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Okay.

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Hello everyone. Welcome to the select board meeting

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for August 11th.

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We are gonna start our meeting with

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this notice about this meeting being broadcast

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by the Needham Channel for the Town's YouTube channel,

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and recorded for later viewing.

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I think the Needham Observer

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and the Needham Local are with us recording.

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Is anybody else in the room recording?

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Time to tell the chairs now?

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Okay, then apologies for the late start,

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just working out some technical difficulties.

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And now we will move to our first agenda item

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with which is public comment.

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And I will ask Avery Newton to join us here at the table

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for our first public comment.

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Just introduce yourself, remind us of your address,

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and we're gonna ask you to wrap up in about three minutes.

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You can do great. And apologies for the noise outside.

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I had thought this was seven.

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I set up childcare accordingly. So

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No, the noise is The noise Is the light?

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Good, good. Good evening and good to see you.

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Members of the select board.

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My name is Avery Newton and I live at 69 Howlin Street.

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For those of you in this room who may not be aware,

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basala Art in the heart of Needham Center

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and staffed by my next door neighbors will soon be home,

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become home to the Town's 18th Bank branch.

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I know I'm not alone and feeling frustrated

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and a little defeated by this news, but

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before I go further, I want to be clear.

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My concern is not with Village Bank specifically.

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My concern is with the systems

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and structures that allowed us to get

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to number 18 in the first place, not

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who number 18 happens to be.

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Restaurants, cafes, small businesses, markets,

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and third spaces are destinations.

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They bring people downtown, encourage them to stay longer

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and support neighboring businesses.

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Banks provide an important service,

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but they are not destinations, they're institutions.

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They generate far less foot traffic

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and far fewer opportunities for people

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to shop, dine, or linger.

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In other words, it's not just a destination we're losing,

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but also a meaningful portion of the customer base

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that neighboring businesses rely on.

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The supporting research is remarkably

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consistent and available here.

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If anyone's interested, independent local businesses

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recirculate substantially more

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of their revenue within the local economy than national

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chains and large institutions up to two to four x.

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As we approach the critically important Pollard vote,

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this is the type of revenue that we all depend on

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to sustain our schools, our parks, our tax base,

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and ultimately the community itself.

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Finally, and perhaps most significantly,

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there is a profound irony here.

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Landlords generally view corporate banks

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as safe low risk tenants,

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but in chasing that short term safety,

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they actually risk hollowing out the very foot traffic

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and business diversity that makes Needham commercial real

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estate so valuable in the first place.

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With all that said, I want to look to the future

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and encourage the select board

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and other town leaders to consider some solutions.

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Knowing that no one can control who a landlord decides

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to rent to first zoning

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and land use, I'd ask the select board

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and planning board to explore ground floor use restrictions

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or conditional use permits for banks

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and other large financial

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institutions in our commercial core.

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Cambridge did exactly this in Central Square back in 2017

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after realizing that bank Oversaturation specifically was

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negatively impacting both the retail diversity

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and the overall economic health of the of the area.

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Second, financial incentives for commercial properties.

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I'd encourage the town to explore vacancy fees

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for storefronts sitting empty, unleaded paired

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with a split rate to commercial tax exemption for landlords

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who lease to local merchants.

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I understand that a small business popup program may already

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be in the works for this space,

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and I'm eager to see if that

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arrangement could be scaled as well.

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Third and finally, policies supportive

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of small local businesses to help lower the cost

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of doing business in Needham.

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This could include establishing a BuyRight approval process

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for independent shops or cafes under a certain size

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or raving first year permitting fees

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for local entrepreneurs.

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My overall point is this.

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We don't need 18 different places to store our money.

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We need more places that make this

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wonderful town a community.

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I humbly ask that town leadership consider exploring one

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or several of these policies to help promote some

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of the vitality that we have continued

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to lose under these current practices. Thank you.

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Thanks, Avery. Spike, the

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Appreciate it and hopefully within within three minutes.

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Perfect. Thank you for your time. Perfect.

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All right, so we're gonna invite Cory Wilke, come on up.

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See? Thank you. Hi, Corey. Nice to see you.

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Nice to see you. Thank you. Members of the board,

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my name's Corey Wilke.

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I live at six Wayne Road in Needham.

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I have two children in the school system,

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and I am speaking as a member of the Needham

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and Baseball softball, Needham Baseball

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and Softball Board as both the director of RSB, which is one

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of our baseball programs

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and is the Vice President of baseball operations.

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Having assumed that position when Chris Gerstel resigned

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from the board a year ago.

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I submitted a letter today to you guys on top of a couple

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of emails, but I'd like

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to just touch briefly within three minutes

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or less upon the urgent need that we have,

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which is the renovation repair memorial field

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with a turf in field grass Outfield

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Needham currently has only three big diamond baseball fields

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down from four several years ago when McLeod Field was

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converted to softball, a decision never presented

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to the NBA sport for input, despite Chris Gerst.

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Then simultaneously being the Parks and Rec commissioner

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and the VP of baseball ops

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and being involved in that project from inception

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to completion, most members

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of the board did not find out about it until it was done.

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We face a similar problem at a greater scale

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because Warner Field, one

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of the three remaining big diamonds, is slated to serve

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as a staging area for the Pollard Middle School Project,

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which we support, and we could go offline within 12

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to 24 months, leaving only two big diamonds, one

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of which Walker Gordon doesn't meet dimensional requirements

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for varsity baseball

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and immemorial is typically unusable

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as it cannot handle adverse weather.

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As an example, varsity was only able to practice on

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that field approximately 25% of the days

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this PA, this past year.

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So we desperately need assistance from the town.

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With respect to field maintenance costs,

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MBS spends significant amounts of money on

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outside contractors to maintain our fields.

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This was an arrangement initiated seven years ago by Mr.

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Geral. We surveyed 15 period communities only Weston's Youth

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Baseball Board contributed in any meaningful way,

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and then at a significantly lower scale than us.

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We have paid on average $70,000 a year towards fields over

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the past five years plus user fees.

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We've only been able to find one town

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that contributed more than 5,000 on average.

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We also pay a higher user fee than most

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or almost all other towns,

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and we receive significantly fewer services in terms

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of town raking lining, game prep, or wet field prep.

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Currently, our middle school team does not have a diamond.

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Our freshman are often canceled

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because varsity needs to go to Warner

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and JV then to Walker Gordon.

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Without Warner, we'll have four teams competing for two

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and without a memorial rehab, often one diamond

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that's not taken into account, the 10

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or so little league big Diamond teams.

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The two Legion teams are the four Rocket selects teams

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that all play on the big diamonds.

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This is an urgent need

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and we really hope that the town can complete the Memorial

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Field Project in 2027.

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We're also hoping

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to find a short term third diamond while Warner is offline,

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maybe through town connections of Babson or St.

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Sebs, ensure

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that Warner will actually be brought back online as soon

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as possible when staging is done,

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and identify a location

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for a fourth diamond in the long term,

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because three hasn't been sustainable for us.

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The letter today includes more detail then I can express in

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these three minutes, which I think just ended.

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So I'm happy to do anything further.

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That would help. Thank you. Thanks.

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Thanks, Corey. And the

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we'll be reaching out to you to get Okay. Thank you

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Very much. To put

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Some discussion Together.

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Thank you. Okay.

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All right. And the last public comment that we're aware

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of tonight is Bill Looney.

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Come on up. Thanks for being here tonight.

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Thank you. Your name and your address, please.

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Good evening. My name is Bill Looney.

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I live at two 13 Garden Street in Needham.

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I'm joined by mini neighbors here tonight,

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and we ask that the select board not endorse a 1 93 Garden

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Street Project as it is proposed.

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We attended the April 28th select board meeting

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with the same request and with the ferry.

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Same concerns. We've had communication with Mr.

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Aldi since the last select board meeting,

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but there have been no changes to the proposed project,

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and there have been no other actions taken

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to address the neighborhood concerns

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since this process began.

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It's been frustrating to say the least.

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I believe the neighborhood is supportive of a sensibly sized

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friendly 40 B project at the development at the site,

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but the developer proposes to build ten five bedroom homes

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on a single family lot in a single family neighborhood.

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Simply put, the size

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and scale of this proposed project is grossly oversized

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for the lot and outta scale for the neighborhood.

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This unreasonable scale raises numerous environmental

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zoning, safety and neighborhood deficiencies.

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Late last week, a number of neighbors submitted letters

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to the town manager

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and to the select board outlining our serious

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concerns about the project.

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These concerns include the following, numerous building

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and zoning issues focused on density, building height,

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parking, adequacy, and circulation,

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and lack of disability access, safety issues,

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including first responder access

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and fire safety, accessibility,

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serious environmental concerns.

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The property is adjacent to conservation areas and wetlands.

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The project will require substantial grading,

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vegetation removal, expanded impervious areas,

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intensive habitat disturbance into the wetlands area

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and its buffer zones.

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And in order to expand the lot's buildable area,

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the developer proposes

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to construct a massive retaining wall adjacent

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to the wetlands to fill in the gully

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that drops down into the wetland area.

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And fourth, there's a lack of detail and review.

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We ask that the select board be cautious in considering a

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project with so many concerns

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and very little information to address those concerns.

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We know Mr. Aldi builds nice homes,

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and we ask that the development at 1 93 Garden Street be

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appropriate for the neighborhood, the neighborhood.

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Ask that the select board please not endorse the project

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as it is proposed.

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There are so many serious deficiencies

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that it's not possible to come up with a list of conditions

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that could remedy this proposal.

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We believe the developer should go back to the drawing board

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and submit a pro and submit a project that's suitable

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for the lot for the neighborhood

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and for the town. Thank you.

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Thank you. Okay.

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Is there anyone else in the room who came with the intent

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of making public comment?

265
00:11:34,335 --> 00:11:38,195
All right. Anyone online? I don't see any hands. No. Okay.

266
00:11:39,215 --> 00:11:41,595
Thanks everyone. All right.

267
00:11:41,595 --> 00:11:45,875
So the first item on our agenda is the 2026

268
00:11:45,875 --> 00:11:49,035
International Overdose Awareness Day proclamation.

269
00:11:49,215 --> 00:11:50,955
And for that, we'll turn to the vice chair,

270
00:11:52,385 --> 00:11:53,385
Certainly.

271
00:11:54,555 --> 00:11:57,285
Whereas International Overdose Awareness Day aims

272
00:11:57,285 --> 00:11:58,325
to bring communities together

273
00:11:58,425 --> 00:12:01,325
to remember without stigma those who have died from overdose

274
00:12:01,425 --> 00:12:03,045
and acknowledge the grief of the family

275
00:12:03,105 --> 00:12:04,245
and friends left behind.

276
00:12:04,985 --> 00:12:07,485
And whereas observance of this day is an opportunity

277
00:12:07,485 --> 00:12:09,645
to raise awareness about the risk of overdose,

278
00:12:09,875 --> 00:12:11,605
promote discussion about prevention,

279
00:12:11,945 --> 00:12:13,805
and share information about support services.

280
00:12:14,465 --> 00:12:16,285
And whereas addiction is a disease

281
00:12:16,285 --> 00:12:18,205
that touches families in every community,

282
00:12:18,585 --> 00:12:20,725
the epidemic has claimed the lives of thousands

283
00:12:20,725 --> 00:12:21,965
of Massachusetts residents

284
00:12:22,065 --> 00:12:23,965
and affected countless other family members.

285
00:12:24,665 --> 00:12:27,045
And whereas those affected by overdose are our children,

286
00:12:27,305 --> 00:12:28,565
our parents, our siblings,

287
00:12:28,905 --> 00:12:30,845
and deserve our compassion and support.

288
00:12:31,425 --> 00:12:34,325
And whereas the town of Needham, Massachusetts does affirm

289
00:12:34,385 --> 00:12:35,565
and acknowledge the pain

290
00:12:35,565 --> 00:12:38,445
and hardship caused by drug overdose, now

291
00:12:38,445 --> 00:12:41,565
therefore be it resolved that August 27th, 2026,

292
00:12:41,985 --> 00:12:43,805
be declared International Overdose Awareness

293
00:12:43,825 --> 00:12:44,885
Day in the town of Needham.

294
00:12:46,615 --> 00:12:47,725
Madam Chair, I would move

295
00:12:47,725 --> 00:12:49,245
that the board votes will approve

296
00:12:49,245 --> 00:12:51,885
and sign the 2026 International Overdose

297
00:12:51,885 --> 00:12:53,285
Awareness Day proclamation

298
00:12:53,585 --> 00:12:54,585
Second.

299
00:12:55,385 --> 00:12:59,525
All right. Any discussion? Okay.

300
00:12:59,745 --> 00:13:02,005
All of our votes will be roll called,

301
00:13:02,005 --> 00:13:03,445
because we have a member remote.

302
00:13:03,585 --> 00:13:05,925
So Kathy, I'm gonna start with you. Oh,

303
00:13:05,925 --> 00:13:08,205
Wait, I just, one thought there is overdose

304
00:13:08,205 --> 00:13:09,645
awareness night coming up.

305
00:13:10,535 --> 00:13:12,845
Thank You. On August 27th. Seventh 27th.

306
00:13:13,145 --> 00:13:14,645
At Memorial Park. At Memorial Park.

307
00:13:14,855 --> 00:13:15,285
Thank you.

308
00:13:19,755 --> 00:13:22,415
So we have a, a motion on the table

309
00:13:23,035 --> 00:13:25,535
and we'll go to a vote.

310
00:13:25,905 --> 00:13:30,135
Kathy? Yes. Bill? Yes.

311
00:13:30,445 --> 00:13:31,775
Josh? Yes. Kevin.

312
00:13:32,355 --> 00:13:35,735
Aye. And I vote yes as well. So the motion passes.

313
00:13:36,745 --> 00:13:39,015
Thank you. All right.

314
00:13:39,015 --> 00:13:42,335
Next we have a public hearing, a Eversource grant

315
00:13:42,335 --> 00:13:44,615
of location for 77 Wellesley Avenue.

316
00:13:44,935 --> 00:13:46,935
I imagine we're gonna be joined by Joanne Calendar.

317
00:13:48,355 --> 00:13:51,935
And is Mike Bakari in the room? I believe he's online.

318
00:13:51,935 --> 00:13:54,095
We're online. Okay. Fantastic. Thank you.

319
00:13:54,605 --> 00:13:56,735
Mike Bakari from Precision Contracting.

320
00:13:59,495 --> 00:14:00,115
Hi, Joanne.

321
00:14:04,105 --> 00:14:05,635
Okay, Joanne, just say hello.

322
00:14:05,735 --> 00:14:10,175
I'm not sure we can hear you. Oh, no, we're not hearing you.

323
00:14:10,205 --> 00:14:13,735
Hang on one sec. Try again.

324
00:14:16,935 --> 00:14:18,375
Hmm. Nothing yet. Nothing yet.

325
00:14:18,525 --> 00:14:20,175
Nothing. Hello? Everyone good?

326
00:14:21,335 --> 00:14:23,655
I heard him. Oh, there we go. Okay. Fantastic.

327
00:14:23,875 --> 00:14:25,095
Hi, Joanne. You

328
00:14:25,095 --> 00:14:26,095
Can hear me now?

329
00:14:26,095 --> 00:14:28,135
Yes, we can hear you now. Thank you. Okay.

330
00:14:28,335 --> 00:14:30,095
Can, can you tell us about this grant of location?

331
00:14:31,085 --> 00:14:34,615
Sure. So let's see. Try that again.

332
00:14:34,955 --> 00:14:37,495
We actually sent an updated package yesterday

333
00:14:37,495 --> 00:14:39,735
because there was some changes to the poll

334
00:14:39,735 --> 00:14:42,135
that Eversource will be providing service from.

335
00:14:42,365 --> 00:14:45,535
Okay. So, and I noticed in the packet

336
00:14:45,565 --> 00:14:46,815
that the clerk sent out,

337
00:14:46,835 --> 00:14:48,735
she did not include the newest plan.

338
00:14:49,335 --> 00:14:51,055
I sent it over minutes ago.

339
00:14:51,325 --> 00:14:52,485
I don't know if you received it,

340
00:14:52,745 --> 00:14:54,365
but at, so at this point,

341
00:14:55,005 --> 00:14:57,405
Eversource is seeking the grand location to install,

342
00:14:57,405 --> 00:14:59,965
install approximately 17 feet of conduit

343
00:15:00,595 --> 00:15:01,605
into Wellesley Avenue.

344
00:15:01,825 --> 00:15:05,445
And that's from Pole 61 11.

345
00:15:06,305 --> 00:15:09,365
And that is to provide underground service

346
00:15:09,705 --> 00:15:12,605
to the new home at 77 Wellesley Avenue.

347
00:15:13,475 --> 00:15:15,685
Okay. Thank you. All right. Thank you, Joanne.

348
00:15:15,755 --> 00:15:17,085
Okay, so yeah,

349
00:15:17,085 --> 00:15:22,085
it looks like quite a few changes, Madam Town Manager.

350
00:15:22,385 --> 00:15:23,445
Is everything in order here?

351
00:15:24,245 --> 00:15:26,005
Unfortunately, the work was completed.

352
00:15:26,835 --> 00:15:28,245
Well, initial work was done

353
00:15:28,305 --> 00:15:31,245
before the grant location, and that's why we have Mr.

354
00:15:31,305 --> 00:15:34,165
Bakari here. And just to note for the board in your packet,

355
00:15:34,225 --> 00:15:35,765
you do have the most updated that Ms.

356
00:15:35,965 --> 00:15:37,365
Calendar just referenced. Okay.

357
00:15:37,385 --> 00:15:39,405
So you're looking at the updated requests.

358
00:15:39,645 --> 00:15:41,125
I Think the poll is four,

359
00:15:41,305 --> 00:15:43,045
not a different poll in the packet.

360
00:15:44,115 --> 00:15:46,605
Yeah, I think when the clerk sent it over yesterday,

361
00:15:46,785 --> 00:15:50,245
she sent the engineer sketch, not the actual plan.

362
00:15:50,985 --> 00:15:53,045
So I don't know if you have the plan in your packet

363
00:15:53,115 --> 00:15:57,885
that shows the 17th feet of conduit coming from 61 over 11.

364
00:15:58,075 --> 00:15:59,685
Yeah, I see a sketch, I think.

365
00:16:00,315 --> 00:16:03,125
Yeah. So you didn't get, I I emailed it, like I said,

366
00:16:03,125 --> 00:16:06,245
around five 30, but I wasn't convinced you would receive it.

367
00:16:06,515 --> 00:16:09,405
Sure. I can pull it up on my screen if, if you can see

368
00:16:09,405 --> 00:16:11,005
that I, yeah.

369
00:16:11,185 --> 00:16:12,565
Can you, can you see it? I

370
00:16:12,565 --> 00:16:14,405
Think I, I mean, for me,

371
00:16:14,405 --> 00:16:16,525
the sketch is adequate personally,

372
00:16:17,345 --> 00:16:19,365
but I, I guess I do have a question.

373
00:16:19,545 --> 00:16:22,245
So if we've changed polls,

374
00:16:22,385 --> 00:16:24,445
but some of the work was already done, can,

375
00:16:24,545 --> 00:16:28,365
can you help us understand where work was done

376
00:16:28,385 --> 00:16:30,765
and if it has to be undone or redone?

377
00:16:31,145 --> 00:16:34,845
No. So the, the customer did install the conduit from the

378
00:16:34,845 --> 00:16:36,965
correct pole from 61 over 11.

379
00:16:37,305 --> 00:16:40,845
So it's, the 17 feet of conduit is already present. Okay.

380
00:16:41,745 --> 00:16:43,365
We just had it wrong on our sketch.

381
00:16:43,365 --> 00:16:45,885
We were coming all the way down the street from a different

382
00:16:45,885 --> 00:16:48,085
pole, and we were looking for over a hundred feet

383
00:16:48,085 --> 00:16:49,605
of conduit, which just was not correct.

384
00:16:50,155 --> 00:16:54,205
Okay. So I'm glad

385
00:16:54,205 --> 00:16:55,965
that the work was done correctly.

386
00:16:55,965 --> 00:16:58,965
However, Mr.

387
00:16:59,145 --> 00:17:02,565
Bakari, perhaps you can help us understand

388
00:17:03,265 --> 00:17:04,925
how the work was done ahead of the grant

389
00:17:04,925 --> 00:17:06,485
of location that's required.

390
00:17:08,195 --> 00:17:12,455
So, truthfully, it was an oversight on

391
00:17:12,995 --> 00:17:14,575
my end and the,

392
00:17:16,995 --> 00:17:18,575
the electrician's end as well.

393
00:17:18,675 --> 00:17:21,535
We were under the impression that we were supposed

394
00:17:21,535 --> 00:17:23,815
to lay the conduit down, bring it to

395
00:17:24,395 --> 00:17:26,095
the handhold before the pole.

396
00:17:26,715 --> 00:17:28,855
The hand hole is just basically a, a box

397
00:17:28,875 --> 00:17:31,375
before the pole, get it inspected,

398
00:17:31,475 --> 00:17:33,735
and then get in touch with Eversource to come out,

399
00:17:33,915 --> 00:17:38,455
do the survey, and then have this grant of, right.

400
00:17:41,155 --> 00:17:44,855
Now, obviously we understand that that is the wrong order.

401
00:17:46,885 --> 00:17:49,135
Have you done, have you done work in Needham before?

402
00:17:49,995 --> 00:17:51,645
I've done plenty of work in Needham before,

403
00:17:51,705 --> 00:17:54,045
but truthfully, this is my first underground,

404
00:17:55,465 --> 00:17:57,325
my first underground service that I'm doing.

405
00:17:57,355 --> 00:17:58,885
Typically, it's always overhead.

406
00:18:00,195 --> 00:18:02,365
Okay, thank you.

407
00:18:03,145 --> 00:18:04,405
We were about, I think we're about,

408
00:18:06,205 --> 00:18:09,445
I think we're about five feet short, so it was kind

409
00:18:09,445 --> 00:18:12,325
of last minute that we had to decide to

410
00:18:13,025 --> 00:18:15,285
do an underground service as opposed to an overhead.

411
00:18:17,395 --> 00:18:19,325
Okay. Thank you for that explanation.

412
00:18:21,105 --> 00:18:22,645
Do any of my colleagues have any questions

413
00:18:23,385 --> 00:18:25,165
or comments, Jill?

414
00:18:25,185 --> 00:18:28,685
So, so if Joanne, the, that one 15 feet

415
00:18:28,685 --> 00:18:30,045
that was originally proposed,

416
00:18:30,345 --> 00:18:31,805
not none of that was ever done.

417
00:18:31,805 --> 00:18:32,805
Right?

418
00:18:33,275 --> 00:18:37,245
That was not, they only, they came from

419
00:18:38,465 --> 00:18:40,005
the private property, if you will, of over

420
00:18:40,005 --> 00:18:42,565
to the pole 61 over 11. Okay.

421
00:18:42,895 --> 00:18:45,565
Thank you. The pole is right at the end

422
00:18:45,565 --> 00:18:47,645
of our property, if that helps with you.

423
00:18:48,325 --> 00:18:51,125
I don't know if you have the, the slot plan in

424
00:18:51,125 --> 00:18:52,205
front of you. Yeah.

425
00:18:52,715 --> 00:18:55,085
Okay. I'm gonna open this.

426
00:18:55,085 --> 00:18:57,125
This is a public hearing, so I'm gonna open this up.

427
00:18:57,145 --> 00:18:58,885
The public comment, if there's anyone in the room

428
00:18:59,225 --> 00:19:02,125
who came here in order to discuss this matter.

429
00:19:05,035 --> 00:19:06,605
Okay. It appears not, is there anyone

430
00:19:06,605 --> 00:19:07,925
online who's here for this matter?

431
00:19:08,385 --> 00:19:13,185
No, there's not. Okay. All right. So Mr.

432
00:19:13,205 --> 00:19:16,545
Bakari, what? I thought I saw something.

433
00:19:16,565 --> 00:19:18,945
Oh, Mr.

434
00:19:18,965 --> 00:19:23,945
Bakari, the, we, we need to ensure that you are,

435
00:19:25,215 --> 00:19:27,465
that the grant of location is taken care of prior

436
00:19:27,465 --> 00:19:29,305
to the work being done in all cases.

437
00:19:29,805 --> 00:19:34,345
You know? Yes. It ensures safety, it ensures

438
00:19:34,535 --> 00:19:36,625
that the work is gonna be done properly.

439
00:19:36,645 --> 00:19:39,185
It ensures that there's no property issues.

440
00:19:41,125 --> 00:19:45,545
So I just, mistakes happen. Yeah.

441
00:19:45,925 --> 00:19:47,505
And I, I hear your explanation

442
00:19:47,505 --> 00:19:48,945
that this was your first underground one,

443
00:19:48,945 --> 00:19:50,785
but I just wanna make sure that you understand

444
00:19:50,785 --> 00:19:53,265
that in the future, this is the first stop

445
00:19:53,645 --> 00:19:55,265
and the work has to come second.

446
00:19:55,925 --> 00:19:58,345
Yes, definitely. And we just, just to

447
00:19:59,625 --> 00:20:00,785
reiterate a little bit too, it was,

448
00:20:00,925 --> 00:20:03,065
we did have the electrical inspector come out

449
00:20:03,065 --> 00:20:06,505
and inspect it as well just to, you know, solidify

450
00:20:06,505 --> 00:20:08,545
that all the, the work was done properly.

451
00:20:08,985 --> 00:20:12,225
I think the biggest mistake for me was the process

452
00:20:13,925 --> 00:20:17,705
coming to you first and then feeling involved.

453
00:20:17,705 --> 00:20:20,105
This, we just always wanna make sure that, you know,

454
00:20:20,105 --> 00:20:21,465
the neighbors have an opportunity

455
00:20:21,605 --> 00:20:23,585
to weigh in if there's anything

456
00:20:23,585 --> 00:20:25,185
that they're concerned about, et cetera.

457
00:20:25,215 --> 00:20:27,465
It's just public access and engagement. Absolutely.

458
00:20:27,465 --> 00:20:30,945
That's required. So, alright, so I guess

459
00:20:31,805 --> 00:20:33,705
the work has been done

460
00:20:35,045 --> 00:20:36,665
and in done on the correct poll,

461
00:20:37,005 --> 00:20:38,865
so we can all be glad for that.

462
00:20:39,305 --> 00:20:41,225
Does anyone have any comments they'd like to make?

463
00:20:41,805 --> 00:20:43,905
It seems like we've seen this a couple times now.

464
00:20:44,445 --> 00:20:47,190
And do we publicize well or why, what?

465
00:20:47,190 --> 00:20:49,445
I don't understand why it keeps happening.

466
00:20:49,565 --> 00:20:52,805
I guess I, and I guess so that's my question.

467
00:20:52,805 --> 00:20:56,005
Then the other question is, you know, do we keep track

468
00:20:56,065 --> 00:20:59,605
of people who do the work before they come here?

469
00:20:59,635 --> 00:21:02,165
Because if they ever come back a second time,

470
00:21:02,765 --> 00:21:05,165
I really would not be that favorable.

471
00:21:05,905 --> 00:21:07,605
Yes. But I don't know what we can do.

472
00:21:07,665 --> 00:21:10,765
That's a good question. Thanks for the question.

473
00:21:11,265 --> 00:21:15,165
So maybe three years ago we had a whole slew

474
00:21:15,305 --> 00:21:17,605
of work being done before a grant of location.

475
00:21:17,605 --> 00:21:19,285
And so the board at the time had asked us

476
00:21:19,545 --> 00:21:21,445
to make operational improvements to figure out

477
00:21:21,445 --> 00:21:23,725
how we can better educate all of the parties.

478
00:21:24,105 --> 00:21:26,845
I'd say part of the issue is that

479
00:21:28,035 --> 00:21:32,165
each party is losing sight of the other piece of the puzzle.

480
00:21:32,385 --> 00:21:36,045
So a contractor has a building permit through the town,

481
00:21:36,045 --> 00:21:39,245
sometimes an electrical permit, they have

482
00:21:39,245 --> 00:21:42,485
to request from Eversource, an Eversource field agent

483
00:21:42,485 --> 00:21:43,525
to go out on the scene.

484
00:21:43,525 --> 00:21:48,245
If they wanna do underground, the Eversource team goes out,

485
00:21:48,515 --> 00:21:49,725
does the initial sketch.

486
00:21:50,105 --> 00:21:52,805
And a lot of times what we're hearing from contractors was,

487
00:21:52,835 --> 00:21:54,925
well, Eversource came out and they gave me this sketch

488
00:21:55,225 --> 00:21:56,605
and so that's the work that I'm gonna do.

489
00:21:57,105 --> 00:22:00,165
So we instituted a lot of process improvements,

490
00:22:00,165 --> 00:22:04,045
understanding that that was maybe giving contractors

491
00:22:04,225 --> 00:22:06,925
and not a clear understanding that then the, the grant

492
00:22:06,925 --> 00:22:08,845
of location comes to the select board actually

493
00:22:08,845 --> 00:22:11,725
through Eversource, not through the contractor themselves.

494
00:22:12,265 --> 00:22:14,085
And that then the work should continue from there.

495
00:22:14,305 --> 00:22:16,565
So some of the improvements that we made from that time was

496
00:22:17,205 --> 00:22:19,485
we met with Eversource, we became fast friends

497
00:22:19,605 --> 00:22:22,885
with Miss Calendar, and one of the things

498
00:22:22,885 --> 00:22:26,085
that we requested is when the Eversource team goes out on

499
00:22:26,085 --> 00:22:27,725
site, that they let us know

500
00:22:27,755 --> 00:22:29,885
that they've been out in the field with someone so

501
00:22:29,885 --> 00:22:31,805
that we could just give a call to the contractor

502
00:22:31,805 --> 00:22:33,885
and say, Hey, we know that you met with Eversource,

503
00:22:33,985 --> 00:22:38,845
but you should know that, that there's more steps to come.

504
00:22:39,625 --> 00:22:41,965
But the other piece is making sure we educate on our

505
00:22:42,265 --> 00:22:43,885
own materials.

506
00:22:44,025 --> 00:22:46,925
So when you apply for a building permit, now you have

507
00:22:46,925 --> 00:22:48,725
to indicate whether you're going overground

508
00:22:48,985 --> 00:22:50,885
or underground overhead or underground.

509
00:22:51,345 --> 00:22:55,445
And on our building permit page, there's language on there

510
00:22:55,445 --> 00:22:58,245
that says, if you're going underground, here's the grant

511
00:22:58,245 --> 00:22:59,325
of location requirement.

512
00:22:59,905 --> 00:23:01,645
So it's built into our permitting system

513
00:23:02,185 --> 00:23:03,685
and you know, the obligation at the end

514
00:23:03,685 --> 00:23:05,605
of the day really is on the permit polar.

515
00:23:06,705 --> 00:23:11,005
So I'll, I'll note that on the, the plans that we have,

516
00:23:11,165 --> 00:23:14,845
I mean, it is highlighted in bright yellow

517
00:23:14,915 --> 00:23:17,365
that says the electrician to wait for grant of location

518
00:23:17,365 --> 00:23:20,125
before completing work to pull. So

519
00:23:20,125 --> 00:23:21,925
It, and I wanna acknowledge Eversource made

520
00:23:21,925 --> 00:23:24,565
that change at our request from a few years

521
00:23:24,565 --> 00:23:25,765
back. They added that text

522
00:23:25,825 --> 00:23:27,165
To the, which is, which is great.

523
00:23:27,265 --> 00:23:31,485
But yeah, maybe, maybe, I mean,

524
00:23:31,585 --> 00:23:34,805
it it seems pretty, is this what they're giving to the,

525
00:23:36,755 --> 00:23:39,285
okay, so then, then I guess the folks aren't reading.

526
00:23:40,405 --> 00:23:41,885
I mean it, you know,

527
00:23:43,485 --> 00:23:46,365
'cause it, it, it's on both pages highlighted.

528
00:23:46,535 --> 00:23:47,535
Right?

529
00:23:48,825 --> 00:23:51,885
Put it in red. It did. I mean,

530
00:23:51,885 --> 00:23:54,685
It, it's actually, I mean, it's actually yellow.

531
00:23:54,915 --> 00:23:57,525
It's outlined in red and highlighted in yellow.

532
00:23:57,635 --> 00:24:00,965
It's hard, it's hard to imagine how someone could,

533
00:24:01,255 --> 00:24:03,565
could kind of miss it, honestly. Well,

534
00:24:03,665 --> 00:24:06,685
In, in this situation, when Eversource went out there,

535
00:24:06,945 --> 00:24:08,365
the work had already been done.

536
00:24:08,905 --> 00:24:12,165
So we, we didn't have the sketch to hand to the customer

537
00:24:12,605 --> 00:24:14,445
'cause the work had already been done. Oh,

538
00:24:14,445 --> 00:24:15,205
Okay. Good. Good

539
00:24:15,205 --> 00:24:16,205
Point.

540
00:24:16,205 --> 00:24:18,845
Could I, could I, could I say one thing just as the Sure.

541
00:24:19,355 --> 00:24:20,925
Help Us kind of Yeah.

542
00:24:20,925 --> 00:24:25,165
Just to kind of get real life scenario please.

543
00:24:25,405 --> 00:24:29,405
I, I, I do think that there is a disconnect

544
00:24:29,955 --> 00:24:34,245
from the contractor slash electrician

545
00:24:34,385 --> 00:24:36,885
to the permit pulling process

546
00:24:39,775 --> 00:24:42,285
where I, you know, when we pull the permit,

547
00:24:43,335 --> 00:24:47,485
there isn't anything that, you know, really is like,

548
00:24:47,545 --> 00:24:49,845
not in your face, but showing you, hey,

549
00:24:50,305 --> 00:24:51,725
you have to go through this step.

550
00:24:53,505 --> 00:24:56,525
You know, like when we, when we go to pull a permit, we have

551
00:24:56,525 --> 00:24:58,605
to upload a bunch of requirements, right.

552
00:24:58,865 --> 00:25:00,845
You know, we have to upload the site plan,

553
00:25:01,105 --> 00:25:04,005
the permit drawing, I mean the architectural drawings.

554
00:25:04,465 --> 00:25:07,045
And there's nothing that really says, Hey, you need

555
00:25:07,875 --> 00:25:10,725
this plan from Eversource to move forward.

556
00:25:11,355 --> 00:25:15,485
Okay. So it was, I I will say like it, for me, doing the as

557
00:25:15,665 --> 00:25:18,885
as this being my first time doing a underground service,

558
00:25:19,405 --> 00:25:22,445
I was a little confused, taken back, I guess

559
00:25:22,475 --> 00:25:26,525
with the process because it wasn't

560
00:25:27,585 --> 00:25:31,525
really straightforward for us on our end.

561
00:25:31,835 --> 00:25:33,885
Once I spoke with Eversource, it was very easy

562
00:25:33,905 --> 00:25:36,405
and very straightforward, but I did not know

563
00:25:36,405 --> 00:25:37,445
that process beforehand.

564
00:25:38,115 --> 00:25:40,605
Okay. Well I appreciate that perspective.

565
00:25:41,655 --> 00:25:45,125
We'll have to discuss this internally to see if there's any,

566
00:25:46,645 --> 00:25:48,965
I hate to, I hate to belabor, but I'm madam chair,

567
00:25:48,965 --> 00:25:51,165
but I'm wondering if we have, on the permit, we say,

568
00:25:51,185 --> 00:25:52,605
are you going overground and underground?

569
00:25:52,645 --> 00:25:55,605
I don't know if it says on that permit, if it says next

570
00:25:55,605 --> 00:25:58,045
to the underground, if you're going underground, you need

571
00:25:58,045 --> 00:25:59,205
to get the grant of location.

572
00:26:00,805 --> 00:26:02,325
I Believe it does, but I'm gonna triple check now

573
00:26:02,325 --> 00:26:04,085
and if not, we can definitely update it. Yeah,

574
00:26:04,085 --> 00:26:05,085
Yeah.

575
00:26:05,085 --> 00:26:05,685
Sorry to pull on.

576
00:26:05,905 --> 00:26:07,285
No, no, I, I mean it's,

577
00:26:08,105 --> 00:26:10,445
we wanna figure this out, so I appreciate it.

578
00:26:11,675 --> 00:26:12,675
Okay. So

579
00:26:14,435 --> 00:26:16,885
With all that said, I would move that, thank you.

580
00:26:18,435 --> 00:26:20,325
Sign a petition from Eversource Energy

581
00:26:20,325 --> 00:26:22,925
to install approximately 17 feet

582
00:26:22,925 --> 00:26:25,245
of conduit in Wellesley Ave. Second.

583
00:26:26,195 --> 00:26:28,565
Okay, great. Can I just reconfirm at the town manager

584
00:26:28,585 --> 00:26:33,565
so we have that documentation, the correct, the,

585
00:26:33,565 --> 00:26:35,125
the, the correct book

586
00:26:35,235 --> 00:26:36,605
that has been done in the correct location.

587
00:26:36,925 --> 00:26:39,325
'cause I, I'm, I'm fine with approving it now,

588
00:26:39,325 --> 00:26:41,485
but in 10, 15, however many years from now,

589
00:26:41,625 --> 00:26:43,725
we wanna make sure that yeah, we know

590
00:26:43,725 --> 00:26:46,325
where the work is under our street, our sidewalks.

591
00:26:47,545 --> 00:26:49,365
Yes. Based on the plans, the updated plans

592
00:26:49,365 --> 00:26:51,085
of the 17 feet. Is that what you're asking?

593
00:26:51,265 --> 00:26:52,805
And from the correct pole? Yes.

594
00:26:52,835 --> 00:26:55,085
Okay. Yes. Engineering's fully in the loop. Yes.

595
00:26:55,085 --> 00:26:56,085
Thank you.

596
00:26:57,145 --> 00:27:00,125
All right. So we have the motion on the table then,

597
00:27:00,665 --> 00:27:02,085
and I will start with Kathy.

598
00:27:03,865 --> 00:27:08,725
Yes. Bill? Yes. Josh? Yes. Kevin? Yes.

599
00:27:09,105 --> 00:27:10,125
And the chair votes? Yes.

600
00:27:10,385 --> 00:27:14,605
So hearing I already, I already, we already did that.

601
00:27:14,945 --> 00:27:16,005
Didn't forget. Thanks Bill.

602
00:27:17,145 --> 00:27:19,525
All right, so the motion passes and we can move along.

603
00:27:19,655 --> 00:27:22,325
Thank you both. Thank you for joining us. Have a good night.

604
00:27:22,545 --> 00:27:24,485
You all have a great night. Thank you. Thank you.

605
00:27:25,555 --> 00:27:28,045
Okay, the next item on our agenda is

606
00:27:28,045 --> 00:27:29,765
Steven Palmer jurisdiction update.

607
00:27:29,785 --> 00:27:31,565
And for that we'll turn to our town manager.

608
00:27:32,015 --> 00:27:33,325
Thank you Madam Chair.

609
00:27:34,065 --> 00:27:36,365
At your last meeting, we discussed a recent vote

610
00:27:36,365 --> 00:27:39,045
of the school committee regarding their interest in

611
00:27:39,045 --> 00:27:40,645
retaining jurisdiction over the

612
00:27:40,645 --> 00:27:42,325
Stephen Palmer property and Building.

613
00:27:43,425 --> 00:27:47,085
And the copy of their exact vote is in your packet.

614
00:27:47,465 --> 00:27:49,365
But from there, based on the board's discussion

615
00:27:49,905 --> 00:27:54,565
in at your July meeting, I drafted an initial MOA to try to

616
00:27:55,715 --> 00:27:59,125
kind of codify some of the responsibilities that were

617
00:27:59,725 --> 00:28:02,205
articulated or requested in the school committee vote.

618
00:28:02,385 --> 00:28:06,005
So I won't review the where as is, which tries

619
00:28:06,025 --> 00:28:08,405
to just put the history and the facts down clearly.

620
00:28:09,345 --> 00:28:11,605
But the commitments in the MOA

621
00:28:11,605 --> 00:28:12,765
for the board's consideration,

622
00:28:12,825 --> 00:28:17,765
and I'd be looking for your feedback, is an agreement

623
00:28:17,795 --> 00:28:20,885
that the select board would agree to assume responsibility

624
00:28:21,025 --> 00:28:23,525
for supporting existing Stephen Palmer tenants in

625
00:28:23,525 --> 00:28:26,245
relocating, winding down the current residential use

626
00:28:26,265 --> 00:28:27,845
and managing the Stephen Palmer Building

627
00:28:27,865 --> 00:28:30,005
and Parcel until the building is vacant.

628
00:28:32,275 --> 00:28:33,685
Item two, the school committee

629
00:28:33,685 --> 00:28:35,285
through the superintendent will prepare

630
00:28:35,285 --> 00:28:38,805
and submit capital requests for the property for FY 28

631
00:28:38,805 --> 00:28:41,765
through 32 capital improvement plan based on the

632
00:28:41,765 --> 00:28:42,925
anticipated use of the building.

633
00:28:43,845 --> 00:28:45,445
Item three, the town manager,

634
00:28:46,125 --> 00:28:49,365
I would request funding in the fiscal year 2028 operating

635
00:28:49,365 --> 00:28:52,725
budget that whatever is needed to maintain,

636
00:28:52,885 --> 00:28:54,085
operate, and ensure the building.

637
00:28:54,465 --> 00:28:56,805
And I would say a lot of that will also be driven by,

638
00:28:57,865 --> 00:29:01,445
if the select board is making decisions under item one about

639
00:29:02,185 --> 00:29:03,845
the wind down of the residential use

640
00:29:04,105 --> 00:29:05,805
and how we're doing that, that would inform

641
00:29:05,875 --> 00:29:07,165
that operating budget request.

642
00:29:08,545 --> 00:29:10,885
And item four, if town meeting appropriates funding

643
00:29:10,905 --> 00:29:13,965
for a town wide facilities master plan, which I've expressed

644
00:29:13,965 --> 00:29:18,165
to the board, I would ask that be a priority

645
00:29:18,225 --> 00:29:21,285
for the board in the coming year, that the school committee

646
00:29:21,285 --> 00:29:24,525
and the select board would agree to include Steven Palmer in

647
00:29:24,525 --> 00:29:26,685
that, along with all the other town owned assets so

648
00:29:26,685 --> 00:29:28,685
that we can take a look at our assets holistically.

649
00:29:30,865 --> 00:29:33,765
So this is for your discussion and feedback

650
00:29:34,625 --> 00:29:37,365
and happy to make any edits the board sees fit.

651
00:29:39,955 --> 00:29:42,525
Okay. I'm gonna open it up for discussion.

652
00:29:42,915 --> 00:29:45,325
Does anyone, any of my colleagues want to, yeah,

653
00:29:45,785 --> 00:29:47,165
So manager, thank you to the

654
00:29:47,165 --> 00:29:48,245
town manager for putting this together.

655
00:29:48,405 --> 00:29:49,845
I think this reflects the discussion

656
00:29:49,845 --> 00:29:51,805
and I think this in my mind,

657
00:29:51,915 --> 00:29:55,045
will help us manage the property in

658
00:29:55,475 --> 00:29:57,045
uncertain circumstances.

659
00:29:57,205 --> 00:30:00,565
I guess we can say it that way on, on the fourth one

660
00:30:00,565 --> 00:30:01,965
with the, the facility master plan.

661
00:30:02,085 --> 00:30:03,445
I, I agree with this as well.

662
00:30:03,765 --> 00:30:05,845
I think I've heard talk

663
00:30:06,225 --> 00:30:08,045
of potentially demolishing the building.

664
00:30:08,965 --> 00:30:12,325
I mean, if it's gonna be in the facility master plan, we,

665
00:30:12,485 --> 00:30:14,045
I think that would be a decision that's held off

666
00:30:14,045 --> 00:30:15,485
until that occurs.

667
00:30:16,305 --> 00:30:17,805
That's my understanding. At least

668
00:30:20,915 --> 00:30:23,715
A request for funds to demolish the building would come

669
00:30:23,715 --> 00:30:27,115
under item two from the schools as a,

670
00:30:27,115 --> 00:30:28,915
through the capital process, I believe.

671
00:30:29,535 --> 00:30:32,875
And I'll discuss that further with our deputy manager,

672
00:30:33,155 --> 00:30:34,595
director of finance and the superintendent of schools.

673
00:30:34,935 --> 00:30:37,475
But I think the timing of when the school committee wants

674
00:30:37,475 --> 00:30:40,115
to submit that request, I think

675
00:30:40,115 --> 00:30:41,675
that would be a conversation with them.

676
00:30:42,095 --> 00:30:45,155
If we do move forward

677
00:30:45,155 --> 00:30:47,075
with the town wide facilities master plan, would that

678
00:30:47,855 --> 00:30:51,835
impact which year they'd be looking for funds to demolish?

679
00:30:51,835 --> 00:30:55,035
But again, that, that's for, for discussion.

680
00:30:56,105 --> 00:30:57,475
Yeah, I guess we have to discuss it more.

681
00:30:57,595 --> 00:30:58,755
'cause if it, if it's gonna be demolished,

682
00:30:58,755 --> 00:31:00,875
then why have it in the cap in the master plan.

683
00:31:04,575 --> 00:31:07,315
But, but either way, if, if it was demolished, I mean

684
00:31:07,315 --> 00:31:11,475
that would be after this, the period specified in the MOA.

685
00:31:11,475 --> 00:31:16,385
Right? Right. So I

686
00:31:16,385 --> 00:31:18,585
think intrinsically sort

687
00:31:18,585 --> 00:31:23,225
of putting it off any other,

688
00:31:24,125 --> 00:31:26,345
To me it just seems too, I,

689
00:31:26,535 --> 00:31:28,145
it's gonna be hard to work with two and four.

690
00:31:28,305 --> 00:31:30,585
'cause if the schools all of a sudden say we want the blank,

691
00:31:31,485 --> 00:31:33,505
but then we're putting in a facility study master,

692
00:31:34,645 --> 00:31:36,065
are we gonna say, okay, we're giving

693
00:31:36,065 --> 00:31:37,825
what their blank are we gonna make suggestion

694
00:31:37,825 --> 00:31:38,905
based on the facility study?

695
00:31:39,005 --> 00:31:41,265
So it's just something that I think we need to look at.

696
00:31:41,265 --> 00:31:43,465
Just like if you were to tear it down almost, you know,

697
00:31:44,005 --> 00:31:48,875
if they had made a decision, I'm not saying

698
00:31:49,065 --> 00:31:50,595
that it's terrible,

699
00:31:51,015 --> 00:31:52,875
I'm just saying it's something we need to think about.

700
00:31:53,535 --> 00:31:57,355
Agreed. Agreed. Okay. Kevin? Yeah,

701
00:31:58,125 --> 00:31:59,125
Katie, this is fine.

702
00:31:59,545 --> 00:32:01,355
It's great. I appreciate that, considering

703
00:32:01,355 --> 00:32:02,915
that circumstances have changed,

704
00:32:03,435 --> 00:32:05,515
considering this co codifies it. Well, so

705
00:32:05,515 --> 00:32:07,715
Thank you Kathy.

706
00:32:09,745 --> 00:32:12,835
Yeah, just, just Katie confirming here that

707
00:32:12,865 --> 00:32:16,555
what this agreement does is that we will handle the building

708
00:32:16,845 --> 00:32:19,475
until it is empty and then we will turn over an empty

709
00:32:19,635 --> 00:32:21,315
building to the school committee.

710
00:32:22,095 --> 00:32:25,355
Yes, that's correct. And then the second question is,

711
00:32:25,355 --> 00:32:28,555
in terms of the town wine facilities master plan,

712
00:32:29,255 --> 00:32:31,395
I'm assuming other school buildings are also

713
00:32:31,415 --> 00:32:32,555
in that plan, right?

714
00:32:33,665 --> 00:32:34,675
That would be my intention.

715
00:32:34,775 --> 00:32:36,075
And it's something I've discussed

716
00:32:36,075 --> 00:32:38,075
with the superintendent as well.

717
00:32:38,175 --> 00:32:40,365
So we haven't scoped anything.

718
00:32:40,505 --> 00:32:42,685
You know, this would be a budget request submission

719
00:32:42,685 --> 00:32:44,165
through the FY 28 budget process.

720
00:32:44,545 --> 00:32:47,605
And we could scope it, but I would recommend that all town

721
00:32:47,625 --> 00:32:49,005
and school facilities be included.

722
00:32:49,635 --> 00:32:51,445
Yeah. Okay. So then it's nothing

723
00:32:51,445 --> 00:32:52,565
special about this, right?

724
00:32:52,565 --> 00:32:54,205
If if every single facility

725
00:32:54,225 --> 00:32:57,005
and building, whether school, town,

726
00:32:57,365 --> 00:32:59,445
whatever is all included, then this wouldn't,

727
00:33:00,035 --> 00:33:01,125
that would make sense, I guess.

728
00:33:01,225 --> 00:33:04,285
But understand that that has not yet been scoped.

729
00:33:07,945 --> 00:33:08,765
All Right. Okay.

730
00:33:12,905 --> 00:33:14,845
All right. Yeah, I, I'm, I'm glad that

731
00:33:15,435 --> 00:33:18,405
this MOA will help us settle this issue of governance,

732
00:33:18,505 --> 00:33:21,765
you know, who, who's making decisions here

733
00:33:21,905 --> 00:33:26,485
for the short term so that it will allow us to explore

734
00:33:28,075 --> 00:33:29,405
what, what our plan should be.

735
00:33:29,705 --> 00:33:32,925
So there's no vote on this this evening, we're just,

736
00:33:35,355 --> 00:33:37,045
just considering and we'll take this up

737
00:33:37,045 --> 00:33:38,245
presumably at our next meeting.

738
00:33:39,545 --> 00:33:42,405
Thanks. Okay. Alright.

739
00:33:42,945 --> 00:33:45,805
So we'll move on to our next agenda item.

740
00:33:45,915 --> 00:33:48,445
This is the MWRA,

741
00:33:48,705 --> 00:33:51,405
the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority project updates.

742
00:33:51,405 --> 00:33:54,085
And we're gonna welcome a whole, whole team up.

743
00:33:54,425 --> 00:33:58,405
So come on up. I'm just gonna ask you, join us here.

744
00:33:59,345 --> 00:34:01,725
We want to make sure that when you're speaking,

745
00:34:01,725 --> 00:34:04,165
you're speaking into a microphone.

