Recording in progress. >> Excellent. Everybody, we're going to begin. >> Good evening and welcome to the Yarmmer Select Board meeting of March 24th, 2026. If we could please rise for the pledge of allegiance.
>> I aliance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. And I would ask that uh you
all please um join me for a moment of silence for our service members that are in harm's way serving our great country tonight. Thank you very much for that. I appreciate it. We're going to begin with
announcements. I see Mary Mlowski. >> Good evening, Mary Mazowski, town clerk. Just a few quick announcements from the town clerk's office. Uh the last day to to take out nomination papers is this Friday. Uh we will be open until 5:00 p.m. for that purpose. Uh nomination
papers, completed nomination papers would be due back in our office by 5:00 pm on Tuesday, March 31st. Um the seats available on this annual town election ballot are one seat for moderator, one seat for select board,
two seats for Dennis Yarmouth Regional School Committee, and one seat for the Yarmouth Housing Authority. Um, following up on that, the town clerk's office is holding a special voter registration uh date on Saturday, April 18th. We'll be open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00
p.m. for that purpose. Anybody who is not currently registered, but wishes to participate in the annual town meeting um needs to register by 5:00 p.m. that day um in person or can do it online through 12:00 p.m. that night. Um, in
addition to that, a friendly reminder that sticker sales are being done through the town clerk's office this year. Anyone who is still looking for a transfer station permit beach sticker, shellfish sticker is welcome to come to the town clerk's office. For that, we
are selling stickers from 8:30 to 4:30 every day. We will also be doing sticker sales on that day on Saturday, April 18th, while we are here for voter registration. So, we will be available from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturday, April 18th for anybody that is still
looking for transfer station, beach stickers, or um shellfish permits. If anybody is looking for the application for mailin or drop off sticker applications, those are
available on the town clerk's website. It is available in the left rail of the town clerk website. It is also hyperl to a news flash that went out today that is on the bottom of the page. If you wish to still go online, you can still process them online or you can complete
the application. Make sure you include all of the relevant information and documentation that we need and either mail it to the town clerk's office or drop it in the now red dropbox outside the side outside the side door and we'll be happy to process that and mail it out to you. And when when do the current uh
landfill stickers expire? >> I'm sorry. >> When do the current landfill stickers expire? >> March 31st. >> So they are April 1st is the date that they are needed. So we uh have been processing them at a fish rate. So but
we're we're happy to do more. So um you're as I said, you're welcome to come in or mail them in or drop them off. >> Excellent. Thank you. >> Thank you. Does anybody else have any announcements? Liz? >> Yes. Um I would like um to let people
know that um the Dennis Yarmouth Women's Club, who um is very happy to include any of uh you that are not presently members, is having um a a meeting on Wednesday, April 8th. And myself and Carly Kerry from the Dennis Select Board
will be there to talk about what our experiences have been and what's going on in our towns. So that's one one announcement. Also wanted to thank the flax uh Steve and Sue. They put together a show that was at um the Thatcher Hall last weekend about the Yarmouth
residents who in the Revolutionary War went to Fort Ticeroga to bring back the cannons that were placed on the the bluffs at uh Dorchester Heights. So that when the the uh British woke up after a nor easter, which did help things, they woke up and they found that the cannons
were aimed on them and there was a fort erected overnight. This it's an it's going to be um further developed and it's a play or a an an event that we hope to put out and to the schools and to everybody because it's a wonderful
story about Yarmouth. And I also wanted to let people know that we'll get a we're going to get a crosswalk there at Thatcher Hall. So we also can go in and see things and be safe. Those are my announcements. Thank you. >> Announcements. >> Um I have a a question for Mary which is
about the U dump stickers this year. Um they're not actually stickers, right? You'll the license plate will be red as you go through the driveway. >> Thank Thank you for the question. I meant to mention it earlier. Anybody that does purchase transfer station
access, it they have moved over to a license plate reader system, it is already reading your license plate. It has been for a couple of months already. >> So, if you have a new sticker with the same registration, there won't be a delay for what we're doing for people.
It's taking less than 24 hours for it to to be recognized and uploaded into their system at the transfer station. That being said, everybody is receiving a receipt or an email from the online services system that is telling them that their sticker has been processed or
their access has been processed. So, people that may have purchased dump sticker, transfer station stickers, and beach stickers, you're only receiving the beach sticker in the mail, but you are you have likely received a receipt that shows your transfer station sticker
is access is processed or that um by email or by mail. if it was done through our office. >> Thank you for the question. >> Thank you. >> Anything else, Joyce? >> Mark? >> No. >> Bob, do you have any announcements? >> No announcements. >> Okay, we're going to move on to public
comment. And um the last time we had a lot of public comment to people here. I limited it to three minutes and to Yarmouth residents only, but I will ask the board if they want to open it up to others because there are other people who would like to speak here. >> You meaning other than residents?
>> Other than residents. Do we have any idea how many? >> I mean, I don't know. >> You ask for a show of hands. >> One, two, >> and there's people on >> I see. >> And there's people. >> I think if we're if we're holding it to the the three minutes,
um I'm I'm okay with the non-residents to speak because it is a regional if not national concern, >> but it's not just one issue that they want to speak on. So, just so you know, there's residents on other non-residents on other issues that would like to speak. >> So, it's up to the board.
>> It's okay with me. >> I I have no problem with them speaking as long as they keep it to three minutes. >> All right. >> Can we give residents three minutes and non-residents perhaps a minute and a
half or two minutes? >> We can do whatever this board is inclined to do to move forward. So, if that's what the board wants to do, that's fine with me. I don't want to limit people to speak, but as at the same time, you know, uh a lot of the things that we're going to
hear are things we've heard before and um you know, we'll be here for hours just listening. So, >> everyone who was at our went home looking like raccoons. >> Yeah, that was me. I want to respect everybody who shows up
to address the board but at the same time I think you know if you can keep it as limited as possible that would be great and I am going to use a timer and everybody will be limited to a maximum of three minutes. Okay who would like to address the board please come to
somebody's on her way here >> one second Harris um this young lady. Yeah but you can sit there and get ready. >> Good evening. Good evening. >> Please identify yourself for the record. >> Yeah, my name is Chris Hammond from uh
Precinct 7. >> Just talk closer to the mic. >> Um from Precinct 7 and I've been in town for well over 50 years. Um so the three minute thing kind of
threw a little I'm going to I'm just going to go on. All right. The very clear and simple petitioned ballot question uh before you reads, "Do you as a citizen of the town of Yarmouth support the constitutional rights of all
Yarmouth residents which guaranteed equal protection of the laws to all people regardless of nationality, citizenship, or immigration status?" I want to offer the basis for the wording. I won't read them out now. I'll
just tell you the the basis. Uh well no um from the United States Constitution 14th amendment, the Massachusetts Constitution, and from the Yarmouth Police Department website, immigration FAQs,
which I will read, uh we are committed to equal enforcement of the law and equal service to all members of the community regardless of immigration status. I've been involved with the Yarmouth for Everyone group uh since its inception
about six months ago, having withdrawn the resolution brought to you late last year because it was the source of community discord, the exact opposite result of our intended unifying message. Uh we decided
to be very clear and simple with a ballot question to the people of Yarmouth. Because it's so simple, some might ask, "Wait, what is this about? What is the real intention?
And who is behind this seemingly straightforward question?" First, who's behind the question? It's a small group of local citizens, no statewide or national affiliation.
And then, what is the question really about? What do we hope to achieve? Two things. I hope it sends a me message of caring to our immigrant law-abiding neighbors who are terrified of being hauled out of
their car or their home or their workplace and sent to a detention center away from family and perhaps away from their new country. It may be all we can offer is a message of caring.
an effort. The second the second reason, the second thing that goal that we hope to achieve is an effort to find where the common ground is among the citizens of Yarmouth. The discord on this issue is fed from
accusations >> I'm sorry >> of each other. Can I just finish out a sentence? We want to know where are our common values? a place to start seeking those common values seems to be do we all still believe in our country
>> and what it I have to be fair to everybody I'm so sorry >> thank you very much for the time >> thank you Chris go ahead Harris >> thank you um >> wait a minute let me reset my timer go ahead >> um I included in your packet an article
from the Boston Herald concerning the uh select board in reading >> I'm sorry excuse me >> are you resetting my Yeah, I'm not going to reset it, but I did pause it. Um, can you please identify yourself for the >> Oh, sure. Harris KTO's precinct 3. Okay. Um, in your packet was an article from
the Boston Herald um, centering upon the uh, decision of the board in that community to send a strongly worded letter to the Beacon Hill leadership saying that uh, they want to see the will of the people supported with regard
to question one from November 2024 which called for the state auditor to have oversight over the legislature. I would like to see this board do the same here. 66% of the people in Reading
voted for question one. 70% of the people here in Yarmouth voted for it. That's 10,000 people. Their will is not being heard. This isn't a trivial matter. I was following one particular piece of legislation in the legislature
that was not u a joke. It uh actually had bearing upon people's livelihoods, careers, legal records, public education, academic freedom, and first amendment protections. That was at stake with this legislation
that was working its way through the legislature and then through a series of meetings with minimal public input over last year. The recommendations from that committee apparently have gone to the full legislature. I don't know if they've
adopted it yet, but as I said, they pose significant risks to our daily lives and particularly to our constitutional right for freedom of speech. Um, I am asking that this board do a similar thing
except send it not only to Senate President Spila, House Speaker Mariano, but also to our own Senator Seir, Representative Diggs, and Representative Flanigan. I feel it's incumbent upon you to do that to express that the will of
the people here in Yarmouth is not being listened to by the legislature. Thank you. >> Thank you, Harris. 2 minutes and 15 seconds. >> All right. >> Put it in my bank. >> I like it. >> Hi. And thank you. Thank you to the
board for making the exception for out oftowners. Um my name is Tim. Um, I do not live in Yarmouth, but I wanted to get up here uh very briefly just to flag for the board that the Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce submitted a letter to you folks today along with the Board of Health and the economic development folks in town requesting a study be done
on the subject of nicotine free generation. This is a policy being considered by the board of health. I understand that they would therefore have the authority on whether or not to do that and our ask therefore for you, the select board, is to join the chamber and support their request for this economic development study. given this
is a very all-encompassing complicated issue and I think we'd like to have um a body that has deep considerations for the economics of the town um supporting that and curious to hear that info. Thank you for the time. I appreciate it. >> Thank you. Thank you for your brevity.
>> Good evening. >> Good evening. >> Oh, he's got a bag of tricks. It's >> not a bag of tricks. It's a bag of books. Please identify yourself for the record. >> Sure. My name is Jeff Avery. Uh live on Cobburn Path. Um I'm here tonight to
talk a little bit about the library. Um as you can see, this is a stack of books from the children's library at West Jarmath. My children are avid readers and I could not possibly afford to buy all these books every week, right? So,
we go to the library, probably get 10 or 15 books out every week. Um, I also had a company called Cape Cod Learning Tours where I did science and nature tours and worked with the local West Jarmath Library. All my programs were sold out
all the time. They were very popular. In fact, if it rained and we had to go inside, the space was not big enough for us to do the things that we did interactively with microscopes and all that sort of um stuff. And I think it's important to point out how important the
library is. Um we think that everybody has devices now, but according to the last census, 17% or 17,000 people in the town of Yarmouth exist below the poverty line. That's a lot of people who don't have access to devices. Uh, and
libraries offer a lot of services like literacy programs, summer outdoor programs, steam activities, and and much else like Lego robotics programs and things like that. I'm sure that many people in this room uh have complained
about the lack of spelling ability in the younger generation, right? The library is a place where that can be kind of combed. Uh it's my understanding that it's possible that the work that's been done on the new library space uh may not continue. And I feel that that
would be a shame and would be hurtful to the town. Uh the grants approved, the work's been started, they've done surveying, they've got um architects going. It seems like a waste of time, resources, and energy to abandon that
project. Now, um I understand that the uh sports complex at Madakis is important. I I feel that for sure. Uh but I also feel that it doesn't have to be an a one or the other situation. I'm sure that we could find a way to make both things happen. Uh I am a proponent
for just turning Madakis into a fullervice town facility, one-stop shop for permitting, licensing, don't have to go to three or four different buildings. And if we could do that, you could sell the buildings on Route 28 and actually have a pretty good windfall for the
town. Okay. Um, also, we've talked for years on the Cape about the uh wave of younger middle class people that are leaving because the high cost of living. Uh, we need programs that keep those folks
in town, right? The splash pad was a great addition over at Sandy Pond for people with young young kids. Um, the sports programs are good. A library is also a key component to making that happen. The buildings are old. It's >> cut. >> I'm sorry. Your three minutes is up. >> All right. I'm sorry. Thank you.
>> No, I appreciate it. >> Thank you. Thank you for your comments. >> And I would stay, but I have to go feed you. >> Last thing, this is not always conducive to people who have children. >> Just so you know, we you can always join
by Zoom. We will take our Zoom comments after after. So, we appreciate your your comments and for being here and taking time away from your children. We know it's uh everybody's time is very precious. >> Good evening. >> Good evening. Uh I'm Linda Callahan, pre
Precinct 2. I would like to take a moment to publicly thank the numerous Yarmouth residents that have worked so diligently and tirelessly over the last approximately 10 years to bring the current library building project close to becoming a reality. Residents from all three villages have been involved in
focus groups, surveys, townappointed study and planning committees, gathering data, and tackling problems identified for over 50 years with the existing facilities and making recommendations to the town of Yarmouth. Most recently, the library building committee has taken
over with the hopes of bringing the project to a successful finish. The end result would be a new ADA compliant, structurally sound singlef flooror building with updated technology, health and safety improvements, and more efficient utilities and operating
systems and windows designed to serve all the residents and of and visitors to the town. We would actually get the children's room and the meeting room out of the basement. The selected site is especially attractive since it is in a more visible
and accessible location adjacent to open space that's frequently the location of popular community events near the town hall and near an active commercial area. I'm a retired corporate and public librarian and realize the incalculable value that a public library brings to a
community for residents and visitors alike. It has a place in the educational aspect of a community. Schools educate people for a certain period of their life. A public library is a place of learning for their entire life. A public library ensures equality of access. It
is open to everyone with materials of all types, for programs for all ages, to help with job searches, for language classes, for training in all forms of technology. A public library serves as a common providing a safe, quiet, and
public space for study, meetings, browsing, and work. A public library building of adequate size and modern operating systems can serve as a community center in times of crisis such as our recent extended power outages or during health emergencies such as the
recent pandemic. I know our community is faced with a lot of costly projects. I also know that things of value cost money. Our public library is supported by public funds, not only local funds, but te state tax dollars. Yarmouth has been fortunate
enough to be awarded a planning and design construction grant by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to help offset our costs. It will address approximately 40% of edible eligible costs. This award is guaranteed. It will never get any less expensive. A project
of this magnitude becomes more affordable with the grant. It's highly unlikely that there will be a new state grant round in the foreseeable future, nor that Yamoth would be eligible. There are plans for private fundraising campaign that would be instituted should
the article pass at the town meeting and the ballot. There are other grants that can also be pursued to to help. >> Sorry, your time is up. I appreciate >> my last bit was to thank you for letting me make these comments. Thank you for all your support over the the years of
getting this pro keeping this project going. >> Thank you. >> Good timing. Good evening. >> Good evening. >> My name is Ricky Patel. I'm a resident of Yarmouth Port. >> Hares Patel, owner of Station Avenue convenience store. >> We're just uh here to bring uh some
attention to a matter that the board of health of Yarmouth has uh been going through for these last few meetings. They've uh proposed a generational tobacco ban that would prohibit uh adults from purchasing tobacco and other nicotine. Uh and uh we just feel like it's blatant overreach. So I'm just
going to read something that I've written up. Uh my name is Ricky Patel. I've been in the tobacco business in this community of Cape Cod for over 20 years. My family and I have operated through every regulatory change that has come down from the Commonwealth and Department of Public Health. From raising the legal age from 18 to 21 to
flavored restrictions to adult only retail requirements to statewide product bans, we have adapted every time. We are one of the most highly regulated and scrutinized industries in the country and we have complied. What is being proposed now, however, is something entirely different. This generational
restriction would permanently prohibit adults born after a certain year, for example, 2006, from ever purchasing a legal tobacco product in Barsible. That means two adults born one day apart December 31st of 2005 and January 1st of 2006 would have permanently different
rights under local law. Both would be able to uh both would be legal adults at 21. Both could vote. Both can serve in the military. Both could go out and legally purchase alcohol and cannabis and marijuana. Yet only one could legally purchase cigar or nicotine products. That is not equal treatment
under the law. It creates a permanent class distinction based solely on birth year. Beyond the fairness issue, there are practical consequences. Barnstable and Yarmouth is a tourism driven economy. Visitors come here to dine, shop, golf, vacation, and yes, smoke
cigars, but most of all, spend money. If adults cannot legally purchase products here that are simply available everywhere else, they will go to the next town or the next state. They will simply go elsewhere. Online retailers will continue to sell tobacco and operate as planned. The town has no uh
the board of health of Yarmouth has no plans to stop any online retailers from continuing to sell. They're only going to hurt local taxpaying businesses. And history has also shown that prohibition style policies do not eliminate demand, but they shifted. New Zealand enacted a generational tobacco ban in late 2023.
Within months, significant enforcement challenges, tax revenue concerns, and black market expansion led to the policies being repealed. In 2024 when uh in 2024 when legal markets are restricted, unregulated markets often fill the gap and flourish, not not more.
We are already operating under a heavily taxed and regulated environment in Massachusetts. Licensed retailers check IDs, comply with inspections, follow strict rules, and when sales move outside of regulated channels, none of these protections exist. If the standard in Massachusetts is adulthood begins at 21, then the standard should apply
equally. A 21-year-old adult should not be told that they are mature enough to make some legal decisions but permanently barred from making others solely based on the date of their birth. Finally, I would ask the board to consider consistency in public health policy. If the concern is adult health, that conversation should be comprehensive and evidence-based across
all regulated substances, not targeted selectively at one industry. >> I'm sorry, your time is up. >> I just wanted to say something. Um, we've been I'm sorry. Okay, I I'll start it over. >> I'll be real quick. I'll make up on his last time. Thank you.
