2026-10-19 - Select Board

00:04a timber harvest at 198 Photon Road and

00:07then 655 for a public hearing notice

00:11for a timber harvest at 175 Arnold Road.

00:14We'll then move on to department

00:16reports, DPW, water and sewer

00:18facilities,

00:20town administrator's update, action

00:22items, old business, new business,

00:24approval of minutes, citizens forum

00:27and then we will adjourn. And with that

00:29we have I have

00:31a

00:32a

00:33quasi virtual meeting tonight so I think

00:35we by way of roll call

00:38I think

00:39it's like person

00:41Phillips, you're on.

00:43>> Yeah.

00:44>> Yes.

00:44>> Okay.

00:46And who else is on the line?

00:51Is there anybody who expects to be

00:52participating in the meeting other than

00:54for citizens forum?

00:57Hearing nothing, I'm assuming that is

00:58the answer.

01:00And with that, please stand for the

01:01pledge of allegiance.

01:05>> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

01:07United States of America and to the

01:10republic for which it stands, one nation

01:13under God, indivisible, with liberty and

01:16justice for all.

01:20>> Um

01:21so it is election season as I'm sure

01:23everybody knows who's watched any uh

01:27television that's involved the state of

01:28New Hampshire.

01:30And um just you know, for my moment of

01:33silence tonight uh I just want to urge

01:36everybody to vote because the blunt

01:38reality is that those rights did not

01:40just occur and a lot of people lost

01:42their lives to preserve them.

01:44Um suffrage is not to be taken for

01:47granted

01:48um and so please just think about those

01:50who've come before us and laid down

01:52their lives for the rights that we have

01:54today. So please take a moment of

01:56silence.

02:05Thank you.

02:07All right, public service announcements.

02:09Mary Lou.

02:10>> Yeah, I have two. One,

02:12everyone knows uh Halloween is the

02:14Horribles Parade, uh starts at 7:00

02:18um behind the library.

02:20And also, it is sponsored by the

02:22Sturbridge Firefighters Association, not

02:26to be confused with the Sturbridge Fire

02:27Department.

02:28>> [laughter]

02:30>> Secondly, um as winter is approaching,

02:33um private roads really need to be

02:36maintained so that the town can can plow

02:39for you.

02:40And that includes um brush trimming. All

02:43roadside

02:44brush trees and shrubs must be trimmed

02:46back at least 4 ft from the pavement

02:48edge.

02:49Overhead clearance, all overhanging

02:51branches must be cleared to a height of

02:53at least 15 ft above the road service to

02:56avoid damaging plow truck mirrors and

02:58safety lights.

02:59And turn around areas, dead end private

03:02ways must maintain a safe, wide, and

03:04unobstructed turn around area such as a

03:07cul-de-sac or hammerhead capable of

03:09accommodating a full-size DPW plow

03:12truck. These zones must remain entirely

03:14free of parked vehicles, trailers, trash

03:16bins, or stored property.

03:19If you live on a private road, it is up

03:21to you to maintain it because uh some of

03:24these roads the plow trucks just can't

03:26get down, and if they get down there,

03:28sometimes there's no place for them to

03:30turn around, so they're stuck.

03:32So, please be diligent and check out

03:34your um

03:36roads.

03:37Thank you.

03:38>> Great, thank you, Mary Lou. Um Mary

03:40Dalan?

03:41>> Um just the Home of the Brave Road Race.

03:44It's a 5K, which is like roughly 3.2 mi,

03:47or you can walk it, and it benefits our

03:50veterans, our veterans fund, um which is

03:53a line item in our budget. And it's You

03:55should see the signs all around town.

03:57Um, it's November 7th, 9:00 a.m., Home

04:00of the Brave 5K. And it leaves right

04:02from the common. And this [snorts] is

04:04several years now we've held it. I don't

04:06know how many, maybe five.

04:08>> Great.

04:08>> Maybe more.

04:10Time goes quicker than I think.

04:13>> Um, Katie, anything?

04:15>> No. [snorts] Bye-bye.

04:16>> Okay.

04:17Um, and I have two points. One, again,

04:19as I mentioned before, uh, November 3rd

04:22is the state, uh, election. Uh, voting

04:24will be at the Host Hotel from, what

04:26hour? 6:30 to 8:00? 8:00.

04:296:30 a.m. to 8:00. Um, and I believe the

04:32early voting is available right now.

04:34>> Yes. Until

04:36I think Friday.

04:37>> Until Friday, so,

04:38uh, if you want to make your life

04:39easier, get in, uh,

04:41get in there and vote, uh,

04:43in Town Hall. Otherwise, you you're

04:44going to have to wait until November 3rd

04:46at the Host.

04:48Uh, and then, uh, similarly, on November

04:5016th, we have a special town meeting at

04:54the Tantasqua Regional High School

04:55Auditorium at 7:00 p.m. Again, that is

04:57November 16th. Again, please be there,

05:01uh, and exercise your right to vote. Um,

05:03and with that, it is precisely 6:35 p.m.

05:08So, we have a public hearing.

05:10>> National Grid has made a petition to the

05:12Sturbridge Select Board to install five

05:14Geo poles

05:16on Warren Road beginning at a point

05:18approximately 700 ft northwest of the

05:20center line of the intersection of

05:22Warren Road and Brookfield Road, and

05:24continuing approximately 1 1,100 ft in a

05:27western direction. National Grid is to

05:30install five new poles on Warren Road,

05:33pole 350, 550, 650, 750, and 850. The

05:38pole hearing will take place on Monday,

05:39October 19th, 6:35 p.m. at Sturbridge

05:42Town Hall, second floor, Veterans

05:44Memorial Hall, 308 Main St. in

05:47Sturbridge.

05:48>> Okay, our friends from National Grid?

05:56Thank you. If you guys could just

05:58introduce yourself and give us an

06:00explanation about what's going on.

06:02>> Absolutely. My name is Carlos Garriga.

06:05I work with WSP, a consultant for

06:07National Grid,

06:08designer behind this project. Um

06:11So yeah, we just have here a simple uh

06:15reliability project where we are

06:18upgrading the infrastructure, namely the

06:21utility poles as well as the the cable

06:24on the utility poles.

06:25Uh you will see from the the sketch

06:28provided,

06:29most of these are all actually all five

06:32of these poles are mid-span poles,

06:34simply meaning the spans that are

06:36currently existing in the field are not

06:39the standard anymore.

06:41I believe that they all are plus 200 ft.

06:44Nowadays, they want to minimize that to

06:46150 ruling span. And all of that means

06:50is just

06:51x amount of distance we want it to kind

06:53of be at 150. So you'll see that we have

06:55some spans there, 120s, 110s, just to

06:58keep some of those spans from previous

07:01being a little longer.

07:03>> Okay. So base Okay, so it's basically Is

07:06there any other than the frequency of

07:09the placement of the poles, is there any

07:12other reliability

07:14uh portions?

07:16>> Yeah.

07:16>> Not on any of the The the poles are,

07:19you know, new poles. The wire on top is

07:22the gauge will be thicker in order to

07:24increase the capacity and everything,

07:26you know, as we modernize.

07:27>> Okay. So and and so it's just

07:29reliability, nothing prompted it?

07:32>> Yep, exactly. I believe that they have a

07:35project further down the road, but yeah,

07:37this project is simply for increasing

07:40the infrastructure.

07:41>> Okay. Questions from the board?

07:43>> Just as a follow-up to our chair, um

07:46so I know new poles were installed like

07:48on Fiskdale and they're larger, they're

07:50taller as well to accommodate the

07:52increased I don't know

07:55what's the right

07:57power or whatever you want to Thank you.

07:59Thank you. Are these also taller? I know

08:01they're going to be more

08:03I know they're going to be spaced closer

08:05apart. Are they bigger as well?

08:07>> Yes, so

08:09this would be considered main lines to

08:11like the main roads.

08:13Example, so they will be 45s. I believe

08:17they are currently 40s. Potentially some

08:2035s and mixed in there as they're older.

08:22But yeah, all standard poles now are 45

08:24feet.

08:25>> Okay, so they're all going to be taller

08:27in the as you replace them.

08:29>> Yep.

08:29>> Yeah, the higher the the voltage, we

08:31need more clearance also. And also

08:33during the summer, I want to add the the

08:35wire sag, so that's why the mid-span

08:37poles mid-span poles, they they help

08:39with that. So that's why we want to keep

08:41a distance of 150. They're engineered

08:44that way, so it makes the grid better.

08:47There's no wires hanging.

08:49>> Got it.

08:49>> Pretty straightforward.

08:51>> I mean, this is going to be a silly

08:52question, but I have to ask. So the

08:54poles you're not replacing, are they

08:56they're shorter? So like how do how does

08:58that work?

08:58>> So the

09:00if poles are not up to standard, like

09:02the the 45 feet nowadays,

09:05those old poles will all get replaced.

09:07>> Oh, they're all going to get replaced.

09:08>> Yep. Anything not to standard.

09:10>> Got it.

09:11>> Okay. Megan?

09:12>> No, nothing.

09:12>> Uh Cadian?

09:16>> Yep, nothing.

09:17>> Okay, thanks.

09:18Um it is a public hearing, so anybody

09:19from the public

09:21like to say anything? Any questions,

09:23thoughts, concerns?

09:24Okay.

09:26Um

09:27do we have a motion to close the public

09:29hearing?

09:30>> I'll make a motion to close the public

09:31hearing.

09:32>> Second.

09:32>> All those in favor?

09:34>> Yes.

09:35>> Okay.

09:37Any uh discussion on the

09:40um project the substance of the project?

09:43Uh do we have a motion?

09:46>> So moved.

09:49>> Uh I think we need to be a little bit

09:50more specific with this one. Uh

09:52um

09:53so I'll make a motion to uh ins- uh

09:57approve the installation of the five JO

09:59poles on Warren Road beginning at a

10:02point approximately 700 ft northwest of

10:05the center line of the intersection of

10:07Warren Road and Brookfield Road and

10:09continuing approximately approximately

10:111,100 ft in a western direction uh with

10:15National Grid to install five new JO uh

10:18five new poles on Warren Road 3-50,

10:215-50, 6-50, 7-50, 8-50.

10:27Um

10:28>> Second.

10:29>> Second. All right, all those in favor?

10:31Thank you. All right, [snorts] thanks

10:32thank you for coming, guys. Appreciate

10:33it.

