Name: Selectboard Mtg. - 6.16.26
Duration: 2 h 1 min 8 s
Description: I believe that the next budget for FY28 absent some sudden infusion of money from the state and absent a reduction in the income tax rate for five to four percent.

[0:00] Good evening. Welcome to the night's Select Board meeting for June 16th of 2026. If we can, we'll start with the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, individual liberty and justice is wrong. Thank you.

[0:24] We are starting slightly later. We did have an executive session. We have to attend to, so that's why there is a slight delay in the start of our meeting.

[0:33] Okay. We have announcements in opening remarks from the chair. Does any of the board have any opening remarks, comments?

[0:42] Go ahead, Mr. Ock.

[0:43] On last Thursday, I was able to take a tour of both the fire department and police department.

[0:50] And I don't see if you're going to do some services at day, but what your office says took

[0:57] me for a tour and first the lighthouse with Chief Martinez and then the police station

[1:05] and definitely an eye-opening about the logistics work that they were saying and definitely an

[1:11] eye-opening or so.

[1:12] So if any of the boy members haven't been down recently or don't be going on there, get

[1:20] not only a tour of what, get to see him here and when it works to how things are off

[1:25] right now, think it maybe could be better.

[1:28] It's don't go into a free station to see inside of Paul cramped it is, but everyone's still

[1:35] able to do the job.

[1:36] It's definitely an eye-opening and you have a great staff.

[1:46] Thank you.

[1:47] Thank you.

[1:48] All right.

[1:50] Thank you.

[1:50] Anybody else?

[1:51] All right.

[1:53] We will move into comments and concerns of citizens.

[1:57] Just please remember, if you are caulking and are the comments you have three minutes to talk.

[2:04] I have a timer here.

[2:05] So if you need to, I will raise my hand when we're about two minutes and 30 seconds in and we go from there

[2:12] if this is there anybody else that wants to have anything to say or discuss.

[2:19] All right, move it on.

[2:21] We will go to the consent agenda. We have under special events,

[2:29] 2026-06250th US celebration committee. Week of events is from July 25th to August 1st of 2026.

[2:36] We have the applications with us, 2026-07 Fireworks Committee, summer fireworks, August 1, 2026.

[2:45] They'll be at the Everspool campus from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. with a rain date of August 2, 2026 from 4 to 10 p.m.

[2:54] and 2026-16, the domestic violence task force annual domestic violence walk is

[3:03] going to be happening October 18th of 2026 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Veterans Park with

[3:09] no rain date listed. We have a motion for the special events. I'd love

[3:17] A question?

[3:18] Yes.

[3:19] My name is Chair.

[3:20] On 2026-16, which was the domestic violence task force, what caught my attention was the

[3:27] note about the use of the Great Hall and concerned by Anna, the building commissioner, about

[3:33] some outstanding issues there.

[3:34] She mentioned the curtain.

[3:36] I think was it an occupancy and an inspection for the Great Hall that needs to be in place?

[3:43] So, I'm just curious what is missing.

[3:47] for us to be able to use the grade haul and how soon can we get that done so we

[3:53] can use the grade haul and not have to worry about these restrictions.

[3:57] There is an earlier event at the end of July and I had provided a list for

[4:02] that event. Cleanup tasks, the current is not moving before the end of July, but

[4:12] there's a dust peeling paint need to clean out the bathroom in behind the stage so mostly clean up the efforts unless you have others.

[4:22] There is a railing that needs to sort

[4:27] of stairs that would have to get raised faster.

[4:30] And

[4:35] which is some items that look a lot through but to have the annual inspection that will be required.

[4:40] So that's been in that we should actually right now what we do is we do a lot through the fire department.

[4:46] I'm going to do a walk through, and I'll end any safety concerns just prior to the

[4:54] event, and that is in response to that having the annual inspection for the certificate

[5:00] of inspection on display would be that should be able to get that and to try to put together

[5:06] a list, proactive list to have done for now, just maintenance, but also repair work and alterations

[5:17] I think the great hall is in a great state right now thanks to the friends and other investments.

[5:23] And we've seen its multi-purpose we used it as a temporary shelter just a couple of weeks

[5:28] ago.

[5:29] So we were using it on short term plus we've used it for elections.

[5:32] We used it for winter activities.

[5:34] We're going to use it for the town 250th celebration activities and now for this.

[5:40] So I would, through the chair, I would encourage whatever town departments have to get together

[5:46] We've already hired a cleaning company, which I think would take one care of most of it.

[5:51] But you're right, we have to get together to be a fire partner to talk with.

[5:55] And what's the issue with the curtain?

[5:57] I heard the curtain mentioned by Stuart and Diana.

[6:01] So, how is that going to impact the use of it?

[6:05] Because it's down, and my understanding is it's going to stay that way,

[6:09] because raising it could cause more dust and other stuff to get into the area.

[6:14] So we encapsulated it, so it's encapsulated, so that's no longer an issue.

[6:23] Right, what's an issue is whether raising it will do anything to the encapsulation,

[6:29] whether the current has any fire protection value at all still,

[6:33] and therefore do we have to replace it before we raise it?

[6:36] Ultimately, we would like to raise it so that only four feet are showing the design

[6:40] and then the, like for election, the town court have reused it again on this stage.

[6:50] So I guess, Anna, I'm looking at you. Is that something that can be looked at?

[6:55] We've been looking at it. So it was very difficult to find a rigging company that would take

[7:01] this task on. We found one in New Hampshire. They were asking for this information. What was

[7:06] the encapsulation process and details of the specifics? How long and does it have to get?

[7:10] because usually a process like that has to be done every so often so we don't have that

[7:15] specification or at least I don't have that specification information but I think it was

[7:19] given to us at some point so I have to find out where I'm going to and then was they have

[7:24] that information and then we also need to know if that if that curtain can be can have a

[7:34] change in its use to be just on display.

[7:38] That's a question that seems to a fire department

[7:42] is questioning that.

[7:44] I think there'll probably approach it with some

[7:50] code actions.

[7:51] And this brings me back to my initial.

[7:52] We took the initial steps to get fire alarm updated

[7:55] in the building with the electrical upgrade.

[7:57] Of course, the next step is to look at fire protection.

[8:02] For an assembly space, that's, you know,

[8:06] So, I guess, but if we have that down and we move forward over time, you know, it would be acceptable.

[8:16] Well, through the chair to store it, I just hope that the town staff can come together and mobilize and get this going in the right direction so that we can use it and be comfortable.

[8:29] it's being used with no code restrictions and with no exposures and if there are tasks

[8:35] that need to be updated that they get on a list and appear in a budget someplace so

[8:40] that we can fund them and be able to use the Great Hall in the manner it was designed

[8:44] to be used for.

[8:45] Is there anything in the budget for line items to have fixed if needed?

[8:52] Okay, so financially we are set to have things taken care of in a timely fashion.

[8:59] Yes.

[9:00] As long as you accept that on the end of July that curtain is likely to still be down.

[9:06] Okay.

[9:06] Which doesn't affect the July event in any way.

[9:10] Okay.

[9:11] So, what would that curtain be in down, what is the primary, what does it affect primarily?

[9:17] Is it, what is, what is the list?

[9:19] Yeah, like what?

[9:19] I understand that it's clean.

[9:22] I mean, there are things like a railing.

[9:24] Yeah.

[9:24] No, we've done the exabytes, yeah, so.

[9:31] Is it some of the list that was provided

[9:32] to the Historic Commission?

[9:34] Yup.

[9:34] It's my understanding most of it is clean and organizing.

[9:37] Behind the current.

[9:39] Behind the current and down the stairs

[9:40] and up the balcony stair.

[9:44] Oh, it would not be publicly accessible anyway.

[9:48] All right.

[9:48] and we've got the fire alarm system coming into the town hall with the

[9:52] new electrical and how's that process going?

[9:55] So we'll have to pull up the engine here because the fire department has completed its review.

[10:00] Okay. Okay, so with that being said, are we comfortable with making a motion for these special events

[10:09] that are part of the designer agenda? I move we approve the special events 2026-06,

[10:16] two oh two six dash of seven two oh two six dash one six and two oh six

[10:21] dash two oh

[10:26] all right so just this special events all right so seconded by

[10:32] Valerie all in favor all right all right and then we have a one-day liquor

[10:36] license 2026 dash two oh it's wine o'clock music bingo at one robins road July 27th

[10:44] 2026 from 5.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m., we look for a motion and then a second movie approval one

[10:54] day liquor license 2.026-2.0, all right, all right, all right, now we have scheduled appearance

[11:05] as presentation of Mill Health District, Adam, I have a last name that people put here, I'm just

[11:14] All right, sorry.

[11:16] I was just going to share, just to set the stage for so you're right.

[11:23] Ben Murphy, who's our funder for this grant project,

[11:27] as you see through the one-stop-for-growth applications,

[11:32] this is for planning, the intent was to plan the area from the

[11:38] milliard to the milliard property, therefore calling out the

[11:41] and helped this trick.

[11:44] A lot of these only areas you've done,

[11:46] but this is to make recommendations

[11:47] of how to go forward, how to market, how to do our reach.

[11:51] And Adam is here from VSC Group,

[11:54] who is the column consultant, led the process

[11:57] for the past several months, including a couple outreach

[12:00] programs, one of the senior centers,

[12:01] and then want to walk through the whole area,

[12:05] or actually two walks through the whole area,

[12:08] to lead to the packet that you had in your packet and then I can put that up on the screen.

[12:14] Okay. All right. Do you guys want to come right on up?

[12:32] So Adam, how do we say your last name?

[12:34] Dushano.

[12:35] Dushano.

[12:35] I wouldn't never have said it right now.

[12:37] It's not an easy one.

[12:41] Thank

[13:09] you Stuart for that introduction that set the table for the record.

[13:13] Adam Deschano, senior planner with BSC group and as Stuart indicated I'm here this evening

[13:18] to speak to you about the work our firm, Mass Development and town staff has been doing

[13:24] over the last several months for what we're calling the Mill Health District and this is

[13:29] a redevelopment plan but it goes a little bit beyond that more about actions and some ideas

[13:34] moving forward.

[13:37] So what I'd like to cover this evening is just to give some thanks to the project team

[13:43] talk about what our scope of work was, look at the existing conditions a little bit.

[13:48] As Stuart mentioned, talk about the two public engagement events that we held the opportunities

[13:53] for redevelopment in the district, some district recommendations, and then going to show

[13:59] you a few conceptual redevelopment plans and then some next steps.

[14:05] So from your home team here, the town staff was Stuart as well as your director of planning

[14:10] and community development in Parsmouth from Mass Development, which here this evening

[14:14] is Ben Murphy, and then also Martin Serrano's also involved with the project.

[14:19] And then from our firm, VSC Move, our director of planning Heather Bould, OXABUT, Teddy Campbell,

[14:25] Tabitha Wilson and myself were also involved in some way, shape, or form of this project.

[14:31] So in a nutshell, the scope was to provide a district plan that focuses on identifying

[14:36] redevelopment strategies to activate the former Maryland Hospital site and the Wear Millio

[14:41] are including the potential for housing and commercial space.

[14:45] As Stuart mentioned, the technical assistance for the project was provided by the Mass Development

[14:49] Real Estate Services Program and the grant money and the work needs to be all wrapped

[14:53] up by the end of this month, June 30th.

[14:58] So how did we achieve this scope?

[15:00] We had a couple of work. We had several project teams meetings meeting about once every six weeks or so to kind of go over different items, coordinate the different events that we had. We did existing conditions analysis, looked at the zoning of the area, commercial properties, parcel layout, did some site walks which sort of rolls into the next bullet point, conducting a couple of site visits, field work, taking photographs, just getting familiar with the area. And we had two community engagement events, which I'll get into later.

[15:27] and then a final report which we're drafting currently

[15:30] and we'll be provided to the town at the end of the month.

[15:35] So this map is intended to lay out the boundaries

[15:38] or give you an idea of more, I guess a more specific idea

[15:41] of the boundaries of the district.

[15:43] And you can see sort of in the northeast part there,

[15:45] we started and used the wear a milliard historic district

[15:49] sort of to define that area by Canal Street, East Main Street,

[15:53] through the wear a milliard.

[15:55] The district actually extends over the wear river

[15:57] and a little bit to the west, so the American Athletic

[16:01] shoe company property there, and also the Kwaban

[16:04] wire and cable company.

[16:06] That's the Millyard Historic District area.

