Okay, you guys ready? >> Yes, ma'am. >> I'm going to call the meeting to order. You join me in the pledge of >> allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Good evening. Welcome to the Monday, November 17, uh, 2025 meeting of the Westport Select Board under Mass General Law, Chapter 3A, Section 20F. This
meeting is being recorded. Um I just want to start um the meeting with um an acknowledgement of the passing of um Marlene Samson. U Marlene Samson was 21. She unexpectedly passed
away on Wednesday, November 5th. She was born in Fall River, but she resided in Westport for most of her life. She worked for the town of Westport for over 40 years, receiving an honorable citation from the Massachusetts House of Representatives for her service. She
served as town clerk for 27 years until she retired. She was honored with the Portuguese Heritage Award at the Mass State House. She was the communicant of St. John the Baptist Church. She was a member of the Westport fair and PACL Westport. I know she was just a fixture
of town hall for for decades. And I just want to um extend the sympathies to her family. Does anybody want to say anything? Well, we all knew Marlene very well and had the privilege of working with her and served the town well and was also helpful to the select board. So, she
will be sorely missed and her family is remembered in my prayers as well. >> She was always very easy to work with. um straight shooter, but um you know, if you um and um
the the the biggest challenge was for when I when I first time I ran, we would always have to um if if there was a race going on, you had to you go in like once a week to see who had pulled papers and return papers. Uh that that system has changed now. So
>> yeah, >> but so I I know Marlene going back uh many years as well. She's again uh as I said with Ray's passing, we're losing a lot of the people that make West Point
special uh here. Um I knew Marlene's son and I still obviously do Paul very very well. He's done a lot of work on uh I have a lot of vehicles and he's done a lot of work on that. So my sympathy goes out to the um Samson family and and Paul and others. So
thank you. >> All right. And then on a happier note, I just want to extend our thanks to everyone who participated in the Veterans Day celebration uh or the ceremonies that we had at the town hall annex, especially Carol Freighus for putting it together. The American Legion, the VVA, the VFW. Um the scouts
were there, the fire explorers were there, the police department was there. It was a really good turnout. There were a lot of people there >> and you were there. >> I was there but you were all you were we were all there. >> Yeah. Yeah. But you were speaking. [laughter] >> Um [clears throat] and uh Anthony Branco was the keynote speaker. I thought he
did a great job. So um thanks to everyone who made that happen. >> Um the boys the men's high school soccer team is playing tonight. They are in their final four um game um tonight. So we'll see. I think that's being
broadcast on uh on community television. So, go watch that. It'll be more interesting than our than our meeting. Um, and then just a reminder that there is a Christmas tree lighting ceremony on December 7 um from 3:00 to 5:00 at the Westport Woods. Um, it's with the
recreation department. So, December 7 from 3:00 to 5:00. Um, we do have a um executive session listed at the end of the agenda, but um that is only if it becomes necessary to discuss the uh town administrator contract. Otherwise, we'll just handle
that in open session. Uh, anything else before we get started? Okay. Um, so the first item on the agenda, we have a request from Michael Burus, the town planner, to accept the resignation of Mark Rasmusen from the
Climate Resilience Committee. >> Move we accept the resignation of Mark with regret. >> Second. >> Any discussion? All in favor? >> I. [clears throat] that's unanimous or with four sorry four in favor and one absent. Um so we have
the 2026 select board meeting calendar. So we have two options. Um the um so they looked at the second and fourth Mondays of every month, but then there were a bunch of um conflicts as usual with Monday holidays. So we have
option A that has 22 total meetings with nine 3-week breaks. or react asham B um with 23 meetings um with um three three-week breaks one of them and a meeting on Tuesday I think it's o it
says November but I think it's October 13 have a preference >> it is October >> madam chair is this in the uh the package one >> we had we had 3A the calendar 3a that
was in excel spreadsheet and 3B that was on um was more like a word document. >> 3B went in late today. That went in early afternoon. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> And what was the difference was um [cough] the it's just one fewer meeting, right?
>> Well, I had uh >> I know one more meeting like B. >> Yeah. And if I may continue, I I did have an earlier 2026 uh calendar and I was wondering how this uh these proposals compared to
that, but I hadn't I hadn't had a chance to look at it quite frankly. I did think the idea of having two meetings a month had some appeal, but after I looked at all of these, I couldn't really make up my mind. [laughter]
>> I also could not make up my mind. Does it make sense to have nine three-week breaks? Is that right? >> Yeah, that doesn't make sense. So, we have nine three-week breaks with one, but only three three-we breaks with the other, but it's still the same number of meetings. [laughter] >> Did you put this together? I didn't know
you put this together. >> I I put the second one together. I didn't Paula put the first one together. >> Do you know? And do you know what like the key difference is? >> It's It's mainly the three-week breaks. Let's see. >> I don't see how you nine then. >> Yeah. >> Doesn't make sense. There would be
two. >> The one that was in the Excel spreadsheet had >> three. >> Oh, it only had one meeting in the month of May. >> And [clears throat] one meeting in the month of October and then
>> I'm sorry, looks like six. That would be one. >> Oh, let me look at the number. That's >> three. Four. Five, six. >> I had one that had six nine 3-week
breaks. That was the earlier version that I referred to. >> No, I'm looking at nine. I'm still looking at nine. >> Nine. >> All right. So, which is the which is that one? >> Well, it's not I don't doesn't have a caption on it. It was one that uh it's the only one I have for 26.
>> And that's that's option A. It's the one with the yellow the yellow bubbles. >> Yeah, that's the first one. >> So that one the one that I'm have in front of me had six 3-w weekek breaks. I
in terms of doing that, we don't when we come back from a 3-week break, we never really get clobbered. It seems to be it's the same amount of work. >> Yeah. >> And and maybe that's that works with the workload that we have. or maybe [clears throat] >> I think that works better than trying to
maneuver all around the Monday holidays and do Tuesday meetings and stuff. >> Yeah, I that that can be tricky with all the standing meetings. >> So, I think I think if I'm looking at the option B calendar PDF here that um that has the red circles around it. So,
I think the yellow is the one that we had before, the ones that are the yellow. And then the red and then the the option B here is where you've circled with the red. The red circles is a is an alternative for B. >> That's the one in the in the package.
