[Speaker 10] (0:19 - 4:37) . . . . . [Speaker 9] (5:05 - 10:23) . . . . . . [Speaker 1] (10:33 - 22:18) . . . . . Thanks, everyone, for being here. Before we go to public comments, I want to pick up the first item on our agenda. As many people are likely aware, there was an incident last Friday, January 6th, where there was swastika was spray-painted on the street in front of a home on Reddington Street in Swabscott and I wanted to have a conversation about that and a discussion about about that incident and it's good to see Rabbi Michael Rogozin's here and I know Sean's been in touch with other folks in town in our in our police department and and we'll mention right off the top that the town is organizing with in coordination with the police department rally tomorrow an event no place for hate on Monument Ave I believe the corner of Monument and Burrell at five o'clock so I encourage folks to go to that so I'm so glad rabbi that you could be here tonight so for new members of the board and for the public I want to just if you can humor me for a moment last year rabbi Rogozin sent an email to the board making us aware of a virtual summit that was occurring in March which was inviting state and regional municipal leaders and officials was sponsored by the Lappin Foundation National Jewish Advocacy and Education nonprofit organization about steps we can take against anti-semitism Shampish Gerald and I attended that summit and after we attended we we chatted and agreed to follow follow up by taking some of the recommended actions that that we had heard there the main recommendation was to endorse the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's non-binding definition of anti-semitism municipalities in Massachusetts that have done so include Duxbury Danvers Brighton and Peabody to name a few in preparing for this seeing that these other communities had taken this action in January also declaring January as Holocaust Awareness Month and January 27th as Holocaust Remembrance Day because it marked the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp I decided it would make sense to bring this to our board sometime at the end of 2022 or at our first meeting in January of 2023 last week when I was preparing for this meeting with Sean and putting together our proclamation I decided that in addition to that it would make sense to provide some recent examples of anti-semitism in our area unfortunately there were of course you wouldn't you probably aren't surprised that there were plenty to choose from like in January in Marblehead at the village school when swastikas were found etched into the boys room stalls and graffiti containing profane language targeted at Jewish people was discovered in the girls bathroom on a couple of occasions or in February in Danvers when anti-semitic homophobic and racist graffiti was found in the girls bathroom at the Holton Richmond School or in June in Peabody when individuals associated with the Goyim Defense League an anti-semitic hate group distributed anti-semitic propaganda or on September 11th in Saugus when a group of individuals displayed a banner over a freeway overpass that read Jews did 9-11 these are just a few from a long list available on the Anti-Defamation League's tracker I thought using these examples would be a good way to illustrate the point that such incidents happen all around us and they have and can certainly continue to happen here and then of course on Friday last week as we are all now aware somebody's spray-painted a swastika on the sidewalk on Reddington Street here in Swastika which is both a sad but profound coincidence that we are planning on on doing this anyways but in some ways a good strong reminder of the need for us to do this in the first place these incidents are so frequent in commonplace that I think we we become numb to them and the impact that they have and the harm and the hurt that they cause but we certainly can't ignore them and it is important for us to recognize that anti-semitism racism discrimination hatred and hate speech do exist and do happen in our community and we need to be vocal in our opposition to them and vigilant in our continuous pursuit to make this town a community of peaceful understanding empathy appreciation and coexistence as I mentioned one specific action that was recommended at the virtual summit that we attended was to endorse the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's non-legally binding definition of anti-semitism the IHRA for short of which the United States is a part is the only intergovernmental organization mandated to focus solely on Holocaust related issues most of the following information that I will read now comes from them and the materials that we received at this virtual summit that we attended last year with evidence that the scourge of anti-semitism was on the rise the IHRA resolved to take a leading role in combating it and they determined that in order to begin to address the problem the first step was to have clarity about what anti-semitism anti-semitism is a 2021 American Jewish community survey of American public opinion documented that nearly a third of all Americans had never heard of the word anti-semitism or did not know what it means others may be uncertain about what makes something anti-semitic and this underscores the fundamental challenge in fighting anti-semitism we cannot describe if we cannot describe what it is how can we take responsible action to address it so the IHRA established a definition that has been endorsed by many government bodies around the world including the United States and this definition is as follows and it will also be included in the proclamation that will read later anti-semitism is a certain perception of Jews which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-semitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and or their property toward Jewish community institutions institutions and religious facilities IHRA provides the following examples that may serve as illustrations manifestations might include the targeting of the State of Israel conceived as a Jewish collectivity however criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as anti-semitic anti-semitism frequently change charges Jews with conspiring to harm humanity and is often used to blame Jews for why things go wrong it is expressed in speech writing visual forms and action and employs sinister stereotypes and negative character traits and contemporary examples of anti-semitism in public life the media schools the workplace and in the religious sphere could taking into account the overall context include but are not limited to calling for aiding or justifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of radical ideology or an extremist view of religion making mendacious dehumanizing demonizing or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as collectives such as especially but not exclusively the myth about a world of Jewish with Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media economy government or other societal institutions accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or group or even for acts committed by non-Jews denying the facts scope mechanisms or intentionality of the genocide of the Jewish people at the hands of National Socialist Germany and its supporters and accomplices during World War II and the Holocaust accusing the Jews as a people or Israel as a state of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel or the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide than to the interests of their own nations denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination by claiming that the existence of the state of Israel is a racist endeavor applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation using the symbols and images associated with classic anti-semitism to characterize Israel or Israelis drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis and holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel so that's a lot a lot to say but I wanted to do more than than just read a proclamation I think that the other thing that I want to share is that when I was looking at the ADL tracker I a lot a lot of the incidents that you see not just in Massachusetts but throughout the country are occurring in schools it's great to see the chair of our school committee here and I know the schools are have reacted the same way that the select board has and has been a part of organizing this event for tomorrow and promoting it but it's just it's very sad to see that that that a lot of these these incidents however you know while they seem minor and are happening are happening and being being done by by students in our schools in all of our towns and neighborhoods so with that I think I'd like to invite my fellow select board members to join me in reading this proclamation and then I think we we can have a conversation and I would invite Rabbi Rogozin as well to say a few words I think if we can just start with this proclamation I'll just start with Sean you can read the first paragraph and then we'll just go down the table. [Speaker 2] (22:19 - 23:20) Thanks Neil. Neil I don't think there's anything more important for us to be doing right now what I just truly want to share with Swampskip residents is that you live in a wonderful town full of wonderful people that truly do care about the values of our democracy and it's so important that we not just issue a proclamation today but really live these words and build these relationships and really continue to support all the things that we truly do care about. This is an international Holocaust Remembrance Day January 27 and Holocaust Education Month January proclamation by the town of Swampskip whereas the town of Swampskip will never forget the events of the Holocaust and the six million Jewish lives lost in the most tragic genocide in modern history and whereas anti-semitic incidents [Speaker 1] (23:20 - 23:50) continue to increase in the United States reaching an all-time high in 2021 with a total of two thousand seven hundred and seventeen incidents of assault harassment and vandalism reported to the Anti-Defamation League this represents the highest number of incidents on record since the ADL began tracking them in 1979 an average of more than seven incidents per day and a 34 percent increase year over last year and whereas this year on international [Speaker 6] (23:50 - 24:02) Holocaust Remembrance Day January 27th 2023 we commemorate the 78th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp and whereas honoring the [Speaker 4] (24:02 - 24:13) victims and survivors begins with our renewal recognition of the value and dignity of each person it demands from us the courage to protect the [Speaker 7] (24:13 - 24:32) persecuted and speak out against bigotry and hatred and whereas recent [Speaker 3] (24:32 - 24:47) acts of hate in Swampscott serve as a painful reminder of our obligation to condemn and combat rising anti-semitism in all of its forms including the denial or trivialization of the Holocaust and whereas this anniversary [Speaker 2] (24:47 - 24:58) is an important opportunity to reflect on the progress we have made confronting this terrible chapter in human history and our ongoing and continuing efforts [Speaker 1] (24:58 - 25:22) to end genocide and whereas the definition of anti-semitism reads as follows anti-semitism is a certain perception of Jews which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-semitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and or their property toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities [Speaker 6] (25:22 - 25:59) and now therefore on behalf of the entire select board we do hereby proclaim January 27th 2023 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the month of January as Holocaust Education Month in the town of Swampscott Massachusetts and encourage all faith-based and nonprofit organizations residents businesses and public institutions to acknowledge honor and value Jewish people's historic and current contributions locally and beyond while also recognizing the ongoing and interconnected struggles of all Jewish communities locally and beyond. [Speaker 4] (26:00 - 26:12) In witness whereof we have here unto set our hands and cause to be affixed the great seal of the town of Swampscott Massachusetts this 11th day of January 2023. [Speaker 1] (26:14 - 26:20) Thanks everybody. I invite you to share a few words if you if you'd like. [Speaker 8] (26:25 - 28:40) There we go okay just with gratitude to the town administrator Sean and the rest of the select board for today's proclamation the I don't I don't know if any of you know the the timing is quite significant not because of the recent anti-semitic events or the swastika on Reddington Street but it happens to be that this week's scriptural reading is if you will the very first recording of organized