[16:09] And then we also included Memorial Field,

[16:11] and then South Street, South of the where we're sort of

[16:14] performs like acts as a spine, moving southward.

[16:18] And a lot of those, primarily, it's the properties

[16:20] that have frontage along South Street.

[16:22] Until, of course, we get to the Forum of Maryline Hospital

[16:25] site, which extends all the way west to the where river. So that orange boundary formed

[16:30] the district that we arrived at in discussions with Ben's team and also with town staff.

[16:39] So in terms of existing conditions, these are just a slide here to sort of give you a feel

[16:43] for, as you probably know, very well what the where milliard historic district area looks

[16:48] like. Some of the milliard buildings, the commercial properties, the photo and the top rights

[16:53] of Otis Avenue, some of the properties around the American athletic shoe company, and then

[16:59] the residential units Canal Street there.

[17:04] And then I just wanted to highlight the wear river

[17:06] on this area. As you can see, it's very, very channelized with buildings, steep banks, even

[17:12] completely vertical concrete walls. And it's very challenging for anyone who would like to interact

[17:18] with the river in that area or get access to it. The photo in the lower right hand corner is one

[17:23] location where there's a very gentle grade in the sort of the back of the

[17:27] milliard. There's also some reasonable access at the west end of Memorial Field

[17:34] along the Maryland Hospital site but it is very

[17:38] channelized in this area as you can see from these photographs. And then as we move

[17:43] down South Street this just gives those who might not be familiar flavor of the

[17:48] context down there. So on the left you have the St. Mary's Church, the

[17:52] directory building, the former St. Mary's School, of course, the remaining building at

[17:56] the former Maryland Hospital site, and then Cedar Brook Village, which is adjacent to

[18:01] them.

[18:04] So the first community engagement event that we held was on February 12th, and that was

[18:07] at the senior center.

[18:09] And as part of this project, we implemented together feedbacks on what's called an online

[18:15] crowdsource map.

[18:16] I'm going to get into a little bit more detail about that later.

[18:19] But what we did here is we tried to bring that online crowdsource map in person to

[18:23] people at the senior center so we printed out a few copies of the map and then we had some sticky

[18:29] dots that were numbered so people could walk up to the map and place the dot where they wanted to

[18:37] provide a comment and then we had sort of these grids or tables where they could write the comment

[18:43] that they wanted to provide. We typically have some topic areas that we used with this so we had

[18:48] like access to the river, new health care facility,

[18:51] mixed use development and historic preservation,

[18:53] a few other topic areas that people could categorize

[18:56] their comments underneath,

[18:58] but then the comments we wanted to be a little more specific

[19:00] so people could write or submit whatever they wanted to.

[19:03] So that was the first event that we held.

[19:06] And then as Stuart mentioned, Saturday, April 18th,

[19:10] how we did some site district tours, which went pretty well.

[19:15] And for me, they're always good to really show people and I think the feedback that we got

[19:21] from those attendance was also very strong from the sense of you're really getting out

[19:27] there, boots on the ground, you're understanding, you're feeling what the people who are there

[19:32] on a day-to-day basis experience.

[19:34] I mean, many of you are probably driven through the area a number of times, but while you're

[19:38] driving, you're not really focusing, hopefully, on what's around you.

[19:41] So walking the actual site gives you time to slow down, smell the smells, feel the pavement, feel the scale of the building.

[19:48] So you can see on the right hand photo there that is what the crowdsource map online looked like.

[19:54] So we carried around a couple of tablets and we were getting information from people on the fly.

[19:59] And they were providing comments but that crowdsource map was available pretty much for the duration of the whole project.

[20:05] I think it's actually still active so you can go online, you can see the comments that people responded to, or excuse me, that people provided.

[20:15] So we did two tours. One was in the northern part of the district. That was about an hour and a half, and then we did one south of the werever and the southern part of the district.

[20:25] So this is what the crowdsource maps feedback page looks like. And this is, as I said, I believe it's still active.

[20:32] We had 70 responses for, I'll say, initial points.

[20:36] And then for each point, you can give us, like, a guess called a like.

[20:42] So if you saw a comment on there, instead of providing the same comment, you could just give a thumbs up.

[20:47] And you can see the comments on the left-hand side of this page are actually ordered in the number of total votes that they received.

[20:55] So the largest vote getter with 26 was renovate the remaining Maryland hospital building into medical center with space for a variety of services, and the number two vote getter with 17 votes was health care and open space in both of those location based comments were placed of course on the Maryland site, but as you can see there was a variety of new comments that were posted throughout the district under a variety of topics as well.

[21:26] This just is another way to look at the data a little bit. We did have another category

[21:30] So I felt it was probably appropriate to sort of lay out what some of these quote-a-quote other responses were

[21:35] You can see some of them on the right-hand side

[21:38] Helipad child care facility community center site cleanup new housing and recreational facilities bike lane rail trail crossing

[21:46] So this was it was sort of a catch-all category

[21:48] So beyond that I think new business and then roadway and sidewalk

[21:53] infrastructure improvements were the top two designated categories where

[21:56] comments were provided on the crowdsource staff.

[22:01] So we took all this data and looked

[22:03] at what our existing conditions announced to show it and we came up with, we're

[22:07] excuse me, we identified some opportunities for redevelopment within the

[22:11] Mill Health District. One, of course, would be the Weir Mill yard and I'll get

[22:16] them to this a little bit more right now just sort of identifying the

[22:18] different areas. The second one was the industrial properties along E Street,

[22:22] Knox Avenue and Maple Street. Also, the St. Mary's Rectory Property, which includes the

[22:28] former school at the site, the Weir River itself, some of the auto repair and service properties

[22:36] that are located in the districts, and obviously, again, is the former Mary Lane Hospital site itself.

[22:43] So, if we take a little deeper dive into some of these particulars just looking quickly at the

[22:54] and this just highlights some of the buildings kind of what's going on there.

[22:59] You've got some fitness, there's a brewery in there.

[23:03] I believe there's also marijuana cultivation facility.

[23:06] There's a moving company.

[23:08] And of course, I think as people have seen, you know,

[23:11] each of these buildings is in a variety of states.

[23:13] And I'll get into a slide which sort of looks at those a little more closely later on.

[23:16] But this is just a high level overview.

[23:18] And of course, a building nine to know if that's a building that's owned by the town.

[23:22] So that definitely factors into things that are going to happen in the future in the district

[23:26] here.

[23:28] Moving along to look at some of the other sites, the ones along E Street, Knox Avenue

[23:33] and Maple Street highlighted in red on this map, these are just general boundaries to give

[23:38] you a sense of what we're looking at.

[23:40] The red area highlights about 12, almost 13 acres, sort of one is almost five, the other one

[23:45] is almost eight.

[23:47] And in these areas you'll find industrial and automotive uses, there's some jump vehicle

[23:51] storage on the site, and this leads to some environmental concerns due to its proximity

[23:56] to the wherever. I think it was very clear when we did the northern district site tour,

[24:00] you see a lot of vehicles in various states of repair. You can even see them on this aerial

[24:05] photo, how they're sort of stacked back, stored away, some of them have vegetation growing

[24:08] all over them, looks like they haven't maybe been moved in several years, so maybe some opportunities

[24:13] for enforcement here or reuse. Looking at the next area, this is the same marriage rectory

[24:20] and former St. Mary School property outlined in red, again an approximate boundary on this map,

[24:26] roughly four acres, but also wanted to highlight which was outside the boundary of the

[24:31] Mill Health District is the, I guess I call it the mode area on the aerial image, which actually

[24:37] extends all the way south to the intersection of Union Street and Chestnut Street. So

[24:41] there seems to be a lot of open space in this area, which can be used for a variety of different things,

[24:46] will float some ideas on some of the concepts maps you'll see the former

[24:52] schools about a 15,000 square foot building although the viability of that

[24:57] building seems to be in question but even if it's kept or removed you know

[25:01] a large footprint on the site here as I mentioned significant open space on this

[25:05] particular site. Where River Access talked about that a little bit briefly so on

[25:11] the left-hand side as a photograph taken sort of at the east end of the

[25:14] billion and then on the right hand side is just a quick you know rendering of

[25:18] what could potentially be in that area. You could get a little more potential river

[25:21] interaction with like a little overlook or some pathways just a way to sort

[25:26] of provide a scenic overlook or a sort of pocket park in that particular area but

[25:31] just a way to get people to the river and be able to enjoy it. Looking at the

[25:36] auto-appearance service properties within the district there's one on Maple

[25:39] Street which is about an acre in size. This is an automotive use in a

[25:44] a very residential area and the automotive use in this SR zoning district is a non-conforming

[25:51] use and you can see just from the the area of the image there is some heavy car storage

[25:56] in this particular area and then there's one along East Main Street as well so the automotive

[26:01] use in this commercial area is by a special permit in the downtown commercial zoning district

[26:06] but this is also pretty you know it's a commercial area and is this really the most appropriate

[26:13] use for the, you know, in this particular area, it's something that should maybe be looked at and explored.

[26:19] Everybody needs to have auto repairs in their communities, but just potentially where they're located.

[26:25] It should be, thought should be given to that.

[26:29] And then, of course, the Maryland hospital site, this includes a few properties totaling about 22 and a half acres.

[26:35] This area image is a bit dated, so I wanted, we wanted to highlight the only remaining building on the sort of eastern half there.

[26:43] but you can see it's vast, it expands. However, there are some environmentally sensitive areas on the property.

[26:51] You know, setbacks from the river, but there's also some wetlands on the property. So what you see in terms of,

[26:56] I guess again, I'll call the mode area, but then also where pavement is, that all appears to be very usable in some way,

[27:03] shape or form moving forward. So a lot of opportunity here for future redevelopment.

[27:09] So, in terms of high-level district recommendations before we dive into the three concept maps, the

[27:16] milliard buildings were sort of saying retention, renovation, or significant intervention.

[27:22] Areas, within the district there are areas for potential reuse, enforcement of regulations

[27:27] and or screening, enhancement of access to the wear, river, public parking, new memorial

[27:33] field.

[27:34] I think there's some plans already in the works for that with some adjacent town property,

[27:38] but also maybe formalizing some informal agreements.

[27:44] Potential for bicycle accommodations on South Street,

[27:47] and I think it'll become a little more relevant

[27:49] on the next few concept slides.

[27:52] We've talked there, I mentioned the St. Mary's Rectory property,

[27:55] but looking at some potential community center usage,

[27:58] whether we used to the building or new building,

[28:00] community gardens, potentially housing at that site.

[28:03] At the Mary Lane Hospital site,

[28:05] looking potentially at medical services,

[28:07] assisted living of some way shape or form, housing, and also trails.

[28:12] As Stuart mentioned, the healthcare services zoning district was recently

[28:17] implemented, which we think takes several steps in the right direction, but I think

[28:21] we think it could go just a little bit further by changing some of the special

[28:24] permit uses to make those as of right.

[28:27] And I can dive into that a little bit more detail later.

[28:30] And then sort of the, I guess I'll call it the overarching umbrella, or maybe it's the

[28:34] the bowl that catches everything at the bottom

[28:35] is the creation of redevelopment authority in the town.

[28:41] So again, jumping back to the where a milliard,

[28:46] this sort of provides some ideas about

[28:49] what can happen to some of the particular buildings

[28:50] in the milliard.

[28:52] The green ones are retained.

[28:54] These are buildings that we think are in pretty good shape.

[28:56] Not really much needs to be done with them.

[28:58] They've got some active uses already,

[29:00] so those are in pretty good shape.

[29:02] The yellow ones, these potentially can be renovated,

[29:05] but we do presume them to be vacant based upon walking through the milliard and the information

[29:11] that we've gathered and then as you can see the buildings in orange which seem to be in poor

[29:16] or even unsafe condition and this is where significant intervention made to be you know need to

[29:22] occur here these buildings have holes in their roof or potentially no roofs at all and they are

[29:29] and I, you know, the dilapidated state

[29:31] and need some attention for sure.

[29:34] But one thing I did want to highlight about the milliard

[29:37] is that it's important to note that for the town,

[29:40] I should say, to really support the development efforts

[29:42] in the milliard for future development,

[29:45] but also the existing businesses that are located in this area

[29:48] if, you know, there's going to be some change

[29:51] to come from that area.

[29:52] I just wanted to make that quick point.

