[0:00] call this uh select board meeting to
order on Monday, August 31st, 2026.
[0:07] This meeting/hering of the air select
board will be held in person at the
[0:11] location provided on this notice.
Members of the public are welcome to
[0:15] attend this in-person meeting. Please
note that while an option for remote
[0:19] attendance and/or participation via Zoom
is being provided as a courtesy to the
[0:23] public, the meeting/hering will not be
suspended or terminated if techn
[0:28] technological problems interrupt the
virtual broadcast unless otherwise
[0:32] required by law. Members of the public
with a particular interest in a specific
[0:37] item on this agenda should make plans
for in-person vers virtual attendance
[0:41] accordingly. This meeting will be live
on Zoom in channel 8. The public may
[0:46] access the proceedings by joining uh
Zoom meeting ID 978-772-8220
[0:53] or by calling 929-2056099.
[0:58] For additional information about remote
participation, please contact Carly
[1:02] Antelis, assistant town manager at
atmirair.mma.
[1:07] us or 978-772-8220
[1:11] extension prior to the meeting. Okay.
Okay, if I could ask everyone to rise
[1:14] for the pledge of
>> allegiance.
[1:17] Pledge of allegiance
>> to the flag of the United States of
[1:21] America and to the republic for which it
stands, one nation under God,
[1:27] indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all.
[1:31] » Thank you.
[1:38] » Back in.
>> Okay, everyone have a chance to review
[1:42] the agenda.
Mhm.
[1:44] » No changes.
>> I have no changes. Okay.
[1:46] » I'll make a motion that the agenda be
approved as submitted.
[1:50] » Second.
>> Okay. All those in favor? I.
[1:52] » I.
>> And the chair says I.
[1:55] » Okay. Um we have a couple of
announcements.
[1:58] One is the state primary election is
tomorrow uh September 1st. Um, it will
[2:04] be from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. So,
unless otherwise stated, all elections
[2:10] are held on the second floor uh of the
great hall uh town hall located on one
[2:16] main street.
>> And then we have one more
[2:22] » one more announcement
>> housing.
[2:25] » Okay. Uh the air housing forum is going
to be Tuesday, September 29th again at
[2:32] uh great hall 6 to 8:00 p.m. So the
second floor of this building. Um please
[2:39] come. It's a great chance to have your
opinions heard. Everyone likes to voice
[2:44] their opinions, right? This is your
chance. Um there will be pizza, I
[2:48] believe. Yes, pizza. So again, no one
says no to free pizza. So, come join us
[2:54] uh on the 29th.
Okay. Um
[3:00] public input. Is there anyone for public
input on a issue that is not on the
[3:07] agenda?
[3:13] » Yeah.
>> Okay.
[3:15] » Yes.
>> Please come up
[3:22] here. State your name and address please
for the record.
[3:24] » My name is Michael Harmon. I'm part of a
seat. Mike
[3:29] and address please.
>> Um 46 Central Lab Air.
[3:37] » Okay.
>> I am um part of the Fourth of July
[3:41] parade committee. Um and we're looking
to have funds released, I guess.
[3:48] Um and I was told I had to be here.
[3:53] Okay.
>> Yeah. I don't understand that part.
[3:58] » Yeah.
>> Yeah. I
[4:00] » He had sent me a note and I said the
same thing and I said, "Oh, well, maybe
[4:04] something's changed." But
>> Right. So I I think I sent an email to
[4:08] you, wasn't it?
>> Um, yeah. A couple weeks back. So that's
[4:14] kind of confusion. It seems like you're
being told something from not town hall.
[4:19] So
>> I I'm not sure where that direction's
[4:22] coming from exactly. So
>> anyways, that's why I'm here. [laughter]
[4:27] » Yeah.
>> All right.
[4:28] » Okay.
[laughter]
[4:32] » So I I want to thank you for you know
trying to spearhead this um
[4:38] » no excuses now. [laughter]
>> And um you know certainly we can be a
[4:43] resource try to help you out best we can
uh within our ability. Um, so yeah,
[4:49] thank you for coming.
>> Perfect. Thank you.
[4:51] » If I could just add one thing and as
you're going along,
[4:54] » you know, come up to public input or
send like a flyer to like keep everyone
[5:00] posted.
>> That's keep interest high, especially
[5:03] when it comes to the volunteers,
>> right? That's one of the plans. Keep
[5:06] doing that.
>> Yeah.
[5:08] » So, Mr. Chair, we, as you know, we do
have funds. They were not there were not
[5:14] funds in the fiscal 27 budget which we
are in now.
[5:20] » Um there are funds in a um special
revenue account about [clears throat]
[5:28] $16,000 I want to say in a special
revenue account um from previous
[5:34] Fourth of July celebrations.
So I I think that's the funds that
[5:39] you're alluding to.
>> Yes. But the structure of the committee
[5:43] I think is
all volunteer at this point. It's yet
[5:48] kind of to be defined per se. Um so I
think it's up for bigger discussion
[5:57] at this point. it.
>> Okay.
[6:01] » Well, just [clears throat] doesn't it,
you know, is they get the, you know,
[6:06] we've hired people for parades who need
to be hired or anything like that. They
[6:10] bring in the receipts and then get
reimbursed.
[6:13] » I know that's how it works with Memorial
Day
[6:16] » when the when the American Legion.
>> I was told the same way with the 4th of
[6:21] July.
>> Yeah.
[6:23] So that's I mean always double check
because you know we we could be mistaken
[6:30] and we don't want to mislead.
>> Two years ago um when we last had it my
[6:35] daughter was already written. She said
that's what you had to do is basically
[6:39] » have them sign a form stating are they
going to be there and then
[6:44] » give us a re a bill or something like
that that then it gets paid here.
[6:49] » Um
>> yeah I think it's all a reimbursement.
[6:51] So I if if I'm correct I say if
>> okay if I am correct the money will not
[6:57] touch your hands
>> right
[6:59] » okay you just bring in the receipt
>> correct
[7:01] » and then you know so that's why it also
keeps it you know safe
[7:05] » right I think the accountant's office
was looking for some sort of sign off
[7:10] from the select board to get that
process started as I understand it um so
[7:16] that's why I think you're here Mike um
right Robert is that your understanding.
[7:22] » Yeah. Through the chair and Mike, we'll
set up a time with the town accountant
[7:26] and so forth. And the the key takeaway
is obviously there's approximately
[7:30] $16,000 that can be used towards the the
Fourth of July effort and we'll also
[7:36] talk about fundraising efforts and and
that fund. So, we'll we'll get
[7:40] everything uh teed up
>> if we can do that sometime this month
[7:44] because I we're trying to be over here
at the Newf Fest.
[7:49] » Yep. Yep. We can do that.
>> Yeah.
[7:52] » Yes. So, I'll be in touch tomorrow.
Again, we've met once generally speaking
[7:58] um just to start the discussion. So,
we'll be in touch tomorrow.
[8:02] » All right.
>> And then, uh we'll take it from there.
[8:05] » We'll [clears throat] set something up
again.
[8:06] » All right.
>> All right. Great.
[8:08] » Thank you.
>> Thank you.
[8:09] » Thank you.
[8:12] » Okay. Any other public input? Not uh on
the agenda.
