1 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:11,759 Hello everyone and welcome to FYI Oxbridge, a program about the people, 2 00:00:09,599 --> 00:00:15,920 places, and events that occur here in our town of Oxbridge. My name is Barry 3 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:20,560 Giles. I'm the station manager here at Oxbridge Community Television. Today, 4 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:25,199 uh, I have my once again returning guest. It's that time of the year in 5 00:00:22,279 --> 00:00:28,880 spring town meeting is coming up and my guest today is town manager Steven Si. 6 00:00:27,439 --> 00:00:33,280 Steve, thanks for joining us. Thanks, Barry. thanks for having me again. So, 7 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:37,680 we're doing our annual uh review of the town warrant, going over um the articles 8 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:41,920 and giving the community an idea of what's going on. So, um let's dive right 9 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:47,920 into it. You know, once again, spring annual town meeting will be Tuesday, May 10 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:52,320 13th and Thursday, May 15th at 7 p.m. at the Valley Chapel, which is on 14 Hunter 11 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:58,079 Road here in Oxbridge. So, let's start with um why two dates? Okay, there's a 12 00:00:56,559 --> 00:01:01,920 combination of things in this this warrant. The majority of things that'll 13 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:06,400 be taken up on day one on the Tuesday are all the financial articles, budget, 14 00:01:04,559 --> 00:01:10,400 you know, capital spending, all those kind of things, any borrowing 15 00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:14,240 authorizations that we normally would do. Uh the second part though has 16 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:17,280 there's a number of zoning issues, a number of other things that need to be 17 00:01:15,439 --> 00:01:22,000 addressed. Some that might take more time than others. So we decided rather 18 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:25,360 than uh get to a point at the end of the meeting where you know people want to go 19 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:29,840 home and those are just going to be rushed through we decided to just 20 00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:34,000 separate it on two days so that so that all those articles can get the time that 21 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:36,640 uh they deserve as well. Okay. So that's the reason for the two days. Do you 22 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:40,240 think there's a possibility we could get it done in one or I don't think so. I 23 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:45,520 think the moderator is probably going to call a break. Okay. Anyway, um now that 24 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:48,960 doesn't mean that somebody can't make a motion or move something up in the in 25 00:01:47,439 --> 00:01:52,880 the meeting and as long as enough people say yes they want to do that that gets 26 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:56,720 done. Uh which will kind of adjust some things for that next night. But um but I 27 00:01:55,040 --> 00:02:01,360 do think if everybody kind of sticks to the way everything's broken out, you'll 28 00:01:58,799 --> 00:02:05,600 see that there's a um a definite break point. Okay. That makes a lot of sense. 29 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:10,479 Okay, great. All right, let's um let's get into it. It looks like we have uh 27 30 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:15,280 articles. Yes. And starting with article one. Okay. The the first few articles 31 00:02:12,879 --> 00:02:19,360 are are the normal articles that we always have. Any bills of prior year 32 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:23,440 that we need to pay. Those are bills that come in after the close of the 33 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:28,000 prior fiscal year that we have to wait until you this the the next town meeting 34 00:02:26,239 --> 00:02:31,840 to be able to pay because of because of the fact they came in late. And any 35 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:36,480 supplemental budget things. So anything monies that we need to uh put into this 36 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:40,480 year's budget because either we didn't put enough money in a budget line or 37 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:44,239 