[13:20] Abatessa

[13:28] John W. Alden Senior

[13:33] John P. Almeida

[13:36] >> Fawn Anderson

[13:39] George G. Anderson

[13:41] >> here

[13:43] >> Matthew D. Aquaro

[13:46] >> Jean G Arento

[13:50] >> William J. Bill Bates Jr.

[13:55] >> Janet L. Bennett.

[13:59] >> Elizabeth A. Bernazani.

[14:02] Lewis J. Bernazani

[14:06] Antonio G. Benton Court

[14:10] Tenley Paige Bevans

[14:14] Maryanne E. Balduk

[14:18] >> Phillip J. Balduk

[14:22] >> Richard A. Balduk

[14:25] >> Julie Bddock Defilippo

[14:29] >> William E. Bradreet.

[14:31] >> Yeah.

[14:32] >> Elizabeth L. Brennan.

[14:34] >> Yeah.

[14:36] >> Cedric Butner.

[14:40] » Amy Butler.

[14:43] Matthew B. Burn

[14:47] >> Sally J. Calhoun.

[14:50] Jeffrey A. Carry

[14:53] >> here.

[14:54] >> Joan

[14:56] Joanne Joan L. Chain.

[15:01] Lawrence P. Chisum,

[15:05] >> Jennifer L. Churchill,

[15:09] >> Amy Canerelli,

[15:12] >> James M. Simon,

[15:16] >> Kathleen L. Simon,

[15:19] >> William H. Clark, Jr.

[15:23] >> Peter E. Clement,

[15:27] » Annette Y. Collins here.

[15:31] >> James C. Conrad

[15:33] >> here.

[15:35] >> Claire T. Conway

[15:37] >> here.

[15:39] >> Marissa Anne Costello

[15:41] >> here.

[15:43] >> Joseph P. Cinada.

[15:47] >> Robert F. Cummings Jr.

[15:52] Julie E. Curtis.

[15:56] Glenn M. Dagley

[15:59] >> here.

[16:00] >> Susan E. Dagley

[16:02] >> here.

[16:03] >> Douglas P. Daly

[16:06] >> here.

[16:08] >> Paul R. Dana Jr.

[16:11] >> here.

[16:13] >> Phillip R.

[16:15] Dard Dardo

[16:18] >> here.

[16:18] >> The second

[16:21] Adam J. Dilippo.

[16:26] >> Lauren L. Duca

[16:28] >> here.

[16:31] » Christopher J. Demboski

[16:33] >> here.

[16:35] >> Jean N. Dempsey.

[16:38] Mary K. D. Pam Phyllis.

[16:43] >> Barbara Dero

[16:46] Brandy L. Ditch

[16:51] Karen A. Dherty

[16:54] Timothy T. E. Donahghue

[16:57] >> here.

[16:58] >> Martha J. Driscoll

[17:01] >> here.

[17:02] >> Julian E. Durant.

[17:06] » Paul W. Ellsworth.

[17:10] >> Suzanne M. Elovei

[17:13] >> here.

[17:15] >> Paul D. Eiovasious

[17:18] >> here.

[17:19] >> Linda J. D. Flarity.

[17:23] >> Author J. Francis.

[17:27] Jane Fuller,

[17:30] >> Daniel A. Gagnon,

[17:33] >> Ronald A. Gagnon,

[17:37] >> Robert A. Gamer,

[17:39] >> here.

[17:40] >> Lewis John George

[17:42] >> here.

[17:44] >> Kevin J. Gibbons

[17:46] >> here.

[17:47] >> Karina L. Grace

[17:50] >> Timothy J. Gray

[17:53] >> here. Dana Michael Hagen,

[17:58] >> Andrew J. Height,

[18:01] >> Mark C. Hannon,

[18:05] Eileen V. Harris,

[18:08] >> Marilyn E. Hazel,

[18:11] >> William K. Hersy,

[18:16] Donna Lynn Hopkins,

[18:20] Kyle Hopkins,

[18:24] John L. Jorski,

[18:28] Gary Alton Jones,

[18:32] >> Mark Meade Jones

[18:34] >> here,

[18:35] >> Charlotte M. Jordan,

[18:40] Carla E. King

[18:42] >> here,

[18:44] >> Theodore Ktos,

[18:47] >> Maryanne G. Kowalsski here,

[18:51] >> Sandra Sandy Lane,

[18:54] >> Noah Levit

[18:56] >> here,

[18:57] >> Rebecca Sims Lee

[19:00] >> here.

[19:02] >> Ellen M. Lefaver,

[19:06] Mark F. Lentini,

[19:09] >> Robert M. Lean

[19:13] Charles L. Lindum

[19:17] Vincent J. Mackey

[19:21] Patricia M. Maloney

[19:25] Donna Martin

[19:28] Jonathan Matarakia

[19:33] Michael Mattachuk

[19:37] >> Alan D. McCarrison

[19:40] David P. McKenna.

[19:42] >> Hey, I am here.

[20:04] Would

[20:12] you like me to take over, Kathy?

[20:15] Give me a minute.

[20:19] >> Richard F. McKenna

[20:21] >> here.

[20:23] >> Lois McKenzie.

[20:26] >> William D. McKenzie.

[20:29] >> Nancy A. McNelte,

[20:35] Paul A. McNelte,

[20:40] Thomas F. Mer,

[20:43] >> James V. Morose,

[20:47] » Michael E. Morris,

[20:51] Steven W. Murphy,

[20:55] Valentine N. Nana,

[21:00] I'm sorry. Was that here?

[21:01] >> Yes.

[21:02] >> Thank you.

[21:08] » Karen Nastock,

[21:11] >> Ross Nissioski,

[21:15] >> Robert G. O'Keefe,

[21:18] >> Richard J. Parker,

[21:19] >> here.

[21:20] >> Lauren R. Herald

[21:23] >> here.

[21:24] >> Michael W. Powers

[21:27] >> William M. Apprentice

[21:29] >> here.

[21:30] >> Angela Pyburn

[21:32] >> here.

[21:33] >> Corey K. Ryan

[21:35] >> here.

[21:36] >> W. Kohley Ryiki

[21:38] >> here.

[21:39] >> Nova D. Samadai.

[21:43] >> Deborah F. Sawyer

[21:46] >> here.

[21:47] >> Edward F. Shreggy.

[21:50] >> James M. Sears.

[21:54] Michael J. Shannon

[21:56] >> here.

[21:57] >> Lisa Silva.

[22:00] >> Michael J. Splain

[22:02] >> here.

[22:03] >> Jennifer St. Alnalt.

[22:07] >> Lauren A. Steves

[22:09] >> here.

[22:11] >> Elizabeth Lisa Stockman.

[22:15] Richard D. Stony

[22:17] >> here.

[22:18] >> Bruce A. Sims here.

[22:22] Chris Kristen B. Typbert

[22:27] Monica L. Typbert

[22:30] >> Michael Trainer

[22:31] >> here

[22:32] >> Lisa M. Tras

[22:34] >> here

[22:35] >> Richard B. Tras

[22:38] >> Gregory F. Trembley

[22:40] >> here.

[22:41] >> Jane A. Trembley

[22:43] >> here.

[22:44] >> Kathleen Turkot.

[22:47] >> James P. Tutco

[22:48] >> here.

[22:50] Amy Velasquez here.

[22:54] >> Alan J. Weeks here.

[22:57] >> Joanne Welock Reguchi.

[23:01] Peter J. Wilson.

[23:04] >> Kevin T. Wood

[23:09] Austerberg here.

[23:12] >> Michael D. Bean

[23:14] >> here.

[23:15] >> Moren A. Bernard.

[23:18] >> Daniel C. Bennett.

[23:21] Droce do Jooko

[23:24] >> here.

[23:25] >> Gardner Tras III.

[23:31] » You have 126 present.

[23:34] >> And was there there was a way I saw a

[23:36] late comer. Two late comers. Could you

[23:39] just state your name?

[23:43] » Brandy. And then who?

[23:53] So that's 134

[23:55] >> 128 126 plus two

[23:58] >> plus two 128 members uh indicating their

[24:02] presence. I now declare the presence of

[24:05] a quorum. Uh I would invite the newly

[24:08] elected town meeting members to stand to

[24:11] be sworn in. That's anybody new and

[24:14] anybody reelected, please

[24:25] raise your right hand and repeat after

[24:27] me. Oh,

[24:28] >> thank you. I say your name.

[24:33] do solemnly swear and affirm

[24:36] >> swear and affirm

[24:37] >> that I will faithfully and impartially

[24:39] discharge and perform

[24:44] » all the duties incumbent on me

[24:47] >> all the duties

[24:49] >> as town meeting member

[24:51] >> as me

[24:52] >> according to the best of my abilities

[24:57] » and understanding

[24:59] >> understanding

[25:00] >> agreeably ly

[25:02] >> to the rules and regulation

[25:06] >> of the constitution

[25:08] >> and the laws of this commonwealth

[25:11] >> the laws of thisalth.

[25:12] >> So help me God.

[25:14] >> Congratulations.

[25:24] I would now uh welcome the Danver's

[25:27] Alarmless Company and Scout Troop 58 as

[25:32] they troop in the colors for our salute

[25:35] to the flag.

[26:15] As I'm sure everyone is aware, this year

[26:18] our country celebrates the 250th

[26:22] anniversary of our founding.

[26:28] Thus, the OAM list company is joining us

[26:30] in the salute.

[27:07] I would ask everyone to please rise to

[27:11] salute the flag.

[27:19] I pledge algiance to the flag of the

[27:22] United States of America and to the

[27:24] republic for which it stands, one nation

[27:28] under God, indivisible, with liberty and

[27:31] justice for all.

[27:34] >> Thank you. Please be seated.

[27:40] I would now like to um welcome to the

[27:44] stage our two soloists under the

[27:47] direction of Alex Grover,

[27:51] Kayn Hampy and Brooke Willichowski.

[27:55] Okay.

[28:40] Thank you all for participating. I think

[28:43] you see the symbolism in our civic duty

[28:47] from our forefathers to the future

[28:49] generation in the pledge this this

[28:52] evening.

[29:03] Good evening everyone. My name is Alex

[29:04] Grover. I'm the Dvers High School Coral

[29:06] Director and we enjoy uh having some of

[29:10] our ensembles perform at this event

[29:13] every year. Uh this year it being the

[29:16] 250th anniversary, we did something a

[29:18] little bit special. We have two of our

[29:22] vocalists here tonight to sing some

[29:24] patriotic uh American themed songs for

[29:27] you. Uh and I'm gonna introduce each one

[29:29] of them first. Uh our vocalist is

[29:33] they're both very decorated, but I just

[29:35] wanted to give you some context for

[29:36] their achievements in their high school

[29:38] career. So, uh this is Kayn, and she is

[29:42] a fourtime um Allstate singer. Uh, so

[29:46] she's made all state mixed chorus since

[29:48] her freshman year as a tenor. Um, this

[29:52] year she was selected to the World

[29:54] Strides Honors Performance Series and so

[29:57] she performed with a national chorus at

[29:59] Carnegie Hall. Um, and these there these

[30:03] are among many accolades. Um, and lastly

[30:06] this year she received uh one of the

[30:08] scholarships for the Northeast District

[30:11] uh music ensembles. So, here to sing for

[30:14] you tonight, This Land is Your Land.

[30:16] Kayn Hampy, class of 2026.

[30:51] This land is your land. This land is my

[30:55] land. From California

[30:59] to the New York Island. From the redwood

[31:03] forest to the gulfream waters,

[31:08] this land was made for you and me.

[31:12] As I went walking

[31:15] that river of highway,

[31:18] I saw above me that endless skyway.

[31:23] I saw below me that golden valley.

[31:29] This land was made for you and me.

[31:34] This land is your land. This land is my

[31:38] land. From California

[31:42] to the New York Island. From the Redwood

[31:46] Forest to the Gulfream.

[31:51] This land was made for you and me.

[31:55] I roamed and rambled and I followed my

[31:59] footsteps to the sparkling sands of her

[32:04] diamond deserts.

[32:06] While all around me a voice was

[32:10] sounding.

[32:12] This land was made for you and me.

[32:16] This land is your land. This land is my

[32:21] land. From California

[32:24] to the New York Island. From the Redwood

[32:28] Forest to the Gulf Stream waters.

[32:34] This land was made for you and me.

[33:06] All right. Next, we have another

[33:08] vocalist from our music program, Brooke.

[33:11] Uh, and Brooke has also achieved a lot

[33:14] in her few years in the Dammers High

[33:16] School music program. Um, and this is

[33:19] another uh accolade that she shares with

[33:21] Kalin. Both Kayn and Brooke and five

[33:24] other of our um, music and theater

[33:27] students were just nominated for a

[33:30] prestigious awards in musical theater

[33:32] called the Jimmy Awards based on their

[33:33] performances in Hades Town and our

[33:36] second musical this year six. Uh, and so

[33:39] they got to go and audition with a bunch

[33:41] of other students from across the state

[33:44] um for uh, the Jimmy Awards. And so that

[33:46] was a really fun experience for them. So

[33:48] Brooke uh just did that and uh she also

[33:52] was this year selected to the first ever

[33:55] contemporary music ensemble at the

[33:57] all-state level. Um and both uh Kayn and

[34:01] Brooke received the highest scores in

[34:03] the state for um their respective

[34:06] categories at all state. Um so we're

[34:09] really pleased with that. Um, and

[34:11] Brooke's also her class secretary, so

[34:13] she's into the whole government thing as

[34:15] well. Um, so member of the class of

[34:19] 2027,

[34:20] this is Brooke Willichoski singing

[34:22] America the Beautiful.

[34:35] Oh, beautiful

[34:38] for spacious skies, for waves of grain,

[34:47] for purple

[34:49] mountain majesties

[34:54] above the fruited

[34:57] plane. America,

[35:05] God shed his grace on thee,

[35:11] and crown thy good with brotherhood

[35:17] from sea to shining

[35:21] sea.

[35:23] Oh, beautiful

[35:26] for patriot dream that sees beyond the

[35:33] years.

[35:35] Thine alabaster

[35:38] city gleam untamed by human tears.

[35:47] America,

[35:53] God shed his grace on thee

[35:58] and crown thy good with brotherhood

[36:05] from sea to shining

[36:09] sea.

[36:21] Thank you so much, Alex.

[36:23] >> Thank you so much. Enjoy your meeting.

