And I'm going to call the meeting to order. Will you join me in the pledge of allegiance? >> I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. [clears throat] Good evening and welcome to the Monday, December 1, 2025 meeting of the Westport Select Board. Under Mass General Law, chapter 38, section 20F, this meeting is being recorded. Um I don't have a lot in the terms of welcome comments. We do
have um our next meeting will be on um two weeks from today on December 15. That'll be our last meeting of the year, I think. And we're not having a meeting on 29th, right? So December 15 will be our last meeting of the year. Um I just want to remind everyone that on Sunday,
December 7, um the Westport Recreation and I I think the Land Conservation Trust um are having the treelighting event. So at Westport Woods. So on Sunday, December 7 from 3:00 to 5:00 at Westport Woods. It's a great event. The police usually there, the fire
department's there. It's a good time. So um is there anything else before we start? >> That's it. >> Okay. Um the first item that we have on agenda is the from uh police chief Christopher Dunn um to present some awards. >> Yes. Thank you.
>> Welcome Chief. Appreciate it. >> A nice Thanksgiving. >> Same to you. >> So within the year we look to see if we can nominate certain officers for things that they've done throughout the year. So, uh, it's my pleasure to present
Detective Michelle Dunovan to the Westbrook Sled Board tonight as a recipient of the community service award. This nomination submitted by Sergeant Fernando Gonzalez near unanimously approved by the Westwalk Police Combination Awards Committee recognizes Detective Dunovan's exceptional dedication and personal commitment to our community. Detective
Dunovan consistently donates her own time at no cost to the town by participating nu numerous events that strengthen the bond between the police department and the public. Her efforts reflect beyond Westport, reflecting a genuine passion for service and community engagement. Detective Donovan is a ro role model for her peers and
truly embodies the spirit of public service. It's an honor to recognize her in this well-deserved award. So, just to break down the award, um she constantly donates, I guess, donates her own time for different um organizations within our community by representing our department. Touch a truck, National
Night Out. um is something that um she's consistently done throughout the years and I felt this award was warranted and I appreciate the nomination by Sergeant Gonzoff. So without further ado, Detective Dun, [applause] >> do you want to do them both? >> Sure.
>> Do you want to do them both at the same time or >> uh it's the pleasure of you? >> Let's do P that we want to get all stand up for pictures if you don't mind. >> Then we'll get for pictures and it'll be easier. So just as much with detective Donovan donated time volunteering time to community, the same goes for officer
Shawn Munzing. So it's my pleasure to prevent present officer Shawn Munzing to the Westport select board as a recipient of the community service award. This nomination submitted by officer Sergeant Fernando Gonzalez in unity approved by the Westport Police Accommodation Awards Committee recognizes Officer Munzing's exceptional dedication and personal
commitment to our community. Officer Munzing consistently donates his own time at no cost of town, participating in numerous events that strengthen the bond between the police department and the public. His efforts extend beyond Westport, reflect his genuine passion in uh for service and community engagement.
Officer Munzing is a role model to his peers and truly embodies the spirit of public service. It's an honor to recognize him with his well-deserved event. Just as much as Detective Dunovan, Officer Munzing goes to just as many um events within town volunteering his own time. So, it's my pleasure to present offic
[applause] I should have asked um I should have asked if you wanted to say anything. Did you want to say anything? No. >> No. Okay. [laughter] >> Like most police officers, we don't like to Yeah, we tend to speak a lot. [laughter] >> All right. And you have one more. >> I do. So, this is a chief's commendation, and this is something very
um touching to me. Um, Officer Dave Simco is receiving the chief's commendation for his continued dedication and selfless service to our to the Westport Police Department following his retirement. His willingness to assist around the station, support officers, and contribute to daily operations reflect the higher standards of commitment and
professionalism. Officer Simco's ongoing involvement reminds us to value uh the honors value, honor, integrity, and service do not end with retirement. They live on the strength of his example and leadership. The men and women of the department extend their sincere appreciation for his time and generosity
and unwavering support for our mission, our community. I'm sure everybody here knows Officer Simco. He's been here for quite some time. Uh he helps myself and Deputy Rebello quite a bit around the station. Recently had the um lightning strike and he took the lead which was
huge for us. He pretty much said, "I have it." So we have a snowstorm, he's there. We have a heating problem, he's there. We have an AC problem, he's always there. He's always we can always count on him to be there and I thought it was very um something we should do to honor him for his continued support for
our department, our town. So, it's officer David. [applause] >> So, I know I joined the whole board in saying thank you for your service to our community. Thank you for the work that you do and I'm really glad that you're getting some recognition for it. >> Yes. Does anybody want to say anything
before we >> just congratulations to the fine work? >> So we we have um some pins. >> Yes, combination pins. >> So um we want to gather for pictures. So it's very full room I guess maybe right
here. So let's um board join me. >> Let's squeeze in. I don't know. We haven't done that. Grab one. >> Sure. >> This one is for you. >> Thank you so much. Did you want to just turn around this
way? >> It's not a great Thank you very much. It's >> like a reverse. >> You guys welcome to stay. This is a public meeting, but I appreciate it. You want to just don't um talk.
>> You guys want to I think you might want to thank Did you have anything else? >> So, just a few things if I have a moment. Y um >> I'm glad to say we had uneventful Thanksgiving. We hear of the tragedies that go on for Thanksgiving and the
Thanksgiving weekend. Our town was uneventful, which is always great to hear, great to say. Just a few things. Um through Detective Dunovan, the women's shelter drive for clothing for women's kids, makeup gift cards, arts and crafts and supplies that ends on December 19th. We have a box in the
foyer of the police department. If they make come and make a donation, that would be great. Along with again with Detective Dunovan, the food drive that we have where all the proceeds go to the Westport food pantry for perishable items that ends this week. Uh our school resources are hard at work. Uh SRO um
Pachico is holding an event at the end of the month for stuffed animals to hand out for children at the MAC. SRO Davis is working with the schools to assist with presents for some students. Uh we do have a graduation coming up January 16th for two for two of our recruits. They enter the field training process
for 12 weeks after that. Um and just one thing I want to make sure that we can get out there with the holidays arriving with um the postal service, FedEx, UPS, people drop off their u stuff in the front. I just want to make sure people are aware and diligent of retrieving
their items before somebody drives by and takes them. And if they do, by all means, please give us a call. and if there's any suspicious vehicles that they think might be in the neighborhood to also give us a call when it comes to that. >> All right. Thank you. And >> that's all we have to report for the police department. All >> right. Thank you, Chief. >> Thank you. >> Good to have a nice night. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Okay. The next item we have um pursuant to Mass General Law Chapter 40 section 56 a discussion with the assessors and vote for the percentage of the local tax levy to be borne by each class of property for fiscal year 2026. It should
be 2026 or 2027. >> 26, right? >> Mhm. >> Okay. Hi, Steve. Welcome. >> How you doing? Steve Maderas, chairman of the board of the Westport Assessors. Uh we come to you tonight as a board to this classification here. And if you'd
open up your packet, you'll see that not a lot of changes happened um in the classes of um what we have. Um all the real and personal property is about 6.9
um 6.9%. Um the average single valley home went up about 5%. The aggre tax bill went up around 3%. Um our tax rate because of the higher
values uh has gone from 745 will be 728 this year. The values go up a little bit the rate generally goes down. Um the levy went up about uh $1.8 million I guess about 4 and a.5% the levy went up.
New growth was down quite a bit. It was down almost 17%. I think if you looked around town a little less houses were built this year has been in the past. So we lost about um 90 80 $90,000 in new growth.
So the percentages are kind of stayed about the same. Uh if you go to the next page, you will see that the residential makes up 92% of our tax base. Okay. Uh the CIP, which is the commercial, industrial, personal property,
commercial, industrial, and personal property is only 8%. So, if what if if people don't understand what we're here for today, you can take uh and shift the burden onto the other classes other than the um residential and you can do a shift of up
to 1.5%. Um, if you look at that, uh, handout, if you looked up there, um, if we did do the shifts, uh, if you looked at it, um, let's see, it it would shift it to like
6.9 for the residential, but the commercial would jump up to like 10.89 if you went all the way. And to put that in dollars, you know, it uh it would make a big big um difference on the commercial and the industrial and the
personal property and really not that that much change for the average single family home. Uh if you look at the trends of um on the next page, if you look at the trends of where our values of homes have gone
from, we start on that block at 217. uh you'll see the value of the average home single family home is around $400,000. In 2026 that number is $6,000 677,000
$400. So I mean there's a jump of $270ome,000 in what 6 years you know uh some interesting facts on those the the um amount of sales that we're using which would be 23 24 and 25 sales which would
be our base of 204 sales in this town out of them the average sale was $765,000 on the houses that have been sold in this town in the last few is another interesting fact we came across uh in
2020, 5 years ago, the percentage of the houses in this town that were valued single family homes. Now, the percentage of the single family homes in this town that were over a million dollars were 4.9%. In 2026, what do you think the
percentage of houses over a million dollars are >> in a 5year period? >> It's now 13.4%. So that went up about 300%. The uh houses that are valued over a million dollars, single family homes now. So there it is. The average home
now is worth about 765,000. Therefore, with the value going up, the rate did come down a little bit. It'll be coming down uh from 745 to 728. If you look on the next page, it shows the um the R RCIP, the residential and
the CIP factors. Uh if you take a look at what the rate is now at a if we go with a a value of one, um it would be $7.28. The average single family tax bill would be $4,900. If we were to shift that burden to the
1.5, the full we could do on the CIP, it would bring it down to 697 and it would bring it down like $4,721. So just about a $200 savings for every taxpayer. Now, if you own commercial industrial property, your average bill
now is about 5,600. That would jump to $8,400. You know, the difference of $2,800. So residents would save about 200 bucks, but the people that own the industrial commercial property, their bill would jump about $2,800 just because there's
only 8% of them and there's 92% of the residential. So we feel uh where we are in other towns in our, you know, our size uh that have that those kind of percentages stay with a single rate. We think we should go with a factor of one.
Board unanimously agreed on that. Uh if you wanted to look on the last page is basically um you know shows uh what the maximum levy has gone up. Um new growth has gone down a little bit
and uh you know bringing all those factors together we we just feel we should stay with a a single tax rate. >> Are there any questions? >> Thank you. I think you laid it out very nicely. So, I know a lot of people have a hard time understanding that just
because your valuation goes up, the town isn't getting significantly more money. It's the the total levy that >> it's all based on what the levy is, you know, >> and the levy, I mean, >> I don't think we've not used 2 and 12% since the establishment of 2 and 1/2. So, the levy can go up to a maximum of 2
and a.5% plus any debt exclusions and or uh levy, you know, um overrides that go through. >> And then the action you're looking for us today is to vote to keep the local tax levy at factor of one. That's the
the >> treat all the classes the same. >> Okay. Anybody from the board have any? And I'll put that in the form of a motion to accept the assessor's recommendation to have the local tax levy at a factor of one. >> Do I have a second? >> I'll second that.
