[3:47] online. I am ready when you are, my friend.

[3:49] » I am not online yet, but I'm here. Everything's working. I hope

[3:53] » you want to wait till you get online. >> One minute.

[3:55] » No, that's all right. It we can get pulled anything up. We'll take two

[3:59] seconds from here. >> Can we go ahead?

[4:01] » Go ahead. >> Thank you.

[4:04] » Uh, good evening everybody. This is the board of selectment meeting for

[4:08] September 8th. 2026. We remind you that we're being video recorded as are you.

[4:15] Um, and we always start with a moment of appreciation for our troops serving

[4:20] around the globe, especially at the moment when we've been at war for about

[4:24] six months.

[4:29] Thank you. Uh our first appointment is uh with Ian

[4:35] Rogers, veterans agent, to present on how Medfield can become a Purple Heart

[4:39] community and request funding through the economic vitality fund if approved.

[4:44] » Oh, there he is. >> Welcome.

[4:52] » Thank you for having me. Um coming >> the first item that I have is

[4:59] uh I'm respectfully requesting that the select board consider designating

[5:03] Medfield as the official Purple Heart community through the military order of

[5:07] the Purple Heart. This designation recognizes the extraordinary sacrifices

[5:12] made by the members of the United States Armed Forces who were wounded or killed

[5:16] in action while serving our nation. Uh, becoming a Purple Heart community

[5:21] demonstrates Medfield's enduring commitment to honoring our combat

[5:25] wounded veterans and ensuring that their service and sacrifices are remembered by

[5:29] current and future generations. Um, it's a relatively simple process.

[5:35] Uh, step one would be adoption of the proclamation that I have uh, drafted up

[5:41] for you. Um, I would then submit to the military order of the Purple Heart for

[5:47] official recognition. And once we're officially recognized,

[5:52] um, we would then per purchase the Purple

[5:56] Heart community signage through the DPW. Uh, the estimated cost, which I believe

[6:01] I also provided to you, is approximately $172 per sign, including installation.

[6:09] Um, and my recommended placement at least at the very beginning would be up

[6:13] to and including both ends of 109 and both ends of 27. Um, and installation

[6:20] would be coordinated through the Department of Public Works.

[6:24] And then lastly, I think we don't want to rush anything, but if we take the

[6:30] time, we get the signs in. Um, Purple Heart Day is recognized annually

[6:36] on August 7th. So, my plan would be to uh have a Purple Heart um community

[6:44] event around August 7th every year. Uh as we know, August 7th is not always

[6:50] pleasant outside. So, I'm hoping to get an indoor facility. Um and just shoot

[6:57] for as close to August 7th as we can get. Uh luckily August 7th in 2027 is a

[7:04] Saturday. So >> uh I should be able to get um

[7:11] use of some buildings, some indoor facilities for August 7th and 2027.

[7:16] And there we would invite uh current Purple Heart recipients, um members of

[7:22] the community, town officials and representatives and just give ourselves

[7:27] um the opportunity to recognize and thank the Purple Heart recipients um in

[7:32] Medfield.

[7:37] » Okay. >> Uh Mr. Murby,

[7:41] » uh so just two questions. one. Have Have you talked to the Legion about the Is

[7:46] there any Have they expressed support or >> I have not spoken with the Legion about

[7:50] this? Um >> I'm thinking I'm assuming they probably

[7:53] would support it. So I'm I'm uh but I was just curious to know whether they

[7:58] had weighed in one way or the other on it

[8:00] » and I think that would probably be an ideal location for that that ceremony.

[8:04] » Well, that that was the next thought I had. But then on top of that, I'm

[8:08] thinking that I understand the desire to be close to Purple Heart Day, but I also

[8:14] am, you know, acutely aware of how empty this town is at the very beginning of

[8:18] August. So, I uh I actually'll be interested in how the

[8:23] two of you react to this. I'm a veteran, so I have I'm going to probably be

[8:27] supportive of it for sure. The only thing I was concerned about is whether

[8:31] depending on what that kind of a a recognition day was. And I think you're

[8:35] talking about doing it every year. >> Yes.

[8:37] » Um that's a hard time to draw people in for a meeting. Uh and it's specifically

[8:44] not a time that the Legion meets. Part of me almost was thinking, you know what

[8:48] I'm thinking back to is the Legion had a meeting about a year ago where they were

[8:53] recognizing different different veterans and and we actually had veterans come

[8:59] that were on the on the plaque and that was a regular Legion meeting so they

[9:03] could kind of make it during the year. That's the only reservation I had. Not

[9:07] that it's a bad thing to do as close to Purple Heart Day as we can make it, but

[9:11] it would be kind of a shame if either a lot of Purple Heart veterans can't make

[9:15] it because they're not in town or they all show up and nobody else is there. Uh

[9:20] to include probably some of the Legion. So I

[9:24] » So hopefully with getting this approval in early September, I'll have basically

[9:27] a year to try and find the Purple Heart recipients, see when would be the best

[9:32] time for them. I mean, I think the important thing is recognizing them, not

[9:36] so much that it's on that exact day. So, I'm definitely open to moving it to

[9:42] whenever we can get the most attendance and honor the most Purple Heart

[9:46] » receives. Let's just leave that part there to figure out down the road. And

[9:49] so, from a financial standpoint, you're asking for the town to pick up what

[9:52] looks like $684 to to at least for four the four signs

[9:57] you're recommending, which would be logical to me. There may be some other

[10:00] smart places to put signs, but before we do that, getting four up there.

[10:04] » Yep. >> I was, you know, the thing that

[10:05] surprised me, you go through towns and you'll walk through towns and go, "This

[10:09] is a Purple Heart community." And every time I do that, I go, "I wonder what

[10:12] they did to merit being a Purple Heart community." But I guess it's having

[10:17] somebody that's gotten the Purple Heart in town and being willing to buy the

[10:20] signs. >> So, yeah. And and just getting it

[10:23] approved through the select boards and [snorts] Yeah. and going through the

[10:26] official channels. >> Okay. and then just making the

[10:29] commitment to honor them every year, which I think is more than appropriate.

[10:33] » Okay, that's those are my questions. >> Murphy,

[10:37] » uh I absolutely support it and uh and I wouldn't even be opposed unless you you

[10:41] meet with some Purple Heart recipients to give the first year a shot. You never

[10:44] know, like I I do see as we creep into August, people start coming back for

[10:48] their kids for sports and whatever. Uh June, end of June and July is a ghost

[10:52] town around here. Um, so I'm not opposed if we were to do it that day, but if

[10:55] you're talking to people and they say, you know, push it more towards

[10:58] September, it's just like as we get into September, October, everyone's back in

[11:01] town. They've got soccer, they've got this, that. So it's like anywhere around

[11:05] August 7th is the closer to that, I think, the more realistic it's going to

[11:09] be. Uh, but I think it's it's a it's an honor uh that this town should certainly

[11:14] recognize. >> Thank you.

[11:17] » So, thank you for bringing this forward. I think it's a good idea. Um, I just had

[11:22] one question which is do do you know how many Purple Heart recipients we have in

[11:26] town? >> I don't know the exact number. I know we

[11:30] have at least three. Um, so definitely worth honoring even if it's

[11:37] just those three. >> Yeah.

[11:41] » Considering we're celebrating our 375, I I think we probably had a few of them

[11:44] around, right? So, >> yeah. Yeah.

[11:48] All right. Uh do we have are anything further

[11:52] » on the Purple Heart community? No. >> Okay. Do we have a motion then to

[11:57] » motion so moved? >> Second.

[11:59] » All those in favor? I I >> thank you for bringing this forward.

[12:03] Good luck with executing. >> Thank you.

[12:05] » That is number two. >> He's not item two.

[12:11] And then number two is as we had talked about in the past um I

[12:17] we the town started the hometown hero banner program. Um,

[12:22] and the one thing that I, you know, I wanted to charge a reasonable amount per

[12:27] banner to keep the banner program going, not to make money, but um, the initial

[12:33] cost that I did not want to pass along to the initial applicants is the initial

[12:39] setup cost of the $700 for the hardware for the banners to be put up onto the

[12:46] poles. So my uh second item here is to request 800 or not to exceed 800. Um I

[12:54] believe the quote is somewhere in and around 700 uh from the economic vitality

[12:59] fund just for the initial hardware cost. >> Mr. Burby. So just I think this I think

[13:07] this is a rhetorical question. Uh because this is the start of the fiscal

[13:10] year. I assume we have a combined $1600 in the economic fatality fund to support

[13:15] both of these. Okay. Just uh good discipline to make sure we haven't

[13:19] already over spent our our budget. >> Yeah. I I think it's a good idea.

[13:23] » Yeah. No, I absolutely support it. We've gone this far. Why would we hold back,

[13:26] right? I mean, so thank you again. >> Thank you.

[13:29] » I'm in favor of doing this, too. Um do we have a motion then?

[13:32] » We do. Motion so moved. >> Second.

[13:34] » All those in favor? I >> thanks very much, Ian. Appreciate you

[13:38] coming in tonight. >> We got one more to do. Part of that is

[13:40] just authoriz whether

[13:44] » so in order in order to um do the hometown hero banners on utility pools

[13:48] we need to sign agreements with both Eversource and Verizon. So we don't have

[13:53] those fully prepared for them yet. But if you want to authorize me to sign them

[13:57] » Sure. Yeah. Do we have a motion to that effect?

[13:59] » Uh motion to authorize the town administrator to sign the agreements

[14:02] with Eversource and Verizon to utilize the utility polls for the hometown hero

[14:06] banner program. >> Second. All those in favor?

[14:09] » I. >> Okay. Our third appointment is with

[14:13] Deborah Herurwitz. Requests permission to display an outdoor electric manora

[14:18] approximately 6 to9 ft tall at Baxter Park during Hanukkah this winter,

[14:22] December uh 14 to 22nd, along with a brief public

[14:27] lighting celebration on one evening of the holiday and further to make this an

[14:32] annual event. Is Deborah here? >> Thank you for coming.

[14:44] moral support. Um, to be fair, I didn't know that I was

[14:48] going to be coming up and speaking. So, I sent that letter in and as you read

[14:52] it, I'm recognizing that the dates are actually incorrect. So, um, it would be

[14:56] December 5th is the first night, the 12th is the last night.

[14:59] » Okay. >> Um, that's subject to every year. It

[15:03] does shift within the calendar year. Um, but just, you know, I think that I've

[15:07] been on the Festival of Lights committee for the past few years and we've been

[15:10] recognizing um, Hanukkah with teaming up with Parks and Rex. Um, and we've been

[15:15] using the COA as our location and I think just uh, to increase awareness and

[15:22] make Medfield all that community that we're hoping for and we know it is. Um,

[15:26] displaying a Monora in Baxter Park would be creating that inclusive environment

[15:31] for all people. Um I think there's a lot of information

[15:35] in the letter that I sent you. Um we would be fundraising for the manora

[15:40] ourselves. Um so we're not asking for anything. We're just ask well we're not

[15:44] asking for funding we're asking for the permission um to display that manura and

[15:49] then also um to have a one night event that we would instead of the festival of

[15:55] lights still continue the work with parks and wrecks but the location would

[15:59] shift to Baxter Park.

[16:03] Okay. Thank you, Mr. Murphy. So, so, >> so I have the letter. So, I have a

[16:07] number of comments. Uh, first off, I like the idea. Uh, but I want to broaden

[16:13] the idea and, and I think the three of us actually have a policy issue around

[16:18] how we want to approach the use of Back. We, the select board, now has care,

[16:23] custody, and control Baxter Park. So, parks and recck may be teaming with you

[16:28] for an event, but we kind of I just want to make sure you knew that that had

[16:31] changed. And I'm glad that Russ is here because uh part of my comments have to

[16:37] do with the fact that the events that take place over what I'll call the

[16:41] holiday season memo has the lead responsibility on that. So, my the

[16:45] issues I have around policy aren't about the idea. I actually like the idea. And

[16:49] I'm not sure if the reason I like the idea is exactly what you said, but it

[16:53] might be. Uh over the years the holiday season in my

[17:01] view has been gutted of much of its religious significance and it's kind of

[17:08] like we all in in government say oh it absolutely has to it's just a holiday

[17:12] and it's and and it becomes I think back to when I was a kid and the things that

[17:16] happened then and the impact it had on me and continues to have on me

[17:20] throughout my life around how I look at things and I look sometimes that what we

[17:24] have in our society today and some of the some of the despair and I can't help

[17:29] but think part of that is because we don't have the messages for for kids

[17:35] that we had when I was a kid. It's hard for government to step in because we

[17:39] have rules about separation church and state. But the difference is between my

[17:43] view is there is a difference between government promoting a religion and

[17:48] government enabling religion. And I'm not talking a

[17:52] religion. I'm talking about religious recognition this holiday season. That's

[17:56] what that that's where that came from. The roots are all there if you don't cut

[18:00] the roots off. It's hard and and Mark, I'll invite you to join and push in

[18:05] anything legal here if I'm going way too far out. But having finding a way for a

[18:10] town like us to allow the recognition of the religious and faith I'm not only see

[18:16] religious I'll say faith dimensions of this season I think is a good thing for

[18:22] us to do. So from my view, I started to think about, well, what would Baxter

[18:28] Park look like if we actually had a more liberal policy about what groups could

[18:35] do during the holiday season to make Baxter Park even better than Baxter Park

[18:41] normally is? And I said, and I Yes, Manoras, the one that had went over the

[18:46] road was one of the best things on that whole thing last year because it lit up

[18:50] and it flashed and it did all sorts of stuff. Uh but imagine the whole park

[18:55] having more of that and undoubtedly from a broader set of of perspectives.

[19:01] But the com my words and this is just a draft. My words as long as what we're

[19:06] doing in Baxter Park promotes the thought of peace on earth and goodwill

[19:11] to all and that. So I'm absolutely on board with the idea. I would like to see

[19:18] us figure out how to do that. I have a I drafted and this is absolutely a draft.

[19:24] I drafted some guidelines around how I would how I would approach it and this

[19:28] came off the top of my head and for starters the very first one is

[19:32] recognizing that memo has is the primary sponsor principal sponsor of what goes

[19:39] on at Baxter Park and what goes on during what I'm calling a holiday

[19:43] season. Uh, so I was reluctant to put us in the position of making specific

[19:52] decisions about what particular, you know, displays could go in, where those

[19:58] displays might be. And I'm talking about from a purely logistical standpoint. I

[20:02] would actually defer given the role that Memo plays as the principal sponsor of

[20:08] what goes on there for the better part of a month or more that Memo be the

[20:13] principal coordinator for that with the understanding that if if it becomes more

[20:19] than a logistical question oh we'll put you here oh you need that much room

[20:22] you'll give that to you and we can figure out how to make it work in the

[20:25] context of everything else if it's if it's not that kind of a thing it's like

[20:29] I'm not sure that your display is the right kind of display then it probably

[20:33] kicks up to us. >> Yes.

