2026-09-08 - Select Board

06:05Oh yeah.

06:10>> Thank you everybody. I convene this.

06:14>> Okay. I convene this meeting of the

06:16Westboro Select Board. It being 6 pm on

06:19Tuesday, September 8th here in Memorial

06:21Hall. Uh for all those who are able,

06:24please join us in the pledge of

06:25>> allegiance.

06:28Allegiance to the flag of the United

06:31States of America to the republic which

06:34stands one nation under Godism

06:39and justice for all.

06:44>> And as a reminder uh this meeting is

06:46being livereamed and recorded by

06:48Westboro TV.

06:51Uh we begin each meeting with open

06:54forum. Do you want to give a picture?

07:03>> Good evening. Ellen Edinburgh 8 Nash

07:05Street here as chair of the Westboro

07:07Affordable Housing Trust.

07:10I'd like to share um that the trust has

07:12been working on our HB cottages project

07:15which is looking for um starter homes

07:18and senior downsizing homes at both Six

07:21Beach Street and 45 High Street

07:24Extension. Um last late last fall we had

07:27a community meeting and got a lot of

07:29good feedback and really coming out of

07:31that decided rather than continuing with

07:34general designs and more feedback

07:36sessions that we do something a little

07:38more efficient and interactive we have

07:40contracted with JM Goldson um a

07:43consulting firm that does planning and a

07:46lot of work in affordable housing with

07:47trusts and so on Monday September 28th

07:51at 6 p.m. across the street in the great

07:52hall of the Forbes Municipal Building.

07:54We're having a community workshop. We'll

07:57bring people up to date on the project

07:58and we're going to have a series of

08:00interactive exercises where members of

08:02the community can help us look at the

08:04layout of the land, the potential style

08:06of buildings, the placement, the

08:08density, discuss things like traffic and

08:10noise and light and sight lines and

08:12landscaping and things of that nature.

08:15rather than following a typical process

08:17where we would put the project out to

08:19bid with a very general broad RF RFQ um

08:24and waiting for the developer to do

08:26design work and go to the boards for the

08:28public hearing. We're looking for

08:30community input so their concerns and

08:33preferences can be reflected either as

08:35requirements or preferences in the RFP

08:37and so that we have the community input

08:39before we even start writing the RFP and

08:41going out to bid. um that will give um

08:45the community more of a sense they're

08:47being heard and our plans are consistent

08:49with um their needs as well as the

08:52broader needs of the community and the

08:53needs of an affordable housing project

08:55with respect to size and funding and

08:58things of that nature. Um and gives the

09:01developers more assurance of what

09:04[clears throat] they're going to be

09:05propos you know propose would be

09:07accepted with fewer modifications in the

09:10process. So it's no guarantee once they

09:12get into the design and permitting

09:14process, but it lets us at least reflect

09:16the concerns and the priorities of the

09:18abuters the neighborhood and the overall

09:20community. And so there's an open

09:22invitation to the community. We are

09:24sending uh we have an email list of

09:27people interested in the project.

09:28They've been notified. We're sending

09:29letters out to the an extended abutter

09:31list beyond the 300 ft to make sure we

09:33cover the neighborhoods well. Um, and

09:35we'll be posting at the library, the

09:37senior center, here at the clerk's

09:39office, as well as on social media to

09:41bring public awareness.

09:43>> Thank you.

09:44>> Okay. Thank you.

09:55>> Good evening, members of the board.

09:56Kevin Barry, 8 Indian Pond Road. Uh,

09:58trust everybody had a nice relaxing

09:59holiday weekend. back to school, back to

10:01work obviously, and hopefully we'll see

10:03you uh some representation at the 911

10:05memorial service at the fire station.

10:07That's a big one. Um I come forth to you

10:10for two quick things. First, um, since I

10:12didn't see an agenda item on what we've

10:14been requesting for the last couple

10:15meetings and prior to this, but uh, as

10:18you are the governing body for the

10:20active transportation safety comm uh,

10:21committee, we are still looking for a,

10:24um, review, if you will, of Don Burn as

10:27a member of the ATP, the active

10:29transportation plan, uh, committee.

10:31We've brought forth uh various concerns,

10:34bless you, various concerns about

10:35conflict of interest and the fact that

10:37that person is the representative where

10:39there should be somebody else that has a

10:40more open and unbiased and objective

10:42opinion. Case in point is with influence

10:45undue influences. Uh as you may or may

10:47not know, DPW has two committee members

10:49or two members on that committee.

10:51There's been three public or three

10:53meetings so far. Of the three meetings,

10:55both of the DPW representatives have

10:57missed two of the meetings. They've only

10:59been there for the first one. There's

11:00obviously another one next week and then

11:01there's a public outreach meeting there

11:03in lies an issue where they can't

11:06counterbalance that narrative that's

11:07being brought forth. So please keep that

11:09in consideration. More importantly um

11:12hoping that Patrick addresses this in um

11:15at the end of the meeting tonight about

11:16the planning board and their open uh

11:18forum. Uh bottom line I brought forth a

11:21point of order if you will about an open

11:23meeting law violation or more so a

11:24violation of their ad adopted planning

11:26board open forum policy. Not sure if you

11:28caught it, but bottom line is, as you

11:30know, um um they adopted a um open forum

11:34policy similar to your open forum policy

11:36on July 7th.

11:39On August 4th, the chair made a

11:42unilateral decision at that meeting at

11:44the planning board meeting to move the

11:46open form from the prescribed place at

11:48the beginning to the end of the meeting

11:50that's contrary to their existing open

11:52forum policy. I have a copy of it. It's

11:53also on the town website. Basically the

11:56plannings board open form policy which

11:57was adopted July 7th provides that 10

12:00minutes will be set aside at the

12:01beginning of each agenda of the purpose

12:03of open form allow residents obviously

12:05you know the whole spiel but bottom line

12:07is the chairperson made a unilateral

12:10decision an edict if you will will to

12:12make move it to the end of the meeting

12:13there was basically no deliberation by

12:15the board there was no vote by the board

12:18and the policy was posted obviously as I

12:20mentioned and remains unchanged

12:21confirming that the existing policy

12:23should be in play the board cannot alter

12:26by a unilateral decision uh from the

12:28chair and any modification requires

12:29proper notice, public deliberation and a

12:31recorded vote and none of those occur.

