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 Westport Select Board meeting Monday, October 20,
2022 under Mass General Law, chapter 38, section 20F. This meeting is being recorded. Um, I don't have any announcements um today. Our next meeting is going to be in two weeks on November 3rd at the regular time. Are there any announcements anybody noticed about? I
want to thank um the groups in the community that um had the Halloween happenings yesterday at um uh Westport Woods. It was a recreation department. I think police and fire were out there. Probably a lot of community groups were out there. So, thank you to everyone who put that on. They had beautiful weather
for it, too. Um, any acknowledgements or recognitions? Okay, we have a pretty light agenda today. So, the first item we have on the agenda is a request from Bonnie Strebble, the library director, to appoint Theresa Mock for the position of
library aid 1 at the Westport Free Public Library. Do you want to come tell us about it? >> Hello. >> Hello. Uh this is Teresa. She is a Westport resident. Um she has been a patron of our library for I think about 10 years
now. We see her every every two weeks almost. >> So she has a lot of already experience knowing where everything is in the library and how everything works. Um she has an educational background and is an avid reader. So I think she's going to be a perfect fit. >> Great. Thank you. Jim, do you have a
recommendation? >> Recommend approval. >> I'll put a motion to that effect. >> Second. Is there any discussion? Is there anything you want to say or talk about her? >> I'm just really pleased to have been chosen. I'm really excited about working around books and uh on Bonnie's team
every day. So, >> hope to see you all in there soon. >> Um okay, we have a motion in a second. All in favor? I >> I There's three in favor with two absent. Anything going on at the library you want to talk about? >> Um starting in December, we have a new book club starting and we are starting
our cozy crafts club up again next week. So, check our website. >> Check the website. Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Good luck. >> Thank you. >> Next, we have a request from Michael Burrus, a town planner, to endorse the
2025 housing production plan. >> This is the fastest one. My >> I think sometimes those sometimes those mics don't work when both are on. >> Okay. The trick is that's that echo. >> Okay. Welcome. You want to introduce yourselves?
>> I am Michael Burus, the town planner, and we have here today Taylor Perez, the director of housing and research at Serpent. She has been helping us with drafting the housing production plan since 2022. Go. >> We've been working slowly at it using
district local and technical assistance hours over the last couple of years. So, >> yes. uh it hasn't cost the town anything to do do this, but um >> the pre priest plan expired in 2017 and so we've been working on getting this um updated with some the new census data
which isn't so new anymore >> as well as economic data from Ezri. >> So the planning board endorsed this last month and so we're asking for you all to um endorse it. But before we move into that, Taylor's going to give you an overview of the plan. >> Yeah.
>> Um, what's in it? What is it? HP. >> All right. Thank you. >> Awesome. I think I came before the select board. I mean, if it's been since 2022, it probably was going on a year and a half ago or so. So, it's been a little bit. Um, but we've come full circle and again, just kind of
reintroducing the plan. um and just talking through it just to give you folks an overview of what's going on in it, what we uh recommended, etc. So, are are you all familiar with the housing production plan? >> You should go over it. >> Okay. Absolutely. So, it is a five-year
plan. It's enabled under chapter 40B and it's regulated through 760CMR56 and it typically focuses on affordable housing, but we also like to incorporate a market rate aspect to it. So again, we're focusing on both market rate and affordable in this plan, but it also
addresses other things, programmatic changes that the town could make, community engagement, etc. Um, all sorts of things that again kind of accomplish your town's housing goals in a kind of broad sweeping way. And go to the next slide. And so we just like to kind of prime the
pump here with why are we planning for housing? And again, you know, this allows us to proactively anticipate community needs and meet their needs in advance and think really thoughtfully about the way that we want to do it. And so we try and do planning that allows folks to ensure access to housing
opportunities and considers things that, you know, you folks think is important, for example, environmental considerations. Um, and it also helps ceue up things like grant programs and zoning changes and whatnot through things like chapter 40r smart growth zoning, chapter 40 y starter home zoning
and participation in the housing choice initiative. And so getting into the meat of the data and kind of you know talking about um what we kind of found in the plan through you know what Michael was alluding to. Um there are four kind of main takeaways here and I think you know
you folks are probably pretty familiar with these uh anyways but your population is aging. The median age has increased by 5 years since 2000 as of 2021. Um your housing stock is older and very expensive. Uh, and nearly one in
four homeowners and nearly one in two renters are experiencing some form of cost burden, which is where a household is paying at least 30% or more of their annual income or monthly income on housing costs. So that is your rent, your mortgage and utilities. And you
folks have a high vacancy rate due to the presence of things like seasonal units. So that can squeeze the housing stock. And just a couple charts to illustrate this. Um, here is single family home sales in Westport. And I actually wrote down some figures today because I thought it would be helpful to update uh
you folks. As of August 2025, your median single family home sale price was $617,500. Compared to Bristol County, that is $515,000 and the state at $645,500. So definitely a substantial increase
from this chart here. And then again that cost burden figure that I was referencing earlier there you can see the one in four homeowners and the one in two renters. And so that dark orange is also severely cost burden. So that is households who are paying more
than 50% of their monthly or annual income on housing. And then again that seasonal vacancy rate right there you can see that 12% if it breaks down into that second pie chart right there about 7% there are for seasonal recreational or occasional uses.