[20:34] » But otherwise it's sort of we recognize the principal role that memo plays. We

[20:40] reinforce the notion that you have that principal coordination role. We adopt a

[20:45] policy that says but we want to encourage that. Uh and and again I I

[20:50] haven't thought I'll tell you what I'll briefly tell you what my five things are

[20:53] because I only brought five copies of this and I did not intend it to be

[20:57] final. So, the first one had to do with we are we're introducing this on a trial

[21:02] basis. You asked it to be permanent. I'm saying, well, I I want it to be

[21:06] permanent, but I'd like to know that we know what we're doing before we commit

[21:10] to permanent. So, I'm suggesting it's a trial basis. Memo is the principal

[21:14] coordinator and we defer to that. Uh, all accepted displays support. It

[21:20] doesn't have to be these words, but I'm saying peace on earth, goodwill to all

[21:23] or something that captures the essence of the holiday season. Uh, we have to

[21:29] figure out, we have a couple things that we probably have to figure out in other

[21:32] in terms of what the holiday season is. I kind of random, not randomly, but I

[21:37] took a crack said from the 1st of December to the 6th of January. Uh, and

[21:43] what I wanted to check with is actually what first thing I'd look at is what are

[21:48] the dates that the town puts up the lights and what are the dates the town

[21:51] takes down the lights. And that would >> Yeah. So, I mean, I picked the 1st of

[21:58] December just because it was the 1 of December. I picked the sixth because

[22:00] it's epiphany and I don't think there's any major things I'm aware of that go

[22:05] beyond those bounds. And I think that's about what happens with the DPW. If you

[22:10] wanted to put a display up only for a portion of the time, you could. Uh the

[22:15] 1st of December certainly encompassed the 5th of December, so I knew I was

[22:19] starting early enough on that. Uh if you didn't want to leave it up, okay, but I

[22:24] would think probably a lot of people would even if there's a principal time

[22:27] that it's significant. So, you know, okay. Uh if if the day of

[22:32] the normal major lighting of everything is not good enough to have the lighting

[22:38] of the manure, then heck, have a have another day. Yeah, it's going to be

[22:41] coordinated just to make sure that but great. If we have more events at Baxter

[22:45] Park, why not? Why? If we can do more over the

[22:49] course of the month, that's great. Um I I did make one thing one I do have one

[22:55] thing that I think you'd be able to do. I think requests for these displays

[23:01] should be submitted by a sponsoring organization. Now, obviously, religious

[23:06] institutions are going to be an easy one for some of it. I'm not saying some sort

[23:10] of a longestablished large organization. What I'm getting at is that from the

[23:15] standpoint of the town knowing who to hold responsible for what happens with

[23:20] the display, it's probably not us trying to chase down individuals who happen to

[23:26] be the one person out of 20 people who kind of got together one day. It's just

[23:31] have an identity that's the sponsor. Uh I don't think that's a scary

[23:36] responsibility. It's just it helps reinforce accountability. Uh so those

[23:42] are the five things I had. I I more than happy to share more. In fact, you can

[23:46] take one if you want. Uh and it's a draft. It's not intended as I'm not even

[23:52] I just tried to figure it out. >> And uh I'll send those to you too if you

[23:56] want to see it and one for you. And I have yet one more that I'll stick there.

[24:01] Uh >> anything else?

[24:04] » Now that I've now that I've given Russ everything he's going to need to do, I

[24:06] think he wants to react. >> He's got to take his turn. We're going

[24:09] to we're going to do the select board first. We'll get to you then later.

[24:12] Okay. >> Okay.

[24:13] » Are you done? >> I'm done. I'm done.

[24:14] » I won't be as long as him. Um I when I saw your requests immediately in my head

[24:20] I'm like the schools recognized the Jewish holidays, right? And then when I

[24:23] went to high school, they didn't. So I was like I was thrilled when I saw

[24:25] Medfield started doing that. So to have that inclusion in the center of town is

[24:30] a no-brainer. Um, so I appreciate the level of detail that you put into this

[24:34] Gus and I certainly we can review this, but I think in the spirit of um,

[24:37] absolutely it it it's talk about bringing the community closer together

[24:41] because I was at the the lighting the celebration of lights last year at the

[24:45] senior center and there was a lot of people there and I like wow like they're

[24:49] kind of like your and my my brother-in-law is Jewish, my niece and

[24:52] nephew were raised Jewish. Like I would much prefer to have that celebration

[24:55] with all the other kids in town than just have it set off to the side. Right.

[24:59] So, that was the first thing I thought of when I saw your letter. Um, I don't

[25:02] disagree with the whole concept of memo. If if you're looking to have it in a

[25:06] area that we already have activity, um, it's almost like with what's going on

[25:10] right now at the 375th parade, anybody that wants to be doing anything, we're

[25:14] deferring them to the committee just so that we're not tripping over one

[25:17] another. So, I think that's more out of respect that we don't want to have two

[25:21] parallel activities going on. Um, so if if Russ's group is is open to that,

[25:27] great. The one thing I would be 100% against is if they said no, we don't

[25:30] want them there because then it's like getting territorial and that would

[25:33] bother me greatly because that's I look at it as it's the community park. So I

[25:37] want to make sure that no one has authority to say no. But they may be

[25:40] saying well we this has already been set aside for the dance class thing that

[25:44] goes on. So we wouldn't want to put you in a certain area. Um but you know in a

[25:48] nutshell I absolutely support it.

[25:53] » Mr. Sell. >> All right. So I don't obviously park and

[25:57] rec control what they've done in the past in

[26:01] the past you have care custom control and it's ultimately your responsibility

[26:07] you want them to attempt to work it out that's fine but you have the ultimate

[26:14] authority

[26:20] » the potential for other requests so it's just going to be something else that

[26:24] you're going to have to deal Well, I I assume there at least over time there

[26:28] probably will be some other requests. Uh, and I think this is a case where

[26:35] hearing different traditions from different

[26:38] people who actually or different groups of people that have a connection with

[26:43] this broad thing I'm calling the holiday season is a good thing.

[26:46] » And Baxter Park is kind of a big park. So, I think we could probably figure it

[26:51] out. So, um, I'm an attorney and I don't

[26:56] always know the answers, the legal answers, but I I can spot issues. And

[27:01] so, for me, where my brain went, oops, religion, government, that's an issue.

[27:07] Um, and so I checked and sure enough, um, there's the establishment clause,

[27:12] which apparently says that that, uh, government's not allowed to establish

[27:17] religious things. And there actually is a 1989

[27:21] Supreme Court case about manoras in public property. Um, and they upheld the

[27:28] uh right of the town to have a manora on public property in I think it was in

[27:34] Pittsburgh. And it was very interesting in that case because there was another

[27:38] request for a crush and the Supreme Court said the crush could not be on

[27:43] public property because it was a religious symbol and they said the

[27:47] manura was not primarily a religious symbol and so um

[27:53] » I can I do you mind if I interrupt for one second? um on Zoom somewhere is one

[27:58] of the Habad representatives that we've been working with and she informed me

[28:01] which I didn't know that the Manura actually represents freedom and is not

[28:05] connected originally to any religious and I if she's on and could speak to

[28:11] what is her name >> um Roshi Ro hy

[28:16] um I don't know how to say I don't know she want to present she want to talk to

[28:21] us we didn't we didn't >> it's RMK Maybe

[28:25] » the only R one is RMK. >> It probably is then. I can go double

[28:30] check on my phone. I don't have her last name on my brain, but

[28:34] » So, it was it was very informative to me to to spend a little time looking into

[28:38] it and figuring out that uh it is an issue, but that the Supreme Court has

[28:43] said that manurs are are fine. And so and I know that in the past I had

[28:48] wondered because I in my m brain I think of them as religion related. So um I was

[28:56] » so I Google too. I [laughter] googled specifically in the state of

[28:58] Massachusetts and I googled specifically what the scenario is and as long as we

[29:02] are not funding anything we are not that's why as you put in your letter all

[29:06] the surrounding communities. If we said if you came to us and said could you

[29:09] cover the 2500 that's where we get into hot water. But as long as your

[29:13] organization brings it forth and we're just saying it's public property, to the

[29:16] best of my knowledge, we are not. >> Yeah. And a lot of the surrounding towns

[29:21] have um a similar display >> either in right in front of town hall or

[29:26] some other, you know, a local park, some prominent place around town. Um and

[29:30] Kabad helps out with organizing setting up physically setting up the actual

[29:35] monora and maintaining it and um putting together or helping put together like

[29:40] just a little celebration kind of akin to what has to do

[29:45] » and again my interest is to make sure that all traditions can be can get that

[29:50] down. So I I we we may have to if there's fine lines between something

[29:55] that is religious and isn't to me the courts and I'm not a lawyer but there's

[30:01] a difference between establishing government establishing a religion and

[30:07] government suppressing religion and we we have to

[30:12] try to figure out how to thread the needle maybe but the whole point is to

[30:16] be able to broaden that. I mean is is Quanza religious? I mean I'm I'm talking

[30:21] about I want all of that stuff >> by people who care about they want you

[30:25] know they have something Mark >> in previous years there's been um a

[30:29] large manora and a canara which is representative of Kwanza um in front of

[30:34] Park Street Books. One year we tried to do it in front of the library but it was

[30:38] too tippy. We have done in front of Park Street Books the past couple years. Um

[30:42] by we I mean just a couple people who have been looking to help out. Um but

[30:47] yeah so the the the want is there the desire is there for representation and I

[30:52] think this is a great first step for >> for everybody

[30:56] said in 1989 was that >> quote particular physical setting close

[31:02] quote was the really determinative factor for them and in that case the the

[31:07] manura was next to a a Christmas tree signing

[31:13] liberty yes Mr. it.

[31:16] » So, I am an attorney. I have dealt with these issues. They're very complex.

[31:22] There aren't not necessarily answers. There's more gray areas than there are.

[31:28] Uh however on the one extreme was the case out of uh uh Lexington

[31:37] where they basically uh shut down everything nothing because

[31:42] they they originally were allowed but it got so crazy they said okay nobody and

[31:48] the uh Knights of Columbus sued the town and that was upheld. So the starting

[31:54] point is if you if you don't allow anybody as with other situations we've

[31:58] discussed that's the cleanest situation. Now we've already we allow memo. They

[32:05] they put up uh lights. They also put up uh they're not all just lights. They're

[32:13] they're representations of various symbols and all. So we've opened it up

[32:18] to some degree. Uh so uh the there is you know as far as

[32:25] I'm concerned you're probably in a stronger legal position to permit it

[32:30] than not. Again also because virtually all the surrounding towns uh have been

[32:37] doing it for some time. Franklin included Medway, Hollist, Walpool,

[32:44] » Milis, you name it. So, uh, you know, it's ultimately your decision,

[32:52] but, uh, as I said, I I think there's already some,

[32:58] um, recognition of the holiday season that's been permitted. And so now, so

[33:04] it's not coming onto a fresh initial where nothing's been done before.

[33:10] basically that that 89 Supreme Court decision decided that it was a a

[33:15] celebration of the holiday season. >> Hopefully 40 years later we're good.

[33:20] » Oh, with the makeup of the courts right now that there's no question in my mind

[33:24] they'll support

[33:29] » celebrations >> an okay thing in schools I think. um

[33:37] » check with us. >> Let's see. We we do have Mr. uh Hales

[33:42] that wants to >> So, yeah, before I got too far along, I

[33:46] was going to say >> I can't speak. Is this on?

[33:49] » Yeah, you it doesn't echo for you. It helps people at home.

[33:51] » Oh, okay. Um I can't speak for memo on the spot here.

[33:56] I'm only one of a group of board. We have a board meeting on the 10th uh come

[34:02] uh coming up. Um, but I don't see why we wouldn't welcome being your sponsor for

[34:11] this. It's it fits very much like a hand and a glove for what we do. Um, and to

[34:18] be part of uh the planning of this with both parties together makes total sense.

[34:26] Um, we do have a manora hanging in the as a silhouette in the middle of the

[34:31] park. It had also been hung uh across the street for a number of years. Um

[34:40] so uh then the question is where is the best place to put it and I think it

[34:46] makes sense for both of us to contribute to that decision. Um it needs to be

[34:53] plugged in and so that's another factor uh on this. Uh I just want to get

[34:59] clarity. You were saying that you this is this particular year it's 5 to 12 is

[35:05] the holiday. >> Yes.

[35:07] » And you were considering having some sort of a presentation or

[35:12] » something going on on one of those days >> ideally. Yes.

[35:16] » So between the fifth and because on the I'll be asking for the Joy to the World

[35:21] concert uh to be on the fourth. So that wouldn't be a conflict. Uh we have a

[35:28] parade on the 5th and and that's it. So we w I think we would welcome

[35:34] having them be part of our group in the planning of this whatever year you want

[35:40] to be. >> So I just want to react to what you just

[35:43] said very to the words you said we'd be happy to be your sponsor and I'd said

[35:47] » you had said you were looking for a sp >> Yeah. And that's why that's why I'm

[35:50] making a distinction here. I'm saying that anybody who comes with a request

[35:55] should be that request should come from a sponsoring organization. So you

[36:00] shouldn't be the sponsor of this group's sponsoring organization. You're the

[36:04] princip memo is the principal sponsor of the entire season. All of the

[36:10] collaboration that you're talking about is exactly what I would hope would

[36:13] happen. But I would still hope that you could get and it's not because I'm

[36:17] worried about you. Actually, it's to your point if Lexington had stuff all

[36:20] over the place. If we have this thing open to where any individual can come in

[36:24] and say, "I got a display I want." That's how we're going to get to chaos.

[36:28] If we basically require groups to come in with sponsors and who will then work

[36:34] with with [snorts] memo, that's what I'm hoping for. And I'm

[36:38] hoping that would keep it under some degree of manageable chaos. This this

[36:42] year it might be real easy. It might just be you guys. But if this takes hold

[36:46] and people have time to think about it, I think we would see more over the

[36:50] coming years. So, uh, part of part part of me is saying Russ, you don't have to

[36:55] have everybody that wants to make a display be a member of me memo or be on

[36:59] the committee. It would be if you want them on that's fine, but it would be I

[37:04] didn't want to throw all that at you that you have to manage everything. It

[37:07] was that a matter if they came really well. Why was it I don't want to

[37:11] undercut your undercut memo by us making decisions here about what's going to

[37:16] happen when you're the guys that are actually driving the whole truck. We

[37:20] want you to be driving the whole train. >> So, a couple of thoughts. Um number one,

[37:26] uh I think it it makes absolute sense that you coordinate with memo. Um and

[37:31] I'm sure you guys can and Memo can do that. Uh the second one is I think

[37:35] asking it to be a a permanent event is not the right thing. I think that memo

[37:41] comes back every year and asks for permission. So I think uh permission a

[37:45] year at a time is probably the better the better course for the town to take

[37:49] instead of creating some sort of permanent thing. Um

[37:54] yes, Mr. Sell, you only you don't have authority for

[37:59] multi-year. you can't find a future select board. So

[38:04] » in addition to which we don't have authority apparently [laughter]

[38:07] » I think just because there would be a big financial obligation that we're

[38:10] taking on with fundraising. >> Yeah. So we want to know that this is

[38:14] some or hope that this is something that we can do year after year but we

[38:17] understand that >> and my last thing is I don't Mr. Murby

[38:21] cares about us sponsoring organization. I I care less about that. I mean I think

[38:26] that if a group of citizens are willing to do it that's fine. and that's all

[38:30] that's needed. So, >> so Pete, I think that's a policy

[38:33] decision we have to make as a select board to set the guidelines. So, I

[38:37] appreciate your opinion. You've heard mine. We haven't done what we need to

[38:41] do. >> Yep. We don't have a policy on this yet.

[38:44] » Okay. >> And this something that the audience

[38:46] will want to speak about. >> Say again.

[38:48] » You're you're good. >> Okay.

[38:54] » Anything anything further or >> That's it. Unless you have any more

[38:57] questions or We have a motion.

[39:00] » Yes. Motion to Yeah. Motion moved. So moved.

[39:03] » No, no, because >> Oh, we have to clarify. Okay.

[39:05] » Went beyond the first year. >> Just a motion to authorize them for this

[39:09] year. >> Oh, right, right, right. Yep. Yep. Yep.

[39:12] Good catch. Um, so motion >> subject to guidelines of the policies

[39:16] that we set. Still got work to do. >> So that would mean just every year we'd

[39:19] have to come back in front of the select board and do the same thing. Okay.

[39:22] » Yeah. And everyone does it for different events to to Mark's point that

[39:25] » email me. >> Okay. We we can't tell every future.

[39:28] Yeah. >> Well, to the

[39:30] » we can't commit future board members to our decision.

[39:32] » To the extent that the cost of this was was driving, please tell us we're going

[39:36] to be able to use it for more than one year. I hope what you've heard from us

[39:39] is our sentiment is that's what we want to see. We just need to kind of work our

[39:44] way into exactly how this works. >> Okay. Thank you. And just to clarify, I

[39:49] believe the manora we're request is solar um driven. So would not need to

[39:55] be plugged in. But even better. I love that.

[39:58] » I think you have somebody like

[40:03] » you have someone that has their hand raised.

[40:07] » Would you like me to is the rabbi? Do you want

[40:10] » No, I think they're two different people.

[40:14] You okay with her putting something up to speak?

[40:17] » They they're asking, "Do you want Someone's asking to speak?"

[40:20] » Oh, well, sure. Yeah, let them speak.

[40:27] Hi. Um I am the wife. We are responsible of all

[40:39] including village

[40:44] north.

