Raw transcript
[00:00:00] agenda tonight. Will I have the chance
[00:00:01] to speak then or should I do it now?
[00:00:06] >> Uh would you like to wait until you're
[00:00:10] on the agenda or
[00:00:11] >> That's what I was asking.
[00:00:13] >> Why don't you do it now?
[00:00:15] >> Sure.
[00:00:17] So,
[00:00:20] Jeff Smith, upper Church Street.
[00:00:24] I have some concerns about the way this
[00:00:26] uh town is being
[00:00:29] managed right now. Um
[00:00:33] there was a p supposed to be a personnel
[00:00:34] committee meeting tonight. There hasn't
[00:00:36] been one in weeks or months. And uh some
[00:00:39] important topics are supposed to come
[00:00:41] up. I'm concerned about what the status
[00:00:43] is of our new town accountant. um and
[00:00:47] why the town administrator left out two3
[00:00:51] three three quarters of the hiring
[00:00:52] committee in her comments in the last
[00:00:55] meeting.
[00:00:57] Um also I'm concerned about the contract
[00:01:00] that was signed without authorization
[00:01:02] and that's the subject of my open
[00:01:03] meeting complaint.
[00:01:05] I understand that um
[00:01:09] there was some talk about
[00:01:12] my complaint having to do with decorum
[00:01:14] and the insult, which it does, but the
[00:01:17] main thrust of the complaint is about
[00:01:19] the lawb breaking that happened with not
[00:01:23] having uh proper authority when the town
[00:01:25] administrator signed that contract and
[00:01:28] the legal the legal and the and the
[00:01:31] financial ramifications. I'm also
[00:01:34] concerned that we still have yet to have
[00:01:36] uh a meeting joint meeting with the
[00:01:37] finance committee and the select board
[00:01:39] to go over all the discrepancies from
[00:01:41] the town budget from the town meeting
[00:01:43] that we had. Um I have a report from the
[00:01:47] finance committee and still have never
[00:01:49] seen any of the topics about the
[00:01:50] discrepancies addressed and I think that
[00:01:53] there needs to be a meeting for that.
[00:01:55] I'm concerned that the chair of this
[00:01:57] board doesn't have access to his email
[00:01:59] and isn't reading email, isn't being
[00:02:01] helped by the town administrator to
[00:02:02] access his email and therefore things
[00:02:06] just aren't getting done and um it shows
[00:02:09] in our town and I think that these
[00:02:12] things should be addressed if you would
[00:02:13] tonight. Thank you.
[00:02:14] >> Thank you.
[00:02:15] uh the um meeting of the personnel
[00:02:19] committee is scheduled and the joint
[00:02:22] meeting of the
[00:02:25] uh board of selectman and the finance
[00:02:29] committee is scheduled. So that's going
[00:02:31] to be happening in the next several
[00:02:33] weeks.
[00:02:35] Uh I am slow to learn computers as long
[00:02:40] as Mr. Tanko forwards to me anything I
[00:02:44] might not get. I'll get everything that
[00:02:46] I want. So, I appreciate you wearing
[00:02:49] that.
[00:02:52] >> Thanks.
[00:02:54] Just make a quick comment.
[00:02:56] >> Sure.
[00:02:56] >> U my personal computer is going through
[00:02:59] the glitch right now. So, I just got to
[00:03:01] set up the iPad and I'll be checking the
[00:03:03] emails. Justine sent me the email, the
[00:03:06] link and everything this week. So, I
[00:03:08] think I'm up to speed. Okay. All right.
[00:03:16] It's all like that.
[00:03:18] >> Okay.
[00:03:20] >> Thank you though.
[00:03:22] Um, anybody else? And
[00:03:26] >> uh Ann Barnes from Rugles Hill Road in
[00:03:29] Hardwood. I would like to uh get an
[00:03:32] answer from Justine about where she is
[00:03:35] with rebidding the townhouse
[00:03:38] uh grant.
[00:03:40] um and what the walkthrough dates and
[00:03:44] bid opening would be. It's it could have
[00:03:48] been let out.
[00:03:50] We've known since the end of August that
[00:03:53] this has to be rebid and so it's time
[00:03:57] and money are being lost. the prices of
[00:04:01] aluminum gutters for instance
[00:04:04] are going up and we'll be won't get as
[00:04:08] much for our money.
[00:04:12] >> Um so we are rebidding that I have
[00:04:16] worked with uh Joe from CMRBC as you
[00:04:19] know she called him last week um him and
[00:04:21] I spent a lot of time here in the office
[00:04:23] going through it. I know you had sent
[00:04:25] them some information um regarding uh
[00:04:29] the person who came out and and looked
[00:04:31] at everything. I can't remember the guy
[00:04:33] the gentleman's name. I'm sorry.
[00:04:34] >> Yeah.
[00:04:34] >> Yeah. Sorry. Um so we were looking at
[00:04:36] that. We were looking at the contract.
[00:04:38] We're not losing money. Um we have the
[00:04:40] contract through the end of the fiscal
[00:04:41] year and everything's getting rebid. So
[00:04:44] that's where that is which I already
[00:04:45] told you we were I have to uh finish the
[00:04:48] procurement documents for that for the
[00:04:50] reb. and thank you for sending the dates
[00:04:52] along that you were available for a walk
[00:04:54] through. Um I did get your email and I'm
[00:04:56] just I haven't plugged them in yet. So
[00:04:58] when I look at my calendar and look at
[00:04:59] the dates you gave me, we'll go from
[00:05:01] there. So thank you.
[00:05:02] >> Okay.
[00:05:04] Uh the it's the prices of everything are
[00:05:08] going up and uh the aluminum tariffs.
[00:05:13] So we need to get this out.
[00:05:19] You do. You need you need to move on it.
[00:05:22] >> Turn it up.
[00:05:26] >> Um, Mr. Chair,
[00:05:28] >> do we have a a a rough schedule of when
[00:05:31] that's going to happen?
[00:05:34] >> Um, I don't have that for you tonight.
[00:05:37] Um,
[00:05:39] I worked on it last week, but I need to
[00:05:40] plug in the dates and stuff and look at
[00:05:42] the calendar and stuff because things
[00:05:44] have to go into um, combines with a
[00:05:46] certain time frame and the central
[00:05:48] register and it has to go for a certain
[00:05:49] day. So, I need to look at the calendar.
[00:05:52] >> So,
[00:05:54] all right. You can get back to us maybe
[00:05:56] this week.
[00:05:56] >> Yeah, by the time we meet in two weeks,
[00:05:58] it'll be posted.
[00:05:59] >> Okay.
[00:05:59] >> Yeah.
[00:06:02] >> Mr. Zeni,
[00:06:06] >> uh, Bill Zeni, Turkey Street. Can I
[00:06:07] check in with the board just for a
[00:06:09] minute here about the that quabin
[00:06:11] legislation that is of interest to us?
[00:06:14] You're all on the email list. Well,
[00:06:16] Jeff, you're not. I don't think, but
[00:06:19] >> um,
[00:06:20] >> we have a Zoom coming up.
[00:06:22] >> Yeah, that's what I just wanted to check
[00:06:23] up on. Um and and I'm not sure exactly,
[00:06:26] you know, on
[00:06:28] what to dictate we should do, but um
[00:06:31] Monday 2:00,
[00:06:33] you know, the last the last one was a
[00:06:36] little embarrassing
[00:06:38] because, you know, they they send around
[00:06:40] a doodle poll and then there's like
[00:06:43] seven people on the call.