10:35>> Okay, we have about 5 minutes till the

10:38next hearing. So let me just give myself

10:41a Yeah, Robin, if you could give an

10:43update.

10:43>> So

10:44um very quickly, first of all, I'd like

10:46to congratulate uh Chief Grasso. He's

10:49been accepted into the National Fire

10:50Academy's Executive Fire Officer

10:52Program.

10:53>> Okay.

10:54>> Um so he will be starting that program

10:56in November. Um Deputy Chief Martel will

10:59be available to us in the immediate

11:01while the Chief is away for a couple

11:02weeks.

11:02>> Okay.

11:03>> So we congratulate him on that. Uh I

11:05also want to let the public know many of

11:06you may have been following on Facebook

11:08the Hobbs Brook Plaza saga.

11:11Um I I've got more responses to that

11:13than probably everything combined that I

11:15have ever put on social media. Um Aiden

11:17will be meeting with the owners of the

11:19property on Thursday on a site visit to

11:22go over it. Um we have the police chief

11:25has gone out and reviewed it, indicated

11:27his concerns about the changes. These

11:30were not done in accordance with the

11:31town. These were not done in accordance

11:33with the site plan. They are allowed to

11:35make non-material changes, but this is a

11:37material change, particularly where it

11:40reaches out to Route 20 up at the top

11:42end. That's where it's of most concern

11:44to us. Um we have sent them a letter

11:48indicating that they need to take action

11:51and be and come into accordance with

11:52site plan or go back to site plan and

11:54have it reviewed. Again, they are

11:56meeting. Their initial discussion was

11:58they had done it for safety reasons. Um

12:01therefore it is a little hard for us to

12:02go just march in and demand that they

12:03take them out.

12:05>> people that don't know, can you just

12:06tell them what

12:06>> Yeah. Yeah, so they put stop signs in

12:09Hobbs Brook at almost every corner,

12:11every direction, and then added speed

12:12bumps in very close proximity to stop

12:14signs.

12:15The issues come primarily with the ones

12:17up at the top near Staples because it's

12:19backing traffic up onto 20 and creating

12:22a tough situation. Traffic was backing

12:23up onto 20 before, now it's even more

12:25so. So, we are working with them. We

12:28will get it rectified. Um I just cannot

12:30arbitrarily either shut down a plaza or

12:33pull stop signs out when they put them

12:35in. And I want to be clear to anybody,

12:37the town did not do this and the town

12:40has no subversive reason for wanting

12:42this, believe me. This was the last

12:44thing I wanted to

12:45>> worry about the social media. So, it's

12:47basically they have to be brought into

12:48compliance and they will be brought into

12:50compliance by when?

12:51>> Uh I don't have a date at this point.

12:53They're meeting tomorrow to make a

12:54determine uh Thursday to make a

12:55determination. The other concern is that

12:58the trees came down in the Shaw's Plaza.

13:01Um we are working with them. They will

13:03be required to do a replanting because

13:06we did not approve those trees coming

13:08down.

13:09Uh and the site does require

13:11some type of beautification. So, uh

13:14however, because of the time of year,

13:15any planting will happen in the spring.

13:17But we are on that one. I just wanted to

13:19make everybody aware we are aware of the

13:20trees as well and

13:21>> It It might be and maybe this is uh more

13:24of the planning board's purview, but it

13:26might not be the worst thing uh for

13:29Hayden to send a letter to some of the

13:30larger property holders introducing

13:33himself and letting them know what their

13:35site plan is and reminding them as

13:38specifically for any entities that might

13:40have changed over.

13:41Um but okay, thank you for that

13:43information.

13:43>> the same thought because now we have two

13:45non-compliant, so maybe they're not

13:47fully aware of what their legal

13:49requirements are.

13:50Excuse of the law is no excuse, but some

13:53kind of letter I I agree with Jamie

13:55would be

13:56>> Well, and there's a change over in

13:57powers of people's. Not necessarily I

13:59know I'm not casting aspersions. I

14:01understand traffic control, but the um

14:04but they have certain obligations that

14:06are a condition of their coming and

14:09doing business in town and they cannot

14:11just unilaterally alter them. So,

14:14um anything else on that?

14:16Anyone else in your report?

14:18>> No, I believe that's it.

14:19>> Okay.

14:20Um

14:21the we have In this we are at the next

14:24one. So, we're moving to uh the 645 198

14:28Potunk Road.

14:29>> In accordance with Mass. General Laws

14:30chapter 132 section 40-646,

14:34the Sturbridge Select Board will hold a

14:36public hearing on the petition of

14:38Cassidy

14:39>> Cassaday.

14:40>> Sorry, thank you.

14:41>> all right.

14:42>> Cassaday Forestry for forest cutting

14:44plan for land in 198 Potunk Road,

14:46Sturbridge, Mass. owned by Robert Mornea

14:50Mo- Moine-

14:51I know them, too. Moina Moina.

14:55I know the Moines. Moina Jr. of 192

14:58Potunk Road. The hearing will be held on

15:00Monday, October 19th, 2020 6:45

15:03Sturbridge Town Hall, Veterans Memorial

15:05Hall 308 Main Street, Sturbridge.

15:07>> Okay, if you could just come down and

15:09uh introduce yourself and explain what's

15:11going on.

15:17>> All right.

15:18Good evening. Um Um, name is Chris

15:20Cassaday, I'm a Mass DCR certified

15:23forester number 483.

15:25Uh, we have an office in Granby,

15:26Connecticut. And this is Tyler Locke.

15:29Uh, he's a forester from South Hadley,

15:32Mass. And uh, this is his first timber

15:34harvest here in the Commonwealth.

15:36>> I actually grew up right in Brookfield,

15:37it's funny enough. So, happy to be back

15:39in the area.

15:40>> Tyler's been with us since April and and

15:41working towards his Mass uh,

15:43certification, but uh, congratulations

15:45are in order as he just got his

15:47Connecticut DEP certification last week.

15:51Um, and if you're familiar with those

15:52regulations, the exam is quite

15:53difficult. So.

15:54>> Very good.

15:55>> So, Tyler's been very involved with this

15:56project, but I am here to to lead the

15:58meeting and obviously overseeing

15:59everything that's going on here. Uh, the

16:01Morning property is an operating tree

16:03farm. It it's been under active

16:05management uh, with another forester,

16:08Scott Garrish, for a number of years.

16:10Um, and the activity that we're

16:12proposing to do out there kind of

16:14continues with this uneven-aged forest

16:16management of the property. Uh, luckily

16:19there's a good network of skid roads and

16:22trails and landings um, that we'll be

16:24utilizing that have been utilized in the

16:26past and uh, the conditions are good for

16:29a harvest this winter. Um,

16:33I don't know how I've never been to a

16:35board of selectmen meeting um,

16:36explaining the nuts and bolts to our

16:37timber harvest, so I don't know how in

16:39depth you folks want to get with what's

16:41out there. We do have a meeting later in

16:42the week obviously with the Conservation

16:43Commission to review things and it's

16:46also in review with the state as well.

16:49>> Yeah, I mean I think it's just sort of a

16:51explanation of what the the project is

16:53like you did and then to open up for

16:55questions, thoughts, concerns from the

16:56board and then to give an opportunity to

16:58the public uh,

16:59to give a response. So, beginning with

17:01the board

17:02um, any thoughts, concerns, questions?

17:05>> No, I mean we usually have just general

17:08requirements in terms of

17:10coordinating with school buses. What are

17:12the hours that you plan to cut the

17:14trees?

17:15>> Well, the working hours are usually 7:00

17:17to 7:00 um, with trucks, you know,

17:20moving during business hours. The

17:22morning is good.

17:23Well, I don't think we're going to be

17:25terribly in the way of buses because

17:27we're not on Podunk Road for that long

17:29and then it'll be 49. Isn't that what

17:31that is there? Yeah. Yeah,

17:32[clears throat] and then probably most

17:34of it will go right on the interstate or

17:35head south to Connecticut. Um, but yeah,

17:38normal business hours.

17:39>> Okay, and I think in the past we've also

17:41indicated not on Sunday mornings, I

17:43recall.

17:43>> yeah, yes.

17:44>> No trucks on No trucking on Sunday just

17:46out of courtesy to the neighbors and the

17:48neighborhood.

17:49I know it

17:50>> Yeah, no we can certainly

17:51>> pretty spread out on Podunk, but

17:54>> Yeah, no we can abide by that. The

17:56harvester is a family man and tries not

17:58to work Sundays and if we can all get a

18:00day a break, that's good. So.

18:02>> I think we had a little bit one point

18:04We had a list of conditions. I'm happy

18:07to share these with you.

18:08>> Well, I can just read them I can go

18:09through them piece by piece if that's

18:10helpful.

18:13So, the first

18:15Well, we have the comments from Heather

18:16which notes that the

18:18the location was estimated

18:21because it wasn't staked or demarcated.

18:23So, before especially go through the

18:25conservation process, we're going to

18:26need the actual

18:29uh

18:30uh [snorts] point of in egress ingress

18:33demarcated to make sure uh like you said

18:35that the trucks aren't on the street at

18:37the wrong times and and then

18:38>> So, where the trucks are going to be

18:39accessing the property?

18:40>> Yes.

18:41>> You want Okay, they're both kind of

18:43agricultural roads as is. You mean

18:45flagged and labeled? Is that what you

18:46want to see?

18:47>> Yeah, we think we know where where they

18:49are.

18:49>> [laughter]

18:50>> Flags with a little label is fine with

18:52us.

18:52>> We have no drainage concerns,

18:54um

18:55but the from our own drainage structure

18:58our open drainage, but um

19:00we need

19:01uh storm water cannot be directed onto

19:03the waterway. I mean onto the roadway.

19:05>> Yep.

19:06>> Um makes sense.

19:08Uh

19:09and we require stone tracking pads

19:11installed in both locations.

19:13Um we need the roadway edge of the

19:16proposed landing supported uh

19:19so the asphalt doesn't break. So just so

19:20we don't we don't break the road on the

19:22side uh because uh per DPW the the

19:26existing pavement is in uh

19:28uh

19:29good condition.

19:31Um

19:32so no logging trucks or logs shall be

19:34staged in the right-of-way. Uh

19:36everything has to occur between the

19:38telephone poles and the stone wall. Uh

19:40again we have to keep the roadway clear

19:42of mud and debris.

