[0:08] All right. Good evening. It is Tuesday, March 24th, 6:00 p.m. and I call this

[0:11] meeting of the North Brookfield Board of Selectmen to order. If you all rise and

[0:15] salute the flag.

[0:18] Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the

[0:23] Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and

[0:29] justice for all. >> [clears throat]

[0:32] » All right. So, our meeting is starting a little different tonight than usual cuz

[0:37] we have a public hearing posted for 6:00 p.m.

[0:41] And that is [snorts] for the CDBG application. And who's here for

[0:47] that? Okay.

[0:50] Um What's your name again? Shannon Sullivan

[0:52] and I'm from Central Mass Regional Planning Commission. All right, Shannon

[0:56] Sullivan. Thank you. Can you hear me all right here, okay? Um

[0:59] I think so. I think they can hear you everywhere.

[1:02] Hi. Uh good evening, everyone. Uh my name is Shannon Sullivan. I'm the

[1:05] Community Development Planner at the Central Mass Regional Planning

[1:08] Commission or CMRPC. Uh we are the state-designated regional planning

[1:13] agency for North Brookfield. Um if you haven't signed in yet, you can

[1:16] please sign in at the sign-in sheet right over there.

[1:19] Uh the purpose of this public hearing tonight is for a presentation and

[1:23] discussion of the fiscal year 2026 Community Development Block Grant

[1:27] application. Our Board of Selectmen vote is required to authorize the submission

[1:32] of the application by CMRPC on the town's behalf. A handout located over

[1:37] near the sign-in sheet is also available to reference the presentation.

[1:41] CDBG or Community Development Block Grant was enacted in 1974 by President

[1:46] Gerald Ford. And it's federal funding which comes through the US Department of

[1:50] Housing and Urban Development or HUD. There are approximately 11 entitlement

[1:55] communities in the state which are granted large federal funding

[1:59] automatically based on their populations. So, places like Boston and

[2:02] Springfield and Worcester. Small communities like North Brookfield known

[2:06] as non-entitlement communities follow a competitive process in which not all

[2:10] communities are given CDBG funding. So, projects under CDBG must meet three

[2:16] national objectives. The first, benefiting low to moderate-income

[2:19] populations which is verified by income survey and qualification process and or

[2:24] census data. Elderly and disabled persons are generally considered to meet

[2:28] that low to moderate-income criteria. The second national objective is to

[2:32] remove or prevent slums and blight on an area basis which is verified through an

[2:37] inventory and report or for a single property a spot designation. And lastly,

[2:42] a response to a community development or urgent need by special request only

[2:46] which is very rare. Eligible project types can include

[2:49] infrastructure like roads, sidewalks, sewer, water and drainage, ADA-related

[2:54] ADA-related improvements like elevators, sidewalks, access and

[2:59] ramps, public facility improvements such as senior centers and public housing,

[3:03] but that's not for general use municipal buildings such as town hall or DPW

[3:07] garages, um housing rehabilitation, parks and recreation, planning, design

[3:12] and improvements for parks and playgrounds, environmental remediation

[3:16] like a brownfields assessment, planning, architectural and engineering designs

[3:20] and social services like literacy and domestic violence prevention.

[3:25] There's no municipal financial outlay required to apply for funding to manage

[3:29] and to manage projects and there's no local match required. The state assigns

[3:33] a community needs score to each entitlement community that affects the

[3:37] competitiveness of each community's application.

[3:40] North Brookfield's needs score is a nine out of 10 in the fiscal year 2026

[3:44] program which reflects a high need. So, the proposed project for the fiscal

[3:49] year 2026 application is the South Common Street and Saint Clare Avenue

[3:53] improvements project which may include the design and construction of surface

[3:57] and subsurface public works infrastructure improvements within the

[4:00] existing public right-of-way on South Common Street and Saint Clare Avenue.

[4:05] The preliminary budget presented tonight is not yet finalized, but it will be in

[4:09] the ballpark of what is presented. Um here first, there is a maximum amount

[4:14] of $950,000 that the town can apply for meaning that

[4:18] the budget will not exceed that amount. So, first, this includes design and

[4:22] construction activities which is going to be approximately $810,000

[4:28] including the design and construction of the subsurface and surface public works

[4:32] improvements. In addition, the preliminary budget for

[4:35] grant administration and program delivery is approximately $130,000

[4:41] which includes overall grant management and technical administrative support,

[4:44] community development and support, travel, advertising, training and

[4:48] education, contractor management, etc. The total budget is to not exceed

[4:53] $950,000 as that's the maximum the town can apply

[4:57] for like I said earlier. Uh this project was identified in the

[5:00] town's East Side Neighborhood Infrastructure Study funded by a

[5:03] previous CDBG grant in fact in 2014. It was recommended due to the existing

[5:09] conditions, location, available funds and projected costs.

[5:13] Meetings and communications with town public works officials have taken place

[5:16] to develop scoping and project phasing. In addition to date, community outreach

[5:22] has included various website postings, neighborhood outreach including a

[5:25] resident input letter mailed a few weeks ago, this advertised public hearing

[5:29] tonight, and an upcoming resident meeting being held Wednesday, April 1st

[5:33] at 6:00 p.m. at the Senior Center. We encourage residents to attend that.

[5:38] This year's application is due on Tuesday, April 21st about a month from

[5:42] now. Awards are typically announced in either the summer or the fall.

[5:46] Uh from here, I can answer any questions and I request for the recommended motion

[5:51] as stated at the bottom of this page. Thank you.

[5:55] Thank you. Good job. Thank you.

[5:58] » [clears throat] >> Jamie, do you have any questions?

[6:10] All right. Um

[6:17] » [clears throat]

[6:20] » So, but I'd ask if anybody has questions out in the audience.

[6:27] Um Question Questions need to be asked

[6:30] through the chair so there's no back and forth, you know.

[6:34] Um it's going to be a little difficult sometimes, but

[6:37] but I'd be Why was that area targeted for improvement?

[6:42] Um so, as I had said, it was pri- originally prioritized in an

[6:45] infrastructure study for the East Side Neighborhood that was funded through a

[6:49] 2014 CDBG grant. Uh that study identified improvements for subsurface

[6:54] infrastructure like water and sewer as well as surface such as streets and

[6:58] sidewalks. Um this project was prioritized in that study and in the

[7:02] recent community engagement efforts that we've done, this project was also

[7:06] prioritized through that. Um [snorts] so, that's where the where

[7:09] the project came from. Thank you. Yeah.

[7:13] John. Just for for [snorts] more information

[7:17] for the townspeople, a few years ago uh we had a

[7:22] drainage issue with some surface drainage and some of the houses on Saint

[7:27] Clare Ave. Their sewer

[7:30] was not going in proper locations.

[7:34] That's kind of what put this thing on the on the upscale part of it. I know

[7:41] they went and cameras up those pipes and they're bad.

[7:46] So, that's what the subsurface, I think that you guys are talking about. People

[7:50] don't know what that stuff is, but I was there when they did the cameras up.

[7:53] And subsurface that's going to be taken care of there is the water and the sewer

[7:57] and the probably the

[7:59] uh storm drain culvert pipes and everything because

[8:03] it's all intertwined up in that area. And then the sidewalks next to the park

[8:08] and all that will be good for the Senior Center

[8:11] um because it's right there. So, it's kind of like into the park and the

[8:14] playground and everything. So, it is a good idea to do that. Um and then on the

[8:19] other side of North Common Street a couple years ago when the town all the

[8:23] way up the sidewalk and parking on Saint Clare

[8:27] and the ramps all private. This side is and the playground

[8:32] is good. It's good for the

[8:34] Does anybody have any questions?

[8:41] Is there a scope or a

[8:44] drawing of the area and exactly what the infrastructure upgrades going to be? Do

[8:49] you have that somewhere? Not yet. Uh we are still in the process of phasing and

[8:53] scoping the project. So, we'll submit that with the application. If it's

[8:57] awarded, we will have that. Um and in the coming months, there will be a

[9:02] resident meeting where we would go over all of that with the with the project

[9:05] design. So, we don't have that quite yet.