[29:55] So this is concept A, and I'm going to cover probably

[29:59] all of the

[30:00] This concept, and then I can just walk through the changes on the other two. I'll just highlight some of the items, but I'll start up in the Northeast corner in the Mill yard. That is now a little, not a little, but a sort of a blank pad right now. I guess there was an old mill building there that burned down within the last 30 years or so. But maybe there's some potential there for a new building with some parking, maybe a pocket park with some access to the wear river there.

[30:26] There you can see the paint-catched areas, which we talked about for those properties

[30:31] along Knox Street and Maple Street, enforcement screening potentially in these particular

[30:36] areas to sort of deal with some of the uses that may not be fully compliant with what's

[30:41] happening there.

[30:42] The blue box on there, that's the town-owned building.

[30:46] We think there's some potential value to maybe keep the pad of that building.

[30:51] it could be used as a scenic overlook potentially, you know, enhancing the experience within

[30:56] the milliard.

[30:57] And then as we work around towards Memorial Field, you can see the potential in the parking

[31:01] area.

[31:02] But also it's our understanding that the American Athletic shoe company parking lot is being

[31:08] used informally right now for public parking in off business hours, but if that's, if there's

[31:14] no formal agreement there, it probably should be, you know, looked at.

[31:18] Then, sliding to the south, again, the rectory property.

[31:22] On this particular scenario or this concept, we're looking at maybe converting the rectory

[31:26] building to housing, a new or redo-use building for a potential community center, maybe some

[31:33] community gardens here to take advantage of that open space.

[31:36] The dashed lines on this map, the red and the blue ones, are potential pathways for the

[31:42] a mass central rail trail that is going to pass through downtown

[31:45] where at some point in time. So those are just two potential pathways.

[31:51] Actually they have a very good website and they're looking at some different

[31:54] options about where the mass central rail trail might go through downtown where some of it

[31:58] stays on the west side of the werever, but there's an option that talks about

[32:03] creating a bridge, three different options of creating a bridge and how that would navigate that area.

[32:09] And then as we get down to the Maryland Hospital site in this particular scenario, looking at

[32:15] some campus style development of rock-around health services, potentially some single

[32:19] family housing in the back, maybe moving to some more dense housing options, multifamily

[32:24] in the back with some trails, but definitely retaining that single family housing along

[32:31] the edge along Marjorie Street, and you'll see that in all the scenarios, and did want

[32:35] to highlight, they're a little bit hard, two things, a little bit hard to see.

[32:38] One of the blue stars, there could be some potential scenic points along the

[32:41] Weir River, but then also some thin orange lines that sort of identify some

[32:45] trails. One of those is at the end of Marjorie Street, potentially going all the

[32:49] way to the Weir River, and that could maybe link up with the Mass Central Rail Trail

[32:52] through that area. And then also a loop that would work around Memorial Field.

[32:57] This could potentially be used as an exercise loop for seniors in the community

[33:02] or anybody that you know they have those sort of small workout stations or for

[33:06] parents you know if your kid is practicing or playing at the warrior field. And

[33:12] then see we move into the concept B you can see some of the potential changes

[33:19] at the former Maryland hospital site looking at more exclusively single-family

[33:24] homes at the rear of the site but then maybe some assisted living or

[33:29] reabiltations, veteran housing at the front of the site, broken up, some office, potential

[33:35] office uses at the corner possibly, shifting up to the rectory site, looking at some

[33:41] more multi-family housing there, but also keeping the rectory building itself, incorporating

[33:45] into some type of housing development there. A lot of the same scenic overlooks and enforcement

[33:52] of different properties or different uses in the area. And then as we move to the northeast,

[33:56] east, part of the milliard again, maybe a three to five story office building again with

[34:02] the passive pocket park to the south there where river makes a turn.

[34:08] And then sliding into the third concept, I'll start at the south again on this one at

[34:15] the Maryland hospital site.

[34:17] This one incorporates the helipad, we did get some comments about that, again always retaining

[34:23] the single-family edge lots along Marjorie Street, but wrap around medical services potentially

[34:28] at the site office uses. The rectory site a little less developed with housing, mostly primarily

[34:34] single-family homes, reuse of the rectory building there. I should have highlighted, and all the

[34:40] scenarios talk about protected cycling accommodations along Celstreet, and then back up to the northeast part

[34:46] of the milliart, again, we're looking at less of a massing there with two three to five

[34:53] story buildings with mixed use, again, the passive park being located in that area.

[34:59] And I just have a few more slides, so next steps.

[35:03] As I mentioned, sort of like the overarching umbrella on all of this is the creation,

[35:07] potential creation of an urge. I should say a recommendation of a redevelopment authority

[35:12] and an implementation strategy.

[35:14] It seems that the town has the foundation for this

[35:17] and your community development authority and the CDA,

[35:20] but a redevelopment authority would go a little bit beyond this.

[35:24] I'm focused more on redevelopment efforts as opposed to CDBG

[35:27] and grant funding management.

[35:31] So some of the actions that could come out of that

[35:33] would be property acquisition and disposition,

[35:35] brownfield, assessment and cleanup coordination,

[35:38] grant writing, public-private partnerships,

[35:40] marketing and redevelopment promotion and coordination among the mill owners.

[35:44] And this would be like a one to three year timeline and then we also list some of the potential funding sources that could help advance that forward.

[35:51] The second recommendation is completing a detailed district-wide property infrastructure and market assessment for the district.

[35:58] And some of these actions would include evaluating the building conditions, the environmental constraints, what's the utility capacity of the area,

[36:04] the market demand for housing, health care, mixed use, and commercial uses.

[36:09] Really drilling down, we sort of did a high-level look at it, and then also the

[36:13] redevelopment, excuse me, the redevelopment feasibility for the key sites in the

[36:17] area. Again, a list of potential funding sources. I think this will be laid out

[36:23] all a little bit better in the report. We have a little more space to let some of

[36:26] this text read that we can dive into a little bit more. The fourth sort of

[36:31] recommendation, adopt zoning and regulatory changes, so, as I mentioned earlier, again,

[36:36] we think the new healthcare services district zoning took some good steps, but not necessarily

[36:44] went far enough.

[36:44] So, if healthcare services are truly what the town's seeking to achieve here, we'd recommend

[36:49] changing some of those healthcare services from special permits to, as of right uses.

[36:54] So, for example, right now on the table, a hospital, for example, or a laboratory research facility,

[37:01] these are all special permits.

[37:03] So keep in mind a special permit is a discretionary permit from the permitting authority, which it's

[37:09] as a hot, pretty high threshold to clear.

[37:12] Moving those particular uses to, as of right, the town would still have some control on their site plan review,

[37:17] and it would be more attractive to any kind of a developer or business coming into the community.

[37:21] Having spent 12 years on the municipal side myself, a lot of times, developers will see that

[37:28] special permit, and they will get gunshot.

[37:30] It means more review, it means more time, more money, more risk for them, and so that's

[37:36] why we're sort of recommending if this is something that the town really wants to have in

[37:39] that area.

[37:41] Probably an evaluation of changing some of those uses from special permit to as of right.

[37:46] There are very few as of right uses allowed in the healthcare services district, they're

[37:50] really just the government facilities, agricultural uses, yeah, farms, so and everything else is a special

[37:57] permit where it's not permitted in that area. But this would allow mixed use residential development

[38:03] where appropriate, sort of reducing some of the regulatory barriers as I discussed for assistive

[38:08] living, senior housing or workforce housing, but also incorporating bicycle, pedestrian,

[38:13] and river access improvements and even into development review standards. Then a fourth recommendation

[38:19] over the one and three-year timeframe will be preparing a detailed district

[38:23] redevelopment and implementation strategy. So some of the actions for this

[38:26] will be prioritizing short medium and long-term projects, identifying

[38:30] responsible parties, establish cost estimates, and identify catalytic redevelopment

[38:35] sites and infrastructure investments, and again listing some of the potential

[38:39] funding sources for those that could be pursued. And my last slide here with the

[38:49] and connectivity projects.

[38:50] So these would be actual potential changes in the physical landscape out there.

[38:56] So implementing visible improvements that demonstrate progress, including the South

[39:02] Street bicycle accommodations, riverfront trail potentially or just simply riverfront access,

[39:07] public parking improvements in Memorial Field, streetscape enhancements, and screening or beautification

[39:13] of highly visible or underutilized properties, and again, some grants and opportunities

[39:18] these listed below that.

[39:20] And then the last one, advancing redevelopment partnerships

[39:23] and funding for catalyst sites.

[39:25] This would be a little longer term, four to 10 years.

[39:28] And these actions would focus on advancing redevelopment

[39:30] concepts of the district's most strategic properties,

[39:33] including issuing requests for information,

[39:36] request for proposals, and engaging healthcare providers,

[39:39] housing developers and nonprofit organizations

[39:41] to look at these sites.

[39:44] And that's those are partnerships that take time to build up.

[39:46] You sort of have to go out and start working with people

[39:48] to bring them into the area.

[39:52] And that's what I have.

[39:53] Thank you for listening.

[39:54] I was quite a little bit of information for me to get through

[39:57] but happy to answer any questions or talk to you

[39:59] or anything you might have.

[40:00] This is a board of anything that I don't know.

[40:08] Adam, when you did your research,

[40:11] the town has several existing master plans

[40:13] that talked about economic development.

[40:16] And I don't remember them talking exactly of the milliard

[40:20] and certainly not the healthcare district

[40:22] but more along the Main Street District.

[40:25] Was any of that work looked at as you developed

[40:28] this plan here so there would be connectivity

[40:31] between this work and whatever work might be happening

[40:34] in the Main Street section?

[40:35] Yes, definitely.

[40:36] So one of the first tasks we do with any community

[40:39] whether we're doing a district plan

[40:40] or open space recreation plan or comprehensive plan,

[40:45] we pull in those various plans and work

[40:47] that's already been done.

[40:48] So we, nothing really hit exactly

[40:52] in this district area, but there were some peripheral plans, you know, obviously there

[40:56] was the milliard work by that Ty and Bonneton, I believe Weston, Samson was another firm,

[41:00] that it also done some work there, so absolutely pulling those various reports and information

[41:05] to see what the build-off of the work that's already been done there.

[41:08] Okay.

[41:09] Thank you.

[41:11] Any other board members?

[41:15] The only question I have is when we receive this is stored in terms of process, how do

[41:20] And we follow up on this once it's delivered to the town as a consumer.

[41:25] What do we do with the power?

[41:26] Are we going to take advantage of this and actually utilize it?

[41:30] Great question.

[41:32] The first thing I would say is to assign responsibility in parts to the people that would take care of it.

[41:42] There's a good part there that would be the community development department.

[41:48] Parts that will be part of the healthcare discussion going forward.

[41:52] as you look at the transformation, real-health transformation grant, and then in the recommendations

[41:59] it talks about resources and funding sources and other sources to take advantage of, and

[42:05] that would fall on me and Jay, the grant writer, to look at those resources in terms of, well,

[42:15] the experts are here, but in terms of the creation of a redevelopment authority, I think that

[42:20] That needs some research or it'll probably be in the report with the explanation of how

[42:25] that benefits the town or other than the town doing itself.

[42:30] So you would have to probably, if you're going in, establish a primary list and then assign

[42:37] a responsibility.

[42:40] Mr. Chair, I'd like to suggest that at a future meeting, probably after the summer, once this has

[42:46] been received and starts at a chance to work with this staff, is that store come back and report

[42:51] report on this and exactly how have they designated the responsibilities for what section.

[42:55] So we know that we're acting on this and trying to get the sense of what the timeline

[43:01] might be to start initiating, seeing what works for us, not all of this might work, but there

[43:06] might be something that does.

[43:08] But my fear is we have a boatload of master plans and we haven't really acted on.

[43:14] They're there and they read good, but where has been the struggle has been getting behind

[43:23] it and trying to pick off it, the things that we can, instead of vision, for what the bigger

[43:29] targets are.

[43:30] And I don't want to see that happen with this.

[43:32] I think there's a two critical areas for us.

[43:34] I agree.

[43:35] So after in September, we can have that review.

[43:48] Thank you, Adam.

[43:48] I appreciate that.

[43:49] Thank you very much.

[43:49] Yes, thank you.

[43:52] And Ben, thank you for the funding.

[43:55] We'll probably be coming back to you.

[43:57] I don't know if that's usually how it works.

[44:01] In fact, can you open up an office on Main Street

[44:03] and maybe just make it easier for us?

[44:04] We can just say,

[44:10] I'm sorry.

[44:11] I don't have this.

