a portion of the
Westport River watershed and I'd like after that is developed, I'd like to see that translated to the rest of the town. Another one is to do a dune and beach or to to work with a consultant to help the town develop a dune and beach monitoring
program. That's something that is recommended in both the hazard mitigation plan as well as our upcoming barrier beach management plan. And then continuing to advance the engineering design with the culvert replacements we're working on with Buzzards Bay
Coalition. So those are the four um expressions of interest to the Eco1top that we're thinking about doing this year. >> Which which culberts? >> Uh the same three we've been working on for a while. So Cornell which is
Angeline Brook >> and then on Drift Road Snell and Lions Brooks or Creek one's a creek. So, is there anything we can do about um the
the bridge slashculbert on this row that we just kissed goodbye? We'd have to go back through a similar sort of process like we've done with these other three >> and finding funds for the preliminary
engineering and then try to find additional grant funds to continue that design process. Although I will say the the grant programs that we're looking at um for that it's
through the Federal Highways Administration and I don't know if it'll if it will come with the same sort of strings attached as the the Kirby Brook um the Kirby Brook design >> if that were a scenic road. Would that
impact the state requirements that caused the problem? I don't know the answer to that question. I would have to assume that if you're getting state grant funds to redesign a bridge, they're going to tell you what that design has to be.
>> So, let's call it a culvert bridge. >> Yeah. >> Well, the the design hit mass DOT's design hit the small bridge program threshold. And so that's I I I
don't know if it could be designed as as a culvert in that location. I'm not >> so I can't remember >> what they said at Serpent at the annual meeting, but I was speaking with somebody that was saying maybe it's a
schedule thing, but there is money through either one stop or one one of these things. >> Mhm. uh for um small bridges in town that don't have the same requirements as as uh as
highway. >> I'm not aware of that program. I've been working very closely with Buzzard's Bay Coalition and they're not aware of that program either. So, um >> it was it was newly announced, okay, just before. So,
>> you might check with Grant King maybe. who said it to me. >> Mr. Chair, I wonder if we you Michael might pursue that question that I asked about if we designated
a road any road uh a scenic road uh whether it would uh and and it had certain restrictions on what you can do and what you can't do
given March. We want to keep it simple but you know the theory here would be that we want to protect scenic roads there has to be some kind of guidance uh whether or not the state
and a separate question the federal government would have to apply uh comply with a local ordinance. Now, I think one way to find that out is we're not the first people to run into that problem.
So, just as you've shown us Raoba Scenic Road, uh there may be other scenic road ordinances around and they may have already answered that question. Mhm. >> Uh and so it may be an easier way to find that out with people who've already
put in scenic growth. >> Jim, that the program >> Let me just add one quick. I I think if we found out that they would have to comply with scenic roads, uh I think that might
uh cause uh an increase in support for scenic roads because then then you're talking about this protects us from what the state wants to do, which is ignore the
character of Westport and just put in what's in their road standards book. >> Right. The program I believe that Grant was talking about is the local early and actionable um planning program
>> which is through Mass DOT and they use pre-qualified mass DOT contractors. So I would assume that if we were to design a bridge through that process, it would have to be through they would use Mass DO's design process,
but it wasn't grant a woman that I was speaking to and uh she said it was something that would be wouldn't have to be to the standards of DOT,
But grant should be able to >> oh >> point in the right direction. >> And it's a new pro it's a new program. It's not deer's culvert replacement. >> Okay. Well, we're also applying or planning on
applying to the culvert replacement for the uh those other three culvert projects as well. So, I'm sure it'll be applicable question for for those projects as well. So, well, I'll look into it.
All right, an update on the Route Six neighborhood plan. Last month, Serpent was out in the community at a couple different events doing public engagement for this plan. They're collecting the initial data
that'll start informing public preferences on land use, building layout and design, open spaces, and transportation. And so what we'll do with this information is um particularly when it comes to the the land use preferences
and building layout and design, we will use that information to develop new zoning bylaws for the Route Six corridor. And our target date for that is uh town meeting 2027. So this is just really getting kicked off at this time.