>> Okay. Did you have >> I just had a a question and you may not know this or or you know or you may not have the data and this is just for my own edification. What uh do we have a a percentage of full-time residents versus seasonal residents um
>> here in town? if Theo knows that number at the top of her head. >> Well, we don't yet. Um, only >> Sorry, Theo. You and Can you go to a mic, please? >> Thank you. >> Well, I couldn't at this time, we couldn't really give you an accurate number only because we are still
researching uh who are the full-time residents who actually lives at the property that they actually own versus just um you know, maybe their second home. In order to do that, we have to research all the deeds, make sure that that is their property, that's where they live. Um, but my guess would be
around probably about 60% maybe based on what we have so far. >> And and I know there are other municipalities or local cities and towns in Massachusetts and other areas that do it different tax rates. Is that something that you would look at with respect to whether
>> as far as doing the the shift to the CIP, you're saying, >> or shift to full-time versus part-time residents? >> Yeah. Um, how I personally feel on that, and this isn't the board, this is how I feel about that. Um, the people that are coming here in summer homes, basically,
they're water influenced. They're the point, they're the harbor, they're on the ponds, they're paying a higher value on those properties already. So, they're getting the biggest tax bills as it is. >> Uh, [clears throat] when something in this town goes down, they don't live here. They don't have the right to vote on that,
>> you know. So, something goes in that's going to cost them money. They're the higher taxpayer, but they don't have any vote on that. I mean, to go back what this country was built on, taxation without representation. So, I don't feel um you know, a residential exemption would do any good for this town. Uh
there have been some towns that went to it and it turned into a nightmare and they they came back to it. I know it's been kicked around with, you know, various people talking about a residential exemption, but um like I say, based on how I feel, not the board,
that's how I feel about it. >> Just a argument to that lodging taxes and occupancy tax for hotels. That's you could also say that's tax representation. >> Just to clarify, >> separate that's a separate issue. [laughter] >> There anything else from the board?
This is a public hearing. Does anyone from the public have any comments? Seeing none, so we have a motion in a second to um to set the local tax levy um at for fiscal year 26 at um one. And
all in favor? >> I oppose. So that's uh unanimous. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anything else that we need to know about? >> Um just as a board and as myself, I'd like to thank Jim for his service here. I know he'll be leaving soon. Uh, I've
been serving on boards in this town for over 30 years and I can easily say he's the best town administrator we've ever had by far and you'll be sadly missed. Thank you for a good job. >> Thank you. I appreciate it. >> Thank you, Steve. Thank you, assessors
and Theo. Um, the next item we have on agenda is a petition from Massachusetts Electric doing business as National Grid and Verizon New England, Inc. to relocate one pole jointly owned on Tickle Road and Robert Street. Also, permission to lay and maintain underground laterals,
cables, and wires in the above or intersecting public ways. So, I think we have a representative here from National Grid. >> Welcome. Can you just introduce yourself? >> Good evening. Uh my name is Aaron Roy, uh representing National Grid at 1250
Braen Point Road in Somerset. Um this first uh first location, it was one of two. >> Just one second. >> Sure. >> Hey, Steve. >> Okay. Go ahead. Go ahead. >> All right. So, uh this first location uh of two um is an existing pole 54, which
is the first pole on uh the east side of Tickle Road. Um coming from um Route 177. Um we're requesting to relocate that that pole approximately uh 46 ft 45 46 ft uh north of its existing location.
Um this this project both both poles on uh this petition hearing are due to um the rotary requal uh at the intersection of 177 and um Tickle Road Robert Street. Um the second location um I don't know if you wanted
to introduce that one. I think you just introduced the the first one at Tickle Road, but there is a second one at Robert Street. Um, is it on? Yeah. Right. So, the second picture to the right uh pole uh poll one, which is a new a new um jointly
owned pole set um that we're requesting also due um to the proposal of the rotary. We're just rerouting our um over to overhead lines um from would be the east side to the west side of of Robert Street would be coming diagonally across
um that uh that piece of property on the southwest corner um to to feed our existing pole two. So um we'd hit from pole 7 directly in line to the new pole one to pole to the existing pole two. Um again rerouting our overhead lines in
this uh construction progress. plug. >> So, I'm just going to summarize. You're shifting the poles. Exactly. Right. To move further back away from the intersection with 170. >> Absolutely. >> So, to kind of give you a bigger picture here, um um right now the existing pole
line that comes down Route 177 is on the north side of Route 177 coming from Sodom Road down the hill. Um this project is relocating. Um there's two part Let me back up. There's two parts of this project. There's the town uh the town pole relocations which are the two
poles I just uh discussed. Um the other part is the DOT project which is the relocating of our overhead lines on 177 themselves. Um the pole existing pole line is moving from the north side of 177 to the south side and as we make our way towards the
the rotary um we're just rerouting our overhead wires to these new pole locations. >> All right. Thank you. Craig, did you have something? So, I would assume that these two are unless there's some serious objections, we would want to pass them as a single item because um
>> yeah, they were listed on the um on the agenda as one. >> Okay, good. I have nothing else to say. >> Okay. Anything from the board? >> This is a public hearing. Is there any public comment? >> Yeah, we're
>> You need to um go to the microphone. I just need you to say your name and then >> Hi, Michelle Cardi. I live at 407 Tickle Road on the corner of Tickle and 177. Could you please explain to me what this is going to mean specifically for my
property and my bushes and how I will be interrupted for getting in and out of my driveway and to work, etc. I I can't go into too much detail because I'm just here representing National Grid for the two pole locations that I discussed, but as as a whole for
this DOT project. Um >> well, you just limit yourself to the polls. >> Sure. Um >> you're moving a pole on her that's currently on her or abuing her property >> y to another location abuing her property. >> Yeah. The the first pole on Tickle Road is actually on the opposite side of her
driveway. Um but >> like I said, there's two parts of this project. is the DOT project which um would be more focused to her property. Um we got special permitting to um to relocate these uh the poles on on Route
177 and at the intersection themselves. Um but I can say that there is um because the pole line is shifting um um closer towards her property um the road will also be pushing into her
property as well. I can't speak into too much detail cuz that is a DOT project. Um I can't speak on the DO's uh behalf, but um it will um from Tickle Road it'll from the maps I see it'll push onto her
property approximately 20 ft. Um and I guess further from the 177 um um [clears throat] curbing as well. um that I mean I like I said I can't I can't speak into too much too much of
that. Um I'm just here representing national ground >> the two poles though. So we're only we can't authorize you to put these poles on private property. We can only authorize you to put them within the town. >> Yes, that's correct. >> Right ofway. So the this is the is the
proposed layout for the new location within the public right ofway. >> Yes. >> In the public roadway. Yes. Right. So it's not located on her property. So, um, but there might be impacts to the property other than the moving of these. >> That's correct. That's correct. And it's
more of the roadway than our pole lines. So, the the intersection because they're putting a rotary, they're pushing. >> Yeah. But that's not that's not before us. >> No. Right. Exactly. Right. And I think that's what she's asking. I think how how will this project affect her property? And it will affect her
property, just not in the retrospect of of of these polls themselves, you know? So it's more of a question to the DOT that she should ask this to than to this hearing. >> But the pole itself is >> pole itself. No. >> Okay. No. >> Did you want Did you have more? >> So you're saying the pole itself is not
going on my property? >> That's that's correct. Yes. >> But the digging to put wires underground is going on or under my property to get to it. >> No. No. There will be no underground underground lines. All these lines are uh overhead with um utility poles. So
everything you'll see will just be overhead at least in the national grid. Um I'm sure there's >> there's other utilities that are digging like um sewer, gas. Um >> well right now we're only talking about these poles and the lateral cables and wires, right? That's all we're talking
about. So >> no, there's no digging related to that on your property is what I just heard. >> So the overhead lines as they move will now be going in a different way over my property.
Yes, but it it's tough to say because like I said, the intersection is widening. The poles are are moving back on onto your I don't know exactly how far onto the property. Um if it is on the property, I don't know where the property lines are.
Um but in this in this sketch, I like I said, I I don't want to >> Well, we're only talking about a very limited scope. I'm I'm It's very tough to ask these. >> We're talking about a very limited scope. What you're asking us to authorize is the moving of these polls
from town property to town property. We are not authorizing any work on private property. >> No. >> But I thought you just said the pole is going on my property after you previously said it wasn't. When you just started talking again, you've just said the pole is moving into the property.
[clears throat] >> I don't know what the property lines are. I can't I I know it's pushing off the road. Um >> I don't know how you can answer it if you don't know where the property lines are. If you can >> Well, he's not author We can't We can't authorize work on private property. We can only authorize the work in the public roadway right now. It's possible
that it's public roadway that looks a lot like your property. Like I know my yard looks like it's private. >> May I ask her a question? Yeah. Just um has the DOT or Mass DOT reached out to you in any um in any way? No, I reached out to them and I received some
information, but there is nothing that is telling me specifically how much um exact I mean I I have now seen plans because I reached out and I asked for them, but it still doesn't say how does
this impact my property and is there going to be a fence? Is there going to be anything that protects me when a car goes through the ice on a rotary that would have been going straight through and hits ice and goes straight into my house? >> So, those are valid concerns, but not
before us right now. Go ahead, man. >> I think um yeah, like you're basically for pre-construction and it's kind of something you got to get out of the way. I mean, are they ready to start this in the spring or something? Jim, I've been out of the loop a little bit. >> I don't see it being done this year. They were on the tip I think for 27.
>> But um so cuz I remember when we got well power engineering was doing the design on this stuff, right? And they back and forth a couple times. They had survey out there and everything. >> I thought I heard something about land takings and >> there'll be some easement takings. There could possibly be some land takings as well.
>> And I'm just finding one of the residents, we've been in this couple years. >> Yeah. >> You you had to reach out. >> Yeah. Yeah. apparently um because I bought the property, we brought my husband and I bought the property in uh
June 2022, >> there may or may not have been communications to a prior owner, but none none came to me until I heard about it in a >> I think this signed for like four years, five years. >> There been a lot of hearings and stuff.
I I have a question. Is there urgency? like why is this coming to why is the pole location moving coming to us before the rest of the project? Is there a rationale for that? >> I I believe this is at a 75%. So the state goes through like three stages of
their projects um like pre like pre-esigned then a 25 then a 75 then 100. Right now the 75 I'm holding the 75% plan and I believe it was just submitted for the 100% plan. So they're at the end stages of the design. Um, so
I I don't I don't believe I'm in like the beginning. Uh, I I I feel like we've been in this pro, like I said, I'm just a res representative. I didn't I didn't design this project. Um, I just I was asked to come here tonight just to speak on behalf of these pled relocations. Um,
I feel like uh, like I said, the 100% design was submitted to DOT and I believe that's that that's where it stands right now. No, >> Madam Chair, and I and I think just to make clarification on that, normally what happens because I I do a lot of this type of work. They want to get that
in place so that they're not stuck with starting construction. You ever see it in the poll sitting out in the middle of the road cuz these guys are tough to get a hold of. So, I think they're just trying to get their ducks in a row. But, okay. >> I mean, you probably should get in touch with the town administrator on how that project's going along because we have
been working on it for years. >> Just to be clear, it's not a town project. It's the Department of Transportation project. >> I mean, the former chief is the one that put it forward. It was a project that the town put forward. >> I'm not saying we're not involved. I'm just saying is not our project. So, um
>> to make it clear, if you don't mind, um I did actually in August send a letter of concern to the DOT, questions, and I was told that it came to the select board and I haven't heard back from either since. So I would appreciate it.
