[Speaker 3] (0:00 - 9:05)
FBI national standard with what we currently have right now at 27 and I say 27 because Chief Casada through our policies and procedures is designated as the administrative overseer, otherwise known as the chief executive officer who fulfills our organizational obligation, establishing patrol at 27. We're at a number of 1.8. This is gross negligence when it comes to the safety of our town. Ironically, in the midst of a national staffing crisis, as fewer men and women are choosing to come into the law enforcement career, we are fortunate enough that the lack of eligible qualified candidates in Swampscott is not the case.

A mindful and very sound process agreed upon by the town administrator, town legal counsel, and our union has embraced the Swampscott police department since October of 21, placing this agency in the forefront of the 21st century of policing. Town of Swampscott recognized as a national expert hired Chief Dave Kurz from MRI to oversee our procedure. Dave Kurz is a residential expert on small town policing organizations.

Chief Kurz is a published contributor of President Obama's Six Pillars for 21st Century Policing and ironically, this week, Chief Kurz is scheduled to present our template that we developed here in Swampscott at the headquarters of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, working collaboratively with the U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance and establishing our selection procedures as the national standard for excellence.

Yes, Swampscott has gone national. Chief Kurz evaluated, reviewed, and implemented policies within the Swampscott Police Department with the objective to create diversity, inclusivity, and as we fostered the first non-civil service process in this town, we produced several highly qualified candidates. After hundreds of hours, careful consideration, and thousands of tax dollars, several candidates were vetted, interviewed, and recommended in February by Chief Kurz for employment and presented by the Swampscott Police Department to the administration.

Our innovative process engaged community stakeholders. The interview process that they all unanimously endorsed the same candidates. Not satisfied with these highly regarded candidates, administration demanded that we do a second broader pool of candidates who then again were vetted and interviewed and ultimately the same amount of dollars, same candidates that were previously vetted were sent forward along with an additional candidate from that group.

Please understand that if these highly recommended candidates were hired, the graduating Police Academy class that they should have been administered in, set to, would be graduating sometime in October, which means that they would be ready for the streets of Swampscott in July of 2023. It takes eight months for a candidate to graduate and clear field training before they can have an impact on the police force. When Chief Quesada joined the department, he too reviewed and endorsed the candidates and presented those same candidates for employment.

Chief Kurz and Quesada have an experience of a combined 60 years in professional policing administration. After presenting candidates, only one, after presenting candidates to the administrator, only one candidate was given a conditional offer. Months passed and a second candidate was given an offer on June 22nd.

The administrator said that these candidates are qualified and remain on our eligible list, which confirms that they are exceptional, and these candidates should be hired. Despite this, our administration wants to have another testing process again. The town continues to systematically cut and defund the Swampscott Police Department, while other town departments are having vacancies filled in their work-life balance adjusted to relieve the difficulties that they have endured.

We are tirelessly working below the provided best services possible, and we continue to operate below the appropriate staffing levels, even as the population, frequency, and service of calls in Swampscott continue to grow. At a minimum, our department will continue to be understaffed for the next 12 months. The Finance Committee on the 11th of July reported the police department was down only two officers, and that it was only a recent deficit that affected the department.

That is simply not the case, as I previously stated. In August of 2021, Chief Kurz pointed out to the town in a public forum that the SPD was down four officers. We are now down two more after the recent retires, and one officer rescinded his retirement papers weeks ago at the fear of putting the rest of us in jeopardy.

We have continuously been advising the administration since October of 2019 that our agency is understaffed. The response and refusal to hire until we left was until we left civil service. We all accepted this, and the premise was the understanding that our policy went ready to enact, and once the separation was formalized, we'd continue as forward and as necessary.

On September 30th of 2021, an email correspondence with Chief Kurz, Senator Brendan Crichton, and the town administrator who writes, Senator, we had a critical juncture with our staffing shortages and need your help in leadership to move this legislation forward. It was done after the policies were agreed upon. Our biggest fear of leaving civil service was the manipulation from the administration not to have the hiring process fully successful, and that's the case.

In the same email exchange, in the same email exchange that I just specifically spoke, town administrator said to Senator Crichton, I spoke with Chief Kurz and Chief Archer today, and I want you to understand that I will support their recommendations for the negotiated policies for the recruitment and promotions, yet as of today, we have not successfully met our 32 obligation. We are requesting that all recommended candidates presented be considered and hired. It should be noted that the process was subject of a comprehensive debriefing, a memo requested by Chief Quesada, written by Chief Dave Kurz and Captain Joe Cable.

This memo and report was at the direction of the administrator. As a result, our chief does not have the ability to move forward anymore. No one has higher expectation or excellence for the Swanscott Police Department than the men and women who are actually working for it.

We uphold an integrity and character clause that is second to none. We are concerned about the singular voice that's conveying misinformation, and at the aftermath of leaving civil service, we find ourselves in jeopardy. It is in the welfare of the town, as the way in which we have been operating as of now, is not sustainable.

The burden of the health and well-being is now in your hands. I ask you to do something. We are simply trying to serve the community with love, compassion, professionalism, and empathy.

Please allow us to continue to prioritize public safety. It is the job that we have grown to love and we deserve to have. We have taken an oath and we've sworn to protect that.

Thank you. I could add, just so you know, I have the job posting an application that MRI drafted from the information provided to the town that was delivered by MRI and PERF, a professional police executive research forum, and it states the Swanscott Police Department is operating with a budget of 4.1 million dollars and is an accredited department with 32 sworn police officers and 1.5 staff supporting a diverse and engaged community. As I have expressed, we are at 27. I'll leave that advertisement here as well, and I'll also leave the email exchange as well.

Thank you for your time.

[Speaker 1] (9:07 - 10:38)
If I could, you know, Mr. President Reen, you don't present facts here tonight. You present some political opinions that frankly undermine the integrity of good government. The Swanscott Police Department has 20 full-time patrolmen.

Can you name them? Yes. Steve Caruso, Michael Serino, Brendan Reen, Jonathan Lloyd, Justin Bragan, Michael Chandler, Justin Nestor, Francis Delano, Todd Nottingham, Kevin Reen, Kevin DiNapoli, John Cassidy Jr., Michael Kenyon, John Hogan, Thomas Lucas, and Brian Wilson. We have two vacancies in those ranks, and we have two conditional offers that we have presented over the last six weeks for those 20 full-time positions. We also have six full-time sergeants. No, I'm gonna finish.

You had a chance. You had, we have six full-time sergeants. Jonathan Locke, Michael Bowden, Steve Luck, Matthew McDonald, Richard Alex, Candace Doyle.

She's an acting sergeant. We also have four lieutenants, Gary Lord, Bill Waters, Tom Hennessey, Michael Fraylor. We have one captain, Joe Cable.

We have one sworn chief.

[Speaker 3] (10:38 - 12:01)
That's 32 sworn officers. You're wrong. Okay.

I'm gonna read you the list that we're currently staffing with, and I will count them off, and if I could have a brother officer count the other, count the number as I move forward. Justin Nestor, one. John Hogan, two.

Michael Kenyon, three. Michael Chandler, four. John Cassidy, Jr., five. Todd Nottingham, six. Justin Bragan, seven. Keegan DiNapoli, eight.

John Lloyd, nine. Kevin Reen, ten. Brendan Reen, eleven.

Mike Serino, twelve. Tom Lucas, thirteen. Candace Doyle, fourteen.

Brian Wilson, fifteen. Savario Caruso, sixteen. Francis Delano, seventeen.

Rick Alex, eighteen. He's a sergeant. It's a force.

Matt McDonald, nineteen. Michael Bowden, twenty. Steve Luck, twenty-one.

Jay Locke, twenty-two. Mike Fraylor, twenty-three. Tom Hennessey, twenty-four.

William Waters, twenty-five. Gary Lord, twenty-six. Captain Cable, twenty-seven.

Plus Chief Quesada, twenty-eight. I think my math is correct, sir. We are not at 32 sworn police officers.

If you want to insist that you have two ready officers that are, one ready officer who's assigned to an academy.

[Speaker 1] (12:01 - 12:03)
You have two additional officers. You don't have...

[Speaker 3] (12:03 - 12:25)
We have one ready, we have one ready officer who is assigned to the Police Academy starting August 1st, the first ROC in Linfield. I'm the lead PT instructor and have that attendance list. We have a second candidate who was given a conditional offer, John Quesada, who just finished his medical requirements to which I am trying to get him into this August Academy.

That would be the second...

[Speaker 1] (12:25 - 12:35)
Are those positions vacant? Yes. No.

They are... Can I ask you... Except for conditional offers.

Are those positions... Can you fill positions that you have conditional offers accepted for?

[Speaker 3] (12:35 - 12:51)
Can I ask you... No, you can't. We have...

Why can I... This is a public comment, correct, sir? It is a public...

Can I ask you a question, sir? Sure. Do we have 32 sworn police officers as recommended by post and police reform duly enacted July 1st of 2021?

[Speaker 1] (12:51 - 12:54)
You have 32 full-time equivalent positions. You have...

[Speaker 3] (12:54 - 13:13)
Sir, you did not answer the question. You have two vacancies. Listen, sir.

Kevin... I am not here to debate 2 plus 2 equals 5. Look, you have...

I'm telling you what our roster states and I ask you, the select board, if you would like a copy of this roster, I will provide it to you. These are the only people that can work in this town at this moment.

[Speaker 1] (13:14 - 13:33)
Kevin, you're on the front page of today's paper. I appreciate that. This is...

I'll read your quote. We have 16 patrolmen, 5 sergeants, 4 lieutenants, 1 captain and 1 chief, making it 27. You don't have, you know...

Can I ask why this is not... You don't have 5 sergeants. We have 6 sergeants, you know...

[Speaker 8] (13:33 - 13:45)
Can I interject here, please? Can I please interject to say that not too long ago, there were folks in the audience who reminded us on the board to speak to each other with love and respect and I would hope that you two can do the same.

[Speaker 3] (13:45 - 13:47)
Thank you, Ms. Fallon. I appreciate that.

[Speaker 8] (13:47 - 13:49)
Please lower your tones and speak to each other respectfully.

[Speaker 3] (13:50 - 13:50)
Thank you.

[Speaker 8] (13:50 - 13:51)
Thank you.

[Speaker 3] (13:52 - 15:27)
If I may continue, there are 28 people that enter the building in the Swampscott Police Department per requirement of post. A person who is not duly sworn as an officer is not considered an officer until they take that oath. I understand that the administrator may be suggesting that those vacancies are filled.

That's fantastic. I hope that three more are filled. In the event of that, we have a sergeant who withdrew his retirement papers and there are two more who are eligible to retire March 2nd of 2023.

We are going to be at a consistent loss as we progress forward. Town advertised 32 sworn police officers. The flowchart that the administrator may be showing might also have an animal control officer or police administrative assistants.

An animal control officer cannot respond to your 9-1-1 call. The only one who can respond to a 9-1-1 call is a sworn police officer. So even if a candidate has a conditional offer, they have no impact on the town until eight months after, if eight months, after they start the Police Academy.

Our first conditional offer has not started the Police Academy. I'm not here about semantics on numbers. I'm asking about why did it take until now that we're looking at one offer and then an additional second offer, but yet we're still down three.

