We'll call we'll call the meeting to order and Allison uh well I sent the notes the minutes around deplorably late but does anybody have any comments on them?
>> Great job. >> Good job. Motion to accept. >> So moved. >> Second. Um all in favor? Hi. >> Hi. >> Okay. The budget
um numbers are due by the 31st and we have the same $200 number we've had forever. And it suddenly dawned on me the reason we never spend it is because it's not enough to do anything with.
>> Well, if you had $1,000, what would you do, Judy? Well, I don't know, but it'd be a nice problem to have. And I think I was going to ask I was going to suggest 750 on the idea that
the re it's the 250th in next year and I think we would that would be a justification that the town would accept. But um we could start study grant. We could uh
I mean we could >> What is that? I'm sorry. What is a study? Well, I was I was thinking we could start to um think about hiring somebody to do one of these um
area forms that never gets done. Although I don't really think that's a good use of the money. Um we could perhaps team with somebody to get speakers or something for for the 250th. I mean, we need to pay in honorarium.
>> Well, they're celebrating the the big celebration, of course, is this April. That's when the crest of the whole uh mass 250, revolution 250 thing. >> Yeah. But things will go on all year, I would think. And um
>> Yeah. And then the the trees on the scenic roads came up. And that's not really our province, but and I did find out that there is um
Garrett Garrett Barry, who was taking Keith's place, is the new tree warden. and he did tell me that there's $2,500 to plant trees, but I don't know how far that will go. He I said, "Well, it might
be nice to have a little more next year." He said, "I think we could do that." So, so that's not an instance, but um if we wanted to publish a pamphlet or um
I don't know. I I think if we're we're limited because we don't generate ideas because we don't have any money to do anything. >> Hey Ashley. >> Hey Ashley. >> Everybody. Sorry I'm a couple minutes late.
you missed the minutes and um we're talking about the budget and I raised the hypothesis that the reason we never spend anything is because there's not enough there to really do anything with and
which I have come to believe um it probably wouldn't even buy much postage these days if and I still have some stamps for you Ashley. Thank you. >> Um, but if we did want to send out a mailing
or print a pamphlet or hire a speaker or um do something, we would need a budget. >> Yeah. And and I thought we could ask for 750 or a,000
because of the 250th anniversary. Allison pointed out that most of the celebrations will be in April or the >> Well, they're launching off end of summer. You're right. They'll go all year, >> but that's too soon for us is I guess my
point. >> Well, um, we'd have the money in June or July. >> Are there any examples of what this group has done before? Oh, we've never had more than $200.
>> Well, we we did do the hidden history website. That's probably the last big thing that we spent some money on. >> Yeah. >> Which is the interactive website with uh locations around town and history attached to them. And we needed we uh
the committee members volunteered of course to do it. But right Susan, but we paid um a web designer, you know, person to set it up and help us with the tech part, the IT part of that. >> And when did that >> year was that 250th money?
>> Might have been for the town's two I'm sorry, I lose track. You know, it's been three, four years. She's right. It was 21. >> I think it was 21 because I remember Okay. I was one of the like reviewers for that. >> Oh, excellent. Yeah. All right. So,
let's say 21. seems like >> some ways very long time ago and in some ways last week but >> celebration was actually in 2022 because we had to postpone it by a year because of co >> right but I think we were working well it doesn't matter somewhere in there so
it's four or five years ago >> you know and that is an existing thing that could be added to and expanded and enhanced if we wanted to do that we might need some more tech advice to help
us. But um >> I mean if you I mean like in the idea >> is there for us to and it sort of >> you're breaking up Alison. >> Say it again. >> Sorry you guys breaking up for me.
>> Mary, say what you said again. I was just wondering if if it could be leveraged for this 250 anniversary, like use work that's previously been done to sort of highlight >> that's a good thought. One thing I've always
>> the state versus 250 of the town. >> One thing I've always wanted to do is a walking tour guide of Wheatley Center. I did a talk once and there's a lot of material that could be put into a
pamphlet or a audio phone tour. >> Oh, I think that >> Yeah, >> I was just going to say so for now, do we want to put the money into the budget or ask for the money in our budget with the explanation
that we want to plan programming for the national 250th, but I don't think we can play on the program until we know if we're likely to get the money, like if it gets included in the budget. >> It's kind of chicken and egg kind of thing.