anti-semitism in which Pharaoh notices the Jewish people are numerous in the land of Egypt and says come let us deal shrewdly with them and begins a process of propaganda to turn the local populace against the Jewish people enslave us and then try to throw every boy in the Nile and so as I sit here and witness what the town of Swampscott has just done I think of the concept of a repair that at this very moment in ancient times how anti-semitism was rising I now witness that I live in a town that says we as the organized leaders of this community take a stand a very strong stand a full and encompassing proclamation not only with a definition of anti-semitism but also the dedication to Holocaust awareness and so much more and the expression that this statement means is very important to me and I hope that for anyone else both Jew and Gentile the pride that we can have about living in a town that responds to hate in this way that any other groups that experience racism bigotry discrimination based on sexual orientation that we would all stand together and respond in a very similar and strong fashion and it is an incredible credit to the leadership of this town to be able to witness and achieve today's work thank [Speaker 1] (28:40 - 28:52) you thank you so much I invite other other board members have anything to add [Speaker 6] (28:52 - 29:51) to the discussion it's it's been it's been hard to see so much hatred so much hatred around the world so much hatred in our country and so much hatred coming out of our quaint little beach town and hate has no place in Swampscott hates a learned behavior anti-semitism is a learned behavior we need to fight this hate not with additional hate but with information we need to fight this hate with education and we need to fight and be vocal and ultimately with empathy and with love recommit to condemn anti-semitism in all forms we need to love our neighbors and and not just have a sign in our yard but we actually need to love our neighbors regardless of you know regardless of race regardless of sexual orientation and regardless of religion let us love let us learn let us inform there is no room for hate [Speaker 3] (29:59 - 33:01) rabbi I would be interested in in Katie and I before the meeting we're we're having a conversation and there is no place for hate in Swampscott but the reality is it's alive and well here and some would say thriving everywhere right now and well this may be a more grotesque example of it it lives in so many other ways every day that I think we have as a society increasingly become numb it has become part of our rhetoric and politics as politics gets more and more tribal it's on the TV as we're eating dinners in the backgrounds and for some reason it's accepted and not called out at the dinner table it's walking down the street and just witnessing small misdeeds or miswords and not calling them out in every moment in every place and so tonight we're talking about it and Neil it is an unfortunate coincidence that it was on our agenda this proclamation but we're really spending a lot of time on it because of this incident that happened and so I'm curious and forgive the ignorance of the question if it is indeed ignorant and what Katie and I were and I was asking a Katie was there's a part of me that understands why when something appears on a sidewalk or on a building or in a public place we quickly want to erase it but there's a part of me that also doesn't want to quickly erase it because I want to keep that dialogue going I want people to live in that place of discomfort to see that that is actually a reality here in Swampscott it is a reality in Marblehead it is a reality in Saugus it is a reality everywhere and to provoke a dialogue it's a really uncomfortable one as as as a non-jew talking about this it's uncomfortable despite where I know my heart and my mind are and it's something that I should be spending more time talking to my kids about and whether it's we're in a community that has very few buses so we walk our kids every day I believe we should be walking our kids by these things and so I just how can we as a community continue actively not reactively but proactively continue these dialogues and quite literally the proverbial walk to school include these lessons because my fear is these are situational things and are being missed in our in our daily lives and how can we have it show up more readily in our daily lives as a conversation and a learning point the answer is the answer is rabbi we're intended to be a dialogue is rhetorical but this is a dialogue place here or if [Speaker 8] (33:01 - 35:13) we wanted to have a larger conversation you know so I don't think we have a game plan for this is how you treat anti-semitism this is how you treat hate because like we do in medicine about how you might fix a broken arm or a torn ACL so I am NOT to say what will or will not work but I agree with you in terms of my the approach of the importance of at least preserving an image if not leaving it in place Neil referenced the you know the graffiti in the Marblehead bathroom and if you spell out the actual letters of that graffiti it's to me much more intense than just saying profane language involving Jews and so I at that incident was hoping that I would actually have a photograph of what it was and not just a description right same thing I think that I think that the middle ground frankly is that we should record an image of something and then it's appropriate to paint it over even though that there's a metaphor of covering it up if we preserve the image and we act as the town is acting now as schools as a rally etc then I think we can balance the need for people to walk down the street and not see it along with the people who want to walk down the street and be able to educate about it because we can provide materials about images and want people through that experience so so that's why I think we should we should take pictures of things and and make them available to people whether it's through an ADL website there's something other some other way and I forget exactly the precise question if that's you know where the question lied but I just wanted to say that your comment about how actually seeing images really resonates in a much more powerful way than a verbal description sometimes thank you yeah I have small [Speaker 7] (35:13 - 36:39) children they don't know what a swastika is they don't know what it means but as I was trying to have this conversation with my son about an image being put somewhere that would be so offensive to somebody that not only would you not want to walk by it but you would want to avoid it at all costs and you would want to almost not talk about it because it's so emotionally invoking his only response was could I see it so I don't do it I was like okay I'm six and a half but I was so afraid to show him what it was but his mind just said I don't want to make that mistake so show it to me so it's there's something so profound in that right so I think Peter's point is a very strong one and to have to walk by it for kids to have to see it to understand what it is and for adults to see and to be uncomfortable by it yeah it does have a very real effect [Speaker 8] (36:46 - 38:11) raising children is incredibly challenging that's another area where we don't have any formula for success but I have a lot of trust in individual parents to have the best sense with their own children and to lead from both their heart and their heads with their own kids you know I think that there's there's a time and a place for you know how we communicate and age appropriate communication is also important so I wouldn't want to dictate for any particular child or any particular age I'll leave that to the educators in the school to work but for older kids the United States Holocaust Museum has an excellent about 35 minute video which spends a lot of time on the rise of Nazi Germany and not so much time on the actual horrors of the Holocaust and that is a really good it may be high school age it may be sort of middle school I don't know exactly the best age or when you can start to show that but it's a really good way and it might be useful also for adults kind of to see then how the Nazi symbol is associated with Nazi power and how they rose to power and their program of genocide that I think is very helpful for slightly older children I'm certainly happy to share that offline [Speaker 1] (38:11 - 39:34) the details of that well thank you again thank you for you know for sending out that email last year and nudging us to do something about this I really appreciate it and I think that you'll never be afraid to reach out with more ideas and ways that we can help educate our town and the general public I think you know again for tomorrow night there's an event where we're coming together as a community to just publicly declare and and be together and say that this is this is what we're about we're about loving one another and understanding one another but then I think I don't think anyone on this board or in this town thinks that a proclamation you know necessarily solves anything I do think it's important to do I don't think I don't think these things are trivial or we wouldn't be doing them but I do think that we need to to get continue to work thank you and so we look forward to working with you and many others on on helping to keep chipping away at this problem you know thank you so much for championing this thanks thanks for coming [Speaker 2] (39:36 - 40:58) rabbi thank you thank you for everything that you do bringing some wisdom here to us I think we we know that this isn't just a government and a faith-based obligation it's civic it's about our sports teams it's about our nonprofits it's about all of the organizations we this conversation has to go everywhere it has to go to all of our faith-based institutions and we we've got to really reach out and and get beyond the incident and and just get to helping everybody understand that we are all together and and by coming together and supporting each other especially during times of the vitriol that we hear on our national level and let's just call it what it is it's it's just hate and we have more hate in our politics we have more hate in the dialogue we have more anti-semitism we have more crimes against gays or transgender people all of this is part of a community that's bigger than Swampskip but certainly affects Swampskip so we've got to we've got to stay together and really come up with a few programs that really help us support the type of ideals that we have [Speaker 8] (40:58 - 41:26) as a community yeah indeed and I just watch this you also add is as an extension of the town the Swanscott Police Department their their outreach to us has been phenomenal detective Delano is really taking the lead chief case out is incredibly supportive and whenever we have an issue we feel so supported and the the way in which Swampscott Police Department represents the town is something to be commended and I want that to be known as well [Speaker 4] (41:26 - 41:41) please do I will share it with them as well I'm sure they're watching right [Speaker 1] (41:41 - 43:38) now thanks for thanks for mentioning that thanks for coming we'll see you hopefully we'll see you tomorrow night all right moving on I think what I'll do is we will do public comment now and then we'll move on to the other items on our agenda public comments and opportunity for members of the public to express their opinions on items both on and not on the official agenda it's not intended to be a discussion debate or dialogue between or among the select board and residents additionally before sharing substantive comments we ask residents to state their names addresses and if known their voting precincts each speaker will be limited to speaking once for a maximum of three minutes residents may raise new issues identify community problems and comment on past present or future board agendas absent extraordinary circumstances the board will not respond or react to the issues raised and they should not be discussed or debated at that time we request residents speak respectfully and refrain from criticizing or disparaging individual committee members town staff or other residents or resident groups or individuals we request that residents refrain from making comments that contain political statements or include commentary criticisms or other statements about any town staff individuals may speak only at the discretion of the chair not seeing any public comment here in the room it looks like Aaron Burdolph has his hand raised on zoom and can you allow Aaron to speak oh and let me just say if people have public comment they want to share it through email they can do so by sending me an email at n Duffy D U F F Y at swamps got ma gov good evening this [Speaker 11] (43:38 - 45:54) is Aaron Burdolph 11 Juniper Road Precinct 5 I had a question