We have been established, and it's been documented in years past, 32 sworn police officers.

[Speaker 1] (15:27 - 15:32)
So look, Kevin, you're retreading some of the ground. I want to address a couple points.

[Speaker 2] (15:32 - 15:34)
Sean, can we just wrap this up?

[Speaker 1] (15:34 - 16:50)
I think it's gravely inappropriate for you to suggest that there's negligence here and that somehow, in some way, you know, the union didn't have information about the type of process and the type of officers that we were looking to hire. I've sent emails to you. I've provided you with detailed information about what we're looking for.

We have a test. Frankly, we had that test a few days before the holidays. We had 40 individuals come and take that test, and frankly, we didn't get the type of turnout that I was expecting.

I'd like to have another test. I've asked Chief Quesada and frankly talked to Chief Kurz about making sure we get another test out there so that we can get more applicants sooner and help engage communities that we haven't been able to reach out to to apply for these jobs. These are important jobs.

Are you suggesting that we need to do that? I absolutely think we can do a better job, and I think, you know, the work that we've done, frankly, needs to reach out. And I've talked to you about going to colleges and universities, sending staff from Swanson to different places.

We need to get that test back up on a calendar before the holidays.

[Speaker 2] (16:52 - 16:54)
Respectfully, can we wrap this up?

[Speaker 3] (16:54 - 16:57)
If I can respond to this, then I'll be finished for the night.

[Speaker 2] (16:57 - 16:57)
Please do.

[Speaker 3] (16:58 - 17:41)
Thank you. To that, I have not seen the reports in Exclusive that were given to you, but I've been offered that they have specifically, in detail, expressed how diligent our process is. I know that you have them.

I expect that you'll finish reading them, and I expect that you'll come to the same conclusion that we have, that we have out-surpassed any imagination whatsoever. And the person that's presenting today, this week, at the International Chiefs of Police Association on a national level, our template, who is nationally recognized as the expert, also believes that we did, too. I thank you for your time.

Have a good night.

[Speaker 2] (17:42 - 17:42)
Thank you.

[Speaker 1] (17:49 - 17:50)
What was that, Brendan?

[Speaker 8] (17:52 - 18:01)
Any more public comment?

[Speaker 2] (18:03 - 18:16)
There's a hand raised on Zoom. Cynthia Tennant. Hello, Ms. Tennant.

[Speaker 6] (18:17 - 24:16)
Hi, I am Cynthia Tennant. I am the resident commissioner on the board of the Swanscot Housing Authority. I am the vice president of the Swanscot Senior Tenants Association.

I have lived in Swanscot since November 25, 1947. I think I know a little bit about the time. There was something very wrong, and I think the situation you just watched, the interaction between our town administrator and the police spokesman, is indicative of what's happening.

Something is seriously wrong. There is no courtesy. People are bullied, they're abused, they're ignored.

They're treated as if they're non-citizens, and people that live at the Swanscot Housing Authority feel that way, too. I am here tonight because you were going to be talking about ACARFA funding, the allocation. The Housing Authority has been attempting to secure ACARFA funding since last fall.

We have attempted to talk to people on the board. They have ignored us. We have attempted to talk to the town administrator, and what we get is like yelling into our tin can.

It just comes back in our face. Obviously, this select board, the previous one, and the one before that, have an agenda that totally cuts outside the original intent of this town. This was a wonderful town, and we cared about each other.

We cared whether the police department was fully stacked. We cared whether the fire department had everybody they needed, and the money they needed. We learned so much into, let's take property and build condos or restaurants.

Something is wrong. We have met with the town administrator. Our chair and executive director have put forward the needs of the housing authority.

Everybody in Swanscot agrees, along with everybody else in the country, there is a need for affordable housing. However, affordable housing is not necessarily public housing, and we are talking about public housing in Swanscot. We have needs, and because DHCD has not stepped up to the plate in the 60 years we've been around, and because the town has backed off from their responsibility of sustaining the public housing in Swanscot, it's falling down around our ears.

When we come to you for help and tell you we need funding, we need our money, and give you a list of the things that we need, we're told we are not here to revitalize old buildings. We're not here for renovations. We want something new.

We want affordable housing. Well, affordable housing is for-profit housing. Public housing is not for profit.

And there are people living here, right now, 122 units of Swanscot public housing that have nowhere else to go, and it's up to you as the select board of this town and the administrator of this town to listen to us. We've been treated like we're the red-headed stepchildren out in the backyard. We are offended at your behavior.

We are offended at the fact that you won't even listen to our executive director when she lays out the things you need. I'm sitting here tonight with my knee the size of a basketball because I have fallen in my walker on big cracks and holes in the street. I don't see the town of Swanscot stepping up to the plate and ever fixing the sidewalks or streets in the Swanscot public housing units.

Doesn't happen. We exist on the rents, and the money that we get is DHCV. We are looking to you for part of this ARPA funding.

Wynn has, even though Wynn has much more public housing than we do, and some of it is HUD housing, not DHCV, they have been able to allocate ARPA funds to all of their public housing. We want to know exactly what this town intends to give us. We are looking for things that are necessary.

[Speaker 2] (24:17 - 24:25)
We're looking for sprinkler assistance. Ms. Tennant, respectfully, I think I understand your point. I don't want to rush you if you have more things to say.

[Speaker 6] (24:27 - 25:30)
I do have more things to say. I think that there is a problem with the moral compass of this town. We need to get our priorities back in place.

You have an executive director and a housing authority board that care about the people that live in public housing in Swanscot, that want to make people's lives better, and all we're doing is bucking up against the wall. I'm not going to name names, and I'm not going to get into pointing fingers, but I'll tell you right now, my grandparents would turn over in their grave if they saw the way the chairman of the Swanscot Housing Authority has been treated, and the way that Mr. Fitzgerald treats the people here. The committee has written many times, we have called out and not responded.

We have called you and no response.

[Speaker 2] (25:51 - 26:00)
also exhibit, that would be really helpful. I think Mr. Grishman would like to have a comment or respond to some of what you said.

[Speaker 7] (26:00 - 27:22)
Yeah. Hi, Cynthia. This is David.

I'm the liaison to the housing authority for those watching. And we did have a productive meeting probably about two months ago with the town administrator, with the finance director, with the chair of the housing authority, and with the executive director and myself. And we had a good, open, and honest conversation whereby additional information was supposed to be provided for us to review and for an ongoing conversation to continue between the town and the Swampscott Housing Authority.

To date, maybe I've missed an email, but if that information is available, please send my way. I want to make sure that I'm as responsive and that we can continue to have these conversations. But to be accused that we're not having conversations and that we're not trying to communicate and collaborate is simply untrue.

So please, Cynthia, send me that information, and we can get another meeting on the calendar with the town administrator, with the executive director, and with various parties so we can continue to communicate and continue to collaborate and work together on improving Swampscott Housing.

[Speaker 6] (27:23 - 27:44)
David, I thank you very much. I think this is a matter of perception. Your perception of that meeting is that it was productive, but what we were told and what we were given, the information we were given from that meeting, was that it was totally non-productive and people were very discouraged.

[Speaker 7] (27:46 - 28:34)
Considering that that was the first conversation that all of us have had, where we all sat in a room and all looked to address this, I thought it was productive. Considering that maybe eight to 10 months before, there was a shouting match at one of our meetings. So the fact that we were able to sit down and have a conversation, I thought was productive, because I don't believe that's happened in decades.

So again, we need to take baby steps and we need to build that trust between the town and all the related parties. So I wanna be a part of that solution. So I don't think it's gonna be productive to point fingers and what have you.

Let's just collaborate and figure out how we can continue to work and move forward. Thanks. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

[Speaker 6] (28:34 - 28:47)
We are looking forward that the new people on the board will have some input and will at least meet with the housing authority and listen to our problems. Thank you.

[Speaker 2] (28:47 - 30:01)
Okay, thank you, Ms. Tennant. There's a public comment through email. Gina Bush on Highland Road asked me to read an email that she had sent earlier to the board.

She said she's been following the select board meetings and aware of the discussion of the process and allocation of ARPA funds. As you are aware, the senior center staff is frontline working every day from the very beginning of COVID. In fact, when the town shut down and all buildings were closed, the senior center was open fielding all calls from the community on where to find resources, delivering 100 meals a day to vulnerable seniors, handing out masks to all community members, developing programming for television to keep seniors engaged and pivoting all services to meet the needs of the community based on the criteria stated in the last meeting and your goal as a board to show appreciation to former employees who worked tirelessly during the height of the pandemic.

I hope you will consider the senior center staff. So that's that comment. Is there another hand raise or is that still Cynthia?

Ted Dooley. Okay. Hi, can you hear me?

Hi, Ted.

[Speaker 11] (30:03 - 30:38)
Hi, Ted Dooley, 59 Puritan Road. Just wanted to say I was out in the harbor today and saw the sailing program and the paddleboard program that you guys just got up and running again. All the participants out in the harbor today doing their sailing and paddleboarding and wanted to give your board and the town employees some praise on that.

It's awesome seeing the harbor and the waterfront being used by some of the young people in town and wanted to thank you for helping keep those programs float and great work, so thank you.

[Speaker 2] (30:39 - 30:44)
Thanks, Ted. Bill Demento.

[Speaker 12] (30:51 - 30:58)
People quote Bill Demento, Paradise Road. Can you hear me?

[Speaker 13] (30:58 - 30:58)
Yep, yep.

[Speaker 12] (31:00 - 31:21)
My question is last week, Amy told Katie that the funds, the ARPA funds could not be revisited for the ununionized people. Is anyone going to tell the truth about that tonight before you get too deep into your meeting? Thank you.

[Speaker 2] (31:25 - 32:54)
Thanks, Bill. Any other public comment? Okay, so the first item on our agenda is we're not going to do that tonight.

It's a staffing announcement that we're going to make, but we're going to hold off on that because people aren't available, so we're going to move to the ARPA funding allocation process overview and timeline. I think Amy Saro's here, Director of Finance and Administration, to provide us, you know, we've obviously had a lot of conversations about ARPA funding over the last few weeks, and I think we're ripe for a conversation about how, you know, the process may be going forward for the remainder and majority of those funds, the remaining, whatever it is, $4.4 million. Amy can provide the details there, but I think this is to kick off that conversation and for the board to provide feedback on what they'd like to see, and I appreciate Amy joining us tonight and putting this together, given all the other work that you have to do with the end of year and everything else that you're managing.

So thanks for joining us tonight and providing this information.

[Speaker 4] (32:57 - 38:41)
Yeah, do you mind? Just scroll down. So just a little overview.

The town is eligible to receive an award of $4,572,677, and we do have to have all of these funds obligated by December 31st, 2024. Sorry, I'm just, thanks, Joe. The purpose of these funds is to ensure the governments have the resources that they need to fight the pandemic and support families and businesses struggling with public health and economic impacts, maintain vital public services amid declines in revenue, and build a strong, resilient, and equitable recovery in making investments that support long-term growth and recovery.

I'm gonna go through these next two slides pretty quickly just because they're exactly the same as the last presentation. These are just an overview of fund uses. The replacement of public sector revenue.