And then a required part of a housing production plan is to address barriers to development. Again, what could be limiting housing growth in town? And so there are four main takeaways here. Environmental constraints, again, probably not a surprise. Westport has a ton of beautiful, you know, open spaces,
natural resources, etc. And that can really limit um the available space for new housing production, utilities, and nitrogen concerns. Again, I think we're all familiar with this here, that there are limited portions of town that have access to public utilities and that there can be concern about nitrogen loading through the
installation of new septic systems. Zoning regulations really common not just in Westport, but across our region. Um, you know, zoning that is limited in terms of the amount of uses or the density that can be allowed can limit housing growth. And then, you know, generally negative perceptions around
things like affordable housing. And again, not not exclusive to Westport, certainly a thing throughout all of our region where folks might have a preconceived notion about either new market rate or affordable housing and what that can do to a community. And so again, this is kind of the meat
of the plan here. We develop a set of housing goals and strategies. So there are four goals here. I'll just read through them just to belabor the point. Um goal A, implement zoning changes that enable the creation of new subsidized and missing middle housing choices. Goal B, create housing options and pursue
programs that help underserved populations continue to live in Westport. Goal C, which is ensure new residential developments incorporate, preserve, and highlight Westport's open spaces and natural resources. And goal D, continue to produce SHI eligible units to achieve the Commonwealth's
required amount and support communities in need. And just to note, goal D appears in nearly every single housing production plan we write. It's just part of it. And so we came up with nine implementation strategies. Again, I will read through them one by one and we can talk about them in more detail if you folks would like. Strategy one is to
collaborate with proactive housing developers to create SHI eligible units on town land. Strategy two is to implement key zoning amendments to support new housing opportunities, particularly duplexes, town homes, cottage cluster, and houses appropriate for first-time buyers. Strategy three is
to implement housing preservation and stabilization tactics to prevent further displacement in Westport's environmental justice neighborhood. Strategy four is to create an adult retirement community bylaw. Strategy five is to continue to allocate community preservation act CPA funding
and pursue other funding opportunities to support accessibility modifications for folks who wish to age in place. Strategy six, continue community outreach through the affordable housing trust fund to promote the need for affordable housing and help dispel myths to solidify local support. Strategy
seven, investigate opportunities for adaptive reuse to redevelop underutilized municipally owned land and buildings. Strategy eight, review the availability of town-owned and tax title properties to work in tandem with adaptive reuse goals. And strategy nine, explore avenues to allow homeowners to deed
restrict existing units and accessory apartments. And so why we're here tonight, um both the planning board and select board must formally adopt the housing production plan to receive official state approval of the plan. And so um we have actually
already gone through a pre-approval process with the state. Um I like to do this with every housing production plan because it kind of ensures that before we come to you folks, we don't have to make a bunch of changes to the plan. They've already taken a look at it. We've met the requirements under the regulations and it'll be good to go. So,
as far as I'm aware, the planning board has already, as you said, endorsed the plan. So, now it is with you folks. Um, and just to know, HPPS, as I said, do have a five-year lifespan. So, that is from the time of submittal of the letter, which states that both the planning board and the select board have
endorsed it. That's when that lifespan begins. And so, again, housing production plans have regulatory teeth. That's why they're a great, you know, plan for communities to have. If in a given um 12 month or I should say a calendar year you folks can prove that
you have produced either.5% or 1% of your SHI requirement in terms of units. You can receive certification for up to two years which effectively puts the town in safe harbor for either one to two years allowing you a little bit more control over the comprehensive
permitting process. Um which again is like that's the the teeth of the plan. And so again, ongoing planning and you know, kind of how the housing production plan is relating to what you folks are doing. Um, the town recently received an FY25 one-stop award to explore future opportunities along Route 6, which is
currently underway. And then you folks also applied for a FY26 one-stop award to do some village zoning in four key areas. So these again will kind of tie into the planning that we've done through the housing production plan. And you know, again, this is that that pipeline of processes, right? You write
a plan, you implement it. Um, and do you want to add anything about the ongoing planning so far to date? >> The one on on route six I believe you all are familiar with. It's looking at the route six area post sewer to give
some considerations on how to um modify the zoning so we don't have this oneizefits-all approach. And that's also what part of this new village zoning is for as well. what works in Northwest part may be a little bit different than central village or or at the point. And
so we're trying to develop some more contextsensitive um zoning districts in key areas of town um like route six as well as uh central village, >> the point um the harbor and old county
uh excuse me that the head of Westport. Yeah. And so again, just kind of here to give the background so that you folks know what you're adopting um you know, and when you vote. And if you have any questions, happy to answer them. I could pull up the plan as well and talk through it. Um but we just wanted to give an overview. So
>> thank you. Yes, >> Michael. Anything else to add to what she's already said? >> No, I think she covered it. >> All right. Thank you, >> Greg. Jake. Well, we um the affordable housing trust, I don't think we deliberated, but we signed off on the
plan um at our stage of the process. So um and um you know, wearing that hat. Um these are entirely consistent with our development goals particularly of affordable housing and um trying to get
to uh as you've said at the end a point where we are um keeping oursel um or making oursel harmless from more hostile development opportunities because then we lose
control of of the parts the development process where the town and the and and residents have the most ability for input. >> Thank you. Can you talk I don't know if you mentioned this. Can you talk about how you produced the plan? Like what were the steps involved in creating the plan?