>> But I guess my question was if if we're saying that this is for the revolution 250, what are we imagining doing? We're coming back to the same problem that we run up against where the
immediate revolutionary history for Weightley is thinish. >> All right. Wait, can I say one quick thing? Ashley. >> Ashley, I agreed to take notes. >> Oh, thank you. >> Okay. I wasn't sure if it looked like
you were writing. So, >> I was I was writing, but I wasn't writing officially. Okay. >> She's doing her Christmas cards. >> I should be I should be >> All right. Sorry. Um, >> so so I mean we're back to again chicken
and egg, but you know, let's say we had that money. What would we do? I I >> always kind of stumped by this. >> I think we could just say we'd like to focus on Weightley's history. And one thing we could do in that walk is or
whatever we do is um concentrate on the the diarama or the view you did of of Wheatley in 1771. We could we could emphasize that. There are things we could do. Um
>> how would that relate to the 250th the revolution? >> It's pretty close to 1776. So one would be an option. >> Give a sense of what Weightley look like then. I think
>> but we could we all we need to do is tell people look we really don't can't we have some ideas but we can't finalize them until we have a clue whether we have a budget or not. >> Okay. Well, I don't need to push you,
but I I guess I'm asking what those ideas are because I don't really >> I'm not sure we need to know now. I mean, we have a few, but >> Okay. I think, you know, we're talking $750. I don't think they'd spend much
time on it. 800. >> I I I think the walking tour is a cool idea. I mean, I But I understand what Allison's trying to say in terms of like how does that tie in, right? And if we can come up with some way that it ties
in, that seems good. >> It's tough. It's it's mind. We people have been trying to do that at the historical society and elsewhere trying to make that work. And it's a tough road to hoe. It's it's uh >> But does it have to really be tied to
the revolution? This is just our 250th birthday for the country. We are a town that's been around that entire time. Can it just be about celebrating our history within that amount of time? I think so. >> Sure. If that if that works. >> I don't know. I'm just word smithing it
so that it works. >> Yeah. Yeah. That that sounds that sounds good, Ashley. You can tell. >> No, no, I think you're right though. I mean, it is. >> We still need an idea, but Yeah. >> Yeah. That's what I had in mind. And she said it beautifully.
>> Yeah. Okay. >> We could like knock down the town hall and start again. >> So, that leaves it wide open. Then Ashley's just made it so we can do anything. >> Have I mentioned I'm in marketing? >> Yeah, very. >> Okay. Um,
so it sounds like we're in agreement to ask for 750. Is that what I'm hearing? >> It was 750 a,000. Which do you think? >> I I have no idea. I mean, because I don't know what we're doing, but >> I mean, you should I guess here's one
way to look at it. You should pick a number that you think they'll go for. If it I I don't know what would be outrageous number. >> If we pick a thousand, they could cut it back to 750 and we'd be happy.
But then I'm thinking, if we pick 750, this is so bad. If we pick 750, does it sound like we have more of an idea and that's what we think it's going to cost? A thousand sounds like just we're asking for money?
>> Well, I'm playing advocate here. >> Let's say you were going to print a pamp Let's just How about we think of it this way? Ashley can help think about it this way. If you wanted to print something, Judy, that was the walking tour, right? >> And would And would this be in color, do
you think? Are you >> sure color? >> Yeah. Okay. Sure. Then >> I just pulled out for sure. But I'd also like to have something that um with QR codes that you could get audio descriptions.
>> Oh, wow. audio. Okay. >> And that might require hiring a technical person would definitely because where would those live? >> Yeah. I mean, can't audio file files live on a website?
>> Right. Which the town website? >> I mean, we're a town commission, right? I mean, we could also there are lots of audio and video serving sites like we could have an account, right? That >> would expire, right? >> You'd have to pay for I mean
>> you'd have to pay for it. Yeah. But like if we did have the budget >> hidden the hidden histories on the town website, right? >> That is but with audio and video files, those are larger. It would depend on how much space they would have. Um, it might
be worth exploring like a Vimeo or account or something. >> Well, this is we have time. The request has to be in December 31st, >> but we have time to research this going forward. They probably >> I'm trying to help you.
