2026-09-14 - Select Board

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

00:06September 14th meeting of the Auburn

00:09Selectman. Uh, this open meeting of the

00:12town of Auburn Select Board is being

00:14conducted both in person and remotely

00:17consistent with chapter 107 of the acts

00:20of 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

00:46187243212

00:51and use access code 166009269.

00:58or the public can join via computer at

01:01meet.go.comcample

01:06uh Auburn select board room.

01:10Um all supporting materials that have

01:13been provided to members of this body

01:14are available on the town's website. The

01:17public is encouraged to follow along

01:19using the posted agenda. Please note

01:21that this meeting is being recorded by

01:23Auburn Cable Television. Is anyone else

01:26recording tonight's meeting?

01:29No. Okay. [snorts] All right. If you're

01:31able to, please stand for the pledge of

01:33allegiance.

01:38>> I pledge algiance to the flag of the

01:40United States of America and to the

01:43republic for which it stands, one nation

01:46under God, indivisible, with liberty and

01:50justice for all.

01:54>> Okay. So, we have um Paul, could I have

01:57the first public comment list? We have

01:59public comments now. Now, please

02:01remember that public comments are um for

02:04three minutes only. We have a big agenda

02:06tonight. So, we really can't go over

02:08that. Thank you. And when you come up,

02:11please state your name and your address,

02:13but again, three minutes. I even have a

02:15little timer here to make sure that we

02:17stay on schedule. Okay. So, the first

02:19person is Mark Raymond.

02:26right there up to the podium, sir.

02:35>> Mhm. Um, please remember that we can't

02:38reply to comments um because it's not it

02:42would be an item that we would be

02:44discussing and it wouldn't be posted on

02:45the agenda. So, we're not able to do

02:48that, just so you know. Okay. Go ahead,

02:50sir.

02:50>> Yes. I sent out an email this morning to

02:53the board board of selectment. I don't

02:54know if any of you received it yet, but

02:57it's from it's from myself. I'm the lone

02:59plaintiff for Whispering Pine. And uh I

03:02sent that email out, I believe, to Kathy

03:05Johnson, if I got the first name

03:07correct, and I asked her to forward it

03:10that forward that email to you. It's

03:13just four documents which explains rent

03:16control, how it works, how it sets up,

03:18how rents are calculated, rules for the

03:20board. It's a pretty I don't want to say

03:23in depth, but it gives you a pretty good

03:24eye view of of uh what's involved in

03:27rent control. Okay. Uh I am a lone

03:30plaintiff like I said for Pine and we

03:32are in settlement talks, but this case

03:34is a legally dense case. There's a lot

03:37of violations here. uh and a legally

03:41dense case means that's going to be hard

03:43to negotiate and eight months in

03:47settlement talks proves that out. Uh

03:50we're not I can't say we're not making a

03:52lot of progress here, but it's it's

03:55really hard going right now, you know.

03:57So, and even if we do get a settlement,

03:59it's only going to last for 5 years.

04:02This case is our court case is just a

04:05temporary fix. What we really need is

04:08the rent control or else they're going

04:10to empty out their park with their

04:12egregious rent increases. As some of you

04:14may or may not know, their increases

04:16start at $100 per year. It goes up $100.

04:20Right now, they're not doing that cuz

04:22they're involved in litigation. But, you

04:24know, when it starts going up $100 every

04:26year, they're not going to stop. So, you

04:29know, I mean, the handwriting's on the

04:31wall for us. So this this rent control

04:33this is very important to us kind and

04:35American. Thank you.

04:37>> Thank you.

04:39>> All right. Next we have Eric Richards.

04:41Um just be sure to u identify yourself

04:44and your address please.

04:49>> My name is Eric Richards. Ravine Drive

04:51Auburn. I'll keep my remarks to the

04:54point. So first I this is now 60 days.

04:59I'm out waiting for a response on a

05:02public records request from the town

05:03manager's office, from the select board,

05:06from the town council, and should

05:09somebody choose to litigate on the

05:10issue, it's a $10,000 fine plus legal

05:13fees, and you'll pay my legal fees if

05:15it's me. There are several of them

05:17stacked up, I would suggest that

05:20somebody do some addition and

05:21subtraction and think about if they want

05:23to pay those taxpayers costs. Although

05:26as for the taxpayer, I'm paying for it,

05:28too. [gasps]

05:30Second, whoever runs social media here,

05:33they made some comments in reference to

05:36the data center article and fake news.

05:38So, before the planning board, I made

05:40some comments. I submitted a written

05:43recommendation as it relates to the data

05:45center center bylaw that's up for the

05:47articles tonight. And the way they are

05:50written are so broad, capricious and

05:52arbitrary that anybody's nor ordinary

05:55networking at home could be considered a

05:58data center. This building is a data

06:00center and it's left completely open

06:04by commas not ans or's primary or

06:08secondary use to whatever the inspector

06:12of the day decides to do and if they

06:14like the person or not. I think that's

06:17wrong. I would recommend that somebody

06:19revisit the writing of that and consider

06:22scale and combination of uses more

06:26aggregate like the governor's recent

06:28executive order 658

06:31as a point. Second,

06:34there was defects found in the flock

06:37procurement process. That process has

06:40been opaque.

06:41This board and this town paid for town

06:44council. I would ask you to wave

06:46privilege and to disclose and make the

06:49findings and the advice public because

06:51it's not ongoing litigation. Every

06:53taxpayer in this room has paid for that

06:56advice and in the name of transparency,

06:59it makes sense for it to be public.

07:02Finally, tonight's article two, the ban

07:05interest article appears to present a

07:08chapter 44 subsection 20 and subsection

07:1116 issue. The problem is principally

07:15that the way

07:19the math is done for the $69,000

07:22or $600,000 plus is improper.

07:26I would suggest the assistant town

07:28manager, the town manager, the CFO, and

07:30others involved educate themselves on

07:33the subsections of chapter 44. Now,

07:36lucky for us, in case you didn't know,

07:39in the town of Southbridge in 2006, our

07:42CFO was named as a defendant in a

07:44lawsuit in Western Superior Court

07:47directly related to improper transfers

07:51between department.

07:52>> Okay, that'll be that's three minutes.

07:54Thank you, sir.

07:56All right, next on our list, uh Susan

07:58O'Neal, I see you signed up to speak

08:00about rent control. Do you want to wait

08:02until the hearing or do you want to?

08:04Yes, you. Okay, thank you. And um John

08:06Loausan, please come up. Identify

08:09yourself and your address, please.

08:19[snorts]

08:22Good day. Good day. My name is John

08:26Lozan and I live at 10 Main Street.

08:30I've resided there since 1966.

08:34In three minutes, I will attempt to

08:35loosely describe the connection between

08:37our public servants and the citizens of

08:39Auburn from a lifelong resident who is

08:41fortunate enough to recall the past half

08:43century concerning transparency and

08:46accountability in local government. 1976

08:49bysentennial, every school age kid

08:51assembled at the revolutionary war

08:53soldiers cemetery along with teachers,

08:55parents, and parents, we opened a time

08:58capsule. We all We all learned something

09:02profound that day. Never to forget that

09:04we walk on their wounds.

09:11Everybody in town knew Big Tall Mel who

09:14worked on the highway department. He let

09:15the summer help sit up in the back of

09:17the dump truck. We called them turtles.

09:19He let us look at the dogs in a pen that

09:21were caught. He volunteered around town

09:24on his own time.

09:28One winter, me and the other kids from

09:29our neighborhood were sliding down a

09:31huge hill behind the Main Street Reno

09:33Drive border. We had a poor friend. His

09:36his sled was a piece of cardboard. Older

09:38kids made fun of him. Younger kids were

09:40just happy to have sleds. One day

09:44uh a guy came over. He introduced his

09:46name as Paul. He was with his

09:48girlfriend. They talked to the poor kid.

09:50All three walked away. Couple minutes

09:52later, all three stood before us. There

09:54was an enormous colossal six-foot to

09:56bargain with padding as far as the eye

09:58could see. Paul explained that it was

10:00his only. However, uh the other kid, the

10:04poor kid, was in charge of it. He had

10:05permission to borrow the bargain anytime

10:08he wanted from Pulse because it was Paul

10:10sled. Turns out Paul was not only an

10:12Auburn resident, he was an police

10:13officer. Because of these two facts, uh

10:16us residents love Paul.

10:24Paul was a good man, good neighbor.

10:27Paul would roll up his sleeves on his

10:29civies and come to volunteer on several

10:32town events. Paul didn't show up in

10:34uniform for 4 hours and 1 second and

10:36then collect uh uh eight hours of

10:39overtime on the taxpayers's dime. He

10:41showed up in a t-shirt, dungarees, and

10:43sneakers. He was part of the community.

10:45He didn't show up to be viewed by the

10:47public. He showed up to help out help on

10:51his own time

10:53because it was the right thing to do. We

10:56used to call Paul Stretch because there

10:57was a popular toy called Stretch

10:59Armstrong. The joke was on us. I became

11:01his paper boy a few years later. His

11:03mailbox read Paul Armstrong. We We

11:06weren't even close.

11:08I had a backyard. It was big enough to

11:10play any sport. We loved kickball the

11:13most. We would sit on the hill and my

11:16dad would sit on the hill. He would

11:18bring two popsicles but only two. A

11:20neighbor Michael would sit always sit

11:23down and watch us play kickball. The

11:25other popsicle was for him. Michael was

11:27a and could not

11:28>> The three minutes has has arrived. So

11:31that's going to be it. Thank you, sir.

11:33>> Thank you, madam.

11:35>> All right. Next, we have Alan Rafferty.

11:49Good evening, Alan Raffidy, Paul Street.

11:52Uh,

11:54I'd just like to thank Eric Richards who

11:56single-handedly got rid of the flock

11:58contract in the town of Auburn by

12:01discovering that it was illegally

12:04issued. So, thank you very much, Eric

12:07Richards. Um, I always say never let a

12:11good public comment go to waste.

12:14The town of Oxford,

12:17the Sluckman allow no public comment.

12:21No public comment at all.

12:24Recently,

12:28recently

12:30they had a discussion on whether or not

12:32they should make the select men more

12:36genderneutral. So, they want to go to

12:38something like select board, but they

12:40couldn't make that decision on their

12:41own. They were so chicken that they're

12:45putting it to a public vote

12:48in order to determine whether or not you

12:49should make uh the name of the board

12:52genderneutral.

12:55Recently the uh town manager resigned

12:58from the town of Oxford and she's suing

13:00the board of selectmen

13:03probably because not not a very open

13:06form of government in the town of

13:07Oxford. So so I give Auburn credit. You

13:11you have your public comment. You you

13:13have two sessions. Congratulations.

13:16However, recently

13:18the library board

13:21I filed an open meeting complaint

13:23against them and the first thing the

13:26chairman Dorsy

13:28uh did was she cancelled the public

13:31comment for that meeting. The second

13:33meeting she had she canceled the public

13:35comment a second time and then had a

13:37debate whether or not they should get

13:39rid of public comment altogether. Her

13:42reason, she wanted a safe space for her

13:45board.

13:47Now, it's probably because her

13:49background is in education. She's a

13:50principal,

13:52but to much to the credit of Vera

13:55Karine,

13:56she argued against it and and said that

13:59we should keep it. And so, they have

14:01they have kept it. So, congratulations,

14:04Auburn, for trying to be transparent. I

14:07congratulate you. Keep up the good work.

14:11All right. Thank you, sir.

14:13All right. So, that's it for the

14:15comments. Um, our next section is

14:17community organizations. We don't have

14:20anything there, but then we go to

14:22presentations and public hearings.

14:25Uh, Madam Chair, I'd like to make a

14:27motion that we move up items

14:32uh 5D, 5e, and 8 D, which should have

14:38been under uh community organizations.

14:42>> Second.

14:44>> So, we have a motion and a second to

14:45move these three items up to right now.

14:48Um, any discussion? No. All in favor? I

14:52>> I opposed. No. All right. So, the first

14:54thing that we're moving up is the uh

14:56public hearing for uh a board vote on

14:59the outdoor entertainment license for

15:01Century Sportsman's Club at 531 Rodale

15:05Street.

15:06>> I'll make a motion to open the public

15:07hearing.

15:08>> Second. So, we have a motion and a

15:10second to open the public hearing. All

15:12in favor?

15:12>> I opposed. No. Is anyone here from

15:15Century Sportsman's Club? You can come

15:18right to the podium, please, sir.

15:24And can you just tell us about your

15:25event?

15:27>> Uh 12 running a haunted hay ride and

15:30spooky walk for the past 27 years. Uh

15:33their share we're open every Friday and

15:35Saturday night in October.

15:37Um usually from like 7 to 10 is about

15:40the hours we run. At the end of the

15:41month gets a little later. Um that's all

15:45I have.

15:46>> Okay. Um does anyone from the board have

15:49any questions? Does anyone from the

15:51public have any questions on the uh

15:53Century Sportsman's Club hearing? Okay.

15:58>> Make a motion to close the public

15:59hearing.

16:00>> Second. So, we have a motion and a

16:01second to close the public hearing. All

16:03in favor?

16:04>> I

16:04>> opposed. Okay. It is closed. Madam

16:07Chair, I'll make a motion to approve the

16:09outdoor entertainment license for

16:10Century Sportsman Club at 531 Rodale

16:15Street, Auburn, Mass 01501, provided

16:17they comply with all rules and

16:19regulations of the town and orders of

16:21the DCG.

16:22>> Second. Okay, we have a motion and a

16:25second to approve. All in favor?

16:27>> I opposed.

16:29>> You're all set, sir. Thank you.

16:30>> Yes.

16:31>> Thank you. All right, our next public

16:33hearing is a board vote on an outdoor

16:35entertainment license for the Milbury

16:37Lions Foundation at 30 Elm Street. We

16:40have someone here. Come on up,

16:42gentlemen. You can go right to the

16:43podium, please.

16:44>> Madam Chair, I'll make a motion to open

16:46the public hearing.

16:47>> Second. We have a motion and a second to

16:48open the public hearing. All in favor?

16:50>> I opposed.

16:52>> Okay, it's open. Um, can you just tell

16:55us what your um what your event is?

16:58>> Sure. Um my name is William Kaine

17:02Milbury Mass. Um and accompanied with uh

17:05President Kevin Murray. Uh our event is

17:08a a car show. It's uh it's just a

17:12antique and classic cars of all you know

17:14all classes, all all types, all years

17:17are welcome to come. Um we just have a

17:20you know probably about um less than 200

17:23cars. Um there is some music but it's

17:27mostly uh you know like 50s music and a

17:30lot of uh announcements and we judge

17:33cars and award trophies. Um there's food

17:37supplied um by the club. Uh we don't

17:40allow alcohol up into the car show.

17:43There'll be signs for that. We uh put

17:46signs on the highway and for people

17:48coming to the car show to give them

17:50directions to how to get there. Um you

17:52have a map of the location and what

17:53we're doing. So if you have any

17:55questions, be happy to answer them.

17:57>> Okay. Do we have anyone here have any

17:59questions?

18:01>> The hours of the car show.

18:06>> So it's on one day 9 to2 on September

18:0919th.

18:10>> Yeah. And actually that um I think if

18:12you look at the application, it included

18:14next year's dates as well so that we

18:17could wouldn't have to do this again

18:18next year.

18:21>> Okay.

18:24All right. Any other questions?

18:26>> Does anyone from the public have any

18:28questions on this license?

18:31>> No.

18:32>> Madam Chair, I just wanted to clarify.

18:34So, you're seeking a license for this

18:36year and next year,

18:37>> correct? Um, can I ask uh through um

18:41Madam Chair, if the administration had

18:43reviewed the DCG had reviewed this uh

18:46with the understanding that the

18:48recommendation was for two years and not

18:50one year?

18:52um through the chair. No, it was we were

18:55we believe the recommendation was for

18:57one year, not two. Typically, each um

19:01event holder comes back each year for

19:04either an annual um license or a license

19:08for each individual event.

19:11>> Okay. Thank you.

19:12>> Um through the chair, I'm looking at the

19:14DCG memorandum and it does list both

19:17years. Can we move forward with

19:21approving it for both years or do they

19:23need to come back annually?

19:26>> See it?

19:28>> Um I I believe our the policy is just to

19:30do it for one year, gentlemen.

19:32>> Okay.

19:32>> Um Okay.

19:33>> Yeah. So um you'll you can come next

19:36year.

19:37>> Okay. That just that's just what they

19:39explained to if you wanted to do it for

19:41for next year. Put the dates on there.

19:42That's what I was told. That's that's

19:45>> okay.

19:45>> Okay. But we're happy to come back next

19:47year and do it again.

19:48>> Thank you. Thank Well, you've got your

19:50maps and everything all ready to go. So,

19:52there you go. All right. Um,

19:55>> make a motion to close the public

19:56hearing.

19:57>> Second.

20:00>> Um, we have a motion to close the public

20:03hearing. All in favor?

20:05>> I opposed.

20:07>> All right. I'll make a motion to approve

20:09the outdoor entertainment license for

20:10the Milberry Lines Foundation at 30 Elm

20:13Street, Auburn, Mass 01501, provided

20:16they follow all rules and regulations of

20:17the town and any orders of the DCG.

20:20>> Second

20:21>> for Can we put the time because their

20:23application had multiple dates. Can we

20:25just for this year

20:27>> 919?

20:29I don't have it in front of me. One

20:31>> 9:19.

20:32>> I haven't found it yet. for September

20:3419th

20:35>> for se for September 19th, 2026.

