[0:00] have the town seals uh painted on them and that's actually a manual job. I I

[0:06] envisioned like some kind of automated but it's actually they were actually I

[0:10] was up there today and there were um the two crafts people actually manually

[0:16] painting the seals based on a uh you know they must have done like a they

[0:21] tracing is very accurate you know it's not like a freehand it's uh it's it's

[0:25] very impressive. So, I talked to them for a few minutes. They're going to be

[0:29] uh done tomorrow. It looks great. And uh so, they're going to be done with that

[0:33] tomorrow. That's going to be a nice just additional design feature. So, uh I've

[0:38] got a call set up with the park and rec chair that we need on Monday morning and

[0:43] uh we don't want to announce a ribbon cutting until the posts are actually in

[0:48] because we just never know. But, uh we do expect to be announcing a date for a

[0:53] ribbon cutting sometime. We ideally make an announcement Monday for a date later

[0:58] next week. Uh we don't need to give a lot of notice. We're not looking for 50

[1:02] or 100 people there. We just we do want to do something with Slackboard members

[1:07] and uh department recognition members and others who have been involved with

[1:11] the with the process. So that's exciting. Quick question.

[1:13] » Yeah. >> Can you go to the pictures that you

[1:15] attached? >> Sure. Um

[1:19] so the second grouping of four Yeah. Right there. Top right photo. Is

[1:27] that area between the the crush stone and the woods in the top right photo

[1:32] being is that seated? >> Yes. Yep. Yeah. Yeah. The lone seat

[1:36] hasn't hasn't taken that, but it's it is.

[1:40] » That's one of the paths coming in from >> Yep. And at the time these photos were

[1:45] taken, the the exterior signs hadn't been placed on the signs but or on the

[1:50] uh fence, but they they had they this these were photos were from July 6.

[1:56] » Uh I think about a week after that. So we had separately provided to the

[2:01] planning board photos of the the signs as installed which which looked terrific

[2:05] and >> um Caitlyn in DPW was helpful working

[2:10] with me to get the signs designed and fabricated. So they think the signage

[2:14] looks great. There's a QR code on there for uh reservation of the courts.

[2:19] Reservation is not required. It's optional, but if someone does reserve

[2:23] the courts, they can bump someone who just has not reserved the court. So

[2:27] that's a nice feature. Uh reserve 30 minute increments for up to three 30

[2:33] minute clocks in a row. So someone could reserve for 90 minutes.

[2:37] » Thanks. >> The color um selection is great. I think

[2:41] it's really >> really nice, isn't it? And especially

[2:44] with the town seal, it's it's I know I I had sent around to the board members

[2:49] earlier today some snapshots with the town of Seal. It's kind of one here and

[2:54] one there and it really like >> kind of pops.

[2:57] » Yeah. Ties it all together. So,

[3:04] » Middle Street Bridge, I know it sent around an update. Uh we had been in

[3:07] touch with SNR on Monday. is, you know, Monday was the day the

[3:13] uh guard rail was supposed to get installed. Uh that was pushed back a

[3:17] week. I'm not sure if that was weather or if that was their subcontractor or

[3:20] what, but we did get um confirmation this past Monday the 20th that it is now

[3:26] going to happen starting this coming Monday the 27th. Uh so once the the

[3:30] guardrails are going to be they'll do the finished paving and the contractor

[3:33] said the uh bridge would be complete by the end of August. I certainly hope it

[3:38] would be earlier than that but we're not going to say anything more than what the

[3:42] contractors told us which is the end of August. I think everybody knows that the

[3:46] trackual completion date is not till November. So they're still well within

[3:51] the the agreed timeline for completion. uh what do you think about just sending

[3:55] out an email blast with something similar to that or do you think best and

[4:00] perfect way to get the word out or >> Yeah. Yeah. I've done a a number of um

[4:04] you know Facebook posts. I did a couple of them earlier today because I saw some

[4:07] of the posts that have been on there. U I posted something I think on Monday,

[4:11] but I posted it as a reply to someone else, not a standalone post. So I did a

[4:16] standalone post today, but we can do a news announcement as well because I

[4:20] aware there's a lot of interest in that. But as you know, I've been just a little

[4:24] leerary of putting anything out because just like with any major project, you're

[4:28] given a date and then the slides and then you look bad and it's like all

[4:33] we're doing is talking with the contractor told us. So, and and they're

[4:36] subject to subs and and all the rest. So,

[4:40] » I mean, even just an update that the beans were delayed or whatever.

[4:44] » Yeah. >> Like they're being installed and then

[4:46] they start X. You don't even have to say.

[4:48] » Yeah. So pronounce the name of the gargo that

[4:54] » three three >> but it's t h r i e

[4:57] » r i e >> is that like a trade name or a

[5:00] functional name? >> I'm not so I saw and I thought it was

[5:03] maybe a Well, what was funny in his email to me, he actually did misspell

[5:08] it. It said t h i r e. Right. >> So, I Googled that and and then it came

[5:14] up with three phr, which was a correct word, but I'd never heard it.

[5:20] » So, yeah, if you Google that, you'll see it's it's uh basically a a three tiered

[5:25] guard rail instead of a two kind of um >> Yeah. So, uh

[5:32] » learn something new every day. >> But so, it probably is three, but no one

[5:37] once it got misspelled, they just stuck it.

[5:39] » Yeah. I was thinking that

[5:41] » maybe this some proprietary design where someone you know coins the phrase and

[5:47] has some copyright >> usually probably something like do you

[5:50] want two or three

[5:59] » amazing page five state crossing uh the

[6:03] remaining work there is uh to u uh reconstruct the trench what was what's

[6:08] in there right now is a temporary trench. So that's got to be a permanent

[6:12] trench. So uh any work on a state road, the contractor needs to get permission

[6:17] from the state a week ahead of time uh to to do the work. So they

[6:22] had sent their request to MASDOT last week to do work today and uh Mat had

[6:30] approved that and we have police details set up and then we heard from

[6:36] Commonwealth yesterday forwarding correspondence again from their

[6:39] subcontractor that they couldn't do today, they could do tomorrow. So then

[6:44] they had to go back to Mascot to see if tomorrow was approved. So, um, as of

[6:49] late this afternoon, I didn't have official confirmation, but we do have

[6:53] police details teed up for tomorrow. So, tomorrow from 9 to 3, they we hope they

[7:00] will be there. If they are not there tomorrow, because of the status of the

[7:04] contract and the notice that we previously sent in writing u under the

[7:08] terms of the contract, if it's not done tomorrow, right, at that point, we're

[7:13] going to be going in a direction of avoiding the contract, right? So, Uh I

[7:18] hope it won't come to that. I hope they'll be on site tomorrow and get that

[7:21] done once that trench is constructed. Uh the only remaining work is the uh at

[7:27] that point they'd be uh painting the guard rail and removing the paint for

[7:30] the former uh not crosswire and removing the paint from the existing pre-existing

[7:36] crosswalk. >> So

[7:40] » So if they cancel tomorrow, they still have to pay the details, right?

[7:43] » Yes. Well, if if it's canceled shorter than I I forget what the union contract

[7:48] says in terms of there's a period they can cancel. U but if it's within that

[7:53] period, yes, they're financially responsible for the test.

[7:58] » Forget that button done. >> Oh my goodness. Yes.

[8:02] There's uh uh acco this is nothing new. You had uh you had approved the form of

[8:08] agreement back in June. Uh the city council formally approved that earlier

[8:12] this month. and um uh we fully executed the animal control uh for FY27. As you

[8:19] saw in the correspondence, we did express an interest in doing a

[8:22] multi-year that didn't happen on that time frame. So that's something that um

[8:27] you know might be good to uh take up, you know, late summer, early fall if

[8:32] there is interest, just because otherwise you're going to be right back

[8:36] there next January, February. Uh so so it's something I can brief Sean on as

[8:42] part of the transition. >> So they didn't respond to your request.

[8:46] They just acknowledged that the one year.

[8:48] » Yeah. >> So do you know if they're even

[8:50] interested in that or >> uh I I don't personally know because

[8:55] they have a new there's been a lot of staffing changes over there. I can tell

[8:58] you of the people we've worked with over the years, I think they would be very

[9:02] interested because I think they look at it the same way we do that it's just

[9:06] this kind of paperwork that we spend hours and to do that every two or three

[9:11] years would be just better from a time management standpoint

[9:14] » than uh than every year but I haven't had a specific acknowledgement from

[9:19] their current staff when you are they were

[9:22] » okay >> out of field work uh Monday through

[9:26] Wednesday next week And um again he's been burning midnight oil getting

[9:31] everything ready and uh obviously with the transition with the treasure

[9:35] collector that came to a tough time but uh but I think we're going to be like

[9:38] really good shape and I also know that the auditors will take into account the

[9:43] fact that you know there's been turnover there and um

[9:46] » Patty's been through audits before. >> Oh yeah.

[9:49] » Well in fact for the last three years she's been working for an audit firm.

[9:51] So, she's she's she's a seasoned pro and uh um but she can't you know she

[9:59] obviously doesn't have direct knowledge of like you know but she's got I I can

[10:03] tell you from spending some time in the treasure collector's office the last few

[10:08] days just getting things ready for Patty all the files in her order all bank

[10:13] statements are are just exactly how you would expect very organized very tidy

[10:18] and so I think um Patty's going to be in a good position to pick that up and um

[10:23] you know um in terms of uh certifying year end values and things like that

[10:28] » is there a specific date by which dealer completes their report?

[10:33] » No, it's um it's there's not the the U bond rating agencies

[10:42] look for us to send it to them no later than like March.

[10:46] » And sometimes the audit it's it's it can be very late. Uh we've been really

[10:52] fortunate especially in the last few years since Jenny's been the town

[10:56] accountant. She always gets on the auditor's schedule to to complete the

[11:00] fieldwork in like in like early to midepptember. That's really on the early

[11:04] side. A lot of cities and towns haven't even closed their books yet. So Jany's,

[11:09] you know, she's just like really on the ball because she knows getting that done

[11:14] then you get the report complete. Yeah. >> I know why that that March date because

[11:19] I'm always getting letters from my municipal clients about, you know, do I

[11:24] have any comments on this? Let the auditor letters come out in February.

[11:28] » Yeah. Now I know why. >> All right.

[11:31] » Yeah. Yeah. So legally, but but it's it's much getting it done sooner. So

[11:36] what we've tried to do and has been successful is get complete the fieldwork

[11:41] in September. That's also by that point Jenny's done her schedule A which is

[11:46] basically the close out with department of revenue. Department of revenue has

[11:50] signed off on all those numbers. Getting all of that done by early to

[11:54] midepptember is a huge lift. Uh there's not a lot of accounts who do that and

[11:58] auditors love that because their clients are always, you know, it just gets later

[12:03] in the season. That's when they get really backed up. So being able to get

[12:06] on their calendar early is a plus. So historically we've um the tax rate

[12:13] hearing is generally right around Thanksgiving. It's usually the meeting

[12:16] prior to Thanksgiving. Typically mid November is when the tax rate for the

[12:19] current fiscal year is set and it's typically been shortly after that often

[12:25] the first or second meeting of December where the auditor has come in and

[12:28] present their final um closeup. We often have the financials closed out ahead of

[12:35] that from the auditor. uh they will send us their certified financials. Uh what

[12:40] sometimes lacks a little bit is the management letter because that's more

[12:44] you know some more subjective things. No. So but you know it's it's

[12:49] » not numeric, >> right?

[12:51] » Yeah. So uh so I think getting the final audit presented in December is probably

[12:58] realistic. >> Uh I think this past year it went to

[13:01] January but that wasn't because of us. that was because Essex Regional hadn't

[13:05] closed their books and we can't close our books until Essex Regional closes

[13:09] their books. So there's also times that we're subject to things outside our

[13:13] control. But uh over the years the 11 years I've

[13:18] been doing it, I've seen times where audit isn't closed out in February or

[13:22] March. And that's legally fine. Uh but it's kind of, you know, you just want to

[13:27] close out the year because you're at that point you're halfway through the

[13:31] current year. So, it's just uh yeah, it's not a legal thing as much as just

[13:37] getting it off your desk.

