00:00:01,467	S1:
Anybody available for public input.

00:00:06,067	S2:
Oh, sure. Billy.

00:00:07,167	S1:
Oh, we have somebody.

00:00:11,667	S1:
Michelle.

00:00:15,667	S3:
Hi. Good evening, Michelle Bailey to Remington road. Um, I had just a few things I wanted to ask about. Um, first one wanted to find out if the Board of Selectmen had changed their policy on signs on public property. I noticed there's been a sign up for the Waring School on the corner of, um.

00:00:37,601	S3:
And, uh, what is that, Essex or 22? Uh, since before Thanksgiving. And it's not been removed. Um, I also was curious. Um, it looks like you're going to be looking at a food service license approval, and, um, I'm, I guess in my opinion, you have no choice but to deny it based on the fact that you denied earlier somebody's permission to use Pleasant Pond for having outstanding fees. Um, and there was one last thing on the agenda I wanted to ask about. Oh, um, I see that you're closing the warrant tonight. Um, and I am concerned that an item from the town meeting last year, which was incorrectly filed, um, has not been refiled so that if someone wanted to have a petition to fix that, um, their time is up. So I'm disappointed that that did not happen in a timely manner.

00:01:43,467	S1:
Huh. Um, can I can I ask what was refiled? What was filed incorrectly? I'm not sure I follow.

00:01:51,567	S3:
There was an amendment at the town meeting regarding term limits for the CPC, and it was filed incorrectly because the minutes were recorded incorrectly. However, KP law has determined from the video that in fact the intention was that that applied to all members. And unfortunately, because you're closing the warrant tonight and we do not have the corrected wording done, if we wanted to do a petition for that, we would be unable to do it.

00:02:24,400	S1:
Got it. Okay.

00:02:27,100	S4:
Michelle, I don't think there's any, um, if I may.

00:02:31,000	S1:
Yes, please. Thank you.

00:02:32,400	S4:
I don't I don't think that there's any disagreement in, you know, that that the petition was filed incorrectly and that the recording shows that, um, you know, essentially supports what you're saying, and we're, you know, we're working through it, you know. However, the town clerk had some health concerns and was out for an extended period of time. And so the ball was kind of dropped on that front. However, she's back and you know, we're working to file it.

00:03:03,567	S3:
Yeah. But my concern is that there was some discussion about whether or not it would be accepted by the state. And so if if someone were to want to correct that, they would be unable to do it in this town meeting due to the delay by the town and the mistake by the town.

00:03:22,400	S1:
Um, okay. I think we'll look into that. I have some questions, but, um, we'll look into that. Thank you for those points.

00:03:34,167	S1:
Anybody else?

00:03:39,767	S1:
All right. No one's here. Town administrator update and town announcements. My favorite time.

00:03:47,567	S4:
Uh, so, speaking about town meeting, last town meeting, we had a an article to move from an Elected clerk to an appointed clerk through special legislation, and that was signed just last week by the governor. So now it will show up on our local election, which is the next step. And if it passes the local election, I believe there is a set of on a five month overlap period, so it won't take effect for five months. You know, you know, on the fifth at the end of the fifth month. It will go from an elected position to an appointed position. We just were awarded $50,000 for a Green Initiative grant to install the mini splits at the Koa. So that's effectively electrifying the heating and cooling system over there. Kudos to Mike and I'm working hard getting that grant through. Um, I just want to remind the board about the iron rail Project if you get any comments back to me. We have had to pivot a little bit. I don't think we're going to be able to afford to go with any engineering study for cost estimates on rehabbing the existing structure, however, I'm working on coming up with some sort of a gross estimate on costs associated because the project in Hamilton with their town hall is actually very similar to what we were proposing, just, you know, not really updating the inside, only what's necessary and doing, you know, essentially updating the building envelope, adding an elevator for Ada compliance, access access, bathroom accessibility, things like that. So I think we can get a decent rough estimate there with that. I have, uh, got a quote from an appraiser to do an appraisal. I think what we're proposing he does, and I'd like to get some feedback from the board so we could, you know, think about it and get back to me. I think that to kind of serve as a benchmark again, we go through, you know, infinite amount of variables. And what would this cost? How much is this worth? Things like that. But I figure, you know, as a starting point, to be able to go to the community and say, you know, we have this asset and it is worth like, here's two, two scenarios. You just sell it, sell it outright to a developer, let them do what they can do. It's probably the best the best price you're going to get for it. Let them do what they can do. Buy right. Which is single family homes. And you know, that track of land assuming that the ball, the soccer fields, the cemetery, obviously the DPW and water aren't affected. So we'd make the extraordinary assumption that those would be subdivided off the parcel and it would be the the structure, the original structure, and then the upland over to the, um, to the right of that. So to see the value there and then it seemed like overwhelmingly positive results. And one of the only points that everybody kind of agreed on was that if you're going to develop anything there, the use that seemed to be most compatible in the community was some sort to continue the recreation theme. So I was going to propose doing some sort of a, an appraisal. Well, we talked about it to do appraisal with. And the other thing was the to maintain the historic kind of integrity of the building envelope, maybe do something different with the interior to be able to sell the building and the back land to create some sort of an indoor athletic facility, gymnastics, whatever, and then keep the building, sell it with the restriction to keep the building envelope, um, you know, looking the same. Obviously you can repainted and update it a little, but to have, uh, you know, maybe 1 or 2 bedroom condos or something like that with an affordability component, and then that way it wouldn't change the view. When people are driving by, you'd still have the historic structure, and then the athletic facility could be built in the back where it's kind of, you know, not seen. It would impact the fields and it would kind of stay with the, you know, with the theme of recreational and athletic use. So let me let me know what you think again, where this is not going to come back up until March just with town meeting. Come in. And you know, we just want to focus in on that.

00:08:19,400	S1:
But so you want our, our our comments on the project.

00:08:24,467	S4:
Forward an email. Uh, a few weeks ago, I think, uh, to get some comments. I hadn't got any comments back. So I just want to get back to them with anything, any concerns we have with the draft. Um, so we met with the school building committee, Peter and I, uh, last night and, uh. so they're looking to have another community forum on. 228 I believe the location is to be determined. And so basically what we're doing now is we've come up with kind of our core recommendations that are going to go to the MBTA. I believe we eliminated two. So that leaves 12. Is that right, Peter? Yeah. We have 12 that are going to the MSBA. But it's, you know, important. And they continue to remind us last night what that these estimates and the cost estimates that have been circulated around are really just gross cost estimates based on averages, uh, to construct buildings of similar size across different communities and that these costs can change and will change as we kind of enter this next stage, which we're going into now, we're going to be whittling the 12 down to, you know, one, one or a couple of preferred options. And they're also going to be actually looking at more of like interior design. So what does the layout have to be to comply with the ad plan? You know, if you have a, uh, you know, a, a fifth grade Spanish class, you know, to make sure they're laid out with, you know, appropriateness with the rest of the fifth grade classes and, and things and things like that. So that's kind of what we're working on now, um, and moving forward. So ultimately on, I think it was the 415 where submitting a preferred option. So a lot's going to happen over April, 15 months.

00:10:24,567	S4:
Uh.

00:10:26,167	S5:
So this is not going to go before the, uh, town meeting until a year from now.

00:10:32,200	S4:
Yeah. Right. Yeah. It's definitely nothing will be on the town meeting.

00:10:38,167	S4:
And, uh, let's see. Oh, uh, the governor filed her budget for last the end of last month for fiscal 25. It's a pretty interesting stuff in there. I mean, 3% unrestricted aid. I feel like they do that every year. Uh, they're 100 below $100 million in supplemental road bridge work. So that could come, by way, an additional chapter 90 funding on top of the Fair Share Act money that we got. So, I mean, that could be some really good stuff. Um, for Wenham. And then she's also filing this, uh, an act called the Municipal Empowerment Act. So that has that has some interesting things in there, like a local option for additional excise tax, local option to increase your hotel and meals tax.

00:11:24,267	S1:
That'll help.

00:11:25,267	S4:
Yeah, I know, I know.

00:11:28,868	S1:
Sorry.

00:11:29,601	S4:
Yeah. Uh, you know, it's some of the stuff. I'm. I'm pretty. I'm pretty excited about what they're doing a lot to clarify and streamline 30 be, which can be very difficult and time consuming to navigate and ensure you're in compliance.

00:11:45,000	S1:
So the procurement.

00:11:46,100	S4:
And procurement law. So you know, particularly around um, you know, I know with the North Shore, uh, collaborative with the IT where Colby, who is the director of the program, is always having to get creative with financing and purchasing off the state bid list to stay in compliance. And this will one of the changes they're proposing is to actually allow, like groups of communities to bid specific contracts competitively. And I think that with that, we could do better than what, you know, we're kind of held to in a best case scenario, you either go and buy yourself because your two options right now or go out by yourself, each individual contract. So you don't really get the economies of scale or go with the state bid list contract price, which just because it's on a state bid list you'll find doesn't necessarily make it a good price. It's just it's just you can you can avoid going through the procurement process by going off their pre negotiated rates. So I think that's that. That I think is pretty interesting and could be good in there. Uh you know local options for additional property tax exemptions for seniors. Um and then allow for allowing for emergency spending. Emergency deficit spending. So it's similar to, uh, your, uh, snow and ice removal. You can spend that in a deficit and amortize it over a number of years. We can will allow us to do that on a more broad range of things. So that could be helpful in the event of an emergency. And oh, and so we have harassment and discrimination training next week. Uh, Jo's organized that on the 15th. So basically we have three groups going. We have uh, management supervisors, which will be from uh, uh, 230 to 430, from noon to two is non supervisory and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. is all boards and committee members, so they. KP law recommended we split it up into different groups because each class is a little bit different and tailored to the, you know, the working relationships that those groups typically have. And that is all I have done.

00:13:54,901	S1:
That's a lot going over your time limit. Um, so I just want to remind everybody that, um, the election, presidential primaries coming up, that's for my other job. Also, we have a local election. More importantly, on Thursday, April 11th, and I believe there are quite a few open seats. So if anyone's interested in running for election, now is the time to reach out to the town clerk's office and take out some nomination papers. All the information I believe is on the website. Um, also coming up is our town meeting, which is scheduled for Saturday. Is that April 1st? April 1st? April 7th? No, April 1st. Is town meeting, right?

00:14:34,300	S4:
No, no, no, it's the seventh, I'm pretty sure.

00:14:38,000	S1:
Seven. April 7th.

00:14:39,267	S6:
Six. Six. Six.

00:14:40,868	S1:
My God. My dates are all mixed up. Yeah. April 6th at 1:00 at Buca. Um, town reports and warrants will be forthcoming. And do we deliver them? What is the plan for Tom? I don't remember what we do for town reports.

00:14:55,400	S4:
I believe historically, the town tries to get them out there. Um, at least ten days prior to the.

00:15:04,167	S6:
Uh, we still.

00:15:05,100	S1:
We still deliver them.

00:15:06,267	S7:
So that you're talking to the warrant booklet?

00:15:08,467	S6:
Yep. We deliver.

00:15:10,067	S4:
That so we.

00:15:10,767	S6:
Have a.

00:15:11,100	S1:
Warrant.

00:15:11,567	S6:
Booklet.

00:15:11,968	S4:
Yep. The printer prints and mails them, and there's. I'll have to go through my notes. Okay, you probably remember, but there's a street or two that don't that does not get mail for whatever reason. And then we can deliver on those streets.

00:15:25,968	S1:
Got it. And the last thing I wanted to bring up is that the, um, handbook, which is called what? The town of Wynnum. Personnel. Personnel Handbook is getting close. We've been working on it. We threw it back to the administration. Should be. Do we have a date that we think that we will be able to have that by.

00:15:47,267	S4:
Soon, but I don't know. I mean, probably not at this. You know, this month is pretty full, but we will definitely.

00:15:55,968	S1:
We'll be here by town meeting.

00:15:58,767	S4:
No, I think we'll have a little bit of a lull. Okay. So to speak.

00:16:02,567	S1:
Once you get down.

00:16:03,367	S4:
To the point, it goes to printer, okay. Because then it's kind of like, hurry up and wait. Okay. All right. Assuming, you know, obviously I know that I said that. Yeah. You never know.

00:16:14,667	S1:
Thank you very much. Pete. Do you have anything?

00:16:17,400	S5:
Nothing.

00:16:18,067	S1:
Ben?

00:16:19,567	S8:
Yes. The working group that, um. Michelle, Joe, myself, uh, Kate and Kirsten are part of for the new website is meeting Next week, February 14th in the afternoon. Valentine's day. So I'll be bringing a lot of warmth and, um, good feelings to that meeting where we hope to, uh, approve, um, uh, a vendor for the new website.

00:16:51,267	S1:
Awesome.

00:16:52,767	S8:
That's it.

00:16:54,000	S1:
Thank you. Deirdre. So, in.

00:16:56,267	S9:
The master plan advisory committee, the plan is coming together beautifully. I think we are in the fourth phase. So we're getting close to wrapping it up. We're actually at the point of looking at layout and design, which was kind of a fun meeting to do. It is all the strategies, vision, goals, all of it is available on the website. For anyone who wants to take a look at it can still submit comments, but we are nearing completion, which is pretty exciting. Um, it's been a long but good process and we're almost to the finish line. I wanted to mention that I had the opportunity to attend the mass municipal conference a couple of weeks ago, where actually the governor announced what Steve was just talking about, the Municipal Empowerment Act. It was, I have to say, it was a great experience, and it was actually very energizing and inspiring to hear from our leaders. Senator Warren spoke. Senator Markey spoke. Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Swift spoke together, which was both really interesting and also fun. It's clear they have a great working relationship and they're really a dynamic duo. There was a lot of excitement around the Municipal Empowerment Act, and the governor made it clear that this was based on the listening tour that she did going across municipalities after her election, and it's based on what she heard in terms of frustrations and what towns and cities are struggling with. And it's really an effort to try to improve effectiveness and efficiency in town government, as well as really focusing Um on aid for education. More chapter 90 funding for roads and so forth. There was also what I found particularly encouraging a lot of energy and optimism around climate change and resilience efforts. There's a lot of funding flowing that was clear. One of the keynote speakers was Gina McCarthy, the former Obama administration EPA chief, and she was phenomenal, really dynamic and really helped me feel encouraged, like things are happening. The money is there. We just need to just keep going, get to work. That's great. So it was it was great. Oh yeah. And one of the sessions I was able to attend was specifically about trash contracting, which which is what we're looking at in the next year. It was extremely helpful to hear other towns experiences. There were a lot of great tips and a lot of resources that we can take advantage of. So Steve and I are going to be talking about that further, and possibly putting together a working group to think through our next steps. So that was actually really fun.

00:19:35,968	S1:
Yeah. Thank you. Gary, do you have anything?

00:19:40,400	S7:
I attended the Superintendent Tracy's luncheon presentation on the new school building. And just to reiterate, reiterate that people need to come out on that 28th February meeting to get up to speed, because certainly for both towns, this is the largest project ever. And that people need to understand the restrictions placed by the state and what the ramifications are financially and so forth. So please come out and get informed on that. A lot of information on the school website as well.

00:20:13,100	S1:
Awesome, great. All right. Let's go right to discussion and potential vote to allow the Hamilton Garden Club to install a little free library at the garden in Pingree Park. Um, I'll just say that I first reached out to our library director, Kim Butler, to make sure that she would be okay with this, because we have had library directors that didn't approve of free the Free Little libraries. But Kim is very excited to have people be able to get books anywhere. So, um, that was good to hear. I also heard that, um, maybe they need to go to. I don't see anyone from the garden club go through HDC for final approval for this, because it is in the historic district at Pingree Park, but does anyone have any comments on that before we decide to take a vote?

