somebody she Wasing somebody the yeah you doing business I I can vouch for you I'm going to call a meeting to order I'd ask you all to join me in the Pledge of Allegiance flag United States indivisible and jusice for all welcome [Music] everybody this is the select board Monday April 8th and uh under Massachusetts General Law chapter 30A this section 208 this meeting is being recorded and in terms of welcoming comments I would like to take a moment to uh point out that we only have three tonight but we do have a farm so we can conduct business uh shaana is out of state I believe and and box couldn't make it tonight this would have been her last meeting so I'd like to take just a few seconds to thank her for six years of service as a select Bo member she did not seek reelection and we we will miss her um speaking of Elections we do have an election tomorrow um and it just so happens that the town clerk is here uh if you'd like to say something I can just read say what I'm going to say anyone may add to it you can feel free no it's okay I just came for I have a few items on here so okay I just well anyway so I'm just going to make a couple of comments for the general public uh that uh the polls are open tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and uh there are usual five voting places and uh we do have only one competitive race and that's the select board wouldn't you know it but anyway there are others uh that are running uncontested there are also however opportunities for writings and I know some people who are interested in various and sunary positions so so the uh it's important to vote tomorrow spite of the fact there are many non-contested races and like I say from 10: in the morning till 8: at night is when the polls are open there's also plenty of information on our website for those who are interested thanks to Christ okay with that uh we'll get moving on the agenda um the first item is a public hearing which is an application request from Hitching Post Properties LLC for a six-month seasonal trailer permit for recreational purpos Sur is located at 161 East Beach Road that's the East Beach Trailer area there um Jim Hartnett by the way is not here tonight either he had some family business to take care of so we're kind of flying solo which we'll the best we can so I don't have usual introductions I usually get from Jim who can give us some background on some of these items but uh this I'm told is was a is a property uh that had had a trailer on it in the past and was a new owner and under the name Hitching Post Properties um and uh Jim hardnett has left me a some information that the conservation and Board of Health have signed off on the plan so that meets that that pedigree so we'd be ready to work on this and perhaps recommend approval but I wanted to ask if there's somebody here from that uh feel free to say something if you wish you don't have to but go ahead if you wish Richard Miranda Jr I'm the owner of property okay it everything still the same the way it was prior to us buying it trailer going the same spot and where would 161 be is that on the south or the north three down from the house the last house oh yeah three down on the left okay okay the north side on the North side yeah that's right okay any questions from the board members do you only have one trailer one trailer yeah two lots one trailer okay and you're aware it's an environmently sensitive area in flood okay uh there's nothing else from the public second motion made in second that any further discussion any comments from the public this is a public hearing so we give everybody opportunity to speak usually do that anyway but it's particularly important uh when there a designation of a public hearing anything else do you have to say Okay motion may be seconded all CER saying I I any oppos none the motion carries three to nothing good luck there's a category licenses and permits we don't have any of that tonight so we go to appointments and resignations uh the first is a request from Christopher Dunn chief chief of police to promote officer Jared lves to Sergeant and I'm told that this fills the position that uh Robert Deputy Robert B used to hold so U deputy and the chief being here tonight you wish to speak and introduce sure if I could please please it' be honor back with me is that okay sure yes Chief done apologizes for his uh absence that he had a family um event that he had attend so I just want to speak on behalf of Officer L um officer Le has been a member of the Westbard police department since May of 2015 as a full-time officer during that time he sought to become a drug recognition expert an intensive 3-we training which culminates with a week of training in Arizona it's a nationally known certification which is held in high regard officer L then transitioned into the detective unit where he served as a task force officer assigned to the DEA during that assignment he was responsible for several drug seizures one of which included an illegal firearm seizure he eventually transitioned back into a patrol position where he works currently his recent performance on the sergeant promotional process plac him at the top position he scored a 93 on the written exam and performed well on both the oral boards and Val valuations one of his sergeants in his evaluation noted that officer L is a proactive officer and is a very solid grasp of law his knowledge of the job makes him an asset to Junior officers along with his accomplishments as an officer Jared officer L also holds two life- saving Awards Chief Dunn and I hope that you look favorably upon the appointment of Officer L to the open position of Sergeant thank you uh thank you deputy chief reell for the kind words um Chief Dunn for um recommending me for the position um it'd be an honor to you know perform as in a supervisor capacity um I have a lot of experience and knowledge that I love to share and teach um so this gives me an opportunity to do that especially with our younger generation of officers who are brand new on the job um having and serving on the midnight shift so um it will sort of put me into my element where where I like to and uh share my knowledge and experience with those guys so I look forward to the opportunity and I'm excited about it oh great thank you for stepping forward was a pleasure of the committee move second any further discussion any further comments this this is not a public hearing at the moment make us look good it be my comment okay uh all in favor keep saying I I oppos None the motion carries unanimously we have to congratulate you thank you Deputy for bringing forth this AB the swearing in ceremony is slated to happen in April 24th okay at 5: P PM 6 p.m I'm sorry 6m so you're more than welcome to join us there well thank you for that appreciate it than good luck thank you thank you congratulations thank you for your than you okay the next item 3B is a request from Kristen Stinson who is a town clerk to appoint Jerry Bernardo Emma ha away lulan carbal and Colleen Smith as student election workers and uh maybe you could give us a little more on this backr sure I reached out to the school not that long ago to start a program for student po workers um we I met with them and we sent out a flyer these are the four students who are currently interested in it but we're hoping it's a program that can grow and um they're just appointed as volunteers it's an unpaid position but they can can use that time for their um School volunteer hours and I've also opened up the opportunity for them to volunteer a little bit at the town clerk's office too if they are interested but it's separate and combined that's it will they be at the polls tomorrow um three of them will be at the polls tomorrow um they're only working short shifts and the it's more of an introduction kind of shift where they can learn all of the different roles and figure out um how the polls work and work with our wardens to learn a little bit more about the process great great this is a great thing I think thanks I'll move second motion made seconded any further discussion any further comments all in favor say I I oppos motion carries an answer congratulations that's a great program whoos she has 4B could we move her up while she's here oh okay okay this is uh 4B is request to increase the hourly rate of the assistant town clerk during the registrar's absence uh in our package is a memo from Jim hartnet explaining why this is needed and uh there's a vacancy not a vacancy but they'll be uh on leave the register will be on leave in the near future and the clerk's office fills in so this is significant additional work and this is just for the time of the the absence is yes it's a temporary increase from that time of absence we've picked up a lot of work and we talked about whether or not we needed a hire a part-time person to um assist with the backlog of work that was in the registar office and decided that Carl and I could handle it but she's been so um positive spirited about it um I believe Jim decided that this might be a good way to approach her extra work it's probably like a 50% increase in her work during um during this already busy season Jim also points out that this is not precedent setting this has been done before no all right I'll move it second motion made and seconded any further comments I favor to say I I any opposed none opposed passes unanimously congratulations I'm going to go back downstairs keep