>> And B gets you one more meeting in October, I think, is what this gets you. >> Yeah. If you go with option A, the only change I would suggest is the December. Instead of the 28th, I'd go the 21st. Um, >> yes. >> All right. So,
>> let's let's do that. Let's do the yellow boxes except December 21st instead of 28th. >> Yeah, that makes more sense. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. Okay. >> All right. So, option A, except move the December ones around. If we need to have more meetings or something, we can
always schedule them. We We don't need to vote on that, do we? Do we need to? >> We have one to approve that. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> All right. All in favor? >> I >> I. So that's four in favor and one
absent. So that's the the yellow boxes plus except moving the 28th. >> Okay. [laughter] Next item we have is uh more fun. We have a request from Dana Stewart, the recreation director, to approve the
contract for renovations of the bsentennial park playground. We have Andrea Dunbar with us today. >> Good evening. Thank you. You want to hand out your Yes, I will. >> I forgot to warn you that for Sue's thing, we have to read the whole thing.
So, I'm electing you to read. >> Oh, you don't have it in front of you? I don't have enough. >> Never mind. I'll read it. >> You can give it to me. I'll read it. >> Oh, yeah. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Sue, do you have it in writing? What we
need to read? >> I do. [laughter] >> Thank you. >> That's page two. >> I always put my signature. You got to read the whole thing. >> Page one and two. >> Not for Not for this. >> No. Hey, J's just that one big thing. >> Okay, no problem.
>> All right, go ahead. Thank you. >> Yes. Good evening. Um uh as uh Madame Chair said, my name is Andrea Dunar. I am the um chair of the Westport Recreation Commission. I'm here on behalf of the department and the commission uh this evening to present to
you the plan for the bsentennial park playground. Um the hope is that we will um renovate this space in three phases. The first phase, which I'm here to talk to you about tonight, is the playground.
Um eventually, we would like to also renovate um phase two, which would include um fixing up the grounds, including fencing, um uh landscaping, pathways, walkways, etc. Um, and as
reflected, we do have $250,000 worth of um, CPA, Community Preservation Act funds in order to do that. Um, phase three is still to be determined. Um, there has been, uh, community reach out regarding what to do in this phase. Um,
but essentially that's still a work in progress, but we do hope to either replace the skate park or put in a new sports area. Um but getting to the why we're here tonight. Um regarding the playground. Um next slide please.
Um so this is a um aerial rendering of uh what the playground will look like. Um you can see that it is a modern soft spring-like colors. Um and it's all rubberized surfacing. So the rubberized
surfacing, we do have that at the annex playground as well. um is kind of the gold standard in terms of playgrounds and making it um ADA accessible and frankly um just better in terms of upkeep and maintenance. Um the colors
are green and tan. Um and we did this specifically to make it look like um the various structures are on grass with tan pathways um around them. And children can kind of use the pathways um as as kind of like a learning also um motor
experience. Um next slide please. So, this slide just gives you kind of um dimensions and um details what all of the equipment is. Um if you wanted to see a larger rendering of this, I have it. It's bigger. It's just kind of hard
to see on here. Um but it just gives you an idea of all of the pieces of the playground, all of the equipment that will be included um when the bu when the playground is put in. Next slide, please. So, if you look, um, one of the things
that we had hoped to accomplish with this playground was is that we wanted to include structures that would draw older children onto the playground. And um, so you'll see that there's a a large custom structure in the middle of the
playground. And this is for 5 to 12 year olds. So, it's a 12ft tower um that the kids can climb and go down two different tube slides. So there's kind of the windy slide and then on the other side which you'll see in a different rendering there's um another like kind
of straight down slide. Um it's connected by an 8ft archway climber. Um there's a 5-ft middle portion with a connecting bridge and roller slide. There's a 6ft end portion with double wave slide and musical panels. And then
there's a three-foot portion with connecting circle monkey bar climber. Um there's a tree trop treetop traverse bars to climb. Um and then there's an inclusive play area below the structure um on ground level for um for
handicapped children that u may not be able to climb. Next slide please. So this is a smaller um custom play structure. This would be for the ages of uh 2 to 5y olds. You'll see that there's
two 4ft platforms with a dragonfly connector. Um, we really wanted to get creative uh with this and include the dragonfly. It just kind of makes it kind of whimsical and and draws u more children into the space. There's also a
river rock climber which you'll you can see the the child climbing up. Um there's a double slide and a swerve slide. Um and again this includes an inclusive table play area which you can see um on the right over there.
Next slide please. Um in this slide you'll see that we've also included a whirl spinner. So this whirl spinner is also at the annex playground. And again it's um it's ADA compliant. It's inclusive. um you can
put a a wheelchair on the spinner and spin it around and frankly it's just it's a draw at the annex playground. So I think it's a good it's a good um piece of equipment to include in this playground as well. Um this is just a a further picture of
the tall tower. You can see the other slide um that you couldn't see as well in the other rendering. Um the other thing that this shows is the monkey bars. And again when we were in the initial planning phases of this
playground, we had put out um outreach to the community and to children at um like the holiday fair that the school runs to ask, you know, what equipment do you want to see? And um monkey bars was a very popular um popular request. So,
we were able to include that in this uh playground. Next slide, please. In this picture, if you look on the left, you'll see kind of a child standing on a little platform. Um, this
is called a solo spinner. Um, and essentially you move your body around and it spins around. Um, so we thought that was kind of a cool feature. Um, my favorite feature of this playground is the sway bench. So, if you look at to
the right, um, beyond the the slides, it's a bench. Um, and so parents can sit on the bench and it swings and you can swing with your children as well. So, that's just a way to draw, I think, you know, multiple generations into the
playground. Um the next slide you'll see um again this is a roller slide. Um we h again we have this roller slide at the annex playground. It's sensory um and it's frankly really popular. The kids really
love it. Um and so it just kind of gives sort of a different feeling um than a regular slide. So we included that as well. And then next uh in this uh rendering you can see
um you see the sort of sticks kind of sticking out of the ground. You can climb on those. Um and again it's just another fun piece of equipment. Something different than the annex playground. And um we think it will be really fun and and popular with the uh
with the children. On the next slide, you'll see um a large uh swing set. And so this is will include a handicap accessible swing. There'll be two regular swings um one
regular toddler swing and there'll also be a parent child swing where um a parent and a child can swing together. Um I think it's just obviously we all grew up with swings. They're still very popular. Um it's a great piece of equipment. Again, it's um
multigenerational. [clears throat] >> Yeah, that neat climbing thing too going on there. >> Yeah. Yeah. It's a really great um really great playground. Um and then in this this slide, you'll just see we have um the larger kind of swing slide or
excuse me, swing um kind of like a tire swing but not quite a tire. Um, and so that's uh again another popular piece of equipment. Um, just to point out um some of the ADA compliant exclusive inclusive features.
