and I call the meeting to order. Will you join me in the pledge of allegiance? >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. Good evening. Welcome to the Monday, November 3rd, 2025 meeting of the Westport Select Board. Under Mass General Law, Chapter 38, Section 20F, this meeting is being recorded. Um, we're going to start the meeting on a
sad note. Um, we want to recognize the passing of uh Raymond Elias. Uh Ray Elias, 77 of Westport, peacefully passed away on Wednesday, October 29 with his family by his side. He was the son of the late William Elias Jr. and
the late Almarinda Machado Elias. He was born in a Kushna, grew up in Dartmouth and was a 1967 graduate of Dartmouth High School. He attended Bristol Community College. He was a veteran of the United States Navy. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam aboard the Navy
ships USS New Jersey BB-62 and the USS Prebble DLG-15 and was detached the naval supply support in Vietnam during deescalation of the war. He attained the rank of botsmate secondass upon discharge of his service. He lived in Westport for over
50 years. He worked at Lee's Market for 48 years until his retirement. He was a communicant of St. John the Baptist Church in Westport. He was very well known for his many by many for his involvement with the Westport Youth Basketball League and the Babe Westport
Babe Ruth League. He was the first recipient of the Westport Youth Athletic Association founders award in 2012 and in 2013 the Westport Elementary School Gymnasium was named after him. Here in town, he served on the zoning board of appeals since 2021
and the Agricultural Commission for since 2019. Survivors include his son Quentyn, his wife Audrey, his two sisters Nancy Augustine, and her husband Robert and Linda Elias and uh Theren and her husband Wall-E, his two grandchildren, Isabella and Lillian, his
former wife, Susan Elias, along with many nieces and nephews. The funeral will be held on Thursday, November 6 at 9:30 at Potter Funeral Home, followed by a massive Christian burial at St. John the Baptist at 10:30. There are calling
hours in Westport. um from 5 to 8 on November 5. I remember Rey um from the veterans organizations that he was a part of and he always made a point to come and talk to us about um the veterans group and the things he was
doing and um he was telling stories about uh Fontaine and um some of the people that the the Latessa the Fontaine and Latessa he actually told stories at those veterans events and I know he really cared about Westport and he's going to be a great loss to us. Um,
anybody else want to say anything about Ry? >> Oh, I I know I knew Ray uh vaguely because um I had uh most of my kids were involved in Westport youth uh uh athletics. So I knew him both uh for his coaching but more specifically he was
also umpiring sometimes. uh more recently uh within the last year um he was we get a lot of uh in my day job we get a lot of complaints about how state agencies have treated people and he called to say he wanted to praise and thank some particular state employee for
what they had done uh to assist him when he was working with that agency so he'll be missed >> I knew him well um mainly from select board work he was always interested in what was going on maybe why I voted a certain way I and things of that nature.
I also attend the same church that he does and I would see him there often. He will be sorely missed. >> I echo those sentiments. I think Ray was a fixture in the community and unfortunately as time goes on, we're losing the great Westport uh residents that uh make the town what it is. So,
>> so our thoughts and prayers are with the Elias family. Um the next thing I wanted to mention is um we have some upcoming Veterans Day events. So we're going to miss Ray at these events. Um on Thursday, November 6 um the Friends of the Council on Aging
Veterans Breakfast. Um so Thursday, November 6 at 9:00 a.m. the Council on Aging uh breakfast. On Monday, November 10, there'll be Veterans Day ceremonies at Westport schools um at the elementary and at the middle high and then at the
Mac O. And then on Tuesday, November 11, um there will be our annual Veterans Day ceremony to pay tribute to um the courage, sacrifice, and dedication of the men and women who've worn our nation's uniform. Um that'll be at the Veterans Monument at the Beach Grove
Cemetery. Um unless um inclement weather, it'll move to the town hall annex. So, November 6 for the breakfast, November 10 at the schools, and then November 11 um for uh the ceremony at the cemetery. Also, uh, town hall will
be closed on, uh, November 11. Our next regular meeting is two weeks from today, I think, two weeks from today. Um, there was briefly a um, under 48 hours rule um, on the posting and
that's not we're not we're not having that. >> We were able to put it off to the next meeting. >> Okay. So that um the one that got added kind of last minute um we are not going to entertain that um last minute ruling. Okay. Anything else in the way of welcome comments?
All right. Our first order of business today we have a public hearing but it's not till 6:25 so we're skipping to two. Um our first order of business is the town administrator search update and we'll have an interview and we have here um Bernie Lynch um who helped us with
the town administrator search. So welcome. >> Thank you. Can you tell us a little bit about um the process that we went through and and how we came about with this um proposed applicant here? >> Sure. The uh I think first uh I just want to first I want to thank you the
the town for uh uh choosing to work with us uh on this search. Uh it's been a very it's a very competitive time. Uh it has been for some some period of time now uh to find town managers, town administrators um for communities throughout the Commonwealth. uh Westport
went into the market at a time that um there were a number of searches taking place. We had I think at one point during this process we had 30 town there's 351 cities and towns of which uh there's a number of cities in there some 40 cities but um uh you know 30 some odd
communities were were looking for town administrators or town managers during that same period of time and um you know and that continues to go on there just continue to be communities as one community fills another community opens up so it's been a very competitive time
for uh for communities to find managers and administrators. Um we came in and we did what we normally do and that is to work with the town to identify what you were looking for from the town administrator uh for the town of Westport, what the
skill set were, what the issues are that are facing the town, uh the type of person you want to fill this position. We used all of that information as well as our own research to develop a position statement that was used to market the position. Uh we did substantial amount of outreach
advertising the position uh locally uh statewide, nationally. Uh we did outreach to uh hundreds of people um indirectly through emails and correspondents, but beyond that uh we focused in on some 30 people that uh we
knew that were in the region or that may have some interest in the position. Uh we received 29 uh resumeumés for the position which we reviewed with the screening committee that was established. Uh and u the response that we had the response was a good response
in terms of total numbers but obviously we're focused in on the most qualified people uh that were we looked at. uh we had a number of strong qualified people uh that the committee looked at uh and u uh identified those that uh should be
interviewed. Unfortunately, we also lost a number of those people that should be interviewed as other communities hired uh or selected those people for uh those positions. Uh the committee moved forward to interview four applicants uh and based upon the interviews with those
four applicants. Really found two very strong uh candidates that they felt should be brought to the uh board for consideration uh that would be uh just natural uh individuals that could be moved forward
in a town like Westport for the position of town administrator. Uh unfortunately, one of those candidates did withdraw. Uh the committee met uh reviewed next steps, re reviewed all of the resumes again. Uh again, we had some candidates
that were um had some experience, but they had some SK uh track records in their prior employment that were concerning. and the committee felt very strongly and I think there's a you know members that are here tonight that can can speak to this as well felt very
strongly that we had a very strong candidate that should be brought to the board uh and not lost at any opportunity here lose the opportunity to interview this person and so we're happy to have that candidate here with to meet with the board tonight and to um answer your
questions and explain their interest and explain how they fit into what Westport is looking for. Uh and that's Christopher Vatitali. He's currently the assistant uh in the neighboring town of Dartmouth. Uh has substantial municipal experience uh in Dartmouth as well as a
prior position in Leicester as well as Bristol, Rhode Island. But I'll let him uh give his full background to you and why he's interested in the position. Uh but I think the committee uh and us as your consultants feel that uh he's a very strong candidate that should be
considered by the board for this position. >> Right. Thank you. Um before we bring him in, Craig or uh Jake, anything you want to add to what Bernie just said? I >> I think Bernie captured it well. I think we do we because we talked about you know should we only bring one candidate
and it came down to well um this was our top person and uh we we thought we would be better off just riding with the top person than either trying to convince somebody who decided to withdraw or to convince somebody that um we weren't
entirely convinced of oursel to come in for this process. So in terms of the integrity of the process, I think we did the the the the right right right approach. >> Thank you. >> I e echo Craig's sentiments on that. I think um most importantly I think the
public's want you know we'll be concerned that there is one candidate being brought forward but uh Bernie laid out the process pretty uh pretty well with respect to the number of candidates we had. Um we did end up in a bit of a situation where we you know we we
limited it down to about 12 and then decided about six of those uh we were going to interview but when we got to the interview process we did have two individuals that withdrew u because one actually both got positions in uh other
areas both in the private sector and the public sector. Uh and then when we went back to the pool to try to invite uh a couple of more candidates, they either had other opportunities or declined our offer. So that's why we ended up with the small number of interviews that we
had. Um the two finalists that we ended up with, I think both of them would have been great. Uh I think you'll see with uh Christopher Chris Vitali, who we're going to interview here this evening. Um very strong resume. uh really strong and
I think the uh it will be an asset to the town if if we do move forward in that uh arena. But again, I think the concern from the public perception is, you know, why do we not have more people, you know, applying for a job that pays, you know, we publicly $175,000.
It's it's it's a limiting factor. I think Bernie and the screening committee talked about it in the first place is Westport is kind of landlocked. um we're we're stuck between Rhode Island and and commuting to Westport. It's not necessarily the easiest for some of these people in Massachusetts that have
experience with Mass general law. I think that was also a concern with some of the candidates that we did have. They some were from out of state and I don't think the learning curve would have worked out very well trying to learn mass general law, town meeting and and various other uh intricacies that happen
here in the Commonwealth. So, uh, I think the committee that we had, uh, in place along with Bernie did the best that we could do and I think we, uh, still came out with the best candidate. >> Can you just remind us who was on the committee? >> Uh, so the committee consisted of, uh, Cindy Brown, Sue Brighten, uh, Craig
Dutra, myself, and then Chief Dunn, and then obviously Bernie Lynch was uh, on there kind of quarterbacking us. >> Thank you all for the work you did. >> Yep. I just have one question. In the uh what I hope is unlikely event that this gentleman does not accept the job, did
the committee consider a backup plan or what would next steps be if that >> I think the ne the next step would probably be going back out into the market >> and it's it's again it's it's a market that um unfortunately Westport is not alone. Number of communities are experiencing the same issue. Uh but that
would be the really the only solution. >> Well, you you talked about it. have a plan and that's that's that would be up to them. >> Yep. >> Okay. I think we're ready for the candidate. >> Okay. [Music] [Music]
Introduce Christopher. >> Hi. Welcome. >> Thank you so much. Sit down out. >> Thank you. Good to see you again. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Hello again.
>> I see you again. Thanks. >> I'm almost You need to copy. All right. Thank you, Chris. Let the chair take over here in terms, but well, maybe I could if I could just jump in. Maybe
if you could >> Yeah, why don't you um So, Chris, welcome. So, I just want to acknowledge this is a weird situation, right, that you're interviewing in public on a public meeting. Um, I do want to, you know, we talked about the committee. So, Jake and Chris have had or Jake and
Craig have had a chance to really have a more in-depth interview with you. So, it's going to seem a little bit like this is a cursory interview, but it's a lot of the deep dive has already been done. We did get your resume in advance. So, the the materials that you just handed us, we were in our packet, so we had a chance to review them.
>> Um, but why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself and what brings you here applying for this job here in Westport? >> Absolutely. Uh, so first, thank you for the opportunity to be here. Uh, also, thank you to the screening committee. I know there's a couple members here as
well uh for the opportunity uh to meet me ahead of time and to advance my candidacy. So, you know, I guess just to get started why I'm here, this is an opportunity that really excites me. I think when you look at my background and my experience, I think it fits very well
with what the challenges Westport's currently facing. I think that I'm uniquely qualified uh to help the community address those challenges. So, you know, as you said, you have my resume, but just to give a brief highlight about some of my background, you know, I've been a part of projects
that have looked at the reuse of decommission school buildings. I've helped our current community uh establish and develop a process for administering opioid funding uh that's recently been received by various Massachusetts communities. I've worked
in uh communities to help implement licensing and permitting online. And I've also worked to advance housing initiatives. So I've worked with and I'm actively working with our partner agency over at Serpent on our housing production plan as well as working with
our local affordable housing trust on advancing a couple of local um different housing programs and initiatives. So you know that's just a few of the examples. Um, but again, I think um, you know,
when I look at what is on the horizon here in Westport, I I'm excited. There's a lot of things that I feel like I could really sink my teeth into. >> So, we have the benefit of your resume, but the people on people out there don't. So, um, just to highlight some of
the positions you've had. So, from 2017 to 2022, you were director of economic development and communications um, for the town of Bristol, Rhode Island. Um in 2022 um you were uh assistant town administrator in the town of Leicester.