working on that election thank you okay that was 4 B so we'll go back to a uh 3 3B no did that so we're back on 4 a okay um so 4 a is a request from Chris Leonard director of means marine services to approve the contractor Bruce Ingram Ingram of the FV uh ocean Rancher for the 2024 relay Leonard good to see you you too good evening everybody Christopher Leonard director marine services Harbor Master shellfish Warden waringer and two boat ramps are the things underneath my umbrella and we are here tonight to talk about a contract with Bruce Ingam uh we had bids go out on comines with Denise uh requesting 5,000 bushels to be picked up in Fall River um and the bids were supposed to come in on the 22nd by 300 p.m. I believe that was a Friday and we received one bid from Bruce Ingam uh this is the same person that has been doing the town of Westport for me eight years for the town for decades and he's pretty much the uh only show in town right now that is doing the dredge work uh maybe comb could stir up some more people to um have have more boats in the area but um he is uh signed off by the state to do this work not anybody can just show up they have to go through processes through the division of marine fisheries um and so what we have before us is 5,000 bushels at $26 a bushel to be picked up by myself in the town truck um for $26 a bushel uh if we were to get them delivered it would be $28 a bushel so by picking them up we're able to then plant more shellfish into the river so what we have is uh $130,000 contract for 5,000 bushels and I here before you um to give my seal of approval for this and um hopefully you will too okay as Mr Leonard points out this is from Jim horn say this is a successful V obviously and uh and and the actions are taken will be as described so it's the pleasure of second motion made in second seconded any further discussion all in favor say I I I any oppose none the motion cares unanimously congratulations thank you all right excellent thank you so much phone oh yeah we're going to get to work right away sooner begun sooner done thanks thank you good night okay action item AC request to post the position of local building inspector um and uh Mr suer is here and maybe you could give us a little background on here this question good evening uh Ralphs Building Commissioner it's been put forward finally for the building the assistant building perspective position to be posted um the only caveat that I want with it is that the applicant be already certified as a local inspector only because there's less training involved is less uh Mr R Jim haret indicates there is funding in the fiscal year 25 budget for this position and is this this says local building inspection loc building inspection that's that's the position I took when I came here in 2005 I was at that position for two years I came here parttime I was then elevated because then John then Building Commissioner John MCN wanted a another local inspect but I said I'd take the locals full-time and it went through the process the local Bill inspector position became full-time position when John quit two years later it put me as the acting Building Commissioner which I had to work to get through the test and that was a nightmare on Elm Street to get through the test to be a Building Commissioner and I finally got it done ever since then there's the position's never been filled it was a union position my opinion the union dropped it they let it go and they shouldn't have Let It Go but they let it go and now we're trying to get it back only to just to have I mean it's really not as busy as it was cuz somebody asked me not as busy as it is was few years back but the position should be filled only because uh in the event that something happens to me there's somebody there to do the inspections me being the commissioner something where to happen to me it has to be a commissioner that comes in this town and and does the commissioner stuff which is sign occupy PR so it is a local billing inspector that's the title that's the title it's a local Bill inspector he's certified as a local building inspector okay through the state this is a request to post the position so that's we got to get the process started what's the feeling of the committee move with Jim's recommendation post it inhouse first then outside if needed second okay motion made and seconded any further discussion do we need to uh specify the certified pod yes all right I'll put that within the motion then certified because if it doesn't go posted as certified then I deal with someone that's not certified and that's when the babysitting job takes that effect and don't really have enough time to do that okay there's the secondary agree with that yeah I mean so you you said posst in house first do we have anybody in house with the credentials you that I don't know in house how long we Post in house before we go cuz might be we might have trouble getting prob what do we Post in house for to 30 days it's not a real long time and and and how many hours is the position CU original the position again voted at town meeting when I was the local inspector it was voted in as full-time position it went before the town meeting got approved as a full-time position over the years it's been cut back there's a budget stuff it's been cut back to 20 hours I came here with 16 hours it got put the full time then it got come back to to to 60 have open you know anybody know the I think was a full-time position elected back in 2007 when it before went before town meeting it had to go we myself and John MCN had to attend a lot of meetings for this to happen and it happened and when my first day walking in it's fulltime I said to John how you want to do this now he says in 3 weeks I'm gone you're it so all right well it wasn't specified with it shows right here recommend in house in the yellow in ta recommendation yes you want I mean would that really make a difference if we just post that at the same time obviously we preference would be in house but I'm just in and out sim J not answer that so I mean if you we want to make it simultaneous I suppose we could I mean you know we're going to have trouble finding some I know we can do it that way yeah yep I'm just I'm just looking for a full-time local inspector fulltime okay certified local inspect full certifi all right well if uh procurement Officer says it's fine we will advertise at the same time ta would just have to sign off on it so that would be part of the motion that we if if it's uh we're not breaking any rules to do it both at the same time the certified local inspect in okay that second seconded motion made seconded any further discussion all in favor say I I any oppose none the motion carries unanimously thank you good luck thank you sure you find the right person good luck thank you gentlemen okay the next is the request to approve the following American Rescue plan act arpa projects um before I get into that I wanted to mention that uh we have a subcommittee that works on arpa funds and they make a recommendation to the board of Selectmen it is only the board of Selectmen who can dispense Harper funds Harper funds are not subject to town meeting this is totally the authority of the select board so we've been meeting uh off we meet at least once a month sometimes twice a month there are a number of items here um that are listed totaling $626,000 um so anyway that's what this is about we can go go through them individually or whatever gentleman wish to do so I'll just take them in order the first one is uh par engineering agreement d Road Bridge that's the agreement to uh have Outreach with uh the local residents Neighbors in that area um however par engineering charges for this and the Fe the fee is $7,700 I don't know if that's the normal amount uh but it it's what Jim has recomend commended he feels that it's appropriate and this is for the additional meetings with the neighbors which is not in the it's outside of the Mass DOT contract so par is working for Mass DOT they're not working for the town however they've agreed to do this but their time is precious they're busy people and they put a price on this of $7,700 good news for the town of Westport will be paid out of the arpa funds this is totally within arpa's guidelines which is roads infrastructure rure cars automobiles ambulances and all sunry things of that nature so the committee reviewed this and recommends it and that's what's the first we can vote at this on this as a group or go through each one individually what is the pleasure of the committee does matter I'm the whole thing or just this oh you want to do one at a time or you want you want you want to do this whole all right so why don't you just go through it if we got questions we'll put a hole ask questions all right in the uh the next is so that was from local arpa fund money uh for those of you who keep track of arpa there were two funds made available to us one was called Town Money local Town money um and then there's Bristol County has an allotment and there's a process there for uh uh applying for for funds and so that the first item that was just mentioned is local um and the next ones are will be uh Bristol County money and we have sufficient money there in fact we're not able to use it all up it seems at the moment but there are a number of items that the committee put forward that would be then submitted to Bristol County for approval so this is not uh yet