[44:12] We do have a Western office that I work out.

[44:14] Oh, but a warehouse.

[44:15] People could say, where are you?

[44:17] And you could say, we're in ware.

[44:18] And then they go, where?

[44:19] It's a great game.

[44:24] Thank you.

[44:25] All right, we have neighborhood outreach

[44:27] with the police chief, board of health director,

[44:32] and building commissioner.

[44:42] You need chief?

[44:45] Suits been banished as all the little items.

[44:47] What was that?

[44:49] Come on.

[44:49] It's not a cut, thanks.

[44:54] So if I, Mr. Chair, if I might,

[44:58] I'd ask Stuart to bring in.

[45:00] This panel, through the chair it asks, because after the one of the most recent drug bus that you had done chief, I think it was the oldest avenue area. And right after that, the amount of comments in the social media and just people in general about where and the expectation is, this is what you find and where, this is what you expect and where. And that's not what where it is. That's not what we are. That's not what we expect. It's not what we strive for.

[45:29] In fact, I know we're doing many things to try and keep that from happening, but with

[45:34] the board support, we wanted to come in and talk about, are we doing enough?

[45:39] Are we doing the right things?

[45:40] Are we doing the things to make your jobs easier, supporting you with what you need to go and

[45:45] continue with those improvements and improving the quality of life, not only for the residents

[45:51] of the town, but for the residents who live on those streets because those people don't

[45:55] want to live in neighborhoods with neighbors like that who are bringing that activity into

[46:00] their street that's their home that's their family that's their safety they don't want

[46:04] to live with that either. That's correct. So the question is are we doing enough and if not

[46:08] what else should we be doing and what can we do to support you the three of you and your

[46:12] efforts better? You guys take me to the end? It's probably all numbered here.

[46:19] So yeah over

[46:20] the years well when I took over sad eight years ago nine years ago that was one of my big

[46:25] thing was the drug addiction and drug issues that town had. We've made incredible strides

[46:32] and reducing that problem. We will have flare ups like we had here. We did three houses

[46:38] all at once, just how it all worked out. You know, we were able to get search on the street,

[46:43] one of those houses at the targets of each and instead of doing one, the other one private

[46:48] shut down flow, it would just extend the investigation. We did everything at once.

[46:54] So, with that being said, things have simmered down.

[46:58] I've been in front of the boards in the past,

[47:02] so unfortunately we'll never stop the drug use

[47:05] or the drug sales in any town.

[47:08] We're looking to reduce it, which I think we've done a tremendous job.

[47:11] I started the dark program back when I first started.

[47:15] We partnered with BHN,

[47:20] with CDHNL, there's rehab centers on Main Street, the Hampton County Sheriff's Office

[47:27] has their methanol travel and clinic that comes to wear I believe it's every day or

[47:34] Monday through Friday, you know, so the avenues for the help and the treatment are there.

[47:40] The enforcement, the trust between the police department and the public is also there.

[47:46] Back in the day, by history and attitude of the past ministry, you used to be the problems.

[47:52] We cleaned that up, and saw also the residents have to take responsibility to be part of

[47:58] the solving the problem.

[48:00] Residents in that area, but down then, started pointing out, get out of here, there's a little

[48:07] more drug dealing down here.

[48:08] They stood up, and now that area is still low income housing, but we don't have too much

[48:13] drug issues down there in that in that area you know I'd like to see that we

[48:18] done up in the oldest oldest half but once again it's up to the residents to

[48:23] step up we're gonna back them we're gonna protect them when you know if there's

[48:27] any issues up there with that so but that's the to look at the town of where is

[48:35] that so yet to where that's not true you know so

[48:41] we've worked with Anna and the

[48:48] Probably about 2019, throughout the Commonwealth,

[48:52] we've got a bunch of grow houses that are developing.

[48:56] The mass chiefs were advised of all this.

[48:59] All of us were pretty much aware of it at the time.

[49:03] Practically pleaded with us just to hold off.

[49:05] They wanted to get the head as snake.

[49:08] We let some years go by.

[49:10] And I don't know how much was being done,

[49:14] but I just said I got tired of it and said,

[49:16] and I want to mine it down.

[49:18] Searching weren't too done, evidence was collected.

[49:20] Unfortunately, low individuals live in there,

[49:27] just 10 into these crops.

[49:29] Houses were destroyed, worked with data.

[49:32] Board of Health and the electrical inspector,

[49:34] those houses were maybe using the wrong term,

[49:37] but were condemned until certain regulations were met.

[49:40] The electricity was shot by National Grid immediately.

[49:44] So, this organization was smart, they had spent half their money cash for the house, the other half was alone.

[49:54] So, small towns like Ware, Palmer, wouldn't seize the house.

[49:59] You don't have a couple hundred thousand dollars to come up with to go to the Internet.

[50:03] If it was all paid off cash, that's a whole different story.

[50:05] You know, so what like the Bill of the Department of Health in the Electrical Inspector forced them to

[50:11] Reapp the house

[50:13] Bring it up to code and they they're excited right away because they got an investment in that they want their money back

[50:19] So as far as the department's working together including the fire department, you know, we've done everything we possibly can

[50:26] That

[50:28] When it comes up that we work together and we make it happen

[50:34] And Anna with the, on Otis Avenue were the, the multiples drug bus took place.

[50:42] Just following that there was a fire of one of the brick blocks and now that building

[50:46] was morded up.

[50:48] And knowing that housing stock has a lot to do with the quality of life for people and

[50:54] knowing that the housing stock and what is being, the market rate is will attract people

[51:00] at certain interests, so what are we doing with that recently boarded up block where the

[51:08] fire was to kind of minimize that as being a risk to the neighborhood and contributing

[51:14] to just the general perception that it's not a safe neighborhood?

[51:20] Well, it was boarded up very securely, we made sure that there was a very good company that

[51:26] was retained by the owner. That owner is very responsive to any of the correspondence

[51:34] that we've had with him as far as inspections and other matters. He was very interested

[51:43] in getting it. There was no pushback, I guess. He was very responsive and he did what he had

[51:50] to do, but he wanted to do it. So that was, that made it simple. I don't know what his

[51:56] plans are going forward. I think it's too early. I think he's still working with insurance

[51:59] to see what would happen or how much they could contribute. And I don't know what's

[52:03] going to happen in the future. I know that there's enough damage in there that it's going

[52:08] to significantly require code updates to the building. So sprinklers and all that is if it

[52:14] were to be repair. The structure is sound on the exterior but because it's a majoring building

[52:20] And we'll say damage on the inside and above the where the fire happened, that the fire

[52:28] went through the floors.

[52:30] So there is significant amount of damage to it.

[52:33] But we just have, unfortunately, we're in a waiting period right now just to see what

[52:38] can be done.

[52:39] His next steps will be to, within his insurance company, find out how feasible and what

[52:48] but will we pair mean or maybe he might decide to sell it?

[52:53] I'm not sure.

[52:54] So I'm not to say, yeah.

[52:55] Unfortunately, that's the only way it seems to be.

[52:57] If you have a client, they collect the insurance money,

[52:59] they dump the property and they don't care about the top.

[53:02] Well, he would have to do some things to it before selling it,

[53:07] but if you can't afford a repair work that's required,

[53:13] then I don't know.

[53:14] But didn't we pass them?

[53:16] Was it a by-law?

[53:17] Yes, yes.

[53:18] that talked about after a fire and where the town was in line to

[53:21] work, was it to collect from the insurance company if needed?

[53:26] Yes, so that's what I'm, but if it comes to after that,

[53:31] like if the price ends up being too high, and it's not feasibly

[53:35] possible, then I think the only option will be to sell it or find

[53:39] someone who could renovate it and finish it and bring it to

[53:44] co-compliance, probably receivers, I don't know yet, it's still too early to know what's

[53:49] going to happen with that.

[53:53] And I may also speak up, too, that we've been seeing it and we've been helping a lot

[53:57] of the landlords or owners of the buildings and property and we do conduct these rates, search

[54:02] once for drugs.

[54:04] If we advise them that, you know, there is a statute of law on the books that, hey, they have

[54:09] the ability now to evict off of this, you know, and a lot of them have been very receptive

[54:14] they've been going through with this because we've been seeing even the old

[54:18] board of staff and other areas of town, I've talked to some of the landlords and

[54:23] they know they're problem tenants and they want them out and so unfortunately

[54:27] it just takes a process sometimes six months or so coming through the

[54:32] thousands. John does health get involved in that process at all?

[54:36] Somewhat just for the record, I need code enforcement officer, I'm not the director

[54:40] Okay, so that's above my pay rate. Okay. We do get involved. Most of our involvement comes when we receive complaints.

[54:52] You know, we have a housing complaint. That's our shoe in or our foot in the door to go in there and do an inspection.

[55:01] Other than that, we really don't.

[55:05] But about when a property gets, I'll use the term abandoned, it's vacant, maybe it had

[55:11] a fire, maybe it didn't have a fire, it's boarded up, it's derelict, and it's just sitting

[55:15] there.

[55:15] It's an eye sore, but it's obviously not being maintained.

[55:19] At that point, who, from a town enforcement, code enforcement perspective, is the right

[55:26] office to go and take a look at it and start some kind of action to address it.

[55:31] Right. I think that depends there are a lot of variables. I can use 16 Walnut Street or

[55:39] you folks familiar to the same family home. It's been abandoned for a long time.

[55:44] So that came to our attention. We're going through the receivership process with the Attorney General's

[55:50] Office. The owners haven't done anything. They haven't complied with past orders to renovate the

[55:57] property or fix any of the issues there. So we're dealing with the Attorney General's Office to appoint a receiver, you can then come in, renovate the property, and then either sell it or put it out to bid through an auction process.

[56:13] So that's something that we can do through the Board of Health to take an older property that's been abandoned or vacant and potentially go through this receivership process.

[56:23] us. And that's what we did at WebCorp. We loved it. 13 WebCorp.

[56:28] I was going to just give that as a sample too. Well, with that, everything there, when

[56:35] we go to that one, we're like, maybe some phone calls. That property, because it reminds

[56:40] me of keeping it off. So there's a search while we go and take anyone in if we want. So

[56:44] we leave.

[56:46] And the Severship is a great alternative, but again, it takes a long time. It's not always

[56:53] the best solution but in certain situations like Wemcore in some of the other 21-23 Pleasant

[57:02] Street the former funeral home you know that's that's absolutely fantastic that was I think a

[57:09] success on our part we appointed a great receiver the court appointed a great receiver she's

[57:15] done a fantastic job and then that will be two really nice rental properties I think probably late

[57:22] summer. Yes, several months, but that's been almost completely renovated today. So interior

[57:29] work is being, she rock has been done on the inside right now.

[57:34] Okay. Anything that we

[57:38] as a board can do to support you. You know, all of the years the boards, regardless who

[57:41] been up here, they've been extremely supportive of what we're trying to bring the police department

[57:45] up to where it should be. I mean, I think I think Josh might have been the only one on.

[57:51] So, a couple years ago, I gave the, I think it was an FBI study from 2012, but Towne should

[57:56] have 2.2 officers per thousand, so that puts us at 22.

[58:01] That doesn't include a detective or a school resource officer, so we should be roughly

[58:05] around the 25 person department.

[58:08] Towne has given us an extra person, I believe, who is in the last year's budget, so we're

[58:13] We're making strides, you know, but once again, you know, it's through it, the board's

[58:21] always been supportive and getting us money if we need action money for it.

[58:25] Later tonight we're looking at opioid settlement, many grants through the town, and I know we

[58:31] do have some recovery programs in town, and you mentioned the Sheriff's Methadone Program

[58:37] comes into town all day.

[58:38] So, how are we doing connecting people in need to these programs and what programs, in your business, what programs are out there that maybe we haven't been able to take advantage of because we lack the money and is this an opportunity to look at some of these grant settlement funds that we receive as have been used successfully in health and some of the other areas of town, is there an opportunity there to leverage that, to bring it to some of the programs you might have read about in other parts of the state

[59:08] or perhaps across the country but we've never been able to do is this an

[59:12] opportunity for us to think about that and say what else can we bring it to

[59:15] town to help manage this better for the residents. I think we're more than

[59:20] adequate. I think we would agree with that with the dark program. The Sheriff's Office

[59:27] BHN. Oh yeah, John Kassel's phenomenal. He used the original dark

[59:32] officer and he's been continuing to do that work and it's phenomenal. We make

[59:37] arrangements, I even pay overtime sometimes to have one of the officers bring someone to

[59:43] a rehab center in Greenfield or wherever it may be, you know, so people do take advantage

[59:48] of those services and the Narcan, constantly giving stuff off to other departments to help

[59:56] them out on that stuff because we're able to get it through the dark program.

