OK. Great, thank you. Uh, the one select board is back in open session at approximately 6:42 p.m. Uh, we’re at the portion of the agenda for public comment. This is for any public comments on matters. On matters that are not specifically. Um, listed later on the agenda, I would just

point out that one of the things on the agenda is the um issue item D of town meeting venues, um, and so, um, we would entertain for up to 2 minutes per person, any public comment on any issue that’s on someone’s mind that isn’t um on the agenda as a specific item.

Are there any such comments, none in the room, and do we have any folks on Zoom, Joe, or? No, no, uh, hands or wrists. OK. All right. Thank you. So moving on to town administrators update don’t even make it on TV. Thank you Mr. Chair. a couple updates this evening, uh, first

being, I’m not sure the boy may remember, but some time ago we were awarded $43,000 energy efficiency grant to replace some windows at the iron rail. So we have received that grant. We’ve done the competitive bid process and selected a vendor and uh issued a notice to proceed where they’ll be.

Replacing 16 windows over at the iron rail starting next week. I was finally able to connect with Hannah Bowen. We’re planning on sitting down next week to, you know, just have a general introduction to each other and have a cup of coffee and also discuss any needs that 1 may have, uh, so

if you have any things you want me to bring up, please let me know. In addition, she’s planning on being at the next select board meeting, which I said was tentatively, uh, June 2nd, I mean. July 2nd, excuse me, um, to, uh, you know, to. Further communicate with the slackboard introduce herself.

coming out of town meeting. As you know, the telp, which is a tax exempt lease purchase agreement was authorized by town meeting and further authorized by the select board to authorize me to sign on their behalf, so we had submitted all the signatures, the financing was in place, uh, we’re approved and everything squared away, so the project

that was the final piece, the project is moving forward with the HVAC update geothermal. So, really next week is when we’re going to start to see if folks will start to see some changes out there. Uh, first and foremost will be we anticipate over the course of the week there will be 240-foot trailer

containers dropped off and 130 yard dumpster, they’re going to actually occupy the space, the 6 parking spaces directly in front of town hall. Uh, all the contractor parking and lay down area will be up in the back like we originally discussed, however, I’d allow that change due to it was just trying to

walk the Demolition debris and everything across the parking lot and up the hill, uh, was just, would have been too much for the contractor and also, you know, as we’re kind of peeling back the onion and they’re laying out. The work that needs to be done, you know, the demolition is.

Pretty extensive, so we’re having to move more stuff than originally anticipated, so yeah, ESG is working with us. They’ve essentially donated a 40 ft trailer that we can use as storage so it will be secure and locked storage. I’m not gonna put anything of, you know, high value in there, but it

will be a good place to free up some room so that they can demo. Uh, so it’s, you know, that’s gonna be, that’ll start next week, the 26th is a Thursday, town hall will be closed to the public for walk-ins, however, staff will remain available by via phones or email throughout the day, that’s going to be the

day that we kind of make the flip the final switch where operations on the first floor will be mostly moved out throughout the week, uh, next week, but we’ll continue to operate on the first floor and then. On Thursday when we will be closed when we reopen again that Monday, the first floor

will be closed to the public entirely so that the contractors can start demolition. A question for you. Um, No feedback. Um I think it’d be kind of interesting if every Either once a month or twice a month, you have pictures taken and put it in the Hamilton one of News.

Yeah, it’s a good idea. Just so people say, oh my goodness, this is a big deal. It is a big deal when you hear HVAC, myself included, you’re kind of thinking just. Swapping these things out, but like, for example, that the, the hallway from wall to wall, the whole ceiling has to be removed.

You know, just to give you an idea of how invasive the demolition is, so it’s You know, and similarly in in the particularly the first floor because you’re getting all the equipment and pipes and stuff, and you got to take the bad pipes out, you got to put the new pipes in, and they got to

get up to the 2nd floor. Um, so yeah, it’s a pretty big project. And So, let’s see, we. Uh, so the other thing is the Karen Wolf Memorial Garden, so that has been Uh, again, bid, we’ve selected a vendor. It is landscape planners, uh, LLC. They are starting next week with iron rail will be iron

tree will be taking down some trees in the area. However, the main work is going is paused until school is out of session, at which point We will, um, You know, start that project one you talking about Bucher, the Buker, yeah, and then one thing about that project is there, we’ve had a couple of residents

reach out with concerns about the perennial plants that are in that plot. And we were thinking and, you know, I’m open to feedback. I, I don’t see the harm in it in one school’s out of session to offer. A couple hours one Saturday morning where residents can go and the fence

comes down residents can go and take whatever perennials. They want um Kate went out and assessed the situation. She says, given the The perennials that we’re talking about, they don’t, they’re not going to survive transport very well, so it’s not something we’re thinking of maybe. You know, um, Taking them ourselves and creating a pickup spot here in

town hall, but it’s, she’s, it’s the likelihood of them dying in transporting and trying to keep them for any length of time. It’s high, so I mean, I don’t see the problem in that, but I’m open to feedback, and I don’t have a decision tonight, but just something to throw that out

there on your radar. Um, And I believe that is all I have for you tonight. Yes, Gary. Just question Steve. So for the public’s information, once the contract construction starts, access to the 2nd floor will be strictly by the elevator, or are we opening up the back stairs or how will people get

in and out. Yeah, good question. So the way the public enters the building should remain unchanged, that you become through the front door and then you’ll also be able to come in through the, I guess so. You know access the front if you need to use the elevator,

you’ll come into the front door like you always do. They’ll be signage up that if you want to take the stairs up to the 2nd floor, the stairwell that is in the front of the building remains remains dedicated use for employees in public that wish to visit the town hall.

Contractors will have use of the elevator, um, with pre-coordination with, with staff, but they’ll have um. They’ll have dedicated use of the front building that’s on the street side of the building and then then once they move upstairs to the first floor, they’ll use that stairwell and be dedicated for the contractors, so through the

whole project, the, the public will continue to access the building through the back, uh, very similarly to how they do it now. Did you say that the, um, the July 2nd is our next meeting. It’s a Wednesday or is it Tuesday, July 1st. Maybe I meant to say July. That’s why I check. Yep, you’re right.

It’s Tuesday, July 1st. OK. Which actually that brings up another just comment for later in the meeting to remember to set our summer meeting dates, part of the work is that the um town hall will be You know, basically off limits for public meetings for all extents and purposes, so the bic specimen

is at least for first couple of meetings to go to a um A virtual format, all virtual format, so you know, with that in mind, we might want to set, uh, Alternative calendar for the next 34 meetings to get us through the summer, maybe towards the end of the meeting, like, like you do sometimes.