Um in 20 since 23 you were assistant town administrator and then for a time co-inter town administrator at the town of Dartmouth. >> Yes. >> Um so can you just talk a little bit about um so you talked a little bit about some of your projects you've worked on. So um why Westport?
>> So I think a couple of reasons. one I think based on where two of the communities I've currently served in uh it has been on the south coast Bristol being right across the state line and Dartmouth you know so I do have familiarity with the community you know I think when you look at even the style
of government I think I have experience open town meeting form of government which I know is a little bit different than Dartmouth's representatives so um you know when you look at the operation you know the budget I've had an opportunity to tour the community I have some close colleagues and I've been able
you know, talk about and just see whether or not it'd be a good fit. And, you know, I think when I look at um all that together just made me drawn to the community. Um, one of the other things within the job statement that really
struck with me was the fact that you were looking for someone with a long-term commitment. And, you know, I've been assistant town administrator in two communities. um this would be my first time in the town administrator post on a full full-time permanent basis
and um you know that would be uh very meaningful to me and so I'd really want to make a commitment to the community. >> And then um can you talk it looks like you have it here but um can I can you talk a little bit about how um if we were to bring you on board how would you
spend like the first 30 60 90 days that you were here? >> Sure. So, uh, I'll say even before that, the work starts even before day one. Uh, so I've already done a lot of research, but there's even more than I'd really need to jump into before that. Um, most importantly, I want to sit down with
each of you individually, uh, to get a better idea of what your communication styles are. Um, you know, are there any concerns that you see or have currently and what is your preferences for operating as a board? you know, I want to make sure coming in that um you know,
I'm doing my best on day one. You know, the other thing is I know that we are entering budget season and here in Westport, those conversations have already started. So, I also understand that uh I'm going to need to get up to speed as to what progress has been made
there to meet the February deadline to submit a budget into FinCom. So uh in addition to that um you know 30 days really um starting to have those introductory conversations with department heads uh trying to understand
the conditions on the ground challenges that they're facing you know how I can best serve them as the town administrator and beginning conversations with uh you know the community as a whole. So getting my name out there, um being available for
residents who come and have questions and as you look to the 60 and 90 days, uh again, it's um you know, starting to build those relationships, finishing up the budget and preparation for the town meeting in May. And ultimately at the
end of the 90 days, what I'd like to do is, you know, take those conversations, the feedback, and be able to submit something to this board so that we can have a conversation as to, you know, what those expectations look like going forward and maybe thinking some of the long-term strategic goals that the board
wants to achieve. >> Thank you, Dex. Do you have any questions? >> Uh, yes. I would like to ask uh Mr. vitality. The schools are such a big part of any community and including the budget, >> of course. >> Uh what do you see as the I'll call it
the the the I wouldn't say game plan, but the interaction between a town administrator and a school by the way, there's a new superintendent. Uh but what are some of your thoughts about having a good relationship with the school and
particularly when you have to make the decision with with the help of us that sometimes they can't get all the money that that they need and how do we >> bring that about but still go forward >> right so I think having a relationship with the school is of critical
importance you know they are 46% of the budget and when you consider other benefits um that's a line share of the budget so I know you know in Massachusetts and the environment that we're in, we're obviously constrained by Proposition 2 and a half. And so being
able to have those conversations uh continuously throughout the year um you know, when you're starting the development of a budget, you know, looking at the revenues and being able to share that information so that they can make informed decisions as they look at their numbers and what they need to
do on their side of things, you know, with that. I think um again assisting them where we can in terms of operational efficiencies. You know, are there opportunities there to partner with them to take some of that burden off of them on the administrative side?
And then the other thing is, you know, in Dartmouth, one of the things that we did this past year was we were able to use our opioid funding to help with some of their programming efforts, things that they couldn't fund through through their annual budget, but we were able to provide them opioid funding for
different programming for the students. So, you know, creative solutions like that, but it really starts with having um open and consistent career communications. Yeah. >> Thank you. Is there anything um so Craig and Jake I
know you guys have um have spoken with them already but is there anything you want to highlight or any questions that you have? >> So obviously Craig and I had a little over an hour or so with with uh Chris so I think we kind of covered everything but the one thing that uh and I can't take credit for this but one of the
things that did come out of our discussions is just a concern I want you to kind of address it with respect to the difference between Dartmouth and Westport. Right. I think coming into Westport, you know, there's some fiscal issues that you'll be addressing and the
concern from some of us in the in the group were that the revenue is not really comparable uh to Dartmouth with the commercial base that you have in Dartmouth and and obviously a much greater u kind of economic development going on there. How would you address as a town administrator trying to balance
balance the budget with kind of a lack of revenue that you actually have in Dartmouth? Yeah. So, I think there's a couple things um that as a community we could look to explore. So, the first being you have, you know, untapped and you have a huge asset in the old school,
right? So, that's $150,000, you know, that you're spending on an annual basis to keep the facility operational. You know, as you know, we have conversations looking at potential reuse options. You know, there's been the discussion about uh combining some of your municipal facilities into one
building. um you know which could provide savings versus you know as I said having multiple heating bills having um you know different replacement schedule for um you know HVAC and just general repairs of the buildings. You know the second is at the state level
they just came out with a new 40 Y zoning district. Um you know that is for starter homes. So it almost serves as a um uh you know open space residential development where um you know they will
provide you incentives for creating these special zones. You know there's an opportunity there at the state level. They also are considering the municipal empowerment act which would provide communities more local options um for different revenue sources increasing
some of the local option taxes that are in place right now. You know, I know um in recent years that's something Westport's already looked at. Um but that would give you some more flexibility to decide whether or not um any of those would be a good fit here in town. You know, and again, just
operational efficiencies, as I mentioned before, is there an opportunity to work with the schools um on shared services? Is there an opportunity to regionalize for some of the programming or other services that we want to provide going forward? So, I'd look at all those
things and bring that back to the board so um we figure out what's the best fit for Westport. >> Thank you. Greg, anything? >> Just um obviously as chair of the affordable housing trust may be interested in talking more at length with you about that, some of the
opportunities and challenges that we see. And I I like the fact that you have been able to um work more effectively with the school department in terms of um deploying some of your opioid settlement funds. Um I I I actually looking and hoping for a stronger
relationship with the school department and us on on the use of those funds right now in Westport. >> All right. Anything else you want to tell us that we haven't asked you? >> Um no. I mean I have my couple of questions but um
>> go ahead if you want to ask questions that's fine. >> So I guess just in the first year um you know what would you consider um well I guess let me reframe it. How would you define success for the town
administrator in their first year? >> I don't know. Did we talk about that? No, we >> I mean I I mean I think you know Jim's been here for some time, but I think this offers you an opportunity to create a
role for yourself. Um I think it's it's the ability to kind of craft it into what you think is successful. I think there's concern amongst the community that, you know, everyone's in, you know, silos. I mean, here in any company or any any town that's there silos and
people kind of doing their own thing, I mean, if you could bring that back, maybe help to increase morale uh with some of the employees, I think that's that's a stuff that I think will have a lasting impact. Uh, and that's something that probably could be accomplished in the first year. Um, but there's one
thing you're going to realize pretty fast is that, uh, unlike Dartmouth, we don't have the ability to kind of delegate a lot of stuff. our departments aren't very large with respect to Dartmouth. So, I think this is a role that you're going to have to grow in and it's going
to be a steep learning curve and uh you know success will be hopefully you not quitting in six months to >> I think um thank you for letting me have a chance to think about that. So I think um the first year is going to be a tricky one because um the not only are
is the person coming into the town administrator role new but we have a new administrative assistant and a new ad uh assistant to the uh town administrator. Right. So I think um you you have this opportunity to kind of reshape the the
department um that we've started reshaping and uh but mostly I'd like you know you're going to start by listening. I want you to start by listening and understanding where the problems are and then um where the opportunities are and let's build on our where we're strong and let's figure out what we got to do
to shore up where we're not as strong. So I think success for me looks like we don't really notice that there's a new town administrator for a while and probably until the next budget cycle and um then we kind of see you know your mark on it um is kind of what where my
thought is. you guys want to add anything? >> I'd like to add that uh somebody would say next year or many people would say that he's sort of taken us to a new level. He's he's developed us. He's made us stronger. He's made us better. You can have that kind of impact on people.
That to me would be a huge success and would probably obate anything else that's secondary to it because that would that would get the job done. Yeah. >> Thank you. >> You want to add anything? >> Okay. You got anything else? That's it for me.
>> Okay. All right. So, um I did talk with a little bit with Bernie about this about whether we want to deliberate about this or we just want to make a motion. Um I'm fine with just a motion. >> I move that we appoint him as a town
administrator. >> You want to make that subject to successful contract negotiations? >> Yes. Subject to successful contract negotiations. >> All right. Second. >> Do we have any discussion? All in favor? I
>> I um welcome. Well, not yet, but um so Jake and Jake and Craig, um do you want to keep keep going with the contract negotiation or is there somebody else who would like to do the contract negotiation? >> I'm fine, but I I I I would step aside
if if Dick got involved. >> Dick, you want to do that? >> Sure. >> All right. So, when Dick and Jake, is that fair? >> Yeah, it's good to have a fresh fresh set of eyes on the on the >> Okay, great. So we can coordinate through >> Bernie. I'll >> I don't know who to coordinate through
>> to help uh coordinate this. Um so I I'll set up some time to >> Okay. >> do a Zoom call or something. >> Great. >> Okay. >> All right. >> All right. Thank you. Thank you very much. I hope we can I hope it all works out and we're welcoming you very quickly. >> Well, thank you and it's an honor. It truly is. Thank you all so much.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> You're of course welcome to stay for the plenty of time. >> Yeah. Yeah. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good luck.
>> Hey, Carol, I just want you to know that I did announce all the veterans events earlier. >> In case that's the only reason you were here. >> I announced them all. >> Everybody go attend the veterans events. >> Nope. I think we're all set. >> Yeah. Do you want to Do you want to go
ahead and say something about the veterans events, Carol, while you're here? just go to the mic. >> I don't know what was said, so if I'm repeating, go ahead. I apologize. Uh, so next Tuesday is Veterans Day. Um, and there are several events happening here
in Westport. Uh, starting this Thursday at 9:00 a.m., uh, is the Council on Aging Veterans Breakfast. It is pretty full. They have maybe six or seven slots left. Um, unfortunately it does conflict
with Ray Elias's funeral. I don't know if you did an acknowledgement for Ry already. >> We did. Yeah. >> Um, so it does conflict with that a little bit. We're trying to get the caterer a little bit early if possible. If not, we're just going to do the best we can so that those who want to attend
Ray's funeral certainly are able to. Uh, myself included. Ry was a very big advocate for me in my role here and I will truly miss him. Um, Can you repeat the time for that again? >> I'm sorry. What? >> The time for that?
>> Um, his funeral for the breakfast or for his funeral? Well, they're both 9:00 a.m. on Thursday morning. Um, >> you contact the uh COA, right? >> Yes. Yes. Um, and then next Monday, November 10th, all three Westport
schools are having ceremonies. The elementary school is at 8:45. Uh, and there we greet the students as they come in and then we do a little they do a ceremony for us in the auditorium and then if we have time we go to some of the classrooms. From there we go to the
middle school for 9:45. Uh, the veterans are all up on stage. It's a formal program with speakers, myself included. I introduce all of the veterans that are there. Uh, we have right now 28 veterans signed up. Um, if a veteran wants to do that ceremony, they do have to contact
me to sign up. so we have enough seats and I know who's there so I can introduce them. And then at 11:00 is the Matt Humber school which is a short ceremony. And then on Tuesday the 11th, Veterans Day itself, we are having our annual
ceremony at 10:00 a.m. We have uh Shauna is speaking on behalf of the select board. Representative Olette is going to speak and then our keynote speaker is Anthony Branco who is uh he served in both the Navy and the Air Force and retired from the Air Force. Uh right now
the weather is looking good. A little chilly but not rainy. So it will be at the cemetery unless the weather forecast changes between now and then. If it does change, I will post that information on the town's website and I also have a Westport VSO Facebook page that I'll
post any changes. Uh so those are the events coming up in the next week. Uh so it's a busy time for me. >> Thank you, Carol. All right. So, the um now we're come back, we're backing up to 1A. Um we have a petition for Verizon New England and
Instar Electric Company doing business as Evers Source Energy to install one jointly owned midspan pole P95 and one jointly owned Midspan Pole P92 on the west side of Horsene Neck Road. Is there someone here representing that?