19:44Uh just sweep dirt and mud regularly,

19:46please. Um and

19:50the and if the town personnel uh

19:52determine there's an undue accumulation

19:54of mud or dirt uh

19:56we'll need it cleaned with a mechanical

19:58uh sweeper. Other points a driveway

20:01permit of $150 shall be pulled uh

20:04detailing the protection of the edge of

20:05the roadway and landing area uh being

20:09off uh not in town in the right and not

20:11in town right-of-way.

20:12Uh

20:14and even though there two access point

20:16one uh permit fee will be sufficient.

20:19And our bonding is $10,000

20:22uh standard uh for the damages to the uh

20:25disturbed area, the road, etc.

20:27>> A surety bond.

20:28>> What's that?

20:29>> A surety bond.

20:31>> And then um yeah, I think that's

20:33everything, right? Anything I miss,

20:34Robin or there Mary, Chase, Mary?

20:36>> No.

20:37>> Um does that all make sense?

20:39>> Oh yeah, absolutely.

20:40>> Um

20:40>> to give him a copy of this.

20:42>> yeah, yeah, yeah.

20:42>> Yeah.

20:43>> Um but

20:44>> memorize it.

20:45>> just to for everything on the

20:47>> [laughter]

20:48>> For the record.

20:48>> So um having stated that um it is a

20:51public hearing. Um so do we have

20:54um

20:55anybody from the public that would like

20:56to comment?

20:58All right, hearing none. Do we have a

21:02motion to close the public hearing?

21:04>> So moved.

21:05>> Do I have a second?

21:06>> Second.

21:06>> All those in favor? Great. Um and then

21:09Cadian, how'd you vote?

21:12>> Yes.

21:13>> Okay. And so then um okay, on the

21:15substance, do we have any

21:17further conversation?

21:19Uh do we have a motion?

21:22>> I'll make a motion that in accordance

21:23with Mass General Laws chapter 132

21:26section 40-46,

21:28that we approve the petition of Cassidy

21:32Forestry for a forest cutting plan for

21:35land on 198 Podunk Road in Sturbridge,

21:38owned by Robert Moyna of 192 Podunk

21:40Road, pursuant to the conditions that

21:43were stated during said hearing.

21:46>> Second.

21:47>> All those in favor?

21:49Great. Thanks for

21:50Thank you very much.

21:51>> Have a great night.

21:51>> Good luck.

21:56>> Okay.

22:03All right. We have 6:52,

22:06so it's an awkward amount of time.

22:08>> You want me to do the old business on

22:09the warrant?

22:10>> Yeah, let's do the old business, yeah.

22:11>> Okay.

22:13So um you have in front of you uh a copy

22:16of the warrant. I apologize it's got the

22:18comments on it, but it was just a review

22:19tracking. The only substantive change

22:22for you to open and close tonight is

22:24that CPC

22:25did take up the Doughty Road article.

22:28And um

22:30>> Which Which one is that?

22:31>> Uh

22:31can I just give it to you in a sec?

22:35>> It is article

22:3730.

22:40Right after this.

22:42>> Article 36.

22:44Um

22:45and they voted 7-0

22:49in favor of it

22:52for uh

22:55350,000.

22:57>> So so that allocates towards the study?

22:59>> Toward the toward this the beginning

23:01processes for me for permanent and

23:02whatnot. There was some discussion

23:06over the fact that the state coalition

23:08wanted some assurance that the land

23:10would stay as some form of open space or

23:12recreation because it was taken for

23:13general municipal purposes. They don't

23:14want a municipal building up there.

23:16Let's say that CPC's funding out of its

23:17rec

23:18open space.

23:20They asked if we would put it under one

23:22of the boards and commissions. I felt

23:23that it was not appropriate to put it

23:24under any other one board other than the

23:26select board. If I put it under rec

23:28under conservation, I'm going to have a

23:29whole host of issues. I said I had I I

23:32felt it should stay under the select

23:34board with language that indicates for

23:37that it would be used for open space

23:38purposes into perpetuity because it was

23:40accepted for those purposes. But in the

23:42article itself when we accepted it, it

23:44did not say that. It said it in the

23:46summary box.

23:47So we just needed to codify that.

23:49>> Okay.

23:49>> So that's the only language change, but

23:51I wanted you to vote that

23:54with the new language that says it stays

23:56under the select board basically

23:58pursuant to whatever chapter that is in

23:59the MGL.

24:00>> Okay. So we need a motion to open the

24:02special town meeting.

24:04Do I have a motion?

24:05>> I'll make a motion to open the special

24:06town meeting.

24:07>> Do I have a second?

24:07>> Second.

24:08>> All those in favor? Katie?

24:10>> Yeah.

24:10>> And then now to place and support the

24:14article as amended.

24:15>> I will make a motion to place and

24:16support article 36 as amended.

24:18>> Second.

24:19>> All those in favor?

24:21>> Yeah.

24:21>> Great. That closes the warrant.

24:23>> I make a motion to close the warrant,

24:25the special town meeting warrant. Do I

24:26have a second?

24:27>> Second.

24:27>> All those in favor?

24:29>> Yeah.

24:30>> Okay.

24:31>> Thank you.

24:31>> All right.

24:32>> only changes from here are

24:33non-substantive, just some language

24:35clean up language on the bylaw.

24:36>> Got you. All right.

24:38>> You might have already told us this, but

24:39how did the FinCom vote on that?

24:41>> They have not yet. They haven't voted on

24:43it. They're coming up Their meetings are

24:45October 29th and November 9th.

24:47>> Okay, so they haven't voted on anything

24:49yet. No.

24:49>> Um okay.

24:52It is literally seconds to 6

24:55uh

24:5635. Okay, uh we are moving to the 6:55

25:01hearing, Mary.

25:02>> Oh, I just put my thing away.

25:04Sorry, it came out the bottom now. Hold

25:06>> okay.

25:11>> Okay.

25:15Feel so official.

25:16In accordance with Mass. General Laws

25:18chapter 132 section 40-46,

25:21the Sturbridge Select Board will hold a

25:23public hearing on the petition of Whole

25:24Forest Products for a forest cutting

25:27plan for lands at 175 Arnold's Road,

25:29Sturbridge, owned by Tweedy McDonald

25:31family of Falmouth, Maine. The hearing

25:33will be held on Monday, October 19th,

25:362026 at 6:55 p.m., Sturbridge Town Hall,

25:39Veterans Memorial Hall, 3 Mechanic

25:42Street, Sturbridge.

25:43>> Okay.

25:44Um do we have anybody from the property?

25:50If you could just please identify

25:51yourself for the record and walk walk

25:53through the

25:56proposed plan.

25:57>> Forest thing.

25:58>> Good evening, folks.

25:59>> Hello.

26:01>> My name is Austin Harmon. I'm a

26:03Massachusetts-licensed forester. I'm

26:05employed with Whole Forest Products and

26:07working with the Tweedy McDonald family

26:10for their property off Arnold Road in

26:12Sturbridge, as you know, as you

26:14mentioned. We are proposing a

26:16cut-to-length timber harvest

26:18and long-term management timber harvest

26:21for the property. Primarily, we're

26:22removing

26:23over-mature or a lot of poorly formed,

26:26diseased, and declining trees on site to

26:28better the tree um growth and resilience

26:31for the future and to keep it on a

26:33sustainable growth pattern through

26:35[clears throat] years to come as it's

26:36been done in the past and harvested on

26:38the property.

26:40Um there is one proposed temporary

26:42intermittent stream crossing, which will

26:44be used with corduroy and or temporary

26:47bridge mats. The forest cutting plan has

26:49already been sent into Massachusetts DCR

26:51and approved by them.

26:53I have sent over copies as well to the

26:55conservation commission and coordinated

26:58with Department of Public Works. I'm not

27:01sure what other information you might

27:03want me to say. It's on roughly 27 acres

27:06in total is the property. We're

27:09proposing the removal of roughly 45,000

27:12board feet of saw timber and about 180

27:14cords of firewood. A lot of such as

27:17mentioned are diseased, declining, or

27:19poorly formed trees.

27:24That's all for the meantime. If you

27:25folks have a had a moment, please feel

27:27free to review and let me know if you

27:28have any questions regarding the

27:30proposal.

27:31>> Yeah, I think principally the

27:33concern stated to our DPW department

27:36outside of the conditions that we went

27:38through

27:39a few minutes ago was around the actual

27:44It's a couple things, I think. One is

27:46just that having enough space to access

27:48the property for a slope and a stone

27:51wall. And there's also a culvert there.

27:54So our concern is that one

27:58the we our drainage system doesn't get

28:01um

28:02damaged. And two, that it's actually

28:06accessible at the point that we

28:08believe that it would be accessed. Is

28:11that about right, Heather?

28:12>> Yeah, there's no culvert, but there is a

28:14drain.

28:14>> I mean, I'm sorry, yeah. I mean, I

28:16flipped it around.

28:17>> [laughter]

28:18>> But the but there but it is a drainage

28:20system there, and so that's the largely

28:22kind of the point of concern.

28:24>> I'm just confirming, is it right near

28:26the

28:27telephone pole?

28:28>> I believe yes. So if you're looking at

28:30I'm not sure if they're labeled at all,

28:32but such picture with the vehicle and a

28:34telephone pole in front of it. From this

28:36view, the landing access would be on the

28:39photo side of the telephone pole where

28:41there's a pre-existing

28:43access path that goes diagonally up the

28:45hill.

28:46>> It's courtesy,

28:47>> Courtesy, but it is right there.

28:49>> It seems that I It's hard to tell from

28:50the picture, but it looks like that's

28:51the area. Um, we're proposing to install

28:54an anti-tracking pad um, as part um, as

28:57of the harvest to get the trucks fully

28:58off of the road and out of the

29:00right-of-way for the town where they'll

29:01be loading the material on the wood

29:03side, not the road side of that path.

29:06Um, and then from there, the trucks

29:08load,

29:10pull in or back off onto the town road

29:12and on their way to the destination with

29:14the material.

29:15Um, there potentially will be um, the

29:19contractors' pickup trucks or other

29:21small vehicles that are on the side of

29:22the road or tucked in that are on the

29:24um, the town road's side of that little

29:27path, uh, but those will be temporary

29:29while they're in working way and will

29:31not obstruct um, typical traffic. They

29:33will be ensured off the roadway.

29:35>> Okay. Um, any other concerns there?

29:38>> No.

29:38>> Um, thank you. Um,

29:40any questions from the board?

