I'm going to call the meeting to order. Will you join me in the pledge of >> allegiance? I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. >> Good evening. Welcome to the Monday, April 6, 2026 meeting of the Westport Select Board. Under Mass General Law, chapter 38, section 20F, this meeting is being recorded. Um, just a couple of u comments to start out with. First, we
would like to express our thanks to the Commission on Disability and the Shorelines who put on a meet the candidate event um which is available on YouTube if you didn't get a chance to see the event, but it they went through all of the um uh candidates for the upcoming election. A reminder that the
town election is on Tuesday, April 14. The polls for town elections open at 10. This always catches people, but the the polls on April 14 will be open 10 to 8. Um, we also want to thank the um, board of health for putting on their household
hazardous waste event. I didn't hear any statistics from it, but I know that it was well attended. So, thank you to the board of health for that. Um, just a couple of notes. So, we have the 14th is the town election. Our next meeting is three weeks from today rather than two weeks. So, it'll be on um, April 27. And
then a reminder that town meeting is uh uh on Tuesday, May 5th. So that's an open town meeting for any registered Westport voter. Tuesday, May 5th. Is there any other announcements I might have missed? >> Sean, I I forgot to mention beforehand.
Uh this Saturday is April 11th. I think it's clean our Westport. >> Clean our Westport. Yes. >> Uh so that that's on this Saturday. So hopefully the weather is good, but uh usually a good event. >> Yeah. 9:00 at the old high school I think right to >> they'll give you a street assignment so
but if you can sign up in advance you know you can you can sign up online and do that >> yeah thank you I forgot about the one all right um I am going to with permission of my colleagues on the board I'm going to bump up um on the agenda the police appointments so um we have 4A
we have a request from police chief Christopher Dunn to appoint Zachary Bubu and Joseph Yeeden as full-time police officers effective of April 19th. Welcome, Deputy Chief Pella. >> Evening. >> Can you tell us what this is about?
>> Sure. So, it's been almost a year since we've been here in front of the board of select window select board rather uh for your approval to send these two officers, Officer Yed, Office of Barby, to the academy. Um we thank you for that because it's such a long process that now a year later, they're finally out and they're still currently in their
field training. They're in their last phase of field training. They're doing their um shadow phase. So, they're out on their cruisers alone. Their FTO's are going to calls with them, but they're primarily handling it on their own and they're traveling around town getting those calls now by themselves and their
cruisers. Um so, if here Joseph Eden, officer Barby as well. >> That's the ties. Yeah. >> What's that? >> That's why they read the ties. >> Yeah. >> Um so, like I said, they're in their last phase and we're asking that um their effective date be April 19th so
that way they complete that phase. They've we've spoken with staff instructors at the academy and both officers have a great reputation at the academy and also with their peers during the academy. Um both officers will be an excellent addition of both our department and our town. >> That's all I have. >> All right. Either of you want to say
anything? You don't have to. >> No, but uh just thank you to the select board as well as the department for taking a chance on us and we look forward serving the community. >> Thank >> great pleasure. All right, >> Madam Chair, I move these two
appointments. >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? All in favor? >> I >> I That's unanimous. Welcome aboard. Oh, sorry, that's three in favor and two absent. Um and then we have the next item is a request um from the police chief to appoint Michaela Plant to
part-time E911 dispatcher effective April 7. >> So again, we're just asking for this part-time position to assist with open dispatch shifts. Um one of our dispatchers is pregnant. should be going out from maternity leave and this is just helping us fill those vacancies that we have there as well. >> Okay. >> Motion to approve.
>> Second. >> Any discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> I. That's um three in favor and two absent. Anything else on your list for us? >> Uh the only thing if I have a moment just uh some of the volunteering stuff we've done. We've done the uh extravaganza with the recreation department. That was a huge success over
at the old high school. Um it's nice to be able to use that building for that. And also we've played a couple of basketball games. Unfortunately, we've lost both of those games. Um, but we played with the unified basketball team, the first annual Westport Middle School unified basketball match. And then just this past weekend, they played in the
Flutter Cup. Um, again, unfortunately, a defeat for us, but >> I went to the first one. It was so much I was so glad that I went. It was >> I played in the first one. Yeah, it was it was a really good time. And the the uh >> I think some of you all were trying to make those baskets and not not making them. >> Not going to say anything about that.
>> Hopefully the fifth. >> It was a great event >> on that. Yeah. Um, it was a good thing and we're just collaborating with local town apartments and just getting gearing up ready for the summertime. Other than that, that's all I have. >> All right. Thank you. Anything for >> Oh, that's it. >> All right. Thank you. Thank you, gentlemen. Appreciate it. >> If you leave, please don't congregate in
the hallway. You can >> have a good evening. >> You don't have to stay. You can leave, but just don't talk in the hallway. >> Okay. Now, we'll be back to our regularly scheduled programming. Um, so we have a public hearing. This has been continued um from March 23rd, 2026. We
have a request from NStar Electric Company doing business as Eversource Energy to install eight new manholes 6x10 by 8, one new manhole 13 by13x 8 and approximately 4,810 ft of conduit in
the rideway of Hicksbridge Road. And welcome Jessica. >> Good evening. Thank you for having this evening. Um, good evening, Madam President, members of the board. Jessica Elder for those that don't know. Uh, representing Everson, thank you for continuing this hearing and hopefully we
can get uh this situation resolved. Um, well, for those that weren't present, there may be people here that weren't present uh at the previous meeting. This project is associated with work order 16011978 which uh is the installation as as
previously mentioned 4,800 ft of underground conduit uh eight man holes along Hitchford Road and drift. Um this is the work of a two other projects that we've already had approved. Um and it's part of a larger
effort to improve system reliability in the area. Um, so the timeline that was uh that came up, you know, I'm going to touch on those points that were questioned. Um, there was a kind of a I guess a confusion with the letter that
went out. Um, the letter was talking about several other jobs. So, the accumulating of one year was not this project. This project is going to be about a season. It's going to we're looking to start at the end of April going into maybe October, maybe. weather
problems maybe November at the very latest. Um, you know, we're planning on doing one section at a time as opposed to, you know, a large area. Um, we normally do 50 to 100 ft of conduit
within a day. Um, manholes take about 2 days to to to do. Um so with that being said in the with the weather permitting in the timeline we're looking at you know from the end of April to about October. Um so while it this you know
project does scan several months you know any impact on any location will be short-term in and localized uh traffic we always maintain one one lane of traffic and coordinate closely with the police department which I know is very important. Um I know there was some
concerns about detours um where that span is so long. So we'll make sure that that's you know being considered. Um restoration all disturbed areas will be restored to the same or better condition including the pavement sidewalks lawns and driveways. I know there there was
also concern about the um manholes and flooding. Um all that stuff has been would be addressed. I know that there's been a lot of communication with DPW, with uh Chris, with uh community relations. Um so all that that all those
questions have been uh taken into consideration. As far as any outages, um for the most of the project, customers will not experience any out outages. Um in the rare event that one is needed, they will be notified. Um it will be
brief and scheduled in advance. Um there was a concern about safety voltage. This is our standard which is 13.2 kilovolt distribution s system and it's consistent with the existing infrastructure. Uh and safety of course
is used throughout our service territory. So again I talked about the letter to clarify that. Um, there's also, you know, if anybody's have a question, there's a a telephone number I have. If anybody needs it, they can meet me right outside the area or I can tell
you um that a lot of the questions are are on the uh website. It's a uh Eversource um Westport website. And I just had that here. Sorry, I don't know it off hand. Um it's www.eversource.com.westport
/Wport and the number that they can contact us directly is 1833-83632. So, so if there's any other questions during the during this time, they can be uh reached at that and someone will get
back to you. Um, so again, this project includes uh in I'm sorry, improves long-term well-being constructed in a way that minimizes disruption to the community. I know Jeff Jake will have stuff for you, but um so I just want to reiterate. So one of the concerns that we had was
the duration of the project. So you you've said that April to October pending weather, so it's not a year, >> right? >> And then um the one of the other ones was that you always keep a lane open so that there will not be any detour situations. Correct. Have one side of
the road open so that traffic can get by. >> Absolutely. >> And the businesses won't be affected. >> Okay. Did you have anything before it shake? >> No, but there are a number of questions here that the police department posed, but I think they've all been answered. Okay. >> Well, I got a few.
>> I'm sure you do. Okay. All right. Go ahead, Jake. >> Jessica, welcome back. >> Hi, Jake. >> How you doing? Well, >> um, so as, uh, Dick pointed out with respect to, we we received a pretty good, uh, letter back from the West
Police Department with respect to, and kind of I brought it up in the last meeting, there are uh, looks like probably four events, which are either fundraisers or races um, that will use that pathway or use Hicksbridge. How how
will those be addressed with respect to >> um so the uh I I know that Anthony spoke with or if he hasn't um there was a meeting set up with the police department. So we're going to coordinate uh to work around those schedules. Okay.
Um of any parades or you know um bike races or marathons or whatever. Okay. So that will be definitely coordinated with >> so it's a Monday through Friday work schedule during the day. It is correct. Okay. >> It is now the three I believe
>> during the during the nights like are there going to be >> I wasn't aware of any night work >> and will both lanes of traffic be open? >> There will be a lane. Yes. So that there'll be >> one lane for each on each side. >> Okay. Yeah. >> But you'll be closing one down during
the day. >> Correct. >> Okay. Um my only concern again as as I pointed out is with the winery and the and the brewery and and a lot of the traffic that's going to be going there and actually for the Westport residents the the Hicksbridge boat ramp. So, do you know the where you're starting the
project? Is it on this end of Hicks bridge or is it the far end of Hicks bridge and and kind of which ones will be impacted with that? >> That I don't know. I just know that, you know, for each area like I explained the 50 to 100 ft at a time is only going to be, you know, that short period of time and then moving on so that it's not
going to be impacting a large area all at once, you know, to make it easy. So, if it is, we'll say the the liquor store, whatever it is, um it's it might be a day >> as opposed to an entire week. >> Okay. >> Does that make sense? >> It does. I mean, I I both of these
facilities have summer concert series and a lot of events that do take place. And the problem from your standpoint is one's at the beginning of Hicksbridge. >> The boat ramp is at the other beginning of Hicksbridge and in the middle is a winery. So again, I'm
we're going to have issues and I and I I know we're going to have issues this summer if there's one lane even during the day. I don't know if there's a way that we could, you know, if it could be coordinated with the winery brewery for bigger events. If we back off that construction timeline to maybe stop at
2:00 p.m. or 1:00 p.m. so people can get there. So you actually have two lanes. That's the one thing that's going to impact people the most is when people not only Westport residents, but people get off 88, shoot down Hicks bridge, and can't get to where they're supposed to be getting to. >> Um, and just one note to piggyback off
what Jessica said. So, I did talk to Anthony, our community relations specialist, uh, and he did reassure us that if there was either an event that took place on the road or within the area, they would be amendable to working with us. So, if we do know, you know, there's a concert at any given afternoon
or evening, um, you know, we'll plan to send those dates over so that we can give them as much notice as possible. So, to your point, if we, you know, if it was a shorter workday, obviously it'll be to their benefit, too, that there's not a surge of traffic in the area at that given point of time.
>> Actually, the other thing I was thinking of and seeing the people in the crowd, I uh, you know, the Westport fair, >> right? Uh last year was a mess with people coming down Old County, going down Pineh Hill, Hicksbridge, just trying to find a way to get in there. So
I think that's also a what is that a five day five days? Is that correct? The fair. >> Yeah, it's Wednesday. >> So it's that that's a >> night time. >> That's a fiveday window that >> that we're going to have an issue with that I think we need to address with the uh respect to that timing as well in July.
