Groton Select Board 8/17/26

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[0:00] I’m going by the official computer here. Oh, there it is. All right. Good. We got it. So this is the Groton Selectboard you need for Monday, August 17th, 2026. I’m going to review the agenda. We have a nonsense review agenda for the public. We have a public comment period.
[0:16] And also be a ability for people to zoom in and make a comment if they want. We then it’s 606. We have the town manager report we’re going to update from W chief meeting on the Flock Camera Working Group. Uh, we have an update on the fiscal year 2028 budget.
[0:34] We’re going to ratify the town manager’s appointment of Anna Eliot to the Historical Commission, and we’re going to have an update on select board meeting schedule through Labor Day at 610 item select Board consideration in action. We’re going to review the first draft of the 2026 Fall Town meeting warrant.
[0:49] And then we’re going to approve a letter to the CPC Community Preservation Committee in support of the Cow Pond Brookfield project. Under other business, we’re going to authorize the town manager and one member of the board to sign warrants for the next 30 days. And then ongoing issues for review and informational purposes. Brief comments items may or may not be discussed.
[1:06] We have the PFAS issue. The UMass Satellite Emergency Facility issue, the fire department staffing issue, West Groton dam removal, uh Main Street study, and then the flock cameras and then select board reads leaves on reports. We have um and there may or may not be liaison reports.
[1:27] We have minutes then from our special meeting on July 16th, 2025, and then also meeting for our regular scheduled meeting of June 27th, 2026. So that’s what we have. Um, I’ll just start off for announcements.
[1:45] We, um, a week ago, uh, there was a group of people that had the Groton Day down at the Polar Park in Worcester and the WooSox team, and it was a great event. Uh, we had a bunch of people that turned out and really fun, and we had, uh, Michelle Collette throw out the first pitch. And I she’s been working, practicing with her, with her husband.
[2:01] She threw it underhand and she did a good job, and she. Did very good. There was 100 and, um, I think they sold over 150 tickets to Groton people. Oh.
[2:13] Did they all right for that event and the, uh, the event organizers said for the first town takeover, it was a really good turnout. Yeah. So it I think because of the excitement and everything, I think we’ll try to do it again. There’s a lot of fun. It was a great game and they won one. One Big 10. To 2. Yeah, it was huge. Huge.
[2:26] Um, any other announcements? Board members. All right. Uh, do we have any members of the public? Karen, make a comment. There’s nobody online, Peter. Nobody online. Okay, so we’ll start then with the Tom Enders report. Mark. Rachel, please come up to the table.
[2:47] So, as you know, um, we have a police camera, working group, um, studying the, uh, camera issue, license plate, reader issue and things. Now, they haven’t had a meeting, uh, since the last time Rachel came in to give an update. But Peter wanted Rachel to come in tonight and talk about any new information that we received from FLoC. There’s been a lot of stuff in the news.
[3:01] So, Rachel, you want to just give us a brief update? That would be awesome. Sure. Um, so tomorrow we’re going to finalize our mission statement. We’ll review our policy at the police department on the cameras. Uh, we launched a transparency portal, which is on the town’s website. So I’ll review that.
[3:20] Um, I’ll review some of our ongoing cases. We actually have a decent amount of cases that we’re using FLoC as part of our evidence. So, um, for our top five, we have breaking entering. We have, uh, quite a number of hit and run car accidents.
[3:42] Um, we have a couple of embezzlement cases that we’re working and assault and battery cases. And then we have, uh, failure to stop for the police department a couple of times. So we’ve used those for that.
[3:55] So those are our top five, um, cases that we’ve been using FLoC for, um, of, like, the many things that we’ve been using it for. Um, and then I met with the competitor axon on June 16th. So I’ll report back to the group on that information. And, uh, we’ll kind of compare and contrast the two companies and see, you know, what they think. And then, um, from there, we’ll schedule the forum.
[4:13] I’m looking at the week of September 21st, um, and we’ll discuss kind of what we want to, uh, what the forum looks like. Uh, right off the bat, I definitely want to answer all the questions that I’ve been getting from the public.
[4:29] I want to make sure whatever presentation I give is going to answer those questions. I think I have about 20 questions from citizens so far. So. Go ahead. Yeah, I had one question.
[4:44] I had, um, it’s certainly as you certainly are, it’s been in the news a lot, and the company itself is starting to react to a lot of the pressure that they’re getting, I think. And because of that, it sounded like they were going to make be making some changes. I was just curious whether you had heard, in fact, do you is there a specific contact at Flag at FLoC that you maintain contact with the representative or somebody that.
[5:00] We have a working group of people at FLoC that covers our contracts, but I have not talked to them. No. Okay. I just I guess my curious then is have they reached out to you or would they reach out to you, or should you reach out to them and find out what they are planning to do? If
[5:16] anything, to the current model? Right now, some of the press releases that they’ve released, and none of that would affect the town of Groton, because we already implemented those policies as part of our policy internally. Because it sounded like they were actually doing some things to the system internally.
[5:30] And some of that was already established before we even started. I think they’re just reiterating the fact that they’re requiring case numbers and making sure officers have a valid reason to be doing, um, right. And then retention information like period of time and things like that. It’s all stuff that has been implemented since we’ve used the system.
[5:50] So do they. Then I guess my question is, do they contact you when they’re doing things like that to the to the platform? Uh, we get, you know, weekly emails from the, the different representatives in the company telling us about updates, but not anything specifically Groton related. No.
[6:08] Right. Yeah. I think it’d be across the board at this point. Yeah. Which is what they’re responding to. So, Peter, just to reiterate, yeah, we do not share the information. It’s not going out anywhere.
[6:24] We have safeguards on the information that the Groton Police Department is using for its investigative purposes. And you gave us 5 or 6 examples of, since the last month or so, that you you utilize those cameras to the benefit of investigation. Yes. Okay. So I understand. Yeah. There’s an article we’re going to get to the warrant soon. There’s a citizen’s petition article on the warrant that was submitted last week.
[6:42] Uh, for the warrant, I sent out an updated draft, which I’ll go with you tonight. There’s asking the town to ban and remove the flock cameras immediately. I saw several people in contact. Me.
[6:56] A couple of people contacted me on that, and I said, you know, it’s a little premature to bring that article to town meeting. Let the working group do their work. We have safeguards in place on the information. We have a study. We have 5 or 6 great town residents working with Rachel. Uh, on on this cost.
