00:00:00,000 S1: Catches up with us. I'd like to begin. We have a full plate in front of us tonight and next week. Maybe. Um, I'd like to call to order the, uh, Wednesday, February 7th meeting of the Community Preservation Committee. We're calling to order at 6:31 p.m., 00:00:22,367 S1: and I'd just like to go around and welcome everybody and the committee and our invited our and our guests that I see here on line two. And the committee could just take a minute, let me know. Anything new, anything going on in your world? Uh, always take a minute to just adjust ourselves to our new reality here. 00:00:41,601 S2: Like my, like, really? In my world, my dog escaped from my electric fence the other day. Is that important? 00:00:46,601 S1: It is important because. 00:00:47,801 S2: It was important to me. 00:00:50,000 S1: It stressed you out, so we gotta. I know where people are coming from today, right? 00:00:53,067 S3: That's why they find your dog. They find them. 00:00:57,367 S2: The good news is, it's a great place to live. You know, Arbor streets, a busy street. There I was on the yellow line at 3:00 on Sunday afternoon. All the cars stopped. People got out of their cars, gave me dog treats for the dog who we could not see whenever suddenly the dog was back in the yard. I'm not sure why, but the good. The stupid part about it was, um. The electric fence people had given me sent me a message that said they needed a new battery and I forgot. So how does how does a dog know the battery no longer works? Yeah, because she went on a little adventure down Arbor Street. 00:01:38,167 S1: Well, I'm glad he's safe and sound, so that's. 00:01:40,200 S2: Important, thank God. 00:01:41,467 S1: Yeah. Anyone else? 00:01:45,467 S4: Yeah. I'm crazy with vote by mail ballot applications. 00:01:49,000 S1: Mail ballot at work. 00:01:50,767 S4: Vote by mail. Vote by mail. 00:01:53,000 S1: Okay. 00:01:54,801 S4: Crazy. 00:01:55,567 S1: Going crazy. 00:01:57,300 S5: Oh, help it. 00:01:58,667 S1: Great. So I'd like to get into our agenda then for this evening. Um, public comment. It was anybody on the line? I'd like to make a public comment. Of course. You're welcome to join in at the appropriate time if your topic is on the list. But if you'd like to just mention anything, please do. 00:02:14,901 S3: There doesn't appear to be any public comment. 00:02:17,667 S1: Thank you. Joe. Uh, our next order of business to review and approve the minutes from October 3rd, 28th, the 11th of January and the 17th. 24th. Um, I want to turn this over to our our clerk secretary here, um, Trudy, to see if she's had time to evaluate them. Uh, and if not, I think I'd like to just table this one more night. 00:02:41,467 S4: Okay, so I personally prepared October 24th and November. I did those myself. I don't know if they got around to the board to review the January 11th, 17th, and 24th. Supposedly was done by the transcriber, whatever we're calling them. And I thought the arrangement was that I would review those first before we brought them to the board for approval. And I have not reviewed those three sets. 00:03:11,100 S1: Okay. So we're going to skip those tonight. 00:03:12,767 S4: Trudy 17th today or yesterday. And I don't know that I've seen the 24th unless they're in my email now and I just haven't seen them. 00:03:21,367 S1: Yeah I'm going to give you the time to do that, Trudy. Um, so we will table the 11th and 17th of January in the 24th if they're available. Uh, until the clerk of the committee gets a chance to review those meetings. Um, but the other ones we should have had in our packet this week, at least, if not last week as well. Yes. Do we have any comments to, uh. 00:03:46,667 S1: To them. 00:03:49,367 S6: They look good. 00:03:50,767 S1: Great. Sounds like somebody reviewed them. Great. Uh, let the record know that Bonnie Anderson just joined the call. 00:03:57,767 S3: Hi, Bonnie. 00:03:58,701 S6: Hi, Bonnie. 00:04:00,267 S1: And so, I think if I could take a motion for approval of the 24th minutes. 00:04:07,200 S6: So moved. 00:04:08,200 S1: Second. 00:04:09,601 S4: Wait a minute. Specify October because there's two minutes. 00:04:12,467 S3: October 24th. 00:04:13,868 S1: 24th. 00:04:18,267 S1: We have a second anywhere. Second. But, uh, we got to do a roll call vote, so I'll see them, as I call them, as I see them. Uh, Catherine Harrison. 00:04:28,200 S5: I will abstain. I wasn't in attendance at this meeting. Thank you. 00:04:32,267 S1: And one abstention. Uh, Alden. Drake. 00:04:35,267 S3: Yes. 00:04:36,267 S1: Liam. 00:04:37,467 S3: Yes. 00:04:38,100 S1: Janet. Burt. 00:04:39,667 S2: Yes. 00:04:40,267 S1: Trudy. Reed. 00:04:41,901 S4: Yes. 00:04:42,868 S1: Bonnie. Anderson. 00:04:44,567 S7: I also wasn't present. Um. But I looked at. I read through the packet, so I should probably abstain like Catherine. 00:04:52,267 S1: Absolutely. Great. Perfect. And Rick Woodland. Yes. Uh, moving on to November 28th. Do we have any comments or questions about the minutes of the 28th? 00:05:04,300 S1: Hearing none. I'll entertain a motion to approve the minutes of the 28th of November. So moved. Eldon Drake. Seconded, please. 00:05:12,167 S2: Second. 00:05:13,701 S1: And who is that? Janet Byrd. 00:05:15,367 S2: Janet? 00:05:16,100 S1: Yeah. I'm just trying to be better for the, um, for the reviewers to make it a little easier for them when we're doing roll call votes. 00:05:21,400 S2: Good idea. Jennifer. 00:05:23,000 S1: Eight seconds it trying to make there. So Janet Burt. Second that motion. Uh, Katherine Harrison, your vote. 00:05:29,200 S5: Yes. 00:05:30,667 S1: Uh, Aldon. Drake. 00:05:32,167 S6: Yes. 00:05:32,801 S1: Leo. 00:05:34,000 S3: Leo. Yes. 00:05:35,100 S1: Janet. Burt. 00:05:36,601 S2: Jennifer. Yes. 00:05:37,868 S1: Trudy. Reed. 00:05:39,667 S4: Trudy. Yes. 00:05:40,767 S1: Bonnie. Anderson. 00:05:42,467 S7: I'll abstain because I was not present for that meeting either. 00:05:45,801 S1: Rick. Woodland. Yes. Great topic for, Final review and vote on the administrative staff person. I'd like to turn this over to the team of Janet and Catherine. If they could run this agenda item. 00:06:04,667 S2: Question do we make any changes? I thought we answered all the questions last time. 00:06:10,601 S5: Yeah, I think we just were giving people one more chance to make any comments and send them to Joe. Joe, did you receive that? 00:06:17,567 S3: No, no, I don't believe I did. Yep. 00:06:21,200 S5: So yeah. 00:06:22,501 S1: I guess I'll get a motion to approve the job description as defined in our packet. Um, I don't know what else we need to put around that, but somebody can make a motion. We can discuss then. 00:06:35,267 S6: So moved. So seconded. 00:06:39,467 S2: Jennifer. And seconded. 00:06:41,200 S1: Let's see if I can get this motion straight. Right. 00:06:43,701 S5: Okay. Can I make a friendly amendment, please? I think I think we ought to specify what job we're Voting on? 00:06:51,167 S3: Yes. 00:06:51,367 S1: We need a full. 00:06:52,000 S3: Motion. 00:06:52,367 S5: Please. So a motion to approve the job description and associated information as presented for the. What are we calling this person? Community preservation. Administrative community preservation committee. Administrative assistant. 00:07:11,467 S5: So I think that's I think that's all. But we just want to make sure that we're. 00:07:15,868 S3: So I wish we had. 00:07:17,000 S1: Excuse me, Joe. 00:07:18,567 S3: Just a quick question. Are we approving the salary as well or just the job description? This one a double check. 00:07:25,601 S2: I think we talked about approving the whole thing. 00:07:29,167 S6: The 5%. 00:07:32,801 S2: Well, we talked about it, the hourly rate, and we talked about hours not to exceed the 5%. 00:07:41,167 S6: And it's Mister Chair. Yes. And I thought it was well broken out. Um, numbers of hours for 40 hours, 40 weeks of the year. Numbers of hours estimated for the other 12 weeks. Um, I think they covered that pretty well. 00:07:57,801 S1: Do we need to have that in the motion, or should we have that reference the document which contains that information? Right. 00:08:06,200 S5: I think we can reference a document. And I think we actually have a date on this document. So it's to, um, approve the job description dated one 2324. 00:08:17,067 S5: Um, Joe, though to your to your comment, I think, um, just a thought that we can approve this as working for us, but I think before we actually would post the job, we kind of run this through town hall and make sure that it was executable in terms of, you know, will it work with the payroll process, you know, not approving any of the specifics, but. 00:08:41,801 S2: Fair point. When we talked and we talked about that at that meeting, because we had gotten advice from Stuart that said we can create whatever we want, but it's a town hall decision as far as payroll, etc. and hours where they work. 00:08:54,901 S1: So then I guess maybe we should raise. Can we restate the motion? Um. 00:09:01,501 S2: I think Catherine stated it correctly, that we're approving what we discussed at the last meeting. And as Alden said, it is detailed. It's, you know, some I don't have it in front of me. I'm sorry. Alden has a better memory than I do. You know, x number of hours and some weeks were 2 or 5 hours. I mean, that's all detailed in what we talked about at the last meeting and what we discussed. 00:09:29,667 S5: Because we think. I'm sorry. 00:09:33,267 S6: Because if. 00:09:33,667 S3: We. 00:09:33,767 S6: Don't, if we don't decide to move it along, then town hall doesn't get the opportunity to work with it or send it back and say, you know, you need to change something. 00:09:47,868 S1: Right. So I just want to make sure we phrase it properly. So we're going to, um, approve and send on to, uh, the town of Wenham our request for an administrative staff person for the CPC, as detailed in the CPC Administrative Assistant document dated. 00:10:15,667 S5: January 24th, 23rd, 24. 00:10:20,567 S1: 23rd period and request their feedback and comments and approval. 00:10:28,501 S1: Right. That's what we're asking. Am I. 00:10:31,868 S5: Uh, well, the approval part I'm not. 00:10:34,467 S1: Feedback and comments. 00:10:36,100 S5: Yeah. 00:10:36,701 S3: Uh, yeah. 00:10:37,667 S1: We can end there. Just it was just drafting in my head out loud. 00:10:41,067 S5: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I just want everybody to be clear on what we're actually asking. Um, maybe it's pending administrator approval, pending administration, administrative review of the document so that we have approved it. Or we can we can amend it if there's an issue. 00:11:06,567 S4: Go ahead. Question. Um, because Joe was I believe Joe was part of this whole process. Why does it have to go back to town hall for their approval or review? I thought we followed the guidelines of ours and things like that. Responsibilities? 00:11:21,901 S1: Yes. But I think ultimately every hire in town hall has to go to the select board. 00:11:28,167 S3: Mm. Correct. 00:11:30,801 S5: Is that correct? 00:11:31,601 S4: No, that's not correct. 00:11:33,167 S1: Okay. So whatever. So we're drafting live here. 00:11:37,567 S3: Not everyone. 00:11:39,567 S5: No. I was thinking more in terms of, um, the HR department, such as it is, would need to look at it and make sure that the way it's been drafted and approved by us is a way it's possible. Um, you know, that they can pay in those increments according to those times if it works with their software and their system. Um, and if there's anything that's, you know, inconsistent with a policy, a personnel policy, I think that's what I was thinking about. The town hall would do. It's a little unconventional. I don't think we have anyone else that I'm aware of. 00:12:17,300 S3: Paying for. 00:12:17,868 S5: A number of hours. Right. And also works has two different, you know, up to hours and stuff like that. 00:12:27,467 S1: Okay, let's let's revisit this. Does anybody want to try to take a stab at another language? Another motion? 00:12:37,267 S5: Uh, can. 00:12:37,868 S2: We can we just can we just approve What we agreed to at the last meeting and go from there. 