746
00:34:04,165 --> 00:34:06,085
Doesn't have to be like right up against it,

747
00:34:06,085 --> 00:34:08,285
but we wanna make sure that everyone on TV can hear you.

748
00:34:10,065 --> 00:34:13,125
And I'll ask you to start with some introductions.

749
00:34:14,185 --> 00:34:16,325
So I think we have two items on the agenda.

750
00:34:16,785 --> 00:34:18,285
The first one that we'll talk

751
00:34:18,285 --> 00:34:19,965
to is a Needham dewatering drain line.

752
00:34:20,135 --> 00:34:21,805
Great. And then we have another set

753
00:34:21,805 --> 00:34:22,885
of people, another set of, okay.

754
00:34:22,885 --> 00:34:24,525
Speak to the csl. Great. Alright.

755
00:34:25,085 --> 00:34:26,245
So my name is Paul Sbar,

756
00:34:26,265 --> 00:34:27,765
I'm the acting director for the Tunnel program.

757
00:34:28,445 --> 00:34:30,405
We appreciate the select board meeting with us today.

758
00:34:30,405 --> 00:34:32,845
We've met you a few times in the past on a tunnel program

759
00:34:33,155 --> 00:34:34,645
with some updates today.

760
00:34:34,715 --> 00:34:37,325
It's about one specific piece of construction

761
00:34:37,325 --> 00:34:38,805
for a drain line that we need to start

762
00:34:38,825 --> 00:34:40,325
before tunnel construction starts.

763
00:34:40,425 --> 00:34:43,045
But it's gonna help us get the tunnel construction so

764
00:34:43,045 --> 00:34:44,325
that when the tunnel contractor's on

765
00:34:44,325 --> 00:34:45,405
board, he's ready to go right away.

766
00:34:45,865 --> 00:34:47,365
So that, that's the first point.

767
00:34:47,505 --> 00:34:49,205
And I think we add some slides.

768
00:34:50,305 --> 00:34:52,645
Yes. But before you get started, just guys you

769
00:34:52,645 --> 00:34:54,605
Wanna introduce yourselves And I'm David Apt.

770
00:34:54,625 --> 00:34:58,005
I'm the design manager for the tunnel department. Great. I'm

771
00:34:58,005 --> 00:34:59,005
Ka Combine.

772
00:34:59,005 --> 00:35:00,325
Dean Maria, I'm the community relations coordinator.

773
00:35:00,805 --> 00:35:02,565
Excellent, thank you. Yeah. Okay,

774
00:35:02,945 --> 00:35:04,805
so we are starting our slides.

775
00:35:05,315 --> 00:35:07,365
Wonderful. Getting shared.

776
00:35:14,895 --> 00:35:17,995
Super Right. So next slide.

777
00:35:19,255 --> 00:35:20,835
So I'm just gonna give a quick update

778
00:35:20,835 --> 00:35:22,555
of the tunnel program just in context.

779
00:35:22,585 --> 00:35:24,355
That leads us up to the drain drain line

780
00:35:24,355 --> 00:35:25,435
that we're here really to talk about.

781
00:35:26,175 --> 00:35:27,315
And then Dave's gonna walk us

782
00:35:27,315 --> 00:35:29,035
through some specifics about the drain line

783
00:35:29,035 --> 00:35:30,315
so you'll be aware of what the work is.

784
00:35:30,525 --> 00:35:32,315
Great. And then we'll just cover some

785
00:35:32,315 --> 00:35:33,475
additional questions at the very end.

786
00:35:33,975 --> 00:35:37,565
So the next slide, we've shown this figure a number

787
00:35:37,565 --> 00:35:39,965
of times, but within that black circle is most

788
00:35:39,965 --> 00:35:43,005
of the metropolitan area that VM already serves water to.

789
00:35:43,725 --> 00:35:45,245
We need to provide redundancy for

790
00:35:45,245 --> 00:35:47,285
what you can see listed there, which is our city tunnel,

791
00:35:47,435 --> 00:35:49,565
city tunnel extension and Dorchester tunnel.

792
00:35:49,565 --> 00:35:51,525
That's what we call our Metropolitan water tunnel system.

793
00:35:52,365 --> 00:35:53,525
There are a couple incidences

794
00:35:53,525 --> 00:35:56,325
that happened in the past back in May of 2010

795
00:35:56,665 --> 00:36:01,365
and more recently in 2024 that brought us to the, the need

796
00:36:01,365 --> 00:36:03,165
for redundancy to the city tunnel system.

797
00:36:03,265 --> 00:36:05,645
We had a boil water order back in 2010

798
00:36:05,755 --> 00:36:08,485
because the, there's a water main break on the city

799
00:36:08,485 --> 00:36:09,725
tunnel or just upstream of that.

800
00:36:10,365 --> 00:36:11,405
That led us to the tunnel program.

801
00:36:11,545 --> 00:36:12,845
So I'm not gonna go into a lot

802
00:36:12,845 --> 00:36:14,205
of detail about the tunnel program,

803
00:36:14,345 --> 00:36:16,485
but it's about providing redundancy to

804
00:36:16,485 --> 00:36:18,525
that metropolitan tunnel system that we have.

805
00:36:18,905 --> 00:36:20,925
Can I ask why is break in quotes? Sure.

806
00:36:22,705 --> 00:36:26,125
Oh, we, we just, it, it was a water main break

807
00:36:26,305 --> 00:36:28,285
so it was a significant break for us.

808
00:36:28,305 --> 00:36:29,765
It wasn't a run of the mill type thing.

809
00:36:30,035 --> 00:36:31,925
There's no real sub reason

810
00:36:31,985 --> 00:36:34,245
to putting into quotes other than just

811
00:36:34,245 --> 00:36:35,765
to draw some attention to it. Okay,

812
00:36:36,175 --> 00:36:37,175
Thank you.

813
00:36:40,125 --> 00:36:42,685
I think we've talked about before some of the purposes

814
00:36:42,745 --> 00:36:43,805
for the tunnel program.

815
00:36:44,385 --> 00:36:45,645
And the main point here is

816
00:36:45,645 --> 00:36:47,885
that we wanna make sure we provide unin uninterrupted

817
00:36:48,085 --> 00:36:50,365
delivery of our high quality water to all the communities

818
00:36:50,365 --> 00:36:52,005
that we serve at any time

819
00:36:52,005 --> 00:36:54,525
of the year without any service interruptions.

820
00:36:54,585 --> 00:36:57,605
So that's why we need the tunnel program in order to be able

821
00:36:57,605 --> 00:36:59,325
to do that so that those similar incidences

822
00:36:59,325 --> 00:37:01,325
that have occurred in the past, if they happen again,

823
00:37:01,325 --> 00:37:04,645
we have ways to direct water around them to,

824
00:37:04,745 --> 00:37:06,205
to continue the service that we need to do.

825
00:37:08,395 --> 00:37:10,725
Next slide. So this is really a slide showing the

826
00:37:10,795 --> 00:37:11,805
overall tunnel program.

827
00:37:11,945 --> 00:37:13,805
And we've shown this one to the board before.

828
00:37:15,145 --> 00:37:17,685
We have two tunnel systems, one's in green, it's called

829
00:37:17,685 --> 00:37:19,845
that north tunnel that's gonna go from the Mass Pike

830
00:37:19,845 --> 00:37:21,045
and head up north five miles.

831
00:37:21,505 --> 00:37:23,165
The one for today that we're really concerned

832
00:37:23,165 --> 00:37:24,205
about is the south tunnel.

833
00:37:24,585 --> 00:37:27,885
And it's shown there are two colors, blue and a red stretch.

834
00:37:28,505 --> 00:37:31,725
And it's gonna also start at the Mass Pike in Route 1 28

835
00:37:31,905 --> 00:37:33,925
or on I 95 interchange area.

836
00:37:34,145 --> 00:37:36,965
That's where our halman aqueduct supplies the water into

837
00:37:36,965 --> 00:37:38,725
these tunnel systems and it'll deliver it all

838
00:37:38,725 --> 00:37:39,765
the way down to Mattapan.

839
00:37:40,225 --> 00:37:41,405
But to construct that tunnel,

840
00:37:41,745 --> 00:37:44,325
we we'll be using a tunnel boring machine

841
00:37:44,425 --> 00:37:47,725
and the tunnel boring machine will be starting at the I 95

842
00:37:47,925 --> 00:37:49,765
Highland Avenue interchange right here in Needham.

843
00:37:50,025 --> 00:37:51,925
And then it's gonna go construct in two different

844
00:37:51,925 --> 00:37:53,525
directions, one along that red path

845
00:37:53,525 --> 00:37:54,845
and one along the blue path.

846
00:37:56,235 --> 00:37:59,365
When that tunnel gets constructed, there's all the material

847
00:37:59,365 --> 00:38:00,885
that comes out, comes out path,

848
00:38:01,055 --> 00:38:02,605
those launch gas gets taken up

849
00:38:02,605 --> 00:38:04,405
and loaded onto trucks and taken away.

850
00:38:04,825 --> 00:38:06,965
But during construction, there'll be water groundwater

851
00:38:06,965 --> 00:38:08,285
that infiltrates into the tunnel

852
00:38:08,585 --> 00:38:10,765
and that water needs to also be brought back to the shaft

853
00:38:10,765 --> 00:38:12,805
so it can be pumped up to the surface treated

854
00:38:12,865 --> 00:38:14,685
to meet permit discharge requirements.

855
00:38:14,985 --> 00:38:16,685
And then, so the purpose of today is

856
00:38:16,685 --> 00:38:18,405
what we need is a pipeline to get from

857
00:38:18,405 --> 00:38:20,765
that interchange area over to the Charles River.

858
00:38:21,025 --> 00:38:23,525
So we call it a Needham dewatering drain line.

859
00:38:23,955 --> 00:38:25,685
It's what we call an early enabling work.

860
00:38:25,785 --> 00:38:28,005
So it's a piece of construction we need to do ahead

861
00:38:28,005 --> 00:38:29,925
of the large tunnel construction contract.

862
00:38:30,145 --> 00:38:32,005
So when the tunnel contractor comes on board,

863
00:38:32,005 --> 00:38:34,925
there's a place for that water to go to and get discharged.

864
00:38:35,505 --> 00:38:37,925
And so for the next slide, we're still on, just

865
00:38:38,025 --> 00:38:40,245
so we're aware that tunnel construction is still on schedule

866
00:38:40,305 --> 00:38:41,925
to start in 2028.

867
00:38:42,345 --> 00:38:44,165
And this is a piece of work that we need to do

868
00:38:44,955 --> 00:38:46,925
essentially next year so that we're ready for

869
00:38:46,925 --> 00:38:48,045
that 2028 timeframe.

870
00:38:48,505 --> 00:38:49,725
And now I'm gonna pass it off to Dave

871
00:38:49,725 --> 00:38:51,525
and he's gonna talk more specifically about

872
00:38:51,525 --> 00:38:52,845
what the need drain line will do.

873
00:38:53,745 --> 00:38:56,925
Yes. So the Needham dewatering drainage line consists

874
00:38:57,065 --> 00:39:01,005
of approximately 1,250 linear feet

875
00:39:01,185 --> 00:39:03,685
of 36 inch diameter pipeline.

876
00:39:04,225 --> 00:39:06,285
It starts at our Highland Avenue

877
00:39:06,925 --> 00:39:09,525
I 95 Northeast Cloverleaf shaft site

878
00:39:09,985 --> 00:39:13,365
and crosses underneath the I 95 Highway ramps

879
00:39:13,745 --> 00:39:16,445
and then falls along Brook Road, Arlington Road,

880
00:39:16,445 --> 00:39:17,925
makes a turn on Charles Street

881
00:39:17,985 --> 00:39:20,085
and then turns into the 1 63

882
00:39:20,845 --> 00:39:23,085
Highland Avenue private property to

883
00:39:23,085 --> 00:39:24,765
where our outfall location will be

884
00:39:24,825 --> 00:39:26,005
at the bank of the Charles River.

885
00:39:26,555 --> 00:39:29,045
When you say falls along, do you mean under Underground?

886
00:39:29,045 --> 00:39:30,485
Underground, thank you. Yes.

887
00:39:32,785 --> 00:39:36,645
The purpose is to discharge treated construction water

888
00:39:36,645 --> 00:39:38,325
during South Tunnel construction.

889
00:39:38,665 --> 00:39:41,605
It will also be the point where we discharge the water used

890
00:39:41,625 --> 00:39:43,045
for disinfection flushing

891
00:39:43,045 --> 00:39:44,645
and commissioning at the completion

892
00:39:44,645 --> 00:39:45,765
of South Tunnel Construction.

893
00:39:46,145 --> 00:39:48,565
And it's the low point for the South tunnel system.

894
00:39:48,665 --> 00:39:51,245
So in the future, if we need to take the tunnel offline

895
00:39:51,345 --> 00:39:52,445
for maintenance, inspection

896
00:39:52,505 --> 00:39:55,765
or repair, we would un water the tunnel at this location.

897
00:39:56,625 --> 00:39:59,005
So on the next few slides, I'm gonna walk you

898
00:39:59,005 --> 00:40:01,645
through the alignment, go over the construction methods

899
00:40:02,265 --> 00:40:03,845
and our work hours.

900
00:40:04,335 --> 00:40:06,085
Let's have question before go. Yeah.

901
00:40:06,085 --> 00:40:09,045
You say 1 63 Highland is a private Yes.

902
00:40:09,185 --> 00:40:10,725
So have you already had discussion,

903
00:40:10,785 --> 00:40:11,845
I'm guessing with them or?

904
00:40:11,985 --> 00:40:13,885
Yes, we're finalizing our permanent

905
00:40:14,125 --> 00:40:15,525
easement through their parking lot. Okay,

906
00:40:15,815 --> 00:40:16,815
Thank you.

907
00:40:17,965 --> 00:40:20,425
We, so we start at the Highland Avenue Northeast

908
00:40:20,425 --> 00:40:24,225
Cloverleaf, where we'll do about 150 feet

909
00:40:24,225 --> 00:40:27,305
of trenchless construction underneath the I 95 ramp.

910
00:40:27,775 --> 00:40:30,905
This is to not impact the traffic on the ramp.

911
00:40:31,275 --> 00:40:34,105
We're anticipating constructing this through pipe jacking.

912
00:40:34,295 --> 00:40:37,105
It's a figure on the bottom left hand of the slide.

913
00:40:37,965 --> 00:40:40,905
We are anticipating this work will be done during the day.

914
00:40:42,365 --> 00:40:44,025
Moving on to the next slide please.

915
00:40:45,455 --> 00:40:49,025
This is our alignment within the Needham right of way.

916
00:40:49,325 --> 00:40:52,625
So there's about 850 linear feet of cut

917
00:40:52,625 --> 00:40:55,545
and cover construction in Brook Road,

918
00:40:55,575 --> 00:40:56,985
Arlington and Charles Street.

919
00:40:57,525 --> 00:40:58,865
We will construct the work

920
00:40:58,885 --> 00:41:02,065
and stages to reduce our footprint in our impact on the

921
00:41:02,305 --> 00:41:06,225
surrounding area with discussions between DPW

922
00:41:06,985 --> 00:41:08,185
engineering and the police.

923
00:41:08,765 --> 00:41:10,905
And given it's a dense commercial area,

924
00:41:11,085 --> 00:41:14,265
we think night work would be the least impactful to buts.

925
00:41:15,925 --> 00:41:19,425
And there are Needham sewer mains running parallel

926
00:41:19,425 --> 00:41:21,625
to our proposed drainage line in Brook

927
00:41:21,625 --> 00:41:22,745
Road and Charles Street.

928
00:41:23,285 --> 00:41:26,025
So we will rehabilitate or replace those.

929
00:41:28,015 --> 00:41:29,015
Next slide please.

930
00:41:30,045 --> 00:41:31,545
So just, can I just ask Yes,

931
00:41:31,545 --> 00:41:32,865
this is gonna be in place throughout

932
00:41:33,225 --> 00:41:34,605
the entirety of the project.

933
00:41:34,705 --> 00:41:39,365
So this is all gonna be fixed to standard, like

934
00:41:39,905 --> 00:41:42,805
the regular Needham standard after the tunnel's in place?

935
00:41:43,305 --> 00:41:44,405
Yes, yes.

936
00:41:44,905 --> 00:41:46,085
And timeline,

937
00:41:46,145 --> 00:41:49,045
how long will the trenching take Brooke Road to?

938
00:41:49,945 --> 00:41:52,365
So our target is

939
00:41:52,365 --> 00:41:54,845
to start construction in the spring of 2027.

940
00:41:55,035 --> 00:41:59,845
Okay. And reaching substantial completion by spring of 2028

941
00:41:59,875 --> 00:42:03,045
that recognizes Needham Street moratorium in the winter.

942
00:42:03,755 --> 00:42:06,325
Okay. Okay. So we're targeting one construction

943
00:42:06,325 --> 00:42:07,405
season. Okay,

944
00:42:07,595 --> 00:42:08,595
Nice.

945
00:42:08,595 --> 00:42:10,725
We got a slide coming up on that. Yeah, sorry.

946
00:42:10,755 --> 00:42:15,325
Next slide please. And when we turn onto

947
00:42:15,665 --> 00:42:18,165
the private property, 1 63 Highland Avenue,

948
00:42:18,425 --> 00:42:20,605
we have about 250 feet of cut

949
00:42:20,605 --> 00:42:23,685
and cover construction, installing our drain line leading up

950
00:42:23,685 --> 00:42:26,245
to our outfall that will be on the bank of Charles River.

951
00:42:26,535 --> 00:42:29,805
We'll have a temporary coffer dam for construction

952
00:42:30,425 --> 00:42:32,205
and then the excavation will be

953
00:42:32,205 --> 00:42:33,525
conducted from the riverbank.

954
00:42:33,865 --> 00:42:35,765
The work on the private property will be

955
00:42:35,765 --> 00:42:36,845
during daytime hours.

956
00:42:37,515 --> 00:42:42,245
Next slide please. At the 1 63 Highland

957
00:42:42,245 --> 00:42:43,885
Avenue alignment, we cross

958
00:42:44,455 --> 00:42:47,885
below a Needham 12 inch sewer main.

959
00:42:48,465 --> 00:42:49,525
We will remove

960
00:42:49,745 --> 00:42:51,485
and replace the portion

961
00:42:51,505 --> 00:42:55,045
of the sewer Maine from the manhole at 1 63 Highland Avenue

962
00:42:55,665 --> 00:42:59,085
to the next manhole downstream at 60 Charles Street.

963
00:42:59,355 --> 00:43:02,565
It's about 300 linear feet of sewer.

964
00:43:03,595 --> 00:43:06,765
This work will take place within the town sewer easement

965
00:43:06,785 --> 00:43:08,645
and the work hours will be during the day.

966
00:43:09,715 --> 00:43:13,165
Next slide please. Upon completion

967
00:43:13,265 --> 00:43:15,085
of our work in the right of way,

968
00:43:15,545 --> 00:43:17,285
we will pave throughout the limits

969
00:43:17,385 --> 00:43:18,925
of disturbance, curb to curb.

970
00:43:18,985 --> 00:43:20,965
You can see it on the figure in the green shading.

971
00:43:22,325 --> 00:43:26,645
Next slide please. So, coordination

972
00:43:26,955 --> 00:43:29,965
with Needham, we've met with Needham, DPW

973
00:43:30,305 --> 00:43:33,245
and engineering to review our 60

974
00:43:33,545 --> 00:43:36,365
and 90% contract packages.

975
00:43:36,785 --> 00:43:40,525
And then in April we met with DPW Engineering police

976
00:43:40,585 --> 00:43:43,685
and fire to go over our construction zone safety plans

977
00:43:44,425 --> 00:43:45,925
and our proposed hours.

978
00:43:46,705 --> 00:43:50,565
And then for outreach, we held a public information session

979
00:43:50,745 --> 00:43:52,085
for Abutters to the alignment.

980
00:43:52,545 --> 00:43:55,405
Our designer distributed notices door to door.

981
00:43:55,865 --> 00:43:58,205
And then we had a session on July 16th.

982
00:43:58,945 --> 00:44:02,445
And then we are presenting at the Conservation Commission

983
00:44:02,445 --> 00:44:04,685
hearing for our notice of intent on Thursday.

984
00:44:05,675 --> 00:44:09,605
Next slide please. So here's our schedule.

985
00:44:10,385 --> 00:44:13,605
We are targeting going to bid this fall with the goal

986
00:44:13,605 --> 00:44:17,005
of onboarding a contractor in late fall, early winter,

987
00:44:17,105 --> 00:44:21,245
and starting construction in the 2027 construction season

988
00:44:21,755 --> 00:44:25,125
with the target of having the drain line ready for use

989
00:44:25,145 --> 00:44:28,165
for a South tunnel contractor when they come on board in the

990
00:44:28,165 --> 00:44:29,685
spring or summer of 2028.

991
00:44:31,105 --> 00:44:32,605
And with that next slide please,

992
00:44:32,915 --> 00:44:34,285
I'll hand it over to Carmine.

993
00:44:34,955 --> 00:44:37,525
Alright, so this is a contact page.

994
00:44:37,525 --> 00:44:40,045
We have a robust web webpage for the Tunnel,

995
00:44:40,185 --> 00:44:41,485
pro Tunnel program.

996
00:44:42,475 --> 00:44:46,525
Once you get on that tunnel tunnel program, you'll see

997
00:44:46,525 --> 00:44:48,205
that it has a table of contacts,

998
00:44:48,885 --> 00:44:51,325
introduction about the program, community updates,

999
00:44:52,285 --> 00:44:54,245
frequently asked questions, resources, contact us.

1000
00:44:54,555 --> 00:44:56,965
This will navigate in there, answer many questions.

1001
00:44:57,545 --> 00:44:59,525
As you can see the community update,

1002
00:44:59,525 --> 00:45:00,565
that's where we find the Needham.

1003
00:45:00,915 --> 00:45:02,845
I'll notice there's any work that's in particular to need.

1004
00:45:03,185 --> 00:45:06,005
And then other communities have the same set up.

1005
00:45:06,315 --> 00:45:07,805
It's pretty user friendly.

1006
00:45:08,725 --> 00:45:10,325
Then we have ways to contact us

1007
00:45:10,325 --> 00:45:12,565
through the tunnel info@mwa.com.

1008
00:45:12,905 --> 00:45:16,085
Or you can contact myself at com, maria@mwa.com

1009
00:45:16,465 --> 00:45:18,245
and tell us how wonderful job we're doing.

1010
00:45:19,585 --> 00:45:20,805
Wow. Excellent.

1011
00:45:22,745 --> 00:45:24,205
That's it. All right.

1012
00:45:25,915 --> 00:45:29,205
What questions or thoughts

1013
00:45:29,205 --> 00:45:31,845
or discussion points do we have? Kevin, you wanna start?

1014
00:45:32,195 --> 00:45:36,365
Sure. Okay.

1015
00:45:37,585 --> 00:45:40,845
You talked about this is the lowest site in the, in the,

1016
00:45:41,345 --> 00:45:43,725
so you would de-water from the Needham site.

1017
00:45:44,625 --> 00:45:47,085
And this would be used not just for construction,

1018
00:45:47,105 --> 00:45:48,805
but if you ever had to, if

1019
00:45:48,805 --> 00:45:50,365
We ever had to maintain the tunnel in the future.

1020
00:45:50,475 --> 00:45:51,805
Okay. Yeah. It gives us a way to,

1021
00:45:51,985 --> 00:45:53,245
to release some water if we need to.

1022
00:45:53,245 --> 00:45:56,285
Thanks. So, you know the tunnel, like our existing tunnels,

1023
00:45:56,285 --> 00:45:57,725
they've been in service since the 1950s

1024
00:45:57,825 --> 00:45:59,365
and we haven't been able to take them outta line.

1025
00:45:59,475 --> 00:46:01,725
Sometimes you wanna be able to take the water out

1026
00:46:01,725 --> 00:46:03,845
so you can go inside and inspect them to make sure

1027
00:46:03,845 --> 00:46:05,325
that they're not, there's no cracks

1028
00:46:05,325 --> 00:46:06,325
or something that you need to fix.

1029
00:46:06,515 --> 00:46:07,645
Okay. So it's for that purpose.

1030
00:46:08,025 --> 00:46:10,805
So it's very, very rarely that we'd have to do it,

1031
00:46:10,985 --> 00:46:13,205
but we're constructing the pipeline for construction.

1032
00:46:13,545 --> 00:46:15,045
The idea would be to leave it in place so

1033
00:46:15,045 --> 00:46:16,245
that when in the future, if we needed

1034
00:46:16,245 --> 00:46:17,325
to, we could use it for that purpose.

1035
00:46:17,385 --> 00:46:18,485
If we ever had to release some water

1036
00:46:18,545 --> 00:46:20,525
to do some future inspection.

1037
00:46:20,555 --> 00:46:22,445
Okay. It would be all be permitted, you know,

1038
00:46:22,445 --> 00:46:24,965
every time we used it we'd have to get for the right kind

1039
00:46:24,965 --> 00:46:26,445
of permits and we notify the town every,

1040
00:46:26,825 --> 00:46:29,005
all sorts of notices like that. Alright.

1041
00:46:29,145 --> 00:46:30,645
Can you explain a coffer dam to me?

1042
00:46:31,195 --> 00:46:33,965
Sure. Yeah. It, so to construct in the river, you know,

1043
00:46:33,965 --> 00:46:35,485
the water's flowing by,

1044
00:46:35,705 --> 00:46:38,285
so coffer dam basically creates a little bit of a dam Okay.

1045
00:46:38,285 --> 00:46:40,045
So that they can construct inside there.

1046
00:46:40,185 --> 00:46:42,365
So it'd be constructing within the dry. Okay.

1047
00:46:42,425 --> 00:46:45,165
So they can get that out outlet outfall pipe

1048
00:46:45,465 --> 00:46:46,925
and then they can backfill that properly

1049
00:46:46,925 --> 00:46:48,765
and restore the, the slope so

1050
00:46:48,765 --> 00:46:49,925
that all can be done in the dry.

1051
00:46:49,995 --> 00:46:52,245
Okay. And they'll pull the, the copper dam out

1052
00:46:52,245 --> 00:46:53,405
and then the water will be restored.

1053
00:46:53,515 --> 00:46:56,765
Okay. And then best guess, during construction,

1054
00:46:56,945 --> 00:47:00,205
how much water do you imagine is going through this pipe?

1055
00:47:00,745 --> 00:47:03,645
And we, and the Charles River is basically a plume going

1056
00:47:03,645 --> 00:47:07,125
across the river of like thousands of cubic feet of

1057
00:47:07,405 --> 00:47:08,405
Whatever.

1058
00:47:08,405 --> 00:47:09,405
Yeah, no, I think, you know, we have the, the

1059
00:47:09,505 --> 00:47:10,685
for during construction.

1060
00:47:10,715 --> 00:47:12,845
Yeah. The flow rate that's coming construction.

1061
00:47:12,845 --> 00:47:14,485
Dave, you, you've got the number, I think it's

1062
00:47:14,485 --> 00:47:16,405
5 million gallons a day. Yeah.

1063
00:47:16,505 --> 00:47:19,765
So we need to permit this through DEP

1064
00:47:19,765 --> 00:47:22,085
and EPA through their Nip DS permits.

1065
00:47:22,155 --> 00:47:24,165
I've heard of that. So what we did

1066
00:47:24,225 --> 00:47:26,605
for the Metro West Water supply tunnel was

1067
00:47:26,675 --> 00:47:28,285
5 million gallons per day.

1068
00:47:28,435 --> 00:47:31,885
Okay. That's what we'll target perverting for our tunnel.

1069
00:47:32,955 --> 00:47:34,565
That would be unmitigated.

1070
00:47:34,745 --> 00:47:36,045
So the target would be

1071
00:47:36,065 --> 00:47:38,045
to mitigate the water and flow into the tunnel.

1072
00:47:38,185 --> 00:47:40,685
So you're discharging less than that rate.

1073
00:47:41,905 --> 00:47:43,645
By mitigation mean, how much is that grouting

1074
00:47:43,645 --> 00:47:45,845
and probing grouting inside the tunnel. Okay. How

1075
00:47:45,845 --> 00:47:46,845
Much is that?

1076
00:47:46,845 --> 00:47:49,925
I mean, what's that look like? 5 million gallons?

1077
00:47:52,755 --> 00:47:53,725
It's a good Amount. What amount

1078
00:47:53,725 --> 00:47:54,525
would you even compare that to?

1079
00:47:54,725 --> 00:47:56,045
I don't know. I'm a tank At

1080
00:47:56,045 --> 00:47:57,325
The aquarium inside the tunnel.

1081
00:47:57,545 --> 00:48:00,165
You know the of 5 million gallons inside the tunnel? Yeah.

1082
00:48:00,185 --> 00:48:01,525
You, you'd be able to walk through it.

1083
00:48:01,675 --> 00:48:02,725
It'd be down at the surface.

1084
00:48:03,105 --> 00:48:04,965
The contractor will pick that up into a pipe.

1085
00:48:04,985 --> 00:48:07,365
The pipe's probably on the order of six

1086
00:48:07,365 --> 00:48:09,685
to 12 inch diameter, something like that. Okay.

1087
00:48:10,155 --> 00:48:12,205
Alright. And then this pipe is a

1088
00:48:12,215 --> 00:48:13,325
storm drain, essentially.

1089
00:48:13,325 --> 00:48:16,005
So it's flowing by gravity. So the pipe itself here is 36

1090
00:48:16,005 --> 00:48:17,725
inch, but it's could be flowing by gravity,

1091
00:48:17,755 --> 00:48:19,485
like it's open channel flow. Okay.

1092
00:48:19,825 --> 00:48:24,285
And then finally, I'm sorry, the section of sewer

1093
00:48:24,445 --> 00:48:26,885
to be replaced along Charles Street.

1094
00:48:27,495 --> 00:48:30,965
Thank you. But why

1095
00:48:31,505 --> 00:48:32,645
So Oh, go Ahead.

1096
00:48:32,935 --> 00:48:36,165
Along the Charles River Bank, so that's vitrified Clay pipe.

1097
00:48:36,395 --> 00:48:40,885
Okay. So that was constructed well over 50 years ago

1098
00:48:41,105 --> 00:48:42,925
and it's a very brittle pipe.

1099
00:48:44,425 --> 00:48:46,525
So just by crossing underneath it,

1100
00:48:46,825 --> 00:48:48,565
we are going to impact that

1101
00:48:48,565 --> 00:48:49,565
Pipe.

1102
00:48:49,565 --> 00:48:51,725
Okay, sure. On that note, can I just follow up?

1103
00:48:52,305 --> 00:48:54,085
You said, I think you said 300 feet.

1104
00:48:54,135 --> 00:48:57,845
300 feet. That sounds like a, a lot at once.

1105
00:48:58,295 --> 00:49:01,805
How's that gonna impact the sewer service for the area?

1106
00:49:02,385 --> 00:49:05,485
So we would work, well we've been working with DPW,

1107
00:49:05,585 --> 00:49:08,205
we would have to bypass the sewer from manhole to manhole,

1108
00:49:08,205 --> 00:49:09,965
but that 300 feet is dictated

1109
00:49:10,025 --> 00:49:13,925
by the nearest manhole upstream, which is at 1 63 Highland.

1110
00:49:14,305 --> 00:49:17,005
And the next one downstream, which is at 60 Charles Street.

1111
00:49:17,235 --> 00:49:21,245
Okay. So if we tried to do a connection closer than

1112
00:49:21,245 --> 00:49:24,085
that 300 feet, we might not be able to get a good connection

1113
00:49:24,085 --> 00:49:25,165
to that brittle clay pipe.

1114
00:49:25,315 --> 00:49:26,605
Sure. I guess I'm just wondering

1115
00:49:26,715 --> 00:49:29,045
what the interruption will be for those commercial

1116
00:49:29,225 --> 00:49:31,805
and residential customers downstream from the,

1117
00:49:31,855 --> 00:49:33,885
There, there won't be any interruption during the bypass.

1118
00:49:33,885 --> 00:49:35,805
They'll pump out of the upstream manhole discharge

1119
00:49:35,805 --> 00:49:36,845
in the downstream manhole.

1120
00:49:36,915 --> 00:49:38,485
Okay. So they won't notice any,

1121
00:49:38,645 --> 00:49:40,205
won't notice any interruption flow. Yep.

1122
00:49:40,565 --> 00:49:43,725
Excellent. Did you have more?

1123
00:49:44,125 --> 00:49:45,405
I thought that's enough. Alright, interrupt.

1124
00:49:45,915 --> 00:49:47,885
Okay. Okay, Josh,

1125
00:49:48,435 --> 00:49:49,435
Just one question.

1126
00:49:49,435 --> 00:49:52,405
It sounded like, so this water pipe is gonna be very close

1127
00:49:52,405 --> 00:49:54,085
to the, the Needham sewer pipe.

1128
00:49:54,825 --> 00:49:58,685
And is that the reason the 300 feet that,

1129
00:49:58,685 --> 00:50:01,365
that the Needham sewer pipe will have to be replaced?

1130
00:50:02,885 --> 00:50:04,765
So, well we're, we're crossing the, the need

1131
00:50:04,765 --> 00:50:06,285
that 300 feet we're crossing.

1132
00:50:06,585 --> 00:50:08,725
So that's the, the brittle pipe

1133
00:50:08,725 --> 00:50:10,085
that Dave's talking about. That's

1134
00:50:10,085 --> 00:50:11,085
Along the bank.

1135
00:50:11,085 --> 00:50:11,645
That's along the bank. Yeah. And then

1136
00:50:11,645 --> 00:50:12,725
one, the other ones are close.

1137
00:50:12,725 --> 00:50:14,445
Within the trench, you have to create a trench

1138
00:50:14,465 --> 00:50:16,365
to create the 36 inch pipe.

1139
00:50:16,435 --> 00:50:18,445
There's other sewers that are close by.

1140
00:50:18,825 --> 00:50:20,165
So we're expecting that we might have

1141
00:50:20,165 --> 00:50:22,045
to impact those when we're installing trench

1142
00:50:22,065 --> 00:50:23,645
box to, to get through that. So

1143
00:50:23,745 --> 00:50:26,645
If the town ever has to maintain our own sewer pipe,

1144
00:50:26,655 --> 00:50:29,685
Would it impact this MWRA pipe?

1145
00:50:30,065 --> 00:50:32,245
No. No. That's why we're providing the space

1146
00:50:32,245 --> 00:50:33,765
and then restoring it so that the,

1147
00:50:33,765 --> 00:50:36,005
the pipes will have sufficient separation distances

1148
00:50:36,005 --> 00:50:37,085
so that they can be maintained.

1149
00:50:37,085 --> 00:50:38,085
Thank you.

1150
00:50:38,455 --> 00:50:39,925
Great, bill? I'm good. Thanks.

1151
00:50:39,995 --> 00:50:42,085
Very interesting and detailed. Thank you.

1152
00:50:42,825 --> 00:50:47,245
All right. Kathy, anything? No questions.

1153
00:50:48,315 --> 00:50:51,925
Okay. I just have one question. It's about noise.

1154
00:50:54,365 --> 00:50:56,045
I can see that you've thought through

1155
00:50:56,705 --> 00:50:59,285
the daytime versus nighttime work,

1156
00:51:01,665 --> 00:51:05,045
but this is, this is a reasonably small area both

1157
00:51:05,045 --> 00:51:06,845
with commercial customers and,

1158
00:51:06,945 --> 00:51:10,365
and residential neighborhoods just outside the perimeter.

1159
00:51:10,465 --> 00:51:11,685
So I guess I'm just wondering,

1160
00:51:14,585 --> 00:51:18,405
I'm not really clear on the scale of the disruption

1161
00:51:18,435 --> 00:51:20,285
that these machines will cause.

1162
00:51:20,645 --> 00:51:23,325
I just, I guess I just wanna check in on how

1163
00:51:24,395 --> 00:51:24,845
Yeah. So

1164
00:51:24,985 --> 00:51:26,925
If, if it's gonna be a destruction for those folks.

1165
00:51:27,385 --> 00:51:28,805
It, I don't, no, it won't be.

1166
00:51:29,155 --> 00:51:31,565
It's typical pipeline construction in the streets.

1167
00:51:31,565 --> 00:51:33,285
So you'll see it many times. You know, they'll have a,

1168
00:51:33,405 --> 00:51:34,925
a trench that they have to excavate.

1169
00:51:35,035 --> 00:51:38,245
Sure. The pipe is 36 inch diameter, so that's three feet.

1170
00:51:38,265 --> 00:51:42,365
But it will be to what, 10 to 15 feet? 10 to 15 feet deep.

1171
00:51:42,365 --> 00:51:44,405
And when they bury the pipe and then they backfill the pipe

1172
00:51:44,405 --> 00:51:45,445
and they, they move it along.

1173
00:51:45,465 --> 00:51:47,325
So they'll be excavating a section

1174
00:51:47,325 --> 00:51:49,365
and moving their way along the 1200 feet.

1175
00:51:49,635 --> 00:51:52,885
Okay. Most of the areas, industrial, commercial kind

1176
00:51:52,885 --> 00:51:55,325
of area, the specific streets we're going through,

1177
00:51:55,805 --> 00:51:57,525
there's no residential homes

1178
00:51:57,585 --> 00:51:59,205
or anything in that along that route.

1179
00:51:59,705 --> 00:52:01,845
And that's when we talked to this, the town

1180
00:52:01,865 --> 00:52:04,165
and the, the police and the feeling of doing

1181
00:52:04,165 --> 00:52:05,845
that work at night, probably better

1182
00:52:05,845 --> 00:52:08,285
because then the industry, the commercials are open

1183
00:52:08,285 --> 00:52:10,445
during the day, so it won't impact them during the daytime.

1184
00:52:10,455 --> 00:52:13,165
We'll be there at nighttime when they're not working. Okay.

1185
00:52:13,555 --> 00:52:15,725
Alright. Great. Well appreciated.

1186
00:52:18,545 --> 00:52:20,765
Sounds like you've answered all

1187
00:52:20,765 --> 00:52:22,325
of our questions, which is great.

1188
00:52:22,785 --> 00:52:24,645
I'm sure you will get more from the public.

1189
00:52:27,105 --> 00:52:31,725
So, so with that maybe we'll swap teams or add teams.

1190
00:52:31,995 --> 00:52:34,605
Yeah. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

1191
00:52:44,665 --> 00:52:45,805
All right. Welcome.

1192
00:52:48,095 --> 00:52:51,445
Thank You. Just two. Okay. Just two. All right.

1193
00:52:51,445 --> 00:52:52,925
So we'll start with introductions.

1194
00:52:53,705 --> 00:52:56,685
I'm Steve Este, I'm interim executive director

1195
00:52:56,685 --> 00:52:57,725
at the MWRA.

1196
00:52:58,035 --> 00:52:59,485
Colleen Zi, director of Environmental

1197
00:52:59,485 --> 00:53:01,205
and Regulatory Affairs for MWA. Thank

1198
00:53:01,205 --> 00:53:02,205
You for, for being here.

1199
00:53:02,335 --> 00:53:04,165
We're here this evening. There's been a lot

1200
00:53:04,165 --> 00:53:07,685
of publicity about our combined sewer overflow plan update.

1201
00:53:07,825 --> 00:53:09,565
Yes. You've probably heard from

1202
00:53:10,205 --> 00:53:13,525
various folks over the many months we thought it's, we're,

1203
00:53:13,535 --> 00:53:16,285
we're offering an opportunity to chat

1204
00:53:16,285 --> 00:53:18,165
with communities about the plan,

1205
00:53:18,915 --> 00:53:22,285
provide some clear information from our perspective about

1206
00:53:22,285 --> 00:53:23,685
what the plan does and doesn't do.

1207
00:53:24,985 --> 00:53:26,565
We are in the middle of a comment period.

1208
00:53:27,045 --> 00:53:28,045
Colleen, I'll talk a little

1209
00:53:28,045 --> 00:53:29,245
bit more about that in the middle.

1210
00:53:30,265 --> 00:53:33,365
And we're looking for folks to, you know, provide sort

1211
00:53:33,365 --> 00:53:37,485
of fact-based comment from your perspective to the,

1212
00:53:37,585 --> 00:53:39,005
to the DEP and EPA so

1213
00:53:39,005 --> 00:53:41,165
that they make a good decision coming out.

1214
00:53:41,555 --> 00:53:45,605
It's a very expensive plan. Community share is pretty large.

1215
00:53:46,065 --> 00:53:48,925
And the delta between the plan that's on the table

1216
00:53:49,385 --> 00:53:53,685
and what some are recommending is very substantial

1217
00:53:54,225 --> 00:53:58,845
and substantial increment for the, each of the towns

1218
00:53:58,845 --> 00:54:00,325
that are paying both sur bills.

1219
00:54:00,505 --> 00:54:05,045
So we wanted to be careful to make sure that folks are aware

1220
00:54:05,045 --> 00:54:09,805
of this while there's an opportunity to comment so

1221
00:54:09,805 --> 00:54:11,685
that we don't have a situation the

1222
00:54:11,685 --> 00:54:14,485
after DEP has locked us down

1223
00:54:15,865 --> 00:54:18,805
and then folks realize the expense and the disruption.

1224
00:54:19,305 --> 00:54:21,525
And there are, that's, that's sort

1225
00:54:21,525 --> 00:54:22,845
of the wrong way to do public policy.

1226
00:54:23,485 --> 00:54:24,565
Excellent. Best to have him pretty early.

1227
00:54:24,835 --> 00:54:28,125
Yeah, we appreciate that. And so before you begin,

1228
00:54:28,285 --> 00:54:31,405
'cause I know you have slides, can you just remind us of

1229
00:54:31,425 --> 00:54:33,045
how long the comment period lasts

1230
00:54:33,065 --> 00:54:35,245
and then what's the decision making timeline?

1231
00:54:35,845 --> 00:54:37,005
Absolutely. Because I,

1232
00:54:37,165 --> 00:54:39,285
I think people will be wondering about that at the outset

1233
00:54:39,445 --> 00:54:40,645
and I want them to be able to pay attention

1234
00:54:40,755 --> 00:54:41,525
Here. No, that's process.

1235
00:54:41,765 --> 00:54:43,365
I don't first to our notes. Okay, great.

1236
00:54:44,305 --> 00:54:46,085
So actually we are in the middle of the common period.

1237
00:54:46,145 --> 00:54:48,365
So we submitted in April 30th

1238
00:54:48,745 --> 00:54:51,165
and comments were due September 30th.

1239
00:54:51,165 --> 00:54:53,925
We actually just got an extension from DEP in response

1240
00:54:53,925 --> 00:54:56,205
to some requests from the watershed associations.

1241
00:54:56,345 --> 00:55:00,565
So October 30th, October is the deadline for comments.

1242
00:55:01,605 --> 00:55:04,925
And we are, and I'll share the website for the program.

1243
00:55:05,925 --> 00:55:07,285
There are multiple ways to comment.

1244
00:55:08,225 --> 00:55:11,485
We can accept, we have a portal that's online.

1245
00:55:11,705 --> 00:55:15,725
We have email, regular snail mail to the MWA address

1246
00:55:16,465 --> 00:55:18,525
as well as two public hearings

1247
00:55:18,525 --> 00:55:21,365
that will be held in September where people could come

1248
00:55:21,365 --> 00:55:23,245
and get verbal public comment as well.

1249
00:55:23,755 --> 00:55:28,325
Okay, great. And then, so the deadline

1250
00:55:28,325 --> 00:55:30,325
for comments is, is October 30th,

1251
00:55:30,325 --> 00:55:32,205
but then there's some period when, so

1252
00:55:32,205 --> 00:55:33,165
We will That's right. Decision

1253
00:55:33,165 --> 00:55:34,165
Making occurs.

1254
00:55:34,165 --> 00:55:35,925
So we will have a final plan

1255
00:55:35,925 --> 00:55:37,605
that will be due in spring of 2027.

1256
00:55:38,185 --> 00:55:39,965
So we'll be accepting comments from the public.

1257
00:55:40,055 --> 00:55:42,005
We'll also get comments from DEP

1258
00:55:42,005 --> 00:55:46,525
and EPA, which will inform the final plan.

1259
00:55:46,595 --> 00:55:47,685
Okay. That gets submitted.

1260
00:55:48,165 --> 00:55:49,805
And then when that gets submitted to EP

1261
00:55:49,805 --> 00:55:53,005
and DEP in the spring, it will simultaneously be going

1262
00:55:53,005 --> 00:55:54,045
through the MEPA process.

1263
00:55:54,145 --> 00:55:56,125
So the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act,

1264
00:55:56,125 --> 00:55:58,805
which will offer another opportunity for public comment.

1265
00:55:59,275 --> 00:56:01,525
Okay. Great. Alright, thank you. Of course.

1266
00:56:03,605 --> 00:56:05,645
And so actually before we get into the formal

1267
00:56:05,645 --> 00:56:07,965
presentation, but certainly please bring the slides up if

1268
00:56:07,965 --> 00:56:10,005
you can, just taking,

1269
00:56:10,165 --> 00:56:13,165
I guess a step back in making sure people are on the same

1270
00:56:13,165 --> 00:56:15,285
page with what A CSO is for those

1271
00:56:15,285 --> 00:56:17,805
that might not be familiar either here or in the public.

1272
00:56:20,275 --> 00:56:24,045
Many older cities in the US have a single pipe

1273
00:56:24,115 --> 00:56:28,045
that takes both stormwater, so runoff from streets and veils

1274
00:56:28,045 --> 00:56:31,685
and all that, as well as the sanitary flows into one pipe,

1275
00:56:32,505 --> 00:56:36,445
it was put in place to offer kind of a relief mechanism so

1276
00:56:36,445 --> 00:56:38,885
that there were no backups into homes businesses.

1277
00:56:39,545 --> 00:56:44,525
The flip side of that is in larger storm events,

1278
00:56:44,545 --> 00:56:47,005
you can have that discharge into the receiving water body,

1279
00:56:47,135 --> 00:56:48,805
which will be, and I do wanna stress

1280
00:56:49,115 --> 00:56:51,405
that this is a combination of storm water

1281
00:56:51,405 --> 00:56:52,445
and sanitary flows.

1282
00:56:52,445 --> 00:56:55,085
It is not just straight raw sewage going

1283
00:56:55,155 --> 00:56:56,365
into the receiving water body.

1284
00:56:56,475 --> 00:56:58,325
Just to make sure, so as I talk

1285
00:56:58,325 --> 00:57:01,605
through this presentation tonight about the combined sewer

1286
00:57:01,605 --> 00:57:04,765
overflows, use the acronym CSO, just keep in mind

1287
00:57:04,765 --> 00:57:07,085
that is a combination of both stormwater

1288
00:57:07,545 --> 00:57:08,805
as well as sanitary flows.

1289
00:57:10,635 --> 00:57:12,965
Like many decisions in infrastructure

1290
00:57:12,965 --> 00:57:15,285
and land use planning made decades ago, we are living

1291
00:57:15,285 --> 00:57:16,605
with the consequences of that

1292
00:57:17,025 --> 00:57:21,005
and looking to improve those situations.

1293
00:57:21,345 --> 00:57:25,445
So the plan that we lay out tonight that's currently in

1294
00:57:25,465 --> 00:57:30,165
for public comment does just that it improves water quality,

1295
00:57:30,555 --> 00:57:33,005
reduces the discharges of CSOs.

1296
00:57:33,865 --> 00:57:35,885
So if we can go to the next slide please.

1297
00:57:38,025 --> 00:57:42,005
So just starting with a review of what's been accomplished

1298
00:57:42,005 --> 00:57:45,285
for CSO Control to date and where we are today.

1299
00:57:46,085 --> 00:57:48,405
MWA and is for CSO member communities.

1300
00:57:48,425 --> 00:57:49,965
So, Boston, Chelsea, Cambridge,

1301
00:57:49,965 --> 00:57:51,525
and Somerville have been working

1302
00:57:51,545 --> 00:57:55,005
to reduce CSOs in the region for decades.

1303
00:57:56,055 --> 00:57:57,805
Under the Boston Harbor Project, which most

1304
00:57:57,805 --> 00:57:59,645
of you're probably familiar with, the long,

1305
00:57:59,665 --> 00:58:01,725
the first long-term control plan was implemented,

1306
00:58:01,785 --> 00:58:03,765
35 separate projects,

1307
00:58:04,645 --> 00:58:06,565
CSO control projects highlighted in the figure

1308
00:58:06,745 --> 00:58:09,165
to the right little tough to see at this scale.

1309
00:58:09,975 --> 00:58:11,725
These are all completed by 2015,

1310
00:58:12,785 --> 00:58:14,645
but the work really hasn't stopped.

1311
00:58:15,525 --> 00:58:18,405
MWA along with the CSO communities continue

1312
00:58:18,405 --> 00:58:21,285
to implement CSO reduction projects.

1313
00:58:21,715 --> 00:58:24,685
Overall investment to date on CSO control is over one

1314
00:58:24,685 --> 00:58:26,245
and a half billion dollars.

1315
00:58:27,685 --> 00:58:32,265
Next slide please. So over the past

1316
00:58:32,265 --> 00:58:37,185
35 plus years, CSOs have been reduced by approximately 88%

1317
00:58:37,735 --> 00:58:38,785
from the late eighties.

1318
00:58:39,205 --> 00:58:42,385
And 94% of what is still discharged

1319
00:58:42,385 --> 00:58:45,025
as CSO is actually treated prior to discharge.

1320
00:58:45,025 --> 00:58:47,785
It gets disinfection and then dechlorination

1321
00:58:47,785 --> 00:58:49,625
before it gets discharged to a water body.

1322
00:58:49,885 --> 00:58:52,265
So there is a bacteria removal for that

1323
00:58:53,445 --> 00:58:56,945
as shown on the bar chart chart on the right, the volume

1324
00:58:57,085 --> 00:58:59,945
of CSOs has dramatically decreased,

1325
00:59:00,225 --> 00:59:01,785
resulting in significant improvements

1326
00:59:01,805 --> 00:59:04,185
to water quality in the metro Boston area.

1327
00:59:05,515 --> 00:59:09,525
Next slide please. So the next piece

1328
00:59:09,525 --> 00:59:11,325
of the kinda CO story,

1329
00:59:11,895 --> 00:59:15,525
we've been operating under approved variances since 2004,

1330
00:59:15,545 --> 00:59:17,165
the A Life Brook, mystic River,

1331
00:59:17,585 --> 00:59:20,245
and Charles River Water, water bodies.

