WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=2KFGFfB0Lss

Part: 1

1
00:00:03.600 --> 00:00:22.640
She's the one. >> No. >> Recording in progress. >> Good evening everybody and welcome to the Yarmouth Select Board meeting of May 12th, 2026. Um I'm going to uh ask that we go into

2
00:00:22.640 --> 00:00:38.399
executive session. I'll read the motion in a moment and um we will come back into public session somewhere around 6:00. So the Yarma Select Board will consider going into executive session pursuant to Mass General Law chapter 30A

3
00:00:38.399 --> 00:00:54.320
section 21 A3 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining in regards to proposed wage plan applying to SEIU unit B which if held in open meeting would be deter detrimental have a

4
00:00:54.320 --> 00:01:10.320
detrimental effect on the bargaining of the public body and the chair so declares which I do so I'd ask that somebody move that >> I move that we go into executive session. >> Second. >> We have to do roll call.

5
00:01:10.320 --> 00:01:26.320
>> We do, but um >> they won't be Oh, they No, this is executive session. >> So, but the motion needs to be that we're going into executive session pursuant to Mass General Law Chapter 3A section 21 A3 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining in

6
00:01:26.320 --> 00:01:41.840
regards to proposed wage applying to SEIU unit B. So moved. >> Second. All those in favor? Mark >> I. >> Dorcas. >> I. >> Joyce. >> I. >> Argo. I >> I. We're in executive session. We will come back into public session at

7
00:01:41.840 --> 00:02:03.200
approximately 6 p.m. Thank you. >> Recording stop. >> Good food while you're down there. >> Some barbecue. >> Johnson. Recording in progress. >> Yeah, they have one in Charlotte, too,

8
00:02:03.200 --> 00:08:32.039
>> which is interesting. >> Well, the South is really, >> just so you know, we're on >> South is really kind of coming on. So just give you contact information.

9
00:08:52.080 --> 00:09:32.519
Great. Sandy online reading pass uploads well. Basically, you get together to figure out where you're going to set your parameters for

10
00:10:28.240 --> 00:10:47.200
All set, Liam. >> Thank you. All right. Good evening, everybody. It's 6 PM. So, we will uh we have concluded our executive session and we are back in open session. And I'd ask that you join me in a pledge of allegiance, please. le to the flag of the United States of

11
00:10:47.200 --> 00:11:05.200
America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. And I ask that you please join me in a moment of silence while we um honor and

12
00:11:05.200 --> 00:11:30.240
think about those that are serving our country in harm's way in uh far reaches of our of our world. Thank you very much for that. We are going to begin our meeting with announcements. Is there anybody that has

13
00:11:30.240 --> 00:11:47.959
any announcements? Liz, I just would point out today is Tuesday and next Tuesday we have the ballot votes. So just to remind everybody to go to your voting place and vote your voice.

14
00:11:49.600 --> 00:12:05.680
>> Yes. Um because people have received their uh property tax bills um for this half year, I'd just like to point out that on the uh on the town site in the assessors area, there are a number of um

15
00:12:05.680 --> 00:12:21.360
propositions es especially connected to seniors, disabled veterans, um blind people um for property tax deferral um or for um personal exemptions. Um the one I particularly want to

16
00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:38.240
mention because most of them have lists of papers you have to present that would be far too long to mention is um one for which applications open June 1st and that's the senior tax workoff program um and that's a one paragraph description

17
00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:58.160
um and you go to the um Yarma Senior Center um and make an appointment to fill out the application there. So, you'd call 5083947606 for more details. Um, in addition to the uh statutory personal exemptions, this

18
00:12:58.160 --> 00:13:14.160
allows a workoff program for which you can qualify if you're 60 or over if you're physically able to meet job requirements of one of the town departments and you own a town in Yarmouth. Participants will >> home a home.

19
00:13:14.160 --> 00:13:29.680
>> A home. You said town. >> Well, if you if you own a whole town, you probably don't need this help. Anyway, >> thank you. This >> um if you own a home in the town of Yarm, um you may qualify um for a $500

20
00:13:29.680 --> 00:13:46.959
abase abatement on real estate taxes for the work completed. >> Um the uh the uh workoff applications are available at the senior center. Um, and those with demonstrative financial need are given priority on that.

21
00:13:46.959 --> 00:14:02.720
>> Okay. I just know that's a hard one for people to track. I knew some people two years ago who were interested in that, but it was just not in the in the usual category with the other ones. >> Very good. Or does you have anything, Mark? >> Bob. >> Um, yes. I have two announcements, Madam

22
00:14:02.720 --> 00:14:18.959
Chairman. First of all, I'd like to announce the Yarmouth Senior Center will be holding their fourth annual good health and well-being fair, which will be on May 15, 2026, 1 to 3 p.m. at the Yarmouth Senior Center, 528 Forest Road. Um, it's a

23
00:14:18.959 --> 00:14:33.199
great program. Um, so we encourage folks to come out and um, visit with some of the various vendors that have a wide variety of pro products and um, programs for health and and well-being.

24
00:14:33.199 --> 00:14:50.320
And I'd also like to announce that the Yarmouth Health Department in conjunction with the Cape Cod Foster Closet is holding a summer donation drive for Cape Cod children. And um the drop off location is Yarmouth Health

25
00:14:50.320 --> 00:15:05.600
Department located right at the town hall 1146 Route 28. The deadline is May 25 and they're looking for new summer items such as swimsuits, beach towels, flipflops, and these will go um to help

26
00:15:05.600 --> 00:15:21.839
children in foster care and underprivileged people in our community and contact the Yarmouth Health Department for any more information. >> Great. Anybody else have any announcements? Seeing nobody, we will go to public comment. Is there anybody here that

27
00:15:21.839 --> 00:15:38.720
would like to address the board? Yes. Good evening, >> Linda Callahan, precinct 2. Um, I just wanted to first to thank the select board for placing the issue of scheduling a special town meeting on your agenda so quickly. It's well appreciated. I also wanted to thank

28
00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:53.680
voters from the entire community for the approximately 300 signatures gathered in only a couple of days for the citizens petition to request this town meeting to readress the annual town meeting article 15 library construction. The number of

29
00:15:53.680 --> 00:16:10.720
signatures on the petition was well over 177 of the no votes which was 14 votes short of the necessary twothird supermajority. I believe approximately 60% of the voters cast an affir affirmative vote. I just want to remind people that this is not a frivolous

30
00:16:10.720 --> 00:16:25.519
request. It's not a beautifification park uh project. A lot of money has already been approved by the voters of the town of Yarmouth over the past few years at previous meetings to continue working on this project. Approximately $250,000

31
00:16:25.519 --> 00:16:41.519
has been spent. A lot of time has also been spent by townappointed committees. Approximately 10 years in the recent past studying community needs and building conditions, library use statistics, gathering opinions, looking at refurbishing the MacArthur School,

32
00:16:41.519 --> 00:17:00.240
and many other suggestions that have been raised. And finally, the town of Yamoth is guaranteed 13,438,478 in state construction grant funding and $43,154 in green library incentive grant

33
00:17:00.240 --> 00:17:16.000
available now. That availability is questionable in the future. The current aging buildings are going to need considerable considerable repairs and upgrading. the whole cost of these repairs being borne by the town. Thank you.

34
00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:35.600
>> Thank you, Linda. Is there anybody else here that would like to address the board? >> Good evening, Susan Britta from West Yamoth. Um, I'm speaking to you tonight just as a resident, not as a member of uh any committee that I'm on. Um, I also

35
00:17:35.600 --> 00:17:52.400
want to speak to the issue of library funding and the the uh special town meeting that we're going to have. Um, on April 28th, a vote was taken. Um, and as Linda said, it is not was not a frivolous vote. People were very

36
00:17:52.400 --> 00:18:08.000
thoughtful about what they were doing about uh authorizing new debt. It was a new debt vote. It was a vote by the residents whether we were going to authorize new debt. It was not a popularity vote. It was not whether you like libraries or don't like libraries. Everyone loves their library. Uh you

37
00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:23.919
speak to anyone in the town, it's probably the most beloved activity the town does. That was not that kind of a vote. It was a vote to authorize new debt. Um and with all of the information that was available, the library project committee met almost weekly for months

38
00:18:23.919 --> 00:18:40.400
making sure that the data that was presented to the residents was accurate, the budget data, the design, how it was going to be paid for. And it seemed to be the the fulcrum, the thing that the conversation balanced on was that $13 million grant from the state. And the

39
00:18:40.400 --> 00:18:56.720
voters decided that the $13 million grant was not equal to a $23 million debt and they voted not to move forward with the with the library project. Um, and there are lots of good reasons why. And it was the whole issue of new debt. Uh, very consistent with our very own

40
00:18:56.720 --> 00:19:14.960
finance committee that warned about the incremental the the danger of authorizing new debt when we had so many present obligations to be responsible for um the there's a recent report that was issued by the Mass Municipal

41
00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:30.960
Association basically the same issue um rising operational costs flat revenue stream be very cautious by and this is not just this is not just Yahoth this is all the towns and on the Cape it's all the towns across the state of Massachusetts they're all in the same

42
00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:48.320
squeeze. Operating costs are going up uh indirect and direct and your revenue stream is very stable. Particularly here in Yarmouth, we have um an elderly population. We have a stable population on fixed income. Our ability to raise revenue is extremely limited. And the

43
00:19:48.320 --> 00:20:04.720
the the notion that we would be authorizing new debt without guaranteeing we can pay for it is really not physically it's not something we should be considering. Um the the and this is As you know, this is a result of a much larger environmental governmental environmental picture with starting with

44
00:20:04.720 --> 00:20:21.120
the federal government. The federal government is no money to the states. The states no money to the state and locals and the state and locals now are burdened with trying to pay for all this debt. Um before I retired, I worked for 35 years in Washington DC for the

45
00:20:21.120 --> 00:20:38.320
federal government. And even if there were a major administrative changes in this November and in two years, it would take years before the funding stream that we were used to comes back online. Um, one of the first projects I ever did

46
00:20:38.320 --> 00:20:56.000
was years ago I worked with chairman with the congressman Dela Hunt's office getting a mere $50,000 for packets landing. That kind of small incremental grant, that's no longer available. that stuff is just not going to be available, let alone larger ones to pay for construction projects. Um, so the the

47
00:20:56.000 --> 00:21:11.360
notion that we would be sanctioning new debt when we really cannot we we have to concentrate on waste water, waste water, waste water first. Then we have other things we have to pay for. New debt at this at this time, not just for us, but for anyone in anyone in Massachusetts

48
00:21:11.360 --> 00:21:28.080
without a funding source is really not not a physically responsible position to take. And then lastly, I just wanted to highlight the difference between two projects that have just that we're we're all aware of right now. The opening of the Parkers River Landing, for many of you, it's the drive-in site. For me,

49
00:21:28.080 --> 00:21:45.200
will always be the drive-in site. And the library project and the issue of public outreach and community involvement. The library the the the drive-in site project took a long time. and Kathy Williams, you know, spent hours, the committee spent hours

50
00:21:45.200 --> 00:22:00.880
incorporating public comment, getting public comment so that when it opened, it was almost universally embraced by everyone in the town versus the library project which not because of anyone's fault because of what we did or did not do because of the strings attached to

51
00:22:00.880 --> 00:22:16.960
that state grant. They were under the library project committee was under great time pressure. they could not do a lot of public outreach that we probably should have done. Once we took other people's money, which was state money, it came with strings. Uh, a lot of the things we could have discussed, we couldn't discuss. Uh, and so the result

52
00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:33.200
has been a project that has really been very divisive in the community versus the drive-in site, which could have been divisive and wasn't. We took a lot of time to incorporate public comment, community involvement, and the result has been just a project that has been just universally received and praised.

53
00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:49.280
So, while I agree with Linda, this library project is not frivolous. It was never meant to be frivolous. A lot of time went into it, but um and we discussed this in the library project committee, this was always going to be a money vote. This was always going to be a pocketbook vote. Can we pay for it?

54
00:22:49.280 --> 00:23:07.880
Should we pay for it? And on the 28th of April, the citizens said no, not at this time. Um and with that, I will thank you for your time. >> Thank you, Susan. Is there anybody else who would like to address the board? We will go to um VA.

55
00:23:08.080 --> 00:23:24.159
>> Hello uh Vita Morris in precinct 2. I just want to thank Susan uh for her comments and endorse them wholeheartedly uh uh which give me a little more time to just say something on sort of a

56
00:23:24.159 --> 00:23:39.679
sideline to this whole thing. I I have asked over the years of the last couple of years or so, could the board just please put out word to everybody in town who's involved in not just the running of the town but uh and the uh the

57
00:23:39.679 --> 00:23:56.480
boards, the committees and everything. Please do not come forward with any more uh projects multi-million dollar projects because we are not in a position to to uh undertake them. And I don't understand why that hasn't been

58
00:23:56.480 --> 00:24:10.720
done because people, as far as I can tell, they just keep coming with these projects uh uh hither and look at what a mess this one has ended up in because and and and and we we kind

59
00:24:10.720 --> 00:24:27.919
of uh uh once it got rolling, it just uh got its own steam or something and got has gotten way over into this to this point. I I I don't know whether once it got started it could have been stopped or something like that but this is uh it

60
00:24:27.919 --> 00:24:44.799
really is an outrageous uh example of of uh how things should not be done. We I think the the town people the those running the town are perfectly aware of what our financial situation is and we cannot keep undertaking uh any new

61
00:24:44.799 --> 00:25:00.559
projects at least these multi-million dollar projects and unfortunat uh especially those that are uh seem to be burdened by the public uh uh the the the the rules and regulations the uh that

62
00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:17.600
govern the the the public uh uh uh built uh entities that build anything like that. that that's that whole system is based on scams one after another because this is this is the the

63
00:25:17.600 --> 00:25:33.200
$35 million for for this particular project is totally out of line out of you know reasonable uh people would not uh you know agree that this is the right uh cost of that project because it's it's based on all

64
00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:50.159
kinds of scams up and down the line but anyway uh as I said I Susan put it so well. I I I just think I wish that uh for for the benefit of those who who were involved in it and uh promoting it and what have you that it had never

65
00:25:50.159 --> 00:26:07.120
gotten to this point. And I hope that in the future there will be such a word put out to the various town uh people who are in in charge of making pro you know proposing projects and what have you that we cannot undertake anything more

66
00:26:07.120 --> 00:26:23.279
and especially not while we have this uh uh the the wastewater thing uh uh on our backs and what have you. So that's uh uh all right. The the the are we going to be allowed to say anything? Uh I guess I

67
00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:40.080
I I I don't would need to do it anymore during the time that you will be but I'm just discussing this item this particular item. >> No, you have something to say. Say it now. >> We're not it's not going to be a public discussion. >> Okay. Now, the other thing is

68
00:26:40.080 --> 00:26:56.400
I don't know who was uh now in charge of uh putting together the the town's web page and what have you. Uh the other evening I was trying to find out, you know, kind of remind myself when is the election uh day and uh what have you.

69
00:26:56.400 --> 00:27:13.279
So, you opened up the page. It used to be that on the top would be something like either it's town meeting or it's election or whatever and there it was when I opened it that the the the town meeting was still the one being proposed

70
00:27:13.279 --> 00:27:30.080
you know propagated or whatever. It was so they taking up the whole page and it took me I don't know how 15 20 minutes half an hour to find something on the election. >> The election's Tuesday May 19th. Well, I I I finally found that I mean it

71
00:27:30.080 --> 00:27:48.279
shouldn't it be uh shouldn't the one that has already passed more than two weeks ago or whenever be taken away and and then the election put in its place >> right there. >> I I wish that uh you know somebody would do something about that. Thank you. >> Thank you, Vita. Uh, Brian,

72
00:27:57.600 --> 00:28:13.679
>> good evening. >> Hi. You can hear me? >> Yes, sir. >> This is Brian Heidi, precinct one. I just want to applaud Susan Vetos for speaking up on the library. Susan put it very eloquently about this is not about saying no to a library. It's about

73
00:28:13.679 --> 00:28:31.919
saying no uh to the additional debt. Just because something is on sale doesn't mean that we can afford to purchase it. It's 25 million out of the town's pocket on top of the 13.4 million for the grant, but we know how projects

74
00:28:31.919 --> 00:28:49.360
run. We know it's going to go over. No one I also went to the town meeting but no one also no one said anything about the annual cost to run the new library salaries uh utilities during that town meeting there's a lot of there's a lot of

75
00:28:49.360 --> 00:29:06.320
dialogue around the additional costs that uh Yarmouth residents are taking on and so in a lot of these Prop 2 and a half overrides that we're asking for focused around um salaries for the

76
00:29:06.320 --> 00:29:23.120
teachers and salaries for staff um of course health care costs, utility costs and no one talked about that. So I think that's something that the town's people need to understand further. Um but I think it's this and that's that's for

77
00:29:23.120 --> 00:29:37.919
the future if you know when and if the library does get approved. But again, the town's people last week or the week before said no to the additional debt. And I think that is absolutely the right move at this time. It's uh it's it's too

78
00:29:37.919 --> 00:29:53.039
much for the town to to take on. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you, Brian. Is there anybody else? Yes, Tom. Sure. >> Good evening, everyone. Tom Pendleton, uh Long Pond Drive, precinct 3. Uh Susan, I really appreciate your

79
00:29:53.039 --> 00:30:09.520
comments. Um, one, I don't believe that this project is a scam. It never was. This was well thought out, well well um, looked at and talked about over a number of months. Um, the total project cost is not $35 million. It's $22 million with

80
00:30:09.520 --> 00:30:25.520
the grant. Um, another thing this town needs to move forward and grow and we haven't done any sort of major projects at maybe DPW in the last several years. These libraries are going to cost >> these libraries are going to the old libraries are going to cost a lot of

81
00:30:25.520 --> 00:30:41.200
money if this new library is not built to rehab to bring them up to code. Um and when South Dus closes that maintenance cost that staffing cost will move over to the new there'll be no more maintenance cost at at the old library. Um

82
00:30:41.200 --> 00:30:57.520
we got more than 60% of the vote at town meeting. I understand 144 people voted no. That's about8% of the registered voters in the town of Yarmouth. And if we don't answer for those folks who voted for this, that's over 63%. I think

83
00:30:57.520 --> 00:31:12.799
we're doing a disservice to them by not moving this petition forward. And I thank you for your time. >> Okay, seeing nobody else would like to address the board, we will move on to our 615 agenda item, which is a

84
00:31:12.799 --> 00:31:29.039
proclamation for public works. And I see Roby here. Jeff, where is Jeff hiding? >> Oh, there he is. Good evening. >> Um, should we have had a cake for this? >> We probably should. Can't afford it.

85
00:31:29.039 --> 00:31:44.720
>> Oh, right. >> But, um, I am going to read this proclamation into the record. It's a proclamation for National Public Works Week. Whereas public work professionals focus on infrastructure, facilities and services that are of vital importance to

86
00:31:44.720 --> 00:32:01.600
sustainable and resilient communities and to public health, high quality of life and wellbeing of the people of Yarmouth. And whereas these infrastructure facilities and services could not be provided without the dedicated efforts

87
00:32:01.600 --> 00:32:18.559
of the public work professionals who are engineers, managers and employees of all levels of government and the private sector who are responsible for rebuilding, improving and protecting our nation's transportation, water supply,

88
00:32:18.559 --> 00:32:35.600
water treatment, solid waste system, public buildings, and other structures and facilities essential for our citizens. And whereas it is the public interest of for the citizens, civic leaders and children of the town of Yarmouth that gain knowledge of and to

89
00:32:35.600 --> 00:32:52.000
maintain an ongoing interest and understanding of the importance of public works and public works programs in their respective communities. And whereas the year of 2026 marks the 66th annual National Public Works Week sponsored by the American Public Works

90
00:32:52.000 --> 00:33:09.120
Associ Association. Be it now resolved that we, the select board for the town of Yarmouth, do hereby designate the week of May 17th through the 23rd, 2026 as National Public Works Week. We urge all citizens to join with representatives of the American Public

91
00:33:09.120 --> 00:33:24.640
Works Association and government agencies and activities, events, and ceremonies designed to pay tribute to our public works professionals, engineers, managers, and employees, and to recognize the substantial contributions they make to protect our

92
00:33:24.640 --> 00:33:59.519
national health, safety, and quality of life given this 12th day of May, 2026, signed by the Arma Select Board. Get this. Thank you very much. Um, greatly appreciated. Jeff Colby, public works

93
00:33:59.519 --> 00:34:14.960
director. I do want to say this is for next week and it's really appreciated that the board recognizes the hard efforts and hard work of the uh public works uh that serve this community especially after this very difficult winter season that we have. Really

94
00:34:14.960 --> 00:34:32.560
really appreciate that. Uh next week also I do want to say that uh the disposal area will be doing a food drive. So we want to give back to the community as well. We've done that for a couple of years now. Uh so just wanted to get that uh word out that uh you bring your um your uh food uh goods to

95
00:34:32.560 --> 00:34:48.960
the uh disposal area and we'll donate those to the Yarmouth food pantries. That's just a nice thing that we like to do during public works week. And the last thing I do want to say is that uh Peter Burch, who was um the uh back truck operator during the uh fatal trench collapse, is being recognized

96
00:34:48.960 --> 00:35:06.560
during uh by the New England chapter of American Public Works um next week during a ceremony. Uh so that's just a nice thing that uh recognizes a um a relatively above and beyond effort by uh one of our own highway crew members um

97
00:35:06.560 --> 00:35:24.480
during a very difficult situation. of the recognizing some other public works employees across the state, but it's nice to see someone from Yarmouth getting recognized. So, thank you very much. >> Great. Thank you, Jeff. Thank you very much for those comments and it's a very welldeserved

98
00:35:24.480 --> 00:35:40.640
recognition. um all of the work that you all do um is very you know sometimes it's uh behind the scenes and uh you know but I I know this past winter was very difficult for you all as it was difficult for all the residents and sometimes you know it's the little

99
00:35:40.640 --> 00:35:57.680
things that make make things a little bit you know easier for people in their in their life and um as difficult as it was you guys did an amazing job but you do an amazing job every day and we're very grateful for all the work that you do. Does anybody else have anything else they want to add? >> I I just have to add that yes, I'm I'm

100
00:35:57.680 --> 00:36:16.079
so um acutely aware of the proclamation that was read and the heavy lift that the DPW department has always had, but in the future it's doubling down on you clearly with resilience needs and the

101
00:36:16.079 --> 00:36:31.280
coming change in our climate. So, thank you for being there and being ready to confront it. Anybody else have anything? Thank you very much for that. Okay, we are going to move on to our second hearing, which is it's a 6:30 item for

102
00:36:31.280 --> 00:36:48.800
the Parker River Landing. Uh there's a fee schedule that we I don't see here yet, but that's okay. We can handle this. This is our second hearing. So, when we have new fees or a fee increase, we typically have two hearings. and and what this is is for a whole new fee

103
00:36:48.800 --> 00:37:05.200
structure for the utilization of the new uh Parker's River Landing Park. And so what has been proposed is that um well we'll open the hearing back up. We had we had our first hearing we uh continued

104
00:37:05.200 --> 00:37:22.000
it. So, with this uh we'll open the hearing back up and it's an So, for a fee type application for use of town-owned property, which is the Parker's L River River Landing, it's proposed that a nonprofit fee for that would be $50 and a for-profit fee would

105
00:37:22.000 --> 00:37:39.119
be $100. A license fee for uh use of this parcel from May to October, and when I say parcel, it's just the event space. the remaining park will be open to the public. Um, from May to October, nonprofit is $900 a day and forprofit

106
00:37:39.119 --> 00:37:54.720
would be $1,800 a day. A license fee in the off season, which would be November to April, would be $450 a day for nonprofit and $900 a day for profit. A reservation deposit would be $100 for

107
00:37:54.720 --> 00:38:10.480
nonprofit and $100 also for profit. and the security deposit proposed for both profit and nonprofit would be a $250 fee. Um, in our last hearing, we we had uh one I think one or two comments. I

108
00:38:10.480 --> 00:38:27.079
have not received any comments, Bob. I don't think we've received any comments. >> No additional comments. >> Um, is there anybody from the public that would like to speak uh on these fees? I see somebody online. >> Megan could be Megan.

