[1:17] Thank you,

[1:23] everybody.

[1:27] I convened this meeting of the Westboro Select Board. It being 6 p.m. on Tuesday, September 8th, here in Memorial Hall, for all those were able, please join us in pledge of allegiance.

[1:56] And as a reminder, this meeting is being live streamed and recorded by Westboro TV.

[2:03] We begin each meeting with Open Forum and joining the workshop.

[2:16] Good evening.

[2:17] I want to add a working industry here as chair of the Westboro

[2:20] Affordable Housing Trust.

[2:22] I'd like to share that the trust has been working on our HB

[2:26] which is looking for starter homes and senior downsizing homes at both six-speed street and 45 high street extension.

[2:38] Last late last fall we had a community meeting and got a lot of good feedback and really coming out of that beside and rather than continuing with general designs and more feedback sessions.

[2:49] that we do something a little more efficient and interactive.

[2:52] We have contract with Jam Goldson, a consulting firm that does planning a lot of work

[2:59] in affordable housing with trusts.

[3:01] And so on Monday, September 28th at 6 p.m. across the street in the Great Hall of the Forbes

[3:06] Municipal Building, we're having a community workshop.

[3:09] We'll bring people out today on the project and we're going to have a series of interactive

[3:13] exercises where members of the community can help us look at the layout of the RAM, the potential

[3:18] style of buildings, the placement, the density, discuss things like traffic,

[3:23] and noise, and light, and sight lines, and landscaping, and things of that nature.

[3:28] Rather than following a typical process where we would put the project out to

[3:31] bid with a very general broad RFQ, and waiting for the developer to do design work and

[3:39] go to the boards for the public hearing, we're looking for community inputs, so

[3:44] their concerns and preferences can be reflected either as requirements or

[3:48] and the RFP. And so that we have the community input before we even start writing the RFP and going out to bed.

[3:56] That will give the community more of the sense that they're being heard and our plans are consistent with their needs as well as the broader needs of the community and the needs of the affordable housing project with respect to size and funding and things of that nature.

[4:12] And gives the developers more assurance of what they're going to be proposed, you know, propose would be accepted with fewer modifications in the process, so it's no guarantee.

[4:25] Once they get to the design and permanent process, but it lets us at least reflect the concerns and the priorities of the butter is the neighborhood of the overall community.

[4:33] And so there's an open invitation to the community.

[4:36] We are sending, we have an email list of the people

[4:39] interested in the project, they've been notified

[4:41] or sending letters out to the extended

[4:43] of letters list beyond the 300-feet.

[4:45] To make sure we cover the neighborhood as well.

[4:48] And we'll be posting at the Library,

[4:49] the Senior Center, here at the Clerk's Office,

[4:52] as well as on social media, for a technical illness.

[4:56] Thank you.

[4:57] Thank you.

[4:58] Thanks, yeah.

[5:08] Good evening, Members of Board.

[5:08] Kevin Barry, eight Indian pun road.

[5:10] Trust everybody at a nice,

[5:11] relaxing holiday weekend, back to school, back to work, obviously, and hopefully we'll see you

[5:16] some of the representation at the 9-11 Memorial Service of the Fire Station. That's a big one.

[5:22] I come forward to you for two quick things first, so that I didn't see an agenda item on what we've

[5:27] been requesting for the last couple meetings and prior to this, but as you are the governing body

[5:32] for the Active Transportation Safety Committee, we're still looking for a review. If you will,

[5:39] Don Bern is a member of the ATP, the Active Transportation Plant Committee.

[5:44] We've brought forth various concerns.

[5:46] Bless you.

[5:47] There's concerns about conflict of interest, and the fact that that person is the represented

[5:51] where there should be somebody else that has a more open and unbiased than objective opinion.

[5:56] The key point is with influence on new influences, as you may may not know,

[6:00] DPW has two committee members or two members on that committee.

[6:04] There's been three public or three meetings so far of the three meetings,

[6:07] both of the D.B.W. representatives have missed two of the meetings. They've only been there

[6:11] for the first one. There's obviously another one next week, and then there's a public outreach

[6:15] meeting there in lies and issue where they can't counterbalance that narrative that's being

[6:20] brought forth. So please keep that in consideration. More importantly, hopefully that Patrick

[6:25] addresses in, at the end of the meeting tonight about the planning board, and they're open

[6:31] form. Bottom line, I brought forth a point of order, if you will, about an open meeting

[6:36] a law violation or more so evaluation of their adopted planning board open form policy.

[6:40] Not sure if you caught it, but bottom line is, as you know, the adopted a open form policy

[6:47] similar to your open form policy on July 7th.

[6:52] On August 4th, the chair made a unilateral decision at that meeting at the planning board meeting

[6:58] to move the open form from the prescribed place at the beginning to the end of the meeting

[7:02] that's contrary to their existing open form policy.

[7:05] We have a copy of it, it's also on a town website.

[7:08] Basically, the Planets Board OpenPore policy, which was adopted July 7, provides that 10 minutes will be set aside at the beginning of each agenda of the purpose of OpenPore.

[7:16] Allow residents, obviously, you know the whole field.

[7:19] A bottom line is the chairperson made a unilateral decision and edict, if you will, to make movement to the end of the meeting.

[7:26] There was basically no deliberation by the board.

[7:28] It was noble.

[7:30] And the policy is posted, obviously, as I mentioned, and remains unchanged, confirming that the existing policy should be in play.

[7:37] The board cannot alter by a unilateral decision from the chair, in any modification requires proper notice, public deliberation, and a recorded vote, and none of those occur.

[7:46] They adopted that policy begrudgingly, moved it to the end of the meeting, which is just no one else does that.

[7:53] I surveyed numerous town boards, meetings, et cetera,

[7:56] other towns, no one else does it,

[7:58] and there's a reason because there's no committed time

[8:00] for people to show up.

[8:02] We ended the meeting or open form was at nine o'clock

[8:03] on Thursday when they moved the meeting.

[8:06] So again, they're at lies and issue

[8:08] that is part of your goal in your agenda

[8:10] as far as select board for 2026

[8:12] is looking at town charter

[8:13] and looking at oversight for the planning board.

[8:16] They are elected officials,

[8:17] they are fellow town residents

[8:18] and not giving opportunity

[8:19] to proper opportunity for residents to speak.

[8:21] Thank you for your time, and I'll submit these both to you.

[8:30] Thank you.

[8:39] Joanne, here at ME-7, Meta Road, this Kevin just said, we have been here multiple times over

[8:44] the past couple months without concerns about the direction of the process of that

[8:49] act of transportation plan, and the role and conflict of interest of having Don Burns sit

[8:54] on that working group.

[8:57] Don Burns sits on the Act of Transportation Safety Committee, and he represents that committee

[9:01] on this working group.

[9:03] You all oversee the active transportation safety committee.

[9:08] I don't understand why you're not doing anything about it.

[9:11] I don't understand why you're not discussing it and addressing it.

[9:14] I don't understand why you're looking the other way and you always look the other way when it deals with Don.

[9:20] I don't know what kind of hold he has on anybody up there or in this town.

[9:25] He has come up with what he calls a cross-connection document,

[9:28] which represents his idea of this grandiose bike path that he wants.

[9:34] He says he was asked to do this by the act of transportation plan, working group.

[9:40] But when you look at the minutes of the meetings, there is absolutely no action item that directs him to do this.

[9:48] And he continues to go to other towns to push his agenda of this path,

[9:53] when you guys have asked him not to do that.

[9:57] Also, when you review the group's meeting minutes, it comes across that it assumes the downtown Improvement Project,

[10:04] which is the rotary, includes the rotary redesign and the B1W projects are going to happen.

[10:09] There's absolutely no documentation that supports that anybody on that working group has brought forth the public thoughts and concerns about both of those projects.

[10:20] How does our opinion get factored into that working group?

[10:24] We can't attend the meetings.

[10:29] The public needs to be part, as Alan just said,

[10:32] the public needs to be heard and part of the process in the beginning,

[10:38] not at the end when somebody's made a decision and they're going to have some meeting

[10:43] for public input after the fact.

[10:45] Because what comes across is that it's a done deal.

[10:48] And it's going to be what it is.

[10:50] And people are just playing nice and letting the public say something,

[10:53] but nothing ever changes.

[10:55] We've repeatedly asked for prioritization of all the transportation projects.

[11:00] There are many, there are big ticket items we can't afford them all.

[11:04] We want to have a say in that. Thank you.

[11:08] Thank you very much.

[11:16] It being 611.

[11:20] Item number two is a liquor license complaint hearing.

[11:23] with Red Heat Tabern of Westboro.

[11:29] We need a motion to open the hearing.

[11:32] So moving.

[11:34] Second.

[11:36] We'll call.

[11:37] Thanks.

[11:39] Johnson, yes.

[11:41] Welch, yes.

[11:43] And Kio, yes.

[11:55] We have someone joining online.

[11:57] I'm also from.

[11:58] Okay.

[12:01] I'll just provide a little bit of background here.

[12:07] The town received a complaint regarding trivia nights at Reggie Tavern.

[12:12] The alleging that alcohol was being awarded as prizes to trivia winners.

[12:20] This falls under ABCC Regulation 204 CMR 4.3

[12:28] three, one-h, certain practices prohibited, and

[12:39] one-h of that is encourage or prohibit

[12:43] on the licensed premises, any gamer contest, which involves drinking or the awarding

[12:48] of drinks is prizes.

[12:51] So that's what brings us here today, am I missing anything?

[12:59] And it's also my understanding that this is a second violation, there's a prior violation 2022.

[13:07] For a different.

[13:08] Different matters.

[13:09] It's a different.

[13:10] It's a different.

[13:11] And that was part of a.

[13:16] Police check compliance check.

[13:18] Thank you.

[13:19] And Sean, I think it also might violate 204 403, which is that.

[13:24] That number two item on her packet.

[13:25] That no license shall have license he shall advertise or promote in any way whether within or without the license premise any of the practices prohibit on under 204

[13:38] Thank you

[13:41] I don't know who we're waiting for online.

[14:09] There you go

[14:15] It's for me, so I'm Jake. Okay, can you hear us?

[14:25] We can't hear you

[14:57] I'll see you in the next one.

[15:10] Can you hear us?

[15:17] Can you hear us?

[15:29] We can't hear you.

[15:32] There

[15:42] we go, no,

[16:08] no, no, no,

[16:17] no, no, no, no, no,

[16:23] no, no. Can you hear me?

[16:32] We'll call you and try to do the sound before the fall,

[16:42] can you chat to

[16:45] you?

[16:57] Can

[17:01] you play your phone number in the chat so we can?

[17:08] We can hear you now.

[17:13] Sorry about that.

[17:22] Okay.

[17:23] If you could introduce yourselves.

[17:26] My name is Brian Wailing on the director of operations for a ready-tabbing group.

[17:30] Thank you.

[17:36] Sir, can you introduce

[17:41] yourself?

[17:47] Can you introduce yourself?

[17:49] Oh, I found this.

[17:50] This will come.

[17:52] Thank you.

[17:53] What's your role as right here?

[17:55] I am a partner and partner.

[17:59] And we're of the number of the old group that always did the business.

[18:03] Okay.

[18:04] Thanks.

[18:04] Thank you very much.

[18:07] So we sort of just give a brief overview of what we understand

[18:12] happens, I don't know if you can talk as through a little bit and then talk about what's

[18:18] resulted from that or action you've taken of course absolutely so I was unaware of the incident

[18:23] in 2022 I was not with the company at that point so I did not know that was a complaint fact

[18:27] they're also what happened recently is we have trivia on Tuesday nights could just speak

[18:33] close to the microprologist so we have trivia on Tuesday nights in the restaurant and the third

[18:39] already that we used for trivia. He was using, he has a day job as an alcohol salesman

[18:46] who's using sample products as added prizes to the prize pool, so that things weren't

[18:51] getting stale. Unfortunately, that's against the law, but the time we don't know that,

[18:59] he has stopped that immediately. None of it was for any consumption on premise. There wasn't

[19:05] even products, we carry, was random odds and end products and

[19:10] fortunate.

[19:13] But it did occur and not.

[19:16] Thank you very much. Any questions?

[19:20] Yeah, I do. So some of some of the information we received in the packet was

[19:26] there are some photos from social media and that's when a third party

[19:31] there's social media.

[19:32] There's so thank you for that clarification.

[19:35] And it looked like, I mean, you guys have a family restaurant, but it looked like,

[19:41] I mean, they were definitely children in the picture.

[19:42] I don't think anymore.

[19:43] I'm actually holding the alcohol, but are you aware of that?

[19:47] Yes, I was aware of all the photos I have received them from the ABCC as well.

[19:52] And there was some children.

[19:53] For we are family friend.

[19:54] The restaurant, it wasn't for a consolation, it wasn't for consumption on premise.

[19:59] It was for prizes and fortunately I brought some children in the photos as well.

[20:03] Yes,

[20:06] please.

[20:09] I don't have any questions.