[13:42] » Let's see the uh green communities annual report. I had asked u this was

[13:47] something we put on the work plan to just kind of um kind of document how

[13:51] this has worked and uh we thought this would be helpful because this is

[13:56] something that happens every year. It's something that is filed in uh late fall

[14:01] with the Commonwealth uh because we're a green community. It's one of the

[14:05] requirements, but it's something that really is a yearround effort because the

[14:08] the energy usage is posted on a monthly basis. Uh all the um as you can see from

[14:16] me, all of that data, every uh gallon of fuel, every unit of energy, that's all

[14:22] done on a year- round basis. And then that's all pulled together in annual

[14:25] report. I think that's been a really nice uh kind of partnership over the

[14:30] years between public works and uh the energy sustainability committee. Uh one

[14:36] of the first, you know, I remember meeting with Rick Parker in August of

[14:39] 2018 be long before he was on a select board when he was on the energy

[14:43] committee. I remember he came to me and he said essentially the volunteers have

[14:46] been always doing that report. He's like we're happy to do it but this is really

[14:52] something the town needs to take on. And so over the over the subsequent u you

[14:57] know year or couple of years especially as we as the public works was uh

[15:02] reorganized and the creation of the business manager position has allowed us

[15:06] to really largely take that in house. It is helpful to have u the committee uh we

[15:12] review the data and sometimes they've identified discrepancies or commodities

[15:17] that have helped us figure out why is that how it is. Uh, so I think it's a

[15:22] nice uh division of of labor and so I had asked Caitlyn to kind of document

[15:27] that really as a benefit for the new interim because uh well, you know, the

[15:32] due date of um kind of um late, you know, like I think it's normally around

[15:38] November 1st that it's due. Uh that seems like it's a ways away, but it

[15:42] comes right out. And uh so I think this will be a benefit to to the Sean to make

[15:46] sure that he understands how it's been done and

[15:51] I see Chip is on. I just want to see if he has any work on Chip. Did you uh have

[15:55] a chance to look at this and you have any input?

[15:58] » I have not seen this before, but it looks fine.

[16:01] » Okay. All right. Thanks.

[16:05] » Yeah, it's a lot of data here. >> Yeah,

[16:08] » you know, >> it is these are the things that and I

[16:10] think and I'm all for the green community. I think the town's gains I

[16:13] mean there's no question the town's gained immeasurably from that. But it is

[16:17] the type of thing with then when the town opted in many many years ago, it

[16:22] creates an enormous amount of staff work. And

[16:28] when I started in 2018, there was nobody on staff who had any assigned

[16:34] responsibility for this. And so it was this thing. And thankfully, the town had

[16:38] a committee and dedicated volunteers who put in a ton of time and helped to

[16:43] ensure the town maintained compliance. But that's where, you know, Rick come to

[16:47] me early in my tenure to say, "Hey, look, we're happy to do this. We're

[16:50] going to do it this this cycle, but this is really something from a management

[16:54] standpoint the town needs to take ownership of. It is a responsibility."

[16:58] And I can I said I couldn't I can't agree more. uh took some time before we

[17:03] had the bandwidth to be able to do it and the proper staffing structure, but I

[17:07] think uh it's been a really nice transition where now the committee is

[17:11] still involved and but isn't expected to shoulder kind of the share of the burden

[17:18] on the bullet for manually entering the that long list of fuel usage and

[17:25] deliveries. Is that data that Caitlyn has to go pursue or are there records

[17:30] that come to her? >> It's all coming off the invoices.

[17:33] » She has these invoices are all going through that department and uh and

[17:38] actually there's >> all of these go through that department.

[17:41] » Um >> including the page school.

[17:44] » Uh no, there are some that we have to track down from just a couple of

[17:47] sources. >> Yeah. Okay.

[17:48] » Yeah. And uh and but also there's a and Rick and and maybe Chip, but certainly

[17:53] Rick knows a lot more about this specific thing that I'm about to say

[17:57] than I do, but I know that the green communities is really in, you know,

[18:02] close sync with National Grid. So I believe there's a way for like the

[18:07] National Grid data to be like you can kind of port it over through the system.

[18:12] I'm not sure because I haven't direct >> it's automated. The bullet says all

[18:17] automatic utility data. That is that what you're talking about?

[18:21] » Yeah. Yeah. And it sounds like Chip has has worked with it, I assume.

[18:25] » Thanks. >> Okay.

[18:27] » But I can remember my first, you know, there have been times where it's like a

[18:31] big scramble to pull all the data. Now, at this point, it's caught because it's

[18:36] done every month. So, there's not this big crunch at the end of the year.

[18:40] » Yeah. But it requires that person whose job it is to do this methodically every

[18:46] month. And these are the things that aren't always visible to taxpayers. But

[18:50] but we're operating a much much higher level than were several years ago.

[18:54] » You mind what what do we get out of being a green community through this? In

[18:58] doing this, what's the benefit to the temp?

[19:01] » There's a lot of grant eligibility. Uh but Chip, I think it goes beyond that.

[19:05] Do you want to speak to that? >> Uh grant eligibility is the main thing.

[19:09] You know, we've gotten uh some grants for improving controls on the heating

[19:14] systems and town buildings, things like that.

[19:17] » Great.

[19:20] » And how long have we been a green community?

[19:24] » 2013, I believe. >> 2013.

[19:26] » Okay. Excellent. >> All right. Thank you for

[19:31] » Yeah, we just wrapped up. >> Yeah, I think that was a good exercise.

[19:34] Um, and it's it's uh it's always nice to kind of document how it's how it's gone.

[19:39] I'll just set down a marker. Then uh on the town manager transition items. I

[19:45] know I just uh handed this out a short time ahead of the meeting and I

[19:48] certainly am not going to be going through each of these methodically, but

[19:51] I did uh include updates on everything where there's new information. Uh so if

[19:57] there's anything you would like me to speak to, I'm happy to to do that. I

[20:02] think in terms of the top category of uh everything the board had prioritized I

[20:07] think everything's either you know complete or on track for completion uh

[20:11] some of the lower priority initiatives um there has been some work on those

[20:16] just kind of in the normal course of things for instance on the table license

[20:20] agreements uh it had been my specific uh direction the town council was that

[20:26] we're kind of tableabling this we're going to pick you know have the new

[20:29] insurance pick it up but uh and I'd written that up and sent that along and

[20:33] then she reached out to me on Monday and basically because they had started the

[20:37] conversations with Verizon and they were and I guess so Verizon feels some

[20:43] urgency they're actually pushing which is has never happened normally you have

[20:46] to like clamor to get their attention but actually because council has started

[20:50] the conversation with them they're they're kind of like where are we on

[20:54] this so so council was kind of you know pushing for hey can we have a

[20:58] conversation so I said yeah great of course So Rebecca and I had a Zoom

[21:02] meeting with U. Nicole Castanzo at PP on Wednesday. Turned out to be a very

[21:08] substantive meeting. We cover a lot of ground and um there's actually a there

[21:15] are actually proposals going back and forth between KP and Comcast or not

[21:20] contest rise not on the material issues of like the uh PEG funds but some of the

[21:27] you know any agreement that's 10 years old there's been changes in kind of the

[21:30] best practice for language. So AP's been doing some of that on our behalf these

[21:35] past several months. And so I sent them I sent Nicole all the background info I

[21:43] have including the financial analysis that that we sent you know several

[21:47] months ago of PEG revenues and expenses. Uh but also some of the more

[21:52] organizational things just to give her the fuller picture of you know how TAG

[21:57] funds are managed have been managed and uh so forth. So that gives her what she

[22:03] needs. So she's um in the relatively near term, in fact, I expect to hear

[22:09] something about the end of tomorrow with more specific something that you can

[22:14] consider. So I think that's going to put the board and Sean in a great spot

[22:18] because you'll now have something tangible. There is a requirement as you

[22:22] know for public hearing as a master payment process. uh we talked about uh

[22:27] the potential that that be consolidated between Verizon and Comcast because that

[22:31] license is going up where we go at the end of the calendar year and uh that

[22:36] sounds very viable that certainly efficiency in terms of the staff time it

[22:40] will take. So that's an example of something that we kind of tried to keep

[22:44] at bay but but we couldn't but it's actually moved forward to positive way.

[22:47] So and it only took less than an hour. >> Who who holds the public hearing on

[22:52] those? >> Uh the Slack

[22:53] » we do. Yeah. Yeah, it's basically inviting public input on what do people

[22:59] need, want, expect, and uh and what kind of money you need. But but Nicole said

[23:06] there's, you know, she's got a lot of experience with it. She said she's been

[23:09] to a lot of these hearings where people were like, "Well, we want essence." No,

[23:13] no, no. There's there's she said it's very constrained within federal law.

[23:19] » More old movies, you know, like what you can ask for. you can ask for things, but

[23:23] she said there's like a narrow scope of what's actually in play in these

[23:28] negotiations. So, some of that hearing is kind of managing expectations of what

[23:33] is reasonable, realistic that a town can actually negotiate. What is things that

[23:39] are kind of wishlist items that are really not even material? Like, you

[23:43] know, people hear public hearing about service and maybe they say, "Oh, I want

[23:47] I want Neton building or whatever." So, I want a live person to answer willing

[23:54] to call guns. Thanks. Good >> luck with that.

[23:57] » Angus, there's several of these that that can be moved to lower priority. Um

[24:02] like the the bill parking barriers, they agreed to put that on hold because we

[24:07] decided to go ahead with the um dock. >> Okay.

[24:10] » So that's not expected to be um >> which

[24:13] » on next to last on first. We're not sure.

[24:17] » Yeah. Yeah. Kind of never >> Yeah. I mean, we the I told them that

[24:22] the only thing going forward would be the dog.

[24:25] » Okay, good. All right. >> So, I think we're charging next year for

[24:29] that. >> Okay, good.

[24:30] » Same thing with the evaluating signage at Milon. That's

[24:36] » great. >> Um and the trail markers

[24:40] and the egg committee that doesn't need to be under

[24:43] » Y. >> So, those can all just be pushed to a

[24:45] lower priority. We can use schedule on must.

[24:48] » Great. Perfect. Yeah. Good. >> Oh, look at that. Four.

[24:56] » Um, >> so the baseline items. That's um

[25:01] » that starts on page four. >> Yeah.

[25:04] » So, u we closed up some grants. There's a couple of others that we're actively

[25:09] working on. Actually, one really one in particular at town center here, Mark.

[25:13] There's a kind of a closeout report. It's just a one page uh form that we

[25:17] could fill out. >> So when the tax set of foreclosure mean

[25:22] we you did that briefing um not in person but

[25:27] » I think did we talk about having maybe having some kind of daytime meeting with

[25:31] a board member kind of talking directly to council but that doesn't happen have

[25:35] have to happen before I leave. In fact, especially with the change for treasure

[25:39] collector, I think that would be just as well just to happen sometime in August

[25:43] and that gives Patty that background as well. I don't think there's any reason

[25:46] to try to shoot one of that in between the next week.

[25:53] » Anything else on that that you want to highlight or

[25:59] you have not?

[26:03] » Uh, no. I think I think what I've put here in writing kind of speaks for

[26:07] itself. Again, you're just getting it now. So, uh, but we can, you know,

[26:12] follow up offline if if either of you or Chris has well, of course, he's I'll

[26:17] I'll be gone by the time he's back. So, but if either of you have questions or

[26:21] want more backgrounds, but I think everything's uh, you know, pretty well

[26:25] on track all things considered. We have some number of curve balls per

[26:36] » questions bearing off the first.

[26:43] » All right. Anything else? >> Uh, no. I think uh Oh.