[59:59] Mom.

[1:00:00] I didn't know I had to. But yeah, we got a lot on the table, a lot of access to tools and help, but once again, if the people don't want it, it's an unfortunate thing to see. The comment about the neighbors have to play a role in helping you identify who is bringing something into the neighborhood that doesn't belong there. And I heard you say that you'll take that information, but you'll also stand with them. Correct.

[1:00:29] and work to keep them in the neighborhood safe, protect them, and how they get in touch with you to make that school station. Call me directly. I have a voicemail, if I'm not in the station, I'm pretty decent on return and phone calls.

[1:00:42] Okay.

[1:00:45] Anybody else from the board?

[1:00:46] It is to have a couple of questions that you, with the last point of cuts, the government has done with this here.

[1:00:54] The Department, do you know how, once it comes, but in fact, the cuts have affected the police department's effort to work on with the drug problem?

[1:01:10] So, as far as other neighboring towns, it seems like everybody's dealing with budget cuts.

[1:01:15] We've got some, we're going to see what we can do.

[1:01:20] Once again, the border and still it's always been supportive if we need action money for drug

[1:01:25] invests or any type of overtime, one of the other biggest things that we deal with is sexual

[1:01:30] assaults.

[1:01:31] We spend a lot of time on that.

[1:01:32] My officers spend a lot of time conducting sexual assaults, you know, so yeah, just please

[1:01:39] continue to be supportive and see any changes happening to you guys.

[1:01:44] I think I know I'm sure of coaching and I'm pretty good friends to him and

[1:01:47] him and Connie and he's one of the, I think the only sheriff that's

[1:01:51] sent up my drug rehab in the him and kind of jail and

[1:01:55] really works a lot with you. With our dark

[1:01:58] county of notes and him to Connie is a pretty good sheriff.

[1:02:02] When I share his, with his drug rehab

[1:02:06] program it's you know on the streets of DeGa at all I'm quite sure that here but

[1:02:13] so I think the sheriff's drug program I think it's court ordered okay I don't

[1:02:18] know much about it but I assume just because it's in within his his county his

[1:02:23] sheriff's county facility there it's something that's done by the court you know

[1:02:29] you can be sentenced to three months but they're gonna put you over here in

[1:02:32] recovery center to help you out which I think is is is a great thing you know

[1:02:37] call jail a call rehab but I think that courts and the legislators need to do

[1:02:42] something with these addicts where hey you got one or two chances and after that

[1:02:48] you're you're going to rehab we're going to keep you there for three months to six

[1:02:52] months to give you that step that needs to get you through recovery and get

[1:02:56] your life going and there you can have mental health counseling sessions you know

[1:03:01] job, job skills, classes, you know, there's a sleuth in it that you could have happen

[1:03:06] while you're going through that, but I know Sherry Quinty's a really good Sherry

[1:03:12] and it works a lot. Sherry, Caroline, Kayley, too, for Hampshire County,

[1:03:16] so we're going to, you know, you know, yeah. Thank you for being here. It doesn't come in.

[1:03:22] All three of us appreciate it. Happy to help. It's really questions.

[1:03:28] I just want to say I know John since you've been there you've seen a lot of drug us in town

[1:03:35] I just want to thank you you guys are doing a great job. I will pass go along. Thank you

[1:03:39] I get a great department and once again I've always had to support a student at all the boards that I've

[1:03:44] I've dealt with over the years I appreciate it. Thank you

[1:03:48] Thank you for your time.

[1:03:49] And John, Chief, thank you. Thank you.

[1:03:53] I'm glad to hear you working as a team also, because that's a lot more effective way to

[1:03:57] have that issue.

[1:03:58] Absolutely.

[1:03:59] Rather than each department trying to do it individually, but have a natural aberration

[1:04:03] and keep it up.

[1:04:21] We have the presentation of two grants where O2OA settlement contests or see him approval.

[1:04:29] I know why are you today.

[1:04:30] Good things.

[1:04:31] Good.

[1:04:32] Thank you.

[1:04:32] So,

[1:04:38] my name is Emma Berthieu, and I'm the epidemiologist for the Quay-Bot-Kill Substance

[1:04:42] Science, which is a substance use prevention coalition based out of the time we're in serving

[1:04:47] the broader Quay-Bot-Kills region.

[1:04:50] And I'm here this evening with some colleagues who will come up in a moment to introduce

[1:04:54] our opioid settlement fund task force and present two mini-grantial proposals for your approval

[1:05:00] this evening.

[1:05:01] So, the opioid settlement funds are monies received by the time we're as a result of settlements

[1:05:06] with opioid manufacturers and distributors for their role in the opioid crisis.

[1:05:10] The money is intended to address harms caused by opioids in the community and the state

[1:05:15] has outlined specific categories that the funds can be used for.

[1:05:18] These categories are opioid use to sort of treatment, supporting people in treatment or recovery,

[1:05:24] providing connections to care for people who have or are risk of developing opioid use disorder,

[1:05:29] harm reduction, addressing the needs of people involved in the criminal justice system

[1:05:33] due to opioids, supporting pregnant or parenting individuals and their families, including

[1:05:37] babies with neonatal abstinence syndrome, and preventing misuse of opioids and implementing

[1:05:42] prevention education.

[1:05:44] And so these are the state defined categories for this money.

[1:05:50] The Quay-Valk Hill substance use alliance was approached by Stuart back last summer to create

[1:05:56] a task force committee of key stakeholders and public health experts to create a process

[1:06:02] around getting this funding out into the community to do the work it needs to do.

[1:06:10] So myself, our prevention director who is up on the screen there, Emily, and one of our other

[1:06:17] co-workers, Rebecca, reach out to some of the key organizations in the town, the Recovery Center of

[1:06:24] Hope on Main Street, the Weir Library, also on Main Street, and we also are fortunate to have

[1:06:29] of participation from Officer Cicelo when he's available

[1:06:32] as where's Dart Officer.

[1:06:35] We, after discussion amongst ourselves

[1:06:39] and engaging with some of our neighboring communities,

[1:06:42] came up with many grants as a really effective model

[1:06:47] to get some of this funding out to the communities.

[1:06:50] Other neighboring municipalities have started

[1:06:52] many grant programs with their opioid settlement funds.

[1:06:55] And we thought it would be the right answer

[1:06:57] for where I wanted to present that to you.

[1:07:00] And the goal is really to support the wonderful work

[1:07:03] that's already being done to help continue to fund that.

[1:07:07] Just for some broader context about what other communities are doing

[1:07:11] in Belchertown has a very successful mini-grant program

[1:07:14] that they've been running for almost two years

[1:07:17] and have dispersed funds to several local organizations in their community

[1:07:21] and they were kind enough to share their mini-grant application with us

[1:07:25] which we then adapted to make most sense for where,

[1:07:31] but it is fairly similar.

[1:07:33] They did a wonderful job and no need to reinvent the wheel.

[1:07:37] Palmer and Monson both have many grant programs as well,

[1:07:40] as well as some farther out communities like Springfield,

[1:07:43] Northampton, Amherst, and Wayfarway, North Adelboro.

[1:07:48] We also engaged in some community surveys

[1:07:51] and a listening session at the Recovery Center

[1:07:54] to speak with some of the folks most impacted and see what the community saw as some of the key needs

[1:08:00] and it echoed a lot of these key categories outlined by the state, opioid use disorder treatment

[1:08:07] and supporting folks in treatment and recovery and prevention came up as some of those really

[1:08:13] high key categories in general. So there is currently about $95,000 available with more

[1:08:21] Our funding coming in although in smaller amounts is at this point, the town will continue

[1:08:28] to receive opioid settlement funding for about 10 to 15 more years although it will be

[1:08:34] in decreasing amounts over time as some of those settlements and in agreements with some

[1:08:40] of these manufacturers and distributors, the length of their settlement funding differed.

[1:08:46] So, the process we came up with is sort of the following, an organization or an individual

[1:08:53] in partnership with an organization completes the mini-grant application and budget template

[1:08:58] that you have in your packet, and then they submit that mini-grant application to the task

[1:09:06] course.

[1:09:07] We review that, ask questions, and essentially review it to make sure it meets the requirements

[1:09:14] that the state has set out for what the funding is usable for, and also whether we believe it will be valuable to the community.

[1:09:24] We then bring it to you to be voted on for approval.

[1:09:30] And then the task force would work with town administrators to get the funds to the organization.

[1:09:36] The organization will also complete quarterly check-ins with the task force to ensure the program is going well and that the money is being used as described.

[1:09:46] We would also love to come back and report on how thinking programs are going in the mini grant process.

[1:09:52] So you can really see the way that this is benefiting the community.

[1:09:57] So at this time I'd love to bring our partners up for our first two mini grant applications.

[1:10:03] We have Julie and Gabe from the Recovery Center of Hope and Heidi from the Library.

[1:10:13] Awesome.

[1:10:15] Can I follow the chair?

[1:10:16] Sure.

[1:10:25] Welcome.

[1:10:26] Hi.

[1:10:27] You want to start?

[1:10:27] Do you want me to start?

[1:10:29] Whichever is fine.

[1:10:30] Yours was first.

[1:10:31] Do you want to move first?

[1:10:32] Sure.

[1:10:33] My name is Julie.

[1:10:34] That's the program director for the Recovery Center of Hope.

[1:10:36] Because of you who don't know, we are a state-funded, peer-led, recovery center.

[1:10:41] We have two locations, one at 52 Main Street and one in 78 Main Street.

[1:10:46] Joining me is Gabe Barrios. He's one of our community members here to share his

[1:10:51] perspective as well. At the Recovery Center of Hope, we are proud in multiple pathways center,

[1:10:58] meaning we honor that there are many ways to seek and maintain recovery.

[1:11:04] I have to note this feels certain, but it's after your conversation, so I'm happy to present this.

[1:11:10] Often people are, you know, they get into treatment, they go back out into their community

[1:11:15] and they go back.

[1:11:15] We call it people places and things, go right back to the life that you left.

[1:11:20] So one of the things we do at the Recovery Center of Hope and a role that we take very seriously

[1:11:25] is supporting people and exploring pathways that are going to be meaningful and sustainable

[1:11:29] when they get back to their life.

[1:11:31] I myself am a woman in long-term recovery.

[1:11:34] A physical wellness remains an important part of my recovery journey.

[1:11:40] It helps me regular movement, rather, helps me improve mood, reduces stress, builds confidence,

[1:11:47] helps me build routine, discipline, and if frequently is helping me reconnect with myself

[1:11:53] and positive by.

[1:11:55] And while physical wellness is in everybody's pathway, we do acknowledge, and I have seen many

[1:12:00] times in our center, that it becomes a meaningful part of many people's recovery.

[1:12:03] For this reason, we are requesting opioid settlement abatement funds to establish a recovery

[1:12:10] focused wellness initiative.

[1:12:14] Probably in partnership with Fitness Factory, so we can support a local business.

[1:12:17] The program would provide recovery center for participants with access to gym memberships,

[1:12:23] while also removing the practical barriers by supplying essential work-up items, shoes,

[1:12:29] shorts, tablets that you need to take a shower afterward.

[1:12:33] had found something like that, because of the trust or relationship we have with our community members,

[1:12:40] we're uniquely positioned to identify individuals who are interested in this opportunity.

[1:12:44] We will encourage ongoing participation and support them as they develop healthy routines.

[1:12:50] Rather than assigning memberships to individuals, we decided that we would, as the Center,

[1:12:57] routine five memberships. So this allows us to ensure that if someone's participation naturally comes to an end at the center, the membership can be reassigned to another member who is ready to benefit.

[1:13:10] This approach will maximize the impact of every dollar invested while creating ongoing opportunities for people that are in recovery and interested.

[1:13:19] So that's our proposal. Happy to answer any questions.

[1:13:26] Yeah,

[1:13:29] I just had some resources here that I just looked up,

[1:13:36] just like the NIH, NIH.gov,

[1:13:39] rewriting the addicted brain through a physiological model of physical exercise, and also

[1:13:49] So at h.gov, role of physical activity on mental health and well-being, and those are just

[1:13:56] like overviews of multiple studies, and they highlight some of the factors that are

[1:14:03] beneficial to people in recovery, just increasing neuroplasticity, and increasing the EOTM-MAX, and

[1:14:13] obviously, if you have more resources for your body to use, you can recover better.