[00:06:46] I think we might have had three people
[00:06:47] on the call ourselves. So that would
[00:06:49] impress Joe
[00:06:50] >> that, you know, there was good
[00:06:51] representation from Hardwick, right?
[00:06:53] Yeah,
[00:06:54] >> but it really embarrassed me that, you
[00:06:55] know, a lot of other towns weren't
[00:06:57] represented. So, part of the charge from
[00:06:59] the last one was, okay, we're going to
[00:07:00] do another doodle poll. It's going to be
[00:07:02] Monday now, the 21st, and other towns
[00:07:06] have the responsibilities to chase their
[00:07:08] neighbors. Who's willing to go chase
[00:07:10] their neighbors? Right? So, some of them
[00:07:11] agreed to do it. Um, but really it's
[00:07:15] it's all about a draft, one and a half
[00:07:17] page letter that they're trying to get a
[00:07:19] grip on, right? That we're all happy
[00:07:22] with so that we can all then have our
[00:07:25] towns like our boards of our select
[00:07:27] boards or whatever boards um adopt the
[00:07:31] letter, so to speak, and and sign it or
[00:07:34] be willing to sign on.
[00:07:37] So, I was kind of feeling like, boy, I
[00:07:39] hope we don't have another
[00:07:41] Zoom session on Monday where only seven
[00:07:44] people show up. Plus, if we do, um, it
[00:07:49] would be nice if we had our thoughts
[00:07:51] together on whether we think we're
[00:07:53] willing to go with the draft language or
[00:07:55] if we have suggestions to tune it,
[00:07:57] right? So, I don't know if you guys have
[00:08:00] any thoughts on what we should do about
[00:08:02] it. I'm willing over the next few days
[00:08:04] to collaborate Um, I'm no I don't know
[00:08:07] that I have any strong opinions that the
[00:08:09] letter is or isn't great, but we should
[00:08:11] all look at it together.
[00:08:13] >> Mr. Chair, can you ask me a question?
[00:08:15] Um, when we got off that call, the last
[00:08:17] one, I thought I heard Senator Commer
[00:08:19] saying that she was going to add
[00:08:20] something to it. Was do you was that
[00:08:22] your understanding as well? So, I read I
[00:08:24] read that through that draft, but when
[00:08:25] we got off the call, I thought she was
[00:08:27] making tweaks to it. she wanted to. So,
[00:08:29] I was thought we'd get
[00:08:31] >> that could be I I know that the most
[00:08:32] recent email from her staffer Elena
[00:08:36] basically said, "Hey, um the meeting
[00:08:38] will be on the 21st at 2 and here is the
[00:08:42] link to the drafts." So, I assume those
[00:08:44] must be the most recent versions, right?
[00:08:46] >> They were the first version.
[00:08:47] >> And I I you know, there's three things
[00:08:48] there, but the thing that is most
[00:08:50] important, I think, is just us giving
[00:08:52] them feedback on whether we think this
[00:08:54] draft town letter is okay. Right. You
[00:08:58] know,
[00:08:59] >> yep.
[00:09:01] >> I was fine with the first the draft that
[00:09:02] I read, the original that she sent
[00:09:04] around that when we were getting ready
[00:09:06] for that meeting.
[00:09:07] >> Yeah. So, I I didn't know if you guys
[00:09:09] were okay with it or not. But, you know,
[00:09:11] maybe we should check into the next
[00:09:12] couple of days be or or Monday morning,
[00:09:15] you know, at least in time for this 2:00
[00:09:17] Zoom so that we're confident about what
[00:09:19] we tell them. I would imagine our select
[00:09:22] board would probably be willing to sign
[00:09:25] on
[00:09:26] >> to such an important letter. We should
[00:09:28] just make sure it's got what we want in
[00:09:31] it.
[00:09:32] >> Right.
[00:09:34] >> I was happy with what you're you're
[00:09:36] holding there and be happy to sign.
[00:09:38] >> Yeah. It also means though that it's
[00:09:40] asking them we ask that you invite
[00:09:43] representatives from our municipalities
[00:09:45] to join one of your forthcoming meetings
[00:09:47] to discuss our efforts. That's
[00:09:51] that is us towns asking the Masswater
[00:09:54] Resources Authority, hey, can we attend
[00:09:55] a meeting so that we can speak? So, we
[00:09:59] should be sure if we really want to go
[00:10:00] and speak that at least two or three of
[00:10:02] us will go.
[00:10:04] Just my thoughts out loud.
[00:10:06] >> All right. And that's a trip to Deer
[00:10:07] Island or wherever they hold this
[00:10:10] meeting.
[00:10:10] >> Yeah. And I don't I don't
[00:10:12] >> Just so people realize it.
[00:10:13] >> Yeah. I think they're in the east
[00:10:14] mostly. I don't think they come out here
[00:10:16] too often,
[00:10:18] >> but this is very obviously I don't have
[00:10:19] to convince you all how important this
[00:10:21] is to get our towns some more money.
[00:10:23] >> Bill, you like going?
[00:10:25] >> Oh, I Bill, I'll definitely go if that's
[00:10:28] what the board wants. Yeah, I have no
[00:10:31] problem.
[00:10:32] >> I was a little disappointed when you and
[00:10:34] I went to Nobody else went.
[00:10:36] >> Oh, we went.
[00:10:37] >> We went. Yeah, but I mean, where's the
[00:10:39] rest of the army? There's, you know,
[00:10:41] >> eight or nine towns around. Well, there
[00:10:44] were a lot of people that testified
[00:10:45] through Zoom and did an excellent job.
[00:10:48] Yeah.
[00:10:48] >> You know, and they were they were very
[00:10:50] articulate and made very good points.
[00:10:53] >> Um, the whole thing is is is getting the
[00:10:57] message out and continuing to just bring
[00:10:59] attention to it.
[00:11:00] >> Yeah. Well, I was just trying to speak
[00:11:02] up and keep it on our radar.
[00:11:05] >> Well, it would be great to somehow
[00:11:09] put pressure on the Boston to have these
[00:11:13] meetings out here. Have a meeting out
[00:11:15] here. Walk around out there.
[00:11:18] >> That's part of the request, too, is for
[00:11:19] more representation from the West End
[00:11:22] here.
[00:11:23] >> Yep. And a meeting so that people in the
[00:11:25] West End can get to it easily. A lot of
[00:11:28] people aren't going to go to Boston Deer
[00:11:30] Island.
[00:11:30] >> One ask was to add another
[00:11:32] representative to the Mass Water
[00:11:33] Resources Board from the West.
[00:11:35] >> From the West.
[00:11:36] >> Not everything inside the beltway.
[00:11:38] >> Yeah.
[00:11:40] >> Anyway, thanks. Thank you.
[00:11:42] >> Sure.
[00:11:44] >> M Mr. Chair, can I ask Bill? Um well,
[00:11:47] make a suggestion. Um since regretfully,
[00:11:51] um on all of these things, it's usually
[00:11:53] one or two people who end up
[00:11:54] spearheading and then dragging all the
[00:11:56] other people kicking and screaming
[00:11:58] across across the line. Would it behoove
[00:12:02] the situation to try and get a local
[00:12:07] meeting
[00:12:08] here of the of and invite the seven
[00:12:12] towns together to try to put pressure on
[00:12:16] the other six towns.
[00:12:17] >> So that was done. Justine was part of
[00:12:20] helping organize that. I think selectman
[00:12:23] Baline was involved. Uh Eric Fleming was
[00:12:25] involved. There was a meeting where all
[00:12:27] the towns came here and was hosted in
[00:12:29] Highwood.
[00:12:29] >> Okay. When was that?
[00:12:31] >> I don't know. A year and a half ago.