[7:15] So I’m hoping town meeting will allow the work to continue until such time as admitted to make a formal recommendation to the Selectboard. And we intend to bring back whatever they decide. We will bring it back to town. Meeting for funding. Yeah.
[7:27] And I think the other the other consideration too, is the chief certainly has in terms of how he manages his budget as a strong chief, what he does within the department, he has a certain amount of flexibility. He can make decisions. In that and that’s what he’s. Doing, stuff. Like that. Some people have accused me of miraculously finding money. I did not find money to do this. It was done through the police department budget.
[7:43] Things were canceled in the budget that they’re not going to they’re not going to do because he used it for the for the flood cameras. Right. I think it’s going going forward, though.
[7:59] I think it’s the more that we do to let people know that this is something we’re working on to keep it, you know, present the current I think is important, particularly before town meeting, because I think you can, you know, have, um, you know, manage that conversation or the way to go on some bait.
[8:13] If people are confident that we, you know, are doing a lot of this work and people see it and we’re we’re, you know, expressing the work, I know we’ve only had we’ve had a lot of two. Working one, one working group E the next meeting of the working group is tomorrow night.
[8:26] And then we’re going to schedule a public hearing in September prior to town meeting, for the people to come out and talk to the and talk to the working group. So there’s there’s a lot going on in, you know, Deputy Chief Mead has really done a lot of work on this with the working group. I’m talking it again. Tomorrow and put everything on the website.
[8:42] I just would like residents to know that they can go, um, on the town’s website, under the Rock Police Department. And I have an entire folder dedicated to, um, license plate readers.
[8:55] We got to keep reminding people, though, because, again, people and what they hear and what they understand has shaped a lot by what’s out in the media, what’s circulating around like that. So then, you know, the national question is, what is Groton doing? So I think we need to be real, you know, upfront about that, talking about what we’re doing. Yeah. I’m going to bring Peter, with your permission, when we set the agenda.
[9:09] Rachel’s going to come back on August 31st to update you on what happened to tomorrow’s meeting. So okay, we will keep this on the agenda so that the board is fully aware it’s going on. Plus, you’ll have a you’ll firm a date for your public hearing at tomorrow’s meetings. We’ll be able to announce that here as well too. It’s a.
[9:21] Good kickoff to one of our goals. You know better. This is what. About the information. So yeah, this is a this is a good one to kick it off. Yeah. Yeah that’s a good point, Matt. So, uh, board members, any other questions or comments? Nick. Yeah.
[9:34] No, I want to just recognize and appreciate the work that you and the group are doing. Uh, you mentioned the week of the 21st of September. So do you know when you would have more of a summary tomorrow? Okay, excellent. We’ll announce on the 31st. No. That’s great. I’m looking. To pin a solid date down.
[9:50] I’m hoping to have a few of them there, so I want to talk to them before I pick a Tuesday. Or if I if I may make a suggestion. I think the best place to hold this, hopefully a lot of people will come out would be at the Groton Center. I think that’s the best place to hold it.
[10:02] We can work with Nicole to pick a date to build. , uh, any other board members, any other questions? Becky, you have any questions at all or. Uh, no, I, I’m agreeing with what’s been said. Okay. Very good. Thank you. Always nice to see you. Thank you, thank you. Take care. Thank you for coming out tonight. See you in a.
[10:19] Few weeks. Um, I have no update. I’ll have you back in two weeks. Um, I have no update on the FY 28 budget. We have our next, um, Nick, we have our next, uh, working group meeting on the 26th, a week from Thursday. So I’ll have more to update you on the budget then.
[10:36] But we’re still monitoring what’s happening at the state and and staying on top of that. Uh, the historical commission has requested that, um. I’m sorry, Becky. Go ahead. So, Mark, just to be clear, has any action been taken on the government’s on the governor’s recommendation for. The no. It’s still in committee. Of that extra money.
[10:56] Yeah. And it’s Patricia here. We I know Brian said he was going to apply for the snow and ice, but I think he did. He did. We just haven’t received the snow and ice money that 275,000. We’ve applied for it. We just haven’t received it. Yeah. But that money is being appropriate for this year.
[11:11] So that money’s been appropriated. We just haven’t. We apply for the grant. We just haven’t received yet. And the additional chapter 70 money that was that had. It’s in committee. You got to go through ways and Means, got to go through the process. You filed a bill. So it’s got to go through the legislative process.
[11:23] I thought she just wrote a check. I wish she did. Be nice. It’d be nice if the government could do that, huh? Yeah. Huh. So that’s where we are with that. We did communicate with our representatives. In that 100%. Yeah. Yep. All right. Good. Thank you. Um, Wednesday. Yes.
[11:36] Just wanted to confirm that that’s what I have, um, uh. Working group meeting. And then you’re going to zoom in for that one, right? Yeah. Thank you. No problem. All right. Free. Yep. The historical Commission has asked that I appoint Anna Lee to the commission to fill a vacancy.
[11:49] I’ve made the appointment. I’d ask the board to ratify the appointment, and it’ll be a term through June 30th of 2027. So moved. A second, second. All right. Um, Mark? Yeah? Can you. Becky. Yeah. Go ahead. Why was there a vacancy there? There was a resignation. I can’t remember who resigned. Do you remember. Who resigned? There was.
[12:09] Two. There was two resignations. Yeah, yeah. Becky, I’ll get you the names of who resigned. All right. Bosch has been made and seconded. Any further discussion? All those in favor? Uh. Roll call. Yeah. Um. Uh. Do you want me to start? Huh? Yeah. Fine. I. Was on a. To get a sack. Can I hear mine? Riley? I.
[12:31] Um, okay, on your, uh, on your schedule. We’re not meeting next week. We will be meeting on the 31st. At that meeting of the 31st, Rachel will be coming back in to give you an update on on the floor cameras and, uh, flock camera working group. And we’ll also have the public hearing on the warrant.
[12:48] Um, I hopefully we’ll have a quorum of the finance committee here. The, uh, that public hearing will start at 7:00. So we’ll do our regular business starting at six, and then we’ll go to the public hearing at 7:00. We do not meet on the Labor Day holiday.
[13:05] And then on September 14th, we’ll have our meeting, and the board will vote to issue the warrant for the fall town meeting at that date. Any questions on the schedule? Yeah. Yes. Uh. Uh, on the 31st. Yes.