>> We're trying to I don't know what do you have a sense of what that cost, Ashley? >> Uh, look up Vimeo right now just because that's what our that's what our school uses and it it's it's very nice and it works on all the devices and everything. Let me look at the pricing. >> I think it's pretty cheap.
>> I think it is too or else my school would not be using it. Um, they have like a depends on what you want. So, for one user, which is probably all we would probably need, and you get two terabytes
of storage, which is a lot, that's $12 a month. >> So, 150 bucks a year times a couple of years. I mean, we're not just doing it for one year. >> That's just that's video. So, there
might be a cheaper service that's similar. That's just audio. That's something that we can >> Well, I mean, it does sound like 750 is plenty if we're going to ask somebody to help us with >> Well, the printing.
Uhhuh. Well, we can also encumber. I discovered on the CPA CPC that you can encumber a previous year's budget to be spent in subsequent years
if that or we you know we could start with the 200 we have and then add it to whatever we we request. >> You can encumber it for how long? >> Evidently indefinitely. So all these years you haven't spent this money, you
could have encumbered it. We could be wealthy. >> Yes. I didn't know you could do that. >> I think they might. You have to vote it for a specific reason. I mean, you have a purpose, I think. >> I don't think they'll let just let you >> pile it up for someday.
>> Okay. Um, so I'm hearing that uh we're going to ask for a thousand, see what happens and perhaps think about this walking tour slash audio walking tour.
>> We could use Sorry, there's a site that I know of called SoundCloud, which I think could work really well for what we want to do, but I'm trying to figure out what the cost is and I have not figured that out yet because it's not clear on their website. So, >> I mean, I don't think we need to do that now, but >> we don't need to do that now.
>> They're competing with Vimeo. They're probably a similar price, right? >> I would guess. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Do I hear a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Sure. Second.
All >> in favor? I I >> Good. Okay. Um, removal of hazardous trees. The Scott Jackson sent around uh
well, he sent me a copy of the legal notice for a hearing they're having that the Concom agent, which is the person that's been hired to help them with their with their um determinations and
the like, um would have the ability to remove hazardous trees. case or determine I I think it's actually removed and
I got thinking about the scenic bylaw and the fact that it encourages replacement and I won't of appropriate similar appropriate trees were feasible
and I want I thought that perhaps it would be appropriate for us to discuss whether we should contact the Kong and ask that this be made explicit to the agent.
I suppose we should first decide whether we think this is something that should be delegated to the agent as opposed to the tree warden where it now where that authority now resides. and then
whether we should write to Scott Jackson and ask that as part of this policy they they note that replacement is encouraged in on scenic roads. I finally got the policy this this
afternoon or early afternoon and it appears that this authority will only apply in areas that the concom has jurisdiction. So this is
um 100 ft within a wetland and that kind of thing where they where they do need to make determinations that are in their purview. So that the policy outlines several
districts. So it wouldn't be all hazardous trees, but it would affect scenic roads wherever there's a a wetland or a brook within that crosses a scenic road or within a
100 ft of a scenic road. So places like >> scenic roads are designated as well. >> I'm sorry. >> Are scenic roads designated? >> Yeah, there's a >> there's a list of them. That's a general bylaw.
Ah, you escaped all this. I I'll send you the link. Um, >> you can probably guess where they are. >> Yeah, >> we added to >> Yeah, we added >> Weber Road and
um, not Straits Road. It's the road that goes from Aidenville up to Weber, the little one. Anyway, there's a list of biods online.
>> It's called stripy or something. >> I'm sorry. >> Strippy or something like that. >> Strip strip. Um I don't remember. Christian. Anyway, there there's they are they were determined by town meeting
vote >> and they're listed in the bylaw. And typically if a tree is to be removed or a stone wall, this applies only to the town own land
and which is within 50 or 100 ft of the center of the road. Um, but typically unless it's hazardous or in very poor health, well, I think unless it's hazardous, it has to go to a
public hearing review by the planning board and the tree warden so that people get an opportunity to comment. If it's deemed hazardous, then the town can just take it down without the public hearing.
