2026-08-17 - Select Board

00:05[music] Good evening. Welcome to the

00:06select board meeting for August 17,

00:092026.

00:11This open meeting of the town of Auburn

00:13select board is being conducted both in

00:15person and remotely consistent with

00:17chapter 107 of the acts of 2022

00:21which suspends the requirement of the

00:23open meeting law to have all meetings in

00:26a publicly accessible physical location.

00:29Further, all members of public bodies

00:31are allowed to participate remotely as

00:34long as reasonable public access is

00:36afforded so that the public can follow

00:38along with the deliberations of the

00:40meeting. For the public to join the

00:42meeting remotely by telephone, dial

00:451-872-224-3212

00:49and use access code 166009269.

00:55Or the public can join via computer at

00:58meet.go go to.comward

01:01slcampg gleon

01:03uh excuse me forward slop

01:08selectboard meeting room. All supporting

01:11materials that have been provided to

01:13members of this body are available on

01:15the town's website. The public is

01:17encouraged to follow along using the

01:19posted agenda. Please note that this

01:21meeting is being recorded by Auburn

01:23Cable Television. Is anyone else

01:26recording tonight's meeting? No. Okay.

01:29Um, please stand if you're able for the

01:31pledge of allegiance.

01:35>> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

01:38United States of America and to the

01:40republic for which it stands, one nation

01:43under God, indivisible, with liberty and

01:46justice for all.

01:49>> I have said that.

01:52>> Okay. So, um, our tonight we're going to

01:55have a moment of silence

01:58in honor of John Reagan, a former town

02:02volunteer. He was on a volunteer on the

02:04planning board for many years. So, we'll

02:07have a moment of silence.

02:35Okay, thank you. Um, we now have our

02:38public comments.

02:40Let's see. We'll take a look a look at

02:42the list and see who signed up.

02:48Thank you. So, we have two people signed

02:50up. So, Matthew Dubois, um, why don't

02:52you go right up to the podium for the

02:54comments. 19 South Bridge Street

03:00and just make sure to speak into the mic

03:02and identify yourself. Thank you.

03:04>> Good evening. My name is Matthew Duboce.

03:06I live at the area of 19 Southbridge

03:09Street, bottom of, you know, Jerome A.

03:11Um, this is my first time attending and

03:13speaking at one of these meetings. I'm

03:15here because there's a serious traffic

03:17and speeding problem, especially on Dome

03:20app. Majority of the houses on Drum app

03:23have children living in them. Accidents

03:26are happening at a concerning frequency

03:28in this area. Just yesterday, a car

03:30struck a house on Jerome. While that

03:32particular incident was not caused by

03:34speed, it's a clear reminder of how

03:36quickly things can go wrong when

03:38vehicles are traveling too fast through

03:40a residential neighborhood.

03:42When police set up radar, they usually

03:44sit at the bottom of Jerome AB in the

03:46Adas parking lot and they catch people

03:48who let off the brakes too early as they

03:51come down Jerome AB as they approach the

03:53stop sign. That's not the real problem.

03:57The real problem is the cars that turn

03:59off of Southbridge Street onto Jerome

04:01and proceed to floor it because they see

04:03a hill and a big straightaway.

04:05I have brought this to the attention of

04:07the officers who have sat there and um

04:11excuse me [sighs] who have sat there and

04:14I've told them you're overlooking the

04:16bigger picture.

04:19Um the other thing is there's also a

04:21concerning amount of cars that are

04:22cutting through the ADAS parking lot.

04:25Not only that, there's also an increased

04:29number in large commercial trucks that

04:32evidentially get stuck in the

04:34neighborhoods at the top of the hill.

04:38Um, I understand these are a lot of

04:40things that we can't fully control,

04:44but there's a problem for the people

04:46that live in the neighborhood

04:46[clears throat] there. And I just I'm

04:50curious of what it's going to take for

04:51there to actually be

04:54something done about this. What's going

04:56to happen? We're now going to have kids,

04:58you know, coming into school. School's

05:00going to start up. You know, this is a a

05:03residential neighborhood. And I I think

05:04this is a serious problem.

05:08Thank you.

05:09>> Thank you. [snorts] And Matthew, could

05:10you just come up and give us your phone

05:12number, please, too?

05:13>> Okay. Just um our next um public comment

05:17individual is Eric Richard,

05:2013 Ravine Drive.

05:22>> So that's and then this is for after.

05:24Thank you.

05:31>> Thank you, Matthew. Hi, Eric.

05:33>> Good evening. My name is Eric Richards.

05:35I'm from precinct 4 in Auburn. And

05:38before I start my comments this evening,

05:41I hope that uh I could preface it with

05:43the following. And that's that the

05:47subject I'm about to talk to talk about

05:49tonight to you all is a hot button

05:51issue. This is not relevant to for,

05:55against, or around. It's just the

05:57temporal example. And in my research,

05:59for example, the the process and the

06:01governance issues that I found also

06:04existed in 2015, but they were corrected

06:06in 2019 and they were corrected again in

06:0922 and 23 when they happened. So, it's

06:12something that the process and the

06:14governance has struggled with. And then

06:15finally, as a new mostly ignorant town

06:18meeting member, I did not find a good

06:21place or really any good place to go to

06:25get some of these questions answered on

06:28the civic side of things as to look, I

06:32could search online, everybody knows how

06:34to use Google, but there are sometimes

06:36specific questions around the role or

06:39the specific uh way that town meeting

06:43does what it does There may be room

06:45there to explore and look at that as

06:47well. All right, so I'll get started.

06:50Tonight,

06:51I'm asking for the board's help in

06:53answering several narrow governance and

06:55procurement questions concerning the

06:57flock safety grant and its executed

07:00contract.

07:01I want to make one point clear at the

07:03outset. I am not alleging misconduct,

07:07dishonesty, bad faith, or intentional

07:09circumvention of the law by the police

07:12department.

07:15the town manager, the select board, or

07:17anyone else. In fact, the police

07:20department deserves public credit. Its

07:22record officer and staff have been

07:24professional, responsive, and

07:26cooperative with my public records

07:27request, which led to this discovery.