[00:12:33] >> Yeah. At least
[00:12:34] >> something like that.
[00:12:35] >> February.
[00:12:36] >> Senator Cford came. Senator Durant came.
[00:12:39] Maybe S uh Representative Saunders might
[00:12:42] have been there. I can't remember.
[00:12:44] >> And it was all about this to get this
[00:12:46] started.
[00:12:46] >> Maybe it may maybe it needs to happen.
[00:12:51] >> Yeah.
[00:12:52] >> I'll make cookies.
[00:12:57] >> Food brings people.
[00:13:01] happened.
[00:13:02] >> Mr. Cole,
[00:13:04] >> thank you. I do have several things.
[00:13:05] None should take very long. I think
[00:13:07] they're worth mentioning or asking
[00:13:08] though. Um, first, maybe this is the
[00:13:12] smallest thing, but on the select board
[00:13:14] calendar, I'm asking Justine this. It
[00:13:16] mentions Tuesday, November 25th as one
[00:13:19] of your board dates, but it's not a
[00:13:21] Tuesday after a Monday holiday, unlike
[00:13:23] the other Tuesdays that you've
[00:13:24] scheduled.
[00:13:25] We're I was scheduling for the planning
[00:13:28] board and then I noticed that this is
[00:13:30] there. Of course, it's not on the
[00:13:31] calendar because there's no calendar
[00:13:33] holder for select board meetings, but I
[00:13:35] referred to this list and I see we have
[00:13:37] a conflict and then I have a hearing
[00:13:38] that night. We can't use the same room
[00:13:40] obviously. So, I'm just wondering is
[00:13:42] that indeed is that a mistake or did did
[00:13:45] you set a Tuesday meeting when it didn't
[00:13:47] follow a holiday? That's my first
[00:13:48] question.
[00:13:50] So, like I said earlier, Bill, I'm going
[00:13:52] to have to take a look at the calendar
[00:13:54] when I'm sitting at my desk and I'll get
[00:13:56] back to you.
[00:13:57] >> Okay. And then it's in it's on this page
[00:13:59] and you see it. Okay. Thank you. Then I
[00:14:02] then I can schedule the hearing that's
[00:14:04] coming up if I want to continue. Next
[00:14:06] thing um and maybe we'll deal with this
[00:14:10] as it comes up on the agenda, which is
[00:14:11] fine. I had a couple thoughts about uh
[00:14:14] open meeting law complaints also about
[00:14:17] the Ker solar lease that I mentioned
[00:14:19] before. Those are still on the agenda
[00:14:22] and we'll have a chance to address those
[00:14:24] in a bit. Thank you. I know also on the
[00:14:27] agenda is is the u
[00:14:30] um are some appointments for the for
[00:14:33] different commissions, places that we
[00:14:35] need volunteers to step up and it's good
[00:14:38] good to see when they do. Um but I have
[00:14:42] the suggestion that it's way beyond time
[00:14:45] to update
[00:14:47] what we have which says appointments by
[00:14:50] the select board for fiscal year 24.
[00:14:54] It's uh I know later we're going to be
[00:14:57] looking at historical. It's got five
[00:14:58] persons on there. Uh not mentioning the
[00:15:01] vacancies or what resignations so people
[00:15:05] don't know as they look at this that
[00:15:06] they're needed. master plan steering
[00:15:09] committee. There's five people who are
[00:15:12] no longer on there and a couple that
[00:15:13] are. None of those are mentioned there.
[00:15:16] Um I think it would be good if we This
[00:15:18] is just a PDF that I think Julie could
[00:15:21] fix anytime we gave her a new one. I
[00:15:23] would think it'd be a good idea to have
[00:15:24] anybody have somebody update this. Put
[00:15:27] it all on there with terms that meant
[00:15:29] something. There's this disclaimer on
[00:15:31] there from the old days, I guess, which
[00:15:33] says if your term's up, you're still on
[00:15:36] there, you know. So, you know, maybe
[00:15:39] maybe this would be a little would be
[00:15:42] more useful for people looking where
[00:15:43] there's places they can help and seeing
[00:15:45] who to contact about any of it. Um, it's
[00:15:49] not a big job. I think maybe someone
[00:15:51] could just communicate with each each
[00:15:54] just look at it, talk to the boards and
[00:15:55] see who's current and and
[00:15:57] >> so we have done that. Um, and we have an
[00:15:59] updated one. Um,
[00:16:02] >> where's that?
[00:16:03] >> It's where it's ongoing. I don't know if
[00:16:04] you've looked at the front page of the
[00:16:06] website lately, but we did I first of
[00:16:07] all, website needs to be definitely it's
[00:16:11] back. However, we did put a
[00:16:15] thing where there's volunteer
[00:16:16] opportunities next to employment
[00:16:18] opportunities. So, we are going to be
[00:16:19] moving um because right now if you want
[00:16:21] to volunteer, you have to go to the
[00:16:23] employment opportunities and click
[00:16:24] something else and that's just
[00:16:25] ridiculous. So, what we've done is we've
[00:16:27] put another thing right on the main page
[00:16:29] for volunteer opportunities. We're going
[00:16:32] through and updated one cuz the one you
[00:16:33] have right now is not the one that we
[00:16:35] have. Um, because every year since I got
[00:16:37] here when we do the annual report, we
[00:16:39] update it. So, right now we're working
[00:16:41] on what is the accurate information and
[00:16:44] getting it to that front page so people
[00:16:46] don't have to go well employment
[00:16:47] opportunities. Well, it's not really an
[00:16:48] employment and then click and then
[00:16:51] there's that list in there that is
[00:16:53] >> Well, that's good. Maybe that's a place
[00:16:54] to do it. That would there's that would
[00:16:56] be the third place because this one's
[00:16:58] from under important documents. We have
[00:17:00] a different very limited list under
[00:17:02] important notices,
[00:17:03] >> right?
[00:17:04] >> And then we have what you just
[00:17:05] mentioned.
[00:17:06] >> Yeah. To your point that makes no sense.
[00:17:07] >> Okay.
[00:17:09] >> Then if I make it one more subject,
[00:17:11] thank you. And this is on uh
[00:17:14] on the budget as as we've been working
[00:17:16] in the grants particularly but as we've
[00:17:19] working in the master plan steering
[00:17:21] committee a lot and one thing that keeps
[00:17:23] coming up from survey respondents and
[00:17:26] also within the board and from other
[00:17:28] people with the commission committee
[00:17:31] is grant writing there's so many
[00:17:33] different opportunities
[00:17:35] we we've landed some good ones we've put
[00:17:37] in some maps on the other hand we've
[00:17:39] just missed some deadlines etc.
[00:17:41] I I know there was talk and some rumors
[00:17:43] that maybe we're we're trying to see
[00:17:45] about getting at least a part-time
[00:17:48] um grant some grant writing assistant
[00:17:50] somehow. I think that'd be very very
[00:17:53] good. Um, I would also like to ask
[00:17:56] specifically about our committee
[00:17:58] development block grant which
[00:18:02] in the past prior administration and TA
[00:18:05] we had we we somehow with PBPC I guess
[00:18:10] fumbled completely and we completely
[00:18:12] missed our chance for whatever was
[00:18:14] $950,000 that year because the
[00:18:17] application was not submitted in a
[00:18:19] timely fashion and we got nowhere. Tell
[00:18:21] me if I'm wrong about that, but I think
[00:18:22] we missed out on that. Now we're on the
[00:18:24] new cycle.