going to happen until we get that approved we don't have an approval process for the local money so that's the difference so anyway the first item is test borings in the mumb neighborhood in Loop M neighborhood in Loop is $150 $15,000 uh the next item is information technology upgrades we've been devoting a lot of money to technology and that's all within arpa guidelines and the pump station easement this has to do with the route 6 project these two one would be on 35 State Road the other 287 State Road we need pumps there for the project and that's $4,100 then there are various Street improvements as each Beach Road repairs there's White Oak Run layout and there are various other Street um needs totaling $357,400 126,000 of Bristol County and $7,700 of the local it doesn't need to be separate though the local Opera needs to be approved and then the Bristol County hour needs to be okay that's why these are in bold thought so but it wasn't positive all right so why don't we do that in the two-step process so we'll do deal with the local uh money for the uh Power Engineering Outreach so Mo second motion made seconded any further discussion no no what is what is that needed for for outreach so par is going to come down and meet with myself Jim gentleman if you wish to attend and the local residents uh um in that area earlier way back when we agreed this would be a collaborative effort and this is part of that and what we'd be talking about there is design the neighbors would like to keep that as historic as possible and we want to work with our contractor to see if that can be done and what are the the limits of this and what are the opportunities for having a more historic bridge I don't know exactly what that means in detail but that's what the goal is so we don't have to be a cookie cutter Bridge so to speak we want to have it look historic it's a historic area there's an old 100 plus year Bridge next to it uh so this is that's it's all about making this a more historic um construction and that's what that's what going to be discussed where it ends up I'm not sure by the way there are members who will speak to this issue if you is mass do going to be involved in that meeting no they they they don't want to be in involed we had a meeting with them uh we were somewhat disappointed that they didn't want to go further but they had no problem with us having a meeting with the contractor so they approved it I I don't know if they had to approve it but they said that's fine but we're done with our meetings they had one public meeting with it was remote and we were unhappy that it wasn't more of those meetings to go through these issues but this is actually coming about tonight because do is not giving us a further hearing but they going whatever we Whatever Gets decided at that they they get approve make sure it's yeah and they work with with the the contractor so I think there's a good chance whatever the contractor agrees to will be approved gentlemen you're from the neighborhood if you wish to speak if not yeah uh we'd have to go to the microphone give us your name that's the drill uh yes Patrick McBride drift Road um so I think it's great that we're looking to have this meeting with parb we've been asking for that for about what 4 years now so uh appreciate that effort uh I guess a couple questions um if we are going to have uh $7,000 from arpa pay for this um did we really look at the contract between mass do par and the town of Westport because I've based upon my review I found several opportunities where par said that they would meet with the residents the town to discuss these types of things so in the the $299,000 contract they they signed with mass do so based upon my review I think they have this $7,000 covered in their contract if we say no okay but I I think if we look at that contract there's opportunity there to say hey we've agreed to this it's already in the contract so we can save $77,000 of arpa money that's number one number two I think in the last meeting we had a discussion about the shortfall we originally were thinking this was Bri was going to cost about 1.3 million now we're up to 2.3 or 2.7 have we determined where the other funds are going to come from yet or are we still kind of trying to figure that out well and I don't mean I don't want to drag this on and have a separate meeting here but I just those are two things well I think I can respond on each based on what Jim just told me the first issue there as to the cost within the contract uh Jim looked into that and I saw the wording I believe you sent it to me and it didn't it enumerated that there would be meetings that were paid for as part of the contract uh dot did not agree with that and that's why we're here that's that's the long story short but I didn't make an issue of it because we do have the funds to get this done but I I don't think there's any reason why we can't go back and look at that again maybe a little push back on that yeah and maybe uh there's going to be multiple meetings maybe we can make that point with par and see what they say but it has to do with a difference of view between Dot and Par okay yeah and that's that's the best I can do with that makes sense now the other part was the cost now that came as a total surprise to me and of course that came at the a public meeting I thought it was going to be about a million dollars and the state would pay for it completely my understanding is that the state is going to pay for the whole thing now I guess I believe that when I see it but if they won't that's that is the problem a big problem Jim said we don't really have an answer on that yet uh first of all we don't have a a hard number we haven't seen a hard number so that has to be determined but he's of the view and I think he's not just being optimistic he's looked into this that that we're going into this with the state and they're going to build that bridge uh and pay the whole thing okay I mean well that's great I just want to make sure that you know we then have our our say in how that's done to a degree you know yeah well through far that that should that's that's ouren all right thank you thank you I I think you know one thing on that is that the whole thing is that's all mass do specifications so it's it's going to be done to their specifications so we we understand that um we just want to make sure we understand all the specifications because there are I think in certain cases room for exception and I believe you gentlemen have identified those other Bridges along the way here in different towns that have a more historic look that were done by Department of Transportation and so with exception yeah there's some flexibility can I ask one more question yes keep sending you back there that's also uh we are now aware that the buzzers Bay Coalition uh has funding for uh Culvert Replacements and they're targeting towns like Westport I know that was just something that was in the Press on April 4th so that might be another area of funding we've had conversations with uh Buzzards Bay Coalition probably what three four weeks ago and so we also put this on their radar screen as well but I don't know if the town has uh decided to pursue that yet or is even aware of that but I'm sure they are well I'm not aware of maybe Jim is what is their um interest in this just because of the the the diminished in in um you know unsupported uh uh colberts basically throughout the South Coast that are really blocking and draining uh poorly and therefore ruining the whole Coastal habitat so um basically it's keeping within their their purview so and they're they' just announced that they have money for for grants for that as well so well that's great we SE that out sure thank you well thank you for bringing that to our attention Okay uh so we're going to do these separately this is a local offer in that one item $7,700 you didn't make a motion second motion made been seconded any further discussion all in favor say I I uh none oppose the motion carries unanimously thank you thank you gentlemen okay I'm doing this in in the appropriate order now this is the Bristol County money that I enumerated earlier the borings the information technology so on and so forth which total is $626,000 we have to apply to Bristol County and they'll tell us if those applications are accepted or not but we needed to vote to to proceed with that so move again that's has recommendations to us yeah oh it was a recommendation also of the committee yeah go here a second a second um discuss yeah I mean various streets can get the breakdown and streets yeah I wonder if that's in the uh package I didn't didn't see that there I saw other streets but I mean I know East Beach isn't you know we realize what what you know there probably some pavement repairs there wide open one I think that was like 30,000 I don't understand the various yeah I thought there were a couple that we mentioned and I don't know how much of the 357 uh the remedy to your question if that is concern we can leave that out and vote at that vote that at a later date I don't think two weeks will make a difference in terms of applying although we want to move this ahead but we can go either way on that as you see fit the motion at the moment don't includ right you want to remove those consider modify you want to remove uh yeah I think it's just get clar so um do we want to leave East Beach well no cuz we don't have their M all right so