So there's still a lot to go uh in the process. Update um on our MS4 permit. I submitted the town's annual MS4 permit with help from the highway department as well as
Kleinfelder Engineering helps prepare that. And this is a an annual requirement from the EPA to report out on various metrics as it relates to the town's storm sewers. Uh unfortunately, last year there the grant programming
for MS4 was never released. So all of the funding for this is coming from the town or from the planning board's professional services budget as well as the required work we'll have to do in the coming years will need to come from
the planning offic's budget. So for this year, for this fiscal year, because uh I had left I was hoping to be able to use those funds in in different places for this year, but what
is left over after we factor in our current grant obligations um in terms of their match, we'll have to start doing some things um like catchment investigations and mapping the the the storm sewer system uh with those
remaining funds. >> So, where do we get the the funds that we're trying to match to >> the funds that we're trying to match to? >> Well, well, you have a a grant for some of this, right?
>> For MS4, not not anymore. we did last year and there was no match required or actually I think it was a third but we were contributing uh we contributed $10,000 towards Mass Maritime to do some work so that counted as our match. We'll
be doing the same sort of we'll be doing the same thing this year. Um probably giving a little bit more money towards Mass Maritime to do some of that system mapping and catchment investigation. we will need to be thinking about and this
is something that I'll need to um work with the next town administrator on is getting a full system mapping into the capital improvement plan because that'll be a significant expense. Um and we have
to do that I think it will be due in three years. So that's a pretty big expense we'll have to to manage. >> Didn't we originally get funds from Buzzard's Bay Nationals project?
>> We did. Yep. >> Uh we we got funding through Buzzards Bay National's program. I think it was about $20,000, >> right? >> To do this sort sort of work last year.
Uh they didn't offer the program this or this. I guess it would be last fiscal year. They didn't offer it last fiscal year for this fiscal year. I don't know why. >> Joe C is retiring, >> I think. So, >> he is. Yeah.
>> So, um where are we getting the money? I mean, we don't have the money >> right now. It's coming from our the planning board's professional services budget, >> but we don't have $20,000. Uh we do we do have a fair amount in
professional services. Yeah. Um we don't have an extra 20 additional. >> We do have over $20,000 in professional services to spend every year, but we use it for other things like grant match. Um as well as
augmenting whatever grant uh MS4 grant we may be available. Then we kind of supplement things. Um but fortunately since that's not being offered anymore uh
>> well many many towns are spending like $120,000 and they have a full-time plus >> plus consultants. There's been conversation, I think, as you're aware, but there's been conversation, well, Jim, as you're
aware, since you're frequently working with folks at Serped, but there's been conversation about regionalizing some of the uh work and expense associated with the MS4 permit because for small communities that don't have a public works
department, for example, it's and we frankly don't have a lot of discretionary funds to speak of. It's a it's a pretty tall order for smaller communities to to um maintain this this permit and
continue to do the work that's required u for the EPA. >> It's always been a trouble here. Um at one point we got dinged by EPA and
we got out of it by having the watershed Alliance We bought rain barrels for the waterershed lines to distribute. >> But as long as we can keep on filing the
stuff we need to file even if it isn't very robust. >> Okay. >> All right. So, our barrier beach management plan, there is a meeting with the Commission on Disability on October
27th. And the purpose of this meeting is to get their perspective on well the on the town's barrier beaches more generally, but we specifically would like to get their input on the Beach Avenue barrier beach because there's a MOI mat that they deploy
there. And we think that there's an opportunity to move where the Moby Mat is on Beach Avenue to the town-owned property on Beach Avenue. And then we could allow for the dune um between
where or between the Nubble and that town property to allow it to um start to naturally restore itself. Um, and so thereby cutting off vehicle, we would restrict vehicle access in that area to
allow the area or to allow the dune to renaturalize. And so that's something we're looking forward to talking to them about. Um, this was originally going to be one of the last meetings under the current funding, which is the MVP action grant, but we were just awarded on
Monday a $75,000 grant from Coastal Zone Management to continue this project forward. So, we'll be advancing or through that grant, we'll be advancing the plan to a final draft as well as through permitting. Um, so that's great
news that we have that we're able to we're able to to have the the resources to finish it. with the additional resources. Is there any chance they could look at horsen because I I continue to think uh