about wonderful all right thank you to the board again Aaron Burdolph 11 Juniper Road Precinct 5 I had a question about Swampscott Police Department policy late last year I'm sure everyone is well aware the Swampscott Police Department in the town rolled out some new body cameras for the police officers which I think is wonderful and I think a lot of people in town this is a good move however I was trying to find a policy regarding those body cameras specifically on questions of when officers are trained or obligated to turn those on and also what access to the recordings of those body cameras does the public have you know at times they may be on those recordings or if someone can access them via proxy in case the person in question is incapacitated or unwise unable to I reached out to Chief Casada and didn't hear anything shortly after the announcement was made reached out to Captain Cable early December as well as Sean later in the year as well and I haven't heard anything on that so I'm just hoping the board can do I guess a couple things one is just identify whether there is a policy in existence that answers those questions and hopefully make it public or then you know if I need to go to the police department and get the paper and copy it you know happy to do that I just need to figure out how to get that policy and if there's not a policy I guess I've encouraged board to ask the town as well as police department to put one in place as soon as possible because these are important questions and I don't think we want to get to situations where they come out the conflict comes up without [Speaker 1] (45:54 - 47:25) the policy in place thank you thanks Aaron well we'll follow up with that question thanks so much okay all right not seeing any other public comment moving on to our next item which is the draft conservation restriction for the Archer Street properties if people in the public aren't weren't aware the board came to an agreement on the second of the two open space parcels on Archer Street essentially in the Foster Road Archer Street neighborhood right at the end of the year so we are still in the process of closing that acquisition but both of those parcels will be under the ownership of the town as well as got very soon so Pete Kane is here our assistant town administrator and human resources directors here to he's been helping to manage these acquisitions and the next steps and is here to give us an update on on the conservation restriction we have a draft copy of the proposed conservation restriction but Pete's here just to explain what those steps are and what's involved so I hand [Speaker 4] (47:25 - 47:43) it over to you Pete can I just ask a quick question before if we sign off on a conservation restriction now does that preclude us from getting any assistant assistance from the trustees or the Greenbelt no absolutely not so just a [Speaker 1] (47:43 - 47:59) quick overview of the conservation just so we're not signing off on all we're not voting on this yeah yeah yeah so just for clarification a conservation [Speaker 5] (47:59 - 54:41) restriction the intent of a conservation restriction is there to impose and and secure land and make sure that it is kept in a way that the intended purpose is so in this particular one our conservation restriction the purpose is to protect the property as well as allow for passive non-active use of that property but to keep it in its natural state and there are under MGL to essentially two methods of conservation restrictions there is a general conservation restriction that you can develop under chapter 184 section 27 which essentially allows you to put that conservation restriction on the land conservation restriction can be placed by a private entity or a public entity generally by the owner we are the public representation and owner of that property and therefore the town can put the conservation restriction on in the 184 section 27 it's limited in the length of time that that protection can exist by chapter it is or by law it's 30 years meaning that the conservation restriction has to be renewed means that somebody has to remember that it needs to be renewed and you have to go through a process of recording notice to renew that restriction it then also means that it can be revised based on that the changing whims of whoever may be in control that that particular time the preferred methodology however is in perpetuity meaning that the conservation restriction stands against it the property for in many years however long is necessary but there is no time limitation essentially under perpetuity and that's under chapter 184 section 32 under that particular allowance you the Commonwealth stipulates that the conservation restriction does require certain limitations and work elements within that restriction but by doing so it doesn't require any recertification notification and it also ensures that the changing whims of the property owner such as a changing board or a changing governmental structure cannot then affect that conservation restriction in order to do that you have to utilize a model conservation restriction that was developed by the Secretary of Environmental Affairs this particular draft that I provided to you is does utilize the conservation restriction model I've provided you both a redline version because in the review process that is required you have to provide redline so that they can determine what you struck out what you modified outside of that model that model does explicitly state what areas can be removed what areas you need to fill in certain areas don't apply for certain communities because where that particular property is located and so I provided both versions here the the other difference in a the two methodologies is that in order to allow for a conservation restriction in perpetuity the owner and the steward a steward essentially is the entity that oversees that restriction in order to ensure that the restriction stays solid that there is no violation of that restriction for a perpetuity purpose the owner and the steward have to be separate otherwise you will have a conflict there if the owner is also the steward the owner then could be lax on its stewardship you need an outside entity therefore a such in our particular case the town of Swan Scott being the owner cannot have a steward that is also an a creation of the town therefore a commission or a board cannot be a steward so this particular draft contemplates utilizing the Essex County Land Trust otherwise known as Greenbelt as the outside land stewardship the Essex County Land Trust has protections and is stewards of property throughout Essex County they already reviewed the property the board has already agreed that if the town does want to select them as their stewards they are happy to be the stewards of the property they already are established they know the process and procedure in order to deal with let's say in encumbrances by neighboring property owners or where the property owner itself has creates violations they know how to handle those particular situations and they would be able to assist us with that the stewards are not the caretakers they are simply there to ensure that you do not violate therefore the town still has the ability to take care of that property and the responsibility as well so what you've provided tonight is the initial draft essentially what we'll need to do is also Town Council has been provided this I would like any comments or feedback feel free to email at me at any time this is a lengthy document but I'm happy to answer particular questions whether it be tonight or afterwards we can go through any of those particular things happy to meet with anybody but we would want Town Council to review that once Town Council has reviewed the the draft document I want the select board to then review it if the board also agrees with Greenbelts as the stewards we would want the Greenbelts also reviewed a document make sure that everybody is in agreement on the actual language of the conservation restriction once that conservation restriction is approved by both the steward and the select board it then has to be submitted to the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs they then will review what we have proposed as a conservation restriction it always it's difficult to say how long that review process is it could be six months could be more or less it depends on how many other restrictions are in in process it also depends on how much you modified the model language but then once it is approved that is then signed by the secretary and then it gets recorded and then the property is protected and the steward then takes over as land steward or stewards of the conservation restrictions I'm happy to answer any questions if you happen to review anything or if you just have any general [Speaker 1] (54:41 - 54:57) questions about process and procedure can you speak to the timeline on closing the acquisition sure like where so where we are on that so one half of [Speaker 5] (54:57 - 55:22) the property the northwest property the five acres to on the northwest side has already closed that's already been recorded town has title to that property the south west or southeast portion the other five acres will is the final recording documents should be recorded tomorrow at which time the payment will also be released so the ownership should be completed by the end of this [Speaker 1] (55:22 - 55:41) week for both portions so we could potentially be approving the conservation restriction as soon as our next meeting or sometimes shortly after that absolutely yes but even if we do that we're looking at yeah there's [Speaker 5] (55:44 - 56:33) and also just for clarity to although one portion of Archer Street did close in I want to say October may have been November the the steward the proposed stewards greenbelts advise that it's best to do the conservation restriction once all of the property is owned so that you're not going through the process twice with the Commonwealth although the restriction may be the same it still would be handled differently because they are essentially two separate properties and so we would have to go through the process all over again it's also just easier for any steward to understand what the full breadth of the property is rather than looking at Matt at them as two different pieces so that's why that it wasn't brought forward and why we didn't move on the other piece because it just didn't make sense until we had everything in place is this [Speaker 1] (56:36 - 56:43) restriction including the parcel that was gifted that we just it was just in [Speaker 5] (56:43 - 57:24) our last special town meeting it does not but it can absolutely be included in there yes that's a good question and that's the Park Square lot that's yeah and I'm not sure yeah I I haven't actually done a field review of that particular property I don't know what has happened over the years if anything has happened it is adjacent to what was a paper street or essentially but there are neighboring properties it does allow us access but I don't know that necessarily needs the conservation restriction per se but we can definitely [Speaker 4] (57:24 - 57:31) look at it okay there are any mechanisms to get any type of funding for what we [Speaker 5] (57:31 - 58:09) just bought yeah so a lot of times when it comes to different park grants let's say specifically the PARC grant through the Commonwealth they actually do require that a conservation restriction of some type is placed on a property as part of the grant process if we already have it in place we would be able to alleviate that one step and it demonstrates that the community is already invested in preserving that property and therefore we don't need to go through that but we now are looking for monies for let's say signage or a trail clearing something like that but yeah it does assist with it I'm just [Speaker 4] (58:09 - 58:42) wondering if I'm the organization that gives out grant funding and you already have a conservation easement on the property what motivates me to give any money to try to secure to make sure the stays in conservation I'm just wondering well we not put it into conservation and try to get with a temporarily not put into conservation and apply for monies this might be totally crazy but I apply for monies just so that we can lock it into conservation does that give us any [Speaker 5] (58:42 - 59:24) type of leverage absolutely not so the reason being is if you don't put it in under conservation restriction you decide to hold off you there's no benefit to it there's absolutely no benefit to it the putting the conservation restriction actually identifies to the grantees the grantors sorry what you intend to do with the property that it's not an open book of what we can do whatever we want because we know how we want to protect it if you are applying for grants those grants do dictate what