[4:54] Hey Chris, can you hear me? >> Yeah, I can hear you. Thanks.

[5:02] » I don't know where you want. It's right here.

[5:04] » Put right. Yeah, right over there. here.

[5:08] » 428. All right. They don't give a crap. >> All right. It's right at 6:00.

[5:18] Good evening. Uh, I call the Brookville Board of Health meeting of June 24th,

[5:23] 2026 to order at 6:00 p.m. This meeting is being held in accordance with the

[5:28] Massachusetts Open Meeting Law. The agenda was posted in compliance with the

[5:31] law and is subject to change. Please note that this meeting is being audio

[5:35] and video recorded. Uh if anyone has yet to sign in, there's a sign-in sheet with

[5:41] agendas right next. Uh let the record show that a quorum is present with Jay

[5:45] Hill, Kim Simmons, Moren Lee, all in attendance. Uh I'm Jay Hill. Uh the

[5:51] chair, >> Kim Simons, Moren Leak,

[5:56] » one. >> Gotcha. It's good. Uh, first we'll be

[5:59] moving into review of the Lester Regional Public Health Coalition May

[6:02] 2026 report. You

[6:06] » want me to read it? >> Yeah. Do you mind?

[6:13] » Hey, Brookfield May report as reported by Lester Regional Coalition.

[6:19] We have mobile food permit, Smashing Patties LLC

[6:24] at Wild Berry Acres Farm, Residential Kitchen. Sorry, these are permits

[6:29] issued. Residential kitchen bewitching bakes LLC mobile food permit Bayate

[6:36] Choose Food Truck Well permit 9 to Pello Drive annual food establishment permit

[6:44] Texas backyard barbecue temporary food permit Fior Cafe plant

[6:50] sale event temporary food permit Brookfield Orchards at Brookfield

[6:55] Freedom Fest event uh for 8:15 2026 6 temporary food permit Brookfield

[7:02] Congregational Church spaghetti supper fundraiser on 620 2026

[7:08] title five septic installer Ronald Cox RACE

[7:13] title five septic installer Roger Mandell

[7:18] septic trash hauler United Rentals North America Inc. DBA reliable on-site

[7:24] services permits pending. Title 5 new

[7:28] construction 80 fistale road well permit to Rice Corner Road. Well permit 20 Rice

[7:37] Corner Road. Title 5 septic repair three Main Street.

[7:43] Inspections conducted for May was food pre-operational Bewitching Bakes LLC.

[7:50] Food pre-operational smashing patties food routine tiptop co-op

[7:58] food routine Brookfield Elementary School nuisance reinspection for 14

[8:05] Wells Road. >> Can I read the findings and the notes on

[8:10] those? I think it's fine. I'll do that. >> And then reportable disease activity, no

[8:16] cases reported in May. Right. Uh, review and approval of

[8:22] meeting minutes. I I I have March 25th, 2026, April 29th, 2026, and May 27,

[8:29] 2026. Um, should we take these as individual

[8:34] cases? >> Yeah. Well, so I don't have March or

[8:37] April. >> Okay.

[8:39] » But I have May's. >> Okay. So, we'll move on.

[8:43] » Yeah. Still working on them. They're both three-hour meetings and question.

[8:49] » This the last meeting for May was a shorter one, so I was able to complete

[8:54] it. >> Okay. So, we'll review the meeting

[8:57] minutes for May 27th, 2026. Uh, is

[9:05] only to look those Four.

[10:18] Is there a motion to approve the minutes as presented?

[10:25] » Uh, I'll make a motion to approve the May 27th, 2026

[10:31] meeting minutes.

[10:35] » Second that. All in favor?

[10:39] » Uh, we have to have discussion first. >> Oh, my apologies. That's got them.

[10:43] » Um, two questions. I have the comment

[10:47] period. You're just saying that you listen to public comments, but there's

[10:52] nothing about the public comments. >> Yeah, the open meeting law doesn't

[10:56] require you to record what the public says during public comment. But

[11:02] shouldn't it be detailed enough to understand if a person didn't attend the

[11:05] meeting? >> From what I read on the open meeting

[11:09] law, it didn't say that we had to notoriize what was said. I didn't say

[11:13] notoriize, but summarize. Do you I I just

[11:21] curious about that. Um, and just a question under C,

[11:28] um, or C, was there, is there anything missing there before the purchase of the

[11:34] sign or is there a vote or something or is it just a discussion?

[11:38] » Nope. I purchased a sign on my own based on what Lori had told me to do because I

[11:43] contacted the um,

[11:50] what's the words? What? Who the apartment?

[11:53] » Uh, D Peaks. >> No, that

[11:56] » our highway. Sorry. Our highway. And they don't have the capability of making

[12:00] signs and Lori told me you're better off to just buy the sign.

[12:05] » I mean, we never made a vote as to refunding me the money. Um,

[12:13] which that can be a later discussion or I will just donate the sign to the town.

[12:19] Okay.

[12:23] I just with time and our meetings are only once a month. I just felt like

[12:30] I went on Lor's recommendation to purchase the sign, which I have.

[12:36] » I don't know if we want to talk about it later, but [clears throat]

[12:45] » I don't have any other comments. >> Any other discussion?

[12:49] Did you want anything notorized for what or summarized for what public comment

[12:55] is? I just went off of what open meeting law requires us to.

[13:02] » Yeah, I think that that's fine. We can look into it some more after this

[13:06] meeting, but at at this moment, we don't have the time to really dig into the

[13:10] regulations. And if if that's what you see what you've seen, I think I'm I'm

[13:14] comfortable with that.

[13:18] Any further discussion? No. Okay. All in favor?

[13:23] » I abstain. >> I Okay.

[13:29] Um I I just want to make an announcement. Um as part of the

[13:34] administrative part for the record, uh I'd like to disclose that the board of

[13:38] health received a check today from Shelby Hill on behalf of Monatorymies of

[13:42] New England. Uh I am also an owner and it was for a routine perk test at Wilb

[13:48] Brook Academy. It's a standard application processed in the normal

[13:51] course of business with no special consideration, no deviation from

[13:55] standard fees and no board decision or action required. I'm making this

[14:00] disclosure out of an abundance of caution to ensure complete transparency.

[14:04] There's no conflict of interest and I do not believe recusal for that was

[14:09] necessary. So, when I signed the warrant, it uh accepted the check for

[14:13] deposit, just so everyone's aware. Want to make that up uh out as a statement.

[14:19] Uh moving on to request to speak. Patty from Whites Landing had requested

[14:25] to be on today's agenda. Earlier today, she reached out to me and let me know

[14:30] that she regretfully had to ask for um a postponement to the next meeting. she

[14:37] would be unable to attend this evening and I told her we'll gladly move her to

[14:43] the next meeting. >> Okay.

[14:44] » So, we'll move her to the next agenda. >> Okay.

[14:47] » Uh next up, Shelby Hill from Wellbeans Cafe.

[14:51] Um before we proceed, Shel's my wife and to avoid any appearance of conflict of

[14:57] interest, I'm going to recuse myself from any discussion voting and I'm going

[15:02] to be stepping outside of the room. While I'm outside of the room, him as

[15:07] vice chair will act as the chair. Then I'll be back in when you're finished

[15:11] talking. >> Okay.

[15:18] » Jacob, do you think it's okay if I sit back here or do you want me a little

[15:21] closer? Do you think Chris can hear me or Chris, can you hear me? Or whoever's

[15:27] on there. >> I can hear fine. Thank you.

[15:30] » Okay. Um, hi. I'm Shelby Hill. I'm requesting

[15:35] a special meeting or a public meeting in July

[15:39] for the Willow Beans Cafe located at 16 Central Street

[15:47] um for the variance. Mccclure Engineering on my behalf submitted this

[15:52] on June 17th to the board of health at Brookfieldmass.

[15:57] I just wanted I had a couple of questions. Um, I wanted to clarify who

[16:03] posts the legal notices in the newspaper.

[16:07] » Board does. >> The board does.

[16:08] » You just have to bring a check uh with the total. We'll tell you the total of

[16:13] the cost and you just bring a check the night of the hearing.

[16:16] » Okay. >> Yeah.

[16:17] » Um, and who's responsible for notifying the butters? I did receive an a butter

[16:24] list. >> You are.

[16:25] » Okay. And so, >> you got to bring the green slips to the

[16:27] meeting. >> To the what? the green slips.

[16:30] » The green slips from the notification >> the certification.

[16:34] » Okay. >> Um

[16:38] so Mccclure engineering and I will do that part of it and then um so I'm

[16:45] asking for the board to put us on the July meeting

[16:51] um for that special meeting or public meeting.

[16:55] » Okay. Um, I think the only caveat is just

[17:00] check with the title 58 engineer because she has 45 days to review.

[17:06] » Okay. >> In general. So, just it's a busy time of

[17:09] year. Just verify that she thinks she'll have it ready any

[17:14] generally she'll tell us what we need to do because some of those

[17:18] could require um simultaneous review by the D.

[17:24] not always local only depending on what it is. So,

[17:28] » okay. So, is that Shelly? >> Shelley will figure it out as she she'll

[17:32] get the document, review it, and then she'll give feedback to the board.

[17:37] » But it seems like it'd be far enough away that'd be fine.

[17:40] » So, will the board communicate that to me?

[17:45] » Will you? >> Does she Does Shelly normally

[17:49] communicate with the coalition or And then they would Megan will probably be

[17:55] in touch. >> Okay.

[17:57] » Um, yes. So, I will I will start like a chain of

[18:04] communication just to make sure that when things are on their way that

[18:10] » when I find out I will send you a notification, but they they also should

[18:14] have you on the correspondence. Um

[18:18] » so when so if we're responsible for sending

[18:23] notifying the abutters then um so

[18:28] » give them for a date because you have I think you have to do it what

[18:32] » you have to be at least 10 days I think is the

[18:36] » um so we just have to wait to hear from Shelly Shelly will tell us like what's

[18:44] needed in basically her her thoughts on it based her opinion. Um

[18:50] then you we would construct the hearing notice language and you would use the

[18:56] same you know you would notify with the same notification to any letters.

[19:01] » All right. Great. >> So somebody can send you the

[19:04] » the language. >> Great. All right. Those are the only

[19:08] questions I had. I don't have any of the previous ones

[19:13] for like the language that you've posted.

[19:17] » Yeah, it's generally going to be exactly what's in the plan. But

[19:21] » but you can Yeah, >> but I can I can send an example over.

[19:26] » Yeah, if you could send an example, that'd be great. That way I know

[19:32] that'd be great.

[19:36] We'll

[19:46] follow up.

[19:51] What is the date of that meeting? >> Usually the fourth Wednesday of a month.

[20:00] So one, two, three, four. So July has five Wednesdays. So, it'll end up being

[20:06] should be the 22nd of July. >> Should be our birthday.

[20:10] » A

[20:14] that should end up being the date.

[20:20] » All right. Thank you. >> That was it. Y

[20:23] » Thank you. >> Thank you.

[20:25] » Does somebody want to go grab him, please?

[20:49] I'm return to my role as the chair. Now, >> just so you know, the meeting for July

[20:55] will end up being the 22nd. >> I was I was going to talk about that. I

[20:59] was going to ask for maybe the 29th because I have a conflict. It's my it's

[21:03] a birthday for my children. >> Okay, that's Yeah, I heard.

[21:06] » So, >> okay.

[21:08] » I was going to bring that up at the end of the meeting when we to schedule if

[21:12] possible. >> Yep.

[21:14] » But I understand other people's schedules

[21:16] » also come into play. It's not just my own.

[21:18] » Yep. >> Oh, yeah. I'm sorry. You and I both have

[21:22] to be able to be there. I cannot be there to the 29th. That's okay.

[21:28] » We'll do our best to >> Yeah. So,

[21:32] sorry. >> No, I mean I don't know what the rules

[21:36] are for days. If we look at a different day, we can look at a different day, but

[21:39] we can >> Okay,

[21:41] » push that back to later at the end of the meeting to discuss what what

[21:44] availability we have for the next meeting.

[21:46] » Okay.

[21:52] » All right. board of health member resources

[21:59] discussion for that >> uh just that every year just I hand it

[22:05] out so that people know what's required. >> Thank you for that. We both I made

[22:11] copies for everybody as well and you have uh that in your packet

[22:17] and the same for uh the legal manual with the duties. Uh, next up, board of

[22:24] health clerk job duties, hours, wages, discussion, and posting of board of

[22:28] health clerk job position discussion.

[22:34] » I asked for this on the agenda. >> Yep.

[22:36] » Because um my understanding, even though we have

[22:40] no minutes for that meeting yet, but my understanding was that the order of

[22:45] health clerk position was interim, but I didn't see it get posted.

[22:51] I also didn't see on the video a wage discussion.

[22:56] So, I'm kind of curious what's the status there and what's going on there.

[23:02] Uh, as far as I know about the wages is that Lori said that she can make that

[23:07] determination

[23:10] and that the board didn't actually have to take a vote on that for the interim.

[23:18] The reason it hasn't been posted yet is because we have to talk about it as a

[23:22] board and there were extensive agendas as far as I

[23:27] know prior.

[23:32] We do need to get it posted.

[23:37] Um, did we bring any previous job duties

[23:46] of the position?

[23:50] There's a vote board voted on um the job description long time ago. I think I

[23:58] have a copy. Should be on the computer.

[24:05] could be with the M series as well.

[24:12] Copy I have. Okay. Is this something that we want to continue with? Is the

[24:18] same exact um

[24:25] please use

[24:28] » I'd like to review it before we go to anything. I know

[24:32] » be a personnel board. We don't have one now. But

[24:36] » yeah, in my discussions today with uh >> I think that the job description is

[24:40] pretty basic. I think the prior board Chris had uh taken it to that board at

[24:46] the time and they approved it. >> In my discussions with our

[24:50] » and that's what this one is, >> I think. So,

[24:53] » in my discussions with the town administrator today, she she was

[24:57] questioning if we even had the authority to hire the clerk or if it was someone

[25:01] else needed to hire them. We have the authority to hire and fire as a board of

[25:05] health. It's in the statute. >> Okay.

[25:08] » General, it's in you can see it in that legal

[25:10] » that one that you gave me. Okay. >> Excellent.

[25:13] » You can sign contracts. We can hire fire.

[25:19] » She just uh brought the question up with me. So, it was something to think about.

[25:23] Um, now that we have that, >> you want to look at it or

[25:28] » I think I'm I'm not gonna read it in the moment because I'm not really gonna be

[25:31] able to digest all the information. So, it would be something I would

[25:34] » I think we could talk about at the next meeting if we want to make a vote as far

[25:39] as posting the position >> and moving forward unless someone

[25:44] disagrees and they'd like to. >> No, I think it should be posted.

[25:50] And >> was the job description not ever given

[25:54] to Deb then? She was hired.

[25:59] » Which time? When she was hired? >> Um, she was probably given to her

[26:03] before. I just every time you come back, did you did you give them a copy?

[26:08] » No. >> I No. Okay.

[26:12] » I've never been in this position before. Okay.

[26:19] Well, it's good to know. I mean, we can get it straight and when we as the

[26:24] interim, when we hire the the uh permanent position, we can make sure

[26:29] that everything's done the right way and get the uh job description where we want

[26:33] it to be.

[26:37] I think uh part of the previous question for my attending meetings was making

[26:41] sure someone was at at meetings taking minutes. So that would might be

[26:44] something that >> Mhm.

[26:46] » we want to talk about. >> Yeah,

[26:50] absolutely. Um, you said the TRA town administrator had asked you that

[26:56] question. >> She just she wasn't sure if there was

[27:00] any conflict or anything like that. >> Um,

[27:06] I if I gave this to you this back and you can give that

[27:11] » I I have the copies too. I'll just go I'll really dig in deep back to is she

[27:17] should probably read it too. The clerk should know

[27:22] that is. So, >> okay.

[27:27] » All right. Any no motions or anything regarding that topic?

[27:31] » I thought you had a motion to post the position on the table, right?

[27:35] » No, I said I was going to review it, come back to the next meeting, and then

[27:39] we could do it. I'm not ready. I'm not ready to post with not being able to go

[27:43] through the job description at the moment.

[27:47] » Well, on there. Yeah, because it has hours

[27:51] and and uh paying

[27:57] on it. I don't know if that still all applies or if that's something we need

[28:00] to talk to Lori about before we post it.

[28:07] » I I just want to really >> because it's on there. It's in the it

[28:10] would be in >> they post like a an abridged version for

[28:14] the like the website so that it can get on the town website as

[28:18] » oh >> so people can submit their resumes and

[28:21] then we give I mean you we could make a motion that you look into that or and

[28:27] decide about the job description and if you feel like it has to change then you

[28:32] bring it back to the July meeting but if you didn't

[28:35] » right just >> why waste another month

[28:38] » I'm okay with posting [clears throat] ing it. Um, if we use a similar language

[28:43] Yeah. I mean, I don't think it's going to change drastically. So, if we use the

[28:46] previous posting that I just wanted time to familiarize

[28:51] myself with all the >> Yeah, because the board could always

[28:54] change the description if they needed to, even if somebody was already hired,

[28:57] like they you can change someone's job description.