12:33They adopted that policy begrudgingly

12:36moved it to the end of the meeting which

12:38is just no one else does that. I've

12:41surveyed numerous town boards, meetings,

12:43etc. Other towns, no one else does it

12:45and there's a reason because there's no

12:46committed time for people to show up. We

12:49ended the meeting or open form was at

12:509:00 on Thursday when they moved their

12:52meeting. So again, there in lies an

12:55issue that is part of your goal and your

12:57agenda as far as select board for 2026

12:59is looking at town charter and looking

13:01at oversight for the planning board.

13:03They are elected officials. They're

13:05fellow town residents and not giving the

13:06opportunity, the proper opportunity for

13:08residents to speak. Thank you for your

13:10time and I'll submit these both to you.

13:16Thanks. Thank you.

13:26Joanne Aramini, 7 Meadow Road. As Kevin

13:29just said, we have been here multiple

13:31times over the past couple months with

13:33our concerns about the direction and the

13:35process of that active transportation

13:37plan and the role and conflict of

13:40interest of having Don Burn sit on that

13:42working group.

13:44Don Burn [clears throat] sits on the

13:45active transportation safety committee

13:47and he represents that committee on this

13:49working group. You all oversee the

13:53active transportation safety committee.

13:55I don't understand why you're not doing

13:57anything about it. I don't understand

13:59why you're not discussing it and

14:00addressing it. I don't understand why

14:02you're looking the other way. And you

14:04always look the other way when it deals

14:06with Dawn. I don't know what kind of

14:08hold he has on anybody up there or in

14:11this town. He has come up with what he

14:14calls a crossconnection document which

14:16represents his idea of this grandiose

14:20bike path that he wants. He says he was

14:22asked to do this by the active

14:25transportation plan working group. But

14:28when you look at the minutes of the

14:29meetings, there is absolutely no action

14:31item that directs him to do this.

14:35And he continues to go to other towns to

14:38push his agenda of this path. when you

14:41guys have asked him not to do that.

14:44Also, when you review the group's

14:46meeting minutes, it comes across that it

14:49assumes the downtown improvement

14:50project, which is the Rotary includes

14:52the Rotary redesign and the BW projects

14:55are going to happen. There's absolutely

14:57no documentation that supports that

14:59anybody on that working group has

15:01brought forth the public thoughts and

15:03concerns about both of those projects.

15:07How does our opinion get factored into

15:10that working group? We can't attend the

15:12meetings.

15:16The public needs to be part, as Alan

15:19just said, the public needs to be heard

15:21and part of the process in the

15:24beginning, not at the end when

15:27somebody's made a decision and they're

15:28going to have some meeting for public

15:31input after the fact. because what comes

15:33across is that it's a done deal and it's

15:36going to be what it is and people are

15:37just playing nice and letting the public

15:40say something but nothing ever changes.

15:42We've repeatedly asked for

15:44prioritization of all the transportation

15:46projects. There are many. They're big

15:49ticket items. We can't afford them all.

15:52We want to have a say in that. Thank

15:54you.

15:55>> Thank you very much.

16:01>> Okay. Um

16:04it being 611.

16:07Uh item number two is a liquor license

16:09complaint hearing um with Red Heat

16:12Tavern of Westboro.

16:15Um

16:16believe we need a motion to open the

16:18hearing.

16:19>> So moved.

16:21>> Second.

16:22>> Second. Uh roll call vote.

16:25>> Marshall. Yes.

16:26>> Jonathan, yes.

16:28>> Welch, yes.

16:30and Kio. Yes.

16:34Um

16:43>> we have someone joining online um also

16:45from okay from trying to get that.

16:47>> Need a minute. In the meantime,

16:50um I'll just provide a little bit of

16:51background here. Um the town received a

16:55complaint regarding trivia nights at Red

16:57Heat Tavern. uh that alleging that

17:00alcohol was being awarded as prizes to

17:02trivia winners. Um

17:06this um

17:09uh falls under ABC regulation 204 204

17:14CMR 4.3

17:171H uh certain practices prohibited

17:21and um

17:28uh one H of that is encourage or

17:30prohibit on the license premises any

17:32gamer contest which involves drinking or

17:35the awarding of drinks as prizes.

17:38So, um that's what brings us here today.

17:42Am I missing anything?

17:46>> All right. And it's also my

17:48understanding that this is a second

17:50violation. There was a prior violation

17:51in 2022.

17:53>> Correct.

17:54>> For for a different

17:55>> for different

17:56>> different matter. Still serving an

17:58underage

18:00>> and that was part of a uh

18:03Police check

18:04>> compliance check. Thank you.

18:06>> And Sean, I think it also might violate

18:08204 uh 403, which is that LA that number

18:12two item on our packet that [snorts] no

18:14license shall ly shall advertise or

18:16promote in any way whether within or

18:18without the license premise any of the

18:20practices prohibited under 204.

18:24Got it.

18:25>> Thank you.

18:28>> So I don't know who we're waiting for

18:31online.

18:35Just watch.

18:56>> There we go.

18:56>> There we go.

19:03Okay. Um, can you hear us?

19:11Oh, we can't hear you.

19:30I'm trying.

19:44I was paying attention.

19:58Can you hear us now?

20:04>> Can you hear us?

20:16>> Hang on. We can't hear you yet.

20:19>> It's a technology.

20:26>> [snorts]

20:29>> There we go. Something

20:43that better.

21:08>> [clears throat]

21:10>> Can he hear you from the computer or

21:12not?

21:13>> Can you hear me?

21:18Yes,

21:20>> we'll call you and try to do the sound

21:23over the phone.

21:29>> Can he chat to you?

21:44>> [clears throat]

21:48>> Can you put your phone number in the

21:50chat so we can

21:51>> Okay.

21:55>> No, we can we can hear you now.

