2026-09-08 - Select Board Meeting

00:07All righty, then we will um call the

00:09meeting to order.

00:14This is the meeting of the Charlton

00:15Select Board, September 8th, 2026, 6:30

00:18p.m. Town Hall meeting room 1, 37 Main

00:21Street, Charlton, Mass. This meeting is

00:23being recorded and broadcast live on

00:25Troutton cable access TV on Spectrum TV

00:28channel 191 and recording available on

00:31the YouTube channel for Troutton TV. Any

00:33member of the public who wishes to

00:35record this meeting must notify the

00:37chair. If we could all rise for the

00:40pledge of allegiance.

00:44>> Pledge allegiance to the flag of the

00:46United States of America and to the

00:49republic for which it stands. One nation

00:52under God, indivisible, with liberty and

00:55justice for all.

01:02>> Do we have announcements?

01:04>> We do. The announcements for the select

01:07board meeting September 8th, 2026. The

01:10police department is hosting Barks,

01:12Badges, and Boots on September 12th,

01:142026 from 11:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St.

01:17Joseph Church located at 10H Putnham

01:19Road. The Charlton Library will be

01:22hosting their third annual craft supply

01:24swap on September 12th. Members of the

01:27community have been donating a variety

01:29of new and used craft supplies for the

01:31past 3 weeks, and we will have them all

01:33sorted out. Drop in anytime between

01:3510:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and take what

01:37you need for free. This is great for new

01:40and experienced crafters, anyone who

01:42wants to try a new craft, or teach

01:45teachers that need supplies, bring your

01:47own bags. Representative John Marcy.

01:50Office hours with the legislative aid

01:52Tammy Ruda will be held on Monday,

01:54September 14th, 2026 from 11:30 a.m. to

01:5712:30 p.m. in the town hall meeting room

02:001. Dudley Charlton School District

02:03special election September 29th, 2026

02:07from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the

02:09Heritage School. Yardwaste drop off will

02:12be October 17th, 24th, and 31st, and

02:17November 7th. and 14th from 10:00 a.m.

02:20to 2 p.m. at the DPW located at 100

02:24Flint Road. Special town meeting is

02:26Monday, October 19th, 2026 at 7 p.m.

02:30Charlton Middle School.

02:35That's it. That's it. Thank you. Thank

02:36you, Mike. Um, is there anyone here for

02:39open form?

02:41if you'd please come up and

02:44say your name and address and you're

02:47talking.

02:49>> Okay.

02:51>> I'm Pat Stockwell. I'm the chair of the

02:53senior community center feasibility

02:54committee.

02:56>> Manon five pine lane.

02:59>> Um

03:02>> um okay. I know that you guys are going

03:04to be talking about the senior center

03:06later on in action. Do we want to wait

03:08for that or do we

03:09>> I I mean I can go through some things

03:11now or if you prefer that we we wait

03:13until then to talk about it.

03:14>> I I don't think it'll take long. I'm not

03:16going to do a full presentation if the

03:17chair will recognize me. Sure.

03:19>> Okay.

03:21>> Prefer that?

03:22>> Yeah. I prefer Yeah. All on one topic.

03:24Yeah. Yeah. Rather than come back to it.

03:27>> Yeah. If you don't mind.

03:32>> Anyone else for open form?

03:36Can you wait?

03:37>> We might as well wait until it's all

03:39>> one big topic.

03:42>> I may or may not.

03:46>> Okay.

03:55>> Hi.

03:56>> Hi.

03:58>> Um, good evening. Uh, my name is

04:01Michelle Chalmer's. My address is 46

04:05Prindle Hill Road. I'm here tonight to

04:09ask the select board to place Charlton's

04:12use of Flock automated license plate

04:14reader cameras on the next available

04:17meeting agenda for public discussion and

04:20possible action. Over the past several

04:23days, we collected approximately 160

04:26signatures on each of two citizen

04:29petitions. One requesting a direct

04:33action and the second proposing a

04:35non-binding resolution if town council

04:38determines that the contract decision

04:40rests with the select board. I had

04:43written my speech. Andrew just told me

04:45that the town council has informed me

04:48and you uh that it is obviously up to

04:51the select board. So, we will be

04:54rescending our binding petition and put

04:58forth the non-binding petition for the

05:01town meeting.

05:03The response was overwhelmingly

05:05supportive and crossed political lines.

05:08Uh residents may have different reasons

05:11uh privacy, government overreach, data

05:14sharing, cost, constitutional concerns,

05:17or lack of public discussion.

05:20But they do agree that a technology

05:23capable of recording and searching our

05:25movements uh should not operate or

05:28expand without transparency and

05:31democratic oversight.

05:34>> [snorts]

05:34>> This is not an attack on the Charlton

05:37Police Department. Uh we can support our

05:40police and we do um while still

05:43requiring oversight of powerful

05:46technology. Uh these cameras do not

05:49begin by recording a person suspected of

05:52a crime. They record all of us, every

05:57passing vehicle, its plate, location,

06:00time, and make those records searchable

06:04afterwards. Uh, the need for

06:06transparency was reinforced last week

06:08when a Massachusetts court ruled that

06:10the state police could not withhold the

06:12locations of its license plate readers

06:15or audit records showing when, why, and

06:18how uh frequently officers searched its

06:21database. Now, that case involved the

06:24state police's vigilant system rather

06:27than Charlton's flock system, but the

06:29principle is directly relevant. Uh, the

06:31public has a right to basic information

06:34about how government surveillance

06:36operates. Uh last week I submitted a

06:39public records records request uh to the

06:43Troutton Police Department seeking the

06:45flock contract, policies, costs,

06:48retention rules, sharing arrangements,

06:50camera information, and audit records.

06:53Uh those materials should be available

06:55to the board and to the public before

06:57any final decision. I respectfully ask

07:01the board to do three things. One, uh,

07:04place this matter on the next available

07:06agenda for public discussion and

07:08possible action and announce that

07:10meeting date as soon as possible.

07:13Second, take no action to expand the

07:15system, add cameras, renew the contract,

07:19or authorize additional discretionary

07:21spending before the public meeting. And

07:24then lastly, ensure that the requested

07:27records and town council's legal review,

07:31including a review of the contracts

07:33procurement compliance uh are available

07:36to you to the select board and to the

07:39public um before that discussion.

07:40>> Okay.

07:41>> Thank you.

07:42>> So I So the action in front of the board

07:45tonight would just be to put it on as

07:46onto our next agenda item to our next

07:49meeting [clears throat] as an agenda

07:51item.

07:51>> Yeah. I'd recommend through the chair I

07:54suggest we put it on.

07:56>> When is the next meeting? Do you have

07:58that date?

07:58>> Actually,

08:00September 22nd, which is on our agenda,

08:01too, right now. So,

08:02>> Oh, okay. Perfect. Thank you. Would you

08:04be um

08:08this is obviously all over social media

08:10and everybody you can't turn on the news

08:12without seeing it but the

08:14>> are you um familiar with the operation

08:17of how they how they operate what

08:19they're capable of doing and the

08:21guidelines that are in

08:22>> place

08:23it's an agenda item

08:25>> well I'm just wondering if you wanted to

08:27research that any of that before

08:28>> I have and I'm still learning

08:31>> okay

08:31>> and because it's very complicated

08:34It is very intricate. It is something

08:37that like I spoke to you this morning

08:40that it's larger than Charlton. And that

08:42it can be overwhelming for a lot of

08:44people. And I think that that's what I

08:46learned at Old Home Day this weekend is

08:49that a lot of people just want to have

08:51the conversation. They just want to

08:52learn.