>> Yeah. Yeah. So, I I'll coordinate with the chief on that too because I know when it comes to traffic, you know, that's a that's a larger plan um for the area. So, uh I'll take a look at what events we have and that we're aware of. If there's anything that we're missing, obviously, I'll get some feedback in
from their team as well just to make sure uh we're mitigating as much as possible in that area. >> And do we know which end they're starting? Are they starting on this the 88 side of the project? I can take a look at the notes. Uh see if there's a phasing plan in here from what was
submitted. >> Are you cheat? Are you cheating? >> Drift. >> Drift road side. Okay, that's where it's starting. Okay. >> Thank you so much. >> All right. >> So, at least that's helpful from the standpoint of hopefully you get past the boat ramp >> earlier rather than later because that that's that's towards the beginning. So,
um Okay. I mean, I know that that uh like I said, Anthony has put in a couple of calls to Lieutenant Melo, so he's really trying to find out what the schedules are going to be to be able to coordinate that um to avoid as much as possible. Really trying to I know that the communication has been pretty large
on this project. Um so, >> I think I'm good for now. >> So, this is a public hearing. If anybody has any comments, um you can go to the mic. >> Uh my name is John Davenport. I'm a resident of Cadman's Neck Road. And I understand that all the abutters that
are on Hicksbridge Road received a letter, a notification letter. Well, everybody that lives on Cadman's Neck is technically in a butter to this construction. And I want to know why we didn't get letters. >> Uh, that's a good question because the the letters did not come from my
department. And so there was a little bit of confusion with those letters that have gone out. >> Well, we would request that we get some. We don't want to have to we want it in >> talking about not you're talking about getting notifications of the work that's going on. >> Same that all the abutters that live on
Hicksbridge Road got same letter. Now the other thing is that with regards to the boat ramp uh everybody that comes and goes to that boat ramp uses it pays a fee to do so. Not even one day should be robbed from
them for those fees. The second thing is almost everybody that comes to that boat ramp is pulling a trailer, which means wide turn in and wide turn out. And there's only one way in and one way out of that ramp now, not two ways. So there's no if it's a 100 foot stretch
that you're going to do per day. If if the entrance is in that 100 foot stretch, that road's shut down technically for the day. Cadman's Neck Road where the right away has been marked off in little white
lines that would prevent us from getting out of for that whole day if the 100 ft was there. So, we see some problems and I would really like to get those addressed uh in writing before you approve
anything. That's all I've got to say. >> Thank you. Can you address how you how you allow um that situation he's talking about if you're trenching the road and his his road is perpendicular, right? So, how do you how do you maintain access for people
in those situations? >> I would I would imagine the DTO being set up to coordinate, you know, the in and out. I would imagine um I don't I'm not there. I'm not really sure how they detail. >> That's not unusual for that to happen to
you. Okay. Are any other comments? >> Okay. >> I mean, we have no problems obviously uh uh having this approved with conditions, you know, if there are some conditions, >> but >> do you have a recommendation? >> Um, so just I guess the note on
conditions, I can list off a few. >> Okay. >> As a followup from our last meeting. Uh so first that all work be subject uh to the highway department standards and the traffic safety is done in coordination with our public safety departments. Um
that road work and restoration is done in line with the standards and that um Eversource and the project team be responsible for any settling repairs for a period of two years. So, um, you know, as we say at the last meeting, making sure that we're
maintaining access for emergency vehicles, residents, and businesses, that would include obviously those side streets as well. Um, so coordinating with the details. Um, you know, one of the things that was talked about the last meeting was if there is any project timeline updates,
uh, if you would share with us and we can obviously, uh, you know, post that electronically as well through our social media platforms, uh, you know, if there is any closures or delays or things of that nature. Um, and then
just going through my list here. I believe that's all I had. >> Okay. So, do we have a motion to approve with the conditions as noted? >> Madam Chair, I'm willing to make a motion, but I want to be sure that we don't have any of these problems and all
the issues are addressed. It sounds like they will be, but there seems to be a little bit uncertainty here on some of these items. So, can we say unequivocally that all these these issues that have been raised by the residents will be taken care of well
before? >> Oh, I mean I I think they've even started to address them as far as communicating. Uh couple of the abutters I know have been called um you know to inform them of some of their concerns and questions. Um >> is there another condition that you
didn't mention? >> There was I might have one. >> Okay. Go ahead. I mean, I think the other conditions we need to add on this is that we uh coordinate through the two businesses that are there, whatever their summer schedule is, whatever their summer concert series schedule is for both the winery and the brewery and what
big events they have. Uh coordinate with the 4th of July, I mean with the Westport fair committee to confirm that. And then also the four events, one's in November, but I have a feeling that this project will go over the October time
frame. So, the one that occurs in May, how it will be impacted. The two in September and one in November. Um, again, I'm more concerned that if it's a road race or bike race, if there are raised platforms in the road, if there are ditches or you know, partial um, you
know, fills on some of that road, uh, you're going to cause some issues. We'll have to have another uh, another race to to help out the uh, injuries they get when they fall off their bikes. So those are additional conditions that you recommend. >> I think just full coordination, winery,
brewery, fourth of um Westport fair, sorry. And then also the organizers of the four events that we currently have right now. >> Are there others that you >> Yeah, I'd make a motion to approve with all those conditions to be included.
>> I will second that. Is there any further discussion? All in favor? I >> I opposed. >> Opposed. >> So, we have two in favor, one opposed, and two absent. So, that passes. Thank you. Please keep us updated. All right. Thank you.
>> Thank you so much. >> If you're good leaving, don't talk in the hallway. >> Thank you. Um the next item, uh request from William Rutell to approve a common victual license for Lickety Splits located at 719 State Road to Rudas
Crearyy LLC doing business as Lickety Splits due to an ownership change. Is there anyone here for that? >> Yeah. Do >> Yep. Just sit down. >> Thank you for having me. >> And can you just introduce yourself? >> I'm sorry. >> Can you introduce yourself?
>> I'm I'm William Rudisil. Okay. Um, I uh have been teaching uh for the last 25 years and and I saw that Mark was selling the ice cream shop. Um, and so it's been a it's been a long journey to get here, but uh I think we're going to
we're going to close on it a week from today. And obviously with summer on on the way, we hope to hope to get reopen soon. And um I'm going to try and Mark's been been in business here in Westport for 35 years and his father
uh before that and and I hope to uh to keep uh working with Mark so I can keep uh keep this shop as as good as it has been for uh for as long as as he's been there. >> And are you making any kind of major changes to operating hours or anything like that?
>> It's um I applied I think with the board of health for the time period um for six months uh and uh I don't I don't know if we'll be open that long. Mark closed last year I think in early September. Hopefully we can we can keep it going until October this year. But um same
same hours and same menu and hopefully uh you know a lot of the same uh a lot of the same crew too. So >> okay, >> like I said, I've been I've been teaching for the last 25 years. When I was in school, I had worked in ice cream shops and and a bunch of other restaurants. So
>> Okay. Any questions? >> No. >> I'd move approval, Madam Chair. >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? All in favor? I >> I thought un three in favor and two absent. Good luck. When are you opening? >> Um hopefully in about 10 days. >> Okay.
>> Got to get all the >> all the stuff ordered. >> Hope the weather warms up too. >> Yeah. >> Good luck. I hope you have some good weather. Thank you. >> Okay. So, now we are on 4C. We have a request from the town nurse, Linda Pierce, to accept her retirement
effective July 3rd, 2026, and to post the position with a start date of July 6, 2026. >> Do you have a recommendation on this one? >> Um, recommend to accept the retirement notice uh with regret. >> And what about posting? Are you okay
with posting? >> I am okay with posting. Yes. And my office will work with Matt on that. >> Okay. Motion to approve. second reluctantly. >> I don't know. You guys switching off and make it harder for Carla. >> Who do you want to go first? >> Keep her on her toes.
>> Um, is there any discussion? >> Well, I would just like to say I know Linda quite well and uh she's jabbed me a few times. She's a great lady and she served the town well. I remember when she came on board there was controversy as to whether or not we needed a nurse. I thought the question was moot and so did the board of health and it turned
out to be a great thing and it's something that uh we have to have nowadays. >> Yeah. >> All right. Um so we have a motion and a second. All in favor? >> I I um three in favor and two absent. >> We have a request from town clerk Kristen Stinson to appoint Evelyn
Mercier to the board of registers for a term to expire April 2029. Welcome Chris. Do you want to explain this one to us? >> Sure. It's just um Evelyn was appointed for one year last
year to complete someone else's term. She would be the um Republican registar to complement the balance. Um for the registars, she was successful and involved. the um the Republican Town
Committee has recommended her as their first choice and I feel confident that she's a good fit. >> Okay, >> motion to approve. >> Second. >> Any discussion? All in favor? >> I >> I that >> I Sorry.
>> Okay, just checking. >> I'm not going to favor and two absent. >> Um and I mentioned before that I'm going to recuse myself from this next one because my daughter is on this list. Um, so I'm gonna let Dick take over. Okay.
>> So this is uh 4E uh request from the town clerk Christristen Stinson to appoint the following individuals as election workers with terms to expire June 30th, 2027. >> And Jake volunteered to read the names.
>> I did not volunteer, but as the clerk, I get that uh distinction. >> If you get tired, I'll help you out. >> Yes. Uh, I apologize in advance for messing up some names, but I'm used to it as my name gets butchered most of the time. So, uh, we will begin. Um, the
election workers, the term set to expire June 30th, 2027. Doris Peacor, Marilyn Simmons, Paul Trial, Marjgerie Pavo, Amy Lton, Karen Weister, Gail Vney, Steven Anderson, Barbara
Marotti, Claudet Bisson, Colleen Bole, Eileen Monreef, Almarinda Tenera, Denise, I'm excuse me, Dennis Velzo, Ann Maguire, Marylu Simco,
Merlin Tupin, Veronica Beu, Carolyn Baker, David Valkovic, Denise Ward, Gay Gillespie, Irene Silva, Moren Fitzgerald, Patricia Souza, Beth Colanowitz,
Jean Maguire, Diane Fori, Joan Hopkins, Janet Shop Kershaw, David Lima, Carol Bordon, Nancy Beal, John Gford, Reginal Dashaines, Edward Reese, Suzanne
Deck, DEEC, uh, Megan Shufelt, Denise Tui, Feliz Michaelitz, uh, Diane Maynard, Arlene Bourke, Carolyn Cooper, April Palameni, Don
Campbell, Janice Stelgis, Lisa Duress, and an Halterman. Madam chair, I would make a motion to approve these appointments. >> Second. >> Um, all in favor of saying I. >> I. >> I. Any opposed?
>> I absteain. >> So, there's two in favor, one abstain, and two other absences. >> Thank you. Anything else, Chris? While you're here, >> town election, April 14. >> Yep. Town election. >> Town meeting May 5.
>> Come on by. We'd love to see you. Thank you. >> It's too late to register now. >> It is too late to register now. >> All right. We have a request from Caitlyn Fay of the Fourth of July parade
committee to hold the annual parade. >> I'm Caitlyn Fay. >> I'm Becky Anderson Burcels. Um, we are here to request to close the road for Fourth of July Day parade again this year. Same route. Uh,
>> basically same same as every year, right? >> But it's the 250th. So, >> yeah. Go all out. >> Mhm. >> Um, so we'll close the roads starting at 9 at Hicks Bridge. >> Stay off of Hicks Bridge. >> No, we're going to stay off Hicks
Bridge. Just end of Hicks Bridge. >> Main Road. I know. >> Made in Hicks Bridge will close at 9:00 and then we'll proceed up the route. We'll start the parade at 10:00. Um and then we usually finish at the old high school around quarter 12. >> Okay.
Any questions? >> No, it's the same. We like this event. >> It's a great event. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Any discussion? All in favor? >> I. There's three in favor and two absent. Can >> I ask a question? >> Yes. I know it's the is I'd be
interested on the behalf of listeners what is the address to send checks to in support of this parade? >> PO Box 12 >> 12 >> Westport >> 02790 >> 02790 >> Okay. >> And the only other thing we're going to ask the board is if in past years you
guys have funded the police department for our details because we have to have the detailed officers. We're hoping that you guys will continue >> doing that for us. >> I think we could do that. That was assumed in the motion. >> I That's what we've been doing for the past several years, right? Just >> definitely.
>> Do we need to do we need to vote on that separately? >> I would make a motion for it. >> Okay. >> So move, Madam Chair. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I There's three in favor and uh two absent. >> Watch our social media because we'll stop putting stuff up tonight um for the parade and we'll see everybody there.
>> Yep. >> Thank you. >> Walking through doing that. >> Thanks. The next item, we have a request from Kevin Kurt to allow seasonal East Beach trailers to occupy sites starting on April 24. Welcome, Mr. Kurt. >> Thank you.
So, the request, which we do each year to try to move units in a little bit earlier than the May 1st seasonal trailer permit allows, uh, in an effort to help alleviate traffic and take some stress off the people that are moving
the units up and down the get some weekend traffic. It can become cumbersome and a little bit of a challenge for them to do what they need to do and do it safely. Okay. So, we I mean we routinely change the date that we have move in. This is rather earlier than we normally do, but
it's the pre it's the previous weekend is what you've got. Yeah. >> Madam Chair, this is a routine request and I think it's in the best interest of safety to do it this way. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Any discussion? All in favor? >> I I there's three in favor and two
absent. >> There you go. >> Thank you. >> Enjoy. I hope for good weather for you. as well. >> Thanks. >> Um, the next item we have is a request from the Westport Mackomer parent teacher organization, the Westmac PTO,
to hang a banner promoting the tough kids challenge from May 3rd to May 17, 2026 and to wave the banner permit fee. Do we have anyone here for that? >> Good evening. My name is Crystal Wy. I'm the president of the Westmac PTO. Um, I
think we have generally made this request for the last few years. We had a little break last year. Um so we're hoping to get right back into it this year. Um we usually did June. This year because of participation last year, we're hoping we get a little bit better participation in in May. Although then
we realize it's the same weekend as the um marathon. So we will we will overlap that. But our hope is that we'll still bring in a greater participation than June. June was getting tough with graduation and end of the year stuff for the school. So
hopefully this is more beneficial. I don't I the time I think was the two weeks before um we don't necessarily need it for the full two weeks, but I think that's what we've generally done. >> So Carla, have you taken over the coordinating the banners or is it okay?