21:57>> Oh, you hear me? All right. Great. Okay.

22:02>> Sorry about that.

22:09>> Okay. if you could introduce yourselves.

22:13>> My name is Brian Whailing. I'm the

22:14director of operations for Red Tavern

22:16Group.

22:17>> Thank you,

22:24>> sir. Do you care to introduce yourself?

22:28>> Sure. Sure.

22:34>> Can you just introduce yourself?

22:36>> Oh, I apologize. Oh, I apologize.

22:37Mitchell Khan.

22:40Thank you.

22:40>> What's your role at Red Hat?

22:42>> Um I am um I am a partner partner um

22:47>> member of the um member of the um own

22:49the group that owns the business.

22:51>> Okay. Thanks.

22:51>> Thank you very much.

22:54Um so we sort of just gave a sort of a

22:57brief overview of of what we understand

22:59happens. I don't know if you can talk us

23:01through it a little bit and then talk

23:03about kind of what's resulted from that

23:06or actions you've taken.

23:07>> Of course. Absolutely. So I was unaware

23:09of the incident in 2022. I was not with

23:11the company at that point. So I did not

23:13know that was a complaint factor. Also,

23:15uh what happened recently is we have

23:17trivia on Tuesday nights.

23:20>> Could you just uh speak closer to the

23:21microphone just cuz Yeah. So, we have

23:22trivia on Tuesday nights in the

23:25restaurant. And the third party that we

23:28use for trivia, he was using he has a

23:31day job as an alcohol salesman was using

23:33sample products as added prizes to the

23:37prize pool so that things weren't

23:39getting stale. Um, unfortunately that

23:42now that's against the law, but the time

23:45we don't know that he has since stopped

23:48that immediately. None of it was for any

23:51consumption on premise. It wasn't even

23:53product we carry. It was random odds and

23:56end products and unfortunate

24:00but it it did occur and not

24:04>> Thank you very much. Uh any questions?

24:07>> Um yeah I I do. So, um, some of some of

24:10the information we received in the

24:12packet was, um, there were some photos

24:15from social media and

24:17>> that was from a third party, their their

24:19social media,

24:19>> their social, thank you for that

24:20clarification. Um, and it looked like I

24:24mean, you guys have a family restaurant,

24:26but it looked like um I mean, there were

24:28definitely children in the picture. I

24:30don't think anyone were actually holding

24:31the alcohol. Um, but are you aware of

24:34that?

24:34>> Yes, I was. I was aware of all the

24:36photos. I've received them from the

24:37ABCCC as well and um there were some

24:40children for we are familyfriendly

24:41restaurant it wasn't for a um consult

24:44wasn't for consumption on premise

24:46>> it was for prizes and fortunately there

24:49are some children in the photos as well

24:55>> question I don't have any questions I

24:57just have a comment I'll just say you

24:59know I certainly appreciate Redhead Keep

25:00doing business in the town of Westboro

25:02uh I think you're a valuable member of

25:04our community and I appreciate that this

25:06is a very unfortunate event uh that's

25:08occurred especially within the

25:10>> you know the fiveyear window of our

25:12policy for look back on previous

25:14violations. So um I I'm looking forward

25:17to the discussion with the board. So

25:18thank you for being here tonight. Okay.

25:21>> Did Mitchell want to add anything or I

25:24just didn't want if you wanted to have a

25:25chance to

25:27>> go ahead there.

25:28>> Yeah. I I just had a follow-up question.

25:30So um

25:32just understand that this was a vendor.

25:34Is this someone that you hire as the

25:36vendor or is he doing it and charging

25:39participants or how how does he

25:41>> we do pay him um weekly for services?

25:45>> Okay. Thank you.

25:49>> All right.

25:51>> Actually, um he's a has a different job

25:54as an alcohol salesman. Um, do we know

25:57if he was brought before the ABCC given

26:00his although he wasn't doing it under

26:03that role?

26:04>> I don't have any knowledge of that. It

26:06was shared with the ABCC when they were

26:08investigating with the investigator.

26:10I do not believe they pursued it any

26:12further.

26:12>> Okay.

26:13>> Thank you.

26:16>> All right.

26:18comments,

26:22discussion.

26:27Yeah, I mean I I I think it's

26:29unfortunate Patrick already said that,

26:31you know, within that fiveyear window um

26:36and every time someone comes before us,

26:38do you give the gives sort of the speech

26:41of welcome to Westboro and you know, we

26:43don't want to see you back before uh

26:44beforehand. I certainly understand that

26:462022 is before your time, uh, Brian, but

26:50um, yeah, you know, this this this

26:55is a problem. This this is one and and

26:57so I understand that my understanding is

26:59the ABCC gave you a warning. Um, I

27:04personally feel that a warning is uh,

27:07light in this case given the 5-year

27:08window and so um, I would be in favor of

27:12a one-day suspension.

27:14Mike question I can Sean.

27:16>> Yes.

27:17>> So um uh I I'm perhaps I missed it in

27:20our packet. I'm just curious. Was the uh

27:24was the violation in 2022

27:26cited as a warning? I don't It was a

27:28warning.

27:28>> It was a warning. Yes. Um

27:32okay

27:36I just think for discussion purposes um

27:38and I think Shelby had said this earlier

27:40this is the first offense came through

27:44um you know basically serving to a minor

27:47which is something um exactly as we

27:49talked about is the offense we don't

27:51want to see this one um I view it as as

27:55as different um you know it came through

27:57a vendor but why asked my question that

27:59still falls under your responsibility.

28:00It's in your restaurant. It falls under

28:02your liquor license uh per the law. Um

28:07and um so as I look at it, you know, a

28:10second offense for us by our policy

28:12would be a 3-day suspension. Um we do

28:15have um within our policy though um kind

28:19of depending on the circumstance of the

28:20offense, the slept may deviate or adjust

28:22the above guidelines. In my view with

28:25this one, um, while we take this

28:27seriously and, um, I would not, um, want

28:31to deviate, I think, um, as board member

28:33Marshall just stated, my take would be,

28:36um, doing it as a, as a one-day

28:39suspension, just noting that it is, um,

28:41a different circumstance. Um, [laughter]

28:44and,

28:45>> [clears throat]

28:46>> uh, I've debated myself as to three-day

28:49versus one day. Um, board member Welsh

28:52also said, "We we appreciate you doing

28:55business in this town, but um, we do

28:58take this thing very seriously and um,

29:01you know, that brings me concern." So,

29:05as board member Marsh said, my

29:06suggestion would be a one-day um, uh,

29:08license suspension based on this

29:11violation.