20:39>> Second. We have a motion and a second to

20:42approve the license. All in favor?

20:44>> I opposed.

20:45>> You're all set, gentlemen. Thank you.

20:47>> Thank you. We thank the board and thank

20:49thank the town manager for assistance

20:50and helping us.

20:52>> All right. Next, we have um a board vote

20:54in an open air license application from

20:56Auburn Chamber of Commerce for their 7th

20:59annual scarecrow contest event at

21:01Goddard Park at Jury Square. October

21:039th, 2026 to November 3rd, 2026. Do we

21:08have anyone here from the uh chamber?

21:10Hello.

21:17Just go. Yeah, you can sit up here or go

21:19to the podium. Whatever works.

21:22>> All right.

21:24Thank you.

21:29>> So, yeah. Um,

21:30>> do we need to uh No, that's not Yeah.

21:33>> Sorry.

21:33>> Can you tell us about the event?

21:35>> Yeah. So, this is our seventh annual um

21:37Scarecrow Your Business. So, we ask all

21:40businesses, whether they're members of

21:41the Chamber of Commerce or not, to um

21:44have their employees, it's kind of like

21:46a a company um event where they get

21:49together and they do a scarecrow or

21:51scarecrow theme. And it's at uh the

21:54Goddard Park at the fire station um in

21:57uh locations that have already been

21:59picked out. And um we judge judging is

22:03open to the public on our Facebook page

22:05and um it's been quite um attractive

22:08event for the local businesses um over

22:11the years. So like I said this is the

22:13seventh one that we've done.

22:16>> Okay.

22:17>> Do we any questions?

22:19>> How many years have you been doing this

22:21event? The chamber.

22:22>> This is our seventh.

22:23>> Seventh. You said

22:23>> this is our seventh year. Yeah.

22:25>> Thank

22:26>> all right.

22:28Uh, madam chair, I'll make a motion to

22:30issue an open air license to the Auburn

22:31Chamber of Commerce for the 7th annual

22:33Scarecrow contest event at Goddard Park

22:36at Jory Square, 341 to 357 Celebrate

22:39Street, Auburn, Mass 01501 from October

22:429th, 2026 to November 3rd, 2026.

22:46>> Second. So, we have a motion and a

22:48second to um issue the open air license.

22:50All in favor?

22:51>> I opposed.

22:54>> You're all set. Thank you. Thank you

22:55very much,

22:56>> Madam Chair. Can I also make a motion to

22:57wave the fee for the Chamber of Commerce

22:59as well as the Lions Club?

23:02>> A second. So, we have a motion and

23:04second to wave the fees for the uh Lions

23:06Club and for the event and for the um

23:10Chamber of Commerce event. We have a

23:12motion and a second. All in favor?

23:14>> I opposed. Good. Thank you.

23:16>> Thank you very much.

23:17>> Thank you.

23:18>> All right. Going back to our agenda. Um

23:21next we're going to talk about

23:22presentations and public hearings. We

23:24have a public hearing um a board vote on

23:26a motor vehicle class one license and

23:29auto repair license for Taska Hyundai

23:31Auburn at 7:35 South Bridge Street.

23:36>> Madam Chair, I'll make a motion to open

23:37the public hearing.

23:38>> Second. So we have a motion to open the

23:40public hearing. All in favor?

23:42>> I opposed. Yep. All right. Is anyone

23:45here from

23:47Hyundai of Auburn? Hi. Come right to the

23:49podium, sir. There's someone online.

23:51>> How you doing? David Taska, Task

23:53Automotive Group.

23:54>> Okay. Thank you for coming in. And can

23:57you tell us um is this an annual

24:00renewal?

24:01>> Uh we're actually purchasing the

24:02dealership uh in Auburn and uh looking

24:05to close at the end of the month from

24:07Herb Chambers

24:09Automotive Group and uh operate the

24:12business from there. We're a automotive

24:14group originally from Rhode Island, have

24:16a lot of dealerships across the area and

24:18uh looking forward to doing business in

24:20the town.

24:26Okay. Any questions?

24:29>> Does anyone in the public have any uh

24:31questions regarding this um regarding

24:35this license? No.

24:38>> Okay.

24:39>> I'll make a motion to close the public

24:40hearing.

24:41>> I'll second.

24:42>> We have a motion and a second to close

24:43the public hearing. All in favor? I

24:46oppose? No.

24:48I'll make a motion to approve the motor

24:49vehicle class 2 license and auto repair

24:52license for Taska Hyundai Alurn at 735

24:56Selfford Street, Auburn, Mass 01501,

24:58provided they follow rules and

24:59regulations of the town as well as a

25:01DCG.

25:03>> Was that a class one license?

25:04>> The class one I I got is class one or

25:08class two.

25:08>> Class one. Class one.

25:09>> Class one. Okay. I need my readers.

25:11You're going to make all the motions

25:11from now on.

25:13>> I'll second. So, I have a motion and a

25:15second to approve the license. All in

25:18favor? I oppose. No,

25:21>> you're all set. Thank you very much.

25:22Thank you.

25:23>> Um, next we have a public hearing. Um, a

25:25board vote on a storage of flammable

25:28fluids license for Eversource at 12 West

25:32Drive. Do we have someone? Okay, go

25:34ahead.

25:34>> Make a motion to open the public

25:35hearing.

25:36>> A second. We have a motion, a second to

25:38open the public hearing. All in favor?

25:40>> I opposed. No. Oh, and we have someone

25:43who's online. Um, you can you um tell us

25:47who you are, sir?

25:49>> Good evening, Madam Chair, through you

25:50to the members of the board. Uh, my name

25:52is Mike and the last name is Kane, K A N

25:55E with Eversource Energy from West Tech

25:57Drive in Auburn. Uh, I'm joined here

25:59with a project team that has been

26:01working on the project. Uh, Corey

26:04Vandergrift. I'll kick it over to Corey

26:06to give you information. Uh, but I'm

26:08more from the community relations side

26:10organizing the uh the the group of team

26:13that's here. So, we have a bunch of

26:14subject matter experts here to help you.

26:16>> Corey, go ahead.

26:18>> Thank you, Mike. I appreciate it. So, as

26:20Mike said, my name is Corey Vandergrift.

26:21I'm the project manager for the Auburn

26:23spare transformer facility project. Uh,

26:25the purpose of this meeting is that we

26:27are seeking to obtain a land license for

26:28liquid storage at 12 West Drive, Auburn,

26:31Mass. Uh this is a spare transformer

26:34facility where we restore nine

26:36substation transformers used to support

26:38e failure repair and replacement

26:40activities. As spare transformer, these

26:42transformers will not be energized on

26:44site but can be quickly mobilized and

26:46transported where needed. Pertaining to

26:48the liquid storage, we are seeking to

26:49store 243,411

26:52gallons of MODF or mineral oil

26:55dialectric fluid. This is absolutely

26:57critical fluid as it serves two main

26:58purposes. It's the dialectric, excuse

27:00me, dialectric liquid insulation for the

27:03transformer and it also acts as

27:04transformer cooling. The modf will be

27:06stored inside the facility and inside

27:08the transformers themselves. I'd like to

27:10thank you for your time and we're happy

27:12to take any questions that you may have.

27:14>> All right. Thank you. Any questions from

27:16the board?

27:20>> No. Does anyone from the public have any

27:22questions regarding this license? Yeah.

27:26To identify yourself, please.

27:29Danny Lis, 39 Prairie Place. How

27:32flammable is this liquid and what

27:36suppressants will be on scene in case

27:40there is a an incident?

27:47>> Are you able to hear that,

27:49>> Mr. Um Mr. Eversource?

27:52>> Sure. Yeah. Uh Corey, who do you who do

27:55you recommend that's going to go to?

27:56Who's our subject matter expert on that

27:58one?

27:58>> She just hopped up.

28:00>> Yeah. So, good evening uh madame chair

28:03and uh the board. Uh thank you for the

28:06opportunity to speak. So, first of all,

28:08I want to address a concern that is

28:11often related to the word um oil

28:16associated with the electric equipment.

28:18So the insulin oil is used inside the

28:22high voltage uh transformer specifically

28:25the mineral oil is meeting the ITE

28:28standard. This is not the same as the

28:31fuel oil or any motor or petroleum

28:34combustible product that is using for

28:36heating or transportation. In fact, it's

28:39a a high flash point and the high fire

28:42insulated fluid. That being said, uh it

28:46cannot burn without an external and

28:49sustained heat source far hotter than

28:54160° C. If these transformer are in

28:58service, so those transformers or those

29:01equipments we need to keep in mind that

29:04they are stored in this facility as an

29:06inventory. we are putting those

29:08equipment and it will never be energized

29:11at any condition inside the facility. So

29:14in fact we are using this oil inside the

29:17seal tank inside the transformer. So

29:21there is no uh option that this trans

29:25like this oil or this mineral oil is not

29:27a flammable under any normal condition.

29:30It cannot ignite without extreme

29:33temperature far beyond anything that is

29:36uh countered in a non energized

29:39transformer and when the transformer is

29:42out of service the oil present no fire

29:45hazard to the public or to the facility.

29:49Hope that answered the question.

29:52>> Okay. Thank you.

29:55>> Yes. Thank you very much.

29:57>> Yeah, of course. Thank you. Um, does

29:59anyone else have any questions?

30:01>> No.

30:03>> Madam Chair, I'll make a motion to close

30:04the public hearing.

30:05>> Second.

30:06>> All right. So, we have a motion, a

30:07second to close the public hearing. All

30:09in favor?

30:10>> I opposed.

30:13>> All right.

30:14>> I'll make a motion to approve the

30:15storage of flammable fluids license for

30:17Ever Source at 12 West Drive, Auburn,

30:20Mass 01501, provided they follow all

30:23rules and regulations of the town as

30:24well as the DCG.

30:26>> Second. All right. All right. So, we

30:28have a motion and a second um to approve

30:30the storage license. All in favor? I

30:33>> oppose. No. All right. You're all set.

30:36Thank you.

30:37>> Thank you, Madam Chair and members.

30:38>> Thank you. Thank you.

30:40>> Our next public hearing is a board vote

30:42in a storage of flammable fluids license

30:45for DO gas at 850 Southbridge Street. Do

30:48we have someone here from the business?

30:50Come on up. You

30:52>> I'll make a motion to open the public

30:53hearing.

30:54>> I'll second. So, we have a motion and a

30:55second to open the public hearing. All

30:57in favor? I

30:59>> opposed. No. All right. How do you do?

31:02Why don't you tell us about it?

31:03>> Yeah. Good evening. Uh Paul Deo from Dio

31:05Gas. Uh this is a for flammable storage

31:08license at 850 Southwest uh South Bridge

31:10Street [snorts] uh also known as

31:12Westside Plaza. Uh so we currently

31:15already are storing 2,000 gallons of

31:17propane at that site. Uh we're looking

31:19to add an additional,000 gallons uh to

31:21become 3,000 gallons. That's why we need

31:23the flammable storage license. The

31:25reason for the added storage is uh

31:28through this last winter with our with

31:29the cold winter months uh we were having

31:31some propane supply issues which was

31:33putting the restaurant down that was in

31:35the building and a couple of the other

31:37tenants. So by adding the storage, we're

31:39able to get a little bit more uh

31:41pressure into that building to avoid any

31:43um inconveniences or or downages there.

31:46Uh, I did meet the fire department on

31:48site, go over the location of the new

31:50tank, and they are on board on their

31:52end. Uh, but I'm open to answer any

31:54questions that you guys might have in

31:56terms of adding uh the additional

31:58storage at 850 Southwood Street.

32:02>> Does anyone have any questions?

32:05>> So, I'll just ask the same question that

32:06Mr. Laress asked previously. So, what is

32:08on site uh to address any flammable

32:11issues?

32:12>> What is on site for what? I'm sorry. to

32:14address flammable uh issues to regard

32:16against flammable issues.

32:17>> Yeah. So everything is done you know

32:19every there's code requirements by NFBA

32:21which is the national fire code for

32:23setbacks. Um so the tanks are over 25 ft

32:26away from the building. Uh so that's set

32:28per national fire code. Um that's really

32:31that's it. There crash protection to

32:33make sure that vehicles don't hit it. Uh

32:35plow trucks don't hit it. Um, but you

32:37would need a extreme source of uh heat

32:40or a source of ignition for any spark to

32:43happen. And there would also have to be

32:44an active leak uh for something to catch

32:47fire. Um, propane tanks don't explode,

32:49they just burn off. So, um, I guess

32:52that's my answer to your question. Thank

32:54you.

32:55>> Thank you.

32:56>> Okay. Um, does anyone um from the

32:58audience have any questions about this?

33:03>> Okay. And does anyone online have any

33:05questions?

33:07Nope. All right.

33:09>> I'll make a motion to close the public

33:10hearing.

33:11>> I'll second. So, we have a motion and a

33:13second to close the public hearing. All

33:14in favor?

33:15>> I

33:16>> opposed.

33:18And

33:18>> I'll make a motion to approve a storage

33:20of flammable fluids license for Dio gas

33:22at 850 Southbridge Street, Auburn, Mass,

33:2401501, provided they follow all rules

33:26and regulations of the town and any

33:28conditions of the DCG.

33:29>> A second.

33:31>> All right. So, we have a motion and a

33:33second to approve the license. All in

33:35favor?

33:36>> I opposed.

33:38>> You're all said, sir. Thank you.

33:39>> Thank you. I appreciate it.

33:40>> All right. Next, we have

33:44um a a public hearing. We have a board

33:46vote on a pole petition for South Street

33:49National Grid to relocate one J pole on

33:53South Street beginning at a point

33:55approximately uh 1,400 ft south of the

33:58center line of the intersection of

34:00Potter Farm.

34:03I make a motion to open the public

34:05hearing.

34:05>> Second. Um

34:07>> we have a motion and a second to open

34:08the public hearing. All in favor?

34:10>> I opposed. All right. Do we have someone

34:14from National Grid um online?

34:19>> Yes.

34:20>> Oh, good. And can you identify yourself,

34:23sir?

34:25>> Good afternoon, Madam Chair and the

34:26member of the board. My name is Fred

34:27Jolen, working for National.

34:29>> Can you say that? Just say that again a

34:30little louder and slower, please.

34:33>> I'm sorry. My name is Fritz Jolan,

34:36working for National Grid as a design

34:38engineer, 939 South Bridge Street in

34:41Worcester.

34:42>> Okay. So um the purpose of this um

34:45petition is to install a midspan pole in

34:48order to service a customer which has a

34:51u house that's located

34:55um far back

34:57um in his driveway. So there's a reason

35:00why we need to extend primary there in

35:02order to install a transformer.

35:07>> Okay. Okay. Does anyone have any

35:10questions?

35:13When is the work expected to take place?

35:18>> Um [clears throat] I cannot give you a

35:21definite answer on this one because I'm

35:22the design engineer. Usually um

35:24operation and scheduling are taking care

35:26of that. I do not have any idea about

35:30schedule.

35:33>> I'm sorry.

35:36um through the chair. It looks like

35:38there's three polls that are all full

35:40close together. Do does it need to have

35:43three poles?

35:45>> I know you're just adding one, but

35:49>> actually I can answer that question. So,

35:51um the way the the sketch has been

35:54designed is that it's showing two

35:56existing pole and one new pole which is

35:59a jail pole j that we're looking to

36:01install. So, in reality, we're only

36:03looking to install local, but the sketch

36:05is um showing three.

36:07>> I'm sorry, sir. I'm having a really hard

36:09time hearing you. I don't know if it's

36:11the audio on our end.

36:13>> Um, can you hear any better now?

36:18>> Not really.

36:20>> Okay. Oh, okay.

36:23>> What?

36:24>> Can you Is it better right now?

36:26>> That's better. Yes. Thank you so much.

36:28>> Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. So um what I

36:31was what I was trying to say is that the

36:34way that the kit has been designed is

36:36that it's showing three poles but

36:39actually we only installing one pole.

36:42It's showing two poles two existing pole

36:45pole 49 and pole 50 and we're looking to

36:48install a new poll p 49-50.

36:53>> Thank you. So you're consolidating down

36:54to one poll.

36:57>> Thank you. Any

37:03other questions?

37:05Okay. Does anyone in the audience have

37:06any questions about this um this tell

37:10this uh poll for National Grid?

37:13>> No. Okay. No questions.

37:16>> I'll make a motion to close the public

37:17hearing.

37:18>> A second. Um we have a motion and a

37:20second to close the public hearing. All

37:21in favor? I

37:23>> opposed.

37:24>> All right.

37:27I'll make a motion to approve a poll

37:29petition for South Street National Grid

37:31to relocate one J pole on South Street

37:35beginning at a point approximately 1400

37:37ft south of the center line of the

37:39intersection of Potter Farm.

37:41>> A second. We have a motion, a second.

37:44All in favor?

37:45>> Opposed? No. All right. You're all set,

37:48sir. Thank you.

37:50>> Thank you very much.

37:52>> All right. Now we're finally we're at

37:54the um public hearing for a discussion

37:56on rent control in the Auburn

37:58manufactured home parks. So um people

38:02are going to be able to come up and

38:04speak um and no one can speak um for a

38:07second time until everyone has spoken

38:09for first time and it's 3 minutes and

38:12make sure that you just identify

38:14yourself when you go up so we know who's

38:16speaking. Okay? And and I should have

38:18said this earlier, too. If you have your

38:20phones um with you, please put them on

38:23silent. All right.