[26:48] Oh, yeah. One final update. Uh the uh Butch and I have a Zoom meeting

[26:55] scheduled for Monday with Matthew P regarding the Heartsto Bridge just to

[27:00] get a status update of where they are on the u intent to basically armor the

[27:06] approaches on both sides. Uh we know they had a survey crew out there earlier

[27:10] this spring and u you know we had hoped to have some conceptual plans in

[27:17] circulation by now. Obviously that hadn't happened. Uh, so I wanted to just

[27:20] before I leave kind of find out where things stand. So I'll send out an email

[27:25] or some kind of update coming out of that just to let you know where things

[27:28] stand with that. >> What does that mean?

[27:31] » So the town had looked at different ways to, you know, rather than signage, which

[27:36] is of, you know, debatable effectiveness to actually have a uh durable striker

[27:43] bar. >> So for the heightage

[27:46] » Yeah. So that if an overhead truck was approaching the bridge, it would

[27:49] actually be damaged. It would actually stop the truck.

[27:52] » Not the one that's >> correct. Correct. And this is a big

[27:56] deal. This is something they have for store drive,

[27:58] » right? >> They they don't have this anywhere else

[28:00] in the Commonwealth. So this was a big deal for Mascot to actually embrace

[28:05] this, but they have. is something we've been talking about for years. But last

[28:09] summer, uh, Edge was very interesting because this board was having a lot of

[28:14] discussions and had looked at things like advanced protection with

[28:18] electronic, you know, signals, had looked at all different options. And

[28:22] this board had arrived at the feeling that they felt it should be armored. And

[28:28] we had a a call subsequent to that Zoom meeting Butch and I did with Master T.

[28:34] Turns out they had come to that same conclusion internally. And so it was

[28:38] this great meeting because it was like they want this and we want this and

[28:42] everyone wants this. So uh then it became okay how do we do that? And they

[28:48] needed to um uh so but they they last last summer and early fall had

[28:54] authorized work from their design engineer to basically look at how would

[28:59] this work? Where would the footings go? What would they look like? Um, and this

[29:05] would need to go through Roxville's historic district commission. There's a

[29:08] lot of permitting that will be this will be even if it's full speed ahead, I

[29:12] think you're still talking a couple years away, but you know, you got to

[29:15] start somewhere. So, uh, the policy direction is to have these striker bars

[29:20] on both sides of the bridge because the risk of damage to the the bridge is so

[29:27] costly and really catastrophic in terms of the impact. So, so when a overhead

[29:33] vehicle hits the swinging bar, it can goes past that, it can then damage

[29:38] something further on. >> Exactly.

[29:39] » So, the striker bar stops them before they get to the bridge.

[29:44] » Correct. >> Got it.

[29:45] » Yeah. So, one of the issues is is on the West Newbury side, the land, as as

[29:50] you're probably aware, state owned. uh possibly article 97, but if it's below a

[29:57] certain threshold, you might not need to go through the article 97 process. But

[30:02] those were some of the things they were looking at. They had surveyed to see

[30:06] where would the foundations go, how much land would impact

[30:11] » article 97. >> Yeah.

[30:14] » Was it recreation >> on the south side of of Rox Bridge on

[30:19] side? >> Great.

[30:22] the boat ramp. >> Yeah. And and

[30:25] » is subject to article language. >> So some part of this striker bar

[30:29] structure would be on that >> could be these were the things they had

[30:33] to look at. >> It's not just within the bridge

[30:35] footprint. It actually would be with well I think within the right of way I'm

[30:40] not >> sure but they they talked about article

[30:43] 97. So, >> oh,

[30:46] » so when we talked to them last summer and early fall, they thought they might

[30:49] have some kind of conceptual plan even as soon as like right around the first

[30:55] of the year, right? And and that came when we've been in continuing

[31:00] correspondence and and so it was actually a close call of a overhead

[31:05] truck and I saw a Facebook post in I think it was in June and I did a

[31:11] screenshot. I sent it along for the bridge. Hey, where are we on this? And

[31:15] so, um, so someone had a photo of the >> of a of a truck close call. Yeah. So,

[31:23] every time I see that is a reminder that, hey, where are we?

[31:26] » Um, and I will say the district engineer, district board, he's they're

[31:30] they're always pretty responsive, but their backlogs just like so many others.

[31:36] So, but I do believe they're doing the best they can,

[31:39] » but nothing moves as quickly as as we would like.

[31:43] » So, at what point would you bring up Chris's idea about the metal

[31:48] » Oh, I brought that up. Oh, you did? >> Yeah. Yeah, we we had a Zoom meeting

[31:51] with them probably three or four months ago. And I I brought that up

[31:55] specifically. I sent along the the link to the designer and u

[32:00] » uh you know, I think they were intrigued. Um, I think they were

[32:04] thinking of something possibly more ornamental to the side because they said

[32:07] once you actually put that on the actual impact beam that can have issues of

[32:14] structural engineering or so so but they they were intrigued by the idea

[32:22] » and I I spoke with Mayor Barrett about it a number of times and she's

[32:25] personally supportive. Obviously, the Roxto uh historic district commission is

[32:31] a regulatory body and can't speak for them and I don't I doubt this has

[32:35] probably gotten much attention behavioral because there's nothing yet

[32:38] specific to respond to but conceptually she's she's very supportive. She did

[32:43] have a expectation that if something like this happened that mascot would

[32:47] improve the uh fencing on the behavioral approach because right now it's just

[32:51] chain of fencing and she says something more more u you know or metal or like

[32:56] rod iron fencing to adapt some she would look for that to be part of the deal and

[33:01] I think that's very reasonable >> investment communicated for

[33:07] » okay good all right moving on to action items item

[33:12] A is a request for additional part-time staffing lower grounds and emboss.

[33:16] » Yeah. So, um uh I think you probably know that our custodian John Savage has

[33:22] been out in and out with health issues. >> So, I've had to move our current

[33:26] part-time James Deolian from outdoor maintenance to doing all the custodial

[33:31] work for John when John's out on a permanent basis full day. So, we've left

[33:37] with a lot of weed whacking and outdoor maintenance and uh with me on some of

[33:42] the bigger projects. I'm just not able to get there. And quite frankly, it's

[33:46] getting looking kind of neglectful out there. Okay.

[33:49] » Uh I I can spend a few days a month trying to catch things up. Uh but

[33:53] there's so many things to do that uh I think it's time to get another part-time

[33:59] guy. Um, and I think uh what we were thinking were 15 hours per week at a

[34:04] rate of uh 2357. It's kind of in the mid-range. And um

[34:11] » so this is a new position. This >> the position of the guy that you pulled

[34:16] off to to cover. >> Well, I I still got to keep him in his

[34:20] position. So this would be a new position.

[34:23] » An addition. >> Okay. And is this the same as what he's

[34:27] making? Uh, no. It'd be less certain than what Jim's made. Okay. Um, and so I

[34:33] know for park and wreck they have two part-time laborers. Is there an

[34:36] opportunity for either one of them to >> uh Yeah. You know, quite Yeah. They're

[34:40] just not good at doing any wacking or doing

[34:44] » I got to have a guy that's kind of interested in doing some landscaping.

[34:47] » Yeah. >> And uh to keep up with those things. So

[34:50] I've I've tried some of the pock guys and they just it's not it's not what

[34:54] we're looking for. >> Okay.

[34:57] So 15 weeks is almost four months. So it's

[35:03] » yeah kind of includes like uh yeah like leave clean up

[35:07] » and then if there's some additional hours left over I mean we can always use

[35:10] some shovel and snow you like in a big storm and I didn't want to leave myself

[35:14] too short in case we get something really big where there's a lot of

[35:17] shoveling to do with the roofs and things of that nature. or not that we

[35:21] might be some leftover I'm thinking but I didn't I didn't want to have to try

[35:25] and go get some more money. >> So this is seasonal then it's not

[35:29] » Yeah seasonal. Absolutely. >> So it would be 15 weeks and so this is a

[35:34] permanent position or is this just a >> you know I I think it's needed at this

[35:38] point you know depending on where we get with my projects. I mean, I can

[35:41] certainly I don't think I'm going to run out of bigger projects to handle and,

[35:45] you know, with with the uh with all the protocol that comes with that and the

[35:49] running around, I just don't I want to get out there and get to that, but I

[35:52] just never seem to and it it wears me when I drive by these places and they're

[35:56] not weed whacked. You know, they they mow pretty well. The the uh uh DPW ms

[36:01] them, but um you know, a lot of times the weed whacking is left and I just I

[36:07] can't look at it. >> Yeah.

[36:09] So Angus, what um to if we're creating a position, what what are the implications

[36:14] of that or what's the process that we just decided or

[36:16] » Well, I think there'd be a couple of questions I would have. One is or or

[36:20] process-wise you um you know, the mechanism for that would be the salary

[36:24] week schedule, but uh you know, I wanted to look at where the money comes from.

[36:28] So if the board's favorable, u you know, we could run kind of a a projection of

[36:34] what that would cost. Uh would this be is the land how much of the land is kind

[36:40] of park and wreck as opposed to town land? And uh because I would think about

[36:44] would would some of the money come from possibly the park and recol fund as

[36:48] opposed to the operating budget, right? >> Uh maybe some comes from the operating

[36:52] budget, maybe some comes from park and wck, but that would I think be driven by

[36:56] where the where the need is. Um and then and then the actual um I think the you

[37:02] know the vote would be um to change the um salary w schedule to add that and

[37:09] then uh depending on how much of that's in the operating budget we would need to

[37:13] look at in the current fiscal year. Can that be absorbed within what we've

[37:18] carried in the budget? And if not, uh, we're either to reserve fund transfer or

[37:24] budget in the fall meeting and then make any, uh, change to the proposed budget

[37:30] for FY28. >> Okay.

[37:32] » So, I think if it's something for depending on, you know, because if it's

[37:36] 15 weeks in the course of 52 and we're already into late July, I think we could

[37:41] be looking at what's the projection between now and the end of this season,

[37:45] which wouldn't be the full 15 weeks. It would be a lower number. Yeah,

[37:48] » maybe that's something that can be absorbed within the operating budget or

[37:52] with revolving fund,

[37:54] » right? And and this and this uh uh person that I got in mind to fill this

[37:58] position, you know, if he could do it in 10 hours, he would do that. You know,

[38:02] he's not going to be uh looking for 15 hours a week.

[38:05] » So, we'll have a work schedule. It's going to take him 15 hours a week for

[38:09] the first two weeks just to get caught up. And then if things dry out, we don't

[38:13] have a ton of weeds and you know we're getting caught up, he's more than happy

[38:16] just to give it 10 hours a week. >> Okay. So if we were starting at the

[38:21] beginning of the season, what would you see the season running? Like May 15th to

[38:27] » Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Some sometime in there. As soon as the as soon as they

[38:30] start cutting the lawns, >> you know, it's going to probably two

[38:33] weeks after that we'll start, >> you know, so May end of April, beginning

[38:38] of May >> run through. So 15 weeks would put us

[38:42] into September. >> Yeah.

[38:44] » Like not long. >> Yeah. Exactly. But I I think I think you

[38:48] know if if it's kept up if if a person's there in the beginning and he's keeping

[38:51] up with it, it's probably going to be more like 10 hours a week.

[38:55] » But so we'll be able to stretch it and and pay attention to where we're at uh

[38:59] moneywise and within the budget. And then you know uh I'd like to save some

[39:03] time for the lead pickup is a is a big deal. You know, a lot of times we end up

[39:07] uh not getting to all of them just because we're short on men in hours. So,

[39:12] um just have to figure out. I think I think if I planned on 15 hours a week

[39:18] and most of the time he's going to do we'll be able to stretch that out.

[39:22] » Okay. So, it' be more like November. >> Yeah.

[39:25] So, what would you think about um doing this for this year and then

[39:30] waiting and see what happens with the rest of the staffing and then

[39:32] reevaluating budget and all of that? Does that make sense?