This is what was utilized at town meeting as well as last week. And this is a standard allowance that can be used up to our total award or $10 million, whichever is lesser. And then the additional uses are to support the COVID-19 public health and economic response, invest in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure, and capital expenditures.

Go to more. The restricted uses on slide six. Thank you.

We cannot use it to reduce net tax revenue. We can't offset our taxes with it. We can't deposit into pension funds, use it for debt service or replenishment of financial reserves, cannot be used for any settlements or judgments, and cannot be used for anything that undermines COVID-19 mitigation practices as described by the CDC.

So for our project submittals, this is the timeline where we are going to have submittals for responses. I believe the VFW and some other outside organizations have reached out to the town administrator requesting to sit down to discuss use of ARPA funds. Our internal department heads have also been given a memo outlining exactly the criteria that they should be looking at to discuss any projects that they believe would be a good use to be presented for this purpose, at which time we will be evaluating the eligibility of this under the four categories as well as the subcategories that are outlined in the interim final rule from the treasury.

We'll do an internal review of those projects similar to, I guess, the capital project. We'll do a project selection survey, project selection, and then we'll be presenting to the select board. There'll be ongoing presentations to the select board.

It's not that you guys actually don't find anything out till the end. Our target is mid-September to have these projects, proposals, and ideas presented to you. The eligibility as discussed is to respond to the public health emergency, to respond to workers performing essential functions, the provision of government services, and necessary investments.

This next slide just shows some project examples. We do have a regional working group as well as I am part of a national working group on ARPA funds and their uses. So these were things that have been discussed with other communities of an idea for uses, so such as vaccination efforts, improvements to public health, modernization of cybersecurity, environmental remediation.

We are going to be rolling out a community survey within the working groups I'm in. We've requested copies of surveys that other communities have done. And as of the time that I walked in here, I've already received three from other communities.

So myself and the assistant town administrator, Mr. Kane, will be putting a survey together to put on our website. It'll go on the banner and we'll be doing plenty of outreach to make sure that residents and businesses are responding to it so that we can get that community feedback, see what they believe, the businesses and the residents believe are needs and good uses for this money, and what they really feel would give the most impact to them. These screenshots are from Salem on the top and Lynn on the bottom, since they both shared with us their surveys and responses.

And if the board's interested, I can share their survey feedback with you as well. Somerville was the other community that's already shared their survey with us. And do you have any questions?

[Speaker 7] (38:43 - 39:01)
So Ms. Saro, other than the community survey, what other, how else can the community be involved with this process? What else are we doing? Are we having open meetings?

Is there gonna be a working group that would involve citizens? Thoughts there or?

[Speaker 4] (39:01 - 40:09)
Yep, so right now we have the internal working group, which is our department heads, as well as key non-department head staff like the public health nurse to come up with projects. We do encourage anyone in the community who has an idea to reach out. You can email me directly.

My email is asaro, S as in Sam, A-R-R-O, at swamps.ma.gov. And we really wanna utilize these once-in-a-lifetime funds the best that we can and in the way that makes the greatest impact. So anyone that has feedback can do so. We also do plan on discussing this with the board as much as you guys will let me.

And I would encourage anyone to also come to those meetings and comment if they don't have an opportunity to do so beforehand. But we can definitely do open meetings with the public. And if the board wishes to do so, you can also choose to form a working group that's a hybrid of staff and volunteers.

[Speaker 7] (40:10 - 40:30)
And then just one thing for community outreach that I thought was successful with television visioning was we actually included a survey with one of the water boards. That actually touched folks that don't, that may not be on our email list or may not be on social media. So maybe that's an idea that could be implemented as well.

[Speaker 4] (40:30 - 40:44)
Yeah, I can definitely talk to the other departments who do regular mailings. I'll also speak with the clerk's office because I don't know how this, if it would time with any of our election mailings as well. Sure, thank you.

Thank you.

[Speaker 8] (40:44 - 40:49)
I just have a quick follow-up. Will the survey be available in a hard copy form for those who don't have access?

[Speaker 4] (40:49 - 40:51)
We can definitely make it available in hard.

[Speaker 8] (40:51 - 40:54)
And then maybe that would be available at town hall or something like that if you came down.

[Speaker 4] (40:55 - 40:59)
Yeah, we're also looking at providing it in multiple languages as well. Perfect.

[Speaker 8] (41:00 - 41:13)
And could you do some sort of communication with the library so that if folks came to the library and wanted to use the internet to do the survey that they would understand what they're asking to do and how to facilitate it?

[Speaker 4] (41:13 - 41:16)
Yeah, I'll coordinate that with the library director. That's a great idea. Thank you.

[Speaker 5] (41:17 - 41:48)
Amy, I have a couple questions. The finance, so we did have a working, you did have a working group. There was a working group.

The finance committee did have a representative there. And I know the finance committee's recommendation was to use the majority of funds for infrastructure. And they also supported hiring the consulting group to evaluate our diversity needs.

Is there a plan that the finance committee is gonna be involved in this?

[Speaker 4] (41:48 - 41:59)
Yes, so we'll be involving the finance committee. And if there are any proposals that include capital, we'll be including the capital improvement committee as well.

[Speaker 5] (41:59 - 42:44)
Okay, great. So my next question is, so last week, I think it might've been a little bit confusing when we were going over numbers that were being pandemic monies that were going to staffing. Now, I know that you and Sean decided what funds were going to what individuals at Town Hall or Town Hall and other non-union employees.

So one question I have is, if anyone that was a non-union employee felt that their compensation was not equitable for their service, do they have a mechanism to appeal what they received? How is that being handled?

[Speaker 4] (42:45 - 43:52)
Yeah, so anyone who wishes to bring up a concern with what they received, Sean has encouraged anyone to come to himself or the assistant town administrator to discuss it. Okay. And just to clarify, Katie, because I didn't want to mislead you last week, the question as to whether or not we could readdress these funds if it was voted down last week, the motion was if the inactive employees were removed from the list, we would not be able to readdress them.

So a motion's made to exclude any inactive people from the use of ARPA funds. You would never have a chance to give those individuals the money again. It does not preclude us from using it for the same purpose in the future if that's something that anyone wants to do.

Because the inactive employees don't work here anymore, they can't perform additional functions to qualify them. If that makes sense. Your face looks like it doesn't make sense.

[Speaker 8] (43:52 - 44:08)
Yeah, so the question that I was trying to ask was if we did not vote, if we reduced the list, could we then do a secondary list for non-union employees?

[Speaker 4] (44:09 - 44:15)
Yeah, so you can do a second list. And I apologize if I answered a question separate to what you intended to ask.

[Speaker 8] (44:16 - 44:16)
Okay.

[Speaker 4] (44:17 - 44:34)
You can do a second list. Like you can propose a whole new list as long as those employees are active. Where the motion that was made was to reduce it by inactive employees, those people could never end up on another list.

[Speaker 8] (44:34 - 44:44)
Correct, if we moved to take inactive employees out of the bucket, we can't put them back in the bucket. I understand that, that I understood. Okay, but the question I was asking was the latter, so thank you for clarifying.

[Speaker 4] (44:44 - 44:58)
Yeah, so to Mary Ellen's point, if anyone did come forward and felt that they were missed or unfairly compensated, then it would not exclude us from utilizing that, yeah.

[Speaker 5] (44:58 - 45:53)
So my next question is, I went back and I looked at my information from contracts while I was on the finance committee. And I looked at the DPW, I looked at all the contracts, DPW, police, library, and town admins. And on town admin and DPW and library, I did not see a pandemic award in there at all.

However, in the select board meeting that you had on 422, it was referred that they received a pandemic award. So I'm just trying to get clarification on DPW, what was their pandemic award? The town administrative assistants, what was their award?

And library, what was their award? And is there clarity on what their awards were?

[Speaker 4] (45:54 - 46:16)
Yep, so everything that was negotiated in those collective bargaining agreements were negotiated as one-time payments. The police union was the only one that wanted to indicate that it was a pandemic response bonus. Because each of these bargaining units worked during the pandemic, we were able to qualify it under ARPA, but they did not negotiate it specifically to be paid through ARPA.

[Speaker 5] (46:16 - 47:29)
Because what it looked like to me, it looked like we used ARPA money to pay for the clerical changes, the actual changes to the contracts. But it looks like they gave up enormous, not enormous, but they gave up things in exchange of giving up items. For example, I think the admins gave up a day off.

Was it a day off? There was a number of things. They gave things up, including DPW.

They gave up a, or they added a GPS tracker, and they added a clock, time clock. So when I look at that, I think, did they give up the GPS tracker, add the addition of a GPS tracker, and the time clock for that compensation, and the compensation was paid for out of ARPA, or was there also a pandemic response portion in that? It's really not clear.

And when I read the police, the police received $1,500 each. So do they know how much they got? What did they actually get?

Because it's a little fuzzy, and I'd like it to be a little less fuzzy.

[Speaker 4] (47:30 - 47:50)
Yeah, so all of the unions should be very clear on what they received. They've already received it, and it is outlined in their contracts of all the one-time payments that they have received. The funding source of that is the directive of the town to determine the most appropriate funding source, and that was what we did at Article 4 at town meeting was.

[Speaker 5] (47:51 - 48:04)
Right, I understand the funding source. I understand the funding source, but what I don't understand is what the breakdown was, and do they understand what is the breakdown that they got for coming in and being on the front line during this pandemic?

[Speaker 4] (48:05 - 48:58)
Yeah, I can't speak to what they understand. I just know that- What do you understand? So during any of the negotiations that I was involved in, which I wasn't involved in all of them, there was indication from each of the unions that they wanted to be compensated for the fact that they were public-facing, they were working through the pandemic.

So it was a factor in all of them. I do remember one union rep specifically saying that other communities were using their ARPA funding to give all their union members X amount of money. So it was something that was discussed through all of them.

It just wasn't specifically outlined as this much is specifically because of pandemic response, this much is for concessions. It was just an overall number.

[Speaker 1] (49:01 - 52:20)
So again, we can bring back the PowerPoint that we put together that itemizes each of the cost items in collective bargaining. We can kind of go through the philosophy of the give and get negotiations that we've implemented over the last several contract cycles to really just help you and help everybody understand that when we sit down and negotiate with each of these collective bargaining groups, they are all different. They all have different needs and different wants.

Like some of our unions have steps and lanes, some have provisions where we were looking to get more management rights, but we did try to really focus on using some of the ARPA funds to really support supplemental compensation for the staff that have really done extraordinary work. And with every one of these negotiations, we went in there with the intent of really using this contract cycle as a unique opportunity to renumerate our staff and just let them know that we really appreciate the work that they've been doing. But with every contract cycle, these are three-year contracts, and we don't get many bites at the apple when it comes to bringing parity for personnel days.

You know, when you have town staff or library staff that do similar administrative work, we wanna kind of think about parity. We don't generally think that way with the police department or the DPW department. They do different things and they have different responsibilities.

And so we use a different mindset when we think about that continuity of work that all of the unions do. That said, you know, all of the unions have different priorities. And I, as the town administrator, I don't go in there and think, geez, we're gonna do a one-size-fits-all for everybody.