08:53>> The fear can be overwhelming. The actual

08:55practical use is pretty it's not that

08:57>> that can be a little scary, too. It

08:59really can. I mean, I've seen videos,

09:01I'm sure you have, too, of people being

09:03pulled over and handcuffed and being

09:05accused that their car is stolen when

09:07the flock camera misread the license

09:09plate.

09:10>> You know, again, anecdotal information,

09:13but it it still just

09:16it breeds a trust or a mistrust that I

09:20don't know and I'm curious if the chili,

09:22you know, the chief of police has, you

09:25know, thought about that. I know that in

09:27talking with people from Southbridge,

09:28that's why their police chief got rid of

09:31them. They made the decision because the

09:34the police chief was worried about

09:35community trust.

09:37>> And so that's the conversation that we

09:39were, you know, would want to have.

09:40>> Y

09:41>> Yeah.

09:41>> I'm terrified by my phone to be honest

09:43with you.

09:43>> I'm sorry.

09:44>> I'm terrified by my phone. Every time I

09:46have a thought, it comes up.

09:48>> I mean, when do we control?

09:49>> That's right. I was just talking

09:50>> you should have a conversation

09:51>> to my father about something and all of

09:53a sudden he's like Michelle it just

09:55showed up on my phone.

09:56>> Okay.

09:56>> So I agree with you

09:57>> but we can put it on

09:58>> I mean we're on the cameras too just so

10:00you know [laughter]

10:02>> yes I know but

10:04>> and don't put it in the social

10:05[laughter] media.

10:05>> That's right. before we have a

10:06discussion,

10:07>> but we all know why and this is

10:09important for democracy that we are on

10:12the camera

10:13>> and so that again just a conversation

10:16and to educate it really is 100%.

10:18>> Yeah, I really appreciate your time.

10:20>> Okay.

10:21>> Thank you.

10:22>> So, we have a motion to put it on

10:25>> need.

10:26I'll move to put it on the agenda.

10:28>> We have a second to put it on the next

10:29meeting.

10:30>> Second.

10:32>> I'm all

10:32>> All in favor?

10:33>> I need it. Just want to make sure that

10:35we address all the questions.

10:36>> This one's going to get

10:38>> Did we get that vote? Yes.

10:40>> All in favor?

10:41>> I have it on the 22nd

10:46>> and the nonbinding petition will go

10:48through, right?

10:50>> I think it's

10:52>> if it's submitted through the chair if

10:54it's submitted.

10:54>> Yeah, it's Yeah, it's non clerk. Yeah,

10:57>> but we still want it

10:59>> on the record

11:03>> regardless of what happens to the

11:05outcome of the information you're giving

11:07at our next meeting.

11:08>> Well, if you make a decision on the next

11:11meeting and it goes to the way the town

11:14wants it,

11:15>> the way the way the petition the way you

11:17want it, but not the

11:18>> No, the way the town wants it. I think

11:21it should be the decision by the town,

11:23right? I mean, I don't know if you need

11:25both. You're going to decision. I guess

11:27we'd have to have that conversation

11:29after you.

11:29>> I think she's asking about the putting

11:30this on a

11:32>> meeting. But it does need to be on the

11:35warrant, right?

11:37It's not If I don't get it in tonight,

11:38then it can't be on, right? You could

11:40always pull it.

11:41>> We can pass over, right?

11:43>> You would have to take action pass over

11:45the Y.

11:48>> Okay,

11:51I will moving on to the next item. If

11:53there's nobody else here for open forum

11:55or

11:57Moving on.

12:00Um board vote the minutes of to accept

12:02the minutes of the regular meeting of

12:04August 11th, 2026.

12:06>> So move second.

12:07>> All in favor?

12:08>> I.

12:10>> And accept a motion to for the meeting

12:14of August 25th, 2026.

12:17>> Motion to approve the minutes as written

12:20from August 25th, 2026.

12:23>> Second.

12:24>> All in favor? I

12:25>> I unanimous

12:28>> and appointments.

12:30>> All right. Our first appointment for

12:32this evening is for the Council on

12:33Aging. There was one opening on the

12:35Council on Aging due to the resignation

12:36of Erling Murray. The opening was posted

12:39and one talent bank form was received

12:41from Anne Macintosh. The Council on

12:43Aging interviewed Miss Macintosh and

12:44would recommend the board appoint her to

12:46the Council on Aging until June 30th,

12:482028.

12:51>> Do I have a motion to appoint? So moved.

12:55>> Second.

12:56>> All in favor?

12:57>> I.

12:58>> And for the chair, I do believe she's

13:00here. We'd like to say congratulations.

13:02>> Oh. Oh, I didn't know you.

13:04Congratulations.

13:04>> Congratulations. All

13:05>> in favor?

13:06>> I unanimous.

13:08>> Unanimous. Congratulations. Thank you.

13:13>> Right. Our next appointment is for the

13:14old home day committee. Uh attaches a

13:16talent bank for from Jamie Berdett

13:18seeking to be appointed to the old home

13:20day committee. The old home day

13:21committee is recommended the board make

13:22the appointment and the term of

13:23expiration would be June 30th, 2027.

13:28>> Okay. Do I have a motion?

13:30>> Motion to approve Jamie Berdett for old

13:32home day committee.

13:33>> Second.

13:34>> All in favor?

13:34>> I I

13:36>> approve. Unanimous.

13:37>> All right.

13:39>> Next is the appointment of special

13:41police officers. Police Chief Dow is

13:43asking the board to appoint the

13:44following as special police officers.

13:46Robert Green, Steve Hubble, and John

13:49Agnu. I would recommend the board make

13:51the appointments as requested with the

13:52term expiration date of June 30th, 2027.

13:56>> Do I have a motion?

13:59>> I move to approve.

14:01>> Second.

14:02>> All in favor?

14:03>> I.

14:03>> Unanimous.

14:06>> All right. Our final appointment is for

14:07the position of kitchen coordinator. We

14:10received five applications for the

14:11position of kitchen coordinator.

14:12Interviews were offered to two

14:14individuals. Following those inter

14:16interview interviews, we recommend

14:17Jeffrey Lucier to be appointed to the

14:19position with a start date of 9:14.

14:24>> A motion.

14:24>> I have a motion make motion that we

14:26appoint Jeffrey Lucier [snorts] this

14:28position with the start date of 9:14.

14:30>> Second.

14:32>> All in favor?

14:33>> I unanimous. Congrats.

14:36>> And we have one resignation this

14:38evening. Attaches a letter from Kenny

14:40Lefairy resigning from the cultural

14:43council. He has realized that over the

14:45past few months that he needs to lessen

14:46what's on his plate so he can give 100%

14:48in all he does. Board should accept his

14:50resignation and a letter thanking him

14:52for his services in your uh sign folder.

14:56>> Motion to approve with regret.

14:58>> Second.

15:01>> All in favor?

15:02>> I I

15:03>> with regret

15:06and we have a 6:45 appointment. We're a

15:09little early for that.

15:10>> Right on time.

15:126:44.

15:13>> We are right on time.

15:15>> We got to fix that clock.

15:18>> All right. Road layout public meeting

15:20for Ashley Road and Amber Road. The

15:22board has received a request to put the

15:24acceptance of Ashley Road and Amber Road

15:26on the special town meeting warrant. The

15:28board must hold a public meeting in vote

15:30to approve the layout as shown on the

15:32meets and bounds plan. Once approved,

15:34the vote approving the layout must be

15:36filed with the town clerk who within 10

15:38days must record the description in a

15:39book kept for this purpose. This needs

15:42to be done at least seven days in

15:44advance of town meeting a uh of any town

15:46meeting action on the question of

15:48acceptance of the ways. It should also

15:51be noted that all the butters have been

15:53notified of the public meeting scheduled

15:54for tonight should the board accept or

15:57approve the layout of Ashley Road and

15:59Amber Road. The vote to do so will be

16:02filed with the town clerk. Planning

16:03board has recommended to accept these

16:06roads as submitted.