1332
00:59:20,735 --> 00:59:23,525
These variances are issued by DEP and EPA

1333
00:59:23,865 --> 00:59:27,165
and they allow CSO discharges to continue while the work

1334
00:59:27,225 --> 00:59:30,405
to address those and reduce the volumes also continues.

1335
00:59:31,265 --> 00:59:34,725
The most recent variance requires an updated CSO control

1336
00:59:34,725 --> 00:59:37,845
plan, which is what we're presenting tonight.

1337
00:59:38,175 --> 00:59:41,365
Those that requirement was alternatives

1338
00:59:41,465 --> 00:59:44,765
to evaluate alternatives up to including full elimination

1339
00:59:44,785 --> 00:59:47,525
of CSO discharges to the three water bodies here.

1340
00:59:48,965 --> 00:59:52,685
Next slide please. So, as I mentioned, a lot

1341
00:59:52,685 --> 00:59:54,525
of work has been done.

1342
00:59:55,405 --> 00:59:57,805
A significant number of O falls have been closed.

1343
00:59:57,815 --> 01:00:02,085
Those are indicated by the orange dot with the X through it.

1344
01:00:02,365 --> 01:00:04,365
Those are CSOs that have been closed.

1345
01:00:05,305 --> 01:00:08,285
The updated CSSO control plan is really focused on the

1346
01:00:08,285 --> 01:00:10,605
yellow dots on this plan, which are the L falls

1347
01:00:10,605 --> 01:00:12,845
that can continue to discharge to the free water bodies.

1348
01:00:14,045 --> 01:00:17,285
So again, a lot of progress has been made to date,

1349
01:00:17,505 --> 01:00:19,765
but still some work to be done.

1350
01:00:20,385 --> 01:00:22,765
So MWA is partnered with the city

1351
01:00:22,765 --> 01:00:24,245
of Somerville and the city of Cambridge.

1352
01:00:24,745 --> 01:00:27,325
On this initiative, we submitted a joint plan

1353
01:00:27,625 --> 01:00:28,725
to DEP and EPA.

1354
01:00:28,725 --> 01:00:30,925
So that was coming from the three partners in one plan.

1355
01:00:33,195 --> 01:00:37,765
Next slide please. So looking at the draft plan, the plan

1356
01:00:37,765 --> 01:00:39,485
as it currently stands in its draft form,

1357
01:00:39,865 --> 01:00:41,605
it does account for climate change.

1358
01:00:42,115 --> 01:00:43,845
More specifically, the impact

1359
01:00:43,845 --> 01:00:45,525
of future increases in precipitation.

1360
01:00:46,025 --> 01:00:48,005
We know we're gonna get higher annual rainfall

1361
01:00:48,065 --> 01:00:49,565
totals, more intense storms.

1362
01:00:50,675 --> 01:00:54,165
This plan is the first in the nation that we know of to

1363
01:00:54,805 --> 01:00:57,005
estimate the future rainfall events.

1364
01:00:57,515 --> 01:01:00,485
Most CSOs plans look

1365
01:01:00,485 --> 01:01:02,725
to the past when they're estimating their rainfall events.

1366
01:01:02,905 --> 01:01:05,245
We are looking into the future to mitigate those.

1367
01:01:06,005 --> 01:01:09,565
This plan eliminates CSOs in the 2050 typical year,

1368
01:01:10,575 --> 01:01:14,085
which I will note does include a sizable over three inch

1369
01:01:14,085 --> 01:01:15,405
storm and a 24 hour event.

1370
01:01:15,405 --> 01:01:17,125
So it does have some larger storms in it,

1371
01:01:17,505 --> 01:01:20,325
and it does reduce the volumes in the larger

1372
01:01:20,575 --> 01:01:21,605
storm events over that.

1373
01:01:22,285 --> 01:01:26,445
It also incorporates green stormwater infrastructure or GSI.

1374
01:01:27,925 --> 01:01:32,245
Next slide please. So the partners evaluated

1375
01:01:32,505 --> 01:01:35,845
39 alternatives across the three water bodies across

1376
01:01:35,845 --> 01:01:36,965
different levels of control.

1377
01:01:38,225 --> 01:01:40,045
And that included a combination of tools

1378
01:01:40,785 --> 01:01:41,885
at the different outfalls.

1379
01:01:42,505 --> 01:01:44,765
And I'll note that the evaluation really focused on

1380
01:01:45,675 --> 01:01:47,565
balancing the important

1381
01:01:47,745 --> 01:01:51,285
and sometimes competing considerations like the ones

1382
01:01:51,285 --> 01:01:52,405
listed on the slide.

1383
01:01:53,125 --> 01:01:55,885
I'll note though that the resulting water quality benefits

1384
01:01:55,995 --> 01:01:59,325
from the work and the protection of existing open

1385
01:01:59,325 --> 01:02:00,445
and recreational space,

1386
01:02:00,615 --> 01:02:03,445
which we already know is really limited in these areas, were

1387
01:02:04,345 --> 01:02:06,645
key considerations through the evaluation.

1388
01:02:08,345 --> 01:02:09,405
So next slide please.

1389
01:02:11,745 --> 01:02:13,525
So looking at the Alewife brook,

1390
01:02:13,745 --> 01:02:14,845
and you can go to the next Thank you.

1391
01:02:15,745 --> 01:02:19,405
So this is the recommended alternative in the Alewife brook.

1392
01:02:20,125 --> 01:02:22,925
There's a total of six outfalls owned by Cambridge,

1393
01:02:22,925 --> 01:02:26,005
Somerville, and MWA that currently discharge to the alewife.

1394
01:02:27,365 --> 01:02:30,285
The draft plan that was submitted includes a combination

1395
01:02:30,285 --> 01:02:33,445
of CSO control tools at those different outfalls,

1396
01:02:33,445 --> 01:02:35,445
including storage tanks, storage conduits,

1397
01:02:35,445 --> 01:02:36,485
and sewer separation.

1398
01:02:37,605 --> 01:02:40,205
I will note, as you look at the durations on these plans,

1399
01:02:40,685 --> 01:02:43,445
these are really kind of high level planning estimates of

1400
01:02:43,875 --> 01:02:46,285
what it would take to construct these different projects.

1401
01:02:46,435 --> 01:02:49,245
They're not intended to be timelines from today.

1402
01:02:49,315 --> 01:02:51,245
There's still a bit of work to do

1403
01:02:51,245 --> 01:02:54,165
before we get to that point, but I will note,

1404
01:02:54,165 --> 01:02:57,365
because these plans do include a series of smaller projects,

1405
01:02:57,635 --> 01:02:58,765
there's the opportunity

1406
01:02:58,875 --> 01:03:01,485
that we can get some interim benefits.

1407
01:03:01,585 --> 01:03:04,765
So as individual projects come online, we're seeing some of

1408
01:03:04,765 --> 01:03:07,125
that reduction in the CSOs while other projects are

1409
01:03:07,125 --> 01:03:08,165
still in the works.

1410
01:03:10,845 --> 01:03:14,485
Next slide please. So looking at the Mr. River. Thank you.

1411
01:03:15,865 --> 01:03:17,165
So there's actually only one outfall

1412
01:03:17,165 --> 01:03:20,405
to the upper Mystic River and it's jointly controlled by NRE

1413
01:03:20,405 --> 01:03:21,485
and the city of Somerville.

1414
01:03:22,265 --> 01:03:25,245
The draft plan here includes a combination

1415
01:03:25,245 --> 01:03:28,365
of sewer separation and a really large storage tank

1416
01:03:28,365 --> 01:03:31,085
that would be located in the parking lot of the assembly row

1417
01:03:32,205 --> 01:03:33,405
shopping center for those that are

1418
01:03:33,565 --> 01:03:34,805
familiar with that location.

1419
01:03:36,685 --> 01:03:39,445
Next slide please. And you can actually skip

1420
01:03:39,445 --> 01:03:40,485
to the alternative.

1421
01:03:41,065 --> 01:03:43,205
And so this is lastly looking at the Charles River.

1422
01:03:44,255 --> 01:03:47,205
Again, this is a combination of multiple outfalls.

1423
01:03:47,665 --> 01:03:50,725
The CSO controls here are a combination of sewer separation

1424
01:03:50,865 --> 01:03:53,805
and storage tanks, both MWA

1425
01:03:53,805 --> 01:03:56,245
and the city of Cambridge control out falls

1426
01:03:56,605 --> 01:03:57,725
discharging to the Charles River.

1427
01:03:59,025 --> 01:04:00,885
It Ms. Probably noting that all

1428
01:04:00,885 --> 01:04:04,045
of those CSO outlaw falls are downstream

1429
01:04:04,045 --> 01:04:05,165
of the Watertown Dam.

1430
01:04:05,595 --> 01:04:08,405
Yeah, correct. For a sense of geography.

1431
01:04:08,495 --> 01:04:12,965
Thank you. That's right. That's the next slide.

1432
01:04:13,025 --> 01:04:15,365
So this is just a high level summary

1433
01:04:15,585 --> 01:04:17,685
of the three alternatives that we just looked at.

1434
01:04:18,095 --> 01:04:21,685
Total cost estimated to be about $1.3 billion.

1435
01:04:24,185 --> 01:04:25,725
And I will note

1436
01:04:25,725 --> 01:04:28,525
before we go to the next slide, as noted earlier,

1437
01:04:28,725 --> 01:04:30,525
with the implementation of these projects

1438
01:04:30,665 --> 01:04:33,645
as currently proposed in the draft plan, we do see

1439
01:04:33,645 --> 01:04:37,125
that elimination of the CSOs in the 2050 typical year,

1440
01:04:37,585 --> 01:04:39,685
the reduction in the larger events,

1441
01:04:40,425 --> 01:04:42,685
and as compared to the projects

1442
01:04:42,865 --> 01:04:44,845
or looking at kind of the higher levels of control,

1443
01:04:44,845 --> 01:04:47,365
those five year, 25 year storm events,

1444
01:04:48,275 --> 01:04:50,485
this plan offers some additional

1445
01:04:51,405 --> 01:04:54,525
benefits in the earlier reductions in the CSOs, right,

1446
01:04:54,725 --> 01:04:56,125
bringing those smaller projects online.

1447
01:04:56,385 --> 01:04:58,285
So we're starting to see those kind of interim benefits,

1448
01:04:59,035 --> 01:05:01,285
less disruptive construction impacts, including

1449
01:05:02,525 --> 01:05:05,365
construction noise, less truck traffic as compared to some

1450
01:05:05,365 --> 01:05:07,165
of the higher alternatives.

1451
01:05:07,745 --> 01:05:09,525
And then the reduced loss of the open space.

1452
01:05:09,645 --> 01:05:12,925
I mentioned this earlier, including Parkland, both

1453
01:05:12,925 --> 01:05:14,725
during construction, but also

1454
01:05:14,725 --> 01:05:17,420
for the new permanent infrastructure that's going going in,

1455
01:05:17,420 --> 01:05:18,805
which is a high priority in trying

1456
01:05:18,805 --> 01:05:20,845
to preserve some of that open space.

1457
01:05:23,105 --> 01:05:24,165
You know? Next slide please.

1458
01:05:26,215 --> 01:05:27,355
So looking at the costs,

1459
01:05:28,105 --> 01:05:31,555
this slide focuses on just the MWA share of that

1460
01:05:32,135 --> 01:05:33,155
$1.3 billion.

1461
01:05:33,575 --> 01:05:38,155
So the MWA share is right now estimated at $763 million.

1462
01:05:38,775 --> 01:05:41,195
The remainder would be allocated to the city

1463
01:05:41,195 --> 01:05:42,555
of Cambridge and the city of Somerville.

1464
01:05:44,105 --> 01:05:46,715
Note that the costs that we've been talking about going

1465
01:05:46,715 --> 01:05:48,515
through the presentation are in today's dollars,

1466
01:05:49,695 --> 01:05:52,275
not in future, but when we escalate those costs

1467
01:05:52,655 --> 01:05:54,155
by the two point half percent annually,

1468
01:05:54,355 --> 01:05:57,155
which is our standard for the next 15 years

1469
01:05:57,155 --> 01:06:00,515
or so, that $763 million today

1470
01:06:01,145 --> 01:06:05,115
becomes just over a billion dollars in future spending.

1471
01:06:07,375 --> 01:06:10,355
And I'll note, I'm de borrows for almost all

1472
01:06:10,355 --> 01:06:11,395
of our construction projects,

1473
01:06:11,395 --> 01:06:14,555
and we would do the same for the work associated with this.

1474
01:06:15,015 --> 01:06:16,715
So we're issuing long-term debt

1475
01:06:16,775 --> 01:06:17,995
for these construction projects.

1476
01:06:18,935 --> 01:06:20,915
The total rate payer costs, then

1477
01:06:21,265 --> 01:06:25,315
that 7 63 turned into 1 billion goes into $2 billion.

1478
01:06:25,385 --> 01:06:28,995
When you incorporate the interest on the long-term debt,

1479
01:06:29,665 --> 01:06:31,235
that 2 billion is what's shown

1480
01:06:31,335 --> 01:06:32,955
as the green line on this chart.

1481
01:06:33,495 --> 01:06:35,835
So that's the draft plan as currently submitted.

1482
01:06:36,335 --> 01:06:38,995
As you move up in levels of control, the cost

1483
01:06:38,995 --> 01:06:42,835
of horse increase that top level at the 5.6 billion is

1484
01:06:42,835 --> 01:06:44,075
that 25 year storm event.

1485
01:06:44,075 --> 01:06:45,755
It's the largest event that we looked at.

1486
01:06:46,975 --> 01:06:48,355
So using the same methodology

1487
01:06:48,585 --> 01:06:51,435
that 2 billion is 5.6 billion in the larger storms,

1488
01:06:53,305 --> 01:06:56,815
these costs will be paid for by the MWA sewer communities,

1489
01:06:56,815 --> 01:06:58,135
including Needham, right?

1490
01:06:58,995 --> 01:07:01,455
And including Chelsea Quincy, all of the 43

1491
01:07:02,375 --> 01:07:05,295
MDA sewer communities would partake in these costs.

1492
01:07:06,955 --> 01:07:11,175
And we recognize that these sewer rate increases will be in

1493
01:07:11,335 --> 01:07:12,655
addition to other financial pressures

1494
01:07:12,925 --> 01:07:15,175
that the communities I'm sure including Needham,

1495
01:07:16,075 --> 01:07:18,455
are already facing the households that pay these bills.

1496
01:07:19,315 --> 01:07:20,935
So the MWA advisory board

1497
01:07:21,755 --> 01:07:23,615
who represents our member communities,

1498
01:07:24,125 --> 01:07:27,895
they created a dashboard that allows individual communities

1499
01:07:27,895 --> 01:07:30,055
to see what the impacts, what those increased costs are

1500
01:07:30,155 --> 01:07:32,415
for each of the levels of control that we looked at.

1501
01:07:32,715 --> 01:07:37,535
The three plans looking out to 2072, which is the tail end

1502
01:07:37,555 --> 01:07:41,495
of the projected debt service using that dashboard.

1503
01:07:42,045 --> 01:07:44,455
I'll give you guys kind of the bottom line of it tonight,

1504
01:07:44,455 --> 01:07:47,535
or the punchline using the head dashboard.

1505
01:07:47,725 --> 01:07:49,735
NEEDHAM'S cost for the draft plan

1506
01:07:49,735 --> 01:07:54,575
that is currently under review is about $28 million over

1507
01:07:54,575 --> 01:07:57,975
between FY 29 and 2072.

1508
01:07:58,275 --> 01:08:00,215
So that's for just the plan that's currently on the table

1509
01:08:01,115 --> 01:08:03,095
to go to the highest level of control, which is

1510
01:08:03,095 --> 01:08:04,455
that 25 year storm event

1511
01:08:05,205 --> 01:08:08,615
that is about $85 million to need for Needham.

1512
01:08:08,885 --> 01:08:12,375
Yeah. So adults are about $57 million from that

1513
01:08:13,005 --> 01:08:15,015
zero CSOs in the typical year up to that,

1514
01:08:15,100 --> 01:08:16,380
that 25 year storm event.

1515
01:08:20,565 --> 01:08:22,745
And do you know, sorry, may I ask a couple questions?

1516
01:08:22,745 --> 01:08:25,745
Do you know, you know, in the peak year

1517
01:08:25,745 --> 01:08:29,385
or the average year, what the impact would be

1518
01:08:29,385 --> 01:08:31,705
to a typical rate payer? So

1519
01:08:32,135 --> 01:08:33,095
That one's a little bit harder

1520
01:08:34,235 --> 01:08:35,295
and I don't know, Steve, if you,

1521
01:08:35,655 --> 01:08:36,655
I think there's a couple different

1522
01:08:36,655 --> 01:08:37,535
ways of thinking about that.

1523
01:08:38,965 --> 01:08:41,175
Each community needs to take their piece.

1524
01:08:41,235 --> 01:08:44,095
And so the advisory board's chart shows

1525
01:08:44,195 --> 01:08:47,015
how much the incremental cost would be to need them,

1526
01:08:47,235 --> 01:08:48,575
for example, in each year.

1527
01:08:49,005 --> 01:08:50,695
Each community needs to take that

1528
01:08:50,915 --> 01:08:54,375
and assume how that's going to move from their

1529
01:08:55,205 --> 01:08:57,495
rate structure to their rate payers,

1530
01:08:57,975 --> 01:08:59,335
including any other costs.

1531
01:08:59,565 --> 01:09:01,455
It's a fairly substantial sum of money.

1532
01:09:01,795 --> 01:09:04,175
The hard thing on all these things is you can always find a

1533
01:09:04,175 --> 01:09:06,295
way to make it a tiny little number,

1534
01:09:06,835 --> 01:09:08,255
but it's one way or the other.

1535
01:09:08,645 --> 01:09:09,695
It's a large number.

1536
01:09:10,725 --> 01:09:13,935
It's a couple billion dollars across the region on top

1537
01:09:13,995 --> 01:09:17,175
of all of the other projects we're working on, one

1538
01:09:17,175 --> 01:09:21,015
of the things that we've heard some of the advocates say is,

1539
01:09:21,015 --> 01:09:23,375
well, deer Island's being paid off.

1540
01:09:23,715 --> 01:09:24,895
So of course you have a lot of money.

1541
01:09:25,685 --> 01:09:28,615
Well, that would be true if in fact

1542
01:09:29,885 --> 01:09:33,855
what you built in the late 1990s could go forever

1543
01:09:33,925 --> 01:09:35,255
without being maintained.

1544
01:09:35,585 --> 01:09:38,615
We're in the midst right now of beginning to make sort

1545
01:09:38,615 --> 01:09:40,695
of major renovation projects on Deer Island.

1546
01:09:40,795 --> 01:09:45,415
We have a $300 million project looking at the clarifiers

1547
01:09:45,415 --> 01:09:48,095
that the treatment vessels, there's a series of projects

1548
01:09:48,335 --> 01:09:51,415
that are between two and $300 million on Deer Island

1549
01:09:51,805 --> 01:09:52,855
over the next few years.

1550
01:09:53,115 --> 01:09:56,375
So basically the bills

1551
01:09:56,375 --> 01:09:59,735
that we paid back to build the Boston Harbor project

1552
01:10:00,485 --> 01:10:01,775
have been mostly paid off,

1553
01:10:02,235 --> 01:10:05,335
but we're spending actually a pretty much the same amount

1554
01:10:05,335 --> 01:10:07,615
of money over the next decade or so.

1555
01:10:07,805 --> 01:10:10,775
Keeping that facility running, keeping Boston Harbor clean.

1556
01:10:11,435 --> 01:10:13,895
The same thing is true for facilities upstream of that

1557
01:10:14,955 --> 01:10:17,695
and in at your level, at each individual community,

1558
01:10:17,695 --> 01:10:20,175
there's continued investments in the wastewater pipes

1559
01:10:20,175 --> 01:10:21,895
to keep them from degrading

1560
01:10:22,915 --> 01:10:26,135
and bringing more clean water into those pipes, sending it

1561
01:10:26,135 --> 01:10:28,535
to Dry Island and raising your local

1562
01:10:28,585 --> 01:10:29,735
share of the total cost.

1563
01:10:29,995 --> 01:10:32,215
So that's a lot of money on the table. Yeah.

1564
01:10:32,555 --> 01:10:34,335
Can I ask another question? I, I guess I see this

1565
01:10:34,335 --> 01:10:35,615
as a public benefit project.

1566
01:10:36,285 --> 01:10:39,255
Like it, it doesn't benefit only the communities within

1567
01:10:39,255 --> 01:10:40,335
the MWRA system.

1568
01:10:40,835 --> 01:10:44,135
So, I mean, I almost see Needham as a much of a beneficiary

1569
01:10:44,195 --> 01:10:46,735
as Worcester, but

1570
01:10:46,735 --> 01:10:48,855
because they're not part of the MWR system,

1571
01:10:48,855 --> 01:10:51,855
they're not being, they don't bear any

1572
01:10:51,855 --> 01:10:53,135
of the costs, correct?

1573
01:10:53,725 --> 01:10:57,735
Yeah, I mean we would, it would be wonderful in a,

1574
01:10:57,735 --> 01:10:59,535
in a world in which the Commonwealth

1575
01:10:59,875 --> 01:11:01,215
or the US government felt

1576
01:11:01,215 --> 01:11:03,815
that this was a high enough priority for them

1577
01:11:03,875 --> 01:11:05,655
to not just require it,

1578
01:11:06,395 --> 01:11:09,775
but to, the reason we're doing the project is it's required

1579
01:11:09,995 --> 01:11:11,255
by the state and federal government,

1580
01:11:11,355 --> 01:11:12,935
but it was a high enough priority for them

1581
01:11:13,005 --> 01:11:16,485
to not just require that the 43 communities do it,

1582
01:11:16,865 --> 01:11:18,085
but contribute to the cost.

1583
01:11:18,835 --> 01:11:21,565
Most of Deer Island was paid for by the cities

1584
01:11:21,665 --> 01:11:25,045
and towns that fund the MWRA sewer district.

1585
01:11:25,345 --> 01:11:27,525
The same thing is, is likely to be true here.

1586
01:11:29,685 --> 01:11:32,925
I would say if you could send us a letter on this plan,

1587
01:11:32,945 --> 01:11:35,965
you might wanna also wanna send a letter to your, your

1588
01:11:36,885 --> 01:11:39,965
Senators and representatives and suggest that they do that.

1589
01:11:41,425 --> 01:11:45,205
The state provides us a token payment each year,

1590
01:11:45,725 --> 01:11:47,365
a few hundred thousand dollars towards

1591
01:11:48,505 --> 01:11:52,205
our almost a billion dollar water and sewer budget.

1592
01:11:53,345 --> 01:11:57,005
You've got a couple of more comprehensive

1593
01:11:57,055 --> 01:11:58,525
plans here on the table.

1594
01:11:59,865 --> 01:12:02,125
Can you help us understand the qualitative difference

1595
01:12:02,435 --> 01:12:04,005
between the plan that costs

1596
01:12:04,915 --> 01:12:09,365
well will cost Needham $28 million versus the plan

1597
01:12:09,365 --> 01:12:12,045
that will cost Needham $85 million?

1598
01:12:12,195 --> 01:12:14,565
Like what, what is, what are we getting

1599
01:12:14,665 --> 01:12:16,085
for those, don't you?

1600
01:12:16,345 --> 01:12:19,845
The technical one? Yes. Yeah. So those larger,

1601
01:12:20,195 --> 01:12:23,125
Because we do have, we do, we have had folks come in

1602
01:12:23,125 --> 01:12:24,245
to advocate for the larger plans.

1603
01:12:24,425 --> 01:12:27,245
So I wanna understand like what are we giving up? Yeah.

1604
01:12:27,545 --> 01:12:29,565
Or what are, what are we purchasing if we

1605
01:12:29,885 --> 01:12:30,925
Yep, no, that's absolutely right.

1606
01:12:31,065 --> 01:12:34,365
So the larger, so that $85 million plan is

1607
01:12:34,365 --> 01:12:36,125
for the upper level, that's the 25 year

1608
01:12:36,135 --> 01:12:37,205
level of control, right?

1609
01:12:37,225 --> 01:12:41,045
So in a 25 year event, you would have no CSO discharges

1610
01:12:41,385 --> 01:12:43,965
to any of the three water bodies to do that.

1611
01:12:44,225 --> 01:12:47,645
We are looking at a large deep tunnel

1612
01:12:48,115 --> 01:12:50,965
that would collect the flows and kind of carry it.

1613
01:12:51,105 --> 01:12:53,085
So that's where some of that large cost comes from, right?

1614
01:12:53,085 --> 01:12:56,765
You're building extremely large infrastructure to do this.

1615
01:12:57,305 --> 01:13:00,045
But I will say even with that, I know

1616
01:13:00,125 --> 01:13:02,485
'cause one of the talking points, which is the, you know,

1617
01:13:02,485 --> 01:13:05,485
fishable swimmable days in the Charles for example,

1618
01:13:06,435 --> 01:13:09,325
that doesn't change as you go up in the levels of control

1619
01:13:09,915 --> 01:13:11,485
because until

1620
01:13:12,465 --> 01:13:15,525
or may have heard sewer separation as one of the kind

1621
01:13:15,525 --> 01:13:19,085
of gold standards as well is until the stormwater

1622
01:13:19,815 --> 01:13:21,765
piece is really taken care of

1623
01:13:21,945 --> 01:13:25,005
and treated, you aren't gonna see any additional days

1624
01:13:25,305 --> 01:13:26,325
of swimming in the Charles

1625
01:13:26,325 --> 01:13:28,645
because every storm event, storm water, which is,

1626
01:13:29,465 --> 01:13:30,565
has pollutants in it, right?

1627
01:13:30,565 --> 01:13:33,445
It's not clean that goes in every storm event.

1628
01:13:33,755 --> 01:13:36,085
Whereas a CSO is discharged periodically

1629
01:13:36,085 --> 01:13:37,445
depending on how large a storm was.

1630
01:13:37,825 --> 01:13:40,245
So I think from a, taking the step back from a,

1631
01:13:40,245 --> 01:13:41,805
what you get from it,

1632
01:13:43,145 --> 01:13:46,405
you may see less CSO discharges in the ongoing events,

1633
01:13:47,025 --> 01:13:49,605
but you aren't gonna see that increase to water quality

1634
01:13:49,665 --> 01:13:51,885
to make that so bowl fishable the entire year

1635
01:13:51,975 --> 01:13:54,685
until you rarely start treating the storm water

1636
01:13:55,525 --> 01:13:57,005
balloons that go into it.

1637
01:13:57,305 --> 01:13:58,565
So that was the kind of technical part.

1638
01:13:58,715 --> 01:13:59,885
Yeah. One of the, one

1639
01:14:00,005 --> 01:14:02,285
of the difficulties in being the folks who have

1640
01:14:02,285 --> 01:14:04,565
to engineer the projects is you're required

1641
01:14:04,565 --> 01:14:08,125
to actually look in great detail at all of the issues

1642
01:14:09,265 --> 01:14:11,005
and think of it comprehensively.

1643
01:14:11,345 --> 01:14:14,685
So as I think about it, if we,

1644
01:14:15,105 --> 01:14:18,405
if over the next 30 years the communities in the,

1645
01:14:18,505 --> 01:14:21,525
the 35 communities that feed into state

1646
01:14:21,525 --> 01:14:24,965
of Charles River all spent many tens of billions of dollars

1647
01:14:25,665 --> 01:14:30,565
to com completely treat the thousands of stormwater outfalls

1648
01:14:30,635 --> 01:14:33,205
that go into the Charles at

1649
01:14:33,205 --> 01:14:36,605
that point then not having the CSO volume in a larger

1650
01:14:36,615 --> 01:14:38,285
storm would yield benefit.

1651
01:14:38,665 --> 01:14:40,965
But until all of those storm water

1652
01:14:41,495 --> 01:14:44,765
dirty storm water discharges into the river are res are

1653
01:14:44,765 --> 01:14:49,005
cleaned up, you're still on every single storm going

1654
01:14:49,005 --> 01:14:50,125
to have pollution in the river,

1655
01:14:50,335 --> 01:14:53,685
which results in it not being meeting, meeting the fishing,

1656
01:14:53,745 --> 01:14:54,845
the swimming bowl standards.

1657
01:14:55,025 --> 01:14:58,365
Now River does meet swimmable standards on quite a few days

1658
01:14:58,365 --> 01:15:00,125
in the year, but it doesn't meet it

1659
01:15:00,225 --> 01:15:03,725
for any significant rainfall, primarily in most cases

1660
01:15:03,725 --> 01:15:07,005
because of flows that are coming down upstream

1661
01:15:07,005 --> 01:15:10,365
of the Watertown Dam, which are, it's dirtier upstream,

1662
01:15:11,505 --> 01:15:13,525
can causing a lower portion of the river

1663
01:15:13,825 --> 01:15:16,085
to be not meet those standards.

1664
01:15:16,585 --> 01:15:19,885
The river doesn't meet standards after rainfall.

1665
01:15:20,145 --> 01:15:23,445
If this, even on days when the CSOs are all, when

1666
01:15:23,965 --> 01:15:25,485
combined source all heading to Deer Island

1667
01:15:25,745 --> 01:15:27,205
and none of it's making to the river,

1668
01:15:27,545 --> 01:15:28,805
the river's not swimable.

1669
01:15:29,505 --> 01:15:33,445
We really, this is a, I think that it's a, it's a long,

1670
01:15:33,475 --> 01:15:35,125
long, long term issue.

1671
01:15:35,395 --> 01:15:37,845
Nothing we're doing in this plan prohibits us

1672
01:15:38,265 --> 01:15:40,485
or from being able to come back

1673
01:15:41,265 --> 01:15:43,605
at a point when the rivers cleaner

1674
01:15:43,605 --> 01:15:45,725
because of all the storm water and deal with this.

1675
01:15:46,105 --> 01:15:50,685
But it seems like a reasonable effort to reduce the impact

1676
01:15:50,685 --> 01:15:52,245
that the CSOs have on the river

1677
01:15:52,915 --> 01:15:55,845
even without necessarily making it swimmable.

1678
01:15:57,065 --> 01:15:59,765
One of my things I've said at all the meetings is

1679
01:16:00,815 --> 01:16:03,165
folks are saying it's gonna be swimmable.

1680
01:16:03,795 --> 01:16:06,325
They're gonna be in an awkward spot

1681
01:16:07,275 --> 01:16:09,245
when we build whatever project we build.

1682
01:16:09,465 --> 01:16:11,285
And it's not ought

1683
01:16:11,285 --> 01:16:13,045
to be something more than a bumper sticker

1684
01:16:13,345 --> 01:16:14,885
as you're doing these kind of investments.

1685
01:16:15,995 --> 01:16:20,085
Okay. Bill, any questions? No, I'm good. Thank you.

1686
01:16:21,105 --> 01:16:25,435
All right, Kathy. Yes,

1687
01:16:25,635 --> 01:16:26,675
I thank you.

1688
01:16:26,705 --> 01:16:28,915
This has been really helpful and interesting.

1689
01:16:29,135 --> 01:16:30,275
I'm just looking at the list

1690
01:16:30,275 --> 01:16:31,835
of all the different communities

1691
01:16:31,895 --> 01:16:34,355
and I'm wondering how is the cost allocated

1692
01:16:34,425 --> 01:16:36,355
amongst those 35 communities?

1693
01:16:37,215 --> 01:16:41,995
So the, the MWRA sewer charges are based

1694
01:16:42,185 --> 01:16:46,635
primarily on flow to a, a complicated format

1695
01:16:46,635 --> 01:16:50,795
that includes monthly flow averaged over three years,

1696
01:16:51,065 --> 01:16:53,515
peak month flow averaged over three years.

1697
01:16:55,985 --> 01:16:59,395
Some factors for population in each community

1698
01:16:59,655 --> 01:17:00,795
and all the communities.

1699
01:17:01,255 --> 01:17:02,275
We sum all the costs

1700
01:17:02,375 --> 01:17:05,795
and we divide it up by your share of flow, your share

1701
01:17:05,795 --> 01:17:07,475
of population in essence.

1702
01:17:07,575 --> 01:17:09,765
So it's essentially a flow based

1703
01:17:09,905 --> 01:17:12,765
or impact based charge.

1704
01:17:13,115 --> 01:17:15,685
Each community pays their share based on those numbers.

1705
01:17:18,825 --> 01:17:21,605
So in that case, does Needham benefit from having some

1706
01:17:21,605 --> 01:17:23,885
of our water come from our town wealth?

1707
01:17:25,985 --> 01:17:28,485
No. Is wastewater flow waste water,

1708
01:17:28,615 --> 01:17:29,845
waste water flow, of course, yeah.

1709
01:17:29,915 --> 01:17:30,925
Your water bill is lower,

1710
01:17:31,035 --> 01:17:33,885
your water charge from us is lower 'cause you buy less water.

1711
01:17:34,115 --> 01:17:35,325
Yeah, but the sewer flow is

1712
01:17:35,325 --> 01:17:36,605
wastewater is based on wastewater flow.

1713
01:17:36,625 --> 01:17:37,565
We do meter that flow,

1714
01:17:37,625 --> 01:17:38,845
of course that's what leaves the town.

1715
01:17:39,115 --> 01:17:43,325
Okay. We would be happy to over the next couple months

1716
01:17:43,925 --> 01:17:47,685
provide an input your, your staff needs

1717
01:17:47,745 --> 01:17:49,245
as they're thinking about trafficking this

1718
01:17:49,245 --> 01:17:50,525
and getting a letter to you

1719
01:17:50,525 --> 01:17:53,565
to send off any additional information we can provide.

1720
01:17:53,835 --> 01:17:55,565
We'd be happy to do Thank you

1721
01:17:55,565 --> 01:17:57,685
for the opportunity to be here. Certainly.

1722
01:17:57,745 --> 01:17:59,605
And I'll just note there are two more slides in there.

1723
01:17:59,645 --> 01:18:00,565
I don't think they need to be pulled

1724
01:18:00,565 --> 01:18:01,805
up, but you have 'em in your packet.

1725
01:18:01,905 --> 01:18:03,205
It just shows the next steps,

1726
01:18:03,205 --> 01:18:05,805
which we've already touched on and then the project.

1727
01:18:06,305 --> 01:18:08,325
So yeah, so the next slide steps,

1728
01:18:08,545 --> 01:18:12,485
the comment period now is extended to end of October.

1729
01:18:12,745 --> 01:18:13,805
So this is a little bit outdated

1730
01:18:13,805 --> 01:18:15,565
that was fresh off the presses this afternoon.

1731
01:18:16,945 --> 01:18:20,005
And then project implementation going between the, you know,

1732
01:18:20,105 --> 01:18:21,565
say 2027 to the 2050s.

1733
01:18:21,665 --> 01:18:23,805
But noting during that timeframe some

1734
01:18:23,805 --> 01:18:25,245
of the smaller projects will be coming online.

1735
01:18:26,185 --> 01:18:28,965
And then the next slide if you could, is just the,

1736
01:18:30,985 --> 01:18:34,765
has the link to the joint CSO planning site that we share

1737
01:18:34,765 --> 01:18:36,845
with between the three partners

1738
01:18:37,345 --> 01:18:39,605
and folks that are interested in this program can look,

1739
01:18:39,605 --> 01:18:42,565
the draft plan is there, past public meetings are all

1740
01:18:42,765 --> 01:18:43,925
recorded, the slideshows are there.

1741
01:18:44,425 --> 01:18:45,885
So if anybody needs more information

1742
01:18:45,985 --> 01:18:47,845
and certainly we're always happy to answer questions

1743
01:18:47,845 --> 01:18:50,245
And that's where the the, for any cities who wants to

1744
01:18:50,965 --> 01:18:52,805
comment the portal

1745
01:18:52,945 --> 01:18:55,685
to the provide comments electronically is on that site.

1746
01:18:55,825 --> 01:18:57,205
All the ways to comment are there. So.

1747
01:18:57,875 --> 01:19:00,525
Okay. Well we, we appreciate your time.

1748
01:19:00,525 --> 01:19:02,085
This is a very significant project

1749
01:19:02,635 --> 01:19:03,635
Come In here.

1750
01:19:03,635 --> 01:19:04,725
So thank you much

1751
01:19:09,495 --> 01:19:11,445
Madam, if you apologize for having a little

1752
01:19:12,235 --> 01:19:14,245
trouble finding out why this won't go away.

1753
01:19:14,795 --> 01:19:15,795
Okay.

1754
01:19:20,565 --> 01:19:22,965
I give everyone a little extra time to jot it down.

1755
01:19:25,575 --> 01:19:28,005
Ma'am, check. Can I move the consent agenda?

1756
01:19:28,145 --> 01:19:30,485
Please do. Yes. All right. I move the consent agenda

1757
01:19:31,105 --> 01:19:32,105
Second.

1758
01:19:32,755 --> 01:19:37,085
Alright, so we'll

1759
01:19:37,085 --> 01:19:38,205
vote on the consent.

1760
01:19:38,615 --> 01:19:43,045
Kathy, we'll go to you. Yes. Bill? Yes.

1761
01:19:43,355 --> 01:19:47,845
Josh? Yes. Kevin? Yes. And I vote yes as well. Thank you.

1762
01:19:49,195 --> 01:19:52,045
Okay, the next item on our agenda tonight is the local

1763
01:19:52,045 --> 01:19:56,605
initiative program at 1 93 gar,

1764
01:19:56,965 --> 01:19:59,525
the Garden Street Proposal Gardener's

1765
01:19:59,525 --> 01:20:00,645
Nest Condominium project.

1766
01:20:01,735 --> 01:20:06,325
Hello. We're gonna welcome Mrs.

1767
01:20:06,705 --> 01:20:07,765
Toulie. Yes,

1768
01:20:09,425 --> 01:20:12,205
George Junta And is Mary au as well.

1769
01:20:12,555 --> 01:20:13,525
Okay, come on up.

1770
01:20:17,665 --> 01:20:22,205
So it's good to see you all back. Thank you. A joint summer.

1771
01:20:22,735 --> 01:20:24,965
Thank you. Thank for your time today.

1772
01:20:25,305 --> 01:20:29,245
So I will turn it over to you guys to present on

1773
01:20:30,385 --> 01:20:32,645
the project as it stands currently. Alright,

1774
01:20:32,645 --> 01:20:33,645
Great.

1775
01:20:33,645 --> 01:20:35,565
Thank you very much. George Center junior

1776
01:20:35,925 --> 01:20:37,605
attorney representing Mr.

1777
01:20:38,025 --> 01:20:41,725
Oli and his entity that own owns the property is proposing

1778
01:20:42,315 --> 01:20:43,485
this 40 B project.

1779
01:20:44,345 --> 01:20:45,605
And as the board knows,

1780
01:20:45,765 --> 01:20:47,125
'cause we've been here a couple of times before,

1781
01:20:47,155 --> 01:20:48,525
this is an ongoing process

1782
01:20:49,345 --> 01:20:51,885
and one of the aspects of a lip,

1783
01:20:51,965 --> 01:20:54,205
a local initiative project is

1784
01:20:54,205 --> 01:20:56,205
that it is a cooperative project.

1785
01:20:56,425 --> 01:20:59,085
It essentially is a form almost of a partnership

1786
01:20:59,085 --> 01:21:00,765
between the town and the developer.

1787
01:21:00,985 --> 01:21:02,965
So here we are at the next,

1788
01:21:03,225 --> 01:21:05,565
the next check-in if you will on this project.

1789
01:21:06,425 --> 01:21:09,685
So we last met and discussed this back in April.

1790
01:21:09,865 --> 01:21:11,365
So it's been a little bit of time

1791
01:21:11,455 --> 01:21:12,725
since we last talked about this.

1792
01:21:13,295 --> 01:21:14,885
Since then there's been a couple of things

1793
01:21:15,245 --> 01:21:17,885
that have taken place that directly address some

1794
01:21:17,885 --> 01:21:19,685
of the comments and concerns that have been raised.

1795
01:21:20,205 --> 01:21:24,205
First off, probably most important is the survey has been

1796
01:21:24,205 --> 01:21:26,285
completed, the land survey of the property,

1797
01:21:26,285 --> 01:21:28,005
which we hadn't had before.

1798
01:21:28,345 --> 01:21:30,525
We only had sort of preliminary plans and so on.

1799
01:21:30,525 --> 01:21:32,165
But now the survey has actually been done.

1800
01:21:32,505 --> 01:21:35,445
So we now know the exact dimensions of the property.

1801
01:21:35,465 --> 01:21:37,965
The boundaries have been fixed and most importantly the

1802
01:21:38,055 --> 01:21:40,445
topography has been surveyed.

1803
01:21:40,505 --> 01:21:42,845
So we now have the topography of the property set.

1804
01:21:43,305 --> 01:21:45,205
And with that I'll just mention basically

1805
01:21:45,355 --> 01:21:46,645
it's roughly what we thought.

1806
01:21:47,245 --> 01:21:49,445
That the property is relatively flat

1807
01:21:49,545 --> 01:21:51,605
for about three quarters of the way back ish.

1808
01:21:51,945 --> 01:21:54,205
And then there's a slope basically from there.

1809
01:21:55,185 --> 01:21:57,685
Now in addition there was a wetlands

1810
01:21:57,685 --> 01:21:59,405
delineation that was completed.

1811
01:21:59,465 --> 01:22:02,885
So Mary Trudeau who's here with us this evening, went out

1812
01:22:02,885 --> 01:22:04,645
and flagged the wetlands, the surveyor went

1813
01:22:04,645 --> 01:22:06,805
and I then located where those flags were

1814
01:22:06,985 --> 01:22:08,405
and that's on one of the plans

1815
01:22:08,405 --> 01:22:10,205
that I think you have in your packets.

1816
01:22:10,465 --> 01:22:13,125
So we now know with a reasonable degree of certainty

1817
01:22:13,215 --> 01:22:15,125
where the wetlands line is and that

1818
01:22:15,125 --> 01:22:18,045
therefore informs us where the buffer zone is.

1819
01:22:18,605 --> 01:22:20,805
The two buffer zones, the 50 foot and the a hundred foot.

1820
01:22:22,105 --> 01:22:24,725
We also have advanced our design.

1821
01:22:25,185 --> 01:22:27,765
So the prelim, the design is still not final,

1822
01:22:27,835 --> 01:22:30,325
it's still a bit preliminary but it's been advanced

1823
01:22:30,505 --> 01:22:33,565
and is still in keeping with what you have seen previously.

1824
01:22:34,265 --> 01:22:36,205
But basically the location of the houses

1825
01:22:37,005 --> 01:22:40,285
we're still proposing 10 units in five duplexes.

1826
01:22:40,985 --> 01:22:43,085
But the exact location has changed a bit.

1827
01:22:43,585 --> 01:22:45,405
The shape has changed a bit.

1828
01:22:45,405 --> 01:22:48,165
If you remember on one of the earlier versions there were

1829
01:22:48,165 --> 01:22:50,365
these little sort of cutouts where the garages were

1830
01:22:50,545 --> 01:22:52,525
and those have now been disposed with

1831
01:22:52,625 --> 01:22:55,165
and it's just a flat kind of garage face.

1832
01:22:55,165 --> 01:22:57,165
Instead of having cars have to come in

1833
01:22:57,265 --> 01:22:59,485
and negotiate these little cutout areas,

1834
01:23:01,575 --> 01:23:03,445
we've had discussions with the fire department

1835
01:23:03,625 --> 01:23:05,965
and they have given us feedback that they're looking

1836
01:23:05,985 --> 01:23:10,965
for a 16 to 18 foot clear space to be able

1837
01:23:10,965 --> 01:23:12,885
to get in with their vehicles and equipment.

1838
01:23:13,265 --> 01:23:15,245
And so we've taken that into account when we,

1839
01:23:15,245 --> 01:23:16,925
when we located the houses.

1840
01:23:18,425 --> 01:23:21,525
And then, let's see, yeah,

1841
01:23:21,525 --> 01:23:23,485
and then we've basically just tweaked the design a little

1842
01:23:23,485 --> 01:23:25,125
bit to sort of take into account

1843
01:23:25,125 --> 01:23:26,285
the information that we now have.

1844
01:23:27,025 --> 01:23:30,525
We still, there's still sprinkled, there's still, oh

1845
01:23:30,525 --> 01:23:32,125
and most recently on the fire department

1846
01:23:32,765 --> 01:23:34,845
they have advised us that they would like

1847
01:23:34,845 --> 01:23:35,965
to see the building sprinkled

1848
01:23:36,025 --> 01:23:37,405
and we're perfectly fine with that.

1849
01:23:37,425 --> 01:23:39,405
And so that's something that we'll be incorporating.

1850
01:23:39,715 --> 01:23:41,205
It's not in any of your materials yet

1851
01:23:41,325 --> 01:23:43,125
'cause we just, that was just learned that recently.

1852
01:23:43,385 --> 01:23:44,845
So we'll incorporate that in

1853
01:23:44,845 --> 01:23:46,085
and that will be a part going forward.

1854
01:23:47,645 --> 01:23:51,125
So as I indicated, the project remains 10 total units in

1855
01:23:51,155 --> 01:23:52,325
five duplexes

1856
01:23:53,425 --> 01:23:58,365
and while it is not a cast in stone standard,

1857
01:23:58,865 --> 01:24:01,325
it has generally been the rule of thumb for the board

1858
01:24:01,325 --> 01:24:04,885
of appeals when they evaluate 40 B projects as well

1859
01:24:04,885 --> 01:24:07,205
as in a general zoning context that you look

1860
01:24:07,205 --> 01:24:10,005
for roughly 16 units per acre as your sort

1861
01:24:10,005 --> 01:24:11,365
of your target maximum density.

1862
01:24:12,065 --> 01:24:15,285
If you do the math based on that, then you wind up

1863
01:24:15,285 --> 01:24:19,125
with this site would support roughly 12 units

1864
01:24:20,465 --> 01:24:22,445
and we are at 10 units below that.

1865
01:24:22,625 --> 01:24:23,645
So we, we still think

1866
01:24:23,645 --> 01:24:26,165
that this is an appropriate size development based on that.

1867
01:24:26,545 --> 01:24:28,565
Now as I said, it's not a cast and stone thing,

1868
01:24:28,565 --> 01:24:31,045
but it has has been a standard that has been used

1869
01:24:31,045 --> 01:24:33,325
to evaluate I think pretty much every 40 B

1870
01:24:33,325 --> 01:24:34,405
that has gone through the board of appeals.

1871
01:24:34,405 --> 01:24:36,965
And certainly a lot of other projects

1872
01:24:36,965 --> 01:24:38,605
that have come through the town as well.

1873
01:24:39,925 --> 01:24:42,805
30% of the units will, units will be affordable.

1874
01:24:43,515 --> 01:24:45,125
This is something we have now defined

1875
01:24:45,545 --> 01:24:47,685
and that is in excess of the 25%

1876
01:24:47,685 --> 01:24:49,165
that is required by Chapter 40 B.

1877
01:24:49,165 --> 01:24:50,685
So we're going over and above on that.

1878
01:24:51,785 --> 01:24:54,805
Now with the wetlands having been delineated said,

1879
01:24:54,805 --> 01:24:55,965
we now know where the 50 foot

1880
01:24:55,985 --> 01:24:58,685
and the a hundred foot buffer is for the,

1881
01:24:58,705 --> 01:25:00,885
for any board members that aren't aware

1882
01:25:00,885 --> 01:25:02,645
of the way the wetlands bylaw works

1883
01:25:02,665 --> 01:25:04,165
and the way the Wetlands Protection Act works,

1884
01:25:04,635 --> 01:25:07,925
generally speaking, towns have discretion over how much

1885
01:25:08,435 --> 01:25:09,525
they wanna regulate

1886
01:25:09,825 --> 01:25:11,485
and condition work that's done within a

1887
01:25:11,485 --> 01:25:12,565
hundred feet of a wetlands.

1888
01:25:13,275 --> 01:25:16,965
Some towns are, are sort of lenient

1889
01:25:16,965 --> 01:25:18,765
and they let you basically go right up to the line

1890
01:25:19,065 --> 01:25:20,645
and other towns are more strict.

1891
01:25:20,645 --> 01:25:22,885
Needham is on the stricter side of the scale.

1892
01:25:23,725 --> 01:25:25,725
Generally speaking, they don't want your,

1893
01:25:25,725 --> 01:25:27,165
they certainly don't want you touching anything

1894
01:25:27,165 --> 01:25:28,245
within the first 25 feet.

1895
01:25:28,275 --> 01:25:30,165
They really don't like anything within the first 50 feet.

1896
01:25:30,885 --> 01:25:34,205
But then once you get further out, basically sort of,

1897
01:25:34,205 --> 01:25:37,925
you know, 70, 75 feet plus you can do certain work

1898
01:25:38,305 --> 01:25:39,565
but you have to go through a process

1899
01:25:39,705 --> 01:25:41,245
to get an order of conditions from them.

1900
01:25:42,265 --> 01:25:45,765
And so that is something we do anticipate that we will need

1901
01:25:45,765 --> 01:25:47,685
to do and we're comfortable doing that

1902
01:25:47,825 --> 01:25:50,965
and working within the ordinary wetlands program.

1903
01:25:51,945 --> 01:25:54,565
So nothing, so we don't expect anything sort of

1904
01:25:54,565 --> 01:25:56,045
beyond the scope of what any other project

1905
01:25:56,135 --> 01:25:57,365
would necessarily require.

1906
01:25:57,825 --> 01:26:00,845
But we will be going into the buffer zone a bit up

1907
01:26:00,845 --> 01:26:02,685
to about 70 feet from the wellins.

1908
01:26:02,685 --> 01:26:03,860
So there's about 30 feet

1909
01:26:03,865 --> 01:26:05,405
of the buffer we'll be doing some work in.

1910
01:26:06,505 --> 01:26:08,685
And we now know that because of the wetlands, alienation

1911
01:26:08,685 --> 01:26:13,645
and the survey, we also now know based on the

1912
01:26:13,715 --> 01:26:16,005
information from the fire department

1913
01:26:16,005 --> 01:26:17,445
that they want 16 to 18 feet clear.

1914
01:26:17,495 --> 01:26:21,885
We've located the buildings so that the, the separation

1915
01:26:21,885 --> 01:26:23,125
between the wall of the building

1916
01:26:23,185 --> 01:26:26,885
and the property line generally is at least 18 feet,

1917
01:26:26,885 --> 01:26:28,765
but it's really functionally 20 feet.