>> My my understanding was the engineering company PAR had been given that letter by Mass DOT and they were working on a response and I assume that went out but if it didn't >> I haven't received any response. It's been several months. Thank you. >> I did meet I I we had a meeting probably a couple of years ago when we went over
the preliminary plans. There will be some impacts to your property. This this tonight is just the one pole that's actually across the street from your property on Tickle Road and they're going to move it. Would you say 46 or 48 feet northerly on that same side of the street opposite your property? >> Okay.
>> So, the poll that we're talking about is not on her property. >> They're not even abuting her property. It's across the street. Well, it's across the street. >> Yep. Across the street. >> Okay. >> Okay. Thank you, >> madam. >> Was there anything else from the Yeah. Go ahead. >> Madam Chair, just one question. I'm going to just you're the messenger, so
I'm not I'm not going to attack you. Um but what we just spent 10 minutes on is going around in circles about basically Westport has lost complete total local control over this and it's a mass DOT project. Um I think it's a complete waste of taxpayer money. We've lost local control. I don't understand how
177 is any different than 88. We have five intersections on 88 with varying degrees of intersections with higher traffic levels and lower traffic levels where the traffic lights are triggered. But so I just out of principle alone, I know this was prior to me. I will vote
against this and I'll vote against anything about putting a rotary on on 177. I think it's a complete waste. If anyone goes to the Rotary over by Tivven Casino, you you'll know what I'm talking about. Thank you. >> Is there any further discussion?
So, I think we have a motion in a second, right? >> Or do we do we didn't have a second or we don't have a motion? >> All right. So, what's the pleasure of the board? What do we want to do? Do we want to wait? Do we want to deny? Do you want to approve? >> I don't know that we can deny that this request. It's just a utility request.
>> Well, I mean, it requires our approval, so we don't have to approve it. But um I think I mean I think I would like more information about the overall project before we start moving utility lines. Um because I do think that I from what I can tell from these drawings there there
would be overhead wires over the property. So I think that the you know she's right to be concerned about how it's going to affect her. Um but I don't I also don't understand that yeah I understand getting ahead of the project but I think we're well ahead. So I think that it seems like there's time to wait on this approval. But um I don't know
what do you >> Madam Chair just a point of that I think when this started when this process started I don't think there was as much development in that location as there is now and you know if I was a pro you know person that purchased a house on any of
those I guess four corners um I'd have concerns uh you know with a rotary coming through there. So again I I'm not saying we should deny this. I'm just saying that I think the project is flawed from its inception and I don't understand why a $200,000 traffic light
wouldn't be uh wouldn't be a better option there. >> I I'd like I'd like to agree with Jake on that too involved. >> And I was joking about the $200,000, but that's what it would cost. >> I think it's going to be more than that. >> We got We got one at the Gford Road that's supposed to be going through, so
we know how much that'll cost, but I think the design was like 70 or 80,000. The >> Gford Road. >> Yeah. Um, >> we have about 250 300,000 for this. >> I was involved when this first came in on the planning board and I did try to get this across to people. Um, when I
heard about it, they they were developing those lots at the same time. Nobody wanted to say anything that this was going to go on. But this was something that the former chief wanted because of some fatalities in that area. >> Why? >> I [snorts] I I mean I agree. I know I noticed, you know, like going to the end
of Old Westport Road, they next to UMass, they put some lights over there in that intersection and I probably made the intersection beautiful. >> I think once Gford Road, if Gford Road got their lights before this one, we'd realize that that's really all we need is a set of lights. But >> all right, so what the matter before us right now though is do we authorize this
poll hearing? So we either need a motion to move forward with the poll hearing or we're going to table it and not take any action. Madam Chair, >> yes, >> I would like to get more information particularly on behalf of the property owner raised a number of questions, but we're not completely answered or couldn't be at the moment. Uh so I would
suggest we do not take any action tonight. >> Okay. >> I think I would just um suggest to the uh the parties at least the um applicants that they involve DOT in the in the presentation next time.
>> Yeah. So I think because this is a public hearing the appropriate um action would be to continue the public hearing. Do we know like maybe late January meeting? Do we have our meeting calendar? I >> think you have are the dates memorized. >> Last day is the 26th.
>> The 26th of January. So um I'll entertain a motion to continue this public hearing until January 26 at 605. >> So move madam chair. Second. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> All in favor? I that's unanimous. So, thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Bring bring some more back up with you next time. [clears throat] >> The next item we have on the agenda is u fee increases for council on aging and the building department. Do we have is this you Jim or do you have anyone? I believe uh Ralph from the council on
aging are here talk about the council on aging I guess is first you have the >> the council on aging first >> but you're not Bev but go ahead can you come can [laughter] you can you >> I didn't know whether you were speaking for bev or in addition to bev
[clears throat] tonight >> yeah are you is bev coming >> no I I um >> I prefer I lean to David so that's a plus [laughter] >> you can sit or you can stand whichever you're more comfortable So, um, >> so Jim, do you want to do you want to
help out Eileen here? >> Yeah. My understanding is the last time the fees were raised were in August of 23. Um, she's looking to um, Be was looking to raise a number of fees. Um, not significantly, but just enough to bring in some additional revenue to help offset some of the costs. Again, they
haven't been raised in three or four years. Um, aerobics going from$25 to $30 per month per person. Uh the art class, there'd be no change. Um balance and bones and I don't know what that is, but $12 a month up to $15. Uh chef chef on a
sho [laughter] >> 15 to 25 and that's five classes. >> Fitness focus 5 to7 men's exercise 25 to 30. Uh stretch and tone 25 to 30. And that's a month per person I believe. And
then supportive day program, $50 per day up to $60 per day per student. Uh supportive day program transportation, uh $5 oneway, $10 round trip going up to 750 and 15 and out of town would be 12
up to 1250 and $25 from 10 and 20. Uh transportation donation requested when they do their pickups and drop offs, $5 one way, $10 round trip. And then yoga $5 a class up
to $7 per class. >> So that's the correct. Did you have anything you want? >> We have we have um been discussing this for um quite a while for a few months. Um we're looking to uh cover the
expenses of the classes of the programs. And when you compare the cost of many of these classes, it's it's um a $23 raise uh increase in the cost is not that much. We feel the board, we had
very interesting discussions at our board meetings and um many of the board members were suggesting that we raise the fees even more, but we felt that this was in keeping with um our population and and
with um they were reasonable. Um I believe that many of the um fees had not been raised since June of um 2021 right after the pandemic and that supportive day has gone up slightly
because of um in 2023 because of um it's more labor intensive. >> Lick I know you're our liaison there. >> Yeah, I heard the conversations. I didn't have this in front of me at the time, but I do agree that the fee increases are modest and particularly in
a couple of areas such as supportive day care, which is uh in other communities a lot more is charged for that. >> That is correct. >> However, uh I don't have a problem with small increases and I would support this as presented, but I I think we should
get on a a schedule of every year or two to look at these fees. And I've always felt when I was in business, small increases uh on a more frequent basis are better than going for years than having large increases. That's what annoys people and a lot of people can't
afford a dramatic increase. So I would support this, Madam Chair. Um but I would suggest that uh the Council on Aging take a look at this maybe even on an annual basis. So I'm not saying it has to be changed on an annual basis but at least look at it and say how we doing here and particularly in reference to
what other towns are doing because we are definitely uh low in from what the discussion was that uh that I took part in. >> All right. But you're recommending >> Yes. >> Okay. Any questions from the board? >> Second.
>> So we assume you're moving it. >> Yeah. I made motion but I articulated very well. [laughter] You moved it and you second. Okay. Is there any further discussion? Anything [clears throat] else from the public? >> All in favor? I >> I. That's unanimous. Thank you.
>> And then we have the building department. >> Welcome, Ralph. >> Good evening. >> So, um Jim, do you want to go over this one for us? >> Yes. So, he's looking at um two increases, one for new constructions and
alterations from 50 cents per square foot up to a dollar per square foot with a minimum increase of $50 from 250 to 300. And then for new construction for commercial properties from 50 cents a square foot up to 75 cents per square foot. Um and the instead of a minimum of
100 or is that staying? >> That's that's staying on well 1% of cost of construction. The one the minimum would would go away. Okay. So, from $50 per square foot with a minimum of $100 to 75 cents per square foot with a minimum of 1% of total construction,
whichever is higher. >> All right. >> These fees were compared with Dart, Somerset, and Swansea. I didn't compare them with Forett because they've got more overhead. It's a different it's a different permit scale over there.
>> And can you talk about why you think these increases are necessary? basically to run the department, keep keep things general. >> Do you know when the last time they were up up? Um >> I believe I touched on them more maybe 6 months to a year ago. Uh square footage
was changed on the residential side and the commercial side back then. >> Okay. Thank you. Anything from the board? >> I do know when we had an interim inspector here for a few months, he was very surprised at how low our fees were. >> Yeah.
This is a public hearing. Is there anything from the public? >> All right. What's the pleasure of the board? >> Madam Chair, I would move these fee increases as recommended by the uh building department. >> Second. >> Is there any further discussion?
>> All in favor? >> I. That's unanimous. Thank you. >> Thank you. Under appointments or resignations, we have a request from George Stelgus, alternate member of the zoning board of appeals to be appointed as a regular member. So, I think there is an opening
for the regular member, right? >> Yes. >> We don't have anyone here for that, do we? >> Madam Chair, I know this gentleman and I I recommend him highly for this position, upgrade position to be a primary member. >> Second. >> And I would make a motion to that
effect. Second. >> Is there any discussion? All in favor? >> I >> I. That's unanimous. Um, we have a request from Dana Stewart, recreation director, to approve a donation of $160 from Abigail Dunar for use of the new
bsentennial playground. >> Mot. >> Second. >> Any discussion? All in favor? >> I. That's unanimous. We have a request from Carol Freighus, the veteran service officer, to approve two anonymous donations totaling $300.
>> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> All in favor? >> I >> I. That's unanimous. We have a request from Captain Bill Chase on our agenda again. Um the marine service director to approve the posting for part-time
seasonal workers for the 2026 season. Seems like he's trying to get jump on the jump on the game here. Are you re uh do you recommend >> recommend approval? >> Motion to approve post. >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? All in favor? >> I
>> I that's unanimous. Um we have a request uh to direct the affordable housing trust and the planning board to work on a request for proposals or request for information relating to potential housing options for the old high school. So are Craig, are you talking about this one or is somebody else Jim talking
about this one? >> No, I think I'm talking about this. >> Okay. I didn't see anybody. I didn't see Oh, Jim. Oh, Jim. Jim is actually >> Jim, you want to come join us? >> Yes, that was that was probably uh Jim and I had a joint discussion about it and thought it was a good idea.