29:15Now, it it's also my understanding that

29:18since this has already gone before the

29:20ABCC that they are the final authority

29:24on this and so that if this were then

29:29um

29:31I guess sent to them, their initial

29:34ruling would probably supersede whatever

29:37we do here today.

29:38>> Yes. So, so they're the um authority

29:42that could be appealed to. Okay,

29:45>> Chris. Uh, just a follow on question to

29:47that. Um, um, I I don't want to assume,

29:51do you know if they were made aware of

29:53the June 7, 2022 violation?

29:57>> They were not. My understanding is that

29:58they were not aware of that when they

30:00issued the warning.

30:01>> Yeah.

30:02Now, the the other thing I would um

30:07remind folks about is that this

30:08violation then resets the clock. So, so

30:12this is the second violation and the

30:145-year clock would then start again. So,

30:18um, so if you were to come before us a

30:21third time, um,

30:24you know, that would be, um,

30:26unfortunate.

30:27>> Yes. U, can I just ask, do we have an

30:31idea of how many u

30:34things have been,

30:36for lack of a better word,

30:37>> compliance checks,

30:38>> compliance checks, sorry. uh have

30:41[clears throat] taken place since the

30:43last. Do we have any clue how many

30:46they've gone through successfully?

30:47>> I haven't looked at it specifically. It

30:49usually happens annually.

30:51[clears throat]

30:51>> So,

30:51>> we've had a number of them. So,

30:54uh

30:56I'm actually kind of sympathetic in the

30:58sense that I think Red Heat got dealt

31:02kind of a tough deck of cards. Not to

31:05excuse this, but they moved to town

31:08right right before the movie theater

31:11closed and they hired this uh trivia guy

31:15to come in and try and get some people

31:17in the doors because, you know, they

31:20don't have that draw from the movie

31:22theater. Um, and the guy screwed up, did

31:27something really stupid. So, but there

31:30was no no underage minors drinking

31:32alcohol on the premise. Nobody was

31:34drinking the alcohol that was given out

31:36for prizes.

31:38Um, I do look at it as a different

31:40offense than serving a minor.

31:48You know, inclined to be a little

31:49lenient.

31:52Uh, that said, I'll just add to my

31:54earlier comments. Um my initial uh

31:57thought on this looking at our policy

31:59first about all I'm very happy to hear

32:01that that the board is uh entertaining a

32:04suspension because this is you know this

32:05is a very serious thing in regards to

32:08why the license is offered and why we as

32:11a board have the authority uh to oversee

32:14this license in this case. Um, when I

32:16look at it, I I was saying, you know, we

32:18gave him a warning the fir the first

32:19offense. It's been uh 4 years. It's

32:21within that 5-year window. It's

32:23appropriate for our policy to do a 3-day

32:25suspension. Um, I was kind of teetering

32:29between the one and maybe two days

32:31suspension. Um, I will also say that I

32:34can I can see how uh, you know, there

32:37could be under ABC's

32:40terminology or or whatnot in regards to

32:44this wasn't the giving of a drink,

32:47right? This wasn't awarding of a drink.

32:48It was a closed bottle, right? And

32:50that's a little a little different, but

32:52I think that's a a slippery slope. Um,

32:54so I don't think there's a big uh

32:59ability to stand on that precedence. Um,

33:02so I I'm in favor of a suspension. Um,

33:05and when I looked at the the dates of

33:06when these uh when this infraction

33:08occurred, it was a Tuesday. Um, and I

33:11was thinking before I even looked that

33:12up that I think it's appropriate to

33:13award the suspension, no matter the

33:16duration appropriately on the day that

33:17they similar day of the week that they

33:19had that suspend that violation occur.

33:22So I would say to the board that if the

33:23board is going to support a suspension

33:26that it should be served on the same

33:27day, which is a Tuesday.

33:30Okay. So now if we are um in favor as a

33:38group of a one-day suspension, they have

33:40the review to the ABCC. We have a fair

33:44idea of

33:46what the outcome will be there. I guess

33:49do we need to go into details about

33:51specifics regarding this or do we wait

33:54to hear back from what the ABCC?

33:58>> Yeah. So I Chris, you

34:01>> No, go ahead. Uh so I guess I so I would

34:04uh for the purpose of the discussion I

34:06would make a motion that um we should um

34:09issue a one-day suspension of the liquor

34:12license um on a given Tuesday to date to

34:17be determined with Red Heat and this

34:21board pending any further

34:24um action or or from the [clears throat]

34:28ABCC. Right.

34:31I would just add to that motion if I

34:32can.

34:32>> I just asked Well, one second. Okay,

34:34Christie, why don't you make your your

34:35comment?

34:36>> The ABCC doesn't review your decision.

34:38That would just be a process of the

34:40applicant would have or the license

34:42holder would have to take. So, you can

34:44issue the suspension, okay,

34:45>> for a date certain and you've certainly

34:47worked with or license holders before on

34:50what that date is.

34:51>> So, so before you amend it, sorry, I

34:53know it's a little out of process here.

34:55Where it was going though is if do we

34:58have an opportunity as a board to send

35:01our findings to the ABCC justifying our

35:05decision is where I was going. I mean I

35:07think it's totally appropriate if they

35:09didn't look back and I don't know why

35:11they wouldn't back to 2022 and be like

35:13hey is this business come across any

35:15other violations albeit we know that

35:18it's different. Like that's a

35:20headscratcher for me. Well, that's

35:21exactly what my amendment was going to

35:22be was that we send a letter to the ABC

35:24see if they haven't been informed to

35:26make sure that they are informed of of

35:28the fact that there was a previous

35:29violation

35:30>> and that we appreciate that these are

35:32different. I mean, I think that that

35:33that if that's um if we have an

35:36opportunity to do that and the and that

35:38the Revy appeals, I feel like it's

35:42wholly appropriate that we would submit

35:44that letter to the ABCs.