29:42>> No, I'll just repeat, you know, no

29:43Sundays and and the traffic with the

29:45buses cuz this is a very residential

29:48area. There's going to be a lot of

29:49houses on Arnold and off of Arnold, a

29:52lot of cul-de-sacs. So, this seems like

29:54a kind of a big project. How long do you

29:56think it's going to take?

29:57>> Uh, this project actually, all in all,

29:59isn't a very sizable one. I figure it

30:01should take 1 to 2 months maybe of good

30:03working weather depending on which crew

30:05as well as the trucking conditions. Um,

30:07if we get a lot of wet weather,

30:09obviously the last thing I want to do is

30:10truck mud onto the road in such a highly

30:12trafficked area as you mentioned. So, we

30:15would lay off the traffic as till

30:16conditions are drier as needed. Um,

30:19overall the property is fairly dry. I

30:21just don't want to bring any mud on the

30:22road incidentally. Um, I figure 1 to 2

30:25months of good working weather is my

30:27guess.

30:28>> Okay.

30:30>> It's small for you, but that seems kind

30:32of, you know,

30:33>> [laughter]

30:33>> Okay.

30:34>> It's a good amount of time. It's not

30:36like a couple weeks. So, yeah.

30:37>> Oh, yeah, absolutely. It very well could

30:39be a couple weeks if If end up moving

30:40the right crew there with larger

30:42machineries and they're productive, they

30:43can definitely get it done within 1 to 2

30:46weeks. Um, I'm just leaving my options

30:48open. I'm intending to put a smaller

30:50crew there most likely folks with

30:52chainsaws and either a forwarder or a

30:54skidder of sorts to then haul the wood

30:57in and out.

30:58>> Okay.

30:59>> Okay, that makes sense.

31:00>> Mary Lou, anything?

31:01>> Uh, Katie and do you have anything?

31:04Okay.

31:06Well, it is a public hearing. Do we have

31:08anybody from the public that'd like to

31:09be heard?

31:11Okay. Uh, hearing none.

31:14Uh, I'm Do we have a motion to close the

31:16public hearing?

31:16>> So moved.

31:17>> We have a second?

31:19>> Second.

31:19>> All those in favor?

31:21Okay.

31:21>> Yes.

31:22>> All right.

31:24And then, all right, so we went through

31:25the conditions

31:27uh as stated. Would you like me to

31:29review them again for you or

31:31>> These conditions, if you don't mind, I

31:32just want to breeze over them real

31:34quick.

31:37And again, I'll just review for the

31:38record. Uh, again, this is based upon

31:40the estimated uh location.

31:43Uh, there is an open drainage channel

31:45across the proposed landing driveway

31:46area and we need to maintain the dam uh

31:49the drainage across the proposed access

31:51to the land, the landing area, and

31:53access to the skid trail steep to the

31:54right of the edge of the war roadway.

31:56And we need to make sure that it's

31:58safely accessed with no storm water uh

32:01allowed uh onto the roadway.

32:03Uh, the roadway uh at the proposed

32:06landing uh shall be supported as you

32:07discussed you would. And again, so

32:09asphalt doesn't break uh or crack off.

32:13Uh, again, no logging trucks or logs

32:15shall be staged in the right-of-way.

32:17Uh, and everything shall be occur

32:19between the telephone poles. Uh, again,

32:21the roadway shall be kept clean of mud

32:23and debris. All dirt and mud shall be

32:25swept regularly by the applicant if the

32:27DPW or other town personnel determine

32:30that they determine the area to be

32:31accumulating mud or dirt, the applicant

32:33shall clean the road with a mechanical

32:35sweeper.

32:36And then, a driveway permit of $150.

32:39Shelby will detailing the protection of

32:41the right of the edge of the roadway

32:43drainage and landing area being off and

32:46not in the town right away. And again it

32:48it's going to be a surety bond of

32:50$10,000 for payment repairs at the

32:53access point, restoration of the slope,

32:55seed, topsoil, drainage clean up the

32:57area work

32:59all to be released after work is

33:01uh

33:02completed.

33:03>> [laughter]

33:03>> So, that's the Does that all make sense

33:06to you?

33:07>> Yeah. Yeah.

33:07>> It's all fairly straightforward and if I

33:09have any questions I can always

33:10coordinate directly with Heather or

33:11anyone else from the town.

33:13>> Yeah, that that's a perfect. So,

33:14anything else from the board?

33:16Do we have a motion?

33:18>> I'll make a motion that we approve the

33:19petition of Hall Forest Products for a

33:21forest cutting plan for land on 175

33:24Arnold Road, Sturbridge, Mass. Owned by

33:26Tweedy McDonald family of Falmouth,

33:28Maine subject to the conditions set

33:31forth at this evening's meeting.

33:33>> All right.

33:33>> Second.

33:33>> All those in favor?

33:35Great.

33:37Okay.

33:37>> All set.

33:37>> Thank you folks.

33:39>> Great. Thank you very much.

33:41Okay.

33:46All

33:48right, GPW

33:51department

33:56>> Good evening. So, we've been very busy.

33:59Um I'm sure everybody knows we've

34:01been completing and in the progress of

34:04some of our paving our roads, backing up

34:06our edges. Um

34:08fall time is now upon us, so you'll be

34:10seeing us do more picking up of leaves

34:13in the town properties. Um we are out

34:15sweeping streets for our second for our

34:16storm water requirements. So, we are

34:18sweeping streets in the

34:21MS4 area as required that we sweep them

34:23twice a year. Um

34:25thank you, Mary Lou, for reading the

34:27private road um

34:29information previously. And I would like

34:31to state that we are willing to take any

34:35select board member who wants to go see

34:36the conditions that we're dealing with

34:37on some of these private roads out to

34:39see them.

34:40Um in addition, I will work with

34:44uh the foreman, Mr. Corriveau, and

34:47Jacqueline to get a list of the private

34:48roads and our concerns in detail per

34:51road, um whether we think they meet

34:53capacity, you know, the standards or

34:55not, so that we can maybe reach out to

34:57some of those and get some of our

34:59issues that we already know exist, like

35:01basketball courts and nets and um

35:06parking and different things, especially

35:08on turnarounds.

35:09Um and also, I would say we also have

35:11problems where we are basically priv-

35:15paving uh plowing driveways, um where

35:18there might be a private road and it

35:20splits off and it goes to just one

35:21house. Um

35:23some of the It might have been that

35:24there used to be two houses down there

35:26or different situations, but I think we

35:28really need to start addressing that and

35:30not

35:31and making sure that we're not doing

35:33for some of these private roads more

35:35than we really need to be doing. Um I

35:37know there's one private road that's

35:39petitioning to be plowed in the town

35:42that we will be reviewing, um that

35:44currently isn't on the list of ones that

35:46we have been plowing.

35:48Um

35:49Mr. Corriveau and I will be looking at

35:51that. We've already discussed it

35:52internally, but we will be looking and

35:54give you a report on that. So, I feel

35:56pretty strongly that we should at this

35:58time kind of go through and take stock

36:00in our private roads and make sure that

36:02they're up to standards. Um for a long

36:04time, they have been just getting grown

36:07more grown in more grown in, and we have

36:08had damage occur to our vehicles last

36:10year. If a vehicle goes down,

36:13it's going to be down for a week or two

36:14because just getting the parts in to fix

36:16it, if it breaks a mirror, we're not

36:18going out with a broken mirror. You

36:20know, we need those mirrors to be able

36:21to drive those big trucks. So, I think

36:23it's very important that the public

36:26understands that it really can cost the

36:28town a lot of money and in our own

36:31mechanical infrastructure to be able to

36:32plow our roads coming up in winter. So,

36:34now is the time, the leaves are off the

36:36trees,

36:37get out there and cut the brush down off

36:39the edge of the road. Um

36:41we can't do it as the town, so that we

36:43are really asking the residents of those

36:45private roads to pick up and and do

36:47something

36:48to help us.

36:49>> I just have a question. I know you said

36:51there's a road that has petitioned to be

36:53plowed. Um is the requirement that it

36:57You all only plow the private roads that

37:00are up to um

37:02our standards, our bylaw standards, and

37:05if they're not, you don't plow. Is that

37:06Is that the

37:08Right. Cuz I thought you have to plow if

37:09there's for a school bus to go down.

37:12>> Well, most of private roads do not have

37:14school buses that go down them.

37:15>> Well, what if they I guess, you know,

37:17hypothetically, what if they did?

37:19>> Well, we would be evaluating that.

37:21>> it's not standard like standard of us

37:22accepting a road. That's different.

37:24>> that's accepting as a public road. But,

37:27you know, no, cuz I I just I just want

37:29to clarify for my own understanding. You

37:31have one petition, and you're

37:32determining whether or not you'll plow

37:34it. So,

37:35>> a certain width, just like we're talking

37:37here. The road condition has to be a

37:38certain width, so

37:40you know, if it's 10 ft wide, we cannot

37:43get our trucks down there. And if

37:45there's not a place that we can easily

37:47turn around, we can't get our trucks

37:48down there. Also, the standard is it has

37:51to have multiple residents that we're

37:52servicing. So,

37:54>> What is considered multiple?

37:56>> More than one.

37:57>> Two?

37:59Okay, no, I'm just asking, cuz multiple

38:00could be anything.

38:01>> Right. More than one. Two.

38:03>> So, if it has two houses on it

38:04>> to where the first house ended, and then

38:07not into the second house location. So,

38:10basically,

38:11the the concept is

38:13if we're servicing more than one house

38:15with permanent residents, people that

38:18are there permanent, then we will go to

38:20the property line or their safe

38:21turn-around location

38:24to to uh where the access for that

38:26second house would be. But that second

38:28house would really be that would be

38:29their private driveway.

38:31in a in a concept You know, it's it's

38:34hard to see. I can It's probably easier

38:36to show you in the

38:37>> No, cuz I just was under the

38:38understanding that private roads did get

38:39plowed.

38:40>> They do as long as there is public

38:42access. They cannot block public access,

38:44which we discussed before.

38:45>> And there has to be multiple people

38:47serving multiple residents and it has to

38:49meet our standards.

38:51>> And we have one situation where there's

38:53a dispute because

38:55there are two houses on either side and

38:57one party says they don't want the town

38:59plowing it and the other party does.

39:01>> And the and the parties have to agree

39:02that they want us to plow.

39:03>> have to agree. So we have that that

39:05we're dealing with as well.

39:07>> Is this all in our bylaw on private

39:09roads?