[36:32] » I'd like to take a moment. There's so

[36:34] many people involved in addition um to

[36:38] our musical soloist. I want to take a

[36:41] moment then thank our veterans agent

[36:43] Kelly Reyes Texierra for the um ceremony

[36:47] um with the pledge to the flag beginning

[36:51] um our alarmless country comp company

[36:55] the Danver historical society and um the

[37:01] um scout troop 58

[37:04] uh spec specifically scout master David

[37:08] Tucker, Olivia Dvau Mo, Mave, Donna,

[37:15] Alex, Espazito, Violet Grove, Matthew

[37:19] Castanotus,

[37:21] Miles Castonotus, Gabby Lewis, um, Kyle

[37:26] Norbaka,

[37:27] uh, Jason Tucker, Lily Tucker, Emmy

[37:31] Vaughn, and Ivy Vaughn. Thank you all so

[37:34] much for participating this evening.

[37:36] It's been a pleasure to have you here.

[37:43] I'd like to offer a special welcome to

[37:45] our state representative uh Sally Karns.

[37:48] Our state um senator Joan Lovely sends

[37:51] her regrets. She's in the state house uh

[37:53] with budget matters. Um, in celebration

[37:57] of our nation's founding, I would like

[38:00] to invite town meeting member McKenna to

[38:03] read our town's 250th anniversary

[38:07] resolution, which is article one in the

[38:10] annual town meeting warrant at page

[38:12] three. And I would also like to thank

[38:16] Richard Tras, town meeting member, who

[38:19] graciously drafted the warrant article

[38:22] uh for this evening.

[38:25] Dave.

[38:31] So, what let's let's do it formally.

[38:33] Let's have the um motion let's have the

[38:36] warrant read by um our finance committee

[38:40] chair.

[38:42] >> We recommend that the town vote in favor

[38:44] of the resolution, Mr. McKenna.

[38:47] Whereas in the year 2026,

[38:51] our nation celebrates and reflects upon

[38:53] the 250th anniversary of the

[38:56] self-proclaimed Declaration of

[38:57] Independence of the United States of

[38:59] America as voted on July 4th, 1776

[39:03] by the Continental Congress

[39:06] and that whereas the town of Damas

[39:08] including our now sister community, the

[39:10] city of Peody was first established as

[39:13] the district of Damas in 1752

[39:16] in and then the town of Danvers in 1757

[39:20] in that whereas contrary to the vote of

[39:23] King George II of Great Britain

[39:26] disallowing the establishment of Danvers

[39:28] the king unwilling

[39:31] Danvers has been self-governed through

[39:32] the town through his town meeting and

[39:35] sending representatives to the

[39:36] Massachusetts General Court since 1752

[39:41] an unbroken 274

[39:44] years of governing including including

[39:46] here at this evening's gathering and

[39:49] that whereas the New England town

[39:51] meeting is one of America's oldest and

[39:54] most distinctive forms of democracy

[39:57] described by Thomas Jefferson principal

[39:59] author of the Declaration of

[40:00] Independence that this form of

[40:02] government is quote the wisest invention

[40:06] ever designed by the wit of man for the

[40:08] perfect exercise of self-government and

[40:11] forest preservation end quote and that

[40:14] whereas Danver's town meeting several

[40:17] years prior to hostilities with our

[40:18] mother country, voted to instruct his

[40:21] representative, Dr. Samuel Holton, one

[40:24] of America's founding fathers to quote,

[40:27] "Look well to the rights of the people,"

[40:29] end quote. A citizen to man to our

[40:32] elected officials that is important

[40:34] today as at any other time in our

[40:36] history. in that whereas in 1776 the

[40:41] Massachusetts General Court, the only

[40:43] American colony to so request, formally

[40:46] sought the opinion of its population as

[40:49] to their support of independence from

[40:51] Great Britain and that whereas Danvers

[40:54] at town meeting on June 18th, 70 1776

[40:59] voted quote that if the Honorable

[41:02] Continental Congress for the safety of

[41:04] the United Colonies declare them

[41:06] independent

[41:08] of the Kingdom of Great Britain, we the

[41:11] inhabitants of this town do solemnly

[41:13] engage with our lives and fortunes to

[41:16] support them in the measure." End quote.

[41:20] and that whereas the Massachusetts House

[41:22] of Representatives receiving answer from

[41:24] the various Massachusetts towns

[41:26] unanimously voted that Massachusetts

[41:29] indeed approved of American independence

[41:32] in that whereas the town of Danvers by

[41:35] August 1776

[41:37] with his population of 388 men of

[41:40] military age had been true to his

[41:43] commitment to self-governing

[41:44] independence with 139 men leaving home

[41:48] to volunteer here in the struggle for

[41:50] liberty. Over 600 eventually served in

[41:54] at least 20 and and at least 20

[41:56] including Captain Samuel Flint leading a

[42:00] charge at the October 1777 turning point

[42:02] battle at Saratoga Saratoga, New York

[42:06] lost their lives on the altar of

[42:08] liberty. Their sacrifice beginning us a

[42:10] nation.

[42:12] Therefore, we the people of Davis

[42:15] resolve here with town meeting assembled

[42:17] to reaffirm the sacred pledge of our

[42:19] 4,076

[42:21] to the words and promises of our two

[42:24] resulting foundational and covenant

[42:27] American documents. The unanimous

[42:30] declaration of the 13th United States of

[42:32] America dated June July 4th, 1776

[42:38] in our living ratified Constitution of

[42:40] the United States. First adopted in

[42:43] 1788, amended by the Bill of Rights in

[42:46] 1791,

[42:48] and at later times being the o world's

[42:50] oldest and continuous foundational

[42:52] document with its co-equal tranitarian

[42:56] branches of government, the legislative,

[42:59] executive, and judicial. These

[43:01] foundational documents were created for

[43:03] the securing of quote the blessings of

[43:06] liberty to ourselves and our prosperity

[43:09] end quote. and may we all continue to

[43:11] preserve, protect, and defend the

[43:14] Constitution of the United States.

[43:16] >> Thank you, David. All those in favor,

[43:18] please say, "I."

[43:20] >> I.

[43:20] >> Any opposed? I declare unanimous consent

[43:24] to the resolution. Thank you, town

[43:27] meeting member McKenna.

[43:38] I would now like to um welcome uh the

[43:42] chair of the select board to read at the

[43:45] memorial resolutions.

[43:48] >> Thank you, madam moderator.

[43:52] The town body of the town of Danvas has

[43:54] learned with regret of the deaths of the

[43:57] following officials, employees, and

[43:59] volunteers of the town of Danvas during

[44:01] the past year. Judith A. Cassidy,

[44:04] retired Hunt Hospital employee. Carol

[44:07] Scapichi, retired Damasc department.

[44:10] Sarah Sapplin, former pole worker.

[44:14] Clifford Laden, retired Damas Electric

[44:17] Department. Victoria Karasano, former

[44:20] crossing guard. Richard Rogers, retired

[44:23] DPW Riverside School. Mary Echholtz,

[44:28] retired Hunt Hospital employee. Dorothy

[44:31] Whitten, retired Town of Damas. Walter

[44:34] D. Murphy, retired Danvas Public

[44:37] Schools. Laura M. Gilmore, retired Danis

[44:41] School Department. Janice L. Typet,

[44:44] retired Danis Public Schools, town

[44:47] meeting member, pole worker. Dominic C.

[44:50] Benadetto, retired Damis Police

[44:52] Department. Peter Kent Bale, former

[44:55] teacher, Damas Public Schools. Robert A.

[44:59] Point, retired Damas Fire Department.

[45:02] Mary Beth Bureick Condan, former

[45:05] building inspector's office. Carol J.

[45:08] Maguire, retired Damas Water Department.

[45:11] Deborah B. Atwood, retired teacher,

[45:14] Damas Public Schools. Joseph C. Palmer,

[45:18] former council of aging. Donald Bruce

[45:21] Eden, retired town of Damas DPW.

[45:25] FA E. Curtis, former Hunt Hospital

[45:28] nurse.

[45:30] Andrea J. Daly, zoning board, town

[45:32] meeting member, river committee. Lewis

[45:35] Lozier, retired town of Davis town hall.

[45:38] Elizabeth A. Betty Spencer, former pole

[45:41] worker. John F. McGrath, retired Davis

[45:45] public schools. Margaret A. McCory,

[45:48] retired Hunt Hospital employee. Janet M.

[45:51] Swallow, former Hunt Hospital nurse.

[45:54] Joan M. George, town meeting member,

[45:57] river committee, Damas Historical

[45:59] Society. David Blackad, retired town of

[46:03] Damas.

[46:05] >> Thank you. Oh, I'm sorry.

[46:07] >> Yeah, excuse me. During their terms of

[46:09] office or employment, these truly

[46:11] dedicated public servants exercised

[46:13] authority and fulfilled responsibility

[46:16] with great dignity, sincerity of

[46:18] purpose, and knowledge of public

[46:20] affairs. And whereas all of these

[46:22] individuals contributed greatly to the

[46:24] welfare of the town of Danvas.

[46:26] Therefore, be it resolved that these

[46:30] resolutions be spread upon the records

[46:32] of town meeting of the town of Danas.

[46:35] Thank you. Thank you. Do we take that?

[46:37] Oh, you have it. Okay.

[46:40] Thank you. Do all members have a copy of

[46:43] the warrant articles and the

[46:44] recommendations of the finance

[46:46] committee? I'd like to appoint tellers

[46:49] for each precinct. Precinct one, Louie

[46:52] George. Precinct two, Gan Dempsey.

[46:55] Precinct three, John Elmea. Precinct

[46:59] four, Bill Bates. Precinct five, Koli

[47:03] Ryiki. Precinct six, Mike Powers.

[47:06] Precinct 7, Bill Clark. And precinct 8,

[47:10] Jane Trembley. Tellers should be certain

[47:13] to count their own votes. and the teller

[47:16] from precinct one should be sure to

[47:18] count the votes of the members of the

[47:19] board of the select board for the

[47:22] benefit of new members as well as

[47:23] others. The chair will review some

[47:25] matters of information and instruction

[47:27] relative to the conduct of this meeting

[47:30] most of which are procedural. The chair

[47:33] will read each article or summary

[47:34] thereof aloud which will then be

[47:36] followed by the recommendation of the

[47:38] finance committee. The recommendation of

[47:40] the finance committee is the main

[47:42] motion. Town me meeting members shall

[47:44] usually speak on all motions before any

[47:46] others. However, any citizen voter in

[47:49] town will be permitted to speak after

[47:51] town meeting members have done so. As is

[47:54] tradition, all members addressing the

[47:56] body are asked to use the microphone. In

[47:59] special circumstances, the chair may

[48:01] permit a committee chair or the sponsor

[48:04] of an article or some other person such

[48:06] as town council to speak before others

[48:08] for the purpose of information or other

[48:11] explanation. This meeting, if it wishes,

[48:14] may change the order of discussion of

[48:15] articles in the warrant by majority

[48:17] vote. The chair reminds all present that

[48:20] no person may speak without permission

[48:22] of the chair and that no speaker may be

[48:25] interrupted except for a point of order

[48:28] or privilege. All questions addressed to

[48:30] any other person present must go through

[48:33] the chair.

[48:35] Neither cross-examination nor reference

[48:37] to personalities will be permitted. They

[48:40] are out of order. The chair retains the

[48:42] authority at all times to rule certain

[48:44] questions and comments irrelevant to the

[48:47] meeting. Direct controversies between

[48:49] speakers are an affront to the dignity

[48:51] of the town meeting and will not be

[48:53] tolerated. All proposed amendments must

[48:56] be in writing with a copy given to the

[48:59] town clerk. The reason for this is

[49:01] purely for the sake of clarity so that

[49:03] we all know what we are voting on and in

[49:06] order that a main motion after amendment

[49:09] can be clearly stated by the chair prior

[49:11] to voting. I thank those members who

[49:13] have given me prior notice of possible

[49:16] amendments.

[49:18] Specific instructions concerning voting

[49:21] procedure. The chair will from time to

[49:23] time recite certain requirements for

[49:25] votes on certain motions. As a reminder,

[49:28] in June 1998, the town meeting voted to

[49:30] adopt Massachusetts General Laws Chapter

[49:32] 39 section 15 to authorize the moderator

[49:36] to declare adoption without count any

[49:39] vote requiring a twothirds vote. Most of

[49:41] our voting is conducted on a voice vote

[49:44] basis. If the chair has doubt the result

[49:47] of the voice vote, the chair will ask

[49:49] for a standing vote. Standing votes are

[49:52] taken by precinct with each teller

[49:54] residing aloud his or her tally of those

[49:56] in favor, those opposed. The total of

[49:58] all precincts is then announced by the

[50:00] chair. If seven members rising in place

[50:03] indicate they have doubt, the chair will

[50:05] ask for standing vote. After the chair

[50:08] has made the announcement, the vote may

[50:10] not be questioned. Roll call voting. A

[50:14] roll call may be taken on any motion

[50:16] when the following conditions have been

[50:18] met. A motion must for a motion must be

[50:21] made for a roll call vote at the

[50:23] conclusion of debate or after a voice

[50:25] vote has been taken. The motion must be

[50:28] seconded. Passage of the motion for the

[50:30] roll call requires a majority vote.

[50:34] A motion for a roll call vote may not be

[50:36] made after a standing vote has been

[50:38] taken and the results announced by the

[50:40] chair. Interruption of any method of

[50:43] voting will be considered out of order.

[50:46] The chair requests that all persons with

[50:48] cell phones or other electronic devices

[50:51] kindly place the device in silent mode

[50:53] or turn it off. As always, no smoking is

[50:56] permitted on school grounds. I would

[50:58] like to also call your attention to the

[51:00] location of the emergency exits uh in

[51:03] the room which are clearly marked and on

[51:04] either side of the room in the front and

[51:06] rear. The chair asked the cooperation of

[51:09] those citizens who are not town meeting

[51:11] members to refrain from taking part in

[51:13] voice voting.

[51:15] The return of the warrant indicates it

[51:18] was properly served. There is a motion

[51:19] by select meno that the chair omit the

[51:23] reading of the warrant which has been

[51:24] seconded by select person Bernard. All

[51:27] those in favor please say I.

[51:30] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. This

[51:33] evening, we will briefly recess the

[51:35] annual town meeting for the purpose of

[51:37] conducting a special town meeting. Once

[51:39] the business of the special town meeting

[51:41] is concluded, we will reconvene the

[51:43] annual town meeting. There is a motion

[51:46] by Selectman Bean, seconded by Selectman

[51:48] Tra, that the annual town meeting may be

[51:51] in temporary recess so that a special

[51:54] town meeting consisting of three

[51:56] articles may be held. All those in

[51:58] favor, please say I.

[52:00] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. The

[52:03] return of the warrant indicates it was

[52:04] properly served. There is a motion by uh

[52:07] selectman Bennett that the chair omit

[52:09] the reading of the warrant which has

[52:11] been seconded by select person Bernard.

[52:14] All those in favor please say I.