[29:00] » I I agree with you. >> So, I would just make a motion to post

[29:05] the position. >> Okay, I'll second that.

[29:11] You mean is that your motion >> to post the position? Okay. All right.

[29:28] You have a recommendation of hours and wages for the posting because I think

[29:33] with mass law now you have to do that. Well, uh, yeah, the job description, I

[29:37] mean, the prior health clerk was making $20 an hour or just a little over from a

[29:45] annual raise or whatever they get. But that was

[29:49] the range that we had and that's probably a discussion to have with Lori

[29:53] if that needs to be increased. We increased it for the prior clerk because

[29:58] of her extensive experience in public health, you know,

[30:03] the work that she did. I'm not sure what the current pay scale

[30:08] is for Deb there.

[30:19] » So, we're saying that we need to check into that before it gets posted.

[30:24] I'd verify. I'd probably keep the range. I mean, if you're It depends on the

[30:28] experience of the person, but I mean, I think maybe the personnel board had set

[30:34] those because there's other clerks in town that we have to be mindful of that

[30:39] we're not overpaying a clerk um based on what other clerks are making in the

[30:44] town. So I think

[30:47] you know maybe you could have a conversation with the accountant about

[30:51] where things are with that and if it needs to change I mean we could

[30:57] have a follow-up discussion on that. But I I would say post it with the current

[31:01] and and then see what we get and if we have

[31:07] to continue that discussion at the next meeting, then we do. So, but

[31:13] » can we amend the motion that we have Jake discuss it with Lori prior to

[31:19] posting? And >> Go ahead. Make a motion. Well, it's

[31:25] » you can you can you can amend it, I believe.

[31:28] Well, is that like I know we like time is of the essence. We need to have it

[31:33] posted because we are an interm right now.

[31:37] Um >> I'll make a motion that Jake check with

[31:40] Lori about on the wages and then post a position

[31:47] to uh

[31:51] wages and hours. Yeah, obviously it's going to have to

[31:55] fall within the budget that they gave us for fiscal year 27,

[31:58] » right? >> Your motion is to check with Jake will

[32:03] check with Lori on wages and hours prior to posting the position. I mean, the

[32:10] board had previously was going to utilize the Lester regional

[32:16] admin for clerk services in fiscal year 27 because the coalition had been asking

[32:22] for us to fund a portion of that salary given the workload

[32:28] and in order to make the math and the funds work. you know, that

[32:34] was that was sort of what we had come up with before, but I don't know if that

[32:38] person's willing to do it now.

[32:42] » Might want to have a follow >> the one that that resigned.

[32:46] » Mhm. >> Okay.

[32:50] » And I think I think the issue there too was not willing to come to the meetings

[32:54] to take minutes. >> No, the issue is that someone scheduled

[32:57] an executive session >> and then it wasn't about

[33:02] what it was supposed to be about. Okay. >> I don't think that was the issue.

[33:07] » Oh, we don't have to. >> That was my opinion.

[33:09] » We can all have our own opinion on what issues were and

[33:13] » Okay. So, there was >> So, the motion sort of a motion.

[33:16] » The motion's on the floor for me to check in with Lori about the

[33:23] hours and wage rate uh wage scale before posting the position as a

[33:31] permanent position. Yeah, the clerk position.

[33:37] » I'll second it. >> Any further discussion?

[33:43] » Hearing none. All in favor? >> I

[33:46] » I >> I carries through. All three.

[33:50] » Um, we did not do a roll call vote or whatever on the last motion to post the

[33:58] position. Is that does that motion

[34:03] » go away now? >> Well, it was an amended. It was an

[34:06] amended. >> Yeah. Okay. So, this

[34:08] » it's the same motion just amended. >> Okay. Thank you.

[34:13] » You just describe it that it was made and a no vote taken and then amended.

[34:17] » Okay. >> Thank you.

[34:25] » Next up, uh board of health operations. This was something I asked to get put on

[34:30] the agenda. In front of you

[34:37] or in the packet included there is u three different policies to go in place.

[34:45] Um consider

[34:52] trying to streamline and organize things.

[34:56] Well, I read this.

[34:59] » Okay. >> And I don't know. I mean, you're going

[35:02] to send it to KP Law.

[35:06] » Oh, it's >> a board um generally can't adopt a

[35:12] policy that exceeds its authority >> in what part it by the statute or

[35:17] deprivives an elected member of the power of state law, you know.

[35:22] So um

[35:26] there a couple of different concepts around you know the fact that

[35:30] » where do you feel it it it goes beyond that

[35:35] » um the computer every one of us has equal power. So the computer being um

[35:43] controlled by a clerk, we all have the due fiduciary duty and write inspect

[35:49] records, audit files.

[35:54] Um you know, I guess

[35:58] » this doesn't limit though. If you read the the

[36:01] » Well, I mean, if you're >> you can request to see the

[36:04] » you can request, but that's I I I mean, it we should be able

[36:10] to do that at any time without having to ask permission from somebody else to do

[36:14] it. That's I mean, it's not >> I don't know. I'm not sure all boards do

[36:19] that in town previous to this. I thought my understanding was that not everyone

[36:24] had access to the computer. anyone in the office can get access to

[36:29] the computer. Um, and there's been emails about this and and the the email

[36:34] shared account and the board computer should be available to all.

[36:40] » Um, >> I hear you. I also looked into this and

[36:43] was instructed that this should be a board of health decision and that the

[36:49] board >> the board should should be taken.

[36:51] » Who instructed who instructed you? Uh, I talked to both the town administrator

[36:58] and it was also from the selectman. They decided to move it back to us.

[37:05] » They had a meeting. >> I don't know if they had a meeting.

[37:10] » Who did you talk to in from the select board?

[37:12] » Uh, it was shared with me secondhand.

[37:25] I think the concerns are

[37:30] things happening to the computer, things getting moved.

[37:34] There have been concerns raised to me >> or what

[37:39] » things being accessed and moved in the computer.

[37:48] [clears throat] including searches for people that are not before the board for

[37:52] any reason.

[38:01] » So >> you can research anything you want. You

[38:03] don't have to it has to be a matter. You can look for records. If you want to

[38:07] compare a record to another record to see

[38:11] how that was handled, you can certainly research that.

[38:14] If it's if it's related to things that's before the board, I agree.

[38:20] » But if it's not anything before the board or anything that we're handling

[38:26] if I agree with that. I think any any files are subject

[38:33] to being able to be inspected or audited by a board member.

[38:39] I think that power is granted to us through the state. I I would agree with

[38:43] with that if you're if it's for board of health reasons.

[38:48] Absolutely. >> What are you talking about? What

[38:51] wouldn't what wouldn't be board of health in the board of health computer

[38:54] and office? >> I not I'm just saying

[38:58] » like there would be nothing else in the office other than board of health files,

[39:02] right? Uh, yes. But if there's no nothing for the board with with certain

[39:08] things,

[39:12] » I guess I I'm not following you. Could you be more specific?

[39:21] » So, anyways, to to continue on, um, these three policies

[39:28] have been drafted to to look over. I have no problem if we put them before KP

[39:32] law.

[39:35] » Well, you know, there's >> if that's what if if that's

[39:41] » the question is does the board have statutory authority to adopt the kind of

[39:44] policy? Does it conflict with state law in any way? Does it materially in

[39:50] interfere with you know a board member's duties?

[39:53] » Yeah. And I don't think anyone who does, >> you know, does a does a board does a

[39:56] chair have the right to say to the other board members that they can't inspect

[40:00] records or can't communicate with other departments? I I feel like that's a

[40:05] pretty big overreach. >> I don't think this does any of what you

[40:09] just said actually. Um >> Well, I'm just saying the all official

[40:13] board of health business involving the board clerk, other town departments or

[40:17] external parties shall be directed through the chair.

[40:20] » Yep. But you're the your your authority is to manage this meetings. It's not

[40:25] » it's not it's not my >> I'm not saying you like in general,

[40:29] right? Like I'm you are the chair right now. So I'm just saying you

[40:33] » but >> I don't think you and I and I if I

[40:37] remember correctly like boards can't make rules that future boards have to

[40:41] adhere to, right? Like so the composition changes.

[40:46] It's um >> I I definitely think it should be looked

[40:53] at from a legal perspective because

[40:57] » um I definitely need some more time to review and then in the meantime if it

[41:03] can be sent to PG law for their feedback.

[41:07] » Yes. That way um we can come back with their

[41:14] feedback and then our feedback. >> Yep.

[41:17] » I definitely need some more time. >> That's why I kind of anticipate I I

[41:21] don't want you to make a rush decision. So

[41:23] » because I I honestly like the Robert's rules of order, I'd have to look into

[41:30] that as well. >> Yeah. Generally speaking, the open

[41:33] meeting law is what we're required to follow. Robert's rules, just so I I'll

[41:39] just say it. Robert's rules is for board me boards that are over 12 members in

[41:44] size. Technically, Robert's rules has no uh provision in it to hold public

[41:50] comment and things like that. So, I would look

[41:53] into it a little more before you settle on thinking

[41:56] » there is. So, open meeting law doesn't control how you run the meeting.

[42:02] Robert's rules of order is a I know but a way we're only three member board.

[42:06] » Just let me finish. I let you finish. Thank you. Um there are there's a

[42:10] relaxed version that you can use for a smaller board.

[42:14] » So it was a recommendation to help with how things are done.

[42:19] » And again, everybody has the right to review these and then we'll we'll

[42:24] discuss them again.

[42:35] I would like to uh there's a lot of policies. So,

[42:39] » well, there's three of them. >> I mean,

[42:42] » I think it's needed. >> We have three regulations.

[42:49] That seems like it was a lot for people.

[42:59] Okay. So, we'll bring this back in July. >> Yeah, we'll move back and we'll talk

[43:02] about it in July. I would like to make a motion though um not to permanently

[43:08] adopt but to adopt for the next 3 months the the computer access policy that only

[43:15] the clerk is able to access the computer. There's been some very some

[43:19] concerns brought forth to me about about access to the computer files being

[43:24] moved. >> Yeah. I've been in to that computer one

[43:30] time.

[43:33] I asked and every did any files get

[43:38] » I'm going to stop you there. >> Okay.

[43:40] » Let's not talk to Jacob. >> I I feel like this is a kind of an odd

[43:44] conversation and you're not really >> I'm not putting any names to anything.

[43:47] I'm merely saying that there's been some concerns brought forth to me about

[43:50] access to the computer. So in >> in the sense of protection and security,

[43:57] I'm making a motion that only the clerk has access to it at the moment and then

[44:04] it will proceed further. I'm not trying to make a a permanent

[44:07] » I'm going to forward the email from a prior town administrator that stated

[44:12] that we could not do that. >> Okay.

[44:17] It's a temporary impment. >> It was a big issue a couple years ago.

[44:20] So >> may end up being a big issue again.

[44:23] [clears throat]

[44:26] » So what is your your motion is for 3 months

[44:30] » temporary access only to the clerk. That's not saying that we can't request

[44:37] things. It's not limiting what we can do.

[44:42] » Well, my problem is the clerk doesn't respond to me.

[44:47] doesn't copy me on things and when I ask for things I get them at the meeting

[44:53] instead of her just responding to me >> and that's a very valid concern.

[44:58] » Mhm. It is a concern. >> Yeah. And I think we can address that as

[45:03] well. >> I'm going to second the motion

[45:08] » discussion.

[45:13] I'd like the clerk to be able to do her job without feeling like the computer's

[45:18] being altered in any which way. And if I need access to something or anybody on

[45:25] the board, you go through the proper channel of receiving a record.

[45:34] How many days a week does she work for us?

[45:38] » At least one, but I know she's in there. >> She's in and out. She does being

[45:43] requested for things from Mike Siri often.

[45:50] » If it's an emergency needed, we I'm sure we can reach out and get the

[45:54] information. >> Well, it was an emergency situation I

[45:59] heard about and I wasn't copied. >> Is that recent?

[46:05] » Yeah. >> Or should be discussing it tonight.

[46:09] » I'm not aware of it. So, >> it went to you and to Kim on Monday at

[46:16] 1:22 p.m. and it should have gotten added to our

[46:20] agenda. >> And then here's about the computer.

[46:25] Here's an email about the computer I'm putting into the public record.

[46:29] » Okay.

[46:50] Yeah. I mean, you're right that it was only sent to the two of us. I honestly

[46:54] didn't even look in the >> Yeah, but

[46:56] » in the middle. >> Don't you have access to the Brookfield

[47:00] Board of Health email? >> I thought she was aware of it.

[47:03] » No, but that's not the point. You're looking to change it so that there's

[47:08] like >> No, it's the computer, not the email.

[47:11] » What's wrong with going to use the computer? It's the town resources.

[47:16] » I I explained why I made >> different about the

[47:18] » I explained why I made the motion. I mean, we the discussion's already

[47:23] » finished. It's >> so I have I I I'll I'll have to submit a

[47:28] request for a topic for the next meeting about some things I

[47:34] found on that computer. >> That's fine.

[47:37] » That don't relate to the port of health. >> Okay.

[47:40] » Okay. go there. >> There's no need for threats. I mean, if

[47:44] you want us, if there's concerns, you can bring them.

[47:47] » That's right. I'm saying my concerns. >> Do you have some information that you'd

[47:50] like to share with the rest of the board about something you found on the

[47:52] computer? >> Yeah, but it's not for tonight's

[47:54] discussion because it's not on the agenda.

[47:57] » Well, we're talking about computer access.

[47:59] » You're talking about a policy. >> Okay.

[48:01] » I'm not sure I can. >> Fair enough. So, discussed and ended.

[48:07] Motion on the floor is for the next three months uh temporary access only to

[48:13] the clerk. It's been seconded. Discussion is ended.

[48:20] All in favor? I >> I

[48:23] » no >> turn one carries.

[48:39] Next up, pad fees and invoices regarding um Wagdale and Tom Clark and Brookfield

[48:45] Meadow. I asked for this to get put on. It was brought to my attention that

[48:51] there is a monthly fee that is charged to each of them based off of their

[48:58] units. Wagon Wheel has 144 units at $12 a month.

[49:05] Nana Tonqua has 85 units at $12 a month and Brookfield Meadows has 61

[49:15] at $12 a month. Could you repeat that for me, please? Wagon

[49:22] wheel >> right here.

[49:28] » And this is something I I haven't had time to really investigate, and I'm

[49:31] hoping that I can lean on both of your knowledge, if you have it, what those

[49:36] fees cover, who they go to, and they're not invoiced on a regular basis. Is

[49:41] there something? >> They're they're monthly. It's it's a

[49:44] state thing and a town thing. So it doesn't we don't increase them. They'd

[49:49] have to be go to a vote at the town meeting.

[49:51] » Okay. >> Um they're pad fees. So it's basically

[49:54] the it's not like a property tax, but it's like a little location and those

[50:01] » are set um when they come into the board that are supposed to send them monthly.

[50:07] Some of them sometimes get a little behind and we have to remind them, but

[50:12] those have to go to the tax collector and then the tax collector submits them

[50:16] to the treasurer. >> So, we do invoice them regularly.

[50:20] » We don't we receive checks and there's a letter in the in the workbook that like

[50:26] describes and goes to Brenda, the tax collector. And then when you're

[50:31] preparing the warrant and the turnovers and everything once a month, generally

[50:37] at the end of the month, we can't we we have to allow them

[50:40] » to the end of the month. It's not like a first of the month thing. It's um to pay

[50:46] the the the pad fee and then you submit the letter. Basically, you're saying

[50:51] that you've received these checks and you're submitting them to the

[50:55] » So, it's not something that we like send a bill out for or anything. We just

[50:59] here. >> No, I investigated the possibility of

[51:03] how that could work if the tax collector could somehow use it, the system that

[51:08] they use for like property taxes and just really didn't go anywhere. I mean,

[51:13] it'd be a nice thing, but I I don't know the legality of

[51:17] if we could do that or um I don't even know the history so long and far back.

[51:23] It's hard to know why it comes to the board of health before the tax

[51:27] collector. That part, I don't know, but there is like a a state rules on mobile

[51:33] home manufactured home parks and there Mike Siri might have a book about it in

[51:39] the his office or you could go online and research it and learn about it. But

[51:45] it's >> it goes through all the regulations like

[51:48] they they weren't getting permitted like we were collecting,

[51:51] » right? I just didn't know >> permit fees, but we didn't have a

[51:54] permitting process. So, we did put that permitting process in place so that

[51:58] because health agents have to review those every year.