[1:14:17] And also substance

[1:14:28] use disorders have a negative effect on the prefrontal cortex of the brain,

[1:14:33] these studies show, you know, due to overstimulation of some of the neurotransmitters and receptors.

[1:14:42] And the prefrontal cortex has a large role in the executive decision making an impulse control.

[1:14:49] And so exercise is linked to improvements in executive function and increased

[1:14:54] gray matter volume and increased activity in the prefrontal cortex, so directly, you know, affecting people.

[1:15:08] If I may have one more thing, just as somebody living in recovery. In early recovery, I think I can only speak for myself, but I also run the center, I see it very frequently. You just send up as so much time in your hands. So really at the center, we're trying to provide productive pathways that people can explore to sustain. It's one thing to go to treatment. It's another thing to sustain the recovery. So as many options as we can offer, we're having conversations with workshop.

[1:15:34] 13 to pursue some more artistic pathways but I think we've been talking this

[1:15:40] that there are many members in the center that seem really excited about

[1:15:43] pursuing some they just want to work out and the endorphins that you get from

[1:15:49] working out it's just yeah it's just a pathway that makes sense so thank you very

[1:15:55] much thank you really cool I'm Heidi we've been the library director here in

[1:16:03] And we are asking for a combination grant, one part of which would be, the library currently has 20 Wi-Fi hotspots that we load to our patrons.

[1:16:16] It allows them to access the internet through up to 10 devices for a hotspot.

[1:16:22] Those items are out constantly.

[1:16:24] When Emma and I were speaking about the grant at our meeting at the beginning of the month,

[1:16:28] I checked on our existing hotspots and in the beginning of June, most of the hotspots

[1:16:37] had been out eight to ten times and they go for two week loans.

[1:16:41] So they're pretty much they come in and we charge them and they go back out again.

[1:16:45] And we don't have enough.

[1:16:48] So, one of the things I'm asking for our grant is another 10 hotspots that would give us a total of 20.

[1:16:57] I think that might be enough to fill the demand so that we wouldn't have to make people wait, which is currently the situation.

[1:17:06] They're waiting a week or more before there's another one available.

[1:17:10] We got a very lucky approach, Mobile Beacon, who is our provider.

[1:17:17] We get some hotspots each year through an organization called TechSoup,

[1:17:21] which gives us a very good deal on both buying the hotspots and the service.

[1:17:26] Mobile Beacon, when I approach them to consider purchasing more,

[1:17:31] offered to donate is the 10 hotspots if this grant would pay for service,

[1:17:36] which we have to buy service up front, it's $120 a year for each hotspot to have service.

[1:17:46] So that was just a bit of a bonus even that we didn't have to approach for grant funds for both

[1:17:53] the hotspots and the service. The other part of our grant is we are asking for funds for

[1:18:01] a newer larger television for the library, and I'm not sure we did this very last

[1:18:08] minute. I'm not sure in your packet if you've got that half of our brand.

[1:18:14] Okay, so

[1:18:15] probably what I'll do on that part is write another grant and come back at another

[1:18:19] time, so you're not approving something that we don't have back up for. But the

[1:18:27] The hotspots, as I said, the most popular thing in the library, and a real service to the

[1:18:33] town.

[1:18:34] And so I hope you'll consider supporting that.

[1:18:37] I'm sorry.

[1:18:37] It's a funny question.

[1:18:38] It's part of my ignorance, but where's the hotspot?

[1:18:42] I don't know.

[1:18:42] It's on this really stupid day.

[1:18:44] I should know, but.

[1:18:45] Hotspot is a little box.

[1:18:47] It's probably that big, about a half inch square, and you turn it on, and it emits

[1:18:54] Why fix a signal leaf and attach your phone to a wired television or your tablet or any such thing

[1:19:01] A lot of people do have them you know, I'm sorry, I'm so old, but I said, oh, where?

[1:19:07] But you know where is a town that has

[1:19:11] Definitely people that are able to afford internet service on their own

[1:19:16] And so it's a way to make it available to them on a loan basis. So it's just those

[1:19:26] I didn't approach them only because we have had a successful relationship with

[1:19:31] mobile beacon for a number of years and so they were my first thought to do that

[1:19:37] and then compounded by the fact that they offered to donate the hotspots.

[1:19:43] Sorry about that.

[1:19:44] All right.

[1:19:47] It's important, have anything?

[1:19:49] No.

[1:19:50] I'll start over.

[1:19:51] Just, we didn't plan this one putting together a agenda, but it's kind of a beneficial circumstance

[1:19:57] that this discussion is coming after the one that you just held with you.

[1:20:01] Said, your previous discussion was mostly about enforcement, but it's important if the

[1:20:08] town is going to continue to be better to recognize that there are resources in the services

[1:20:14] that are available in this town, which are significant and really important as part of that discussion of the point forward.

[1:20:29] Good job.

[1:20:29] All right, so do we need motion?

[1:20:33] Yep, I'll be looking forward.

[1:20:35] You want to do it?

[1:20:36] We should do both.

[1:20:38] If you want to do it individually.

[1:20:40] Can we do both at the same time, Nicole?

[1:20:41] Of course.

[1:20:43] Mr. Chair, I would move we approve a town-aware opioid settlement fund mini-grant application

[1:20:51] from the library for $1,425.48 and from the recovery center of pulp,

[1:21:08] $2,625.

[1:21:10] All right, we have a motion on the floor.

[1:21:14] Wait a second.

[1:21:15] Okay.

[1:21:17] So have I Steven?

[1:21:19] Any questions that are in need for their discussion?

[1:21:22] Hearing none.

[1:21:23] All in favor?

[1:21:24] Aye.

[1:21:25] Thank

[1:21:28] you so much.

[1:21:29] Thank you so much.

[1:21:29] Thank you.

[1:21:30] Great work.

[1:21:31] Thanks for what you're doing.

[1:21:32] Thanks for coming back and calling you home.

[1:21:34] Thank you so much.

[1:21:36] Thank you so much.

[1:21:44] The agenda, we have reservations and appointments, appointments, three-year terms, and once noted, we have 250th U.S. Celebration Committee, Mr. Frank Bayman.

[1:21:58] Do you want any of these just individually?

[1:22:00] visually.

[1:22:03] What's the price of law?

[1:22:07] Make much difference in law or less one is different now.

[1:22:17] Why don't we do like a consent agenda? Read down and if somebody's got something to say.

[1:22:21] Take our comment and then we can move it aside.

[1:22:24] All right, so 250th U.S. celebration committee and this is Frank Favon.

[1:22:27] A.D.A. Commission, Heidi Reid, Nancy Talbot,

[1:22:31] A.R. Fultural Commission, Todd LaValle,

[1:22:34] Capitol Planning Commission, Clayton Sylda,

[1:22:39] Community Development Authority, Denise Blodgett,

[1:22:43] Kathleen Daychamps, Finance Committee,

[1:22:46] Commissional Cooperman, Nancy Talbot,

[1:22:48] Kathy Cassio, put a hold on that one.

[1:22:51] Yes, sir, please.

[1:22:53] All right, so we'll just remove that one for now.

[1:22:57] Historical Commission,

[1:22:58] Kathleen Galford and Lynn Coffield-Lacke, open space Todd LaValle, police department special officers which we have a list of them, special

[1:23:13] officers Dan Polak and Paul Skutnik with honorary police officers, the only medic, Dennis Healey, Gary Hock,

[1:23:25] Oskins, Cushins, John Pageak, Police Matron,

[1:23:30] Ariane Rain, Constables Christopher Talbeth, Francis Cole,

[1:23:35] and then Zoning Board of Appeals, Maxwell Lombier.

[1:23:42] Do we have a motion to approve all except for Finance Committee?

[1:23:48] I make a motion to approve all except Finance Committee.

[1:23:51] Do we have a second?

[1:23:52] Second.

[1:23:53] All in there.

[1:23:54] All right.

[1:23:57] All right.

[1:24:00] Now we have new business.

[1:24:01] Can I just step forward and talk about what's that?

[1:24:05] Can we talk about?

[1:24:06] Yeah.

[1:24:06] Let's commit.

[1:24:07] Okay.

[1:24:08] Because I have a request.

[1:24:09] Okay.

[1:24:16] As you know, with the third time successful on the chart, the finance committee wants the state

[1:24:24] to sign off on the changes will become the advisory committee.

[1:24:27] It will retain the same functions of the finance committee but will also advise the town manager, the select board and town meeting on non-financial articles as well.

[1:24:43] They will have the same five members, the same sequence of appointments and alike.

[1:24:49] But it will have a little bit broader authority than it's had in the past.

[1:24:53] At the same time, we just got through a somewhat challenging budget that got through, got approved, and I think we managed within the resources that are available to us.

[1:25:08] I believe that the next budget for FY28 absent some sudden infusion of money from the state and absent a reduction in the income tax rate for five to four percent.

[1:25:22] then it's still going to be probably our most challenging budget in a long time.

[1:25:30] So we have three openings, one is a reappointment.

[1:25:34] What I would like to ask the board to do is to reappoint Mitch Cuppern to the board.

[1:25:39] He served very well and has been a great asset to the board.

[1:25:43] That'll give us three members, therefore a corn if we need to meet soon.

[1:25:49] I would like to hold on the other appointments.

[1:25:52] and I'd like to reach out and see if very well could be the Kathy and Nancy are our best candidates.

[1:25:59] But I think with the new way of the Finance Committee becoming advisory, I would like to open it up a little more to the public.

[1:26:09] We've had problems in the past, I think, as most boards and commissions have and getting volunteers, despite the huge stipend we received.

[1:26:20] And I'd like to use the newspaper and whatever to see if there are others in the community

[1:26:25] who are potentially interested.

[1:26:28] And then I think it would work well for me if couples select board members and myself

[1:26:35] would sort of form a nominating committee and review what applicants we have.

[1:26:41] If we don't have any new ones, we can move forward with the ones who have expressed an interest

[1:26:46] and I'm always happy when people are willing to step forward and serve a convener like finance.

[1:26:53] So that's my ask. Proof Mitch Copperman tonight to give us a quorum along with SK Robinson,

[1:27:00] who was reappointed earlier this year and then hold on filling the other two until we can

[1:27:07] get something in wherever news and on the town website to sort of raise awareness of the

[1:27:14] opening on the new advisory committee. So would you like to hold on for about six weeks?

[1:27:22] Yeah, that's a vice.

[1:27:25] I think so. Go through the like the end of July. It's a quiet period on the budget anyway.

[1:27:31] So and if something came up where they needed the finance committee, we have a we have a quorum with three members.

[1:27:37] Six months.

[1:27:37] Okay.

[1:27:38] Nicole Haslund.

[1:27:40] So, if you hold on the employment for six months then we don't have the finance money

[1:27:43] because you all want extra numbers, correct?

[1:27:45] Yes, three.

[1:27:46] No.

[1:27:47] Why don't you move on, Mitch?

[1:27:48] Once to a point, Mitch.

[1:27:49] We don't have to worry about it.

[1:27:50] Never tie that.

[1:27:51] Six weeks.

[1:27:53] Six weeks.

[1:27:55] Did that.

[1:27:55] The motion?

[1:27:56] Six months would be a little longer.

[1:27:58] No.

[1:27:59] I think it would be one motion.

[1:28:00] Yeah.

[1:28:01] To move to a point, Mitch.

[1:28:02] Yup.

[1:28:03] And hold the two.

[1:28:04] And re-everyday.

[1:28:05] all right we have a motion motion to go ahead and move the point niche

[1:28:12] government to the Finance Advisory Committee and to hold hold off on Nancy

[1:28:21] Tavit and Kathy Villocacio for six weeks okay do we have a second all second

[1:28:37] I would like to suggest that sometime in the next four to six weeks that we, you guys

[1:28:50] and the finance committee, sit down together here and sort of look back at the last

[1:28:58] budget cycle and you know what we found what needs improvement what we can

[1:29:07] begin to resolve as we head to the next budget cycle that would be a good

[1:29:12] use of our mutual time to do that. How about next meeting? What's the next

[1:29:19] mid-July, second? Yeah, I think July 6th would work. No. No. No. No. July 6th. The call says no.