[52:17] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. I would

[52:20] ask members to please go to the special

[52:22] town meeting warrant which is on page

[52:26] one of the warrant article uh the

[52:29] warrant articles with finance committee

[52:31] recommendations.

[52:34] Article one unpaid bills to see what sum

[52:36] the town will vote to appropriate for

[52:38] the payment of certain unpaid bills for

[52:40] previous years or take any other action

[52:42] thereon. Mr. Chairman,

[52:44] >> we recommend that the town vote to

[52:45] appropriate a sum as follows for the

[52:47] payment of unpaid bills from a previous

[52:50] year. $36 from management office

[52:52] supplies to WB Mason. $950 from public

[52:56] works traffic control to the town of

[52:58] Sus.

[52:59] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[53:02] This requires a 9/10 vote. All those in

[53:06] favor, please say I.

[53:08] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Article

[53:11] two, budget transfers, fiscal year 2026,

[53:14] to see if the town will vote to amend

[53:17] the actions taken under article two of

[53:19] the May 19th, 2025 annual town meeting

[53:22] by adding certain appropriations or by

[53:25] reducing certain appropriations, by

[53:27] transfer among accounts, by transfer

[53:29] from prior appropriations under articles

[53:32] or from available funds, or take any

[53:34] other action thereon. Mr. Chairman.

[53:36] >> Madam moderator, I believe that uh a

[53:38] handout was given to the members as they

[53:40] entered the room uh with a correction.

[53:43] Uh we did vote at our finance committee

[53:45] meeting this evening to increase the uh

[53:48] $340,000

[53:50] under uh free cash to fire personnel to

[53:53] 380. So I just want to draw everyone's

[53:54] attention to that before I begin. We

[53:57] recommend that the town vote to amend

[53:59] the actions taken under article 2 of the

[54:00] May 19th, 2025 annual town meeting by

[54:03] adding certain appropriations or by

[54:05] reducing certain appropriations by

[54:07] transfer among accounts by transfer from

[54:09] prior appropriations under articles or

[54:11] from available funds as follows. $1

[54:14] million from free cash to education,

[54:17] $700,000 from free cash to W DPW

[54:21] operating. $250,000 from DPW personnel

[54:25] to DPW operating,

[54:27] $380,000 from free cash to fire

[54:30] personnel, $90,000 from police personnel

[54:33] to police capital outlay, $20,000 from

[54:36] department heads personnel to HR

[54:38] personnel, $15,000 from accounting

[54:41] personnel to accounting operating,

[54:44] $15,000 from debt interest to accounting

[54:47] operating, $50,000 from sewer retained

[54:50] earnings to sewer operating, and $75,000

[54:53] from department heads personnel to

[54:55] legal.

[54:56] >> Thank you. Yes, sir.

[55:03] » Thank you.

[55:03] >> Oh, thank you.

[55:09] Is there any other discussion?

[55:13] Hearing none. All those in favor, please

[55:15] say I.

[55:16] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Article

[55:20] three, state public works grant to see

[55:22] what sum the town will vote to

[55:24] appropriate for public works projects

[55:27] such some to be reimbursed by the state

[55:29] transportation bond bill or take any

[55:32] other action thereon. Mr. Chairman,

[55:34] >> we recommend that the town vote to

[55:35] appropriate $1,248,170.74

[55:41] for public works projects such sum to be

[55:43] reimbursed by the state transportation

[55:45] bond bill.

[55:46] >> Is there any discussion?

[55:48] Hearing none. All those in favor, please

[55:50] say I.

[55:51] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. There

[55:55] is a motion by member Flareity, seconded

[55:57] by member Bates, that the special town

[56:00] meeting be dissolved. All those in

[56:02] favor, please say I. I.

[56:04] >> All those opposed. The motion carries.

[56:07] The moderator declares the recess of the

[56:10] annual town meeting over. I would ask

[56:13] you please to return to your uh warrant

[56:18] for the annual town meeting.

[56:21] Specifically, we are on page four having

[56:25] disposed of article one at the

[56:27] commencement of the meeting. Article

[56:29] two, election of officers to choose such

[56:33] officers as are required to be chosen in

[56:35] the months of April, May and June

[56:37] annually if they have been not if they

[56:40] have not been elected by written ballot

[56:42] at the annual election or take any other

[56:45] action thereon. Madame chair,

[56:50] » thank you madam moderator.

[56:53] The following list of officers

[56:57] were elected by A and A votes. Field

[56:59] driver William H. Clack Jr. confirmation

[57:02] pending. Poundkeepers Frank Giooney

[57:06] Beverly Milwood and Kevin Nichols.

[57:10] Measure of woods and bark. Kevin Daly,

[57:13] weer of coal, Kevin Daly, fence viewers

[57:16] Renee Hunter and William Bradstreet.

[57:19] River Committee, Brian Adington, Lewis

[57:21] George, Matthew Burn, Chair, William

[57:24] Saizinski,

[57:26] Michael McCarthy, Daniel Dorenzo, Thomas

[57:29] Perry, and Christopher Sandborn,

[57:31] Exopicio.

[57:32] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[57:35] Hearing none, all those in favor, please

[57:36] say I.

[57:38] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. We now

[57:41] turn to voting on the budget. Um,

[57:45] article three, budget fiscal year 2027.

[57:49] And, uh, to vote, we'll be voting it by

[57:52] line item. And those line items are

[57:55] found between pages four and five. to

[57:58] determine what sums the town will of

[58:01] money the town will vote to appropriate

[58:03] to defay the charges and expenses of the

[58:06] town for fiscal year 2027 and to

[58:09] determine whether the money so

[58:10] appropriated shall be provided by

[58:12] taxation by appropriation from available

[58:15] funds or by borrowing or take any other

[58:18] action thereon. Mr. Chairman,

[58:20] >> we recommend that the town vote to

[58:22] appropriate sums of money as set forth

[58:24] by the table of appropriations on the

[58:26] following pages to defay the charges and

[58:29] expenses of the town for fiscal year

[58:30] 2027.

[58:32] >> Thank you. Education

[58:34] >> total and net appropriation 56,151,63.

[58:40] » Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[58:44] Hearing none. All those in favor, please

[58:45] say I.

[58:47] >> Any opposed? The motion carries.

[58:49] Moderator.

[58:51] >> Total and net appropriation $1,500.

[58:53] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[58:56] Hearing none. All those in favor, please

[58:58] say I.

[58:59] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Select

[59:03] board.

[59:04] >> Total and net appropriation $29,392.

[59:09] » Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[59:11] Hearing none. All those in favor, please

[59:13] say I.

[59:15] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Finance

[59:19] committee reserve

[59:20] >> total and net appropriation $125,000.

[59:24] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[59:26] Hearing none. All those in favor, please

[59:28] say I.

[59:29] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Legal

[59:34] >> total and net appropriation $125,000.

[59:37] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[59:40] Hearing none. All those in f favor,

[59:42] please say I.

[59:44] >> Any opposed? The motion carries.

[59:47] Management

[59:49] >> total and net appropriation $477,318.

[59:53] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[59:56] Hearing none. All those in favor, please

[59:58] say I.

[1:00:00] >> Any opposed? The motion carries.

[1:00:03] Information technology.

[1:00:05] >> Total and net appropriation 1,223,598.

[1:00:10] » Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:00:13] Hearing none. All those in favor, please

[1:00:15] say I.

[1:00:17] >> Any opposed? The motion carries.

[1:00:20] Department heads.

[1:00:21] >> Total and net appropriation $1,276,135.

[1:00:27] » Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:00:30] Hearing none. All those in favor, please

[1:00:32] say I.

[1:00:33] >> Any opposed? The motion carries.

[1:00:36] Accounting

[1:00:37] >> total and net appropriation $529,842.

[1:00:42] » Is there any discussion? Hearing none.

[1:00:45] All those in favor, please say I.

[1:00:48] >> Any opposed? The motion carries.

[1:00:51] Assessing

[1:00:52] >> total and net appropriation $451,892.

[1:00:58] » Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:01:01] Hearing none. All those in favor, please

[1:01:03] say I.

[1:01:04] >> Any opposed? The motion carries.

[1:01:08] Treasurer collector

[1:01:09] >> total and net appropriation $447,69.

[1:01:15] » Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:01:18] Hearing none. All those in favor, please

[1:01:19] say I.

[1:01:21] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Human

[1:01:24] resources.

[1:01:25] >> Total and net appropriation $481,765.

[1:01:31] » Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:01:33] Hearing none. All those in favor, please

[1:01:35] say I. Any opposed? The motion carries.

[1:01:40] Town clerk.

[1:01:41] >> Total appropriation 530,579.

[1:01:47] $520,579

[1:01:50] from taxation and $10,000 from parking

[1:01:52] receipts.

[1:01:53] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:01:56] Hearing none. All those in favor, please

[1:01:58] say I.

[1:01:59] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Police

[1:02:03] Department and Dispatch

[1:02:05] >> total and net appropriation 8,163,498.

[1:02:11] » Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:02:14] Hearing none. All those in favor, please

[1:02:15] say I.

[1:02:17] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Fire

[1:02:20] department.

[1:02:21] >> Total and net appropriation 6,665,539.

[1:02:28] » Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:02:31] Hearing none. All those in favor, please

[1:02:32] say I.

[1:02:34] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. DPW tax

[1:02:39] supported. Total appropriation

[1:02:42] 14,460,73,425,73

[1:02:51] from taxation and $35,000 from l lateral

[1:02:54] and particular sewers.

[1:02:56] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:02:59] Hearing none. All those in favor, please

[1:03:01] say I.

[1:03:02] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Land

[1:03:05] use and community services

[1:03:08] >> total and net appropriation $2,97,277.

[1:03:13] » Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:03:16] Hearing none. All those in favor, please

[1:03:18] say I.

[1:03:20] >> Any opposed? The motion carries.

[1:03:23] Recreation Department

[1:03:25] >> total and net appropriation 1,117,919.

[1:03:31] » Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:03:34] Hearing none. All those in favor please

[1:03:35] say I.

[1:03:37] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Library

[1:03:41] PBD Institute

[1:03:42] >> total and net appropriation $1,760,524.

[1:03:48] » Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:03:50] Hearing none. All those in favor, please

[1:03:52] say I.

[1:03:54] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Debt

[1:03:57] service

[1:03:59] >> total appropriation 5,600,52,144,14

[1:04:07] from taxation and $1,456,488

[1:04:12] from debt stabilization.

[1:04:14] >> Is there any discussion?

[1:04:17] Because funds uh are coming from a

[1:04:19] stabilization fund, this requires a

[1:04:22] twothirds vote. All those in favor,

[1:04:24] please say I.

[1:04:26] >> Any opposed? The motion carries.

[1:04:29] Benefits and insurance

[1:04:31] >> total and net appropriation 17,442,154.

[1:04:36] » Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:04:40] Hearing none. All those in favor, please

[1:04:41] say I.

[1:04:43] >> Any opposed? The motion carries.

[1:04:46] Retirement tax supported

[1:04:48] >> total and net appropriation 11,250,772.

[1:04:54] » Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:04:57] >> Hearing none. All those in favor, please

[1:04:58] say I.

[1:05:00] >> Any opposed? The motion carries

[1:05:07] capital outlay.

[1:05:08] >> Total and net appropriation from free

[1:05:10] cash $616,565.

[1:05:14] » Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:05:16] Hearing none. All those in favor, please

[1:05:18] say I.

[1:05:20] >> Any opposed?

[1:05:22] The motion carries.

[1:05:25] >> Sewer enterprise fund

[1:05:28] >> total and net appropriation from sewer

[1:05:30] receipts 6,944,66.

[1:05:35] » Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:05:38] Hearing none. All those in favor, please

[1:05:40] say I.

[1:05:42] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Water

[1:05:46] Enterprise Fund

[1:05:47] >> total and net appropriation from water

[1:05:49] receipts 11,395,518.

[1:05:54] » Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:05:57] Hearing none. All those in favor, please

[1:05:59] say I.

[1:06:01] >> Any opposed? The motion carries.

[1:06:05] We have now dispensed with the entirety

[1:06:07] of article three and we move on to

[1:06:09] article four

[1:06:12] electric division budget to see if the

[1:06:14] town will vote to appropriate for the

[1:06:15] electric division the income from the

[1:06:17] sale of electricity to private

[1:06:19] customers. Electricity supplied to

[1:06:21] municipal buildings for municipal power

[1:06:23] electricity supplied for street lights

[1:06:25] and jobing during the current fiscal

[1:06:27] year. the whole to be expended under the

[1:06:30] direction and control of the town

[1:06:31] manager for the expense of the plant for

[1:06:34] said fiscal year 2027 as defined by

[1:06:37] section 57 chapter 164 of the

[1:06:40] Massachusetts general laws and to

[1:06:42] determine whether said income shall

[1:06:43] exceed said expenses for said fiscal

[1:06:45] year or take any other action thereon.

[1:06:48] Mr. Chairman,

[1:06:49] >> we recommend that the town vote to

[1:06:50] appropriate for the electric division

[1:06:52] the income from the sale of electricity

[1:06:54] to private consumers, electricity

[1:06:56] supplied to municipal buildings for

[1:06:58] municipal power, electricity supplied

[1:06:59] for street lights, and jobbing during

[1:07:01] the current fiscal year, the whole to be

[1:07:03] expended under the direction and control

[1:07:04] of the town manager for the expense of

[1:07:06] the plant for said fiscal year 2027 as

[1:07:09] defined by section 57 of chapter 164 of

[1:07:12] the Massachusetts General Laws and to

[1:07:15] determine whether said income shall

[1:07:16] exceed said expenses for said fiscal

[1:07:18] year.

[1:07:19] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:07:22] Hearing none. All those in favor, please

[1:07:24] say I.

[1:07:25] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Article

[1:07:29] five, Essex Northshore Agricultural and

[1:07:32] Technical School District Assessment to

[1:07:34] see what sum the town will vote to

[1:07:36] appropriate for the payment of the

[1:07:37] assessment certified by the Essex

[1:07:40] Northshore Agricultural and Technical

[1:07:42] School District or take any other action

[1:07:44] thereon. Mr. Chairman,

[1:07:46] >> we recommend that the town vote to

[1:07:47] appropriate 5,50,225

[1:07:51] from taxation for the payment of the

[1:07:52] assessment certified by the Essex

[1:07:54] Northshore Agricultural and Technical

[1:07:56] School District.

[1:07:57] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:08:00] Hearing none, all those in favor, please

[1:08:02] say I.