[20:10] I'll stop a comment.

[20:11] I'll just say United certainly appreciate Redhead

[20:13] the key to doing business in the town of Westboro.

[20:15] I think you're a valuable member of our community.

[20:18] And I appreciate that.

[20:19] This is a very unfortunate event that's occurred,

[20:21] especially within the, you know, the five year window of our policy

[20:25] for look back on previous violations.

[20:28] So I'm looking forward to the discussion with the Board.

[20:31] So, thank you for being here tonight.

[20:34] did Mitch want to add anything or I just didn't want, if you wanted to have a chance to go ahead there.

[20:41] Yeah, I just had a fall question.

[20:45] So I just understand that this was a vendor.

[20:47] Is this someone that you hire as the vendor or is he doing it and charging participants?

[20:52] How does he, yes, we do pay him.

[20:56] We can pay for services.

[20:58] Okay, thank you.

[21:05] actually he's a has a different job as an alcohol salesman. Do we know if he was

[21:11] brought before the ABCC given his, although he wasn't doing it under that role?

[21:17] I don't have any knowledge of that. I was shared with the ABCC when they were

[21:20] investigating with the investigator. I do not believe they presumed any further.

[21:26] Thank

[21:30] you. Comments.

[21:35] Discussion.

[21:39] I think it's unfortunate Patrick Hardy said that within that five-year window in every time someone comes before us.

[21:52] You give sort of the speech of welcome to Westboro and we don't want to see you back before hand.

[21:58] I certainly understand that 2022 is before your time.

[22:01] Brian,

[22:04] but yeah, this is a prop, this is one, and so I understand that my understanding

[22:12] is the ABCC gave you a warning.

[22:16] I personally feel that a warning is light in this case given the five-year window, and so

[22:23] I would be in favor of a one-day suspension.

[22:27] My question may I catch on?

[22:29] Yes.

[22:30] So I'm interested in our packet. I'm just curious, was the violation of 2022 cited as a warning?

[22:40] It was a warning.

[22:48] I think for discussion purposes, and I think Shelby said this earlier, this is the first defense came through basically serving to a minor, which is something exactly as we talk about is the offense we don't want to see.

[23:04] This one, I view it as different, you know, came through vendor, but I asked my question that still is under your responsibilities in your restaurant, it falls under your liquor license, per the law, and so as I look at it, you know, a second offense for us by our policy would be a three day suspension.

[23:27] We do have, within our policy, though, kind of depending on the circumstances of the offense,

[23:34] the select board may deviate or adjust the above guidelines.

[23:37] In my view with this one, what we take this seriously and I would not want to deviate,

[23:44] I think, as board member Marshall just stated, my take would be doing it as a one day suspension,

[23:52] just noting that it is a different circumstance and I've debated myself as the three-day

[24:01] versus one-day board member. Well, she also said we appreciate you doing business in this

[24:08] town, but we do take this thing very seriously and that brings me concern. So as board member

[24:22] and based on this violation.

[24:28] Now, it's also my understanding that since this is already gone before the ABCC, that

[24:34] they are the final authority on this, and so that if this were then, I guess, sent to them

[24:46] their initial ruling would probably supersede whatever we do here today.

[24:51] Yes, so there are the authority that could be appealed to.

[24:57] Chris, just a follow-on question to that.

[25:02] I don't want to assume, do you know if they were made aware of the June 7, 2022 violation?

[25:09] They were not, my understanding is that they were not aware of that when they issued the warning.

[25:15] The other thing I would remind folks about is that this violation and resets the clock.

[25:25] So this is the second violation and the five-year clock would then start again.

[25:32] So if you were to come before us a third time, that would be unfortunate.

[25:40] Yes.

[25:41] Can I just ask, do we have an idea of how many things have been, for lack of advice, checks?

[25:51] Compliance checks are, have taken place since the last, do we have any clue how many that gone through successfully?

[26:00] I haven't looked at it specifically, it usually happens annually.

[26:08] I'm actually kind of sympathetic in the sense that I think red heat that helps kind of the tough

[26:16] deck of cards not to excuse this but they moved to town right before the movie theater closed

[26:24] and they hired this trivia guy to come in and try and get people in the doors because

[26:31] you know, they don't have that draw from the movie theater, and the guy screwed up, it's

[26:40] something really stupid, but there was no, no underage, minor, streaking alcohol on the premise,

[26:46] nobody was streaking the alcohol that he was giving out for prizes. I do look at it as a

[26:53] for that sense, serving as a leader and

[27:00] inclined to be a little

[27:01] lenient.

[27:05] That's it.

[27:06] I'll just add some time earlier comments.

[27:09] My initial thought on this looking at our policy, first of all, I'm very happy to hear that

[27:14] the board is entertaining and suspension because this is, you know, this is a very serious

[27:19] thing in regards to why the license is offered and why we as a board have the authority

[27:25] to oversee this license. In this case, when I look at it, I was saying, you know, we gave

[27:31] it warning the first offense. It's been four years, just within that five year window.

[27:36] It's appropriate for a policy to do a three day suspension. I was kind of teetering between

[27:42] the one in maybe two days suspension. I will also say that I can see how, you know, there could

[27:50] be under ABCC's terminology or what not in regards to this wasn't the giving of a drink.

[28:00] This was not an awarding of a drink. It was a closed bottle. That's a little different.

[28:04] But I think that's a slippery slope. So I don't think there's a big ability to stand on that

[28:15] So, I'm a favor of a suspension, and when I look at the deeds of when this infraction occurred, it was a Tuesday.

[28:24] And I was thinking before I even look that up, I think it's appropriate to award this suspension,

[28:28] Amanda, the duration, appropriately, on the day that they similar day of the week that they had that suspended, that violation occur.

[28:35] So I would say to the board that if the board is going to support a suspension that it should be served on the same day, which is a Tuesday.

[28:43] So now if we are in favor as a group of a one-day suspension, they have the review to the ABCC.

[28:54] We have a fair idea of what the outcome will be there.

[29:00] I guess do we need to go into details about specifics regarding this or do we wait to hear back from the ABCC?

[29:10] Yeah. So, Chris, do you have a good?

[29:15] So, I guess, so I would, for the purpose of the discussion, I would make a motion that we

[29:21] should issue a one-day suspension of the liquor license on a given Tuesday to date to be determined

[29:31] with red heat and discord, pending any further action or from the ABCC, right?

[29:43] So, that was a motion of a can.

[29:45] I suggest.

[29:46] Well, one second.

[29:47] Chris, you want to tune in.

[29:48] The ABCC doesn't review your decision.

[29:51] That would just be a process of that.

[29:53] Okay.

[29:53] One has to have a license holder.

[29:55] One have to take.

[29:55] So, you can issue the suspension.

[29:58] Okay.

[29:58] are dates or in any sort of

[30:03] So before you have amended, sorry, I was a little of a process here where I was going, though, is, if do we have an opportunity as a board to send our findings to the ABCC, justifying our decision is where I was going?

[30:19] I mean I think it's totally appropriate if they didn't look back and I don't know why they wouldn't back to 2022 and be like

[30:26] Hey, this business come across any other violations. I'll be it. We know that it's different

[30:32] Like that's a headscratcher for me. Well, that's exactly what my amendment was going to be

[30:35] Was at the letter to the ABC see is that they haven't been informed to make sure that they are informed of

[30:41] In fact that there was a previous violation and that we appreciate that these are different. I mean, I think that that that if that's

[30:48] If we have an opportunity to do that and the ready appeals, I feel like it's wholly appropriate that we would submit that letter to the EAPS.

[31:01] Sorry, so you don't have to, we can advise them of what you've done, but we're not required to, because you're the local licensing authority.

[31:11] So are you asking that we let them know what action you take in ahead of any process that requires

[31:17] to provide information?

[31:19] I guess maybe from a process perspective if we say if there's a majority vote on the motion

[31:25] and ready to feel it like who gets the next say is what I'm trying to understand.

[31:35] Okay, yeah. Right. So, so if they, if, if then ready decides to go forward without then yes, I would want, I would want them to be informed of

[31:44] Are we not inspired to speak?

[31:48] So, they, you need to assure indecision stating that you're suspending include the reasons which sound like it would point to the policy and the history.

[31:57] And then the licensee has five days to appeal to the ABCC and that your written decision goes to the ABCC.

[32:07] So upon appeal, they have knowledge of what was the basis for your decision.

[32:12] That's all I need to say.

[32:13] I mean, I would just say that we would include in our information to the ABCC, the prior violation.

[32:20] Exactly that motion if it's amended.

[32:22] Right.

[32:22] Because that's how your policy is established.

[32:26] Okay.

[32:26] Mark, you know, I don't want to waffle on this, I just, you know, when I think about it, like, even I know, and I haven't worked in the restaurant for over 30 years, but even I know that you're not supposed to give out free alcohol. So I, I guess it what I'm saying is I'm, I'm kind of leaning it, but I think a one day suspension is, is kind of lean.

[32:47] Okay, okay, so that's the much say you're in support of the motion.

[32:51] Well, I haven't voted yet, but I guess I am solicited statements as you're in support of the motion.

[32:57] Do you want a second to vote?

[32:58] I might not.

[32:59] I already did time.

[33:00] Okay, you're already seconded.

[33:02] We have questions.

[33:03] Quick question.

[33:04] Back to thing.

[33:05] Do we know if the ABC's ABC reached out to the town,

[33:09] asking if they're a prior violations?

[33:13] I believe that they did.

[33:15] Good afternoon, the police department.

[33:20] I'm sorry, was that in advance of their finding?

[33:25] They're hearing.

[33:28] They're hearing?

[33:29] That was in our pack and I missed it.

[33:41] Yeah, so they did reach out to the basic department.

[33:46] I believe it was an advance of their decision.

[33:51] Well, my motion was still standing.

[33:53] Yeah, I'm not saying that. Anyway before we vote, if you want the motion again, do you

[34:03] see the date you should pick a date?

[34:09] Oh, I think this suggestion in my mind would be a couple

[34:13] weeks out of the group of pair. 20 seconds. 20 seconds. 20 seconds. 20 seconds. That

[34:29] You've mentioned your motion for. Yeah for the 22nd. So I would one one more thing in the motion should include that they physically turn in the license

[34:40] That's okay, so let me try this again. So I would move to issue a one day liquor suspension. Let me make sure you go back to you. Sorry. Good to meet you document.

[34:52] So I moved to find that ready to have are violated 204 CMR 4.031H by permitting trivia

[35:01] contest in which alcoholic beverages were awarded as prizes and based upon this violation

[35:06] and the establishment's prior liquor license violation in 2022 impose the suspension of

[35:13] liquor license for one day to be on Tuesday, September 22nd, 2026, and that Red Heat

[35:21] Tever will physically turn in its liquor license on that day and pick it up the next day.

[35:32] On that day prior to opening.

[35:35] Yes.

[35:36] Yes.

[35:37] Where would you go for that?

[35:48] the board's discussion and our decision be captured in the notice to the ABCC.

[35:57] Seconded.

[35:58] Okay.

[35:59] Any other comment?

[36:01] All those in favor?

[36:03] Five to zero.

[36:04] Five being President.

[36:05] Thank you very much for talking.

[36:06] It is.

[36:07] Thank you for being here.

[36:08] I'm sorry you're caught in the crosshairs of this one, but thank you for having me.

[36:12] Thanks.

[36:15] Thank you sir.

[36:16] Thank you.

[36:18] Thank you.

[36:19] I'm going to close the meeting.

[36:20] Some of it.

[36:22] Second.

[36:23] We'll call both.

[36:24] Marshall.

[36:25] Yes.

[36:25] Johnson.

[36:26] Yes.

[36:26] Silver.

[36:27] Yes.

[36:27] The hearing is closed.

[36:31] Okay.

[36:32] Item number three.

[36:33] Change of polling location to Westboro Community Center 1500 Union Streets Suite 101, the lower level.

[36:42] Hello.

[36:43] Hi. Good evening.

[36:45] My stand before you tonight.

[36:46] Like you just said with a request to consider changing the town's official polling location from Westboro High School to the Community Center located at 1500 Union Street.

[36:56] This is only a change for election day.

[36:59] It does not change early voting that would stay at Town Hall

[37:02] in Memorial Hall.

[37:05] The reasons to consider moving elections

[37:07] to the Community Center,

[37:09] I believe our parking accessibility and school safety.

[37:15] I had the state come out early of the share

[37:17] to survey the Community Center for Compliance,

[37:19] regarding polling place accessibility.

[37:22] The location passed.

[37:24] I just need to add three temporary handicap parking spots

[37:28] on the day of an election.

[37:30] I toured the community center again last week and I'm 100% confident that it will house all six precincts on election day and it will be plenty of parking and it will be much more accessible for our residents.

[37:45] I propose elections move to the community center starting with the state election on November 3rd.

[37:50] I spoke with Library Director Kate Karachio and she's confident the temporary library location will be vacant in plenty of time.