overexpended because of a particular instance or whatever. Uh that's why we 38 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:48,879 have you know article two to supplement the fiscal 25 budget. Uh starting at 39 00:02:47,519 --> 00:02:53,920 article three that's when we really get into the the spends for for this 40 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:59,280 upcoming year. Uh, article 3 has both the Blackstone Valley Regional School 41 00:02:56,160 --> 00:03:04,400 District and off also Northark County um, uh, school district as well. We're 42 00:03:01,920 --> 00:03:08,560 voting both of those separately. Uh, gives the gives the uh, voters an 43 00:03:06,239 --> 00:03:12,800 opportunity to uh, you know, to approve those budgets or or decline them for 44 00:03:10,640 --> 00:03:16,080 some reason. Uh, but also gives us a little bit opportunity to explain what 45 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:20,319 goes into those budgets as well. So people know the, you know, combined 46 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:24,319 you're talking about three million or three to four million dollars that we're 47 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:29,120 spending, you know, on those type of that type of um education. And uh it's 48 00:03:27,599 --> 00:03:32,640 probably a good idea for people have an understanding. The other thing with 49 00:03:30,480 --> 00:03:37,840 article 3, it's we we called it out a little bit um uh separately as well, is 50 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:43,360 because this is going to be the last year that Dr. Mike Fitzpatrick Yes. is 51 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:47,360 going to be the superintendent of the uh uh Blackstone Valley uh Tech. And I 52 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:52,159 think it's a nice opportunities for us to recognize Dr. Fitzpatrick and all 53 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:58,319 that he's done for BBT over the over the years. So, it'll be a nice uh a nice way 54 00:03:54,640 --> 00:04:02,879 to uh have some recognition for him. Article 4 is the is the the main town 55 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:08,640 budget. So, that's that includes both the um Oxbridge Municipal Society and 56 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:12,080 school Axbridge public schools as well. Uh I'll probably do a presentation 57 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:17,120 before the budget just to give people some highlevel um uh understanding of 58 00:04:15,519 --> 00:04:22,160 what went into the budget, what we did, what we didn't include, those kind of 59 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:25,520 things. And I believe um uh Dr. Dwire is going to do the same for the uh Oxford 60 00:04:23,759 --> 00:04:31,680 schools as well. Okay. So people have an idea of um basically how fiscal 25 went 61 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:35,680 and what the ask for fiscal 26 are. Um and I think that's also, you know, makes 62 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:40,240 a lot of sense that that we do that. And again, one of the other reasons why we 63 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:44,320 separated the meeting out over two nights, so it gives an opportunity to 64 00:04:41,919 --> 00:04:48,960 have some good discussion, good understanding of what people are voting 65 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:54,320 on. Article five and six are uh both wastewater and water enterprise funds. 66 00:04:51,639 --> 00:04:58,880 Um the only reason we separate that out from the town budget uh is because of 67 00:04:56,960 --> 00:05:04,000 the uh the fact that we run those as enterprise. Those are uh feebased. Those 68 00:05:01,199 --> 00:05:07,759 are only the uses users of the system is you know what goes into paying for that. 69 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:11,600 So that's separate from the town budget you know which is all all-encompassing. 