[13:24] Uh, if we could look at the amount that we have of work that we have to do before the public hearing and then potentially schedule the meeting at 630 instead of six, I think that would be.. I’ll make sure of that, Becky. I’ll. I’ll take a look at the warrant. I’ll take a look at the agenda. What’s coming up for that meeting, and I, I will do that. Excellent point. I will not be at that meeting.
[13:35] So, Becky, you will be chairing that meeting. So I will be clearing it with you. All right? Right. Um, going into the select board items for action, uh, the warrant for the fall town meeting closed last Thursday. I had given you a preliminary edition, uh, addition, a preliminary draft before I left for vacation.
[13:56] And then I finalized it last Thursday, and I. The drive has the latest draft. I’ve sent it to you on the separate cover, but the packet. This is the updated draft, which is in the drive. I’d like to take a few minutes just to go through the articles.
[14:12] Uh, relatively quickly, because obviously at your next meeting, you will have the, um, full public hearing. But starting with article, article one, that’s the usual article we put on there. And this is part of the consent agenda. The first nine items will be consent agenda items. Um, right now, Patricia, there are no unpaid bills.
[14:28] There’s one prior year bill which we will bring forward at that meeting. Okay. Um, if you can send that to me. So I’d put it I want to put a memo together for the 31st. Thank you.
[14:42] Um, article two is to amend the town, uh, FY 27 budget in here. There’s going to be a bunch of requests for, um, appropriations. A couple of them. And I’m waiting for Patricia to give me a free cash number.
[14:56] But a couple of them will be one for the thing that Nick and I talked about at your last meeting was just to bring on a consultant to help us with economic development and marketing. Um, so we’ll have a line item transfer for that. The assessors need $10,000 to help with their reval this year, to bring in a consultant for commercial reval. So there’ll be a transfer for that.
[15:14] We had some repairs that we had to do at the fire station, uh, on the HVAC system, and that really it wiped out the amount of money set aside for those repairs. So we will be bringing a transfer to reimburse that account to get us through the rest of the year. Patricia and I talked.
[15:29] We could have done a reserve fund transfer, but we decided, let’s not hit the reserve fund so early in the year. Let’s do a, um, if we have the money free cash. Retirement system, is it covered by a warranty or something? Oh, it’s. The system’s 12 years old, Peter. So it’s from 12. That that warranty has been gone for years. Um, Mike. Yes.
[15:44] Becky. We still have any green communities money that could be spent on that. We we did money. Green communities on the lighting there. And we did a, um, we did another study over there. I can’t remember off the top of my head what it was for, but not for the HVAC system. Mhm. Okay.
[16:02] Um, and there was one other thing, and I can’t remember what it was. I’ll have a memo to the board and the Finance committee on other proposed transfers. Okay. So that’s article two. Um. Oh yes. Thank you. That’s why you’re the best. Yeah.
[16:22] So, um, because the Cow article got defeated at the springtime meeting. We didn’t have an appropriation, but we decided to continue to study it and bring back an alternate proposal.
[16:41] So Megan Basinski from, uh, activities has been doing work, um, for us, and we haven’t paid her, so there’ll be money in the article that we’ll get to in a minute to pay her. But if that article fails, I still have. I still owe her for the work that she’s done. So I’m going to do a line item transfer for that funding. And if the article fails, we’ll use that to pay it.
[16:57] If the article passes, then I will go back to, you know, we’ll we’ll use that as a surplus revenue that Patricia can use at the end of the year for line item transfers. So I just want to make you aware of that. And I’ll talk about that more at the public. You wouldn’t, uh, vacate that appropriation.
[17:11] You can’t. There’s no way to vacate it once the town meeting makes it right. Yeah. So that’s right. But I. Need to pay. The appropriation. Can only town meeting could rescind an appropriation. So. Yeah. So do you have to wait till the spring or something? Yeah. All right.
[17:27] Um, article three is transfer money to the capital stabilization fund. That is for the capital budget. Again, I’ll have a better handle on that once Patricia gives me an idea of what free cash is going to be, and then I’ll dictate. That’ll dictate what we put in there to fund the capital budget next year. The stabilization fund.
[17:42] The last two years, we haven’t had to transfer money in there because the the fund itself made enough money to cover the to make it at the 5% level.
[17:54] So I will have to I’ll work with Katie to find out what’s in there, and I’ll figure out if we have to add anything to it based on this year’s budget, because it’s based on 5% of of the budget. The transfer into the Groton Dunstable Capital Stabilization Fund, that’ll probably be about, you know, depending on what the free cash situation is that funds the capital budget for the schools next year.
[18:09] So we’ll put some money aside for that based on what their anticipated capital budget. Is, because they use some of the capital money to fund operating, didn’t they? No no no no. no no. They used that only for the the money that we set in. There is all for their capital use. Right. Uh, so that’s article five.
[18:25] Article six, seven and eight are placeholders within the budget for money needed for either water, sewer or stormwater. Stormwater enterprise. So I’m not sure if we’re going to have any money to we’re not going to need those. They’re on here as placeholders. So we’re most likely pass over them at town meeting.
[18:44] But they’re on here just in case something comes up between now and, uh, town meeting. And then article nine is a repeat from the Spring town meeting. And, um, we did not transfer a.
[19:01] Patricia, can you help me with the town forest? One? What? What? We had to put that back on the warrant, and I can’t remember why we had to put it back on the warrant. Do you remember on the town forest appropriation? Wasn’t there a grant or something? We were going to get. And they came in late and they needed the money. I don’t remember. I’ll have a better idea. I’m sorry.
[19:15] I didn’t mean to put you. I apologize, I did not put you on the spot. I’ll have a better explanation for this at the public hearing. But the town forest committee, uh, needed additional funding. Judy. Yeah. Oh. I’m sorry. Oh. Thank you. Judy. I always forget to do that. I get so wrapped up in the warrant, I forget to advance it.
[19:33] And Judy’s here to keep me honest. Yeah, um, I’ll have a better explanation for you at the at the town meeting. Um, that’s article nine. So those are going to be the consent agenda. Okay? We’re going to do those as one vote. And if anybody holds it, we’ll discuss it.
[19:47] But, you know, most of these are going to be withdrawn. Most of these are placeholders. Um, so I don’t know if we’re going to really have a, you know, article two will be the big one. That’ll be transfers. But I’ll have a list for you for next week. Um, article ten.
[20:03] Uh, that is a citizen’s petition that we talked about earlier, and that is for the termination of the automated, uh, license plate, uh, reader camera program. So this citizen’s petition came in.