Yeah, and I think it’s an agenda item on one of one of those July meetings, um, we should have an item discussing um. plan for potentially doing in-person meetings. During this HVC project that wouldn’t be here, obviously, but it might be a buker or somewhere else, especially as we get closer to

the fall may wanna um. be doing more in person meetings during during that work. All right, so that moves us to uh the chair’s report, um, I wanted to extend my thanks and accolades to uh Roger Schme, our town moderator, Diane Buco, our town clerk and her assistant clerks and check-in personnel Aunt Steve

and, and his entire staff for what I thought was a actually incredibly able um. Series of meetings last week, obviously um on Monday night we had to suspend the town meeting because of an unprecedented Number of people um in, you know, looking at that situation, to me it, it, it seemed like

there was only one reasonable thing for the moderator to decide, which she did decide. And that was to suspend the town meeting and to continue it on Wednesday night on the backup date. Um, there would have been at least 200 people who would not have been who

were in line but would not have been able to. Vote at town meeting um because there wouldn’t have been room. For them And um I think that everybody made, you know, very sound and sensible decisions under pressure and then um all of the people that I mentioned were able to in the space of 48

hours, um, pulled together the second meeting, uh, which I thought was done, you know, with great skill and logistical um um work and so I wanted to just commend everybody. Involved in that and and um and also for the members of the public who Uh, came to the 2nd town meeting and who I think,

you know, most of those folks and talking to them, I think had the right. Outlook and perspective on what had happened Monday night and um you know, there were a few people that we heard from who um didn’t in my judgment, have a lot of perspective or grace about the situation that

occurred Monday night and we’re looking to, you know, point fingers and, and. blame people. I also want to say publicly that um Uh, contrary to some information that we received secondhand, um, our fire chief did not make the decision to call off the Monday night town meeting, um, as the moderator said that night and again

Wednesday night for those who attended Wednesday night. It was entirely a moderator. decision. He’s in charge of running the town meeting and he properly consulted with the select board and with others on Monday night and as I said in my mind, made the only reasonable decision that he could have under the

circumstances, so again, I wanted to just make that statement for the public and to extend. Uh, praise to all of the people in the town who who pulled that off Further, I wanted to mention for those that weren’t aware that 3A, which has been a, you know, very high profile issue, of

course, going back a couple of years, um. Passed with nearly 70% support, um, and I think. That was again an indication I think of sound judgment on the part of a very large number of Wenham voters who had to weigh a lot of complicated factors, including a lawsuit that had

just been dismissed, including Um, a lot of, you know, information coming from all directions about what 3A is and what 3A isn’t. And I think that, you know, we have really smart and savvy voters in town who took all of that information on board and by overwhelming number voted to, you know, to

to put Wenham in compliance with that state law. I see Rick Woodland here, who’s a member of the planning board, and that reminds me to also thank the planning board and Margaret Hoffman and Kate Mallory for all of the work that they did over nearly 3 years, I think, um, working on 3A, uh, putting

the information out there about it and coming up with a, you know, with a detailed and I think excellent. Uh, zoning proposal for how to implement 3A. With that, I would turn it over to Gary. Well I would just echo the thanks to all the staff and uh tremendous effort there but also like to say we

ought to extend great thanks to the Bennett Center that on short notice gave us great cooperation and, uh, opened up the facility and provided chairs and assistants as well as their lemonade and so forth beyond the point so I think we the board owes uh at least a letter of thanks over to uh.

them as well. So I would also like to echo Ben’s comments and thank the staff and the volunteers and everyone who did put on two town meetings in one week. It is unfortunate that we had to pause the town meeting on Monday night, um, but as Ben

said, I also agree that it was the only call that could be made at the time. I also want to just commend the public and thank everyone, I think, uh, historic turnout speaks for itself, but to see the impassioned Voters that came to participate in town meeting was truly amazing, um, to see it on

Monday night was incredible, but also to see such a robust turnout on Wednesday night. I just want to thank the town and I know people went through a lot to be able to attend both of those evenings or either evening, um, and we do appreciate that. Now Steve stole my thunder a bit, but I’m

gonna mention, as Steve mentioned, the Karen Wolf Memorial Garden, which is adjacent to Bucher and the senior center is about to be under construction and as people may remember this was approved last year’s 2024 town meeting after it was approved through the CPC process thanks to Rick, the chair of CPC. and the CPC committee.

For approving the proposal that Kate and I and our tree warden put together. It did take some time, of course, for the funds to become available in 2025. The contracting to be done, and now we are in warm weather and as soon as school’s out, the work is going to begin.

So we’re very excited to see this finally happen, um, I do think, however, that we do need to decide tonight about digging the plants because as I understand it, the work is ready to go. Like next week, um, so we have to basically give people the OK. To dig if they want to over this weekend. So I

don’t think we need a vote, but just a sense if anyone objects to that. No. No, you don’t object. I don’t OK. Do we want want to school, when’s the last day of school? OK, all right, so that’s, that was my for some reason I thought it was Monday.

um so we’re done I just wanted school to be out of session before we gave public the OK to go on school grounds, so, so not tomorrow before, not tomorrow, let’s just say that just some trees are coming down next week and then the project, I think we’ll start the week after, but I’ll defer to Kate,

but I think this weekend is the window of opportunity. So unless anyone objects, I think can get the word out. On social media. Great. Karen. Oh, I’m sorry, are you done? No, just thank you to Kate for getting this going and all the contracting and everything that had to be done, much

appreciated. A couple of items here, um, Joe, if you want to throw that up. I was contacted by Maple Woods to let us know that. We, they had multiple uh vegetable planters that were completely empty, and so this afternoon with um a collaboration with iron Ox Farm as well as the Three Sisters

farms in Wenham and Hamilton, we had over 2050 plants that were donated that the girls spent about 2.5 hours today, uh, planting those directly, um. In the planners as well as on the grounds of the maple woods facility, so it’s truly a community effort and I just wanted to call them out for

doing a great job between the farms and um the girls themselves, so I just want to make sure that they got some recognition. Um, there is a program that is true to my heart here, that the library does every summer in regards to the Children’s Summers program. People in the community will see Kazul, I believe it is,

which is these, um, notifications in businesses around Hamilton and Wenham. It is a summer reading program for the kids. They get super excited, what happens every week is Kazul, who is this year’s mascot is a dragon, and he floats around town. He is located at a business and every

week they move. As a parent who takes their kid, tries to find Kazul for the week. Um, it’s a very fun experience. I am Annually disappointed in when in businesses and when I Um essentially just went in businesses that they have chosen not to participate in this. We have 7 that were

reached out to downtown. And they have chosen not to put This 8 by 4 piece of paper in their window. Or participate with these kids programs. So I’m calling on all businesses in town. To hopefully step up and be able to interact more with the kids during the summer programs. The kids spend the

majority of the time in Hamilton and around Hamilton businesses, and it would truly be a great community effort, as you can see from these kids that they will walk around looking for Kazul a lot of times from a personal perspective, I’ll go into the business. We spend money.

It’s an exciting event for the kids, but as far as community outreach, we have one business. town that is participating, which is unfortunate. Um, they have a big summer block party that’s being held on Saturday. Hopefully everyone will make it out there. It’ll be a fun and safe event. That’s 4 to 9 over at Patton Park. Have great

fireworks, which is, which are put on and lastly, we have a resident in town, Sharon Klein, who has made a community request that she is looking for rocks of kindness. People are looking to paint acrylic rocks and drop them off at Sharon’s house. Um, if anybody knows anything about Sharon, she has

given Her life’s work to really be able to provide families and children with amazing art programs and projects that she takes on, um, and it is something that she is now requesting. It would be great if the community can step up and, and provide that to her.