There's the rubberized surfacing. Um, we have the handicap accessible swing. We have the sway bench swing. Um, the dual parent toddler swing, the roller slide. Um, the transfer platforms on larger structure and smaller structure. We've
got the ingground whirl spinner. Um there's an inclusive table play area. There's the inclusive counter panel play area. So we've really tried to draw in um handicap children, able-bodied children. We've we've tried very hard to
make this very inclusive um to to capture um all members of our community. Um so getting to the budget um currently the uh the Westport Recreation Department and the Westport Recreation
Commission we have CPA funds of $534,126.64 64 cents for the bicesentennial um playground. The um contract and that includes the equipment freight and installation as well as the rubberized surfacing with
MRC game time is $499,862.91. The demo and removal of the old playground we are forecasting would cost us $0 as the highway department um has indicated that they could undertake this work and it would not be a cost for us to um have that completed.
Um just to give you some information, we're not um looking to have this portion approved at this point. Um but we have obtained quotes for preparation of the land for the new playground as well as the concrete curbing. Um we
would put concrete curbing around um the rubberized surfacing in order to uh make it flush and so that provides less opportunities for it to rip up or crumble or whatever. So um and we did that at the annex playground. It looks aesthetically pleasing as well. Um, so
we forecast that the entire cost will be between about $529,500 and about $537,000. At this time, we are just asking that the select board give permission for the town administrator andor for the
recreation direct director, Dana Stewart, to sign off on the MRC game time playground plan for the contract totaling $499,862.91. And we've included at the back of your packet the um the contract with MRC Game
Time and I invite invite any questions you might have. >> Thank you. You guys did a great job. I'm excited about this playground. >> I'm really excited about it as well. So is my daughter. >> More excited after you've seen the other one go in and how popular it is. >> I know. It's fantastic. It's so good to
see families there and you know I feel like every day in the summer that I drove by it was just like so many cars. It was really it's really great to see. >> Yeah. Anybody have any questions? >> Um Dick, you can go first. >> Dick, go ahead. >> Oh, I was just wondering about the
534,000. Was that approved in prior town meetings? Yes, that so um we submitted um applications to the C the CPC commission um and then those funds were approved at town meeting both in 2024
and 2025. >> Yeah, they sounded familiar. I just wanted to verify that. >> Yes, >> the money's there for this endeavor. >> Correct. The money is there. Yes, >> Jake. >> Uh thank you for the presentation. um not an easy undertaking uh by the
recreation commission to do that. So appreciate you spending the time and effort on that. Um when I think we had a discussion here with uh CP uh with the CPA funds, I made a comment and I will still make that comment uh that in the future that if we're going to spend
these resources and I just want this on record, this has nothing to do you with you that hopefully this area is not used as a staging area for any further water/ sewer. um in Westport when you spend half a million dollars. I hope that that is not used um in the future. So, I just
want that at least on the record uh with with respect to that. And I want to thank you for finding creative ways to save money like using the highway department and highway department's great. They're always willing to offer their services uh when needed to save the town money and resources. And then
also at least reaching out to Westport companies. I think that's uh that's key. if we can get Westport companies the uh the help and they can provide the uh the service for us, I think that's great. So, it's all I have. Thank you. >> Great. I would just echo that we also hope that it will be, you know,
preserved and remain pristine for generations to come. Um and obviously, you know, we um we are welcome to work with Westport companies and and do all we can to support small businesses in the town. Thank you. >> Anything else?
>> Motion to approve. Second. >> Do we have any discussion? >> All in favor? I >> I. So, it's four in favor and one. >> Thank you very much. Good luck. >> Thank you. >> Next one we have because apparently Bill
Chase is trying to get on our agenda every single meeting. It's good. He's busy over there. We have a request from Bill Chase, director of marine services to approve a proposal for GZA town dock feasibility study. Do you want to explain this one, Jim? >> Yeah. The uh Harbor Advisory through the
Harbor Master received a grant for $94,000 from the Seapport Economic Development Council. Um they're going to use those funds for um a study of the town docks and kind of a plan going forward as to what to do with them. So, this will include um review of project
management. Uh they'll do a topographic survey of the existing site. They will do above water and underwater inspections of the existing dock system down there in pilings. Uh they'll do geotechnical explorations on the docks and it's not these are not just uh wooden docks, concrete docks, filled
land down there. Um they will check the the data that's available as far as climate change and changes to the water levels and then they're going to evaluate the facility and come up with an improvement feasibility report uh going forward. And hopefully this is something that once a report is done, we
could apply for um additional SE port economic funds to actually do the work uh the repairs to the docks which are in need of improvements. >> So I'd recommend approval. >> Thank you. >> Just question chair. uh on that study,
will they be looking at because I know there's been uh ongoing battles between commercial fishing vessels and uh recreational ones at a dock down there since technically it should be a many opinion a commercial fishing uh dock and
space and all that. Will that be and that may not be something you can answer. Maybe Bill can answer it, but will there be an analysis on who's you know positioning and docks down there? >> I know Bill Havaster is looking at those issues right now. This study would be specific to the infrastructure.
>> Okay. Thank you. >> This is really a question for Jim, Madam Chair, regarding uh the parking down at the point. Does this I wouldn't say interfere with that that endeavor or that study or that conversation. I guess it >> it shouldn't. I think it's mainly the
condition of the the facilities that are down there now and how to improve them. >> The docks themselves. >> The docks. >> Yeah. Yeah. Okay. >> All right. Pleasure of the board. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Any further discussion? All in favor?