[20:21] Now, ordinarily, we put citizen petitions at the end of the warrant, but in this particular instance, because this is such a hot button issue and a lot of people will be coming out for the town meeting for this particular issue. I’ve moved it up to the first article after the consent agenda. Um, if the board wants me to relocate it back to the end of the warrant, I can do that. Go ahead. And.
[20:33] Uh, I’m on the meeting packet that’s found online. Article ten is the irrigation system. Go to the drive. Okay. Because if you go into the one on line is not the updated one, the one on the drive. Nick, if you go to the drive, John’s on the drive and he. Has it. Yeah, mine is on the drive.
[20:48] You have it on the drive. I apologize, I thought I said that at the beginning. I apologize because I posted the packet before I went on vacation and then updated the warrant last Thursday. So that’s why the one on line isn’t the right one.
[21:01] The one on the drive that you have is the right one. Is that you all set, Nick? I’m good. Okay. Um, so that’s why I move this up front. For that reason, I figured people are going to be coming out for that, so I don’t want to put her towards the end of the warrant.
[21:13] But it’s up to you to decide how you want to do that. By the way, Nick, just so you know, um, when we do the warrant, the warrant articles come in and I try to group articles together, and I use my best judgment.
[21:27] But the board has the final say on the on the order of the warrant. Usually you go with what I give you, but it’s up to you to decide if you want to move things around. Um, article 11 irrigation for the Groton Country Club. Um, we have the bids are out. The bids are due to open on either September 9th or the 15th.
[21:42] We’ve had 7 or 8 firms. Take out the bid specs, so I’m very excited about that. So, um, hopefully we’ll get a nice price on it. But this this article here is estimated to be around $1.7 million. What’s the return date on the bids? Uh, it’s either the ninth of the 15th of September. I’ll.
[21:59] I’ll update. You. Want to get those? I can’t remember off the top of my head, but, you know, off the top of your head. Um, I can tell you. Okay. I’ll let you know on that. So that’s the, um. It might be the 15th. So that’s, uh, article 11.
[22:11] Article 12, Kyle Pond, Brookfield Improvements, that is the the new article. Uh, the rehash article to come in the original article at the Springtown meeting asked for $4.8 million. This one is going to ask for $4.2 million.
[22:30] Um, so we’ve made some renovations, some adjustments to the to the, uh, to the bid. We are out to bid on that as well. That’s also due either the 9th or the 15th of September. So we’ll have bids in hand for town meeting as well. And again, Megan, Megan put in a lot and we’re so lucky.
[22:45] You know, she has done yeoman’s work for us and she’s really committed to the project. So I want to thank her for all that she’s done. Um, so this this is article 12. Yeah. I’ve actually I’d like to see I’d like to talk, um, about placing that a little bit further up in the agenda. Whatever the board wants me to.
[22:59] Do, I’d like to. I’d like to see it put basically swap place with the, um. Well, just put, put it, put it in his article ten and then, um. Move everything down. Move everything down.
[23:13] And my reason for that is the park commission right now is in the process of giving out permits for, for, uh, activity for games and stuff coming up and um, um, it’s, it’s it’s better to get a more, I think, representative turnout of people that are actually going to be using the facility if, um, you know, if it shows up earlier in the agenda, okay, if they hit game schedule for, you
[23:32] know, 9:00 or something like that, it’s a problem. Parks Commission would be, you know, talking with them as to give out permits and say probably should make your, you know, get your permit for 11:00. I’ll do it later. Okay.
[23:48] So what? So, Peter, if I’m understanding what the board’s what the board’s approval, uh, the irrigation is the ninth and Kyle Ponds is the 10th. Yeah, those are the bid opening dates in September. Okay, so Calpine will be ten flock, cameras will be 11, and irrigation will be 12. Correct. Is that what the board is telling me? Okay, that’s what I’d like to see. The board members. I’m fine.
[24:02] Okay, I’ll take care of it. Um, article 13. Yeah. Okay. Um. Becky. Yeah. Um, Mark, I have some questions about the wording on the the, uh, Kaplan. Yeah. Go ahead. I want to get them out there. Um, at some point, you said something about the motions to adopt and approve recommendations of the CPC.
[24:23] Yep. Um, I I’m not sure you need to check with the CPC because they they are really clear that they’re not making a recommendation to vote. Either way. They’re just bringing it to town meeting. And so I suspect that they would not approve of that, of that wording.
[24:42] Well, Becky, I don’t mean to I’m sorry to cut you off, but this is the exact same wording that I’ve used for 18 years on CPC articles in the town of Groton. So it’s the same wording verbatim that I’ve used for 18 years.
[24:59] But if they want me to change, I will check with I’ll check with Aubry and make sure. But this is the this is the same wording we always use. Okay, but it looks different to me.
[25:19] Um, but and then the at someplace else it says if the project does not proceed in time for fall town meeting consideration, but obviously we’re voting it at fall town meeting. I’m not sure what what the meaning of that is that needs to get reword. I can I can clean that up. But basically what I’m saying, if we don’t approve. This, approve it at the Fall. Town, we lose the grant. Yeah, well, we’ll just say that, okay.
[25:35] If we don’t approve this at fall town meeting, we will lose the grant. Gotcha. Okay. And what the CPC is doing, I mean, yeah, I mean, it’s I say recommending the project, but they’re basically recommending they’re approving the out of cycle application, right. Yeah. But this is like I said, this is the same.
[25:53] Yeah. Yeah, yeah. That’s I mean that’s that’s the at the end of the day that’s what they’re doing this, they’re actually they’re taking which, which. Yeah. All right. All right. Good. Thanks, Becky. Yeah.
[26:13] Um, so the next article is a placeholder that town council has asked me to put on the warrant, just so the board is aware, we’re in the process that the electric light department is in the process of working with one of their, uh, battery storage companies to add another battery storage to the battery battery storage facility here in Groton. We have one at Florence Roach.
[26:31] We have one at the substation at um, on Lowell Road. And there’s one that Groton School putting years ago. So this is going to be the fourth battery storage facility. It’s going to be about the size of the one that you see at Florence Roach.
[26:52] But because it is not tied to anything with a town building, it requires a vote of town meeting to transfer the land to allow them to install it. The reason you didn’t see this at Florence Roach is because the the best system of Florence Roach is the backup generator to the school. So it had a it had a use for the school. So therefore we didn’t need to subdivide off the land.