39:10>> The bylaw on private roads is yes, it's

39:12very it's very vague. It says the town

39:13shall plow. We can only pave, we can't

39:16do anything else.

39:17>> get into this level of detail?

39:19>> It does It does There is a There is a

39:21section about it regarding plowing. I

39:24I'll I'll share it with you and

39:25>> I would just because I'm not as familiar

39:27with the width of the road and that all

39:29have to agree.

39:30>> But we have to be able to fit in there.

39:32>> Well, the agreement becomes our court

39:34decisions that have happened since.

39:35>> I know, I'm just asking is it part of

39:38when somebody looks at our bylaw on

39:40private roads, is all this spelled out?

39:43>> It It's spelled out into the fact that

39:45it says the DPW director has discretion

39:48to say whether they can be accessed or

39:50not.

39:51>> Okay, so that discretion always has to

39:52be reasonable. I think it's useful if

39:54the discretion is item

39:56>> Well, I think it's also it goes to the

39:58point of taking an inventory and and by

40:01taking an inventory we need to

40:03communicate to people if we have

40:04concerns. We can't just, you know, I'm

40:07not suggesting you are either, but like

40:09>> Cuz there's no way for them to know and

40:10some of them Well, it is road by road.

40:12>> I mean, it's all Maybe there is a way to

40:14know, maybe there isn't a way to know

40:15whether or not you're thinking about it

40:16when you're

40:18at this time of year is a different

40:19conversation, you know, so

40:20>> Yeah. No, cuz I'm just wondering like

40:22with

40:22parents of school age children, let's

40:24say the road is wide enough, but some

40:26residents don't want it, and the

40:28residents with children, too.

40:30>> if it's a public road, they can't The

40:32most of the It's all also how the deeds

40:33were written. So, we have roads that the

40:36deeds are written that there is access

40:38past your property. You don't have a

40:40choice. You can't put a rock in front of

40:41your property.

40:42>> Right.

40:43>> Um so, a lot of it also depends on the

40:45deed language.

40:46>> Well, and also the school buses don't go

40:47down all the public roads, either.

40:49>> Right.

40:49>> Like I had to walk to my bus stop every

40:52day.

40:52>> Uphill both ways.

40:53>> No, I really did.

40:55>> I can tell you right now the buses are

40:57not going down private roads.

40:59They're not going down any private

41:00roads.

41:02I think it would be helpful if you got

41:04that list together and concerns about

41:07which roads

41:08>> Yep, we can do that.

41:09>> Yep.

41:09>> And and connect with the the probably

41:11the fire department as well, because

41:13that's

41:14>> Mhm.

41:15>> [laughter]

41:15>> So, it's making sure the ambulance can

41:16get there first, then making sure that

41:19we can plow it, cuz it's Yeah, it is cuz

41:21that's the Not not to say that that I

41:24want a DPW truck to break, but it's we

41:27can

41:27>> [laughter]

41:27>> get through that, but we don't want

41:28anybody to die.

41:29>> The The challenge really is the fine

41:30line what we're facing more than

41:31anything is the fine line of a

41:32definition of a driveway versus a road.

41:35>> Yeah.

41:36>> And and it's all going to be reasonable,

41:37like Mary said, but let's get let's get

41:39organized on it.

41:40Um but that's great. Thank you, Heather.

41:42Um all right, I think we're on the

41:43shameless. Anybody has anything else?

41:44Heather.

41:46Shane.

41:49Nice to see you, buddy.

41:50>> How you doing?

41:54You have the water and sewer reports on

41:56the plants for August and September.

41:59Um

42:00I'll answer any questions you may have,

42:01but I can say that the plants are

42:03running really well.

42:04The wastewater plant continues to knock

42:06it out of the park.

42:08Knock on wood.

42:11Um so,

42:11>> things are going on well there.

42:13Um, like the DPW, we have been very

42:16busy. We have a lot of projects going

42:17on, too. Um,

42:19the clarifier painting at the wastewater

42:21plant continues.

42:23The I've been working with the engineers

42:25on the water plant study, getting them

42:27information so they can figure out what

42:29kind of technology your new water plant

42:30will have.

42:32Um, and that's a lot of information.

42:34Um, we've been flushing hydrants. We're

42:36in the middle of that. Most of our

42:37hydrants already been winterized. We

42:39just got a uh, winterize the ones that

42:41we have left to

42:42flush.

42:44Um,

42:45tomorrow I'll be sending out a list to

42:46the town of we'll be doing smoke testing

42:48next week on the sewers to wrap up

42:50another year of seam on work, which is

42:52required in your waste water permit. Um,

42:55so I just wanted to use this platform to

42:57let people know we will be out there

42:58smoke testing.

43:00We will advertise on local cable uh,

43:02local in the cable TV, the Facebook, and

43:05we're going to put the uh, DPW sign up,

43:07too, and move it around from street to

43:09street, so people know we're out there.

43:11It's not very often that smoke uh, can

43:14end up in a house, but it can it does

43:16happen occasionally, and we'll notify

43:19the department know where we are when

43:21we're doing it, also.

43:22Um,

43:24we met with the engineers up at the

43:25Stallion Hill water tank, so that

43:26project's getting going. Um, they

43:30going to be doing some surveying as

43:31early as November.

43:33The Route 20 stuff, as you know, that

43:35you signed off on, that's that's in

43:37motion, too. So, that's that's started.

43:39We've had conversations with the

43:40engineer on that.

43:42The Route 131 relining the sewer over

43:45here, um, by the DOT, that design's

43:48coming to us, and we're making comments

43:51and working on that, also.

43:53We met with the engineer up at the

43:54Church Street tank to put the building

43:56in. It's required by MassDEP, so he can

43:59start the he can start the design on

44:01that. Um, that's underway, too,

44:04so we we get that up and running. Um

44:08and basically that's all I have for you

44:10this evening. If there's any questions,

44:12I'd be happy to answer them.

44:14>> How are the well uh levels?

44:16>> They're good.

44:18So, I and I I know you ask me that every

44:20time and it's fine and I'm going to cuz

44:21you're going to get the same answer

44:22every time. Um

44:23>> Well, I don't get the same answer every

44:25time.

44:25>> [laughter]

44:26>> But the money, you know, the money you

44:27invest in cleaning your wells and the

44:29town's been very good about doing that

44:30over the years, keeps the water flowing

44:32into the wells. So, right now we don't

44:33have any issues.

44:35>> How and yet

44:36uh questions from the board machine?

44:39>> It's fine. You ask it every time though

44:40because

44:41>> No, it's important. I understand.

44:43>> No, I know. He I wasn't I didn't know

44:45whether I was supposed to ask

44:45>> That's fine.

44:46>> No, it's fine.

44:48Um okay, do you have anything?

44:52>> Nope, nothing here.

44:53>> Okay. Um great, Shane. Thanks so much.

44:55>> Have a good evening.

44:58>> All right, Jeremy.

45:05>> Hello.

45:06Nice to see you.

45:07>> Yeah, I'm here for another year, so

45:08that's great.

45:09>> [laughter]

45:09>> Yeah.

45:10>> Yeah, I'm number two annual report.

45:13>> Um

45:15Yes, [clears throat] I'd like to now

45:16appear and present the update for

45:17facilities department.

45:19Um this year was used to prioritize

45:22projects, um maintaining um town

45:24buildings, all that good stuff. Um so,

45:27building maintenance was the 110

45:29inspections, um boiler and pressure

45:31vessel inspections,

45:34fire extinguishers, they were replaced

45:35as needed and checked.

45:37Sprinkler systems, those are all

45:39checked. Then we had our normal

45:41plumbing, HVAC, um electrical fixtures

45:43that we had to deal with throughout the

45:44year.

45:46Um

45:47it moves on to the senior center.

45:49Um that building's doing great. Um we're

45:52all happy with that. Um we did extend

45:54the warranty for the HVAC system from

45:58the Mitsubishi side anyways, the um

46:01um the other units not so much. Um, the

46:03Aon units, but that's [clears throat]

46:05still okay.

46:07Elevator installation went really well.

46:09Um, there's a couple delay on parts, but

46:11that elevator install was great. Um,

46:13mechanics were great.

46:15Um, police department, uh, we installed

46:18a new shower. Uh, we took the old shower

46:20insert out. Uh, we replaced with a nice

46:23tile shower. Everybody can fit. Um,

46:25>> We don't have that picture anymore,

46:26betterment every year that we get of Joe

46:28versus Earl in the shower.

46:30>> Yeah, so

46:31>> What did you call the

46:32>> [laughter]

46:33>> Joe or Joe out of

46:36>> I didn't

46:36>> I didn't know. You didn't have to do it.

46:38>> We [laughter] we apologize to the deputy

46:40chief.

46:41>> Um,

46:42good Jeremy.

46:43>> Um, that project was about uh, 33% under

46:45budget, so that one went really well.

46:48Um, best my knowledge the PD is very

46:49happy with their new shower.

46:52Um, current projects I work on now, we

46:54have the library deck and ramp project.

46:57Um, we have a signed contract from

46:59Campora. They're working on the shop

47:01drawings.

47:03We have the elevator project at the

47:04library that's currently out for bid.

47:06Um, sub bid openings are this is the

47:0922nd of October and then the elevator/GC

47:12will be on the 29th.

47:14Um, we're going to do the center office

47:16floor replacement, the area of the

47:18carpet. Um, we were showing some tiles.

47:21Um, we'll see which one we all pick.

47:24We're in the process of picking that.

47:26Um, automatic doors at the town hall

47:28center office building. They will quote

47:30for that. We're going to get that

47:31project started.

47:32Um,

47:34new fence is going to go around the HVAC

47:35units here at town hall.

47:38Um, that's going to happen. That's

47:39already ordered, so next two or three

47:41weeks.

47:42And then we're also going to finish the

47:44landscaping at the center office

47:45building before the snow falls.

47:47Picking out some of the bushes around

47:48the cemetery cemetery side, all the dead

47:51ones, wildflowers.

47:53Um, fixing up the road, all the dead

47:55stuff that's over there. Going to pull

47:56that up.

47:57And that's about it.

47:59>> All right, questions from the board?

48:03Um I I have one. So, how are you doing

48:05from um

48:07uh you know, now that you've been in the

48:10role for a while, how's the split um

48:13with the

48:15uh you know, all the responsibilities

48:16that you previously had and the present

48:18ones going?

48:19>> Uh it's going really well. Um we have a

48:21new IT tech, um Chuck.

