00:00:02,270 S1: All right. Welcome, everyone, to the November 18th, 2025 meeting of the Wenham Select Board. It is 633 and we have present this evening on this, um, virtual select board meeting, select board members Gary Cheesman, Deirdre Perotti and Peter Clay. And also present in the zoom are our assistant town administrator, Joe Pesci, who will be running matters, uh, alongside myself, uh, this evening. Um, excuse me, Michelle McGovern and Jeff Soulard. And it looks like that. Is everyone. Yes. Okay. Um, just one second. 00:00:54,929 S1: It looks like Karen has come in on the attendee side. Joe. Yes. 00:00:59,000 S2: Thank you. I will promote Karen right now to a panelist. 00:01:10,670 S2: Hi, Karen. 00:01:13,670 S3: Hi. Sorry I'm late. 00:01:15,030 S1: Hi, Karen. 00:01:15,530 S2: That's okay. 00:01:17,200 S1: Yeah. We haven't we haven't started yet. So, um, that brings us to, uh, public input, public comment. This is for public comment on matters falling within the Select board's jurisdiction, but not on the current agenda. Um, any public comment should be on specific on items that aren't otherwise on the agenda. And we have a two minute per person speaking limit. Are there any members of the public, um, who wish to be heard in public comment? 00:01:47,370 S2: There are no hands raised. Okay. 00:01:49,170 S1: Thank you. That brings us to town administrator's update and town announcements. Joe. 00:01:54,730 S2: Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just wanted to first say we had a very successful Veteran's Day memorial festivities. It was last Tuesday the 11th started with a remembrance at Cheeseman Memorial at Pingree Park, followed by a ceremony at Veterans Memorial Corner of Main and Arbor Street. Following that, there was light refreshments at the Windham Fire Department. Um, just wanted to give a special thanks to the police and fire departments, uh, DPW, the boys and Girl Scouts, the Whitcomb members, particularly Dean Peterson and the entire select board for attending. So I think, uh, you know, it was not the best weather day. It was a little chilly out there, but it definitely didn't deter residents. We had a great showing. So very successful event. Um, I wanted to mention bag leave collections. Bag leaves will be picked up on the following dates. Uh, the first one is this Saturday, November 22nd. There will be one on Saturday, December 13th. Just a few notes. Leaves must be placed in brown paper. Lawn and leaf bags are loose and barrels. Bags or barrels must be on the curb by 7 a.m. on collection days only. Do not use plastic bags for leaf collection. Do not mix. Brush and sticks with leaves. Loose leaves on the curb without being contained in a paper bag or barrel will not be collected, and you can please contact the DPW with any questions. Their number is (978) 468-5520. 00:03:21,669 S2: Extension six on Wednesday, December 10th at the First Church in Wenham from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., there will be a water resiliency chat. Will residents will be able to hear from Hamilton and Wenham town staff. Kate Mallory will be there along with Ernest Ashley, the chair of the Water Commission, and they will be discussing how we are collectively meeting challenges to our water supplies and river health. So this will be a great event. Please try to attend that as well. The eighth annual Wreaths Across America will be on Saturday, December 13th at 12 p.m. this is hosted by the Veterans Committee. Um, this is this year. 525 wreaths will be placed on veterans graves buried within Windham cemeteries. Again the opening. The opening ceremony will be at the Main Street Cemetery by the flagpole at 12 noon. Veterans representing branches of the military will place service trees on memorial stands. All who attend will be divided up into teams, with the veteran leader to assist in wreath placement throughout the cemetery. Please help us remember, honor and teach by sponsoring a wreath, volunteering or inviting friends to help. Uh. Contributions are welcome to help ensure that all 520 525 veterans graves are recognized. 