>> I. >> I. Those four in favor and one absence. >> We have a request from Sue Brighton, the treasurer collector, to approve the borrowing for the community loan program. Welcome, Sue.
Good evening. Let me explain what this is about. This is another clean water trust loan for $500,000 to provide septic betterment loans to
people who need to repair septic systems and cannot necessarily afford to do so. It they do have to repay the money. It is build on their um the repayment is build through the real estate taxes on
their tax bills over they select the time frame either five, 10 or 20 years. >> And is this something we renew every year or is it we run out of money and we have to do it? >> We have right now I think this will be
$2.5 million out in these loans. Some of it has been paid down over the years. Um but yes, the board of health issues the reviews the need forum and so forth will issue the funds to the people and then
it goes from there. The repayment schedule is managed through the assessor's collector, treasurer and accountants for the next 20 years. >> Thank you. Any questions? >> All right. Okay. So, this one has a very
specific motion that we have to make. So, >> yes, the vote >> has von been told that he's going to read this. >> I was unaware of this homework assignment prior to >> he's [laughter] going to read he will move the following. >> Bond council is very specific. [laughter] >> So, I'm reading the entirety of this.
>> Yes, please. >> No problem. I, the clerk of the select board of the town of Ma Westport, Massachusetts, certify that at the meeting of the board held November 17th, today 2025, of which meeting all members of the board were duly notified and at
which a quorum was present. The following vote was passed, all of which appears upon the official record of the board in my custody. And we'll go through this. voted one that the town shall issue a board or bonds in an aggregate principal amount
not to exceed $500,000 the bonds pursuant to chapter 29 C of 111 of the general laws and a vote of the town passed May 6th 2025 article 17 which authorized a total borrowing of
$500,000 for a community septic management loan program named the project. Two, that the terms of the financing agreement or agreements between the town and the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust, the trust, the financing agreement, and the project
regulatory agreement or agreements between the town and the department of environmental protection of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, DP, the project regulatory agreement, each relating to the notes and the bonds are hereby approved. Three, that in
anticipation of the issuance of the bonds, the treasurer is authorized to issue an interim loan note or notes the notes from time to time in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $500,000. Four, that each bond or note shall be
issued as a single registered security and sold to the trust at a price determined pursuant to the financing agreement. Five, that the treasurer is authorized to determine the date, the form, the maximum interest rate, and the principal
maturities of each bond and note, and to execute a financing agreement with the trust with respect to the sale of the bonds and notes, such date, form, and maturities, and the specific interest rate or rates of the bonds and notes to be approved by a majority of the select
board and the treasurer and and evidenced by their execution of the bonds. or notes. Six, that any certificates or documents relating to each bond and note collectively the documents may be executed in several
counterparts, each of which be regarded as an original and all of which shall constitute one and the same document. Delivery of an executed counterpart of the signature to a document by electronic
mail in a PDF file or by other electronic transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart signature page to such document. and electronic signatures on any of the documents shall be deemed original signatures for the purposes of
the documents and all matters relating there to having the same legal effect as original signatures. Seven, that all action taken to date by the town and its officers and agents to carry out the project and its financing,
including the execution of any loan commitment or agreement by the treasurer, are hereby ratified, approved, and confirmed. And eight, that the treasurer and the other appropriate town officials are each hereby authorized to take any and
all actions necessary or convenient to carry out the provisions of this vote, including execution and delivery of the financing agreement and the project regulatory agreement relating to the project. I further certify that the votes were taken at a meeting open to the public.
That no vote was taken by secret ballot. That a notice stating the place, date, time, and agenda for the meeting, which agenda included the adoption of the above votes, was filed with the town clerk, and a copy thereof posted in a
manner conspicuously visible to the public at all hours in or on the municipal building that the office of the town clerk is located. or if applicable in in accordance with an alternative method of notice prescribed or approved by the attorney general as
set forth in 940 CMR 29.032B 032B at least 48 hours not including Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays prior to the t time of the meeting and remain so posted at the time of the
meeting that no deliberations or decision in connection with the sale of the bonds or notes were taken in executive session and that the official record of the meeting was made available to the public promptly and remains available to the public all in
accordance with journal law do 30A 18-25 as amended. I further certify that the vote has not been amended, supplemented or revoked and remains in effect on this date.
>> So that was a motion. Do we have a second? >> Second. [laughter] >> Is there any is there any discussion? >> All in favor? >> I >> I as four in favor and one absent. >> Thank you. Mr. McGar. [laughter] >> Yes.
>> Uh what we're signing here is related to that. >> Yes. There are two other documents, an interim loan note and >> Yeah. >> And the certificate that need to be signed at this time. >> Yeah.
>> That what we just read cover all that? >> Yes. All those. Okay. Yes. >> And then to the uh signing by the majority of the board there's three items. The first is the first one which you have a note on. Then there's two more. There are two more copies to >> There should be two copies of
pretty much everything there. Um and they want wet signatures or actual signatures on all the copies. >> Yeah. So there's a total of three that are signed by the select board and two signed by the clerk. I think >> the first one and then the two at the back. >> Yes.
>> Okay. So that's I was wondering >> Sue. Do I need Am I signing this or is it part of that packet? >> It's part of that packet there. >> All right. Thank you. >> Well, I'll get this thing started as far as the >> Anything else for Sue? >> Do you wish not to sign it?
>> No. Have Jake take it next and then I'll sign up. >> Well, there is one there are three that require a majority of the board. Right. >> Correct. >> Okay. So we can we can sign those. The first one and the two at the back. >> Yes. The two at the back, I believe, are
the two for >> Okay. >> Yeah. You've got little notes here. Okay. >> Yep. [laughter] >> We do not want to mess that up and have to read it again. >> Right. I know. [laughter] >> That's why I'm being >> bond council's very particular print on singlesided. This I get my full
instructions from them. [laughter and gasps] >> All right. Do we want to move on or we want to wait and sign stuff? >> We just prepared this here. >> Um, all right. So, the next item that we have >> first and the last two >> the next
Are you ready? Do you want to wait? >> You don't want to mess this up. [laughter] >> Just a quick comment on that. This is a great program for the people that are >> looking to upgrade their septic systems, but it's a lot of work for the different departments, uh, especially the accounting and treasur's office. Um, you
got borrowers that pay early, you got borrowers that pay late, you got borrowers that don't pay at all. Um, and we're not really in the banking business. So, this is added features that they have to do to track these things. And every year we're getting more and more of these funds to do it and more and more loans going out. So, it's it's getting to be quite a project.