All right, I just have a couple of things to say. One, pretty good pride event at Patton Homestead, um, last weekend, pretty well attended. Good food, good music, um. And then on the sports front, baseball team. Lost in the semifinals. It’s been a while since I, it’s like

almost 10 years since they were in the semi-finals. And I was driving over by the high school yesterday. And I, I turned in, I wanted to take a look at the athletic fields project. And there was a sign as you turned in. Like about this big with all different colors and it said. 2025 state champs because

that’s what we do. I thought that was pretty good attitude and uh there was a really nice write up in the Globe about the team. Uh, so many, um, kids graduated that it was they they actually had a freshman playing. And they, they, they won. They beat, uh, Manchester Essex, um,

5-0. So Uh, Joe Maher was, uh, really impressed. Steve Steve feels badly about the essence laws, but. And we can’t forget about the girls’ tennis team. Yes, right. We are also state champions, and I believe came in with a not this year. I’m talking about the girls, that’s,

oh yeah, OK, I thought you were talking about boys, they got beat. Yeah, I think the girls tennis team for like the 4th year running or something like that. Yeah, yeah, congratulations to him. All right, thank you. Um, is there any reason why we shouldn’t move to that one now? I think

we should go to the ski. That’s what I mean. OK. All right, so we’re gonna take the agenda a little bit out of order to move to the Uh, continuation of the William Fairfield National Grid hearing that was continued. Um, on May 20th, uh, we have an engineer here from National Grid, um, who will help answer

any technical questions that couldn’t be addressed at the last meeting, um, and I’m sorry, so your name? Uh, so Michael, if you could please, um, come up to the podium. And I just want to uh update the Joe went back in, uh, watched the tape and compiled a list of questions and provided them to

National Grid, um, ahead of time. So and that came up last time when it would be answered obviously if there’s any additional questions, feel free to ask. You. Good evening. Could he Good evening. My name is Michael Cazzati and I’m representing National Grid at 44 River Street in Beverly.

Um Do we want to just go to the questions or? Yes, I think that would be fine. Yeah, I don’t know if we have those in a PowerPoint or anything or yeah, Mike, whatever’s easier you have where I can read them to you what I have or yeah, if you

can read them to me, I can answer them, put them up, Joe, so people online can see what you’re talking about. Senator. No, that’s OK. You want to just give a quick background, Mike, if in the meantime I’m sorry, yeah, um, yeah, so, uh, we’re petitioning to, um, install new underground cables on Fairfield

Drive, um, we’ll be, we have two entrance points for this new installation, um, one will be from pole 160 on the corner of Cherry Street in Fairfield Drive and the other entrance will be um from Paul. This is 57-1 on Fairfield Drive. I know the first question is when will the project commence about I

know the last, last time they sat around July 4th or shortly after, um, can you give a more approximate time on that? Yeah, um, so. Once I, uh, this petition is either is passed, it will go to the responsible parties and they will kind of determine the date, but we want to do this anytime before the

fall. So to July, August. Yeah. We’re just getting the questions up here now. Don’t want Yeah Yeah, so, um, there you go, like I asked the first one, second one just uh resident asked if there will be a power outage, and if so, can you say how long and will there

be notice given I think the last national rep said it was a week or two for notice, but you can um so it’s actually um, each part of the outage is gonna be a couple of minutes. So, um, Once we install the new cables, will be switching over

um from the old cables to new cables, um. And our underground crew will, will, uh, switch us they’ll switch over the new cables to the, the old cables to new cables for each Transformer 11 at a time. So each customer will be out for only a couple of minutes, like 5 minutes. Yeah, it won’t be

anything longer than that. OK Yeah, if you just want to go into order be announced because the concern was given folks at home that might have medical devices that they’re relying on. Yes, we will, we will notify, um, all the customers uh in a week in advance or 2 weeks in advance. Uh You know how that

notification is made is. Email or written notice or I believe it’s an email, yeah, these are people who obviously are national grid customers already, so there’s. The National Grid contacts them through email in any event, OK. And I’m sorry, I might have missed your original response there. I was trying to

get the questions up, but will there be trenches dug, or is it purely horizontal drilling. There’s a little bit of confusion last time. Yeah, so it’s actually gonna be a combination of both. So we will be trenching from. From the entrance points from the pole. Uh Pole 160 on, uh, the corner of Cheriot and Fairfield Drive,

and we’ll trench about 20 ft to the first po box and from the poll box we’ll be doing horizontal drilling the whole way through. OK. Um, And we sort of talked about this a little bit, but, so the residents will be given notice ahead of time, um, so is there any sort of safety plan

National Grid has for that situation when there’s power outages or just what your I guess general procedure is with that. Um, so since this one will only be a couple of minutes for each, um, customer we don’t, we don’t really have any plans for. Um us. If something goes wrong with the

cables. How will you notify the town that it might be an extended, uh, outage. Uh, well, so we, we will be doing all the work a lot with um, the old cables being live, so. Not a we do really, if anything was to go wrong, we can always switch

back over to the old cables. So you How many houses are we talking about? 67? No. It was, I don’t have the answer to that. . 3200 ft, I think, was the, the total length. It’s the whole length of it’s hairy it’s the whole length of that whole, that whole horseshoe, right?

Right. OK, got it. Well there will be an entry point on Cherry Street for the horizontal. Thrilling is it? Yeah, so it’s gonna be, uh, the corner of Cherry Street in Fairfield. I think for the it was um. Will there be trenching one of the questions will they be trenching the entire length

of Harry Holman’s drive or is it just the entry point at the top of, of the top of the street just entry point and then it’s horizontal from there and there’ll be no crossing, uh, private. Like I guess trenching through private yards or anything like that, that’s all the horizontal drilling if, if

you need to access. Yes, yeah. OK. So the safety question was something that I had asked, and in the event that the power is more than 5 minutes and you have residents who are on breathing machines or need medical supplies. Is there a backup plan to support them in

any way? I mean, if something goes wrong, as Gary mentioned, um, does National Grid have a backup plan in order to ensure that not only are they notified, but that they get immediate assistance, or is that something the town has a plan for. Um, well, I just want to make sure some of these folks

have been there in their homes for quite some time, and if anything goes wrong, Um, you know, what’s the, what’s the backup plan? Can I ask you a slightly different question. How many times did something go wrong? Well, since I’ve been working here, none, so I don’t wanna have to answer that

question. Uh No, well, since I’ve been working here, nothing, nothing wrong has ever gone. Well, we’re doing a project like this, so how long have you been working? 4 years. 4 years. OK, so Let’s help them sort of understand that, but it’s, it sounds like it sounds like there isn’t a. There isn’t a

plan, a safety plan to deal with the contingency of a of. A lengthier Power outage that might results in someone’s medical devices or just in general. Things that are life safety issues, is that, is that right? It doesn’t sound like there’s a plan. Right now? No, not really. It’s more just if

the new cables were to fail or just. Connect our old cables back up. Make sure to get the power back on. Other SOPs like written SOPs about standard operating procedures about, um. those kinds of contingencies cause it’s say I been speaking for myself, I, I don’t feel like I have enough information.

To Move forward with this and I don’t know whether there’s like. Written materials that could be provided to us or SOPs that address some of these questions. Um, I can look into that. You get that, yeah. So there is somebody on Fairfield Drive who needs that. And if anything,

regardless of whether or not it’s been 4 years or 40 years. If something goes wrong, That person is in a potentially life threatening situation. And so what is the backup plan and I’m in agreeance with Ben, unfortunately, I can’t make any decision. Until I know that our, our neighbors and our residents

have the availability to be able to understand how they can take care of their loved ones. In the case that regardless of whether or not there’s an issue or whether or not we’ve seen an issue. I don’t want to plan for something because there hasn’t been an issue. I want to plan

for something just in case there is an issue. I mean, I guess I’m not. Clear on what the major concern is. I mean, this is what National Grid does. They have two sets of cables. Right? He’s saying if the new one should happen to fail, you

plug the old one back in. So I guess, where’s the real danger in what they’re doing. I mean, part of it is, is my lack of information about how routine or how simple it is to make that, to make that switch. I mean, I guess that’s the

question, is that is if there’s a failure with the the new. Um, line. And the old line has been disconnected in order to connect the new line. Like, uh How frequent as that, does that happen and is it, is it a very simple matter of Reconnecting the old line or can there be circumstances that would make