involving the state in this issue where the state is likely to be providing funding to to implement recommendations of this uh would be wise. But that's a uh an
addition to the study locus. >> Mhm. Yeah, we are going to in well I say are we don't even have a grant agreement in place yet or anything. So um but our intention is to incorporate Cherry and Web Beach into this as well. I I don't
think we would do any sort of any barrier beach planning on the the Horsene neck beach reservation. because that's >> that's the purview of the state the state and >> couldn't we couldn't we invite them to
participate with us and include that because it it's it's part of the barrier beach system >> and they're going to have trouble on John Reed Road. >> Yeah. Uh if you drive it, it's 5 miles long, but if you drive it, there's some
places where it dips down to within about 3 ft of sea level um on the north side or the east side, whatever it is. >> We can talk talk to coastal zone management about it. I mean we work very
very closely with them so we can get their >> well then we might >> their thoughts on it and um >> try Mike Rick's too. >> I mean the natural forces that are causing us to look at these various beaches
really don't care about whether something's owned by the state or not. Right? >> They're just going to work their impacts on all these areas. Mhm. >> So I I think if you know John Reed Road's an important road
and for all kinds of reasons, but uh it would also be good if the state started to understand that they're not immune uh to the impacts that we're looking at >> under this grant. Yeah.
>> Yeah. They should come to the table with some funding >> and we are expanding the project locus to that area just not the entire geography. So yeah, we can uh I'll see what coastal zone management has to say.
And then lastly, just a note about uh the local early and actionable planning program through DOT. I met with DOT staff last month to talk about the two projects I had submitted for. These two
projects, just as a reminder, were the traffic calming through the head of Westport and to start to design a shared use path that would connect part of the Sanford Road corridor to the bike paths that we're planning on the part of
Sanford Road north of Route Six as well as the Quicoan River Rail Trail Connection. And they told me that they are both good proposals and good fit for the program. they're going to announce decisions in November, but it was at least
encouraging to get some some feedback. So, >> we'll see what happens. I mean, they could get slammed with a bunch of requests just due to the nature of the funding environment right now. So, but yeah, November, we we should know
something. >> Good, >> Mr. Chair. Y >> um I I heard you uh talking before the meeting convened on the open space planning >> group and I am the planning board's rep
to to that uh group and just as a point of information they are updating the open space plan and to do that they are reaching out uh we've had a couple of two or three committee meetings Uh so
the committee which has a dozen or so people on it were assisted by seren uh again uh but uh they are planning a public meeting uh on Thursday October 30th at
5:30 at the library to solicit >> uh the public's input in the value of open space and and what's in the plan. And I think uh that clearly relates to everything we're doing. Uh even though
in in the case of protected open space, people usually don't come to us saying they want to build houses on it or something. It's still when we talk about the updating our master plan open space is clearly part of that. There's a planning meeting for that uh public
meeting tomorrow morning. Okay, >> that's it. >> Did you mention the one uh later on this month, too? >> Yeah, October 30th is the at 5:30 at the
library. Okay. >> Is the public meeting >> for that and posters have been designed, circulated, so we'll try and get a good >> uh response. There's there's been a survey that the planning board has
helped distribute to try and uh get people, you know, using computers or paper to to give us their feelings. I also ask if there's any update on the old high school, the reuse of that. As
you know, we had a meeting here, we discussed it. We had invited the chair of the reuse committee. They did not appear and we discussed that we the board um mentioned the possibility of uh
reusing it for housing sometime. So I don't know where that's that whole idea and topic is gone. >> So there hasn't been any update with the committee. The next thing should have been a community meeting which was maybe gonna happen this month but their
committee hasn't had a meeting. I haven't had any correspondence from the chair as to any sort of reconvening or any sort of meetup. So it seems like that project is on pause for right now. Um they met with the select board August
4th and that was kind of the last action that was taken on August 4th. They met with the select board. So, >> so the the chair is Mr. Thrasher. >> Y >> and uh while they're on indefinite pause, wasn't part of the report how
much it cost the town uh to basically do nothing with this building, >> right? >> What that what is was that amount per year? You remember, D? >> It was3 $400,000 >> because it's a,000 per day. >> It's it's about 300 and change.