[27:10] There’s no tie in currently to the DPW for this. So because of that, town council says it is like leasing the land in town. Meeting needs to approve that. So I know that town council is talking to, um, the attorney for the Light Department, and they’re talking about this.
[27:29] So this is on here as a placeholder. We may or may not bring this one forward. Does that make sense? I say. Expand the battery facility is for them to store for just feeding back into the grid. Basically different stores on the grid. So during high peak areas, they release it off.
[27:45] To the Greeks it keeps your electric rates low. It’s been very successful. The one that they put a low road and the one that they put at the foreign show. It’s been very successful helping to keep rates low. So because of that they want to add another one. And so that’s why they’re doing that one up at cow Pembroke.
[28:00] So it’s to save your electricity rates. And if you send my electrical bill in Grafton I want this best system outside my door. Yeah. Yes Becky. Can you squirrel the screen because I don’t. Oh I’m sorry Judy. Judy, you did not tell me to scroll forward. Oh. Are.
[28:22] One more, huh? There we go. All right, so this is a placeholder for now, but we’ll see if we have to bring it forward. All right. Is it, um. And this is land that that we can. It’s on. It’s it’s it’s land that Brian has said it doesn’t need. It doesn’t need. Okay. On Kyle.
[28:37] Pawnbroker on the highway garage. Uh, highway land. Yeah. Um, I what team? I mean, this is, uh, Nick, this is your article. Um, Nick asked us to look into bringing forward a means tested senior citizen property tax exemption.
[28:55] You know, the thing about this one, too, is this was a goal of the board a couple of years ago. We were waiting for the state to do it. And the state has nothing. Right. So you remember Megan Foster came in and talked about that. The state was looking at doing this and they never did it.
[29:09] So a couple of towns, Town of Grafton and Town of Marblehead, had brought this article. And I think the town of Hopkinton as well, had brought this article to town meeting and special legislation to allow for a senior means tested program tax exemption based on your income. And so we took the one that Marblehead just got adopted. And what year was that, Nick? 23, 2323.
[29:29] And this is pretty much the Marblehead article that was approved for for Groton. So we know the legislature will approve it because they approved it for Marblehead. It’s a really good um, it’s a really good, uh, idea.
[29:44] The assessors, uh, Nick and I have been working with Tammy, uh, to get an estimate of what the impact of the overlay would be for this. So, uh, Tammy is doing an analysis based. redistributes the. Yeah. So she’s doing an analysis to see how many people would qualify for this based on other exemptions. We’ve been. Asking for this for years, and. It’s the first.
[30:00] Time it’s come up. No one asks for years. Okay? He’s got you. Covered. Well, it was on our list. Yes, I proposed it. Yes. And we were waiting for the state to do something. And the state never did anything. So we’re bringing it forward now.
[30:19] So? So what we needed was to have you and Nick your momentum. Bring it forward. Yeah, right. Nick. And I think what we’re going to do to is. We’re going to look at. Like Mark. Said, um, everyone that meets the qualifications. If they. All took the took. The exemptions, what.
[30:35] Would that impact be? Just so we can have an idea as well of where that might be redistributed and what it would look like. So that is article 14. So article 15, 16 and 17 was submitted by the Planning Board.
[30:57] Article 15 is for small scale uh infrastructure for siting and permitting in basically, um, this has to do with um, Antiochus will be here to explain it next week, but I believe article 15, in article 16 cover best system installation in town. So those are one is a general bylaw and the other is a zoning amendment. Article 16 is a zoning amendment.
[31:16] But Takashi will be here at your next meeting, and he will walk us through on exactly what this what this means. And then article 17, Um. And I’ll scroll ahead. I’m getting good at scrolling ahead now, Judy. Um, article 17, if I can get that, because it’s a long article. It is article 17, uh, is a adjusting, uh, photovoltaic article that we passed.
[31:41] I think back, Peter, in 2015, 14 to 15 to bring it up to new state regulations. So the planning Board is submitting that as a zoning amendment, um, as a zoning amendment to make up for the, uh, changes in state law to bring that article up. So that’s article, um, 17 small scale photovoltaic facilities.
[32:03] So it brings us into compliance with state law. The last two articles on the warrant are citizen petition articles. Article 18 is a citizen’s petition that’s very similar. Well, not similar, but it’s along the same lines as the, um, Senior Means Tested program. But basically what this does is a property tax freeze program.
[32:27] This was submitted by citizens petition. And I don’t know of any town that has done this. So I think brought in if if we pass a town meeting and go before the legislature, I think we’ll be breaking ground and who knows what the legislature will do.
[32:45] But basically what this does is if you are 70 years of age and older and have owned and occupied the property of the principal residence for at least 35 consecutive years immediately preceding the application, your taxes will be frozen. That what you’re paying in that particular year. So in fiscal year 20, say this goes into effect for fiscal year 28.
[33:03] If in fiscal year 27 you pay $10,000 for property taxes, if this passes and you apply, your property taxes would be frozen at that level forever. So any increase in taxes, you wouldn’t you wouldn’t have to pay. That’s the idea behind this legislation.
[33:23] And as we did with the senior means tested, we’re also doing an analysis on who’s been in town for, uh, who’s 70 years of age or older and been in town for 35 years paying taxes. And, um, I’m looking at is that you would that. Be you would not be income based? No, it’s not income based. Isn’t anybody.
[33:38] The previous one is based in residency, correct. Yes, yes, yes. But. Yeah. But yeah. Um, this seemed like there we, you know, can’t have both. It seemed like you do one or the other. This one’s, um, way open. This one’s open to me. If it allows anybody. I mean, I can just. It’s not based on income.
[34:04] No, no, I see, I can’t on my house. That’d be great deal for me. Yeah. And so that’s the first thing. The thing that worries me on this one, though, it says the act shall take effect upon its passage. So does this mean if we take. Passage at the legislature, not a town.
[34:20] Meeting will not happen? It’s a special act. So it’s it’s upon approval by the legislature. And in the prior one, is there any you know, when we give away, we give away when they receive a full refund, they don’t pay taxes at all. It’s in a it’s an abatement based. On no taxes on us.
[34:37] It depends on what the assessors decide. We ask the assessors to use the maximum amount of rebate in doing the analysis. And I’ll have Tammy here next week to explain better or next meeting. Okay.