38:26So, the reason we're having this hearing

38:28is because at the annual town meeting in

38:31May, um we heard um from different

38:35people with some strong opinions about

38:37the rent control. So, we just wanted to

38:39provide an opportunity for residents to

38:42speak um and to tell us what they think

38:44about it. Um, and Dan, did you want to

38:47add anything?

38:48>> Cover it up.

38:49>> All right. Okay. Thank you. All right.

38:52>> Make a motion to open the public

38:53hearing.

38:54>> Second.

38:56>> So, we have a motion, a second to open

38:57the public hearing. All in favor?

38:59>> I I oppose. No. All right. So, who's uh

39:02who's coming up first?

39:05>> Who would like to speak?

39:07>> And there are people on Let's start with

39:09Come on up. Yep.

39:12I should say,

39:16>> can you hear me?

39:17>> Yes.

39:18>> Uh, my name is Susan O'Neal. I live at

39:20131 Washington Street, which is Marra

39:22Vista Mobile Home Park. Um, I've lived

39:25there for 31 years. I've never had any

39:27problems with the landlord, and we've

39:29had at least two landlords during the

39:30time I've lived there. I feel like the

39:33rent control u measure is um unnecessary

39:36for us. It may be in the interest of

39:39other parks that are owned by

39:40corporations to have rent control, but I

39:43don't think the rest of us who are not

39:45in favor should be included in that um

39:49decision. I also don't think the town of

39:51Auburn should have anything to do. I

39:53think it's a private matter between the

39:55residents of those parks and the owners

39:57of those parks and basically I'm opposed

40:00to it. Okay. Okay.

40:02>> Thank you.

40:08All right. Why don't you raise your hand

40:10if you want to speak, please?

40:14Okay. The um will you hold on the woman

40:17in the blue? Yeah. Thank you.

40:36My name is Kathleen Charbano. My husband

40:38and I live in uh Whispering Pines Park,

40:41which is one of the aforementioned parks

40:43that needs the help.

40:46We're retired. We don't make extra

40:50money. We can't work overtime. No side

40:52hustle.

40:54We can't afford to have the rent go up

40:57every month, every month, every month,

40:59every

41:00people our age are leaving the state. We

41:02have no choice. I hate the South. Please

41:05don't make us move.

41:07We need we need we want to stay where we

41:09were. We were planning on retiring

41:11there. We moved into it because it's an

41:13elderly community. Maybe separate the

41:16elder elderly communities from the

41:18people who have good landlords.

41:21That would help both sides.

41:24Um, that's all I have to say. Please

41:27help us. [laughter]

41:28Thank you.

41:29>> Thank you.

41:32>> Okay. Please raise your hand. Um, the

41:35woman in um the front.

41:44>> Good evening. My name is Cheryl Gendro.

41:47I live at 113 Washington Street, which

41:50is a mobile home park. And I can

41:52honestly say I'm proud to say I live in

41:54there because the living is fantastic. I

41:58understand where the other parks are

41:59coming from. But years ago, our park

42:03went through the selling of mobile home

42:05parks. And there's a legal way to go

42:07about it. And I feel for the other parks

42:11that are having the issues, but in my

42:13eyes, we have fantastic landlords.

42:17They do go up on rent, but they show us

42:21the reasons why they've gone up on rent,

42:24and it's because they've invested

42:27some of their money to improve the

42:29parks.

42:31Years ago, as a child, I lived in an

42:34apartment with my parents that had rent

42:36control.

42:38because he could only do so much with

42:41the money that he made off of them rent.

42:43He decided he's not going to improve the

42:46property.

42:47>> So the value of a three tenement

42:52apartment with six room decreased in

42:54value. What happens? The town loses tax

42:58income from the decrease in the value.

43:02So I don't think rent control is in the

43:04best. My other point of contention about

43:07rent control for all the mobile home

43:10parks is

43:12yes, we are a mobile home park, but it

43:14is owned by Justin and his father as a

43:18business.

43:19Now, to me, I relate it to you have all

43:24these plumbing companies that are a

43:26business and you're going to try and

43:28group us all into one and have rent

43:33control for them. It's like we shouldn't

43:37be penalized because

43:40they have issues with their

43:44pack owners. So it's like I said, you

43:48can't group us all in one because the

43:50conditions are different. So, I'm asking

43:54you and the residents of my park that I

43:56am here representing and ask you to

44:00really consider how it's going to affect

44:03us because our rent increase, yes, it

44:05goes up, but it's minimal and there's

44:08explanations as to why it's gone up and

44:12we get a detailed we invested this

44:14amount in this and this and this. So,

44:16you know, comes and they give us a 6

44:18months period basically as to when the

44:21rent is going to increase, if at all.

44:24So, please take it under advisement and

44:26consider everything and do whatever you

44:31can to help the other parks because yes,

44:33the rent increase that they're dealing

44:35with is unjustified because they're an

44:38investment company. They're out to make

44:42a buck, whereas our park owners take

44:44pride in their parks and they care about

44:47their residents. Thank you. Have a good

44:49night.

44:50>> Thank you. [applause]

44:56>> Um, please raise your hands if you

45:01[snorts]

45:06>> Daniel 39 Perry Place. Um, this came in

45:10front of us at town meeting last this

45:13this past spring and

45:16my feelings is the town really shouldn't

45:20be meddling

45:22in private businesses because then

45:24what's going to happen? We going to rent

45:26control the mall or we going to rent

45:28control Mary D and JB? Are we going to

45:31rent control um Catiri?

45:35Um, we don't need to to get into these

45:41people's businesses that, you know, the

45:43the company's businesses. I feel sorry

45:47for them. Um, I really do, but I I don't

45:51think the town needs to get into this.

45:53This is this is something that I think

45:56could come back to bite the town and you

45:58know where. Um, yes, it's it's a shame.

46:02And I don't know if the town can pass a

46:06bylaw where they can only go up so much.

46:11Um,

46:13like the other lady here said that, you

46:16know, the person who owns theirs

46:19shows them why. Is there any way that

46:22the town can force that on to the owners

46:27of the the parks that are having the

46:30issues? Um it's it's price gouging.

46:36It really is. If they're not going to do

46:38you I have an a I rent apartments and I

46:41I can't justify

46:44and going up on somebody like that. You

46:46know, if I make that much money, then I

46:48do an upgrade, whether it's windows or

46:52patio doors or flooring or carpeting or

46:56new appliances or something. It It

46:58sounds like the owner is just price

47:01gouging.

47:02And I don't think it's fair, but I don't

47:04think the town needs to get involved,

47:08you know, as far as saying, okay, this

47:11and this. Yeah, I know. I'm I'm I'm

47:12talking with both hands saying yay on

47:14one and nay on the other, but it's got

47:17to be a happy medium.

47:20Thank you.

47:21>> Thank you.

47:23>> All right. Who Who else would like to

47:26right there? Woman in the white shirt.

47:27Yeah.

47:42Hi. Uh, I'm 86 years old and I live at

47:46Whispering Pines. I also, uh, could be

47:50blind in a few years because I have

47:52severe macular degeneration.

47:55I live by myself. Now, the owner of this

47:58property is a business person. He's not

48:01even in the state of Massachusetts. He

48:03lives in Florida. They supposed to have

48:06a management company. The management

48:08company sends out that they won't even

48:10answer their telephone. We had a problem

48:13with I I live across the street from uh

48:16a surge and the alarm was going off. I

48:19must have called everybody and finally I

48:21called Florida and I said if if I get

48:23poo and pee and I get sick, I said I'll

48:27call Morgan and Morgan. You better

48:29believe it. I also don't understand, and

48:33please forgive me for this, but I don't

48:35understand.

48:37He sent a letter out at one time and

48:39said he was going up on the rent because

48:42of the tax rate. So, he charged us so

48:44much money, the taxes. What am I paying

48:48Auburn's taxes for? I have absolutely no

48:51idea. He also sent us a letter that he

48:54was going up $100 a month for five

48:58years. That means at the end of five

49:00years, uh, we would up to be $1,000 a

49:04month. And if we didn't pay it, he'd get

49:06rid of us. In other words, we'll have to

49:09evict you. I own the property, but he's

49:12going to evict me. I don't quite

49:14understand where this man is coming

49:15from, and we do need help. Now, there

49:18was supposed to be a rent control on the

49:20on the election coming up in November. I

49:22understand it was taken off by uh

49:24Campbell district attorney apparently

49:26because it would affect people who are

49:29uh you know involved in uh charity work.

49:33So it was taken off. There are many ways

49:36to do rent control. You don't have to

49:38force anybody but you can make a

49:40suggestion and get the people involved

49:43who are paying these high these high

49:45things. I'm very happy for you people

49:47who live so comfortably, but the people

49:50at Whispering Pines sit on the edge of

49:52their bed and the edge of their seat

49:54because they don't know what's coming

49:56next from these investors. And these

49:59investors are buying up property. Maybe

50:02they haven't bought up yours yet, but

50:04never know, you have owners. They're

50:07going to get old. Maybe they want to

50:09sell. But I that's getting off the

50:11subject. I really do think that there is

50:14a way. Um, I wish I became I wish I was

50:17a little bit more prepared, but um, you

50:20can you can set a fixed rate or suggest

50:24a fixed rate. I mean, people who live in

50:27the park where I live, we're old. I

50:29mean, really, 86 is not young. Uh, I

50:34don't know what else to say except we do

50:36need help. And Mr. Raymond, Mark Raymond

50:39has been a godsend for our property here

50:42because he's he's worked with the state,

50:45he's worked with the lawyers, he's

50:47worked with consumer.

50:49>> Excuse me, madam. The the three minutes

50:51is up.

50:52>> Thank you.

50:53>> Could I ask you your name, please?

50:54>> Yes. My name is Joanne Mararyian.

50:57>> Thank you.

51:02>> [applause]

51:03[cheering]

51:06>> All right. Uh, who's next?

51:11>> Uh, before we go to Who? How about the

51:15person in black in the blue? In the back

51:17in blue.

51:19Did you already speak?

51:21>> No.

51:21>> No. Okay. You can come up, please. Thank

51:23you.

51:26Yeah.

51:29>> Yes.

51:37My name is June Grammatic and I live in

51:40131 Washington Street and I'm just here

51:44to say how comfortable I am in my home.

51:48My landlord is Justin [clears throat]

51:52Stamus and he and his father own the

51:55park. They are very good to us. anyone

51:59of our complaints,

52:01um, needs, um, just stops by to see how

52:06we're all doing, Justin comes by the

52:09house twice a day to make sure that

52:12everybody is comfortable, to make sure

52:14that if we need anything, he's there. I

52:18feel as though that rank control

52:20wouldn't have the opportunity to do

52:22that. Wouldn't have the opportunity to

52:24control like Justin does. Um

52:30I have 19 units in our um park and when

52:37we all get together we all have the same

52:40thought. We are very comfortable with

52:43our landlord.

52:45Thank you.

52:46>> Thank you.

52:48Um I'm looking we have people um who are

52:51um participating in the meeting online.

52:53Does anyone who's online wish to speak

52:55at this hearing? Could unmute yourself

52:58if that's the case?

53:01>> No. Who she is?

53:02>> Oh, hello.

53:04>> Oh, good. Hi. Um could you identify

53:06yourself, please?

53:08>> Uh yes. My name is Mara Mahoney. I live

53:10in the Whispering Pines estates.

53:14I'm one of the younger residents. I

53:16moved in last year with the intention

53:18that by the time I retire that my

53:23building will be paid off and that I

53:26will just have to pay for my monthly

53:28rent. Um,

53:33I've been here a little over a year and

53:37at the end of last year we all got a

53:38certified letter saying our rents were

53:40going up. They did not go up that much,

53:42but I had only been here less than a

53:45year at that point, and my rent was

53:47already being increased by $20 a month.

53:50Um, I understand that others have

53:53different rent leases than I have. Um,

53:57one of my issues is the way the parakeet

54:01has

54:03fashioned the lease. Um,

54:06coming from my 20s and 30s where I

54:08rented apartments every single month,

54:12um, when you sign a lease with a

54:14landlord, your lease is for a specific

54:16amount of time for a specific dollar

54:18amount.

54:20The parakeet leases are phrased in such

54:22a way that you have a starting rent

54:26that we're paying to them for the use of

54:28the land that our houses are sitting on

54:31and other park facility run things like

54:36trash, water, sewer, um

54:40realy pay payments for the park, snow

54:44removal, etc.

54:46But you have the option at the end to

54:48sign either a one-year lease or a 5-year

54:50lease. And coming from a renters's

54:54position,

54:56if I'm signing a 5-year lease, and that

54:58means I'm locked in for 5 years to my

55:01rent,

55:03as has been other

55:06leases, etc. that I have signed in the

55:08past.

55:09However, on the very top of the next

55:11page, there's a clause stating that they

55:14have the ability to increase their rent

55:17on an annual basis. Um,

55:21seems to me that this isn't quite on the

55:23up and up.

55:25I I also feel I've done a little

55:27research on Parakeet and they own parks

55:30up and down the East Coast

55:33and it seems to me that they're just in

55:35it for the money. Um, if you do the math

55:37just based on what I'm being charged and

55:40you figure it out for, I believe we've

55:42got 55 units in this park for a year,

55:45they're taking in somewhere in the

55:46vicinity of $400,000 to run this park.

55:52um that seems a bit excessive and it

55:56seems to me that they're in it for the

55:58money and that in our case something

56:01needs to be done and if not a city at a

56:05city level

56:07then where

56:11is it supposed to be done?

56:19So, [sighs and gasps]

56:22thank you for listening and I'm hoping

56:26that you take this into consideration.

56:29>> Thank you.

56:31Okay. Does anyone else online wish to

56:33speak?

56:35Just unmute yourself.

56:38>> All right. Does anyone in the audience

56:39who hasn't spoken yet wish to speak?

56:45Yeah. Yes.

56:56Good evening, Eric Richards, 13 Ravine

56:58Drive. I think we need to bring some

57:00clarity to the issue. Even if in this

57:03discussion we stipulate all of the

57:06landlords and all the land owners are

57:08the most amazing people on earth, it

57:11does not take away the fact.

57:13Mr. Rafferty and the board, both of you,

57:16out of your kindness, are looking to

57:18help the most disadvantaged folks and

57:22the folks who do not own a co-op.

57:24And for the folks who have wonderful

57:26landlords today,

57:28but do not know what tomorrow brings or

57:31had a terrible landlord before the

57:34wonderful one arrived. This is a measure

57:37to protect you. The reality is if you

57:40own the land, if you're part of a co-op

57:42or you have a place where you're happy

57:44and your rent is adequately insanely

57:46controlled for increases,

57:48you make it this requires you to take an

57:50extra step to participate. And if all

57:54the residents in all the communities

57:55don't take that step, you don't

57:57participate for but for those residents

57:59who are victims of a predatory system

58:02and you take that step, this will allow

58:05you to have adjudication using a court

58:09formula

58:10set up by the state supreme court that

58:13allows sane increases of not more than

58:1525 or 30% year-over-year. Now VC firms

58:19like Parakeet or others, they are in

58:22fact in business to make money. If

58:24you're shocked, get some tissues.

58:28People are in business to make money.

58:30Real estate works by pooling equity and

58:33value and scaling it in either more

58:35mortgages and loans to increase your

58:38assets or pooling them for sale. That's

58:41reality. This is what happens when you

58:43rent. But this is to protect the

58:46absolute most poorest and vulnerable

58:48folks in our community who need it.

58:50Folks who do not have an extra5 to

58:52$20,000 to move the house that they own

58:55or the trailer they've bought off the

58:58land because they are already in tough

58:59times and their teeth have been kicked

59:01in and they cannot make more pennies and

59:04dollars come from Iraq.

59:07That's what this is about. Nobody has to

59:09participate if they don't want to.

59:12But if they are in a place where they

59:14are being harmed, they have an option to

59:17have a third party put a sane limit on

59:20the increase. And for that reason, I

59:22hope the board will vote to uh enact

59:26this particular measure. It does not

59:28deal with all rent. It only deals with

59:31the mobile home parks who choose to

59:33participate. Thank you.

59:35>> Thank you.

59:37>> All right. It's anyone else. Um, if

59:40there's someone who hasn't spoken yet,

59:41do you want Come on in the back.

59:45She's spoken.

59:56My name is Laurens. I own

1:00:00468 Washington Street.

1:00:04My park is different than most parks

1:00:07because we own the land. We own the

1:00:10mobile homes. And I want my tenants to

1:00:13know that we're not gouging. This has

1:00:16really nothing to do with us because

1:00:19it's not a candidate for rent control.

1:00:23My family also owned American Mobile

1:00:26Home Park. We had a total of 68 tenants.

1:00:31Never had any issues. Treated them like

1:00:34family. We were treated like family. We

1:00:37didn't make a ton of money. We didn't

1:00:40get rich for sure because we're still

1:00:42working. But I think in all fairness,

1:00:47you have to remember that every mobile

1:00:50home park has differences. Justin and

1:00:53John run their parks as their own, which

1:00:56they are. They put their blood and sweat

1:00:59and tears into it just like we do. We're

1:01:02not a major corporation. So I think you

1:01:05need to separate the small business from

1:01:09the major corporations.

1:01:11Thank you.

1:01:12>> Thank you.

1:01:17>> Does anyone else like to speak who

1:01:19hasn't spoken yet?

1:01:22Okay. How about someone who's already

1:01:23spoken wants to come back up? Oh, in the

1:01:26black. You haven't spoken yet, right?

1:01:36Hello,

1:01:38I'm Natalie McGurn. I work for Parakeet

1:01:40Communities. Um, I am the director of

1:01:42operations. So, we are a management

1:01:45company. I hear what everyone is saying.

