Swampscott Select Board Meeting Analysis: January 10, 2024

Agenda

Based on the transcript, the likely agenda for the meeting was as follows:

Call to Order & Pledge of Allegiance 0:00:00
Town Administrator’s Report 0:00:24
- Updates on Police Department (New Officers, Synagogue Support)
- Anti-Semitism Concerns
- Kings Beach Update
- Health Department (Opioid Settlement Survey, COVID/Flu Rise)
- Finance Department (Budget Memo, State Revenue Shortfall Warning, 10% Cut Exercise)
- Capital Improvement Committee / Climate Action
- Senior Center Kitchen Renovations
- Solar RFPs (New School, Municipal Lots)
- Town Clerk Activities (Census, Elections)
- Recreation Department (New Year’s Eve Event, Program Calendar)
- Community Development (Archer Street Grant Application)
Public Comments 13:58
- Comment from Maura Lau regarding Hadley RFP/ARPA funds and School Budget concerns.
- Comment from Nina Rogers regarding the need for dedicated Pickleball Courts.
New and Old Business (Possible Action/Votes of the Board)
- Adoption of January 27th as Holocaust Memorial Day 21:44
- Discussion & Possible Vote on Naming the High School Baseball Field (207 Forest Ave.) 26:29
- Discussion & Possible Vote on Donation Policy 35:23 (Note: Discussed after field naming vote)
- Discussion & Possible Vote on Changing the Make-up of the Solid Waste Committee 50:51
- Review of Town Administrator’s Annual Select Board Review 1:01:05
Votes of the Board
- Approval of the Consent Agenda 1:33:17
  - Approve Marc Kornitsky to full ZBA membership.
  - Approve Minutes (12/6/23, 12/11/23, 12/20/23).
Select Board Time 1:33:47
- Member Comments & Thanks
- Discussion of Upcoming Meeting Schedule & Future Agenda Items (Hawthorne, Hadley RFP presentations, Specialized Building Code)
- Updates on Climate Action/MVP Grant, Glover Preservation efforts.
Adjournment 1:53:15

Speaking Attendees

Based on the transcript and contextual knowledge of Swampscott government:

Sean Fitzgerald (Town Administrator): [Speaker 1]
Peter Spellios (Select Board Member): [Speaker 2]
David Eppley (Select Board Chair): [Speaker 3]
Mary Ellen Fletcher (Select Board Member): [Speaker 4]
Doug Thompson (Select Board Member): [Speaker 5]
Katie Phelan (Select Board Member): [Speaker 6]
Nina Rogers (Public Commenter, former Swampscott Teacher/Coach): [Speaker 7] (Note: Tag [Speaker 7] also appears erroneously during a motion seconding 35:17 and a vote 1:32:20, likely misattributing actions of a Board Member.)
Maura Lau (Resident, Public Commenter): [Speaker 8]
Joe Caponigro (Resident, Swampscott High School Baseball Coach): [Speaker 9]
Steve Balpet (Resident/Alum, Public Commenter): [Speaker 10] (Also led Pledge)
Mike Massey (Resident/Alum, Public Commenter): [Speaker 11]
Diane Tripoli (Town Clerk / Assistant to TA): [Speaker 12]
Board Member (Identity unclear/possibly mis-tagged): [Speaker 13] (Minimal interjections, potentially one of the main 5 members mis-tagged.)

Meeting Minutes

1. Call to Order & Pledge: Chair David Eppley called the meeting to order at 6:35 PM 0:00:00, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Steve Balpet 0:00:10.