it more difficult to Reconnect the old line and so then you’re dealing with a much longer outage. Uh, so, no, the switchover is you we um open up our transformers and we, we have both cables already in our transformers and it’s just you unplug one and put it on in. So if we, if the new cables were

to not work, we could just. Unplugging a new one in, plug the old one back in. So you said in this that Way back when when we start talking, it’s like 4 minutes. Yeah, it’s pretty great to do it again. It’s 8 months. Yeah, more or less. And there’s some DPW

questions that we haven’t gotten to yet. Yeah, you want to just talk about what type of equipment you’ll be using, Mike, um, the type of drills, that sort of thing, just this from the DPW director is not here tonight, but he had asked those questions. Um, yeah, we’ll be using, uh, horizontal

directional drill of that truck for the trench from the pole to the um. The first box. And Yeah. I know the cables you might mention as being utilized or replacing, so the old cables are going to be abandoned, we’re gonna leave them in place in the cables. OK. And will

they be utilizing the same locations of the existing electrical boxes and transformer locations? OK, OK. Those are all the questions, Mr. Chairman, I missing. Thank you. What are the, uh, Consequences would result, um, Steve, if we don’t approve this tonight. Is there any particular timeline that we’re jeopardizing here. Um, well, we have their construction timeline.

Right. Obviously, uh, the, ultimately. If the, if the Board denies their request they can file an appeal with uh the DPU which is Um, you know, the time would have to demonstrate, uh, Very significant You know, safety concern or state a very significant reason, uh, but you know, as far as I guess, I’m talking more about about

tabling the decision for a continuing until the next, um. Yeah, I mean, I don’t think there’s any pressing outside of that construction timeline, I don’t, there’s nothing pressing on our end that would prevent us from extending it. We don’t have like a. DPW director recommended, I mean, the DPW

had these questions. He’s on vacation, so I’m able to be he hasn’t made any recommendation on this, it sounds like. No. I believe there are some residents of William Fairfield if we can see if they would like to speak. Yes, and I saw, ma’am, that you had your hand up. So thank you, um. You said

Michael, right? So thank you, Michael. Ma’am, if you could come to the podium, please and uh state your name and address and your comment or question. Couple, actually. Right I’m Kathy Felton, 42 William Fairfield Drive here with my husband, and we’ve had problems for years with those boxes, like every time there’s a issue

they have to come out, um, powers off power drops, it has to be done. This is not like something, oh, let’s, it’s not only that they’re old, it’s problematic and our box has been changed. I don’t know how many times I’m on closer to um

to 97. Um, are the questions that I have a lot of them have been answered, and I trust that what they’re going to do if they’ve got a transformer there, they’re not gonna leave and leave the power out. The other thing is if you get a warning in advance and you have like our son-in-law who lives in

Wenham had um electrical work done. He had to come to our house and work at our house one day when they were doing something, but if you have an advanced notice, you can plan it in advance and know that, you know, then maybe I’ll leave my house or go someplace safe.

while they’re doing this work, so that’s one thing I think that covers and I’m assuming they’re going to let the town know along with us. Now I’ve never gotten an email from National Grid because I, I don’t know. So I hope they have my email, but that I would like the town also to reinforce that

message that they could also send us a message that it’s that we’re also gonna, you know that it’s going to work, it’s gonna happen yesterday they marked all the lines on the street, so I was very curious. I talked to the fellow doing the lines and I said, oh, when is it gonna happen? happened.

My assumption was that they will probably be starting pretty soon if they’ve already put the lines down on the street, um, but I think this really needs to have really needs to get done. Um, I would like to week notice, so today is the 17th and my guest is that they, is that crack 17,

they can’t start it before. Um, the first of July or approximately that time. Hopefully not around the 4th of July because people have a lot of things going on, but I really think it needs to get done. I trust that they know what they’re doing, um, but it

is a problem on the street right now, um, that, that, that work needs to be done. So thank you. Thank you. Are there any other members of the public? who wish to speak on this, it doesn’t appear that there are in person is there anybody online? Nobody else. OK. Right. I think we should approve it.

Yeah, I do as well. And I think if a storm happens and Transformer goes down or the power lines go down, I mean National Grid is out there to restore the power, I think. For something, uh, you know, my sense is that this is routine and the, the repairs are needed as the resident just told us,

so I don’t see why we wouldn’t. OK. Any other discussion? Motion. Motion. A move to approve national grid’s request. To construct a line of underground. Electric conduits including the necessary sustaining and protecting fixtures under and across the public way or ways hereinafter named William Fairfield Drive and further described in the

agenda item E of tonight’s meeting. Second All right, we have a motion in a second. Uh, we’ll take a roll call vote, Peter, yes, Karen. Uh, without, without more information on safety, no. Deidre? Yes. Gary? Yes. And I vote no just because I prefer to have a DPW recommendation before moving forward, but it passes 3 to 2.

So Thank you very much. Appreciate your presentation. Thank you, residents. So where are we going back, so now we are on the consent agenda. Uh, which is routine items for approval in a single motion allowing them to be passed without discussion. Unless held Uh, I A are the January 7th,

2025 minutes. I believe was the minutes from the meeting where there was a technology failure, I think. Um, Uh Yes, that’s correct, so thank you for those individuals which might include you, Deirdre. I’m not sure who helped and maybe Steve who helped reconstruct. Those minutes since there wasn’t audio or video of the meeting.

Uh, item B, our board and committee appointments, which are listed in the agenda. At sub um sections A through K. So I’d entertain emotion to move those consent item. Moved to approve items A through B in the concern agenda as printed in this evening’s agenda. 2. Alright motion a second. We’ll take a roll call vote, Gary.

Yes, Deidre. Yes. Karen? Yes. Peter? Yes. And Ben, yes, and we should say thank you to all that stepping up to serve again or for the first time. Thank you. Absolutely, yes. There still open time to speak, I’m not sure how this works. Uh, well, the, the, uh, public

comment portion is closed, but we’re going to be coming next or two agenda items from now, Ms. Jessy, we’re gonna be at. And obviously, miss, When it was set. OK, um, but we are going to be discussing special annual town meeting venues. I don’t know if that’s one of the things you want to speak to,

but that, that’ll be coming up on the agenda. OK, but next on the agenda under new business. Is a discussion of potential vote on request from town liquor. To amend permanent hours of alcohol sales and I think Steve, that you have an update on that. So. Uh, I guess

by way of background, I’m sure you’re all familiar with the Wenham Town liquor. Wenham liquor and they are a recent recipient of a alcohol license, annual alcohol license, and when they applied the hours that were placed on the. Uh, license and you know it was they knew about it, it was just

a carry forward from the prior business that As we’re assuming that the select board approved the hours of operation at that point. Uh, so there wasn’t any problem, but they did approach us and that there’s a problem, but they do have interest in extending their their their hours, which we shared with the

board, um, most notably till 11 o’clock at night on, I believe, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings. Both the police and fire chiefs expressed concern with that. They said generally just our community and surrounding communities target that 9 o’clock time for a reason and uh extending it beyond that would, you know, could bring some unwanted

trouble and also would make it somewhat of a destination. For folks looking for a package tour that’s in the area that’s open later since all the other communities have kind of coordinated around that 9 p.m. Yes, Peter by the train station stays open till 11. Does it? Yeah. I’m sorry, they’re requesting to stay open in

highly. Until 11 on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, I believe. There you go. So is that current hours in the new hours new proposed hours. So those are their concerns, um, I was unaware. I was just going on the feedback that the chiefs gave me. I was unaware that they were open till 11 in