[9:08] Okay. Excuse me, I'm Andrew Low also with the Central Mass Regional Planning

[9:12] Commission. So, this application is for the design

[9:16] of the project. So, we have a planning study from a few years ago that

[9:19] highlighted some of the need for the project, but it hasn't the specific

[9:22] improvements have not yet been designed. So, this grant would include design and

[9:26] as much construction of improvements as can be afforded within the grant budget.

[9:30] So, as Shannon says, the specific improvements there will be public

[9:34] engagement with the folks who live in that area as part of that design process

[9:37] just to make sure folks are aware of what's going on and you know, they may

[9:41] have concerns that engineers don't yet know about that can help with the design

[9:45] process. So, that would be forthcoming if and when

[9:48] the grant is funded. Thank you.

[9:51] Yes. Yes. >> [clears throat]

[9:53] » Real quick cuz I like numbers. So, your numbers not to exceed $950,000

[9:59] Mhm. in the preliminary approximate budget to design

[10:04] is 820, so that leaves 130 for the actual work to be

[10:09] The work has to be designed to be taken care of and handled within

[10:15] Correct me if I'm wrong, Jim, but the $820,000 includes design and as much

[10:19] construction Correct. Okay. done. So, most of that will be construction. Not

[10:23] all Not all of it will be that. The

[10:24] remainder there is for project management and grant

[10:28] Correct. compliance and that sort of thing.

[10:33] So, the the project, I would say, completely handled by CMRPC. Okay. Yeah.

[10:38] Yeah. Nothing asked Nothing required from the town Well, if it is a town

[10:43] grant, it would be a town project, but we will do all the legwork for the town.

[10:46] So, we'll help, you know, get it through environmental review. We'll put

[10:50] materials together Okay, and then you hear sign off of the invoices. Well, the

[10:54] the town will have an engineer under contract. We will have

[10:57] the procurement of that engineer. Um but it

[11:00] Um same thing with the construction contractor. It will be a town

[11:04] contractor, but we will help and the engineer will help with procurement of

[11:07] that contractor. So, we'll essentially be the town's project manager for this.

[11:12] Uh but again, with the town having opportunities to be

[11:15] involved and to over have oversight into Understood. So, you've got the headaches

[11:20] and we That's That's what we're here for. I

[11:23] like that. That's the 50 That's the 20. Or the 820.

[11:36] Anybody else have any questions?

[11:39] All right. Entertain a motion? I will make a motion

[11:43] to support and approve submission of the FY 26

[11:50] activity as presented today with allowance for minor budget or

[11:55] program adjustments and to authorize the chair and CFO to sign all documents

[12:01] required for the application.

[12:05] Second. All right. Any further discussion?

[12:08] Uh yeah, I got a question.

[12:11] Uh with allowance for minor budget and program adjustments, the minor budget

[12:16] adjustments, I'm assuming

[12:20] So, the cap is not to exceed 950, right? So,

[12:26] are we If it exceeds 950, does that put the town at Mhm. on the hook for the

[12:32] No, so the budget won't exceed $950,000. We're currently phasing and scoping the

[12:38] project to ensure it will not exceed $950,000.

[12:41] Okay. Okay.

[12:46] So, this application is for design of the full project and

[12:50] if the construction of everything can fit within this, we'll budget for that.

[12:54] Uh it may end up being a two-phase project depending on what budget comes

[12:57] As everybody knows, these things have gotten a lot more expensive the last

[13:00] five Mhm. >> Um

[13:03] but we will make sure that the construction part of it is budgeted with

[13:06] a contingency so that it doesn't go over. And if it is phased, we can try to

[13:10] make the phases organized in such a way that you're not going to be biting off

[13:14] more than you can chew with each grant for it.

[13:17] Okay, and then the And I guess the last question

[13:24] All right. >> [laughter]

[13:28] » Are we This is not a reimbursement type grant, correct? No. Okay.

[13:33] Okay.

[13:36] Thank you. All right.

[13:39] Ralph, you got anything? No. All right. All right. Jim has asked

[13:42] my question. All right.

[13:45] All in favor? Aye. Aye. Aye. All right.

[13:50] Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you.

[14:01] All right. Minutes. So, we got to do these

[14:05] uh two different

[14:08] groups. So, I'll entertain a motion to approve

[14:12] the minutes of 219 2026 and 33 2026 executive session. So

[14:19] moved. I'll second that. Um

[14:22] Ralph, you weren't here for those. Correct.

[14:25] Any discussion? No. All in favor? Aye. Aye.

[14:30] I will entertain a motion for the regular meeting and executive session

[14:34] meeting of 310 2026. So moved. Second.

[14:39] All right. Any discussion?

[14:44] All in favor? Aye. Aye. All right.

[14:52] I will entertain a motion to approve payroll warrant number 19 for

[14:56] $355,192.42,

[15:00] school warrant number 1076 for $126,131.43, [clears throat]

[15:06] the fire highway warrant for [clears throat] 1077 for $115,779.25,

[15:13] debt and interest warrant number 1078 for $6,364,800,

[15:20] general fund warrant number 1079 for $165,951.65,

[15:27] wastewater treatment plant upgrade number 1080 for $211,670

[15:32] and general fund postage uh 1081 for $1,038.06.

[15:39] So moved. Second. Motion's been made and seconded.

[15:42] Any discussion?

[15:46] All in favor? Aye. Aye. Aye.

[15:50] » [clears throat] >> All right.

[15:53] Uh we don't have financial items.

[15:58] Uh old business. Um

[16:01] Mr. Tripp, [clears throat] you want to give us a rundown on your

[16:04] notes here? The line of old business, is that how it

[16:07] works? That's how it used to work. Well, yeah. Okay.

[16:16] You guys got my letter or our letter from the

[16:20] Uh if you want to read it. Go ahead. If I could.

[16:25] Oh, we did read it, yeah.

[16:29] I would. So, you know I don't type things out, so

[16:32] I'll read it. Uh

[16:34] we had a a meeting the North Brookfield Memorial Park

[16:38] Committee was formed uh with myself, Ernie Rhymes, and

[16:42] Jessica Foulds. And

[16:45] we We organized the board that first night at the open meeting that at the

[16:49] senior center. And we wrote this

[16:52] I'll read the shorter version first. Uh under the auspices of the Board of

[16:56] Selectmen, this committee was formed as the North Brookfield Memorial Park

[17:01] Committee. Our first thing on our list is to name the park in the center of

[17:04] town North Brookfield Memorial Park. We are here to do just that. The Board

[17:09] of Selectmen can officially name the park with our recommendation to do so.

[17:16] At the meeting that we did discuss uh a month and a half two months ago,

[17:21] uh you guys wanted

[17:24] wanted a committee to to help name the park, so that's what we

[17:28] did. Um and I know Mr. Colburn was here. Uh

[17:32] he said that you guys could officially name

[17:35] the park the Memorial Park. So, that's that's the first final of the letter um

[17:40] of the meeting.

[17:43] Uh the second one is a little bit longer.

[17:45] It's kind of our mission statement that we came up with. In the early

[17:49] 1900s, the property described as 180 North Main Street became town property.

[17:54] And since then, it was a nice place to sit on

[17:57] a few benches or sit on the ground to reflect on the downtown area. Years

[18:02] past, the downtown stayed the same for the most part.

[18:05] In 2019, a new electronic sign board was installed and the electric and

[18:10] electricity was brought to a new panel board for distribution.

[18:14] In early 2020, as a member of the Select Board, I was given the opportunity to

[18:19] rebuild the park area. After many hours of working with friends

[18:23] and volunteers, plans and drawings were made.

[18:26] I became the leader of a great number of volunteers with unique talents and their

[18:31] own sets of skills. We began the work

[18:35] on the renovation. Donations were coming in rapidly and many

[18:39] » [clears throat] >> hours of manual labor from the

[18:41] volunteers. Almost all the park was created with donations. Some tractor

[18:45] work and truck haulings of dirt and materials was done by our highway

[18:49] department as we do. Uh the park was created in about eight

[18:53] months. The memorial table and benches were purchased by members of families

[18:58] and locals. The North Brookfield Memorial Park

[19:00] Committee intends to protect and maintain the park and build it as

[19:04] [clears throat] a memorial park. It

[19:07] It is now the centerpiece for travelers to gaze upon as they come to the park.