70 00:05:09,840 --> 00:05:16,160 I'm familiar with enterprise budget which no longer right will be taking 71 00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:20,960 care of my department right and we'll we'll talk about that in fiscal 26 that 72 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:24,240 now um you know cable enterprise is no longer an enterprise fund. it's now a 73 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:29,120 department in the town. Makes great sense to do that. And um you know and I 74 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:34,000 think going forward it it basically solidifies and and ensures that uh the 75 00:05:32,639 --> 00:05:37,919 same kind of coverage that people are getting now with cable TV they'll 76 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:43,280 continue to get right which is a really good thing. Um article seven uh this 77 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:48,720 again separate article. This is a stabilization fund request from 78 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:53,600 Blackstone Valley uh tech. Uh what this does, it creates a fund for them to use 79 00:05:51,120 --> 00:05:59,120 for things that may be o over and above what they budgeted for. Um you know, 80 00:05:56,720 --> 00:06:02,560 people have pro and con on that as to whether or not that's a good thing or 81 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:06,240 not, but this allows the uh the people of the town to vote for it after they 82 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:11,120 get some more information on what type of things that might be used for. Um 83 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:16,720 article 8 and nine have to do with capital. Uh, article 8 is, you know, uh, 84 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:20,720 Kurt Gintwwayne, who's our, uh, finance director in the town of Oxbridge, uh, 85 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:25,360 has done a really good job over the last few years of going back through all the 86 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:29,759 prior capital improvement articles and anything that has monies that have not 87 00:06:27,360 --> 00:06:34,400 been expended yet once the projects have closed out. He's beginning to sweep 88 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:39,520 those back into the U capital uh, capital stabilization account. Okay. He 89 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:43,759 did it again this year and I'm pleased to say that 90 00:06:41,479 --> 00:06:48,160 $235,000 that had just been sitting out there unused is now going to go back 91 00:06:45,759 --> 00:06:52,319 into capital stabilization which can be reused for other capital projects, 92 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:59,039 right? Uh so and we do have a number of capital projects that we're going to be 93 00:06:54,400 --> 00:07:07,360 um looking for um some approvals on. you know, they they go from, you know, DPW 94 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:11,199 uh projects to projects that are uh uh a little bit different than we we may have 95 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:16,160 approved in the past. You know, we have um you people are going to see there's a 96 00:07:13,479 --> 00:07:19,280 $420,000 request for for an ambulance from the fire department. And I know the 97 00:07:18,319 --> 00:07:23,680 first question is going to be, well, didn't we set up a fund for that? Well, 98 00:07:21,280 --> 00:07:28,400 we did. and the department of revenue for the state basically told us we we 99 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:32,720 can no longer have the funds set up that way you know for that purpose all those 100 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:36,319 funds should be general fund general fund monies or monies that go into 101 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:40,240 capital stabilization and need to be voted out so we did so we made sure that 102 00:07:38,880 --> 00:07:44,720 everybody's going to be aware of the fact that how much money was in that 103 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:49,440 account previously now part of capital and on a regular basis or when we need 104 00:07:46,639 --> 00:07:54,720 an ambulance we'll we will uh vote the money out to be able to do that Um, so 105 00:07:52,240 --> 00:08:01,199 that's what that 420,000 is. There's some other um school department items in 106 00:07:57,680 --> 00:08:07,120 here ranging from um creating a quiet corner at the um uh Whiten school 107 00:08:04,479 --> 00:08:12,319 playground uh area for for some students who just might need some, you know, time 108 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:15,440 to to kind of, you know, be away from, you know, the nor the the things that 109 00:08:13,840 --> 00:08:21,520 are are going on in the playground and so forth. Um there's some safety 110 00:08:17,919 --> 00:08:24,960 lighting type things and uh uh some uh architectural plans that need to be 111 00:08:23,199 --> 00:08:28,879 drawn out for the secondary egress from the high school. There's some funds 112 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:33,039 being allocated