So So we we have a number of Yeah. Okay. So, we work we can work with um Carla to get the specific dates, but and I didn't know we had a B permit fee that we charged people. >> It came up. >> I recently found out that we didn't have
one and but was on the agenda. >> Okay. All right. So, um but the request is to be able to hang the banner and wave the fee. >> Yes. >> All right. Any questions? >> Just a quick question. When is the event and where is it located?
>> May 17th at the Bold High School. >> Okay. >> In the back. >> Thank you. >> A motion to approve, Madam Chair. >> Second. >> Any discussion? All in favor? >> I >> I That's um three in favor and two absent. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> We have a request from the Westport 250 committee to hang a banner over May Road from midmay to mid July. Lot of banners. Lot of banners. >> Got a lot of banners going. We'll get the the tough kids challenge will come down and the >> That's not That's a sign.
>> Thank you. I hope you remember I was here a little over a year ago talking about encouraging interest in the two the nation's 250th celebration and you gave us your support and we went ahead and had great conversations around the community with
a number of communities. were even recorded on local YouTube. Um much too long the conversation, but it was great and people are taking their own initiative coming up with ideas. What we would like to do is ask for your uh permission and support to put a banner
across the road. The date that's listed, we really would like April. We'd like Patriots Day as a as a point because events have started. Concerts on the point had a wonderful um a capella concert last week. the on Friday before
that the Council on Aging had Abigail Adams in town and it was really nice to meet her after all these years. We uh expect to have a number of events. Our role as a working group in the community is to promote interest to encourage
organizations to collaborate to promote just the reality. We've created a website. We have a logo um which is on the floor there which I think speaks very clearly. We have had support from your members who uh to make sure that things can really continue to happen in
a way that allows all the people in the community to know about it. One of the worst things is to learn a week after that you didn't get to go to something that you wanted to go to. And I think more and more events will be building. So we'd like to see a the banner that
we've created across the road in April as close to the Patriots Daytime. Take it down. We're very flexible. We are basically a thread that we hope feeds through the summer and into the fall to keep people reminded and refreshed that
it isn't just one day. There'll be events through the summer. Different organizations, our website, westportmass250.com, has a lovely calendar that's beginning to fill up. We've asked organizations to provide graphics so people can go and
look at it. I think the banner hopefully will encourage people to take a look if they're thinking of something they want to do. And individual organizations need to have space to put up a banner themselves. So, we'd like some flexibility on being able to maybe have
it up for a while, put it up a little later in the summer. We can work with the men that hang it. We can work with the staff here to find times because I know you're very busy right now getting lots of requests. Um, so I didn't come with a specific date unless except to
correct the the date that's listed on the the posting tonight, but if there is a possibility to have it up around Patriots Day, I think it's very fitting to do that. So, we can go back and find out later, but right now my my biggest
request is for you to give us permission to be hung between the trees or between the telephone poles or whatever it is and and support the fact that Massachusetts um Westport, Massachusetts is celebrating the 250th. Let me just
also throw in because we're getting more news on this. The schools have been really excited about the fact that Abner Brunell brought news about the battle. Some of you have heard about it. The historical society is going to provide the opportunity for kids to learn. It's
our Paul Rivere. So, we have been working with the schools. We're going to have a reenactor come in in costume. We hope to get a rider. We're still working a little on that. be great fun to grow up in Westport and say, "I remember when
the horse brought the news." So, um, we're really excited. The schools have been wonderful. They're going to have a parade. You're going to hear more about it. It's not our doing, it's the schools. But again, people have to know this possibility to work together to have a whole wide community spirit of
all of these events because we own them all and that's good. So, that's why I'm here. >> Right. So the website is Westport MA250. >> It happens to be more than one Westport I think. >> Well, you said Westport, Mass. I was
>> Westport ma ma250.com. Right. Okay. >> Can I hold this sign up? Sure. Can you You can >> You have to ask. >> I'll take it. >> Ask I'll ask. >> Put it up in front of you. >> Just put it in like hold it. >> Put it on the table. >> The banner that goes across the road
will have this much smaller. Um, but this is basically telling what we're all about. Celebrating our past, inspiring our future. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Okay. Any questions?
>> The only question I have is Carla is there is overlap with that other tough kids challenge. It can is there more than one banner that goes on May sometimes? >> Right. >> There's yes, numerous, but I think the markets are also going to want >> No, the farmers market stuff. I'm happy to work with staff around dates. You
know, we don't we don't have a specific >> date for a program. We just want to make sure that we are able to promote that it's ongoing throughout the the year, >> okay? >> Or into the fall. But if April has a possibility, and we still are just getting started, I'd love to be able to
do it in April. It's when the horses ran, you know, the fight began. >> Are we >> Have I gotten your support? >> Motion to approve. Second. >> All in favor? I >> I says three in favor and two absent. Thank you, Irene. Thanks for putting all
that together. I know it's a lot of work. >> U relatedly, we have a request from the shallop the shallop planning committee to approve a commemoration of Revolution 250 event at the package check-in on August 15 and 16 from 11 to 3 and to
hang a banner one month prior to the event. Welcome ladies. Thank you very much for having us. >> So I'm Betty Slade. I'm co-chair of the shallot planning committee. It's just a private group of 20 of us who are working in Nantucket, Cuddy Hunk, Payton
Arum, um the community voting center in Clarks Cove and Westport. And this Gay Gillespie who is the port captain for Westport. Each port has to have a captain that runs everything. So she's the one who's running this. So, um
I I gave you some information that was for your own interest about uh what the the uh event is and u could we say something about it? Would you be interested? >> Do you have time? >> Can Yeah. Can you tell us a little bit
about the event and what you're asking for? >> Okay. So, we're basically asking for um your approval to have a a events at the point um during the time that the shallop will
be in Westport. This is the Mayflower to Fuller Shallop. It will be captained by the captain of the Mayflower with the crew and they will be representing the time of the Mayflower 1620. They will be in period dress and be available to talk
to people and people will be able to see the the shallop itself and that'll be here the 15th and 16th of August and we will have an event between we'll have events between 11 and 3 those two days.
And so we're basically asking that we close the road to the traffic that's going to be coming to that event and they will be given parking spots at 1839 Main Road. And we will have police a
police detail there who will make sure that the other people who live there, who work there, who are going to the Oyster Bar, they can all go through. But the people who are going to the event will be given transportation from the
parking spot down to the point. Okay. So that's those are those are two days and we've talked with the police. Um I don't know if they've talked to you about it. Yes, >> but it was yeah we we spoke to Lieutenant Melo who was very much in
favor of it. Um our biggest concern is safety for everybody during the entire two days. So there they have we've said two days of them contracted for what was it 10:30 till 4 o'clock that they would be there monitoring parking and then we
have a stable of volunteers that will be there to help with um directing people and guests. Council on Aging is donating their van. Um we have to confirm that but that has been a discussion with Beverly. Um I'm hoping she may still be here just on the edge of coming or
going. I can't not sure of her schedule yet. That's a weekend too, Saturday and Sunday. >> So, it's a weekend in the summer. So, it's likely to be very disruptive to the area down there. Right. Right. So, particularly the business that's down there. So, the you have um
>> the Westport Sea Farms down there, right? And then you have Packachchuck. So, Packachchuck is participating in these. Yes. Packchuck has given us access to their site for the full three days. The shallop will be coming in. and they're sailing in on Thursday afternoon and they will be docked over at the
Pacqu and the events will be held on her premises under a tent that we are providing and we have ported John's ordered for that and then the shuttle service will be bringing visitors to the event through residents will have access
for through traffic as would the um sea people >> and they've got their parking spaces so I'm assuming parking spaces would not be taken up by. >> So, you're going to have people down there monitoring, make sure people >> Oh, yeah, definitely. And we're trying to work out with one of the other people down there that has quite a large
parking area that we could possibly put handicap parking because that's important to be able to provide. And also perhaps for press, we have a large press corps coming from Boston and Providence to cover this the first day.
And the most exciting thing of all is we're going to be hosting a film that's being done by a woman named Anita Allison and she is doing a film about Paul Cuffy's life when he was 17 18 running these barricades during the
revolution and it's going to premiere Thursday night at the Whilay Museum and then we'll have it available for people to see at the Pacqu on the Saturday and Sunday as it will also be available in Kadihankan. in Nucket.
>> The the purpose of this originally um it was David's idea that we will be um commemorating Paul Cuffy who was our own Paul Cuffy's um running of the blockade
to take supplies to Nantucket which was neutral in the war and which actually was on the verge of starvation. So, we're actually covering that path that he that he took. So, that's how it all began.
>> Go ahead, Chris. >> Yeah. So, um I guess just for the purpose of this evening, um and based off the information we received when we put this on the agenda, you know, it would just be my recommendation that uh at least for tonight, uh maybe the board
would want to consider just the banner application piece of it. I think because we really haven't gotten that write up and I also think just because of the scale of this event, it might be helpful for the board to see a map of of the activities and just the areas impacted.
Um just because I don't have anything in writing from the police department and I would just want to make sure uh that was reviewed on my end. >> So we don't have Yeah. So we don't have a police recommendation. >> We do not. >> And then um they and you're not asking for the road to be closed. No,
>> it's all your >> We're We're just diverting the people who are coming to the events to park at 1839 Main Road and we have vans to take them down. The road is not closed at all. The police said that we could not close
the road. It was very clear. We didn't ask that. >> You just close the road for the person. No, I want to make sure. Okay. So there'd still be the parking that's very limited anyway for the the um seaf farm and you know many of those people go right up on the legal side of parking
which is on the east side you know all the way up and they can park and and the residents who live there of course can park down there but our guests that and the fisherman >> and of course the fisherman our guests would not be coming down there they would be shuttled >> we've coordinated with the harbor master
also Okay. >> Do you have a question? >> No, I I I think what we hear about will be traffic and parking. So, I think those are the biggest concerns. Obviously, you guys seem to have addressed this. I think >> if there's, as Chris said, maybe a more
a little bit more detailed plan, like are you going to have volunteers at the top of hotel hill to direct them where to park and that sort of stuff because I think we will get some concern with with parking. But, I mean, it's going to it'd be a great event and I think you've already kind of laid it out. you're already paying for a police detail for
two of the days. Uh you have a parking location. Just maybe if it's a little bit more specific so we can at least give us some coverage. >> Sure. >> Sure. Definitely. >> So the banner >> and the banner would be the traditional size. I I left my estimate from
signature signs at home, but I want to say it's traditionally like 4 by 40 or 10 by 40. The tradition the normal size of the banner. All right. So, um, >> the one that's out there now, >> like the ones that are out there like farmers market.
>> I have a lifted pickup truck. If we get any more banners, I won't be able to go on the main road. >> So, Carla can coordinate the banners because like you just heard, we just did the 250 the Westport 250 banner. We have some This is August. >> Shell stock is also happening Saturday,
the same day. >> Oh, shell stock is the same. >> Saturday. It's on the Saturday. Yes. >> You didn't coordinate that well with the harbor master then. Uh, they didn't >> he knew. >> All right. So, um, Chris, you're recommending that we could entertain the
banner placement, but that wait for police recommendation for that. >> That would be my recommendation. Yes. >> Okay. >> So, what would you like us to do >> with you? >> So, uh, following this meeting off call, reach out just a bullet point uh, get you in touch with the police department so we can get a recommendation for next
meeting. And then um you know similar what Jake was saying just uh maybe an event plan as to where people would be posted and there's a map you know if it's >> sure >> multiple if you're having I was worried about because the septics down there have a problem so it sounds like you've already taken care of that you're
>> you have portaotties right >> we're bringing a handicapped accessible >> and then I think also the like where's the the um package has alcohol license right but they it's contained to a specific area so that would be another one where alcohol.
>> The events are taking place on their property, but we don't have alcohol. >> But but I don't think so there's no alcohol for your no alcohol. >> But I'd want that's something I would want to see on the map like where their alcohol serving stops >> and the shallop will be on their dock on the Pacqu do.