So we sort of co-f facilitated the discussion when we had a meeting uh that involved uh the chairman of the long-term building committee but we did it in such a way that no one had to call a special meeting of their board because
we only had one uh maybe two representatives from these boards for this discussion. So, >> so you want to tell us what you're asking for or >> Yeah, basically um the and I wasn't I was at this town meeting, but I was not
on the board at the time, but the but the motion to create the long-term building committee uh came out of a vote at town meeting that constrained the ability of the long-term committee to uh consider um it was mostly targeting
towards um repurposing the high school to be used for consolidation and colllocation of municipal departments and other functions. There wasn't much um said uh or or or charged in that. And
so they charged the select board, I think, with the ability to create the committee. And then the board at the time, again, I wasn't on the board. Um there's only two of you on the board, that's why I'm looking at Tor and Dick. um uh decided to limit it to probably
what was the spirit of the discussion at town meeting or uh or or the intention was to uh municipal uses and for potential consolidation of town offices. So, the RGB study that was done um over
a year ago, and we heard a a full presentation of that report maybe a month or so ago, uh was bound by um past studies done and by the constraints that that both town meeting and this board
put on it. >> Jim, anything to >> Sure. Uh I I think what you said is is absolutely accurate uh from my perspective. Um but in the I attended the the
presentation at the old high school library or whatever room that is now uh by RGB or >> is the RGB. That's correct. Yep. >> What used to be the old um media media center,
>> right? Before that it was gnasium, right? So quite a few people got up and spoke uh about housing at that meeting. And um subsequent to that uh I met somebody uh
at a serpent function that in New Bedford that their business is repurposing municipal buildings for residences and uh talked quite a long time with him
and invited him to come to just an information meeting in our office at the annex and he brought with him two other people that are also in this business in the Boston area and uh he wanted to know
more about the the high school uh and uh we had a a a big give and take. idea uh from our office was the contact for them. It also was the contact for the affordable under the long-term building
committee and um so we've shared all that information with the long-term building committee chair. Uh yet uh I see no inclination as because of the last proposal
for $48 million to knock down twothirds of the building and uh repurpose a couple of sections. Uh I think and I think that the other people on the planning board uh that have talked about
this uh are uh of the opinion that we should really try to get some uh an RFP or an RFI out there to see what people would propose. uh you know people like the uh the
affordable housing uh group that did No Village. I think they did a great job there at little cost to the town. Uh it's a asset to the town. We need housing. We need workforce housing. We
need affordable housing. We need veterans housing. And it just seemed to us a shame to be knocking down a big structure that we've already paid for. Uh if somebody would
be willing to come in as a nonprofit and construct uh some affordable housing or workforce housing or put it to a better use than rubble. So, um
they have shared with me uh and with the office some potential RFPs uh that they have been working on in Nucket. It's like 90 pages long. Um and I'd be happy to share that with anybody who would
like to read it. Uh, but I think there are large companies that could bring with them the funding sources to redo some of this building and not have it just go to waste.
And that's what I would propose and that's what I proposed to the affordable housing trust if they would partner with the planning office to write a proposal to see if we can get any interest and to
to us. The long-term building committee is uh a committee set up to recommend to the select board who has the authority from town meeting to do what they think is proper with this building.
uh and it seems to me that they are not the arbiter of what happens that you folks are and that you need more choices than what you're going to be prom given.
So, and I don't know if we'll get them, but I think it's worth uh see putting one an RFP or an RFI out to see if we get any interest. Craig, did you want to expand on that? >> Just that that we did vote to support
this idea and to join the uh planning board in that recommendation. >> The Wii is the um affordable housing trust. >> Wait, we is the affordable housing trust. >> Okay. Um so, um I Jim, I don't know if you're copied on
this one, but um Mr. Thrasher, who's the chair of the long-term building committee, sent us um an an email um expressing some concerns that I think are actually pretty fair concerns. I was hoping you could talk about them a little bit. Um so the so the um
long-term building committee was is in the process of putting together uh the proposal. there's a town meeting a inform meeting on January planned for January 22nd to kind of present the options that
we have so far. So, um can you just talk about like the there's there's no way that this RFI results are going to be back by the 22nd of January. Can you maybe talk a little bit about um the timing of what the long-term building committee is doing
and what you guys are talking about doing? Uh I I I believe it would take a while to write the RFP because we'd have to uh meet with somebody from the select board what they have in mind. uh what all the
other uh for instance the council on aging, you know, what what part of that building they want to want to use and uh and others uh to to find out what we should write in to the RFP. So, I'm
saying that's probably going to take a couple of months anyway. [clears throat] And then it probably takes a couple of months for people to get back to you with with uh with information because they're going to want to know more. They can get the information that we have already about
the building. So I am not sure that it would even be something that would be available for town meeting unless something happens quickly. Um and you you're kind of running out of time for town meeting with Mr. Flasher's
proposal too with public hearings and all that stuff. So >> great >> when when RGB did the presentation here a few months ago uh and outlined the cost arguments I think the I think it was um at least on the street so to
speak of Westport it wasn't wellreceived people um and I think we've had to steer people from thinking that we could just wave a wand and convert the the the the old high school at no expense to have uh
be a a multi-use town facility um when most of the cost estimates that we've looked at buried in that RGB proposal are pretty substantial. It's tens of millions of dollars to do
virtually nothing but maybe bring the building up to code. And even that number, I think, was was a pretty hefty number. So, um, the fact that and I think that there was at least at least this member and and looking around
the table at that meeting, there were some um there was some skepticism that even if we were enthusiastic about something that we would have a hard time uh selling it as what? Because it would ultimately be a debt exclusion override
that would go to the voters. And that's what we'd be discussing about at town meeting. Maybe not the debt exclusion override itself, but the discussion would have to at some point, you know, lay out the item the the the options uh
uh for the public when we're talking about a public hearing now, which would be the next step, as well as the um the cost of those options. >> So, it's just kind of continuing on Mr. Thresh's concern. So, he's he's bringing up the concern that I kind of share that
we've directed the long-term building committee to to go one way with it, and we're teeing up to present that to town for a vote. Yeah. >> And now we have this alternate proposal where we're not going to really have information in time to to positive to to
be able to compare the options at town meeting, right? So what's the advantage to going out starting this RFP process before we understand whether the town wants to go forward with the other pro with the one that we're already
pursuing? >> Not yet. >> If if you're asking me, I think this just gives you two choices. I mean, you know, they're going to give you one choice or maybe A, B, and C of whatever
they're proposing. Uh, and I I think it would be uh the right thing to do to have more input into this than from a consultant. And I think um
my my own sense is that if it's a $48 million project, it'll fail and then we're another year down the road and what are we doing? And I think that
seeing the the desires of quite a few people [clears throat] uh are that we should look at housing and we should look at how to reuse part of it for the COA and how to reuse part of it still for the school
administration and part of it for >> whatever. But I think to me I don't think you should consider yourself stuck with getting information
just from the committee that was set up. They've done a a lot of work on it. Um, and I'm not saying that it's it's wrong, but I just don't know that we're just going to waste another year. And if you don't start this process for another
year beyond that. >> So, um, All right. So, so the way we're going to do this, we're going to take questions from the board and then we'll go to the public. Go ahead. Yeah. Um, so this is the the study that we just paid for this year was like a couple hundred thousand. Is that what we're talking
about? >> I think the I don't know how much RBG >> the the RGB was in was in that neighborhood. >> So the an RFP though we can do that in house, right? >> We can do that with the planning board. >> Shouldn't be any reason why we don't keep trying that, right? We we have
staff um we have part-time staff, consultant staff on the housing trust and they have full-time staff on the planning board. And my point at our meeting was we do have the internal capacity uh to generate an RFR. I mean
that that >> I mean don't don't get me wrong I I think I'm sounding I wish we would have done that. I in fact I think we did do this a few years ago but I wish we would have done this a few years ago. To me, it's it's not really that it's a bad idea. It's the timing. Like, I think it
undermines the u potential vote. I think many of us, myself included, believe that it will not pass at the debt exclusion level and we need another alternative. And so, to me, I like this idea of having started on the other alternative, but it also undermines any
success of that um in the first place because people are going to be confused about the two different options. So, I'm just that's where my worry is that we're just confusing people um at kind of a bad point in time. I I I I I
agree to a to a to an extent, but I think it also becomes worse if you try to create this linear type of decision-making process where you go from point A to point B to point C and then you stop and go from point D to E
and F before you look at the whole picture because the cat's out of the bat. We've already been talking about it. There's been a fair amount of responses when we did a public hearing on this matter at the gold media center. I think it's probably was I think right after right after I got back on the
board in earh 24 and and it and it hasn't uh it every time we talk about it or somebody else talks about it there's buzz and so I think that you know is there a way um so what I'm trying to
avoid is some ways to start moving forward on several different fronts knowing that entirely different conversation is going to have to to to evolve about how to present it. Right now I'm just saying
is do we present an an option? Do we support the presentation of another option is is the what I would like to see before us today as opposed to having a a strategic discussion about how to
present the total package. >> Anyone else? Well, >> I think he >> You can go first. >> You he waved you. He's >> I'm allowing you. >> Thank you. I'm curious as to whether or not the long-term building committee has
reviewed this and has approved it. I think not based on Mr. Thrash's letter, but I don't know that as a fact. If it's if they have not uh deliberated on this issue, we are we are in effect undermining what
they're doing and maybe undermining the project, although I'm not sure, but I don't like that approach. The select board appointed them to do the analysis. If they're not doing it to our liking or taking too long, then we need to deal
with that. But to go ahead with this proposal and approve it, I would be ill advised. And uh I was hoping when I read the uh agenda for this meeting, I envisioned that
Mr. Thaser would be here and would be talking about it and maybe even supporting it. That's what I thought would happen only because when he was here before we talked about the need in order for this to pass at all we need choices and he did say and I think it
was on a slide that he showed us that uh affordable housing was be would be considered in that but there was more work to be done. I like the idea of affordable housing as being a use of that property. I always have liked that idea and didn't like some other ideas.