1918
01:26:28,985 --> 01:26:30,445
So we've got adequate space there.

1919
01:26:30,505 --> 01:26:33,165
So we now know that previously we didn't have a set number

1920
01:26:33,185 --> 01:26:36,285
on that at 20 feet it is well in excess

1921
01:26:36,285 --> 01:26:39,045
of the 14 foot minimum side yard setback in the,

1922
01:26:39,045 --> 01:26:40,645
that applies in the district. So

1923
01:26:40,785 --> 01:26:42,485
It says 18 feet here.

1924
01:26:42,785 --> 01:26:44,485
Are you saying that that's changed to 20

1925
01:26:44,485 --> 01:26:45,485
Feet?

1926
01:26:45,485 --> 01:26:46,365
So it's, it's 18 feet at certain points,

1927
01:26:46,365 --> 01:26:48,925
but like at the garage portions it's 20 feet

1928
01:26:52,075 --> 01:26:54,565
with that and, and with the survey having been complete,

1929
01:26:54,965 --> 01:26:57,365
although we don't have a finished drainage design

1930
01:26:57,365 --> 01:27:00,485
that's still a bit off, we do now have a good idea

1931
01:27:00,485 --> 01:27:03,125
of the topography and the likely grading of the site.

1932
01:27:03,265 --> 01:27:05,205
So we are confident

1933
01:27:05,545 --> 01:27:08,445
and we don't expect needing any waivers

1934
01:27:08,445 --> 01:27:10,605
or any extraordinary relief when it

1935
01:27:10,605 --> 01:27:11,645
comes to stormwater control.

1936
01:27:11,645 --> 01:27:13,285
We think that we'll be able to manage that on site.

1937
01:27:13,585 --> 01:27:17,085
We can't say that for absolute thousand percent certain just

1938
01:27:17,165 --> 01:27:19,685
yet because we do have to do some test pits on the site.

1939
01:27:20,345 --> 01:27:22,285
But as the board is aware, I think Mr.

1940
01:27:22,585 --> 01:27:24,005
Toi did do the project next door,

1941
01:27:24,005 --> 01:27:25,325
which was substantially similar.

1942
01:27:25,705 --> 01:27:27,725
So he has some working knowledge of what the,

1943
01:27:27,825 --> 01:27:30,165
the underground conditions likely will be based on that.

1944
01:27:30,425 --> 01:27:32,245
And if they do turn out to be what we expect,

1945
01:27:32,595 --> 01:27:35,125
then we should be able to meet

1946
01:27:35,185 --> 01:27:37,565
and comply with the applicable stormwater bylaw

1947
01:27:37,625 --> 01:27:40,525
and not have to get any special relief on that front.

1948
01:27:44,145 --> 01:27:47,045
And then we also, now that the survey's been done

1949
01:27:47,105 --> 01:27:49,005
and we know the grades and the slope

1950
01:27:49,145 --> 01:27:50,405
and we have our sort

1951
01:27:50,405 --> 01:27:53,045
of first preliminary projected grading done, we know

1952
01:27:53,045 --> 01:27:56,085
that we likely we won't need to bring any fill to the site

1953
01:27:56,085 --> 01:27:57,325
and in fact we'll probably have

1954
01:27:57,325 --> 01:27:59,925
to remove some material from the site and take it off.

1955
01:28:00,085 --> 01:28:02,565
'cause there's probably gonna be too much there. All right.

1956
01:28:02,625 --> 01:28:04,445
Now, now that we've got all this done,

1957
01:28:04,465 --> 01:28:06,605
we also have a better idea of what sort

1958
01:28:06,605 --> 01:28:07,725
of waivers we might need.

1959
01:28:07,725 --> 01:28:08,965
And this was one of the questions

1960
01:28:08,965 --> 01:28:10,125
that the board had for us last time.

1961
01:28:10,585 --> 01:28:11,885
And now that we've gone through this,

1962
01:28:12,625 --> 01:28:16,325
we know we can cite the buildings to comply

1963
01:28:16,325 --> 01:28:17,445
with setback requirements.

1964
01:28:18,625 --> 01:28:20,445
We know that we can, they will comply with a number

1965
01:28:20,445 --> 01:28:23,725
of things but there are, there are a few waivers

1966
01:28:23,725 --> 01:28:24,805
that we definitely will need.

1967
01:28:25,495 --> 01:28:27,405
Three of the waivers are sort of part

1968
01:28:27,405 --> 01:28:29,285
and parcel with the nature of a project like this.

1969
01:28:29,285 --> 01:28:30,365
They're just, this is just

1970
01:28:30,675 --> 01:28:34,165
what you get when you have a multi-unit sort of dense

1971
01:28:34,545 --> 01:28:35,805
or some somewhat dense project.

1972
01:28:35,945 --> 01:28:39,085
So first off, we are gonna be needing a waiver on use

1973
01:28:39,085 --> 01:28:41,725
because this is a single family residential zoning district.

1974
01:28:41,865 --> 01:28:44,485
So we obviously we'll need a waiver with respect to use

1975
01:28:45,625 --> 01:28:46,645
in connection with that.

1976
01:28:46,645 --> 01:28:50,005
We'll also need a waivers for percentage of lot coverage

1977
01:28:50,685 --> 01:28:53,325
because in the SRB district you're limited

1978
01:28:53,345 --> 01:28:55,285
to only 25% and we are over that.

1979
01:28:55,855 --> 01:28:58,005
We'll also need a waiver from floor area ratio.

1980
01:28:58,585 --> 01:28:59,765
And both of those sort

1981
01:28:59,765 --> 01:29:01,605
of are tied part and parcel with the nature.

1982
01:29:01,885 --> 01:29:03,405
'cause obviously you're doing multiple units,

1983
01:29:04,125 --> 01:29:05,525
multiple buildings, you're gonna be over the,

1984
01:29:05,585 --> 01:29:06,885
the single family threshold.

1985
01:29:07,825 --> 01:29:09,805
And then we expect, we think

1986
01:29:09,805 --> 01:29:11,245
that there's a reasonable possibility

1987
01:29:11,245 --> 01:29:12,965
that we might need a waiver on height.

1988
01:29:13,685 --> 01:29:14,725
We don't know that for sure yet

1989
01:29:14,725 --> 01:29:17,285
because we're still working with the design on the buildings

1990
01:29:18,105 --> 01:29:20,805
and also on the final, the sort of the fine points

1991
01:29:20,805 --> 01:29:23,525
of the grading and the way height is

1992
01:29:23,525 --> 01:29:24,725
calculated in the bylaw.

1993
01:29:25,065 --> 01:29:26,765
You know, it's based on, there's a couple

1994
01:29:26,765 --> 01:29:27,805
of different ways you can do it

1995
01:29:27,985 --> 01:29:29,445
and we need

1996
01:29:29,445 --> 01:29:31,845
to do final calculations based on the final design

1997
01:29:31,845 --> 01:29:34,925
of the houses to know whether we're above the height or not.

1998
01:29:35,025 --> 01:29:37,165
If we are above, we don't think we're gonna be above

1999
01:29:37,465 --> 01:29:39,925
by a huge amount, but we may need a waiver on the height.

2000
01:29:40,065 --> 01:29:42,525
We just don't know yet. So I'm putting that out there just

2001
01:29:42,525 --> 01:29:43,645
so it's not, if we do need it,

2002
01:29:43,905 --> 01:29:45,285
you can't say we didn't tell you,

2003
01:29:45,805 --> 01:29:48,605
but other than those waivers, we don't expect

2004
01:29:48,605 --> 01:29:51,245
to need any other zoning related waivers.

2005
01:29:51,435 --> 01:29:54,925
Alright, so unlike other projects that need a laundry list,

2006
01:29:55,585 --> 01:29:57,485
so Chestnut Street comes to mind

2007
01:29:58,005 --> 01:30:00,285
that needed quite a few zoning waivers.

2008
01:30:00,545 --> 01:30:02,005
We really won't need a lot.

2009
01:30:02,225 --> 01:30:04,285
And in fact, really three three

2010
01:30:04,285 --> 01:30:06,405
of the four waivers we will need are, are

2011
01:30:07,025 --> 01:30:09,245
really essential part of the project itself.

2012
01:30:09,345 --> 01:30:11,885
And you would need almost regardless of size

2013
01:30:11,885 --> 01:30:13,965
or scope, if you're doing any sort of project like this,

2014
01:30:13,975 --> 01:30:15,085
you'd need those waivers.

2015
01:30:15,955 --> 01:30:17,845
Then we technically will also need

2016
01:30:17,875 --> 01:30:19,605
waivers for parking design.

2017
01:30:20,435 --> 01:30:23,045
Each unit is proposed to have a two car garage,

2018
01:30:23,185 --> 01:30:24,885
so there's adequate parking spaces.

2019
01:30:25,545 --> 01:30:27,845
But the way the parking design guidelines work,

2020
01:30:28,515 --> 01:30:31,165
there's certain things that, like the spaces are supposed

2021
01:30:31,165 --> 01:30:32,365
to be configured in a certain way

2022
01:30:32,365 --> 01:30:34,965
and having them inside a garage just they automatically

2023
01:30:34,965 --> 01:30:36,165
don't comply with certain aspects.

2024
01:30:36,265 --> 01:30:37,685
So we will need a waiver from that.

2025
01:30:38,145 --> 01:30:41,565
But I'll point out that an ordinary project

2026
01:30:42,825 --> 01:30:45,085
can ask for a waiver under the zoning bylaw anyways.

2027
01:30:45,145 --> 01:30:46,405
So, so needing a waiver under

2028
01:30:46,405 --> 01:30:48,405
that is not a unusual condition.

2029
01:30:48,795 --> 01:30:51,685
Many commercial projects actually request

2030
01:30:51,705 --> 01:30:53,245
and receive waivers for design

2031
01:30:53,885 --> 01:30:56,045
because the design requirements are specific.

2032
01:30:56,065 --> 01:30:58,925
And for example, one of them is you have to, you're supposed

2033
01:30:58,925 --> 01:31:01,965
to illuminate all of your parking areas,

2034
01:31:02,165 --> 01:31:03,445
a one foot candle per inch

2035
01:31:03,865 --> 01:31:06,605
and invariably many parking areas, if you do that,

2036
01:31:06,605 --> 01:31:08,165
you're gonna have, they're gonna be actually two bright

2037
01:31:08,505 --> 01:31:10,525
or you're gonna have lights where you don't want 'em.

2038
01:31:10,685 --> 01:31:12,165
And so typ, that's a typical waiver

2039
01:31:12,165 --> 01:31:15,045
that is often given in connection with projects.

2040
01:31:16,065 --> 01:31:18,325
And then finally a project

2041
01:31:18,425 --> 01:31:21,365
of this size would typically require major project site plan

2042
01:31:21,365 --> 01:31:22,405
review with the planning board.

2043
01:31:22,545 --> 01:31:24,245
And so that's a waiver that we would need more

2044
01:31:24,245 --> 01:31:25,845
of a procedural waiver than an actual

2045
01:31:26,315 --> 01:31:27,645
substantive zoning waiver.

2046
01:31:29,185 --> 01:31:31,845
So now we've identified sort of our base waivers.

2047
01:31:32,055 --> 01:31:35,005
We've got, we've, we've, we've fine tuned our project a bit.

2048
01:31:35,025 --> 01:31:37,045
We know what the property is, we know the grading,

2049
01:31:37,225 --> 01:31:38,445
we know the wetlands and so on.

2050
01:31:38,825 --> 01:31:42,485
So now we're at the point where we're teeing up to do more

2051
01:31:43,165 --> 01:31:45,125
complete drainage design and getting into that

2052
01:31:45,265 --> 01:31:46,885
and fine tuning our design of the houses.

2053
01:31:47,385 --> 01:31:51,125
So this was, this is a very good time to meet with the board

2054
01:31:51,585 --> 01:31:53,565
and ask for your continued input.

2055
01:31:53,985 --> 01:31:55,045
We know that this is a process

2056
01:31:55,265 --> 01:31:56,525
and it will continue to go on.

2057
01:31:57,165 --> 01:31:59,005
Michael has had meetings with the neighbors.

2058
01:31:59,045 --> 01:32:00,205
He just hit another one recently

2059
01:32:00,205 --> 01:32:02,125
and I expect we'll have several more as we go forward.

2060
01:32:02,865 --> 01:32:05,565
But we do wanna make sure to touch base with the board

2061
01:32:05,565 --> 01:32:07,005
because as I indicated at the outset,

2062
01:32:07,275 --> 01:32:10,125
this is a lip is a cooperative joint kind of project.

2063
01:32:10,225 --> 01:32:12,725
And if the board is inclined to support us on this, it,

2064
01:32:12,725 --> 01:32:15,165
it's sort of, I mean it has to be kind of a two way street

2065
01:32:15,185 --> 01:32:17,165
and we have to be giving the project

2066
01:32:17,325 --> 01:32:19,005
that the board wants on behalf of the town.

2067
01:32:19,785 --> 01:32:22,205
So we would love to hear your input

2068
01:32:22,265 --> 01:32:24,445
and any questions that you might have at this point.

2069
01:32:25,685 --> 01:32:27,845
Excellent. We're just gonna go down the line here

2070
01:32:28,285 --> 01:32:30,405
'cause I'm sure that everyone has things to say.

2071
01:32:31,095 --> 01:32:32,845
Kevin, do you wanna get us started?

2072
01:32:33,635 --> 01:32:38,005
Sure. Okay. Garages, are they underneath?

2073
01:32:38,465 --> 01:32:39,605
Yes. Are they? Okay.

2074
01:32:40,505 --> 01:32:43,405
So as I look at it, how long are these dry?

2075
01:32:43,425 --> 01:32:45,605
What's the, the driveways look short.

2076
01:32:47,225 --> 01:32:48,965
What's the pitch on them to go underneath?

2077
01:32:49,715 --> 01:32:50,725
Michael, do You wanna answer?

2078
01:32:50,725 --> 01:32:52,125
Yeah, I'm not clear on your question.

2079
01:32:52,715 --> 01:32:54,525
Okay. So as I'm looking at,

2080
01:32:54,525 --> 01:32:57,165
there's a access road coming in on either side,

2081
01:32:58,275 --> 01:33:00,565
then there's a proposed driveway that looks,

2082
01:33:01,605 --> 01:33:03,205
I don't have a measurement on the length of it.

2083
01:33:03,825 --> 01:33:06,125
Are we talking about the from front street

2084
01:33:06,225 --> 01:33:08,525
to back of property or? No, from

2085
01:33:08,525 --> 01:33:09,525
Side to side?

2086
01:33:09,525 --> 01:33:11,365
From side to side. So you gotta turn into your garage.

2087
01:33:12,225 --> 01:33:13,645
You have a proposed driveway

2088
01:33:13,645 --> 01:33:15,325
that looks like maybe it's five feet,

2089
01:33:17,105 --> 01:33:19,125
The, And it goes down.

2090
01:33:19,945 --> 01:33:22,565
So what's your pitch to clear a garage door?

2091
01:33:23,265 --> 01:33:26,485
So the garage floor is about four feet below the street.

2092
01:33:26,675 --> 01:33:28,165
Okay. So it's not, it's a,

2093
01:33:28,465 --> 01:33:30,005
So the rise over run is what?

2094
01:33:30,785 --> 01:33:32,205
But is that below?

2095
01:33:32,265 --> 01:33:34,605
So he's asking the driveway that comes down the side

2096
01:33:35,345 --> 01:33:37,525
and then the garage that comes off of that.

2097
01:33:37,985 --> 01:33:39,485
The difference between the, the driveway

2098
01:33:39,485 --> 01:33:40,525
on the side and the garage,

2099
01:33:41,665 --> 01:33:42,765
That's fairly level.

2100
01:33:42,815 --> 01:33:46,325
It'll be pitched enough to force our water to go

2101
01:33:46,325 --> 01:33:47,885
to our collection basis,

2102
01:33:49,065 --> 01:33:51,725
but it's, it, it's insignificant.

2103
01:33:52,225 --> 01:33:54,605
So it's not a full garage under, it's not a full floor

2104
01:33:54,605 --> 01:33:56,685
Under No, it, No, it's a full garage under,

2105
01:33:56,785 --> 01:34:00,405
but it's the, so what we're proposing is

2106
01:34:01,775 --> 01:34:04,525
going down four feet Yeah.

2107
01:34:04,525 --> 01:34:07,165
With the garage floor from the street

2108
01:34:07,345 --> 01:34:10,005
and then we'll be four feet above

2109
01:34:10,005 --> 01:34:11,885
that gives us our full eight feet.

2110
01:34:11,955 --> 01:34:16,005
Yeah. Underneath from the grading.

2111
01:34:16,905 --> 01:34:20,285
And maybe it's time to show, I don't know

2112
01:34:20,905 --> 01:34:23,805
if this will help any working at this.

2113
01:34:24,825 --> 01:34:27,885
Our grading here,

2114
01:34:31,625 --> 01:34:34,325
the floor is at 2 2 73.

2115
01:34:35,985 --> 01:34:38,605
I'm sorry. First floor is

2116
01:34:38,605 --> 01:34:41,525
2 73, 2 64.

2117
01:34:42,255 --> 01:34:43,765
We're 2 64 here.

2118
01:34:44,985 --> 01:34:49,205
And the street is at 2 67 above grade.

2119
01:34:49,865 --> 01:34:52,645
I'm sorry, what is that number? Three feet difference.

2120
01:34:52,865 --> 01:34:55,085
Got it. Variation of three feet from the street.

2121
01:34:55,505 --> 01:34:59,925
So that's a very reasonable pitch as it grades down

2122
01:35:00,065 --> 01:35:02,725
and as it comes down, it will

2123
01:35:04,145 --> 01:35:05,925
always be pitched away from the garage,

2124
01:35:05,995 --> 01:35:07,645
four from the garage floor.

2125
01:35:07,985 --> 01:35:11,605
So we'll maintain our swale on the, on the road itself

2126
01:35:11,605 --> 01:35:13,725
or on the, on the driveway itself

2127
01:35:14,985 --> 01:35:18,965
and push it to our collection basins that we'll have

2128
01:35:19,215 --> 01:35:20,765
Right on the driveway.

2129
01:35:20,765 --> 01:35:22,805
But now for a motorist going into the drive,

2130
01:35:23,085 --> 01:35:26,485
into the garage, they're gonna take a hard turn.

2131
01:35:26,615 --> 01:35:29,605
Right turn. Suppose what's the rise

2132
01:35:29,605 --> 01:35:30,765
over run on that driveway?

2133
01:35:31,705 --> 01:35:33,045
At the driveway level?

2134
01:35:33,115 --> 01:35:35,765
It's gonna be fairly, we will drop quickly Yeah,

2135
01:35:35,955 --> 01:35:39,445
from the street down to our 2 64.

2136
01:35:39,835 --> 01:35:42,925
Okay. So that's fairly, that's fairly flat.

2137
01:35:44,585 --> 01:35:46,965
So and then going into the, and going into the garage.

2138
01:35:47,155 --> 01:35:50,085
Yeah. So basically from the street drops down and then it's,

2139
01:35:50,395 --> 01:35:51,725
Yeah, it drops on essentially

2140
01:35:51,725 --> 01:35:54,645
At the garage level, but so there's not another Yeah.

2141
01:35:54,645 --> 01:35:56,925
So you're envisioning like a drop and then a drop and

2142
01:35:57,065 --> 01:35:58,645
No, I'm a road drop.

2143
01:35:58,745 --> 01:36:00,485
But I'm wondering what's our angle,

2144
01:36:01,395 --> 01:36:04,085
because this seems really tight. I,

2145
01:36:05,035 --> 01:36:08,565
It's, to answer your question, it's fairly level through.

2146
01:36:08,945 --> 01:36:12,685
It will be pitched. Yeah. So we can control the water. Okay.

2147
01:36:12,745 --> 01:36:15,725
But it'll be fairly pitched, it'll be very easy to maneuver.

2148
01:36:16,025 --> 01:36:18,925
You have much tighter spaces around town.

2149
01:36:19,235 --> 01:36:23,045
Okay. Speaking of water, so we're collecting an inch

2150
01:36:23,045 --> 01:36:26,365
and a half off the roof and all hardscapes, right?

2151
01:36:26,365 --> 01:36:30,045
Correct. So has to be, it'll be treated

2152
01:36:30,225 --> 01:36:31,805
as well right off the hardscapes.

2153
01:36:33,095 --> 01:36:36,965
Right. Okay. So in the bylaw it's three

2154
01:36:37,505 --> 01:36:40,525
before each S-C-S-C-M that you have,

2155
01:36:40,525 --> 01:36:44,605
and I'm counting, I'm just looking at them in precise map.

2156
01:36:44,635 --> 01:36:48,085
Okay. The plant is 36 SCM chambers. Right.

2157
01:36:48,795 --> 01:36:49,845
That you have on here.

2158
01:36:50,485 --> 01:36:52,365
A again, we haven't done our test pits,

2159
01:36:52,365 --> 01:36:57,125
but I know it's gravel and it's probably a one minute perk.

2160
01:36:57,585 --> 01:36:59,045
And if that means anything to you,

2161
01:36:59,045 --> 01:37:00,805
the water just basically goes through

2162
01:37:01,625 --> 01:37:02,845
it, it drops a foot in a minute.

2163
01:37:03,115 --> 01:37:07,325
Okay. And our water table, when I dug next door,

2164
01:37:07,385 --> 01:37:11,605
we dug down 12 feet and saw no water and no staining either.

2165
01:37:11,825 --> 01:37:14,685
So I'm very confident in what,

2166
01:37:15,275 --> 01:37:17,165
what our soil conditions are Right.

2167
01:37:17,165 --> 01:37:18,325
As well as our water level.

2168
01:37:18,345 --> 01:37:22,445
And we can contain whatever water volume we need to,

2169
01:37:22,465 --> 01:37:24,565
to pick up the roof and any of the hardscape.

2170
01:37:24,565 --> 01:37:28,685
Yeah. So, and the design right now is 36 s scms right?

2171
01:37:29,785 --> 01:37:33,285
On this? Yeah, that's an estimate. Okay.

2172
01:37:33,515 --> 01:37:36,605
It's, but there'll be calculations that we'll have

2173
01:37:36,605 --> 01:37:38,525
to prove out to prove exactly

2174
01:37:38,525 --> 01:37:39,845
what we have to do there. Alright,

2175
01:37:39,845 --> 01:37:40,925
So then there'll be three,

2176
01:37:41,225 --> 01:37:43,805
two inch cper trees per chamber, correct.

2177
01:37:44,385 --> 01:37:45,605
As by the bylaw.

2178
01:37:46,865 --> 01:37:49,245
So those, you will have by this,

2179
01:37:49,625 --> 01:37:52,285
you're gonna have 108 saplings on this property.

2180
01:37:56,915 --> 01:37:57,915
That might be a lot.

2181
01:37:59,685 --> 01:38:02,645
I, I could tell you we had to,

2182
01:38:03,185 --> 01:38:06,325
we we did a double lot in Wellesley.

2183
01:38:06,435 --> 01:38:11,165
Yeah. And we probably put that many on less than a half an

2184
01:38:11,185 --> 01:38:12,485
or about a half an acre.

2185
01:38:12,915 --> 01:38:16,145
Okay. Okay.

2186
01:38:17,525 --> 01:38:18,545
But I think you're gonna have to,

2187
01:38:18,545 --> 01:38:20,945
that'll be the standard to go.

2188
01:38:21,505 --> 01:38:23,465
There's there were also alternatives to

2189
01:38:23,465 --> 01:38:25,385
that if it gets too crowded, I mean we can

2190
01:38:26,235 --> 01:38:27,625
contribute to funds and

2191
01:38:28,685 --> 01:38:31,425
So let's check that out.

2192
01:38:31,605 --> 01:38:32,185
I'm not sure.

2193
01:38:36,875 --> 01:38:37,875
Okay.

2194
01:38:38,945 --> 01:38:40,825
Anything else Kevin? Well actually I gotta say

2195
01:38:41,305 --> 01:38:44,065
ultimately if you want my editorializing, I mean,

2196
01:38:44,085 --> 01:38:45,145
I'm interested in that part.

2197
01:38:45,975 --> 01:38:47,065
This just feels too dense.

2198
01:38:47,085 --> 01:38:51,185
It feels like five feet between buildings is too dense.

2199
01:38:52,465 --> 01:38:55,505
I, my, as I look at this now,

2200
01:38:55,565 --> 01:38:56,785
I'm really not in favor of this.

2201
01:38:58,885 --> 01:39:01,905
If you took out the, I don't care what you do,

2202
01:39:02,045 --> 01:39:04,585
but you build what you want, what you're,

2203
01:39:04,735 --> 01:39:05,785
what you think you can sell.

2204
01:39:06,765 --> 01:39:11,185
But I would remove one, the one

2205
01:39:11,185 --> 01:39:14,185
of the buildings and spread the other ones out

2206
01:39:14,405 --> 01:39:16,145
to make something a bit more breathable.

2207
01:39:16,425 --> 01:39:20,425
I mean, but I think it just feels for the

2208
01:39:21,965 --> 01:39:23,925
location for the neighborhood, it feels too tight.

2209
01:39:24,555 --> 01:39:25,805
It's just too dense.

2210
01:39:27,545 --> 01:39:29,725
And then you don't have to plan as many saplings

2211
01:39:30,355 --> 01:39:32,925
because you won't have, your algebra will change.

2212
01:39:34,505 --> 01:39:36,845
But that's my sense. I think it just feels too tight.

2213
01:39:38,275 --> 01:39:40,605
Okay. Josh, Thank you.

2214
01:39:41,685 --> 01:39:43,485
I guess I, I've said before, I'm not a fan

2215
01:39:43,485 --> 01:39:44,605
of the, the 40 B process.

2216
01:39:46,165 --> 01:39:47,325
I mean, I think we have zoning

2217
01:39:47,665 --> 01:39:50,045
and that that's how I'd prefer to do things.

2218
01:39:50,205 --> 01:39:52,605
I guess it, you know, if we,

2219
01:39:52,605 --> 01:39:54,005
if we do end up using this process,

2220
01:39:54,325 --> 01:39:56,085
I I would really first want

2221
01:39:56,085 --> 01:39:59,045
to get comments from town departments so that we have,

2222
01:39:59,285 --> 01:40:00,765
I know you've spoken with the fire department,

2223
01:40:00,765 --> 01:40:01,845
we haven't seen those comments

2224
01:40:02,425 --> 01:40:03,765
or comm from other departments.

2225
01:40:03,765 --> 01:40:05,605
So that, that would be something important to me

2226
01:40:05,955 --> 01:40:08,205
because there are a lot of tech technical aspects that I,

2227
01:40:08,745 --> 01:40:10,605
I'm not an expert in and I can't evaluate.

2228
01:40:10,925 --> 01:40:12,645
I mean, I, I do look at this map

2229
01:40:12,665 --> 01:40:15,045
and I see that nearly the entire

2230
01:40:16,115 --> 01:40:20,245
back building is within the a hundred foot wetland area.

2231
01:40:20,885 --> 01:40:22,365
I, I don't know how to evaluate that,

2232
01:40:22,365 --> 01:40:24,245
but I know that that is something the Conservation

2233
01:40:24,245 --> 01:40:26,085
commission would, would flag.

2234
01:40:29,105 --> 01:40:32,245
The other thing that that is concerning is, is the waiving

2235
01:40:32,245 --> 01:40:35,045
of site plan review because that is the mechanism

2236
01:40:35,465 --> 01:40:37,525
for the town to, to protect its interests.

2237
01:40:38,205 --> 01:40:41,725
I mean, we talk about, you know, the MBTA zoning

2238
01:40:41,955 --> 01:40:44,765
that we just put in place, even that has site plan review.

2239
01:40:44,825 --> 01:40:47,485
So I would not be in favor of a project that,

2240
01:40:47,485 --> 01:40:50,445
that seeks a waiver of all site plan review. Can,

2241
01:40:50,505 --> 01:40:52,045
Can I just address that one point?

2242
01:40:52,045 --> 01:40:54,405
Yeah. Just, just so the process is clear

2243
01:40:54,405 --> 01:40:57,645
and I know not all the board members have followed a 40 B

2244
01:40:57,645 --> 01:41:00,285
through all the way through, but it's a,

2245
01:41:00,315 --> 01:41:01,485
it's almost a technical waiver

2246
01:41:01,755 --> 01:41:04,005
because even though we ask for the waiver

2247
01:41:04,025 --> 01:41:07,005
of major project site plan review, what ends up happening,

2248
01:41:07,005 --> 01:41:08,685
we file with the board of Appeals, board

2249
01:41:08,685 --> 01:41:10,085
of Appeals conducts their full hearing.

2250
01:41:10,705 --> 01:41:11,965
And as a part of that,

2251
01:41:12,185 --> 01:41:14,445
the planning board issues their opinion.

2252
01:41:15,025 --> 01:41:17,725
And typically, especially on a project like this, we appear

2253
01:41:17,725 --> 01:41:19,925
before the planning board and we have a whole presentation

2254
01:41:19,925 --> 01:41:24,085
with them essentially in substance almost exactly like

2255
01:41:24,085 --> 01:41:26,645
what we would do with the major project site plan process.

2256
01:41:27,305 --> 01:41:29,045
Except we don't submit a site plan

2257
01:41:29,115 --> 01:41:30,685
application to the planning board.

2258
01:41:31,155 --> 01:41:33,085
They review it and they make their recommendation

2259
01:41:33,085 --> 01:41:34,645
to the board of appeals and then board

2260
01:41:34,645 --> 01:41:35,765
of appeals makes the decision.

2261
01:41:36,265 --> 01:41:39,805
So it doesn't technically go through site plan review,

2262
01:41:39,985 --> 01:41:43,685
but it, as a matter of practice, it does, you know,

2263
01:41:43,685 --> 01:41:45,525
in all practicality, it goes through the planning board

2264
01:41:45,785 --> 01:41:46,805
and it goes through engineer

2265
01:41:46,805 --> 01:41:47,885
and goes through all the departments.

2266
01:41:47,885 --> 01:41:49,685
So they comment and they review it

2267
01:41:50,065 --> 01:41:53,085
and that, so the concern that you're talking about, yeah,

2268
01:41:53,105 --> 01:41:54,605
it, that, that gets addressed in the process.

2269
01:41:54,835 --> 01:41:57,285
It's just in 40 bs it gets addressed a little bit

2270
01:41:57,285 --> 01:41:58,885
differently than it would in your

2271
01:41:58,995 --> 01:42:00,405
customary commercial project.

2272
01:42:00,625 --> 01:42:02,805
Rather than having to go to three or four

2273
01:42:02,805 --> 01:42:05,165
or five different boards, you go to the ZBA

2274
01:42:05,385 --> 01:42:06,525
and the ZBA is sort

2275
01:42:06,525 --> 01:42:08,285
of the collecting point for everybody else.

2276
01:42:09,045 --> 01:42:11,245
I, I guess, but maybe this, this goes to Kevin's point.

2277
01:42:11,305 --> 01:42:13,765
The reason why it triggers the major product site plan is

2278
01:42:13,765 --> 01:42:15,605
because of its mass, because of its scale.

2279
01:42:16,185 --> 01:42:20,565
And, and I guess an easy way to,

2280
01:42:20,785 --> 01:42:22,005
to avoid it without asking for a

2281
01:42:22,005 --> 01:42:23,085
waiver would be to reduce the scale.

2282
01:42:23,305 --> 01:42:24,845
The reason why we have that trigger is

2283
01:42:24,845 --> 01:42:27,845
because large projects demand more scrutiny.

2284
01:42:29,285 --> 01:42:30,965
I I don't disagree on that point,

2285
01:42:31,185 --> 01:42:34,685
but essentially anything other than a single

2286
01:42:35,025 --> 01:42:38,445
or, well basically certainly four units are

2287
01:42:38,445 --> 01:42:39,885
above would likely trigger major

2288
01:42:39,885 --> 01:42:41,005
project site plan review here.

2289
01:42:41,085 --> 01:42:42,125
'cause the threshold is low enough,

2290
01:42:42,195 --> 01:42:44,085
it's 10,000 square feet of area.

2291
01:42:44,265 --> 01:42:46,005
And so basically at,

2292
01:42:46,105 --> 01:42:49,245
so these units are roughly 22, 2300 square feet per

2293
01:42:49,245 --> 01:42:50,565
unit, four units.

2294
01:42:50,865 --> 01:42:52,605
You know, you're rough almost there. Right.

2295
01:42:52,665 --> 01:42:57,365
So probably, you know, any development

2296
01:42:57,515 --> 01:43:00,205
that would be in, in keeping with the size of the site

2297
01:43:00,345 --> 01:43:02,085
and for example, in keeping with the project

2298
01:43:02,085 --> 01:43:04,605
that was done next door is gonna trigger major projects like

2299
01:43:04,605 --> 01:43:05,685
Plan Rio just 'cause of the size.

2300
01:43:05,705 --> 01:43:09,725
So I'm not sure that scaling it back, like you'd have

2301
01:43:09,725 --> 01:43:11,085
to scale it back to like a duplex

2302
01:43:11,185 --> 01:43:14,605
or a single, you know, maybe three, which is kind of

2303
01:43:15,145 --> 01:43:18,165
almost the opposite of what the concept is here.

2304
01:43:19,865 --> 01:43:23,725
If I could also have Mary, maybe discuss a little bit

2305
01:43:23,725 --> 01:43:26,245
with the wetlands issues.

2306
01:43:27,355 --> 01:43:32,285
Yeah, good evening. I, as George had noted,

2307
01:43:32,565 --> 01:43:34,965
I had gone out and done the wetlands delineation,

2308
01:43:35,015 --> 01:43:39,005
which is an evaluation that looks at both soils, hydrology

2309
01:43:39,585 --> 01:43:41,765
and wetlands vegetation.

2310
01:43:42,985 --> 01:43:47,805
The wetland area is located on an adjacent property,

2311
01:43:47,825 --> 01:43:50,325
but that doesn't matter under the Wetlands Protection Act

2312
01:43:50,325 --> 01:43:53,605
because it's, it takes a holistic view of it.

2313
01:43:54,985 --> 01:43:58,765
In Needham, the Conservation Commission typically has a very

2314
01:43:58,765 --> 01:44:01,645
strict zero to 25 foot no disturb zone.

2315
01:44:01,745 --> 01:44:06,045
And that's just blanket across most projects

2316
01:44:06,045 --> 01:44:08,045
that are in front of the Conservation commission.

2317
01:44:08,435 --> 01:44:12,805
Because this project has a naturally wooded,

2318
01:44:13,525 --> 01:44:15,125
albeit filled with invasives

2319
01:44:15,125 --> 01:44:18,245
and non-native species slope, I believe

2320
01:44:18,245 --> 01:44:21,125
that the Conservation commission will impose a 50 foot

2321
01:44:21,665 --> 01:44:23,885
no disturbed zone on this property.

2322
01:44:24,825 --> 01:44:28,765
So in light of that, Mike has pulled his unit back

2323
01:44:28,825 --> 01:44:31,325
to about 70 feet from the edge of wetland.

2324
01:44:32,185 --> 01:44:33,885
As you may be aware,

2325
01:44:34,225 --> 01:44:37,205
the buffer zone is a regulated area.

2326
01:44:37,515 --> 01:44:40,245
It's not a resource area like the bordering vegetated

2327
01:44:40,245 --> 01:44:42,205
wetlands down at the bottom of the hill.

2328
01:44:42,295 --> 01:44:44,325
Those are one of the most highly protected

2329
01:44:44,845 --> 01:44:46,645
resources in Massachusetts.

2330
01:44:46,985 --> 01:44:48,685
Buffer zone is regulated

2331
01:44:48,865 --> 01:44:52,005
and it is protected in the sense that it is protective

2332
01:44:52,025 --> 01:44:53,805
of the down gradient wetlands.

2333
01:44:54,225 --> 01:44:58,005
So it doesn't have a strict set of performance standards

2334
01:44:58,005 --> 01:44:59,885
because it's supposed to be unique

2335
01:44:59,985 --> 01:45:01,565
and it, it looks at what's happening here.

2336
01:45:02,505 --> 01:45:06,085
The plan that we have proposed on this site plan,

2337
01:45:07,005 --> 01:45:08,165
I think is approvable

2338
01:45:08,625 --> 01:45:11,805
by the Needham Conservation Commission under both the local

2339
01:45:11,975 --> 01:45:14,445
bylaw and the State Wetlands Protection Act

2340
01:45:14,445 --> 01:45:18,485
that we wouldn't necessarily need any waivers at all from

2341
01:45:18,485 --> 01:45:21,845
their traditional book.

2342
01:45:21,985 --> 01:45:26,285
See, at a project like this, we will have

2343
01:45:26,285 --> 01:45:29,805
to meet stormwater management under the mass DEP regulations

2344
01:45:29,805 --> 01:45:33,645
because we're more than four units, which is an extra level

2345
01:45:33,745 --> 01:45:36,885
of protection above what your local bylaw has,

2346
01:45:37,285 --> 01:45:39,005
that it looks at several different interests

2347
01:45:39,235 --> 01:45:40,885
that towns typically do.

2348
01:45:41,825 --> 01:45:44,885
But it makes for a fairly rigorous review

2349
01:45:44,985 --> 01:45:46,805
by your local conservation commission.

2350
01:45:46,865 --> 01:45:48,645
My guess is that they probably would go out

2351
01:45:48,645 --> 01:45:51,165
for a third party review depending

2352
01:45:51,165 --> 01:45:53,085
who is on their commission right now in terms

2353
01:45:53,085 --> 01:45:55,765
of engineering expertise, you know, so

2354
01:45:55,765 --> 01:45:58,165
that you would be getting part of that site plan review

2355
01:45:58,915 --> 01:46:02,645
from the commission as well in their permitting process.

2356
01:46:03,465 --> 01:46:06,245
No, thank you for that. I, and I respect your expertise.

2357
01:46:06,605 --> 01:46:09,605
I think I would want to also ask for the expertise

2358
01:46:09,605 --> 01:46:10,805
of our director of conservation.

2359
01:46:10,805 --> 01:46:12,405
Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. Yeah.

2360
01:46:12,625 --> 01:46:14,965
No, I'm, I'm a hired gun. You know, you can talk.

2361
01:46:17,465 --> 01:46:18,465
All right, bill,

2362
01:46:19,185 --> 01:46:21,365
As you may know, we're getting a lot of comments on this,

2363
01:46:21,425 --> 01:46:23,885
you know, and, and some of the things that we've just heard

2364
01:46:24,725 --> 01:46:27,285
recently is, you know, the, you know, neighbors

2365
01:46:27,285 --> 01:46:30,885
and people who are nearby are concerned about you're gonna

2366
01:46:30,885 --> 01:46:32,005
have to build some retaining walls.

2367
01:46:32,265 --> 01:46:34,325
How are we gonna do that? How how's that gonna be done?

2368
01:46:34,705 --> 01:46:35,965
So it'll look good. It won't

2369
01:46:37,245 --> 01:46:39,125
infringe on the properties next door.

2370
01:46:39,585 --> 01:46:43,365
And the other talk about the 132 trees, that's a, that,

2371
01:46:43,365 --> 01:46:44,925
that all goes into screening, you know,

2372
01:46:44,925 --> 01:46:46,485
how how's the screening gonna be done

2373
01:46:46,485 --> 01:46:49,325
because, you know, the, the driveways are on this side

2374
01:46:49,325 --> 01:46:51,925
and that your other previous project, which is great

2375
01:46:51,945 --> 01:46:53,845
and you know, has been great for a long time.

2376
01:46:54,345 --> 01:46:56,245
You know, how, how we, how are we gonna be able

2377
01:46:56,245 --> 01:46:58,605
to screen some from that with, with, with some

2378
01:46:58,605 --> 01:47:00,605
of the concerns that, that I see.

2379
01:47:01,785 --> 01:47:06,165
So the, we would not require a, a retaining wall

2380
01:47:06,255 --> 01:47:09,325
above four feet under any circumstances anyway.

2381
01:47:09,325 --> 01:47:11,325
We can always slope from the other property.

2382
01:47:11,515 --> 01:47:15,605
I've also had some comments from one of the neighbors

2383
01:47:15,605 --> 01:47:18,885
that maybe we share some space in between and,

2384
01:47:19,265 --> 01:47:20,925
and do some landscaping in between,

2385
01:47:20,925 --> 01:47:22,565
which we'd be more than happy to do

2386
01:47:25,145 --> 01:47:28,125
the, I'm sorry, your on the,

2387
01:47:28,185 --> 01:47:29,185
The screening that you said.

2388
01:47:29,385 --> 01:47:30,525
Should you share that basic?

2389
01:47:32,745 --> 01:47:35,405
We, we have most of these comments

2390
01:47:35,475 --> 01:47:39,245
that we're hearing now are the same comments we heard when

2391
01:47:39,665 --> 01:47:43,445
we did Brown Whitney 24, 22 years ago.

2392
01:47:45,265 --> 01:47:48,725
And after it was done, everybody thought it was beautiful.

2393
01:47:48,825 --> 01:47:52,565
Change is always hard for people to visualize

2394
01:47:52,745 --> 01:47:54,085
and it seems impactful.

2395
01:47:54,455 --> 01:47:57,165
These buildings are only a few feet higher than the

2396
01:47:57,165 --> 01:47:58,205
brown Whitney buildings.

2397
01:47:58,625 --> 01:48:02,325
And in volume they're, they're on the first

2398
01:48:02,345 --> 01:48:06,965
and second floor are probably less than 15% Difference.

2399
01:48:07,335 --> 01:48:09,565
Times have changed. Demands have changed.

2400
01:48:09,565 --> 01:48:11,685
People want different things than what,

2401
01:48:12,785 --> 01:48:14,565
we can't just build something

2402
01:48:14,585 --> 01:48:16,045
and hope somebody's gonna want it.

2403
01:48:16,065 --> 01:48:17,805
We have to listen to the marketplace.

2404
01:48:18,145 --> 01:48:20,045
And we've all seen that the changes

2405
01:48:20,275 --> 01:48:23,285
that have come in the size of construction

2406
01:48:23,285 --> 01:48:24,605
that's happened over the years.

2407
01:48:26,345 --> 01:48:30,525
We have not led that charge on bigger properties.

2408
01:48:30,735 --> 01:48:33,005
We've, if you look at most of the things we build,

2409
01:48:33,105 --> 01:48:34,205
we build undersize

2410
01:48:34,705 --> 01:48:37,525
and we get punished a little bit for it financially,

2411
01:48:37,625 --> 01:48:39,165
but it's what we try to do.

2412
01:48:39,165 --> 01:48:43,765
We tried, we care about the town, we like the town, we want

2413
01:48:43,765 --> 01:48:47,725
to drive by something and be happy that we built it.

2414
01:48:48,785 --> 01:48:51,405
It we're, my family has been in this town

2415
01:48:51,465 --> 01:48:54,845
for a very long time, and if you drive around

2416
01:48:54,845 --> 01:48:56,085
and look at the different properties

2417
01:48:56,115 --> 01:48:58,165
that we've built over the years

2418
01:48:58,185 --> 01:49:02,885
and there's well over a hundred, they, the ones

2419
01:49:02,885 --> 01:49:05,005
that are well taken care of, which is most of them,

2420
01:49:06,275 --> 01:49:07,445
most people appreciate.

2421
01:49:07,585 --> 01:49:11,245
We, we won an award for building, for doing Brown Whitney,

2422
01:49:12,625 --> 01:49:17,245
and a lot of the neighbors that opposed us

2423
01:49:17,975 --> 01:49:20,485
ended up coming up to me later

2424
01:49:20,585 --> 01:49:25,565
and apologizing for all the, of what they put us through.

2425
01:49:26,065 --> 01:49:28,485
Now we wanna work with the neighbors

2426
01:49:28,485 --> 01:49:29,765
and we wanna work with the board.

2427
01:49:31,465 --> 01:49:32,525
Our hope was,

2428
01:49:32,625 --> 01:49:35,485
and the reason we came in with the five buildings

2429
01:49:35,585 --> 01:49:39,165
as we were trying to get that extra affordable unit for

2430
01:49:40,755 --> 01:49:44,085
some family that, you know, would benefit for it.

2431
01:49:44,585 --> 01:49:48,405
And we're in a position where, you know, if the board wants

2432
01:49:49,155 --> 01:49:51,045
that extra room, we're willing to do that.

2433
01:49:51,105 --> 01:49:54,885
If they're not, we're willing to listen to the concerns that

2434
01:49:55,585 --> 01:49:58,085
as well as with the neighbors on, on

2435
01:49:58,105 --> 01:49:59,325
how to go forward with this.

2436
01:50:01,345 --> 01:50:03,605
Are you all set? I I don't think the, I mean,

2437
01:50:03,705 --> 01:50:05,805
of course we wanna follow up our housing for everyone,

2438
01:50:05,905 --> 01:50:08,405
but I think the density is more important

2439
01:50:08,405 --> 01:50:09,485
than the affordable housing.

2440
01:50:10,785 --> 01:50:13,125
And we're here asking for that feedback too.

2441
01:50:13,125 --> 01:50:14,725
That's just my personal opinion.

2442
01:50:15,205 --> 01:50:16,645
Sure. Kathy?

2443
01:50:18,545 --> 01:50:21,485
Yes. Actually, on the point of the affordable units,

2444
01:50:21,945 --> 01:50:24,725
I'm interested in, in the pricing.

2445
01:50:25,105 --> 01:50:26,805
So the market rate units

2446
01:50:27,885 --> 01:50:30,125
targeted at 1.75 million

2447
01:50:30,425 --> 01:50:33,085
and the affordable at seven to 800,000.

2448
01:50:33,475 --> 01:50:35,965
Does that track to a percentage of

2449
01:50:37,625 --> 01:50:39,005
median area income

2450
01:50:39,305 --> 01:50:42,805
or how, how does that affordable number come about?

2451
01:50:43,075 --> 01:50:46,285
It's built around the median income of Needham.

2452
01:50:46,315 --> 01:50:50,365
It's designed and the, the regulation determines what

2453
01:50:50,365 --> 01:50:52,765
that we don't determine the price we have

2454
01:50:52,765 --> 01:50:54,765
to fit into whatever the town.

2455
01:50:54,765 --> 01:50:57,045
And, and so I put a range in there only

2456
01:50:57,045 --> 01:50:59,605
because I don't, I did some quick math,

2457
01:50:59,745 --> 01:51:04,085
but that's gonna have to be approved by right

2458
01:51:04,385 --> 01:51:06,645
by the, the powers to be on that.

2459
01:51:08,275 --> 01:51:12,805
Okay. Anything else Kathy? No, that I'm all set.

2460
01:51:13,235 --> 01:51:17,005
Okay. Well, for, for myself, I would say

2461
01:51:17,905 --> 01:51:19,045
my concern is not density.

2462
01:51:19,245 --> 01:51:23,005
I think that density in particular places is,

2463
01:51:23,545 --> 01:51:25,525
is not only okay, it's good for the town

2464
01:51:26,185 --> 01:51:29,445
and specifically good in this kind of configuration

2465
01:51:29,445 --> 01:51:31,725
where you have the sort of the central grassy area.

2466
01:51:32,625 --> 01:51:34,605
My concern is about the size of the buildings.

2467
01:51:36,405 --> 01:51:40,845
I think that there's, these houses are, are quite large

2468
01:51:42,865 --> 01:51:44,285
and I I do think

2469
01:51:44,285 --> 01:51:46,845
that they are a bit unrealistic for the space.

2470
01:51:47,805 --> 01:51:51,245
I guess my question is really that the,

2471
01:51:52,165 --> 01:51:56,325
a lip profit is limited by state statute to 20%

2472
01:51:56,665 --> 01:51:58,085
of the development cost.

2473
01:51:58,945 --> 01:52:02,045
So it seems to me,

2474
01:52:02,105 --> 01:52:04,365
and I'm not a real estate mogul,

2475
01:52:05,185 --> 01:52:08,085
but I will say that if, if you are, if you are basing

2476
01:52:10,465 --> 01:52:13,365
all of the, the math on your development costs

2477
01:52:13,425 --> 01:52:16,685
and it seems as though it might be worth your while

2478
01:52:16,745 --> 01:52:19,485
to consider reducing the size of the buildings,

2479
01:52:20,285 --> 01:52:23,045
I think personally that that would bring you into

2480
01:52:24,365 --> 01:52:27,285
competition for some of the folks who would like to downsize

2481
01:52:27,505 --> 01:52:29,085
as well as new families.

2482
01:52:29,445 --> 01:52:33,725
I note that the previous, the Brown Whitney development,

2483
01:52:34,055 --> 01:52:36,245
those, those buildings are much smaller

2484
01:52:37,185 --> 01:52:40,365
and we received letters from families

2485
01:52:40,365 --> 01:52:43,325
that moved into those houses and remain in those houses

2486
01:52:43,765 --> 01:52:46,325
and were able to comfortably raise families and stuff.

2487
01:52:46,725 --> 01:52:48,445
I do understand that modern living

2488
01:52:49,275 --> 01:52:52,445
perhaps has some amenities that we've all become used to,

2489
01:52:52,585 --> 01:52:55,725
but I do think that these do seem to be

2490
01:52:56,495 --> 01:52:59,325
quite large given that your profit

2491
01:52:59,945 --> 01:53:01,725
is hinging on your development costs.

2492
01:53:04,445 --> 01:53:05,885
I do wonder if, you know,

2493
01:53:06,025 --> 01:53:08,085
if your development costs were reduced, that

2494
01:53:08,115 --> 01:53:09,525
that might make it easier for you.

2495
01:53:09,685 --> 01:53:11,765
I think it also might make it a little easier to,

2496
01:53:11,865 --> 01:53:13,165
to gain this board's approval

2497
01:53:13,545 --> 01:53:15,205
and to gain the approval of the neighbors

2498
01:53:15,205 --> 01:53:16,565
because many of the letters

2499
01:53:16,565 --> 01:53:19,365
that we received actually indicated support for the concept.

2500
01:53:20,225 --> 01:53:22,685
But a feeling that the mass

2501
01:53:22,905 --> 01:53:25,165
of the buildings was just too much.

2502
01:53:25,445 --> 01:53:27,405
I mean, I I hear you about the height.