So, thank you. >> Thank you. I think [laughter] >> Thanks. You can get the Jake that's from last meeting. Mrs. Jake. [clears throat] >> Okay. So, I got this is three that
require majority. >> Next two I think are the clerk. Then the last two are us again. >> Okay. Do I have to sign the following page or just have one page just front? >> Not sure. I think it's just >> I think that's the whole >> petition.
>> Okay. >> All right. Do you mind if we signature? That's for >> um so the next item that we had is a discussion of the uh a request to approve the employment contract for Chris Vital. Vital, Vitali,
>> Vitali, >> Vitali, Chris Vitali to the position of town administrator. Um, so, uh, who Dick and Jake? Yes. Um, why don't you guys want to tell us kind of give us the highlights of the contract?
>> Wish. Go ahead. I I'll do it. >> No, go ahead. >> Okay. Well, we went through the contract, uh, Jake and I, with with Vernie Lynch, executive recruiter. Um and there were different drafts. Uh
there was a draft presented by Mr. Vitali. Um which interestingly we we felt comfortable with most of his recommendations. Um and a lot of the contract for Mr. Vitali mirrored the contract for Mr. Hardnett. Uh there are
a couple of things that we couldn't agree to but they they were minor. Um and what you have in front of you in the package is uh really the the agreement that we reached after after negotiation
after discussion. I don't know how much you want to go into that in terms of detail in the open session. Madam Chair, >> I mean I've I've read it all. I think um if if we're comfortable with it, then I don't think we need to go to executive, but if we want to have a detailed in-depth discussion, then we can do
that, too. So it's a matter of the board. No, I mean I I I had a chance to dare state it over then read it and felt comfortable with with
it as it was worded understood where some of the differences were and what and some of the things that that he wanted to insert or >> Yeah, I'm comfortable with the agreement that we had. Um is there anything you wanted to say to add? So, we obviously
had a similar, you know, agreement that was already in place with with Jim that we worked off as as the boiler plate as as Dick pointed out and obviously it was a negotiation with um Chris Vitali, you know, asking for things and and and we had meetings and and went back and forth
on that, but it was a pretty pretty smooth negotiation. I think everything's pretty self-explanatory and straightforward. So, uh there were really no stumbling blocks. It was probably a we had one one or two meetings and uh and had kind of an agreement after that in principle. So I
I don't see any real issues. I think the I mean the only issue for the general public and and even for Jim is that I think we were trying to get an earlier start date um of that contract. We were trying to get like you know maybe maybe a December one so so Jim could enjoy Christmas. Um the problem with that is
uh Mr. Vitali has a contract with uh the town of Dartmouth which obviously did not have it had basically a 60-day uh notice on that. So, we were not able to kind of get uh Chris in here any earlier than uh that we were looking for. So, I
believe the contract is dated I think December 29th, Jim, if I'm correct. Y >> So, that would be the that would be the start date for uh Chris Vitali here in Westport. >> So, you're recommending approval? >> Recommend approval. >> I would second that, Madam Chair. All right. Is there any discussion?
All in favor? >> I >> I uh So that's four in favor and one absent. So we will not need an executive session tonight. Um I did talk to Jim about um Jim, the contract we have with Jim is uh over at the end of December.
And in the event that we might want to have him available for um Chris for, you know, into January, we might need to have a contract extension to put him on like an hourly retainer or something like that. So, >> makes sense. >> Maybe we'll think about that in the next couple weeks about whether we that way
Jim can be paid if he gets called for advice, but not committed. Uh, okay. I think we're ready for Jeff Bull from the landing commission. Um, there's a request for design preference for the Hicks Bridge Landing
paved or gravel parking area. >> Thank you, sir. >> Welcome. >> Thank you. Uh, my name is Jeff Bull. I'm currently chair of the landing commission. Uh
we are pursuing completion of this design um and design approval for the select board and it's your final decision because it's primarily your landing. We're just assisting you with that. Um there are
multiple levels of approval by the state government and at some point the federal government and then also the conservation commission. At the first level, um the state regulator was concerned both
about the width of the boat ramp that is that it was going from 12 ft to 24 ft, which means that we would be covering a certain amount of beach and uh beach grasses. Um, and they
sort of felt like, well, gee, you know, you've got 12 ft now. Isn't that enough? We were like, well, no, the standard is 24 ft. So, what you're looking at here [clears throat] is 24 ft. Um,
in negotiation and in thinking about this ourselves and talking to people who use the boat ramp very regularly, our sense was that we were willing to back down to 18 ft rather than 24 ft. Uh, looking at the drawing, you can see that
I've penned in a red line down the middle of the boat ramp. That's the current 12 ft. So, um, so again, we'd be going to 18 ft and the people on the landing commission that
use the boat ramp regularly, uh, with large boats felt like 18 ft was adequate. So, we were happy to vote in approval of that. The other primary concern that the regulatory agency had
was paving. Um [clears throat] uh our GZA our engineer went back and forth with them quite a bit about this. People in general should know that a gravel or dirt park won't be really be gravel. It'll be a dirt parking lot and
what it is now. If we don't pave is really 95% impermeable. Water really doesn't go into that far into a dirt parking lot. that fills up pretty quickly um and then runs off,
which is what we've been doing for decades and running off large amounts of sand and dirt into the river. We've actually created sand bars on the south side of the boat ramp, which makes all of this construction more difficult. Uh
which is why we went for paving. Um, so the landing commission chose not to vote. While we did vote to approve an 18t boat ramp, but which again is your final decision, uh, we weren't
comfortable voting about dirt or paving. Uh, we really felt that that was a decision that you folks will need to make at some point. You don't necessarily have to make it tonight. Um [clears throat] the
uh paving is much easier to maintain long term and probably long term maybe through 20 or 30 years is about the same cost because you don't have to regrade it. It's also easier to write
parking tickets for larger amounts of money on a paved parking lot because people need to park between the stripes. Um and beyond that costwise there would be less dust in the dry months and um
environmentally dramatically less runoff of sediment and then also chemicals into the river. I mean, vehicles leak oil and gasoline, uh, as do boats coming out of the water sometimes, and typically, if it's a a dirt parking lot, a lot of that
will wash into the river, as has been going on for years. And the watershed association was strongly in favor of paving, even though some people in the public sort of like the way it looks currently. Um
[clears throat] the other advantage of paving is we have more options for grant applications. Um because we'll be doing a lot more environmentally. U you can see in the center of the drawing there's a storm water infiltration system. It's the
grided thing that runs across the parking lot. That would be gone. You can't do that in a dirt parking lot. you can't contain the water um and and move it to a rain garden which was the intention of this plan.