>> Yeah, so we kicked off I think like you said it was probably God like summer 2022 or 2023. It was a while ago. Um and so it depends on the community um for the community engagement and what the what the town likes to see. I know we did a survey and I'm trying to remember
if we did any tableabling events or workshops. I think it was just the survey since it was an update. So, we had a community survey um which you know they're very similar from town to town. It's usually about housing preferences. So, size, design, um again pro programmatic things. We try and ask like
what do you think a starter home should cost? Do you think this type of house would fit in Westport? Do you think this type of duplex would fit? Again, to kind of inform the goals and strategies. And so then we go back with that um and then you know the engagement coupled with the data produces a set of goals and
strategies which we then bring to the planning board usually for review. And again I know we met at one point I'm trying to remember if it was for goals and strategies or something else. Um but typically we'll bring it to at least the planning board um for their review. And I know we did that and then we just you know we write it um we go back and forth
usually Michael and I and Michael is an incredibly proactive and excellent town planner so he makes the process super easy. Um, and then like I was alluding to earlier, it'll go through kind of a pre-approval process, which is informal, but um, once the draft is completed and Michael and, you know, the planning
board and everyone feel comfortable with it, we share it with the executive office of housing and livable communities as like a a blessing. Will you bless this plan? Approve it when it's done and, you know, um, approved by both the planning and the select board. And we went through that process,
incorporated some edits. Um, we then lay it out so that it looks really nice and um bring it to you folks for review. >> Thank you. >> I know I told the chair prior to the meeting I wouldn't be speaking too much to take up. >> Um,
but I think the concern amongst the public and you guys already know because you guys work on this in various communities is >> obviously the um issue of it being forced down or in neighborhoods. I think the concern is that you have developers now.
>> Uh we have a ongoing project right now that's probably going to impact more than a few uh neighborhoods >> that >> the developers can even if the town says no or they don't want it. Um it becomes >> forced on that community. And I know
Craig was was talking about uh doing enough to keep that local control in there. But I think that >> from a standpoint of dealing with the public and the public perception is key. And I and I don't know how you do that because it's essentially the Commonwealth that's that's mandating a lot of this. Um, and I think Westport
has a unique challenge with the fact that we lack the infrastructure. >> Uh, we lack the public transportation. Uh, we have very rural residential communities um that that are difficult to kind of incorporate that into. So, >> you know, you're always going to have
the kind of negative perceptions. Yeah. >> Um, that you're going to have to just, you know, >> push back on. But I think a lot of that comes from the Commonwealth and not necessarily what we're doing on a on a local level. >> Um so I I I know there are a lot of challenges here in Westport and this is more just my statements um you know with
respect to that. Um, I know you you pointed out the market rental rates, but I mean, >> unfortunately, that's market driven, right? I mean, rental rates are you're not going to change those, right? You know, at the end of the day, you could produce some units that would provide downward pressure on that, but in the grand scheme of things,
>> you know, you have, >> you know, single family or or single apartments that's less than a,000 square feet going for, >> you know, 156 $1,800 in the, you know, in Bristol County now. So, I think that's that's difficult. But I guess leading into this, how the you you laid
out uh four goals and one of those would be implementing zoning changes and and Michael, you've you just touched upon that in various areas of Westport. How do you go about that? Is that a town meeting requirement or how do you get those zoning changes for those
communities um that could be impacted? Yeah. So, it it is a town meeting um request and it depends on I guess the zoning proposition and again what what you folks want to see. Um I guess as a kind of a foil to this, I've worked a
lot on section 3A uh MBTA Communities Act zoning. So, I've definitely been around the ringer in terms of um dealing with zoning changes that are perhaps not at the will of a community. So, I I understand that concern. It's certainly a valid one. um and it can be very
difficult to kind of navigate. So, I just want to acknowledge that. Um in the case of Westport and and the zoning changes that we might want to look at, um you know, again, it's all kind of we try and drive it through community engagement and again, ultimately it goes to town meeting. So, if folks don't want to see it, they are completely entitled
to to vote yes or no as they as they so choose. Um, in the case of the the FY26 onetop, what we Michael and I co-wrote this together and um, you know, we wanted to kind of thoughtfully think about zoning and you know, again, contextsensitive I think is a really big
one. So I, if I'm remembering the the grant application correctly, what I think we said we would do is I remember we talked about sitewalks for example. So us as you know out oftowners coming in want to familiarize ourselves with the neighborhood so that we actually know what we're looking at and not just blindly you know proposing a blanket
change that isn't going to make sense. Um extensive community engagement I think we said at least two workshops um with the public. One kind of geared towards the here's what we're thinking let's talk about direction. Another one that's like okay we heard your feedback here's what we would propose. And then
um again any sort of additional community engagement that's necessary to get it through the town meeting process. But we would work in tandem with you folks um with council to develop a zoning change um you know develop all the engagement materials that you think are necessary and again like we don't
it's not in my best interest to write zoning or propose anything that the town doesn't want to see. So we as Serpent as your regional planning agency always do our best to work in close collaboration not just with the boards but with residents. Um, so that at least from my
perspective was always our vision. But again, it's all um it's all going to be driven by the engagement and what we would want to see and trying to be again as what's the word I'm looking for? Like providing the the local controls that we were alluding to earlier. Um, this is
why I think things like a housing production plan are really important because they do provide ways for you to have proactive planning around housing production, especially when you're getting a lot of existing, you know, 40b comprehensive permits coming through. If