109
00:38:27.680 --> 00:38:44.000
Okay, somebody's online with their hand up. >> Fire tablet, it says. >> Yes. Good evening. >> Hi, this is Megan. >> Hi, Megan. >> Hi. Sorry, I'm having some technical difficulties. Um, I meant to be there in

110
00:38:44.000 --> 00:39:01.119
person. I'm sorry. I'm I'm not feeling well today. So, >> no apologies. I thank you for for tuning in. I hope you feel better. >> Thank you. And I'm here if you have any questions. >> Thank you very much. Is there anybody from the public that has any comments for or against the fees? With that, I'll

111
00:39:01.119 --> 00:39:16.960
take a motion to close the public hearing. >> So moved. Is >> there a second? >> Second. >> Any discussion on the motion? All those in favor? >> I have discussion >> for the motion on to close the public hearing. >> No, I have I had some remarks I made last week about some fee increases. >> We're going to close the public hearing.

112
00:39:16.960 --> 00:39:31.599
Very good. Okay. All those in favor? >> I opposed. Yes, Liz. So, I I would still um uh urge the town to consider a higher reservation deposit

113
00:39:31.599 --> 00:39:45.760
um especially for the the for-profit entities. I do fear that $100 reservation deposit is not incentive enough for um missteps in booking the

114
00:39:45.760 --> 00:40:02.800
space and potentially losing a a more solid booking um just because it's not a it's not a a strong enough incentive for people to be cautious about um making uh

115
00:40:02.800 --> 00:40:19.119
bookings that they're not really going to uphold. Secondly, I I also encourage a higher security deposit. This is refundable and I don't see any reason not to have it higher. And I think that the price that

116
00:40:19.119 --> 00:40:36.880
is uh is in the nonprofit column is fine, but for profits, a security deposit that low will not I know they have liability insurance, but it won't cover very much at all if there is an issue. So I I think that we need to

117
00:40:36.880 --> 00:40:53.599
re-examine the reservation deposit for the four profits as well as the security deposit for the fourprofits. Anybody else have anything they want to add? I I mean I do you want to make a mo if

118
00:40:53.599 --> 00:41:08.160
you want to make a motion to change it to something different and see if the board seconds it and moves it, you can do that. >> Okie do. I make a motion that we accept the fee schedule as presented for Parker

119
00:41:08.160 --> 00:41:26.400
River Landing with the uh amendment of both an increase in the reservation deposit for the for-profit entities to $300 a day and in the security deposit for the for-profit entities for $500 a

120
00:41:26.400 --> 00:41:44.960
day. Second. Any discussion on the motion? All those in favor? >> I opposed. >> Nay. >> I oppose. >> Okay. Um, is there a motion on the

121
00:41:44.960 --> 00:42:02.319
and and the only reason is I as we said before I think it will be a work in you may be right. I think that this is going to be a work in progress and I I trust that uh staff has done uh investigation to see what the market is and done their

122
00:42:02.319 --> 00:42:18.800
background on this. And again, we may have to change it. You might be right, but I'm going to uh respect the the work that staff has done in putting this together. >> Okie dokie. >> Is there anybody wants to make a different motion? >> I move that we accept the um licensing

123
00:42:18.800 --> 00:42:34.800
fees as presented by the town. >> Is there a second? >> I'll second that. >> Is there any discussion on that motion? All those in favor? >> I. >> Any oppose? Okay, passes. Thank you, Megan. Hope you feel better. Again, we

124
00:42:34.800 --> 00:42:51.760
are moving on to an update on our communications plan. I see our Good evening. I want to try to kick this thing off um a little bit um if I can. Um um and have a couple comments from Amy as well. Um we've worked closely with our

125
00:42:51.760 --> 00:43:08.400
communications team. Um welcome here. It's great to see everyone and we're happy um to have our whole team in front of the board for an update. Um I just want to say we know that communications has been a significant priority goal um

126
00:43:08.400 --> 00:43:25.359
for the select board. Um we've been um in in our staffing meetings investing a great deal of time and effort to try to evolve uh the communications program uh to address select board goals. and we have the goal of becoming a leader in

127
00:43:25.359 --> 00:43:43.359
the area of municipal communications. And we're very proud of the strides and the improvements um that we've made since we started this program, you know, really from scratch. And we want we want to acknowledge that um we we all know that we still have a long way to go to

128
00:43:43.359 --> 00:44:01.359
um fully embed the outreach and communications into the daily management operations of the town which is our goal and I think which is the goal of the select board um as as well having um our new assistant town administrator Amy Fragility on board

129
00:44:01.359 --> 00:44:16.720
with the experience that she's had in this area really has been godsend and it's allowed us um and me you know the extra time to take much more highly active role in um developing our overall

130
00:44:16.720 --> 00:44:33.200
communications management plan. Um we're working now with the communications team taking an active role uh to make them a a full part of the town management team to help develop this much more of a

131
00:44:33.200 --> 00:44:51.520
comprehensive strategy. Um I feel to um that our goal is to really embed um you know this team into the overall um messaging to assure that um we create our own messaging because obviously we

132
00:44:51.520 --> 00:45:06.640
don't have you know the press really that's there to support our management um operations. Um so as I said we acknowledge we're a work in progress on our whole communications

133
00:45:06.640 --> 00:45:22.160
effort but um the part that I think is the most beneficial to the town we have an enormously talented team here and the qualifications that we've been able to attract towards shaping this communication um have have really been

134
00:45:22.160 --> 00:45:37.599
great and and I think that um we're going to present tonight we've made a tremendous amount of progress address trying to address select board goals directly. It hasn't been a situation where we're um you know sort of on the out outside looking in that you know we're talking about these issues. We've

135
00:45:37.599 --> 00:45:53.359
met with individual um select board members. We've got some ideas um and we're here this evening to try to share some information on how we've interpreted some of the um goals that you've established, what actions that we're trying to take to meet those

136
00:45:53.359 --> 00:46:09.200
goals. Um, and we're we're also here um to listen, hear feedback, uh, and to assist the select board in your efforts. I know you're going to be updating your goals soon. Uh, and we can absolutely

137
00:46:09.200 --> 00:46:27.440
assure you that um, you know, we like to to move in tandem with the select board uh, towards creating the the best sort of communications system possible. And um so um we're we're going to be working that together. Before I I turn it over

138
00:46:27.440 --> 00:46:42.960
to to Paul and the team to hear about some of the great work they're doing, um I wanted to acknowledge um Amy. I think she had a a couple of comments about um some of the recent initiatives that we've done as well. >> Sure. I just wanted to highlight based on some of the feedback I received from

139
00:46:42.960 --> 00:46:59.119
the board. When I first got here, I wanted to highlight um some of the work that the communications team and I have done. Um in January, we we rolled out the select board spotlight. If you haven't had a chance to take a look at it, please do so. Um, after each

140
00:46:59.119 --> 00:47:14.560
meeting, um, we try to write up a little synopsis of what happened at the meeting, any upcoming hearings that we have, um, any the like the fee changes that we had tonight, um, upcoming events, happenings in town, all the

141
00:47:14.560 --> 00:47:31.760
board votes. So, please take a look at the spotlight, let us know, you know, what you like about it, what you don't, what we might be able to change. I know that um I want to work with uh the communications team and maybe making it a little more colorful if we can get some more pictures added. I know people

142
00:47:31.760 --> 00:47:48.000
uh respond to that a lot too. So um encourage the board to look at it and also the community to take a look at it. um it goes out via news and ann announcements um on the website and then the team also puts it up on Facebook and

143
00:47:48.000 --> 00:48:04.079
on the website and if people are interested in getting it right to their email they can sign up on the website under the notify me button. Um they can also sign up for agendas all kinds of things under that button. So, I encourage the community to um to use

144
00:48:04.079 --> 00:48:21.280
that notify me button on the website and they can get the news flashes directly to their email and find out what happened at the meeting and what's up and coming as well. So, with that, I'll pass it over to the communications team. >> Thank you and thank you for having us tonight. Hopefully, this will be uh an

145
00:48:21.280 --> 00:48:36.559
overview of things. Um we're going to take a quick look at what the agenda will look like. We're going to discuss each of these um topics. Primarily though, we have taken the reason for what we're doing tonight off of the goals of last year's meeting by the

146
00:48:36.559 --> 00:48:52.640
select board and we're going to tie each of these things into why we're doing them. So, that was uh again based on what you guys did. So, this was your select board goals. About uh two or three weeks after you completed this, uh Bob gave me a call. We went up, we sat

147
00:48:52.640 --> 00:49:08.160
down, we looked at it, and we said, "What are we going to do to meet these goals?" Um I won't go through each of these. You guys know this. Well, this is on the website also for everybody to take a look at. Goal one includes all phases of public ed public education and

148
00:49:08.160 --> 00:49:25.920
government which is PEG uh access including performance and feasibility of Cape Media to continue its mission on behalf of the town. This was a big one. For many years, we've had um we've had since I've been here, not too much communication with um with Cape Media

149
00:49:25.920 --> 00:49:42.079
and um there were some issues um that we knew that we needed to do and take advantage of. That was one to get somebody sitting on the board that would help us have a voice in what was happening with Cape Media. We fund that um that uh entity uh with a lot of money

150
00:49:42.079 --> 00:49:58.240
every year. So we we felt that we needed to have a representative there. With that >> um we began to have meetings with the chairman of the board. They were having some turmoil within uh directorship etc. So we figured we we'd get the director in here and uh then we needed to make

151
00:49:58.240 --> 00:50:14.240
sure that we allowed our goals between what Cape Media was doing and what the town of Yamoth expected. So with that the issues and discussions that we had with Cape Media with the chair uh we discussed our dissatisfaction of what was going on with um with us. We were

152
00:50:14.240 --> 00:50:29.599
paying a lot of money and there was no no visible return. Um I would ask for um for updates on what are they doing for the town. We really weren't getting anything back. So we made it clear that that that had to change. Another big issue was the attitude in which town

153
00:50:29.599 --> 00:50:45.680
meeting was represented by uh Cape Media. When I came here, I thought that was one of their primary goals. It was kind of like a um >> courtesy >> a courtesy to us that they were doing our meetings, >> thus the issues that we were seeing at some of the meetings. So, we had that we

154
00:50:45.680 --> 00:51:02.160
we had uh three or four meetings in my office and they went for some time. Um and then the lack of coverage for the community on channel 26. What's on there? Tell me what's there and who it is from Yamoth that's being represented. And there really wasn't a clear answer. So we kept pushing and having meetings

155
00:51:02.160 --> 00:51:18.319
to get to that the bottom of that and the last thing was the poor communication. How do we get important things that are going on in this town on channel 26 and to help build this up? So some of the progress we made with Cape Media. Um we implemented a plan what we expected. We talked about service

156
00:51:18.319 --> 00:51:34.720
levels. We talked about what we would be expecting in the future and we started to develop a plan. Meanwhile, they were still going through some turmoil and they asked us to understand that, but they were going to come to the table, which was great. Uh, the next thing is is that town meeting we made clear had

157
00:51:34.720 --> 00:51:51.440
to be uh a primary one of their primary deliverables. Period. With that, I think if you look at last town meeting that we just had, we were presented with in the last hour um some really tough information that the sound system was not going to work

158
00:51:51.440 --> 00:52:07.440
in that building. Um, we called in and tried to get the school to get people in to fix it. They couldn't do it. We called Cape Media. Cape Media was there the night before in preparation. They came in with the complete sound system and helped provide that. So, it's a different attitude that we're seeing even with town meeting. So, those are

159
00:52:07.440 --> 00:52:23.760
some great meetings that we had this year. 17 Yamothbased contents were aired and promoted on uh channel 26. Some of the things I I could go on with the whole list but I don't want to waste too much time on that but there are some

160
00:52:23.760 --> 00:52:39.839
key issues that we called and we got a response from them. One of the big things was uh the plastic initiative initiative events that they produced I think a top quality um production and along with that the library event that

161
00:52:39.839 --> 00:52:54.720
was going on that coverage and they were also instrumental in making sure that we were able to broadcast St. Patrick's Day parade throughout the region of the of uh the Cape. So again, they're taking and stepping up with uh with so we're seeing a lot of progress with Cape

162
00:52:54.720 --> 00:53:11.680
Media. Um they are now in uh interviewing for a new director. We will be part of that. We will be then h institute meetings monthly at least with them to make sure that the things in Yamoth are being covered. Their public part of what Cape meter should be

163
00:53:11.680 --> 00:53:27.520
dealing with will be there. They also have taken a step where they're working with us regularly. Anything that we're we're putting on our websites or what we're broadcasting, they are pushing out with all of their resources, all of their platforms. So, there's a a great

164
00:53:27.520 --> 00:53:42.160
thing that's working there. >> They're sharing, they're liking the content, which is very helpful. >> And then, not to uh pass over it, education is also an important leg in PEG. Um, right now we're focusing on our

165
00:53:42.160 --> 00:53:58.240
efforts on Cape Media to make sure that we're getting what uh what the town needs with Cape Media. All righty. Number two, find goals and deliverables for communication to include and providing regular general updates on local government initiatives

166
00:53:58.240 --> 00:54:14.559
and issues of the of of town importance. This is a big one and it encompasses a lot of things. What do we do? What do we have for tools and um and how are we leveraging them? Oops. What's going on? Here we are. So, one of the big things

167
00:54:14.559 --> 00:54:30.720
was the town website. We heard a lot of negative about what was happening with the town website. Um so, we had to look at a redesign of the website. We needed to make sure that we made it user friendly. That was number one in our list. And uh the website search engine

168
00:54:30.720 --> 00:54:48.559
needed to have improvements. That means when you go in and you put something in our search engine, it comes up and not something that was 20 years old. >> Yeah. >> So, these are the top three things that we found on the website that we needed to make sure that we addressed. I want to make sure I don't miss anything here.

169
00:54:48.559 --> 00:55:07.920
There's a ton of stuff here. Okay. The first thing we did was we put out a few uh notes of requests for people who had an opinion. Come talk to us. come tell us what you think the is wrong with the website, how can we help? And so we took that data that we had, we put it

170
00:55:07.920 --> 00:55:23.599
together, we reviewed it, and then uh we started to implement that as we began to carry out the redesign of the website. Another big part of this update or re redesign is Civic Plus. They manage our website. They're the experts. They

171
00:55:23.599 --> 00:55:38.800
manage this. Um and what we were getting from them on a lot of occasions is, "Well, what do you want?" Our answer back to them was, "What is the best practice to make this website user friendly and what our town needs?" And we kept pushing back. It was a

172
00:55:38.800 --> 00:55:56.079
six-month um endeavor to get through this to make sure that the website came up to where it was. Uh we had to choose then we chose a template and it was customuilt by Civic Plus. And Paul, you might know that inform the public that Civic Plus is sort of the

173
00:55:56.079 --> 00:56:12.720
go-to website developer for the towns. >> It is one of the major uh carriers for for in Massachusetts actually throughout the country. Um we uh we had a look at the data to highlight the most viewed section of the website. So we wanted to

174
00:56:12.720 --> 00:56:28.319
know what where are people going? What's important to the to the people who use our website? Where do they go? What do they do? What that help us helped us do is that if you look at our buttons that on the homepage, those are the top sites that people visit. They're out front.

175
00:56:28.319 --> 00:56:45.200
They're there so they can get people to where they need to go. The search engine was needed an overhaul. We saw that. Currently, we've put in several hundred hours and we're about onethird of the way through the website with the search

176
00:56:45.200 --> 00:57:02.160
search engine. It's very tedious. is very um you got to know what you're doing when you're doing it. So, what we did is we prioritized what needs to be touched first and that's where we've been focusing all of our efforts. Uh and just another side note, there was about 200 uh dead links removed from the

177
00:57:02.160 --> 00:57:18.880
website for what we were doing this project. Another thing I don't want to forget to mention that we didn't put on the slide, notify me. Notify me. Um, if you just go to the website, put it in the search engine, it comes up and it it gives you an option to pick about 120

178
00:57:18.880 --> 00:57:35.520
plus topics that if you put your name in there and you put click on the what you're interested in, you'll get updates directly into your email on a regular basis. So, if you're following the library, you click the library. If you're following the board of, you know, following the select board, click the border select board. Anything that

179
00:57:35.520 --> 00:57:50.480
updates on those, it's done. Another thing that we did talk about and I forgot to put it in here was somebody had mentioned that the uh select board web page was not up to date. So with that, we reached out. We said uh those of you who would like send us a headsh

180
00:57:50.480 --> 00:58:09.599
shot, send us uh some type of uh writeup that you would like to see there. And that's been completed. So if anybody wants to update that, we're always ready to do that. All righty. Move along here. Another thing that was brought out by many people as we talked about the

181
00:58:09.599 --> 00:58:26.720
website. Our website needs to be mobile friendly. >> Uh I don't want to have to go on my web page my my my mobile because most people are using the mobile devices now. So if you go to um a website now it is mobile friendly. However, if you go one step

182
00:58:26.720 --> 00:58:43.280
further and you click on uh Cclick Fix app and you download it, put it on your cell phone, you'll see that right here at um on the front page of Cclick Fix and you select Yamoth Massachusetts, there are some buttons there. Click visit our website, it brings you right

183
00:58:43.280 --> 00:58:59.200
to our website and it and the full full power of the website. But if you want to pay bills online and any other services, get dog license, uh what have you, click on that and it brings you right there. Want to know what's going on in the town? What are the big projects that

184
00:58:59.200 --> 00:59:15.440
we're dealing with? Click on um town projects. It brings you right to the website and it's all uh mobile friendly on your cell phone. Go down to agenda minutes, jobs, disposal um and beach stickers. And if you want to watch any of uh the proceedings, click on um

185
00:59:15.440 --> 00:59:31.599
Yamoth TV at the bottom of the page and it brings you right to if you're watching now and you want to get it on your cell phone, click it now. Watch click on watch and you'll get us doing this currently. >> Is there a way to get cell uh sell service in this room? >> I'm sorry.

186
00:59:31.599 --> 00:59:47.119
>> Is there a way to get sell service in this room? >> What what carrier do you have? >> Uh Sprint. >> Yeah, we have a major product. That's a that's technology. Okay, >> it is terrible. >> I was just trying to go to the website, but I can't. >> I will tell you this, for those who have Verizon, since Verizon is um primary

187
00:59:47.119 --> 01:00:03.599
carrier for wireless, we have put boosters in this area so that that's why I can get it because I couldn't before. All righty. So, uh the website needed to have mobile friendly civic engagement was important for us. Uh and how do they how do we access services and direct

188
01:00:03.599 --> 01:00:20.319
communication with the town? How can you take on your app and tell the town something that they need to know? some of the things that we were able to do and oops, our website is now mobile friendly. We've accomplished that. We've gotten much many comments about um where that

189
01:00:20.319 --> 01:00:35.839
puts a lot of people. People are happy. We've gotten some good really feedback. It also provides a userfriendly mobile version for town services. Like you say, you can get your dog license renewed, etc. and its ability for the residents to report down trees, power lines,

190
01:00:35.839 --> 01:00:52.799
issues with storm related issues. And I don't even want to stop with that because there's a whole plethora of things that you can do. If there was a pothole, if there was um street signs that were down, if there was a light down, you can take a picture through the app. And we have a little thing that you

191
01:00:52.799 --> 01:01:09.839
get off on the website that shows you how to use the app, but you can take a picture, send it out, send it right to DBW. DPW has bought into this and they are they are using this product uh as as we we're moving forward. The other great thing about this app is that we only are touching a few of its capabilities. The

192
01:01:09.839 --> 01:01:26.720
app we can grow the features on the app tremendously. However, what that takes is resources for different departments to be able to encompass it. >> Can I just say something? I'm not sure we would want people to um go on our website if there's a power line. >> They don't. It's it's a separate it's a

193
01:01:26.720 --> 01:01:43.119
separate ticket thing that >> is a notify emergency personnel. We don't do want them to call 911. I would hate for somebody to see >> it's not a replacement. It's not a replacement at all. It's just an addition of a a way of reporting it. Yes. A down power line. Everybody should

194
01:01:43.119 --> 01:01:59.599
call 911. We're talking about if there was a light out on the street, if there was a pothole, a tree down. These are these are um ways that the town can people in the town driving down the street can send in information >> once it's received a communication goes

195
01:01:59.599 --> 01:02:16.480
back to that use it to say that it was uh complete or we're working on it. >> It was very helpful during the storm. I would just would hate for somebody to think that they're going to register something there and wait for somebody to come help them and you know they should be calling emergency and not

196
01:02:16.480 --> 01:02:32.079
>> suppose that it should on our website it probably should have a a liability note if you are witnessing a down line call 9 and it it's been affirmed. >> Okay, thank you. >> Good. >> Excellent.

197
01:02:32.079 --> 01:02:48.960
>> Okay, that's uh the app. Another big thing was always town meeting. Several areas that we two topic areas that we really have to address and have to address quickly. One was concerns about the production itself um outages etc. And I think and and the

198
01:02:48.960 --> 01:03:05.359
second thing was attentions and the promotion of town meeting. We have addressed the issues with production with Cape Media. I'm feeling more and more comfortable with them that they take it serious. It's part of their number one deliverable to us and they

199
01:03:05.359 --> 01:03:20.480
take it I think much more seriously as even through this tough situation with them. They have always provided us a team that knows their business. So that's big planning and promotion. We try to get it up wherever we could. We've changed the way we look at it and

200
01:03:20.480 --> 01:03:37.200
there is a there is a set format that we use for every town meeting. There's radio advertisement, there's digital advertisement, there's social media. The podcasts, for example, there were um six podcasts dedicated this time to town meeting that we used to to get the information out. And we'll talk about

201
01:03:37.200 --> 01:03:55.119
that in a few minutes. We would wait maybe a couple weeks before and start promoting. This is a six uh six weeks ahead of any town meeting. We begin to set the date and post it and advertise it out to uh to the town folks.

202
01:03:56.000 --> 01:04:10.720
I want to make sure I don't miss anything. We had one issue over uh the last meeting and it was ca it was the on cablecast where it was dropping the signal. That's been addressed. It has not been fixed. It has been addressed. We're finding out that this is an issue

203
01:04:10.720 --> 01:04:30.559
with uh cablecast and we're not the only town that is experiencing that issue. However, that doesn't mean we're not addressing it. We're working on that. I'm supposed to be the director and I can't get the thing to move. >> Aim towards the computer, right?

