[Speaker 1] (0:00 - 2:26)
It is self-evident that all people are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And whereas July 4th, 1776 represents the birth of the United States of America and commemorates the United States' independence from British rule, but did not offer independence and freedom to enslaved people. And whereas, at 2 p.m. on New Year's Day, January 1st, 1863, using his war powers as president, Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation providing that all enslaved people within any state or designated part of a state shall be then henceforth and forever free. And whereas, two and a half years later, on June 19th, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, announcing the end of slavery, stating the people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with the proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves and the connection heretofore existing between them, becomes that between employer and hired laborer. And whereas, June 19th celebrations began in 1866, including cookouts, prayer gatherings, and musical performances, and some communities purchased land specifically for these gatherings.

And as freed families, they emigrated to other parts of the United States, they brought the traditions of Juneteenth with them. And whereas, Juneteenth improves upon the nation's promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And whereas, Juneteenth commemorates the strength and resolve of black and African Americans throughout our history and serves as an opportunity to celebrate the rich and numerous contributions of black and African Americans.

And whereas, Juneteenth is also known as Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Celebration, and Juneteenth Independence Day. And whereas, June 19th, 2022 marks the 157th commemoration Juneteenth. Now therefore, the Swampscott Select Board and the Town Administrator do hereby proclaim June 19th, 2022 as Juneteenth in Swampscott, Massachusetts, and we call upon all employees and residents of Swampscott to celebrate and reflect on this date's historical significance.

[Speaker 2] (2:27 - 2:45)
Thank you, Katie. And I look forward to everyone, you know, coming down to Town Hall tomorrow, Thursday, June 16th from 1 to 3 for the Town of Swampscott's second annual Juneteenth celebration, which will be held at Town Hall tomorrow. Are we taking a vote on that?

[Speaker 4] (2:46 - 2:54)
No, you're not taking a vote, but you can certainly, if you want to take a vote, you could all...

[Speaker 2] (2:54 - 3:00)
I would make a motion to approve the proclamation. Do I have it? All in favor?

Aye. Aye.

[Speaker 4] (3:01 - 3:01)
Aye.

[Speaker 2] (3:01 - 3:02)
Aye. Thank you.

[Speaker 4] (3:02 - 3:29)
Tomorrow's event is going to be awesome. It's going to be fun. And you can come down and really enjoy an afternoon.

We'll have some students, and we'll have an opportunity to really celebrate Juneteenth and really, you know, think more about our unique American experience and the efforts to build a more inclusive community and society.

[Speaker 2] (3:30 - 4:30)
Great. Thanks, Sean. Our next item of business, approval and possible vote for the purchase and sale agreement for the Hawthorne by the Sea 149 Humphrey Street Swampscott.

Before we get going, I just wanted to say last night we did something big. We did something really big for our small town by investing in open space. And I just want to thank our board, FinCom, CIC, town staff, and town meeting members.

This is monumental. We voted our values. We focused on making our town an even more incredible place to live, to work, and to play.

And we should be dreaming big, and we should be bringing these big ideas to residents of the town and town meeting. And we as a town deserve nothing less. So with that, I want to bring a vote.

I entertain a motion to approve and sign the purchase and sale agreement for the Hawthorne by the Sea, which passed 214 to 3 yesterday evening at town meeting.

[Speaker 4] (4:31 - 4:31)
So moved.

[Speaker 2] (4:32 - 4:34)
Thank you. All in favor?

[Speaker 3] (4:34 - 4:34)
Aye.

[Speaker 2] (4:35 - 4:37)
Aye. Aye. It's unanimous.

[Speaker 3] (4:38 - 4:40)
I just want to add the planning board in there, too.

[Speaker 2] (4:40 - 4:44)
Planning board, too. Thank you, Mary Helen. David, can I say something, too, please?

Of course.

[Speaker 3] (4:45 - 5:26)
Sorry I'm not there. I appreciate what you just said, David. I agree.

It's just monumental. It was a massive effort by so many people in town to get to that point last night, for years in the making. I just want to personally thank Peter in particular for all the work that he did on this building.

I mean, it could have been done by a lot of people, but everything you've done to make this happen has been phenomenal. I just want to thank you personally for it. So thanks.

[Speaker 2] (5:28 - 5:59)
Thanks, Neil. All right. So we will actually be passing around signature pages.

We can do that shortly. And as for our select board summer meeting schedule, I think we can schedule those meetings offline. We don't need to spend the time here in a public meeting to do that.

So Neil and I will get together and we'll be reaching out for scheduling. We have no consent agenda items this evening.

[Speaker 3] (5:59 - 6:27)
David, can we just at least, can people talk about just our next meeting, which I have tentatively scheduled for June 29th, rather than July 6th, which is the first Wednesday. Do people feel like that is preferable? Is that what you mean?

We're not meeting next week and we meet on the 29th of June, and then we wouldn't meet on the 6th?

[Speaker 2] (6:28 - 6:33)
6 p.m.? 6 p.m. on the 29th. That works for me.

[Speaker 1] (6:35 - 6:35)
I'll be here.

[Speaker 2] (6:36 - 6:37)
Okay. Great.

[Speaker 3] (6:38 - 6:51)
Okay, so at least we can plan around that. If people don't want to go through the whole summer schedule, we can try to figure that out later. I'm just trying to get us through to a more stable place.

[Speaker 2] (6:51 - 6:59)
Sure. Thanks, Neil. Select board time.

I don't have anything. Katie? Peter?

[Speaker 3] (7:02 - 7:04)
About to break a record here.

[Speaker 2] (7:04 - 7:07)
All right. Well, with that, I would entertain a motion to adjourn.

[Speaker 3] (7:07 - 7:09)
So moved. Second.

[Speaker 2] (7:10 - 7:13)
All in favor? Aye. Aye.

Aye.

[Speaker 3] (7:13 - 7:14)
Whoa.

[Speaker 2] (7:14 - 7:15)
Thanks, everybody. Wow.

[Speaker 3] (7:17 - 7:18)
Thanks, everyone.