00:21:05,267	S9:
Sounds great.

00:21:06,400	S1:
You are no okay. Messing around. So I think that if we take a vote, Steve, you let me know to approve it. Um, I'm contingent on the HTC approval. Is that something we can do?

00:21:22,100	S4:
Yeah. I don't see why not.

00:21:23,067	S1:
Okay. Thank you. Go for it.

00:21:26,701	S7:
I moved to.

00:21:27,267	S5:
Approve Hamilton Wyndham Garden Club installation of a little free library at the Garden and Pingree Park, contingent upon approval.

00:21:37,467	S7:
Second.

00:21:39,701	S1:
Are we all in favor of this?

00:21:43,067	S5:
Do a roll call.

00:21:43,868	S1:
Vote. We have to do a roll call every time Diane says yes.

00:21:46,367	S5:
Peter says yes and yes.

00:21:48,100	S9:
Deirdre?

00:21:48,467	S1:
Yes.

00:21:48,767	S7:
Here he.

00:21:49,100	S1:
Is. So that's a unanimous vote for our little Free Library discussion and potential vote on a one day liquor license for the Hamilton one, a mothers club new member social at the one a museum on Thursday, April 4th, which is a few days before our annual town meeting from 7 to 9 p.m.. Um, we do have the Hamilton one of Mother's Club, new member or person in charge. Michelle Gurney's here. Does anyone have any questions for her or any questions on the event? All the paperwork is in the packet. No.

00:22:22,367	S9:
Sounds great.

00:22:23,567	S1:
It does sound good. All right. I think we can go for this.

00:22:26,000	S10:
We should get some materials about town meetings at the event.

00:22:30,200	S1:
Yeah. Oh, can you make a note of that? That's great. Drop off at Michelle. This is all the warrant. So she can bring them to the to that social.

00:22:39,701	S5:
All right. I'm. I moved to approve the one day liquor license for the Hamilton one Mothers Club. New members social at the Wenham Museum on Thursday, April 4th, 2024, from 7 to 9 p.m..

00:22:52,100	S7:
Second.

00:22:52,968	S1:
Any more discussion? I'll vote yes.

00:22:56,300	S5:
Diane says yes.

00:22:58,000	S8:
Ben. Yes.

00:22:58,667	S9:
Deirdre. Yes.

00:22:59,367	S7:
Gary.

00:22:59,667	S1:
Yes. That's another unanimous vote. Thank you very much. Thanks for taking the town meeting materials there, too. That'll be awesome. Um, discussion, discussion and potential vote to sign a letter of support for the extended producer responsibility, or EPR legislation. And that, I believe. Deirdre, you could explain it just a little bit. Yes, for.

00:23:21,567	S9:
I will do that. So I've been in communication with Sharon Kishida, who is retired from the Department of Environmental Protection and now working with a nonprofit called the Massachusetts Product Stewardship Council. And what this group is doing is trying to push forward legislation that would basically advance recycling and specifically in the state. Specifically, there are bills pending on paint, mattresses and paper and packaging. The paint legislation is moving forward, as I understand it. Right now, the quickest I believe it's gone to the Ways and Means Committee. Um, and basically what towns have been doing have been writing letters of support to basically tell our lawmakers that we endorse this legislation and we would like to see it passed. So what I've done is take the sample letters from a couple of other towns and create a Wenham version that I would request that we sign that would go to Senator Tarr as well as representative Sally Kerins, who is on Ways and Means, and Gerry Maricela, basically just endorsing this legislation. This it's really a win win. It removes these products paint from the waste stream where right now you have to like dry it out and throw it in the trash and all those cans and so forth. This actually creates a process where all of that gets recycled and there's like a 75 cent or something charge when you buy a can of paint, and that helps to go fund the recycling of it. There will be collection points and so forth where you can bring the actual paint, plus the cans and all of that is removed from the waste stream. Same thing would happen with mattresses if that gets passed paper and packaging. So it's both attempts to reduce packaging and also pull these items out of the waste stream. So I think it's a great cause. And given what we're facing in terms of escalating trash costs in our town, as well as across Massachusetts, the landfills are filling up. The incinerators are at capacity. It's a huge problem, so anything we can do to pull things out of the waste stream and recycle them would be a huge contribution. Um, yeah.

00:25:39,067	S1:
My first question is one of the letters. One of the sample letters was from a Board of health. Right. Would that be advantageous to see if the Board of Health would also be able to write a letter, or do you just need. Should we just do one from the town?

00:25:51,667	S9:
Um, I think more I think as many letters as can be. It can only be helpful. I don't know, I think in some towns it depends on which sort of body picked it up and ran with it. That's my impression. Get it? But coming from the select board, I think, you know, representing the town, it has certain import.

00:26:11,300	S1:
I don't see any downsides to doing this. I think it's a great idea.

00:26:14,067	S8:
Any good? Could you just forgive me a few if you talked about the timing, but, um, is there a time sensitivity to sending in this particular letter in terms of, like, legislative session or anything like that?

00:26:27,968	S9:
There's some, uh, from what I understand, from Sharon. Yeah. February ish is what they're pushing for because as far as I know, paint has gone to Ways and Means, and they're trying to basically move these things forward. And because they're pending, they're trying to like keep the pressure on, particularly with paint, which is the closest to being passed. But apparently it's takes a lot to pass legislation in Massachusetts, which I didn't know.

00:26:57,300	S1:
Everywhere takes a long time to do.

00:26:59,601	S9:
Yes.

00:27:00,300	S2:
So ready to go.

00:27:02,868	S1:
Did you have any other comment?

00:27:05,100	S5:
Sounds good.

00:27:05,801	S8:
I think it sounds great. And I have no doubt that your description of the legislation, uh, is accurate. Um, personally, I'd like to read the the bills. Um, first, just just for myself. It's probably more the attorney in me than anything else that before I would say yes, let's support it. I would want to read the actual legislation. Um, do.

00:27:30,567	S5:
You want to abstain?

00:27:31,567	S8:
So I probably would. I might abstain for that reason, but, um, uh, or maybe we could put it on the next agenda just to have time to read the legislation. But I also obviously wouldn't, wouldn't raise a stink about it passing if the rest of the board wants to pass it tonight.

00:27:50,100	S9:
Well, I have some nice flyers you could look at while we're talking. And also if, if the if the word version is available these it's the legislation is linked in the word version. So you can just click and read. Not necessarily right now but right.

00:28:07,000	S1:
Definitely not now. We're busy doing.

00:28:08,767	S9:
We have a lot of other things to do.

00:28:10,667	S1:
So let's take a motion and see that? That makes sense.

00:28:15,267	S5:
I moved to approve and signed a letter of support for the Extended Producer Responsibility EPR legislation.

00:28:22,167	S7:
Second.

00:28:23,467	S1:
Okay. Any more discussion? I'm going to vote yes.

00:28:28,868	S5:
Clay says yes.

00:28:31,367	S8:
Uh, abstain for the reasons that I stated before.

00:28:35,267	S9:
Deirdre. Yes.

00:28:36,167	S7:
Gary? Yes.

00:28:37,167	S1:
Okay, so it passes for.

00:28:38,868	S9:
Lots and.

00:28:39,267	S1:
Flyers to zero, with one abstention. Thank you. Discussion and potential vote to approve and sign. I'm sorry. Discussion of a vote to accept a Spring Hill farm road and Angus circle as a public way. Um, so I'll start by saying it made me a little bit nervous that because I, there was a lot of reading legal stuff that I, I got a little stuck on, but Margaret is here and she can sort of explain that. It's this is the first step for this situation to happen. And and if and when we approve it, it goes to the planning board for them to do their due diligence before it would come back to us to go on to a town meeting warrant.

00:29:22,767	S5:
I would also say as a planning board member, we beaten the hell out of this project a number of times.

00:29:31,367	S5:
Meaning we've discussed it at length.

00:29:33,868	S1:
At length. Um, Margaret, do you want to add.

00:29:40,100	S1:
Dave is here.

00:29:40,701	S10:
Now. Um.

00:29:42,267	S9:
So this is the first step.

00:29:43,701	S3:
You're not voting to.

00:29:44,667	S9:
Accept.

00:29:45,167	S3:
This.

00:29:45,467	S9:
Street at this point. You're essentially.

00:29:47,367	S3:
Voting.

00:29:47,868	S9:
To refer it to.

00:29:48,901	S3:
The Planning.

00:29:49,367	S9:
Board. And the planning Board will do their due diligence to determine whether the road is ready for acceptance, and then they'll send their recommendation back to you. You will then have another meeting where the public and anyone that we have to take an easement from will be notified before you decide to put it on the warrant for town meeting. If you were to decide to put it on the warrant. You could even do it tonight if you wanted. Um, and then if something happens during our review process that we determine it's not ready, you can always pass over to town meeting. So I guess it's up to the board.

00:30:27,767	S1:
Do do you think that that planning board is going to have enough time?

00:30:32,167	S9:
Um, yeah, we should have enough time. This project is a little unique. It was a superseding order of conditions, which means DEP manage the, um, the conservation piece of it. Our local conservation commission was not essentially involved in the project. Um, so we are waiting for the DEP to determine whether they're going to issue their certificate of completion on the notice of intent that was filed with on the superseding order of conditions. Um, they did go out the other day. So we we suspect that they're going to issue that. But I don't know for sure when that will happen. We were advised by town Council that if DEP for some reason did not issue their certificate, that we should not accept the road because it would indicate it was not ready. If we will know more, you know, in the next week or so, whether that's going to happen. The planning board does have the authority to hire an outside consultant, which we've done to review the project. The project, they'll go out, they'll inspect the road, the, um, the drainage, uh, stormwater systems and also all of the conditions and the planning board decision have to be met. So those will all have to be determined by the planning board. And they're going to it's on your agenda on their agenda for Thursday. So we will discuss it. They'll kind of give us the push to go ahead and get all this review done. And it should be ready for their March meeting for them to make that recommendation back to you, which I think is within the time frame. Um, so the planning board review should be submitted to you by March 11th. That's our deadline for doing that. And they will they will have it by then.

00:32:16,667	S2:
Okay.

00:32:17,100	S4:
So because that would have to go. If it's March 11th, it would have to go on the warrant out to print on the warrant. It would have to be moved over at town meeting if they decided to not go forward.

00:32:31,067	S1:
It's March 11th. Too late to put it on the warrant for the printing.

00:32:34,868	S4:
Yeah. Well, I guess the two options are to add it to the warrant, and it wouldn't be okay on the warrant that went to print, or put it on the warrant that went to print in the risk.

00:32:43,801	S1:
And then pass over.

00:32:44,501	S4:
If we don't, they have to pass over.

00:32:46,067	S2:
Okay.

00:32:47,267	S1:
Does anyone have any questions?

00:32:50,000	S11:
Yeah. Question. Margaret, my understanding was as part of this development, the developer was required to create some affordable housing units. Is that still an outstanding issue?

00:33:00,100	S9:
Well, the developer created one unit, and that's counted on our Shai High is not part of the subdivision, but it was a small building that was part of the property. They also donated a lot to habitat for humanity. My understanding is habitat for humanity plans on submitting an application to the IBA for, I think, what would be considered a friendly 40 B for a two unit, um, building. We don't have that yet, so it'll be the Planning Board's purview to determine whether that condition is met or not. Okay.

00:33:37,868	S2:
Great motion.

00:33:40,767	S1:
I think we should take a motion.

00:33:42,767	S9:
Thank you.

00:33:44,100	S5:
I move to declare intent to lay out the way as a public way and refer to the layout and plan titles. Street exception plan, Spring Hill Farm and historical Wenham mass dated December 8th, 2023 to the Planning Board for their review process.

00:34:00,300	S7:
Second.

00:34:03,367	S1:
I will vote yes.

00:34:05,467	S5:
Places. Yes.

00:34:06,567	S8:
Ben. Yes.

00:34:07,267	S11:
Deirdre.

00:34:07,667	S2:
Yes.

00:34:08,000	S7:
Kerry. Yes.

00:34:08,901	S1:
That's a unanimous vote to move forward with that. Thank you. Um, I.

00:34:14,100	S2:
Have to go ahead.

00:34:16,367	S1:
Okay. I have to take it out of order quickly. I see that Dana Elara, the school committee chair, is here, so I'm just going to jump down to G and have a discussion and potential vote to reopen the Hamilton one Regional School District Agreement for purposes of negotiation. I will start this off by saying at the Quinte chair meeting, um, that's the incomes of both communities and the Select Board of both communities and the school committee. We mentioned it and discussed it, and everyone was very agreeable to open the agreement and go through it to make some changes that are long overdue. But, Dana, did you have anything to add?

00:35:01,267	S2:
Can Dennis speak?

00:35:04,801	S4:
And just what would bring it? Just for context, I believe the agreement was drafted originally in 1959. From my understanding, it has been amended. Um, you know, by way of, I guess, supplemental amendments in that they're, you know, just affix to the back of the original. And so it makes it, uh, very confusing. And also, there's a lot of current practice that I believe it doesn't match what was in the original document. And from a community's perspective, I think both us and Hamilton would like to come up with a way that can, um, uh, I guess, safeguard us from wild budgetary spring's budgetary swings in any given year due to the student population changing of the assessment, which is currently determined with a rolling three year average. And from what I gather. In order to open up this agreement for discussion, it needs a vote from all parties to the school district in both select boards. Isn't it so dangerous here that you can, uh, add some additional context that she's much more familiar with this than I am, if she has anything to add.

00:36:20,467	S1:
Hi, Dana. Do you have anything to add?

00:36:22,667	S12:
All right. Can you all hear me?

00:36:23,868	S1:
We can.

00:36:25,000	S12:
Okay. Um, it doesn't look like you can see me, and that seems fine, I guess. Um. Um. Yeah, I that was, um, I think that, uh, Steve really did a good. That was good. Um, sort of general overview. Um, the it did. Um, I don't know. One of the things that we wanted to highlight is, um, uh, the election procedures, um, and the current procedures as listed in the current regional agreement. Um, no longer conform to mass general law. Uh, um, and a couple of years ago, we, um, some school committee members spent some time with the town clerk's, um, really trying to get clarity about how to, you know, how to fix that. And the answer is that it's a little bit complicated to get that fixed. Um, and, and there's just a lot of other things that are just pretty antiquated things about, you know, that things must be published in our local newspaper, um, antiquated language, things like that. But, you know, overall, um, I think it's long overdue to have a real review. Um, so, yeah, I'm happy to answer any questions if there are any, but, um, I think that's where we are.

00:37:43,067	S1:
Thanks, Dana. I don't think we're going to have any questions. Does anyone have any questions?

00:37:46,367	S7:
Just as the school committee voted to open.

00:37:49,067	S12:
Yeah. So this is a great question, is that the school committee has voted to open quite, quite a while ago. Um, we've been talking about this off and on. Um, for, for a while. So, um, the school committee is, um, ready to discuss and, and our, um, our attorney. And I imagine that yours would say the same thing. It has really assured us that, you know, what we've agreed to do is sit down and talk. Um, the agreement itself remains in place, as is until unless and until we all come to a new agreement. So, um, you know that that's all we're really at this point. That's all we're really agreeing to do, is sit down and talk and go through the agreement.

00:38:38,000	S1:
Great. I think we can have a motion.

00:38:43,000	S5:
I moved to reopen the Hamilton Regional School District agreement for purposes of negotiation.