48:24Um Chuck Bossy, he's been great. He's

48:26part-time. He's been handling a lot of

48:28help desk requests, so I can pay

48:29attention to all the projects that we

48:30have going on. So, that uh that helped

48:32out a lot. So, he's been great. Uh he's

48:35been here since

48:37March, February.

48:38Um it's been really nice.

48:40>> That's made having that position staffed

48:42appropriately now has let us really take

48:45a look at the sort of experiment, if you

48:47will. And

48:48it's it has freed Jeremy up

48:50to do some of the other stuff he needs

48:52to do, and maintain the larger IT

48:54infrastructure as well.

48:56And maintain cybersecurity and things

48:57like that.

48:59>> Yeah, um makes sense to me. Any

49:00questions from anybody else?

49:03>> No.

49:03>> Cadian?

49:06>> Thanks, Jeremy.

49:07>> Thanks, Jeremy.

49:07>> Thank you very much.

49:08>> God bless. Thank you.

49:10>> All right, the town administrator's

49:11update. We'll skip that. Yep, we are

49:13moving on to consideration and possible

49:16action uh strike that. Consideration

49:19possible vote to approve the assignment

49:21and assumption of the host community

49:23agreement for recreational marijuana

49:26retail establishment located at 371

49:29Lunenburg Street, transferring the

49:31agreement from Local Roots LLC to Hudson

49:34Botanical Processing Sturbridge LLC.

49:37Is there anybody here from Hudson

49:38Botanical?

49:40>> So, a little background. I brought this

49:42to you last week to determine which

49:44direction we wanted to go. I worked with

49:45Nicole at KP Law on this. So, this um

49:50Um, and assumption is one of the ways we

49:52can do this. It is probably the um,

49:55cleanest, sort of most transparent. It

49:57basically they would take over the

49:58assignment of the HCA.

50:00>> Yeah.

50:00>> The draft you have here in your packet,

50:02Nicole does want to do some tweaks. So,

50:04if you vote to move forward this

50:06direction, it would be pending legal

50:08review and you guys aren't even aware,

50:10but they're relatively minor tweaks on

50:12some assumption, some legal language.

50:14>> Well, scanning to that, let's um, could

50:16you please just introduce yourselves for

50:18the record?

50:18>> Yeah.

50:19Uh, I'm Brian Adams, uh, founder and CEO

50:22of Hudson Botanical Processing. Uh, this

50:24is my brother Kurt who is overseeing the

50:26retail operation that we're delving into

50:28here. Um,

50:30yeah, we're excited to be operating

50:33uh, here in Sturbridge and looking to

50:35take over the existing facility. We

50:37really don't plan to make any sweeping

50:39changes at this time other than we are

50:41requesting a change in hours to just

50:44meet the full maximum of the allowable

50:46hours within the the zoning bylaws here

50:49in town.

50:49>> Mhm.

50:50>> Um, that's really the only change we're

50:52looking to make. Everything else is

50:53going to stay the same. The existing

50:54staff that's been working there for for

50:56years is going to continue. Um, we're

50:59looking to just make it a better

51:01operation, but they have a great

51:02foundation. They have a great team and a

51:04beautiful building. Um, and we're

51:06looking to just

51:07you know, bring the other infrastructure

51:09that we have in the existing business

51:10that we have to to bolster it to make it

51:12a just a more thriving business than

51:14what it already is. Um, and that's

51:16really it.

51:17>> They did provide [clears throat] us a

51:18security plan. You have a modified

51:20version obviously for public safety

51:21reasons. We will share this with the

51:23police chief also just to ensure that

51:25he's fully comfortable with that.

51:27>> Yeah, you predicted my um, next

51:30question. Um,

51:32which I think will also be

51:35a contingency of this. Um, any questions

51:37>> Well, you all you answered one of them.

51:39I was going to ask you if you were

51:40keeping the same hours. Do you have

51:42other dispensaries in Massachusetts or

51:45is this your first?

51:46>> This is our first. Well, we're also

51:47purchasing the

51:49other dispenser that Local Roots owns in

51:50Fitchburg.

51:52So, we'll be taking on both of their

51:53retail licenses.

51:54>> like your first time getting into this

51:56type of business.

51:57>> and cultivator located in in Hudson,

51:59Mass.

52:00And that's what we we've been doing that

52:01for the past 6 years. And so, this is

52:03our step into being fully vertically

52:05integrated.

52:06>> So, you're already a cultivator and now

52:08you're going to basically a seller.

52:10>> Yeah, we'll do it all. Yep.

52:12>> Okay.

52:12>> [clears throat]

52:12>> Um do you own that building? Or do you

52:15got to

52:15>> No, it's solely No.

52:16>> Local Roots is going to continue to own

52:18it?

52:18>> No, they sold that out.

52:19>> Oh, they sold it.

52:20>> Yeah.

52:21>> Okay.

52:22>> I want to say like in 2021, I think they

52:24sold it.

52:24>> Oh, so the but the current owner, you're

52:26leasing it from you're leasing it from

52:27the current owner. Oh, I didn't realize

52:29Local

52:29>> How long is that lease?

52:31Uh I believe it goes until 2032 with

52:35some extensions built in.

52:37>> Got you.

52:39>> [clears throat]

52:39>> Okay. Are you changing like the quantity

52:41of what you're going to sell? Is it

52:43going to be just business as usual?

52:46>> business as usual. Yeah.

52:47>> Um

52:48>> [clears throat]

52:48>> I'm sorry, I don't have it the hours in

52:49front of me. What are what are What are

52:51the hours that you're looking for?

52:53>> So, 8:00 to 11:00 p.m. which is to

52:56maximize what you guys have in your

52:57zoning bylaws.

52:59>> [clears throat]

53:06>> Um does anybody have any concerns about

53:08that? Cuz what are they doing right now?

53:098:00 to 10:00?

53:10>> We do 10:00 to 10:00, but I believe they

53:11are open.

53:13>> So, off the top of my head on Sundays

53:15from 6:00 to 12:00 and from on weekdays

53:18it's from 11:00 to 8:00 p.m.

53:20>> Oh, it's 8:00. Is it 8:00 or 10:00? Is

53:22it

53:22>> 8:00. I think it is 8:00.

53:24>> I don't know why I thought on Fridays it

53:25was

53:25>> And I just want to provide provide some

53:27clarity. So, you in you wrote 371

53:29Lunenburg Street is 365 Main Street. 371

53:32Lunenburg Street is the Fitchburg

53:33location's address.

53:34>> Oh, I got you. I just read the

53:36>> [laughter]

53:37>> You think I would know that.

53:40But

53:40>> know if there was a little side street

53:41on there. corner.

53:42>> no, no, I'm sorry. I assumed it was a I

53:43didn't know that that was called

53:45>> [laughter]

53:46>> But, the

53:47it's good that you know that. Thank you.

53:49But, the Okay, so

53:52just the only modification you're you're

53:53seeking is the hours. Everything else is

53:56the same.

53:57>> So, now I've not

53:59you know, you'll probably be successful

54:01but I just have to ask this question.

54:02So, if they wanted to assign it, we

54:04would have to give permission again

54:06because you're assuming the same host

54:09agreement that we initially negotiated

54:11with Local Roots, correct?

54:13>> Any transfer of that agreement would

54:14have to come through you.

54:15>> Again, an approval. Okay.

54:18>> [snorts]

54:19>> Uh anything else, anybody? Kadian?

54:24>> What by the way?

54:25>> Okay. Uh well, we appreciate you keeping

54:27the same employees. Uh that means a lot

54:29to to us and and we're glad to hear

54:31that. Um so, do we

54:33>> I just have a question. I don't know if

54:34this is I don't have an objection to

54:36this, but um

54:38So, do you have any like discretion?

54:40Like if somebody comes in at quarter of

54:4211 and I would ask this of a bar as well

54:44and and you think they're totally out of

54:47it. Are you you know, what are what are

54:48your

54:49>> We would not be serving them.

54:51>> You would not?

54:52>> It's just like alcohol. It's like the

54:53same thing.

54:54>> I I

54:55I hope so. I just um

54:57>> And the dram shop laws apply.

54:59>> Right. Same. Okay. I just wanted to

55:01verify that there's going to be some

55:03kind of a stop just because I do a lot

55:05of running in town and I have yet to go

55:08out running when at least once one of

55:11the cars goes by that just doesn't reek

55:14of pot. And I'm not saying it was

55:17because it was legalized. It could have

55:18been like that all the time. And I And

55:20there's no way for me to tell about

55:22alcohol, obviously. But, um it it's just

55:25very concerning. It's actually not you

55:27know, I mean, I know we're smiling, but

55:28>> I we I've heard the story quite a few

55:30times.

55:30>> mean, I just I have yet to be able to

55:33have a run where somebody isn't smoking

55:37pot on Route 20 and they're getting on

55:3884 and 90 and it's just very concerning.

55:42So, I'm I'm happy to hear that you would

55:44not serve somebody that is already

55:47having too good of a time.

55:49>> Yeah, and under our Cannabis Control

55:50Commissions, all registered agents have

55:53to are required to do responsible vendor

55:55training once a year. So, they're always

55:57updated on their training as well.

55:58>> Okay, thank you. I didn't realize that,

56:00so good to know.

56:02And when do you hope to I just last

56:04question um

56:06is it going to be a time period when

56:08it's not open or you're just it's just

56:09going to flow right into

56:11>> No, it's going to continue to operate.

56:13Yeah.

56:13>> Operate. Okay. It'll operate. Yep.

56:15>> [clears throat]

56:16>> I don't have any more questions.

56:17>> Great. Um thanks, Mary. Uh anything else

56:19for the board?

56:21Uh

56:21do we have a motion to approve the

56:23assignment and assumption of the host

56:26community agreement uh for recreational

56:28marijuana retail establishment located

56:31at Main Street, Sturbridge and

56:32transferring the agreement from Local

56:34Roots LLC to Hudson Botanical Processing

56:37LLC subject to

56:40uh final instrument being negotiated by

56:43our council and uh Hudson Botanical and

56:47noting any concern that the police

56:48department uh may have.

56:50>> So moved.

56:51>> We have a second?

56:52>> Second.

56:53>> All those in favor?

56:54All right, welcome to town, guys.

56:55>> Just stay in touch with me and of course

56:57we'll work through the legal

56:58>> Great.

56:59>> Thanks a lot. We wish you the best of

57:00luck.

57:02>> Um okay.