[37:59] If the change of polling location is voted tonight, the notice of the change of location will

[38:06] be mailed to every registered voter in Westboro, and that's in accordance with the

[38:11] Massachusetts General Laws.

[38:13] We'll also put notice on the town website, it'll be published in the Community Advocate

[38:18] newspaper.

[38:19] It'll also be posted in various locations around town, and it will go out on social media.

[38:24] and we'll keep putting the blast out more as we get closer to the election.

[38:29] So I'm here tonight to propose that change and I'm happy to answer any questions.

[38:36] Thank you very much.

[38:37] Good question.

[38:39] So is this proposal for this election and going forward?

[38:45] So is this election and moving forward?

[38:49] I am going to, you know, make sure Westboro High School knows that at some point we need to find a temporary location that we can accommodate any renovations that might occur in the community center in which

[39:04] 2027, in example, we have one one election in March the next year we have more, but I'm certainly want to keep Westboro High School in the loop.

[39:13] Yeah. Okay. Yeah. So keep that as keep them in communication early voting. Obviously for obvious

[39:19] reasons is here as you already discussed. But yeah, no, I think it's a I think it's a great

[39:23] use of glad. Thank you for doing the leg work. Thank you for coordinating with K. Caracho,

[39:28] our director of library. And I'm certainly in support. Thank you. Any other questions? Yes.

[39:37] Thank you. The motion can be. Okay. Yeah. No, I was going to say thank you very much for bringing

[39:42] forward and doing the work here at going Shelby. My question is, just this is a little bit different.

[39:48] I'm supportive of this. My question is really just on public safety in regards to the parking lot.

[39:53] It's a commercial space with businesses in the area. There's, as you know, and you can tell me more

[40:00] about it, I'm sure that I know requirements in regards to distance from the polling area for

[40:06] protesters and campaigners and whatnot. Has that been thought out yet or has that plans still

[40:11] progress is to how that will be handled within the space.

[40:14] Well as far as people, you mean the pro polling outside the polling location?

[40:20] Yes. So that will remain 150 feet from the entrance of the polling location.

[40:25] As it is up at the high school, that will be measured.

[40:27] It will be marked on the day of an election.

[40:30] We did go over with the state the parking.

[40:32] The most of the parking is the parking right outside of where the library is right now.

[40:37] And it spills over, if you're looking at the library, the spots to the left.

[40:41] We currently have, I believe, two handicapped spots there.

[40:46] So, it's the spots immediately in front of the building at this point.

[40:50] Okay.

[40:51] Yeah.

[40:52] And then a question on Christy.

[40:53] Christy, should we just make these additional handicapped spots permanent at this point

[40:58] or is that?

[40:59] Okay.

[40:59] I only saw just delivery. So the renovation has indicated additional handicapped parking.

[41:07] So I think that we should wait for that to see sort of how that project might move forward.

[41:12] Temporary handicapped parking spots for elections is very common across the state to just add temporary.

[41:17] I think you add them actually currently, right? Or maybe not? We did this past yet action.

[41:23] Yeah, so that's perfectly acceptable to the state and

[41:27] And I think that we just want to wait to see kind of what's happening with the project.

[41:34] Any other quick and actual motion?

[41:36] So your motion could just be to move the polling location on election day from the Westboro High School to the Community Center at 1500 Union Street at lower level.

[41:49] First, I went to MGL Chapter 54, Section 24.

[41:54] So moved.

[41:54] Second.

[41:56] Okay.

[41:56] Great.

[41:57] Any other comments?

[41:58] All those in favor?

[42:01] Thank you very much.

[42:01] Thank you.

[42:02] Thank you.

[42:03] Go ahead.

[42:04] Thank you.

[42:05] Thank you.

[42:06] Thank you.

[42:08] Thank you.

[42:13] Thank you.

[42:17] Thank you.

[42:18] Thank you.

[42:19] in Turkprike Road in 299 turnpike Road.

[42:25] So these are all easements that the DFW is

[42:28] working with tank council and the property owners

[42:30] for the root in water.

[42:32] I mean, improvement project, as you'll see in your packet,

[42:37] they were approved or they can be approved by you

[42:41] pursuant to 2024 time meeting vote,

[42:47] where you approved the funding for the project,

[42:48] as well as your ability to execute any instruments.

[42:52] That's sorry to move it forward.

[42:55] I would move pursuant to article 12V of the 2024 annual Tom meeting

[42:59] to accept and execute the grants of temporary easement

[43:02] for the properties at 260 term pipe road, 261 to 271 term pipe road,

[43:08] 273 term pipe road, 291 term pipe road and 299 term pipe road.

[43:14] Before you're coming, do we have a second?

[43:18] This is just some of the easements.

[43:21] These are the easements that have been prepared at this point.

[43:26] Okay.

[43:26] So there will be more.

[43:27] I'm not aware.

[43:28] There's more.

[43:29] All I know is that these are.

[43:30] These are what's needed at this point.

[43:32] Memo from Lisa says.

[43:35] The DPW is the court of secure proportion of the property easements.

[43:40] Okay.

[43:40] So it's there'll be more.

[43:42] Can I zoom that or was it maybe that memo was done before they secured all five?

[43:50] That's fine. We're just moving forward with these five now.

[43:54] Okay. Sorry.

[43:56] Okay. All those in favor.

[44:00] Five to zero. Five being present.

[44:04] Okay.

[44:07] Number five.

[44:09] Miss fails.

[44:09] School Massachusetts School Building Authority budget revision.

[44:16] So, the board was probably on the email from MSBA identifying the need to amend the budget.

[44:24] There was an overage in one line, so there was an ability to move funding from a different line.

[44:29] So, it's really kind of a paperwork necessity.

[44:35] This board authorized Sean to sign that back in May.

[44:38] And so you would just need to authorize him to agree with that provision, as presented.

[44:47] Yeah.

[44:47] And I may leave others.

[44:49] I mean, you want to say.

[44:50] No, it's just going to say that there's no impact on the town here.

[44:54] This is really an accounting on paper.

[44:58] Very complex MSBA.

[45:04] So, my understanding, we're still within the budget, it was identified for the project. But is this an additional request for money? Is this just between line items?

[45:17] It's within line items.

[45:23] And just for the public benefit, it's, I mean, I think it's probably make sense to read what it is.

[45:31] It's identified that line number one on BRR number seven, the transfer of $72,319 from division one general requirements to GMP contingency,

[45:44] resulted in the GMP contingency being overdrawn by 144,984.

[45:51] So the MSB-18 met with our own project manager, John Lemue, from Bertex,

[45:57] and Mary Cuppins to discuss a feasible resolution. During the meeting, it was agreed that

[46:02] line 1 should be amended from $73,000 to $217,3003 to address the overdrawn value in the GMP

[46:10] contingency and bringing that value to zero.

[46:16] So I'll move to prove the MSBA budget revision has presented.

[46:20] Authorize the chair to sign and authorize the chair to sign any documents that are required.

[46:27] Second.

[46:27] Okay.

[46:28] Any further comments?

[46:29] Questions?

[46:30] All those in favor?

[46:32] All right.

[46:32] I have to zero.

[46:33] Thank you.

[46:35] Item number six.

[46:39] So, we have

[46:47] a presentation tonight. As the board is aware, we change the service delivery

[46:52] model of youth and family services clinical services back in 2024. So, it's very youth and

[47:00] family services, which is not a department of shoes, but is a nonprofit that we contract with

[47:07] has been providing these clinical services to us.

[47:11] So it was a three-year agreement.

[47:13] So we are currently in our third year.

[47:15] At Christmas 27 is our third year.

[47:17] So we wanted to provide the board with an update related

[47:22] to sort of the financial around this contract versus our previous

[47:26] service delivery model.

[47:27] And then also with just an update related to the programs

[47:31] and the services that SISS has provided.

[47:34] And then what we're looking for is agreement from the board to negotiate a successor agreement with SYFS.

[47:47] Just a point of order for my part.

[47:49] I'm not sure whether I definitely can listen to this, but my wife is a member of the board of SYFS,

[47:56] so contract discussions or anything.

[47:58] Should I recuse myself from discussion?

[48:01] Probably.

[48:02] So I am recusing myself from discussion, but let's assume I can sit here and listen.

[48:12] And I did previously ask Tom Anagir whether I was appropriate for me to recuse, my wife was formerly a member of the SYFS.

[48:19] Excuse me of what Westeros you to family services.

[48:22] She falls at a different part of the budget underneath the senior center and is under the senior interest direction now.

[48:27] So that's not applicable.

[48:29] Okay. Thank you.

[48:30] Thank you.

[48:31] Okay, all right, I had a few slides I intended to be very brief and I think that can be even more so because

[48:38] Kristi touched up on a few things. No, that's fine. I just wanted to remind board that this model that we currently have,

[48:46] where we contract for counseling and clinical services has been in place since July 1st of 2024.

[48:53] It is a three-year contract, so with the start of this fiscal year, we're now in the final year.

[48:59] Fred Kalin, the executive director of Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services is here to give you an overview of the second year of the contract.

[49:10] Get into a little more detail about that.

[49:13] But at a high level, we now contract for the counseling services.

[49:17] And we have the contract managed under the senior and social services director and the one position that we retained as a town employee are outreach and resource coordinator is also supervised by the senior and social services director and is now physically located at the senior center as well as having office hours at both the community center and here in town all during the week.

[49:47] So, we do have through the contract.

[49:52] We believe that two full-time clinicians

[49:55] would likely meet the needs.

[49:58] We also anticipated having some other counseling

[50:01] and clinical services available through other staff

[50:05] at shoes very youth and family services

[50:07] as well as their model,

[50:10] which you'll hear a little bit more about this,

[50:12] relies on graduate interns also being able

[50:15] to provide support to this model.

[50:18] So just the other point I will make, we continue

[50:21] while the shoes very youth and family.

[50:24] They still provide the services here in Westboro

[50:29] in the same space that our previous program

[50:34] in service delivery model operated out of across the street.

[50:38] And the other piece that has been somewhat attached

[50:41] to youth and family historically

[50:43] as the youth commission that continues to exist, that is supported by the outreach and resource

[50:50] coordinator by the Senior and Social Services Director and then as needed representatives

[50:56] from SYFS will also be involved.

[51:04] So I just wanted to bring up this slide because this is actually

[51:08] a slide that was presented when we introduced the idea of moving to this model. So it's at the

[51:15] hand-spental health services to the community while maintaining low barriers to accessing these

[51:20] services. And I think when you hear Fred talk tonight, I think we've achieved that goal and

[51:27] continue to use that as our guiding principle. My last slide, I did just want to show on the financial

[51:36] side. We looked at the current cost of the contracted largely the clinical aspect of the

[51:44] delivery model. We looked at each of the three years of the contract. So again, it started

[51:51] on July 1st, 2024. So that was fiscal year 25 through the contract costs for the current fiscal

[51:59] year. That is that middle column. And then we estimated what the costs for the service would have

[52:07] been had we maintained the prior service delivery model. And again, this isn't all about numbers.

[52:13] This is just really to demonstrate that we've been able to, we believe, enhance services in a very cost-effective manner.

[52:21] So I think with that, do you want me to open up or do you want to switch?

[52:30] So with that, I was going to turn it over to Fred Kailin.

[52:47] Presentation won, can we just...

[53:07] Just a little bit of Zoom.

[53:09] Now I see it.

[53:11] You click on that?

[53:12] It doesn't

[53:16] work, that's fine.

[53:18] Don't worry about

[53:25] it.

[53:25] I'm sorry.

[53:26] Sorry, sorry.

[53:27] I'm sorry.

[53:32] I'm sorry.

[53:33] I'm sorry.

[53:36] I'm sorry.

[53:37] It's not your good one.

[53:38] Well, it's the minute.

[53:39] All right.

[53:40] It's on Chris, good one.

[53:41] Hey, you're here.

[53:42] Thank you.

[53:42] You're cute.

[53:43] You're not allowed to talk.

[53:46] No.

[53:46] This is my technology.

[53:48] It's not necessary.

[53:50] We see how that went.

[53:55] We understand why they're free.

[53:58] There we go.

[53:59] There we go.

[54:00] There we go.

[54:00] The good news is that I don't have any audio in the presentation.

[54:03] So maybe I'll pay you that.

[54:06] Thank you.

[54:10] As Kim said, I'm Fred Kalin, I'm the executive director of Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services

[54:15] with me as well. It's my colleague, Allison Ekelston, who is our director of clinical operations.

[54:22] I'm going to go over the introduction slide. As Kim said, it's a three-year agreement.

[54:27] We recently finished year two. We've just sort of got underway with the year three.

[54:36] Just to give you an idea of who we serve when we talk about youth and family.

[54:41] This past year, we saw as clients in the Westboro Youth and Family Services Clinic, we're 17 and under.

[54:54] So we see a lot of young people, and that's true also where we have our clinic intrusberry.

[55:02] So very typically we're working with about two thirds of our population as young people.