[34:54] But my, my my other question was do we if they’re let’s assume whatever the rebate they get when they when that house sells we ever get it back. I mean we know no no. So it just goes away. No this is not what you’re thinking about is when people come in and they freeze there. Um, this is what this does. And then when the house sells, we get the money back. That’s not what this does.
[35:10] Yeah. Okay. And the last one is the some standing here. We haven’t. Can we have a are we, are we going to have an example on the irrigation to make sure that people understand what the benefit of that is? Someone going to present. Something we’re going to put together.
[35:23] I’m working with Shawn on a PowerPoint presentation for town meeting. Because that’s a lot that would that will help. It a lot. Is this a huge article? And I’ll tell you, it’s important.
[35:38] I think we were talking about to about potentially showing what that irrigation upgrade could do to potential fees and what we that’s a big part of the presentation. So I think blood to your point that I think that’s going. To be I think the fees of the thing I mean, it’s not a lot of cost savings because there’s only one guy running around, Clark, some summer guy. But the fees could be. Dramatic.
[35:50] But what what what part of this is because you’re going to have a course that’s in better condition? Yeah, we can charge a higher. Uh, green speed, and I’ll tell you, um, even now, without the irrigation, the course, you know, you know, you play it all the time. The course is in.
[36:08] Well, very dangerous for you, but the courses are really, really great shape, right? Best I’ve ever seen it in my 18 years here. And Mark got Becky. Had. Yes. Becky. Becky, you have a hand up. Yeah. So, um, this I think I had seen slightly different wording on this. Uh, maybe I’m confused because. No town council gave me new wording on it.
[36:26] And this is town council’s edit, and I went back to the applicant and asked the applicant if the wording from town council is okay, and they said yes. So it’s different than the original article because town council gave me an edit of it. Right. So this says you have to have lived in that same house for 35 years. Correct.
[36:43] And I think that that, you know, may run afoul of people who’ve lived here for 35 years, but maybe have not been in the same house. And I’m not sure why we would make the distinction. You have to have been in the same house.
[37:07] I mean, you’re talking about the the tax freeze on the house they’re living in now. Um, but who cares whether it was the same house 35 years ago or a different house and they were paying more taxes or less taxes 35 years ago. But that’s not really relevant. We can talk about the applicant. I see where you’re saying, Becky, and.
[37:27] maybe my I’m trying to go. Worst case scenario, it could potentially prevent. someone from. Selling a house they’ve lived in for. 25. 30 years. To then upgrade by a higher. Value house. And then carry over the savings. So if if we say you can be 35. Years residing.
[37:52] Between different permanent residents, they could essentially upgrade to a higher value home and then put that freeze in almost game it a bit. Yeah. But if the higher value home that would have been would have moved there recently, so they wouldn’t have that 35 year tenure in that room.
[38:09] But then would it stop someone from saying, oh, this law is in place, I’m going to sell my home and upgrade to a more expensive house and then take advantage of this law. Yeah, that’s a good point. Think of that. Did we? And you. Said, um, town council had so he’s town council has seen this, in other words.
[38:24] Oh yes. Yes, yes. And was the uh was I’m. Sorry I do I do think it’s problematic the way it’s written. I don’t know if there’s a better way to write it, but and also in the original one, I can’t see the whole thing on the screen.
[38:42] But there was something about, uh, the Selectboard could adopt other rules and regulations, including there was reference, I think. To it’s on there.. Is it more means, um. The town selectboard, section five of the town Select would adopt rules and regulations necessary to administer the program. It’s there. Section five. That’s right.
[39:05] Does that include the ability to, in fact, put some kind of a means test? Yeah, I don’t think. Well, regulations are to administer. I don’t think they consider the basics of what it is. You’re still using the wording. Yeah. And then I don’t know anything about article 19. Um, I had a brief conversation with Russ Harris about it.
[39:22] He’ll be here at the meeting on the 31st to explain what he’s trying to do. Well, uh, basically he wants to look at our zoning and our budget. That’s how I read it, to see if there’s ways that we could potentially adopt different zoning to encourage more residential housing to offset. Yes. Um, Texas.
[39:42] This would be a study to come back to the spring town meeting with the proposal. If if it’s a zoning change has to come from the planning board. Correct? Correct. So those are the 19 articles.
[40:02] Wait, might I have another question here, please? So the two articles that are based on trying to give a senior citizens a break. Yep. If they both passed are are it seems like I don’t know. We need we need to be prepared to answer the questions about what what will happen if they vote. If they both pass, you will have one based on income and you will have one based on, um. Longevity. On longevity. That was.
[40:25] That was Budge Point. Yeah. So you want you you would have you would have the ability you would one person I mean the selectmen can set up a rule that says you can’t get both. You can’t double dip to both that the Selectboard can do that. But somebody who meets the means tested, right.
[40:43] Or somebody somebody who meets the means tested, they would get that, that exemption, but somebody who’s 70 years and 35 in the House wouldn’t be eligible for the means tested, because maybe their income wouldn’t let that happen. So they would be eligible to freeze their property taxes.
[41:03] And basically, that one is to, in my opinion, reward you for living in town for 35 years at least, which is a long time. long time. I agree with that. And I also think that we’ll see, uh, many people who have only been in their homes, maybe for a much shorter period of time, that are more income, uh, based, be able to take
[41:18] advantage of the, of the, um, Ways. And Means tested one. Yeah. So I also wanted to go back. Home for. Yep. Yes. Becky. Yeah. Just to go back to the 35 year and you have to have been in the same house.
[41:37] I mean, it can also work the opposite way from from what Nick said. If you’ve been somebody who’s been in a large house and would really like to downsize, um, is, you know, maybe gonna think twice or be or feel like they really shouldn’t do that, but, uh, I don’t know. I it’s a big debate there.
[42:05] I had just because I’m aware of a lot of I’ve lived in this town for more than 50 years. You all say I had a lot, a lot of friends who’ve been here that long to like Peter, but but people have moved to different houses, particularly as they get older, because they need to be on one floor or because, you know.
[42:22] You know, Becky, the great thing about town meeting is you can make an amendment and you can change a proposal, right? So you can change that section to say, 35 years, consecutive years as a tax.
[42:40] Payer, sometimes some of the worst stuff comes out of when you take something as complicated as that and try to try to diddle with. It, right? Yeah. No, no, I know that happens. I mean, as a citizens petition, we don’t have the right to make any changes to. Correct. Yeah, definitely. And I think and it’s also not very practical for them to make changes at this point. Right. No, no. That’s okay. That’s going to be.