>> Yeah. Doing nothing doesn't mean there's no cost. It means it's300 or $400,000 to the town. We don't figure out an answer to this. >> And how long has the school been vacant now? Is it coming up on five years?
>> Is it is it year five yet? 2021. So >> maybe Yeah, coming up on in 2026. Yep. >> So uh in that discussion we talked about recreational things or community
center uh with regard to the uh high school and I've spoken with uh a woman who runs one in another town uh that is an older community center not
supported by the town and it I asked what her budget was and she said it's about $4 million a year. to to run it. And it's mostly paid for by memberships.
>> Wow. >> And some nonprofit donations by community companies. Uh and I said, "Okay, uh what is $4 million? What is how many people do
you employ?" And she said, "10." And a lot of those are, you know, high school kids for 10 hours a week or something like that. But still, it takes a lot to run one of those
things. And you're not going to do it with a one member recreation department. It's impossible. And so, if you're going to do it, I think you could do it uh with a nonprofit. I think
you could get a lot of money to to do it and start it. And if you had all the things like a swimming pool and the the the machine rooms and the other rooms for community meetings and basketball
court and all this stuff, you could have a a robust community center, but you need to have somebody go out and solicit
a lot of money to do it and be able to figure out how how to do it. We can't just do it because we're sitting here and saying, "Let's do it." So, but you know, in speaking with some of
some of the people around here, I asked somebody who was donated to other schools and stuff and said, you know, I don't really I'm not asking you for money. I just want to know how you do it. I explained
the issue. Uh, and he said, I'll give you half a million dollars without saying anything. to start and then you should go and ask this guy, this guy, this guy and and start it. But I'm too old.
Somebody's going to do it. And once you start it, you got $4 million a year. You know, not not to say we would have the same amount of programming, but >> you know, I'm trying to think of nonprofits that have that kind of budget. You got Southwest Health and you
got ACE. Well, I mean, it's not $4 million doesn't come from donations. It comes from memberships. >> Well, that's donations. >> Yeah, but a membership. I mean, they have 5,000 members. >> Yeah. >> That's a little less than $1,000 in
membership, but uh that's a big organization. They're doing a great job. they are. But anyway, it's I don't think we're any closer to doing
anything. But, you know, the the people that that I met and we had here in the in the in the room a few months ago that do um reuse
buildings for for u residential, um I think if we let out an RFP to find out what people would do and offer and everything, I think we'd be many many
steps ahead where we are today. >> Yeah, I think it's very it's very doable to issue an RFP and and uh it's a it's a 155,000 square foot structure sitting
there with facilities like a gymnasium, an auditorium, a kitchen. I mean, all of these things have to be upgraded. I know that. And neat coats, etc. So, it's not a You know, it's a daunting task if you're
talking about converting building like that into some other use like housing or municipal offices or whatever it is or a recreation center. But as you just said, there are pe there are companies that do this. They they're very versed in
in particularly in converting old schools into housing >> and they they get grants for this. >> Yeah. Okay. >> So, we have been selected for technical assistance in salt mar salt marsh
restoration funded by the SNEP network southeast New England program network. They're partnering us with Mass Audabon and we're waiting for them to reach out for a kickoff meeting. So, more details to follow. So just let me know if there are key items or perspectives you want me to keep in mind um as we move forward
with this project. >> We had spec or Dia had submitted the application um and it was her first grant application that she had submitted and got awarded. So that's great. Um what we had submitted for was
specifically uh for the uh island marshes because now um it's permittable to do uh not remediation but thin layer deposition >> on those salt marsh islands and there's
a grant program that came out for that. However, they wanted you to have more advanced engineering design and we don't have the capacity to pull that together and so I think this will be a good starting point for us. >> Okay.