204
01:04:30.559 --> 01:04:45.359
>> Another another thing was um YoYo Yamoth podcast. >> I love those. >> Another platform to update on all local government initiatives and to highlight the issues that the town believes are

205
01:04:45.359 --> 01:05:02.319
the most important of those issues. Can I just ask a question about that specifically because I I saw that and you have to follow that additionally. >> It's not part of the town of Yarmouth page. It's a separate page and I'm just

206
01:05:02.319 --> 01:05:18.480
confused as to why there's why we can't have it all in one place. >> It's it's everywhere. It's on the town website. It's on our YouTube channel. You can find it anywhere you get your podcast and it's on Facebook and Instagram. separate page on PA Facebook though, right? It's not part of

207
01:05:18.480 --> 01:05:34.160
>> It has its own page, but it's also posted. We do post it on the regular page, but it does have its own page. We're trying to um gain >> everything. >> I'm sorry. >> And have everything on every page type issue. >> Well, yes. And we also want to just

208
01:05:34.160 --> 01:05:50.880
build some momentum with the podcast to like separate it. >> Podcasts are great. I just I'm I just, you know, I think I'm following stuff and then all of a sudden I see a separate one. I'm like, "Oh, I got to follow that, too. I'm just trying to figure out why we can't >> No, there it is on the regular page as well. It just has its own separate page

209
01:05:50.880 --> 01:06:06.079
um just so we can establish a following there as well. But it's posted everywhere any It's on the website, it's on the YouTube channel um as well as Facebook obviously and anywhere you get podcast. So if you're signed up for

210
01:06:06.079 --> 01:06:24.079
podcasts with Apple or Spotify or Amazon, you're going to find the podcast there as well. So, when we first came up with the idea for the podcast, we sat down. We talked about what we wanted it to look like. We came up with an RFP. Um, we sent it out

211
01:06:24.079 --> 01:06:40.319
to bid. We picked a great production company, an award-winning production company that kind of brought the whole podcast to life. Um, it is the podcast open to town leaders to address key initiatives and issues of town importance, which I know is one of the

212
01:06:40.319 --> 01:06:56.720
goals. Um we have done 14 total podcasts. We have done six for two town meetings. We did our second one with Ryan Chase um as the introducing him to as the umbsman. Uh we did one with

213
01:06:56.720 --> 01:07:12.000
Amanda Lima for the opening of Parkers River Landing. We did one with the fire chief. We did two with Roby. Um one Christmas recycling and then one with DPW information. We just finished taping um one with for the Legacy of Liberty

214
01:07:12.000 --> 01:07:28.079
250 celebration. Bob Kelly, the local historian, was on that one. That's going to be released sometime next week. We did one with Yarmouth Golf and we did one with Sarah O'Reilly when she was promoting the Cape Cod Community Food Pantry. Um and we already have June

215
01:07:28.079 --> 01:07:45.680
scheduled. We've got two for June. We're going to um meet with the police chief and Kathy Williams. And once again, you can find it anywhere you get your podcasts, our website, uh, YouTube channel, um, and channel 8 as

216
01:07:45.680 --> 01:07:59.119
well. >> May I ask a follow-up question? >> So, um, how nimble is this? So, this evening, one of our agenda items is to see whether the we will have a special town meeting and the ballot of course is

217
01:07:59.119 --> 01:08:14.880
next uh, Tuesday. So will would there be a podcast that would go when would a podcast go up to explain to the voters >> that there is a ballot vote on the 19th and that there is a special town meeting

218
01:08:14.880 --> 01:08:31.759
in June. So that would need to be it would need to be scheduled and that would need to be somebody who was designated to do that um to do that promotion and then we would schedule it and it would be come in. We would bring the team in and um to do and do the podcast.

219
01:08:31.759 --> 01:08:46.080
>> Okay. So it's nimble. You could do it next week or you could do it >> I would say nimble to the point where it does take a little bit of timing simply because we have to bring in the engineers to do the work. Liam who's doing that, who's the engineer for this,

220
01:08:46.080 --> 01:09:02.400
he also he does produce our um podcast. So, we need to make sure that he's able to do that. The other thing that we take into that's a little bit different with the podcast than meetings is that podcasts can be edited. So, we can edit them so that they if there's an issue,

221
01:09:02.400 --> 01:09:18.640
there hasn't even been a lot of editing, but it does take time to just edit, cut out anything that's that we don't want to have in there. I guess it seems to me that that this should be something that would be up on our website to explain what's going on by this weekend.

222
01:09:18.640 --> 01:09:35.199
>> Right. So, I I I'll say this again. This is open to any leadership in the town that has and feels that they have an important topic that needs to be discussed to sit down and it's a forum to be able to do that quickly and get it out. That's not something that you want

223
01:09:35.199 --> 01:09:50.560
Lori to interview me about. >> Right. No, that's what I'm saying. this, >> you know, Tom had done one of them for the library before prior prior to the last town meeting. >> Yeah. But I mean, I think people are very confused right now because there

224
01:09:50.560 --> 01:10:06.000
was a vote, a town meeting. >> They're they don't think they have to go to the ballot because there was a vote. So, as far as they're concerned, it's over. And that's something that we might want to >> Well, we'll we'll discuss that later. And >> but my point being that this is a very >> point of wonder, Madam Chair, if we

225
01:10:06.000 --> 01:10:20.320
could just stick with the agenda item. Very good. >> Thank you. >> All righty. That's our podcast. Let's I'm going to do this now. Goal number three was to develop standardized formats for uniform consistency across

226
01:10:20.320 --> 01:10:37.360
and uh townwide messaging. Your next page 17, I corrected, I changed it up a little bit. Um and we'll make sure that you get page 17 as we present it here tonight. Um so we had to sit down and ask ourselves some questions. And these are the questions that we discuss. How do we ensure the consistency in townwide

227
01:10:37.360 --> 01:10:51.360
messaging? How do we do that? What what is that going to take? Uh secondly, what tools are needed in order to accomplish this? And how do we encourage collaboration between town departments, groups, and committees? How do we get people talking to each other to help get

228
01:10:51.360 --> 01:11:09.840
the to get the messaging the same? First thing that we did was we come up with a simple form that helps anybody who wants to get a message out to say this is what the message is. This is what it entails. It's not elongated form. We're going to hand that out to

229
01:11:09.840 --> 01:11:25.280
you guys afterwards so that you have a copy of what it looks like, but it just tells what's the topic, what do you need, what do you need, do you want to do radio, do you need to do this, do you need to do that? So, it helps organize train of thought and and it starts the conversation in preparation.

230
01:11:25.280 --> 01:11:39.920
We assist teams with their communications across several platforms. There was a time when I when I first started that certain things went on Facebook, certain things went on channel 8, certain things went here, and certain things went there. If we're trying to

231
01:11:39.920 --> 01:11:56.880
get a message out, that message be should be consistent across any and all of our platforms. So, we strive that for no matter what we do that we cover all of these things because I don't know who's looking at Facebook and I don't know who's looking at Instagram and I'm not sure who's

232
01:11:56.880 --> 01:12:15.520
watching YouTube. Well, we do know because we do take that that data but not everybody looks at the same stuff. So, that's one big thing that the any um any message that's placed here gets placed across the full platform. Um,

233
01:12:15.520 --> 01:12:32.480
another thing that we saw that we have some great websites out there, YouTube sites, etc. Police have a great one. Fire department has one. DPW Community Development, we helped them get that set up this uh this past year. We weren't talking to each other. We weren't

234
01:12:32.480 --> 01:12:47.520
sharing information across each other. So, what we're beginning to see is that if Nick is doing something over at the police station, he's touching base with Lori. Hey, can you make just >> share this? share this, talk to and and we're sharing it again across all platforms now. We're crisscrossing and

235
01:12:47.520 --> 01:13:03.600
and pollinating along different things. This has been a big help for all of us, I believe. Um, another thing is is that with our messaging u I went outside one day and I was watching uh in the hallway there was about you know 15 20 people paying get

236
01:13:03.600 --> 01:13:19.679
this stick is getting this and I saw a blank screen >> um that was upstairs. So I I I said to the team what what can we do? how can we leverage this? Um, and we began to take all the important things events that were going on that we knew about, get

237
01:13:19.679 --> 01:13:35.679
them on a stick and that those are recycled every two weeks now. And it would work so well upstairs that we put one down here in this meeting here while people are waiting. They're getting to see uh what's going on and it's it's help and we got some great feedback for that. Again, trying to keep the message

238
01:13:35.679 --> 01:13:55.199
consistent across all of our platforms. Um, this is the the form and we'll make sure you guys get one of these and it it just helps us all get on the same page. And all another thing that helps us do and communication is keep track of what's out there and what's being said and how it's being said to make sure

239
01:13:55.199 --> 01:14:11.120
that we don't miss or drop anything. And I've got to go over here and just catch up with my pages here. All righty. And goal four, consider ways to keep improving all facets of communication. You guys don't have little goals. You go

240
01:14:11.120 --> 01:14:25.840
for the big stuff. I thank you very much. We appreciate that. So, I do want to say that is a big one. And you know something, there really was one big thing that we were we were missing. We were trying to run and do as much as we could. One of the things that we kept sidest stepping is sitting down with

241
01:14:25.840 --> 01:14:41.360
senior staff and say, "Tell us what's the important stuff here. work with with us and uh let's get some meetings that so that we can we know exactly what the important topics that need to be discussed are and uh Bob and Amy have been great with that giving us that time

242
01:14:41.360 --> 01:14:56.960
and working with us and so we have reg regular meetings with staff to to look and review what those important topics are and how that messaging needs to get out. Uh senior staff is one of the big things that came out of it really was we were saying we need help. we need to

243
01:14:56.960 --> 01:15:13.280
know what to put in uh spotlight and um Amy really stepped up and really came up and helped us develop that format, get it out and it's been a consistent thing. I think it's been a very good uh level here. >> It's more it's really important for us to help uh all of our department heads

244
01:15:13.280 --> 01:15:30.000
uh with platform and you know their pro any highlight any of their projects that are going on. Uh we've worked with the health department. There's been some changes there. Uh the health department is now doing an event every month. Um and they were kind of how do we get this

245
01:15:30.000 --> 01:15:46.159
done? Um Marcel has spent some time working with the department showing them how to leverage their web page and anytime it comes up where it's something major that they really can't handle or they they don't know how to manipulate this, we make sure that we give the department time to help them get that

246
01:15:46.159 --> 01:16:02.239
communication and that uh message out. The other thing that that was important that we we've been doing now I think for about eight months if not more uh is we produce a monthly report with analytics that we we send up to senior staff.

247
01:16:02.239 --> 01:16:18.719
What's in that that looks at the numbers. Listen this month we did this this and this. These were the things that were looked at by folks. This is the number of hits we got. This is what uh we're doing so that we can look at our one of the things we never did was look at data. data is which would dri

248
01:16:18.719 --> 01:16:39.920
which drove some of the uh the review the renewal of of the website. We need to be able to look at data and analyze that and put it out and and leverage that in our communications and that's what we have for you this evening. Can >> I just ask one question on the pre on

249
01:16:39.920 --> 01:16:56.960
about your previous statement? So when you say you help like the board of health updating they are is each department responsible for doing their own updates on on their website. >> Correct. Each department is responsible for their keeping their part of the

250
01:16:56.960 --> 01:17:13.840
website under their heading fresh and up to date. If it needs major overhaul if it needs any other support uh Marcel will step in and really give them that support that they need. >> That's interesting. How I mean who h what's the review process and the

251
01:17:13.840 --> 01:17:30.400
information we're putting putting out there? I mean it doesn't go through one I would think you know I there's a there's a lot to say about communications but there's a lot and I I I don't have any uh specifics that any town department has done

252
01:17:30.400 --> 01:17:46.400
negatively or um but there's a lot of liability to putting information out right. Well, and so I'm just, you know, surprised that there's so many people controlling that and it's not going through and being reviewed by

253
01:17:46.400 --> 01:18:02.320
people that >> it should be being reviewed by the department heads. >> Okay. >> I I I know that for health as as a matter of fact that Mark reviews uh anything and all things that are posted. >> Yeah. And not just anyone has access

254
01:18:02.320 --> 01:18:17.840
only certain people have those administrative rights. So that's kind of a way that we corral that >> right. I get a little bit concerned when >> No. Okay. All right. Okay. >> Like an intern can't go in and start putting things on the website. That's

255
01:18:17.840 --> 01:18:34.400
there's there's limits to who's >> who has access. >> All right. Thank you very much for that. That was a lot of information. I know you summarized it quite quickly. So uh Mark, >> thank you, Madam Chair. >> Mark, it's this is his communication

256
01:18:34.400 --> 01:18:49.520
thing. I know. >> I would go to you if it was like solar something. >> There you go. Thanks for coming here tonight. Um I'm glad we we are we're all admitting that there's a lot of problems and I appreciate your the candidness of your

257
01:18:49.520 --> 01:19:05.440
presentation that we're not happy with Cape Media and there are things that need to be improved on the website. There are whole range of issues. So, I I appreciate tonight hearing the honesty and the candidness because as Bob said from the very beginning, it's a priority

258
01:19:05.440 --> 01:19:22.640
for us and uh the acknowledgement that we have a long way to go is is refreshing to hear. Um I also know that in terms of setting priorities and providing Let me back up a little bit. I feel like

259
01:19:22.640 --> 01:19:38.480
this is a this is a team effort. All right? And I don't want you to think that any of the criticisms of the issues fall squarely and just on your shoulders because the reality is is everybody in the team has to produce in order to make

260
01:19:38.480 --> 01:19:54.480
this work. And you've had some bad team players to work with. Got it. Um, with respect to the Cape Media people, um, I would agree that major changes need to take place there. And I

261
01:19:54.480 --> 01:20:10.719
would agree, Madam Chair, that I'm not sure it's one staff member, but it may very well require something fairly radical. Now, I've spoken with other Cape Media Center board members myself. I've encouraged them to be

262
01:20:10.719 --> 01:20:26.159
radical. I've encouraged them to look at maybe a partnership to consider working closely with Falmouth Community TV. They do an outstanding job in serving their community in Falmouth. Um and uh in fact

263
01:20:26.159 --> 01:20:41.360
I go there on a regular basis because I'm asked to come in and be interviewed on a whole range of issues there. It's a very active, very talented group of people there. Um, but we have to be radical and we have to be thinking to even radical solutions or approaches

264
01:20:41.360 --> 01:20:59.760
like that. So, I'm glad we're we're we're we're we're clearly on our radar screen. I'm also glad that there's some degree of dissatisfaction with the website and that they're constant efforts being made to improve that. There's nothing you get

265
01:20:59.760 --> 01:21:15.760
frustrated, we get frustrated, residents get frustrated. And the thing is is I think what we have to do is to start thinking about time frames and when we hope or when we anticipate getting things fixed or resolved or making some real progress. Um because I think

266
01:21:15.760 --> 01:21:32.640
there's just a a loss of patience in a lot of circles. Um so I'm I'm glad to hear that we've we've got some concerns there. What I'd what what I'd like to what I'd like to do is to see if when I look at this presentation, there are a lot of interesting and very

267
01:21:32.640 --> 01:21:48.960
important points that are being made in this. What I'd like to do is see if we can transition the presentation into the remnants of a plan, right? So, a document that says this is our communications plan. These are our goals. These are our audiences. These

268
01:21:48.960 --> 01:22:04.800
are the tools that we're using to reach the audiences. These are how they are to be deployed. Um I honestly think we have to identify clearly the role of key people and organizations in the plan and I al also think that the successful

269
01:22:04.800 --> 01:22:20.880
communities and municipalities that communicate well also have more engagement from the town manager's office. If you look in Barnstable they the direct engagement with the communications office there. And I've had this conversation with with the manager and the assistant. I'm looking

270
01:22:20.880 --> 01:22:38.320
to see the administration office to be consistently and and constantly engaged in helping you folks do your job because some of these things are beyond your direct control. Getting input, getting copy, getting material, getting

271
01:22:38.320 --> 01:22:53.440
information on priorities and so forth. A lot of that stuff you need other members of the team to contribute to and contribute with. So I I see this as clearly a team effort and I think there's work that we all have to do. For example, I think we should be more

272
01:22:53.440 --> 01:23:09.280
aggressive and be more involved in the whole disc series of discussions with the Cape Media Center. Um it's great that they're hearing from you or they're hearing from Bob, but maybe they need to be hearing more from us as a select, but maybe we need to bring them in here. So we're we're part of >> Yes.

273
01:23:09.280 --> 01:23:25.280
>> We're part of the team, too. >> Absolutely. >> All right. and you need to be able to call on us and utilize us to implement and highlight and get get the kind of assistance that you need. Um, now getting back to the website, you know,

274
01:23:25.280 --> 01:23:42.960
Civic Plus has a mixed reputation. I mean, yes, they're the the dominant player, but not everybody's happy with them, and there's some people that are very unhappy with them. And um I'm not sure what the terms of the agreement are and I'm not interested in getting in the details, but at some point we may just

275
01:23:42.960 --> 01:23:58.080
have to look at cutting our losses with one group and move to another group that can do a much better job. I'd like to see us and I won't say much more because this is this is the the problems and the issues that you have cited have certainly been bothering me

276
01:23:58.080 --> 01:24:14.560
for a long time and I'm glad to see like I said having an open and candid conversation about this. But I do think in addition to putting together a plan, the plan should also include we do have I think years ago we put together a social media policy and um I'd want to

277
01:24:14.560 --> 01:24:30.239
see that in the plan. All right, that that should be available and refreshed and we should be periodically reviewing the plan and then also reviewing the social media policy. I'm just going to quiz folks. Does anybody know if there's

278
01:24:30.239 --> 01:24:45.920
a current version or a handy version of the >> I can tell you when it was Sean McInness who created the plan and I can tell you that our policy is now outdated just based on what they just told they just said as far as you know there was not

279
01:24:45.920 --> 01:25:00.880
>> there you know there's a there was a lot of laws at the time early on about printing out comments and keeping records. I don't know if that kind of thing is still happening. >> Everything is archived. So um cuz we've talked to Mary about that u Malowski and

280
01:25:00.880 --> 01:25:17.280
everything is is definitely archived so if somebody comes to us we can go back and look at >> I've also talked to Kevin who has produced a social media and um access to our network plan and you Kevin >> Lennon >> okay

281
01:25:17.280 --> 01:25:33.360
>> who needed to produce that and they're willing to share that with us and it's on our plate to take a look >> we have our own policy that we need to make sure it's up to date >> but the but the policy that we adopted applies to the entire town. >> Yes. >> So we we what we need to do as a board.

282
01:25:33.360 --> 01:25:50.239
Did you know how we periodically Kathy will come before us with an updated open space plan? Right. We we should every year or two come be having a board discussion about our communications plan. So I'd like to see this, Madam Chair, incorporated into an actual plan.

283
01:25:50.239 --> 01:26:05.440
All right. Let's add some more meat to it and let's make sure that we include in it our social media policy and any other relevant policies so that we as a board can act on them so that you're implementing the policies of the select

284
01:26:05.440 --> 01:26:22.639
board rather than policies that you know are are buried in some archive and out of date. So we we need to keep this as a fresh and engaging process going forward from today. And uh we we should work on a date with the town administrator on

285
01:26:22.639 --> 01:26:38.960
when we can see expect to see the a draft communications plan when we can see expect to see a draft social media plan that's been updated to meet the current standards and current requirements. Um and I think that would be very much in order. And I think we as

286
01:26:38.960 --> 01:26:55.199
a board need to know when there are problems and issues with some of the other team players that you work with and rely upon so that you can do your jobs so that we can be engaged in cracking the whip and hauling folks in here so that we can tell them what our

287
01:26:55.199 --> 01:27:10.000
expectations are. Uh this shouldn't be just your job uh to pick up the phone and make a complaint to the social the media center. um they should come before us and they should explain to us uh what they're how they're going to rectify

288
01:27:10.000 --> 01:27:27.600
their problems. So uh again we're part of the team too and we have a role to play and I don't think collectively and again I you know I've I I'm very concerned about this team assembled here tonight hasn't been on the field enough

289
01:27:27.600 --> 01:27:44.719
and provided enough support. Um, and I and I want to see the administrator's office far more engaged. Uh, and I I I want to acknowledge, you know, the fact that there have been some improvements, and I can see the fingerprints on them. I can see Amy's Amy's engagement. I can

290
01:27:44.719 --> 01:28:01.679
see Bob's engagement. I I know folks are doing things uh to make improvements. The improvements are noticeable. uh when I do office hours I get people coming in to say to me on in addition to the complaints on all sorts of things they

291
01:28:01.679 --> 01:28:16.800
have acknowledged the selectman's I've heard all from several people about the selectman's updates and getting the information on that so I do appreciate all your hard work in trying to make improvements and I appreciate the recognition that we have a long way to

292
01:28:16.800 --> 01:28:31.840
go like I said for me the next steps would be to take this presentation the key components that are in it. Let's create an overall plan and identify the policies that we as a board need to reaffirm or act upon or revise and

293
01:28:31.840 --> 01:28:49.920
reaffirm and then u move forward uh with some regular updates and some metrics on how we're meeting you know the goals and objectives that are outlined in the plan. So, I'm looking for continued aggressive substantial improvements. As

294
01:28:49.920 --> 01:29:07.840
as the administrator said, we've got a long way to go and we want to be actively involved, Madam Chair, I think, in helping move this along. >> Thank you, Mark Durkis. >> Hi. I I would just like to say that I've

295
01:29:07.840 --> 01:29:23.040
um I'm I'm not as technologically advanced as everyone else. Um but I am happy to see the changes that have been made in the website. I'm happy to see the podcasts. Um I I think we're getting

296
01:29:23.040 --> 01:29:40.000
there. Uh it's interesting to hear about the fact that uh the sound was taken care of for the annual town meeting. We look at our our friends over in Dennis and they didn't seem to fare as well when it came to that >> because they didn't have Cape Media

297
01:29:40.000 --> 01:29:56.560
there to step in and save the day because they actually did. We would not have had sound that night if it if it wasn't for them because um Jay Sheen who who works there went and got his own soundboard and brought it in and kind of

298
01:29:56.560 --> 01:30:12.560
just wow saved the day. So, we would have not had audio and I don't know what we would have done if that had happened. And that happened to Dennis because they didn't they didn't have that. >> So, I'm I'm happy to see that we're on the

299
01:30:12.560 --> 01:30:28.080
way. I mean, nobody thinks we're there yet. We have a long way to go. You've certainly acknowledged a lot of things that uh need to be identified. And um I'm going to kind of defer to the others here on this one. Thank you, >> Joyce.

300
01:30:28.080 --> 01:30:46.159
Oh. Um, I, as I've already said, love the podcasts and I think that brings um, the town alive in a way that we haven't really had with some of the the other communications choices. I also love the new ease of use. It's so easy to find

301
01:30:46.159 --> 01:31:02.960
things. Uh, I usually take many steps to find things and I'm I'm I'm either much smarter than I was a year ago or you're doing really good stuff. >> Well, Marcel has really put in a lot of time and effort to fix that search

302
01:31:02.960 --> 01:31:21.520
engine which takes a lot of time. It is not an easy process and um I think like we already said, we're only like a third of the way there. So, we're we're we're still even though we have a new um a new look, we we're still dealing with things

303
01:31:21.520 --> 01:31:38.960
from years past. So, dead links and >> 15 years of neglect. >> 15 years of neglect. Yeah. Misspellings in in documents. So, there's been a lot of that and it just it takes time. Uh I'm very aware that um when um the

304
01:31:38.960 --> 01:31:55.679
Cape media center had a different name and was on uh um White's path in Yarmouth Yarmouth people interacted with it much more and had much more of a sense of it and I think ever since it moved to shed hole role wrote >> it's Dennis

305
01:31:55.679 --> 01:32:10.239
moving >> kind of like again >> well >> in June it's going to move to a new building. Yeah, but I but I mean I think those years between um the initial move I was mentioning like it just went off the uh the radar of most Yarmouth

306
01:32:10.239 --> 01:32:26.880
residents and I'm really glad that you're um getting what you need from them. I think we can sometimes depend on um on town communications and on Cape Media Center where wherever it may be um

307
01:32:26.880 --> 01:32:42.000
to fill in the role of local newspapers like the register that we used to have and I sometimes worry that we may be asking you to do something that's semi-infinite. So, I hope you'll feel if you feel if

308
01:32:42.000 --> 01:32:59.040
you feel like we're asking stuff that takes you out too far of your work for the town and plugging people into the town and getting people more knowledgeable about the town that that you'll tell us because I'm aware there's this big black hole where there used to

309
01:32:59.040 --> 01:33:15.199
be newspapers and um I I don't find that the local version of of USA Today is is filling it. Um, but I'm so grateful for your efforts and I really see just a big step up and I love the studio. I I've

310
01:33:15.199 --> 01:33:32.000
taken a a peak of that. You've been very generous to show that to me and uh I just see that as a really exciting place um for for lots of things related to the town. The town as opposed to the larger community which still needs help with

311
01:33:32.000 --> 01:33:47.600
news. But you know, you guys are finite human beings even though you're working big big miracles at the moment. So I I want you to be realistic as well as idealistic. Thank you. >> Thank you, Joyce.

312
01:33:47.600 --> 01:34:02.880
Well, my first phauxpaw as a select board person, and I know it won't be my last, was when you made your first my first communications plan presentation and I vocalized all my malcontent with

313
01:34:02.880 --> 01:34:19.040
the website, very loudly and roundly. And um I apologize, but I am so impressed by the improvement. Welcome, Marcel. It has just been a flip over.