[19:12] For the first two years, the park and its name, the flower beds, walkways, and

[19:17] lawn were funded and maintained with donations of volunteers

[19:21] and volunteers performed the work. As the committee, we would ask the Board of

[19:25] Selectmen to come up with some town funds, a line item in the budget for

[19:29] this for this year and years to come. We can

[19:33] get volunteers to do the work. Thank you, the North Brookfield Memorial Park

[19:37] Committee.

[19:40] So, in a nutshell, we're going to take care of the park

[19:44] with volunteers. Uh I have equipment I can mow

[19:48] and I can get people to uh

[19:51] plant, maintain the flowers, uh and walkways

[19:56] and whatnot and like I said My wife and I have pretty much funded it

[20:01] for the most part. We did have a lot of people donate flowers

[20:05] and Mr. Allen donated the bark mulch for the

[20:09] park two years in a row. So that was a good

[20:16] But that's kind of it. We're going to start shortly here for tomorrow snowing.

[20:22] We'll get started on the flowers and what not.

[20:24] » [clears throat]

[20:26] » So it's up to you guys if you would formally name the park. I don't know if

[20:30] you're ready to do so or if there's paperwork that has to be done.

[20:35] Put it to a vote and Do either of you see a problem with that?

[20:39] No. No. All right. Just I have a question. Go ahead.

[20:42] For a North Brookfield Memorial Park, do you foresee

[20:48] monuments or plaques to famous North Brookfield residents from years past

[20:54] or anything like that? Just myself. We're going to put a bronze statue in

[20:58] front of you. Yeah. I'd like to wait for you to discuss it.

[21:03] No, there's nothing there. It's it's pretty much full now. I mean

[21:07] you could put a couple more benches. [clears throat] You have to put

[21:10] papers, you know, something. But what I like to do

[21:13] after it's formally named the memorial Excuse me. The memorial park, I'd like

[21:19] to put plaques and with plaques made

[21:22] we have two plaques on on one side of the bricks where the sign is.

[21:28] I'd like to make put a plaque in that says it's the memorial park with a date

[21:33] that it was actually built.

[21:35] » So who do who do we memorialize?

[21:40] It's it's a memorial park. The people that built it,

[21:44] donated to it, bought the >> [snorts]

[21:49] » benches and picnic tables, Christmas tree. Tara Hayes donated the Christmas

[21:54] tree and then my other person her son who passed away years ago.

[21:58] So it it is memorializing

[22:02] Gosh, probably 30 maybe people

[22:07] and their families. If you want to do something there, we

[22:11] could put something with a plaque with your name on it. In

[22:14] memory In memory of Ralph K and his family.

[22:18] Perhaps K. Well, I don't know. You know.

[22:21] So did did he answer your question? I guess.

[22:25] There won't be a bronze statue of me. I'm sorry.

[22:28] Just that fits on I just seems that we should be memorializing more than

[22:34] a couple of local I mean current people if if it's going

[22:38] to be a memorial park in my mind. The idea is to recognize You're welcome

[22:43] to donate a plaque with somebody's name on it in memorial of them.

[22:49] That's basically what it was. It is a You don't need to be

[22:54] a plaque.

[22:57] » [snorts]

[23:01] » All right. Is there a motion?

[23:06] I will make a motion to um

[23:11] Is there Is there any type of a of vetting

[23:15] process to memorializing anybody that or is it just

[23:19] anybody that donates uh something with their name on

[23:23] it? I I I think I think I'm I think I'm

[23:26] going to get to that after we get to this part cuz I I There's there's a

[23:30] piece of this that I I think we need to cover, too.

[23:34] But it has nothing to do with the name. I think

[23:39] » [clears throat] >> I will make a motion to

[23:45] name the Do you know the address of that?

[23:48] It was 188 on the green. 188 North Main? Yes. Yes.

[23:55] I will make a motion to name the site on 188 North Main Street, North Brookfield

[24:01] as the North Brookfield Memorial Park.

[24:08] All right. Discussion.

[24:12] All right. All in favor?

[24:14] Aye. Aye. All right.

[24:17] Do you have a I do have a question and I think that

[24:20] So there there's kind of two parts of this.

[24:23] Um And [snorts] I I I've looked around a

[24:27] little bit, but I I haven't found any records where

[24:31] the town accepted the benches as a donation.

[24:39] Um and I find that that is a common element to these like

[24:47] like along the rail trail. And you know As we were building it, I

[24:51] asked for donations. And we selectmen afterwards,

[24:56] I would take two minutes that I would at least get from you guys. Yeah. And I

[25:01] would thank the people for donating their

[25:04] whatever they donated. It should be in all the minutes. You can

[25:08] watch the movies. So those benches were were accepted in the selectmen's

[25:14] meetings afterwards. But they didn't have formal acceptance.

[25:20] Well, I don't know what you're talking about.

[25:21] I'm I'm not trying to give you a hard time.

[25:24] I just want to make sure we dot the i's and cross the t's.

[25:28] Any anything that's donated to the town needs to be we the board needs to vote

[25:34] to accept the donation. Right? And the piece of that is is that it it

[25:40] it now makes that bench town property. Right? It makes the bench town property,

[25:45] makes the plaque plaques town property. Um

[25:49] and you know, any research that I did, that's that's a kind of a core element

[25:54] of the plaques and the benches. Um and like I said, I didn't see any

[25:59] record of officially accepting those those donations.

[26:03] And I guess my point is if we hadn't officially accepted donations, it's

[26:07] probably something we need to take care of.

[26:12] Is that Sure. Okay. And so, you know, I I know

[26:16] you've got I've seen your records and I you know, you've got records for pretty

[26:20] much anybody and everybody that has donated bench or plaque. And I guess I

[26:25] would just ask could we >> [snorts]

[26:27] » could the committee provide us with a list of that? And we can just get it

[26:32] done officially in one fell swoop. And then going forward, I think the

[26:37] that answers the question as far as how it's vetted is that process of accepting

[26:42] that donation. Right? If somebody wants [clears throat and cough] to add

[26:44] something. Right? The board would accept that

[26:48] donation um to put it on the park to to accept it

[26:52] as town property and and place it in the park.

[26:56] Is that

[26:58] That's that seem reasonable? >> We weren't that formal when we when I

[27:01] was on the board. Follow that process. We took what people

[27:07] gave us and and I when I

[27:09] Yes. Sure. I'll give you whatever paperwork I

[27:12] don't I'm not I'm not again, I'm not trying to give you guys a hard time. I

[27:15] just want to make it official. I just want to make sure it's done right and

[27:17] and and that was that was definitely one thing when I

[27:21] looked around as to you know, how these things are handled.

[27:25] Um and you know, and they had policies where

[27:27] you know, the donation would be accepted and then they basically had kind of a

[27:31] timeline and say, okay, look if it's a bench, what's the average lifespan of a

[27:35] bench? Right? Because eventually you're going to get to the point where you

[27:40] know, the stuff the donation [snorts] is degraded and kind of falling apart and

[27:44] at that you know, at that point what do you do with it? Right? What's the

[27:47] process of dealing with it? Because you can't you know, something is falling

[27:51] apart, you can't be locked to keeping it there

[27:54] forever. There has to be some kind of recourse or some kind of way to kind of

[27:59] address it. Um

[28:01] But anyway, so I would I I guess I would I would ask if the committee could maybe

[28:06] uh give a list so we can again accept the donations and maybe some kind of

[28:11] loose policy as to okay, you know, the donations taken and here's how we

[28:16] evaluate the donations, you know, if it's

[28:20] if it's something that's falling apart and needs repaired, okay, we can repair

[28:23] it, but if it's something that's not repairable,

[28:25] right? Some way of kind of addressing that

[28:29] concern. Good.

[28:32] Good. Okay.