00:04:43,029 S2: I did also want to mention that, um, the Town Hall geothermal project is nearing completion, and we will be back to our regular offices on December 1st. It sounds like, um, just started back around June. Originally we had the second floor staff up on the first floor. Now it's in reverse. We moved to the second to the first floor earlier this fall, so we're looking forward to having that completed. And they'll be on December 1st. Uh, finally, I did want to mention our police chief. Uh, Chief Kevin DiNapoli was elected to the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association executive board. This is a great honor. Um, this position also means that the chief will be president of the Massachusetts chiefs in approximately three years. So that is a very great honor. So congratulations to chief DiNapoli. And that is all ahead. 00:05:37,199 S1: Thank you, Joe, and congratulations to to the chief from the board as well. I see that he's on the other side of the virtual transom here. So, um, I wanted to, um, comment briefly on the select board vote that was taken, I believe, two weeks ago, to designate and recommend to the Finance Committee the transfer of $25,000 in reserve funds to accord to address the situation that arose from the government shutdown and a shortage of, um, benefits. Um, for, um, uh, I've apologized because I'm going to call it food stamp recipients, but I know that there's a different acronym that, um, that is a better descriptor of that. Um, I want the public to be aware, which it may be already, if it attended the Select board meeting last Thursday night. Um, that, uh, the Select board voted after consultation with the court and various other stakeholders, uh, not to move forward with that transfer at this time, because between the time that we took the vote and the time that the Finance Committee took its vote and the preparation of a grant agreement, that would have carried that out. Governor Healey and her administration announced that that it would ensure full funding of Snap benefits. Now I'm remembering the acronym. Um, and so that, um, sort of removed the rationale for our vote. Um, two weeks ago, um, I was not present for the meeting Thursday night, for which I apologize. Um, I had a work commitment that came up and I wasn't able to attend, but I appreciate the quorum of my colleagues who who took that on and and took that vote. And I believe, although I, um, those of you who were there could speak more definitively on this, I believe that the sentiment of the board is that, um, it's possible that that $25,000 may need to be deployed. Um, again, unfortunately, depending on things that may occur, uh, in Washington, um, in the coming months. But we'll see. So again, thank you for, um, taking that on, um, last Thursday night on kind of an emergency basis. I also wanted to thank the finance committee, as I did, uh, the night of their meeting, uh, for supporting this and unanimously agreeing to that transfer based on the need that existed at that time. So, um, I just wanted to make the public aware of where that where that stood. And that was all that I had. 00:08:42,669 S1: Um, why don't we go down the line as I see people and I think, Gary, um, you'd be next if you have any Updates. I'm good. Okay. Nope. Deirdre. Okay. Karen. 00:09:01,470 S3: Yeah. I just wanted to reach out and let folks know that we do have a large contingency of children in the community that are going to be going caroling on December 13th. I believe it's a Friday night. If anybody feels the need that they would like some cheer. Um, as well as anybody that may or may not be homebound, that needs a visit from some some lovely, probably freezing children outside. Um, more than welcome to send me an email. We will make sure that that happens. 00:09:37,200 S1: Great. Thank you. Karen. Peter. 00:09:39,399 S4: I have nothing. Ben. All right. 00:09:42,129 S1: Thanks very much. That brings us to the consent agenda. Um, on the consent agenda are four sets of minutes from July 22nd August 5th. August 19th and September 9th of this year. Is anyone interested in, um, setting any of those aside for individual discussion or, uh, uh, otherwise, I'd entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda. 00:10:13,830 S1: Looks like no one has any particular, um, comments on the minutes. So, um, entertain a motion to approve item A on the consent agenda. 00:10:24,029 S4: I move to, uh, approve item A on the consent agenda. Peter Clarke. 00:10:30,070 S3: Second. Karen. 00:10:32,769 S1: All right. All those in favor? Gary. Yes. Peter. 00:10:36,269 S4: Yes. 00:10:37,269 S1: Karen. 00:10:38,970 S3: Yes. 00:10:40,230 S1: Deirdre. 