00:38:49,367	S1:
Second and seconded. Any further discussion? I'll vote yes.

00:38:55,167	S2:
Clay. Yes.

00:38:55,968	S8:
Ben. Yes.

00:38:56,601	S11:
Deirdre.

00:38:57,067	S2:
Yes.

00:38:57,367	S7:
Gary.

00:38:57,667	S2:
Yes.

00:38:58,400	S1:
Select Board of Wyndham has voted unanimously to re-open the Hamilton Windham Regional School District Agreement, contingent upon the school Committee and the Hamilton doing the same. Thank you. Thanks, Dana.

00:39:09,567	S2:
Thanks, Dana.

00:39:10,167	S12:
Thank you.

00:39:11,067	S1:
All right. Let's go back. Discussion and potential vote to sign a letter to Don Bannon. May I.

00:39:17,167	S2:
See it?

00:39:18,267	S1:
May I see the letter? Because I didn't finish that anyway. But I'd just like to read it. Oh, good. I think it was very well written. Don just resigned. And it's to Mr. Don Bannon. Thank you for your service to the town of one. I'm dear Don, the one of Select Board would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation for your service to the town throughout your 20 years of volunteer service to Windham. As a member of the Historic District Commission from 2007 to 2024, the Long Range Planning Committee from 2004 to 2006, the Town Hall Police Station Building Committee. From 2005 to 2013, the Community Preservation Committee from 2008 to 2009, and the Building Committee from 2014 to 2015, you made many lasting and important contributions towards preserving and protecting the town's distinctive characteristics, including its buildings, architecture, and historically significant places in Windham. In recognition of your magnanimous efforts, the Wenham Selectboard wishes you will accept a framed photograph of the renovated Wenham Town Hall, for which you gave talent and time on behalf of all the citizens. Thank you. We don't have a picture of that photograph, though.

00:40:31,067	S7:
Yes, the photographs are ready.

00:40:32,868	S2:
Right.

00:40:33,467	S1:
Oh. It's upstairs. We don't have it down here, but we we have all signed it, so we will take a official vote for that. But I think that was a really well written letter for someone who really deserves that, that gratitude. So thank you for doing that.

00:40:47,501	S5:
I moved to sign a letter of appreciation to Don Beynon.

00:40:51,100	S7:
Second.

00:40:52,467	S1:
I vote yes.

00:40:54,167	S5:
Places. Yes.

00:40:55,300	S11:
Yes, Deirdre.

00:40:56,701	S7:
Yes, dear? Yes.

00:40:57,701	S1:
It's unanimous. Vote for the letter to Don Bannon. Discussion and potential vote to grant or deny a food service permit to 36 Essex Street, Wenham. Under locally adopted right at the under locally adopted at the April 2016 town meeting. Article 11 Mass General Law chapter 40, section 57, which says local licenses and permits denial, revocation or suspension for failure to pay municipal taxes or charges.

00:41:29,701	S2:
So.

00:41:30,167	S1:
So I'm going to throw this to you.

00:41:31,667	S2:
Okay.

00:41:32,667	S4:
Um, so a new piece of information this this afternoon we received a check and I got confirmation from our treasurer collector that they, um, have we received a check that brought this property into compliance Of the mutually agreed upon payment plan that was entered by both the Water Commission and the individual, and they also paid the any outstanding water charges that were in arrears for this year. And so, you know, okay, I believe that there you know, there is still obviously there is still a balance due. But the town did enter the agreement. Um, you know, in there they've they've fulfilled their their end of the agreement.

00:42:29,100	S2:
There at this point.

00:42:30,000	S1:
They're complying with the, the terms that the town and them have set up as of today.

00:42:35,901	S4:
So my recommendation would be to not deny. And in this particular case, it is a food a food permit renewal application. Uh.

00:42:47,167	S1:
Okay. And all the paperwork was in here.

00:42:49,467	S4:
But if the board has any discussion.

00:42:51,000	S2:
Yeah.

00:42:51,868	S11:
Is the permit before us tonight?

00:42:56,667	S1:
Yeah. I didn't see it in here.

00:42:57,868	S11:
I didn't see.

00:42:58,467	S2:
It.

00:42:59,000	S4:
No, the permit is not in there. It's a food service. It's. We do it annually.

00:43:03,100	S2:
And.

00:43:03,868	S4:
They have to every every, um, organization that serves food has to file and renew their food service permit annually. And Bobby Cody, our health inspector, goes out and does the inspection. However, it was brought to my attention, um, when Bobby Cody is putting assembling the appropriate paperwork, which has one of it is to check for any past due balances through the accounting office. And that was highlighted. And then this local adoption of this master law was brought to my attention. And that's why it's here before the Select board. It's ultimately I think it doesn't require you to, you know, deny or revoke, uh, gives you the option to, uh, so I didn't want to I didn't want to issue the permit without the board's blessing in this case.

00:43:51,000	S1:
But do we have to vote to grant them the license?

00:43:53,467	S4:
No.

00:43:53,667	S2:
No vote.

00:43:54,400	S1:
We don't need to vote. I thought we were voting.

00:43:56,100	S4:
Well, you can vote to Grant. Actually, that's a good point.

00:43:58,000	S2:
Probably one.

00:43:58,400	S1:
Of us. Yes. So we have.

00:43:59,100	S2:
To.

00:43:59,601	S1:
So unless he's in.

00:44:01,467	S2:
My discussion.

00:44:02,000	S4:
If there's any comments or discussion more broadly.

00:44:06,767	S8:
Could you just clarify? Is it just the water.

00:44:10,667	S4:
In this.

00:44:11,200	S8:
Account?

00:44:11,801	S4:
Yes.

00:44:12,767	S8:
Okay.

00:44:13,400	S4:
This is a tax exempt property, right. And the only outstanding charges, um, that have to do with the town is water.

00:44:24,000	S11:
And there's an operative payment plan.

00:44:26,667	S4:
Yep. Signed by both parties.

00:44:28,167	S2:
Signed.

00:44:28,400	S11:
By both parties, which is now.

00:44:30,467	S2:
Up to.

00:44:30,701	S11:
Date. Up to date in terms of payments. Okay.

00:44:36,501	S1:
So I would like to entertain a motion to grant the permit.

00:44:42,667	S5:
Or a motion to grant A food service permit at 36 Essex Street, Wenham, under locally adopted at the April 2016 Town Meeting. Article 11. That's general law. Chapter 40, section 57 local licenses and permits denial, revocation or suspension for failure to pay municipal taxes or charges.

00:45:02,901	S7:
Second.

00:45:05,100	S1:
We don't need all that. We could.

00:45:06,100	S2:
Just.

00:45:06,767	S1:
We could just vote. Oh, okay. Hold on. But the the motion is just to to grant the food to to grant the annual.

00:45:16,100	S4:
Yeah, just the food service. The food service license.

00:45:18,567	S1:
The food service license. We don't need the.

00:45:20,167	S2:
Rest.

00:45:20,367	S5:
Of the 36th Street and.

00:45:21,701	S2:
Well, yes. Boom, boom.

00:45:23,300	S11:
Okay. So sorry, I have a couple questions.

00:45:26,167	S1:
Oh, wait a minute. Do we have a second?

00:45:27,667	S2:
Yes, yes, we.

00:45:28,267	S1:
Have a second. Okay. So we can open it to discussion.

00:45:31,267	S11:
Um, the food license is for a year.

00:45:35,167	S2:
Yes. Yep.

00:45:37,100	S11:
Okay. So if the payment plan falls apart, you know, two months from now that would be brought back to our attention.

00:45:49,000	S1:
I don't think it would.

00:45:50,000	S4:
That would be right to the the at that point it would be a revocation.

00:45:55,167	S11:
Revocation.

00:45:55,868	S4:
Board would you know. Right. The chair would have the ability to bring it back. Uh, you know, have a hearing and entertain revoking the permit.

00:46:08,000	S11:
I just I guess I want to make sure there's some loop that connects the dots that if we approve now, but then the payment falls off.

00:46:18,100	S2:
2 or 3 months.

00:46:18,901	S4:
Can be revisited.

00:46:20,167	S11:
It can be revisited.

00:46:21,367	S4:
Yeah.

00:46:22,400	S2:
How?

00:46:23,167	S1:
Yeah. How would we know to revisit it?

00:46:26,267	S7:
Well, the, uh, if I could.

00:46:28,367	S2:
Yes.

00:46:28,868	S7:
Would the, uh, treasure collector would report there was a payment schedule in place, right? So the payment, the treasure collector report to the town administrator and to the chair that that's once again in arrears.

00:46:45,367	S11:
I guess once we issue the license, we've lost our leverage, right? So I'm just trying to clarify where there's leverage going forward.

00:46:55,601	S4:
I think you have the same leverage.

00:46:57,100	S2:
Okay.

00:46:57,801	S1:
Because you can revoke it. It can be.

00:46:59,767	S11:
Revoked.

00:47:00,200	S1:
Okay. If we hear that the payment plan is not working.

00:47:05,267	S8:
Also, just as a matter of process, Steve and I talked about this already, but the statute calls for a notice and hearing process for the, um, the property owner in this case. So there would be, um, notice given before any action before we could take any action under the statute of revocation, suspension, etc., there'd be a notice sent to the property owner and then I think within 14 days of the notice or Um, or maybe it's no sooner than 14 days from the notice I forgot. Um, there would be a public hearing, so that would all happen before any vote could be taken.

00:47:52,567	S1:
Good to keep in mind. So, yes. So something to to keep aware of for sure.

00:47:57,367	S11:
Do we have the amount that's still outstanding?

00:48:01,367	S4:
I don't have the exact amount, but I want to say it's a little less than ten grand.

00:48:06,467	S2:
Okay.

00:48:08,567	S11:
Thank you.

00:48:09,367	S4:
I believe that was 18 and change. Outstanding. And we got a check for 19. No. Excuse me, 9101 today.

00:48:19,200	S11:
Okay.

00:48:21,267	S1:
So we have, uh, a motion and a second and discussion. And, um, Michelle, if you have a quick comment, we're happy to listen.

00:48:37,400	S3:
I missed the meeting where there was the request for Pleasant Pond, and that I knew the people were denied because they had something outstanding. But I do believe that the intent of that town meeting vote was that if people were not fully paid, that they would not be eligible to get licenses. And the fact that there is a payment plan indicates that that person had not paid for quite some time. And it's a history of that particular property not paying their, um, rental at the soccer field until they need a license. So you have a pattern here that's not really kosher with what is intended by the town meeting.

00:49:28,167	S1:
By the town meeting vote. Understood. Thank you. Um.

00:49:36,267	S1:
That is a good point. And I think that should we should think about that. Should it. I personally this is the school, right. They have to feed the children at some point. So, um, if we keep an eye on it and then if there's an issue, I think we go through the next process, which would be a public, a notification of public hearing and then go forward.

00:50:01,300	S8:
I'd also point out that the, um, the statute and the bylaw that was passed that adopts the statute, you know, uses the the verb may rather than shall. So it is a discretionary matter for the select board.

00:50:15,767	S1:
Thank you for that. Anybody else? Thank you. Okay. So we have the motion to grant. Seconded I say yes.

00:50:27,901	S5:
I say place is yes.

00:50:30,100	S8:
Ben. Yes.

00:50:30,767	S11:
Deirdre.

00:50:31,167	S2:
Yes.

00:50:31,567	S7:
Gary. Yes.

00:50:32,567	S1:
So that's a unanimous vote To, um, grant the food service permit.

00:50:38,367	S11:
Although maybe we could just request sort of a regular update so that we know that it's continuing.

00:50:46,167	S1:
So whatever the terms are at the next two, you would let us know if there's.

00:50:51,100	S2:
A.

00:50:52,100	S1:
Situation.

00:50:53,968	S11:
Or if it's on track. I mean, I think that's good to know too.

00:50:57,801	S5:
I think it should be. No news is good news. So they don't have to report back. Why? Why ask somebody to do that? If they're if they're staying up and they're current.

00:51:09,801	S11:
Then I guess because of the history and that it's a.

00:51:11,868	S2:
Period when they when they're not on.

00:51:14,200	S5:
That's when, as Gary says, we immediately know.

00:51:18,100	S11:
Well, I think Michelle's point is that there's history because there's a payment plan in place. So if it was just.

00:51:27,000	S1:
A one off.

00:51:27,767	S11:
A one.

00:51:28,167	S1:
Off, it's a little bit different.

00:51:29,267	S11:
Right?

00:51:29,567	S2:
That's that's.

00:51:30,167	S8:
Good. Plus, Steve, I mean it's not the that the private property owner is being asked to report. I mean, Steve's going to know based on conversations from with the treasurer collector, right? Whether or not.

00:51:41,767	S11:
It's an.

00:51:42,067	S2:
Intern, come in.

00:51:42,801	S1:
Right. So it's not them that.

00:51:44,601	S8:
Yeah, it's just an internal check.

00:51:46,868	S5:
So. Yes. Yes, yes.

00:51:50,067	S1:
All yeses. Unanimous vote to grant.

00:51:52,100	S2:
The.

00:51:52,467	S1:
Right with some follow up from from the Steve discussion. And potential vote to consent to Cape law representing Wenham with regard to Hamilton Wenham Regional School District agreement pursuant to rule 1.7 of the Massachusetts Rules of Professional Conduct. This has to do with opening the the school agreement, correct?

00:52:12,000	S2:
Yes.

00:52:12,467	S1:
And so Cape Law is our counsel, also Hamilton's counsel. So there's a letter in here that's that makes it okay. And it understands that they would be looking at Wyndham's best interest as well as Hamilton's best interest. And we just have to sign off on that.

00:52:30,167	S2:
Did you have.

00:52:31,367	S4:
To clarify a question brought up earlier today. I thought it was a good question was that Lauren will be our representative. Tom McInerney will be Hamilton's representative in the. They do not foresee our interests being in conflict. However, if they do, then they will refer us both to special counsel so that it will go outside the firm. Um, so that's

00:53:00,067	S4:
that's that. So it's not what not Tom McInerney isn't.

00:53:02,701	S2:
Doing.

00:53:03,067	S4:
For both of us. Lauren and Tom, they just work for the same firm.

00:53:09,200	S1:
Any questions? Comments?

00:53:11,868	S11:
Question.

00:53:12,601	S1:
Question.

00:53:13,300	S11:
Um, just for those of us who are not engaged in the legal profession, I just wanted to hear from Ben. Is this standard procedure at a law firm? And this is appropriate?

00:53:24,367	S8:
It is. Um, yeah. The way that Steve just outlined it would is, is the conventional way that that would happen if there. If interests, um, are no longer aligned. Then there would need to be that special counsel that comes in, and, um.

00:53:41,067	S8:
Makes the decision.

00:53:42,667	S5:
Are you.

00:53:42,767	S2:
Ready?

00:53:43,100	S1:
Let's take a.

00:53:43,501	S2:
Motion.

00:53:44,501	S5:
I move to consent to Cape law representing Wenham with regard to the Hamilton Wenham Regional School District Agreement pursuant to rule 1.7 of the Massachusetts Rules of Professional Conduct.

00:53:57,100	S7:
Second.

00:53:58,367	S1:
Any more discussion? I vote yes.

00:54:02,667	S5:
Yes.

00:54:03,167	S8:
Ben. Yes.

00:54:03,868	S11:
Deirdre. Yes.

00:54:04,567	S2:
Here. Yes.

00:54:05,267	S1:
A unanimous vote for Cape law to represent Wenham with regard to the Hamilton Wenham Regional School District. Potential discussion and potential vote to appoint members to the Climate Action Committee. This is our audience. Thank you all for coming. That is wonderful. Um.