>> It just we attend the board of health meeting all the time as being a tobacco retailers, convenience store owner. Um one thing we don't understand like when we discuss with the board and when the board discuss with the board members to each other we feel like the decision
they make it's based on their own personal experience not looking out to the adult right as well as the economic impact on the town and the things they're trying to pass doesn't make any sense like as the Rick mentioned two
days apart one can buy one cannot buy and go to the other town So please, you know, look into that and I don't know, you know, it just, >> you know, we can't really discuss it because it's not on our agenda. >> So I'm not discussing >> just so you know, the board of health has its own statutory authority under
the law which limits very much our ability to um >> intervene. Yeah. Have any >> just wanted to bring it up to the board's attention that >> they did. I I appreciate that. I just want you to understand um >> I just like to add one more thing. The last few meetings, the Yarmouth board
kept saying they were going to post this online, post this on their agenda and let the public know. They gave no public awareness. It almost feels like they have these meetings in secret and they post stuff about this like the day before. And not for nothing, but there was four board members. Uh, one of them was new and uh, you know, two people
pretty much had decided and the other two just followed suit. And you know, that's how we feel. >> Yeah. >> We have um, we have applications for uh, if you're interested in serving on a board. I think I will now honestly >> maybe we I'm sorry uh we we u in New
Batford we had the same situation we went to the select board and they did add border comes to the meeting and they did resolve the matter. Well, unfortunately because of open meeting law, we can't discuss it this evening. But I'm just saying that at some point in time, we can see if the board's
interested in meeting with them and and and talking. But at this at this point, I just want people in the public that are that are hearing this to understand that, as you know, they have their own. >> A lot of people don't even know this has already happened and that they've already voted on it. I've talked to numerous residents and customers and
they've all said, "We had no idea." And I just want to add one more thing. The Barnstable Board of Health just refused it today. They just rejected this new proposal that Yarmouth went ahead with. So Yarmouth will be a yes no town and Barnstable will continue. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for coming. >> Thank you for your time.
>> No, thank you. Thank you for your involvement and coming to speak. Good evening. >> Hi. Good evening everyone. My name is Al Naom. I'm a resident of Fis for uh 27 years and I am a business owner also and I'm here to talk about two thing. One of
them it's the nicotine. That's I don't think uh I'm old enough if I want to smoke or not. I don't think anybody have the right to tell me if I can smoke or not. If I'm healthy or not, that's my problem, not anybody else's problem. So the board of val trying to push
everything on everybody. If they want to talk about health, okay, let's talk about health. They they have to stop the alcohol because it's not good for you. They have to stop all the junk food, all the fast food restaurants because they're not good for you. All the package, food package, they not good for
you. So they have to stop all that. If you talking business, they taking all our the business from here, push it to somewhere else. All that's all what they doing. They shifting it. We losing the business. People's going to go somewhere else and get it. The second thing the
gentleman just uh talked about the new generation. They leaving the Cape because of the library, because other stuff that's one of the reason people don't want to come to the Cape. They don't want to stay on the Cape. That's why we lose them. If I if I'm 24, 25 and
I want to smoke. I want to smoke. You're not going to stop me. That's about the tobacco. Second thing about the library, we should help the library. We losing people who like to read. You go, we used
to go to the beach, see like maybe 50, 60 people sitting and reading. Now you see people on the phone all the time. Nobody like to read because it's not available. >> We are we have business in town. We live in town. So you guys whatever you need
help with. Not just I'm not talking money. I'm talking about like whatever it is we can help with all together. I like to read. I don't want to be on the phone all the time. So helping the library that will help the town and the people of Yarmas. And
if we want to make any decision, let the people of Yarmas make the decision for the town of Yarmas. Not one person on his own opinion or his own mind want to force some laws and regulation on all of us.
>> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Hi, Tom. >> Good evening. >> Excuse me, folks. >> Just one second. >> I want to miss Tomasher. It's a pleasure. >> Okay. Good evening. >> Here we go. Go.
>> Good evening, Madam Chair, board members. Tom Nick, precinct 3 from the very historic town of Yamoth, 387 years strong. And uh I'd just like to share some concerns about the library, which is extremely important. um for just
about 30 years now since we purchased that building on Old Main Street 312. It's um it's been a great facility. However, the facility has stayed the same and now our population has like
blown apart. 25,000 people. Each village in our community has a library, post office, a church. That's what makes our villages great. We need to expand and move as our population does. Now, that building on
312 Old Main Street was built in 1850, and you can say it's pretty historic in itself. So, when the finance committee had a meeting last week, they were talking about it. Their concern was they didn't want another open building like
Manatees, which none of us do. We want our buildings to be prosperable and have purpose. So there was talk about the historical society moving in there. And you know to me a museum of our history as a select
board member was talking earlier with something that would definitely showcase our community immensely. And if the library does go through, which I hope it does because we all know we need it, and that building becomes a museum down on Old Main Street, what a
perfect place. Packet Landing, Station Ab used to be a railroad. Those little shops on 28 and Pleasant Street have seen merchant after merchant after merchant. Maybe there'll be a souvenir shop there. The potential is
unbelievable. for the future. The library is not just for us. It's for generations to come and we all want educated people. So, I'm for the library. I'm for talking about making a museum in Yarmouth down at
Packet Landing in the most perfect spot it could be. Thank you. >> Thanks, Tom. >> Anybody else would like to address the board? Sir, please come forward. >> Good evening.
>> Good evening, folks. I uh told my friend this evening that I would uh speak my mind and I'd either follow the script or I'd go off script, but due to the time restriction, we're going off strict. >> Okay. But can you please identify yourself for the record? >> Yeah, off script. Uh Bill Kerwin, uh precinct Yarmathport. I'll have a number
for you next time. Um >> Okay. >> I want to start here by telling you about my uh 14-year-old who is absolutely exceptional. She's been an A+ student ever since they started with the grades. She was looking forward to that. She didn't like that number thing they did in elementary school. And uh for the last couple of years, she wanted to go
to the tech because her brother went there and you know, we did the tour, went through all the shops. But uh she won't be going there. Now, the reason that uh she won't be going there is because the first time admission is no longer merit-based. It's based on a lottery. And so I'm going to skip around here a little bit, but uh the whole
lottery system here is based on the belief that fairness means lowering the bar instead of helping kids clear it. And it's uh folks like my uh my uh friends here that believe four nationals should share the same rights and privileges as American citizens. But I'll tell you on that, they're dead
wrong because if citizenship means nothing, then everything we've built upon it means nothing as well. And I am jumping around here, but uh I found out about this four days ago, so you'll forgive me. I've only had a few days to prepare. And the reason I found out about it 4 days ago is because after I did some looking, I found that there
wasn't any uh projected agenda for this as of March 6th. It wasn't discussed March 10th, and it didn't appear on that 473 page March 10th packet. And uh I'll confess, I used the AI to read it, so I didn't actually read the whole thing myself. But um what I did find out,
which was rather interesting, is that this isn't like a one-off thing. This is the exact same thing that we've already been through. And when I emailed the select board about it, I heard back from the town administrator, Mr. Wright that confirmed in writing on March 20th, and I quote directly, "This is directly
related to the sanctuary style resolution this board previously rejected, blah blah blah." So anyway, congratulations folks. You found a loophole. Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 53, section blah blah, whatever. you found a procedural mechanism to ask these guys to put on the ballot where
you guys can boast on placement today, but really we're not talking about the merits of it. So that that's really what this is all about. And you know, like I've lived here my whole life. I never even paid attention. I think I told you that before. And so here we go with the dramatic. This is the file that I found.
Okay, in two hours time on the internet, I've got 38 pages of 37 years of activism from these people. three arrests, you know, pick your um protest of the week. You know, BLM um for nine years, I believe it was in 2017. They were the first church to be uh declared
a sanctuary church since then. 1500 other ones. Congratulations, people. So, these are organized activists that have like deep deep funding. Wait till you see what I got in here. You know, we can trace this money all the way back to Bezoswife that dumped all that money. We
can trace it back to Soros. You know, I could go on and on. the these this is not just some grassroots thing. These people are organized and you know the people that suffer are people like my little girl and then we have this other lunatic on the North Shore that wants to charge us for every mile that we drive. My 16-year-old doesn't want to hear that
crap. >> You know, you guys are taking away privilege that you had when you were that age. >> I'm sorry your time is up. >> Thank you everybody. >> Thank you for coming. folks. Please, if you could keep your comments down, uh we need to try to hear the speakers, that'd be great. Thank
you. Go ahead. >> Okay. Tom Sullivan, precinct uh one, West Yamoth. Actually, the new name is Captain's Hill section of Yarmouth. We have a new name.
I got a couple things. One, I'm not here to support any overrides. We're looking at three of them in this town. The library, the schools, and I think the town, no town needs to cut it spending. >> Town doesn't have an overhead. >> You're coming in with a level ended
budget. >> Town. The town doesn't. It's the Cape Tech, the DY. >> The Cape. All right. I forgot about that. Cape techch DY and the library depth exclusion is an override. Maybe they can come up with better funding like a bond, but I won't support it. I
didn't support it the last time. All right. You're talking about people trying to live here. They can't afford to live here. Period. As it is, you raising it. You want to raise the taxes. The other thing I want to discuss is this petition article doesn't belong here in the town of
Yarmouth. We have no say on immigration. Period. There are laws in the book about how to treat people. If people are being harassed or discriminated against, there's avenues to file complaints. Very
simple. All right. But as far as immigration goes, we have no control over it. That is all at the federal level. All right? Our police department is handcuffed by it. Only thing they can do if they arrest the person and they run
the person and they find out there is a a retainer on them, they can call ICE. They're not breaking any laws. They're just doing their job. ICE will come down, pick it up, and that's it. As far as these uh stories that you hear about detention centers and everything else,
anyone in Massachusetts is picked up, it goes to Burlington, Mass. It's pretty nice facility up there, right? They have to put them someplace. All right. They have, believe it or not, there's a judge in there. They have a quick hearing if they found the hearing illegally, which
is a criminal offense. They have broken the law. Now, the president and Congress gave the illegals an opportunity to leave this country. They even gave him money and put them on a plane to leave to come
back legally. All right? They gave him that opportunity. take advantage of it because if you're thrown out of the country and you come back in, you'll never be a citizen. They can never be citizens because they are convict they're felons.
All right? Even though it's a federal misdemeanor, it's basically a felony. So, we have no control over it. So, I hope this board tonight, you have the option of putting an end to this. Do it. Vote it down. That's it. because
I think the town's people will vote it down and they we have no control over it. All right. So, I got my three minutes just about up. >> Yeah, you you're at 255. So, >> I did regain my time afterwards. >> I stopped it for a second when I said
so. >> Okay, no problem. >> Okay, thank you. >> And as I said, I hope the board doesn't in effect say no tonight on this petition. >> Okay. Good evening. Hi, Cheryl Ball, West Yarmouth. Um, I've already spoken in
front of this board a couple of times on this topic, so I'm going to try to be more brief tonight. Um, back when we had the resolution in December, um, I think my opposition to it was well noted on the record. I just want to have it noted on the record again here that I am also strongly opposed to this ballot
question. As I said back when we had the resolution discussion in December, um the language that was used in that was intentionally misleading and I think it's the same case here again with this ballot question. Um the language that's in there, it
sounds harmless and it's and agreeable, but it's carefully crafted to push a political agenda without ever saying so. This whole shenanigan is fundamentally dishonest. It asks residents to affirm constitutional rights as if they're up for debate. They're not. They are our
constitutional rights. They're written and we abide by them. It's not a real question. It's a setup. It's a rhetorical trap to pressure people into endorsing something that's actually much broader. Frankly, it's childish to try to force
adults to sign on to a feel-good statement just to satisfy a couple of people's political virtue signaling. Constitutional rights do not apply equally in all cases. The right to vote is a constitutional
right, but that is strictly afforded to citizens. So the sweeping language about supporting constitutional rights regardless of citizenship or immigration status completely ignores that distinction. Federal laws, as Tom talked about,
federal laws govern im immigration, and the supremacy clause overrides any local action that this ballot question attempts to make. This isn't a question about policy. It's political theater. And this production
is being put on by liberal left-wing radicals. Bill mentioned it. You can dig into the history of the people who have submitted this petition. They are going to bring chaos and a circus to this town. 35 signatures are not the voice of this
town. It's a small fraction trying to force an agenda onto everyone else. This is designed so that if you oppose it, they can pretend you oppose basic rights. That's their game. We saw that clearly with Jim Wolf who came up in
front of this board and said, "If you don't sign on to this, Ms. opposed. You are opposed to immigrants, which is absolutely ludicrous. But that's how this is designed. It's a game. As we've just heard, Yarmouth has real issues. We've got overrides. We've
got septic things going on. We've got a library issue we're talking about. This this ballot question doesn't solve a single problem in Yarmouth. In fact, it's a distraction and a divisive one. I urge you to reject this ballot question
and focus on the work that actually matters to the citizens of Yarm. >> Thank you, Cheryl. >> Hello, my name is Richard Na. I'm a resident of the town for over 20 years. Um, tobacco again, the nicotine free generation. Uh, I don't have some script
written up, but just wanted to bring a few things to your attention. I know you told me told us that uh you have limited uh reach and what you guys can do but I just wanted to bring to your attention that we as a people are not being heard from the board of health. Um no matter what we say, no matter how many facts,
information we try to give them um they've already made up their mind. Um they like the gentleman I spoke to spoke about earlier. Um they just decided already and we just came from the festival hearing. They just declined it. They just threw it out the threw it out
the water because the explanation that he gave was that it's complete overreach from a town level to make a decision this big. >> They said that this should be brought down from the state. Uh that they're not they don't do legislation that that something like this needs to be brought down as a law and then the people can
decide. Not excuse my excuse me, but four or five unelected officials that decide how businesses should be run. Um that's really all I had. And I just wanted to bring it to your attention that like I said, we're just not being heard as business owners. We We love this town. We love to do business in this town. We love to donate this town.
We love the public. My father spoke earlier. We love the libraries. We love the beaches. We love everything. Just we want to stay here and we don't want to be driven out. They're driving us out. >> Oh, we appreciate you, too. Thank you guys. >> Hi. >> Hey, good evening. Uh Mark Omaru, South
Armouth. I wanted to speak on the um uh the ballot question about the uh having to do with the uh illegal immigrants. Um I wrote an email to the select board in early February uh discussing this. I also spoke briefly at a at a meeting in
Felmouth um when they were talking about um possible ICE operations in on the cave. But I just want to remind the board that um um according to uh US code 1324, bringing or harboring illegal immigrants
knowingly into the country um get the the exact language here encouraging encouraging inducing an alien to come uh to come enter or reside in the United States knowing or knowing in or reckless disregard for the fact that such coming to entry or residence will be a
violation of law. Um, >> so hold on one second. I'm sorry. I'm very distracted. Can everybody please keep their comments down? I can't I can't hear you. >> And maybe if you speak a bit more into the mic to help >> go ahead. >> Um,
so just just going just going to federal immigration law. Again, it's not up to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the county of Yarmouth, the county of Barnstable. That's uh that falls under federal law enforcement. Um there haven't been any new laws enacted. there haven't been any um executive orders
enacted. Uh what the laws on the books are the laws on the books. Um it would be my argument that knowingly enticing or encouraging people to come to the town of Yarmouth because they think we're going to be friendly to people here that are breaking the law um I
would argue would um put anybody that supports that, you know, in in violation of federal law and could potentially make them a criminal. Um I also don't understand why um as I read the resolution because from what I understand that that language is
directly tied to the resolution. Um in the resolution um it says that uh it spells out plainly in the resolution that it does not support non-compliance with state or federal law. um you're directly supporting non-compliance with federal law if we're going to be >> excuse me
>> making a welcoming, you know, a welcoming environment for criminals to come into our into our community. Um I think it's dangerous for our families and for the people that don't want ice in the neighborhoods. um you know in our neighborhoods then the simple the simple
thing is to just take any any language regarding you know immigration status out of anything you're going to put in any of the tunnel language that way it just takes it out of play. Um, and as far as, you know, any ICE activities or anything like that that go
on, the best thing we can do is just, uh, you know, cooperate with federal law enforcement. Um, and you're not going to have ICE into the communities. That's a little off track on what I wanted to say, but at the end of the day, I just think that taking any language regarding
illegal immigration out of anything that goes into the town, um, town language is is the best bet. Otherwise, if we create a welcome environment according to federal law, that could be construed as, you know, violating federal law and undermining federal law.
>> Thank you. >> And I think it's your responsibility as a select board to just not even entertain this. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good evening, Ardan Twining, Finn Yarmathport. Um, I can't really expand more on
on the excellent presentation specifically by Cheryl and the other speakers ahead of me. But um I do want to just say one thing. Um the question at hand that is being considered says, "Do you as a citizen of the town of Yarmouth support the constitutional
rights of all Yarmouth residents which guarantee equal protection of the laws of all people regardless of nationality, citizenship or immigration status?" like the resolution, the terms are being used in a in a vague sort of way. So to
be really specific, a citizen is someone here legally who has the right to work, own property, have access to health care and social services, have protection under US laws, vote, and hold public office. A legal resident of the town is someone who is legally residing in
Yarmouth, but does not qualify to hold office. For example, a part-time resident such as my husband and I were before we moved here permanently. A permanent resident is someone who's here legally who has the right to work, own property, have access to health care and social services, and have protection
under US laws, but not the right to vote in federal elections or hold public office. So, by saying resident, um, you're lumping everybody in under the same thing. And resident is the most broad term, which means anybody who happens to be living in the town. Now,
illegal aliens do have rights under the Constitution. They have the rights of due process, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and equal protection. We all have equal protection. So my question and that's really the point of of what I'm talking
about to expand on what the other people have said is what is the point of this question that is being proposed to be asked of all the residents where everybody has equal protection, everybody has rights under the constitution and everybody has rights
and protections under the law. This doesn't add anything just like the resolution before it didn't add anything. All it does is it introduces potential confusion and potentially a signal that we are going
to be a welcoming community for illegal aliens, which we do not want to be. We want to be a welcoming community for everybody here legally, green card holders, people from other states, people from Massachusetts who want to come here and
tourists. The resolution talked about um residents and visitors which was very purposely misleading because resident again can mean anybody leading here and visitor could have meant anything. If instead the original resolution had said
citizens, legal permanent residents, legal residents and tourists, then it would have been very specific and there wouldn't have been as much um confusion about it. I see the same problems in this question. is the same the same kind
of ambiguity and the same kind of potential opening us up to things that we shouldn't be open to. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Is there anybody else here like to address the board? >> Okay, I'm going to go on to Zoom now. Vita,
>> hello. >> Good evening. Vita, >> can you hear me? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Can you hear me? Okay, Vita Morris. I'm pre in precinct 2. Uh I'm uh I'm almost blown away by this whole mishmash that's
going on right now here. Uh I I just want to uh verify that uh in other words, you have no intention of uh having the public participate in the uh um uh article on the agenda that deals
with the uh the school overrides and and uh and this resolution thing. Is that right? >> We had our public hearing last at our last meeting. >> I I guess I I I must have missed that then. But this mishmash that is going on
right now of all these different topic. Anyway, uh I guess you had if you had the uh public meeting uh at the last uh me public participation in the last meeting, you did uh uh you know abide by the years and years of uh people trying
to get us to participate in the budget process, the the taxpayers to participate in the budget process. And uh uh but it's being kind of a bridge that seemed to me more and more so u as the time has gone by. Uh and we're going
to end up being where we were uh to start with I guess before but before people demanded that we get some participation in in that process. Uh I just uh I I think the uh this whole business with the resolution needs to be
taken care of by you people vote with but this board voting them down for the time and having them this it is this last person has spelled everything out so completely and and but I guess the people who are
proposing it are not going to be interested in in uh hearing about that any more than uh than they they have been in the past. And but let's see if you can do the right thing and and get this thing off the uh uh the agenda for
for the town meeting and and and for the election. Thank you. >> Thank you, Vita. >> Zoom user. >> Madam Chair, Joe Glenn, South AR, can you hear me? >> Yes, sir. Uh, I'm once again going to ask you to
confer with the town council about how to address the inequities in the DY regional agreement. The regional agreement is a legal document between the two towns. If either or both the towns believe that any aspect of the
regional agreement is not being executed properly, they can review the document. both towns can agree that there are oversightes uh mutual mistakes, gaps, or uh or any
other oversightes. In in the insurance contract business, they call it ENO, errors and omissions because there can be unintentional mistakes. The town councils in both towns and the district for that matter can correct them. this
notion that the superintendent or the school committee or the chair or even the unfairly uh composed school committee are the arbitrators and the dictators of of what the towns can do. The agreement is
between the towns. Town meeting is the eventual decision maker. But the uh the the town the school committee is supposed to be an unbiased mediators to encourage cooperation. For many years, no one was cooperating. They're supposed
to not block the cooperation. Both towns want to address inequities in the regional agreements and there are the review is actually in the regional agreement. So you don't have to change anything. you just have to execute
what's already in there, which is the review, uh, a comprehensive review over time. Um, and it's supposed to be done near a census, but it's already in there. It's not making amendments. It's saying this is what we need to do. We need to review it. And I thought it was
disrespectful for them to summarily dismiss you asking for a mere committee to to discuss to have a discussions on the discussions. they don't want to listen to either of the towns. Um, and they're not the arbitrators of it. We
don't need the school committee to uh make a decision. We can go around and I suggest that the coun the town councils in both towns um meet and say we want to discuss the regional agreement and the school committee has no say on the
matter. But I appreciate it's been 46 years there's been a supposed to been a review and it hasn't happened. So, I think that uh the periodic review is well overdue. Thank you very much. Have a great evening.