Welcome. >> Can you just um introduce yourself and tell us what you got going on here? Yes, my name is John Moore and I'm here to represent uh Verizon with this midsband poll that is uh here here before the uh town council. >> Can you tell us about um why you're
putting why you need a new pole? >> Yes. So on Horsack Road, I believe around 607 Horse Neck Road, um there's the development that's going on there as we speak. And in order to serve that development with electricity and or telecommunications,
um they have to install a pole, a midspan pole between two poles right now because if they put the new electric on top of the older poles, it's going to create pole load, which means it's going to make it an unsafe condition to feed that new development. So that's the
reason why they want to go between um uh pole 90.5 and pole 92 is where that midspan's going to be. Uh purely for safety purposes only obviously with the new electric going there and also uh telecommunications.
>> All right. Thank you. Anyone from the board have any questions or comments? >> This is the public hearing. Does anyone from the public have any questions or comments? You can um just come up to the microphone. and just um say your name. >> Uh yes, this is Sue Anakerson. Pleasure.
I just wanted to know the location of the poles like where exactly are they because they look they're in in projection of like where Petty Street Petty Lane is. Uh so in this case right here with this midspan pole it is going to be and I do have a little
>> I couldn't identify it on the map. >> Oh on the map itself >> like well on there I couldn't I didn't >> sure it's a little >> okay. >> I was just curious you want to take a look at it >> just in case. So, right now I I believe the former or
the property before might have been for a farmer or or or something of that nature if I'm not mistaken. So, I have a little little like I said, I have a picture right here of where that pole is going to be going. It looks like it was around the entrance of like where that
little farm area used to be, I guess, or where the new development is going to be be uh be be going. >> Is it on the same side as Petty Lane or is it on the oppos opposite side? >> It is going to be on the It's got to be on the west side of Horsene Neck Road,
which is >> Patty Lane isn't on your chart here. >> No, it's not even on my map either. >> This is south just south of 607 Horsene Neck Road. Correct. Okay. >> Yep. >> All right, that's all I wanted to know. >> Yeah, I'm not even I don't even have pen. >> Oh, cuz I see a junction box at the end.
So, I wasn't sure if that was being changed or if it was just the pole. >> Yep. No, it's just going to be a new pole to go in between two existing poles. >> Okay, very good. >> That's what they're going to be doing. >> All right. Well, thank you very much. >> You're more than welcome. >> Okay. Anything else from the public?
>> Okay. What's the pleasure of the board? >> Madam Chair, I'd move the acceptance of this petition. >> Second. >> Any further discussion? All in favor? >> I >> I uh that's uh four in favor and one absent.
>> All right. Um thank you. >> Thank you. And this will not be part of any wind farms. I promise. >> You you already prepped for that? I I've already been here before. >> Wind farms and solar. All right. >> This is not my first time in the Westport town at all. >> You notice I supported it. >> All right. Thank you again.
>> I I It was okay. >> Have a great night. Thank you again. >> Thank you. >> Uh so now we're on 3A. We have a request from Chris Stinson, the town clerk, to appoint Eileen Dickinson to the position of assistant town clerk. Do you want to say something?
>> I don't really have much to say. >> Christensen, your town clerk. who we stole. We stole her assistant town clerk, >> which is really great. >> So, she has to hire a new one. >> We have an obligation to make it expedited then. >> Yes. It hasn't been expedited.
>> Um, yeah, I would like I request that you Eileen Dickinson. She has plenty of office experience. I feel confident. She seemed very pleasant. Um, would be resident focused and capable.
So, I feel good about her. Um, and I would like her to start tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. What do you think, >> GM? Do you have a recommendation? >> Recommend approval. >> Thank you. >> Make a motion to approve >> for November 4th. Second. >> Is there any discussion?
>> All in favor? >> I >> I That's four in favor and one absent. Anything you want us anybody to know while you're here? >> No. >> No. Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. There's no election in Westport tomorrow. >> Oh, yeah. There's no election in Westport tomorrow. I >> think there are >> April. There's an election in April.
That's the next election. >> All right. >> Thank you. >> Uh we have a request from John Rosendis, the Westport Community Television Director to appoint John Maddock to the position of production assistant and Kase Avala to the position of camera operator. You want to say anything or
no? >> John Rosendis. Hi folks. Hey John. >> So um John Maddock will be replacing uh David who um you know we parted ways with David. So that position is already funded for this year. It's in the
budget. And Kase is going to be a he's a student at the high school and he's replacing the two students I lost to graduation that we haven't replaced yet. >> Okay. Anybody have any questions? >> Motion to approve.
>> Second. Is there any discussion? >> All in favor? I >> I That's four in favor and one absent. >> Very good. >> Thank you folks. >> Thank you. >> We have a request to appoint the following members to the bike path committee. Um Gail Rodri, Edward Han,
Keith McDonald, and Megan O'Brien. There's nobody here for that, is there? >> Move approval to second. >> Any discussion, >> Madam Chair? >> Mhm. Uh I was wondering why it's these appointments are being made at this
time. Was there some urgency to that or it seems to be out of pattern with our usual appointment cycle? >> Do you know? I think I suspect it was just we forgot to appoint them last when we were in the big cycle. >> I have no objection. I was just curious.
>> I also was appointed that path, but I might have been appointed to the I might have been appointed and the rest of them didn't. Maybe. Did we have a motion? >> Yes, >> we did. Okay. All right. All in favor? >> I >> I That's four in favor and one absent.
>> We have a request from Christopher Dunn, uh, Westport Police Chief, to reappoint Christopher Rosa to the position of full-time officer. Jim, there's no one here for >> I'd recommend approval. The first three years, they reappoint the officers. I'd recommend approval. >> Mush approved.
>> Second. >> Is there any discussion? >> All in favor? >> I. >> I. That's uh four in favor and one absent. And we have a request to reappoint Perry Long to the beach committee. >> So moved. Second. >> Any discussion?
>> All in favor? >> I >> I That's four in favor and one absent. >> Um all right. 4 A. We have a request to approve a contact contract amendment for Fernam Corp. Um Jim, you want to tell us what this is about?
>> Yeah, this this again goes with the waterline contract. Um Roger Fernandez with Fern Sim has been working with us on this project from the beginning. He actually worked on the water and sewer um project prior to that. Um we limit the the contracts to a certain amount.
It gives us the ability to request an amendment and it doesn't tie up additional money unless needed. Uh the scope has changed as we stated at the previous meeting. It's increased over the last year or two. We had additional work on Route Six. We added Eastbriggs Road, Fifth and Sixth Street. So his
work is increased as well. Um I know we had some questions on the management in a previous meeting. Um in addition to for instance we had another company that was on site doing the inspections on a daily basis um for the milling and the paving that's going on this week. Uh we
actually requested that Roger from be on site for those three days in full and he will um take the place of the previous inspectors. Um, Roger is much more familiar with this work and I'd recommend approval. >> And just to be clear, so this is to
authorize an amendment for $25,000 >> to the contract. >> All right. Do we have any discussion, >> Madam Chair? >> Thank you. Um, so on October 20th, we had a change order from Engineered
Concepts for $30,000 in savings. With respect to that, >> where what were they doing in reference to what Fern Corp is doing with respect to the project? >> So Fern Fern Corp has been kind of overseeing them and helping the town
while with direction as far as the project goes. Um ECI was the actual on-site inspections. They were out they were out there daily. We had a contract for them for $170,000. We reduced it by $30,000 and we should be able to reduce it a little bit more
as well. Um, again, Roger is more familiar with this. I think him being on site, especially during this time when they're doing the milling and the paving, it's going to benefit the town. Um, there was other work that, uh, Mr. Fernandez did as part of this project. He he walked the town
through the override question with the sewer and water project early on. Um he's been working with the engineer um as well as the town coordinating the grants uh the federal grants, state grants, the ear marks uh he's been
helping with that as well. So um he's also he's also le with the uh infrastructure oversight committee. So as as they've been looking at different areas and different options, he's been evaluating those and uh providing papers on those and cost estimates and so forth. And
then in that same meeting, I think we agreed that we were taking a basically a credit of 28,500 from the gas company too or from Liberty Utilities. >> Yeah. Working with Chris Gonzalves, we met with the gas company. They had done some work on Greenwood and Osborne Street. They have a temporary patch
there now. Instead of them doing the permanent patch, that work will be included in this paving contract to give us an overlay of the entire street instead of a patch. Um, so they're going to reimburse the town with 28,500 for that work. >> And where is that go? Where is that 285
going? Is that going to PJ Keating that's going to do the overlay or is it going >> It'll go to Dig It. PJ Keing is a subcontractor for Dig It. >> Okay. All right. Um, just in the in the backup information that you've given us. You said that his contract right now is approximately $12,000 over and we
anticipate another $13,000 to get us to close out. In my opinion, I wouldn't I'm not a big fan of giving someone a blank check that they know it's a full $13,000 to kind of fulfill. So, in my opinion, I would just fill out the 12, you know, agree to pay them the 12,000, then get
have line item invoice for the rest of it. But, that's just my opinion. It we seem to be shifting money here and there and and moving it to someone who I don't think deserves it based on the project management. But uh either way, I'm I'm not one to give someone a blank check
for $13,000 just to close out uh a contract. >> Jim, can you talk about um how uh Bernma is reimbured? Do they submit um hourly rates or how does that work? >> Yeah, so he'll submit a monthly invoice based on hourly rates. I believe it's $110 per hour for the company itself for
any time that he does. There's no indirect cost. We don't pay for mileage. We don't pay for printing or office use. um that's the only cost he charged and I I have to say the at least the billing over the last two or three years what
we've seen has been very fair >> chair. >> Yep. >> Just to further based on what Mr. Mcwigan was asking it says $13,000 to get us to close out. What does to close out mean? Does it has certain functions that have to occur? Certain things that have to be checked, whatever.
>> So this would be close out of the overall contract. So, we would um uh we hold retainage on on Digger Construction. They actually have a warranty or a guarantee for two years on some of the paving issues. Um but we will get I'm hoping we can close out with them um
by the end of this year. Um so that'll be finished paving of those streets, Eastbriggs, Gford, Osborne, Greenwood. >> Um you know, any additional I think we're waiting on three or four different connections to some properties on Route Six. We got to wait. the the water test
just came back today on that last section of Route Six. That was um pressure test and the water test that came by back positive. So, we can now hook up those last couple of businesses and once those are done, that would be the once a digger contract closes out, that's essentially the end of the contract. >> Thank you.
>> Um and then I think at some point the board and the infrastructure oversight committee may have to make a decision whether or not to have him continue. it would be a separate uh proposal with a select board on the additional grants that we have. >> And can you talk about how this is
funded? >> So, this is funded a number of sources. We have some OPA funds, two different OPA funds that we've been using. We had a $1 million ear from Senator Rodri, and we had a $4 million PAS grant from the state and the federal government, which was, I think, the second highest grant
in the state at the time. Um we had PAS and a couple of public water supplies along Route 6. We also had high manganesees at the Mack of School. So this this project does address those issues. So my understanding is that he's been doing a phenomenal job already um
managing what we've asked him to do as kind of the owner's project manager and then taking on some additional tasks. So I think um you know you're you're supposed to come to people with a contract extension before you incur $12,000 of cost. So, I'm a little disappointed they didn't come earlier,
but um I think it makes sense to have it does not exceed there. It is listed. The scope of service is listed in the amendment. So, it's not an additional 13,000 and it's a not to exceed so that we don't have to keep amending the contract. So, I think that's fair. Before we go to the um did you have
>> Madam Chairman? Just one more thing. Again, the the backup materials that we have here is very qualitative in nature. Um it's not quantitative. Um, if you divide $12,000 by $110 an hour, that's $100 of work. And if I'm looking at
these bullet points, it's a lot of time. I mean, we're doing a full 5 days of of of this outreach that essentially was done on here. So, uh, if we're looking at 25,000, we're looking at 220 hours. Again, I'm looking, we can talk about it coming from grant money, but it still is coming
from the taxpayers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and from the taxpayers of Westport to fund this project. So I'm not one for saving money 2 weeks ago or 3 weeks ago and then now moving it to an engineering company that will not give a line item for everything that's been
done. So >> you have a scope of service and you're talking about the >> I'm just saying the backup that I have presented with the agenda of what a portion of these hours have been. Again $12,000 is 110 hours of work and if we're going another we're dealing with
about 230 240 thou 240 hours. So that's fine. I mean, I know which direction we're going to go with with this, but that's >> Anything else from the board before we move to the >> No. >> Mari. >> Yes. Um, Madam Chairman, name is Mari May. I'm vice chair of the
infrastructure oversight committee. And in that uh position, I have been working with uh Fern Corp, Roger Fernandez for uh two years and have always found him to be a very very competent person. Um I was on the search committee to hire him and um the $110 an hour was actually the
lowest. Um we had another company come in with um you know three employees in the range of 140 up to about 190. And so, um, I I I wouldn't try to short him on the on the bill. And I also wouldn't like to short him on the, uh, the the
balance of the 25,000 that's being requested simply because there is more work to, um, close out this this uh, current um, contract. Uh we we are in transition and I will say that um our
current and retiring town administrator is is an expert in water and sewer and he's we're going to miss him um as we go forward. We're going to need some continuity here uh with with Roger Fernandez. I know his employment was
controversial, but I also know that this is not employment. This is consulting. He's a he's Fern Corporation. He is a consultant and I hope he has other clients. Um I hope we're not his only client, but I would support this 25,000
request from Jim. That's it. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I move we accept the town administrator's uh recommendation as presented. >> Second, Madam Chair. >> Is there any more discussion? All in favor? >> I opposed. >> Opposed. >> So there's three in favor, one opposed,
and one absent. It will be a lot cheaper than the 124,000 they're going to hire him for. >> We have 4B. We have a request to approve the Mass DOT agreement for the intersection of Gford Road and American Legion Highway. Jim, you want to explain this one?