I'll move everything but the street improvements cuz we need better clarification on various streets yeah but I I guess then we yeah that's right because yeah we'd have to have the dollar amount it's not broken down side speech and wide open run yeah I didn't pick up on that it's a whole number so would' be approving the first three items the borings information technology the war is 115,000 I mean the information technology what is that for exactly we did have another E mark for 100,000 way back when is that that or this is I think it was one of the loops but I'm not sure about that we could we could press clarification we can get clarification on that okay all right what's good to go the borings we need hopefully we'll get to get all right so the pump stations and the borings uh I'm moving for now till we get clarification so you're amending the motion to include just I'm amending the motion to include just the uh test borings and Pump Station e second okay motion made and seconded as part of discussion we will take care of that at the next meeting and I don't think that's going to be a big problem should there is a process my drive is opening to look it up at the moment yeah okay motion made in second do any comment from the public on any this all in favor say I I any oppos none the motion carries thank you okay uh the next item is e uh I think it's see right here request to sign Jonathan Levy Architects LLC tolling agreement now Jim and we've discussed this before but Jim remarks here uh Levy Associates is the architect for the school this is the new middle school and high school and there's still some outstanding minor design and construction issues so this agreement extends all the applicable statutory and contractual time limitations this is in the town's best interest and is recommended by Town Council so that's what it's about because tolling agreements tolling means is is a time limit on this this would extend that and that's I think it's beneficial for the town because we want to get the work done and this is we've been working harmoniously with the architect on this issue and um has to do with drainage I believe gutters so that's what this is for simply to give more time otherwise the tolling agreement will um expire I'm going to move it second for a recommendation okay motion made second further discussion all in favor say I I any oppos none the motion also carries unanimously three in favor none opposed thank you okay the next item is just a quick one is from Carol fedus veteran service officer to approve a $10 donation from Lucille Bender for the veterans stre Pantry motion accept second okay so you don't want the $10 yeah we had to do this separately than in other other set way so can sit back a little bit all in favor say I I any any post the motion carries okay there's this next is a request from the planning board for the select board comments this is just on comments on the flexible Frontage request for special permit for a special permit application we're proberbly located at 461 Old Harbor Road that would be on a sessions map 87 lot 5 and said two two lot divisions dividing this into two lots and anyway we have a we have that in our package uh I don't know if is there anybody here from either the planning board or from 461 Old Harbor Road no okay I go through CH did we have any plans for this cuz all I got is the uh narrative all right I I take the town administrate suggestion that we don't make any comments at this time okay is the any you that I second and we will pass that along call to do that for us we're have to vote on this we just not we don't have any comments they can do their usual thing they'll do the usual good job okay way I failed to uh announce at the beginning we are not having an executive session this evening okay the next item is H East Beach uh this is there a couple of requests here let me just do them in reverse order because the second item is is quicker I think the requests on the second page the second page on those but it's there's a two-part request here and the first one will'll take more discussion so the second one is the request is a request from the East Beach property owners to place their trailers on the Lots on or after April 26th 2024 uh this uh the date when trailers can go on is May 1st but May 1st is during the week so this is the weekend before including Friday before May 1st this has been a routine request in the past um but it needs approval of the board and also I think the Jim mentions that people who bring their trailers down have to be permitted so they have to have completed their permits we have a number of permits that have already been issued we have a number of permits that are also in progress but they have to be permitted um so that's what we have going here so what is the place for the committee on this well the only issue that we mention every year is they can't they can't occupy it more than 6 months or they can claim residency that's the only issue so we can allow them down but technically you got the 6 months that you can stay there obviously so I unless man has I'm I'm going to suggest we move and we just don't exceed the uh threshold to claim residency which I believe is 6 months to the date right Paul so they can move them just but we can't allow obiously till the date that's all okay okay we have representativ here from E be would like to speak to this issue just [Music] disappointing Kevin Kur president East Beach Improvement Association um as you stated this is uh customary to I shouldn't say customary but uh a typical request that we have in order to help alleviate some of the congestion that needs to you know takes place on the weekends and um in light of this year's events with the storms and stuff it's going to give everybody an opportunity to get a little bit of a head start on preparing the Lots some of them are still in need of a slight repair Etc so it would um definitely be helpful for everyone to to get off on the right foot and get started regarding the six-month question that uh select M will that raises that pose any problems no that's always been a standed request okay just needed for the record that's all so no confusion okay what is the pleasure of the committee we we made a motion yeah any second okay any further discussion all in favor say I I I oppose none the motion carries anous make yes on that point now the earlier point is to request the request to relocate storm related material along East Beach Road now uh this is one that would take a little more discussion and I have some information today from the uh conservation agent Mr Chris Capal so there is uh Jim remarks that there's approximately cubic yards 1500 2,000 cubic yards of material stockpiled uh on he says on the south side of East Beach Road I'll just read this and then we can have comments and this the residents have requested that this material be replaced within the road layout in front of their Lots um that's basically it um now in order to do this however we needed to gain agreement from the conservation agent and he's agreed to that today he did have a couple of uh conditions which I don't think are honorous but let me read what they are um and I think Mr Curry you had raised this issue we've got the the piping plover question here so he wants monitoring I don't know what that means but there'd be somebody there to make sure that I think that the Plover are interested in nesting in the sand not on the rocks and I don't think that's the problem anyway but he he wants to make that a condition of this motion and then to uh I happened to drive by there the other day and I noticed the rock the rock that I was talking about was close to Bayside on on that part of the beach and I was looking at the stones on the South Side on the ocean side and they were substantial but there's also some on the other side I just noticed so I mentioned that to U Mr Capone he didn't have any issue with either one he agreed that those stones this they're part of the barrier Beach and they will remain on the barrier Beach so this is okay um he wanted to make sure so those are the stones we're talking about and if there are some other piles around that you need to have moved that's we can get at the highway department to do that but the other condition was uh he he he doesn't want the town moving the stones once it's it's put there on on the property near near near the properties of these owners that is won't be our responsibility to move them any further you'll have to have your own resources to do that so it's sort of a limited thing he wants and I guess there's a reason for it he did not explain but any we would we would move the stones back to the areas close by where they're going to be placed and put them there we understand that to the north and to the South is Town property anyway so we're basically putting the stones on our own property uh we hope you'd be there to work with Chris and make sure it goes the way you should we talked about this before but finally it's starting to happen so any comments well first I'd like to thank you guys for putting some attention on this and uh making an effort to try and help us resolve some of the issues that we've we've got down there um in regards to coordinating with Chris I'd be more than happy to both Mr Capone and the highway supervisor Mr Gonzalez um as far as placement goes I'm sure the people will be happy just to have what we can get back and to be able