>> Oh, it's on that. Okay. >> Yeah, it's on their dock. >> There will also be another boat. It's as you saw in the a sardine >> it's a sardine boat. It is a 1941 boat that was built by the Underwoods um in
order to fish for to get um food for the military and one of the residents of Dartmouth, he's on Horsenick, he's almost Westport, um has had it restored and it is going to be the boat that the
crew will will live on the whole time and we're going to have a documentary starting from the very beginning and the documentary and Terrarian is going to be sailing on that boat, too. So, it'll be there. It's a 70 foot boat, but they the harbor master thinks that it can fit in
there, >> but that's not part of that's not part of the shallow. >> I do want to just add though that we've been working closely with both Bill Chase and Rick. >> Um, I always Rick Smith. Rick Smith. Yep. >> Yeah. And they're very much in favor of all of this. Their concerns with, you
know, that they gave us early on. We met with all of the abutters very early on just to let them know what we were doing and they all were very in much in favor of it. Um with sea farms, we were hoping that maybe we could use their area to tie up to because and um they really did
not want that, but they were all in favor of this of this event happening. So >> we won't block their traffic. >> Yeah, we're just >> It'll bring them more business actually. >> It'll bring them more business because we're not serving food. We're going to serve water. And I think the point
church is going to do a fundraiser selling cookies. >> Yeah, I think I think the point church is going to have like desserts or something and then possibly something at the church >> and maybe have the church open to to look at because they're raising money to do their big um restoration of
>> Hall. Madam Chair, >> so I I mean I think you've guys addressed everything if it's just in the document because I think there'll be people concerns like uh the chair brought up with the alcohol and all and you know volunteers and it simply just a map volunteers what you've already laid
out to us just >> so that we got that detailed description and can share that with others because I think you've already kind of covered all the points even on the the septic issue with the portaotties that'll be there and all that. So um I don't think there's much work to be done. You just >> So would you like us to come back then
when we've got this all together to come back nextenda >> next? >> Well, I think No, I don't want to say next. >> Well, I mean I have we need a motion one way that we so we we can move to approve it now or we can wait and just approve the banner or we can just ask them to come back
>> like >> well the town administrators recommended we just do the the banner tonight come back and >> and then you can come back >> if I have any loose ends I guess. Is that all right? Is that enough time to get a police record? Because the next meeting is 27th. >> Three weeks. >> Three weeks. >> Just three weeks. That's enough time. We can do that. >> You're going to talk to Lieutenant Melo
or do you want me to call him and ask him to send you something? Because >> we'll send a request over and then just any additional documentation you have prior to the next meeting which is the 27th. Um obviously we'll share that with the board as well. >> Okay. >> All right. So, do we have a motion to approve the banner? >> Motion to approve the banner.
>> Second. >> And that's coordinating with Carlos. So, >> yes. >> Okay. Um all in favor? I >> I that's um three in favor and uh two absent. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thanks so much. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, Captain. >> Thank you. >> Looking forward to it.
>> The next item we have is a request from Wendy Henderson to approve four Hicksbridge landing permits for Dharma Voyage non-resident rowers. Is there anyone here to talk about that? >> Wendy's here is back. >> Wendy's here. Hi, good evening. Um, I'm Wendy
Henderson here to represent Dharma Voy representing Dharma Voyage this evening for a request in the past oh I guess probably almost probably 10 years uh we used to get four passes from the selectmen and a couple years ago we started paying for those four passes for
our out of town rowers. We have uh some out of town uh Dartmouth, mostly Dartmouth and Little Compton and Tiveton I guess rowers that can't get can't go to the office and purchase passes. So we're we try to facilitate that by
purchasing a few passes for these guests and then they we trade them in, you know, they put them back they get them out of a bin, they put them back in the bin at the end of the their row and they're available for the next rowers. Um, I just that's I guess what I have to say
about it. If anybody has any questions, I'm here to answer them. >> So, this is pretty standard. This is same same request you've been we haven't had any problems in the past with any >> No, not that we're aware of. >> Okay. >> So, I would move approval, Madam Chair. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> All in favor? I
>> I. Those three in favor, two absent. Thank you. Good. Okay. Very good. Thank you. >> Have a great season. Okay. >> Thank you. Uh we have a request to approve the director of senior services job description and posting Chris.
>> Yes. Uh so over the last number of months uh I know that um the council on aging advisory board has been working diligently to make recommendations to look at this job description obviously uh with our director's upcoming
retirement. It's timely that we take a look at this. The last time that the job description was updated was 2014. Um so anytime uh we are readvertising uh it's a good practice to take a look and make sure that what we have written down uh
meets the needs of the department today. So uh based on the input of the COA advisory board as well as the director of that department uh I also took a look at the job description what was uh in place what was being recommended as well
as some other job descriptions uh for other directors around the state at this point. Um you know based on my findings uh before you this evening is a draft job description uh or I should say updated draft job description for your consideration. um you know like I said
uh incorporates many of the recommendations um that were provided by our stakeholders and um you know pending your approval we you know finalize actions with the personnel board uh before posting. So happy to answer any
questions on the specifics here and go from there. >> So you've highlighted um the position grade. So you want to talk a little bit about what what um why you highlighted that? >> Absolutely. Uh so for the town of Westport, we have a classification and
compensation plan uh that all of our employees are placed on. Um that plan is based off of the job description. Um so obviously because it has been significantly changed um you know it
rewarrants a regrading of the description just to make sure that we are posting it in accordance to uh our grading methodology >> and what's the process for regrading it? Um so that is something where following the board's approval, you know, finalizing the language here, um that
would be forwarded along to the personnel board and I would work with them uh to confirm its grade uh and then post it from there. >> So what you're looking for today is for us to approve the um job description if we have any updates or or whatever.
>> That's correct. And then um to um have direct you to work with the personnel board to for the grading the classification. >> Yes. And then uh if the board is also uh amendable to approving the posting of the job description as well um you know
again based off of what the uh findings are with the personnel board. That would be it for this evening. >> Okay. So, I know you've gone through several iterations of this and you've gotten comments from you, like you said, from the dire the current director and then from um people representing the council on aging. >> That's correct.
>> Had a chance to weigh in and then you've reviewed it with other um and compared against some other post from other similar positions. >> That's correct. Yes. >> Okay. All right. >> Yep. >> Madam Chair, through the chair, I'd like to ask the town administrator is uh
what is the authority? Would you clarify the authority and we talked about this a little bit >> of the personnel board as respects this particular job description? >> Yes. Um so as it's written in our personnel bylaws right now uh there is a
lot of nuance to this. So this is a contract position. So as a contract position the job description itself is under the discretion and the decision-m of the select board. um unlike some other uh non-union non-contractual
positions which have been under the personnel board. Now when it comes to the compensation of it um it is really set you know through the personnel board based off of the town's approved
classification and compensation plan. So that's something that um you know in the past that function has been delegated to the personnel board to do. So um you know again when you look at the grading of the position it's really based off of
what you see here. Um and obviously there's the scoring methodology based on you know a number of criteria but that would be um the delineation of responsibilities. So to follow up on that, what would be the specific product of the personnel
board? >> So to us at a future meeting, I guess. >> Yeah. So uh the product um which really is just that highlighted section is you know all the positions we have on a grade um you know from our you know recording clerks all the way up to my
position. And so what they would do is essentially go through review the updated job description um and uh reaffirm or set what that grade would be for when we post the job. And so the grade is essentially uh
you know that that pay range, you know, based off the responsibilities of the job description. Um and obviously the grade itself it it it's clustered with positions of similar responsibility and authority. So you know at this tier you
know you see a lot of department heads uh or division heads you within the town. >> So one other follow so then when it comes back to us it would be graded and there could be other changes in there perhaps. We're going to make some
changes tonight maybe that be passed on to the next draft for the personnel board to review I suspect and then that would come back to us again another time for final review. >> I don't think we're asking for them to review our job description. We're in charge of the job description.
>> Yes. So the so the personnel board um >> uh really has no discretion on the job description piece of it. So what we send them is what they're going to act on from the grading scale. Um, you know, I'll know, you know, obviously if there's, uh, suggested suggestions or changes tonight, uh, we can make those
certainly if the board, you know, after the personnel board takes their action, if you want to see it again, happy to bring it back to show you what that, you know, came out, you know, that discussion was, um, if the board is comfortable with me just proceeding with the personnel board and posting it after
the fact, um, I would inform the board as well. Just it wouldn't be as an agenda item. It would just be as part of my regular updates to the board. >> Okay. It is nuanced. >> Is nuanced. >> Okay. >> Madam Chair, just a question.
So if this in the current environment now, because I know there's a warrant article for the personnel board, >> but if this goes to the personnel board and they do see changes they want to make in that job description, can they do that or
>> they have no purview over the job description? They could ask us to change it though. They could ask >> they could they could um if they felt strongly about something they could ask us to reconsider the job description, right? But which would be trickier once you posted it probably depends on how material it is.
>> So the position grade is what is going to determine the salary or the salary range that we will post it at. Is that how that's going to work? >> Yeah. So it's a range. Now obviously um you know when it comes to any single position when you get applications in
that's really going to guide you in terms of you know where within that range it would fall. >> Um >> but to answer your question yes >> okay >> that's how that piece of it would be set >> and that's you know that is really just based off of the um set criteria that
the town has adopted. Just one more question and my only concern with that is obviously it's difficult in the environment and you know what the market rate is and what Westport will pay to replace someone such as Beverly um you know with her kind of expertise and kind of the grant
ability that she has to bring stuff in for the Council of Aging. So um I'm just a little concerned about you know how that salary will get structured and and who we'll be able to get to, you know, to replace that. I think the Council of Aging is a very important piece to the community and I'm I'm afraid
that that uh salary range may be have to be inflated somewhat but >> we'll see >> and and just on that note um definitely understand and you know within this market I think um you know the study that was done it's a good study okay
>> um it's a good methodology um the board does have flexibility when the time comes obviously I'll be able to give you advice and recommendation on that >> um but I think from a pay scale piece of it. Obviously, when you look at a
classic comp plan, there is the market, but then there's also the internal equity piece of it. So, you want to make sure from a grading standpoint, um, it's placed accordingly on the scale. Um, >> okay. Thank you. >> Yeah.
>> Okay. Yeah. >> Uh, this is really more of a personal question. I I had worked on drafts of this at the behest of the council on aging in my role as leazison to the council on aging and I I think this is a greatly improved u product. Um I have a
couple of thoughts but they're not large but where did this went was there a draft that led to this one or was this a brand new draft? >> So my understanding and I know this is conversation you would know better in terms of the timeline. I believe there
was discussions on this beginning last fall um from the original current draft from 2014. To my knowledge, there was a couple different iterations um done through the Council on Aging. I know there was discussions with the the Council on
Aging Board in terms of updates on it. Um and that is from that draft is what this was based off of in addition obviously to you know my own research. Mhm. >> Yeah. It it looks like it captured a lot of what was in the other drafts in a a
pretty nicely organized way, but I was Yeah. I was just curious as to how that evolved. >> Yeah. >> Because where I left off was a a really a rough-l looking draft. I mean, like real seriously rough. >> Yeah. >> And then it this is what I saw after that and it was it was good to see this
because it really had it pretty well organized and written. >> Yeah. >> In a very readable way. >> Well, thank you. But I just wanted to get some background on how they >> did you have any um changes or anything that you noticed? >> Well, suggestions there there aren't many. Um the first thing I need to point
out is that we use the term Council on Asian Advisory Board. Now there really is uh no place where that appears. Okay, that's the we we talk about the Council on Aging. So there's
there's a council on aging set or defined by the state >> and but in conversation and this has always caused me a confusion as to because I was using the word council on aging
simultaneously or the same as the senior center. >> Yeah. So we call it and we talk about it as an advisory council and remind ourselves consistent with the guidance from the state and there's a a separate section. I had thought I had it here
somewhere but um it's online and it comes from the state's uh council on aging and sort of like the guideline like a master plan. >> It's got good material in it but that's pretty clear as as to what the council is and who they are and what they do.
And then we have the the director of senior services. >> Uh and then we have the the senior center. >> U all all of these terms have been used interchangeably along the way. This I think pretty much clears that up. But I I do think the Council on Aging Advisory
Board language should be taken out because it doesn't really exist. It's really just descriptive terms to talk about how or what the what the mission of the council on aging is which is advisory the executive director.
>> Um so that's that's my first recommendation. I think I think everything else works. In other words, director of senior services was one draft which had two titles. It was director of senior services and there was another one too. I don't recall but there were two. >> Um >> I believe it was council on aging
director I think. >> Yeah. So this I think cleans that all up. Council on agent aging the words themselves I think are pretty close to the the intended meaning by the legislation and the guidance in into that one um piece of legislation. That's
doesn't really say a lot. It just says we we can have the authority to set it up. But how we set it up and what we do is pretty much up to us. Then um there are a couple of other are well the one thing that needed to be clarified
and I think this does it was who reports to who and what are what are the rules. So the director reports to you >> and no one else. The the council is not like a real board of directors. I used to mistakenly talk
about the council on aging as a board of directors which it is not. It doesn't have a board of directors. It has a a council that is advisory, but not like it doesn't administer salary, >> makes recommendations to you, I guess,
and ultimately to to us. So, as I read through this, I was trying to make sure to the best of my ability that they all line up uh properly. Like for example, Council on Aging Advisory Board is mentioned
early in the document. Then pretty much near the end towards supervision it brings it up again. Serves as a leazison to the council on agency council on aging advisory board. She just said council on aging. That's that's what it is. That's the only one. Uh and there is
no other board of directors. >> Right. So >> there's so you're recommending that where the places where it references council on aging advisory board just to strike advisory board. >> Yeah. because it >> but but I see your the the reason I can see the reason why they did it is
because the there's the council on aging the board and then there's the council on aging the physical location that people talk about right >> the department >> right the department yeah all right >> yeah and it is in in the literature that you find online from the state it mentions the fact that this board serves
in an advisory capacity so it's not heresy to mention it but it's it really doesn't have a title >> I believe the title board came from the general bylaws Um, >> right. >> You know, and I think from the earlier working drafts that I more or less brought over to this draft, you know, it
references and I think, um, my understanding from those earlier drafts was what they wanted to emphasize exactly what you're saying that it is, you know, an advisory relationship to that director position versus one that, you know, is is supervisor like you're saying, they're serving as the board of
directors. So, uh, I can certainly take that wording out and just, you know, say counts on aging, um, however you >> Yeah, that that that would do it. I mean, these are not major changes. It's only been mentioned, >> of course, >> two or three times in here.