2503
01:53:29,125 --> 01:53:31,245
I think that height is an issue across town

2504
01:53:32,225 --> 01:53:35,765
and that it doesn't make sense to necessarily replicate,

2505
01:53:35,765 --> 01:53:38,405
you know, that we have a, a height, a,

2506
01:53:38,525 --> 01:53:41,685
a warrant about amending our heights across town, coming

2507
01:53:41,705 --> 01:53:43,645
to our special town meeting in October.

2508
01:53:44,305 --> 01:53:49,045
So I guess I would say that generally speaking,

2509
01:53:49,285 --> 01:53:51,365
I would be supportive of this project,

2510
01:53:51,585 --> 01:53:54,365
but I would like to see the size more

2511
01:53:56,105 --> 01:53:59,565
in line with what the rest of the street is.

2512
01:53:59,625 --> 01:54:02,285
You know, the development that you've already done next door

2513
01:54:02,625 --> 01:54:04,165
and the single family residences.

2514
01:54:04,325 --> 01:54:08,605
I mean, that would allow you a good deal more spot

2515
01:54:08,605 --> 01:54:10,005
for all your trees, for example.

2516
01:54:12,465 --> 01:54:15,325
So IIII will also say that I do have

2517
01:54:15,935 --> 01:54:19,205
confidence in the ZBA to run the process appropriately

2518
01:54:19,385 --> 01:54:21,525
to manage all the oversight that is required

2519
01:54:21,665 --> 01:54:23,245
and is mandated by state law.

2520
01:54:23,305 --> 01:54:25,445
So that to me is not an issue.

2521
01:54:26,645 --> 01:54:28,845
I think for me the issue is just the size,

2522
01:54:29,105 --> 01:54:32,805
but again, the density I think is as demonstrated

2523
01:54:32,805 --> 01:54:33,925
by the development next door.

2524
01:54:34,425 --> 01:54:37,565
Not really the issue. It's really the, the mass.

2525
01:54:39,225 --> 01:54:42,445
So does that give you the kind of clarity

2526
01:54:42,445 --> 01:54:43,965
that you need across

2527
01:54:43,965 --> 01:54:44,965
The board?

2528
01:54:44,965 --> 01:54:45,725
If I, if I could talk a little bit about the,

2529
01:54:45,865 --> 01:54:48,365
now we're staying under, we, we do

2530
01:54:49,055 --> 01:54:52,165
anticipate there's a potential of a height

2531
01:54:53,515 --> 01:54:55,005
adjustments coming.

2532
01:54:56,345 --> 01:54:59,605
We are staying under that with these buildings.

2533
01:54:59,605 --> 01:55:03,205
So just so you know, we did take that into consideration.

2534
01:55:04,815 --> 01:55:07,805
Again, we're only about 2200 square feet on,

2535
01:55:08,465 --> 01:55:09,885
on two floors.

2536
01:55:10,845 --> 01:55:14,645
The Brown Whitney doesn't have a third floor dormers

2537
01:55:14,745 --> 01:55:17,765
or any, there were a lot of the zoning issues that came up

2538
01:55:17,765 --> 01:55:20,965
that, that have have evolved since then.

2539
01:55:22,625 --> 01:55:25,125
And one of the things that we were trying

2540
01:55:25,125 --> 01:55:27,285
to do here was have a first floor bedroom

2541
01:55:29,185 --> 01:55:32,565
and that takes up space in footprint.

2542
01:55:32,665 --> 01:55:35,805
So it becomes problematic in trying to shrink it too much.

2543
01:55:35,825 --> 01:55:37,045
But we will take a look at it.

2544
01:55:37,065 --> 01:55:38,125
I'm not saying that we won't,

2545
01:55:38,225 --> 01:55:39,725
I'm just giving you an explanation

2546
01:55:39,725 --> 01:55:41,325
of why Sure. We did what we did.

2547
01:55:41,605 --> 01:55:43,925
I mean, I wonder if you could make that

2548
01:55:44,485 --> 01:55:45,685
a flexible floor plan.

2549
01:55:45,785 --> 01:55:49,325
So a young, an older downsizing couple could use it

2550
01:55:49,325 --> 01:55:52,325
as a bedroom and a family could use it

2551
01:55:52,325 --> 01:55:53,405
as an office, for example.

2552
01:55:53,645 --> 01:55:56,245
I mean, you know, it seems like there's ways to, but

2553
01:55:56,245 --> 01:55:59,805
That space itself, in order to include

2554
01:55:59,835 --> 01:56:01,245
that on a first floor

2555
01:56:02,705 --> 01:56:05,125
and still have a family room that works for,

2556
01:56:05,505 --> 01:56:10,165
for most people, we need, we need that extra space now.

2557
01:56:10,165 --> 01:56:13,885
We can, we can take a look at our design, we will do that.

2558
01:56:14,075 --> 01:56:17,685
Sure. But we're, we're just trying

2559
01:56:17,685 --> 01:56:18,765
to accommodate those things.

2560
01:56:18,865 --> 01:56:21,845
And we also saved a space for somebody

2561
01:56:21,845 --> 01:56:24,725
that might want an elevator coming up from the basement

2562
01:56:25,505 --> 01:56:30,085
to the, to that first floor level.

2563
01:56:30,745 --> 01:56:34,205
So if somebody wanted, they could, with the garage under,

2564
01:56:34,235 --> 01:56:37,285
knowing that a lot of the people

2565
01:56:37,285 --> 01:56:40,565
that are gonna buy these have a potential of being retirees,

2566
01:56:42,255 --> 01:56:43,485
don't wanna walk those stairs

2567
01:56:43,825 --> 01:56:45,445
or bring groceries up those stairs.

2568
01:56:45,835 --> 01:56:48,845
Sure. But I mean, generally I think the location is,

2569
01:56:48,985 --> 01:56:51,285
is terrific for this kind of development

2570
01:56:51,345 --> 01:56:53,125
and I I hope that you'll find a way

2571
01:56:53,125 --> 01:56:55,405
to make it just a little bit more palatable. Okay.

2572
01:56:55,695 --> 01:56:57,125
Thank you. Okay. Thanks very much

2573
01:56:57,205 --> 01:56:58,365
for coming in. Thank you all.

2574
01:56:58,365 --> 01:56:59,125
Thanks. Thank you.

2575
01:57:10,745 --> 01:57:11,745
Excuse me. A

2576
01:57:14,705 --> 01:57:15,845
I'm sticking to the chair too.

2577
01:57:29,075 --> 01:57:33,685
Okay. Now that it's seven 20, we'll move on

2578
01:57:33,685 --> 01:57:38,005
to the proposed installation of the, the Accidental Artist,

2579
01:57:38,245 --> 01:57:41,365
A public mural at 1299 Highland Avenue

2580
01:57:42,105 --> 01:57:44,925
and subbing in for Abby Bernstein

2581
01:57:44,925 --> 01:57:48,845
who couldn't be here Tonight will be our Deputy town manager

2582
01:57:49,585 --> 01:57:53,245
and our director of Economic Development.

2583
01:57:53,245 --> 01:57:55,165
Welcome. Thank you. Thank you.

2584
01:57:56,625 --> 01:57:59,125
So As you mentioned, Abby couldn't be here tonight.

2585
01:57:59,175 --> 01:58:00,965
She's the chair of the Needle Council for Arts

2586
01:58:00,965 --> 01:58:03,445
and Culture due to a family emergency.

2587
01:58:03,445 --> 01:58:04,925
So I just wanna be clear at the outset

2588
01:58:04,925 --> 01:58:07,365
that I'm very much here relaying Abby's sentiments in the

2589
01:58:07,365 --> 01:58:08,525
work of the NCAC.

2590
01:58:09,795 --> 01:58:11,685
John is our current liaison to the council,

2591
01:58:11,825 --> 01:58:14,765
but I had the privilege of serving as the liaison last fall

2592
01:58:14,765 --> 01:58:17,245
and into the early winter, which overlapped with some

2593
01:58:17,245 --> 01:58:18,645
of the formative steps of this project.

2594
01:58:18,785 --> 01:58:22,165
So I bore witness to the tremendous amount of thought, time,

2595
01:58:22,195 --> 01:58:23,485
care, and effort that Abby

2596
01:58:23,485 --> 01:58:25,005
and the council put into getting this right.

2597
01:58:26,285 --> 01:58:27,405
We didn't want Abby's absence

2598
01:58:27,405 --> 01:58:28,805
to delay the board's presentation.

2599
01:58:28,805 --> 01:58:32,965
Tonight, the artist is prepared to begin almost immediately,

2600
01:58:32,995 --> 01:58:34,285
once the remaining accounting

2601
01:58:34,285 --> 01:58:35,965
and administrative documents are wrapped up.

2602
01:58:35,965 --> 01:58:37,325
So we wanted to keep the project moving.

2603
01:58:38,865 --> 01:58:41,365
You have Abby's very detailed report in your packet,

2604
01:58:42,055 --> 01:58:43,445
which walks through the artwork.

2605
01:58:43,585 --> 01:58:46,445
Its symbolism, the site, community feedback,

2606
01:58:46,465 --> 01:58:47,845
and the evolution of the design.

2607
01:58:48,105 --> 01:58:50,125
So if you're looking for the artistic interpretation,

2608
01:58:50,245 --> 01:58:51,685
I will direct you there because I'm

2609
01:58:51,685 --> 01:58:53,045
decidedly not the artist in the room.

2610
01:58:54,045 --> 01:58:56,645
The report does a wonderful job explaining the many Needham

2611
01:58:56,885 --> 01:58:58,725
references incorporated into the final design,

2612
01:58:58,725 --> 01:59:01,405
which I think John has larger versions for you,

2613
01:59:03,385 --> 01:59:05,605
and the ways that the design evolved in response

2614
01:59:05,665 --> 01:59:07,565
to the tremendous community feedback.

2615
01:59:07,955 --> 01:59:09,805
What I do wanna emphasize tonight is the process,

2616
01:59:09,805 --> 01:59:11,125
because I think that it is an

2617
01:59:11,125 --> 01:59:12,165
important part of this project.

2618
01:59:12,345 --> 01:59:14,365
It was new territory for the NCAC.

2619
01:59:14,365 --> 01:59:17,205
It's their first public private partnership in public art

2620
01:59:17,205 --> 01:59:20,245
with the town and the Grossman company sharing both the

2621
01:59:20,245 --> 01:59:21,605
investment and the project and

2622
01:59:21,605 --> 01:59:22,885
the participation in the process.

2623
01:59:23,745 --> 01:59:25,405
So that meant the NCAC was trying

2624
01:59:25,405 --> 01:59:27,965
to apply a traditional municipal call for artists framework

2625
01:59:27,965 --> 01:59:29,685
to something that frankly wasn't a

2626
01:59:29,685 --> 01:59:30,925
traditional municipal art project.

2627
01:59:31,545 --> 01:59:32,925
So there were challenges along the way.

2628
01:59:32,935 --> 01:59:34,405
After the initial call for artists

2629
01:59:34,585 --> 01:59:37,005
and first round of public input, it became clear

2630
01:59:37,005 --> 01:59:38,525
that the process needed to evolve.

2631
01:59:39,065 --> 01:59:41,845
So rather than simply pushing forward the NCAC sought

2632
01:59:42,005 --> 01:59:44,245
guidance from the town and from the Massachusetts Cultural

2633
01:59:44,245 --> 01:59:47,565
Council, and they pivoted, the process was reopened.

2634
01:59:47,565 --> 01:59:50,085
All three original finalists, artists were compensated

2635
01:59:50,085 --> 01:59:52,925
for the additional work in a second round of design,

2636
01:59:52,925 --> 01:59:55,125
development and public input was undertaken.

2637
01:59:56,085 --> 01:59:57,605
I think that it's worth emphasizing

2638
01:59:57,605 --> 01:59:59,725
that when the original process didn't quite fit the

2639
01:59:59,725 --> 02:00:02,445
realities of this new partnership, the council adjusted,

2640
02:00:02,515 --> 02:00:04,045
they worked hard to ensure the artists

2641
02:00:04,075 --> 02:00:05,165
were treated equitably.

2642
02:00:05,745 --> 02:00:07,085
The property owner had an

2643
02:00:07,085 --> 02:00:08,605
appropriate voice as a true partner.

2644
02:00:09,025 --> 02:00:10,925
And importantly that the community's voice was heard

2645
02:00:10,925 --> 02:00:12,685
and reflected in the ultimate design, it went

2646
02:00:12,685 --> 02:00:13,885
through several iterations.

2647
02:00:14,505 --> 02:00:16,885
The second survey alone generated more than 50 pages

2648
02:00:16,905 --> 02:00:18,125
of written public feedback.

2649
02:00:19,225 --> 02:00:21,365
The result before you tonight is really the product

2650
02:00:21,425 --> 02:00:22,605
of that iterative process.

2651
02:00:22,905 --> 02:00:24,725
The NCAC sees this as a pilot

2652
02:00:24,745 --> 02:00:26,005
and hopefully a starting point.

2653
02:00:26,075 --> 02:00:27,725
They learned a tremendous amount about how

2654
02:00:27,725 --> 02:00:29,685
to navigate a public private partnership like this.

2655
02:00:30,225 --> 02:00:32,325
And they hope those lessons can provide a framework

2656
02:00:32,325 --> 02:00:34,525
for similar projects in the future as budgets

2657
02:00:34,525 --> 02:00:35,725
and opportunities allow.

2658
02:00:36,065 --> 02:00:37,805
And with that, I'm happy to answer the questions

2659
02:00:37,805 --> 02:00:39,525
that are within my non-artist lane.

2660
02:00:43,145 --> 02:00:45,085
All right, well, colleagues who,

2661
02:00:45,185 --> 02:00:46,485
Who owns that building again?

2662
02:00:46,965 --> 02:00:49,045
Grossman Companies. And so

2663
02:00:49,475 --> 02:00:50,845
what if they sell it tomorrow?

2664
02:00:52,905 --> 02:00:54,565
Is there anything in it that says you have

2665
02:00:54,565 --> 02:00:56,085
to keep the mural for a while or anything?

2666
02:00:56,415 --> 02:00:58,445
There is not in the agreement between the three parties.

2667
02:00:58,625 --> 02:00:59,625
No.

2668
02:01:01,545 --> 02:01:03,005
That's a bummer. I think that's

2669
02:01:03,005 --> 02:01:04,645
The same for other murals in town too, right?

2670
02:01:05,235 --> 02:01:06,645
Well, they're on public property.

2671
02:01:07,435 --> 02:01:09,535
No, if they're on private property, right? They're private.

2672
02:01:09,535 --> 02:01:10,535
Yeah.

2673
02:01:11,035 --> 02:01:12,855
So that would be like the side of the

2674
02:01:13,805 --> 02:01:16,955
Crest, The side of the building with the alley,

2675
02:01:17,015 --> 02:01:18,035
the Chapel Street there.

2676
02:01:18,175 --> 02:01:19,875
Yes. Thank you. Yeah.

2677
02:01:22,365 --> 02:01:27,195
Kathy, any comments? I, I think it's cool.

2678
02:01:27,575 --> 02:01:29,755
I'm excited that it's getting done.

2679
02:01:31,325 --> 02:01:34,715
Great, Josh. I think it's great. Yeah. Kevin,

2680
02:01:35,255 --> 02:01:38,875
You know, it's interesting reading

2681
02:01:38,875 --> 02:01:39,875
The stuff.

2682
02:01:39,875 --> 02:01:43,445
I understand the Grossman company didn't want a colorful

2683
02:01:43,865 --> 02:01:45,085
or more matic,

2684
02:01:45,705 --> 02:01:47,525
and this is kind of interesting to see the two,

2685
02:01:47,525 --> 02:01:52,005
someone tried to marry them together and it kind of works.

2686
02:01:52,685 --> 02:01:53,805
I get that they didn't want the brick

2687
02:01:53,805 --> 02:01:56,525
and it creates a weird optical effect,

2688
02:01:58,625 --> 02:02:01,485
but it, the color punches are kind of like,

2689
02:02:01,795 --> 02:02:02,925
this is what you can do with color.

2690
02:02:03,345 --> 02:02:06,765
And the monochromatic is of an interesting effect too. So,

2691
02:02:06,985 --> 02:02:09,365
And the orange is from like their logo color too,

2692
02:02:09,585 --> 02:02:11,925
so it makes it all work nicely. Yeah, that's

2693
02:02:11,925 --> 02:02:12,925
Pretty good.

2694
02:02:12,925 --> 02:02:15,005
All right. So it's is an interesting solution.

2695
02:02:17,515 --> 02:02:19,565
Well, I, I guess I'd just like to say thank you

2696
02:02:20,065 --> 02:02:21,645
to all of the folks involved.

2697
02:02:22,005 --> 02:02:26,245
I, I, you and you in your roles with the committee.

2698
02:02:26,305 --> 02:02:30,005
The committee obviously, and the artists.

2699
02:02:30,145 --> 02:02:32,645
But I, I guess I want to just

2700
02:02:34,015 --> 02:02:36,845
especially say thank you to the property owner.

2701
02:02:37,005 --> 02:02:40,205
I think it's, it's really, it's really fantastic.

2702
02:02:40,445 --> 02:02:42,765
I have, I feel a great deal of appreciation

2703
02:02:42,765 --> 02:02:45,725
to our private property owners who acknowledge

2704
02:02:45,985 --> 02:02:49,445
and embrace their role in bringing art into our public

2705
02:02:49,445 --> 02:02:53,645
spaces and acknowledging that their property as part

2706
02:02:53,645 --> 02:02:55,445
of the town's public space.

2707
02:02:57,065 --> 02:03:01,285
So their support of the arts is part of what makes

2708
02:03:02,315 --> 02:03:04,965
this town and towns like it.

2709
02:03:04,965 --> 02:03:09,925
Awesome. So I just wanna acknowledge that without the side

2710
02:03:09,925 --> 02:03:11,645
of the building, we wouldn't be able to do this.

2711
02:03:11,825 --> 02:03:14,405
So thank you to everyone involved.

2712
02:03:14,895 --> 02:03:16,005
Thank you. If I could, looks great.

2713
02:03:16,005 --> 02:03:17,925
I just add one thing too. It's great that it's right next to

2714
02:03:17,925 --> 02:03:19,805
that math place because there's so many kids

2715
02:03:19,805 --> 02:03:22,685
that are gonna be going, you know, you'll drive

2716
02:03:22,685 --> 02:03:24,125
by in your car and you see, but they're gonna

2717
02:03:24,125 --> 02:03:25,245
be walking, they're gonna be there.

2718
02:03:25,275 --> 02:03:26,965
It's great that it's right there for, and they're

2719
02:03:26,965 --> 02:03:29,085
Gonna have a little scavenger hunt type thing

2720
02:03:29,085 --> 02:03:30,805
that they can find the different images in

2721
02:03:30,805 --> 02:03:31,805
The, that's awesome.

2722
02:03:32,275 --> 02:03:35,845
Yeah. Excellent. Thank you. Yay. Thank you. Great project.

2723
02:03:36,135 --> 02:03:36,565
Thank you.

2724
02:03:42,475 --> 02:03:46,405
Alright, so next up we're gonna joined

2725
02:03:46,405 --> 02:03:49,245
by Amy Helson, our director of communications

2726
02:03:49,265 --> 02:03:50,405
and community engagement

2727
02:03:50,625 --> 02:03:53,245
to talk about a whole bunch of stuff.

2728
02:03:53,905 --> 02:03:58,405
So fill us in. Hi, nice to see you. Nice

2729
02:03:58,405 --> 02:03:59,405
To be here.

2730
02:03:59,405 --> 02:04:00,165
Thank you for having me.

2731
02:04:01,955 --> 02:04:05,925
Okay, so we are gonna start out talking about

2732
02:04:07,585 --> 02:04:08,965
the national community survey.

2733
02:04:09,865 --> 02:04:13,325
May, are you running the slide deck? I am. Okay, thank you.

2734
02:04:15,985 --> 02:04:18,045
So the National Community Survey,

2735
02:04:18,795 --> 02:04:21,925
it's basically a report about the livability of Needham.

2736
02:04:22,225 --> 02:04:26,125
So we've done this every two years since 2008,

2737
02:04:26,675 --> 02:04:28,405
with the exception of 2020

2738
02:04:28,555 --> 02:04:31,125
because of the pandemic we skipped that year.

2739
02:04:33,305 --> 02:04:35,565
So a livable community is basically a place

2740
02:04:35,565 --> 02:04:38,885
that's not just simply habitable, but it's desirable.

2741
02:04:39,155 --> 02:04:42,845
It's a place where you, where you wanna live.

2742
02:04:43,665 --> 02:04:47,165
And, and so the questions

2743
02:04:47,165 --> 02:04:49,165
that were in the National Community Survey,

2744
02:04:50,675 --> 02:04:52,925
this has really been perfected.

2745
02:04:52,925 --> 02:04:54,325
They've been doing this for so long,

2746
02:04:54,985 --> 02:04:56,845
and there are benchmarks.

2747
02:04:56,865 --> 02:05:01,325
So Needham is compared to 400 other communities nationwide

2748
02:05:01,715 --> 02:05:04,925
that also participate in the National Community Survey.

2749
02:05:05,545 --> 02:05:08,325
In addition, there are local benchmarks.

2750
02:05:08,325 --> 02:05:12,245
There are six Massachusetts communities that have also

2751
02:05:14,395 --> 02:05:15,405
done the NCS.

2752
02:05:15,945 --> 02:05:18,005
And so as we walk through the results,

2753
02:05:18,425 --> 02:05:20,405
and it's a pretty dense report.

2754
02:05:20,875 --> 02:05:23,365
I've already uploaded it to the town's website.

2755
02:05:23,365 --> 02:05:25,725
So if you go under our government

2756
02:05:25,745 --> 02:05:28,645
and under publications reports, it's already there.

2757
02:05:28,785 --> 02:05:30,205
So you can walk through

2758
02:05:30,385 --> 02:05:32,085
and I'm just gonna touch the highlights because

2759
02:05:32,085 --> 02:05:34,045
otherwise I'd be here for two hours

2760
02:05:34,105 --> 02:05:35,445
and I know you have a long agenda.

2761
02:05:37,225 --> 02:05:40,725
So, so without further ado, we'll sort of walk through

2762
02:05:42,825 --> 02:05:44,565
the, the key pieces of this.

2763
02:05:44,905 --> 02:05:48,085
So the study method, so 3000 Needham residents were invited

2764
02:05:48,085 --> 02:05:50,045
to participate and they are randomly chosen.

2765
02:05:50,785 --> 02:05:54,205
And so people received a postcard in the mail, inviting them

2766
02:05:54,305 --> 02:05:57,285
to participate, and they had a special URL

2767
02:05:57,515 --> 02:05:58,845
that they logged on to.

2768
02:05:59,705 --> 02:06:03,565
So that was open so that those were targeted for two weeks.

2769
02:06:03,585 --> 02:06:05,125
And then after two weeks, the rest

2770
02:06:05,145 --> 02:06:07,885
of the community was invited to participate.

2771
02:06:08,945 --> 02:06:13,685
Out of the 3000 residents, 562 responded to the survey,

2772
02:06:14,645 --> 02:06:16,765
and there's a margin of error of 4.1%,

2773
02:06:17,305 --> 02:06:19,245
and the response rate was about 20%.

2774
02:06:19,305 --> 02:06:21,645
So it's a little bit lower than it was in 2024.

2775
02:06:22,345 --> 02:06:23,805
And then it's also important to note

2776
02:06:23,805 --> 02:06:25,485
that the survey results were weighted.

2777
02:06:25,625 --> 02:06:29,325
So the demographic profile is more indicative of Needham.

2778
02:06:29,505 --> 02:06:34,165
So what that means is, if we got a glut of responses

2779
02:06:34,675 --> 02:06:36,725
from a certain age population,

2780
02:06:36,725 --> 02:06:38,845
what they would do is they take the demographics of Needham

2781
02:06:38,845 --> 02:06:41,445
and sort of, you know, adjust them so

2782
02:06:41,445 --> 02:06:44,165
that it's more representative of the demographics in town.

2783
02:06:46,305 --> 02:06:48,205
As I already mentioned, 400 communities

2784
02:06:49,425 --> 02:06:51,005
and six Massachusetts communities.

2785
02:06:51,505 --> 02:06:53,165
So let's jump right into the results.

2786
02:06:53,825 --> 02:06:58,045
So the overall highlights, good news is

2787
02:06:58,705 --> 02:07:03,085
97% of those responded say,

2788
02:07:03,085 --> 02:07:04,205
Needham is excellent

2789
02:07:04,205 --> 02:07:07,685
or good place to live, 93% rate,

2790
02:07:07,685 --> 02:07:09,285
the overall quality is excellent

2791
02:07:09,285 --> 02:07:12,005
or good, 81% rate, the quality

2792
02:07:12,005 --> 02:07:14,045
of town services provided is excellent or good.

2793
02:07:14,185 --> 02:07:16,045
And we'll get into how that compares

2794
02:07:16,045 --> 02:07:18,405
to previous years in the next couple of slides.

2795
02:07:19,025 --> 02:07:22,165
But there's a few things that jump out.

2796
02:07:22,165 --> 02:07:25,605
At first, safety, the majority of residents perceive Needham

2797
02:07:25,625 --> 02:07:27,285
as a very safe place to live.

2798
02:07:28,105 --> 02:07:32,445
And not to jump too far ahead and,

2799
02:07:32,445 --> 02:07:36,405
and sort of take away the, the excitement announcement,

2800
02:07:36,725 --> 02:07:39,485
exciting announcement is that the storm water management,

2801
02:07:39,505 --> 02:07:40,565
all of that hard work

2802
02:07:40,595 --> 02:07:42,765
that you all put into storm water management,

2803
02:07:43,145 --> 02:07:46,165
12% increase in satisfaction in storm water management.

2804
02:07:46,265 --> 02:07:47,445
So, yay.

2805
02:07:49,385 --> 02:07:53,325
And I'm also excited to share that with public engagement,

2806
02:07:53,895 --> 02:07:57,925
there was an increase from 2024 in people attending

2807
02:07:57,925 --> 02:07:59,165
or watching public meetings,

2808
02:07:59,535 --> 02:08:02,005
contacting elected officials or the town.

2809
02:08:02,545 --> 02:08:04,845
So overall, from those four categories,

2810
02:08:04,845 --> 02:08:08,005
there was a 23% increase in people's engagement

2811
02:08:08,005 --> 02:08:10,045
with the town, which I think is awesome.

2812
02:08:11,225 --> 02:08:14,645
You know, the fact that folks know how to reach out

2813
02:08:14,865 --> 02:08:15,885
to the town

2814
02:08:15,885 --> 02:08:19,445
or to elected officials, how to share their opinions

2815
02:08:19,445 --> 02:08:22,405
and make their voices heard is really tremendous.

2816
02:08:24,065 --> 02:08:26,565
So inclusivity continues to be both a strength

2817
02:08:26,565 --> 02:08:28,045
and an opportunity for continued growth.

2818
02:08:28,555 --> 02:08:31,565
Housing affordability continues to be a concern.

2819
02:08:32,385 --> 02:08:34,925
And governance confidence in government, local

2820
02:08:34,925 --> 02:08:35,925
and federal has declined.

2821
02:08:35,985 --> 02:08:37,405
But this is a national trend.

2822
02:08:37,705 --> 02:08:39,925
So it's not specific to Needham,

2823
02:08:40,185 --> 02:08:41,365
but it's certainly something we

2824
02:08:41,585 --> 02:08:43,045
of course wanna keep an eye on.

2825
02:08:43,835 --> 02:08:45,605
Okay, so we're gonna go to the next slide.

2826
02:08:46,745 --> 02:08:49,085
I'm just gonna highlight a few of these things here.

2827
02:08:49,725 --> 02:08:52,965
Under quality of life, as we discussed, as a place to live,

2828
02:08:52,965 --> 02:08:55,485
overall quality of life, those ranked very high.

2829
02:08:56,785 --> 02:08:59,605
So what these numbers mean is when you is the percent

2830
02:08:59,965 --> 02:09:04,885
positive is that 97% of the respondents said

2831
02:09:04,885 --> 02:09:06,525
that Needham was an Exeter a good place to live.

2832
02:09:06,585 --> 02:09:08,765
But what the national percentile means is that

2833
02:09:09,945 --> 02:09:14,005
we ranked higher than 92%

2834
02:09:14,225 --> 02:09:16,445
of the 400 communities.

2835
02:09:16,955 --> 02:09:18,925
Okay? So that means that we're on the top 8%,

2836
02:09:18,925 --> 02:09:20,845
which is pretty tremendous.

2837
02:09:21,945 --> 02:09:26,485
And then you'll see the, the changes from 2024,

2838
02:09:26,755 --> 02:09:30,005
because even though it's interesting to compare ourselves

2839
02:09:30,065 --> 02:09:32,845
to these 400 other communities, what we're really wanting

2840
02:09:32,845 --> 02:09:35,565
to do is compare ourselves to two years ago to see,

2841
02:09:35,745 --> 02:09:37,725
you know, how are we measuring up to

2842
02:09:37,725 --> 02:09:39,605
what we did back in 2024?

2843
02:09:40,905 --> 02:09:42,925
So versus the local benchmark, you can also see

2844
02:09:43,405 --> 02:09:44,565
how our results were.

2845
02:09:44,865 --> 02:09:47,325
And all of these results are, are similar

2846
02:09:47,425 --> 02:09:52,325
to the local benchmark, but higher in areas of overall image

2847
02:09:52,325 --> 02:09:54,485
or reputation is in its quality of life.

2848
02:09:55,595 --> 02:09:58,445
Next slide, please. Okay.

2849
02:09:58,625 --> 02:10:01,565
Public safety need

2850
02:10:01,565 --> 02:10:04,565
and ranked much higher than the national benchmark.

2851
02:10:04,905 --> 02:10:08,605
So we ranked higher than 98% of the communities,

2852
02:10:08,615 --> 02:10:10,885
which is pretty terrific.

2853
02:10:11,665 --> 02:10:13,805
And also, versus the local benchmark,

2854
02:10:13,945 --> 02:10:17,765
we also ranked higher crime prevention.

2855
02:10:18,035 --> 02:10:20,685
Also much higher in that,

2856
02:10:21,235 --> 02:10:25,045
that actually increased 4% from just two years ago.

2857
02:10:25,745 --> 02:10:26,845
So all of the great work

2858
02:10:26,845 --> 02:10:28,445
that the Needham Police Department is doing

2859
02:10:28,825 --> 02:10:29,885
is certainly being noticed.

2860
02:10:31,065 --> 02:10:32,325
And then fire prevention

2861
02:10:32,325 --> 02:10:35,525
and education is also higher than it was a couple

2862
02:10:35,525 --> 02:10:39,325
of years ago, as well as emergency preparedness.

2863
02:10:39,985 --> 02:10:43,325
So that's pretty, pretty interesting to note.

2864
02:10:44,475 --> 02:10:45,765
Okay, we're gonna go to the next one.

2865
02:10:45,765 --> 02:10:49,485
For governance, I was particularly excited about

2866
02:10:49,745 --> 02:10:51,085
public information services.

2867
02:10:51,385 --> 02:10:54,645
The change from 2024 was an increase of 7%.

2868
02:10:56,585 --> 02:10:59,765
And so we're also higher the national benchmark similar

2869
02:10:59,825 --> 02:11:01,085
to local, but

2870
02:11:01,365 --> 02:11:03,285
that's certainly trending in the right direction.

2871
02:11:03,345 --> 02:11:07,125
So that was great to see overall quality services

2872
02:11:07,185 --> 02:11:10,205
by the town, that did go down a little bit,

2873
02:11:11,315 --> 02:11:13,725
4% lower than it was in 2024.

2874
02:11:14,785 --> 02:11:16,565
The overall direction Needham is taking

2875
02:11:17,665 --> 02:11:21,245
was also lower than it was in 2024 by 9%.

2876
02:11:22,465 --> 02:11:25,245
And generally acting in the best interest of the community

2877
02:11:25,835 --> 02:11:28,285
also decreased by 10%.

2878
02:11:30,035 --> 02:11:34,245
Jumping down to towards the bottom, contacting the town

2879
02:11:34,465 --> 02:11:37,965
for help or information, again in an increase of 8%,

2880
02:11:38,055 --> 02:11:42,085
which is, which is really nice to see. Can I, yeah,

2881
02:11:42,085 --> 02:11:45,085
Does that mean that the, whether the respondent had

2882
02:11:45,085 --> 02:11:46,165
ever contacted the town,

2883
02:11:47,625 --> 02:11:49,565
It didn't ask if it was the first time.

2884
02:11:49,625 --> 02:11:51,805
It just means did you contact the town?

2885
02:11:51,825 --> 02:11:53,125
You know, have you contacted the town

2886
02:11:53,125 --> 02:11:55,245
to get more information or ask questions?

2887
02:11:55,515 --> 02:11:58,125
Okay, so that was an increase

2888
02:11:58,905 --> 02:12:00,965
of 8% from 2024.

2889
02:12:01,725 --> 02:12:02,845
And then the overall quality

2890
02:12:02,845 --> 02:12:04,525
of services from the federal government,

2891
02:12:04,585 --> 02:12:06,445
you can see a huge drop.

2892
02:12:07,505 --> 02:12:10,605
It, it's 27% in 2026,

2893
02:12:11,265 --> 02:12:14,645
and it's, you know, that's, that's trending nationally.

2894
02:12:14,785 --> 02:12:19,165
So again, while we wanna, I think keep an eye on, you know,

2895
02:12:19,425 --> 02:12:21,845
the results here, the acting in the best in sort the

2896
02:12:21,845 --> 02:12:23,925
community and the, and the, you know,

2897
02:12:26,105 --> 02:12:29,285
how folks feel about local government, that's, that's also

2898
02:12:30,085 --> 02:12:31,165
a nationwide trend.

2899
02:12:32,225 --> 02:12:35,645
So something to keep an eye on,

2900
02:12:35,665 --> 02:12:38,445
but just so that you know, it's in context that that

2901
02:12:39,205 --> 02:12:40,245
compared to other communities,

2902
02:12:40,245 --> 02:12:41,685
they're experiencing the same, that's a

2903
02:12:41,685 --> 02:12:44,205
30% drop on federal government,

2904
02:12:44,315 --> 02:12:45,315
Correct?

2905
02:12:46,105 --> 02:12:49,525
Yes. All right. So we're gonna jump to the economy.

2906
02:12:50,065 --> 02:12:52,845
The overall economic health of Needham,

2907
02:12:54,275 --> 02:12:56,085
it's higher than the national benchmark.

2908
02:12:56,105 --> 02:12:58,125
It did change a little bit from 2024,

2909
02:12:58,745 --> 02:13:02,325
but also versus the local benchmark, it's, it's higher.

2910
02:13:03,835 --> 02:13:06,925
Needham is a place to work that increased by 6%

2911
02:13:08,465 --> 02:13:12,685
and is is higher than the national national benchmark.

2912
02:13:13,395 --> 02:13:16,525
Similar to local cost of living,

2913
02:13:17,585 --> 02:13:18,645
you know, that continues.

2914
02:13:18,645 --> 02:13:19,805
That was, you know, the area,

2915
02:13:20,225 --> 02:13:23,405
the concern about affordability of, of Needham, it continues

2916
02:13:23,425 --> 02:13:27,685
to resonate in all of the surveys

2917
02:13:27,685 --> 02:13:29,005
that we've done in recent years.

2918
02:13:30,085 --> 02:13:32,245
And then health and wellness continues

2919
02:13:32,245 --> 02:13:34,245
to rank very high versus, you know,

2920
02:13:34,245 --> 02:13:38,045
in the national benchmark, very high scores on those.

2921
02:13:39,595 --> 02:13:42,405
Next slide please. Under mobility,

2922
02:13:45,245 --> 02:13:47,245
I just focused on a handful.

2923
02:13:47,825 --> 02:13:50,405
As I mentioned, this survey is very dense

2924
02:13:50,545 --> 02:13:52,645
and you can see every single one of the questions

2925
02:13:52,645 --> 02:13:56,005
that was asked in this survey on the report that is uploaded

2926
02:13:56,025 --> 02:13:57,045
to the town's website.

2927
02:13:59,005 --> 02:14:02,685
Interestingly, where we compare to local,

2928
02:14:03,065 --> 02:14:06,525
the other six local communities, the ease of parking, ease

2929
02:14:06,525 --> 02:14:08,285
of travel by bicycle and walking,

2930
02:14:08,545 --> 02:14:13,125
all ranked higher than the six communities in Massachusetts.

2931
02:14:14,855 --> 02:14:18,885
Stormwater management, again, 12% increase.

2932
02:14:19,055 --> 02:14:22,245
Kevin is Josh obviously very excited about

2933
02:14:22,245 --> 02:14:23,565
that, which he should be.

2934
02:14:23,565 --> 02:14:26,965
That's, that's terrific. And

2935
02:14:26,965 --> 02:14:27,965
That's perception.

2936
02:14:27,965 --> 02:14:29,965
I mean, like in reality, we, we passed a bylaw,

2937
02:14:30,025 --> 02:14:33,245
but like the actual act

2938
02:14:33,245 --> 02:14:35,965
of improving storm water comes a little later.

2939
02:14:37,425 --> 02:14:38,565
But they know you're working on it.

2940
02:14:38,565 --> 02:14:40,005
They know we're working on it. Exactly. Yeah.

2941
02:14:42,625 --> 02:14:44,725
The other thing, the overall quality

2942
02:14:44,845 --> 02:14:48,365
of utility infrastructure ranks higher

2943
02:14:49,045 --> 02:14:50,605
than the national benchmark as well.

2944
02:14:51,445 --> 02:14:54,525
And our drinking water ranked higher than the other six

2945
02:14:54,575 --> 02:14:55,605
local communities.

2946
02:14:55,985 --> 02:14:59,125
So next slide please.

2947
02:14:59,265 --> 02:15:01,165
So we go to education, arts and culture.

2948
02:15:04,265 --> 02:15:07,005
Not surprisingly, this is trended this way

2949
02:15:07,265 --> 02:15:10,205
for the last several years.

2950
02:15:10,305 --> 02:15:13,325
In fact, if I went back to 2008, I'm,

2951
02:15:13,325 --> 02:15:16,285
I'm sure it would probably show very similar results.

2952
02:15:16,345 --> 02:15:18,085
But the quality of K to 12 education

2953
02:15:19,225 --> 02:15:22,205
is much higher than the national benchmark

2954
02:15:22,705 --> 02:15:26,125
and higher than the six other Massachusetts communities,

2955
02:15:28,275 --> 02:15:29,725
community support for the arts,

2956
02:15:30,355 --> 02:15:33,965
it's also 68%.

2957
02:15:34,865 --> 02:15:38,125
So we didn't have a change from two years ago.

2958
02:15:39,565 --> 02:15:43,645
Public library services, again, 97%,

2959
02:15:43,815 --> 02:15:46,045
which is terrific.

2960
02:15:46,275 --> 02:15:47,485
Everybody loves the library

2961
02:15:48,525 --> 02:15:50,925
versus the national benchmark is also higher.

2962
02:15:53,395 --> 02:15:56,205
Next slide please. Okay. So community connection.

2963
02:15:57,825 --> 02:16:00,765
People generally feel a very good, you know,

2964
02:16:00,765 --> 02:16:02,165
very close sense of community.

2965
02:16:02,165 --> 02:16:05,205
Needham is a place to raise children. 95%.

2966
02:16:06,705 --> 02:16:08,965
That's pretty extraordinary.

2967
02:16:09,385 --> 02:16:10,765
You know, I would say a,

2968
02:16:10,885 --> 02:16:13,765
a change in 2% really isn't significant.

2969
02:16:13,825 --> 02:16:16,965
So it's not anything to I think be concerned about.

2970
02:16:18,965 --> 02:16:20,045
Neighbor, I loved this one.

2971
02:16:20,105 --> 02:16:22,365
The neighborliness of residents in Needham

2972
02:16:23,065 --> 02:16:24,725
higher than the national benchmark.

2973
02:16:25,865 --> 02:16:29,005
And it's, it's trended very similar

2974
02:16:29,795 --> 02:16:32,045
numbers in the last several surveys.

2975
02:16:33,265 --> 02:16:36,325
And then opportunities to participate in community matters

2976
02:16:36,875 --> 02:16:40,565
also higher than,

2977
02:16:40,955 --> 02:16:42,565
than the national benchmark.

2978
02:16:43,925 --> 02:16:45,885
Openness and acceptance of community towards people

2979
02:16:45,885 --> 02:16:50,365
of diverse backgrounds is also,

2980
02:16:51,985 --> 02:16:53,325
it, it that increased as well.

2981
02:16:53,335 --> 02:16:58,205
7%. And then this also, this, this last one here got me,

2982
02:16:58,745 --> 02:17:01,525
you know, very excited that residents campaigned to advocate

2983
02:17:01,525 --> 02:17:03,685
for a local issue cause or candidate that

2984
02:17:03,715 --> 02:17:05,245
that increased by 9%.

2985
02:17:05,625 --> 02:17:08,125
So I think, you know, we're,

2986
02:17:08,125 --> 02:17:09,885
we're seeing it trending in the right direction

2987
02:17:09,885 --> 02:17:12,205
that people are feeling informed

2988
02:17:12,505 --> 02:17:15,205
and are feeling that they have an opportunity

2989
02:17:15,425 --> 02:17:16,445
to be involved.

2990
02:17:17,995 --> 02:17:20,405
Okay. Custom questions.

2991
02:17:21,625 --> 02:17:23,845
So the national community survey allows us

2992
02:17:23,845 --> 02:17:25,805
to ask custom questions

2993
02:17:26,785 --> 02:17:30,405
before custom questions at the end of the survey.

2994
02:17:30,545 --> 02:17:32,925
So there's, because they're custom to us,

2995
02:17:33,745 --> 02:17:37,245
we can't compare them to any other community.

2996
02:17:37,745 --> 02:17:41,325
But that was interesting that the town's website actually

2997
02:17:42,045 --> 02:17:44,965
is the largest source of information for folks

2998
02:17:44,965 --> 02:17:46,445
to find out about what's going on

2999
02:17:46,835 --> 02:17:50,245
with the newsletter coming in behind it at just under 50%.

3000
02:17:50,985 --> 02:17:54,485
And then the, the, the alerts, the alert need, you know,

3001
02:17:54,485 --> 02:17:58,485
that's the sort of the reverse 9 1 1 and the notify me texts

3002
02:17:58,485 --> 02:18:00,845
and emails where folks can go to the website to sign up

3003
02:18:01,305 --> 02:18:05,405
for notifications on anything from a public meeting to,

3004
02:18:07,465 --> 02:18:09,165
you know, the, the water restrictions

3005
02:18:09,545 --> 02:18:12,645
or if their building is closed because of a snowstorm.

3006
02:18:12,695 --> 02:18:13,725
Those types of things.

3007
02:18:13,825 --> 02:18:16,205
So can gonna continue to push that

3008
02:18:16,205 --> 02:18:18,725
because I think those are really effective ways

3009
02:18:18,725 --> 02:18:20,165
to continue to communicate with folks.

3010
02:18:20,645 --> 02:18:22,725
I feel like this may be showing the bias

3011
02:18:22,745 --> 02:18:23,845
of the sample a little bit

3012
02:18:24,675 --> 02:18:26,525
because, so I mean,

3013
02:18:26,525 --> 02:18:28,045
all the percentages add up to more than a hundred.

3014
02:18:28,185 --> 02:18:30,725
So, so people are using more than one system in town.

3015
02:18:30,725 --> 02:18:32,125
Correct. And I wonder if that that's

3016
02:18:32,125 --> 02:18:33,965
how they learned about the survey to get involved.

3017
02:18:37,445 --> 02:18:40,005
I, I, I think sampling people

3018
02:18:40,005 --> 02:18:41,325
who didn't, I mean, this is hard.

3019
02:18:41,345 --> 02:18:42,565
People who didn't take the survey,

3020
02:18:42,885 --> 02:18:44,565
I think necessarily are probably less

3021
02:18:45,435 --> 02:18:47,205
plugged into the news channels

3022
02:18:47,585 --> 02:18:48,645
and so didn't know

3023
02:18:48,785 --> 02:18:51,485
to take the survey in the first place. It was mailed in your house

3024
02:18:51,485 --> 02:18:52,485
Though.

3025
02:18:52,485 --> 02:18:53,685
Well, yeah, 3000. The, so

3026
02:18:53,685 --> 02:18:55,885
what you're looking at actually are the, the,

3027
02:18:56,215 --> 02:18:59,485
these results are the, from the 3000 postcards Okay.

3028
02:18:59,635 --> 02:19:00,765
That were mailed. Okay.

3029
02:19:01,025 --> 02:19:03,005
So, okay, that's good then. Thank you.

3030
02:19:04,325 --> 02:19:06,645
And then the barriers the residents currently perceive

3031
02:19:06,645 --> 02:19:11,525
to living in Needham age being, you know,

3032
02:19:11,665 --> 02:19:13,365
the, the top one at only 31%

3033
02:19:15,505 --> 02:19:17,045
and you can see the rest there.

3034
02:19:18,825 --> 02:19:21,165
So that, that's a lot of information to share.

3035
02:19:22,015 --> 02:19:24,085
Again, i, I picked sort of the highlights

3036
02:19:24,085 --> 02:19:27,205
because there is a lot of data.

3037
02:19:29,075 --> 02:19:30,285
Does anybody have any questions?

3038
02:19:30,345 --> 02:19:31,325
Yes. Actually, just a comment.

3039
02:19:31,375 --> 02:19:32,525
First of all, thank you very much.

3040
02:19:32,525 --> 02:19:35,685
Yes, this is great about the stormwater

3041
02:19:37,915 --> 02:19:40,005
real credit goes to DPW.

3042
02:19:40,155 --> 02:19:42,765
They've done so many projects to work on this

3043
02:19:42,865 --> 02:19:45,325
and address issues project by project

3044
02:19:45,505 --> 02:19:46,565
and talk to neighborhoods.

3045
02:19:47,065 --> 02:19:49,645
So they, they're the ones who push those numbers up.

3046
02:19:51,715 --> 02:19:52,765
Good for that. Agreed.

3047
02:19:52,975 --> 02:19:56,405
Great. Anything else?

3048
02:19:56,425 --> 02:19:58,765
Anyone helpful?

3049
02:19:58,945 --> 02:20:00,565
You're hanging out. We have more stuff to cover.

3050
02:20:00,565 --> 02:20:03,885
Yes, we do, we do. Done, I'm not done.

3051
02:20:04,845 --> 02:20:07,325
I I have a question. Sure. For a comment.

3052
02:20:08,485 --> 02:20:10,445
I guess one of the worst

3053
02:20:11,015 --> 02:20:13,925
marks on here actually I think directly reflects on the

3054
02:20:13,925 --> 02:20:15,965
select board, which is the governance,

3055
02:20:16,905 --> 02:20:19,205
the overall direction that Needham is taking.

3056
02:20:19,665 --> 02:20:22,805
And generally even worse than that, I guess in my mind,

3057
02:20:22,865 --> 02:20:25,325
the generally acting in the best interest of the community

3058
02:20:25,325 --> 02:20:26,445
that we lost ground

3059
02:20:27,145 --> 02:20:31,055
and that our numbers are lower here than in other places.

3060
02:20:31,235 --> 02:20:32,735
Do we have any ideas?

3061
02:20:33,375 --> 02:20:34,735
I I, were there,

3062
02:20:35,115 --> 02:20:37,135
do people write anything or just check a box?

3063
02:20:37,155 --> 02:20:40,575
Do we have any ideas what this is about? So

3064
02:20:40,575 --> 02:20:42,575
There is no open response

3065
02:20:44,805 --> 02:20:47,295
ability in, in this particular survey.

3066
02:20:47,515 --> 02:20:49,695
So it, it was basically multiple choice.

3067
02:20:50,235 --> 02:20:53,895
So to expand upon that, all I can comment is that again,

3068
02:20:53,965 --> 02:20:58,495
this is, this is trending not only locally, but nationally.

3069
02:20:58,765 --> 02:21:03,175
There's a decline in trust in government across the board.

3070
02:21:03,975 --> 02:21:06,335
I think we see that Every, I guess putting the national

3071
02:21:06,625 --> 02:21:09,935
aside for a moment, I mean if we look at the six

3072
02:21:10,565 --> 02:21:12,255
peer communities in Massachusetts,

3073
02:21:12,475 --> 02:21:14,175
did they go down on these measures?

3074
02:21:16,045 --> 02:21:19,975
They did. They're, they rank similar

3075
02:21:20,395 --> 02:21:21,575
to, to where we did.

3076
02:21:25,135 --> 02:21:27,355
But were they lower last survey as well

3077
02:21:28,745 --> 02:21:29,955
That I can look into?

3078
02:21:30,115 --> 02:21:32,635
I can't, I don't have that date in front of me,

3079
02:21:32,635 --> 02:21:33,915
but I can, I can check on that for you.

3080
02:21:34,485 --> 02:21:35,485
Thank you.

3081
02:21:39,715 --> 02:21:42,915
Anything else, Kathy? No, that was it.

3082
02:21:43,585 --> 02:21:48,435
Okay. Okay, Moving along.

3083
02:21:49,255 --> 02:21:51,795
So as everybody knows, the New Town Seal was adopted

3084
02:21:51,815 --> 02:21:54,795
by town, meaning in May of 2026

3085
02:21:56,055 --> 02:21:59,475
and the New Town Seal is being rolled out.

3086
02:22:01,145 --> 02:22:05,155
Town manager and I met with the town clerk to

3087
02:22:07,065 --> 02:22:11,355
discuss and review what constitutes an official document

3088
02:22:11,355 --> 02:22:13,635
because the Town seal should only be used on

3089
02:22:14,155 --> 02:22:18,515
official town documents, whereas the New Town logo is going

3090
02:22:18,515 --> 02:22:21,755
to be used on other things, you know, like vehicles

3091
02:22:21,775 --> 02:22:24,755
and trash cans and clothing, that sort of thing.

3092
02:22:25,585 --> 02:22:30,445
So with the New Town Seal, one of the things

3093
02:22:30,445 --> 02:22:32,605
that does go on is our Town flag.

3094
02:22:33,145 --> 02:22:37,005
And the Town flag, as you may all know, is actually hung,

3095
02:22:37,005 --> 02:22:41,885
there's 351 flags from each municipality in

3096
02:22:41,905 --> 02:22:43,765
the Hall of Flags at the

3097
02:22:43,765 --> 02:22:45,405
Massachusetts State House in Boston.