16:09>> Okay. Is there anyone here for

16:13to comment on this

16:17from the public? Hearing none

16:20>> and the planning board has approved it.

16:22I would accept a motion to approve the

16:24recommendation.

16:27>> Like to make a motion to approve as

16:29written.

16:30>> There's a second on that.

16:31>> Second. [clears throat]

16:32>> Any conversation?

16:35Hearing none. All in favor?

16:38>> I

16:44Now you had a schedule.

16:49>> We move on to the action items.

16:54>> We have um Oh, wait.

16:57>> Okay. Board deliberate. Board

16:59deliberation in

17:03>> firefighters drive.

17:04>> All right. The Charlton Permanent

17:06Firefighters Association, IIAFF Local

17:094023, and the MDA are requesting

17:11permission to hold host a boot drive

17:13near the intersection of Main Street,

17:15Masonic Home Road on September 27th,

17:172026 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. This request

17:21has been forwarded and approved by

17:22police chief Dow contingent upon the

17:25following safety precautions. All

17:28volunteers must wear bright colored

17:30vests, yellow, orange, green, or red,

17:32while soliciting donations. Orange

17:34traffic codes must be set out on Main

17:36Street and Masonic Home Road for a

17:38distance of not less than 50 feet on

17:39each respective way prior to reaching

17:41the toll station. A minimum of five

17:43traffic codes on each roadway should be

17:45put at place at a distance no greater

17:47than 10 feet apart. and signs warning

17:49voluntary toll road ahead must be

17:51erected on both Potic Home Road and Main

17:53Street, not less than 75 ft from the

17:55collection from the toll collection

17:56area. I'd recommend the board approve

17:58the request.

18:01>> Motion to approve Charlton Permanent

18:03Firefighters local 4,023 for the boot

18:06drive on September 27th.

18:08>> Second.

18:09>> All in favor?

18:10>> I

18:12unanimous.

18:15>> Right. Next action is uh to accept a uh

18:20donation of from someone's last will and

18:22testament to the senior citizens at the

18:25senior center. Uh couching on aging

18:27director Michelle Drum received a letter

18:29from attorney Charles Proctctor with a

18:31bequest to the Charlton Senior Center in

18:33the last will and testament of the late

18:35Mark A. Fibido of Oxford, Mass, leaving

18:38the sum of $2,000, which is which it is

18:42in his wish that subsidized meals be

18:45provided to the seniors citizens at the

18:47senior center. The board must vote to

18:49accept this very generous gift and

18:51authorize myself to sign the required

18:54paperwork.

18:56Pending acceptance, we'll notify

18:57attorney proctor.

18:59>> I move that we accept this very generous

19:01gift and um give Andrew permission to do

19:04what he had mentioned. Second.

19:07>> All in favor?

19:08>> I very generous. Thank you very much.

19:19>> Yep.

19:20>> All right. We have an extension of the

19:21transfer station agreement with the town

19:23of Spencer. We were notified that our

19:25agreement with the Spencer transfer

19:27station uh is currently expired as of

19:29June 30th, 2026. Last year, we had 140

19:32residents use this service and an

19:34additional 39 one-day passes were

19:36issued. Uh the service from this

19:38agreement has been beneficial to our

19:40residents who utilize it. I would

19:42recommend the board approve an extension

19:44of one year.

19:48>> I would accept a motion to approve the

19:50extension for one year.

19:52>> I move to approve as written.

19:55>> Second.

19:56>> All in favor?

19:57>> I. That's what a nice little I'm

20:00surprised that many people were really

20:01using it. It's good to see.

20:05>> And the next item,

20:07>> all right, next item will be to take

20:08action on the implementation date of

20:10October 1st, 2026 for the cons for

20:12consolidated uh clean energy

20:16applications.

20:17The Department of Energy Resources in

20:19has instituted a new consolidated local

20:21permitting process for small clean

20:23energy projects that municipalities must

20:26implement by October 1st, 2026 per M per

20:30225 CMR 29. Per the statute, the local

20:34government representative is

20:35automatically assigned to the local

20:37government chief administrative officer

20:39or their designate. The chief

20:41administrative officer can designate

20:43some or all of the duties to one or more

20:45other town officials. Uh that local

20:47government representative is responsible

20:49for reviewing and determining whether

20:51the applicant has met all pre-iling

20:53requirements and signing the pre-filing

20:55engagement completion checklist.

20:57Receiving the consolidated local permit

20:59application circulating amongst various

21:01municipal departments and determining

21:03whether or not it is complete.

21:04evaluating both the applicant's site

21:06suitability report and propos proposing

21:09minimization and mitigation measures and

21:11compiling the decisions of individual

21:13boards in issuing the decision on the

21:15consolidated local permit application.

21:18Tonight, I would ask the board to do the

21:19following. Appoint myself as the local

21:22government representative, appoint the

21:24planning board to assign minimization

21:26and mitigation meas measures and

21:28implement the date of October 1st for

21:30the consolidated solar applications.

21:35Do I have a motion to

21:37I know we need to do a lot of work on

21:39this.

21:39>> Do we have to do three separate motions?

21:44>> No, I don't think so. No, it's just one

21:46item. It's we have to hit the October

21:481st deadline pretty much.

21:50>> Second.

21:52>> All in favor?

21:54>> I Andrew, thank you for stepping up

21:56because if you don't have enough on your

21:57plate already, it's another

22:00>> mandated by the state. So, [laughter]

22:08Thank you for volunte.

22:34report.

22:35>> Well, we have the We have a 655.

22:38>> We don't have a seven. We only have a

22:40655.

22:42>> Good.

22:44>> I see.

22:45>> Oh, don't you want to hold

22:48>> Oh, you want He wants to move that one.

22:51>> You want to do that one last

22:56>> chair? What about our period update?

22:58Andrew's update.

23:00>> I [laughter]

23:02>> Andrew Andrew Andrew

23:05this morning at 7:30 and he has

23:08number six.

23:08>> It's usually quick.

23:11>> I was going to suggest that one.

23:13>> Do I do six?

23:16>> By the time we uh keep talking about

23:18these, I got to

23:21[laughter]

23:23>> All right, I'll hit number six. All

23:25right, so

23:27process for changing fees from uh death

23:29certificates and dog licenses for

23:31seniors and veterans. As requested by

23:33the board at its meeting on August 25th,

23:36the board requested that I further

23:37investigate the process by which the

23:39town may reduce fees for death

23:40certificates to zero and create dog

23:43license exemptions for seniors and

23:45veterans. For death certificates, um I

23:48included a lot of background history on

23:52kind of, you know, the you know, how the

23:56um

23:57>> fees

23:58>> fees have been established in the past

23:59and it's essentially back in 1981 they

24:02was adopted at being $2. Um in 1992

24:07sorry by up to 1992 it was $3. After

24:101992 we adopted mass general law chapter

24:1340 section 22F which then granted the

24:16authority to municipal boards and

24:17officers to establish fees. So after

24:21that point uh the fee was increased up

24:25to I believe what is now

24:28at its current rate I think $ five

24:29dollar. Um

24:32so by reading the general law it doesn't

24:34appear that there is any restriction to

24:35the elected body to vote on reduce the

24:38fee for a service by the town clerk

24:39below that threshold established under

24:41uh master general law chapter 26234.

24:44Um I have asked council to apply but I'm

24:47still waiting a formal response from

24:48him. Um but it seems that if the elected

24:52board determines that that is a

24:54reasonable fee then that is can be a

24:56determination made uh for dog licenses.