314
01:34:19.040 --> 01:34:35.760
Um, like Joyce is saying, you can find things so easily now. Fantastic. And no dead links. It's just a whole new world of web. Um, and I wanted to know, Lori, is it helping your relationship with

315
01:34:35.760 --> 01:34:52.080
Cape Media? For instance, they were able to come in and save the sound because you're on the board. >> No. >> Okay. >> I I don't feel that way. I mean, I was, you know, being on the board, I did say to them, um, we're not happy. >> Yeah. >> And, you know, they've there's been a

316
01:34:52.080 --> 01:35:07.760
lot of turmoil over at Cape Media. I don't want to air all the dirty laundry, but they've gone through a couple of directors that didn't work out. >> Um, we I was currently involved in the interview process yesterday for the new director. Um, so they're going to get new leadership. They're going to get a

317
01:35:07.760 --> 01:35:24.000
new building. They have a a basically a new staff. They got new staff members. So, they're really doing like a 180 and um we've seen the difference just in the content that they've created without me asking that they've put out and just the

318
01:35:24.000 --> 01:35:42.159
sharing of our our content on social media. People don't understand how helpful it is when you share something that you're interested in. So, if you go on something and you see it on our web page, like it, share it, put it in your stories. It's just it's just another way

319
01:35:42.159 --> 01:35:57.600
that we get that push out. So, and they've been doing that without being asked. So, and without leadership, they just have an intram director right now. >> And if I may, I I think what what Marcus said earlier, I think outside the box, we're going to get a little radical. I think the conversation, if I may, it it

320
01:35:57.600 --> 01:36:14.800
went like we're contributing u a significant amount of money. >> We have a choice. either come to the table and help us do what we need to do or we the next step and we began to look into what can we do with that money on our own to fill that gap.

321
01:36:14.800 --> 01:36:31.920
>> So that was what we presented. We were very uh transparent about it and that either >> catalyze >> do or don't just let us know what that is and uh we've seen them come to the table. Is everything right? No, we we still got a long way to go. They need to get a director. that director needs to

322
01:36:31.920 --> 01:36:48.880
be here on a regular basis talking with us with with with in front of you guys so that they understand what we expect from them. They do the public end of it. But that conversation is now we shook the tree. They're listening to us. We

323
01:36:48.880 --> 01:37:05.520
hope honestly I hope that this works out and that Cape Media gets on its feet and they they help us get to where we need to go because otherwise we need to then take a a different look and say, "Okay, what are our other options?" >> Right? and that's what we presented. >> Okay. Um I I I jump on Mark's comment

324
01:37:05.520 --> 01:37:20.639
that we should have an annual communications and social media plan, but I think we also have to make sure that we uh recognize that this is a landscape that is changing weekly. So it's uh the technology changes are

325
01:37:20.639 --> 01:37:36.080
coming at you fast and furious. So you know it's going to be version 1. 1.2 whatever. The last thing I'm and I was called out on a point of order, but I'm going to go back to it because it's for me it's at the heart of my issue with

326
01:37:36.080 --> 01:37:52.880
communications in Yarmouth. And that is why was there no public knowledge that even though the library was voted down at the town meeting, there was still a ballot

327
01:37:52.880 --> 01:38:08.560
question. people, my constituents are asking me, am I what's going on? Are we supposed to go to a ballot? There was town meeting. What's happening now? So, I think where would that prompt have come from? Is that something that should have come

328
01:38:08.560 --> 01:38:25.040
from? That's one thing I want to address is that we've had a tremendous amount of information that we funnel with, you know, the town clerk's office has been tremendous in terms of getting the information, the ballot out there, the pros and cons, that that issue. We need

329
01:38:25.040 --> 01:38:40.639
to be enormously careful because um all of the questions whether it's a debt exclusion ballot question or the override questions um from the campaign finance laws the town is not allowed to

330
01:38:40.639 --> 01:38:57.760
spend any money on supporting the questions. So if if we produce content, if we produce the shows and um there is a lot of cost to those now we're uh potentially violating the um our ability

331
01:38:57.760 --> 01:39:13.840
to >> right, >> you know, stay out of funding. So um we've tried to get information, but to to go in there and say come out and vote and do this and vote yes on this or no on that. >> No, we're not I'm not saying that. Just that there is a vote. There is there's

332
01:39:13.840 --> 01:39:30.080
been plenty of information put out about >> is it front and center on the B why are people asking me then >> they'd rather ask you than read it online. >> Everybody I know knows there's an election on May 19th. >> Not and not everybody I know and they do think there are plenty of people in the

333
01:39:30.080 --> 01:39:44.719
town of Yarmouth who think that the subjects are moot now and >> well we're going to discuss that. I I know but I think I'm bringing it up in my time as to make a few comments about communications. So I think it is

334
01:39:44.719 --> 01:40:02.159
apppropo now to mo make the point that there it's not getting through somehow to people and I'm not sure why. So it's just maybe it's more conversation needs to be had about something as important as what's going on right now in Yarmouth

335
01:40:02.159 --> 01:40:17.360
that isn't being understood by many residents. Thanks. I have a quick question for the town administrator. Um, is there going to be a ROOC call the day before the election? Um, reminding people that there is an

336
01:40:17.360 --> 01:40:32.880
election. >> We usually do that. Um, I I haven't planned it. I'd have to kind of confer with the town clerk on the robocall. >> Okay. >> I think they're they're good questions. Uh, Liz, I I I get it and I and one of

337
01:40:32.880 --> 01:40:49.199
my questions relates to what you're saying is timing because sometimes you see things and then you know when you go back on there it's been a couple of days and how you determine when you repost it, right? So like say there's an event and it be something that you post when

338
01:40:49.199 --> 01:41:03.840
you find out about it and then you know you have to circle back, right? So you put out the information about an election and then you got to remember to always circle back. I think you guys have a very difficult job in the respect that there's it's not what you do is not

339
01:41:03.840 --> 01:41:21.360
in a box, right? So, you know, a lot of our staff, they know exactly what they have to do every day. That's, you know, what you do is um very fluid. It's different. You know, getting that information from people is um is key.

340
01:41:21.360 --> 01:41:37.360
But you were just speaking about, you know, my question was relating to Cape Media. I have been concerned about Cape Media for a very long time and you know I'm concerned about them financially. You know, they have two buildings right

341
01:41:37.360 --> 01:41:54.800
now. Uh they have no leadership. Uh I'm happy to hear that they're producing more, but it's a it seems like this is just cyclical. So, I'm curious when are contracts up, what the dollar amount is, and have we p pursued or are we going to

342
01:41:54.800 --> 01:42:11.840
pursue or are we waiting to find out whether or not this new director is going to uh come to the table even more to make sure I think that we need to make sure we're getting our value. >> Absolutely. >> Or we need to go get like you said, take the money and do our own thing. And

343
01:42:11.840 --> 01:42:27.520
while this is great information, news to me that they've been at the table for maybe the last few months, thank goodness Lori's been communicating with them because without that we've had very little. They they brought in a they brought in a a media person. They were

344
01:42:27.520 --> 01:42:44.400
doing news, which was great. That lasted, you know, what, a month or two, couple of months. They did a few things and then it it went away. So, um I'm concerned about their financial stability and um and the future there. We've been through a lot with them and

345
01:42:44.400 --> 01:43:00.800
you know I think they're keeping us happy for now, but ultimately we need to make a decision as a community on whether or not we're going to stick with that or go in our own direction. And you know, with technology and the things that we have now, I feel like we could probably do a better job being our own

346
01:43:00.800 --> 01:43:14.960
advocates and putting out our own information with that kind of money. I'm I'm happy that they helped for town meeting, but that's that's as you said, that should be a mandatory. Where what where's the rest of it? >> So, that's one of the biggest things,

347
01:43:14.960 --> 01:43:31.920
the timing. Um, you know, and the other thing that I'm very critical on and and you know, this whole department is new, right? Lori, you've been with the with the town four years, three, four years. >> Two. >> Two.

348
01:43:31.920 --> 01:43:48.639
>> Time flies when you're having fun. accomplished so much. You thought for >> Marcel has only been me with me since April. So last April. So she's growing every year. >> We're learning, right? It's fairly new. But my thing is it's a it's a 247 365

349
01:43:48.639 --> 01:44:04.159
situation with with communications. And you know during during the storm for instance, people were really striving and looking for information to try to figure out what was going on. And we

350
01:44:04.159 --> 01:44:20.800
ultimately at the end did a good job >> but we did one basically one output a day and sometimes it needs to be more in situations like that because people feel very isolated and they count on us. >> So I can speak to that because I know that you brought it up at the last

351
01:44:20.800 --> 01:44:36.000
select board meeting. So I did pull some data. We did not just post once during the day. Um we posted many times and what we did is we shared a lot of content. We shared content from Barnstable County. We shared content

352
01:44:36.000 --> 01:44:53.440
from the police. We shared content from the health department about um you know being you know be careful shoveling. So I actually pulled some data and um on Friday the 23rd before the storm happened, we posted

353
01:44:53.440 --> 01:45:10.880
Saturday the 24th we posted. Sunday the 25th we posted. Monday the 26th we posted. Tuesday the 27th we posted. So, I I pulled all this for you because I think um sometimes it's hard to understand like the dynamics of social

354
01:45:10.880 --> 01:45:28.000
media and the analytics of it. Um if you post too many times during the day, your post gets lost in the news feed. So because everything was changing so rapidly hour by hour really what was

355
01:45:28.000 --> 01:45:45.199
going on at 9:00 was different at 11 it was different at 1. We decided to have a cut off time at 5:00 so all the department heads that were involved could give us their information on the latest um situations of the storm. So we

356
01:45:45.199 --> 01:46:02.000
gave everybody a deadline of five. We put a one sheet together with everything from information on Eversource and National Grid to the um to the shelters being open, uh what time they were open, um the availability of that, staying off

357
01:46:02.000 --> 01:46:17.840
the roads, um stuff from the DPW. So that was like the oneoff, but we posted throughout the day, but not posted in the news feed. we shared them in the stories and we shared them in other areas because if you post too much

358
01:46:17.840 --> 01:46:34.800
>> your your message your message will get lost. Um and so if you're in the news feed and you're looking you might only see and if I post at nine at 11 at one you're only g you might only see the nine and that's outdated by by one.

359
01:46:34.800 --> 01:46:49.600
>> So that was the method behind the madness. It wasn't that we >> I don't look at the story so that's why I miss it all. So that's what I'm saying about like well you're the social media expert so we'll leave that to you. Um but you know

360
01:46:49.600 --> 01:47:07.360
as far as events go I think you know I'd like to make sure I would love to have a calendar of events where everything's posted and that somebody's >> some somebody's there um to be able to capture it for the whoever's hosting it.

361
01:47:07.360 --> 01:47:23.199
Um he did a great job at the Parker's liver Parker's River Landing. >> Parker's liver landing >> and um but there are a lot of other events that don't really get a whole lot of attention unless you know the the staff themselves

362
01:47:23.199 --> 01:47:39.760
have to you know create their own content. And I feel like um you know maybe I'm in the minority but I feel like you understand or your department and I know it's a lot of work understand what people are looking for

363
01:47:39.760 --> 01:47:58.159
and um you know I just would love to see some type of schedule so somebody can be at all the events. I know some people are at sometimes but not not all of them. So um that's my two cents. Unfortunately, it is a 24/7 365 communications thing. It's not a Monday

364
01:47:58.159 --> 01:48:14.960
through Friday job. And um to the best that we can schedule out people to make sure we have somebody at everything I think is would be helpful. Those are my comments. >> They could just follow the chair and the events that the chair goes to um they

365
01:48:14.960 --> 01:48:30.960
could go to. >> That would work. >> Does anybody else have anything else? I really do appreciate all all the work. We we have come a long way. >> Long long long long >> we have a long way to go and I think a communications plan would be great. We do need to update our policy because I

366
01:48:30.960 --> 01:48:45.679
do think it's it's very outdated at this point. So, but other than that, keep up the good work. Thank you. >> Can can I add just one thing for for listeners? Um there's a context to this that if you haven't heard previous discussions you might not not know which

367
01:48:45.679 --> 01:49:04.159
is um Comcast um has had a long history with contracts of funding community access television um PEG you know public educational um government but um the Comcast money is going down and down and

368
01:49:04.159 --> 01:49:20.480
down with fewer people signing up for cable so we're partly dealing with reduced resources and that's that's why we have to get very very smart about what we do. >> True. It's a good point. >> I cut the cord. So

369
01:49:20.480 --> 01:49:36.600
>> yeah, there you go. >> Not paying into it anymore either. >> There you go. >> Thank you. >> Thank you guys very much. >> You dropped your pen. >> Yep. >> Okay. Thank you. >> That's how I get a lot of my pens. >> Oh, really? Supposed to not say anything. >> Hi, Bob.

370
01:49:38.719 --> 01:50:14.719
All right. Vic maka maka muk. >> Good evening. >> Hi all. How are you all? >> Hi. >> How are you Sharon? Nice to be seen. >> Oh, this is good. >> You know, there are three things I

371
01:50:14.719 --> 01:50:33.040
wanted to say due to the um presentation that Lori Sullivan did and Paul did was that Lori was the person that did the video for the Madakis uh website. So we appreciate her efforts >> as well as the second being David Allen

372
01:50:33.040 --> 01:50:50.320
who did the voice for all the descriptions of the conditions. So you have additional staff here that are willing to participate in different um efforts. And the third thing based on the earlier comments that were made at

373
01:50:50.320 --> 01:51:08.000
the beginning of the meeting was I wanted to be very clear that Bob Wittenhower has made it very clear to myself and to the members of the committee that are here tonight that we have no money for our project.

374
01:51:08.000 --> 01:51:24.639
So I wanted to make it quite clear that Bob has always told us that our committee has no money in the major debt um of the budgets. >> Save you a lot of headaches that pardon >> saved you a lot of headaches that way.

375
01:51:24.639 --> 01:51:39.840
that way it it did you know absolutely so we obviously and you'll hear from Heather who's the director of planning of BSC Group our consultant and the consultant to the town for and responsible for putting this all

376
01:51:39.840 --> 01:51:58.400
together. Um so it it uh it is easy to go with a private public um partnership in terms of any efforts that might be successful that the board of selectman finally chooses. And uh Heather Gould is the director and she's going to walk us

377
01:51:58.400 --> 01:52:15.199
through uh a wonderful report that she and her staff have written. And I do want to point out before you start is my name is Sharon Wymer and I'm chair. I have in front of us, well, I'll start at the very end. Joe Podska, Andrew Leair,

378
01:52:15.199 --> 01:52:33.599
who's our vice chair, Barbara Leavoyne, of course, Kathy Williams, you know, and she's everywhere, >> the star >> in the town, and she has been helping ever since the former administrative has left. Uh, but I'm also being helped by Amy Fragileletti. How How'd I do, Amy?

379
01:52:33.599 --> 01:52:52.560
Pretty good, huh? And uh I also have here our not listed but our clerk is Lindsay. Uh oh my god. >> Thank you. >> Did great. >> No. So uh thank you for having us again

380
01:52:52.560 --> 01:53:09.440
and this is the end of phase five. >> Oh wow. >> So we are excited about that aren't we committee? >> Yes. >> Raw rah. >> Heather it's all yours. Hey, thank you. Um, before I jump into my presentation, I did want to note that the information

381
01:53:09.440 --> 01:53:26.560
in the slides was taken from the Madakis utilization project report, which can be found on the town's website under the MAD Madakis utilization committee web page. Um, and I do really want to commend the committee because they were an informed and dedicated group and

382
01:53:26.560 --> 01:53:43.199
because of this, we have what is in my opinion um, a really nice development framework here. Um so we have provided updates to the board and I don't want to repeat the entire process again. Um but wanted to quickly say a few words about

383
01:53:43.199 --> 01:54:00.400
the project purpose and planning process. The goal of our efforts here it was really to evaluate feasible reuse options for the former Madaki school site based on a process informed by technical analysis, benchmarking and community engagement. Um, and we had to

384
01:54:00.400 --> 01:54:15.599
figure out how to balance land uses at the site, proposed land uses at the site, recreation, housing, conservation, thinking about flexibility and sustainability. Um, so this led to a design development process that's concluded with the refinement of three

385
01:54:15.599 --> 01:54:31.360
conceptual alternatives that I will present a little later in the slide deck to talk a little bit about the site planning considerations. um really looking at the environmental and conservation considerations which

386
01:54:31.360 --> 01:54:46.719
included wetlands, protected habitat and aquifer pro protection. Um the existing building conditions and the cost analysis that supported full demolition or recommendation for the full demolition of the Madakis building. uh

387
01:54:46.719 --> 01:55:03.760
municipal wastewater infrastructure and how that will be needed to support redevelopment, the pedestrian connectivity and the access that in was integrated throughout our our conceptual design process. Um and renewable energy and sustainability strategies that have

388
01:55:03.760 --> 01:55:23.760
been encouraged by the committee in talking about the the development of the conceptual site plans. We really went from an idea generation which involved the muck teams um that then went to community engagement that created bubble diagrams and scenario

389
01:55:23.760 --> 01:55:40.239
planning. And then we looked a little bit closer once we had a better idea of the preferred community priorities and reuses that could be at that site. um by doing some benchmarking and case studies that helped to inform the scale of the development and the uses parking

390
01:55:40.239 --> 01:55:57.199
requirements and what best practices were relative to that. Um siting in of the uses on the site with in different locations and looking at phasing. Um so we came up with a you know site plan design that translated those preferred

391
01:55:57.199 --> 01:56:12.239
scenarios into scaled layouts. They were really test pits. Like we were testing the concepts on the site to make sure they could fit and that you know the circulation, the parking and the phased approach took all of the considerations

392
01:56:12.239 --> 01:56:33.040
um in a manner that would work together over time. So our key design development themes um you know translated from early concepts into more defined solutions and incorporated the technical analysis and stakeholder input. Those themes and

393
01:56:33.040 --> 01:56:48.719
considerations really included the integration of sustainability and res resilience into the site that housing was included to support community needs and long-term fiscal sustainability. that for recreation multi-use fields had been designed and this was for maximum

394
01:56:48.719 --> 01:57:05.119
flexibility in competitive standards for multiple sports whether it was soccer lacrosse field hockey um those field dimensions and I think this is important to note because it was discussed with the committee the muck committee um they can be reduced in future site design

395
01:57:05.119 --> 01:57:19.760
planning the the size that dimensions that we used were the largest really for international type of play but it is really to show you could get a certain number of fields at that size there reduced potentially. Could you get more?

396
01:57:19.760 --> 01:57:36.560
Yes. Um but that was for uh the largest field which was a soccer use um at more of an international scale than than anything else. Recreation was identified as a pri primary community priority and

397
01:57:36.560 --> 01:57:51.920
conservation and water protection areas did guide the site design. Um and overall our concepts provided a flexible menu of site plan elements that supported a phase development over time. Uh the timeline for the resolution

398
01:57:51.920 --> 01:58:08.239
of the Emmy small and elementary school sighting and construction will impact the timing of redevelopment um for at least a portion of this site. So in the last presentation, the last update we provided to the select board, we discussed five conceptual plans. In

399
01:58:08.239 --> 01:58:25.599
working with Muk, we selected three to present within the report and we'll go through those tonight. All three concepts have been presented in the past. Um, however, there have been slight modifications made as the design development was advanced.

400
01:58:25.599 --> 01:58:43.520
So alternative A um is a balanced mixeduse approach recreation centered site anchored by a large indoor sports facility with a compact residential village component. So in this alternative we have um program 78

401
01:58:43.520 --> 01:59:00.159
housing units of that we have um single family houses within two subdivisions and an apartment residential development um with additional town houses programmed for

402
01:59:00.159 --> 01:59:18.119
that portion of the development. um indoor recreation sports facility, multi-purpose athletic playing fields, a moderate amount of parking, approximately 385 spaces for sports uses. Uh and

403
01:59:18.800 --> 01:59:35.440
we go, that's larger so you can see it actually. Um, and we also thought about how we could integrate some pedestrian connections and internal walking trail systems throughout the site, uh, connecting down to Higgins Crawl Crawl,

404
01:59:35.440 --> 01:59:50.080
but also within the site and around the different components of it. You can see within these site plans, we've identified where some of the site constraints were relative to wetlands

405
01:59:50.080 --> 02:00:08.639
and buffers. Um, and our legend does go into that detail additionally, but we we tried to keep or did keep the the proposed development and the design away from those. >> Excuse me for one second. >> Sure, ma'am. In the back,

406
02:00:08.639 --> 02:00:30.159
>> ma'am. If you'd like to have a conversation, if you want to go outside, you're it's just very distracting if you don't mind. Thank you. Sorry. So, looking at alternative B, um that presents more of flexibility for future

407
02:00:30.159 --> 02:00:47.119
uses. a recreation campus paired with a strategic reserve area that allows the town to respond to future needs. Um in the larger scale here talking about the elements we had the indoor recreation and sports facility again a

408
02:00:47.119 --> 02:01:03.280
multi-purpose athletic playing fields an apartment development with 60 apartments and six town houses a moderate parking supply again uh we were able to fit approximately 480 parking spaces for the sports uses and 125 for the apartments

409
02:01:03.280 --> 02:01:19.280
and town houses and we have six single family houses alongy lane so that that road will have single family homes on both sides. Um, a portion of this site has been set aside dedicated for future

410
02:01:19.280 --> 02:01:38.400
school or redevelopment zone depending on the outcome of the me small school feasibility study. Alternative C which was recreation focused and a mixeduse recreation district delivered in phases starting with the recreation campus and

411
02:01:38.400 --> 02:01:55.920
integrating residential development over time. With this particular concept, we showed um an additional playing field and we also showed that you could fit two full-size um baseballsoftball fields as

412
02:01:55.920 --> 02:02:11.440
well. So, you could have um an additional component to not only the multi-purpose playing fields for the sports that I previously mentioned, but also for baseball or softball. Um this particular development has um a proposed

413
02:02:11.440 --> 02:02:28.400
60 apartments with six town houses uh and five single family houses along Lane. The last alternative showed a total of 72 housing units. This one is 71. The first one was 78. So concept A has the highest number of housing units

414
02:02:28.400 --> 02:02:45.360
proposed. Uh alternative C here has the lowest. Um but they're all within the same range in the 70s in terms of total housing units. And then there are internal walking trails to connect the existing to the existing multi-use path on Higgins Coral

415
02:02:45.360 --> 02:03:10.400
Road as well as throughout the site. So looking at the recommendations um throughout this design development process the muck identified key issues for consideration that impact the development at the site. Municipal wastewater needs to be brought to the site to allow for the proposed level of

416
02:03:10.400 --> 02:03:25.599
development included in the concept plans. There's the potential for the town to pursue grant opportunities for these infrastructure improvements. measures need to be taken to protect the water supply. Um, and that

417
02:03:25.599 --> 02:03:41.440
consideration, especially with playing fields, whether they're grass or turf, those factors need to be considered and how that impacts any kind of runoff or um drainage and and um the use of native

418
02:03:41.440 --> 02:03:57.520
droughtresistant landscaping, restoration of vegetation within the buffers that we've identified of the regulated resource areas, um, and removing debris and eliminating roof discharge into Tar Pond. With the demolition of the Madaki school

419
02:03:57.520 --> 02:04:12.800
building, there is an opportunity to create an additional buffer area where that school building was where development is outside of. Um so that is um one consideration that can be taken in terms of increasing that kind of

420
02:04:12.800 --> 02:04:30.159
natural landscape buffer between the natural resource and the development. Uh all three of these concept designs have assumed the removal of the ground mounted solar field as well as the solar installation that's on the roof of the Madakis building. The existing leases

421
02:04:30.159 --> 02:04:46.560
extend into 2032 and 2033. Um, but the MUK recommended considering offering other town properties suitable for solar and that any future development at the Madaki site should incorporate renewable energy strategies

422
02:04:46.560 --> 02:05:03.679
such as building mounted solar parking solar canopy installations and high energy efficiency building design. The recreation department has done a great job in developing recreational programming using the building with the demolition of it. these programs are

423
02:05:03.679 --> 02:05:20.639
going to be impacted. Uh the town should continue to explore collaborative alternatives um al o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o opportunities with the Dennis Yarmouth Regional School District and potential public private partnerships to maintain reasonable community access to the indoor recreation programming during any future

424
02:05:20.639 --> 02:05:38.239
um development phases. looking at the sports complex uh it can accommodate there could be programming for other uses such as events, conferences and performance space. All of that gets developed in future phases working

425
02:05:38.239 --> 02:05:53.440
with a private developer in terms of a public private partnership. Um the next phase of this project phases six and seven uh will there will be a market study and fiscal analysis as has been discussed with a grant funding and that

426
02:05:53.440 --> 02:06:09.760
will also help in determining you know the types of uses and the specific sports needed for financial viability. And then finally, the ongoing Emmy small elementary school feasibility study creates uncertainty um regarding the long-term role of the school at the

427
02:06:09.760 --> 02:06:25.440
site. And if a new school is constructed elsewhere, the existing school building may need to remain operational on the property for several years unless temporary swing space becomes available. So as a result of that, redevelopment will have to occur in phases um with

428
02:06:25.440 --> 02:06:43.360
portions of the site potentially available earlier for development. um depending on future school related decisions and operational constraints. So overall um there's there's several principles here

429
02:06:43.360 --> 02:06:59.440
um and the preferred direction emerging from this work is not a fixed endpoint. It's a strategic road map. It positions the town to advance to the next phase of the project with a clear understanding of community priorities, site constraints, and development

430
02:06:59.440 --> 02:07:16.239
opportunities. And then finally, my last slide here talking about implementation and near-term priorities. Um, it's the next step is really to advance that site readiness grant work in 2026 and 2027.