you can show that, you know, here's this development that added 75 units, 100 units, whatever, and you already have an approved HPP and you request certification, again, now you're getting one or two years to do additional proactive housing planning and have more control over the comprehensive
permitting process. So, that's I think at least from my perspective where all of this comes from, what I hope you see from it. But I I want to make Do you feel like that addressed kind of your thoughts on it? Okay, great. Madam, >> in add in addition to that, I just wanted to say that for the the Route Six
planning process right now, we've had folks from Serpent out in the community um over the summer at various events doing some tableabling >> trying to get a finger on the pulse on what the community preferences are >> um for housing and not just housing but
for commercial development as well. I remember back to the sewer stuff and the the the town um planning board had proposed some zoning articles that were proving to be pretty unpopular um and that the the board ultimately ended up pulling at town meeting. And so we want
to avoid that type of situation where um you know we don't want to go through the the whole process of drafting this zoning document which can be really tedious and then it just fails massively at a meeting. >> It's not a good use of anyone's time. So that's why we're doing all of this.
We're trying to get really are really really trying to get out in the community at the front end of the process. >> Yeah, definitely. >> Chair, um >> you brought it up and I and I think you probably you you two are probably the best answer. Are we and I've heard it both different ways. Are we considered
an MBTA community now? No. With the Florida Okay. No. >> Okay. So we're not officially have to >> No. No. So you and by you I mean the town of Westport would have to be listed under chapter 161A which describes all
of the list of MBTA communities to be subject to section 3A of the zoning act. And again I believe this is what came up. Michael and I talked about it usually requires an act of like a a proper vote. Um and so Fall River New Bedford for example to receive MTA
service you know had to become an MBTA community. But there has been no legislation or changes yet to, you know, include the adjacent communities and whatnot. So, you know, Westport, um, other communities, for example. So, at this time, no. >> Okay. >> Yeah.
>> Vote or or change to the legislation itself. >> Yeah. I I haven't heard of any. >> I have not either. Yeah. >> I mean, I I think um the attorney general's office probably has their hands full right now. I know Marvel had just voted to rescend the the MBTA
zoning. So, um, we'll see how that that shakes out. >> Yeah. >> And and one more question from Serpent with other rural communities in the Commonwealth, how have they addressed, and I think we're back to the public perception, zoning, and various other issues. What type of developments are
they, >> you know, other smaller rural communities are they willing to kind of put in? I mean, you know, I don't think like a Westport can take a >> a 100 uh apartment building anywhere even on Route Six. >> Yeah. So I think it depends um pro communities
who are proactively planning. So again kind of I doing what we're trying to do right here right now. Typically the suggestions that we make land somewhere in the two family to like very small multifamily. So even like three, four,
five units. Um again it you kind of end up chipping away at your subsidized housing inventory. So that's kind of the the game you have to play when you think about this, right? is it's like we can build a bunch of super you know smaller housing um which might end up being
somewhere in the market rate affordable realm but not officially you know eligible to be listed on the SHI um or you can kind of have two large three larger high impact developments where they meet that threshold that 25% are subsidized but all you know 100% count
because of the the way the regulations work out. So it always kind of shakes out somewhere there where we have a market rate strategy that's oriented around smaller housing developments somewhere again in that 2 to five family range at best and then maybe some proactive you know again let's look at a
a tax title property or town owned property that's underutilized um you know we'll have communities for example with um you know defunct municipal buildings. They've moved their fire station for example and now they have this parcel with an old fire station that's never going to get used again. they might go through an RFP process to
get a friendly 40B as they call them um to list through the local initiative program. So, you know, the town then works proactively with a developer. They still submit a comprehensive permit, but because it's town initiated, there's usually goodwill. There's um there's more back and forth. Um and there are
plenty of communities who've done that, particularly on the Cape where it can be difficult. I always point out Welfley as a great community who has a very um active housing advocacy group. I I can't recall their name exactly, but they put out RFPs a lot and you know again get these like very beautiful kind of um
community cluster style developments that again are a little bit more higher impact. So it's always some some sort of balancing act between that of these smaller you know market rate um housing starter homes etc. and then maybe one or two again like higher impact slightly larger developments and maybe like the
40 range you know 30 40 50 range. Um that's usually where the rurals end up. >> Thank you. which is different than the strategy that we're currently using with the affordable housing trust and the community partnership committee. >> Uh because we are looking for higher
impact, >> right? >> We're not looking at large, not not on that scale. >> But the the problem we get in trying to do affordable housing and the type of units you're describing is the reason why our costs are so high in terms of purchasing housing is our land is so
expensive, right? And so if you're doing these small developments in terms of being able to that the land itself is going to make it difficult to make that project uh affordable if you do nothing >> right >> except want to buy the land
>> right >> and so you know I think we're looking for synergies where you may have conservation uh parcels you have wetlands issues and stuff like that where you can bundle it together >> right >> you can create a little bit higher density but it's also within a um um a
development so to speak >> that is not does not look like a highrises or yeah >> or a bunch of multi-story houses. So >> right, >> there's a balance and we've sort of at least within the community preserve action action committee
>> I mean I'm speaking of today this year >> can change when committee compositions change and everything else but right now that seems to be the strategy that we're pursuing with CPA funds going into the affordable housing trust to create affordable housing programs.