[1:08:03] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Article

[1:08:06] six, authorization of the collector of

[1:08:08] taxes to act to see if the town will

[1:08:11] vote to authorize the collector of taxes

[1:08:13] to use all means of collecting taxes

[1:08:16] which a town treasurer may use when

[1:08:18] appointed collector of taxes permissible

[1:08:20] under the statutes of the Commonwealth

[1:08:22] of Massachusetts or take any other

[1:08:24] action thereon. Mr. Chairman,

[1:08:26] >> we recommend that the town vote to

[1:08:27] authorize the collector of taxes to use

[1:08:29] all means of collecting taxes which a

[1:08:31] town treasurer may use when appointed

[1:08:32] collector of taxes permissible under the

[1:08:34] statutes of the Commonwealth of

[1:08:35] Massachusetts.

[1:08:37] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:08:40] Hearing none, all those in favor, please

[1:08:41] say I.

[1:08:43] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Article

[1:08:46] seven, committee reports to see if the

[1:08:48] town will vote to hear, consider, and

[1:08:50] accept the reports of town boards,

[1:08:51] commissions, officers, committees, or

[1:08:54] take any other action there on. Mr.

[1:08:56] Chairman,

[1:08:56] >> we recommend that the town vote to hear,

[1:08:58] consider, and accept the reports of town

[1:09:00] boards, commissions, officers, and

[1:09:02] committees.

[1:09:03] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:09:06] Hearing none, all those in favor, please

[1:09:07] say I.

[1:09:09] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Article

[1:09:12] 8, technology plan to see what some the

[1:09:14] town will vote to appropriate for the

[1:09:16] purchase and installation of hardware

[1:09:18] and software, but telecommunications

[1:09:20] computers and related networking

[1:09:22] equipment for various town departments

[1:09:24] or take any other action thereon. Mr.

[1:09:27] Chairman,

[1:09:27] >> we recommend that the town vote to

[1:09:29] appropriate $519,000 from free cash for

[1:09:32] the purchase and installation of

[1:09:33] hardware and software for

[1:09:34] telecommunications, computers, and

[1:09:36] related networking equipment for various

[1:09:38] town departments.

[1:09:39] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:09:41] Hearing

[1:09:42] none. All those in favor, please say I.

[1:09:45] >> Any opposed? The motion carries.

[1:09:49] Article uh article nine, access door

[1:09:53] access security to see what sum the town

[1:09:56] will vote to appropriate for the

[1:09:57] purchase and installation of hardware

[1:09:59] and software related to door access

[1:10:01] security or take any other action

[1:10:03] thereon. Mr. Chairman,

[1:10:05] >> we recommend that the town vote to

[1:10:06] appropriate $100,000 from free cash for

[1:10:09] the purchase and installation of

[1:10:10] hardware and software related to door

[1:10:12] access security.

[1:10:13] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:10:16] Hearing none, all those in favor, please

[1:10:18] say I.

[1:10:19] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. School

[1:10:23] article 10, school transportation

[1:10:25] vehicles to see what some the town will

[1:10:27] vote to appropriate for the purchase of

[1:10:29] school vehicles and related equipment or

[1:10:31] take any other action thereon. Mr.

[1:10:33] Chairman,

[1:10:34] >> we recommend that the town vote to

[1:10:35] appropriate $150,000 from free cash for

[1:10:38] the purchase of school vehicles and

[1:10:40] related equipment.

[1:10:40] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:10:43] Hearing none. All those in favor, please

[1:10:45] say I.

[1:10:46] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Article

[1:10:50] 11, vacant buildings, amendment to the

[1:10:52] general bylaws, to see if the town will

[1:10:55] vote to amend the general bylaws of the

[1:10:57] town of Danvers by appointing a new by

[1:11:00] adopting a new bylaw

[1:11:03] at chapter Oh my goodness, it's a Roman

[1:11:06] numeral and I didn't look it up.

[1:11:08] >> 48.

[1:11:11] >> Thank you. Um, entitled vacant building

[1:11:14] registration to read as follows or take

[1:11:17] any other action thereon, Mr. Mr.

[1:11:18] Chairman,

[1:11:19] >> we recommend that the article be

[1:11:20] referred to the town manager for further

[1:11:22] review and report report within one

[1:11:24] year.

[1:11:24] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:11:28] >> Hearing none. All those in favor, please

[1:11:29] say I.

[1:11:31] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Article

[1:11:34] 12, acquire easements for public

[1:11:36] utilities and public access in utilities

[1:11:40] to see if the town will vote to

[1:11:41] authorize the select board to acquire by

[1:11:43] gift, purchase, or eminent domain on

[1:11:46] behalf of the town multiple easements

[1:11:48] granting access to private property and

[1:11:51] maintenance rights to municipal and

[1:11:52] electrical utilities related to the

[1:11:55] redevelopment of 128 Maple Street, 146

[1:11:58] Maple Street, and 6 Hobart Street. All

[1:12:01] said e easements are shown on separate

[1:12:03] plans and exhibits which were prepared

[1:12:06] by the Morren Cameron Group Inc. dated

[1:12:08] October 3rd, 2025 and October 31st, 2025

[1:12:13] for the 128 Maple Street, 146 Maple

[1:12:16] Street, and 6 Hobart Street or take any

[1:12:18] other action thereon. Mr. Chairman,

[1:12:20] >> we recommend that the town vote to

[1:12:22] authorize the select board to acquire by

[1:12:23] gift purchase or eminent domain on

[1:12:25] behalf of the town multiple easements

[1:12:27] granting access to private property and

[1:12:30] maintenance rights to municipal and

[1:12:31] electric utilities related to the

[1:12:33] redevelopment of 128 Maple Street, 146

[1:12:37] Maple Street, and 6 Hobart Street. All

[1:12:39] of said easements are shown on separate

[1:12:41] plans and exhibits which were prepared

[1:12:42] by the Morren Cameron Group dated

[1:12:44] October 3rd, 2025 and October 31st, 2025

[1:12:48] for 128 Maple Street, 146 Maple Street

[1:12:52] and 6 Hobart Street.

[1:12:53] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:12:56] This requires a twothirds vote. All

[1:12:59] those in favor, please say I.

[1:13:01] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Article

[1:13:05] 13, accept utility easements to

[1:13:08] authorize the select board until July

[1:13:10] 1st, 2027 to acquire on behalf of the

[1:13:13] town easements for the following

[1:13:15] purposes: roads, sidewalks, vehicular,

[1:13:18] bicycle, or pedestrian access or

[1:13:20] passage, water, drainage, sewer, fiber

[1:13:23] optic, cable, electricity, and other

[1:13:26] utilities where such easements are

[1:13:28] required at no cost to the town and are

[1:13:30] required pursuant to a land use permit.

[1:13:33] site plan review, agreement for utility

[1:13:37] or drainage, agreement for construction,

[1:13:39] use, operation and maintenance of

[1:13:41] infrastructure or memorandum of

[1:13:43] understanding or to take any other

[1:13:46] action thereon. Mr. Chairman,

[1:13:47] >> we recommend that the town vote to

[1:13:49] authorize the select board until July

[1:13:51] 1st, 2027 to acquire on behalf of the

[1:13:54] town easements for the following

[1:13:55] purposes: roads, sidewalks, vehicular,

[1:13:58] bicycle, or pedestrian access or

[1:14:00] passage, water, drainage, sewer, fiber

[1:14:02] optic cable, electricity, and other

[1:14:04] utilities where such easements are

[1:14:06] required at no cost to the town and are

[1:14:08] required pursuant to a land use permit,

[1:14:11] site plan review, agreement for utility

[1:14:13] or drainage, agreement for construction

[1:14:15] use, operation, and maintenance of of

[1:14:17] infrastructure or memorandum of

[1:14:19] understanding.

[1:14:20] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:14:23] This requires a twothirds vote. All

[1:14:26] those in favor, please say I.

[1:14:28] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Article

[1:14:32] 14, demolition delay, to see if the town

[1:14:35] will vote to amend chapter 29 of the

[1:14:38] general bylaws regarding the demolition

[1:14:40] of historically significant buildings by

[1:14:42] amending section 5 as follows or take

[1:14:45] any other action thereon. Mr. Chairman,

[1:14:47] >> we recommend that the town vote to amend

[1:14:49] chapter 29 of the general bylaws

[1:14:51] regarding the demolition of historically

[1:14:53] significant buildings by amending

[1:14:55] section 5 as follows on pages 7 through

[1:14:58] nine of your warrant booklet.

[1:14:59] >> Thank you. is

[1:15:03] thank you Mr. Chairman. Um is there any

[1:15:06] discussion

[1:15:09] hearing? None. All those in favor please

[1:15:10] say I.

[1:15:12] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Article

[1:15:16] 15, pavement management and sidewalk

[1:15:19] improvements to see what some the town

[1:15:21] will vote to appropriate for the

[1:15:23] implementation of pavement management

[1:15:25] program, including consulting services,

[1:15:27] computer programs, crack sealing,

[1:15:30] sidewalk improvement, and the

[1:15:31] reconstruction of townways and to

[1:15:33] determine whether this appropriation

[1:15:35] should be raised by borrowing or

[1:15:37] otherwise or take any other action

[1:15:39] thereon. Mr. Chairman,

[1:15:41] >> we recommend that the town vote to

[1:15:42] appropriate $317,000

[1:15:44] from free cash for the implementation of

[1:15:46] a pavement management program, including

[1:15:48] consulting services, computer programs,

[1:15:51] crack sealing, sidewalk improvements,

[1:15:52] and the reconstruction of townways.

[1:15:54] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:15:58] Hearing none, all those in favor, please

[1:16:00] say I. I.

[1:16:01] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Article

[1:16:05] 16, roadway layout and acceptance of

[1:16:08] public ways program to see what some the

[1:16:11] town will vote to appropriate for the

[1:16:12] preparation of street layout and

[1:16:14] acceptance plans and recording fees to

[1:16:16] accept certain roadways as public ways

[1:16:19] in the town of Danvers or take any other

[1:16:21] action thereon. Mr. Chairman,

[1:16:23] >> we recommend that the town vote to

[1:16:24] appropriate $33,000 from free cash for

[1:16:27] the preparation of street layout and

[1:16:29] acceptance plans and recording fees to

[1:16:31] accept certain roadways as public ways

[1:16:33] in the town of Danvers. Thank you. Is

[1:16:35] there any discussion?

[1:16:38] Hearing none. All those in favor, please

[1:16:39] say I.

[1:16:41] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Article

[1:16:44] 17, building improvements to see what

[1:16:47] sum the town will vote to appropriate

[1:16:48] for repairs, maintenance, and

[1:16:50] improvements to town buildings,

[1:16:51] including equipment, or take any other

[1:16:53] action thereon. Mr. Chairman,

[1:16:55] >> we recommend that the town vote to

[1:16:57] appropriate $652,000

[1:16:59] for repairs, maintenance, and

[1:17:01] improvements to town buildings,

[1:17:02] including equipment to be funded by

[1:17:04] $627,000

[1:17:06] from free cash and $25,000 from the

[1:17:08] water use mitigation program, lump.

[1:17:12] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:17:15] Hearing none, all those in favor, please

[1:17:16] say I.

[1:17:18] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Article

[1:17:21] 18, grounds improvement, to see what

[1:17:23] some the town will vote to appropriate

[1:17:24] for improvements to and maintenance of

[1:17:27] town properties, athletic facilities,

[1:17:29] playgrounds, and equipment and related

[1:17:30] costs, including construction,

[1:17:32] reconstruction, replacement, or purchase

[1:17:35] of town equipment of supplies, or take

[1:17:37] any other action thereon. Mr. Chairman,

[1:17:40] >> we recommend that the town vote to

[1:17:41] appropriate $166,000

[1:17:43] from free cash for improvements to and

[1:17:45] maintenance of town properties, athletic

[1:17:47] facilities, playgrounds, and equipment,

[1:17:49] and related costs, including

[1:17:51] construction, reconstruction,

[1:17:53] replacement, or purchase of equipment or

[1:17:54] supplies.

[1:17:55] >> Thank you. Bless you.

[1:17:57] >> Um, is there any discussion?

[1:18:00] Hearing none, all those in favor, please

[1:18:02] say I.

[1:18:04] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Article

[1:18:07] 19, maintenance dredging, to see what

[1:18:09] sum the town will vote to appropriate to

[1:18:11] the cost of future dredging, including

[1:18:13] engineering and permitting for the Damas

[1:18:15] Harbor, or take any other action there

[1:18:17] on. Mr. Chairman,

[1:18:19] >> we recommend that the town vote to

[1:18:20] appropriate $20,000 from free cash

[1:18:22] toward the cost of future dredging,

[1:18:24] including engineering and permitting for

[1:18:26] Danver Harbor.

[1:18:27] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:18:30] Hearing none, all those in favor, please

[1:18:32] say I. I.

[1:18:33] >> Any opposed? The motion carries.

[1:18:38] Article 20, drainage liability to see if

[1:18:40] the town will vote to assume liability

[1:18:42] in the manner provided by Massachusetts

[1:18:43] General Laws chapter 91 section 29 for

[1:18:46] damages that may be incurred by work to

[1:18:48] be performed by the depart Massachusetts

[1:18:50] Department of Public Transportation for

[1:18:53] the improvement, development,

[1:18:54] maintenance, and protection of tidal and

[1:18:56] non-title rivers and streams, harbors,

[1:18:58] tide waters, foreshores, and shores

[1:19:00] along the public beach in accordance

[1:19:02] with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter

[1:19:04] 91 section 11 and authorize the select

[1:19:07] board to execute and deliver a bond of indemnity therefore to the

[1:19:11] Commonwealth of Massachusetts or take

[1:19:13] any other action thereon. Mr. Shaman,

[1:19:16] >> we recommend that the town vote to

[1:19:17] assume liability in the manner provided

[1:19:19] by Mass General Law, Chapter 91, Section

[1:19:21] 29, for damages that may be incurred by

[1:19:24] work to be performed by the

[1:19:26] Massachusetts Department of

[1:19:27] Transportation for the improvement,

[1:19:28] development, maintenance, and protection

[1:19:30] of tidal and non-title rivers and

[1:19:32] streams, harbors, tidewaters,

[1:19:34] foreshores, and shores along the public

[1:19:36] beach in accordance with Mass General

[1:19:38] Law Chapter 91, Section 11, and

[1:19:40] authorized the Select Board to execute

[1:19:42] and deliver a bond of indemnity,

[1:19:44] therefore, to the Commonwealth of

[1:19:45] Massachusetts.

[1:19:46] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:19:49] Hearing none. All those in favor, please

[1:19:51] say I.

[1:19:52] >> Any opposed?