00:12:46,767 S1: We have to give. We have to tell the town what we need. 00:12:49,701 S2: Hang on. But Joe's here with us. He's been involved in the committee. Everyone knows that. So if we as a committee approved what we what the mini committee set determined, then. Joe, correct me if I'm wrong. Can't you just say to Steve. Okay, so this is what was approved. Steve's going to want to take a look at it. He's the town administrator. 00:13:10,801 S3: Yeah, that was my understanding. Right. 00:13:13,000 S2: I don't think we have to say. And this is subject to approval by. 00:13:16,868 S1: Okay. 00:13:17,467 S2: So although we know it is I mean, we we're just approving we're just approving what we decided we would like to have. And then it would be up to Steve and whoever else needs to be up to the personnel, HR whatever to come back to us. If they have questions. I don't think we need to. 00:13:37,868 S1: Let's keep. 00:13:38,267 S2: It. Keep it simple, I would think. 00:13:39,701 S1: Let's keep this simple. Then what would the motion be? 00:13:43,467 S5: So then it's just to approve the job description for the CPC Administrative Assistant part time, as outlined in the draft of one 2324 00:13:58,200 S5: second or second. 00:14:01,767 S1: Any comments? Questions? 00:14:06,701 S1: Okay, let's take a vote. Um, I'll go the other way this time. Uh, Bonnie Anderson. 00:14:13,167 S7: Yes. 00:14:14,267 S1: Trudy Reed. 00:14:16,000 S4: Yes. 00:14:16,667 S1: Janet. Burt. 00:14:18,100 S2: Jennifer. Yes. 00:14:19,367 S1: Leo. Leo. 00:14:21,267 S3: Abstains. 00:14:22,567 S1: Alden. Drake. 00:14:24,000 S6: Yes. 00:14:24,667 S1: Catherine. Harrison. 00:14:26,100 S5: Yes. 00:14:26,767 S1: Rick. Woodland. Yes. Thank you. I want to thank that subcommittee of Joe, Catherine and Janet. I really want to thank you. I think this is a great. It was a great exercise. I think everybody got heard. Um, we have been working with the town, trying to cooperate as much as we can to try to make sure, um, we're all on the same team. So I really appreciate all the hard work the committee subcommittee did on this. Thank you. Thank you very much. 00:14:53,868 S3: Welcome, welcome. 00:14:55,300 S5: That's pretty fun. 00:14:59,567 S2: Where do we send the bills for the dinners? 00:15:08,100 S1: Uh, Diane Bucco, chair, select board, one of Ma main Street. 00:15:13,000 S3: Got it. 00:15:16,200 S1: Um, okay. Overview, deliberation process and potential grants. So I just wanted to discuss with you folks last week, and we ran out of time. Um, how do you want to approach this? Do you want to start with the easy ones? I had talked about maybe getting a score sheet. I didn't have time to do it. Let's put it on the agenda for next year. Uh. Excuse me. Uh, do we want to tackle the more difficult ones first? Um, you should have received late today. A little small, little spreadsheet that shows you how much money we have to spend. Uh, which I hope we can keep out next to us as we discuss. Um, what are your thoughts? Uh, please feel free to open conversation. I'm not going to unless it gets really hairy. 00:16:04,300 S3: So just please stop. It doesn't matter. Just get started. Yeah. Yeah. 00:16:08,801 S6: And to add to what Leo's just said, maybe just start with the smallest dollar amount. Applications first. I think those will be the easiest to process and decide. And we can move through them from smallest to biggest. 00:16:24,300 S3: Good. 00:16:24,901 S1: Good. With me. Anybody else? 00:16:26,767 S4: Do we plan to get. Do we plan to do them all tonight? Because I'm going to go back to what Janet stated earlier. I did not get a chance to read the, um, The write ups from KP law on the warrant articles on the applicants. So, um, I didn't even get a chance to look at the numbers that we got from finance, I believe. I don't know when all this came through, but honestly, I checked this email, maybe 2 or 3, you know, like every two days. It's not something that I do on a regular basis. Um, so I don't know how much we're going to get into tonight, but I haven't had a chance to review the packet. 00:17:04,567 S3: Hold on. 00:17:05,100 S6: I'll. 00:17:05,767 S1: I'll get your question in a minute. Um, Joe, could you, um, put up on the screen the budget information? Uh, is there a way? I know I saw those eyes roll, I apologize. 00:17:17,767 S3: No no no no no, not at all. I just got to dig through my. 00:17:20,267 S1: Well, let's get the budget information now. My review. Personal review of the, um, comments from Cape Law. They didn't say no to anything. The only one that. 00:17:32,868 S4: I'm comfortable, I'm comfortable discussing and voting. I just wanted to put it out there that I had not had a chance to review those two documents. 00:17:39,567 S1: And that'll be so noted. We're all kind of at the last minute peril of life. So, um, I agree with you. The only one that I wanted to bring people's attention to is they did discuss, uh, pretty clearly, their thoughts around the bonding issue. So maybe that's something we want to uphold. 00:17:59,667 S2: This is an open discussion. Of course they did, because that's what this is all about. I'm confused about one thing. Why did we ask them to give their opinion on all of our proposed amounts? 00:18:13,167 S1: Because they do that every year. They just do. 00:18:15,167 S2: It at a different point. Okay, so I've never seen that before. 00:18:18,367 S1: And I've asked, well, that's why I'm trying to be open. You're getting everything I get. Um, it used to be done towards the end right before town meeting. 00:18:26,701 S3: Oh, really? Right. 00:18:28,000 S2: Are you going. 00:18:28,300 S1: To have a comment on that? 00:18:30,067 S5: Um, yeah, but I can wait. 00:18:32,868 S1: Okay, so I understand it used to be done much closer to town meeting next year. I want it done right before we even review the applications. So that's what we're trying to get to. I thought that was done already and that we were all in the clear. It wasn't. So I had them do it now, not after we made the choices, because then. 00:18:52,467 S2: That makes sense to me. I couldn't understand that. Thank you. I appreciate that, Rick. 00:18:56,767 S1: Catherine, do you agree? 00:18:58,167 S5: Yeah. That was going to be my comment. It's nice that we can. I didn't read it all and it wasn't concise, particularly so, but I think I understood it the same way you did. They didn't say you can't do anything that's been proposed. There wasn't anything they said you couldn't do. And it's kind of comforting to know that whatever we decide will be our decision, but at least we know it's legal. 00:19:20,868 S1: So that was the whole idea about this. 00:19:23,167 S3: Exactly. 00:19:23,667 S5: That's a good thing. 00:19:24,367 S3: Yeah. 00:19:24,767 S1: I want to get back to Alden. Do you have a more comment? Alden. 00:19:27,767 S6: No, I, I agree with what Trudy said about the last minute receipt of some of this stuff. I didn't read the last email either, but I spent all afternoon on the on the earlier ones. So when we get to those larger, more complicated applications, let's have this conversation about whether we continue and vote tonight or do something else. But please, I would love to see you start, if you would, with the smallest dollar amounts. 00:19:58,501 S3: Yeah, yeah. 00:19:59,267 S1: Let's go. Let's do that. Awesome. 00:20:02,167 S3: You want me to share that chart now on the screen or. 00:20:05,300 S1: Let's keep talking. We may not need it yet. Right. Because just to note, Joe and I looked over the numbers. We have the money to fund everything, so that stress is not on us this year. Uh, but it's what we want to represent to the town, is the question. So let's go to number. Um, uh, 17,000 is the lowest number I see for from William Wilson for the restoration and repair of the main street. I have a question. Go ahead. Is there one lower than that? 00:20:34,467 S6: Well. Did the Council on Aging withdraw? 00:20:37,400 S1: Yes. They withdraw both opportunities. 00:20:40,067 S6: Oh. Thank you. 00:20:41,200 S3: Yeah. 00:20:43,200 S6: Sorry for the interruption. Go ahead. 00:20:45,067 S1: So I think technically how we have to do it. We have to make a motion to, um. Excuse me to, I guess, approve and, uh, bring up a town meeting. Uh, the funding of the restoration and repair of Main Street Cemetery. Granite wall at $17,000. Can someone move that? Then we can have discussion. 00:21:05,067 S6: That's the motion. 00:21:06,167 S3: I would like to. Mr. chairman. 00:21:08,267 S1: Thank you. Leo. Mrs. Johnson. 00:21:09,801 S2: I'll second it. 00:21:10,767 S1: And seconded by Jennifer. Um, discussion. 00:21:15,968 S2: Uh, my opinion is we have to do it. It has to happen. It's the entrance. It's a short money. It's a cemetery for Wenham. Uh, I think it's a no brainer. 00:21:29,167 S1: Okay. 00:21:30,100 S6: I do have a question. Uh, did, uh, Mr. Wilson get back to you, Rick, or anybody to say that the seven, he felt comfortable the 17 was enough? Because at the last meeting, there was conversation about if it needs to go to, you know, 20. Uh, he should let us know. 00:21:47,767 S1: There is a note somewhere in our possession that says the mixing, custom mixing of colors will be included in the price. 00:21:54,367 S3: Right. 00:21:55,100 S2: That was we got an email about that from somebody that said there would be no additional expense for the custom mixing. 00:22:03,467 S1: I see Joe raising his hand. Do you have a question, Joe? 00:22:05,667 S3: I'm just going to add the comment if, uh, if I can just, um, bill said no price increase for color matching of mortar. Yeah. 00:22:13,167 S1: Uh, Leo. 00:22:14,300 S3: We. 00:22:14,567 S8: Talked about it a week ago. It seemed like everybody was in favor of it. They were worried a little bit about the about the color, but, uh, the the applicant assured us that it would be fine, so I, I'd like to. 00:22:26,467 S1: You want to call for a vote? 00:22:27,868 S8: I'd like to vote as soon as possible. If anybody else doesn't have something to say. 00:22:32,267 S1: Go ahead. Catherine. Somebody has something to say. You're muted. 00:22:40,667 S5: Um, this is a little bit more of a general comment. This is a category of CPC application that I think is really appropriate. A great because this is a project that could easily, maybe not easily is eligible to be funded through the town's budget. You know that we voted on every year. Um, but but the CPC has the ability to give a little relief to the taxpayers by funding this project ourselves through the through CPC funds rather than in the budget. And I like that kind of project. So that's my only comment. 00:23:16,767 S1: Mr.. 00:23:17,000 S8: Mr. chairman, if Mr. chairman, if it was if it should be part of the budget, it should have been done in one heck of a long time ago. So I'm sure that that that that the town, the town employees and the administration have noticed that because it's been an eyesore for a long time. So I think CPC ought to do it and let's vote on it. 00:23:37,767 S1: Okay. Let's vote on it, everybody, um, on the motion ahead of us to fund at $17,000 the restoration repair, the Main Street cemetery, granite wall. Uh, Kathryn Harrison. 00:23:48,968 S5: Yes. 00:23:49,767 S1: Alden. Drake. 00:23:50,901 S6: Yes. 00:23:51,667 S1: Leo. Mr.. 00:23:52,767 S8: Leo. 00:23:53,167 S3: Yes. 00:23:53,767 S1: Janet. Burt. 00:23:55,100 S2: Jennifer. Yes. 00:23:56,167 S3: Trudy. Reed. 00:23:57,767 S4: Yes. 00:23:58,467 S1: Bonnie. Anderson. 00:24:00,100 S7: Yes. 00:24:00,767 S1: Rick. Woodland. Yes. Great. We got one under our belts. Um, the next is the proposal for the rehabilitation of the Karen Wolff Memorial Garden at the Bücker school. Uh, there's been a slight increase in the amount requested. They went back, and, uh, it's less about 10%. More. 9% more. Uh, it's now at $54,000. Um, does somebody want to make a motion to accept this so we can discuss? Uh, Catherine Harrison. 