towards that. And then we began a transition or the school 113 00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:37,440 department began a a systemwide transition to touchscreens that uh we're 114 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:42,640 funding through capital as well. continuation of that. Uh I've made a 115 00:08:40,159 --> 00:08:46,880 request for $200,000 for the McCcluskey school and that's going to replace the 116 00:08:44,399 --> 00:08:50,800 bleachers in the gym and also redo the floor. The floor hadn't been done in 117 00:08:48,640 --> 00:08:55,519 over 25 years. So it's going to be back brought back to natural and then you 118 00:08:53,040 --> 00:09:00,640 know lines repainted and so forth so that it'll really stand out and that's a 119 00:08:58,160 --> 00:09:05,200 facility that's being utilized right to today. Right. Quite a bit for a lot of 120 00:09:02,480 --> 00:09:08,240 different senior center so many many more. Exactly. And then and the 121 00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:13,360 bleachers too. I think the bleachers are a little bit dated and the fact that you 122 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:18,560 know many of the folks that come and watch uh uh the games are more like me 123 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:21,680 in the fact that uh we need to make sure that um you know people are going to be 124 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:27,600 able to get in and out of those bleachers safely and so we're going to 125 00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:31,839 redo the bleachers and then I believe the other side of the gym floor that'll 126 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:36,480 be to the left as you walk in. Those bleachers I believe might be removed as 127 00:09:33,760 --> 00:09:40,880 well. The plan is by I know Oxbridge Spartan basketball is to have instead of 128 00:09:38,720 --> 00:09:45,200 having benches and along the sides, they're going to actually have like the 129 00:09:42,320 --> 00:09:50,160 kind of what you see in a college gym or folding folding chairs and so forth with 130 00:09:47,440 --> 00:09:52,880 with a logo on and so forth. So, when it's all all said and done, I think it's 131 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:57,480 going to look really nice and anybody that goes over there will really really 132 00:09:54,640 --> 00:10:03,200 um appreciate that. We also have $140,000 at McCcluskey for uh some heat 133 00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:06,720 exchanger and so forth. And people say, "Why are we spending money on on the 134 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:11,040 McCluskey building? What are we going to do with it?" Well, that's I I'm pleased 135 00:10:08,640 --> 00:10:15,440 to say that that's in the process now. I have an architect and an engineer uh 136 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:19,760 that'll be doing a walk through. Uh they took the plans that were done a number 137 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:23,680 of years ago, you know, on basically a $70 million project and I've asked them 138 00:10:21,760 --> 00:10:28,000 to kind of pair that down a little bit as best they can. So, they're going to 139 00:10:25,839 --> 00:10:32,480 begin that process. So hopefully, you know, potentially as early as the 140 00:10:30,079 --> 00:10:36,519 October meeting or shortly thereafter, we'll have something to report back to 141 00:10:34,480 --> 00:10:40,880 say this is what if we're going to do anything with that building on a on a 142 00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:45,600 major renovation, we'll have have some plans in place. And any other things are 143 00:10:43,200 --> 00:10:52,560 more DPW related with respect to uh equipment type purchases. 144 00:10:48,519 --> 00:10:57,279 Um the next the next three or four big articles that we'll have some discussion 145 00:10:54,880 --> 00:11:01,920 on I know are going to be from article 11 through article 14. They're borrowing 146 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:07,279 authorizations for the most part well at least three of them. U one is for school 147 00:11:04,720 --> 00:11:12,399 safety. Uh Chief Monty is going to have a presentation uh with respect to what 148 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:15,240 will go into what that expenditure is. It's uh a significant amount of money 149 00:11:14,399 --> 00:11:19,920 about $600,000 that we're looking to expend on 150 00:11:17,680 --> 00:11:25,519 on that. Uh there'll be a borrowing authorization for a fire engine. Um you 151 