What I try to do is listen to the members and our initial conversations are, what do you need, what are you looking for? And, you know, I will sit down and I will present some of the town's needs for the DPW that you had mentioned. GPS, you know, was helpful, helps us kind of figure out during the snowstorms or operations, you know, where staff are.

That's a security and safety reason, but it also is a deployment of resources, you know, focus. That said, we have that detailed information and we can kind of go back over that. I generally think, though, Amy and town staff, finance staff, really tried to focus on a very prudent and careful use of ARPA and general fund cost of living increases to help ensure that we had really good, solid contracts.

I believe that all the contracts were supported, with the exception of the fire department. I am currently negotiating that and we've already outlined some pretty healthy remuneration for that contract and it's my hope that we can roll that up to the board and probably non-public sometime over the next few weeks and see if we can get closure on that. That would wrap up all of the town contracts and I think that's been a huge amount of work and, you know, these are multi-year contracts and, you know, we'll have a couple of years of hopefully, you know, stability with those contracts.

[Speaker 5] (52:21 - 53:19)
I just want to make sure that people that were working on the front line of this, if we've made a decision that we were giving financial compensation to people that were working on the front line of this, that it is equitable or as close to equitable as possible, especially for some of the unions that are, you know, I see unions that are all female and I question, you know, why their percentages are a little lower or whatever and then when I look at it and I see that there's no line item that says pandemic on it, and I look at the police line and it says pandemic, that's where my question is coming from. So if you said you've negotiated with them and they understand that they are getting a pandemic bonus, then you answer my question.

I just want to make sure that they understand that they did get a pandemic financial package in there. Trying to get away from the B word.

[Speaker 2] (53:19 - 53:43)
I want to get back to just the process and timeline that you laid out. So when you say mid-September, I know that's the target and I know there's potential meetings in between, but is that, you're targeting that for a presentation of like sort of the focus list of potential projects or not the final list of potential projects?

[Speaker 4] (53:43 - 54:04)
Correct, that would be the initial list of ideas for the board to consider to create the ARPA plan. So it would be the start of that development. Initial list of ideas for the board to consider to create the ARPA plan.

So it would be the start of that.

[Speaker 13] (54:04 - 54:10)
That's weird. Thanks, someone's got it.

[Speaker 4] (54:14 - 54:15)
It's still echoing.

[Speaker 2] (54:19 - 54:21)
Does that need to be muted? It's still echoing.

[Speaker 13] (54:33 - 54:36)
Oh, I think we're good. Thanks.

[Speaker 2] (54:39 - 55:24)
That was really strange because you weren't talking and I was like, is she talking and am I passing out right now? So is that mid-September? It's hard to, maybe hard to answer this, but like what's the date, these projects need to be done by the end of 2024, right?

Yes. So when do you, when are we feeling comfortable that, like, I mean, obviously we don't wanna be finishing them on December 31st of 2024. Like when do we feel comfortable that we need to be finalizing this process after, like if the process is essentially like kicking off in mid-September, like when is it ending?

End of 2022?

[Speaker 4] (55:24 - 56:20)
I would definitely say even with a long stretch, we would want it, the plan finalized no later than the end of calendar 2022, because we do want to allow the time for these projects to be completed. One of the things that has been requested from the department heads is to give a timeline and an estimated time of completion for any project they propose. So that way we know, the board knows, and the public knows that if this project comes out, it's going to have to go through a procurement process.

We're gonna have to do all this. So how long that timeline is, and if that's something the public and the board and finance committee and capital all agree is a priority, you could approve that to move forward and then focus on remainders. So you don't have to approve the plan in one meeting.

[Speaker 1] (56:20 - 58:15)
So I just wanna just share, in the event that we have to make a split second decision at some point early in 2023, we have millions of dollars worth of public infrastructure that we can dedicate these funds to. But that's not generally what I've asked the staff to kind of say, look, we're gonna be doing a lot of water and sewer projects. These funds can go to those projects, but I would like to think we could inspire some really exciting ideas and really do some things that would be next to impossible without the thought of using these ARPA dollars.

And frankly, helping support some affordable housing or looking uniquely at the housing authority or other needs has been a top priority. And I've shared that with the meetings that we've had with housing authority and we've asked for lists of projects. So we are eager to engage the community.

We want groups to really think about where are our opportunities to support important investments in Swampskip. So that said, we're gonna engage the community. We thought starting in the middle of August is difficult with vacation schedules.

So we wanted to bring it into the first few weeks of September when schools are back in and perhaps we can engage some of our younger citizens as well and have a poll and really try to get a few different engagement activities going that give people a chance to really think broadly.

[Speaker 2] (58:16 - 58:24)
So just to be clear too, I think that, so the engagement process isn't ending in the middle of September?

[Speaker 4] (58:25 - 58:36)
We're intending for it to end in the middle of September. It will be rolling out most likely mid-August and open for about four weeks for people to have adequate time to respond.

[Speaker 2] (58:37 - 58:49)
So I would suggest that that's extended. Okay. At least a month or two, especially if we're getting down to like a more focused list that we want feedback.

[Speaker 4] (58:49 - 59:04)
Well, we can do two separate surveys. We can do an initial survey to see so broadly what people want. And then once we have a more refined list, we can put that out for public feedback as well.

[Speaker 2] (59:04 - 1:00:45)
Yeah, that's great. I think along the lines of some of the questions David and Katie were asking, I think it's more than just a survey. I think that it's, again, making sure that it's available in as many places as possible.

Also potential, I mean, we definitely dedicated meetings to this as well as whether those are special select board meetings or other types of meetings. And I think that we should make a real effort to be going to certain places to make sure they have the survey and the information such as the housing authority, such as the veterans, such as senior center. And the paper forms are there, but it's not just dropping off a stack of papers that we're actually, and again, we, can be us too, giving people information, having a conversation about it.

I think certainly there are certainly plenty of events where we could just piggyback some outreach too. So I would really encourage thinking outside of just a survey. And again, like I said in the beginning, I appreciate you putting this together in a quick timeframe and then knowing how much you're doing.

So it's not to be critical. I just, I want it to be as robust as possible and as inclusive as possible for as long as possible before the decisions are made.

[Speaker 8] (1:00:47 - 1:01:23)
I have one more thought too, which is I think I understood you said that Sean put forth like a rubric to department heads to say like, this is the call for you guys to come up with ideas. If we could sort of put a similar memo together for the public and post it on the website, so people understand like how to propose it to you. I know you said to call, but if you put forth a rubric or a structure, that's going to give people a jumping off point.

And then somebody who might not want to do it, they're going to say, okay, well, I'll just fill in these blanks and that's somewhere to start. And you might come forth with a lot more ideas that way.

[Speaker 1] (1:01:24 - 1:02:48)
Great idea. I also think we, you know, to Neil's point, we have to go on the roadshow. We need to go visit our veterans.

We need to go sit with our seniors. We need to talk to, you know, our small business community. We really need to, you know, go meet them and see them.

I know that in this still linger of the pandemic here, the virtual stuff, it just matters if we engage them. And so we're planning on taking the show on the road and making sure that folks really don't lose that opportunity. We want to make sure that we, you know, really give people a sense that they can contribute.

That said, I do think I've seen the survey work in a number of different communities. Our Assistant Town Administrator and HR Director, Pete Kane is really good at surveys. And I think we can use that to collect data from boards and committees and really, you know, inspire some really good conversations with the select board because ultimately it'll come back to you and you will help kind of define, you know, how these dollars can be synergized.

It's interesting too, that we're starting the capital improvement process this week because, you know, the thought is that perhaps, you know, we can use this year's capital plan to really excite, you know, the most functional use of these dollars.

[Speaker 7] (1:02:50 - 1:03:24)
And the use of the dollars would also include revitalization of Humphrey Street, if that was the will. Right now we're talking about losing parking spaces in front of some of the restaurants. So if the plan is to expand outdoor dining and making that a permanent solution in town, maybe there's the opportunity to bring some magic to the streets of Humphrey Street and expand that outdoor dining and do that in a way that's permanent and safe and accessible.

[Speaker 1] (1:03:24 - 1:04:07)
All those ideas, we need as big of ideas as we can. Amy is very rigorous in terms of what gets through the federal designations of eligibility, but- I have to certify it, so. My hope is the feds will continue to be more helpful over the next few months as we get closer to, you know, the timelines that they've set.

We've got to get these money, these dollars into the economy. And, you know, we want to keep faith with that, but we, you know, I don't certainly want to do the same old, same old. I really, I would love to see, you know, other benefits come to life.

[Speaker 2] (1:04:10 - 1:04:19)
Okay, great. Any more comments on that? Thank you, Amy, for putting that together.

I appreciate it.

[Speaker 4] (1:04:19 - 1:04:20)
Thank you.

[Speaker 2] (1:04:21 - 1:05:41)
Next item on the agenda is the Select Board and Board and Committee Handbooks, as well as the Code of Conduct revisions. We, the former, previous Select Board, approved a Select Board Handbook, Board and Committee Handbook, and a Code of Conduct in the spring. The Select Board Handbook had been reviewed by Town Council, and we are awaiting comments on the other two, which we now have, and actually additional comments on the Select Board Handbook.

So this, I'm considering a first read of these revisions, and wanted to review them and hopefully, you know, approve these red lines, the red lines of these handbooks at a meeting in August at our second read. So I don't, I do not intend to go through page by page, but I'm also happy to, you know, go, if people had a chance to review them, we can go to certain comments and discuss. And if people haven't, then you can review them, and we can discuss at our next meeting where we hopefully approve them.

So I don't know how much you've looked at them, and if there are any questions.

[Speaker 8] (1:05:47 - 1:06:24)
I do have one question about public comment. Okay. In section G1.

So is it? Which? I'm sorry, the Select Board Handbook.

Chapter. This is page, there's no page number, so that's not helpful. Let me open this up.

Chapter 3, G, Citizen Participation 1. So we, it was listed as resident comment, but now it is public comment. So is the idea that any, any member of the public could participate regardless of whether they are SwampSky resident or not, correct?

[Speaker 13] (1:06:24 - 1:06:25)
Yeah.

[Speaker 8] (1:06:25 - 1:06:26)
Okay, I just want to be clear.

[Speaker 5] (1:06:27 - 1:06:29)
Why did we go from resident to public?

[Speaker 2] (1:06:30 - 1:06:34)
I think originally it was resident, and KP changed it to public.

[Speaker 8] (1:06:34 - 1:06:35)
Yeah.

[Speaker 2] (1:06:35 - 1:06:43)
And I think that's because, First Amendment rights. Yeah, it can't be just resident comment, it has to be public.

[Speaker 5] (1:06:43 - 1:06:44)
Good to know.

[Speaker 2] (1:06:45 - 1:07:19)
Yeah, all the red lines, but for one comment that I think I pointed out in the email to you, all of this is language that KP provided. Okay. Yeah.

And most of it's clarifying, but. Any other questions? Okay, thanks for looking those over, and then hopefully we can approve those at our next meeting.

[Speaker 1] (1:07:20 - 1:07:28)
Next item is, I'm sorry, could you take the appointments out of order just because we have a couple of them?

[Speaker 2] (1:07:28 - 1:07:41)
Oh, sure, yeah, yeah, good, thank you, sorry. The next, we're gonna take, if the board will indulge, we're gonna take the, take some items out of order and do these committee appointments.