[55:07] And I just want to mention that there are peer-reviewed studies that every dollar spending

[55:14] community youth mental health saves $9 to $10 down the road, okay, for things like emergency

[55:20] services, et cetera.

[55:25] But we serve, you can see the gender breakdown, 51% female, 39% male, and then 2% other

[55:32] in 8% no data.

[55:35] So I believe that's generally parallels the general population, given that we have no data on

[55:42] those 8%.

[55:46] This is just a racial and ethnic breakdown as well as who we served in this past year.

[55:53] So about half the residents who we served are white and in 15% Hispanic Latino, 7% Asian,

[56:00] 4% black African American, 4% other, and then 17% either preferred not to answer or we don't have data.

[56:11] These are the eight languages spoken at home that we saw in the last year, so English Spanish, Portuguese, French, Bengali, Hindi, Farsi, and Tenil.

[56:25] And so one of the things I just wanted to touch on that is something that in terms of the town partnering with a nonprofit like ourselves who does these services,

[56:37] is that the additional impact beyond just the very important clinical services of seeing clients

[56:43] every day are also a number of other things that we bring to the table, you know, sometimes

[56:47] supported by other grants and other other dollars that we raised for.

[56:52] So, you know, in the past year we did amount to health 101 training for the boroughs, YMC, CITs,

[56:58] counselors in training. We have a first response program that started actually after this contract

[57:05] started that the DA's office and some under funders support that's open to all Westboro first

[57:11] responders and we have seen Westboro first responders take advantage of that. We have offered

[57:16] a number of groups, as discussed, group attendance has been tricky, which is true across the board

[57:23] with a lot of different entities and departments, but we have offered a number of groups. We provided

[57:29] A QPR, which is question per suede, refer.

[57:34] I got it right. Question per suede, refer suicide prevention training to the senior center.

[57:40] And this past year we also had a graduate intern at the senior center who also ran a social connections group.

[57:46] Social connections group for the seniors.

[57:53] We also have a federal grant to do youth mental health first aid trainings.

[57:56] And we've done that for staff at the Burroughs YMCA, also the Westboro Fire Department,

[58:02] And in year one, so this, you know, the caveat, but in year one, also the Westboro police department, those are eight hour trainings, if you are participated in, they're very extensive and in debt.

[58:13] And then just in terms of collaborations and community events, we were able to get a private grant this past year to have a part time license clinician actually in the Westboro public schools at no cost of the schools.

[58:26] just funded by a third party, a private grant.

[58:30] We collaborate a lot with Westboro Connects with Square One.

[58:34] We've participated in the fall for wellness.

[58:36] We will again, this fall participated in the main street trick or treat.

[58:40] I know these seem like ancillary things,

[58:42] but we want to be as involved in the community as we can be.

[58:49] And we will, do you want to talk a little bit about this?

[58:52] We will be establishing having a graduate intern here,

[58:55] based in Chuzur.

[58:58] Hi everybody, so we will be having a graduate, so for intern, based in Westboro, this fall, who is also bilingual, Portuguese, speaking.

[59:08] That's going to be happening hopefully some time in the next few weeks, and that's someone who is able to stay in Westboro for roughly a year.

[59:15] As it just started their internship, so that'll continue through August.

[59:18] And so they'll have their own case load as well there.

[59:23] We're all set up to participate in fall for wellness.

[59:26] We have one of our clinicians that's going to be attending there.

[59:30] We have a group at the Senior Center that will be starting in October.

[59:35] We had just created the Fires of Round Social Connectingness

[59:38] and that's going to be run by one of the clinicians in addition to the support of an intern.

[59:42] We also have another virtual support group for parents that's coming up.

[59:46] that's called big feelings, but are support.

[59:48] That's a really around supporting parents

[59:50] with managing children's behaviors,

[59:54] especially at the elementary level.

[59:57] And we will be...

[1:00:00] Is there any other things we are doing?

[1:00:04] That's probably a good question. Thank you.

[1:00:08] So, you know, one thing I wanted to add, obviously, you heard already that we did add in the past year to our Board of Directors.

[1:00:16] Our Board of Directors is 10 people, so when we say Board of Directors, it's not a huge number of people.

[1:00:20] But we did add more in Johnson from Westboro and in our nomination process. Currently, there's another resident from Westboro who's in our nomination process.

[1:00:29] You know, once you have people on the board, you know, you're going to get more integrated and make sure that you're hearing all perspectives, now that we, you know, are truly across two towns.

[1:00:40] So for us for S.Y.FS, the two years has been really good and we've really learned how to do this really well.

[1:00:47] and Westboro, and we're expect year three to serve even more people than we have in the past

[1:00:54] two years and hope that we can continue to work together.

[1:01:00] So I'm happy to take any questions.

[1:01:01] Thank you very much.

[1:01:02] I just wanted to add one thing, because I think Kim obviously should outline our goal of the program,

[1:01:07] but another benefit I think that we saw with this program is their robust internship program

[1:01:13] and what that means in terms of having a pipeline.

[1:01:17] And I believe that you actually did hire

[1:01:20] one of your interns' working in Westboro.

[1:01:22] So that, as you know, was something we were really challenged with

[1:01:25] when we were trying to replace folks in the counselor's face

[1:01:29] when we weren't playing them directly.

[1:01:31] So that's something that we're also benefiting from.

[1:01:34] Thank you. Thank you.

[1:01:36] You've very much questions from the board.

[1:01:41] do you have any statistics on I know can share the financials on actual number of

[1:01:50] individuals service year over year I think was this year two data that you provided

[1:01:59] or is this a combined I guess is it question so the this the 56 individuals we serve

[1:02:05] this past year, or year two, and 30, I haven't on year, but 38 or 37 or 38 in year one.

[1:02:15] In year one, the first couple of months we only had one clinician. We were wrapping up.

[1:02:20] Great, thank you. Thank you, thank you.

[1:02:24] Thank you. Well, yeah, just a follow on. So beyond the 56, do you have capacity given your current

[1:02:32] I'm going to have an intern coming on or graduate students, excuse me, is there additional capacity

[1:02:38] on the 56 and how much?

[1:02:41] Yes, absolutely.

[1:02:42] Yes, so right now, we have approximately 17 people on our week list, and one of our

[1:02:49] clinicians is currently in the process of reaching out and calling, so we highly anticipate

[1:02:54] that I'll slowly start to get chipped away in addition to the intern starting in the weeks as

[1:02:58] well.

[1:02:59] Okay. And could you remind me just when you say on your waitlist, is there a parallel process

[1:03:07] where those individuals, if they have means through their own health insurance, they're sort of being

[1:03:13] duly tracked or is that done upstream or individuals needing mental services to determine kind of

[1:03:21] this is the best path for those say 17 individuals.

[1:03:27] Yeah, so I think part of what we do at least with the referral process, anyways, is we do start by asking what their health insurance is.

[1:03:35] And that for us is primarily like data information, but also if we do want to refer them out for longer term services, we have that information ahead of time so that we can start looking ahead about what would be the best avenues for those individuals.

[1:03:51] So in terms of that clinical sort of case management, we're again, it would be appropriate for the therapist to make the referral connect them with the where they need to be

[1:03:58] That's something that we tried actively collect and then assess sort of as time goes on when they're ready for that transition

[1:04:04] Okay, but those in the again just using a 17 that are in waiting for a clinician, right?

[1:04:11] So they've been assessed to determine they're just waiting for a slot. Is that correct?

[1:04:15] So, yeah, so what they do is they have called and made a referral and our referral process entails that we sort of ask them like what it is that they're looking for and then we go through a series of risk assessment questions.

[1:04:26] And based on the information that they give, you know, we either say, you know, again, you know, right now this is where you're on the wheat list, you know, we'll periodically call in a check to see how you're doing.

[1:04:35] If there are some immediate clinical needs that don't require hospitalization, we can offer them

[1:04:41] our weightless support services, and sometimes what that looks like is additional referrals and

[1:04:46] resources to help them out. In addition to that, you know, once we do the intake and we have a

[1:04:51] better idea of what their true clinical needs are. Again, we assess based on diagnosis, access,

[1:04:58] what this family can reach was available in the state of Massachusetts and try to connect them

[1:05:03] accordingly. So again, so as far as we know, again, we periodically will call everybody

[1:05:08] in the wait list to just check in how they're doing, have you been connected, do you need

[1:05:11] additional support while you're waiting for us? Or even like are you all set at this time,

[1:05:15] which periodically happens? And so as part of the wait list process, are you helping people to connect

[1:05:23] with other counseling available resources outside of your offering? Yes, if they're interested in

[1:05:29] that. If they're interested. Okay, thank you. Some people say they're they're comfortable

[1:05:32] continued to wait. Some people say, you know, that we actually, we found X, Y, and Z were all set,

[1:05:37] but we will offer that if people are interested in it. Okay, thank you. The only other thing

[1:05:42] Chris, I would just say, just take a look at the town. I was just going out there because I was

[1:05:47] looking for some information. Looks like we've got to just update our new clinical directors and

[1:05:53] information that's out there that's old. Okay. Yeah. I don't really have a question to just

[1:06:01] what comments as the husband of a grief counselor and somebody who knows personally. I know

[1:06:08] personally somebody who's user services. I play tremendous value in those and I I'm really

[1:06:15] impressed so far with the presentation and what you guys have done. I guess the only question I

[1:06:20] would have and I don't even know what's a question as we look forward to negotiate a successor contract.

[1:06:26] I would have liked to have heard from the youth commission just some type of support for that.

[1:06:31] And I don't know if that was just kind of taking for granted because they think you're doing a good job or not, so I guess I guess as the towns representative that probably interacts with you the most, I would have liked it have heard from them.

[1:06:51] So, yeah, I think so the youth commission sort of, you know, they're joined sometimes

[1:06:59] and meetings are joined sometimes by some of you from S.Y.FS, but they don't S.Y.FS

[1:07:05] doesn't report to them, like you could hear from Kenjram, maybe, would be appropriate as

[1:07:10] to see your services director.

[1:07:14] Okay, fair enough, yeah, that would be great if you think that's a better person to hear

[1:07:21] from.

[1:07:21] I believe so. I don't know if anybody disagrees with that but.

[1:07:27] I could. I could. I could. I could.

[1:07:29] Okay.

[1:07:30] Okay, and she is here.

[1:07:32] Thank you

[1:07:36] for all her support being born up.

[1:07:44] Hi, Kendra.

[1:07:45] Again, I was just looking for feedback from a town representative, whether it be you

[1:07:50] or the youth commission, as to, you know, the advocacy of this transition.

[1:07:58] I can't speak totally to the model that was in place before I started, because when I started,

[1:08:04] She's very youth and family was already in place for about six months.

[1:08:09] But as far as the feedback that I've heard and when I understand was happening was that

[1:08:13] clients were coming in and being served by the prior Westboro Youth and Family Services

[1:08:20] and they were sort of staying on for a very long periods of time.

[1:08:23] So there was really no movement in those lists.

[1:08:27] So you could be on the wait list for a very long time before there was an upturn over for you

[1:08:31] to be seen.

[1:08:32] So something that I've noticed, we had a couple of hiccups, but I think that we've really worked through a lot of those, and the feedback that I've gotten was that people are starting to move up, and they're getting calls back about where they're falling on the wait list, they have a better understanding of exactly why there is a wait list.

[1:08:49] And I think, you know, as far as the Sears Center goes, the biggest success has been that communication group.

[1:08:57] I can't remember the exact title of it.

[1:08:58] But that was run with the intern that has now been hired by Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services.

[1:09:06] So she will be on board to run that support group for us.

[1:09:10] It's not exactly a support group.

[1:09:11] But that conversation group for us on a permanent basis because she's now an employee, not just an intern who's there.

[1:09:17] sort of a flexible schedule. So we're really looking forward to that. We had a lot of really positive feedback about that.

[1:09:24] I think generally this has been a really great partnership. I am very much so in support of the continuing to work with Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services

[1:09:35] and making this partnership even stronger.

[1:09:41] Thank you very much.

[1:09:45] Thank you, Sean. Thank you for being here tonight. Very appreciative of all the work

[1:09:51] that you do for the town of Westboro. And, you know, it's a service that I don't think

[1:09:58] a lot of people in town are aware of, but it is incredibly vital service to the community

[1:10:03] for all the reasons that you mentioned. So, thank you for the work that you do. My questions are

[1:10:08] and I apologize if you might have said this, I was kind of taking notes and trying to jostle

[1:10:12] some thoughts at the same time, but can you talk a little bit about your bandwidth capability?

[1:10:17] Yeah, you talked about, you know, the age groups that you serve, et cetera, what is your

[1:10:21] what is your bandwidth that you have now and how much expansion do you think based on your

[1:10:26] staff that you have now, or do you think that there's going to be a need to growing that in the next

[1:10:32] contract time period?

[1:10:37] That's a great question. I think that we're at the capacity maximum. That's

[1:10:43] why we have the wait list right now.