>> Yes. So, we've received a $150,000 earmark a couple of years ago um for improvements at Gford Road and Route 177. We are going through the permitting process with Mass DOT. Mass DOT has prepared an agreement that they're they
just want the uh town to sign. Um we're looking to replace the blinking lights that are on the um corners of Gford Road and 177 with an overhead blinking light. Uh this would be a much easier well it is an easier process to
permit as opposed to the roundabout that's going at 177 Robert Street. We were able to do this through the permit process with Mass DOT but they still require an agreement with the town. So, I'd uh recommend that the town um vote to approve the agreement and we can move forward with the uh construction process
of that signal. >> All right. Thank you, Madam >> Chair. One quick question. >> So, it it the backup material says this is a $150,000 earmark that obviously Senator Rodri's got for the town. It $150,000 blinking light. Is that what
we're getting? >> No, it's much more than that. >> Really? >> Yes. >> This Okay. I'm hoping it's this aim, we can get it done for the 150. The roundabout is like because we're going through this permitting process instead of the full five, six year design process that's normally required mass DOT.
>> Um they feel we can get it done. This includes the design as well. I think we had 30 or 40,000 for design. We're going to be looking at just over 100 for the um anything you do with Mass Highway is expensive. >> So it's a $100,000 blinking light $100,000. >> But wait, how much have we already
spent? I I think we had a design contract for um 30 to $40,000. >> Okay. I know people were talking about putting in like a like a regular proper stop stop light there, but that's like a million dollars for a stop. It's crazy.
>> Not to mention we would have a hard time getting state. >> No, the state is the state it's a state highway and that's what they're recommending. So, we get we get the new kind of flashy light or we get nothing. I as someone who drives through that many times a week, I think it would be
an improvement and a safety improvement. >> Yeah. >> And there have been a number of fairly significant accidents that occurred at that intersection. >> Yeah. >> And so it's making it safer because it's been a hazardous intersection. >> Yeah. >> It's probably one of the most hazardous intersections in town.
>> Yeah. >> All right. So, do we have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second, Madam Chair. >> Is there any further discussion? All in favor? I >> I oppose. Says four in favor and one absent. >> We have a request from Bill Chase to
approve a one-year moratorium on all private moorings permits for 2026. >> Good evening. >> Good evening, Madam Chair, members of the board. So, uh that's exactly what we're asking for. Um we're asking for a one-year moratorum
on the approval of any new uh private mooring permits within the Westport River. Um there are several reasons for this. Oh, by the way, this did go through the Harbor Advisory Committee already. They have approved it. So, so
here we are. Um we don't have a reliable database of where all the private borings are in the river. And on top of that, we're concerned about the condition of those moorings. Uh, currently, we use the honor system for
the owners to report to us the condition of their mooring. And I think we all know how that honor system works. So, that's a it's a point of concern for us. Uh, and I would give an example of, you know, you may think just a boat drifting along the river is is no big deal. But
if that vessel weighs 1,000 lb,500 lb and it's being pushed by wind and wave, uh it can cause some damage. So we want some integrity as to the condition of all these private moings. We just don't
have reliable database of where they all are. We don't have anything on a map per se. Um, we've got names, we got, you know, owners names, we have permit numbers, we've got phone numbers and addresses, but we don't have anything that we can apply to a chart.
So, I think we need to kind of take a break from issuance of new permits in order for us to get our hands around this issue. Uh we get a lot of uh requests over the summertime uh from
folks who like you know if you've just bought a piece of you know riverfront property and you've got a boat well of course you want your own private permit your own private moing before we continue on uh addressing those new moorings. Uh we're just asking
for a uh a break if you will uh from uh approving anymore until we can get a grip on the condition and the location of the uh private moorings in the river. >> Do you have any idea how many uh new moorings we get in a year in a typical year? >> How many applications we get over the
course of the year? I there were probably a dozen that came into the office over the course of the summer. Um there may have been others who you know sought through various avenues to get that as well. Um there is a process for this that has to go through the harbor
advisory committee. Uh I would say they would probably tell you they've been a little slow on on acting on all of that. Um and on top of that we have not reviewed the waterways regulations since 2012.
And within those regulations are requirements for certain sizes uh of moorings based on the size of the boat that it would hold. So in in addition to that we need to establish some kind of criteria for
inspection. not just the criteria of the inspection itself, but who can be allowed to inspect these moorings and then report back to us and the harbor advisory committee that in fact these moorings are in in usable condition.
>> Thank you. Go ahead. >> Uh Bill, I I'm trying to just understand it. The problem is existing moings that may be deficient may be inadequate. >> The we're talking here about new moings. They'll they'll all be adequate. I would
think they would all pass musters. So I I see these as two separate problems. So why does the moratorum help with problem? >> Well, just to give us a chance, Dick, to to to get a better grip on exactly where they are and to establish some criteria as to
inspection and to condition of these particular moorings. So you're right, it is two different issues. U but um they all are kind of tied in uh in a sense that we've got to manage them and monitor them whether they're just new
approvals or if they have in fact been in the river for some period of time. >> As a followup, so do these people have a right to these moings? >> Describe right? Well, through some
ownership of property in close proximity or deed rights. >> No, there's none of that to my knowledge. Uh Dick, uh the process basically is uh tell us where you'd like to have this moing placed. Uh and we'll
go out and have a look and see if it fits. It's really kind of simplistic in this point. And I could give you an example like uh if you wanted to put a moing anywhere in the river, you could say, "Okay, Bill, I've I've got a Clorox bottle and it's floating in the river.
Can you take a ride out there and have a look at it and tell me if that fits?" That's literally where we are right now. So, we need we need more structured criteria as to who gets approved, where they get approved, and then the condition of the mooring going forward.
I don't think that there are any to my knowledge there are no other coastal towns that do not require private moing inspections. If you go to Marion, if you go to Matapo at Fair Haven, Dartmouth, they all require I think Dartmouth is three years uh for
all of their private mooring inspections. We don't have any of that. So, we're concerned about the condition of the existing moorings and we would like to have some more of a a more structured approach to approving new private moorings going forward.
>> Okay. Thank you, >> Madam Chair. Uh, cabinet bill, I appreciate all the work you're doing on this. I think one issue we've seen in conservation is with a lot of the dock permitting that comes through and the dock licensing. Uh we've had had some
people come and say, "Well, I have a mooring right there." Uh and trying to block the obviously construction of the dock because that mooring, which at that time we don't have a record of or anything of that sort. So, uh I think that will help people on obviously both
sides with respect to those who are at least trying to either upgrade their dock or those that actually will officially have moorings as opposed to just claiming a space. It's almost like they're just, you know, when I was in school, you had played Oregon on Trail on a on a on an old apple and you just
claim the land and I think that's probably what's kind of happening with some of these moorings right now. Uh so I appreciate you at least trying to standardize this and I think you're doing that a lot ac across the department and appreciate that. I I know this may be an issue for some people that may buy a boat and want a new moing
in in 2026, but trying to clean this up is uh probably paramount to some of our stuff we're dealing with. >> Well, thank you for that, Jake. Um we we did one aspect of this that I did leave out. Um we will establish a waiting list
for those who want their private mooring beginning now. There are a few from last summer that I am aware of. They would obviously go to the top of that list. Anyone going forward, pending your approval, of course, would go on that waiting list based on when they
contacted my office. >> So, it's the pleasure of the board. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Is there any further discussion? >> All in favor? >> I. That's four in favor and uh one absent. Anything else going on?
>> All kinds of stuff going on. I think you're going to see Rick here, I think, the next uh at the next meeting. He's got some pretty exciting stuff going on. >> All right, great. Thank you. Thank you for the hats and the bag. >> Thank you. But make sure, by the way, before you put it on, break in the brim a little bit.
>> We don't want a flat brim. We can't We can't have a flat brim. >> I don't know. >> I'm too old for that, Bill. >> Thank you all. Um D we have a request from Chris Gonzalez the highway surveyor to have executed a project acceptance letter to
PJ Keating for the phase one year 2025 work Jim >> I'd recommend approval this just uh dates the completion of the work and starts the one-year warranty on the chapter 90 work >> motion to approve second >> any discussion all in favor >> I
>> I that's four in favor and one absent we have a request from my May vice chair of the infrastructure ffstruure oversight committee for approval of a waterline extensure project. Welcome. I think they moved the other chair over there together. >> Yeah, >> we have Bob
Daylor and Mory May from the infrastructure oversight committ >> I think. Did you have slides for this one? >> I do have a couple. >> I think you did. >> Okay. >> Are these on? Well, we got we got >> you're on. >> We got graphics and everything. Um
>> Oh, wow. >> Where we're here with >> Can you just turn one of them off? They it echoes sometimes when one of when they're both on. >> Turn one off. >> Yeah, there you go. >> We'll share. Um we're here as a role as
advisor to the board of selectmen and to um recommend a next phase of our water extensions. So this is um with with a new grant that we received from
Representative Keading and a matching grant for the local share from our Senator Rodri. So again, um the the committee and the the town departments
have been working together to secure as much funding so that none of this water work is is going on the taxpayers or at least the local taxpayers. So u w with that um Mari we can walk through what
our recommendations are going to be. So, at the um last infrastructure meeting on September 3rd, uh we had a number of options to um consider um on how to spend essentially, you
know, $1.2 million. I mean, it's one 1,199,000, but I'll call it 1.2. And we had uh considerable discussion. We had half a dozen options. We had considerable discussion and uh we had to have two options that hit you know came
in under 1.2 and personally I would like them to come in around a million so that we'd have a couple hundred thousand for change orders or whatever as we as we move forward. Anyhow, um there was very strong support for the Briggs Road Fire
Station uh from uh your your select board representative as well as the finance committee representative and and personally um and that is an extension to the Briggs Road Fire Station from the existing water line as it comes down uh
Gford Road and there's already like a 12 in stud there stub there uh to go over to the Briggs Road Fire Station. It might be a little difficult uh getting all the paperwork going under a state road, but it's still something that uh
we had a strong feeling about for the simple reason that um it is a u public safety issue. Uh we had that big fire at Excel and we had to call in tank water tanks from other other uh towns to to help us out and uh even heard that our
fire fire department some has to go to the head of Westport and pump it out of the river. So they need water there for public safety and also it is a PAS problem. They have that PAS contamination in the well there and that would come in um someplace around you
know 550,000 I forget the actual number. Um the balance of the money would go to an Oakland Avenue loop and uh you can see on the map there um it's changed from the original um u recommendation
from from Roger Fernandez um which came in a little over 600,000. So we if we change it a little bit and take out unnecessary piping, it should come in, you know, around, you know, 500,000, which would help us uh leave some space
there. The purpose there would be to bring clean water to more houses and I think we could serve another uh we could bring it to another 15 or so houses. Um but uh that hasn't been finalized
exactly. But um you know we the first um this this PAS grant um allowed us to extend the water line down Route Six and into neighborhoods. And um we got 38 residences to sign up. We got seven commercial properties to sign up. And I
think we now have something like 213 customers on our little water utility. And so these two projects would allow us to um continue that expansion. I might add that um lo and behold uh
Representative Keading got us another federal grant, another earmark for 2026 and U. Senator Rodick said that, you know, let him know and he'll make sure we get the 20% matching grant that would come to 1.3 million. And so we have
these two little projects. This one though we there was talk about combining them into one 2.5 million projects but um you know given the clawback of federal funds on certain uh grants uh we thought it'd be better to bird in the
hand is worth two in the bush as they say. So we wanted to go forward with this 1.2 million project and in talking to to Senator Rodri he totally agreed with that. So that's what we're here for. We're asking you to to approve us
going forward with this uh small water line extension. >> This is the approve the pursuing it because we don't have a contract in front of us, right? No. What what is the approval that you're asking for? >> Um support basically. Jim, help me out
here. But >> hey, I think they're just looking for the select board's blessing that this is a proc a project that they should move forward on. >> Okay. And I just want to reiterate this is water only. >> Yes, >> water only. >> No one is going to be forced to connect.