07:31This is a drastically different from the

07:34complete absence of any response and

07:37communication from other concerned town

07:39departments in clear violation of public

07:42records law, including the select board,

07:44the town manager's office, and the town

07:46council's office and others.

07:50Tonight's questions come substantially

07:52from these records. They are principally

07:54questions for the town manager as the

07:56chief procurement officer and town

07:58council, not accusations against anyone

08:00else. As a matter of a typical course,

08:03any town department on this subject

08:06could have this issue. And as a matter

08:10of their course in operations, they

08:11should identify legitimate operational

08:14needs, seek available funding grants

08:16while simultaneously relying upon other

08:19town offices for support, including the

08:21council, the chief procurement officer,

08:24finance, and others

08:27to ensure that any resulting grant or

08:30contract is properly structured,

08:31compliant, and authorized. Under general

08:34law chapter 44 subsection 53, this

08:37select board has a role in approving the

08:39expenditure of grant funds. Separately,

08:4130B governs municipal procurement where

08:44applicable in concert with Arburn's

08:46charter, which delineates the town

08:49manager as the chief procurement officer

08:50responsible for town procurement and

08:52contract awards.

08:54The first identified issue is contract

08:57duration.

08:58Chapter 30B, subsection 12B states,

09:01quote, "Unless authorized by majority

09:04vote, a procurement officer shall not

09:08award, shall say it again, shall not

09:12award a contract for a term exceeding 3

09:16years, including any

09:19relevant extension or option."

09:26The executed flock order form and the

09:29master service agreement which is part

09:30of the full contract states quote

09:33initial term 12 months and quote renewal

09:37term 36 months. It also provides for

09:41automatic renewal

09:43unless timely notice of non-renewal is

09:45given. The MSA incorporates that order

09:48form and explicitly states the terms of

09:51each order form is the term stated

09:55there. Auburn cannot gaslight or claim

09:59this is simply for one year and that

10:01after it will go for a budget or

10:03separate town meeting authorization for

10:05the related renewal or extension

10:07portions of the grant or the contract.

10:11Chapter 30B, subsection 12, expressly

10:14and clearly addresses this issue. I want

10:18to be precise.

10:20This does not necessarily mean Auburn is

10:24irrevocably obligated to pay Flock for 4

10:28years today.

10:30There is a documented non-renewal

10:32mechanism. A future year obligations are

10:35also subject to its enclosed funding

10:37rules. However, subsection 12B also

10:41expressly commands

10:43us to deliberately count any renewal,

10:46extension, or option. Chief Mills

10:50responded to me this morning

10:52and explained that the department views

10:55this as a one-year trial followed by an

10:57option for three years with three years

10:59of possible extensions.

11:02I appreciate his response

11:05and the operational context he provided,

11:07including why his officers prefer Flock

11:10after previously trying Mon Motor

11:12Motorola's vigilant pro uh hardware.

11:17This explains why the department

11:19specifically desires Flock. His deep law

11:22enforcement experience is valuable and

11:24informative in this instance. My

11:26questions, however, concern something

11:28completely different. How did the town

11:31lawfully procure a flock agreement which

11:34resulted from the police department's

11:36operational need request?

11:39The chief's expert clarification

11:41sharpens this question. The Auburn Flock

11:45executed contract calls for the next

11:4636-month renewal period term and makes

11:49continuation automatic absent a timely

11:53non-renewal notice. If it's legally a

11:56renewal,

11:58subsection 12B again explicitly

12:01identifies and counts renewals. If

12:03Auburn characterize it as an option, 12B

12:08identifies it and counts it

12:11as an option.

12:13Auburn cannot claim this is merely a

12:16one-year trial, which became later a

12:19renewal. This is in direct conflict with

12:21the plain language of the law under

12:24subsection 12B and subsection 17. So my

12:28next question is a civics and governance

12:30one that becomes what majority vote of

12:33town meeting authorized and covered this

12:36contractual structure if subsection 12B

12:40required it. Auburn's 2019 town meeting

12:44materials show the town had previously

12:45used town meeting to address a 30B

12:47authority for contracts exceeding three

12:49years. The official record introduced

12:52article 16 in that year as a subsection

12:55[clears throat]

12:5612 authorization concerning school

12:58district long

13:00utilizing a longer school bus contract

13:03although its operative paragraph can

13:05contains an erroneous reference to a

13:07subsection 13 inconsistency.

13:10Further, Auburn has regularly had

13:13recurring 30B subsection 12 compliance

13:15votes since 2010. And as a matter of

13:17fact, if you look at the record, in

13:192015, there was under Julie Jacobson a

13:22vote about golf carts,

13:25which is my example as to why any

13:28department could apply here. In her memo

13:30that was published with the town meeting

13:32materials, she stated it should be a

13:34subsection 12 vote under 30B. Went to

13:38town meeting. It was never mentioned or

13:39authorized that way. And then later the

13:41board voted to authorize a five-year

13:45lease for those golf carts.

13:50The next issue is the grant

13:52classification. Auburn's burn

13:55application repeatedly describes

13:57purchasing and acquiring flock cameras

14:00and $18,000 was placed under the

14:02equipment cost classification. The

14:04office of grant research included

14:07instructions clearly states quote rented

14:10or leased equipment costs should be

14:12listed under contracts. Yet Auburn's

14:16flock executed MSA with flock. The

14:19contract says subsection 10

14:22Auburn may not quote take possession or

14:26control of flock hardware and may not

14:29interfere with Flock's retention of

14:31title.

14:33I'm not alleging grant misuse here in

14:35any way. I'm asking how the final

14:38vendorowned hardware and recurring

14:41service structure, legal language

14:43conflict

14:48was reconciled with the approved grant

14:50classification and whether OGR

14:53preapproved this structure in writing.

14:56There's a clear procurement method

14:58question. Chief Mills explained that the

15:00department specifically wanted Flock.

15:04Auburn's own self-authored grant

15:06application nevertheless promise

15:08compliance with 30B through competitive

15:11procurement or justified exceptions such

15:14as sole source provision.