Uh the other advantage of paving is that there are more parking places. The utilization is better because people park between are kind of expected to park between the lines and remarkably people do park between the lines when you give them lines and if they don't
then you can also write them a ticket even if they have a permit. Um so then sometimes people learn to park between the lines. Uh the disadvantage is that the project
will be about $500,000 cheaper without paving. it. So, uh, currently we are moving ahead with the design and grant applications and are kind of moving along with paving
as an option. Um, so, uh, again, I don't know exactly how many parking places we would lose. That would depend really on how people park from day to day. uh we've seen much greater utilization down at the the Westport
point now that it's striped. So that's where we are. So you need to be thinking about being comfortable with an 18t ramp and just some opinion about paving. I I will also mention to the
public in general that the recent article in the shorelines about this being a multi-million dollar project was inaccurate. That's not true. It will be fewer millions, but still
[laughter] >> not as multi as the shoreline said. >> Yeah. I mean, we we don't have any original, you know, pricing. I mean, we it it'll be, you know, with paving it'll probably be 1.3, but we really don't know until we get a final plan and then
start going out to bid. And also, it's already $200,000 more expensive than it was when we expected to do this during COVID time and there's less grant money, so who knows? >> So, can you just remind us like where we
are in the in the process here? Like like this is a design this is a design plan, right? So what's the what's the we have somebody doing this design for us? Yep. >> What's the next step after that? >> Permitting and that's where we that's why I'm here
today is the first permitting person pushed back pretty hard about paving and about the width of the boat ramp. Um so we are you know we'll go through yet another state regulatory commission will
go before the um the army corps about how much are we blocking the bridge uh you know with the floats um and then finally to the conservation commission. And at the same
time we are starting to apply for grants. We've let out an application for a couple hundred,000 this week. This week, [clears throat] excuse me. And but we are yet, we don't really have a final enough plan to go back to the uh Mass
Seapport Council for the larger amount of money for this. >> All right. So then um so you're just looking so as you're going out to start the permitting process, you're wanting to understand our preferences for the for the design. >> Mhm.
>> Whether paving and but but you also said that you could say paving optional, but like at what point do you need a decision to get the bid, right? >> I I don't know. I mean that'll partially be an issue with how much grant money we
get. Yeah. >> Uh, but we're also able to apply for additional grants if we're doing additional good environmental work. >> I see. All right. Jim, did you have something? >> I was just going to say as you go through work your way through the permitting process, the state or the
Army Corps or the local conservation commission is going to have requirements and hopefully, you know, they will weigh in on whether it should be paved or gravel. But um >> I think >> if if we push one way or another that will go a long way. Um
>> so I personally like the paving, but I also not part of I don't know that much about the conservation aspect of it, but I the parking I think makes a lot more sense and I think the maintenance makes a lot more sense. >> I think we talked last summer we were having issues with parking and so by by
by having paved and having the lines it might make it um easier to regulate You also got some pretty heavy vehicles, heavy boats. I It's not a We're limited as to the design. Uh we only have the one entrance, one exit. Um so you're
going to have a lot of turning movements in that parking lot. So with those heavy vehicles, if you have gravel in there, it's going to get beat up pretty quick. Um offseason also, it will get used less for people doing donuts at night. You
can see it's ext extraordinarily torn up right now because someone's been out there having fun. >> I don't know. They might have. [laughter] >> Madam Chair, just a quick question. So Jeff, can you explain to me how or why
the landing commission did not take a vote? What were the issues on them not taking a vote between the asphalt and the gravel parking lot? Because I would figure that would fall kind of in your purview with the plan that you're putting forth. There's a pretty strong feeling on the
landing commission, the select board and whatever administrative help you have need to really start taking ownership of this project. And so they asked me to come here. >> Okay. >> I asked them to take a vote. They said,
"We're not really comfortable." >> Okay. Were there were there reasons other than let's let the select board make the decision or was it >> did they have issues with someone and asphalt someone in a gravel or is it just let the select board make that decision?
[sighs] >> Didn't really take a didn't pull the group. >> Okay. um you know that's potentially an easier I mean if if we have to go for some matching funds which is a possibility we've already secured some matching
funds um it's certainly an easier sell a town meeting um on the other hand you know because oftentimes Westport will do something which in the long term is more expensive even though we face that all the time in this town
so it's an easier sell But there was also some concern about um the environmental aspects and because people have stood there some people on the landing commission use that landing regularly and you stand there in a heavy rain and you just wash you watch the
dirt just wash into the river. It's like it's pretty remarkable. And there the feeling was that if we go back with more documentation to some of the environmental regulators and show them
really what has happened so they really understand uh the reality. I mean this is not like a landing on flat land. This is a hole in the ground u and there's so there's a significant runoff from three
sides of the landing. Um so it's it would be different if this was just on a flat plane someplace. Um so that you know the sense was we could go back and the consulting engineer felt even though he pushed fairly hard for it he didn't
want to burn his bridges with the first level of regulation. >> Just one more question. So, you're saying that the total may be like 1.3 million. And are we saying that basically 500,000 of that would be from paving that asphalt park uh parking lot?