But I don't think we should move ahead with this recommendation tonight. We should have a a joint discussion with the building committee with the long-term building committee which are the people we appointed to do this. And if they haven't done it, like I say, that's
another story. So I would that would be my opinion, Madam Chair and others. >> Thank you. >> Um Madam Chair, thank you. I I echo your sentiments and Dick's sentiments on this. I probably couldn't say it any better. I think prior to my time, the select board created the long-term
building committee to address uh the issues and address the issues with the high school. Um and on that you both had a representative from the planning board and you had a select board appointee who actually is a chair of the affordable housing trust sitting on that long-term building committee. So, I thought the
representation was there in in >> just a clarification, I was not on either the affordable housing trust or the long-term building committee at that time. I didn't get on the long-term building committee until um I was uh got
elected uh two years ago. However, I did get reappointed by this board to the uh affordable housing trust uh a year. I think it was 22 at 2022 or 2023. And so
when I was on the uh the affordable housing trust, I raised the issue um in a meeting with our um the select person's layers on to the affordable housing trust who at the time was Anne
Boxler who preceded me on this board. So um and and and she she perceived the limitations of this as not really being expansive um towards housing as an option. that that that was um but I hate
to put words in other people's mouths but she she um continues to serve as a member of the affordable housing trust and was actually I believe well we had a quorum so there's a good chance she might have been there for our discussion
on this last week or the week before but I can't say that for a fact. So, you know, my concern is the process where, you know, it seems like this is coming in at the 11th hour and kind of throwing a wrench into it. As many people know publicly, I'm not a huge proponent of a
$48 million or $50 million plan for the high school. Um, but I continue to want to see action. So, I appreciate Jim trying to present something that looks forward to action on that site. Um, I think housing has been addressed numerous times over the years. I think
there's an infrastructure problem there. You have a water and sewer problem. Uh unless we're talking 10 years down the road and you're running water and sewer down 177 in Sanford Road to get there, uh I don't see how you're going to support it with the infrastructure
that's currently there. And maybe there is a small component that can help privately fund the rest of the building as you pointed out, but we have school facilities using it, which they have no other place to go. We have the administration offices in there. We have rec sports and we have out to school care currently in there and we have
other town groups willing to go in there. So I continue to say that this building is an asset and we need to figure out the best way to get there but I don't think right now uh going down the road of housing uh is the answer. I but maybe there is a public private partnership that that would work. I just
don't think that the housing component especially with the lack of infrastructure on that current site uh works. Well, Noachchoke Village was um a a private public um partnership and it was I mean it was a private nonprofit but then again it could take advantage
of all the tax credits and grant programs that would not be evolved would be necessarily available to a for-profit developer. So, uh, we've done it, but it's been a while. I mean, it's been,
um, I think no no came out. has been online for at least 5 years and and the populations and demographics have been changing and and you know and as you see it population that that is a I mean
at the rate look at some of the I'm not talking about the last year because we just had a sort of a stark presentation of what's going on in the housing market which there's been a there's been a slowdown u a considerable slowdown in the last three or four years but um the demographics of the town is still the
same. We have an aging population. We have an aging population that is more going to be more dependent or more that's looking to have find housing that's available uh for them where they grew up or where they where they raised
their families and don't want to have to go looking in other cities, most likely urban communities. Not that they have anything against urban areas, but it's a whole different uh culture and I think that uh that cost structure and that and
that. So to the extent we could do it and and yes um it's come up septic you know we don't we're not going to have a sewer line running you know I mean that was you know I know that was a
facicious comment Jake but but you know we know that you're going to have to do it within the constraints of of of having to generate water and and and and and disposal of waste water uh on grounds that you control and that's one
of the one of the the nice f facets of um um Moachchoke village we were able to do it and um so >> yeah I would just if I could madam chair
just about the uh infrastructure um Noachchoke village was in the same boat but we worked with them and with their engineers and everything and has worked out pretty well. Uh they found a
place to have enough water from the water well and we uh worked with them to uh design a wastewater system that is uh better than we're asking anybody else in
town and it works and it cost them less money than a regular title five system would have cost them. And I think I'd leave it to the people who are trying to put this in to see if it works. And that's part of the RFP process. They
would have to figure out is is it possible on that site to do 60 units or whatever it is. Um, and to me, the more choices that the select
board has to make a decision is the for the benefit of the town to make sure that you don't look over here because the committee that you you chose to do it doesn't want to look over here.
Uh, I think is a disservice to the town. So, it's just Mike >> I do want to I do want to just say that so over the various studies that have happened with the long-term building committee the um the the committee came
to the select board like year and a half ago maybe two years ago and and asked for direction. So they they came and said they were they needed to focus the study on a direction and the select board I don't remember who was here at
the time but the select board at the time directed them to um prioritize use as a municipal facility. So we specifically this board specifically directed them to kind of take that path. So that's the
reason they took that path because we were spinning and all these different options. We had gone out for RFI before. We had looked at some in the very early studies. We had looked at potential for housing and things like that. Now, not the same thing you're talking about, but
um I don't remember why we didn't kind of pursue that back then, but it was it wasn't that the committee took a direction off on their own and went rogue. They came to us and asked us for a direction and we gave that to them to focus on the municipal building. Now, the current proposal, as I understand
it, is not the municipal building. So, maybe that argument is out the water, but >> I'm don't don't recall being on the committee um or this board. >> So, who were you on that committee before? So, do you remember any of the
>> I remember we've been kicking the can down the down the street for seven years now since I've been involved in politics. >> That's all I know. So, so the original committee, the re committee changed its >> makeup about three or four years ago. The original committee going back four years, five almost five years now had
looked at different options. They had hired Utah engineering to do a study potential uses. They did look at affordable housing at the time and and every study can be challenged, right? But at the time in their study, they felt that converting the existing building to affordable h housing was not
an option. It was going to be too expensive. Um they looked at affordable housing if the building was torn down as the building individual units. You have two limiting factors there. One is the public water supply wells. Right now you're limited to under 5,000 gallons per day. And the other one is the septic
system which is 10,000 gallons per day which limits you to 54 bedrooms complete on the site. So if you had 54 bedrooms on the site, you wouldn't have any other uses. That gets you up to just under 10,000 gallons per day. If you go over 10,000 gallons per day, then it becomes a different category. It's a treatment
facility. You need on-site representatives on a daily basis to manage the system. And it it does not seem like that is um a cost-effective option once you go over a certain amount of of um gallons per day. So they try to just like No, I think was
54 bedrooms. They kept it to 9,9,90. >> Um so that was one they felt I think the building to convert it to housing and they were looking at the entire building, right? So they weren't looking, you know, you're talking about different things now where you might only be looking at a portion of the building, but to convert the whole thing
to housing um was not feasible or they didn't think it was feasible at that time. They felt it would be more cost effective to tear it down and build individual housing. >> And that's one study, you know, every study, >> which also is not cost effective because it's going to cost you $5 million to
knock it down and get rid of it. And then you get a piece of property that's worth a million and a half. So I mean part part of part of the >> part of the uh way that affordable housing comes affordable is by
>> subsidies >> subsidies and and the biggest subsidy right now is land and the fact that when that's why it was land that we we've done these things and the we we did no joke or we did we had control of the
land I mean we had it is we did have to pay some money. Um I I wasn't I was that was way before my time but um and [snorts] we didn't have a housing trust until 2010. was create it was authorized at the 2009 town meeting but by the time
the affordable housing trust was um uh put together um it was early 2010 because I was on the board at the time and both boards and um at that time um
the had control of the land that now houses Noachchoke village and it was already in the possession of the town. So it became a basically a a a an an avoided cost for developing it which then allowed us to economically not us
but the developer and the housing corporation to to create affordable housing. >> Is there anything else from the board? [laughter] Any comments from the public? >> Yes, if I may. I'm David Lima. I'm a board member of
the Council on Aging and I've been involved with this old high school for maybe six years. I've met with Jim and others at Bob Haw's house. I've met with John Perry countless times when they were on had their meetings. I met with Jim
talking about this having been at the bar, Boston Redevelopment Authority when I was out of law school. Um, I have many thoughts about this and it's very frustrating to hear since I authored a proposal a year a
year ago almost now which included housing. In fact, I even talked about housing prior to then when we were talking about I remember going to Michael Burus and others in the beginning four years ago thinking about maybe housing and I heard all the
arguments that that were then a predicate to not doing it. Okay. I think coming to the Council on Aging uh enlightened me to the understanding that we had a huge I think on a marquee we have housing and we have cultural issues
that are equal, not one over the other. They're not separate and we have to address both. And in a proposal I wrote a year ago which included a community campus that got sort of railroaded through the committee because they ended
up using outrageous amounts of numbers which to me was a code for no. Okay. I know that people didn't believe us when we said when I met with you madam chair a year ago or maybe maybe less than that where we proposed a community campus and in my original proposal it included
housing and people talked me out of it. They said scare it's going to scare people away. In fact, I was using Nokachoke as an example of what you could possibly do. And there was all kinds of different points of view about whether or not Nokachoke was a good idea. Should
we have it or not? I even offered to Michael Burus a proposal that I saw in Uber report. 54 units on 4 acres of land. I thought, well, so my mentality at the time was housing until I got to the council and I realized once I got
there at that old high school that it was a gift to us. That school is a gift to this town. Everything we're talking about can be put in that building. We can put housing there. We can have schools there. the community. I mean, I would say with all
due respect, and I don't mean to disparrage anyone, but in this town, we have asked at the council for space over time. No one has offered us more space. We have begged to go in that high school on a temporary basis. We're meeting tomorrow. We're meeting tomorrow morning
to go over the rules of updates and no updates. Can we go there? Why can't we go there? We want to go there now because we don't have enough room. And if we don't have enough room to go at the high school, I ask you all, you five people, where are you going to send us? Where are we going to go? We have no
more room. We have lines waiting for all kinds of services. We can't offer them. We have a high school sitting over there empty and we're not using it. And people ask us, with all due respect, Jim, after that meeting, I was at the meeting. I presented at that meeting and I can't
tell you that there was more people for housing than there were for community campus. It was even they're they're not mutually exclusive ideas here. And I think sadly I think and maybe in the beginning and I agree we were probably a
little hyperbolic when we said it won't cost us anything. Okay. In the beginning we want to go temporarily. We do want to go over to the high school. We want to go over there right now. We don't have enough room, okay? And we could pay for any upgrades to get us in that building.
And let us go there and prove to you that this is a community campus building. We'll give you time to get housing. We'll give you time to do all these other things. Give us a chance to do this. And maybe I met I had a long conversation maybe it was two weeks ago
with Ross Moran after one of the meetings and we sat and we talked about and we the idea that I think Jim's offering is an idea that I had that why don't we in fact I called up the assistant town manager and I said the town planner and I said um there was a
project in in um in East Hampton when I was working at DSS and we were trying to do uh housing for u a grandparents were adoptive kids. And so this woman in in um in Boston got Beacon Communities,
Beacon Communities. I think they were big developer in Boston. And they brought them out to East Hampton and they did two projects. The development company built this place called Treehouse and Town of East Hampton gave them the property and then they built 507500
houses next to it. So the developer had this nice little arrangement. and he was developing something for social services some something like a campus but different and then they were doing housing. So I left the meeting with Ross saying gee you know maybe I should maybe I should try to find why why am I doing
that? I should try to find a developer for the town that would do just just like this idea instead of adopt adoptive homes but for the community a cultural center community center for activities for loaning cards games activities
education. It's expansive for this entire town. It's needed in this town. I called up assistant town planner and she said well you know you have all kinds of violations upgrades. She gave me no. It was a no. Not a maybe. How can
I help you? It was no. He said, "I really don't take no very well." Okay, let's try to get the yes. Let's figure out a way to get the yes not to know. So, we're meeting tomorrow to find out how we can maybe get in temporarily into the building, if
anything, to prove to you that we need it and we can explore other options. There's nothing that our my proposal or any of ours at the council thinks that housing is bad. It's not a bad idea. It's complicated. There are all the issues that have been raised that make
it complicated and a 48 or $72 million is a no. We're not asking. I think they want to make this building perfect before we get in. Okay. We don't agree with that. We do not agree with that. Now, maybe that's the problem we're
having. And maybe we should say to you, well, maybe we need 10 million. Maybe we only need 10 million to get in there and and work on what the issues are and give you a plan. Let us give you a plan. We're willing to give you a plan.