15:18If sole source authority was used,

15:20subsection 7 of 30B requires a written

15:24determination after reasonable

15:25investigation that one predictable

15:28source exists. And subsection 14 subse

15:32subsequently and separately addresses

15:34proprietary specifications.

15:37This should have already happened. It

15:39should be readily available and easily

15:41exists for review today. This work was

15:44required to happen before the grant was

15:46accepted. Accordingly,

15:49I respectfully ask for a written

15:51response from the town manager, chief

15:53procurement officer, and town council,

15:55answering the previously identified

15:57issues and questions above in these five

15:59questions that follow. First, which

16:02chapter 30B procurement authority was

16:04used, and where is the procurement file,

16:07including any required sole source or

16:09proprietary source determinations? Two,

16:12what subsection 12B town meeting

16:14authorization covers a 12-month initial

16:17term and a 36-month renewal term? Or

16:21what is the legal basis for concluding

16:24none was required before the execution

16:26of the agreements?

16:29Third, did the office of grant research

16:31approve in writing the final vendorowned

16:33hardware and recurring service structure

16:36under the equipment and not contractor

16:39classification?

16:41Fourth, were the purchase order,

16:43procurement, financial, and contract

16:45review records documenting this

16:48transaction? Fifth, how will Auburn

16:51administer the automatic renewal

16:53mechanism consistently with subsection

16:5512B, D,

16:58and E? And what is the town's position

17:01if a substantive procurement requirement

17:03was omitted?

17:05There's a very important legal reasoning

17:07for asking. Subsection 17B provides

17:11subject to the statutory qualifications.

17:15A contract, quote, a contract made in

17:18violation of this chapter shall not,

17:22I'll say it again, shall not be valid

17:25and the governmental body shall not

17:29make a payment under such contracts.

17:34It also protects minor informalities

17:36such as scrier errors or small issues

17:40with spacing or I checked the wrong box

17:43which state it clearly states does not

17:46invalidate such a tra uh contract. I'm

17:50not asking this board tonight to declare

17:52the flock valid contract invalid. I'm

17:55asking officials legally responsible for

17:58Auburn's procurement and legal review to

18:00determine whether required authority

18:02exists and put that answer in writing

18:05and disclose it publicly. If the

18:08authorization exists, produce it and the

18:11issue resolves itself. If an exemption

18:14applies, identify it. If something

18:18substantive was omitted, identify it,

18:20determine its legal effect, and address

18:22it before Auburn proceeds further,

18:24incurring any adverse fiscal or legal

18:27consequences.

18:28of note. Chapter 30B, section three

18:32requires a procurement officer awarding

18:34a contract of $10,000 or more to

18:37maintain the specific procurement

18:39documents, retain them for at least six

18:43years after final payment, and generally

18:45make the records open to public

18:46inspection.

18:48None of these records should take long

18:50to provide.

18:52Furthermore, Auburn's professional staff

18:54and town council had approximately a

18:56month advanced notice before these

18:58comments

19:00and time to gather the required

19:01documentation.

19:04As a result of my public records request

19:06preceding these comments, more time is

19:08clearly indefensible. In closing, I want

19:12to deliberately reiterate this is not an

19:14attack on the police department. It's

19:16not an attack on the chief. It's not an

19:17attack on the department heads. This is

19:19a failure that goes higher.

19:23The department's reasoned operational

19:25rationale and the town's legal and

19:26procurement process, authority, and

19:28contracting roles are materially

19:30different questions. These are clearly

19:32civics and governance and process

19:35defects. This discourse is exactly what

19:38municipal checks and balancers are

19:39supposed to accomplish. I assert to you

19:42this conversation is worth having. These

19:45defects are worth correcting. Thank you.

19:47>> Thank you.

19:51All right. Um, moving on. Um, we're

19:55looking next at presentations and public

19:57hearings. We have a public hearing. Um,

19:59there's a board vote to ch uh on a

20:01change of manager for the Auburn

20:03Sportsman's Club at 50 Elm Street in

20:06Auburn.

20:08>> Make a motion to open the public

20:09hearing.

20:10>> Second.

20:11>> So, we have a motion and a second to

20:13open the public hearing. All in favor?

20:15>> I oppose. No. Is there anyone here

20:18representing the uh sports? Okay.

20:21>> Yes, sure. Come right up to the podium,

20:23please. Just identify yourself also,

20:25please.

20:28>> Sure. Uh my name is Holly Yodas. Nice to

20:30meet everybody today.

20:33Um I wasn't aware I needed to prepare

20:36anything, so I apologize. Um but I'm

20:38happy to answer any questions you may

20:40have.

20:40>> Yeah, you don't have to prepare

20:42anything. We have the application here.

20:43So if we have any questions, we would

20:45just um ask them.

20:47>> Um does anyone have any questions

20:48regarding this?

20:54>> You all set?

20:55>> Okay. And this is a um a public hearing.

20:59Is there anyone in the audience who has

21:00any questions regarding this um change

21:03of manager?

21:07All right. And is there anyone online?

21:09No. Okay. So, um, hearing no questions.

21:12Do I hear a motion to close the hearing?

21:15>> I'll make a motion to close the public

21:16hearing.

21:16>> Second.

21:17>> So, we have a motion and a second to

21:19close the public hearing. All in favor?

21:21I opposed. So, do I hear a motion?

21:25>> Make a motion to approve the change of

21:26manager for the Auburn Sportsman Club

21:28located at 50 Elm Street, Auburn, Mass.

21:3001501.

21:32>> Second.

21:33>> So, we have a motion and a second to

21:35approve the change of manager. All in

21:37favor? I

21:38>> oppose. We were all set. Thank you. Is

21:41there anything else you need from me

21:42today? I don't think so. No, we'll call

21:44you if you if we

21:45>> have a great day, everybody.

21:46>> Thank you.

21:46>> Thank you.

21:48>> Thanks for your time.

21:49>> Thank you.

21:50>> All right. Next in our agenda under

21:52departmental items, the DPW is going to

21:54talk about um the Water Street Culver

21:57and Road closure.