1:01:48I just wanted to acknowledge that we are

1:01:49here in person. I have a regional

1:01:51manager and the manager of the community

1:01:53that's here. So, if you have questions,

1:01:57happy to answer them for you, but want

1:01:59to make sure that you guys understand

1:02:00that we are we are here. Like, we're

1:02:02here. I'm here to listen. So, that's all

1:02:05I have to say.

1:02:07Thank you. Thank you. [clears throat]

1:02:09Um, anyone else who hasn't spoken for

1:02:11the first time want to speak?

1:02:14Okay. How about the gentleman in the

1:02:16white shirt? Yeah.

1:02:31My name's Mark Raymond. Uh, this is my

1:02:34second time speaking. Uh, the bottom

1:02:36line here is if we can't get parakeet

1:02:39under control,

1:02:41stop them from breaking all the

1:02:43manufactured housing laws, stop them

1:02:45from breaking 93A violations. We're

1:02:49sunk. Okay? And that's all they do is

1:02:51break housing laws in 93 and they don't

1:02:54care. All right, we have to get these

1:02:56rents under control or else you're going

1:02:58to have mass evictions over at

1:03:01Whispering Pines as well as American.

1:03:04Now, their philosophy is they're a

1:03:07corporation and they can do that and

1:03:09they admit that they can raise their

1:03:11rents as high as they want because

1:03:12they're a corporation and they can do

1:03:14that. Uh, I just like to mention a short

1:03:17story here. There's a gentleman up at

1:03:19American and uh he's having trouble ma

1:03:22ma make making his rent payments. So uh

1:03:27parakeet suggested them suggested to him

1:03:29that he go to raft. Raft as you may know

1:03:32is a is a Massachusetts agency that

1:03:35helps people uh with their rent. It's

1:03:38not sustainable but it gets them might

1:03:40get him through a tough time. So the

1:03:43this gentleman went to Raft and he was

1:03:46approved. He submitted the paper to

1:03:49parake and parake rejected it. They s

1:03:52they they told him to go to Raph and

1:03:54then he goes to Raph, gets approved and

1:03:56then they reject it. That's who parake

1:03:59it is. They don't want to tell you who

1:04:01they are, but that's who parake it is.

1:04:03Now, is that legal? Certainly. But it's

1:04:06certainly not that's kind of a cruel

1:04:07thing to do to somebody.

1:04:10So, I get a little worked up when I talk

1:04:12about parakeet, but I've had enough

1:04:13dealings with them. So, thank you very

1:04:15much. Thank you. Would anyone else like

1:04:18to speak? Woman. Yep.

1:04:20>> Hasn't spoken yet.

1:04:21>> Who hasn't? Alan. Okay.

1:04:23>> Yeah, I'll get him next.

1:04:34>> Currently, this is the only forum where

1:04:37I can be heard by Parakeet. And I

1:04:40appreciate you allowing me to speak.

1:04:43Parakeet, they may have a management

1:04:45company, but I'm sorry to say, whoever

1:04:47you are and sitting here, but you never

1:04:50answer your phone, it rings and rings

1:04:52and rings.

1:04:54Management company, they have sent us

1:04:56out contracts that they don't sign.

1:05:01How's that? We need some kind of help.

1:05:04I'm not saying you can give us a legal

1:05:06help, but you can give us some kind of a

1:05:08reference, uh, a moral reference, any

1:05:12kind of a reference, because these

1:05:14people, they talk a lot here, but they

1:05:16never answer their phone for any

1:05:18complaints. And I know cuz I've called.

1:05:22>> Thank you. And what and your name,

1:05:23please? [applause]

1:05:27And my name is And my name is Joanne

1:05:31Mararyian and I'm very proud of telling

1:05:34you that.

1:05:35>> Thank you.

1:05:40>> All right. Who's next? Mr. Rafferty.

1:05:52>> Like you said, Mr. graphity Paul Street.

1:05:55Um,

1:05:57first of all, I'd like to thank Dan

1:05:59Carpenter for suggesting that this

1:06:02hearing be held because there was some

1:06:04concern at a town meeting that um a lot

1:06:08of town meeting members expressed

1:06:11uh a problem with with the subject

1:06:13matter and felt that there had to be

1:06:15more input from the residents and from

1:06:17all the parties involved so that they

1:06:20they would be more clear on the issue.

1:06:22And as a result, what they did is they

1:06:23didn't vote the rent control article

1:06:26down. They tabled it, which in

1:06:29parliamentary procedure is also the

1:06:32polite way of killing something. You

1:06:34table it so that people won't hold it

1:06:37against you. I didn't understand what

1:06:40was going on.

1:06:42Now, let me just explain something to

1:06:43you. First of all, some of the mobile

1:06:46home park owners that have spoken, they

1:06:49are indeed good people and they treat

1:06:51their their people well.

1:06:54Not so with parakeet.

1:06:57That's the problem.

1:06:59And

1:07:01the problem is financialization.

1:07:05Financialization is taking root in our

1:07:07country. people uh investment firms are

1:07:10buying up all sorts of businesses and

1:07:14they become a monopoly

1:07:16and when they do that they can

1:07:19monopolize the market and they can

1:07:20charge whatever they want and they do

1:07:24and they do quite well and so that is

1:07:28what parakeet is. They were investment

1:07:30investment uh people who came together

1:07:32pulled their money and they're buying up

1:07:34properties all over the place. Florida

1:07:37is having a hell of a time because what

1:07:40happens is the properties are being

1:07:41bought up. Now, if you're are a mobile

1:07:44home park and you look pretty good,

1:07:48there's a financial group might come in

1:07:50and buy from your owner and they're

1:07:53going to offer them a quite a nice sum

1:07:55of money and they're going to have to

1:07:57decide, well, am I going to continue to

1:08:00plow snow in New England or I'm going to

1:08:02take that money and retire in Florida?

1:08:05What do you think they're going to do?

1:08:07You really think they're going to give

1:08:08up millions of dollars?

1:08:11So, as it stands, if your landlord is is

1:08:15treating you fine and they're being

1:08:17reasonable, yeah, you're very lucky. But

1:08:21when the financial group comes into town

1:08:23and buys the property, everything is

1:08:26going to change for you. And rent

1:08:29control will will provide some security.

1:08:32Now, let me explain quickly what what

1:08:34rent control does. A rent control board

1:08:36will be formed and appointed by the

1:08:38board of selectmen. And what happens is

1:08:41they will review your expendit

1:08:43expenditures and then uh they have to

1:08:46prove what what their costs were and

1:08:48then they allow for a certain amount of

1:08:49profit reasonable amount of profit. Now

1:08:52depending on who gets appointed to that

1:08:54board they might give you a little bit

1:08:55of profit but they might give you a

1:08:57whole lot of profit.

1:08:58>> Um Mr. Raferty um we've reached three

1:09:00minutes.

1:09:01>> Let me just say one last thing Madam

1:09:03Chairman here's the big problem. We can

1:09:06pass rent control at town meeting and it

1:09:08goes off to the legislature.

1:09:10Unfortunately, the legislature of

1:09:12Massachusetts has been sitting on these

1:09:15rent control um uh articles.

1:09:18>> Thank you. All right. Um yes, Justin.

1:09:23Yep.

1:09:30>> Good evening. Uh Justin Saler of Mobile

1:09:34Communities here.

1:09:35>> Um I wasn't going to get up and speak

1:09:37tonight, but just wanted to get up and

1:09:40reiterate again uh the negative effects

1:09:42that rent control can have on the

1:09:44communities and us as owners as far as

1:09:46tying our hands yearly yearly expenses

1:09:51continue to go up. Sewer, water, real

1:09:53estate taxes, insurance, all that. in

1:09:55tying our hands to a certain amount.

1:09:57It's going to do as Cheryl had said

1:09:59previously is diminish the property

1:10:01values over time for our residents. Um

1:10:04it's going to hurt their home values,

1:10:06hurt the parks. We're going to have to

1:10:07start uh look at different services that

1:10:09we may have to cut and overall it's it's

1:10:13just not going to do anything good for

1:10:14the parks. So, thank you.

1:10:17>> Thank you.

1:10:19[applause]

1:10:21>> Okay, looks like we're coming to the

1:10:23end. Does anyone else want to um speak

1:10:25before we wrap it up?

1:10:29>> Yes, you are in Cheryl, right? Yeah.

1:10:32>> Yes.

1:10:38>> Once again, my name is Cheryl Gendro.

1:10:41And one thing I wanted to tell you, but

1:10:43I had to keep it under three minutes.

1:10:45Years ago, when I first moved into the

1:10:47mobile home park that I'm in, I had a

1:10:49slum of a landlord. He didn't care

1:10:51whatsoever.

1:10:54comes January, we had a water line

1:10:58issue. Couldn't reach him. Couldn't

1:11:00reach him. So, it's like, okay, I

1:11:03reached out to the town of Auburn to see

1:11:06what they could do to help me. And I

1:11:10would assume none of you were on the

1:11:13board back in 2003,

1:11:152004.

1:11:17The response was, "It's a private

1:11:20matter. it's private property. We we

1:11:23can't help you. So, I ended up calling

1:11:26the border health because having no

1:11:28water is a border health issue. That's

1:11:30when the town

1:11:32took action, but you know, it's private

1:11:36property. Does the town of Auburn want

1:11:38to get involved in private business? You

1:11:42know, you guys have enough on your

1:11:43hands. Thank you.

1:11:45>> Thank you.

1:11:49>> All right. Is is there anyone online who

1:11:51would like to speak

1:11:54regarding this?

1:11:57No.

1:11:59What? One more. Oh, yeah. The last

1:12:01speaker. Yeah.

1:12:16>> Um um just identify yourself too. Hi, my

1:12:19name my [cough and clears throat] my

1:12:20name is Kathleen Charbano and I live at

1:12:23Whispering Pines and I wish I had a

1:12:26landlord like Justin.

1:12:29I really do. But we right now are in the

1:12:33same spot she was in. So it hasn't

1:12:36improved. disapproved for her, which is

1:12:39great. But, uh, you know, at the way m

1:12:43Massachusetts is going, like California,

1:12:45like New York, it's going to keep going

1:12:47up and up and up and up. And eventually,

1:12:49I don't know if you're on a fixed income

1:12:50or not, but we we are a lot of us are at

1:12:54the point where we just can't pay that

1:12:56much more in rent anymore.

1:12:59We can't. That's why we're looking for

1:13:01rent control. As far as I'm concerned,

1:13:04you guys can. You don't have to do your

1:13:05rent control. You can do what you're

1:13:07doing right now. We don't care. You guys

1:13:10are having a great time. Enjoy.

1:13:12We We want to live because I don't do

1:13:15well in cardboard boxes.

1:13:18I'm sorry.

1:13:21>> Thank you.

1:13:29>> Yes, sir.

1:13:31We're going to ask any questions the

1:13:33participants?

1:13:34>> No, that's No, we're not. This is

1:13:36information gathering, but no questions

1:13:38tonight.

1:13:41>> Seeing no other person, I'll make a

1:13:42motion to close the public hearing.

1:13:44>> I'll second.

1:13:47>> So, we have two more people. Okay.

1:13:50>> Um, the woman in the black from Parakeet

1:13:52first.

1:13:54>> Just to make it clean, I withdraw my

1:13:56motion.

1:13:56>> Thank you.

1:14:00Hi, Natalie McGurn again. I'm so sorry

1:14:03to take your time. Um, I do want to let

1:14:05everybody know that we are going to be

1:14:06hanging around. So, if you do have

1:14:08questions, I'm happy to address them. We

1:14:10are here to work with you guys. We're

1:14:12not here to work against you guys.

1:14:15There's there's so many things that we

1:14:18can be doing together rather than doing

1:14:20it separately. So, we are going to be

1:14:22able it it didn't take this for me to

1:14:25come. We we have people in the

1:14:27properties. I'm happy to have the

1:14:29conversations. I'm not going to stand

1:14:31I'm not going to stand here to do it,

1:14:33but I wanted to let you guys know that

1:14:35we're here to have the conversations.

1:14:37>> All right. Thank you. Um

1:14:41>> Yep. All right. The last Mark, come on.

1:14:43Last one. Yep.

1:14:56Mark Raymond, uh, I have a question for

1:14:59the board. Is it possible to ask a

1:15:00question to the board? Did you receive

1:15:01my email on rent control? I sent it to

1:15:04Kathy.

1:15:05>> Yes, we did.

1:15:06>> Did Okay. Very good. I That's all I

1:15:08needed to hear. Okay.

1:15:09>> All right. Thank you. All right. This

1:15:11hearing the hearing is over.

1:15:14>> With that, I will make a motion to close

1:15:16the public hearing.

1:15:17>> I'll second. So, you have a motion and a

1:15:19second to close the public hearing. All

1:15:21in favor? I I opposed.

1:15:24>> Um, so

1:15:25>> Madam Chair, can I make a motion for a

1:15:27five minute?

1:15:28>> Before we do that, I just want you to

1:15:29know the board of selectment is taking

1:15:31all this information under advisement at

1:15:33this point. Okay.

1:15:35>> Thank you very much. And sir,

1:15:37>> make a motion for five minute recess.

1:15:40>> I'll second. Sorry.

1:15:41>> A motion to second five minute recess.

1:15:43Thank you. All in favor? I I oppose. No.

1:15:46Good.

1:15:50We don't need a motion quick to open the

1:15:52meeting.

1:15:54>> Y

1:15:59>> All right, we're calling the meeting

1:16:01back to order.

1:16:03Thank you. Um continuing on our agenda,

1:16:09uh we have um departmental items, a

1:16:12board vote and fire department surplus

1:16:14equipment, I think. Um, and then a

1:16:18regional dispatch update. I think Chief

1:16:21Coleman was going to do those.

1:16:25So, we're going to get Chief Coleman.

1:16:28>> Do I hear a motion to take item 8 C?

1:16:32>> Uh, so moved.

1:16:33>> Seconded.

1:16:34>> All right. We have um all in favor.

1:16:36>> I opposed. Okay. So, this is a motion.

1:16:39This is a board vote on a drain layer

1:16:41license for Paul Morris at 50 Salem Road

1:16:45at 50 Peter Salem Road in Lester.

1:16:49Any questions?

1:16:53As a reminder, this has already been

1:16:55vetted by the uh DPW.

1:17:01Hearing no comments, uh I make a motion

1:17:03to approve the drain layer license for

1:17:05Paul Morris located at 50 Peter Salem

1:17:08Road, Lester, Mass. to 01524. Provided

1:17:11that all applicable requirements of the

1:17:12state and town and any of its

1:17:14departments, boards and commissions have

1:17:15been fulfilled, said license is subject

1:17:17to all the conditions stated upon it.

1:17:19Failure to comply with any and all

1:17:20conditions shall invalidate the license

1:17:22and render it null and void.

1:17:24>> Second. So we have a motion and a

1:17:25second. All in favor?

1:17:27>> I opposed. No.

1:17:39Um

1:17:54>> okay. Um moving on in the uh in the

1:17:56warrant

1:17:58um we don't have any gift acceptances.

1:18:00We don't have any proclamations and

1:18:02recommendations. Um, our next item is

1:18:07AF, a discussion of the economic

1:18:10development committee's report on tax

1:18:12classification.

1:18:14We were provided with the um their

1:18:17report.

1:18:25>> Okay.

1:18:27Does anyone have any questions?

1:18:30or what what would we like to um

1:18:33incorporate from their recommendation

1:18:35into the tax classification hearing?

1:18:42>> Dan, I I defer to you. Do you have any

1:18:44um anything you want to bring up first?

1:18:47>> No, I really need additional time to

1:18:51really study it. I know they presented

1:18:54in June. Um, I did review it at one

1:18:58point, but I don't have anything to

1:18:59offer at the moment.

1:19:09>> Mr. Chair,

1:19:11>> go ahead.

1:19:13I didn't have anything specific, but I

1:19:14feel like we should have a working group

1:19:17of this board to review this as well as

1:19:20ask for additional information on the

1:19:23tax classification hearing because I I

1:19:25think a lot of this requires staff to

1:19:27help present some of this information.

1:19:30Certainly the more meaningful the

1:19:32information the less wasted time for

1:19:34staff but also will help provide us with

1:19:36the information we need to make the best

1:19:39not just single-year determination but

1:19:41long-term plan as well.

1:19:45>> I just to build off of what Mr. Chambers

1:19:48said that that was going to be my

1:19:51question to the administration is that

1:19:54um first I want to thank the economic

1:19:55development committee for putting this

1:19:57together. Um once again um this provides

1:20:00a lot of um metrics and data for us to

1:20:06weigh our decisions off of that I think

1:20:08some of us have asked for over the years

1:20:10but um you know we're not able to get

1:20:13provided that information. So some of us

1:20:15did our own research try to come up with

1:20:17uh a framework for how we would approach

1:20:19this. Um but this gives you know solid

1:20:22comparison, solid database, you know,

1:20:25allows us to make database decisions. Um

1:20:28and so my question to the administration

1:20:30is looking at this, have you worked uh

1:20:34with the assessors

1:20:36uh office or has the CFO looked at this

1:20:41um to or perhaps the uh you know

1:20:46assistant town manager uh for economic

1:20:48development looked at this to see what

1:20:51is reasonable or capable of being

1:20:54provided to us um for I believe it's

1:20:56November when we typically do the the

1:20:58tax classification is this information

1:21:00that if we said today we want all of

1:21:03this could you provide all of this in no

1:21:07>> through the chair that's a good question

1:21:08yes we've all looked at it um we were

1:21:11waiting for additional guidance from the

1:21:13board on what areas you wanted to focus

1:21:15on if you wanted us to get information

1:21:18in every one of these areas I'm not sure

1:21:21that's possible but they do set

1:21:24parameters for you to help you make the

1:21:26decision on um the tax classification

1:21:29and your decisions that you have to

1:21:30make. So um any information or guidance

1:21:35you want to give me then we can gather

1:21:37that information for you.