[52:01] » Yeah. When speaking with the clerk, she just said that the checks kind of come

[52:04] in haphazard at times and I didn't know if it was something that we needed to

[52:07] do. >> They kind of it'd be nice to, but um

[52:11] it's hard to police it, but >> kind of leave that. I might do some more

[52:16] investigation and bring back what I can find

[52:20] if there's anything. Yeah. >> And you might want to for another

[52:24] meeting talk about title five for the three parks because they're all handled

[52:28] differently based on the size. And if you want to understand that,

[52:32] » I'd be happy to >> go through it.

[52:34] » No problem. Thank you very much. >> Uh, next up, Lester Regional Public

[52:39] Health Coalition Advisory Board. This is a delegate nomination for fiscal year

[52:44] 2027.

[52:49] I make a motion to make Jake Hill the advisory board

[52:55] member for the board of health. >> Second

[53:00] » discussion. >> Um I'll take it. I just don't know how

[53:04] often I'll be able to make it with my schedule. Um

[53:06] » we should have a backup then. >> We typically meet on the first Tuesday.

[53:13] » Okay. >> Of every month. And I have prior

[53:15] conflict. So I >> haven't been able to attend.

[53:19] » They're usually Zoom, right? So you can >> Yeah,

[53:23] » I mean, >> but it's you got to get to some of them

[53:26] because they do talk about things that are going to affect our town. I know

[53:29] they're talking about opioid funds and >> I did see that in the email when they

[53:34] sent this. >> Um the the the software for you know the

[53:39] inspectional services. It there's a lot going on there. So,

[53:44] and it would be nice to kind of have that individual be able to report back

[53:49] what's going on. >> Yeah.

[53:51] » All right. All right. All in favor?

[53:55] » I >> I

[53:57] » I >> I'll take it.

[54:02] Uh, next up, discussion about creating a clear

[54:06] » Hold on. You need a backup. >> You want to vote on a backup member? the

[54:12] advisory. >> I'm going to nominate uh Moren to be the

[54:16] backup member. >> Um I would not like to. No,

[54:21] » I I understand. Kim already said that she's uh she's un unavailable on those

[54:27] dates. >> I don't know how long I'm going to be

[54:29] here and I don't want to >> Sorry, what was that?

[54:32] » You're I've been recalled so I don't know like how long I'm going to be on

[54:36] the board. I don't want to make any uh promises about being on any uh

[54:42] committees or boards. >> I think we can handle that at that time.

[54:47] » I can be the backup. And >> okay,

[54:50] then I'll resend my motion. I'll make a motion that uh Kim is the

[54:56] backup for those meetings.

[55:02] A >> second.

[55:03] » Second. >> Any discussion?

[55:09] All in favor? >> I I

[55:12] » I.

[55:15] » Thanks for catching up for me. >> Uh, next up, creating a clear, concise

[55:19] document covering expectations for interactions and communications

[55:22] regarding Lester Public um, Lester Regional Public Health

[55:27] Coalition. >> You have that under the advisory board.

[55:31] So, I was a little confused. Is this just in general with the coalition staff

[55:35] or the advisory board? >> It's listed as a separate thing. It's

[55:38] number two. No. No. Yeah, I see the title. You're absolutely right.

[55:42] » You're absolutely correct. It was um it was meant to be its own separate topic.

[55:47] I'm still learning uh making agendas and it being my first time. So,

[55:53] » I'm just >> You are correct with that though. Really

[55:55] what I was looking for here is um having been to some meetings prior to being

[56:00] elected um there was a lot of complaints about

[56:03] how things were handled and I feel that you know we're we were elected to

[56:09] represent the residents and and the business owners in town and that it's

[56:14] our responsibility to make sure that um while public health is still being

[56:20] the the top thing that the that things are done in a way that is

[56:30] um not necessarily friendly but open to to our um businesses and residents that

[56:36] they understand their avenues for variances and other things if there's

[56:41] regulations stopping them from doing something.

[56:46] So I think just having clear expectations for Lester on how we want

[56:52] things handled in Brookfield, >> you know, seeing as you have it under

[56:56] the advisory board, I think that's a great topic for you to take to the

[56:59] advisory board for Leicester since there's seven towns in the coalition and

[57:04] if every town is making their own rules for them to follow, like it's going to

[57:09] be very chaotic for them. So I think it'd be a better strategy to go to the

[57:16] advisory board, connect with meet the other boards in the coalition,

[57:22] get their feedback on whether these problems exist in those towns,

[57:27] » get their input on whether they think that should be something that they'd

[57:31] like to see, and then collaborate with them on developing something that the

[57:37] the staff at the coalition can follow consistently and not have to, you know,

[57:42] switch gears depending on what town they're talking to.

[57:44] » Well, I think that's that's ultimately the issue. I think what you're saying is

[57:49] is perfect. However, I think we still as a board can have our expectations of how

[57:55] things are handled in Brookfield. And I think part of the issue with the with

[57:59] where the coalition is is each town is different and has its own unique parts.

[58:04] So maybe we still we still work on what what our expectations are. I'll gladly

[58:10] bring this before the advisory board. Yeah. And then maybe if we do it from

[58:13] both angles, we can get something done at a

[58:15] » Yeah. I mean, it's been built up from >> the ground. Um and you know, it doesn't

[58:23] happen overnight and there was definitely some changes in the

[58:28] management and at Leicester Coalition over the last couple years that it was

[58:34] involved, but this has been a topic. um

[58:39] to get more consistency about process and to see how we could

[58:44] try to get the coalition members to agree on those kinds of processes to

[58:50] make it more streamlined for them keeping in mind some of the unique

[58:55] differences between the towns but trying to align it as much as possible it's

[58:59] just cohesive >> and I agree I just my

[59:02] » other coalitions are functioning pretty good

[59:05] » yeah from our and I my my only concern is

[59:09] giving up anything for in the name of cohesiveness if we're sacrificing or or

[59:16] residents are not getting the information that they need. I think just

[59:20] finding >> some sort of middle ground. I mean the

[59:23] nice thing is we're I think this is the first meeting we're at where we're not

[59:25] getting a >> any kind of complaint

[59:30] recently and I know part of that was they were training their inspectors

[59:35] » go around What's that?

[59:39] » Yeah. >> No, if you have something to share,

[59:42] please do. >> No, I'm just It's It's interesting.

[59:46] Yeah. >> What's interesting

[59:47] » that the last few meetings that we've had so many complaints? Yeah.

[59:51] No, just a >> Well, I mean it

[59:56] we have [clears throat] we don't at the moment. Um,

[1:00:00] and it's not like asking them to do anything that's outside of their

[1:00:03] » I wouldn't say we don't at the moment cuz the first agenda item wasn't in

[1:00:08] attendance. So, I don't know. I don't know what that was about.

[1:00:13] » I think it was followup, >> but yeah. So, I think talking to some of

[1:00:19] these other towns is going to be an interesting

[1:00:23] thing to see and compare how Brookfield compares to these other towns in terms

[1:00:28] of complaints and issues. And I think that that's an that's going to be an

[1:00:33] interesting metric for us to know. >> Yeah. But I think that also again that's

[1:00:38] part of that's one of two parts. The other part is we need to decide for us

[1:00:44] » how we want it handled. So, Um, I'll work on something with that too

[1:00:49] if you like. I'll draft something up and along with bringing it before the uh

[1:00:55] advisory council if I have the opportunity to do so.

[1:01:03] » Moving on next to the regional 2 public health emergency planning delegate

[1:01:07] nomination for fiscal year 27.

[1:01:19] I nominate Jake Hill for the region 2 public health emergency planning

[1:01:25] delegate for fiscal year 27. >> Second

[1:01:30] » discussion. Um this is a three member board. I think other people should be

[1:01:34] representative regardless of if they're in a recall or other things.

[1:01:38] » I've been on it and I'm >> I think we should be board

[1:01:43] » rotate. >> Yeah, I I agree with you. Rotate, but

[1:01:46] I've al already have been placed as chair.

[1:01:49] » Okay. >> Have been placed as chair and have and I

[1:01:52] took the other delegation. I I would ask that you

[1:01:56] » um >> you step up and take something as well.

[1:01:58] » We can share about >> I have stepped up for years.

[1:02:02] » Oh, then so I'm good. >> But you're still on the board. So

[1:02:05] » Okay. >> So you should take some responsibility

[1:02:07] as well. I think all three of us should take some role and responsibility. If

[1:02:12] » you don't want to do it, then that's great. Find a discussion. Do

[1:02:17] did you have another motion to make? Can we discuss what this entails? Cuz I

[1:02:23] » Yeah, they're like monthly meetings for the region 2. It's a large collaboration

[1:02:30] of towns that works on the public health

[1:02:35] emergency planning. So our ability to respond in an emergency

[1:02:40] meetings are held sometimes in Zoom, sometimes in person. They can arrange it

[1:02:46] can be kind of a distance to go to some of the meetings. So, I can't always go

[1:02:50] to the meetings and it's not a super big deal because they get minutes and

[1:02:56] there's, you know, information and most of the time the health agents are there

[1:03:00] and representing and and for the most part it's very more technical to the

[1:03:06] more trained staff in towns that have health directors and

[1:03:13] more staffing. So some of the little towns had kind of just present but the

[1:03:17] bigger towns definitely take over. But one of like an example was the documents

[1:03:22] that we had been working on. We worked on the emergency dispensing plan. We

[1:03:27] worked on the framework document last year. You recall

[1:03:32] um and we did a tabletop exercise with the police department, the fire

[1:03:36] department and and EMS. Um, we have a trailer that's parked at the highway

[1:03:44] department that is a re shared regional trailer that we would use in an

[1:03:49] emergency. And the only reason I would nominate you

[1:03:53] for being new to the board is to look so you can learn all this so that when an

[1:03:58] emergency comes up, you're going to be the primary contact as the chair.

[1:04:03] » No, I and I >> I understand that. I just

[1:04:07] » it's going to be important to know like how we set up our dispensing reviewing

[1:04:12] that that EDS plan is going to be about two or three inches thick in a binder.

[1:04:18] So I mean some of the grants that we have we get grant money. So we got a

[1:04:24] laptop that's in Mike's safe I think. Um we've got translation devices. We've

[1:04:30] gotten wheelchairs and CS and signage and we um grant money that we've gotten

[1:04:38] pre previously was like to update the trailer so we got the mice out of it cuz

[1:04:45] it had been sitting down the transfer station for years. We got new tires and

[1:04:50] shelving in it so that we have everything ready so that in the event we

[1:04:54] have a situation a train wreck in town and we've got to get or something

[1:04:59] happens in water supply and we have to get people water or we have to give out

[1:05:04] vaccinations for some pandemic or something that we can do that and we

[1:05:09] have we have um processes in place for how to do that quickly and we should

[1:05:16] it's been difficult to kind of get to this point. I mean, but we the region

[1:05:22] does have multiple events. You know, they'll have active shooter events and

[1:05:26] and different things that you go to kind of learn, you know, how to deal with

[1:05:30] various emergencies. But we should try to get some help from

[1:05:36] the coordinator there on doing some practice runs of like working with fire,

[1:05:42] EMS, police just to kind of do a scenario and and do a practice event so

[1:05:48] that we know where the dispensing areas are, we know the traffic flow for it, we

[1:05:52] know how to do the signage and just practice it.

[1:05:58] » Sounds like great stuff. Sounds like you have a lot of information there. That's

[1:06:00] why I think you would be best served. I would gladly

[1:06:04] » No, no, no. But you put the time >> started. So you just you just got to do

[1:06:08] it. >> So instead of letting that go to waste,

[1:06:10] I think if you were to do that, I'd gladly back you up and work with you on

[1:06:14] it. I mean, it doesn't break open meeting law for us to get together and

[1:06:18] » and you show me these things. Correct. >> Well, they have a website, too, so

[1:06:22] there's a lot of learning material there. So I'd start there because that's

[1:06:25] where I started when I was learning it. >> Yeah. you have the

[1:06:28] » but I I'd also recommend you just go to a meeting too because they sometimes

[1:06:32] they have them at like the Sturbridge Senior Center which is right down you

[1:06:36] know not far away. So when they're like close by it's good to kind of jump in.

[1:06:40] There's usually some good topics and then you get to meet like a lot of the

[1:06:45] coalition directors and various coalitions. You get to really meet a lot

[1:06:48] of the people you get to meet a lot of people from Mass [clears throat] Public

[1:06:51] Health and it it's good information. So, >> all right. Any more discussion?

[1:06:59] » I truly don't have time or capacity to do it.

[1:07:05] » Well, I understand. That's why I I thought as a three member board we could

[1:07:08] each take some responsibilities. >> You want me to continue until further?

[1:07:12] » I think you have a plethora of >> I don't know that they'll I don't know.

[1:07:17] They they require us to put forth the delegate for next month for the year.

[1:07:23] And so I just don't know. I mean, I guess they have a mechanism for if

[1:07:28] somebody leaves, but I don't know what that work how that works, but I don't

[1:07:32] mind >> and I appreciate that and then I I'll

[1:07:35] gladly be the backup for that. >> Okay. So, is there a new motion on the

[1:07:42] floor? >> We got to take that other motion that

[1:07:43] was on there first, right? >> Um, it never got seconded. Okay. So, it

[1:07:49] » then I'll uh I'll make the motion that Moren

[1:07:53] is the primary contact for that and I will be the second contact for that.

[1:07:59] » Delegate. >> Delegate. Yes.

[1:08:04] » And I will be the backup for that. >> Can you can you say what she we're

[1:08:08] delegating her for the motion? >> The region two public health emergency

[1:08:12] planning

[1:08:15] like an advisory board too. Second.

[1:08:23] » Any more discussion? Seeing none, all in favor?

[1:08:28] » I >> I

[1:08:29] » I. >> Thank you.

[1:08:39] Next up, the Brookfield Emergency Dispensing Site Plan. Updated contact

[1:08:44] information. Yeah, there's a plan that the state puts together. Jamie Terry I

[1:08:50] think is usually works on this and we usually update it if necessary in May.

[1:08:56] It didn't require an update this year, but the contact list will need to be

[1:09:01] updated. So, somebody's going to have to go through. It's probably a good job for

[1:09:05] um Deb to do

[1:09:11] » make a note on that.

[1:09:17] All right. Anything else in regards to that?

[1:09:21] » If she updates it, she'll just have to send it to you to have the board review

[1:09:25] » review and approve it.

[1:09:39] Next up, transfer station. uh fiscal year 2027 stickers, bags, and review of

[1:09:44] recycling fees.

[1:09:51] Time to order the bags if they haven't been ordered.

[1:09:57] Sideeliners was the vendor that we've been using.

[1:10:01] I mean, I'm sorry, the stickers and the bags. I don't know about

[1:10:08] we talked about ordering the bags like a month or two ago. Did they get ordered?

[1:10:12] » I believe they were ordered. >> Okay. Yes, the bags.

[1:10:16] » Yes, stickers. >> The stickers is something that um

[1:10:23] um Jim will pick out a color. So, it's different from this year's. Um, and then

[1:10:30] he he may be able to place the order for

[1:10:35] you. Um, or tell you like the information and then you just place it.

[1:10:41] But they need to get done soon because >> because August

[1:10:44] » August is due, so they should be getting ordered.

[1:10:48] » And then um

[1:10:53] » yeah, >> next up is the new shed grants. Did you

[1:10:57] talk about review of cyclical fees? Did you have something that you wanted to

[1:11:00] talk about? >> No, that wasn't I think that was a topic

[1:11:02] you had put up. >> I just said no. Usually you might want

[1:11:06] to sit down, Jim, but or Deb to look at the invoices and see I mean we it's the

[1:11:12] end of the fiscal year. >> I'm hearing a lot of you youu aren't we

[1:11:16] a threeperson board? >> Well, I don't know you I thought the

[1:11:19] communication was going through you. >> Yeah. Oh, absolutely. It can be or it or

[1:11:22] we can assign somebody to be the person, but that isn't the policy that we voted

[1:11:26] yet. We're holding off on that, remember?

[1:11:28] » Well, >> so as a three-member board, I think we

[1:11:31] should all have responsibilities. Correct. I'll gladly go down there with

[1:11:35] you if you want to or communicate with them. I' I'd love to learn the process.

[1:11:40] » So, we have a a recycling fee price list that's on our website.

[1:11:48] I don't think there's anything pending right now for it, but I'm I'm kind of

[1:11:52] putting the stuff out so that you know what the kind of things that they have

[1:11:56] to get done that are generally fall to the chair to do,

[1:12:00] » but um

[1:12:03] it's going to be different. That's great.