[00:18:25] >> And I think that was our glitch. I think
[00:18:27] some some other town missed
[00:18:29] >> PBPC. We were going in with wear on it
[00:18:32] and and they just didn't get it loaded
[00:18:34] right and now we're working the CMRPC.
[00:18:36] So hopefully nothing like that would
[00:18:38] happen. But my question is what does
[00:18:40] happen? We had they have these hearing
[00:18:42] sessions for what the town how they
[00:18:44] might prioritize different needs in the
[00:18:47] town
[00:18:49] in creating the application for this.
[00:18:51] The one that we just were awarded was
[00:18:54] for Island Terrace Infrastructure and
[00:18:56] the planning part of Gilbertville
[00:18:58] Memorial Park, correct?
[00:19:00] >> So, um, we had a hearing, you did a
[00:19:04] hearing a couple years ago on that and I
[00:19:07] don't know how many people attended. I'm
[00:19:08] just interested in the process and
[00:19:10] perhaps if capital planning as they line
[00:19:14] up all these priorities and all these
[00:19:16] different needs that we have would also
[00:19:19] be for somebody looking at a different
[00:19:22] column that was these are possible
[00:19:24] funding opportunities and match them up
[00:19:26] everywhere that's possible and see that
[00:19:28] we don't miss any deadlines and maybe
[00:19:30] can get some get some assistance.
[00:19:32] >> It's a good idea.
[00:19:33] >> Mr. Chair, can I address this last?
[00:19:35] Sure. Um, so yeah, you're right. There's
[00:19:39] more grants out there than we have the
[00:19:41] bandwidth for. That's why we rely
[00:19:42] heavily on, you know, CMRPC and working
[00:19:44] with them has been great. Um, we are in
[00:19:46] the middle of the of the CDBG, Highland
[00:19:49] Terrace, and Memorial Park project.
[00:19:50] We're having a public forum for the
[00:19:52] Memorial Park project here in this room
[00:19:54] on October 22nd. So, everyone in
[00:19:56] Gilbertville is going to be getting um
[00:19:58] information about that. It's it's on the
[00:20:00] website. Um, there's a brief sur for
[00:20:02] that. Um, ideally down the road and I we
[00:20:07] might have had this conversation
[00:20:08] already, but we do need um another staff
[00:20:12] person. Ideally, I would be focused on
[00:20:16] conservation needs, planning needs and
[00:20:18] and in in grants, especially when it
[00:20:20] comes to community development in that
[00:20:22] planning aspect. Um, we have we have
[00:20:25] some great volunteers, as you know, um,
[00:20:27] but they don't want a full they don't
[00:20:29] want another full-time job. Um, so that
[00:20:31] is something that we're looking at. I
[00:20:32] meet with the finance committee chair
[00:20:34] monthly. Um so that is on his radar. So
[00:20:37] for the next budget cycle we are going
[00:20:39] to be looking for for a person for that
[00:20:41] um to do that. We have you know we have
[00:20:44] volunteers working extremely hard in
[00:20:46] conservation out almost weekly. Um we I
[00:20:50] know you've put in a lot of time as the
[00:20:51] chair of the planning board and I we do
[00:20:54] need some help with grants cuz right now
[00:20:55] it's me and Kevin. It's chief me and
[00:20:57] Chief Landine. That's it. And CMRP safe.
[00:21:00] So obviously with the bandwidth there's
[00:21:02] only so much we can do but ultimately
[00:21:04] one of the charges of the capital
[00:21:06] planning committee is the priorities of
[00:21:08] the town and that would be the list that
[00:21:10] when it is when we see grants pop up to
[00:21:12] be like oh well this is number two on
[00:21:14] the list like we should apply for this
[00:21:15] grant for this task. So um I think we're
[00:21:19] getting there not quite there but we're
[00:21:21] getting there.
[00:21:22] >> If I may ask what's the cycle the next
[00:21:24] cycle for CBG?
[00:21:26] Um, so we are in the So the Highland
[00:21:28] Terrace Memorial Park is a 2024 and we
[00:21:31] can apply every two years. So, um, we'll
[00:21:33] be probably applying in 26.
[00:21:37] >> Okay, that's good. Thank you.
[00:21:41] >> Thank you.
[00:21:43] >> Anybody else?
[00:21:47] Okay.
[00:21:49] Approval of minutes August 11th, 2025.
[00:21:55] Don't believe I have a copy of this.
[00:21:59] >> Nope. Um I'm just I'm still waiting. U
[00:22:01] Mr. Tinker, you had um some revisions
[00:22:03] that you wanted to send along so I can
[00:22:05] put it on the next agenda.
[00:22:07] >> Yeah, but that was August 11th. We
[00:22:10] addressed that in the last meeting. It
[00:22:12] was the the 9th. I think it was June 9th
[00:22:15] meeting for I I have my notes. Okay.
[00:22:20] >> But it's
[00:22:20] >> whatever.
[00:22:21] >> Whatever minutes are missing, just send
[00:22:22] me.
[00:22:23] >> Okay. Okay.
[00:22:24] >> So I can get your revisions and get them
[00:22:25] on next agenda.
[00:22:26] >> Okay.
[00:22:29] >> Okay. Appointment. Patricia Tinker,
[00:22:32] historical commission.
[00:22:35] >> I'll move to appoint Patricia Tinker to
[00:22:38] the historical commission.
[00:22:40] >> I'll second all.
[00:22:43] >> Well, how is it conflict?
[00:22:45] >> You're married to her, aren't you? Yeah.
[00:22:47] But it's not like a
[00:22:49] >> All right.
[00:22:50] >> No, no, that's all right.
[00:22:52] >> That's okay.
[00:22:53] >> I'm just being careful.
[00:22:55] >> Okay. All in favor?
[00:22:56] >> I
[00:22:57] >> I say I
[00:22:59] >> Yeah.
[00:22:59] >> Okay. I
[00:23:01] >> Mr. Cole.
[00:23:03] >> Um, can someone tell us who is actually
[00:23:05] on the historical commission and how
[00:23:07] many vacancies there are for these three
[00:23:09] names mentioned?
[00:23:10] >> No, I'll look it up and I'll get that to
[00:23:12] you. Um,
[00:23:13] >> I've got it's Jeff, myself, John
[00:23:16] Petraia, Cheryl, and now Trish.
[00:23:22] >> And in the past, we've had five or did
[00:23:26] we at one time go seven and then
[00:23:27] >> we had seven at one time
[00:23:29] >> and then we're like, that's ridiculous.
[00:23:31] So, we went back to five, right?
[00:23:34] >> I can grab it. I have it, but that's not
[00:23:36] that's not the best.
[00:23:38] >> Okay, please.
[00:23:42] Well, we've been operating under a
[00:23:46] >> old information.
[00:23:47] >> Old information maybe.
[00:23:50] >> You me
[00:23:53] and
[00:23:55] Jeff.
[00:23:56] >> How about
[00:23:58] no Peggy Hannon anymore?
[00:24:00] >> On the agenda.
[00:24:00] >> No, she dropped Emily.
[00:24:04] >> But there are three three names tonight.
[00:24:08] are you going to continue?
[00:24:11] >> Uh I I'd like to I would right now I am
[00:24:15] the chairman and I'd like to step down
[00:24:17] as chairman because hence because
[00:24:19] because I get busy
[00:24:21] >> I didn't I haven't scheduled the meeting
[00:24:23] in a while. So
[00:24:24] >> there hasn't been any reason to
[00:24:25] schedule.