00:54:21,267	S2:
So exciting.

00:54:22,000	S1:
So we put out the we we formed a committee, um, and, um, have a charge and a plan. And then we made an announcement for volunteers, and we have 8 or 9. Nine altogether. Um, so when I looked at the list, I didn't know everybody. So I started calling and checking in and just making sure that they were aware, finding out who was who was comfortable in a town committee, who had never been on a town committee. Everyone is definitely very engaged, enthusiastic and eager to to help bring one of them into sustainability, climate action plans, all this stuff. And so that's very exciting. Everybody has, um, different backgrounds. Really good. Um, I have two things to bring up one. We have a lot of awesome people, and we made the committee for five. So one of the things I want to bring up is do we want to increase the membership? And if we want to increase the membership, we need to talk about the pros and cons of a five member board versus a seven member board because there are differences, right? Just there's differences with a three member board to go to a five member board. I just want to bring that up my bigger concern. And then I have a question to my bigger concern is all these awesome people. There's not a lot of people that have town committee experience. So it concerns me and it concerned me before we even made the committee of who is going to assist, who's going to help schedule the meeting, write the agenda, take the minutes, follow all the proper Robert's Rules, open meeting law, etcetera, etcetera. Um, so that's my concern. That's that was my concern before and why I was kind of pushing.

00:56:22,000	S2:
It.

00:56:22,567	S1:
To July in hopes that, um, there would be more staff support available. And then before I pass it off, I just I don't recall what are the terms. Did we stagger the terms? We did stagger. So we did two one, two. Something like that. Do we remember.

00:56:44,300	S11:
22221.

00:56:45,868	S2:
Was 212.

00:56:46,868	S7:
For one year, two for two years and one for three years. I believe. Is that the way we staggered?

00:56:52,200	S2:
I think so, yeah.

00:56:53,367	S1:
Two for two, two for three, one.

00:56:55,200	S7:
Four, two for one.

00:56:56,400	S2:
Two for one.

00:56:57,000	S7:
Oh three for two.

00:56:58,067	S2:
One.

00:56:58,267	S7:
For.

00:56:58,467	S2:
Three. Correct.

00:56:59,501	S11:
Oh, I thought it was the opposite.

00:57:00,868	S7:
Well, we better check.

00:57:02,000	S1:
We better check that. Okay. I just want to make sure we did do a mall as one year minutes. Um, okay. So those are my concerns. Those are my ideas. Those are my comments. I'm throwing it out. Deirdre had her hand up first.

00:57:14,300	S11:
So first I want to say I'm beyond thrilled. Okay. If that's not beyond thrilled, like, this is a stellar group of candidates. And I want to say thank you to all of you so much for stepping up and being willing to take this on. This is, I think, a great day for Wenham, and I'm going to reframe what Diane just said. And I think it's a complete win, that there are so many people who have not previously been engaged with town government who felt compelled to go forward and come forward. And I think that is huge. That is I can't possibly overstate that enough. I think that we, we collectively can help people to get up to speed on OML and taking notes and all of those great things that are part of being a member of municipal government. So I see it as doable, and I think this is a phenomenal win for the town. And I'm really proud of what I'm honestly.

00:58:13,467	S11:
And I'm fully supportive of going to seven because that was initially what I had envisioned. But I think we were hesitant not knowing what the response would be. And I think now we know. And I think the more people that are willing to work on this issue, the better. It's a big issue. There's a lot to do. The money is out there. That's what I heard at the mass municipal conference. We need. We need all the help we can get to figure this out and to get some momentum to move forward.

00:58:44,167	S2:
I would just say ditto.

00:58:45,767	S1:
Ditto. There you.

00:58:46,767	S2:
Go.

00:58:47,868	S1:
Man of many words. Gary. Ben.

00:58:51,267	S7:
So I think there's two questions here. One expansion was not on the agenda tonight, so we'd have to roll that to the next meeting. And also, you know, on the Human Rights Committee, we had a student rep and I think tonight I don't think Alex is 18. 17.

00:59:13,701	S1:
17.

00:59:15,000	S7:
Yeah. So so in that case, that appointment can't cannot be made.

00:59:20,667	S1:
I must say I have to be a registered resident. Doesn't say it registered.

00:59:25,267	S7:
But we can't vote. We went through this with the Human Rights Committee. So you could put them on the committee? Well, yes, you could go that route. Or you can put it on as an official member, as a student, but without voting rights. So that's what we did on the Human Rights Committee. So there's a student representative or under, we should say under 18 age member of the committee officially. But because mass state law does not have an official vote. So if we there's a.

00:59:57,868	S2:
You know, that.

00:59:58,767	S7:
Information or maybe a suggestion to move from 5 to 7 and also, you know, add a student or under 18, a representative that we could bring that to the next meeting. And I think our voting or selection process would be a lot easier at that point.

01:00:23,801	S8:
Um, I support everything that that Deirdre said. I thought you said it, um, eloquently. And I do want to add my thanks to everybody who volunteered for this important committee. I think it's great. Um, and I would support, uh, at the appropriate time, I guess, at the next meeting. Um, expanding the board from 5 to 7 and adding a, um, a student non-voting position for mister, uh, Moldavian.

01:00:57,501	S1:
Um, okay. Negative Nancy here, because that's what I'm starting to feel like. But I'm so sorry. Um, what happens when our, um, under 18 member becomes 18 and wants to be able to vote?

01:01:12,067	S7:
Well, then, as we saw on the human rights committee, that usually The car requires a new member appointed each year, so it would make the the the under 18 slot an annual appointment as opposed to a one, 2 or 3 year appointment. So be an annual appointment in anticipation that usually, you know, high schooler would graduate, you know, in June and which lines very nicely with a 1st July renewal of the committee structure. So each year we'd have a new under 18 rep appointed.

01:01:49,567	S1:
Okay. That makes sense. Um, so we have, uh, Lucy, Matt, Tom Chao. Alex. Alex is our under our under age, our youngest, Sue Bob, who has pulled himself out of that race. Colby and Gunther, who's not on this list.

01:02:13,968	S5:
You said Bob Moses pulled himself out.

01:02:16,000	S1:
He did? Yes he did. He said there seemed to be enough people, and he he would be happy to be an adviser. That they can call on every time they meet.

01:02:28,000	S2:
Okay.

01:02:29,167	S5:
That's the.

01:02:29,767	S2:
Thing.

01:02:30,300	S1:
Um, so that's.

01:02:33,100	S2:
One.

01:02:33,501	S13:
Two, three, four. Six. Seven.

01:02:36,167	S11:
Yeah, it's seven plus seven.

01:02:37,467	S1:
Seven plus one. So this is how I think we should go forward. I think, um, we should let everyone know here that we want you on the committee. Sorry, Sue, you can't back out.

01:02:51,167	S2:
Um.

01:02:52,601	S1:
And, um, maybe. If so, we have some choices here. Three year, two year, one year. And I think it would make it easier for us to appoint everybody at our next meeting. If you would let us know what would work best for you.

01:03:06,801	S11:
If you have a preference.

01:03:07,968	S1:
If you have a preference. Like if someone you know, is that all right with you? Otherwise, we'll just randomly choose you for three years. Make it all three years. Um, so we will have to do the the official appointments next meeting and increase the, the the membership. We will review the charge. Um, and I, I know you guys are all going to do great. I have no qualms about that. But it might just be a little bit of a rocky start. And when you're going to decide when you're going to meet, where you're going to meet, how you're going to meet and making the agenda. But hopefully you can get some assistance from the town clerk on that. And Michelle, for scheduling. Right. So are we good with that?

01:03:58,167	S4:
We'll reach out and get preferences if anybody has it.

01:04:03,767	S1:
So thank you guys all. Oh we have a question. Miss Petrolia.

01:04:08,167	S10:
What are we supposed to do about the three, two, one?

01:04:11,667	S4:
Yeah. we'll send out an email tomorrow and then you can just reply back with your preference if you have one.

01:04:17,601	S2:
Yeah.

01:04:17,801	S1:
Oh my.

01:04:18,267	S2:
God. Really?

01:04:19,267	S1:
I'm so.

01:04:19,701	S2:
Sorry.

01:04:20,067	S10:
You didn't do that talking. So I'm super trolly sick.

01:04:23,667	S14:
Seton Road I've been around town for a while. I wanted to do two things. I really wanted to say thank you. Also, as a founding member of Hamilton Climate Action Team, who one and a half years ago on my birthday, spent the night trying to get you guys to approve the proposition, the resolution. Um, I'm so excited. There's so many people, right? We're like, who the hell is ever going to do this? Oh that's great. Um, but secondly, Sharon Kishida, who you mentioned, who is with that nonprofit who's pulling stuff out of the waste stream. She was a huge proponent of Hamilton, Wynnum and the organic recycling. So she was like one of the three main people who pushed that through. And that made Hamilton when I'm the first, um, Uh, pick up organic recycling towns, uh, east of the Mississippi. Wow. So that was about 13 years ago. So I just wanted to give Sharon a shout out. That's all.

01:05:24,100	S1:
Thank you. Thank you very much. All right. Um, anything else on that?

01:05:31,267	S11:
All right. Thank you everyone.

01:05:33,868	S1:
Thank you. Thank you for taking my calls and emails and stuff like that, too.

01:05:36,868	S7:
We need a motion to roll that to the next meeting.

01:05:39,701	S2:
I don't.

01:05:40,467	S1:
Think so. No.

01:05:41,701	S2:
Let's just.

01:05:42,467	S7:
We just going to table it.

01:05:43,968	S1:
We're going to. Right. We're going to, um, have Steve put it on our next meeting. Every time I say that, he's like, there's no more room. Okay. Discussion and potential vote to sign the letter of support for the CPC Committee land acquisition application, which is in our packet, which is, um, a definite in my mind. I think it's a great preparation For everything, but, um. Do you have anything to add to that? Steve?

01:06:13,601	S4:
No, I just think it would go a long way with the CPC to know that the full board is in support. They are. I do think it's.

01:06:21,901	S5:
Do they have a property they want to buy?

01:06:24,567	S4:
Well, the application is basically the.

01:06:27,267	S2:
Just in case.

01:06:29,267	S4:
It's two parts. It's it's six properties. It's the top six properties that are remember the Open Space and Recreation Committee put together a major. So it's a top six properties that came out of that study as being the most advantageous for the town to conserve. Like obviously there's more properties, but at least this is you know, this is a kind of a start, right? So it would be the ask the CPC is to allow, well, for them to appropriate the debt service on a set amount. So the request is $2.7 million to be borrowed over 20 years, which would equate to be about, I think it was $250,000 ish per year in debt service. However, there's no money spent until a property is, you know, hypothetically, if one of those six properties came for sale. The second piece of it was in this next town meeting is there'd be two articles. There'd be one in the CPC to grant the CPC authorization to utilize CPC funds for the debt service. The other article is to grant select board authorization to acquire an a name in name of those six addresses, and issue the debt up to $2.7 million against CPC revenue. Um, and I think and, you know, Kate and I have gone back and forth a lot. They also have a request to transfer about $1.5 million into the Open Space Fund, which the conservation fund, excuse me, which sounds like a lot, but, you know, we've benchmarked ourselves against other communities, communities who value open space generally put in, you know, their 10% every year into the conservation account. So they have balances that far exceed our request in all this is done to position us to be competitive. In the event that a land, you know, a piece of land goes for sale because you know the best. Obviously we have the right of first refusal. If the if the property is enrolled in chapter land. But you you know, that's kind of like a it's best to if you can enter negotiations prior to it. Going to the right of first refusal really can be more advantageous than if we have, you know, capital behind us. We have a pre authorization for borrowing. And we have, you know, cash. I think the potential sellers are probably it will take us be able to take us more seriously.

01:08:55,400	S5:
If this actually works well, the strategy is going to be very happy that CPC money is actually buying land.

01:09:03,167	S4:
Yeah. I mean, I think. Yeah. I agree.

01:09:06,367	S2:
Okay.

01:09:08,367	S1:
So are there any questions on that before we do a motion?

01:09:13,000	S8:
I had one question and.

01:09:15,000	S2:
One.

01:09:16,100	S8:
Just minor comment. Um, I thought it was a it is very well written memo. Thanks for putting it together. Steve, if you're the one who wrote it. Um, so in the third paragraph, second line, it says seeking CPC authorization for debt service. I think based on what you just said, it, it actually, it really is, um, authorization authority that the CPC has on this matter as opposed to just a recommendation. Is that right?

01:09:45,701	S4:
Yeah. Well, actually, that should be changed. Now that you read it out loud. It should be. They're not authorizing the debt. They're not meeting.

01:09:53,968	S8:
The spending of the CPC.

01:09:55,868	S4:
CPC funds.

01:09:57,567	S8:
Right. Okay. So it should be seeking CPC authorization for expenditure.

01:10:01,100	S4:
Of Authorization for debt? Yeah, for debt service.

01:10:05,000	S8:
Okay, well, that's what it says.

01:10:06,601	S4:
Associated with the purchase of with these properties. So now read again. By the way, you just read it, it sounded like we were asking them for, you know, debt authorization. But they have they're granting permission to issue the debt, but that's not it. That's the select board that would be issuing the debt through the separate warrant article. The request to them is only to let us borrow against their revenue, which is the CPA surcharge.

01:10:33,567	S8:
Okay. Yeah. So maybe just for that clarification and then um, the last paragraph, similar thing, it says, we urge you to approve this grant application and that that's the right way to put it, right, that they have approval authority over the grant.

01:10:45,968	S4:
Yeah. So this is right. That's then. Well, yeah. So they they approve the application. And by approving the application they make the recommendation to town meeting. And town meeting ultimately approves the expenditure of the CPC funds.

01:10:59,267	S1:
So you could you could just. I urge you to recommend this to tell me.

01:11:04,000	S2:
Instead of improve it. Yeah. Okay.

01:11:07,267	S8:
Um, and then my just minor comment was in the second paragraph. Um, maybe we should just say Open Space and Recreation Committee where it says Osric. Just some people might not know what what what it is. Yeah. Okay.

01:11:26,000	S13:
Good.

01:11:27,000	S1:
Good points.

01:11:30,467	S2:
Okay.

01:11:31,200	S7:
Just the comment that, you know, certainly this will set up the town to acquire open space that has really been repeatedly supported through the master plan, comments and so forth. And as people know, historically, we've missed those opportunities in the past for lack of preparation that this will provide. Now we really need this.

01:11:54,000	S2:
Yeah.

01:11:54,467	S13:
It's important.

01:11:55,100	S2:
Point. Very true.

01:11:58,667	S5:
Sure. Um, I moved to sign a letter of support for Community Preservation Committee land acquisition application.

01:12:06,100	S7:
Second.

01:12:07,400	S1:
Any more discussion? I vote yes.

01:12:10,667	S5:
Clay. Yes.

01:12:11,467	S8:
Ben. Yes.

01:12:12,100	S11:
Deirdre.

01:12:12,467	S2:
Yes.

01:12:12,868	S7:
Gary. Yes.

01:12:13,868	S1:
Another unanimous vote for the letter of support for the town's application to the CPC. Discussion on the Finance Committee. Capital budget recommendations.

01:12:27,801	S4:
So, before we get to that, the first part of the memo that's in the packet is talks about the potential need for additional meetings. So I think that.

01:12:37,501	S2:
Um, I'm.

01:12:38,400	S13:
All messed.

01:12:38,868	S2:
Up.