>> Evening. Thank you, Joe. Mr. Garin. >> Yes. Good evening. Christopher Garren, South Yarmouth homeowner and taxpayer. I share the concerns raised by the previous speakers about this non-binding ballot for the Springtown meeting. Lately, we've seen an uptick with the
use of non-binding votes and resolutions that are used to mislead the public into thinking these votes and resolutions are actually legally binding and that surprisingly turn out to be full of hidden agendas. For example, the Barnstable County delegates recently passed by one vote essentially a
non-binding resolution in support of Senator Seir's luxury home transfer tax. It's been reported, however, that Senator Seir is apparently using this non-binding vote to bypass the town meeting process and misleadingly persuade the Massachusetts legislature
in Boston to enact the luxury transfer tax because the county delegates votes show that the tax is popular Capewide, including with Cape Cod town select boards and residents. This conclusion about the luxury transfer tax is misleading because as mentioned during a
previous uh select board meeting in Yarmouth, the Yarmouth County delegate never discussed this vote with the board beforehand and apparently she has um not accepted an invitation to uh to speak before the board. This misuse of non-binding votes is something for this
board to consider when it discusses the immigration ballot question tonight. In addition, during this meeting tonight, the group proposing its non-binding ballot question guaranteeing respect for all should follow the standard set out in its own previously withdrawn draft
resolution and publicly apologize to this board for disrespectful behavior uh displayed during the January 13, 2026 select board meeting. This group should take accountability for this disrespectful behavior because actions speak louder than words. And if you've
heard earlier, th this is an organized group. They know what they're doing. They're very well funded. And and with any time left, I want to thank everyone involved with the blizzard cleanup. A large tree in my neighbor's front yard fell onto our street, blocked the plows from clearing the snow. Fortunately, no
one was hurt, but the crews timely removed the fallen tree, which allowed the plows to clear the way for the traffic. So, thank you and uh for the opportunity to speak, and have a good evening. >> Thank you, Mr. Garren. And for the record, our delegate has reached out and
we are working to get her um schedules to come in. Uh Chris, >> hi Chris. Can you unmute yourself? >> Oh, >> there you are. Certainly. >> If you can identify yourself for the record and your time will begin.
>> Nope. Nope, you just muted yourself. >> Yeah, hit it one more time. >> Okay, there we go. >> Hi, Chris. >> I'm not Christine Gley from West Yarmouth and I am not a technical person obviously. I first of all, I want to
thank you for your patience and endurance in taking these comments from all of us in the public. Um, it is really a display of the testament of your duty to this town. And I want to note that uh it's it's difficult. I've watched the budget meetings. I've
watched a variety of the meetings. Uh first of all, um and it must go with the name Chris, I guess. I was also going to commend the town for the work that was done during the blizzard of 26. In particular, I had the misfortune while the power was out and my Comcast was
down and all that the suddenly the carbon monoxide alarm in my basement went off and our fire department came in 3 ft of snow trapesing up again trying to get up through there to come and take care of the issue and luckily it was not harmful. It was some kind of a mal
malfunction within that system. So, I just want to commend the work that was done in this community by so many uh of the people employed by the town. Uh so, thank you very much. Secondly, I wanted to comment on the overrides. Obviously, because I'm on the school committee for
tech, I think you could see during the presentations to both the FinCom and during the presentation to you by Dr. Sanborn, the kind of real close monitoring we take on the expenditures for the district. And so I have a question in the overrides um for the
schools. Is that one override for both Dennis Dennis Yarmouth and Tech or are they two separate overrides? >> We're going to be discussing that later in our meeting, Chris. >> Okay. Because one of my concerns is that I think that um I would like to make
sure that tech is looked at independently um for the work uh that's done. I mean the kind of report that you got the other night uh from Bob uh is very much what we get on a monthly basis in which that budget and the expenditures and
everything are gone over in our school committee meetings intimately along with presentations by staff in terms of what they're doing for the education of students. The lottery was held March 17th and so hopefully um some kids got in from Yarmouth who really wanted to
get in. But I want to say again thank you very much for taking comments and uh good evening and I will watch the rest of the u meeting by being quiet. Thank you. >> Thank you Chris. Is there anybody else that would like to address the board
before we move on to um our agenda item? >> Okay, seeing nobody, we are going to go to our 615 item. Our 615 item is a um discussion of vote for a new
shellfish aquaculture lease application. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. >> Hi. Good evening. Uh Dave Condan, director of natural resources for the town. >> And Christian Hayes. I live in Yarmouthport.
>> Thank you. Welcome back. We've seen you before here before us. Finally. >> Um, so Mr. Condan, if you want to uh give the board, this is not a public hearing, it's a discussion. Um, if you want to give the board uh an overview of what what the ask is, that would be
great. >> Yes, madam chair. As you said, uh, Christian was here back on July 23rd, 2024. Uh, and the board gave unanimous approval to start the shellfish grant process. Uh we have a pretty significant shellfish grant waiting list. Um which
Christian was on for uh well since 2019 I think. Um and typically the grants that we roll over are current shellfish grants that are already established. Somebody gives up the grant we'd go to the next person person on the wait list. Uh in this case Christian proposed a new
shellfish grant location. Uh currently we have two up in Cape Cod Bay kind of between like Warf Lane and Bass Hole on that sandbar. Um and this is a unused location basically wedged between two existing grants. Kind of a kind of a no man's land that couldn't really be
used for anything else. It's all a sandbar. Uh very little product was found out there. Um Christian started the process that the division marine fisheries gives a whole checklist of the whole process you have to go through. Obviously it's very lengthy. you guys gave him the okay to start the process
back in 2024 and we're finally back here uh unbelievably almost two years later after having Christians completed the process. Um so the memo that you have from me basically outlines that he's gone through the division of marine fisheries um complied with the um MEPA
Massachusetts environmental policy act um he's gone through the US Army Corps of Engineers for the permit for the gear on the on the bottom uh gone through the waterway shellfish advisory committee the conservation commission and mass D um I don't know how to put it any other
way than he's checked all the boxes took him two years to get here And the ask is for the board to approve the new grant location and issue the shellfish aquaculture lease license license for uh five years which is our the standard that we always
issue. Um and you should have a draft of that in your packet. If not I have one here. >> Um and any questions or anything? >> Great. Okay. We will go to the board. Does anybody in the board have any questions about >> Madam Madam Chair?
>> Yes. >> Um I very much appreciate the situation that you're in and what you're trying to do. Um this got a very favorable review last time. Um however, since then there
have been some questions that have been raised regarding our shellfish program and they're being reviewed by the Division of Marine Fisheries. Um, I'm very concerned about any actions that we take that may not be consistent with the state's guidelines. So, I'm requesting that this board postpone to our next
meeting since the review is going on right now. I would like to postpone this discussion and a decision on this until our next meeting in which we can hopefully have some questions cleared up and we can properly with a with a clean slate make make a final determination on
this. But the application itself, I have seen nothing here that would change my opinion from what's been presented. But I just want to make sure that everything that we're doing is totally legal and totally proper. >> Second.
>> Okay. Is there discussion on the motion? >> Um, >> Madam Chair, if if I could say, I I really would prefer that we don't go into a detailed discussion on this. I think there are a lot of sensitive issues being examined right now. I think quite frankly um my hope is is that the
review gets conducted soon and then we can deliberate on this and talk about the merits of the proposal and talk about the status of of uh what his plans are and uh what his future holds. So >> okay um I guess a little taken back
because I knew there was a review but I didn't know it had anything to do with our program nor this application whatsoever. Um, but >> well, if I can if you would like me to respond to that question, I'm happy to.
Um, for for the for the benefit of you, I've I've Chris, I've I've been involved in working with shell fishermen and shellfish constables for over 50 years back when I was in the town manager's office and local government years ago. And I worked for two congressmen. One
congressman, Gary Studs, had oversight of the fishing industry. He was chairman of the merch marine and fisheries committee and had fisheries oversight. and we worked very closely with our local communities, fishermen, and um over time I've developed a a pretty
solid working knowledge about how shellfish programs are run. Um as you know, the state runs a very very comprehensive uh program to make sure that our shellfish growers, their interests are protected, but also the interests of
public health are protected as well. And so um the state has a series of laws and regulations and uh they really are strict on those as as I'm sure you know and they're also strict on those requirements for the towns and there's some things that we do in Yarmouth that
are not the same in other towns and I've raised questions with the Commonwealth and with our town administrator and our team here uh about the process and the methods that we use and the way in which we go about doing uh this work And um um
I don't believe should we to take your application up tonight and vote on it. Our action may not necessarily be legal or there may be legal questions about it. And I don't believe we should put you in any legal jeopardy. I think when we make a decision, I want to make sure
that everything's legal, everything's proper, everything's in order, and that your shelfish license is as good as gold. Okay? So, I'm thinking about your interests in all of this. I want to make sure that the town's program is fully compliant with all the state's
requirements. I want to make sure that we're doing all the things that we need to do under state law. We follow as a board the state statute as it's laid out in the other provisions in state law. And like I said, questions have been raised. I've spoken with the director of the division marine fisheries. He has
questions. We're trying to get answers and we're trying to resolve this. And uh like I said, I think it would be prudent and it would be in your interest quite frankly if we postpone any action until the next meeting. >> Okay. I guess my only question is um I I
thought that the Division of Marine Fisheries had already approved this. >> They have. >> Okay. >> With all due respect, Madam Chair, they haven't. >> Okay. Well, all right. So, we have a motion on the table. All those in favor of the motion
to postpone this say I >> I >> opposed. I I abstain. I'm I mean it's irrelevant, but thank you. Uh we'll put this back on We'll put this back on an upcoming agenda. Thank you for coming tonight. Sorry
about that. >> Okay, the next item on our agenda is uh library building committee, please. Good evening. Good evening. >> Good evening. I'm Judy Connor Styver. I'm the chair of the library building
committee. I'd like to introduce my committee tonight. Vice chair is Tom Pendleton who comes to us with construction background. We have representatives from other committees. Sandy Fe who represents capital budget. So she's
>> Excuse me. Can we please keep the comments down? I can't hear the speaker. Thank you, Judy. Sorry. >> Sure thing. >> I think I'm getting old. >> I get it. I get it. >> I used to be able to drown it all out. Now I'm like, you know how when you the music's too loud in the in the car, you
don't know where you're going? >> Really? Okay. >> Okay. >> All right. Turn the radio down. Um Okay. So, uh, so Tom Pendleton, Sandy F from Capitol Budget, uh, Susan Brida is our
link to the planning board. Our atlarge members, John Graco is here. He's not waving. Our link to the to the select board is Dorcas McGarin.
We also have ad hoc members from the library. David Aronson, our library director, very helpful and giving us insights on daily operations are Mindy Harrington and Jill Lebr.
Tonight, also with us, we have our OPM, our owners project manager, representative Tim Arnold, and from the architectural firm Odinello, we have Marie Corbal next to me. We're here tonight to give you an update
and uh just talk about numbers mostly today. I think we have talked about issues in the past. We've gone through our location. We've gone through design. We have design boards around town hall and
in the libraries. So, we're not going to go into those. The big questions have been money. We've been to the to the finance committee. uh they posed questions to us that frankly were beyond our scope. There was significant
conversation about what the use for south would be and there was expressed that there was disappointment that we didn't have a plan for that. Um to which I said that was beyond our
scope but uh it it came up again. I do understand that we need to have plans, but right now we want to take the library program forward and there's
not much point in planning for a building that may be vacant or may not or may have another use that comes up until we know how this is going. It's just just a month away. So that was the biggest um conversation
we had. Then there were also issues brought up about um the lifespan of the building and we that's in your packet tonight. We did get that response back. There were also other questions about uh operational costs and
we do have information on that that's also in your packet. So we'll review that tonight. So, just to set the stage, it's going to be a lot of numbers and that's where we are. So, I'm going to hand it over to MA and grab this.
Yeah. So, excuse me if I refer to my pages in front of me for all the numbers. There's a lot of numbers as Judy just said. So, um let me skip forward. So, just to reorient us where we are in the design process. >> Ma, are you the owner's?
>> I I am. I'm sorry. I'm Cooba. from Odin's architecture. >> Okay. As well as as Tim Arnold. Okay. You don't have a >> Tim is the OPM. >> You are the OPM. Okay. Thank you. >> And I will lean on Tim for some information as well. Um so just again to
reorient where we are in the process. Um after we last met in December, we basically completed the MBLC document and with the help of Accenture and David um basically completed the package for the MBLC um that was completed in late
December and um during the first several weeks of January, the MBLC reviewed that package and it was approved with no comments or revisions. Um so from that point on we we um improved the package basically for pricing purposes and that
and the pricing package went out to our estimator AM Fogerty. Um and then concurrently Accenture helped to facilitate a second um estimate from Feny Consulting um on
behalf of the town. And again after a few weeks of uh estimating process we came back with both estimates uh at the end of February and then following that we met with Accenture and both um estimators to have
a reconciliation process. So after about you know three three hours of reconciliation sort of met in the middle. Um at the same time we also sent this package for review to all of our consultant team. So the MEP engineers,
landscape architects um to look closely at the numbers and you know identify things where they think numbers were possibly inaccurate but also just to come up with some cost-saving measures. So after that was
complete, we basically had a reconciled numbers that again that was in the middle and then also a list of architectural landscape architectural and MEP items that we thought could help to reduce overall costs. And the final numbers that we came away with we felt
were pretty consistent with what we're seeing in general for building costs. um a slight uptick which is basically can probably be attributed to work on the cape which we generally see there's a slight uptick in general square footage um costs just because of travel times
and material sourcing um and then also we'll talk about a little bit later but there are some costs associated with improvements to the MacArthur building or the site of the MacArthur building that sort of encumber this this um building process. So, with that, I'll
move forward to the numbers. Oh, I'm sorry. I skipped one. So, this spreadsheet is based on a um the MBLC spreadsheet. They organize costs in a very particular way. And so, we have to conform to all of their rules and regulations. So, they break up costs
into three areas. The construction, professional services, and furniture, furnishings, finishes, and equipment, FFN. Um, so all of the numbers you see are organized in the way that they request. Um, and then you'll see three columns as well. There are costs that
are considered eligible, non-eligible, and then you see the total costs on the right. So, um, there's basically a sliding scale of what the MLC considers eligible and non-eligible depending on the area of construction. So, um,
luckily, um, True Construction, they the MBLC covers basically 97% of all construction costs in their grant, which is great. Um, you'll see a few things there in the noneligible column which are mostly attributed to landscape and
paving. Um, they don't, um, they don't cover basically discretionary landscape costs such as plants and, um, mulch and things that support plants. And then they also don't um support the paving on top. So
basically under soil earthwork um gravel bases they do cover but it's just that top layer which and curving which they don't cover. So that's the the main um cost in the non-eligible um column and then all of the costs associated with
bonds, insurance, over prof um overhead and profit. We basically take that percentage from those ineligible costs and you get um a cons an eligible uh construction subtotal of 27,54,794. Um the non-eligible costs are 2,217,645
for a total construction cost of 29,372,439. So that's the the the building itself and the construction of that building itself. Um the next category is professional services. So thankfully um the MBLC considers all professional
services eligible. So all of those costs are um eligible for towards the grant. So this covers basically arch architectural engineering services um landscape architectural um interior design services and then you'll see also
um uh a col uh I'm sorry a line item for other engineering which might cover um any additional uh uh >> IT security um additional um excavation
costs things like that Um so the the grand total of uh the professional services is 4,350,000 352 and all of that again is eligible for the M towards the MLC grant. The
last category is furnishings, finishes and equipment. Um I'll take a page from Matt who basically describes this as if you took a building shook it up everything that falls off is FFN. So that's equipment, um furniture, shelving, um whiteboards, anything
that's not attached to the building isn't um purely construction. So unfortunately, the majority of that is ineligible, but um some of the critical things for library function are eligible, which includes um the shelving
and um tell data equipment. And there you'll also see a line item for um utility back charges which is an estimate that at this point um we don't have that data at this point but um it's it's a you know reasonable amount to
hold for that. And then you'll see as as well uh a um a design services contingency of 3.5%. So this would cover basically it's a a cushion basically. So if there's any um nonexpected
uh professional services that come up during the design process that couldn't have been predicted. So further excavation, hazmat costs, anything like that would be covered in that contingency. And uh that total then is uh 1,883,299
of majority ineligible costs. Um that totaled with the the professional services and uh other expenses which basically are only moving costs because you know the cost of land is considered
to be gifted so there's no cost associated with that. We get a total grand total project cost of 35 million76,91. So if >> maybe that's a good pause point. Um, do you want to uh open this to questions at
this point or >> I don't know if we have enough information yet. I think we can keep going. >> Okay. >> And so what I >> questions but >> I think it's it's good to probably hear some more information first. >> Yeah. I mean if if I were to go line by line, this would take all night. So if
there are detailed questions, I I'd be happy to return to any of these items. Um, so the next slide addresses Oh, there we go. Um, so this this slide addresses how um the grant is determined
by the MBLC. >> So the square foot square footage of the building is 25,410 ft. Um the eligible construction costs are 27,154,794. Eligible soft costs which all all the professional services are 5,17,527
for a total eligible cost of 32,172,321. So this is the uh the cost that the award is based on. Um so they take that award number or not the award I'm sorry the total project cost that the MLC uses to determine the grant and then there is
a sliding scale. So, it's not straightforward as it was in previous um MBLC rounds that there's a sliding scale. So, the first um 60% uh I'm sorry, the first $5 million of construction cost is granted at 60% goes
to five million the next $5 million is granted at 45%. The next $10 million 35% and the next 30 million 30%. So you get a basically a a base total of 12,41,696.