00:10:41,169 S3: Yes. 00:10:41,830 S1: And Ben is. Yes. Thank you very much. That moves us to new business. Item B is a promotion. Um, so it looks like perhaps we're going to have, um, Officer and Chief DiNapoli and perhaps some others coming over to to speak. Joe. Is that right? 00:10:58,000 S2: Yes. That's correct. 00:10:59,399 S4: Okay. 00:11:01,169 S2: Uh, go ahead, chief, whenever you're ready. 00:11:04,500 S5: Good evening everybody. Thanks for having us on. I see officer PNC there, calls permitting. Hopefully, uh, she doesn't have to run. And, uh, Deputy Chief Tony, thank you for hopping on as well. Um, you know, two weeks ago, I had great news. And tonight, I have great news. We're very, very lucky for the future of the one, um, police department and the PD. And the town is very lucky to have another incredible sergeant candidate that, uh, going to be, you know, recommended by me to take effect as a patrol sergeant. As you know, we had a pretty, uh, thorough process. We had some phenomenal candidates that was super proud, as mentioned before, of everyone that, um, that put themselves in for it. And, um, Michelle did a phenomenal job in the process. Not surprised whatsoever. I she come. She came to us with a good amount of experience coming from Mashpee Police Department. She's got, I believe, about 11 years full time experience, um, a bachelor's degree from University of South Carolina and a master's degree from U-Haul. And she's also, um, made an incredible, uh, military commitment to the Air Force, which we we all appreciate. And, uh, for the last couple of years, she was a negotiator on Nemec as well. Um, and, um, you know, no doubt in my mind that she's she's going to do a phenomenal job moving us in the right direction. Um, we are very, very lucky to have the people that we have on board. And, and Michelle's going to be be a part of that as well. So I strongly recommend that, um, should be appointed to the position of patrol sergeant. And with an effective date of this Sunday, November 23rd. 00:12:46,570 S1: Excellent. Any comments from members of the board? Or questions? 00:12:56,429 S1: All right. Um, entertain a motion to, um, act on the chief's recommendation to promote officer privacy. If that is the appropriate step that you are seeking. Chief? 00:13:12,669 S5: Uh, yes. Uh, to patrol. Sergeant. Officer. Principal. Become Sergeant Princi with your approval. 00:13:19,500 S1: Great. 00:13:22,269 S1: Uh, do I hear a motion to approve, um, the promotion of Officer princi to patrol sergeant. 00:13:31,669 S4: So moved. Gary. 00:13:35,100 S4: Peters. Seconds. 00:13:37,230 S1: Great. I will take a roll call. Vote. Deirdre. 00:13:41,629 S3: Yes. 00:13:42,700 S1: Karen. 00:13:43,769 S3: Yes. 00:13:45,100 S1: Peter. 00:13:46,129 S4: Yes. 00:13:47,600 S1: Gary? 00:13:48,330 S4: Yes. 00:13:50,230 S1: And Ben is. Yes. And a well-deserved and warm congratulations, Sergeant Prince. 00:13:57,000 S4: Congrats. 00:13:58,269 S6: Thank you. 00:14:01,830 S1: All right. Thank you. 00:14:03,429 S4: Anything else? 00:14:04,600 S5: No. I just really appreciate the board being so supportive of the police department. Um, I've. Since I've been here in my nine years here. Um, I've never felt like you guys didn't have our back, and, uh, this is no different supporting this. And, uh, it's we're very lucky to have the support of not only the board, but the residents. So I just want to thank you again. 00:14:27,100 S1: Thank you. Chief. Appreciate those comments. And thank you to Deputy Chief Luca Toni for joining as well. Um, that brings us to item C, which is an update from Joe regarding the Solar Canopy project. Joe. 00:14:42,799 S2: Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, just by way of A background when we were working on the Town Hall geothermal project that I mentioned earlier. The town did look at the idea of adding a solar canopy at the same time. Ultimately, the town decided not to move forward with the then, but the concepts they had stored on our radar as something worth revisiting, especially as federal incentives improved and our sustainability worked advanced. That brings us to the project now under review. Um, the Historic District Commission will be holding a public hearing next Monday, November 24th at 6 p.m. on zoom for the town's application to install a solar canopy in the Town Hall back parking lot. The goal of this project is pretty straightforward. So it would be a canopy. It would fully offset town halls carbon footprint, making the building's operations carbon neutral. Financially, it's also a strong opportunity. There's