you're applying for what the use of the funds are going to be for we would only apply for grants that are directly related to what we want to achieve through our conservation oh I'm [Speaker 4] (59:24 - 59:29) looking for a grant that will help help reimburse us for purchasing the property [Speaker 5] (59:29 - 1:00:30) to keep it in conservation um most grants you cannot seek funding once you've already purchased the property it has to be prior to any closing that they need to be part of that process but you can't seek reimbursement most of them you cannot it's definitely from Commonwealth you can't do a reimbursement request you can for things like maintenance or any capital improvement type thing but actually the actual land acquisition you would have to do that prior to the acquisition so the green belt does ask for but it does not require I've already asked that of them they would not require us they are happy to accept it because obviously there is an administrative cost in order to admin and steward over a property especially legal but there is no requirement is the [Speaker 7] (1:00:30 - 1:00:35) request like an annual fee or based on their participation in the property [Speaker 5] (1:00:36 - 1:00:51) that's a good question too so there are a number of land trusts that do both the initial and ongoing annuals green belt only ever does initial and the request is only at the initial but again it's not a requirement but they are not one [Speaker 3] (1:00:51 - 1:02:06) that does an annual request can you make sure that the the restriction incorporates the idea of us setting aside areas in which residents could park so that they could have access to walk the trails I do see some language here I just want to make sure it's expressly flushed out sure not not unlike the heralding force and other areas where there are areas again maybe it's on surrounding roadways or however it's done just I would hate for us to feel as though we were heralding parks a great example where there's literally designated parking spaces like it was it's a welcoming welcome mat if you will to the community there I think something more akin to that is much more what I'm thinking compared to the parking which I don't even think exists on Littles Point Road for the easement right I Marion Court white court which makes people feel as though they're trespassing right and I just want to make sure that we make it so that again none of these get huge amount of traffic so it's not like we're introducing a lot of traffic here but to allow someone that lives more than walking distance away to utilize these walking areas and park yeah just make sure that we're gonna have that [Speaker 5] (1:02:06 - 1:02:32) flexibility yeah yeah I can check with council and make sure that we have that in here um Harold King thankfully had the right-of-way of Nichols Road that we were able to utilize but we can certainly look at making sure and I believe there is some language in here that restricts the use of asphalt but does allow for crushed stone great thank you so if we're if we're delving [Speaker 1] (1:02:32 - 1:02:47) into the details of these these two versions version two the one that goes to EOEA is the one that you're recommending that we're doing because that's in perpetuity so that's that's what we should really be looking at [Speaker 5] (1:02:47 - 1:03:04) right yeah these documents are the same that I provided ones the redline version ones the clean version so that it's easier to read yeah yeah but yes method two is that definitely the perfect method okay or my recommended method we [Speaker 7] (1:03:04 - 1:03:11) have any land in town that always the first method under the first method [Speaker 5] (1:03:11 - 1:03:44) yes the land that we have that falls essentially under that first method predated this record restriction however so a number of our lands that were acquired in the 60s specifically Harold King Forest Ewing Woods Lynn Scott Park those are properties where the town owns it and the Conservation Commission is the steward it because if they predated the restriction the [Speaker 7] (1:03:44 - 1:04:02) perpetuity is still valid yeah it's it because of the change in the law yep so there's no upkeep to make sure the conservative there's no requirement for [Speaker 1] (1:04:02 - 1:04:19) notification right yep any other questions repeat I'll just mention to you that the small-scale Conservancy reached out and it's offered their [Speaker 5] (1:04:19 - 1:04:43) services to help blaze trails and which would absolutely fit within it because Greenbelt would be the steward they're not the caretakers right town or any agents that it wants to work with such as the Conservancy absolute or even like the boys and girls clubs could certainly be part of that process of [Speaker 1] (1:04:43 - 1:04:56) maintaining and enjoying the property right so yeah just certainly appreciate that offer they made and I'm sure the town will take them up on that for sure [Speaker 5] (1:04:56 - 1:05:06) but if any board member has any feedback that you want to email to me at any point over the next week or so I'm happy to take any of that feedback or [Speaker 1] (1:05:06 - 1:06:39) even answer any questions as well thanks Pete I appreciate the memo and the information all right moving on next item is discussion of select board and town administrators 2023 goals we talked about this briefly before the holidays last year the select board set some goals and individual members talked about goals that they were setting as more sort of individual initiatives that they were interested in doing but also the board sort of settled on some some big-picture goals and then Sean also is setting some goals which I think fall into those categories as well it's sort of big picture town wide goals as well as operational goals that he's looking into he's shared a draft list with us just before this meeting so you know we've got this list now we certainly can discuss goals our goals in the town administrators goals tonight and then you know take up whatever we want to take up at at the next meeting if we're not ready to approve anything officially I'm happy to do you guys have a preference of starting with town administrator goals or select board [Speaker 4] (1:06:39 - 1:07:29) goals okay the only the only question I have is just like a timeline on on goals because we're asked to evaluate the town administrator from July 1 to the end of June correct for for him to attain his his bonus yeah right so and now so we're sitting in January so there's six so he's got six months now to attain his full bonus and we still then we have to decide on what the goals are so some of the questions that I have are the concerns I have is is setting a time for the select board to actually have goals in place so that the town administrator has 12 months to attain his or her goals yeah so I think that a couple of things [Speaker 1] (1:07:29 - 1:08:37) I think I'd I'd rather not start talking about timelines before we've actually I think talked about the goals themselves because I don't know different goals have different timelines right I think a lot of goals that we set and that the town administrators is going to be setting timelines are hard you know I think that actions certain actions we can talk about like what are what are some actions that need to be taken to get towards that goal but in you know when you're trying to for instance if a goal is to you know further the cleanup of Kings Beach and get a project going on Kings Beach cleanup like a lot of things that are not within anyone's control that affect that so to say like you know Sean's goal is to clean up Kings Beach by the end of 2023 and his bonus is based on that idea is something that I think is too rigid I just want [Speaker 4] (1:08:37 - 1:08:49) clarity so that yeah so because this this has to do it which which Sean's compensation so I don't want to leave I actually you know I think it has more to [Speaker 2] (1:08:49 - 1:09:21) do with the trajectory of the town I do think like if you want to talk about my compensation we can set up an agenda item that you know can can focus on that but for me this is a conversation about the town and the select board and how we work together to achieve all of the things that are critically important we have a lot of goals that we're currently working on we have a lot of goals that perhaps we should prioritize okay for me for me that's that's the crux of this [Speaker 4] (1:09:21 - 1:09:47) discussion tonight all right so for me I want to know how the town administrators compensation is set up by attaining goals and I just want to know is this now there's only a six-month window I just want to make sure that everything is as fair as possible to be able to attain those goals I just need things to be a little bit more literal and I also I do like timelines so that [Speaker 1] (1:09:47 - 1:09:57) things are pretty clear yeah I I don't have anything against timelines they're just saying they tend to move and I don't think that's necessarily a [Speaker 7] (1:09:57 - 1:10:27) reflection of performance and that I I think what you're both saying makes sense however the one way to ensure that timelines are met is to give to have longer time and so in this example shot Mariana saying Sean only has six months to look towards some of these goals before we're evaluating him again [Speaker 4] (1:10:27 - 1:10:55) wouldn't it be better if he had a year what or just I don't want to if there's I haven't even read these rights we just got him so I don't want to have this big goals that all of a sudden June comes and I'm being asked to evaluate somebody and the goals haven't been able to be attained or I'm just trying to make sure that there's there's fair opportunity to attain 100% of your compensation for [Speaker 6] (1:10:55 - 1:12:03) your goals but I mean at the same time I just want to make sure that we're that we have the town administration we're not hamstringing the town administrator I want him to dream big I want him to look at and tackle these tackle these tackle these issues that are going to that are going to set you know set the course of you know of our of our town for the next you know for not only the next year or five years but ten years and 20 years and 50 years and looking at this I mean the professional development I mean that's something that you can that that's something that's quantitative and certainly can be can be addressed we can look at you know the communications and community engagement that's something that you can you can look at ongoing investments in public facilities in town properties I mean that those are that's more of a long-term focus supporting and promoting affordable housing development that's a that's a longer term improvement in town finance that's you know that's that's in the shorter term climate resiliency efforts I don't think anybody is I don't think we're gonna be able to tackle that problem you know in the next six months but we can certainly make good progress on it so I sort of think these these can come in with multiple buckets here right I would agree I agree with you yeah they can [Speaker 4] (1:12:03 - 1:12:13) absolutely multiple buckets that's why I'm saying maybe you know put them in the buckets and then just a little thing you know the short term and long term and [Speaker 2] (1:12:13 - 1:12:31) so what I just told we gotta just look at and say all right what what's meaningful progress what are the goal what's you know not you know you know potentially you know saying that you've accomplished the goal but need some you know really significant progress with it so my question I guess is different for [Speaker 7] (1:12:31 - 1:12:43) Mary Allen's which is why don't we do this in July oh why didn't we why why don't we why don't we know we should have done it earlier yeah well maybe we [Speaker 4] (1:12:43 - 1:12:49) should be doing it like May for the following so the timing is so you have [Speaker 3] (1:12:49 - 1:14:48) calendar year fiscal year right those are the two obvious choices for us to do right and so we feel like we're on a fiscal year but maybe what people are saying maybe we want to be on the calendar year and then there's election cycles too right which throws a third thing into this so I think what shot what Neil is trying to say which is before you do the overlay of looking at the goals as a judging criteria just look at the goals purely as what does the town need right and what do we believe the town needs once we get that then I think it's I hear him it's easier once we just altruistically it's it's you're right the goals do serve multiple functions but the most important the paramount one is you know what's good for the town and what do we think we should be pursuing for the town and then I think we can talk about I I do believe that we need to shift the review period for the town administrator because I believe it's it's off where it should be so I agree