00:00:00,730	S1:
Good evening. Good evening everybody. Welcome to the September 23rd, 2025 welcome, Select board meeting. Um, here this evening are myself, Ben Timon.

00:00:13,429	S2:
Deirdre Peretti.

00:00:14,630	S1:
Peter Clay.

00:00:15,529	S3:
Jerry Cheeseman.

00:00:16,929	S1:
Thank you for members of the Select Board. And our first, um, item this evening is, uh, public input, public comment. Um, this would be for any members of the public who wish to do remarks on an item that isn't already on the agenda. Um, I will note that agenda item.

00:00:41,899	S1:
G uh, regarding Gordon College is going to be deferred until the next meeting. So if there is anybody here in Burnham Hall or online who wishes to give public comment on that issue, um, now would be the time to do it in public input since we won't be getting to it at, uh, during the meeting agenda. Uh, is there anybody here in the hall who wishes to make public comment? Seeing none. Anybody on zoom.

Joe? 00:01:10,969	S4:
Want to raise your hand? No, no.

Okay. 00:01:14,269	S1:
All right. That moves us to reports and announcements, starting with town administrator's update in town.

Announcements? 00:01:20,469	S5:
Yep. Um, thank you, Mister chair. Just a couple brief announcements tonight as I'll be going over our recap for the last year. So I got a number of announcements there. But first, just the, um, I guess bimonthly town hall HVAC project update. Things are continuing to go on schedule and as planned. Uh, we are tentatively or more than tentatively likely moving on or about October 6th from the, uh, from the second floor all down to the first floor. They have closed up the, um, closed up the walls and the ceilings and have plastered and now are moving to paint and finishings, so we anticipate those will be done in the next week, week and a half, and then allowing us a few days to move. The early word is that we may, um, they still have to make some more assessments to the contractors, but not have to move entirely off the second floor. Uh, given that they've been able to do a significant amount of work on Friday, that's why Town Hall has been closed throughout throughout the summer. So that's TBD. But, um, you know, there will be likely some disruption, similar to when we move from the, uh, first floor to the second floor. Uh, there may be a day where town Hall will have to be closed again to the public, but will remain available via email and on the phone while we, uh, disconnect and reconnect all our technology and network connections. Have you noticed the arbors, the Arbor Street, uh, Lines and crosswalks and stop bars were all done on the 21st and 22nd. I think they look great.

00:03:03,129	S6:
Thank you.

Yep. 00:03:05,629	S5:
Welcome, rich. Rich. Sousa. Want to give him credit for that? Um, and then starting around October 8th or shortly before that, they'll be starting the milling and paving of Foster in Cedar Street. And that's all I have for updates tonight.

00:03:24,330	S4:
Okay.

00:03:24,729	S1:
Thank you. Um, I don't have any updates this evening.

00:03:27,530	S4:
Deirdre. Nothing.

Gary. 00:03:30,770	S3:
Nope.

Good. 00:03:32,169	S4:
All right.

00:03:32,930	S1:
That, um, agenda? We have two sets of open session minutes. One from May 6th and.

00:03:41,430	S4:
The other from.

00:03:42,270	S1:
June 17th. And then we have, uh, two, one day liquor.

00:03:46,629	S4:
Licenses for First Church. One and one for October 4th.

00:03:51,030	S1:
One for November 6th. Um, does anyone wish to discuss any of these items individually, as opposed to voting on them as one consent agenda. Seeing. Nope.

Nope. 00:04:02,830	S2:
Okay.

Moving. 00:04:03,629	S1:
Good. So if you could move it as a consent agenda, Dieter, that'd be great.

00:04:06,830	S2:
Move to approve items A through see in the consent agenda as printed in this evening's agenda.

00:04:12,770	S6:
Second.

00:04:14,370	S1:
All right. Um, all those in favor? Deirdre? Yes. Peter. Yes.

Gary. 00:04:19,000	S3:
Yes.

00:04:19,470	S1:
Dennis. Yes. It's unanimous. That moves us to new business. Moving right along. Um, which is the Bartholomew Investments recap. Is that something that we're ready for now, or should we move on to.

00:04:31,769	S5:
See if it's in the, uh.

00:04:33,800	S7:
What's the name? Steve or Linda.

00:04:37,930	S8:
Is on, I think. I'm not sure.

00:04:40,970	S7:
Yes. Yeah. I'll move her over.

00:04:42,870	S9:
Can I just ask a question?

00:04:44,269	S7:
Yeah.

00:04:45,000	S1:
I mean.

00:04:45,230	S9:
I went through the entire deck. Okay. Are we going to go through the entire deck?

00:04:49,730	S8:
Um, I don't actually know. I'm waiting to hear, but I. My anticipation would be no. I mean, the textbook, 120,000 pages. I would. We could certainly counsel them to, you know, if you'd like a quick, high level overview of the economy or if you want to skip that.

00:05:03,600	S3:
Or what if what.

00:05:04,269	S9:
If they changed.

00:05:05,629	S8:
What's happened?

00:05:06,300	S9:
What have they changed.

00:05:07,600	S8:
In terms of their investments? Well, I mean, we switched to Prudent Investor in April. So that's a pretty significant change to the policy and how they're investing our funds. Um, so I think that's worth talking about that. Okay. Um, and then, um, yeah, I mean, with me, I probably want to hear a little bit about the general economy, but if you just want to hear about the portfolio specific and that's that, I think you guys can derive what the conversation is.

00:05:31,470	S1:
Um, yeah. We want to sort of allow maybe ten minutes for their affirmative presentation and then however many minutes we would have for questions. Okay. Does that make sense? Sounds great. But we'll move on to the next agenda item. Unless the Bartholomew representative is here.

00:05:49,800	S7:
Yeah.

00:05:52,699	S1:
They probably didn't expect would get to be so fast.

00:05:57,529	S5:
What's that?

00:06:01,170	S7:
Oh.

00:06:01,370	S8:
There's Brian.

Yeah. 00:06:02,870	S7:
Great.

00:06:09,470	S7:
Just move the Brian over to the panelist.

00:06:16,470	S10:
Brian.

00:06:19,029	S10:
Unmute yourself.

00:06:23,870	S10:
Yeah.

00:06:25,029	S7:
That's going to be a little quiet.

00:06:27,230	S1:
Yeah. We can't we can't hear you in the.

00:06:29,569	S7:
Yeah. So, Michelle, turn up your hall, your speaker on your laptop.

00:06:35,129	S10:
I don't think they can.

00:06:36,069	S1:
I know it's, but now we can.

Oh. 00:06:38,529	S7:
Thanks, Bill. One. Two. Three. Testing one. Yes. Yeah.

Yeah. 00:06:42,269	S1:
We can hear you.

00:06:43,699	S7:
Excellent. Excellent. Okay. How are you?

00:06:45,529	S10:
What are you seeing? That they don't know if they need, um, an overview of the economy. Um, really what they're trying to see is the changes include an investor and how the general fund is doing. So maybe like ten minutes, if that is possible. Um, really great.

00:07:04,269	S3:
Absolutely. And we're well prepared and we have all bullet points here set aside. And I realize that's 155 pages. Crazy, right? But that is really more for not presentation purposes for you, but really orders and partly presentation for you. But we'll boil it down. Uh, along with me, I have Catherine Glowacki online as well. Um, but I'm going to go right through this keeping in honor of your time with your busy schedule. Um, so the biggest change. Well, let me go through, so I'll keep this quick. You've been a client since 2006 that represents general funds, OPEC funds, prudent funds, and legalist trust funds. These are approximately 30 basis points. Uh, all management fees included. Uh, that is, uh, in the the general fund is at 20 basis points. The General Fund account, which was opened on 37 2024. Since inception, performance was 4.14. Those are heavily restricted by mass general law and could only get treasuries no more than a year. So that's why you're seeing a performance of 4.14. Current yield to maturity on that is still holding on at 3.9. And then the yield to maturity ending on 630 was 3.83. And me down if I'm going too fast.

00:08:19,569	S10:
Page. Is there a page that you want to be on that can refer?