[00:24:26] >> So um this is a
[00:24:28] >> according to the town clerk um Penny
[00:24:30] Hannon Jeffrey Sha uh
[00:24:37] John Petalia who's up for reappointment
[00:24:39] this year and then uh Emily Bank is no
[00:24:42] longer with us and Liza Siren who has
[00:24:44] not been reappointed since 2024
[00:24:48] >> because
[00:24:50] why are you um Penny Penny uh stepped
[00:24:54] down
[00:24:55] >> over a year ago
[00:24:58] was
[00:24:58] >> over a year before your sister passed
[00:25:01] >> before my sister. So, so that's like the
[00:25:05] town.
[00:25:06] >> It isn't
[00:25:08] >> what
[00:25:09] >> trouble
[00:25:09] >> not on file with the town.
[00:25:13] >> Um,
[00:25:14] >> okay. Well,
[00:25:16] >> we have a an appointment. Uh, Ryan
[00:25:19] Whitfield would like to be appointed to
[00:25:20] the historical commission.
[00:25:22] >> Do we have the extra seat?
[00:25:26] Well, you know, I and and I I I like
[00:25:29] Ryan very very much, but um we we have a
[00:25:34] problem here in town where we have a lot
[00:25:38] of people,
[00:25:40] you know, in lots of different open
[00:25:43] spaces, which is which is good. But I
[00:25:47] haven't we been hearing from Ryan about
[00:25:49] how busy he is and that he doesn't have
[00:25:51] time to do this and he hasn't got time
[00:25:53] to do all of his duties with town clerk.
[00:25:56] You know, yeah, the the historical
[00:25:59] commission is a very lowkey situation,
[00:26:02] but you know, Jeff has sat there and
[00:26:04] said he doesn't want to be chair anymore
[00:26:06] because being a selectman is too much
[00:26:09] along with that. So I, you know, I'm
[00:26:11] just bringing it up. Thank you.
[00:26:12] >> Does he have time?
[00:26:13] >> Thank you.
[00:26:14] >> To to sit on the committee.
[00:26:15] >> He's asking. So, uh, he's kind of a
[00:26:19] grownup and
[00:26:20] >> Yeah.
[00:26:21] >> Yeah. No, it's just it was a it was a
[00:26:24] question that
[00:26:24] >> How many people are we going to are we
[00:26:26] going to overstaff the historical
[00:26:28] commission if we go with these three?
[00:26:32] >> Okay.
[00:26:34] >> Mr. Chair.
[00:26:35] >> Yes, ma'am.
[00:26:36] >> We don't have a request for reappoint
[00:26:38] from the siren on record with the town.
[00:26:41] >> Okay. Well, let's Would you like to get
[00:26:43] that to us, please?
[00:26:44] >> And we'll be saving a place for you if
[00:26:46] we do this tonight. Be room.
[00:26:49] >> Hand it to you now.
[00:26:49] >> Could do it to Yeah, for sure. It's
[00:26:52] something up.
[00:26:54] >> Um, all right. So,
[00:26:58] >> then we get back to my original
[00:27:01] question. How many seats do we have on
[00:27:03] the historical commission
[00:27:06] >> um
[00:27:07] >> available? If
[00:27:08] >> is it by
[00:27:09] >> hypothetically if if the board voted on
[00:27:12] all three of these people it would be
[00:27:14] fully staffed um because we have not
[00:27:16] received a reappoint request from Miss
[00:27:19] but if she is going to request to be
[00:27:21] reappointed then we don't have
[00:27:23] >> then we're one person short one person
[00:27:26] over
[00:27:28] >> she just mentioned that Penny stepped
[00:27:30] down Penny is one of those people
[00:27:33] occupying the seat
[00:27:35] >> we don't have that on file with the town
[00:27:37] um the onus is on the individual um who
[00:27:40] wants to be on it or off the committee.
[00:27:43] Um we don't have anything from this.
[00:27:45] >> We're counting Penny as ahead right now.
[00:27:48] >> Yes.
[00:27:48] >> When is when was her appointment up?
[00:27:51] Because she was she was appointed before
[00:27:53] me. So she should have been up
[00:27:56] >> long time ago.
[00:27:56] >> A long time ago.
[00:27:58] I would recommend that we reappoint Liz
[00:28:01] Siren and we appoint Ryan Wickas and
[00:28:06] John Petra
[00:28:08] >> all three at the same
[00:28:09] >> just
[00:28:10] >> I'll make that motion
[00:28:11] >> idea
[00:28:13] I'll second
[00:28:15] discussion
[00:28:18] all in favor
[00:28:19] >> I
[00:28:20] >> I thank you
[00:28:23] >> thank you
[00:28:25] >> okay um discussion and
[00:28:30] vote on Jeffrey Smith open meeting law
[00:28:33] complaint. Would you like to go over
[00:28:34] this again or did you get your say or
[00:28:39] >> um I laid it all out in the complaint.
[00:28:41] I'm concerned that uh that this is going
[00:28:45] to be dismissed because of the decorum
[00:28:47] stuff and not look at the substance of
[00:28:50] the vote not being authorized.
[00:28:54] What does the board have to say about
[00:28:56] this?
[00:28:56] >> The vote you're talking about is with
[00:28:58] the auction company.
[00:28:59] >> That's right.
[00:29:00] >> Okay. That's in the works and not
[00:29:03] prepared to talk about it tonight, but
[00:29:06] uh by the next meeting there should be
[00:29:10] some resolution there. So then you can
[00:29:13] if we can make it work and you'd still
[00:29:16] like to complain. I don't know.
[00:29:18] >> I'm not sure what you mean. I don't
[00:29:19] think that you can unring that bill.
[00:29:21] That sign contract was signed in August
[00:29:23] of last year.
[00:29:24] >> I I'm not going to discuss it right now.
[00:29:28] >> It's on the agenda.
[00:29:31] >> I assumed that your open meeting law
[00:29:33] complaint was the one that I received
[00:29:36] with Justine
[00:29:38] recently.
[00:29:39] >> Yes, that's the one.
[00:29:41] >> Okay.
[00:29:44] I I'm not prepared. So,
[00:29:47] we have to put it off.
[00:29:49] I'm going to table this to the next
[00:29:51] meeting.
[00:29:51] >> If I'm not mistaken, you only have so
[00:29:53] much time to address this before.
[00:29:56] >> Um I don't believe you have time to wait
[00:29:59] until the next meeting
[00:30:02] >> or you'll be outside of the the
[00:30:03] deadline,
[00:30:04] >> Mr. Chair.
[00:30:05] >> Yes, ma'am.
[00:30:06] >> Um he is correct that there we have a
[00:30:09] deadline. We need to submit something.
[00:30:11] Um I'm asking for a vote from the select
[00:30:14] board on the response. um it does not
[00:30:16] constitute an open meeting law violation
[00:30:19] and that is outlined in the draft
[00:30:20] response. So I'm asking the select board
[00:30:22] for a vote to submit it to Mr. uh Smith
[00:30:25] and we'll go from there. We'll see what
[00:30:27] the state says.
[00:30:28] >> Because I read through the complaint, I
[00:30:30] didn't see any I don't see where that is
[00:30:34] what he was complaining about is an open
[00:30:36] meeting violation.
[00:30:41] I'll make a motion that we
[00:30:44] >> that that be our response.
[00:30:46] >> Second it
[00:30:48] discussion.
[00:30:51] >> Yeah. I mean part of the open meeting
[00:30:53] law complaint was who authorized to sign
[00:30:57] this contract.
[00:30:58] >> It's not an open meeting law issue.
[00:31:00] >> It's not
[00:31:01] >> no. Okay.
[00:31:02] >> How how is that? Explain to me then,
[00:31:05] Bill. How is that an open meeting
[00:31:07] required? I And I'm not saying right or
[00:31:09] wrong. I'm just saying it doesn't make
[00:31:11] sense to me.