35:47>> Okay.

35:48>> So, so sorry. So, so you don't have to.

35:50We can advise them of what you're what

35:52you've done, but we're not required to

35:55because you're the local licensing

35:56authority. Um,

35:58>> so are you asking that we let them know

36:00what you what action you've taken ahead

36:02of any process that requires you to

36:05provide information? I guess maybe from

36:06a process perspective, if we say if if

36:09there's a majority vote on the motion

36:12and red heat appeals it like

36:16who gets who gets the next say is what

36:19I'm trying to understand.

36:21>> Okay.

36:22>> Yeah.

36:23>> Right. So, so if they if if then Red Hat

36:27decides to go forward with that then

36:28yes, I would want I would want them to

36:30be informed of the

36:32>> Are we notified?

36:35So they you need to issue a written

36:37decision stating that you're suspending

36:39include the reasons which

36:42>> sounds like it would point to the policy

36:44and the history and then the lency has 5

36:47days to appeal to the ABCC and that your

36:52written decision goes to the ABCC. So

36:54upon appeal they have knowledge of what

36:57was the basis for your decision. Okay,

36:59>> that's all I need. So then I would just

37:00say amend it saying that we would

37:02include in our in our information to the

37:05EBCC the prior violation.

37:07>> Y

37:07>> okay

37:08>> and seconded that motion if it's amended

37:09that

37:09>> right because that's one of that's how

37:11your policy is established.

37:13>> Okay Mark um you know I don't want to

37:16waffle on this. I just you know when I

37:19think about it like even I know and I

37:21haven't worked in a restaurant for over

37:2230 years but even I know that you're not

37:25supposed to give out free alcohol. So I

37:27I I guess what I'm saying is I'm I'm

37:30kind of lenient, but I think a one day

37:32suspension is is kind of lenient bas.

37:36>> So that's the mo. So you're in support

37:37of the motion.

37:39>> Well, I haven't voted yet, but I guess I

37:41am.

37:41>> Well, your statement says you're in

37:43support of the motion. Do we have a Do

37:44you want to second the motion?

37:47>> I already did.

37:48>> Okay, you're already seconded. We have

37:50>> a quick question. Um, back to the thing.

37:52Do we know if the ABCC reached out to

37:55the town asking if there are prior

37:58violations?

38:00>> Uh, I believe that they did reach out to

38:03the police department.

38:05>> Okay.

38:07>> What I'm sorry, was that in advance of

38:10their finding?

38:12>> Their hearing? Yes,

38:13>> their hearing.

38:16>> Um, because if that was in our packet, I

38:18missed it.

38:27Yes. Yeah. So, they did reach out to the

38:31police department. Um I believe I

38:34believe it was in advance of their

38:36decision.

38:38>> Okay. Well, my my motion would still

38:40stand. I I

38:41>> Yeah, I'm not saying that any question.

38:43>> Yes.

38:44>> Any further comments before we vote?

38:46>> No.

38:48>> Do you want the motion again? Do we just

38:50need a date?

38:50>> You should pick a date. Oh,

38:56>> I think the suggestion in my mind would

38:59be a couple weeks out to allow them to

39:01prepare.

39:02>> 22nd, 29th.

39:03>> I was going to say the 22nd.

39:05>> 22nd.

39:05>> That's two weeks.

39:08>> Does that work views of business 22nd or

39:1029th?

39:12>> Whichever you decide.

39:13>> Okay.

39:16>> Okay.

39:16>> You amend your motion for

39:18>> Yeah. For the 22nd. So I would

39:20>> one one more thing. Um and the motion

39:22should include that they physically turn

39:25in the license

39:27>> the day of the closure.

39:28>> Okay. So let me try this again. So I

39:31would um move to issue a one-day liquor

39:33suspension. Let me make sure I got the

39:35go back to sorry got too many documents

39:38up here.

39:40>> Yep. So I move to find that Red Heat

39:42Tavern violated 204 CMR 4.031H 031H

39:47by permitting trivia contest in which

39:49alcoholic beverages were awarded as

39:51prizes and based upon this violation and

39:54the establishment's prior liquor license

39:56violation in 2022 impose a suspension of

40:00its liquor license for one day to be on

40:03Tuesday, September 22nd, 2026.

40:07Um, and that Red Heat Tavern will

40:10physically um turn in its liquor

40:13license. Um,

40:15on that day and pick it up the next day.

40:20>> On that day prior to opening?

40:21>> Yes.

40:22>> Yeah.

40:22>> Yes.

40:23>> Curiosity, where would you go for that?

40:26>> Our office downstairs.

40:29Patrick, do you second that

40:31>> and um that um the board's the summary

40:36of the board's discussion and our uh

40:39decision uh be captured in the notice to

40:42the ABCC?

40:44>> Seconded.

40:45>> Okay. Any other comment? All those in

40:48favor?

40:50Five to zero. Five being present. Thank

40:52you very much for coming. It's a hard

40:53one you guys.

40:54>> It is. Thank you for being here. I'm

40:55sorry you're caught in the crosshairs of

40:57this one, but

40:58>> thank you for having me.

40:59>> Yeah.

40:59>> Thanks.

41:01>> Um,

41:02>> thank you, sir.

41:03>> Thank you.

41:03>> Thank you.

41:05>> Thank you.

41:06>> Yeah.

41:06>> Motion to close the meeting.

41:07>> Uh, so moved.

41:09>> Second. Roll call vote.

41:11>> Marshall, yes.

41:12>> Johnson, yes.

41:13>> Wal, yes.

41:14>> Silverberg, yes.

41:15>> And Kio, yes. Uh, the hearing is closed.

41:18Okay. Item number three, change of

41:21polling location to Westboro Community

41:23Center, 1500 Union Street, Suite 101,

41:27the lower level.