00:08:23,769	S3:
I wouldn't worry about that. I can set these notes for you. It's all in there. I'm trying to keep it high level. I, I you can go right to the. I wouldn't worry about that if it's too much time to scroll through. Um, unless the board wants me to. That's up to you. I'll slow down a little bit as I get into the more important stuff. Uh, really, the general funds are, you know, treasuries. No more than one year, and everybody has watched the Treasury market. It's hovering around 4% now, a little lower. But the towns and cities can still, under the law, can invest no more than one year. That's why we have to stay with it that way. Legalist trust funds. The legalist trust funds, which is that 22 stock portfolio. The account was open on um 2006. We still have 10% equity in there. The balance as of six 3025 was 3.8 million. Uh, since inception through 630 was 208. Um, now let's go into the fiscal year performance at 6.27 gain or a little over 400,000. Let's switch over to prudent trust. That's the big one, right? We're finally able to get out of the legalist stock and bound by mass general law, and really kept us stuck in that legalist. list. Not much flexibility at the town had voted to go. Prudent. Prudent trust fund. Kind of like your own Pep can invest in chapter 203. See? Open it up to more flexibility, and you don't have the heavy concentration risk that you do in just the 22 legalist stocks. Um, this opens it up. And we're not investing in Bitcoin or penny stocks. Um, but the Prudent Trust Fund account, after the town took the vote was opened on 421, 2025. This year, it's a 60% equity portfolio with 40% bonds. The balance as of 630 was 5 million or 86 519. So that since inception, performance through last night's close is about 14.89%,

00:10:41,929	S3:
the fiscal year performance two months into the fiscal year. So that's July 1st through 831 is at uh, 10.13,

00:10:53,230	S3:
uh, gain. I'm sorry. Excuse me. That's wrong. Um, fiscal year performance, which represents two months. That was what you have in your package. That's at the 10.13. That was from 421 to 630, a gain of over 500,000. So the money's actually put back to work now working nicely with prudent trust fund. I'm going to take a breather there.

Right. 00:11:19,870	S1:
Could we um I think there's if I'm looking at the right slide portfolio allocation. Um, maybe we could put that one up for the.

00:11:28,429	S3:
Yeah, go to public. That would be great because that's the one I think that is most important to everybody. From what I heard earlier.

Right. 00:11:34,600	S1:
Two of 13 in the trust fund.

00:11:38,000	S9:
Portfolio.

00:11:38,570	S1:
Review, I'm not sure what PowerPoint page it is, but.

00:11:41,799	S3:
And I don't have access to. So my fingers right now, so I keep scrolling down. Keep going, keep going. You're looking at the portfolio. Okay, here we go. Hold on. Uh, so just look for the top. Uh, I can't quite see it, so that's okay. That's the trust funds. Keep going down. Let's go to the next group.

00:12:06,870	S3:
Keep going.

00:12:12,029	S3:
Okay. Keep going. After disclosures. Uh. After that, keep going. That's the outlook on the IPS. Uh. Keep going.

00:12:24,500	S1:
Oh, here we go.

00:12:25,000	S3:
Okay, here we go. Perfect. Okay, now, what was the question? So I can guide you in the right direction. Um, just just the slide.

00:12:34,429	S1:
That had those key numbers on it with the.

00:12:37,500	S3:
Okay. Uh, okay. Do me a favor. Scroll, I think third digit. Right there.

00:12:44,769	S8:
Stop.

00:12:46,730	S3:
Okay. If you want to fall asleep or anything else. But pay attention to this. So let's slow down here. So on the left side of this portfolio, can everybody see that? Okay. You have a check. Let me see if I can make my screen there okay. Okay. Great. Thank you for doing that. Whoever's doing that. So on for 21. The balance of $5,000,070 I'm sorry, 70,327 was transferred into this prudent account called contributions. Everybody can see that.

Yeah. 00:13:20,429	S10:
Yeah.

00:13:21,169	S3:
Hold on. I get a okay. I can't see that screen. Okay. Now I can see that. And withdrawals are withdrawals out of the account. Um, their trust funds that are have activity. Um, so that's just activity that the treasurer has squared up the bulks, um, the interest this is really designed for growth and I can really get a lot of interest in it. That's okay. Um. Dividend cap gains are about 24,300 1779. Ending balance through 630. Is that 5,000,486 five 1982. Which after fees is the 509,000 estimating? I gave you an additional number through last um through last night's close which brings this portfolio up, time weighted return, which you see there on the left. And it's got to be the same on the right, obviously, because it's the same. It's just opened. Uh, but 10.13 through last night's close it is up to 14.89.

00:14:27,470	S3:
The brown line down below on the bottom half of the screen is the amount of money you put in or taken out. And the blue line represents market value. Now, granted, you invested in a great time at the market because the market was on on April 7th and eighth was pretty much the down of the market, um, from all the tariff talk. And um, so then it it's, it's been riding up since, so that's very nice. Um, I'll stop there. Any questions? That's what I was talking about for those numbers.

00:15:06,730	S1:
No. Please proceed.

00:15:08,500	S3:
Okay. Excellent. Um, how much more detail do you want me to give you for the prudent investor? I gave you a snapshot since inception through 630 fiscal year close and then through last night's close. Do you want me to move on? Any more details?

00:15:24,129	S11:
Yeah, it's pretty good performance.

00:15:26,269	S1:
Yeah, yeah.

00:15:28,000	S3:
Yeah.

00:15:28,700	S1:
I can you can continue.

00:15:30,700	S3:
Okay. So let's go into the open account. Then if we click continue into the next account. Is that what I guess correctly I'm sorry.

00:15:37,570	S1:
Yes please.

00:15:38,730	S3:
Okay. Sorry. There's a little bit of a delay. I apologize. If you want to see the premium account. What, um. What accounts are representative from that? You saw that on that account report. You don't need to look at that. The one thing I just want to represent to the board is that a kind of report that we provide to the town is not a performance report. So please, just remember that. Okay. Um. Within this. Okay. Right. Clear. Stop. See this accounting report? Please, if you see this, this is not a performance report. I just want to make you clear on that. I get a lot of questions. Why is the performance so low? Well, this is not a performance report. It's an accounting report. It has nothing to do with history, historical data as much as it has to do with how the treasurer and accountant post the current positions in the current earnings. Now, if you click, scroll up. This is 000 and other posted employment benefits. This is taking care of that unfortunate unfunded liability that you have. And if you could turn to page three on this similar to what we just did, this account.

00:16:46,769	S7:
Valid?

00:16:47,230	S11:
Yep.

00:16:48,100	S3:
Okay. Right there. Axel, thank you for doing that. Uh, this account has been open since October of 2017. Currently in the 7030 portfolio with private markets. Uh, the balance as of 630, 2025 is 1,000,091 820, 57. You can see that on the left hand side. I actually like this. If everybody could just take a look on the left. Everybody forgets how much money the town has contributed. If you can take a look at their contributions. The town has contributed 888,913.

00:17:27,230	S3:
The ending balance as of 630 was 1,000,091. Total gain after fees of 766. This was not always invested as a 7030 portfolio with private markets. They started off much more conservative. And then we've we've moved this up based on our recommendations to add to 7030. With private markets, I just want to point something out here for those that may pick up on this. There's a lot of detail on that left. There's a fee called 12 B1 credits. There are no. 1281 fees. I just want to clarify this. You're under a management fee paying 30 basis points all in annualized. And remember 1% equals 100 basis points. So you're paying 30 basis points for all charges. Rebalancing account reports, investing across the board, the performance reports and broker dealer fees and custodial fees all included. Now I point that 12 foot one fee out because it's a it wasn't. It was something that kept hitting the money. Market account in a broker dealer automatically reimburses it. So I just bring that out. It's a little it's kind of a small little thing. I just want to make sure somebody is clear on that. Okay. Open account. Um, since inception performance through 630 of 6.28. Um, fiscal year performance of 10.93,

00:18:59,829	S3:
uh, total gain for the fiscal year of 97,000. And you can see that on the right hand side. See the right hand side here? Uh, this is for the fiscal year. You've made your contributions. Um, actually, let me just say it's started at 594,000. You made a contribution of 400,000 zero withdrawals because you're an accumulation phase. Um, we then had dividends and cap gains of 34,000, our management fees of 3200, and the total gain after all. That said, 97,106 50. Uh, approximately. Well, actually not approximate. Uh, tabulated return through that time frame 10.93. Okay, that brings me to my ten minutes that I can go more and we can go into more detail. I just want to honor your time and make it high level.

00:19:52,630	S1:
I think we're I think that's fine for the, for your presentation, which we very much appreciate. But I would open it up to any questions that first the board may have anything. I think.

00:20:06,529	S7:
Gary.

00:20:06,930	S12:
I go then. So do we anticipate staying with the 7030 balance or moving into a different setup as interest rates decline?

00:20:18,930	S3:
Uh, for the old cap account, we have it on 7030. That's our recommendation. We can have a discussion of, uh, you know, we're not really considering the I mean we are considering, but when we look at OPEC and we're setting the parameters, we're looking at a couple of different things. Your unfunded liability. Um, and we really, you know, what were you thinking of doing or what were you thinking of giving advice on? Uh, we'd like to see this at 7030. Keep it at that. We have fixed all, uh, we have the, uh, private alternatives. We should have 7% in private equity, 3% in real estate, and 3% in private credit will rebalance that as markets change or contributions are made.

00:21:08,329	S12:
Very good. Thank you.

00:21:10,599	S1:
Any other questions.

00:21:11,369	S7:
From the board?

00:21:12,799	S1:
All right. Are there any questions from anyone in the hall?

00:21:16,670	S11:
Yes.