But in both cases um this replacement is encouraged. >> So I would like to suggest that the historical commission recommend to to the concom that this that the policy
be amended to to state that basically that when one of these is on a scenic road that replacement is encouraged. or recommended. >> I like recommended better. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, I definitely
support that. >> Yep. >> Sounds good. >> So, we're going to And so, how does that work? You'll you'll contact the >> I'll draft a letter tomorrow and run it by you.
>> Okay. And if Well, they're meeting Wednesday night. Um, you trust me to write it. >> I trust you. >> Seems good. We all agree on >> You've done good work in the past, Judy.
>> Okay. >> So, we're talking about replacement recommended, not >> Yes. Okay. >> Not encouraged. Okay. Do we need a formal vote? >> I move that we send a letter.
>> Second. >> Okay. Thank you. All in favor? Hi. >> Hi. And the last one on the agenda is is the mass historical um
I think MPF stands for Massachusetts preservation project fund funding. Um it's the annual grant that they put out and or the annual grants that they give out and they have a formal cycle of
application and processing including training. And I'm not suggesting that that anybody go to any of these training sessions or not. I mean, you certainly
can if you want, but I did think it was important that everybody on the commission know that this grant cycle exists. Um, it's probably the biggest um preservation grant program in the state. uh one of
the few Mass Historical Commission is very strict about what can the terms that requires the secretary standards. It also requires a 100% match which is a a big drawback but CPA money
is eligible for the match. >> What's the name of it again? What does the MPPS stand for? Mass preservation project fund. Okay. >> I think um >> didn't we do that >> preservation and planning preservation
and planning grants? I'm sorry. >> Didn't we do that when we were renovating town hall? >> Yeah. And we got we got a grant that started at 65,000 and they added to it in the course of
the year it added wound up at something like 78,000 I think was for preserving the windows specifically in the town hall. Um, and we got it primarily because Weightley had never I mean, one reason
we moved to the top of the list was because Weightley had never had a grant from this program before. So, they like that. I mean, they wanted they want to spread the numbers around. But, um, it turned out to be a lot of work. I
think primarily because of the person who worked with us was very difficult to deal with. and rarely there. Other people I know in other towns that have gotten grants haven't had that problem at all. But
it can be used for doing area forms. It can be used for preservation projects. It can be used for planning projects if you wanted to to do something like the feasibility study that's going on at town on for the
center school now. That kind of thing. So just keep it in mind as something that's available if >> what's the deadline? >> I think April maybe.
>> Okay. So we have time. >> Yeah. I don't I'm not necessarily recommending that. I think maybe the center school committee might might apply if they can get their act together. I'm not sure they can. Um if
If you do think of a project, I mean, what what you really need to have by the deadline is a budget and a a business plan or a concrete plan if if it's a preservation thing, but you need to
I wasn't as much suggesting that we should be thinking about a project this year as that we should all know that this this program exists. So if something comes up, but if something
if you have something in mind, um we'd certainly be willing to consider it. One problem is the CPA cycle and this cycle don't mesh very well. For the CPA, you need to get the applications in in the beginning of December
for town meeting. And >> but >> speaking of CPA, was there anything you were going to find out if there was anything? I I assumed not because you would have told us >> about that. Um
>> that's fine. There was there's a project for the elementary school playground that they budgeted at $100,000 which was about twice what the CPC was expecting.
>> Wow. >> Um it seems like a lot. Um and there are two two APRs and that's it. So >> Daniel So, anything else? >> Well, happy holidays everybody. Oh,
next. Next meeting. >> Happy holidays. >> What's this? Third Wednesday in January. The 21st it looks like. Wait, the third Wednesday or the third Monday? >> Monday. >> Monday. >> It's the 19th. >> Okay.
>> Which but that is also MLK day. I don't know if that matters. >> It doesn't matter to to the us if if that's a complication for anybody. We discovered long ago that
meeting on Mon third third Monday tends to be a mon a holiday and it turned out >> you get all kinds of things. >> Yeah. >> Okay. In February we're up against President's Day.
So, well, happy holidays. >> All right. >> You, too. >> Put in the notes that we will meet on the 19th. >> Yeah. >> Assuming there's something to discuss. >> Yeah. >> We can do our research on the
>> We're going to spend all our money. >> Yeah. >> All right. Nice to see you guys. Hi. >> Hi, everyone. Hi.