[28:36] Should we be approving it before it's

[28:41] actually done? In other words, I guess I'm thinking out loud.

[28:45] We're going to memorialize anybody who comes forward with a donation and want

[28:50] to donate a bench in honor of somebody.

[28:54] And we find out that that somebody

[28:59] maybe shouldn't be memorialized for whatever reason. Are we going to be

[29:03] doing that? What? I'm just asking the question.

[29:06] » much full unless there's more benches and

[29:10] you know, any donations now would be for flowers or maintenance

[29:14] or bark mulch or adds to the blocks. The

[29:19] benches that are there >> [clears throat]

[29:20] » from Frog down in

[29:23] It was Arkansas and they said forever benches.

[29:28] I'm not going to live forever, but hopefully [clears throat]

[29:30] when forever comes, they'll be there. They're made of

[29:33] recycled materials and they're

[29:37] set on there forever. But I can give you all that paperwork from them.

[29:42] They were made in the USA. All right.

[29:46] Yeah. I have a question on that. Sure. Sure. in his statement he asked

[29:52] about a budget and if he's looking for 2027,

[29:57] he's asking you guys someone needs to do something because the finance committee

[30:02] is currently looking at the budget and making cuts. So, there'll need to be a

[30:06] formal request put in soon.

[30:12] Thank you.

[30:16] » [clears throat] >> I just had a question about donations.

[30:18] Those would have to go into a gift account, correct? If they're financial

[30:21] donations, do we have a gift account for a park? I'll have to set up a separate

[30:26] one because it's in with another one and it just doesn't work that way.

[30:31] » I just wanted to make sure.

[30:38] All right. Is is is there There should still be a

[30:42] I don't know how Sheila had it set up, but a park donation fund for the only

[30:46] park. >> Right. There's about $75 in there right

[30:49] now. >> Yep. So, is that still active if

[30:52] somebody wants to donate to that? Yeah, but it like they said, when you if you

[30:57] got a list of donations, you'd have to bring it forth to them and then turn it

[31:01] over to the little you know, the little park. I'm going to make it separate I'm

[31:05] going to make a little park gift account so that it's not intervened with the

[31:10] selectmen gift that it was. Okay. So, that it will be specific to that. And

[31:15] after this it will be the memorial park. Well, yeah. I don't get that technical

[31:20] in Okay.

[31:24] Faith on the appointment.

[31:27] May I be allowed to ask a question? Is there any legality for changing it to

[31:32] a memorial park than a regular park or just a name?

[31:36] I don't think so. Just the name. Okay.

[31:42] Anything else? You good?

[31:46] Naming it's one thing, classifying it makes it I did see a lot of

[31:51] as far as like cemeteries I I think here we're we're naming it.

[31:57] That's That's That's a simple

[32:01] » [clears throat] >> So, do you guys have to accept these two

[32:05] things both

[32:07] or is that

[32:10] Um well, we named the park. Yeah. Um so,

[32:15] this mission statement, is that more like minutes from your meeting or is it

[32:19] It's like a history. No, it's That's It's two separate

[32:22] things. Looks like I'm It's more of a

[32:26] what the park was about. All right. How it was made and what it was about.

[32:29] Right. I will entertain a motion to

[32:31] [clears throat] accept um

[32:35] the mission statement and um

[32:39] report [clears throat] from the

[32:42] um memorial park committee. So moved.

[32:46] Second. Discussion?

[32:50] All in favor? Aye. Aye. All right.

[32:54] Did you vote on naming it also? Yeah, we did that.

[32:57] » that already. That was a long long time ago.

[33:00] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. All right.

[33:05] New business.

[33:08] Uh we have highway here. Um

[33:11] » [snorts] >> we have Justin Stearns looking to be

[33:14] uh hired by the highway department. Uh I will entertain a motion to

[33:21] hire Justin Stearns for the driver labor position. So moved.

[33:25] Second. All right. Discussion? Hi, Justin. Yes, sir.

[33:32] All right. So, what makes you want to do that?

[33:39] Looking to be closer to home and >> [clears throat]

[33:41] » providing community service to the community.

[33:45] » [snorts] >> All right.

[33:47] And uh Randy recommends hiring you, so

[33:51] you got any questions? No.

[33:55] Okay. All right. Uh

[33:58] What licenses do you have? I'm getting my

[34:02] » [laughter] >> reapplied my hoisting license and my CDL

[34:07] will be within the next 6 to 9 months. Okay.

[34:12] All right. Uh

[34:15] You want to just tell us a little bit about yourself real quick?

[34:19] Uh Justin Stearns, coming from family of butchers, Mike Stearns Custom

[34:23] Meats and Towing. I'm a

[34:26] jack of all trades, master of very few. Uh

[34:31] There's not much I won't attempt to do.

[34:34] Uh You [snorts] ask me I'll be there and

[34:37] I'll try my best. That's all I can

[34:40] give you. All right.

[34:42] Thank you very much. All right. Motion is made and seconded.

[34:46] All in favor? Aye. Aye. Aye. All right. Welcome aboard. Thanks, Mr.

[34:54] All right. We have

[34:57] Pamela Ducas. Yes. All right.

[35:00] So, Pamela Ducas is applying for the collector clerk position. She's been

[35:04] recommended by Kim Bett. Uh

[35:08] Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Sure. I was born and raised in

[35:12] this town. Um my family moved to East Brookfield in

[35:16] the early '80s and then I moved back when I remarried 2 years ago.

[35:22] So, I'm back in North Brookfield and in the meantime I've held a variety of

[35:27] different office jobs and I've worked with some very

[35:31] confidential type um information that I've had to keep so and stressful

[35:37] situations and um so forth. So, I think I'd be able to

[35:42] help him in the office. Help him get caught up and then help

[35:46] things go smoothly [snorts] going forward.

[35:49] All right. I will entertain a motion to appoint

[35:53] Pamela Ducas as the collector clerk. So moved.

[35:57] Second. Discussion? I'm familiar with Pam.

[36:02] » [clears throat] >> She

[36:03] at when she says under stress, she works under stress. She does She did a great

[36:08] job. She'll do awesome here.

[36:13] Okay. All right.

[36:15] » [clears throat] >> All in favor? Aye. Aye.

[36:18] Welcome aboard. Thank you very much. All right.

[36:25] We have a couple donations. Uh

[36:33] All right.

[36:36] Let's you speak, right? All right. What do you got? Uh

[36:41] North Brookfield Ambulance Service is donating uh

[36:44] an AED to the town in hopes that it will go into the fire department in case

[36:50] Daniel's out of town and they'll have a working AED on

[36:54] additional fire trucks.

[36:57] All right. Hopefully the highway never has to use it.

[37:01] Okay. Now, I'll entertain a motion to accept

[37:05] the um AED donations from emergency uh

[37:10] emergency medical services. So moved. Second.

[37:14] All right. Discussion?

[37:16] I'm going to Yeah, I know.

[37:20] We don't want All in favor?

[37:23] Aye. Aye. Aye. Thanks, Pete. Yeah. Definitely thank you, Pete.

[37:29] All right. The next thing we have is a donation

[37:33] from the North Brookfield Railroad Corporation

[37:37] to the town of North Brookfield.

[37:40] The Kubota tractor that the railroad

[37:43] corporation has, they're donating it to the town.

[37:48] Um I will entertain a motion to accept that donation.

[37:52] So moved. All right.

[37:54] Discussion?

[37:58] No. Aye.

[38:00] All in favor? Aye. Aye. Aye. All right.

[38:06] Uh next thing, water commissioners.

[38:10] We have their rules and regulations proposals.

[38:15] Uh Ralph, do you want to read the first one?

[38:18] Please.

[38:22] Read it in here? Yeah. This? No.

[38:26] Just this? You want to know what's in the

[38:30] where the letter is. Oh.

[38:33] Sorry. That's okay. And that's what it says. Yep, and then

[38:38] one in the back. Okay. Sorry about that.