>> And, uh, senior center is appropriately described. Um and and then the relationship the relationship between the director the council on aging with the so-called
advisory board and uh and you is is defined. The one thing I was also sensitive toward and I think it's been cleaned up is to be sure that this position is not a grant writing position per se. the person in charge of the uh
of the council of the u the senior center the the director of senior services has as one of the functions and a very important one as we know uh overseeing the grant writing process and delivery of grants and I think that's
mentioned in here correctly but there was some in earlier drafts it was like the the director was tasked with being a grant writer himself or herself which There's nothing wrong with that, >> but that isn't the job. >> We're not hiring a grant writer. We're
hiring a leader >> who will make sure and might even have a person that he or she would hire >> to do grant writing or either on a full or part-time basis. So, I think I think that's that's pretty good in here. Now,
when I first looked at I was I wasn't quite sure, but I think it's overseas grant identification, application, administration, and compliance requirements. So that that to me grabs the managerial aspect of that and not the doing of it. But there's no
prohibition against a uh the director if they if that person has skills in this area as the one who's well the position now does then that should be employed. >> So I think it I think we're getting there here
and that's all I would have to say. I don't I don't think there's there's I didn't highlight anything other than that. It's actually pretty good. I I think >> Yeah. I mean, so I think the concerns that you were talking about about the supervision. So it does say appointed by the select board, the director works under the general direction of the town
administrator, maintains a collaborative working relationship with the select board and the council on aging. >> Period. >> Period. >> Um so I think that covers that. And then you you just mentioned the grant identification part. And then you're I think the only change then you're
recommending is the the removing the advisory board reference. >> Yeah, it's okay to have >> wording here that that says the Council on Aging serves in an advisory capacity. There's nothing wrong with that. And I think it does somewhere in here. But anyway, I think that
>> I think that does it from my standpoint. Other than that, I think it's >> okay. you're closer to it than do you want to make a motion to approve the job description pending the change and the uh personnel board classification?
>> I'm willing to make that motion, but I I know we have people in the audience who've worked on this. And >> should we talk about it first? >> It might be good to do that and get that input as well because I Yeah, I'm sure I missed something. There's a lot of words here. >> All right. So, is there uh and did you have anything else to N?
>> All right. Anything from the public? Good evening. My name is Lisa Fidleberg Costa. I have a couple of questions with regards to the job description. The job description that is before you. This is actually the first time that we're seeing this uh as board members. Um this
was not the original one that we all received in our last meeting. um and it was so diligently brought up to us that it needed to be turned over to the personnel board by February 1st. So, we've never gotten a copy of this
revised uh uh document. Um we did have questions as board members that we wanted to address which were never answered. Um and then we figured there was such a race to judgment in being to the personnel board by the first that we
would then have an opportunity to discuss it. So now we're seeing a total different uh job description that we just received today um which is different from the last one that we received. So we in essence have the one that Beverly was originally hired and
then we had one that was being worked on by the board which is the Council on Aging board uh or advisory board if you will. And then the last one um is totally brand new. We've never seen this
before. So it was not given to us prior to this meeting. We got it by accident um because we asked for a copy of it uh at the town hall. So we think that that's a disadvantage because we haven't had a chance to even look at it. And then also based on my interpretation of
article 25 the way it reads right now is that my my my understanding is with article 25 um that we do um oversee or when anything has to do
with the job description, it does go to the personnel board. Although although if it's a union or non-union or contract, we don't make any decisions when it comes to monetary values. The
ultimate decision is in fact with the select board. We only make recommendations. But as far as um a job descriptions, all job descriptions, it's considered classification. Um, and I got that from a met from an
attorney that that represents just so that I could understand it. So, unless we make an amendment to the article 25, the way 25 sits right now, it's supposed to come to the personnel board. Now, I was just recently appointed to the
personnel board. Um, and so I haven't been to a meeting, so I don't really I've I've not had the privilege of seeing how the protocol goes, but I wanted to learn about how the protocol is actually defined. And I don't take a seat on a
particular board just to fill a seat. I want to be able to to participate, you know, and be well-rounded and understand the function of that position so that I can be an asset to that board, not to cause any issues or problems or anything
like that. The town of Westport is always looking for volunteers. And I think it's important that when someone wants to do good, that just because they're asking questions, it's a negative response. And I don't think that's fair. So I would request that we
don't do anything until all the parties are given the necessary information so that we can make an educated decision, all feel that we're all being heard and then move forward because in emails that we received prior to everything had to be done by February 1st, February 1st,
February 1st for the personnel board and it never went to the personnel board. So I just wanted to bring that to your attention. >> Thank you. So um so the town administrator described the process here. So the select board is responsible for the job description. The fact that
we're seeking input from other agencies is at our discretion, right? So certainly we use we got input from the council on aging. We had we participated in in with the directors. So the my understanding of the role of the select board is that for a given job
description, you're classifying it. to the classification for that job description um falls in the in the in the grade the range the pay range that we would present. So I think that um >> well it has nothing to do with the we
don't have any jurisdiction over the pay raise or the paid >> you have jurisdiction over the classification rating of the job position. So the draft the I I think it says position grade 11 in the draft. Is that the current position grade of the current?
>> That's where it's currently at. I highlight it as a obvious. >> Right. So the current So the current job grade is 11. So what has happened is the town administrator is recommending significant changes to the job description since the 2014 classification that it was done. Right?
So the town administrator has recommended, you know, as a different job description. And so the it's the role of the personnel board to say okay given this job description the this is the grade level it should be at because we've made significant changes. So is it
still the same grade is it different? Right. So the the contract for the employee the salary for the employee the job descriptions for the employee is under the purview of this board. >> The personnel board would be handling the classification of the job position.
>> Okay. So with that being said, does the um Council on Aging board or their advisory board make recommendations based on the job description where we're only seeing this for the first time today. >> So the we took the input from the
council on aging's >> not on this not >> not on this version. Okay. So we it there's a matter of like how many drafts can you have going around, right? So we so you heard uh Mr. Brewer talk about there we this is a significantly
different description than what was seen before in a draft right but it appears to have taken the input from the previous from the other discussions that were happening right so I mean this board can decide to refer it and wait for comment from other people so that I
mean that would be a valid outcome of today's meeting is to refer it to someone else but I I do want to be careful that we're protecting the roles and responsibilities correctly is our responsib responsibility to set the job description. It is the personnel uh desri responsibility to set the rating
the classification that should go with the job description. So if the board members feel like they need more information or they need other input um it's possible that you'll find something that would say oh wait this would be you know three job levels higher if we
included this amount if we included this particular thing. It would be way higher and do you really want to do that? Right? So if that is a possible outcome of a classification hearing is that um you'd find that maybe one of our qualifications isn't right or one of the responsibilities isn't quite right. So I
think it's possible that the personnel board could influence it but you also have to draw a line somewhere. So can you just talk about um do you have any comments I just says of what I just said? >> You know just a couple things. one is um
I want to commend the Council on Aging for the thoughtful suggestions that they submitted to us, you know, and that's I think why you see a lot of those before you this evening because there was a lot of meetings that was talked about um and obviously I think um it definitely made
my job easier, right? Uh getting that input with regards to the draft before you this evening. I know I was the one who provided that copy earlier today just after our department head meeting and uh a copy was sent over to uh the
chair of the council on aging board um with the expectation it would be disseminated to the board. Now I don't know if they haven't had a meeting yet um with regards to the timeline on the the February 1st. I know one of the
discussions has been with regards to uh Bev retiring at the end of the summer. Um trying to get the posting out earlier with the idea that um you know they didn't want to feel like there was a rush to fill the role and also I know
that there was a desire to have some time where there was an overlap within the office. So I think the the timeline or that that deadline it wasn't really coming from our end. was more coming from again my understanding their you know the board's internal you know
working schedule based off of when they wanted to see the position posted you know based off of it being before you now I'm confident if um this was something that the board wanted to move forward this evening or even later this month um you know we'd have sufficient
time to post the job conduct interviews uh ahead of Bev's upcoming retirement at the end of the year but Um, you know, that's my love of involvement. And like I said, I uh really was um appreciative of the comments that were submitted and
I um I felt like they were captured in the draft there before you this evening. So, >> yeah. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Muriel Kakaska. Um, what I want to ask is why did everybody hide that they were
doing a new thing and our board members did not know anything? And I only by accident found out because I came here I'm the treasurer of the board. I came here for my >> Sorry, which board are you talking about? >> Council of agent. >> Okay. I came for the reports to do my
treasures report for the board and I asked for a copy of the job description and was flattened when found out it was altogether different. So why wasn't the advisory board told anything about it?
>> So can you talk about the communications you had with the council on aging? >> Uh yes. So I have had individual meetings with Bev. I also had a you know back when the initial drafts were shared with me. I also had a separate conversation uh with the chair of the
committee um met in person coordinated over email obviously with regards to the timeline uh prior to this meeting provided a draft of this update job description uh ahead of time you know when the agenda for this meeting was posted. Um,
you know, I I'll make a note that um I with regards to I guess the overall um duties and responsibilities and essential functions outlined, um if there's uh if the board wants to see
it go back to the Council on Aging for further comment, I would have uh certainly sent it. But um I feel that our communication has been sufficient in keeping the board in the loop and the representatives. >> So Dick, you were you're the liaison. Can you add anything to that or anything
else on the communication with the council on aging? >> Well, I I did miss the last meeting, so I don't know if there was any conversation there. I did understand that >> many >> the uh the director and the the chair
had reviewed a a there was another draft of of previous drafts and it was say this is the one we want to submit. I don't have that with me but I remember seeing that. Um I do know there's consternation among uh council council
on aging members about how much input is is uh was actually reflected in this in this document and they I do know that they hadn't seen this before nor had I seen it before. Um so but having said
that yeah I don't know if it's our role as select board members now putting on this hat um that we should be directing or passing judgment on how the council on aging has its deliberations at its meetings and what they discuss and what
they approve and when they want to have more input or less input. I mean that's not something we it's not really our business. It's not even my business as as the leazison. Uh I'm there for for really a different reason. Um so
it it was confusing. I would I would say that. And this and this was a surprise. I saw it as a a pleasant surprise because I thought it captured as I said earlier a lot of the things that council members had been putting in their their drafts. So, I thought I thought it was a
good work product and and I thought this had the approval or at least the sanction of the director and the chair. So, I mean, that's where I come out on this. I'm I'm not I don't think we should be
secondguessing how the the Council on Aging handles its its its affairs. They they meet under open meeting me right here now. The meetings are televised. They have open meeting law and agendas and follow
those. So I I don't have any issue with that. >> So Chris, this this um this document that we have, the one that I'm looking at is dated 46, right? So that's today. So do when when did this get sent over to the Council on Aging? >> Uh it was sometime last week, I think. >> Last week.
>> Yeah. So, what kind of impact would it have on the hiring process if we deferred a decision on this until the 27th? And um I don't really want to solicit like major I guess is to give people time to read it and have
thoughtful comments about it if if we just like what kind of impact does it have on us if we wait until the 27th? >> Um it it'll delay. You know, I think our intent was to try and get a posting out by the end of the month. >> Um,
>> I think we could still meet that. Um, you know, I think it will just impact the back end of the overall onboarding process. So, I certainly we can do it. We'll make it work. >> So, because because I I think I'd want to at the same time though send this job
description over for classification because I think that's really the thing that's missing, right? because if we wait until the 27th to update the job description and then we have to send it to the personnel board and then you're looking at a couple weeks there like I'm just wondering
um I don't know that it doesn't make sense though to give the personnel board an incomplete job description either. >> Yeah. you know and I'll say just um when it comes to the overall classification compensation you know for minor you know
for minor wording changes you know that won't affect the grading scale I would say if it is you know I'll call it substantial changes with regards to the duties and responsibilities if I'm just hypothetically if you know now this position was responsible for managing an
entire different division of the town you know that would move the needle when it came to the scale um you know minor you know wording of these you know different essential functions or maybe adding a bullet point it won't stop the progress you know if this is something the board felt comfortable kind of
taking that dual track with with the person on board >> you have more >> I have one more thing >> go ahead um you're missing something which is important uh you under knowledge skills and abilities got ability to supervise staff
and volunteers we had to ability to train and supervise because she has to train the people who come in, the volunteers, because there's nobody there doing it. And you get a new volunteer coordinator,
there's nobody else to train but her. There's there's only one person on each of the jobs, so she has to be the one that trains. >> No problem. I appreciate the >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> I go ahead.