[39:36] » Perfect. >> Yeah. I think rather than making

[39:39] something permanent, do now as needed and seeing how it goes and it seems like

[39:44] it's necessary with some coming back. And and I think that also makes sense

[39:49] because uh I mentioned earlier in the meeting we recently hired a vacancy with

[39:53] BPW which is great but we're still down a full-time person DPW because of a

[39:58] workers comp issue and and have been down for actually coming up on five or

[40:03] six flights. So Butch has been working with a short staff. I don't think people

[40:08] know that or notice that because they do such a great job, but they're really

[40:12] stretched labor wise and have been. So, I think doing something for this season

[40:17] and once we're ideally full staffing with highway, I don't know if uh once

[40:22] they're at their full strength if there's if there's more that we might or

[40:25] if that's just not that they could do or if that's just not really something that

[40:30] I would I would do. >> So, then we would need to figure out

[40:35] where the money's coming from, right? So that was my next question is how long

[40:40] will it take to figure that out before Brian needs this first?

[40:44] » Oh, I could run those numbers and I mean that would take a few minutes

[40:48] » and where it would come from and >> well where it comes from I think so so

[40:51] you have a sense of between so I would think of uh

[40:54] » well Angus I'm saying we give you the okay and you just go deal with it.

[40:59] » Yeah, >> you you're comfortable. You can find out

[41:02] where parks and wreck and facilities can budget it. You'll find a way.

[41:08] » Wait, that's not No, I can find out. I could estimate your costs very quickly.

[41:12] » Yeah. $5,400. >> Yeah. Bucks an hour, 15 hours, 15 weeks,

[41:18] 5400 bucks. What do you you were saying where it might

[41:21] » Yeah. So, how how would it allocate between park and racks?

[41:25] » But is that something happen in the next week?

[41:28] » Uh the calculation could the issue >> have to advertise for it and everything.

[41:33] Well, but also like like if any of it >> even though he has a gun.

[41:37] » Yeah. We can't just hire somebody without posting the job.

[41:40] » If there was any uh for instance any expectation the parking rack was going

[41:45] to be funding some of the other revolving fund, they need to vote that.

[41:49] So they need to post a meeting, you know, so it ends up being, you know,

[41:53] » he doesn't get a person until October. >> Well, no. Well, I I think there's I

[41:57] think that that's more like if we're trying to if if it's a permanent thing,

[42:01] you have a set of more expedient >> and we're paying it out of the operating

[42:06] budget which is under BPW's oversight and it's can be absorbed within the

[42:10] current budget. >> That's that's going to be much quicker.

[42:14] » And that's that's what I was planning to do this kind of absorb it within my

[42:19] budget. >> Yeah. Yeah.

[42:21] » Then I can hire. So yeah, I'm seeing it as something quick, something temporary

[42:27] and then re-evaluate. >> Yeah, with part with the demand really

[42:31] driven by a kind of a >> current issue of being short staff. I

[42:36] think that makes a lot of sense. >> That's good.

[42:38] » Last year we had a pocket rent uh additional employee, Tyler Evans, and

[42:45] that worked out perfect. he was able to keep up with everything, but it seemed

[42:49] how he was paid by the park and wreck. He was kind of just doing ball fields

[42:53] and all their property. So, so it was tough to

[42:56] » This is just >> get him to come over and do hourly raise

[42:59] but no benefits or >> correct. Yeah. Anything under 20 hours

[43:02] is a benefit position. Correct. >> So, is it correct that it has to be

[43:05] posted? >> It's not a legal requirement. We do we

[43:08] do generally I mean we do we do generally post jobs every now and then

[43:13] if you know let's say there's an existing employee that wanted more hours

[43:16] that's something different because that would be like an internal hire there is

[43:20] no legal requirement to post um and I think you know we use judgment but uh

[43:26] and I think >> is this person interested in being a

[43:29] contractor >> well actually he uh you know I I he's

[43:33] not quite a friend of mine but I talked to him quite often in the food and

[43:37] whatnot. And uh he heard me saying that there was a lot of uh you know um

[43:43] landscaping that needed to be done. He came in and put his I didn't even ask

[43:46] him. He just put an application in to have it on file here. And then uh as

[43:50] John became uh having his health issues and me having to pull with Jimmy and

[43:54] things not looking that well. I'm like, "Okay, this might fit right in. Just

[43:57] happened." So um he's interested. >> Does he do that work otherwise?

[44:01] » He did. He's retired. >> Oh, it's a retired. So he did a lot of

[44:05] construction work but now >> you res.

[44:08] » Yes. >> I mean if he was willing to work as a

[44:11] contractor that would certainly be cleaner.

[44:13] » That is >> Yeah. It's it's Yeah. He's not

[44:16] interested in doing that. There's a lot. Yeah. It's not he won't work as a uh he

[44:20] was never self-employed. >> So uh you know it that becomes a lot of

[44:25] tax issues for him. Okay. >> Yeah. He's looking for a partner

[44:30] » season. Okay. So the only thing I'm not clear on

[44:35] is the the total 15 weeks you're planning on starting next week or the

[44:38] week after for 15 weeks going into November, not what it would have been in

[44:43] April and then just the like half of it. >> Right.

[44:46] » Okay. >> Right. Exactly. And like I said, it's a

[44:49] trial thing and I think Baron summed it up pretty good. It's a trial thing.

[44:52] We'll see how it works and see if it's needed and then pursue something a

[44:56] little bit more permanent if if things start to look great.

[44:59] » Is that part of the budget process? >> Yeah. for next year.

[45:03] » Yeah, >> that sounds good.

[45:07] » Look good. >> Yeah.

[45:08] » So then who makes the call about posting in just that?

[45:12] » Uh yeah, I mean I think uh ultimately I I would

[45:16] » Okay. >> in terms of post Well, I would make the

[45:20] calling. I think uh >> yeah, I think it's No, no, I I'd be

[45:26] honest. I mean, if we have a person and it's like such a short time I'm inclined

[45:32] since it's right now it's just temporary if we don't need to post there.

[45:37] » Yeah. I'm not saying he's just saying who's going to make the decision.

[45:40] » I think we should with the with the town manager.

[45:44] » It's town manager's job, not our job. >> No, no, no. But my then my input would

[45:48] be if you don't feel you need to do it, I'm fine with that.

[45:53] » Yeah. And I think if if it's a if it's an overall temporary position, which is

[45:57] what we're talking about, that makes it a lot I think more defensible to just

[46:02] hire someone rather than, you know, if it's a permanent position.

[46:06] » I mean, plus this is a particular individual who's expressed an interest.

[46:11] If Brian's here saying, I want to go find somebody.

[46:14] » Yeah. >> And we didn't know who it was. Is that

[46:16] be a different >> You've opened yourself up though if

[46:20] there's somebody else in the community that said, "Oh, I would have liked to

[46:23] done that and I didn't get a chance to apply. So that's that's the only cap.

[46:26] » That's it. It is kind of difficult to find

[46:30] somebody that's interested in weed whacking, you know, a lot, you know, and

[46:34] then there's a lot of like, you know, high school kids this and that, they

[46:38] just don't work out. Even the guys that say they want to come in, oh gez, I'd

[46:41] love to do that. They don't love to do that.

[46:45] » And then you end up Yeah. They don't like to do that. has

[46:50] are you going to do weed whack or not? >> They just don't like to do it. And he

[46:54] stressed several times to me because you know a lot of people say that and I'm

[46:58] like okay you know and then but he said it several times that he would love to

[47:02] do that and he's you know I I got the feeling that he's interested in doing

[47:05] it. So we'll see. That's why I'm saying let's try it

[47:08] » and we'll see how it goes. >> And you're confident you have enough

[47:11] money in your budget to >> Yeah, we're talking 5,000.

[47:14] » Okay. 500 bucks. So I think uh I talked to Caitlyn already. She said we should

[47:19] be able to switch subjects. >> Awesome. Okay. So, do we need to vote

[47:22] then? >> What is the motion?

[47:25] » Uh I I think it would be to add to the uh FY27 salary wage schedule a uh you

[47:33] know part part-time temporary position. Um you know 15 hours per week for no

[47:39] more than 15 weeks or 357. That's a very clear parameter and that's

[47:46] » and with my motion I say and with the decision about posting at the discretion

[47:52] » second that any further discussion all in favor

[47:55] » I thank you Brian >> thanks to all appreciate it

[48:00] » be looking to run soon

[48:07] to consider request from the video tech rep for an advisory vote regarding two

[48:12] potential compromise formulas. >> All right. And I I know there's a lot of

[48:16] written material. I did want to just show you and I'll let me do a screen

[48:19] share for those who are watching home. Uh there's kind of a neat little model

[48:24] that uh uh uh Bernie Cohen and uh Rowley had put

[48:32] together and then I made I uh kind of worked with it. He done different

[48:39] uh Excel worksheets for the different scenarios in Neil's uh memo. What I put

[48:45] in was I kind of integrated it all together. So

[48:48] » which page do you want there? >> Well, so so in Neil's memo

[48:52] » the packet. Yeah, it it basically is talking about this hybrid of Alpin

[48:57] capital cost through a combination of the current formula which is based on

[49:02] » table in my packet. >> Uh the substantively yes but but no the

[49:08] numbers are >> correctly on the screen. No, not not

[49:10] yet. No. So, so the current allocation of capital is based on total sto school

[49:16] age population K. No, not K. 1 through 12. Rated 1

[49:21] through 12. So, the allocation is proportional to how many

[49:27] kids live in your city or town. >> And is that the as of October issue?

[49:32] » No, that's that's been >> that's been less than. Okay. Good.

[49:35] Right. So, so and this is you know broadly seen I believe as by many other

[49:40] communities as inequitable because that has no relationship to how many students

[49:45] are actually sending. So this has been where the kind of discussion has has

[49:50] landed. There are some communities saying it should be entirely based on

[49:53] how they are rolled at Whittier and there are others namely behavioral

[49:58] saying it should be how they like it how it is because that current formula

[50:03] benefits behavioral because they have um you know proportionally more students

[50:08] attending than they do this low population. Neil in the spirit of

[50:12] compromise came up with well how about if we did this blending of the two and

[50:17] in his memo he looked at 50/50 we're 50% based on 1 through 12 50% based on

[50:24] enrollment or 3070 or 7030 or some difference

[50:29] » right and he's he's and and I think some of the discussions at the rack meetings

[50:34] have have been I think can be simplified to the point of u Neil kind of saying is

[50:40] we don't want the perfect to be the enemy of the good. So even if everyone

[50:44] even if most people could agree that a per pupil

[50:49] might be the optimal way to do it per enrolled per enrolled pupil uh because

[50:54] that's very clearly position rally and the court and perhaps others

[51:00] I there's a recognition that you need an 11 nothing vote to amend this agreement.

[51:06] So if the city of payroll is simply not going to open the agreement, you can be

[51:12] on the side of virtue all you want, but you're then at a stale and you're then

[51:18] at a position. >> Correct. Correct. And you're then at a

[51:22] position where you're with the current agreement 1967 for the foreseeable

[51:27] future. So at that point the scenario becomes the capital costs that are

[51:33] brought forward are under the current formula. So that's where there's just

[51:37] been this real question of what can can we find some middle ground. Everyone's

[51:41] going to have to move. April's going to have to move because they're going to

[51:44] they would lose relative to the current formula and others might might gain they

[51:50] might not gain as much as they would like to in terms of financially but

[51:55] we're trying to find the middle ground. So, so maybe it's premature to put put

[51:58] this up on the screen, but but what this does just so so you know kind of as the

[52:03] discussion goes, we can so if I go share based on grade

[52:07] » well before you go into the numbers. >> Yes.

[52:10] » So, we've talked we talked about this previously and

[52:15] » there was this question about April wanting to be if they were willing to

[52:18] agree to some other allocation they would want to be indemnified. Is that

[52:24] this as well? No, they want to be well harmless. The term they were using

[52:29] to be clear introduced that never said that. Neil introduced that whole

[52:35] harmless concept. >> Hard hold meaning that in the future if

[52:39] the if the their share were to go up that it

[52:44] wouldn't that the whole >> No, no. what what he's what is the whole

[52:48] » Yeah. What the point he's trying to make is that um to paraphrase is I think he's

[52:55] saying be because it's really like it's either

[52:58] like a 9 to2 or 10 to one like it's very much you know most people I think would

[53:04] go to for a pupil if it was just about kind of what's right.