00:24:32,067 S5: Can I just ask a question? Um, so I know Robert's Rules would say make the motion with the dollar number that's in here, and that gives us the ability to discuss it, and. But it also, it doesn't mean that we have to vote that dollar amount. Right. So in our discussion, we could end up with a different dollar amount. Not just this one but anyone. And then we would someone would just amend the motion. Is that how that would work? 00:25:00,567 S1: I think that's how we should do that. Uh, to amend the motion to change the amount. 00:25:04,667 S3: Okay. 00:25:05,100 S5: I'm sorry. I just want to know. 00:25:07,067 S1: And and we can go up to. So if you're feeling people, we have done that in the past. So, uh, discussion on the, um, rehabilitation of the Karen Wolff garden at $54,000. 00:25:20,000 S1: Oh. 00:25:20,801 S6: Yes. We, uh, we received a letter of support from the chairperson of the school committee. Uh, last name? Um, I didn't have a chance to read it because that was one of the ones that came late. Uh, was there any indication in that letter that the school committee intends to, uh, support this in their budget as well? Or is this simply, you know, a pat on the back saying this will be a great project? 00:25:48,767 S1: It was a pat on the back. I have it in front of me. If you'd like me to read it really quickly. It's four. 00:25:52,267 S3: Paragraphs. 00:25:52,667 S6: You don't need to. I assumed it. 00:25:54,067 S3: Would. 00:25:54,367 S1: They said that the school Committee is in agreement that it should be, that they're all comfortable with it. 00:25:59,567 S3: Okay. 00:26:03,100 S1: Hearing no other. 00:26:04,567 S4: Was the upkeep ever discussed? Who's going to pay for the ongoing maintenance of it? 00:26:09,701 S1: Yes, they're trying to roll that into the DPW budget, but they haven't quite finished that. Uh, Kate, Mallory's on the call. Maybe she could address that if she's not busy. 00:26:21,100 S2: So that leads. That leads me to my comment. I'm sorry Kate, you want to speak first? You can go ahead. 00:26:27,367 S3: Oh no problem. 00:26:28,267 S9: You can go ahead. Okay. 00:26:29,667 S2: Um, this is almost across the street from my house. Sort of. And it was a beautiful garden when it was created. We talked about this a little bit before when Kate was on. Not that she's. Well, she is part of this. Sorry. Um, we talked about this before, but I'm not crazy about. I like the idea, but I'm worried about it. Let me put it that way. I walk by that at least once, sometimes twice a day. The only people that see that are people that walk their dogs that way, or in their cars to pick up. And don't get me wrong, I love the idea of little gardens here and there. I love the one that's done at the park between Hamilton and Wenham. It's beautiful, but the people that do, um, all the flowers and everything, they have a commitment to taking care of that. Um, when they created this originally, it was beautiful for about two years, and it's been an eyesore for about, I'm going to say ten years or more. Um, I don't see people from the building across the street from, um, Council on Aging walking over there. It's a really small piece of property. Um, if it was on the Council on Aging property, I could see them using it maybe to sit out, have a sandwich or whatever, a chat with each other. And it's I feel really weird saying that. I don't think it's a great idea, but I really don't. I just think that it's a great idea because it's nice to have a nice little park, but I just am fearful. My, it's my fear that it's going to get created. And I and I love the idea of what's going to happen to it. I love the plan, but they might roll it into having someone taken care of it. If there's no commitment, we're going to have the same mess that we've in, maybe three or 4 or 5 years. 00:28:15,667 S1: Thank you. Janet. Kate, please. 00:28:17,968 S9: Hi. Um, Janet, this was a huge concern of ours as well, because we didn't want to see the same thing happen to this garden again. So basically, when we put out the request for proposal to have this, um, project done, what we are going to put in that request is three years of a maintenance commitment. So we would then have three years to figure out exactly what we would do after that. Um, we figured about this would cost about $300 a year in maintenance. We did call, um, around to a few, uh, landscaping places. Um, when Mallory, a tree warden, planned this so it would be very low maintenance. There's actually going to be, um, a lot of stone dust on it. A lot of, um, concrete, actually, which sounds counterintuitive to. But it was. It's planned. So it will be bushes, pollinator plants. It will not be, um, a lot of annuals that will have to do. The only thing will be the actual, like if we want to do vegetable gardens. INS. Um, so we know that the Hamilton Wyndham Garden Club doesn't want to take on anymore. So what we had talked about is in the conservation coordinators job description or, and in the land use office, this contract with whatever landscaper we use would be under that person's purview. So right now it would be under my purview. And so the few times a year that it does need maintenance, um, it would be my job to make sure that the landscapers are keeping up with it. So we have three years to get more funding. It's minimal funding, about $300 a year of maintenance costs. And, um, we have talked to Essex Aggie Tech to see if we could set up a program with them within the next few years to come in, um, do some educational stuff with that. Um, I was planning to and haven't yet talked to the environmental club at the high school because they have volunteer hours that they have to do at the high school. So we might be able to work some programs like that. And I would be talking, you know, obviously, to the select board within the next year or two to just make sure that we have those funds in there. So we have thought a lot about it. We'll be clear at least for three years with the request for proposal. And that would give us some time to figure out exactly what to do. But the job would be on my job description or whoever's in that position. 00:30:39,367 S2: So if anybody else has stone dust besides me, there's a lot of maintenance to stone dust cake. I have it on several of my gardens. Um, if you look at that beautiful monument at the top of Arbor in one, a, um. That stone dust last summer was embarrassing. At the Veterans Memorial. It was overgrown with grass until I spoke to someone about it and said, you know, I'm happy to go up there with my, uh, sprayer and my white vinegar, which kills the grass and doesn't kill. You know, it's beautiful stuff. And, um, and several people didn't take me up on it. Said, oh, yeah, you're right. And it got fixed. But it was a mess the entire summer, so stone dust isn't perfect. And again, I love the idea of these small parks, but I'm really worried like Essex Aggie, I know because I teach there, I teach college courses for them. They are over the top with requests from communities, all their communities to help with these things. Um, the high school, we just did a, um, an essay contest for um, Human Rights 75th anniversary and had a huge presentation at the library and had no students come who were all, we're going to get, um, credit for being there, um, for community service. One, two, two students came, sister and brother who were twins. That was it out of our entire high school. So I love the ideas, but I'm still worried that for $54,000 approximately, that in three years, it's we don't know the kit. You'll still be in your job. I know you sincerely believe in it, but that just seems to be a lot out there. That's. I guess I'm just still in and I have no problem if we vote for this. Don't get me wrong, but I just think it was a great idea when it was created 10 or 15 years ago and then just fell apart, and I don't three years of maintenance. Who's going to call those people all the time and say, you know what, the grass is growing through the stone dust. I don't I wasn't thinking about annuals at all. And I like the idea of some other stuff you said. But even even native perennials, they need weeding. They need whatever. I can't imagine $300 from April until October would cover maintenance for that property. 00:32:57,000 S3: Okay. 00:33:00,367 S1: Thank you. Thank you for your input, Leo. 00:33:04,367 S8: Well, it probably if we didn't spend the money on it, it probably cost a good percentage of that money to top it over. But if we do do it, I think we ought to put a plaque there telling people where they can donate if they like it. This way we will have a barometer, the type of barometer I've been talking about since I've been on this commission. 00:33:28,567 S2: It's a good idea to. 00:33:32,100 S1: Have some kind of way of, you know, after we get through grants season, we are going to bring up the issue of how do we want to mark or mark or market properties that have been helped by CPC funds. So, Leo, you're right on to that. Uh, and then a way to donate, uh, you know, any kind of funds to help that. I think that would be a good litigator. You're right. Leo, that paving it over or just grasping it would be. 00:33:58,100 S2: Well, it's not going to cost $54,000. It's not that big. It isn't that big. And there's also another garden, sort of in the middle of those buildings that one of or two of the teachers in that building do work with students for. I think it's mostly herbs and things and they take care of that. But no one from the school and this is not a criticism, but no one from the school has stepped up about this garden. The school department clearly hasn't said, okay, we'll help with this. And I know what I pay to have someone take care of the gardens on my property. It's way more than $300 and mine is not. My gardens are not as large as that is. 00:34:37,100 S1: Thank you. Thank you. Do we have other comments on this point? Catherine. 00:34:43,400 S5: I'm just wondering or trying to imagine what the alternative would be if not a garden. I mean, clearly it can't stay the way it is. So it's like, rip everything out and, I don't know, pave grass. I don't know if if. Kate, if your group has thought about any alternative, um, or, you know, really your your. 00:35:08,868 S9: I'm sorry. Catherine. Go ahead. 00:35:10,567 S5: No, I was going to say. I'm sure that your group was trying to beautify it and bring it back to what it was. Um, without probably spending too much time thinking about. Well, what if that doesn't happen? So that may not be a fair question. I just was thinking about what the options were. 00:35:25,167 S9: Mister chair. 00:35:26,467 S1: Please. 00:35:27,467 S9: I think, um, we wanted to keep it a garden because it is a it's called the Karen Wolf Memorial Garden. So I believe Karen Wolf was a big part of the Booker school before, and we didn't want to tear that that memory away for people. 00:35:42,267 S1: Thank you. 00:35:42,701 S2: So the Council on Aging withdrew their proposal for their second bocce court, if that's what that's called. I think because they realized they didn't. It takes up a lot of bocce. Code is pretty big if you take a look at the one they have. I wonder if that is a place where they would put a second bocce court. They have a huge bocce program, Council on Aging. It's huge. and they don't have decided that they didn't have enough room. Particularly considering where the septic system is, in order to put a second port in which they would really use if they had it. Maybe that's a location that where they could go there. 00:36:24,400 S1: It could be an alternate location. Um. Thank you. Bonnie, I saw your hand up. Did it go down? Is it okay? 00:36:31,567 S7: No. 00:36:31,767 S3: Thank you. Please. 00:36:32,801 S7: I'm sorry. Janet, are you saying that the bocce ball court could be moved to the Karen Woolf Memorial Garden? 