[38:40] » No problem. Rules and regulations proposal. This proposal is to amend

[38:44] certain rules and regulations as described below and to take effect

[38:48] immediately following proper approval. If this proposal is accepted and

[38:52] approved approved, the next course of action would be to amend the fee

[38:56] schedule of the North Brookfield Water Department Rules and Regulations

[39:01] to include the fee of $70 for cross connection {slash} backflow inspections

[39:07] and the fee of $50 for final water sewer reads.

[39:11] Respectfully, Tim Mason, chairman Board of Water Commissioners.

[39:16] Okay. Thank you, Ralph. I'll read the next one.

[39:21] This proposal is to amend certain rules and regulations as

[39:25] described below and to take effect immediately following proper approval.

[39:28] If this proposal is accepted and approved, the next course of action

[39:31] would be to amend chapter nine, water billing information number one for the

[39:36] North Brookfield Water Department Rules and Regulations to read as follows.

[39:40] » [clears throat] >> Number one, water bills be issued

[39:43] quarterly based on the previous 3 months water usage.

[39:48] » [clears throat] >> And that replaces the bi-annual

[39:52] language.

[39:55] I'll entertain a motion to accept the bylaw changes for the water department.

[39:59] So moved. Second.

[40:01] Any discussion? Yeah, do we know what the

[40:07] Are they charging now for cross-connection and backflow

[40:11] inspection? Yes.

[40:14] Yeah. Do we know what that fee is? Sheila, do you know off the top of your

[40:18] head? Yes, but I can't think of it. It's um

[40:23] » [laughter] >> like $80 I believe.

[40:26] Okay, so they went up they went up 10 bucks. 10 bucks. Okay.

[40:30] » [clears throat]

[40:38] » All right, we made a motion and seconded it, right? Yes. All right, all in favor?

[40:41] Aye. Aye. All right.

[40:46] We have one more thing uh to read here.

[40:50] We have a resignation um

[40:53] from Thomas Bessette. Uh it says, "Dear Board of Selectmen,

[40:57] please accept this letter as my resignation as a member of the Board of

[41:00] Engineers and interim Deputy Chief North Brookfield Fire Department

[41:03] effective April 1st, 2026. For the last 19 [clears throat] years,

[41:08] the North Brookfield Fire Department has played an important role in my life.

[41:11] The training and skills I developed as a member laid the foundation for my career

[41:14] and I genuinely believe I would not be where I am now

[41:18] without this department. I wish to express my appreciation to the Select

[41:21] Board for granting me the opportunity to contribute to the department's

[41:24] leadership during the recent period of transition. I would also like to extend

[41:28] my gratitude to the members of the North Brookfield Fire Department for their

[41:30] ongoing support throughout the years. The professionalism and commitment to

[41:35] community service consistently demonstrated by this dedicated team

[41:38] distinguish them among all among call departments in the region.

[41:43] As I transition from my position with the North Brookfield Fire Department, I

[41:46] remain committed to supporting the town and the remaining Board of Engineers in

[41:49] any way that may be beneficial. Sincerely, Thomas A. Bessette."

[41:55] » [clears throat] >> I will entertain a motion to accept uh

[41:58] Tom Bessette's resignation. So moved. Second.

[42:02] All right, discussion? I wish him the best on his

[42:07] new career. New career. All right,

[42:11] all in favor? Thanking for his service. Yeah.

[42:14] All in favor? Aye. Aye. Thank you, Tom. All right, next we have a

[42:23] Chapter 90 funds and highway operations

[42:27] um discussion and uh

[42:31] PowerPoint, right? Yes, sir. Keeps me on point. All right,

[42:35] I'm going to get out of the way then. Since you're going to do it on the

[42:38] screen. The big screen.

[42:55] Wake up. We're trying, I'm trying.

[43:00] I think

[43:03] It's on. It's coming.

[43:18] That's why he's the chief. Yeah.

[43:21] Yeah, because my the technology glowing technological advancements here. Uh we

[43:26] learned to use it too long.

[43:33] No big deal. I don't know what you did, but it was up

[43:36] there before. Yeah, it just uh sometimes it goes to sleep.

[43:43] » [snorts]

[44:04] » You can see it now.

[44:14] Is it okay with that?

[44:18] We have

[44:26] We're on camera. I know, that's it.

[44:30] You look good. Damn, you looking good.

[44:35] Looking good.

[44:54] There you go. What's that all about?

[44:59] There we go.

[45:05] » [snorts]

[45:15] » Thank you, sir. Mhm. All right.

[45:19] So um Chapter 90 is tends to be a subject that gets talked about a lot and

[45:25] I can say from my own experience that

[45:30] um I didn't really have an understanding of

[45:33] how it worked. Um and it's some of it still

[45:37] well I'm going to say I'm anywhere near

[45:41] Kim's level of expertise, but I've learned a few things and I kind of

[45:45] wanted to take it I kind of wanted to take a little bit of

[45:49] time tonight to talk about it because it's you know, for our community Chapter

[45:54] 90 Chapter 90 is is huge. The thing that people need to keep in

[46:00] mind is that our budgets for town departments, highway department

[46:07] does not include any money towards paving.

[46:13] We we don't have money for paving as part of our

[46:18] as part of our property taxes. Um

[46:23] the budget for highway is an operational budget.

[46:27] So for us Chapter 90 is is a lifeline to

[46:32] keep our our roads and infrastructure um going.

[46:36] Um and you know, the thing that

[46:41] people you know, it it it's important to understand how it works.

[46:46] Um

[46:49] Chapter 90 and I'm going to I'm going to I'm going

[46:52] to it runs kind of like a grant.

[46:55] And I'm I'm going to look at you, Sheila, and you can bat me upside the

[46:58] head if I go too far off the res reservation here.

[47:02] » [clears throat] >> Um the state [snorts]

[47:04] doesn't just hand us money. That's not the way it works. The state makes a

[47:09] determination as to how much money they'll allocate to

[47:13] us. And that money is based on I'm going to

[47:16] need your help, Kim, a little bit. Miles of roads, Yes.

[47:21] uh population, Mhm. and employment.

[47:24] Yes. Okay. So, [snorts] those three variables kind of factor into this

[47:28] equation as to how much money is made available

[47:32] to us. Correct. Um you know, and and and and there's

[47:36] some additional funds, you know, there is the fair share um program that was

[47:42] legislation that was passed in what, 2022, 2023?

[47:46] And we've we've seen a little bit of money from that. A little bit of extra

[47:50] money. A little bit of extra money. Um but by and large, it's that Chapter

[47:54] 90 um allocation that really kind of gets us by.

[47:58] And so what Chapter 90 what Chapter 90 money

[48:03] is for is for our road infrastructure. We can use that money directly for

[48:08] paving, road work. We can use that money for engineering

[48:13] of road sidewalks. We can use that money for equipment

[48:19] to help maintain our roads and infrastructure.

[48:22] And we've certainly used it for all of that.

[48:26] Um and you know, the the the the the process

[48:32] and I took this directly from the from MassDOT uh

[48:37] um section on the internet for this is basically

[48:41] we submit a project request and we're putting together basically a scope, an

[48:46] estimate, you know, an environmental punch list and that's that is is has

[48:51] been Kim's kind of mission through this and she's done a

[48:56] darn good job with that. So, she puts a package together and and submits it.

[49:03] Um we identify procurement and

[49:08] prequalification requirements, putting stuff putting the projects out to bid.

[49:12] Um you know, basically getting how many? Three? At least three? Three lowest

[49:17] bidders. Three lowest bidders um and you know, we

[49:23] submit that to the prequal office. Um

[49:27] and based on that, they decide, "Okay." They'll They give us the go ahead.

[49:33] They'll approve it. Um so, once we get the scope and the

[49:36] work approved, then the work starts. Um and

[49:42] you know, contractors, engineers, what have you.

[49:47] Um and when the work is

[49:51] done, well, as the work is going,

[49:55] the contractors turn their invoices in. The town uses its its own funds

[50:02] to pay the invoices and we get reimbursed.

[50:07] So, as you can imagine, the state has some oversight of this and

[50:14] has they approve it.