[Speaker 8] (1:07:42 - 1:07:42)
Let's do it.

[Speaker 2] (1:07:42 - 1:08:06)
That's okay? Yep. So we have Conservation Commission new appointment, Richard Simmons, and also Solid Waste Advisory Committee new appointments for Kathy Mick and Alex Smullen.

Looks like some folks are here, potentially, for these. All right, thank you for coming, and I apologize for making you wait.

[Speaker 1] (1:08:09 - 1:09:00)
So, John, I. Yeah, I've had a chance to speak with each of these individuals. They are all eminently qualified.

They all have, I think, an extraordinary commitment to public service, and all could be serving in federal appointments in many levels. We're fortunate to have a lot of extraordinary citizens, so Richard Simmons is here. Richard has spent some time helping Swampskate in any number of capacities.

I would welcome you, Richard, to say a few words or share a little thought or two about how you would like to use your position at the CONCOMM or anything that you really wanna accomplish as a member of that really important regulatory board.

[Speaker 9] (1:09:00 - 1:10:14)
Thank you, Sean. I am new to the Conservation Commission. I have never served on that board, although I was a member of the Board of Assessors in the town of Linfield, and the assessing manager for the town of Belmont, North Reading, and Linfield at separate periods of time.

So I'm very familiar with municipal government and how it works. I was asked by Tony Brandowitz, who's the chair of the Conservation Commission, if I'd consider being a member. I've been active on the Swampskate Conservancy for a couple of years.

I'm on the board and am very interested in giving access of public land to people and getting them to start using it and start enjoying it. Swampskate's very limited in the amount of public land they have, and Tony on the Conservancy has been very good about expanding our trail system into the city of Salem, which we're trying to do with the Conservancy. Anyways, that's some of my background.

Happy to answer any questions you might have.

[Speaker 2] (1:10:15 - 1:10:24)
I have no questions. I'll just say thank you for volunteering, and it sounds like you're bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge to the position, so.

[Speaker 9] (1:10:25 - 1:10:26)
I hope so.

[Speaker 2] (1:10:26 - 1:10:27)
Thank you.

[Speaker 9] (1:10:28 - 1:10:28)
Thank you.

[Speaker 1] (1:10:32 - 1:10:38)
So I, Kathy? I'm sorry. Alex?

No, they're not here.

[Speaker 13] (1:10:38 - 1:10:41)
Nope. They're not here. They're not here.

I know. They're here for two.

[Speaker 5] (1:10:41 - 1:10:42)
Did you want to go on a committee?

[Speaker 2] (1:10:43 - 1:10:48)
Yeah, are you interested in volunteering We can do it right now. We can get you started.

[Speaker 5] (1:10:49 - 1:11:10)
You know, I did have a question, Mr. Minster. I get a lot of feedback from people saying how hard it is to get their application in to be on a committee and getting feedback, but you didn't have any challenges with that because...

[Speaker 9] (1:11:10 - 1:11:41)
No, because Tony was very familiar with me, because I'd served on the Swarovski Conservancy for a few years, and she knew my background as a real estate appraiser and as a real estate, as an assessor. She knew that I knew the ins and outs of town government, knew how it operated, and it seemed like a good match for her. So she actually approached me and asked me to become a member, and I was more than willing to because I've served on a lot of committees before.

[Speaker 5] (1:11:41 - 1:11:42)
Great, thank you.

[Speaker 1] (1:11:43 - 1:11:47)
She beat me to the punch because I was looking for something else, but... Right.

[Speaker 5] (1:11:49 - 1:11:50)
Thank you.

[Speaker 1] (1:11:51 - 1:12:08)
All right, so I did have an opportunity to speak with Kathy Mick and Alex Smullen. Both, frankly, are some of the most extraordinary people I've had a chance to meet. They're not here tonight, unless they're online.

[Speaker 13] (1:12:09 - 1:12:09)
No.

[Speaker 1] (1:12:09 - 1:14:38)
I believe so. So, Kathy is an attorney who has spent her career working in public health and has worked in a number of important regulatory positions with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She has a degree in law from New York Law School and has worked in a number of very professional data-driven positions.

I think she'll bring a whole host of skillsets to the Solid Waste Committee. I did try to lobby her to think about the Board of Health or some other opportunities to use her experience in healthcare, but she assured me that she would like to do some trash-talking. So I really wholeheartedly endorse her recommendation.

I also spoke with Alex Smullen. I've known Alex for the last five years that I've been here. She has been very, very active in local government.

She has served in elected office in Swanscot, but also was the chief of staff to a lieutenant governor. She has immense organizational skills and abilities. I, again, tried to persuade her to do any number of other things for the town, but she said she would like to trash-talk, too.

And so both of these individuals, I think, will bring a great deal of analytical and project management skills to a committee that really is helping Swanscot figure out how to take more responsibility for the trash we generate and the regulatory goal of getting more of our waste stream to a better purpose. We all know that the state has a 2030 plan to close all state landfills, and even though we've made some significant progress as a community, there's still much work for us to do to think about organics, to think about glass and other materials that don't find their way to repurpose. With that, certainly we could see if we can reschedule and have these individuals come back before the board or you can make these appointments.

I would love to have them come back because I do think they would inspire others to really think more critically about the responsibilities we all have to better manage our waste.

[Speaker 5] (1:14:39 - 1:15:01)
Well, they will be at the farmer's market this August because Solid Waste is going to have a table there to start educating people on what is recyclable and what's not recyclable. They'll have recyclable quizzes and games and stuff like that. But clearly, the Solid Waste Committee is the committee that you really want to get onto.

[Speaker 1] (1:15:02 - 1:15:17)
It's interesting to me. Usually trash committees aren't that popular, but this one is turning out to be pretty popular. Both were very interested in the idea of having some trashy music at the farmer's market too.

[Speaker 5] (1:15:18 - 1:15:26)
So you might- I didn't hear that. You might get some- I'll call them and see until I am the advisor. The liaison.

[Speaker 1] (1:15:26 - 1:15:29)
And maybe some compost bin raffles and trashy music.

[Speaker 7] (1:15:30 - 1:15:32)
So motion to approve.

[Speaker 8] (1:15:33 - 1:15:54)
I just have one more question. And this is not a reflection on these three individuals. I hear from the town administrator that they're overly qualified for these positions, but I just want to be clear about the process for which they came to these positions.

So are there other folks that applied for the position and these were vetted and decided these were the most qualified?

[Speaker 1] (1:15:54 - 1:16:31)
These are the ones that I actually thought were gonna be best able to continue the extraordinary progress that these committees have been making. And also I think there's a fitness as well that I used to determine where we need these individuals, even though there were a couple of other committees that I thought some of these individuals could help us with, perhaps even positions. They, after sitting with each of them, I was able to figure out that these positions would be the best.

[Speaker 8] (1:16:31 - 1:16:42)
So if there's other folks trying to volunteer for these committees, which now would be full, are their applications being kept on record somewhere so that we can go back and pull them?

[Speaker 1] (1:16:43 - 1:17:27)
I would suggest to anybody that wants to apply for a committee, just show up. Show up in the Zoom meetings or show up. And you don't have to be a fully participating member of a committee to contribute.

Many of our citizens just like to help and every one of our committees can use some help. And we've encouraged our chairs to really think about shifting into non-voting positions. If we have folks that wanna audit some committees or spend some time just working on an ad hoc committee, we can get the experience.

We don't wanna turn anybody away from public service. Everybody, there's a role for everybody in helping Swampskate move important things forward.

[Speaker 5] (1:17:28 - 1:18:22)
So based on what Katie's saying, I do at some point in the near future, I would like to maybe have like a little subcommittee or just a couple of us sit down and get really clear on what the whole process is. Now, I do know that we've got it in the handbook that we were just looking at here, but I don't think it's detailed enough. And what you find is you find people going online, putting in an application and not getting a phone call back, not getting on the list and yet people are getting on committees.

So I just think we have to have some type of a better process and then also reevaluate some of our committees as far as, so I'm asking the question on disability commission. We have nine spots available and I think maybe that committee that's too much for that committee. We're having a hard time getting a quorum.

If we can drop down on a couple of committees. So Neil, if sometime in the future, we can just take a peek at that.

[Speaker 2] (1:18:23 - 1:18:38)
No, I think it's necessary. And I mean, it's been an issue forever since I've been involved in town stuff, which is too long to say.

[Speaker 7] (1:18:39 - 1:18:44)
And Mary Ellen, I'm happy to assist in that role. So yeah.

[Speaker 2] (1:18:44 - 1:19:59)
And I agree, Sean. I think people should be encouraged to go to meetings and participate with committees on committees, with committees that they're not on. Most committees meetings are not as formal as ours and it's more of a conversation and voting doesn't happen a lot in a lot of meetings that they're just trying to do things.

And so they always can use more help. It's how I started getting involved in town. I was involved in one committee for I think a year and a half before I actually became a member of that committee, but I don't even know if we ever voted on anything.

So it didn't really matter, but I also agree. It's important to keep track of these things, make sure the people that have applied for these committees are being notified that it's full, that their application is still on file so they understand that it's still there. And we also, I think, when we last had this conversation, I think all of those applications on file, we need to refresh that.

[Speaker 5] (1:19:59 - 1:20:00)
Yeah.

[Speaker 2] (1:20:01 - 1:20:02)
Yeah, just put, yeah.

[Speaker 5] (1:20:03 - 1:20:19)
Yeah, so I just, I tested it today because I wanted to see how hard is this. So I went online and I found how to do it, which I did it very quickly. And I sent in my application and I got an email back in like an hour and 15 minutes.

[Speaker 2] (1:20:19 - 1:20:20)
That's great.

[Speaker 5] (1:20:20 - 1:20:34)
So I withdrew my request for the committee. But so the process, that part of the process seemed to go really well, but then the next part, we've just got to, I think, iron that out, how to get to the next part.

[Speaker 7] (1:20:34 - 1:20:52)
Yeah, it's really one of the most important things that we do. In addition to policy, is really engaging with our volunteers. So it's the most important thing that someone can give.

It's not money, it's their time. And come one, come all, is what I have to say.

[Speaker 8] (1:20:52 - 1:21:14)
And too, if we could, if there are applications on file, Diane, for committees and boards, if you could, I'm sure you do this, so I apologize, but if you could email the head of the committee or board to let them know the individual's name so they could reach out and sort of draw them in. That's good. Perfect.

Done. Excellent.

[Speaker 2] (1:21:14 - 1:21:18)
All right, so with that, I'd entertain a motion.

[Speaker 7] (1:21:18 - 1:21:30)
Yeah, sure. Yeah, so I'll have a motion to approve Richard Simmons as a member of the Conservation Commission and a motion to approve Kathy Mick and Alex Smolin to the Solid Waste Advisory Committee.

[Speaker 2] (1:21:31 - 1:21:40)
And just, Richard Simmons is for a three-year term and Kathy Mick and Alex Smolin are for one-year terms each. As amended.

[Speaker 8] (1:21:41 - 1:21:42)
Second.

[Speaker 2] (1:21:42 - 1:21:44)
Okay, all those in favor?

[Speaker 8] (1:21:44 - 1:21:44)
Aye.