[8:19] Okay. Uh, I have a feeling this is why
most people are here. This next item,
[8:25] um, we have our discussion and vote on
the flock cameras. Um, couple things I
[8:31] want to mention in the beginning. Um, if
you've spoken on record already, um, and
[8:37] your opinion hasn't changed, I ask that
you don't come up in the interest of
[8:43] time because, um, you know, you are on
record. Um, if you um, you know, haven't
[8:51] spoken and and you do want to speak and
and come up, uh, I'm going to probably
[8:56] put about a 3minut uh, limit because
there's a lot of people. Um, so um, I
[9:02] will open this up if anyone does want to
come up and and speak. I just ask that
[9:07] you say your name and your address for
the record. Um, and then we'll move on
[9:13] to um, discussion.
[9:22] Yes. Come on. Yep. Come on up.
[9:31] » Hello. Hello. My name is William Barnes.
I live at 52 Pleasant Street B. Um, and
[9:38] I have real concern about the
implementation of unsecure surveillance
[9:42] equipment in our town. Town has 10,000
residents. Crime rates are low and flock
[9:46] has a history of misuse. So why do we
have flock cameras in air? I'll tell you
[9:51] why. Under Massachusetts law chapter 44
section 53 a paraphrased an officer or
[9:57] department of any city or town may
accept grants or gifts of funds from the
[10:02] federal government in towns with the
approval of the board of selectment.
[10:06] Further, in the case of grants from the
federal government or the commonwealth
[10:09] upon receipt of an agreement from the
grantor to provide advanced payment or
[10:13] reimbursement, the officer or department
may spend the amount to be reimbursed
[10:18] subject to the approvals required by
this section. The board needed to vote
[10:22] on this grant. They were not allowed
that opportunity.
[10:25] Chief Gil bypassed the select board and
partnered with Mr. Point braid to secure
[10:29] a reimbursement grant without approval
by the select board. Mr. Point Breate
[10:33] issued a payment from the town to Flock
in the amount of $25,000 through a
[10:37] warrant. The town paid for those
cameras.
[10:41] I was listening to a 404 podcast where
Jonathan Paz, a former Flock employee
[10:45] and selectman of Wallfam, spoke about
his experience with Flock. He described
[10:50] how Flock systematically targeted towns
in Massachusetts, teaching departments
[10:54] how to circumvent their local municipal
laws to effectuate the installation of
[10:57] these cameras. This is exactly what
happened here. Lastly, I would like to
[11:02] touch on the transparency of the the
police department and town manager.
[11:05] Public records requests were sent to
both um specifically requesting flock
[11:09] related documents. No documents were
provided, only a link to a frequently
[11:12] requested documents page on the air
website. Publicly available emails show
[11:17] Chief Gil pitched the Flock Camera's
idea to Mr. Point Brand in November,
[11:21] weeks after the order form was already
signed by Mr. Point Brand. So, so why
[11:26] was Chief Gil emailing Mr. Point Brand
that sales pitch weeks later? All right,
[11:30] I'm going to have to stop stop you there
on time. Uh, as well as understood. Um,
[11:36] but I do want to just keep this on the
flock itself and kind of not more of
[11:43] these uh attacks on employees. Okay.
>> Okay. I just have one one more thing if
[11:48] that's okay. It's nothing to do with the
employees.
[11:50] » Okay. Um,
I'm formally demanding that the select
[11:54] board initiate a review into how the
grant and contract were executed without
[11:58] section 53A approval and for the select
court to investigate whether municipal
[12:02] funds were improperly dispersed. Thank
you.
[12:04] » All right. Thank you.
[12:16] » Hello.
>> Hi, my name is Tori Stevens. I live at
[12:20] 10 East Street and I didn't prepare any
remarks, but I am vocal about being um
[12:29] anti- uh or against flock. I don't think
that surveillance should come in the
[12:34] form of kind of this like China style
surveillance that we're flock is. It's
[12:39] grabbing all this information and people
are using this information um for
[12:44] nefarious reasons. And I would say that
there's been multiple accounts across
[12:48] the United States where there have been
individuals to abuse the flock system. I
[12:52] don't nothing like that has happened in
air as far as we know and the police and
[12:57] air have been great. Um I've lived here
for uh almost 10 years and haven't had
[13:02] an issue. This is the first time that
I'm like wow I I can't believe something
[13:06] like this has happened. Um the town it
it seems based on the Facebook page
[13:11] there's a lot of interest in this. So,
it's not something and the fact that you
[13:14] all have um it on your docket means it's
really important. Um so, I just wanted
[13:18] to say that I'm vehemently against uh
flock and this kind of surveillance in a
[13:24] small town where there's low crime. I'm
actually against it in even in a bigger
[13:29] town, you know? It's just something
that's like it's almost like warrantless
[13:33] like you don't have a warrant to kind of
like view and follow and track people
[13:38] and that just feels really really bad.
Um, so just wanted to state that for the
[13:44] record. Um, I know that there's a good
amount of residents in the I don't know
[13:48] what the actual number is, but there's a
lot of people that I've talked to that
[13:52] really don't like this as well.
>> Okay. Thank you.
[14:03] » Hello.
>> Hello.
[14:05] » My name is Colleen Spinny. I live at 5
Oldcom Road. Um, I just want to follow
[14:10] up for clarity on what happened with my
report with the flock stuff. Um, I
[14:16] hadn't heard anything from the chief. He
was going to come back from vacation,
[14:19] review it, and get in touch with me, but
I haven't heard anything. So, I don't
[14:24] know what's going on. So, I just want to
know where that stands, if we can look
[14:28] into that.
>> This is a little bit outside of the
[14:31] flock. I just wanted to bring attention
that I haven't had an issue with
[14:37] » potentially most likely being searched
on it.
[14:40] » So, I just wanted to bring that up.
>> Okay. Point taken. All right. Thank you.
[14:51] » Oh, no. Please go ahead. Okay.
[14:58] » Hi. Uh Jessica Gino, 8 Mountain View
Avenue. Um, I haven't spoken on this
[15:03] before. So,
>> um, I know that the issue of public
[15:07] safety has been behind this a lot. What
I'd like to support is the idea of
[15:12] public safety, but public safety from
uh, surveillance operated by a private
[15:18] corporation
that does not have a great track record.
[15:22] I think the one of the founders has been
known to misrepresent or lie about the
[15:28] impacts of of flock. We have no control
over what they do with the information.
[15:34] Like this gentleman said, there's been
no issues with air police, but it's the
[15:40] behind the scenes private corporation.
And my understanding is that the
[15:44] technology
down the road can also be expanded
[15:49] potentially to facial recognition
systems, not just automatic license
[15:53] readers. That's also extremely
troubling. I would not feel safe as a an
[15:58] American citizen or especially as a
woman with that kind of surveillance
[16:04] system going on. And I know as of uh
this month 214 communities around the
[16:11] country have canled their flock cameras
systems. I take take that very
[16:18] seriously. And also if you look at the
Wikipedia entry on flock cameras or
[16:23] flack safety, you'll see among the many
instances of abuse mention a single
[16:28] paragraph on Littleton and their effort
to uh terminate their contract, have the
[16:34] cameras turned off and then finding that
they've been turned back on again. So if
[16:39] there was So that's my my I'm against
this.
[16:43] » Thank you.
>> And there you have it. Thanks.
[16:45] » Appreciate it.