2. Town Administrator’s Report: 0:00:24 Town Administrator (TA) Sean Fitzgerald provided updates:

Police: Two new lateral transfer officers started field training; ongoing support for local synagogues amid rising anti-Semitism. TA Fitzgerald urged community civility.
Kings Beach: Collaboration with state environmental officials continues; next steps involve engaging federal agencies (EPA, Army Corps). 1:05
Health: Analyzing opioid settlement survey results; noted a significant rise in respiratory illnesses (COVID, flu) based on wastewater data, urging precautions. 2:08
Finance: Acknowledged a significant state revenue shortfall 10:35, requiring caution and potential budget adjustments (local aid cuts). Department heads were asked to model 10% budget reductions as a planning exercise for a challenging budget year. 2:48
Capital/Climate: Capital Improvement Committee is active; TA met with Climate Action Committee regarding code improvements.
Senior Center: Kitchen renovations have begun. 3:44
Solar: RFP for new school solar (roof and future canopy) is out; TA requested exploration of solar canopies for all municipal lots. 4:02
Town Clerk: Busy with census/dog license mailings and election preparations (March 5th primary). 4:20
Recreation: Successful New Year’s Eve event (450+ attendees); 12-month event calendar available online. 4:36
Community Development: Applying for a grant for passive recreation at the newly acquired Archer Street property; drone footage shows potential for scenic overlook tower. 5:15

Q&A on TA Report:

Member Fletcher asked about the Kings Beach Water/Sewer Committee; TA Fitzgerald reported strong candidate pool, expecting recommendations at the next meeting 7:15.
Member Fletcher noted the financial forecast required by Charter by Nov 15th was late 8:08; TA Fitzgerald acknowledged providing a spreadsheet earlier and committed to scheduling the required public review with FinCom and School Committee 8:50.
Member Phelan inquired about the severity of the state revenue shortfall; TA Fitzgerald confirmed it’s significant enough to potentially trigger mid-year cuts (“9C cuts”) including supplemental appropriations [10:35, 11:05]. Departments are freezing discretionary spending based on mid-year projections 11:48.
Member Fletcher asked about the timeline for Q2 financials; Member Spellios recalled a standard of the first meeting of the month after the quarter ends (i.e., early February) 13:16. TA Fitzgerald confirmed reconciliation next week, reports expected monthly 13:22.

3. Public Comments: 13:58

Maura Lau criticized the process surrounding the Hadley School RFP, particularly the use of ARPA funds and what she termed a “playbook” of rushing decisions without full board input, calling it disrespectful to voters 14:20. She also expressed deep concern about potential school budget cuts impacting nurses, staff, and libraries 16:34.
Nina Rogers, a former Swampscott teacher and coach, advocated for dedicated pickleball courts, citing confusion caused by shared lines on existing tennis courts and the sport’s growing popularity among all ages 18:21. She mentioned potential state funding and quieter equipment options 20:10.