[50:18] So, they approve it they approve the scope, they approve the who you're going

[50:22] with, they approve the project, they say go ahead, we do the work, we get the

[50:28] invoices, we pay the invoices and then we submit

[50:32] for reimbursement. Okay? And at that point, I'm sure

[50:36] there's some kind of approval process that says, "Yep, you did it right,

[50:39] you're good. We pay you." Um

[50:42] and the town the town's a illustrious accountant

[50:47] works her magic um to make sure that we free up funds to

[50:52] cover these invoices until we get reimbursed.

[50:56] Um but the thing to keep in mind is that this is not again, this is not just

[51:00] money that we're handed. You know, this is very much like a grant

[51:05] process where where there's oversight over what we do with the money from

[51:10] beginning to end. It's not some check that, you know,

[51:14] Uncle Sam writes us and we squirrel it away somewhere or we have the freedom to

[51:18] do whatever we want. There are strict controls on this money.

[51:22] Okay? Um

[51:25] So, with that,

[51:28] what's it cost to do a road? Now, I've sat down with Randy, our

[51:32] highway superintendent, and and Kim and we have looked at our most recent work

[51:38] that we've done in 2025 and we've come up with some pretty good

[51:43] estimates. Um reclamation per mile and that I'm

[51:48] going to use your your wording, Randy, is is essentially

[51:51] they come in and rototill the the old pavement up, use it as a base,

[51:58] and put a base coat over. And that process is $33,000

[52:03] approximately per mile. Okay? Now, paving is a two-step process.

[52:11] The first, there is a base coat of 2 in of asphalt.

[52:15] That goes down and that is a more coarse mix.

[52:19] Um and that coarse mix goes down and you have to wait a certain amount of time, 1

[52:25] year at least, um before you need to come back and do a

[52:29] top coat. You got to correct me if I go off.

[52:33] Okay. Okay.

[52:36] So, so we go in, we pave it, and you know,

[52:40] it's a rough coat. Well, you know, in order for that pavement to last, we have

[52:46] to come back and do a top coat. So, that base coat

[52:50] costs us on average about $107,000 per mile is is what the bids that we've

[52:56] previously last year that we were we were uh

[52:59] we were awarded. The top coat is about an inch and a half

[53:03] of asphalt. That is a finer finer asphalt and that's about $87,000.

[53:09] Okay? So, you know, the thing to keep in mind

[53:17] is if you're replacing an older road,

[53:21] oops.

[53:33] Comes about $227,000 per mile.

[53:39] Okay? Now, that's excluding any kind of drainage work that needs to be done,

[53:44] anything kind of funky. Um and then keep in mind that, you know,

[53:48] North Brookfield absolutely I I wouldn't even call it

[53:53] I can't call it an aging infrastructure. I can't even call it really a crumbled

[53:59] infra- crumbling infrastructure. A lot of it is just crumbled. There's there's

[54:04] not much left So, you know, when you

[54:09] bear that in mind, the $227,000, you know, I would I would I would argue

[54:14] that by the time you get going, you're probably upwards about $250,000

[54:19] a mile just to use round numbers. Okay? So, if we

[54:26] we accept that as $250,000 a mile.

[54:32] Okay? There are 82 miles 82 miles? 84 84 miles

[54:38] » [snorts] >> in North Brookfield.

[54:40] Okay? Now, I've seen estimates on how long

[54:44] a paved road should last. And I've seen estimates for New England

[54:49] between 15 and 25 years. Would you agree with that?

[54:54] Mr. Superintendent? I don't think they last that long. Okay.

[54:59] Sake of argument, let's say they last 20 years.

[55:03] Just humor me.

[55:07] Okay. So,

[55:12] Kim, on average the last couple years, we've gotten

[55:16] $520,

[55:19] $520,000

[55:22] in Chapter 90 money a year. Okay?

[55:26] So, and keep in mind, you know, I'm excluding

[55:32] I'm excluding um engineering that we've paid with Chapter

[55:38] 90 money for um for like the sidewalk projects um here

[55:43] in town, um money that we've paid in the past to

[55:47] buy equipment. I'm just talking if we just use this money strictly for roads.

[55:53] Okay? You know, at 500

[55:58] say we say It's 2 miles.

[56:03] 2 miles? Mhm. Yeah. Right. So, if we have

[56:08] 84 miles of road,

[56:14] 40 years.

[56:17] Okay? So, rough numbers,

[56:22] what does that equal? Unpaved roads.

[56:26] Unhappiness. No one in North Brookfield will ever be

[56:32] happy with our road system.

[56:38] It doesn't it it it doesn't, you know, we can have our opinions,

[56:44] but the numbers spell it out.

[56:49] 40 years. Now, keeping in mind,

[56:56] we get grants for major improvements. Be it bridges, be it downtown,

[57:03] things that North Brookfield does need. And a lot of times, we don't have that

[57:09] extra money in our budget or free cash or anywhere. Okay? And we are we are we

[57:16] are kind of stuck with going to that Chapter 90 money and using that to to

[57:20] get those engineering charges paid. So,

[57:26] you know, it it

[57:31] you know, I I think I I heard a wise woman say we have champagne taste with a

[57:36] beer budget. And I I I

[57:41] here we are. So, we can all agree

[57:46] that we're never all going to have nice new roads.

[57:53] Okay. So, if we look at what we've done in the

[57:56] past, I looked at the like past 5 years of

[58:00] what we what we've used night Chapter 90 money for because I think it

[58:04] we don't really talk I don't think we talk about that enough. And I and and

[58:07] I'd like to see that change. I'd like to see us talk about what we're getting,

[58:12] what the plan is, what we're doing. Um so, that way it's it's it's not a

[58:17] mystery. So, if if I run through the last 5 years

[58:22] and, you know, starting [clears throat] in 2021,

[58:25] um we ended up doing a reclamation of Bullard Road

[58:30] and resurfacing of North Street. Make sense? Anybody questions?

[58:37] 2022, we used some of that money for drainage on North Street

[58:42] and we used that money for reclamation on various streets. In 2022, Kim, do you

[58:48] have do you have an idea of what those streets might have been?

[58:52] In 2022? Yes, ma'am. I have Town Farm Road.

[58:57] That's the only thing that's missing for 2022.

[59:02] Okay.

[59:05] Uh I might have that.

[59:12] Okay, as far as the various. Right. Okay.

[59:15] Got you. Okay.

[59:17] 2023, we did some chip sealing of roads, which

[59:22] my understanding isn't the greatest, but it's cheaper than certainly cheaper than

[59:28] paving. Um and we did a reclamation of Barnes

[59:32] Road. Okay?

[59:36] 2024,

[59:39] we did nothing.

[59:42] We did nothing at all. We did no paving, we did no reclamation.

[59:50] Not a darn thing. Not a darn thing.

[59:55] So, that money that was allocated to us in

[59:59] 2024, if you don't use it, it rolls over into

[1:00:03] the next year. Yes, Miss Kim? Yes. >> Okay.

[1:00:06] So, we make some changes.

[1:00:11] Yeah. One of which is is leadership.

[1:00:16] And get into the next 2025 paving season.

[1:00:21] And

[1:00:27] we do a little bit more. Actually, we do a lot more than 2024.

[1:00:31] We do reclamation and resurfacing the base coat of Brickyard Road, Donavan

[1:00:36] Road, Fuller Hill Road, Town Farm Road for 400 slightly over $436,000.

[1:00:44] We use some of that money to help cover the complete street

[1:00:48] engineering charges. We use some of that money for

[1:00:53] reclamation of Hines Bridge Road, Stoddard Road, Walker Road.

[1:00:58] We use some of that money for doing the top coat of Smith Hanson Road and Tucker

[1:01:04] Road. Which, keep in mind, we base coated those roads in 2017.

[1:01:12] Right? So, I know there was talk about why we're repaving these roads, but keep

[1:01:18] in mind, in 2017 we did a base coat and then never went back.

[1:01:23] So, a decision had to be made. Are we going to allow those roads to fall apart

[1:01:29] or we're going to do what needs to be done and do a top coat?

[1:01:33] Okay? So, we spent $242,000

[1:01:38] on top coating those two roads.