[1:10:45] That said, having a small wait list is a fairly

[1:10:48] happy thing for these kinds of services

[1:10:50] so that we never end up with clinicians

[1:10:52] waiting around with no one at the door, right?

[1:10:56] Metaphorically.

[1:10:58] And so I think that we'll learn a lot in this year, three,

[1:11:03] is if the need keeps growing, then to talk

[1:11:06] about that expansion of services potentially,

[1:11:09] having the graduate intern here will help mitigate that a little bit, and so that'll give us a really good idea at Trika on how, you know, where that, where that high capacity level sort of normally like averages out.

[1:11:29] Thank you. And then also just noting that you know the vast majority 63% of the residents that you serve are youth.

[1:11:36] Can you talk a little bit about your interactions and partnership with the schools and how

[1:11:41] how does that work and are there opportunities there that you all see in that relationship?

[1:11:47] So I'll just say in general that the superintendent and I have been talking about increasing the

[1:11:51] relationship even more, but in terms of that 63% in our first two years, the entity that is referred

[1:11:59] the most clients are way, is the must for a public school's?

[1:12:06] Yeah, I would even say, like, I think the collaboration

[1:12:10] between the school's has been great.

[1:12:12] So, again, what it's having, so many kiddos that we work with

[1:12:16] on our caseloads, must for a public school's has been great

[1:12:19] in terms of communicating with clinicians, trying to work

[1:12:22] really collaborative to make sure we're addressing the same needs.

[1:12:25] So, we've been really happy with that.

[1:12:27] we have nothing but positive things to say and we hope that that continues.

[1:12:33] Thank you.

[1:12:34] Thank you.

[1:12:36] Yeah, and I guess just sort of one comment to me for the folks who may be listening.

[1:12:42] So this contract runs to next June.

[1:12:46] So there is still 10 months left in the contract.

[1:12:48] We are here today because it won the thank you and for everyone to hear the great work you're doing.

[1:12:56] But also then, as we look backwards from that date,

[1:13:01] really, we have a budget process here, town meeting is in March.

[1:13:06] We really try to produce the first version of our budget in December.

[1:13:11] So, this being the second contract, both parties may want to make some minor changes to it.

[1:13:19] So, that's why we come back here to September to try and start this process.

[1:13:23] So we can try and meet all those dates, so in, with that, is anybody have a motion?

[1:13:35] Sure.

[1:13:36] I'll move to authorize the top manager to negotiate a successor agreement with SYFS for clinical services, subject to final review and approval by the board at a future date.

[1:13:46] Second.

[1:13:48] Any further comments or questions?

[1:13:51] All those in favor.

[1:13:53] We're at zero one abstaining. Thank you both for being here. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for your work for Westboro. Thank you.

[1:14:03] Ian, welcome back.

[1:14:10] Okay. Item number seven, training requirements for liquor license holders and employees policy update.

[1:14:19] I'm going to refuse myself is I'm on a local business that holds liquor license. I should not weigh in.

[1:14:29] Okay, great to thank you so much.

[1:14:35] So as you're aware, this was on your agenda at the August 18th meeting, Amanda presented

[1:14:40] it at the time.

[1:14:41] She had identified that this policy was outdated based on her overseeing the liquor licensing.

[1:14:51] So she did take your feedback, and it's the updated policy as in your packet, just so

[1:14:57] clear in the first policy that you see.

[1:15:00] The current policy and then it's on page 87 of your packet is the updated policy with your feedback included.

[1:15:14] Thank you. Any questions or comments?

[1:15:24] Yeah, thank you, Sean. So yeah, thank you, Christy and Amanda.

[1:15:28] For working on this, I have provided a lot of feedback at our last discussion, in regards to this, and I'm happy to see the changes, I think they correctly reflect my thoughts on how to work clearly, succinctly, right this policy, so thank you for doing that work.

[1:15:46] Yeah? Then would you care to make the motion?

[1:15:48] that there's no other discussion, I guess, so sure.

[1:15:53] Yeah, I agree with that.

[1:15:54] I agree with that.

[1:15:57] I moved to move.

[1:15:59] I moved to approve.

[1:16:00] The amended policy on training requirements for the

[1:16:02] girl license holders and employees has presented.

[1:16:06] Second.

[1:16:07] Okay.

[1:16:09] All those in favor?

[1:16:11] Where does your appointment present?

[1:16:13] Just one real quick question.

[1:16:14] We update the, uh, the revised data on this as well.

[1:16:16] Yeah, we just didn't know where you were going to approve it.

[1:16:19] Okay.

[1:16:19] Yep.

[1:16:19] Thank you.

[1:16:21] Okay.

[1:16:21] That's number eight.

[1:16:24] Okay.

[1:16:26] All right.

[1:16:27] Welcome back.

[1:16:31] Okay.

[1:16:31] Item number eight

[1:16:35] is the proposed amendment to section 2-8 of the town charter.

[1:16:42] So this is on your agenda last time, but I think the board wants additional time to consider how you would move forward.

[1:16:48] So again in October last year the town meeting approved worn article to change charter language to require 50 signatures for a petition article to be submitted for annual town meeting and so that they would both be 50 signatures when we submitted it to the general court there was a question

[1:17:12] Just about clarifying question that was asked, but when that was asked, it was identified that there were some unintended consequences of the new language that changed kind of more than that 50 signature requirements.

[1:17:27] It removed the board's ability to really set the warrant, which is one of the things that you have the authority to do under general laws.

[1:17:34] So, there is a memo in here that gives, sort of, the history and then what your options were at the time,

[1:17:42] because at the time you could have submitted, you could have submitted to the General Court,

[1:17:48] an amendment to the Board decided to just bring it back to time meetings that you could be really clear about what the language should be,

[1:17:55] and be there with the voters about how it was going to move forward.

[1:17:58] I would just add that I don't think you need to wordsmith the article tonight.

[1:18:03] I think if you just want to tell me what your intent is, I can work with Council to put

[1:18:08] an article together, what you would review before you close the warrant on the 22nd.

[1:18:14] Thank you, Kristi. Any comments? Yes.

[1:18:18] It not words for the book was in our package.

[1:18:23] I'm actually okay with allowing what was kind of proposed at the time, which is really

[1:18:33] elected town board elected officials and then the 50 signatures.

[1:18:40] Reason for that is, yes, we have authority over that, but I think that if an elected

[1:18:45] town board, say it school committee planning board library trustees.

[1:18:53] That's great.

[1:18:53] I don't know if I'm a moderator.

[1:18:55] I'm moderated, town clerk.

[1:18:57] But in front of us, I think, as an elected official, like us, we should place those on there.

[1:19:03] I think if we have questions or disagreements or whatever that we should have that with that elected board or elected official,

[1:19:12] I think what we were really trying to get at was the A was the citizens petition and raising

[1:19:20] that from 10 to 50, but also as we've seen before the ability for us to set warrants of

[1:19:26] something comes to us from a committee that we appoint that we think is being covered someplace else

[1:19:33] as happened last time. So I am fine with kind of that type of proposal, but I think the way it

[1:19:42] was presented the last time at Tom Enoway.

[1:19:44] We thought it was being presented, all we were changing was 10 to 50.

[1:19:49] Because I understood it was when we set a cordons with the law.

[1:19:52] That was where it kind of got caught up in the general court.

[1:19:57] But for me, if we change it to allow in for kind of elected boards and officials,

[1:20:07] that we have basically take those out and then everything else still stays on our control

[1:20:12] that we raise the services position up to 50.

[1:20:16] So the housing authority?

[1:20:19] But it's elected.

[1:20:22] State wrote.

[1:20:24] Not an elected town official.

[1:20:26] I'm sorry.

[1:20:27] I don't know how much we have to do playing like that.

[1:20:29] It's elected town official.

[1:20:32] That's very accurate.

[1:20:33] Yeah.

[1:20:33] I appreciate that comment and I think this does clean it up a bit.

[1:20:37] but just for the sake of the community,

[1:20:39] the way that it's written in the proposed statement in our packet,

[1:20:43] is the select board shop place on the warrant

[1:20:44] for annual town meeting.

[1:20:46] Any article requested in writing by one evoative,

[1:20:49] any elected or appointed town board

[1:20:51] to any elected town officer or the free by not less

[1:20:55] than 50 registered voters of the town.

[1:20:57] I think this does clarify and certainly my expectation

[1:21:00] and it's the way we've operated in the past

[1:21:02] is that any appointed board or elected official,

[1:21:06] anybody who puts on something on the warrant does come and talk to us if we request them to talk

[1:21:11] to us before the warrant is closed. So we have an opportunity to voice our concerns, our

[1:21:16] questions, etc. when placing that article in the warrant. Yeah, my take was that was one of

[1:21:23] him proposed by the General Court and I think why we brought this back is for me it was elected

[1:21:31] board is removing the appointed town boards.

[1:21:35] It's a little bit a little bit a little bit.

[1:21:36] So just the section says,

[1:21:37] So what I had was a select board to place on the

[1:21:39] Warren for annual time meeting.

[1:21:41] Any article requested in writing by one,

[1:21:44] a vote of any elected town board to an elected town officer

[1:21:47] or three by not less than 50 registered voters of the town.

[1:21:54] So Sean, again, I agree.

[1:21:56] We don't need to work Smith this now,

[1:21:58] but I agree with Ian's point about,

[1:22:01] I think elected boards and officials should be able to put a worn article on, but any other boards should be required to submit it to the select board for approval, or I guess they're governing boards.

[1:22:17] So if it's a school committee, subcommittee that wants to propose an article, it would have to go through school committee or so.

[1:22:27] I guess I'm okay with that as well, I mean.

[1:22:30] The appointed piece of it, yeah, would expect a board appointed, committee appointed by us with bring it forward through us, and I would think that they would be less inclined to make a request of something on the warrant if this board wasn't supportive of it.

[1:22:43] So I think it forms a conversation there, but I'm okay with, you know, making it even supportive.

[1:22:48] Yeah, well I think with that one is, if you went with what had come back from the general court,

[1:22:55] that would basically take our authority away from basically everything would get on,

[1:23:02] citizen position would get on with 50 more signatures,

[1:23:07] elected or appointed town boards, or committees would basically,

[1:23:12] everything would, so we would basically have no authority to not allow anything on the war.

[1:23:17] if they're past. We're just really striking me up. We accept that language. No, I get

[1:23:23] I get where it's coming from. I'm okay with what you're suggesting. I mean, the original

[1:23:26] intent here was really all around the 50. No, I'm on the right thing. So yeah, we cost a little

[1:23:33] bit of a mix up there, but that's fine. Can I just ask the, I just don't remember, unelected

[1:23:40] down officer. So is that intended to be like a part of the moderator? Okay. Okay. Okay.

[1:23:49] So I'm fine just to echo the language that Ian read as a modification of the, you know,

[1:23:56] what came back is a recommendation from the Senate.

[1:24:00] Well, again, we're just recognizing that we're not voting on anything. Okay.

[1:24:06] So, reminder, at our next meeting, we are most likely closing so, unless we have some sort of...

[1:24:17] We don't get it done and we have to fit in another meeting shortly after that.

[1:24:22] So, if you use one of these options, it's simple to put it into the more nautical.

[1:24:30] The current version actually has the old more nautical but just has deleted the change.

[1:24:35] So we would just sort of plug in the change with what's here.

[1:24:40] Just to clarify, the general court sent it back because they wanted it.

[1:24:45] I think they wanted to say any town elected or appointed board,

[1:24:49] which then raised the flag with us and town council,

[1:24:52] that it was took out being in accordance with the law.

[1:24:54] So I don't think that the general court is trying to direct or advise the town.

[1:24:58] It was just at that time they were offering what they would be willing to accept

[1:25:04] if you were making the change without going back to time meeting.

[1:25:08] Yeah, I think the clarification, I mean, the vagueness of in accordance with a lot.

[1:25:15] I don't know, it requires someone to go look somewhere else.

[1:25:18] I think this language is very clear.

[1:25:22] And I think that the language is in red.

[1:25:25] So this doesn't require a vote or I think we'll be voting on it at our next meeting when we finalize the warrant.

[1:25:30] So, but every time I go to a general language update,

[1:25:35] I'm not in my head.

[1:25:37] All right.

[1:25:38] Excellent.

[1:25:41] Item number nine, financial update

[1:25:44] from our finance director.

[1:25:50] Good evening.

[1:25:51] Good evening, all.

[1:26:15] John Steinberg, Finance Director.

[1:26:17] Thank you for having me tonight.

[1:26:19] Our business night is sort of to bring you up to date on the fiscal 25

[1:26:23] wallet, which recently closed.

[1:26:25] I know you've all had an in front of you and I just want to review some of the results from the audit and how that will go forward into October time meeting.

[1:26:36] Some items of no adults, there was a variance between the treasures records in the accountants ledger with missing documentation.

[1:26:44] Some of the receivables did not reconcile relative to ledger balances where revenues weren't posted to proper accounts.

[1:26:51] And the year-end ledger and conferences did not match departmental submissions and missing carrying over items.