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:30,800 know, this is just to replace a an engine that's over 25 years old. So the 152 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:34,240 upside is when we do buy these this type of equipment, it lasts quite a bit of 153 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:39,839 time. So that's why we're going to borrow for it rather than excuse me try 154 00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:44,800 to through to the capital process. uh it will will outlast whatever kind of loan 155 00:11:42,079 --> 00:11:50,480 that we we take out on it. Uh and Chief Dion will will speak to that. Uh article 156 00:11:47,920 --> 00:11:56,079 13 is a borrowing authorization for the uh water treatment plant. Now we did 157 00:11:53,839 --> 00:12:01,040 authorize some funds at a previous town meeting for this project. Uh and that 158 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:05,760 was so that we would have um a submission to go to the uh state 159 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:11,440 revolving fund. uh so we'd be able to apply to get funding for this project at 160 00:12:08,560 --> 00:12:16,800 basically 0% interest. Um we were successful in doing that. Uh I just got 161 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:20,240 word uh within the last week that we uh we were selected our project was 162 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:24,880 selected. So that's a good thing. The only negative though is the uh when the 163 00:12:23,040 --> 00:12:29,200 things went out to bid, things came back, they came in higher than what we 164 00:12:26,639 --> 00:12:36,160 had originally anticipated. So, we need to to look to um uh fund some more money 165 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:40,720 for this. Uh you'll see it's going to be three different uh options that people 166 00:12:38,560 --> 00:12:45,120 will have. One will be the base bid option which is to build just the 167 00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:51,120 treatment plant. Um the second option will be to to do a uh base plus, you 168 00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:55,040 know, one section which is an add-on section for office space and so forth 169 00:12:53,040 --> 00:12:59,519 there, you know, versus, you know, continuing to use the other building 170 00:12:56,480 --> 00:13:05,040 that we currently have. And then uh uh adult two uh which will be the third 171 00:13:02,240 --> 00:13:10,480 third vote if people uh so choose will be the vote to to do the base the office 172 00:13:07,519 --> 00:13:14,800 space and also uh garaging and so forth for the equipment that we have. So any 173 00:13:12,880 --> 00:13:21,760 one of those three you know options will be you know what people could vote for. 174 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:25,440 Um we we definitely need though the um the base bid which is to do the 175 00:13:23,680 --> 00:13:29,200 treatment plant right. Uh the other thing we will be doing and we'll talk 176 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:33,760 about this a little bit is we got involved with some of the PAS 177 00:13:31,920 --> 00:13:37,200 um lawsuits that have been going on around the country. We got in early as a 178 00:13:35,519 --> 00:13:41,120 matter of fact and it all had to do with well testing and whether or not our 179 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:45,440 wells had any contamination. We did find one of them, you know, or a couple of 180 00:13:42,639 --> 00:13:51,120 them did. So, you know, we were part of this class action suit. uh uh 3M, one of 181 00:13:49,360 --> 00:13:56,480 the companies that was involved in producing these type chemicals, um did 182 00:13:53,839 --> 00:14:01,760 just settle their suit and payments had begun being made to the communities. Uh 183 00:13:59,279 --> 00:14:07,360 we will be we're receiving a check probably before town meeting for 184 00:14:04,519 --> 00:14:11,519 $256,000. That's the first payment of five that we're going to receive on uh 185 00:14:09,360 --> 00:14:16,480 receive on this program. Uh we'll probably receive another 45% of what 186 00:14:14,079 --> 00:14:20,399 we're owed in the summer. Mhm. So we'll have about 187 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:24,399 750,000 of of what the of what our payment will be uh that will go towards 188 00:14:22,959 --> 00:14:28,079 this project as well. So that will reduce the amount of money that we need 189 00:14:26,079 --> 00:14:32,800 to borrow and then over time there's three other suits that'll be deter to be 190 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:36,160 decided and what we get out of those will also go to this. So you know 191 00:14:34,639 --> 00:14:42,800 there'll be other things that go in to to reduce the u impact to the rateayers. 