00:36:38,801 S2: Uh, it was just a suggestion. I don't know if it could happen. It's just it's a. You know what? Council on Aging is right across School Street, which is a zero traffic street other than the six houses that are there, unless school pickup is when it's busy. That was just a thought. Nothing. Council on aging. Well, I don't know. We. I guess the town owns all the land. Council on aging and across the little street there. It was just a thought, because I know Council on Aging really wanted to put in a second bocce court. They could really use it. They have a huge program, and I think it's a nice idea to support the senior citizens in town, which is mostly who you play bocce. That was just a thought that I had. 00:37:19,868 S7: Thank you. 00:37:20,167 S2: Only because I'm worried about the maintenance and I'm not. I love the idea of a garden there. I would love it if I when I walk by it every day. But I'm. 00:37:28,667 S3: Hoping that. 00:37:29,868 S1: I'm hoping that Kate in the open space group at Town Hall will prove us all wrong. And that garden will look better and better every five years, so. 00:37:37,667 S2: Well, they might rec. Except that if they don't, we're in the same mess that we're in with the Karen Wolff garden right now. 00:37:43,000 S1: Yeah we are. And I so understood. Understood. I just want to bring this up. Bonnie. 00:37:48,300 S7: Sorry. So that wasn't my question. That just was clarifying point. 00:37:51,100 S3: Okay. 00:37:51,767 S7: First thing you said, Janet. So thank you. Um, my question is more, I guess, to Janet Point. Uh, what? Yes, that could happen. But if we just do nothing and don't put this through, nothing will happen. And instead of this potential future in three years, it will just remain to be as it is. So I think it's a it's a great use of CPC funding, partnering with our school. It is across from the CoA. I think it's a great idea. I think they're all the concerns I heard I agree with. It's not enough for in for me to hold hold everything back for another year. So that's my sentiment. 00:38:32,601 S2: All right. So what is the partnering with the school I missed that part. 00:38:36,868 S7: Just support just the garden just supporting this this garden that's that's right across from the CoA at Booker School. That's all. That's all. 00:38:43,367 S2: Okay. I thought you meant that we're going to give us some support. Okay I understand. 00:38:48,167 S1: Trudy, please. 00:38:49,968 S4: Okay. Do we know has anybody talked to the school about whether or not that the garden will be used for, um, curriculum and getting the kids involved in some of their projects or Programs that they do there at the school. 00:39:07,167 S1: Kate, shaking your head. Yes. Go ahead. 00:39:09,968 S9: Yes. Um, Deirdre Peretti has talked to the school, and, um, they have discussed using it for storytime. Um, the stone walls are going to have a solid surface on the top so that kids could be able to sit. Um, 25 kids should be able to sit along the walls, and then we'll have the benches facing so the teachers can read stories. Our hope. Um, also working with the senior center is that seniors could come and read the kids stories, but, um, there is a question about Cory checking with that. So we're not 100% sure if we can miss Mick mix the two, but definitely the school would like to use it as well. 00:39:50,367 S4: Thank you. 00:39:51,701 S1: I'd like to call this to a vote if. 00:39:53,167 S4: We can vote. 00:39:56,667 S1: Uh, so we are here working on the motion to approve $45,000 for the rehabilitation of the Karen Wolff Memorial Garden at 11 School Street. Uh, Joe. 00:40:09,767 S3: I believe it was 5454. 00:40:11,801 S1: I'm sorry. I got the number. 00:40:13,868 S5: So I can try a motion. 00:40:16,868 S1: Okay. 00:40:17,200 S5: Please, if we're ready. And I think again, correct me if I'm wrong. I think what we're voting to do is to recommend to the annual town meeting that this CPC application be approved. 00:40:28,801 S3: We're not new. We have a writer somewhere. 00:40:30,467 S1: Thank you. Thank you for getting it right. 00:40:32,267 S5: Thank you. It's just a little muscle memory. 00:40:35,167 S3: So say that again and we'll get we'll get this at the, uh, the official motion. 00:40:39,667 S5: And the wording would be the same for all of them. So it's a vote to recommend to annual town meeting that the CPC fund the application for the rehabilitation of the Karen Wolf Memorial Garden for $54,000. And I think we're also supposed to say where the 54,000 is coming from, you know. Yeah, but but we could add that I don't know. So that's what I think the wording of the motion is supposed to be. Other than the. 00:41:07,300 S1: It's a we can. 00:41:08,167 S3: Take. 00:41:08,567 S5: That. 00:41:09,300 S1: We can take that out of budgetary reserve. Is that correct? 00:41:14,501 S3: Yes. You could. That's correct. Okay. 00:41:18,701 S1: So, um, Catherine, do you accept that as an addition to your motion to be withdrawn from budgetary reserve? 00:41:26,367 S5: And, um, yes, except that I thought and I know this is going to interfere with perhaps later things that we're going to talk about, but I thought in general, the, the, the best practice is to take the money from the most restrictive sort of category first and then take any additional funds if we can't. So is it an open space or is it a recreation project, I guess. I'm. 00:41:53,968 S3: I'm not open space. I'm sorry. Sorry, Joe. I'm sorry, Mr. Chair. I don't mean to interrupt. 00:42:00,567 S1: Go ahead. 00:42:01,667 S3: I believe Open Space and Rec are sort of joined as one category now. Okay. So long ago. So it's open space, historic preservation and housing for the three categories. 00:42:15,100 S5: So not wanting to create a bombshell here I think, but I think that we would. This comes from the category of open space and recreation. I would agree to name it. 00:42:26,868 S3: Okay. 00:42:28,267 S5: So that's where it would come from. And then any other monies could come from. Once we once we exhaust all of that we've got other funds. 00:42:38,100 S1: I'm fine with that. Do you want to reread your motion? 00:42:40,667 S5: Yeah. So let me see. I think I wrote something down. I vote to recommend to town meeting that the CPC fund, the application for the rehabilitation of the Karen Wolf Memorial Garden for $54,000 with funds from the open Space reserve. Is that what it's called? 00:43:01,267 S1: I think open space. Open space? Yes. Reserved. Reserved. 00:43:08,701 S1: Second. The motion. Anybody? 00:43:11,567 S7: Bonnie Anderson second. 00:43:13,167 S1: Thank you. Um, let's go around the room. I'll go the other way. Bonnie Anderson. 00:43:18,901 S7: Yes. 00:43:20,167 S1: Trudy Reed. 00:43:21,901 S4: Yes. 00:43:22,667 S1: Janet. Burt. 00:43:24,367 S2: Yes. 00:43:25,067 S1: Leo. 00:43:26,300 S8: Yes. 00:43:27,067 S1: Aldon. Drake. 00:43:28,467 S3: Yes. 00:43:29,100 S1: Catherine. Harrison. 00:43:30,567 S5: Yes. 00:43:31,267 S1: Rick. Woodland. Yes. Thank you. Everybody. 00:43:35,000 S3: Uh, I think we need to. 00:43:35,968 S1: Revisit, um, the $17,000, the restoration. 00:43:39,667 S2: I was just going to say that we didn't say where it was going to come from. 00:43:42,501 S3: Correct. 00:43:43,667 S1: Um, so how do we do that? 00:43:46,501 S8: Technically, that's in the historic district. Mr. chairman, it's in the historic district. It's it's and it's historic. 00:43:53,667 S1: Yes. We just need to. We just need to do that officially. I agree Leo, it's an historic, but I'm thinking of the process to get that to happen. 00:44:00,067 S2: Maybe you just reopen it. 00:44:02,667 S5: Rescind the prior vote and vote. 00:44:05,200 S1: Okay. Yeah. Let's rescind. Let's take a vote to rescind our, um, prior vote on the approval of the restoration and repair of the Main Street Cemetery granite wall for $17,000. Uh, can take a second. Can someone move that second? 00:44:20,267 S6: So moved. 00:44:21,000 S1: And then. 00:44:21,601 S6: Second to rescind. 00:44:22,767 S1: Thank you. And then I'm going to go quickly around the room. Catherine Harrison. 00:44:25,868 S3: Yes. 00:44:26,467 S1: Aldon. Drake. 00:44:27,567 S3: Yes. 00:44:28,100 S1: Trudy Reid. 00:44:29,601 S4: Yes. 00:44:30,200 S1: Jennifer. Burt. 00:44:31,467 S2: Yes. 00:44:32,067 S1: Leo. Yeah. Bonnie. Anderson. 00:44:34,567 S3: Yes. 00:44:35,167 S1: Rick. Woodland. Yes. So let's redo this to what's the official wording? Catherine. 00:44:41,200 S5: So to recommend to annual town meeting that the CPC, um, fund the application that the CPC on the application. 00:44:52,601 S1: The town. 00:44:53,167 S3: Fund. 00:44:53,701 S5: They recommend to town meeting that the application. I wrote this down when I forgot for restoration repair of Main Street Cemetery wall. Um for $17,000. Be approved. So we're recommending. 00:45:10,267 S1: To be to be taken out of. 00:45:12,467 S3: The. 00:45:13,167 S1: Historic. 00:45:14,167 S5: Historic reserves. Reserve preserved. 00:45:17,567 S1: Correct. Can somebody, uh, second that, please? 00:45:21,667 S6: Second. 00:45:22,267 S2: Second. 00:45:22,767 S1: Walden. Drake. Seconded. Uh, all in favor? Uh, Leo. Miss Jones. Janet. Burt. 00:45:29,100 S2: Yes. 00:45:29,701 S1: Bonnie. Anderson. 00:45:31,000 S3: Yes. 00:45:31,501 S1: Trudy. Reed. 00:45:33,100 S4: Yes. 00:45:33,767 S1: Alden. Drake. 00:45:34,968 S3: Yes. 00:45:35,501 S1: Catherine. Harrison. 00:45:36,868 S3: Yes. 00:45:37,467 S1: Rick. Woodland. Yes. Great. Now we got the language down. We can start making some headway. 00:45:43,567 S6: Thank you. Catherine. 00:45:45,100 S1: Thank you. Catherine. Yes. 00:45:46,267 S5: Like I said, muscle memory. 00:45:49,367 S1: Um, why? It's important to have all levels of people here are people that have experience and people that are brand new. Because this is how the town works. Um, I think I'd like to, um, move to it. Well, I think should be an easy one next, which it's not exactly in the right order financially, but I, I'd like to say if we can talk about the town hall restoration project, which is the annual payment that we approve. Um, could somebody make a motion that we can get that on the floor? 00:46:17,767 S8: So move, Mister Chairman. But this this one's cut and dry, and it shouldn't take a lot of time. 00:46:22,267 S3: Correct. 00:46:22,801 S1: That's why I want to get it out of the way, please. 00:46:25,067 S2: Second. 00:46:26,467 S1: Great. Second. And then. Listen, let's just get the language down to, uh, recommend to town meeting that the CPC fund the annual payment to the town hall restoration project in the amount of $109,600. 00:46:43,467 S8: Out of the historic fund. 00:46:45,167 S1: Out of the historic fund. Thank you. Um, uh, Joe. 00:46:49,467 S3: Just so I know that that account's is going to be technically in the negative. I think with this, if you took the 17 out of the first, you'll have to dip into the reserve. At this point, I think I think there's about 52,000 left over as a Delta. 00:47:03,100 S1: Thank you for doing the math. 00:47:05,767 S8: Uh. 00:47:06,367 S3: Definitely. 00:47:07,267 S1: So so to be taken out of the historic budget and the balance taken out of the, um. 00:47:16,300 S3: Budgetary reserve. 00:47:17,667 S1: Right, right. And we'll get someone to do the numbers. I don't think we have to have the exact numbers right now. Uh, as long as we give it our intention, which is to take the take what's left in the historic reserve fund to pay off the 109 600 and the balance to come out of budgetary reserve. 00:47:35,267 S8: And I'll second that motion. Mr.. 00:47:36,868 S1: Thank you. Leo. Uh, all in favor, uh, Katherine Harrison. 00:47:40,567 S5: Yes. 00:47:41,167 S1: Walden. Drake. 00:47:42,567 S3: Yes. 00:47:43,100 S1: Liam. 00:47:44,100 S3: Yes. 00:47:44,901 S1: Uh, Janet Burke. 00:47:46,501 S2: Yes. 00:47:47,100 S1: Trudy Reed. 00:47:48,667 S4: Yes. 00:47:49,267 S1: Barney Anderson. 00:47:50,467 S3: Yes. 00:47:51,167 S1: Rick. Woodland. Yes. Thank you. 00:47:55,000 S8: We should all go that quick. 00:47:56,801 S5: But we'll see if only because we have a statutory obligation. You know. 00:48:02,801 S1: How many have we done? So, hey, we got three done. Uh, the next, in order of increasing value, um, is to the Wenham Museum for 93,500 to preserve and share the archival resources. 00:48:20,367 S1: Um. Kathryn. 00:48:22,868 S5: Rick. I'm sorry. Did we talk about the signage? Is that still. 00:48:29,167 S2: Oh, yes. Signage was short money also. 00:48:31,801 S5: I don't see it. Um, I don't I it's the one, two three fourth one. Open space and recreation committee. Kate Mallory Wenham. Recreational trail signage. 00:48:45,400 S1: Uh, that's been that has been removed at the submitters request. 