>> So, David, just I appreciate your passion, enthusias. I'm giving you a blueprint. >> The request before us right now, the request before us right now is >> to do housing. No, the request before us right now is should we direct should we this board direct the affordable housing
trust and the planning board to work on an RFI? So that's the question we're going to address today. So I couldn't tell from from that I'm asking you is that whether you're think we should go for this RFI or should not go for the RFI. I >> I think that's confusing. You've just
muddied the waters more than you've ever >> But it sounded like what you were proposing was putting together an RFI for how you could use the space. >> I would I would think that I would think temp okay you can have your cake and eat it too. I believe in this case I don't think it's that complicated. Okay. I
think you can do on a temporary basis get get people I mean why don't you exper >> well that's not before us right now. the question before if you want to give it context. >> Should we direct the housing trust and the planning board to move forward with this RFI proposal
>> and and the and the proposal is RFP or RFI. There's a distinction between one. One the RFP is you you're you've got a a plan that you want to have executed you and you're requesting proposals to do
that. an RF is RFI and and correct me if I'm wrong Jim because you've been doing this planning stuff longer than I have is more is a little bit has a little bit of a fishing expedition attached to it >> to find out if people have interest in it basically. >> Yeah. >> And I think Ross's idea is sort of in in
tune with what we're trying to I I think I'm just trying to th a fine line between these two ideas. Okay. I think the campus idea, even though Chris Pratt tells me over and over again, we're on the same page. We're not on the same page because we're not asking for 48
million. We're not asking for 72 million. We're asking for a community campus concept. And included in the concept is housing. These are not disperate ideas. They're together. And and that's what I think the point
here is that that we can go forward not with two different extreme ideas but one idea. I don't think the personally I don't think the whole building should be housing. If you're going to put housing and you have a where are we going to go? I would ask you with all due respect, if
you take the high school and give it to housing, where are you going to send the the Council on Aging with 5,000 square feet and 8,000 people in this town who are champing at the bit to get exercises and doing whatever they need to do, you have no alternative. You've offered, no,
gym hasn't, planning board hasn't, the board hasn't, no one has offered us an alternative. We're We're like secondass citizens right now. And yet we offered you the best idea. We offered you the best idea for this town. And what do we
get? We don't even get to the table. Theist group never invited us to the table. I went to the architectural people after the town meeting. I went to them, gave them my card, never called back. So I again say you're enthusiast I think but I mean the point put a timer
on you we're you give them status to have a meeting to discuss housing yet you don't talk to the council on aging about anything we're doing it's not appropriate >> we haven't had a request for the agenda item for the council >> what do you think we've been talking about for the last year
>> David you have been here many times so >> well but I wasn't invited to go to the thrasher group and I wasn't invited to go to the architectural group, nor was Eileene, nor was Beverly. Not one of us has this idea been fleshed out. >> Thank you. I appreciate your comments.
Does anyone else have any? >> No, we have Evan. >> Please go. [laughter] >> Um, I really, um, thank you for your effort and your time. I really think that the select board is on the
precipice of of a decision. I think you have the potential to address an issue. It's very complex. This is not easy. And you and 7 years is a long time to have
an empty building or a semi-MP building. The world has changed in the last seven years. The needs of the town have changed a lot in the last seven years. And so it may be time to look at this whole
issue of of the old high school and what are you going to do with it in light of we're on the precipice of 2026. Could you believe it? you know, and it's been a long time that we knew that the
high school was going to close and that we knew that there would be a new high school and yet we have, as Manny said, kick this can down the road. I really think that that a decision needs to be made and the more options that are out
there realistically for this day and age, it may be confusing to people, you have to do a better job at explaining to those people why it's a different time, a different place, and a different set
of needs that are needing to be addressed now than perhaps seven years ago. >> But to the topic, again, I couldn't tell. Are you are you are you saying that an RFI we should positively consider an RFI to get more options on the table or are you saying that we
should proceed without the RFI? >> I think to have the RFI might be a really good thing to have. You put a time limit on on I mean if you
have the in-house resources to put it together and you have you put a time limit like we need this in six weeks or you know there are a lot of people who do this for a living or who have done it for a living and are sitting at home because they were furoughed or or you
know and and this this is not a new problem to solve. This is a an old nut to crack. >> So, I'm suggesting I'm proposing and and supporting your effort. >> Thank you,
>> Evan. Yeah. Go ahead, Manny. >> Jim, you think maybe that the council on aging could work with >> Yeah, that's what I would have proposed. That's what I said in the beginning that we would talk with the COA. It needs room. Uh recreation needs to have some
input into it. Um, >> I think when I was involved in loop a little bit, but when I was involved in it, we were talking about trying to phase something. And I think this idea that >> seniors are coming up with perfect. Get in there, preserve what we have left of the building now. Guess some of the
minor repairs. I mean, I was Did they stop the furnace? You know, we had some water problems down in the in the basement over there. I actually met the person that installed that oil system in there and I had some conversations with him and it's something that we can
maintain for that building. It's it's it's usable for a long period. >> Thank you, Evan. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um I just want to note first that while I'm a member of the long-term building committee, I'm not speaking on behalf of the committee just uh on my opinion. Uh I have a
number of concerns with the proposal. Um without getting into the merits of what should or shouldn't be done with the high school or if there should or should not be housing. Um just looking at the process and the timeline, this board uh charged the committee with looking at potential reuse for the site, what that could look like, engaging a consultant,
which was done um at the will of the voters of town meeting. Um and this board supported the RFP for it. I think almost it was about a year ago when we started looking at that process um at this point. So the consultant has uh is completing that work and the the uh
long-term building committee had presented and RGB had presented the options that they had uh come to. I think we've between that the utile study before that and and others that were done. Quite frankly I think we've studied this to death over the years. Uh
it's taken a long time to get to this point that we're at now. Um, and I have concerns with adding in a separate proposal um, at this point in the process as we're nearing the end of that. I believe also both RGB and the chair of the committee proposed um, a
potential scope amendment if uh, housing wanted to be explored further. Um, and I'm not sure if that if the planning board or housing trust ended up supporting that, but um, that way it kind of helped streamline the process again so it's under one umbrella. Um,
and I know the last proposal that was discussed included removing the center portion of the of the building which could in theory be used for housing, but um I think there was a um a potential scope amendment that was discussed that could have looked at that a little
further as well, but um I don't believe that was supported based on the discussion item tonight. Um so again, just have a number of concerns mostly on the process and the timeline. I'm not saying that there should or should not be housing there or that the um or there should or shouldn't be municipal use of the building, but um again just on
process and timeline, I think also given the diligence that's been done both by the consultant, the committee, this board over the years, I think we owe it to the taxpayers and and the voters to present options at um whether it's, you know, at town meeting this year um or or
as a ballot question on the April election. Um, I think that we owe it to voters to kind of come up with something that we can present to say that there's a final product to the the vote that was taken at this point a number of years ago at town meetings. So, thank you. >> Thank you.
>> So, what's the pleasure of the board? >> Well, Madam Chair, consistent with my earlier remarks, I would not vote in favor of this request. not out of any disrespect uh or any feeling that it's not worthy because I I think the the housing
discussion is worthy of uh further discussion as Mr. Thrasher had indicated short a while ago. That was the scope thing that Mr. Gendero was referring to. But I think this puts us on the wrong
track. But I think we ought to encourage the long-term building committee to have at this and come to a conclusion, which we want them to. Uh hoping in joint discussion with the affordable housing
and planning board. Uh so I would table this for another time. Um, I'm not in favor of approving this tonight, but I I do think that the idea of housing is worthy of much further consideration.
>> So, is your your thought is to table and take no action or um another alternative be [clears throat] to refer it to the long-term building committee? >> Well, I don't have a preference really. Let's face it, this has gone on a long
time. We've all said that today. But I don't want to put blame on the long-term building committee. It's been a difficult project. It's taken this long because it's a very, very difficult and expensive project. So, we're all trying to find a solution that would
pass muster with the voters and we haven't quite been able to do that. But I think at some point soon the long-term building committee has to weigh in with the select board and present their work and their decisions, their recommendations, and then we can decide what to do after that.
>> And I think it's coming quickly. The clock is ticking on this. >> Any I'm I'm not going to I mean I've already stated my opinion. I I supported putting this item on the agenda tonight. So, I'm I'm going to vote in favor of that. >> Well, we don't have a motion. I need a
motion of some sort, I think, [laughter] or we're going to table it. >> I mean, I think I think Dick laid out a pretty good motion. I think it's it's allowing the long term building committee to continue to address the housing option. I think they had they offered the opportunity to do that. I
think >> I don't believe they have a >> We do not have a motion. We don't have a motion. He was speaking. >> What do you want me to craft a mot? I don't care if there's a motion or like like we we have two options. We have three options, right? We can take no
action which does not require any motion. We can move to support the proposal to direct this which would require a motion in a second >> or we could have move to not support it which would require a motion a second. So we don't have to do anything. I'm
just like giving you if anyone wants to make a motion this would be the time to do it. >> I just take no action. I'll take no action. All right. So, we're not we're taking no action on on >> I guess this will go down as one of those meetings where we take no action because we just tabled one one other
recommendation. So, I move to table pending um development of um I I I can count votes and I know that we don't have the votes to do this joint proposal but um um >> I mean you don't have to have a motion. We can just stop talking about it. that
noise. >> Yeah, we don't >> we I I I think that I think though that's not what we want to do. I mean, we did get uh we we we have we're we're we're 80% there terms of getting a a solid recommendation out of
the uh long-term building committee. But I think we've heard that the planning board that the council on aging and the um affordable housing trust um don't see
any room for ourselves. I'm speaking at least now for the affordable housing trust in that process. And so that's where the idea of um you know we I I I want us to be part of that
process. But right now I don't see that. That's why I think we're going to do an up or down take the whatever the final number is coming out of the long-term building committee to town meeting because we need to keep you know and I'm
not saying this is a proposal. I see some folks shaking their heads out there. I'm saying what I'm hearing is if you go with putting the the the um long-term building committee proposal on the path that it's already on, which is to do a
public hearing in in in in January and then use that as a basis for advancing uh a proposal that would have a dollar figure attached to it that would go before town meeting in in in the spring. They eventually would have to go to the
voters. Probably the voters first and then the town meeting. >> Okay. So, are you making a motion of any sort or are we just going to table like you sounded like you wanted to make to move to table it or move to refer it to the committee?