[40:47] Um and um we do celebrations every year at a different

[40:53] And um just to give a little perspective, the way we dealt with all

[40:58] the towns is a lot of the town actually purchased the monora like Franken

[41:06] I think um Milis actually bought the monora the town bought the monora and uh

[41:12] puts it up every year and stores it and it's basically considered just like all

[41:17] the holiday decorations. um it gets put up by the town and gets

[41:21] put down by the town. So all the other monoras uh also gets Franklin we donated

[41:27] the minor to them and they store it and they put it up and every year I just um

[41:33] send paperwork for request but I don't have to go to the town and um ask every

[41:39] year for the you know if they would approve it. It's just paperwork that

[41:45] gets done every year and um it's been wonderful and we really been seeing a

[41:50] lot of inclusion and the town usually comes and a lot of

[41:56] town officials come and speak at at the minor lighting and it's been a great

[42:00] experience.

[42:03] » So I just wanted to put it out there maybe if we have you see the first year

[42:07] how it worked out maybe instead of coming up every year to ask for

[42:11] permission maybe maybe uh paperwork uh just like one of the application could

[42:17] be put um and could be sent in a year. >> A a lot of the things that we do are

[42:23] done on paperwork. People don't always have to show up. It's helpful the first

[42:27] time we do things that people show up to explain it and answer questions. But

[42:32] this is the sort of thing that would just get typically approved probably in

[42:35] subsequent years.

[42:39] the the the >> the logistic side of this I again

[42:44] speaking just personally I don't think the t I don't think it's a good idea for

[42:49] this town to get involved in buying holiday decorations storing holiday

[42:54] decorations uh because if what we're talking about

[42:58] here is opening this up this is not a matter of buying one decoration this and

[43:02] we don't we don't store I think memo memo is fully aware of how the challenge

[43:08] how challenging it can to store and maintain holiday decorations, but the

[43:12] the town has deliberately stayed out of that. I would actually think that if

[43:16] there's issues around separation in church and state, those issues would be

[43:20] compounded issue, >> right? Then we could make it an issue

[43:24] and then we could get in trouble. So I I my as a policy I don't think at least

[43:28] speaking personally I would want us to get into that business in any way shape

[43:32] or form both because it's a precedent for anybody else that wants to do

[43:36] something if we're talking about doing things the way we're doing it and

[43:39] because I think that does put us in legal jeopardy

[43:43] » anything like give an idea for the town of Medway they have the holiday

[43:50] celebrations right the tree all the lighting and then they have that they

[43:55] store and they also store a Quanza which the town actually bought a Quanza uh

[44:00] thing and what I think is just like the town stores all the holiday decorations

[44:06] which is Christmas decorations really what what does the town want to store

[44:11] » we don't we do not >> we don't you guys are like don't ruin it

[44:15] right like >> yeah no I I think at the end of the day

[44:18] like we we were very comfortable accepting the responsibility to fund

[44:22] raise um I think we have enough people in our community that would support a

[44:26] couple dollars towards a manora. So, I don't think that that's the I don't we

[44:30] don't want that to be the reason. And as far as storage goes, I think plenty of

[44:35] us have a basement. I know we this manora collapses down to minimal size.

[44:39] So, I think we're we're comfortable with taking that on.

[44:41] There there's another reason in my again my mind is that if if a town is

[44:47] dependent on a government to do stuff and that's the only way we get it done.

[44:52] The town buys it, the town stores it, the town decides how to do it. Something

[44:56] like this should be something that gives people who care the leeway to do things

[45:02] the way that they would like to do them. couple years ago when we had all the old

[45:07] lights, the question was, "Well, gee, we think the town should go and replace all

[45:09] the lights." And we basically said, "No, we're not we're not getting into the

[45:13] decoration business, we we're strapped enough as it is paying for the things

[45:17] that are essential." So, uh, for me, at least philosophically, there's another

[45:21] piece piece of this that says sometimes I'm I have a libertarian tendency here.

[45:26] The government ought to stay out of people's lives when it comes to things

[45:29] that people do because they want to do it. Let them have the room to do it. If

[45:33] you can support them, if you can't support them, stay out of their way.

[45:37] But, but if you can support them and make it a little easier for them to do

[45:40] it, give them the ability to do what they see fit. And that's how I look at

[45:44] it at least. >> So, motion,

[45:47] » tell me if I'm going to read the [laughter] Please go ahead.

[45:49] » Uh, all right. Uh, so motion to permit permission per uh permit

[45:56] a display of an outdoor electric monora in Baxter Park during Hanukkah this

[46:00] winter. um along the brief public lighting celebration on the evening of

[46:05] the holiday and further um pending and Gus can help me pending approval of the

[46:10] policy guidelines. >> Pend pending compliance with the policy

[46:13] guidelines set by the select board and in coordination with memo.

[46:18] » Okay. >> Before you do that, can I ask a

[46:21] question? >> Grab the mic if you wouldn't mind just

[46:24] so people at home can hear you. >> And if you can speak louder, I couldn't

[46:26] hear you. Sure, my voice is gone. But um the holiday is eight nights. Um is this

[46:33] is what you're reading does it preclude someone or a group of people for light

[46:40] from lighting the minora each of those eight nights?

[46:45] » I think that's what they typically do when the others

[46:48] » I'm fine with that. >> It's electric light, right? You're

[46:51] really not lighting it. So you're just flipping the switch. Yeah. All right.

[46:53] [laughter] All right. No firesation on one night and then

[46:56] » fire department go and

[46:59] » we're not letting >> Yeah, I think that that Yeah,

[47:02] » just wanted to check. Thank you. >> Actually, another thought occurred to

[47:07] me. So, our lights are on a timer. They go on at 4:30 and they go off around 1.

[47:15] How are you You're not going to have your manure on all night, are you?

[47:19] » She said they're solar. >> Solar.

[47:21] » I believe it's solar driven. Don't solar items stay on longer than the sun.

[47:27] » It probably have a light sensor on it as well? I don't know if

[47:31] » And there are multiple options. They're different. Um,

[47:33] » well, 4:30 is when sun goes down. It >> you're not going to want this to go off

[47:38] at 4:30. My thought. >> No.

[47:41] » Anyway, there should be consideration as to when this is going to be on and off.

[47:46] Y >> and how you're going to flip the switch.

[47:48] » Okay. >> My only thought. you're buying it in

[47:51] 2026. There's got to be an app. >> Yeah, [laughter] I'm sure. Yeah.

[47:54] » You said it's being done in multiple communities. There's all kinds of

[47:58] resources. >> Yeah, we're good.

[48:00] » All right. So, we'll give that motion. >> Yep. Second.

[48:03] » All those in favor? >> I

[48:05] thank you. >> Thank you very much.

[48:07] » Appreciate you doing it. Our

[48:12] next appointment is with Rob Quinn, facilities director, and Ben Jackovitz,

[48:18] project and procurement manager, to request the following vote to sign the

[48:21] investment grade audit agreement with energy efficient investments, Inc. for

[48:27] project development services to identify economically feasible energy

[48:30] conservation measures. B. He vote to sign Green Community Standard

[48:34] Commonwealth contract for $212,537 to fund energy conservation measures,

[48:41] hybrid rooftop, heat unit, pump unit, heat pump, and roof insulation and

[48:47] ceiling and municipal facilities, including high school. C. Vote to

[48:51] authorize a six-year contract with Vadar Systems for tax collection software in

[48:57] the amount of $177,14. Annual cost of the contract is

[49:02] $28,452.32.

[49:05] Welcome and thank you for coming. Thank you for pursuing all of this too.

[49:09] » Thanks for [clears throat] having us. Uh so you want to start with the first one,

[49:12] I take it, the audit. So >> [clears throat]

[49:14] » uh we've been working on this for a few months now. Um the process was we did an

[49:19] RFQ um for uh energy management services. We received a handful of bids,

[49:26] review of those bid documents, and we [clears throat] determined after

[49:29] reviewing the bid documents that EI would best serve the town. So, with that

[49:35] being said, uh the next step in that process is this contract that's in front

[49:40] of you. um that would allow EI to do a full audit of each building

[49:46] independently in each building um and present that audit to the town with

[49:53] multiple projects independent projects in each building u with the goal of

[49:57] saving energy and upgrading [clears throat] equipment. Each project

[50:00] would be reviewed independently um and independent contracts will be

[50:06] signed to move forward on each project. I would just add that the audit is uh

[50:12] with this particular company is uh no charge. So essentially they would be

[50:18] doing a high level audit of every building you know with utility

[50:24] incentives and uh energy savings identified that would allow us to you

[50:30] know decide if the projects that they identify are worth doing or not.

[50:35] That's good. >> The other value of the audit for myself

[50:39] is um it's going to help us build a roadmap for our 20-year capital plan.

[50:43] We'll see a handful of projects. We'll see uh budgets thrown out over the next,

[50:47] you know, 10 to 12 years, figure out which projects we want to slate, which

[50:51] projects we want to move forward, and it'll also help us with green community

[50:54] submittals. [clears throat]

[50:58] » Okay. Thank you. Um Mr. Ricky, >> so these guys know what generally what

[51:03] I'm going to say. I've spent about two and a half hours with them going over

[51:06] this one particular contract and I'm going to make a few editorial comments.

[51:09] I I endorse recommend we approve it. So my position is that we should approve

[51:14] it, but it took me two and a half hours and two different conversations to

[51:18] satisfy myself on a couple things. Three. Well, I was [laughter]

[51:22] » I don't want to make it sound that bad, but yeah, it was probably three. The um

[51:26] the issue here, so as you just heard this audit, this company is doing it for

[51:30] free. There are terms in the contract that relate to what this downstream work

[51:36] will be if they get it. And so, as I I commented to the two of them, there's

[51:42] for me there's an issue around good faith contracting. Uh if you were to

[51:46] just say, "Oh, they're going to do this for free. We'll get that and then we'll

[51:48] just kick them out the door." There's an issue of this is on pure ethical

[51:52] grounds, good faith contracting. and potentially if they were like a

[51:57] fraudulent pre-notion that we weren't going to use them, there's probably even

[52:01] legal bad faith contracting. That's not what's happening here. I'm satisfied

[52:05] that's not what's happening here. Uh I don't like in principle, I don't like

[52:11] negotiating a contract for this piece of work that contains terms and conditions

[52:16] for what the follow-on work is going to look like because you're in that that's

[52:20] the weakest position you could be in to negotiate. Having said all that, Rob

[52:24] sent me the other two biders. Uh, and part of why they bid that way is because

[52:29] that was the format that the RFP called for. Uh, and in fact, I am convinced

[52:34] that this particular company of the three biders, they all did something

[52:37] very very similar in terms of in fact the third bidder did was worse on cost.

[52:43] I can't see how it wouldn't have been far worse. It was we're going to charge

[52:45] you for the audit. We're going to charge you more as our markup on the projects.

[52:50] So I I am satisfied that this we basically we got three bids and they

[52:55] were comparable bids and this was the only company that said we'll do the

[52:58] audit for free but their markup was at least in line with the other two uh and

[53:05] it was definitely better than one of them. So I'm holding my nose on the

[53:09] stuff I don't like about contract management uh and think we should

[53:14] approve this. >> Okay. Anything further

[53:18] » from myself? No, that's it. You're all set.

[53:22] » No, I'm good. I read through it. I understand what you guys are up against.

[53:25] I love the fact that it's going to help us sitting on the budget, the the

[53:28] capital budget. We have some challenging years ahead. So, I appreciate this.

[53:35] » I think you actually have a comment to speak.

[53:39] » Okay, >> go ahead.

[53:43] » Yeah. Hi, good evening 24 Marlin Road. Um, thank you so much to to to to Rob

[53:50] and the facilitative department for taking this on. I'm thrilled to see that

[53:56] the town is looking to uh work on energy efficiency in in our buildings. Um my

[54:04] first question relates to you know the audit you said it was a high level audit

[54:10] on energy usage, energy efficiency and utility incentives. Um, how is this

[54:18] different from the audit that was done uh what a year and a half ago or two

[54:22] years ago uh where we looked at the energy efficiency and the sort of

[54:28] potential costs of upgrading buildings. Um

[54:33] » I think that I believe that this audit's going to dig much deeper. Uh I believe

[54:37] that the audit that was done a year ago, we'll call it was more of an overview.

[54:42] This is going to be job specific. um much more in depth directly in get

[54:49] directly contact the utilities directly chase grants show the town how they can

[54:54] save energy on these maybe electrification who knows but at the end

[54:57] of the day it's going to be a much deeper dive than the audit we received

[55:00] in the past >> that that is fantastic I'm I'm very

[55:04] happy to hear that the other question I have um and that's something that the

[55:09] energy committee has has sort of talked about for for many years is the the um

[55:15] sort of calibration of existing equipment and then energy savings that

[55:20] could be done by adjusting uh efficiency of existing equipment of um educating um

[55:28] you know personnel even the users of a building on how to to use the equipment

[55:34] efficiency efficiently so we don't have heating to 80 degrees and windows open

[55:40] in the winter and that sort of thing. Um does that audit some of these questions

[55:45] as well. >> They'll address all those questions.

[55:49] » Fantastic. Thank you to both of you and to the

[55:53] department for um pursuing this. >> Thanks, Ellie.

[55:59] » You want a motion on that individual item?

[56:02] » I'm sorry. >> Chris, do you want in a a motion for

[56:05] that individual item? >> Yes, please.

[56:06] » Okay. >> Is there anybody else, Chris, or was

[56:08] that it? >> Nope, that was it. Just Hilly. Not just

[56:10] Hilly. It was Hilly. [laughter] >> Sorry, Hilly. wonderful thing that you

[56:14] guys are doing and I appreciate you doing it and seeing if we can save some

[56:18] energy, save some money. >> Absolutely.

[56:20] » So, want to have a motion then? >> Motion. So, moved.

[56:23] » Second. >> All those in favor? I I

[56:28] » B green communities money. >> Uh so it's it's RTU5. I don't have that

[56:34] literature in front of me. It's RTU5, which is the rooftop unit that feeds the

[56:38] auditorium at the high school. [clears throat]

[56:40] unit was installed in 1996. Parts are obsolete. The refrigerants

[56:45] R22. Um it's a difficult unit to to keep running and to um it's very costly. Um

[56:52] we've been working on this again for months. This is the submitt that we're

[56:56] we're putting forward for the green communities for this year. Um it's

[57:00] pretty cut and dry on what's in front of you. And um and then we're what we're

[57:04] looking to do is we're looking to get rid of a larger unit that's up there.

[57:07] Get a more efficient with a heat pump backup which will be the energy savings

[57:12] there. That's what that's the goal. >> Didn't we have to replace one of the

[57:16] units up there recently that we >> replace five this summer?

[57:21] » Now what you replace on the emergency basis was uh condensate tanks at Dale

[57:25] Street.

[57:28] Um the only [clears throat] question I had it was just a curiosity question was

[57:32] given that we just when we talked about the investment grade audit taking a

[57:36] comprehensive look at all the opportunities when I read this one is

[57:39] the next one I was saying yeah actually we've got a moving train and I was just

[57:42] curious about how a project like this does or doesn't intersect with the

[57:47] investment grade audit. >> Well we had to have a greens community

[57:50] submitt right >> and we knew that this had to be done. So

[57:52] we had to move forward with that because you know how long it takes to get that

[57:55] submitt and we weren't aware [clears throat] we weren't positive

[57:57] we're going to get this audit signed. So either we stand still and do nothing and

[58:01] we move. >> Okay. So maybe my question is is will

[58:04] this still be part of the audit or >> they will audit that? Yes.

[58:08] » Oh, they will. Okay. Okay.

[58:12] » Miss Murphy, any questions? >> No, I'm good.

[58:14] » I'm good, too. Do I have a motion then, please? A motion to vote to sign the

[58:20] Green Community Standard Commonwealth contract for $212,537

[58:25] to fund energy conservation measures, hybrid rooftop unit, heat pump and roof

[58:30] installation and ceiling in municipal facilities including high school.

[58:33] » Second. >> All those in favor? I

[58:35] » I >> and C the uh uh tax collection software.

[58:43] » [snorts] >> So, uh, the

[58:47] software that the town has used for numerous years informed us recently that

[58:52] they're discontinuing service at the end of this year. So, we put out an RFP to

[58:58] solicit bids for a new software that we could implement. Um, which was done

[59:03] recently and we received five bids and the consensus was that this software

[59:08] that Vadar uh is proposing was the best for the town. Um, so this

[59:14] contract is a three-year contract that would essentially get us the transition

[59:21] from Patriot Collect Pro over to this new Vadar system. And it would be for,

[59:27] you know, three years of, you know, maintenance and service and whatever

[59:30] else the town will need. Um, so

[59:34] » is it very >> So it's not a six-year contract.