21:59Just make sure to identify yourselves

22:01too, please. Thank you for the for the

22:03viewers.

22:05>> Good evening. Pete Borie, assistant DPW

22:07director, sewer superintendent. And with

22:09me tonight is Emma Williamson, town

22:11engineer.

22:12>> I believe you have a memo from Joanna,

22:14who wasn't able to make it tonight cuz

22:16she's away on vacation.

22:18>> So Emma is here, and she'll provide an

22:20update of kind of what's transpired

22:22since the bridges or the culvert's been

22:24closed and what we anticipate to happen

22:26in the future.

22:27>> Okay. Thank you. Go ahead.

22:29>> Thank you, Pete. Um, I just want to

22:31provide a brief background on the

22:33watershed culvert. So, in August of

22:362025, Mass DOT performed an inspection

22:39of the culvert and noted deficiencies

22:41that resulted in a lane closure. In fall

22:45of 2025, we received town meeting

22:47funding for the design of the culvert

22:49upgrade and contracted with Wright

22:51Pierce in January of 2026.

22:54Um, as part of this design, the culvert

22:57was originally intended to be replaced

22:59with a three-sided culvert, but due to

23:02the results of the soil testing, it was

23:04determined that a four-sided culvert

23:06would be more appropriate to meet the

23:08required loading requirements.

23:12So, the new structure is proposed to

23:14have a span of 18 ft and an opening of 5

23:16ft.

23:18The preliminary design plans are

23:20complete and we are expecting to submit

23:22to Mass DOT for the 25% design this

23:25week. Um assuming that Mass DOT does not

23:29have any major design changes in

23:31feedback, our plan is to submit to a

23:34notice of intent to the conservation

23:36commission and to Mass D which includes

23:39other environmental permitting um after

23:43we receive feedback from Mass DOT.

23:48So assuming that there are no major

23:51concerns during the environmental

23:53permitting process, we expect to have

23:56permits back in the spring or summer of

23:592027.

24:01Um and then looking forward toward

24:04construction,

24:05we have submitted um a town meeting

24:08warrant article for construction funding

24:10for this fall town meeting. And we're

24:12also planning to apply for the small

24:14bridge construction uh grant program as

24:18well as any other grant opportunities

24:19that may become available.

24:25>> Hey, thank you. Um I guess I'm going to

24:28ask a simplistic question, but it is one

24:30I've heard from people in the town is um

24:32why is it taking so long and why is it

24:35costing so much? Doesn't look like a

24:37very large portion of the road that

24:39needs to be addressed.

24:42Um I think what you're looking to

24:43replace is a very simplistic solution

24:45that was done 25 years ago that we

24:48aren't really able to do in today's day

24:50and age. So again with

24:53a couple different questions. The first

24:55question is what's I don't believe it's

24:57taking that long. If you look at when it

25:00was closed in August, when we got uh

25:03funding from town meeting in the fall,

25:06hired an engineer to go out there and do

25:08soil analysis that couldn't be done in

25:10the wintertime. So, they got out there

25:12in the spring, got through design, and

25:14we're finally at 25% design.

25:17Unfortunately, that's just a time frame

25:19for a well-designed project like this to

25:22take place. If the town wants to do

25:24another 25-year band-aid, we could try

25:27and replace in kind what's there, but I

25:29don't think that would be the best

25:30decision moving forward. So, what we're

25:33trying to do here is work with the

25:35engineer to do a design that's going to

25:37last much longer and adequately

25:41uh provide the flow necessary for the

25:43stream. And in order to do so, that

25:45takes time. Um, so where we are now, I I

25:50think we're in a good spot. uh depending

25:52on when we get back from Mass D and

25:54Concom for comments and from the bridge

25:56program that's going to determine how

25:59quickly we get done from here. Um if our

26:03comments are are fairly um minute we

26:06should be able to go ahead finalize the

26:09design plans and get ready to go out to

26:11bid unfortunately probably in the

26:13spring. um just applying to mass D with

26:17a notice of intent to try and get a D

26:19number is anywhere from 3 to 6 months

26:22and that's something that we can't make

26:23happen any quicker. So it's just

26:26unfortunately it's just the time frame

26:28that we're working with to to get this

26:31done. I understand it is a long time and

26:33it doesn't really make sense that it's 2

26:35years before we get a shovel in the

26:37ground to repair that but unfortunately

26:40that's really where we are.

26:43>> Okay. Thank you. I understand what

26:44you're saying. Thank you. Questions.

26:52>> Thank you.

26:52>> I I got a couple. Um one, I just want to

26:55note um for anyone who's paying

26:57attention that the design that you're

26:59pursuing actually uh based on your memo

27:02will actually increase um the capacity

27:04to accommodate larger storm events. So

27:06that's something that which the the

27:08public should definitely know that what

27:10you're putting back is is a better

27:11design than what was there. um in terms

27:13of handling um the storm water runoff.

27:16Um

27:17so based on the timeline, you're looking

27:20at 100% PSN in the spring or the summer

27:24of 27.

27:26>> I I spring and summer that's why

27:28>> Well, I think we need a window, right?

27:30And it depends on how quickly we get

27:32back uh comments from Mass from Mass DOT

27:36for the bridge design and conservation

27:38commission and mass D on any type of

27:41environmental permitting issues. And if

27:43those reviews or comments come back

27:45favorable, we'll be we'll be able to

27:47move along much quicker. If either one

27:49of those have um comments where we have

27:52to change any part of our design,

27:55unfortunately, that's going to make us

27:56get pushed out further. So, I'm not

27:58trying to be wishy-washy, but we need to

28:01have a a little bit of a window there

28:03for things that have outside that are

28:04outside of our control. So, I think best

28:07case scenario, we could possibly write

28:10be ready to go out to bid next spring

28:12summer, which on for a project this size

28:15might be cut us short to get done next

28:19construction season, unfortunately. So,

28:22safe bet is construction starts no later

28:25than the spring of 2028.

28:28>> So, so we're looking at end of

28:29construction season 2028 before this is

28:32>> correct. Hopefully, hopefully worst

28:33case. Yes.