a federal tax credit that covers about 30% of the projected cost, but the credit expires on January 5th, so we need to show at least 5% completion by that date. If we do miss that January 5th deadline, we lose the credit and the project becomes much more difficult to afford. Not that it's impossible, but, um. Uh, as for the HDC process, I just wanted to mention the commission has so far reviewed the project twice, once in September and once in November, but has not yet reached a decision. There's been a few different concerns from them, mainly the appearance of the canopy. They also question whether Project the project needs approval from the Mass Historical Commission, which we checked in with town Council and it does not need approval since the project will be involving federal tax credits and not a grant. Um, but again, the HCC, you know, just expressed some concerns that the canopies weren't, you know, looking you know, they weren't sort of, um, they didn't look historic enough in the district, for lack of a better term. So we went through several different iterations, um, proposals, some of which were wooden canopies. Um, and we'll note that the project fits squarely within the town's master plan, which calls for achieving net zero emissions by 2040, which is similar to the Commonwealth's goal. Um, and again, the master plan also references installing solar on municipal properties as well. Um, so again, we're exploring alternatives, full wood structures, steel structures with wood cladding. And also we're even attempting to, as a plan B, relocate the canopy on the upper lot sort of behind in on one town hall. Um, the closest option that's staying budget neutral would be the original proposal, which was the steel canopy in the lower lot. Um, but again, that might not even be quite budget neutral. Um, just costs have increased sharply since September. This is because of the expiring IRS tax credit. Um, there's high demand from, you know, contractors and suppliers that are trying to finish the projects before the deadline. Um, the tax credit would cover about 30% of the total project costs and again missing the the deadline. Um, you could argue that, you know, in January, after the deadline, there'll be less pressure on installing the canopies across the country, so it could essentially lower the prices. But Steve and I still feel that the best price right now would be to hopefully approve this by January 5th, if possible. But again, it has to go through the HTC first next Monday. Um, just to get I won't get too into the intricate, you know, financial details, but if we were to fund the solar canopy project 100% with the tax exempt lease purchase, also known as the help, the debt service would essentially, um, the cost means the project would not be budget neutral. Um, this means the project would exceed all the cost savings for cheaper electricity. Again, we still have that net zero goal which we would reach, but still would not be budget neutral. Um, we could theoretically make a down payment using free cash or another source to reduce the size of its help and minimize the annual debt service as an option. Um, but kind of just going from least expensive to the most expensive would be, again, that lower parking lot steel option. Then there you could go with the lower, um, canopy with wood option in the lower lot, and the upper lot steel option would be sort of the next level. And then the most expensive would be the upper lot with the wooden option, which just because of the materials being used and less power reaching the canopy and the upper lot, that would be the most expensive. Um, but yeah, I have I'm open to any questions. I do have Jeff here. If Jeff, did I explain that? Okay. Uh, some of the intricate details is a little confusing. With the help of. 00:19:26,470 S7: Yeah, I think you've covered it pretty well. The only point I might make is that you mentioned that there is a federal tax credit, which will ultimately lower the cost of the project. So, um, but up front, we have to fund the project entirely up front. so we still have to take out a help for the full 820 or up to 895, depending on the options. So it's a tough spot where we're actually borrowing more money than we need be in waiting for the, um, the tax credit. Um, so you end up probably spending a little bit too much interest on that because usually these types will have, um, you know, a minimum payment, a minimum period of like five years