[59:37] » It's not >> it's not a six-year contract. Um, where

[59:40] the six years comes from is as part of Vadar's proposal, they offered it's

[59:45] essentially six years of fixed pricing, um, which distributes the what would be

[59:52] a very expensive upfront cost. Um essentially we'll distribute that

[59:58] through uh you know three years which will you know give us the benefit of not

[1:00:03] having to pay right >> you know three times as much upfront.

[1:00:06] » Yeah. So, to give you a little a little more context, um, Ben, thank you. Uh,

[1:00:10] you summarized it better than I could, but to give you a little more context,

[1:00:13] when he says we've had collect for a few years, it was 26 years ago. Um,

[1:00:16] [laughter] when we put it in, and Ben probably wasn't born yet, but, um,

[1:00:22] it's killing me these days, people. Um, anyway, um, they notified us two years

[1:00:28] after town meeting. So, normally this is a request that you would have seen in

[1:00:31] the capital budget, um, especially for a cost this, uh, expensive. Um, we

[1:00:36] anticipated, if you'll remember last year, we upgraded AssessPro to

[1:00:39] cloud-based. We did that through the capital budget. Uh, we anticipated in

[1:00:43] talking to CollectPro, CollectPro, that we had three more years to do that. It

[1:00:47] was anticipated it would be added into the capital budget this year. They

[1:00:50] notified us, like I said, two weeks after town meeting and said, "We can't

[1:00:54] support it. We've tried repeatedly to get them to give us an extra year

[1:00:58] because we don't have an appropriation for this." Um, Ben immediately got the

[1:01:02] bid on the street, which was fantastic. We worked on it all summer and got this

[1:01:05] in front of you. I think that Vadar recognizes we're not the only town in

[1:01:10] this situation um that has a huge capital expense with no appropriation,

[1:01:13] which is why I think you see the generous six-year u payoff for that. Um

[1:01:18] I've talked to um the chair of the warrant committee and I will be be

[1:01:22] bringing a reserve fund request. We hate to do that right at the beginning of the

[1:01:26] year. Um but we also need to collect taxes in order to have a second year. um

[1:01:31] is probably the most key piece of software we have uh in the town. So I

[1:01:34] will be asking for a reserve fund request to fund the first year and then

[1:01:38] subsequent years will be uh budgeted in the IT budget going forward. Um and that

[1:01:43] will that cost will be offset by what we currently budget for the collect pro

[1:01:46] system. Um but this was definitely an emergency basis.

[1:01:51] » Thank you Mr. Burby. Any issues? >> Just just one clarify. You you and I

[1:01:55] have already exchanged an email. So just I'm doing this for the record. The

[1:01:59] agenda on the on our meeting agenda, this is a six-year contract. Is this a

[1:02:04] the contracting term that we're approving tonight is a three-year

[1:02:10] contract. >> They are provided for years four, five,

[1:02:14] and six, the pricing that will be in place. And the only question I have for

[1:02:19] you given in this conversation is when you and I exchanged the emails, it

[1:02:23] sounded like it was a three-year contract with three one-year extension

[1:02:27] options to make it six years. Is that the right way to characterize it?

[1:02:31] » Yes, that's correct. >> Okay. Just want to make sure. Okay,

[1:02:35] » M. Murphy. >> And then if I read correctly, the the

[1:02:38] challenge you have or the should we say uh the opportunity you have here is that

[1:02:43] 26 years of using this software package, there isn't an easy transition. So, it's

[1:02:47] not like the two are mildly compatible and one can.

[1:02:50] » So, is that a little uh gut-wrenching or >> uh So, I it'll mostly be the treasur's

[1:02:57] office and assessor's office. >> So, George is ready.

[1:03:00] » Yeah, we uh Georgia actually um she might have had a fever today when she

[1:03:03] told me she was excited about this transition. Um but she is excited. Uh it

[1:03:07] comes with a lot more bells and whistles as you can imagine the software we've

[1:03:10] had for 26 years. >> Um she's excited about the transition.

[1:03:13] Vadar has done multiple transitions from Collect Pro um to the Vadar system. So,

[1:03:18] we feel prepared um that they can do this seamlessly for us.

[1:03:22] » Okay, great. >> It's funny. The question I did have for

[1:03:24] Christian earlier today is like how did Ben get roped into this? [laughter]

[1:03:27] » Because now our procurement specialist, so

[1:03:31] » just just you to help. >> Yeah, he moves things more than help.

[1:03:34] » Yes, he's moving projects along much more quickly than I can. So, I

[1:03:38] appreciate that. >> What's out of Actton?

[1:03:42] » Actton. Yeah. >> So, my question had to do with the fact

[1:03:45] that I saw that it was not compatible with Munis and with GIS and that we

[1:03:51] didn't get the 10-year data conversion that we were looking for. And I'm

[1:03:54] gathering that you guys don't care about that so much.

[1:03:56] » So, yeah, like I said, I was one of the three reviewers, uh, Georgia and Ivonne

[1:04:01] as well, and that was not a, you know, a dealbreaker by any means. So,

[1:04:06] » okay. Do we have a motion then? >> All right. Motion to

[1:04:12] authorize a six-year contract with >> threeear.

[1:04:15] » Oh, yes. Soon as I saw them to cross it out. Yeah. Three year. Uh vote to

[1:04:19] authorize a three-year contract with Vadar Systems for TA Collection Software

[1:04:22] in the amount of 177,14. Annual cost of contract is $28,452.32.

[1:04:31] » So I'm guessing that $177,000 is the sixyear number then. Is it

[1:04:35] » correct? Yes, that's the total six years.

[1:04:39] » Yeah, that sounds correct. >> So, we will vote to authorize a contract

[1:04:43] of three years at $28,452.32

[1:04:47] » per year. >> Per year. That which I read. Yeah.

[1:04:50] Annual cost of the contract is. >> Is there a second to that?

[1:04:54] » Second. >> All those in favor?

[1:04:55] » I I thank you so much. >> Thank you guys.

[1:04:59] » Thank you guys. >> For the town. Our next appointment

[1:05:02] number five is with Carolyn Casey, school building committee co-chair and

[1:05:07] Jeff Demo, Dale Street owners project manager to discuss market conditions for

[1:05:13] school construction projects and bills here too. Thank you for coming.

[1:05:23] » Miko, thank you for taking us on. I understand you're a Medfield resident,

[1:05:26] so >> proud resident of Medfield. Absolutely.

[1:05:28] It is. >> Do you want me to start sharing right

[1:05:30] away or do you want to introduce me first couple minutes?

[1:05:32] » Perfect. Thank you. Um Carolyn Casey 29 South Street Jeff

[1:05:38] 170 Granite Street >> and co-chair with me Bill Warner

[1:05:41] » Ten Gary >> Tengary. Um thank you so much for having

[1:05:45] us here tonight. Um I was here just you know a couple weeks ago and gave you an

[1:05:50] update as to the what the school building is working on at the moment.

[1:05:54] And for those who don't know, we're started the design process which starts

[1:05:58] with gathering data. So there are many things happening. We're have um a forum

[1:06:04] on the 15th, a virtual forum to explain data about the space at Dale compared to

[1:06:12] what MSBA wants for space in a school building. We have a visioning session on

[1:06:18] September 29th. Everybody's invited. The focus of that visioning session is on

[1:06:24] the educational programming because you have to get your educational programming

[1:06:28] done before you can do your design because the educational program

[1:06:32] programming drives the design. So, as we've been gathering data um all over

[1:06:38] the community in that Dale, I've been talking to many people about what we're

[1:06:42] doing. Uh lots of interest, lots of enthusiasm, which we really appreciate.

[1:06:46] Uh but we also had a lot of questions about well what do schools cost and

[1:06:51] there's been all kinds of ranges that people have offered to me. So, I thought

[1:06:55] it might be helpful if we brought the expert who builds schools um in

[1:07:00] Massachusetts and elementary to just do a short presentation on the current

[1:07:05] market conditions to help everybody sort of understand for schools out there

[1:07:11] being built a couple years ago or right now or just out to bid what they are,

[1:07:16] what the size is, and what they cost. So Jeff's going to do that for us and then

[1:07:20] when he's done, Bill's gonna share a little more information.

[1:07:25] » Okay. >> All right.

[1:07:27] » We have a couple slides to cover. Um just before I jump into cost, I'll cover

[1:07:30] timeline because you know, now that I I'm in front of you as a committee, I

[1:07:33] want to talk to you about when we're going to engage you along the way, too,

[1:07:36] so you understand the road ahead. Um so as uh Britney brings up the slide, you

[1:07:41] can go to the third slide. Right there. Thank you. So up on the

[1:07:46] screen there is is a general timeline. So the overall process with the mass

[1:07:49] school building authority is broken into three major milestones. Uh each of them

[1:07:53] has acronyms that are alphabet soup. Um the first one is called the PDP. So

[1:07:58] that's the preliminary design program. That's just what Carolyn has explained

[1:08:01] to you just now which is information gathering and that's broken into three

[1:08:05] parallel tracks. One is what's happening on the existing

[1:08:09] site. You've already chosen Dale. So we're we're zeroed in on the site. We're

[1:08:12] looking at the existing building. That's been happening in August and through

[1:08:15] September. We're doing traffic counts, uh, geotechnical boring surveys, uh,

[1:08:20] combing through the existing building, looking at the mechanical systems.

[1:08:22] That's all happening in parallel. Now, we'll, uh, give the community an update

[1:08:26] for that and their forum on the 15th of September. In parallel to that, there's

[1:08:30] that educational visioning session. So, uh, many meetings with the various

[1:08:34] teachers, department heads, uh, leadership at the school to talk about

[1:08:38] how you deliver education today in Medfield with the four or five and how

[1:08:41] it's going to be delivered tomorrow. Um, that visioning session is broken down

[1:08:45] with the educators during the day and then there's a community session at the

[1:08:48] end of the month to be invited in to talk about the specifics of that

[1:08:51] program. And the third one, which is the most uh, desirable from the public, is

[1:08:55] what does it look like? And we're to start to do the long list of options. So

[1:08:59] looking at your existing site, where can a building massing go? So at this point

[1:09:02] in the stage, we're not nailing down what the building looks like or the

[1:09:05] geometry or exactly where it lands. We're looking at many addition

[1:09:09] renovation and new construction options on the Dale site and where those kind of

[1:09:13] amoeba shapes might bolt onto the existing building or where they can fit

[1:09:17] around that building or where modulars or swing spaces may need to be done as

[1:09:21] we look at all the various options that are on the table. That's the current

[1:09:25] phase. uh we're looking to wrap that up at the end of this year and submit that

[1:09:28] to the state. From there, we go into the preferred schematic option, which is the

[1:09:32] middle part of the of the leg. That's where the meat happens, right? That's

[1:09:35] where you really get to the grind looking at cost, looking at the actual

[1:09:38] ad rena and new construction options and come to a conclusion with the building

[1:09:42] committee about what's the most fiscally responsible and educationally

[1:09:46] appropriate solution for the town of Medfield. Uh we're looking to wrap that

[1:09:49] up in the spring time frame. Uh and hopefully by the beginning of April,

[1:09:52] we're at a point where we're able to make a decision about whether to go add

[1:09:56] rena or new construction. We'd then bring that back to the various other

[1:09:59] committees in town such as yourself and the school committee to make a

[1:10:02] presentation, explain the why uh and hopefully collect your endorsement

[1:10:06] votes. Uh at that point in the process, we'll then submit it to the state where

[1:10:10] they'll accept the recommendation. That becomes the option. That's when you've

[1:10:13] made the final decisionation on what you're building and where it's going.

[1:10:16] There's still a third leg in the process and that's schematic design. that

[1:10:20] ultimately dials in all the final decisions. What is the overall cost of

[1:10:23] it? What does the building start to look like? Uh are you going to pick a general

[1:10:27] contractor versus a construction manager? Uh what are the final decisions

[1:10:31] of the mechanical systems, the sustainability decisions? All that feeds

[1:10:34] into cost. Uh there's opportunity costs with that, but there's upfront versus

[1:10:38] longevity costs and life cycle cost. And we'll talk about that during that leg.

[1:10:42] uh we'll we'll have a recommendation from the school building committee on

[1:10:45] the final totality of that scope and budget and then again bring it back to

[1:10:49] the school committee and the select board for your support votes uh before

[1:10:52] we move it forward to the state and that's targeted for October of next

[1:10:56] year. Any questions on the overall timeline before we jump into costs? I

[1:11:00] know there's a lot there. >> Just had a quick one and it's probably a

[1:11:03] question you can't answer yet but I'm going to ask it. You were talking

[1:11:06] earlier about building massing and I'm just curious. Do you have have any sense

[1:11:10] not around the actual configuration of the footprint but about the square

[1:11:14] footage of the footprint? Is this building going to be 50% bigger than

[1:11:18] what we currently have? You have any you have anything that gives you an

[1:11:21] indication of that yet? >> Um we're at the start line of that now.

[1:11:23] We're having those conversations starting to develop. Really the

[1:11:26] educational program will dictate that. Uh we know that the building will be you

[1:11:30] know smaller than previous studies because the enrollment has been set.

[1:11:33] Right now we're only at 460 students which is a reduction from the prior

[1:11:37] program. Um so we know the building will be smaller but the final square footage

[1:11:41] of where we we're dialed in is not yet there. Um the MSBA program spits out the

[1:11:45] baseline which is your floor and then you customize it to to your town

[1:11:49] specific needs which will add some square footage.

[1:11:54] Right. So with that we'll jump into cost. Um there's a lot to digest with

[1:11:58] cost. I don't expect you or the viewers at home to really read this, but it's

[1:12:01] available on the MSBA's website, and that's um they've been trending data for

[1:12:05] 20 years. So, the MSBA reformed back in in 2008. Uh and they've been trending

[1:12:10] their data. So, everything you see as an orange square is an actual bid dollar

[1:12:13] that was awarded to a contractor, whether GC or CM, it's all in there in

[1:12:17] the same data sheet. Um this is all new builds on this particular slide here, uh

[1:12:22] which has the greatest amount of data. the um the red bar in the middle is kind

[1:12:27] of the when we hit COVID. And I I bring that up as a data point because it

[1:12:31] really changed the trajectory of building in the in in the United States

[1:12:35] and in in Massachusetts. It used to be inflation was kind of up or down at at 2

[1:12:39] to 3% over the year. Sometimes you'd hit a high year and then it would dip down.

[1:12:43] Well, in 2020, we certainly throttled back that first year, but then it

[1:12:46] throttled forward and went to 8 and a half and then 10 and a half% and then 6%

[1:12:51] and that all compounded and it never recovered postcoid. It then normalized

[1:12:55] back at the pre-COVID uh escalations of 3% but has stayed on that stiff

[1:12:59] trajectory and that's been proven out with all the data that you see here on

[1:13:02] the slide and that is available for anybody at home on the MSBA's website.