[1:01:44] Which, you know, if if you look back

[1:01:48] from 2025 to 2024, to 2023, to 2022,

[1:01:55] to 2021. Okay? This is what we've done in front

[1:02:01] of you with no opinions, with no talking, with no herded on the street.

[1:02:09] This. Okay? This is what the state approved

[1:02:14] for work. This is the work we did. And this is the work that we submitted for

[1:02:18] reimbursement.

[1:02:22] Okay?

[1:02:25] Thank you, Mr. Barnes. Thank you, Kim.

[1:02:28] » [applause]

[1:02:30] » Thank you. Now, I'm going to go back

[1:02:38] to what we talked about a little earlier.

[1:02:41] At $524,000

[1:02:45] in state funds a year with 84 miles of road,

[1:02:50] with nothing at all in our yearly budgets to pay for paving,

[1:02:58] our roads will never never look like Boston. Never look like

[1:03:04] a suburb of Boston. They will continue to crumble.

[1:03:12] This is a reality that we have to face

[1:03:17] unless the state is going to do something different.

[1:03:21] Now, the fair share in 2024,

[1:03:25] we got an extra $191,000. And that's thanks to the millionaires.

[1:03:32] But that's not a guaranteed thing. That 191 was a one-off.

[1:03:38] » [snorts] >> So, you know, again,

[1:03:43] North Brookfield is a poor town.

[1:03:47] We do what we can with what we have. We're a farming community, old farming

[1:03:53] community. That's how it's worked. And that's how it continues to work.

[1:03:59] » [clears throat]

[1:04:01] » Thank you.

[1:04:04] All right. Any questions?

[1:04:10] Okay, well, that was easy.

[1:04:17] » [clears throat] >> All right.

[1:04:19] Okay. Public comment period.

[1:04:25] Oh, right.

[1:04:31] » [clears throat] >> All right.

[1:04:32] So,

[1:04:43] Eric, do you want to explain it?

[1:04:47] Um, in front of you guys is a letter of

[1:04:50] support that I drafted uh, on behalf of the Board of Selectmen

[1:04:55] um, to uh,

[1:04:58] get the approval to go ahead and reapply for federal grant money, um, to

[1:05:03] rehabilitate the secondary clarifiers down at the wastewater treatment plant.

[1:05:08] Um, we applied last year uh,

[1:05:12] through what they call the congressionally direct spending. So,

[1:05:14] it's just a program that directs federal funds, um, under certain accounts. So,

[1:05:20] last year we applied under under the USDA rural development, um, and we were

[1:05:25] not approved. So, we're looking to take another crack at it this year and we're

[1:05:28] going to apply under a different account this time. Now, which is called the EPA

[1:05:33] state and tribal assistance grant. Um, so we're hoping this one's a little more

[1:05:38] directed towards drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects.

[1:05:43] So, we're really hoping that we have some good luck with this.

[1:05:46] Um, there is a 20% local cost local cost

[1:05:52] share for this project, which we've already discussed. That's no different

[1:05:56] than what we applied for last year. Um,

[1:06:01] » [clears throat and cough] >> yeah, so there is like I said, there's a

[1:06:02] letter there of support. I just need a signature if you guys approve it.

[1:06:07] Um, and that's part of that's one of the requirements for the application.

[1:06:13] And that

[1:06:21] Okay. And and what are we seeing

[1:06:26] the value?

[1:06:30] So, I truthfully haven't gone out and asked

[1:06:33] for quotes. It's it's kind of it's kind of a big job to do.

[1:06:37] Uh, but we did we did that last year and they were like they came in at 1.5 to 2

[1:06:42] million. Um, that certainly could have gone up

[1:06:45] with the with the inflation, but within that, Jamie, there was like that

[1:06:49] was a total rehabilitation, replacing the the the main drives, like all the

[1:06:54] moving mechanisms, and then structural and concrete rehabilitation.

[1:06:59] Um, typically with these grants, they

[1:07:04] from what I understand, they you you apply for a high value and you typically

[1:07:09] get knocked down. So, if we apply for two, we might get

[1:07:12] it seems like 1 million seems to be the average. Um, so even with that, we can

[1:07:17] still replace the the mechanical portion of it. That's really

[1:07:21] what's falling apart. Um, we can live with deteriorated

[1:07:26] concrete, but you can't live without the mechanical portion of it. So, I mean, we

[1:07:31] can have a discussion down the line where if they do approve um,

[1:07:35] a million, do we want to and and I don't even know

[1:07:41] if this is possible. I haven't discussed this with Sheila, but can we go can we

[1:07:45] go out for a loan for the other 1 million portion of Um,

[1:07:50] but, you know, like I said, right now I'm just trying to

[1:07:53] aggressively pursue any grant funding we can because eventually we will have to

[1:07:58] bite the bullet if we don't have any luck with the grant and and do

[1:08:01] something. Got you. Eric, for the purposes

[1:08:05] for the purposes [clears throat] of whoever may be watching, can you talk

[1:08:08] about the clarifiers and how important this is? Sure.

[1:08:12] So, >> [clears throat]

[1:08:13] » the secondary clarifier is the circular tanks that some of you may or may not

[1:08:18] have seen or be familiar with. Um, basically, what those do is they

[1:08:22] reduce the velocity of the liquid as it flows through the treatment process. Um,

[1:08:28] and by reducing the velocity, you allow all the solids, which are the bacteria

[1:08:32] that you do the treatment, they settle to the bottom of the clarifiers and the

[1:08:36] clear liquid, which is basically which is treated at that point, uh, can flow,

[1:08:42] you know, over the weir and down to the next process. So, it's really a liquid

[1:08:46] to solid separation process. Um, they're very vital. It's a

[1:08:52] it's a very vital piece of equipment or or component of the process. Without

[1:08:56] that, you you really don't have treatment. Um, North Brookfield

[1:09:00] [clears throat] has a very tough permit. So, because of that, you know, we have

[1:09:06] to remove things like total suspended solids and total phosphorus, aluminum,

[1:09:10] copper, and zinc, which a lot of treatment plants don't don't have to

[1:09:14] remove that. So, that clarifier plays a big role in keeping those solids in the

[1:09:19] clarifier and and preventing them from going out to the river because within

[1:09:23] those solids is all your phosphorus and your aluminum and zinc, everything's

[1:09:27] bound up in those in that bacteria. Um so, if you let's just say, you know,

[1:09:32] if you lose a clarifier, if the if the drive main gear of the drive fails,

[1:09:38] and you you're not able to use that clarifier, then you're looking at uh

[1:09:43] permit violations. You know, that's the last thing we want

[1:09:46] to do, given that the town spent all this money and was very proactive.

[1:09:50] Um you just don't want to you know, be back in a position where

[1:09:54] you have the EPA, you know, down your throat. And and they

[1:09:58] they're relentless. [clears throat] They really don't care what the town's

[1:10:00] financial situation is. Um

[1:10:04] you know, they they they just they will come at us pretty hard. So, you know,

[1:10:09] the clarifiers are very important piece of the process.

[1:10:12] Thank you. Thank you, Eric.

[1:10:16] » [clears throat] >> All right.

[1:10:19] I will entertain a motion to sign a letter

[1:10:23] from us to the senator um [clears throat]

[1:10:27] Senator Warren. Uh this one's actually going to Ed

[1:10:30] Markey. >> Ed Markey. Senator Markey. All right.

[1:10:33] So, I will entertain a motion to send the this letter from us to Senator

[1:10:38] Markey asking for um the acceptance of the grant for the

[1:10:44] clarifiers. Some Second. Discussion?

[1:10:51] All right. All in favor? I. I. I. I need I need to fix something. Sorry.

[1:10:56] Thank you. Thank you.

[1:10:58] » Thank you. Um

[1:11:00] in my previous discussion, I get so wrapped up in talking about Chapter 90.

[1:11:06] You know, it's it's easy to forget the people.

[1:11:11] Randy Morgan, highway superintendent. >> I am part of that. Yeah, I I know you

[1:11:17] are. Highway Superintendent Randy Morgan,

[1:11:20] thank you. And the lady who holds it all together,

[1:11:24] Kim Corbin. And takes all the irate messages, swears

[1:11:30] and all. Thank you.