to put it in the you know proper areas our goal is to put it in the most deprived areas along East Beach and try to fortify those sections a where the property owners need it the most and B where the road itself seems to have uh for lack of a better phrase pinch points areas where it's somewhat subject to overwash already because of the lack of material um what you know what will be brought back we'll have to determine after that with the people who have their orders of conditions and what they're able to afford and represent to be able to help fortify the road a little bit more we have had discussions in regards to coastal's Z management the the grant window is opened up it would be nice to be able to get some sort of um replenishment if you will you know make efforts for Beach nourishment along the beach that's always been our approach versus Retreat um we've had these discussions at planning and through the CRC and the goal is to try and nourish that area as much as possible to help save the infrastructure of the town in addition to the people's personal property you know there are Commerce uh interests um up and down the the the the scale versus uh you know tourism um restaurants fishing all those different items which have some sort of economic impact on our town so you know again I appreciate the fact that you guys are willing to help us with this to some extent and I'd be like I say more than happy to be the point person to help coordinate with conservation and the highway department yeah I think that would be essential we appreciate that so the recommendation is to relocate 1500 yards what is the what else did Chris want out of well it's the the pop piping plubber monitoring that and also that once the stones are moved there wouldn't be the responsibility of the town to move them further that's up to the property owners so you understand that they won't be going to your Lots or whatnot dropping in in spots it's not they're not actually going to go on the Lots with it yeah they'll put it on that town setback you know give or take a few feet and then you know each owner who has had it will have to have it spread up okay we're only talking about the stuff that's stock pil yeah because if you don't lay level that out and move that Mater material you're not going to have anywhere for people who are paying 50 bucks to park on your town beach so it's kind of a win-win for everybody cuz you guys don't want a ton of phone calls later in the in the summer saying I got nowhere to park and you took my 50 bucks you know all right so I'm moving the the uh relocate of approximately 1500 cubic yards um conservation I guess the Town Administrator touch base with Chris to let them know the piping CL situation am I missing anything no but I I will go ahead Jim will be out the rest of the week so I'll call all to Department myself to make sure he understands what was required okay that's the motion is there a second I'll second I just a little bit more discussion on I mean I'm just wondering if if so you're going to coordinate where they're going to put it I mean it might be easier if you guys had a contractor with a truck and we just loaded it that way they while cleaning out the beach you know I don't because then you could if you had your own contract there you could back right let me I can yeah well let me see if I can get some the challenge becomes cost you know because if you guys have a truck and they willing to return it at you know to to help us along the way because of the burden that we've already incurred that would be greatly appreciated because if we've got to get a a private contractor that's going to incur even more cost on the property owners themselves so I mean I I can reach out see if I can find someone who's willing to help us on that aspect but if the town could find some way to help us with that and then either way we're going to have some sort of expense whether it's spreading it out once it's on the lot or bringing it down so I'm just looking to try and ease the burden on the property owners we already in a tough spot yeah well I'm okay with just working it out with Mr Gonzalez he's our guy and mhm that as long as it works legally with everybody we got I don't have any problem that either so want to vote yeah just work out the details so so you wanted to speak sir yeah okay Mr car you done this this gentleman wish to speak I've been going to e speech for 50 years I'm sorry name and my name is uh Joel Sullivan okay I'm a town resident I'm a retired teacher and I've been going out of East Beach for 50 years and in my view all the rock wasn't placed on the South Side there was a lot of Cobble if you placed on the right side and now that's been leveled off into the parking lot that would also be con considered part of the town beach also a lot of cble was brought down to uh the West End of This of East Beach Road and it was put in the area of the town parking lot to increase the number of parking spaces now when I look at that and I look at the fact that the Cobble was taken away from um my particularly the the uh residence 167 who I'm representing tonight it's it just doesn't seem fair that the amount going back is like half of what it was taken away and that's my concern and I'd just like to know how you're going to address that thank you very much for listening really appreciate thank you well we'll do the best we can with there's more rock there that we could move we have no problem with that um but we understand this has come up before and we appreciate your comment okay um we need to vote all in favor say I I any opposed none the motion carries unanimously okay this is this is progress um this could wait until the items for future meetings but this this really has to do with East East Beach and Mr kurk gave me a copy of a letter in Jim haret has it too from the climate resilience committee and the climate resiliance committee has been talking about East beach and came up with a number of recommendations one of which was to move these stones and we work we're working on that tonight to get that moving because time is of the essence but there were other items that uh need to be addressed this is in your package but Mr this is authored by uh Michael buris primarily and John Bullock and Mr buris couldn't be here tonight that's why it's not on the agenda but at the next meeting April 22nd Mr buris will be here to address this letter there are a number of other items uh relating to the beach all of which I think are very positive they have to do with Beach um you know nourishment and so on and so forth and future flood damage and protecting East Beach Ro it goes on and I think it's a good a good piece of work and I think we want to have a full discussion on that uh because we're trying to solve the short-term problem now but there are a number of long-term problems and Mr CT is on the CRC committee the climate resilience committee so that'll be on the agenda I just wanted to point that out uh so it's not for discussion because we didn't post that but I just wanted to give people heads up on that okay well that concludes that if you want to make any further comments El set just thank you for uh the attention that you're given us and the opportunity to at least try and uh my pleasure if if nothing else saved the beach and East Beach Road and the town's interest as a whole yeah it's in the interest of both parties and this is glad we working together thank you thank you Mr s okay moving ahead I request from the highway department to approve the chapter 90 report and project increase now Jim hardnett remarks that this is standard paperwork for for chapter 90 programs it moves uncommitted funds to the next fiscal year near are $10,000 and change and he comments that shifts work not covered in the W program not convers with that but moving that to the chapter 90 program so this is simply that I don't quite follow this it's not something I might dabble in but maybe people have something to say and if not we could postpone this for the next no it's just standard procedure yeah okay I think it is all right I'll move it second motion made and seconded any further discussion no no Mr just SOL at his hand up before this after you get done with this it was it was a previous I believe on East Beach yeah done with that discussion he did I I had a okay let us finish this first we'll this okay all in favor okay yes I'm sorry uh Mr Sullivan wanted to put that on uh as 48 hours but it doesn't qualify so I said he could make it under the E speech remarks and I failed to do that so I'll go back to that item even though we feel appr feel free to read read your letter right no yes okay well if you wish no well you just give us a copy for that's fine I have a vision isue uh really this is it down the road looking for support uh I realized there's another study that is being done let me read uh we are concerned we are concerned citiz I am a concerned citizen that reside in the town of Westport during World War II in the 1940s Causeway was built to Goosey Island into the mainland in Westport this Causeway was built by the Army Corps of Engineers the purpose was to create access to Gooseberry Island to observe German submarines that could sink our Navy and Merchant ships the causeway was built between the mouth of buzzit bay in the North Atlantic off the West Beach Road to the East Beach I see that these two B I see these two bodies of water as a convergence it's