[Speaker 2] (1:21:44 - 1:21:46)
Aye. Thank you.

[Speaker 8] (1:21:46 - 1:21:48)
Thank you, guys. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Simmons. Thank you very much.

[Speaker 2] (1:21:50 - 1:22:21)
Great. So last on our agenda, other than consent agenda, is DCR Management of Kings Beach. Sean is interested in engaging with DCR on the possibility of turning over the responsibility of our portion of Kings Beach to DCR.

And so, Sean, I'll let you elaborate on that process.

[Speaker 1] (1:22:21 - 1:26:40)
I think, you know, for some time since the 1970s, the town has taken over the management of our portion of Kings Beach. It's a linear, it's, I think, one of DCR's, Department of Conservation and Recreation's longest linear parks with Nahaat, going all the way down to Nahaat, all the way up through Lynn to the Swanscot Line. And given that our seawall is starting to sprawl and fall apart, we've, over the last few years, taken the approach of bringing that up to a status of good repair, much to the help of the Capital Improvement Committee, Finance Committee, and Town Meeting.

We've appropriated 1.2 million in major structural repairs, and we've completed those repairs. We have an additional 1.5 million, you know, so close to $3 million we'll be spending, bringing that seawall up to a status of good repair. And we'd like to engage our legislative delegation in the Department of Conservation and Recreation at this point, probably years before, you know, we would get the type of support to have this section brought back into the Department of Conservation and Recreation management prerogative, just to, you know, find out exactly what more we'd need to do to be a partner.

Obviously, we have a lot of important conversations happening right now along the Humphrey Street Corridor with the acquisition of the Pier 4 restaurant, and I think this will help just begin that conversation. I do think it's important that the select board, though, also, you know, have a leadership role in this. You know, we'll need the full support of our legislative delegation at this point.

It's Senator Crichton. At some point soon, it will be our state representative. As we look at the long-term costs associated with just the operation and maintenance of King's Beach, I certainly think it's of benefit to the city of Lynn and the town of Nahant that DCR manages that resource area.

I don't think people look at that beach and think it's owned by state or the town. They just think government owns it, and when one wall is falling down and the other is maintained and repaired at different intervals and cycles, I just think it's gonna look like we're not managing that resource effectively. It makes more sense for us to work hand-in-hand with our state partners and, frankly, our federal partners to seek the type of investments that make that resource area extraordinary.

We also are working very, very closely with the state and federal partners on addressing the King's Beach environmental issues. I think we've done a lot of work, perhaps some of the best work, that we've seen in decades to really get to a solution. This letter comes at a time where there's a lot of regional collaboration, a lot of energy around trying to elevate that historic resource area to its rightful place.

This is one of the best beaches in New England. That said, this letter simply just, I think, cues up the conversation. I would anticipate many more, but it's the right time, and I'm asking the board's support for your signature and a vote endorsing this effort.

This letter also comes at the behest of our Conservation Commission, our Conservancy, other boards and commissions. Tony Bandewitz has been a strong advocate for having this type of partnership with DCR, and I know that we'll have an army of support from a number of our boards and committees. Happy to answer any questions.

[Speaker 8] (1:26:41 - 1:26:49)
So when State Rep Ehrlich began the discussions several years ago, you said one obstacle was the seawall. What were the other obstacles?

[Speaker 1] (1:26:50 - 1:27:53)
I think there was a sense that the town had voted to take ownership of that, and we should just take the financial liabilities with that. The town had made that decision, and there was a sense that the state didn't have enough financial obligations to deal with, and we should just sit with that. I don't know.

I haven't reached out to Representative Ehrlich since she became the FEMA administrator, but I'm happy to give her a call tomorrow and get more information. I really do think, what has been presented to me was that the financial obligation of just maintaining that section of the beach is millions of dollars every few years, and that's something the town voted to do, and the state had a long laundry list of capital improvements.

[Speaker 2] (1:27:55 - 1:27:58)
So is that the unfortunate circumstances in the 1990s?

[Speaker 1] (1:27:58 - 1:28:59)
It is, it is, and I think we have to own that. I think back and forth. At that point, it was conveyed to me that the state had kind of fallen down on its responsibilities, and the town was getting frustrated that we were seeing the seawall in Swampstead degrade, and we made an investment back in the 70s to bring our seawalls up to a status of good repair.

As we think about rising sea levels and the extraordinary efforts to kind of bring the entire Kings Beach area up to resiliency, I think the entire corridor's gonna need a significant investment, and I certainly don't wanna have the Department of Conservation or the state moving at one sequence while we move at another. To me, I think we'll just continue to have this leapfrogging issue with capital maintenance when it all could be seamless, and all could be really part of a shared gem of the commonwealth.

[Speaker 2] (1:29:00 - 1:29:46)
Can I just, I'd like to just ask if, we mentioned in this draft letter about in the meantime, we'll work, coordinate with DCR and the other agencies on water quality testing that. I know that's been an issue this year that's been in the public conversation about the inconsistencies with the signage and the flags and our testing versus their testing, and can you just, I mean, this is an opportunity to maybe, if there is an update, to provide any conversations that you've had about that and ways to improve that system in the near future, or if it's been improved. I'm just, I haven't been aware of anything that's happened.

[Speaker 1] (1:29:46 - 1:32:19)
Neil, thank you. I've had several conversations. Recently, we had a meeting with Senator Creighton and representatives from the city of Lynn and Department of Conservation, and we've talked about, are the red flags enough?

Frankly, I shared at that meeting that looking at those red flags looks like it's a day at the races, and I don't know if it is immediately identifiable that that beach is a hazard to human health, and whether they're red or blue or green, I do think we have to notify more effectively. I've looked at a couple of different options. There are signs that actually can present information that you can change on the fly.

These signs, there's a brand called Sofa that exists in other North Shore communities. I think it would be nice for Swampskate Inland and perhaps DCR to look at these signs so that they can be remotely updated so when people walk down onto the beach, they are met with a sign that perhaps even can have an audio notification where they can speak in several different languages and add warnings if there's bacteria present that would impact public health because we have that beach used by so many folks that need it as a resource, especially on a day like today or tomorrow, and if we have any kind of rain event, that beach becomes unsafe for days, and as we look at notifications, we need to share a common strategy because again, it gets back to good government.

If DCR is managing the communication for most of the beach and Swampskate is the regulatory agency that deals with just the Swampskate side, we wanna be on the same page. We wanna have one agency that ultimately we can turn to and say they're responsible for helping to ensure the safety of that resource area, and we've had conversations about getting into sync. Again, I don't wanna take issue with the flag.

I think we can do better, and I expect that we'll have some recommendations on notifications soon that will help have more options and a more accessible notification system that will help folks.

[Speaker 2] (1:32:20 - 1:32:23)
Do you know if the Board of Health has been taking this up this year?

[Speaker 1] (1:32:23 - 1:32:50)
I just- I do. There was a state regulation that was passed that updated the information and the timeliness of presenting information on the closure, and so Jeff Vaughn, our director of public health, has had to update the signage for closure, and I've worked with our health department to ensure that we're compliant with that new state regulation.

[Speaker 2] (1:32:50 - 1:33:06)
Yeah, it'd be great to have, I think, maybe an update, maybe in a future report about how that's going or what the plans are to improve that, because I think everyone agrees, isn't it, please? On the closure or just- No, yeah, on the testing and the closure and the coordination.

[Speaker 5] (1:33:06 - 1:33:25)
If we could have a meeting, not a select board meeting, but if there could be a town meeting to educate people on what's actually going on there, and what the process is, because it just seems like it's taking a long time to try to figure out how to clean that area up.

[Speaker 1] (1:33:27 - 1:34:53)
Well, it's a complicated problem. Right, that's why- It's a $50 million problem, and it's cracked clay pipes. It's not complicated in the sense that flushed twice, it's all leaching into the Stacey Brook culvert.

And so in order to address that problem, we need to sleeve all of the pipes, and we still won't be able to guarantee that surface runoff from dogs or birds won't impact the bacteria content that would shut that beach down. And so we've got to kind of figure out how to get a few other treatment programs or get a pipe that will help ensure that that beach will not have a surface or drainage impairment. But we've hired a company, they're studying it, and over the next few weeks, we should shortlist the options.

I'll bring that back and provide the board with a detailed update. Certainly happy to have a, ask one of, I think the Conservation Commission would probably be a great committee to have a conversation about the regulatory responsibilities we have with that. But I'd be happy to have a meeting on it, too.

[Speaker 5] (1:34:53 - 1:34:58)
There's a lot of- Or maybe just Conservation Commission, if they have a meeting. So we just hired a new company?

[Speaker 1] (1:34:59 - 1:35:05)
No, we hired a company probably going back six months ago.

[Speaker 5] (1:35:05 - 1:35:06)
Is that Kleinfelder?

[Speaker 1] (1:35:07 - 1:35:07)
It is, yeah.

[Speaker 5] (1:35:07 - 1:35:10)
Did Kleinfelder do a report about five years ago on it, too?

[Speaker 1] (1:35:11 - 1:35:11)
They did.

[Speaker 5] (1:35:11 - 1:35:13)
So this is just, is this a follow-up, or?

[Speaker 1] (1:35:13 - 1:36:39)
No, this is a separate contract with Kleinfelder to look at six alternative projects that of an order of magnitude that could address the bacteria loading on Stacey's Brook. And they're working to help both Lynn and Swampskate in the Lynn Sewer District grab a project that we could ultimately take up to the state and say, this is the project that we believe will help address the impairments to Kings Beach. We received $5.3 million, much of the extraordinary leadership and help of Senator Creighton and Representative Ehrlich. These funds are being used to fund a small portion of this study. I'm begrudged to simply just use these dollars to continue to sleeve pipes that I know will not solve this problem in our generation. It's gonna take us decades to sleeve pipes neighborhood by neighborhood, that rip through neighborhoods and communities.

We're gonna have to do that work, but I frankly, I want the state and the federal government to give us the same investment. Other areas have received to the tune of $40 or $50 million. And I wanna solve that problem over the next few years as opposed to the next few decades.

[Speaker 13] (1:36:40 - 1:36:40)
Okay.

[Speaker 2] (1:36:43 - 1:36:50)
Sure, please, if you can get a microphone or come to this microphone, that would be great.

[Speaker 10] (1:36:53 - 1:37:36)
So I'm Liz Smith and I live on Hardy Road. And I just have a question. I think it's great to be thinking about King's Beach and especially to be coordinating with DCR so that it's one, perceived as one long beach and not sections of each.

My understanding is that the Lynn section, I don't know about Nahant, but the Lynn section is tested daily in the summer, but we only test our section weekly. So is there any consideration to making that consistent since it's more under our control right now, in addition to improving the signage so that there's consistency of signage along the beach as well?

[Speaker 1] (1:37:37 - 1:38:30)
Liz, I appreciate those concerns. I have had a few conversations with our health department about the daily tests. And generally the thought is after a rain event, it's important to test and the frequency, we do have dry weather impairment days and we know that DCR is testing at that same location and we can use that data too.

It's a little bit of belts and suspenders. We do test our other beaches on that same day. And certainly I'm happy to bring that back to my health department team.