[1:19:54] >> The motion carries. Article 21, Endicott

[1:19:57] Street Generator Replacement to see what

[1:20:00] some the town will vote uh to see what

[1:20:03] some the town will appropriate for the

[1:20:05] construction, capital maintenance, and

[1:20:07] replacement of the town's Endeott Street

[1:20:09] water, wastewater pumping station

[1:20:11] generator, and to determine whether said

[1:20:13] appropriation shall be raised through

[1:20:15] sewer receipts, sewer retained earnings,

[1:20:18] or otherwise, or take any other action

[1:20:20] thereon. Mr. Chairman,

[1:20:21] >> we recommend that the town vote to

[1:20:23] appropriate $400,000 from sewer retained

[1:20:25] earnings for the construction, capital

[1:20:27] maintenance, and replacement of the

[1:20:28] town's Endicut Street wastewater pumping

[1:20:31] station generator.

[1:20:32] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:20:35] Hearing none, all those in favor, please

[1:20:37] say I.

[1:20:38] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Article

[1:20:42] 22, wastewater collection systems

[1:20:44] maintenance spot repairs to see what

[1:20:46] some the town will vote to appropriate

[1:20:48] for the continuation of the infiltration

[1:20:51] inflow spot repair program and to

[1:20:54] maintain the town wastewater collection

[1:20:56] system and to determine whether said

[1:20:58] appropriation shall be raised through

[1:21:00] sewer receipts, sewer retained earnings

[1:21:02] or otherwise or take any other action

[1:21:04] thereon. Mr. Chairman,

[1:21:06] >> we recommend that the town vote to

[1:21:08] appropriate two uh excuse me, $200,000

[1:21:11] from sewer retained earnings for the

[1:21:12] continuation of the infiltration inflow

[1:21:15] spot repair program to maintain the town

[1:21:17] wastewater collection system.

[1:21:19] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:21:22] Hearing none, all those in favor, please

[1:21:24] say I.

[1:21:26] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Article

[1:21:29] 23, wastewater pump station

[1:21:32] improvements, to see what some the town

[1:21:34] will vote uh will appropriate for the

[1:21:36] capital maintenance and extraordinary

[1:21:38] repairs to the town's wastewater pumping

[1:21:40] stations, and to determine whether said

[1:21:42] appropriation shall be raised through

[1:21:44] sewer receipts, sewer retained earnings,

[1:21:46] or otherwise, or take any other action

[1:21:49] thereon. Mr. Chairman,

[1:21:50] >> we recommend that the town vote to

[1:21:52] appropriate $200,000 from sewer retained

[1:21:54] earnings for the capital maintenance and

[1:21:56] extraordinary repairs to the town's

[1:21:58] wastewater pumping stations.

[1:22:00] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:22:03] Hearing none. All those in favor, please

[1:22:05] say I. I.

[1:22:07] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Article

[1:22:10] 24, storm water asset management, to see

[1:22:13] what some the town will vote to

[1:22:14] appropriate for the continuation of the

[1:22:16] storm water asset management planning

[1:22:18] and compliance with the town municipal

[1:22:21] separate storm sewer system MS4

[1:22:25] discharge permit and to determine

[1:22:27] whether set appropriation shall be

[1:22:29] raised through sewer receipts, sewer

[1:22:31] retained earnings, or otherwise, or take

[1:22:34] any other action thereon. Mr. Chairman,

[1:22:36] >> we recommend that the town vote to

[1:22:37] appropriate $70,000 from sewer retained

[1:22:40] earnings for the continuation of the

[1:22:42] storm water asset management planning

[1:22:43] and compliance with the town's municipal

[1:22:45] separate storm sewer system MS4

[1:22:48] discharge permit.

[1:22:50] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:22:53] Hearing none, all those in favor, please

[1:22:55] say I.

[1:22:56] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Article

[1:23:00] 25 m drainage maintenance to see what

[1:23:03] sum the town will vote to appropriate

[1:23:05] for the continuation of the drainage

[1:23:07] maintenance program including

[1:23:09] engineering specification and bidding

[1:23:11] documents, materials, equipment and

[1:23:14] construction associated the cost of

[1:23:16] upgrading and improving the existing

[1:23:18] drainage throughout the town and to

[1:23:20] determine whether state appropriation

[1:23:22] shall be raised through sewer receipts,

[1:23:24] sewer retained earnings or otherwise or

[1:23:27] take any other action thereon. Mr.

[1:23:29] Chairman,

[1:23:29] >> we recommend that the town vote to

[1:23:31] appropriate $50,000 from sewer retained

[1:23:33] earnings for the continuation of the

[1:23:35] drainage maintenance program, including

[1:23:37] engineering specifications, and bidding

[1:23:39] documents, materials, equipment, and

[1:23:41] construction associated with the costs

[1:23:43] of upgrading and improving the existing

[1:23:45] drain existing drainage throughout the

[1:23:47] town.

[1:23:48] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:23:51] Hearing none, all those in favor, please

[1:23:52] say I.

[1:23:54] >> Any opposed? The motion carries.

[1:23:58] water treatment plant rehabilitation to

[1:24:00] see what sum the town will vote uh to

[1:24:03] see what some the town will appropriate

[1:24:05] for the capital maintenance and

[1:24:06] extraordinary repairs to the town's

[1:24:08] water treatment plants and wells for the

[1:24:11] design permitting construction and

[1:24:13] services during construction and to

[1:24:15] determine whether set appropriation

[1:24:18] shall be made through water receipts or

[1:24:19] water retained earnings or otherwise or

[1:24:22] take any other action thereon. Mr.

[1:24:24] Chairman,

[1:24:24] >> we recommend that the town vote to

[1:24:26] appropriate uh $500,000 from water

[1:24:29] retained earnings for the capital

[1:24:31] maintenance and extraordinary repairs to

[1:24:34] the town's water treatment plants and

[1:24:36] wells for the design, permitting,

[1:24:38] construction, and services during

[1:24:39] construction.

[1:24:40] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:24:44] Hearing none, all those in favor, please

[1:24:45] say I.

[1:24:47] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Article

[1:24:50] 27, water booster station improvements

[1:24:54] to see what sum the town will vote to

[1:24:57] appropriate for the construction,

[1:24:59] capital maintenance, and extraordinary

[1:25:01] repairs to the town's water booster

[1:25:03] stations and to determine whether set

[1:25:05] appropriation shall be made through

[1:25:06] water receipts or water retained

[1:25:08] earnings or otherwise or take any other

[1:25:11] action thereon.

[1:25:14] » I'm sorry, Mr. Chairman. We recommend

[1:25:16] that the town vote to appropriate

[1:25:18] $150,000 from water retained earnings

[1:25:20] for the construction, capital

[1:25:22] maintenance, and extraordinary repairs

[1:25:24] to the town's water booster stations.

[1:25:26] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:25:29] Hearing none, all those in favor, please

[1:25:31] say I.

[1:25:32] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Article

[1:25:36] 28, well to PFAS treatment, to see what

[1:25:40] some the town will vote to appropriate

[1:25:42] for the design and permitting and to

[1:25:45] expand the treatment of well to

[1:25:47] Greensand filtration plant and to

[1:25:50] determine whether said appropriation

[1:25:52] shall be made through water receipts or

[1:25:55] water retained earnings or otherwise or

[1:25:57] take any other action thereon. Mr.

[1:25:59] Chairman,

[1:26:00] >> we recommend that the town vote to

[1:26:01] appropriate $621,53

[1:26:05] from other available revenue PAS

[1:26:07] settlement for the design and permitting

[1:26:09] to expand treatment at the wellto green

[1:26:11] sand filtr filtration plant.

[1:26:14] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:26:17] Hearing none. All those in favor, please

[1:26:19] say I.

[1:26:20] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Article

[1:26:24] 29, emergency management, to see what

[1:26:27] some the town will vote to appropriate

[1:26:29] for the purpose of supporting the town

[1:26:31] of Denver's emergency management

[1:26:33] operations, planning, training, and

[1:26:35] preparedness initiative under the

[1:26:37] direction of the emergency management

[1:26:39] director or take any other action

[1:26:41] thereon. Mr. Chairman,

[1:26:43] >> we recommend that the town vote to

[1:26:44] appropriate $50,000 from free cash for

[1:26:47] the purpose of supporting the town of

[1:26:49] Danvers emergency management operations,

[1:26:51] planning, training, and preparedness

[1:26:53] initiatives under the direction of the

[1:26:55] emer emergency management director.

[1:26:58] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:27:02] Hearing none, all those in favor, please

[1:27:03] say I.

[1:27:05] >> Any opposed? The motion carries.

[1:27:09] Article 30, citizen petition to amend

[1:27:13] the table of use regulations. Petition

[1:27:16] to amend the table of use regulations in

[1:27:18] R1, R2 plus, and R3 zoning to allow

[1:27:23] inhome pet sitting by special permit

[1:27:26] from the ZBA.

[1:27:27] And before we take this up and hear the

[1:27:30] recommendation of the um finance

[1:27:32] committee, I would note that the

[1:27:34] petitioner has informed us that she no

[1:27:38] longer um wishes to pursue this um and

[1:27:42] actually now uh resides outside of the

[1:27:45] town of Danverse. Uh so she will not be

[1:27:48] here um this evening. um and once

[1:27:52] something is on a warrant um regardless

[1:27:55] of how it got there, citizen petition or

[1:27:58] otherwise um you can't withdraw. We need

[1:28:01] to take uh everything has to be voted

[1:28:03] on. Uh Mr. Chairman,

[1:28:05] >> we recommend no action.

[1:28:07] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion

[1:28:11] hearing? None. All those in favor,

[1:28:13] please say I.

[1:28:15] >> Any opposed?

[1:28:17] The motion carries. Article 31, citizen

[1:28:21] petition, amends a zoning map to see if

[1:28:23] the town will vote to amend the zoning

[1:28:26] map of the town of Danvers as

[1:28:27] established under section 185-9

[1:28:31] zoning map by changing the zoning

[1:28:34] district designation for 249 Andover

[1:28:37] Street, assesses map 047, parcel 015A

[1:28:43] from R3 residential district as defined

[1:28:46] in section 185-14.

[1:28:49] to the HC highway commercial district as

[1:28:53] defined in section 185-20

[1:28:57] to facilitate the future development of

[1:28:59] a community community ice skating rink

[1:29:02] facility that will serve the town of

[1:29:04] Danver's youth hockey and the broader

[1:29:06] town of Danver's community or take any

[1:29:09] other action relative there too. Is the

[1:29:12] petitioner present?

[1:29:15] Yes, sir. Would you please come down to

[1:29:18] the microphone and introduce yourself?

[1:29:35] » Good evening everyone. My name is Brian

[1:29:36] Deise. I live at one Kentucky building.

[1:29:40] >> What's that?

[1:29:40] >> You need You need to move the mic up.

[1:29:42] They can't hear you, sir.

[1:29:44] I didn't realize how tall I was.

[1:29:47] Good evening, folks. My name is Brian

[1:29:48] Deise. I live at one Pentucket Lane in

[1:29:50] Danver.

[1:29:52] >> Okay. And um so why don't I take the

[1:29:56] recommendation of the finance committee

[1:29:58] and then we'll hear briefly from you,

[1:30:00] Mr. Chairman.

[1:30:01] >> We recommend no action.

[1:30:03] >> Thank you. Sir,

[1:30:05] >> did you want to make any statement or

[1:30:08] >> talk? No.

[1:30:10] >> No. It's already been kind of

[1:30:11] >> Okay.

[1:30:12] >> Yeah. All right. Well, you can either

[1:30:14] stand or you can take your seat,

[1:30:16] whatever you prefer.

[1:30:17] >> All right.

[1:30:18] >> Okay.

[1:30:18] >> Thank you.

[1:30:20] >> Um, is there any discussion?

[1:30:27] » Oh, thank you. Um, is there a member of

[1:30:30] the planning board here representing the

[1:30:32] planning board, Mr. George? I apologize.

[1:30:35] Thank you for that reminder, town

[1:30:36] council.

[1:30:50] Thank you. Good evening. Louis George,

[1:30:52] town meeting member, precinct 1. I'm

[1:30:53] also a member of the Danver's planning

[1:30:55] board and I was chair at the time when

[1:30:58] this came before us for a uh for a

[1:31:00] report since then. We've had a change of

[1:31:02] the gavl. So, we have a new chair, but

[1:31:03] I'm still serving as a member of the

[1:31:05] planning board. So we did have um we did

[1:31:09] hold two um uh on uh two evenings of

[1:31:13] public hearings with respect to this

[1:31:16] citizens petition. Uh and uh and our our

[1:31:20] role was to provide is to provide a

[1:31:22] report to town meeting and so our report

[1:31:25] was an unfavorable recommendation of the

[1:31:28] citizens petition.

[1:31:31] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:31:36] This requires a twothirds vote. All

[1:31:40] those in favor of the finance committee

[1:31:42] recommendation of no action, please say

[1:31:46] I. I.

[1:31:47] >> Any opposed? No.

[1:31:49] >> The motion carries. Thank you, sir. I

[1:31:52] think we'll now be in a uh brief recess

[1:31:55] about 10 five or 10 minutes um and then

[1:31:58] we'll come back and tackle articles 32

[1:32:01] and beyond. But just about 10

[1:42:53] begin. Um, a new

[1:43:06] » Great. Thank you.

[1:43:14] We are on article 32 on page 13. Article

[1:43:19] 32 prohibiting virtual currency kiosks

[1:43:24] to see if the town will vote to amend

[1:43:26] the general bylaws of the town of

[1:43:28] Danvers by adopting a new byw. Oh my

[1:43:32] goodness.

[1:43:33] >> 47.

[1:43:35] >> Thank you. 47 entitled virtual. You

[1:43:38] know, once I think in grammar school, I

[1:43:40] knew all this um entitled virtual

[1:43:43] currency kiosk prohibition to read as

[1:43:46] follows or take any other action

[1:43:48] thereon. Mr. Chairman,

[1:43:50] >> we recommend that the town vote to amend

[1:43:52] the general bylaws of the town of

[1:43:53] Danvers by adopting a new bylaw at

[1:43:56] chapter 47 entitled virtual currency

[1:43:58] kiosk prohibition to read as follows on

[1:44:01] pages 13 and 14.

[1:44:03] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:44:08] hearing none. All those in favor, please

[1:44:10] say I. I.

[1:44:11] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Article

[1:44:15] 33,

[1:44:17] sale of junk and secondhand articles to

[1:44:20] see if the town will vote to amend

[1:44:22] chapter 10 of the general bylaws, sale

[1:44:25] of junk and secondhand article by

[1:44:27] amending sections 2, three, four, five

[1:44:30] as follows, or take any other action

[1:44:33] thereon. Mr. Chairman,

[1:44:34] >> we recommend that the town vote to amend

[1:44:36] chapter 10 of the general bylaws, sale

[1:44:39] of junk, and secondhand article by

[1:44:41] amending sections 2, three, four, and

[1:44:43] five as follows on pages 14 and 15 of

[1:44:45] your warrant.