actually very rough there if you're out there fishing at any time so having done a lot of canoeing when two rivers come together it's a real conversion and it's really rough so it's the same that's just my opinion massive Stones were used to block the natural flow at the mouth of buzzit Bay and the construction of the causeway the consequences are that there's been severe over erosion on lots that were over 200 ft long that are now between 50 and 75 ft this loss of land this loss of land has has not been to federal estate property it has been to land owners of private citizens of this town this law should not be be confused with climate change or Rising levels of seawater on the Eastern Seaboard this erosion to East Beach and East Beach Road has been devastating it has been going on for over 80 years to the construction since the construction of the causeway where this wearing away of land has been caused by the core of engineers which has done nothing to correct the situation currently Gooseberry Island and the causeway are overseen by the massachus department of conservation and reg Recreation the federal and state government need to become fully responsible to replace the causeway with a bridge or return Gooseberry to to its natural state a Barrier Island recently there has been a meeting with the East Beach residents the chairman of the Town control uh climate control spent who spent an inordinate amount of time introducing individuals from different state agencies and then asked them to introduce themselves then the meeting was cut short by the chairman without giving all the residents a chance to speak a former selectman and finance committee for many years did speak his name was Tony Vieira to paraphase T Tony who who stated there have been several studies that were paid for by the state and the town on the effect of erosion each study says States the each study that the cway has a reason how many more are needed I know we're getting one more done this is a list of those who attended the East Beach residence meeting Senator Mike R Rodricks representative Paul Schmidt dick Brewer of the select board chair John Billard CRC chair planning board Rebecca anley G Coastal geologist ma Coastal uh Zone Zone management Sam Hayes Co South Coastal regional coordinator mass and coastal zone management Courtney roacho Southeast ma um MV coordinated M Municipal vulner vulnerability preparedness program and Mason Rita section chief of the West Wetlands program D South south regional office Joe Costa executive director of Buzzard Bay National Estuary program I spoke with mass massan Rita the section chief of the wetlands program D Southeast C regional office as of April 8th 2024 at 10:30 a.m. she had not read the studies may I ask how may I ask how many she had how many have read these studies concom planning board these studies are available from the town Town planner Michael burus and I've included his email the first study would be the most recent 2021 East Beach MVP I'm sure you've all read that one 2008 Municipal uh vulnerability 18 vulnerability plan 1997 Shoreline and sediment transfer analysis and in 1969 it was a proposal to open the left at the meeting held 3 weeks ago from with East Beach residents it was brought out that nothing has been done to resolve the problem of the co that Causeway has caused the truth is nothing has been done by the by the state or federal government which should be responsible currently there is another study being done over 5 years this study will this study be thrown in the trash just like the like another waste more money will the study be sent to committee and be studied for another year as e speecher wrote nothing has been done to rectify the situation it was suggested by Courtney roacha Southeast ma MVP coordinated Municipal Zone um management that these grants may help residents there are grants that may help residents names of Grants were not provided in printed form when asked if someone from the state could help us write a grant Grant it was stated we do not do that Carlos ferita whatever is environmental analyst M AEP Water waste from from the Department of Environmental manage said it is my job to send the grants back to the writer if they are not done right the only the only thing that was done was to give lip service to the residents okay by the by the members of the panel okay I am contacting you to see if you can help override the decisions by the Department of Environmental Protection there are people such as I spoke the woman I spoke to this morning that don't even know the past history and they're making all the decisions and I'm sending it out I'm sending this out to all the people that were on the panel to to let them to ask them how many people have looked back at the studies that Tony Vieira who's a well expected Finance ex finance committee and Selectmen in this town referred to at this meeting Tony was very upset by what happened that's right okay um and I it's I'll finish up I'm losing it conservation plan board and selectman which have been ineffective helping the residents of East Beach they want Cobble to be placed in front of the land owners facing buzzen Bay Cobble is a very small rock that will be undermanned by the waves during the storm you might have noticed it all over East Beach Road in the last two storms recently two residents had three truckloads placed in front of their property at the cost of $6,000 for 100 ft of Cobble and it's not even the the reason is dem's decision to protect the piping PES Birds instead of citizens private property East Beach is a barrier Beach a barrier is defined as an obstacle that prevents movement of access a barrier would help to save their property this is what should be allowed since it's allowed for homeowners on West Beach Road it also would help the street East Beach Road Route the concern of East Beach Improvement committee is that residents have the right to protect their property all citizens on each beat have deeded rights that states their property extends to the high TI Mark the Department of Environmental Management is dictating that Cobble is the only stone that can be used kabo will not protect the resident's land or not protect each be Road State Representative Paul Schmidt stated I am in favor of property owners East Beach Road has to be maintained by the town after severe sou sou sou sou sou storms which do not occur nearly as much as nor noras how many of of you have even heard of nor eers that gentleman brought it up that was sitting right there um recently after two storms this year the town took the stone and sand of which was paid for by residents to build up their land my buddy put in brought in three truckloads of rip wrap it's not there anymore it's down the end of the beach you know and uh after the town where am I what's the town oh yeah after the southeast is this song was put on town beach which is to the east of the homeowners and in three town parking lots this material material in front of their property some of which was purchased by previous owns placing large this is where I'm at on this whole thing this is what I think will work and there's also been an engineer in town and he's a farmer now but he went down down there with me and he said this is what you have to do this is the same thing that Russ hot and Tony Vieira said years and years ago placing large Boulders in front of the Lots before the high tide mark would served as a seawater break to protect the homeowner's land and lower the town's cost in cleaning up and repairing East Beach Road when I asked the selectman if I could be appointed to the town beach commiss committee they said you have to apply in June there is there is no representation on the East Beach from the East Beach Improvement Association on this beach committee only taxation Kevin Cur mentioned to me that he he would like so I'm going to say Kevin Curt and I would like to represent the East Beach Improvement Association do we really have to wait for June to be appointed to represent East Beach residents by June decisions of the summer of 2024 will already be made the residents are not in favor of being bought out by buzzit Bay Co Coalition as was one proposal some residents want to try placing massive stones in large rocks to see what the outcome will be is this so hard to do for people in their desires for happiness in the pursuit of of pursuit of what we are with that we are we think our Deeds we think our Deeds to the property give us this right and then I I sort of mentioned this I put this in Joel Sullivan uh represent Douglas Scott who was a 100% disabled Vietnam veteran in his desire and request his home brings him peace and Tranquility from serving in the military and I mean that uh he he once again feels like he is being spit upon his address is 167 East Beach Road Mr Clark and other veteran residents would like to seek the support from veterans organization he feels this would bring together the V veterans would bring attention to the situation I've asked him I've asked him to stand down on that he would like to contact the Boston Pro Providence television station channel 5 74 6 1012 I have convinced him to take a standown position until the residents find out if our elected officials will assist in a positive manner this document was explains residents request is going to be sent to the Westport conservation committee um future meeting the westport's elect men the Westport planning board