>> Right. Oh, will you do the other thing? And we will continue to partner with Buzzers Bay Habitat for Humanity groups like that to do the the the the smaller units that uh that we may that would um
>> would still makes an impact, >> right? >> We also want to have slightly higher impact so that we don't get caught falling so far short of affordable housing inventory that Right. It it triggers other penalties, >> right? Anything
else? I have a motion to approve the housing production plan. >> So move. >> Second. >> Is there any further discussion? No, >> I I appreciate you moving forward with the plan. I think local control is most important, especially with a plan having a plan like this in place. >> We're always happy to work with you folks. Seriously. >> Thank you.
>> Appreciate it. >> All in favor? >> I. There's three in favor and two absent. Thank you. Anything else, Michael, you want to mention before you leave? >> No. >> Well, we have a lot going on. Um we have a barrier beach plan committee meeting
uh or not a committee but the um commission on disability is meeting next week on >> it's Monday or Tuesday. >> It'll be on the calendar. >> Check the website. >> Check the website. >> Monday. >> Okay. Thanks.
>> Okay. >> Um and our the next thing that I'll I'll probably be bringing to you all is the hazard mitigation plan. um that will require an endorsement from the select board. Does not require one from the planning board, but you have to get the endorsement from the select board before
you send it to FEMA and LEMA for their approval. So, that one should be coming to you all sometime at the turn of the year, I would guess. >> Thank you. Thank you for coming. >> Of course. >> Thank you folks. Appreciate it. >> Thank you.
Um, so 4B, we have a request from William Chase, Harbormaster, to change the employment status for Deputy Director Rick Smith from full-time to part-time. So, I don't see Captain Chase here. He >> is not. Um, it's pretty straightforward. The, um, Rick Smith would like to go
part-time for the winter as things I don't want to say things have slowed down, but um, the boating in the river slowed down a little bit. I think it benefits the town as well as the department. It allows Rick Smith to stay on throughout the year with his current pension situation. >> And I believe that was previewed to us
at at the last meeting. >> They mentioned yes when he was high that it may not be a full year full-time. >> It makes sense. I I move to accept >> second. >> Yeah. >> And any further discussion? >> All in favor? >> I >> I That's um three in favor and uh two
absent. We have a request to approve the liability agreement for Liberty Utilities Corp. Jim. >> Yes. So, this is um Liberty's Liberty Utilities installed some new gas mains in Greenwood and Osborne Street. Um they
have temporary patching there now. As part of the water project, we'll be repaving those streets. So, uh Chris Gonzalez from the Highway was able to contact Liberty Utilities and they've agreed to offset some of those paving costs in the amount of 28,500 which would have been the cost to them
to do a permanent patch. um a permanent patch is still going to be a patch where we'll be overlaying the entire street. So, this benefits them um and we get some additional funds as part of our contract. And I believe it's a win-win because then we have some control over
the quality and since that's an area that we have some residential issues. >> Yes. And it'll be one continuous overlay of the entire street instead of a patch going up. Right. >> Yeah. Any questions? Have a motion.
>> Move. Second. >> We have a motion in a second to approve um the approve to approve the liability agreement. All in favor? >> I I it's three in favor and two absent. >> We have a request to approve the
contract reduction for Engineered Concepts, Inc. Jim. >> So, Engineering Concepts Inc. is the company that was hired at the recommendation of Kleinfelder of Engineering to be the on-site inspector inspectors on-site when work was being done. Work proceeded um I say quicker
than anticipated or the budgeted hours. The original contract was for 172,960. We'd like to reduce that contract by 30,000 at this point and we believe it'll be reduced even more by the time we're done. But um this allows us to free up that portion to offset some of
the other costs if we have any additional costs. So this is a reduction in their contract work. >> It's reduction in the contract, but we do think it'll get shifted somewhere else in the future. >> Yes. >> Okay. Do I have a motion? >> Move to approve the recommendation.