in general terms with the fact that I think adjusting that is helpful to allow things to happen in a more timely in its more appropriate place both for new members of the board but also just in terms of natural cycles but I think I think Neal's just suggesting let's before we inadvertently corrupt the goal process it's totally inadvertent let's just look at the altruism of things because what we wouldn't want is the town administrator also just to focus his goals in ways that focus on what he thinks he can do just for compensation purposes so they the altruism goes both ways here and so I think we're all saying variations the same thing here which is ignore the town administrator a little bit right now we have to get back to it to have that conversation to wrap this all up but right now let's talk about word we think in the next 12 months for short term and longer for long term that we think our individual collective and town administrator should be that you know if I do a disservice to your position no I [Speaker 1] (1:14:48 - 1:16:48) think I agree I mean I think we're all no one's everyone's saying very similar things yes so that was my point is don't set a timeline on something we haven't even decided about yet so I think that why don't we shift a little and talk about just town goals and our goals I have especially since I mean I appreciate the specificity on this list and I thank you Sean for putting this together I think everyone you know to be fair probably wants to take a little time to read through it I don't think there's anything that anyone would be you know necessarily against on this list but we can sort of think about priorities and where we want to see focus so so I would say for me my focus looking into this year if you will is similar to what it was last year which is development and completion of a climate action plan for the town we have to figure out what we're doing with ARPA funds we are starting will be starting in a couple weeks the process of the Hawthorne so the Hawthorne and the Hadley are priorities for me to get a better idea of what we're doing with those properties and what the steps are and there's a whole bunch of other stuff but that for me is like that's those are the big picture priorities and I and I actually don't think we need a lot more to be doing right now we have a lot going on so that's that's where I where I sit and when I think about what I feel [Speaker 7] (1:16:48 - 1:18:42) is important so I had two of those also on my list the Hadley and Hawthorne acquisition and sort of revisiting Hadley since the Hawthorne acquisition because we may have a different outlook on Hadley now that we own Hawthorne or maybe the thoughts are evolving because of this very close large space that we've acquired and the opportunities are sort of different there and then also I had just some community engagement initiatives that I'm trying to weave folks who are unengaged or less engaged into these types of conversations and how we go about doing that and how we sort of add to our script instead of flip it and get more folks who aren't involved or folks who were involved and then fell out of involvement and trying to re-engage them back into the community because to me that's the heart of how we prevent things like we discussed this at the beginning of the meeting and other items from occurring is you know better education and understanding and civic mindedness and pride and the things that we do here and that our committees and boards do every single day getting people to understand that more and that's really abstract Mary Ellen so I apologize as it flushes out more there are concrete ways to do it I just haven't gotten there. [Speaker 1] (1:18:43 - 1:18:45) That's great, thanks. [Speaker 6] (1:18:45 - 1:21:57) Sure I have a few you know a number of a goals that I had when I ran in 2020 were you know around infrastructure and acquisition of open space and we've accomplished some of those infrastructure goals with a new elementary school and we've accomplished acquisition of open space most recently with the Archer Street acquisitions and and that's certainly exciting we still have more infrastructure to go most notably is really the substantial infrastructure investment to clean up Kings Beach we need to address this long-standing environmental justice issue within our region we need to continue to work not only to address affordable housing initiatives within the town but also address public housing improvements within our town regarding our public housing what we have is is so woefully insufficient it's not ADA compliant and we owe much more to our to our residents these are Swampscott residents and we need to do more we need to do better and and Sean I want that to be a goal of the board and us and you to really to really work to to improve improve that I also think we need to better address the needs of our seniors improve our funding for the Senior Center and Senior Center personnel we have a graying population and funding is just insufficient for the growing population of seniors and you know many seniors have never even set foot in the Senior Center so in my opinion the town needs to do a better job of engaging and interacting with our senior community and and really and really having something that we can that we can be that we can be proud of and and really support that that cohort we need more investment in veterans in veterans I'd like to see veterans senior housing or veterans affordable housing in Swampscott as well as a revamped VFW an investment in in a in a physical structure that can provide you know increased services to our veterans community I look forward to working with the veterans crossing and actively listening to bringing their ideas to the forefront of what I believe is the most important conversation I look forward to working with the REC Commission to explore additional opportunities for no cost and low cost events and continue to invest we need to continue to invest in programming not only for kids but for adults and for seniors with new ideas and concepts bringing excitement and a full calendar of robust events in town and last but certainly not least I want to continue to build community through community events both adult and family-friendly offerings and work with large stakeholder groups such as the veterans crossing such as the REC Commission such as our elementary school PTOs local businesses and other organizations in town that can provide the people power and the marketing support for these large-scale events and I think if I think we can certainly accomplish all of these in the next you know we can accomplish most of these in the next 12 months and some of these are longer or longer-term goals but these are these are the six things that I'm most excited about [Speaker 4] (1:21:57 - 1:26:05) working working for over the next year so some of the concerns that I put down on the goals that are important to me and I really looked at over the next six months only because for the end of the year to staying up front with staying in line with our financial our financial goals and to communicate what's going on financially you know a much better way than what we're doing right now I want to see a full a full plan on what our finances are looking like what you know get our quarterlies up even our monthlies up I would really like to have all this financial stuff ready to go for town meeting a month before town meeting so people can understand it look at it and go to town meeting and just and just be done with it I it's disturbing to me that we hand things out at the last minute and people don't get a chance to really digest it so I'd like it a little bit earlier I even think that in the Charter it's either a Charter or bylaw I think we're supposed to review things on November 15 I don't think I'm wrong on that date November 15 sticks out that we're supposed to review finances so I'd like to get back to what we do in the Charter and just keep keep the finances front and center because I do think you do a great job with that and I want to keep that number one at all times I'm glad that we have the website on your list here because that is a great opportunity for us to improve communications within this town I I I use the website to find out what's going on constantly and let's leave it that there's great opportunity to add things on there the capital plan that's a another thing I want to make sure that that's up front and out there I'd like to see a better job with all the boards as far as boards getting information out there and working together one really important thing to me is the loss of commercial property and year after year I hear how we lose commercial property losing commercial property and I'd like to get a bylaw set I think there was a bylaw that was proposed by the planning board in 2021 to limit the loss of commercial planning so I'd like to revisit that and see what we need to do we'd like to see what we have to do to reevaluate and work with businesses and constituents in Salem to deal with the property over there by Glover as far as getting it better prepared for pedestrian bicycles and anyone else that's that's going to be using that area I think Binning Square is has so much opportunity especially with 3a for senior housing veterans housing senior low-income housing that we need to start talking to the developers and the people that own that property now and not wait not wait much much longer but just to start getting a plan in and then long-term moving into a future vision of Binning Square that's so I'm very focused on the Binning Square thing so those are those are my short short short terms that I thought were important to look at right now oh and then the one thing is 30% of our population is over 55 and I really think that our budget needs to reflect more money into what's going on in the senior center I am disappointed that we don't have a kitchen up there going yet and I'm hoping that that's going to be taken care of pretty soon we've got the funding we have a hundred thousand that was bonded and I'd like to start seeing that kitchen so that they could start making meals and make it more of a community environment and not just a senior center I think that if we build it they will occur [Speaker 3] (1:26:11 - 1:33:05) that's brown welcome you here thanks Neil I mean I might might I'm gonna keep mine really brief because I agree with so many of the things that people have talked about but in terms of my own personal focus look at I today I was talking to someone what keeps me up at night about the town is the budget so I think our fundamentals we have corrected so many things but I think there are things that have happened recently that are really concerning trajectories and some I think were unnecessary changes introductory some I think are just absolutely just necessary but I think we the town administrator in the school department just finished doing lots of contracts and and the three largest contracts all contain costs that I don't think are sustainable the school department and our public safety at our current levels if this is a new trajectory then there is no way we maintain services as they exist today never mind introduce the righteous things that David and Mary Ellen just talked about relative to the senior center right I agree I think so we are totally under invested there but the solution is unfortunately complicated because we it's not like we have money sitting around so I just we've got to figure out how to keep the strictures we have in place which again the current financial team and and the committees have and you know this board deserve a lot of credit for getting us here but it's so easy to let go of it it's it's really so that is to me a place that we just that vigilance needs to happen and right Mary Ellen mentioned about talking about talking about and communicating about our finances this is why it's so important to do so there's many reasons right transparency even in and of itself but really to so people understand the choices that we are faced with and that ultimately they'll be faced with by virtue of budgetary concerns right we all would spend infinite amount on many different things we just talked about if we had infinite amounts but we know that they are there are choices that we have to make and dollars can only go to one place not two places and so we're we're having to make choices with limited amount of dollars and so as we continue to invest in just those things that we've always invested in then we're making a choice about the dollars that doesn't leave a lot towards the places that we've under invested and Human Services is top of the list right Sean I appreciate your focus on health public health you have you know although it's still not a lot we have you know significantly increased the Senior Center budget you have you know attempted to assist the library in doing things but the Human