[43:02] All right. So we’ll we’ll have and I appreciate all the input on this. Thank you Becky. Thank you. Board and board members here. This was um town meeting is going to be very interesting. There’s a lot of very important items and maybe only 19 articles, but there’s there’s a lot of important articles on this.
[43:15] Warren and Mark. Yep. Before this, the the most recent version of the draft warrant is going to be available now on the town website. Yeah, I’ll update it. I’ll update the packet because I know Nick had that tonight. So I’ll update the packet tomorrow and fix that in. The order. Yeah.
[43:34] Can you actually put it on the home page. So if we’re gonna have a public hearing. I, I’m gonna wait until town council hasn’t given me his edits yet. Becky and I get real nervous, but I’m meeting with just so I can. That’s. I’m glad you brought that up.
[43:49] I’m meeting with Jason. You know, I was doing that town meeting dashboard. Jason. Kara. Uh, Grace, Mike and Ashley and I are meeting Wednesday to talk about what that dashboard is going to look like. So we’ll we’ll have more information back in.
[44:06] So the the the, uh, the the website will have good town meeting information. But right now this draft is subject to town meeting. Uh, town council edits. Yeah. Still a work in progress, correct? Yeah. But I will update the packet so at least people will see that there are citizen petition articles that weren’t on the draft that I sent you. Uh, before I went on vacation. Good.
[44:27] Um. All right, so, Peter, the next thing on the agenda is I’ve asked the Conservation Commission. I’ve asked the planning board. Uh, I’ve asked a stormwater committee. I’ve asked the Board of Health to all submit letters of support for the Kyle Heron, uh, Kyle Pond Brookfield’s project.
[44:42] And I drafted a letter for the select board, and I would ask the select board tonight to approve this letter in support of the Kyle Hahn Brook project and authorize the chair to sign it so I can submit it. Pretty good. Uh, board members, any comments at all? Okay.
[44:58] All right. To entertain a motion, then authorize the chair to sign the letter. I’ll make the motion. I can. Oh, okay. I’ll second. Okay. Any discussion? All right. Roll call. Vote. Uh, fine. I Pisani I. Did get this. I can’t you hear mine. Riley I.
[45:22] Um I’m going to ask the select what I hope for the second to last time. Yeah. And I’ve been saying this for six months. I keep. Saying that. Yes, I will keep saying uh, to authorize the town manager. I remember the select board to sign warrants for the next 30 days after you take that vote. And I want to update you on.
[45:35] Well, what makes you think of the second and last time I’m. Going to give you? I’m going to. Give you something. I’m going to give you an update. All right. Um, so moon. Second, any further discussion? All in favor? Roll call. Hi, Pisani. Hi. Do you ever say Cunningham? I really.
[45:54] Like the reason I say that is it’s it’s already been engrossed in the house. So it’s been improved in the house. And it’s before the Senate. And I had an email exchange with Senator Cronin the week before I went on vacation. And he says it’s real close to being approved in the Senate.
[46:09] So, um, because he just went through all the rigamarole with the wording and everything in the House. So the Senate hopefully will speed it through. And I’m hoping within the next 30 days we’ll have an approved child. I’m hoping now I’m an optimist. I love that. Yeah. Well. I’d like to.
[46:28] Peter, with your permission, I’d like to update on a couple of on a couple of the ongoing issues. All right. I want to start out with PFAS issue. Um, we had a public hearing on August 6th in this room. Um, we had 50 people show up. Wow. Residents show up.
[46:45] We had, like, another 7 or 11 online. Every seat in this room was full. And, uh, we had another 11 or 12 people or whatever online. It was a really good meeting. Um, we answered a lot of questions. We tried to give as much information as possible.
[47:00] They raised issues that we hadn’t thought about that we need to address. Um, one of the one of the issues that we have to look at is say you’re on the, on the outskirts, and you had never tested above the for now, all of a sudden, you’ve tested above the for after the project is done because they’re still doing the testing.
[47:17] What happens? Well, we have to come up with a plan to address that. Um, so there’s, there’s things that that came up at that public hearing that were excellent. And the residents were very they were very courteous. They were congenial. They had a lot of good questions. They they understood what we’re trying to accomplish.
[47:32] Only one Dunstable resident attacked me, and it was fine because it was in Dunstable. Um, but other than that, it was it was a really good. And I want to thank the residents that came out to that meeting, because it was a really good information. It’s being replayed on the Groton Channel. Yeah. Excuse me.
[47:46] So anybody that wants to see it, please watch it. It was a really good public hearing. And I want to thank again and thank the residents. For coming out. How about the issues of lateral connections and everything. Was it going to that at all. Well that’s that’s the next phase of the project.
[47:57] And that’s going to start the first week of September. So they’re going to start doing those connections. People I mean, people understand how it’s going to how that’s. What we covered. A lot of that meeting Peter. Okay.
[48:08] And again, for those of you who miss it or are interested, you can watch the replay on the garage channel. It’s a really good Tyler. Tyler Schmidt from Apex Court did a great job. I knew what a superintendent was. Excellent.
[48:23] Okay, uh, at the meeting as well, Dan Stone was he had Jason Silva and I were here as well, along with Brian Callahan, because I was going to be doing some paving. I wonder if anybody had a question. Um, so now O’Brien did it because nobody has. A question. But we, uh, but he was here as well. So it was it was it was a really good public hearing. I’m glad we did it. Yeah.
[48:35] Good, good. Um, with regards to the fire department staffing, I spoke to chief, uh, cheeks today. We should be getting the final report. Draft report from our consultant. As soon as I get that draft report, I’m going to schedule a meeting about working group.
[48:52] Matt, uh, to go over it, to review it, and then we will schedule the chief and our consultant to come in to give a full report to the select board. But that project, we wanted it by the end of August, and it’s on track and and, uh, Jack, um, Farrell.
[49:08] Power Powell, Jack Powell, who’s a consultant who’s done a great job and Chief Cheeks is really happy with the with the data that he’s been looking at. So Matt, I’ll be in touch with you to set up a meeting and with the working group and then we’ll we’ll bring something back to the select board after that. Uh, with regards to the Main Street study. Excuse me. Becky.
[49:21] Oh I’m sorry Becky. Go ahead. Uh, I think originally when we decided to spend the money from the state on a bit of an experiment to get the, uh, data about if we actually had more people on duty all the time. Yep.