before you can pay down any extra principal. Um, so, you know, it occurred to me after talking to Joe, you know, we may look at other options. Uh, you know, we could look at using the state House note program instead of using the help through, uh, ESG, uh, which would be both more flexible and potentially have, uh, competitive or lower, lower interest rate. Um, but yeah, ultimately, the idea is in order to be neutral, we're going to have to put some money, uh, upfront, which I would think at a bare minimum, that's, you know, sort of the target. I mean, we all want to, you know, do, do the right thing here, but at the same time, you'd prefer not to pay more to to do it. 00:20:52,670 S2: Questions from. 00:20:53,269 S1: The board. Any questions? 00:20:55,200 S4: I have not. 00:20:58,299 S1: Gary? 00:20:59,769 S4: Yeah. 00:21:00,099 S8: Perhaps Joe or Jeff. What's entailed in getting to the 5% by January? 00:21:08,569 S7: I mean, I believe what Bill Garber at ESG had said is, I mean, just a lot of the, the the very general, you know, planning, you know, ordering some materials, that type of thing, um, the bare minimum to just get us to that five, that 5%. But I don't think it's a heavy lift to to get there. He doesn't feel. 00:21:28,599 S8: Well, certainly I would be, um, in favor of one of the designs as it gets us towards our net neutral, uh, uh, goal that we set in the master plan. And also, I think at the same time, perhaps, um, we need to remember that from the historic district. I mean, it is a parking lot. The upper was just the site of the DPW, so there's really no thing historic about it, and that we need to move ahead with the times and to get to net zero if we can. Also, I would suggest to that at the same time, knowing the the need for parking spots, have we looked at putting another row of, uh, parking spots in between the current parking and in on one that slope there that we could put in another row there, and that perhaps would be able to slide the facility the back a little bit and perhaps not be so pronounced. It's just an idea. 00:22:35,569 S4: Yes. Thank you. 00:22:36,299 S8: But let's go. 00:22:40,769 S4: Thank you. 00:22:41,369 S1: Deirdre. Looks like you have your hand up. Yeah. Please go ahead. 00:22:46,500 S9: Um, I agree with everything Gary just said. And also, it was my understanding that there is either a law or a draft legislation that prohibits historic district commissions from denying solar projects based on aesthetics alone. Is that correct? And is it draft or is it actually enacted? 00:23:07,829 S2: There is enacted law currently is chapter 40 C so Historic District Commission is obviously charged with ensuring that the historic district keeps that sort of historical facade with its exterior work. However uh, the chart they operate under Mass General Law 40 c and that that law says that, um, this was enacted, I think, earlier this year, February, March. It says that there will be heightened consideration given to climate action and projects such as solar. So essentially, you know, they c would have to, you know, say that, you know, they'd have to give a basic, you know, a reason why they wouldn't want it in the district. But I in my opinion, it couldn't be just for appearance alone. There have to be other considerations. But there is definitely heightened, um, consideration given to solar projects. That's under chapter 43. 00:24:01,769 S9: Thank you for that reference. 00:24:03,799 S4: Thank you. 00:24:05,869 S1: Any other questions or comments from members of the board? 00:24:11,099 S1: Are there any questions or comments from anyone else, including members of the public, of which there appear to be zero in our zoom? So I guess that would be no. Um. All right. Um, before I forget, just to go off topic for one second, I was remiss in not recognizing you, Jeff colored in my comments earlier about, um, navigating the issues with, uh, Accord and Snap. So thank you for your leadership and trying to help us navigate through some of that with the grant agreement and dealing with town council and the updates, uh, regarding, um, what was going on with the payment of Snap benefits and liaising with the fin com and so on. So thank you for for your efforts there. Um, and uh, that I think brings us to, uh, back to the topic at hand. And, uh, Gary, did you want to say something? 