00:48:49,367 S3: Okay. 00:48:49,901 S2: Okay. 00:48:50,767 S9: Oh, no. No. Oh, no. 00:48:52,667 S1: Then why is it not here? 00:48:55,367 S3: It's on the agenda. 00:48:57,901 S2: Good thing Kate stayed on. Yeah. 00:49:01,767 S5: It was in the packet. Uh, on the agenda. 00:49:04,367 S1: I have the agenda from today's meeting, and I do not see it, so I obviously have a bad copy. 00:49:10,868 S5: Well, let me see what I think. I thought I printed what I had for the agenda. 00:49:16,968 S1: Could you just pull that up on your screen, please, so I can see it? Because I print it from today's email or yesterday's email. The posting. And I don't have that on my list. 00:49:25,267 S3: Okay. Uh, let's see here. 00:49:29,467 S8: Okay. Why don't we save it till next year? 00:49:32,667 S5: No, because we can't find it on the piece of paper, Leo. 00:49:37,167 S1: We can punt them all back. 00:49:39,100 S4: Because I think you started talking about the museum. So let's stick with the museum. And in the meantime, we'll look for the sign. 00:49:44,100 S8: But for two reasons. 00:49:45,100 S4: Jumping around. 00:49:46,067 S3: For. 00:49:46,267 S8: Two reasons. For two reasons. To save time. To save money to its actual acreage in open space. 00:49:55,601 S1: I missed that, sorry. 00:49:56,801 S5: I think that I'm not. I don't agree with that, Leo. I mean, I don't think. 00:50:01,300 S8: I. 00:50:01,567 S5: Don't think we should discuss it. 00:50:03,000 S8: Most of them, most of them haven't. Because we haven't spent bought a single inch of square inch of open space, never mind acreage. 00:50:10,601 S3: And we're. 00:50:11,067 S1: Trying to resolve we're trying to resolve that this. 00:50:13,200 S3: Year. 00:50:13,567 S5: I know this is the committee that's going to resolve it, but I just I don't want to skip over an application. 00:50:19,100 S3: No, no, no, I. 00:50:20,000 S1: Didn't take that seriously. And we're not the chairman's not going to allow that to happen. No. Absolutely no. So I won't bring that to a vote. 00:50:25,901 S5: Back to the museum. 00:50:27,601 S1: So let's go to the museum. The 93,500 for the archival resources discussion, which wasn't. 00:50:34,667 S2: I'm sorry, I don't have it in front of me. I need to open it. How much does. 00:50:37,501 S3: It do. 00:50:37,868 S1: For you? Preserving and sharing the archival resources to honor Wyndham's story. It's a request for 93,500 from the Wenham Museum to essentially get a bunch of things online. A phase two project, remember. 00:50:51,200 S2: Right? Right. 00:50:54,100 S1: Discussion. 00:50:58,367 S7: Um, I've. Oh, sorry. Um. I've heard. 00:51:02,000 S8: Go ahead. Bonnie. 00:51:03,300 S7: Thanks. Um, so, Bonnie Anderson. Um, I have just heard anecdotally how important it is that not just our town, but, you know, across the state of Massachusetts, there's been a concerted movement to make sure these old records are digitized. And I, I heard from the applicant and in our meeting that that evening, um, just how strained they are for time to be able to do so. Um, this seems like in, in my mind, of clear, good use of CPC funds. Um, good for our community and good towards that end. Um, being like the liaison chair between the HTC and the CPC. It's also near and dear to my wheelhouse. So that's that's my sentiment on it. 00:51:54,701 S3: Thank you. 00:51:56,501 S1: Trudy. 00:51:58,267 S4: So I'm going to be honest, I don't know much about this one, but Bonnie mentioned digitalization. Digitalization is only as good as the technology, depending on how they digitize their documents. Um, Boston Library, the Commonwealth, digitalization. There's something in Boston that will do free digitization for certain documents for municipalities. So I don't know if they've checked into that. Um, I think it's always good to preserve history. Um, but I would just be cautious on how they're preserving that. And, um, and who's doing the work? 00:52:34,000 S1: Uh, that. Leo, did I see your hand up? 00:52:35,901 S8: Yes. It did. Quickly, Mister chairman, uh, the museum is is is a favorite of mine, I mean, and I've donated to it over the years. I've been in town 50 years now and and it's a worthwhile it's a worthwhile cause. Uh, it's been around for a hundred years. Uh, for the first 90 years, they supported themselves. And it took a lot of money over those years for that museum to get where it is and to get where it was ten years ago. So they must have raised a lot of money. But in the last ten years, we have we have okayed seven applications from them to the tune of more than a quarter of $1 million. Uh, this probably is a worthwhile cause, but I think I think that that we ought to go on hold on the museum a little bit, because I, I don't believe I might be wrong, but I don't believe that they raise money. Like if they use the effort to raise money like they used to. And because they found a CPA, that's that's been very generous to them. Thank you. 00:54:07,901 S1: Thank you. I want to just add to that we do not have to I think somebody brought this up earlier. We do not have to fund these projects at total face value request. So we can decide that we want to give half, have them have a slower start to this, which they understood. They could do a slower start. Um, this is their everyone's pie in the sky number. Uh, and to Leo's point, this may help them engage with their donor base to come up with the rest of the money so we can provide seed money. 00:54:39,167 S8: Rick. You're right. In fact, quite a few years ago, I think. Trudy, obey me out on this. There was restoration on records at the town hall that that that that cost quite a bit of money, but but, uh, I think the CPA gave it to them over several years, didn't they? Truly. They didn't get. 00:54:58,400 S3: It. 00:54:58,567 S4: All, sir, because I was the one that wrote that applicant application. 00:55:01,767 S8: And it went like 10% for ten years. 00:55:04,801 S4: Yep. 00:55:06,701 S1: I would entertain a motion if we're feeling uncomfortable with the whole amount this year. Um, a motion that would tie that over so many year period. 00:55:15,367 S8: So move, Mr. Chairman, 10% for ten years. 00:55:21,267 S1: Comfortable? 00:55:22,868 S6: I'm sorry. 00:55:24,501 S3: I'll second. 00:55:26,100 S1: Okay. So that would be. Can we just round it up and say $10,000 a year for ten years? 00:55:32,601 S2: Wait, wait, could can I not make. Can I make a comment? I'm sorry. 00:55:36,167 S1: Could I not see your hand raised? I'm sorry. I'm sorry. 00:55:38,267 S2: That's okay. But that means we're still. We're committing to 10 to $100,000. How about we give them $10,000 to start, and they come back to us next year, and then they tell us who's doing it? And did they do more fundraising? Because Leo's right. They haven't been doing as much fundraising. And maybe they need to look into maybe they don't know about. Maybe we could let them know about. I think Trudy said Boston digitalization would help them. Trudy, you great idea. 00:56:07,300 S1: Trudy. Next. 00:56:09,000 S4: No, I was going to say I don't know how large their project is, but these types of projects go for several years. Um, I think saying $10,000 for ten years is is dragging the project out. But I think we I'm, I'm agreeable to to reducing the amount, reducing the number of years. I don't know about when I'm but where I work in Wayland. They say that your project has to be completed in three years. I don't know if that's part of their bylaws or that's just their CPC rules. But Whalen says that your project has to be completed in three years, and these and these projects take a long time. It's just not an overnight project to visualize and preserve some of these older books. 00:56:52,000 S1: I would entertain a motion to change the amount to. So if we want to maybe give a third this year and see how they're as a as a seed fund to see how it goes. 00:57:02,868 S2: I think the seed fund to me, makes more sense to see how it goes and to get feedback from them about what they've done. 00:57:10,100 S8: And to see if they can raise any money on their own. 00:57:12,868 S2: Exactly. 00:57:15,000 S4: Can I amend the amount to $30,000? 00:57:17,367 S1: Yes you can. So we are taking a motion to a recommend to town beginning language. Catherine, I'm sorry. 00:57:28,100 S5: To recommend to town meeting that the application for preserving and sharing archival resources to honor women's story be approved for the sum of $30,000 taken from. If that's a, well, not historic. Did we say we used up the store? 00:57:46,467 S1: So we have taken from the budgetary reserve. 00:57:49,200 S3: Mhm. Right. 00:57:50,467 S1: And with and I'd like to attach that with the uh hopes that uh, with the understanding that fundraising efforts would commence. I don't know if we can add that to the motion, but that we kind of encourage their fundraising efforts to help match the funds donated. 00:58:08,767 S2: Well, why don't we add it? And if we have to change it, we can. 00:58:12,667 S3: Okay. 00:58:13,400 S1: Is that okay with Catherine to add that? 00:58:16,200 S3: Sure. Yeah. 00:58:18,167 S1: Uh, to encourage them to seek donor donor funds for part of the project. And I'd like to say to have them reapply for another payment next year. 00:58:30,667 S1: Do I have a second on that So, Alden. Thank you. And go around the room. Uh, Bonnie. 00:58:38,200 S3: Yes. 00:58:38,901 S1: Trudy. 00:58:40,267 S4: Yes. 00:58:40,801 S1: Janet. 00:58:41,868 S3: Yes. Leo. Yes. 00:58:43,767 S1: Alden. 00:58:44,901 S6: Yes. 00:58:45,601 S1: Catherine. 00:58:46,567 S5: Yes. 00:58:47,367 S1: Rick. Yes. Thank you. Everybody. Good. Um. 00:58:54,801 S3: Well. 00:58:56,167 S1: I think let's stay with the museum, please, because they have a second request. It's a little. Not exactly the next number up. Um, hold on a second. Um, Joe, have you found that stuff? I just want to make sure you're still working on finding the actual, uh, agenda with that number four and that I don't have. 00:59:14,200 S3: Yes, I have it. 00:59:15,267 S1: Okay. Hang there then. Thank you. 00:59:17,167 S4: Um, I get someone that's posted online, I just checked, it's the one that's on the. It's on the calendar. So it does include it on the calendar. 00:59:23,901 S1: As long as that's legal. Because the one I have here, uh, whatever. I got the wrong one. 00:59:28,367 S5: There were two, two pages of that, um, of applications on that agenda. I almost missed the second page. 00:59:34,868 S1: Yeah, no, I made the second page. I don't know. Anyway, um, preserving, uh, a request for 113,000 from the Winner Museum to preserve the Claflin garish Richards house. And this is mostly for a roof on the new building. They withdrew the funding request for the chimney, as I understand it. Discussion. 01:00:01,100 S1: Uh, Catherine. 01:00:02,667 S5: Just a question again on the agenda. I have 82,300. 01:00:09,100 S1: Oh, see, I do have a really old copy. 01:00:11,501 S5: What is what is the correct amount? 01:00:14,901 S3: Joe, can. 01:00:15,367 S5: You. 01:00:15,667 S3: Request. 01:00:16,067 S1: What the latest amount is? 01:00:22,467 S3: 82,300. Thank you. 01:00:25,701 S1: They did 83,200 because they did remove the chimney repairs. 01:00:30,267 S4: 300. I've got 82 382 three. 01:00:35,100 S3: The. Originally on the eligibility form. It was a little higher. Yeah. Yeah. 01:00:40,367 S1: Okay. Do we have discussion on that? Thank you for correcting the amount. Uh. Uh, Leo. 01:00:45,801 S8: Mr. chairman, quickly, the same comment as the last one they found out. It's easy pickings. So they they come to us instead of the instead of the the town. 01:00:57,567 S2: I was going to say the same thing. I wondered, do they have a budget for, like we all have for houses? Like knowing my roof is 15 years old and I need a new one, or I don't know anything about roofs, but I made that up that 15 year part. You know, you just know things are going to happen. My water heater is 12 years old. I think I'm going to have to buy one. Do they have that or are we just I I've voted yes is I don't remember the taller amount, Leo said. But I remember we've given them a lot of money in the last three years, and they. 01:01:27,501 S3: Had. 01:01:28,000 S8: A lot of money. 