>> Yeah. It's not just the asphalt. >> Well, it's a storm water. It's >> that I mean that that gritted thing that's 250 grand just for that. >> Okay. >> Uh so it you know it may be 1.5. I really have no idea. That is not my expertise. We have not started the any
kind of I mean the GZA will be able to give us a better number. Um, >> but the idea here, so, so I mean to your point, just to kind of emphasize on that. So the idea isn't just that it's paving, it's also allows this this subsurface infiltration system to direct
to a rain garden is what is what, >> right? The section north of that would be, you know, either way it will be uh dug out and turned into a treatment area and then all the existing
uh ducks and stuff will be fixed. Um it just won't be nearly as functional without redirecting the water cuz gravity wins. I I think my concern right now is obviously we're so early on in the
process here of deciding you know kind of finished goods of this of the landing. Uh as you mentioned conservation commission and and you know talking to you know you'll have to talk to obviously Chris and go through the permitting process with conservation and and whether this even complies with um
you know storm water uh management for the site. Um you know we don't know just by looking at this or or by you know kind of the asphalt. So, not entirely sure a decision needs to be made on this tonight. Um, there's a lot of permitting. There's a lot to go forward with this. Um, but that's just my my
thought. >> I mean, I think if you're going to go out for bid, you'd want it both way. You'd want both options. You'd want the option with the paving and you'd want the option without, and then you decide if you can get the money. Yep. For >> one or the other. That's what I So, I think you should kind of pursue both
>> and see where the funding takes you. >> I would agree with that. All right. So, we didn't do we need a vote on anything? >> Well, I think similar to what Mr. Hartnett said, "If you have an opinion one way or the other, if you would
prefer, assuming we can get the money, the more environmentally conscious way of doing this, it would probably weigh some with our, you know, with the with the regulatory bodies at the state." But they realized
like it's not just four people. The landing commissioner was actually the governing body of the town preferred it with the storm water the more rigorous storm water treatment >> anything that is >> yeah I mean it doesn't mean we're going
to end up doing it it's just an an opinion >> so I mean so you are asking us to take a vote because I'm just trying to understand what you but this is not a f what I'm saying is this is not a final vote this is going to go through >> right you're multiple changes plans,
right? >> This will go through multiple changes. This will just >> Can I Can I >> play with the motion? >> You may. >> I move that we um develop direct the the landing commission to develop an RFP
uh that would present two potential options and pricing uh to to appropriate vendors for pricing uh for those options. Could I amend that as well? >> Is your proposal >> just pursuant to
um you know permitting from local conservation on that? >> Right. >> Because I think the concern I see with just this is the storm >> also subject to regulatory approval. I mean that's yeah >> the the understanding is we we need to what I'm what I understand you saying to
us Jeff is you're saying it's probably good to come in with your preference. >> Mhm. And but if if if the pricing be gets scary or the um the the the you're getting mixed messages from different
regulatory bodies, then we have to evaluate that that kind of input going forward. And one board could say, well, now we prefer not to disturb the whatever. another board would say no by
having you know this we would protect the what I mean but I I I could almost sometimes see that you get three different regulatory bodies right maybe four >> yeah at least three >> yeah and and I would expect oh yeah more
than yeah at least four and I would expect also that the design details are going to change dramatically so that an RFP at this point would be pretty be, you know, that's going to cost some
money to do do and I'm not sure how valuable it's going to be as far as, you know, I think more what we're looking for is a preference so that we can go to the people that so I >> you can ask for that and we can spend a few thousand dollars pulling that together maybe. I I don't know how much
these things cost. >> Maybe if there was a preference for paving but keep the gravel option open as we move further along with the design, we can evaluate both. and present that to the board if >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Because when we get closer then that's [clears throat] the point at which you
know we and we'll also you know we're going to be hearing about some grant money pretty soon too. So uh >> well that's what I'm thinking is you're going to need we need if if you think it's going to be helpful for us to be weighing in on some level for grant
writing purposes. It's in all of our interest to try to um to maximize outside resources >> um as opposed to having to >> finance this ourselves.
>> So then where does that leave us with motion then? I'm confused because your motion was the RFP, but I think we >> I think we should Yeah, >> maybe proceed with a proceed with the permitting process
with a preference for the paving with the option for >> Yes. [clears throat] >> You got something like that? >> You'll figure that out for us? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Okay. So, do I understand that you're
still asking for RFPs? >> No. >> Thank you. >> We're proceeding with the design, proceeding with the permitting bodies. >> Thank you. >> Yes. There we go. [laughter] So, we're proceeding with the permitting bodies with preference for paving with the option for
the option for not paying and we'll see how the regulatory agencies weigh in. Okay? >> And that'll give you the tools you need to write grants. >> That will help. Okay. >> All right. So, we have a motion from Craig. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> All right. Any discussion?
>> Madam Chair, just before we we take a vote, I'm probably going to vote in opposition for this because I'm not educated enough and on this as to where the public feels and where the boating public feels with respect to the the asphalt or the gravel or even for the environmental impacts um that'll come
before conservation. So, I'm just on the record. I'm going to just oppose it today because I'm just I'm not entirely sure the direction this early in the process why technically a decision needs to be made on this. Thank you. >> Okay. All in favor? >> I
>> I and opposed. So, we have um three in favor, one opposed, and one absence. Thank you. >> Anything else going on you want to talk about? Um just personally since we perhaps have a larger audience here than watches
landing commission meetings although I'm always surprised that people approach me at le or wherever say oh I've seen you on TV and I'm like really my term's up this spring and so anyone that's interested in being on the landing commission and taking on some
things this project [laughter] >> well this project is really should become from your project and you should be thinking seriously about, you know, engaging the marine services director. Certainly the planning board's taking a pretty strong role in this. I'm
willing to help out some with it even after I don't re-up, but I know for the last four years I've had to beg people to be on the landing commission. I've had to get their I've had to collect signatures for them.