00:25:11,769 S8: Yeah. Just question do we need a vote here to move this forward then? 00:25:16,799 S2: I don't think so, Gary. I would just encourage folks, if they have, you know, if they want to make a public comment, that public hearing is next Monday. I think Steve and I were sort of visualizing this going going through the HTC first because it is under their jurisdiction. And if that passes, it will then go on to fin com and then ultimately, uh, this board again, we'll be under assuming that HTC hopefully approves this. We'll be under sort of a tight timeline, but this would become this would be before you again assuming that both boards have in common HTC approve it. 00:25:47,869 S9: Joe, do we need to post the select board meeting for all of us to attend the hearing? Or is that not necessary because it's a hearing? 00:25:57,500 S2: Um, if there's going to be a quorum going, I would recommend posting an agenda. Yes. So Michelle and I can help you. We can. We can definitely post that for sure. 00:26:08,500 S9: I think we should so that everyone can plan to attend. If we don't, then we don't have form. 00:26:16,170 S2: Sure. Yeah, we'll post that. No problem. 00:26:18,500 S4: Makes sense. 00:26:19,000 S9: Thank you. 00:26:20,329 S4: Yep. 00:26:21,400 S1: All right. Great. That moves us to the next agenda item, which is agenda item D, an update on the distribution of the Town of One personnel handbook to all non-union employees, board and committee members. Joe. Who's going to present that? You? 00:26:37,700 S2: Yes. Yep. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So this is sort of just an update. Um, we did to the this board approved the current employee handbook last year, which was a which was amazing because prior to that, it had been, I think since the year 2000 that our employee handbook had been updated. Um, but, Steve, uh, I've been working with Steve and Belinda, um, young as well. Our treasurer collector just sort of we wanted to attach a handful of town policies directly to the end of the handbook. Um, some of the policies included were code of conduct, health benefit, incentive, sick time incentive, drug and alcohol policy, inclement weather policy, etc.. Um, so we touched that at the end of the handbook and we sent out acknowledgement forms as well. Uh, we have them not just for employees, but also board and committee members, because they fall under the town and town employee handbook as well. We thought it'd be good for everyone just to review it and just sign off that they have received it. Um, Belinda sent send out the electronic request via email. About two weeks ago now. So just a reminder for all board community members to check that. And then once you review it, we'll just have your receipt signed in the Sign Now software, which we'll see, which we'll use to keep track of all the receipts. Um, and Treasurer Collector's office will be the record keeper going forward. And there's also a onboarding welcoming welcome letter that I drafted with the help of Diane Bucco to town clerk. This will all be given. This will be given to new employees and to new board and committee members. It highlights important things like conflict of interest, training and open meeting law. And the full handbook with the appendices at the end has been posted on our town website as well. 00:28:19,369 S1: Great. All right. Any comments or questions about that? 00:28:26,269 S1: Gary. 00:28:27,369 S8: I just say you're well done because this project has stretched over years and we're finally to a good product here. So thank you Joe and everybody else on the team. 00:28:37,000 S4: Thank you. 00:28:37,769 S1: Yeah, thank you very much. 00:28:38,599 S9: Thank you for getting that done, Joe. 00:28:40,329 S4: Yeah. 00:28:40,730 S2: No problem. 00:28:41,400 S1: Thank you. And I would just add that, um, and I, you know, I recall seeing the email from Belinda, um, asking for electronic acknowledgement, which which I did, and I think, um, it's, you know, pretty important that all members of the board, um, review that and endorse it. Um, because, uh, you know, where the, the leadership and executive body of the town and if we're asking, uh, employees throughout town, government, uh, to non-union employees to, uh, acknowledge and sign that, um, I think it, um, it's incumbent upon us as leaders to, to to do the same. So I hope everyone will we'll make sure that they look at that and get the acknowledgement back. All right. That brings us to, unless there's any other comments or questions, I see none. Um, that now moves us to item E discussion of potential warrant articles. In addition to the town town's annual recurring warrant articles for the 2026 annual Town Meeting. Joe. 00:29:48,029 S2: Yes? Thank you. Um. Thanks, Michel. Just waiting for the list to appear here. 00:30:02,029 S2: Great. Thank you, Mister chairman. Would you like me just to run through these quickly, or do you guys want to review them? If you have any questions, whatever you'd prefer, these are essentially. 