In addition to that, um the MBLC has determined a need factor for every town. Um it's not completely clear how they determine this need factor, but it's based on stat statistical data and demographics. Um Yarmis need factor is
8.36%. They multiply that by the base award total um to get a total of 1,36,782 which is added to the 12 million to get a total grant award of 13,438,478. So this is 37.64%
of the total um construction cost that would I'm sorry project cost that would be given to us by the MBLC. with no string strings attached. Um the obligation to the town would be 22,267,612
um 62% of the uh project cost and the amount that the town would have to borrow for this construction project. Um on top of that, the MBLC um offers a green library incentive and this is basically um uh basically trying
to get all of the libraries to conform to the the the most green technologies. Um so there are a couple of pathways to do that. One of them is LEAD, um, which the town elected not to pursue and mostly because LEAD comes with a a
associated cost that we projected at about $130,000 that would be backed out of the total grant award, the green incentive award. Um, the other pathway to do this is basically to conform to specialized stretch energy code, which
um, we already have to conform with per code for energy code. So, basically, we're we will have um an fossil-free building that is all electric, solar ready, and we basically have to do this per um per energy code for
Massachusetts. So, we can basically achieve the green library incentive without pursuing lead and basically doing what we would already have been doing during the design process. And that amounts to $43,154. Um, so
I should speak a little bit about um some of the ineligible costs um which I didn't touch on before and one of them is improvements to the MacArthur building site. So we basically when we were creating the estimate we had them
divide it into portions. One portion being library only costs um and there are some shared costs. So, the existing MacArthur building has 48 um we talked about this before and just reminding you um has 48 existing parking
spaces. The new library needs for uh 83 to um meet the MBLC's guidelines. Um we looked at solutions that would leave that parking lot untouched. Um it's very very difficult to do because of the arrangement of it and because of the quantity of parking spaces that we'll
need overall. um and it it probably would not amount in cost savings to try to leave that untouched. So, we basically incorporated um the parking the existing parking assume that we'll have to pull pull it all down and create one big conjoined
parking lot that serves both the needs of MacArthur and the needs of the library. Um in doing so, we're also improving MacArthur's um access. We've created a new drop off for them and basically improved circulation, improved
parking lot, but it it would be difficult to complete the library without doing those improvements. So, it's technically slightly elevating the square foot cost of the library because we're including it in our overall costs. Um,
>> so the 83 is required based on the 25,000 square foot. >> I'm sorry. >> 83 parking spaces. >> That's correct. >> Required because of the square footage of both facilities. >> Um, it that's the library only. Um, >> so how many will be? >> So we are basically retaining the
existing 48 spaces. >> 48 plus 83. >> That's correct. >> Yeah. Um and we have identified a couple of areas on our site plan where you could potentially um increase the parking um or at least you know
redistribute parking but we are limited because of this site because we're kind of constricted between the MacArthur building and the and the um depression that's in the site already and also this the property line. So we we are we're
doing the best we can with what we have essentially. Um, so >> so that amount though, the breakout amount for the parking lot. >> Oh, uh, let me find that.
Aha, Tim, thank you. So, the breakout breakout amount for that specific um parking lot is 724,227. >> Oh, yeah. That number also includes the sewer connection for the MacArthur school building. That would also be
incorporated as part of this project. >> Um, oh, so I should talk a little bit about dispersement. So, um, the the dispersement of the grant is not a reimburseable. it's part of the process. There's basically five milestones that we h we meet and uh
there are dispersements uh attached to those milestones. So um the first 10% of the MBLC grant comes at um the signing of a contract with the MBLC and accepting the grant. So it basically that 10% would go to um professional
fees to start the design process and continue with continue with the design process. Um the next installment of 15% comes at the end of the construction document phase. So basically all of the documents are completed. We get another 15% followed quickly afterwards with um
the next 25% which comes with the signing of a contract with the GC. So there's about, you know, maybe a two to three month period between the end of construction documents and the signing with a contract and you've now um basically uh accepted 50% of the funds
from the MBLC. Um the next dispersement is at um 25% comes basically when the building is mostly complete with construction. and you have a um o a a uh certificate of
occupancy and then the final installment comes when there the GC is completely complete. Um all affidavits have been filed and the last installment then becomes uh basically uh reimbursement
because the building is already in service. And then following that, you can apply once you've made it clear that you've conformed with the um objectives of the green building incentive that and proved that your library meets all those
objectives, you can get reimbursed for the green building incentive, which is the other 400 rough um thousands. Um on top of that, um the MLC does require that the town do fundraising. Um
they aren't specific about the the dollar amount. Um they just require that the town make makes efforts to do that fundraising. Um I I don't want to speak for Judy and Tom, but um our our numbers have they've projected a a fundraising
goal of about 2.5 million. Is that correct? >> Okay. Um, so if if that if that were to be successful, um, we're basically building a $35 million building that if all come if all of that um, fundraising
is successful would be about a $19.5 million obligation to the town, which is a quite significant um, it's quite significant and I think it's a really big opportunity for the town to really consider. Um, there have been
The last grant round I think was about five years ago. Um they're projecting out a potential grant round in the future, but with all of the funding issues and state cuts, you know, it it it's really something to consider that we're we basically have the opportunity
to, you know, cut 40 to 45% off the building cost to um if we move forward with the MLC grant. Um I don't know if I just want to underscore that we are
not applying for a grant at this point which is what um the Warren article says. So there's no more application that's involved. We've been approved. That's what happened in January. Uh so they're just waiting to hear back if
we're going to move forward. Um, and with the pressure on the Commonwealth because of reductions in federal aid, the Commonwealth is needing to push money around other places
and even if there is another grant round in five years, uh, well, let's take this grant round. If we don't take on this grant round, we basically get pushed aside and the next people on the waiting list, there's an established waiting list.
>> Felmouth is pretty high on the waiting list. >> Um, so they have a big library. Good heavens. >> Yeah, but there's that East Felmouth Library. That's Yeah, East Felmouth. >> Um, but you know, the point is there
there's a waiting list and we would be pushed aside. We probably also wouldn't have a favorable uh reputation were we to do this again. Um having gone through this, we we got one grant that has been funding all of
this along with the matching money from the town. So they've already given us money. They've already moved us forward. Um, so this really is kind of a once in a generation opportunity for Yarmouth,
even if MBLC goes forward with more rounds. >> I mean, this is again, I just talked to Andrea from the MBLC a couple of days ago and and her line is basically that's it's never going to be cheaper to build a building than right now. Um, our
estimate includes, you know, a number of contingencies, one of them being escalation. um which for the next year and a half is projected at 1.2 million just in escalation fees. That's only going to get exponentially worse over the years.
And um and then if if you are um burdened with having to build a new library without um the funds coming from the MLC, it's going to be a much more expensive endeavor. >> So it's just something to really consider. >> Um
>> Oh, of course. >> Hi, Madam Chair. Members of the board, thank you for having us here tonight. I really appreciate it. And thank you for nominating me to the board. It's been a learning experience, one that I'll always remember. >> Is the mic closer to you if you need to
be closer? >> Just closer to the mic. One thing I want to point out in in Ma hasn't talked about this and it's not her purview, but the two libraries that we currently have in town, we're not talk about Yarmouthport at this point, but those two libraries, the buildings are not ADA
compliant, and they they do require a tremendous amount of work to be brought up to code. There's also a lot of, you know, um probably remediation work to be done at both of those libraries. So, if this library, if this does not come to
pass, um people will be coming back to the town in order to figure out how to bring those two libraries up to code. And I think it's I think this money is well spent. We the opportunity to do this again in our lifetime
is not going to happen. And one thing I think I said today, I I met with a couple of people. I said, "We need to get the kids out of the basement." I mean, Mindy and her staff do a tremendous job with the kids program, with the teens program, but that but going down to the basement, I brought my
kids there when we were raising our kids. I would not take my grandkids there now. I just wouldn't do it. We need to get the kids out of the basement. So, that's my two cents. >> Great. >> Do you have more in your presentation or >> um Yeah, I just want to touch on a
couple of comments that um Judy touched on at the very beginning. um that came up at the FinCom meeting. So they questioned the um the longevity of the building which is is quite a difficult thing to predict but um we we can
reasonably assume that it could have a service life of 70 75 to 100 years or more. Um but that is highly dependent on the kind of upkeep that the building has over the years. So mass struct um mass timber structural frame is inherently
long longived um and can last well over a hundred years. Um we're predicting or we're assuming that the building will be clad in something like Alaskan yellow cedar which is naturally rot resistant and you know well conditioned for New
England um or some portion that could be slate shingle again weather really well. Um most of the bu most of the building would have a tpo membrane roof um which usually has a life expectancy of about 25 to 30 years before it needs to be
replaced. Um the triple glazed windows uh normally last with last about 30 to 40 years um with proper upkeep. So at some point you might have to reseal them, repaint things like that. Um but then after a certain point they will
become obsolete. And uh our systems are all electric with um we're expecting a VRF system. Um and usually they have a useful service life of about 25 years. So at some point you do need to switch out the mechanical system. That's just
typical operating for a mechanical system. Um but again the the shell of the building, the envelope, the slab, the um the enclosure basically can last for many many years and serve many generations.
Um and finally, there was some questions about the operating cost of a library. Again, this is really difficult to predict. Um as you look decades into the future and they're dependent on a number of factors. So our mechanical and um
sustainability teams got together and um looked at the design and basically the way they they backed into the figures were was that um with the current Massachusetts energy code um a building of this type must be either tier one or
tier 2 building performance targets which is 30 or 35 KBTUs per square foot. Um which amounts to a square foot uh an electric electricity consumption in the range of uh 300 uh 224 to 262
um kilowatt hours per year >> thousand kilowatt hours >> thousand sorry um so this is based again on current energy rates um if if the rates continue to fall between 25 and 30 >> I don't think the word fall is appropriate there
>> okay if if they remain steady at about 25 to 30 cents per kilowatt hour um the the annual energy cost of the building would fall between 56,000 and 78600 per year. Um but that is highly
dependent on the final systems that are chosen mechanical systems their EUI and um the energy grade structure in the town. Um however they've also determined that our building is capable of meeting um net zero um which basically means
that it the building with a solar array could produce as much energy as the building needs. Um we have enough square footage to um account for that. The right now the numbers do not include the solar array itself in the numbers. it um
accounts for all of the infrastructure that would be used to support solar. So, we're required by Massachusetts Energy Code to provide all of the in infrastructure, wiring, electrical services to support a solar array. And the structure must be designed to support a solar array. But the the solar
array itself is not in the budget. Um but if the town were to move forward with getting a solar array, um we do think it could, like I said, achieve net zero. and um produce approximately 240,000 to 350,000 kilowatt hours
annually. Um there is a little bit of a discrepancy between um what the building produces and what we can reasonably use and part of this is because of you know winter. It's about seasons, right? So peak times may not match up with the
peak productions and um winter is obviously less productive than the summer hours. So there is still probably some buyback that the building would need to do from the grid when and and they came up with a figure of about 11,000 to $15,000
for um utilities even with a solar array. That's being very conservative. Um and then on top of that there are some tax incentive tax incentives and other kind of grants that you could look at for purchasing solar and also for
just having the solar on the building at all. Um, and that is it for us. >> I think the building a little I mean I think there's a lot of slides that show the building. >> Um, so basically we we hadn't planned to show the building just because you've all seen it before. Um, we can certainly
refer to any of those um images if if you'd like. Um, they're for reference, but if if anyone wants a reminder of what the building looks like and what we're proposing. >> I have one question about the building um, which is just probably a little bit
bizarre both both because you just talked about solar arrays, but it appears to be a flat roof. >> It is >> from the pictures and I mean with our snow and situation here in New England, is that >> it isn't a flat roof. It actually is
pitched um so it is pitched at a at a comfortable um pitch for New England weather. >> The renderings don't appear to be >> I know it's it's a quite a low pitch. I think it's about two 2 to 12 right now.
Um >> is that normal for New England? >> It is >> 2 to 12 >> for commercial buildings and public buildings. Yes. >> Um there are plenty of flat buildings in New England. Um especially commercial buildings. >> Commercial buildings are all flat >> and it is
uh solar panels are >> schools the schools that like Madaks. >> Tracy's thinking about Emmy Smalls. Well, not only Emmy Small, but Madakis that they both have leaking issues and, you know, tar that they have to constantly uh put to make, you know,
we're spending millions of dollars because they're leaking from the water. They're older. Yeah, they're they're significantly older for sure. >> I mean, we do have um a envelope consultant on our team. So, um it is pitching as you can see there. It's just
at a fairly low pitch, which is why we're suggesting a membrane roof, which is best for low pitch roofs. >> Most cost effective. >> I do too. I'm I'm going to ask some questions first if you don't mind, but um contingency at 6%.
Is that I our last public project was more upwards of 10%. So, this is a little bit deceiving, and I'm going to let Tim talk about this because he's well-versed in contingencies, but that it's not quite accurate that it's only 6%.
>> Yeah. So, again, a new build, we typically see a construction contingency in the range of 6 to 8%. I'm I'm not sure what the project is that you guys just had come up. on renovations, we typically see that up higher in the 10 to 15% because there's a lot more
unknowns or you know unknown factors that go into that project. Um kind of as Mica said again that 6% is purely for construction unforeseen conditions post bidding once we start construction. We have other contingencies held in the
budget for escalation. We have other uh design contingencies that we have held that are that will kind of account for changes that get made as >> just buried in here. Okay. >> As well as as well as the escalation we already mentioned.
>> And also the uh overhead and profit looks to be at about like 11% 12%. That seems awful low. see this >> maybe I'm maybe I'm not calculating it right but can you tell me what percentage you held for overhead and profit there
>> in poker four >> yes I I think it's a bit misdeceiving because again it's o overhead and profit right if you were I I I'm not sure if you have the detailed estimate I don't think that we had shared that much >> no this is the this is all we have >> but so the estimate that we got from
amogerty he there are two line items general conditions general requirements And so those are your kind of overhead costs that you were talking about in the MBLC breakdown. Those were not specific line items. So those general conditions and general requirement costs are built
into the construction cost numbers. >> Right. Can you tell me what the overhead and profit percentage that you're carrying in here and the total contingency percentage? That's I guess what I'm trying to get at cuz I mean the other thing I I'm I'm interested in and
you know I guess I feel it's unfortunate with timing because we're like what three weeks away from town meeting and we're just looking at these numbers you know um I calculate $145 per square foot based on you know your
35 million divided by 25,000 >> that's45 $5 a square foot. Um, it seems high. >> So, yeah. So, that that if you're looking at total project costs, that's well above the $1,000 that we had been
talking about throughout this whole process is the construction cost, the actual cost to build the build. >> So, you're taking you're not taking the um FF and E in that into that number for for your $1,000 per square foot. The thousand dollars that has been
referenced previously was specifically talking about the construction cost. Again, we had always said that the soft cost will tack on about another 30% onto that. And that's where we had gotten that kind of original estimate of about 32 million total project cost. >> Okay. >> So, going from your what you're talking
about um construction costs, the building is at about um I believe at that 1062 a square foot. Um, so it's slightly higher than the thousand dollars a square foot that we were projecting. And again, this part of it because um the parking lot and MacArthur
school has been tacked on to it. That's one of the problems and part of it's just a normal um general uptick in costs that come from working on the Cape. >> Okay. Um, >> and I see like um microphones are at
$250,000, but I don't see um >> so that is >> I'm sorry. >> No, no, it's okay. I you can you can answer that. That seems high. But in all of these, I see bookshelves, furniture,
but I don't really see any cost for actual library aid items, books, things like that. Is that in here? Those wouldn't be in here because um >> you have to go to the >> area. >> Sorry. >> Um obviously when we uh moved out when
we move out of South Yarmouth, all of those collections would be transferred. >> I understand. But if we're trying to provide the residents more, we're really not providing the residents more for for this. That's going to be additional costs. >> Those costs are built into the budget.
The materials budget is part of what you appropriate every year for the operation of the library, >> right? To fill how many square feet? >> It's it's at a dollar amount that goes up every year. So, that's not really that isn't really a question of you
know, there's a life cycle to the collection. We constantly um you know, go through materials in different ways, update materials, weed materials. So, um it's just part of the >> I understand that. I' I I've been here
for years, but we're what I'm looking to to say is that you're telling us we need a new building because we're not supplying and we're not able to provide the citizens everything that they need and it's going to be the same just in a
different building. >> I don't Well, that's that's not exactly um there are a lot of other things that this building would enable us to do that we are not currently able to do because of our space constraints. Um, for one thing, we would be able to uh maintain a
larger collection. Um, we're currently uh, you know, in a situation where we're very space constrained. Um, and we're not purchasing as many physical items as we might otherwise do. Um, you know, we do they're not issues of budget as much as they are issues.
>> We have the money for it is what you're saying. >> I think that there's plenty of money in the materials budget. I would anticipate that we would be able, you know, if the concern is empty shelves, I don't think we will have a problem filling the shelves within a matter of, you know, years to be honest with you. Um, and the
other things that the building brings to the table in terms of our ability to expand programming and to offer resources to the community are also part of um kind of the picture when we look at the whole project. >> Okay.
So, Judy, you talked about um the grant. So, the grant for construction has already been approved. But this green libraries initiative grant that is something that we would still have to request. That's already also been approved, the 43,000
>> that is a matter of um meeting the the criteria that MA spoke of. So if we um meet the criteria of the stretch energy code, we will have met the criteria for that. >> Okay. So that will that's an automatic that you think is uh going to happen.
Okay. Can we just talk about I Tom, I watched your video on the town website. >> So, um, >> did you throw popcorn at >> No, but I I love when I sit there and I learn things because that's the first time I had heard anything about any type of fundraising. Um, so I don't know how
the town how what how >> I'm very interested in this piece of it. >> So, we'll talk a little bit about it. Um there there are several people in town and have already met and I believe and I think Linda's here.