01:12:39,300	S4:
We could. I'm asking the board if they're available to meet on February 22nd. Really? Any time we can do regularly, it's outside of be regularly scheduled so we could meet early in the day if that's preferable. Or we could keep the 630 start. We can do it via zoom.

01:12:57,667	S2:
Thursday is.

01:12:59,367	S11:
Tuesday.

01:12:59,868	S2:
Or I.

01:13:00,467	S1:
Think it's a Thursday the 22nd.

01:13:08,767	S8:
It was then. Or what was the other alternative?

01:13:12,000	S4:
Well, any time on Thursday.

01:13:13,767	S1:
So that's the day.

01:13:14,968	S2:
Hoping that day we actually.

01:13:17,167	S4:
I could I could do Friday too. That's better.

01:13:20,367	S5:
Why don't we do zoom at Thursday at like 630? Does that work for you?

01:13:26,667	S1:
Does anyone have any. Can we do it earlier for anybody?

01:13:29,167	S2:
Deirdre.

01:13:30,267	S11:
Sorry. I'm just trying to think it's school vacation week.

01:13:32,868	S1:
Yes.

01:13:35,667	S11:
Sorry. What are we doing at this meeting? How long is it roughly?

01:13:39,501	S4:
Um, probably not more than an hour. Maybe only a half hour. So what? What I'm proposing, what I'm hoping to do is to have. So we're going through later on in this meeting. We're going to go through the warrant and we have obviously, the request of various requests that have gotten from the boards and the I think you don't have to make your final decision tonight, but I think if we can get a general direction and the ones that we're definitely going to include, so then that way I can, you know, kind of pressure. KP has these, but we don't yet pressure them to get our articles drafted for the non-routine ones, but then incorporate all the actual numbers for the capital plan the water transfers, the cemetery transfers, the old bills like just really build the warrant out and apply commentary to the bottom of each for, you know, pretty much every article, including the non-routine articles that we know we're going to go forward with so the board can has an opportunity to go through them. We can go through one by one. I can answer any questions on the finance, particularly the finance related articles, so that when we're coming into the 27. The Select board, which is the joint meeting with the Finance Committee, and so that meeting will have will be needed for the two boards, will go through the finance related articles together and make their final recommendations for town meeting. So the recommendation is being at the bottom of each article. It says select board recommendation in accounts of the votes. And it says Finance Committee recommendation accounts the votes. So select board will determine what the article is going to be. And then the two boards will make that recommendation.

01:15:32,400	S11:
Are we also meeting the 20th that Tuesday?

01:15:34,868	S2:
No.

01:15:35,667	S11:
Okay. So we're not so that it would be the 22nd instead of the 20th. Okay. And would we be appointing these fine people that night also.

01:15:45,000	S4:
We could if the board wants to. I'm not.

01:15:46,968	S2:
Certainly not. Yes.

01:15:47,667	S1:
I assume that we needed that extra meeting because we just we haven't had a time to focus on the things that we need to answer and finalize.

01:15:54,501	S4:
So it definitely warrants its focus.

01:15:56,400	S1:
Its warrant focus. So it depends on whether we do it at the 20th or the 27th because we're, we're.

01:16:00,467	S2:
We're.

01:16:01,367	S1:
We're meeting.

01:16:01,801	S2:
The 25th because our.

01:16:03,000	S11:
27th is the.

01:16:03,868	S1:
Regular 27th is a regular meeting.

01:16:05,868	S2:
Got it. 27 is continuation.

01:16:07,701	S4:
Of the time frame. It's so if we met on the 22nd would do what I just outlined. And we come on the 27th. We go through the warrant with the finance related articles with the Fink on two boards, have their discussion ultimately arrive on individual recommendations because it's a vote count, and then we will come back on. We can't have our regularly scheduled meeting on the fifth because of the state election. So we're proposing to move it to Monday night. And at that point, you would be presented with what would effectively be the final warrant and it's complete form, uh, to kind of give it your stamp of approval. And then it would go to the printer the next day.

01:16:54,868	S2:
Okay.

01:16:55,267	S8:
I can do the 22nd. Except, um, not between 3 and 5 p.m., but any other time that day I could do by zoom.

01:17:03,868	S2:
Five.

01:17:04,267	S1:
Five works for me.

01:17:05,767	S2:
Totally.

01:17:06,167	S1:
530 Deer Drive. She's got school vacation week. She doesn't know.

01:17:11,701	S11:
Um, yeah. That's okay.

01:17:15,467	S2:
Good. Gary's good.

01:17:17,467	S1:
Let's try to go for five. Once you look at your calendar in person.

01:17:21,968	S2:
Ideally, zoom should be hybrid.

01:17:25,167	S4:
I think this one we were going to just do zoom, please.

01:17:27,767	S1:
Oh, the 22nd. Oh, the 22nd.

01:17:29,467	S4:
Oh 22nd. Or if you wanted in person. I'm fine with.

01:17:32,501	S2:
It.

01:17:32,868	S8:
I think it's either going to.

01:17:33,667	S2:
Be hybrid.

01:17:34,100	S8:
Or zoom. Yeah.

01:17:35,367	S11:
Okay. All right. Just trying to pick.

01:17:37,767	S1:
I don't really like hybrid. So if if zoom works better, let's just plan to do a virtual. All right. Please. Okay.

01:17:46,667	S8:
And what did we say 530.

01:17:49,467	S1:
You said five, but five is fine. What?

01:17:52,467	S7:
You at.

01:17:52,767	S1:
Home?

01:17:53,167	S11:
530. Better.

01:17:54,467	S8:
I just said I couldn't do it between 3 and 5.

01:17:56,901	S1:
Okay, let's say 530.

01:17:58,067	S8:
Yeah.

01:17:59,167	S1:
Give you time to unwind? Yes. So 22nd. Okay. Perfect. And we'll you'll look at the agenda and see where we're going to put in the, the the climate action, whether it's the 22nd or the 27th, because they're both town meeting heavy. Okay. Okay. All right. That was the first part.

01:18:19,868	S4:
All right. Oh, yeah.

01:18:23,968	S1:
We lost you for a minute.

01:18:25,267	S4:
Yes. Well, basically, then I just went through, you know, the piece of information that I coming together that we don't have yet that will be on hopefully the recap on the 22nd. If not, some of the stuff will still be flowing in that that will have the cover on the 27th. And then finally we went, um, I discussed the finance committee's recommendations. So they, um, they seem to oppose. I don't know if Jeff wants to add any color to it, but they oppose the budget software, the, uh, new website, um, the police firearms. And they still can, considering the the tracking.

01:19:09,367	S5:
I haven't received any new.

01:19:11,000	S15:
Information on that. So I'd say the four items, so.

01:19:18,567	S4:
I don't know if you want to add any. Yeah. If you want to.

01:19:25,667	S15:
Yeah. So at the last uh, finance committee meeting, we ran through the, the operating budget, uh, you know, town and schools just to get a kind of take a temperature on where folks who are at. Uh, no one voiced any specific objections to the operating budget in the school budget, but there was a consensus around those four items that were just mentioned. And I think it's in the context of the, you know, the fact that we're looking at a tax increase that would be to the levy limit. It's the first year that the fields project debt will be added to folks tax bill. And more generally, you know, the idea of a of a level funded budget. So those four items that Steve was mentioning seemed more like nice to haves as opposed to needs specific. I can go through a couple of them. We kind of looked at what the payback was, but generally that was the that was the consensus that that looked more like nice to have than the needs, and given the tax increases, thought that folks might like to see a little less spending of free cash on those items.

01:20:54,801	S1:
So if I could start by asking the question, we were funding all that with free cash. Yes. So it doesn't save anybody's taxes by not taking those four articles?

01:21:05,901	S15:
Sure. But it reserves the money for, I think, what the committee generally thinks of as a better use.

01:21:16,601	S1:
Anybody? Are we are we having a discussion? You're just explaining it.

01:21:20,901	S4:
Yeah, I was just.

01:21:21,567	S15:
Yeah, I was just.

01:21:22,100	S4:
Yeah. I think if you have any questions.

01:21:23,467	S15:
Just offering a little color.

01:21:24,667	S4:
Yeah. Any color questions.

01:21:26,601	S15:
Or. Yeah. With respect to the fuel tracking, we were told that it might save two to 2.5 hours a month of Rich Sousa's time so that, you know, the payback on that $25,000 software expenditure. It looks like about nine years. And then with respect to the weapons, uh, it seems like the the current weapons are working just fine. Uh, it was presented as the ammunition for the nine millimetres, a little cheaper than 40 caliber, and also maybe a little less kick. And if you did the math, the payback on the 2020 $2,000 for the weapons is 15 years. So thought that it just didn't seem like a great investment. And then the other two were a little more nebulous.

01:22:27,501	S7:
Okay, a question on for Steve, the fuel tracking system. Yeah. You know, watching the meeting on the zoom that a lot of it revolved around accountability of the issues. But I guess the technical question wasn't the software a a mechanical need in there as well that the system needed an update or.

01:22:55,467	S4:
Well, I think you know, from my understanding that the fuel mass of software that he's looking at does, you know, it obviously it monitors the fuel, but.

01:23:06,400	S7:
It does a lot more. But the question is, my impression previously was that the current system was not longer, was no longer going to be supportable or.

01:23:18,367	S4:
System, as far as I know, is totally mechanical, right. So like you go to get a pump, you go to pump gas and you turn your key and you know, there's like this whole grid of keys and you put your key in the appropriate key and you turn it and then you pump your gas, and then it tells Rich how many units. Right. So he writes down the starting and the ending units, and then calculates how many units each key was pumped. And I'm not sure that we calculate. So this software does, you know obviously calculates it for you but takes a step further. And it's, you know, theft prevention with, you know, if you have a card like right now, if you have a key, you could go put a key in and pump, you know, 200 gallons of diesel.

01:24:06,000	S7:
But the current structure is functional as far as we can tell, into the future.

01:24:13,968	S4:
Yeah. I mean, as far as I know. Yeah.

01:24:17,968	S1:
So I did know that that also has something to do with the green communities. The fact that we're a green community, is that not what Jeff Soulard said this is.

01:24:28,567	S15:
I.

01:24:28,667	S1:
Don't it has.

01:24:29,467	S11:
All that. Yes.

01:24:30,767	S1:
There is.

01:24:31,267	S11:
Something.

01:24:31,667	S1:
That this fuel tracking software has something to do with maintaining our green communities. Okay. Um, designation.

01:24:38,601	S15:
I know we did ask a couple of follow up questions. I think we're still waiting for a response, but one was, uh, were other automated, uh, solutions considered, and at what cost?

01:24:52,801	S1:
And I just have to jump in and go. I would assume at this point, before it went into the capital plan that it had been vetted, and they did price different options out. That's what I would assume.

01:25:03,567	S15:
And the other question was, is that a one time expense or is their annual cost of of maintenance. So we know what the what the full cost is. And yes, maybe those answers would come, uh, easily, but they were just asked late last week. And I think there's been other focus in the office for the last couple of days.

01:25:28,300	S1:
Anybody else have anything on the fuel tracking software?

01:25:31,267	S5:
No.

01:25:33,100	S11:
On the fuel tracking specifically?

01:25:34,901	S1:
Yeah.

01:25:36,067	S11:
I mean, I think it would be helpful, probably for all of us to hear more from Rich, who can probably explain this more eloquently. Um, but I would say to me, it seems that this is a type of financial control system as well as an improvement in the reporting system for the green communities. And I do think that there is value in investing in financial controls. And I think three of the elements that we're talking about here collectively, because I can't speak to the firearms that's outside of my wheelhouse by far. Um, but the other three items are also about investing in Venom's future and moving us towards best practice in a municipality, enabling us to deliver services better. And I do believe that there is value in doing that, and I appreciate the fin comes looking for places to save money. Um, but I'm not sure that sort of preventing us from moving towards best practice and better service delivery is the way to balance on that. Well said, and I have more specifics on the website in particular, but I know Ben probably does as well, I'm guessing.

01:26:51,667	S8:
Yeah I have. Just just food for thought that I would extend back to the to the fin com through you, Jeff. With respect to the website in particular, and I'm sure that the fin com um, you know, in considering these things looked both at the, um, quantitative piece return on investment from a monetary point of view, as well as the qualitative return on investment from some of these expenditures. I think that the, um, the website expenditure is hard to analyze under a, um, quantitative analysis. Um, what is the financial upside of the money that we want to spend to update the website. I'm not sure that that's answerable, but I do think that there are a host of, um, qualitative benefits that at least we hope will come from the new website. The main aim of the website change is to to allow one of the citizens to save time and lessen frustration in use of the website, and also to, I think, to build confidence in the competence of the town in providing a user friendly website. So just like one minor example that I've experienced myself before, being on the board and even since being on the board, um, I think at one point I was trying to figure out the time of some town event may have been a, it may have been, um, uh, the veteran, a Veterans Day event or something. And I googled it on the town website and the hits that came back were like prior years. Times and dates. So it was sort of frustrating to try to figure out the current one. Um, and our website has become sort of this like Christmas tree over the years where things are just added to it and what we're hoping to do next week in, in selecting a particular vendor is one that has sort of a more tried and true streamlined, um, website that will, I think, make it much more user friendly for um, for Wenham citizens. And certainly that's a centerpiece of our communications strategy as well. So I'd respectfully ask the comp to to maybe reconsider its recommendation with respect to the website. Um, just keeping in mind that that I do think there are a lot of benefits that can't be measured in dollars and cents from the, um, from the investment. Totally understanding what the role of the fin com is, as Deirdre said, keeping an eye on on the purse strings. But I did want to add those points with respect to the website in particular.

01:29:37,868	S15:
I should have just added that my plan for our next meeting, which is Thursday, is to do a roll call vote so I can have more specific information about how many are in favor, how many out of favor, understanding that it's not final until we're together on the 27th.

01:29:57,467	S4:
That's a 27th, would be a good forum to discuss points and counterpoints and maybe come to a consensus. Maybe not. But then I'd say.

01:30:09,467	S15:
Yeah, not happy to take back any arguments in favor of these four items to the to the committee so we can talk to our website.

01:30:19,667	S5:
Stinks. When we compared it to other sites. It's and what we want to know do is part of this communications plan is to have a site that lets people know what the heck is going on in town, and you know how they can help if they want to. And that's not happening on our our website.

01:30:41,267	S1:
Deirdre has something.

01:30:43,367	S11:
So there was a comment at the fin com meeting.

01:30:51,367	S11:
Something to the effect of I don't think that taxpayers would want to pay for a new website. Right. So as we mentioned, this would come out of free cash. This is not an override. We're not asking for additional money, so forth and so on. Right. But I have to say that throughout the master plan process, one of the most repeated things that we heard from our residents is communication needs to improve. The website is challenging. We don't know what's going on. We can't find anything. So I disagree with that statement. And I actually think that a lot of people would be very supportive Of of having a new website with improved functionality. As I understand it, it's sort of an antiquated platform that's been like built out and built out so that the architecture of the site is all over the place. It's like a crazy octopus.

01:31:40,767	S15:
So I've had the same issues that Ben describes, right?

01:31:44,167	S11:
We all have. So there's almost like universal agreement that it's a bad website. So I guess I don't sort of understand the rationale of not wanting to address that. And particularly and I just want to emphasize that we heard that a lot in the master plan process communication and communication communication make it better.

01:32:04,567	S15:
Sure. And I think it was consensus. I'm not saying it was unanimous, but you will have more information about where those five votes land after after Thursday. But again, happy to take back and discuss as part of our meeting Thursday. Now. Any additional arguments in favor?