28:35>> Um, the other question is the current

28:37status of it. So, I know Mass DOT was

28:40out there doing inspections. What's the

28:42current status? Is it back to one lane

28:44access or is it totally closed?

28:46>> It's back to one lane. Um, so Mass DOT

28:49performed an inspection um with all of

28:52the recent large storm events we've been

28:54getting. Um, so they just wanted to make

28:56sure that there were no issues. So we've

28:58worked with them and they approved us to

29:00open it back up to the one lane. Um, and

29:02they're going to continue to do 3-month

29:04inspections.

29:05>> That was going to be my next question.

29:07Are they going to be doing regular

29:08inspections? Okay. Thank you. Um, the

29:11the last thing I have is the the

29:14contract with Wright Pierce. to

29:16$150,000. That's enough to take us to

29:19PSN as well as them overseeing some of

29:22the construction or is construction

29:24oversight built into the 1.4 million

29:27estimate?

29:28>> So, construction oversight would be

29:30built into the construction funding.

29:32However, we did receive a grant for

29:34about $42,000 for a mass DOT um to bring

29:38the design from preliminary to final

29:40design and that would include

29:42construction documents in order to put

29:44the project out to bid, but the

29:46construction oversight work would be

29:48part of the construction funding.

29:50>> So, total design is roughly 200,000.

29:53>> Yes.

29:53>> Okay. It's actually not bad for this.

29:57>> I'm fine.

29:58>> Okay. Any other questions?

30:02>> All right. Um, Dwight, thank you for I

30:04appreciate you coming for that. Why

30:06don't you um stay there just for a

30:07moment?

30:08>> Make a motion to move up agenda item 7C.

30:12>> Second.

30:13>> So, we have a motion and a second to

30:14move up agenda item um 7 C. All in

30:18favor?

30:19>> I

30:19>> I opposed. Yep.

30:21>> Okay. So, this is the um the surplus

30:24equipment memo.

30:25>> Yes. So the vehicles from highway,

30:28cemetery, and parks are older vehicles

30:30that have been, I think, sidelined for

30:32quite some time now, and most of them

30:34have been scavenged for spare parts that

30:37could be used for other vehicles. So

30:39these are deemed surplus to be um

30:42scrapped. The generator under sewer is

30:46um I've heard a couple different stories

30:49about where it came from and what it is

30:50and if it still runs. However, it seems

30:53to be to have possible more value than

30:56just scraps. So, this will probably be

30:58placed on um a municipal bidding site

31:01such as Municip or um Auctions

31:04International to be auctioned off to get

31:06the highest value for it.

31:12>> Sure.

31:15>> We set for a motion.

31:16>> Yep.

31:16>> Okay.

31:16>> Oh, do we have any questions? No. Okay.

31:19Do I hear a motion? I'll make a motion

31:21to approve the equipment described on

31:23the surplus equipment memo as surplus

31:25and allow the Department of Public Works

31:26to dispose of and remove it from the DPW

31:29yard.

31:30>> Second.

31:31>> Okay. So, we have a motion and a second.

31:32All in favor? I

31:34>> opposed.

31:36>> Thank you everyone.

31:37>> Thank you. Thanks for coming.

31:44Okay, next on our agenda, um we're going

31:46to hear from um Mark uh Mike Zeller, the

31:51Auburn librarian. Hello.

31:54>> How are you, Mike?

31:56>> Good. Thank you for uh thank you for

31:58having me back again. Um so a few months

32:03back uh with the help of ACTV

32:06uh my team and I worked on a um brief a

32:11brief video just about what the library

32:15does what we what we're working on now

32:17and and libraries in general. Uh it's

32:19about 13 14 minutes. Hopefully that's

32:21not too long. Um, but I thought that

32:24instead of giving you another PowerPoint

32:26presentation or what have you, I could

32:28just uh have you watch the video and get

32:30all the same kind of information. Um, I

32:33was informed that the sound might not go

32:35through for people at home. So, if

32:37anyone is watching from home and they

32:39want to get sound, uh, the video is also

32:41right on the Auburn Public Libraries um,

32:43homepage. So, you can watch it there and

32:45get the sound. All right. And hopefully

32:47we are all set.

32:58Hi, I'm library director Mike Zer

33:00>> and I'm youth services librarian Andrea

33:02Kibri

33:03>> and we'd like to welcome you to the

33:04Auburn Public Library. Founded in 1872,

33:08the Auburn Public Library has been

33:09serving the information needs of the

33:11Auburn community for generations. These

33:13days, the Auburn Public Library averages

33:15over 8,000 visitors per month, borrowing

33:18items, attending programs, using

33:21computers and Wi-Fi, quietly studying,

33:23and much more.

33:25>> Today, you're going to hear just a

33:26little bit about what goes on here at

33:28the library, and you're going to hear

33:29from some folks about why libraries in

33:31general are so important to them. So,

33:33come on, let's check it out.

33:35>> I am Lindsay Baker. Um, I am currently

33:37serving on the Auburn Library um board

33:40of trustees. I also have a young son who

33:43loves the library.

33:45>> My name is Linda Datis. I'm president of

33:47the Friends of the Library.

33:49>> My name is Sarah Sigian. I'm the

33:51executive director of the Massachusetts

33:53Library System and Auburn is one of our

33:561500 member libraries across the state.