[1:29:29] July 6th would work better. July 6th. Okay. I'm here on July 6th. So let's do July 6th. Any time in

[1:29:39] particular? It's your meeting. We work together. All right. You put it on the agenda where you want to.

[1:29:47] And then this app that I have,

[1:29:52] yeah, okay, read to them, the topic is, is the sort of a,

[1:30:02] After budget review. Yeah, after budget review, F1, 20, so the process. Can I make, did you get my e-mail?

[1:30:13] Which one? Only one, I said you. I would also like to suggest that a member of the board

[1:30:25] Select Board be appointed as an ex-efficient member of the finance committee.

[1:30:29] Yes, I did get that.

[1:30:30] It's been a huge asset for the past year to have Ken both in helping my transition chairman,

[1:30:38] but also as a link between Select Board and finance committee.

[1:30:42] And I think it's important for us to have that link as an information pathway back and forth.

[1:30:48] The more that we are collectively informed about the budget,

[1:30:52] it, how things are rolling, what the challenges are ahead of us, what we're seeing from the

[1:30:58] state, you know, even the outreach we want to have to our state centers, state reps,

[1:31:05] to push for better funding of general government aid, chapter 70 school aid, whatever. I think

[1:31:13] it will make us collectively more successful. So if someone is, you guys can determine who

[1:31:19] that is, but it'd be ex officio, but nevertheless they'd be there as a full participant and able

[1:31:26] to report back to you.

[1:31:31] So if you just want to ask your consideration of that is something

[1:31:34] to move forward, because it's fairly common for a select board member to be on charter

[1:31:41] or any other number. Is there any board member right now that's interested

[1:31:47] and being the ex-ficio to the finance committee?

[1:31:49] What do you look?

[1:31:51] Okay.

[1:31:52] I would continue.

[1:31:53] Yeah, it's still to all of you.

[1:31:54] I'd make a motion then to appoint Kendall a lot

[1:31:57] as the next phisio to the finance committee.

[1:32:01] Yes?

[1:32:02] I would second that.

[1:32:03] No.

[1:32:04] What do you got, sir?

[1:32:05] Just a question, if there's a difference between ex-o-ficio

[1:32:09] member and liaison, I think it's the same, and I don't care.

[1:32:14] I think it's the same.

[1:32:15] I think the key is non-voting, a non-voting member to serve as the word members misleading right which word do you prefer?

[1:32:25] Liaison, if you understand that it means liaison that it's fine, but let's excuse liaison. Yeah, I'll use them. Let's find out because I think it's a good point. Many towns

[1:32:35] not just the finance committee, the boards divvy up

[1:32:40] Correct.

[1:32:41] Many committees.

[1:32:42] I know.

[1:32:43] It sucks a lot.

[1:32:45] But it's great.

[1:32:47] Great way to stay in touch.

[1:32:49] Yeah.

[1:32:50] All right.

[1:32:50] Yeah.

[1:32:51] So I'll redo my motion.

[1:32:54] And swap that out for X-Fishio to liaison.

[1:32:58] Oh, we had a second by...

[1:32:59] Yeah, we had a second.

[1:33:01] Yep.

[1:33:02] So we have a second there.

[1:33:04] Are we all in favor?

[1:33:05] Stephen?

[1:33:21] Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, and, um, can I

[1:33:25] always run in the board?

[1:33:26] We know very soon, we will banish the term finance committee until at least the next

[1:33:32] charter will be approved.

[1:33:36] And I'm not one.

[1:33:38] I'm not surprised.

[1:33:39] All right.

[1:33:40] Thank you guys.

[1:33:41] All right.

[1:33:44] So we have, under no business, who are Bay Bend requests for both Highland Street.

[1:33:54] We've seen pretty straightforward.

[1:33:58] Broken pipe, leaky toilet, fixed and replaced on 3,2,2,026 sign.

[1:34:07] by the VPW.

[1:34:13] Is there any questions that we have?

[1:34:17] Does it look very short forward?

[1:34:18] Yeah, it was timely.

[1:34:20] You know, the amount is not seems appropriate.

[1:34:25] All

[1:34:32] right. If there is no question, we'll look into a motion

[1:34:36] for the approval of the evapment.

[1:34:39] I would move we approve a sore pavement

[1:34:41] in the amount of $97.41 for a grantee with Donald of 12th Highland Street.

[1:34:50] All right, we have a motion on the floor.

[1:34:51] We have a second.

[1:34:52] All in favor?

[1:34:55] Hi.

[1:34:56] All right.

[1:35:00] Elementary water survey results.

[1:35:03] Yes.

[1:35:04] So I want to thank Stuart and Nicole for doing some behind-the-scenes work

[1:35:09] to tabulate those results and get them before us tonight.

[1:35:13] That was the survey that went out with the town census was available online, and we had

[1:35:21] almost over 800 responses, I believe, is what I remember, and now these are preliminary,

[1:35:30] so is there still other data or other information?

[1:35:33] So this is a very small,

[1:35:37] yeah, but so this is preliminary, but I think the high takeaway

[1:35:40] The way is some people complemented the amount of information they had been receiving from the water department.

[1:35:48] They noted the work on Anderson Road and the church tree tank.

[1:35:52] They noticed the flushing.

[1:35:53] They acknowledged some of the existing problems.

[1:35:56] But there was a fair majority of people who the water quality is a real issue for them.

[1:36:02] They cited issues of having to replace filters repeatedly, having damaged their laundry,

[1:36:07] There are appliances and having to purchase bottled water at a cost.

[1:36:12] So when all the results are in and we tabulated, I think what we're going to see is that a majority

[1:36:19] of the respondents to this survey reported concern of the quality of the water, their perception

[1:36:27] on the quality of the water.

[1:36:29] We know that we pass the laboratory rankings, we know that it's not dangerous water, but

[1:36:36] Well, we do know that there's times that it is brown and this is what we're hearing.

[1:36:41] The challenge, not the challenge, but once we have all the information, we should have

[1:36:48] a board meeting on where the agenda is to talk about possible next steps.

[1:36:53] What next steps would be available, using this to guide us.

[1:36:57] Before we were just talking anecdotally, and this was not a scientific survey, but nonetheless,

[1:37:03] Yes, I think it was a strong, bolder, strong citizen response that we can use to guide our actions.

[1:37:15] Okay, yes.

[1:37:16] We're not here, I believe.

[1:37:18] We don't have anything to do.

[1:37:19] Yeah.

[1:37:20] We've discussed.

[1:37:21] No solution for problems, but something, quick name, the chart we use.

[1:37:28] So people in town could go somewhere in time where they could get first water.

[1:37:34] Yeah.

[1:37:40] Yeah, it's a filtration system, but it was like a kiosk.

[1:37:45] And Ken Calder from Public Works came in and talked about it because he found one in

[1:37:51] the town of Randolph, I think.

[1:37:52] So that is a possible short-term solution.

[1:37:55] Yes, in fact, the MVP group which is the climate resiliency group working is choosing a project going forward and that is one component of the project that they would like to implement and they have the grant funding to do it.

[1:38:13] So finding the right spot that's fair to the people most affected or spots I guess as it could also be considered.

[1:38:21] And that's being considered by that group as a funding project, isn't it?

[1:38:26] I'm sorry.

[1:38:27] Is this, in a way, that may be the good news.

[1:38:30] Explanate the, because there's been a lot of reasons, that recently, now, I'll deal with

[1:38:36] a lot of your brewing.

[1:38:37] It's not just to drink a lot of the compost, but people do it in a lot of the other way.

[1:38:42] Wondering brewing, it's, yeah, that, that, my definition, that project has to move quickly.

[1:38:50] okay should do they need access to these results to help them in moving forward

[1:38:58] with that project would that be helpful for them it would be helpful I think

[1:39:02] to stay as approved the project but yes thank you so much thank you thank you

[1:39:19] No, look, I can't thank you, bro, I know you do a lot of work on that, so there's a group

[1:39:25] effort.

[1:39:27] That's how we get things done, all right?

[1:39:32] Now, I was just one nice thing to find.

[1:39:35] When these results are all tabulated, they will be available to the public right now,

[1:39:39] the preliminary, and they were in our packet, but when we have everything tabulated, we will

[1:39:44] share it with the public.

[1:39:46] Yeah, the only thing that's not included, which I also don't think should be included

[1:39:50] I don't understand these people's addresses, this is the problem.

[1:39:53] Hey, they don't tell you anything because they don't say who said what.

[1:39:57] We didn't include that.

[1:39:58] It might be helpful in locating where to put a station, though.

[1:40:02] Yeah, yeah.

[1:40:03] So a lot of the data is put together and could be further analyzed by Emma,

[1:40:08] who was just here, representing, so she could do statistics on it.

[1:40:14] Great.

[1:40:15] No,

[1:40:18] we have.

[1:40:21] Select order on table discussion annual report.

[1:40:28] Yes, I asked for that and following up on

[1:40:31] town meeting where a resident asked where the annual town report was and the

[1:40:37] story response was wasn't ready for distribution yet. So, store where is the

[1:40:42] the Angle Town Report as of tonight.

[1:40:45] So we've posted it, you know, approved, because the hour in past years and I haven't

[1:40:53] attached my report, otherwise it's done.

[1:40:55] So it's posted in that form to help my report.

[1:40:59] All right.

[1:41:01] And if I can ask what's the delay in your report?

[1:41:06] There's no good answer for that, other than time and putting together all the town managers

[1:41:16] If I can, Mr. Chair, I think just from my perspective, it's a real disappointment that we weren't able to get the annual town report out.

[1:41:27] I think the resident made a very valid point and we worked hard as a board to raise visibility and information to the citizens

[1:41:36] to be able to make informed votes at town meeting.

[1:41:39] And the town report is one of those documents that you look at.

[1:41:43] You can see the activity.

[1:41:45] You can get a sense of what's happening.

[1:41:47] You can see the department heads report.

[1:41:49] So that was a...

[1:41:50] And the charter requires it be done by April 1st, that it be out by April 1st.

[1:41:54] So I just think, Stuart, that was a real disappointment

[1:41:59] and I think we let our citizen read down.

[1:42:01] I don't think it puts us as a board, frankly, in the best light.

[1:42:07] I don't think it reflects on a board.

[1:42:09] I understand you're the representative of the town, but I own the shortcoming.

[1:42:18] It's bad for the town, but I understand your point.

[1:42:21] Yeah, I think it reflects on us and that we're your supervisor.

[1:42:24] And one of our jobs is to work with you to be sure that you're accountable

[1:42:29] and that we give you guidance to achieve the things that are required by chartered but also

[1:42:36] help the town and that reflects on us that we didn't we didn't see that.

[1:42:41] When will that be available?

[1:42:45] Okay,

[1:42:48] so we gave that tomorrow. Can we get that on a town website?

[1:42:52] Yeah, it's there.

[1:42:54] Yeah, and will it be printed and available as well as we would normally do?

[1:43:02] Okay, so the board will get a copy.

[1:43:06] The board will get a copy.

[1:43:08] Okay, but I wouldn't suggest because we didn't have it available as we previously had.

[1:43:15] If people want a printed copy, they can request one from the manager's office and will mail it to them.

[1:43:20] There may be people who can't access it online.

[1:43:27] And we also make it available to the library.

[1:43:30] In one copy?

[1:43:32] One or two.

[1:43:33] I would still request that if somebody wants a printed copy that we mail it to them.

[1:43:41] I think that's on us.

[1:43:43] Our responsibility was to get that out and to get the information in the hands of the people.

[1:43:47] And there was a delay.

[1:43:49] And I think we have to show good intent that we're trying to compensate for that.

[1:43:53] And it may cost us money, that's what happens when things don't go right sometimes and you got to make up for it, so that's my suggestion.

[1:44:05] How many of these do we normally print out?

[1:44:22] All right, so-

[1:44:24] The majority of them go to the department and one has to go to the state and the department passing it on.

[1:44:32] Then we get one in the other chairs in the library, okay.

[1:44:37] So if somebody does want that, they can email you, yeah, we're stopped by.

[1:44:43] So we're stopped by.

[1:44:43] And they can get an electronic copy, but it's correct.

[1:44:46] If they, that doesn't work for them, that's even more challenging for them, usually.

[1:44:52] I'm sorry.

[1:44:52] That's even more challenging for the public, you're pulling it off the thumb, you're right where

[1:44:57] it's on.

[1:44:57] Right.