[1:26:57] One of the things I'll emphasize just with this, a couple of things.

[1:27:00] Versus is the fiscal 25 audit.

[1:27:03] So it's year-end in June 30th of that date is wrong of 25.

[1:27:10] So it doesn't include, it doesn't include fiscal 26, which is July 1st of 25 to June 30th of 26.

[1:27:19] So we're just getting this now, which obviously won't apply to what is 2026, which we have not closed out yet.

[1:27:27] Okay, so this again is fiscal 25.

[1:27:31] It took some time to get done because of some of these issues.

[1:27:36] Nothing was found to be questionable relative to our fundamentals in our finance.

[1:27:41] This is not a qualified audit relative to what our fundamental finances are,

[1:27:46] and how it's stable, the accounting and stability of the financial situation within the town.

[1:27:56] So we've taken many actions right away to respond to this.

[1:28:01] One of the things that the Board has acted on already that you're aware of is the reinstatement

[1:28:05] of the part-time administrative position that collectors office.

[1:28:09] You've recently facilitated the restructuring of the positions and responsibilities

[1:28:12] within the accounting office.

[1:28:15] We have new staff in the accounting office.

[1:28:17] I think one of the true cause and a lot of this

[1:28:20] was the turnover during the course of fiscal 25.

[1:28:25] We were without an accountant in the beginning of it.

[1:28:27] So some of this was carry over from 24.

[1:28:30] We also went through a period in 24

[1:28:33] where we were without a treasure collector

[1:28:35] when we were still carrying some of that.

[1:28:37] So a lot of this is sort of continuing

[1:28:40] that hopefully was some stability in the Dr. Clerk's office and now we will be bringing a new staff into the town of

[1:28:47] Countins office. We look forward to an opportunity to rebuild that office and and go forward in a more stable environment. I would welcome the opportunity to have some more

[1:29:10] to facilitate the monthly reconciliation

[1:29:13] between the treasure collector and the town account.

[1:29:16] The new process for the turnover of funds,

[1:29:18] any funds that come into departments,

[1:29:20] get turned over to the treasure collector.

[1:29:23] We've streamlined that process,

[1:29:25] so we've removed a big step between the treasure collector

[1:29:28] in the accounting office,

[1:29:29] where it goes right into the treasure collector's office,

[1:29:32] into the general ledger work,

[1:29:33] and then be reconciled at the end of the month.

[1:29:35] The goal of streamlining this process

[1:29:38] of removing some of the paper that has been in place in the town for a long time.

[1:29:44] We've put in place a new procedure for the timely entrance of the in conferences.

[1:29:49] So at the end of the fiscal year this really ties to our after town meeting when those are entered

[1:29:53] into the general ledger as well as into a gateway so that those will be done in a more timely

[1:29:59] fashion.

[1:30:00] Which will help with the close-out of the fiscal year. That was one of the challenges when we closed out of fiscal 25. It was those in conferences from 25 to 26. That was June of 2025. Those in conferences that weren't entered and carried over. Same thing with the articles. It was the articles from that period. Again, over a year ago, that weren't in converting carried over.

[1:30:27] We've pursued a digital education for existing staff, and we've identified opportunities to bring in a consultant to support both the fiscal 2026 close-out and further process improvement.

[1:30:41] I think one of the things that I'll emphasize in the next slide is we really want to make sure that as we go to close out 2026, we catch all this stuff.

[1:30:51] It's done before we do that close out and now is the opportunity that we have time to do that.

[1:30:57] And so we've identified a scope of work, a contractor who can assist with this, and going to walk through the process with patients, perseverance and attention to detail.

[1:31:08] So, this will take two phases. The first is, as I just mentioned, the assisting of the fiscal

[1:31:14] 26 clothes up. We really want to be very deliberate in this process. We have a good

[1:31:19] staff now. We have opportunity to recognize some of this stuff. I want to, we can really

[1:31:24] thank our auditors and how many people I would thank auditors, right? They did a great job

[1:31:29] of working with us. I mean, the task was find everything you can so we can fix it and they

[1:31:34] good job of that, and they've agreed to continue to work closely with us.

[1:31:38] This is not on from the town is used for many years, so they're familiar with the

[1:31:43] ins and outs of Westford, okay, and so we're very fortunate that they'll continue to work

[1:31:48] with us and help us to make sure that when the close-out fiscal 26, we can avoid these things

[1:31:53] recognize them and make sure that they are addressed before the year and close-out.

[1:31:58] And then the second phase of this is to review all of the existing policies, practices, and procedures,

[1:32:03] and internal controls and things have been in place in town for a very long time.

[1:32:09] There's really opportunity here to bring things to a place as you know with our

[1:32:13] chart of accounts, we're going forward with our chart of account revision we've already

[1:32:17] had to kick off meeting. This will tie right into that. To have it can help come in, help

[1:32:23] identify where the tough weaknesses are in the accountability in the process, in the manuals

[1:32:29] and procedures in our protocols and bring in put into place best practices in line with what the

[1:32:36] current norms are and how that stability going forward. So this consult will not only examine

[1:32:42] where we're at and where we're come from, but where we should go to and then assist in implementing

[1:32:47] that, not just give us a manual and say, here you go, there I expect to provide tools to better

[1:32:55] to operate with greater efficiency and more accuracy between the departments and that's one of the greatest challenges as you have to have your checks and balances between the accounting office and the treasury collectors office and we want to make sure that we maintain that.

[1:33:10] And as I said, one of the, if I could say comforting things about this I'll say is that it was a lot of it was about procedure it was about accurate post thing of things.

[1:33:23] It wasn't about things not being there.

[1:33:27] It was about them being in the right place.

[1:33:29] And unfortunately, they weren't, and they weren't fixed

[1:33:32] before the close-up.

[1:33:33] We can identify something that happens

[1:33:35] to get posted through a wrong account

[1:33:37] and make that adjustment before the close-up.

[1:33:40] Once we've closed out the air,

[1:33:41] we can't make those changes.

[1:33:43] It's done.

[1:33:45] And so we're in capital that, and in order to complete

[1:33:48] this action, as I mentioned, we want to do it right.

[1:33:52] We've committed to have our clothes out done by December 1st so that we've incorporated into our fiscal planning for our fiscal 2028 budget.

[1:34:02] So that we can have accurate free cash and retained earnings at least a bit to the state and we'll know where our numbers are.

[1:34:09] Given the time of year, we've met with the state there where what's going on with us.

[1:34:13] It's a difficult time of year for them because of course they're doing tax classification hearings for 351 communities at that time.

[1:34:20] But, we have a very good relationship with our do our representatives, they've been working with us there in the loop and very supportive and we'll be so on the way.

[1:34:34] There were some articles that were being brought forward.

[1:34:37] There will be impacted by this because we will not have retained earnings or free cash for October time meeting.

[1:34:43] One of them is the permanent software.

[1:34:44] As I think has been mentioned, Permit Pro, the online permitting that we have built and developed is no longer going to be supported.

[1:34:52] So they've been in the process of finalizing a company that we will transition to.

[1:34:58] This is going to be funded through various department budgets looking at budgets that use the permitting software.

[1:35:05] We will support part of this to make the implementation and conversion over to it as well as through the IT department.

[1:35:12] where typically you'd find software licenses and everything going forward.

[1:35:18] So that will come through those processes through the budgeting versus anything that would

[1:35:24] be free cash otherwise.

[1:35:26] The electrical vehicle charging stations that were previous on there, those will be deferred

[1:35:30] to a future town meeting as well as the water system improvements.

[1:35:33] We've met with the department heads that were bringing those forward there in agreement

[1:35:40] and they're understanding and have said that pushing those off for a future

[1:35:45] commuting is not a problem. I'm happy to answer any questions.

[1:35:53] Yes, yes.

[1:35:53] So just be clear.

[1:35:57] It's basically what we're saying here is the free cat because we don't have the

[1:35:59] clothes that we won't have free cash and retained earnings, but it's not like we don't have

[1:36:03] free cash and retained earnings. It's just a delay and when that gets certified.

[1:36:06] Correct.

[1:36:07] So it's certified. We can't spend it.

[1:36:09] Right. So that we should get it certified sometime after December 1st.

[1:36:12] Yes.

[1:36:13] We'd like to get it certified before December 1st, it's just about timing in their availability.

[1:36:20] So we've routinely closed out prior to the transition that John talked about.

[1:36:24] We routinely closed out in by August last year.

[1:36:29] As you might remember, we actually didn't close until February.

[1:36:33] And so the funds that we had available to us in October was not free cash or retained earnings at that time.

[1:36:39] was overly surplus that we were able to use.

[1:36:42] But to your point, we have to re-certify our free cash every year.

[1:36:47] So there's always a period where it's not

[1:36:49] available for appropriation until you close out.

[1:36:53] Thank you.

[1:36:56] John, what's the budget for the consultant phase one and two?

[1:37:00] And where are those funds coming from in the fund?

[1:37:02] So it's a good question.

[1:37:04] So the expected budget for those can be $75,000.

[1:37:08] we're going to fund 10,000 through our Finance Department of Professional Services and we'll

[1:37:16] on Thursday be going to the Advisory Finance Committee's request to transfer for those.

[1:37:21] So 65 from the Reserve Fund?

[1:37:25] Yes.

[1:37:28] And that will fund.

[1:37:30] On phase 1 and 2. Correct. And who's the consultant? We're working with the question.

[1:37:33] That's put in Larsson.

[1:37:34] Oh, good. Larsson.

[1:37:36] Thanks.

[1:37:45] John, you mentioned. I think it was on your previous slide. You mentioned.

[1:37:51] Maybe one more slide back, sir.

[1:37:54] The second bullet down the restructuring the positions and responsibilities within the county department.

[1:38:00] Am I correct in thinking that we will go through around when I hear restructure and responsibility changes that will be going through around of

[1:38:08] job description updates. You've already done that for the first specifically for that

[1:38:13] department. We had the two assistant town accountants and now we have the assistant

[1:38:16] town account and the finance assistant. Those have been posted and we're currently

[1:38:21] in the process of interviewing. So those were the consideration of these are things

[1:38:25] that we've already done. Yeah.

[1:38:30] And then I assume the auditor would take some review

[1:38:34] of this plan and it has approved the plan that you've put forward here.

[1:38:36] Yeah, so what happens is when this comes out, we file responses to it and we've reviewed all that with the honor and there's in very much in support of it.

[1:38:49] Christie, do you have any idea of the impact that John mentioned on his last slide? What are system improvements would be impacted? What those improvements were I don't remember?

[1:38:59] So, they have a project going now where they're looking at fire hydrants and so it was really a contingency for if they identified issues that they needed to fix this funding would be available for that, but they'll defer that to March.

[1:39:16] Thank you.

[1:39:17] Anybody else?

[1:39:18] No, this is a working on the study, so it was really about timing there, but Chris is very comfortable with this timing.

[1:39:25] Thank

[1:39:27] you. I don't really have a question. I just, John, you know, I think you're pretty capable, very capable, and I know that this is a strong area for both Kim and Christie, so I just expect you guys to get this sort of out cleaned up, because I think it's probably frustrating you more than it's frustrating me, so I appreciate that. I'm sure it is.

[1:39:56] So when they go back into the review, is there any chance that fiscal year 2025 cash changes?

[1:40:05] All right.

[1:40:06] Thank you.

[1:40:07] Okay.

[1:40:08] Any other questions?

[1:40:11] I'll get done.

[1:40:14] Thank you.

[1:40:15] Thank you.

[1:40:22] Item 10, the October town meeting draft warrant.

[1:40:27] So you have in your packet the version 2, the October 10 meeting warrant, we just completed

[1:40:35] that right before the meeting. So that will get on the website tomorrow morning. But

[1:40:40] we are looking at 8 potential articles.

[1:41:09] Thank you.

[1:41:11] Yeah, so the first article is the revolving fund for the police firearms and training facility,

[1:41:18] which we talked about last time.

[1:41:22] The second article is obviously your budget adjustments.

[1:41:26] So you'll see here this might change a little bit, but essentially we have an additional student going to

[1:41:32] our folk taggy. So there's additional cost of about $44,000. The information technology

[1:41:39] expenses, that's the intent to fund permit probe. But we actually, because we're going to

[1:41:45] be pulling for mother-departmental budgets, we expect this to go down to just under $50,000.

[1:41:50] That number. And then Westboro, TV, because in several contracts, after the town meeting and

[1:41:59] is actually receiving more franchise fees than they anticipated.

[1:42:03] There's going to be a reduction there. That number again is being refined and then the

[1:42:08] waste management enterprise fund because of the use of that program has changed from what we

[1:42:13] had anticipated. We're going to see a reduction in cost there. Specifically, with Westboro TV

[1:42:19] and the waste management enterprise funds. As you know, we fund that partially with fees and then we

[1:42:25] it partially with through taxes. So this actually might have to separate into a different article

[1:42:34] just to be really clear about the fees we're expecting, if they're changing, and then what we're

[1:42:39] expecting to impact the tax base. But we do, they will be reductions. We just have to clarify how that

[1:42:47] will work within the article with Town Council. But this is a good table to show that we expect

[1:42:52] this is sort of a minimum of a $6,000 decrease in the budget. Again, because we know the

[1:42:58] information technology is going to, it's going to go down, which should be closer to $25,000

[1:43:03] a decrease.