I think the chair had I a good idea. I mean, we have a three-week window to play with now before our previous before our next meeting. So, I would hope that the classification can be determined. COA can have that finalized. I think maybe you give the COA a week to go over
this, then the personnel board goes over that with with the finalized job description, and then, you know, it's finalized and before us on the April, what is it? 27th. >> April 27. I think there's the April 27th meeting. So what we >> but I also think we need to finalize it because you also look at end of year
like the end of the fiscal year sometimes you get like people looking for jobs and stuff like I think it's yeah >> but I think you I think if we had if we have that with that 3-week window to play with what we get on April 27th is should be the complete package we either approve it or don't approve it and then
it could get posted on May one or you know four or five days later. I think if if that's to appease everyone probably the best way to go as as you pointed out and then what we have on the 27th we either vote yay or nay. We're not making any more changes at that point
>> because everyone's had their say. >> Uh one comment and then it will actually segue into the next uh segment. Uh Cindy Brown, chairman of the um personnel board. Um, so we have currently a a meeting
scheduled for April 15th, next Wednesday, uh, to go over this and then also to review the item for article 25. Um given the comments that were made earlier, provided there are no
significant changes, we could approve a classification there pending no significant classifications and I would leave it up to your board to determine whether or not any changes that are made would be significant or not. So I think we could move forward with that.
The other thing I'm wondering now, I I know that now leading into the article 25 issue, um, if it's a change in class, do we need to include that in the warrant? You know, so all the job classifications are approved as part of
the personnel bylaws. So I don't know if you know one thing leading before the other if if we shift over to 25 if if 25 were not approved for example we should have had this reclassification
submitted for town meeting approval because everything is pending town meeting approval. So within the personnel bylaw um what is in the schedule A and I have it pulled up right here is the group of
classification. So not so not the grades. >> Oh okay. >> The grouping. So for example like this is our administrative employees. >> Okay. Safety employees. >> So it's just the grouping. >> That's correct. >> Okay. All right. So if there's a change within the grade within a group that's
we don't have to have separate town meeting approval for that. >> That's that's correct. So >> okay. All right. That's what I all of a sudden that occurred to me that it was like oh wait a minute. If we if we make these changes then maybe they should have approved. But if you're saying that if as long as it stays within the group
then it should be okay. >> Yeah. So when it comes to the personnel bylaw, the thing that is going to change and it's set every single year is whatever the pay scale is for that fiscal year. So >> right. >> Um obviously as we go forward that will be adjusted accordingly. >> Sure. >> Yeah.
>> Sure. Um I mean I I will confirm you know there was a sense of urgency back early February and in large part that was being driven by the director to get this process moving and we had tentatively
scheduled a meeting early in February which we ended up postponing because it wasn't ready yet. So um you know we're we're fine with that and we'll wait to see what this job description looks like. I'll circulate it to our members
and provided there are no uh substantive changes post this we should be able to meet on the 15th and so you will have it for your next meeting that our approval would hopefully be in place by then
along with our recommendation for article 25. >> All right. Thank you. >> Okay. Um, so I think Chris, the direction here is that we want you to make the change that um, Dick mentioned about removing the advisory board reference. >> Yep.
>> Refer the this job description with that change to the chairman of the council, the chair of the council on aging, >> the chair of the personnel board, seek their input that we are going to make a decision on April 27. >> Perfect. We'll do
>> We don't need to vote on that. I don't think anybody want to add anything to that direct. >> No, I think that's good. >> Okay. Um, we're kind of out of order here, but um, what I want to since you guys could since you guys are here and you were mentioning article 25, let's I want to
skip ahead to I think this would actually be under J um, to review amend finalize approved posting of the warrant. So, I don't want to talk about the whole thing, but I do think there have been changes to article 25 that we wanted to talk about u today. So, can we
is that all right with you guys if we bump that conversation? All right. So, the what version is this? I'm looking at this is ver the 10th draft of the the 10th draft of the warrant
page. Sorry, I skipped too far ahead. Article 25. All right. So, so article 25 um to amend the personnel bylaws. Um the uh the the specific change in here that is
the change is to replace um shall be responsible for the administration of the classification and compensation plans and instead who shall act in an advisory capacity to the select board and town administrator on personnel related matters upon request
from either the board or the administrator. So, do you want to just explain this and then how it may have changed since the last time they've seen it? >> Of course. Um, so over the last several weeks, I've been working with town council to uh review all the articles
and make sure uh it's in a format that they uh are agreeable to and obviously carry out the intent that I think we're trying to achieve within the bylaw. So the changes you see before you this evening um expand on some of our
conversations. I know in some earlier discussions we had talked about you know certain items that we would develop later on under the advice and recommendation of council. Um they'd like us to move those up and have those included within the warrant just because
um they do want to retain some of the language within the bylaw. So you know just to go over the summary of changes um you know as you said this article would clarify that the select board's role would be to oversee personnel administration um but provided the
ability similar to what we do with other day-to-day operations to delegate that responsibility to my office. um you know going off of some of the prior discussions we've had um we would retain the personnel board um and they would
continue in an advisory capacity um and they would be able to provide input to um the select board as well as myself on different personnel really matters whether it was a policy we were coming out with or a benefit we'd be able to have them there as a resource
um I uh Other changes um certain procedural uh items under the proposed bylaw would uh be revised to simplify the process uh reduce redundancy. So as an example um
right now if there are employee related grievances um non-union or yes non-union um you know obviously as step one we always uh want them to work and communicate with their department heads. Um the next step under the proposal
would be it would come to me um to uh add me into that workflow. Um and then under the proposal select board uh would serve as the final review um and make a decision if it wasn't something we would be able to accomplish um through prior
discuss discussions. Um the article also includes uh different terminology updates and structural revisions. Um again just to provide consistency and clarity throughout the article. So really um as we've talked about prior meetings, these amendments are intended
to really just um modernize the workflow um to more align with what the current practices are uh within our town operations today. So um >> I have a question >> of course >> because we are having a meeting coming
up and I know this question will be asked when you talk about the future P personnel board role in an advisory capacity. Um are there are there roles defined? Are there certain things that would
absolutely go to the personnel board or things that at the discretion of the town administrator andor select board you would seek out counsel of the personnel board? So at the discussion okay all right so that's what I wanted to make clear that there aren't any set
if there are set rules what are they if they are not then that's fine okay so it would be at the discretion >> yes >> okay so there would be no defined role that we would take regarding certain matters >> uh no
>> okay no >> and and as I mentioned before I'm not sure if you were at at the meeting at president at the meeting when discussed this last time. I think this is a good thing. I mean, I think it's time that we do kind of bring this into the 21st
century as far as personnel management is concerned. You know, um we're not here at town hall. we don't see the roles that people are filling and um I think it streamlines things tremendously to have the town administrator and the
select board to be in that role when Paula was brought over to be the assistant to the town administrator that was also going to be an enhanced HR role which I think will also help many of the issues that perhaps were always on the
borderline as to who's going to kick this ball, you know? So, uh I think this is I think this is a good move. Um and hopefully one last question. Do you need a twothirds vote at town meeting? Does this replace the bylaw?
>> It is does not replace it. It amends it. >> It amends it. Okay. So, you would still need a 23 vote? >> I believe it's simple majority, but that's something we would call council in the next couple weeks on that. >> Okay. All right. So, I think it's a good thing. I I have to say having served on
the personnel board I can say that even when I was on the personnel board it was very confusing to understand the scope and authority of the board and right >> um frankly I think we should have all of our employees under contracts right so I don't think you should I think they should all have employment agreements um
so then they wouldn't be in front of the personnel board anyway but I know we haven't gotten jobs we we don't have contracts for everybody yet >> right >> oddly enough police and fire chief come under the purview of the personnel board. They do not have contracts.
>> Police and fire are not under contract. So, it's annual appointment not under contract. So, oddly enough, they come under that. >> Yeah, I think there there must be some reason for that because you'd think that would be >> I was surprised to find that that was the case. So, anyway, um good. Um one
other note I wanted to make because I I do think it is substantive. Uh so under the proposal um there is under section 3F if you're looking at the draft of the classification plan it does add in language in there um that does allow the
town to hire midyear if we have funding available for a position. I know one of the things that really um started this discussion at least for my office was our discussion with regards to a potential future communications role or
other um role identified within the town. So this would offer the board flexibility um now and again in the future if there was funding available um we could make a higher midfiscal year without having to
wait on those action items. So that was something uh that we were able to incorporate. >> But I think but I think it's also important to note that the the reason that we would have had a personnel board in the first place would been um kind of protective of the employees at the time,
right? So it was a it was a a way I think that I I suspect this is rather old uh before current employment and HR practices and laws have come into effect but it was a way to make sure that there was a buffer between um between the the
the hiring authority and the employees. Um so that there there was a reason for the personal >> Yeah. Um and I I'll >> before unions >> it right pre Yeah. >> Yeah. You know I'll just say it from my office too. Um you know obviously when
we talk about human resources that function and obviously my level of involvement you know one of the hats that I wear as town administrator is the director of human resources and the fact right now there's not a process where I'm involved in those type of you know
grievances or concerns that are raised by staff. Um it's it's a little a little disjointed. So um I think this uh like I said it clears it up aligns better with how we're operating today. >> All right. So is there anybody else?
We're not going to make a decision or anything on this. This is just part of the warrant. But anybody have any other comments or questions before we move on from this one? >> We have an opportunity at a later date to bring up other questions. So, um, our the the way that the the town meeting
calendar is happening, right? So, we're going to close the warrant and post it. Um, and then because when do we have to post it? We have to post it. >> So, I believe the 20th. I can pull up the exact day. >> Yeah. So, we will Yeah, >> we it's likely that we will approve the
posting tonight. Um, we could theoretically have a special meeting before the 20th um to post it. So there's no opportunity to change the warrant article um as printed. The um it's my intention on the 27th um that uh
we make recommendations that the select board make recommendations to town meeting and then on the top floor of town meeting certainly there's amendments that can be made and things like that. But the there's no more opportunity for input to changes on these articles. We've we've closed the
warrant with likely we're about to reopen the warrant for a brief period of time, but we've closed the warrant, so there's no more changes. >> So, explain to me the process based on um with the warrant and how the public is educated based on because they're going to vote, correct? It's the
majority vote is what you're saying. Correct. >> So, there's the the person the drafts of the town meeting. Uh so, we've been talking about the town meeting for multiple months now, right? And then um it's been before the finance committee. So this would have gone to the finance
committee meeting at some point. Um we have post we'll we've posted the drafts as we've got them along on the on the website. Um the it's meetings like this is where we talk about them, right? So there hasn't the
the public can go look at the draft warrant. We're going to I don't know if this is the current draft that's up there, but you'll post it and um they can be informed about it and then on the floor of town meeting um then people have an opportunity to have a conversation.
>> So public can then go and have a conversation with you guys basically with regards to >> no uh what would happen at town meeting is the public would um have an opportunity to suggest amendments to the motion. So the town meeting motion would
say I move to approve this as printed in the warrant and um people individuals could come up and propose amendments to that warrant so or to the article uh to the motion sorry I feel like I'm getting
a Steve Forest like flashback here. So the a a person at town meeting can stand up and propose an amendment to the motion. town meeting would discuss and debate and vote on whether to make that amendment to the motion and then it
succeeds or fails and then you go back to now you have the motion and then town meeting votes on the motion. So there is an opportunity to amend it. It is very clunky and um this is kind of late in the warrant although it's before the
zoning bylaws. So, it's it it's I would say that the personnel board weighing in on it would be an important u piece of information to town meeting. So, I think um it sounds like you're going to entertain that on your April 15 meeting. I think that would be important for the
town meeting audience to hear what the personnel board has to say about it. >> Okay. All right. So now we're going to jump back to the agenda if that's okay. >> Okay. Um so we are we're on H now which
is a request to open the town meeting warrant to consider additional articles. So we have two potential articles um to reopen. So one is um about the status of Francis Estates. Um so um Chris can you
tell us about that? >> Sure. Um, you know, this subdivision has a fire system and a cemetery located within it. Um, this article would allow the town to accept easements from the developer to the subdivision to ensure
the town is able to access and use the fire system and access and continue to maintain the cemetery located within the subdivision. So, this is something that council's been working with our planning department on um and I guess ultimately
to finalize the subdivision plans. This is something that um council uh is asking if the board would consider placing on this warrant so it doesn't have to wait until next year. >> But this so just the request here is for
some easements from property. >> That's correct. where the town would accept those easements. >> Town would accept the easements >> for to our benefit. >> Is there anyone here to talk about that? >> No. All right. And the planning board's recommending this from a timing perspective, right? Because easements are part of property taking or they fall
under the review of town meeting. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Okay. Does anybody have any questions about that? I know it's kind of it's kind of confusing. I mean, I don't have a full understanding of it, so I don't really want to get is this a this is a proposed subdivision that is being stopped right
now because of easement issues, and if these are passed, then the subdivision will move forward. Is that what >> So, uh, this is one of those elements that, um, will ultimately hold up it being finalized, um, from a approval
standpoint. I know that there are a couple other things outstanding, but nothing that um council nor the plane department see as a concern as we move ahead towards that meeting. >> So, um >> I'm not >> Yeah, I'm just I'm just reading the the
the proposed art. So, the the council provided um provided the text of the article. So it's um to acquire um certain parcels of land. So um it
authorizes it authorizes the select board to acquire these easements. Um it doesn't require us to authorize these easements, right? So um we uh there's still some room in there. M
>> I don't think there's anything controversial here that it's they have a fire system and a cemetery and so that allows the town to um access it and I don't my understanding is it's not contro there's no controversial on the
neighbors or anything. >> No. And I believe there's also a memo in your packet from the assistant town planner just uh giving a summary of uh this uh subdivision plan and the status of it and you know why it's coming up
right now. All right. Yeah. So Dia sent Dia sent a an email in here. All right. Does it do you anybody do you have concerns about putting this on the warrant? >> No, not this one. >> All right. So, we move that we open the
warrant to place this article as described by council at the end of the warrant. Don't renumber anything. Okay. >> Okay. >> All right. Do we vote? So, I need a motion for that to add this to the warrant.