1:21:39>> For for myself and only speaking for

1:21:41myself I want all of this and probably

1:21:44want more but I don't know what that

1:21:46more is yet but I'll settle for all of

1:21:47this.

1:21:48>> Okay.

1:21:52>> Again I know this happens after town

1:21:54meeting. I I feel like we should have

1:21:57more of this information before town

1:21:59meeting so when they're voting on the

1:22:01budget they can see the potential

1:22:03impacts. I'm not sure if that's

1:22:05possible, but again, we're we're voting

1:22:07on a budget which will directly impact

1:22:09what the tax rate is. And I know at town

1:22:12meeting we say, "Oh, this will be what

1:22:15it goes up per thousand or whatever or

1:22:18per resident." And and that's great. I

1:22:21just would like to again have more of

1:22:23that information so when town meeting

1:22:25votes on it they know really the

1:22:28decision of this board is not it's based

1:22:31on what they approve but also how we're

1:22:34splitting that rate and what it how it

1:22:36impacts as we've heard from comments

1:22:38tonight that you know people use taxes

1:22:41as an excuse for going up on things and

1:22:43yes taxes do go up but I think we've

1:22:45been pretty good overall trying to

1:22:48minimize that impact

1:22:53Okay.

1:22:54Um, so I'm hearing that we'd like a

1:22:57working group and that's something that

1:23:00we can set up at our next meeting. We

1:23:02can put on our agenda to um create the

1:23:05working group.

1:23:06>> Yeah. Okay.

1:23:07>> I mean, I definitely have things that I

1:23:09wanted in so in the presentation that we

1:23:13have in November. So certainly things

1:23:16like the unemployment rate, state and

1:23:19federal funding

1:23:21is restricted unrestricted aid trending

1:23:23up or down. Chapter 90 the same school

1:23:27sped transportation same

1:23:30state revenue projections. Our

1:23:32projections on target are projections

1:23:35exceeding expectations and at what

1:23:37percentage?

1:23:38Our new growth. Are we seeing investment

1:23:41in commercial and industrial properties?

1:23:43Are we seeing new businesses opening or

1:23:46expanding and at what percentage rate?

1:23:49Um, similarly, personal property, are we

1:23:51seeing commercial industrial property

1:23:53increases?

1:23:55The budget growth, I I think we need to

1:23:57treat this as part of the budget process

1:24:01because it is. And I think Mr. Chambers

1:24:03and and Mr. Crane have

1:24:07made that kind of clear. And I do think

1:24:09that when we talk about town meeting, I

1:24:12do think that the more information we

1:24:14can provide

1:24:16in a chart, maybe a one-page chart that

1:24:21says when you're talking about voting

1:24:24for items 5 through 10, this is what's

1:24:27going to happen.

1:24:29If you're voting on all 20 and you're

1:24:32not thinking about what how you're going

1:24:34to pay that six months from now where

1:24:36some of your neighbors can't afford to

1:24:37pay it,

1:24:39>> this is what's going to happen. So I I

1:24:41think that's an excellent idea that uh

1:24:44Mr. Chambers recommended. Um I would

1:24:47like to see budget growth. I'd like us

1:24:49to see what the actual percentage is for

1:24:51the last five years, estimated growth

1:24:54over the next three to four years

1:24:57and employee cost over the life of a

1:24:59contract

1:25:00as well as bilar employee contracts over

1:25:03the lifetime of their contracts. Um, at

1:25:06some point I would like to see us post

1:25:08all bargaining agreements and all

1:25:11contracts on our website in a public and

1:25:16notorious place so people understand

1:25:18what our bylaw employees are getting

1:25:20paid and what our collective bargaining

1:25:22obligations are because that drives our

1:25:25budget. I think we've all watched

1:25:27finance and obviously, Madam Chair,

1:25:29you've been on finance for a number of

1:25:30years before you joined our board and

1:25:33you know that 80% of the budget

1:25:36is directly related to payroll. Well,

1:25:39that's not sustainable over the long

1:25:42term depending on personal property

1:25:45taxes. We know this. Um, so we need to

1:25:48start thinking about that and doing

1:25:50things in a multi-year format as opposed

1:25:53to treating this like a one-year deal

1:25:56and next year, well, we'll worry about

1:25:57next year. No, we got to worry about the

1:25:59next 3 to four years because

1:26:02the state is now the most expensive in

1:26:05the country and we're one of the

1:26:06smallest states in the country by

1:26:09population and land size. We should all

1:26:11be very concerned about that. Um, and

1:26:13Auburn has certainly gone up in my time

1:26:16on the board. We've more than doubled

1:26:18the average tax bill and I don't think

1:26:21people's salaries have gone up double um

1:26:24over the course of 12 years. So, those

1:26:27are just ideas that I had thought up. I

1:26:30was not thinking when you mentioned it

1:26:32originally to reflect on that, but I

1:26:35have been thinking about what I'd like

1:26:37to see going forward. Thank you.

1:26:40>> Um, thank you, Dan. Could you do me a

1:26:42favor and could you send those ideas to

1:26:44me?

1:26:44>> Yes,

1:26:44>> I would appreciate that. All right.

1:26:46Thank you. All right. Any other

1:26:48discussion on this right now?

1:26:53>> Okay. So, um I see Chief Coleman here.

1:26:56So, we're going to go back to item uh

1:26:586A. This is going to be a board vote on

1:27:00fire department surplus equipment

1:27:03disposal request.

1:27:07>> Thank you, Madam Chair.

1:27:10Uh as the letter indicates, we're

1:27:12looking to declare uh the old service

1:27:14truck uh forestry unit as surplus

1:27:17property. Um the vehicle has some uh

1:27:21frame rot. It was our primary plow truck

1:27:23and forestry unit uh for many years. So

1:27:26the frame is uh beyond repair. So we're

1:27:28looking to surplus it. Most likely it

1:27:31will be sold to auction.

1:27:36Okay.

1:27:38Any questions on this?

1:27:39>> Uh Madam Chair, if I can just can I just

1:27:42confirm that um this vehicle has been

1:27:45replaced. We have you have an existing

1:27:46for sheet truck or plow truck uh in in

1:27:50use.

1:27:50>> Yes. So, uh one of our existing pickup

1:27:54trucks is going to be playing double

1:27:55duty. Um there is a plan in the CIP on

1:28:00how we're going to be uh handling this

1:28:02with a different kind of setup. uh that

1:28:04will be discussed this budget. But yes,

1:28:05we do have a pickup truck for plow and

1:28:07forestry.

1:28:09>> So that'd be this year's CIP or next

1:28:12fiscal year CIP.

1:28:14>> It's not actually to replace a vehicle.

1:28:16It's a new strategy on how we're looking

1:28:18to deploy some of the resources to

1:28:20reduce the number of fleet vehicles.

1:28:22>> Thank you.

1:28:23>> Okay.

1:28:25Do I hear a motion?

1:28:27>> Make a motion to approve the fire

1:28:28department equipment disposal request as

1:28:30presented.

1:28:31>> I'll second. Um, we have a motion and a

1:28:33second. All in favor? I

1:28:35>> opposed. No.

1:28:37>> All right. And I believe Chief, you're

1:28:39going to give us a uh update on the

1:28:42regional dispatch center.

1:28:47>> Uh, yes. Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh,

1:28:50good evening, members of the board. Um,

1:28:51so officially on July 1st, uh, Central

1:28:54Mass Regional uh, communicate emergency

1:28:56communication center uh, was formed as a

1:28:59district. They officially separated uh

1:29:02from the town of Rutland on June 30th.

1:29:04Uh so the new district has taken on all

1:29:07of their employees and existing debt. Uh

1:29:10the operations board uh they are

1:29:13meeting. They don't have really a whole

1:29:14lot to meet on. The administrative board

1:29:16is is meeting more frequently. Uh

1:29:19there's actually an administrative board

1:29:20this Wednesday. We currently have an RFP

1:29:24out um in search of a uh building. So,

1:29:27we're seeking proposals for the

1:29:29building. Uh, when the state 911 grant

1:29:32was proposed, there was a building in

1:29:34mind, but legally we have to go out for

1:29:37an RFP. So, we used a building um a

1:29:40property for sort of grant purposes uh

1:29:43just so we had a rough budget number.

1:29:45Um, but officially the building has to

1:29:46go out uh for an RFP. So, that RFP is

1:29:49due back at the end of September. Uh so

1:29:51we'll know what we have for possible

1:29:54building locations. Uh at this um admin

1:29:58board on Wednesday, we will be uh voting

1:30:01to put out the RFP to hire an OPM. Uh

1:30:05we're hoping to have the OPM be involved

1:30:07in the building selection and then once

1:30:09the building is selected, we'll do an

1:30:11RFP uh to hire architectural uh

1:30:14services. So um that's where we are. the

1:30:16the district has made a couple um of

1:30:19administration um hires. They've hired

1:30:22uh an executive assistant uh to the

1:30:24director uh and the deputy director. Um

1:30:27again, because they took over officially

1:30:29uh on July 1st. Um so there's there's

1:30:32actually admin staff um that's assisting

1:30:35in a lot of these pro processes. So

1:30:38things are still moving forward. Um, and

1:30:42it's anticipated that we're on the same

1:30:44timeline that uh they'll probably be

1:30:46taking our emergency calls in about two

1:30:48years. So, it's it's that process is

1:30:50still really hasn't moved.

1:30:53>> Okay. Any questions?

1:30:55>> I have a couple. Uh, thank you for the

1:30:56update, Chief. So, they'll be taking our

1:30:58calls two years from what date is that?

1:31:02Two years.

1:31:03>> So, it'd be I think July of 28. I think

1:31:06it would be the summer of 28.

1:31:09Now again, it depends that also depends

1:31:11on what comes in for the RFPs for the

1:31:14building because if it's a building that

1:31:16needs um greater renovation versus

1:31:19something that might be um a little more

1:31:21turnkey that can speed up. So I think

1:31:25you know worst case I think we're

1:31:26looking at the 28 but I think a lot is

1:31:28going to be determined by what building

1:31:29is selected.

1:31:31>> Thank you. Um, so I know that I've joked

1:31:35or half joked sometimes during the

1:31:36budget uh discussion and others that uh

1:31:39the savings that were projected has

1:31:41probably been spent over by each

1:31:43department about 10 times. Um

1:31:46I know that you know when this was

1:31:48presented to us and and got our approval

1:31:51there was a projected savings. Um

1:31:53however there was an unknown at that

1:31:56time um with respect to what were the

1:31:59costs and what was the manpower going to

1:32:01be to replace um the 911 communication

1:32:05staff that currently also staff the

1:32:08front desk um of the police station. And

1:32:12I know there's been discussion sort of

1:32:14off and on um on on what that would look

1:32:17like. When do we think that um that the

1:32:22administration will be able to present

1:32:24to this board exactly what that

1:32:27replacement looks like? Um whether it is

1:32:30sworn staff, administrative staff, etc.

1:32:33Um how many, you know, additional staff

1:32:36members at that point? Um will it take

1:32:39the implications budget-wise from that

1:32:41cost, the the savings that we're

1:32:43realizing? Um we know a portion of that

1:32:46savings is going toward the fire

1:32:47department. once your grant for fully

1:32:49staffing comes off. Um, so I think it's

1:32:53important that we know that data sooner

1:32:56rather than later because just my own

1:32:59preference is I don't want to wait until

1:33:02the July 2028 budget starts to suddenly

1:33:07have to, you know, try to make all of

1:33:10that up and throw it all in that budget

1:33:11year. if there is a way where we could

1:33:13stagger that in um knowing um what's the

1:33:16implications are um it's I think it's

1:33:19going to be a lot easier um and a lot

1:33:21more palatable. So when when do we think

1:33:24that the administration will be able to

1:33:26come back to this board with a solid

1:33:29plan that says with communications

1:33:31shifting, here's what we need, here's

1:33:35the cost, here's where that projected

1:33:38savings is going. Um, and here's

1:33:41hopefully the remaining projected

1:33:43savings that's available uh for other

1:33:45uses.

1:33:45>> Yeah, that's a good question. I'm going

1:33:47to defer to the manager to answer the

1:33:49bulk of that, but I'll just say a year

1:33:51ago the projected savings at the time

1:33:53was um $1.2 million on last year's

1:33:57numbers. And why I mentioned that is we

1:33:59had not um finalized negotiations with

1:34:04um specifically in this case the

1:34:06dispatch union. Um so now that they have

1:34:08an executed collective bargain

1:34:10agreement, we actually know what those

1:34:11expenses are over the next three years.

1:34:13we're going to have a better we're going

1:34:15to have a better handle on being able to

1:34:16project um the savings from this fiscal

1:34:20year, next fiscal year, fiscal 28. So

1:34:23that was also part of an unknown was we

1:34:25didn't have a signed collective

1:34:26bargaining agreement. Um but we will

1:34:28have we'll have a better handle on that.

1:34:29As far as the other timeline, I would

1:34:30defer to the manager

1:34:32>> through the chair. Um, if you can recall

1:34:35back when we were working on this year's

1:34:37fiscal budget, there were conversations

1:34:39about this and about needs within our

1:34:42um, Auburn Police Department. I've been

1:34:45working very closely with the chief on

1:34:47developing a detailed plan. He is

1:34:49working with his key staff um to talk

1:34:52about it operationally, what the

1:34:54dispatchers do now, what um it looks

1:34:57like when they leave, what needs to who

1:35:00needs to be replaced by whom, how many

1:35:02people, and the cost of that. So, I can

1:35:04tell you it's going to be sooner rather

1:35:06than later. We've been working on it for

1:35:08quite a while. We want to um consider

1:35:11also that in fiscal year 28 um our union

1:35:16contracts will be up as well. So there

1:35:18is a lot to consider. Um if we do bring

1:35:22on police officers, if we do bring on

1:35:24clerical union staff um to cover the

1:35:27desk, which is is definitely in our

1:35:29conversation right now, all of that will

1:35:32need to be considered. But I would

1:35:33definitely say sooner rather than later

1:35:35this fiscal year, if not this calendar

1:35:37year.

1:35:39>> Okay. Thank you. I just want to make

1:35:40sure that as we approach the next budget

1:35:42season and the budget season after that

1:35:44um not only this board but more

1:35:46importantly finance committee has a

1:35:48handle on what all of those numbers look

1:35:50like, what all that staffing looks like

1:35:52um and then town meeting as well. So

1:35:54it's good to hear that it's coming

1:35:56hopefully this calendar year.

1:35:58>> Yes. And if I if I may, um the goal is

1:36:00to bring it to the board of selectmen

1:36:02and finance so that they also have one

1:36:06or two meetings where where there's a

1:36:08discussion and conversation. So it will

1:36:11be definitely be both.

1:36:14>> I can make a request that it go to

1:36:15finance before it goes to us.

1:36:18[snorts]

1:36:20>> Okay. Any other questions? Any other

1:36:22questions for uh chief?

1:36:26>> All right. I think you're all set. Thank

1:36:27you, sir.

1:36:28>> Thank you.

1:36:29>> All right. So, now going back to our

1:36:30agenda, checking off a few more items.

1:36:33So, what we still have to do is um uh

1:36:36review the warrant.

1:36:38And we're going to review the warrant at

1:36:40this this meeting and the next one.

1:36:42Correct.

1:36:43>> Well, um through the chair, I wanted to

1:36:46give the board ample opportunity to be

1:36:48able to discuss all of the articles.

1:36:51Yep. Um, you don't need to make a mo uh

1:36:54an opinion tonight, but it will have to

1:36:56be made at the the next meeting. So,

1:36:59it's really up to you how and what you

1:37:01decide to do in regards to the position

1:37:02of the board.

1:37:04>> Um, but I do have key staff here that

1:37:06are able to answer questions that you

1:37:08may have.

1:37:08>> Okay. And I um I believe our chief

1:37:11financial officer is here to give us an

1:37:13update.

1:37:16So this is um we're in item 8F board

1:37:19review discussion and possible vote on

1:37:22position of town meeting warrant

1:37:23articles.

1:37:32>> Good evening.

1:37:33>> Good evening.

1:37:35So, I was just downstairs doing some of

1:37:37my number crunching, looking at the free

1:37:40cash and all of that, and um things are

1:37:42very, very lean from the results from

1:37:45fiscal 26. From what I'm seeing right

1:37:47now, it looks like the addition to the

1:37:50free cash is about in the area of

1:37:53$300,000.

1:37:55And I know that there's a lot of

1:37:57articles in here too that say free cash

1:38:00stabilization

1:38:02um borrowing. So I just kind of wanted

1:38:04to update the board on what to expect on

1:38:06the results of that and that there's

1:38:09also some articles in here that do not

1:38:12have a sum of money right now which is

1:38:14like OPED and the stabilization. So I

1:38:17think as we go through we just have to

1:38:19be very careful on determining our

1:38:21priorities or the board. This is what

1:38:23what I'm suggesting is just to you know

1:38:25just be very careful when determining

1:38:28your priorities. Um because what will

1:38:31happen is you know obviously if you go

1:38:34over over that amount then we're going

1:38:36to be going back into the some of the

1:38:39free cash that we have from last year.