>> Nobody's forced >> and there is no betterment. >> No betterment and no town meeting. >> And this is >> we don't have to go to the town meeting asking for a loan. >> There's >> and this is no no Westport tax dollar implications other than whatever the federal funding source.
>> It's federal and state. >> Federal and state. >> All right. and and we've been choosing all of the um the looking at at how we spend these monies. We've been attempting to run it into the
areas that that provide the most benefit to the most homes, particularly in the areas where we know they have small lots and and wells that have either gone dry or have problems. So, we've been looking at the into these neighborhoods, and you
can see from from the the maps, we're we're working with the smaller homes that have septic systems and older septic systems. So, at least we're bringing clean water to these homes and and and all of our decisions have been
looking at that. um with the exception of um u the extension in um to the fire department which I think really is a public safety issue.
>> Thank you. Anything from the board, >> Madam Chair? Um first off, I think what this points out is I know it came as a surprise that I actually supported this at the infrastructure oversight committee. Um, but I wanted to point out that the discussions that Bob and uh my
and the group had um were constructive. Uh my point was that if we are going to do this, obviously a fire station seems to be pretty important with respect to needing water um and bringing that over to them and and pointing out the Excel
recycling fire and talking to actually uh firefighters and and those in the fire stations. So, um, this was kind of one situation where we had a a good discussion and move forward and I think this is is good for all of Westport, um, from a public safety standpoint and I
did, uh, support it and I will support it here tonight. Thank you. >> Thank you. Have anything. >> All right. What's the pleasure of the board? >> Motion to approve. Second. >> Is there any discussion? All in favor?
>> I. >> I. Um, that's four in favor and one absent. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> We have a request for clarification of the sick leave buyback personnel bylaw. Um, and there was a memo in our packet,
but Jim, you want to explain this? >> Yeah. Paula prepared a memo going back to 2023. Um, 2023, a section of the bylaw, this personnel bylaw was emitted. Um, I don't know if it got lost in translation as we we updated the bylaws through the years.
Um, but it wasn't voted on at town meeting and it shouldn't have been admitted. Um, so we we just should be in there. I just want to get clarification, let the board know that um, this section should be in there. This relates to sick pack sick time buyback. So I think if you have over a certain amount of sick
days, uh you can um return nine and a half days or eight and a half days in of sick time back to the town and you get reimbured for about 50% of that. Um there's a limit as to what you can do as far as uh sick by sick time buyback. Um
it was in the bylaws for years and years. Um and it came out best we can tell in 2023. So just to clarify, so what we're So whatever is in the printed bylaws now wasn't the version
that was passed last at town meeting. So we're you're just noting that we want to revert it back to whatever it was before at the last town meeting before we inadvertently changed it. >> Yes. >> Okay. Did you need action from us or you just telling us? I >> I'm just telling if the board's okay
with it then I you know I don't like I don't want to change the bylaw without the board knowing. So, um, but I think it's more of a, um, I was a typographical error, but it's more of a, uh, editing error than it is anything else. >> All right. Does anybody have any
questions? >> You see, we're not changing the bylaw >> or we are. >> We are, or we aren't. >> We're putting the wording in that shouldn't have been taken out in the first place. >> So, the intent of this is already in the bylaw. >> Yes. >> There's no question about this. If the
words don't match the bylaw's intent to corre it's to corre to correct a problem caused by oversight. >> Yes. Yeah. >> Yeah. But I I just want to be sure that that what we're doing it comports to the intent of the bylaw.
>> Yes. Absolutely. I I think we're Yes. >> All right. So, any questions? You have any concerns? >> Okay. All right. So, I don't think there's any I don't think you need a vote, right? Okay. Um,
we have a discussion with the Westport 250 committee. >> Three of us. >> Three of you. >> Yeah. >> Bring an extra chair. >> She's got a chair. >> And I was told Jeff Fitten was coming. And none of you look like Jeff Fit.
>> No. >> Hello. >> I'm Irene Buck with my two of my colleagues. There's two others that are not able to be here, but this is a very organic homegrown committee who came to you in uh early part of 2025 to broach
the idea of joining in the nation to celebrate the 250th anniversary. Um you want to introduce yourself before? >> I'm Lou Burl. Um I live on River Road and um I've been working with um these two and a couple others since January
just to my family's been in Westbrook since the 60s, but I have only been here for the last four years full-time and um I'm just I was coming with to them to figure out ways to meet more people and to bring the community together because
Westport's so spread out and diverse and um I just have had a really good time and we've come together. We're all um interested in history and we thought this would be a cool way to bring the town together to provide events or to help sustain what we're trying to do. >> Welcome.
>> And I'm Jane Dufalt. Uh born and raised. Uh went to school here, taught here. I've been um I've been here for a long time. And uh Irene had called me and asked me if I would be on um on the committee and really to to look at how
we can celebrate the nation's beginning to celebrate our 250th uh anniversary and we want to bring that here to Westport and we have found some really interesting things. We've uh spoken with a number of organizations
and asking them how they would like to celebrate this. uh they are coming up with some exciting exciting ideas. Um where I was the teacher, I'm interested in also uh in bringing it to the schools. We've spoken with the superintendent uh curriculum coordinator
and we'd like the teachers to get involved and students and again to learn about the history. We have um a great town here and and Westport wouldn't exist if that American Revolution had never taken place. And um we have such a
special place. So we really want to encourage people and basically for them to come to us and say this is what we would like to do. I know Irene will tell you more about what we have planned already. >> We we want to ask you to join us or at least spread the word. When we came
earlier, we didn't ask for a thing and we're not going to really ask you for anything right now, but we're going to ask you for your support and to encourage us because as I mentioned, we're ad hoc. We're nonprofit, nothing. You are just a group of active citizens
that really believe that we should be part of this major celebration, the semiquincentennial of the United States, and for young people to build the pride in their community, for those of us that have lived here for a while to share in the
history, the stories that we share. So, join us to on Thursday, November 6 at 6 p.m. for a community collaborative connection meeting at 6:00 at the library. The Westport 250 committee invites all community organizations,
towns, schools, artists, residents to join us as we prepare for Westport celebration of America's 250th anniversary in 2026. We'll celebrate our past and we'll inspire our future. That's our hope.
That's the core of what we're all about. And through working collaborative, which we've already seen by having conversations with organizations and individuals around the town, we have seen people begin to find ways to work together to help each other to make what
they're doing maybe a little bigger, a little better. Um, we want to have the community pride that we feel and our other two members, Jeff Fitton and Lauren Mills, um, really reach across this town. This is an opportunity to
come together. There's nothing that we have to criticize or worry about except feeling really proud that the Declaration of Independence somehow was created by the forefathers of this country. that people worked together to
come up with something that was significant and was the ground for a government that I think we all feel is worth worth the time celebrating. Now, we're looking for many celebrations. We don't have any one specific, but so far we've identified about six
organizations. We're looking at traditional organizations. Um, we've talked to the the parade, we've talked to the agricultural fair, we've talked to individuals, we've seen new events come up. There's an exciting event that some of you already know about where uh
a ship called the Sal Shallop is being brought to to town and brought to a number of ports and that's going to be a real exciting moment. But there's many many things. This event on Thursday night is meant to pull together what we've learned, but also to demonstrate a
website that we've had created. It's in process as we speak, and we'll make this website available for anyone. We need to have the community all informed because this is not for one group or another group. This is for the town. In the past
when the the last celebrations have occurred, usually a small commission or committee was appointed and I've talked to her chair and she's discouraged us from getting too formal about it and said just go ahead and do the work.
That's what's important. I thank you Sha for that. And we um so we've talked to the organizations. We are going to promote. We're going to highlight. I'm probably not going to be um the most technically astute person. I can um
blame my great grandchildren on that. I don't know what. But but Lou certainly represents the generation that knows exactly how to communicate social media, how to let people know. And I think in this town, the best way to know about things is have people tell you about it.
So each of you make it a point over the coming week or the coming days I guess to tell anybody that's interested in doing something different or having their group. We've talked to the library. We've talked to the women's club. We've talked to a number of organizations. If you have something you
want to do, why not have 250 events? We probably won't, but we can have a lot of >> 250 events. >> A lot of parties. So, we have a flyer that's gone out to people in the mail, and we really want them to come Thursday
to premiere the website. We want them to talk about promotional ideas so nobody misses out. I'm sure one or two of you have had an opportunity to say, "I never heard about it." We don't want anybody not to have heard about it. And we don't want it just to be what's happening in
your neighborhood, but what's happening across the town. We will have at our meeting Thursday Jonathan Lane who's the executive director of Revolution 250. That's a statewide nonprofit organization and he will talk about things that are happening. You know, we
are part of a state and we will have um the old Dartmouth association come Dartmouth did Westport was a part of Dartmouth. So many of the communities that were part of the old Dartmouth will be coming together to do events. There was a British blockade in the harbor.
They destroyed all of New Bedford and that's going to be recreated at some point. I don't know the details. It might be, but it'll be a lot of um and the young people in this town will have a very special opportunity to share in
that. I mean, we did hear great stories when we started about people remembering what their grandmother did 50 years ago, what happened in this town. So I wasn't living here 50 years ago. I don't remember who was. We're not asking Jane to be our total.
But those kinds of events I think will will be um talked about by our two outside speakers and then we want the community to start talking and we want people with new ideas. You know some communities Jane travels a lot because she has family in other towns. She's
come back with some super ideas from other towns of what they've been doing. And people are reading the Declaration of Independence. They're having young people read it and they're having older people read it and read it together. They're planting liberty trees. They're talking about the core substance that
makes our country and our state and our town a very important place to live. So join with us. Get excited about it. It's hard sometimes to talk about history and have people get excited because it's
this is alive. This is exciting. So, let's give you a little taste of excitement. Did you know that along what we call old county road, Abner Brunell, >> drown out >> drown out
>> brought the news from conquered and Lexington to Dartmouth. He was a few days later than the battle, >> April 21st. >> And what Lou found out in going back and reading was that he was the first >> town moderator >> town. No, I think a clerk.
>> It was April. This is not exciting, I'm sure, but April 21st, whatever it was when it Oh, was it 18 or 1787 when Westport became its own town? He was voted as in the first meeting of you. He was the first select board. Yeah. And then he was also the one who rode the
horse through town telling everybody that um that we were a new nation. >> The war had started. >> It was county road. So I found that interesting because and we found this through research. I was doing some other research with the library.
>> But we found this out in a newspaper article from the 1920s >> and Old County Road was the road that he went down where all the schools are. So we thought, you know, could we reenact that? >> Have somebody reenact it, have the schools. I mean, it's something, you
know, that I think of now every time I drive down the street, but there's a lot. >> Well, it seems like you're so far away from three quarter hats. You're so far away from these things, but I think what that what we want young young people especially to realize, they're not that
far away from how this government came together. And they didn't come together automatically. It came together because people worked together. So, at the core of what we're doing is civic pride and shared experience. I hope you'll share that message for us and we will count on
it because come on, it's extraordinary. >> Amazing. >> Thank you. >> I'm so excited about how far you've come. I mean, Thursday at 6 at the library, right? >> Thursday 6 p.m. at the library. I'm just so excited for I remember having lemonade on your porch like a long long
time ago. You talk about this. You've got a great group. I'm excited. >> We do have fun >> to see what you >> and we're not planning events. We are just trying to create a platform for people to come to who want us to help them post it and all that >> so the information gets out and with
that new ideas can happen. U we're counting on a lot of the existing organizations to come up with things they want to do but we're looking for people that might not have taken the chance. There's a lot of artists in this area. There's a lot of opportunities and the committee has been laughing at me,
but I went to the historical society's meeting and saw the excitement that exists in this town around the Mac Humber turnup. I mean, we really have to start thinking about the things we own. There are a lot of men, well, probably women, too, but
sharing how important it is to have your own turnup and to have your own town. So, let's get together. Let's build community spirit and let's celebrate 250 years of our country. >> Thank you. >> Thank you guys. You guys have you guys have anything for these people? >> No. >> No.