33:58I'm Moren. I'm the director of the

34:01Massachusetts Board of Library

34:02Commissioners, which is a state agency

34:05that supports libraries statewide. I'm s

34:11and

34:14what's my relationship with the library

34:17is it's generational for me because my

34:20parents brought me here and then I

34:22brought my kids here. My kids bring

34:25their kids here. My name is Ashley

34:27Label. I am an Auburn resident and I

34:31have been coming here since I was a

34:33little girl because I was raised in

34:34Auburn. So my mom is a member of the

34:37friends of the library and [music]

34:39yeah I'm just very involved here. I've

34:42always had um either sort of a

34:44connection to libraries um you know when

34:46I was a kid I remember going to story

34:48times at my public library um as I got a

34:51little older

34:54computer I would go to the library to do

34:56homework to do research to different um

34:58my homework assignment and then as I got

35:01older um I actually was teaching English

35:05as a second language as a volunteer

35:07through a local public library um when I

35:11lived

35:11I went to the little library there to

35:14have access to internet and and um you

35:16know resources and so I feel like every

35:19walk of life everywhere I've I've kind

35:21of lived I've I've gone to the public

35:24library for one service or another um

35:27and or to to be connected to the

35:29community I was at the time. So I I'

35:31I've always felt really connected to the

35:32library. I remember going to the library

35:36when it was on L Street and I was a kid

35:38because I I don't I have a very vague

35:40memory of walking up the stairs to the

35:43children's section and just being

35:45overwhelmed by the whole thing. And um

35:49the smell of the books is what really

35:50got I mean they weren't a bad smell. It

35:53was just that they were at my my

35:55disposal that I could read anything that

35:57I wanted to read. I feel that people

36:00come here knowing that they are not

36:02going to be isolating. They're coming

36:04and seeing what other people are up to,

36:06what programs are being brought in, what

36:08new books there are, what new things

36:10there are to borrow from the lending

36:12library. Um, honestly, I can't think of

36:15a reason why you wouldn't come to the

36:16library. I think in the times that we're

36:19in right now, there are two really

36:20important roles that libraries play. One

36:23is about libraries being a third place.

36:27like we don't have spaces in our

36:29communities where people can't can go

36:31anymore without the expectation of

36:33spending money and that's really

36:37unfortunate especially in a postcoid

36:39world people are craving those human

36:42connections and libraries play such an

36:44important role in being that connector

36:47in communities I think the the best

36:50libraries the the the essential role of

36:53them is to really remain in service to

36:56their

36:57And while it's important to know what's

36:59going on in other places and to see the

37:01amazing things happening, I think it's

37:03really important that the library

37:04remains responsive to community members.

37:07Um, I see it as sort of the the soul of

37:09the community where people come together

37:12um to provide opportunities for, you

37:14know, lifelong learning, but far beyond

37:17that. Um, it's not really just about the

37:19collections anymore, although that is a

37:21huge part of it, but it's about the

37:22connections that can be made within the

37:24community and library. So everything

37:26from posting, you know, Lego club, which

37:29I think should be offered for all ages.

37:31Uh, however, I understand as well that

37:33it's really a focus of the kids program,

37:35but also geology workshops and and book

37:38sales and just places for the community

37:41to congregate. I don't think there's

37:44very many of those options left and I

37:46really think the library um will

37:49continue to provide that. You know,

37:51starting with my son, he is our our the

37:53biggest patron of the library in our

37:55household currently. Um, every time we

37:57come, which is maybe every two to three

37:59weeks, um, he leaves here with just an

38:02armful more books than he can carry. Um,

38:05and, you know, thinking about that value

38:08of what the library needs. I was, you

38:10know, looking at what's the what's the

38:12price tag on each of these books, right?

38:14You can see $12.95, you know, $8.95,

38:17whatever. Um, and so you add that up and

38:20over the number of visits, you know,

38:22every few weeks since he was maybe two

38:25that we've been coming here to borrow

38:27books. Um, I mean, A, it's more books

38:29than we fit in our house and b it would

38:32cost us an absolute fortune to have all

38:35of those. Everything is so expensive and

38:40times are so difficult for a lot of

38:43individuals, families. uh library has

38:47make it easy. You don't have to buy your

38:49books. You can borrow them from the

38:50library. You don't have to buy your

38:52ebooks. You can download them with the

38:54Livia app. And all the libraries of

38:56libraries of things. Um I'm a frequent

38:59flyer at my own library of things and um

39:03just the ability to borrow hotspots and

39:07things like pressure washers. Uh my

39:10library has a pressure washer. I borrow

39:12it once a year. wash my house. It's

39:15something I don't want to buy because I

39:17only use it once a year. And libraries

39:19make it easy for people to be able to do

39:23those things and save money. And I think

39:26just in these difficult economic times,

39:28that's so important. Perhaps one of the

39:31most unique things that that I do on an

39:32annual basis is I I borrow my library's

39:35power washer watch and I'm really lucky

39:38that my uh my logo library has a robust

39:40library of your things so that I can't

39:42take advantage of that like once a year

39:44or two.

39:45Did you know your library card gives you

39:47access to way more than just books? You

39:49can download ebooks and audio books and

39:51magazines through Libby. Stream movies,

39:54TV shows, and music on Google. And use

39:57our online databases for research,

39:59homework, help, and learn new skills.

40:01>> We also offer free discounted passes to

40:03over a dozen museums and local

40:06attractions.

40:07>> And our new library things let you

40:09borrow items you might not expect like

40:11puzzles, games, tools, electronics, and

40:13more.

40:14>> But if you still love holding a real

40:16book in your hands, don't worry. We're

40:17part of the CO Mars network. Over 150

40:20libraries give you access to over 8

40:22million different materials.

40:25>> All these resources are free with your

40:27library card. So come visit us or go to

40:29auburn library.org to discover

40:31everything your library has to offer. In

40:342025, the Auburn Public Library welcomed

40:3786,365

40:39visitors, loaned 97,52

40:43physical items, loaned 26,814

40:47digital items, fulfilled 18,676

40:51holds, hosted 586 programs with 14,47

40:57attendees, loaned 947 museum passes, and

41:02hosted 6,1

41:04146 computer sessions for 3,88

41:07hours.

41:08>> There's so many good programs here and

41:12it's for people of all ages. They have

41:14preschool programs. They have elementary

41:16school programs. They have book clubs.

41:18They have authors and lots of speakers.

41:21It's wonderful. We love it.

41:24but have a son who is 3 years old and he

41:27comes to programs such as alphabets

41:29where he learns about letters and we

41:32used to come to the story hour that was

41:35run and every other program we were here

41:38yesterday literally for the parody

41:39playhouse activity. So we are here very

41:42regularly.

41:45[singing]

41:50>> There's a whole lot of books on a little

41:53piece of land and we find the kids books

41:56way up on the 14th floor. And this is

41:59what we do when we go through the door.