>> Who is the this South East New England program network? They're like I don't know their program doesn't indicate kind of what they're about, but they are the ones that have been inviting us to storm water webinars
and other sorts of um >> Okay. >> kind of management webinars. Yeah, they're an organization that's funded through the EPA and they provide technical assistance to communities in
southern Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and a small part of Connecticut on storm water management. >> Um, ecological restoration, climate resilience, those kinds of things.
>> Okay. So, is there a local match or Nope. There's no there's no no match requirement for it. It's technical assistance. So, it's not they're not actually giving us
any sort of funds. Um, >> but they'll help us, >> right? They're the same organization that we received funding for to do the storm water management plan for a portion of the north end of the Westport River
Whed. We applied for this program last year um not for salt marshes but for I think it was the head of Westport and they didn't select that program but instead they were like hey we can give you $50,000 to do this other project
that relates to what because I had submitted two. So I was like okay let's that's great let's do that. So, um, yeah, we've actually gotten technical assistance from them three years in a row now. Chris Capone got technical assistance from them last year for a
different project. >> Another update is the climate climate resilience report, which I'm sure John has stuff to say too. So, we recently met with CSC members Jeff Canton and John Bullard to discuss the next steps for the CRC of support. Um feedback from the subcommittees is being incorporated
and chapter content um distilled and formatted to fit a document style similar to Salem's resilience plan if anyone's had a chance to look at it. Um as we does not did not receive MVP action grant funding our partnership with UMass Dartmouth has come to an end
say for maybe some specific tasks like the request of like a certain map or very actionable tasks that we could ask of them. um at the 10 at the upcoming 10:16 meeting, we will share these next steps and a draft engagement strategy um with the committee and they do have one
more opportunity for review before we present um this draft document to the select board. Um timeline is thinking about this fall finishing that document with spring and summer for public engagement. If I can add to that,
um, UMass Dartmouth uh, made a tremendous contribution especially over the summer before school started on risk uh, analysis and uh, we have gotten uh, over the
three or four years we've been in existence a lot of input from the 20 or so people who've been involved in our committee work. Uh and so now it's getting to the writing portion, getting all that input and putting it into a
coherent hole. And uh Michael said that the DIA has some uh time available for this purpose. Uh you notice our agendas have very few public hearings now. Um,
and so we have a dynamite duo of Jeff Kenton and Dia who are going to crank this out. Uh, and the advantage to that is that, you know, with all the different committees,
um, we have different styles, different everything in every report, different methods of of presentation. And so Jeff, who's just been fantastic, uh, and Dia will get all that input.
It'll all be in there, but it'll be coherent and they will merge this into a single report that's readable by the audience. And I'm very grateful to uh Jeff to Dia to Michael and and certainly
you are contributed a lot as well as all the volunteers. So I hate to I don't want to jinx it but as he has said you know we hope we can have a a draft that people can look at
by this fall. And I think we're in fall right now. So this is uh >> although it doesn't feel like it. >> Not today. >> And the next meeting of the climate resilience committee is coming up next
week, Thursday, October 16th at 5:00. Is that here? That's in person, right? >> Yep. >> In this room. So, John, I mean, I know is brilliant, but can't we uh use AI to merge all
these uh committee reports together? >> Well, if if they use AI, Mark, you'll be the last person we'll tell. I'm sure >> we're going to have human names on it, whether humans write it or whether some
algorithm writes it. >> Well, that's what it's good for, right? Feed feed something in. It's a useful tool. >> Yeah, >> we do use it somewhat regularly. >> Yeah, >> it's great.