>> All right. Thank you. Thank you ladies. >> Thursday. >> Uh the next item for discussion is with the long-term building committee for an update on the old high school. Welcome Mr. Thrasher. Hello.
Good evening everyone. Uh Jim, I have a presentation that I emailed you. I'm not sure if you can >> be able to probably right about the time you sat down. >> So, but uh shouldn't be too hard to pull up
here. And I uh certainly won't take too much time here, but I did just want to give kind of an overview of the uh uh just an update on the municipal municipal facility study that RGB is conducting. Uh just kind of look at some some key
developments, progress since the last time uh I set before you and also to talk a little bit about uh the the committee itself and the uh next steps we're looking at taking. So see if we can He's close.
>> All right, good deal. Not too far away. All right, so uh and uh the first slide there is is quite literally what I just said, the um just just giving kind of an overview of what's going to be on this uh presentation. What's the next slide? Yeah. Uh and also just uh some potential
coordination down the road. Uh so next slide is just a summary of the progress to date. Uh we did have a uh RGB was in to give some detail to the community campus plan to the select board in August. Um based on some feedback uh RGB
was actually asked to develop a revised uh lowerc cost version of the community campus concept uh for uh for valuation. Um we did the uh long-term building committee held an informal discussion with RGB last week. We actually did not have a quorum. Oddly enough, I think we
have a quorum right now, but we'll we'll just leave that alone for now. Uh, but uh the the thing that that has has really come to uh the forefront based on the conversations that have been had uh since the last time I spoke before you is that it it's wasn't really going to
be feasible to have a town meeting at a potential ballot question 2025. Uh so we're we're hoping to uh to put something forth uh for the 2026 town election as well as the town meeting and we'll go go into that here in a little bit. Uh so just to reiterate a couple of
things about the current use of of the old high school building. This next slide. Uh so as you can see it's still a a very heavily used asset. I think a lot of people uh think that it's it's sitting sitting mostly empty. Uh I can
tell you that it seems to be uh in constant use one one thing or another whether it's uh uh gym facilities being used. Of course the school admin is still uh involved has still has offices the out of school time program. Um a
thing that became clearer uh over time to me is just how much the maintenance facility is for the school department. Uh just how much uh space that that takes up and how much that is still used. Uh so just a little bit about if if the building were to cease to exist
tomorrow um there would immediately be a requirement for new athletic fields. Uh there would be a need for replacement for school facilities and maintenance facilities uh in addition to program relocation and of course doing nothing still still costs a lot. So, uh, one of
the things that RGB was asked to do was was come up with a a new a new concept, uh, taking out some of the, uh, some of the costs associated. Um, and and if you just go ahead and move to the next slide, I'll I'll show you. This comes right from, uh, their their potential
options. So, this involves, uh, uh, removing, if you recall, the community campus option had uh, three different separating the site into three different buildings. This removes the center uh building still preserves the the gym, the auditorium. Uh the next slide gets a gives a little bit more info on the uh
space that would remain uh with this option. And uh of course I'll I'll you know you'll have a chance to to see this and I'll just kind of speed through the these are all from from RGB's uh RGB slides. Uh but if you want to go to the the costbenefit analysis, I'll show you
the the bottom line change. Uh so you're looking at for the option 3B which is the modified uh community campus where it's u two buildings as opposed to three uh comes in about uh 20 million uh cheaper than the the original community
campus option. So one thing I wanted to uh bring to the committee's attention um so there's been of a next slide there. It's a there's been a bit of a conversation about housing uh that's come from the planning department as well as some comm committee members. Um I I personally still have a concern if
if the idea of using the entire parcel for housing. Uh that you know I think we would we would leave ourselves uh with uh some serious deficiencies as far as the like I said the the fields and the uh school maintenance facilities among among other things. But um I I do think
there there may be an opportunity especially with this community campus ca plan that involves again taking out that middle part. there might be uh some some conversations to might might be a way to bring housing uh back into the conversation a little bit. Um, I did
want to mention, I spoke with a developer, uh, he mentioned, this is, to be fair, this is total hearsay, uh, but he mentioned that the affordable housing trust may be interested in funding a housing study as part of, uh, adding to the scope of RGB's
uh, uh, existing scope so that it would we could uh, add that in to uh, to the current uh, project. And I spoke with or emailed Jim earlier just to get a little clarification on how that would work. I believe it would not necessarily need to go through the RFP process if it could
just be added in with RGB. Uh I spoke with Dave Deu Quattro of of RGB. He indicated that RGB would be willing uh and able to do such a study and to turn it around quick enough to uh to get to our our planned uh community meeting in
January. And I'll get to that here in just a second. Um but uh again that that is that I guess would be contingent on if the affordable housing trust uh would be interested in adding that to the equation. >> Well, we we do have uh funding for
feasibility studies leading to housing development of a certain scale and so there is interest. I mean we're we're we're not we're not closing any doors in terms of development opportunities when it comes to affordable housing. So
>> Okay. Excellent. Excellent. Yeah, I think um as I said before, my concern was always if you're talking about repurposing the entire site, I think that's a detriment to the town, but if there's a way to incorporate housing into uh kind of a master plan here, I think that's something that needs to be
looked at. Uh and certainly if if it's possible to to roll this in with the uh existing RGB study and again turn it around in time for January. Um, I do believe that would according to Jim that would require the select boards uh and of course affordable housing trust to to
uh uh get the process rolling as far as changing the amending the contract and and the uh getting the funding for for that study. Um so the uh next thing I wanted to mention before we get into timelines here uh is just to talk a little bit about the committee
operations. Um we have had significant challenges reaching quorums. Uh we've had I think three meetings uh over the course of the year that have not been uh not been attended enough to have a quorum and have turned into uh you know we we we've tried to have informal
conversations but uh the committee membership is is nine individuals currently. Um I I am I intend to send out a survey just to confirm everybody's uh interest in continuing the comm on the committee. Uh we've had a couple
that have been absent for some time. Um I would ask that perhaps the planning board revisit their appointment uh as the current appointee is somewhat indisposed. Uh, and I I also would would wonder if the select board would
consider uh possibly a reduced uh reduced committee size, maybe even appointing another select board member uh to to the committee. Uh this is something that w with most of the terms expiring uh in June at the end of June 2026,
I I believe this would probably require, you know, resignations. But again, I'm attempting to try and get a hold of of the individuals who haven't uh haven't been participating on a on a regular basis. So, that's just something I wanted to bring to the committee's attention that that I've got that on on
the radar. Uh and and would like would certainly like to select board's input on the committee makeup to try and have a little bit more manageable committee to at least get a quorum. So, >> uh so the next next slide goes into expectations process. Uh so the again
ideally would like to get the uh the committee roster a little bit uh uh more solidified uh over the next couple months. Um I would ask that the uh to coordinate with the affordable housing trust and the select board on potentially amending the scope of the R
RGB agreement. Uh the I ideal uh end to that uh additional component uh delivery would be in January, early January. Uh the plan is to have a public meeting on Thursday, January 2020 uh excuse me,
January 22nd, 2026. Um the idea with this meeting would be a little different than the previous public meeting. The previous public meeting was very much a listening session. It was let's bounce a lot of ideas around. I think it was very very uh productive. But I think it would
be important that this meeting be a structured uh kind of decision-oriented meeting. Uh the idea being to present a few different options. When I say a few, maybe three or four narrow and and kind of gauge reaction and discussion based on that meeting. Uh take a
recommendation based on the outcome of that meeting to you all and the select board to try and uh create a potential ballot question. Um and I believe there may be a way to have multiple questions
as well. Uh that that's kind of the idea of having it on the town election uh ballot as opposed to waiting until after town meeting might uh give a little bit might might give a little bit of flexibility based on the results uh of
of the town the town election uh going into town meeting. So that's that's kind of the the general idea there. Um, and the last or the next slide is just a a timeline of everything I've discussed here, including um trying to get a
ballot question together. I believe that the deadline for uh to to place a question on the ballot would be March 10th. Uh, it would of course require uh the select board to vote to place such a question. Um, so we're looking at from in the in the timeline between uh the
22nd public meeting, January 22nd public meeting to uh early February to draft uh ballot questions, get it approved by town council, etc. Uh and uh with with the hope and and expectation that it there would be a question on the uh on
the the ballot for the April election. So uh the just final slide here just just reminding everybody of all the things to consider including uh the fact that there is there is no option including doing nothing that costs zero dollars. Everything has a price tag
attached to it including demolishing it really including selling it. So um there's there's the the other key thing I think everybody needs to remember is that this building does get a lot of use right now. And if it were to again cease to
exist tomorrow, there would be a significant deficit in uh uh things that the town is able to provide as well as uh a need to replace certain certain things that the uh that the building is providing. So with that, if anyone has
any questions, please feel free to fire away. >> Can you talk about um when you reduce the scope from the three buildings to the two buildings, did we lose some of the departments or something in there? >> Sure. Jim, if you can go to slide I believe if you look at slide eight. So
it definitely does take away square footage. Um it's uh what the so go one more uh one back. That that's the one I'm looking for. Yeah. So all of these square footages are are rough rough estimates, right? But it does take away
a little bit of the uh the town office space. So it what you'll notice based on the uh the rendering here is just that or the the the schematic is that the the part that would be demolished you're dealing with the oldest wing, the oldest
hallway uh which is the most difficult to to upgrade and uh also some of the old media center there. Um I think there's also the opportunity for some of the space that remains in this in in this plan that is dedicated to the after
school program. I mean that could in in all realistically that could be considered almost flex space uh flex classroom space f you know the council on aging might be able to use use that space as well from time to time uh in addition to
the to the space that's provided. Um, so it does take away obviously signific significant square footage. Uh, it does not completely eliminate the option for consolidating town offices, but it does uh it does take away the square footage for sure. >> So it looks like um what's so what in
this version what would not move over is um the stuff that's here in this building in the town hall >> in this in this version. So you've got recreation council on aging and then you've got schools stuff. Um but not the basically not the town hall.
>> It would not involve moving the entire town hall. I mean and you know when you're if you're trying to cut 20 million out of a out of a project unfortunately that is Yeah. >> Yeah. But that's but that's the part that got >> which addresses one of my long-standing concerns because I I've had a lot of reservations about ripping the heart out
of the Westport Village by >> just uh uh basically mothballing this place. Yeah. >> Because it it'll I think it'll have a real, you know, >> long-term effect on the center of uh Westport Village. Um what's the revised
square footage? So, the revised total square footage, somebody had a calculator right now to add it up. Um, I uh I believe, let's see if that's on the uh cost benefit. I may So, I I took these slides from RGB's
presentation. I don't believe I included the slide that had the the full square footage breakdown. >> Okay. >> Um >> about 55,000 maybe,000. >> That sounds about right. Um it did take again it took a took away a significant chunk for sure. >> I just added what was up there. So if I'm wrong,
>> but keeping keep well obviously keeping the auditorium in the gymnasium. >> That's correct. Yes. >> Well, the auditorium is not being used, but it's it's valuable space, I think, potentially. And uh cafeteria goes away, though.