>> I don't I can't just comment and Craig with all due respect. I mean, you sit on the long-term building committee and you're the select board appointee and and on the affordable housing trust. So, Isn't that the vehicle that this probably should have gone through and
and a proper vehicle of what the select board has created? Um so that's that's what my concern is. we, you know, we're going in a different direction. Yet, you sit on there as a representative of both. I the the this was not this this broader proposal has been discussed but
wasn't brought up in a way that it was brought up today and the planning board um took the leadership on it and and and we met um with our uh we met jointly to discuss it and there was a positive
motion and and I suggested I think to the chair or to somebody that we put this on the agenda tonight. so we can keep this moving. But I did not see that as as a preemptive strike to derail the path that the the long-term building
committee was already on. >> All right. So, I haven't heard a motion, so I think we're done with this topic. Unless there's anything further, >> I think that that that maybe it would be healthy in the next couple of weeks representatives of the the uh the
committees that are impacted um put together and and and and what I'm looking for is that housing is in that facility use somewhere. >> That's all. >> Thank you. >> Until it says, "Oh, that's impossible.
You can't get a perk test. You can't do this." But at least at this point in time, I think I think we should with that kind of property and that the the amount of space and facilities not to have housing as an option
would would be would be a shame. And I'm surprised if it didn't happen sooner, but I was, you know, in some respects I wasn't on the affordable housing trust, nor was I on the select board at that time. >> Madam Chair. >> Yeah. >> Um, just in regards to your about the septic and stuff. Yeah. I mean, we have
been doing this a long time. Sean Sean Leech was in a lot of these meetings and he did tell us that it wasn't suitable for housing. >> It's the backside of that sites mostly filled. >> It's all wet. It's all filled. >> All right. So, Jim, anything before we let you go?
>> No. I I just I just think that if you're going to uh ask the long-term building committee to add in with RGB or whatever their name is uh a determination whether or not there is a potential for housing,
I think the the easiest or the best way to do that as opposed to just going to a consultant is sending out an RFI or RFP and let them decide that the people who do this have been doing this a long time
and they know how to figure it out and then you'd have an idea whether or not you really get anybody as opposed to trying to make affordable housing yourself and paying the money which is >> well I think that people can still take this back to long-term building committee just because we're not taking
action doesn't mean they can't go back to the committee so I trust you guys will take it there right thank you >> thank you >> the next item on On the agenda is a request from the Reposa family trust uh to construct a 60 foot by 80 foot
agricultural structure on agricultural preservation restrictive land APR land located at 1077 Main Road. Welcome. >> Thank you, >> Ray Reposa. Hey Ray, welcome. Jim, do you want to um explain
this one to us? >> Yes. So, correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding is the majority of this land is under an agricultural preservation restriction. Um, he would like to construct a building to be used for agricultural purposes. Because it is under restriction and Westport is a
co-signe or a co-holder of the restriction, we have to sign off on that building to allow that building to be constructed. >> And has it already been approved by whoever it has to approve by? It hasn't really been approved by anyone yet.
>> Yet. Okay. >> The state's waiting for approval from the town first before they issue any permits of their own. >> All right. Can you just tell us what the building is going to be used for? >> Hay storage. >> Sounds agricultural in nature to me. >> Yeah. [laughter]
It's going to be for dry hay hopefully. >> Okay. You're not going to open up like a bed and breakfast, right? >> No, I have no plans on inviting that many people. [laughter] >> All right. Okay. Um, anybody have questions? >> Go ahead. >> So, um, you have this, the land's held
in the trust, the proposed family trust. >> Yes. >> Is that what you're saying? So, you the trustee or >> Yes, I am. >> Okay. Um, and what do you have like 60,000 ft cut out of that for your house? >> Yeah. The house lot, the uh commercial building. >> Yeah. How how is that like how how is
that in relationship to your tax bill? How does that work? >> I just get one big tax bill for the whole punchel. That's what I thought, right? >> Yep. >> Um, okay. Um, are you on the ad >> adcom still even though we haven't been active? >> Well, I just seen here that there's a
there's a um an opening. I'd like to I'd like to get on there. >> Oh, would you? >> Okay. >> I got I got a new email. >> Well, town email. So, if you could be that's a whole other [clears throat] subject. >> So, get appointed to a committee. You need to come before this board. >> Well, that's I'm looking for another.
>> You have to make a request select board. >> So, I guess I'll do that. >> Make a request to the meeting again. So I because I have some land that I've been trying to get into APR. >> I understand >> and um lodge so we can keep the developers away. So I'd like to get into it. >> Yes.
>> I just want to ask a question regarding these diagrams. The aerial diagrams I could ask Mr. Reposa the building. There's one that has a square on it with an X behind the existing building. Is that the location? Because there's
another >> Yes. diagram that >> there's another one that has the new structure. I think move back a little bit. >> Well, the the uh on that picture there, the one in the green >> that was
>> Yeah, the building a little bit over this way. >> Well, none of it's that accurate with the maps that I I was using. So, the one with the X on it is is the green outline. >> Okay. uh area there which is right on
the very corner of the uh APR. The building in the front is is on the house lot. Um and the it's the commercial lot, I would call it. Basically, they're both the same without uh an engineers's drawing. It was just a rough drawing.
>> Okay. No, I get it. And I I see the symmetry between the two of them now which >> yeah the the land there already is being used for uh equipment storage and uh round bail storage it so it hasn't been in uh production agricultural production
itself. Hey for uh several years now. >> Okay. Thank you. >> I mean Ray they allow you so many buildings so many square foot buildings without a permit to isn't it in agriculture you could >> Oh I have no idea about that. I'm still going to have to go if everything gets approved. I'm still going to have to go see Ralph. Yeah, I think you can put a
foot out. >> Yeah, even the other building, even though it was farm related, I still had to get permits like everybody else. [clears throat] >> So, it's the pleasure of the board. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Any discussion? All in favor? >> I I That's unanimous. Good luck.
>> Okay. Thank you. Now, I have a document that needs to be signed that I have to send to M.A. >> I got it. >> Okay. We're going to send it around the table. It >> Okay. It just needs one signature. either somebody from the select board or get that to you tomorrow administrator
>> scan it in. We need to scan it in. Can we get it over to you tomorrow? >> I can come by and pick it up tomorrow. Whose office? >> Come to right down the hall. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Uh F on the agenda, petition request to
lay out the way known as Stacy Lane and refer the petition to the planning boards. This is a normal beginning of a road layout for town adoption at town meeting, right? >> That's correct. So, so was a subdivision road that was um constructed and released by the planning board. They've
submitted a petition to get it accepted. So, at this point, the select board would just uh if they choose would vote to lay out or to lay out the way known as Stacy Lane, their intent to lay out the way, I should say.
>> So, what is the motion we need? I I'd recommend the board uh vote to lay intent [clears throat] to lay out Stacy Lane. That just starts the process >> and refer to the planning board. Right. >> Planning board. Yes. >> I make that a form of motion.
>> I second that. >> Is there any discussion? >> Madam Chair, just a quick question on that on the process with that. Jim, does does highway department have any input as to whether it's going to increase their, you know, if we continue to add lanes and they don't have the employees to plow and do, you know, road work? How
does that work out? >> So, when we refer to the planning board, we send it to conservation, we send it to the highway and they will comment on it. Okay. >> Um, there'll be a public hearing with the select board at a later date. >> All right. Thank you. >> Is there any further discussion? All in favor?
>> I. >> That's unanimous. Um the discussion item the FY27 budget discussion. >> Sure. So this is just very preliminary. We don't have any uh we don't have many numbers in. We have our pension
assessment but the majority of numbers at this point are just estimates. I've met with all the departments. Um talked to the school department. We haven't necessarily met and discussed in detail their budget but all the other departments on the town site I have met with reviewed their budgets. Um just in
general um local receipts for FY25 came in at 78% of actual. Uh we had estimated about 7576. So that's pretty close. FY26 which is this current year we estimated local receipts at 83% a little bit
higher than we have the last couple of years. Um and we anticipate coming in about that number. hopefully a percentage uh or two lower than the 83 but uh pretty close to that. New growth this year and the assessors mentioned this earlier is at 627 473
for budgeting purposes we normally budget 400,000. So uh we did get a little buffer in there of that 627 I believe there was about either 60 or 90,000 that was related to one solar farm. So you you take that one solar project out and that number comes down
um a bit more. What happens is when we get new growth, the new growth is calculated based on the tax rate because we have such a low tax rate, we get low new growth numbers. Like, you know, a town that has 10 or 12 dollars per per thousand would get 30% more in new
growth than we get on a regular basis because our tax rate is so low. Um, right now the budgets after reviewing them with the towns, not recommending or will not be recommending any uh staff reductions to existing positions. There are some unfilled positions that we would be looking to eliminate or
recommend eliminating from the budget. The assessor's overlay account, which was in the negatives a few years ago, has been fully funded and is actually uh in the positive, and we use some of that funding last year to help purchase a fire engine. Um free cash was certified at $3.6 million, which was um the
highest that we've had. Um that was done for a couple of reasons. Um I believe this year with FY26, we should be closer to 2.5 million. Um I don't think we'll see the 3.6 again. We're getting a little bit more conservative on our estimates, our local receipt estimates and uh budgeting as
well. Just the revenue trends. So last year we're concerned about the excise tax which is the majority of our local receipts. It's about 44 45% of our local receipts. So if that goes down that really doesn't number on our budgeting.
uh there was a 5% decrease from 23 to 24 but uh 24 to 25 that bumped up 13% there was 13% increase so um that's that's a positive thing. Meals tax has leveled off. Um not seeing a big increase in that anymore but it is not decreasing.
It's still a slow uh increase. The room tax last year town meeting approved an increase from 4 to 6%. That 6% the additional 2% came effective or will be effective January 1st. So, we should realize about $100,000 in new revenue this year. Next year, we should realize
$200,000 in new revenue. Um, for budgeting purposes, uh, state aid estimated increase of about 1%. Um, we're hoping as we move through the process that we get closer to 2%. Um, but we're not going to get a whole lot more than that.