1:38:40The balance left over from last year is

1:38:42about 8.2 million.

1:38:45And generally what's you what's in our

1:38:48policies or what is in our policies is

1:38:50what we use up to half of the free cash

1:38:55or the addition to the free cash. But if

1:38:57we're just talking it could be 300 250

1:38:59300,000 then we would you know we we

1:39:03would be maybe 150,000. So it's a it's a

1:39:06significant decrease from what it has

1:39:09been in prior years. and we seeing that

1:39:11as we're budgeting closer closer to

1:39:13actual and um and our expenditures being

1:39:17close. The other thing we had to keep in

1:39:19mind too is the snow and ice. The

1:39:21deficit is about 450,000.

1:39:24The state is allowing the the cities and

1:39:26towns to amortize that over I believe

1:39:29it's a 3-year period. So, we may we have

1:39:32to keep that in mind, too, because we

1:39:35may want to consider where we're going

1:39:37to get that third that we're going to

1:39:40have to amortize or pay down in fiscal

1:39:4227. So, I wish I had some better news,

1:39:45but um that's kind of where we're at at

1:39:48this point.

1:39:49>> Okay. Um what is the stabilization

1:39:51account balance?

1:39:53>> Stabilization account balance is over $4

1:39:55million.

1:40:00And um what was the new growth number?

1:40:03>> The new growth number was 700 I believe

1:40:07it was 73734,727.

1:40:12So we had estimated it conservatively at

1:40:15700,000. So we did have a little bit

1:40:18higher results on that for fiscal 26.

1:40:21I'm sorry for 27.

1:40:24And when um when the final state budget

1:40:27was set, how much higher was it than how

1:40:30much uh larger was it than what our

1:40:33estimates were that we used in the um

1:40:36preparing the budget?

1:40:37>> Mhm. The state aid um came in at 2

1:40:41almost 230,000 higher than what we

1:40:44estimated and that was a combination.

1:40:46The biggest in part of the increase was

1:40:49in the chapter in chapter 70. There was

1:40:52some in the unrestricted aid and some

1:40:55small gains in some of the um Cherry

1:40:57Street charges.

1:41:03>> Okay, questions.

1:41:06>> So, I do have a question to the town

1:41:10manager. Um you said we needed to have

1:41:14our recommendations by the next meeting.

1:41:16Is that so that we can mail out our

1:41:19recommendations?

1:41:22>> How do we look with the timeline?

1:41:24>> So, it goes to the board of selectman

1:41:26first and then it goes to Fincom. So,

1:41:30it's all um at the next meeting is when

1:41:32FINCOM meets as well. So, they'll have

1:41:35their first meeting that week and if

1:41:36they need a second meeting, it'll be the

1:41:38last week of the month.

1:41:39>> My preference if possible is to flip

1:41:43that next year. Finom should be first so

1:41:47that we have their advice. They know the

1:41:50budget better than we do. And when I

1:41:54went through this, I mean, it looked

1:41:56like a balance sheet to me. If any year

1:42:01we should be relying on finance, it's

1:42:03this year because I don't think I've

1:42:06seen this many requests to take from

1:42:09stabilization or free cash in my

1:42:12lifetime of service as a community

1:42:16member. Um, and that's stretching 30 and

1:42:18a half years. So I think we need as a

1:42:22rule we should go to finance first so

1:42:24that they can review and give us their

1:42:27advice and then we can use that as a

1:42:30basis for our recommendation.

1:42:32>> If I if I may through the chair um not

1:42:35sure um the stabilization and free cash

1:42:38requests we we can discuss because

1:42:41they're individual warrant articles.

1:42:43What you're going to see in article two

1:42:45is a little bit more of a reconciliation

1:42:47of the fiscal year 27 budget. When we

1:42:51came to you, the numbers that we used

1:42:53were through February of the fiscal

1:42:56year. So, it was a six-month number. We

1:42:59are ve we're trying very much to budget

1:43:03appropriately. And because of the

1:43:05additional revenue that we have from the

1:43:08state and from new growth, we're able to

1:43:11actually put um some additional we did

1:43:14an additional analysis especially on our

1:43:16building expenses, gas, electricity, and

1:43:19things that have been fluctuating and

1:43:22putting money in um requesting that

1:43:25money be put from these sources into

1:43:27those line items. And it is an effort to

1:43:30ensure that we're budgeted properly. We

1:43:32do have money in contingency. We're

1:43:35trying not to use it. We're hoping

1:43:36that's what eventually at the end of the

1:43:38year goes rolled into free cash, but in

1:43:41the past it would all these increases

1:43:43and all these changes would all get

1:43:46pulled from contingency. It was never

1:43:48accurately budgeted. So there are a lot

1:43:51of requests here, but they're they're

1:43:53actually to amend the budget based on a

1:43:56new analysis with additional numbers and

1:43:59and um especially when it comes to our

1:44:02building expenses and some of the things

1:44:05that we've had to do in our building the

1:44:06past 6 months. So please know that's why

1:44:09there's a difference um when it comes to

1:44:11article 2. And we're hoping that with

1:44:14these proper line items being budgeted

1:44:17properly that we won't have to go into

1:44:20finance and pull from contingency the

1:44:22way we have in the past. So that that's

1:44:24our goal at this point.

1:44:26>> Yeah. So my comments aren't a criticism.

1:44:29They're simply factual based on my

1:44:32experience. And we have a finance

1:44:34committee that knows this budget and I

1:44:38want to hear from them before I opine on

1:44:41a budget that they know 50 times better

1:44:44than I do. So that's the reason for my

1:44:46comments. It's great that we're trying

1:44:49to budget closer. I think that's

1:44:51wonderful that we're not having uh I

1:44:53don't see any slowdown in the

1:44:55requirements for transfers at the

1:44:57finance committee as of yet. So, I'm

1:44:59hoping to see that happen over the next

1:45:02year so that we, as you say, your

1:45:05strategy will bear fruit. Not

1:45:07criticizing. I'm simply expressing as a

1:45:10member

1:45:12what I would like to see.

1:45:15>> So, Madam Chair, if I may.

1:45:16>> Yeah.

1:45:17>> Um,

1:45:18so can I just get clarification um on

1:45:21what the uh town manager just said? So

1:45:25all of the increases and movements that

1:45:27we're seeing in article 2 are going to

1:45:30come from either an increase in state

1:45:34aid or a a you know increase of revenue

1:45:39that we had underproed etc. None of this

1:45:43is going to hit a tax levy or result in

1:45:45an increase in a tax levy.

1:45:47>> Correct.

1:45:49Um, that was just my clarification

1:45:52question because as you were going over

1:45:54that, um, I'm just going to make a

1:45:57general statement um, on this. I'm not

1:46:00ready personally, just speaking for

1:46:03myself, to vote on any of these tonight.

1:46:06Um, like Mr. Carpenter,

1:46:09I want to hear from who I consider our

1:46:11town experts. Um, a lot of this is

1:46:14budget implicated. So for that, I would

1:46:17prefer uh to make my decision based off

1:46:19of the advice, based off the discussion,

1:46:22and based off of the votes that Fincom

1:46:25presents on those issues. There are

1:46:27zoning issues in here that I'd like to

1:46:30have uh the planning board weigh in

1:46:34before we make a recommendation as well.

1:46:36um and and to have all of that in place

1:46:38before it comes to the select board so

1:46:41that we can then make informed, at least

1:46:43in my opinion, more informed decisions

1:46:46and votes on this. Um knowing that our

1:46:49area experts have all looked at this,

1:46:52dug into their area, made

1:46:53recommendations,

1:46:55just my own personal reference.

1:46:57>> Thank you. um through the chair. We went

1:47:01through this last year, actually this

1:47:04year and last year. The zoning articles

1:47:06did go through planning. We do have

1:47:09opinions for the board so that you're

1:47:11able to make opinions based on that

1:47:13information. Um so that part is um is

1:47:18already done. So those we can discuss

1:47:21tonight in addition to everything else.

1:47:25Do you have those um opinions in writing

1:47:28that can be sent to us or

1:47:30>> No,

1:47:32>> we can get them in writing.

1:47:33>> That would be great. Thank you.

1:47:35>> It's not generally a thing.

1:47:36>> And um

1:47:37>> can I sorry, Madam Chair, when you send

1:47:40those opinions in writing, can you just

1:47:42include the date of the meeting so that

1:47:44those of us who have no life and want to

1:47:47go back and rewatch those meetings are

1:47:49able to do so? Thank you.

1:47:51>> Of course.

1:47:53Um,

1:47:57>> no. I I think this comes back down to

1:47:59the discussion knowing that we are

1:48:01budgeted a lot tighter and there's some

1:48:04additional asks in here. I think people

1:48:06are going to be upset to hear no, but I

1:48:08think we need to have the conversation

1:48:10and I would love for all the other

1:48:12boards to weigh in as well because again

1:48:14this is a community and some things are

1:48:16going to have to be looked at a little

1:48:18bit deeper. It shouldn't just be

1:48:21a yes vote on everything. I think when

1:48:24we're talking that close to budget, we

1:48:26need to have tougher conversations. And

1:48:28if some things are, you know, not

1:48:31approved or don't go forward,

1:48:33I think that means we're working well.

1:48:35We're right, we're budgeting properly,

1:48:38some things are a little bit tighter.

1:48:40Um, I think that means all the boards

1:48:42are doing their job. So, I'd love to see

1:48:44what they say and weigh in on.

1:48:48Okay. Um, a question for our chief

1:48:51financial officer. Can you please

1:48:53provide us with the balances for the

1:48:55accounts, the actual balances for free

1:48:58cash, including the increase from last

1:49:00year, um, the stabilization,

1:49:04um, the state aid projected in actual

1:49:08um, and the, um, deficit, snow ice

1:49:12deficit.

1:49:15>> Yes. Now, I I know that's something that

1:49:17the state allows allows the towns to

1:49:20amvertise the the um amount to split it

1:49:24up and put it on the recap sheet, but

1:49:26we've never done that. We've always been

1:49:28able to um you know, close out the year

1:49:31and find some money in extra accounts.

1:49:34Um do we think that there wasn't enough

1:49:37money um uh budgeted for the snow and

1:49:42ice? Is that something we should be

1:49:43revisiting?

1:49:45because we don't want to do this every

1:49:47year.

1:49:48>> Last year was extreme on the snow. Um

1:49:51all weather forecasts. I don't think

1:49:54anyone budgeted snow correctly.

1:49:56>> All right.

1:49:56>> Um but again, I I mean I I don't plow a

1:50:01whole town and I was half a million

1:50:02dollars over budget. So

1:50:04>> um being that there's 400 and

1:50:07something,000 for the town on overage, I

1:50:10I don't think anyone predicted that

1:50:11amount of snow.

1:50:14Yes. And and through the chair, if I

1:50:16could, with the state allowing us to

1:50:18amvertise it over multiple years, that

1:50:20does mean that most cities and towns are

1:50:22in a deficit. Um, so so they're giving

1:50:25us a chance to make it up over multiple

1:50:28years.

1:50:29>> Um, do you have a just a quick ask, do

1:50:32you have the total amount of the

1:50:34increases for article 2?

1:50:37Yes, the total amount of the increases

1:50:40are 941,217.

1:50:44I just wanted to point out on that of

1:50:46that amount 534,680

1:50:50is for bond anticipation note interest

1:50:53related to the fire station project and

1:50:57that will be dead excluded.

1:50:59>> Okay. Oh, good. Well, yeah. All right.

1:51:03and

1:51:04and am I correct in the um we're able to

1:51:08spend that um none of this money will

1:51:11come from the tax levy because it's

1:51:13coming from the extra state aid and

1:51:15maybe adjustments on our projections for

1:51:17local receipts.

1:51:20That's go well that's correct. So the

1:51:22state aid increase was the about

1:51:24230,000.

1:51:26Y

1:51:26>> the 50,000 for the increase in the

1:51:29contract for the solid waste is coming

1:51:31from the solid waste revenues.

1:51:33>> Okay.

1:51:34>> The um the request from the fire

1:51:37department is coming from the ambulance

1:51:40receipts.

1:51:41>> Yep.

1:51:42>> And then the fire station debt

1:51:43exclusion, the amount of the ban

1:51:46interest is coming from that from that

1:51:47debt exclusion. and then a small amount

1:51:50from the um increase in the new growth.

1:51:53So nothing is going to hit the actual t

1:51:55the tax levy

1:51:57>> in this article.

1:51:58>> And for the town meeting, will you

1:51:59provide a presentation with incre you

1:52:02know adjustments to the numbers etc.

1:52:05>> Sure.

1:52:05>> Okay. like last year.

1:52:07>> Yeah, absolutely.

1:52:08>> Um

1:52:09>> Madam Chair,

1:52:11>> if I can just ask that our CFO um for

1:52:13our next meeting or whenever we we are

1:52:15going to be taking up and voting this,

1:52:18can you prepare just a simple

1:52:20spreadsheet of stabilization and free

1:52:22cash, the beginning balances, and then

1:52:25what it would look like if we approve

1:52:28every single one of these requests. So

1:52:29we can see that um implications spelled

1:52:33out cuz here it's trying to follow

1:52:36along. It's 70 here, 75 there. Um if we

1:52:39can see it all in one spreadsheet.

1:52:41Here's your starting balances and here's

1:52:44everything coming out.

1:52:46>> Sure. Sure.

1:52:48And what I was through the chair if I

1:52:50could. So, I think what if I'm

1:52:52understanding it right, I would probably

1:52:53put the the balances of both the free

1:52:55cash stabilization, maybe add those

1:52:56together and then deduct the the um the

1:52:59articles on there because we're not sure

1:53:01whether they're going to come from free

1:53:02cash or stabilization or

1:53:04>> that's fine.

1:53:04>> Okay.

1:53:05>> I just want to see the implications.

1:53:06>> Yep.

1:53:08>> We have that for finance.

1:53:12>> Sure.

1:53:16>> Okay. Um, may I make a suggestion that

1:53:18we do ask some department heads some

1:53:20questions about their articles, even if

1:53:22we're not going to make a stand or take

1:53:24a position on it today? Does anyone have

1:53:27any question? Any

1:53:28>> I have a question on article 16.

1:53:30>> All right. So, let's what article?

1:53:32>> Article 16.

1:53:35>> All right. So, um, let's go to that and

1:53:37then we'll go back to the beginning

1:53:38because I think it's easier if we start

1:53:40from the beginning. Article 16

1:53:43is about the easement.

1:53:46All right. So, um, can our DPW director

1:53:49come on up and tell us about article 16

1:53:51regarding the easement?

1:53:54Thank you, Karen.

1:53:56Thank you.

1:53:59>> Good evening. Good evening. So, article

1:54:0216 u provides an easement to the

1:54:04property at uh 15 hard scrabble road. Uh

1:54:08currently, um Cassella is on that

1:54:12property and part of their drainage

1:54:14system or their overflow of the drainage

1:54:17system is going into our drainage

1:54:19system. Um that's not something that we

1:54:22typically allow unless there's no other

1:54:25choice. Uh so this easement would allow

1:54:29them to separate their storm water from

1:54:32our storm water and discharge into the

1:54:35pond directly. Um, as part of that

1:54:38easement, there would be some agreements

1:54:41between the property owner and the town.

1:54:43Um, and it's basically to protect the

1:54:46town so that if um if the pipe collapses

1:54:51or if there's this um if there's

1:54:53settlement in the in the roadway, um

1:54:57they have the right to go into the road

1:55:00and we have the right to tell them, you

1:55:03need to fix this. It's not on the the

1:55:05town's dime. It's it's their

1:55:07responsibility to fix the road because

1:55:09of uh their infrastructure in our

1:55:11roadway.

1:55:12>> Okay. Any questions?

1:55:16>> Is there any fee or anything that we're

1:55:19any revenue we're realizing from doing

1:55:23this? No, it's it's just a a separation

1:55:26um trying to improve the the situation

1:55:28so that we're not taking in um storm

1:55:32water and um or taking back some of the

1:55:35capacity in our own system

1:55:38>> through the chair. Is there any

1:55:39environmental risks having their storm

1:55:41water drain directly into the pond? Uh

1:55:44so this would go through concom so um

1:55:48there have already been through some of

1:55:49the peritting process but that would be

1:55:51vetted through um conservation

1:55:53commission and they also have um as part

1:55:56of that they have treatment of that snow

1:55:58water.

1:55:59>> Thank you.

1:56:03Um, while we have you here, can you tell

1:56:05us about article 22, which is the Water

1:56:08Street Culvert Replacement Project?

1:56:11Is it 22?

1:56:13>> Nope. It is

1:56:16>> 21. 21. Thank you.

1:56:20>> So, uh, we had, um, a few weeks ago an

1:56:24update on the Water Street Culver. Uh we

1:56:27did receive a grant uh for further

1:56:31permitting and uh get us to the point to

1:56:35get plans ready for bidding and this

1:56:38would cover the construction of the

1:56:40replacement of the covert.

1:56:42So we're asking for $1.4 million. Um we

1:56:47are still going to be um applying for

1:56:50the um the small bridge grant um that

1:56:54this would allow us to move forward um

1:56:57if we didn't receive the grant or um

1:57:02yeah basically it

1:57:04>> so madam chair if I may ask what is the

1:57:07timing of that grant award? So, the

1:57:12grant I believe is

1:57:15due

1:57:17at the beginning of the year, the uh

1:57:19calendar year.

1:57:20>> That's when the grant application is

1:57:22due.