>> She is. >> She is. >> She's hiding. >> And she's kind of um spearheading this whole fundraising effort will probably be done through a formed foundation separate from the Friends of the Library
that will go out and and we've already had discussion with several different um fundraising entities to kind of get a feel of how that will be done. Um, and once once we're approved and we're up and running, we have the, you know,
basically the full three years to kind of meet to raise that money. We can raise it all along. Now, it could be through naming rights, it could be just through general donations, it could be several different methods, but that is the goal. Um, and we will start that
once this project is approved and we're ready to go. We will start the fundraising process. >> Okay. There's a lot of mechanics there from a town. >> There are mechanics from the town. You're right. From a town perspective in terms of receiving >> that type of funding, >> right? Well, and we need to there will
be other there will be people outside of the library building committee and others who will do that. It won't be us. So, we've spoken to several other libraries. In fact, East Ham had did a successful fundraising project. I believe they raised >> somewhere in the neighborhood of4 to5
million. Um, Norwell, some other libraries that have been recently built around the state have done the same thing. So, we've we've talked with them and we've kind of figured out the mechanics. So, we're I know that the committee the the the fundraising portion of this, they're ready to go.
They're ready to go. And >> just what was just interesting because that was the first I heard about that piece of it. I mean, it's good, but obviously I want to bring the cost down. >> We made that I think we made that clear in our submission to the MBLC that that's what we would do that we that the
town the town's people, not you, but the town's people would make the effort to do the fundraising. >> It should also be noted that there are a number of grant opportunities available to libraries. So if there are certain things that you are um like maybe
desires but not musthaves um there are a number of grants that can satisfy some of the needs like if you need certain equipment um or certain furnishings. Sometimes there's grants available for five five 10,000 $30,000 here and here
and there that are a available to anyone. So, it's something I just hope we have the staff to be able to write and look for all these grids. Um, do we know what our energy what what the solar array costs would be to the town as well
as what the current energy cost is to the library? >> It is it's very difficult. We did look at it, but um it it it hasn't gone through. So, basically, that's something that the energy or sustainability team would would look at in design
development. Um, we took we basically used average production costs to come up with a figure around $600,000 for a full solar array, perhaps more. Was it okay? Um, it's really difficult to predict at
this time without having a full solar design and not understanding how much production the building so given the orientation of the building um how much energy we can produce and how many panels we would need to produce the amount of energy we need. So, am I
reading this wrong to that you're saying that um 20% would be purchased at the rate so that the savings would be the 11,000 to the 15,000 a year with the solar array? Is
that is that what that says? >> Okay. Um, so >> conservatively assumed. >> So I think >> a cost >> with the solar array and again this is a very conservative number that our sustainability team came up with. We
could predict needing to spend you know between 11 and $15,000 a year on energy um because of you know peaks in in in valleys in in how energy is produced by a solar array. So you might have some operating costs
even with a solar array, but with without it, you could potentially be spending um between 56 and $78,000 a year just in operating cost for energy. >> I guess what I'm looking to try to ascertain is the return on investment,
right? We're going to invest $600,000. How long is it going to take to >> usually? I mean, that's pretty pretty standard. Now you can look to eight years. I mean that's pretty much what we're using as >> years for um and pay back for >> and their lifespan is 20
>> 30 years >> 30 years now >> you think the other thing >> and it's also protecting your um plastic roof >> your other thing too is I know through the architect and through the OPM we make a concertive effort during the
construction process to seek out grants that may be beneficial to you know may pay for a portion of those solar panels So the town wouldn't have to fund the full amount. So that would be an an ongoing exercise as construction is
being done. The building will be solar ready. It'll be ready to go. Um but we will make a concertive effort concerted effort to seek out other funds to provide the solar panels. >> Okay.
Well, I'm just going to add my my comments to this um before we go to the other board members. I can tell you that um I am so very grateful for all the work. I know it has taken years to get here. I personally don't want to miss an
opportunity for a grant. Um I just wish that we had paired it down some to a more um affordable number that I feel like the town will be able to support. Um, and I I
um, you know, we have a you've heard already I I'd like to talk about the ballot, what that looks like. Um, but, you know, I'm very afraid when you put multiple things on a ballot at the same time. So,
in terms of timing of this and not kicking the can down the road, but putting it to um you know, a different ballot if you know I'm not sure with the timing of the grant how that might look um if it's
even an an opportunity, but I am very fearful with this number going into town meeting. I mean, going into going into the ballot. So part of part of the um the guidelines of the MBLC grant is they
basically look at the size of a community, demographic, statistical data for that community and they determine the building size that's best suited for that community. >> Is that a community that has one library though? >> So I mean >> that is how it's >> right. Right. So the problem we we have
two other libraries still or we have will have >> well it would replace south right um and it should it it is designed to meet the needs of the entire community um and as far as I understand from David um West Yarmouth is not serving the entire
community. It's some portion of the community and has limited hours. So we have to design the building as if it was going to serve the entire community. And again, those those guidelines that the MBLC used to determine that building size is a little bit out of our control
and they have determined that size. And with a building of that size, there's a square footage cost that just comes with a building of that size. So, we haven't there are limits to how much we can basically reduce the size of a building. And one of the ways we are not allowed to reduce the size of the building is
purely based on cost. It's they've determined the set of criteria to determine what's the best size of building to serve this community and all of its needs. So, we can't basically say, "Oh, let's just cut out a thousand 2,000 square foot here or there um to
cut the building cost." They they're in the business of building a library that's going to last for 30 years. That's their horizon. They they have a 30-year horizon for their buildings. They want the the building to be operational for that amount of time. And in doing so, I think maybe the building
will will seem much bigger than it it is currently now obviously, but um is supposed to serve the community for quite a long time, decades. >> Yeah. Don't don't take my comments wrong. I want to get the kids out of the basement, too. I mean, I I don't want to miss the opportunity for um the grant. I
I believe that building new now, we've already learned that looking at our schools, is a less expensive cost than the renovations that we'll be left with should this not pass. >> Um, >> so, you know, I'm I'm struggling with
it, but I, you know, in my personal life right now, there's a difference between what I want and what I need. And I feel like um you know people look at this building and it's for for us and what we really need it might be a little bit too much. But those are my personal comments. I'm going to go to the rest of
the board. >> I could clarify one thing that kind of came up in the middle of discussion of the $250,000 for microphones. There's the line item. It's kind of runs under two lines. That's for all audio visual equipment in the building. >> Okay. It doesn't
>> We're not spending $250,000 on microphones. I I >> we thought goldplated, you know. >> I'm looking at that go. Whoa. >> I had the same thought when I >> Okay, good. >> I mean, this Thanks for the clarification. This building, just to tack on to what David said earlier, not only is the library, but there's a
community space that seats about 120 people that will be available after hours. Also, a classroom that will be available after hours. Um, so >> the study rooms are new, >> the study rooms. Um, so there's quite a few extra amenities that the building
currently doesn't have, but also can serve the larger community in an off hours um way. So >> when you say off hours, what does that even what does that mean? >> Like now? >> Yeah. So basically, if there was a t like a >> meeting of some sort, >> you can't have meetings during the day.
Well, you'd be able to you'd be able to shut down the rest of the library, secure the rest of the library, and keep just the >> community meeting rooms open for the public. >> Mark, >> I'm gonna defer to Liz and Joyce. I'll
>> Okay, go ahead, Liz. >> Go ahead. >> All right. Well, I'm excited. Um I I'm a little bit concerned. I looked at furnishings, finishes, and equipment FFN, and I noticed we don't have anything earmarked yet for window
treatments, and there's a lot of windows. >> And before you jump in, >> and then the other um two aspects that concern me, uh if it needs any um soundproofing, which I think you built in, but then lastly, flooring. What is
there any um contingency or earmark for rugs for flooring? So go ahead. >> Yeah. So with the window treatments in the construction costs that we had laid out, there are shades and window treatments and everything included already in that cost.
>> Okay. >> Um we just didn't break everything out because the way that the estimate was brought to us, right, there's those general conditions, there's all those other markups in it. It's not as clean as just kind of plucking one number out of the estimate and putting it in there. So again, we we did think of shades.
There are shades included in the cost. And then I'll let you speak to the floors. >> Um, yep. So, um, basically in hight traffic areas, what we normally do is tile. So, if you come into the lobby, um, there you basically have a walk-off mat and tiling covering the the hightraic areas, including the lobby and
the continuing down to the after hours portion um of the library. And then the majority of the rest of the library is carpeting. Um, part of that is for sound. It al also carpet tiles can be replaced at will and then um to talk
about soundproofing. So this estimate includes basically um different variations of wall configurations that have ver different levels of um layers of JIP to improve sound. Um we have a number of ceiling treatments in the
estimate that basically cover hopefully 70% of most of the spaces act in offices. So all of that is is covered in the construction cost. >> Super great to hear. I noticed at one time point I think it
was a misspeak you said that we uh would have to conform to the specialized energy code but you meant stretch. So in order to meet the green building incentive, we need to meet the specialized energy code as part of the
stretch energy code. >> Okay. >> So we do. >> Very good. That's good news. >> Yeah. I mean it it will be an extremely high performing bill. >> Yes. Um and I I wanted to point out to people who were listening in that um our need factor that was a part of our uh
calculation for our grant. We Yarm scored extraord well I shouldn't use the word extraordinarily. We scored very very high in that calculation because we are a to some degree a social justice community. Um, so I we have this ballot
question coming up. Um, and I would point out that this library will serve all of us and that's and we got a big score because we have a community here who um needs us
>> um >> also have to pay for it. >> Pardon? >> Also have to pay for it. Those same >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> It's good on one hand and not so great on the other. Um, and so I I I for sure see that that
we have to look for a way to get the solar on the roof. I can't believe that they would even call it a green building if the solar isn't on the roof because it's we're going the tide is sweeping us backwards. There is there are grants and
I personally will make sure that they are um coming in front of everybody. the community clean energy resilience grant was how we won um put the battery in at the at the high school and if it's still viable that would certainly speak to this project all the way.
>> We we spent a lot of time talking about this um because we want to go that way but it really seem the numbers really worked better to go with it after installment. So >> okay as long as I mean it is all about
>> instead of embedding it in this and then getting that percentage >> but also then that drives the number up. >> It also yeah it also allows you to decide when the right opportunity is to add the solar. So we have to make it solar ready but
>> um then you have some flexibility of when you would install it. um if you were to elect to add it to this project, it has to be done with the construction, just a little bit more flexibility, >> pressure. >> Yeah, less pressure. >> And I think you're going to be missing the um tax credits, federal tax credits
that are expiring in June, plus the smart program where that's going to be by the time this building is ready, we don't know. But um and I would also encourage you to have uh an an earmark for uh making sure that the building can
be commissioned properly. We I know we have a couple of buildings new buildings in Yarmouth and we're struggling with the mechanical systems and making make sure that they're working properly post commission. >> So that is another part of that's part
of our budget and required by the code. >> Okay. Yeah, those are my questions and I'm I for one think that this town absolutely deserves a library of this type. It's in it's it's certainly far beyond a receptacle for books. It's um
something that will bring this town and and its community into the the future. I'm I'm really excited about it. I'm going to be lining up to make my donation. >> Thank you, Liz Joyce. Um put me on the list for donations as
well. Um, I'm looking at where we are in this extraordinary time. I mean, there are these publications um, publication one, the perfect storm. Uh, publication two, oh no, how do we deal with the perfect storm about um, state financing.
Um, and I'm pondering um, what Judy said about this being a once- ina generation opportunity. Um, and I think we used to say that kind of thing when governments were more predictable. Um, and I'm I'm
so aware that um the Commonwealth um uh lost 3.7 billion in uh federal funding. And so I guess I'm saying we are we are in in financial difficulties as a town.
But on the other hand, what we used to think, well, we'll come back in 10 years and then we'll do it then. I don't think the Commonwealth is going to be um paying such large percentages of libraries. I don't think the Commonwealth is going to be giving green
library reimbursements then. So, I guess I think that this is kind of an urgent situation now trying to trying to figure a way to bring any of the numbers down. Um, I guess one of the things that we
should keep in mind is how hard it is to retrofit old buildings for ADA, for um greener processing, even for new heating systems. And so if if the result of all
this visitation by the state is that we're on a list of um towns whose current libraries must be made compliant with many new things. Um we're going to be looking at a chunk of money there. So
that's that's one thing I'd think of in terms of making this seem more doable. The other is I was um intrigued to have the architect and the OPM uh mention that the um the function room the group room
of the library can be operating even when the library itself is closed. Um have has there been any thought to um renting that out for functions um for uh group lectures um for anything
like that that might be involved? Not just here on the Cape where there wouldn't be a lot of money to pay for it, but um also, you know, there are groups who come down for a week each year. They're in the hotels and a a centrallylo
meeting space would be a huge help to them and they would have um a larger budget to allow for that. I'm thinking of um of the way say the uh the old Sheran and now you know through another owner and then now the contemporary
emerald resort works. Um the combination of of beds spare for heads. Lots of heads can be put in beds plus a really nice meeting space um right on the central artery of of Yarmouth could be
very attractive I think to a lot of people. And it sounds as if it's in a very attractive setting. Um you've got all that green space in front. Um you've got Route 28 if you've if you want um
shuttles or if you want the H2O. Um you know, transit is obviously very easy. Um I guess I would like to really give a big thank you to um the members of the committee who've brought all this to us.
Um, and Judy, thank you as chair. Tom, thank you as vice chair. And these other people have done a lot each in in his her own way. Susan Brida, Sandy Fe, John Greco, um, and of course our own Dorcas
Mur who is a valuable member of any group I can tell you. Um, so thank you for whatever happens with this because you've done a wonderful job. And I'd also like to thank um, uh, Mindy
Harrington, Joe Le Brock, and of course our new library director, David Aronson, for all the work that they've put in because it's really been a team effort. And I was impressed the way you stood up and made changes really fast after there
was feedback because I got the idea you understood the limited budget and also the urgency. So, it looks to me like the town would be um aside from notions of like renting
out an auditorium or um um scoring big with um um solar, it looks as if the town's starting figure for being on the hook would be 22,2672 million. >> Wish it was done.
Well, am I a cockeyed optimist? Um, yeah. 22,267 um 617. Now, if we made all the goals for the green li library reimbursement,
um then that would subtract just a little bit over 400,000 from that. That would bring it down to 21,86. I'm sorry. everyone who's watching, you know, add a couple zeros when I talk. That would
bring it to 21 million um 867 617 if the fundraising goal was met. Um that would bring it down to 19 million 367
617. So, I'm not saying that any of us can sit and and write a check for that municipal funds, personal funds, but I think that starts to be a more manageable goal, especially when you
weigh in trying to fix the stone foundations of one library, um, the the ventilation systems and the difficulty of the South Yarmouth Library. I
I think this is it's a one-time opportunity. It's a a way to solve a number of problems, some of which are only about to descend on us as they they fix the uh two existing libraries to bring them up to speed in several ways.
Uh I I think that 19,000 19 million figure um starts to get a little bit more manageable. But I realize it's difficult to put that figure before people when you need a
couple paragraphs to explain it and those won't be on the ballot. But I mean I I think it starts to be something more like a reasonable goal for the community. >> That's all I have. Thank you. Thank you.
>> Madam Chair, uh first of all, uh Joyce, uh thank you for your very kind words to the committee that kind of stole a little bit of my thunder. Um I >> you were going to thank yourself Dor because you feel right. I was I wasn't going to thank myself, but I certainly was going to thank um all the
individuals that have been on this committee and the if anyone ever knew I do how much time and effort um they have put into this has been remarkable and also the quick thinking of having to
change things, sites change um and and not only the committee but I want to extend my thanks to our OPM and also to our architects I mean it's it's been really pretty extraordinary to see what you could come back with. Uh it uh it
has really been a a pleasure to work with you. Thank you very much. There's a slide that's up here that the people at home are not seeing and uh >> the library building project. Here we go. Now the people at home are seeing it. Um I don't know if you can see all
the way to the bottom of that slide. We want to make sure you can kind of slide up and not have the library building project so much as the numbers. That's what counts. >> And what I really want to talk about is the bottom number and that is the average single family home tax bill per
year. And what it's showing is $119. So basically for under $10 a month, we could have a new library in town. It's just something to think about, folks. Um, under under $10 a month.
What's that? A couple of Dunkin Donuts coffees uh that maybe you forego for that time being because it's true there's an awful lot that's coming at us. We have school overrides. We we're talking about uh you know, we're we're
looking at having to put in a new elementary school. We could go on and on, but we also have an opportunity that's not going to be there after this year if we don't take it. And every every time we come back and talk about the library, it gets a little more
expensive than it did before. And that I want to tell folks that that under $10 a month is if we have if the town did have to pay the total amount of 22 million. Now, we can't give out any guarantees to
people about how much we can raise or or what grants are available out there, but that's the starting point. So, for you at home, you're not going to be spending more than a little under $10 a month for
this library. That's really and truly at the end of the day what you want to know. as I always do, taking out my wallet and talking about it that, you know, it's what's coming out of my wallet and that's it. And maybe I could
sacrifice those couple of Dunkin Donuts coffees for a month um to be able to put it in. Um I think that right now there we don't have buildings in town that are
truly handicap accessible. I personally went through a situation of an injured hip and was on a walker for a while and trying to negotiate getting into the library was really quite extraordinary
for how that that went. I mean, to have something that we could say is ADA compliant that anyone that wants to use that library could uh easily be able to use, I think is just a tremendous um thing for us to to be able to talk
about. Tracy, I hear you and I I I sympathize with you and I the money. >> I mean, I I'm somebody that's on a fixed income. I'm technically retired. I, you know, supplement my income as a school
bus driver. Um, but I also when I hear numbers like 35 million and 22 million and it boggles my mind. But when you take me down to $10 a month, that's something that I personally feel
I could live with and that I could rem recommend to people that they they go ahead with. So, thank you. >> Thank you for putting that slide together. >> Yeah, >> Madam Chair.
>> Well, I I cannot disagree with any of the accolades that have been thrown your way. Um, no, I mean, the reality is we've had a great committee. Everybody on the committee's done a great job. So, thank you. Um, a great architect. All right. and and you folks have we've been
throwing curveballs at you throughout the process and every time you've stepped up and uh knocked it out of the park. So you you've done a wonderful job and the staff at the li we you know I think we want to have a library facility that enables
the programming, the creativity and all the excitement, enthusiasm that we know the staff is very capable of of providing for our kids and for all our residents in Yarmouth. Um, you know, we we're very lucky. We're very blessed to
have a very dedicated staff, a very creative staff, and uh it's it's exciting to be be in in in your company, quite frankly. Um, my I mean I my problem is the the the moment that we're in right now. Um, this
was not the moment that I thought we'd have when it came time to sort of bring this project, you know, up for discussion. I honestly thought that we would be uh facing much better times, but the reality is is that we're there's a fiscal mess out there. As Joyce said,
that the the federal government this year just cut $3.7 million in funding to Massachusetts. Uh the states cut well over a hundred million dollars or the feds have cut well over hundred million dollars >> in education funding. Um, so we're we're going to talk about
the ballot and some of the cuts and what we do to help out with the schools and that's that's challenging. So what's happening is all this stuff is all this all these problems are trickling down on us. Um, and I'm very mindful that there
are some things there are some projects that we can't say no to, right? We can't say no to wastewater, right? That's a billion dollar hit on the town and it's pretty clear the state's not going to give us any more money. Much of this is going to be on us.