>> Looking forward to it. Yep. The next item um I wanted to share about those weather resilience kits. So, we've distributed everything. >> They're all gone. >> They're all gone. Well, say there's like 17 left in the planning department should a resident walk in and want one. So, um, but yeah, we held targeted
events, uh, at Our Lady of Grace for the EJ community and then presentations and drop offs for the Young at Heart Senior Club, Greenwood Terrace, the Veterans Food Pantry and Volunteers, Westport Village Apartments, American Legion, Post 145, and the South Coast Harvest
Festival, which was a huge success. We've also had a lot of multiple walk-in residents who have just heard by word of mouth. So, I I consider the campaign a huge success and a seed project. Yeah. a a really great start to um community resilience or a continuation of community resilience.
>> Some in the resilience committee meeting. >> Yes. Yes. Oh yeah, we had agreed to do that. Yep. >> Any members don't have copies already have gifts already? >> There was a a thousand that we >> gave out and handpacked all of them.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Lots of packing days in the >> hand them. They all came all those things separately. >> Yep. Yep. >> Yeah. And you had to stuff each one of them. >> Yeah, we stuffed a thousand of these bags. >> We bonded. We bonded >> an odd hour here and there Tuesdays,
Thursdays. So, >> wow. >> You know, I think Michael and I feel like this was pretty successful and it was a great >> Yeah. >> uh project. >> Thank you. Thank you. Something something new for everybody. Um positive reception. We're celebrating this Thursday at the be the backyard. So, you
know, >> great. >> Deserved. Volunteers deserve it for sure. So, we'll see what what happens next, you know, with with this campaign and and future kind of grassroots efforts. I think there's momentum. Um,
>> that's super. I didn't know that you have to do all that work. >> What do you think of all those boxes? >> Yeah. >> Yeah, it it wasn't the worst thing. >> No, we just did it with the volunteers and chatted and sometimes we'd order a
pizza and hang out. So yeah, >> it's great. >> And then the last thing is just some closed projects. Just an update. So out of the seven solar projects, um, we closed out three. And out of the other
12 outstanding projects, we also closed out three. We're in contact with the other developers to move things along. So I kind of included with you a little packet um of what's going on with open developments with a little update. Um, you know, we talked about Bentley Estates. You see familiar names here.
Plaza 549. Some smaller things. We just got a call today about Stacy Lane. Um, that is something to be it was it was a resident complaint, something to be taken up with the developer, but we're still waiting on an asbelt from them. Um,
Inheritance Lane still going on. Salty Breeze, they've been reached out to Francis Estates, they're still trying to work out that shity. Um but yeah, you know, this is kind of the um the update and then along with solar, yeah, the five the four solar developments that
are um in construction right now or um operating right now are going along. Um I feel that we have pretty good contact with most of them um if not this. >> Drive and gun club is dead as of
>> Yeah. Yep. That one's done. Yeah. as in doesn't exist. >> Yeah. >> Yep. And then 202 Pine Hill, we are finishing that up um today. >> Same with SWE Division Road. >> Next week, we'll be meeting with a developer who has an approval from
Eversource to do an Agravtaic on seven at uh right up the street >> where >> 720 Maine. Right across from >> the other one, >> Brook Brook Meadow on the other side of the street though. Yep. >> On this side of the street.
>> Yep. >> So, >> you know where there's the uh it's the realy company up there. >> Divine. >> Divine. Right to the south. >> Oh, right there. Oh, behind there. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Pretty small back there. M >> well they they want to do an
agrovoltaics and that's interesting because it's that we just added that to our bylaw last year and this will be the first one that's >> great >> brought to town. So they they really want to uh hype it up and show that it's
possible to other people in the community and I think that'll be great. So we're looking forward to meeting with them next week. >> So So there are a couple of comments I'd make Mr. Chair if that's all right. One is this report on solar is timely
because um I think it was published in a scientific paper that worldwide uh energy from renewables mostly solar but also wind has for the first time
ever exceeded energy from coal. >> Yes. >> Really? >> And um >> Yep. uh and in many places, India for example, they are producing more from renewable energy than the country needs.