3098
02:22:46,265 --> 02:22:50,005
And so we are going to need to replace the flag,

3099
02:22:50,135 --> 02:22:52,325
which I actually have here to show you,

3100
02:22:53,065 --> 02:22:55,045
but there's two different versions of it.

3101
02:22:55,145 --> 02:22:56,765
And so Katie

3102
02:22:56,825 --> 02:23:01,445
and I thought it would be a nice exercise to go through

3103
02:23:01,465 --> 02:23:03,245
to show you what the flags look like,

3104
02:23:03,245 --> 02:23:05,045
and then you can decide which one.

3105
02:23:05,585 --> 02:23:09,405
But I'm in touch with Representative Taki's office to see

3106
02:23:09,405 --> 02:23:12,365
how we might be able to schedule some type

3107
02:23:12,365 --> 02:23:16,085
of ceremonial flag raising of sorts to replace,

3108
02:23:16,085 --> 02:23:19,365
because, you know, in, in our lifetime, this will

3109
02:23:19,925 --> 02:23:24,445
probably be the only time the flag is replaced.

3110
02:23:26,465 --> 02:23:29,605
So, So there are two different versions.

3111
02:23:30,935 --> 02:23:35,125
There is the version on a white background.

3112
02:23:35,125 --> 02:23:38,125
This is a completely white version.

3113
02:23:42,865 --> 02:23:44,805
So that's What that looks like.

3114
02:23:46,935 --> 02:23:50,485
Front big screen TV you can talk to.

3115
02:23:50,715 --> 02:23:54,005
Okay. And then Her

3116
02:23:56,835 --> 02:24:01,645
Selectman themes request, we put it on

3117
02:24:02,325 --> 02:24:04,125
a Navy background

3118
02:24:07,545 --> 02:24:12,045
and I'll add that, you know, Kevin chaired the town branding

3119
02:24:12,105 --> 02:24:15,205
and Town Needham branding and Town Seal committee,

3120
02:24:16,105 --> 02:24:20,045
and it was many, many months worth of

3121
02:24:20,835 --> 02:24:23,725
conversations about the Town Seal

3122
02:24:23,905 --> 02:24:25,085
to, to bring us to this point.

3123
02:24:25,185 --> 02:24:28,445
And so now we have two options here for the flag

3124
02:24:28,465 --> 02:24:30,365
to be raised at the State House.

3125
02:24:32,335 --> 02:24:33,845
Kevin, why did you choose Blue?

3126
02:24:36,205 --> 02:24:38,325
I think there's a joke somewhere that a lot

3127
02:24:38,325 --> 02:24:40,885
of them just do the bed sheet, like, yeah, so many flags.

3128
02:24:40,885 --> 02:24:42,405
There's, oh, it's just another bed sheet

3129
02:24:42,405 --> 02:24:44,285
with a seal on it. So it's like, let's,

3130
02:24:44,775 --> 02:24:45,775
Let's try Blue.

3131
02:24:46,045 --> 02:24:49,085
IIII go to haul the flags every year for an event

3132
02:24:49,665 --> 02:24:53,445
and it's very hard when there's 351 flags up there

3133
02:24:53,465 --> 02:24:55,445
to find the flag because they're all white.

3134
02:24:55,665 --> 02:24:59,965
Yes. So it would be helpful, I think, to be a blue.

3135
02:25:00,245 --> 02:25:01,685
I mean, they have a little interactive thing

3136
02:25:01,685 --> 02:25:03,245
where you could press button and they say, look at,

3137
02:25:03,745 --> 02:25:05,605
you know, the third row up, the 12 flag down.

3138
02:25:05,605 --> 02:25:08,085
But even with that, when there so many white

3139
02:25:08,115 --> 02:25:10,045
that I would, I'm down with blue.

3140
02:25:10,675 --> 02:25:14,325
That one blue. All right. Yeah. Yeah.

3141
02:25:14,485 --> 02:25:15,685
I think blue's got my vote too.

3142
02:25:15,945 --> 02:25:17,645
It seems like it's got more gravitas.

3143
02:25:17,765 --> 02:25:20,165
I don't, you can kind of see through the white a little bit.

3144
02:25:20,425 --> 02:25:24,285
It, yeah, I, I'm not, I don't think it,

3145
02:25:24,315 --> 02:25:27,325
this is also just more our colors blue and yellow.

3146
02:25:27,595 --> 02:25:31,885
Gold. Gold, yeah. You know, that's good. You agree? Yeah.

3147
02:25:31,995 --> 02:25:35,005
Done all well, thanks. Just fix a tight Thank you, Jackie.

3148
02:25:35,005 --> 02:25:37,765
Kathy? Kathy, do you have a, oh, we lost Kathy.

3149
02:25:38,745 --> 02:25:42,325
No bed sheet. No bed sheet. All thank you. All right.

3150
02:25:42,865 --> 02:25:46,805
No one will also go in Powell Hall, right? Yes,

3151
02:25:46,805 --> 02:25:47,805
Correct.

3152
02:25:47,945 --> 02:25:51,565
Yes. Excellent. Okay.

3153
02:25:52,305 --> 02:25:53,485
All right, so moving right along

3154
02:25:53,825 --> 02:25:56,565
and I will try to be brief about this.

3155
02:25:56,645 --> 02:25:58,405
I know you have lots still on your agenda.

3156
02:25:59,005 --> 02:26:01,205
Just wanted to walk through some communication highlights

3157
02:26:01,355 --> 02:26:02,605
over the last year.

3158
02:26:02,685 --> 02:26:05,365
I was here just one year ago giving you an update.

3159
02:26:06,385 --> 02:26:08,885
So as we just talked about, worked with a need and branding

3160
02:26:08,885 --> 02:26:10,325
and Town Seal committee developed the new

3161
02:26:10,325 --> 02:26:11,445
town branding of the Town Seal.

3162
02:26:12,745 --> 02:26:16,365
The logo had was rolled out about a year and a half ago.

3163
02:26:16,545 --> 02:26:20,285
And so everything that needed to have the logo on it is,

3164
02:26:20,465 --> 02:26:24,605
is already does, including all of the big belly trash cans

3165
02:26:24,785 --> 02:26:28,205
around town, the vehicles, et cetera.

3166
02:26:29,585 --> 02:26:32,445
So the other highlights increased outreach

3167
02:26:32,445 --> 02:26:33,485
to stakeholders of the last year.

3168
02:26:33,485 --> 02:26:35,245
Social media followers grew by 8%.

3169
02:26:36,795 --> 02:26:40,045
It's so fascinating to me to, to watch, to see

3170
02:26:40,045 --> 02:26:41,965
what gets people excited.

3171
02:26:42,705 --> 02:26:44,005
One of the, you know, every,

3172
02:26:44,005 --> 02:26:45,725
anytime we have anything about veterans

3173
02:26:45,745 --> 02:26:47,045
or there's any kind of ceremony

3174
02:26:47,445 --> 02:26:48,805
that gets a lot of engagement.

3175
02:26:49,405 --> 02:26:51,725
But then last summer we actually had our new conservation

3176
02:26:51,725 --> 02:26:56,165
specialist saved a snapping turtle in

3177
02:26:56,665 --> 02:26:59,245
the reservoir along with the assistant town engineer.

3178
02:26:59,625 --> 02:27:01,845
And that just blew up and it was shared a million times

3179
02:27:01,985 --> 02:27:04,685
and people love sort of the heartwarming feel good stuff.

3180
02:27:04,785 --> 02:27:08,445
So any opportunity I have to be able to share sort

3181
02:27:08,445 --> 02:27:09,445
of the human side of,

3182
02:27:09,585 --> 02:27:11,325
of local government, I, I try to do that.

3183
02:27:11,925 --> 02:27:15,245
Our newsletter subscribers grew by 8%, which is also,

3184
02:27:16,215 --> 02:27:18,325
which is also great, heading in the right direction.

3185
02:27:19,145 --> 02:27:22,525
We still have the popup screen when you go to the website

3186
02:27:22,635 --> 02:27:24,485
that asks you if you want to subscribe.

3187
02:27:25,065 --> 02:27:27,245
If you're sick of seeing it, you could, you could hit close

3188
02:27:27,305 --> 02:27:28,325
and do not show again.

3189
02:27:28,325 --> 02:27:29,445
So it doesn't keep popping up.

3190
02:27:30,865 --> 02:27:33,005
And then continuing to increase the number

3191
02:27:33,005 --> 02:27:34,045
of social media posts

3192
02:27:34,425 --> 02:27:37,605
and news flashes, poco surveys

3193
02:27:37,945 --> 02:27:39,965
beyond the national community survey.

3194
02:27:40,585 --> 02:27:44,525
We, I also worked to publish

3195
02:27:45,045 --> 02:27:46,165
a few other surveys that, which

3196
02:27:46,165 --> 02:27:47,245
we're gonna get into in a second.

3197
02:27:47,985 --> 02:27:49,285
And then continuing to cultivate

3198
02:27:49,285 --> 02:27:50,445
relationships with local media.

3199
02:27:50,665 --> 02:27:53,605
So Needham is viewed as a valuable resource

3200
02:27:53,945 --> 02:27:55,165
for local news outlets.

3201
02:27:55,265 --> 02:27:59,285
So because we're fortunate to have, you know, NBC 10

3202
02:27:59,345 --> 02:28:02,565
and also WCBB Channel five here locally,

3203
02:28:03,515 --> 02:28:04,565
they often will call

3204
02:28:04,565 --> 02:28:06,525
and if they, you know, it's, it's convenient for them

3205
02:28:06,585 --> 02:28:09,325
to just come down, you know, Highland Avenue to

3206
02:28:09,995 --> 02:28:11,165
find somebody to interview.

3207
02:28:11,305 --> 02:28:15,045
So we often, I often get phone calls saying like, oh,

3208
02:28:15,045 --> 02:28:18,885
you know, we need to local sha and Carig is always wonderful

3209
02:28:18,945 --> 02:28:22,925
and, and in and accommodating requests for interviews,

3210
02:28:22,925 --> 02:28:24,405
especially during storms.

3211
02:28:25,305 --> 02:28:28,205
But they, they love to have the need and perspective

3212
02:28:29,065 --> 02:28:32,005
and also, not just because we're convenient, but also

3213
02:28:32,005 --> 02:28:35,005
because we're a respected source for information

3214
02:28:35,005 --> 02:28:36,245
and, and expertise.

3215
02:28:36,265 --> 02:28:39,405
So the public health department has been interviewed a lot.

3216
02:28:39,785 --> 02:28:42,725
And even most recently I get a call

3217
02:28:42,745 --> 02:28:46,365
during the first heat wave of the summer from

3218
02:28:47,185 --> 02:28:48,965
the assignment editor at Channel five

3219
02:28:48,965 --> 02:28:51,365
and said, can we do the weather broadcast

3220
02:28:51,365 --> 02:28:52,405
from the Rosemary pool?

3221
02:28:52,705 --> 02:28:55,765
And so I called Stacy Mulroy and she said, send 'em on down.

3222
02:28:55,865 --> 02:28:58,685
So, you know, as long as we don't have,

3223
02:28:58,705 --> 02:28:59,885
you know, children in the background.

3224
02:28:59,885 --> 02:29:01,765
So they, they just wanted a nice background

3225
02:29:01,785 --> 02:29:03,205
and they've also done the reservoir.

3226
02:29:03,825 --> 02:29:06,445
So I like to be accommodating whenever possible,

3227
02:29:06,505 --> 02:29:08,045
but that's a great opportunity to,

3228
02:29:08,345 --> 02:29:09,405
to get Needham on the map.

3229
02:29:10,075 --> 02:29:13,485
Alright, so jumping to communication tools, the website,

3230
02:29:13,665 --> 02:29:16,605
we did a re I did a refresh last September,

3231
02:29:18,135 --> 02:29:21,805
moved things around because I can see the Google analytics

3232
02:29:22,145 --> 02:29:24,125
and I kind of nerd out sometimes

3233
02:29:24,265 --> 02:29:25,925
and see what people are searching

3234
02:29:26,105 --> 02:29:29,525
and what are the most frequently visited pages.

3235
02:29:29,745 --> 02:29:33,085
The calendar section continues to be one of the tops.

3236
02:29:33,085 --> 02:29:35,805
So having it now in the top right hand corner allows people

3237
02:29:35,865 --> 02:29:38,125
to get the information right away that they're seeking.

3238
02:29:39,345 --> 02:29:42,045
So new photos, fresh graphics, we have, you know,

3239
02:29:42,045 --> 02:29:43,445
the hot topic buttons at the bottom

3240
02:29:43,555 --> 02:29:46,605
that change occasionally depending on, you know,

3241
02:29:46,675 --> 02:29:48,645
what is considered a hot topic at the time.

3242
02:29:49,585 --> 02:29:52,685
And then the how do I, you know,

3243
02:29:53,675 --> 02:29:55,765
letting folks find the information

3244
02:29:55,765 --> 02:29:57,365
quickly that they're seeking.

3245
02:29:57,365 --> 02:29:58,965
Like, how do I get an RTS sticker?

3246
02:29:59,025 --> 02:30:00,325
How do I register to vote?

3247
02:30:00,905 --> 02:30:04,005
How do I get a license for my dog? That sort of thing.

3248
02:30:04,585 --> 02:30:06,885
How do I sign up for the Memorial Park line board?

3249
02:30:10,555 --> 02:30:13,605
Okay, next slide please.

3250
02:30:14,595 --> 02:30:17,165
Okay, so newsflash and notify me.

3251
02:30:17,185 --> 02:30:20,045
So newsflash, I can post

3252
02:30:21,415 --> 02:30:22,445
newsworthy items

3253
02:30:22,555 --> 02:30:24,605
that we wanna get people's attention right when they go

3254
02:30:24,605 --> 02:30:28,525
to the website and, and folks can sign up for notifications

3255
02:30:28,545 --> 02:30:30,245
for, for newsflash, in fact.

3256
02:30:30,265 --> 02:30:31,965
So let me jump to the next thing.

3257
02:30:32,065 --> 02:30:33,645
Notify me if you go to the,

3258
02:30:33,805 --> 02:30:37,645
if it's just needham ma.gov/notify me, you can sign up for,

3259
02:30:37,785 --> 02:30:40,285
as I mentioned earlier, you know, public meeting notices,

3260
02:30:40,855 --> 02:30:42,925
water restriction alerts, that sort of thing.

3261
02:30:42,945 --> 02:30:45,485
But when I do news flashes to let folks know, for example,

3262
02:30:45,485 --> 02:30:46,885
yesterday that the

3263
02:30:47,695 --> 02:30:50,965
water restrictions were downgraded to level one.

3264
02:30:51,045 --> 02:30:53,885
I did that as a news flash and it it went out.

3265
02:30:55,515 --> 02:30:57,125
Okay, next slide please.

3266
02:30:58,465 --> 02:31:02,685
The newsletter continues to be very popular

3267
02:31:03,385 --> 02:31:05,685
and I, you know, check every week to see

3268
02:31:05,685 --> 02:31:06,805
what the open rate is

3269
02:31:06,905 --> 02:31:08,925
and I can tell whether or not people open it.

3270
02:31:08,985 --> 02:31:11,285
So if you don't open up your newsletter, I can actually

3271
02:31:11,915 --> 02:31:15,125
tell, I don't, I don't spy that closely.

3272
02:31:15,185 --> 02:31:18,725
But it, the analytics actually are, are pretty fascinating.

3273
02:31:18,825 --> 02:31:20,965
And I posted also to social media

3274
02:31:20,985 --> 02:31:22,405
and we get a lot of readers through,

3275
02:31:22,765 --> 02:31:24,365
through the posts of social media as well.

3276
02:31:25,145 --> 02:31:28,645
So we're up to about 8,000 subscribers now, which is,

3277
02:31:29,095 --> 02:31:31,405
which is again really awesome.

3278
02:31:31,635 --> 02:31:34,045
It's heading in the right direction. Okay.

3279
02:31:35,825 --> 02:31:39,645
Social media, we're up to about 5,700 followers.

3280
02:31:40,075 --> 02:31:41,605
Instagram about 3000.

3281
02:31:42,595 --> 02:31:45,925
Anybody who likes anything on our page, I immediately check,

3282
02:31:46,715 --> 02:31:48,245
it's a slight obsession of mine

3283
02:31:48,245 --> 02:31:49,965
to see if they actually already follow our page.

3284
02:31:49,985 --> 02:31:51,605
And if they don't, I immediately invite them.

3285
02:31:51,745 --> 02:31:55,005
So I can also see how people like our page

3286
02:31:55,005 --> 02:31:59,405
because they saw one of our reels or they saw a post

3287
02:31:59,585 --> 02:32:01,485
and then I can see actually how they came to us.

3288
02:32:01,745 --> 02:32:02,965
So that's kind of fascinating.

3289
02:32:04,585 --> 02:32:06,605
And in Blue Sky and Threads I've been asked about

3290
02:32:06,605 --> 02:32:09,485
that They don't currently have the ability

3291
02:32:09,485 --> 02:32:12,445
to be backed up on our social media archive software.

3292
02:32:13,035 --> 02:32:14,885
That is actually through Civic Plus.

3293
02:32:14,915 --> 02:32:16,405
I've asked when they're gonna do that

3294
02:32:16,625 --> 02:32:20,445
and I, there's no definitive date, so we don't use those

3295
02:32:20,545 --> 02:32:23,485
as platforms to post to because they cannot be backed up.

3296
02:32:23,485 --> 02:32:24,725
And so if there was ever, you know,

3297
02:32:24,765 --> 02:32:26,925
a FOIA request specific to that.

3298
02:32:27,665 --> 02:32:30,325
So that's why we don't use it. But we have handles saved.

3299
02:32:30,665 --> 02:32:34,205
So should, should they be integrated into social media

3300
02:32:34,205 --> 02:32:36,565
archive, we can start using those as well and test.

3301
02:32:37,915 --> 02:32:42,085
Okay. Poco surveys. Next slide please.

3302
02:32:42,945 --> 02:32:44,965
We just talked about National Community survey,

3303
02:32:45,745 --> 02:32:47,885
but we also, I also did surveys

3304
02:32:47,885 --> 02:32:50,365
through large house envisioned center.

3305
02:32:50,555 --> 02:32:52,325
That was a huge, that was about

3306
02:32:52,985 --> 02:32:55,525
2,800 responses to that survey.

3307
02:32:56,105 --> 02:33:00,565
The mural design for Highland Ave that John

3308
02:33:00,565 --> 02:33:02,925
and Liz were just talking about and the street design guide.

3309
02:33:03,025 --> 02:33:07,045
So we had about 4,200 responses through the survey,

3310
02:33:07,805 --> 02:33:09,045
through surveys this year.

3311
02:33:10,115 --> 02:33:14,005
Next slide please. In community engagement, I continue

3312
02:33:14,105 --> 02:33:17,045
to try to connect with local nonprofits.

3313
02:33:18,195 --> 02:33:20,485
They reach out to me all the time asking me

3314
02:33:20,545 --> 02:33:23,405
to include their information on our community calendar,

3315
02:33:23,405 --> 02:33:24,725
the website, and also in the newsletter.

3316
02:33:25,925 --> 02:33:27,245
I love to go out

3317
02:33:27,305 --> 02:33:30,005
and visit with the residents whenever possible.

3318
02:33:30,835 --> 02:33:33,565
I've now been to Wingate a couple of times

3319
02:33:34,145 --> 02:33:37,405
and have spoken to residents there just to talk

3320
02:33:37,405 --> 02:33:40,045
to them about the town, how to volunteer opportunities

3321
02:33:40,145 --> 02:33:41,685
or how to stay informed and engaged.

3322
02:33:41,785 --> 02:33:45,725
And they, they were a really, you know, excited group

3323
02:33:45,725 --> 02:33:48,045
of folks and they had some really great questions.

3324
02:33:48,985 --> 02:33:53,245
So very interested in, in, you know, projects and

3325
02:33:53,245 --> 02:33:54,405
because, you know, the,

3326
02:33:54,785 --> 02:33:57,245
the former Muzzy site is right across the street from them.

3327
02:33:57,395 --> 02:33:58,725
They wanna know what's going on,

3328
02:33:58,825 --> 02:34:00,285
but they, they have a lot of questions

3329
02:34:00,305 --> 02:34:01,965
and they're very well informed.

3330
02:34:02,105 --> 02:34:04,445
So that's been, it's been really rewarding.

3331
02:34:04,945 --> 02:34:07,285
So hope to do more of that in the year ahead.

3332
02:34:08,585 --> 02:34:12,125
So other things in process, I am working on a template

3333
02:34:12,125 --> 02:34:13,445
for a town wide mailing

3334
02:34:13,795 --> 02:34:17,325
that we are talking about doing twice a year in the

3335
02:34:17,325 --> 02:34:18,445
fall and in the spring.

3336
02:34:19,025 --> 02:34:23,605
And so it would be information that would be a preview

3337
02:34:23,945 --> 02:34:28,365
for folks On major initiatives, how

3338
02:34:28,385 --> 02:34:30,445
to stay informed, how to get involved,

3339
02:34:30,465 --> 02:34:31,485
how to provide their feedback.

3340
02:34:32,665 --> 02:34:34,725
And also if there is public, you know,

3341
02:34:34,945 --> 02:34:38,245
public engagement sessions coming up, it's really important

3342
02:34:38,385 --> 02:34:39,845
to, you know, try to get that out.

3343
02:34:39,845 --> 02:34:41,405
And so speaking of community engagement,

3344
02:34:41,405 --> 02:34:43,245
when we do have public engagement sessions,

3345
02:34:43,245 --> 02:34:46,405
public information sessions, it's not just the usual,

3346
02:34:46,625 --> 02:34:48,085
you know, throw it up on the website

3347
02:34:48,085 --> 02:34:51,845
or put the newsletter, it's sharing flyers, you know,

3348
02:34:51,845 --> 02:34:53,445
going over to the Ham housing authority

3349
02:34:53,465 --> 02:34:55,165
and sharing them there, bringing 'em over to the library

3350
02:34:55,465 --> 02:34:57,845
to cath, trying to get people, you know, where they are

3351
02:34:58,065 --> 02:35:01,125
and so they, they know what's going on.

3352
02:35:02,265 --> 02:35:06,965
So that is it in a nutshell.

3353
02:35:07,005 --> 02:35:08,245
I tried to be brief,

3354
02:35:08,705 --> 02:35:12,005
but if anybody has any questions, I am glad to answer them.

3355
02:35:13,815 --> 02:35:18,245
Thank you. This is quite a lot of activity. Yeah.

3356
02:35:19,675 --> 02:35:23,045
Much appreciated and takes some time to digest,

3357
02:35:23,185 --> 02:35:24,765
but much appreciated.

3358
02:35:24,815 --> 02:35:26,405
Great. I look forward to looking at all

3359
02:35:26,405 --> 02:35:28,245
of the information on the grape site. What,

3360
02:35:28,245 --> 02:35:31,285
What communication challenges

3361
02:35:31,325 --> 02:35:34,005
or hurdles do you look to overcome in the coming year?

3362
02:35:37,525 --> 02:35:40,845
I often say I, I don't ever wanna hear people say,

3363
02:35:40,965 --> 02:35:42,245
I had no idea that was going on.

3364
02:35:42,345 --> 02:35:45,805
So that continues to be, you know, my, my biggest challenge.

3365
02:35:45,945 --> 02:35:48,205
So I try to think through, you know, if you're,

3366
02:35:48,205 --> 02:35:50,965
if you're not on social media, if you're not subscribed

3367
02:35:50,965 --> 02:35:52,405
to the newsletter, you know,

3368
02:35:52,505 --> 02:35:54,685
how are you gonna find out about what's going on?

3369
02:35:54,685 --> 02:35:56,445
And we're fortunate to have, you know,

3370
02:35:56,505 --> 02:35:59,845
two local news outlets here in Needham that,

3371
02:35:59,915 --> 02:36:01,605
that folks are very well informed of,

3372
02:36:01,625 --> 02:36:03,765
but constantly sort of thinking outside of the box.

3373
02:36:03,765 --> 02:36:05,805
So, you know, doing a lot of sort

3374
02:36:05,805 --> 02:36:09,045
of the grassroots outreach, I think is, is effective.

3375
02:36:09,065 --> 02:36:10,885
So connecting with nonprofits and,

3376
02:36:11,105 --> 02:36:13,725
and building rapports with, with folks like that.

3377
02:36:13,865 --> 02:36:18,605
And, and I think generally just providing sort

3378
02:36:18,605 --> 02:36:22,725
of a, an opportunity for, for people to, to connect.

3379
02:36:23,525 --> 02:36:26,045
I, I get responses all the time from the newsletter I've

3380
02:36:26,045 --> 02:36:28,405
got, I've gotten suggestions on things, you know,

3381
02:36:28,405 --> 02:36:30,885
to improve the newsletter and I appreciate the feedback.

3382
02:36:31,425 --> 02:36:34,525
So I just, you know, I wish there were more hours in a day.

3383
02:36:34,605 --> 02:36:39,005
I would love to be able to do more, more with video, more

3384
02:36:39,005 --> 02:36:40,605
with, you know, feature stories.

3385
02:36:41,545 --> 02:36:42,545
So

3386
02:36:42,895 --> 02:36:43,895
Thank you.

3387
02:36:43,895 --> 02:36:45,925
We'll get there. Thank you. Of course.

3388
02:36:46,565 --> 02:36:50,045
I would just, you know, local government is a communications

3389
02:36:50,405 --> 02:36:52,445
business and so thank you for doing it

3390
02:36:52,765 --> 02:36:53,925
'cause this is a big part of what we do.

3391
02:36:54,775 --> 02:36:55,775
Great. Thank you.

3392
02:36:56,015 --> 02:36:59,605
Thank you. Alright. Excellent. Terrific. Thanks very much.

3393
02:36:59,695 --> 02:37:03,125
Thank you. I'm gonna propose a five minute recess

3394
02:37:04,625 --> 02:37:07,245
or at least I'm going to take a short recess.

3395
02:37:07,345 --> 02:37:07,565
So,

3396
02:37:14,845 --> 02:37:16,915
so we're, we're resuming our meeting

3397
02:37:17,455 --> 02:37:21,635
and we are here with our traffic regulation amendments

3398
02:37:21,705 --> 02:37:24,035
with our director of DPWK SIG

3399
02:37:25,335 --> 02:37:28,835
and Justin Cullen who is the chair of the

3400
02:37:29,825 --> 02:37:30,955
traffic safety committee.

3401
02:37:30,955 --> 02:37:32,395
Thank you. Traffic safety committee.

3402
02:37:32,555 --> 02:37:34,195
I can remember which one all.

3403
02:37:34,535 --> 02:37:38,795
So tell us all the things, maybe

3404
02:37:38,795 --> 02:37:40,115
We'll start like an overview

3405
02:37:40,115 --> 02:37:41,355
and then we can go into each one.

3406
02:37:41,455 --> 02:37:44,195
Yes please. But these are all items that have been brought

3407
02:37:44,295 --> 02:37:47,315
to the town through the Traffic Safety Committee.

3408
02:37:47,615 --> 02:37:49,315
The Traffic Safety Committee has vetted

3409
02:37:49,315 --> 02:37:52,475
through all these items, all the abutters have been notified

3410
02:37:52,635 --> 02:37:54,875
and communicated with to see if there's any concerns

3411
02:37:54,875 --> 02:37:55,955
about these regulations.

3412
02:37:56,655 --> 02:37:58,115
And relatively speaking, they're sort

3413
02:37:58,115 --> 02:37:59,275
of small incremental changes.

3414
02:38:00,035 --> 02:38:02,875
The first one you have in front of you is this a change

3415
02:38:02,875 --> 02:38:04,555
to a small portion of Grove Street

3416
02:38:05,195 --> 02:38:07,275
where there is an island in the middle of the road

3417
02:38:07,695 --> 02:38:12,515
and it is just delineating that the side of the road

3418
02:38:13,065 --> 02:38:15,915
that would typically have outbound traffic will be one way

3419
02:38:16,015 --> 02:38:17,075
and not two way traffic.

3420
02:38:18,585 --> 02:38:21,675
Okay. There Been incidents,

3421
02:38:23,135 --> 02:38:24,155
No specific incidents,

3422
02:38:24,155 --> 02:38:26,595
but then it was brought to the attention

3423
02:38:26,735 --> 02:38:28,755
of the TSC by Abutters.

3424
02:38:28,755 --> 02:38:30,595
Yeah. So there it was anecdotally it wasn't,

3425
02:38:30,975 --> 02:38:32,115
we didn't confirm through police

3426
02:38:32,135 --> 02:38:33,395
or any sort of accident data,

3427
02:38:33,495 --> 02:38:35,235
but it was anecdotally brought up to us

3428
02:38:35,235 --> 02:38:36,635
with regards to that anecdote.

3429
02:38:36,735 --> 02:38:39,035
It did lead to potentially

3430
02:38:39,035 --> 02:38:40,555
increased conflict between vehicles.

3431
02:38:41,745 --> 02:38:44,355
Kind Of. I see on the proposal

3432
02:38:44,355 --> 02:38:45,955
that you gave us property one, you know

3433
02:38:45,955 --> 02:38:47,315
where you're gonna place the one way signs

3434
02:38:48,295 --> 02:38:49,955
and if you've spoken to that homeowner,

3435
02:38:50,065 --> 02:38:52,955
that homeowner is who's on both sides of, he agreed

3436
02:38:52,955 --> 02:38:56,275
because it almost looks like he's, he if he comes outta

3437
02:38:56,275 --> 02:38:57,835
that driveway, I don't know whether the blockage,

3438
02:38:57,835 --> 02:38:58,915
but it won't matter that much

3439
02:38:58,915 --> 02:39:00,435
because he turned him right onto one way.

3440
02:39:00,435 --> 02:39:02,035
So I don't think it'll matter that much,

3441
02:39:02,135 --> 02:39:04,675
but I just don't know whether you've spoke the him

3442
02:39:04,675 --> 02:39:06,715
They're aware and they're aware of the location of the,

3443
02:39:08,465 --> 02:39:11,435
Just quick question on,

3444
02:39:13,135 --> 02:39:15,595
on the other side of the island, is that two way

3445
02:39:16,615 --> 02:39:20,475
or is it just, so it's, there are two ways to go on

3446
02:39:20,535 --> 02:39:22,755
to Charles River Street, correct?

3447
02:39:22,785 --> 02:39:24,195
Correct. Correct. Okay. Yes.

3448
02:39:25,275 --> 02:39:28,035
I mean I'm not suggesting we do a project where you just

3449
02:39:29,705 --> 02:39:32,035
combine the island with the other side

3450
02:39:32,035 --> 02:39:34,595
because that costs money but this is a sign change. Right.

3451
02:39:34,835 --> 02:39:37,315
I do know and obviously cares can disc it.

3452
02:39:37,475 --> 02:39:39,355
I know there have been talks about future project

3453
02:39:39,385 --> 02:39:42,355
that maybe would some sort of road improvement be done there

3454
02:39:42,355 --> 02:39:45,195
to either eliminate that island or do something,

3455
02:39:45,215 --> 02:39:47,995
but I think that's kind of like a blue sky Okay thing.

3456
02:39:47,995 --> 02:39:49,995
But it had been touched as that could be some sort

3457
02:39:49,995 --> 02:39:51,795
of geometric improvement in the future. Okay.

3458
02:39:52,165 --> 02:39:53,955
Seems considerably lower cost.

3459
02:39:54,455 --> 02:39:55,515
Yes. Right.

3460
02:39:56,865 --> 02:39:58,675
Yeah. Okay great.

3461
02:40:00,035 --> 02:40:03,795
I definitely always feel like a

3462
02:40:04,305 --> 02:40:06,355
dork when I come up to one of these intersections

3463
02:40:06,355 --> 02:40:08,955
and realize that I could have taken the two lane

3464
02:40:09,015 --> 02:40:10,835
but I took the one lane and now I have to go.

3465
02:40:11,455 --> 02:40:15,165
But it's worth it to reduce potential conflicts

3466
02:40:15,405 --> 02:40:18,205
between vehicles so people will learn their way

3467
02:40:18,225 --> 02:40:19,605
around it. Quickly enough

3468
02:40:20,335 --> 02:40:23,125
Madam Chair, I would move that the board vote to approve

3469
02:40:23,125 --> 02:40:26,085
and sign the notice of traffic regulation permit number R 26

3470
02:40:26,085 --> 02:40:28,765
dash oh eight dash 11 requiring that the rest,

3471
02:40:29,585 --> 02:40:32,005
the West fork portion of Grove Street southbound

3472
02:40:32,005 --> 02:40:34,605
of Charles River Street be designated as a one way street.

3473
02:40:34,605 --> 02:40:35,605
Second.

3474
02:40:36,665 --> 02:40:40,485
All right, so we'll take a vote. Kathy? Yes.

3475
02:40:41,515 --> 02:40:45,885
Bill? Yes. Josh? Yes. Kevin. Aye. And I vote yes as well.

3476
02:40:46,065 --> 02:40:47,285
So excellent.

3477
02:40:47,355 --> 02:40:51,565
That one is disposed of as they say next.

3478
02:40:52,465 --> 02:40:57,405
The next one is at the intersection of Forest Street

3479
02:40:57,465 --> 02:41:00,845
and Central Avenue and you'll see from the rendering

3480
02:41:00,845 --> 02:41:03,885
that you have, it would be adding a no turn on ri,

3481
02:41:04,045 --> 02:41:07,085
a red sign from central onto forest.

3482
02:41:07,925 --> 02:41:12,165
This is a, a crosswalk that is heavily utilized I think

3483
02:41:13,135 --> 02:41:16,245
oftentimes by families who are utilizing the farm next door.

3484
02:41:16,665 --> 02:41:18,525
We have talked to Valante about the change

3485
02:41:18,885 --> 02:41:20,085
and they are aware of it as well.

3486
02:41:22,075 --> 02:41:24,885
Okay. Does, does this walkway have one

3487
02:41:24,885 --> 02:41:27,445
of those lights light that light up or no,

3488
02:41:27,995 --> 02:41:29,925
This is a fully signaled intersection

3489
02:41:30,025 --> 02:41:31,365
but the issue is, is if somebody,

3490
02:41:32,465 --> 02:41:34,765
in theory you have a red light you can pause

3491
02:41:35,025 --> 02:41:36,725
and then you can go and take a right hand

3492
02:41:36,725 --> 02:41:37,725
Turn.

3493
02:41:37,725 --> 02:41:38,165
Like if it's flashing you're not gonna go.

3494
02:41:38,475 --> 02:41:41,325
There's no indication when you're at a typical signaled

3495
02:41:41,325 --> 02:41:43,565
intersection if it's for a pedestrian phase

3496
02:41:43,665 --> 02:41:45,565
or if it's for the opposite lane of traffic.

3497
02:41:45,945 --> 02:41:47,165
So there's no distinction.

3498
02:41:47,315 --> 02:41:49,125
It's just a regular red light that you would have

3499
02:41:49,505 --> 02:41:51,125
as if forest had a green light.

3500
02:41:51,765 --> 02:41:54,165
I mean my own and I and I haven't done traffic study

3501
02:41:54,425 --> 02:41:56,525
but I've seen Central Avenue in the afternoon

3502
02:41:56,625 --> 02:41:57,765
how far backed up it gets

3503
02:41:57,765 --> 02:41:59,205
and I don't know whether it's gonna back it up

3504
02:41:59,205 --> 02:42:00,325
more because you can't take a right turn.

3505
02:42:00,325 --> 02:42:01,805
It probably would be minimal. But

3506
02:42:03,525 --> 02:42:05,605
I do know that our traffic engineering

3507
02:42:07,665 --> 02:42:10,605
has taken a look at this and I know it did not send any

3508
02:42:10,605 --> 02:42:12,605
concerns through our engineering division.

3509
02:42:14,115 --> 02:42:15,485
Okay. I also know that

3510
02:42:16,475 --> 02:42:18,885
because of the bump out at the curb, you have to,

3511
02:42:19,025 --> 02:42:20,565
if you were to take a right, you have

3512
02:42:20,565 --> 02:42:21,885
to go into the center of the

3513
02:42:22,595 --> 02:42:23,595
Correct.

3514
02:42:23,595 --> 02:42:26,365
That was one of the concerns of why we would do this change.

3515
02:42:26,425 --> 02:42:27,425
Yes, you're

3516
02:42:30,565 --> 02:42:31,965
Given its proximity to the farm

3517
02:42:32,065 --> 02:42:36,205
and then I, I think the school kids,

3518
02:42:36,275 --> 02:42:39,205
this is a school route so I mean I think this makes sense.

3519
02:42:39,645 --> 02:42:42,045
I, I agree I would be worried about the backup

3520
02:42:42,385 --> 02:42:46,765
but for pedestrian safety it strikes me as worth where the

3521
02:42:46,765 --> 02:42:48,245
Trade off, if engineering did not bring

3522
02:42:48,245 --> 02:42:49,565
that up then it wouldn't be a concern

3523
02:42:49,725 --> 02:42:50,965
'cause they would probably have brought it up.

3524
02:42:51,235 --> 02:42:53,645
Usually when it comes to right turn on reds,

3525
02:42:53,645 --> 02:42:56,605
it's not like a major right congestion reducer

3526
02:42:56,605 --> 02:42:57,685
because you have to have the vehicle

3527
02:42:57,685 --> 02:43:00,165
that's teed up at the intersection at

3528
02:43:00,285 --> 02:43:01,685
that time wanting to take a Right.

3529
02:43:01,985 --> 02:43:04,245
As soon as somebody wants to go straight, forget it,

3530
02:43:04,305 --> 02:43:05,525
you no longer have that benefit.

3531
02:43:06,415 --> 02:43:08,525
Right. Okay.

3532
02:43:09,225 --> 02:43:11,685
So would anybody like to make a, a motion Madam

3533
02:43:11,685 --> 02:43:12,685
Chair?

3534
02:43:12,685 --> 02:43:14,045
I make a motion to the board vote to approve

3535
02:43:14,105 --> 02:43:15,125
and sign the notice

3536
02:43:15,185 --> 02:43:19,965
of traffic regulation permit number NTOR 26 dash

3537
02:43:20,195 --> 02:43:22,765
zero seven dash 21 requiring

3538
02:43:22,765 --> 02:43:25,805
that a no turn on red restriction be established

3539
02:43:25,825 --> 02:43:28,845
for Central Avenue southbound at the intersection

3540
02:43:28,905 --> 02:43:30,245
of Forest Street second.

3541
02:43:31,555 --> 02:43:36,285
Okay. And we'll vote again. Kathy? Yes. Bill? Yes.

3542
02:43:36,475 --> 02:43:39,565
Josh? Yes. Kevin Aye And I vote yes as well.

3543
02:43:41,495 --> 02:43:43,765
Thank you. Okay. And then the last,

3544
02:43:46,025 --> 02:43:48,565
The last one that we have is a parking restriction on

3545
02:43:48,565 --> 02:43:50,565
Greendale Avenue towards Webster Street.

3546
02:43:51,465 --> 02:43:55,125
The butters actually came to the TSC with a petition

3547
02:43:55,265 --> 02:43:57,445
to request that one side

3548
02:43:57,465 --> 02:43:59,405
of this section be limited for parking.

3549
02:44:00,145 --> 02:44:02,765
The town evaluated which side would be the least impactful.

3550
02:44:02,905 --> 02:44:06,645
And this side was indicated the temple has been made aware

3551
02:44:06,705 --> 02:44:08,245
of this particular request

3552
02:44:08,425 --> 02:44:11,885
and the, they've indicated that they're supportive of it.

3553
02:44:12,465 --> 02:44:16,005
We do know that we've talked with them regarding sort

3554
02:44:16,005 --> 02:44:18,365
of high holiday events or high function events when they

3555
02:44:18,415 --> 02:44:20,765
often engage a police detail officer anyways.

3556
02:44:21,025 --> 02:44:23,125
And that would be at the discretion of the detail officer

3557
02:44:23,185 --> 02:44:25,845
how to manage that intersection during those events.

3558
02:44:26,995 --> 02:44:31,925
Okay. I mean this isn't

3559
02:44:31,925 --> 02:44:34,085
gonna reduce the number of cars, it's just gonna move them

3560
02:44:34,085 --> 02:44:35,125
to park different places.

3561
02:44:35,445 --> 02:44:36,805
I think the concern was people getting out

3562
02:44:36,805 --> 02:44:39,285
of their driveways and then maneuvering, you know,

3563
02:44:39,285 --> 02:44:42,765
between cars staggered on either side as opposed to Correct.

3564
02:44:43,245 --> 02:44:44,245
Limiting the number of cars.

3565
02:44:46,875 --> 02:44:51,765
Okay, so if they're all parked on one side then you

3566
02:44:51,765 --> 02:44:52,845
have more space to go through.

3567
02:44:53,045 --> 02:44:56,445
I know people yeah. Yeah people on my street all the time.

3568
02:44:56,745 --> 02:44:58,125
People park on both sides of the street

3569
02:44:58,125 --> 02:45:00,965
and then you're like trying to squeeze through,

3570
02:45:02,205 --> 02:45:03,565
which is, can be challenging

3571
02:45:04,065 --> 02:45:05,205
And I think from a, you know,

3572
02:45:05,205 --> 02:45:07,805
an emergency vehicle access perspective, just like it was on

3573
02:45:09,625 --> 02:45:12,205
across from Dio Georgia jacket.

3574
02:45:12,235 --> 02:45:14,365
Yeah J yeah there was concern there of, you know,

3575
02:45:14,365 --> 02:45:16,245
cars on both sides just as like, like it came in front

3576
02:45:16,245 --> 02:45:17,885
of the, the select board here before this is kind of

3577
02:45:17,885 --> 02:45:19,725
that same scenario where you have a very narrow road

3578
02:45:20,545 --> 02:45:22,845
and you do have potentially a lot of cars that do park.

3579
02:45:23,025 --> 02:45:25,445
So for both residents as well

3580
02:45:25,445 --> 02:45:27,285
as the A Temple overflow. Okay.

3581
02:45:27,785 --> 02:45:29,885
So that makes sense Madam Chair would move

3582
02:45:29,885 --> 02:45:31,725
that the board vote to approve it silently notice

3583
02:45:31,905 --> 02:45:35,165
of traffic regulation permit number R 26 dash eight dash 11

3584
02:45:35,165 --> 02:45:38,005
requiring that parking be prohibited on the east side

3585
02:45:38,005 --> 02:45:41,325
of Greendale lab between Webster Street and Davenport Road.

3586
02:45:41,785 --> 02:45:43,845
Second. Thanks Bill. Thanks Kevin.

3587
02:45:44,235 --> 02:45:45,805
Okay, any, any more discussion?

3588
02:45:47,085 --> 02:45:51,765
I, I anticipate that this is going to lead to other,

3589
02:45:52,315 --> 02:45:54,765
like there may be knock on effects that people,

3590
02:45:54,765 --> 02:45:55,765
because people can't park here,

3591
02:45:55,765 --> 02:45:56,805
they will park on other streets

3592
02:45:56,825 --> 02:45:58,525
and people on those streets will come

3593
02:45:58,525 --> 02:46:00,165
and ask for no parking signs and,

3594
02:46:03,105 --> 02:46:04,105
And we'll monitor.

3595
02:46:04,105 --> 02:46:05,645
'cause that was actually, that was something

3596
02:46:05,645 --> 02:46:08,725
that came up when I think the town probably 10 years ago

3597
02:46:08,725 --> 02:46:10,085
started to do no parking

3598
02:46:10,085 --> 02:46:12,965
around commuter rail stations in order to reduce the amount

3599
02:46:12,965 --> 02:46:14,525
of cars that we parking during the day.

3600
02:46:14,985 --> 02:46:17,005
And I don't think it really manifested too much.

3601
02:46:17,205 --> 02:46:18,525
I think it was just like, you know,

3602
02:46:18,715 --> 02:46:20,445
it's the other guy was saying change is sometimes

3603
02:46:20,445 --> 02:46:21,565
hard, but I don't know.

3604
02:46:21,565 --> 02:46:22,725
We'll, we'll carefully monitor that.

3605
02:46:23,225 --> 02:46:26,245
But yes, that's something that I've always said at the,

3606
02:46:26,245 --> 02:46:28,805
at the TSC for like the 10 years that I've been on it is,

3607
02:46:28,805 --> 02:46:30,325
you know, we can't just put signs everywhere

3608
02:46:30,425 --> 02:46:32,725
but this is, you know, something that made a good case

3609
02:46:33,425 --> 02:46:35,725
and obviously with the temples, with the, an officer

3610
02:46:35,905 --> 02:46:37,485
who would be able to at least allow

3611
02:46:37,485 --> 02:46:40,205
that if in fact they needed overflow parking

3612
02:46:40,385 --> 02:46:41,565
during the high holidays

3613
02:46:41,825 --> 02:46:43,445
and to, to be able to manage that on,

3614
02:46:43,545 --> 02:46:45,805
on those few days a year I think is appropriate

3615
02:46:46,105 --> 02:46:48,605
And hopefully the temple can help to inform their,

3616
02:46:49,185 --> 02:46:50,165
The congregation Yes. Their

3617
02:46:50,165 --> 02:46:53,205
Congregation about the need to make sure

3618
02:46:53,205 --> 02:46:56,005
that emergency vehicles can pass. So

3619
02:46:56,245 --> 02:46:57,765
Yeah, I think the main concern that came

3620
02:46:57,765 --> 02:47:00,245
to the committee was really on the regular work days

3621
02:47:01,045 --> 02:47:05,085
and related to the childcare facility that's there.

3622
02:47:06,185 --> 02:47:10,485
And so what I sort of heard was it's not parked, you know,

3623
02:47:10,705 --> 02:47:13,445
on a regular basis on both sides of the road, it's

3624
02:47:13,445 --> 02:47:15,045
that people aren't thoughtful about where they park

3625
02:47:15,105 --> 02:47:16,645
so they don't stagger necessarily

3626
02:47:16,745 --> 02:47:17,845
and you get these choke points.

3627
02:47:18,145 --> 02:47:20,125
So by diverting everybody onto one side of the road,

3628
02:47:20,125 --> 02:47:21,285
you're at least creating sort of more

3629
02:47:21,285 --> 02:47:23,245
of an orderly system than what we currently have.

3630
02:47:24,195 --> 02:47:25,605
Okay. All right.

3631
02:47:25,605 --> 02:47:27,045
Well so we'll we'll try it

3632
02:47:27,145 --> 02:47:29,285
and if there's issues we'll adjust.

3633
02:47:29,295 --> 02:47:32,805
We'll figure Yep. Yeah. Okay. I think that makes sense.

3634
02:47:34,545 --> 02:47:36,845
And we have a motion on the table and a second

3635
02:47:37,305 --> 02:47:41,045
and so if there are no more discussions then we will go

3636
02:47:41,045 --> 02:47:42,765
to a vote and we'll start with Kathy.

3637
02:47:44,105 --> 02:47:47,165
Yes, bill? Yes, Josh? Yes. Kevin.

3638
02:47:47,705 --> 02:47:52,285
Aye Yes. Thank you. Thank you.

3639
02:47:52,625 --> 02:47:53,625
All right, fantastic.

3640
02:47:55,415 --> 02:47:57,045
Enjoy the rest of your evening. Thank

3641
02:47:57,045 --> 02:47:58,045
You.

3642
02:47:59,035 --> 02:48:01,925
Next we're gonna talk about Dedham Avenue intersection at

3643
02:48:01,925 --> 02:48:03,965
South Street and improvements.

3644
02:48:04,485 --> 02:48:06,645
Excellent. So I am here, Tyler is actually remote.

3645
02:48:07,705 --> 02:48:10,325
He had a, a situation that required him to be at home,

3646
02:48:11,905 --> 02:48:15,005
but we wanted to update you on the progress of a grant

3647
02:48:15,005 --> 02:48:19,085
that the town has applied for the town applied for the

3648
02:48:19,615 --> 02:48:20,925
masts local bottleneck grant.

3649
02:48:21,445 --> 02:48:23,245
This is the second time we've applied for the grant.

3650
02:48:23,385 --> 02:48:24,645
The first time we did was

3651
02:48:24,645 --> 02:48:26,205
for the two intersections in the

3652
02:48:26,405 --> 02:48:27,605
downtown on Great Plain Avenue.

3653
02:48:28,675 --> 02:48:31,125
Just a little bit explaining how this grant works

3654
02:48:32,005 --> 02:48:33,365
'cause it's a little different than some of the ones

3655
02:48:33,365 --> 02:48:34,725
where you're seeking specific funding.

3656
02:48:35,235 --> 02:48:39,525
This is sort of a engineering grant with construction sort

3657
02:48:39,525 --> 02:48:41,365
of as a secondary application.

3658
02:48:42,145 --> 02:48:44,445
The primary grant is really to look at intersections

3659
02:48:44,445 --> 02:48:46,445
that we have within the town that meet criteria

3660
02:48:46,945 --> 02:48:48,245
as identified by the state

3661
02:48:48,455 --> 02:48:50,525
where we feel like there might be congestion issues

3662
02:48:50,525 --> 02:48:51,525
or bottlenecks currently.

3663
02:48:51,865 --> 02:48:52,925
And then the state

3664
02:48:52,985 --> 02:48:55,925
and get gauges their own engineering's process

3665
02:48:56,505 --> 02:48:58,965
to help consult the town on what could be done

3666
02:48:58,965 --> 02:49:00,525
to alleviate those congestion items.

3667
02:49:01,065 --> 02:49:04,365
So sometimes that results in construction

3668
02:49:04,425 --> 02:49:06,805
and sometimes it really results in limited work

3669
02:49:06,805 --> 02:49:08,125
like we saw in the downtown.

3670
02:49:08,345 --> 02:49:09,725
So when we enter into this process,

3671
02:49:09,825 --> 02:49:11,885
we don't necessarily know what the outcome will be.

3672
02:49:13,465 --> 02:49:15,525
So when the last round came up,

3673
02:49:16,185 --> 02:49:19,005
Dedham Abbot South Street was on our list of intersections

3674
02:49:19,025 --> 02:49:20,605
to be evaluated and

3675
02:49:20,605 --> 02:49:23,245
because of its proximity to the highway met much

3676
02:49:23,245 --> 02:49:25,765
of the criteria that was identified as part of this grant.