>> Yes, we may get 25% from the Cape Islands Water Protection Fund, but the reality is is, you know, elsewhere in the Commonwealth, the citizens have been only asked to pay 50% or 25 to 50%, but here on the Cape uh and in Yarmouth,
we're on the hook for almost 75% of all of these costs. That's a lot of money for and think about it. It's a billion dollar program. >> We don't have a financial plan for phases two, three, phase four, phase five, >> six, seven, and eight. I mean, we we
just not there yet. And the reality is is we've tapped out all these other revenue streams to pay for phase one. So, we don't have we're going to be going to the property tax most likely. I don't want to do
this. I'll be dragged there kicking and screaming. But the reality is the reality is is that's probably where we're going to end up going. And we're going to have very difficult discussions in this town about how to finance how to deal with how we're going to finance this. You talk about $10 for um this
project. Um I mean if if $10 a month, think about that for a library at 20 at at a net cost of 20. And I think I mean with all due respect I think the numbers are paint the most rosiest picture and I can understand typically in a project like
this that's that's common. Um I see the library project closer to 40 million. I remember when I was excited when when when we did the uh when we did the DPW building uh that came in at a good price but it still um and we had a healthy
contingency. it was sufficient and then um but it was up around 10 12%. And then um at the at the end of the day we needed to come up with an extra three million. So we went from a 12 million up to a $16 million for closer to $16 million project.
>> We added on to that project. >> I know that's what I mean. That's what I mean. So that's what happens to projects. So when I look at these numbers, I'm asking myself, how many other how many other components of this are we adding on to? I I I don't I'm not here already added on though, Mark. I
>> I'm not going to criticize the project >> and I'm not going to criticize your budget. All right. You've done a great job in pulling everything together. What I'm saying is is my my problem is with the broader climate that we're in. I have nothing to say against the project. I am not going to be critical of it. All
right? What I'm looking at is I'm looking at the big picture, what the town is facing. And you have to understand, you know, when when I took on stints in the past as a town manager myself, um that was my job was to look at the big picture and I came to communities with that were in financial
straits. They had problems and I my job was to help fix them much the way Bob has come in to Yarmouth and help us turn things around and put us on a very strong financial footing. >> Um but the problems that the the challenges that we're up against, we've never faced anything like this before.
We really haven't. This is a very unusual time. This is a very exceptional time and that's what worries me the most. So, um, again, I'm not going to be critical of the work that you've done. You've done a great job, but I I'm honestly um very concerned about our
overall financial picture. >> Of course, >> I think this is a tough project for the town to say yes to right now. And I understand when it comes time to say yes, it may not be the best of circumstances, right? Things may not be as helpful in terms of grant funding. I
get that. I know that's difficult. But the but the reality is is that um with all of these other obligations staring us in the face, all the things that we need to do. All right. Um I'm very concerned about all of these burdens piling on to us within a relatively
short period of time. You know, when we did the analysis before of the town's financial picture, I mean, we're looking at hund00 million or so, you know, within a relatively short period of time having to deal with new school, >> right? Possibly a new fire station. I
mean, I hate I I I know I I I tend to be the downer at at the party here, and I and I and I hate being in that role, but I'm just saying that there's a community out there wondering how they're going to be paying for all this and whether or not they're going to be able to afford
it and whether or not they're going to be able to stay in town and they're going to stay here. That's those are the folks that are, you know, going to be paying very close attention to this >> as as we move forward. And we, like I say, I know the things that we need to say yes to, the things that we must do.
Um, that's we're facing, you know, like I said, a lot of a lot of costs. Um um I think when we talk about the ballot I think from my point of view um even though I might re I I will recommend
against this um I think the discussion that I think is worth having is is still having it on the ballot and let ultimately the voters choose and the voters decide. I think I think there's a merit in that. So, even though I may be the skunk in in the garden party, so to
speak, um there may be a value in ultimately letting the voters because it's they're they're the ones paying the paying the freight and at least giving them the opportunity to say yes and no. Um there's a part of me that feels that we at least owe them that. We can give them advice in terms of what they're
facing and what they're dealing with. But at the end of the day, there there's something to be said about letting the voters at least have a choice, have having the choice >> to vote on a project like this because it does offer a a huge benefit to the community and uh but they need to
understand all the all the all the costs, all the implications and where this fits in with everything else. So that those are my thoughts, those are my comments. Um once again, thank you for everything. Thank you for being here. Thank you for what you do for this community. We cannot do our job without
having you here quite frankly and so many thanks >> Mark. I agree and I I think you know I said it before about wants and needs. You know looking at what our ballot is and I don't again if we don't have an opportunity to put it off to another
time then we have to do what we have to do. Um, I don't know what that repercussion is, but I do know that statutoily our tech school needs an override. And if that doesn't pass, we have to cut our town budget by that
amount to pay for it. >> What is that going to look like for us as a community? Do we want a library and nobody in town hall? I mean, I I I I just I feel like people are going to be making choices with all of this together. And you know, it's the same
thing with the school. We have a $1.4 million override, so it's not $10 a month. You know, this debt will, as you can see, decline over the course of 20 years. The override is forever, and it continues to go up by two and a half%.
And those are things that we have to do. Those aren't optional things, >> right? >> So, um, you know, again, I'm I'm envisioning a ballot. I'm envisioning what happened the last time we put multiple things on the ballot. They all
went down. Um I'm envisioning what that means to our community in terms of our budget. So um I I agree we need a library. I just think right at this very moment on this
ballot if we can't put it off till the fall or till another time I think people are going to make choices that we're not going to um be able to recover from honestly because it's not just the library it's it's literally our entire
our our school system $1.4 million to to cut $1.4 million from you know which they probably wouldn't do. we'd have to try again. But as far as Cape Tech goes, that money we have to pay them. So, we have to come up with a plan on how we're
going to do that if the override fails. And that's that's I mean, that's real. >> So, I just think the timing is just really tough. I agree with Mark. It needs to go to the voters. It it it' be up to them. However, if if there is a way for us to
not put it on this ballot, I would support that. to not put it on the ballot and then put it on a fall. >> Would that miss key deadlines? >> Yeah, >> then you >> that's that's what we're up against
then. But again, I think that we're making a um you know, calculated um risk. >> Yeah. I mean, it's unfortunate because you know,
>> but it's not a zero cost if if we don't do this. There will be lots of costs >> absolutely >> to the town for both of those buildings. >> They're um >> I always take visitors to South I that's
my best position for success and I just don't feel like the environment as Mark has so well said the environment right now is is going to um it's going to uh do that and you know I have to think about the things that we
must do to protect our town and that is we must get our school budgets passed or that risks going to you know first of all for tech we have to pay it whe whether it passes or not, but you know, do we want to end up at a tent meeting
and cutting our police and fire? We know we've been there before. I guess I've I've been there before, unfortunately. Um, and it's not >> we've watched even before we ran >> pretty. So, um, you know, if we can avoid that, that's that's where I'm I'm looking at. But in any event, I I very
much appreciate it. We're going to have that discussion. I I just had um one thought about the connection between the libraries and sewering which is obviously sewing is a huge cost. It's going to be more than the library but I mean there there are two ways to to look at the history of
sewing and the history of library building here. Um opportunity costs were lost. I mean, if we had jumped on the opportunity to do the sewing when the federal government would have paid over 90% of it, we wouldn't be here. I think
we're probably smarter now about, especially in these chaotic times, saying that might not be there forever and so this will be tough, but we should go for it. >> And I agree that that same environment is what's raising the gas prices and
everything else that our residents are struggling with trying to make ends meet. So, it's just >> Can I just respond to a comment that that that Joyce made? There's there's a there's a certain amount of and I want to speak directly to the clean water costs, Joyce. >> There's a lot of revisionist history
being put out there that somehow we missed the boat and kicked the can. Um, but the reality is the town of Yarmouth actually stepped up when it came to west wastewater. All right. The town of Yarmouth promoted the idea of a regional septage facility.
>> All right. We didn't get a lot of help, but we we stood tall. We did that and eventually other towns came in after we did it. >> Um the plan that we were following was the plan that was laid out in the 208 water quality plan developed by the Cape
Cut Planning and Economic Development Commission. That was the name of the body at the time. So that plan basically envisioned the Cape building regional septage facilities because the assumption was is that title >> somewhere >> right? Yeah. The the assumption was is
that we wanted homeowners to get out of cess pools build title five systems and then do regular pumping and we were being told by D and others that that would be the solution. So we followed what we were asked to do. Now, there
were some communities that bought into a different approach that actually had already started sewer systems. Barnstable, Falmouth, and uh and and maybe one one other. But the reality is is we were doing we didn't kick the can down the road. All right. I I really I
I've heard this from other elected officials, and I won't name them, but um I' I've had to remind them that Yarmouth was not a community that kicked the can down the road. We embraced the challenge, and we did the right thing. We did what we were asked to do by the federal government, the state government, and others. And I think it's
important that we not we not lose sight of that. All right. So, just wanted to lay that out. >> Who are you speaking of? >> N the uh 208 water quality plan that was developed was in 1978 done by the Cape Cut Planning and Economic Development Commission. That was in effect up until
we developed a new plan in 2015. Now, the plan in 2015 basically incorporates our current comprehensive wastewater management plan, but up until then, the blueprint for wastewater on Cape Cod was
set up differently and I' I've obviously abused my privileges of speaking on this topic because we I'm way off topic, but I do think I do I do think that at some point we should have this conversation in more detail because it's a fascinating
>> I just wanted to remind people too that um as we as we despair to some degree about where we're at and where we have to go that when we took on the sewering we to we had a plan to improve the 28 card so that um the commercial entities
would be able to do business and see a reason to come to Yarmouth. And I think we have to remember that that's we're out of sync a little bit with with this uh kind of this mountain of of projects that we are trying to figure out how
we're going to pay for as taxpayers. But I think we have to be mindful of the plan that was laid before us by Bill Scott that we we will get some commercial enterprises coming into Yarmouth. are going to help carry the
load. And that's we're going to have the route 28 DOT, Department of Transportation improvement in 2029, which sounded a million years away. Well, it doesn't sound that far away now. So, I think I think we have to stay
the course. We have to do what's right for Yarmouth. And I think that the library is going to also be a part of the Route 28 improvement that is going to be critical to bringing commercial businesses to Yarmouth because they're
going to be proud of of Route 28. >> Madam Chair, I'd like to see if we can maybe move the discussion onto the next agenda item. Dorcas would say at town meeting move the question. Is that what is that? >> Could I could I have just one comment though? um and that has to do with
embedded improvements that aren't specific to the library. So the project includes the sewer um connection for both the MacArthur building and the library. Uh so that those would be costs that would have been borne by the town
anyway and they're just moved around. So they're moved out of some future town budget. Um, and also the whole issue of the parking lot is a an improvement to the town. >> Understood. Maybe that's something that
we need to >> look at bringing the cost down. I don't know what the cost of that is, but I don't know. Anyway, we don't have time for any of that now. That's the problem. So, I appreciate it. Thank you very much for joining us. >> Appreciate all your work. Thanks. Thank
you everyone. >> Thank you everybody. Okay, our next agenda item is discussion on votes of ballot questions. There's a paper in front of you here with um different ballot questions.
Um Bob, this is do do we no longer put um my one of my questions about some of the ballot questions is the the um yes and no. what what a yes vote means, what a no vote means. Is that is that something that goes on our ballot still?
>> Um yes, and that's drafted by town council. We don't have that um that draft yet, but I know he's working on it. >> We don't have it yet. >> Correct. >> Well, um I'd be interested to see what the draft is on on some of these, but in
any event, okay, ballot question one. T shall be shall the town of Yarmouth be allowed to assess an additional 1.481 4 81348 in real estate and personal property taxes for the
purpose of funding the operational expenses for the Dennis Yarmouth Regional School District for the fiscal year beginning July 1st, 2026. Potential ballot question two. Shall the town of Yarmouth be allowed to assess an additional 680,194
in real estate and personal property tax for the purposes of funding the operational expenses for the uh Is that right though? Isn't it operational and debt service too? >> Um no this is for the operational side.
Okay, for the Cape Cod Regional Technical High School for the fiscal year beginning July 1st, 20 26. And then the alternate is a combined one for 2.1 million. And then we have the
ballot question. Um there's no do dollar amount in there. just says, "Shall the town of Yarmouth be allowed to exempt from provisions of Proposition 2 and a half, so-called the amounts required to pay for a bond in order to construct a new library facility. Is there going to be a dollar
amount in there?" >> Uh, no, there is not. And I just want to say on the um the actual wording of the ballot questions, they're strictly prescribed by the Department of Revenue that you don't have um the authority to add any language or take away any
language. You have to um word it exactly like they prescribe. So all debt exclusions anywhere will be worded exactly the same. And for a debt exclusion um that's the specific language that you have to use. with no dollar amount.
>> Correct. >> That's the first time I've seen that. Okay. All right. And so then and then the last one um potentially there's no number because depends upon how we go forward is do the citizens of Yama support constitutional rights of all Yam residents which guarantee equal
protection of the law to all people regardless of nationality, citizenship or immigration status. So I guess we should start with um the conversation about how we want to see it. Do we want to see them combined or we want to see them separate? >> I would suggest having them separate.
>> I agree with In fact, I'd make a motion to >> Okay. So, we're going to get rid of the alternate. I don't think we need a motion yet because we'll have to we'll do a final uh motion on the ballot itself. >> No. No. I think we should vote on I don't agree with this at all. Yes. I I I agree. >> Not Not combining them.
>> Correct. I don't agree with that. >> No. Okay. Oh. All right. I see. Okay. So, all those in favor of eliminating alternate combined question one for both the schools. Um,
>> Tracy, can I I just I'm not quite sure I understand this. I'm reading because I you we ran out of copies, but um when you say alternate combined, >> so this is so question one is for DY, question two is for tech. Alternate question one would be to combine one
article for both the Cape Cod Tech and DY school together. >> Yeah, that's that's the one that that's the article that I support. >> Okay. >> Is I want all the kids treated together. >> Okay. >> As one. >> All right. So, um so that'll that I need a motion or
>> I move that we eliminate alternative combined question and go with the individual ballot questions for the two school districts. >> Okay. I'll second that. >> Any discussion on that motion? All in favor? I opposed. >> No. >> Okay. So
that passes, Joyce, >> I don't know. >> I'm I'm okay. >> So you're with Mark. >> So that passes four to one. So we're going to look at two separate ballot questions for >> You said no. No, I said I
>> I. Okay. But she said no. Sorry. >> All right. So that solves that. Um, now we can take a vote whether or not we um support placing Is there a motion on whether or not we support placing the
non-binding uh ballot question? >> I move that we include the non-binding public advisory ballot question as printed in our handout. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Any discussion on that motion? All those
in favor? I >> I >> opposed me. So that that's four to one. >> We leave it to the people to decide. >> So um that was a four to one. >> Correct. >> Okay. All right. So question.
>> Four to one. I voted against it. >> Um do we want to take a position on these articles as well this evening or what do we want to do? >> You mean the ballot questions? >> No. Yeah. All of them. >> No. >> Yeah. I mean,
>> don't have them with the right explanation. >> You want to wait until we have the wordings? >> Well, we have to vote to send the question to the um town clerk. >> So, because we have that 35 days before the election and then um she's going to
get the wording of the ballot and then that comes before the select board. >> Vote. Didn't send it to you. >> We just did. No, we once you take your vote, we need a formal letter technically from the board of Slackman to the town clerk's office saying that these are the ballot questions you're
going to you want on the ballot and the order in which you're putting them on the you'd like to see them on the ballot. Then we'll prepare the um the election warrant, the ballot warrant that will come back to you that will have all of the explanations on it with the questions in the order in which
you've you've um requested them and it'll have the the the yes nos on it because we're under uh two special acts that that do um require us to include that information. So that will all happen and you'll see that as a part of the ballot warrant and that will come to
you if not at the next meeting the meeting immediately after that. >> Okay. So, right now you just need us to talk about the um >> we just need correct you just need to take a a vote that you're putting questions on the ballot in the order in which you'd like to see them >> question one do we want dy question one
>> okay t two is everybody's okay with >> yes >> do we want to place the library on the ballot do we want to vote on that or do >> I would like to see what the people in town feel on that so I think it's a worthy ballot question and I like it in
its position is number three. >> Can I ask how it ties in with the warrant article? So, article >> Well, we're going to have to vote on this at town meeting. >> The town Yeah. Right. >> So, so um the it will be voted on at the
town meeting and yay or nay, it then goes to a ballot question >> to be then um up or down. And how so that I understand if it fails at town meeting and it go it goes forward at the
ballot. How does that >> it has to pass it has to pass both for it to be enacted but there are and I don't know about the ballot printing in terms of timing. We did move the um town meeting a little bit further apart to give us time because we've had
situations in the past where uh numbers have changed but the ballots were already printed. So even though it's a lower number the ballot was already there. So, um, if any of these don't print don't pass at town meeting, it's my understanding that probably the ballot will already be printed and it
will be there with just even if it passes at the ballot, it will have no effect. It has to pass both. >> The ballot goes to print on April 16th, which is the day the last day for withdrawal. >> So, your annual town meeting is the 29th. So, it's going to the ballot
questions will be on there either either way. Yeah. >> So, it's just a matter of of of um what your results are >> and and they require of approval in both cases. >> Okay. >> Other than the other than the um the
nonbinding, that won't be a town meeting. That'll just be there. But >> understood. >> Um >> Okay. >> The other three will require a passage at both town meeting and at the ballot for it to be effective. >> I noticed that ballot question number three. Oh, I guess it's will they have numbers?
>> They will. So, but Mary will take care of that. Okay. No, that's what we're going through now. That's why I'm asking about how the board wants the position of these >> library is is everybody okay with library as number three and the the um citizens position at four?
>> Yes. >> Okay. >> Everybody's okay with that? All right. So, we need to make a motion that um these four articles um question >> that we send a letter to the town clerk requesting that these be placed on the
ballot as as we've discussed. >> So, moved. >> Is there a second on that? >> Second. >> Any discussion on that? >> All those in favor? >> Opposed. >> Okay. So, Bob, you got that? We'll send >> certainly do. >> Four questions.