1:57:22>> Yes.

1:57:23>> What's the award date, the projected

1:57:25award date that they would notify us?

1:57:27>> I think it would be somewhere,

1:57:30and I'd have to go back to my notes. We

1:57:31just had a a a meeting um with the

1:57:35state, but

1:57:37I think it would be over the summer.

1:57:40>> Okay. So

1:57:44while I'm happy that we are pursuing

1:57:47these grants to offset the cost of the

1:57:48taxpayers,

1:57:51this culvert in Water Street as a result

1:57:54has been closed now what a year at this

1:57:58point. Um by the time we come to next

1:58:03spring, it'll be two years.

1:58:05>> Mhm.

1:58:06If we can, if town meeting gives you the

1:58:09approval artic of article 21 at the end

1:58:13of October

1:58:15and you're not going for the grant, do

1:58:18you expect to be able to bid this over

1:58:20the winter when we all know in

1:58:22construction projects you get better

1:58:23prices so that come the first of April

1:58:26we can actually see machines out there

1:58:30and and construction taking place to to

1:58:34um to address this? I don't want us to

1:58:36keep kicking the can down the road. And

1:58:39if so, we're going to wait for the

1:58:40grant. We get the grant, great. We don't

1:58:42get the grant, we're now summertime when

1:58:44you're then putting the bid out. And

1:58:46then we are going to be 3 years before

1:58:48this is constructed.

1:58:50>> So, I don't want to give you false

1:58:51information. So, I let me get back to um

1:58:55I know that I I have a better timeline

1:58:57of when we would expect the permitting

1:59:00process to be finalized.

1:59:03Um, and maybe I can come back next

1:59:06meeting to give you a better idea of of

1:59:08of what we expect for timing for for

1:59:11those permits.

1:59:13>> Okay. Cuz I just want to make sure that

1:59:15this doesn't become the never- ending

1:59:17closure. At this point, it feels like it

1:59:19is.

1:59:23>> Um, and okay, any other questions for

1:59:26her?

1:59:26>> More of a statement. And I don't have

1:59:27the same packet. So I don't have an

1:59:30article 21 on mine. So I don't know.

1:59:33>> No, there isn't. We You This article

1:59:35probably says 22 on your packet.

1:59:37Correct. It

1:59:38>> says 21 on mine.

1:59:39>> It says 21 in a different

1:59:41>> Oh, you have a different packet.

1:59:42>> Yeah. He doesn't have the whole article

1:59:4520.

1:59:47>> He has a shortened version of it.

1:59:48>> You're missing two pages.

1:59:51>> I don't know what I'm missing. I just

1:59:52know it's 22.

1:59:54>> All right. So, um,

2:00:00>> so does your end on page

2:00:03>> what what number does yours?

2:00:05>> I have a 24,

2:00:07>> but I mean hers

2:00:08>> fair. There was there was one um there

2:00:11was one item removed that was my item

2:00:14regarding the data centers. We had two

2:00:18placeholders for the data centers so

2:00:20that we could provide them both to the

2:00:22planning board and they could decide

2:00:24what they thought was best and what we

2:00:26would forward to the board of selectmen.

2:00:28So, one of them was removed. So, the

2:00:30numbers will be off by one most likely.

2:00:33>> Uh, no, mine's very different from hers.

2:00:36So,

2:00:36>> it's very different.

2:00:37>> Can you send us um tomorrow morning send

2:00:40us or have um Amanda send us the current

2:00:44warrant? Okay. Thank you very much.

2:00:47>> All right. Um

2:00:48>> glad you admitted it. [laughter]

2:00:50>> I think that was it for your articles,

2:00:52correct? I

2:00:53>> think so. Zip the Okay. Thank you very

2:00:55much. Um can I ask our our new um school

2:00:59superintendent to come on up and in

2:01:01we're happy to meet you. Please

2:01:02introduce yourself and we just wanted to

2:01:04ask you some questions about your

2:01:06articles.

2:01:07>> Absolutely. Thank you, Madam Chair. RJ

2:01:09Scaza, new superintendent of Auburn

2:01:10Public Schools. Happy to be here tonight

2:01:13here.

2:01:15And when did you start?

2:01:17>> July 1st of this year.

2:01:26>> And I believe you presented um made a

2:01:29presentation at the last school

2:01:30committee meeting with your goals and

2:01:32objectives for um for the school year or

2:01:35moving forward.

2:01:37>> I haven't done that yet. At the

2:01:39September 30th meeting, I'll be

2:01:41presenting my goals to the school

2:01:42committee. Okay, great. Could you send

2:01:44us a copy of those two, please? We

2:01:46appreciate it and we have them. Thank

2:01:47you.

2:01:48>> I'd be happy to.

2:01:49>> All right. So, um I have a question

2:01:52about the um field, the replacement of

2:01:55the allpurpose field. I see that we've

2:01:57got several articles addressing that.

2:02:00Can you tell tell us about the total

2:02:02cost of that?

2:02:04>> Well, it's an approximation at this

2:02:06point. Right now, we are we have a set

2:02:08aside of $550,000

2:02:13given all of the repurposing of

2:02:16previously allocated monies and then a

2:02:18request for $150,000

2:02:21um that you see in the list of article

2:02:24from article one. Um can I guarantee it

2:02:28at this point that the overall project

2:02:30will cost $550,000? I'm not sure. I

2:02:33believe when this was all put into the

2:02:34wheels were put into motion with this

2:02:36there was a estimate that it would fall

2:02:39within that range. It it could be a

2:02:41little higher but you know we're hopeful

2:02:43that with some reallocation of funding

2:02:46additional funding on top of what we we

2:02:48are asking be reallocated that we will

2:02:50be able to cover um the cost of a brand

2:02:53new multi-purpose field at the high

2:02:55school.

2:02:56>> Um I didn't see 550,000

2:03:00reallocated. Is that going to are the

2:03:02regal allocations all in this warrant?

2:03:04>> No. So there's 150,000 that I have been

2:03:08I've learned has been set aside from the

2:03:102025 capital improvement.

2:03:13>> On top of that, uh 150 that's requested

2:03:16in article one making 300

2:03:19>> um repurposing the combination of 60,000

2:03:23and 40,000.

2:03:24>> Yep.

2:03:24>> Um for an additional 100,000. So we've

2:03:27got uh 400,000 there. and then the

2:03:30Binmar um parking lot project

2:03:32repurposing that money toward the turf

2:03:35field for an additional 150.

2:03:37>> Okay.

2:03:38>> And that that is where the sum of 550

2:03:40comes from.

2:03:41>> Okay.

2:03:43All right. Thank you. And when do you um

2:03:46when do you plan to do that replacement?

2:03:48>> Spring of this year if we are granted

2:03:50the opportunity to move forward

2:03:54>> through the chair. Is that going to

2:03:56affect spring sports? I know quite a few

2:03:58teams use that field.

2:04:00>> I have I'll double check with Kevin

2:04:03Bigalow, but my understanding is that it

2:04:04will not affect spring sports and the

2:04:06majority like field hockey um some of

2:04:10the town leagues that use that

2:04:12multi-purpose field use it primarily in

2:04:14the in the fall.

2:04:15>> Okay, great. Thank you.

2:04:16>> Welcome.

2:04:18>> Any questions?

2:04:20>> Um can you tell us about the um

2:04:23>> Mr. Carpenter does have a question?

2:04:25>> Oh, sir. Yeah. Okay,

2:04:28>> question for you. I know some of these

2:04:30fields may be rented out for other

2:04:32athletic associations.

2:04:35Can we tie any of the wear and tear to

2:04:38perhaps overuse from outside of school

2:04:42groups and outside of town groups? Is

2:04:46that contributing to these fields

2:04:49wearing out?

2:04:52Yeah, I Well, let me start by saying I I

2:04:55heard that camping chairs were a

2:04:57significant factor. Um, we're no longer

2:05:00allowing uh and we're trying to our best

2:05:03to police, if you will, the uh use of

2:05:06camping chairs on that multi-purpose

2:05:07field because it digs into the turf is

2:05:09what I understood. As far as the the

2:05:12youth sports or the outside

2:05:13organizations that are um renting out

2:05:15the use of the field, I I think they are

2:05:17all using like standard equipment, their

2:05:20cleats, it gets a lot of use, no doubt,

2:05:23but I don't think there's anything in

2:05:25terms of how they're utilizing the field

2:05:27that is contributing to an increase in

2:05:29wear.

2:05:31>> You're welcome.

2:05:33>> No camping chairs though, please, for

2:05:35the record.

2:05:36>> I I' heard that [clears throat] before,

2:05:38so that makes sense. All right.

2:05:40question. Um, so let me ask you about

2:05:44the um the bus, the multi-function

2:05:46activity bus.

2:05:48>> Now we're you're looking to um for

2:05:50$70,000 to fund a portion of the

2:05:53replacement cost. What is the total

2:05:55replacement?

2:05:56>> We're thinking about 140,000. We have

2:05:58$70,000 additional that was uh granted

2:06:01to us through the fair share earmark um

2:06:03from the governor's office. [sighs]

2:06:06That 70,000 is specific for a capital

2:06:08improvement project for the schools. Um

2:06:10we received 120 total. The the

2:06:13additional 50 is for a program in the

2:06:15school. So we couldn't put that toward

2:06:17the uh wheelchair accessible um bus. But

2:06:22with a contribution from the town of 70

2:06:24and then that fair share earmark

2:06:26additional 70, we think that that will

2:06:28cover the cost of that vehicle, which is

2:06:31it's a pretty expensive vehicle, but I

2:06:33think 140 will do it. And it's a

2:06:35replacement, right?

2:06:36>> It is of Rocket One, I believe, which is

2:06:38relatively old. I have some numbers.

2:06:40There's there was like $15,000

2:06:44done in repairs on Rocket One, uh, and

2:06:4725 and 26 combined. It's an older

2:06:49vehicle.

2:06:50>> Okay. All right.

2:06:52>> Any other questions for

2:06:56>> Okay. I I think that covers it. Thank

2:06:58you very Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank

2:07:00you.

2:07:00>> Thank you.

2:07:03Um

2:07:09um Chief Mills, would you come up and

2:07:12just tell us about article 12 about the

2:07:14phone system?

2:07:18>> Thank you.

2:07:21>> Good evening.

2:07:24the the phone system. Basically, that

2:07:27amount is to bring the building up to

2:07:31the point where it would accept the new

2:07:32phone system that the town is doing. So,

2:07:37we've been experiencing problems with

2:07:39our phone system where we've tried I

2:07:42worked with Mike Marino to try and

2:07:43figure out what the pro problem actually

2:07:46was. and we bought a refurbished unit

2:07:48and then we bought a uh a new unit that

2:07:51because the refurbished one didn't work

2:07:53out and it hasn't solved the problem.

2:07:55So,

2:07:57>> yes, if I may through the chair, um, for

2:08:02several years, the police department um,

2:08:05building did not have the improvements

2:08:09that it needed because there was at one

2:08:12time a plan to relocate the police

2:08:15department. I'm finding um and I think

2:08:18the chief is as well. There are several

2:08:21things that are raising to the top of

2:08:23our importance list. During the summer,

2:08:26the police department telephone system

2:08:29kept going down. I met with Mike Marino.

2:08:32We met with the chief. We can no longer

2:08:35get the parts to fix the system. That is

2:08:39why this is dire. It is something that I

2:08:43did not anticipate that I was not aware

2:08:45of. The chief um is working with me on

2:08:49the whole building right now and just

2:08:51looking to see of anything that was sort

2:08:53of held off over the last few years

2:08:56because they anticipated moving so that

2:08:58we can incorporate that into the capital

2:08:59budget. But that is um the need is is

2:09:03definitely a new phone system, the new

2:09:06um the new software associated with the

2:09:09phone system. And we will also on the

2:09:12town side be upgrading our phone system,

2:09:14but we we have the funds for that. So

2:09:16that's not in this warrant article at

2:09:18this time.

2:09:20>> Madam Chair, if I just may ask um either

2:09:23to the chief or the or the manager um

2:09:26with respect to acting on this. So, I

2:09:30know that you did have the phone

2:09:31problems off and on over the summertime.

2:09:33Um, are you in a position or isn't the

2:09:36town in the position so that again end

2:09:39of October town meeting says we're we're

2:09:42granting you the $35,000.

2:09:45Are you in a position to act on that as

2:09:47soon as possible, upgrade the system or

2:09:49at least get the ball rolling to to make

2:09:52sure that your building doesn't keep

2:09:54having the problems? I just want to make

2:09:55sure this doesn't sort of fall into the

2:09:59normal, you know, process of

2:10:03five months from now, 6 months from now

2:10:04is when this stuff cuz I mean this is a

2:10:06need for your building now and I just

2:10:07want to make sure that that that the IT

2:10:09department and everybody is ready to

2:10:11jump in and act on this cuz you know the

2:10:13phones going to the police are kind of

2:10:15important.

2:10:17>> That's true. I appreciate the question.

2:10:19And it's this is essentially like the

2:10:22manager said, it's just it's upgrades

2:10:25to it's upgrades to the infrastructure

2:10:26to make the the system be able to accept

2:10:28the new phone system. So, excuse

2:10:31[clears throat] me. As soon as if it is

2:10:33approved, like I said, and we're able to

2:10:34go forward, then we'll bid it out as

2:10:36soon as we possibly can.

2:10:38>> Thank you.

2:10:40>> Okay. Any other questions?

2:10:44>> I think we're all set, Chief. Thank you

2:10:46very much. Thank you.

2:10:47>> Thanks, Madam Chair. Can I go back to

2:10:48article 7?

2:10:50>> Yep.

2:10:50>> Can we just have um our economic

2:10:52development director um sort of outline

2:10:54what is the economic development

2:10:56strategic plan, what it will encompass.

2:10:59Um it says funded new or updated. So I

2:11:03just want to understand exactly what we

2:11:06are getting for the $75,000.

2:11:08>> Yes, through the chair. I I'll do my

2:11:10best to answer that question. So, as I

2:11:12think the board might be aware, but if

2:11:14not, I'll remind folks, the last

2:11:15strategic plan was done in 2017. Um,

2:11:19obviously prior to co, prior to a lot of

2:11:21other circumstances that have changed,

2:11:23um, this this grew out of discussions

2:11:25with the economic development committee,

2:11:26uh, wanting to, uh, recalibrate the

2:11:29priorities in that plan. Uh so based on

2:11:32those conversations I took a somewhat

2:11:34informal poll of colleagues from from

2:11:37different communities who have done uh

2:11:39economic plans in the last several

2:11:41years. Um you know doing a bit of a

2:11:45comparison based on community size etc.

2:11:48Uh so there were some that came in uh

2:11:52for smaller communities came in about 50

2:11:54larger communities came in at about 100.

2:11:56So and for several consulting companies

2:12:00who I know their work said for town

2:12:03Auburn size 75 would uh accomplish that

2:12:06goal. So uh we have not hashed out an

2:12:09RFP for that or what the exact criteria

2:12:11would be but it would be essentially an

2:12:13update of the current strategic plan. Uh

2:12:16and so whatever processes involved with

2:12:18that.

2:12:19>> If I can just follow up on that.

2:12:22What does the town what does a town get

2:12:25out of having an updated economic

2:12:27strategic plan?

2:12:28>> Well, there could be a few things with

2:12:29that. First of all, uh it would clearly

2:12:32establish a town's economic priorities.

2:12:34And as we're going for different grants,

2:12:36as we're going for recruitment of

2:12:37businesses, if we can point to a

2:12:39document that outlines our current

2:12:41priorities, it makes sort of the quote

2:12:43unquote sales pitch uh that much easier.

2:12:46Additionally, I hope we can use the

2:12:48process to uh get better dissemin

2:12:51dissemination of information throughout

2:12:53the town to be a robust public process

2:12:54as part of this and also there'd be uh a

2:12:58significant amount of data produced as

2:12:59part of that project as well. So, I'm

2:13:01not going to suggest it's going to

2:13:02answer for example uh the discussion

2:13:04item earlier about the tax

2:13:06classification per se. Uh but there

2:13:08would be some data in there. So uh

2:13:10different boards and certainly economic

2:13:12development committee uh could be basing

2:13:15their uh priorities and uh agenda based

2:13:19on the most current data.

2:13:22>> And I just want to confirm or or make

2:13:25sure that the economic development

2:13:27committee um which I think has

2:13:30personally been a untapped resource in

2:13:32the past um they're probably going to

2:13:34hate because we keep sending stuff their

2:13:35way now to tap that resource. um that

2:13:38they're going to be an integral part of

2:13:39this helping to lead that effort um work

2:13:42with the consultants uh work with

2:13:45professional staff uh to to develop that

2:13:47plan. I just want to make sure that they

2:13:48have a voice and the seat at the table

2:13:50from the beginning

2:13:51>> through the chair. That's exactly the

2:13:53plan. I would anticipate they would help

2:13:55us craft the evaluation criteria in any

2:13:58RFP and then they would be part of any

2:14:01uh working committee or steering

2:14:03committee that grew out of the strategic

2:14:05planning process once a consultant was

2:14:07retained.

2:14:08>> Thank you.

2:14:09>> Thank you. All right. So, um my

2:14:12understanding is we're going to the will

2:14:14of the board is that we're going to look

2:14:15at this next week and make our

2:14:17recommendations and take positions at

2:14:19that time.

2:14:20>> Did have a question. I still have

2:14:22another one as well. Go ahead.

2:14:23>> No, it was fine. Um, threw you to the

2:14:26assistant town manager.