Senate state Senator Michael Rodricks state representative Paul Schmidt Governor Mara Haley Congressman William keading us sen Senator Elizabeth Warren and US senator Edward mocking we are asking that a representative this see this goes to every DM attend conservation Comm committees and future meetings so as we can have their understanding of their stance this would eliminate double work for residents they got apply apply to to D DMP whatever it is then they have to apply for the town if everybody could be there and maybe make it easier on these people that might be something that might be nice for them now I hope I haven't seem too hostile but like I said I've been going down there for 50 years and watching this whole thing you know and I taught here for years I saved millions of dollars from for this town I was told that by school committee members I started a program that had there was no program for these kids it's called a substantially separate program basically my brother's mentally it was the department of mental retardation they've changed their name and they gave me money and then they brought five other school systems down to look at it because what what it did was it took the outside placement money the transportation money which at that time was 60 and 60 120 I had 10 kids in 10 years you know it's a lot of money yeah so to try to get your respect that's the only reason I'm saying it you know not interrup are you you fin I do have some copies for you let me just like I said your Ral thing is I can't buy into that it's not easy to make contact with these gentlemen in a it's not easy one thing I got support just I think that's what we're trying to do and and some of the when the first storm hit us that was one of the things that I I had recommended is like the beach and the town needs to get together and come up a plan I'm all for armoring the beach I mean the Armic cor that's what they did to the causeway it's still there I drove down the causeway this weekend I'm like we had all these storms clean a little bit of stand off I mean if if it was batted we could protect the road we could protect the property again hey look at the costway protected the concrete on top for 80 years you know you you look around the around the world and when you have an erosion problem armor Stones how you stop it I don't know why the say can only use Cobble to do it if if somebody came up with a plan you know if if e spe came up with their plan cuz obviously we could om in a road you know on on the edge of our l out it would probably build up your Beach cuz anything would you know if we picked up the road 4T and we armed it right down the layout I mean now your stuff is not going to wash up over the beach you know I I've I've come across this a lot you know you know you got sea leech out there all the time I mean it's like Sean is like you I know Sean from way back right so I I mean that's I don't understand either and the same thing with but it's it's going to be a push it's going to we need a push from within the town if you met if you listen to me I didn't mention once where the town should be responsible for money I see it as the federal government key is up of the man to push Paul Schmidt says he took uh a very positive stance to towards dredg in the river once again which we've seen done how many times three Mike uh Steve yeah so I mean it's just that if the select man and the planning board and the Conservation Commission came and supported as a unit towards the state and the federal government it it have more power instead of all being all over the place you know nothing's Co connected on this nothing's coordinated you're going to confuse a lot of people cuz you just said the cway is saving the beach and you I'm sorry I me it it's saving the cement on top the RO that's what I was trying to say what erosion is the problem and how we it does not way it's w the road right but the beach erosions yeah we our Michael Sullivan did a lot of studies on this and I think there might be still one still active they thought taking the col way out it's going to make things worse down there cuz it's going to wash it all out around the corner so we just need to get all our ducks in a row I mean having having some pictures and some diagrams of what you think would happen would be a lot better than a bunch of yeah but I'm one person who wrote a letter and spent like three days and and and I thank you for your effort we understand this it seems to be seems to be these studies get lost off lost they have no problem spending I you know you know how they came to view Tony via said him I went to Michael downstairs he said well I I don't have all those I got the 221 I have to go into the archives of the town to find them so none of these people have read them none of them just Google it we've got plenty so I I'll I had no idea this was coming so if you have my email email me and we'll get all don't have your email and I couldn't email it to either we've talked about the armor we've talked about everything and there wasn't enough support for it and I didn't think it was going to happen I will email you all of their email addresses I will email you all of the yeah I only got the government one here the select board send you all our email but my Focus ST predominantly is unify unify for support that's what I'm here for y to say unify and if you guys Amed Amed y Beach we wouldn't have the cobbles destroying our road that's the whole thing if it's going to be their property that's why they didn't want the first time you didn't want they didn't want the armor because it was going to be it was going to take some of your property to put the armor up you got to use some of your property and you got limited property as it is so I think that was the get limited they get limited now still going to keep going are you saying put it on the beach before the high tide Mark cuz that's what I'm saying where it needs to go they talked about there was other stuff too about about making them out further yes way of action two of those both built a reef off the coast of New Jersey there there's a lot and to be honest with you we're getting real deep and we lost all the e speech people so it's kind of kind of well it's not important because what's important is that you you you just take a look at the request it's not on no like I said we'll get you information just ask it's got to go to D can you imagine this woman who's making all the decisions do hasn't even looked at the old studies right or wrong we got positive or negative no idea you brought to attention we look into it I I don't have 50 years at it but I got 40 and apprciate that's what happens in the in the in the scheme of things they keep kicking and can down the road and right now all the way around we got the the whole regime's changing it's all new people coming in they don't know what's you know what I mean it's I know I know so thank you for that thank you for listening and I'm sorry if my anger or whatever you want to call it that's fine I would sent you a bunch of stuff that's okay that's fine right thank you okay thank you have a great night I really do appreciate listen though I took all your time Steve a no problem that's what we here for thank you sir okay that that was part of the earlier uh East Beach discussion but it took us those in a different direction so there was no AC yeah it just felt back cuz all the East people left okay the next item is Jay now uh we don't really need to do any uh thing other than to approve the warrant for posting CU we had looked at we had made our recommendations before I think they're in the minutes that uh think we have to correct that cu the vote counted wrong but so all we're doing here is to post it cuz see we got to meet some I don't know what the date is on that so we we've reviewed it we've had our questions and kick it around and that's done so that it should have just said approve for posting okay I'll approve for posting move it I'll second motion made seconded any discussion I mean I think that's important so we can get posted in time yes so people can review that's what it's all about let's get it out there cuz we're not making the decisions right you get it okay and I agree with that so all all in favor say I I any opposed none the motion carries it's three and favor none oppos okay the next item is uh the Town Administrator report I believe that was in our package uh rather than read it I think I'll just ask that's usually the per you of just the committee so if you have any questions that we need to relay back to him I don't have that for me I think it was fairly put and dried Y and that's in the package so no there's no motion needed it's just us Jim is here making that report So you're satisfied we'll just move move forward Paul is there something here says discussion that was just a placeholder if there was further discussion yeah okay and now we're approving the minutes according to this schedule March 25th 24 yeah I'm not going to be I didn't get a chance to look at yeah okay let's hold off on that okay uh report on the bill warrant I I'm not aware of any report I don't know when the last bill warrant was signed I know an had reported on this the last time so I assume we're C hasn't been okay so we're we're current on that um next item is selectman lays on committee reports and suggestions for further agenda items Manny will start with you right so we had the instruction