01:01:29,400 S2: Yeah, a huge amounts of money. 01:01:34,667 S1: Other comments. 01:01:40,367 S1: I could entertain a motion on this and we can again change the amount so we can defer it. 01:01:46,868 S8: Mr. chairman, I'd like to move that. We defer it for this year. 01:01:53,100 S1: Discussion. 01:01:55,400 S2: We need a second. First. 01:01:57,000 S1: Second. Sorry. 01:01:57,868 S3: Second. 01:01:58,667 S1: Thank you. Alden. Seconded. Yeah. 01:02:02,467 S5: So that motion means not to recommend a town meeting for funding. 01:02:08,000 S3: Correct. Correct. 01:02:08,667 S5: Correct. Okay. Defer is okay. 01:02:13,801 S1: So we. Leah, would you take a change to that motion to not recommend to town meeting? Uh, the request of $82,300 for preserving the Claflin. Richards. Clapham. Garish. Richards house. More straightforward. Correct? 01:02:31,200 S3: Correct. 01:02:32,000 S1: That okay with you, sir? With the petitioner? Yeah. Okay. So, um. 01:02:39,000 S3: Okay. 01:02:39,567 S1: Discussion. Uh. 01:02:42,400 S7: So in my perspective, I would sooner find a leaking roof than anything else. For the for the for the museum, for especially for that house, specifically the Claflin House. Um, I don't know how bad it's leaking. I agree. Like, yes, that's something that they should have been budgeting for for a long time. Alden. 01:03:04,367 S6: Uh, no. Go ahead. Finish your comment. 01:03:06,200 S3: I'll be. 01:03:06,701 S1: I'll recognize all the next money. 01:03:08,100 S3: Please relax. 01:03:09,100 S1: Just just do your thing. I'll keep track of all those people. Not to worry. 01:03:12,968 S7: Thank you, Mister chair. 01:03:14,200 S3: Keep talking. 01:03:15,100 S7: My my sentiment is, I mean, of anything that's like, you know, you you've got to fix a leaking roof before we digitize any files. I mean, the sentiment with the digitization. Digitization is that people aren't walking by the when a museum and deciding to become, you know, annual members. They're mostly like finding the museum on Instagram and that's that. A leaky roof is a leaking roof. That's the most important thing in my mind. So, um, I would hesitate greatly, uh, to, to not fund at least a portion to make sure that they're not having a leaking roof. 01:03:52,801 S1: Uh oh. Thank you, Bonnie Alden. 01:03:55,067 S3: Um. 01:03:56,000 S6: It'll be it's it's in the minutes that, uh, I asked that question. If the leak, if the roof is actually leaking in the minutes, say that the answered it is not currently leaking. They said that they elaborated in the meeting and said that they regularly check, uh, and there is no sign of leak, and that's in the minutes. 01:04:21,367 S1: Thank you. 01:04:22,567 S6: Otherwise, I agree with you. If it's leaking, it has to be fixed. 01:04:25,501 S3: Then straight away. 01:04:26,567 S6: Yeah, yeah. 01:04:28,367 S1: Um, I think I'd like to go back to the motion and put it in the affirmative so we can deny it. Um, so hopefully, if Leo agrees with me, I'd like to say, uh, to approve, uh, and to recommend to town meeting the approval of 83,000 $82,300 for preserving the Claflin Richards house, uh, at the Wenham Museum. Uh, could I. Can we back up? So can we make that the new motion? Mr. chairman, somebody could. 01:04:59,267 S3: Leo. 01:05:00,167 S8: Can somebody second it and then vote no? 01:05:03,667 S1: Yes. 01:05:04,367 S8: Well, then. Then I second that motion. 01:05:06,701 S1: Yes. Uh, vote. And then, uh, I think we're good with discussion. Can we go around the room? Uh. 01:05:15,267 S8: With the. 01:05:15,968 S3: Catherine? 01:05:17,367 S1: Do we have discussion? More discussion. 01:05:20,000 S4: So can I. Can somebody just clear up what we're doing, or are we voting to take it to town meeting for a recommendation, or are we voting not to move forward on it? I'm confused. 01:05:31,100 S1: A yes vote on this amendment would move it forward to town meeting. A no vote would not move it forward. It would end here. 01:05:40,467 S8: A no vote would not move it forward. You mentioned that town meeting. That's that's fine then, right. 01:05:48,467 S1: Let's try the vote again. Thank you. Treaty. Uh, Catherine. 01:05:53,000 S5: I'm sorry, I'm not usually, uh, equivocating, but I it's just a really important historical, um, it's the, you know, property. Um, and I don't I agree, I feel like we have been sort of on the gravy train of, you know, vote just. Yeah, keep paying and keep paying. Keep paying. But to to skip this one. And the paper digitization makes me uncomfortable. So I'm going to I just I guess I'm just going to reflect it with my vote. So I'm going to vote yes because I think it should have been partially approved. 01:06:30,968 S1: Leo, I know we're in a vote situation here, but. 01:06:33,000 S3: I wanted. 01:06:33,501 S8: To give my vote. Mr. chairman, I'm sorry. I want to give my vote. 01:06:37,267 S3: Oh. Go ahead. 01:06:38,000 S8: I'd like. I'd like to vote no, because it's not leaking now. 01:06:42,467 S1: Okay. Understood. Uh, Jennifer. 01:06:45,601 S2: No. 01:06:47,100 S1: Trudy. 01:06:50,501 S4: Wish we could go back and rescind the preservation. Um, no. 01:06:53,667 S1: We can. 01:06:56,000 S2: All right, we're doing a vote. We need to do this vote and then decide what we're going to do. 01:07:00,167 S6: Thank you. Miss the vote, Judy. 01:07:03,000 S4: No. 01:07:04,400 S1: Bonnie. 01:07:05,801 S7: Yes. 01:07:06,701 S1: Alden. 01:07:07,968 S6: No. 01:07:09,601 S1: Rick. Yes. Um, I think we should. We should. We just can't do it. 3 to 3. Correct. 01:07:17,100 S5: One, two. 01:07:18,100 S2: Well, this should be seven of us, so it can't be 3 to 3. 01:07:21,868 S5: I think it was. 01:07:22,467 S3: Oh you're right. 01:07:23,300 S5: Yes. 01:07:24,000 S3: It did not pass. 01:07:24,801 S1: There are four nos and three Gais. 01:07:26,667 S6: Four. Nos. 01:07:27,901 S1: Four. Four. Nos. Thank you. Thank you everyone. Um. 01:07:36,567 S1: Where do we go next? Uh, next one on our list. And I'm keeping track of time at 740. We do have another week scheduled of this. So, um, you know, I think we're making great time right now. 01:07:48,901 S8: How about the open space? 01:07:51,067 S1: I want to do one more thing before we do open space. Uh, let's talk about, for Monument Street the exterior repairs of the t house. I am discussing discussion ideas, topics. 01:08:04,200 S6: Uh, could you refresh my memory? Yes. I'm going to come under historic preservation. 01:08:08,901 S1: It will come now under budgetary reserve, since we are out of money in the historic district. 01:08:14,367 S3: Okay. 01:08:15,067 S1: Historic fund. 01:08:16,167 S3: Well. And this is good. 01:08:19,701 S6: If I may, I'm going to reflect what Leo has been saying about organizations and their fundraising and their their endowments. I remember at a recent meeting, uh, it was, uh, the endowment of the tea house came up, but they never elaborated on how much they might have in their endowment. Uh, they're generating income from it. And, uh, since so much of the energy and interest is in open space and preservation. Um, maybe we need to slow down there as well. So that's my comment. 01:09:01,167 S1: Thank you. Leo. 01:09:02,767 S8: Especially Mister Chairman. Where where where it's going. It would it would have to come out of the budgetary right. Historic as well. Well, well. Used that. 01:09:21,167 S1: Yes. It had a heavy year on historic. 01:09:23,801 S3: Um, it's. 01:09:24,868 S8: It's been since the inception. It's been heavy on historic. 01:09:28,868 S5: Well, town hall, you know, the town hall debt has taken a bite out of it every year. 01:09:34,901 S2: Well, also apropos to what Alden said, the when a museum last year and this year. Recently. 01:09:44,300 S2: I'm sorry, vis, I didn't mean to say when a museum donated $35,000 to the when a museum for the summer program, which is a lovely thing to do. But maybe instead of doing that, they should have paid to fix the windows. 01:09:59,367 S8: Plus they collect rent. 01:10:01,667 S3: Right? 01:10:03,300 S1: Yes, Bonnie. 01:10:04,400 S7: I couldn't agree more. Um, especially knowing that the camp is run at a a loss. 01:10:10,667 S3: Right. 01:10:13,400 S1: My concern is, uh, when I looked at what they were using for windows. Uh. It's not. It's a historic building. It's not at the same level as the Claflin Richards House. Um, it is a 1917 Cape house that's made to look old. Um, and I don't know why they're using top of the line Marvin Windows to do the job. I know on the outside it has to have the approval of the HTC. But when I looked inside, they were doing some pretty expensive stuff with the molding that I thought didn't need to be done. Um, so I think they could review that and maybe chop 25% off on the window costs alone. So I didn't think it was. I didn't think it was budget conscious. So I I'm not inclined to approve it. Uh, Catherine. Sorry. I'll get you. Bonnie. 01:11:02,000 S5: Um, so I, I agree with a few of the comments. Um, but I do want to clarify that I think that the interior renovations that are being done are being done by the tenant. The new tenant and this money is going to exterior renovations. That being said, and they're clearly needed. Um, I think she did, Chris, and did say that there is an endowment and that they could tap into it if they had to. Um, I was on that board for quite a while, and I do think there is an endowment. So we should have maybe specifically asked a little bit more about that. But, uh. 01:11:42,601 S1: We we can we. 01:11:43,667 S3: Can defer. 01:11:44,267 S5: This money to do it. 01:11:45,868 S1: Before I get to you, Bonnie, I will we can defer this to our next meeting because we need more information and we can ask for written responses. If you feel that that would be better to give somebody a fair shake. We can do that. 01:11:56,200 S3: So we could. 01:11:57,667 S8: I move. 01:11:58,267 S3: We. 01:11:58,501 S2: We or we could vote. 01:12:02,501 S8: If we vote. Um, I'd like this. The same type of a of a vote we did on the last one that Bonnie. 01:12:10,868 S6: Bonnie didn't get a chance to. 01:12:12,400 S3: Yes. Go ahead. Might sway us all here. 01:12:14,467 S7: Thank you. Um, no. I agree with what has been said. Um, and, you know, I can't go back in time, but I can't also shake the idea that, you know, we heard, uh, Kristen say in the last meeting, she's a new a new member of the board. Um, she's a new president. She's maybe two years on to the board, and she, too, kind of communicated to us, uh, disappointment in how, like into the house, so to speak, that she's inherited. Um, because the damage that we saw in the packet last week and or weeks prior, um, the photos of that damage to the clapboards, to the window sills. I'm talking all of the exterior damage. Um, similarly to to what I shared about my thoughts on a leaking roof. And I'm glad that roof is not leaking, that there seem to be significant, um, x like erosion coming in from the outside, which would just keep me awake at night if that was my house. So it's a little. It's a point of befuddlement for me looking at the state, how how a home that is so near and dear to our community was, you know, is has come to the state, especially if there is an endowment that's not being leveraged. So I want to definitely like, you know, move forward with a vote. However, I would love for this not to be killed tonight. And so it would be nice to give them an opportunity to say, like, I, I don't know how he asked some of these questions feel almost so pointed. I don't know who would want to communicate or write these concerns about their endowment and, you know, give them the opportunity to, um, to to make a case that makes this an easier choice for us. 01:13:58,100 S8: I move, we defer it till next week. 01:14:00,667 S3: Um, okay, let's. 01:14:02,300 S1: Take a motion to the motion on the floor is to defer, uh, a decision on the Weather Museum's Request. Uh. Excuse me. The the, um. Excuse me. 01:14:13,167 S3: Um. 01:14:14,000 S6: The village improvement society. 