Hamilton. So apologies for that. And Yeah, but Hamilton Hamilton’s in a more commercial zone where where this convenience store, which is why we initially gave them the liquor license has now turned into a complete liquor store and is in the heart of the residential community at a major intersection. That we’re

already having speed and, um, traffic violation concerns anyway. But that speed limit’s kind of go, go to 25 pretty soon. And so the, um, just so the board’s aware that. Under local jurisdiction to set the hours so the select board can’t set the set the hours. However, there is an appeal process

through the ABCC that the business can go through and talking to our attorney is basically they would have to demonstrate a public need. For the extended package hours which can be difficult. Any other comments from the board before we turn it over to the public. No, I’d like to hear

the comments, go ahead. I was just gonna say I’d like to hear the public comments. OK, uh, Mr. Woodland. Uh, Rick Woodland, 26 Maple Street, um. I, I don’t see the need, uh, that area of town, it gets really quiet after 9 o’clock, and I think we kind of like it that way,

whether you’re living on maple or on 97 and I don’t know if we can affect the speed limit of 97. Isn’t that a state road? So I don’t know how much input we have on that, but owns it and so we can, we have enacted it to be dropped. I am My other,

my other concern is that I, I just don’t think you need to be doing that and in general, I, I guess I missed the part where it went from a beer and wine convenience store to a full liquor store, um, not that that bothers me. I’m not a drinker,

but I understand that people have the right to enjoy alcohol, uh, but I think staying with the majority of the other towns at 9 o’clock and given that. 17 or 8 o’clock comes in that neighborhood. We’re quiet and so I don’t think I want to have more people coming in between 9 and 11 because it’s the last

place open. Thank you very much. Thank you. Yes. Miss Felton. Felton, 42 William Fairfield Drive, I guess yesterday when I saw the big sign that said town liquor, I said to my husband, What? I thought it was a convenience store with liquor and I had no idea. I obviously, you’ve made that decision.

I wish I had a notice about it, but my understanding it was going to be of the same use as before when it first opened, we were all excited. My, my son-in-law with two little, my daughter with two little kids, we’re like, yay, more milk.

get our milk again and um I went in there and early and they didn’t have too much they were setting up and they had some beer and wine and a few things. I think they had milk. And then there were flashing lights a few weeks ago and someone said to

me, I didn’t, they didn’t like that. Someone in the neighborhood and I think they stopped then the little signs flags around that said town liquor and I’m like, OK, it’s their opening ceremony and then the big sign went up and I thought, you know, honestly, had I known that was going to

happen, I would have been in here before saying we don’t necessarily need that kind of a business as a neighbor here said, it’s a quiet area except for that. Now think about this also. What’s next door to that store? That candy store who goes into the candy store.

People who buy candy also kids, and I think to myself, why is there a liquor store beside a candy store and the kids do ride their bikes over there. They would ride to the rich deal and buy their ice creams or get their soda pop. That’s a commonplace my kids did it when

they were little. I just have a real problem that all of a sudden what was supposed to be what I assumed was a the same kind of a business is now this heavy liquor store and that’s what they’re portraying come in. buy liquor, come in and buy liquor, so anyway, I’m, I am

upset about it. Hey, Rick, just a question. Um, in terms of signage. Shouldn’t they actually have to get go to the planning board to get that approved. Oh, I’m sorry, I don’t know the ins and outs of signage, but um, I, I can ask, I can ask Anne to see if it’s under a purview. We went

through all I think big deal, um, about. The signs for Gordon College. Yeah, I think it I think the sign regulations pertain to um to size, you know, whether they’re lit, they’re not. As to the, you know, the content of what the sign says, and I think to just talking about size. Right, yes, I mean,

I don’t know whether I’m assuming they’re the size of their signs is within regulations, but if they’re not, that’s a matter for the zoning enforcement officer to look into. The sign is smaller than it was. OK, so. And so regardless of what it says, the size of it is smaller.

OK, that’s good to know. I think the other smaller signs might be under the purview of roadside signs Whether sign, you know, is running afoul of of the town’s sign regulations. I got an assignment, Rick. I, I did one, excuse me, make one comment in response to um. Your comment, Mrs. Felton, which is

that we can’t really control, um, you know, what the business. Either what it wants to call itself or how it wants to brand itself, so, you know, the, it’s a, it’s a retail use that is allowed in in that location, they, they have the um the liquor license that enables them to, you know, to sell the

products that they’re selling. This is obviously a completely different discussion than the the uh time. But, um, you know, whether it’s a it’s the business wants to market itself as sort of convenience store first and beer and wine and liquor as a secondary thing. We can’t really control that, and if they want to do the opposite,

which seems to be what the, you know, what this business has decided to do. There’s really nothing that the select board can, can do to control, you know, that particular marketing choice by the, by the business as long as it’s compliant with zoning, which, um, and with its license, which it appears to be.

Um, but are there any other comments about the issue at hand, which is to Whether to allow their request to push the closing time out. I think I’m, I’m not inclined to increase the hours, basically where I’m at. So I’ll read the motion, please. I moved to deny Wenhamliquor’s request to

extend their operation based on the board’s determination that there is no demonstrated public need for the extend hours in light of safety concerns raised by both the police and fire chiefs. Second. All right, we have a motion in a second. We’ll take a roll call, Peter. No. Karen. Yes. Deirdre Yes Yes.

And Ben’s, yes. So that’s a 4 to 1. Uh, vote in favor of denying the request to extend the hours. All right, that moves us on to item D discussion on special and annual town meeting venues. Steve, do you want to start that? Discussion or. Yeah, sure.

So, we, um, And this was intended to be broad in a way that you know you probably could just talk about town meeting operations in general, which I know there was some good updates from the board members here tonight. But I think the biggest difference, you know, you know, obviously

we had to continue a town meeting on Monday night and then uh. Postpone it until Wednesday and reconvene make the biggest difference was two very different venues that we utilized, and I thought it would be a good opportunity to discuss those two venues and get, you know, feedback from

the board that they’ve received from the public or from their own perspective. You know, they, they’re just very different setups in different fields, so with that I’ll open it up to the board. And I would just, uh, to make sort of a couple of other. You know, um, opening comments about this, and it

came up in an earlier discussion, I think at this meeting. But just so that the public is aware, um, There is no authorization under state law or when I bylaws to hold. Uh, our town meetings outside of the boundaries of the town of Wenham. So for example, we, we can’t at this point hold it

at the, the library, even though the library is close to the line, it’s in Hamilton. So we are confined at this point by law to a venue that’s in Wenham, so just to make that clear. And also um state law does not allow open town meetings, which is the form of government that we have and

when I and the only one available to us really under state law because of our population size, we’re not eligible, I don’t believe for a representative town meeting, uh, for example, which has other Flexibility in terms of um how people vote. In any event, open town meetings have to be done.

In person and the only remote possibility for them is if it’s an adjoining room and there’s audio visual contact, um. Uh, between the rooms, so I know in connection with what we experienced last week. I, you know, there were people sort of asking about, well, you know, why can’t we do remote voting

or absentee voting, and it’s just not legally permissible for open town meetings. So that’s sort of the. Constraints that were that we’re dealing with and that um many, many generations before us have been operating under as well in the town of Wenham and in person. Uh, on the night in question.