>> Four questions. DY, Cape Regional Tech, Library, Human Rights. >> All right. And then when we get the pros and cons in the ballot, >> those will come back. >> We only have to take a position on the articles that go to um
>> town meeting. >> No position on the ballots. >> Okay. I would love to see the uh little information on the ballot. do um Dorcas' reference like how many cups of Duncan each will cost you. >> We'll see that. But
>> can I before we leave this I I just wanted to ask Miss Slowski, she's in conference. I could probably ask the the this board. So we we were required as a select board to approve adding the the U
non-binding question to the ballots by including it with the four. Have we met our requirement? >> Yes, >> she's approaching. >> You just need to give me notice in advance of 35 days ahead of the election
that you're placing >> questions on the ballot. The town council is required to >> doesn't matter that this was a a petitioned item. Um, the petition question, I will verify whether that is included, but we're required under under
the the two special acts that we provide a yes result and a no result on the ballot. It's normally it's banned everywhere except for six communities. We happen to be one of the six. >> So, so town council will draft those for us and those will when you get the ballot warrant, the questions in there
total will be included. you you'll have each of the positions, the order of the positions, the um and each of the questions in the order in which they're going to be printed on the ballot. The only thing that's missing from the from the ballot warrant is the candidates because the candidates don't happen until the actual ballot gets printed.
>> Okay. Thank you, Mary. >> You're welcome. >> Thank you. >> Any questions on that? Great. Thank you, Mary. All right. Next, um let us go to >> We on to board and committees. >> We are. No, we're on recommendations for
the warrant article. >> Okay. >> And the execution of the annual town meeting warrant. >> So, the warrant is here. Do we um do we want to take um a position on any of these articles tonight or do we
>> I had a thought about article 15 which is the library construction >> um >> article. >> No, no changes at this stage of the game. >> I don't know what you're talking about. Article 15 says water main route 28. >> Oh, that's interesting. On this on this
one, it says um actually on this one it doesn't say that. >> I'm looking at this. >> I'm looking at the one that was here. Maybe it's changed in the book. It's 15 library construction.
And maybe it's it's out of order in terms of a suggestion >> article in the on our computer and what was posted. >> I'm just looking. >> Yeah, I think that um >> there there looks to be a mistake in in this sheet here. >> Yeah, I would think
>> so. The one that's in the book is right and the one that's attached is >> so we should go by the um by the warrant itself because this sheet leaves out the >> So just very briefly if I may madam
chair um having noted in our conversations the um price tag per average price tag per average family and um and some of the avoided costs Should
we opt or try to have either of those items in our explanation? >> I don't think so. I think that that's kind of statutory, right, Bob? The way that it's written. >> In the explanation? >> Yeah, in the explanation. Well, the explanation can can have um it does it
does include the town share, but it does not include the cost per average home, which will show at the meeting, but it's not included in the it's included in the finance committee's write up in the in the front page.
>> Be interesting. I just don't know if can you can you put that I've never seen that actually in the warrant because anytime we've had uh an override like for the school for instance it was always like something separate that they had to that they gave in their
literature I guess but I've never seen it printed in the word >> well I guess Bob can investigate and if it's apppropo >> I don't think there's always been a slide that tells There's a slide or some type of handout, but I don't
>> explains it because there is an explanation at town meeting, >> but I haven't seen it actually written in the warrant. >> Never. >> I don't know why. >> I don't either. >> Maybe it's allowed. >> I think there was this well, not a big explanation, but a very short. Well,
there is an explanation in here. But what she's saying is to add the um the cost the average for our average cost, which is what >> I think would be very smart if if it's legally allowable, >> but we then we should have to do that for all of them. >> I'm just saying we can't Why would you do it for one and not not for any
>> for the for the overrides or or the um exemption from two and a half? >> I just have never seen it like in printed in the warrant. >> He's thinking >> Mary's got something to say. I would just um recommend that you check with town council before you do any of
those on anything that's related to a ballot question because ballot questions have a whole another level of scrutiny. >> Well, let's leave it alone. >> So, I would I would just recommend that if if you're making changes to that explanation that town council um it's
covered. The slide will be there at >> as you point out Tracy and Dorc because there there gonna be handouts >> right >> with with big in bold writing what's what's uh relevant so that's fine >> so we should probably start art article one and see if the board wants to make recommendations
>> why would we do that Bob I'm just being funny >> because um all right so article one do we want to vote to recommend >> I make a motion that we vote to recommend article one budget
adjustments. >> Second. >> Second. >> Any discussion on the motion? All those in favor? >> I. >> That's 5 Z. >> Municipal budget. >> I vote I I move that we recommend uh municipal budget article number two.
>> Second. >> Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I passes unanimously. Can we just go like can we can you make a motion from like article four to six? >> Three to six. be happy to I make a motion to approve articles
um three, four, five, and six >> and seven maybe >> and seven. >> Yeah. Great. Perfect. >> Second. >> Any discussion on that? All those in favor? >> I >> those all pass unanimously. >> I move that we recommend article 8.
>> Second. I am going to um ask that. Well, we can I mean I would hope I would like to take that up. I don't know if there's still Maybe Joyce, you can give us an update. Is there any potential for them to lower their number at this point?
>> The superintendent on the Zoom. >> Okay. Well, that's is this is our discussion. I'm just wondering if they had at their meeting last night or if you've heard are they still working to get their budget number down? There was an executive session last night that I wasn't privy to for the first part of meeting related to the budget.
>> Not sure what. >> Oh, >> I don't I don't think they would they can't talk about the budget in executive session. So I I I haven't you know received any indication. I this is their final budget. >> You think it is >> Mark's there if we can >> maybe.
>> I mean I'm just hoping that they're going to work to reduce the numbers still between now and and town meeting and I would like to um a chance. >> Do you want to either ask Mark? >> I guess we can. I don't. We can't really have a discussion with them, but we can ask him.
>> Hi, Dr. Smith. >> How are you? I'm just wondering if this is the final number or if there's going to be any more work to uh reduce the budget before a town meeting. >> Pretty firm. This is, you know, it holds carries a lot of um
a lot of the consistent cost drivers that everybody's facing. I mean, the committee will continue to look, but at this point, you know, with all the with all the cost drivers that they have, um, this looks like a pretty solid final budget includes 13 cuts to staff. I
think if the the committee has indicated that if they were to find some additional savings that one of the things that they would want to do would be look at restoring some of the positions that they've had to cut. It's a reduced services budget as it sits right now. Okay,
>> Madam Chair, I can throw in a piece of good news. Um, the uh district was proactive enough with wanting to um replace the high school lighting with LEDs that they applied for and secured a grant which will cost 284,000
but not to the district. It'll be done through energy efficiency funds and that the only condition on that is that it has to be completed by November 1st. And the good thing about that is that will I mean it'll only be six no seven months
of next year, but um that will knock 85,000 a year off the um off the electric bill at the high school. >> Oh, and that was reduced in the budget. >> No, >> it hasn't been enacted. >> It's not installed yet or anything, but I just I just thought that would make you feel better.
>> Yeah, >> she looks much happier. >> Great. Okay. So, there is a motion uh and a second on the table. All those in favor? >> I >> I'm going to abstain. Uh we can revote
>> 401 at town meeting and maybe I'll change it, but I'm hopeful that we can reduce the number some. All right. >> I move that we um I've forgotten what I'm doing. Recommend. >> Recommend. >> Recommend. Thank you, Dr. Smith.
>> Article nine. Thank you, Lauren. >> Second. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> All those in favor? >> I >> can we now lump the all the capital expenditures together? >> I would love that. >> Okay. I move that we um recommend
articles 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14. >> So moved. I mean second. >> Any discussion on the motion? All those in favor? >> I >> did. We did do nine. Nine. >> Yes. Yes. Okay, just jump to check it.
>> All right, so library construction. I move that we recommend article 15. >> Second. >> Any discussion on the motion? All's in favor. >> Opposed? No. >> Nay. So that's a three to two. >> Wastewater facility national grid
easement septage tank. I'm I'm going to list these and if anybody has any issue or discussion then we'll hold and then we'll know how many we can move. Uh, Bayberry Hills engineering, collective bargaining wage adjustment, Madaki's
building maintenance costs, transfer and sale of surplus property, appropriate tourism reservation, revenue preservation fund. Let's stop there. >> Does anybody have any any holds,
questions, comments, or anything? We can we make a motion to >> move. The only question for uh Bob is what's what's the number again on the Babberry Hills engineering? Wasn't it around 1.5 million? >> It went down recently. >> Did it go down? Did Jeff say that able to save money?
>> One Yes, it's 1,500,000 and that that came down >> even in the article. >> Yes, it is. >> It's in >> Oh, yeah. Up top. Okay. >> All right. So we moved article 18 through 23.
>> Second. >> Any any discussion on that motion? All those in favor? >> I could move the CPA articles in one. Have we had the CPA yet? >> We haven't had we haven't had a discussion on those.
>> I think we we have them coming, right? >> Yes, we do. There's a just because of everything got with last week's meeting being every you know cast in I think they're scheduled for next week to come in. >> Can we make our motion >> uh >> well we would have to >> do it from the floor then?
>> We have to do it from the floor. >> I don't think it's appropriate for us to take a position on articles before we hear from them. >> And and uh the same thing the zoning they did they have their public hearing already on their zoning articles? >> Yes. And they made their recommendation that so the planning board recommends
it. >> Okay. So, um I move that we recommend article 29. >> It is. >> Is there a second to that motion? >> Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I >> And then we're holding on 24 through 28. We're going to hold and we will make a
recommendation from the floor. >> Hopefully we can get um well, I mean, we can we on next week's agenda, we can still vote. We don't need to wait till town meeting. We can still vote after we meet with them. It just won't
be >> You may want to make sure that you might want to make sure that it's on the agenda then. >> Yeah. No, on the agenda. What I'm saying is to to have have their hearing with them and to make sure the agenda says vote to recommend as well >> and we can get that out of the way even though it's going to be too late for
that. >> All right. Items recommend. >> Hang on now. I'm I'm a little bit behind. >> That's okay. I have it written here if you want. >> The question that I have I'm up to article 29.
>> Okay. So, so 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 were passed unanimously. Article 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28 are on hold. Article 29 was
um a unanimous support. >> Yes. Thank you. >> No, thank you. All right. Board and committee actions. Joyce, >> thank you. >> Ask a quick question. >> Yes. >> Mary, I know you're still you're still here. Is there anything other business
that we need to do? >> Do we need to sign it right now? >> Okay. >> I know, but is it here for us to sign? >> I didn't see it in the back. red folding. >> I think that was all payroll.
>> Can you get a signature sheet that we can just sign it for you now? >> I don't have the >> Oh, it's not in there. >> I don't have the word version of it. Um, >> it's right here. Can we use this page? >> Mary Alice has the first crack at this one. Getting it printed.
>> Can I just Can't we just send it around so we have it and not everybody has to come back? >> I'm just >> give it a shot if it works. It's not if there's nothing in the red folder. That's the page. >> Yep. It's all It's all payroll. >> I'm so sorry.
>> Oh, we have another week. >> Here's another one. >> How many do we need? >> Do a couple. >> Yeah, >> a couple would be lovely. >> To be safe. >> Crisscross applesauce. >> Okay, >> everybody should tear off the last page and sign. >> No, we don't need five. >> No, no, we have we have we've got another one coming around. >> Two of them. This is good. Mary Alice
will let us know if we need, but at least it will get you started. Perfect. >> Thank you very much. Thank you, Mary. >> Thank you. >> I want to make sure that she gets home. >> I know. >> Long long hours.
>> Thank you, Mary. >> Okay, great. We'll leave it in the red folder for for you. Thank you, Mary. Nie, anybody um has a problem with signatures? I could always do a little note about broken arm because it doesn't
it doesn't look like mine. It looks like one of a third grader, but you know. >> Okay. Uh board and committee actions. Um uh I present an uh current alternate Anthony Panabienko
um for a fiveyear term. um for the board of appeals to run through uh January 3031. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I >> um I present um Tina De Antonio
um uh as a member of the uh community economic development committee for a three-year term to run through um July 2. Oh, sorry. as a um an a regular term
that's unexpired that she would be filling a three-year term that ends uh July 2027. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> um I present Tim Layman as a candidate for the recycling and solid waste
advisory committee. This would be for a full three-year term and it would end um in February 2029. So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> And I would just like to say that the writeups that you have done for these
individuals are very impressive. We are we have some fantastic people who are coming forward and joining our boards and committees. Thank you. >> Oh, thank you. >> I do love advertising people. >> Madam Chair, I move that we um approve
the minutes for the select board meeting of March 4th, 2025. Second. >> All those in fa any discussion? All those in favor? >> Any opposed? >> Okay.
And we also have March 18th and April 1st. I move that we approve the minutes for March 18th, >> 2025. >> 2025. >> Second.
>> Okay. Any discussion on that? All those in favor? Any opposed? Okay. April 1st. Is there a motion? >> Move that we approve the minutes for April 1st, 2025. >> Second.
>> Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I. >> Okay. Upcoming agenda review. >> Is that just a quick question, does that bring us up to date? >> No, that's last year. >> We're not back minutes that we that we >> We're not completely up to date, but we're much closer than we were before.
Okay. All right. thought I'd ask um upcoming agenda review. The only thing um based off of tonight's meeting that I wanted to ask is if the um well, first I do know that um
the assembly delegate member had reached out and I asked Mary to work with her to find time. I don't know if she's on here or what the status of that is. Um don't see I'd like to follow up on that if we can. So, is that what we're doing? We're on
>> we're on we're on an upcoming agenda review and um the only other thing is based on some of the comments tonight with the board of health, is this board interested in meeting with them at all and seeing if we can um just have a
discussion about what what what their plan is. >> I would also like to if we could in that is is to forward them the letter that we received about doing an economic impact study. I think we're interested in knowing as much as we can about the impacts of what they're proposing. And so it would be nice if they can speak to
what they know about the impacts because um you know from my perspective uh we've had enough business impacts already in our community with wastewater >> and um I mean I've heard numerous complaints about impacts to the business
community on wastewater and we don't need to go into the details why but the idea that we may be potentially shutting down a number of convenience stores um most convenience stores that I have own that are, you know, the small business owners of convenience stores that I've
dealt with, they they rely on cigarettes and and lottery sales. And if the cigarettes go or the lottery goes, then they're pretty much out of business. So, I think what they're doing is a very good chance of just putting a number of folks out of business >> and crippling significantly the others. Um, you know, I'm not into promoting
nicotine as a habit, but I do think that, um, you know, banning it completely. Um, I'm not sure ultimately what that is going to accomplish other than putting people out of business. >> I think that Mr. Patel's comments were, um, very striking in terms of everything
that we've put before them from the state that they've complied with. Number one. Number two, we have no history of of of real underage uh issues in town here of any of our >> I understand. So I think let's get them in here and I think they should be
prepared to defend what they're trying to do and um I'd like to you know if indeed they're on the verge of doing it which is the impression that we've been given. Hopefully we can have a they can come in with more of an open mind. >> Um yeah I think that that's a great
idea. I think, you know, >> we have that on April 7th or April 14th. >> Uh, I don't know if we're going to be able to do it. I think the 14th would probably be the best, but has that already been approved, Bob? Is there a date for that to go into effect? I heard that it was already approved.
>> I I haven't seen the final approval. I thought they were still having hearings about it, but >> Well, I mean, I guess that's where it depends on where we put on the ballot. If it's already approved and it's going into effect soon, we need to get them in here. If we have time to wait till the 14th, then we should we should do that. But >> yeah, >> I mean it would be nice for us to hear
what what that means to to our as Mark said, our business community. >> Yeah, I think there's a sense of urg got to be sense of urgency on that one. The sooner the better. >> And well, we might have a little space on the 7th. Um the dog hearing that was
scheduled has been um because of the party scheduling continued to June 2 after town meeting. There you go. And we have a spot for it on April 7th. >> There you go. >> Great. >> So, we could try to put board of health in there.
>> I had a a note from the Route 6 bridge. We're not going to have that as a discussion item. >> Um >> because it's >> I think we're waiting for them. They're they're doing some investigation right now and they they from what I understand the way that was left it was that that
the restrictions on hold and um they were going to come back once they had some more engineering information. >> So I don't know if we have any data really to to discuss other than to put our opposition >> on hold I I think we need to find out from the DOT what their intentions are.
>> I think we've expressed our strong opposition to it. Um I don't know. >> No, I I think and and I want to um you know acknowledge the um select board members and I know Tracy participated extremely strongly in the um information.
>> That's very nice wording, Bob. I like it. >> Well, you know, um I I think the the concerns that were expressed by all of the communities led to them um reanalyzing the status of that situation and they pulled it back and I and I think it was wise that they did that.
Um, you know, really wish that they would include us more a little bit in their thinking. Um I I know the police had a tremendous amount of concerns about the um you know the traffic patterns that they were creating and and I think that they could really use our our own public safety people as a
resource. But >> I I I couldn't agree with you more. I think they before they announce a detour plan, they need to sit down with our people because the plan that they came up with >> was a disaster. So, um, before you
before put they even put something out in public, we need to have them at the table both here in Yarmouth and and also Dennis. Everybody's got to be in the same room and we've got to have this conversation. I mean, there's so many construction projects going on in both towns.
>> So, um, >> oh, it's a nightmare. My my my request would be is before they come before we have a discussion at the board is just I think we as a board ought to encourage our our team to get them in here to at least work on a detour plan have that
there's there's no reason why that should wait. We we know the area in question. >> And Bob, you did ask um I had asked I had followed up on your um advanced bridge um advanced bridge replacement program. And I know Bob sent a letter. I don't I didn't see
>> as we asked him. I did not get a response yet. >> And we brought it up at the municipal planning organizations meeting which was Monday. >> And the guy you've been working with um Bob Morano or something like that.
>> Romano. Romano Romano. Um, so what the DOT that was representing was there on the call said, "Well, send me all the information." >> Isn't that Isn't that something else? They don't even know their own programs. >> Promono is working with us. Maybe you
could reach out to him. >> I find it >> we asked specifically about that um bridge program and Steve Tupper. Was it Steve who said he would look into it? >> Yeah. But the thing is is what we need to do is make when they come before us or if we get an update. I mean, I'd like
to think that the plan that they come up with represents the best of everyone's thinking. And then there's the separate issue of the replacement bridge. We definitely need we want to be able to have a conversation with mass DOT about an accelerated
>> construction schedule and and and >> and I mean I don't want to say we I don't want to compare ourselves to the the highway in Pennsylvania and some of the other places where there were bridge disasters but >> you know in some other states they've moved mountains in order to get a bridge
replacement. So, do we want to see if we can have them in before they come up with a plan or anything or is it premature? >> I keep the heat on them. >> Yeah, I think we I think Yeah, I I think if they can't I mean, what what we're going to end up with is we're going to be invited to a meeting uh and like the
last time and then we can all go on Zoom and uh it'll be pretty much a session with them. I I it would be nice to >> It worked. Well, I'm I'm not sure because all they did was kick it down the road. >> Sometimes sometimes when you
>> Sometimes when you complain loudly, they just go below radar and go into hiding. >> Well, I don't know how more more below radar they could do. >> I mean, they told us three days before they were actually going to put it in place and they were nice enough. They acted like to have a meeting with us on Zoom to >> Oh, yeah. They were doing us a favor.