[1:13:07] Important things to note that what's happened over time. So from 2008 uh to

[1:13:12] 2029 which is where I think the graph ends over that 10 20 year uh horizon it

[1:13:17] went from $200 a square foot to over $1,50 a square foot. So the jobs that

[1:13:22] are currently being envisioned today to move forward for their funding boats are

[1:13:27] between $800 to $1,50 a square foot, which is an astounding number. You know,

[1:13:32] all of us that uh build at our homes understand that, you know, the cost of

[1:13:35] construction has gone up, but that's astronomical compared to where it's gone

[1:13:39] in 20 years. The why, well, a lot of things have changed over that time. Uh

[1:13:44] certainly codes have changed. So each year building codes both state and

[1:13:47] locally get increased. Um, individual towns opt into the specialized energy

[1:13:52] codes or or things related to that with sustainability goals, all electric. Um,

[1:13:56] the MSBA adds program requirements along the way such as, you know, second sinks

[1:14:00] and classrooms or other programs such as science and technology and things like

[1:14:04] that that get added along the way. And so that's some of the reasons at a very

[1:14:08] high level of where we went from the $200 20 years ago to the projected over

[1:14:13] $1,000 a square foot uh for for future projects. um what could we do to impact

[1:14:18] that? Um the next slide u probably kind of covers some u contemporaries as we'll

[1:14:24] call them. Um so these are the the all the recent elementary school projects

[1:14:28] that were approved within the last two years on the MSBA's website. And so I

[1:14:31] pulled out the data there to kind of show where the dollars per square foot

[1:14:35] are and also the total project uh budget. And so the dollars per square

[1:14:39] foot is related to just the construction dollars itself. So not the uh consultant

[1:14:44] costs, not the contingencies you carry, not the insuranceances, not the

[1:14:48] furniture, the technology, all those things are in addition to that. We call

[1:14:50] that the soft cost of the budget which is essentially if you want to do simple

[1:14:55] math, it's between 25 to 30% on top of the construction budget depending on the

[1:15:00] size of your job. If you have a much larger job, it'll end up in the lower

[1:15:03] end of the scale. If you have a smaller school, which Medfield does fit in the

[1:15:06] smaller school uh metric with 460 students, uh it'll be on the larger end

[1:15:11] of that range, but we'll dial all that in. Those will be decisions that the

[1:15:14] building committee will make. Um real proposals will be put forward with

[1:15:17] before we get to the final overall numbers. Another thing to consider here,

[1:15:21] when you look at the dollars per square foot, uh these are all the recent ones

[1:15:24] in the last two years. They run from $815 a square foot up to uh $964.

[1:15:31] That's projecting out two years from now when those jobs go out to bid. So when

[1:15:34] we get to the point where the Medfield needs to make their decision, you'll

[1:15:37] also be projecting out, you know, a year and a half at a minimum to when you

[1:15:40] would go out to bid from the time you lock in your overall budget. So that's

[1:15:44] why we build in contingencies and things like that that are occurred.

[1:15:48] Size of the building. One more important factor is that if it's a larger school,

[1:15:51] if it's a, you know, 600 700 person school, there's lots of fixed costs and

[1:15:56] so the dollars per square foot will go down. The gym is same size. the

[1:15:59] cafeteria is essentially the same size. The parking lots, the roadways, the

[1:16:02] circulation, uh the demolition of other buildings, those are all fixed costs.

[1:16:06] The elevator when you have a smaller job is a lot less square footage to spread

[1:16:10] that over with. And so that really is part of the reasons why the slide in

[1:16:13] front of you kind of runs that gamut from $815 to $964. Now along the way,

[1:16:19] the building committee make can make important decisions to help keep that

[1:16:22] number as low as possible. um what they skin the building with, what the

[1:16:25] finishes are look like in the building, you know, the approach we take for GC

[1:16:29] versus CM. Um but there's all trade-off costs and opportunity costs and we'll

[1:16:33] bring those decisions to the building committee to make and then bring it back

[1:16:36] to the public and let them understand the why. So I know I kind of threw a lot

[1:16:40] at you there. Um and that was what I wanted to kind of cover in terms of

[1:16:44] overall cost. Oh, one other point I did want to make is that what was happening

[1:16:49] precoid was there was a gap uh between what the MSBA was reimbursing and what

[1:16:54] the market was bearing. And in postcoid, they've started to close that gap back

[1:16:58] down. So that's good news for Medfield that the reimbursement rates that the

[1:17:01] state is giving um has gone up uh for the dollars per square foot for the

[1:17:06] building. At the time when CO had hit, they had never increased their

[1:17:09] reimbursement rate for furniture or equipment and technology. it had stayed

[1:17:13] the same from 2008 up through 2020. Uh and at that point they've actually now

[1:17:18] increased it and that went up over 50% from what they were originally

[1:17:21] proposing. So there are lots of benefits uh to where we are in the pipeline right

[1:17:25] now that there is additional money from the state. Um the last and final point

[1:17:29] I'll make is that the sustainability goals have changed. They used to offer

[1:17:32] two percentage points for reimbursement. Now you can get up to 4% but you have to

[1:17:36] do more to get that and so there'll be opportunity costs that the committee

[1:17:39] will debate related to those. So, that's a lot. Um, I'll pause here if there are

[1:17:43] any questions before I turn it over to Bill.

[1:17:47] » Mr. Ky. >> Nope.

[1:17:49] » Oh, Bill. >> Yeah. No, I I just wanted to add, um,

[1:17:52] first of all, thanks for having us. Um, you know, I I remember when I joined the

[1:17:56] committee and Augustus, I think we had a conversation one night. Um, my biggest

[1:18:00] risk in terms of like getting this project done all along was like I see

[1:18:04] where the costs have gone in our business every day and they just keep

[1:18:07] going up. And the biggest risk the whole way along was that we were going to run

[1:18:11] the perfect play, deliver the perfect project, and that, you know, the

[1:18:14] taxpayers at the end of the day would say, "No, it's too expensive." Because

[1:18:17] there's certain things we just can't fight. And there's a lot about that

[1:18:20] curve that you saw that we're just not going to be able to fight. So that

[1:18:23] that's the bad news. The good news, as Jeff mentioned, reimbursement rates have

[1:18:27] gone up. That's good. The, you know, committee with the the support of the

[1:18:30] warrant committee had the foresight for the tax mitigation stabilization fund.

[1:18:34] that's going to pay dividends when we get to the vote in terms of helping the

[1:18:37] taxpayers understand that we have put aside a down payment. I think that's a

[1:18:41] great kind of structural thing to do for the long term. But like regardless,

[1:18:45] we're going to wind up ahead on costs where we were the last time around. And

[1:18:48] that's nothing. We have 12 like very very incredible people working every day

[1:18:53] to get a great project delivered. Like we can't go back in time. Like we got to

[1:18:57] deal with what we have. And so part of this education is for for this team, for

[1:19:01] the public to make sure that we continue to just like sound the drum around it's

[1:19:06] going to be more expensive. We're trying to plan for it. We're going to do the

[1:19:09] best we can to mitigate costs, but we kind of have to come to realization

[1:19:12] that, you know, the data is what it is and we have to move forward. So, um, you

[1:19:17] know, I guess my one ask of, you know, this team is to continue to stay

[1:19:21] involved, you know, raise awareness. Um, you know, M. Murphy has been a great

[1:19:26] supporter from the select board. Um we've tried to do our best with

[1:19:30] everything from letters to the editor in the hometown weekly to you know weekly

[1:19:35] recaps to the videos. Um you know everybody tries to show up on the

[1:19:39] videos. I think Christine just got the most likes of all time on the video from

[1:19:43] the last time. So she may [laughter] become a permanent fixture on our

[1:19:46] videos. >> A good thing or a bad thing for you?

[1:19:49] But I think that like we've um we're doing our best on community engagement

[1:19:52] and um you know it's been a little bit of a struggle so far because I think

[1:19:56] people will show up at the end when the dollars and the plan are in front of

[1:19:59] them and and you guys know that better than anybody in terms of um you how the

[1:20:03] public engages. So um you know I would just ask you know the three of you as

[1:20:07] huge proponents of what we're trying to do. You know stay informed like call us

[1:20:11] with questions um you know read the newsletters, watch the videos. Um, we're

[1:20:15] trying to get all the information we out that we can and the more that um, this

[1:20:18] entire team can kind of raise the awareness of the town, the better we'll

[1:20:22] be when we get to the vote because I think we all agree that we we got to get

[1:20:25] this right and we can't deal with another failed project vote. So,

[1:20:30] » Bill, I could make one comment just as because you didn't bring it up, but

[1:20:34] couple years ago when this re was re-energized, um, even then the

[1:20:39] projections this was is coming out of co the projections what you showed there,

[1:20:43] Jeff, it's like all right, we're fighting we're fighting a strong current

[1:20:47] and the one point that I made at the time is that unlike the last time around

[1:20:52] where affordability total cost of the school was first and foremost on my

[1:20:57] mind, a the impact on the taxpayer is first and foremost in terms of where

[1:21:04] I'm coming from. And what I mean by that is if we're building a 50-year school,

[1:21:09] I don't necessarily think we need to do 20-year financing so that people for 30

[1:21:13] years have a school handed to them and they have to maintain it. So just

[1:21:18] because I understand what you're showing here, the other piece of that eventually

[1:21:23] will be what can we do to minimize the impact on the taxpayer? And I'm saying

[1:21:28] upfront. If people are still paying for the school 30 years from now, they're

[1:21:33] the ones that are getting the benefit from the schools 30 years from now. I I

[1:21:36] don't want to go out 50 years because there's renovations, but you know, so

[1:21:39] I'm hoping that we'll have some flexibility with through the state to be

[1:21:43] able to look at that dimension as well. >> Yeah, I hope so. And again, this is why

[1:21:47] we thought it was really important. I know there's a discussion at the

[1:21:49] beginning of like MSBA, no MSBA, you know, I think with the reimbursement

[1:21:52] rates and they've been a great partner so far. And so, um, it was just really

[1:21:56] hard as we sit here today, right? Like shovels won't be in the ground until

[1:21:59] this time, you know, hopefully two years from now. And so, like the projects at

[1:22:03] work that we're working on in our buildings, like we're still projecting

[1:22:07] 10% inflation for the projects that we'll do two years from now. And so, all

[1:22:10] the data that Jeff showed, like there's still more inflation coming. And then

[1:22:13] the other barrier we have is interest rates, right? every point that the

[1:22:16] interest rates move, you know, could go for us, it could go against us, but

[1:22:19] we're just dealing with very much moving target. And so, again, the the more that

[1:22:23] we can just make the public aware and have your support as we go through this

[1:22:26] journey, uh, you know, it'll it'll serve us all well. So,

[1:22:31] » anything else? >> M. Murphy. Uh, I just want to say being

[1:22:35] the select board member that sits on the amount of work that Carolyn and Bill and

[1:22:41] Michelle have done this summer, I the public needs to know between picking out

[1:22:46] the OPM, picking out the design. There were a lot of meetings, a lot of

[1:22:51] paperwork. There was a lot of time you guys put in when people might have been

[1:22:54] sitting on the beach or in the mountains or on a boat. Um, I I I saw all the

[1:22:58] meetings you had to sit in. I saw the the data that you had to crunch through.

[1:23:01] Um, so I I would I want to thank you for that and I hope the town really

[1:23:05] recognizes that there's a lot of work put in now. There's still a lot of work

[1:23:07] ahead. Um, Jeff's team has been phenomenal. The design team came in the

[1:23:12] last meeting. So the there's really good positive momentum. And I think the the

[1:23:17] thing I keep hearing over and over and over is community involvement, community

[1:23:20] involvement. They are thinking every which way, every angle they can to try

[1:23:25] to reach out to all age groups. So I applaud that. So, the virtual meeting is

[1:23:29] coming up on September 15th is huge. The they'll be at all the back to school pin

[1:23:33] nights starting next week. So, look for the tables that we'll have the uh school

[1:23:37] building committee members there. And then obviously Medfield day, we're going

[1:23:40] to have two booths side by side. So, it you know, as parents are coming back

[1:23:44] from the summer break and the kids are in school and people starting to

[1:23:47] chatter. I chatted with my neighbor last night whose daughter started

[1:23:50] kindergarten today and he was like, "Oh, wait. She actually might make Dale." So

[1:23:55] like you think of it as these kindergarteners today and every you know

[1:23:58] any pre kindergarten like these are the kids that this building can impact. So

[1:24:03] um I just want to say thank you for you guys. I know you put a lot of work in.

[1:24:07] » I'll second that because I know it's a huge amount of work. I've watched it a

[1:24:11] couple times now and uh and thank you guys for doing it and and I want to

[1:24:15] compliment you also for the amount of outreach you are doing. You are just

[1:24:19] pushing huge amounts of information to the town. Um, so thank you for doing

[1:24:24] that as well. >> The parade has a speed at this point.

[1:24:28] [laughter]

[1:24:32] » Can I say one thing too that I forgot? >> Grab the mic. Y [clears throat]

[1:24:35] » let me turn.

[1:24:39] » Maybe I said maybe I said it, but then I think maybe I forgot. So for people um

[1:24:44] out in the community, we have to eventually choose the design as Jeff

[1:24:49] mentioned. So you have to give us input now from now into December for the like

[1:24:56] at least three designs. So if we don't hear from you or you don't take part

[1:25:01] then we don't know what the committee wants. We are going to try to do surveys

[1:25:05] and forums and visioning sessions but you need to sort of pay attention and

[1:25:10] say oh I like this I don't like that I want this because that's the only way we

[1:25:14] can make a decision that the community will support. And then from December to

[1:25:20] April, we have to narrow down to one as Jeff mentioned the preferred design. So

[1:25:25] again, we need your help to get three or more and then we're going to need your

[1:25:29] help to get from three or more down to one um when we have to vote on the

[1:25:35] preferred one. So I'm just going to tell the community if you wait till May, it's

[1:25:40] too late. The design has been chosen. So please let us know. It will help us.

[1:25:44] Thank you. So Carolyn, is is it by surveys that you are going to be pushing

[1:25:50] out to the community? Is that how you're looking to get that in?

[1:25:53] » We're we're going to look at it several ways. We're going to do forum. So people

[1:25:58] come and tell us and we talk about it. Um we're going to do surveys

[1:26:03] um asking about certain features as we gather data and begin to do the design.

[1:26:09] Um we're also going to be doing some coffees. people have told me that they

[1:26:13] will host a coffee and I can go to the coffee and talk to people and they can

[1:26:17] we can talk about design and they can share some thoughts. Um and as the

[1:26:21] design team Jeff and FAA start you know putting up uh examples of designs then

[1:26:28] we have to say to people what do you like? Do you like this? Do you like the

[1:26:32] building here? Do you like it here? Do you want to save this part? Do you want

[1:26:35] a rena? Do you want new? There's so many decisions. Um,

[1:26:40] » neighborhood captains. >> Neighborhood captains. Yes. I'm sorry. I

[1:26:42] should have mentioned that. We have a neighbor.

[1:26:43] » I was going to ask you that in two seconds. Just knowing pin night coming

[1:26:46] back if we can put that list out so people can look at the list and be like,

[1:26:48] "Oh, I didn't even know that so and so was my neighborhood captain."

[1:26:51] » Yeah. Um, so I had neighborhood captains. They've been great. we just

[1:26:54] met last Monday and they're going to um put out on Instagram and X and all the

[1:27:00] different things um what's happening and also try to get you know coffees and

[1:27:07] other ways to get people to give feedback that can be shared. So I mean

[1:27:12] it's a big project it's a lot of money and we want voices to be heard and we

[1:27:16] want a proposal in the end that everybody supports.

[1:27:20] I think that uh uh the reality is that uh social media is the way for you to

[1:27:25] connect with people. I mean, you can hold a forum and if you get a 100

[1:27:28] people, that's a huge crowd, but that's not a huge crowd compared to our our

[1:27:33] almost 10,000 voters now in town. So, >> 50 likes,

[1:27:37] » you [snorts] guys are you guys just need to keep pushing it out the way you're

[1:27:41] doing, I think. And the the videos that you do after your meetings are very

[1:27:45] informative, very helpful. So, >> all right. Thank you for coming.

[1:27:51] Anything? >> Just one one more. There's a comment in

[1:27:53] the chat. Eileen, if you want to read the comments.

[1:27:55] » Someone in the back. I don't know. Did that anyone have any questions?

[1:28:01] » Question. >> Okay. Can you get the mic?

[1:28:03] » I don't even know how to ask it. >> Hold on one one second.

[1:28:08] » There you go.

[1:28:12] » The question I have has to do with the current tariff environment.

[1:28:15] » Yourself for the record, please. >> Sure. Robert Autry, 9 Caran Drive,

[1:28:20] Medfield, resident since 1980. Uh the question I

[1:28:25] have has to do with the uh the red line that you had on your chart going up this

[1:28:30] way and you mentioned COVID, but how much of that red line in building costs

[1:28:35] is influenced by the current tariff environment that we are experiencing in

[1:28:40] this country and with Canada for and as I understand it a lot of our building

[1:28:46] materials come from Canada now. So, how do you see that playing out over the

[1:28:52] next two years? You said you would put a shovel in the dirt for about two years.