Carrie. So I think too, I got a couple of questions about why don’t we just go back to the tent. And the, uh The counterpoint there is that uh the 2 times 1 under the tent, they were under ARPA funds and the federal government was picking up the tab, and I believe the tab was somewhere

north of $35,000 just for the tent rental. So that is a very expensive proposition to go that route and to go outside too, you end up with all sorts of concerns about accessibility and so forth, so I think we’re limited to building in town historically. Beer is always satisfied that requirement

perhaps we’re getting a little bit bigger and look around, but at the current time, there is really one other alternative, which is Gordon College. So it’s a matter, I think our decision was right. Beforehand to stay with Bucher and um We have just one backup as it is right now, so that’s where we

stand for the public to understand. I agree. Um What is the boards, um, feeling on Potentially looking into whether the Bennett Center would be. A venue that we would use more regularly than we have. Is there any interest in exploring that. Or like what? For town meetings. If as the uh the size of the town grows a

little bit, perhaps, you know. We may need to, uh, Judge where the town. Tennis is going to rise, but I think right now I think this t Tao Ming was kind of extraordinary in that we had two very high visibility issues that brought out Um, the population. Which was very good,

but I would say that the alternative perhaps Steve is, is there a method that um Through legislation. Or bylaw changed that we could move outside the town, and I would do that only to gain access to perhaps to the high school. Which is Kind of Half hours, right? My understanding that a

bylaw could Take care of that and you wouldn’t need special legislation. which How What’s that, Peter? What do you mean that shouldn’t be hard to do. A bylaw amendment is what you’re saying? Well, we don’t have a bylaw. I don’t, I don’t think that. Governs it at all. So we would add a bylaw. That allows,

I think by law, like, I think if, if you bylaws are silent, you have to host it like like your public meetings have to be within the bounds of the municipality, but we can have a bylaw that. Allows us to, you know, maybe utilize the high school. Or, you know, I’m thinking for public meetings,

not town meetings, but utilize the library, like right now the library is like Gary said, 50 ft, you know, but we can’t use that for a public meeting space. What’s that? It’s not very big library, I’m not saying for Tommy, I’m saying for just for a public meetings like the HVAC

for example, that would be probably the best equipped space for having virtual participation of all our spaces, but we can’t use it because it’s not in. All right. So we should change that. And, and what are the what’s the process in order to be a town meeting article. OK. So next, next year.

Yeah. So we put that on the ducket now? Yes, that’s, that’s the plan. All right, so that public. Yes, right, um, yes, members of the public, Mr. Woodland. Thank you, Rick Woodland, 26 Maple Street. Uh, thanks Steve. That’s a great idea, very much support that idea, and I know everybody was scrambling at the last minute

to find another venue, but, um. Historically in my 27 years here in Wenham, uh, there’s been a rub. Between the college and um. The town over things like taxes and housing and Everything else and including their views on the LGBT community and other religions and uh I really just want to be on record that it’s not a

healthy place if we’re trying to foster community and foster acceptance and foster visibility and foster all those things that make a great small town, um, I don’t believe maybe recently with their change of management, uh, they support the same type of um future that we’re looking to build here in

Wyndham, so, um. My thing would I’d be willing to help in any way to create another safe space either in Hamilton or in Wenham that we could have these overflow events and actually get access to when we need to, but until then on the idea of a

tent, um. I don’t know what our budget is, but I mean. You know, we’re looking at $135 million school, uh, 30,000 $40,000 once every 20 or 30 years as an expense doesn’t seem like a lot of money to spend to make sure that we’re keeping this town on the right path forward for inclusivity and equity, um,

thank you very much. Thank you. Gary, just a quick question on that. It’s 30,000 a year, right? Not every 10, the, the rental was 30,000 for the one meeting. OK. And what pizza And, and, excuse me, Steve, in our budget, our town budget is? 25 million. 25 million and we put about 13 of the schools. Yeah, roughly

on the high side of half. I just want to put it in perspective 35, 1325. Thank you. Any other public comment on this issue? OK, and I don’t think we have anybody. The hand raised online. OK. So, um, it sounds like that maybe the consensus of the board at this

point is to Maintain our policy of Um Using the Bucher school as the default town meeting space. But um You know, as we get closer to the next town meeting, which shouldn’t be until next spring. That if we were to anticipate, uh, the need for a larger venue because of, you know, questions that

are on the warrant, etc. and uh the potential for large turnout has occurred last week that we would Um, certainly wanna thoroughly consider what the backup venue is. Uh, we had a backup venue this, this, this time, ready to go, and it was the Bennett Center. It worked out well and, um, if we’re in a

position next year where we, you know, need to consider a backup venue and a larger venue than we can. Have the discussion at that time, I think, on what that backup venue would be. Um Probably won’t be, uh, Probably won’t have had a bylaw change maybe by then that would open up the

high school, for example, as a backup. For the town meeting, um, but that’s something that maybe we would contemplate as being on the next town meeting warrant as a as a bylaw change. Extending to to your point, Steve, you know, places like the library, which would be an alternative meeting space, not

town meeting, but public meeting space. Um. If needed. And then with respect to um The Bennett Center and Gordon College specifically, um, I think that it would be and Steve and I have discussed this, um, a little bit offline. I think it would be, um. Productive to um seek a meeting with, with the college, um,

regarding that venue and just to re-engage with um With Gordon College because I do think we had, you know, despite, I think legitimate, uh, misgivings that we heard from, you know, from, from, uh, people in town, including leaders of boards and you know, you express that position here

publicly and so I know that, you know, it’s something that you expressed earlier as well, so I think we need to take. those things into account, but I also don’t think we should. Uh, I think engagement and and and dialogue with with Gordon makes sense. And so Steve and I talked about potentially having

a representative of our board, um, Uh, maybe meet with Steve and representatives of the college just to sort of have a dialogue going about um issues of common interest and maybe also venue issues. And, you know, the springboard for that might be the, the, the town meeting that we just held at

Bennett, and I think from a logistical point of view and from a cooperation point of view, as Gary mentioned, it was, you know, successful. So, um, I don’t know if there are any feelings of board members on that particular um Issue and whether you agree that it would make sense to enter into a

dialogue, um. With the college. I, I think we should also thank the people who did the, uh, tear down of all the chairs and tables. Yes, we had a lot of volunteers who were. Group effort for sure. The whole thing. A lot of people to think. Um, Ben, I completely support that, um, and I’m more than

happy to help. Likewise. All right. Likewise. OK, great. So, that’s something I think that could be, Can be organized um. And uh I’ll just sort of take it, take it step by step and, uh, And uh Steve, we can look, you know, to you to coordinate maybe the next. Yeah, I was thinking, uh, I mean just.

Obviously we talk more offline, but maybe. Uh, I can, I can drop a thank you letter, which I think the board expressed an interest in sending I think it makes sense and maybe ask if I could sign it as well, uh, and also maybe, uh, include a

phrase or a section in there, you know. Setting up a meeting or something, you know, I feel like it’s a good, like the thing he was, the doors open, you know, they’ve expressed interest in developing a relationship. I feel like they went. Uh, above and beyond to make sure this, um, meeting was

a success. Uh, so I think it’s a, a good opportunity to, to take advantage of. Um. OK. All right, so I think that concludes that agenda item. Um, the only other agenda item that I think we have left other than um. You know, other matters in

old business would be. Uh, item F, but before we get to item F, given that Mr. Kowski mentioned that, um, she missed the comment that I made at the beginning about, um, public input, um, does the board have any objection to allowing Mrs. Kujeski to give public comment at this time. Nope, no

objection. Great, so we’ll open that back up Jessy. Um I’m not sure, like I said, where we get all of our information. I mean, would you just for the record your name and address 7 Perkins Street. Do you know me right now, um. The school district is out of control. It’s outrageous what they are planning to do.