24:59Uh essentially it they are established

25:02under general bylaws chapter 110-2.

25:06Um it then has our uh you know which

25:09outlines that the male and female are

25:12$20. Senior citizens of 65 and over is

25:15$17.

25:16um senior citizens 65 and o older that's

25:20spayed or neutered is $8. Um and then

25:23that the town had adopted the statutes

25:25uh under Mass General Law chapter 140

25:28section 139 to section C to essentially

25:32grant the two exemptions that are under

25:34there for service animals and for

25:38anybody over the age of 70. So anybody

25:39over the age of 70 is not charged a fee.

25:42Um what I'm waiting for some explicit

25:46direction from council on is whether or

25:48not the board or t the town can create a

25:51additional exemption that is not

25:54recognized under Mass General law but a

25:56change to that fee whether or not it's

25:59created exemption or changing the fee

26:00itself has to go to town meeting.

26:05[clears throat]

26:05>> Thank you Andrew. So I guess I'll take

26:07it in two parts.

26:10So then I would like to make a motion to

26:13make uh death certificates zero dollars.

26:17Um I just have always thought and anyone

26:20who knows me knows I've always been

26:22opposed to nickel and dimeing people. Um

26:25and this one especially because it's

26:28during what is I think realistically

26:32one of the most traumatic times in

26:34people's lives. They're going through a

26:36lot. There's a lot of stress, a lot of

26:38emotion.

26:39And I think nickel and dimeming them and

26:41and when you have to get things when

26:43someone dies, it's not just one copy. It

26:45could be five copies. It could be 20

26:47copies. You need one for every loan,

26:49every credit. It's just it's a difficult

26:51time and I just think we should make

26:53that as easy and as we can and I don't

26:56think we should be charging for that. Um

26:58so that would be my first motion. I'll

27:01keep that separate from the dogs.

27:05Oh, and uh so people know

27:09The total

27:11number of death certificates pulled runs

27:15pretty consistent 2023 through now. Uh

27:19averaging around 2,800 I'm sorryund

27:22that's a lot. 165 average uh sorry this

27:26dog licenses

27:28I have my glasses right here. That is

27:30the death certificate. It averages 165

27:33certificates a year. But the breakout

27:36for cost is not broken out. But the

27:38total combined birth certificate, death

27:41certificate, married certified copies,

27:43everything. All of it only comes to uh

27:46average of 75 7700 a year. So zeroing

27:50out death certificates

27:52financially wouldn't even be really

27:54noticed.

27:56Just so people have that information.

27:58>> So you you have this. So you want to do

28:00two separate motions,

28:01>> right? Motion is just for the to zero

28:03out

28:04>> $0 for death certificates. Yes. For

28:07>> a second on that.

28:08>> Second.

28:10>> Any further discussion?

28:12>> No.

28:13>> All those in favor of David's motion to

28:16zero out the districts.

28:17>> I

28:18>> I

28:20>> I

28:22unanimous.

28:23>> Thank you. And Mr. Chair, my other

28:24motion would be to ask Andrew if and

28:27this board if they would consider

28:28putting a placeholder

28:30uh on the town warrant for uh the dog

28:34licenses because we're still waiting to

28:35hear from council. So,

28:38we really can't talk about it. We don't

28:40know which way we're turning. So, I'd

28:43just like to keep a placeholder so if

28:44council says we have to take a left,

28:46we're prepared and don't have to wait

28:47another six months.

28:50>> Do you um have a question? Is that a

28:53bylaw amendment that would need to be

28:56made?

28:57>> We're waiting to find out because then

28:58it would have to be on the At at minimum

29:01it would have to be a bylaw change,

29:03>> right? So it would have to be on the

29:04warrant.

29:05>> But through the exercise we did learn

29:06that there are discounts already for

29:08seniors.

29:09>> Yes.

29:10>> Kind of took off the urgency of it a

29:12little bit.

29:14>> Yeah. I'd like to see if we can get a

29:15placeholder and I'll give this

29:17information to everybody while we're

29:18here as well. But

29:21I also do not believe we should be

29:23charging seniors or veterans for canine

29:25companionship.

29:26To Mr. Cronis's point, yes, over a

29:28certain age, but seniors do start a

29:30little younger. And a veteran doesn't

29:32have to be a senior. And anyone who's

29:33been in combat, even family members of

29:36those who have been in combat, I think

29:38would stress the importance of having

29:40that available. Um, and why are we

29:42putting any any obstacles at all,

29:45whether financial, regardless of cost.

29:47The goal here also is not to remove late

29:50fees or kennel licenses. If you don't

29:52and you still have to license, but if

29:54you don't license, you still pay all the

29:55late fees. Um, but if you're a senior or

29:57a veteran, I don't believe you should

29:59have to pay for the privilege, if you

30:01will, I'm sorry, of K9 companionship. We

30:04average about 2800

30:07dog licenses a year and we average

30:10around 27,000

30:13a year in dog licenses. That's total for

30:16everyone. So again, u if we find out

30:21that we're able to um just zero out

30:23seniors, whether it's 65 or whatever we

30:26use for senior center, everything else

30:28um and veterans, that that is my

30:30request. I just don't know if it has to

30:32be how we have to go through this.

30:37>> Um you know what? Well, I'm just

30:38thinking while you were talking, if this

30:40is a bylaw, we have a bylaw review

30:42committee going through process now.

30:45Do we want to make the recommendation to

30:47them or do we want to

30:50>> No, because it still has to go through

30:51the warrant. So, it could be a

30:52recommendation, but that will have to

30:54wait for a year.

30:55>> It would have to be probably.

30:57>> Yeah. So, if the board would would

30:59consider it, I'm just asking for a

31:01placeholder

31:03>> for this warrant.

31:04>> Yeah. And if we have what we need, then

31:06we can actually have a vote on it. And

31:08if we don't, pass over it definitely.

31:14kind of cutting those.

31:16>> I Yeah, I I

31:18I'm okay with it. I I prefer to wait

31:20until we have the answer, but we can

31:22always pass over,

31:23>> right? We just, you know, table it

31:25indefinitely or pass over. Take no

31:27action.

31:28>> Is there a motion? Second on that.

31:31>> Second. Put the placeholder on the

31:34warrant. Yes. All

31:35>> in favor?

31:37>> I

31:38>> Do you think we'll have that next

31:39meeting?

31:40>> I hope so. I asked last week. So

31:42>> I I asked the questions last week. So

31:44I'm hoping to have the answer for you.

31:45>> Can you take a vote pending the result?

31:47>> We can I mean next next meeting anyway

31:50you will consider you could always take

31:52things off the warrant. So you just

31:55can't add it on without reopening.

31:58>> Hurry up and wait.

32:03>> Okay.

32:07>> All right. 655

32:09at 7 o'clock.

32:10>> Yeah.

32:12>> Chapter 61A removal request for parcel

32:14ID 10-B-2.8

32:16G road owned by St. Mark Coptic Orthodox

32:19Church attaches a request from Francis

32:21A. Nero Esquire on behalf of St. Mark

32:23Coptic Orthodox Church requesting remove

32:25from chapter 61B approximately 2.47

32:28acres of land as shown on assessor's map

32:3110 block B lot 2.8 located on Gould

32:34Road. The planning board, board of

32:36assessors, conservation commission, and

32:38water sewer commission have all reviewed

32:40the request and have no objection to the

32:41TA Charlton choosing not to exercise the

32:43right of first refusal for this request.

32:46The chairman should open the public

32:47hearing by [snorts] reading the attached

32:48public hearing notice. I'd recommend the

32:50board not exercise the right of first

32:52refusal for this property.