01:32:26,267	S1:
Gary's got something.

01:32:29,467	S7:
Can we talk about beyond these four items? Because I want to just circle back to what, a meeting or two ago that. Have we got the new AED defibrillator into the budget someplace?

01:32:43,767	S4:
Um, no, that that is not in the capital plan. The new.

01:32:47,367	S7:
But, uh, for $2,000 out of 22 million. You know, how do we get that in? Just so someday we save a life down at the freeway?

01:32:57,701	S4:
You know, I know I was gonna pull. Yeah, that. And I was gonna also bring up the, um.

01:33:07,100	S4:
The may the possibility of reconsidering, uh, adding back in the basement to the CoA after talking to, um, Jim, you know, I think that there is some really good ideas of what to do with the space in the future, but they all rely on us putting an elevator to get down there, and the cost would be extensive. And with all the other debts and costs we have stacking up against us over the next five years. I'm just not sure that Project Wood is going to bubble up to the top. So where we have a relatively you know, we have a significant amount of free cash. I'm not just looking to spend it for the sake of spending it, but this might be, you know, the year to kind of wrap up the CoA. They got a new HVAC in there. They're getting a new rug on the first floor, do the basement. And then, uh, you know, they got they got a new entryway and a deck last year. So, I mean, I think the buildings and decent I mean, obviously the attic is always stuff to be done, but.

01:34:19,868	S4:
It was just a the thought. It's another 15,000.

01:34:23,567	S11:
Do you mean the 12,000? That was in the deferred projects for the flooring. Or in addition to the.

01:34:29,501	S4:
12 in the deferred projects.

01:34:31,501	S11:
So the 12 or 15.

01:34:33,501	S4:
Yeah.

01:34:34,100	S11:
Bring it up to 15. Yeah. Okay. It was 12. Yeah.

01:34:37,000	S4:
Okay.

01:34:37,868	S1:
Okay. So it's it's. So one other point before we move on. Um, the budget software. Um, my thought on that was very similar to the website as the the select board's one of the primary goals is to increase communication and be more transparent. And this would be is a much easier way to look at the budgets. It's easier for the staff to input the budget. And it's just it's it's another communication tool. And that's why I think it's there. Um, but it sounds like there's going to be some changes on this capital plan.

01:35:10,567	S4:
So that's part of the 22nd. So the discussion here tonight I wanted to bring up the Koa flooring. Gary made a good point that I'd forgotten about the add. So I can add that back in or add it in at all in, uh. So that's probably about $4,000. Koa flooring was 12 in. Again, I can bring that back to the board because the idea of coming out adding, I know.

01:35:33,367	S1:
Right now adding.

01:35:34,400	S4:
No, no, you figure.

01:35:38,067	S4:
You guys freed up $85,000. Now I get to spend here.

01:35:40,968	S1:
Well, we just want we want to keep that money in there, though. The only thing we haven't spoken to is the firearms. But I believe that would be something that chief would have to speak.

01:35:48,767	S4:
But I felt like I wanted to bring that up. And the AEDs are a good point. We don't. I think that was really highlighted our under preparedness at the CPR training.

01:36:00,067	S1:
Um, which was very good. Yeah. Okay.

01:36:02,968	S4:
So but anyway.

01:36:04,167	S1:
Where are we on the rest.

01:36:04,868	S4:
Of these adjustments? We can talk about it on the 22nd. That's when the, you know, the quote unquote the vote can be, you know, so when we come on the 27th, it's going to be everything's going to be nice and tight. And basically there's no more real discussion after that. So any questions or concerns you have now you can work on address, wrap them up for the 22nd. And it's going to kind of be.

01:36:28,100	S1:
That's.

01:36:28,300	S4:
It. Yeah.

01:36:29,267	S1:
So Jeff is going to bring back to the fin com. The select board wants everything. And now they're adding to the capital budget.

01:36:35,501	S15:
So send me as the representative.

01:36:41,367	S7:
So Gary one other question for the 22nd. Are we talking reserve funds and OPEC as far as where to park some of the other money.

01:36:52,501	S4:
Yeah. So we're.

01:36:53,067	S7:
Out to.

01:36:53,267	S4:
Spend it. But I'm more to rate.

01:36:55,868	S1:
The free cash.

01:36:57,100	S4:
That's the last point. Piece of the memo.

01:36:59,267	S1:
Go for it.

01:37:01,200	S4:
Um, so yeah. So exactly that we gotta have a discussion started tonight. We have probably somewhere in the range of 2.2 to $2.3 million and a total free cash sort of fortification that's available for appropriation at this town meeting. The. I think the most prudent thing to do with it is to put a majority outside of the capital spending to put a majority of what's left into a stabilization general stabilization fund. We currently have about 2%, I believe, is our balance. The Department of Revenue recommends communities of Massachusetts to maintain 5 to 7%. If you look outside again, they have they have revenue sources are more um, uh, fluctuate more than Massachusetts because we're reliant so heavily on property tax. But when you leave Massachusetts, they you know, just to show that some of the communities the Icma recommends, uh, excuse me, the GFA Government Financial Official Association recommends a minimum of two months expenditures. So that would be, you know, a minimum of like 16 or 17%. So again, we're at two when you benchmark ourselves against our peer communities. I think the average is 6.8, some being above the seven but few at five. It's in the memo, but I'm thinking get that to a 7% minimum, maybe a little bit more. And then you're kind of left with the what's left over. And you know, really that's where I'd be deferring to the select board to the A. Would you want to just put it all into stabilization, which I don't think is a bad idea considering all the debt and, you know, capital needs that are coming on a horizon around the schools and things like that.

01:38:57,567	S5:
Um, is this what we're talking about on the 22nd?

01:39:01,100	S4:
Well, yeah. But also.

01:39:02,601	S1:
Explaining.

01:39:03,100	S4:
It to us now.

01:39:04,000	S1:
So we know what to think about.

01:39:05,701	S5:
Okay.

01:39:06,767	S4:
And and then OPEC is another again open, and then you have your, um.

01:39:18,000	S4:
Your, uh, you could do a tax rate offset. So you could essentially reduce the tax rate by a one time contribution of free cash. So to, in theory, step into the athletic fields project. So roughly, I believe the athletic fields are going to equate to about 4% on the average tax bill. You can take about five, you know, 4 or $500,000 and offset the tax rate with free cash to, you know, to kind of step into the 4%. So the next year, instead of it going right to 4%, it would be like 1.5% in the next year would be the 4%. So a two year kind of a 2% step in. So optically I think that looks good. We did get some questions last year about over taxation at town meeting. So I mean optically I think, you know, giving it back to offset the tax rate is probably not a bad look. However, when you look at our overall, our overall liability and, um, you know, I guess when you quantify it, it's somewhat of a minimal impact on the tax bill, although it looks good and you're kind of, you know, pardon the phrase, we're paying into the wind. So, you know, it may be better to sock it away for, you know, the stabilization fund so that it's available, you know, for whatever future needs may come down the line.

01:40:41,868	S4:
Any questions concerns. You bring that up, up on a call, whatever. You know. You know the fin com is kind of, um, you know, talking through that over the next couple of meetings, they're going to have their ideas and, you know, a recommendation for the board. Uh, so maybe we can wait for that as well.

01:41:06,667	S1:
All right. So much fun stuff.

01:41:12,267	S1:
All right, so now we get to go to the warrant.

01:41:16,501	S10:
Yep.

01:41:26,100	S4:
First several pages of the routine articles. I don't see those changing for the need for though. We need every one of them.

01:41:34,767	S1:
So the commentary that's in here is old commentary.

01:41:38,868	S4:
In there is old. It's semi updated. All right.

01:41:41,167	S1:
So don't look at it yet. Okay.

01:41:44,267	S4:
Yeah. Those are just really just read the titles. The only one in there that's kind of a placeholder that we could take out. It doesn't look like we're going to need it is the borrowing authorization for capital improvements that will probably come out. Um, you know, once we have a clearer picture.

01:42:01,567	S1:
Yep.

01:42:03,267	S4:
Towards the end of the month, but then the highlighted ones on the last page.

01:42:08,501	S1:
Yeah, I was gonna save it. Yeah. He's here. Okay.

01:42:19,367	S4:
The planning board is still working through their inclusionary zoning, so this would be. This would require any sub development to include a component affordability component, typically around 10%. And what the holdup with that is, is, uh, Stoneham, um, enacted inclusionary zoning, zoning and was challenged by a developer, and the courts found in favor of the developer. So Cape law is saying, you know, that's not you know, it's not the ultimate precedent, but it does expose the town to some liability that in the future, uh, if you you know that you could end up right with a lawsuit like Stoneham. If a developer came in and, you know, the inclusion of a way to circumvent the inclusionary zoning is being appealed, right? Yeah, it's probably been it's but still it's it's what we have right now. We have the ruling and that's where we're at.

01:43:25,868	S1:
So that has to come from the planning board.

01:43:27,601	S4:
So that recommendation will come from the planning Board. Okay. It's in there as a placeholder. And then we have the two we've talked about before moving from elected Board of Health to appointed Board of Health, and both for the Board of Health and the Board of Assessors.

01:43:43,200	S1:
Remember talking about that? I must have missed that meeting.

01:43:47,200	S4:
Yeah. So that the the intent of those is to not change, at least not initially or, um, is not not change who's on the boards or how the boards function. It's to give the town the flexibility to move into more of a regionalization model, which is also part of you know, we talked about this before. They you know, they even rolled out the uh, Municipal Empowerment Act. But one of the things in there that they talked about was the allowing of regionalized boards of assessors. So to the extent that the state is willing to support this fully and allow for also the regionalization of reporting requirements for the boards of assessors, so that, you know, right now we have a Hamilton and a Windham assessor's office. So, you know, we have a shared assessor, Todd, who basically has to do the job twice because the state won't combine the two communities. Um, so but if this is the the direction they're going, it would position us to, you know, we would have to go from elected to appointed and then, you know, go from appointed to the A regional and. And then similarly with the Board of Health. I've talked with Doctor Tang about it, and he's supportive of this idea, particularly around all the, you know, I think the mandates we're going to start seeing due to our performance analysis, that the state preparedness analysis that the state, um, did on our health preparedness and the requirements that are going to come out of that. And then, you know, the next few years that Hamilton and some of the other folks that we participate in, some shared health services with, um, there was some interest in maybe forming a, you know, instead of having a, you know, seven, 6 or 7 hour public health nurse in each community to like, you know, to share services and be able to actually, uh, attack some of these mandates that the state's coming out with because, I mean, right now we just have such a limited capacity, essentially no staffing, the Board of health of the board and a couple, you know, a few hour a week, folks that that come in. And this would just kind of help us prepare and combine resources with communities and take advantage of grants and things like that to staff, you know, a full time.

01:46:15,000	S1:
I think.

01:46:15,567	S4:
Health department.

01:46:16,300	S1:
Doctor Ting actually pretty much promoted that.

01:46:19,601	S4:
Yeah.

01:46:19,901	S1:
He's when he spoke to us he. Yeah. And that and it was very very sincere. Yeah.

01:46:26,767	S4:
Again I'm not saying it's going to happen or will happen, but that's it's kind of getting us prepared to take that next step.

01:46:35,000	S4:
Um, plastic bag ban. This was a request from Deirdre. I don't know if you want to add some color to that. I think it's pretty standard in this area. Pretty much every community has banned the plastic bags.

01:46:48,601	S11:
Yeah, it's sort of just trying to bring us up to par with what most other communities are doing. Most of the towns around us have not just the bag ban, but also have banned single use plastics and things like that. But I thought if we at least could get started. With a plastic bag ban and start sort of getting us caught up in terms of, um, these type of environmental regulations.

01:47:14,267	S5:
Nobody's going to disagree with that.

01:47:18,767	S4:
And then the next one is a community septic loan program. Um, I'm still working through the financial details, but this is something that the town of Essex does. And I think there's other communities that do it as well, and probably predominantly communities who adopt this are like when and where they have a large majority of or all of their, uh, parcels. You know, they don't have any sewage. So it's all septic. And it's a resource for the residents to access low interest rate loans. I think it's somewhat subsidized by the state or completely subsidized by the state, but I'm still working through that. Uh, in to, you know, if they have a failed title five or they have a massive catastrophe and redo their septic. Uh, it's just it's a resource for, for the, uh, for the residents because it can be extremely today's regulations. It can be. You know.

01:48:13,467	S1:
That's a really nice idea.

01:48:14,701	S11:
Yeah. Can I just speak to that also? Um, because I had asked for this to go on, the town basically acts as a gateway. So the town doesn't bear the financial responsibility. It's a state program and it's a state loan. So the town is like the gatekeeper. People would apply through the town, but the money actually comes from the state, so there's essentially no financial risk to the town. It's particularly helpful for senior citizens if they have a failed septic, particularly, they can go and get a loan and access the funds, basically. I mean, anyone can do it, but it sounds like particularly seniors have been able to take advantage of it in a number of towns. And again, a lot of towns have this around us. Hamilton just adopted it at their special town meeting this fall, so I feel like it would be a really good resource for our people as well, essentially.

01:49:09,000	S1:
Awesome.

01:49:12,000	S4:
And um, and then so the other article that so this was a request from the planning Board or the master plan Advisory Committee. They wanted to through Margaret, they want to have a make a presentation at town meeting. So, you know, Roger ultimately would be the one to allow a presentation. So we went to him and he said that he would prefer it. The request come through as an article through the select board so that he can take a vote, um, to allow them so to give.

01:49:52,868	S1:
So to give the town meeting the opportunity to say, yes, we want to hear it or no, we don't want to hear it. That's his prerogative. Yeah.

01:50:02,868	S11:
So this was recommended by the Master Plan Advisory Committee to have a presentation. Um, and I think the idea is that Anne Weeks, um, chair of the planning board, would give the presentation and basically just update everyone as to the status and near completion at that point of the master plan.

01:50:22,467	S1:
So we'll leave very like a time, like a ten minute presentation or five minute. You know, I mean.

01:50:27,100	S11:
I would hope so.

01:50:27,868	S1:
Yeah. A little bit of a blurb.

01:50:29,701	S11:
So I think that's a good idea. Yeah.

01:50:34,467	S1:
Can we do that for the school? Sorry. Well, the.

01:50:38,968	S7:
Superintendent has the by right presentation. Right? Yeah.

01:50:42,901	S1:
So that would be nice if we could make it an article and say, no, we don't want to hear from you this year.

01:50:47,667	S5:
Don't wanna.

01:50:49,767	S1:
Anyway.

01:50:50,567	S4:
Any other articles? A placeholder can can be removed or left to go to street acceptance that we talked about tonight. That was the clarification of a junkyard or what defines junk in a yard, and then took a stab at making a draft.

01:51:06,901	S1:
Is that a general or a zoning? Zoning? I think zoning, zoning.

01:51:11,701	S4:
Yeah.

01:51:13,100	S8:
Yeah. This at this point. But I think that probably is something that we want to discuss. If this were to be voted to go on the warrant at all, um, whether it should be a zoning bylaw or general bylaw. Um, on that question, um, I want to look a little bit more closely with respect to prior nonconforming uses as they pertain to to this subject matter, which may be a little bit different than a traditional zoning. Um, prior nonconforming use analysis. So, um.

01:51:50,701	S8:
I want to weigh in on that myself. Um, maybe next time. Right. Possible.

01:51:57,767	S5:
Good.