[1:12:05] » Well, I think it should be right. I mean, I think you took on you took

[1:12:08] » preaching to the choir. >> No, I understand that. I know that you

[1:12:11] you spent a lot of time doing things and and I'm appreciative of that. I I think

[1:12:16] that as a three member board, we we should find ways where we can help each

[1:12:19] other and have the board be productive. >> So, uh it's just um sitting down with

[1:12:27] Jim kind of seeing how things are going and checking in and

[1:12:32] » as far as the recycling fees go or >> Yeah. like if he's noticing that like

[1:12:40] like I think he he's made requests in the past to raise certain things because

[1:12:44] of either the recycling companies charging us more for a product or

[1:12:48] something but or or just change something. So I just

[1:12:54] » done annually or can you do it >> kind of like a meeting?

[1:12:57] » You can do it any meeting. Um it I'm just trying to get things out so that

[1:13:04] you know things that come up and about when we talk about it. But they should

[1:13:08] probably do it right right before the stickers are going out. So

[1:13:10] » right. So if the stickers had to be a decision if they want to buy this.

[1:13:14] » So my point was about the budget and why I was asking for that sheet before now

[1:13:19] was so that I was trying to get it on the agenda. It's the end of the fiscal

[1:13:22] year, so we should have been doing a review of the budget and see where we

[1:13:26] ended up. Um, making sure all invoices have been paid and that we don't have to

[1:13:32] do any kind of incumbrances. Um, and making seeing where the transfer station

[1:13:37] funds, you know, landed. You can do that next month, I think. Um,

[1:13:43] » yeah, I think sometime after. >> I mean, we have our budget and we're

[1:13:46] locked into that budget. So when we if we can't afford some of the costs of the

[1:13:51] recycling center, I mean, we try to budget for it, but if we can't afford

[1:13:54] it, we have to raise prices. So we just raised the price not too long ago on a

[1:14:01] sticker. I don't expect that it needs to be changed. I don't think

[1:14:06] » to to have in the forefront. Yeah, Cassell is like in their last year of

[1:14:10] their contract before the the you know, you'll be doing you and like you're the

[1:14:16] chair right now. >> I I get what you're saying.

[1:14:18] » The the contracting is going to be coming up and so that's going to be a

[1:14:22] conversation too and that should happen well in advance of when it's due because

[1:14:27] it's more lengthy um discussions. Um, so maybe put that on the agenda for

[1:14:35] a month or two from now to start talking about the contracts that are going to be

[1:14:41] need to done be done for fiscal year 28.

[1:14:46] » Thank you for that. >> All right. So then moving on. So nothing

[1:14:52] else feewise discussion wise? >> No.

[1:14:58] » Okay. U moving on to the new shed grants.

[1:15:01] » Yeah. So I got an extension from the state on that

[1:15:07] for a few months. So that >> Did you just get that?

[1:15:10] » Yeah. >> Okay. So I was in talk with Irene as

[1:15:12] well trying to figure it out because I knew we were down to the

[1:15:15] » Yeah, I talked to I talked to the the lady in D. They give out grant. It's

[1:15:20] just very common. Most towns are like dealing with their budget and

[1:15:25] everybody's changing memberships and everything. So every they always make

[1:15:28] things do like when towns >> Yeah. They just want to add,

[1:15:32] » but the you I checked Cle, I checked um house just to see if they sold anything

[1:15:39] like that just because we have accounts with them. Um and then I called around

[1:15:42] to some of the other boards to say like what are you doing to deal with this?

[1:15:47] And some people hire contractors, but it's very hard to do that because we

[1:15:51] can't pay them upfront. >> And and from my understanding from

[1:15:55] talking to Irene, who was the head of this was we don't pay the labor. It's

[1:15:59] just the coordinate. It's just the uh materials that is covered if we're doing

[1:16:04] that. So, >> yeah. I mean, so we have to pay the

[1:16:07] labor on that end. So, >> it's easier to just

[1:16:11] » buy a shed >> buy a shed from like

[1:16:14] » Palmer sheds has it. She She did send >> me if they're if they're willing to do a

[1:16:19] municipal account like where they bill like the municipality, right? you know,

[1:16:24] because nobody's going to put, you know, on their credit card and then get

[1:16:28] reimbursed. So, >> right.

[1:16:30] » I um Lowe's sometimes does it, Home Depot sometimes does it. I mean, they

[1:16:35] don't have to be top of the line, right?

[1:16:39] » No, I think they were what, 5,600? >> Yeah. I mean, yeah. And then, you know,

[1:16:44] and I know Jim was like, I don't want to paint.

[1:16:46] » I did want to talk about that. Not that I'm against it, but I do want to talk

[1:16:50] about how we would manage it. You have to think about the town's ability to

[1:16:53] recycle, not just someone's preference that they don't have it on.

[1:16:56] » I I 100% understand. I did I did seek his input

[1:17:02] » just >> and it's not for regular paint. It's for

[1:17:04] like toxic paints, oil based paints. >> It It was different the way that it was

[1:17:08] explained to me when I talked to the coordinator. It was

[1:17:13] » they envisioned it as a swap shed where you you don't use all your paint. You

[1:17:18] put it in the >> Oh, yeah. That would be great. And then

[1:17:20] somebody else needs some paint, they come and grab it.

[1:17:22] » That would be fabulous. >> It would be fabulous, but I don't

[1:17:25] foresee it happening that way. >> Yeah.

[1:17:27] » My concern >> is if we put a paint shed in and none of

[1:17:31] the other towns around us do, >> we're going to have a shed full of paint

[1:17:35] in No. >> No, cuz they can't get a sticker.

[1:17:39] » We have to put controls. >> Oh, no. I know they can't get a sticker,

[1:17:43] but not getting a sticker doesn't mean that

[1:17:46] paint from somewhere else isn't going to end up in those.

[1:17:49] » That's true. People can be like that. Um, but

[1:17:53] » I'm just saying people and and I could see it. You should I mean we do like a a

[1:17:58] hazardous waste day in the fall with like North Brookfield but you know I

[1:18:02] went last year and observed it and they had to turn a lot of people away because

[1:18:06] it's only a couple hours >> and the line of cars was going down the

[1:18:09] road and then they just cut it off and they don't

[1:18:13] » No, they don't take latex and stuff like that. You have to just dry it out and

[1:18:17] you can put it in your trash but driving around with hazardous waste. But yeah,

[1:18:21] you you're sitting in line for 30 minutes and then they

[1:18:24] » Sorry. You know, so I feel like they we could do more of those or look to see if

[1:18:29] we could partner with like I think Sturbridge does several of them a year

[1:18:35] and maybe there's other agreements we could kind of try to get into and um

[1:18:41] » Yeah. And my concern is just how are we going to manage it and

[1:18:46] in what what we're going to do. So one of the things you're saying is we

[1:18:49] wouldn't take latex paints. tell we it would still continue the way it is where

[1:18:52] everybody gets told to >> try out their own latex or you know I

[1:18:56] like the idea of the swap. >> Me too, but I don't think it'll ever

[1:19:00] » and I think that would drive the transfer station employees pretty crazy

[1:19:03] because then they'd end up having to be the ones drying out stuff when people

[1:19:06] don't want it, you know. >> Yeah. But if it was the

[1:19:11] um toxic kind, I mean, I think it's more important, I think, that we have more

[1:19:17] options for people to get rid of that so that they're not hanging out in people's

[1:19:22] garages. And >> I know I have a few in my face,

[1:19:25] » you know, everybody does. >> Um, what did you get for an extension?

[1:19:28] » Uh, she said she took back in three months to see how we're doing. So,

[1:19:32] » you have three months to we can explore the options.

[1:19:35] » I was asking for a month and then she came back with three. So, I was like,

[1:19:38] » so it's time to explore the options because I think the other thing that

[1:19:41] comes into play is >> what's it going to cost us to get rid of

[1:19:45] this paint once we do have it, right? >> I know, and Jim was just giving me an

[1:19:50] idea. He said it was last he remembered it was $9 a gallon to get rid of and the

[1:19:55] place that he went to before no longer accepts it. He said he wasn't sure he

[1:19:59] was >> Yeah. Clean Harbors, Safy Clean, you

[1:20:02] know, those kinds of places. And so that was my thought was like we even if we

[1:20:07] had a a situation where we're collecting it and if we teamed up with like one of

[1:20:12] the other towns that does more frequent hazardous waste days then we have a

[1:20:16] situation where we just have to yeah >> bring it to there and get on the

[1:20:20] contract and we just pay our little prrated portion for what we're doing.

[1:20:25] » It needs research but I mean North Brookfield and a couple of the other

[1:20:30] towns we all do one. just one a year. If we do several a year, we get more points

[1:20:36] for the grant, too. So, I mean, it would be nice to try to find more options

[1:20:41] and have more options for residents so it's not just one day a year that they

[1:20:45] can get rid of that. >> Yeah, I think this gives us a little bit

[1:20:47] more breathing room. We were we were concerned that we only had

[1:20:51] » I'd at least get Oh, no. Yeah. I mean, >> no. If we get an idea, I think I think

[1:20:56] the other shed will be easier to figure out

[1:20:59] » because that one's a swap shed. And just just for anybody listening, the the shed

[1:21:05] these grants are very specific. >> Like the paint shed has to be used for

[1:21:09] paint for five years before anything else and it needs to get labeled. But

[1:21:13] » you know, I think it was pushed back that you know, for us to do it, but it

[1:21:16] it was required designed by the like select board, you know, it wasn't. So I

[1:21:21] I was under the impression that they were going to, you know, manage that but

[1:21:27] because I I mean who's where's the bill coming in you know because someone's you

[1:21:31] know but it's fine I mean we can do it but I don't think it needs to be like

[1:21:37] big fancy shed you know like >> so do you want to each of us maybe do

[1:21:42] some research in this next month and at the next meeting we talk about what

[1:21:45] options >> maybe one of us research places that

[1:21:49] we'll do like a municipal >> like

[1:21:52] » okay >> agreement to you know

[1:21:53] » want to do that I can do that. >> I'll look for places to find out like

[1:21:58] you said like clean where they'll take the paint to see what it's going to cost

[1:22:02] us that way. >> Yeah.

[1:22:03] » And then that way we'll have a price point because we're going to have to

[1:22:07] figure out if we do accept it we're going to charge.

[1:22:10] » Talk to like the Charlton Coalition and different places and then they may have

[1:22:14] more ideas. >> Okay. I I still would do the North

[1:22:18] Brookfield thing every year, but the more that we can do to give people

[1:22:21] options to get rid of >> And they don't take the paint. That's

[1:22:24] the thing. I think I think still doing it is great because

[1:22:27] » Oh, I have like 10 cans of paint that I'm drying out now, you know? So, that's

[1:22:32] like >> Yeah.

[1:22:35] » Yeah. And I did hear we should put this on as another topic because there there

[1:22:41] are potential laws changing at the state level on like kind of like bottle

[1:22:46] billing time. I mean it's been like 20 years but I mean I think I think it's

[1:22:49] coming soon though. >> That would be great if we could figure

[1:22:52] out some stuff there. Um, in regards to the swap it shed,

[1:22:57] » they were looking at I mean Jim was hoping that we could get someone in

[1:23:01] there to rebuild what's there, but I just don't know how feasible that's

[1:23:05] going to be with the amount we have, but we have a little bit more time now.

[1:23:08] » I think we should try to repair that because I thought the intent of the swap

[1:23:12] is to expand the swap. We have a lot of stuff that gets stuck outside.

[1:23:17] » Okay. um the wind kicks up, we get a snowstorm, we get a big storm, you know,

[1:23:21] stuff's all over the place and and then especially if it snows and there's a

[1:23:25] bunch of stuff sitting outside, it'd be nice to clean it up so that everything

[1:23:28] is kind of contained. >> And so the idea was to have two

[1:23:32] locations whether they separate like what type of stuff is in one and in the

[1:23:36] other, >> but just to kind of add to

[1:23:39] » the ising that shed. Yeah, it's just a bunch

[1:23:44] of windows that are put together with a plastic roof, not like a shed.

[1:23:48] » Yeah. So, we need to make a plan. >> Yeah. Well, I think there's a few

[1:23:52] things, right? I I wasn't at the select board meeting about the ramp. I don't

[1:23:56] know what what decision was made on that.

[1:23:58] » Yeah. I need we we need to talk about that another meeting.

[1:24:01] » Okay. So, we can >> I've been asking for that for three

[1:24:03] years. >> Maybe we can sit down and do a master

[1:24:05] plan meeting for >> the transfer station as far as all the

[1:24:09] things that need to get done there. maybe build out a plan, a list.

[1:24:13] » And my thought would be like if if they don't get to it or there's like get it

[1:24:18] so that we're ready, we they always come up with like we need the um

[1:24:24] if we're going to put like a warrant article out. It kind of sneaks up on

[1:24:27] people, you know, and then it's like you're trying to rush to do something.

[1:24:30] But maybe prepare for that ahead of time that if be prepared to have a couple of

[1:24:36] warrant articles seeking some funds for some upgrades. There's a few things that

[1:24:41] are going to need to be done. So, >> okay.

[1:24:43] » Um, in addition to sheds like >> I'm not Yeah, I'm not familiar.

[1:24:48] » I mean, the main shed's going to need to be repaired. So, we have to

[1:24:51] » Which one do you consider the one that the one with the power? Yeah.

[1:24:54] » Yeah, the one that they're in. Yeah, the roofing I know needs to get done.

[1:24:58] » Oh, yeah. There's a lot that needs to get done there.

[1:25:00] » I know there's some volunteers of people that want to come do some work there.

[1:25:03] Um, I don't know if that's something we'd entertain. Um,

[1:25:07] » I heard there was like issues with people volunteering in the sound.

[1:25:14] » Well, I think there's a form now so that you can sign and you can be okay. So, I

[1:25:18] don't know if it's something we want to entertain, but it we we can we can add

[1:25:22] that to that master list. Um >> um to go along with that, I it's

[1:25:28] difficult to understand what is our purview and what is now the select

[1:25:32] board's perview when it comes to the transfer station because

[1:25:36] » that we have delegated them for certain things and

[1:25:40] I'm very confused as to what our actual duties are and theirs.

[1:25:46] » I can send them an email to ask them to really highlight what responsibilities

[1:25:51] are. when we get to the inspection conversation, I have a little insight on

[1:25:56] that topic that might help that conversation. Okay.

[1:25:59] » So, we can Yeah, we'll hold off for that. Uh, do you want to just jump ahead

[1:26:02] to that? Is that still here? Let's just jump into that.

[1:26:05] » The independent third party inspection, D inspection. So, I every year they need

[1:26:10] to inspect and we hire um it's a certified list of inspectors. Mark

[1:26:15] Poppam is the one that we use and we should be talking to him soon about

[1:26:20] getting a contract to do the 20 26 annual third party inspection of the

[1:26:26] transfer station. >> Um Greg Root is the

[1:26:31] uh guy that we work with on the DP's inspection and I'm pretty sure he's

[1:26:35] itching to get in there. Oh yeah, I've I've spoken to them a couple times

[1:26:39] » and the next topic's going to tie into this too. But um so the the last two

[1:26:45] years we did our inspections. I have been like kind of battling back and

[1:26:49] forth with the select board on who signs off on the report. I think the last time

[1:26:55] like I I just had discovered in 2024 that there hadn't been a third party

[1:27:00] inspection since 2018 and so that's why I got going on doing them. But then I

[1:27:07] discovered that it was like signed by the board of health chair, but they're

[1:27:10] it's supposed to be signed by the operator

[1:27:13] » and we're not the operator. It's the town of Brookfield. And you can see that

[1:27:18] in the D spreadsheet, like online, they put down who the operators. Some towns

[1:27:25] it is a board of health, but some towns like ours, the the DP's permit for the

[1:27:31] transfer station, the operator is the town of Brookfield. We can't sign. I

[1:27:37] don't I mean they don't probably care. D doesn't care if they get our sign. But I

[1:27:41] would warn you that when you signing that you're taking accountability for

[1:27:46] the accuracy in it too, you know, and there have been companies, not

[1:27:51] necessarily towns, company landfill, like where an employee is signing off

[1:27:55] and the inspector miss said something was compliant and then they D comes in

[1:28:00] and finds out it's not compliant and they they it's like monetary fines

[1:28:04] involved and and they'll go after people. So that's been a kind of a

[1:28:07] contention to have us do it. So, back to your question, my head where when I read

[1:28:13] the rags and everything, the day-to-day operations, the operations should be the

[1:28:20] town of Brookfield, the role of the board of health. We are agents to the D

[1:28:26] and we're supposed to just public health.

[1:28:29] » We're the oversight. >> Yeah.

[1:28:31] » So, we're not the fox overseeing the chicken hen. We're, you know, like

[1:28:35] » Yeah. I know. I got >> You know what I'm saying? Like, so it's

[1:28:37] always been this kind of weird thing. A lot of towns have it pretty meshed and

[1:28:41] small towns especially, but conceptually

[1:28:46] » you have an operator and you have oversight of that and we are supposed to

[1:28:49] be the O. So we would manage making sure those inspections are done every year.