32:54>> Okay, the public hearing notice. Please

32:56be advised that the Charlton Select

32:57Board will hold a public hearing on

32:59Tuesday, September 8th, 2026 at 6:59

33:03p.m. at the Charlton Town Hall meeting

33:05room 137 Main Street, Troutton, Mass to

33:08on a request by Frank Nero, Esquire on

33:11behalf of St. Mark Coptic Orthodox

33:13Church, who intends to sell the land,

33:16which consists of approximately 2.47 47

33:18acres

33:20for for other use located on Gould Road

33:23sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh

33:23sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh

33:23sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh

33:23shown on the assessor's map 10-B2.8

33:27as recorded in the Worcester District

33:29Registry of Deeds book book 19160, page

33:3394. Any interested

33:37parties should appear at the time and

33:39date specified or submit concerns in

33:41writing prior to the hearing. Do we have

33:43any requests in writing on this?

33:45>> I don't believe so. No. Is there anyone

33:47here to talk on this topic or

33:50hearing? None. We take a

33:55motion to close the public hearing.

33:58>> Second.

33:59>> All in favor? I

34:01>> I

34:02>> and then take a vote a motion to not

34:05accept or accept the

34:09>> Andrew's Andrew's recommendation was not

34:11to

34:14>> second exercise the first refusal right

34:19>> first and second all in favor

34:21>> I

34:21>> I

34:22>> okay and moving on

34:26>> in the next 7 o'clock appointment was

34:29for 508 was postponed

34:32until

34:33>> 922

34:36>> 9:22

34:41and that brings us to back to

34:47>> senior center take it.

34:49>> All right.

34:51All right. So timeline for action on

34:53proposed senior center as requested by

34:55the board at its meeting on August 25th.

34:57I perfor prep prepared the attach report

34:59outlining potential time frame and

35:01development options for consideration in

35:03evaluating the feasibility of a new

35:04senior center. The report examines two

35:07potential development pathways. One

35:08being the acquisition and redevelopment

35:10of the Trump furniture building or two

35:12new acquisition or new construction on

35:14town owned property. For each pathway,

35:17the report identifies potential funding

35:18and development tracks as well as two

35:20implement implementation approaches. a

35:23full project approval and development

35:25process or phased approach. The report

35:28also outlines the anticipated

35:29advantages, challenges and risks

35:31associated with each option. Uh the

35:33intent of this report is to provide the

35:35board with a framework for discussion

35:36and decision making as it as it

35:39considers the potential development of a

35:40new senior center and the various paths

35:43available to it.

35:44>> Okay. And this is probably a time for

35:46you to

35:48>> Yeah, sure. Sure.

35:56chair of the senior community center

35:59feasibility committee

36:01>> man on the feasibility committee and

36:05five pie

36:06>> okay so first of all I want to thank

36:08Andrew for putting this together did a

36:10[clears throat] nice job with the four

36:11options

36:12>> um and a couple of updates I have since

36:14the last meeting um one is that there

36:17was a price reduction of the property

36:19from 1.8 to 1.6 6 million and I don't

36:22know that that was in all the four

36:24options or in the in in that document.

36:26Let's put it that way. I think some

36:27places it was in there and some places

36:29it wasn't. So there was actually

36:30>> we were at 1.8 we're at 1 1.6 and also

36:34the tax value because people were

36:35discussing that the last time too but

36:37what the property up there is worth and

36:39the tax value on that property is 1.3

36:41million. So, um, and another thing is

36:44that the owner has agreed to remove the

36:48white building to do the demo and remove

36:50the white building. So, the town

36:52wouldn't have to pay for that.

36:54And yeah, and if there's any issues with

36:57anything obviously like asbestous or

36:59anything like that, then they'll be

37:00taking care of it. But they're they're

37:02not going to like prep the property in

37:04any way. It would be strictly getting

37:06that tear down and get it out of there.

37:09Um,

37:11also

37:12not as important, but um, Lero had

37:15erroneously put that the property was

37:172.2 acres and it's actually 3.68. So,

37:20it's it's bigger than they had said. And

37:23lastly on the updates, um our surveys

37:26that came back had shown that well over

37:2890% of the people that returned it and

37:30said that they don't really care if it's

37:32in the town center if it's if it's

37:34downtown because geographically was so

37:36big everybody has to drive there anyway.

37:39>> What was Can you Can you put your

37:41>> basically they they uh they don't care

37:43if it's in the town center or near the

37:45downtown. Most of the people that

37:47responded said that because

37:49geographically Chelton is so big you

37:51have to drive there anyway. Um so

37:55regarding the four options, our

37:56committee got together and had a meeting

37:58and we voted and we are still

38:01recommending the full purchase and

38:03renovation to be a placeholder, you

38:06know, for the for the warrant in

38:08October.

38:09Um and you know, we went through all the

38:12various pros and cons of that. that, you

38:14know, we have different reasons for why

38:15we don't want the other ones, the phased

38:16in furniture store. First of all, it

38:18involves two town meetings and an

38:20election and we could end up with

38:22another piece of property and end up not

38:24doing anything on it. Another piece of

38:26property with a building like arts and

38:27activities and then not get the

38:29renovation money later. So, we really

38:31didn't like that option.

38:33um the new build on the arts and

38:35activities, it displaces the community

38:37that's using it now, which is a lot of,

38:39you know, musical programs and things

38:42like that, which kind of pits the

38:44seniors against whoever's using it. And

38:47that plan doesn't plan for an expansion

38:51for for community center. So, that would

38:53cost more money. Um, and that one also

38:56requires two town meetings and a and a

38:58debt exclusion uh vote. And then lastly,

39:02the new build at the Masonic Home Road.

39:04Um potentially the negotiation with

39:06Overlook could could fail. We don't know

39:08that they're going to agree to let us

39:10put a senior center over there because

39:12that was a

39:12>> I don't think we need to purchase it.

39:13>> I think we do. I think it has to be

39:15negotiated because they had agreed to to

39:17do it based on a a public safety

39:19building going.

39:20>> That was due to the old municipality

39:22>> usage on that land.

39:23>> Yeah, I thought it was I thought it was

39:25deed to

39:25>> As long as we use it for

39:27>> I thought it was already deeded to the

39:28town. The town currently holds a deed

39:30and was paid compensation for the

39:32property. There's a

39:34>> caveat within the language that

39:35basically says if the town does not take

39:37action for the intended use at that time

39:39was a senior was the

39:42>> public safety building that they had the

39:44option to purchase it back for the same

39:46purchase cost.

39:46>> But he didn't yet

39:48>> within a five within five or it was like

39:52after five years if the town had not

39:54taken action. So, it's not to say that

39:57we couldn't go back and we've revised

39:58our plan and

40:00>> make sure that we're all

40:01>> on the same page, but

40:04>> u you know, it's a it's a consideration

40:06that would have to be taken through the

40:08chat. That's why it's on here.

40:09>> Okay. So, so anyways, that was it. And

40:11also, that one is a two two town meeting

40:13plus a debt exclusion. The only one that

40:15isn't is is the full purchase and

40:18renovation. That's one town meeting.

40:20So the town meeting would be October and

40:21then the May election um for the debt

40:25exclusion and also with the topography

40:27from what I understand because the

40:29public safety feasibility did a big

40:31analysis over there of that property

40:33that in itself is an advantage but we we

40:36don't know that there won't be issues.