[16:53] Hello.
>> Hi, my name is Kristen Feny. I live at
[16:56] 52 uh Central Street. I'm your neighbor
right there. Um I'm here today to
[17:01] express my concern about the use of
flock cameras in our town and the
[17:05] alarming rate with which they have been
installed. Um [clears throat] in
[17:08] particular tonight, I know you've heard
many comments about flock in general.
[17:11] I'd like to speak to my concerns of the
flock camera that's placed facing my
[17:15] residents. Um, my questions tonight come
from a point of wanting to understand
[17:19] why a residential neighborhood was
chosen as a location for a flock camera.
[17:24] Um, the Flock camera that is facing down
Columbia Street is facing directly at my
[17:28] apartment building as well as several
others. Every time I go to and from my
[17:32] home, I am being surveiled. Every time I
turn on and off my street, I am being
[17:36] surveiled just simply because of the
place that I have chosen to live. I'm
[17:39] being surveiled at and quite frankly an
alarmingly higher rate than many of the
[17:43] residents in this town just based off
where I live. And I'm hoping to better
[17:46] understand why this location was chosen
and what concerns you have with certain
[17:49] populations of people that make you
think you need to surveil them at a
[17:52] higher rate. Uh such as those who live
in the downtown area and are surrounded
[17:57] quite frankly by flaw cameras. Um I'm
also concerned about my safety. These
[18:01] cameras do not make me feel more safe.
They make me feel quite frankly a lot
[18:05] less safe. Um, I'd like to understand
what reassurance the town is providing
[18:08] to ensure our safety, to ensure the
privacy of our data. Um, and to address
[18:13] the many concerns that have come up with
the inappropriate use of flock cameras,
[18:16] including many individuals, mainly
women, who are being stopped by use of
[18:21] these cameras by police officers. I'd
like to think that the police of air
[18:25] would not engage in behavior like that,
but quite frankly, they absolutely can
[18:28] and they absolutely will, and they
absolutely may. The locations of these
[18:31] spot camera in particular makes it
incredibly easy for somebody to follow
[18:34] me around. to follow my neighbors around
to know where I'm coming from, where I'm
[18:38] going every time I leave my house. That
is incredibly uneasy feeling to live
[18:42] with and actually it has me
reconsidering renewing my lease and
[18:45] leaving air um in the new year. Uh
overall, I understand the need to
[18:50] increase safety in our town and that's
why I'm here. Again, these block cameras
[18:53] do not increase my feelings of safety,
especially as a single woman. They
[18:57] decrease them. I'm deeply concerned
again at the choice to continue to use a
[19:01] system that we know is bad. There are
plenty of stories. I don't need to
[19:05] reiterate them here to you tonight. Um,
again, my main concern, not only with
[19:09] the vlog cameras in general, is the
location of them and the surveilling of
[19:12] people at their private homes. I can't
even stop and pick a package up outside
[19:15] of my front door without being clocked
by your camera. Thank you so much for
[19:18] your time.
>> Thank you.
[19:31] Hi, my name's Gwen Meiser. I'm from 1A
wagon road and along with all the
[19:36] concerns that have already been
discussed, I'd also like to bring up the
[19:39] fact that a lot of the time they are
wrong. They use AI a lot and a lot of
[19:44] the time the license plates that are
read are misread or misconstrued and so
[19:49] innocent people get tickets, get um
harassed and everything like that. In
[19:55] addition, I want to um bring up again
the fact that this is a private company
[20:00] that does not um that with Littleton at
least did not accept the termination of
[20:07] the contract, turn back the um cameras
and the town actually had to cut the
[20:13] power and that may happen again. And I
do want to make sure that if that um the
[20:19] vote says that to take them down that we
make sure that they actually get taken
[20:24] down.
>> Thank you.
[20:29] » Well, at this point I would like to
deliberate. We'll take one more person.
[20:45] which is pin 24 finger away. Um, again,
I would go with the last person to take
[20:51] them down because they can be turned on.
I don't trust anybody.
[20:55] My question, too, is how do they even
get installed if we haven't even voted
[20:58] to put them on or put them up? Second,
it's invasion of privacy. It's against
[21:03] the Constitution.
We We are a constitutional republic, not
[21:08] a democracy. And I haven't talked to
anybody or heard anybody know anybody
[21:12] that's in favor of these things. Like
everything about it is wrong. Like it's
[21:16] just totally not what they say. You
can't delete. You can delete things in
[21:20] 30 days. Nothing is deleted. Once it's
recorded, it's there forever. Somebody
[21:24] can get to it. And then flock is not
just by chance because the government
[21:29] treats us like sheep, which is a flock
of sheep. So, it's a camera to watch the
[21:32] people. And we are just one step closer
brother to a 10-minute city. Yeah.
[21:39] » So, there's nothing about this that is
right and it's totally wrong. And being
[21:45] a constitutional republic, it's your
guys' job to vote for us the way we
[21:50] want. I don't even know why this wasn't
taken up to a turn election cuz this is
[21:54] some serious stuff that's going on here.
>> Exactly.
[21:57] » It should have been. And if you vote for
this, you're going against the will of
[22:01] the people. Trust me, nobody wants this.
And it's totally illegal and wrong. And
[22:09] you should you should take heed because
you guys will be paying the price at
[22:14] some point down the line if this goes
wrong. And I want them dismounted. So,
[22:18] how many do we have? $25,000. Put it
towards hiring another cop. How many
[22:22] cameras are in tile?
>> Does anybody know?
[22:26] » I think it's eight.
>> Do we know the location? Is it posted on
[22:29] the website?
>> We're we're at about time. So, I think
[22:32] » quick quick 3 minutes, but how did it
get put up without anybody saying put it
[22:36] up? You haven't even voted yet. How do
you put it up?
[22:40] » This is just insane. Insane is what it
is.
[22:45] » Thank you for your time.
>> Thank you. All right. Um I think we've
[22:51] heard plenty. Um, so I will open it up
to the uh my fellow select board
[22:59] members, opinions, thoughts.
>> Yes, J.
[23:03] » Mr. Chair, I kind of made myself known
uh at our last meeting too. Um, so I
[23:10] just want to kind of
reiterate a couple of things. First of
[23:14] all, unfortunately, the way this was
handled was bad. It was bad. I think we
[23:19] can all agree with that. Okay. So, that
being said, um I know that I've heard a
[23:23] few people arguing about the fact, well,
everybody's got a cell phone and
[23:26] videotaping, but there's a difference.
And the difference is if I'm videotaping
[23:31] something outside with my own cell phone
and you walk by, it's an innocent you
[23:36] got into my video. Now, if I'm chasing
you, that's a little bit different. This
[23:40] was government sanctioned cameras.
in the time that we have come aware of
[23:47] it
nationwide
[23:50] is having a absolute meltdown with these
things. Okay. I also I have to touch the
[23:57] the woman who talked about concerns.
First of all, I really hope that you
[24:01] decide to stay in air because we are a
good town and we are a safe town. Okay?
[24:07] I know that people are mad at Chief Gil
and the police force and everything, but
[24:11] honestly, look at it from his point of
view.
[24:14] He thought that this would be a good
thing if something would happen. This
[24:19] would be another avenue into being able
to solve whatever that crime was. So,
[24:24] let's all just remember he they're all
good guy. We got we got a good force.