4. New Business:

Holocaust Memorial Day Proclamation: 21:44 Chair Eppley introduced the item, condemning rising anti-Semitism in town 22:06. Select Board members took turns reading a proclamation designating January 27, 2024, as Holocaust Memorial Day in Swampscott, commemorating the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and recommitting to combating hatred and bigotry [22:30 - 25:36]. TA Fitzgerald emphasized the importance of remembrance and treating everyone with dignity 25:48.
Baseball Field Naming: 26:29 TA Fitzgerald presented a request to name the high school baseball diamond in honor of longtime coach Frank DeFelice, citing his legacy and current health issues as reasons for timely action. Current coach Joe Caponigro 28:08, resident Steve Balpet 30:00, and former player Mike Massey 32:05 spoke passionately in support, highlighting Coach DeFelice’s impact on students, continued support for the program, and deservingness of the honor. After clarifying the proposed name as “DeFelice Diamond” 33:57, Member Thompson moved to approve the naming 35:07. The motion was seconded by a Board Member (tag shows [Speaker 7], likely error) 35:17 and passed unanimously (5-0) 35:19.
Donation Policy Discussion: 35:23 The Board conducted a first read of a proposed new town Donation Policy. TA Fitzgerald explained the need for structure and control around solicitations by departments 35:50. Discussion points included:
- Need for an accompanying Naming Policy (raised by Member Spellios) 37:08.
- Whether the policy was vetted by Town Counsel (questioned by Members Spellios and Phelan) 37:41. TA Fitzgerald believed so but would confirm.
- The $5,000 threshold for Select Board approval (questioned by Chair Eppley and Member Thompson) [38:11, 49:22], including whether it applied to aggregate event sponsorships 39:11.
- The scope of naming (buildings, rooms, benches, etc.) 40:18.
- Ensuring policy doesn’t hinder grant applications (raised by Chair Eppley) 47:49; Member Thompson suggested “grant” might mean personal gifts here 48:56.
- Balancing monetary donations with recognition for time/service contributions (raised by Member Phelan) 45:55. TA Fitzgerald agreed to refine the policy, potentially add naming language, clarify thresholds/grants, confirm legal review, and bring it back for the next meeting [46:22, 50:44].
Solid Waste Committee Restructuring: 50:51 Member Fletcher proposed changing the committee’s composition by removing the Select Board liaison, Director of Health, and DPW Director as voting members, converting them to ex-officio advisors available upon request, and adding three resident voting members 51:03. Rationale included improving quorum, increasing working members, and reducing time burden on staff 52:23. Member Spellios provided historical context, noting the original structure aimed to ensure alignment on feasibility (especially financial) and connection with staff responsible for implementation 54:52. He stressed the importance of maintaining connectivity to avoid disconnects between committee recommendations and operational/financial realities 56:10. TA Fitzgerald noted the Health Department’s Charter responsibility for sanitation 57:46 and confirmed staff availability would be balanced with operational needs 59:40. Member Fletcher moved to approve the changes effective February 15, 2024 1:00:11. Chair Eppley seconded 1:00:28. The motion passed unanimously (5-0) 1:00:32. Staff was directed to advertise the openings 1:00:33.
Town Administrator Annual Review (FY23): 1:01:05 Chair Eppley outlined the review process (self-evaluation, individual board evaluations, summary meeting). He acknowledged the delay in completing the FY23 review 1:01:16. He then read a consolidated summary evaluation 1:03:34, highlighting major accomplishments (Hawthorne acquisition/visioning, Hadley RFP progress, community events, veteran’s housing, AAA bond rating 1:07:13) and areas for improvement (police hiring process challenges (since addressed 1:08:27), communication/community engagement, climate resiliency focus, follow-through, delegation/time management 1:09:10). Board members provided comments:
- Member Thompson thanked Chair Eppley for the balanced summary and emphasized the need for delegation to support high aspirations [1:11:14, 1:13:25].
- Member Phelan noted similarities and differences in board perspectives, reinforcing the delegation point as enabling the TA and team to achieve more 1:11:44.
- Member Fletcher reiterated concerns from the FY23 period (police hiring, planner vacancy) but acknowledged the TA’s positive attitude and courteous working relationship, stressing the need for communication/follow-through improvements 1:14:19.
- Member Spellios praised the TA’s leadership on difficult initiatives, resilience, unwavering “compass,” and positive comparison to other municipalities, acknowledging the awkwardness of the public review process 1:15:55. TA Fitzgerald responded, expressing appreciation, acknowledging the difficulty of the job and recent years, crediting staff, and committing to improve responsiveness and listening, taking feedback seriously 1:19:45.
TA Bonus Discussion: 1:24:07 Member Spellios discussed the contract’s discretionary bonus clause, stating the TA had “reasonably satisfied” his ambitious goals 1:24:51. He moved to approve the full FY23 discretionary bonus 1:25:51. Member Phelan seconded, praising the TA’s ambition and impact despite areas for improvement 1:25:58. Member Thompson expressed dissent, stating that while progress was made, areas needing improvement meant a 100% bonus wasn’t warranted in his view, suggesting 80% 1:30:19. Member Fletcher echoed Member Thompson’s sentiment 1:31:41. Chair Eppley quoted JFK on long-term efforts before calling the vote 1:28:09.
Vote on TA Bonus: The motion to approve the full discretionary bonus passed 3-2 1:32:21 (Members Spellios, Phelan, Chair Eppley in favor; Members Thompson, Fletcher opposed - Fletcher’s opposition inferred from context though tagged [Speaker 7]).