[49:45] I think the original thought was that then maybe we would bring an article to the full town meeting. Yeah, we we have the working group reevaluated that and said that would be too fast. And so they want to bring it forward for next spring. If we do anything, it’ll be next spring.
[49:59] So that was a conscious choice and decision of the working group to slow down, get as much of that as possible. There’s a lot of public outreach needs to happen. Yeah, of course, as well. We would have thought it’d been too quick to get into the full town. Item. Yeah, that was my original thought, Becky. So yeah, but no, the working group, we changed.
[50:13] No, I just wanted to make sure there wasn’t still the possibility. No. Absolutely not. Coming up? No. Okay. No. Main Street study. I am really excited about this. So MDM transportation has finished some of the preliminary designs on improvements to traffic on Main Street.
[50:31] So they’ve given the working group, uh, a draft of it. And we are meeting this Thursday. Right. We’re meeting this Thursday to go over the plans. And then once I get those, I will share them with the select board, and then I will share them with the Complete Streets Committee, because I want the Complete
[50:45] Streets Committee to hold public hearings on proposed plans to get, uh, to get public feedback so we can finalize something. There’s going to be proposals for roundabouts. There’s there’s proposals for traffic lights, there’s proposals for crosswalks. It’s a really good study. And, um, we got real lucky with MDM.
[51:05] They’re doing a great job for us. And I’m really looking forward to Thursday morning’s meeting to go over that information. Bike lane in there. There are bike lanes in there that don’t worry though. Listen to number one. They’re they’re all going to be called Cunningham Way on Main Street. Um so yes.
[51:18] Shouldn’t be bikes on there anyway. They should be down on the rail trail. It’s parallel to the main road. You know. Rail trail is in worse shape. But part of the part of the I know, but part of the whole Complete Streets idea is to be a complete street, which includes crazy people like peanut. Yeah, yeah.
[51:33] It way down Main Street. I’m kidding. Pete, I was making a joke. Um, so that’s the update on the Main Street site. So there’s a lot of good work going on. A lot of these are your goals that you set this year. And so we’re working on all of this stuff for the board.
[51:46] And I’m really happy with um, with our consultants Jack Perreault and MDM transportation consultants have been a real pleasure to work with on on these issues. And our department heads have been very engaged in these issues.
[52:04] And, um, I think things are, you know, we’re very, very busy and we’re we’re trying to get as much information to go as possible, and we’ll be starting the FY 28 budget process as this is all going on. And look at the excitement. Yeah. Uh, from Patricia. So a lot of, a lot of good things happen. So that’s all I have. Peter. All right. Very good. All right.
[52:19] Board members, we have, um, a set of a couple of minutes. One, we have a special meeting on Monday, July 16th, 2026. Oh, I have an update on that, Peter. So, uh, yeah, we should approve the minutes first. Okay. Um, so if they entertain a motion that we approve, those minutes. So second.
[52:43] All right, any further discussion? All right, all those in favor? Roll call.. Hein I. Hasani, I. Guess I can I hear my Riley? Hi. So, Peter, if I may. So when when somebody files an open meeting law complaint, the process goes before the the, uh, a party that violated potentially violate the open meaning the party acts on it, which this board did.
[53:04] We submit a response to both the complainant and the attorney general that goes in the complainant. Then after 30 days of when the board files the files, the, uh, complaint, the complainant has 90 days in which to appeal the board’s action on what they what’s actually they’re going to take to remedy the potential violation, yes or no.
[53:28] So the board took action and we submitted that letter. So they reached out to the complainant, and he wants the, um, the attorney general to further investigate the complaint.
[53:45] Now, I spoke to town council and I’m thinking to myself, well, the complaint was we didn’t put the names of the people we interviewed on the agenda. The board acknowledged that and said, we won’t do it again, and we’re going to fix that. To me, I don’t know what other remedies there are. So I called town council in two potential remedies, which probably won’t happen. Remedy one is they vacate the appointment. Oh.
[54:03] Which I don’t think will happen, and remedy two would be they’ll require the board and me to take open meeting law training. I don’t know what they’re going to do. So I just want to let you know that the attorney general now this the the the complainant has asked for further investigation by the Attorney General’s office.
[54:22] The attorney and the attorney general can decide. To do nothing. Do nothing. The attorney general could decide that the board took the proper action, which I think will be the case. I think so, and I think you know what’s interesting about this in this particular complainant is this is somebody that was, you know, he’s a professional. Yeah.
[54:38] Professional complainer, pretty much, uh, intends to, uh, you know, troll, uh, boards over meetings like this. And he’s well known. And the attorney general’s office to understand. Yeah. Hopefully handle this. But I wanted to make you aware that we may have to do open meeting on training. Yeah.
[54:57] And if they vacate the appointments on the on the on the, uh, it’s the par commission. Uh, that would vacate Jeff over his appointment. So, um, I’m hoping that doesn’t. Happen. If they vacate it, does that mean any. They just. Have to do it. We have to do the process again. So we would, but it wouldn’t be. On the agenda.
[55:16] We would publish the names. We would publish the names, and then have we make the appointment again? It’s ridiculous. But it wouldn’t vacate any action that he took during the period that he was. He was properly appointed to the park. Well, I’d say he was properly appointed.
[55:29] Right. But if they say that, who knows what you want. Yeah. I don’t think that’ll happen. Town council does not feel that will happen. But I. Just want to know. There was another one. I mean, there were two instances of not.
[55:43] Having, uh, that would take fill, uh, that would take Paul Funk off of the CPC. That was the second one. Yeah. All right. So stay tuned. All right. Then we had a minutes from our regular schedule meeting on July 27th, 2026. So we approved those meetings. Uh, you moved to approve or do we have a second? Second? Okay. Any further discussion? All those in favor? Roll call.
[56:09] Uh, fine. I Hasani, I. Hear you say. Yeah. Cunningham. I Riley a. Very good. That’s it. All right, folks, I believe that’s it. So I just got one. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah, man. Roughly 45 minutes ago, I became a grandfather. Awesome. Hey. So, what are you doing. Here? And it was. It was a lot all day process.
[56:32] I’m gonna stop by on my way home and say hi. Yeah? I finally had to go. Yeah. Everybody’s happy and healthy. For. You, girl. It’s a girl. Grace. Grace, show. Oh. Great things. All right. Excellent. All right, folks, so we. Already have it. Week.