[1:43:07] Oh, yes.

[1:43:08] Nice.

[1:43:08] That's a question.

[1:43:09] And that's so.

[1:43:11] Because this was originally, if this was like a one time expanse, is that correct?

[1:43:16] So therefore.

[1:43:17] The permanent row.

[1:43:19] So while we're putting it in through the budget, we should expect that we would come out next year.

[1:43:27] So we'll keep our eye on that.

[1:43:28] That's right.

[1:43:29] Thank you.

[1:43:33] Article 3 is also has an impact on the budget.

[1:43:36] This is because the fire union contract was amended.

[1:43:40] We kept pulled out of the separate articles to be really clear about what that's about.

[1:43:43] And to just identify that that's we're funding that first year.

[1:43:47] So it's about just under, or just over $180,000 increase to the fair department budget for the first year of the contract. Again, that was settled after town meetings. That's why it wasn't included in the budget.

[1:44:02] There's 250th anniversary committee. This is a transfer to the block party of just over $3,000. That's what is remaining in the gift account. So that would be closed out after this town meeting.

[1:44:15] That transferred to the Affordable Housing Trust is funds that we've received through the mitigation stabilization fund.

[1:44:22] This is a pretty routine article that we've seen over the years as we've received money from

[1:44:27] Hulti related to the Delo Abtanti Lake property.

[1:44:31] And then again, this money is specific to the waiver that was granted by the planning board.

[1:44:40] for a related to a portable housing and it doesn't go directly to the trust at the time

[1:44:45] that trust wasn't set up.

[1:44:48] This article six is, again, this is that homeworld petition we were talking about earlier

[1:44:51] tonight.

[1:44:52] This is exactly what we had in here last year.

[1:44:55] This is really just for a placeholder, but if you look at the first paragraph on the second

[1:45:00] Page with that dash line, that's where we'll fit in the new language that's being proposed, so we can look more closely at this article next time.

[1:45:12] And then article 7 is the downtown business district zoning, the planning word voted last week to places back on the warrant, because they had a procedural defect in the posting last time.

[1:45:24] So that's here and I will go through several pages.

[1:45:28] This is all the downtown improvement zoning.

[1:45:34] Oh, sorry, that's my packet.

[1:45:38] The last article is article eight and it is a placeholder for roadway acceptance,

[1:45:47] which we're waiting to confirm whether or not that's needed.

[1:45:50] So that would potentially come off.

[1:45:54] So, I guess my question for you this evening would be, are there any articles that you would

[1:46:00] want to have folks come and present to you?

[1:46:04] We can talk a little more about the budget adjustment article as that changes, but if there's

[1:46:11] anyone that you would be looking to have come before you, so the public works, potentially

[1:46:17] at the planning board.

[1:46:19] you know the planning board article planning board. Okay. Just understand and

[1:46:23] give the public more time that's fair about it. Okay. And then we can also have IT

[1:46:27] come and talk about the permitting software. And not to be too picky but to be consistent

[1:46:33] at the end of all of our names. It says Slackman of Westboro should say select

[1:46:40] board. Okay.

[1:46:42] And I would say if you mentioned DPW that would be if we have that last hour to play.

[1:46:48] Okay.

[1:46:51] Do you need to see the police department related to the revolving account?

[1:47:02] I mean, I...

[1:47:04] I'm familiar with what it is, and it's a revolving account.

[1:47:08] Okay.

[1:47:13] Back through.

[1:47:17] Boardable housing trusts.

[1:47:18] I assume you don't need to see.

[1:47:21] So then I can look at the rest of them or yours.

[1:47:23] So...

[1:47:24] Okay. Great.

[1:47:27] Okay.

[1:47:28] Thank you.

[1:47:29] Thanks.

[1:47:29] All right. Item 11.

[1:47:37] So we have two appointments to consider here. One on the council of

[1:47:42] aging where there is one candidate. And then my understanding is currently one or the economic

[1:47:52] development committee with potentially a second.

[1:47:58] Yes, there is a second. There is a second.

[1:48:01] So, so we did I did update your packet just this afternoon that there's three vacancies

[1:48:07] currently on the EDC. One of them is specifically the director of planning so that would

[1:48:11] not get filled until someone is hired for that position. So, there are two select board

[1:48:16] position available. Okay. And so we have three candidates for those two positions.

[1:48:27] I think George Bannon had been before us previously. We considered him at that time,

[1:48:34] head sort of not considered him for the slot, but now there are two available positions

[1:48:44] and along with him, we have Amy Mosher Berry and Christine Pittman who have put themselves

[1:48:52] forward for the economic development committee as well.

[1:48:59] I guess first, if we want to consider

[1:49:03] Mr. Whales for the Council.

[1:49:07] I would move to a point Doug Whales to the Council on Aging.

[1:49:19] I would just say I've had several conversations with Mr. Whales over the years about his interest in the Council on Aging is interest in the community center as an intergenerational space.

[1:49:32] these involved with many activities that are at senior center and just in the community

[1:49:40] and I think it'll be a great addition.

[1:49:42] There's a lot of organizational experience.

[1:49:44] I think it'll be real asset to that report.

[1:49:49] Thank you very much.

[1:49:51] Okay.

[1:49:51] So motion and second all those in favor.

[1:49:55] 5 to 0.

[1:49:57] Thank you, Mr. Wales.

[1:50:00] Okay.

[1:50:00] Now, three individuals for the Economic Development Committee,

[1:50:10] so can I just, just, in general, before we kind of take about one of the things that I've seen in particular, and I'm closest to the EDC right now is the board's representative there is, it's interesting to me that none of the individuals according to their application and according to my knowledge of the past handful of meetings.

[1:50:34] None of them have actually attended an EDC meeting.

[1:50:39] We don't make that a requirement to my knowledge of other boards and committees,

[1:50:45] but I feel

[1:50:47] like going forward I think this board should really think about is that a minimum requirement

[1:50:53] or someone who is applying to be part of this that they can speak to, yes, I did, this is

[1:51:00] of interest. The in particular, you know, it's one of our goals as a board to look at the

[1:51:08] economic development kind of committee and, you know, approach. And, and what is its mission?

[1:51:16] Can it be, this is a committee that's, that has struggled over the past several years and just,

[1:51:25] I feel like it doesn't have its way. So I'm not opposed to adding new members at this point.

[1:51:30] we sort of needed in some ways as a quorum or to achieve that, but my hesitation is sort of

[1:51:43] this, you know, people that are submitting interest in particular to this committee who have

[1:51:47] never attended and one individual who, at least according to the fact that I saw it, you know,

[1:51:54] C.V., gave us a paragraph.

[1:51:58] So, you know,

[1:52:02] I'm always grateful for individuals who want to step up and participate,

[1:52:08] I think we all are.

[1:52:11] And I don't mean to place this committee with some sort of different level of importance,

[1:52:17] but knowing what is or isn't being discussed at the committee level, I just have concerns

[1:52:23] kind of about where we're out with that committee and kind of in its future.

[1:52:32] Thanks, Shelby. Yep. Are there thoughts from the board? Well, I just related to that. I, I understand your point, but I'm not sure that, you know, the question doesn't say have you watched any meetings. So, you know, I would say that's not necessarily fair to the applicants to say, well, the question says have you attended and they answered, no, but I would hope that they're doing some homework and, you know, but to that effect,

[1:53:02] I'm disappointed that no one's here to kind of address us and comment.

[1:53:08] My leaning on this is, you know, I thought all three were good candidates.

[1:53:15] I, you know, based upon the information I have here.

[1:53:18] I'm leaning towards the two residents, but, but I would like more information.

[1:53:25] So, I guess I would, um, so I, again, want to be clear.

[1:53:31] we're not going to change the rules midway.

[1:53:33] So I'm just saying I think that the words you think about maybe even to end your

[1:53:36] point mark with Westport TV obviously we should however we want to freeze that but really

[1:53:42] kind of like what's your real interest here? Sometimes I just don't get a sense and I do

[1:53:49] think that this particular committee has some nuances to it that are different than I'm interested

[1:53:55] than being the cultural council and again not prioritizing one over the other, just the complexities

[1:54:02] of the EEC sometimes. I think our maybe not appreciated in the application. That said, I was

[1:54:09] previously not in favor of Mr. Beth, is it Bonan or Benan? Bonan, thank you. Okay, well, we'll

[1:54:19] that I said that right and if not you can use it at wrong note. I do think that his role

[1:54:29] and his experience in economic development at a much higher level than sort of small business

[1:54:36] downtown which right now our committee has a lot of focus on that like and I look small business owner

[1:54:43] like I get it, right. I think could be a healthy addition to that committee. So that is a change in my position from prior that I want to share with the board and then in terms of the other two individuals. Again, I just I don't have enough information about one of them. So it would make it difficult for me to recommend that person going forward.

[1:55:12] So, I can be brief because I have the exact same thing.

[1:55:18] We had one which was basically wrote a paragraph and just experienced, but I'm not sure

[1:55:23] what it actually is.

[1:55:26] Not I'm not going to, I just don't, we put out a CV, I don't know what the roles are versus

[1:55:32] just putting down that this was there and then as I read through it, I wanted to see more.

[1:55:38] But without seeing that, I just compare to what we received in the others, I feel the two that I think, for my side at least, was in a Mosher Berry and George Bond.

[1:55:55] Little similar.

[1:55:57] Thank you.

[1:56:02] Okay.

[1:56:04] Okay.

[1:56:07] Would you then like put forward motion?

[1:56:10] Sure.

[1:56:10] So, I would move to a point Amy Mosher Berry and George Bannon for a term to expire, sorry, I'm looking for it.

[1:56:27] Someone help me.

[1:56:27] Thank you.

[1:56:29] There it is June 30, 2029.

[1:56:31] Sorry.

[1:56:32] Economic development committee.

[1:56:34] So these are rolling the appointments. Are they both through 20.29?

[1:56:41] Still, thank you. Good catch, Sean. I didn't

[1:56:51] like it.

[1:56:51] The current. So the most recent vacancy is actually through June. There is 20.27.

[1:56:59] Okay. So when I have to say so, I would I would move to a point a George Bonan to the

[1:57:07] on economic development committee for term to expire June 30, 20, 20, 20,

[1:57:13] seven.

[1:57:13] Second.

[1:57:14] Okay.

[1:57:15] Do you want any time?

[1:57:16] Yeah.

[1:57:16] All right.

[1:57:17] All those in favor?

[1:57:20] Right.

[1:57:20] To zero.

[1:57:21] And then I would move to a point, Amy Mozier Berry, to the economic development committee

[1:57:27] for term to expire June 30, 20, 29.

[1:57:30] Second.

[1:57:31] comments.

[1:57:32] All those in favor?

[1:57:35] To zero.

[1:57:36] Okay.

[1:57:38] Thank you, all three candidates are reaching out.

[1:57:41] And I would ask that the other applicant, Ms. Pittman, if she's interested, I would love

[1:57:46] to have a conversation.

[1:57:48] I have a contact information.

[1:57:49] I will reach out.

[1:57:50] Just explore what she's interested, but she can feel free to do that for anyone of us.

[1:57:55] Okay.

[1:57:56] Thank you, Shelby.

[1:57:59] Okay.

[1:57:59] Item number 12, request to approve the meeting minutes of August 18th and August 26th, 2026.

[1:58:08] Some of them.

[1:58:09] Second.

[1:58:11] Any comments?

[1:58:13] Thank you for getting them out.

[1:58:14] Yep.

[1:58:14] All those in favor?

[1:58:17] So, I was not present, so I'll abstain, though.

[1:58:20] I did watch the meeting.

[1:58:21] Okay.

[1:58:22] Where is your one abstention?

[1:58:25] All right.

[1:58:27] Item number 13,

[1:58:28] our town manager report.

[1:58:33] We held our first formal public engagement meeting at this senior center for the Community

[1:58:38] Center.

[1:58:40] It was myself, our assistant time manager, our senior social services director, our

[1:58:44] recreation director, and design team hosted this.

[1:58:47] We had several attendees.

[1:58:49] I was for a TV, this present to film the meeting, so you can see that on what's for a

[1:58:53] TV.

[1:58:54] There was, I would say there was broad support from the majority of attendees not all, but the majority, because one, one, attendee actually asked folks to raise their hands if they were in favor of the second elevator in the lower level.

[1:59:09] And it was suggested that that be included in the base project bid rather than held out as an alternative. So that just came out of that meeting.

[1:59:17] The Metro West Regional Communication Center met last week, the board met last week and we voted to move forward with the borrow of $2.5 million to fund the renovation project.