[1:28:55] » We should manage to make sure that the go in there and kind of check and make

[1:29:00] sure it's >> that things are being done the way

[1:29:02] they're supposed to >> supposed to be done. But the physical of

[1:29:06] doing all like I it's never made sense to me since I've been on the board. Some

[1:29:10] of the tasks that we're doing versus the town I get it low resources people have

[1:29:17] just done made do right but >> you need a clearer understanding

[1:29:21] » like you're saying that she's like it's confusing and it is. So maybe those

[1:29:25] conversations and maybe a joint meeting with the select board at some point to

[1:29:29] kind of say let's decide, you know,

[1:29:35] it should be more of a, you know, if the if the contract with D says they're the

[1:29:40] operator, >> yeah,

[1:29:42] » they should be signing off as the operator, you know, and then we're doing

[1:29:46] the work of the oversight >> because that's that's what our job

[1:29:51] really is, right? you know. >> Oh, that makes sense.

[1:29:55] » We're kind of put in a position of having to run it

[1:29:58] and oversee ourselves. >> No, that that kind of makes sense.

[1:30:01] » That would not make that would not fly in any other

[1:30:04] » regulatory. >> No, you have to have Yeah.

[1:30:08] » Um, so I I did speak with Greg because he left a couple voicemails. Um,

[1:30:13] and I tried to do a little bit of research through email and what I could

[1:30:17] find in regard to the DP inspection. He told me he was unable to do an

[1:30:22] inspection in the past because it was too overgrown.

[1:30:24] » Oh yeah, that's another >> So I kind of explained to him.

[1:30:30] » I didn't I I haven't >> looked at that's the next topic.

[1:30:35] » Okay. So I can just wait. Yep. >> That's why I gave you like this little

[1:30:38] list. >> Okay. So let's move into that then. So,

[1:30:41] so, so the inspection coming. Um, I'll send you um

[1:30:47] or if you want me to just reach out to Mark Pppam to start and get the contract

[1:30:50] from him. >> If you want to do that, that'd be great.

[1:30:52] » Do that. That's fine. And then

[1:30:58] so Atlas is the company we're contracted with to do our quarterly gas and well

[1:31:05] inspections of the old landfill where the solar array is sitting on top of.

[1:31:10] There's like a specialized cover under that and you can't drive anything on it.

[1:31:14] You know, it's just there's a lot of things going on there. But um the

[1:31:18] outside a lot of the wellheads are on the outside of the perimeter of the

[1:31:22] fence of the >> where the solar array is. Something

[1:31:26] happened last year. Atlas thought it was like a kid that

[1:31:31] came through and broke some of the wellheads. Um and so

[1:31:36] I don't know what kids walking through there because it's kind of in the middle

[1:31:39] of nothing and it's very dense. But I think maybe when they were clearing

[1:31:44] someone the highway department, maybe maybe hit it with the

[1:31:49] » the whacker or whatever they were using to kind of get the foliage down because

[1:31:52] it's they're not always easy to see. Um but

[1:31:57] with that said, some of them are damaged, so they have to get repaired.

[1:32:03] We can't go in to clear the area between May 1st and July 31st because of an

[1:32:09] endangered species bird. >> I saw that there was something there.

[1:32:13] » So, in our D permit, there's this restriction. So, I said that to Greg. I

[1:32:19] said, "You may want to push off your inspections to August because we can't

[1:32:23] even get someone in there." And and this is going to be the tricky part. I hope

[1:32:27] they hire people at the highway department. I know

[1:32:31] » because >> it's got to be somebody go in there. You

[1:32:34] can't bring bunch of heavy machinery in there or anything. And it's it only has

[1:32:38] to be like a three foot >> for the safety of the person, the

[1:32:42] technician that goes in there to do the testing. The testing's going to come

[1:32:46] back >> off and they always have to do a retest.

[1:32:50] We've been dealing with that forever, but that's just how it works. Okay. Um,

[1:32:56] » so, um, do you want me to follow up with Greg to schedule something in August?

[1:33:01] » Yeah. I mean, well, he can come in anytime he wants. He's the

[1:33:04] » No, I I know he I know he can come in anytime.

[1:33:07] » I would say to him like, do you want a thousand ticks on you and do you want to

[1:33:12] have like >> horns in your face? I mean, it's up to

[1:33:17] him. >> Well, that was the discussion we were

[1:33:18] having because he did explain that previously. he was unable to

[1:33:23] » access it because he's like, I needed a machete to cut through it. And I was

[1:33:26] like, well, just so you know, we currently don't have a highway person.

[1:33:30] » I think we had one person. >> We have the testers, too. And so, they

[1:33:34] have to stretch out. I think they have the the that quarter. I think they can

[1:33:40] go up until like the very last day of August. like basically tell Todd every

[1:33:45] year like just go to the like schedule it for the last day because it's going

[1:33:48] to take like all month to arrange someone to clear it

[1:33:53] » is and touch through Alice >> and they send the the the well testing

[1:33:59] reports to the board and those need to just get filed and and

[1:34:04] um >> yeah it's a lot to learn in there too.

[1:34:07] So, um,

[1:34:11] » that was with the wells, gas, testing, head damage, repairs, maintenance,

[1:34:15] » and I don't know what those are. They're going to be a few thousand dollar each,

[1:34:18] » I think. >> I don't know where the money is going to

[1:34:22] come from, but >> well,

[1:34:25] » hopeully hopefully there's hopefully there's a little

[1:34:28] » hopefully there's enough in the budget to deal with it.

[1:34:31] » Um, a waistband compliance statement, we have to do that, too. And I had given

[1:34:37] » yeah I >> I brought this at to a prior meeting

[1:34:40] that we just have to create one for the town of Brookfield. I Barry's was very

[1:34:46] similar to ours. So that's the example I >> I have no like they have a template like

[1:34:52] this. >> Yeah, this is a D form.

[1:34:56] » Yeah, D form. So I mean I have no problem doing the best I can and then

[1:35:02] maybe Well, go ahead. Well, this is very similar. Barry is similar to us.

[1:35:08] » And so this is a good place to start. And I guess this is what you got to just

[1:35:12] do because we have to attest to this is just make sure that what we say is what

[1:35:17] we're doing. It's really a documentation that we're doing what we say we're doing

[1:35:21] to comply with the waistband. >> Like so it's having a good understanding

[1:35:25] of what the operations are at the transfer station. So, it's almost like

[1:35:30] fill it out and then someone's got to get down and kind of like walk it out

[1:35:35] with the transfer station and get input from Jim to make sure like, yep, that's

[1:35:39] true before you sign it. >> Yeah. I mean, I

[1:35:43] » sign as a board. I I think that we have to vote and sign it, but like

[1:35:47] » you'll the chair generally signs the documents that

[1:35:51] » come from the board votes on. But I mean, I have no problem

[1:35:56] taking a stab at it. And then I think I can share with you because it's not

[1:36:01] deliberation. It's just factual information

[1:36:05] before we uh move forward because you you have much more experience and

[1:36:09] knowledge. So I don't know if once I go through it if you want to look it over

[1:36:13] and then we put it before the board. >> I think I would not be able to give you

[1:36:17] the feedback. >> No, not give me the feedback. But if you

[1:36:19] » if you if you circulate it ahead of the meeting,

[1:36:23] » circulate it, then you can put your feedback to to it and then share it at

[1:36:26] the meeting. >> Yes, guess that. Yeah,

[1:36:35] » I'll take that task on.

[1:36:47] Uh, next up, the environmental testing landfill gap and well contract for

[1:36:53] fiscal year 2027.

[1:36:57] » Um, the

[1:37:02] we have one more year on that. I confirm that

[1:37:05] » that we have one more year on the contract. So, this is just another one

[1:37:09] that you'll have to be mindful of to >> 2028.

[1:37:15] 202 it'll be 20 27 for the next three fiscal years. You can do a three. We got

[1:37:22] good pricing to do a three-year contract and I would suggest you try to do that

[1:37:27] because these are expensive. >> Yeah.

[1:37:30] » Um but yeah, we have to get a bid though

[1:37:33] like so but so so just for planning purposes. Yeah. you want to schedule

[1:37:39] meetings that talk about

[1:37:43] bids for testing >> and this like it's kind of been it's

[1:37:50] going to be a lot of work to just come down to hiring Atlas again because I

[1:37:54] swear they're always a better price and there always like very few people that

[1:37:58] actually do this. So >> but you got to go through the process

[1:38:01] » you have to do the because of the costs involved.

[1:38:04] » No procurement the procurement laws. So

[1:38:11] » that's just think of for the future. >> Yeah.

[1:38:14] » Gotcha. Thank you. >> Uh next up, grievance that was received

[1:38:19] » myself >> on Friday, June 12th.

[1:38:23] He going to refuse himself.

[1:38:33] uh grievance received on Friday, June 12, 2026.

[1:38:38] Uh we received an email. Like me read the uh email.

[1:38:45] » Yeah. >> To the Brookfield Board of Health. I'm

[1:38:48] submitting this grievance concerning the board's republication and continued use

[1:38:52] of meeting minutes that were previously found by the Massachusetts Attorney

[1:38:56] General's office to be inaccurate and insufficient under the open meeting law.

[1:39:00] This issue is not a simple disagreement over wording in meeting minutes. This

[1:39:04] matter has already been investigated by the Attorney General's Division of Open

[1:39:08] Government following formal complaint that I filed with serving as a member of

[1:39:12] the board of health. As the attorney general found in open meeting law 202445

[1:39:19] attached, the minutes failed to accurately capture what occurred during

[1:39:22] the meeting. Specifically, the attorney general found that the minutes

[1:39:25] inaccurately recorded the discussion regarding the emergency preparedness

[1:39:29] plan and entirely failed to record a lengthy discussion in guard regarding

[1:39:33] emails exchanged between the former chair Moren Leipac and myself concerning

[1:39:38] the emergency beaver permit and related issues. The attorney general further

[1:39:42] found that the minutes failed to accurately reflect the substance of the

[1:39:46] discussion that occurred and ordered the board to amend the minutes to ensure

[1:39:50] compliance with the open meeting law. What makes this situation particularly

[1:39:54] frustrating is the amount of effort that was required to required to correct

[1:39:58] these minutes in the first place. Before filing my open meeting law complaint, I

[1:40:02] repeatedly attempted to resolve the issue directly with the board. I raised

[1:40:06] concerns that the minutes did not accurately reflect what had occurred

[1:40:10] during the meeting and requested that the board simply review the audio

[1:40:13] recording. I was told there was not enough time to do so when I suggested

[1:40:17] reviewing only the brief portion of the recording that was actually in dispute.

[1:40:21] I was again told there was not enough time. I even offered to pay out of my

[1:40:25] own pocket to have the meeting professionally transcribed so that the

[1:40:28] board could compare the transcript to the approved minutes. Rather than review

[1:40:32] the evidence, concerns were raised about whether a transit transcript would be

[1:40:36] accurate. At every stage, I attempted to find a practical solution that would

[1:40:40] allow the matter to be resolved without involving outside agencies. Those

[1:40:44] efforts were unsuccessful. As a result, I filed what was my first open meeting

[1:40:48] law complaint with the attorney general's office. The process took

[1:40:51] months. During that time, I critic I was criticized for filing the complaint and

[1:40:56] I told that I should have worked with the board rather than seeking review

[1:40:59] from the attorney general. The reality is that seeking review from the attorney

[1:41:03] general was not my first choice. It was my last resort after repeated attempts

[1:41:07] to resolve the matter directly with the board with the board had failed.

[1:41:12] Importantly, the attorney general's findings confirmed that I had argued

[1:41:15] what I had argued all along. The attorney general noted that my concern

[1:41:19] was not with the titles of chair and vice chair per se, but rather that my

[1:41:23] concern related to my voice being heard and my vote counting where it appeared

[1:41:27] that decisions had been made in advance. The meeting minutes were written in a

[1:41:31] manner that portrayed me as having been given an explanation for why the chair

[1:41:36] and vice chair titles appeared in the emergency preparedness

[1:41:39] plan and then simply refusing to accept that explanation causing the discussion

[1:41:44] to deteriorate. This is not what occurred. More

[1:41:48] importantly, the meeting did not go off track because of the discussion

[1:41:51] regarding the titles. The attorney general found that the minutes entirely

[1:41:55] failed to capture the lengthy discussion that followed regarding the emergency

[1:41:59] beaver permanent related emails and the disagreements surrounding those issues.

[1:42:03] By omitting that discussion and focusing instead on the earlier exchange

[1:42:07] regarding the titles, the minutes created the misleading impression that I

[1:42:11] had simply refused to accept an explanation and and was responsible for

[1:42:15] the meeting's breakdown when in reality a substantial portion of the dispute

[1:42:20] centered on the emergency beaver permit and related matters that were not

[1:42:23] accurately reflected in the official record. That history is why the recent

[1:42:27] new publication of the inaccurate minutes is so concerning. This is not a

[1:42:32] newly discovered issue or a clerical mistake. It is a it is a matter that was

[1:42:36] disputed, challenged, investigated, and ultimately decided by the attorney

[1:42:40] general after months of effort. The attorney general's determination was not

[1:42:44] a suggestion. It was the result of a formal investigation included an order

[1:42:48] that the board amend the minutes. It is therefore deeply troubling that after my

[1:42:52] departure from the board, the inaccurate minutes appear to have been republished

[1:42:57] or restored despite the attorney general's findings in order. The effect

[1:43:01] is to place back into the public record minutes that the Commonwealth has

[1:43:04] already determined were inaccurate. Republishing minutes that were

[1:43:07] previously found to be inaccurate undermines the integrity of the public

[1:43:10] record and sends the message that the board does not take the attorney

[1:43:14] general's findings seriously. Seeing the inaccurate version returned to the

[1:43:19] public record after the attorney general ordered that it be corrected gives the

[1:43:23] appearance that the attorney general's determination has been disregarded and

[1:43:27] that the corrective process has been undone. Accordingly, I request that the

[1:43:31] board immediately review, remove any inaccurate reser re version of the

[1:43:36] minutes from publication. I further request that this grievance be included

[1:43:40] in the board's record records and discussed at the next available meeting.

[1:43:45] I'd also like the board to publicly vote on whether it wishes to continue

[1:43:48] publishing minutes that were pre previously found by the attorney general

[1:43:52] to be inaccurate. respectfully submitted. Christopher Keller,

[1:43:59] any discussion? >> Um,

[1:44:03] it doesn't say on here the date of the meeting for the meeting minutes that we

[1:44:11] need to review. >> I think we have the person here. We

[1:44:15] maybe can ask them directly. >> Okay.

[1:44:19] » Mr. Keller, could you tell us the dates in question? Um, I could look it up, but

[1:44:23] it was um I gave the attachment of the attorney general's determination, which

[1:44:26] would have it on there. >> Um,

[1:44:32] » yeah, we don't have the attachment with us. It probably is in the email and it

[1:44:36] was over hooked. >> Okay, sure. No worries. Um, if you give

[1:44:38] me two seconds, I can look it up. Um, or if you want to take it up at another

[1:44:42] meeting, that's fine, too. Um, I know I don't watch most guys make a decision on

[1:44:47] the fly. Uh,

[1:44:51] All right. It was for the um the board of health meeting May 3

[1:45:02] 24th. Yeah. The May 24, 2023.

[1:45:10] That would be um which they were approved on May 31st. So it is the

[1:45:14] meeting minutes for the May 24th, 2023 meeting. So, if you go to my town

[1:45:19] government, what you'll see right now is you're going to see two versions up

[1:45:22] there. The inaccurate version and the um the amended version. And I can tell you

[1:45:28] as a former member of the board of health, as soon as attorney general came

[1:45:31] up with this determination, I had access to my town government. So, I immediately

[1:45:35] took down the inaccurate version um so that they, you know, because they were

[1:45:40] deemed to be inaccurate when I was off the board that that that inaccurate

[1:45:44] version is up there. Right now, a member of the public has a 50/50 chance of, you

[1:45:48] know, reviewing the inaccurate version or the accur accurate version.

[1:45:54] » Thank you. >> Is it clear which one's accurate and

[1:45:59] which one's not accurate? They're both posted on there still.

[1:46:03] » Yeah, they're both posted on there. If I'm memory serves me correctly, I

[1:46:06] believe the the revised one either says revised or updated or some some language

[1:46:12] to that effect. Okay. And that's the one that is okay.

[1:46:18] » Correct. >> Okay. But the other one is still posted

[1:46:23] and it needs to be removed. >> I'm requesting it to be removed because

[1:46:28] » it's they're inaccurate. We know that they're inaccurate

[1:46:30] » requests to remove it. Okay. >> Right. And just to remind the board,

[1:46:34] there's no nothing in the statute that states that a board has to publicize its

[1:46:38] meeting minutes. It's that is by choice. So there's there's nothing in the sash

[1:46:43] that says the board has to put those meeting minutes up on on a third party

[1:46:45] website. >> Oh, thank you very much.