57:03We're moving to action item B, which is

57:05consideration and possible action on

57:07approval of a proposal for 469A Main

57:10Street Trail and Bridge project bidding

57:12and construction proposal review for

57:15bidding administration construction

57:17phase services and post construction

57:19environmental monitoring associated with

57:21the 469A

57:23Main Street Trail Bridge and project in

57:25the amount of $218,300

57:28and to authorize the CTA to execute the

57:31relevant agreement.

57:33So,

57:34it's pretty straightforward.

57:35>> Pretty straightforward.

57:36>> If you have any questions, I can

57:37probably answer them.

57:38>> I I think

57:39>> a third-party wetland monitoring service

57:41that's going to

57:42>> Um it's third-party wetland monitoring.

57:45It's the bidding service. It's the

57:46oversight during construction cuz the

57:48original contract was just

57:50to get to bid documents. So, this is for

57:53starting bidding, third the

57:54environmental oversight that we need to

57:56do because of the critical species.

57:59>> Yeah.

58:00>> Project management.

58:01>> Yeah, makes sense. So, it's basically

58:03like the administration of the initial

58:05stages and

58:07construction phases of the process.

58:08Okay. Uh do we have a motion?

58:11>> Make a motion for the approval of

58:14proposal for 469A Main Street Trail and

58:17Bridge Project bidding and construction

58:19proposal for bidding administration,

58:22construction phase services, and

58:23post-construction environmental

58:25monitoring associated with the 469A Main

58:28Street Trail and Bridge Project in the

58:30amount of $218,300

58:33and to authorize the town administrator

58:35execute the agreement.

58:36>> Second.

58:37>> All those in favor?

58:39>> Yes.

58:40>> Great.

58:41Um

58:42then moving to C, consideration and

58:44possible

58:45approval on awarding a contract to Tata

58:47& Howard Incorporated for wastewater

58:50treatment facility influent screens and

58:52screening room HVAC upgrade not to

58:54exceed the total amount of $158,800

58:59and authorize the TA to execute that

59:01agreement.

59:03Uh I mean, it seems pretty

59:04straightforward. Um

59:07Where's the HVAC Heather? Where's the

59:08HVAC being Is it Is it in the screening

59:10room itself?

59:11>> Yes.

59:11>> Okay.

59:13Um that's

59:14>> That's true. No real choice on this.

59:15>> Yeah, no.

59:16>> No real choice on this project.

59:17>> Yeah, I don't think we're Yeah. Um

59:19Okay, do we have any thoughts,

59:20questions, concerns from the board?

59:23Uh do we have a motion uh on the

59:27>> I'll make a motion to award the contract

59:29to Tata & Howard for wastewater

59:31treatment facility influent screens and

59:34screening room HVAC upgrade not to

59:36exceed a total amount of $158,800

59:40and authorize the town administrator to

59:41execute the agreement.

59:43>> Great. Uh, do we have a second?

59:46>> Second.

59:47>> All those in favor?

59:48Great. Thank you.

59:49Thanks, Kenny.

59:51Um,

59:51all right, we're going to move to action

59:54item E, which is consideration and

59:55possible action on uh, the awarding of

59:59Tata & Howard Incorporated for a

1:00:00wastewater treatment plant water system

1:00:03study not to exceed $29,600

1:00:07and to authorize the TA to execute.

1:00:10So, this one is what, Heather?

1:00:15You You might as well just sit there for

1:00:17>> I know. I [laughter] might as well. So,

1:00:18we did the sludge pump? Is that what we

1:00:19just did?

1:00:19>> I skipped it, I think. I think I went

1:00:21out of order.

1:00:22>> Okay, so that's This is for the

1:00:25um,

1:00:26water supply. So, we use recycled water

1:00:29that we've already treated to operate

1:00:31some of the equipment in the plant. So,

1:00:33it's a plant water study. What happens

1:00:35right now

1:00:37the original design is in a bunker. We

1:00:39need to look at what we need to do to

1:00:41change that because those pumps have

1:00:43already had issues with the operation,

1:00:45so we're looking to redesign the plant

1:00:47water system.

1:00:48Instead of using drinkable water, we're

1:00:50basically using our own effluent to

1:00:52operate the systems. But, they're

1:00:55finicky pumps, so we need to make sure

1:00:56we're getting them right.

1:00:58>> Okay. Um, that makes sense to me. Any

1:01:01questions from the board?

1:01:02>> Mhm.

1:01:03>> Uh, do we have a motion to approve

1:01:05action item E?

1:01:08>> Make a motion to approve the awarding to

1:01:10Tata & Howard for

1:01:12wastewater treatment facility plant

1:01:14water system study not to exceed the

1:01:17total amount of $29,600

1:01:19and authorize the town administrator to

1:01:21execute the agreement.

1:01:23>> Second.

1:01:23>> All those in favor?

1:01:25>> I just have a very quick question cuz

1:01:26this is just like stuff that I it's just

1:01:29not my thing. So, if the study comes

1:01:31back, we're going to spend a like a

1:01:33significant amount of more money to

1:01:35change the way the water

1:01:37>> So, we need basically them to tell us

1:01:39what type of pumps and have what kind of

1:01:42structure to put over them.

1:01:43>> Okay.

1:01:44>> And then that will be our basis of

1:01:46design and to

1:01:48>> And that will be a much larger

1:01:50expenditure.

1:01:50>> be a big expenditure. This is just like

1:01:52the design study to say you should use

1:01:55this type of pump and this is how you

1:01:57should have it installed.

1:01:59It's possible they're going to come back

1:02:01with a suggestion that we can do

1:02:02in-house.

1:02:03>> Oh, okay.

1:02:04>> But we don't know that until we get a

1:02:06little further down the road.

1:02:07>> What kind of I mean, I'm not what kind

1:02:08of money do you think this is ultimately

1:02:10going to cost us? Not the study, but

1:02:12>> Um 100 to 150,000 dollars.

1:02:15>> I was afraid it's like a million.

1:02:17>> No, no. These are These aren't huge

1:02:19pumps, but they're important pumps cuz

1:02:21they save us probably 200,000 dollars a

1:02:24year if we had to buy our own water.

1:02:26>> Got you. All right, good. So, now I'm

1:02:28going back to D cuz I accidentally

1:02:29skipped it, which is consideration and

1:02:32possible approval approval on awarding

1:02:34to Tata & Howard Incorporated for

1:02:36wastewater treatment facility mixed

1:02:38sludge pump study not to exceed a total

1:02:40amount of 29,800

1:02:42dollars and the authorized the TA to uh

1:02:45administer the agreement. What's this,

1:02:46Heather?

1:02:47>> So, these are the pumps that move the

1:02:49sludge out of the clarifiers and move

1:02:52them around the the plant whether it's

1:02:54to wasting or to recycle. Um they're a a

1:02:57high wear item and the original pumps

1:03:00seem to have a really high maintenance

1:03:03associated with them. So, we're looking

1:03:05at different options and again, we

1:03:07evaluating the type of pumps and then

1:03:09we'll be able to see if we can pick a

1:03:11different type of pump

1:03:13to replace our existing cuz we have four

1:03:15of them, high cost, high maintenance,

1:03:17trying to make it more efficiently run.

1:03:19>> And what do the clarifiers do?

1:03:21>> Clarifiers

1:03:22are basically what treat the wastewater.

1:03:24Those are the big circular units. The

1:03:26sludge settles to the bottom. The pumps

1:03:28move the sludge out.

1:03:29>> that would have made sense. Okay. Um,

1:03:30questions, thoughts from the board?

1:03:35Uh, hearing none, do we have a motion?

1:03:38>> I'll make a motion to approve the

1:03:39awarding to Ti and Bond for a wastewater

1:03:42treatment plant PTU number three

1:03:44painting and rehabilitation not to

1:03:46exceed $90,000

1:03:48and authorize

1:03:48>> No, yeah, mixed sludge pumps.

1:03:50>> You want to do number

1:03:51>> Yeah, you they did. I see. They they got

1:03:53us both.

1:03:55>> [laughter]

1:03:55>> Okay. Approval to award Ti and Bond Inc.

1:03:59for wastewater treatment facility mixed

1:04:00sludge pump study not to exceed a total

1:04:03amount of 298

1:04:05and authorize the town administrator to

1:04:07execute the agreement.

1:04:09>> I'll second that.

1:04:10>> All right, all those in favor? Great.

1:04:11>> Now, does this all come out of the DPW

1:04:13budget?

1:04:14>> This actually comes out of the sewer

1:04:16budget. So, the sewer budget

1:04:17>> the sewer budget.

1:04:20>> Um, can All right, moving to action item

1:04:22F, consideration and possible approval

1:04:24on awarding to Ti and Bond Incorporated

1:04:27for a wastewater treatment plant PCU

1:04:29number three painting and rehabilitation

1:04:32not to exceed $90,000 and authorize the

1:04:35TA to execute the agreement. Um, so this

1:04:39is basically just the um

1:04:42They're they're draining it and painting

1:04:44it and

1:04:45>> Right. So, this is the last um we have

1:04:47three primary

1:04:49treatment units. That's what a PTU is is

1:04:51your primary treatment unit. We have

1:04:52three of them. This is the third one

1:04:54that we have done. We're currently in

1:04:56the painting the second one. We already

1:04:58done one, painting the second one. We

1:05:01want to start on the design on the third

1:05:02one. Um, this is normal regular

1:05:04maintenance. We will do our tertiary

1:05:06clarifiers next and then another 10

1:05:08years you'll see this done again. Um,

1:05:10this is required maintenance at our

1:05:12wastewater treatment plant. Um,

1:05:15you know,

1:05:16because we have magnetite, our plant's

1:05:18paint gets

1:05:20worn more quickly, but it is going to be

1:05:23regular maintenance that we'll have to

1:05:24continue to do.

1:05:25>> And when you paint them,

1:05:28um, do you strip off

1:05:30>> Yes.

1:05:30>> the entirety of the Have Have you found

1:05:32any, uh,

1:05:34metallurgical damage or anything like

1:05:36>> Yes, we have to do repairs. Um, if you

1:05:39went to tank two, you can see pitting,

1:05:41so we fill those pits with welding.

1:05:43That's all part of the prog- um, program

1:05:46that we're doing.

1:05:47They fill the pits with the welding,

1:05:49replace metal that's too degraded. Some

1:05:52of the stands that we have for our

1:05:53walkways we've had to replace. Um, so

1:05:55you're seeing that

1:05:58rusting, rotting. Um, it is a very

1:06:00aggressive environment that it is in, so

1:06:03it's not surprising to see this happen.