192 00:14:40,720 --> 00:14:48,399 So we're we're you know those are things we'll discuss as well. Uh article 14 is 193 00:14:46,639 --> 00:14:53,839 uh one that I'm sure there'll be a little bit of discussion on. You know, 194 00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:59,120 this has to do with um what the town sub uh subsidy for um insurance for our 195 00:14:56,720 --> 00:15:03,519 retire retired employees are. Right now there's an 8020 split where the town 196 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:12,240 picks up 80% of that. The retirey picks up 20. Mhm. Uh there's a uh chapter 32B 197 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:16,880 in Mass General Law was passed after this came in effect and basically what 198 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:25,279 the town needs to do is either adopt either chapter 32B, section 9A or 9E. 199 00:15:21,519 --> 00:15:30,160 Now, if we decided to go to section 9A, it would be an automatic 5050 split. So 200 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:36,639 the retirees would go from paying 20% all the way up to 50%. Right? if we if 201 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:42,560 we um adopt 9E, which is what we we're recommending here, is that we could go 202 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:48,000 anywhere from 50 plus. So, we could still move it up up the scale versus 203 00:15:45,279 --> 00:15:53,680 staying at 50/50, right? So, we can go to, you know, we're at 8020, we can go 204 00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:57,279 to 7030, we can go to 65, you know, 35, whatever, whatever we want to do. But 205 00:15:55,120 --> 00:16:01,440 that gives us that flexibility. The thing that people need to understand 206 00:15:58,560 --> 00:16:06,880 though is if this doesn't pass automatically it's 100% on the uh on the 207 00:16:04,639 --> 00:16:11,199 retiree. Okay. So one of these two options needs to pass. Right. Right. And 208 00:16:09,120 --> 00:16:15,920 the option in the and the best option in our opinion is the one uh to adopt 98. 209 00:16:14,560 --> 00:16:22,959 Right. Because that gives us more flexibility. 210 00:16:17,560 --> 00:16:26,560 Um the other articles uh 15 161 17 are you know one has to do with fiveyear 211 00:16:25,199 --> 00:16:30,880 valuation. We have to make an appropriation for for the assessor to be 212 00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:34,079 able to do that. That's mandatory by state law. Not the most pleasant thing 213 00:16:33,040 --> 00:16:38,000 I'm sure people are going to want to hear because it has to do with valuation 214 00:16:36,079 --> 00:16:43,600 of their their properties, but needs to be done. The D lane appropriation. This 215 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:48,079 dual lane is a road that 20 plus years ago at a town meeting was accepted as a 216 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:53,839 town road. Mhm. But through the fault of the town at the time, folks at the town 217 00:16:50,079 --> 00:17:00,240 never uh recorded it at the uh registry of deeds and the um lack of better term 218 00:16:57,920 --> 00:17:05,199 statute of limitations has run out. So that can't be recorded with that data. 219 00:17:02,639 --> 00:17:09,199 So what we have to do is go back and do you know some survey work to make sure 220 00:17:07,039 --> 00:17:14,079 nothing's changed and so forth. and then we can uh in in October ask the town to 221 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:18,199 uh accept this as town road again and then we'll we'll make sure it gets 222 00:17:15,679 --> 00:17:22,959 recorded. But but it meets all the other specifications. Um and so, you know, 223 00:17:21,039 --> 00:17:28,039 we're looking to do that. It's a small amount of money that we're asking for to 224 00:17:24,799 --> 00:17:34,320 uh to do the uh to do the survey and so forth. Uh article 17 allows us to 225 00:17:31,919 --> 00:17:39,919 increase from $1,000 to $10,000 the amount of personal property exemption. 