01:14:15,601 S1: Thank you. Wenham village improvement societies request for repairs to the outside of the house. We're going to defer that to our next meeting. Uh, and we'll have a conversation in the meantime, uh, with and I, I can do that if you want me to. Or you can assign somebody to do it. Uh, to discuss these points of endowment, um, fundraising efforts. Do you need, you know, what type of windows really will suit the building? 01:14:40,667 S2: And and in a current donation, a significant donation they just gave to the museum, to them. And the change that they made last summer to the summer program, which has always been profitable and was not operated in the red last summer because they changed what they were doing. And are they going to reinstate the original popular one where they made money? 01:15:04,400 S1: And that's the comments I'll take to them. But I got to get back to the motion, Catherine. 01:15:07,968 S3: Well, just a second. 01:15:08,901 S5: I just want to make sure we give them the correct information. Janet, again, having been on that board. The tea House camp has not operated in the black for a great number of years. I mean, I haven't been on there in five and at least and it wasn't operating in the black for at least five before that. So it's not a new issue. It's still an issue, but it's not a new issue. And I think the the I'm not on the board anymore. 01:15:38,901 S3: So I have. 01:15:39,467 S8: Someone second and someone second defer. 01:15:42,267 S1: On my second the motion. I agree, Katherine with Leo. I think you're right. We can, uh. Yes. It hasn't been. 01:15:48,868 S6: Could you restate the motion, please? 01:15:51,000 S3: Okay. Defer. 01:15:53,467 S8: I move, we defer it till till next week, Mr. Chairman. 01:15:57,167 S4: Second, I second. 01:15:59,100 S1: Okay. Trudy and Alden. Seconded. Okay. Go around the room and vote. Catherine. 01:16:03,667 S5: Yes. 01:16:04,601 S1: Alden. 01:16:05,467 S3: Yes. 01:16:06,100 S1: Bonnie. 01:16:06,901 S3: Yes. 01:16:07,501 S1: Trudy. 01:16:08,767 S3: Yes. 01:16:09,467 S1: Janet. 01:16:10,400 S3: Yes. Leo. 01:16:11,901 S8: Yes. 01:16:12,567 S3: Ric. 01:16:13,167 S1: Yes. Thank you very much. This is how it should work. 01:16:15,367 S3: Thank you. 01:16:15,968 S8: Let's do open space next. We. We've had the coordinates. 01:16:19,367 S3: Let's go. I'll take you all night. 01:16:22,567 S1: But I know you want to get going. 01:16:24,367 S3: Everybody. 01:16:24,868 S5: God only live eight. Leo. You want to do this discussion? 01:16:28,567 S8: It's not the chairman. In the in. The coordinator of the Conservation Commission has been waiting all night. 01:16:34,367 S2: Don't we have. Do we have two open spaces, Rick. Which left? Just the two. Open space. 01:16:38,901 S1: We do. I'd like to talk tonight. I'd like to talk tonight about funding the Conservation Fund. Because we. 01:16:45,801 S3: Need to. 01:16:46,200 S1: Read. We need to read the opinion from council on the bond issue. And I, I'd like to take tonight to talk about one moment. I see you thank you. To talk about, um, the, uh, the granting of funds to finance the conservation fund. Okay. Can we talk about that one. Right now they're asking for 1.5 million. Um, that's their request. We don't have to fund at that level. Please discuss everyone. 01:17:13,567 S2: Thank you. Do we have that much money? We do. Fund? 01:17:16,767 S3: Yes we do. Trudy. 01:17:19,701 S4: Where does that money go? So let's say it's approved at town meeting. Where does that money go? Does it stay in in CPC or is it moved over to a conservation account somewhere? 01:17:31,667 S1: I can. 01:17:32,267 S4: Answer that. If they. 01:17:33,167 S3: Need. 01:17:33,367 S1: Rudimentary, I can answer that. And then I think Kate's re reconnecting right now via audio. Um, it will go into what is known as the Conservation Fund, which is a Commonwealth chartered fund that each town can set up for specifically for purchasing conservation land. 01:17:51,367 S3: Um, and. 01:17:52,200 S4: Currently has that fund set up. 01:17:53,901 S1: Yes we do. 01:17:54,701 S3: We have had it. We've just never funded it. 01:17:56,467 S1: A lot of towns like Groton and Stowe, they've been funding this every year as a matter of course. They just give that open space money over to the Conservation Fund, and they do with it what they need to do. We've not been in that mode. So I'm giving you a little history. Correct. 01:18:10,167 S8: Even though the specific specific parcels haven't been. Haven't been identified or haven't been designated yet. 01:18:19,000 S3: Right. 01:18:19,467 S1: And we can designate those. 01:18:22,767 S3: We can put. 01:18:23,467 S4: Restrictions on. 01:18:24,767 S1: We can put restrictions on it to say. So I'm getting a little history because I've been doing some research on this. We can say and thanks to Kate's memo the other day to. 01:18:33,367 S3: Yeah, I can. 01:18:33,901 S5: Say, hey, thank. 01:18:34,701 S3: You. 01:18:35,167 S1: This money can only be used for property A, B. 01:18:38,567 S3: Or C. 01:18:39,968 S1: And we don't have to fund it at 1.5 million. We can say here's 750,000. 01:18:44,767 S3: Correct. 01:18:45,501 S1: And only used on these properties. We can do the same thing with the bonding. Okay. But that's another conversation. So we have the ability to guide the future of Wenham like the CPC should be doing and recommending to the town what we think as an outside group of citizens should be done. We can still have that input, but move these things forward. 01:19:07,501 S3: Okay. 01:19:07,801 S4: Am I wrong in our packet? 01:19:10,467 S3: I'm sorry. 01:19:11,000 S1: You don't have any audio, Kate. 01:19:13,868 S9: You said it perfectly, Rick. 01:19:15,501 S1: Thank you. Uh, Leo, I. 01:19:17,000 S3: Saw you had a question from Kate. 01:19:19,667 S1: And then Trudy. So Leo and Trudy. 01:19:25,501 S8: Uh, I'd like to move that. We appropriate, uh, that we recommend to the town that to to follow exactly what the the open space coordinators, uh, suggested. Uh, and that's what I want the motion to be. I, I, I, I don't know if it's worded right, but but I'd like to to move things along. Uh, get that money into the, the, the open space category because we finally got somebody that's, that's proactive on this thing and and and I'm behind her 100% because this has been my my thing from the whole 18 years that we've been on that I, that I've followed this committee. I've been on it for several years, but I've followed it from the beginning. 01:20:14,167 S1: We're going to call this the Leo Astrology Bill. 01:20:16,767 S2: That's right. 01:20:17,567 S1: I second. Thank you. I'm going to nine seconds. Yes, I'm going to go to Joe because I forgot he had his hand up. And I want to make sure it's not administrative. He needs something. 01:20:27,667 S8: No, it's actually. 01:20:28,767 S10: Not to do with this, but I just want to make sure the affordable housing trust application wasn't overlooked. If you're bringing it to next week, that. 01:20:34,767 S1: It may have to go to a different next meeting, but that's going to be an easier one, I think, than this. So let's talk about this for a while, because we might have follow ups from tonight on these topics. Okay. 01:20:43,167 S2: Well we already had a second, all in a second with Leo said. 01:20:46,400 S6: Okay, we have discussion too. 01:20:49,000 S1: Can I make an amendment to the motion? 01:20:51,901 S6: How about discussion first? 01:20:54,367 S1: Uh, discussion could be an amendment, but go ahead, Alden. 01:20:58,367 S6: I'm interested in knowing if anybody can answer Trudy's question about thank you. If this is past a town meeting. First of all, if it passes tonight and then if it passes a town meeting, where does the money actually end up? Who knows? 01:21:15,000 S1: You know. 01:21:15,467 S4: I. 01:21:15,501 S5: Did. 01:21:15,767 S4: My little answer on that one. Is a fund set up for conservation, right? 01:21:19,601 S6: Yes. Is that fund in a bank or is it in Bitcoin? What is it? 01:21:24,067 S1: No, it's in a bank earning interest. How much can you talk to that please. 01:21:31,267 S5: Give me a muted muted. Don't you hate when that happens. 01:21:35,467 S9: Sorry my kid. My husband's out to dinner and my kids are running crazy I apologize. Um I don't know the exact uh, interest rate Alden, but I know that the funds will be transferred from CPC, um, into the conservation fund, which is already set up. Um, they'll actually probably have to set up a new level of the account, because there's already funding in that account that the, um, Conservation Commission has that they can also use to purchase open space. So it would be taken from CPC and transferred over in the bank. 01:22:06,601 S6: Okay. My my question though is is very pointed. And that is money market rates in US Treasury. Short term US Treasury bills are over 5%. So if you've got the money parked in any bank, that's not paying you close to that. I would hope that you would consider, um, holding the money in a better interest environment than something what we're used to. 01:22:35,000 S1: I'm just going to speak a little bit there. There are regulations, state and federal regulations about where municipal money can be parked. So we are under the obligation of those state and federal rules as to where the money can go. I don't know all those. Maybe Joe knows a little bit of being in town administration, but there's very strict guidelines, so we don't always get the best part. 01:22:57,667 S6: I realize that it's unlikely, however, that what I'm referring to would be prohibited. So help us out, please. 01:23:05,968 S10: It's something I'd have to check with the finance director on what the interest rate would be, so I probably shouldn't comment on it. Um. My thought, my understanding was it would just go straight into the con comm, um, fund the GL account. So I'd have to explore other options if they're available. 01:23:21,868 S6: What bank is that at? Is it a savings account or is it a checking account? Is it a money market account? It makes a difference. You can make tens of thousands of dollars of interest while you're waiting to use the money. 01:23:37,267 S1: And I think we could. I see Phil Guest holding up his and I, I think we could also, um, uh, we could pass. We could pass or deny this without tonight, I think, knowing we could put an amendment on it, that the money be invested with. Under state and federal guidelines to maximize the interest profits. Is that okay? So we have an amendment to that that would say that the money be invested under state and federal guidelines to the to the highest rate of return possible. Right. Great. And then I want to go to Phil, who's a guest. Um, and he had a comment or feedback. Yeah. 01:24:22,167 S8: Thank you. 01:24:22,667 S11: Rick. Um, so I think most of you know me, Phil Color is, uh, chairman of the Conservation Commission. Um, I just want to remind people why we're asking for this, and I'm sure Kate has made this point prior. This allows the town to be more nimble and responsive to opportunities. And many of us who have been here for a while remember the Flint golf course? Um, um, and how that played itself out in, um, how I think, uh, in a straw vote. The town would have preferred the town to take possession of that land, but two out of the three select board members voted the other way against the town's general consensus. Um, Catherine being the one brave soul to, uh, I think, uh, cast the vote in the other direction. Um, so I think this gives us an opportunity to to kind of we've already identified the town's already identified certain properties that it's interested in that allows us to be nimble and act on those properties and not find ourselves in a position where we we don't have the time to generate the funds to actually make the purchase. Um, so I do agree that it would be nice if we could maximize our return on, on, uh, when we're putting these funds aside. Um, but I think it's really important that, uh, more important that we have these funds in reserve so that it can be used at the proper time. Thank you for your consideration. 