2:14:29>> What other planning documents will this

2:14:32draw from that we have in existence

2:14:34today?

2:14:37>> There could be a few different

2:14:38documents. We do have a master plan that

2:14:40I think dates from 2019. So, it's just

2:14:43after the previous strategic plan was

2:14:45done. There are a number of um uh

2:14:49smaller type plans. There is uh some

2:14:51those analysis at our jury square both

2:14:54uh historically and of course with the

2:14:55recent ULI uh uh exercise. Um there is a

2:15:01sidewalk plan that's in place. There are

2:15:04not necessarily economic development but

2:15:06kind of would be MVP the municipal

2:15:07vulnerability plan. Um there are a

2:15:10number of action items already embedded

2:15:12in those plans. So I think any new

2:15:14strategic plan would look at what's uh

2:15:16what's already existing. That's usually

2:15:18a good first step in any strategic

2:15:20planning process. Look at what action

2:15:21items were addressed in previous plans.

2:15:24What have what have been checked off the

2:15:26list or what have become obsolete and

2:15:29what still need to be followed up on. So

2:15:31any plan we have uh I probably I'm

2:15:34trying to think of off top of my head

2:15:35which other ones might be most relevant,

2:15:37but certainly the master plan um would

2:15:39be the the one that leaps to mind.

2:15:43>> I know the school department has a

2:15:44strategic plan. I would like us

2:15:46>> [clears throat]

2:15:47>> at least look at it. See, we need to

2:15:50bring the schools in one one town, not

2:15:55two different parts of town. I want to

2:15:57see us. We have a new superintendent. We

2:15:59had a great superintendent uh previous

2:16:02actually two before you. So, you have

2:16:05big shoes to fill, but I do want us to,

2:16:07as the chair just asked, do more with

2:16:10communication between us so that we can

2:16:12actually confront some of the challenges

2:16:14that I think we're going to face in a

2:16:16couple of years.

2:16:17>> Yes. Through the chair. I think that's a

2:16:18fantastic idea and I look forward to

2:16:20having the school department be a part

2:16:21of the process.

2:16:25>> Okay.

2:16:26>> Um,

2:16:28sorry, Steve. I think

2:16:29>> Oh, Steve, you wanted to say something.

2:16:30So, um the article relating to um

2:16:34$80,000 for building study and analysis

2:16:38for all town buildings, what what are

2:16:41what is the idea behind that

2:16:45>> through the chair? Um good question. It

2:16:48was one of the goals and objectives that

2:16:50the board of selectmen have provided me

2:16:52to do a full analysis of all town owned

2:16:56buildings from

2:16:59every system in the basement to the

2:17:01roof. What's happened over the last

2:17:04several years that I can see is um not

2:17:08we haven't properly budgeted the cap in

2:17:11capital the repairs that need to be

2:17:13done. an analysis is necessary to do

2:17:17that and it includes the school

2:17:18department and the school department

2:17:20buildings because obviously they're

2:17:22they're part of the capital budget. But

2:17:24that's what this um this money is for.

2:17:27It's a full analysis of all the town

2:17:29buildings.

2:17:30>> The the reason I'm asking is I believe

2:17:33we did a mechanical study with Seaman's

2:17:36engineering on a lot of stuff. That's

2:17:38why I feel like this might be

2:17:41overlapping and I don't know what else

2:17:42is included or what that that report was

2:17:44lacking, but I know that drove a lot of

2:17:47project work and I believe the school

2:17:50department was or school schools were

2:17:52part of that analysis. So I I don't know

2:17:54what was lacking or what else is

2:17:56>> you're correct. I'm very familiar with

2:17:58the HVAC report that was provided by

2:18:01Seammens and that is what we've used to

2:18:03do all of our HVAC upgrades. That is one

2:18:06area that we're actually up to date and

2:18:08we're not running into any issues with

2:18:10this is going to be more in depth. The

2:18:13perfect example is is what's happening

2:18:15with the phones at the police department

2:18:17or the roofs and some of our buildings,

2:18:19even the historical commission. Um

2:18:22there's a lot of things out there that

2:18:24we're we're just not aware of. Um so

2:18:26that's what that's what the

2:18:27recommendation is for

2:18:29>> and that's the clarification I'm looking

2:18:31just building study. It could be

2:18:33general, but I know we did other pieces.

2:18:35So, love to hear more of what is

2:18:38expected outcome of that. What is going

2:18:40to be analyzed?

2:18:42I'm sure all the windows could use

2:18:44replacing. I I don't need to pay $80,000

2:18:46for to say that, but budgeting wise,

2:18:48like there might be more to it. So, that

2:18:51was one of the reasons I asked for it.

2:18:52We need to start understanding what we

2:18:55don't know. We delayed a lot of repairs

2:18:58at the at West Street. We delayed a rod

2:19:01of repairs at

2:19:04>> police station,

2:19:04>> Oxford Street. Um, we have a habit of

2:19:07doing that and and we've got to stop

2:19:09doing that because,

2:19:12you know, I went to school at Randall,

2:19:16which is now where you work and a couple

2:19:18of within the last year we had to close

2:19:21it because of asbestous

2:19:24getting released into the air. So, we

2:19:28definitely need to start looking at some

2:19:30of these older buildings and pretty much

2:19:32all of our buildings with the exception

2:19:34of maybe the two new schools, the middle

2:19:36school and the high school. They're all

2:19:39pretty

2:19:40of an age. So, it would be good to see.

2:19:43I know they were doing asbestous

2:19:45remediation when I was in school at

2:19:47what's now Swiss, but was the junior

2:19:49high. So, I'm sure there's probably

2:19:51still some there. And there's probably

2:19:52some in Well, actually, we got rid of JB

2:19:55and Mary D. So, you're off the hook

2:19:57there. But, uh, I'm sure there's some

2:20:01still lingering around that we want to

2:20:03make sure that we're getting rid of

2:20:06and also getting the budget so we can

2:20:09work on it.

2:20:10>> Can I just confirm that this study will

2:20:11also look at um, ADA compliance in the

2:20:15buildings as well. I know there was a

2:20:18recent concern and issue addressed with

2:20:20the ramp into this building. um that's

2:20:23now been taken care of. But as was

2:20:26pointed out um by some residents

2:20:27recently, you know, this podium is not

2:20:30ADA compliant. Um so there there's those

2:20:34other issues I think in all of our

2:20:35buildings as well that we are probably

2:20:37not in compliance with a 1992 law. Um

2:20:41>> absolutely. And you're you're absolutely

2:20:43right. And it does um it's in all of our

2:20:46buildings that I know we're

2:20:48grandfathered, but we're also a public

2:20:50building to serve the public. and if

2:20:52we're not accessible, um, we're not

2:20:54doing our job. So, that's why we

2:20:57recently redid the van, the ramp, and we

2:20:59do have plans to work with DPW. We've

2:21:02met with them to try to solve the

2:21:05problem here with with the steps um

2:21:08because and those are just two areas and

2:21:10there there's a lot more throughout our

2:21:12buildings.

2:21:14>> All right. Um, moving forward then

2:21:16because we'll we'll pick up the uh

2:21:18warrant at the next meeting in two

2:21:21weeks. Um, let's look at item 8G and

2:21:25this is a board vote to reopen the

2:21:26special town meeting warrant. Um, and

2:21:29could I please ask Chief Coleman to come

2:21:31up to talk about this? I believe you had

2:21:34requested this because there were some

2:21:37unanticipated costs or related to that

2:21:41fire engine that caught fire.

2:21:42>> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, so,

2:21:45[clears throat] uh, as you know, uh, two

2:21:48weeks ago on the 4th, uh, we suffered a

2:21:51fire in our engine 4. Um, I had spoke to

2:21:56the insurance company that night, made a

2:21:58whole bunch of phone calls that night

2:22:00and one of the emails that I sent that

2:22:01night just to make sure that it wasn't

2:22:04missed, um, was a potential placeholder

2:22:07for a warrant article because at that

2:22:09time at that Friday night at 10:00, um,

2:22:13I did not have a lot of information. Um,

2:22:17I just spoke with, uh, well, today's

2:22:20Monday, so the end of last week. um

2:22:23spoke with the insurance adjuster um had

2:22:26some brief conversations with the shop.

2:22:29Um it does not look like the vehicle is

2:22:31going to be totaled. So that's good

2:22:33news. So we we again we believe that

2:22:36it's going to be repaired. I have more

2:22:38confidence that that's the case. I can't

2:22:40sit here 100%. Uh the third party

2:22:42independent fire investigator was out at

2:22:44the shop uh in Walpole today and condu

2:22:48uh conducted their forensic review. Um,

2:22:51so they just gave the shop permission

2:22:53today to start actually taking the top

2:22:56part of the motor off and start putting

2:22:57a parts list together. Um, but on face

2:23:00value, the shop believes that it's it's

2:23:03going to be repaired. So really the

2:23:05placeholder that I was looking for was,

2:23:07you know, at 10:00 on that Friday night,

2:23:09I'm thinking if this vehicle is totaled,

2:23:11we're going to need an appropriation

2:23:13potentially for me to purchase a used

2:23:16vehicle in order to figure out what the

2:23:19long-term plan is. It does not look like

2:23:21at this point that that's going to be

2:23:23the case. Um, so I I do not need at this

2:23:26time uh that warrant article.

2:23:29>> So Chief, insurance is paying for the uh

2:23:31repair costs. But we don't we don't know

2:23:34that yet. I've the adjuster has looked

2:23:36at it. They sent the forensic folks out

2:23:38there. Um I would anticipate again,

2:23:41right? It's I [snorts] never want to

2:23:44speculate what an insurance company is

2:23:45going to do. Um but in my conversations

2:23:48with the adjuster, um we have the

2:23:50coverage. So I would anticipate that

2:23:53insurance is going to cover if not all

2:23:55at least a a good portion of this. But I

2:23:58do not have that answer.

2:23:59>> Okay.

2:23:59>> We have a deductible.

2:24:01Uh we do we do have a deductible. I

2:24:06think it's a what? Yeah, it's a $1,000

2:24:09deductible.

2:24:10>> And um what's the time frame?

2:24:13>> So again, um not 100% sure. The the shop

2:24:18just got permission today from the

2:24:20insurance company to start actually

2:24:22touching the truck. So even though it

2:24:23was towed there last uh Tuesday, they

2:24:26have not touched the truck because the

2:24:28insurance company didn't authorize it.

2:24:30So, uh, my guess is they will start

2:24:32pulling the top of the motor off

2:24:34tomorrow. Um, so I'm hoping by the end

2:24:36of the week I have a better idea on what

2:24:37the damage um is. The engine block most

2:24:40likely is okay. It's a lot of melted I

2:24:43mean all of the electrical components on

2:24:45the top of the engine are melted. So um

2:24:48my hope, best case scenario is they just

2:24:50put a brand new motor in the truck which

2:24:52has all brand new electrical components

2:24:54versus leaving the existing motor and

2:24:56then trying to strip and trace back

2:24:59wires. and then we're dealing with

2:25:00electrical problems years down the road.

2:25:03Um, so what I'm going to be advocating

2:25:04and pushing for is that the insurance

2:25:06company just replace the motor.

2:25:09>> Okay, questions.

2:25:11>> So, Chief, if this were to happen, say

2:25:14in December, how would you go about

2:25:17getting that repair or getting a

2:25:20replacement vehicle? What What's the

2:25:21process besides going to town meeting?

2:25:26So

2:25:27it if if we were to lose a a vehicle

2:25:30like in your scenario in December and we

2:25:33lost a vehicle completely, we have one

2:25:36spare fire engine in the town.

2:25:37[clears throat] So right now that spare

2:25:39engine is in service on the first day

2:25:43that vehicle was in service, it had a

2:25:44brake issue and then it was out of

2:25:46service the entire day. So we had one

2:25:48fire engine, you know, in the town. So,

2:25:50as I had said to the to the manager

2:25:52before, it really depends on the length

2:25:55of time in which something's going to be

2:25:57out of service. Our mutual aid partners,

2:25:59we all help each other. We have borrowed

2:26:01fire engines from other towns. We have

2:26:03let other towns borrow our fire engines.

2:26:05So, the answer to that question is

2:26:07really depending on how long a vehicle

2:26:09is going to be out of service. But, if

2:26:11it was total that it was out of service

2:26:12completely, um, then most likely I would

2:26:15be asking the board. We would, you know,

2:26:17borrow a truck. we could rent a truck.

2:26:20Um, we might be able to cover that short

2:26:22term within the existing budget. Um, but

2:26:26depending on when it was in the time

2:26:27period of the year, we may have to

2:26:29request a special town meeting in order

2:26:31to get a town meeting appropriation. So,

2:26:33there's a lot of factors that go into

2:26:35that question.

2:26:37So, I mean, I was prepared to come here

2:26:39because I'm not for opening the warrant

2:26:41and it's because we provided all that

2:26:44additional time and I was hopeful, but

2:26:46in an emergency situation, I wanted to

2:26:48make sure you know there are other

2:26:51things and it sounds like if need be

2:26:53opportune inopportune times, we can

2:26:55request that. Not that that's ideal, but

2:26:57>> and again, you understand I made that

2:26:59request with really zero information at

2:27:0110:00 on a Friday night. I said, "Okay,

2:27:03if if if this thing is going to be out

2:27:05of service, we need we need a plan B."

2:27:08Um, but obviously in that week, me

2:27:10chasing the insurance company, getting

2:27:12some answers, I'm at a better comfort

2:27:14level today than I was a week and a half

2:27:16ago.

2:27:17>> And and I'm very comfortable saying no

2:27:19to that. The rest of the board could

2:27:20like I I I don't want to ever say no

2:27:23just to say no. Um, so I want to

2:27:25understand the process, but again, I

2:27:27think this board with the town meeting

2:27:29warrant opening up extra early knowing

2:27:32on the back end that there's always uh

2:27:34staff has limited time to get things

2:27:37together. I want to make sure as a board

2:27:40we try not to open and close the warrant

2:27:42after the dates set so we can make sure

2:27:45there's a good process in place and we

2:27:48can follow that. But knowing if in an

2:27:50emergency we can request an additional

2:27:53town meeting, that could be an option. I

2:27:55never want to put you guys in harm's way

2:27:57trying to save everyone else.

2:27:59>> No, understood.

2:28:01>> Okay. Anything else?

2:28:06>> Okay.

2:28:06>> Thank you.

2:28:07>> Thank you, sir.

2:28:10All right. So, now we're um we have no

2:28:13town manager items, we have no tabled

2:28:15items. Now, it's time for the public

2:28:17comments. the last session of public

2:28:19comments

2:28:21and then we'll look at minutes.

2:28:26>> Do we need to take action on this?

2:28:30G

2:28:32>> um

2:28:34>> I don't think so.

2:28:35>> Well, if we're not reopening it, we

2:28:36don't need to make a motion to go up

2:28:38with it.

2:28:39>> Well, that's not what it says. It says a

2:28:41a board vote to reopen. So, like do we

2:28:44know that for consent? I don't know.

2:28:46Like I feel like we should vote in the

2:28:50negative, right? So you have to read it

2:28:52as this. But

2:28:53>> I I'll make a motion to reopen the

2:28:54special town meeting warrant for Monday,

2:28:56September 14th, 2026 through Wednesday,

2:28:58September 16th, uh 2026 at 400 p.m.

2:29:03>> I'll second. All right. So we have a

2:29:05motion and a second to reopen the

2:29:06warrant. All in favor?

2:29:08>> I.

2:29:11>> A motion to reopen.

2:29:12>> All in favor?

2:29:14>> Yeah. All in favor of reopening it? I

2:29:17>> Okay. All opposed to reopening it.

2:29:20>> I I

2:29:20>> All right. So, the motion does not pass.

2:29:22>> Sorry, that confused me.

2:29:24>> All right, that's okay. Well, we're used

2:29:25to saying yes to everything. All right.

2:29:27Public comments. Eric Richards, it's

2:29:30it's your three minutes, sir. There you

2:29:33go.

2:29:43>> Good evening. Eric Richards, 13 Ravine

2:29:45Drive. Thank you for having me.

2:29:49See if we can end on a strong note.

2:29:51Yeah, had a number of comments. I'll re

2:29:55reserve them until the next meeting. I

2:29:57do have a little bit of cognitive

2:29:58dissonance though. Uh we have a we hired

2:30:03an assistant town manager, Mr.

2:30:06Delquilla, because he's a worldclass

2:30:08economic development guru.

2:30:10We hired a new planner and land use

2:30:13coordinator because they were worldclass

2:30:15economic development, land use, and

2:30:18other staff with minors in economic

2:30:21development.

2:30:22So, if we're paying and we brought

2:30:25talent inhouse

2:30:27for economic development,

2:30:30why do we need consultants?

2:30:34It's curious.

2:30:36Especially a guy with 30 years

2:30:37experience or whatever he's got.

2:30:41I don't know. I like that answer if we

2:30:43can find it. Thank you.

2:30:45>> Thank you, sir. Um, all right. Now, we

2:30:48have received minutes um from August the

2:30:51meeting on August 17, 2026. Does anyone

2:30:54have any questions or concerns about

2:30:56those minutes

2:30:57so we can uh accept them as they have

2:31:01been presented to us? We're meeting

2:31:03again in two weeks. Does anyone have um

2:31:07Well, do I hear a motion?

2:31:09Motion to adjurnn.

2:31:11>> Second.

2:31:11>> So we have a motion and a second to

2:31:13adjurnn. All in favor? I oppose. No.

2:31:16We'rejourned.

2:31:22>> [music]