[1:11:36] All right. Now we can do public comment period.

[1:11:46] Brendan. You know, I I like to have a little fun

[1:11:50] with numbers myself sometimes, so I was looking at this uh

[1:11:56] road situation, and if people really wanted

[1:12:01] good roads, I figure it costs $2 million a year over

[1:12:06] 10 years, and $2 million a year on the tax base

[1:12:11] would be about $1,000 on the average person's

[1:12:15] tax bill. So, just so people will have that in mind,

[1:12:20] you know, like

[1:12:22] that, you know, we're on a tight budget. You can only do so much.

[1:12:28] People really want it, and they're going to have to go out and

[1:12:32] vote it. But I can't see uh

[1:12:36] town taking on that kind of burden.

[1:12:41] Anybody else? Matt. Uh one thing I heard another town around here does, and this

[1:12:45] may alleviate some of the calling and yelling at a secretary um

[1:12:52] working at the highway department. And I know we're revamping the website

[1:12:55] right now. Has there been any thought to adding like a portion there where you

[1:12:59] can notify the town of a pothole or of

[1:13:03] something. So, it's right on the website, maybe it goes to her office,

[1:13:06] and you know, then they she can reach out, rather than someone complaining

[1:13:09] about not getting through or whatever. I mean, electronic

[1:13:13] nowadays.

[1:13:16] I don't know. We are in the process of updating the I I forget what town around

[1:13:20] here said. I heard it some one of the other towns does it, and it seems to

[1:13:23] help. You know, so where you can identify

[1:13:25] where the issue is. You know, like I know the thing on Facebook recently,

[1:13:29] there was a gentleman up on that really dirt road. I would have never even

[1:13:33] bought a house up that way. But that's a There was a reason I mean,

[1:13:36] the house was probably my guess is the person got a good deal

[1:13:41] on that house because of the road it's on.

[1:13:43] Um but things like that, he could have just

[1:13:46] went online, said, "Hey, I have a complaint about the

[1:13:49] my road washing away." Rather than putting it on Facebook, making it this

[1:13:52] thing that turns into, you know, something bigger than it really is.

[1:13:57] Yeah, a lot of fairness to that gentleman. He he he that he didn't start

[1:14:01] on Facebook, but I hear you. But having the the the thing, I guess

[1:14:08] people aren't always the best with their opinions.

[1:14:12] And I'll say with personal I I I didn't know it until I actually started kind of

[1:14:17] jumping in with these guys, you know, driving the plow truck, and driving the

[1:14:20] sidewalk machine. The thing to keep in mind is

[1:14:23] every damn time I've been out on one of those machines, I've had somebody

[1:14:28] yelling, screaming, and swearing at me. Okay?

[1:14:32] The last time I was on that sidewalk machine,

[1:14:35] I had to call the officer on duty because I literally somebody having a

[1:14:39] meltdown on me. Yeah, so I

[1:14:44] Yeah. Yeah, I mean, there's obviously much bigger issues, but that's But there

[1:14:47] is there is, but I like the idea because it wasn't all that too not long ago

[1:14:51] where Kim had somebody come in, and you know, a guy coming in screaming and

[1:14:55] swearing at him. Yeah.

[1:14:58] A lot of school buses Right.

[1:15:04] All right. Thank you. Thank you, Matt. Eric, I have a question for Randy. So,

[1:15:10] so let's [snorts] say uh

[1:15:13] from Hannaford's back, I'm not sure if that's East Brookfield or Gilbertville.

[1:15:16] I I don't know kind of crosses somewhere near there. But

[1:15:19] because that's a Route 67, a state road, by understanding it, are we not allowed

[1:15:23] to uh

[1:15:25] include that in Chapter 90? Gilbertville? Yes. That's our street.

[1:15:31] It's not a state road. It's not 67 goes towards West Brookfield.

[1:15:35] Okay. So, we own all the way to East

[1:15:38] Brookfield. Everybody mistakes it and calls East

[1:15:41] Brookfield Road 67. Yeah. I thought I thought

[1:15:47] So, take that a step further, that is in our sights right now.

[1:15:55] So, on that note, >> [clears throat]

[1:15:57] » being that we are an agricultural community,

[1:16:01] can the town essentially repossess

[1:16:05] a road such as say Conant Road? There's a lot of farms on it.

[1:16:11] It is a essentially a dirt road. There's no need

[1:16:15] to pave that road. And then any other agricultural roads that are say Conant

[1:16:19] Roads to cut down on our aging for miles of

[1:16:25] paved road, if you will, from the Chapter 90, to

[1:16:28] maybe boost it. The 84 miles is every road in town. There's Well, exactly.

[1:16:33] What I'm saying, you know,

[1:16:39] you know, something like that to help boost our numbers towards

[1:16:43] Yeah, as far as the community having Yeah, well, the thing is is, you know,

[1:16:46] and you know, it's it's much easier. We have a grader,

[1:16:51] right? The dirt road is is, you know, we can regrade it, which we do.

[1:16:58] Mr. Morgan's been doing it twice a year. Um

[1:17:04] but you can't do that with a with a paved road that's falling apart. So, I I

[1:17:08] yeah. I I think I I think Randy's kind of

[1:17:11] trying [clears throat] to manage along those lines.

[1:17:14] But good point. Good point.

[1:17:18] All right. Anybody else?

[1:17:22] All right. Um announcements.

[1:17:27] The 2026 town elections are scheduled for May 4th,

[1:17:31] 2026. The following have returned their papers for election.

[1:17:35] Uh Board of Selectmen, one seat, Pete Orsi and John Tripp. Water Commissioner,

[1:17:39] one seat, Richard Cannon and James Arkizy. Water Commissioner

[1:17:44] to fill vacancy for two-year term, Donald Gillette.

[1:17:47] Board of Assessors, Brandon Avery for three-year term. Board of Health, Ethan

[1:17:51] Milad, >> [snorts]

[1:17:52] » uh candidate for re-election. Uh Cemetery Commissioner,

[1:17:58] Kirk Burnham, candidate for re-election. Library Trustee, two seats. Uh Carol

[1:18:03] Kelly is a candidate for re-election. Planning Board, five-year term, Karen

[1:18:07] Hubback. Planning Board, four-year term to fill vacancy, Sadie Kylie. Housing

[1:18:12] Authority, one seat, Darlene Lavin, candidate for re-election. And Southern

[1:18:16] Worcester County Regional Vocational District, one seat, Donald Gillette,

[1:18:20] candidate for re-election. The [clears throat] Senior Center will

[1:18:23] host an Easter luncheon on Wednesday, April 1st at 12:00 p.m.

[1:18:27] Uh please call the center at 508-867-0220

[1:18:31] for the full menu and to reserve a seat. And a reminder that dog licenses expire

[1:18:37] on April 1st. All right. Pending any future agenda

[1:18:41] items. Any?

[1:18:46] All right. So, um

[1:18:48] we do have to at some point have a um

[1:18:53] executive session and open up uh the contract for the police to do the

[1:19:01] uh some language has to be reworded

[1:19:04] um regarding details. So, that will be something forthcoming.

[1:19:11] So, All right.

[1:19:13] Uh I'll entertain a motion to adjourn.

[1:19:16] Special town meeting on 9:07. Opposed? I forgot about

[1:19:20] Oh.

[1:19:24] » Put that in the meeting minutes. [laughter]

[1:19:29] All right. So, special town meeting.

[1:19:33] Date, time? What?

[1:19:37] I'll just go back. Friday,

[1:19:41] April 17th at 6:00 p.m. at the North Brookfield Elementary School.

[1:19:46] All right. Friday, April 17th, 6:00 p.m. at the elementary school.

[1:19:50] Are you on here? >> Thanks, Mary Beth.

[1:19:52] All right. I will entertain a motion to adjourn.

[1:19:54] » So moved. Second. All in favor?

[1:19:57] » Aye. Aye. Thank you, everybody. Have a good night.

North Brookfield Board of Selectmen Meeting March 24th, 2026

Transcript