[24:28] We're really really lucky. So, let's all
remember that. But I also understand
[24:32] what she's saying as you know just from
the perspective of a woman. You know, it
[24:37] it is concerning. Um, we do get stocked
when we're not, you know, we we ignore a
[24:45] lot more than what we say. Okay. Um,
so that being said, I'm just going to
[24:51] cut to the chase. I'm I'm making a
motion that the flock cameras be
[24:56] disabled,
uninstalled
[25:00] immediately. And I mean by immediately I
tomorrow morning at the latest call
[25:06] Flock and say get your over here get
[clears throat] these cameras down and
[25:11] if they say oh we can't be here for a
few days you say flock off
[25:16] » and get here anyways because if they
don't
[25:21] » so
>> they're coming to come town and the
[25:23] contract needs to be ended. So that's a
really long- winded w motion. Let me try
[25:28] to clean that up. I make a motion that
immediately the flock cameras be
[25:32] disabled, taken down, and the contract
cancelled.
[25:38] Immediately.
>> You have any comments?
[25:41] » No, I'll second it.
>> No, I before I call for a vote, I mean,
[25:45] I do want to just go over a couple
things. Um, I do want to thank everyone
[25:51] that has voiced their opinions. Um, this
is how town government is supposed to
[25:56] work. Okay. So, just anonymously
writing things on a website or, you
[26:02] know, kind of complaining to friends
doesn't get things done. This kind of
[26:05] thing gets done. You were heard. Um, so
I I thank everyone that took their time
[26:10] out to come up here and voice their
opinion. Um, you know, I had some great
[26:16] uh texts and emails that came in citing
uh a lot of different articles um that
[26:22] were verified. Um the constitution came
up of which you know I reviewed the
[26:29] supreme judicial court the uh
commonwealth versus McCarthy that talked
[26:34] about yes these are legal however it
it's
[26:40] if you can start making a matrix on
someone's movement
[26:44] » then it becomes illegal. So we're right
on the tipping point. Um but then you
[26:49] know I read about the heat map that was
found in Oshkosh Wisconsin where they
[26:54] found there is ability to track people
with all these different cameras enough
[27:01] that I'm not comfortable with it being
constitutional um from from my side my
[27:05] understanding. Um I do want to say again
I support air police. I've never heard
[27:12] anything bad said about air police. They
did this with the best intentions. Um,
[27:18] you know, Chief Gil said back in June,
he didn't he wants to be able to solve
[27:24] crimes and not have people victimized
once again when these um crimes can't be
[27:28] solved. So, that's how it was looked.
Um, you know, all these uh statements
[27:34] were good statements. Nothing was
against their police. Um, but I don't
[27:39] have trust in Flock. Um, so
I I can't move on with this contract. So
[27:47] at that point, we have a motion. It was
seconded. Uh, all in favor?
[27:51] » I.
>> The chair says I.
[27:54] » SO [applause]
[28:03] moving on. And I hope everyone stays
>> stay for the rest OF THE MEETING.
[28:08] » YOU CAN SEE
>> IT'S AWFUL. YOU ALL LIKE VACATE LIKE THE
[28:12] MOVIE'S OVER. LET'S GO. YOU KNOW,
>> thank you.
[28:16] » Thank you.
>> They don't even stay for the credits.
[28:21] » And just for the record, too. And off
record, they can they do use it for
[28:25] people. They zoom in on people walking
and stuff and get their identities and
[28:28] stuff. So,
>> good thing it won't matter in air
[28:31] anymore.
>> Thank you.
[28:33] » All right. Okay. Um, so we're going to
move to um a proposed tree preservation
[28:39] bylaw by um our conservation agent,
Heather Hampson.
[28:45] » Thank you.
>> Hopefully what I have for you is a
[28:48] little less controversial. One never
knows.
[28:50] » You never know. [laughter] Yes.
>> Uh like for the record, uh Demo knows
[28:54] I'm Heather Hamson, the conservation
agent for the town of Air. And what I
[28:57] have for you this evening is a draft uh
tree preservation bylaw uh for the fall
[29:02] town meeting.
Um so first why we're here um just a few
[29:07] key points if you look at some of our
key uh plans in town including the
[29:11] master plan and our MVP plan both make
reference to the ability of the town
[29:17] that require and the ability not ability
but the uh thought of the town to have
[29:21] be more uh flood protection
um excuse me I'm sorry I I do
[29:28] presentations all the time I wouldn't be
nervous but here I am a room full of
[29:31] people as if it's town
um increased wildlife habitat, flood
[29:36] protection, clean water, um heat
drought, flooding, heat resiliency, all
[29:41] those are listed. Trees help with all of
those things. Um the town, as some of
[29:45] you know, we have three pocket forests
in town that were done through an MVP
[29:48] grant. Um one which is up on East Main
Street. If anyone has a chance to go
[29:52] look at it, it's actually flourishing
quite well. um in both the site plan
[29:58] review regulations and our OSRD and I
apologize for the one typo. I noticed
[30:02] that this morning. Um both give
reference to the fact that we do need to
[30:06] have identified tree identification and
mitigation though specifics for those
[30:10] aren't listed within those regulations
and bylaws at this time. Currently the
[30:14] conservation commission um when I
started we drafted a tree policy for
[30:18] applicants that's actually stricter this
proposed bylaw that does get um utilized
[30:23] and done on site when those projects do
come forward.
[30:27] Um for a quick summary uh this propos
what we're proposing would only pertain
[30:32] to site plan storm water management
permits and the OSRD um bylaws. It
[30:38] should not affect individual residents
as it's strictly main to do for more
[30:42] larger development.
the it'll actually the the tree
[30:46] protection fil will only take effect in
the limit of work. It will not be for
[30:50] the entire site. It would only be for
the amount of work that the limit of
[30:53] work of a proposed project. Um the trees
[31:00] sorry I know I had this practice several
times. Uh so we will have a tree
[31:04] mitigate we have a mitigation for to
trees that are removed. So if any tree
[31:08] that does need to remove there'll be a
mitigation plan for those. Um, it'll
[31:12] help create a funding source for our
tree management plan. If anybody knows
[31:15] that it exists, I've gone through a few
times. It'll create a funding source to
[31:19] help us implement that plan that the
town created back in had done in 2021.
[31:25] Um, the focus and purpose of the of this
uh bylaw will be to
[31:31] it will help to encourage the pre uh pre
preservation and protection of trees on
[31:36] a developmental site. When I say certain
trees, we limit the size of a tree that
[31:40] needs to be reviewed and replicate to a
certain size. And there is um
[31:45] definitions on what kind of tree. We
will not allow for um
[31:51] the the we define what type of trees
that will be preserved. It does not
[31:54] count to ones that are disease, dying,
invasive items like that.
[32:01] The any tree that is removed in the
protected area will have one of it will
[32:05] have multi will have different uh
mitigation options that the applicant
[32:08] can follow. The goal of the bylaw is to
retain mature trees on a development
[32:13] redevelopment site.
And next slide goes through what some of
[32:18] the mitigation options are um to show
that we're we're looking to do a variety
[32:24] of replications depending on the size of
the tree. Um
[32:29] and
[32:35] so the the mitigation fund will be if
you some of you are aware of the
[32:38] inclusionary housing bylaw that we have.