[1:46:50] » Thank you for that. >> They do need to be filed, right? So the

[1:46:54] meeting minutes still need to be filed with the clerk,

[1:46:56] » right? So we'll need to address both the publication of them and then what's in

[1:47:00] the record with the clerk as well >> if if anything's happened there. Like if

[1:47:05] both of them are there, we'll have to address both those.

[1:47:07] » Okay. Um, >> I need to review the attachment on here

[1:47:11] cuz I did not get to review that. >> Do you

[1:47:15] » and to look this up and then >> I I'll make a motion then.

[1:47:21] » Um, I don't know if we need a >> Well, figure out what my motion's going

[1:47:25] to be. My motion is going to be that we take those meeting minutes down for the

[1:47:30] moment while we review this both sets of of meeting minutes

[1:47:36] » for that for May 24th. >> The May 24th. Yeah. We take both of

[1:47:40] those down, review this, come up with, we'll come back,

[1:47:47] vote at the next meeting, and then decide

[1:47:51] which version is going to be republished, where the minutes go

[1:47:55] because if if there's inconsistencies, I I'd like to compare them both and then

[1:48:01] get get any kind of inconsistent material down. Now,

[1:48:06] » uh, the issue I have with that is to be able to access it to look at it cuz if

[1:48:13] it's on there right now, I can pull them to look at them.

[1:48:16] » I think we could I think we can download it to to to have them.

[1:48:21] » Okay. >> Prior to removing them from

[1:48:23] » Right. because then it who's removing it and when

[1:48:28] » I have the access to my town government. >> Oh, you do? Okay.

[1:48:31] » So, I can post the agenda meetings. uh the agendas for meetings and then

[1:48:36] things like that. So I could make a copy for us.

[1:48:39] » Yeah. If you >> and then take it down for the moment

[1:48:43] » if you download them, email them, >> look at the version, the different

[1:48:48] version. >> Yeah. Compare the two. I just think it's

[1:48:51] prudent to take the information down so there's no

[1:48:54] » inaccurate >> inaccuracy and then put the proper

[1:48:58] and it could be either one. I mean, once we go through it, I I mean, I don't know

[1:49:01] if there's a recording or other minutes from that meeting that we would be able

[1:49:05] to compare those minutes to. >> So, your motion

[1:49:09] » that would be something I'll have to check with our IT to see if that meeting

[1:49:13] was recorded or not. >> Okay.

[1:49:17] » My motion would be that we remove both sets of meeting

[1:49:23] minutes for the May 24th, 2023

[1:49:29] uh board of health meeting until

[1:49:34] we address this situation at the next meeting and we take a vote because you

[1:49:39] want time to go through it. I want time to go through it as well.

[1:49:48] » And then there was a a request here at the end.

[1:49:52] » Hold on. >> My apologies. Um, so the motion is to

[1:49:56] remove both versions for May 24th, 2023 board of health

[1:50:00] meeting >> from the website

[1:50:02] » from website my town governmenting

[1:50:12] review until the next meeting. >> Correct.

[1:50:19] » I will second that. Any

[1:50:23] discussion? >> Um, yeah, if you want to just make sure

[1:50:27] that you download and send it to me. >> Yes.

[1:50:32] » Make sure that's taken care of. >> We have this attachment, correct?

[1:50:36] » Yeah, it's on there. >> It's in the email as well. I'll send

[1:50:38] that out to you guys. >> Okay. Yeah, if you can put that all in

[1:50:41] the same thing and then Yep. >> Um, so we can review the documents.

[1:50:46] I'm assuming since uh Maren's recused herself that it would just be sending it

[1:50:52] to me. I don't know if she she would want to be on the communications for

[1:50:57] that. >> I can ask her, but I think from recusing

[1:51:01] herself, it's probably a no, but I I'll I'll still give her the opportunity to

[1:51:05] see if maybe she has any information with it.

[1:51:07] » Okay. Um,

[1:51:10] and then the request was, I'd like the board to publicly vote on whether it

[1:51:13] wishes to continue publishing minutes that were previously found by the

[1:51:17] attorney general to be inaccurate. I I think that's a

[1:51:24] it's right at the end of the line.

[1:51:36] » I don't vague. Yeah, I don't I mean I don't know if a vote necessarily needs

[1:51:40] to take place, but I mean I think in good faith we're not trying to publish

[1:51:45] anything that's >> inaccurate. So we'll address that and if

[1:51:48] any future complaints come up, we'll address those as they come up.

[1:51:51] » Yeah, I agree with that. >> Okay.

[1:51:55] » And >> and then I just I just want

[1:51:58] » Yeah, I'm going to do a vote on it. Yeah. Thank you. So, uh no more

[1:52:02] discussion. Um all in favor? I >> I

[1:52:09] and then just for the sake I'd like to put that letter into the record of of

[1:52:15] the board of health.

[1:52:20] » All right. Somebody mind letting

[1:52:24] know that subject

[1:52:36] We are >> almost

[1:52:41] waste taller regulations. Uh discussion this is about complying

[1:52:46] with Massachusetts waistband law.

[1:52:50] » I think you asked for that. >> Yeah. Um we had had that discussion last

[1:52:57] year. Um we don't have our private haulers. Our

[1:53:04] private haulers don't have a regulation. We are permitting private haulers.

[1:53:09] So we are not giving them a process to which to be permitted and to know the

[1:53:16] standards, the violations, an appeal process

[1:53:22] just for their permitting. But also we don't have um you know we we're doing

[1:53:28] all this stuff with our transfer station to be in compliance with the waistband

[1:53:31] laws and we don't do that for our private haulers in town. Seems like a

[1:53:36] disparity. So I think it should just be discussed further.

[1:53:43] Um we there was a template from D that was provided Irene. Yep. Um, and so

[1:53:54] couldn't get to agreement at the time and so I'm just trying to keep it on the

[1:54:03] burner so that it can be thought about. >> I think it's something that should be

[1:54:08] thought about. I think for me, my thing is always to go to the people that are

[1:54:12] involved. Sometimes they're not going to give you the best information, but to

[1:54:16] find out like what's being done in other towns, that that's very difficult for

[1:54:22] smaller companies to to address. But but then we have to put our eye on it from

[1:54:27] the public health perspective of >> that's

[1:54:30] » what's right and what's wrong. >> That is the eye.

[1:54:32] » Yes. >> Public health like

[1:54:35] » Well, that's what I said that that we have to do. But I think it's it's good

[1:54:38] to also listen to how things affect other people. Well, I think too look

[1:54:42] around the other towns, right? These companies are operating in a lot of

[1:54:46] towns in state and they're doing it just fine in all the other towns. So, I

[1:54:50] that's the part that's kind of, you know, we we should be thinking about

[1:54:53] that, too. you look at a lot of the trucks that are driving around, you see

[1:54:57] they have the new trucks, you know, they have the separation, you know, so it's

[1:55:01] it's just making sure that we're in compliant as a town

[1:55:06] um with what state law because there may be stuff in that template that

[1:55:12] may not be like the state law. It might be the pie in the sky that the state

[1:55:17] likes to have. So, we can certainly >> and that's kind of where I that's the

[1:55:22] way I lean is more Well, she's thinking of it because she

[1:55:26] she's trying to get you the most points in your No, I know grant, right? Because

[1:55:31] this if we got one more point in our grant, all of our grant points would

[1:55:34] double in value >> and we'd be getting twice as much money

[1:55:37] every year, >> right? But sometimes money is not always

[1:55:40] the >> No, it's not the It's not the ton of

[1:55:42] money, but it's the private haulers. they're, you know, they're right now

[1:55:47] they're being asked to pay for permits and there's no regulation to

[1:55:54] um outline that process. So, it's kind of a disservice to them as well. So,

[1:55:59] » is this something that you want to take up to like work on?

[1:56:03] » I I tried that and and so um I don't know what to take out. I know Kim, you

[1:56:10] had a lot of feedback. So maybe if you could mark up the document of what

[1:56:14] particularly was troubling for you. Then maybe then we could take a stab at, you

[1:56:19] know, editing it. But it we never really got to the specifics of the language of

[1:56:24] what to revise and and then the other option too is just to look at what other

[1:56:29] towns have for regulations and see if there's one that you thought was

[1:56:37] said everything that you liked and not the stuff that you didn't like and just

[1:56:42] say what town that is and you could look at that.

[1:56:45] » I just don't want to invent the re reinvent the wheel.

[1:56:49] » Right. No, but the one from the DP was like colorcoded. So there were certain

[1:56:54] portions that they would require to get the points and honestly I found them

[1:57:00] very restrictive. >> Well, I'm

[1:57:03] » um >> so and those were the those were the

[1:57:09] ones to to get the points. So >> I see what you're saying.

[1:57:13] » I was very weary. Um, but you know, we can look at what other towns have and

[1:57:20] take a look. >> Yeah, the point's less of an issue for

[1:57:24] me than the just >> having a regulation that details what

[1:57:29] they need to do, you know. >> So, when we permit them, we give them

[1:57:33] the regulation and that they >> Well, the the regulation is there, but

[1:57:37] we permit them and then if they're not adhering to the rules of the permit, you

[1:57:42] know, a they know what the rules are. by the the regulation, but then the permit

[1:57:48] if they had a violation. Well, we don't have anything in writing

[1:57:52] to say that they have an appeal. >> And then so what how do they know their

[1:57:58] rights to come in and appeal it, you know? So if we don't put down what the

[1:58:02] fine's going to be, you know, like then it's just like we don't really have a

[1:58:06] process. So, it's more of the

[1:58:10] violation um appeals process things that that are troubling you.

[1:58:15] » Well, if you're going to collect money as a permit, you owe it to them to have

[1:58:21] » 100% agree. I'm just I'm just trying to figure out what

[1:58:24] » the rules are. >> I'm just trying to figure out where

[1:58:26] » so they know what the playing field is and then they can say, okay, you know,

[1:58:31] » and there's I mean, there's state law already in place for these things,

[1:58:33] right? We have so many vendors that come through town that aren't even permitted.

[1:58:38] I believe I've seen ads posted and I see trucks on the roads and stuff and each

[1:58:45] truck has to be registered, you know, in town. They're hauling trash.

[1:58:49] » Yep. >> Um so you get the big ones, you know,

[1:58:53] even the one that picks up the transfer station trashella has to have a permit.

[1:58:57] » Yeah. And then you have dumpster services and things like that that you

[1:59:03] know are hauling trash. Um it's hard to know how many people

[1:59:09] because anybody you know there's so many companies available and they're they're

[1:59:13] going to want to work in every town. >> Um

[1:59:16] » yeah, >> some of them don't have they don't know

[1:59:18] they don't see a rag so they just they just do it. And what we don't really

[1:59:21] have anything to any teeth to say to say anything. So, it's nice that some of the

[1:59:28] haulers have been paying their permit fee and getting a permit, but I mean I

[1:59:32] feel like it's it's service not to have >> No, I I I think we should have like the

[1:59:39] violation process and and how they and things like that. I 100% agree with

[1:59:45] that. I just I lean >> just in everything to whatever the base

[1:59:50] laws are, not to put in extra regulations that we want to put in. So

[1:59:54] that's that's what I would do. >> That's how I am too. But uh

[1:59:58] » so so I think if we look at that >> Oh, I'm not saying anybody else isn't

[2:00:02] that way. I'm just I'm just expressing for the board the way I am.

[2:00:05] » So for me, I think if we put a if it's already things that they have to follow

[2:00:12] » and we're just putting in the process for this is how violations occur. This

[2:00:16] is what your appeal process is. I think we can move forward with something like

[2:00:20] that. But that's I mean I'll take a look into

[2:00:22] » Yeah. And as long as it anything that is required in the waistband law like then

[2:00:27] we have to include that. It's state law. We can't we can't

[2:00:31] » forgo state law. >> Nope. And I agree with that. Yeah.

[2:00:34] » So those have to be added. >> Yep.

[2:00:37] » And a lot of towns updated their their regs years ago and Brookfield just never

[2:00:42] had any on, you know, we just didn't have any.

[2:00:47] » It's kind of like that for everything. Then to your point on getting feedback

[2:00:52] from companies that do deal with this like I mean we could

[2:00:57] » which we typically do have a >> public hearing which we did and nobody

[2:01:03] came to the one with the other >> uh but you could always invite them to

[2:01:10] feedback. >> We don't have a lot of businesses in

[2:01:12] town that are based in perfe. So, you also don't want to run into

[2:01:17] being unfair and giving it to some people and not notifying others and

[2:01:21] creating a a advantage >> to some of these people. That's why it's

[2:01:26] put in the paper, >> right? Why everyone does it that way,

[2:01:30] » right? >> Unfortunately, that's so outdated and

[2:01:32] the law hasn't been updated enough yet to catch up. I know, but

[2:01:36] » right. >> I think we're doing,

[2:01:38] » right? You don't want to send it to five companies you know of and then the five

[2:01:43] companies over here going, "Why didn't we get it?" You know, but you have no

[2:01:48] way of knowing who who's going to want, you know? They're everywhere. It's a

[2:01:53] It's not poor businesses that you're talking about. It's like dozens.

[2:01:57] » No, I got you. >> So, I mean, that that's the the

[2:02:00] » I think if we're trying to make a best effort and try and get as much as we

[2:02:04] can. >> Yeah. Just don't create a unfair plan.

[2:02:06] » Yeah. Try not in all attempt not to, but try and get as

[2:02:11] I I agree with that. So I think we >> I I would never think that businesses

[2:02:16] over residents get more say or you know just because they have a business.

[2:02:20] » I I don't think they should either. I just think that we should take it into

[2:02:24] account. >> All right. So no no real action on that

[2:02:30] then. All right. Let's go into uh new business.

[2:02:35] Any new business?

[2:02:40] I think everything on there is followup. Uh no, the new business on there. Um if

[2:02:46] we could skip ahead in the agenda just down the south pond. That's new, right?

[2:02:51] » What's the water safety addition though? Why don't we just

[2:02:55] » Okay, we Yeah, we can go in order. That's fine. Uh it's both new business

[2:02:58] and follow-ups from the I was trying to do what was new business and what was

[2:03:01] follow-ups. That's why I was moving ahead. But uh water safety

[2:03:05] um addition of resources to the BO page and a bulletin board at South Pond.

[2:03:11] Um >> I think the water safety was brought up

[2:03:15] at the last meeting. >> Yep.

[2:03:16] » About talking to the um communications committee to put that resource up.

[2:03:21] » Oh, right. Yes. Sorry. >> Yeah, that's why I was like, "Oh,

[2:03:24] » thank you." >> Yeah.

[2:03:26] Uh, I did reach out to the communications

[2:03:30] committee on adding that and they did add it to the board of health page under

[2:03:36] resources. So, it was going to link to it. They're working on like different

[2:03:41] ways of adding things. Um, they weren't sure if they were going

[2:03:45] to add it as a full like Town of Brookfield resources, but it seems like

[2:03:51] they put it under like a a section on the board of health.

[2:03:56] » Well, that's good. I mean, it's up there for people to find. Yes. Um, bulletin

[2:03:59] board. I dropped the ball on that. I did not follow up on putting a bulletin

[2:04:03] board. It was talking about being able to put like information up down at the

[2:04:06] the beach somewhere. And I know it's going to be a process because it's

[2:04:09] » you got to talk to the state >> the state owns the property

[2:04:13] » and QQLA is very involved and they did their signs already and there's a lot of

[2:04:20] signage down there that it looks kind of crazy

[2:04:25] small. >> I'm very familiar with the beach. It

[2:04:27] used to be under our purview when I was on the rec committee for years.

[2:04:30] » Yeah. >> So

[2:04:32] » I I know it's a process if we were going to go through with that.

[2:04:35] They've talked for years about doing things for that beach that I've never

[2:04:40] seen anything done. Not not recreation, but like the select board and stuff. So,

[2:04:46] um >> yeah,

[2:04:47] » I don't know how the priority is going to be there because I I think ADA is a

[2:04:51] priority there. And >> yes,

[2:04:53] » we'll see. But >> um

[2:04:56] » I don't know who's going to maintain it either. So,

[2:04:59] » the uh algo bloom protocol >> um I don't have it.

[2:05:04] » Okay. I wish that I did because I know it's kind of time of the essence because

[2:05:09] usually starting to creep up in the summer.

[2:05:11] » The numbers just started creeping up. I don't know if you guys both saw the

[2:05:15] » No, that's E.coli. >> Yeah. Oh, you're right. That's ei You

[2:05:20] are right. It's a different thing. You're right.

[2:05:21] » We have South Pond gets E.coli. That's >> You are right.

[2:05:26] » Every year. And that's going to be in this kind of weathery kind of if we have

[2:05:30] a lot of rain or something like that. We we haven't had a lot of rain. So, it's

[2:05:33] probably not >> Well, it just jumped up because we had

[2:05:36] that rain yesterday. >> So, it jumped up to 29.5.