>> I'll second that. Is there any discussion? All in favor? I >> I >> I said I >> It's a reduction. Finally, we finally have a reduction in a water project. I'll take I'll take a reduction. Let's just leave it.
>> Three in favor. Three in favor and two absent. >> Um we have a pretty light agenda. We knew we were going to be two people short and so we intentionally had a light agenda today. Um we are intending to have the long-term building committee in um but there was some uh
miscommunication about uh previous meetings. So, we'll try to add them in for the next meeting. So, nothing for discussion items. Um, the town administrator report. >> Yes. >> So, we're still working on the town hall HVAC uh project. You can see we have new
units in this office in the ceiling. >> One here and then one in the back. Um, on the second floor, they'll all be in the ceiling, recessed in the ceiling. On the first floor, they will be um wall units almost look like radiator type units. Um, this is an older building
that was built very well and it's difficult to add these units to the building. They've been doing a lot of drilling here through the concrete. Um, every office downstairs has two or three holes. Um, we did have some asbestous tile underneath the existing tile here.
So, we had to have that abated which uh caused us to close the building for two days on October 10th and October 14th. Um that abatement work was completed without issue and the affected areas were inspected and cleared by uh that Tuesday morning. Um we don't anticipate
any other closures going forward. Um again it's a significant project. It's been very noisy here for the employees. Uh it's been dusty on occasion. So um very appreciative of the effort that they put in and to tolerate this type of work. Um we hope to have the downstairs
heat on within the next week and a half. and uh the upstairs the following week. Hopefully the weather stays somewhat warm and we can keep up with the portable heaters that we are using. They did say they would bring in some more temporary units if we did need them.
Mass uh Massachusetts Municipal Association just completed a um a new report which kind of demonstrates the pressure that's being put on municipal budgets and operations here in Massachusetts. Um some of the key findings are the
constraints on local revenue sources including Proposition 2 and a half have held Massachusetts city town spending growth to just 6% a year. Annual spending growth for Massachusetts municipal governments lagged far behind
the US average for cities and towns. funding for unrestricted government general government aid uh as we call it the Commonwealth's primary source of local aid for municipality ser municipal services is 25% lower than it was in 2010 when you look at uh when it's
adjusted adjusted for inflation and if you look through that report there's a link on the um and we'll put it on the website as well but there's a link to it gets in a little bit more detail and it compares Massachusetts to other states and the type of funding and uh we are we
are at the lower end um as far as funding goes and I think all these towns in Massachusetts have done quite a bit with limited resources and lit limited funding sources. Um I did put a report in the folder on technology improvements
that we've done over the years. um had some questions that were raised over the last last month or so about you know what are we doing as far as technology improvements and you don't always know until you start looking through what's been done and if you go through that report you'll notice
that there's there's quite a bit of work that's been done I mean we wanted to enhance cyber security uh Keith is very up on the cyber security we want to improve department efficiency and these are goals that every every community has to improve services to the public. Um
the major technology improvements is we've been creating more online access to the public and to the residents, whether it's bill pay, whether it's access accessing beach permits, um you know, permitting over in the building department. Um and then we've also
increased the IT staffing and support. I will say I still think we're behind in all those categories, but we have made some significant improvements. um select board, you know, we're looking at yearly permits and appointments that have all been set into databases, which has improved efficiency. Paul has been doing
a lot of work on that. The town clerk has online permitting, uh access to online vital records. Uh they have the beach permitting, which is online now, which has saved the town clerk a significant amount of time. Um treasur collector, they have online payments, integrated tax collection, uh along with
the accounting, they've updated their software over the last six months. So, we're going through that process now. uh the assessor's office has updated their software uh their new camera and personnel property software um that was done just within the last year as well and all these software things are going
to cloud-based systems we were applications which is also creates another issue but you would buy the application and it would just have to be maintained for the few years now they're all cloud-based and they're all licensed and we have yearly costs now which are more expensive than they have been in
the past cemetery department has um gone online with there we got new semite software. It was a private uh website that was established by the CPC and some uh residents and people here in town. They did a tremendous job with the data
collection and getting it up, but it was on a site that we didn't have access to. Um so we've moved that uh in-house and we're still working on the overall website to make it compatible to what the um previous website was that gives access to the public. But all the data
is there. we were able to migrate all the data and that was that was the priority. Uh it also allows for data management in the cemetery department as well as um work orders and uh deed deed management and some other things as well. Recreation department, you know,
they've had a good website for the last three or four years, maybe even five years. Uh they run all their programs through their website. Uh Border Health has new inspectional software packages package which they've been working on. They're also getting online with the online permitting. They've also
digitized all their plans, all their records for every every property in the town, uh, which is making it more efficient for them. Somebody calls up, they need a septic plan, they're not digging through the drawers, they can go online, click on it, email it out right away without going through all the properties. Um, website's been
redesigned, starting to get used to that site now, and I think it's it's functioning well, and we'll make some minor improvements as we go forward. Uh the veterans have a new platform for managing VA claims. The harbor master is up already updating his permitting software. Uh he's also looking at asset
management software which would uh include location of all the moorings in town, slips in town. Um and we're currently working on a new parking ticket system. So that would be automated where they could uh scan the license plates and issue the
tickets, print them out right there, which would save us some time in our department, especially Paula now that she's going to be the parking clerk. Um just even viewing the old handwritten tickets, that will not be an issue anymore going forward. And the police and fire, I just want to mention them.