If people choose not to do the
[32:41] affordable housing, they mitigate into a
fund and then we'll help the town to uh
[32:45] supply affordable housing. This will do
something similar to give some people
[32:49] some reference. If people do not choose
to do the mitigation, they contribute to
[32:52] a fund and then that fund can be used by
the town to plant more street trees
[32:56] throughout the town.
[32:59] There are exemptions to the bylaw. Those
are listed here. Like I stated before,
[33:04] diseased uh dead or diseased trees, non
um native species like the Norway maple.
[33:11] The state does have a uh list of trees
on their website of um that we don't are
[33:16] prohibited trees and plants to be done
in town. Norway maple uh in the state
[33:20] Norway maples are listed on there. Um it
also has some exemptions including uh
[33:26] large scale solar projects which do have
a mitigation uh decommissioning plan
[33:31] already in our current bylaw and to um
affordable housing of up to a 25% which
[33:36] would be more like your 40b projects.
These would not this bylaw would not
[33:40] pertain to them.
Some examples of what we already
[33:44] currently have in town and how this will
help with that. the uh section uh the
[33:49] tree clearing section of the bylaw the 9
site plan the 9.61 61 specifically has
[33:56] it listed in there that the pro the
purpose of that section of the B section
[34:01] is to protect the specimens of trees and
forested communities and to keep them
[34:05] removed from site but it doesn't give
the detail of what size tree what needs
[34:09] to be replanted or anything like that.
This new bylaw will help give more
[34:13] guidance to applicants on that side.
Same with the OSRD rules and regulations
[34:18] state that we need to do a 12-in
diameter tree shown on plans. What we're
[34:21] asking for now is six, which is similar
to what the conservation commission
[34:25] currently already does. Um, which we do
have a mitigation of a 2:1 no matter
[34:30] what tree is removed, whereas this bylaw
actually is a little bit less than that.
[34:34] Um, some examples of projects that were
done already approved in town that went
[34:38] through the conservation that had that
6-in diameter mitigation, the 2:1 was 12
[34:43] roller road that's currently under
construction. um previously approved
[34:46] Skully Road and Third Street all had
gone through the same process that the
[34:50] conservation commission has, but also
went through the planning board with um
[34:54] little to no issue with the applicant.
[35:01] Sorry. And then lastly is where we're
here tonight, what we're going to next.
[35:05] Um then we go on to the warrant.
Hopefully the vote will be to bring this
[35:10] to the warrant for the town meeting for
the fall. Um, and we'll go on from
[35:16] there. Um, if we have any questions,
gladly answer them if anybody has any.
[35:24] » I just like to highlight,
um, kind of the main thing that I think
[35:29] most people would be concerned about is
it doesn't affect individual residences.
[35:32] » Correct.
>> So, um,
[35:34] » unless a lot of residents are filing for
site plan or storm water permits, it
[35:37] should they should be fine.
>> Okay. All right. I just wanted to
[35:40] highlight that one. And I saw you had it
underlined, but I thought maybe I'd bold
[35:43] it and and state it.
>> Um, any questions?
[35:48] » Yep.
>> Okay.
[35:51] » Well, thank you.
>> Thank you.
[35:59] » Yes.
>> Yeah. Come on up.
[36:12] my my candid 180 Washington Street
thanking
[36:18] this is
I understand the sequence that it goes
[36:21] through the board of selecting to the
town you know to the town warrant and
[36:25] whatnot wouldn't it make sense to have
someformational sessions held by the
[36:29] conservation commission so the public
could understand more about the bylaw
[36:33] see the exact text instead of the
summary that we're talking about here
[36:36] and concentrate on some of the
individual features that are in the
[36:39] bylaw.
>> Y
[36:41] » Mr. Chair, um through you to Mr.
Diskin's point, I have discussed with
[36:46] the conservation agent doing some uh
public outreach to that nature.
[36:51] » Also, the board will have it will be in
your packet for September 15th. You'll
[36:56] have the proposed warrant language. So,
it has gone through an interdep
[37:00] departmental review as Heather has
worked on this. Town council's just
[37:04] doing a legal review. So, um, you will
have, as will the public without the the
[37:09] full bylaw, but we can definitely do
some public outreach.
[37:13] » Okay. Thank you.
>> I think that's a good point.
[37:16] » Thank you.
[37:20] [clears throat]
[37:24] » Yes. Danny,
>> are you coming up to speaker for your
[37:29] » Yeah. Uh, just to clarify, um, uh, Danny
Ruiz, town planner. Um, I just want to
[37:35] clarify that this is not being
specifically um, created through
[37:40] conservation. This was something that
was created internally through myself
[37:43] and Heather. Um, Heather's really been
the point person on putting this
[37:47] together, but it's not specifically
through conservation. I just want to
[37:49] make sure that's clear.
>> Okay.
[37:51] » Okay. Good.
>> And you could probably stay right there.
[37:54] [laughter]
Um so our next item is uh the vote
[37:59] regarding proposed zoning bylaw
amendment for aquafer protection zone
[38:03] bylaw.
>> Thank you Ruiz.
[38:06] » Um so the uh first proposed uh zoning
bylaw amendment that we have for um
[38:13] brought to the select board is um two
definitions. And the first definition we
[38:19] have is for the aquifer protection
district. Um I'm not sure if you Oh, got
[38:24] I have it right there. Uh so the first
definition is kind of just the
[38:28] explanation as to what the aquafer
protection district is. The zoning
[38:32] district defined to overlay other zoning
districts in the town of air. The
[38:36] aquafer protection district may include
specifically designed recharge areas. So
[38:40] the on the zoning map, it's actually
shown in a specific hatching shows what
[38:44] the area of the protection uh the
aquifer protection district is, but this
[38:49] is to clearly define it. Um as well as
the next one which is the imper
[38:54] impervious surface. We don't actually
have a definition for that. Um any
[38:59] material or structure on or above the
ground that prevents water infiltration
[39:04] to the underlying soil. Impervious
surfaces include without limitation
[39:08] roads, paved parking lots, sidewalks and
rooftops, comp uh compacted soils,
[39:14] hardpacked gravel, driveways and similar
surfaces. Um so with these two
[39:20] definitions, the reason we're adding
them in was back when the um state law
[39:26] changed from having the board of health
be the governing body of the Oxford
[39:30] Protection District uh to the planning
board. Um when that was transitioned
[39:35] over in the zoning amendments, these two
definitions were never carried over.
[39:39] They were left over in the regulations
that the board of health had. Um, and
[39:45] the board of health at that point felt
it was best to keep their regulations in
[39:50] place until this had been transferred
over to the zoning bylaw uh, definition
[39:54] section. And so now we're just trying to
get that cleaned up so that the board of
[39:58] health can then remove that regulations
off their books and um, that way it's
[40:04] all uh, cleaned up.
>> Okay.
[40:10] Any questions?
you going to be doing any public
[40:14] outreach?
>> Um, so on this one, we've discussed it
[40:18] multiple times at the planning board.
Um, we we can uh do a a table uh there's
[40:25] a plan to do a table at the um housing
forum to do some of the to have some of
[40:30] those zoning amendments on there. Um the
uh cuz there's potentially going to be a
[40:35] couple others that will come to the
select board. Um, but we are just
[40:39] currently working on some of that
language with town council. Um, so all
[40:44] of those will be put together and that
way we can kind of discuss it with
[40:47] anyone who has questions at that point.