Services side of our government platform is is is lacking right and we're not unlike so many communities but I think we have created the framework that I think we can we can do these things if we're willing to have the tough conversations about the choices we need to make as a community and I think that comes back to communication let people understand where we are why we think we are where we are let's have the healthy debate about that and then people then can you know come to their conclusions about what they think we should be doing for me I think them I I'm gonna go back to where I started when I started on this board which was a lot of empty buildings and my biggest fear is that we end up with empty buildings again and so Hadley and Hawthorne are certainly on the top of my list Hawthorne will be empty as soon as Halloween of this year I think we're on the 28th when we're having the idea exchange for the Hawthorne there's going to be a conversation about short-term uses as well it's not just long-term because we are gonna have a short-term gap that we've got to decide what we want to do with that property and I'm excited about that because I think that's really important that we do something that's community appropriate that is temporary in nature but but you know it doesn't we can't become the biggest blighted property owner in Swampscott and and then that takes me to Hadley which is as much as you go by Hadley today sorry the the new school site at Stanley and you see them moving dirt and it feels really early in the process June 24th 2024 is the anticipated certificate of occupancy date the new school so that date is it might as well be here now that's how soon that date is and and it's remarkable how quick this goes and people are gonna be shocked at how quickly you're gonna see steel structure up you're gonna be shocked at how quickly you're gonna see the building enclosed it's now and and Hadley has to advance in a conversation or else we are looking at a prolonged period of time of Hadley being empty if we were lucky we could salvage the Michon and do something remarkable at the Michon because it hadn't fallen into as gross disrepair as Greenwood Middle School did but Greenwood Middle School between the water infusion and mold and damage you know kind of predestined some things some choices that we had to make there and so for me and I think we're some of my strengths are allow me to focus on those and help those projects get to a point where we we minimize the threat of them being empty in addition to the fact that they are just incredible community building opportunities for us and address so many things the topics that you all are passionate about and we might be able to do several things with them and then last but not least is I've really appreciated David's not singular focus since he just literally listed 22 things but David on the top of David's list every single time he talks is affordable housing and he's incredibly passionate about it and he's really focused on it and I want to compliment and supplement that effort using some of my strengths to be able to do it because I I'm very proud of the Michon and our ability to solve that building creatively there but there are a lot more ideas there really is and so I think that I'm pleased with David's focus on that and I want to compliment that and the affordable housing trust and and also acknowledge that I believe Charlie Patsios was recently appointed by the governor to join the Housing Authority and I think that's a great addition and I and I stand to ready to work with Charlie and the Housing Authority to address what just has been a growing need due to a lack of state funding for the Housing Authority thanks [Speaker 1] (1:33:10 - 1:33:26) Sean I think some of the things that we mentioned are on the list that you provided to us I don't think we need to read your list but I don't know if you've heard you know if there's anything that I think you know what I [Speaker 2] (1:33:26 - 1:34:37) think would be helpful is for me to go back and and take these goals that the board has shared and and merge it with some of these goals you know what was important for me about this conversation is how we prioritize we have a lot of ongoing projects we've got to continue you know the work on advancing a lot of those initiatives but we we do have some other priorities and it's important for us to support each other and just try to find that right balance I think we can spend some time over the next week thinking again about you know what what does the timeline look like what does it make sense how does it make sense in terms of you know establishing key criteria or milestones that are benchmarks for each of these initiatives and we can finalize this and just get busy you know keeping the town on a very productive agenda okay I think [Speaker 3] (1:34:37 - 1:36:08) it I think it would be great if Sean you can hear this but also there's so many things that we didn't talk about that frankly if we didn't talk about them no one would even know they existed extensions of Lynn sewer contract things that I know you worry about because when we talk to you oftentimes we're not talking about these big glowing things we talk about community growth and opportunities and community building opportunities and we talk about you know infrastructure and we talk about these things but you and your team day in and day out are working on kind of brass tacks on things things contracts legal things technical things complicated things that real tweet if we didn't but if we didn't say the words people wouldn't even know that that needs to happen but those are core functioning things that you see you have articulated in the future are look at these are freight trains coming at us we have to deal with it it's 5 10 15 years down but we don't have that amount of time to work on them so if you don't then overlay what you see as things never mind what we all said and again I know there's a divergence of view here as to how this works here but I really firmly believe that you need to overlay on our ideals and things that we want some practical realities of what needs to happen for the mechanics of town government because you see it more than anybody else and what needs to be what is it that we're not even smart enough to know to be thinking about or we're just not thinking about it because we don't care to think about it so I just look to you to kind of give that to us because that's a dose of medicine as well that we need to understand most significant is what [Speaker 2] (1:36:08 - 1:36:42) you don't see and it's what you know keeps me up at night it's your your water and sewer pipes it's that yeah status a good repair it's connected in part to Kings Beach but it really is a shoe that could drop we received some grant funding to do a an assessment of the entire town's infrastructure and so we're going to get some information that will continue to help us you know understand what that status of good repair is well is that that assessment [Speaker 4] (1:36:42 - 1:36:47) we got that grant a year or two ago and that assess only that assessment can be [Speaker 2] (1:36:47 - 1:40:22) you know probably in the next 60 to 90 days again you know doing that assessments gonna inform us and help us plan work and you know apply for grant funding I do think again you know we've touched base on the budget but I I can't understate you know what Peter had shared about the budget I think the more work we've done to try to help strengthen Swampskits financial stability I think the more work is going to be required because we've we've started to balance the broader needs of the town and when you do that you know it it helps you understand that you've under invested in so many other areas for so long that you you've got a you've got to continue to find ways to to support these initiatives it's not just you know our seniors or the library it's it's the civic life you know we talked earlier tonight about you know our responsibility to build community it wasn't just it's not just about anti-semitism it's about addressing loneliness it's about addressing mental social isolation all the things that you know become the fertile ground for hate or for dystopian you know elements of society we've we've and we've done a good job with that but we've got to keep up with that I think you know what I see is you know the need for more of that the those type of community events and programs take a lot of bandwidth we're a small town we have we don't have dozens and dozens of staff that you know are available you know to support all of these things and so most of that work is done in large part by select board members and volunteers and others so when we set these goals I think it's important that we we also recognize you know that busy town has a an impact on all of the boards and commissions and community members but look it it's worth doing and worth celebrating I think we've we've really enjoyed a sense of success over the last year you know with with some projects that came together because of the work we did over the last few years and I think there's every reason to believe that we can we can do some extraordinary things but it's gonna take a lot of work I I do think it would be important for us to add those projects Peter and enlist things that if we stopped working on today what would happen and some of those projects are existing capital you know I look at the existing list of capital projects when we look at the goals we probably should look at that list and try to figure out of the projects that are on our capital improvement plan and our ever improvement appropriations how do we prioritize those and which are more important than others because there there may be things that need to be prioritized if we expect them to be accomplished over the next six months or [Speaker 4] (1:40:22 - 1:40:47) 12 months as opposed to well I'm dying to know why do we put things on the capital plan and approve things for capital and yet we don't make them happen well what specific things are the at the fire station to make sure that we have a locker room a changing area for female firefighters now they have an [Speaker 2] (1:40:47 - 1:41:00) area that's yep I've met with the fire chief and our facilities department this week to help coordinate those so we're working on those but the answer is [Speaker 3] (1:41:00 - 1:43:49) broader though the answer is broader Mary Ellen which is we don't we don't have property we don't have project management teams in town we don't we just don't and and just candidly I mean I sit and watch I sit and watch what they're doing we have a facilities director who's quite literally in charge of a new school being built right now in addition to the eight buildings that in the school department and whatever we have a DPW director who is capable of doing stuff but also is running a DPW we have a fire chief who's capable of doing things but also running a fire department so we don't it's the true lack of project management in towns that all towns suffer from the ability to execute projects and we don't and I we talked about it we don't capitalize because mass law limits the amount that you can capitalize project management assistance when we're approving capital projects I firmly believe that we can to a certain degree factor in if we're doing a project then who's going to run that project so we can factor in certain things into the bonding and I believe we've started a conversation with the former treasurer was here and it didn't go anywhere with the former treasurer maybe maybe we'll get some go somewhere yeah we didn't come to conclusion I should say and so I think there's a percentage actually of cost that we are actually able to allocate as an admin cost in a capital project and still have it qualify under the bond and we should be looking at that because it is short money right by way of example we have a consultant who's been working with us on several grant applications a woman that used to work for the town who you know she gets paid by virtue of that and and it's remarkable like what we're able to do by having that extra set of hands and so your points a valid point but it's it's not for lack of people's focus sometimes projects just fall through because they weren't spec'd right or pricing wrong right but I think and I agree with the frustration like I I wanted to know why did it takes over two and a half years to get body cameras in activity because we actually used our bond authorization two and a half years ago for that right took two and a half years cameras so this is that but that was because it took a long time for negotiations with the Union to finish it took a long time for regulations to happen and things of that nature two and a half years after we voted it took that but it wasn't because of lack of effort it's just because there's complex things so I would really hope that we can look