>> You guys can move. >> Does somebody want to move that? I'll move that, Madam Chair. >> Okay, I'll second. Is there any discussion about adding it to the warrant? >> All right. All in favor? >> I >> I oppose. >> I want to abstain. I I I just don't know enough about the issue, unfortunately.
>> All right. So, um so we have the two uh two with one abstain and two absences to place this on the warrant at the end. And we should um have a better conversation about it on the 27th. >> I'll make a note. >> All right. So then the next um the next
um consideration um at our last meeting Jake had suggested that we consult council for potential bylaw changes regarding um removal of elected officials who are no longer performing their job. Um, so we
asked uh the town administrator to work with council to talk about potential options for uh removing an elected official from a position and you've got a very nice summary in our packet, but do you want to just kind of explain?
>> Uh, sure. So, within your packet, uh, you do have, uh, the opinion from town council as well as draft language for the different options. So, um, let me just pull up that page right away. Um,
so the first option is special legislation to amend the recall uh provision. So, um, right now, I think one of the things that was noted is our threshold is pretty high at 10%. Um, you know, the board would have the
discretion to request a change in that amount. um this would go uh as a article to town meeting and then up to the state for approval. So um I believe uh council had suggested 5% uh reducing it by half
um and they have seen precedent in other areas of the state where they um felt that um the state would accept that threshold. >> Um the next few >> so so just I just want to summarize. So option one is to change the current. So
the current is currently you have to have 200 signatures to initiate. >> Yes. >> And 10% of the registered voters on the following on the peti petition. >> That's correct. >> To trigger it. And so what they have suggested is that seems a little high um that we could reduce if we wanted to we
could propose reducing the number of signatures required for the initial recall and we could consider proposing something less than 10% of the registered voters for um the petition. >> That's correct. So that's basically just a change in the numbers in our current bylaw.
>> That's correct. >> Okay. Option two. >> Uh option two is uh expanding the planning board. Currently we have five elected members. Um this would change our bylaws um again
just to expand that membership um to either seven members or nine members essentially to uh increase the amount of people available to have quorum uh on different development applications.
So, >> so that would just be a change to how many elected instead of five, the current five that we could change it to seven or nine. They don't recommend an even number. >> That's correct. Yes. >> Okay. So, that's a lot of language for that.
>> Uh option three, uh this is a change within the zoning bylaws. Um we could add a single associate member. Um so in addition to elected members, this is an associate member um who could be
appointed uh for a set amount of time. And um essentially this would allow there to be someone additional um you know should they need to fill in if someone's unable to attend a meeting or a series of meetings. Um you know for certain development applications where
you need to have a super majority to be able to um to vote on matters. this would give them one additional person. Um, and like I said, really in the case, you know, they're there for those special permit applications where you need to
have um a super majority. Um, the last one is another special legislation act. Um, and this would be to allow the TAD to add two associate members um andor to act for all other
matters. So um again similar to the recall effort this is something where you know if the article passes we would send this to the state for um consideration and uh those are the options we have on
that. >> Yes. >> So this uh article is is one that's being proposed um this year we do it added on. >> Yes. So uh there's a few different options here. I mean, so we can certainly do a combination too if that's
the board's pleasure. Um, but yes, if the board wanted to add to the warrant, we would do that. >> And this is relating to the planning planning board only. >> Yes. >> I think that I think that the option
>> two, three, and four are specific to the planning board. Option one is not. >> So >> option one is just changing the recall pos. bylaw that we have the number the numbers >> but two three and four are changing in the comp composition of the of the
planning board >> and the reason for this need >> so the reason that we wanted to talk about it in the first place is that we have a member on the planning board who's unable to serve in that capacity and the recall process to remove that
member is >> yeah it's ownorous yes I agree with that >> yeah So, Madam Chair, I think of those options, I would like you said two, three, and four deals specifically with the
planning board where that's the specific issue that we're faced with right now. Um, but I would lean towards option one with respect to given the scenario or if the timing was different, there also could have been a
vacant there has been a vacant select board seat for some time. So, I don't know if we really want to specifically address the planning board. I know we're addressing that now because five-year terms for the planning board is sometimes long and we're dealing with
somebody that possibly has four years left on that on that role. So, I know why we're looking at that planning board. But unfortunately, the recall efforts and the individual that was reading leading the recall efforts never followed through on the 200 signatures,
but let's leave that on the table. I would think that you would want to make a change to that first one for all positions uh in town. Now, of course, legislators want to keep their jobs and they don't want to be easily recalled and that's why the threshold was so high, but you know, at least in our
seats and majority of the seats, it three-year terms, not fiveyear terms. So, you know, you you're not in a situation where it could be three or four years where you don't have somebody uh sitting in that seat. So to Chris's point and I think what you pointed out
with general counsel is if you did you know 100 signatures to start the recall and then a 5% number which would be basically 750 voters. Um that's still a kind of a high bar to actually get if you actually have to
want to be active to get those 750. And mind you we only have about 1,600 people that show up to vote every year anyway active. So you basically 50% of the active voters is who you would need to recall somebody, which if you get 50.5% you win the election. So if you I I
would lean towards at least that one because we don't know in the future if we're going to have another situation with another uh individual that may be convicted of a felony and not able to serve. >> Yeah. So I don't I I I I also don't like
the changes to the planning board mostly partly because I think it's should be broader because there might be other situations but also I don't think that trying to get a an article changing the personnel uh and changing the planning board makeup you know a month before town meeting I don't think that's like
the proper consideration time to be able to even talk about whether we should do that but I'm much more comfortable with changing the numbers that are in the um that are in the opt in option one. So like the to 100 my recommendation should be to 100 and to 5%.
>> We don't have to include this on the warrant but I think we should is my opinion. >> I would agree. I think there's enough public outcry for the current situation that any change to this with the with the article will probably I would hope would
pass. Um but I think you're right. I think if you did the the 100 and the 5% I think it's enough where somebody really has to be active and really want to have to recall somebody but you it's attainable as opposed to that 1500 number that you would have >> because you don't want to cause chaos
because there there's a cost to elections and there's a you don't want it to be too easy but >> um yeah I think I think we should include it >> and and at town meeting people in the or residents can make
their own choices if they want to change those numbers. Correct. Right. They can call those out. So, I mean, I think you go with 105% and see if you know, we may be in a situation where it's 10 signatures and
1% will all be recalled. >> Well, just regarding the planning board parts, it looks like we're reaching consensus to not deal with that at the moment. >> Correct. >> Yes. >> Okay. What I was going to ask earlier, but it probably not important now because of the direction we might be
going in is to what is the opinion of the planning board. I don't recall them coming in here to talk about this. I haven't seen anything in writing from them. >> I mean, so I I think it would be advised if we did anything there, we'd want to have them in talk about it and say, what >> what problem are you trying to solve and
what are the reasons and what did how why did you come up with these recommendation and just all that all the things you you normally have when you make a decision like this. Yeah, >> I think there's just not time for that conversation. >> Okay, >> Madam Chair, and we brought it up to to to have town council look at this. I
think there has been discussions with planning board outside of a concern of basically being down um one member and there are you need supermajorities on some of these uh votes and obviously with getting quorums and people traveling or on vacation or sick, it
would be difficult for that planning board to meet at some time. So that's the kind of the genesis is they're concerned given the current situation that um you know even with the filling the seat in the election that they're they still may have difficulty uh
holding meetings. >> I do also just want to point out as we were talking about it that um even if this passes a town meeting it still has to be um certified and authorized. So, this does not mean that anyone would be
immediately removed from the position. Um, it would still have to go through the process with is it the secretary of state's office or the attorney >> attorney general? >> Attorney General attorney general's law and that would take months. Um, so just >> it wouldn't be till the end of the year. >> It would it would probably be late in
the year. If this were to pass a town meeting, it would probably be end of the year before it would actually take effect. All right. So, do we want to add this to the warrant? We want to open the warrant and add this to the end. >> Motion to approve. >> You want I want move to open the
warrant. >> Move to open the warrant. >> Okay. >> I will second that. Is there any more discussion? >> Yeah. Yeah. I uh this issue at the late even though the simpler version of what we're trying to
do here doesn't involve a planning board. Uh it seems to me that you would normally not do this without a lot of discussion ahead of time and not you know a month before or two months before a town meeting. So I'm I
guess I'm throwing out for discussion whether it makes sense at all to even do it now. Instead, after the town meeting, take take it out of this town meeting entirely, and then then have a thoughtful discussion on all the ramifications of it, maybe including the
planning board or whatever. It just seems we're not really doing a lot with uh preparatory work on this. I mean, I haven't seen much on this except for the council's opinion, which was useful, but I I'm not ready to
vote on any of that, quite frankly. So, I guess I don't see this as being the real thoughtful process that we should employ for something as big as this. Although, I do see merit to it obviously, >> but I I'm not prepared to vote for in favor of this. And Dick, I understand
your concern with that. The only reason we were looking at this is because of the time horizon right now. If we don't get it on this town meeting, then you got another year before you're able to address it. And now we're, you know, the planning board is really in a tough position for I
guess it would say two years because then if we got it on the next town meeting and then it was 6 months. So I think it was only the concern of to try to uh ease their business operations for the planning board and what our options were and that's why Chris went to council. So, I think that was that was the only concern with, you know, I and I
know they were uh tried to get an individual to resign from the planning board to make things easier and that did not go well. Um, so I think that that's has what is the genesis to kind of move this thing forward to uh make it easier for them to
do that. So, um, and I the majority of the people I speak to in town have al also expressed their concerns with kind of the process and and a lot of people have talked about how the recall process is difficult. So, um, that was really where I'm coming from with respect to
this, but I I understand your concerns because it does open the door for every uh, elected official to possibly be challenged. But >> yeah, I mean I I I agree that I wish that we were in a position where we could be more thoughtful and have a
longer runway here, but we also have an immediate we have an urgent problem. So I think I I don't want to really wait and not do anything until next May um and then have it take effect, you know, in a year and a half. So, but I I mean I
appreciate that it's not really the kind of thing that you'd normally want to rush, >> but the problem is not our problem. It's the planning board's problem. >> Well, the problem for the constituents who need to have uh items that come before the planning board, right? So, you have petitioners who are seeking
approvals on their projects and their site plans and things like that. And if you have a planning board member that has to recuse themsself, now you're in a situation where they can't there's certain decisions that the planning board makes that if if if they're
missing one me. So if if you only had four people sitting on the board, one was absent or one was um had to recuse themselves. Now the petitioners don't have a mechanism to get their >> three votes. >> Right. So it's not really a planning
board problem. It's a community problem. for the the people that are coming before the planning board. >> Yeah. But it centers around the planning board in that process. >> I mean there might be different ways to deal with that. >> Uh I mean they operate by quorum, don't
they? Or do they do they have cases where there has to be unanimous? Correct. They have cases where they have superiority super majority have four >> four or five. Okay. So that's to me why it makes it more urgent. >> And I think part of the problem is, you
know, may not be a problem. The planning board may not like what I say, but they have fiveyear terms. I mean, that's that's a long window. Um, you know, and and we're dealing with a situation where this individual may not be there for four years or >> which has happened before. >> Yeah. >> By the way, I was once a contestant for
a planning board position, unsuccessful, but I the thing that Oh, no comment. But uh I the fiveyear was problematic. I went ahead anyway because thought the five years would go by quickly. But uh that's a long time and
there have been people uh I can name a couple and I won't of course who didn't finish their terms for various reasons and that caused problems. >> Most of the time there were people who stood up and you know ran for the positions. So there the fiveyear is inherently
problematic in my >> I admire people who do that. >> Is there any comment? So we do have a motion and a second to include this on the um warrant. So all in favor >> I opposed >> opposed. >> So we have two in favor, one opposed and
two absent. So that pass. >> Now I'll entertain. >> Where would you like that placed on >> the end? I don't want to re number stuff. Totally fine. >> I don't like putting at the end because people are going to complain that they're going to be gone. Yeah, they won't be >> and they're going to be gone. So, I don't love that except I don't think
it's fair like people have already been renumbering the >> Can I ask a question? Is there a mechanism that someone can bring an article forward >> if it doesn't Can they request if if the audience approves, can they request?