[1:44:46] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:44:51] Hearing none. All those in favor, please

[1:44:52] say I.

[1:44:54] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Article

[1:44:58] 34, electronic voting, to see if the

[1:45:01] town will vote to amend chapter two of

[1:45:05] the general bylaws, conduct of town

[1:45:08] meetings by adding new sections six and

[1:45:11] seven as follows or take any other

[1:45:14] action thereon. And I would note that language has been provided to all

[1:45:19] town meeting members um in the packet

[1:45:22] with your um uh name cards. Mr.

[1:45:25] Chairman,

[1:45:26] >> we recommend no action.

[1:45:27] >> Is there any discussion, Mr. Bennett?

[1:45:39] » Thank you, Madam Moderator, honorable

[1:45:42] Fencom, town meeting members. I rise

[1:45:46] tonight to support the Fencom

[1:45:49] recommendation of no action.

[1:45:53] Later tonight, you may hear words like

[1:45:55] transparent accountability. They're good

[1:45:58] words, but what do they mean? Does that

[1:46:01] mean that your votes in the past have

[1:46:03] been imperfect, flawed? I don't think

[1:46:06] so. Since for 274 years, we've been

[1:46:09] voting with no problems. Now, you may

[1:46:12] hear about cities like our towns,

[1:46:14] Hamilton, Wenham, or some others. I

[1:46:17] don't give a damn about Hamilton,

[1:46:18] Winnham. This is Danvas.

[1:46:21] Please don't be intimidated by the

[1:46:23] amendments. Be resolute. Vote no on the

[1:46:26] amendments. Vote yes on Fencom's

[1:46:29] recommendation, which is no clickers.

[1:46:31] That's how I'm voting. Thank you.

[1:46:33] >> Thank you, Mr. Bean.

[1:46:45] » Thank you, madam moderator. Thank you.

[1:46:48] Uh I'm just going to discuss quickly

[1:46:50] about the select board and uh that we

[1:46:53] had discussed it at great length. Um

[1:46:57] there were some concerns over the

[1:46:58] clickers costs. We initially heard cost

[1:47:01] of 30,000. There was another number that

[1:47:04] was brought up um by a resident of a

[1:47:08] third of that. Uh the town manager is

[1:47:10] going to investigate that. Uh, another

[1:47:14] concern was the use of the clickers may

[1:47:16] add time to town meeting. This may be

[1:47:18] true. It could be true at the initial

[1:47:20] setup. Um, and it may work itself out uh

[1:47:24] once the uh clickers are in use. People

[1:47:26] are used to it. Uh, a further concern

[1:47:28] was that the use of the clickers would

[1:47:31] take authority away from the moderator.

[1:47:33] Through the town manager and town

[1:47:35] council, we were given some options. We

[1:47:37] understand the moderator needs to be

[1:47:39] able to continue to run an orderly and

[1:47:41] efficient town meeting. We agreed the

[1:47:44] use of the clickers would be the default

[1:47:46] manner

[1:47:48] to uh operate the vote. But in such case

[1:47:52] that could come up whenever that

[1:47:54] situation might be whatever it could be

[1:47:56] the moderator would have the ability to

[1:47:57] go back to voice vote. The purpose of

[1:48:00] the click is to bring clarity in voting.

[1:48:03] It will eliminate the possibility of

[1:48:05] human error. Every town meeting member

[1:48:07] deserves the assurance that their vote

[1:48:09] is counted. It will add confidence in

[1:48:11] voting. It's a small piece of technology

[1:48:13] that may spark interest in others to get

[1:48:15] involved. Thank you.

[1:48:17] >> Thank you, Mr. Bean. Is there further

[1:48:19] discussion,

[1:48:20] Miss Steves?

[1:48:32] » Good evening. Lauren Steves, Precinct 3.

[1:48:36] Um, I do have an amendment for article

[1:48:38] 34.

[1:48:40] I move to amend article 34 by changing

[1:48:43] the finance committee recommendation

[1:48:44] from no action to take action on the

[1:48:47] select board's original warrant

[1:48:48] recommendation to adopt electronic

[1:48:50] voting by amending chapter 2 of the

[1:48:53] general bylaws through the additions of

[1:48:55] sections six and seven.

[1:48:57] Is there a second?

[1:49:00] Now, may I ask you, is that um identical

[1:49:03] to the lang what you're proposing for

[1:49:05] your amendment? Is that identical to the

[1:49:07] language that town meeting members

[1:49:10] received this evening?

[1:49:12] >> Corre correct. I'm not changing anything

[1:49:13] that was in the original warrant.

[1:49:15] >> Thank you. You may proceed.

[1:49:18] Excuse me.

[1:49:21] >> Oh, okay. Do

[1:49:22] >> you want me to go to that one?

[1:49:23] >> Yeah. Why don't you try that one? Yeah.

[1:49:25] >> I like am on top of it. Okay.

[1:49:28] Over the course of discussion on

[1:49:31] electronic voting, many thoughtful

[1:49:34] concerns have been raised. Some value

[1:49:36] the tradition of voice voting. Others

[1:49:38] question whether electronic voting is

[1:49:40] necessary, whether it meaningfully

[1:49:41] improves efficiency, or whether the cost

[1:49:43] is justified. I hear those concerns and

[1:49:46] I respect the fact that some view this

[1:49:48] issue differently. However, I believe

[1:49:50] this discussion is ultimately about

[1:49:52] something larger than tradition or

[1:49:53] convenience. At its core, this is about

[1:49:56] accountability, transparency, public

[1:49:58] trust, and confidence in the outcome of

[1:50:00] town meeting votes. When government

[1:50:02] votes on behalf of the public, the

[1:50:04] public deserves certainty in the

[1:50:06] outcome, transparency in the process,

[1:50:08] and accountability from the people

[1:50:10] elected to represent them. This article

[1:50:12] is not based on the belief that our

[1:50:14] current system never works. Our current

[1:50:17] system can work, but it relies on human

[1:50:19] estimation first and correction second.

[1:50:22] It depends on someone recognizing

[1:50:24] uncertainty and publicly challenging a

[1:50:26] vote in real time before the moment

[1:50:28] passes. Electronic voting removes that

[1:50:30] uncertainty altogether. The real

[1:50:33] question is simple. Why would we

[1:50:34] continue using a voting method that

[1:50:36] relies on human estimation when

[1:50:38] technology exists to count every vote

[1:50:40] accurately the first time? With

[1:50:42] electronic voting, every single vote is

[1:50:43] counted individually and exactly.

[1:50:45] Results are displayed clearly and

[1:50:47] immediately for everyone to see. No

[1:50:49] estimation, no hesitation, no

[1:50:51] uncertainty. And as representative town

[1:50:53] meeting, residents should not have to

[1:50:55] guess how their elected representatives

[1:50:56] voted on important issues. They should

[1:50:59] know when town meeting is making

[1:51:01] decisions that shape zoning, budget,

[1:51:02] spending, and policy for the entire

[1:51:04] community. The level of accuracy

[1:51:06] matters. Those decisions have long-term

[1:51:08] impacts on our town. We should not be

[1:51:10] approximating whether a threshold was

[1:51:12] reached. We should know definitively.

[1:51:14] That is accountability. That is

[1:51:16] transparency. and that builds public

[1:51:18] trust. It's also about modernization. In

[1:51:21] nearly every other area of municipal

[1:51:23] government, Damvers embraces technology

[1:51:25] when accuracy, reliability, safety,

[1:51:27] efficiency, and recordkeeping matter. We

[1:51:30] have redundant fiber networks connecting

[1:51:32] town buildings, unified phone systems,

[1:51:34] laptops and police cruises, fire

[1:51:36] department issued iPads, cloud storage

[1:51:38] and backup systems, security systems and

[1:51:40] panic alarms and schools and extensive

[1:51:42] GIS infrastructure mapping utilities,

[1:51:44] engineering systems and municipal assets

[1:51:47] throughout the town. Today, everything

[1:51:49] from assessor maps to payments to permit

[1:51:51] applications is online. We modernize

[1:51:53] when precision matters. We modernize

[1:51:55] when reliability matters. We modernize

[1:51:57] when accountability matters. Yet, when

[1:51:59] it comes to arguably the most important

[1:52:00] responsibility town meeting members

[1:52:02] have, voting, we are being told

[1:52:04] precision and certainty are not

[1:52:06] necessary.

[1:52:07] Respectfully, I disagree.

[1:52:10] I've corresponded with every clerk's

[1:52:12] office that runs representative town

[1:52:14] meetings in Massachusetts. Our town

[1:52:16] staff has also spoken directly with

[1:52:17] those communities using these systems.

[1:52:19] The feedback has been remarkably

[1:52:20] consistent. Electronic voting improves

[1:52:23] efficiency, increases confidence and

[1:52:24] results, and removes doubt from the

[1:52:26] process. Belmont called it a

[1:52:28] gamechanger. Welssley values the ability

[1:52:30] to clearly see vote totals and

[1:52:31] participation. NIT described as both

[1:52:33] efficient and accurate. And those are

[1:52:35] towns that run representative town

[1:52:37] meeting, not open town meeting like

[1:52:39] Hamilton and Wenham. At the end of the

[1:52:41] day, this discussion is not really about

[1:52:42] gadgets or screens or technology for

[1:52:44] technologies sake. It is about whether

[1:52:46] we are willing to invest in a town

[1:52:48] meeting process that is more accurate,

[1:52:49] transparent, accountable, and

[1:52:51] trustworthy for the public we represent.

[1:52:53] This article is not about criticizing

[1:52:54] the past. is about improving the future.

[1:52:57] We now have the ability to remove

[1:52:58] uncertainty from town meeting voting and

[1:53:00] replace it with certainty and public

[1:53:01] confidence and representative government

[1:53:03] that matters. I respectfully ask town

[1:53:05] meeting to vote in favor of adopting

[1:53:07] electronic voting tonight. Thank you.

[1:53:09] >> Thank you. Is there further discussion?

[1:53:12] Mr. Bates.

[1:53:16] » Good evening. Bill Bates, uh town

[1:53:18] meeting member, precinct 4. I rise in

[1:53:22] opposition to the amendment. Um, and you

[1:53:25] know, while I respect the work that went

[1:53:27] into this and and and the town meeting

[1:53:29] members put a great deal of work into

[1:53:30] it, I feel this expenditure is

[1:53:33] unnecessary.

[1:53:35] Look at what we did here tonight.

[1:53:37] There's no need of pressing a clicker

[1:53:40] every time. There was no doubt in any of

[1:53:42] the votes. I do not feel we need to add

[1:53:45] electronic voting at this time.

[1:53:48] There are other things more important

[1:53:51] that we could spend $30,000 on and then

[1:53:55] $7,000

[1:53:57] per town meeting. Please vote no on this

[1:54:00] amendment.

[1:54:02] >> Thank you. Is there further discussion?

[1:54:03] Mr. Trainer,

[1:54:11] » by trainer town meeting member prein

[1:54:13] five. I am supporting the amendment and

[1:54:17] I encourage other people in this room to

[1:54:19] do the same. We're here for a reason

[1:54:22] because we want our vote to count. In

[1:54:24] 2023,

[1:54:26] we had a vote where the moderator had

[1:54:28] doubt. When we did the stand and vote,

[1:54:31] it was 38 to 110. And I don't there's no

[1:54:35] blame. Everyone hears what they hear.

[1:54:37] But the thing is, if we're having doubt

[1:54:39] on a 38 to 110 vote, I don't know if

[1:54:43] we're getting everything right. I sit in

[1:54:45] the middle of the room. There's been a

[1:54:46] number of votes, maybe a handful over

[1:54:48] the last couple years that I've

[1:54:50] questioned because I've just sat there.

[1:54:51] I'm like that I don't know. I'm not sure

[1:54:54] on that. Um, we approved millions of

[1:54:57] dollars in about 40 minutes just now.

[1:55:00] And although there's the $30,000 number,

[1:55:02] it's my understanding it's about 7,000 a

[1:55:05] town meeting. We pay for elections for

[1:55:08] all of us to get election. That's

[1:55:10] several thousand dollars right there. I

[1:55:12] it just we pay for the election. We

[1:55:15] We're here to represent people. I think

[1:55:17] our vote should be accurately counted

[1:55:19] and this is the best way to do it. So I

[1:55:21] am supporting the amendment. Thank you.

[1:55:23] >> Thank you. Is there further discussion?

[1:55:24] Mr. George.

[1:55:34] » Thank you. Louis Georgetown meeting

[1:55:35] member precinct 1. I rise in support of

[1:55:38] the finance committee recommendation of

[1:55:40] no action and urge a no vote on the

[1:55:43] amendment. Uh and for really this for

[1:55:45] the reasons that have been already

[1:55:46] discussed particularly the reasons

[1:55:48] discussed at the finance committee uh

[1:55:50] hearing a couple of weeks ago. Couple of

[1:55:52] items that come to mind are the cost. So

[1:55:55] the additional costs uh per meeting of

[1:55:58] electronic voting. uh with respect to

[1:56:00] accuracy, we already have ways to ensure

[1:56:03] that there is accuracy with the results,

[1:56:06] for example, with a standing vote. So,

[1:56:08] we already have ways to ensure that

[1:56:10] everyone's vote is counted. uh

[1:56:12] accountability. I understand the concern

[1:56:14] about accountability, but also there's a similar concern as well that

[1:56:19] with recorded votes and that with the

[1:56:21] instantaneous medium of social media

[1:56:24] that these votes uh may be used, these

[1:56:27] individual vote tallies may be used to

[1:56:29] target individual town meeting members

[1:56:32] and may end up chilling involvement in

[1:56:34] town meeting. And for all those reasons,

[1:56:37] uh, I am in favor of the finance

[1:56:38] committee recommendation and asking for

[1:56:41] a no vote against the amendment.

[1:56:43] >> Thank you. Is there further discussion,

[1:56:45] Mr. Morose?

[1:57:01] » Jim Rose, town meeting, precinct 3. I uh

[1:57:04] I support this article and again as the

[1:57:07] article's written it's a slow and

[1:57:08] optional implementation of one of the

[1:57:11] numerous different kind of voting

[1:57:13] processes we have and we've been using

[1:57:15] years for years. We'll just if we can

[1:57:18] just start implementing it now and we we

[1:57:20] can increase it and have better

[1:57:22] technology and it's going to get faster

[1:57:24] and cheaper and easier because that's

[1:57:26] just the way it works. So I think we

[1:57:29] should do it and uh you know this

[1:57:32] electronic you know voting is you know

[1:57:34] it's just great technology it's great

[1:57:35] progress and uh the next generation is

[1:57:37] going to love it but uh but we're going

[1:57:40] to struggle with it right and so I just

[1:57:43] ask you to please approve this so we can

[1:57:44] uh stop the process of of of using the

[1:57:48] uh the new technology. Thank you.