00:21:19,470	S13:
I think it's not really a question I like to point out. If you know OPEC with, um, 10.93, uh, for the last fiscal year. But I would point out about the by the left side of their eyes return since inception is about 6.3%. Um, you know, which, generally speaking, if we look at other sort of institutional money, uh, that would be invested in a similar way. Um, I think that's a pretty, I know, Cambridge, Cambridge investments that if you had somebody who was on, uh, in that company and managed a lot of institutional money, he was always impressed that that Bartholomew could track, you know, their performance pretty, uh, closely. Uh, and I think in a lot of cases, um, you know, Bartholomew was very big in our world today. I mean, a small world, but it's not hard out by the Soviet individual investors as much. And so I always like to point that out just because, you know, I hope it gives folks confidence that that, you know, that this is a really, really, um, good firm we're working with. And I think it might not have the name recognition of some other firms. Um, but that's 6.28, uh, especially since we haven't always been in the, in the 70, 30, uh, split. We, uh, we were at 50, 50, 60, 30, I think over time. Um, you know, that's a good number. And it is in line with what we're trying to achieve in our vocations.

So. 00:22:37,430	S1:
Okay. Great. Thank you. Jeff. Um, is there anybody online who wishes to ask a question or make a comment? There is not. All right. Um, thank you very much for your time and for your Bartholomew's efforts. It's very promising report. And, uh, we appreciate the detail that was in the written presentation, as well as the high level points that you gave us this evening.

00:23:02,369	S3:
Excellent. Thank you. And if you have any, if you want to, uh, another time, a more deeper dive, please let us know. I just know you want to keep it. You have a lot of things on your your menu today. And I wanted to make sure we honored your time.

00:23:14,329	S1:
Thank you very much.

00:23:15,799	S3:
Thank you.

00:23:16,769	S10:
Thank you.

Brian. 00:23:17,829	S3:
Have a great night.

00:23:18,930	S10:
Okay.

00:23:19,970	S3:
Bye bye.

00:23:22,269	S1:
All right. And thank you, Jackson Belinda, for a comment.

00:23:26,230	S12:
We certainly I think that decisions in the past and wouldn't approve it. And he's saying, well, you know, cut it in a kind of exceptional year this year. Right. But I think we're certainly on track to catch up on the old thread and particularly and the alternative investment seems to be doing quite well for us. So I hope to stay the course here.

00:23:48,500	S11:
Yep.

00:23:50,000	S2:
So just as we've done the last couple of years, I would just want to make sure that this is, um, given to the fin com. And if there's any input, comments or further questions, um, they need to make a reappearance of fin comments. We've all wanted to hear a deeper dive.

00:24:07,900	S11:
I assume I'll be good to that.

00:24:11,769	S2:
Thank you.

00:24:13,599	S1:
Great. That moves us to, um, item E discussion and potential vote on operational items for the West London Park Opening Day ceremony. And I believe Kate Mallory is on line to present.

Kate? 00:24:51,630	S14:
Can you hear us? Kate?

00:24:56,829	S15:
Say she's a panellist.

00:25:00,829	S16:
Yes, David.

00:25:07,970	S10:
Okay. Can you hear me now? Yes.

00:25:10,170	S8:
Hello?

00:25:10,869	S10:
Great. Great. Hi, everybody. Um, thank you to the Select board members for having me tonight. Um, tonight, I'd like to talk to you about the West Park opening day celebration. Um, as you all probably are aware this has been going on for almost five years. This was one of the first projects I started with in Vietnam, starting with the Open Space Committee doing the feasibility study. Probably about four and a half years ago. So it's been a long, really fun project. Next slide please. Oh, wait. Before we go to the next slide, I'd like everybody to see the Gaga pit. That is right there. And the Girl Scouts, um, took different colors. And those are their handprints. They're so pretty special. I can go to the next slide. All right, so the purpose of me coming tonight is to request that the Select board approve the opening day celebration at West Windom Park, which I'd love to have on Saturday, October 18th from 1 to 3. And this will really showcase the park's new amenities and celebrate with the community. Go ahead. Next slide.

00:26:22,170	S10:
All right. So some highlights at the park is that we have really changed the infrastructure here. We created more parking. And there was almost no parking at the park before. There's about a 20 car parking now. Um, and we made the whole park Ada accessible, which I think is incredibly important. We revamped the sports court. So now there are four pickleball courts, and there is a tennis court lined on top of those four pickleball courts. Um, we have a picnic area, and tomorrow the pavilion is coming in. Um, it will take two days to install, so that will be done by the end of the week. And we have the playground area with really natural, nature based, um, playground structures and really fun climbing structures for children. And we also have exercise equipment, um, which is really great. We have a walking path now through the back behind the field, which is just a really great area to take your stroller and walk back there. And my favorite part is that this park no longer has any stormwater runoff coming off of it. So we use nature based solutions. We use swales, um, to ensure that all of the water, the stormwater that is fallen on this park stays on the park and gets cleaned through and goes into the groundwater to recharge our groundwater system. So it's pretty it's pretty wonderful area. Tomorrow I'm going up there with winter rye to um, put that in the swales. And eventually we're going to make those swales, um, pollinator gardens. So it's it's twofold. It's wonderful to have pollinator gardens. And then it's also easier to maintain the park. Next slide.

00:28:07,769	S10:
All right. So celebration activities. Um I'd love to do a ribbon cutting ceremony and some welcoming remarks. And you are all welcome to speak. Of course. And I'd encourage it. Um, we'd love to have the Cookie Monster truck come. So we do have enough money in the budget to have the Cookie Monster truck come for the first 100 to 150 residents that come, they can get their own scoop of ice cream in a cookie. Um, as you all know, I've been working with the Ipswich River Watershed Association, um, on the Myles River grant that we received through the state. The state is funding us to have science kits, and, um, we can give 50 science kits out to residents. And we're also going to do an insect exhibit. Um, we're also going to celebrate Arbor Day. So have a tree planting ceremony right by the picnic area. We'd like to dedicate a new bench. We have one, um, memorial bench that has been purchased, and we'd like to dedicate that. Um, we, of course, want to showcase the Girl Scouts. Donated Gaga pit. That was that first picture you all saw. And I like to hire a face painting artist. Next slide.

00:29:28,599	S10:
All right. So this park and this celebration, there are community benefits towards it. Um, it really strengthens community engagement. Gets the whole community together to celebrate something really wonderful for Wenham and highlights our partnerships through the state. Um, the Miles River Watershed Action plan, we're going to be talking about all these things, um, working with the Ipswich River Watershed Association. So it kind of really shows how we're really working towards sustainability in town. It encourages recreation and wellness and also promotes Wenham as a welcoming and inclusive community. Next slide. So what I'm requesting from you tonight is just approval to have this celebration invite the vendors we need to invite and to have all these great activities that I just mentioned. Next slide.

00:30:25,599	S10:
So basically, if you vote yes tonight, I will move forward and secure all the vendors and the partner confirmations. I will coordinate all the logistics with public works and public safety. I've already been in touch with both those departments on what we need to do. Um, I will start publicizing this event to make sure it gets on all of our website, socials, the HW news, and prepare the final schedule of activities. Next slide. And that's it. Thank you for your consideration and I'm really looking forward to celebrating this park.

00:31:03,829	S12:
Hey, Kate.

00:31:04,230	S9:
I have a question for.

00:31:05,000	S11:
You. Where are you going? Sure. Thank you.

00:31:07,700	S2:
Go ahead.

00:31:09,230	S6:
Um, who who do you envision doing?

00:31:12,769	S9:
The ribbon cutting?

00:31:15,230	S10:
Um, I think it's really up to you. Um, I, I don't know if we would like Ben as the chair maybe to actually cut the ribbon. That was my thought, but I think it's up to you. I think you got me. I know that.

00:31:29,500	S2:
I was going to say. I think you should have a pair of scissors, too.

00:31:32,170	S10:
Yeah.

00:31:33,329	S6:
You should. I got one big pair of scissors.

00:31:36,430	S2:
Yes, a giant pair of scissors.

Sorry. 00:31:39,299	S12:
And make sure he gets his recognition.

00:31:42,069	S6:
From the.

00:31:43,829	S12:
Committee.

00:31:44,569	S1:
Yeah, we can have multiple pairs of.

00:31:46,029	S3:
Scissors.

00:31:46,430	S1:
Or multiple hands on one very large set of scissors.

00:31:50,730	S10:
Yes. And definitely Ernest Ashley has been invaluable in this process.

00:31:55,670	S11:
Well, actually.

00:31:57,299	S1:
And did you say that the, um, on the Cookie Monster truck that you're hoping, hoping to, um, have scheduled that the first 150 Wenham residents get their cookie and ice cream for free. That's paid for by the town.

00:32:12,369	S10:
Yes, if you approve. So I have to give them a count. And I've been having a little trouble figuring out how many people will come. So we have to guarantee our count. Um, so I was thinking about 100, maybe. Does anybody have any idea of what your thoughts would be on that?

00:32:32,170	S2:
Hard to predict.

00:32:33,670	S1:
Yeah, hard to predict.

00:32:34,500	S9:
I think a hundred sounds pretty good.