oversight committee meeting in this room and I think it went quite well we have a big vote tomorrow that hopefully we get we got the word out and we got the public informed y um my own my only my only thing on on this vote tomorrow is I did I did notice you know a finance committee voted to not approve which is kind of a little disappointing on my I notic that um I I mean maybe they they're probably not aware of the work that's been done going forward on this and how much money we've already spent taxpayer dollars on this project um to not understand the vote that we need to move forward um I think we're at you know the state committed the design that one I think we're in that 1.6 million so in a vote not to move forward I don't know what the what the you know we throwing that money away I mean I can't understand why the finance committee would would not approve to move forward we got we had now that that was off Opera money which was basically federal funds to design this job this project um I know that mass dot has probably as much if not more in their storm water plan that they're looking to move forward with so I I just can't see that I will vote not to approve for us to move forward again people don't the 34 million and we're looking to borrow is so that we can build it we're still looking at all the Avenues on grant funding and V monies and so we don't we're not sure how much that's going to go through but I'm pretty sure we're going to get a lot of this funding because of that stuff and it's just to me just before the before the vote I I think it was kind of unfortunate that that committee fed that so is there a vote to do with the election or the town meeting in May who town meeting correct Tom meeting but it's just before the election It's Kind oh the timing yeah okay I don't think the timing was yeah you got to agree with that that's not the best timeing this so I I I mean I would just hope that we can uh we have some more answers for town meeting so especially if this goes south on us tomorrow which I don't think it's going to we have all the you know you know we had Buzzard's Bay the vice vice president's Buzzard Bay come in and say this is a uh Trifecta for the town of Westport you know and you know what I'm seeing on Facebook is everybody's focusing on the economic development part but to me the whole project number one is Public Health number two is the environment and number three is kind of a bonus what the Trump Line's going to do for economic development R six well select board members agreed on that right no no I thank everybody for coming on board with that just I just wanted to try to get that out to the public before the vote tomorrow okay good anything else no obviously we have right uh we had that meeting right after we had Economic Development unfortunately I thought the deadline was day later to request for our banner and whatnot so we'll ask for that next time we'll give you the dates for the farmers market once you approve it obviously for the next meeting we hope to get that rock and rolling we also got a um not me Mor did a lot of work we got a $3,000 Grant so there'll be music just about every weekend there and I had I had talk on Facebook my last post was about that between the farmers market the recreation series The the winery series The Brewery series anybody who loves Likes music is going to love it this summer cuz there music everywhere um sured meeting I sent uh the board the um video of the meeting it was uce discussing how they're building out and and supposedly the cable down Route 6 which we don't think it's excuse me Route 88 which we don't think it's going to happen but of course uh they couldn't answer the direct questions about that and the loss of whale of life and all that stuff they say they just own it once it gets to the um the stations flight committee still moving forward I'll give you the dates of the events uh going forward but it's it's still an active committee and uh that's another thing on Route Six that we hope to uh work in after the infrastructure gets rocking and rolling uh I think that's a gist of it those four meetings since our last okay thank you the only thing I have to report is the audit committee we did have a meeting a week ago to review the audit and we've looked at our the recommendations from the town auditor uh we had a good report no material weaknesses and that's uh believe the Holy Grail of these things there were of course in the so-called management letter which has been changed to the governance letter a number of things we can improve upon one of those was tax title you had requested be on a future meeting of the select board uh we covered that so there were like seven or eight things not criticisms but things that we could work on and continue to work on and bring to fruition so on the next U stop on that is we will have the town auditor into the audit committee after that we normally ask the board of selon if they'd like to have him Mr roselli present either in person or on the you know remote um just to answer any questions so we're looking good and we did that the next meeting of the audit committee probably won't be till late May or early June but there's really no hurry on this so that concludes that item the next item is comments and statements this is from the public members from the public are given the opportunity to make a comment or make a statement not to start a new discussion because it's not posted but a comment or a statement uh is welcome so come to the uh Moneer identify yourself yeah hi my name is Shar Tosi I was just a little confused when he was talking about the finance no can you elaborate on that well I'm not a member of the finance committee I'm just seeing what I saw in and it was East Bay that they they voted three to six against the financing for6 so okay that's I mean the finance committee is an Advisory Board you know and and again that's one of the one of my questions on on on why they would do something right before an election like this that we we have you know millions of dollars of taxpayers money into this project already um to say that we're not going to you're going you're going to vote it and we're not going to move forward when Mass do has a project coming in right behind us and when you build a road you put the sewer in first then you do drainage then you do water so I mean Route 6 is is has plans to be reconstructed maso te has a design for it they're doing their storm water you know which is also going to help the river I mean that's in my opinion that's that's the biggest detriment to to the river is the storm water from the mass do 1776 195 I mean they they're moving forward to to fix that so I mean we need to get this we can't have water without SE because an inter Bas and transfer so we need to get the Su first so you know I don't I don't know what's going to happen with a with a no vote but the designs paid for with taxpaying money well I I think the residents of Westport don't know too much about the Su project and every time anyone hears on a residential level that a su is going in not too many people are happy about it whether it be Fall River water supply we all know what Fall River water tastes like not I think you need to we probably need to get get the director of for of infrastructure in explain all that stuff to you nobody wants Fall River rusty water I drink Fall River water we know I mean so we jaro Tosi so jaro we we also have so one of the things with with the route six trunk line is we we and I had a report here in the last meeting that's this tall and it's a d environmental report on on what the groundwater is in that area of town okay so this is why we're trying to get Municipal Water Supply yeah thank you okay thank you for your comment any other comments okay before we sign up I just wanted to just mention committee openings that's all yeah that's next yes just a couple of okay so uh that concludes that item the next is the usual boards and committee commission vacancy list of which we have many mret you want to make yeah I just want to mention that um two popular well popular busy committees that need people the bike and walking committee I believe we have one person that's considering there's two vacancies there and the economic development task force which um obviously we hope the question goes tomorrow but if it doesn't uh there's three vacancies there so anybody with uh uh any interest in Economic Development we have three slots open but right now the members that are on it are um you know members that are on a lot of committees it'd be nice to get a yeah well not not a break nothing to fill ASU but but uh no uh we used to have a real estate broker on it uh it'd be better to have more business is on it you know myself Manny's on it Chris from from uh from uh fincom and uh Mari may you know um we're on a lot of committees and it'd be nice to that fresh input that might have a different view that we'd like to hear like we just heard one so yeah all right all right so noted uh the next item is topics not reasonably anticipated 48 hours in advance of the meeting I know of none I don't know if you have any and U so and there is no executive session so next item is the always welcome to Jour I forgot one other thing thank you Martin CER and crew for the team cow clean up this weekend did a great job motion to ad second all in favor say I hi know I I saw m out there Sunday picking up stuff by himself yeah e