And I don't know all the details of the software upgrades, but in speaking with the police chief and the fire chief, police chief has had a number of upgrades. Even things like the body cameras, they have to um keep all those cameras on records. So the storage space that's required for all that has has
really increased. Um and then the infrastructure I didn't don't have a separate slide for infrastructure but um Keith in the town has done you know tremendous amount of work on infrastructure here in in town whether whether it's the service whether it's
the firewalls uh communications uh we've we've added fiber throughout the town the fiber loops are in all the buildings are connected to fiber loops right now that's all been done in the last four or five years we've had major upgrades even in in this room with software with uh
presentation type material. Um library has upgrades. Um yeah, we're moving forward. Again, I think we started behind and we're probably as mun we're kind of always behind. I hate to say that, but we've made a lot of progress and uh we have people here in town that
are pushing to get more technologically advanced. So, they've helped out quite a bit. And last comment, every time you do a software upgrade, >> it's a lot of extra work for the department. Yes. >> To migrate the data over there, to set up the applications, to set up the permitting. You know, all these
departments are kind of short on resources to begin with and adding the extra work has really been a challenge for them. But, um, I think they've all embraced it and we're moving on. Just a quick comment here and and Jim, you you pointed it out and I and I don't know what the process is to go about
this, but I really do believe the town needs some sort of in within the town hall either a website manager or a co or a website manager or public affairs. You could kind of do it as both because I think what's lacking in the town is a we don't have an even an official Facebook
page. And granted, I think Facebook has probably destroyed the world, but this is where people go for information right now. And we don't have an official site. There's really no unified spot to get that information. You kind of have to grab it from different sites, different
areas, different locations. Um and even like when we had our meeting on um hurricane preparedness and and emergency plans, I I don't think that we have kind of a unified messaging or e or either way, not only the unified messaging, but
how to get that out. So, uh, I would I would really like to see, you know, the town or us as a board try to find a way to to bring on someone that would focus on the website, focus on the information on the website because, like you said, it's all different departments kind of
doing that. Uh, that is the most forward facing. I still hear some push back from people. I mean, website design is great, but I I still think the information and and ease of navigability uh is somewhat lacking there. So, um, but whatever we have to do to kind of
figure out how to bring if possible. >> I was talking to Jim before the meeting. I think we need a a web content social media person. I mean that. So, I don't know what all those responsibilities should look like, but I do think um I
think that that we need to we we need a person to do that, right? We we need someone who can help all these departments keep everything updated. we need someone who can do the tweaking of the website to make improvements to it and um then you're like and then social
media that's another you know another burden on the departments that are having to do it if we can centralize that. So, I would really like to see a job in the next year budget u for someone to do some of that. I don't know how how it's going to shake out, but
>> um but I also don't know if that's the most pressing need from an information technology perspective. I think it is because it's public facing and um I think it's real important to get this a higher adoption rate and like um but
we're also you know still operating out of sho string everywhere else but I would like to see that in the next budget to have a content web I don't know if I'd call it a web master but like a web content um person and social media person. I would like to see that,
but we'd have to put it in the budget and find the money for it is what you have to >> I know where the money's going to come from. >> Yeah. Okay. >> And I will just add that a lot of these software packages, a lot of these programs that have been instituted over the last few years have been done through grants and >> earmarks.
>> Um, some have come out of the town operating budget, which is great. Um, but a lot of it has come out of grants and earmarks that don't directly come from the operating budget. the ongoing licensing for cloud-based software would >> come out of the operating budget. Yeah.
So, I mean the the beauty of going to the cloud is it's it's I mean it's far superior. It's the way the whole world's going, but um it's ongoing licensing fees, right? >> We're finding that with budget for every department. The uh software is getting more expensive.
>> Yeah. We also uh one of Paula's new projects is uh we have hoppers payroll and we haven't been utilizing that to its fullest capacity. So they are looking at that now with um Sue Braen and Nicole
>> use what we're paying for. If you're paying for it, let's use it. >> I think it's a lot more. It can do a lot more. I mean really we're using it to punch in and out. >> Yeah. >> You know, so it can do a lot more. Can I backtrack just a second on something that Jake said? >> You have to go to Mike if you're going
to talk more or Valerie I'll be like >> I'll definitely put the camera. >> This would be Paula Brown the what are you the assistant assistant to the town administrator? >> One of the things that ca came up in that code red meeting that we went to which I think is really important is the point of information officer.