01:51:58,601	S4:
Yeah. So I think the difference is what we're looking at is the. If it was if this was, you know, this was passed the zoning by, I talked to Rich Maloney and he thought, you know, it looked great. He was like, the more black and white you can be the better. Because when I go out there it's like, oh, that's lawn furniture. It's like, but it's been in a pile for 15 years, you know what I mean? It's like, well, what what constitutes seasonal stuff and what, you know. So but, you know, he was his concern was if it's zoning is folks that already occupied the 600 or 1200 square feet of space with, you know, it being all over the yard and not, you know, abiding by any, any setbacks. Are they grandfathered into that? But if it was right, if it's if it was the local bylaw, then everybody has to abide. I think that's just to give it background. That's what Ben is talking about.

01:52:54,167	S8:
And then just some further background, just I don't I know we don't want to spend a ton of time on this right now, but just on some of the content of it. So this issue was highlighted recently on a matter that was before us, that pertaining to the definition of junkyard. And when m junkyards are prohibited in any zoning district, in all zoning districts of Wenham. And the zoning bylaws define a junkyard as, um, a site that has 600 or more square feet of junk. And what was highlighted during this recent matter that came before us was that there's been sort of a blind spot, I guess you could say, in the in the zoning bylaw interpretation over the years such that, um, the interpretation has been that that 600 or square feet or more. Being a junkyard is prohibited entirely, but if you have less than 600ft², it's been considered a buy right type of situation. Which, um, I just point pointed to a gap, I think in, in the, in the bylaws. So what this draft intends to do and it, it takes into account some of the comments that we had as a board at the last meeting, um, where we talked a little bit about, you know, maybe 200ft² or some other factors. So I try to take those things into account in here. But basically what this would do would be to say that, uh, 200ft² of junk, which we define a little bit in here, um, up to 200ft² is permissible, um, as long as it is, um, not in the rear or side yard setbacks and not in the front yard in any dimension. Um, and so the way this is written, it says in the residential district and it would pertain under this particular draft, it would pertain only to the residential district, which is, as we know, is most of the town. Outdoor storage or stockpiling of junk, discarded materials, refuse scrap metal, scrap vehicles or vehicle parts, inoperable electronics or appliances or construction debris is prohibited. That language, by the way, I did pull from some other, um, town bylaws that tried to delineate a little bit what junk would include. Um, so it would be prohibited. Uh, one in the front yard of any lot. Again, just in the residential district. Two within the setback areas of any rear side yard lot. So whatever the setback requirements are for the residential zoning district, you couldn't have any junk in those setbacks. And again, this is just how I've written. And it may be a policy question as to whether the board wants to do that or wants to propose that, or obviously it's town meeting that ultimately would approve this. And then three, um, prohibited outside of the setback areas of rear and side yard of a lot unless such stored or stockpiled materials do not exceed in a single location, 200ft² of ground coverage. That's sort of the, you know, the the way I structured it to say that, um, you can have 200ft² up to 200ft², but only if it's not in the front yard or not in the setbacks of the rear and side yards. And then, um, the next point is something that came up in that recent matter with respect to lots held in common ownership or control. The way I've drafted this says that the 200 square foot allowance would not double or triple if the adjacent lots. That would be the same 200 square foot allowance for adjacent lots that are held in common ownership or under common control. Um, the common control pieces where you might have different entity names, but they're controlled by the same person. So it's technically different owners, but it's common control, which is a similar analysis that's done in terms of like merger, uh, doctrine and zoning. And then, um, what is in here are four different exceptions. And again, this is just sort of based on conversation that we had at the last meeting. And also just thinking through what might make sensible exceptions to this 200 square foot rule. Exception one would be, um, materials stored only seasonally or temporarily. And then it says for fewer than four months at a time. So if you think of things that maybe are just going to be stored somewhere during the winter months, but then put to use at other times of the year that would that would be allowed, even if it were more than 200ft² of coverage. Two would be construction debris or material stockpiled in connection with a properly permitted construction project. Because we don't want to prohibit people from being able to do that if they have a properly permitted construction project. Three is sort of a catch all for just any materials that are stockpiled for fewer than ten days to ten consecutive days during a single calendar year. So I picked ten. But it could be, you know, any number. But I think it just sort of reasonable to say that if, if it's if something's there for a short period of time, that it's not going to be an enforcement issue. And then for materials stored within a structure that itself is properly authorized. So if there's some kind of enclosure that's covering materials, as long as that enclosure or structure is compliant with zoning, then that would be an exception as well, where somebody could have more than 200ft² if it's properly enclosed within a structure that itself is compliant with Sony. So that is.

01:58:47,367	S5:
Precise.

01:58:48,167	S8:
Yeah, that's how I drafted it. And, you know, just for discussion with the board. And obviously it would ultimately be town meetings decision. And also you know KP live take it probably would want to take a you know maybe a review of that as well.

01:59:04,501	S1:
So just a procedural question. Uh zoning bylaw amendment. Does that need to go through the planning board and have a public hearing?

01:59:14,701	S8:
That's a good point. Yeah. It would. That's true. Yeah.

01:59:18,367	S1:
But whether it makes it on the annual town meeting or the next town meeting, because we're going to have a special issue for the MBTA, but it's something to get in. I think it's an unbelievable. I understood everything you wrote. Okay. And it makes a lot of sense. Maybe because we have that situation kind of back in the back of our mind, but really, I. I think that's really well done. Okay, thanks. I think it's a good start.

01:59:42,767	S8:
Yeah. And I think that the planning board points exactly right. They would need to if it if we were to pursue it as a zoning bylaw amendment.

01:59:50,868	S4:
And make it align with their inclusionary zoning to hold a hearing for that. Right. Probably could. If this is the, you know, direction, maybe it won't work. But if this is the direction of the board, I'll talk to Margaret in the morning and see if we can get coordination going.

02:00:05,767	S1:
And what was I think I misunderstood why why it's zoning and not general. Like, do we know.

02:00:12,601	S8:
There's an I mean, there's a potential argument that if it's a zoning bylaw, there's a potential argument that a property owner could make that. Oh, well, you know, prior to the zoning bylaw being put in place, I, I had I, a property owner had, you know, 400 or 500ft² of junk in my yard for the last 20 years. And, and it was fine. And so I'm grandfathered.

02:00:37,467	S1:
With a zoning bylaw.

02:00:38,601	S8:
Yeah, I don't know that that argument would actually work. Um, with respect to something like this, that's one of the things I wanted to sort of take a closer look at myself. Um, the quote unquote grandfathering phenomena doesn't does not apply in a general bylaw situation.

02:00:57,801	S11:
Isn't it? Currently this in the general saying it. So the current version of this is it in the general. I thought it was in the general budget. No, no. Some zoning.

02:01:06,801	S8:
Yeah. The only right. The the the the junkyard definition is in the zoning bylaw. And that's really the only.

02:01:13,868	S11:
I thought it was.

02:01:14,367	S8:
Sort of connection that we have. I mean, it definitely is in the zoning bylaw definitions. I it's possible that it's also in the general bylaw definitions, but I don't know. I don't think so, but I don't know for sure.

02:01:27,868	S4:
I.

02:01:28,367	S11:
Could be remembering wrong, but um did you it's going from 600 to 200. Just sort of thinking about what people might say. Is this sort of standard do other towns use.

02:01:40,167	S8:
Honestly, the 200 was just a number that seemed like it might be reasonable. Um, you know, and I guess it's just probably in the eye of the beholder, whether that's reasonable.

02:01:54,167	S1:
I suppose Cape law would be able to, once they look at it, they would probably know, like, oh, most places do 250. You know, I think that when they do that.

02:02:04,067	S8:
They might.

02:02:04,367	S1:
Review they might have some insight on that.

02:02:06,267	S11:
For no one's below 400 or whatever though.

02:02:08,467	S1:
Right.

02:02:08,868	S11:
Right. Sort of.

02:02:09,901	S8:
Yeah. That's true. And there may be that many towns have nothing like this. It's just again, it was the, um, the peculiarities of our definition and the way it's been enforced that, at least in my mind, sort of raised the issue of clarification, maybe being.

02:02:27,501	S11:
A.

02:02:27,567	S1:
I think that's a great idea.

02:02:29,267	S11:
I like it, I think it's great. Thank you for doing this. Can you just sorry. One more thing. Can you just explain what that means within the setback areas of rear or side? I thought we didn't have setback.

02:02:39,267	S8:
Um, so. And I don't know how many feet.

02:02:43,667	S7:
I think it's 15.

02:02:44,501	S8:
Isn't it 17 for rear? Inside? Yeah.

02:02:48,167	S4:
So 10 or.

02:02:49,200	S7:
15. Your boundary line. Right. You got a fence or something there? You can't put your junkyard up against the fence.

02:02:54,601	S1:
Oh, it's.

02:02:54,901	S11:
Specific to the. That's what I'm trying to figure out. Okay.

02:02:56,767	S7:
It has to be away from your boundaries.

02:02:58,901	S8:
Yeah. Got it. Yes. Right. So, just like you can't have your rights, just like you can't build a garage within a setback area or a shed.

02:03:06,167	S11:
You're not supposed to have your junk there. Yeah.

02:03:07,767	S1:
So that chicken coop applies, right? Yeah.

02:03:10,000	S8:
Apply to the. Got it to the junk.

02:03:12,701	S5:
Our garage. It's on the setback line. Mm.

02:03:17,467	S8:
Who knew?

02:03:18,167	S5:
Who knew? All right, you ready?

02:03:19,968	S1:
Well, so we have another article, right?

02:03:22,501	S4:
Yeah. Two more.

02:03:23,300	S5:
Sorry.

02:03:24,167	S1:
Two more.

02:03:25,100	S8:
Gary, did you have.

02:03:25,801	S7:
Any.

02:03:27,000	S8:
On the junk?

02:03:27,901	S4:
One more. We're gonna add Gary's. I think.

02:03:30,901	S1:
Oh, Gary has something to do. So with select board authorization to purchase open space.

02:03:34,467	S4:
This is the second. Yeah. Right. So the last one on the sheet is the the second piece to the CTC application granting the select board authorization to acquire. So what this does is it prevents having to go back to town meeting to get authorization to acquire. So to acquire the authorization to acquire one of those six parcels will already be there in the authorization to issue the debt against CPC funds will already be there. So we don't have to go back. If one of these parcels were to come up for sale and we could purchase it for the X amount of dollars you have available to you, you wouldn't need to go back to town meeting for any additional approval. You could just move forward and negotiate and purchase the property. Uh, and lastly is the, uh, bylaw to clarify duties and responsibilities Series of officers on each board. Right.

02:04:32,400	S7:
With the committees. Yeah. All right. We'll finalize that for the 22nd. Right.

02:04:40,167	S11:
The duties or just the structure?

02:04:43,868	S1:
Is that.

02:04:44,200	S11:
What we. We didn't finish talking about the duties when we came back.

02:04:47,601	S1:
It came up in the minutes. Did we finish this?

02:04:51,601	S11:
I thought the bylaw was to create the structure that you have to. Yeah.

02:04:55,901	S7:
Vice chair. Yeah. So I think the bylaw would be to standardize the structure. Right. And then the duties could fall on. I think it's the structure. The more important point. You know, I think people kind of recognize what a treasurer does or.

02:05:13,901	S4:
Yeah.

02:05:14,467	S7:
All right. Yeah. All right. So we'll get it written up for the before the 22nd.

02:05:20,567	S11:
This. Sorry. The the this is not a number. This authorization to purchase open space parcels. But it would be within the list essentially.

02:05:32,000	S4:
Yeah. So it would give the authorisation you have to. I went to Bon Council about this. You have to specify a parcel or parcels. So in this case it's multiple parcels six parcels. You also have to specify a dollar amount to not exceed. So you know like let's just say hypothetically the CPC allows us the debt debt service to borrow $2.7 million. And we have the $1.5 million in the conservation, you know, those two together, whatever, 3.4. $2 million. So we probably would put a not to exceed amount of $4.2 million. So it's like where could spend that $4.2 million to acquire one of those parcels without town meeting additional town meeting approval? Because If none of this was done, you'd have to pull together a special town meeting, get authorization, and then go negotiate, you know. So it's this is to kind of be able to try to negotiate when, you know, there's a potential that the property might come for sale. So you can talk to the sellers and have capital behind you, and you're kind of ready to go opposed to waiting for a right of first refusal to get triggered. So by this point, they've already for a right of first refusal to get triggered. They've already marketed the property. They already have an offer in hand for the property. So the town is has the right of first refusal at that negotiating price. Right. So it's usually it's for a negotiate. Well it is for Associated Press to change a use. So it's for development. So you know to the extent you can get out ahead of that and you know, convince or persuade or maybe they don't want to go through the marketing and, you know, the whole developer thing with contingencies on amounts of lots and things like that, that you can buy it before it gets to that point. And that's kind of what we're trying to position ourselves to be. And also obviously there's more than six parcels in town, but this is kind of like we're just trying to start to get ready. So we pick these six and maybe we can do more. And you know uh.

02:07:45,601	S11:
But the article will specify those. I just yeah, my concern would be people are not necessarily going to want to vote for sort of a blank check to go see.

02:07:53,467	S4:
What it's going to specifically specify those six articles. And we can even have.

02:07:58,868	S11:
Parcels.

02:07:59,567	S4:
Parcel map associated the appendix so folks can see exactly what we're talking about. It's very clear acreage we can have, you know, all that type of stuff. And that all goes in the commentary that we'll put together. And we can have an appendix. So whatever the board feels like they want to see, we can put together.

02:08:19,167	S1:
So is it possible for us to add an article to clarify the CPC terms.

02:08:27,467	S11:
Did we mean what Michelle raised at the beginning?

02:08:30,267	S1:
So I don't know what happened to the AG. Did it get rejected?

02:08:35,267	S4:
No, no. So what it was was the the town, the, uh. Jane, I can't remember now if he was a temporary town clerk or if he was the clerk. But anyways, the clerk who wrote the minutes, uh, had a different opinion as to what the suit was, but it was like there was a motion. And then there was an amendment to the motion. There was an amendment to the amendment. So it went through. It passed legal review. It went to, uh, the state, and they accepted it. So then when it came back to us, I'm not sure how Michelle Bailey, because it was relatively soon after we got a copy of it. Um, Michelle Baylor actually might have been Pat Waddell, so that wasn't. That's not what we said. So we went back. We looked at the tape or I looked at the tape and Joe looked at the tape, and Michelle and we were all like, well, you know, I think, what do you think? I think he's right. So I think that, you know, that that wasn't the intent. Kristen Kristen watched the tape. So it's so clear that she's willing to sign off and attest, as the town clerk, that that is, you know, was not what the motion was. And then we would refile the legislation for the well for the amendment to be violent.

02:09:46,701	S5:
We talk about this about 2.5 hours ago with Michelle.

02:09:50,367	S1:
Yeah, she brought it up, but so does what? Why does it. Does it have to go back to town, meeting Diane.

02:09:57,567	S11:
Trying to figure out a way to solve.

02:09:59,000	S7:
It the.

02:09:59,367	S11:
Two quicker.

02:10:00,501	S4:
You have two options. Okay. Do what Kirsten wants to do. And just so then she got sick. And so that's why it's all pushed back. But do what Kirsten wants to do. She's going to attest to it. We're just going to refile. I don't think anyone foresees any issues, and we'll be done with it. The other option is to revote in that town. So basically what I think Diane is proposing.

02:10:23,200	S1:
Because I think it's cleaner. If you have an article and you just rewrote it and it's clear, otherwise you have minutes from a meeting, an AG, an amended thing from the AG, and then it's just 20 years from now, someone's going to look back and go, what, what, what happened? What they do. Because it was super confusing. So if we could make the article smoother, easier, and then we I just think that would be a smoother, easier way to go. But yet I never understood that article and the terms that also I can't be one to to say that that was what I wanted. I can't jump into that.