[1:44:58] So if they

[1:45:00] We have the ability to email, Stuart. Can we get them, like, the direct link and just respond to them that way? I mean, if they're emailing it, right? We know that they have access to that. While I know what you're stating, and I fully see it, if they are able to convene to Stuart that they want such a thing, we send them a link.

[1:45:29] or PDF or something like that, hyperlink, they can just click on and they can read it there.

[1:45:38] We'll be prepared for either.

[1:45:41] Okay, in writing or digital.

[1:45:43] Okay.

[1:45:44] All right.

[1:45:45] That sounds good.

[1:45:47] So, but anything else?

[1:45:51] No.

[1:45:52] Okay.

[1:45:54] All right.

[1:45:55] So now we have the town manager report.

[1:45:58] All

[1:46:01] right, Stewart, take it away,

[1:46:05] just want to highlight that although people have just

[1:46:10] received their fourth quarter bills a few weeks ago, in two and a half weeks, the town

[1:46:17] will be issuing the preliminary bill for FY27,

[1:46:24] that'll be on the last day of June.

[1:46:26] I'm going to be heading out.

[1:46:28] There'll be two on Monday, August 3rd.

[1:46:36] The board has asked a few times for attendance by a railroad

[1:46:42] representative.

[1:46:45] Talk to them again.

[1:46:46] Last week, the person has a general manager now.

[1:46:50] As we discussed last meeting, the railroads

[1:46:52] and the process of being sold.

[1:46:54] He expected that would not take a long time.

[1:46:57] And at that time, the new owners, and hopefully

[1:47:00] he would attend. And he did acknowledge that the new owners are aware of the bridge condition,

[1:47:06] and that it is a priority project for them.

[1:47:17] Did have a meeting with the community development staff

[1:47:19] and the Pioneer Valley, as well as the project engineer, Tyne Bond for Cotton Street,

[1:47:26] the plan for the first phase of the grant that has been received is to do the water

[1:47:34] a long kind of street, hopefully get it been late summer and fall and have the project

[1:47:43] as a fall project.

[1:47:45] If at any point paperwork slows it down, then it would be a spring project, but the goal

[1:47:51] is a fall project.

[1:47:53] As long as the payment will still be available to seal the project at the end.

[1:47:59] As Mr. Desmond has often requested there, where a nails and meeting is important for

[1:48:05] that project and that will happen before construction and will include discussion

[1:48:11] of the opportunities for residents to redo their service lines if needed or desired on

[1:48:20] their dying.

[1:48:25] We've interviewed a DPW Director candidate and also given him a tour of the town.

[1:48:33] projects and staff. You have had applicants that we're going to do future additional interviews

[1:48:42] with in the coming week and then likely to be able to present to the board candidate for higher

[1:48:50] for the DPW director. Hopefully.

[1:48:56] There are other interviews going on for equipment operator,

[1:49:00] We had applicants today for the open mechanic position as well as we have a customer service

[1:49:07] position to open in the tax collector office, so and the new assessors assistant began

[1:49:15] last week.

[1:49:18] You discussed the discoloration of the water lately, but that is primarily due to the refilling

[1:49:24] of the Anderson and Church Street tanks to bring them up.

[1:49:31] It took longer because the department was trying to be cautious and go slower.

[1:49:37] So it was not to stir up the system as much.

[1:49:39] It still created a lot of discoloration getting to that.

[1:49:46] Friday DEP conducted an inspection of the tanks waiting here from time on how that went.

[1:49:54] where their findings were.

[1:50:00] We discussed a basic cleaning, particularly a coffee hill.

[1:50:04] John Stan got price quotes for the highway department,

[1:50:08] and that catchphrase of cleaning

[1:50:11] should begin very soon.

[1:50:14] All of the DPW is doing really well working together,

[1:50:19] getting projects done, just the regular summer projects,

[1:50:23] but also yesterday, the Leaky Water Line at the Lake Water

[1:50:29] Treatment Plant, quite a construction project was completed.

[1:50:37] So it was great work getting quotes for that and then getting them to come out quickly to repair that line.

[1:50:47] We had an inspection also yesterday from a park grant coordinator from the state looking at the memorial field

[1:50:55] the bathroom project. She's quite happy with the progress. It's not quite done, but she'll

[1:51:00] be done by the end of next week, which is within the grant timeline. We'll get reimbursed.

[1:51:12] Give special thanks to Nicole, as well as others involved, moderators, town clerk for the success

[1:51:18] of the town meeting. It went very well to all the residents who showed up. As you can see on the

[1:51:25] streets as part of the summer work,

[1:51:27] D.P.W. has been striping the crosswalks,

[1:51:29] including the crosswalks identified

[1:51:32] over the winter and spring near Cherry Street.

[1:51:39] Yep, just one thing to back up about

[1:51:41] is the apartment of Tom Forders.

[1:51:44] Is there a way we can, when, hopefully,

[1:51:47] to the full house and the concessional standards,

[1:51:51] hopefully to my youngness here,

[1:51:52] It took a way to secure around the pool because it's going to take years to either demolish

[1:52:00] the pool, fill it in, or get a new pool in, or some kind of fence or something around

[1:52:07] the pool.

[1:52:08] So I know you are a town meeting, the presentation by the DBW director was that we would get

[1:52:14] that done this year, the demolition.

[1:52:17] We do have to do some hazard material study just in case there's cocking on the doors and windows of the buildings, but I expect that done this year.

[1:52:29] Based on the vote, I don't expect the vote to come up in the near future on, I can be wrong on rebuilding pool.

[1:52:41] but to secure around the pool, kind of like a base date,

[1:52:45] dig on for the former Marine Lane site.

[1:52:49] Two?

[1:52:50] Two?

[1:52:51] That's not a pool.

[1:52:52] Other rooms?

[1:52:52] Yes.

[1:52:53] But they plan to take the pool down and...

[1:52:56] All the buildings.

[1:52:57] Okay.

[1:52:57] And we start to a great site.

[1:52:59] Correct.

[1:53:00] A flat site.

[1:53:01] It hasn't been done in a while.

[1:53:02] Yes.

[1:53:03] And we'll be gone, not a lot with the buildings.

[1:53:05] That's all done in the house.

[1:53:06] Yeah, except for the...

[1:53:07] If there's a specific one here.

[1:53:10] Sorry, I won't go.

[1:53:11] No problem.

[1:53:11] That's a good question.

[1:53:16] Just wanted to draw attention to some important regional state meetings.

[1:53:22] The new payment in lieu of taxes review committee, which is going to oversee what the state pays

[1:53:29] and wears case for the Kwaman land.

[1:53:34] But through highly agreements for state land throughout the state,

[1:53:37] They were there holding listening sessions later this summer I signed up you know

[1:53:43] others did to be on a list to be made made aware when those dates will occur

[1:53:51] certainly the resolution that was passed by town meeting related to the

[1:53:58] Kwaban pilot and representation that will continue to move forward the MWRA is

[1:54:05] is actually going to meet in Belchertown, I believe, July 10th, so that working group is

[1:54:12] working to come up with a common message to be presented to the MWRA.

[1:54:20] In the rural health division,

[1:54:25] did you report on that, the second paragraph on that page?

[1:54:28] Yeah, they've held outreach sessions, they've been well attended by representatives from

[1:54:34] where and the region, mostly they're taking input from people as to how they would like

[1:54:42] to see the grants run and reviewed and released to public, used to the agencies, but I do know

[1:54:53] the region and individual towns are getting well prepared to apply and as well as

[1:55:03] when the hospital, through Bay State, when everyone knows the rules for what's

[1:55:12] required to apply and what can, it's going to be a lot of applications and

[1:55:17] require a fast turnaround. Applications will be requested soon, the

[1:55:24] probably we do in August have to be released in October, which being incredibly fast, from

[1:55:31] statewide 160 to 2 million.

[1:55:37] The story on the state's new pilot review committee, the listening sessions, we can attend

[1:55:42] those.

[1:55:43] Yes.

[1:55:44] Okay.

[1:55:45] If you, I don't know if you've been to a state here and it's pretty formal, but you need

[1:55:53] to sign up to let most everyone present information, but usually have to sign up ahead of time.

[1:56:00] So I can send you the link that you can sign up to start learning about it, and then

[1:56:08] when they schedule the meeting, you can sign up if you want to speak.

[1:56:11] Okay.

[1:56:11] Please do.

[1:56:14] Stuart, with the DPW Operator Equipment Operator and DPW Mechanic, is anybody in house

[1:56:23] applying for those positions or is this coming these are all from outside the

[1:56:30] department currently yes what is before an equipment operator for a title the

[1:56:41] skilled laborer is it so laborer instructor or CEO yep and equipment

[1:56:47] operator CDL plus voice in place okay I was just curious to know if anybody was in

[1:56:53] those other positions that would be applying for the Equipment Operator positions around.

[1:57:03] Not yet.

[1:57:04] So you have one that could be qualified.

[1:57:08] So hopefully that they get encouraged to do it.

[1:57:12] Nice key people in house and move them up and pay them for it.

[1:57:18] Yeah.

[1:57:18] That's all.

[1:57:23] on June on Tuesday June 23rd at 2026 at 6 p.m. The town of where is going to be holding an open meeting law training for all elected appointed board and committee members as part of the ongoing training and education.

[1:57:37] It is a requirement that we all understand the following and follow the law on behalf of the town.

[1:57:42] The town's attorney did this training for the town several years ago and it was very

[1:57:47] helpful.

[1:57:49] This way you can see what is allowed but it's not, we'll be able to ask questions, says

[1:57:54] I'm sure you'll walk away with a better understanding of why the law has been implemented.

[1:57:59] There's many new members on boards and committees now serving even though there are also

[1:58:05] season members who have attended training previously.

[1:58:08] The town manager, Stuart Beckley, has made a mandatory that all board and committee members

[1:58:12] attend in the select order are absolutely in full support of this.

[1:58:16] Please plan accordingly so that you can participate.

[1:58:18] There will be a PowerPoint as well as handouts for a use and discussion.

[1:58:24] This handout should be utilized in the future as a guideline or reference that was written

[1:58:28] by Tom Thorpe, Nancy Talbot.

[1:58:31] I just want to make sure that the public is aware that we are going into those type of trainings

[1:58:36] and we are going to get better and making sure that we are following any laws and rules that we need to.

[1:58:44] Now on that issue, I'm going to be out of the country.

[1:58:47] There are two we've heard from.

[1:58:49] So we are going to ask Stanley if he could record it.

[1:58:51] Okay.

[1:58:52] Record it.

[1:58:53] Okay, thank you.

[1:58:58] Other than that, is 839?

[1:59:00] Yes.

[1:59:01] In our packet was the Select Board Operational Guidelines.

[1:59:04] Were these reviewed by council?

[1:59:06] Yes.

[1:59:07] Oh, they were.

[1:59:08] It was separate, not in the pocket, not in the book, but in the pocket.

[1:59:11] Right.

[1:59:12] They were reviewed in lots of comments on the pie chart.

[1:59:15] Okay.

[1:59:15] Yeah, so the one that was in our folder, but not part of the packet, has been reviewed by council

[1:59:20] and the council's remarks are in the red line.

[1:59:28] Okay.

[1:59:30] Oh, can we mention the chicken barbecue?

[1:59:33] Yes, go ahead.

[1:59:34] The chicken barbecue is June 27th.

[1:59:37] seven tickets are on sale for the folks who remember when wear used to do a lot

[1:59:44] of civic events and bring people together all the events that are happening

[1:59:48] to celebrate our country's 250th anniversary here and where are those types of

[1:59:53] events they're designed to bring people together, relive the history in the

[1:59:58] country but also how great wear is.

[2:00:01] So, the tickets are $20 each, and the going to be down at the St. Mary School is where you'll be able to pick it up or eat outside, and that will, the ticket sales close on this Monday, and they're available from the call in the manager's office in any place else.

[2:00:22] any of the board committee members for the 250th anniversary celebration. So, I'd like to have a see you all there. I'm going to be there.

[2:00:33] I'd like to add that our T-shirt sale is still going on. The first one will be closed on the 17th for those who want to get up on the 25th.

[2:00:43] And then we're going to keep that open until the middle of July.

[2:00:46] So, if you want to wear your wear t-shirt to the barbecue on the 25th, get your order in by the 17th.

[2:01:00] Okay, 841, we look for a motion for adjournment.

[2:01:03] We'll be adjourned.

[2:01:05] Second.

[2:01:06] Second.

[2:01:07] All in favor?

[2:01:08] Aye.

Selectboard Mtg. - 6.16.26

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