They are nullifying our 4 votes of no for this consolidated school. I don’t know what mass general law chapter 71, Section 16N is. Could you explain that to me without taking my time away. Well, um, first of all, I think this is something that you should address to the school committee. You’re free

to make the comments tonight to us. That’s fine, but it’s one thing that I do know is that that particular statute which pertains, I believe the one you’re citing pertains to taxes. Oh, well, I thought it pertained to a district-wide. vote on a debt exclusion, but um if, if that’s what you’re

referring to, it’s something that the school committee. will be discussing and voting on, I believe at a meeting on June 24th. Right, they’ve changed all their dates around, um. With the select board be in agreement with them trying to nullify all of our votes. We’ve showed up. We’ve shown up for

the special town meeting on Monday. And I agree with the fire. I agree with all of that. There was not enough room. It was a danger. But for 2 days later that people could not make. plans to be there. There were only half as many people there. Probably we would have

passed the other one, but anyway. Um I don’t really know what you’re talking about, to be honest with you. The school committee is having another meeting on the 24th, I believe, at I’m not sure Buker of the library, which just happened to float into my information, which it doesn’t come from

anyone. How does the school committee tell us this? So how would anybody know to go and actually. Have a pro or con to that why after 4 no votes. They’re like little kids. Oh well, we didn’t get the wrong way. We’ll just go through legal matters and figure it out

and do it some other way. It’s not fair to the town at all, um. I don’t know whether you are supporting this. I would hope not. We voted. Yeah, when you vote, you expect your vote to be counted. Um Hamilton Wyndham School District always we always vote in whatever they want for money. We’ve been

doing that for a long time. I’ve been in town for 47,,,,, 86, 46 years. Always voting. What do they want? They get their money. They have to use it at the end of this, do you know they have to use it at the end of the school year or they can’t get more money, so they

buy things they don’t need and yet they don’t. Keep up the schools, which is the whole thing here is that the schools. I’m not being kept, you have 10 more seconds. Um I’m afraid your time’s up. Thank you. I can find out how your time’s up.

I can find out how your time’s up. We have to I can find out how your time’s up., we do have a time limit to be able to answer anything and it’s always your time is up. Anyone else gets to talk. I don’t because you know I have questions and you don’t want to answer them.

Uh, I’m really, I’m so disappointed at this town. I’m so disappointed at the school committee and all the boards in the town. Thank you. All right, next on the agenda is item F review the current process the select board uses to sign documents through Signow. To determine if any adjustments or clarifications to the process.

Are needed do you want me to start with that or I can give her a quick brief overview and then you can jump in so. The reason why. We put this on the agenda is um there’s no written policy, so I don’t have any written, written, but I figured

I’d give a verbal overview of generally over the last few years we’ve migrated and rely pretty heavily on document management, uh, managing database called Signel. There’s a number of them, but this is how you can gather signatures, electronic signatures, um. That are in most cases considered as good as wedding signatures. And it doubles as a document

manager, so in the background we have files based on type and things like that, that file away all our documents so that in the event of turnover, which you know is always inevitable, uh, similar to like when I came here like good luck finding a contract. It’s like, oh, we’re in a contract but it’s like.

Where’s? No idea, right? So, you know, and so this, you know, ultimately, you know, is partially a solution, obviously it takes, you know, the people who are running the database, like it’s not foolproof, but you know, if you manage it, it’s pretty good. But one of the problems that we’re running

into is that the Documents in order for them to be completed they have to have all the signatures on them as if they’re set up for. So if we set it up for 5 signatures. I’m just gonna use the slack board as an example, and it goes out with, you’re tagged in the database that he has contact

information in your signatures, fields are dropped into where they need to go on the document and then it automatically distributes it via email, gives you an alert that you have a document to sign. Until we get all 5 signatures, those sit out like in space in a pending status where you have to go

through manually through the list. So, you know, we wanted to look at it because I’ve gotten concerns from the clerk’s office, the finance office, and also in the select board’s office where we have a lot of like the pending list is just getting, you know, extremely large, so I thought,

you know, I’m sure nobody understood that that’s how the background works, so I guess I wanted to put some urgency in making sure all the documents are signed, um, and then also say that there are You know, alternatives like to maybe the select board doesn’t, doesn’t have the time or desire to sign

all these documents, some of the votes can be amended, you know, assuming that the trust is there that you can. You can move that authorization to me, um, on a case by case basis. It doesn’t have to be an overreaching responsibility shift, but you know, things like all these appointment

certificates that the select board will have to go in like the motion could say and authorized the town administrator on behalf of the select board to sign these certificates and that might cut down on the amount of, you know, clerical or administrative duties that you have at home.

So anyways, I just wanted to open that up and I’ll benefit you of anything to add, but that’s That’s kind of why I wanted to bring it up, up here tonight. As I now used by any other boards or committees in town. We push, I mean, they do not as much as the select board.

I mean, I’m primarily a pretty big. Pusher, I don’t sign anything personally, like any document that comes from anywhere like anyone will know it has to go into sign now because I wanna make sure that that permanent record is there. Uh, you know, we know who signed it, when it was signed, you have all, all the details.

You can forever pull up that original because it’s as good as the original signed document. You know, in essentially in perpetuity, and the backup so there’s no, uh. Software Availability to just go to a essentially a majority vote signature. That 3 out of 5. We haven’t been able, we don’t know how to do that. I mean, so

finance operates they wait, so before they can just so you know, like the background before they can move money for payroll or move money from an AP. They can’t Move money legally without the select board’s authority. And that authority comes by 3 votes. So what they do is they’ll just

refresh it a few times during the day and once they get that 3rd vote, or they get that 3rd signature, they know they’re good because all you need is the majority, but then it sits out there, you know, without, you know, either missing one or two signatures. I’m not understanding the problem.

I mean, Don’t we sign slugboard signs pretty quickly. Not in all instances. It’s oh I’m sorry. Go ahead. Um, so I have a uh security system issue. And so from my phone and from the my laptop that I work on regularly, it blocks it. So I can’t actually get in. um, and that’s purely because from a

business perspective, we use DocuSign and so they don’t allow to have the two programs running simultaneously. Um, I then have to go into like my personal Mac at home to log into, so which we never use ever, um. And so from a signage perspective, it’s just a it’s a, it’s a lot to have to do.

So what normally Michelle will be like, I need this now. Um, and then I’ll go in and do that for whatever reason, Um Michelle has to send a sign now to my, my Gmail account. She does that to me all the time, yeah, and through then I still, it has

nothing to do with the, the platform that it comes. It’s that I literally cannot open the document. Because, because of a biogen security issue and so then I have to, so it takes a little bit. I need you to do that. That you’re talking on your. You don’t have a personal computer? Yeah, so um do I have

one? I have an iPad that doesn’t work. So the only, the only method of, of me opening that is, um. To to then open that up in a different format. So why can’t we get you an iPad that works. That’s a good question. So, originally, I think What’s a lot more people supposed to be given iPads?

Yeah, I got one. It doesn’t work. It’s just. Well, let’s get it replaced. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, I think, um. To, to have. These documents and pending status and the inability of, of Steve and his staff to put them into a final executed document and filed properly. Is like a big deal. I mean, it’s it, it

really Um Slows everything down, slows everything down. It it creates. Any number of problems. And so I think it’s the. A very serious responsibility of each of us to To sign these things, so, um, I think whether it’s the conversation with the town IT department or getting, you know, your iPad up and running.

Like it’s something that just needs to get. Addressed, I think, yeah, so let’s get Karen I’m assuming that we’re not wasting agenda time just because this falls on me. I’m assuming that there’s uh more than one, selection that this is occurring. No, it’s, I mean, it’s an open discussion.