>> Yeah, they're doing us a favor. >> Doing us a favor. And to your point about them talking about we'll look up our our own plan, the same thing happened. The DOT guy told us we should write letters to the DOT. Like he was talking in third person. >> I think we should invite them in.
>> Aren't you the DOT? I don't understand. >> I would venture to say that once the town administration is notified that they've got another >> plan, then what's going to happen is we're going to be invited to sit in on a Zoom call or a Teams call. Right. >> Right. And then at some point we're
going to be putting pressure on them during the Zoom call to for them to do their own communications for them to come out and explain it and we're going to be putting pressure on them to sort of lay it out. What I >> we can kind of leaprog it so that we we
start asking the questions now so that we're not, you know, caught in >> I think I think Bob and Tracy laid it on to them. They they I think we need to have our I'd like to see an aggressive effort placed to get the two towns
together so they can work with Mass DOT on a a tentative a draft detour plan. That makes the most sense. Something's going to happen. It's it's not going to be like no one's m waving a magic wand and making the bridge problem go away.
It's only a question of time on one side and it's only a question of time on the other side. I think we've all been on those boat tours, looked at we've all seen the underneath out of of both bridges. It's it's it's a it's a it's an ugly site.
>> Be maybe a a letter between Yarmouth and Dennis. >> Well, I was just going to ask the board if they were interested in maybe um asking the town of Dennis to meet with us because we have other items that we could also speak with them about. Maybe if we speak as one voice with this would be a great thing. Maybe we could talk to them about the regional agreement directly.
>> Oh, I think that's a great idea. Well, my recommendation would be for the moment we're talking about the mass DOT. Let's just focus on the mass DOT thing. >> I don't think the select board needs to meet with the select board of Dennis to talk about the mass DOT thing. I think we've done a pretty good job of laying
it on thick to mass DOT. What I'm suggesting is I'd rather have the our manager and the manager of Dennis, right, >> sitting down with the DPW directors of both towns, the police departments of both towns, whatever traffic team we have traffic and and and having a
meeting with mass DOT, >> all right, and their people so that they can sort out a detour plan because the reality is is this problem isn't going to go away. What we've done is we've brought some time to get our collective together.
>> Get that. I can get that going right now. I'll reach out to Dennis, reach out to D, >> see if we can schedule something. >> I still I still would like an agenda item to meet with Dennis to talk about the regional agreement. >> Well, I don't I don't I don't disagree with that. I I think
>> a proposal to have at least come up with a process. >> Well, we sent a letter. >> We did and they discussed it last night. And what happened? >> They discussed it last night. >> Oh, there's an update. >> Okay. Thanks, B. >> On that, we'll hold. >> Okay. Yeah, when it's time. >> We can get back to that, but I was just
thinking of a potential upcoming agenda item. >> Here's a potential upcoming agenda item. Harris Ktos made a pitch tonight. >> Did you have that on your list? >> No, but that's he's absolutely right. We need to uh we need to put that on our agenda to draft a letter. I support that
100%. >> Good. >> Okay. So, do you want to want to do that on the 14th? Sure. >> Yeah. >> So, we'll get a draft. We'll have the draft >> even though there's 5,000 lawyers already involved trying to tell people our letter is meaningless, but I do think we could go on the record. >> Yeah.
>> I mean, so will we bring a letter crafted in to review and vote on on the 14th? >> That will be the goal is to have a letter. And what was the town that he cited? Reading? >> Yes. I I would be more than happy to use Reading's letter as a template for us >> to have something drafted on our own.
Did he submit the reading letter to us? >> I might have it. >> Was it a Was it a clip? >> We have it. >> You have that Tracy? >> I don't think it's in our packet, but I have it visit. >> He came to office hours. >> Yeah, it's right here.
>> Uh, it's the article about writing, but I'm sure Bob can find it, but we'll put that on for the 14. >> You said you have one. No, I'm realizing it was just the article that I have. >> Right. >> I can check with writing. >> I mean 70% is um as you know the state was 72% from
>> now. What about the um new shellfish aquaculture lease license that's got to come back. >> I don't know if I mean we told them next next meeting but I'm not sure that that that's all going to be straightened out by then. >> Well, it seems it seems it seems as if everything's moving aggressively. I'
>> Okay. >> I'd put it on We're going to move it >> at least tentatively, we should have space there for it >> on the 7th. >> Yeah. >> Yep. And again, if the board of health regulation isn't until, you know, later and they haven't voted
yet, maybe we have a little bit of flexibility with moving that as well. >> I would recommend, madam chair, if there's a way to put it on the seventh agenda, I think we should do it. I really do. I think >> it's a hot topic. I think putting it off is >> great. So, we're going to put both of them on the seventh. >> That's fine. Get ready for a long night.
>> Which what was that last one? >> Doing the board of health. Um the nicotine and where the shellfish aqua fur license we have to put back on. >> Okay. I'm with you. >> Uh for a point after April, I would love to um hear a little bit about the u the
determination of the the um divisions of the land um that's uh behind MacArthur. remember when we were all on the boat ride um last summer. Um at that point um there was going to be a request to
council because um uh Shobal had had mentioned and one other person had mentioned that there were restrictions on some of that land that it had to be recreational. We we had asked town council to do a review of the legal ownership of the the commons area as
part of the town meeting article to do some planning work. Um I've I've >> I think what we need is >> I don't think I caught it if we got it back. >> I don't think we got it. >> I don't think but we should put that on >> I thought we did get it get it back. >> We didn't
>> article 97 question. It wasn't. It was information that we need. There needs to be a legal opinion from town council to outline the ownership of those parcels. >> So, they're conducting a full title search. Oh, okay. >> And then he had a preliminary opinion
that that um >> to address the library question, right? >> Yeah. That one parcel is under article 97. So, we know that, but we don't have a title search completed yet >> for all of that. And and that's what we're waiting for from town. fire. Yes.
>> Oh, good. Okay. >> I I just, you know, things like that seem important and that, you know, if if >> Well, the reality >> might come up again. It'd be nice to have it in our pocket. >> I'm glad you brought it up. No, the reality is is that that has moved slowly and it was one of the curve balls that
these folks had to deal with in the planning of the library. All right. >> So, it it shouldn't have it shouldn't that shouldn't have been a problem for them, but they they were able to deal with it. council at least addressed one aspect of that question. >> Madam chair, if I can just let you know
that I will not be here May 5th. >> I will not attend that meeting. If it moves, great. >> Okay. Well, the the um town administrator evaluations on that day. No, Liz. Um which means this it's a
reminder I do have Liz's and I need everybody else's prior to that. So, we have a couple more weeks, but I'll still be looking to get that put together. All right. Anything else on upcoming agenda? I think you might have exhausted it. Hold on. Let me go back to my original
notes. All right. Okay. Are we ready to move on to individual items? >> Yeah. >> Okay. I don't have anything except I would note that in our consent agenda there is a motion that was suggested by Mary Mlowski before we accept the whole
can we accept the whole consent agenda without making the motion? >> Yeah, it's the only employee. >> So it's written out adequate to approve the consent agenda and >> don't need to speak it.
>> You don't need the full motion. No. Okay, I just saw that and I thought and um and I just individual items. I'll just take the moment to say also in the consent agenda is a license request for
um the um that hall and it's really becoming so popular and it's so dangerous getting across 6A. >> It's unbelievable. So the DOT seems to be aware of it and so so does the Cape
Cod Commission. So hopefully we don't even have a crosswalk. >> The good thing is that they have a crossing guard there. They have somebody there to stop traffic. >> Yeah. But like often times that person is in is ineffective. They just people just come screaming through. She
like waving them through. >> All I'm saying is is that it's good that they do that. The reality is is that >> a transportation improvement there is um Who knows if we'll see it in our lifetime. >> My question my question about the consent agenda more is the process of
how special entertainment licenses and those get some have a hearing and some go on the consent agenda. I'm just trying to figure out why. >> The reason that those are on the consent agenda is that they're renewals of repeat um events that happened every
year. And so that there was a policy initiated before that if it was a renewal of a um event that's an annual event that those go on. They don't have their like another hearing. >> Okay,
>> that makes sense. >> But we didn't apply. We didn't did this board approve it for a multi-year or a one date like when it was originally. >> Yes. These these are things that happen every year. >> No, I understand. When when this board
made voted to approve it originally, did they approve it for one specific date for the public's notice? >> Okay. So, how does the public other than looking at a consent agenda? I'm just asking because I I I wasn't here when we did it. If it was an annual vote that we
were going to approve this annually, I don't know. I just I'm confused as to why some people have to go through a process and some don't. Just so just to understand the facts, I think Aren't you saying that these are when they were approved originally most likely had notices to
the abutters? >> I don't know. I wasn't I wasn't here for that. I would imagine if it was a special entertainment license. >> No, but I think you're raising you're raising a good point. I I I think that if they were approved No, if if this was if the license was approved and there
was in a butter's notice, I think you're raising a valid point. Um, if it there's going to be a renewal, shouldn't there at least be and a butter's notice some kind of sign off? >> I don't know if it's appropriate for us
to be a approving a reoccurring one. If there is an abut's notice, >> if the original approval had multiple dates or requested this to be an annual thing, >> then I can see it being placed on consent agenda because it was >> talking about two different things. I'm
I'm raising the point that I thought you raised earlier. I think I'm I'm I was trying to agree with you. >> Yeah. No, I mean what I'm what I'm just saying is I think I think the way that the original vote and notice is
something that we should look at whether or not they go back on a consent agenda. And I don't think I was here for when it was approved to just go on because like anybody who's been before us before who does it again goes back on here. Is that how it is now? That's the policy. Bob,
I'm sorry. I'm >> So, it's just an event, a party that's in recess 364 days of the year. It's it's continued, you know, like a hearing. >> Well, the first of all, let's just let's just slow this down and then talk about this so everybody is clear on on there's
three items on this consent agenda. Now, the the first one, the amusement license, and then the third one, the weekday and Sunday entertainment, those are automatic renewals, right? So, there's no hearings or anything required. It's a license that once it's
granted, it's a permanent license, but subject to renewal. So, just like we do with the um the liquor license renewals, we put the list on the um on the consent agenda, and those automatic renewals >> at the end of the year are approved. Y
>> and so it's the same thing we did. We um so so >> I can understand that for the amusement >> and then the the amusement license. Yeah, that's an automatic. >> That's an automatic, right? >> Yeah. And so is the weekday and Sunday entertainment. Those are those are automatic renewals.
>> So that's an annual license. Okay. >> That automatically renews >> that didn't get renewed automatically at the end of the year with the whole list of other ones for >> they were left off the list. They were not they were not on the list. >> And what about the special entertainment license. >> Now, the special entertainment license,
I don't even know if that's a real special entertainment license. It is a um a request for the um for the church to um use town property. And so what they're going to be holding is an Easter
sunrise worship service. >> Okay. So, it's not like an event that they're looking to >> Okay. and and those they've done in the past and we've routinely approved them but um we put it on the consent agenda so everyone you know where it's at the beach
>> from somebody else who would come before the town with the special entertainment license asking to be put on the consent agenda I think that it's important that people understand that like you know some people go through a whole have to go through a whole process every time >> right and
so generally we don't we don't put a special license like a special entertainment license on the consent agenda. You really don't see those too often. If it's if it's a special entertainment license, there's advertising. >> You're really talking about use of town
land. I just want to make sure we're clear. >> This is a use of town property. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I don't see a need to bring the Methodist church before us every year to sign off on an Easter service. >> I think that's I'm cool with that. The only question I the only ones that I
would flag would be anything that requires a public notice. >> Got it. Oh, I see special entertainment license and that's what I think. >> Got it. >> So, it's not really a special entertainment license. >> You really think we're going to get a lot of people coming in on Easter service? >> And I have nothing against these particular applications. Don't get me
wrong, it's not specific to that, but as far as process goes, when you look at something that says special entertainment license, I'm trying to figure out why some people don't have to go through a process and some people do. But in fact, it's not really a special entertainment license.
>> Can I move the consent? >> Yeah, let's do it. >> Any discussion? >> All in favor? >> No, just Okay. Donations. All right. Town administrators. >> Okay. I just a couple things I wanted to
keep the board in the loop on. I I wanted to give on behalf of the the DPW um a report on the um brush cleanup. Um as you know, we had uh the Sunday, March
15th, going back a week ago, Sunday. Um that that was when you know that project really geared up and the um staffing was a little short. There was a tremendous um just cluster with the traffic out there and they had
>> really branched out. Yeah, I was they were branching out. So, they had to um >> How plenty of you >> close down for about an hour on Sunday afternoon. So, that that was a huge um imposition, but um when we went in and thank the board very much for extending the time period for anyone who who
missed it. But um I really want to hand it to the DPW that after that um sort of problem that we had, they arranged for additional staffing, police details, and um worked for the the rest of the week to set up a whole new traffic program
down at the facility. And um we witnessed no traffic congestion outside of just the normal um traffic all week. Um the weekend went uh March 21 and 22 also had um extra staff and um it worked
out fine. The traffic was was normal. We had high volume but extremely manageable and a lot of people had some very positive feedback on the issues. >> I heard lots of positive feedback um at the college. I didn't realize how many Yarmouth residents are at the college
when I'm at there teaching. So, um I got nothing but um today in particular, I heard from a number of people who said that they were very impressed with our DPW. >> A great. >> So, I want to single out >> and I promised I'd pass it along. >> She really um you know took it to heart
that thing that happened Sunday. She felt so terrible um about it and um >> was she out there directing traffic? >> Yeah, she was out there um all Sunday and um >> God bless her. >> She's amazing. >> Worked on the communications and everything. So, so I I you know I think
um it it was kind of similar to the blizzard that when it immediately hit we were overwhelmed for a short period of time, but um I I think everyone worked real hard. So I I just wanted to mention and and I think you know um even whether it's the snow removal or the tree
removal, I I think Yarmouth showed their class among all of our peers and left a lot of people questioning what you know was going on in their own communities. So I um I felt it was a good effort and um so we talked about a little bit I I
promised I would give an update. Um, I had spoken with Chairman Post who um had a question as to what the response to the select board's letter about the regional agreement was and um I I think that we had initially heard that they
were not in favor of discussing that but I contacted the superintendent directly and he informed me that um it was on for um a discussion and they had a robust discussion with you know people expressing positive and negative sentiments all through the discussion,
but that the school committee decided that um they were going to invite representatives of the community to meet directly with them and to discuss that subject and what process would be for moving forward to review um the
agreement. Now, I know they have some concerns as to whether um we do a general review or do we have issues, but I I think that um no decision was made and they have an intention of meeting with the select board to discuss that
issue. So, um I was assured of that. >> Can I just comment on that, Bob? Uh Madam Chair, I want to make sure that we have in the discussion a process in place that institutionalizes a regular
review. >> Right? We have in our charter a provision in the charter that requires a review and it has to be initiated by the moderator and no 10-year period can pass without the moderator convening a group
to come in accept testimony and recommendations from all sorts of boards on changes and improvements to the charter. It happens. We do it. We have it. It's not a debate about over the charter. It's a debate. What we have is
a process and when that's convened. All the pent-up issues are things that have been percolating for a while. People have an opportunity to present them and debate them and discuss them. They deliberate on them and then they come back with an article for town meeting or two on changes that either need to be
made in bylaws or in the charter. We need the same thing with this. There needs to be a process where we automatically convene >> has to >> every so many years or during a during a certain interval um and it should be at least once before the agreement expires.
I mean the these agreements have an expiration. I don't think they do. >> I don't think they do. >> No. So there needs to be something at least every 5 years where we processes convene where people come back. We do like I said we do that in our charter. I think most municipal charters have some
kind of oversight requirement and um but this is lacking in this document. So um I think what I would recommend is it would be nice to get that process figured out and then have a a separate conversation with on on some of the
various issues that we you know we could we need to talk about. But I if we can at least figure out a process that can get worked out that would be a huge step forward. >> Yep. because it was missing from it's missing from the current agreement.
>> Okay. So, um another item I had a couple of questions. People asked about the the banners that um go out on Route 28. There's a number of them up, but there's also not as many as we used to have. And so, I looked into it and apparently the chamber is no longer going to be putting
those banners up um for us. So, we're going to have to take it over and um community development is working on it right now getting the banners and we'll get somebody up there and we'll get the banners installed and so it's in the works and you'll see those banners for this spring. Good thing they weren't there in the storm. they probably would have ripped
down, but we'll be putting those up this spring. And I wanted to let you know, we had a an ME small building committee um this past week, and we focused the entire meeting on working out an RFP for a project manager. So, we were talking
all about the evaluation process, which is 99% specified by the SBA anyway. So, um, we'll be finalizing our RFP for a project manager, and that's the next step there. And I want to let you know, board members may not be aware, but we
had kind of a major thing, um, this past week. We're preparing for a bond issue, which you're going to see in front of you, um, hopefully for the next meeting. It's on your agenda, look ahead. And so, we had our bond rating meeting with the Standard and Pores, Municipal Credit
Risk Agency. And that's a very intensive process. And it involved entire, you know, financial team, um, as well as me discussing all of the ins and outs. And I I just want to say, um, look, we've got some issues that are going on
nationally, globally that impact the economy. Um, they're entirely out of the control of our town. And, you know, all of those issues go into our bond rating. Listen, I want to focus on issues under
the control of this community. Um I I believe are um all of the measures impeccable material. The um management of the town, the amount of reserves we've created, the budget um performance that this town
has, all of our metrics equal, we should get a a bond rating increase. So, I just want to say I I thought the team did a great job. um our numbers are there if um I know Standard Impors has not been handing out a lot of upgrades um just because of all of these outside issues
but um I I think that the town represented itself quite well and um you'll see in the um in the report that we get whether we get a a rating increase or not um that you'll see the standards that they list for comparing our town are going to be extremely
favorable and so we went through that process We're expecting the report back um oh by the end of this week or so. So um you you guys will be the first to see our new bond rating. And that's all I
have for tonight. Just a smattering of issues going out. >> Excellent. >> I'd like to make a motion to adjurnn, madam chair. >> And I' I'd like to make a comment on that. I would actually I'd like to thank you for handling the public comment very nicely tonight. Thank you, Tracy.
>> Great job, Tracy. >> Traffic timer comes in handy, doesn't it? >> I know, but you know what the problem is? I gotta say, I feel like I'm distracted from >> I I don't want to listen and now I'm looking and I feel like I'm not paying them the attention. >> Next time, have Amy do the timer.
>> She's very good at that. Yeah. >> Have a mechanical one where you don't have to look at >> my mother timer. You remember when you were on the phone the landline and she put the egg timer cuz she had vote on the >> All those in favor? Hi. >> Hi. >> Have a good night. Thank you everybody.
>> I loved it.