41:29>> Hello.

41:30>> Hi. Good evening. Um, I stand before you

41:33tonight, like you just said, with a

41:34request to consider changing the town's

41:37official polling location from Westboro

41:39High School to the community center

41:41located at 1500 Union Street. Um, this

41:44is only a change for election day. It

41:46does not change early voting. that would

41:48stay at town hall and memorial hall. Um

41:52the reasons to consider moving elections

41:54to the community center um I believe are

41:57parking accessibility and school safety.

42:02I had the state come out earlier this

42:04year to survey the community center for

42:06compliance regarding polling place

42:08accessibility. The location passed. Um I

42:12just need to add three temporary

42:14handicap parking spots on the day of an

42:16election. Um, I toured the community

42:19center again last week and I'm 100%

42:22confident that it will house all six

42:24precincts on election day and it'll be

42:26plenty of parking and it'll be much more

42:28accessible um for our residents.

42:32I propose elections move to the

42:33community center starting with the state

42:35election on November 3rd. I spoke with

42:38library director Kate Karacio and she's

42:40confident the temporary library location

42:43will be vacant in plenty of time.

42:47If the change of polling location is

42:49voted tonight, the notice um of the

42:52change of location will be mailed to

42:54every registered voter in Mass in

42:56Westboro and that's in accordance with

42:58the Massachusetts general laws. Um we'll

43:01also put notice on the town website.

43:03It'll be published in the community

43:05advocate newspaper. It'll also be posted

43:08in various locations around town and it

43:10will go out on social media and we'll

43:12keep putting the blasts out more as we

43:14get closer to the election. Um, so I'm

43:17here tonight to propose that change and

43:20I'm happy to answer any questions.

43:23>> Right. Thank you very much.

43:24>> Good question.

43:25>> Yes.

43:26>> Um, so is this proposal for this

43:29election and going forward?

43:32>> Um, so it's this election and moving

43:35forward. Yeah. Um, I am going to, you

43:39know, make sure Westboro High School,

43:41um, knows that at some point we need to

43:44find a temporary location that we can

43:46accommodate any renovations that might

43:48occur in the community center in which

43:512027, example, we have one one election

43:54in March. The next year we have more,

43:56but I'm certainly um want to keep

43:59Westboro High School in the loop.

44:00>> Yep. Okay. Yeah. So, keep that as keep

44:03them in communication. Early voting

44:05obviously for obvious reasons is here as

44:07you've already discussed. But yeah, no,

44:09I think it's a I think it's a great use.

44:10I'm glad. Thank you for doing the leg

44:12work. Thank you for coordinating with um

44:14uh Kate Karacio, our director of the

44:16library. I'm I'm certainly in support.

44:20>> Okay. Thank you. Uh any other questions?

44:23>> So, yes,

44:24>> just gonna say what the motion can be.

44:26>> Okay. Yeah. No, I was just going to say

44:28thank you very much for bringing this

44:29forward um and doing the work here

44:31echoing Shelby. Uh my question is just

44:33this is um a little bit of a different

44:35I'm supportive of this. So my question

44:38is really just around public safety in

44:39regards to the parking lot. It's a

44:41commercial, you know, uh space with

44:43businesses in the area. Um there's, as

44:46you know, and you can tell me more about

44:48it, I'm sure, than I know, uh

44:50requirements in regards to distance from

44:52the polling area for protesters and uh

44:54campaigners and whatnot. Has that been

44:56thought out yet or is that plan still in

44:58progress as to how that will be handled

45:00within the space? Um well as far as uh

45:03people you mean the pro um polling

45:05outside the polling location. Yeah. So

45:08that that will remain 150 ft from the

45:10entrance of the polling location as it

45:12is up at the high school. That will be

45:14measured. It will be marked on the day

45:16of an election. Um we did go over with

45:18the state the parking. So most of the

45:20parking is the parking right outside of

45:22um where the library is right now. And

45:24it spills over if you're looking at the

45:26library the spots to the left. We

45:29currently have, I believe, two handicap

45:31spots there. Um, so it's the it's the

45:34spots immediately in front of the

45:36building at this point.

45:37>> Okay.

45:38>> Yeah.

45:38>> Um, and then a question from Christy.

45:40Christy, should we just make these

45:42additional handicap spots permanent at

45:45this point or is that okay?

45:47>> Only So, I'll just elaborate. So, the

45:49the renovation has uh indicated

45:52additional handicap parking. Um, so I

45:55think that we should wait for that to

45:57see sort of how that project might move

45:58forward. Um, temporary handicap parking

46:01spots for elections is very common

46:03across the state to just add temporary I

46:05think you add them actually currently,

46:07right? Or maybe not.

46:09>> We did this past election.

46:11>> Yeah. So, so that's um perfectly

46:12acceptable to the state and um and I

46:15think that we just want to wait to see

46:17kind of what's happening with the

46:18project.

46:22>> Any other questions?

46:22>> You have an actual motion. So, your

46:24motion could just be to to um move uh

46:27the polling location on election day

46:29from the Westboro High School to the

46:32community center at 1500 Union Street at

46:35lower level um pursuant to MGL chapter

46:3954 section 24.

46:41>> So moved.

46:42>> Second.

46:43>> Okay, great. Any other comments?

46:45>> All those in favor?

46:47>> Five to zero. Thank you very much.

46:49>> Thank you very much.

46:50>> Bless you.

46:51>> Bless you.

46:52sees us.

46:54>> Okay. Item number four, easements for

46:57Route 9 water main improvement projects

46:59including 260 Turnpike Road, 261 to 271

47:03Turnpike Road, 273 Turnpike Road, 291

47:06Turk Pike Road, and 299 Turnpike Road.

47:11>> Um, so these are all uh easements that

47:14the DPW has been working with town

47:16council and the property owners um for

47:18the Route 9 water main improvement

47:20project. um as you'll see in your

47:23packet, they um were approved or they

47:26can be approved by you pursuant to

47:30um a 2024 town meeting vote um where you

47:34approved the funding for the project as

47:36well as your ability to execute any

47:38instruments um necessary to move it

47:40forward.