[00:31:12] >> Well, saying, okay, there was a vote
[00:31:14] taken by the select board,
[00:31:18] >> right?
[00:31:19] >> Mhm.
[00:31:19] >> Well, when
[00:31:20] >> and it was never addressed. It was never
[00:31:23] voted on. It was never put on an agenda,
[00:31:25] >> Mr. Chair.
[00:31:26] >> And now we have an authorized contract
[00:31:29] >> and it was brought up at whatever
[00:31:31] meeting kicked this in.
[00:31:34] So that's that's the part he's saying
[00:31:37] who authorized this in this complaint.
[00:31:41] >> But it's that open meeting.
[00:31:42] >> Well, if you're telling the public we
[00:31:45] did and you're giving dates, where where
[00:31:50] is it,
[00:31:50] >> Mr. Chair?
[00:31:51] >> Yes, ma'am.
[00:31:52] >> Um the se the prior select board chair
[00:31:56] at the time has said publicly that Mr.
[00:31:59] Tanker and herself voted to have that
[00:32:02] contract signed and so did the assessor
[00:32:05] who's also said it publicly. Um again
[00:32:09] session
[00:32:09] >> who who was in there with in that
[00:32:12] meeting. So therefore again this is not
[00:32:14] an open meeting law issue. Um
[00:32:18] and we just need to go from there and
[00:32:20] the state will they I'm not feel like
[00:32:22] I'm on a firstname basis with them now.
[00:32:24] So they will call when this is sent to
[00:32:26] the state. So either way, we'll have a
[00:32:27] resolution.
[00:32:29] >> That's what I would like to do is get it
[00:32:31] to the state.
[00:32:32] >> Yeah.
[00:32:33] >> Okay.
[00:32:36] >> Get it to the state. That's fine. Send
[00:32:38] it along.
[00:32:39] >> All right. All in favor?
[00:32:41] >> I
[00:32:48] firet truck update. We have a new fire
[00:32:50] truck.
[00:32:54] >> Do you have another question? Yeah, the
[00:32:56] question was is that I I thought that it
[00:32:59] was not legal to um vote on signing a
[00:33:03] contract in executive session.
[00:33:05] >> She's right. It's not.
[00:33:06] >> That's not true.
[00:33:07] >> That is absolutely true.
[00:33:09] >> Show it to me.
[00:33:10] >> All right. Well, this is what's going
[00:33:12] on.
[00:33:13] >> I'm going to let the state deal with
[00:33:14] this. This is
[00:33:15] >> Let's move on. Mhm.
[00:33:17] >> This is
[00:33:18] >> Thanks though for your
[00:33:22] >> discussion and possible vote on Karge
[00:33:25] Solar Lease. Um I believe that u Mr.
[00:33:30] Zinny and Mr. Kazuka and Mr. Fleming and
[00:33:35] Mr. Cmerford went down there and there
[00:33:37] are some uh new ideas about distances to
[00:33:41] the river. So this is still in flux. So,
[00:33:45] I'd like to table this.
[00:33:47] >> Mr. Chair,
[00:33:48] >> can I just update the board on one
[00:33:49] thing?
[00:33:50] >> Um, so Mr. Commer and myself uh did hear
[00:33:54] from attorney Blake today. And
[00:33:57] >> wait, who's attorney Blake?
[00:33:58] >> Our town council.
[00:33:59] >> Thank you,
[00:34:00] >> Jeff. Jeff Blake. And we are waiting for
[00:34:02] them to plug in the numbers in the new
[00:34:04] lease. So, that's why it was on the
[00:34:07] agenda that we were hoping we'd have it
[00:34:09] for tonight, but unfortunately, um, it's
[00:34:11] not moving as fast as I think either
[00:34:13] party would like. So um we'll get that
[00:34:16] on the next meeting.
[00:34:17] >> So both sides are behind.
[00:34:18] >> Yeah.
[00:34:19] >> Okay.
[00:34:21] >> And discussion on select board goal
[00:34:24] setting.
[00:34:25] >> Mr. Chair.
[00:34:26] >> Yes, sir.
[00:34:27] >> Thank you. On on the care matter. I I
[00:34:30] did see you were seemingly even getting
[00:34:32] close to a vote if this other
[00:34:33] information was there. And I'm hoping
[00:34:36] before that happens that you're
[00:34:38] satisfied and the people can be
[00:34:40] satisfied that as I've said before that
[00:34:43] the the less or that's the town does not
[00:34:47] give up rights to do what we might want
[00:34:50] to in the future with the part that is
[00:34:52] not subject to the solar proposal. It
[00:34:56] seems like about half the property back
[00:34:58] at the RFP in 2017 that was on the
[00:35:01] entire parcel. I don't know that this
[00:35:04] contract covers the whole thing, but I
[00:35:06] think the town would be making a
[00:35:07] potentially huge mistake to not be able
[00:35:10] to continue to use as we see fit
[00:35:13] >> the part that isn't committed to the
[00:35:15] solar project.
[00:35:16] >> Correct. I agree.
[00:35:19] >> Thank you.
[00:35:20] >> And we have no updated lease agreement.
[00:35:22] No.
[00:35:22] >> Correct. That's what I meant.
[00:35:25] >> Still being worked out though. We
[00:35:26] haven't seen
[00:35:26] >> on one parcel.
[00:35:28] >> On one parcel. Yep.
[00:35:30] >> Good. They're still working it up once
[00:35:32] we actually see it
[00:35:35] >> before it gets signed.
[00:35:36] >> M siren, would you have something to
[00:35:37] say?
[00:35:38] >> I just want to know if before that that
[00:35:40] lease gets signed, does the general
[00:35:41] public have an option to weigh in?
[00:35:45] >> You accept it, not beyond where we deal
[00:35:48] with it in open meetings.
[00:35:50] >> Um, well, no. I'm just saying is I mean
[00:35:53] that would would
[00:35:54] >> do you want to have a forum? I don't
[00:35:56] know. What are you asking for? Well, I
[00:35:58] you know, let let the general public sit
[00:36:00] there and read the contract and see if
[00:36:03] they find,
[00:36:05] you know, something in there that they
[00:36:08] feel would be not necessarily behoove
[00:36:12] the town of Hardwood down the future or
[00:36:14] bring up concerns or whatever just for
[00:36:16] the general public. We got a lot of
[00:36:17] smart people in town who can find
[00:36:19] errors. So, that was just a question.
[00:36:23] >> That's a good idea.
[00:36:25] >> Thank you,
[00:36:26] >> Mr. Call. Thank you. Last point by me.
[00:36:28] Thank you. Um I think I've heard and
[00:36:30] read that a town like us cannot lease
[00:36:36] land except with the permission of the
[00:36:38] town. Therefore, a town meeting article
[00:36:41] at some point.
[00:36:42] >> Mhm.
[00:36:43] >> I think that signing a contract in
[00:36:45] advance of the lease. I don't know where
[00:36:48] where those things fit in, but at some
[00:36:49] point the leasing of that parcel would
[00:36:53] have to be approved by the town, would
[00:36:55] it not? By the people.
[00:36:57] >> Yes. And it was prior to the RFP being
[00:36:59] issued in 2017. Yep. It absolutely went
[00:37:01] to town meeting. I can get you that
[00:37:03] date, but Yep. It actually absolutely
[00:37:05] went to town meeting
[00:37:06] >> that it would be leased without knowing
[00:37:08] what the
[00:37:10] contract would be.