[1:57:50] >> Thank you. Is there further discussion?

[1:57:51] Mr.

[1:57:51] >> Tras.

[1:57:59] I'm going to rise in in opposition of

[1:58:01] the amendment.

[1:58:04] This is a uh solution in search of a

[1:58:07] problem that already has a defined

[1:58:09] reconciliation.

[1:58:11] Tonight, the body that's here has

[1:58:13] already voted 50 58 times, 33 warrant

[1:58:17] articles and 25 budget line items

[1:58:20] with only three of those having sparse

[1:58:24] no votes.

[1:58:26] There is no necessity to spend money in

[1:58:28] a time when we are cutting positions at

[1:58:31] the schools in the town. When we're

[1:58:34] cutting services, there's no reason to

[1:58:37] spend whatever amount of money, $30,000,

[1:58:42] whatever it might be. There are other

[1:58:44] costs associated with this besides just

[1:58:46] the cost of renting the equipment every

[1:58:48] year from a third party company.

[1:58:51] You have those hard costs. We would also

[1:58:53] require four or five. We've asked this

[1:58:55] of the town manager and she's given me

[1:58:57] numbers at at the cycle meeting. We

[1:58:59] would need at least three, four or five

[1:59:02] new um staff members at town meeting who

[1:59:05] usually don't uh usually don't support

[1:59:08] it. You're going to have to spend time

[1:59:10] as town meeting members checking in and

[1:59:12] getting your clicker. You're going to

[1:59:13] have to wait when you leave to turn in

[1:59:15] your clicker, individual clickers. Um,

[1:59:18] and I I was looking and counting. Every

[1:59:22] time we had a voice vote, literally took

[1:59:25] less than five seconds for the Tom Water

[1:59:27] to say, "All in favor, I all oppose,

[1:59:29] nay." And declare what it what the

[1:59:32] solution was. The Tom moderator also

[1:59:35] went through the exact process. If

[1:59:37] there's any questions, we have a voice

[1:59:39] vote. If you question the voice vote,

[1:59:41] all seven people have to do is say, "I

[1:59:44] question the voice vote." We have a

[1:59:45] standing vote. If there's still an

[1:59:47] issue, you can have a roll call vote. We

[1:59:49] have checks and balances built in. Why

[1:59:52] do we have to spend $30,000 a year and

[1:59:54] your time to and as someone said

[1:59:58] discourage some town meeting members

[1:59:59] potentially in its use? Because every

[2:00:02] time you do a clicker, those 5 seconds

[2:00:04] for the voice votes becomes a minute. 70

[2:00:07] votes a night, you're adding an hour, and a half every town meeting. If

[2:00:11] it's 2 minutes of vote, then you're

[2:00:12] going to add 2 and 1/2 hours. I don't

[2:00:15] want this to turn into a twoight town

[2:00:17] meeting member for the sake of

[2:00:18] technology

[2:00:20] when there is no problem here. There is

[2:00:23] not an issue. I I did the calculations.

[2:00:25] I went, you know me, I'm a spreadsheet

[2:00:27] guy. I went back 10 years. In the past

[2:00:29] 10 years, we have had 10 annual town

[2:00:32] meetings and six special town meetings.

[2:00:35] This body has taken over 717 votes in

[2:00:38] those 10 years. and not once out of 717

[2:00:43] votes has a standing has a roll call

[2:00:45] vote overturned a standing vote. So if

[2:00:49] you can't demonstrate that there's truly

[2:00:51] a problem, you shouldn't offer to you

[2:00:53] shouldn't look to technology to answer a

[2:00:56] non-existent problem. I'm urging you to

[2:00:58] vote against the amendment and with the

[2:01:00] original recommendation. Thank you.

[2:01:02] >> Thank you. Is there further discussion?

[2:01:06] >> Yes.

[2:01:17] Hi, Matt Burn, precinct 5. Uh, all I

[2:01:20] hear is a lot of people who

[2:01:23] seem like they have something to hide.

[2:01:25] What do you want to hide? Shouldn't

[2:01:27] people know how you vote? That's why

[2:01:29] you're here. That's why they elected

[2:01:30] you. All this fear-mongering about the

[2:01:32] technology is going to make everything

[2:01:34] take longer. The the votes are going to

[2:01:36] take forever. That's nonsense. Once you

[2:01:38] learn the system, you hit a button, it

[2:01:39] records, we go on to the next one. All I

[2:01:41] hear is a lot of people making a lot of

[2:01:43] excuses to try to get you to

[2:01:50] just ignore the future and ignore

[2:01:53] accuracy. There's been votes that I've

[2:01:56] questioned

[2:01:58] over the years, and I believe there was

[2:02:00] one, like Mike was saying, that was

[2:02:02] overturned, that was in doubt.

[2:02:05] Don't listen to the fearongers.

[2:02:08] Accountability and accuracy counts.

[2:02:12] We want it everywhere else in life. And

[2:02:13] we just dumped 1.2 million on technology

[2:02:16] tonight. And another 100,000 for door

[2:02:19] locks. I don't think 7K is that bad. We

[2:02:22] spent 5 grand on an ice rink about 5

[2:02:23] years ago. We used it for three years

[2:02:25] and the town threw in the trash. So,

[2:02:26] let's not talk about blowing money on

[2:02:28] unimportant things when the vote is the

[2:02:30] most important thing you have.

[2:02:34] Thank you. Is there further discussion?

[2:02:36] Sure.

[2:02:49] » Edward Tragy, uh, preaching one town

[2:02:52] member, I rise in favor of the

[2:02:54] amendment. It's very clear to me that um

[2:02:59] the most important thing about all this

[2:03:01] is the voters that are not here tonight

[2:03:04] that want to know how you vote on a

[2:03:07] particular item and they have no way of

[2:03:11] doing that now. People say they could

[2:03:13] pick up the phone and call you. That's

[2:03:15] nonsense. People aren't going to do

[2:03:17] that. They're not going to call 144 time

[2:03:21] meeting members to ask you how you voted

[2:03:23] on something. It's very that's that's

[2:03:25] the most important thing in my mind to

[2:03:28] this whole thing you know for 200 some

[2:03:30] odd years it's worked fine it has worked

[2:03:35] even if the uh the if people doubt the uh the votes if people vote if you

[2:03:43] got up there people deserve to know how

[2:03:46] you vote and anybody who doesn't agree

[2:03:49] with that shame on you.

[2:03:54] » Is there any further discussion

[2:03:58] on the amendment? Yes.

[2:04:13] Annette Collins, Precinct One. I rise to

[2:04:17] ask you to say no to the amendment and

[2:04:20] yes to the recommendation by the finance

[2:04:22] committee. I do not think that we should

[2:04:25] be um insulting each other by saying

[2:04:28] somehow or other. Uh we're trying to

[2:04:30] hide anything. I've been a town meeting

[2:04:33] member now for this is probably my third

[2:04:34] term going on the fourth term. And what

[2:04:37] I've always felt is a commitment to

[2:04:40] honesty and loyalty to my community. And

[2:04:43] when we vote, we stand together as a

[2:04:46] community and we hear each other

[2:04:49] discussing a motion, voting on the

[2:04:52] motion, and we have the finance

[2:04:53] committee that leads us in this manner.

[2:04:56] I do not feel if someone wanted to

[2:04:59] challenge my vote on something that they

[2:05:01] could not just pick up the phone and

[2:05:03] call me and say, "Oh, did you vote for

[2:05:06] this or did you vote for that?" But as a

[2:05:08] town meeting member, my precinct knows

[2:05:11] me. they can call me and I think a lot

[2:05:14] of you feel the same way that you are

[2:05:16] connected to your precincts and the way

[2:05:19] we've been doing this has gone as we

[2:05:21] witnessed tonight. We've had a a

[2:05:24] birthday this year in our country. We

[2:05:26] they stood here. We all pledged

[2:05:28] allegiance to the flag. We all pledged

[2:05:30] to keep our community together. And I

[2:05:33] think the way we do this is to continue

[2:05:36] with the consideration that we have had.

[2:05:39] And I ask you to please vote no on the

[2:05:41] amendment, vote yes on the tone on the

[2:05:44] resolution by the finance committee. And

[2:05:46] thank you.

[2:05:47] >> Thank you. Is there further discussion?

[2:05:52] We now turn to the proposed amendment

[2:05:57] and I won't read it in in its entirety,

[2:06:01] but in essence, the motion is to amend

[2:06:04] article 34 by changing Yes.

[2:06:10] Certainly.

[2:06:12] Are you a registered voter within the

[2:06:14] town of Danvers?

[2:06:32] Would

[2:06:39] you kindly introduce yourself to the

[2:06:41] body and state your address?

[2:06:43] >> Hello, Danvers. My name is Calvin

[2:06:45] Cabone. I live in precinct 1 and I urge

[2:06:49] everybody

[2:06:50] >> I need a street address, ma'am.

[2:06:52] >> 25 Conan Street. Thank you, Danvers.

[2:06:56] I urge everybody to consider this uh to

[2:07:00] support this amendment.

[2:07:02] Um we spent a lot of time this tonight,

[2:07:05] this evening on the pledge of allegiance

[2:07:08] and the activities and the roll call

[2:07:11] that could have been done the roll call

[2:07:13] could have been done instantly.

[2:07:17] uh if we want more honesty and more

[2:07:19] accountability and we want things to be

[2:07:22] done faster and we don't want to have a

[2:07:25] question who's louder how good someone's

[2:07:29] hearing is we have to go with the

[2:07:32] surefire

[2:07:34] uh solution which would be electronic

[2:07:36] voting I saw I'm fairly new to politics

[2:07:41] so I don't know a lot but I watched all

[2:07:44] these articles go by with absolut

[2:07:46] absolutely no discussion.

[2:07:49] Um

[2:07:50] >> ma'am, I would ask you please, that's

[2:07:52] irrelevant, please stick to the proposed

[2:07:55] warrant article.

[2:07:56] >> Um we've had um the same moderator for a

[2:08:01] long time and we are depending on one

[2:08:04] person's hearing. I don't think it's as

[2:08:09] dependable as electronic voting. Um, if

[2:08:12] you're for honesty and proof of honesty,

[2:08:16] we want to approve the funding for the

[2:08:19] electronic voting. Thank you.

[2:08:23] » Is there any further discussion?

[2:08:26] There has been a um request to move the

[2:08:29] question. All those in favor, please say

[2:08:31] I.

[2:08:32] >> Any opposed?

[2:08:34] >> The motion carries. We now turn to uh

[2:08:38] article 34, the amendment authored by

[2:08:42] Miss Steves by changing the finance

[2:08:44] recommendation from no action to take

[2:08:48] action on the select board's original

[2:08:51] warrant recommendation to adopt

[2:08:54] electronic voting by amending chapter 11

[2:08:57] of the general bylaws through the

[2:08:59] additions of new sections six and seven.

[2:09:02] Does everyone understand what we're

[2:09:04] talking about and what we're voting on?

[2:09:06] It's the amendment of the finance

[2:09:09] committee recommendation of no action to

[2:09:11] one of take action. All those in favor

[2:09:14] of Miss Steve's proposed amendment,

[2:09:17] please say I.

[2:09:19] >> Any opposed?

[2:09:22] >> The nos have it. Does not prevail. Yes.

[2:09:32] Well, that's the way it's done. We now

[2:09:35] move to a standing vote. I would ask all

[2:09:38] tellers, please, everybody needs to sit

[2:09:41] down at this point. Tellers, you know

[2:09:43] who you are. Um, I would ask all those

[2:09:47] voting in favor to kindly stand in favor

[2:09:51] of the amendment.

[2:10:16] Are we all set?

[2:10:20] » Precinct one.

[2:10:26] » Thank you. Precinct two.

[2:10:32] » Yes.

[2:10:35] not ask.

[2:10:39] » Oh, you know what? That's a great that's

[2:10:41] a great point. Thank you, Bill.

[2:10:44] >> Yeah, thank you. I think so. Um, so we

[2:10:48] now need to the no votes. All those who

[2:10:51] oppose the amendment kindly stand.

[2:11:29] Are we all set now?

[2:11:32] >> Yeah. No, take your time.

[2:11:54] Are we all set?

[2:11:56] >> Yes. Okay. Mr. George

[2:12:02] amendment.

[2:12:04] >> Precinct two.

[2:12:09] I I I need you to speak a little louder.

[2:12:11] Jean, please.

[2:12:31] So speak up loud. Jean

[2:12:35] the number yes.

[2:12:38] Number of nos

[2:12:42] » four and two.

[2:12:47] » Precinct three.

[2:12:54] » Yes.

[2:13:02] » So, precinct 2, get yourself together,

[2:13:04] okay? And and and and take a moment

[2:13:14] You know what? You're right.

[2:14:06] I'm sorry.

[2:14:20] » No, you're not a town meeting member.

[2:14:22] Kindly take your seat.

[2:14:26] Yes, Jean.

[2:14:29] Okay. So, so I need you to stand up so

[2:14:32] that everybody can hear you please.

[2:14:38] Okay. Thank you. So, we have four years

[2:14:40] and five no in two. Thank you. So, um

[2:14:46] precinct three was 11 in favor, four

[2:14:49] opposed.

[2:14:51] Precinct four,

[2:14:53] >> seven in favor, eight opposed.

[2:14:56] >> Thank you. Precinct five.

[2:15:09] » Precinct six.

[2:15:16] » Thank you.

[2:15:19] Precinct seven.

[2:15:22] >> Favor 15 opposition.

[2:15:26] Precinct 8.

[2:15:30] » Thank you.

[2:15:55] We have recorded 51 votes in favor, 70

[2:15:59] votes opposed, and two abstensions.

[2:16:02] Thank you. We now turn to further

[2:16:05] discussion on the recommendation of the

[2:16:07] finance committee of no action.

[2:16:10] All those in favor Oh, I should ask, is

[2:16:13] there any further discussion?

[2:16:16] All those in favor of the finance

[2:16:18] committee recommendation of no action,

[2:16:20] please say I. I.

[2:16:22] >> Any opposed?

[2:16:24] >> The motion carries. We now turn to

[2:16:28] article 35 electronic voting funding to

[2:16:32] see what the town will vote to

[2:16:34] appropriate for the purchase andor

[2:16:36] rental of hardware and software related

[2:16:39] to the electronic voting or take any

[2:16:42] other action thereon. Mr. Chairman,

[2:16:45] >> we recommend no action.

[2:16:46] >> Thank you. Is there further discussion?

[2:16:50] Hearing none, all those in favor, please

[2:16:52] say I.