at that administrative charge let's find a way to bring on those consultants to help us finish projects because there's not enough hours in the day for your project management I mean you guys know that and it's my constant criticism all the time on that like I'm with you on that but it's it's I don't know who the person is and then a lot of us have filled roles and committee members have filled roles doing that but that's also not a sustainable way of doing things either so get it done and and and you [Speaker 2] (1:43:49 - 1:45:12) know keep the budget from growing for more than two and a half percent I can't that too and you know keep taxes steady and and you know again I I'm not looking to underplay you know just the importance of you know finding individuals to help us I think we we've proven that we can be creative we do need project management we have a facility church we have an assistant facilities director that I met with today to really talk about the fire department we are working on the kitchen at the Senior Center we had to go out to rebid you know some projects are taking longer because of the marketplace and because of some of the costs associated with improvements and so I think you know you know not to provide excuses but we're dealing with an economy that is complicated and it's making projects a little bit more complicated that said we do pride ourselves on clipping off you know projects and keeping moving and we had an extraordinary track record with getting grants and getting funding and moving forward with improving parks and places and spaces so we will continue that focus and we'll continue to look to individuals to help us accomplish well maybe we could look at every [Speaker 4] (1:45:12 - 1:45:31) project and see what is it really going to take and if we can turn around it like just look at it in detail versus globalizing it because you know what we're doing is we're appropriating funds we're appropriating capital funds and yet we're not we don't have a mechanism on how we're going to implement it [Speaker 2] (1:45:31 - 1:45:41) within a specific time frame generally you know look we've got a building a [Speaker 4] (1:45:41 - 1:45:49) school I just don't really school but we have our facilities we have our facilities director working on building this new school and if we can [Speaker 2] (1:45:49 - 1:46:05) turn around 15 other projects as well he's updating green renewable projects for buildings he's you know main you know maintaining facilities he's managing contract I mean there's so many things there's not a day that goes by that he isn't just [Speaker 7] (1:46:07 - 1:46:19) yes let's just put pen to paper see what's open on the docket and then how can you move the projects forward or at least just communicate that you can't and then people don't have you're managing expectations yeah I mean I [Speaker 3] (1:46:19 - 1:47:05) think look at I think it's a fair question I don't know that it's one that's been explicit explicitly asked of department heads in particular when they meet with CIC and they meet with you and they're saying these are the capital projects and these are what's coming up next or whatever for them to affirmatively be able to say and this is the action plan of how we get it done and to acknowledge that they can't just because just some physical reality is just important it doesn't mean it won't get done it means okay and then let's decide consciously to put more resources to it to get it done or maybe this year if it can wait a year it will wait until next year because next year you'll be able to do it and so so some of that you know I think maybe just having that explicit conversations of really fair conversation and and fair to the staff as well because then they can gives them an opportunity to say look at I honestly I I would love to get this done I can't get this done unless you [Speaker 1] (1:47:05 - 1:47:11) give me more help and and then we deal with it yeah but they but they but [Speaker 3] (1:47:11 - 1:47:48) department heads but department heads do need to be yeah but department heads do have to be in that position though they can't advocate at the same time and propose a budget which they then can't execute no but but we've got a you know but it's fair for the time administrator to ask for I think department heads to say you're asking for it and you say you can do it the expectations you're gonna be able to do it right but if not that's okay it's not a bad thing we'll help you we'll find other resources or we'll decide to wait a year but the worst case scenario is another project doesn't happen because we've encumbered $80,000 you know it takes two and a half years for something to happen when there was other projects I guarantee you we could have found plenty of places for $80,000 [Speaker 1] (1:47:48 - 1:48:06) I mean again like I mean we don't have to go through the list but you know you have a project that goes out to bid and all the bids come back and there are tens of thousands of dollars over you have to go out to you know you can't yep yep yep that's not that's the system yeah so that's but that's that's one [Speaker 4] (1:48:06 - 1:48:37) example of one particular thing you know my example my example of the fire department was that's money that's been approved a few years ago and it hasn't been implemented yet so that's my example came from the example of the kitchen that would be what you just brought up is that it went out to bid it came back you know right and then Sean wanted to go back out to bid in a specific way to try to align it with what we can get yeah again I hear what [Speaker 2] (1:48:37 - 1:49:25) you are saying I think we go back take a look at each of the capital projects get a sense of you know where we are and how we can all feel comfortable that when we set these goals they are going to align with our existing array of projects and we can have a frank conversation about each of the projects and get a sense of how we all prioritize the time that we have and and if we really do need to apply some additional strategies or funds to a few of the initiatives to help ensure that they can't get done within a timeline that you know frankly the board expects we can we can have that discussion so I think you know to be [Speaker 1] (1:49:25 - 1:49:54) continued the conversation I think what we heard you know from the board is there's certainly community communication and engagement you know a real sharpened focus on the budget I think you know been in square redevelopment commercial redevelopment which Sean you mentioned to me in our conversations and is on on your list Hawthorne and Hadley and ARPA and housing I mean that's a that's a list what I'm talking about been in square [Speaker 4] (1:49:54 - 1:50:08) with a focus on housing you know that implementing it into a 3a district working with the planning board right yeah no I but I think generally also [Speaker 1] (1:50:08 - 1:51:13) just read about some sort of starting the planning process look at that and I think that that 3a you know requirement is going to take that off for sure so I think that you know providing a refined list for a continued conversation for next week you know if we could have that you know end of the day Friday or Monday just so folks can sort of take a look at it I think you know I'd encourage board members to take a look at what we have now and send feedback to Sean over the next day or two if there's something that you really want to or you can send email and you'll get it back all right all right great thanks thanks everyone for that conversation the next [Speaker 7] (1:51:13 - 1:51:46) about goals I went back and watched the and this went far better so I thank everybody for participating so clearly and bringing things to the table what month was that it was multiple months I left multiple meeting which we all talked about last year I was very nervous coming into this conversation that it was just gonna sort of not go this way I appreciate I'm not gonna watch those meetings yeah thanks for [Speaker 1] (1:51:46 - 1:52:20) highlighting appreciate appreciate you all right consent agenda on the consent agenda tonight we have a vote to approve the ABCC Alcohol Beverages Control Commission form regarding our population increase and then also the minutes from our meetings on December 21st and December 27th I have a motion [Speaker 7] (1:52:20 - 1:52:34) to approve the consent agenda oh my god did we not did we not put like that you [Speaker 3] (1:52:34 - 1:52:38) actually got first and what your time was no you left my husband out who's the [Speaker 7] (1:52:38 - 1:52:59) heart of my family and I would like him to be in the minute it's one of our [Speaker 3] (1:52:59 - 1:53:16) goals talking about the turkey trot at every meeting every meeting it might be we're on a string of three meetings in a row all right so we have a motion to [Speaker 1] (1:53:16 - 1:53:47) approve the consent agenda with that change to the minutes was that December 21st is there a second any further discussion on any of these items all those in favor I found administrators report all right so over the last few [Speaker 2] (1:53:47 - 1:59:31) weeks I have reached out and I have asked department heads to submit goals for this upcoming year I will be reviewing these goals with department heads and looking to align these goals with both the select board's goals and the town administrators goals you know I've been meeting with our director of finance administration our treasurer collector Pat bloody as we outline the FY 24 budget meetings with department heads will be ensuing over the next few weeks to really go over the FY 24 budget this year's budget will be very tight you know as we've talked about the collective bargaining contracts that we have approved over the last year will place additional pressure on the financial policy that the select board school committee and finance committee has established over the last few years to keep tight handle on on the budget priorities will need to be really focused Amy Sauer will join us next week and give the board an update on FY 23 but also the FY 24 budget development I Jared Liberty is doing some absolutely wonderful work on pulling together our town report our town clerk is really marshalling all of the department heads to include their annual report and it's impressive to see each department heads update on all the activities that they've been involved in he is working also on the annual census for our grants and he also has some ideas about how to make some changes in his office for staffing and it will be following up with a few of those recommendations over the next few weeks Jeff Vaughn has reported out some of our composting numbers we want to thank residents that are composting this helps reduce the cost for our solid waste contracts it's also an environmental best practice and great for the environment we have to decrease our solid waste outputs we've had a few conversations about that and composting is a great way to reduce a lot of tonnage especially over holidays there's information on our website about how to improve your recycling so please start this new year by not only joining a gym but being a better environmental steward we have a wonderful relationship with black earth composting and there's a great guide to help encourage composting senior center outreach efforts continue at the Swampskate Housing Authority but also over at the Michon and number of you know senior assisted living centers in Swampskate the Mass Council on Aging has granted the Swampskate Senior Center a $7,800 grant to help identify individuals as caregivers and host a care we are hosting a caregiver resource fair in May thank select board members and others that are going down and meeting with our seniors for lunch these are wonderful opportunities to just engage with our seniors and really share conversations about things that are meaningful in their lives library has a number of book clubs we have six book clubs and five miscellaneous clubs doing events for children and teens a new library director is absolutely doing wonderful work just reinvigorating a number of community engagement efforts and it's really great to see we are planning a kickoff public engagement event for the Hawthorne you know on Saturday January 28th we will get some of that information out hopefully as soon as tomorrow on time but I want to just highlight that date and for town residents we really want to hear Swampskate residents ideas about what they think we should do with that property over the short and long term and again just a reminder tomorrow we are gathering at Lynn Scott Park at 5 p.m. to really respond to hate but really show Swampskate just what kind of care and concern we have as a community and lastly I just want to just recognize that this Monday is Martin Luther King Day it's important for all of us to think about the life and the legacy of Martin Luther King and