00:32:36,829	S6:
Yeah.

00:32:37,470	S9:
And then, you know, it's always depending on the weather.

00:32:41,700	S1:
Right.

00:32:42,930	S6:
Yes.

00:32:43,670	S1:
Yeah. And even if there were only 75, there's at least 25 kids who would be happy to have a second.

00:32:49,269	S6:
Yes.

Yes. 00:32:52,369	S10:
Well, mine are mine are coming. If you guys approve this. So they would probably have three each if they could.

00:32:57,069	S6:
Yeah.

Right. 00:32:58,769	S2:
Kate, thank you for a great presentation. And this is, I think, an amazing piece of work getting this park done. It's a tremendous effort that you all have put forward and especially you driving this forward. And I think it's an incredible contribution to the town, not only for the recreation facility, but also the thoughtfulness behind the design. Hearing about the swales and the the environmentally friendly aspects of this, of course, is thrilling to me. So thank you for all of that.

00:33:27,869	S6:
So I remember thank you.

00:33:29,569	S9:
Um, in my first term on the planning board, we were talking about this. So this has been going on for like at least five years.

00:33:38,369	S1:
Eight years or so.

00:33:40,529	S6:
Um, yes.

00:33:43,069	S10:
It's been a long haul.

00:33:46,400	S9:
Great job.

00:33:47,930	S6:
Thank you.

00:33:49,900	S1:
Thanks very much. I would entertain a motion if anyone wishes to make it.

00:33:55,200	S9:
I move to approve operational items for the West Wyndham Park opening day ceremony.

00:34:00,299	S12:
Gary.

00:34:00,700	S1:
Seven's great. We have a motion and a second. Um, we'll take a roll call. Vote.

Deirdre. 00:34:05,700	S6:
Yes.

00:34:07,099	S1:
Peter.

00:34:07,970	S6:
Yes, Gary.

00:34:08,929	S1:
Yes. And Ben is. Yes. Thank you.

Kate. 00:34:12,929	S6:
Thank you all.

00:34:14,199	S2:
Can't wait.

00:34:17,130	S1:
All right. That brings us to item F. The board will revisit the Hamilton one and Regional School district, um, agreement and discuss whether there are additional items to explore. Following the results of the recent district wide election over the Cutler school renovation, and to discuss general messaging to help guide the um Agreement Negotiation working Group who will be continuing negotiation of the terms.

00:34:46,269	S9:
So I I've forwarded our agenda to Eric.

00:34:50,969	S1:
Okay.

00:34:52,170	S9:
And he came back and said to me.

00:34:56,170	S9:
The school committee is going to take this up at their next meeting, and he's not sure what direction they're going. So I think we really need to find out where the school committee is going.

00:35:06,929	S5:
Um, just a quick introduction on this so I can quickly recap for the past year. About a year. Um, there's been a group of folks who, from the Wenham side has been, uh, myself uh, finished from fin com Gary Cheeseman select board, uh, Joe, Joe pescado uh, Jeff Woollard kind of as needed but the finance and then um, similarly Hamilton has a similar makeup from their side, but the one representative from select board representative from fin com and a, um Eric Tracy. Vinny, uh, his last name escapes me right now, but the finance director for the schools and Dana Lara, the chair of the school committee. So we've been meeting and what we've been trying to do up to this point is to put on paper the three interests, the three separate parties who, you know, the school district themselves, and then Hamilton and Wenham. What our. You know, what we would like to see included in a revision of the school district agreement. So, you know, going back probably almost a year ago, and we've revisited this a couple times since, and generally the the messaging that the Selectboard has given me and the working group to bring forward and to integrate into the contract, at least into into the agreement, at least at a conceptual level, is to basically solidify the current budget process that's currently being utilized by the school district. That's something that has come about, um, since Eric, uh, I wasn't here when the shift took place, but, you know, out of the new administration and leadership that has, uh, I think both towns have been appreciative of and generally liked the way the budget process goes, both with the, um, with the communication of the budget and the integration of the quintuple. Board meetings and all chairs meetings. And then also communication from, you know, staff leadership. So Eric and Vinny and myself and Jeff and Joe and Joe Danilovich. And you know, we have we have standing meetings that we have and we just had our kickoff last week where we, you know, we'll meet a number of times formally to discuss the budget process so that that that has been kind of our input into the regional agreement. In addition, we've requested a formalization of a capital process to which they have adopted a capital policy in which they will include a member from each community to participate on their capital planning committee. And ultimately, the school committee makes the final decision. But it allows the towns to have a kind of more inside look into their capital planning process and also have some input at the table. Excuse me. We, um, we've also expressed the, uh, again through the select board, but I've expressed the need or desire to smooth out the assessment shifts, which can swing wildly from year to year at times. So, uh, you know, when I'm, when I'm has expressed the least the strong desire and prior meetings and, you know, that that may change as we move through the process. But to stick with the student enrollment as the sole, uh, kind of driver of the formula to come up with the assessment shift, which really only leads us to to accomplish shaving of the peaks and valleys of the assessment shift is something at least we're open to ideas. But the ideas we've been discussing is right now we're moving on a three year rolling average, which calculates the assessment shift from year to year. You look at the prior three years moving to a five year or even greater rolling average to see if, you know, that can kind of shave the peaks and valleys off, uh, in that point. Just aside point to that, it's probably the only piece of like so far that, you know, Hamilton and Wenham don't align on their interest. Hamilton has some different ideas that we're working through on how to come up with, um, a formula to divide the assessment. Uh, we've also requested to integrated Simo to Deirdre's, uh, request at the last town meeting, which will be coming back again. This town meeting is required special legislation. And we didn't have the time to draft it, but to limit the school committee's participation in any other boards in town. So we're, you know, we're kind of trying to move in that direction as well, I think, at least from, you know, to get it out in front of the residents for a town meeting vote. Uh, the district has, you know, put in a number of, you know, what I don't believe to be to material operational wording changes that kind of change their internal operations that are guided by the by the district agreement. We need to align the school committee election process, the actual process utilized, align with the school district agreement, either change our process to align with the agreement or change the agreement, which is the likely outcome to reflect our process in our process that we currently utilize. Although a conflict of the of the district agreement requires special legislation to do so. Um, and.

00:40:40,800	S9:
Then.

00:40:41,170	S5:
Finally, this is a Hamilton's request in um, I believe makes sense. But, uh, through the board is, uh, having minimum seats for each community. So the school committee right now, any one of the members, seven members can be from either community. So in theory, I'll Hamilton or I'll Wenham. Uh, the, the the proposed amendment is to do something like three seats in one on three seats in Hamilton and then one at large seat that could come from either community. And so at a high level, that's generally the input Wenham is made and the input Hamilton has made. You know, you know, again, we're working through the details. We're just at the point now where we're making sure everything we want to be included can legally be included, and then start to negotiate the finer points and work with council to kind of integrate those terms into the agreement, which ultimately needs to come back before the select boards and before the residents at town meeting. So, you know, all of this is supposed to say that, you know, we couldn't get to the town meeting. And so you want to keep that in mind when you're negotiating terms that, you know, it might be something you strongly desire, but there's a highly high unlikelihood that the opposite. Hamilton would not be voted through at town meetings, though from a strategic perspective view, you know, the board's want to be looking at it and to be like, you know, maybe there has to be a little bit of give and take there to make sure, you know, we get our interests reflected in their interest reflected similarly. And so then with the recent I know there's been some and maybe Finn wants to speak a little bit more. And I know Karen uh, wanted to speak tonight also on that, but she is, uh, ill and unable to to join us. But, um, on the recent, uh, failure or not passing of the new, new, uh, the building project at the most recent district wide election, it is, um, you know, looking at capital cost, uh, splits and how the towns want to proceed, given, um, you know, when I'm having the Bücker school in Wenham and Hamilton having the two other schools in Hamilton. And if there should be some split with that.

00:43:06,500	S1:
Okay. Um, so I take your point, Peter, about, um, Superintendent Tracy's update, but I think is given that there's sort of three parties represented, the negotiation, the school district, Hamilton, and one of them, I think tonight probably we should go forward and talk about, as Steve has begun to do, um, what Venom's priorities are. Um, as we complete the negotiation. Um, so I think it makes sense to do that even if the school committee, um, is going to be having something coming up. So are there any questions or comments from board members, questions for Steve or any comments before we maybe invite Fiona to give us some comments?

00:43:49,230	S12:
I just say, I think that was a very comprehensive review by Steve of what we've been doing over the past year, that there's certainly I would anticipate a couple of sticking points, especially on budget impacts, how we're actually going to manage that. And I think, too, we need to realize that, uh, there's, uh, probably an interim period here or the school committee itself needs to reassess the original directions.

00:44:21,269	S11:
Okay.

00:44:23,130	S1:
Um, Finn, would you like to make any comments?

00:44:27,070	S17:
It's time for me to.

00:44:29,030	S1:
You can sit if you want to sit or you can. I just want to make over.