>> The cafeteria would go away and it would um so the site plan, if you want to go to the next I think it's the next slide, uh you know, still has the the opportunity to add some some wreck space there in the middle. Um I I think again
if you bring even bring the housing possibility back into the equation as well, there may be something that could be done with that uh that that middle space as well. Um one thing I do like about this option is that it really it does with that empty
space, not empty, but I mean with with that unused space, it does give a little bit of flexibility for future for for even some phased options. Um but again I I I do feel that the the community campus option on paper uh is is the best
option with uh you know perhaps the three building uh scheme but I do understand the price tag. I mean >> and septic is a big issue. >> Septic is a big issue as well as >> you get into housing because now you're talking more bath you know the it's an
exponential increase in the in the size. >> Exactly. And and um I I want to commend so Dia Dia Wheeler had been doing some digging on on some uh on on some stats as far as what the current you or usage or the the permitted usage is. Um, what
I was hoping to accomplish with adding in a housing study component to the RGB's scope is to get that even further flushed out to get exactly what it would entail to upgrade uh the services, what
it would entail to uh also considering the the public water sources that are involved. So, I mean, it's there's it's there's no question that adding that type of component does change uh pretty dramatically uh what
what is going to be needed in terms of that type of of infrastructure. >> So, um I really like that you guys sharpened the pencils because I was really worried about it. Um, one of the things I would kind of worry about with um, when we have had um, previous ballot
questions, we've had much more precise numbers. We've had like detailed design documentation and detailed estimates and um so and what you've talked about here is construction costs and I don't know that we like it's it's the best it's the
best estimate we have based on square footage and I think it's again I'm really glad sharpened the pencils there but um I worry a little bit about going to the voters with saying okay this is a $50 million project but then you know we get further in the design and it and it
gets higher, right? And so what phase of completion have we been at when we've gone to ballots before? Like >> so so with the school, they did a feasibility study, right? So I think that was around $600,000. Yeah. >> That kind of narrowed down the cost. Um
and even that when we went out to bid came in higher than we anticipated and we had to make some changes to the design. >> Yeah. >> I'm not sure how they handled the police station and the fire station was >> few years ago. Yeah. Well, police station I know we ended up having to get more money later,
>> but I don't know. I just I just worry a little bit about >> like you want to get the sense of the voters about how which direction they want to go and whether they're supportive of this idea, but then also you don't want to like we don't know the number, right? We've got a very good estimate. So I I just worry a little bit
about that >> with the So with the school building, obviously you have the Massachusetts school building uh the board involved with uh with with the planning on on that front. Here we're looking at a situation where we don't necessarily have a project manager. you know, we we
and I think that once you maybe are able to take uh take the next step to creating uh you know, an actual going concern project, that's when things like talking to individual departments to to actually get okay, exactly how much
square foot uh is needed. I I I think it's difficult. I would say it's difficult to get the the uh you know 100% accurate numbers because those square footage estimates we were looking at those are those are just broad overviews right so uh it's I I certainly
share the concern this is part of my my hope that uh there would be a lot more flushed out uh numbers to present at that at that January meeting and also you know I I think it's worth noting
every conversation that I have had with residents of the town when it came to uh the first the first uh incarnation of of the community campus plan at $72 million price tag. Um every single person who
was you know said that well first of all I had a lot of people just say that I wouldn't even expect oh this is great yes I'm on I'm on board. I had a lot of other people express reservations, but not one of them said they didn't support it. They just said they didn't know if it'll pass. >> And that tells me, I think, that there is there is a level of of support. And
there's also a level of understanding that uh there is no option, including doing nothing that does not cost a town a significant amount of money. We're not just talking about, you know, small small dollars. Even if you're even if you again do nothing and keep the, you know, keep the lights on uh for the next
five years, you're still talking about significant costs. So, it's um you know, it's a difficult position because you have a great asset. Uh but it's it's going to take it's going to take funding to get it uh to where it can service the
town for for many years to come. So uh you know I think that based on the meeting uh based on the public meeting based on presenting those options based on getting the feedback from from that uh from that meeting uh I
think be able to at least arm you all with enough information to make a a proper decision on whether a ballot question uh can be crafted and that would be uh you know justified and and would would perhaps receive a positive vote from the town. So,
>> thank you. >> So, the special the chair special town meeting idea is no longer necessary. >> Basically, talking with uh you know, I talked talked with the town clerk, talked with with you know, we have the the town administrator uh transition
here. Uh it just did with the compressed timeline, I did it didn't seem like it was going to be feasible uh to have that happen this year. Um, I do think that if you, we've seen it before where a debt exclusion perhaps doesn't pass the first
time, but it comes back around. Uh, so maybe that's part of the other idea of of trying to have the uh the question on on the April town ballot. Uh but uh my hope is that based on the community
feedback, we can find a good solution that or a good good uh potential proposal here that would be favorably received. Uh the other aspect of the of the housing component is is perhaps offsetting some of the cost as well. So there's there are certainly there are
certainly options that can make this a feasible endeavor. If I may follow up, Madam Chair, so that the idea then is to do some public meetings and so on and so forth and then have this go on the April ballot.
>> That is correct. Yes. Assuming of course that you know you all the select board finds a uh an an agreeable proposal to put to put forth voters. >> Yeah. But if we do it'll be it would be on the April. >> It would it would be on the April. We would still of course need to need to
clear the town meeting hurdle, but you could put it on before the town meeting. >> Well, the town meeting is in May. So, so exactly. So, you have to vote. You have to >> go in any order. >> Yeah. >> Okay. That's we can handle that. >> I just wanted to understand that clearly
because it's different than what we talked about before. >> It's definitely different than the the idea of having a special town meeting before the end of the year. >> Yes, indeed. >> Did you >> Oh, no. I think I'm good for now. >> Okay, Jake, you
>> um thank you, Madam Chair. Um first off, I'm not going to be at the January 22nd meeting. Uh I am traveling for work, so um but I mean this may not be the venue to be discussing this, but I know the most of
the majority of the public do not want to lose this facility. We know that. Everyone knows that. But I think the residents are kind of sick and tired of the charade. And this is no reflection on you. You have been tasked with what you're doing as a committee member, but we continue to hear this. We hear these
numbers getting thrown out and now now we go from 68 million to 48 million. It's not going to pass. We know it's not going to pass. It we can say what we want, but the question is how can we be at this point five six years later, we
have admin offices in there. We have schools in there. We have rec sports in there. We have organizations that want to go in there. We have the Council of Aging that wants to go in there. We have possible revenue sources. We just received correspondence that a a church
in Dartmouth would like to use the auditorium on Sundays. There are people that are willing to use this. Is there have we gotten a clear and definitive answer that we cannot use it for any other purposes than what's going happening right now? >> We have and I think we've gotten it
about at least two times, maybe three at this point. So, so at this point then the administrative offices that are in there, the schools and the rec sports, which I think Rex Sports is extremely important to to anyone's upbringing, are not safe in that school. >> I I I wouldn't go so far as to say that.
I would say that it is they have not triggered a change of use. >> They're they're very broad interpretation. They're grandfathered because they mirror uses that the building was used for when it was operational. Okay. So, educational
courses from the Council of Aging would not qualify because they're old people. >> So, again, I wouldn't say that, but I would say that Council on Aging Services are not considered educational services in the eyes of Massachusetts code.
>> Okay, that's it is it's technically a business COA is technically a business use right now. So, have we looked at any other options costwise besides $48 million? I mean, listen, we're in a town where they
wouldn't vote for a unified police station and fire station for a cost savings. So, it ended up in the long run costing more money because we put in a police station and fire station right next to each other. And unfortunately, that costs more than if you actually did it unified. you we the amount of time
and effort from the community to get a you know basically $32 million for a new school was I mean again that that impacts a lot of the community with with children. You're talking $48 million you're going to ask for and that's with sharpening
the pencils. I mean >> so it's $ 19 to20 million just to get it up to code and do nothing else. >> Okay. Well but let's let's explore that. If you have if it's $19 million to get I guarantee you if you put it on the ballot and you had it somewhere between $8 and $12 million I bet you you get buy
in. How do we get to that number? And how do we get it with revenue producing right? How do we bring how do we bring revenue in there to cover that that number? >> You get to an 8 to12 million cost by demolishing the building. >> Well that's that'll cost
>> that's that's more than it cost to demolish it. Nobody wants but not by much. It is going to be in the neighborhood of $68 million. >> That's what I'm saying. But nobody wants to demolish that building. Nobody in town wants it. We want to use it as a facility. And nobody is coming up with a
feasible option to use this high school. It's I mean $50 million is not usable. I will not be there on January 22nd. So I wanted that on the record. >> The bottom line here is that there is no option that doesn't cost money. >> All right.
>> I agree. So I agree. At some point in time, you have to look at this from a costbenefit standpoint. And uh you know, I I think the fact that I'm sitting here talking about raising taxes that you you you should know, Jake, that's not something I would take lightly. >> All right. >> You're talking about raising taxes, but
also the governor is talking about giving the opportunity for cities and towns to raise their own taxes. So, >> well, we can talk about that later. >> The people in Westport cannot deal with any more tax increases. The people in Westport pay the 320th
lowest tax rates in the Commonwealth. Right. >> So that So that means we should increase their tax to pay. I'm not saying you want to increase our tax. >> I I would be willing to increase my tax rate to pay for this for this project. I I think we should have sold this stupid lot six years ago when I first
recommended it. Okay. But I you know, when it when it comes to the ballot, I'm going to say yes. I think we should vote it. Now, do I think everybody else is going to vote that way? No, I do not. But I think that we have an obligation to present the option. The option is $68
million to demolish it, $20 million to bring it up to code so that we know it's a safe building, $48 million to get this complex. I think that is what we have to that is the option on the table is like what Mr. Thrash is saying, there's no option that doesn't increase your tax
burden. So that but we're talking if that $20 million if it cost $20 million to bring it up to code, can we bring the council of aging in there? Can we bring services in? Can we bring a a diamond culinary to use the cafeteria services? Can we use all of these options if we get if we bring it up to code?
>> Probably. But we directed the committee to look at at the option that would u combine the municipal services into one building. That's what we guided them to do. And and I would I would say that that that estimate for code compliance
um that's that's not that's not turnkey. You can't it wouldn't be just moving in everybody the next day. Um so I mean there there's certainly going to be cause involved involved in that. So I just my concern to to your point about the the fire station and the police
station. I if you're just going to make the the code upgrades, it's it's very much pennywise pound foolish type of situation in my view. Um, and I think that while there has been there have been conversations about selling the
property, but I say again the amount of uses that building has right now and the the needs that would arrive if that if that parcel ceased to be uh owned by the town. Uh they would be immediate and they also would be expensive. >> I I agree with you completely. The
building needs to stay in its existence and we need to find a way to make it work and a $50 million price tag is out the way. I I just I obviously it's not ready for prime time. I mean, I think I think I I I I I but I I I also think that we need to scratch around a little
bit to try to look at some of the options and I and I and I tend to be inclined towards maybe you do we've done it in the past without success, but a multiplechoice override proposal where you say, you know, you know, vote for one only or you
may have two, but you structure the choices so that you you get a sense of what what what the vote his appetite is for certain approaches and certain uh cost estimates to to it's not going to be an up or down thing. uh at least
where it sits right now in terms of its conceptual development. And I'm I'm also one that believes it would, you know, without I've I've named these entities in the past, but there are entities that u bring some um
financial resources to the table that also do things that are in the public interest and and and meet public need and uh and and and you know, we if and I I'm not convinced that we've adequately
had background conversations ations with those entities to see if there is any appetite. >> Well, I think I think there have been some there have certainly been some conversations, but I think that the >> and I'm not talking diamond and I'm not talking I'm talking, you know, deeper pocketed
>> um uh other other sources of revenue type of organizations. >> Well, absolutely. Well, so you mentioned that the auditorium is not not being used on a consistent basis. it is being used from time to time, but I mean I I've had conversations that there's there's no no shortage of theater groups that would be immediately interested in
using it. There's there's uh the art council in general. I mean there there there are a lot of options. I think that part of the I guess delay in having those conversations is we every time this gets brought up in a in a broader
conversation it it turns into well we can't spend any money so we're not going to do anything and it's going to sit and another year goes by. So I I think you have made a perfect point that some sort of tiered maybe three options. I don't think we should overload with with, you
know, 15, but >> say three options. >> One of which includes just how much it would cost to >> demolish and, you know, maybe then also another added another $10 million for athletic fields on on top of that, too.
So, uh I I I think that the the public meeting will and the work the work done towards that public meeting will be able to inform at least you all to have uh to figure out what those those best options to put on the ballot for April would be.