We'll also have them during the planning
[40:50] board as well.
>> Did you say the Newton Street Fair too?
[40:54] » Um, the housing, but if the
>> Yeah, because Yeah, because there's
[40:58] people that'll attend that that don't
necessarily pay attention to what you're
[41:02] saying here. Yeah. And so that's that's
great.
[41:05] » Okay.
[41:08] Do you need a vote?
>> I Yes. I believe also I think that um
[41:13] the general bylaw the tree preservation
also needs a vote.
[41:16] » No.
>> No. Okay.
[41:18] » Mr. Chair.
>> Yes.
[41:20] » Um just uh through you. So the tree
bylaw just declare is a general bylaw.
[41:26] So it does not require a vote by the
board at this time. In other words,
[41:30] we'll do the public outreach. it will
come back to you for consideration to be
[41:35] put on the warrant. This uh that Mr.
Ruez just brought up because it's a
[41:39] zoning bylaw, we would be looking for a
vote from the select board to refer it
[41:45] to the planning board for public hearing
cuz all zoning bylaws require a public
[41:50] hearing with the planning board and then
the planning board will report back at
[41:55] the approval of the warrant. Okay.
>> And that public hearing is on September
[42:00] 8th. September 8th.
[42:09] » Okay. So, I'll make a motion
that the zoning amendment to the section
[42:16] 2.2 definitions as presented be
forwarded to the planning board.
[42:24] Second.
>> Okay. Um, all in favor? I
[42:28] » I
>> chair says I
[42:30] » Thank you.
>> Thank you.
[42:34] » Thanks.
>> Okay. Um we have the DPW director's
[42:38] report.
>> Good evening, Mr. Chair. The board
[42:42] members, uh Dan Scott, public works
director. For those who don't know, the
[42:48] first item I have for business is a
petition for street acceptance. And it's
[42:52] been a couple years since we've had one
of these. Um so just as a reminder,
[42:56] there's several steps. And the first
step is for the board to vote intention
[43:00] to lay out the street. So the one we're
talking about is Coler Place. It's also
[43:06] known as Rightway Extension. It's a
short extension at the dead end of
[43:09] Rightway. Um and the developers actually
here present as well, AJ and John. So um
[43:16] they have been working closely with DPW
over the past probably almost year now
[43:20] on getting the the um street ready for
acceptance. So the punch items have been
[43:25] substantially completed. Um and so the
first step of this process for the town
[43:30] to take it over would be a vote for the
select board of intention to lay out the
[43:34] street. From there the board asks the
planning board for a report on the
[43:40] current status and uh and there and it's
planning board's recommendation and then
[43:45] there's a few more steps comes back to
the select board and then eventually
[43:48] town meeting would vote on it. Um so DPW
is recommending that you move forward
[43:54] the board tonight and vote to intention
to lay out um right road extension as a
[44:00] a public road.
>> Well, you already answered my question.
[44:04] Are you in favor of it? So
>> yeah,
[44:07] » you answered my one question. Any other
concern?
[44:13] I'll make a motion that the select board
vote the intention to lay up Colar Place
[44:18] subdivision also known as right road
extension as a public way and refer the
[44:22] proposed layup to the planning board for
its report there.
[44:25] » Second.
>> All those in favor?
[44:28] » I chair says
>> all right. Great. So I'll um we'll send
[44:32] the memo DPW will to the planning board
and continue with them and then report
[44:36] back to the select board at a future
meeting.
[44:40] Okay. The second item on the DPW agenda
is a request for letter of support. So
[44:46] this um this came up at a previous
meeting with the the shade structure at
[44:50] the air dog park and I got um the
support of the select board to work on
[44:55] this project. And so since then um
myself working with Robert the town
[45:00] manager have submitted an eligib an
application for determination of
[45:04] eligibility for CPC funding. and we met
with CPC August 5th. From that meeting,
[45:11] they set to continue. Um it is eligible
and go forward with a full application
[45:16] to CPC. And so as part of that
application, um it does require
[45:21] submissions of support letters. So I'm
here tonight asking the board for a
[45:25] letter of support. Um I do have a copy
of it. I think it did make it into the
[45:29] packet as well if the board is willing
to to sign that support letter.
[45:35] » All right. Um, any comments?
>> Really need this.
[45:39] » Okay. And it was kind of promised years
ago when it first opened and you know,
[45:45] things happened, didn't happen. Um,
there have been residents that have
[45:49] asked for it over the years and then to
be honest, I started taking my dog here
[45:53] and I really started um poking the bear
myself. Um, but I mean, seriously, it's
[45:58] I had to buy an umbrella similar to the
ones that we use at town meeting
[46:02] [snorts] um to clip onto the chair. Um,
but I mean those things are so hot, you
[46:08] really can't. And I think that if we add
this, if the shade is taken care of and
[46:13] and who knows, maybe we can find a tree
to plant or something. Um, I think
[46:17] you'll see even more people use it. And
it really is a nice little dog park. So,
[46:21] I would like to make a motion that the
select board approve this motion to this
[46:27] letter for the dog for you.
>> All right. All those in favor?
[46:31] » I chair says I. Yeah. And and as part of
the application, we have so since the
[46:35] dog park was constructed, there's been
four trees that have had to be removed
[46:38] because they were dying or dead. So,
we're going to include replacement of
[46:42] those four trees as well as the
>> I'm going to keep the dog park people
[46:45] notified.
>> Yeah,
[46:46] » they I've already told them I'm going to
put a sign on that bulletin board that's
[46:50] saying this is what's going on and if
you need to show up, this is when and
[46:53] where you need to show up for. So, I'm
keeping them posted.
[46:57] » Good. All right. The next few items,
they're all change orders. They're all
[47:01] for signature by the chair. Um the first
one is related to the Bishop Road water
[47:06] main extension project and there were
changes um related to drainage
[47:12] infrastructure um as well as uh water
service and fittings that were required
[47:16] for the project and it increased the the
time of the project contract as well by
[47:21] 60 days. So, we recommend moving forward
with this change order one, $28,890
[47:28] for a signature by the chair with a
substantial completion extension to
[47:32] November 8th.
>> Okay. Any questions, comments?
[47:37] » Nope. I make a motion that the board
vote to approve change order number one
[47:41] for the Bishop Road Water main Extension
Project in the amount of 28,890
[47:47] and to extend date of substantial
completion to November 8th, 2026 for
[47:52] signature by the chair.
>> Seconded.
[47:54] » All those in favor?
>> I
[47:58] did.
>> Oh, I [laughter]
[48:00] » and the chair says I thought you were
abstaining.
[48:02] » Okay. [snorts]
I said draw the line. [laughter]
[48:06] » I said seconded and for some reason I
thought it was done.
[48:11] » Okay. [clears throat]
>> Okay. Uh the next item three, Mr. Chair,
[48:16] is um the final change order for the Mil
Street drainage project. Um this was a
[48:21] drainage project which was substantially
completed. We did have some issues with
[48:25] the drainage when it was finally put in
place and we saw was going on out there.
[48:29] So, we did some modifications to improve
the functionality of the drainage. Um,
[48:34] replacing castings from 6 in high to 4
in high to get better flow. Um, and the
[48:40] the change order also does include
balancing of our estimated versus actual
[48:44] quantities. So, we recommend moving
forward with change order 2 for $8,1474.