[1:28:58] Uh, a lot's going to go on between now and then. How do you see all that

[1:29:02] playing out? >> If I only had a crystal ball, right? No,

[1:29:06] it's a great question. It's an absolute great question. You know, something

[1:29:08] we've talked about internally, too. Uh, it does eb and flow with our current

[1:29:12] federal administration. You know, as we all saw, tariffs were a very big thing

[1:29:15] last year. Tariffs on almost everything across the board. it started to be creep

[1:29:20] into the overall bid prices last year and then it got repealed and so now

[1:29:24] we're trying to peel all that back out of last year's tariffs and then more

[1:29:27] recently to your point uh the steel tariff has been put out there and steel

[1:29:31] does come from Canada and that is an impact and something we're really

[1:29:34] watching right now. Um the good news is that currently we're getting uh very

[1:29:38] favorable bidding this current summer right now. So it hasn't hit the last

[1:29:42] couple of months but it is part of the conversation that we're doing as we

[1:29:45] project out. um we won't need to set our entire budget until fall of next year.

[1:29:51] So, we'll have the benefit of writing this one out and seeing what the next

[1:29:55] one is um that comes out there. But, um that's where we're going to rely on the

[1:29:58] professional estimator. So, in order to set an overall project budget, we have

[1:30:02] two data points. Uh we have an estimator hired by your own owners project manager

[1:30:06] and one hired by the designer to make sure that they're both seeing the market

[1:30:10] uh as appropriately. We also have a lot of relationships with many construction

[1:30:14] managers and we pull their data points. they're more than happy to give us their

[1:30:17] literature uh to we see where we see where their trend in the market is. And

[1:30:20] so we bring that all back to the committee and then make an informed

[1:30:23] decision. A few years pre-COVID we used to carry a lot leaner contingencies

[1:30:28] because when you set the overall budget for an MSBA project it's at 30% design

[1:30:33] and you've got to project out finishing design expecting whatever codes are

[1:30:37] going to change locally and nationally, whatever market conditions are going to

[1:30:40] happen and then project out the two to three years of construction. So that's a

[1:30:44] risk conversation that the building committee will have about do we keep a

[1:30:48] 5% or 6% or 7% contingency in our back pocket to mitigate those waves that may

[1:30:53] come at us or not.

[1:31:01] » Um there's a comment from there's

[1:31:05] » there's a comment on the board from Chris.

[1:31:08] » You want to read it?

[1:31:11] I thought the chair might, but okay. [clears throat]

[1:31:14] » Jeeoff, can I just ask you while she's looking that up? Um,

[1:31:17] » you mentioned that uh that uh the the sharing that the state the MSBA is

[1:31:25] is going up. >> Yes.

[1:31:27] » Is it Can you give us some sort of idea of the magnitude of that?

[1:31:31] » Sure. So, uh great question. So, the uh most recent upgrade uh went up to $678 a

[1:31:38] square foot. So, of that hundred thou of that $1,50

[1:31:42] a square foot you saw, they'll participate up to $678 a square foot of

[1:31:48] the total project cost. But you then have to multiply that by this is where

[1:31:52] you need math. You got to multiply that by your reimbursement rate, which I

[1:31:55] think you know Medfield's around 40% and then we start to get bonus points for

[1:31:59] how well we maintain our buildings and then bonus points for um the uh the

[1:32:04] sustainability goals that you choose or not to choose to pursue. you can get up

[1:32:08] to another 4%. You can also get a few extra percent depending on the

[1:32:10] renovation scheme that's out there if you choose that. So that will then be

[1:32:14] multiplied by that uh $678 a square foot. There are other programs out

[1:32:19] there. You started to talk about sustainability and the the pres

[1:32:21] presenter before me. Um should the committee choose to go geothermal, there

[1:32:25] are rebates out there, significant, you know, six figure rebates from the

[1:32:29] federal inflation reduction act um that many of your neighboring towns have been

[1:32:32] able to achieve. We were able to get $5 million back in Weston uh sorry,

[1:32:36] Westwood for their Pineh Hill school. Uh I was able to get three million back for

[1:32:41] Ashlin for their school. Um and then uh we have a couple more in the pipeline

[1:32:45] right now. And the current federal administration renewed the geothermal.

[1:32:49] They did not renew the solar last year. So the solar uh credits are are uh

[1:32:54] phasing out this summer, but the geothermal has been funded uh to the

[1:32:59] future. So those million dollars are still available should you choose

[1:33:02] geothermal. and mass save is always available as well. So all that will be

[1:33:06] part of the package that comes back in front of the voters, what the states

[1:33:09] giving you, what the federal government may give you depending on your program

[1:33:12] and what you can get from Eversource as well.

[1:33:17] » This this is probably an unfair question to ask you, but I'm going to ask it.

[1:33:20] When when you start talking about those kinds of incentives and rebates, do you

[1:33:25] have a sense whether we would be able to do things that would take advantage of

[1:33:29] those rebates that would at least have no net impact on the cost of the school

[1:33:35] or not? Or is it we'll get rebates, but the school cost is going to go up

[1:33:39] because of the things we're doing? I The reason I ask is because that was a

[1:33:43] really important question to me last time around and when I started to look

[1:33:46] for answers, nobody had their hand on the tiller. Um,

[1:33:50] » I think I think >> like the world's going to change in the

[1:33:54] next 12 18 months. So, I think we'll have to

[1:33:56] » but that's why that's why I said you probably can't answer [laughter] the

[1:33:59] question, but I figured I'd ask you to commit right now because we just don't

[1:34:02] know what's going to happen. >> Okay. You got to you got to size the

[1:34:04] building. You got to look at all the things. You got to look at the capacity

[1:34:06] what you have and what >> I think with the electrification that's

[1:34:09] going on today, you know, there's a wave coming of all the other communities. The

[1:34:13] more people that are buying into it, the more the cost of that technology starts

[1:34:15] to come down too. So, those are also things that we're looking at. uh you

[1:34:18] know, if you're at the bleeding edge, you're going to pay more than if you're,

[1:34:21] you know, riding the wave out. >> Okay.

[1:34:24] » Most of the schools that are getting built now are all electric, aren't they?

[1:34:28] » That's correct. So, to get those, you know, bonus points, a lot of the ways to

[1:34:31] opt in there are an all electric building. So, they're choosing to either

[1:34:34] go all electric or geothermal with electric. Uh, and that comes down to

[1:34:38] even your kitchen appliances. Uh, because in order to be part of the

[1:34:41] program, you know, it's fossil fuel free with the exception of a generator. So,

[1:34:45] you get an exception for a generator, but the the building itself would need

[1:34:48] to be all electric if you're depending on which of those programs you're

[1:34:50] entering into. >> And there's just a comment in here from

[1:34:54] uh Chris Cupott, [clears throat] 7 Curve Street. MSBA data is skewed

[1:34:58] towards new builds and MSBA regulations allow for some degree of flexibility

[1:35:02] with square foot requirements with AD rens. Just a couple of points that are

[1:35:07] important for the public to know. Not to be taken as an advocate for AD or

[1:35:10] Renault, but just assuring the community understands some of the nuances.

[1:35:16] Yeah, the the data for new builds are much clearer, right? There's not a story

[1:35:19] behind every one. That's why that data tells a good story of where the market

[1:35:23] is going and what the construction costs are of the building. Whether you go AD

[1:35:26] rena or new construction, the addition portions of those buildings are going to

[1:35:30] be the same type of material, right? And so when you look at the ad rena uh tab

[1:35:34] on the MSBA website, which does exist, it's very thinly populated because every

[1:35:38] story, every building has a different story. And so you can't tell which

[1:35:42] portion of it was renovated, what the percentage of renovation versus new. So

[1:35:45] from a big picture standpoint, which is what we're presenting tonight. It's

[1:35:49] about the market and that's but but appreciate the comment.

[1:35:52] » Okay. >> Thank you for all the information, Jeff.

[1:35:55] Thank you for taking the town on. >> No problem.

[1:35:59] » Anything else, Carolyn? >> No. All set. Thank you very much.

[1:36:02] » Thanks, Carolyn. Thanks. >> Thank you. As we go through the agenda,

[1:36:07] it weeds out. >> And uh unfortunately due to a work

[1:36:11] commitment, Bill Harvey has had to postpone for this evening.

[1:36:14] » We had some last minute travel. >> Okay.

[1:36:16] » Okay. Does that impact the ability for it doesn't take effect until the next

[1:36:20] bill? So it's >> Yeah. No, they're they're all set. No,

[1:36:23] it was just moreformational for you. Okay.

[1:36:25] » Okay. So, we'll skip number six and we'll go to number seven. uh memo to

[1:36:30] present its annual request for their holiday [clears throat] lights program,

[1:36:33] joy to the world performance, holiday parade, and signage as detailed in the

[1:36:37] packet materials. Mr. Alice, >> thank you very much for having me. So

[1:36:43] [clears throat] those three basic uh things uh the

[1:36:48] Friday night no I'm sorry the package of lights we generally start sometime in

[1:36:55] November uh to hang them uh Stumpy we have to go by Stumpy's uh scheduling and

[1:37:02] we're kind of kind of at their mercy and generally we find out like the day

[1:37:07] before sometimes it's the morning of um but uh anyway way and we [clears throat]

[1:37:13] schedule the the hanging of the lights in the canopies of the trees uh wi with

[1:37:19] them and we you know need to get volunteers and and all for that. So um

[1:37:26] so that's the first part of the request to use your trees to hang our lights on.

[1:37:33] Also, we started LA we started last year with hanging our silhouettes of lights,

[1:37:39] you know, the various forms of the lights and we have a wire that goes

[1:37:46] across the park uh kind of in the middle of the park and so we hang them in

[1:37:50] there. We used to hang them in the street. Uh but as you know for the

[1:37:55] various reasons that we stopped doing that and

[1:37:59] and it turned out last year to be a very great uh look I think for hanging them

[1:38:06] there. You could they were very visible from the street uh as well. So that was

[1:38:12] good. So hang them in the canopies, hanging them in the silhouettes and then

[1:38:18] also in various bushes. So, we got bushes in Baxter Park, and I didn't

[1:38:23] mention this, but we also do bushes in front of the library and in front of

[1:38:28] town hall. So, I I guess I'd kind of add lib them in at this point and try to get

[1:38:35] your permission to do that as well. Um, also last year we for the first time we

[1:38:43] brought in a cut uh tree that was about eight or nine feet tall and that was

[1:38:51] supplied by levels uh and and such. And uh that was done

[1:38:58] because we had a lot of grief uh simply uh from social media uh the year before

[1:39:07] when our lights were basically falling apart and burning out on our main

[1:39:14] holiday tree that we were using for many years. Um, so we brought this one in,

[1:39:20] decorated it all by itself, and I think it turned out to be a lovely uh

[1:39:26] addition, and it really stood out uh very well. We had a lot of compliments

[1:39:31] about that one. So, we'll be doing that one again uh bringing that in as a cut

[1:39:35] one and and decorating it and stuff. So uh the second uh part of uh so the

[1:39:42] second part of this particular request is the actual

[1:39:47] used to be called the tree lighting uh midnight madness and now with the stroll

[1:39:54] the night of the stroll Friday night uh we have a performance where we have uh

[1:40:02] student uh dancers and student singers that are brought into the park and it's

[1:40:08] about an hour ceremony. It starts about 6:00 and it ends up about 7 on the

[1:40:13] Friday night. So in this case, December 4th, same night as the stroll makes

[1:40:19] sense to be part of that because by itself it's it's nothing. Uh so uh

[1:40:29] as we as you have uh decided the stroll will be on Friday the 4th. We would like

[1:40:35] to have the tree lighting ceremony and Joy to the World performance on that

[1:40:42] Friday night. Performance being for just about an hour. And then uh at the end of

[1:40:47] the performance, we'll light the new style holiday tree. Uh at that point,

[1:40:54] the lights will already be on Friday night uh before anybody gets to the

[1:41:00] park. It's uh we used to have them off until we did the tree

[1:41:06] lighting and switched them all on, but I felt that the park was too dark and

[1:41:12] needed more lighting so people wouldn't bump into each other. It was really

[1:41:16] dark. So now what we've been doing the past few years is turn them on four

[1:41:22] o'clock that night for the first time and uh then the the park is very well

[1:41:28] lit and then the holiday tree just gets lit at at the end. So that's my first

[1:41:34] request if you'd like to take that in and of itself. And if you have any

[1:41:38] questions, >> I just had one. I'm trying to when I

[1:41:42] think Jean came in and we switched it. I think you So Jean moved the holiday

[1:41:48] stroll to Sat to Friday and I think at that point in time the tree lighting was

[1:41:53] still on Saturday. You've now moved the tree lighting to Sat to Friday.

[1:41:57] » There was a mis miscommunication. The memo was never contacted.

[1:42:01] » Yeah. What started this was the police

[1:42:05] department wanted to have everything on Saturday because the concept of closing

[1:42:12] the street to them was easier on a Saturday than a Friday. Jean went to her

[1:42:18] » and and so the police tell you that that's what they'd like to do. That's

[1:42:22] what seems to happen. So, it sort of happened that both events, the stroll

[1:42:29] and the memo event were going to be on Saturday.

[1:42:34] The next thing that happened is Jean came in because she went to her vendors

[1:42:38] and they didn't want to be on Saturday. So, she came and said, "I really need to

[1:42:43] be on Friday." And that's what you guys voted on. Um,

[1:42:47] » so, so >> it was sort of a surprise to memo on how

[1:42:50] this was transitioning. We probably should have been here for that for that

[1:42:55] hearing three weeks ago. A little less confusion. So I I listened in on this

[1:43:01] and I saw the conversations and the surprise as to why would memo want to be

[1:43:07] in a different night. Exactly the case. Okay.

[1:43:10] » So anyway, >> but this is so I apologize. It's I

[1:43:14] really try to I don't trust my memory as much as I used to is the problem. be

[1:43:18] confused. I >> So what what I'm what I think I'm

[1:43:20] actually hearing is that actually things are staying pretty close to the way

[1:43:25] they've always been once they're on a Friday.

[1:43:28] » They'd be exactly the same as we've been doing them for years.

[1:43:31] » Okay. >> Everything, you know, these events will

[1:43:34] be on Friday and the parade on Saturday by itself.

[1:43:37] » Got it. >> But the concern there would be is the

[1:43:39] police we when that night we realized we weren't going to have any barriers.

[1:43:42] There was going to be no reason to But now we have to worry about that.

[1:43:45] » Now I've got to go back to the chief. Yes. Right. Okay.

[1:43:47] » Okay. >> That's why I'm over here when you're

[1:43:49] saying this. I'm like, "Wait a minute. I thought we agreed like what's just going

[1:43:51] to be the everything down by the library and by on that up by Lord's area, but

[1:43:57] now it's going to be the traditional stroll, which I'm fine with. I just I

[1:44:00] need to make sure what's happening here."

[1:44:01] » So, I'm not sure. So, two things. Number one, I don't think that we need to close

[1:44:05] the street. We never closed it before. We tried it last year. Apparently, there

[1:44:09] were issues. Um, and uh, Jean meant Jean ma made this comment. Her stroll was

[1:44:17] only going to be on the one side of the street,

[1:44:20] » right? >> I don't know if that's I mean that does

[1:44:25] that's what she said. But >> yeah,

[1:44:27] » are the businesses not going to do stuff on that side of the street? You know,

[1:44:31] are other people >> that was thinking of like where um be

[1:44:34] charmed and all that is they've been involved in the past if I'm not

[1:44:36] mistaken. >> But I don't think there's a need to

[1:44:39] close the street. I I don't think it was necessary last year. It seemed to be

[1:44:43] fun. >> Police chief would disagree with you

[1:44:46] » um about closing the street. She thought it was very necessary to close the

[1:44:49] street for safety reasons. >> It was Yeah, it was so people could go

[1:44:52] home the street. >> When Jean was here, it sounded like the

[1:44:55] street was not going to be closed. >> Right. Because we thought you were

[1:44:58] sitting thing wasn't happening. >> Our thing is only an hour from 6:00 to 7

[1:45:02] and it's the same side of the street. People don't crumb and cross at our

[1:45:07] event. It's more her event that people crossing are, you know, ours

[1:45:13] historically ours are on one side of the street.

[1:45:15] » I don't want I don't want to speak for the police chief. Why don't we have her

[1:45:18] come in and have a discussion with you about why she wanted it closed? Y

[1:45:21] » if the board does not want to close it, we won't close it. There was a concern

[1:45:24] for safety. >> Even though we put the barriers around

[1:45:26] that corner, you have people in the street. Yeah.