431
02:07:16.239 --> 02:07:31.440
Uh so site feasibility and infrastructure analysis, market and operational analysis for recreation comp for a recreation sports complex, evaluating the zoning and permitting and wastewater infrastructure needs and exploring public private

432
02:07:31.440 --> 02:07:48.639
partnerships and funding opportunities. That's in parallel to the continued coordination regarding the ME small school feasibility study. Um, in addition, the town will be able to prepare requests for proposals for redevelopment partners and to be able to gauge interest in terms of who is out

433
02:07:48.639 --> 02:08:04.320
there that could help with some sort of development, whether it's apartment buildings, single family homes, or with the sports complex. Um, we'll continue to refine the pre preferred conceptual site plan and redevelopment strategy and help to position the town for future

434
02:08:04.320 --> 02:08:19.440
funding and implementation opportunities. And just to wrap it all up, as I mentioned earlier, all of the information is in the final report which can be found on the town's website on the MUK web page. Um, and so with that, I will turn it over to you, Madam Chair, for any questions.

435
02:08:19.440 --> 02:08:36.480
>> Great presentation. Lots of really good information here, and I just have to thank the committee for its work. Um, >> I concur with what you said. It's uh, it's been a great process. It's probably been

436
02:08:36.480 --> 02:08:53.119
difficult for the committee. Um, but the process itself was such an important thing that had to happen. We had to go through this and um, we've come a long way. We've got some great renderings. It's really hard. um

437
02:08:53.119 --> 02:09:09.920
still without having the next steps you know we really can't make a informed decision without uh the market analysis I think is is really key because you know we don't know if these are financially feasible to anybody and you know with Emmy small all the pieces that

438
02:09:09.920 --> 02:09:28.320
are are in in the in the mix but um what you've given to us is um really when you think about what we started what we started with and all the potential potentials. I mean, we've narrowed it down. I mean, the concepts are slightly different, but um the the

439
02:09:28.320 --> 02:09:45.520
public was heard and um that that's the key and and bringing forward, I think, something that will ultimately be successful. So, Liz, you have a question? >> I do. Um and I'm going to get on my soap box. Um sorry,

440
02:09:45.520 --> 02:09:59.599
>> you bring it. >> Yeah, it's it's under me at all times. Um I I have been uh involved still continuing with my interest in solar power and so I attended for instance a department of energy resources

441
02:09:59.599 --> 02:10:16.639
presentation today and I think one of the things that we're missing when we consider removing that solar field is you cannot we cannot afford to redo that. That was bargain basement

442
02:10:16.639 --> 02:10:33.840
opportunity and it is turning right now. It's giving the town $174 175,000 of avoided electric costs a year. And if you if you you know that's that's not

443
02:10:33.840 --> 02:10:50.400
chicken feed right there. And even looking at the um the Madakis with the solar on the roof of the auditorium and the gym, that's giving us $35,000 in avoided costs every year. And I could see removing the the roof mount at at

444
02:10:50.400 --> 02:11:08.239
Madakis much more easily. But to to think that you would ever be able to afford to get that kind of bang for your buck is not reasonable because it was done under circumstances 10 11 years ago

445
02:11:08.239 --> 02:11:24.560
that have long since expired and sunsetted. So I I I I just urge the town to recognize the value in that solar field before um just to recognize the value. I don't

446
02:11:24.560 --> 02:11:39.280
think it's been really weighed into this appropriately. So that's my two cents on that. And the other thing that I would remind us is we had a very good presentation from um Weston and Samson

447
02:11:39.280 --> 02:11:55.119
um Christmas time or so and they had done a field study for the town and um there is Sandy Pond down the road mile and a third one.3 miles away and a a

448
02:11:55.119 --> 02:12:10.719
huge field resource there that could be again developed. it. There's a bunch that exists, but it could be um further developed based on their studies. So, those I think those are important considerations that need to go into the

449
02:12:10.719 --> 02:12:28.400
mix as I know we're going out fishing, going on a fishing expedition. We're going to get an RFP up and see who who's b what bait we get we get any uh bites on. Um but I hope we we stay mindful of the assets we have.

450
02:12:28.400 --> 02:12:43.360
Thank you, Joyce. >> I'd like to thank you all for your hard work. I mean, this was this was really a shot in the dark committee. Um, just recruiting people who had signed up to be on committees and this was so darn

451
02:12:43.360 --> 02:13:00.079
successful. We we might want to do more of this. Um, the sheer randomness of it and you and you did a great job. I love what you've done. I came to the uh the winter meeting that you had for the public and I noticed you've now got it down to three alternatives. You've

452
02:13:00.079 --> 02:13:15.360
trimmed a little from that and I appreciate the way you've presented information in a way that makes it possible for us to understand and and what we're giving up whether it's like seven apartments here or you know three apartments here and of course the whole

453
02:13:15.360 --> 02:13:31.440
question of the school. I mean, I still don't know what we should do because the school issue is up there, but I I so appreciate all that you've done and I if it's not um hijacking your lives

454
02:13:31.440 --> 02:13:47.760
entirely. I look forward to uh hearing from you for the future phases. No, no, no, no. By the way, thank you, Joyce, for attending our second community meeting. Yeah, it was very nice of you to come and be involved in that. So, we

455
02:13:47.760 --> 02:14:02.639
>> I just stayed in the back like a little learning mouse. >> Well, you you were there. So, uh we appreciated that. I didn't know if you wanted to respond to anything yet, Heather, or No. Um so um we have spent

456
02:14:02.639 --> 02:14:19.840
time as a committee talking about a number of the things that Liz brought up and uh we're hopeful that another consideration of joining the town and the schools efforts together to

457
02:14:19.840 --> 02:14:35.840
as was suggested here before in the uh the board of selectman that possibly another site might be given that you could transfer that to that site. And it doesn't necessarily have to be a field.

458
02:14:35.840 --> 02:14:53.599
Uh it could be on top of, you know, >> Yeah. solar canopies, parking. Yep. And so it may not have that same expense um to provide, but um what it might do

459
02:14:53.599 --> 02:15:08.800
is give the school district a better return and more money for their budget eventually, you know, a couple years from now. instead of having a deteriorating amount of money, our thought was it may provide more for

460
02:15:08.800 --> 02:15:25.679
their district, which would be a help to what has been described as a structural problem in terms of some of their budgeting needs. So that might be continuing the solar u amounts but maybe

461
02:15:25.679 --> 02:15:41.520
increasing it. So that that would be phase six and seven to decide and it's not going to be disappearing anytime immediately. Um I think you have to you know they'll be doing a lot of financial stuff that will be very important for

462
02:15:41.520 --> 02:15:59.360
deciding those kinds of issues and um so I hope I answered your concern and >> thank you Sharon. >> We have been talking about or some of us have have been talking about moving some of the fields to Sandy Pond. So, so that you don't have it all in one area. And

463
02:15:59.360 --> 02:16:15.760
part of that solar field leaving opens more gold land of future development of what may come up in five years. Totally something different. >> So, there are lots of mix and matches

464
02:16:15.760 --> 02:16:31.920
and different ideas that you're all going to hear more from the administrators who are doing phase six and seven. Uh we're marching out at five. So >> ah >> that's how we're kind of looking at things anyway.

465
02:16:31.920 --> 02:16:49.359
So let us know if you have a different idea, but that's our idea. >> I I actually did want to raise one other point related to the solar and the um the funding that the panels bring in.

466
02:16:49.359 --> 02:17:05.120
and that is that currently there's no other income coming in on the property. So if it was redeveloped, that's taxes year-over-year that are going to come in for you know the housing. So there is

467
02:17:05.120 --> 02:17:21.040
some generation of income from redevelopment at this site >> tax. Yeah. >> Um and then also in terms of looking at the Sandy Pond fields, the approach that we had in looking at the number of fields at the site here

468
02:17:21.040 --> 02:17:36.399
was really for that sports complex development and the use of the fields for leagues or tournaments um a different level than just recreationbased. So, while there's overflow opportunity

469
02:17:36.399 --> 02:17:52.719
at Sandy Pond to have an agreement with the town to use some of those field resources, the intent here was really that the private use was going to be used by those organizations that had an agreement with the developer there.

470
02:17:52.719 --> 02:18:12.880
>> So, >> all that's coming your way. Well, I also want to thank you for the hard work that you've all done u on this. It's amazing how you start with a concept that's just like nebulous

471
02:18:12.880 --> 02:18:29.920
>> and can fine-tune it down to offering alternatives. Um it really is fantastic. Um don't be too happy about going out the door, Sharon. We might keep you guys around a little longer. You never know.

472
02:18:29.920 --> 02:18:46.160
>> Give her a vacation. But um I I really am happy that you're not forgetting about the whole Emmy small situation because that is kind of like a big gaping question mark that we've got over this whole project.

473
02:18:46.160 --> 02:19:03.679
>> And I have to admire the amount of community uh inclusion that you went through in this. I mean you really >> went beyond. I mean, I love the the signs that were out at Higgins Croll, you know, like tell us what you think.

474
02:19:03.679 --> 02:19:19.840
Um, I'm sure there are going to be people out there that are going to say, "I never knew anything about it." But that's knee-jerk reaction and always the case. But I I can I feel that there isn't anybody in town that doesn't know

475
02:19:19.840 --> 02:19:36.719
what's going on with Madakis and that you you completely touched on everything that you needed to and uh I thank you. >> Well, thank you. And it's all based on committee members that are sitting behind me and two that are not able to

476
02:19:36.719 --> 02:19:53.120
come. John Anderson and also um Casey Schmidt. So um everybody contributed as well as the administrators that were helping us through this whole process. So it's um it was a pleasant experience

477
02:19:53.120 --> 02:20:11.040
through some of these things. So >> Mark, >> thanks Tracy. Um and thank you for being here tonight. Um my question has to do with um the time I have several questions. The first is the timing on

478
02:20:11.040 --> 02:20:25.920
the mass development work. When is that expected to be completed? >> You're talking about the grants >> mass development the >> I can answer that. >> Can someone >> Yeah. So we're we're trying to finalize the contract with mass development which probably should be finalized by the end

479
02:20:25.920 --> 02:20:41.600
of May. Then we'll get going on that and that's expected to take about 18 months. >> Okay. So we have a ways to go. Okay, good to know. Um, one of the questions that has been asked of me is since this project is in an aquifer protection

480
02:20:41.600 --> 02:20:59.200
zone, one of the questions has been, is this development consistent with what we would normally allow in an aquifer protection district? And maybe I know Kathy's here, she's very conversant on >> zoning. Kathy, can you help answer that question?

481
02:20:59.200 --> 02:21:14.479
>> I think it's the devil's in the details. I think if this is designed properly with the storm water having enhanced treatment systems, being careful of the um type of um fertilizer we might be using on the fields just like they do at Bayberry where they use the slower uh

482
02:21:14.479 --> 02:21:29.680
activating and maybe there's a whole bunch of different types of if we want to go with an artificial turf. There's a bunch of different natural types now that need to be taken into consideration. So I think how it's designed is going to make all the difference and I think those are the things that we need to make make very very clear in any type of RFP that we go

483
02:21:29.680 --> 02:21:46.800
out uh to develop the site >> in the reports is that kind of language is that mentioned in the documents that have been prepared so far? >> Yeah, in the very last I think the other considerations and recommendations at the very end and also in the executive summary it talks about >> yeah because we have literally half a

484
02:21:46.800 --> 02:22:04.080
dozen at least well fields uh and it's an important component of our water supply. We've got signs all over town telling people to conserve water. That water is precious. So, I think we need to make it abundantly clear in this report what steps we are taking as a municipality to make sure that whatever

485
02:22:04.080 --> 02:22:21.120
is developed there, we're doing the utmost to protect our water supplies. In fact, recently we bought a good chunk of land along Higgins Croll for uh water supply purposes, telling our residents that uh it was within a zone two of several wells and they were needed for

486
02:22:21.120 --> 02:22:36.240
protection. So, >> yeah, the key to all of this is bringing municipal waste water to the site. None of this development would be possible without that. And the parcels across the street were mainly purchased because they were within a thousand feet radius of wells. And we're staying without outside the thousand foot radius. You

487
02:22:36.240 --> 02:22:54.479
can see like a little dash line in the upper right hand corner. Uh over on the right, that's where the wells are >> corner, >> right? >> Yeah, there are wells there at >> the thousand ft restrictive area for this site. >> We want to have control over the thousand feet. >> I just want to make sure that in the

488
02:22:54.479 --> 02:23:09.840
report the measures that are necessary for protecting our water supplies >> are well stated and clearly articulated in the document that we do have a plan. We acknowledge that we're in an aquifer uh protection district. The town zoned

489
02:23:09.840 --> 02:23:25.280
it years ago thinking that they were going to be preserving the long-term future of our water supplies here in in Yarmouth. >> And uh that steps have been taken within this plan to make sure that those water supplies are protected. We've had people come to our meetings and have asked

490
02:23:25.280 --> 02:23:40.560
those same questions and Kathy has always responded that we need the sewage uh to come down >> Higgins scroll from Buck Island >> so that that would be part of this development.

491
02:23:40.560 --> 02:23:55.840
>> Yeah. >> The only way to you know >> No, I I understand. I just want to make sure there are there are a number of residents in the town of Yarmouth very concerned about our water supply resources >> and we need to make sure that in this

492
02:23:55.840 --> 02:24:12.000
document we take very we we take note of those concerns. They're entirely legitimate. Um I mean we're talking about the D is forcing us to do wastewater discharge in another part of the community that is within the aquifer

493
02:24:12.000 --> 02:24:28.160
protection district. All right. So we have a number of things going on that we as a select board are going to have to wrestle with in terms of how we protect our you know over the long term our water supplies. On the one hand we've got this development to take a look at make sure that this adequate whatever

494
02:24:28.160 --> 02:24:44.960
whatever we decide adequately protects our water supplies while at the same time being cognizant of some of the other things that are going on in the community that put our water resources very much at risk. So, um, that's the reason why I bring it up tonight. It's because I think it's incumbent on us to make sure that, uh, the strictest

495
02:24:44.960 --> 02:25:01.439
possible measures are adopted in and baked into the the recommendations here so that whatever happens, we're not doing anything to compromise our drinking water supplies. >> Right. I I feel comfortable that Heather in terms of her writing in in

496
02:25:01.439 --> 02:25:16.319
documentation in terms of our reports and Kathy's continued uh involvement in helping us has made it abundantly clear that only sewage uh development here and that we are aware of from the water

497
02:25:16.319 --> 02:25:32.319
department and one of our land use teams that participated showed that the area that would be 1,00 ft closest to the to the wells that are around that property. So, the only section is that dotted line

498
02:25:32.319 --> 02:25:49.200
up top, black dotted line, and that's clear, I believe, in the report. >> Yeah. No, I I I appreciate what you're saying. All I'm saying is it's got to be in there because there are going to be a lot of people >> uh at some point in the decision-m process that that may be their only

499
02:25:49.200 --> 02:26:04.560
criteria. >> That may be the only thing that they're concerned about. uh and I could understand that >> given again the number of wells that are potentially impacted if there is no sufficient uh way to address wastewater or drainage or some of the other water

500
02:26:04.560 --> 02:26:20.880
quality impacts. >> Right. >> Can I just say that um the mass development site readiness grant will also focus on some of the site preparedness and we can talk about some of this as well with and that will continue with BSC group. So

501
02:26:20.880 --> 02:26:37.840
>> again, I appreciate all that the voters people are asking me this question. I'm just conveying the concerns of the people to you because they are going to want pretty pretty tough answers. And at some point, um, you know, I'm sure that you you'll get people from the water resources advisory committee and some of

502
02:26:37.840 --> 02:26:52.479
the other committees where their job is to protect water resources. I'm sure they'll be asking questions like this as well. So, but thank you. >> Yeah. >> Um, thank you, Mark. the so the the next steps are going to

503
02:26:52.479 --> 02:27:08.800
be about a year long really before we have the data we need as a board. Um you know I think one of the things that is important that we learned you know with the library process not knowing the the land here how it was taken I think that

504
02:27:08.800 --> 02:27:23.439
that's what we're able to use that property for. I'm not sure that work has already been completed zoning. >> It was taken for school purposes and we have spoken with Jay Talon and it would require a town meeting vote in order to change that use.

505
02:27:23.439 --> 02:27:40.560
>> So it was it's a municipal pro property for school, but there's no restrictions. >> You said there's no article 97 restrictions on the property. >> Okay. Those are all like really important things before we start going down these roads that um

506
02:27:40.560 --> 02:27:55.840
not that um I I'm hearing what you're saying. So in the next year or so the work will be through the consultant I would imagine and I think that um I don't have a copy of your charge in

507
02:27:55.840 --> 02:28:12.479
front of in front of me but um am I correct to say that this was the deliverable upon upon the end of the committee for your for for your charge is that your >> the charge was changed in March of 2025. I don't know if it was orchestrated but

508
02:28:12.479 --> 02:28:28.399
it doesn't matter. The charge was changed or I should say the scope was changed and we were only going to go through phase five and then the administration would be taking over fi phase six and

509
02:28:28.399 --> 02:28:43.840
seven >> which potentially would be your all your financial reports that you are looking for that you need to decide >> you know what you're going to do from these concepts and for me I always knew

510
02:28:43.840 --> 02:29:00.880
that if something new came up, you might go with the new. It might provide jobs for people or, you know, whatever might happen five years from now if that's how long it takes for the decision about a new school or renovating or whatever

511
02:29:00.880 --> 02:29:16.640
they're going to do. Uh because that space if they decide to go elsewhere would be available to be developed once the school came down. So that has a future use possibility because we don't know what the schools are going to

512
02:29:16.640 --> 02:29:32.319
decide they and where they want to be. And so I'm not sure I'm answering your question. >> No, I think you are. I'm hearing what I think I'm I'm seeing from the board that I think it's the wish of the board to be complete at this point. Is that that is that a correct assumption or am I

513
02:29:32.319 --> 02:29:49.280
assuming that it's the Okay. All right. So, so but but having said that, um you know, perhaps we get to a point where we're ready to reconvene and we reconstitute something that brings us to the next point, but I'm not sure over

514
02:29:49.280 --> 02:30:04.319
the next year that there's a lot of work and maybe that's not what the wishes of this committee. The committee has done an amazing job. So, by by all means, my comments are trying to make sure that I'm >> shorting out

515
02:30:04.319 --> 02:30:19.760
>> uh uh doing what your your wishes are. I mean, it's it's selfish to say I'd love you to stay, but um you know, we value our volunteers and you know, at some point in time, maybe we need to create a new charge and take it from from there

516
02:30:19.760 --> 02:30:35.600
and maybe hopefully you'll come back or I don't know if that's what your wish is, but um I think that's something that this committee needs. >> You never know. You never know. >> Yeah, you never know. You never know. >> Give you a break and send you to Disney World if your budgets work so tight.

517
02:30:35.600 --> 02:30:52.960
ation sounds nice to me. Yeah. >> Um >> but it's been a lot of work. >> It has been and you've done an amazing job. I think like I said, >> I would have been lost had Kathy not been around to ask questions to. Um and our committee uh participated in

518
02:30:52.960 --> 02:31:09.439
discussions and we were in places that you've been to maybe even last week in terms of the gym, the auditorium. I mean, it took us a long time to finally say, "No, you really need to take it all

519
02:31:09.439 --> 02:31:25.600
down." And if you decide that you want to build an auditorium, that would probably be better because it would be ADA compliant. It would have lots of things and probably still terrific sounds. So, >> there you go. you know,

520
02:31:25.600 --> 02:31:41.760
>> and and good for town meeting >> and good for town meeting or whatever it is, you know, that you're thinking of, you know, wanting to do, you're going to have some interesting conversations yourself because I've seen them here and we're all different, which has been

521
02:31:41.760 --> 02:31:55.520
great. But that's one of the things that I think was really important when we put the committee together. There were so many people that were interested in this parcel that, you know, from my perspective, having individuals not tied

522
02:31:55.520 --> 02:32:11.920
to all of those um special programs was such an important thing that you looked at everything. You took everything and you you flushed it out. And I don't I'm just I'm I'm I'm happy. It's not it's not going to be easy from this point. I

523
02:32:11.920 --> 02:32:28.640
mean, um, it's there's still a lot of work to do and I'm I'm I'm hopeful that we have a performer that somebody may be interested in and we don't have to start all over again because we've done that before unfortunately, you know, so this has been a new concept for you. So

524
02:32:28.640 --> 02:32:44.160
that ad ad hoc committees don't go on for a long time and we are not going on for a long time. So, we had a lot of stuff stuffed and uh but I really liked the if you want to know something, I

525
02:32:44.160 --> 02:33:01.680
really liked the land use teams because well, as chair, I went to all of them, but everybody went to different meetings and learned different things about how the town >> sees their self. And I thought that was

526
02:33:01.680 --> 02:33:18.319
really a nice thing to know about your own town. So, um, I like that aspect. Um, so I could probably, you know, uh, be in favor of, you know, a lot of the things. >> Yeah.

527
02:33:18.319 --> 02:33:35.439
>> Well, all right. So, I don't know. Does >> we are still doing minutes? So, we have another uh >> meeting on the 14th where we hope to finish all the minutes that were for our committee up to this point. So,

528
02:33:35.439 --> 02:33:51.920
>> all right. >> But when you have a a meeting to okay the minutes, then you have the minutes from that meeting and they need to be okayed. >> No, we don't need another. We're doing that the same night. >> You figured that out, Sharon. >> We figured this all out. So,

529
02:33:51.920 --> 02:34:07.200
>> so is there anything that you need from us? >> Well, um Oh, I didn't I didn't expect that question. Um no, just continued uh telling everybody that this isn't going

530
02:34:07.200 --> 02:34:23.439
to be a debt for the town. This is going to be looking for there will be costs. You're talking about hazardous waste. You're talking about demolition. Um, and hopefully you will go for grants, I guess, is what I would

531
02:34:23.439 --> 02:34:39.040
suggest. And I think that's what Mark was referring to was mass housing. You you need to get the grants going and the sewer going. I mean, they have design money. I don't know. There's also local economic grants. I don't know what they

532
02:34:39.040 --> 02:34:54.800
offer. I don't know all the grants. There's also convention grants um that been talked about. Now, don't think of it as a big convention hall, but that you know, even the design of the building may function as a way to earn

533
02:34:54.800 --> 02:35:12.080
money via events. I don't know how all that works. Amy's going to do that. Megan's going to do that. Kathy's going to do that. Bob's going to do that. They're all going to figure out that and what needs to come first and how that impacts the con concepts. And the

534
02:35:12.080 --> 02:35:28.160
concepts are still mix and match, you know. I mean, they have that possibility. They've been arranged by Kathy and her group the best way that they can, but it's also, as she indicated, it's the biggest it can be, you know. >> Yeah.