Unfortunately, practically all from Chinese built uh solar panels because we have abdicated our potential leadership in renewable energy to China. So, China is going to create a lot of jobs and a lot of
renewable energy. But you get a country like India that's now producing more uh from renewable energy. Uh and also the growth in renewable energy is now faster than the growth in demand for
electricity which is significant because the number of data centers with artificial intelligence that are being built uh are huge consumers of electricity. And so to have renewables
uh increasing at a rate more than our demand for electricity is also notable. So I I think you know we look at these in isolation one at a time to try and figure out what's best for Westport, but
in the big picture uh it all adds up and it makes a different difference for the planet. It would be good once I wish the electric companies would
share with us how much is being produced in Westport. But I guess we can backhand it. But I mean it be because they also have figures on the on the rooftop of salt too. >> Yeah. >> Which is something that we can't figure
out ourselves. Well, just to add to that, I mean, noticing all over town the utility bowls are being replaced with larger ones. And I imagine some of this must be related to in you know
increasing the infrastructure to handle >> the additional uh in output from but it's also also input because there's such a push on changing your heating systems over to >> heat pumps. >> Heat pumps.
>> Yeah. >> That they have to have they have to do two things. one, they have to figure out how to get the solar to the grid and they also have to figure out how to get the electricity in enough quantity that's going to be required in the
future. Uh we met with Eversource >> month ago >> last month >> and um Jeff Canton helped us write a a question form back to them
to let us understand what's going on, what's what's what is required. So at least I have had a response from uh Anthony Vu and he said they're working on it. He's
got many people working on different aspects of the questions. So hopefully we'll get some answers but a lot of that is climate resilienceoriented. Yeah. But
solar and climate resilience are sort of two sides of one coin. Well, one of the impacts of all these new utility poles and and even the existing ones and all the lines that are being
strung including uh internet and all that is uh what happens to we've all seen many of the trees >> you know potentially along along potential scenic roads that are getting
hollowed out because they're just cutting the middle or they're cutting cutting down. >> They cut the top off and let the other part rot and fall on my car. >> And so >> they're out to get you, Jim. >> I know.
>> But do you this uh this updated project is really uh very helpful to see, you know, >> we approve these things and they go in some pipeline and years go by and what whatever happened to that project. This is This is really helpful.
>> Yeah. Couldn't agree more. >> And if you notice, I think the first time she gave this to you all, it was like four pages long and now we're down to two, >> something like that. >> Oh, well, it was four pages double
>> because we've really been making an effort to try to get these closed out and push people to meet the obligations that the the planning board um approved them, too. >> So, worthwhile effort. Congrats. Salty Freeze. Tell me what's going on there.
Are they going ahead or they not? >> Yeah. He's like, I'll get the crew together and then we'll touch base with you guys. So, I got to poke him again. I feel like when was the last time I think I talked to him? September. So, Oh, yeah. I think it's it's coming up on about a month. I think
it was like September 18th. So, well, he said best. Yes. Next 60 days. So maybe I'll give him another month or do you think I should poke him again? >> He said in the next 60 days. We can we can hold on. >> I'll poke him again end of end of month.
>> Okay. >> Okay. Mr. Chair, do you want a motion on the minutes? >> I do. >> Um I've read it. Uh I do have one question which maybe Michael could answer after we vote on the minutes which is in the minutes it mentioned
that we endorse the modified housing production plan for forwarding to the select board >> and I just wondered uh whether the the minutes are absolutely accurate but afterwards maybe you can tell us where that stands for the select board but I
would move approval of the August 12th >> second board minutes. Any other comments? All those in >> favor? I >> I >> I abstain. >> One there. >> You didn't find any errors. So, did you mark? Of
>> course not. >> August 26th. I think I said August 12th. August 26th. >> Thank you, N. >> And to answer your >> They're really great. >> To answer your question, John, I'm going to the select board. I think it's
October 20th with Taylor Perez from Surfed who was our point of contact >> through the update process to get their endorsement. >> Great. You >> want a motion to adjourn? I do. So move. Second. All those in favor? All right.
All right.