47:42So, I would move pursuant to article 12D

47:44of the 2024 annual town meeting to

47:47accept and execute the grants of

47:49temporary easement for the properties at

47:51260 Turnpike Road, 261 to 271 Turnpike

47:55Road, 273 Turnpike Road, 291 Turnpike

47:58Road, and 299 Turnpike Road.

48:01>> Okay. Before your comment, do we have a

48:02second?

48:03>> Second.

48:04>> Okay. Uh comment.

48:05>> Uh this is just some of the easements.

48:09But these are the only easements that

48:10are have been prepared at this point.

48:12So, um

48:13>> Okay. So, there are there will be more.

48:15>> I'm not aware if there's more. All I

48:16know is that these are these are what's

48:18needed at this point.

48:19>> Memo from Lisa says

48:23the DPW has secured secured a portion of

48:26the property easements.

48:27>> Okay.

48:28>> So, it is there'll be more. Can I assume

48:30that or was it

48:33maybe that memo was done before they

48:35secured all five? I

48:37>> I That's fine. We're just moving forward

48:39with these five now. Okay. Sorry.

48:44>> Okay. All those in favor?

48:47Five to zero. Five being present.

48:51>> Okay.

48:52>> You guys had your coffee down there. You

48:53guys were quick to the gun today.

48:54>> Number five.

48:56>> You missed

48:56>> fails school Massachusetts school

48:59building authority budget revision.

49:03Um,

49:03>> so the board was copied an email from

49:06MSBA. um identifying the need to amend

49:10uh the budget. There was an overage in

49:12one line, so there was an ability to

49:14move funding from a different line. So,

49:16it's really um a kind of a paperwork um

49:21necessity. Um this board authorized Sean

49:24to sign that back in May. Um and so you

49:27would just need to authorize him to

49:29agree with that revision as presented.

49:34>> Yeah. I leave others. I mean, do you

49:37want to

49:38>> No, I was just going to say there's no

49:40impact to the town here. This is really

49:42an accounting on paper um

49:45very complex MSBA uh project. Um and so

49:50there's no impact to the town is the

49:52short of it.

49:52>> So, my understanding we're still within

49:54the budget that was identified for the

49:56project,

49:57>> correct? Um, but is this an additional

50:01request for money or was this is this

50:03just between line items?

50:05>> It's within line items. They just took

50:07it from the long line. Okay.

50:10>> Um,

50:10>> and just for the public's benefit, it's

50:13I mean just I think it's probably makes

50:15sense to to read what it is. It's um

50:18identified that line number one on BRR

50:21number seven, the transfer of $72,319

50:25from division one general requirements

50:28to GMP contingency resulted in the GMP

50:33contingency being overdrawn by $144,984.

50:38So the MSBA team met with our owner

50:41project manager John Lemieux from

50:43Vert.Ex and Mary Cuppins to discuss a

50:46feasible resolution. During the meeting,

50:48it was agreed that line one should be

50:50amended from $72,319

50:53to $217,33

50:56to address the overdrawn value in the

50:57GMP contingency and bringing that value

51:00to zero.

51:02>> Okay. So I'll move to approve the MSBA

51:05budget revision as presented. Authorize

51:07the chair to sign

51:10>> and authorize the chair to sign any

51:12documents that are required.

51:14>> Second.

51:15>> Okay. Any further comments, questions?

51:17All those in favor? All right. Five to

51:20zero. Thank you.

51:23Item number six,

51:25Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services

51:27Program and Contract in

51:33um so we have a presentation tonight. Uh

51:36as the board is aware, we changed the

51:38service um delivery model of youth and

51:41family services clinical services um

51:43back in 2024. Um so Shrewsbury Ethan

51:47Family Services which is is not a

51:50department of Shrewsbury but is a

51:51nonprofit that we contract with um is

51:54has been providing these clinical

51:56services uh to us. So uh it was a

51:59three-year agreement. So we are

52:00currently in our third year. Fiscal 27

52:03is our third year. Um so we wanted to

52:05provide the board with an update uh

52:07related to um sort of the financial

52:11around uh this contract versus our

52:13previous service delivery model. and

52:15then also um with just an update related

52:17to the programs and the services that

52:19SFS has provided. Um and then what we're

52:23looking for is agreement from the board

52:25to negotiate a successor agreement uh

52:28with SYFS.

52:34>> Can I Yeah, just a point of order from

52:36my part. I'm not sure whether I

52:38definitely can listen to this, but my

52:40wife is a member of the board of SYFS.

52:43So for contract discussions or anything,

52:45should I recuse myself from discussion?

52:48>> Probably. Yeah.

52:49>> So I am recusing myself from discussion,

52:51but I'm assuming I can sit here and

52:53listen.

52:54>> I think you should

52:55>> go over there.

52:56>> Go over there. Yeah.

52:59[clears throat and cough]

53:00>> And I did previously ask town manager

53:02whether it was appropriate for me to

53:03recuse as my wife was formerly a member

53:05of the SYFS, excuse me, of Westboro's

53:08Youth and Family Services. She falls

53:10under a different part of the budget

53:11underneath the senior center and is

53:12under the senior cent's direction now.

53:14So that's not applicable.

53:16>> Okay. Thank you for the clarification.

53:18Thanks.