>> Yeah. I think that that like designating one person that can talk on behalf of um the town is very important and I think that's something that we should definitely look into a little bit more. >> Yeah. And I also that um I don't forget
where I heard this but also we're still using like a phone tree like an oldfashioned phone tree for emergencies, right? So >> it we were but when you go to the when you go to our um internal site the phone tree is the same one that existed the
last time I served on this board and and I'm not on there I don't think either. >> Yeah. >> No one's going to call me emergency. So I don't know what we call that position because we want someone who's doing the web content and stuff but yeah you're right the information point of contact and then coordinating information
>> it could fall under and I've seen it in some places where it's almost a public affairs type setup where if they have that web background and a lot of people do kind of have both now um but yeah it'd be tough to find that exact fit. >> Then my last thing is budgets. We're
working on FY27 budgets. All the departments uh except one and that'll be in tomorrow have submitted their budgets. I've met with I think just about all the departments to review the initial ones. Um and we will get a recommendate recommended budget out in the next couple of weeks. >> And how are we doing with the um free
cash certification? >> Free cash certification went out on Friday. Um it hasn't been certified. Hopefully it'll be certified in the next week or two and it looks fairly substantial. >> Okay. All right. >> Like I said, I got burned last year when I gave the number, so I'm going to try
>> hold off until >> But we're on to did it in a timely manner. That's good. >> All right. Anything else? >> That's all I have. Thank you. >> Um so, next we have um approved the minutes of October 6. >> Uh motion to approve the October 6
minutes, which was caller's first uh attempt at it, and they're very good. >> Um second. >> All in favor? >> I. That's um three in favor and two absent. We do not have did you do the bill warrant?
Did was it Dick? Dick did it. Okay. So, we don't have a report on the bill warrant. Um liaison committee reports or suggestions for future agenda items. Craig, >> the um the opioid settlement advisory committee
is meeting this week. >> Okay. Um, I don't think we're I don't think the affordable housing trust is meeting till next week. And I I don't commit to any scheduled meetings and of of the long-term building committee. I
think there's a meeting that's being scheduled. So >> yeah, they did not meet last week, >> right? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Uh Jake, >> uh the only upcoming one is we have an offshore wind this Thursday and I don't know if you're going to talk about the
climate resiliency committee last week. >> You can talk about it if you want. >> We had climate resiliency committee last week uh going over various reports that Michael spoke about the hazard mitigation plan as well as um the beach management plan. So, uh, they're moving forward with a lot of a lot of those
projects and then there is going to be a report that will be brought forward to, uh, the select board in the future. >> I thought it was interesting on the, um, climate resilience. Um, so the UMass Dartmouth is helping us coordinate the final report, but um, what they're
looking at, I'm not a statistics major. I'm glad I'm not working in statistics, but like how do you prioritize the topics? And there was a pretty good discussion about it. I learned something about, you know, you're waiting, you're waiting the different areas and stuff. I thought that was kind of interesting.
But, um, yeah. So, but the climate resilience, it sound like we should be wrapping up. >> Definitely. I think we're probably going to have a meeting what, November time frame, and then they'll probably have a preliminary report and then we'll kind of move forward from there. So, >> probably the beginning of the year maybe. Um and then where there is an
offshore wind meeting >> this Thursday at 5:30m >> here in the select boardroom. >> Right. So the climate resilience was the only meeting that I had I think. Um do we have any comments or statements from the public? >> Just one from the board
>> here. And this is a question more for Jim. I've actually received a few people reaching out to me and I don't think there's anything that can be done on the non-stop solicitation from solar companies that continue to hammer residents in town. I know there's
probably no, you know, even if you have a no solicitation, you know, sign, they still seem to be ignoring that. Um, amazingly I've got I've gotten one of the few calls on on that of and emails like they're just relentless um with respect to constantly knocking on doors
and and and not leaving when they're asked to leave. So, and I don't think there's anything we have with respect that can be done on that. But, uh >> I think we do. Don't we have a solicitation? >> I Let me follow up with the chief. I thought they're supposed to register with the police department before they do it. So, I can
>> Okay. Um, yeah, I will follow up with >> and and that that may be the CA that that again is maybe another messaging component like if they did have to register in advance, then maybe there's I don't know the the way to do it, but you could reach out to
that certain neighborhood that they're going to be in there from Monday through Wednesday and don't be alarmed if you get a knock on your door. But, uh, I just had a few people questioning that or asking about what what there was with respect to that. Thank you. I also saw I shouldn't look at Facebook,
but I saw on Facebook 177 and Sanford Road the >> the lights not turning on the timer. Chris has notified high Mass Highway and they will be looking at it. There's loops at the intersection. Sometimes the loops get disconnected and it goes automatically to a time. So in the morning you think you should go
right to 177 >> at 4 a.m. they they're getting stopped with nobody. >> So they are they are looking at that. >> Okay. Thank you. All right. Um, don't have any topics unanticipated. Our next meeting is going
to be Monday, November 3rd. >> I have a motion to adjurnn. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> I. That's three in favor and two absent. Thank you very much.