42:03Take the elevator up. Take the elevator

42:07down. Take the elevator up. Take the

42:10elevator down. Take the elevator up.

42:12Take the elevator down. And we reach

42:15downtown.

42:17Nice drive.

42:20>> I saw a lot of our friends doing that

42:22one.

42:23>> I want to speak of the friends because

42:25it's very important for the community to

42:28fund our programs because we in turn

42:31take that money and we give it back to

42:33the library.

42:35>> What's that? 100% for all the programs

42:38that you offer or any um any funding

42:41that you find is necessary that may not

42:44be funded by the top and the budget. So

42:48I and you can become a member. You don't

42:50have to be a member but it's good if you

42:52are. And uh I I would like to ask people

42:55to yes we meet once a month but I would

42:58like to ask the public to come to the

43:00events that we have because we really

43:03research and we look for people and

43:05events that they would be interested in.

43:07The library will um continue to evolve.

43:10I think it will change. I do [music]

43:13think that they will continue to grow

43:15expand and become more offering that

43:18every time.

43:20I think libraries will continue to be

43:23that vital third place for people and

43:26third place being somewhere that is not

43:28work or school or home. Um it's that

43:33that community space and that um and the

43:37place that's trusted. Um, we see so much

43:41of our life being taken over by AI and

43:45libraries are just now starting to

43:47embrace new tech that new technology and

43:50figure out ways to use it to help people

43:53and I think we I think we'll always be

43:56that trusted resource for people whether

43:59it's with the person connection the um

44:02technological connection or just a place

44:04to learn. I think we'll have a very long

44:09future. Uh I think as much as libraries

44:14are not important and nobody goes to

44:16libraries and libraries are going away

44:18because I don't see that ever happening

44:20to me. seeing our library hopefully over

44:24the next, you know, five years as we

44:26launched the strategic plan. Um, seeing

44:30that vision come to life of, you know,

44:33hopefully improving the physical space,

44:35but more than that, making sure that

44:37we're really meeting the needs of the

44:39community, that um that everyone sees

44:42something that they want and that they

44:45and or need. I definitely see it more so

44:48as a place or a location for people to

44:52come and gather. Um there's a lot of

44:55resources available online now and so if

44:58people are looking for books and things

45:00like that, they can utilize other

45:02resources, but the library is free. You

45:05don't have to go to Barnes & Noble and

45:07purchase books if you want to get your

45:09kid involved. The friends of the library

45:11have book sales all the time. the

45:12library itself you can get from not just

45:15Auburn library but any library in the CW

45:17Mars network you know so um a lot of

45:20people could really um help themselves

45:24by utilizing the three resources that

45:26are available here I know for myself I

45:28as an educator really cared about making

45:31sure my child had a diverse learning

45:33opportunity music programs they have STE

45:36programs they have art programs um it's

45:39not just about reading but

45:41crosscurricular

45:43Story time's over, so say goodbye.

45:48>> Goodbye, everybody.

45:50>> Byebye.

45:51>> Thank you all so much for joining us

45:52today. We hope you learned a little bit

45:54about what we have to offer here at the

45:56Auburn Public Library, as well as the

45:58value that libraries in general bring to

46:00their communities.

46:01>> We hope to see you all again really soon

46:03at the Auburn Public Library.

46:05>> Bye-bye.

46:14>> [music]

46:35>> There we go. All right. Well, thank you

46:38very much for uh for indulging me and

46:41sitting through that. Um does anybody

46:43have any questions or or anything any

46:45follow?

46:46>> I thought that was a very good video and

46:48that'll be that's available on Auburn

46:49Cable Television, correct?

46:51>> Yes. Yep. And it's it's also posted

46:53right on the uh on the libraries uh

46:55homepage. So great

46:56>> people can see it there.

46:57>> Any questions? Anybody? No, that was

47:00great. Thank you so much. Well,

47:02>> thank you all very much for having me.

47:04>> Thank you.

47:04>> Thank you, Mike.

47:08All right, looking at our agenda, um

47:11we're now looking at um select board

47:13general items. Um we have gift

47:15acceptances in accordance with Mass

47:18General Law Chapter 4453A.

47:22Um the first gift is from Jen Brooks and

47:26Amy Perkins. Um it's $85 to the uh

47:32Auburn Fire Department gift account.

47:37There's no questions.

47:38>> Any questions? No, sorry. There was

47:40There's the one gift. Yep.

47:42>> I'll make a motion to accept the

47:43combined gift of $85 from Jen Brooks and

47:45Amy Perkins to the fire department gift

47:47account number 262208-4840

47:51with a letter of gratitude to be drafted

47:53and signed by the chair.

47:55>> Second.

47:55>> So, I have a motion and a second. All in

47:57favor?

47:58>> I opposed. No. Next, we have a board

48:02vote on the drain layer license from

48:04Elite Construction Management, Inc.

48:07located at 220 West Street in Hopedale,

48:10Mass. This um this has already been

48:13vetted by the um sewer department.

48:18So, this is a format and they've already

48:20checked this um company and all their

48:23references.

48:27Do I hear a motion? I'll make a motion

48:29to approve the drain layer license for

48:31Elite Construction Management, Inc.

48:32located at 220 West Street, Hopedale,

48:35Mass 01747,

48:37provided that all applicable

48:38requirements of the state and town and

48:40any of its departments, boards, and

48:42commissions have been fulfilled. Said

48:44license is subject to all the conditions

48:46stated upon it, failure to comply with

48:48any and all conditions shall invalidate

48:50the license and render it null and void.

48:52>> Second.

48:53>> So, we have a motion and a second. All

48:55in favor? I opposed.

48:59Um, and we have another vote on the a

49:01drain layer license from Alexander

49:03Construction, Inc. located at 37

49:06Hastings A in Worcester 01607.

49:10Again, they have been um vetted and

49:12reviewed by the um town sewer

49:15department.

49:17Any questions? Nope.

49:20>> Um, I'll make a motion to approve the

49:22drain layer license for Alexander

49:23Construction, Inc. located at 37

49:25Hastings Avenue, Worcester,

49:27Massachusetts 016066.