Expenses, salaries, uh, contractual raises. You know, we had a few years there where we're going 2% 2% 2%. Now we're getting closer to 4% a year. So that is um taxing the budget as well. Uh department expenses. When we sent the budgets out to the departments, we asked
for level funded essentially level service uh budgets. Um just including in salaries, uh the contracted raises for the employees, the expenses, we've pretty much leveled off. Um there were some departments that had justification
for increases in their line accounts. And you could go back. We I think we have like 15 years worth of data now that we can go back and see how their expenses are trending. Pension and health insurance. Last year for 25, I think we had $500,000 in
turnover from the health insurance account. We ate into that for FY26. So we won't see that amount. We're still hoping for surplus of, you know, 150 to $200,000. But as we move into next year, all the health insurance uh plans across the
state, across the country are going up quite a bit. We were able to buy down our insurance last year. So we have a group insurance with uh seven or eight other communities and we use some of our investments to buy down that percentage increase, which was good for last year,
but that's like using free cash for your operating budget, right? It's going to catch up to us. So I think we're going to see a 10 to 15% increase over last year. Uh property insurance uh they're saying we'll we'll increase I have budgeted roughly 10% in there now hoping
that'll go down a little bit. Uh state assessments we have a 4% increase that's mainly school choice charter schools um and then there's some other minor assessments that they charge us. So when the budgets came in from the towns we were um in the negative
$450,000 after meeting with the departments and kind of cutting back as much as we could. Uh right now we have a balanced budget um on the town side which includes revenues for the school, but I'll get to that in a minute. In order to do that, we had to reduce the OPED
funding from 150 down to 100. The board of health had requested a part-time clerk at 27,000. That has been removed, at least in the recommended budget. Uh the highway department had three vacant positions. We're eliminating one of those. the highway expense from what
they requested and what uh is in the recommended budget has been reduced by 27,000 and the police department their overall budget has been reduced by $110,000. Um they had actually put in for two additional police officers which are not
included in this budget at this point. Each year we we determine how much new revenue we have and we split it at least going into it with the schools at 54% for the schools and 46% for the town. Uh right now we're looking we take the new revenue and then we have some fixed
costs uh debt service pension assessments, health and life insurance, regional and state assessments that we uh share the deductions with. Um, so we have roughly about $1.7 million of new revenue that would be split between the schools and the town. So you're looking
about $900,000 for the schools and about $775,000 for the town. Um, I will note that last year in order to get the school budget where they wanted to be or where they needed to be, we had to use 480,000 in free
cash. So if we deduct that from the 909, we're down to about 430,000. I know their c contractual increases for salaries is up around 700,000. So, um we're going to have to address that either with free cash uh cuts or um
hopefully some additional revenue um as we get through the budget process. I just want to say this isn't unexpected. We anticipated this a few years ago. We looked at um revenue projections going forward
and based on those revenue projections we we estimated that we could support a yearly increase in new revenue of about 1.4 million um which is roughly about a 3.5% increase. That's slightly less now that we've moved into FY26 and 27, but
it's pretty close to the 1.4 million. last two years we were up uh because we had a surplus, not a surplus, we had an increase in our chapter 70 which really gave us a a big bump in FY25. So you can see that black line goes over the red U
budget line but uh this year we're down to 1.6 1.7 million of new revenue. Um we're hoping as we go through the budget process we can get up to about 1.8 8 maybe 1.9 but I don't anticipate much
more than that. I think going forward we still have to for long range planning we still need to look at budgeting and see uh how we get our new revenues roughly around 1.4 $1.5 million. So couple of things that um you know the
the board had asked me um what type of feedback I'd be looking for. You know, we still have the engineer position in the budget. Um, do we eliminate that budget? Do we fund it part-time? Um, the proposed budget, at least at this point, has one new
firefighter position that was also put in there because the fire department is doing some new billing with the ambulance um reimbursement. And I don't know all the details of it, but last year we had anticipated roughly about 50,000 of new revenue, and they're coming in up over 150. So those revenues
would support an additional firefighter position. It was also in a plan that was developed I want to say 101 15 years ago to get them up to full service. I think gets them the third or fourth firefighter position. I think they were looking for a total of six. Um you know
the select board had mentioned about some immediate type position. Um you know is that a part-time full-time position? Are there other priorities with the select board? And then the select board is going to have to give some consideration as to how much free cash, if any, would be used for the
operating budget. Those are just some of the basic discussion points. If the board has any others, I'd be happy to hear them. I'm supposed to give you a budget, I think, at the next meeting. So again, this will be very preliminary. I'm meeting with the town administrator, new town
administrator tomorrow. Um, so I'm sure he'll have some suggestions on the budget going forward. um may not see those till January, but there's still time to do that. >> Thank you. Any comments? >> I just had one request. Will we have a copy of this? It's not in the packet.
>> Yeah, it wasn't in the packet. >> It wasn't I didn't see it. Oh, >> no. It went into >> Oh, it wasn't. Yeah. >> I don't see it. >> I didn't see >> Oh, it's under presentations. >> Oh, okay. Then we have it. Good. Okay. >> Any comments? Question. Good. Did you go
ahead? >> I mean, just feedback. I know you're asking for some discussion points. Madam Chair, I think >> you've addressed this as well in the past. I think one of the more important things that the town is lacking a little bit is more of the communication to con constituents. The kind of the media
position or web interface position. Um, I think that's kind of paramount to make sure that, you know, everything on the website is is up to date and kind of in that position. So, I think that's in my opinion more important than the town
engineer at 125,000, but I just I feel that that's a a position that I think could uh everyone could probably benefit from. >> I I agree. I'd rather have I'd rather have a media position type person. It's a much lower cost and I think it really
pay off in the end to just have someone maintaining the website and putting social media presence together for the departments. Um I just think it's better use of money >> and if they were pretty versatile they could create some internship opportunities for college students and
maybe even high school students to to help execute parts of that media strategy. >> Yeah. And >> not to become spokesperson for the crown but I'm saying >> yeah not Yeah. not a spokesperson communication but like somebody who can cope just keep the website up
announcements out that kind of thing. >> But um did the information technology have they not asked for any significant changes >> in their budget the expense account? Yes. Um right now we have um Keith Novo is on board and we have a part-time
employee that's it's been working out well. Um, so I if you go when we get into the details of the budget, you'll see that the line items like um software has gone up quite a bit. Um, it's all cloud-based now. It's yearly renewals. It's not like you buy the
>> buy the license and then you're good for five or 10 years every year that >> Yeah. So, um, >> I just feel like we I feel like we probably need more help in it, but if they're not asking for it, it's hard to know what to give them. >> Madam Chair has brought that up in the past and I agree. I think from a
security standpoint as the town continues to transition to doing a more online uh permitting, licensing and and all that information housed there, my concern even from the private sector is I get drilled nonstop with all this IT training and no before training and all
that from a security standpoint. So I think maybe there needs to be some analysis on kind of the IT and and what the security infrastructure is for keeping the data that we are taking from the constituents and residents as secure as possible. >> Well, I just think we're we're asking
too much from one and a half people, right? I mean, in in corporations, you have infrastructure and cyber is completely separate from your desktop support and your software support and stuff and you know, they're doing a bangup job with what they've got. But I worry a lot about that. We we had the um
lightning strike at the police station and you know, and what if something happened to our IT director? Like we have a lot of risk there in the IT side. I think >> I think it'd be good to have him come in and >> present >> present. I think so. Okay. >> It's like we have over the last couple
of years and >> I think he he's had this ongoing but I wasn't always as comfortable. So he he's kind of explained in more detail to me. But we do have meditech notate. Um oh jeez we have a >> we do have a contractor. I forget. >> We have a contractor that essentially is
his backup as well. Okay. >> So if Keith, you know, went on vacation for 6 months, we would have somebody that is familiar with the system that can upkeep the system that deals with the security issues and the upgrades. So, um, TechMD, that's what it is. >> Okay.
>> Anything else? And has, um, CIPC met yet? >> Yeah, I was going to talk about that. We've met quite a bit and there's a lot going on there. >> Okay. >> But wait for five more minutes and we'll >> Okay. >> Blow my blow. >> All right. Anything else for Jim? Jim,
anything else for us? Uh just I don't have a written town report, a town administrator report, but the uh HVAC system, as you can see, the heat's working. It's working probably too good right now. [laughter] >> Kind of warm in here, actually. >> So, I just said the heated system is working on each floor. The thermostats
aren't hooked up yet in each room. It's not hooked up in this room. So, it's that that's why it's >> that's why it's it's to warmer. So, we're going to correct that for the next meeting. >> Um so, that is moving forward. Uh, like I said, I'm meeting with the new town administrator tomorrow, and I know he does want to meet with the select board. >> Yeah, he sent out an email this
afternoon. >> Yeah, I think that's that's it. The chair mentioned the Airbnb application process. I will try to get a packet to the board for the next meeting. We did do some preliminary work on that that was sent out and I will check on that.
Yeah, I was just trying to think of loose ends for him. And that was one was the the what passed at town meeting was there's a process for >> your short-term rentals. >> Okay. Thank you. That was your your report. >> That's it.
>> Okay. Uh we have the minutes from November 17. >> Motion to approve the November 17th meetings. >> Second. >> Any discussion? All in favor? >> I abain. We have um four in favor and one abstension. Report on the bill warrant.
>> Yeah, we do have a a bill warrant. I don't know if it was in the package, but I have it right here. Anyway, >> Jake, uh this was last Wednesday. I signed it. It was $3.2 million. No issues. It was
all done on time. Actually, they had to get this done quickly because of the uh Thanksgiving weekend. But anyway, it looks good. and uh doesn't need to be approved just reporting as it usually is.
>> Thank you. Um so next we have liaison committee reports and suggestion for future agenda discussions. Craig, >> I have nothing to report other than what I already extensively reported on earlier. >> All right. Thank you, Dick. >> Speaking of CIPC, yes, we meet and we've
had all the presentations some of the departments. So we're now the the situation where we go through each of the recommendations. There were many of them totaling a couple of million dollars anyway and we will at our next meeting which is not this week it's following week but we
will start to rank them and decide uh where we want to place our money this year which is tough process because all the recommendations from our management people are all worthy and they're all timely but they're all costly. So we
will start that part of the process is to eventually report it to us uh as select board and report the findings of the CIPC to the finance committee. So that's well on its way. Council on aging I meet there as leazison
um and we talked about the increases that we discussed earlier tonight. I'm also the leazison to the landing commission. Put Jeff Bull was in here last time to discuss issues there regarding Hicksbridge uh landing. Um there's nothing going on.
You probably not lose any sleep over this, but I also serve on the SRTA advisory board as a representative from Westport, but that's going along u without any issues at the moment. And
also I serve on the Bristol County Commissioner's Advisory Committee. Uh we haven't had anything there, but we did approve the budget a few months ago and that's well spoken for. So those are the things I'm working on and that's that's it for now.
>> All right. Thank you. I don't remember what if it was um before the last meeting or not, but we did a meeting of the bike walking path committee. So I think I think I might have reported on that last time. Um they're continuing to work on grants and um proposals for the the change they're doing up there by
whites. Um the climate resilience meeting that was supposed to be a couple weeks ago um was rescheduled. So that'll be happening on Thursday. And then um there's a cable advisory meeting coming up, but I forgot the date. So I haven't had it yet, but it's coming. any
>> Madam Chair. So, um, how do I go about getting back on my OC committee? >> If there's a vacancy, you can request to be appointed to the >> Has somebody been put on my position? Cuz that that was supposed to be what's going to happen when I get arrested for pocket dialing my wife last time. So, I
you know, I wasn't able to get out until this time right now. So, I'm just I'm kind of curious about that. >> You're no longer the select board representative. There is an opening on that committee. You can send an email requesting to be appointed to the committee. I'll do that tomorrow. Thank you. >> Okay. Anything else?
>> Well, I'll put the other because I'd like to get on the AC comp, too. So, I'll put that in, too. >> Okay. >> Jake, >> no updates as uh no meeting since last time. And we have climate resiliency committee as you mentioned Thursday. So, that's it. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Um do we have any comments or statements
from the public? >> We do have um the committee vacancy list. It's at the bottom of our agenda. there's if you're interested in a committee, please let somebody know. Make a request even if there doesn't look like there's a vacancy. Um not aware of any unanticipated topics to
meet the 48 hour rule. I think uh so our next meeting is going to be Monday on December 15th. Do >> I have a motion? >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> I that's unanimous.