00:30:09,829 S1: Yeah, yeah. Quick quick overview. Fine. Sure. 00:30:13,170 S2: Yeah. The first one is a tax deferral program. This is an article that would increase the income limits and or reduce the interest rate charged by the town for its tax deferral program. And this was originally adopted by Wenham at its annual town meeting back in 1992. Um, if we want to lower the interest, that would be done at town meeting and income limits being increased would be done by filing a home rule petition with the state legislature. Um, next one is sort of similar. One is cooperative housing exemption. This is an article to opt into a state local option that allows the town to grant tax exemptions to cooperative housing developments is my. It's my understanding that currently this would only fall under the maples um owners as well. Homeowners. Um, but that is something that we could adopt as a local option. Uh, number three is a authority for tax taking decisions under chapter 14 of the acts of 2025. This is an article designating who has the authority. Doesn't necessarily have to be the select board, but any board one board has to be chosen to make decisions under the new tax taking law that Belinda had talked about, I think, earlier this summer. Um, under this chapter, municipalities have about a month after foreclosure judgment becomes final to decide whether to retain the property, sell it or take action in either case. Number four is the Hamilton Wenham Regional School District. Regional agreement changes. These have been these have been the changes that we've been working on the last several months. There's only a few changes, but it would have to be before town meeting vote. Um, these may appear as multiple articles, one for each proposed change. Again, I think there's only 3 or 4 of them. Um, restrictions on multiple board memberships. I believe this is a, uh, article that Deidre Perotti had proposed. Um, didn't quite make it on the special town meeting, um, back in June. But this would prevent an individual from serving on more than one policy making or policy influencing board at the same time. Um, debt exclusion for school facilities needs assessment. So obviously the school project consolidation project did not pass. Um, so this would be an article to fund a facilities needs assessment for school buildings just to take into consideration maintenance costs improvements. Things like that. Again, in light of the failed school replacement project. This is the next one will be authorization for easement acquisition. This is the ongoing one, a project through MassDOT. This project dates back, I believe, at least maybe 10 to 12 years. Essentially, there's two components. Um, there has to be easements given by the town. So essentially town property has to be given to the state when it has to sign off on it. And sort of the inverse is that some private land owned by residents would have to be signed off on once we interview the residents and get there. Okay. That would have to be given to the state to allow for this project to happen. There have been some delays with the state. We are hoping to get this on the warrant for April though. That is our hope. Um, similar to the, uh, not serving on more than one board article, the historic District Commission, uh, worked on drafting a potential demolition delay provision for historically significant structures to the Wenham town bylaws. This would delay certain um buildings from being demolished, I believe, within 6 to 9 months. This was proposed for the special town meeting but didn't quite make it on, but the HCC has expressed interest in getting it back on the warrant. And this was actually just, um, yesterday I was Kate Mallory informed me that the CBA is proposing a zoning bylaw amendment to allow backyard chickens without a special permit. Um, currently, chickens are not allowed anywhere. Again, without special permanent CPA's meeting again next month to discuss, um, things like, you know, the more granular details, like how many chickens would be allowed without a special permit. Um, so we will get back to you on that. But these are the sort of the the nine articles, potential articles that we have proposed, and we're open to any feedback from the Selectboard. 