1:06:05Um, and it's

1:06:06That's why we have to do this

1:06:08maintenance. And it it is very

1:06:09expensive, but it also saves it.

1:06:12>> So, every 10 years you paint one of the

1:06:14three?

1:06:14>> Yeah, we'll be doing a rotation. Um, so

1:06:17there's really five cuz there's two

1:06:18small ones. Those we'll be probably do

1:06:20together. Those are tertiary. Those are

1:06:22after. So, there're primaries and then

1:06:24there's tertiaries. So, we'll be That

1:06:26will be phase four, and then hopefully

1:06:29we're done for another six or seven

1:06:31years, and then we'll start again.

1:06:33>> Has the Did this

1:06:35Has this occurred to each one before or

1:06:37were they

1:06:38>> No, these are the first time we've done

1:06:40them since the plant was upgraded.

1:06:41>> So, if we keep up with the maintenance

1:06:43on it, is it Would it Would you

1:06:45anticipate that it will cost less

1:06:46because it will require less repair?

1:06:49>> Yeah, I mean, I think it it's

1:06:51>> Generally speaking, yeah.

1:06:51>> Yeah, I mean, if if you let these

1:06:53degrade, you will end up having failure,

1:06:55which is would be extremely expensive,

1:06:57so that's why you do these painting

1:07:00maintenance, fill the pits, extend the

1:07:02life of them, keep the system up, and

1:07:04they will keep operating for a

1:07:06>> I I I think

1:07:07that makes different, which is if the

1:07:11Let's say I forget what year this plant

1:07:13went live, but say it was 2008. Um the

1:07:16cuz I think it was around there, right?

1:07:17Or maybe a little later.

1:07:20>> 2012.

1:07:21>> Yeah, so the But like let's say it had

1:07:24happened in 2018, would we have spent as

1:07:27much money on the fixing it?

1:07:30>> as sooner you catch it, the less

1:07:31degradation that you're going to have.

1:07:33As soon as it starts to corrode,

1:07:35obviously that expands it.

1:07:36>> Are the paints any better now? I imagine

1:07:38they would be.

1:07:39>> We hope.

1:07:40>> [laughter]

1:07:41>> It seems very I mean, this is so beyond

1:07:43my knowledge area, but it just seems so

1:07:45expensive to me.

1:07:46>> Oh, it is very expensive.

1:07:48But replacing a whole unit, I mean, this

1:07:50these things are immense. They're, you

1:07:52know,

1:07:52>> And you find find Tying Bond being the

1:07:54most reasonable? Cuz I know they're

1:07:56getting all three.

1:07:57>> Yeah, no. I mean, well, that's why we

1:08:00When we did the water tank, we went out

1:08:02to make sure because it was such a

1:08:04discreet um separate test to make sure

1:08:07um

1:08:08Tying Bond's already done the other two,

1:08:09so there's a really big efficiency to

1:08:11have them continue on doing this one cuz

1:08:13they know the knowledge. They know how

1:08:14to Basically, it's

1:08:16they're running through the same thing.

1:08:18This is our biggest unit. Um it has been

1:08:20operating the longest, so we do expect

1:08:24like there to be more.

1:08:25>> Yeah, I don't actually don't think this

1:08:27is that expensive. Maybe I'm crazy. I

1:08:28mean, it's expensive Yeah, I I honestly

1:08:30I thought it was fairly affordable cuz I

1:08:32actually think they're being very

1:08:33efficient with the cost of

1:08:35>> Like I said, I mean, I don't know, so I

1:08:37totally defer to you.

1:08:38>> If you adjust for materials and using

1:08:40prevailing wage or effectively

1:08:41prevailing wage employees, it's going to

1:08:44it it's a lot of work.

1:08:48But you know,

1:08:49all right, so thanks for that, Heather.

1:08:51All right, so I'm going to make a

1:08:53motion to approve the awarding of Tying

1:08:56Bond Corporation for wastewater

1:08:57treatment plant ETU number three

1:08:59painting and rehab rehabilitation not to

1:09:02exceed $90,000, and to authorize the TA

1:09:04to execute the agreement. Give me a

1:09:06second.

1:09:07>> Sorry. All those in favor?

1:09:09>> Thanks, Heather.

1:09:10>> Yes, thanks, Heather.

1:09:12>> Um okay, we are

1:09:15consideration of possible action on

1:09:16accepting the resignation from Laurie

1:09:18Williams, assistant conservation agent,

1:09:20effective October 23rd, 2026.

1:09:23Uh

1:09:24I will make a motion to accept her

1:09:25resignation with thanks.

1:09:27>> I'll second that.

1:09:28>> All All those in favor?

1:09:30All right.

1:09:31>> Yes.

1:09:31>> Any questions?

1:09:33All right, and then moving on to

1:09:36uh old business. We already discussed

1:09:38the special town meeting warrant. Mary

1:09:39E. Lou?

1:09:40>> No.

1:09:41>> Mr. Chase?

1:09:42>> No, thank you, though.

1:09:42>> Mary?

1:09:44>> I'm sorry, I was just um

1:09:46What was the question?

1:09:47>> You're I I will send you out of class,

1:09:49young lady, if you don't pay attention.

1:09:51Um old business.

1:09:53>> Well, that's [laughter] the old

1:09:53business, though. I'm very happy that

1:09:55she just handed me the street the snow

1:09:58plowing of private ways.

1:10:00And that the board of selectmen

1:10:01determines

1:10:03>> I'm making a rule that's not old

1:10:04business.

1:10:04>> The

1:10:05>> [laughter]

1:10:05>> The board of selectmen determines the

1:10:07roads to be plowed into subsection A.

1:10:10So,

1:10:10>> But we would have to get you that

1:10:11inventory with her recommendations.

1:10:13>> Right, her recommendations, but I didn't

1:10:14realize ultimately it's the select

1:10:16board.

1:10:16>> Careful what you wish for.

1:10:17>> No, no, I'm just I'm just saying.

1:10:19>> I think it makes sense. Um I have no old

1:10:21business. Uh new business, Mary?

1:10:24>> No.

1:10:25>> Chase?

1:10:25>> No, thanks.

1:10:26>> Mary

1:10:26>> No.

1:10:27>> And

1:10:27>> You know what I do have a new business

1:10:29that

1:10:30>> Uh-oh.

1:10:31>> [laughter]

1:10:32>> And it's just I'm just spitballing. When

1:10:33we're in an emergency rush for

1:10:35signatures, and a lot of us are out of

1:10:36town,

1:10:37>> Yes.

1:10:38>> can DocuSign work, and can we get signed

1:10:40up with that?

1:10:40>> We use it for the warrant now.

1:10:43>> I just think it's

1:10:44>> it may depend on certain things might

1:10:45need wet signatures for legal reasons,

1:10:47but we can certainly find out and start

1:10:50utilizing DocuSign more. I mean, we use

1:10:52it in finance right now.

1:10:53>> I mean, just for emergency

1:10:54>> allow it legally a DocuSign.

1:10:56>> I think it's more of if something needs

1:10:58a actual

1:11:00>> Like affidavits can be DocuSign.

1:11:02>> No, I don't think it's a legal binding I

1:11:03think that's not what I was going to

1:11:04say. I was going to say it's like when

1:11:05you have the thing that's going to go on

1:11:07the plaque.

1:11:08>> Right.

1:11:08>> Yeah, that's all that's the only Yeah,

1:11:10yeah, yeah, like that's different. But

1:11:11yeah, yeah, no, I think there's no

1:11:13reason

1:11:15>> on certain documents. Some things do

1:11:17still require wet, but we can we can try

1:11:20to do more things DocuSign.

1:11:22>> I'm just thinking 99% of the time we're

1:11:23going to get it here, but in those

1:11:25emergency situations if we could all

1:11:26look at DocuSign that would

1:11:27>> It would be very nice. Yeah, so let me

1:11:29talk to Barbara cuz Shelley has set it

1:11:31up for the warrant. There's no reason we

1:11:33can't expand it to other things.

1:11:35>> Yeah, let's let's figure it out the

1:11:36answer. I'm sure I'm sure Katie can

1:11:38answer that without even

1:11:39>> Yeah, that's up Shelley to deal with it

1:11:41right across the hall.

1:11:42>> I've known her a thousand places. Um,

1:11:43okay. Uh, and I realize Katie and I

1:11:45didn't ask you if you had any old or new

1:11:47business. I apologize.

1:11:49>> No,

1:11:49no, I'm good.

1:11:50>> Um, all right. So then we're moving to

1:11:52approval of minutes October 5th, 2026.

1:12:02Any edits to the minutes as written?

1:12:07No, you're doing a nice job with these

1:12:08Francis. Thank you.

1:12:09>> Oh, yes. I did have one bit of old

1:12:12business.

1:12:12>> Oh, sure.

1:12:13>> Too late?

1:12:13>> Well, let's finish these then.

1:12:15Then

1:12:16>> I just

1:12:16>> I'm going to make a motion to approve

1:12:17the October 5th, 2026 meeting minutes as

1:12:20written.

1:12:21>> Second.

1:12:22>> All in favor.

1:12:23>> Thanks.

1:12:23>> And Mary Lou Uh, you had a

1:12:27one more old business.

1:12:28>> Mary Lou Mary

1:12:29>> I'm Mary Downey, I'm sorry.

1:12:31>> Um,

1:12:31when I read this um, about the annual

1:12:34pickleball tournament. So when special

1:12:35events met they thought we all agreed

1:12:38that if you could send something on

1:12:39behalf of the town to

1:12:42um, pickleball youth thanking them for

1:12:44allowing Yes. Um, that would be

1:12:46excellent.

1:12:47>> No, that's a good that's a good point

1:12:48Mary, thank you. Um, okay, citizens

1:12:50forum. I don't think so.

1:12:52>> We've got a packed

1:12:53>> Uh well, we one we have one person on

1:12:55the call.

1:12:56Uh Zacharias, are you

1:13:00here for anything?

1:13:01>> No, not here.

1:13:02>> Okay.

1:13:03Um

1:13:05All right, and then so I guess we

1:13:07having no citizens forum

1:13:09>> I'm here.

1:13:11>> Um

1:13:12the uh I'm going to make a motion to

1:13:15adjourn.

1:13:16>> Second.

1:13:17>> All those in favor?

1:13:18Thank you.