535
02:35:28.160 --> 02:35:44.560
>> And you can go down in size and create more land that's available for private development because I don't think you should give that up easily, >> right, >> myself? because it is special. You don't have to go through neighborhoods.

536
02:35:44.560 --> 02:36:00.560
You just come down and you go by businesses and town owned land. You go directly into the site. So, you do have to be concerned about your neighbors that it's not overwhelming, but >> it's got so much potential. >> Is there anybody on the board that wants

537
02:36:00.560 --> 02:36:17.680
to have say anything? >> Sorry. >> I just want to make sure everybody's heard. All right. So, as far as as far as the charge, I'm sorry. >> Cheers. >> Great.

538
02:36:17.680 --> 02:36:33.520
>> Yeah. >> Um, Bob, in terms of our is the ad hoc ends on its own or do we have to take action? >> Well, I think it would be incumbent upon the select board to um, you know,

539
02:36:33.520 --> 02:36:51.760
disband the ad hoc committee for now. that on our future agenda. >> Um, sure. And and we're entering into the implementation phase. We've got the financial feasibility and and the RFP process and we'll just continue marching it forward. Um, but um, my committee

540
02:36:51.760 --> 02:37:07.040
some money left over from our budget. So, but I don't know how much has been used. So, that can go right to the 200,000 grant. So, that would be a po bonus. So, >> well, thank you all so much for your work. >> Round of applause.

541
02:37:07.040 --> 02:37:24.359
>> Very much appreciated. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Well, thank you for the opportunity. I think everybody appreciated being on the committee. So, >> thank you. >> We appreciate you very much. >> We've got your numbers.

542
02:37:27.200 --> 02:37:43.280
>> All right. So, if that's okay with everybody, we'll put that on a future agenda. They wrote it down. >> Well, I think when we think about a future agenda, Madam Chair, I think one of the things we're going to have to be cognizant of is a a b a building, the Madakis building staying vacant for an

543
02:37:43.280 --> 02:38:00.640
extended period of time and um having more discussions about possible interim uses or some activities because um I mean we're >> insurance >> the insurance we're we're paying for heat. We heard about that at town meeting. uh that's going to continue to

544
02:38:00.640 --> 02:38:17.040
come up and uh and generate attention. So, um I want to ask ourselves um you know, should there be some other interim uses of the building? Well, >> that might make sense. >> We currently have recreational programming in there, >> right?

545
02:38:17.040 --> 02:38:33.840
>> Um and I I believe our public safety officials do use it for training as well. >> Yep. And maybe there's a need to have more discussions about maximizing those opportunities for at least the next couple of years. >> I know a theater group would sure like to use the stage.

546
02:38:33.840 --> 02:38:49.840
>> There you go. Maybe maybe they want to be invited into at least take a look at the stage. All I'm saying is is having the building sit there for a couple years while we're spending money to keep it keep it heated and everything. It I think that's going to be a conversation we're going to want to have. >> Absolutely. Right. >> Yep.

547
02:38:49.840 --> 02:39:05.600
>> It's very expensive to keep it open. especially when it's vacant and it's buildings obviously do better when they're there's people in there using them. So, >> okay. So, our next agenda item is an

548
02:39:05.600 --> 02:39:23.439
energy grant manager update. >> And um I want to start this and and first um indicate this is an interim update because we've talked about a lot when are we going to have an update? When are we going to have an update? And obviously we've got a lot of um additional details that um you know that

549
02:39:23.439 --> 02:39:40.319
we're working out. Uh, and and I I just want to start with our our general concept and I know Jeff's here and and he gave me the advice that, you know, we should wait and do an update, you know, when we have more comprehensive information, but I thought it would be a a

550
02:39:40.319 --> 02:39:57.840
optimum opportunity to lay out our concept and the um progress that we've made because what I think that we've really reached um a watershed moment on our whole energy um management discussion with the experience under our belt with with this grant and I think we

551
02:39:57.840 --> 02:40:14.640
have a direction moving forward that's going to be very successful for the town in the long term and um as you know just to for the um the details the town has been awarded a three-year grant from bas basically national grid is the

552
02:40:14.640 --> 02:40:29.600
underwriter of the grant for a part-time energy manager position that was funded at a rate of 45,600 um per year and uh that's only a part-time position. And um we had

553
02:40:29.600 --> 02:40:47.280
admittedly a long and um very difficult uh recruitment process to try to locate a part-time person um to do that work. Um ultimately um you know, we did locate someone to um fill the appointment, but

554
02:40:47.280 --> 02:41:02.960
unfortunately it it didn't work out for the town and our ability. we have this comprehensive memorandum of agreement of all of these issues that we wanted to carry out and to have um a part-time person that didn't have a tremendous amount of experience. Uh you know, having to work with all of the the

555
02:41:02.960 --> 02:41:19.760
superintendent and police chief and all the building um managers um really wasn't set up to make a lot of progress on fulfilling all of our um obligations. and and also again it was a part-time

556
02:41:19.760 --> 02:41:37.600
function and it was only temporary. Um the the one opportunity that this whole process gave us um is uh it enabled us to really fully engage the leadership of the department of public works and you know my my hat is off to um Jeff Colby,

557
02:41:37.600 --> 02:41:55.680
Amanda Lima um also Roby White House and the um facilities engineering DPW um all were engaged in this process of figuring out from a management standpoint point what we needed to do to um initiate and

558
02:41:55.680 --> 02:42:10.960
to manage energy conservation projects, the whole planning process and all of the um MOA duties that that we signed on to. And as a result of the experience that we developed that we learned that

559
02:42:10.960 --> 02:42:26.479
that energy conservation part of the facility management program has to really be a fully professional and professional permanent position with significant responsibilities that it

560
02:42:26.479 --> 02:42:41.920
wasn't just a a part-time function. And um if we're able to achieve that um you know the town really is going to have some long-term success and um the initiative came from um Jeff's leadership

561
02:42:41.920 --> 02:42:57.680
um to fold this into the management operations of the department. Um, as you know, the board had voted to support the creation of our new um, building and facilities management position that is we're going to, you know, finally have

562
02:42:57.680 --> 02:43:13.680
and and it it is um, you know, in the capital planning, the building studies, all that we've done. You know, we knew that that was one of our our chief priorities and to help more further professionalize that position and also leverage it with the financing, the

563
02:43:13.680 --> 02:43:30.160
proposal came forward to combine the energy manager position with the um facilities manager position and we have the um a detailed job description on doing exactly that. Now, um the parts

564
02:43:30.160 --> 02:43:46.880
that we're going to be working out now is we're going to try to um um we've worked with the personnel board, got the all of the um classifications and everything. we're ready to post this position and then um we're going to as we fill this um work with the existing

565
02:43:46.880 --> 02:44:02.640
infrastructure in in in the department and this new position to lay out the plan for achieving each and every one of the there's a big laundry list of goals that we have in the MOA um things that we want to achieve in terms of the

566
02:44:02.640 --> 02:44:19.920
energy conservation measures and so we're really happy with the progress that we made um I couldn't be more proud of the DPW and their approach. Um, I I think that what this does is it takes this part-time grant and because it hits

567
02:44:19.920 --> 02:44:36.960
at a perfect time, it leverages it into more professional management for our facilities, which obviously the energy management management is going to be a key piece and work with engineering. They're also going to have additional resources to help support the energy committee. Uh, and that's going to be a

568
02:44:36.960 --> 02:44:52.240
key part of what we're going to be doing as well. In the future, we'll probably see more um facilities staff added, people that are um additional energy conservation specialists, also specialists in other areas, but we're starting now with the management

569
02:44:52.240 --> 02:45:08.319
infrastructure because, you know, dealing with all of the, you know, the managers and the superintendent of schools, you know, you really need a comprehensive professional approach and um that is is the the concept. We've shared this with the the need um folks

570
02:45:08.319 --> 02:45:24.160
that are administering the grant and with National Grid. Their preliminary um opinion has been very positive. They love to see us leveraging, you know, so much town funding because we we want to start this position anyways. And it just is a perfect match to have the grant

571
02:45:24.160 --> 02:45:40.399
funding to mix in there and to be able to do it full-time and professional. And so, um, we'd look to, um, provide additional, um, updates and reports once we try to get this position out on the street, um, get it filled with someone

572
02:45:40.399 --> 02:45:56.080
that has the qualifications, and then we're going to start the work of, um, the overall implementation. But, um, as I say, um, it it all came from the the leadership in DPW and engineering to really internalize this whole project.

573
02:45:56.080 --> 02:46:15.920
and you know um it took a while to kind of come up to speed on on the right approach to it but I honestly think in the long term um this is a really great approach to handling this >> okay >> yes um so

574
02:46:15.920 --> 02:46:31.920
I'm thrilled because of course that position was something I was very hopeful we would uh benefit from here and Um, I spoke with Bob. Having been involved

575
02:46:31.920 --> 02:46:47.600
with the grant, I am concerned about our meeting goals that are very specific from the goal from the grant makers position. Um Bob is aware of that and

576
02:46:47.600 --> 02:47:04.479
even if we don't meet those grant requirements I what I'm hearing is that the position will be filled and we will have an an energy manager slash facilities director or manager going

577
02:47:04.479 --> 02:47:21.279
forward. Um I I would ask don't want to put Bob on the spot. It says in your letter from today or yesterday that the position has been fully funded for FY2027.

578
02:47:21.279 --> 02:47:37.840
And is that using the grant the 46,000 that was given to us through the grant this year? >> It's it's funded for um FY26 the remainder of this year as well. And um it's funded without adding the grant to it. So, by adding the grant to it,

579
02:47:37.840 --> 02:47:55.200
hopefully um you know, we'll be able to um fill the position, maybe have some additional funds, you know, small amount. I mean, it's not a lot of money that that's in the grant. >> I I think what what this does is it sort of magnifies

580
02:47:55.200 --> 02:48:09.920
what you can do with the grant by leveraging it with other town money, but but we funded this position um before we added in the the grant. So now it's definitely funded for for this year and next year and we feel that um it's going

581
02:48:09.920 --> 02:48:27.120
to be a permanent position not like the grant which was only three years. So that when even when the grant runs out we're going to keep this position. >> That's so encouraging. And the only other concern I have is that there's an awful lot of um expectation that our

582
02:48:27.120 --> 02:48:44.479
energy manager grant was going to be utilized to improve the DY school district energy efficiency and buildings. So we'll just have to but you're handling our interactions with um National Grid and the need people. So

583
02:48:44.479 --> 02:48:59.600
I'm I think it's wonderful. Thank you, Bob. >> And I I think that we can work with the schools. I mean, they have their staff as well, but I think the idea is that we're looking out um for the overall um energy. I I I really think that, you

584
02:48:59.600 --> 02:49:14.720
know, working as a team and and having the superintendent and his staff involved, but involved at a high level. >> Yeah. >> Um not having someone, you know, come in off the street and start telling the superintendent what to do, that kind of thing. Um that we're going to make more progress.

585
02:49:14.720 --> 02:49:29.600
>> Yeah. Okay. Joyce, >> um I just wondered if there were any deadlines within the grant that we have to struggle to meet because of the uh the lapse in time.

586
02:49:29.600 --> 02:49:47.040
Well, um clearly um we haven't, you know, had a stellar first year because there, you know, it was difficult finding a person and um then, you know, it was difficult keeping a person and um

587
02:49:47.040 --> 02:50:03.760
so what what this does is it puts us back on track to um meet all of our milestones. So, um, we, you know, we're right now for year one, we're supposed to be providing reports, which we're doing. We're in communication, so we're meeting our needs. But what this does is

588
02:50:03.760 --> 02:50:19.359
it gives us a fighting chance moving forward. It's a three-year program so that we meet all of our all of our goals. And, you know, what we hope to do is if there's a chance of getting more money out of this grant after we go through the three years, you know, we want to have strong positive

589
02:50:19.359 --> 02:50:34.960
relationships that, you know, maybe we can continue to get some additional grant funding. I mean, we had hoped potentially we were going to do something with this part-time to try to leverage it into full-time somehow. Um, now we've sort of figured out how to do that, but whatever else like other

590
02:50:34.960 --> 02:50:50.000
grants that we can leverage with this, I think it's important to meet all of our requirements. >> Good job. Thank you. >> Yes. Um, I just want to add real quickly to to Bob's comments. Uh there are some deadlines and Roby and Amanda our our assistant DPW director and town engineer

591
02:50:50.000 --> 02:51:06.720
are keeping those deadlines and keeping us on track but we really do need to fill this position so we have the support to get everything done and accomplished that's on our list. >> Thanks J. >> Thank you Marcus Mark. >> Um no I think this is a smart way to go.

592
02:51:06.720 --> 02:51:24.080
Um and I'm I'm glad to see uh us filling this position. And I think one of the things that I've realized over the past year is just how much work we talk about appreciation of DPW. I mean, the DPW has really demonstrated it a fairly high

593
02:51:24.080 --> 02:51:41.520
level of performance and demonstrated I think uh they they've done an incredible job. So, I didn't realize the absence of this position until we had this conversation about the energy grant. So, I'm glad that for whatever reason, we've now moved in a direction

594
02:51:41.520 --> 02:51:56.479
where we're taking care of this spot because I think not only will it help us in terms of fulfilling obligations and meeting some of our goals in terms of energy management and conservation, but I think it overall the position of it

595
02:51:56.479 --> 02:52:13.920
itself um strengthens uh the the management and the leadership of the Department of Public Works. So, I think I think this is a win-win win. It's across the board. I think this is a very very smart move and uh I applaud the administrator and DPW for bringing it to

596
02:52:13.920 --> 02:52:31.359
to this conclusion. >> I agree. I think that this makes sense having a facilities manager and somebody who's understands the buildings and the workings of the buildings alto together is something that we we we need. Um my question is have we voted on an

597
02:52:31.359 --> 02:52:47.760
additional step? Do we I'm trying to remember. We used to have a policy about voting on any new positions. Have we done that already? >> I think that's required in the charter. >> That's what I >> Well, this is a position that exists on the books >> already. It goes back to um

598
02:52:47.760 --> 02:53:02.479
>> Even better. >> So, it's not a new position. It already exists, >> right? And we just amended it. >> Yeah. Real quick, this is Dick Court's position. It's been vacant for a while. We did add the energy manager component to it, but it's a position we've had. We

599
02:53:02.479 --> 02:53:19.279
need to vote on a revision to the change of it. It's a it's a division position. It's not a department head. It's a division. >> Division. >> That's correct. >> Yeah. Okay. Great. >> So, we'll have a chance to review at a certain point who that person is because on divisions I believe uh those we have

600
02:53:19.279 --> 02:53:36.720
the opportunity as a select board I believe. Is it on the division? >> I think so. It's not a division. >> It reports to the assistant. So, >> no. I'm not talking about the reporting requirements. I'm talking about ultimately when that position is approved. I think the umision has come to us select board has to deny it. Yeah. Yeah. So Bob and Bob

601
02:53:36.720 --> 02:53:51.920
has had a very good practice of bringing those positions to us >> as required. So we'll get a chance to learn more about this individual. >> Yep. I'm looking forward to it. >> Excellent. Anybody else have anything to say on that? >> No. >> Wonderful. Good thinking.

602
02:53:51.920 --> 02:54:10.800
All right. Next, we're gonna I see Mary's hair here. We have a discussion and a vote for a petitioned article for a special town meeting. >> Good evening. Hi, Suz. >> Good evening, Mary Mazleski, town clerk.

603
02:54:10.800 --> 02:54:25.680
>> Thank you. >> So, you have before you uh all the information relative to the petition. Uh, and at this point I believe your charge is to set a date for the special

604
02:54:25.680 --> 02:54:43.439
town meeting to start the calendar. And I think it's important for people to know that this is this is not an option. This is this is a a mechanical process that once the signatures are certified, correct, >> we are required to call a special town

605
02:54:43.439 --> 02:54:58.160
meeting. So people are saying people were discussing whether or not we will or we won't. It there's no option here. So >> correct a a petition it was a successful petition for a to hold a special town meeting. Uh 200 signatures are required.

606
02:54:58.160 --> 02:55:15.880
Once that happens the select board uh it comes to the select board with the information and you folks have uh 45 days to to set your date. >> Excellent. So you have outlined here um some potential days. Now, um,

607
02:55:22.479 --> 02:55:38.160
we have to have the just for the public's information as well, we have to hope have this whether the ballot passes or not. So to to Liz's point, um I think it's important that we do discuss this because you know it was said at town

608
02:55:38.160 --> 02:55:54.319
meeting by our town council that it would be on the ballot, but it if it didn't pass, it wouldn't matter. >> Um but that is not the case. that ballot vote on Tuesday is not tied specifically

609
02:55:54.319 --> 02:56:11.040
to this, but people need to understand that it needs to pass at both for it to be effect in effect, so to speak. So, >> so for a debt exclusion, it does need to pass both at town meeting and on a ballot as a ballot question. Ballot question is a majority.

610
02:56:11.040 --> 02:56:28.000
Um, debt exclusion is obviously twothirds of town meeting. Um the issue is uh it doesn't have to happen in any order. So the fact that there is a ballot question available if it passes then there is time for the town meeting

611
02:56:28.000 --> 02:56:43.920
a special town meeting vote to to to affect it. If it doesn't pass at the ballot then then I think that's >> the the town meeting is um >> not necessary >> result is you still have to have it though. >> You have no choice. >> Oh okay. Yes, we have >> because it is a petitioned special town

612
02:56:43.920 --> 02:56:58.880
meeting. >> There's no no ability not to schedule it. You have to schedule it and you have to hold it. Um it would then um much like the cranberry bog special town meeting turns into an you know more an advisory. >> Uh

613
02:56:58.880 --> 02:57:15.120
>> is that what we're calling that special town meeting the cranberry bog special? >> It the cranberry bog question was was I I guess >> my reference in my brain from a year and a half ago. >> The pump station. >> Correct. the pump the pump station at the cran at the cranberry bog location. >> So I think it's important for us as far

614
02:57:15.120 --> 02:57:32.640
as getting information out. I think because our our town council told people at that meeting that the ballot wasn't going to matter. I think that it's very important for people understand the process and how we explain to them that that ballot question now does matter and

615
02:57:32.640 --> 02:57:50.080
that the results of that matter because there will be a subsequent >> special town meeting to to I guess ratify that and make sure that both both >> boxes are checked one way or the other. >> Correct. And I would say that the at at the time of the of the town meeting,

616
02:57:50.080 --> 02:58:07.760
there wasn't uh an anticipation of of another special town meeting unless and until you folks at that point until >> it if it passed at the ballot question, then you folks could have made a decision. Um you know, but petitioners have the right to petition for a special town meeting. It is set out in chapter

617
02:58:07.760 --> 02:58:23.600
39 and you have a copy of it in your >> The point I want to make is town council at the time he said that was technically correct. >> Yes. >> Yes. I I I believe he was >> in order for this to move forward, two actions have to take place. Correct. >> That's what council said.

618
02:58:23.600 --> 02:58:39.840
>> And I think there was a a bigger question at the time on as to how people were looking at what that actual question was at town meeting. He was trying to clarify some misstatements that had happened in the audience about whether it mattered whether whether it

619
02:58:39.840 --> 02:58:56.479
mattered or not. and he was trying to point out that it was a debt exclusion vote and you need two votes to to accomplish a debt exclusion. >> And again, to be clear, there were some people at town meeting that were suggesting that the vote at town meeting was for the purposes of either having

620
02:58:56.479 --> 02:59:11.359
the ballot >> correct >> question. And and and and he made it abundantly clear that that's not the case. >> Correct. >> These are two separate actions that are required in order to effectuate the desired outcome uh on the new library. And the ballot is set long before town

621
02:59:11.359 --> 02:59:28.160
meeting happens. So the the question as soon as you folks vote to put it on the ballot, it's on the ballot regardless of whether uh the town meeting passes at town meeting. Uh the timing of the election just gives you uh and the town the opportunity to take a second vote.

622
02:59:28.160 --> 02:59:42.479
So >> okay, I think the confusion was real. Um, I was at the League of Women Voters annual meeting last night and um, somebody who was from the town of Barnstable talked to me about her relatives in Yarmouth being totally

623
02:59:42.479 --> 03:00:01.120
confused about the library vote and I thought, "Oo, smart lady and she probably has smart relatives." >> It was tough. You know, I will I will just say to that end, that article has been out there in the public for quite some time and you folks set that warrant

624
03:00:01.120 --> 03:00:16.800
quite some time ago. So, um with a very clear explanation in in the warrant. So, uh you know, >> this article, the petition article is exactly the same. Is that correct? >> Uh I believe it is. I haven't read it

625
03:00:16.800 --> 03:00:33.520
word for word. Um but it is it is required to go in exactly as it was written on the >> said but there were no changes >> on the petition >> to my knowledge no but I I do admit freely that I haven't >> vetted it side by side word for word >> okay >> it looks like it was a cut and paste but

626
03:00:33.520 --> 03:00:48.640
>> all right so >> I can speak to that >> so we need to handle logistics um as was mentioned one way or the other even if it fails we still have to hold the meeting open the meeting and perhaps postpone it or have the the

627
03:00:48.640 --> 03:01:04.080
dialogue one way or the other. So, people should know that um the town clerk has given us a letter here that outlines some of the times that the building at Cape Media and DY are available. They're available on June

628
03:01:04.080 --> 03:01:19.600
22nd, 23rd, or 24th. >> Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. >> Um I didn't look at our meeting schedule to a big meeting. have a meeting on the 23rd >> hearings and things. So, we would have

629
03:01:19.600 --> 03:01:34.319
to move a lot to do the 23rd. >> I would I would um make a motion that we uh consider June 20, 20th. Is that the Monday? >> No, 22nd, 23rd, 2th.

630
03:01:34.319 --> 03:01:50.960
>> 22nd, 23rd, and 24th are the dates. Uh my reason for suggesting the 23rd was just that it gave uh staff the opportunity to get in there on Monday night to actually do some of the the um testing for for the next day. Uh but

631
03:01:50.960 --> 03:02:05.439
certainly we'll do what we need to do to accommodate whatever of those days. Uh it's a special town meeting. The posting requirements are longer than an annual town meeting. So we're required to do two weeks in advance. Plus, uh, based on the new newer bylaw, there's a

632
03:02:05.439 --> 03:02:23.279
newspaper, um, a shorter posting in the newspaper just notifying people that the warrant is available on the town website. So, we need to back those dates up. You know, when you when you consider when you folks need to meet to then well, the 24th would give us more time,

633
03:02:23.279 --> 03:02:40.319
right? And still meet the >> the 24th is a Wednesday. Now, we've never done it on a Wednesday before. >> Might learn something from that. >> Maybe. I don't know. Does any We're heading into new territory. >> Okay. I'll make a motion that we um >> Does the town have any other things on I

634
03:02:40.319 --> 03:02:55.680
feel like June 24th has >> our last day of school. >> So, Madam Chair, through you to the the town administrator, if I could uh I believe the other date that they would need to set is the date for the articles to be >> close. Yeah, we have to close we have to open a warrant and close a warrant. So,

635
03:02:55.680 --> 03:03:10.640
we have to pick a date as well. So, but you know, I mean that that's going to allow other people to petition other articles and other people to put articles on um the warrant. So, >> on the same special town meeting,

636
03:03:10.640 --> 03:03:26.640
>> so we we could open open and close it right away. Um it's up to the board. How how long does the board want to leave for other articles to come forward? And >> well, we did just have a town meeting. So, >> no. Well, that's the whole thing. I'd

637
03:03:26.640 --> 03:03:42.720
suggest an early open and close. >> You mean a quick turn around? >> Closing >> like a short window. >> We could we could we could close it by >> Friday. I mean, as soon as it's closed, it's easier for you, right? >> But does it not matter?