02:11:02,400	S4:
I don't think either one, either one gets the job done. So if the board has a preference, you can put it on there as a placeholder for now because we're closing the warrant. Yeah.

02:11:12,801	S11:
Why don't we please hold it, hold it.

02:11:16,567	S4:
Okay. Whatever you guys want.

02:11:18,167	S11:
And then you can get input from Kirsten.

02:11:21,467	S1:
And.

02:11:21,667	S11:
Just Michelle. Maybe. I think Michelle made the motion at town meeting, which is?

02:11:26,000	S1:
She made one of the amendments.

02:11:27,467	S11:
Made one of the amendments.

02:11:28,467	S1:
Yeah. And then the amendment to the amendment and then. Right. Yeah. Um, and it was just a tough time. And we had so many temporary things. It was and it got confused. And I think it was maybe the last article. So we really got lost it. So do we need to vote to put that on that. No. We're just going to add it to here and then we're going to vote to close it.

02:11:48,467	S4:
Yeah that's probably appropriate.

02:11:50,667	S1:
Is there anything else we can think of that we want to add?

02:11:53,767	S11:
We've got a good list I think.

02:11:56,067	S5:
Yeah. We're doing okay.

02:11:58,567	S11:
Um.

02:12:00,801	S1:
Awesome. I think it's I think it's good. You want to try to. I mean, ideally, you get everything done at one end of your town meeting. Let's get it all done. As long as we don't dawdle. The town meeting. So I would entertain a motion to close the warrant for the annual town meeting for April 6th.

02:12:17,868	S5:
That the Wenham selectboard vote to close the April 6th, 2024 town meeting warrant.

02:12:22,567	S7:
Second.

02:12:24,467	S1:
Any more discussion? I'll vote yes.

02:12:28,467	S8:
Yes, Ben. Yes.

02:12:29,767	S11:
Deirdre.

02:12:30,267	S7:
Yes. Terry. Yes.

02:12:31,200	S1:
It's unanimous. Our town meeting warrant is set. Um.

02:12:35,901	S5:
Can I just talk about minutes for a second.

02:12:38,267	S1:
Before you talk about minutes? This. Were we supposed to talk about this? Where did this come from? The firefighter. Oh, we missed that. Can we put that off?

02:12:49,601	S4:
Uh, well, it's technically gotta reopen the warrant and add it.

02:12:56,467	S8:
Oh.

02:12:57,000	S11:
Oh, whoops.

02:12:59,267	S7:
Well, you know, well, you've got to reopen the warrant anyhow for the final vote on the 22nd.

02:13:06,000	S4:
Talk about it briefly now and then. Just add it in when. So yeah. So this is, um. Mr.. Police. Fire chief Cavanaugh. Dropped us off my desk. This is a kind of like a memo or a newsletter that goes out to all participants in the Essex County retirement. And this is a new regulation that they pass to allow, uh, a what appears to be a awarding of. Well, the way the way it goes now is they, you know, the way they, they recognize service for on call firefighters is a little ambiguous. And they'll take the, the town meeting. They, they take like the prior town reports, they take the hourly wage and they divide it by the amount of hours you worked on your W-2. Like this is going back until like the 80s, like a long time ago. And we just like the records don't really exist anymore. So this is a way to for them to, I guess, kind of systematically take if you're like an on call firefighter and you can show that you showed up for one hour, right. Because the argument has always been like, well, I'm only getting one hour's worth of credit, but I was there for half the day, or I had a, you know, my whole day was tied up because I was on call or this, that and the other thing. So this allows them to get credit for those hours in like a more defined formula. So if you work, if you get called for one hour, you get you get one day's worth of service. And if you have 15 calls in one month, you get a full month's worth of service. And so what that is, is that you want to build a bank of service because it wasn't pensionable earnings back then. However, if it's a municipal service, you have the right to purchase, um, years of service. So they'll take whatever the rate of pay and whatever the required contribution would have been back then. And obviously adjusted for inflation, they could come up with hours. So a year, one year service from 1985 is going to cost you X. This is the the recipient. So like in this case, the the police, the fire chief could purchase it. Say it's, you know, $2,000. You get a year of service. So that $2,000 would equate to, you know, when you towards the end another 2.5% and your pension because additional years service if you're not capped at or 80% would move you up another 2.5%, so that 2.5% could be worth depending on what you make. You could have. The payback would be less than one year by purchasing that, because if you went from 100 to 102, 102,500 and it cost you $2,000 to purchase it. Right. So in one year, you've already paid yourself back what it cost to purchase. So that's why like this time is a big deal for the folks that have gone from call service to full time municipal service, or it doesn't really make a huge impact when you're looking at an average, because it's your three year average of your top three years of earnings. So if you're looking at an individual who was on call for 20 years but worked as an electrician. You know there. It's never pensionable. It doesn't really make sense. It may they may have got to a point where they triggered the pensionable amount of earnings. But you know, you're talking about percentage of such a small dollar amount that, you know they're still going to want to buy back. But it becomes a little different. But when you're in a situation where you're in a salary position making significant amounts of money, now it starts to make sense. So he wants something like this. He wants the boards to entertain. He thought of adding it to the warrant. Right now, the only other community who's adopted this is the town of Essex.

02:16:52,467	S1:
So we should. We all have this little thing this just late add. We should look this up and then discuss it and bring it.

02:17:00,601	S4:
Up and that's it. So the email I sent to you guys includes. It's interesting to read and I can talk about it again. It's late but we can do another night. Is the, uh. The minutes we're able to find the minutes that the Essex County Retirement Board discussed this and talked about pros and cons would be. Ultimately, they took the vote to adopt it. But there's, you know, there's like three I think three minutes. That kind of leads up to the adoption.

02:17:27,467	S16:
All right.

02:17:28,767	S1:
So let's move on to minutes. Pete, you had something to say in the minutes.

02:17:34,267	S5:
So I read I looked at them all and I congratulate. This is before the meeting started, and I congratulated the the service. And then I was told that actually, Gary's the one who makes these minutes perfect.

02:17:48,667	S1:
So let's go through. Let's go through each one. Yeah. Um, so November 21st. Anybody have anything?

02:17:57,667	S5:
I, I read them all. They're perfect.

02:18:01,067	S1:
So I was just one thing that I k on that one potential vote to adopt a uniform committee charge template. Did we ever finish that?

02:18:12,767	S11:
Sorry. Which one?

02:18:14,300	S1:
The uniform.

02:18:14,968	S7:
No, we do not.

02:18:15,767	S1:
Okay. Just we can put that on the list to bring back at another time. Anyone have any issues with November 21st?

02:18:24,167	S11:
Well, DiFranco was spelled wrong in the first section. Correct.

02:18:30,200	S1:
The spelling difference. So where.

02:18:32,367	S11:
Is that? And I don't know. I'm not on the page, but the the section on the pond discussion, it seemed to just sort of end there wasn't like, what did we do? Didn't we have like a follow up or a next step or something?

02:18:49,501	S7:
No, no.

02:18:50,767	S1:
No, we waited for the next.

02:18:51,968	S7:
We waited for the next meeting. But we had.

02:18:55,300	S8:
All right.

02:18:55,767	S1:
We waited for the com. The board agreed to wait until after the meeting. Where other. Okay. Yeah. Where's Francis spelled wrong?

02:19:06,100	S11:
I think it was on the front page.

02:19:10,968	S1:
I was a guest as a guest.

02:19:13,400	S11:
Yeah, under the guests.

02:19:14,467	S1:
The guest. Do you see that? Gary? Andrew DeFranco.

02:19:18,601	S7:
All right.

02:19:19,200	S1:
Okay.

02:19:22,467	S11:
And I have a general comment about all of them.

02:19:25,567	S16:
Yes.

02:19:26,667	S11:
Um, I'm pretty sure that it's part of the OML that you're supposed to include a list of documents that are referenced or associated with the meeting. So none of our minutes have had document list from the packet. So I'm pretty sure that's part of the OML, the one that I'm not sure about. Whether it's an OML issue or not is even though executive session minutes are separate, I'm not sure whether you have to. It seems like you have to state that there was an executive session, and I think some one, I don't know which meeting, but we had a lot of executive sessions. I think the minutes should say that there was one, right?

02:20:04,767	S1:
I think that I have seen that when we call to order. And then they went to a training session and then they came.

02:20:09,601	S11:
Well, Kathryn's world we always had, it was always in there.

02:20:13,567	S1:
No, but I think.

02:20:14,200	S11:
I think they were.

02:20:14,801	S1:
In here. I think so, but I don't remember whether there were missing any executives.

02:20:18,267	S11:
Yeah, I'm not sure I didn't get that far but so that's.

02:20:21,100	S7:
Yeah, that's a question. So the additional log of items, whether the packet itself satisfies that and that there.

02:20:33,968	S11:
I don't think so. I think you actually have to list.

02:20:36,968	S7:
So in the minutes then we'll have to just.

02:20:40,267	S4:
You know communities that do that does. What does Hamilton do that.

02:20:46,467	S11:
Yeah. And Catherine's always did that. Our previous records.

02:20:51,100	S1:
Let's let's look into um uh oh let's look into um I think you might be right, I think so we should.

02:20:59,200	S11:
Pretty sure about the minute the the the document.

02:21:01,601	S1:
The documents?

02:21:02,501	S11:
I'm not sure about the executive session, but.

02:21:04,667	S1:
I think the executive session should be too. But I don't know if we're missing any.

02:21:08,100	S11:
I'm not.

02:21:08,467	S1:
Sure. So we should, um.

02:21:12,868	S1:
I don't know how to rectify that. That's that's. Maybe we should make a call into the attorney of the day. We're meeting law.

02:21:20,100	S10:
Oh.

02:21:20,901	S1:
Yeah. So we've noticed that our minutes aren't including our list of documents. We'd like to correct that. What's the best way to do that?

02:21:28,801	S11:
Because Lauren's the expert, right? Lauren Goldberg.

02:21:32,400	S1:
Do you call Lauren, or do you call that just the the hotline? Yeah.

02:21:35,801	S11:
The hotline.

02:21:36,701	S1:
The attorney of the day. They give you. Great. Oh, really? Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah. They usually give it to you in an email, too. So you have it. So, um, November 21st. Let's go to the 28th. Any comments on the 28th?

02:21:55,868	S1:
I thought it was fine.

02:22:02,000	S1:
Okay. December 5th.

02:22:06,501	S1:
I also didn't have a comment on December 5th.

02:22:12,367	S1:
December 6th. Gary, you have been busy, huh? We'll talk about that in a minute. Uh. December 19th I have a. My name is spelled wrong.

02:22:24,701	S7:
We're about right up front. Yep. Right. Yep. Missing in there?

02:22:29,567	S1:
Um, also on this one. On, um, d the one in park, um, Pingree field discussion and vote on pickleball play hours, etc.. We going to Sean has to get back to us on pickleball hours. And I'm asking because it's posted all over Facebook and pickleball groups that the certain hours. But I don't recall that we agreed to any.

02:22:47,868	S7:
He's going to be in the 27th. Okay.

02:22:50,300	S1:
Thank you. So those are all of our minutes.

02:22:56,000	S1:
Motion to approve the minutes from.

02:23:00,567	S7:
Move to approve the Select board. Minutes of 1121 2023 1128 2023, 1205, 2023 1216, 2023 1219 2023.

02:23:15,868	S11:
Second pending the noted corrections.

02:23:19,701	S1:
Thank you. With the noted corrections seconded. Has a lot of minutes or a lot of meetings. Um, I vote yes.

02:23:28,100	S7:
Peter. Yes.

02:23:28,868	S8:
Ben. Yes.

02:23:29,567	S11:
Deirdre.

02:23:30,000	S7:
Yes. Gary. Yes.

02:23:31,367	S1:
Unanimous vote to approve all those minutes with those changes before we end. Um, how much work are you doing on the minutes after we get them from the minute taker?

02:23:42,367	S7:
So the, um, I find that to verify what's written in the draft that comes to us, that you really have to sit down and compare it against the video.

02:23:56,167	S1:
So what's the difference between you doing the video and write in the minutes?

02:24:01,868	S7:
Yeah, well, essentially it takes about two hours to do. We'll do this meeting and I find out what the problems that I see with the company is, one that they do not have insight as to what's important, what's not important, and two, that in some cases they don't have, um, they don't know the lingo for municipal activities so that, you know, council versus council, you know, earmark becomes earmark. And, you know, so it's a difficult job to not have the technical information and yet try to translate it. And, you know, you know, you could see someone outside that oh doctor team gave you a briefing. They need that word for word, you know, whereas we know that, you know, it was general subjects and just general discussion. And we could summarize that. soon.

02:24:55,701	S1:
So I do know that some communities are using, um, the zoom.

02:25:02,501	S7:
Yeah. So what we're doing is getting the, uh.

02:25:05,000	S1:
And then doing the same kind of thing you're doing right.

02:25:07,400	S7:
Now. Yeah. So just get the total right out of it. And that way just cut out rather than having to look back and forth as to it.

02:25:16,400	S11:
I'm pretty skeptical that that's going to be any more efficient.

02:25:20,467	S1:
I don't think it's efficient. It'll work, but it's not efficient if it's taking you that much time to volunteer, because who's going to do it after you?

02:25:28,467	S4:
I mean, Hamilton, maybe we'll see. They have a supposedly have a few minute takers.

02:25:35,200	S7:
Or the other solution too is to look into, you know, what the state rules are as to, you know, using a ChatGPT summary, you know, just let the software give you the printout. And I my understanding is in some states you can have it almost simultaneous as the meeting goes on, that it prints out a summary which is said.

02:26:03,367	S4:
The problem I think with that is it doesn't it doesn't identify the speakers. So it becomes just like a wall of text. You know what I just finished saying would have been like, there's no there's no disconnect. You don't know when you stopped and I started. Do you know what I'm saying? Yeah.

02:26:23,567	S1:
Yeah. I think we got to find a better solution, though, because.

02:26:27,367	S4:
I'll call Joe and see if. But, you know, if they're pool. If that's working out. I don't know how. It's, you know, how how is it working out over there?

02:26:35,767	S1:
Are you part of the pool?

02:26:37,267	S11:
I am.

02:26:39,567	S1:
So she's not going to be writing our minutes.

02:26:41,467	S4:
No, no no no, I'm saying if if they have folks that are interested in doing that type of work and can offer more work, I don't know.

02:26:49,868	S11:
I'm not sure how deep the pool is at the moment. So that's one question I think. I think it's a good idea the way they've structured it. And there could be some potential to combine and have a shared pool. Um, it's worth exploring.

02:27:08,167	S1:
Okay. All right. I don't know about you guys, but it's 857.

02:27:16,467	S1:
You would join us, don't you?

02:27:18,767	S7:
Oh, yeah. So I move to adjourn the February 6th select board meeting at nine 857 second.

02:27:26,167	S10:
Okay.

02:27:26,868	S1:
All in favor? Diane.

02:27:28,167	S7:
Yes, people. Yes.

02:27:30,167	S8:
Ben. Yes.

02:27:30,901	S11:
Deirdre.

02:27:31,300	S10:
Yes.

02:27:31,601	S7:
You're a.

02:27:31,901	S10:
Yes.

02:27:32,400	S1:
Thank you guys all so much.

02:27:34,000	S8:
Thanks.

02:27:35,200	S4:
Oh my.

02:27:35,567	S17:
God.