[48:53] » Seconded. I mean, shoot. I'll make a
motion board vote to approve change
[48:58] order number two for the Mil Street
Drainage Improvements Project in the
[49:02] amount of $8,1474
[49:05] signature by the chair.
>> Seconded.
[49:08] » All in favor?
>> I
[49:13] the chair says I.
>> All right. [sighs]
[49:15] Um the the final change order on our um
agenda here is rightway sewer pump
[49:21] station project. Um and so during the
project we did have delays. There was
[49:26] some um issues. We had challenges with
national grid and the electrical
[49:31] connection. So we had to run our sewer
bypass longer than anticipated uh as one
[49:35] of the items and also some restoration
items we we went over quantity on. Um so
[49:40] we do recommend moving forward with
this. We have it in the budget the um
[49:44] change order for $20,50.31.
[49:49] » Okay. Any comments, questions?
I'll make a motion that the board vote
[49:53] to approve change order number two for
the rightway sewer pump station upgrades
[49:57] project in the amount of $20,50.31
for signature by the chair.
[50:03] » Seconded.
>> All right. All those in favor?
[50:06] » I.
>> Yes.
[50:07] » Chair says I
got
[50:10] » Thank you. [laughter]
That's all for tonight. Appreciate the
[50:13] dog.
[50:17] » All right. Um, we have the town manager
report next.
[50:23] » Mr. Chairman, uh, members of the board,
good evening. Um,
[50:29] you have the warrants.
You have the warrants in your packet uh
[50:34] that have been reviewed and approved
since uh the board last met. Uh in terms
[50:39] of the administrative update, since the
uh board last uh met, um as the chair
[50:46] touched upon, the election is tomorrow.
Uh early voting um has been very
[50:51] successful as always from the town clerk
and and her team. Uh we'll talk
[50:57] momentarily on my second item. We're
obviously in the full swing of fall
[51:02] special town meeting uh preparations.
Um, and we're beginning to be prepare
[51:08] the process for the FY uh 28 uh budget
process as well. I do want to just make
[51:15] a plug to mention again that the Newton
Street Festival will be on Saturday,
[51:20] October 3rd from 10:00 a.m. to 300 p.m.
And we will be ramping up uh the
[51:26] promotion for that uh great uh community
event uh now that we're uh in September.
[51:32] Um coming attractions. So for September
15th, for your meeting on September
[51:36] 15th, um Mass Development uh would like
to come before the board uh to make a
[51:42] brief um presentation on their recent
Vixsburg Square uh buildings condition
[51:48] assessment and to discuss uh with the
board um the planning uh for a super
[51:55] town meeting. As Selectman Livingston
mentioned at the last meeting, we know
[51:59] one is coming uh for the spring, early
spring, I think of 2027.
[52:06] Uh but as far as content and so forth,
that'll be that discussion. Uh my goal
[52:11] is also to have for the board uh as
mentioned earlier um like the tree bylaw
[52:17] and so forth to have sort of a draft
warrant with the text for the board and
[52:22] you know the public as we move forward
on that. Um, unless there are any uh
[52:27] questions, administrative questions from
the board, uh, I just have a couple of
[52:33] updates, action items. But before I do
that, I just wanted to mention that um,
[52:39] today marks the 2-year anniversary of
the closure of the Nohoba Valley Medical
[52:45] Center, which was on August 31st of uh,
2020.
[52:50] four and it's been 2 years.
The building remains vacant. We lost 5
[52:59] to 100 to 600 jobs. Those are still
gone.
[53:03] Um, we're looking at based on
preliminary estimations at an impact a
[53:09] loss of approximately
uh, and don't quote me on this, but
[53:13] approximately $275,000
in revenue that would have come from a
[53:19] fully functional hospital will now have
to be spread across um, all of the
[53:24] taxpayers. Um, additionally, our fire
department and our emergency response
[53:29] folks, which are second to none, are
working around the clock going to now
[53:36] Lemonster or Emerson, which is further
more time, more costs. granted the state
[53:44] uh did authorize the $5 million to the
emergency response system, but it's
[53:50] important to note that we the chiefs
have estimated we need approximately
[53:56] $9.5 million over the next two fiscal
years. So, in the future, I'd like to
[54:01] discuss with the board, not tonight, as
well as some of our other towns um an
[54:06] approach for that second piece of
funding because the costs to the
[54:10] emergency response system are not going
um away. Uh lastly, the satellite
[54:16] emergency facility, which any investment
in healthcare infrastructure, no matter
[54:21] where it is, um is welcomed and it's
scheduled to open in February of 2027.
[54:28] However, and this is no more power to
UMass Memorial for what they're doing.
[54:34] Um, but it remains unclear that that's
going to solve the problem and so forth.
[54:39] Uh, we have not heard anything from
Apollo that owns the the property as far
[54:45] as future plans. So, I just wanted to
bring up I think it's important because
[54:49] it's been a significant impact uh to not
only the community and the region. Um,
[54:55] and you know, when it was closing, there
was all of this rhetoric, you know, from
[54:59] the state that we're here for you and
you know, all of these things are going
[55:03] to happen. And I'm not begrudging the 5
million, which all of it obviously
[55:07] didn't go to air. Uh, but the healthc
care situation has not not only not
[55:13] changed, it has improved out here. So, I
appreciate the board just letting me
[55:17] bring that um up for the record. Um and
we remain committed as I know many do
[55:23] for the future of that site. The
question is funding operator in dealing
[55:30] with the poll.
>> Did we ever get any response to our 37
[55:35] letters from the 16 communities?
>> No response.
[55:38] » Did we talk to the post office? Maybe
they're in the back room and and they've
[55:42] just gotten lost or something.
>> Yes.
[55:44] » Nothing.
>> Letter 38 is going to be the one.
[55:46] » Huh?
>> Letter 38.
[55:47] » That's it. That's it. We We need letter
38. that's going to tip it over the
[55:50] edge.
>> That's good to state on record again how
[55:53] many times we've reached out to the
governor and heard nothing.
[55:55] » Sounds fair.
>> So, I I like to keep on bringing that up
[55:59] as much as possible.
>> And I got to and I got to bring up and I
[56:01] know I'm I'm interrupting the town
manager's report and I appreciate his
[56:05] patience, but you know, you have some uh
officials uh who were not in this
[56:10] district, okay? um that you know a
couple months ago thought the problem
[56:14] was solved because you know this
facility being built built and brought
[56:18] and now all of a sudden they're like oh
yeah I'm keeping my eye on it. Um if you
[56:22] can't say you were keeping an eye on it
a few months ago then I don't want to
[56:26] listen to you. Not in this district.
It's not this person's not in this
[56:28] district. So
and Mr. Chair I think the final point
[56:33] which and I went on record of saying
this and I'll say it again. the fact
[56:39] that recently that the governor is going
to has been authorized they're going to
[56:44] take the Norwood Hospital by eminent
domain. I think it's important to note
[56:50] that in July July of 2024, a month well
a month before the closure, people from
[56:58] this community, including myself,
including others from other towns, that
[57:03] was one of the things we're pressing for
is take it by eminent domain. UMass
[57:08] could at least operate the emergency
room and as the moniker there were
[57:12] crickets that that can't be done, etc.,
etc. one of the very models then in
[57:17] October will give you the same
consideration.