226 00:17:36,320 --> 00:17:45,200 This is more more business related. Um it's something even if we do it, it does 227 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:49,200 doesn't amount to a lot of revenue loss on the town's part, but it also helps 228 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:53,440 some of the smaller businesses in town as well. And that's, you know, the 229 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:57,679 reason we're doing it as we get to article 18, that's going to start day 230 00:17:55,200 --> 00:18:03,200 two. Okay. Okay. The meeting, as I mentioned, those are mostly zoning 231 00:17:59,520 --> 00:18:08,320 articles. Mhm. Uh art article 18 is a bylaw amendment for the flood plane 232 00:18:05,520 --> 00:18:11,760 overlay. Obviously the as we all know the rainstorms and stuff we've been 233 00:18:09,919 --> 00:18:15,039 having you know used to be considered hundred hundredyear storms right. Well 234 00:18:13,679 --> 00:18:19,760 it seems like those hundredyear storms are hap happening every 5 years now. Uh 235 00:18:17,840 --> 00:18:25,520 and more and more area has become flooded. Uh so FEMA has a new uh came 236 00:18:22,559 --> 00:18:29,679 out with a new flood uh map and it allow this allows us to amend the flood plane. 237 00:18:27,440 --> 00:18:33,760 So people that hadn't been getting flooded or never had to worry about in 238 00:18:31,520 --> 00:18:37,440 the past or are now will now be part of the flood plane to allow them to get 239 00:18:35,200 --> 00:18:41,919 flood insurance. Okay. So we're we're looking to do that. The second one uh 240 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:47,440 you know was a a controversial issue during the past year and that's adopting 241 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:53,679 battery energy storage system bylaw which will restrict these type of 242 00:18:50,440 --> 00:18:59,280 um uh this type of development to certain areas uh and and won't allow it 243 00:18:56,720 --> 00:19:04,400 in other areas primarily residential areas. But uh we think we have a a 244 00:19:02,080 --> 00:19:11,440 strong bylaw that'll pass the uh attorney general's um uh uh test as well 245 00:19:08,960 --> 00:19:16,080 which they look at. So we don't want you don't want it to be so restrictive right 246 00:19:13,520 --> 00:19:22,320 that it's uh exclusionary and we don't feel that it is. So uh we're able to do 247 00:19:18,240 --> 00:19:26,960 that. The uh last one is to amend u the accessory dwelling unit bylaw. the state 248 00:19:24,320 --> 00:19:32,160 came up with some language that um you know basically allows these type units 249 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:36,320 to happen. We need to put a bylaw in place as well so that you know it's 250 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:41,840 consistent with state law but also doesn't allow you know um things to 251 00:19:39,679 --> 00:19:48,640 happen so that you know people will have uh um Airbnb those type units. These 252 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:52,640 will be strictly for you know that people will live in on a regular basis. 253 00:19:50,559 --> 00:19:56,679 Won't be transient housing that kind of thing. So, we're we're putting the bylaw 254 00:19:54,720 --> 00:20:01,120 changes in. I think the zoning board, planning, conservation, building, 255 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:06,960 everybody who had to have a a say on this did a really good job of of of 256 00:20:03,120 --> 00:20:11,760 working through that. Uh, article 21 is a street acceptance for Campanelli 257 00:20:08,720 --> 00:20:15,440 Drive, Campanelli Drive extension. Um, we're ready to accept that. We're to 258 00:20:13,840 --> 00:20:20,240 town standards. There were some things that needed to be done prior to to that. 259 00:20:17,919 --> 00:20:24,160 Um, all that work got done. So there's both the select board and the finance 260 00:20:21,919 --> 00:20:30,640 committee represent um recommend favorable action on that one in on Elm 261 00:20:26,360 --> 00:20:36,960 Street. Uh same thing. Uh article 23, the developer withdrew. Article 24 and 262 00:20:34,960 --> 00:20:43,440 25 we're just going to pass over at this point. You might see them again in uh 263 00:20:39,760 --> 00:20:48,559 October. And then article 26 and 27 are uh citizens petitions. you know, one 264 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:53,520 having to do with um resend the borrowing authorization for the the uh 265 00:20:51,440 --> 00:20:59,120 it says Bernett well project, but it's really it's should have read Blackstone 266 00:20:56,480 --> 00:21:04,400 well project. That's the project um that we're we spoke about earlier with the uh 267 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:07,760 treatment plant. Um again, you know, that's a a question as to whether or not 268 00:21:06,159 --> 00:21:12,400 it'll stay here at the end of the meeting or it'll or be moved up earlier. 