And we can talk a little bit about, is that data gonna give us more actionable information than the DCR data? And I don't think it will, but that's where we could collaborate essentially because they're testing it and we're testing it.

[Speaker 10] (1:38:30 - 1:38:32)
They're on one side and we'd be on the other side.

[Speaker 1] (1:38:32 - 1:38:57)
That's right. You could step in the middle and take that test because at the end of the day, if either one of them are loaded, that beach gets shut down. And so for me, it's like, this is not North and South Korea here.

This is one beach. Whatever comes out of both of those pipes impacts the entire beach. And it doesn't make a whole lot of common sense to me that we have the cost of two different agencies testing the same location.

[Speaker 2] (1:38:59 - 1:39:41)
But with that said- Regulatory, we're obligated to, right? We are, yeah. So are we, I mean, that's sort of like the obvious dumb question is like, if they're testing every day, I know we're obligated to test and we're testing, however, maybe we're doing the minimal amount or whatever it is, but it doesn't seem like there's anything stopping us from putting a notification up when we know the results of the test and when.

So we could certainly, and if we have to qualify that somehow as like, this is no swimming because of a test by DCR or something like that, a different sign.

[Speaker 13] (1:39:42 - 1:39:42)
Yeah.

[Speaker 2] (1:39:42 - 1:40:04)
It almost seems like we would have daily testing just because- We effectively- There are entrances to that. There are entrances to our beach that aren't where you see the flags to your point. Flags aren't great anyways, but they're down the way.

So- We now have red flags.

[Speaker 1] (1:40:04 - 1:40:22)
I'm sure people have thought about that. So we're putting up red, when we see their red flags, we put up our red flags. Good.

And so we're parroting some of those behaviors, but yeah. Improvements to be made. It's a good point.

And I'll look into that and I'll report out at our next meeting.

[Speaker 13] (1:40:22 - 1:40:23)
Okay.

[Speaker 1] (1:40:23 - 1:40:23)
All right.

[Speaker 2] (1:40:24 - 1:41:09)
So there's a draft letter that Sean has put together. It was revised and sent out today. I don't know if people had a chance to reread it.

If there are any comments on it. I had a couple of little typo things, but other than that, I don't know if anyone has any substantive comments on the letter. Sean, if you could just, it's just a nitpicky thing, but just we have 1.2 million and then just have 1.5 million written out the same way, or just have it consistent. And then there's, I think there's a double period there, but maybe you remove that.

[Speaker 8] (1:41:10 - 1:41:13)
There's a double comma too in the first sentence of the paragraph.

[Speaker 2] (1:41:14 - 1:41:17)
And a double comma in the first sentence on the second paragraph. So I think.

[Speaker 1] (1:41:18 - 1:41:21)
And double. Yeah, I saw a few of those.

[Speaker 2] (1:41:21 - 1:41:23)
They may be in the electronic version, correct?

[Speaker 1] (1:41:23 - 1:41:51)
You will get those scrivener errors. What I was gonna suggest is if I could get the board's authorization to affix your electronic signatures and make any scrivener corrections that are needed. I will send out a final proof to the select board prior to sending it off.

And I was gonna reach out to the select board member, Spellios, and just get his concurrence that he would be okay with that. So why don't we.

[Speaker 13] (1:41:53 - 1:41:54)
Make a motion.

[Speaker 2] (1:41:54 - 1:42:20)
Yeah, but just for open meeting law purposes, I mean, David and Katie, do you wanna be like, you can send the final draft to them for approval and you can sign off on it. And then I'll entertain a motion to approve the letter with the conditions as Sean stated and to also approve affixing our electronic signatures onto the letter.

[Speaker 7] (1:42:21 - 1:42:21)
So moved.

[Speaker 2] (1:42:21 - 1:42:55)
Is there a second? Second. Any further discussion?

All those in favor. Aye. Aye.

Okay, thanks, Sean. Thanks for doing that. Okay, that leaves our consent agenda, which is just the meeting minutes for June 29th and July 13th.

I'd like to request actually that we remove the June 29th minutes from the consent agenda just because when I was reviewing them, I had enough comments that I wanted to take another look.

[Speaker 8] (1:42:57 - 1:42:58)
I also have some comments on the 13th.

[Speaker 2] (1:42:58 - 1:43:04)
Okay, are they, do you wanna just put off approving these minutes or is it, are they?

[Speaker 8] (1:43:04 - 1:43:04)
No, it's quick.

[Speaker 2] (1:43:04 - 1:43:17)
They're minor, sure, okay. So maybe if it's okay with you all, just we approve the July 13th minutes tonight and then we'll put the June 29th back on the consent agenda for our meeting in August.

[Speaker 8] (1:43:19 - 1:43:23)
So is it okay if I comment on this? Of course, yeah. July 13th?

[Speaker 13] (1:43:23 - 1:43:23)
Yeah, sorry.

[Speaker 8] (1:43:23 - 1:43:44)
So I think the thing I wanted to comment on was in section two on the utilization of ARPA funds, I think the motions are out of order in the back. I think the motion in the final paragraph should be before the motion that passed. If you could just swap that to be above that.

[Speaker 2] (1:43:46 - 1:44:02)
Right, there was a motion made by, Peter made the motion and then Mary Ellen amended it, right? And then that motion failed, amended, and then the full motion passed unanimously.

[Speaker 8] (1:44:02 - 1:44:02)
Correct.

[Speaker 2] (1:44:03 - 1:44:04)
So that's, yeah, I agree with that.

[Speaker 5] (1:44:07 - 1:44:07)
That's all.

[Speaker 13] (1:44:09 - 1:44:10)
Great.

[Speaker 5] (1:44:11 - 1:44:24)
I have a quick question while we're talking about minutes. We need to approve executive session minutes and we've been having executive sessions since April without any minutes.

[Speaker 1] (1:44:25 - 1:44:39)
So I just wanna get those going so we can approve them and they can- You gotta approve those in a duly posted executive session and then you determine when it would be appropriate to release.

[Speaker 5] (1:44:39 - 1:44:45)
Right. I just wanna- I don't wanna do it in 24 months from now. Gotcha.

[Speaker 2] (1:44:46 - 1:44:52)
We're backlogged for sure on executive session minutes. I agree. So I think we'll have to review those.

[Speaker 5] (1:44:53 - 1:44:54)
Approve them and then put them in the safe.

[Speaker 2] (1:44:55 - 1:45:02)
Yeah, figure out which ones. Thank you for bringing that up. I appreciate it.

So.

[Speaker 8] (1:45:03 - 1:45:08)
So motion to approve the minutes of 7.13 as amended. Second.

[Speaker 2] (1:45:09 - 1:45:10)
All those in favor?

[Speaker 8] (1:45:10 - 1:45:11)
Aye.

[Speaker 2] (1:45:12 - 1:45:12)
Great.

[Speaker 1] (1:45:14 - 1:46:16)
Town administrator support. Sure. So really wanna just recognize Danielle Strauss and members of our recreation department for all the work over the last couple of days.

Over the last few weeks to get the stand up paddle board program stood up. We have a full roster of young citizens that are enjoying the harbor and it really is great to have an opportunity to run a program. It gives us a lot more flexibility.

I would anticipate you're gonna hear more about other opportunities to enjoy that program now that we have the boards and staff are really excited about just getting out there and utilizing the boards. I have a couple of department heads that are gonna potentially race. So if any select board members wants to get out there, there might be some bragging rights.

[Speaker 5] (1:46:16 - 1:46:17)
Put our horse in the race.

[Speaker 1] (1:46:18 - 1:49:10)
There was a wonderful volunteer appreciation brunch last week at our Council on Aging. In future years, I certainly will be looking to invite the select board. I think this is a great opportunity for us to just recognize members of our Council on Aging, All Ages Center.

They really, there's a lot of great work is going on down there. I have met with Heidi Weir a couple of times over the last week and she has conveyed to me that Max is doing some great work updating the kitchen at the Senior Center and really excited about some of those improvements. Amy, who is sitting diligently over there, continues to close out FY22.

She has been working diligently with Patrick Luddy, our town treasurer on year end and working with staff to ensure that we really focus on some of the capital projects. I have had several meetings with Max Casper, Margie Golaska, Chief Casada, and Chief Archer on elementary school traffic. This is a serious responsibility to really look at neighborhood impacts.

Currently, we're relocating the Stanley School students from grade one to four to the Blaney School. So the neighborhood really is gonna be impacted. And I certainly have been hearing from residents that have concerns.

We are listening and we are making adjustments to try to accommodate a number of neighborhood concerns. Unfortunately, we are gonna have a significant short-term impact. I have looked at our ability or Chief Casada's ability to make short-term changes.

If the chief cannot make those changes without getting the board's approval, we'll need to schedule a meeting sometime over the next week. It's my hope we can do it over Zoom. I know that we've looked at having Chief Casada here at our first meeting in August, but the project team feels strongly that getting a decision sooner than later would be most optimal.

We have a lot of logistics to coordinate. I've already authorized the signage and the equipment that we need to make some of these changes but certainly, this is a major responsibility. We wanna get this decision made quickly so we can get programs in place and engage parents and staff with parking and logistics over the next few weeks.

[Speaker 2] (1:49:10 - 1:49:57)
So if I can just interrupt you, Sean, on that, just because we received some comments through email on this plan over the last 24 hours. And I was, I think maybe other folks on the board or maybe on the public meeting about these traffic changes. And there were definitely concerns, especially around King Street.

And it seemed like the building, the project team, as well as the traffic engineers were going to look into making some of these, some changes. So I just wanna make sure that that's noted. Yes, there have been.

I'm sure that, you know. I did receive an update. If anyone's listening from that neighborhood, understand that it's not finalized.

[Speaker 1] (1:49:57 - 1:50:35)
It is not final. In fact, we're gonna be likely making course corrections all along. We're gonna have some opportunities, frankly, once we implement, to study it and make some adjustments.

And my concern is that we may have to make a few. And having our police chief or our public safety department available to make important safety decisions regarding transportation around the site will be very important to ensuring that we're gonna keep that neighborhood as safe as possible.

[Speaker 7] (1:50:35 - 1:50:47)
And Sean, do we envision having a traffic control officer on site or delaying openings? I mean, are both elementary schools going to be starting school at the same time?

[Speaker 1] (1:50:48 - 1:51:49)
I do, and I've talked to Chief Cassata about making sure we staff at the beginning and end of school effectively. I've also talked to Chief Archer. Last year, we had both police officers and firefighters at the middle school.

We were redirecting some traffic patterns and pedestrian routes for the school. And so we're gonna have to really put belts and suspenders on that first week. I wanna go through kind of a trial over the next couple of weeks and just make sure that we understand traffic flow.

It's every day will be different. A rainy day will be different. A snowy day.

There's gonna be lots of things that we're gonna have to be ready to learn about when it comes to transportation. Some days, we'll have a lot of students that will walk to school. Some days, we may have a lot of drop-offs.

And all of that will present different dynamics to deal with, and we need to be flexible and adaptable enough to address those needs as they occur.

[Speaker 7] (1:51:50 - 1:51:59)
And that just really makes the potential use of the Hawthorne parking lot during pickup and drop-off just that much more important.