spend some time learn about the civil rights movement and the progress that we made in the 60s and the sacrifices and the challenges that Dr. Martin Luther King confronted and the work ahead for this generation you know it's a long march but certainly spent some time at the Swampskate Public Library and read a few pieces of literature about the life of Dr. Martin Luther King and enjoy the weekend. That's my report. Any questions for Sean? [Speaker 7] (1:59:32 - 1:59:50) I just have a question about trash. I've been getting a call from more than one resident reaching out about trash not being picked up or recycling not being picked up so could you just clarify what to do if that should happen? [Speaker 2] (1:59:51 - 2:00:22) If that happens they can contact me or contact the town administrator's office directly we will reach out to Republic and do our best to get that trash picked up that day. Typically they are able to come back and pick up the trash or recycling that day but you know there have been instances where they have to get it the next day but the sooner we get a hold of Republic and the sooner individuals get in touch with my office the sooner we can help. [Speaker 4] (2:00:23 - 2:00:32) Republic's working on a mechanism so that people have their own account they can call direct to but I've always called Jeff if they've forgotten Jeff gets them right out there. [Speaker 2] (2:00:33 - 2:00:42) Sure they can call the health department as well but Jeff is a one-person office we typically have staff in the town administrator's office that can reach out as well. [Speaker 4] (2:00:45 - 2:00:54) I have a question on the proposed budget presented to the board on March 1st can we get that budget a lot earlier? [Speaker 2] (2:00:55 - 2:00:56) That's by charter. [Speaker 4] (2:00:57 - 2:00:59) I don't think so. March 1st is it? [Speaker 2] (2:00:59 - 2:00:59) It is. [Speaker 4] (2:01:01 - 2:01:05) I'll have to double check. So charter or not can we get it earlier? [Speaker 2] (2:01:07 - 2:01:35) You know that that timeline is pretty much baked into a schedule but I'll have that conversation with staff. I think we're gonna need that time the school department doesn't submit their budget until you know the second week in February we need time to kind of you know really typically you know make these numbers work. [Speaker 4] (2:01:35 - 2:01:38) You give the school their numbers right? [Speaker 2] (2:01:38 - 2:01:41) I do but I give them one number. [Speaker 4] (2:01:41 - 2:01:42) Correct. [Speaker 2] (2:01:42 - 2:01:44) They have a lot of numbers that they have to make work. [Speaker 4] (2:01:45 - 2:01:45) Yep I understand. [Speaker 3] (2:01:45 - 2:01:51) In fairness you give them one number last year if that was an indication of something you get another number back sometimes. That's right. [Speaker 4] (2:01:52 - 2:01:55) Well I think last year was the first time another number came back. [Speaker 3] (2:01:55 - 2:01:57) In his tenure? [Speaker 4] (2:01:57 - 2:01:58) Yes. [Speaker 3] (2:01:58 - 2:02:00) Yes in Sean's tenure that's correct. What? [Speaker 4] (2:02:00 - 2:02:05) That's the only tenure I'm focusing on. Last year was the first time we had a. [Speaker 2] (2:02:05 - 2:02:09) I think if we want to really if we're gonna change timelines if you want things a month earlier. [Speaker 4] (2:02:09 - 2:02:12) So we would need to probably do it next year. [Speaker 2] (2:02:12 - 2:02:29) But we need to yeah talk about that as a board and we should meet with the finance committee we should talk a little bit about you know the sequence of budgets. It's you know as it stands you know we're developing a budget you know six months prior to its implementation that's a lot of time. [Speaker 4] (2:02:29 - 2:02:46) I can tell you from the finance committee over the last seven years the finance committee has consistently complained that they get the budget too late. That they need a little bit more time. So that's that was the conversations from the finance committee. So I'm just trying to get us into the mode of getting stuff out a little bit earlier. [Speaker 1] (2:02:50 - 2:02:55) Alright any other questions for Sean? Select board time. [Speaker 4] (2:03:01 - 2:03:29) I'll give you the update on my committees on disability. This Disability Commission has now met for the third time. They're working on a communication strategy on what they want to get out to the community and how they're going to work in collaboration with other committees and they just needs a clarification on who the ADA coordinator is. Sean I said that I would ask here. [Speaker 2] (2:03:29 - 2:03:31) The human resources director. [Speaker 4] (2:03:31 - 2:03:34) It is okay. Could you just let him know too? [Speaker 2] (2:03:37 - 2:03:38) Let him know. [Speaker 4] (2:03:38 - 2:03:39) That he's the ADA. [Speaker 2] (2:03:40 - 2:03:40) Sure. [Speaker 4] (2:03:41 - 2:05:44) Because I said that to them and they said they had an email from him that he wasn't. So I said well this is my email. When the council on aging they're looking to they're looking to start a veterans group. So that they can get more veterans just coming in and socializing. They received a grant that's going to help identify people that are support caregivers and with that grant they're going to send information out. People who are doing caregiving can get that information back to COA and then COA can get them more assistance. What are you going to call it? They're going to have an expo or I don't know what the right title would be that you were talking about too. That's going to be on May 6th so if we could just get the word out a little bit more. Heidi Ware who does an amazing job said that people don't even realize how much caregiving they're doing and what their needs are until they get out there a little bit more and Heidi really feels that that the senior center could be more supportive and they're very excited about it. They really want to get this kitchen going so sooner we can put a little bit more work into that that would be helpful. The Swamps Guide of All Ages they had a meeting last week, they had a program last week with over 30 people in attendance on the additional dwelling units and that's going to be on Swamps Guide TV so people who missed it they can go back. The Solid Waste Committee is requesting, please if they can get information. They need information so that they can analyze the solid waste the cost, how it really impacts the town and I'm not sure what the obstacles are in getting them that information. [Speaker 2] (2:05:45 - 2:06:00) I've reached out to our finance team and I've asked them to make that information available and I'll continue to work with them. I think we can find out how to make that available on a regular basis. My expectation that that will happen. [Speaker 4] (2:06:01 - 2:06:04) Is the request too much? [Speaker 2] (2:06:04 - 2:06:33) No, I think we just need to ensure that when the invoices come in they are made available and sent out. I have no concern whatsoever that the committee can't have that information. I want them to have it. I want them to study it. I want them to come back and talk about why the numbers. [Speaker 4] (2:06:34 - 2:06:38) The numbers are dropping. The last meeting was last night. [Speaker 2] (2:06:38 - 2:06:40) The numbers will go up. [Speaker 4] (2:06:41 - 2:06:49) They're also going over the survey. I want to know, where do we stand with the veterans lease? [Speaker 2] (2:06:52 - 2:07:16) I had a conversation two weeks ago with town council about going out to RFP. We are going to have to issue an RFP. It's my hope that we will tailor it in such a way that it will ensure that This is probably your inside voice speaking right now. [Speaker 3] (2:07:17 - 2:07:18) I need to say that out loud. [Speaker 4] (2:07:22 - 2:07:23) 30 days? [Speaker 2] (2:07:23 - 2:07:27) Yes, we can get this done in the next 30 days. [Speaker 4] (2:07:48 - 2:08:20) I'd like to thank the fire department for hosting Katie and I to take a tour of the firehouse and to have a conversation with Chief Archer. It was a really nice morning. Wasn't it? Katie will be applying for the fire department. She's going to need a waiver. I'm over age. There is a process that she can apply for. [Speaker 2] (2:08:22 - 2:08:23) Maybe we can change that. [Speaker 7] (2:08:26 - 2:08:28) Maybe we can change the age. [Speaker 6] (2:08:29 - 2:08:42) I think these materials are awesome. I thought it had a lot of great information. The materials that I'm looking at are related to the fire department recruitment. [Speaker 4] (2:08:46 - 2:09:27) Chief Archer said that they're going to be hiring soon. This is the paperwork for hiring. This is the package and it details what's going on. I would like to have some type of an update on where we stand with hiring both on the police both on the fire and the police. I know we have two cadets in the academy now and then we have two openings. We have another retirement coming in. I'd just like to see the big picture on when spots are going to get filled. Katie's also looking at that. There's no age requirement. [Speaker 6] (2:09:28 - 2:09:39) I would love if the police department could do something similar. I think this is a plethora of incredible information and maybe this should be a model. [Speaker 2] (2:09:39 - 2:10:47) I really do think Chief Archer has done a wonderful job getting a really great packet of information out. We have over 80 individuals that have signed up to take the exam for the fire department. We're looking both for police officers and firefighters right now. It really is a great opportunity for us to continue to improve. We're a year out of civil service and we're learning more and more about how to really go out and engage and be competitive in the recruitment for these incredibly important positions. I think it's just his focus on continual improvement but I will share that packet with Chief Cassata and we'll continue to evaluate strategies that can help us be competitive in the employment marketplace. Anything else? [Speaker 3] (2:10:48 - 2:11:58) I got a message from a resident and the message was shame on me and I think the shame on me was apparently the police union posted a couple times this week that not a single elective member of town staff or the town administrator or town management celebrated National Law Enforcement Day and that they understood where they stood with us. I'm sorry that the us versus them mentality seems to continue. I'm going to make it up though because there's National Police Remembrance Day on September 29th. There's National Police Memorial Day on October 1st. There's National Police Week May 15th to 21st. There's Police Commemoration Day October 21st and then there's National Police Woman Day September 12th. We have lots of other days to make it up and so I wanted to share those so that others weren't shamed because in the midst of living lives and doing everything we didn't celebrate candidly an internet established holiday. We'll do better. [Speaker 2] (2:12:00 - 2:12:29) I certainly want to recognize just my brother and my grandfather and a lot of the wonderful Swampskip police officers that put their lives on the line for our freedoms but I would hope that nobody would use that as an opportunity to sow division and hate and all the things that really undermine I think the good society. We can all be better. Enough of the us and them. [Speaker 4] (2:12:30 - 2:13:34) I think we all can be better. Everyone at this table and I understand if somebody is frustrated. I can understand so let's sit down and talk about it. Let's just talk about it instead of somebody throws one ball here and another ball there. Let's just talk. If something went on to social media last night because a union was upset then come in and talk about it. I don't want to turn around and fight back with the union. I took what you said. I don't think it was called for. I don't think it brings any peace to our community. That's my point. I just want to have peace in our community and more conversation. If the police department, the union feels that they're not appreciated I'd like to sit down and talk about it. Why don't you feel appreciated and what did I do that made you feel unappreciated? I don't want to be... [Speaker 3] (2:13:34 - 2:13:49) That does sound like a very adult mature way to handle things and if I acted in a way that didn't meet that standard because I was reflecting some others that didn't meet that standard, I'm sorry. You're correct. We should do that. I agree with you. [Speaker 7] (2:13:53 - 2:13:54) Let's do it. [Speaker 1] (2:13:58 - 2:13:59) Katie, do you have anything? [Speaker 7] (2:14:02 - 2:14:04) That is my select board time. [Speaker 1] (2:14:05 - 2:14:15) Before we adjourn, I'll just say it one more time. No place for hate tomorrow night at 5 and Hawthorne idea exchange on January 28th. [Speaker 4] (2:14:15 - 2:14:17) All those in favor. [Speaker 1] (2:14:18 - 2:14:18) Aye.