00:44:32,170	S18:
As little as I can pick you up. That you want to stand up?

00:44:35,929	S1:
Um, no. As long as. Yeah, as long as the mic can pick them up. Maybe move to the first row just to ensure that it does. If you don't mind. Thanks. Cheers. So the, uh, the school.

00:44:46,000	S19:
Agreement, as I understand it, will stand unchanged unless both towns elect, uh, a particular change to it. Right. So whatever we propose has to go through both towns. I think Steve mentioned that, you know, some of the things that you know, happened or that we're discussing are probably easier to pass, and some of them might be more difficult just on the list that Steve said there. Right. Um, you know, on the the revelation of the the second method for going to get, um, you know, citizen approval of capital stuff was, um, uh, you know, means that the we have to have language about the either two thirds or reducing it to 50% in the in the agreement. We can't just erase that and just go with 50% of the district. But all these things are kind of going to come up. You know, I think of the next, um, town meeting and we're going to have to decide how we want to propose them, either as a, as a block or splitting these up into multiple items for maybe some, some are going to be very popular and can easily pass some kind of consent agenda. Um, and some of them might be more controversial. And then, you know, as we said, you know, there's with the way the vote went on the 15th. Um, there's going to be, you know, some financial implications of continuing to have these two buildings and having to pay for their their maintenance for the, you know, at least ten years before we can maybe go to MSBA and try to get some, some funds.

00:46:17,730	S6:
Again, you know.

00:46:18,570	S9:
It's not only just maintenance making them Ada compliant. It's like 50 million bucks for each school.

00:46:25,730	S19:
Right. So if if the town or if the two towns and the school board decide to open up that can of worms. You know, looking at that amount of money for each one of those schools. Um, so, but, uh, you know, I've come before the board and said, you know, you know what? What do you guys want to do? How do we protect the voters? How, you know, how do we, um, how do we go forward from this? Um, And, you know, the working group and what you guys want would be helpful for some some guidance for that working group to figure out, you know, what we think is next steps in those. Those discussions. If there's any specific questions.

00:47:07,329	S11:
Can.

00:47:07,469	S9:
I just kind of wander out loud.

00:47:11,400	S9:
So there are three elementary schools. The schools that have the most pressing needs Ada. And then and then on maintenance are Cutler and Winthrop. Mhm. Yeah. Whereas Booker's in pretty good shape I'd agree.

00:47:30,929	S6:
So.

00:47:34,599	S9:
Just just speaking as a, as a random person, it's like why do we make Hamilton have to pay for, uh, Winthrop and, um, uh, Cutler.

00:47:48,170	S19:
Yeah, I hear I hear what you're saying. I think the reality from Hamilton's point of view is that if they want to have an investment in those structures right now, the current agreement basically is going to say that two thirds of one voters would have to agree to that. Right. And it might be difficult to convince two thirds of of Wenham voters to invest a combined $90 million on on two structures that are.

00:48:13,400	S11:
In.

00:48:13,530	S19:
Hamilton or in Hamilton and mostly support Hamilton kids. There are some one of them kids that go there. But, um, you know, if the agreement is open, we could. And Hamilton was amenable to it. We could we could change that. Um, you know, some sort of, uh, you know, in order for Hamilton to reasonably expect when folks to pay for it, there might need to be a concession, which is hard to imagine how that might be. You know what? What that might look like. It might be acceptable to to both towns because, you know, as it goes now, it seems difficult to imagine that the that one of voters would vote for anything like what you described for the next ten years, because it would be without any material MSBA amounts. Uh, like we we were offered with the new school. So, um, it might be in their best interest to, to to figure out a way to pay for it themselves if they want to have the elementary schools. Otherwise they just might not see anything change for ten years.

00:49:16,400	S1:
So are you are you saying that, um, that in one way you see the two thirds threshold, um, as beneficial to Wenham taxpayers insofar as, um, you know, there would need to be greater persuasion made toward one of them, taxpayers and voters in order to approve a Cutler or Winthrop.

00:49:38,400	S19:
Sure. But there's the the alternative method that we saw, which would basically just mean 50 plus one. Right. And, you know, Hamilton is larger and be easier for them to get to that 50.1. Right. 50 point plus one.

00:49:50,670	S1:
Right. And then we I think we saw that in the not in the district wide vote that just occurred last week or the week before, but in the earlier votes that were at a two thirds threshold at the town meetings, that had the threshold been at 50% per town rather than two thirds as in the agreement, than the Cutler school would have passed. And we'd be, you know, getting ready to, um, break ground on it. Maybe not quite that, but, you know, what I'm saying would be in a position where it'd be on track. So, um, it's it's an interesting dilemma because I think as a overall school district, I would rather see the two thirds go away and have it be 50%. And I think that would have been better. Um, you know, hindsight being 2020, uh, for the Cutler process. But I also hadn't really thought of the point you were raising, which is, you know, I think a good one as well, that it does give. Maybe when I'm a little bit more leverage, um, for upcoming votes. So yes.

00:50:57,269	S12:
So just to clarify, you know, the two thirds town meeting votes, that is up to the school committee. So if they wanted to go with a new project tomorrow, it would only require a district wide majority vote. Because if you read the school agreement as it stands now is the school committee has the power under the school agreement or under law to borrow money. Right. So that option was there originally and still remains there as well. But I see as a as a practical political matter now that is going to be very difficult going ahead because of split votes between the two towns that whereas we could agree, perhaps we could have on the consolidated school. Now we revert to a position where each town has its own separate interest at stake here. And so it's going to be very difficult for the school committee to come up with a new plan that will pass muster amongst the whole group. So I think that the main task right now is the school committee is going to have to come up with a new path forward, because certainly, as Peter says, you know, two of the two, two of the three schools any day now could be written off as unacceptable and closed.

00:52:25,130	S11:
Think about.

00:52:25,599	S9:
That.

00:52:25,769	S11:
That's frightening. Yeah, yeah.

00:52:28,199	S19:
Yeah. So as as we're saying right now, it says two thirds for both from both towns. And it seems to be we have this new alternative that hadn't been, you know, well published, publicized before. You know, one of the things we could do is move from two thirds down to 50% in this agreement.

00:52:45,329	S12:
Well, what I was saying is the 50% is there now.

00:52:48,400	S19:
The 50% is always going to be there now. And there isn't a very it isn't very clear to me when the school committee could decide to go the route that that we have in the agreement now versus the overall 50%. Right. It's not clear like that. There's, you know, these kind of projects should go this way. And these sort of projects should go this other way. It seems to be entirely up to them.

00:53:12,469	S1:
Well, I think, I mean, hindsight being 20, 20, um, the school committee should have gone with that option at the beginning, because one of the reasons, in my opinion, that it didn't pass was just fatigue and perhaps a lack of clarity, um, and frustration over, you know, the fact that that it was coming up for a third, essentially a third round of voting. Um, so I think that that hurt the, uh, the Cutler renovation cause just the way the process played out. Whereas in the future, if the school committee decided it was going to go that route from the beginning, um, it probably would have a better chance of success. Obviously, it depends on the project, it depends on a lot of things. But that that hampered that particular approach this time around, just because of the way it all unfolded over the course of the last year.

00:54:09,099	S18:
Um.

00:54:10,730	S12:
Perhaps to the Finance Committee could take a look at the overall impacts of, uh, what a failed school vote has on the town economies to certainly, uh, you know, real estate is affected people trying to either not come into town or leave town because of the school status, something that we need to concern ourselves with as well.

00:54:38,769	S19:
Sounds like it sounds like a larger project. I see what you're talking about is like some sort of regression that shows how property values have changed.

00:54:48,000	S6:
After.

00:54:49,030	S12:
Exact property values. But perhaps in the easier just do case study to look at other towns around the Commonwealth and see what happens to those that get the new schools and those that are stuck with the antiquities.

00:55:04,900	S11:
Right. Well, I.

00:55:08,869	S9:
Being on the new elementary school committee for the last three years, this scenario was actually modeled.

00:55:16,469	S11:
Yeah.

00:55:18,670	S19:
Right. We know that there's going to be a fairly substantial capital ask at the next spring, right, related to HVAC. But as you know exactly what else is behind that? I don't know, off the top of my head. I don't think it's insignificant.

00:55:36,300	S9:
You may want to just check with Vinnie on that one.

00:55:39,869	S1:
Steve, is there any sense that when the school committee next meets on this, Peter mentioned that that's going to be happening, whether or not they're going to be tackling the capital costs and maintenance issues that are part of the agreement.

00:55:55,599	S5:
Um, no. My understanding, again, of where we are in the process right now is the three parties, the district, Hamilton and Wenham are going back with. The representatives of each community are kind of going back to their respective boards in making sure that what I outlined tonight, from Wednesday's perspective reflects, you know, at a conceptual level, what you would like to see, the negotiating group, who was the same group that we're talking about here, um, continue to move forward. And if it's not, you know, part of it was given in light of the recent district wide election and the Cutler project not passing does. I think what it really boils down to is, does the Wenham Selectboard support or want the working group to add to this list that I presented? Something that adjusts or separates further separates the capital costs for Winthrop and Cutler in Bücker. Um, you know.