638
03:03:42.720 --> 03:03:59.600
>> Nothing can happen until you folks then meet again to sign a warrant. >> So, we're going to have to have a special meeting. >> So, we're going to have to follow >> Unless you're meeting on the Are you meeting on the second already? >> No, but I >> on the n get to that. I think we're going to need uh um

639
03:03:59.600 --> 03:04:16.399
7:14. It's too tight. Need a special meeting >> maybe on the second um in order to finalize that warrant to give enough time to get it the um posted. >> Well, we could leave it open. We could open it now, right? We have We can open

640
03:04:16.399 --> 03:04:36.319
it now. It's >> we could close it on election day and we could have a special meeting on two on the the day after the 20th >> to sign it. >> Just a point of information. What's the

641
03:04:36.319 --> 03:04:54.160
date we're talking about now for the uh >> right now? >> Special town meeting. >> I think Dorcas after the 24th which was the Wednesday. If you would like to finalize the warrant on the 20th, it would be better to maybe close it um

642
03:04:54.160 --> 03:05:09.760
Friday because there's the time we have to draft the warrant and all of that stuff. And >> the 19th is Junth. >> Yeah, we're in May's that we're talking. >> Oh, in May. >> 19th of June is June. >> Talking about right now,

643
03:05:09.760 --> 03:05:27.439
>> we've we've tenatively picked a date for the special town meeting, >> which is June 24th. If everybody's okay with that. >> Okay. So, now back up. We need to open the warrant. We need to decide as a group how many days we're going to leave the warrant open for other people to put

644
03:05:27.439 --> 03:05:44.160
articles on. And then we need to come up with a date where we can sign the warrant because we have to sign the warrant without uh we don't have we don't have a meeting in the next couple of weeks. So we are going to have to make a special meeting to come and all sign the warrant

645
03:05:44.160 --> 03:05:59.920
>> and close it. >> You have to do it in a public meeting. >> Yeah. >> Because because since it's a we don't get to determine it or deliberate. We have to sign it. >> I mean we have to schedule it. >> We would have to sign it and clo we have to close vote to close it. >> Okay. >> And sign it

646
03:05:59.920 --> 03:06:16.720
>> to vote to put put the articles whatever articles on it in addition to >> have a meeting. We have to have another meeting. So, we have to put the article on even though it was the origin. Okay. >> But I also just want to clarify when we're talking about adding articles. Those are articles that you folks would be choosing to add to the to the

647
03:06:16.720 --> 03:06:31.840
warrant. >> You don't have to add anything. >> You don't have to add anything. I think we're I think we're simply talking about not talking about additional petitioned articles. You're simply talking about >> somebody approaching >> sending a letter to the select board and and requesting that something get added

648
03:06:31.840 --> 03:06:47.680
and then you folks can give those considerations. So, do we have to how how legally how long do we have to leave it open for? >> You you don't there's no time frame it. It just says that you have to determine when it's closed. Okay, that's your decision. But it there's no minimum

649
03:06:47.680 --> 03:07:03.840
time. >> If we're the only ones making that decision, it really doesn't matter. We can handle it all in probably one meeting. >> I believe that's I believe that's true since we have no interest in adding any other articles on this. >> No, we don't. So, let's close it on Friday the 15th. And if everybody's available for a short

650
03:07:03.840 --> 03:07:19.120
period of time, maybe we can find a date, a time on the 20th that we can have a meeting and uh >> May the 20th that we talked about. >> Yes, May the 20th. Is everybody okay with closing it on the 15th this Friday?

651
03:07:19.120 --> 03:07:34.160
That just only >> gives people Okay. >> Yes. >> All right. So, we're going to close the warrant, >> close it for articles on the 15th of May. And then we will have >> at 4:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. Just so that we're clear. We'll stay until 5 if you

652
03:07:34.160 --> 03:07:50.319
wanted. No. At 5 o'clock. >> Till 4:30. >> 4:30 is fine. >> And then is can everybody look at their schedule for May 20th to find out? Even if it's just probably going to be a half hour, we'll need to >> six o'clock. I could do it. >> I've got a scholarship committee that's

653
03:07:50.319 --> 03:08:05.760
just been >> can't do the Okay. What day can you do? >> I can do the 21st. and >> the 21st. >> I'll be out of town the 21st. >> Okay. What about >> 22nd? Is that okay?

654
03:08:05.760 --> 03:08:21.439
>> What about the Tuesday night? The 19th. >> We could do the 19th. >> 19th. >> I think you've got a a town election. I don't know that you want to do it on the same day as an election. >> Why not? >> That's >> Is it hard on you? But there isn't voting here, right? >> It's not that there's not voting. It's

655
03:08:21.439 --> 03:08:36.000
typically we typically we >> we're not going to have >> suggest we avoid >> but it's not going to be like >> meetings. >> We're not going to have public we're not going to have a full agenda. It's going to be for the purposes of signing it. And >> I just traditionally have never seen

656
03:08:36.000 --> 03:08:51.359
never seen a a town have that meeting on the election day. >> What about the 18th? What about Monday the 18th? >> Yeah. >> God forbid we have more confusion. What about Monday the 18th? >> Monday.

657
03:08:51.359 --> 03:09:07.920
>> Monday the 18th. >> That works for >> meeting, but I can't do a I can't do anything long on Monday night. >> Okay. >> Work. >> It's just going to advance your your posting deadline for your meeting. Obviously, >> it's fine with me. The 18th, I can make

658
03:09:07.920 --> 03:09:24.560
that work. >> A break between your afternoon and morning times. I mean, would a a daytime be possible >> for me personally? Yes. What time works on the 18th for everybody? >> I could do daytime on the 18th,

659
03:09:24.560 --> 03:09:40.720
19th, 20th. >> I could do daytime like around 11 o'clock on um >> I can do daytime on the 20th. >> On the 18th, Dorcas, >> I could do 11 o'clock on either the 18th or um the 20th. >> I'm fine with that.

660
03:09:40.720 --> 03:09:56.880
>> It can be here. You could you could do um the 20th at 11:00 a.m. >> Mhm. >> Okay. Tracy, how about you? >> Can you do the 20th? >> I mean, I work till 1, but >> 20th on the uh at at 11:00. Yes, >> I can make it work. >> It's going to be a quick

661
03:09:56.880 --> 03:10:13.040
>> Yeah. >> Does that work for Is that >> Is it What are we on the 18th or the 20th? >> 20th. No. >> Okay. >> 11:00. >> Oh my. All right. The 20th at 11:00 a.m. Okay. That actually probably works better for your agenda, too, because then you'll know what what's come in by

662
03:10:13.040 --> 03:10:29.520
the 15th at 4:30. You'll still have time to put it on an on an agenda. >> Okay, perfect. >> So, >> all right. So, be it. >> And we're going to execute the warrant. >> We'll execute, close, sign. >> Okay. And decide on

663
03:10:29.520 --> 03:10:48.840
>> and um June 24th. What time are we doing? 6 p.m. >> Yeah. >> The regular time >> 6 p.m. Okay. >> So, Wednesday, June 24, 6 p.m.

664
03:10:50.240 --> 03:11:05.760
>> Is there anything else? >> Do you want motions to uh to effectuate all of that for a vote >> for on the 20th? You mean >> for for each of those dates? >> Maybe I could read off for you all the dates and you could approve them all together. Okay.

665
03:11:05.760 --> 03:11:22.880
>> The um the deadline for the submission of articles is Friday, May 15 at 4:30. The final draft of the special time meeting warrant is um Wednesday, May 20 at 11:00 a.m.

666
03:11:22.880 --> 03:11:40.640
Um the we're going to I'm going to skip the finance committee. The deadline for the execution of the special town meeting warrant is Wednesday, May 20. Um, and the town meeting date is Wednesday, June 24 at

667
03:11:40.640 --> 03:11:58.080
6:00 pm. And um, we're going to see that that we have a um a deadline for the submission of finance committee recommendations. We're going to try to make that Wednesday, May 20 as well. Um, we have to see if they can meet otherwise they can make their recommendation on town meeting floor.

668
03:11:58.080 --> 03:12:13.439
Okay, >> that gives him eight days notice. >> So it'll be >> motion. Is there somebody going to move that? >> So move. >> Second. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I work. >> No. 5-0.

669
03:12:13.439 --> 03:12:28.800
>> 5. Yes. Unanimous. >> Great. We will get everything in in motion. Thank you very much. I appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Mayor. >> A lot of extra work. Friendly reminder, polls are open 7 a.m.

670
03:12:28.800 --> 03:13:09.200
>> 8 p.m. on Tuesday the 19th. meeting is the 24th of June, the last day of school. >> 6 p.m. >> Yep. >> Meet on the 20th at 11:00 a.m. That's gonna That's why the day sounds familiar

671
03:13:09.200 --> 03:13:26.399
is because it's the last day of school >> about the special town meeting. >> Yeah. >> Will there be presentation again? How are we handling? >> Not on behalf of the town. The petitioner will have to do it. >> Okay. >> The town won't won't be participating in

672
03:13:26.399 --> 03:13:43.680
that. >> Okay. And also I I I don't think now is the time, but I I'm going to make some requests for to the moderator for instance when conveying the count.

673
03:13:43.680 --> 03:14:00.160
It should be written down as opposed to what's happening now which is mouththing across the space. >> We should almost maybe write a little script. You know how Mariel Ellis spoils us for even like um okay suggesting something the way it is in the war

674
03:14:00.160 --> 03:14:15.359
warrant. Maybe we should have a little script for the moderate moderator too. >> You could make suggest the moderator. >> Good luck with that. >> His or her own person. I know. >> Don't tell the moderator what to do. Yeah, >> but that was that was

675
03:14:15.359 --> 03:14:34.239
confusing to people. I think the the every everything about the article was clear, but it it just got kind of confusing in the interactions around the vote. >> Okay. Appointments. >> Okay. Um, Madame Chair, I present Vicky

676
03:14:34.239 --> 03:14:51.600
Falter Leblanc um to uh have a full position as a recreation commissioner. She's previously served um as an alternate um the f the full three-year term would run through July 2029. >> So moved.

677
03:14:51.600 --> 03:15:06.640
>> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Seeing none, all in favor? I >> I >> um Madame Chair, I'd like to suggest Paul Huggins um to be the conservation commission um representative from the

678
03:15:06.640 --> 03:15:24.720
community preservation committee. >> So moved. >> Appointment to be one year. >> Oh, sorry. Yeah. One year through May 2027. Sorry. >> Second. >> Any discussion? All in favor? >> I >> Okay. Um, for the scholarship committee,

679
03:15:24.720 --> 03:15:41.920
um, I suggest Katie Castano for a full three-year unexpired term. That the unexpired term runs through February 2028. >> So moved. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any discussion?

680
03:15:41.920 --> 03:15:58.080
All in favor? >> I. >> Then reappoints um to the library board. Um I I suggest Helen Neermire for uh a renewal of one year to February 2027.

681
03:15:58.080 --> 03:16:16.680
Um Pam Barton for renewal of one year also to 2027 and then Angela Carbone um for renewal to February 2028. >> So move second. >> Any discussion?

682
03:16:17.120 --> 03:16:35.439
Okay. All in favor? >> I. >> Thank you, Joyce. >> Thank you, colleagues. >> Thank you. Uh, next we have approval of minutes. We have June 3rd, 2025. >> It says 2026 on the agenda, but >> 2025.

683
03:16:35.439 --> 03:16:53.600
>> And I thought we were getting ahead of ourselves and we really super efficient. move that we accept the minutes for um June June 3rd, 2025 as presented. >> Second. >> Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I opposed.

684
03:16:53.600 --> 03:17:08.080
>> Um >> no. >> And uh the executive session minutes of October 21st, 2025. We will um >> one of those. >> Madam Chair, I move that we release the

685
03:17:08.080 --> 03:17:23.439
executive session minutes. Wait, wait, wait a minute. One of them has to be held. >> The October 21 is is to be released. December two is to be held. >> I move that we uh release the executive

686
03:17:23.439 --> 03:17:40.560
session minutes for October 21st, 2025. >> Approve and release. >> We have to approve them in public and release them. We have to approve them first in public. >> Approve and release. >> Oh, duh. Okay. Thank you, Dorcas. Thank you, Tracy.

687
03:17:40.560 --> 03:17:58.680
Um, I move that we approve and release to the public um the executive session minutes from October 21st, 2025. >> Second. >> All those all any discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed?

688
03:17:58.880 --> 03:18:15.760
>> Passes. Then approve to um approve but hold the minutes for the December 3rd. >> December 2nd. December 2nd, 2020. >> I second. >> All right. Any discussion on that? All

689
03:18:15.760 --> 03:18:30.720
those in favor? >> I oppose. >> Okay. Upcoming agenda review. So, we've just added we just added a quickie on May 20th, >> 11:00 a.m.

690
03:18:30.720 --> 03:18:47.120
>> and the 15th >> we added STM June 24th >> 6 p.m. Um, don't forget we added the 15th.

691
03:18:47.120 --> 03:19:02.880
>> The 15th we don't have to do anything though. That's just >> it just it just lapses in our absence and then we come in and we read all the articles that were submitted, >> right? But it's the same as like the 20th. What's different? >> We don't have to come and vote on it or do anything. There's no >> on the 15th. We're not coming in.

692
03:19:02.880 --> 03:19:17.520
>> No, that's just a deadline >> deadline for them. >> Very good. >> One less day. >> No, we don't have to do anything on that. We're just We just have to let the public know that that's it. >> Oh, I see. Um >> Thank you.

693
03:19:17.520 --> 03:19:34.080
>> We did get an a a email about the Simpkins field and the use in the past. Um, and I'm wondering if you know there was some discussion back

694
03:19:34.080 --> 03:19:49.200
when we were talking about the library use in the field and um, legal opinion on how we protect that going forward. And I wondered if the board was interested in having that as

695
03:19:49.200 --> 03:20:05.760
an upcoming agenda item. >> Well, I I think Madam Chair, I'd like I'd like to jump in here. We we have an article that passed town meeting to study a commons which is the intent of which is to basically

696
03:20:05.760 --> 03:20:22.160
provide public access and use of that property. um consistent with I think um you know the historical uses of that property, playground, you know, public access. Uh we've been waiting for a

697
03:20:22.160 --> 03:20:37.520
legal opinion. Um, I think if this individual has some specific recommendations or suggestions about presenting uh or protecting the property, um, I would recommend that they just be asked to submit them in

698
03:20:37.520 --> 03:20:53.760
writing and then we try to set a date soon. I know the town administrator was working on trying to get council to finish up that work. Apparently, there's some complications in terms of getting the legal work done on that site because that's basically serves as the basis for

699
03:20:53.760 --> 03:21:09.600
determining, you know, the long-term uses of that property. So, I think to me it's far better to get someone's suggestions while we actually have some idea of what can and can't be done with that property. So my hope is that

700
03:21:09.600 --> 03:21:25.920
council's legal work would be done and we can have an agenda item with council here present to present the findings and address any questions that we have as a board and then at least do some advanced notice of it so that if there are

701
03:21:25.920 --> 03:21:42.479
residents or citizens in the community that would like to participate or come to the meeting and hear the discussion and maybe giving an an opportunity to comment. think all of that would be a a far more productive use of everyone's time. So, that's how I would recommend we handle it.

702
03:21:42.479 --> 03:21:58.560
>> Madam Chair, I think wasn't it um almost a year ago that we did the um the Bass River um cruise and and looked at the uh the banks and the bridges and all that. I I think council already had the

703
03:21:58.560 --> 03:22:16.160
request then that's perhaps 10 months nine months. >> Yeah, they've been working on it since we approved it last April and then um got them working on it. Um so yeah, it's probably been about 10 months and um so we need to get that finished and we're

704
03:22:16.160 --> 03:22:32.000
also um working on the RFP to start to get a designer to um you know review the site for for a possible town common. And um I mean the preliminary opinion that we received is that the

705
03:22:32.000 --> 03:22:46.399
property is protected under article 97 and that there aren't any additional um so so everything that we're doing is under the assumption of article 97 protection and that was by we did found that it's a 1935

706
03:22:46.399 --> 03:23:02.800
um or 33 vote to >> establish that property as a quote unquote playground and um you know council has already ruled that that they felt that opinion was um or that that vote was sufficient to invoke the article 97.

707
03:23:02.800 --> 03:23:18.319
>> When will we be ready for an update from town council? >> Um that I don't know. I I mean I asked him already and he said it's not done. So I have to ask him again. >> Okay. You've asked him recently, you mean? >> Um yeah. >> Oh, okay. All right. Well, it' be nice to move that along. >> So, we're working um we met on this.

708
03:23:18.319 --> 03:23:34.640
We're working on we need to get the um the final that um there was the title examination. That's what they're working on. And then we're working on an RFP to to move that whole thing forward. So, I'm hoping to get that back in front of the board as soon as we can. >> What date is Oh, it's the 18th. July

709
03:23:34.640 --> 03:23:50.880
18th. All right. >> All right. Anybody have anything on upcoming agenda review? We are off for the next two weeks. Our meeting on the 20th will not be will be in public, but it will not be it will be more of a a

710
03:23:50.880 --> 03:24:06.800
workshop. We're not taking public comment. We're just gonna >> do the bit do the business that we need to. So, >> I have an an item I I would I'm not sure how to um address this, but uh our town administrator

711
03:24:06.800 --> 03:24:22.319
uh gave a presentation at the town meeting. That was something that was not approved by this board. However, it did lay out a capital spending plan that had potential

712
03:24:22.319 --> 03:24:38.720
with included also not approved residential exemption. Can we how do we move ourselves along? So we are in step with our town administrator

713
03:24:38.720 --> 03:24:55.600
>> because we had heard about that in a meeting but I I guess we you know we weren't necessarily acting on it but I would I guess it would be good to hear about it at a future a future select board meeting. >> Madam Chair. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I think what we need to do as a board is we need to get all the

714
03:24:55.600 --> 03:25:11.439
information. We started the discussion on long-range financial planning. This is something that I asked come before the board and uh town administrator, finance director, staff did a very good job in giving us some initial look at what we're up against, but it doesn't necessarily

715
03:25:11.439 --> 03:25:26.800
represent a plan. What we need to do is we need to take that conversation a little bit further because quite frankly um there are those let me back up. I think we as a board need to agree on what the capital items

716
03:25:26.800 --> 03:25:42.880
are as part of an overall capital plan because you're looking at a projected capital plan. Then you need to also factor into it a projected operational plan. Remember, over the last few years, we've hired new police, new firefighters.

717
03:25:42.880 --> 03:25:57.359
>> I don't think we should get into a >> No, but the point I'm getting at is No, I'm not. I'm I'm trying to explain the level of complexity that's necessary in putting together a document like this. >> I think what we need to do is put long range financial planning as an agenda item. >> That's what I'm getting at. >> Yeah. Okay.

718
03:25:57.359 --> 03:26:13.680
>> We need that, but but I think >> it's going to take some time. I think we need to coordinate that with the administrator and when they're able but he needs to hear from us in terms of what we want to see in the plan. All right. Last thing we want to do is come back and have another meeting but the

719
03:26:13.680 --> 03:26:30.000
information that we need is not in it. So at some point we need let let me just finish madam chair. Um at some point we need to have a conversation about the scope of it. So that would be the first discussion. >> Okay. What was lacking Mark?

720
03:26:30.000 --> 03:26:45.520
>> Defin more detail. >> Well, we we >> I think the chair doesn't want us to get into a discussion about it. >> Get into a discussion now, but there's a lot of pieces that go into that. It needs to go before the voters after after it's decided and a financial plan

721
03:26:45.520 --> 03:27:03.200
and funding like when we was briefly spoke to us before. I'm it needs to be in conjunction with a project and in my mind that was for our sewer funding. >> Well, it was for all all of our funding.

722
03:27:03.200 --> 03:27:19.040
>> No, no, not in my >> when we were when it was >> when we talked about it before. Are we going to have a discussion about the scope of this now or not? >> Trying to explain what she was trying to tell me. Gotcha. >> But in any event, I >> think we should have a an agenda item to discuss what this should look like and

723
03:27:19.040 --> 03:27:35.760
what we need in it. I I personally I think it was I'm sorry that we came up short. >> I think that's what we're trying to get at. >> Yeah. >> Madam Chair, would that be um once we decide the scope of it when we do have the town administrator's presentation, would that be something we would want to

724
03:27:35.760 --> 03:27:53.680
do the a joint session with the uh finance committee >> eventually? >> Um >> not right away. I think we set policy that is driven by the outcome of our discussions would in my mind set policy

725
03:27:53.680 --> 03:28:12.399
for our boards to act and carry through. So I think it's a discussion that we have to have here first >> as part of that initial discussion. >> Yeah. >> That's when you bring that up choice. >> Yeah. So we need to find a time to fit that in. And I do think it's going to be a little bit complex um to have all the

726
03:28:12.399 --> 03:28:28.080
information before us because you know to really have a plan which we do. We have a capital plan. So we have a capital plan and we need to see how all of the funding fits into it. And you know we haven't discussed phase 2 sewer

727
03:28:28.080 --> 03:28:43.920
funding as a board and how that >> or three or four or five or six or seven or eight. Well, I'm not going to be here for seven or eight. I can guarantee you that. So, but any event. Okay. >> Make the right directions to the next generation.

728
03:28:43.920 --> 03:29:00.720
>> Bob, long-term >> financial planning. >> Capital planning. >> So, finan >> financial plan. >> Financial plan. Um, we'll put on upcoming when when as soon as you're ready to

729
03:29:00.720 --> 03:29:16.479
>> I think we should initially have a conversation about what our expectations are in it. I don't think that's overly complicated. >> Okay, we can have a discussion first and then maybe give Bob some direction. >> There you go. >> That might help him. >> Is that what he wants? >> Does that have any um relation, madam

730
03:29:16.479 --> 03:29:32.319
chair, to um things we would talk about at our goal setting? >> Yeah, I mean I think our goal setting is going to be you know it's going to lay out what the future of the next year looks like. So >> should we have the discussion before or

731
03:29:32.319 --> 03:29:46.160
at or >> I think it's too complicated to to to discuss in depth >> at a at our goals. Our goals should be >> kind of high range and then what we've done in the past is kind of let Bob

732
03:29:46.160 --> 03:30:02.479
>> um create the the the actual plan on how to achieve it. So >> okay, >> we're still on agenda review, right? >> Yes. So, we're adding we're going to add a discussion at least just amongst ourselves on long-term financial

733
03:30:02.479 --> 03:30:18.399
planning and I think that will help Bob come back with a presentation. >> We also have to add to our to-do list to disband the muck >> ad hoc committee off. >> They have one more meeting. So, we could

734
03:30:18.399 --> 03:30:37.200
probably put it on for for the next meeting. That will just take two seconds. Yeah, that system minor. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. We go on the June 9th meeting. >> Yeah. I think we have we probably could. I don't think it will take a lot of

735
03:30:37.200 --> 03:30:51.760
time. >> Shouldn't. >> We'll give our accolades again to Sharon. Anybody else have anything else for agenda items? >> Okay. Individual items.

736
03:30:51.760 --> 03:31:09.439
I would like to ask um will the communications issue that I raised about getting people less confused about what's going on now

737
03:31:09.439 --> 03:31:25.680
with these votes and ballots. Will that be something that Bob will straighten out? I think the mechanics the technical mechanics of information about what happens when yes but as far as typically

738
03:31:25.680 --> 03:31:41.760
unless it's typically and and I could correct me if I'm wrong I don't want to say bad information if it's a petition article we don't get involved in I mean I don't even think we take do we take a position on the article at some point

739
03:31:41.760 --> 03:31:56.000
>> you'll have to do that all on the >> on the 20th >> on the 20th or else at town meeting floor. >> Yeah. >> And maybe I I could suggest that we can do a press release on the special town meeting and discuss the implications of

740
03:31:56.000 --> 03:32:13.040
that without taking a a a position and promoting it and getting that information, having out on the website and social media. Let people know there's a special town meeting coming up because we do this anyways. And you saw all that list of things. We'll do the the full vote letting people know there is a special town meeting. It does

741
03:32:13.040 --> 03:32:30.239
impact the ballot. get try to get it out as soon as we can so that um you know >> so they'll know to go to the polls and >> we could also in the release be very factual in terms of the petition when it was submitted. We can mention that also the date was set as a requirement by law

742
03:32:30.239 --> 03:32:45.439
that this was not a town meeting that we set. It was set by petition. So, if we give the administrator and staff sufficient time, they can actually put together a factual press release that sort of sets out the dates and why the dates were set.