>> I don't think so. I don't think the moderator will allow that. We I mean we have a new moderator so >> but um the way that the way that I thought we were gonna have to do this the is um you'll recall many years where we called a special election in the
middle of the annual or a special town meeting in the middle >> middle >> and that would be when you call a special town meeting in the middle of the town meeting then it stops and then you take up that item at that time period and then you resume with the annual town meeting. But that's also
kind of confusing for people and >> kind of disruptive. But I don't like reumbering articles that are already there. I don't know. What do you think about renumbering? >> Um >> I think so. The the problem, not the
problem, those people, those couple hundred souls who usually go to town meeting um know that the zoning changes tend to take a while. So, the zoning changes at the end and they tend to take a lot of discussion about those. Um,
which I was totally fine with putting the the other the easement one at the end because it's kind of related to that. But, um, yeah, I think we got to put it at the end. >> I'm okay. I'm okay with that. I mean, if people care enough, they'll they'll they'll hang in there for it. And if not,
>> if not, 50 people will make a decision on >> voted down >> on the recall. >> Yeah. Okay. So at the end. All right. So um is there any those were the only two that I knew we needed to >> to consider. Yep. >> All right. So do you so we need a vote
to close the town meeting war? >> Yes. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. So that's three in favor and um two absent. All right. So um any anything
else that you wanted to call out on the review amend finalize approve the posting? >> Um just that uh obviously with the changes tonight uh I will add those to the end based on the language within your packets uh as we discussed those highlighted sections I'll fill in based
on the discussion this evening. uh this draft that is in your packet has been reviewed by council and it would be ready for posting uh upon the board's approval with those additions added. >> And then do we decide that um that the
motions are not going to be in the warrant? They're going to be um an addendum. So the town meeting people participating in town meeting will still have it in a piece of paper the motions. >> That's correct. >> Okay. >> Okay. And then uh just on that note too
um that would also be where uh the recommendations from the board and the finance committee would also be posted >> on the on the add item. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Okay. So do I have a motion to approve the posting of the town meeting form?
>> So move. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I three in favor and two absent. Okay. Town administrator report. Yes, thank you. My apologies. I have just have to get to
that page. Uh uh so first item is I just wanted to highlight the fact that I have passed my 90-day mark with >> Congratulations. >> Thank you. Town >> party time. >> Party time. That's right. Yes. Uh >> where are those donuts that we had this morning? >> You got donuts.
Sean and I got left out of this mix. >> We just get candy. >> Uh but uh consistent with the transition plan I put together uh when I had first started with the town, I intend to come to the board uh with a formal report about the 90 days, my observations,
um you know, recommendations on uh key areas, you know, financial management, general operations, communications, staff development, infrastructure, and more. So um you know it's my intent that that will uh kickstart the process uh
with the new board when it comes to goal setting uh both at the board level and also um you know with action items for me. So I'm really looking forward to that. Uh the second thing is as we've been working on the town meeting preparation. I had to sit down with the
town moderator. It's my intent over the next couple weeks to have another sitdown coordination meeting with him, council, and the town clerk um in preparation to go over the art goals as we've discussed tonight uh and gear up for the town meeting on May 5th.
So, next item, I just wanted to give a shout out and report that the fire department was awarded a grant this past week for $19,000 through the firefighter safety equipment grant program. Uh this was a competitive grant program and our department
received uh the maximum award available to towns and this funding will support the purchase of extradition equipment and structural uh PPE equipment. So uh congratulations to them. The last item I want to bring your attention to uh this
was on the board's agenda a few meetings ago. Uh this is with regards to the Brick Roads Oakland Avenue water main project. Um so as we discussed we have Kleinfelder working right now on the final design plans. Um we are putting
together a request for qualifications for um architect and engineering firms that will help us uh ultimately uh put the bid documentations and the construction administration services together. So um that uh we are expecting
to have issued next week and have the statement of qualifications for the A&E services due first week of May. So that is it for me. >> All right. Thank you. >> No. Well, quick
>> it's directed to the town minister. >> Okay. Okay. And then regarding the town warrant, the copy of the warrant doesn't include the budget for article 11. Will you be including that when you post? >> So, uh, I believe in the past it's been
part of the motion where we include that table that you're referencing. Um, >> the public doesn't get a copy of the budget. >> So, the budget recommendation would come from the finance committee. So, you need to talk with >> the actual numbers, >> right? the table.
>> So, uh, Nicole is working on that. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> All right. And they've included the updated school. >> Nicole's Yeah, Nicole should have that. >> Okay. Because it wasn't included in here. >> Yeah. >> The draft of >> We should put We should put the draft of
the budget on online so people can see it. >> The draft budget is >> Okay. It's Yes. >> Which is not part of the warrant. It's on there. >> Yes. >> It's not in here now. >> The draft budget is on the website. is not in the warrant. >> So I think she's referring to the article itself, article I think 11 where
it talks about the budget >> where it normally is. >> It's gonna Yes, it's going to be added to added to that. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Okay. Um
All right. The um minutes from March 23rd. >> Motion to approve March 23rd minutes. Second. >> Any discussion? All in favor? I. >> I. There's three in favor and two absent. >> Report on the bill warrant.
>> Okay. It uh this was dated 41. It was $2 million almost right on the nose. This is the one that we had been talking about warrants for the billing of water customers in the north end. And then sure enough, $55,000 worth of warrants
to authorize the billing was there to be approved. Um anyway, uh and it was not significant in terms of what I was doing because everything was in order. So it doesn't need to be voted on again, but it's a good report once again on timely basis
and accurate >> as best I can determine from 200 pieces of paper. >> I was just trying to get on the town website. I can't get on. is saying it's saying it can't the server can't be found. I don't know. I hope that's just me and not >> one second.
>> Must be a plot to keep select board maybe. >> It might be like I'm like did I have it right? But I think I do. Anyway, so I think yeah, other websites are working. So I think we might have >> I have a spinning wheel of death. So
>> yeah, I think we're having a problem with town website. So I don't know who you report that to. Um Mr. Vitali, our town website is not working. >> No problem. >> We'll put in the ticket. I can open it, but I Yeah, I don't know if I >> My site can't be reached over here. So, >> all right. Um, so we have committee
reports and suggestions for future agenda discussion. So, Jake, anything? >> I don't have anything that I can think of. >> Um, Dick, you have anything? >> Uh, a couple of things here. Uh, it's Well, it's actually only two things. The audit committee met on the
30th of March and that was a review of the the audit documents. Um on the 4th of May we will have another meeting where the town auditor Anthony Morzelli will be present and of course I always mention this because then after
that the select board invites him to present either in person or on the screen. So that's already moving forward. There were no not not to give away the news here but uh there were no uh material weaknesses. There were a
usual seven or eight or 10 uh recommendations and what they call the governance letter. Um we used to know know that as a management letter. It was pointed out by the chair of the audit committee recently. Um so that was that was a good report but there are some
things we we always have to work on. Now the other thing was just a brief meeting of the uh serta the buses and I think everybody knows that the fairs are free and I asked about how long that would continue and it it will continue
for the foreseeable future. The short answer was as long as the money's there and the money has been given by various incundary grants but that's a good thing. I I think it's it would be hard to go back to the old way which is collecting money. Um but it's working
and it's a really a great thing for a lot of people. In terms of those uh meetings that are going on in in committees, I do have an item to be thinking about for a future discussion of this group has having to do with short-term rentals.
All right. So tis the season and u people are asking and uh there is a role that when we decided to have the uh the second round of discussion that separate town meetings and finally it was
approved there's a role for us to play but I think we're relying on the town administrator. Uh but I'm I think we need to do something but I don't know what it is. I don't know if we need like procedures to
sign up uh or we have to put enforcement uh mechanisms in place. I don't think we have a a manual of operation here. But I do think we have to do something. I just don't know what it is. >> Um yeah, on that note, uh that's something where our office has received a couple calls on that. Um and we've
expressed that that process hasn't been fully defined yet. I know that there was some conversation with the board uh this past year about um you know some of the initial discussions internally you know and you know to your point what we would
establish and that is certainly on the list is a permit workflow obviously an initial application you know what do we need to effectively process it a workflow who would be involved and what responsibility would we task each of
those respective departments. So um obviously we want to make sure we capture what we need to um without it being too much of an administrative burden to any one particular department but you know that's something that um certainly we can get on upcoming agenda
continue that conversation on but it really it's going to be that the application we have to put together and how we want to accept those process those and then what's the workflow look like on the back end when it comes to >> you know getting recommendations from departments potentially enforcement of
um those different applications and things of that nature. >> Yeah. >> To Dick's point, we we discussed it before and I think because there are so many possible units in town that you'd have to inspect. It was more like a you know, we'd have to do some sort of random almost lotterybased selection
because, >> you know, the fire chief and everyone else would be out there, you know, the entire time doing Airbnbs and everything else. So I think it's based on the sheer number it has to be some sort of randomized you know they'll do the process but then have the by the
expectations that you know 10% of the 300 are you know inspected or something. >> So maybe is that something that can wait till after town meeting do you think? >> I think so. Yeah I think so. Yeah I think this year is going to be tough to get this all together. There's a lot of moving parts this and the prior town
administrator made made a point of that to say we got some work to do here. Yeah. >> So, it's going to be tough at first, but it may take a couple of years to get this ring right. >> Yeah. Good. Keep us on track. We were supposed to be working on that. Um, so I
did attend a school building committee meeting. Um, kind of two things I want to make sure the the board knows about. Um, so one of the things we talked about was um closing out the project and, you know, summing it all up and calling it done. Um, so there's still some work in
the accounting team um, needs to do to kind of get the final numbers of how much we've spent. Um, there's still a few remaining items that they want to work on. So that kind of how do we get to the place where we can end the project was one of the discussions. Um
the other one that came up was um there has been some talk about alleviating the traffic problems around the school um by um opening up the road where the campground property is. And so we talked about that um the implications of that.
But one of the things we wanted to know was uh we wanted to seek advice from bond counsel about whether um that was a like spending money to build that road was something that we could appropriately spend under that bond. Um
I believe it is not. I believe it's changed the scope of the project and property that wasn't there at the original bond. But I'm just me and not bond counsel. So, um I think you're working with um Sue to work with council to get like a ruling on whether we can't. So, first of all, we don't know
how much money we have exactly left to know if we have money to pay for the road. I think we probably do have enough to pay for the road, but second, whether um it's appropriate under that bond issue or whether we'd have to find another mechanism to pay for it. So, we're getting expertise on that.
Um that was all I had. Do we have any comments and statements from the public? We have way more public here than we usually do at this time. >> We do. I do know that we have one topic that was not reasonably anticipated 48
hours in advance. So, do you want to tell us what that is? >> Uh, certainly. So, over the last several weeks, we have been working with our energy manager uh and representatives from the library on a grant application. and this is through the green communities grant program. Um they are
looking to apply for $250,000 to help us upgrade the library HVAC system. So um that would be uh a partial funding source. Um they're also chasing down other grant funding source and rebates uh through the utilities to
fully fund that project, which they estimate right around $480,000. Um, within this scope of work, they'd be replacing a total of five of the rooftop units um with the capability of having
the electric as well as the um uh um fuel source um to essentially, you know, if it's gets too cold, they can just flip over to the other uh heating system. If not, uh it'll be the electric heat pumps. So, um, this is something
where the application they're submitting this week, unfortunately. I was made aware of the signature page, uh, late in the day on Friday, um, that need the board's approval. Um, so that's why we weren't able to get to you beforehand, but um, >> so the so the ask is to authorize the
>> submission of the grant application. >> Submission of the grant application, correct? >> Is there any cost to the town any matching or anything? >> No. >> No. All right. Questions? I do have questions, but I don't know if I want to prolong it. Uh, the grant itself, are there stipulations as to um,
you know, and you probably don't know that right off the bat, but I know when they did the heat pump for the town halls, we have more than a couple um, AC HVAC companies in town that couldn't actually bid on the job because they were, you know, not qualified, I guess,
by the Commonwealth. M >> is that a similar situation with the library that that these you know local businesses probably wouldn't be able to do the work on that >> the specs it's likely um similar funding source similar requirements you know I would say just in the conversations
we've had to date >> a lot of this um there's a few different options about how it would be configured so I don't have what that final configuration would look like you know but I think the uh idea behind the conversations as of now is um based off
of what we get in grant funding total. They're going to try and scale the project to meet Okay. >> what we get. Um >> Okay. >> I'm not going to vote against that at least. >> Would you Did you just make a motion? >> I didn't make a motion to approve.
>> Second. >> Do you have any discussion? >> All in favor? I >> I three in favor and two absent. Right. Anything else? >> No. >> Okay. >> I'm all set. Thank you. Okay, I will entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> Motion to adjurnn. Second.
>> All in favor?