I’m not, there’s not any one, I just, I’m, I’m looking for. I’m afraid to bring it up because nobody understands what the background is and why would you? And you know, come up with a solution. So we’ll, we’ll get you your iPad doesn’t work. I didn’t know that. So we’ll work

to get the uh. Everybody has a deadline. Of Thursday at 4:30. Or whatever we want to set to go in and get uh do your signatures. It is helpful to, to understand the background because I didn’t realize that they sort of stayed in the ether, um, so that’s helpful to understand. I do think.

that this program is incredibly efficient, um, I find it. Super easy and efficient to go in and sign off on things. So I would not want to let the system go. But a lot of stuff too, I would agree that, you know. Unless it’s legally required. Such as on the warrant itself that uh

the town administrator, we could Delegate authority in a lot of the stuff to get the the signatures done. I was under the impression that once 3 have signed that that. urgency for the, the other two remaining was kind of up in the air so it was unless it was things like appointments or or warrants or

things that Michelle like throws on Gmail and says it needs immediate other other than that, I was under the impression that it was. 3 in majority rules. And it is true to some extent, right as far as like permission. Like we’re looking like some of these documents like AP particularly

is like we. Those signatures or the authorization to Transfer funds. Yeah. From the bank. So, like, once we get three, in that case it is true. It’s just really, you know, from a bookkeeping or administrative perspective in the background. But until you get all 5, unless we went in and pulled the

signatures off, you know, so it’s just, I don’t know they’re just two different things, you know, the other thing is like you have a preferred email that’s not a Wenham or I heard some go to Gmail it’s like, you know, we, we have the flexibility to To change that stuff, right? Yeah. Yeah.

So, like, it’s, you know, it’s just really just was open conversation like let us know, like what, you know, we have to make some changes, get you an iPad, like that’s so Michelle, I just have one very trivial issue. Can I change my signature? It looks like a 5 year old. I think they all do

on that, Peter, they,, they, don’t, they don’t. I took the one they gave me. It’s like. You have to. It looks like I had a pencils can change pencils pencils can change, yeah, you can change the font font is like 6 or 7 fonts that you can choose from. But I

agree with you on the convenient, I mean, the, the, it, it’s something that I’m able to Sign on my iPhone in seconds once I’ve, you know, it’s something simple that doesn’t require intensive review or once you’ve reviewed it, I mean, it’s at least for me, the iPhone. Works really

well and it’s, you know, it’s set up for that. You don’t have to like squint and it’s just boom bang boom in seconds and your signatures in there and you’re done. And you don’t have to drive by a town hall. Yes, we can’t go back to that.

All right. All right. um, I will be over tomorrow. You can have my iPad. You can. Rick Woodland, 26 Maville. I just wanted to like, uh, think about the historical implications of not signing a document, so like in 300 years from now when we’re researching today, you know, and future generations, I think

you’d want to have your signature on there, even if it’s a fake signature, I would advise trying to find your real signature and get that in there, but I think it’ll just look nicer for people who are researching this 300 years from now, but yeah, they signed it and they, they signed it in a

positive way. So that’s just an input of like keeping in mind history. All right, I think that concludes um Item F, we do not have any other. New business on the agenda and for old business it’s. Any other matters that may not have been anticipated by the chair. I don’t have any. Um, and I, yes.

We want to talk about schedules? Yeah. Good idea. So, um Right, so select board meetings for the summer as a start, right? I think Tentatively in prior discussions we were looking at the first and 15th of July, uh, but obviously the, not set in stone, but the summer gets with

the long. The way the the way the Tuesdays fall is like a long July and a long August. Uh, I will say I’m, I’m on vacation the first from the 3rd through the 9th. That’s the first Tuesday in August that would disrupt our regularly scheduled first in, 3rd Tuesday of each month, uh, something to keep

that in mind, what are your dates? The 3rd of August 3rd to the 9th of August. That’s the only week I’m, Joe’s in here. Yeah, I mean, that’s the thing, we have this backup like I don’t need to, I’m not saying I need to be here. I certainly

don’t. Let’s start in July. So, is, Ben, are you out July 1st? Cause I am that week. Uh, I’m, I’m not out. OK. But I thought you said that. Yeah. Um 115, 1 and 15, both by Zoom. I’m away the 15th on the 15th. And Karen’s on the first. Um, and I

would like to be away in the 15th. I have, uh, floor seats to see Caitlin Clark at the garden. So we got, uh, still have a corn. That’s great. The rest, yeah. Yeah. All right. I’ll, I’ll go ahead. Yes, Peter. Nothing. I, I’ll be on Zoom, but I, I’ll be in Maine on the

first. All right. Well, I think it sounds like we’ll have a quorum for both of those dates, so I think we should keep the, the dispersed on the 15th, um. Presume then going to August. Um Well, actually, so 2 weeks later would be July 29th, maybe we. Skip that. And we want to keep that cause he’s on

vacation the next week. Um, well, it’s, um, What do, what do people think? I mean, I think that Joe, Joe will be here on the 5th. But I don’t know if if people have a preference as between like the. July 29th and July 29th works for me. I’m definitely here.

That’ll give us 3 meetings in July though, which maybe seems a little Unnecessary for, for the summer. We could just do July 8th, 22nd, and then jump to the 12th in August. The 8th and 22nd both work for me. 8th and 22nd. And then that puts us at the 12th in August. Was there anything that we were

going to do on July 1st that you would worry. Need to get done by them or let me confirm with Kate. I, there may be a West Wyndham Park pending issue, the executive session, uh last time uh to charging. Yeah, EV charging, um. But I think that

came away but let me, let me confirm. There may, I don’t know what the deadline. She said the, she said the first. I don’t know, is there a deadline on the Buk EV? I know for a fact that we had that the first was OK, but I can’t speak for certain that the 8th is also.

All right, um, So we want a tentatively plan for the 8th and the 22nd instead of the 1st and the 15th because I mean, yeah, that’s fine. And like, honestly. I, I’m probably gonna miss the 8th. We could do a quick, obviously, I mean, scheduling allows a quick, 5 or 10 minute meeting. Uh for them

if we need to, yeah. OK. If that’s OK. Um, well, we have a quorum on the 8th and the 22nd. Sounds like we will, right? OK.. . 22nd, I’m good. OK. All right, so the 8th and the 22nd of July at 6:30. Zoom Zoom. I think that maybe on one of those

dates, perhaps July 22nd, we should have an agenda item to talk about, um. In-person meetings and where those might take place once we get into the fall, given that we won’t be. Able to hold meetings here, it sounds like until close to Thanksgiving. Um All right, and then do we want to talk about

August meetings? We did August normal dates, the 5th and the 19th. 20 5th and the, Or do we want to move it to the 12th and the 26th. I like that. Like I watched Joe. I like the earlier ones. I’m definitely gonna be a, if you do the 26th, then you’re going to mess up September.

Yeah. Alright, so the 5th and the 19th. And at 6:30 and those would likely be by Zoom, although maybe. Make a final decision on the location. When we talk about it in July. Are we scheduling our goals meeting. Isn’t that coming up? We’re going to end, well, sorry, go

ahead. No, go ahead. I think we were to try to integrate that into one of the evening meetings. And Given the open items. Belief is that the They’ll obviously be conversation around it, but it’s significant part of next year’s goals are kind of already laid out for us projects that are up in the air.

Great. All right. Any other, um, Old or new business, no. Move to adjourn at 8:11 p.m. Peter, Yes, Karen Deirdre. Gary. Yes. That is, yes. All right, thanks everybody. Thank you. Thank you.