00:57:15,469	S11:
In.

00:57:16,900	S5:
You know, in further, you know, is it separate to a.

00:57:24,170	S5:
You know, it remains to be a regional district, but the costs associated with, like the school in Wenham, at least the way being presented would be assessed to when I'm in the costs associated with the schools in Hamilton be assessed to Hamilton or some mixture of the two. I guess basically just looking at a way to maybe, you know, given Hamilton's desire to, um, you know, maintain the small schools, at least reflective in the vote, maintain the two schools, you know, in our desire to consolidate the schools, like, does it make more sense? And, you know, things concern that, you know, likely would be difficult to get, you know, if the Wenham voter is voting for a capital improvement project in Hamilton, you know, is it going to be difficult to get that vote given the way the agreement is written now and both communities need to sign on either two thirds? And, you know, there's been some discussion about going that two thirds threshold to be reduced to simple majority at town meeting. But again, that doesn't affect the district wide election. I think from that standpoint it's just a strict strategy on the school district in a case by case basis, at least the way it's written now as to what pathway they want to take, either with the district wide election or going the more traditional route to town meeting.

00:58:51,369	S5:
It's really all that to say that. Does the Selectboard want to add anything? One being what I just said or something around town about it or not.

00:59:00,929	S1:
I mean, I would be very interested in your thoughts, Gary, having been the representative on the committee. I mean, my my feeling is that, yes, we should add it to the list. A because if we don't do it now, we won't be able to do it for another decade or so until another negotiation. And B, we're at an inflection point given the failure of the consolidated school project, and it's the right time to assess that situation and try to determine what changes, if any, should be made, um, to help the whole district move forward on a project like that that I think most many, many people believed was beneficial for the to the district. Um, so anyway, that's my feeling.

00:59:49,469	S12:
Well, we can take that back to the working group because I think the, uh, the question is both political and financial in that going forward here, it's going to be hard to get an agreement amongst the three parties as to the future school construction, whatever that's going to be. So as you see, I think that has to be brought up and discussed and some determination made as to where the costs are going to fall in the future. So that's what the board wants. We can take that to the working group.

01:00:25,769	S11:
Yeah I agree Deirdre.

01:00:28,599	S2:
I think at a minimum it needs to be discussed. Um, And thought through. I think, as many have predicted, including Finn prior to the vote on the school, we're in a difficult situation now to figure out how to move forward. And I think all the thinking needs to be on the table, as you said, to try to figure out a way forward that's going to be palatable to both towns and the school committee, and that respects everyone's interests.

01:01:04,670	S1:
All right. So I think you have.

01:01:05,730	S11:
Your.

01:01:06,869	S1:
Your consensus.

01:01:08,130	S11:
Yep. Sounds good. Okay. Thank you very much.

01:01:11,469	S1:
Thank you. Thank you for your time. Is there anybody online who has a hand up on this topic?

01:01:19,570	S18:
No. There's none.

01:01:20,329	S1:
Okay. All right. So we have two agenda items left before getting to some of the the cleanup at the end. Um g about Gordon college and h regarding select board goals for the coming year. I think that given that, um, select Board member anger is absent this evening and she, I know, you know, has some ideas that she would like to, um, you know, discuss with the board relating to the Gordon College working Group on which she, um, is I think is going to be a member. And on H given that its goals and objectives for the whole board for the next year. Um, I'd recommend that we defer discussion on both of those agenda items, unless any board member objectives.

01:02:07,269	S9:
I really.

01:02:07,969	S6:
Prepared.

01:02:08,469	S1:
For this. You were ready for the the spreadsheet?

01:02:11,400	S6:
Yeah, I think.

01:02:13,269	S2:
I don't know.

01:02:14,070	S6:
I.

01:02:14,170	S2:
Guess I would do a preliminary discussion on the goals and objectives, but I don't feel strongly.

01:02:21,769	S12:
Well, perhaps Steve can just give us his assessment of the status as of today. You know, what do we get done on last year's goal?

01:02:30,199	S1:
That makes sense. Yeah. Why don't we. Why don't we do that? We'll get a recap.

01:02:34,269	S12:
On to next.

01:02:34,800	S9:
Week.

01:02:35,070	S18:
Yeah, and then there's.

01:02:35,630	S1:
The next meeting we can discuss. Uh, you know, recap.

01:02:38,800	S5:
The last year.

And. 01:02:44,170	S5:
Uh, so I think.

01:02:45,199	S18:
Overall.

01:02:45,969	S5:
We had a good fiscal 25. So just to remind you, the fiscal year is run from July 1st to the, uh, following June 30th. So when we're looking at our goals and objectives, that's the time frame we're using. So we're looking back to the last fiscal year. Currently we're in fiscal year 2026. So this is a recap on fiscal 2025. Um, you know, before I jump into it, I just want to preface that, that a lot of resources were definitely dedicated to, uh, three A and the school building project this year was a pretty crazy year. Um, you know, especially with the multiple town meetings and the district wide election and, you know, multiple preparations and analyses that had to get done, both for three a in the schools project. So certainly, certainly some good team work that took place there. Um, so for 2025, we came up with uh, uh, the in the prior year and the 2024, the master plan was completed when it was a master plan was updated and moving into 25, we set an objective to start to implement the master plan. Uh, so essentially, what, you know, what took place was, you know, uh, okay, work to categorize and prioritize all the strategies that were represented in the master plan and then put together a 1 to 3 year plan, uh, in the in a presentation to the select board in which the select board adopted, uh, that would essentially establish our, uh, 26, 27 and 28 goals and objectives. So that was, um, that was completed and presented in the Select Board. Approved. Um, which I know we weren't going to go into this year's goals and objectives, but basically it's the Complete Streets Program, Economic Development Study, and the Downtown Revitalization.

01:04:43,130	S18:
Study.

01:04:44,130	S5:
Start to implement, as well as working groups, uh, bringing a multiple committees together where interests in the master plan lie kind of within their, um, their purview. So town of Wenham, the branding. So we created a logo and tagline for the town of Wenham and integrated it into the website and our business cards and different documents. I mentioned MBTA zoning, uh, support of the planning board and the town meeting and special town meeting process to bring the town residents a zoning bylaw that would wood in our, um. At least in our opinion, would be compliant with the MBTA through a law via website development. We designed and implemented an entirely new website from the.

01:05:40,199	S18:
Ground up.

01:05:42,969	S5:
Liaison, the upper canton, to the discussion to re-implement the liaison system for the select board members to liaise with boards and committees that was brought to the board, and the board ultimately voted not to re-implement the program for open meeting law concerns, and also to not place any undue influence on board members.

01:06:06,369	S9:
But are we, in fact doing that.

01:06:08,969	S5:
Only where required by bylaw or state law?

01:06:13,199	S9:
So I'm on the.

01:06:15,730	S18:
Affordable.

01:06:16,070	S12:
Housing trust.

01:06:17,000	S9:
Because that's.

01:06:17,699	S12:
That's the.

01:06:17,969	S2:
Only one.

01:06:19,130	S9:
That's.

01:06:19,329	S12:
Statutory.

01:06:19,929	S1:
Yes.

Yeah. 01:06:20,900	S9:
Oh wow. You guys.

01:06:22,670	S1:
Yes. Wishes. Wishes pursuant to its bylaws or to the town bylaw.

01:06:29,969	S5:
The Town hall newsletter we implemented, the Wenham Wire, which comes out monthly, although there has been a month missed here and there, but for the most part it comes out on a monthly basis. That includes a letter from myself to the residents, kind of updating them on what's going on, along with the department updates for all the departments in town on a monthly basis.

01:06:54,730	S9:
Is that on the website? Yep.

Okay. 01:06:58,869	S5:
Uh, the other one was for me to come up with operational instructions for each job department, each department, uh, job guides and succession planning. So we knew going into this, this would be a multi-year process. But what we did this year was, um, all the, uh, department heads submitted, um, succession planning, um, essentially memos to myself where we outlined the core functions in each department that were required to essentially continue with their, uh, with their core responsibilities. And uh, also, we identified, uh, positions within that department that would serve as a backup for each of those roles. So if somebody is on vacation or sick or, um, you know, leaves to go to another job, we have some backup and redundancy. It's something that, you know, we haven't had before. So we're we're working and we're kind of at that point now we're working on cross training. And the next year's goal will be starting to draft, um, kind of operational, uh, manuals for each job role, at least at a level where, you know, somebody can kind of pick it up and, you know, with some training, but be able to use it as a resource to help them put the job in the event of turnover. Um, the other goal that this this goal was a goal to me, that was it was it was not completed. It was to encourage committees and implement a model similar to the Veterans Committee, uh, operational instructions. So that is something that I never got to this year and has been moved forward to the FY 26 goals, the financial.

01:08:50,500	S9:
Software.