[53:08] » Sure. But but I think he's he's trying to be kind of politically shrewd and

[53:14] acknowledge that look >> the mayor's got to sell this to the

[53:17] council >> and they all then have to get thrown out

[53:22] of office over this. So he's trying to find like what can the mayor sell?

[53:27] » No, I'm with you. That is the whole story.

[53:29] » So the whole Parl's idea is that under the former proposal uh the former school

[53:34] proposal at the current capital allocation April would have been on the

[53:40] hook if that had passed for a certain amount of money. So Neil is saying that

[53:46] if this project goes forward and if it ends up at Northern Essex and if being

[53:52] at Northern Essex results in a significant reduction of some costs for

[54:00] instance there are certain things that in the MSBA's process we'll go into

[54:04] that. If it if it results in a lower cost

[54:07] » Yeah. >> then then

[54:10] there is a path for habil to accept a formula that is less favorable than the

[54:17] current one if their dollar exposure is comparable to what it would have been

[54:24] with the old project >> if it's capped with that.

[54:27] » Yeah. And it's not it's not like a legal >> No. Yeah. Right. But it's more political

[54:32] » an agreement to for the other towns and cities to eat what would have been a

[54:36] larger share >> and cost offsets and ideally a major

[54:43] infusion of state money. That's where Chris has correctly pointed out that's a

[54:47] big assumption. I mean that's a big >> is that part of his hold harmless meals

[54:51] that it doesn't have state money. >> Yeah. His model is showing Oh god.

[54:55] » Yeah. option it the op did do the options reflect the whole harmless

[55:01] option one or two because they're both 50%.

[55:03] » Uh they're both 50%. One is showing uh it should the variable there is how much

[55:10] is it getting >> state

[55:11] » from the state but the formula is the same

[55:14] » so that this reflects the whole harmless ideal

[55:17] » ideal and does it work without the state infusion

[55:21] is there a hold harmless mechanism no way

[55:24] » no because inflation's happening and the project that was voted down early 2024

[55:30] by the time this comes back to the voters in a couple of years you'll have

[55:34] that much more inflation. So the same project going forward would be more

[55:38] costly and and even if it goes to NCC and you can reduce some cost on

[55:44] administrative offices or ball fields or parking or different things where

[55:47] there's some synergies and and reducing some of the cost. This is going to be a

[55:51] very expensive project in add

[55:57] I would have no patience for a discussion around something that isn't

[56:01] going to happen. You know what I mean? I mean, good on Neil for bringing it up,

[56:06] but it it seems so uncertain. And how often is there do these meetings

[56:12] happen? >> Well, they've been happening more often

[56:15] as we've gotten toward the finish line. >> Not every week.

[56:19] » No, no, no, but like uh roughly monthly. We We had two in June and we'd have two

[56:24] in July. So, as we >> trying to get to a resolution,

[56:28] » is anything getting closer? >> Yeah.

[56:30] » Oh, >> yeah. Yeah. what the capital funding

[56:34] because there's a hundred other or not a hundred but there's a you know probably

[56:37] 15 other policy issues in this region but this is really the one that's the

[56:43] one this has been the one right along and and

[56:47] um

[56:50] I think there's I mean >> how far from a resolution is it

[56:54] » well we will find out when the committee meets next week but I will tell you that

[56:58] when this process started Mayor Barrett was absolutely adamant that she would

[57:05] not open the agreement if there is any change to the capital funding formula.

[57:11] Period. That was an absolute >> That was the starting point.

[57:13] » Yeah, that was the starting point. And then on the other side, you have rally

[57:16] saying we are not going to agree to anything but per pupil. So there has

[57:20] been movement >> plan is bringing things closer.

[57:25] » Yes. >> So do we have any do you need anything

[57:28] from last? >> Well, so but what about the rally plan

[57:31] though? How does that work? >> That's um

[57:34] » you had a chance to digest that? >> Not fully digest it now. And I think

[57:39] » the uh competi >> not just that's just the pure per

[57:44] people. >> It's pure.

[57:46] » It's all it's completely different. >> Oh, there's another one from Rally.

[57:51] » Yeah, this is >> it's the one in the packet, but it's the

[57:54] one that was said I received it Monday afternoon. However,

[57:57] » so so the other issue is how many people need to agree. So one of Chris's

[58:02] criteria is that that 50/50 would have to be accompanied by 2/3.

[58:06] » Yes. Rather than >> so what Mr. Colin from Rally is

[58:12] proposing is that each community has a a weighted vote.

[58:16] » Oh, >> based on, you know,

[58:19] » their assessment, which kind of gets it for twothirds, but um

[58:23] » but it doesn't not twothirds of the communities, but twothirds of the

[58:27] weight, right? >> Right.

[58:29] » Well, that is something there. >> Yeah. But it's just it's a lot to take

[58:33] in. You know, how how are you going to compare those two options? I think new

[58:37] report and rally are expecting this to get equal. Um

[58:41] » and the weight is based on enrollment

[58:46] » the percent of the way your operating cost assessment. Yeah. Seats

[58:51] you know less strikes. Well,

[58:56] and a change to the agreement will require legislative town.

[59:04] Yes. Not >> all 12.

[59:08] » But could it be changed by the state legislature at all?

[59:12] » Legally, yes. But politically, yeah.

[59:17] » If there's not consensus among the cities and towns through their their

[59:21] local legislative process, Yeah. I think it puts the legislators in a tough spot

[59:26] as to why would they then overturn what their constituents have voted for town

[59:32] meeting our city council

[59:37] show some leadership and brave influence it's tough

[59:40] » and it may come to that >> I mean Bruce Tarant

[59:50] no percent district though is representation.

[59:55] » So, can you put that chart back up? I just want to compare

[59:58] » from from >> Yeah.

[1:00:01] » or the one you did that >> Yeah.

[1:00:04] Just want to compare it to the

[1:00:09] » You can pull that bar. >> Yeah. And Yeah. How do I uh this bar?

[1:00:17] either I just kind of pull it off to the side and disappear and drag it over to

[1:00:21] the side. Right click and pull way up top. Oh, there. That's better. That's

[1:00:27] much better. And then it disappear. So, what I what I try to do here is this.

[1:00:34] This is more of a dynamic model where you can change your the two cells shaded

[1:00:40] in bright yellow are kind of the editable cells. So right now it's 100%

[1:00:45] based on the uh on 1 through 12 0% based on enrollment. So what this does is if I

[1:00:52] change this to say 50 then it goes and then this uh far right

[1:00:58] column with the yellow, red and green is the conditional formatting. So that kind

[1:01:03] of immediately draws your attention to what's the relative impact

[1:01:08] compared to the current formula. So under the current formula

[1:01:14] um uh behavioral got for example you know 43% of the student population

[1:01:24] 68% of enrollment and so if we go to you know 100% based

[1:01:31] on that then then they have 43% of the capital so it's unchanged obviously but

[1:01:38] if you go to say you know if If it was 90% based on that and 10% based on

[1:01:44] enrollment, they would uh you know they would be you know two and a half% worse

[1:01:51] off and other communities would be uh somewhat better off in terms of their

[1:02:00] their their share. So this so who under the 50/50 that that shows they're

[1:02:07] basically you know 12 and a half% worse off um you know Newberg po would be

[1:02:13] about four four and a half% better off and and others have some variation and I

[1:02:19] think it's much more appropriate to focus on percent than

[1:02:24] dollar because we have no idea what kind of cost and what the revenues are but

[1:02:28] but you can toggle so this carries 200 million if it was, you know, 400 million

[1:02:35] um that's 40 which uh but that's I mean you can run and have the same thing on

[1:02:42] dollars. I think that's that's can be very easily misunderstood because we

[1:02:48] don't know what the dollars are going to be if really we're talking about the

[1:02:50] percentages. >> So

[1:02:53] » so is part of Neil's proposal the two/3 >> I mean is that part

[1:02:58] » to amend the agreement? Yes, that's been separately addressed and there is uh

[1:03:05] there was a 10 to one vote to support going to a with two/3

[1:03:10] threshold to amend the agreement with the one

[1:03:15] » so and and I think that's something that you know in my opinion mayor Barrett

[1:03:20] took that position because she had to but I do believe I don't know this but

[1:03:26] she certainly haven't told me this but I believe that as it goes forward she

[1:03:30] understands that is going to need to be compromised. And so I think that's, you

[1:03:34] know, kind of her laying down marker. But I think she knows that in order to

[1:03:39] get this amendment, this agreement amended,

[1:03:42] » it's going to need no one's going to support

[1:03:45] » doing this again. >> Yeah.

[1:03:46] » Yeah. Right. >> All right. Um,

[1:03:52] so will two/3 be part of the motion or is that a sub?

[1:03:56] » Uh, well, you know, it could be and if that's conditional on for

[1:04:00] » I think that's what Chris was saying last week that you would consider this

[1:04:03] and that's 2/3. Is that your >> No, I think that's right. I'm I'm

[1:04:08] equally interested in the weighted 2/3 as the actual 23.

[1:04:13] » Yeah. So I'm looking at that and he's looking at the operating cost assessment

[1:04:18] versus and that rather than the capital. So I'm a little bit confused by but I

[1:04:23] guess you're not really ready to speak to it.

[1:04:26] » No, I have capitalism. Sorry. Um

[1:04:33] so there's been email correspondence that rally and new report will not roll

[1:04:38] this. Um, I don't know if that means that they only want what is proposing or

[1:04:44] what's happening. I think we just have to decide.

[1:04:47] » How does Rowley's How do they compare to us scientists in

[1:04:52] terms of share? They have 3.7%

[1:04:59] compared to 3.1. >> Yeah.

[1:05:02] » In terms of the student population, >> uh, they're at 19 students. were 11

[1:05:08] students. >> We're the two small.

[1:05:10] » Yeah. >> Yeah.

[1:05:11] » How is Raleigh just

[1:05:15] support calling shots if you will?

[1:05:19] » I think Newbury reports enrollment is fairly low compared to their population

[1:05:24] of students, >> right? 2% of the enrollment.

[1:05:29] » Yeah. saying very

[1:05:35] » it's just interesting to me that Raleigh is

[1:05:40] » it's almost like having North Dakota as senators sort of running things in the

[1:05:44] US Senate. You know, we got the population of

[1:05:48] Manchester and New Hampshire. >> Well, I think it's the whole thing about

[1:05:51] it being unanimous. even small players but I have them making so many you know

[1:05:58] those demands and this is they're here they are vetoing the same way the

[1:06:04] largest thing that it seems odd they would not want the

[1:06:11] twoirds they don't want two

[1:06:14] » it's not that I I don't fully understand the proposal I mean is he going to

[1:06:18] present it at the meeting I guess or >> well like I said in my and I you know I

[1:06:22] got this kind of Monday and >> no.

[1:06:28] » Yeah. I and you know the way I kind of try to thread the needle in in my

[1:06:32] transmitt memo because I kind of felt compelled to send around what I

[1:06:36] received. I >> I think if this was not the last meeting

[1:06:40] coming up, I would have handled it differently.

[1:06:42] » Yeah. >> Uh but it is the last meeting and so I

[1:06:45] felt compelled to circulate it. And then what I said is I you know if if the

[1:06:51] committee wants to put it to a vote, we'll put it to a vote. If the majority

[1:06:56] of the committee says we don't even want to put the round of things to a vote,

[1:06:59] I'm not going to put it to a vote. Um >> so that would be the vote first.