3677
02:49:26,385 --> 02:49:28,165
We applied for the grant, received it,

3678
02:49:29,305 --> 02:49:32,965
and are in the earlier phases of the design process

3679
02:49:33,175 --> 02:49:36,085
after alternatives were rolled out for looking at

3680
02:49:36,085 --> 02:49:39,085
that intersection, including things like rotaries

3681
02:49:39,185 --> 02:49:40,725
or other treatments that could be used.

3682
02:49:41,385 --> 02:49:43,085
And we wanted to present where we are

3683
02:49:43,085 --> 02:49:46,285
and where we think this project will go as far

3684
02:49:46,345 --> 02:49:49,125
as moving forward for funding for construction.

3685
02:49:49,385 --> 02:49:50,805
So that I'll turn it over to Tyler.

3686
02:49:57,075 --> 02:50:00,965
Good evening everybody. So this project,

3687
02:50:01,725 --> 02:50:05,045
as Caris was explaining, is you don't need

3688
02:50:05,045 --> 02:50:07,925
to have identified necessarily a solution

3689
02:50:09,305 --> 02:50:10,445
before application.

3690
02:50:10,625 --> 02:50:14,325
So the, the process is intended to

3691
02:50:16,035 --> 02:50:18,605
address congestion issues at intersections,

3692
02:50:18,605 --> 02:50:22,925
but it can also incorporate improvements for

3693
02:50:23,545 --> 02:50:27,645
safety reasons, upgrading the technology

3694
02:50:27,785 --> 02:50:32,405
of the signals as a way to enhance

3695
02:50:33,785 --> 02:50:35,085
the performance of the intersection.

3696
02:50:35,225 --> 02:50:39,325
So the main changes that are proposed as part

3697
02:50:39,445 --> 02:50:42,445
of this project and so far we have a,

3698
02:50:45,005 --> 02:50:48,495
it's it's, it's more, more like a 75% design,

3699
02:50:48,555 --> 02:50:50,455
but essentially we have all

3700
02:50:50,455 --> 02:50:53,375
of the surface level infrastructure is is designed

3701
02:50:54,845 --> 02:50:57,055
traffic signal equipment improvements.

3702
02:50:58,175 --> 02:51:01,455
A lot of the equipment at the intersection is, is quite old.

3703
02:51:01,595 --> 02:51:05,375
You can see that it's more of the basic

3704
02:51:06,025 --> 02:51:07,615
technology than some

3705
02:51:07,615 --> 02:51:09,255
of the other signals that we have in town.

3706
02:51:10,115 --> 02:51:15,095
It has only magnetic loop detection at the side streets.

3707
02:51:16,035 --> 02:51:18,695
The side street approaches on, on South Street.

3708
02:51:20,035 --> 02:51:24,095
The project would propose installing

3709
02:51:24,815 --> 02:51:28,695
traffic camera detection in all direction that

3710
02:51:28,695 --> 02:51:32,975
that has 360 degree view traffic in all directions

3711
02:51:33,195 --> 02:51:36,695
and can actuate the signal based on inputs

3712
02:51:36,695 --> 02:51:37,775
from all four directions.

3713
02:51:38,835 --> 02:51:41,615
The other changes are the addition

3714
02:51:41,835 --> 02:51:46,135
of a dedicated left turn lane coming out of town

3715
02:51:46,665 --> 02:51:49,375
south eastbound on Dham Avenue.

3716
02:51:50,815 --> 02:51:52,495
That is primarily

3717
02:51:52,495 --> 02:51:56,815
because of the current condition where if there's cars

3718
02:51:56,845 --> 02:51:58,575
that are, are queuing to go

3719
02:51:59,265 --> 02:52:02,575
north up Dun Avenue into town from the other direction

3720
02:52:05,265 --> 02:52:07,365
or they're turning left onto South Street, rather

3721
02:52:08,045 --> 02:52:09,205
they queue up in the lane

3722
02:52:09,205 --> 02:52:12,445
and that can block sight lines of oncoming traffic for those

3723
02:52:12,445 --> 02:52:13,525
that are heading out of town.

3724
02:52:14,025 --> 02:52:15,165
So when you're, when you're trying

3725
02:52:15,165 --> 02:52:18,045
to make a left onto South Street, you kind of have

3726
02:52:18,045 --> 02:52:21,365
to inch into the intersection so that you can see traffic

3727
02:52:22,145 --> 02:52:25,445
around the, the line of cars waiting to turn left.

3728
02:52:25,705 --> 02:52:30,045
So having a dedicated lane with a dedicated arrow signal

3729
02:52:30,845 --> 02:52:32,085
would make that much safer.

3730
02:52:33,425 --> 02:52:37,525
The other thing is that the South Street approach coming

3731
02:52:38,975 --> 02:52:43,325
north eastbound across South Street to meet up

3732
02:52:43,325 --> 02:52:44,565
with Dunham Avenue.

3733
02:52:45,365 --> 02:52:48,405
Currently it is not striped as though it's two lanes,

3734
02:52:48,665 --> 02:52:51,005
but it functionally is acting as if it is two lanes.

3735
02:52:51,005 --> 02:52:55,885
And that's because of the dimensions are just short of

3736
02:52:57,765 --> 02:53:00,885
allowing for two standard size lanes there.

3737
02:53:01,505 --> 02:53:05,405
So this project would slightly adjust the dimensions, so

3738
02:53:05,465 --> 02:53:10,205
to allow it to be striped as a dedicated turn lane for,

3739
02:53:10,385 --> 02:53:13,965
for traffic turning right again heading out

3740
02:53:13,965 --> 02:53:16,125
of town onto D Avenue from South Street.

3741
02:53:17,145 --> 02:53:20,525
So this was, these recommendations were made

3742
02:53:20,735 --> 02:53:25,725
after traffic data was collected by the consultant

3743
02:53:26,445 --> 02:53:27,805
CHA that we're working with.

3744
02:53:29,345 --> 02:53:34,165
So the, the, the changes were modeled through traffic,

3745
02:53:34,315 --> 02:53:37,405
data, traffic projection software synchro

3746
02:53:38,505 --> 02:53:39,765
to model the,

3747
02:53:40,145 --> 02:53:42,725
how these changes would affect the intersection.

3748
02:53:43,305 --> 02:53:45,365
The other thing that's important to mention is that the,

3749
02:53:46,825 --> 02:53:50,725
the installation of pedestrian signals at this intersection.

3750
02:53:50,825 --> 02:53:55,405
So there is a, a sidewalk at the very, the end of

3751
02:53:55,505 --> 02:53:57,485
of Dham Avenue right in front of DPW

3752
02:53:58,675 --> 02:54:00,605
that currently does not lead anywhere.

3753
02:54:01,075 --> 02:54:04,325
This project would install

3754
02:54:05,005 --> 02:54:06,485
a DA compliant ramps

3755
02:54:06,625 --> 02:54:10,205
and pedestrian signals at that intersection

3756
02:54:10,825 --> 02:54:14,885
to both make the existing pedestrian traffic safer.

3757
02:54:15,125 --> 02:54:17,365
'cause right now we have observed people

3758
02:54:18,485 --> 02:54:20,245
crossing the intersection without any sort

3759
02:54:20,245 --> 02:54:22,365
of signal just kind of dodging traffic,

3760
02:54:23,245 --> 02:54:24,325
which is very unsafe.

3761
02:54:24,465 --> 02:54:26,005
So it would allow for

3762
02:54:26,035 --> 02:54:28,365
that exclusive phase when the button is pressed

3763
02:54:29,745 --> 02:54:34,205
and enable us to explore future connection

3764
02:54:34,225 --> 02:54:37,245
to Edgewater Drive neighborhood over the,

3765
02:54:37,465 --> 02:54:38,845
the culvert that exists there.

3766
02:54:40,455 --> 02:54:43,525
Those are the, the, the extent of the changes

3767
02:54:43,705 --> 02:54:47,045
and how they, what is involved with this project.

3768
02:54:47,805 --> 02:54:52,765
Currently we are in a phase where we are negotiating the

3769
02:54:53,355 --> 02:54:57,365
utility pole relocations, which are kind of the, the thing

3770
02:54:57,365 --> 02:55:00,125
that's gonna determine a lot of the project schedule.

3771
02:55:00,145 --> 02:55:01,765
If we're not able to get those poles moved,

3772
02:55:01,765 --> 02:55:03,590
then we're not gonna be able to fit all the equipment

3773
02:55:03,590 --> 02:55:04,645
in its intended location.

3774
02:55:05,865 --> 02:55:08,765
The other thing is that we're, there is a small

3775
02:55:10,755 --> 02:55:14,085
overlap on the corner, one of the,

3776
02:55:14,385 --> 02:55:18,525
the southwest corner with a property on Edgewater Drive

3777
02:55:19,085 --> 02:55:20,725
and we've approached that a but

3778
02:55:21,225 --> 02:55:25,085
and explained that this would be a small taking by the town,

3779
02:55:25,265 --> 02:55:27,845
so that would require

3780
02:55:29,645 --> 02:55:32,365
a town meeting approval of that.

3781
02:55:33,625 --> 02:55:36,925
So that's, that's pretty much where, where the progress

3782
02:55:36,925 --> 02:55:38,085
that we've made to this point.

3783
02:55:39,345 --> 02:55:41,765
So we're still working through those utility pole

3784
02:55:41,925 --> 02:55:43,485
relocations and taking,

3785
02:55:45,765 --> 02:55:47,685
I just wanted to add too about the

3786
02:55:48,845 --> 02:55:51,685
proposed projects developing off of 1 28 and Dham.

3787
02:55:52,625 --> 02:55:54,085
So one thing I'll just sort

3788
02:55:54,085 --> 02:55:58,245
of indicate is the general overall enhancements

3789
02:55:58,245 --> 02:56:00,845
that are gonna be made as part of this project are going

3790
02:56:00,845 --> 02:56:01,925
to increase the capacity

3791
02:56:01,925 --> 02:56:03,725
that can be processed through this intersection.

3792
02:56:04,225 --> 02:56:06,485
And the information that we have so far about

3793
02:56:06,485 --> 02:56:08,605
what the intended throughput

3794
02:56:08,605 --> 02:56:11,485
through this intersection will be has been conveyed

3795
02:56:11,485 --> 02:56:13,085
to the engineer and will be taken into

3796
02:56:13,245 --> 02:56:14,405
consideration as part of the design.

3797
02:56:17,065 --> 02:56:18,765
And Yeah, they, that information,

3798
02:56:20,265 --> 02:56:22,725
I'm under the impression that we also reached out to the,

3799
02:56:23,265 --> 02:56:27,205
to the MEPA review with some information about this new

3800
02:56:27,725 --> 02:56:29,085
proposed scheme.

3801
02:56:30,305 --> 02:56:33,005
Yes. Everything you're getting presented, Tyler asked

3802
02:56:33,005 --> 02:56:36,285
that we share with Mepa as an addendum to our comments

3803
02:56:36,585 --> 02:56:38,805
to the campus at 1 28 project. And so we've done that

3804
02:56:38,805 --> 02:56:39,965
Because this will be done

3805
02:56:39,965 --> 02:56:42,325
before that project decision's made.

3806
02:56:42,325 --> 02:56:45,645
Correct, yes. Okay, great.

3807
02:56:45,865 --> 02:56:48,325
And Tyler, I'm sorry if I missed it,

3808
02:56:48,625 --> 02:56:52,685
but I know that South Street is a big cyclist route.

3809
02:56:54,305 --> 02:56:57,285
Is there possibility of getting some of those, you know,

3810
02:56:57,635 --> 02:56:59,685
four feet signs

3811
02:56:59,865 --> 02:57:02,685
and whatever else that might need to go up

3812
02:57:02,705 --> 02:57:04,965
to protect those folks as this,

3813
02:57:05,265 --> 02:57:07,365
as this is built to carry more traffic?

3814
02:57:08,105 --> 02:57:10,645
So I think one of the con we,

3815
02:57:10,645 --> 02:57:12,925
we've had this conversation about the signage

3816
02:57:13,145 --> 02:57:15,205
and I think South Street's a perfect example.

3817
02:57:15,445 --> 02:57:16,885
I think of the concerns we've had

3818
02:57:17,605 --> 02:57:21,285
and it's sort of a philosoph philosophical decision, but

3819
02:57:21,285 --> 02:57:24,645
because of the forefoot requirement

3820
02:57:24,645 --> 02:57:26,765
that you must give a cyclist four feet

3821
02:57:26,765 --> 02:57:28,125
of clearance when you pass them,

3822
02:57:29,485 --> 02:57:31,845
I would say on many parts of South Street.

3823
02:57:32,585 --> 02:57:35,685
So sort of two things. One is you are telling people they

3824
02:57:35,685 --> 02:57:37,285
have to cross a double yellow line,

3825
02:57:37,575 --> 02:57:38,925
which they're not supposed to cross.

3826
02:57:39,645 --> 02:57:41,805
We know they do, but like from a truly

3827
02:57:42,475 --> 02:57:44,445
road control perspective, they're not supposed to cross.

3828
02:57:44,905 --> 02:57:49,645
And because of the topography of South Street,

3829
02:57:49,855 --> 02:57:51,085
which is very curved,

3830
02:57:51,255 --> 02:57:52,925
there are very few places where it's safe.

3831
02:57:53,425 --> 02:57:56,125
And I think one of the concerns we've had is that if we sign

3832
02:57:56,125 --> 02:57:58,885
that and somebody does give four feet of grace

3833
02:57:58,945 --> 02:58:01,565
to a bicyclist and they get hit on a head on collision

3834
02:58:01,955 --> 02:58:04,965
because there's no, there's not sufficient space

3835
02:58:04,965 --> 02:58:06,205
for both vehicles to fit

3836
02:58:06,465 --> 02:58:09,085
and also give forfeit of clearance if there isn't some,

3837
02:58:09,235 --> 02:58:11,085
some responsibility or liability.

3838
02:58:11,185 --> 02:58:13,125
So I know there are many communities

3839
02:58:13,125 --> 02:58:14,325
that have installed them and they felt

3840
02:58:14,325 --> 02:58:16,805
that this is an okay, you know, decision.

3841
02:58:17,405 --> 02:58:19,885
I think we at public works have been concerned about

3842
02:58:19,915 --> 02:58:21,405
what the implications would be

3843
02:58:22,285 --> 02:58:26,525
because effectively on South Street in many locations you

3844
02:58:26,525 --> 02:58:28,205
really have to go at the speed of a bicyclist

3845
02:58:28,205 --> 02:58:30,125
because there is not sufficient space to pass.

3846
02:58:31,835 --> 02:58:34,165
What is the speed limit on South Street? It

3847
02:58:34,165 --> 02:58:36,165
Varies between 30 and 25 miles an hour

3848
02:58:39,595 --> 02:58:40,655
30 in this section.

3849
02:58:41,645 --> 02:58:46,375
Yeah, I guess I'm wondering if that's appropriate, given

3850
02:58:46,485 --> 02:58:49,215
what you said, like the the topography

3851
02:58:49,235 --> 02:58:50,575
or the, the curvy nature

3852
02:58:50,635 --> 02:58:53,935
or the road, if you can only see far enough ahead

3853
02:58:54,445 --> 02:58:58,095
that you can't figure out how to safely pass,

3854
02:58:58,385 --> 02:59:00,375
which you know, we should all know how to do

3855
02:59:00,375 --> 02:59:02,175
because that's part of driving.

3856
02:59:03,965 --> 02:59:06,855
Then I wonder if the speed limit should potentially come

3857
02:59:06,855 --> 02:59:11,375
down because at that the kind of cyclist who's on that road

3858
02:59:12,835 --> 02:59:14,935
is not like, it's not a child

3859
02:59:15,555 --> 02:59:19,095
or a family cyclist, those are road bikers.

3860
02:59:19,095 --> 02:59:22,775
They're moving at at a reasonable speed for that

3861
02:59:23,665 --> 02:59:25,935
particular road for the most part.

3862
02:59:26,155 --> 02:59:28,255
Not all the time of course, but for the most part.

3863
02:59:28,355 --> 02:59:30,375
So I wonder if that's something

3864
02:59:30,375 --> 02:59:31,575
that we should just think about.

3865
02:59:33,485 --> 02:59:35,015
Yeah, the only comment I'll make is

3866
02:59:35,015 --> 02:59:36,775
that typically speaking you set

3867
02:59:37,825 --> 02:59:39,775
speed limits at 80% of the median speed.

3868
02:59:40,115 --> 02:59:42,455
And I'll just say anecdotally from the RFPs

3869
02:59:42,595 --> 02:59:45,655
or the feed speed feedback signs we've put out,

3870
02:59:46,175 --> 02:59:47,775
many people are going well above 30 miles

3871
02:59:47,775 --> 02:59:48,815
an hour in that section.

3872
02:59:50,185 --> 02:59:51,615
Understood. But yes,

3873
02:59:51,875 --> 02:59:53,935
but I don't know that that

3874
02:59:53,935 --> 02:59:55,255
that's something we wanna condone.

3875
02:59:55,915 --> 02:59:56,915
So

3876
02:59:57,145 --> 03:00:00,535
Other I may, I it's, I think it's just important to note

3877
03:00:00,535 --> 03:00:04,215
that changing the speed limit does not

3878
03:00:05,005 --> 03:00:09,735
necessarily on its own influence speeding behavior.

3879
03:00:10,835 --> 03:00:14,655
So we understood, we, you know, I think we're open

3880
03:00:14,675 --> 03:00:16,495
to exploring that and,

3881
03:00:16,495 --> 03:00:18,855
and we're not against it by any means.

3882
03:00:19,095 --> 03:00:22,935
I think that we just don't want to change a number

3883
03:00:23,155 --> 03:00:24,655
and then ev nothing really changes

3884
03:00:24,755 --> 03:00:26,055
and then all of a sudden we have a bunch

3885
03:00:26,055 --> 03:00:27,775
of non-compliant drivers who are

3886
03:00:29,285 --> 03:00:30,855
dangerously above the speed limit.

3887
03:00:31,475 --> 03:00:36,055
So we, we want to also do

3888
03:00:36,055 --> 03:00:38,935
that in combination with other strategies if

3889
03:00:38,935 --> 03:00:43,135
that's the goal is to reduce that, the functional speed.

3890
03:00:44,325 --> 03:00:46,535
Sure. I think generally I'm hearing can we integrate

3891
03:00:46,535 --> 03:00:48,055
more bicycle safety into this intersection?

3892
03:00:50,935 --> 03:00:53,785
Yeah, I mean, I just think that we have to acknowledge

3893
03:00:53,785 --> 03:00:58,425
that this in particular is, is frequented by

3894
03:00:59,285 --> 03:01:02,485
cyclists and one particular kind of cyclist.

3895
03:01:02,545 --> 03:01:04,885
So it's not, it's not like the variability

3896
03:01:04,915 --> 03:01:08,205
that we might talk about through other sections of town.

3897
03:01:08,945 --> 03:01:12,925
But just as Tyler is saying, just

3898
03:01:12,925 --> 03:01:14,205
because you changed the science doesn't

3899
03:01:14,205 --> 03:01:15,245
change the circumstance.

3900
03:01:15,285 --> 03:01:16,805
I think just because, you know, I mean

3901
03:01:17,355 --> 03:01:18,965
this condition exists, they're there,

3902
03:01:19,145 --> 03:01:20,445
so we should just make sure

3903
03:01:20,445 --> 03:01:24,525
that everyone's can be safe gentlemen,

3904
03:01:25,205 --> 03:01:26,415
Hang. Go ahead Bill.

3905
03:01:26,955 --> 03:01:28,615
So I have three questions

3906
03:01:29,665 --> 03:01:31,815
right now coming down South Street.

3907
03:01:32,695 --> 03:01:35,175
I see in the new plan actually that there's no turn on red

3908
03:01:35,725 --> 03:01:38,295
onto Tima, whether you're coming down south

3909
03:01:38,295 --> 03:01:39,855
and wanna take a right to go to Tima

3910
03:01:39,855 --> 03:01:41,015
or if you're coming down south

3911
03:01:41,015 --> 03:01:44,255
and wanna take a right into Needham, is that currently no.

3912
03:01:44,255 --> 03:01:46,335
Turn on red? It is for both of those, yes.

3913
03:01:46,715 --> 03:01:48,335
And then you were talking about the sidewalk.

3914
03:01:48,435 --> 03:01:50,215
The sidewalk goes in front of the DPW building

3915
03:01:50,215 --> 03:01:52,255
and then it just ends, doesn't it at South Street

3916
03:01:52,255 --> 03:01:53,775
or does it go around the corner or?

3917
03:01:53,995 --> 03:01:56,255
So it just ends, I'll say there's sort of two things

3918
03:01:56,255 --> 03:01:58,495
that are crossing people or causing people to cross.

3919
03:01:59,075 --> 03:02:00,935
So one is the proximity

3920
03:02:01,075 --> 03:02:02,375
of the boat launch across the street.

3921
03:02:02,375 --> 03:02:03,895
There's a lot of people who recreate

3922
03:02:03,895 --> 03:02:05,215
between those two locations.

3923
03:02:05,275 --> 03:02:06,335
So they end up sort

3924
03:02:06,335 --> 03:02:08,495
of having a circuit or a loop that they do.

3925
03:02:08,995 --> 03:02:10,855
And then the other one is really from

3926
03:02:10,855 --> 03:02:12,175
that community at Edgewater.

3927
03:02:12,355 --> 03:02:14,535
We do see a lot of people who will cut through,

3928
03:02:14,845 --> 03:02:18,655
they'll walk, you know, sort of on people's yards basically

3929
03:02:18,675 --> 03:02:21,255
to get over to that intersection and then they will cross.

3930
03:02:21,955 --> 03:02:23,575
One other thing I just wanted to note,

3931
03:02:23,855 --> 03:02:25,015
'cause you highlighted already

3932
03:02:25,015 --> 03:02:26,775
that we have no turn on red on South.

3933
03:02:27,475 --> 03:02:30,815
We do have some frequency of accidents at this intersection.

3934
03:02:30,935 --> 03:02:33,535
I can just say from having my building adjacent to it,

3935
03:02:33,535 --> 03:02:37,855
it is not uncommon to have have accidents there

3936
03:02:38,355 --> 03:02:41,975
and that those accidents have physically impacted the

3937
03:02:41,975 --> 03:02:43,095
signals and that they have hit the

3938
03:02:43,095 --> 03:02:45,015
signals repeatedly in the past.

3939
03:02:45,515 --> 03:02:46,615
And so was the goal though,

3940
03:02:46,615 --> 03:02:49,415
to have the crosswalk then have a sidewalk like go up south

3941
03:02:49,415 --> 03:02:52,055
to the both lodge or have a sidewalk go up to Edgewater?

3942
03:02:52,375 --> 03:02:53,495
I think that's the goal that we're looking,

3943
03:02:53,545 --> 03:02:56,575
we're moving towards, there are just a few pieces in place,

3944
03:02:57,075 --> 03:03:00,575
the culvert on South Street being the primary obstacle,

3945
03:03:00,575 --> 03:03:02,815
trying to figure out how we could either accommodate it in

3946
03:03:02,815 --> 03:03:04,215
the current right of way or cantilever it.

3947
03:03:04,475 --> 03:03:07,015
And then I would say the same conversation could be had on

3948
03:03:07,015 --> 03:03:08,575
the other side of South Street as well.

3949
03:03:09,155 --> 03:03:12,535
And then I notice on this map that I have in front

3950
03:03:12,535 --> 03:03:15,015
of me right now, it has the little planter where the welcome

3951
03:03:15,075 --> 03:03:16,095
to Needham sign is

3952
03:03:16,515 --> 03:03:19,735
and it says RET, which I hope that does not mean retire.

3953
03:03:19,975 --> 03:03:24,255
I don't know what that means. What? What's it mean?

3954
03:03:25,195 --> 03:03:26,895
It means retain. Okay, thanks.

3955
03:03:28,875 --> 03:03:30,055
That's what I was Good answer.

3956
03:03:30,825 --> 03:03:32,495
Thank you. Okay. Alright.

3957
03:03:32,685 --> 03:03:34,895
Alright. Josh, Bill, you answered,

3958
03:03:34,895 --> 03:03:35,935
you asked most of my questions.

3959
03:03:36,875 --> 03:03:39,535
The other one was, was about biking the,

3960
03:03:40,005 --> 03:03:41,935
it's particularly busy on South Street on the weekends.

3961
03:03:42,355 --> 03:03:46,575
The, the survey says at most four bikes per hour.

3962
03:03:47,035 --> 03:03:48,615
Do you know when the survey was conducted?

3963
03:03:49,835 --> 03:03:51,055
I'd have to defer to Tyler,

3964
03:03:51,275 --> 03:03:53,415
but I agree with you it's, it's more frequent on weekends,

3965
03:03:53,495 --> 03:03:54,775
although it comes in spurts. Yeah,

3966
03:03:54,775 --> 03:03:55,775
Yeah, for sure.

3967
03:03:56,115 --> 03:03:58,245
The groups. Yeah, there was a memo

3968
03:03:58,595 --> 03:04:00,565
that was distributed in your packet

3969
03:04:03,315 --> 03:04:05,365
that describes the observation.

3970
03:04:07,705 --> 03:04:08,645
I'm afraid I didn't get to

3971
03:04:08,645 --> 03:04:09,525
read through the whole thing. Yeah,

3972
03:04:09,525 --> 03:04:10,525
I it, yeah.

3973
03:04:10,545 --> 03:04:12,165
So the it page,

3974
03:04:15,635 --> 03:04:20,445
it's page four of the memo that's appended before the plans

3975
03:04:20,785 --> 03:04:22,845
and it says, it talks about the data collection.

3976
03:04:24,065 --> 03:04:28,565
It said that the, the counts were conducted Wednesday,

3977
03:04:28,855 --> 03:04:32,765
April 15th and April 16th, 2025. Okay,

3978
03:04:33,015 --> 03:04:34,015
Thank you.

3979
03:04:35,825 --> 03:04:37,725
And I, I know you haven't gotten a chance yet

3980
03:04:37,725 --> 03:04:39,525
and neither has Kathy, can I just ask,

3981
03:04:39,835 --> 03:04:43,445
does the grant cover the total cost of this work or

3982
03:04:43,795 --> 03:04:45,685
I'll have to, it's a, there's a small match from the town

3983
03:04:45,685 --> 03:04:47,005
but Tyler, do you just wanna go through

3984
03:04:47,005 --> 03:04:48,285
what the anticipated costs are?

3985
03:04:49,945 --> 03:04:54,765
Yep. So after the plans in your packet,

3986
03:04:54,895 --> 03:04:57,125
there is also a estimate

3987
03:04:58,125 --> 03:05:00,405
provided from the, the designer.

3988
03:05:02,145 --> 03:05:03,845
The total estimated total

3989
03:05:04,075 --> 03:05:07,645
with contingency on this project is just shy

3990
03:05:07,645 --> 03:05:10,005
of 700,000.

3991
03:05:11,745 --> 03:05:15,125
The project, the grant that we're talking about,

3992
03:05:15,625 --> 03:05:19,445
the bottleneck reduction grant will cover the first 500,000

3993
03:05:19,865 --> 03:05:24,445
of the construction if the engineer determines that to be

3994
03:05:25,145 --> 03:05:28,565
an a, a, an improvement either safety or

3995
03:05:28,665 --> 03:05:30,205
or traffic performance.

3996
03:05:31,065 --> 03:05:35,845
So the delta of that would would be covered

3997
03:05:36,465 --> 03:05:40,005
by the town through either through local funds

3998
03:05:40,145 --> 03:05:43,845
or through a chapter 90 allocation.

3999
03:05:46,875 --> 03:05:49,165
This is yet to be finalized.

4000
03:05:50,395 --> 03:05:55,365
Okay. And then if any

4001
03:05:55,365 --> 03:05:59,335
alterations to this intersection were required

4002
03:05:59,515 --> 03:06:03,535
or suggested for the function

4003
03:06:03,635 --> 03:06:06,895
of the campus at 1 28, that would be,

4004
03:06:08,685 --> 03:06:10,015
I'll just say like we And future.

4005
03:06:10,365 --> 03:06:12,215
Yeah and we've sort of talked about it internally

4006
03:06:12,675 --> 03:06:17,335
and you have a space limited area in which you can only

4007
03:06:17,335 --> 03:06:19,335
develop to a certain extent

4008
03:06:19,595 --> 03:06:21,055
and we believe that the design

4009
03:06:21,055 --> 03:06:22,935
that we're working on will maximize the throughput.

4010
03:06:24,475 --> 03:06:27,615
Trying to say, you know, you have a bridge on one side,

4011
03:06:27,755 --> 03:06:29,455
you have dead a MAV

4012
03:06:29,875 --> 03:06:31,735
and you have property owners on either side, right?

4013
03:06:31,735 --> 03:06:33,815
So you only have so much space that you could extend for

4014
03:06:34,415 --> 03:06:35,935
alternative turn lanes or something like that.

4015
03:06:36,035 --> 03:06:39,255
So we feel fairly conf confident in this design as far

4016
03:06:39,255 --> 03:06:41,055
as its ability to accommodate that additional traffic.

4017
03:06:42,285 --> 03:06:43,975
Okay, thank you Kevin.

4018
03:06:44,795 --> 03:06:45,975
No, this is really interesting.

4019
03:06:47,575 --> 03:06:49,895
I spend too much time on maps like these.

4020
03:06:51,015 --> 03:06:53,135
I find 'em fascinating and thank you.

4021
03:06:53,135 --> 03:06:57,525
This intersection's always been over for

4022
03:06:57,525 --> 03:06:58,765
how it was originally laid out.

4023
03:06:58,835 --> 03:07:03,445
It's definitely heavily used. So thank you for updating it.

4024
03:07:04,935 --> 03:07:09,215
Kathy, any comments? No, no questions.

4025
03:07:09,715 --> 03:07:12,855
Thanks. Okay, thank you.

4026
03:07:16,155 --> 03:07:18,455
And we'll stay with Kara's Lustig

4027
03:07:18,555 --> 03:07:21,815
and move on to our next item,

4028
03:07:21,905 --> 03:07:26,455
which is a discussion of win waste negotiations.

4029
03:07:27,475 --> 03:07:28,495
For this thank you for,

4030
03:07:28,595 --> 03:07:31,655
For this we're we're bringing up more superstars Stars

4031
03:07:32,685 --> 03:07:34,495
council, Dave Davidson,

4032
03:07:35,775 --> 03:07:37,735
deputy town manager and director of Finance.

4033
03:07:38,925 --> 03:07:40,615
Welcome. Thank you.

4034
03:07:41,965 --> 03:07:45,415
Okay, so the day that Met DeMare has been talking about

4035
03:07:45,415 --> 03:07:47,375
for a long time is finally coming to fruition

4036
03:07:48,235 --> 03:07:52,175
and our 20 year agreement with currently with wind waste

4037
03:07:53,155 --> 03:07:56,055
is set to expire June 30th, 2028.

4038
03:07:56,925 --> 03:07:59,655
That was originally negotiated as part of a large consortium

4039
03:08:02,005 --> 03:08:05,615
that consisted over 30 communities, all

4040
03:08:05,615 --> 03:08:08,655
of which have executed their own individual contracts, some

4041
03:08:08,655 --> 03:08:11,815
of which actually expired June 30th, 2027.

4042
03:08:12,635 --> 03:08:16,815
So while it feels like we are talking about this well in

4043
03:08:16,815 --> 03:08:19,415
advance of our contract expiring, working

4044
03:08:19,445 --> 03:08:22,015
with over 30 communities in order to try to negotiate

4045
03:08:22,015 --> 03:08:24,895
with such a large partner, we know we'll take quite a bit

4046
03:08:24,895 --> 03:08:27,655
of time in order to secure contracts in the time

4047
03:08:27,815 --> 03:08:31,575
that we need in order to have a MSW vendor.

4048
03:08:32,955 --> 03:08:35,095
So as I said for a little bit of history,

4049
03:08:36,035 --> 03:08:40,095
we have a current contract with When Waste, when we

4050
03:08:40,615 --> 03:08:43,175
executed it, it was a 10 year agreement

4051
03:08:43,175 --> 03:08:44,615
with 10 option years.

4052
03:08:45,075 --> 03:08:48,415
At about year eight the company was looking to sell

4053
03:08:48,555 --> 03:08:50,815
and so wanted to get all of its contracts in line.

4054
03:08:51,235 --> 03:08:54,135
So they actually opened up that extension early

4055
03:08:54,275 --> 03:08:56,175
so they could ex extend it for later.

4056
03:08:56,635 --> 03:08:57,695
As a consequence of this,

4057
03:08:57,795 --> 03:09:01,815
we saw a significant reduction in our tonnage tipping fee

4058
03:09:02,295 --> 03:09:05,815
to the point where the tipping fee last year was the first

4059
03:09:05,845 --> 03:09:08,735
time that it matched what our tipping fee was 12 years ago.

4060
03:09:08,735 --> 03:09:11,095
So it took us 12 years to catch back up to where we were.

4061
03:09:11,565 --> 03:09:14,615
Very few things when you are purchasing do you get to take

4062
03:09:14,965 --> 03:09:16,735
that much of a cut and for that long.

4063
03:09:17,325 --> 03:09:19,615
That being said, we are acutely aware

4064
03:09:19,645 --> 03:09:23,175
that we are likely paying under market value

4065
03:09:23,355 --> 03:09:24,655
for our MSW

4066
03:09:25,155 --> 03:09:27,175
and that we are anticipating an increase,

4067
03:09:27,535 --> 03:09:29,175
which we've been discussing for several years.

4068
03:09:29,865 --> 03:09:32,495
About a year ago, all the communities that were part

4069
03:09:32,495 --> 03:09:34,895
of the original agreement met to try to discuss

4070
03:09:34,915 --> 03:09:35,975
how we wanted to move forward.

4071
03:09:36,655 --> 03:09:38,895
We've actually had the addition of about three communities

4072
03:09:38,895 --> 03:09:41,895
come into that group who are not part of it and we had one

4073
03:09:42,015 --> 03:09:43,415
or two smaller communities leave.

4074
03:09:44,285 --> 03:09:45,975
Part of the constraints and the concerns

4075
03:09:45,975 --> 03:09:49,055
that we have about the waste industry in Massachusetts is

4076
03:09:49,055 --> 03:09:50,135
there are no new landfills.

4077
03:09:50,165 --> 03:09:51,975
Most of them are being permitted to close

4078
03:09:52,035 --> 03:09:53,165
or beyond their permit.

4079
03:09:53,705 --> 03:09:57,045
We have no new waste energy facilities being created

4080
03:09:57,305 --> 03:09:59,765
and there's not less trash being generated in the state.

4081
03:10:00,185 --> 03:10:03,405
So we have waste and we need to figure out where to go.

4082
03:10:04,305 --> 03:10:06,605
The AL option alternatives we have to,

4083
03:10:06,625 --> 03:10:11,005
our current contract are really to ship that waste out

4084
03:10:11,005 --> 03:10:14,445
of state on freight largely to Ohio and New York.

4085
03:10:16,265 --> 03:10:18,765
So all the communities that have come together

4086
03:10:19,405 --> 03:10:21,965
have been discussing how we as a group can come together

4087
03:10:21,985 --> 03:10:23,205
to negotiate with win.

4088
03:10:23,505 --> 03:10:25,085
As I mentioned, it was about 20 years ago,

4089
03:10:25,085 --> 03:10:26,725
we lasted our major negotiation

4090
03:10:27,145 --> 03:10:29,485
and as you can imagine, many of the players that were part

4091
03:10:29,485 --> 03:10:31,685
of that contract to be their transition positions

4092
03:10:31,685 --> 03:10:34,165
or are no longer employ, you know, they're all retired.

4093
03:10:34,865 --> 03:10:36,805
So we've been trying to figure out

4094
03:10:36,805 --> 03:10:38,765
and uncover some documentation about the method

4095
03:10:38,955 --> 03:10:42,485
that we used 20 years ago to get this consortium together.

4096
03:10:43,385 --> 03:10:44,525
We ended up discussing

4097
03:10:44,625 --> 03:10:46,845
and talking to the firm that represented this group

4098
03:10:47,525 --> 03:10:49,205
20 years ago, KP Law.

4099
03:10:49,625 --> 03:10:51,125
And their recommendation was

4100
03:10:51,185 --> 03:10:54,285
to do an interm municipal agreement with Walpole

4101
03:10:54,465 --> 03:10:57,285
and have Walpole manage the contract with KP Law

4102
03:10:57,425 --> 03:10:59,005
for Legal Guidance.

4103
03:10:59,865 --> 03:11:03,005
The group that I'm referring to has created a subcommittee

4104
03:11:03,685 --> 03:11:05,645
that consists of seven different communities.

4105
03:11:05,645 --> 03:11:07,965
Needham is one of those seven communities

4106
03:11:08,305 --> 03:11:10,205
and that subcommittee is gonna be the committee

4107
03:11:10,205 --> 03:11:11,405
in charge of negotiations.

4108
03:11:11,905 --> 03:11:13,005
So it is intended

4109
03:11:13,035 --> 03:11:16,125
that these municipal representatives will be doing the

4110
03:11:16,125 --> 03:11:17,125
primary negotiation

4111
03:11:17,705 --> 03:11:21,165
and that the legal expertise that we're soliciting is really

4112
03:11:21,165 --> 03:11:23,845
to provide legal background and clarity for us.

4113
03:11:25,085 --> 03:11:27,845
So with that I am asking the ability

4114
03:11:27,905 --> 03:11:30,605
to join in this interim municipal agreement with Walpole

4115
03:11:30,905 --> 03:11:32,885
so they can then contract with KP law.

4116
03:11:33,825 --> 03:11:37,365
So that as in, first of all, we are trying to figure out

4117
03:11:37,365 --> 03:11:38,845
how many communities are really

4118
03:11:39,195 --> 03:11:40,645
willing to commit to move forward.

4119
03:11:41,365 --> 03:11:43,485
We have given all the communities the deadline

4120
03:11:43,485 --> 03:11:48,325
of August 31st to try to start our negotiations in earnest.

4121
03:11:49,505 --> 03:11:52,365
And second of all, so we can start engaging

4122
03:11:52,365 --> 03:11:53,525
with win wind waste.

4123
03:11:54,125 --> 03:11:56,525
We haven't started any formal negotiations with them.

4124
03:11:57,165 --> 03:11:59,325
They have given us a tour of the facility so we can sort

4125
03:11:59,325 --> 03:12:01,365
of see the condition of, of what they have,

4126
03:12:01,755 --> 03:12:03,285
what their capital plans are

4127
03:12:04,505 --> 03:12:06,805
and kind of what benefit we have.

4128
03:12:07,465 --> 03:12:10,485
One of the things I'll note is

4129
03:12:10,485 --> 03:12:13,205
that while when waste is a very large entity

4130
03:12:13,265 --> 03:12:16,725
and they have a significant foothold in the waste industry,

4131
03:12:17,755 --> 03:12:20,645
this particular contract has a high value to them,

4132
03:12:21,665 --> 03:12:25,285
we provide the sort of sta stable waste

4133
03:12:26,025 --> 03:12:28,125
in this organi in this entity.

4134
03:12:28,125 --> 03:12:29,645
They get a lot of construction waste

4135
03:12:29,705 --> 03:12:31,125
or other large commercial waste.

4136
03:12:31,385 --> 03:12:35,605
But MSW is sort of that like consistent feed slow burn

4137
03:12:35,605 --> 03:12:37,925
for the incinerator that helps them meet their energy

4138
03:12:37,925 --> 03:12:40,925
guidelines that they're supposed to to secure.

4139
03:12:41,345 --> 03:12:42,645
And I just wanted to articulate,

4140
03:12:42,645 --> 03:12:45,685
the two largest players in this group are Newton

4141
03:12:45,685 --> 03:12:47,725
and Worcester as in terms of size

4142
03:12:47,865 --> 03:12:50,965
and in terms of waste generation.

4143
03:12:51,435 --> 03:12:54,125
Needham is the seventh largest community as part

4144
03:12:54,125 --> 03:12:56,685
of this consortium, but I will indicate we are the fourth

4145
03:12:56,685 --> 03:12:58,325
largest in terms of waste generation.

4146
03:12:59,005 --> 03:13:02,645
Part of that is because we have become somewhat

4147
03:13:02,645 --> 03:13:04,605
of a regional area for commercial waste.

4148
03:13:04,705 --> 03:13:06,565
So we're taking in waste not just from residents,

4149
03:13:06,825 --> 03:13:09,005
but we're also taking it from commercial haulers

4150
03:13:10,065 --> 03:13:11,125
and source other people.

4151
03:13:11,465 --> 03:13:13,685
And many of several of the other communities

4152
03:13:13,685 --> 03:13:16,045
of comparable size to Needham have large,

4153
03:13:16,425 --> 03:13:18,445
larger apartment complexes than Needham does,

4154
03:13:18,505 --> 03:13:20,045
in which they have private entities

4155
03:13:20,045 --> 03:13:21,765
that remove the waste and not the town.

4156
03:13:24,845 --> 03:13:28,685
Okay. That's a lot of information. Kevin, you could

4157
03:13:28,905 --> 03:13:29,905
You all without notes.

4158
03:13:29,905 --> 03:13:34,685
Okay. A few notes. No, this sounds like it makes sense.

4159
03:13:34,785 --> 03:13:39,285
I'm happy we got the ball going and it sounds reasonable.

4160
03:13:39,465 --> 03:13:40,465
So yeah.

4161
03:13:41,995 --> 03:13:45,565
Josh, you wanna, So this is just to negotiate,

4162
03:13:48,535 --> 03:13:50,755
my understanding is like there would be individual contracts

4163
03:13:50,755 --> 03:13:52,875
still between each municipality and wind waste.

4164
03:13:53,085 --> 03:13:56,035
Would, would they have the same terms between all

4165
03:13:56,035 --> 03:13:58,275
of the municipalities or is that subject to negotiation?

4166
03:13:58,495 --> 03:14:00,795
So I think the intent is for them to have the same terms.

4167
03:14:02,055 --> 03:14:03,355
You have many different communities

4168
03:14:03,355 --> 03:14:05,475
who operate significantly different models.

4169
03:14:06,055 --> 03:14:09,275
So you have communities that are fully

4170
03:14:10,825 --> 03:14:13,675
municipally run in our transfer stations,

4171
03:14:14,495 --> 03:14:17,075
all indicate Wellesley was not part of this in the past.

4172
03:14:17,105 --> 03:14:19,395
They are looking to join as part of this program

4173
03:14:19,395 --> 03:14:21,675
because of the capacity issues they have at

4174
03:14:21,675 --> 03:14:23,035
the landfill they have contracted with.

4175
03:14:24,735 --> 03:14:28,715
So you have those, the model similar to Needham,

4176
03:14:28,735 --> 03:14:33,715
we send our materials there on oversized trucks.

4177
03:14:34,215 --> 03:14:36,315
You then have communities

4178
03:14:36,315 --> 03:14:38,835
that run their own collection services

4179
03:14:39,055 --> 03:14:40,955
and then they go there and haul.

4180
03:14:40,955 --> 03:14:43,515
They usually go there twice a day as part

4181
03:14:43,555 --> 03:14:44,595
of their regular routes.

4182
03:14:44,855 --> 03:14:47,715
And then you have communities that outsource their hauling

4183
03:14:48,015 --> 03:14:50,075
and collect to this location.

4184
03:14:50,215 --> 03:14:52,595
So the reason that we would all execute is our

4185
03:14:53,275 --> 03:14:54,355
physical delivery is different.

4186
03:14:54,755 --> 03:14:56,035
I will say for the original

4187
03:14:56,275 --> 03:14:58,115
contract, the terms were all the same. Okay,

4188
03:14:58,285 --> 03:15:00,565
Thank you Bill.

4189
03:15:01,435 --> 03:15:03,285
Well I think it's great. We're getting ahead of it,

4190
03:15:03,285 --> 03:15:05,285
you know, you gotta, I hate wasting time

4191
03:15:05,285 --> 03:15:06,485
because it costs you more money.

4192
03:15:06,665 --> 03:15:09,085
So I think the sooner we can get ahead of it,

4193
03:15:09,105 --> 03:15:10,285
the better off we're gonna be.

4194
03:15:11,465 --> 03:15:12,495
Great. Kathy?

4195
03:15:13,875 --> 03:15:16,205
Yeah, I think this makes entire sense.

4196
03:15:16,445 --> 03:15:19,205
I mean we need the, we need the volume to negotiate.

4197
03:15:20,105 --> 03:15:22,925
You know, we've, we've, it's worked for us well in the past

4198
03:15:23,385 --> 03:15:25,965
and so I I'm supportive of this.

4199
03:15:27,425 --> 03:15:29,645
Can I just ask why, why is wealth the lead?

4200
03:15:30,145 --> 03:15:32,405
So interestingly enough, they were the lead 20 years ago.

4201
03:15:32,805 --> 03:15:36,005
Whether that's a good answer or not, they have chosen

4202
03:15:36,105 --> 03:15:38,085
to sort of take on I guess the administrative burden

4203
03:15:38,305 --> 03:15:39,925
of collecting the information.

4204
03:15:41,745 --> 03:15:43,365
It is a little bit like herding cats trying

4205
03:15:43,365 --> 03:15:45,685
to get over 30 municipalities with different forms

4206
03:15:45,685 --> 03:15:47,285
of government in order to all commit.

4207
03:15:48,105 --> 03:15:50,845
And they also had worked with KP Law in the past,

4208
03:15:51,485 --> 03:15:52,645
as I indicated they were the firm

4209
03:15:52,645 --> 03:15:54,525
that represented this group 20 years ago

4210
03:15:54,525 --> 03:15:55,965
and have some of the institutional records

4211
03:15:56,275 --> 03:15:58,525
that we thought would be useful as part of negotiations.

4212
03:15:59,475 --> 03:16:01,765
Okay, Madam Chair then I would move

4213
03:16:01,765 --> 03:16:02,885
that the select board approve

4214
03:16:02,885 --> 03:16:06,165
and execute the interim municipal agreement between the town

4215
03:16:06,165 --> 03:16:08,525
of WaPo and various municipalities

4216
03:16:08,525 --> 03:16:10,965
regarding solid waste contract negotiations.

4217
03:16:11,555 --> 03:16:13,605
Subject to the additional stipulation

4218
03:16:13,885 --> 03:16:16,565
provided by WaPo that went total fees, cost

4219
03:16:16,585 --> 03:16:18,925
and expenses bill to all parties under section two

4220
03:16:18,925 --> 03:16:21,405
of the agreement exceed $75,000.

4221
03:16:21,745 --> 03:16:24,685
The wall poll representative shall notify all other parties,

4222
03:16:24,685 --> 03:16:28,605
representatives by email at the email addresses set forth in

4223
03:16:28,605 --> 03:16:31,525
this agreement, and the parties shall properly confer

4224
03:16:31,635 --> 03:16:33,805
through their representatives by teleconference

4225
03:16:33,805 --> 03:16:36,045
regarding anticipated future cost

4226
03:16:36,185 --> 03:16:38,125
and continuation of the agreement.

4227
03:16:38,225 --> 03:16:39,225
Second.

4228
03:16:40,425 --> 03:16:42,765
All righty then. So Kathy?

4229
03:16:44,825 --> 03:16:48,245
Yes, Phil? Yes. Josh? Yes. Kevin. Aye.

4230
03:16:49,505 --> 03:16:53,085
And I vote Yes. Thank you very much. Appreciate this.

4231
03:16:55,995 --> 03:16:58,205
Okay, next up

4232
03:17:00,305 --> 03:17:03,765
we have Miles Tucker, our support services manager to talk

4233
03:17:03,765 --> 03:17:06,485
to us about digital legal notices, warrant,

4234
03:17:06,515 --> 03:17:07,685
article proposal.

4235
03:17:09,415 --> 03:17:10,685
Thank you Madam Chair. Good evening.

4236
03:17:10,755 --> 03:17:12,325
Members of the board, I will try

4237
03:17:12,325 --> 03:17:15,045
and keep this brief given the hour.

4238
03:17:15,825 --> 03:17:20,205
So Last year goals, this board set as one

4239
03:17:20,205 --> 03:17:22,685
of its initiatives to study a home rule petition

4240
03:17:22,705 --> 03:17:25,005
to permit the town to place legal notices

4241
03:17:26,025 --> 03:17:27,565
on a digital format as opposed

4242
03:17:27,565 --> 03:17:29,565
to having them printed in a newspaper.

4243
03:17:30,235 --> 03:17:31,965
This is a relatively recent option

4244
03:17:32,285 --> 03:17:33,845
provided to communities by the Commonwealth

4245
03:17:33,845 --> 03:17:36,405
and has been successfully completed by other communities,

4246
03:17:36,555 --> 03:17:39,285
Arlington and Lincoln or some of our peers who have passed

4247
03:17:40,845 --> 03:17:41,965
a similar home rule petition.

4248
03:17:44,075 --> 03:17:46,645
This is beneficial to the town in

4249
03:17:46,645 --> 03:17:48,405
that there is a consistently shrinking

4250
03:17:49,075 --> 03:17:51,725
printed newspaper market, especially with the recent

4251
03:17:52,395 --> 03:17:56,685
limited distribution of the last print newspaper name,

4252
03:17:56,685 --> 03:17:58,045
the Hometown Weekly, which no longer

4253
03:17:58,045 --> 03:17:59,165
does home deliveries anymore.

4254
03:17:59,165 --> 03:18:01,205
They deliver to 70 sites in town,

4255
03:18:01,385 --> 03:18:03,765
but it's, it's further limited.

4256
03:18:04,745 --> 03:18:07,765
So in your packet is a draft warrant article containing the

4257
03:18:07,765 --> 03:18:09,765
text of the proposed home rule petition.

4258
03:18:09,945 --> 03:18:13,605
It is nearly identical to two peer communities, Westford

4259
03:18:13,605 --> 03:18:16,365
and Wellesley that have recently passed

4260
03:18:16,795 --> 03:18:17,925
said home rule petition.

4261
03:18:18,285 --> 03:18:20,485
Both of those are still with our friends at the general

4262
03:18:20,485 --> 03:18:25,405
court, but the way that the law was updated,

4263
03:18:25,995 --> 03:18:28,485
it's pretty clear what this language needs to be.

4264
03:18:29,905 --> 03:18:32,245
It would permit the town as well as school department

4265
03:18:32,625 --> 03:18:36,965
to post in five specific locations.