743
03:32:45.439 --> 03:33:01.359
>> But I do think it's to to Liz's point, I do think because of the comments um and how people left, it needs to happen >> soon be before the vote so people know that the vote does in fact matter and that they should go vote one way or the

744
03:33:01.359 --> 03:33:16.640
other, >> right? Because before it was like they left feeling like it was a moo point and now it's not a moo point and people need to understand that very specifically. >> Rally the troops. >> So as fast as we can get that information out I think the better. But

745
03:33:16.640 --> 03:33:34.239
>> yeah, you can rally the troops. We can't rally the troop. We're not about rallying the troops. >> Fine. I get the communications. Rally the communications troops. How's that? >> There you go. Bingo. that helpful? >> Yeah, we'll work on that right away. Try

746
03:33:34.239 --> 03:33:51.439
to get it out tomorrow and be factual. So, it's not going to be a um you know, it it has to be just the factual piece. >> Yeah. >> So, we don't get in trouble for >> the election business >> kind of like the descriptions that that

747
03:33:51.439 --> 03:34:07.920
you do for um all the different uh articles at a regular town meeting. I I think those are very helpful. explanation. >> It's different. >> It's going to be the same. >> It's when you talk when you do the ballot, it's just let we'll work on it. We'll come up with something good, >> but it's different. It's not like town

748
03:34:07.920 --> 03:34:24.000
meeting. It's different. So, you have to you have different rules when when it's an election. >> It's gone through legal already. Oh, I I assumed that the communication would include the um the election and the special town meeting,

749
03:34:24.000 --> 03:34:40.399
>> right? We're going to discuss the special town meeting. We're going to do that part. Um, but we're just gonna, you know, discuss the relevance to the ballot and and not have a explanation that is like a thing that people are going to interpret as, well, this tells me to vote. >> The explanation is on if you read the

750
03:34:40.399 --> 03:34:55.680
the the petition, they put >> they put the article and explanation in there. So, yes, Mary. Hi, Mary. >> Many people won't see the petition. >> Well, it'll be printed and the warrant will come out. >> We'll have to advertise and put the warrant out.

751
03:34:55.680 --> 03:35:14.720
>> She has to mute herself. Hi, Mary. >> Does she want to speak or is she just >> Mary? >> Yeah, I see a hand up. She just raised her hand. >> Mary, she's waving. She's >> Liam, can you bring Mary in? I think

752
03:35:14.720 --> 03:35:29.520
she's in, but I can't hear her. >> She's in. She's allowed to talk. >> Okay. >> But she's just not talking. >> Okay, >> Mary, you can talk to us. >> Jokes on us. All right. >> Yeah. Maybe not. >> You want to just keep going down individual items?

753
03:35:29.520 --> 03:35:45.600
>> She want she gets it where she can she can speak. So, um communications about about what is happening. Yes. >> Happy happy clam down here. >> Okay. >> Joyce, do you have any individual items? >> Nope. I'm good. >> I'm good. Mark,

754
03:35:45.600 --> 03:36:04.479
>> um yes. Um on I and I I I want to talk about the the financial plan. Um I thought when we had that initial meeting and discussion it was a very very good start on what the big picture

755
03:36:04.479 --> 03:36:21.760
is. But from my perspective in any kind of financial plan we want to make projections on what the capital spending can be right. We also want to make projections on operational spending as well. Right? They all go together. You can't really when you're setting your

756
03:36:21.760 --> 03:36:38.000
budget and putting your budget together and making budget projections and forecasts, you need to tie things together and make assumptions in terms of what those expenditures are likely to be and what kind of issues they raise. And then it's from that that you begin

757
03:36:38.000 --> 03:36:52.720
crafting a decision document in terms of what you can do if you want to do all of the capital items and do all the operational increases because we we are going to be increasing our budget as I think the administrator

758
03:36:52.720 --> 03:37:09.359
has warned us. I mean we got we did very well to get through this town meeting without an operational override request. >> Right. I would say I don't want to say we dodged the bullet, but we did the the town administrator and staff finance

759
03:37:09.359 --> 03:37:25.359
director and our team did an outstanding job in helping us weather what is a growing financial problem. And if the feds continue to cut monies to Massachusetts, and if the state

760
03:37:25.359 --> 03:37:43.200
continues to cut, if the economy continues to go into a recession, housing sales continue to slow, all right, we may find ourselves in a three or four year period where financially the situation continues to deteriorate.

761
03:37:43.200 --> 03:37:58.720
And then so we as a board will have to make decisions on and a more diff under more difficult circumstances. So in doing a plan you make a certain assumptions of what's going to happen, what's likely to happen and then you could also make projections in terms of

762
03:37:58.720 --> 03:38:15.920
worst case best case. The reality is is when Mass Municipal put out that report, it basically said that as of today, the amount of aid that communities are getting is 40% less than what we were getting 10 years ago,

763
03:38:15.920 --> 03:38:30.640
>> right? >> All right. That is an incredibly serious situation. Now, I served on this board when we had to deal with COVID and we got as a board, we got a very realistic and very

764
03:38:30.640 --> 03:38:48.960
very precise sort of projection of what we were going to have to deal with with the with the revenue pictures changing fairly quickly >> for our town. >> Yeah. >> And we had to make some quick adjustments. And so we were well advised

765
03:38:48.960 --> 03:39:05.680
and well guided by the town administrator's office and by the finance director on making some adjustments and making some changes that enabled us to weather that storm. So there's another storm coming. So what we have to do as a board

766
03:39:05.680 --> 03:39:22.560
is set some policy and guidelines in terms of what we want to anticipate going forward. There may be some things that we might want to just put on hold or put a pause on. There may be decisions we might have to make in terms of staffing for personnel um and other decisions. Um but the

767
03:39:22.560 --> 03:39:37.760
reality is is we need to do a forecast. We need to take a look at the big picture look at out over anywhere from 5 to 10 years and have to wrestle with that. So that's that's that's the reason why and that comes to us because under the charter we're the policym board. We

768
03:39:37.760 --> 03:39:51.520
have to set policy right >> and we need to get guidance on it looking at all of these factors. What worries me right now is the the the federal government keeps talking about cutting significantly clean water

769
03:39:51.520 --> 03:40:09.439
funding. Right? It's not slight cuts, it's significant cuts. All right? And if we find ourselves in a situation where we can't rely on the revolving fund or some of the federal aid that we're basically developed our plans on, then we have a problem, a significant

770
03:40:09.439 --> 03:40:25.439
problem. So I think it's incumbent on us as we as a board deliberate on these future capital projects that we have a clear picture at least an idea of how we're going to handle the future >> and I think Bob had had started a

771
03:40:25.439 --> 03:40:42.960
>> has that was a start a good start a capital improvement program that you're talking about we have a we have a detailed capital improvement program that lays out over the next 10 years what your major projects are but you haven't made any decisions on doing those and um so for the operating

772
03:40:42.960 --> 03:40:59.439
projections um we can accurately uh go out five years for operating budget pro projections you can do a 10 year but it's not it's not very accurate but um be happy to all of that and um

773
03:40:59.439 --> 03:41:14.880
>> no the reason why I felt that I had to speak to this as an individual item is it keeps coming up so I just want people to understand this isn't just something that's passing this is a very very It's it's an important component of what we do. >> Absolutely. >> All right. So, let's just leave it at that. The other thing that I wanted to

774
03:41:14.880 --> 03:41:31.600
mention >> was that um Bob had circulated to the board a very very important letter drafted by the chairman of the Cape Islands Water Protection Fund. And if you haven't read it, you need to take a look at it now. Um that letter >> very well written. >> Exa Exactly. I am your representative on

775
03:41:31.600 --> 03:41:48.239
the fund and we met last week to discuss getting something out quickly that outlines some of the strings that are going to be attached to funding that's available in the environmental bond bill. Now, we're going to be going after some of the so-called MVP money. Who knows? It could be money that comes out

776
03:41:48.239 --> 03:42:04.399
from under this bond bill. If this language is in there, we would have to accept the condition. the monies are going to get new conditions and the conditions are going to be that we follow some of the stringent guidelines and housing policies of the administration.

777
03:42:04.399 --> 03:42:21.439
All right. And what's happening around the Commonwealth is that many towns including towns here on the Cape are wait are basically saying time out. Um we may want to take a second look at how we handle some of these grants.

778
03:42:21.439 --> 03:42:36.880
There may be some towns that may if indeed this language stays in the bond bill. There may be some communities that basically say no, we're not going to apply for that grant money because we don't want to be stuck with these conditions that require us to do housing in some areas without adequate infra

779
03:42:36.880 --> 03:42:52.239
infrastructure or protections to the environment and in some communities it means not complying with uh guidelines regarding protection of wetlands and other environmental resources. So, that was laid out in the letter and all I wanted to do was just flag it for folks

780
03:42:52.239 --> 03:43:08.239
because it's a very serious issue. If you're talking to the state rep, if you're talking to the state senator, by all means, let them know that section 108 of the environmental bond bill is a problem. >> Okay, >> so those are my two individual items. Thank you. >> Can I just ask a question, Tracy, before we adjourn?

781
03:43:08.239 --> 03:43:24.160
>> As long as we're not having a dialogue on something that's not on the agenda. Um, oh, uh, Dorcas, were you did you want to >> No, I was just going to say not before we adjourn because we still haven't heard from Bob. >> Oh, and we didn't do the consent agenda either. >> No, we have we still have stuff to do.

782
03:43:24.160 --> 03:43:40.399
>> We're here. I I just want >> when we look at the capital improvement plan or the the financial spending plan, whichever terminology we want to use, can we expect to include a review of the

783
03:43:40.399 --> 03:43:57.439
residential exemption or do we have to schedule that separately? >> No, I think that's that's part of that's part of the conversation in terms of your options for going forward. That's what I would hope but I wanted to >> that's that's what I would anticipate but that but that becomes a discussion

784
03:43:57.439 --> 03:44:14.319
then we as a board have to decide how we want to handle that >> right >> what kind of public involvement what kind of public engagement this and this ties in directly with the communication plan you know we want to have a communications plan and approach that in sufficiently engages the community in

785
03:44:14.319 --> 03:44:29.600
some of these important decisions that we have to make >> that's one of the reasons why I get so worked up about communications because it's directly relevant to the things that we do. If we don't have the if we're not communicating and engaging the community, they have no idea what we're doing. Then it makes it makes our job

786
03:44:29.600 --> 03:44:46.479
very very difficult. >> My individual item is we had I had uh reached out to the assembly of delegate representative and m and uh Mary Alice was working with her to get her to come and update us on what's going on. I haven't seen an update on that. Just

787
03:44:46.479 --> 03:45:03.359
wondering if we could follow up on >> asked for one yet. Meanwhile, the county commissioners are coming to Yarmouth, right, Bob? >> Yeah, we're going to talk about that in a minute. Okay. >> Okay, great. >> So, consent agenda. Um, let's um let's

788
03:45:03.359 --> 03:45:19.840
wait for Bob to give an update on this letter here. >> Bob, do you want us to move everything except hold the letter or No, we could. It doesn't matter. We can move it, but you still need to tell the board. >> And I'll um I'll brief you on that, too. I have it. Is there a motion on the

789
03:45:19.840 --> 03:45:35.279
consent agenda? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I. >> Okay. >> Bob. All right. Let's start um there. The chairman refers to the approval of

790
03:45:35.279 --> 03:45:50.640
the findings of fact related to um JMART which I've had occasion to you know review in detail and town council helped us and um those stand and um there was a correspondence in addition to that that

791
03:45:50.640 --> 03:46:06.479
we received after the hearing was closed from some um area residents of JMART um stating that they did not receive receive a butters notices and they are direct abutters and so we looked into

792
03:46:06.479 --> 03:46:20.800
that and I think that you know that they were correct you know when you pull the JMart decision from the zoning board of appeals where um they received the special permit in order to um build the

793
03:46:20.800 --> 03:46:37.199
the JAR um it's listed as a 1282 Route 28 but what that project did is It consolidated three lots, 1276, 1278, that last one's not the right number,

794
03:46:37.199 --> 03:46:53.920
and 1282. Just these three lots there into one single lot. And when they did their application um for the license, they just listed one of the lots. And so, you know, they ran the butters notices. We, you know, we

795
03:46:53.920 --> 03:47:09.120
send the application over to assessors. they did the abutters notice and and it was only for that one lot but um if you combine the three lots as they should have been combined there's about five or six more local residents in the back

796
03:47:09.120 --> 03:47:24.479
that are actual direct butters and did not receive um the notice. So um there is um an irregularity in that notice for that hearing. >> Um and you know the decision has has

797
03:47:24.479 --> 03:47:39.600
been made by by the select board and town council had um recommended that I contact the attorney for the applicant inform them of that and see if you know they wanted to withdraw the application. And so I did

798
03:47:39.600 --> 03:47:55.520
that and um they said no, they didn't want to withdraw the application. In fact, um he he came um to my office, already had his appeal. Here's a copy of it. So they've already submitted their appeal. So, um, town council said to,

799
03:47:55.520 --> 03:48:13.279
um, approve the findings of fact, which, um, have to be approved as a result of the hearing anyways, and that he is going to, um, provide the ABCC with the, um, information and a report on the discrepancy with the with the hearing

800
03:48:13.279 --> 03:48:29.279
notice. So that um this goes in with the um appeal and the ABCC is going to have to look at that and make a decision. And you know they they have a range of options. You recall we just went through this last year with them. The ABCC can

801
03:48:29.279 --> 03:48:44.479
overturn the decision of the select board and grant a license. Um or they can do in similar fashion as they did with the Yarmouth Mini Mart. they can remand it back to the select board for additional hearing and findings of fact

802
03:48:44.479 --> 03:49:00.479
or anything. And um um I just think that having that that extra thing makes it as far as the appeal goes um probably less likely that they overturn the select board's decision and if the hearing wasn't done properly um then then you know maybe they would remand it but but

803
03:49:00.479 --> 03:49:17.680
we don't know. The ABCC is an independent authority, but I just wanted you to know in addition to the decision going up, there's the um information that those lots were not followed in terms of the proper butter notification

804
03:49:17.680 --> 03:49:32.399
for the hearing, which we just found out. So, >> I have a question with the um the three different address numbers. Um, is there any um confusion and fault on

805
03:49:32.399 --> 03:49:47.359
the part of the applicant submission with only giving one one address? >> Yeah. Well, here's the situation. I'm not going to be ascribing fault or motive or anything. I I think that um

806
03:49:47.359 --> 03:50:03.920
clearly if you look at just look at the facts the the combined lots require a notification in excess of that what was provided and and I and I think you know in fairness to the applicant uh you know they could say that well you know they

807
03:50:03.920 --> 03:50:20.080
were under the impression that those um lots were combined when they combined them um but the assessors >> choice of address number yeah >> the assessors have a lag and and um you know and even in the statute it says

808
03:50:20.080 --> 03:50:37.040
that the notice goes to the last valuation of um you know what the lots are. So um it it could very well be that the applicant mistakenly thought that by requesting that one address that that

809
03:50:37.040 --> 03:50:53.279
those lots were already combined and the assessor's records would reflect that but they didn't. and and the town, you know, would have the position that if they just recently combined those lots, they need to request, you know, for all three of them or at least indicate to

810
03:50:53.279 --> 03:51:08.880
the licensing administrator that this application is for not only this address, but these other two addresses as well, and and the the town's licensing agent would have put that in on their behalf. But there was um a

811
03:51:08.880 --> 03:51:26.560
miscommunication with respect to the fact that two additional lots comprised that address in addition to the lot for which the abuter's notification was requested. It could have been an innocent mistake, but it was still not proper. And and so

812
03:51:26.560 --> 03:51:43.439
that's what we're dealing with. And you know, not ascribing any fault or anything like that. It's just that's the fact. Now, we don't cite that as a finding in our finding of fact, should we? >> Well, no, it didn't. It's it's we need

813
03:51:43.439 --> 03:51:58.160
to provide a statement that said subsequent to the hearing, we're supposed to with the finding of >> So, that statement will be coming in, >> right? And so and so so he kind of dictated to me how it would read. Subsequent to the you know the closing of the hearing, you know, the town was

814
03:51:58.160 --> 03:52:14.319
made aware that the notification to the abutters was um you know not accurate based on >> okay >> this principle and the combination of the lots and so um okay so that's that one. Do you want me

815
03:52:14.319 --> 03:52:31.520
to go on with other any more questions on the >> on the J Mart? And um yeah, if we're all lucky in a solid year, year and a half, we'll hear back on >> Yeah. >> or we'll go to Everett or you know,

816
03:52:31.520 --> 03:52:48.239
>> we're going to Chelsea, you know. >> So, everybody gear up. Hopefully, we'll have a nice lunch, but it's kind it's an all day affair. Um >> it >> Okay. I I wanted to let you know um today we had a meeting with the mass DOT

817
03:52:48.239 --> 03:53:05.600
on Route 6A um for the design that you know we're still really pushing that that >> on the village >> on the village and um VHB you know was there representing our design and there's a couple of issues I just want to make you aware of we have to um resolve is that you know there was an

818
03:53:05.600 --> 03:53:24.000
initial reaction from the DOT that uh the polls needed to be moved in the village. Let's call it landward of the sidewalk, which would be um substantially closer to the to the businesses that um we don't support

819
03:53:24.000 --> 03:53:39.199
that. And we made a very good argument and we feel that um they they should not be moved. >> Oh, I love it when they just put the pole right in the middle of the sidewalk and pave around it because I've seen them do that before. >> Oh, yeah. >> Yeah. And and so um we're working with our designers to have the proper

820
03:53:39.199 --> 03:53:54.000
location of the pole. There's other areas that they indicated the potential problem. Some of the poles have been hit by vehicles, but not in the village. This is more down towards, I think, Summer Street, that area where they've had that problem. So, um, you know, we

821
03:53:54.000 --> 03:54:11.439
seem to have had a a good discussion, degree of cooperation. I just want to make you aware of that. We're working it out. Um, our team with the DPW and the VHB, we are on it. And so, we're hoping that this leads to um, just better communications with the 6A. But I just want to make sure that you aware that's

822
03:54:11.439 --> 03:54:27.279
going on. And then um yeah, I I want to hear from our county commissioner as well, but I I have been working with his staff at at the county that the county commissioners are conducting a meeting May 27 uh 10:00 a.m. right here in this

823
03:54:27.279 --> 03:54:45.120
room. And um they've asked us to uh provide to them who might be attending. And we wanted to make sure we invited the select board and to see if anyone wanted to um commit to attending that meeting and and they're interested in issues from the county um that are

824
03:54:45.120 --> 03:55:01.520
important to select board members, things that they could do differently or or do better. >> It's 10:00 a.m. on the on the 27. Any topics you want them to cover? So, um and Mark can add in. It's I think is a great initiative to get out into the

825
03:55:01.520 --> 03:55:18.160
towns. And so May 27 is um is Yarmouth. And before I I handra I want to also sort of in doing that um call to your attention and >> Very nice. >> Yeah. You mentioned at the last meeting that you'd like to see a Yarmouth. I had never heard that suggestion but I

826
03:55:18.160 --> 03:55:33.279
thought it was a good one. Uh in your packet you know because when things come up we're always inviting everybody to attend these things and so we we put them on the calendar. So you have a a calendar now. We want to add on the 27th. >> That's a big

827
03:55:33.279 --> 03:55:50.000
>> the county commission. So this is for May. We'll continue to do this. We'll add things. We'll do them every month. And >> that be great. >> And so hopefully it's helpful. And um >> but we're listening. You know, >> I like it. >> So we're working with Bob on an agenda for the meeting and the interest is in

828
03:55:50.000 --> 03:56:05.600
clearly identifying Yarmouth specific Yarmouth centric issues that the county's involved in. Um, for example, one of the things that we've discussed before is um the need to work with our businesses in finding assistance, ways

829
03:56:05.600 --> 03:56:22.560
to mitigate impacts on wastewater construction. Um, the Cape Cut Commission will talk about it. Uh, they've actually uh put together a scope of work to do that project and uh Christy Senator will be able to update the board and >> so they'll be the commission will come

830
03:56:22.560 --> 03:56:38.160
with you. >> Yeah. >> Cool. >> Yeah. Now what we do is the commissioners come but we bring some of our staff that are working on projects that are of that either involve Yarmouth or of interest to Yarmouth. For one example is uh we have the Shine program

831
03:56:38.160 --> 03:56:55.439
providing health insurance to seniors. Um, Yarmouth is probably one of the busiest communities, if not the busiest communities in running the Shine program and that and they work out of the senior center and they provide health insurance advice to elders so they're not

832
03:56:55.439 --> 03:57:12.319
overspending or making bad decisions on health insurance. Uh, we get some funding from Medicare but largely it's a county funded operation and we rely on volunteers in Yarmouth. For some reason, Yarmouth has produced volunteers to do counseling and we do more counseling and

833
03:57:12.319 --> 03:57:28.479
support the seniors in Yarmouth than any other community on the Cape. So, we'll get a brief update on how that's working and some other Yarmouth oriented. So, if there's something that's Yarmouth oriented that you want to hear about, let Bob know because Bob's directly talking directly to our county staff to

834
03:57:28.479 --> 03:57:44.800
set the agenda. But those are some of the things Bob had mentioned. Dredging, for example, there might be some value in having a dredging update. Um Ken Cerillo, our dredging department director, is working with the natural resources department here in Yarmouth to see if there's a way that we can do a

835
03:57:44.800 --> 03:58:00.319
pilot project looking at using dredge material as a way to replenish some of the salt marsh in beachrass particularly in Bass River. And I think the friends of Bass River have been involved in these discussions along with the natural resources department. So they're sort of

836
03:58:00.319 --> 03:58:17.760
working on a pilot project uh when the next dredging project is done. So, what we're trying to what I'm trying to do as a as a commissioner is promote more of a dialogue between commission leadership, the Cape Cod County Commissioners and the departments with the towns and to

837
03:58:17.760 --> 03:58:33.600
create an awareness particularly among the elected officials and the administrators. So, it's >> should a look at the the airport expansion be something that would be on your agenda? >> Airport expansion? I don't believe so, but it's certainly a commission.

838
03:58:33.600 --> 03:58:49.359
>> I mean, it's that versus going down to the base or maybe that's all dead now. I don't know. >> Mass developments looking at that. >> Okay. >> Or they've been asked to look at it. >> To allow them to sit in your chairs. >> I think we're I think we're going to sit

839
03:58:49.359 --> 03:59:04.720
on the floor. I don't think we're going to want to sit up here. I think generally what we what I try to do is when we meet we avoid using the deis of the local officials that we don't want to create any confusion. >> Sit right on the floor. We'll put a

840
03:59:04.720 --> 03:59:21.040
>> make a you said sit on the floor. I I envisioned like duck duck goose on the floor. >> I know. I was thinking the same thing. >> Yeah. So we'll sit out out there. We'll probably grab a table, dress it up. >> Great. Thanks for coming to Yarmouth.

841
03:59:21.040 --> 03:59:37.600
Anything else, Bob? Well, I would just mention, you know, last Thursday um you know, it was a very moving day for our community with um Sergeant Thomas Hennessy's funeral. And you know, it was

842
03:59:37.600 --> 03:59:53.040
so well attended by so many people in the law enforcement community from around our region and as far away. I was sitting with some folks from Arlington and just wherever um he touched people, you know, they came out and that was a

843
03:59:53.040 --> 04:00:09.199
sad day and um but you know, it impacted our police department very greatly and um it was just it was it was nice to see the outpouring there, but it was a very sad day. >> Yeah, I didn't make it to the funeral, but I was at the wake.

844
04:00:09.199 --> 04:00:26.399
Make sure that we as a town are represented in those things. It's uh it's always sad though. >> That's all I have for this evening. >> All right, great. Motion to adjurnn. So >> moved. Second. >> Any discussion? All those in favor? I

845
04:00:26.399 --> 04:00:34.520
>> Good night everybody. >> Thank you. >> Recording stopped. >> I said good night.