[00:37:12] >> Um to lease that parcel, parcel 14 on
[00:37:15] Yep. It was in voted on at town meeting
[00:37:18] before the RFP was issued in 2017. I can
[00:37:21] get you the date and that information.
[00:37:23] >> Yeah,
[00:37:23] >> I swear to say yeah, Mr. Chair, last
[00:37:25] thing.
[00:37:27] >> No, but listen to this. Our our our
[00:37:30] bylaws our bylaws do indicate that solar
[00:37:33] installations have to go through even in
[00:37:36] the industrial area in the industrial
[00:37:37] area site plan review. They also
[00:37:40] indicate
[00:37:42] that anything that just say municipal
[00:37:44] uses those go through site plan review.
[00:37:49] Um,
[00:37:50] we as a planning board haven't seen
[00:37:53] anything except to know that from the
[00:37:56] history about the RFP and the early
[00:37:58] interest by Kierge,
[00:38:00] nothing since. I'm just wondering is is
[00:38:02] is is the board's
[00:38:06] feeling here that that this is going to
[00:38:09] completely bypass
[00:38:12] uh zoning and a and a site plan review
[00:38:14] on a on a large solar installation.
[00:38:18] And I don't think of it that way. I
[00:38:21] think this has been going on as safe
[00:38:23] since 17. Um Harry Kmerford has been in
[00:38:28] it indeed all that time and he's he's uh
[00:38:35] uh
[00:38:37] here we go.
[00:38:39] >> Mr. Chair,
[00:38:41] >> stop. uh please
[00:38:44] um your board
[00:38:48] uh has been dealing with this and I
[00:38:51] would have thought that Harry had a lot
[00:38:53] of input in the solar stuff and uh I
[00:38:57] don't think we're at a place where we're
[00:38:59] ready to do a site plan review. I think
[00:39:03] it that's what I need to see is little
[00:39:06] flags fluttering on the ground so that
[00:39:09] we're sure that we're in the right
[00:39:11] place. And that's still that's still
[00:39:13] being determined. So I don't know how
[00:39:18] we're up to speed if we're up to speed
[00:39:20] 100% on this stuff. But I'm pretty sure
[00:39:23] that we'll do it correctly.
[00:39:25] I don't know. Is that an answer?
[00:39:28] >> It is.
[00:39:28] >> Planning board is what I was looking
[00:39:30] for. Every once in a while I get stuck
[00:39:32] and looking for a single word.
[00:39:37] It's the planning board. I always talk
[00:39:40] >> but thank you.
[00:39:40] >> Thank you
[00:39:41] >> Mr. Chair. I have the town meeting vote
[00:39:43] date.
[00:39:44] >> Thank you. Could you share it with us?
[00:39:46] >> March 9th, 2015.
[00:39:47] >> Okay.
[00:39:48] [Music]
[00:39:50] >> 2015.
[00:39:51] >> Yes.
[00:39:51] >> March 9th. It's been longer.
[00:39:55] Okay.
[00:39:56] Anything else?
[00:40:00] Um, just a quick question on the solar.
[00:40:02] Wouldn't that be on the AC like garage
[00:40:05] solar? Go to the planning board and get
[00:40:08] all this.
[00:40:08] >> Yeah.
[00:40:09] >> Everything you're talking about
[00:40:10] >> exactly what was site plan review,
[00:40:12] >> right?
[00:40:13] >> And all that.
[00:40:14] >> Yeah.
[00:40:14] >> Okay.
[00:40:18] >> Did this not already happen like prior
[00:40:21] to 2017?
[00:40:24] >> I don't
[00:40:25] >> I I know we're going back ways.
[00:40:26] >> Yeah. But I don't think there's anything
[00:40:28] to base it on at this point.
[00:40:32] >> Well, it's not a clear plan for a
[00:40:34] footprint.
[00:40:35] >> So there there's nothing to reveal at
[00:40:38] this point.
[00:40:43] >> I mean, we haven't we have to decide how
[00:40:46] much ground this is going to take up.
[00:40:50] And that's in relation to the playing
[00:40:52] fields.
[00:40:53] >> And it's in relation to the bank that is
[00:40:57] mine for sand and gravel.
[00:41:00] >> Yep.
[00:41:00] >> Um I'd love to see it the whole array at
[00:41:05] the level that Marty has now where he
[00:41:07] started his pile of of spoil to save.
[00:41:12] >> But that would mean that we'd have to
[00:41:14] take all that material and put it
[00:41:15] somewhere else. So that maybe isn't
[00:41:18] going to work. So maybe we sell part of
[00:41:21] it to cover the cost of moving it.
[00:41:24] That's a conversation I had today with
[00:41:26] Marty about it. So if people are down
[00:41:30] there looking at it, the time has to
[00:41:34] allow a given dimension off the water.
[00:41:38] >> Mhm.
[00:41:38] >> So all that stuff is still it's still
[00:41:42] >> in the air.
[00:41:43] >> So we'll start with a lease and go from
[00:41:47] there
[00:41:47] >> whenever that comes. Right.
[00:41:48] >> Right.
[00:41:49] >> But that's step one.
[00:41:51] >> Yeah.
[00:41:52] >> All right. Thank you.
[00:41:55] If there aren't any more
[00:41:58] comments,
[00:42:00] I'd see a motion to aure.
[00:42:05] >> You still have ministry to report stuff
[00:42:09] like that.
[00:42:09] >> Okay. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
[00:42:11] >> Do you not want to hear it?
[00:42:12] >> No, that's fine. I just want to I'm
[00:42:14] tired. I'm
[00:42:15] >> getting a little confused here.
[00:42:18] So, I'm just going to sit back and
[00:42:20] listen to the calendar administrative
[00:42:21] report.
[00:42:22] >> Okay.
[00:42:24] Um, and metab where Memorial Park to see
[00:42:28] what has to be done there. Um, met with
[00:42:29] CMRPC on ongoing projects like the
[00:42:32] townhouse project. Um, had a call with
[00:42:34] Santech on the PAS testing down um on
[00:42:37] the wells on lower road. Um,
[00:42:39] >> I got Do we have a result yet?
[00:42:41] >> We um we're we have a call with D. I
[00:42:46] think we're going to be good for this
[00:42:47] year. Next year is when we're really
[00:42:48] going to start um doing the PAS testing.
[00:42:51] So, I we it was a good call. Had a call
[00:42:54] with council on Harry Cmerford.
[00:42:57] Um the boiler has been inspected.
[00:43:00] Um we're getting our new our final
[00:43:03] camera next week um in town hall and the
[00:43:06] old copier is also getting picked up
[00:43:08] next week at town hall. Um attended a
[00:43:11] Zoom meeting for the memorial park
[00:43:12] planning project with CMRBC and Mr.
[00:43:14] plumbing working on standardizing
[00:43:16] financial policies. So, not only am I
[00:43:18] working on personnel policies, but now
[00:43:20] I'm working on standardizing the
[00:43:22] financial policies. Um, that was part
[00:43:25] partially the problem going backwards
[00:43:28] and we're trying to make sure that the
[00:43:30] problems of the past don't repeat
[00:43:31] themselves. Um, we held our bi-weekly
[00:43:34] financial management planning zoom,
[00:43:37] been spending a lot of time cleaning out
[00:43:39] town finances and benefits for benefit
[00:43:41] eligible employees.
[00:43:43] um worked with Senator Durant's office,
[00:43:45] worked with um Bulldog, worked with
[00:43:48] council on the financing for the
[00:43:49] firetruck. So, we have a fire truck.
[00:43:51] Yay.