4266
03:18:36,965 --> 03:18:39,285
Those could be printed newspapers,

4267
03:18:39,485 --> 03:18:42,765
a printed newspapers website, a local digital news site,

4268
03:18:43,405 --> 03:18:46,645
a statewide legal notice repository, or a town repository.

4269
03:18:47,155 --> 03:18:49,845
It's worth noting that the town already has a part

4270
03:18:49,845 --> 03:18:52,085
of our website that has public hearings

4271
03:18:52,085 --> 03:18:54,805
and legal notices in one central location.

4272
03:18:54,945 --> 03:18:58,805
So that already exists. Does not change the actual noticing

4273
03:18:58,805 --> 03:19:01,685
requirement time that a legal notice would need

4274
03:19:01,685 --> 03:19:03,005
to be placed in advance or anything.

4275
03:19:03,005 --> 03:19:05,005
Those time limits are still in place.

4276
03:19:06,595 --> 03:19:08,925
Notably, our deputy town manager, director

4277
03:19:08,925 --> 03:19:10,285
of finance highlighted to us

4278
03:19:10,315 --> 03:19:12,165
that tax takings will still need

4279
03:19:12,165 --> 03:19:13,525
to be printed in the newspaper.

4280
03:19:13,705 --> 03:19:18,245
So this applies to most, but not all legal notices.

4281
03:19:18,305 --> 03:19:20,325
Tax takings are a specific thing that need

4282
03:19:20,325 --> 03:19:23,925
to be still printed, representing a

4283
03:19:25,075 --> 03:19:28,135
very, very, very, very, very small percent

4284
03:19:28,135 --> 03:19:29,775
of our overall legal notices.

4285
03:19:31,375 --> 03:19:33,975
A proposed concept for the operating of this

4286
03:19:34,485 --> 03:19:36,415
home rule petition, if it were to be passed

4287
03:19:36,515 --> 03:19:37,815
and passed by the legislature,

4288
03:19:37,945 --> 03:19:40,095
would be using the town's webpage

4289
03:19:40,095 --> 03:19:41,735
that exists right now as the default.

4290
03:19:42,655 --> 03:19:43,655
However, committees

4291
03:19:44,155 --> 03:19:49,015
or the bodies that would be using these that are required

4292
03:19:49,015 --> 03:19:50,855
to post these legal notices would solve the option

4293
03:19:51,235 --> 03:19:55,735
to post any of the five available other sorts of media

4294
03:19:56,395 --> 03:19:58,695
in the event that wider distribution would be

4295
03:19:59,475 --> 03:20:00,775
wanted by that body.

4296
03:20:02,875 --> 03:20:05,175
And with that, the draft article, again,

4297
03:20:05,175 --> 03:20:07,735
is both included in this packet as well as in the draft

4298
03:20:07,995 --> 03:20:09,415
of the special town meeting warrant

4299
03:20:09,415 --> 03:20:10,895
that you will address later in this meeting

4300
03:20:10,965 --> 03:20:12,655
because there's still later in this meeting.

4301
03:20:14,515 --> 03:20:15,855
And with that, I'm happy to answer any questions.

4302
03:20:16,905 --> 03:20:20,975
Miles, what's what happens for the, for the tax takings,

4303
03:20:21,215 --> 03:20:25,175
I mean for those that are required to be in a newspaper,

4304
03:20:25,175 --> 03:20:27,055
what, what happens if there's no newspaper?

4305
03:20:28,715 --> 03:20:32,175
That's a great question. Well, I will say as well,

4306
03:20:32,565 --> 03:20:34,335
it's a newspaper that is distributed here.

4307
03:20:36,845 --> 03:20:40,015
Past practice has been to go with the local newspapers.

4308
03:20:40,385 --> 03:20:42,615
There are also the Boston Globe and Boston Herald.

4309
03:20:42,615 --> 03:20:43,815
Those are distributed here.

4310
03:20:44,685 --> 03:20:49,135
Frankly speaking, the the price is significantly higher than

4311
03:20:49,315 --> 03:20:51,015
the local distribution papers.

4312
03:20:51,755 --> 03:20:56,095
So we've, we've gone to the globe in examples where to,

4313
03:20:56,095 --> 03:20:59,495
to the point of the time notices not being changed in the

4314
03:20:59,495 --> 03:21:02,215
past where, you know,

4315
03:21:02,245 --> 03:21:04,055
I'll admit when I was a new staff member here,

4316
03:21:04,255 --> 03:21:05,335
I missed a posting deadline.

4317
03:21:05,375 --> 03:21:06,615
I believe it was for a cable hearing.

4318
03:21:07,635 --> 03:21:09,615
So we had to go out to the globe

4319
03:21:09,845 --> 03:21:13,895
because we needed it done soon and it was able to be done.

4320
03:21:14,275 --> 03:21:16,055
So there, there are still papers of record

4321
03:21:16,055 --> 03:21:18,815
that are distributed with enough distribution in Needham.

4322
03:21:18,965 --> 03:21:21,335
Okay. So it it doesn't need to be a local paper?

4323
03:21:21,635 --> 03:21:24,935
No, it needs to have, I forget the specific term,

4324
03:21:25,115 --> 03:21:26,815
but it's, it's effectively why Definit

4325
03:21:26,815 --> 03:21:28,215
Circulation of some, yeah.

4326
03:21:28,215 --> 03:21:30,095
Okay. All right.

4327
03:21:30,095 --> 03:21:32,255
Well this is, this is really very comprehensive.

4328
03:21:33,095 --> 03:21:37,655
I am, I'm shocked to see the cost

4329
03:21:38,305 --> 03:21:42,295
spent on printing legal notices in fiscal year 2026 was 30

4330
03:21:42,445 --> 03:21:43,855
over $34,000.

4331
03:21:44,555 --> 03:21:48,045
So it seems to me like not only is this actually

4332
03:21:49,115 --> 03:21:52,165
generally speaking, probably more convenient for folks,

4333
03:21:53,025 --> 03:21:54,565
but also considerably less

4334
03:21:54,565 --> 03:21:56,125
expensive I would hope for the town.

4335
03:21:56,145 --> 03:22:00,605
Do we know what the comparable cost of digital, I mean

4336
03:22:01,755 --> 03:22:02,785
presumably nothing

4337
03:22:02,785 --> 03:22:05,585
but staff time, which is not insignificant

4338
03:22:05,885 --> 03:22:08,225
for the town website, but do other

4339
03:22:09,355 --> 03:22:12,705
local outlets charge for digital notices?

4340
03:22:13,685 --> 03:22:17,505
That's a great question. I don't know at this time.

4341
03:22:17,725 --> 03:22:19,745
For example, we have a few digital only

4342
03:22:20,105 --> 03:22:21,465
publications here in Needham.

4343
03:22:21,905 --> 03:22:25,425
The town is not permitted to notice with them, so Okay.

4344
03:22:25,425 --> 03:22:27,185
That there's not exactly a market. Yeah.

4345
03:22:28,255 --> 03:22:30,265
However, to your point and,

4346
03:22:30,325 --> 03:22:32,985
and to highlight back on what the director of community

4347
03:22:33,625 --> 03:22:35,305
communication and community engagement mentioned earlier,

4348
03:22:36,725 --> 03:22:39,265
we do not want people to not know what's going on.

4349
03:22:40,095 --> 03:22:41,745
This does not restrict the town

4350
03:22:42,205 --> 03:22:44,905
or the schools from posting only to our website.

4351
03:22:45,245 --> 03:22:47,225
The other media are still permitted

4352
03:22:47,285 --> 03:22:50,025
and it actually increases the scope

4353
03:22:50,165 --> 03:22:52,585
by which the town is permitted to communicate,

4354
03:22:53,195 --> 03:22:55,545
which would be beneficial, I would believe.

4355
03:22:56,075 --> 03:22:59,665
Great. Anyone else? No,

4356
03:23:00,625 --> 03:23:02,865
I think this has been official for the town.

4357
03:23:03,345 --> 03:23:04,985
I mean it's, I mean coming,

4358
03:23:05,135 --> 03:23:06,625
it's bringing the town into the times.

4359
03:23:08,415 --> 03:23:10,745
Most people don't subscribe to a newspaper, let alone,

4360
03:23:11,005 --> 03:23:12,305
you know, get a free one anymore.

4361
03:23:14,465 --> 03:23:17,465
I think because Amy was just here talking about,

4362
03:23:17,645 --> 03:23:19,025
you know, how people get their news.

4363
03:23:19,265 --> 03:23:20,505
I do think it's really important to have

4364
03:23:20,505 --> 03:23:23,345
that central repository to at least have all

4365
03:23:23,345 --> 03:23:25,065
of the postings on the town website.

4366
03:23:25,805 --> 03:23:28,145
And then certainly we can add other postings

4367
03:23:28,145 --> 03:23:29,225
in other locations as well.

4368
03:23:29,955 --> 03:23:32,625
Could I suggest like one small change, like to that effect?

4369
03:23:33,645 --> 03:23:37,385
So this would allow posting in any of these five could,

4370
03:23:37,385 --> 03:23:39,905
could we say it's satisfied by posting it

4371
03:23:39,905 --> 03:23:42,545
to the town website plus any of these other locations?

4372
03:23:43,695 --> 03:23:47,385
Because that would just ensure that it's always, always has

4373
03:23:47,385 --> 03:23:48,865
to be posted to the town website so

4374
03:23:48,865 --> 03:23:50,825
that it's in one central location.

4375
03:23:51,005 --> 03:23:52,005
Always.

4376
03:23:52,485 --> 03:23:54,665
That's a good question. I'd have to confer with council.

4377
03:23:54,695 --> 03:23:56,985
Yeah. And, and report back.

4378
03:23:57,045 --> 03:23:58,705
And I just wanna say I appreciate town

4379
03:23:58,705 --> 03:23:59,945
council for drafting this.

4380
03:23:59,975 --> 03:24:03,225
Yeah, yeah. But I think, correct me if I'm wrong,

4381
03:24:03,225 --> 03:24:05,665
but you did say that we are currently keeping all of

4382
03:24:06,015 --> 03:24:07,105
This is something we already do.

4383
03:24:07,125 --> 03:24:08,545
That's correct. It's current practice.

4384
03:24:08,605 --> 03:24:12,985
We already have all the ads, procurement, public meetings,

4385
03:24:13,055 --> 03:24:14,785
they're already posted on the website

4386
03:24:14,845 --> 03:24:15,905
in a central repository.

4387
03:24:16,135 --> 03:24:17,465
Okay. So it's something we're already doing.

4388
03:24:18,145 --> 03:24:20,145
I, I'm just thinking ahead for the future

4389
03:24:20,145 --> 03:24:22,785
because practices can change over time.

4390
03:24:26,285 --> 03:24:29,345
All right. Anyone else? Yeah,

4391
03:24:31,035 --> 03:24:32,985
Kevin, I used to work for a publisher

4392
03:24:32,985 --> 03:24:36,705
who said the legal notices for license to print money.

4393
03:24:37,765 --> 03:24:39,705
And I think though times have changed

4394
03:24:39,705 --> 03:24:43,405
and the reality of it is that websites replace newspapers

4395
03:24:44,265 --> 03:24:47,365
and we have to be and go where people are reading.

4396
03:24:47,665 --> 03:24:49,525
So we should, I'm all for this.

4397
03:24:49,525 --> 03:24:52,325
This is, I mean it's very sad to see the newspapers go.

4398
03:24:52,355 --> 03:24:55,325
Yeah. But the reality is we could

4399
03:24:56,395 --> 03:24:57,445
realize some savings

4400
03:24:57,505 --> 03:25:00,165
but also reach the people we need to reach better.

4401
03:25:01,785 --> 03:25:02,785
Wow,

4402
03:25:03,215 --> 03:25:04,215
That's good.

4403
03:25:04,445 --> 03:25:06,915
Great. Thank you. Kathy has her hand up.

4404
03:25:07,015 --> 03:25:08,755
Oh, Kathy, go ahead.

4405
03:25:09,865 --> 03:25:12,795
Yeah, I think that, you know, it makes sense for us

4406
03:25:12,795 --> 03:25:15,475
to continue the practice of, you know,

4407
03:25:15,475 --> 03:25:18,035
always putting something on our website as, as a way

4408
03:25:18,035 --> 03:25:20,595
to have a record and to have it there.

4409
03:25:20,915 --> 03:25:24,155
I think in terms of the way we draft the law, it,

4410
03:25:24,175 --> 03:25:26,195
it does make sense to model it off of

4411
03:25:26,195 --> 03:25:28,515
what has already worked from these other towns.

4412
03:25:28,555 --> 03:25:30,795
I mean we're talking about a home rule petition.

4413
03:25:30,795 --> 03:25:32,355
These things are a giant pain

4414
03:25:33,095 --> 03:25:35,075
and I would just go with what works.

4415
03:25:36,905 --> 03:25:41,115
Yeah, I suppose we can always add in practice a,

4416
03:25:41,395 --> 03:25:42,955
a secondary if we choose to do that.

4417
03:25:43,135 --> 03:25:47,275
But I, I wonder about requiring it as a point of law

4418
03:25:48,065 --> 03:25:50,075
that, you know, that seems like they could

4419
03:25:50,075 --> 03:25:51,195
be encumbering ourselves.

4420
03:25:53,055 --> 03:25:55,035
Who knows what is gonna happen in the future.

4421
03:25:57,265 --> 03:25:59,555
Have, have these, I think the ones these,

4422
03:25:59,555 --> 03:26:01,315
this is modeled after, haven't been passed. Right?

4423
03:26:02,025 --> 03:26:04,075
Have they, the two specific ones, Westford

4424
03:26:04,075 --> 03:26:06,595
and Wellesley have not, they're still in the general court,

4425
03:26:06,595 --> 03:26:09,715
however extraordinarily comparable

4426
03:26:10,225 --> 03:26:11,835
ones in Lexington and Sudbury for example.

4427
03:26:12,185 --> 03:26:13,185
Have.

4428
03:26:15,025 --> 03:26:16,515
Okay. Now if you could, if you could get

4429
03:26:16,515 --> 03:26:17,755
that answer from time counsel, I think that

4430
03:26:17,755 --> 03:26:18,755
Would be helpful.

4431
03:26:18,755 --> 03:26:19,235
I'd be more than happy to. Thank

4432
03:26:19,235 --> 03:26:20,235
You.

4433
03:26:20,295 --> 03:26:22,115
Thanks Miles. You're welcome.

4434
03:26:24,065 --> 03:26:27,995
Okay, so next up we're gonna look at

4435
03:26:29,775 --> 03:26:33,595
the town manager and first on that is referring,

4436
03:26:33,625 --> 03:26:35,155
accepting and referring the zoning.

4437
03:26:35,925 --> 03:26:39,195
Great. The planning board has been having their

4438
03:26:39,195 --> 03:26:40,915
deliberations for articles

4439
03:26:40,915 --> 03:26:42,555
for the October special town meeting.

4440
03:26:42,615 --> 03:26:46,315
And so what's before you tonight is they have asked for you

4441
03:26:46,335 --> 03:26:47,955
to accept and refer back to them

4442
03:26:48,495 --> 03:26:51,675
two articles under the umbrella of the large house review,

4443
03:26:51,855 --> 03:26:54,075
one on half story attic requirements

4444
03:26:54,415 --> 03:26:56,155
and the other on height requirements.

4445
03:26:57,015 --> 03:26:59,155
And this is a procedural vote that you have

4446
03:26:59,155 --> 03:27:00,355
to take under state law.

4447
03:27:03,745 --> 03:27:06,835
Okay. Any thoughts from my colleagues?

4448
03:27:08,035 --> 03:27:10,595
I, all right then

4449
03:27:11,035 --> 03:27:12,995
I would move that the board would accept all

4450
03:27:13,455 --> 03:27:14,875
the proposed zoning articles.

4451
03:27:14,875 --> 03:27:18,235
Article one, amen's zoning, bylaw half story in parent

4452
03:27:18,775 --> 03:27:22,355
at requirements in the single residence B District article

4453
03:27:22,575 --> 03:27:25,115
two, Amen's zoning bylaw height requirements in the single

4454
03:27:25,115 --> 03:27:28,915
residence B District for referral to the planning board

4455
03:27:28,935 --> 03:27:31,555
for its review, hearing and report.

4456
03:27:32,775 --> 03:27:35,635
Second. All right.

4457
03:27:36,175 --> 03:27:38,555
And we'll take a vote. Kathy?

4458
03:27:41,585 --> 03:27:44,485
Yes. Bill? Yes. Josh? Yes Kevin.

4459
03:27:45,105 --> 03:27:49,525
Aye I vote Yes. Thank you.

4460
03:27:51,515 --> 03:27:52,515
Next,

4461
03:27:53,285 --> 03:27:55,765
Next up is asking the board to call

4462
03:27:55,765 --> 03:27:57,805
for an open the special town meeting warrant,

4463
03:27:58,775 --> 03:28:02,285
which will be held on Monday October 19th, 2026.

4464
03:28:03,305 --> 03:28:06,285
We, you are being asked to open the warrant tonight.

4465
03:28:06,925 --> 03:28:09,965
Just looking ahead, you would close the warrant at your next

4466
03:28:09,965 --> 03:28:11,125
meeting September 8th.

4467
03:28:11,545 --> 03:28:12,885
So at that point we'd hopefully have

4468
03:28:12,905 --> 03:28:14,365
no additions after that point.

4469
03:28:15,305 --> 03:28:18,405
But there is, you have a meeting September 22nd,

4470
03:28:19,205 --> 03:28:21,365
which is your final meeting before it goes to print.

4471
03:28:21,505 --> 03:28:24,685
So we could still make changes, withdrawals

4472
03:28:24,685 --> 03:28:27,165
or changes to the article, language, et cetera.

4473
03:28:28,805 --> 03:28:31,645
I do wanna just walk through the draft warrant.

4474
03:28:31,645 --> 03:28:33,765
This is very much first draft, a lot of placeholders,

4475
03:28:34,465 --> 03:28:36,925
but just to give the board and the public a sense

4476
03:28:38,305 --> 03:28:42,165
and just I'll walk through the articles

4477
03:28:42,185 --> 03:28:44,325
and I would love if the board, if there's any

4478
03:28:44,325 --> 03:28:46,765
that you particularly would like a presentation on.

4479
03:28:47,035 --> 03:28:49,285
Just note that and I can start getting those scheduled

4480
03:28:49,285 --> 03:28:50,565
for your next couple of meetings.

4481
03:28:51,165 --> 03:28:52,645
And this is the moment, lemme just pause

4482
03:28:52,705 --> 03:28:56,245
and say it's August, it's summer, and yet here we are

4483
03:28:56,245 --> 03:28:58,085
and we're like headlong into town meeting.

4484
03:28:58,705 --> 03:29:02,245
So this is when things start like ramping up at a speed

4485
03:29:02,245 --> 03:29:03,445
that no one ever anticipates

4486
03:29:03,445 --> 03:29:04,485
until we're in the middle of it.

4487
03:29:05,585 --> 03:29:08,205
So walking through the draft warrant,

4488
03:29:09,745 --> 03:29:11,365
the first article is appropriate

4489
03:29:11,365 --> 03:29:12,365
for the Pollard Middle School.

4490
03:29:13,345 --> 03:29:16,085
And this language has been drafted by town council.

4491
03:29:16,225 --> 03:29:19,845
We will ensure that MSBA has had a chance to review it

4492
03:29:20,825 --> 03:29:22,085
and bond council as well

4493
03:29:22,085 --> 03:29:24,965
before we insert the language into the

4494
03:29:24,965 --> 03:29:27,485
warrant. Basically there will be

4495
03:29:27,485 --> 03:29:29,285
Lots of presentations to come this,

4496
03:29:29,505 --> 03:29:31,165
Yes, many presentations to come.

4497
03:29:34,225 --> 03:29:38,405
The next handful are placeholders should we need them.

4498
03:29:38,585 --> 03:29:39,845
So unpaid bills

4499
03:29:40,505 --> 03:29:42,845
and line item transfers if needed within

4500
03:29:43,665 --> 03:29:45,725
our FY 2027 operating budget.

4501
03:29:45,785 --> 03:29:49,365
And our two enterprise fund budgets for sewer and water.

4502
03:29:50,425 --> 03:29:54,485
So we're gathering if any of those will be needed.

4503
03:29:55,585 --> 03:29:58,885
We have our public education and government programming peg.

4504
03:29:58,885 --> 03:30:03,325
This is pass through funds from cable providers

4505
03:30:03,425 --> 03:30:05,045
to the the Needham channel.

4506
03:30:05,185 --> 03:30:07,645
And so we have this on every warrant to,

4507
03:30:10,245 --> 03:30:12,885
I have a timely expediting pass through.

4508
03:30:14,065 --> 03:30:15,245
It is 9 42.

4509
03:30:17,025 --> 03:30:19,965
The next two articles are the zoning ones

4510
03:30:19,965 --> 03:30:22,445
that you just took the procedural vote on.

4511
03:30:23,505 --> 03:30:24,525
And I guess I pause

4512
03:30:24,545 --> 03:30:27,005
and see if the board would like a presentation on those.

4513
03:30:28,825 --> 03:30:30,765
Yes, absolutely. Yes. Great.

4514
03:30:31,005 --> 03:30:33,605
I will work with the planning board planning director

4515
03:30:33,605 --> 03:30:37,525
to schedule those under

4516
03:30:37,525 --> 03:30:38,645
general articles.

4517
03:30:39,215 --> 03:30:41,365
We're on page six of the draft warrant.

4518
03:30:41,765 --> 03:30:44,805
There's the home rule petition related to the Article 97

4519
03:30:47,985 --> 03:30:50,285
for Warner Field as part of the Pollard project

4520
03:30:50,285 --> 03:30:52,285
that we've discussed at your last few meetings.

4521
03:30:53,425 --> 03:30:56,085
So this is the continuation of the local approvals

4522
03:30:56,085 --> 03:30:58,245
that we would be required to comply with.

4523
03:30:58,245 --> 03:30:59,245
Article 97.

4524
03:31:00,255 --> 03:31:02,925
Madam Chair, the last time we had an Article 97

4525
03:31:04,915 --> 03:31:07,965
article in the warrant, it appeared right

4526
03:31:07,965 --> 03:31:10,605
after the, the article that we were voting on.

4527
03:31:10,865 --> 03:31:14,565
Oh, maybe that might help with the flow if we made

4528
03:31:14,565 --> 03:31:16,325
that article two right after Pollard.

4529
03:31:17,225 --> 03:31:19,565
Let me confer with town counsel on that. Yep.

4530
03:31:26,915 --> 03:31:30,405
Okay. You had a presentation at your last meeting

4531
03:31:30,405 --> 03:31:33,085
regarding the proposed single parcel historic district

4532
03:31:33,085 --> 03:31:34,885
for the White House on South Street.

4533
03:31:34,985 --> 03:31:36,245
So there's a placeholder there.

4534
03:31:38,185 --> 03:31:41,045
One question for the board, the

4535
03:31:43,645 --> 03:31:46,405
proposal for a general bylaw amendment

4536
03:31:46,625 --> 03:31:48,445
around tree protection and preservation.

4537
03:31:48,525 --> 03:31:52,525
I wanted to gauge deferral to May versus

4538
03:31:53,395 --> 03:31:55,725
advancing to the October special time meeting.

4539
03:31:59,665 --> 03:32:02,725
As much as I would like to see this go to October, I,

4540
03:32:02,945 --> 03:32:05,285
I'm a little concerned about the timeline given

4541
03:32:05,665 --> 03:32:06,725
the number of big events.

4542
03:32:07,005 --> 03:32:09,965
I mean not only Pollard, I'm I, all of the stuff that goes

4543
03:32:09,965 --> 03:32:13,725
with that, but also the election.

4544
03:32:14,625 --> 03:32:15,685
We still haven't had,

4545
03:32:15,705 --> 03:32:17,445
we haven't had a public hearing on the part

4546
03:32:17,445 --> 03:32:21,005
of the select board for this bylaw.

4547
03:32:21,065 --> 03:32:23,005
And so it just seems like a lot to squeeze in.

4548
03:32:23,065 --> 03:32:27,005
But if, I mean, if it's feasible, sure

4549
03:32:28,005 --> 03:32:31,125
that would, that would mean I would like to see that.

4550
03:32:31,465 --> 03:32:33,965
But if it's, but I think we have to evaluate whether

4551
03:32:34,265 --> 03:32:37,245
or not it's really feasible in light of all of the,

4552
03:32:39,905 --> 03:32:44,645
the big fixed items on the,

4553
03:32:45,065 --> 03:32:46,645
on the docket for the fall.

4554
03:32:49,085 --> 03:32:50,165
I would lean towards maybe

4555
03:32:50,365 --> 03:32:52,645
'cause I just don't see how it can be feasible

4556
03:32:52,645 --> 03:32:54,445
to get everything done that we need to get done.

4557
03:32:54,755 --> 03:32:56,005
Yeah, I I mean I'm worried

4558
03:32:56,005 --> 03:32:57,005
About it.

4559
03:32:57,005 --> 03:32:57,405
I'm not, I'm the same. Not

4560
03:32:57,405 --> 03:32:58,685
that I don't want it to be done, but

4561
03:32:58,905 --> 03:33:02,445
As we, as we game out like all of the time that is needed

4562
03:33:02,445 --> 03:33:05,685
for each one of these things, issues, you know,

4563
03:33:05,685 --> 03:33:06,925
I I just worry that this one's

4564
03:33:06,925 --> 03:33:08,125
gonna get knocked off the plate.

4565
03:33:08,745 --> 03:33:11,525
So as we game it out, I, I mean I'd like

4566
03:33:11,525 --> 03:33:13,445
to keep the possibility open I guess,

4567
03:33:13,615 --> 03:33:14,765
until our next meeting.

4568
03:33:16,305 --> 03:33:18,945
But I, I acknowledge that, I think

4569
03:33:19,015 --> 03:33:20,625
that the timeline is really tight.

4570
03:33:24,085 --> 03:33:28,595
I'm just thinking of scheduling wise,

4571
03:33:28,785 --> 03:33:30,435
your next meeting, September 8th is

4572
03:33:30,435 --> 03:33:31,515
immediately after Labor Day.

4573
03:33:31,515 --> 03:33:33,715
So if you wanted to hold the public hearing, I'd recommend

4574
03:33:34,295 --> 03:33:38,405
to do that your September 22nd meeting, you would have,

4575
03:33:43,305 --> 03:33:44,605
if you had the hearing that night,

4576
03:33:45,555 --> 03:33:47,765
that would be your last chance to take it off the

4577
03:33:48,475 --> 03:33:49,925
warrant right then.

4578
03:33:49,985 --> 03:33:51,685
So it's tight I guess.

4579
03:33:51,825 --> 03:33:54,925
And I think it just, you'd have more time

4580
03:33:54,925 --> 03:33:57,965
to process feedback if you received any, if you defer to me.

4581
03:33:59,315 --> 03:34:00,525
Sure. Okay.

4582
03:34:03,725 --> 03:34:04,725
I don't, we don't have

4583
03:34:04,725 --> 03:34:06,365
to make this decision at this moment though.

4584
03:34:06,885 --> 03:34:08,685
I, I can keep the placeholder on Yeah.

4585
03:34:08,815 --> 03:34:09,885
Until your next meeting. Let's

4586
03:34:09,885 --> 03:34:10,885
Do that.

4587
03:34:10,885 --> 03:34:15,185
Okay. And maybe we can, you know,

4588
03:34:15,195 --> 03:34:18,025
we're gonna have our goals meeting next week so we'll see

4589
03:34:18,025 --> 03:34:20,905
how many things are on our plate for the fall

4590
03:34:21,845 --> 03:34:24,745
and once we understand that kind of,

4591
03:34:24,925 --> 03:34:27,225
we can game it out, see if there's enough time.

4592
03:34:28,005 --> 03:34:29,905
But that seems pretty tight. I'd hate to

4593
03:34:32,365 --> 03:34:33,365
To the hearing.

4594
03:34:33,365 --> 03:34:36,425
It feels like you're better fit, but if you want hear it.

4595
03:34:36,615 --> 03:34:37,615
Yeah.

4596
03:34:40,525 --> 03:34:44,025
The next article on the top page seven is the Home Rule

4597
03:34:44,025 --> 03:34:46,505
that Miles just presented to the board

4598
03:34:46,805 --> 03:34:49,265
and it sounds like support to move forward with that.

4599
03:34:49,965 --> 03:34:51,105
So we'll keep that on.

4600
03:34:51,885 --> 03:34:55,785
Deputy time manager director finance is working on potential

4601
03:34:55,785 --> 03:34:58,865
recommendations for real estate tax exemptions.

4602
03:34:58,965 --> 03:35:00,945
So adjustments to our existing programs

4603
03:35:01,485 --> 03:35:02,985
to expand eligibility.

4604
03:35:04,415 --> 03:35:08,305
Next steps on that would be he'll, he will be presenting

4605
03:35:08,605 --> 03:35:09,785
to the board of assessors

4606
03:35:09,785 --> 03:35:11,065
and getting their feedback on that.

4607
03:35:11,805 --> 03:35:14,745
So my plan for the select board is to wait

4608
03:35:14,745 --> 03:35:16,745
for those conversations so then it can be presented

4609
03:35:16,745 --> 03:35:18,345
to you in full with that feedback.

4610
03:35:19,015 --> 03:35:22,905
There's also an abatement related to affordable housing.

4611
03:35:24,005 --> 03:35:28,505
So like if residents rent a unit

4612
03:35:29,005 --> 03:35:33,145
to someone who is, you know, below a certain income level

4613
03:35:33,655 --> 03:35:36,345
that a homeowner is eligible for residential abatement,

4614
03:35:36,745 --> 03:35:40,025
I maybe we can discuss it during the, the board hearing.

4615
03:35:40,705 --> 03:35:42,265
I I, if we wanted to opt in, it would have

4616
03:35:42,265 --> 03:35:45,545
to be on town meeting timing would have to approve it.

4617
03:35:46,015 --> 03:35:48,465
Okay. I'll ask do you To follow up. Okay.

4618
03:35:52,845 --> 03:35:56,255
Okay. And there are two

4619
03:35:57,375 --> 03:35:59,655
articles related to changes to revolving funds.

4620
03:35:59,895 --> 03:36:02,055
I think we discussed briefly at your last meeting.

4621
03:36:02,155 --> 03:36:04,895
One to just move the park

4622
03:36:04,895 --> 03:36:08,295
and rec revolving fund to a more modern, modern structure

4623
03:36:08,955 --> 03:36:12,415
and to replace our current revolving fund

4624
03:36:12,555 --> 03:36:15,695
for traveling meals to replace it

4625
03:36:15,695 --> 03:36:17,575
with a community nutrition revolving fund

4626
03:36:17,925 --> 03:36:20,895
that would just allow it for a broader set of purposes

4627
03:36:20,895 --> 03:36:23,695
around food, food insecurity and community nutrition

4628
03:36:24,555 --> 03:36:26,255
For the park and record revolving fund, does

4629
03:36:26,255 --> 03:36:29,175
that eliminate the existing revolving fund?

4630
03:36:31,275 --> 03:36:33,095
Yes, that's the intent. That's yes.

4631
03:36:33,915 --> 03:36:37,645
And the fund For the, for the community nutrition,

4632
03:36:39,225 --> 03:36:43,965
are we doing this in anticipation of Beth Israel not

4633
03:36:44,645 --> 03:36:45,965
participating in that program or is this

4634
03:36:45,965 --> 03:36:47,045
an expansion of the program?

4635
03:36:48,305 --> 03:36:52,125
So it is not driven by our current arrangement

4636
03:36:52,125 --> 03:36:53,205
with BID Needham.

4637
03:36:54,505 --> 03:36:56,325
The Public Health Division

4638
03:36:56,385 --> 03:37:00,205
and Aging Services has broadly been working on thinking

4639
03:37:00,205 --> 03:37:02,845
about expanded community nutrition programs.

4640
03:37:03,165 --> 03:37:05,405
A part of that would be if we ever needed

4641
03:37:05,425 --> 03:37:08,565
to take on the services that BID Needham provides for us,

4642
03:37:08,745 --> 03:37:09,925
how could we or would we,

4643
03:37:10,265 --> 03:37:12,085
but it's, the motivation

4644
03:37:12,085 --> 03:37:14,365
for this is I think more, more broad.

4645
03:37:14,575 --> 03:37:17,565
We'll have the updated kitchen at the center at the heights

4646
03:37:17,565 --> 03:37:20,725
after construction's completed this year

4647
03:37:21,305 --> 03:37:24,405
and we'll be able to do a lot more offerings in-house.

4648
03:37:25,545 --> 03:37:27,645
So this revolving fund is a way to

4649
03:37:29,265 --> 03:37:31,845
use the existing revolving fund mechanism more broadly.

4650
03:37:32,365 --> 03:37:34,005
I think it'd be great to have a presentation on this

4651
03:37:34,025 --> 03:37:35,125
and learn more about the program.

4652
03:37:36,625 --> 03:37:37,805
Yep. Great.

4653
03:37:37,985 --> 03:37:39,525
I'm actually on the board of the traveling meals

4654
03:37:39,545 --> 03:37:40,805
and we get a lot of requests

4655
03:37:40,805 --> 03:37:42,685
besides just getting the meals delivered

4656
03:37:43,225 --> 03:37:46,125
for things like can, can we bring someone to Cath

4657
03:37:46,425 --> 03:37:48,405
and provide them with breakfast to do things like that.

4658
03:37:48,465 --> 03:37:50,885
So I think it is basically the expansion of,

4659
03:37:51,065 --> 03:37:52,165
of, of the program.

4660
03:37:52,425 --> 03:37:55,325
So when we get requests, you know,

4661
03:37:55,385 --> 03:37:56,845
we will be able to do more things.

4662
03:38:00,375 --> 03:38:05,045
Great. And the last two

4663
03:38:05,045 --> 03:38:08,725
placeholders are takings related to

4664
03:38:10,185 --> 03:38:14,405
infrastructure projects that you've heard from DPW about.

4665
03:38:15,105 --> 03:38:17,325
The first is we have an intersection improvement

4666
03:38:18,045 --> 03:38:19,885
project at Great Plain and Central.

4667
03:38:20,685 --> 03:38:22,165
A voluntary taking would be

4668
03:38:22,685 --> 03:38:24,285
required at the Presbyterian church.

4669
03:38:25,245 --> 03:38:26,845
DPW is in touch with the church

4670
03:38:27,545 --> 03:38:31,085
and they have expressed their willingness to donate the land

4671
03:38:31,185 --> 03:38:32,765
for the improvements that are needed.

4672
03:38:33,245 --> 03:38:35,125
But this would require town meeting action.

4673
03:38:35,945 --> 03:38:39,925
And from the presentation you just heard that

4674
03:38:40,465 --> 03:38:42,845
an easement needed at Dedham Ave and South Street

4675
03:38:46,065 --> 03:38:49,445
Can we, is the design for great plan

4676
03:38:49,445 --> 03:38:52,005
and central at a stage where it's ready for a presentation?

4677
03:38:52,605 --> 03:38:56,205
Yeah, I can follow up with DPW director on that. Okay.

4678
03:39:02,385 --> 03:39:05,365
And I do wanna note that I had mentioned this at your

4679
03:39:05,725 --> 03:39:07,725
previous meeting, but one of the articles

4680
03:39:07,725 --> 03:39:10,725
that you do not see on here is design funds requested

4681
03:39:10,745 --> 03:39:14,245
for Great Plain Avenue improvements that you voted earlier.

4682
03:39:15,385 --> 03:39:19,645
My recommendation is to have that be for the May 27th

4683
03:39:20,475 --> 03:39:25,205
town meeting, given the level of engagement, interest number

4684
03:39:25,205 --> 03:39:26,405
of stakeholders in that project.

4685
03:39:26,825 --> 03:39:29,085
If we defer the article to May,

4686
03:39:29,115 --> 03:39:32,005
that would allow our staff team to be able

4687
03:39:32,005 --> 03:39:35,285
to map out the full design process, bring the process

4688
03:39:35,505 --> 03:39:38,445
to the board to make sure that we are in agreement,

4689
03:39:38,475 --> 03:39:40,245
have the same expectations about how

4690
03:39:40,245 --> 03:39:43,445
that design process would run, what community engagement

4691
03:39:43,445 --> 03:39:46,245
or stakeholder engagement would look like, what staff

4692
03:39:46,265 --> 03:39:47,565
and our technical expertise

4693
03:39:47,565 --> 03:39:49,765
and consultants would be working on.

4694
03:39:50,665 --> 03:39:53,445
And then we'd be able to have that presented

4695
03:39:53,445 --> 03:39:55,165
to the board in advance of Maytown meeting

4696
03:39:55,755 --> 03:39:58,485
when the design funds are requested, we'd be able

4697
03:39:58,485 --> 03:40:00,565
to answer a lot of questions that I anticipate we,

4698
03:40:00,745 --> 03:40:02,125
we would get from town meeting members.

4699
03:40:03,065 --> 03:40:04,405
Yep. Sounds reasonable.

4700
03:40:09,055 --> 03:40:11,805
Madam Chair, I move the board vote to call for

4701
03:40:11,905 --> 03:40:12,925
and open the warrant

4702
03:40:13,065 --> 03:40:16,525
for the October 19th, 2026 special town meeting.

4703
03:40:16,665 --> 03:40:17,665
Second.

4704
03:40:18,635 --> 03:40:23,565
Okay. Kathy? Yes. Bill?

4705
03:40:23,705 --> 03:40:28,365
Yes. Josh? Yes. Kevin. Aye. Can I vote? Yes.

4706
03:40:29,255 --> 03:40:31,205
Great. Next

4707
03:40:35,425 --> 03:40:38,205
The Commissioner of trust funds will have a vacancy

4708
03:40:38,785 --> 03:40:41,365
at the end of August and I will be brief

4709
03:40:41,385 --> 03:40:44,165
and I think maybe turn it over to the vice chair just

4710
03:40:44,165 --> 03:40:47,925
to know procedurally the town clerk

4711
03:40:48,245 --> 03:40:49,405
provided the select board

4712
03:40:49,555 --> 03:40:51,925
with a letter outlining the available options

4713
03:40:52,065 --> 03:40:56,525
to the board relative to filling that position by a joint

4714
03:40:57,165 --> 03:40:59,325
appointment process with the commissioner of trust funds

4715
03:40:59,345 --> 03:41:00,765
or via special election.

4716
03:41:01,665 --> 03:41:03,285
The commission did send a letter

4717
03:41:03,345 --> 03:41:05,925
to the board expressing their interest in participating in a

4718
03:41:05,925 --> 03:41:06,925
joint appointment process.

4719
03:41:07,905 --> 03:41:09,565
And I will turn it over

4720
03:41:09,845 --> 03:41:11,925
'cause I think those conversations are underway.

4721
03:41:11,975 --> 03:41:15,685
Thank you. So I, we, the chair

4722
03:41:15,785 --> 03:41:17,685
of the Commissioner of Trust Hunts

4723
03:41:17,685 --> 03:41:20,005
and I have a meeting scheduled tomorrow night

4724
03:41:20,585 --> 03:41:22,485
in anticipation that the board wants

4725
03:41:22,485 --> 03:41:24,165
to move ahead with appointing.

4726
03:41:24,865 --> 03:41:26,285
If not, we can cancel that meeting.

4727
03:41:26,985 --> 03:41:31,045
But the, the chair has indicated that she wishes to fill it

4728
03:41:31,045 --> 03:41:32,045
as quickly as possible.

4729
03:41:33,325 --> 03:41:34,925
I think we could probably accommodate that.

4730
03:41:35,845 --> 03:41:40,325
I would propose a, a similar process as the Park

4731
03:41:40,325 --> 03:41:42,205
and Rec commission where we notice it

4732
03:41:42,425 --> 03:41:43,845
for two consecutive weeks

4733
03:41:44,425 --> 03:41:47,005
and then I think that would allow us time to

4734
03:41:49,515 --> 03:41:53,165
hold an appointment with a, with a joint appointment

4735
03:41:53,445 --> 03:41:56,005
with both boards during our regular September 22nd

4736
03:41:56,005 --> 03:41:58,045
meeting if that works.

4737
03:41:59,345 --> 03:42:00,485
Sounds fine. Okay.

4738
03:42:03,355 --> 03:42:06,605
Okay, great. Okay,

4739
03:42:09,185 --> 03:42:10,805
Lastly town manager report.

4740
03:42:11,565 --> 03:42:15,485
I just wanna know, we have had two notable retirements

4741
03:42:15,665 --> 03:42:17,445
of DPW foreman this summer.

4742
03:42:17,505 --> 03:42:19,245
So I just wanna share a little bit about them particularly

4743
03:42:19,245 --> 03:42:20,885
because they may be a little bit more

4744
03:42:21,185 --> 03:42:22,845
behind the scenes for some folks.

4745
03:42:23,205 --> 03:42:25,125
They're well known in our eyes.

4746
03:42:25,225 --> 03:42:29,365
But Doug Manje retired on June 30th.

4747
03:42:29,675 --> 03:42:31,205
He's a well recognized member

4748
03:42:31,265 --> 03:42:33,085
of our parks and forestry division.

4749
03:42:33,745 --> 03:42:36,645
He was instrumental in kind of all of the operations of

4750
03:42:36,645 --> 03:42:37,925
that division and ensuring

4751
03:42:37,925 --> 03:42:40,165
that our fields were are safe and beautiful.

4752
03:42:40,305 --> 03:42:43,765
And I'd say particularly in, in talking with the team,

4753
03:42:44,465 --> 03:42:47,325
our most visible events where people really get to access

4754
03:42:47,385 --> 03:42:51,005
and work be in our

4755
03:42:51,875 --> 03:42:54,285
park spaces July 3rd and fourth events

4756
03:42:54,505 --> 03:42:58,285
and the Memorial Day tournament being those two big ones,

4757
03:42:58,825 --> 03:43:00,965
he was instrumental and had a lot of knowledge.

4758
03:43:02,985 --> 03:43:05,925
And I will also note he was our irrigation expert

4759
03:43:06,745 --> 03:43:09,125
and kept the town systems going over the years.

4760
03:43:09,185 --> 03:43:11,685
So I think, you know, we're, we have a lot of systems

4761
03:43:11,685 --> 03:43:13,285
that are different and hand run

4762
03:43:13,585 --> 03:43:16,125
and require the expertise of someone like Doug.

4763
03:43:18,215 --> 03:43:20,205
Jerry Sharp retired on August 7th

4764
03:43:20,465 --> 03:43:22,285
and he is the lead

4765
03:43:22,285 --> 03:43:24,285
of the water sewer drains construction crew.

4766
03:43:25,275 --> 03:43:29,565
They are responsible for responding in all emergencies to

4767
03:43:30,425 --> 03:43:32,005
the distribution systems that we have.

4768
03:43:32,005 --> 03:43:34,125
And this is core life health safety work.

4769
03:43:35,835 --> 03:43:40,325
They Jerry also, in addition to responding to emergencies

4770
03:43:40,325 --> 03:43:42,885
because we have the talent in house, he was able

4771
03:43:42,885 --> 03:43:45,245
with his crew to do a lot of proactive projects

4772
03:43:45,405 --> 03:43:47,445
that are small, smaller in nature.

4773
03:43:47,545 --> 03:43:50,805
So a smaller dia, dia diameter main replacement

4774
03:43:51,625 --> 03:43:53,885
and other utility projects that we didn't have to go

4775
03:43:55,165 --> 03:43:56,485
contract out because we had the

4776
03:43:56,485 --> 03:43:58,005
expertise and the talent in-house.

4777
03:43:58,985 --> 03:44:01,885
So over the years Jerry has trained dozens

4778
03:44:01,885 --> 03:44:05,085
of staff members on how to manage our distribution systems

4779
03:44:05,145 --> 03:44:06,405
and respond to emergencies.

4780
03:44:06,785 --> 03:44:07,885
And this is to the benefit

4781
03:44:07,985 --> 03:44:09,885
of every single person in Needham

4782
03:44:10,165 --> 03:44:11,605
businesses residents alike.

4783
03:44:11,745 --> 03:44:13,605
So they both will be missed

4784
03:44:13,705 --> 03:44:16,325
and we thank them very much for their service. So

4785
03:44:16,745 --> 03:44:18,805
Do we send them a appreciation letter

4786
03:44:18,805 --> 03:44:20,045
like we do for committee members?

4787
03:44:20,405 --> 03:44:21,765
I don't know why we wouldn't for them.

4788
03:44:22,985 --> 03:44:24,485
You know, we haven't had a formal

4789
03:44:24,825 --> 03:44:25,825
System.

4790
03:44:25,825 --> 03:44:26,765
We talked, we talk about that a lot

4791
03:44:26,765 --> 03:44:27,845
with I think that's a great idea.

4792
03:44:27,865 --> 03:44:29,965
Can we formalize? Yeah. Yeah.

4793
03:44:30,525 --> 03:44:31,525
I mean I know both of them

4794
03:44:31,525 --> 03:44:32,845
and they both were unbelievable.

4795
03:44:32,875 --> 03:44:35,085
Yeah. You know, so I think they would

4796
03:44:35,085 --> 03:44:36,205
appreciate something like that too.

4797
03:44:36,705 --> 03:44:38,645
Yep. I mean personally,

4798
03:44:38,825 --> 03:44:41,285
but I think it would be better coming from,

4799
03:44:41,835 --> 03:44:43,925
Yeah. Excellent.

4800
03:44:43,925 --> 03:44:47,965
Congratulations. Both. That's it.

4801
03:44:48,315 --> 03:44:51,405
Okay. So thank you.

4802
03:44:52,265 --> 03:44:56,445
And the next thing is committee reports expect this to be

4803
03:44:57,695 --> 03:44:59,525
reasonably quick 'cause it's a summer.

4804
03:44:59,975 --> 03:45:04,005
We'll start with Kathy. No reports.

4805
03:45:05,285 --> 03:45:06,725
Excellent. Thank you Bill.

4806
03:45:07,125 --> 03:45:09,485
I was lucky enough to go to the Needham night out

4807
03:45:09,485 --> 03:45:11,365
that the Needham Police sponsored last week.

4808
03:45:11,385 --> 03:45:13,005
And it, it was a great event.

4809
03:45:13,005 --> 03:45:14,445
It was great to see so many families there,

4810
03:45:14,465 --> 03:45:16,325
but one of the best things was see how many

4811
03:45:16,965 --> 03:45:18,885
families had repeated.

4812
03:45:19,035 --> 03:45:20,125
They came here after year

4813
03:45:20,145 --> 03:45:22,205
and there was a picture on social media

4814
03:45:22,225 --> 03:45:25,125
of Eddie Tis on his police, the motorcycle.

4815
03:45:25,745 --> 03:45:27,925
And they had brought a picture of when they came nine years

4816
03:45:27,945 --> 03:45:30,325
ago with their child and they came back with that child

4817
03:45:30,425 --> 03:45:31,485
and put 'em on the motorcycle.

4818
03:45:31,505 --> 03:45:34,645
We took it. So it was great to we to see them back there.

4819
03:45:34,985 --> 03:45:37,485
And then Kevin and I attended the Purple Heart

4820
03:45:38,175 --> 03:45:40,285
event the last Friday evening.

4821
03:45:40,285 --> 03:45:41,365
Kevin did a great job

4822
03:45:41,505 --> 03:45:43,765
and I wish we could get more publicity about it,

4823
03:45:43,765 --> 03:45:46,845
get more people there, but we'll that's for another day.

4824
03:45:47,515 --> 03:45:49,725
Good. Great. Thank you. Josh.

4825
03:45:50,545 --> 03:45:51,845
We talked about Commissioner of Trust funds.

4826
03:45:51,845 --> 03:45:53,605
Just wanted to give an update on Park and Rec.

4827
03:45:54,185 --> 03:45:55,525
The interviews will be conducted

4828
03:45:55,525 --> 03:45:58,205
during their regular meeting on August 24th.

4829
03:46:00,125 --> 03:46:02,885
I don't believe that that at 7:00 PM I don't believe

4830
03:46:02,885 --> 03:46:04,045
the location has been announced.

4831
03:46:05,435 --> 03:46:08,645
Park Rosemary Recreational complex multi-purpose room.

4832
03:46:08,775 --> 03:46:11,365
Thank you. Rosemary Recreational. Okay, perfect.

4833
03:46:11,585 --> 03:46:13,125
So ever welcome to,

4834
03:46:13,125 --> 03:46:14,565
to watch including members of Psych board.

4835
03:46:14,635 --> 03:46:17,205
Yeah. And can you remind us how many candidates?

4836
03:46:17,445 --> 03:46:20,685
I believe eight. That's great. Great. Kevin?

4837
03:46:21,955 --> 03:46:24,925
Same. I went to the National Night out on the

4838
03:46:24,925 --> 03:46:26,885
fourth and it was, it was great.

4839
03:46:26,985 --> 03:46:29,045
It was, it was good to see me police

4840
03:46:29,065 --> 03:46:31,125
and do you know, community policing and outreach

4841
03:46:32,305 --> 03:46:34,485
and then the purple head ceremony too. It

4842
03:46:34,485 --> 03:46:35,485
Was great.

4843
03:46:35,485 --> 03:46:36,845
It was actually very nice.

4844
03:46:37,645 --> 03:46:41,245
Excellent. And I'll just say one thing today was the,

4845
03:46:41,865 --> 03:46:45,405
the Red Cross blood drive hosted by the town,

4846
03:46:45,405 --> 03:46:47,925
which is usually held cath caths under construction.

4847
03:46:47,925 --> 03:46:50,045
So it was up in beautiful powers hall

4848
03:46:50,705 --> 03:46:53,765
and really just a spectacular room to do anything in,

4849
03:46:53,765 --> 03:46:54,885
including give blood.

4850
03:46:55,065 --> 03:46:58,205
And so if you too wanna give blood, you can do

4851
03:46:58,205 --> 03:47:02,165
so on November 12th, which is their next, their next

4852
03:47:03,035 --> 03:47:06,845
date in Power Hall for that blood drive. All right.

4853
03:47:07,395 --> 03:47:09,725
Move we adjourn. Second.

4854
03:47:10,925 --> 03:47:15,805
Excellent. Kathy? Yes. Bill? Yes.

4855
03:47:16,155 --> 03:47:18,285
Josh? Yes. Kevin, don't start.

4856
03:47:18,945 --> 03:47:21,485
Yes. And the chair votes. Yes. Thank you.

4857
03:47:21,505 --> 03:47:22,085
And goodnight.