01:25:58,167 S1: Thank you. Phil, I want to go to Catherine, then. Leo. 01:26:01,567 S5: Just a little factoid. I don't know if the Conservation Fund is in the big category of, um, large funds that are in the town's, um, care. But I do know that things like the CPC money and all the other funds that we have do follow those state regulatory regulations and also are, um, uh, what's the right word? They are managed by a firm that does exactly that. If I could just remember the name of it, I could say. But we do have, um, guidelines, um, rules in town about, uh, about following the regulations. But we also have an advisor. The town has an advisor that will say this should be, you know, in order to get the best return, it should be invested in such a such a way. And that's an ongoing process. Martha. Thank you. Joe. I just I guess the question for me would be, is this money, would this money, this fund also be under the umbrella of all the other funds, including the CPC funds in the town? And if it is, then I'm comfortable that it, uh, they've been very, I think been very good. Bartholomew has done a lot with our money because for years we literally had it in bank accounts. Right. 01:27:28,868 S6: It's a terrible waste. 01:27:30,567 S5: Yeah. So that at least has been changed for everything. 01:27:32,868 S1: I was going to hold you for a minute. Although I know it's probably on this topic. I want to go to Leo, please, because he had his hand up. 01:27:37,968 S8: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just a quick comment. Uh, uh, the Conservation Commission chairman, uh, Phil Carlo Russo's, uh, 01:27:49,067 S8: uh, saying that it makes us nimble. That's very important. And and that's a very important reason. My reason, my reason I think is is is is is is just as important by reason is if it goes into the conservation budget, it means it won't go into the other three candy stores, which already some of them, like we voted tonight, go into the the general reserve. They've done their own. They've gone past their own their own allotments into the into the reserve. So if we put it into the where it belongs into the, into the, uh, to the conservation fund, this means it's not going to go into this or it's not going to go into recreation, it's not going to go into affordable housing or other places. It's going to go into open space. Whether we buy it this year, next year or 15 years from now, it's not going to be not going to be squandered on something else. Thank you. 01:28:46,667 S1: Thank you. I want to go to Alden next. Then I'm going to have a comment. 01:28:49,901 S6: And I'll be brief. So a million and a half dollars and a current interest rate environment should be able to generate between 60,000 and $75,000 of interest income in one year. And so my my, my, my my motive is simply to maximize the money that the Conservation Fund is going to have. So if, if the if the funds are not required to stay under town hall, because I suspect if the funds stay under the town hall management, then the interest stays with town hall. I suspect that if the money goes into the conservation fund, I suspect because that's separate from town hall, I suspect the interest stays with the Conservation Fund. And that's my point in making that point clear. There's between 60 and $75,000 of interest in the next 12 months if this passes. And the question is whose interest is it? And I think we all have 100% agreed. Yeah. 01:29:58,801 S1: So how do we structure that? Our wishes here. Um, let's go back to the motion. And then I have an amendment to the motion. So the motion stands as, uh, to fund the request at 1.5 million to fund the, uh, out of budgetary reserve and the open space, reserved and budgetary reserve, uh, to transfer to the conservation fund. Um, with the, um, with the requirement to invest this money at the highest rate of return as allowed by state and federal rules. Correct. And I'm going to amend it one more time. The money to be, uh, spent only on the following properties. Nine Maple Street, the Angelina farm. So maybe Kate can help me with the address of that place. 01:30:51,100 S9: 212 Topsfield Road. 01:30:52,901 S1: 212 Topsfield Road. And the third place is, um, the corner of Cherry and Pleasant. 01:31:00,267 S5: Uh. 01:31:01,167 S2: This is 69 cherry. 01:31:03,968 S1: No, no, 69 is on the other side, right? 01:31:06,467 S5: Yeah, yeah. 01:31:07,300 S1: Is there a property on cherry? That's 74 cherry. 01:31:09,767 S5: The short's property. I don't know the number. 01:31:14,767 S6: Yeah. The corner of Pleasant and Cherry. 01:31:16,868 S1: It was one of the recommended locations, Kate. 01:31:19,501 S9: That's the one that's for sale right now. Correct. Yes, yes. 74 Cherry Street. 01:31:23,868 S1: 74 Cherry Street. Those are the three properties, in my view, that are on the west side of Wenham that are some of the most endangered and have some of the from reading the report from conservation have some most of the highest needs for pathways migration pathways for birds and animals. And I want to make sure that we're keeping in the conservation spirit discussion on that amendment. I'm sorry. 01:31:50,267 S6: Uh, do you need a second for your amendment? 01:31:52,767 S1: I think I'm going to wrap it all into one big. Yeah. One big thing. Discussion. 01:31:59,567 S6: No further discussion from me. Thank you. 01:32:02,167 S1: Miss Harrison. 01:32:03,267 S5: I just would like to. I'm reading Kate's memo, which. Thank you very much, Kate. This was very, very helpful. And I think it showed a real appreciation of the fact that we have a concern that this month, I think I have a concern. I can't speak for them. I have a concern that the money be used the way we think the town should use it, and that there'd be some restrictions. And so thank you for that. But one of the things so we did specify land to be purchased. That was your amendment, Rick. But I think also um, there was some other restrictions that should be put, you know, and I'm using Kate's memo, ensure that there are their conservation restricted, that the funds are spent only on the purchasing of those parcels and the associated fees. So I think that's an amendment to the amendment just to add those, um. 01:32:54,167 S1: Restrictions, which my brain at 8:00 at night is working properly to recommend. 01:32:59,701 S2: Rick point. Good point. Our brains don't work when it gets too late. 01:33:05,667 S5: I'm about done. 01:33:06,767 S1: Uh, so I think I'd like to have a, um, a motion to approve and to recommend to town meeting that we fund the conservation fund, uh, in the town of Wenham at $1.5 million to first come out of the open space budget and then the balance coming out of budgetary reserve with that money to be invested at the highest possible rate of return, given state and federal guidelines and the properties to be purchased. Could Uh, the properties that, um, could be purchased with this money would be nine Maple, 74 cherry, and is a 211. 01:33:53,000 S9: 212. 01:33:53,968 S1: 212 uh, Topsfield Road with, um, Catherine, I forgot your part. 01:34:01,000 S5: Um, with the restrictions that, um, that that the insurance that there are they are conservation restricted and that the funds are spent only on the purchases of those parcels and the associated fees, which we have to remember, there will be some fees. So it's really just to be sure. 01:34:19,601 S1: Second all then seconds it. Let's do a vote. Um. Bonnie. 01:34:27,601 S7: Yes. 01:34:28,567 S1: Uh, Trudy. 01:34:30,467 S4: Yes. 01:34:31,667 S1: Janet. Yes, Leo. 01:34:34,667 S8: Did it say the interest on the on the money stays with the fund, like Alden Aldon suggested. Oh. 01:34:41,300 S6: I think it would. 01:34:42,901 S8: Just one more. I imagine I think it should say it, but. 01:34:47,367 S6: By definition of. 01:34:48,467 S8: Would I vote yes? 01:34:50,067 S1: Thank you. Alden. 01:34:51,901 S6: Uh, enthusiastically. Yes. 01:34:53,868 S1: Kathryn. 01:34:54,901 S5: Yes. 01:34:55,968 S1: Rick. Woodland. Yes. Thank you everyone. Thank you so much for your consideration on this. I know it's a big leap for the town. I really think Leo's hard work over all these years keeping us on track is paying off. So thank you, everyone. Thank you, Kate, to, uh. 01:35:12,567 S5: Thank you. 01:35:12,901 S1: Thank you for all your hard work on this. Thank you. 01:35:15,367 S9: I'm so excited. Let's get it done. 01:35:17,267 S1: Thank you. Hold on. 01:35:18,067 S5: Thank you. 01:35:18,901 S7: Thanks, Kate. 01:35:19,701 S1: Trudy. 01:35:21,701 S4: I think Catherine and maybe 1 or 2 others have referenced this letter or email from Kate. Where is that? 01:35:28,167 S5: It's in the packet. 01:35:30,267 S4: Okay, I've been scrolling through the packet all evening, and. 01:35:33,000 S5: It's in the. I think it's at the end of that application. I had to look for it a couple of times. Okay. 01:35:39,868 S4: Thank you. 01:35:41,000 S5: Yeah, it starts with why is the Conservation Commission asking for so much at once? They were answers to questions that we had asked earlier. I found it very enlightening. Okay. Thank you. 01:35:53,467 S4: Can I make a motion to adjourn. 01:35:56,167 S1: For the future? I really appreciate this, guys. Um, we have two more, I think, to address and correct me if I'm wrong. Joe, we have to address the request from the Affordable Housing Trust for their set aside of 69,003 60. Um, and the last one is the bond general obligation bond. Um, I know it's getting late. 01:36:19,868 S8: And the. 01:36:20,167 S5: One. 01:36:21,667 S4: About this till next week. 01:36:23,200 S1: Okay. Hold on. I just want to get a couple of signage. 01:36:26,467 S5: Signage? Back on the list. 01:36:28,000 S2: Right back on when you talk about signage. 01:36:33,167 S5: Yeah. That's. So that's the third one that we were would be next week, I guess. 01:36:36,667 S2: So this is. 01:36:37,167 S1: Three. I think I'd like to do this if we can. I think, unless other people feel otherwise. Trudy, did I get your question answered? Did you get your point? Do you have a point? Sorry. I don't want for I talk. I want. 01:36:47,868 S4: To know. I think I was trying to make a motion to defer these until next week. 01:36:51,767 S1: Are all of them? Because I have a I would like to just think we could do the affordable housing. Want to be done with that one? 01:36:58,701 S5: No, no, I'd like to talk cherry. 01:37:00,968 S1: Let's your motion. 01:37:01,901 S6: No, I'll second the motion. 01:37:04,767 S5: Okay. 01:37:05,701 S1: Let's let's have a discussion if we need to. 01:37:09,701 S5: No discussion on that one. 01:37:11,000 S6: My brain is tired. 01:37:12,701 S1: Okay, great. So let's go around the rest. 01:37:15,367 S4: We have left. I'd like to defer it to next week. 01:37:18,100 S1: And on heard request. Voted on requests will all be deferred to next week. That's a general way of saying whatever we didn't get to. We'll do next week. Correct. Bonnie. 01:37:27,868 S7: Yes. 01:37:28,501 S1: Trudy. 01:37:29,868 S4: Yes. 01:37:30,501 S1: Janet. 01:37:31,667 S2: Yes. 01:37:32,267 S1: Leo. 01:37:33,067 S8: Yes. 01:37:33,667 S1: Alden. 01:37:34,467 S6: Yes. 01:37:35,200 S1: Catherine. 01:37:36,200 S5: Yes. 01:37:36,767 S1: Rick. Yes. And. Leo, it's your turn. Let's do it. 01:37:41,067 S8: Mr. chairman, I'd like to move that we adjourn. 01:37:44,667 S5: Second. 01:37:45,968 S1: Okay. 01:37:48,868 S1: Catherine? 01:37:50,000 S5: Yes. 01:37:50,367 S6: And when? And what's the next meeting date? 01:37:52,767 S1: Oh, well. Oh. I had to adjourn. Yes. Our next meeting date is a week from tonight. 01:37:58,100 S6: Okay. 01:37:58,868 S1: On the 14th. No. 01:38:00,767 S2: No, it's not the 13th. 01:38:02,868 S5: Oh, no, it's not the 13th. 01:38:05,601 S1: February 13th, 630 via zoom will be our next meeting. And, um, the 13th. We are taking a motion to adjourn. Catherine. 01:38:14,767 S6: Okay. 01:38:16,367 S5: Yes. 01:38:17,200 S1: All done. 01:38:18,167 S6: Yes. 01:38:18,868 S1: Bonnie. 01:38:19,801 S7: Yes. 01:38:20,400 S1: Trudy. 01:38:22,367 S4: Yes. 01:38:23,000 S1: Janet. 01:38:24,000 S2: Yes. 01:38:24,667 S1: Rick. Yes. Leo. You'll be the last voice. 01:38:27,267 S8: Yes. 01:38:28,200 S1: Thank you. Sir. Yes. 01:38:29,367 S2: Goodbye. 01:38:30,567 S1: Goodnight, everybody. 01:38:31,467 S5: Thank you so much. Thank you. Good night.