01:08:51,170	S5:
So this is something that's ongoing. And we're continuing always continuing to assess our options as ultimately our accounting software will have to be replaced. You know, it's at the end of its life. It's no longer supported by the vendor. Um, we do get, you know, minimal support on it and that it kind of keeps it alive. Right? Jeff, to to the extent that we can continue using it. But we do believe that at some point in the future, that's why we're continuing to assess our options, to be ready to move when we need to. They will abandon the product altogether.

01:09:26,300	S18:
Yes. I haven't already done that.

01:09:29,930	S8:
What's that.

01:09:31,000	S18:
We haven't already.

01:09:31,699	S9:
Done?

01:09:32,670	S8:
Yes, we. We bought the budgeting software, which is more of a resident facing presentation package. We use a software called soft right, which handles our tax billing and then our accounting. Um, and it's it, it does what it needs to do, you know. Um, but it's really it's a Steve said they offer minimal support and maintenance. There are no improvements made to it. It's really the cutting edge of 2006 database technology. Um, and, um, you know, they're not improving that part of it. So reporting is not great. Um, the challenge for us is that the other packages that are available are either cheaper packages that Wenham has actually used in the past and moved on from or really, really expensive packages with 100 to $200,000 conversion fees, and then the cost of the software would jump from, say, 20,000 a year to, you know, 50 to $60,000 a year. So we've and honestly, folks who use the more expensive software, um, it has many of the same issues. It's certainly better, but it's not perfect. And so for a lot of us, we feel it's not worth the investment of the resources and also the time it takes to do the conversion and all that. At this point in time. But we do live with the threat. I mean, I ask them, you know, they check in with us, you know, every 3 or 4 months trying to sell us their newer package. And the first question is always, how much longer are you going to support this? And they continue to say, we have no plans to stop. Um, but I suspect what I've seen in other instances is that, um, you know, Jim is there and he's been there since the beginning, and he supports the product. But when Jim retires and nobody else knows it, then they're going to say, okay, we can't we can't support this anymore. Um, so, um, so yeah, that's definitely an ongoing problem.

01:11:31,329	S5:
Uh, and then this is what I think you were talking about, Peter. We moved to, um, we got in 24. We got a capital appropriation for budgetary software, so called clear, guv. And in 25, we purchased that software and implemented it. Yeah, we knew this was going to be, you know, a multiple year process to carry it through to the end. But last year we're able to, um, you know, essentially connect the, our financial softwares with the budgetary software. Geoff was able to reconcile and upload all our accounts and things like that into it so that we, they can kind of talk to each other. We can use it as a budget tool. We produced and published the transparency module, which is on our website, so folks can go ahead and see, you know, buy, you know, they can pick their tax bill and it kind of breaks it down. You can go as granular as you want into staffing, into salary numbers and things like that. But you know, like I pay $10,000 a year in taxes, X amount of this $10,000 goes to education, X amount goes to DPW, X amount goes to general government. You can go even further into departments. And so that's pretty good. And so then this year what the what we'll be moving carried to to the 26th is we're going to be um, really Jeff is going to be rolling out the capital planning module and producing the final budget book, which is really the ultimate goal. And that would be, you know, I don't think we have any plans to submit for a budget award, but it is um, It does mirror a GFA budget, so it's certainly best practices in the industry. And that's ultimately our goal is to get a document like that that's published annually.

01:13:28,130	S5:
Updating finding financial policies. So this was a draft was presented to the Select board. Uh, the Select board then submitted the draft for Pinkham for review. However, three A in the schools kind of got in the way. Pinkham shifted gears onto that. And so right now we carry it to the 26. We expect the fin comes, um, revisions to come back to the select board this year for final approval of those of those policies, trash collection alternatives. Uh, we started a working group and have met a few times. We, uh, we're currently working through that process. However, the landscape has really changed significantly since we started about a year ago. Our initial estimates given to us by Casella probably two years ago, was an 80% increase those increases. Seems that the market has stabilized quite a bit from those turbulent times. Those years were just coming out of Covid. There were a lot of unknowns we're looking at now, probably closer to like 20% right near one, 20, 25% in year one, like very roughly. And then the other really the other major player in town, which would have been Casella is competitor is Republic, and they're not really a viable option anymore. Uh, at least at least for in the timeline that we have to deal with, uh, to get our contract in place. We have, you know, we have vetted and done some price research. Uh, in to the pricing. Casella remains to be competitive, uh, in the trash collection and probably the most competitive Of option actually, definitely the most competitive option for the trust disposal piece where we bring it up to wheel of our wheel. A breeder up in Andover or North Andover is far more cost effective for the town to continue to do that than any other option that we've looked at. But we've you know, we'll continue to work with the working group. We haven't met in some time, but I will be calling them back together shortly, and we'll wrap that up for 26, because we need a new contract in place for July 1st of next year. Uh, town owned land. We presented to the Select board in August, um, the inventory and the status. Up to this point, we're able to identify at least one parcel that was recently auctioned off, which is a first, something we haven't done in a long time. So we're continuing to, um, to work on that into 26. And I can give a better update of what we have planned for this year for that. Uh, the other one was a permitting Permitting fees. A market study. That was something that was, uh, we were going to try to get to. Last year, however, it was just something, um, that had started. I have a bunch of files on my desk from department heads, but it didn't get any further than that. That would be moved to, um, to the 26 town wide server replacement. This was a very large project. This is, for all practical purposes, done with the caveat that we're dealing still with. There was a large row rollover. There was a truck that rolled over on Nitro and took out a telephone pole. Raw fiber was on that line. So that's the leg that goes down to the DPW and water facility. So we're still kind of wrecking. Well, we're still trying to trying to fix that. Not not the problem, but just getting the company out, uh, has taken a little bit of time, but other than that, the the server has been taken down. We're moved into the environment, the virtual environment, and in Danvers. All town buildings, um, including the DPW, once we've connected, will be connected in a dedicated fiber ring, which is. We only have access to. So, you know, you know, resulted in, you know, better performance, safer environment. And if you look at a server replacement on a five year schedule, we're probably saving about $40,000 a year utilizing this service over trying to maintain our own physical infrastructure here in town. Excuse me. Uh, review and update committee charges. This was a select board goal. I believe that is ongoing. Um, Beverley airport commission seats. This is something that is ongoing. Uh, the most recent update is that, you know, I did reach out to KP, and we're starting to research the options, but once we start to peel back the onion a bit, It doesn't. It looks like the Beverly Airport Commission pays taxes and not a pilot, so you know it. We think that they may have been in agreement done at some point in the past where they pay the tax bill instead of a pilot. But we're trying to to reconcile that. It's just that was turned out to be a lot of like anything. It's just not to dig in. It turned in to be a much bigger project. But so that that's ongoing will continue into 26. Green initiative was to conduct a green inventory report that to give provide a picture of how much greenhouse gas and pollution the town is responsible for, and deliver that to the Climate Action committee that was completed.

01:18:58,500	S9:
Review of the regional school district.

01:19:00,270	S5:
We spent some time talking about that today that started last year will continue into 26. And, you.

01:19:06,600	S18:
Know.

01:19:07,270	S5:
Probably. I know right now everyone's hopeful to get it to align with the town meeting in April. But the reality is we'll probably be talking about that in 27 as well. And your iron rail best use study. That's also a multi-year project. So in 24 we defined that the select board defined the scope and procured the contract. 25 we facilitated public hearings and information sessions to generate a draft report. We then took the draft report and presented it to the select board. And we and integrated any feedback into that. And also internally we did a financial analysis. We hired an appraisal appraisal firm to come out and appraise a number of scenarios and integrated into that report, and then hosted a final public hearing with the final report and findings were were published. And so that was done in 25, 26. Basically what leads us Just to left to do is for the select board to continue talking about next steps, whether they want to leave the site as is, or make some changes or whatever, have you. Community Septic Management Program this is the basically the septic loan program that was adopted at town meeting. So we were successful in getting a warrant article drafted into town meeting. It was subsequently accepted, and the finance department has worked over the last year to get all that paperwork in order. And we're now set up completely and to basically loan residents very attractive loans for, um, the, uh, it's only for the rebuilding of existing septic, septic systems. So you can't add a bedroom, you can't create a new septic system. It's for folks that have a failed septic system. They're in a situation Where, you know, it gets very expensive, very fast, that type of work. And this is a program where this is where the town is effectively the intermediary. And the state ultimately gives the town the money back. But we're able to lend money to the residents of when I'm in a very much below market rate. So they have the funds to do the the work they need to do. And I'm.

01:21:30,100	S9:
Sure I.

01:21:30,500	S5:
Forgot some things, but that was generally the, uh, the goals and objectives that came out of the select board goals, an objective meeting last year. And then for next time I'll save 26. A lot of that, some of them roll forwards and we'll expand on some of those initiatives that are multi multi year.

01:21:49,869	S1:
Well it's an incredibly impressive um performance I think by the, by the team led by you Steve. So team um congratulations I mean that's a Uh, really, uh, an immense amount of work and projects that have been carried out this year.