[1:07:04] » Yeah. So so I would look for a majority vote of you know there six or more. So

[1:07:10] there could be a majority vote to put it to a vote and then you know the outcome

[1:07:14] of the vote could be but um I don't know if it will be put to a vote

[1:07:21] if if there's only two communities that want to put it to a vote. I'm not going

[1:07:24] to put it to a vote. I think that in itself will speak volumes but uh

[1:07:30] you know I don't know you know this this was sent out I think you you probably

[1:07:34] saw one of them the distribution list. This is going to select board members,

[1:07:38] town managers, town administrators, mayors, um the busiest people in these

[1:07:44] communities. Are they going to absorb this by next week's meeting and confer

[1:07:50] with their leadership to know what their community, you know, to give their best

[1:07:56] guess as to what they think their community might be willing to accept in

[1:07:59] in a in a short amount of time. Neil had put his proposals on the table back in

[1:08:04] June >> in a lengthy in a very detailed memo. He

[1:08:08] he supplemented that with an additional two-page analysis maybe a week or two

[1:08:12] later that's now going to be before the committee a couple of meetings. So so

[1:08:17] when that comes to a vote next week that's not a surprise. That's something

[1:08:20] people have been chewing on for >> you know at that point six or seven

[1:08:24] weeks. So, I think it's kind of asking a lot

[1:08:28] » to absorb it and be able to vote on it >> in a way that you think is fairly

[1:08:33] representative of what your community's position might be. Yeah.

[1:08:41] » So, are we are you looking for a vote from us on this or

[1:08:44] » Well, you you will be at the rack game next week on behalf of the town. Uh I

[1:08:50] will be there as well. Um, right now I'm the voting member for West Newbury.

[1:08:54] Chris has been the non- voting member or the backup.

[1:08:57] » Uh, what I would strongly recommend is that I

[1:09:01] » take myself out of that. I'm not going to be here.

[1:09:04] » And uh, so I think you should be prepared to cast a vote

[1:09:09] » as uh, although >> if it's a honestly like Chris was

[1:09:16] appointed. We'll have to talk about that or tell me how how you want me to vote.

[1:09:20] » Okay. >> If if it comes to that uh but you know

[1:09:24] I'll be looking to you for guidance if you want a vote from Barry to

[1:09:31] » what's going to be voted on. >> What's going to be voted on is whether

[1:09:36] question of the uh 5050 split between the you know whether that's something

[1:09:42] that that >> proposal vote.

[1:09:45] » Yeah. And the vote is also whether to consider rallies for I I would think

[1:09:50] that that's going to be a vote as well. >> I will ask I will ask the committee to

[1:09:54] take that out. I don't know how well we'll see is is

[1:09:59] I see the letter from Mayor Reed to Raleigh Select Board saying we think it

[1:10:05] should be based only on enrollment but that's just their posture. You think new

[1:10:10] reports behind a 5050? >> No, I don't. Yeah. No, I

[1:10:16] » I don't think they will vote against it. >> Yeah. And and I think the fact that that

[1:10:20] letter was sent several days ahead of rally select board taking this up um is

[1:10:26] indicated to me that they've been kind of working together for some amount of

[1:10:31] time.

[1:10:34] » So it's >> I mean I think I I would vote to allow

[1:10:40] Bradley to present their idea. >> Yeah. Um, I think that's reasonable.

[1:10:45] » Yeah. Yeah. I don't think there there should be there should be any

[1:10:49] concern about just putting something to a vote other than the fact that I've

[1:10:52] been very meticulous with this committee of doing straw and then a subsequent

[1:10:58] meeting because I I wanted to make sure that by the time we're taking a vote

[1:11:02] knowing it's a high-profile situation and the press is covering it, I didn't

[1:11:06] want anyone to feel like backed into a corner of wait a second, you're asking

[1:11:09] me to vote something I've just seen for the first time in this meeting, you

[1:11:12] know. So, I've been very meticulous about let's let's chew on it, have a

[1:11:16] straw hole, and then put it to a vote at a subsequent meeting because we only

[1:11:21] received rallies a couple of days ago. I just think that's that. But if the

[1:11:26] committee wants to if they're comfortable taking a vote, we'll take a

[1:11:30] vote on our >> I just want to have it presented so that

[1:11:34] I can more fully understand it. >> Yeah, sure.

[1:11:40] I don't think I can fully evaluate them against each other and which one is

[1:11:44] better.

[1:11:48] It's 1.3% for capital with 1.7 for operating. How does that compare meals?

[1:11:58] So it's a little bit higher.

[1:12:02] I mean, I'm looking at it for the first time, but from the viewpoint of it's not

[1:12:06] so much, you know, we're going to end up slightly

[1:12:11] different, right? It's almost like what's fair,

[1:12:13] » right? What makes the most sense and reasonable going forward? And the two

[1:12:18] components are >> I think a more substantial even if it's

[1:12:23] not 100% a more substantial portion of the allocation should be for actual

[1:12:28] money. And that just >> yeah,

[1:12:30] » it seems opposite, right? I mean, Mayor Reen's letter was

[1:12:36] schools across the Commonwealth have all moved towards actual norm based

[1:12:41] allocations because that's because it makes sense.

[1:12:44] » Yeah. >> Why pay based on your students who

[1:12:46] aren't going there? >> And then the other piece is finding a

[1:12:49] compromise that waits or otherwise eliminates the 100% voting. So, however

[1:12:56] you want to get there, not taxpayers western not that it's like

[1:13:02] let's shoot for the least number. I I wouldn't want to just be that parochial

[1:13:07] » because that will land like with a thud every town could do that when April sort

[1:13:14] of do I don't think we should.

[1:13:17] » That's my input. >> And if I could just speak briefly about

[1:13:22] about philosophically why I think some u consideration of both

[1:13:29] enrollment and school age population that arguably makes sense

[1:13:35] » and that's that obvious the enrollment speaks for itself but the school age

[1:13:38] population I I think there's an argument to be made that a community that is

[1:13:43] within the within the district they and their population and their

[1:13:49] students have a benefit in the district and those students having an option to

[1:13:54] go to that school whether their students choose to or not. There is a benefit to

[1:14:00] being in the district. And so that's where I think when you're dealing with a

[1:14:03] capital cost that's paid off over 30 years and not just who's there that

[1:14:08] year, but a generational or multi-generational impact. I think, you

[1:14:13] know, for instance, in the town of Rowley, I think that residents of

[1:14:16] Rowley, taxpayers of Rowley benefit by their students having that option in a

[1:14:23] more of a like longer term than just a single school year

[1:14:27] » on capital specifically as opposed to operators.

[1:14:30] » They do two different formulas, capital and operating.

[1:14:33] » Well, it is right. So, the oper the operating is based on enrollment and

[1:14:37] ever it's an agreement. >> Oh, that's awesome.

[1:14:39] » And that's how it's been since 1967. >> Oh, I see that. And that's never been an

[1:14:42] issue. >> That's never been the issue.

[1:14:44] » Just the capital. >> Just the capital. And I think

[1:14:45] philosophically there is a how much of that benefit

[1:14:49] » but I do think there's like a legitimate philosophical pace of why you would have

[1:14:54] » it should be something other than 100%. Based on enrollment

[1:14:58] » I think so as a as a resident not as West Newber but as a as a

[1:15:04] » but I guess the challenging thing is you have the opportunity but there's no

[1:15:07] guarantee you'll get in. I mean the acceptance rates for other towns are

[1:15:10] vastly different. >> Correct.

[1:15:12] » So um that's that's another issue. >> Yeah. Now now with the new lottery

[1:15:16] system that's uh kind of introduced some new variables there because they and

[1:15:21] they've had um >> applications growing up quite a bit from

[1:15:26] many different communities. >> Would it enrollment

[1:15:29] expand with the new facility? So the MSBA's approval for the project to to

[1:15:36] get into advantage of the feasibility which was the vote taken on June 24th by

[1:15:40] the MSBA is covering a range of 1280 which is the

[1:15:45] current design enrollment up to 1500. So that's part of the decision that the

[1:15:50] school building committee will be making through feasibility is to they design

[1:15:54] something for the current headcount up to 1500. It will be any more than that.

[1:15:59] And there's mixed feelings in the communities about that because some of

[1:16:02] the communities are concerned about declining enrollment in their regular

[1:16:06] schools. So the idea of having for instance in Georgetown more students go

[1:16:10] under Whittier. They have very real concerns about the financial impact that

[1:16:15] would have on Georgetown's high school. Yeah.

[1:16:21] » All right. I feel like they understand. >> Yeah. Really help.

[1:16:25] » Yeah. >> Um so you're saying that they may not

[1:16:29] let me vote. >> They pro honestly they probably won't

[1:16:32] because the everyone who's on the committee was appointed by the school

[1:16:35] committee. It's a subcommittee of the school committee and they were all voted

[1:16:39] in a school committee meeting and appointed and uh so for instance we had

[1:16:44] uh in in Marramac uh it was Chris Manny and then his term ended so it was Wayne

[1:16:50] Adams Wayne came to a meeting but he actually couldn't vote because he hadn't

[1:16:54] been formally appointed by the school committee. Uh and there same thing in

[1:17:00] one of the other communities where someone came to a meeting but they

[1:17:03] weren't yet formally appointed. So, you have not been appointed by the week.

[1:17:06] » So, I mean, so why is it critical for me to go?

[1:17:11] I mean, I thought I was like filling in for Chris because he couldn't be there.

[1:17:14] » Uh, I suppose it's not critical. If you want

[1:17:18] to tell me how Well, I mean, it's there's more business we'll cover at the

[1:17:22] meeting than than this. And, okay, you know, he's been at every meeting. West's

[1:17:26] had, you know, two representatives there. So, and I think if nothing else,

[1:17:30] it'll definitely give you some some insight. And they're they're pretty

[1:17:32] they're good meetings. We have, you know, typically 25 or 30 people there,

[1:17:37] including, you know, people observers. Uh, so they're pretty dynamic. I think

[1:17:42] you'll enjoy it. >> No, but in terms of the vote, um,

[1:17:45] » I was under the impression that I had to vote for.

[1:17:47] » It wasn't until the last few minutes that it occurred to me that I'm like,

[1:17:50] "Oh, wait a second. Okay. >> Hey, you can't cast the vote because

[1:17:53] you're not actually the committee." >> But you But you just said you aren't

[1:17:57] going to be allowed to vote. >> No, I am the voting.

[1:17:59] » So, you can vote. >> I just say the right thing to do is to

[1:18:03] somebody that you know because I'm >> a short time.

[1:18:07] » I mean, you're still in the spot and you're still the one authorized by the

[1:18:10] » Yeah, but I'm so I could say what I think and you could just vote that.

[1:18:14] » That's exactly what >> Yeah.

[1:18:17] » Are you comfortable with that? >> Very comfortable.

[1:18:19] » I'm comfortable with it. >> Very sorted that out.

[1:18:22] » Good. >> All right. And and to be honest, that's

[1:18:24] kind of out with Chris. He he he and I we were largely aligned than anything

[1:18:28] but it was >> and that was where one of the folks back

[1:18:31] in June I had put a abstension because I think he had to leave the meeting early

[1:18:36] and I didn't know where he stood and I didn't want to pour to

[1:18:41] » speak on behalf of West Newbury. You know I want to make sure everything I'm

[1:18:44] saying in a voting path is in sync with what he felt which is appropriate. So

[1:18:50] very >> all right Mary, did you have a chance to

[1:18:53] look at the minutes that were emailed out today?

[1:18:56] » Yes, >> you did.

[1:18:58] » Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah, those reflected he had sent.

[1:19:00] » Oh, yeah. >> Um any How about July 2nd? Any changes

[1:19:07] to those? >> No, I I move you.

[1:19:11] » You can move. >> I move that the minutes of July 2nd

[1:19:15] select board meeting be adopted as distributed.

[1:19:19] Second. Um, I just wanted to I said this to Rebecca already. I think she did an

[1:19:24] amazing job that I was thinking how is somebody gonna write minutes for those

[1:19:29] interviews and she did a really great job.

[1:19:32] » All in favor? >> I

[1:19:34] » I All right. And July 9th, any changes? Are we all set?