[Speaker 1] (1:51:59 - 1:52:26)
To that end, too, I have had a few conversations with the Athena's family, and certainly they have been open to conversations about how they can best help. They have a business they have to run, though, and I can't make any assurances today that anything's in place, but I am in conversation with them about ways that we can work together to help protect public safety. Thank you.

[Speaker 8] (1:52:26 - 1:52:36)
Also, could I encourage the communication to the PTOs for Stanley and Hadley, because I'm sure we'd be happy to help facilitate information dissemination as well as feedback.

[Speaker 1] (1:52:36 - 1:52:36)
Sure.

[Speaker 8] (1:52:37 - 1:52:38)
So feel free to reach out. Yep.

[Speaker 1] (1:52:40 - 1:52:41)
All right, sorry, thanks.

[Speaker 2] (1:52:41 - 1:52:48)
Just wanted to stop. So early voting.

[Speaker 1] (1:52:48 - 1:57:22)
Yes, we have early voting occurring. So our town clerk, Jared LaLiberté, would like to present at our next meeting just to talk about September's primary and making sure that we are taking the right actions. The Select Board does have a prerogative to support that, and I think it's a good thing to make democracy that much more accessible.

Certainly busy with hiring. We've actually hired five new hires for the fire department over the last few months. The fire department's busy with summer camps.

The chief has been meeting with the union and has been working with our safety protocols. We are in a period of immense heat. The department will be out with their fire truck at Stanley School sprinkling folks this week.

So we've got information up on our website about a cooling center that will be operational. I've had a number of meetings about the eastern coyote. These are wonderful animals that are part of our habitat.

Unfortunately, we have people that are feeding them and they get habitualized or they get friendly with human beings. Many of these coyotes appear around Binning Square and they have been fed by staff working at restaurants and they continue to come back to those locations and they become problematic. There's not a safe way to handle that type of situation with wildlife, unfortunately.

What likely happens is those coyotes are euthanized. It bothers me greatly that folks with all the best of intentions are trying to take care of wildlife that really needs to fend for themselves. They don't need human interaction.

You can appreciate them from a distance. It's wonderful that Swampskat has coyotes. People should understand that we have rodents, too, and these coyotes help us with rodent control and they do help balance the ecosystem we live in.

It's important that when they do see coyotes, if they are out in the daylight, that's a sign that they could be rabid and that's a serious public safety hazard. And so, I want folks to feel comfortable calling the police or calling our ACO, but generally, just the sight of a coyote is no significant cause for alarm. We all have to learn more about how we balance our habitat areas with our responsibilities.

I do wanna just inform the board that we are having more and more issue with rat and rat poisons. A number of communities are looking at solutions to some of these problems, including installing smart boxes. They have installed some smart boxes in Somerville and I've reached out and talked to Dan Pru, former ACO, and he has found a lot of owls and hawks in and around Swampskat that are dying from eating rats that have been ingesting poisoned rats and so those are the kind of bigger impacts that we see and we wanna all be more mindful.

I've asked Chief Cassata and our ACO, Scott Constantine, to work with our library, work with our senior center, and really just get the word out that we all can help manage these issues much more thoughtfully. I have reached out to town council and I've asked them to draft a no feeding wildlife ordinance and I would like to discuss that with the board as part of a annual town meeting warrant that will help us all just take some more responsibility for managing the delicate ecosystem that we live in. Lastly, I had another meeting with Mayor Nicholson on Monday just to go over the work that the Linn Water and Sewer Commissioner are engaged in in the city of Linn.

We have some, I think, tremendous leadership and it's my hope over the next few weeks we will finalize that short list and I'll provide a more detailed update to the board at that point. That's my report.

[Speaker 7] (1:57:23 - 1:57:37)
Thank you, Shawn. Shawn, you had questions? Yeah, I had two questions.

Question number one, you had mentioned looking at ambulance companies that you've met with. Cataldo, I'm assuming, is still, they're not under contract.

[Speaker 1] (1:57:39 - 1:57:50)
Cataldo is not under contract but we currently have an extension that we're gonna execute that will keep them under contract for a year as we seek to negotiate a long-term contract.

[Speaker 7] (1:57:50 - 1:57:53)
Okay, and would the ambulance company remain at 86 Burrell Street?

[Speaker 1] (1:57:54 - 1:58:04)
At this point, we don't have a second location for the ambulance company and that's one of the things that we really wanna discuss with Cataldo.

[Speaker 7] (1:58:04 - 1:58:22)
Okay, and then as far as the Coyote discussion is concerned, has the director, has the health director gone to the restaurants in Vennon Square and had conversations with each of the managers? I know that we approve the...

[Speaker 1] (1:58:22 - 1:58:24)
Our ACO has.

[Speaker 7] (1:58:24 - 1:58:24)
ACO has.

[Speaker 1] (1:58:24 - 1:58:41)
We put flyers together to give to each of the restaurants and it was my expectation that we were gonna continue to kind of work with staff to train them and to help them understand that their good intentions are leading to some very bad outcomes.

[Speaker 5] (1:58:41 - 1:59:14)
Right, so flyers are gonna go out to all the restaurants and they're also gonna try to put flyers in different boxes and food containers when people are picking up stuff just to get the word out and it's my understanding that the police department is gonna help get some more flyers out there to stop feeding and I guess there are some identified culprits out there that put out, literally put out bowls of food and maybe they just don't understand that they think they're doing something nice but they're doing something that could really cause these coyotes to have to be put down.

[Speaker 1] (1:59:14 - 1:59:14)
Yep.

[Speaker 5] (1:59:15 - 1:59:15)
So.

[Speaker 1] (1:59:17 - 1:59:17)
Thank you.

[Speaker 2] (1:59:19 - 1:59:24)
Any other questions for Sean? All right, slack board time. Thank you.

[Speaker 7] (1:59:27 - 1:59:55)
I just wanna thank everybody for coming out to Bentwater at the beach. We had approximately 900 paid attendees at the event and we probably also had another 150 to 250 folks on the beach that just enjoyed the beautiful weather, the great music and it was a great event. So considerable money was raised for the fish house.

I know Hadley PTO raised, what was it, 1,200?

[Speaker 8] (1:59:56 - 1:59:57)
Yep.

[Speaker 7] (1:59:57 - 1:59:57)
What was the final number?

[Speaker 8] (1:59:57 - 2:00:05)
The raffle was $1,157 for us and for the participants. So we raised over 2,000 and split it.

[Speaker 7] (2:00:05 - 2:00:19)
Fantastic. So it was a great day of community building and live music and engagement on our waterfront. So thank you to Bentwater and thank you to everybody who attended.

[Speaker 2] (2:00:20 - 2:00:24)
Thank you, David. Wonderful. Anyone else?

[Speaker 8] (2:00:24 - 2:00:42)
I do wanna say thank you to the Swanscot Fire Department because tonight they did the fire truck spray on Stanley grounds and I received some photos while I was here at slack board and it looked like it was a great time. I think Jack and Stella really enjoyed it. So I know they're not the only young citizens enjoying it.

So thank you very much for your time and energy in doing that.

[Speaker 5] (2:00:44 - 2:00:52)
I just wanna make a request to get onto the agenda. I just wanna know where we are with the VFW lease.

[Speaker 2] (2:00:52 - 2:01:10)
Yeah, I mean, it will be on our agenda the minute it can be. I know Sean's been working to figure out the easiest legal way to create a new lease with them. And once we know that process, it'll be on our agenda, but we don't know, that's not clear right now.

[Speaker 1] (2:01:10 - 2:01:26)
So right now, town council's looking into whether or not I can sign a one year extension as we try to figure out if there's a statutory requirement to go out to RFP, but I will certainly report back to the board as soon as I get clarification.

[Speaker 7] (2:01:27 - 2:01:53)
But I mean, as far as a statutory RFP, I mean, it's a veterans organization. And the original lease that was signed in 1994, it basically had the town, the VFW conveyed six parcels of property to the town for a 20 year lease. And just kind of, I guess hindsight's always 20-20, but it does seem that that 1994 lease was pretty one-sided to the town.

[Speaker 1] (2:01:53 - 2:02:49)
David, and again, if we do an RFP, we'll write it in a way that it only allows a veterans organization to respond to it. But to me, it's just another, it's a state law, and I just can't violate a procurement guideline. And I've got a meeting, we're trying to calendar with all of the heads of the veterans service organizations that work out of the Veterans Center sometime over the next week.

And we're gonna talk a little bit about how we manage the lease, but also how we program some of the funding that we've recently allocated at town meeting and how we've been able to negotiate with the cannabis business next door. So there's a lot of good things happening right now, and we just wanna make sure the lease doesn't become a conversation that drags everybody.

[Speaker 7] (2:02:49 - 2:03:05)
Yeah, I just wanna have a, just like all of us on this board, I think we just wanna have a resolution to this as soon as possible. So if we could have an update at our next meeting on the town administrator's report or via email in the interim, that would certainly be appreciated by me.

[Speaker 2] (2:03:06 - 2:03:13)
Yeah, my hope was to have it on this agenda, but it's just not ready to, so my hope is to have it on the next agenda.

[Speaker 5] (2:03:14 - 2:03:29)
If there was a, if they had released over a number of different lots, does it have to be a lease? I mean, like, is it possible to look into actually what had happened? And my understanding is they had conveyed, what was it, six or eight lots?

[Speaker 7] (2:03:29 - 2:03:30)
Six lots.

[Speaker 5] (2:03:30 - 2:03:37)
Six lots, and they ended up getting a lease out of six lots. I mean, is there any way to go back and look to see how equitable that was?

[Speaker 1] (2:03:37 - 2:03:39)
That's what KP Law is looking into.

[Speaker 5] (2:03:39 - 2:03:41)
Okay, all right. All right, so that's good.

[Speaker 1] (2:03:41 - 2:03:52)
I don't think they're, at this point, they haven't indicated to me that there was language in that lease that recognized that they would have a perpetual right to that property.

[Speaker 13] (2:03:54 - 2:03:55)
Oh, God.

[Speaker 8] (2:03:56 - 2:03:58)
With the current lease, it did or did not have that language?

[Speaker 7] (2:03:58 - 2:03:59)
Did not.

[Speaker 8] (2:03:59 - 2:03:59)
Did not.

[Speaker 7] (2:04:01 - 2:04:02)
It did, I read it.

[Speaker 8] (2:04:02 - 2:04:03)
Got excited there. Well, because.

[Speaker 5] (2:04:05 - 2:04:08)
A real estate lawyer, I thought, would jump in and save the day.

[Speaker 2] (2:04:09 - 2:04:17)
All right, I don't have anything for select board time, so if there's nothing else, if there's a motion to adjourn. So moved.

[Speaker 8] (2:04:17 - 2:04:18)
Second.

[Speaker 2] (2:04:18 - 2:04:22)
All right, all those in favor? Aye. Aye.

Thanks, everybody.

[Speaker 8] (2:04:23 - 2:04:23)
Thank you.

[Speaker 2] (2:04:23 - 2:04:25)
Thank you, Diane. Thanks, Joe.

[Speaker 8] (2:04:25 - 2:04:26)
Thank you.

[Speaker 2] (2:04:26 - 2:04:26)
Thanks, Amy.