[57:20] Now we see fast forward two years in
Norwood and I'm sure there are different
[57:26] variables or rhetoric to it but that
exact model is being done in Norwood um
[57:33] but not in the show. And I think that
just um it just goes to show that two
[57:39] years ago, if there had been a will and
leadership on the state level that has
[57:44] the capacity and the powers to do this,
we might have been in a different
[57:48] situation.
>> They're inside a 128.
[57:51] » Yeah.
>> Okay.
[57:52] » Yeah.
>> So, um in the interest of time, so the
[57:55] town meeting update again the 15th,
you'll have um more of a a draft of the
[58:00] warrant. Just want to pull put out there
again, October 2nd at noon is the
[58:06] deadline for warrant articles and
citizens petitions to the town clerk.
[58:11] Um, in terms of what we're looking at,
and I put it in my memo just briefly of
[58:16] the topics of of art potential articles.
And of course, as the board knows, this
[58:21] is a work in progress. Some things may
happen, not happen, change. Um there are
[58:26] some uh housekeeping um articles needed
um having to do with the DPW, the water
[58:34] enterprise fund. There is a prior year
bill uh which we'll talk about in more
[58:38] detail at a future meeting for the
spectacle pond pumping station. Uh there
[58:43] is the potential for the need for an
appropriation from the water enterprise
[58:48] fund for the green sand filter media. uh
wastewater enterprise fund uh for the
[58:55] receipt of private funds uh for the
rightway pumping station. These are all
[58:59] under development right now by DPW um
including for the wastewater enterprise
[59:05] fund the receipt of um some funding uh
for Nawyer uh for some upgrades there.
[59:11] as mentioned the community preservation
uh fund potentially the air the aird dog
[59:17] park shade structure uh the general a
general bylaw on the tree preservation
[59:22] bylaw. Uh there is another uh for the
15th I believe the deputy chief uh
[59:29] police
is a proposal for a general bylaw
[59:32] amendment to prohibit uh those fry
currency ATM machines um in the town. Uh
[59:39] Westford recently did this as you
probably watch. Most people don't do
[59:44] transactions in cryptocurrency and when
they do it often prays on vulnerable
[59:50] populations and so forth, but I'll hold
that for the the 15 police to do the due
[59:55] diligence on that. Uh we're looking at a
potential zoning bylaw amendment for a
[1:00:01] moratorum on data centers up to two
years. You may have seen this happening
[1:00:07] now that this issue with data centers
nationwide is come to the forefront very
[1:00:14] quickly is allowing some more time for
the planning board and for the town as a
[1:00:20] whole to fully get one's arms around
this issue and and see what makes best
[1:00:26] for the future. Yes, you see on the news
huge data centers and people have said
[1:00:31] well we don't really have the land for
that in air but as a board is probably
[1:00:34] where there have been some small data
centers as one in Lowel recently that
[1:00:39] has created all kinds of neighborhood
issues. Um the aquifer protection
[1:00:45] district which you heard tonight um
there was going to be potentially a
[1:00:50] zoning bylaw amendment for changing the
AMI uh for the affordable housing.
[1:00:56] However, that a study is required by the
state for that and we may not have the
[1:01:01] time on that, but at the time I put this
together as a placeholder. And then of
[1:01:06] course the street acceptance. So those
are under development. On the 15th,
[1:01:11] we'll have uh more um substance and of
course we'll keep uh the board and the
[1:01:16] public updated as there may be new
articles or citizens petitions.
[1:01:24] the budget calendar. Uh not looking for
again any unless there's any questions
[1:01:28] from the board since we last met. I did
send it to all departments uh to review
[1:01:34] and offer input and it also has been
sent to the finance committee uh to
[1:01:39] review and for their um input and they
are meeting I believe tentatively on
[1:01:44] September
17th. Don't hold me to that but we're
[1:01:48] going to talk about that and then we'll
come back um to finalize that. Some of
[1:01:52] the committees that are listed in the
budget calendar are going to be having
[1:01:56] their first meetings for the year in
September. So, we'll have some of those
[1:02:00] dates as well. Unless there's any
questions on the budget calendar from
[1:02:04] the board. The last item wanted to get
on the radar screen at least is your
[1:02:10] November schedule. So, normally you
would meet the first and third Tuesdays
[1:02:15] of November, uh, which would be November
3rd and November 17th. There's no issue
[1:02:20] with November 17th. In fact, that's the
night we're planning for the tax
[1:02:25] classification hearing uh with the board
of assessors. However, um November 3rd
[1:02:31] is the election and per the secretary of
state, there supposed to be no public
[1:02:35] meetings in a polling place during an
election. So, the board doesn't have to
[1:02:40] tonight. It's the perview of the board.
I just want to flag that that we'll need
[1:02:44] a different date for that first meeting
in Nobel. All right. Um, want to discuss
[1:02:50] now? Does
>> Sure. Sure.
[1:02:53] » Second or the fourth work?
>> The second would be great.
[1:02:57] » Monday the second.
>> Okay, perfect. Cuz that's the one I was
[1:03:00] going for. So,
>> all right. So, Monday,
[1:03:02] » we'll change that to Monday the second.
>> November
[1:03:06] 2nd.
[1:03:10] » Okay. Monday, November 2nd at 6.
>> What?
[1:03:15] » Day of the dead.
>> Observe. Good. [laughter]
[1:03:21] » All I heard was dead and I was like,
"What?"
[1:03:24] » So, Mr. Chair, unless there's any
questions um from the board, that
[1:03:28] concludes my report for this evening.
Thank you.
[1:03:32] » I have none. Thank you. Okay. Thank you
very much.
[1:03:36] Okay. Uh any new business or select
board member questions?
[1:03:40] » I don't have any.
>> I have none.
[1:03:44] All right. at the approval of the
meeting minutes from our last meeting on
[1:03:48] August 18th.
>> I had sent a correction um into the
[1:03:54] office that I did not call the or call
to order the meeting on the 18th.
[1:03:59] » Mr. Chair, we fixed that this morning to
reflect that you called the meeting to
[1:04:03] order.
>> Okay.
[1:04:05] » I don't think I noticed anything else.
>> Yeah. Under public input, just a very
[1:04:09] minor thing at the bottom of the first
paragraph, it's that Tavarus asked him
[1:04:13] to confirm which town meeting that he
intended the article for. I believe that
[1:04:17] was your question. I don't remember
asking that question,
[1:04:23] but
>> Oh, yes, that was me.
[1:04:26] » Yeah.
>> So, that would be Janice instead of me.
[1:04:30] It's a good question and I want to take
credit for it, but
[1:04:34] » let the record show that was all J.
>> We can make that change.
[1:04:38] » Okay, that's all I have.
[1:04:44] » I'd like to make a motion that the
meeting minutes from August 18th be
[1:04:48] approved as amended.
>> Second.
[1:04:50] » Okay. All those in favor?
>> I.
[1:04:52] » I.
>> Chair says I.
[1:04:54] » Okay. They are approved.
>> Mr. Chair,
[1:04:57] » yes. I make a motion that we adjourn.
>> Second.
[1:05:01] » All those in favor?
>> I
[1:05:02] » I
>> chair says I. Good meeting.