269 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:16,240 That's that's really up to town meeting as to how they want to do that. and also 270 00:21:13,919 --> 00:21:21,200 the the moderator if the moderator thinks that while it's what it's 271 00:21:19,360 --> 00:21:26,880 supposed to be for right and the commentary does reflect that the title 272 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:29,840 of it is isn't exactly what it is. So could that be ruled out of order? That's 273 00:21:28,559 --> 00:21:35,600 really up to it's moderator's discretion. And then on the uh article 274 00:21:32,159 --> 00:21:40,080 27 will be more for um you know to to have more study on this. You know 275 00:21:37,760 --> 00:21:44,960 whether or not that you know again that gets done but and how it's done. It's 276 00:21:42,480 --> 00:21:48,640 it's asking to set up a committee to uh to to look at those kind of things. And 277 00:21:47,120 --> 00:21:52,799 um you know, we already had the water and sewer commissioner, so it's really a 278 00:21:50,720 --> 00:21:59,600 town meeting decision how they how they want to move with that as well. Uh and 279 00:21:55,520 --> 00:22:04,240 that would be the the um warrant for uh this this town meeting. Uh like I said, 280 00:22:02,320 --> 00:22:08,480 some things should flow pretty easily, but other things definitely we'll have 281 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:11,919 some discussion on. Uh we're trying to anticipate where those things would be 282 00:22:09,919 --> 00:22:15,919 to try to get as much information out as possible. If people go to the town 283 00:22:14,080 --> 00:22:19,840 website now, there's a lot of information on there, especially with 284 00:22:17,600 --> 00:22:25,520 respect to the budget. Uh made it a point this year to put everything uh 285 00:22:22,559 --> 00:22:29,280 there. So no question about trans. Exactly. We even have a line item by 286 00:22:27,520 --> 00:22:33,520 line item budget, you know, that was up there for all the departments that won't 287 00:22:31,440 --> 00:22:37,280 be part of this warrant because it'll end up being, you know, a book, right? 288 00:22:35,679 --> 00:22:40,000 Basically encyclopedia. Yeah. And I don't think people will remember those 289 00:22:38,559 --> 00:22:43,760 things, right? I don't think there'll be something people will want to be lugging 290 00:22:41,679 --> 00:22:48,960 around town meeting, but all that information is available beforehand. Uh 291 00:22:46,240 --> 00:22:53,679 all the and thanks to to you and your staff, all the all the public hearings 292 00:22:51,520 --> 00:22:58,799 on the budget uh and and actually on this entire warrant uh were all uh uh 293 00:22:56,960 --> 00:23:02,799 televised and rebroadcast and are available for people to watch. Uh, so 294 00:23:01,280 --> 00:23:06,799 there's lots of ways for people to get information and then pick up the phone, 295 00:23:05,039 --> 00:23:11,520 call my office, you know, if they want have if they have more more questions, 296 00:23:09,120 --> 00:23:15,840 but all in all, I think um everything's out there for people to see. Great. So, 297 00:23:13,440 --> 00:23:19,840 and hopefully uh we get a good turnout town meeting flows pretty well. 298 00:23:17,919 --> 00:23:23,520 Absolutely. Great. All right, Steve, thank you very much for your time and 299 00:23:21,600 --> 00:23:28,640 everything else. So once again, a reminder that spring annual town meeting 300 00:23:26,320 --> 00:23:33,679 will be on Tuesday, May 13th and Thursday, May 15th at 7 p.m. at the 301 00:23:31,440 --> 00:23:40,240 Valley Chapel here in Oxbridge, which is on 14 Hunter Road. Um once again, if you 302 00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:45,320 want more information in regards to the uh warn articles and so on, you can go 303 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:49,200 to the Oxbridge town website at Oxbridgea.gov. And if you'd like to 304 00:23:47,120 --> 00:23:52,840 review any of the information for from the meetings that were covered in the 305 00:23:51,039 --> 00:23:58,320 hearings, you can go xbridgeetv.org and go to our archive 306 00:23:55,679 --> 00:24:02,640 page and those meetings are there for your review. So once again, thank you 307 00:24:00,640 --> 00:24:07,280 very much for watching. I appreciate it. If you have uh any questions, you can 308 00:24:04,880 --> 00:24:10,880 also contact me. You can find my email uh on the town website. And if you know 309 00:24:09,600 --> 00:24:16,480 anybody that's interested in coming on the show to promote an event or somebody 310 00:24:13,840 --> 00:24:20,320 that's got something going on, you can reach out to me again and uh we could 311 00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:22,960 schedule time here in the studio. So that's going to do it here for FY 312 00:24:21,679 --> 00:24:25,960 Experts. Thank you very much for watching.