So, you know, we want enough people there so we actually have a quorum so we can actually do business like leases and things. So, >> well, at one point we talked about possibly dissolving the landing commission. >> We did. >> We're one of the very few community like there's only like two communities in
Massachusetts that have one, right? >> Something like that. Yep. But that's a much more complicated process. >> Yes, it is. [laughter] >> All right. >> So, thank you. Anyone who uses the landing ought to think about maybe helping out, >> volunteering, signing up.
>> I don't think it would be a heated election. You never know. >> Typically not. [laughter] >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Um the town administrator report. >> Yeah, just another quick update on the HVAC. We have heat in the basement. We
have heat on the first floor. Second floor was supposed to get heat this week. Um so they are on schedule. And when I say we have heat, they are they are hooked up and working, but they are not controlled yet with our thermostats. So the contractor is controlling the heat. So um you know, we're still
looking at probably 4 to 8 weeks before the project is complete. If you happen to walk down in the basement, you can see how involved this process was, much more than I anticipated when we originally started. Um free cash certification. Free cash was certified as of July 1st,
2025. the general fund at um3,641,362, the harbor enterprise fund at $148,823. the waterline enterprise fund at 124697. Um that was actually you'll see that's reduced from the previous year quite a bit because uh we used a portion of that
150,000 roughly um which would go towards the mediation of the old water billing with Fall River. Um, and the enterprise fund for the beach is $281,026. Um, if I did put a memo in there with the report that kind of describes where
the free cash comes from, uh, we had department turnbacks of about $2 million, local receipts of 1.5, additional state aid over what was estimated was $184,000 and last year we carried over some free cash 383,000.
That brought us up to about 4.2 million. And then you deduct some of the other receivables, overdrawn accounts, deficits. Um, if we have grants that have not we've not re received reimbursements for, those go get charged against the free cash, which brings you around to the 3.6. It's not an exact
match because there's some other factors in there, but um, that gets you pretty close to where we are with free cash. With the packet is also the local receipts from 2025 with the turnback numbers that you can look at when when you get a chance. Um
the incumb waterloop project uh the streets were paved last week or the week before. Um the side streets uh route six the patching has been completed. Uh striping was done I don't know if it was done over the weekend. I thought it was supposed to be done this week but it's it's been done on road. So um I think
things have improved quite a bit up there. I know it's been a long haul for the residents in that area and we appreciate their patience. Um but we're getting close. We have I think five or six services connections that have to be done along Route Six and um we have a um
blow off a pressure reducing valve in Route Six that uh we just need training on [snorts] and that's the majority of it. Some minor striping in Route Six, but mainly punch list items in that project now. So there's one project that we're happy to be done with.
>> Yeah. Anything for Jim? All right. Thank you. >> [clears throat] >> Um the next item we have is the minutes from November 3rd. >> Motion approved November 3rd me uh minutes. Second. >> Is there any discussion? All in favor?
>> I >> I that's four in favor one. The report on the bill warrant. >> Yes, that was included in the package and uh uh $3 million I believe it was. there there were no issues and it was uh
everything was in order and that's what the report reflected madam chair. >> Great. Thank you. Um so then we have uh committee reports or suggestion for future agenda items. Craig, you want to start? >> Um the affordable housing trust um is
meeting uh this week as it is the uh uh opioid settlement advisory committee. So, one's meeting on Tuesday and the other one's meeting on Wednesday. >> Thank you, Dick. >> So, I'll have something to report at the next meeting. >> Okay.
>> So, Jake and I had something that wasn't technically, I guess, a committee meeting. Uh although I'm on the ADA transition committee, but we were invited to uh honor the highway department at the behest of uh the
disability commission. And we had a little breakfast over at the highway this morning kind of myself and Jake representing the select board. Um so that I thought I'd mention that they do great work and uh they the people on the disability commission were
honoring them for many years of service in terms of helping with uh projects that that were helpful to disabled people in terms of using town property for various incundary reasons. So that was a nice event. uh capital
improvements planning committee is uh going strong. We have a an important meeting this week on Wednesday as we have all the projects listed. There's a couple of more that were added. Jim points out to us, but we're starting to rank them and that that process might
take a little long and we will be done by four o'clock for your meeting. Okay. And um I do continue to attend uh both the landing commission meetings and as leison and the council on aging. There's a council on aging interestingly is
having the first time it's it's meeting it's I call it I call it board of directors but it's really the council on aging here the first time and to have the meetings recorded. They weren't doing that before and then the the room we were using over at the council on aging was was quite noisy people coming
in and going. So, it was decided by the council to move here and I think that would be a positive thing and then it'll be taped and it would be more of an opportunity for the public to see what is going on and the good thing is the council on aging is doing. So, I wanted to put that out there as a public
service announcement. And that's it. >> Thank you. I was going to we um we're supposed to have a climate resilience committee meeting on Thursday, but I don't see it posted on >> You're right. It was th it's supposed to be Thursday. >> It was supposed to be on the 20th >> at 5:00 >> at 5:00, but I don't I don't see the
posting. So, I think we're having climate resilience today >> on Thursday evening. >> Thursday evening. I think >> I think that's following up on the plan that they're >> It's following up on it's um I think it's going to be a like just amazingly fascinating meeting where we're going to talk about how to wait.
>> Oh, that's right. The weighted average >> the weighted averages and what kind of weighted averages to use and things like that. So, should be engrossing. >> [gasps] >> Is it what? >> At the annex. >> At the an it'll be at the annex if it's it's posted. Um so I don't have anything
else. >> No updates on Dick covered this morning's breakfast with highway department. Well, so it was good event. Thank you. >> Okay. Um we don't have anyone in the public. Anybody have anything any other comments? We have a number of vacancies.
you Jeff mentioned an elected potentially elected seat um open in April, but we have all kinds of commissions and >> committees for people who are interested. Come contact one of us and we'll put you in touch with people. >> Not not to believe that, but Jeff was talking about that. I mean, we've got
vacancies all the time. So, getting the public to get involved and volunteers. >> Even if it doesn't look like there's a vacancy, there might be people who are like praying that someone will come and volunteer to take their spot. So, [laughter] so don't be shy. All right.
Uh, I think we're done then. Motion to adjurnn. >> Motion to adjurnn. Second. All in favor? I. I. That's four in favor. One absent. Thank you.