[00:43:53] Advertising for a wastewater treatment
[00:43:55] plant operator, a highway equipment
[00:43:56] operator, a PDM library assistant, a van
[00:43:59] driver, and a town accountant.
[00:44:01] Attended Maya's healthc care cost forum,
[00:44:03] which was very depressing, and I already
[00:44:06] talked about working on the personnel
[00:44:07] handbook. I attended the Massachusetts
[00:44:10] Municipal Association's legislative
[00:44:11] breakfast with Sleman Tinker and the
[00:44:14] Massachusetts Municipal Association's
[00:44:16] fiscal summit also with Mr. Tinker.
[00:44:18] Um, attended the fire associations event
[00:44:22] at Harbick Winery. I saw my first
[00:44:24] burnout.
[00:44:26] Um, Representative Berthune held his
[00:44:28] monthly office hours here at town hall.
[00:44:31] I'd like to recognize our treasure
[00:44:33] collector, Alyssa Ays, who's been
[00:44:35] working with Bartholomew to move our CDs
[00:44:36] to a trust company to better management
[00:44:39] manage our investments. I'm very proud
[00:44:42] of her. She has dug in. Um, she's doing
[00:44:44] fantastic and um I'm really excited.
[00:44:50] Our, like I said earlier, the public
[00:44:52] forum for the Memorial Park study
[00:44:53] project is October 22nd at 6 p.m. in
[00:44:56] this room. And that is about all I have
[00:44:59] today.
[00:45:01] Thank you. So,
[00:45:02] >> we're still advertising for a town
[00:45:04] accountant.
[00:45:04] >> Excuse me.
[00:45:05] >> We're still advertising for a town
[00:45:06] accountant.
[00:45:07] >> Yes, we are.
[00:45:08] >> Yeah.
[00:45:08] >> So, we didn't hire the one that you guys
[00:45:10] chose.
[00:45:11] >> We did not.
[00:45:15] >> No, it sucks.
[00:45:16] >> Yeah.
[00:45:16] >> Right. Thank you.
[00:45:19] >> Whose fault is that?
[00:45:20] >> Going to talk about it.
[00:45:23] >> I don't know what what to say except
[00:45:26] that Mr. The gentleman withdrew,
[00:45:31] >> right? Because he wanted to be an exempt
[00:45:34] employee. From what I understand,
[00:45:35] >> there was a glitch. I thought we could
[00:45:37] fix it by going to that personnel
[00:45:40] meeting that uh that ghost that
[00:45:44] personnel meeting that I did I posted
[00:45:48] and then withdrew when I found out that
[00:45:50] we're not able to change the job
[00:45:54] description without going to town
[00:45:56] meeting.
[00:45:58] Okay. Um I I have some questions for
[00:46:00] you, Mr. Chair.
[00:46:01] >> Sure.
[00:46:02] >> Um one of the exempt things lists the
[00:46:04] account the F LSA
[00:46:09] and it's and
[00:46:11] I'm not sure if the date is exactly
[00:46:13] right, but it's from 2008. Ryan Hazard,
[00:46:16] he's he sent it along via email um
[00:46:19] listing the town account as an exempt
[00:46:22] employee. So why is that um a
[00:46:24] dealbreaker?
[00:46:26] because he withdrew his
[00:46:30] letter of interest. He backed out.
[00:46:33] >> Right. My understanding, maybe I'm
[00:46:35] wrong, but I mean this is why I
[00:46:37] requested this be on the agenda so we
[00:46:39] can have this discussion
[00:46:41] is and for whatever reason it was turned
[00:46:44] down. Um,
[00:46:48] I'd like to know like I'd like to know
[00:46:50] more about this like why if a if a
[00:46:52] person is
[00:46:54] the deal breaker is the exempt part
[00:46:57] and we have policy in place that says
[00:47:00] the town accountant's exempt. So how
[00:47:01] does that break the deal?
[00:47:04] If he chose to withdraw his letter of
[00:47:08] interest, if he decided that he didn't
[00:47:11] want to work for us, that's the deal
[00:47:13] breaker. My understanding, my
[00:47:16] understanding of that deal, he was
[00:47:17] asked, he was asking to be an exempt
[00:47:20] employee and that was being denied
[00:47:24] and we have policy in place that would
[00:47:26] allow him to be an exempt employee.
[00:47:29] >> So again, how did that break the deal,
[00:47:31] >> Mr. Chair? If if
[00:47:34] it's Please excuse me. Um,
[00:47:39] you should call them. I I don't know how
[00:47:42] much I'm happy to talk about this on the
[00:47:45] TV.
[00:47:46] >> Right. It's not on the agenda. That's
[00:47:47] why I requested it be on the agenda so
[00:47:49] we could all communicate and have an
[00:47:51] open conversation about this.
[00:47:53] >> But it's not on the agenda.
[00:47:54] >> All right. So, let's put it on the next
[00:47:56] agenda.
[00:47:57] >> Okay. Sign.
[00:47:57] >> And if you don't mind, I'll reach out to
[00:47:59] you. I I would appreciate that.
[00:48:02] >> Okay. All right.
[00:48:04] If everybody's happy, I'm okay with
[00:48:07] that.
[00:48:08] >> Okay.
[00:48:09] >> I'm sad that we don't have them working
[00:48:11] for us.
[00:48:11] >> Okay.
[00:48:14] >> I can't fix everything.
[00:48:20] >> I can discuss the Fair Labor Standards
[00:48:22] Act if you'd like me to.
[00:48:23] >> I'd appreciate it if we didn't.
[00:48:25] >> Okay.
[00:48:27] and
[00:48:31] selectman round table.
[00:48:32] >> Um I know you're tired of one thing.
[00:48:36] >> I'm really upset. So
[00:48:38] >> I'm not trying to upset you.
[00:48:39] >> All right. I'm not upset with you.
[00:48:41] >> Okay. Well, I'm not trying to. So I I
[00:48:44] just I'm asking on behalf of the board
[00:48:46] of health on a update on 810 Lower Road.
[00:48:50] You mentioned that you were going to
[00:48:52] reach out to the homeowner there. The
[00:48:54] day after I said that, I saw them out
[00:48:56] there re-rigging the fence. The way I
[00:49:00] understand it, it's his insurance
[00:49:02] company.
[00:49:04] >> Okay. So, you didn't actually get to
[00:49:06] speak with them?
[00:49:07] >> If it was No, I haven't gone to speak
[00:49:09] with them. Again, the day after I said I
[00:49:12] would do that, I saw he had a crew out
[00:49:14] there r-rigging his orange fence, which
[00:49:17] I thought took care of the public safety
[00:49:19] issue.
[00:49:21] uh as far as the ugliness goes.
[00:49:24] >> No. Well,
[00:49:25] >> so it is a board of health issue,
[00:49:26] >> right? So, the board of health wanted
[00:49:28] like an update on that and they're going
[00:49:30] to move forward on their end.
[00:49:31] >> That would be great.
[00:49:32] >> Yep. No problem. Okay, that's all I um I
[00:49:36] think that's all I have.
[00:49:41] >> Anybody else?
[00:49:42] >> No, I don't have anything for you.
[00:49:46] >> Don't look at me with that voice, Eric.
[00:49:48] >> I'm not. I'm not. But I'm not. It's
[00:49:52] there's been a lot of stuff in my
[00:49:54] private life. I'm sorry.
[00:49:56] >> Oh, that's okay. I'm on edge.
[00:49:58] >> So, um,
[00:50:00] so what do you want to move
[00:50:01] >> to? I'll second. All in favor? I I
[00:50:06] >> Thanks, Jens. Thank you, ma'am.