[2:05:40] » Oh, >> which isn't nothing. It's not really

[2:05:42] anything. It's 235 is the limit. >> Yeah.

[2:05:44] » But it's inching up. So, >> when it goes over, you're going to go,

[2:05:47] "Oh my god." >> Yeah. Okay.

[2:05:49] » Um Yeah. It it's >> it's going to be a while, but the al

[2:05:57] algae as an issue is going to hit the other pond more than South Pond. South

[2:06:01] Pond's like 80 ft deep. It's probably there's probably sections over in the

[2:06:06] Stirbridge side, you know, but like South Pond is owned by Eastville owned

[2:06:11] by the state and then each town has like borders. Um

[2:06:17] the flushing helps too. um when they lower the the gate to kind of let some

[2:06:24] of the water come through into the the the other pond, the other pond is very

[2:06:28] shallow. So, um it's get a lot of sun, a lot of heat. It's going to encourage

[2:06:36] algae. So, that's when you run into that protocol is a great idea. Um,

[2:06:44] I have I have a lot of information on that

[2:06:48] because I I um >> you take that up as like an action item

[2:06:54] for the next meeting. >> Uh,

[2:06:56] » yeah. So, did you start writing a protocol?

[2:06:59] » I have notes from the webinar of what they suggested and I couldn't find my

[2:07:05] notes as I was trying to put this together. if I don't mind putting

[2:07:07] something together because I did like a a little

[2:07:11] » talk at the QQLA annual meeting last year. So, I still have all the info from

[2:07:15] that. I can kind of maybe draft something and then send it for the next

[2:07:19] meeting. >> Yeah, that would be great because

[2:07:21] » that way we know exactly because it's it typically happens.

[2:07:25] » So, we know exactly what steps >> Yeah. and who to contact and who does

[2:07:31] the posting and when and

[2:07:35] » where >> because it's a triage of working with D

[2:07:39] and DPH so it's it I had to go through it mostly I mean it happened a few years

[2:07:47] ago and it was pretty mild but the one last year was pretty significant

[2:07:52] it it involved a lot and it was kind of a learning curve so I did take

[2:07:56] » yeah what we what we're responsible for and what the states it's responsible for

[2:07:59] and >> yeah fortunately and now we have the

[2:08:03] communications committee that's excellent about putting out

[2:08:06] communications so they can help >> streamline getting notice to residents

[2:08:13] » yeah the signage is going to be the big one that's the physical stuff that um

[2:08:21] » be nice to find some money to buy some signs

[2:08:27] » I did I do have this sign. I don't know where we would want to post it, but this

[2:08:33] is what

[2:08:36] came.

[2:08:41] It was $27.61. I am happy to just donate it to the

[2:08:45] town. Um, it's it's a nice sign.

[2:08:51] I if I I I do know too there's like a state website that has a lot of standard

[2:08:57] signs that you can order and some of them aren't I don't think they even

[2:09:02] charge for them. So >> um

[2:09:05] » No, >> but it's nice and

[2:09:08] » I know where we can put it. >> Yeah. I don't know if that's something

[2:09:11] we should talk to. Is it Jeff Jeff Clark?

[2:09:15] » He's the chair of the beach committee. >> Yeah. Well,

[2:09:18] » he's the one that brought this to me as an issue and that they wanted to put a

[2:09:22] notice out and I requested the board to also

[2:09:27] I would definitely talk to him then. >> Okay.

[2:09:32] » Yeah. >> And then uh QQLA maybe too let them know

[2:09:36] it's there with him or he can coordinate that.

[2:09:39] » Okay. I think I I did email him and I never received an email back. So, I

[2:09:45] don't know if I have the right email, but

[2:09:49] I'll try again. >> I have his email. I will forward.

[2:09:52] » Okay. Okay.

[2:09:56] » Right. So, you're going to do the morning, you're going to do the draft

[2:10:00] for the protocol and then you're going to do that. It's fine.

[2:10:04] » All right. uh facts and concerns regarding the seven milei river dumping

[2:10:08] in the Brookfield's ponds and rivers.

[2:10:15] Um, I asked for this last month because it's been brought up a few times as

[2:10:21] concerns and so I was wondering if there were any actionable things that we could

[2:10:26] do to

[2:10:30] Oh, >> I I I guess I'd have to get up to speed

[2:10:33] on it >> before I could say anything that's

[2:10:37] actionable. Um Spencer, you know where their wastewater treatment plant is and

[2:10:42] you see all the construction there for like two years now. Yep.

[2:10:45] » That's a multi-million dollar project that's going on because they've had

[2:10:49] documented outdated technology, unequipped, you know, nutrient removal

[2:10:54] limits and um just a lot of infrastructure degradation which has

[2:10:59] caused the so so you know how the wastewater

[2:11:03] treatment plant they they discharge into the stream and it's supposed to be

[2:11:07] treated water, right? So then it goes in. But unfortunately with their

[2:11:12] problems and the new requirements that the state requires, they're just

[2:11:15] outdated and they don't meet the threshold and some rain high rainy

[2:11:21] times it it's polluting. So they've been in this position for a long time. Um

[2:11:31] and so they just they've had like capacity restraints and inflow and

[2:11:36] infiltration problems and um

[2:11:41] the really big cost, right? So >> they're work they're they're in this

[2:11:46] multi-million dollar project right now that's supposed to complete this year.

[2:11:51] » You know how that goes. But um it's the D that oversees it. There's not

[2:11:57] really nothing we can do. I mean, >> it comes it gets to us only because

[2:12:03] Cranberry River will get into the Seven Mile River and then that comes down

[2:12:07] through and into >> I've heard this for years.

[2:12:09] » Yeah, it's been a problem for years. >> Yeah.

[2:12:12] » Um, but it's getting the attention now. I

[2:12:16] mean, sometimes you can go shopping at Big Y and it sells smells like a sewer

[2:12:20] and then literally you could see it like running through the parking lot because

[2:12:24] it's so gross. um the pipes and stuff. It I' I've seen

[2:12:29] that before like last year and that was probably due to some of the construction

[2:12:34] there, but it's a big construction site there. That's what they're doing.

[2:12:37] They're fixing the pipes and they have D oversight for it.

[2:12:42] » Oh, the D. We don't oversee any We don't oversee like wagon wheels

[2:12:48] » facility. That system is so big that it's overseen by the D. So we don't have

[2:12:54] anything to do with it. Okay. Um >> it's really an out of town thing that's

[2:12:59] affecting in town. >> It's something. Yeah. I mean we talked

[2:13:03] about >> a letter but that's about

[2:13:04] » we talk about all the causes of like things. I mean that's one of the things

[2:13:08] that's going to cause like potential algae bloom. But it's not the only

[2:13:12] thing. But it's it's it's in the it's in the mix and it's

[2:13:17] » it's be aware of. I mean, we've had people who've had bad septic systems and

[2:13:22] stuff, you know, it's just hard to pinpoint sometimes.

[2:13:25] » There's a lot of houses there and there's a lot of flooding there

[2:13:26] sometimes. [clears throat] >> Um, so I mean, it's

[2:13:30] » not really an actionable item. It's it's good to to learn and and understand what

[2:13:35] what's going on and uh be able to speak to it when you know c you know residents

[2:13:42] and stuff you know some you know and you can kind of talk to them and

[2:13:46] » if you have questions or you think there's something going on you know call

[2:13:49] the Spencer sewer you know department and ask them if there's a you know

[2:13:54] something going on you know and just have that relationship.

[2:13:57] » Okay. Next, uh, beaver beaver permits

[2:14:02] protocol.

[2:14:07] » That was on the last agenda. >> Um, I didn't do anything with it.

[2:14:11] » Okay. >> Um,

[2:14:12] » you want to move that to the next one? Next.

[2:14:15] » I don't have any information on it. I don't know where I would get it other

[2:14:20] than I get it to you. >> I think I think if you go online like I

[2:14:24] it I think you the application's there. >> Yes. But it I don't know if

[2:14:28] » I don't know if it gives you an actual like step by step on

[2:14:31] » I I I it's in the regs and I don't know if they

[2:14:39] » like even Mike was looking for the most updated version of the

[2:14:45] » what it last when I was the acting chair. So,

[2:14:50] » it's a difficult situation because they're putting us in the position to

[2:14:54] make the judgment if it's a nuisance or if it's a emergency hazard because we're

[2:15:00] only technically from my understanding the way I read it, we're only supposed

[2:15:04] to allow the permits if it's if it's a an emergency that could harm people,

[2:15:11] right? Not just a nuisance. I don't know if that's moren what you

[2:15:16] get from from reading it. >> It's a public health threat.

[2:15:20] not not just a nuisance. It's >> Yeah, exactly. That's what I'm saying is

[2:15:24] that when it's just a nuisance, it's not something that we

[2:15:27] » Well, there's there's certain things. I mean, they the bar is pretty low.

[2:15:31] » Okay. >> Right. I mean, they're not gonna

[2:15:36] Sorry, I don't think I have um I thought I had sent it maybe a email, but it

[2:15:42] Yeah, I mean,

[2:15:47] » we have to declare the threat and we have problem properties in town that

[2:15:52] deal with this all the time and time is of the essence and

[2:15:55] » and Lester doesn't take >> do not worry about issuing an emergency

[2:15:59] beaver permit when Mr. Howard Wickham calls you, you know, like please just

[2:16:03] » Yeah. >> do it, you know, because it's it could

[2:16:07] affect him, you know. And then there's a couple of the flooding areas because we

[2:16:12] get the damn. I mean, if you know where Tantasco is and the football field and

[2:16:17] the portion that's in our town, you know, that that is one of the problem

[2:16:21] areas and we've had I mean, they've done some work to try to alleviate some of

[2:16:27] the issues down at the end of towards West Brookfield,

[2:16:32] but sometimes you get it all the way on the other end of towards East

[2:16:36] Brookfield. There's a family >> all over

[2:16:39] » that gets flooded out a lot and then the train come, you know, then there's like

[2:16:43] issues around dealing with the CSX people and the flooding that because it

[2:16:47] the railroad just goes right through. >> Yeah.

[2:16:50] » So much of it. Um you should definitely draft a protocol.

[2:16:56] » Are there other areas that you >> You can take it right off the rag.

[2:17:00] » Are are typical? You said field side

[2:17:04] » schoolhouse crossroad maybe. >> Yes. Schoolhouse cross.

[2:17:11] » Just look back on the issued. >> The highway department devil's elbow.

[2:17:16] » Yeah. >> Like there's a lot of areas in town that

[2:17:18] get get these. The highway department's very um I I want to I don't know how to

[2:17:28] address if it's the next board meeting or I talked to Lori, but for some reason

[2:17:32] an invoice for a highway department got paid to our account.

[2:17:37] » So regarding viewers and so I didn't understand that. So um we'll have to

[2:17:44] address that because you can't just pay things to different counts. It there's

[2:17:49] rules. So, I did make Lori aware of it. So, hopefully they can kind of correct

[2:17:54] it, but Okay.

[2:18:00] » Any more with the beaver permits? >> Um, well, to make make a protocol.

[2:18:07] » So, >> so more information. So, there's a rag

[2:18:10] » and if you just take it from that, that would probably be

[2:18:13] » the way to make the protocol is follow what the rag says.

[2:18:16] » Yeah. And if you look at our application, it kind of

[2:18:19] » it's got like dealing with beaver. It kind of goes through a lot of it. Um,

[2:18:23] but >> you want the process, right? You want to

[2:18:28] be able to say like you're going to copy >> concom

[2:18:34] and and letting them know that it was issued. A lot of the times the permits

[2:18:38] are only going to be for trapping, but we don't know that all the time. So they

[2:18:43] if they're looking to breach or something like that, then they got to go

[2:18:46] to Concom and um get that and and the key is just to

[2:18:52] kind of get it all coordinated quickly. >> Okay.

[2:18:56] » It's like you're on call for that.

[2:19:00] » Okay. >> Just like it's not something you got to

[2:19:03] get hours make a difference because letting it just starts to you know like

[2:19:09] I Howard's house like I think I've seen

[2:19:14] him running for some pumps at a time. >> Wow. To try to deal with

[2:19:20] » Well, he's got an old house. It's down right and he's lost a lot of land

[2:19:26] » because when a beaver is like loses its mate, you know, it'll like start just

[2:19:32] tunneling into the sides. Instead of doing like the nest, whatever they make,

[2:19:37] » it tunnels in and then it caves in. it down, loses the land, becomes more

[2:19:41] swamp. >> He's actually lost. Yeah, he's lost a

[2:19:44] lot of his >> Wow.

[2:19:46] » Okay. Yeah. So, this >> that'll be an action item for you.

[2:19:50] » Yeah. >> Okay.

[2:19:51] » And in the I wish I could remember, but it's in the it's like section

[2:19:58] like I'm trying to think of what the number for the CMR is. Um, but it's like

[2:20:03] 2.08 in a way that talks about like the reasons and and and you know it

[2:20:11] it it's under basically like the fur trapping law, right? So it kind of gives

[2:20:17] all the authority, you know, in the in the process. You'd find it kind of in

[2:20:21] the hunting in the hunting, you know, trapping kind

[2:20:25] of regulations. So it's not it's not going to jump out at you otherwise, but

[2:20:30] you you'd find it there. >> Okay. Okay. And then they kind of talks

[2:20:34] about the law of like if you want to get a permit to trap, you know, this is what

[2:20:37] you can do. And then it's certain types of traps are prohibited, but order of

[2:20:41] health can, you know, allow for certain, you know, so just kind of you got to

[2:20:44] read through it. >> Okay.

[2:20:47] » But it's all right there. >> Okay.

[2:20:50] Thank you. >> All right. South Palm Beach updates. Uh

[2:20:54] that I put that in. Uh beach permit was given. um approved, I should say.

[2:21:03] Um we did have a little incident last week. I don't know if you saw the email

[2:21:08] I had sent you to to inquire. Somebody >> had an idea what it was about.

[2:21:12] » Yeah. Somebody thought they were funny and found uh no swimming due to uh her

[2:21:17] board of health a metal sign and put it up right at the beach.

[2:21:22] » Well, there is a metal sign that's for offse.

[2:21:25] It's usually attached to the big tree. >> This wasn't attached to a big tree. It

[2:21:29] was attached to three legs. Uh it was a wooden thing. Somebody dropped it off

[2:21:33] there and I got a call from Jeff Clark asking why the beach was closed. So I

[2:21:39] went back through all the numbers to see >> Highway maintains that sign.

[2:21:42] » I asked them it wasn't them. >> You know, as our sign went missing like

[2:21:47] a year ago and Highwayed a new one. I wonder the old one.

[2:21:51] » This is the old one because it was all beat up and covered in dirt.

[2:21:55] » That's weird. >> Yeah. So somebody thought they were

[2:21:57] funny. >> That was a Yeah. That's what they were

[2:21:59] doing. >> And they put it up there. So that's why

[2:22:01] I had reached out. >> Yeah.

[2:22:03] » To find out if any >> get it back.

[2:22:04] » I I took it and I have it. >> That sign goes up when we have to close

[2:22:08] the beach for E. coli. >> Okay.

[2:22:10] » And then it also goes up after Labor Day.

[2:22:13] » Right. So um yeah. So I have it at the moment. I I don't know. I'll talk to

[2:22:18] maybe drop. >> Yeah. Drop it down in the highway barn.

[2:22:22] » But yeah. Um, and the testing,

[2:22:29] the E.coli testing, I just noticed today the most recent one came in. It's still,

[2:22:34] I mean, 235 is our limit. Um, per 100 milliliters. Right now, it's

[2:22:41] at 26.9. It's the highest it's been. It's just

[2:22:45] slowly >> it's nothing really can be concerned

[2:22:48] with at the time, but just wanted to mention that it's

[2:22:51] » it's way under the >> Yeah, it's way under the the limit. So,

[2:22:55] » um now that they have the the the portal,

[2:23:00] it's easy if you're entering it weekly. Um it'll calculate the geometric mean

[2:23:06] for you. >> Okay.

[2:23:07] » So, you don't have to do that anymore by hand.

[2:23:10] Um, but that's that's kind of like the

[2:23:14] second part of >> not aware of that at all. So, that's

[2:23:17] good to know. So, yes, >> I've been I've been looking at them.

[2:23:19] Just thought that we needed to do it. So, we need to

[2:23:21] » So, so >> upload the testing.