[1:45:29] » And we have a lot of kids there. >> Um I think the police chief felt safer

[1:45:33] when it was closed. I will have a conversation with her tomorrow and see

[1:45:36] how she feels or how she wants to continue for this year.

[1:45:39] » Okay. >> Well, again, our event is 6 to 7,

[1:45:43] » but to me it's a community event, right? I mean, like everyone's doing their

[1:45:47] thing at at they're down at at at Brothers, they're at the library,

[1:45:50] they're roaming around, then they all merge down at the end, right? So, it's

[1:45:54] not just everyone just goes right to the tree. It's really opening up the main

[1:45:57] street for the community. Um, I don't think it's ever I've never felt like

[1:46:01] it's two separate events. have always felt like Friday night it's one big it's

[1:46:05] one big night. So >> when the [clears throat]

[1:46:07] three meetings ago or three weeks ago or whatever it was

[1:46:10] » I was like oh that's kind of a bummer. And then hearing you just now I'm like I

[1:46:13] thought we were doing two separate dates. So if we go back together that's

[1:46:15] great but my concern we'll be going back to the chief because I know last year

[1:46:19] when they closed down between brothers and the CVS it allowed vendors to be in

[1:46:25] the street. It allowed parents to not have to worry about their kids being too

[1:46:29] close to the curb near where Noon Hill Girl gives out hot chocolate and people

[1:46:33] are coming out of, you know, the the bank would to get their shirts for the

[1:46:36] Angel Run that Sunday. So, >> we'll talk to the chief. Okay.

[1:46:40] » Yeah. There. No, there it sounded like there were not going to be any vendors

[1:46:44] in the street for for Jean, right? >> I don't I don't I can't even speak to

[1:46:49] anything right now because I don't now that she's changed it. Now that this is

[1:46:52] happening on the same night, it could change the dynamics of what's happening.

[1:46:57] » Russ, when the when the street was closed last year, I the store I think of

[1:47:02] is the butterfly tree, which is now not there either. But a lot of times when we

[1:47:06] would go down, that was one store we always somehow or another always swound

[1:47:10] up in. And that always had a great flow. when the street was closed, did you get

[1:47:14] any feedback from memo members that they, you know, that they had improved

[1:47:19] activity in the stores that exist there or

[1:47:22] » Yeah, the memo members that we heard from all did not like the street closed.

[1:47:26] They all felt it hurt their business. In particular, Noon Hill, uh, but even

[1:47:31] Butterfly Tree, >> okay,

[1:47:33] » felt that she lost business because the street was closed.

[1:47:37] » Um, >> okay.

[1:47:41] » Yeah. Anything

[1:47:45] else? >> I'm not sure what we're doing right now.

[1:47:48] » We got one. >> Well, we're asking to have the uh

[1:47:52] [clears throat] holiday the holiday lights in the park.

[1:47:57] » Okay. >> Number one. Number two is the Friday

[1:47:59] night uh Joy to the World performance from 6:00 to 7.

[1:48:04] » Okay. >> Uh with the lighting of the holiday tree

[1:48:07] uh right after that. >> Okay. Do we have a motion to that

[1:48:12] effect? >> Oh, and also as part of this, uh, we

[1:48:16] bring a tent in, an entertainment tent in case there's inclement weather that

[1:48:20] gets delivered on a Wednesday generally. So, the request would be to allow the

[1:48:25] tent to be delivered on Wednesday uh, and up a few days before we use it.

[1:48:32] » Yep. Do we have a motion to that effect? >> Uh, motion move. Some moved.

[1:48:36] » Second. >> All those in favor? All right,

[1:48:39] » Russ, have you guys given any thought to leaving the lights up year round?

[1:48:44] » So, LED bulbs are much tougher.

[1:48:50] » It had been mildly discussed and the negatives that came out was trees grow

[1:48:56] » and so the lights get uh they don't really stay up all year.

[1:49:01] They get blown down. I mean, even during the holiday season, we've had trees have

[1:49:06] the lights blown off. >> Number two, and then they also break

[1:49:11] » uh at times. So, uh it even though it would be a lot less labor intense,

[1:49:18] » uh >> I think it's smart to take them down.

[1:49:21] » It uh had had been thought it'd be better to take him down.

[1:49:25] » Okay. >> Um yeah. So, the se next one is the

[1:49:30] holiday parade. uh on Saturday as as usual uh starting at one o'clock at the

[1:49:37] uh high school uh and then going downtown Pound Street and South on

[1:49:42] December 5th, Saturday, December 5th uh goes down Pound Street, South Street,

[1:49:48] Main Street, Park Street, Metac Comet, and then going into the high school

[1:49:54] around uh 2:00. Um

[1:49:59] we will invite the fire and the police departments as usual to participate with

[1:50:04] their trucks and uh people. Um and then the high school marching band gets asked

[1:50:10] and they they they participate unless it's inclement weather. Uh girl scouts,

[1:50:15] boy scouts, some dance troops and then we invite businesses to enter their own

[1:50:20] floats, their vehicles get get dressed up and then of course Santa and Mrs.

[1:50:25] Claus will be invited to uh participate again to close out the parade and we'll

[1:50:31] of course uh coordinate with this with the fire and the police departments for

[1:50:35] the roads. >> Okay, Mr. Murphy.

[1:50:40] » No questions, Mr. Murphy. >> No, no questions.

[1:50:42] » Okay, how about a motion then? >> All right. Motion to approve the parade

[1:50:46] on December 5th. >> Second.

[1:50:48] » All those in favor? I I Thank you, Russ. And then the third piece of this would

[1:50:53] be to place our sandwich boards uh around town um for the Joy to the World

[1:50:59] performance and for the parade. So we'll have pairs of sandwich board signs uh

[1:51:06] various places. So the request would be South Street and Route 27

[1:51:12] uh corner uh the corner of North Street and Main Street and then the transfer

[1:51:17] station driveway entrance uh exit pro the more the exit uh of the of the uh

[1:51:24] driveway and then one of each of those signs and they're doublesided.

[1:51:30] um one of each for the uh uh lights and the uh the joy to the world and the the

[1:51:37] parade at each location and to place them uh nove Saturday, November 22nd uh

[1:51:45] until Sunday, December 6th, the day after the parade.

[1:51:52] Mr. Murby, >> no questions.

[1:51:54] » Questions. >> How about a motion then?

[1:51:57] » So moved. >> Second.

[1:51:58] » All those in favor? I I >> I

[1:52:01] » Thank you. >> Thank you much.

[1:52:02] » Thank you, Russ. >> Be well.

[1:52:03] » Thanks, Russ. >> Okay, we're on to our action items.

[1:52:07] Board and committee appointments. First, appoint Lisa Thompson to the capital

[1:52:11] budget committee. Chris, do you want to do these separately or all at once?

[1:52:16] » All at once. >> Uh, I think you do them all at once.

[1:52:18] Yeah. >> Okay. Uh, second is appoint uh Nick

[1:52:22] Scaffarato as a full member of the historical

[1:52:25] commission. Third is appoint Marian Tawa to the Medfield Outreach Advisory Board.

[1:52:33] Fourth is appoint Doug Lawrence to the Medfield School Building Committee as

[1:52:36] the planning board member. Five is appoint Kathy McDonald to the Medfield

[1:52:41] Outreach as the Medfield Outreach employee on the committee for the

[1:52:46] exploration of real estate tax relief for seniors. Six is appoint Ivonne

[1:52:50] Remlard as the non- voting member principal assessor to the committee for

[1:52:55] the exploration of real estate tax relief for seniors.

[1:53:00] Do we have a motion to do so? >> Motion to move.

[1:53:04] » Before I before I second, I just want to comment the two newest people that are

[1:53:08] new appointees. Uh I just I suspect you also were impressed with their resumes,

[1:53:14] but >> Oh, yeah. That was phenomenal.

[1:53:16] » Couple I'm glad you said that. That was a note I had to myself

[1:53:19] » an observation that I was sitting there saying it's good to see people of this

[1:53:24] caliber wanting to volunteer committee. So, uh, anyway, second.

[1:53:28] » All those in favor? >> I I

[1:53:31] » um so, uh, I'll just mention to both of you

[1:53:36] that, um, Sher Autry, who is here tonight, came to see me, uh, at my

[1:53:42] office hours last Friday, and she's also interested, still interested, Sherry, in

[1:53:47] being on the uh, um, committee to, uh, study senior real estate tax relief for

[1:53:54] seniors. And Donna O'Neal is also interested.

[1:53:56] » So you filled the three citizens at large at your last meeting.

[1:53:59] » Yeah, we could add more. So if we wanted to. So

[1:54:02] » yeah, that's up to you if you want to change the charge of the committee and

[1:54:04] expand it. >> So there are two more people that are

[1:54:07] interested in in being on that committee. Donna O'Neal, who used to be

[1:54:11] part of the assessor's office, I think, wasn't she?

[1:54:14] » She was the administrative assistant. Yes.

[1:54:19] » With respect. This is the first I've heard of it. So I

[1:54:23] kind of like to through the issue I have is first off not suddenly having

[1:54:28] everybody that wants to be on a committee be able to just come in after

[1:54:31] the fact when when we've already kind of populated. So this is not a reflection

[1:54:36] on you. It's got more to do with >> this is a comm this is a committee that

[1:54:41] if it just simply was as big as people, you know, anybody wants to be on it,

[1:54:45] we'd expand it just because they want to be on. Uh and it's not I'm not coming

[1:54:49] out against the idea. I guess it would help me a little bit. It would help me

[1:54:54] to see background to know how you're adding something that the people we

[1:54:58] haven't already tried to put on the committee are bringing to the table to

[1:55:02] include uh Don O'Neal. Again, no disrespect, but we already have Ivon on

[1:55:08] from the assessor's office. So, that's I don't think what she would be bringing.

[1:55:13] I I just it's kind of this is Yeah. I I don't want to react just

[1:55:18] » Yeah. So, why don't we uh I I suggested that they both submit Yeah.

[1:55:22] » an expression of interest and >> uh but Sher came tonight anyway. So, um

[1:55:28] » okay, our next item is to uh review and approve the intermunicipal agreement IMA

[1:55:35] with Milis for the animal control services. Chris,

[1:55:38] » this is due. We have um as you know, Jenny is on leave currently. So, we are

[1:55:43] looking to um supplement our uh animal control services. So, this is um just an

[1:55:49] intermunicipal agreement with Milis. They'll provide some on call services if

[1:55:53] necessary. They also provide them to Medway as well. Um we may or may not use

[1:55:58] them. We may not need them. Um but due to insurance purposes, uh they can only

[1:56:02] respond to us if we have the IMA in place. So, we just wanted to go ahead

[1:56:06] and put that in there. >> Makes sense.

[1:56:07] » Mr. Murray, I had two questions uh on paragraphs three and four. Paragraph

[1:56:12] three, obligations of Medfield says Medfield acting through it select board

[1:56:16] shall appoint a on to work with the animal control officer. My question is

[1:56:20] who are we appointing or do we not? >> The chief, I believe.

[1:56:23] » Yeah, the deputy and the chief. >> Yeah, I think I would say the chief or

[1:56:26] her designate. >> Yeah, that makes sense.

[1:56:28] » Okay, so we haven't appointed anybody yet, but that's the plan.

[1:56:31] » And then the next the next paragraph down term and termination. The initial

[1:56:35] term of this agreement shall commence as of the date that both parties have

[1:56:38] executed this agreement and shall end on and I'm guessing it's ending on June

[1:56:42] 30th because the next increment is June July 1st to June 30th. It just was a

[1:56:48] blank. So >> yeah, I think we weren't sure how long

[1:56:50] we would need it. We were going to we were going to pull it um yeah

[1:56:53] » once Jenny returned. So I would say we could put in June 30th and then we can

[1:56:56] always renew if necessary on the annual basis. Right.

[1:56:59] » Let's do that. >> Or or cancel early.

[1:57:01] » Yeah. Yes. that was it was just where I can

[1:57:05] » I didn't know what the end was >> and it's just on a on a call out basis

[1:57:08] so there's no there's no cost unless uh we use it.

[1:57:12] » Okay. >> Any questions?

[1:57:15] » Nope. I make sense. >> I'm all set. Do we have a motion then?

[1:57:18] » A motion to approve. >> Second.

[1:57:20] » All those in favor? I I >> Next item is approve amendment number

[1:57:25] three to the VHB contract for Medfield State Hospital redevelopment lumpsum

[1:57:30] tasks. And it's about $36,000 for crosswalks and sidewalks at the

[1:57:35] roundabout. Is that >> That is correct. So this is um amendment

[1:57:39] number three. We discussed this um I can't remember the date off the top of

[1:57:42] my head. It was the day we had our goals meeting that we asked VHB to move

[1:57:45] forward uh with taking the conceptual designs for the pedestrian improvements

[1:57:49] and do the full design. Um they have done the full design and we are uh in

[1:57:54] front of the conservation commission at the end of the month and then we will be

[1:57:57] able to proceed with this. >> Oh, good.

[1:58:00] » Mr. Ruby. >> Yeah. I was just idally curious. So the

[1:58:03] total 39,000 is that the was does that represent the additional chapter 90

[1:58:08] funds or did we actually I'm just curious where the money came.

[1:58:11] » So uh right now we believe we are taking it from the actual grant from the

[1:58:15] massworks grant. Okay. >> Um we've had some cost savings uh both

[1:58:18] in the contractor's contract. So we are going to run out the grant uh until we

[1:58:22] can and then the remainder of that will come from chapter 90. But we're still

[1:58:25] working through the the final on that. But

[1:58:27] » grant first, chapter 90 second. >> Got it. Okay. Murphy.

[1:58:30] » Nope. No questions. >> Then a motion, please.

[1:58:33] » Motion to approve. >> Is there a second?

[1:58:37] » Second. >> All those in favor? I I.

[1:58:41] » Uh number 11 requests the approval of the following contracts for capital

[1:58:45] projects approved in the 2026 town meeting. A new Elgen Pelican Street

[1:58:50] sweeper for $316,230.

[1:58:54] and B a Ford F250 Superduty pickup truck for $61,938.3.

[1:59:04] » Both are due to be delivered by November 18th. So, somebody's getting a new car

[1:59:08] before Thanksgiving. >> We found particularly from since CO that

[1:59:14] you absolutely have to put a deadline date in because otherwise you could be

[1:59:19] waiting years on these things. >> All right, motion approve. Second.

[1:59:24] » All those in favor I. >> Uh number 12, vote to approve the

[1:59:28] Pleasant Street sidewalk replacement design contract with Beta Group, Inc.

[1:59:33] for $223,900.

[1:59:36] » And this is what Mo had presented uh when he was here at the last meeting and

[1:59:40] we're moving forward on that. >> Great.

[1:59:43] » And the plan is to have this done by is it December 27th or December?

[1:59:47] » What's the deadline to get to spend this money?

[1:59:49] » 30th 27th. >> Okay. September 27th.

[1:59:52] » Good design. and then we'll move into the construction and once we get to the

[1:59:54] construction phase that's where the the federal earmark will kick in uh with

[1:59:58] mass DOT on the construction. >> Okay. Okay.

[2:00:00] » So, chapter 90 for design on this one. Um construction through the federal

[2:00:04] earmark. >> Okay.

[2:00:05] » Chris my what this raised in my mind was I saw a reference to the federal earmark

[2:00:10] of 500,000 and I thought the federal earmark had been higher than that at

[2:00:15] some point. >> No, we had well we had requested more

[2:00:18] for the Pleasant Street sidewalk project. I think we requested close to a

[2:00:21] million and a half um 1.8 and it was brought down to 500,000 which is why

[2:00:26] when Mo was at our last meeting >> told you the scope had to be uh brought

[2:00:31] in a little bit >> and the town's going to kick in 125,000.

[2:00:35] » Correct. We have a mass >> so that we get a for 125,000 we got

[2:00:39] 625,000 of sidewalks. >> Correct.

[2:00:41] » So good. >> All right. Bennett will enjoy that.

[2:00:44] » Any questions? >> No. Good.

[2:00:46] » How about a motion then? >> A motion. So moved. Second.

[2:00:49] » All those in favor? I I consent agenda. [clears throat] Vote to sign the

[2:00:54] proclamation recognizing Mason Allen and Connor McDermott for the earning the

[2:00:59] rank of Eagle Scout. Next, vote to approve the following sign request for

[2:01:03] Hail Education at the intersection of North Maine and 109 in Hartford. Uh

[2:01:10] September 29 to 20 Sep I'm sorry, September 9 to 23rd, fall equinox.