40:38So, even though the furniture store is

40:40our full purchase is our first choice,

40:44um we really couldn't decide if there

40:46was a second choice between the other

40:48two because we don't have enough

40:49information to to make that decision at

40:51this time. But I mean, if you guys can

40:53put something just generically as a

40:55placeholder or how however you do that

40:56to put an article on the October

40:58meeting, then

40:59>> and

41:01the the plan that Lero has suggested for

41:04the [clears throat] furniture center um

41:07meets one of our important criteria and

41:09that is that that the building be

41:11designed for use by the whole community

41:14in addition to the seniors and that

41:16that's built in to this uh building

41:19plan. Um,

41:22I don't know if that is going to add to

41:23the cost of the other options, but we've

41:26already got that that's already built in

41:28and that really is our hope that it's

41:31that, you know, again, seniors use it

41:32during a dedicated time and then it's

41:34open to the community for meetings. And

41:36I think I mentioned at the last meeting

41:38when we opened up a senior community

41:39center in Newburyport, the school

41:41committee held their meetings there. A

41:42number of town uh committees and

41:45commissions would meet there in addition

41:47to people coming in for everything from

41:49uh lectures to uh movie nights.

41:53So um we like that part of the plan.

41:58>> And at home day we got a lot of feedback

42:00from people saying that they would

42:02really love to see a community center.

42:04through the be a piece of it

42:05>> and through the chair. I just I did want

42:07to say one thing. So, um I was the I was

42:10appointed by my peers to serve on the

42:12committee and advisory capacity and I've

42:16been very impressed by the work that

42:17they've done in what three or four years

42:19now.

42:19>> That's been four years.

42:20>> Yeah. And and I want to thank Andrew

42:22again for the comprehensive

42:25choices that he provided. Um, I 100%

42:29back what you are recommending and

42:30respectfully ask my peers, you know,

42:33move this project forward so the voters

42:35can decide yay or nay that they're

42:38actually the taxpayers and we're going

42:39to be footing the bill. But you've done

42:41your due diligence. you've you've you've

42:44done so much and and I know myself after

42:46I listened to you today your meeting. Um

42:51I was absolutely convinced that in

42:53looking at all the information like you

42:55know this is that building is up at the

42:57Charlton the old Charlton furniture site

42:59is going to address the needs for the

43:01future instead of just trying to put a

43:04band-aid on something. Um it also we've

43:07invested already a significant amount of

43:09money because we asked for the the

43:1150,000 that was used for other things,

43:13but the for the for the plans that were

43:15drawn up. So, you know, we had that they

43:18were had that in the booth up at Old

43:19Home Day. Um, and then a nonprofit was

43:21formed. I mean, it's just you've got

43:23you're off the starting line right now

43:25and and I feel very confident and

43:27comfortable recommending that this moves

43:30forward and thank you for your really

43:32hard work.

43:33>> Thank you. Thank you.

43:35>> Thank you for considering.

43:36>> So, I'm a little confused of how this is

43:38being presented. So what we

43:40hypothetically speaking, what are we

43:41voting on to putting this on a on a

43:43warrant as a two option deal or just do

43:46we have to decide now which truck we

43:48want to choose? And to answer your

43:49question, both buildings are the same

43:51square footage.

43:53>> Uh yeah, 13,000 square ft and another is

43:5513,000, 600.

43:57>> Yeah. 650,000 is more than 38 less for

44:01the other two new build.

44:02>> But this is the old building that we're

44:04going to renovate. Opposite to the

44:06option two is a brand new building.

44:07We're going to build to to our likings

44:09up to the standards and with the old new

44:11materials and not no not demolition,

44:13right? We're talking about the land by

44:15the Amazon home across

44:18>> we talking about the second option.

44:20>> The second option that's the land that

44:22you were discussing.

44:23>> Well, that was that was town owned land

44:26that's vacant currently that could be

44:28cited for new construction. I just

44:30really use the cost per square footage

44:32that was provided in the report as

44:34>> what would come out for that total

44:36>> and through the chair if you look at the

44:37summary they all land around the same

44:39price as well. So, except this one is

44:41the known, you know, a lot more about it

44:44moving forward than the others. And I

44:46don't know about you, but I don't want

44:47to go back to the taxpayers and ask them

44:49for more money to study another place

44:51that because we even though we studied

44:53this and we're recommend well, some are

44:54recommending it. We don't we don't want

44:56to move forward with that. We want to go

44:57look somewhere else. We've been since

44:591993,

45:00>> right?

45:02>> Yes.

45:03>> I I have a two-part question. Um,

45:06one is I don't know the original asking

45:09price years ago for the um 2 million

45:12>> furniture center.

45:12>> I think it was 2.2

45:14>> 2.2. So my my question I guess is who's

45:18negotiating this? And and I say that

45:21honestly because if it started at 2.2,

45:23the paperwork we originally saw was two,

45:26then it was told we were 1.8, now it's

45:291.6, and they're going to do a

45:31demolition. who's negotiating and and

45:34shouldn't we have the final bottom line

45:36information brought to us?

45:38>> I mean, we can certainly get you that if

45:41you want that

45:42>> because it just keeps changing,

45:43>> right? I think the chair need that. We

45:45can we can definitely do that. I mean,

45:47we we're just trying to get one of these

45:49options on the warrant,

45:52>> but we can get you that number.

45:54>> It's it might make sense just a

45:56recommendation. We're going the right

45:58way

45:58>> to just put this on the next meeting in

46:01two weeks so they can come back with

46:04that so Andrew can find out if that's an

46:07option for already owned land which

46:10means you have to pay a penny.

46:12>> I'd like to know before making

46:14absolutely me too.

46:15>> But through the chair that if you look

46:17at the options when you look at

46:19everything the end game the end price is

46:22about the same. Why would we want to go

46:24back just to because we own the land

46:26when at the end it's still going to cost

46:28us.

46:28>> This is a brand new building, not the

46:29renovated one.

46:30>> But you can't necessarily but you do but

46:33but through the chair

46:36and and with all due respect the

46:37committee's been researching and looking

46:40at this and analyzing this with Andrew,

46:42with Lero, with with a lot of people

46:45we've looked at it for what and just we

46:47we're all inter entitled to our

46:49opinions. I'm a little more

46:50acknowledgeable because I've been with

46:51the group, but I think it's um doing

46:54them a disservice and a little bit

46:55disrespectful not to go along with the

46:57recommendation and I'm recommending it

46:58as well.

46:59>> And so to your point earlier about

47:01placeholders, let's put the placeholder

47:03on there and if something we shouldn't

47:06be complaining about a price going down.

47:08>> No, that's what I said. [laughter] We're

47:10in the right direction.

47:11>> It's going down. That's a good thing.

47:12>> Can we just stop here? What what are we

47:15asking town meeting to do?

47:18We want to have an article on there

47:20that's that's going to be for the

47:22auction for $14 million

47:24>> for the purchase and renovation of

47:25>> for the entire project. Andrew for the

47:27entire project.

47:27>> Okay. I'm I'm I'm um

47:32>> so and the risk and it's Andrew spelled

47:34it out right on here very well. The risk

47:36of doing that is purchasing the pro the

47:38property after town meeting and then

47:40town and then

47:41>> No, that's not the one we're picking.

47:43>> We don't want the first option. We want

47:44the second option.

47:46>> Second one has all inclusive

47:50Then why can't we just

47:57>> So then we know

47:59>> for the chair the risk factor on that

48:00one was that for when you know you're at

48:02feasibility phase you're essentially

48:04taking that risk that you have not

48:06created a more substantial set of design

48:08documents. Um but so you know there

48:12there is the risk of escalation once you

48:14get more in depth into you know into the

48:16building.

48:17Um,

48:19but you also can't move on that project

48:22until you obtain a debt exclusion vote,

48:24which essentially is that would not

48:27occur until the May town meeting unless

48:29the board was to hold a special election

48:32>> or sorry, this annual town election,

48:35>> right?

48:36>> So you you'd have the authorization in

48:37October, but you still couldn't really

48:38do anything until

48:40>> Right.