[2:23:23] » It's a lot of reading and it's going to take

[2:23:26] » It's fine. I learn things new every week. No, right. So, like just

[2:23:31] » if you can look up it's on mass.gov and you just do beaches like freshwater

[2:23:37] beach, >> you know? Then the DE D will have all

[2:23:41] the rules on that and >> it'll it'll tell you it's very clear

[2:23:45] because it's written for like the consumer to kind of read too. So I mean

[2:23:48] but you can just read it and then know >> you know what meets that threshold. The

[2:23:54] lab's going to tell you if you if it if it goes over the limit you're getting

[2:23:58] phone called you're getting a phone call way before the report is even out. They

[2:24:03] they >> Yeah. They're going to tell you

[2:24:04] immediately so you can shut it down so that you can Yeah. to do that. And I,

[2:24:07] you know, I I would just take this this like a a sign and so you can find that

[2:24:12] on the website too and download it and there's like Spanish and different

[2:24:16] things and >> you just um fill it out. I would always

[2:24:19] laminate it and then post it, you know, at at each entrance, you know, just so

[2:24:25] it can be read um by people >> saying that there's no swimming or that

[2:24:29] it's >> Yeah, it's basically that it's it's

[2:24:30] basically signs that it's harmful to swim and no swimming and um

[2:24:36] » and we have no purview on like fishing or boating or any of that. Correct. It's

[2:24:39] just >> the algae is we

[2:24:41] » the algae we can but with the ecoli we don't. Right.

[2:24:44] » Is that am I correct in that understanding?

[2:24:46] » Um there's no swimming. Yeah. [laughter] >> Hopefully people see that and don't

[2:24:50] Yeah. >> I mean, there's people living on the

[2:24:53] lake that are going to >> Yep.

[2:24:55] » do their own thing. And and to be real honest, I mean, you could go on the

[2:25:01] other side of that lake and it's not going to be a problem, right?

[2:25:04] » It's going to be just in the immediate area. So, you're only worried about the

[2:25:07] beach, the area that >> is roped off for

[2:25:14] for the swimming. >> All right.

[2:25:16] um stipen update. Anybody on that? >> I think it had come up a few months ago,

[2:25:23] but then a check arrived like the next day, so I didn't

[2:25:27] » I just It was kind of like a >> I didn't I don't I didn't even know

[2:25:30] about this. >> Somebody had said they didn't get a

[2:25:32] stipen check in a while and I I was like I don't know if I did either, but then

[2:25:36] then it arrived. So, >> I think that it was more to um Steve

[2:25:42] Novak was sending a few correspondents about his stipen, but I think it's all

[2:25:49] set now. >> Yeah. Okay.

[2:25:51] » It Yeah, it was his stipen and then and then we had we were like, wait, I don't

[2:25:56] think we've seen any. But I I think it's ironed itself out.

[2:26:00] » I don't know. I I didn't even know we got them.

[2:26:02] » Well, it should be zero [laughter] now. the budget should be zero because it's

[2:26:07] the end of the fiscal year. So if it's not somebody didn't get a stipend um you

[2:26:12] know and then an encumbrance get it done so you don't have to do a a warrant

[2:26:17] article to get a stipen probably me because I

[2:26:22] haven't filled out any paperwork because I I didn't even know I got stipens. So

[2:26:26] » if it is I'll just let the money stay with where it needs to be. I don't

[2:26:29] » it's you won't get it. >> Yeah. I'm not worried about getting it

[2:26:32] honestly. >> It's fine. Yeah. It's just a

[2:26:35] » Mhm. >> But I do need to go fill out that. Okay.

[2:26:38] » Yeah, you do. Yep. Go see Mike. >> I will do that. All right. Public

[2:26:44] comment unless anybody else has any discussion. Anything?

[2:26:47] » No. >> Uh now open the floor for public comment

[2:26:50] on matters not reasonably in anticipated by the chair within 48 hours of meeting

[2:26:56] posting. Comments are limited to two minutes per speaker. The board will not

[2:27:00] engage in substantive discussion on matters not listed on the agenda in

[2:27:04] accordance with the Massachusetts open meeting.

[2:27:08] » Anybody want to speak? >> Just the whole craft first.

[2:27:14] » As far as this minutes that you you took off the um internet, I don't you should

[2:27:19] have done that. >> You have no verification for status.

[2:27:22] » Um back in 8:30 24 the minutes were amended. So the minutes described the

[2:27:29] minutes described that conversation back then. I mean you're taking a guy's word.

[2:27:33] You haven't checked anything from the A. See if the AG actually

[2:27:36] » Actually I do have the letter from the AG.

[2:27:38] » Okay. Should get everything verified before you take something down. You

[2:27:42] can't screw around the minutes. Minutes are very serious. So you should

[2:27:46] » 100% agree with you, sir. >> Well, you took them down.

[2:27:49] » But the minutes are still in record with the board of health. They just

[2:27:53] » you shouldn't. >> They don't they don't have to be

[2:27:55] published. So, it's taking it down just to correct it. While if you still wanted

[2:27:59] to access it, you could go to the town and get them.

[2:28:03] » All right. Just let me hear me out cuz I'm running you running my two minutes

[2:28:06] down. >> No, I apologize. I won't I will give you

[2:28:08] the minutes back. >> Thank you, Jake.

[2:28:10] » Yeah, >> the minutes were

[2:28:13] not republished. They weren't back there. You should check to see what they

[2:28:16] were. >> They were I did see that when I got the

[2:28:19] when I got the thing. I checked to see if there were two sets of minutes up and

[2:28:22] there were. >> Yeah. Um other thing here, uh you guys

[2:28:28] trying to limit the computer to to one member or two members of the click. All

[2:28:33] three of you guys are elected. So you should all you guys should be able to go

[2:28:37] to that computer at any given time to to take care business for the residents.

[2:28:43] You know, calling you up to get permission to use a town computer. You

[2:28:46] guys are all elected officials for the town and if some money needs to go to

[2:28:50] that computer at any given time should be able to do that

[2:28:54] » and it may end up being that way. >> Well, that's it doesn't sound like that

[2:28:57] tonight with me, you know. I mean, uh, you guys are guys we elected you guys to

[2:29:03] do that. >> So, I mean, why you there's something

[2:29:06] internally going on here. I don't know what it is, but that's what something

[2:29:09] definitely internally is going on. Um, number two, how another thing. How come

[2:29:15] we don't have a um you don't have a the clerk health board clerk here?

[2:29:19] » It's a personal personal matter that I can't really get into.

[2:29:23] » Well, isn't that one of her duties? We're talking about duties. Is that one

[2:29:27] of her duties? >> I'm not familiar with that.

[2:29:31] » That's that's kind of what we're trying to figure out. That's why we're working

[2:29:34] through the >> the job description.

[2:29:36] » Okay. And I asked asked you last meeting about have you checked who's got permits

[2:29:41] and who's quality? >> And I reached out to you and you never

[2:29:43] reached back out to me. I did not because I asked you in a public forum

[2:29:46] and I want a public answer. >> Okay.

[2:29:49] » So, who's got permits? Are you following them? Following people who do not have

[2:29:53] permits or doing things in the food industry that should should not be doing

[2:29:57] it. >> So, if you would like to be on the

[2:29:59] agenda for the next meeting, I I'll put you on the agenda for the next meeting.

[2:30:02] That way, we can address it that way. I'm not supposed to get into

[2:30:05] substantive. >> No, no, I'm just

[2:30:06] » But no, I'll gladly do that. >> I ask you to give me answers. I'm just

[2:30:10] » I understand and I'm just explaining to you as a resident. I just reached out to

[2:30:13] you to I had the information to give you.

[2:30:15] » Mhm. >> Um you didn't reach back so I didn't I

[2:30:18] didn't know you could have told me. >> I got your message

[2:30:21] » and I appreciate that. >> Yep. No. and

[2:30:24] » and I will put you on the meeting for the next one and I will give you the

[2:30:27] answers to the question you had at that time

[2:30:29] » because I want to you know >> so I'm kind of very concerned about you

[2:30:34] know about this this computer business you know

[2:30:38] » without getting into great detail because I can't get in I'm not supposed

[2:30:40] to get into substantive discussion >> I'm just saying

[2:30:43] » there were concerns raised and I'm trying to do my best to protect the the

[2:30:48] town and its information. I'm not making anything permanent at this time.

[2:30:52] » Okay. Um, you can you can see who logs in and who logs out and what they're

[2:30:55] doing on the computer. You know, >> I don't have that access to see that at

[2:30:58] the moment. >> J can find that out. Two seconds.

[2:31:01] » If there's a serious problem with that healthboard computer, you can find out

[2:31:06] who's >> and it was addressed and this is how we

[2:31:08] were instructed to handle it, >> right? So, I mean, there's something

[2:31:11] going on a little more than you guys are kind of talking in code tonight, you

[2:31:15] know, and I'm I know what's going on, but I'm not going to get into it either.

[2:31:18] But I think you know three of you guys are all elected. Three of you guys

[2:31:22] should have access to that computer. >> All three of us don't. It's it's just as

[2:31:26] fair by doing it that way. >> Problem in the town before. Why is there

[2:31:29] a problem now? >> I explained that to you already.

[2:31:32] » It's not a good enough explanation. >> I'm sorry that it's not good enough for

[2:31:36] you at this time. When I do have more information, I can share it. I gladly

[2:31:41] will. >> So the way you left it now is that click

[2:31:43] is the only one on that is able to to access anything

[2:31:46] » to access the computer. Yes. And if anybody has any requests or needs

[2:31:49] anything, they'll get it. They'll get it. They just can't log into it.

[2:31:54] » Yeah, it's just okay. I think that's wrong, but it's still okay. All right. I

[2:31:58] said my >> I mean, all right. Thank you. Thank you

[2:32:00] for sharing. And >> something seriously wrong, you know,

[2:32:03] when you guys are supposed to be working as a board and if someone needs to one

[2:32:06] of you needs to get on that computer, you should be able to go and and look up

[2:32:10] something to get back to somebody else in the town. They shouldn't have to say,

[2:32:12] "Hey, hey, I got to use a computer." You know, it's ridiculous. And I understand

[2:32:17] that that's your opinion and respect that.

[2:32:20] » It's a it's a situation that shouldn't be should not be addressed the way

[2:32:24] you're addressing it. >> Well, sir, it's the way I'm addressing

[2:32:28] it. >> Okay. All right. Thank you for hearing

[2:32:29] me. >> I absolutely. And I just want to confirm

[2:32:31] you do want to be on the agenda first >> so that way you can get that. I'll make

[2:32:35] sure that that happens. >> Thank you.

[2:32:36] » You're very welcome. Anyone else? >> No.

[2:32:40] » Yes. >> Oh, yes.

[2:32:43] » Go first. I thought I was deleting. >> He he did.

[2:32:45] » I apologize. Chris was waiting and then I will go to you. My apologies for that.

[2:32:50] » No. >> Yes, sir.

[2:32:52] » All right. So, um first I want to thank the board for taking up my uh the item

[2:32:56] that I that I asked my grievance. I I appreciate that. Um

[2:33:00] you guys were talking about your meeting minutes and how the uh the public

[2:33:03] comments and it reminded me that the planning board was facing this um very

[2:33:06] same issue and the attorney general came out with a determination at the end of

[2:33:10] December, excuse me, middle of December um open meeting law 2025-209

[2:33:16] and they explicitly stated that a public body is not required to capture every

[2:33:20] comment made um to comply with action requirements of the over me law. Um, I

[2:33:26] don't know how your meeting minutes minister drafted tonight that was in

[2:33:28] question, but you guys can always reach out to the attorney general and say,

[2:33:31] "Hey, is this a violation?" That way that you're not trying to like chase

[2:33:35] down old determinations or, you know, try to interpret the law yourself. But

[2:33:39] as I read the the most recent determination from the attorney general

[2:33:43] to the planning board, um, that was the exact complaint that the public comments

[2:33:49] weren't um, uh, adequately described. attorney general looked at it and said,

[2:33:53] "Nope, it's not a violation of the law." Um, so there's there's that. Um, I was

[2:34:00] on the board of health and as Moren was saying that there was an issue with the

[2:34:03] computer, there was. We didn't have a clerk at the time and the previous town

[2:34:07] administrator, Kelly Robbins, who was a municipal attorney, said, "Since you

[2:34:11] guys don't have a clerk, all three of you need to have access to that

[2:34:14] computer." But soon as we got a clerk, we shouldn't have access to the

[2:34:17] computer. And if you look at any other board, like you say the select board,

[2:34:22] you don't see Richard Chaffy say, "Karen, get out of the way. I want to

[2:34:26] see what's on the computer. That's Karen's computer." You know, that's that

[2:34:30] that that's her computer. That's that's so she can do her job. I think you guys

[2:34:33] are going down the right track and you can make any policy you want for your

[2:34:36] board. Um and you have a clerk. If you didn't have a clerk, I think it would be

[2:34:40] a different issue. But again, I just want to repeat it because it's worth

[2:34:43] repeating. I'm very grateful you took up my grievance tonight. And um thank you.

[2:34:47] I appreciate it. Thanks.

[2:34:51] » Yes, your turn. >> Set of questions that you can or can't

[2:34:55] answer. >> Okay.

[2:34:57] » Um, the first thing I have to say was, have you guys been running a clerk

[2:35:02] without a job description this whole time?

[2:35:05] » I'm uncertain, still investigating that. >> And then another comment I had is about

[2:35:10] the policy that you're thinking of making. I think it's always a good idea

[2:35:14] to just put it through counsel just for the heck of it because there's always

[2:35:18] loopholes. Yep. >> And there's always different ways it can

[2:35:20] be interpreted and having a professional look at it can set better than stone.

[2:35:25] Like it not not not a problem. Um and a second thing I have to say is about the

[2:35:31] computer, but I got an answer on that already. Um and then another question I

[2:35:35] had is Moren brought up an emergency situation quote. I'm wondering if that's

[2:35:40] public record or not. if I could make a request on that or not. I'd like to know

[2:35:43] what it is. If it's not public record, that's also fine.

[2:35:48] Um, had a question of what covers region two and the public

[2:35:57] health emergency planning. Curious where that covers.

[2:36:01] » All right. So, to the public record, >> I'm not familiar with the legalities of

[2:36:05] if that is or that isn't because she handed us the email during the meeting.

[2:36:09] I can find out and then I will get it to you if it is public record.

[2:36:13] » What I'll do is I'll send an email to the Do you have a board of health email?

[2:36:16] » Yes. >> What I'll do is I'll send an email

[2:36:18] requesting it formally. >> Okay.

[2:36:20] » When you can get it to me. >> Yep. I'll get it to you as soon as I

[2:36:22] can. I just want to make sure it's it's >> that way you'll have my email on record.

[2:36:27] » Okay. And your last question? >> My last question though was u

[2:36:32] » the region two. >> The region two. What time that cover?

[2:36:36] » I'm still learning the process. So, I I I have to figure that out and let you

[2:36:41] know. >> Okay.

[2:36:45] » That it. All right.

[2:36:48] » Uh >> I wanted to talk about the next meeting,

[2:36:51] but >> All right.

[2:36:58] » Really can't deliver it afterwards. So, I'm the 29th doesn't work for you.

[2:37:04] » Absolutely not. Could we meet on the 28th, the day before?

[2:37:09] Is there anything set in stone that we have to meet on Wednesdays?

[2:37:13] » Um, we'd have to check and see who maybe already has a meeting.

[2:37:19] » Okay, I'll I'll do that. I'll check with Mike, but then we really can't get a

[2:37:25] » I vote for the next meeting. >> I'll just make the meeting. I think

[2:37:28] that's in my purview to do that. So, >> okay. I may or may not be able to the

[2:37:34] 28th either. >> Okay.

[2:37:36] » I'd have to get child care. So, >> um

[2:37:45] » the 22nd. Oh, that's your families. >> Yep.

[2:37:48] » Yep.

[2:37:54] » The 30th is fine. >> Okay.

[2:37:58] » Let's tentatively set it at the [clears throat] 30th. I'll find out.

[2:38:07] » Okay.

[2:38:10] » Okay. And then we had a request for a a uh variance

[2:38:18] hearing to occur at that next meeting. So it just we need to make sure that

[2:38:24] everything gets coordinated in time >> post

[2:38:27] » for them to be able to post and put it in the paper

[2:38:32] all the requirements of sending to a butters and whatnot.

[2:38:36] » All right. >> So I guess the sooner we could find out

[2:38:41] on the next meeting date the better. >> I'll take that up tomorrow and figure

[2:38:45] that out as you go. So um make a motion that we Journ

[2:38:53] 8:33. >> Okay. Uh second.

[2:38:56] » All in favor? >> I

[2:38:59] » thank you all for attending. >> So when you have the next meeting, Jake,

[2:39:02] I didn't >> right now. Well, it's tenatively the

[2:39:05] third again. >> Okay.

[2:39:07] » But I will I will I will message you. I'll let it'll be up on my town

[2:39:11] government. >> Yeah.

[2:39:12] » We're going to do our best to make it. Okay.

[2:39:18] » Thank you for having us. >> Absolutely. And if you have other

[2:39:22] suggestions and ideas, I'm willing to listen. I just I'm not It's not like I'm

[2:39:26] going what I think is best practice.

Brookfield - Health Board - 2026 June 24

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