[1:59:28] Those net service costs as a reminder are reimbursable by the C&O 1 grant. C&O 1 is under, representatives have continued to participate in these meetings and are aware of this strategy and we expect the project to be going out in the coming weeks.

[1:59:43] And then the Planning Director of Search Committee met last week to review applications.

[1:59:49] We're meeting tomorrow evening to hold the initial round of interviews.

[1:59:53] So, could you remind us who's part of that search committee, please?

[1:59:57] So, it's myself.

[2:00:00] Mark, as your representative, Hazel Nurse and John Galsuch from the Planning Board, Todd Alexander and Bill Linne, as members of the public, appointed by the Planning Board, Chris Pant, public or instructor.

[2:00:17] I'm Fred Leonard.

[2:00:19] Okay.

[2:00:20] Thank you.

[2:00:21] Thank you.

[2:00:23] Um.

[2:00:25] For department update, uh, I think we mentioned last time about the school backpack

[2:00:29] drive.

[2:00:30] It was a great success.

[2:00:31] Additionally, John Klingensstein, who's our program engagement coordinator and Kendra

[2:00:35] Falthada, who's our director, hosted a district meeting with Westboro counterparts, from

[2:00:40] surrounding communities to discuss best practices and strength and collaboration.

[2:00:45] The senior center is hosting a flukin clinic on September 22nd from 10 to 12, but the greater

[2:00:52] boroughs public health nurse registration is required, so there's a link on the my time

[2:00:57] measure report which will go out and then there's also a flyer attached which has a QR code,

[2:01:02] so people can register a couple different ways. Under recreation the golf course has had a

[2:01:09] year in fiscal 27. July was a good month in August. The courses up 10% in green fees revenue

[2:01:17] compared to the previous year. The Board of Health in May of 26, they voted to ban the sale of

[2:01:27] Cretem throughout West Farrow. Cretem has a growing concern about potential health and safety risks,

[2:01:34] including reports of overdoses and other serious adverse effects. There's actually a fact sheet

[2:01:39] It's also attached to the Tom Manager report in August,

[2:01:44] the Mass Department of Public Health

[2:01:45] took statewide action regarding

[2:01:47] CREEDOM temporarily placing it in

[2:01:49] one, so restricting it and sail

[2:01:50] throughout Massachusetts.

[2:01:54] And then finally, the library has provided

[2:01:59] their transition plan from their

[2:02:01] temporary space to their new space.

[2:02:04] So there's a lot of information in here,

[2:02:05] which I would encourage both to read,

[2:02:07] but essentially from September 9th to the 23rd,

[2:02:11] there's gonna be limited services at the temporary space

[2:02:13] because they're beginning to move things back

[2:02:14] into the new library.

[2:02:16] The last day in the temporary space

[2:02:18] is gonna be September 23rd,

[2:02:20] when they close up five o'clock.

[2:02:22] And then they're gonna be closed until early November.

[2:02:25] So the first week in November

[2:02:26] is when they're playing to reopen at 55 West Main.

[2:02:29] And that will give them time to move back

[2:02:31] into the building,

[2:02:32] become familiar with new systems

[2:02:33] and do training with staff to prepare for that reopening.

[2:02:37] But there's also information on here about how you can stay engaged with the library, other opportunities.

[2:02:43] How you can access library services.

[2:02:48] That's it.

[2:02:51] All right.

[2:02:52] Thank you, Christy.

[2:02:56] You can just say the first one.

[2:02:59] It's a question.

[2:03:00] Oh, sorry.

[2:03:02] Issues in correspondence of the board. Who would like to begin?

[2:03:07] Oh, yes.

[2:03:07] I actually have stuff to add to that, so that's all right.

[2:03:11] I just want to, we're upcoming events echo what came before us at open forum,

[2:03:17] but to remind folks of the 911 event occurring at the fire station at the 911 Memorial,

[2:03:23] 845 AM.

[2:03:26] I hope people do attend that event on the 25th.

[2:03:32] 945.

[2:03:33] 945.

[2:03:34] 945.

[2:03:38] I think he added it, it was a correction.

[2:03:43] Sorry, 1945.

[2:03:46] Thank you.

[2:03:49] Along with that, I did want to thank the Fire Foundation, the folks who've gone by.

[2:03:54] They have basically done a number of plantings and kind of refurbishment of that.

[2:04:00] more of us if we get a chance to go and look by from the foundation, which has funded that and

[2:04:06] also provided all of the work along with other residents who help with pouring concrete, putting

[2:04:15] benches in, et cetera. So, be great for those that turn out, but it really looks nice and

[2:04:29] for our retired fire chief Pat Purcell and tickets for that can be purchased.

[2:04:35] That's on a Sunday, ticks on that can be purchased on the Fire Foundation website and then the last one is on October 13th is the police foundation as their annual golf tournament at Hopkins and Country Club and you can register for that on the police foundation website.

[2:04:54] That's what I had.

[2:04:56] All right. Thank you,

[2:04:59] Ian.

[2:05:00] Go ahead there, Mark.

[2:05:03] I'm sure you want me to go next.

[2:05:05] Sure. Okay.

[2:05:08] Well, my first thing was an issue.

[2:05:10] We had changed the parking

[2:05:16] restrictions on West Street to accommodate school pickup at Armstrong.

[2:05:21] And there's this open that maybe at a future meeting,

[2:05:23] we could get an update from either the principal or somebody

[2:05:27] the school departments whether those are working. I've been by there a few

[2:05:34] times. One of the science does not seem to be placed appropriately. It's all

[2:05:40] the way at the end of the tennis court and I thought the restriction was only

[2:05:43] to the crosswalk. So that was one of my concerns with how that was

[2:05:49] implemented but I guess mainly I'm just concerned that it's it's working. And it's

[2:05:56] obviously too early in the school year to know, but I don't want it to get it to January

[2:06:02] and find out there's a problem.

[2:06:06] We have a bunch of good events coming up that I wanted to highlight Saturday, September 12th,

[2:06:13] is National Battery Take Back Day at Harvey, so you can return all your batteries and get

[2:06:21] those recycled, which also leads me to the hazardous house. Unlike Ian, I don't usually

[2:06:26] announce events that I can announce in our future meetings, but the hazardous house.

[2:06:33] The household hazardous waste aid does require some advanced preparation, and that's

[2:06:38] on Tuesday, September 29th, from 4 to 8 PM at DPW. So, start collecting all your hazardous

[2:06:47] waste Friday. There's live music at nurse farm. That's free to the public.

[2:06:56] In addition,

[2:06:57] if that's not enough music on September 19th is porch fest, which I'm extremely excited about.

[2:07:06] cultural council activity that will have live music at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 different locations

[2:07:19] from 1 o'clock to 4 o'clock. I would encourage you to go to the cultural council website to determine which band you want to see.

[2:07:30] That coincides with one of the locations is the food pantry, and they're having an open house from 2 to 5.

[2:07:37] So I would say no matter what band you go see, see if you can stop by the open house and drop off some donations.

[2:07:46] A check, whatever you are inclined to do to support our food pantry.

[2:07:52] And I think last, is that the last one?

[2:07:57] Oh yeah. I don't know who's here from Westboro TV is Aden and Aden's in the room.

[2:08:05] That's too bad. Tim in the room?

[2:08:08] No, we should bring them before us actually.

[2:08:10] Well, we should because they won for the second year,

[2:08:13] second and consecutive year won the hometown media award for overall excellence in public access.

[2:08:20] We should be very proud of the job that our TV station does on a limited budget.

[2:08:28] for as a service to this town and they took home several other words so it would be great

[2:08:33] to bring them in the acknowledge that. Yeah, all right that's all I had.

[2:08:38] All right, thank you, thank you. Sure, I'd like to share with the community that the EVU

[2:08:49] Expo is Sunday, September 20th. The green date is Sunday, September 27th. It's true to

[2:08:56] PM at the Amazon Robotics parking lot at 50 Otis Street. We hope to see folks there. I believe

[2:09:02] a couple of dozen different vehicles there, so it would be great to see some of the newest

[2:09:07] EV vehicles out there and the different technologies. Then I just wanted to comment since my name

[2:09:12] was brought up in open meeting by Mr. Barrier. I think it's just a comment that I don't feel

[2:09:17] it's appropriate that myself is a select board member and this board does not have oversight

[2:09:23] over the planning board to set their policy for me to make any comments. Other than one

[2:09:28] thing is that I did sit in the meeting last week and I was surprised that the planning board

[2:09:36] had altered their opening cadence. I'll call it in a policy they just established.

[2:09:42] So it was a little bit surprised there, especially considering the topics that were before them.

[2:09:47] So that's all of that.

[2:09:50] Thank you.

[2:09:56] So my one question sort of to the board just the cadence, and I actually had reached out to

[2:10:03] Sean beforehand, but I want to bring it forward tonight, is just that we do need to as

[2:10:14] And we got an update from our DPW director on the amazing tip project on East Main Street.

[2:10:23] And then the comments that were in the packet by a member of the ATSC that being dumped.

[2:10:28] So that matter does need to be addressed by this board and I want to do so in a way that

[2:10:38] is, you know, appropriate and thoughtful, but I don't want to lose sight of that.

[2:10:45] So, through you, Mr. Chair, working with Christie about the timing, I think I'm hearing

[2:10:53] MC nods.

[2:10:54] We've got to address that.

[2:11:00] This one I might just need a reminder of the downtown improvement plan, final plan that we

[2:11:10] receives from the consultants, and then the, go, maybe you have an update.

[2:11:16] Well, I don't know if Christy has an update, but I can certainly give one question.

[2:11:19] Well, where is going was, where is that in the next iteration?

[2:11:23] Because I understood that the planning board were, they were going to review it.

[2:11:26] I know we don't know a planning directory now, and then there was going to be,

[2:11:30] I thought some further conversation, because as, I'm sure this board is aware,

[2:11:34] The, I continue to get questions about when is this board going to make a decision about the peanut out the peanut itself?

[2:11:41] Sure. So I'll just give you my interpretation of the discussion that the planning board had last week.

[2:11:47] They had a good conversation around, around what items each one of those board members thought were important in the report.

[2:11:54] And their action item was to take that back, actually provide a list back to Kristen, so that the planning board can have a full discussion on what they think the priority is.

[2:12:03] are coming out of that report so that they can make a recommendation to us.

[2:12:08] That's my understanding of their next step.

[2:12:11] Okay.

[2:12:14] Okay.

[2:12:14] Yes.

[2:12:15] I mean, that was the process that the board agreed to.

[2:12:19] Yeah, the joint meeting, so they received it in my understanding is that that meeting last week was the first time that they had talked about it.

[2:12:26] Okay.

[2:12:26] We'll just track that then.

[2:12:29] That those are my two items.

[2:12:31] Thank you.

[2:12:33] All right.

[2:12:33] Thank you Shelby. I would just I guess the only thing I have is that if you were here for our discussion about

[2:12:43] Amazon and potentially using drones from their facility in Westboro, they are doing a community meeting

[2:12:51] September 23rd at the double tree

[2:12:55] it begins at

[2:12:57] five p.m.

[2:12:59] And I believe you can reach out under my mayor community meeting to get further details and potentially RSVP.

[2:13:11] Can I just, I'm sorry, one thing.

[2:13:14] There was a comment made at a meeting.

[2:13:16] I was not, it was on the 18th.

[2:13:19] I just want to be clear that the school community has longstanding use of open form.

[2:13:25] They don't call it that it's community. I think it's community comments or whatever

[2:13:30] You may feedback, but that's always been part of their meetings. It used to be sort of in the middle

[2:13:35] It looks like since I've looked at some recent agendas. It's now at the forefront of their meeting.

[2:13:40] I think the concern was around they have had subcommittee meetings recently, which

[2:13:46] Oh, I've not had

[2:13:48] Okay, yeah, that I'm not aware, but I just I wanted to be clear because I've been to many of those and they've been some pretty lively ones

[2:13:55] over the past couple years, okay, that's great, all right.

[2:14:00] So for executive session, just the first one.

[2:14:05] Just I didn't want more.

[2:14:09] Okay, I would like to move the board

[2:14:14] into executive session under a master general launch

[2:14:17] after 38, section 21, A2 to conduct strategy sessions

[2:14:21] and preparation of negotiations

[2:14:23] and contract negotiations with non-union personnel

[2:14:26] Daniel there, Patrick Purcell and Christie Williams, if the chair determines an open meeting

[2:14:32] but have a detrimental effect on the towns negotiating position.

[2:14:38] Pardon me.

[2:14:40] Yes.

[2:14:40] I believe that this would have a detrimental effect on the town's negotiating position.

[2:14:47] We will not be returning to open session after executive session, can I get a second?

[2:14:53] We'll call vote.

[2:14:54] partially yes

[2:14:55] johnson yes

[2:14:57] that well chance

[2:14:58] still the biggest in

[2:15:00] Thank you, yes. Thank you, Westboro TV and congratulations.

Westborough Select Board Meeting - September 8, 2026

Transcript