48:40>> Right. And any through the chair any and

48:43I think the committee was fine with

48:44that. So the ballot vote would be in

48:46May. So that's the two-part, but this

48:48gets it started rather than pushing it

48:50further down the road because when that

48:52happens, as we know, prices go up,

48:54things change.

48:55>> Nothing's going to happen.

48:57>> But we have But without the OC, we need

48:59the October vote. We need the October

49:01vote.

49:01>> Actually, it could go down, too.

49:03>> It went from 2.2 to 1.6. Oh,

49:06>> we're still we're still right

49:08>> the um

49:11>> we're still at the part in the position

49:13that we're with if we're going to buy a

49:15piece of land now it's 1.6 million or

49:19use land that we already own that we

49:21paid 250,000 for

49:24>> but at the end at the end of the day at

49:27the end the cost is the about the same.

49:29>> How could it be? Look, if you read it,

49:31you would see

49:32>> he used square footage cost.

49:34>> This is a brand new construction that

49:36will be on the on the new building.

49:37>> Where is it?

49:38>> Where is the location that we own?

49:40>> It's right police station right across

49:42the street from

49:43>> this St. Joe's.

49:45>> So, I outlined too that you have the you

49:47know that you also have a a parking

49:49issue at the police department that we

49:51need to address and that one of the pros

49:54to that potential site is that you could

49:56incorporate that with a larger project

49:58that helped

50:00the police, you know, parking site. So,

50:02you have a shared senior center police

50:04parking lot.

50:05>> Yeah.

50:05>> Right.

50:06>> Yeah. Expand the police parking lot and

50:09[clears throat]

50:10>> the secret.

50:12>> And it's right right across the street

50:13from the overlook right next to the

50:15police station closer to the center of

50:16town.

50:17>> And there's actually I believe the way

50:18that split the way that was done is like

50:21almost like two properties that are over

50:22there. So, you potentially still had

50:24room to put another building if you ever

50:26needed something else.

50:27>> Yes or no answer. through through

50:29through the chair. This sidebar

50:32conversation we get we need to hear

50:35[laughter] I think it's not a sidebar.

50:37It's not a microphone. I just asked a

50:38question.

50:39>> I I would like the um

50:42>> I would like the committee to con

50:44consider a little more take into

50:46consideration that other property on

50:49>> we don't have all the information that

50:51we need because both of those appear to

50:54to to mean it's going to cost more money

50:57no matter what. It's going to cost more

50:58ultimately cost more money to do

51:00something there with the unknowns

51:02>> whereas we know exactly pretty close. I

51:04mean we have a lot of people losing

51:07costs and we already own the land. How

51:08can it be more money?

51:10>> I mean if you look at the numbers you

51:11can see what Andrew has on. It's all

51:13laid out again. [clears throat] They're

51:14all about 136 137

51:17>> right and then and I will go back to

51:20they've been analyzing this under it

51:24for years and now they examined all the

51:27options that was presented. I don't

51:29understand the harm. So I would make the

51:30motion that we move forward and put this

51:32on the on the warrant. Doing so does no

51:36harm because we can pass it over, right?

51:38and it just allows the taxpayers and

51:40it's the entire thing versus you don't

51:42in my opinion and the committee's

51:43opinion you don't want to get the

51:44building first and not have you know the

51:48money to renovate it and again you

51:50looked my frustration is you did all of

51:52your due diligence you looked at it and

51:54I understand questions I had questions

51:56too

51:57>> we appointed them

51:58>> Karen you made a point thank you if if I

52:01may chair I just want to point out that

52:02even if the cost were the same to the

52:04penny there's an old saying in real

52:06estate about location, location,

52:07location. And if I have a senior center

52:09that's right next to a fire department

52:10and a police station, I think that's a

52:12strong benefit. So, I'm just going to

52:14put out there, people can argue all they

52:16want tonight, but you know, the

52:19committee themselves admit they don't

52:20even have all the information on that

52:22property yet because they it was the

52:24last minute there. They don't have that

52:25yet. To me, two weeks is is

52:29if the if the price changes to build a

52:31building in two weeks, we have bigger

52:32problems. Um, if we're voting on this

52:34tonight, I'm a no. because I want to

52:37know if Andrew can talk to them about

52:40using. It's not a question of need.

52:42Everyone agrees.

52:44>> But if Andrew has an opportunity to talk

52:45to them to find out if we have access to

52:47that land that we already own,

52:49regardless if the end price is the same,

52:52there are other benefits that could

52:53benefit the town in way more ways if we

52:56do it there. Plus, then we have a senior

52:58center right next to fire and police. I

52:59think it's I want to know about that

53:01before I make any decision.

53:02>> And Andrew brought up an interesting

53:04point, too, with the police station.

53:05park. That's something we're going to be

53:07facing. Um if you go there, if you go by

53:09there now, we were there this morning.

53:11They're parked on the grass.

53:13>> Can I Steve? Steve through the through

53:15the through the chair. Pat, um do you

53:18have anything on the land itself? Any

53:19type of the wetlands in the back? Any

53:21type of any contamination? Anything?

53:23Where is this?

53:24>> There there are actually there's

53:25wetlands behind every one of these

53:26properties. There's wetlands there.

53:28>> But where where is that for us to read?

53:30Is that do you have any material? Did

53:32you did you examine the land itself is

53:34what I want to know?

53:34>> No. All we All we had for the other two

53:36options of the properties that are owned

53:38by the town was what we got from.

53:40>> So, so, so now we So there's not two

53:42acres now. It's three three acres.

53:44>> The one up there,

53:44>> right? That's what I'm talking about.

53:46That I know about.

53:47>> That was 3.6A. And yeah, there there's a

53:49site. It was in the L report. There's a

53:50site plan that shows exactly where the

53:53wetlands wetlands are because they're

53:54way down below. And so that first 100

53:57feet you can't do anything. And then 200

53:58feet you can do limited things. But

54:01>> we did bring the coffee

54:05shows

54:06>> that shows where the wetlands is.

54:08>> Yeah.

54:08>> Or no, that's the same one we already

54:12have.

54:12>> No, I thought you have some like a

54:13thorough there was some talk about some

54:15kind of a contamination at that side. We

54:18don't know how. So, but we have it in

54:20writing that there's nothing that I was

54:21checked thoroughly and there's nothing

54:23there to our surprise

54:25>> because there was there was a

54:26conversation about

54:27>> the only thing we don't know about is

54:29the house that's going to get torn down

54:32but the seller is committed to whatever

54:36abatement needs to happen once that

54:38house comes down and they're going to

54:39take it down

54:40>> right because that was an issue last

54:41time someone had said so we're paying

54:42for a property that we're going to tear

54:44down and they're going to tear that

54:45building down

54:47>> I guess the idea was we're paying Well,

54:48today we're paying 1.6. Yesterday we

54:50were paying 1.8. So, but we were paying

54:53that again for two or three acres with

54:57some wetlands of two buildings from

54:59which two one will be completely

55:01demolished and we have to spend 13.7

55:04million to reconstruction the old

55:06structure.

55:07>> Yes, that's true.

55:09>> 13.6 and it's actually it's going to end

55:11up being

55:12>> Yeah. And that was the issue to begin

55:14with. That's for what I remember in my

55:16you know since we had that conversation

55:18>> say there is another difference in that

55:20one purchase includes 24 almost 24 acres

55:24of land for that price. So you not only

55:27would be getting senior center but

55:29almost 24 acres of land which would be

55:32conveniently located also near St.