[2:01:17] October 8 to 22nd alowen

[2:01:21] and November 4th through 18th summer 27 program registration. Next request from

[2:01:28] the friends of the library to use the gazebo green outside the library for the

[2:01:31] friends Halloween fest uh October 25th 1 to 4

[2:01:38] pm. Next, request to post signs at the usual locations. September 13 to 27 for

[2:01:45] the First Baptist Church of Medfield celebrating their 250th birthday. The

[2:01:51] small yard sign reads the following text. First Baptist Church of Medfield

[2:01:55] celebrating 250 years of God's faithfulness. Next, request to post

[2:02:00] signs for the Jouty Group advertising the annual townwide garage sale

[2:02:06] on September 12th, 800 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. from September 9 to 12th at the

[2:02:12] intersection of North and Maine. Next, request to post signs for Friends of

[2:02:15] Medfield Theater at the usual locations, advertising for about two weeks, one

[2:02:20] before the show and one during the show for both Blake Middle School

[2:02:23] productions, a fall play performed in early November, and a spring musical, as

[2:02:28] well as the three Medfield High School performances below. Guys and Dolls on uh

[2:02:33] November 2nd through November 22nd, The Miraculous Adventures of Edward Tulain,

[2:02:39] March 6 and 7, 2027. Student performance Medfield after dark on May 8, 2027. And

[2:02:47] finally, a request for a block party permit on September 26 at the

[2:02:51] intersection of Country Way and would end from 3 to 7. Do we have a motion?

[2:02:56] » We have comments on two items. Uh 16 and 17. We'll start with 17. The 17. The

[2:03:03] only question the only question I wanted to confirm is that they only want to put

[2:03:07] one sign up in one place at the intersection north and Maine. just I was

[2:03:12] surprised to see there was only one location that may be all they want.

[2:03:16] They've been advertising on social media, so I know it's been

[2:03:19] » Yeah, I thought I I thought when we talked to them it was just one sign, but

[2:03:22] we'll confirm with them. >> So, there was just an observation. The

[2:03:26] uh the number 16, given that I attend the Baptist church here in town, uh just

[2:03:31] so you know, I can be a heavy with anybody in town. I I uh reached out to

[2:03:34] Hunter Guthrie, the the pastor there, and said, you know, we use

[2:03:40] We use these street corners to advertise events, not merely [clears throat] to

[2:03:45] put up a sign making a statement. And the happened to be the assign that they

[2:03:49] had was just that although actually they have a celebration on the should have

[2:03:54] this up to my head. I think it's the 14th of October. Uh he said

[2:03:58] [clears throat] that well probably that's fine if you can't if that's not

[2:04:01] appropriate then don't worry about it. So we may withdraw that. I did tell him

[2:04:05] that I would check to see I know we sometimes have people borrow We

[2:04:10] basically said we wouldn't have time to make a new sign. Uh that's way too small

[2:04:13] probably for the corner. Anyway, I did said I would check to see I think we

[2:04:17] sometimes have had people borrow the kind of folding signs. I think we have

[2:04:22] two of them or something if they're not being used.

[2:04:24] » Yeah. >> I So I told him I would check to see if

[2:04:26] that was a possibility. So you got a choice on this one. either to just say

[2:04:31] no, which as it's written right now, I would recommend we not do it because

[2:04:35] it's simply >> sets a precedent. Yeah.

[2:04:37] » Or if you wanted to prove have yet having a sign and then leave it up to

[2:04:41] him to try to, you know, come up with a bigger sign that would be better anyway

[2:04:45] and maybe try to borrow the town's A-frames.

[2:04:48] » If it includes a date, then it's meeting our if it's just promoting something in

[2:04:52] general, it opens Pandora's box if everyone wanted to put something there.

[2:04:55] » And he could always come back in in two weeks. He's trying to do this. He was

[2:04:59] looking for September 13th and 27th. So the only thing I if we've approved the

[2:05:05] idea of a sign, but with the understanding it's that kind of a sign

[2:05:08] » we could do. >> It's got to be for an event.

[2:05:10] » Yeah, it's got to be for >> an event. Yeah.

[2:05:12] » Why don't we approve it with a sign subject to approval by the town

[2:05:15] administrator? >> That's fine.

[2:05:16] » Perfect. >> Okay. So we'll do that.

[2:05:19] » So move. >> And 17. What's your issue?

[2:05:21] » It was an observation. They'll double check.

[2:05:23] » The the sign request is just for that one.

[2:05:25] » Just for one spot. I just looked at said that's odd. only one they did. I've seen

[2:05:30] their I've seen them advertise so much on social media. It struck me as odd

[2:05:33] that it was only one place for an actual sign, but that's fine. U so I'll second

[2:05:39] » all those in favor. >> I

[2:05:44] uh gift, citizens comments, meeting minutes, town administrator updates.

[2:05:49] » Uh a few things. Uh welcome back to all of our residents who were not with us

[2:05:53] this summer. Um, as hard as it is to say goodbye to summer, we are already

[2:05:57] starting to uh hit the ground running with our fiscal year 28 budget. Uh,

[2:06:01] capital budget meets this Friday. Uh, and Warren committee starts meeting at

[2:06:05] the end of September. So, we are moving. Um, I want to just call attention again

[2:06:12] to the SBC forum on September 15th. Um, we just really need people to start

[2:06:16] talking to us now. Now is definitely the time we need to hear from everybody. Um,

[2:06:21] and that night will focus, as Caroline said, on the educational programming.

[2:06:24] Um, I have some great news from the LOL Mason House. Um, as you know, earlier

[2:06:29] this summer, we worked to get the lease signed so that they could apply for the

[2:06:32] grant. Um, I met with Tom Reynolds this past Friday and Mass Cultural Council

[2:06:37] um, awarded them $98,700. Um, and they are able to match that with

[2:06:42] donations that they have in hand. So, they are starting to move forward with

[2:06:45] their construction. We had a premeating to just get things forward. I saw the

[2:06:49] design. and it looks fantastic. Great. Um, so really exciting that we got that

[2:06:53] done in time to to get them included for that. Um, also our board and committee

[2:06:58] appreciation night will be September 24th at Zulo at six o'clock. I

[2:07:02] » forgot about that. [laughter] >> Put that in my calendar.

[2:07:04] » Uh, invites will be going out to all of our board and committee member chairs uh

[2:07:08] this week. And then I'm really pleased to announce we have 16 members signed up

[2:07:13] for Citizens Academy. Uh, thank you to Britney and Cameron for running this. Uh

[2:07:17] last year was our inaugural year and we I guess our freshman class um and we had

[2:07:23] um eight people signed up uh that went through the program. So to have 16 this

[2:07:27] year is just fantastic and >> and a wait list if I

[2:07:30] » and uh and we did have we did have more than we could accommodate. 16 is the

[2:07:34] maximum we can take um in order to provide the really um personal touch

[2:07:38] that our department heads like to do, especially the fire and police chiefs.

[2:07:41] So um 16 is the max. So, we're excited to sad to have to turn people away, but

[2:07:47] we're ready for them next year. So, >> reputation there, Britney. [laughter]

[2:07:51] » I think it's all about the t-shirts. So, that's all I have this evening.

[2:07:56] » Okay. Thank you. Select board and reports. Mr. Murby,

[2:08:00] » been fairly quiet for the last couple weeks. Uh, I already mentioned that I

[2:08:03] spent apparently was three hours, not two and a half hours about the IGA

[2:08:07] contract with Ben and Rob and then subsequently with just Rob. Uh, I tended

[2:08:12] in for the water and sewer public hearing. So, the bill wasn't here today,

[2:08:17] but I I uh without I just I just monitored it. Uh, but the fact there

[2:08:22] were no questions at the end led me to conclude that the public is okay with

[2:08:28] the two increases in the water and sewer rates. That will be an observation, an

[2:08:34] assumption to be proven out when we get a little further actually having money

[2:08:38] on the table. But uh at least I thought I thought Bill did a nice job of

[2:08:41] explaining things really and I thought his slide in particular that showed that

[2:08:46] relatively speaking the water and sewer rates for Medfield are, you know,

[2:08:51] they're not the lowest of anybody, but they're on the low side of that curve.

[2:08:56] And I think that's a a good point to make for people that don't like the

[2:08:59] numbers that are showing up. Uh I have a Norfick County Advisory Board meeting

[2:09:05] tomorrow night. So, more more to follow on that. And uh lastly, on a completely

[2:09:12] personal note, has nothing to do with the town. I we were happy to learn late

[2:09:17] on Saturday night that our daughter-in-law had a second son. So, we

[2:09:22] have a second grandson. >> A That's awesome. Congratulations.

[2:09:25] » I I will never think of Labor Day weekend in quite the same way.

[2:09:28] » Neither will she. [laughter] >> So, so we're pretty happy.

[2:09:32] » That's awesome. Congratulations. >> Name.

[2:09:34] » Congratulations. So the name's interesting. It's Miller.

[2:09:37] » It's Miller. >> Miller.

[2:09:38] » Oh, I love that. >> Yeah. So I think a lot of people have

[2:09:42] never heard it then and you know is that it first or last name, but no, it's the

[2:09:46] first name. So yeah. >> Excellent.

[2:09:48] » I love that. >> My first comment was well like my name

[2:09:52] when you hear somebody call when you hear your name called out in a room, you

[2:09:55] know they're probably talking to you. >> So that's a good good thing. Good thing.

[2:09:59] » All right. So I think since our last meeting, we had the send off for Katie.

[2:10:02] Yes. Nice gathering downstairs. So, it was a nice gathering, some nice police

[2:10:07] representation, fire representation, a variety of folks from around the

[2:10:09] community. Um, so that was that was nice. And she's off and running in her

[2:10:13] new adventure. Uh, Wayfinder meeting we had last Friday, Wednesday, Thursday,

[2:10:18] one Sunday last week. >> Um, I kind of chuckled when I saw sign

[2:10:22] there. >> Uh, so the wayfinder group met in front

[2:10:25] of the town hall. We had a chance to review the signs. Um, they're looking

[2:10:29] good. uh what uh game plan to get those out in the public? Uh

[2:10:35] » we were hoping by this fall, but at this point we don't also want to rush it. So,

[2:10:40] we're going to see if it's feasible to get everything in before frost.

[2:10:44] » Okay. >> But I also don't want to do like a a bad

[2:10:47] job of it. So, if we have to move it to the spring, I think that would probably

[2:10:51] be preferable. >> Okay. Uh school building committee, as

[2:10:55] uh Carolyn and Bill just reviewed, we met last week. a lot of moving parts

[2:10:59] there. Um they're they're they're doing a phenomenal job. So I just hope we

[2:11:03] continue on a good path there. Um I too sat in the the board and water uh public

[2:11:08] hearing. I thought that Bill did a really good job and I I know it's in our

[2:11:13] meeting packet if anyone missed it. Um that does a really nice job of breaking

[2:11:17] down the two rates people understanding when water's coming in their house,

[2:11:22] what's happening, when water's leaving their house, what's happening. Um, and

[2:11:24] you know, most people just take it for granted, but there's not a lot of towns

[2:11:28] that have what we have. And not being a part of MWR, I personally am thrilled

[2:11:32] that we're not. So, um, if those slides point out some of the costs that other

[2:11:36] towns that are part of the NWR uh, have to live with. Uh, a couple of side

[2:11:41] notes. I just want to say I love our freshly painted crosswalks. I'm walking

[2:11:45] my furry friend a lot and you can tell that uh, Mo and his group did a lot of

[2:11:49] work over the last two weeks with um, all of the significant crosswalks. I

[2:11:53] can't see everyone in town, but I do a loop around here quite a bit now, my

[2:11:57] furry friend, and I was thrilled. They did a fantastic job. Um, I was sad to

[2:12:01] see the email this morning, um, seeing that Carolyn Stanley passed away. That

[2:12:05] what a what a beautiful woman. And, you know, I sent you a note, Christine,

[2:12:09] like, boy, this town's lost two absolutely positively lovely ladies with

[2:12:13] Eve Pototts passing away a few weeks back and then Carolyn Stanley because

[2:12:16] Carolyn and her husband did so much for this town. Um, so it just, uh, it's sad

[2:12:21] to hear, but it's a true celebration of life. So,

[2:12:23] » absolutely. >> Um, and I I'll too by I walk my furry

[2:12:27] friend down the roundabout. I'm watching what's happening there. I think there's

[2:12:30] um it's it's really coming together and I and I've watched the flow of traffic

[2:12:34] and I it's so nice to see right now as school's kicking in that as people are

[2:12:39] coming and going. It's um it's it's coming along nicely. So, it's great. And

[2:12:42] then um the West Street Harding one looks like it's coming to a close.

[2:12:46] They've done all the work they not needed to do down by the driveways. And

[2:12:49] then uh the elections, just a shout out to Marian and her team because I know

[2:12:52] that was a long week with having the elections, the walk-in elections here or

[2:12:57] the early elections here and then everything that took place down at the

[2:13:01] um senior center the day of the election. So kudos to everybody that

[2:13:04] stepped up for that. >> All right, and on to you.

[2:13:09] » Um and I would just mention about the water and sewer that Bill did a uh a

[2:13:14] series of slides that I thought were just excellent to explain it. The thing

[2:13:18] that that really struck me is that when you when he compares the cost that we

[2:13:23] pay for water and sewer to other towns, we're paying a lot less than most towns.

[2:13:28] So, um I would just mentioned that I I was looking at the Beacon, which is the

[2:13:34] Mass Municipal Association monthly uh uh magazine. Um and I was interested that

[2:13:41] there was a lot of state money that was being given away in grants. uh 45

[2:13:47] million awarded for projects uh related to climate impact. South Adley got dam

[2:13:53] removal money. Uh Plymouth and Devon's got tree planting money. Um 15 million

[2:14:00] awarded for commercial to housing conversions. That's not really us, but

[2:14:06] uh uh two towns split 20 million in library money. Felmouth and and uh

[2:14:13] Hudson uh local infrastructure projects 900,000 for technical assistance uh

[2:14:21] dredging projects. That could be us. Um and the state awards 368

[2:14:30] million in loans for clean water projects,

[2:14:33] 890,000 for civic education. So there's a lot of money um and should maybe be

[2:14:39] spending our time figuring out how to get some of it. So that's

[2:14:43] » so we've applied to most of the programs that you listed there. We've applied to

[2:14:47] um either through water and sewer or the town. The wayfinding project that we

[2:14:50] were talking about was funded by a grant. Um we've had a significant number

[2:14:54] of grants. We talked about the two federal grants, both Weston 27 and

[2:14:57] Pleasant Street. So um the um uh

[2:15:03] » we just did the >> the facade improvement. I'm like where's

[2:15:06] that word? Uh the facade improvement. Yeah. So, I I you know, I I would say

[2:15:10] kudos to our team. Um >> absolutely.

[2:15:12] » You know, um we we did uh do a $15,000 earmark for landscaping. Um I did have a

[2:15:19] person call me today who was concerned that some of our plants had died. Um we

[2:15:22] are working on that. It's been a hard summer. As you know, our grounds

[2:15:25] department, we did not get a second person in that. So, it's been hard to

[2:15:28] have somebody dedicated. I know Britney spent a significant amount of time this

[2:15:31] summer going out to water the plants. Um so we are we are trying to to fix that

[2:15:36] but um you know that's kind of the level route but you know kudos to our team for

[2:15:40] for going after the grants that we have uh been implementing and I you know not

[2:15:45] to forget also the delineator grant would be me. So

[2:15:49] » we're getting way more grants than we used to. So thank you for that.

[2:15:52] » Yes. >> Anything else to come before the

[2:15:56] meeting? >> Do we have a motion to adjurnn then?

[2:15:59] » Motion to adjurnn. >> Second.

[2:16:00] » All those in favor? I. Thank you. Oh, sorry. Killed that quick. Sorry.

[2:16:07] » Christine is hot. >> Hot on that.

[2:16:11] » I forgot last time. [laughter] >> Jesus. Was there was there an overunder?

[2:16:15] I wasn't aware of that. It did flip the >> No goodbyes for you. [laughter]

[2:16:22] » That was harsh. Start.

Medfield Select Board Meeting (09-8-2026)

Transcript