[1:19:39] » Motion. >> Move the minutes of July 9th, 2026 board

[1:19:43] meeting be adopted as circulated. >> Right. A second. All in favor? I

[1:19:50] » Okay, moving on to general discussion. Um update on the organizational

[1:19:55] assessment. The committee met with the consultant uh last week uh to give them

[1:20:00] feedback on the interim findings. So now they're going to take that feedback,

[1:20:04] come up with recommendations and they're expecting to get us a report by mid

[1:20:08] August maybe. Um, on the town manager search end of things, um, uh, John

[1:20:15] Peter, the consultant, and I met with a, I think I mentioned this last time, the

[1:20:19] PR firm that's writing, they're writing a a statement that will be part of the

[1:20:23] posting for the permanent town manager position. So, I provided her a bunch of

[1:20:28] information. Um, so they're looking to post that in mid August with responses

[1:20:33] due by midepptember with the end goal of having the decision

[1:20:38] by the end of that. So depending on notice requirements, I

[1:20:44] think first of the year is probably a reasonable start date, but

[1:20:47] » yeah. >> Um, next step is post meeting in August.

[1:20:54] Um, I guess was there any uh discussion on with at the employee meeting about

[1:21:00] » uh no I think you know we we kept kept that very general but kind of just along

[1:21:05] I didn't have th those details on the posting but I I said you know a draft

[1:21:09] report expected u this summer report expected to be finalized in

[1:21:14] September and that at that point uh some of the kind of open positions uh or

[1:21:20] where we're kind of holding off on posting things to finance partner or

[1:21:24] whatever that we expected that there will be clarity to look forward coming

[1:21:28] out of that final report. So they counted pretty

[1:21:33] » uh let's see item B is status of hunting Montana on tenner land mission program.

[1:21:39] So Barry this is something we're working on I think you know from

[1:21:43] » so uh the intent was to have a program in place for this hunting season but

[1:21:47] just with everything else going on I don't see that happening. We have had a

[1:21:51] couple inquiries about hunting. Um, one of which is the gentleman that we

[1:21:57] grandfathered in last year because he hunted that property um, historically.

[1:22:02] So, he's already reached out and answered the commission. Um,

[1:22:07] so just wanted to make you aware of that. Um, Rebecca is telling the other

[1:22:11] people that are asking that that's probably not going to happen this year.

[1:22:16] any um >> um this is just for deer or is it for

[1:22:21] all the seasons turkey and

[1:22:25] » um it's the the request that we had was for deer bow hunting that's what we

[1:22:30] heard last year Justin summer broke that person

[1:22:34] » do we know what the other requests were for was it for any specific properties

[1:22:38] » um she didn't say it was a she >> and when does that season start

[1:22:44] » a deer starts October 1st, I think for Sweden.

[1:22:47] » So, we'll have a new chance to indicate it done by

[1:22:50] » I I can't see a path. I mean, it's going to be, you know, we have um

[1:22:55] conservation commissioners responsible for some property, so they'll need to be

[1:22:58] in line with select. >> Were they inclined or was it included

[1:23:05] since >> No, I mean, we we developed the

[1:23:07] application at least and we had Mr. Groitis fill that out which required on

[1:23:13] part of it. Um, but that was just for that one property. You know, we have to

[1:23:18] look at all the properties and with Snoopy figure out where we're going to

[1:23:21] have them do. >> I mean, I'm happy to

[1:23:25] look at it, see if there's any chance to move on, you know,

[1:23:30] » think there'd be significant staff involvement, which I'm not sure. Yeah,

[1:23:35] » I guess. Do you agree with that? >> Yeah, I Well, I I guess it depends how

[1:23:40] you handle it. I I I I've been I haven't been that involved with this. So, um I

[1:23:46] mean other than observing it. Uh but I think you you're familiar with the kind

[1:23:51] of report that was presented in May of 2025,

[1:23:55] » right? So that's kind of the pandemic progress made since then.

[1:24:00] » I mean, I like deer, but there are too many of them. And I think from a just

[1:24:05] public safety standpoint, vehicles and ticks, I'm I'm in favor of

[1:24:12] appropriate hunting. So if we can facilitate it, I'd like to try a plan.

[1:24:17] » Yeah, it's just it's a big project. >> So I think right now the select board

[1:24:21] could under the town bylaw, I believe, could approve hunting on a specific

[1:24:27] property under your care and custody. I think part of where it becomes a lot

[1:24:32] bigger issue is on what basis do you make those approvals or not and how do

[1:24:37] you get administer that where it's consistent.

[1:24:40] » Yeah. But who would who would is the form of the approval would not be a

[1:24:45] license or anything would be for an individual

[1:24:48] » be permission permission for an individual or for anyone.

[1:24:52] » So even if we had a town program it would still be individual applications.

[1:24:56] » Yes. We have to make sure they have the correct license and all of that. So,

[1:25:01] » why don't I forward you the application we developed and we can take this up at

[1:25:05] another meeting if it's something >> and if it would be more than just the

[1:25:09] compound doing it. >> Well, the select board is the entity

[1:25:13] that has to grant approval >> even if it the compound then has to

[1:25:17] » but we're saying if it's on improper they should require.

[1:25:20] » Yeah. I mean, if you don't mind rather than just shelving it up, I can send you

[1:25:23] that. I'll take a look. From I understand your point, there are other

[1:25:26] priorities, but you know, if there is a way to get it done.

[1:25:29] » Yeah. >> And it's something we can take up with

[1:25:31] the interim time manager in the midst of everything else he's

[1:25:36] going to be dealing with. But >> yeah, I I kind of just feel like, you

[1:25:41] know, we'll probably entertain the application for Mr. Tra

[1:25:46] again, but whether it goes on that can look.

[1:25:49] » Okay. Thanks. >> All right. Um item C, continue

[1:25:53] discussion of the cost allocation form. This is the uh October. Now we're to

[1:25:59] January, right? Is that the current number?

[1:26:03] » Uh yeah, basically the numbers that are submitted in October and then and then

[1:26:08] validated in January, but it's it's uh it's still the October 1st numbers. So

[1:26:14] that got clarified. >> I I I would like to see a letter that

[1:26:19] everybody agrees to. Yeah. everybody mostly being in.

[1:26:23] » Yeah. >> So since since the meeting we had on

[1:26:26] Tuesday, um uh Rebecca Olden took a stab at changing the former letter to reflect

[1:26:33] that. >> Okay.

[1:26:34] » She did send a draft of that to me in peril late Tuesday. It was actually

[1:26:39] while I was putting this packet, but I wasn't going to put that in because I

[1:26:44] wanted to make sure. And and so my response back to her was, "It looks good

[1:26:48] to me." and Carol subsequently got back. I think on Wednesday she sent a note so

[1:26:52] she could but I said to Rebecca Olden what's going to be most important is

[1:26:57] that Kentucky finds that language clear and I believe they will.

[1:27:02] » Okay. Uh so that's uh so so that is uh I think gonna be something she's reviewing

[1:27:10] with Justin and Suzanne and then that's going to go to you or to to Rebecca and

[1:27:15] Sean and uh presumably come up at a meeting in in August. Okay.

[1:27:19] » Because it's already drafted. It's just I didn't want to put it in there until

[1:27:22] kind of like till everyone's viewed it. >> Yeah. So they are moving adjusted into

[1:27:27] this top. >> Oh yes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. This Yeah. We

[1:27:30] This was a major focus. So the the finance scheme meeting we had October

[1:27:34] this week >> and everybody was in uh

[1:27:38] » uh I actually I actually used Rob's term. I said pile agreement and and uh

[1:27:45] it's very effective. So >> any other updates from that meeting?

[1:27:49] » I do actually. I have a couple of pages of notes and I won't go into every every

[1:27:52] detail but uh we covered a lot of a lot of issues. Uh one thing just on this uh

[1:27:59] a portion the method uh part of what everybody would like and

[1:28:05] everybody agreed. So it's just a matter can we get the words on the page to say

[1:28:09] yeah >> so do we have we voted on the letter

[1:28:16] before you yeah there was a draft before you in June it was table

[1:28:20] clarity of process and now it's going to come back to you

[1:28:25] » um and and then yeah you would be asked to vote in a letter and then I just I

[1:28:30] wrote down in my notes >> the objective is to memorialize this in

[1:28:34] their budget book so that when they send their budget book it's very clear this

[1:28:38] is how it and that way it's just and then it's done. So

[1:28:43] » sorry. >> Uh let's see. So a lot of the discussion

[1:28:48] was on uh Jonathan Seymour gave uh an update on

[1:28:53] all of the many many capital projects that they're doing in all of the

[1:28:58] district schools. It is a lot. Uh so you know in page there's the sewer line

[1:29:04] replacement uh or repairs that's that's turned out a big project uh but that's

[1:29:08] on track. Bag now. They're doing paving out front with granite curbing, new

[1:29:13] cameras, new door fobs, playground improvements, phone upgrades, a couple

[1:29:18] of plums. We have some hazardous materials abated in Marramac. There's

[1:29:24] some floor abatement. Uh page uh the elevator work. Uh there's a u

[1:29:32] uh the the gym floor. uh and there was some discussion of that that the uh

[1:29:37] insurance uh adjuster then said that there was water underneath the floor. So

[1:29:43] even though only a portion of the floor was affected, that's why they basically

[1:29:48] declared it a whole loss and so they just got to replace the whole floor

[1:29:51] because there was so but that's on track. Um

[1:29:56] middle high school we talked about the auditorium. Uh he said they're 95% done.

[1:30:01] It's going to be ready for the opening of school in September. Uh some of the

[1:30:06] details you talked about there's new projection screen that was unordered

[1:30:09] because the projection screen was damaged. There were some sound system

[1:30:13] items that were damaged as part of the smoke. I mean it's just mind how how

[1:30:18] destructive this small fire was. U but he did say it will be online for the

[1:30:23] school year. Another thing they were working on that way building high school

[1:30:28] the administration building as you know that was as part of the school building

[1:30:32] project that was uh it was agreed that the former a portion of former middle

[1:30:38] school u which still remains next to the football field is going to be the

[1:30:42] administration building. All these years they're still housed up in Marinac. Uh

[1:30:48] so uh they said they started framing that out uh as part of the partial

[1:30:54] building demo of the middle school. All of the electrical wire had been pulled

[1:30:59] out of that building. So they've got a they're putting out a bid for the

[1:31:04] electrical to rewire the entire building. Uh there's a the demo company

[1:31:09] for the middle high school pulled out all the wire. I don't think they were

[1:31:12] supposed to. They did. Um and they're working with Whittier actually uh

[1:31:19] students on doing some of the sheetrock and HVAC. So, but I was like, "Wow,

[1:31:23] Jonathan, like they are busy." So, it was just really interesting because this

[1:31:28] was by far the most comprehensive briefing on some of the kind of physical

[1:31:32] projects they're doing. And then there was some discussion of this letter I put

[1:31:35] in from the governor on the uh student um the additional money.

[1:31:43] So uh uh basically this proposed additional per student uh $1212 per

[1:31:52] student uh that this would come to the district as a grant uh not as part of

[1:31:57] the chapter 70 and that there is potential that because

[1:32:04] this is additional money coming in it could reduce what they actually need to

[1:32:09] have charged charge the towns through the assessments and and so there is a

[1:32:13] potential that they would be uh actually reducing the assessments which could

[1:32:19] allow the three towns to go back to the fall town meeting reduce the approved

[1:32:24] budget prior to setting the tax rate. >> Oh, nice.

[1:32:27] » And so the advice particularly from Mayor Mack and Broman was if you can do

[1:32:31] that that would obviously help them with their tax rate but it would be a real

[1:32:35] show of good faith. Yeah. um rather than just having that go into excess and

[1:32:40] deficiency. So that's not in any way guaranteed, but they are actively

[1:32:45] working on that. So there's a scenario where you hear from Kentucky, you know,

[1:32:49] in in the next, you know, four to six weeks to say, oh, because of this

[1:32:53] additional state money, the local assessments have gone down a bit, not a

[1:32:58] lot, but a bit, and you could choose to put that on a fall town meeting as part

[1:33:02] of budget. So that could be coming. So any idea of the scale?