55:34Joe's. It would be in it would be like

55:37in the heart of everything on a massive

55:39amount of

55:40>> and the time frame is the same. the time

55:42frame would be you you'd still get a key

55:44to the door around 2030 is what the

55:46>> I think the issues here not to put it on

55:48a warrant just how we going to put it

55:49and what exactly is going to go on it

55:51>> but Andrew has put two weeks

55:52>> yeah but so we could do a placeholder

55:55for just to say we're going to put it

55:57something on the warrant to move this

55:59forward whether it's the the one you're

56:01talking

56:01>> I want to know where it is when I asked

56:03for the place I knew what it was to the

56:05penny

56:05>> right

56:06>> exactly the details I want to know this

56:08before I put a place on I asked for two

56:09weeks if two weeks is too much coming

56:11out.

56:12>> I'd like to make another comment too

56:13about it being near police and fire. We

56:15actually asked the fire chief, I believe

56:18it was back then, and they said it

56:19wasn't a good idea because you don't

56:21want seniors with all the sirens and

56:23cars racing in and out of there.

56:24>> We can have chief's opinion right now.

56:28>> 23 acres could be two driveways.

56:30>> Yeah. Yeah. And I mean, but if if you're

56:32talking about like with the two kind of

56:33properties you're talking about, if if

56:35you're talking about sharing the parking

56:36lot, I'm assuming you're talking about

56:38the one closest to the police station.

56:40But potentially, we could put the senior

56:42center over on the other side that's

56:43further away from the police station.

56:45>> That is a nice sweet.

56:46>> Also, they're not lighting up the sirens

56:48when they pull out because all the

56:49residences and houses right there.

56:51They're going to roll out [snorts] the

56:52lights and hit the sirens down the

56:53street.

56:54>> All right, let's do something here. So,

56:55Andrew, can we find out about that land

56:57and um

56:58>> I don't I don't I can't imagine there'd

57:00be a problem with it.

57:01>> Yeah, I'm I'm sure not.

57:02>> It's it's already deed to the

57:04>> and then we put it on agenda for next

57:05for in two weeks.

57:06>> I'm not voting on anything today.

57:08>> Yeah. And can we talk to overlook before

57:10then?

57:11>> Yeah. I mean, I just more or less say

57:15>> old issues I want to make sure that are

57:17all squared away before we run into

57:22about if we can consolidate that into a

57:24parking lot for them and maybe get a

57:26nice little plan out of this

57:27>> and we can all data we have

57:28>> and then we're getting a two for

57:30>> two for one right or three for one

57:32>> and in and the location.

57:34>> So if we go go with that wasn't there

57:36still a recommendation to put something

57:38for October. Um so on that one is

57:40essentially it's the the October ask

57:43would be to put money for um an owner

57:46owner's project manager schematic design

57:49development so that way you could start

57:51the process of trying to get a pro you

57:54know a a further project to be approved

57:57later down

57:58>> but we can decide that on the 22nd

58:04>> I just ask a question just just a

58:07process question. Um, if the select

58:11board doesn't approve to put this on the

58:13warrant, does it is there still time on

58:15the 22nd to add it to the war or we

58:17pushing it back another whole year

58:19>> put on?

58:20>> Mhm. So, we have to have

58:22>> we put on Yeah.

58:23>> Okay.

58:24>> Yeah. Yeah. We wouldn't we wouldn't do

58:26that. We we'd be putting a placeholder

58:28for something.

58:28>> So, so we will be deciding on exactly

58:31which track we're going to choose to put

58:32on a war next meeting.

58:34>> Okay.

58:37art just senior.

58:39>> There you [laughter] go.

58:41>> I I would just add that that I really

58:44hope you consider

58:45>> the other location the other for your

58:47benefit as well for the committee's

58:48benefit. That other property at 2.4

58:50million was already shot down at town

58:52meeting a couple years ago.

58:54>> That's

58:55I'm talking true.

58:57>> It was a citizens petition and it was

58:59they didn't do due diligence.

59:01>> They didn't have that's what we told.

59:03>> Yeah, I was there. I voted against it

59:05>> because they didn't do due diligence.

59:07>> They said we need to do due diligence,

59:09get the the numbers and that's what

59:10we've done.

59:12>> No, we're right back at the same

59:13property.

59:15>> We don't know what the reasons were that

59:16was everybody voted.

59:17>> No, it may not seem like it, but for the

59:19public at large, my personal opinion is

59:21that we are closer than I think we've

59:23ever been.

59:25>> Absolutely.

59:26>> Absolutely.

59:27>> Absolutely.

59:28>> Thank you. Thank you.

59:29>> Thank you.

59:35Oh yes, Mr. Sage. Sorry,

59:38>> Stephan Sage, Lincoln Point Road. I just

59:40want to be really clear because item

59:41number seven here says close the town

59:44meeting warrant.

59:46>> Does that mean you can close it now

59:49today and then you can open it again on

59:51the 22nd?

59:52>> We've done that. We've done that in the

59:53past.

59:53>> Say this. We can hold We could hold a

59:55placeholder.

59:56I'm assuming I'm speaking for the board

59:58here, but

59:59>> get barring this discussion as a

60:01placeholder for senior center and then

60:04that board language will be finalized at

60:06your next meeting or other action taken.

60:10>> Items can always be taken off after the

60:12close.

60:12>> But we because we say that we still

60:14doesn't mean that it must go on. It can

60:16be removed also.

60:18>> But just keeping that

60:19>> anything can be removed from the

60:21>> right

60:23you know that people know it too.

60:27We've opened the warrant before it

60:28closed.

60:28>> Okay. I just want to make sure that's

60:30really close the same day.

60:31>> The public that's out there.

60:33>> Thank you.

60:34>> So technically, Mr. Chair, we

60:35>> reopen the warrant at any time, too.

60:37>> Good. We could always reopen the warrant

60:39any time or we simply close the warrant

60:40on the 22nd and post it the same day.

60:43>> Even problem solved. Just close the

60:46warrant till the 22nd.

60:47>> I like that. Yeah,

60:51>> we still have

60:52>> in the next next item is board

60:55deliberate version of vote to close the

60:59meeting.

61:02>> Never mind.

61:02>> So, we think about

61:03>> add we got to add the ones that were

61:05asked to add tonight. So,

61:07>> plus we've received the citizens

61:09petition vote. So, if the board wants to

61:12wait until the next meeting to close,

61:13that's fine. Or you can close it tonight

61:15and then reopen.

61:17I don't get your idea of waiting.

61:20>> I said two weeks. Two weeks and we still

61:22post it the same day. We're still

61:23posting on time.

61:26>> Yeah.

61:26>> So, what are we doing?

61:27>> I guess I guess it um it would people

61:31would have more time to get in citizens

61:33petitions between now and then.

61:37>> Right. Yeah. There. No, I'm trying to

61:38think of the benefits of All right. We

61:40don't have to take action on that

61:41either.

61:42>> I'm hoping Andrew doesn't answer

61:43quickly. Me,

61:45>> too.

61:51Okay. And any committee reports? None.

61:54Town administrator report. Andrew,

61:56>> I just want to recognize all the hard

61:58work of everybody that got old tom day

61:59together. I know it was a big push from

62:01a lot of volunteers. Um, unfortunately,

62:03I'm apologize. I wasn't able to to

62:05attend this year, but um, you know, I

62:08happy that we have such a dedicated

62:10group of people in this town that make

62:11sure it does happen every year. So,

62:13thank you to everybody.

62:15Any any requests for future agenda

62:18items?

62:18>> Just cameras.

62:20>> Cameras.

62:21>> We already voted.

62:23>> Cameras here.

62:24>> Don't forget because I won't forget.

62:26>> Next select board meeting will be

62:28September 22nd, 2026 right in this room.

62:316:30 p.m. I would accept a motion to

62:34adjourn.

62:36Second. All

62:37>> in favor? I I done.