5. Consent Agenda: 1:33:17 Member Phelan moved to approve the consent agenda (appointing Marc Kornitsky to ZBA, approving minutes) 1:33:43. A Board Member seconded. The motion passed unanimously (5-0) 1:33:47.

6. Select Board Time: 1:33:47

Member Fletcher thanked Maura Lau for her comment and others for their work 1:33:54.
Member Spellios initiated a detailed discussion on scheduling upcoming meetings to handle the Special Town Meeting warrant (tentatively March 4th 1:37:01) and other business 1:34:33. Tentative meeting dates were set for Jan 24th, Jan 30th (for Hadley RFP presentations), Feb 7th, and Feb 12th (if needed to close warrant by Feb 13th deadline 1:38:23). The discussion included plans for:
- Hawthorne discussion and opening the warrant on Jan 24th 1:40:10.
- Potential discussion of specialized building code (raised by Member Thompson) 1:40:57.
- Public presentations by Hadley RFP respondents tentatively on Jan 30th 1:41:42, with redacted proposals to be posted online beforehand (goal: Jan 18th) 1:47:33.
- Closing the warrant and Hadley discussion/decision on Feb 7th or 12th 1:44:13.
Member Phelan wished Happy Holidays, having missed the previous meeting 1:48:28.
Member Thompson reported on a Climate Action Planning Committee meeting regarding resilience measures and seeking an MVP grant 1:48:49, and mentioned upcoming Glover Tavern fundraisers 1:51:13.
Member Fletcher asked about protecting the Glover Tavern roof; TA Fitzgerald confirmed contact with owners about coordinating coverage 1:51:53. Discussion touched on the condition and safety/legality issues 1:52:24.

7. Adjournment: 1:53:15 Member Fletcher moved to adjourn, seconded by a Board Member. The motion passed unanimously (5-0) 1:53:19. The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:25 PM.

Executive Summary

The Swampscott Select Board met on January 10, 2024, addressing key financial concerns, project updates, community matters, and conducting the Town Administrator’s annual review.

Financial Outlook & Budget Concerns: Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald delivered a stark warning regarding a significant state revenue shortfall, which could lead to cuts in local aid and impact town services [1:30, 10:35]. As a precautionary measure, department heads have been asked to model 10% budget reductions 2:48. This cautious approach comes despite the town maintaining its AAA bond rating 1:07:13, underscoring the external pressures on municipal finances. Member Mary Ellen Fletcher pressed for the timely completion of the annual financial forecast presentation mandated by the Town Charter 8:08.

Major Projects & Development: Progress continues on multiple fronts. Collaboration with state agencies on Kings Beach remediation is advancing, with federal engagement planned next 1:05. Plans are underway for public presentations by respondents to the Hadley School RFP at a dedicated forum tentatively scheduled for January 30th 1:41:42, a crucial step in redeveloping the downtown property. Redacted proposals will be made public online beforehand 1:47:33. The Board unanimously voted to name the high school baseball field “DeFelice Diamond” in honor of legendary coach Frank DeFelice 35:20. Efforts are also underway to secure grants for passive recreation at the newly acquired Archer Street property 5:15.

Community & Governance: The Board formally condemned rising anti-Semitism by proclaiming January 27th Holocaust Memorial Day 21:44. Public comments highlighted resident concerns about the Hadley process and potential school budget cuts (Maura Lau 14:20) and a desire for dedicated pickleball courts (Nina Rogers 18:21). The Board approved a restructuring of the Solid Waste Committee to improve efficiency, adding resident members and making town staff ex-officio 1:00:32, following discussion about maintaining staff connectivity prompted by Member Peter Spellios 54:52. A new Donation Policy was introduced for review, with discussion highlighting the need to develop an accompanying Naming Policy 37:08.