[1:33:08] » Uh not. >> So 200 million in all?

[1:33:12] » Yeah. So it's $12 per student. >> Yeah.

[1:33:17] » I'm I'm talking about the Wong state. >> Yeah, that's okay.

[1:33:21] » Right. That would be that's what I guess that's what the number that's been

[1:33:25] talked about. >> Okay.

[1:33:26] » That that comprises that 200 million. So this is one time revenue. So if they do

[1:33:31] that, it's going to set the communities up next year for a bigger hit. And

[1:33:36] Jonathan was really clear about that. Even if the assessment goes down, the

[1:33:40] overall operating budget, you know, that is going to make it. So So is that the

[1:33:44] governor's letter? 200 million. >> Correct.

[1:33:46] » So 100 million's transportation and infrastructure. Another 100 million is

[1:33:51] schools. >> So it's the 112 per student 100 million.

[1:33:55] » Yeah, I think that's what comprises that that amount. So, so I just wanted to to

[1:34:01] bring that up because that, you know, that I don't think that makes a big a

[1:34:05] difference in West Newbury u where there's more levy limit, but it it does

[1:34:10] uh make a difference in the other two times,

[1:34:14] but it would also contribute to the FY28 budget side of a greater increase.

[1:34:22] So, it's it's you know, it's onetime revenues.

[1:34:29] And and so the the you know uh Carol Mloud was saying you know I wish they

[1:34:34] just give the money to us to the cops to pay our school bill and jobs said and I

[1:34:40] 100% believe him. He said he's been advocating that for years that you

[1:34:45] should just if you have this give it to the towns

[1:34:49] but that's not and everyone said the state's never going to do that like

[1:34:52] because they want politically they want oh we gave the schools but it would

[1:34:56] actually administrators would work a lot better if they gave it to the towns to

[1:34:59] help us pay our bills to the school but that's just not how it is that because

[1:35:04] they don't think the fund would go to the school maybe they couldn't earmark

[1:35:09] it and require it to go to the school I'm not Sure. I I mean well there have

[1:35:13] been instances where uh where towns or cities have received

[1:35:20] additional money from the state earmarked for education and then have

[1:35:26] reduced their appropriation so that the schools aren't actually getting more

[1:35:31] money. They're just reducing local money because it's over. So I think there is

[1:35:37] some kind of paternalistic >> Yep.

[1:35:44] Okay. Um, we got a correspondence. We have the TEC report

[1:35:49] » and due to the size that was posted a separate packet. So,

[1:35:54] » and KP noticed about the GL48 amendments >> significant changes in there.

[1:36:00] » Yeah. >> Very significant.

[1:36:02] » So, but we kind of have to wait for regulations to come out, right?

[1:36:06] » Yeah. >> But this is retroactive to July one. So

[1:36:10] what what do towns do in the meantime? Like you're supposed to be following

[1:36:13] this, but they don't tell you how to do it.

[1:36:15] » I think Sam's >> I bet.

[1:36:19] » Have you followed this at all or is zoning not really in your

[1:36:22] » No, it is, but I haven't sort of taken a deep dive yet.

[1:36:26] » Yeah. >> Um

[1:36:31] I mean it actually loosened up some requirements as of right.

[1:36:36] » I think that's the idea. >> Yeah. And I think that just to get more

[1:36:39] housing, >> yeah,

[1:36:40] » that's not a bad thing, but it does affect how Sam's going to have to do

[1:36:49] » Okay. Anything on the um PC report or

[1:36:57] » Oh, we had a presentation of the last couple weeks ago.

[1:37:04] » Oh, and you said the TDC. >> Yeah. the traffic.

[1:37:08] » Yeah. No, I >> All right.

[1:37:12] » Yeah. >> Okay. Um items for future meeting

[1:37:16] agendas. So, we talked about having like a workshop meeting with Sean on August

[1:37:22] 7th. Uh any things you want to include on there?

[1:37:28] » Well, just confirming. So, you have a contract or I'm entering

[1:37:37] Yeah. >> Yeah. It got the things were resolved

[1:37:41] and signed. I guess they had >> Yeah. Did you Are you not on the town

[1:37:44] email? We get the the notice that >> must not be

[1:37:48] » Yeah, we crafted him statement. >> Oh, I I missed that.

[1:37:52] » Yeah. Are you you're not on town email? >> Could you please pull up the homepage

[1:37:57] and show Barry for I have trouble keeping up with the

[1:38:02] emails I get now. see right there.

[1:38:06] » Oh, I mean I can go to the town website, which I should one I'm done, but I don't

[1:38:12] need to. So good. >> So I I sent that email out that next day

[1:38:16] after our meeting now. >> Yeah.

[1:38:19] » So it's all good. >> Wonderful.

[1:38:20] » Yeah. So >> yes. So back to the item is

[1:38:24] » Yeah. So I thought we would talk about meeting structure. I think we should

[1:38:27] touch on public comment because that has been such a hot item lately. Um

[1:38:33] maybe uh let's see talk about the work plan. I mean typically we meet in the

[1:38:39] summer and we revisit the work plan and establish priorities for the next year.

[1:38:43] So I don't know if that's too much to do in this meeting with Sean first meeting

[1:38:47] but >> so we would typically do that and then

[1:38:50] we would invite board committee chairs in to talk about what our priorities are

[1:38:54] and get feedback from them. So that's usually what we do in the summer. So

[1:38:58] some are all that I would cover. Yeah. >> In that meeting, um, we talked about

[1:39:03] working on the mission statement for the town.

[1:39:08] » Um, I mean, that's quite enough in that. >> Well, yeah. And I just I mean, Ian's got

[1:39:14] your >> Well,

[1:39:16] » transition planning document the best. >> Yeah. I mean, I haven't been provided,

[1:39:20] but I'm going to meet on Thursday. I'm going to be going through

[1:39:23] » like to hear his input on what he would prioritize in there. Well, so usually

[1:39:28] what we do is as a board define what our top priorities are for the year, just

[1:39:32] not like specific projects, but last year it was regionalization of services

[1:39:36] where possible, you know, water supply. >> Yeah. No, I get that, but I'm with the

[1:39:42] first discussion with him, we want to go that far or is the first one like he's

[1:39:47] got to hit the ground running a little bit too, right?

[1:39:50] » So, what I'm talking about is the select board deciding what our

[1:39:53] » yes >> priorities are. So I think we can still

[1:39:55] have that discussion maybe along with the mission statement for the town.

[1:40:00] Um but but I think the work

[1:40:04] » so just so this would be at the meeting Chris will be back.

[1:40:07] » Yep. August 7th 4:00. >> Well, this is the argument that 7.

[1:40:14] So at that meeting that's a regular meeting. It's not a

[1:40:18] special. It's not an added one. So that's going to happen. No, it's in

[1:40:22] place of the August, >> right? So that's going to have the

[1:40:25] regular agenda anyway. >> No, it's just going to be it's just a

[1:40:30] workshop like >> just the workshop.

[1:40:32] » Yeah, just for these items to kind of >> So there won't be any other items on

[1:40:37] there for discussion. Okay. >> No, then now I I didn't know that it was

[1:40:42] just the workshop. >> Yeah. So we usually do that in July and

[1:40:47] chart our course for the next year. So if the timing works out well, I think

[1:40:51] that you can get Sean. >> So um to that end, is there a working

[1:40:57] list of future priorities that you and Chris may

[1:41:02] have been >> I can last year?

[1:41:04] » Yeah, I can send you the packet that we presented to the boards and committees

[1:41:07] from last year. >> Yeah, I would appreciate that.

[1:41:19] And >> and where are we on mission statement?

[1:41:24] » We didn't start. Chris left his possible versions, but

[1:41:27] » these were the five options. >> Well, that those are ones he

[1:41:30] » Yeah. >> or claw generated whatever

[1:41:34] that'll be part of the work >> if we have time. I think this is an

[1:41:38] ambitious agenda. >> Need to focus on passing. Okay.

[1:41:45] Um, I guess anything you think we should highlight to get started?

[1:41:50] » Uh, no, not not that isn't reflected in the transition plan.

[1:41:54] » Okay. >> So, your meeting on Thursday.

[1:41:57] » Thursday. Yeah. >> Yeah. So, maybe you and I can come here

[1:42:02] to what you're covering with them and I hope they're

[1:42:07] good. Okay. >> All right. Anything else? Any other

[1:42:11] future agenda items for Eric? potentially hunting once you take a look

[1:42:16] at >> Yeah.

[1:42:22] » Hi. >> And one just brief thing for our future

[1:42:25] agenda. We we talked about a little bit, but I do know that uh Charlie Roza would

[1:42:29] love to get a special event for next summer's concert series done sooner than

[1:42:33] later because even though I told him 100 times it's not.

[1:42:37] » I thought he was going to do a facility use.

[1:42:39] » Oh, was that what was >> Yeah, that's what we decided. Oh, okay.

[1:42:42] Good. >> Had confidence that was

[1:42:44] » Oh, good. Okay, good. I just didn't want cuz he he he expressed some some concern

[1:42:49] that he put a he starts booking next year's shows in like September and he

[1:42:53] has something and I told him this is not a you they're not going to put it down.

[1:42:58] But but I just want to make sure he can proceed with with uh confidence and not

[1:43:03] he he because it was a new requirement. He was a little stabilized.

[1:43:07] » Actually, I'm pretty sure I corresponded him with

[1:43:09] » Oh, good. Okay. Good. Good. The special event is more like are there conflicts

[1:43:13] with other areas? How do we, you know, plan for that?

[1:43:16] » I think that one I >> Yeah.

[1:43:18] » And I it's not our decision obviously, but

[1:43:22] that reups five issue with the church.

[1:43:27] » Yeah. I'm I'm curious and I'm wondering whether we I would just for information

[1:43:32] purposes I would like to hear from the organization that's hoping to place

[1:43:38] people in that residential setting a little bit more about what the period of

[1:43:44] occupancy would be for this first group setting aside

[1:43:50] for a health community what's the maybe it's been something I haven't read but

[1:43:55] what's the plan to is this for these 24 families or whatever the number was.

[1:44:00] » It's it's four units >> or 24 people. There's like a number I've

[1:44:05] seen. >> Yeah.

[1:44:06] » But is that >> are they going to be in there long term

[1:44:12] or is it a transition? >> It's permanent. Not permanent, but it's

[1:44:15] meant to be where they live. And then and then if that if a family that was

[1:44:21] there for some period of time were to move on

[1:44:25] » they that organization will be the only one that could bring in another

[1:44:30] have we seen a document that describes that

[1:44:33] » there's not really >> not the long

[1:44:38] » so I'm just sort of curious if if it depending on where it went at some point

[1:44:42] if the I don't know when the board of health is going to have an actual

[1:44:45] application where it I think August their August meeting.

[1:44:50] » So their August meeting they're going to actually take the court.

[1:44:52] » That's what they said. >> Well, depending on where it goes, if

[1:44:55] they prove it, I'd be interested in learning more about the long

[1:45:00] » how it's going to be managed. >> So I guess we can wait to see what

[1:45:04] happens. >> Yeah. Because if it's not approved, then

[1:45:06] it's Yeah. >> Yeah.

[1:45:08] » And then but there's still zoning issues to be dealt with. Board still

[1:45:15] » from just an overall I'm curious if it goes that far.

[1:45:22] » Okay. Um,

[1:45:26] » she is. Although, actually, we're going to set up a separate

[1:45:29] » Oh, okay. >> But all right. I move that we go into

[1:45:33] executive session for MGL chapter 30A, section 21A, 3 and 7.

[1:45:40] » Second. >> All in favor, please.

[1:45:44] Okay, we will return to open session for the sole purpose of adjournment

[1:45:49] following executive session. Thank you very much.

West Newbury Select Board | 7 23 2026

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