[2:16:53] >> Any opposed?

[2:16:55] >> The motion carries. Article 36, Downtown

[2:17:00] Improvement Fund, to see what sum the

[2:17:02] town will vote to appropriate for the

[2:17:04] survey, analysis, design, engineering,

[2:17:07] construction, and other improvements to

[2:17:10] the downtown area, and the payment of

[2:17:13] any additional costs incidental and

[2:17:16] related thereto or take any other action

[2:17:19] thereon. Mr. Chairman,

[2:17:21] >> we recommend that the Did I lose the

[2:17:23] mic? There we go. We recommend that the

[2:17:25] town vote to appropriate $48,675,000

[2:17:30] from free cash for SE survey, analysis,

[2:17:32] design, engineering, construction, and

[2:17:34] other improvements to the downtown area

[2:17:36] and the payment of any additional costs

[2:17:38] incidental and related there too.

[2:17:40] >> Is there any discussion?

[2:17:43] Hearing none, all those in favor, please

[2:17:45] say I.

[2:17:47] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Article

[2:17:51] 37, Transportation Network, to see what

[2:17:54] sum the town will vote to appropriate

[2:17:56] for the transportation network fund or

[2:17:59] take any other action thereon. Mr.

[2:18:01] Chairman,

[2:18:02] >> we recommend that the town vote to

[2:18:03] appropriate $27,9120

[2:18:07] from the Transportation Network Fund

[2:18:08] into the Senior and Social Services

[2:18:10] Transportation Revolving Fund.

[2:18:12] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[2:18:16] Hearing none, all those in favor, please

[2:18:18] say I. I. Any opposed? The motion

[2:18:22] carries. Article 38, addition of a new

[2:18:25] local acceptance of Massachusetts

[2:18:28] General Laws chapter 59, section 5,

[2:18:30] clause 22H, to see if the town will vote

[2:18:33] to accept Massachusetts General Laws

[2:18:35] chapter 59, section 5, clause 22H,

[2:18:39] inserted by chapter 218 of the chap of

[2:18:43] the acts of 2018 entitled an act

[2:18:46] relative to veterans benefits, rights,

[2:18:48] appreciation, validation, and

[2:18:50] enforcement known as the brave act,

[2:18:53] which authorizes a full exemption from

[2:18:55] taxes on doicile of surviving parents

[2:18:58] and guardians of active duty military

[2:19:01] personnel and veterans who die as

[2:19:03] approximate result of injury or disease,

[2:19:06] suffer during active duty, or take any

[2:19:09] other action thereon. Mr. Chairman,

[2:19:11] >> we recommend that the town vote to

[2:19:12] accept Massachusetts General Law,

[2:19:14] chapter 59, section 5, clause 22H,

[2:19:18] inserted by chapter 218 of the Acts of

[2:19:21] uh 2018, entitled an act relative to

[2:19:24] veterans benefits, rights, appreciation,

[2:19:26] validation, and enforcement known as the

[2:19:28] Brave Act, which authorizes a full

[2:19:30] exemption from taxes on doiciles of

[2:19:32] surviving parents and guardians of

[2:19:33] active duty military personnel and

[2:19:36] veterans who died as approximate result

[2:19:38] of injury or disease suffered during

[2:19:40] active duty.

[2:19:41] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[2:19:45] Hearing none. All those in favor, please

[2:19:46] say I.

[2:19:48] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Article

[2:19:52] 39, clarification of Massachusetts

[2:19:54] General Laws Chapter 59, section 5,

[2:19:56] clause 22G, to see if the town will vote

[2:19:59] to accept Massachusetts General Laws

[2:20:01] chapter 59, section 5, clause 22G,

[2:20:05] inserted by chapter 218 of the chap of

[2:20:08] the acts of 2018 entitled an act

[2:20:11] relative to veterans benefits, rights,

[2:20:14] appreciation, validation, and

[2:20:16] enforcement known as the brave act which

[2:20:19] clarifies the application of local

[2:20:21] option general laws chapter 59 section 5

[2:20:24] clause cause 22G added by 2016 municipal

[2:20:28] modern modernization act or take any

[2:20:31] other action thereon. Mr. Chairman,

[2:20:33] >> we recommend that the town vote to

[2:20:35] accept Massachusetts General Law,

[2:20:36] chapter 59, section 5, clause 22G,

[2:20:39] inserted by chapter 218 of the acts of

[2:20:42] 2018, entitled an act relative to

[2:20:44] veterans benefits, rights, appreciation,

[2:20:46] validation, and enforcement known as the

[2:20:48] brave act, which clarifies the

[2:20:49] application of local option general law

[2:20:52] chapter 59, section 5, clause 22G, added

[2:20:55] by the 20 uh 2016 municipal

[2:20:59] modernization act.

[2:21:00] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[2:21:02] Hearing none. All those in favor, please

[2:21:05] say I. I.

[2:21:06] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Article

[2:21:10] 40, readoptibb

[2:21:12] trust, Massachusetts general laws,

[2:21:14] chapter 32b, section 20, to see if the

[2:21:18] town will vote to re to readopt and

[2:21:20] accept the provisions of section 20 of

[2:21:23] chapter 32b of the Massachusetts general

[2:21:26] laws as amended by section 15 of the

[2:21:29] chapter of chapter 218 of the acts of

[2:21:32] 2016 establishing an other

[2:21:35] postemployment benefits liability trust

[2:21:38] fund to authorize the select board and

[2:21:41] the treasurer to execute declaration of

[2:21:43] trust creating an expendable trust for

[2:21:46] the purposes of holding monies

[2:21:49] appropriated to such fund. To designate

[2:21:51] the treasurer as the trustee of such

[2:21:53] trust, to authorize the transfer of any

[2:21:56] and all monies currently held for the

[2:21:58] purpose of paying retiree health and

[2:22:00] life benefits to such trust, and to

[2:22:03] authorize the trustee to invest and

[2:22:06] reinvest the monies in such fund

[2:22:08] accordance with the prudent investor

[2:22:10] rule established under chapter 23C

[2:22:14] of the Massachusetts general laws, or

[2:22:17] take any other action thereon. Mr.

[2:22:19] Chairman,

[2:22:19] >> we recommend that the town vote to readt

[2:22:21] and accept the provisions of section 20

[2:22:23] of chapter 32b of the Massachusetts

[2:22:25] general laws as amended by section 15 of

[2:22:28] chapter 218 of the acts of 2016

[2:22:30] establishing an other postemployment

[2:22:33] benefit liability trust fund to

[2:22:35] authorize the select board and treasurer

[2:22:36] to execute a declaration of trust

[2:22:38] creating creating an expendable trust

[2:22:41] for the purpose of holding monies

[2:22:42] appropriated to such fund to designate

[2:22:45] the treasurer as the trustee of such

[2:22:47] trust. to authorize the transfer of any

[2:22:50] and all monies currently held for the

[2:22:51] purpose of paying retirey health and

[2:22:53] life benefits to such trust and to

[2:22:55] authorize the trustee to invest and

[2:22:57] reinvest the monies in such fund

[2:22:59] accordance with the prudent investor

[2:23:01] rule established under chapter 23C

[2:23:05] of the Massachusetts general laws.

[2:23:08] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion

[2:23:10] hearing? None. All those in favor please

[2:23:12] say I.

[2:23:14] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Article

[2:23:17] 41, lease purchase finance agreement to

[2:23:20] see if the town will vote will authorize

[2:23:22] under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter

[2:23:25] 44, Section 21C, the following lease

[2:23:28] purchase financing agreements by the

[2:23:30] acquisition of equipment that may be

[2:23:32] required through the issuance of debt

[2:23:34] under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter

[2:23:36] 44,

[2:23:39] uh, or improvements of a capital asset,

[2:23:41] the improvement of which might may be

[2:23:43] financed by the issuance of debt under

[2:23:45] Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44.

[2:23:47] The term of such agreement not to exceed

[2:23:50] the useful life of the equipment or

[2:23:51] improvements is determined by the select

[2:23:53] board or town manager and to authorize

[2:23:56] the department specified below to enter

[2:23:59] into such agreements on behalf of the

[2:24:01] town subject to the approval of an

[2:24:03] appropriation for the firstear payments

[2:24:05] of the agreements stated below or take

[2:24:07] any other action relative there too and

[2:24:10] to see whether such application should

[2:24:12] be raised by borrowing or otherwise or

[2:24:15] take any other action They're on. Mr.

[2:24:17] Chairman,

[2:24:18] >> we recommend that the town vote to

[2:24:19] authorize under Massachusetts General

[2:24:21] Law, Chapter 44, Section 21C, the

[2:24:24] following lease purchase financing

[2:24:26] agreement for the acquisition of

[2:24:27] equipment that may be acquired through

[2:24:29] the issuance of debt under Mass General

[2:24:31] Law Chapter 44, or improvement of a

[2:24:33] capital asset, the improvement of which

[2:24:35] may be financed by the issuance of debt

[2:24:37] under Mass General Law Chapter 44, the

[2:24:39] term of such agreement not to exceed the

[2:24:41] useful life of the equipment or uh or

[2:24:44] improvement as determined by the select

[2:24:46] order town manager and to authorize the

[2:24:48] department specified below to enter into

[2:24:51] such agreement on behalf of the town

[2:24:52] subject to approval of an appropriation

[2:24:54] for the first year payments of the

[2:24:57] agreement as stated below. The asset is

[2:24:59] high school 1:1 devices with a maximum

[2:25:02] term of four years. The authorized

[2:25:04] department is the school department and

[2:25:06] the appropriation is for FY uh 2027

[2:25:09] operating.

[2:25:10] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[2:25:13] This requires a twothirds vote. All

[2:25:16] those in favor, please say I. I.

[2:25:18] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Article

[2:25:22] 42, revolving fund accounts to see if

[2:25:24] the town will vote to determine a limit

[2:25:26] on the total amount which may be

[2:25:28] expended in fiscal year 2027 from each

[2:25:31] departmental revolving fund established

[2:25:33] pursuant to Massachusetts general laws

[2:25:36] chapter 44 section 53E and a half under

[2:25:39] the custody of the town treasurer or

[2:25:41] take any other action thereon. Mr.

[2:25:43] Chairman,

[2:25:44] >> we recommend that the town vote to

[2:25:45] determine a limit on the total amount

[2:25:47] which may be expended in fiscal year

[2:25:49] 2027 from each departmental revolving

[2:25:51] fund established pursuant to Mass

[2:25:53] General Law Chapter 44 section 53E and a

[2:25:56] half under the custody of the town

[2:25:58] treasurer as follows. Danver Council on

[2:26:00] Aging Pro programming, $275,000.

[2:26:04] Transportation revolving, $150,000.

[2:26:08] Waterways dredging improvement,

[2:26:09] $200,000.

[2:26:11] Child care program, $1,400,000.

[2:26:14] Water use mitigation, $450,000.

[2:26:18] Preservation revolving, $10,000.

[2:26:22] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[2:26:25] Hearing none, all those in favor, please

[2:26:27] say I. I. Any opposed? The motion

[2:26:30] carries. Article 43, debt stabilization

[2:26:33] fund, to see what sum the town will vote

[2:26:35] to appropriate to add to the debt

[2:26:37] stabilization fund pursuant to

[2:26:39] Massachusetts general laws chapter 40

[2:26:42] section 5b or take any other action

[2:26:44] thereon. Mr. Chairman,

[2:26:46] >> we recommend that the town vote to

[2:26:47] appropriate $2,700,000

[2:26:49] from free cash to add to the debt

[2:26:51] stabilization fund pursuant to master

[2:26:53] law chapter 40 section 5B.

[2:26:55] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[2:26:57] Hearing none. All those in favor, please

[2:27:00] say I.

[2:27:01] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. Article

[2:27:05] 44, other postemployment benefit OPEB

[2:27:09] trust fund to see what sum the town will

[2:27:12] vote to appropriate to add to the OPB

[2:27:15] trust fund pursuant to Massachusetts

[2:27:17] general laws chapter 32B or take any

[2:27:20] other action thereon. Mr. Chairman,

[2:27:22] >> we recommend that the town vote to

[2:27:23] appropriate $700,000 from free cash to

[2:27:26] add to the OPED trust fund pursuant to

[2:27:28] Mass General Law Chapter 32B.

[2:27:30] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[2:27:34] Hearing none, all those in favor, please

[2:27:35] say I. Any opposed? The motion carries.

[2:27:40] Before moving on to the last article

[2:27:42] this evening, a couple of um thoughts.

[2:27:46] Um first, want to congratulate our town

[2:27:49] manager, Joe Cahill. She just celebrated

[2:27:51] her first anniversary with the town and

[2:27:54] she delivered her first town meeting in

[2:27:56] stellar performance. So congratulations

[2:27:59] Jill.

[2:28:04] I would like to thank the unsung heroes

[2:28:06] of uh any town meeting which is our

[2:28:09] finance committee and our town court

[2:28:11] Kathy Ellsworth.

[2:28:13] Um,

[2:28:19] » and there's a whole cast of characters

[2:28:21] that make that set up our room and keep

[2:28:24] us comfortable. The decap people that

[2:28:26] keep the public informed. Uh the DPW

[2:28:30] workers are Tony Hollenhead, Amina

[2:28:33] Babick, Dave Hester, Teresa Bavanitas,

[2:28:38] the DECAT folks, our uh our Ben Thomas

[2:28:43] and Tim Paul, and Kathy was very abley

[2:28:47] assisted. I'm not sure if Janelle is

[2:28:49] still here.

[2:28:50] >> She slid out.

[2:28:51] Well, thank you, Janelle.

[2:28:53] Um so, um thank you all. Um, okay. So,

[2:28:57] now let's turn to article 45, fiscal

[2:29:00] year 2027

[2:29:02] budget amendments to see if the town

[2:29:04] will vote to amend the actions taken

[2:29:06] under article three of the 2026 annual town

[2:29:11] meeting by increasing certain

[2:29:13] appropriations by adding certain

[2:29:15] appropriations or by reducing certain

[2:29:18] appropriations by transfer among

[2:29:20] accounts or from available funds or take

[2:29:23] any other action thereon. Mr. Chairman,

[2:29:26] >> we recommend no action.

[2:29:27] >> Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[2:29:30] Hearing none. All those in favor, please

[2:29:32] say I.

[2:29:33] >> Any opposed? The motion carries. May I

[2:29:37] have a motion to dissolve?

[2:29:39] >> Thank you. And there's a second. I hear.

[2:29:41] All those in favor, please say I.

[2:29:44] >> Any opposed?

[2:29:48] The motion carries. Thanks so much

[2:29:50] tonight. Have a safe trip.

Danvers Annual Town Meeting- 5/18/26

Transcript