01:22:11,369	S12:
Especially, uh, I think the public has been distracted by three a and the school questions. It's really I hope they take the time to see, you know, just how much work has been accomplished in the past, the things that are going on in town.

01:22:26,430	S18:
Right.

01:22:28,130	S1:
On that front. Um, I wondered whether we could post, if not the spreadsheet, like a stripped down version of it. Um, on the website, uh, with some pizzazz on the, you know, on the home page where people would see it and could click on just to see, you know, the main accomplishments of town government for FY 25.

01:22:51,229	S5:
Yeah, I think that's.

01:22:52,430	S18:
That's a great idea.

01:22:54,069	S1:
And then on on the last item, I think it was the last item that you mentioned, the septic loan program. Is that something that we've, um, advertised very widely to people in the town. If not, probably we should.

01:23:08,170	S8:
We haven't yet. Okay, so we happen to have one resident who is well aware of the program and reached out to me very quickly, and we actually sent them their first check last week. So, um, I've largely spearheaded it, uh, what I wanted to do before sort of marketing it was to work a little bit more with the folks on the Board of Health. Um, I've drafted some presentation materials, some of which I've, you know, used sort of what they did in Hamilton or some of the stuff we did and, and went them. But I felt I didn't want to overstep and suddenly be marketing for the Board of Health either.

01:23:42,829	S1:
Right.

01:23:43,470	S8:
So but that that would be the plan is to get it out there. Um, you know, we have $500,000 available to us, which at a high level, I thought might be maybe ten systems at about $50,000 apiece. This first one is, I think, going to be closer to 35 or so. And in talking to Greg, um, that might be more reasonable. Um, so perhaps there are, you know, we might be able to get, you know, 12 or 13 systems out of this potentially. Right. Um, but, um, yeah, there's certainly not folks clamoring for it other than the one, uh, group of residents that reached out, but, um, but yeah, it should be, uh, it's been very successful in other places. So, um, so, yeah, we'll keep you posted on that.

01:24:22,699	S1:
Yeah, yeah. Once you're ready to do it. I mean, I think, I think I can think of I can't think of particular examples of individual residents, but conceptually that there must be families out there especially and perhaps like senior citizen, senior citizens who, you know, are going to be selling their homes, who, you know, maybe have failed or close to failed septic system and they, you know, can't sell their house until they get it rectified. They really could be helped by it. So like whether it's Council on Aging, advertisement or social media, just, you know, to put it out there would be, I think, a real benefit.

01:24:56,470	S8:
Yeah. The only thing I would add As specifically to that sales scenario. And certainly it could be very helpful for people in that situation. But it is a bit complicated because what what it is, is we end up putting a betterment lean on the property. So as you're heading into a sale that may complicate things a little.

01:25:13,229	S18:
Bit.

01:25:13,569	S3:
It.

01:25:13,630	S18:
Would be.

01:25:14,000	S8:
Kind of that. And you know what we were starting to see in Essex anyway is the mortgage companies are making everybody pay these better off, either at a refi or at a sale. But it could still help a resident, you know, facilitate an expensive repair that would allow them to sell a property. And so, you know, that might be a fact. We add to the the presentation materials as well. Right? Um, you know, and as Steve said, it is just it is just repairs and it has to be a failed system.

Right. 01:25:42,770	S1:
Are there any other comments or questions for Steve regarding the FY 25 accomplishments?

01:25:50,229	S8:
Jeff, could I just add one accomplishment that it's not specifically listed? But I think it's a pretty well-known issue that we were trying to tackle. And that's tax title. There was about $1 million worth of tax title outstanding, I think maybe even a little bit more when Belinda Young got here as treasurer collector. Um, we have largely collected all of that now. We received $700,000 this week for the 97 115 large rural property. Um, and so we we have one other property that we expect to have, uh, another about $200,000 collected at closing at the end of October. And so Belinda will have cleared that entire balance that was here when she got here and had some significant, significant challenges to it. Um, so I think, you know, financially, it's a it's a great result for Wenham. And I think it's also, you know, Belinda is, um, deserving of some accolades for that because it was not an easy thing to to straighten all that out. There were a lot of complexities to it. Um, and that's a really big positive development for the end of FY 25, in the beginning of FY 26?

01:26:55,869	S9:
That's a big deal. That's $1 million.

01:26:57,670	S1:
Yeah.

Yeah. 01:26:59,270	S5:
Thank you for bringing that up. One thing. That too. This is a perfect example of. That is something that I didn't do a very good job last year with. The 25 goals is integrating you know our all the staff really in their own kind of wheelhouse that they live in. It's kind of outside of the boards you know not purview. But you know, it's not something we see every day establish goals and objectives for them themselves every year and work on projects like that. And it's something that I'm working on. You know, we're building out in 26 to try to make those make that clear. So the board is aware of all the good work that everybody's doing. So thank you for bringing that up.

01:27:44,270	S2:
And I think that's an important point because as as impressive as this list is, I think there are still some things missing. I'm happy to send you a few things.

01:27:53,369	S5:
Yeah that's nice.

01:27:54,100	S9:
But again.

01:27:54,869	S5:
Please do.

01:27:56,000	S2:
Both. From as Jeff is talking about from different departments and staff, but also from our list. So I think it's even more impressive than what is here, which is already impressive. But I think it's important for people to see the volume of work and to know that the government here is working and getting these things done. And I think you missed, um, a big one is the geothermal at the town hall.

01:28:26,029	S8:
Yeah, I did don't jinx it.

01:28:28,029	S2:
Which is pretty substantial. I think.

01:28:30,229	S5:
That was on the.

01:28:30,869	S9:
List.

01:28:32,899	S5:
But yeah. No, you're right. Yeah. The geothermal west Wenham Park, the the the uh, garden at the, at the bigger school. I mean, the more you sit and think about it.

01:28:42,470	S2:
It's.

01:28:42,569	S5:
A lot, uh, you know, like this document here doesn't really reflect any more. This is essentially an untouched document from what came out of the select boards. So it's like this in part Because my.

01:28:55,229	S18:
You know.

01:28:56,130	S5:
Contract perspective, this is what I'm judged on in my performance, what comes out of this meeting. So I didn't want to doctor it really in any way. But yeah, we could. I mean, and that's why I think that this one will be 20, we're going to 26 will be built out again. It's kind of a new process. So we're each year we expected on it. You know, we've changed a couple of different renditions of how the spreadsheet looks.

01:29:19,529	S2:
Yeah, I think we continue to evolve it so that it becomes more comprehensive.

01:29:24,170	S18:
Right.

01:29:26,529	S1:
All right. Um, I do have one other matter is may not have been anticipated by the chair to mention, um, uh, on the agenda, which is that four weeks from tonight, October 21st, um, this, when I'm selected, will be meeting jointly with the Hamilton One School Committee to, um, it'll be part of our regular meeting. Um, but we will be interviewing, um, candidates for the recent school committee vacancy, which is a vacancy for which Wenham residents are eligible. Um, and so I would encourage any Wenham citizen who has an interest in public education, uh, to please consider, um, providing an application. I think the details are laid out on the Hamilton Wenham School District website, I imagine. I don't know if we have a link to that or on ours, but we could.

01:30:25,670	S5:
Yeah. Once they put the. Have they, I'm not sure they have published. They're waiting to hear back on the location before they publish that advertisement.

01:30:32,670	S1:
Right. But we've confirmed the date.

01:30:34,270	S5:
Yes.

01:30:35,000	S1:
The date as of today. So that's going to be our regular meeting four weeks from tonight. Location to be determined.

01:30:40,699	S5:
We did confirm that it's not the library. Okay. Hamilton, as a, uh, planning board, has, uh, something going on that night that they can't move. So it's likely, given the possibility of a large public turnout and the need to host to a seven member board and a five member board and supporting staff. Probably the Bucur cafeteria option.

01:31:04,569	S18:
Okay.

01:31:05,270	S5:
Assuming that they're available, we have sent it. We did. Michelle sent an email this morning.

01:31:09,069	S18:
We haven't heard.

01:31:09,670	S5:
Back.

01:31:09,899	S18:
But usually they're pretty flexible.

Great. 01:31:12,270	S1:
But yes, again, for members of the public listening to this, please consider throwing your hat in the ring for that position. It'd be great to have a broad, diverse set of applicants for that vacancy. All right. I don't think there are any other agenda items, so I would entertain a motion to adjourn.

01:31:36,300	S2:
Type O move to adjourn at 8:02 p.m..

01:31:41,130	S12:
Three seconds.

01:31:42,600	S1:
All right. Roll call.

Peter. 01:31:44,170	S18:
Yes.

01:31:44,399	S1:
Deirdre.

Yes. 01:31:45,270	S18:
Gary.

Yes. 01:31:45,970	S1:
And. Dennis. Yes. Thank you very much.

01:31:47,600	S20:
Thank you.

01:31:49,000	S18:
Thank you. Jeff.