Uh, I think we owe it to the town to have up or down votes at this point because I mean this is Yeah, I I I tire my term is going to be up in in June for this committee and uh I was hoping we'd be a little bit farther along than we
are, but at the same time I I you know it's we have to move beyond the conversation of well it'll never pass so why bother. Okay. So, >> um I do applaud one thing regarding the
options that could be on a ballot for a straight up and down vote combination, whatever it is. I welcome that because if you recall, Mr. Thresh, when we were talking about this before in the $72 million or so option, I had queried you about whether we could break this up
into smaller pieces. You have done that now. So I think that that represents progress because I believe with Mr. Mcwigan here that the $48 million is going to be tough too but 72 is out of the question. But now if there are options and I do believe people should
have the right to vote and if there's some options that are that have appeal then that that gives us hope and we want voters to vote for that if if they want. So this this is I see progress here is what I'm saying. >> There's certainly progress. Again, it is it's it's slower than I would like, but
at the same time, I think we're uh I think we're poised to have a a bit of a breakthrough and actually get something at least on the ballot in front of voters here with of course with the select boards help madam chair. This is, you know, a
situation where I think you you have these options, but again, we're looking at options, spending taxpayer money, right? This is this is essentially what government does. I come up from a private business background
and how about we pro provide a a proposal that's at $15 million built in with a revenue producing. Where's your break even point if you brought in um various classes very you rented out certain certain parts of that building
for that? It's it's just we throw a number out at $50 million. We're going to hit the taxpayers. I mean taxpayers are worried about a 10% increase in their Eversource bill. So to talk to, you know, say that you want to increase 6 to8 to $900 on a on a house a year is
is ridiculous. So you know we need to have this proposal that gives break even points. How are we going to get to it? How are we going to have revenue producing? You know, going on the backs of taxpayers all the time is just is not the answer. >> So, the the municipal government is not
a private entity. We are tasked with providing services that our citizenry wants and expects from their government. >> And so, it's not for profit, although I appreciate that RGB did do quite a bit of work looking at how we could do uh renting spaces or leasing spaces to
other people. So that was part of what was happening if the building was larger. I think that um you know we have to the citizens of Westport or the voters of Westport need to decide do they want these facilities or not. And
it's not do they believe that the Council on Aging and the Recreation Department need and deserve space. Do we we talk a lot about fields? Do the people of Westport really believe that we need playing fields? And if you believe that you need them and you believe that your community should be
providing these services, there are costs associated with it. So we're not about making money. Although I do appre want to save money where we can if that's an opportunity, but we did look at that, right? We looked at that for the larger option. We're not going to
make significant amount of money to cover the cost of a municipal building project, but that is not the purpose of municipal infrastructure. municipal infrastructure is to provide services to the community that the community wants.
And so I think you gota, you know, I appreciate saving money. I appreciate looking at money-making opportunities. We're not a money-making organization. We are a service. >> It could be a break even organization. >> You're never going to break even. >> You're never You will never break even. You will never break even.
>> There's You're never It will never happen. You have to decide whether your community values this type of infrastructure or not. >> Yeah. I mean, you're going to ask workingclass families that depend on youth sports, the gymnasium, athletic
fields, whether they want a six to $600, >> $450 a year for you. That's not average homeowner. I Well, I before you start throwing $600 to $800 out, it isn't $600 to $800. It's more like $450. >> Okay. And that's not a lot of money to a
lot of people. I'm not saying it's not significant. I'm saying if you're going to use numbers, let's use the accurate numbers. You probably have a better accurate if I may spending. We're not spending their money in this process. We are going to them saying, "Do you want to spend your money on this?" And you
have the chance to vote. You're going to have a chance to vote twice. You're going to vote first on on the ballot. You're going to vote second at the town meeting. So, it's not the select board spending people's money. We could only spend the money that they allocate to us. and we get it through town meeting
and we get it through uh uh through through our government reimbursement for when we provide services that are compatible with both state and federal mandates. >> So the good news is that you don't have to vote >> on this as a select board. You vote to
put it on and then you let the town make the decision. That's the good news here. >> But the the obligation is we have >> it'll be an election issue. >> We have to inform people. >> Yeah. No, absolutely. The obligation is it's our job to inform people so that
they are able to make an evaluation based upon that. And every 3 years, one of us or a couple of us are up for reelection and if they don't like the judgment we've done and what they did, they can run for office, find somebody to run for office or vote for somebody
else. I mean, that's that's there there's no one shoving things down people's throats. It's self-imposed. I if there's one thing I can cap this conversation with, it's saying that for as long as this has gone on, for as long
as we have we have traded plans and ideas, we owe it to the town to get something on the ballot so that the town can make their voice heard. >> And the question is, how do we do it and how do we how do we present it? And um and I think that and I agree with some
of the earlier comments. I think we've moved the ball a little bit down the road in terms of conceptualizing what what type of thing or in what format and and roughly on what time frame we're going to be bringing this to the voters. And I think that's and I and you know I
think in committee meetings um we can suggest ways that we may want to have subcommittees that focus on different aspects of this proposal so that you can get more time people executing you know using their time more productively on the committee to develop these things as
opposed to having it committed. >> You're on the committee right? >> What I am on the committee? Yeah. >> So >> all right anything else Mr. Thresher? >> That's all. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you all. >> Cheers. >> We look forward to seeing your proposal
for the makeup of the committee. >> Um for 5C, uh we have a discussion and potential action um for leg two house bills um that are before the state legislature. So, um, I had a
conversation with our with our state representative wanted to know why this was on the agenda, but it was on the agenda because we were, uh, received a letter from Representative U. Christopher Marky asking u for us to support um, it's basically just send a
letter of support for the legislation. Um, and we can decide to do that or decide not to do that. That's fine. But um the House Bill 1000 is a an act to establish a coastal waters wastewater
financing commission and then House Bill 999 is an act to establish a deer population control commission. And while it was uh Representative Marky who um sent this to us that um Steve Wlette our representative is a co a co-sponsor of
these bills. So, sometimes we send letters of support on these types of things and sometimes we don't. Um, but have a conversation about whether we want to weigh in. >> Um, I don't know, Craig, do you know more about these or >> I could research, but I'm I'm I'm I'm
trying to keep my roles straight. >> Okay. All right. >> Go ahead. >> Are we referring to the the letter of September the 5th? Yeah, it's the same one. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Uh, I I I'm not saying I would be opposed to supporting this, but based on
what I know from this, I'm not sure what this is really going to do in the end and how much will it cost somebody. >> So, I think we need further discussion. >> Yeah, I think I think I just wanted to bring it to everybody. I'm not I don't >> I think you're creating two commissions. I don't know that there's
>> I I would I'd like would like to have clarification from them, but I think one of these does have the support of the watershed alliance and maybe we um if that is something that they would um um have a position on. >> Yeah, I don't know about the wershed alliance. It says it it does talk here
mentioning the Buzzards Bay coalition. So >> yeah, if that's the case that may be worth on that particular piece of legislation. >> Yeah, I don't know. We didn't get any like Westport specific conversation here or anything. So, I think unless somebody feels strongly that we want to send a
letter of support, I think we just pass. >> I I'd be inclined to probably pass on both of them. >> Yeah, >> I have a lot I could talk about on uh hunting and deer population, but I don't think I want to bore the uh viewers on this as to the reasons why we have a
issue. By the way, uh deer per square mile in Westport is 56. The average should be between 6 and 18 per square mile. So >> it's been long established fact that we >> representative Schmid had a group people here this is few years like five or six
years ago and yeah that was shocking to me that our the density of the deer population >> is crazy >> here is crazy and we're the number one for deer strikes it's it's really a problem. So I don't think it's that we're opposed to these commissions necessarily. just that >> and I would probably abstain from this, but obviously one of the bigger, you
know, uh legalizing Sunday hunting would probably be a good start. Giving uh workingclass families the opportunity to hunt on Sundays as opposed to um Maine and Massachusetts are the only two states left uh that still have those
blue laws. I've passed legislation in seven states that got rid of the blue laws, including Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, but I would abstain from that vote anyway. >> All right. All right. So, I think we're not going to take any action on that. >> Yep. Next item. >> Move on, I think. >> All right. And the um town administrator
report. >> Just a quick update on the HVAC. Um they should have the heat in the basement going this week, first floor next week, and second floor the week after. Um they are moving along fairly good. Again,
it's a much more extensive project than uh I anticipated. There's a lot of work going on down there. We've had quite a few people here throughout the building. Your town hall employees and the public have been uh very accommodating. So, we appreciate their their response to this.
Uh Chief Dunn, I'm sorry, Chief Baldwin reported that with the help of support of Senator Rodri, the Westport Fire Department received an earmark in the amount of $130,000. This funding will be used to purchase three new cardiac monitors. Uh they're in the process of working with the Department of Fire Services to get that
um get the documents signed and they'll keep the board posted as they move forward. Westport Wildcat Pep Band. Uh congratulations to Mr. Nunes, Mr. Sullivan, and the Westport Wildcat Pep Band. They were featured on ABC 6 News as the band of the week at the end of
October. I saw that little clip. It was it was pretty impressive. Um municipal budget. Um the town did receive free cash certification the end of last week. Uh we had 3.5 3,59,000
in free cash certified. Uh the harbor advisory was 124,000, the water enterprise 333,000 and the beach 283,000. Um so that's that's a good sign. Um we've tapped into that free cash this
fiscal year a little bit. So, I I anticipate it'll be down a bit next year. Um, still hopefully in the $2 million range, but I 3.5 this might be our peak. Um, we've been working with the departments on the budgets for FY27. U reviewed all the department budgets uh
with the department heads. Uh, when they first came in, we're approximately 500,000 over uh revenue projections. We've gotten that down to about 107,000. Um we hope we'll refine those numbers over the next couple of months as we get more of our estimates coming in. Um we gave a preliminary number to the school
department um based on the percentage uh the 54 46% split. We'll be meeting with the uh superintendent and the business manager over the next week or two just to go over our revenue projections just to give them a better understanding of how how we've come to those numbers. Um
and again it's very early these these numbers are going to change. uh transfer station well. Uh Representative Steve Roulette secured $25,000 earmark for the installation of a water supply well at the transfer station. They've been bringing in water to uh for their
comfort station there that they use on site. Uh this allowed them to provide water for wash downs for the equipment. Um some you know they needed on site also uh facilities within the building itself, the shed. That's all I have.
>> Thank you. Um, we have minutes of October 20. >> Motion to approve the October 20 minutes. >> Second. >> Um, any discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> I. That's four in favor and one absent.
>> Um, we have a report on the bill warrant. >> The bill warrant is in your package. It was about $3 million and nothing out of the ordinary and everything was >> appropriately recorded. >> I think we didn't have a report on the bill warrant last time, did we? Or did >> No, we didn't. >> Yeah, we didn't. Was the Was the bill
before that looked okay, too? >> We don't know. >> I thought we approved two of them at the last one. >> Oh, maybe we did. Okay. >> No, maybe not. >> Well, you were you were absent. >> Oh, okay. >> All right. Bill Warren looks okay. >> The latest one is the one I'm >> Okay. All right.
>> Those are the minutes just for Jake. This >> those are for Jake. >> Thank you. >> Uh, all right. So, we have liazison committee reports and suggestion for future agenda items. So, Jake, you want to start? Um, since the last time we met, we had the um offshore wind
advisory committee hearing or meeting, excuse me. Um, where we uh just spoke about updates on the current projects that are going on uh off of our coastline along with uh a presentation on Eversource and energy bills um at
that time. So that was that was all that we uh covered in that time. Our next meeting is I think in the January time frame, but >> we might have made it January 22nd. >> No, I know I was going to be in town. I think it's the week after. I think it's the week the 29th if possible. Um the
only other thing I had to update is last week the open space and recreational plan update. They had a meeting on Thursday evening. Um I attended that. Um Dick was there uh as well. Um great plan. And I mean I and and the good thing is they're looking for a lot of
feedback or public feedback of how uh residents in in Westport use the open space, their recreation plans. There's a survey online. If you go to the obviously town website and just look for the open space and recreation plan, they have a flyer there. You can provide feedback whether you're looking for more
walking trails, um you know, access, ADA access, and uh various other things. But uh they're updating this plan from 2016. uh and this is through SERPED uh Michael Burus and Chris Capone and Sean Leech and and everyone who's on that committee
uh put forth a great plan. Uh so it was it was a good meeting but again they want feedback from the public. So again if you go to the Westport uh page and you can find the open space and recreation plan you can provide feedback of what you want to see uh here in Westport. That's all I have.
>> Thank you. Um so the only committee I attended was offshore wind. So I don't have any more to add to that. >> Uh meeting of the capital improvement planning committee took place. We're moving right along and I reviewed the department requests and now we'll start
the process of analyzing them. So that's uh very much on schedule this year until >> Right. Thank you Craig. uh two meeting two committees were meeting on the same night and I was not available that night and then I reported on the last meeting of the affordable
housing trust at the last meeting our last meeting. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. Um do you have any comments or statements from the public? >> Seeing none um I don't think we don't uh we originally had something on the under 48 hour rule but we removed that from the agenda.
So, just a reminder everyone, um Veterans Day events on Tuesday the 11th, the um community collaborative about the Westport 250 on November 6. I think we're done.
>> Chair, I wish to make a motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> All in favor? I I That's four in favor and uh one. Thank you.