00:34:22,699 S1: All right. Any questions or comments on these potential articles for the spring. 00:34:29,429 S8: ATM Gary Jess Cushman Joe is the planning board bringing a subdivision update. 00:34:40,530 S2: Oh, you know what? Um, Michele, is there one below? Is there number ten? Yes. I'm sorry. Thanks for pointing that out, Gary. So the town did receive a grant for, I believe, $50,000 to rewrite the subdivision rules and regulations. And my understanding is that these have not been written or not been worked on since 1984. So this will be an article to update and rewrite the town of the town subdivision rules and regulations. Um, so thanks for asking about that, Gary. As far as the planning board, they have not submitted any zoning articles to Steve Wright just yet, but that's not to say that they won't. 00:35:20,570 S9: Deirdre, the demolition delay draft been circulated, I don't recall if. 00:35:26,900 S4: We. 00:35:27,570 S2: Did send it to town council back in the summer. They instructed us, you know, to basically keep a hold of it until it goes on a warrant. I don't recall if we had sent it to the select board, but we're happy to do that. It has been drafted by the HTC. It's sort of a red line by everyone, but it is sort of ready to go for initial feedback. We certainly can recirculate it. 00:35:51,329 S9: That would be great. Thank you. 00:35:52,829 S2: No problem. Yep. 00:35:56,500 S1: All right. Any other questions or comments? I don't. 00:36:05,329 S1: See any and. 00:36:09,300 S1: This does not require any. Yeah that's it of course require any action by us at this time. So that moves us to, um, new business. Um, I do I don't want to add to to the time of this will be a short meeting, but, um, Gary and Joe's reference to the subdivision rules and the planning board reminds me that we have a vacancy on the planning board. And, Joe, while I don't, um, recall whether what the remaining term is in the seat that has been vacated. Um, I believe it would be, um, an appointment issue until, um, until the next election or until that seat comes up for election. And I'm sure we'll have more information to share with the public. But I did want to just get the word out publicly from our board, um, that there is a vacancy. And if any interested, volunteer to serve on what's a really quite, um, critical board in the town, the planning board. Um, you know, we we hope that we'll find a lot of different applicants. So just want. 00:37:20,269 S2: And also, by extension, Mister chairman, the CPC. The seat is also vacant to the planning board as well. 00:37:27,199 S1: Yes. And, um, at town meeting, when we honor our long term, uh, longtime public servants. And one of them. Um, sure. We will give an appropriate, um, recognition, uh, to Rick Woodland. But let me also just add, since we're discussing this, um, uh, the board's sincere thanks to Rick for many years of dedicated service on both of those boards and passionate advocacy on the part of, um, the, you know, the important issues that come before those boards and particularly the, uh, the CPC. So, uh, any other comments, uh, that would fall under potential new business things not anticipated, um, and not put on the agenda. 00:38:14,869 S9: Just a question. Have there been any applicants for the fin com seat, or is that also still vacant? 00:38:23,670 S4: Michelle, are there any applicants? You know. 00:38:26,599 S10: There is one applicant that she submitted it yesterday, her application. I emailed that to Roger and Jeff. 00:38:33,900 S9: Great. So there is one. That's great. 00:38:38,800 S1: All right. Good. Uh, can we have a motion to adjourn? 712. 00:38:46,530 S8: That's Peter's job, usually. 00:38:49,170 S4: Yeah. 00:38:50,699 S9: Move to adjourn, 7:12 p.m.. 00:38:54,300 S8: Jerry. Seconds. 00:38:56,269 S1: All right. We'll take a roll call. Karen. 00:38:59,130 S3: Yes. 00:39:01,300 S1: Peter, we're setting some records. How do you vote? 00:39:05,929 S4: I vote yes. This is the shortest meeting I've ever been been on. Ever by a lot. 00:39:13,469 S1: Deirdre. 00:39:15,130 S9: Yes. 00:39:16,599 S1: Gary. 00:39:17,530 S4: Yes. 00:39:18,530 S1: And Ben is. Yes. Good night everybody. 00:39:20,769 S4: Thank you. So? So. Joe.