49:30Provided that all applicable

49:31requirements of the state and town and

49:33any of its departments, boards, and

49:34commissions have been fulfilled. Said

49:36license is subject to all the conditions

49:38stated upon it. Failure to comply with

49:40any and all conditions shall invalidate

49:41the license and render it null and void.

49:44>> I'll second.

49:45>> So, we have a motion and a second. All

49:47in favor? I opposed.

49:50>> Okay. Um, our next item under um, select

49:53board general items is a board vote, a

49:56board review and vote to send warrant

49:58articles to legal counsel for review.

50:01We're not going to go through the

50:02warrant tonight. We are just looking um

50:06for the vote to send it to legal

50:08counsel.

50:10Do I hear any questions?

50:14>> Do I hear a motion? We'll make a motion

50:17to approve approve the draft warrant for

50:19a special town meeting pending final

50:20review by town council. A

50:22>> second. So we have a motion and a

50:24second. All in favor? I

50:26>> opposed.

50:29>> I actually had question.

50:31>> Oh yes.

50:32>> No, just the way that's written. So to

50:34approve the draft warrant for special

50:36town meeting pending final

50:39>> approve. So, I I just don't get like

50:41we're sending the draft to them,

50:43>> right,

50:43>> for them to review the the draft review.

50:46Like, it didn't sound right to me.

50:48>> So,

50:49>> um should probably um we could change

50:52the motion to how about just sending the

50:56>> just to send it for them to review

50:58sending the direct town meeting warrant

51:00to town council.

51:01>> Okay.

51:02>> I would Yeah,

51:03>> I'm in favor of that.

51:04>> So, I will withdraw my motion.

51:06>> Yep.

51:08I will make a motion to approve the

51:11transmitt of the draft warrant to town

51:14council for review.

51:16>> Second.

51:17>> Okay. So, we now we have a motion and a

51:19second. All in favor?

51:21>> I

51:21>> I

51:22>> opposed.

51:25Thank you. That's a good point. All

51:27right. Um let's see. We have um there

51:31are no other items on here. We do have

51:33we have uh under town manager tabled

51:36items. We have received some minutes

51:38from July 20th, 2026. Does anyone have

51:41any questions or concerns regarding

51:44these minutes?

51:47No. Then they can be accepted as um as

51:52read as given to us.

51:57And um when is our when are our next

52:00meetings?

52:02Oh, do we have any public comments now,

52:04too? We do. Okay.

52:12>> Okay. So, uh we have a second public

52:14comment period. Um Eric Richard, you

52:18signed up to speak. Here you go. Thank

52:20you.

52:22>> The 14th.

52:24I'll do this, too. Thank you.

52:29The

52:30>> 14th. Yes.

52:34Good evening. Eric Richards precinct for

52:36Auburn. Uh just two quick questions. I

52:39didn't know who to see about it. Uh

52:41first is the meetings minutes from Camp

52:44Cleleason that you just approved. I

52:46submitted a full letter for the record.

52:49It doesn't seem to have made it there.

52:51Is there someplace I should look for

52:53that? And also the comments are

52:55meaningfully truncated. I'm not sure if

52:57that's customary for the minutes.

52:58>> What was your second question? I didn't

52:59hear you.

53:01So my first question is Camp Gleason, I

53:04made comments. I submitted a letter and

53:05for the record y as well as a letter

53:07from the CFO doesn't seem to have made

53:10it into the record. Where would I find

53:12that?

53:13>> Okay.

53:14>> Second question.

53:15>> Yep.

53:15>> And this is a process question. It's

53:18just out of my own ignorance. Um the

53:20warrant articles that are being

53:21transmitted, I noticed uh I have three.

53:25So article 26 is truncated. I don't know

53:28if that's customary,

53:30but the following article, which is

53:32significantly longer just because of the

53:34complexity of the laws, is included in

53:37its full duration. Is that is there

53:40going to be a a niggle or a complication

53:43there where the second one also includes

53:46some legal language?

53:47>> All right. Did you want to um comment on

53:49that?

53:50>> Um, sure. So, um, all I think you have

53:55three items.

53:55>> Yes, ma'am. All three items will be in

53:58the warrant article. Um the warrant

54:00itself, your articles will be in there.

54:03Um right now it's just a snippet of each

54:05and then you're going to have additional

54:07information on the back. So you'll see

54:09all the all the information that you

54:11have provided will be in there.

54:12>> I just I didn't I wanted to make sure

54:14that when town council had an

54:15opportunity to review it, they would

54:16actually see the thing so that

54:19>> you know if there was I don't know

54:20something crazy like aliens landing in

54:22there or whatever, it would get thrown

54:24out

54:25>> again. and they will receive everything.

54:27And as to the other question, we'll have

54:29to get back to you on that. I understand

54:30what you're saying.

54:31>> Thank you so much.

54:32>> Thank you. All right. Um that's it for

54:35public comments. We our next meetings

54:37are September 14th and then September

54:3928th. We have two meetings in September.

54:42Does anyone have any questions?

54:45>> A question I I

54:49try to see how to handle this.

54:53What is the process

54:56if someone's trying to submit something

54:59for our board meeting minutes?

55:02>> That's a good question. I think that

55:04that's going to have to go on the agenda

55:07for our next um meeting.

55:10Jenn Yeah. Yeah. Um it depends on the

55:14situation. In this case, Mr. Richards

55:17has asked that asked that document to be

55:19put in record and it should be attached.

55:22So it will be attached. So typically if

55:24he has a com if he's in public under

55:27public comment is giving us something

55:29that needs to go in the record.

55:32>> Thanks.

55:33>> Yep. And and if we have any further

55:35questions, we can discuss it at our at

55:38our meeting. We'll put we'll put an item

55:40on the agenda.

55:42Okay. All right.

55:46Do I hear a motion to adjurnn?

55:48>> Make a motion to adjurnn.

55:50>> Second. So, we have a motion and a

55:52second to adjurnn. All in favor? I

55:54>> I opposed. We're adjourned.