Town Administrator Review: The Board completed the FY23 review of Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald. Chair David Eppley read a summary acknowledging significant achievements (Hawthorne, Hadley RFP, community events, AAA rating) but also noting areas for improvement, primarily communication, follow-through, and delegation 1:03:34. Board members offered individual feedback, largely positive but echoing the need for enhanced communication and time management/delegation [1:11:14 - 1:19:35]. The TA accepted the feedback constructively 1:19:45. A subsequent motion to approve the TA’s full contractual discretionary bonus passed on a split 3-2 vote 1:32:21, reflecting differing perspectives among board members on the performance relative to goals and expectations.

Looking Ahead: The Board scheduled several upcoming meetings (Jan 24, Jan 30, Feb 7, Feb 12) to manage workload including finalizing the warrant for a potential Special Town Meeting on March 4th, hearing Hadley RFP presentations, and discussing Hawthorne updates 1:34:33.

Analysis

This Select Board meeting showcased a local government grappling with significant external pressures (state budget uncertainty) while advancing ambitious local projects and addressing internal governance matters. The discussion was generally productive, though points of tension and differing perspectives were evident, particularly concerning the Town Administrator’s performance evaluation.

Town Administrator’s Position: Sean Fitzgerald presented a comprehensive report, balancing optimism about local initiatives (Kings Beach, Archer St.) with stark realism about the impending budget challenges 1:30. His request for 10% cut scenarios 2:48 signals proactive, albeit potentially painful, planning. His handling of the annual review demonstrated receptiveness to criticism 1:19:45, even as the Board’s feedback, particularly from Members Fletcher and Thompson [1:14:19, 1:30:19], highlighted recurring themes of communication and follow-through challenges. The split vote on his bonus 1:32:21 quantifies this division: while a majority affirmed his performance met the contractual standard for the full bonus, notable dissent existed, suggesting differing expectations or weighting of accomplishments versus areas needing improvement.

Select Board Dynamics: The Board operated with general collegiality but clear individual priorities. Member Fletcher consistently focused on procedural adherence and financial accountability (Charter deadline 8:08, TA review specifics 1:14:19). Member Spellios often provided strategic context (Solid Waste Committee history 54:52, TA’s “compass” 1:18:21) and took the lead in forward planning (meeting schedule 1:34:33). Member Thompson raised detailed policy points (Donation Policy thresholds 49:22, Board of Health role 51:53) and connected board work to committee activities (Climate Action 1:48:49). Member Phelan emphasized balancing ambition with process (Donation Policy purpose 45:55, TA delegation benefits 1:11:44). Chair Eppley facilitated discussion and synthesized the board’s views, particularly in the TA review summary 1:03:34. The consensus around the need for the TA to improve delegation 1:11:44 suggests a shared recognition of the workload and the strength of the supporting staff.

Policy Development & Decision-Making: The introduction of the Donation Policy 35:23 revealed a procedural gap (lack of a Naming Policy 37:08), which the Board quickly identified, showing responsiveness even during a first reading. The unanimous decision to rename the baseball field 35:20 after compelling testimony demonstrated the Board’s ability to act decisively on emotionally resonant community issues. The restructuring of the Solid Waste Committee 1:00:32 reflected a pragmatic choice for efficiency, though Member Spellios’s cautionary points about maintaining staff alignment 54:52 remain relevant for its future operation.

Public Engagement: Public comments addressed significant town issues: Maura Lau’s critique of the Hadley process 14:20 voiced resident skepticism about transparency and major project handling, while Nina Rogers’s request for pickleball courts 18:21 highlighted unmet recreational demands. While direct responses were limited during the comment period itself, Member Fletcher’s later acknowledgement of Ms. Lau 1:33:54 shows comments can register. The planned public forum for Hadley RFP presentations 1:41:42 suggests an attempt to engage the community more directly on that high-profile project.