53:19>> Okay. All right. I had a few slides. I

53:21intended to be very brief and I think

53:24that can be even more so because Christy

53:26touched up on a few things. Nope, that's

53:28fine. [laughter] Um, I just wanted to

53:30remind the board that uh this model that

53:33we currently have where we contract for

53:35uh counseling and clinical services has

53:37been in place since July 1st of 2024. It

53:41is a three-year contract. So, with the

53:43start of this fiscal year, we're now in

53:45the final year. Um Fred Kalin, the

53:47executive director of Shrewsbury Youth

53:50and Family Services, is here to give you

53:53um an overview of the second year of the

53:56contract. um get into a little more

53:58detail about that. But at a high level

54:02um we now contract for the counseling

54:04services and we have the contract manage

54:08managed under the senior and social

54:10services director and the one position

54:13that we retained as a town employee. Our

54:16outreach and resource coordinator is

54:19also supervised by the senior and social

54:22services director and is now physically

54:25located at the senior center as well as

54:28having office hours at um both the

54:31community center and here at town hall

54:33during the week. So um we do have

54:37through the contract we uh believed that

54:41two full-time clinicians would likely

54:44meet the needs. We also um anticipated

54:47having some other counseling and

54:49clinical services available through

54:51other staff at Shrewsbury Youth and

54:54Family Services as well as uh their

54:56model which you'll hear a little bit

54:58more about this uh relies on graduate

55:01interns also being able to provide

55:03support to this model. Um, so just the

55:06other point I will make, we continue

55:08while the Shrewsbury Youth and Family um

55:11they they still um provide the services

55:15here in Westboro in the same space that

55:19uh our previous program and service

55:21delivery model operated out of across

55:24the street. Um and the other piece that

55:27has been somewhat attached to youth and

55:30family historically is the youth

55:31commission that continues to exist. um

55:34that is supported by the outreach and

55:37resource coordinator, by the senior and

55:39social services director, and then as

55:42needed um representatives from SYFS will

55:46also be involved.

55:50And

55:51so I just wanted to bring up this slide

55:54because this is actually a slide that

55:56was presented when we introduced the

55:58idea of moving to this model. So, it

56:00said the goal of the transition is to

56:02enhance mental health services to the

56:04community while maintaining low barriers

56:06to accessing these services. And I think

56:08when you hear um Fred talk tonight, I

56:12think we've achieved that goal and

56:14continue to um use that as our guiding

56:17principle. Uh my last slide I did just

56:21want to um show on the financial side we

56:25looked at the current cost of the

56:28contracted largely the clinical aspect

56:31of the service delivery model. We looked

56:34at each of the three years of the

56:36contract. So again it started on July

56:391st 2024. So that was fiscal year 25. um

56:43through the contract costs for the

56:46current fiscal year. That is that middle

56:48column. And then we estimated what the

56:52costs for the service would have been

56:54had we maintained the prior service

56:57delivery model. Um and again, this isn't

56:59all about numbers. This is just really

57:01to demonstrate that we've been able to

57:03we believe enhance services in a very

57:06costeffective manner.

57:08So, I think with that, um, do you want

57:12me to open up or do you want to just

57:13switch?

57:15>> Yep.

57:17>> So, with that, I was going to turn it

57:18over to Fred Kalin.

57:33Could you presentation just

57:49We're up there.

57:56>> Zoom.

57:56>> Now I see it.

57:58>> Click on that. Thanks.

58:02Or not. And

58:03>> if it doesn't work, that's fine.

58:05[clears throat] Don't worry about it.

58:20Don't worry. Forget forget it was

58:24>> probably gremlins tonight.

58:28>> Hey.

58:29>> Yeah. If you got yours queued up,

58:31>> you're not allowed to talk. [laughter]

58:33No.

58:34>> This is my technology consulting

58:36services.

58:37>> Let me see how that went.

58:39[clears throat]

58:42>> We understand why they're free.

58:45>> There we go.

58:47>> The good news is I don't have any audio

58:49in the presentation, so we'll be okay

58:51with that. Um Kim, thank you.

58:54>> It's a dig against Westboro TV.

58:57>> Um as Kim said, I'm Fred Kalen. I'm the

59:00executive director of Shrewsbury Youth

59:01and Family Services. Um, with me as well

59:04is my colleague Allison Eckleston, who

59:06is our director of clinical operations.

59:08Um, and we'll go over the introduction

59:11slide. Uh, as Kim said, it's a

59:13three-year agreement. We recently

59:14finished year two. We've just sort of

59:16got underway with year three.

59:23Um just to give you an idea of who we

59:25serve when we talk about youth and

59:27family. Um this past year we Oh, sorry.

59:31This past year, uh 63% of who we saw as

59:36clients in the Westro Youth and Family

59:38Services Clinic were 17 and under. So we

59:42see a lot of young people. Um and that's

59:45true um also where we have our clinic in

59:48Shrewsbury. So, you know, very typically

59:51we're working with about twothirds of

59:53our population as young people. And I

59:55just want to mention that um there are

59:58peer-reviewed studies that um every

1:00:00dollar spent in community youth mental

1:00:03health saves 9 to10 dollars down the

1:00:05road. Okay. For things like emergency

1:00:07services, etc.

1:00:12Um who we served, you can see the the

1:00:14gender breakdown. Um 51% female, 39%

1:00:17male. um and then 2% other and 8% um no

1:00:21data. Um so I believe you know that's

1:00:25generally parallels the the general

1:00:27population um given that we have no data

1:00:29on those 8%. [clears throat]

1:00:34This is just a racial and ethnic um

1:00:36breakdown as well as who we served in

1:00:38this past year. Um, so you know about

1:00:41half the client half the residents um

1:00:42who we served are white and then 15%

1:00:45Hispanic Latino, 7% Asian, 4% black

1:00:49African-American, 4% other and then 17%

1:00:52either preferred not to answer or we

1:00:54don't have data.

1:00:58These are the eight languages spoken at

1:01:00home that we saw in the last um the last

1:01:02year. So English, Spanish, Portuguese,

1:01:04French, Bengali, Hindi, Farsy and Tamil.

1:01:12And so one of the things I just wanted

1:01:14to to um touch on that is, you know,

1:01:17something that in in terms of the town

1:01:20partnering with a nonprofit like

1:01:23ourselves who does these services is

1:01:25that the additional impact beyond just

1:01:27the very important clinical services of

1:01:30seeing clients every day. Um are also a

1:01:32number of other things that we bring to

1:01:33the table. you know, sometimes supported

1:01:35by other grants and other other dollars

1:01:37that we raise for. Um, so, you know, in

1:01:40the past year, we did a mental health

1:01:42101 training for the burrows, YMC, um,

1:01:44CITS, counselors in training. Um, we

1:01:47have a first response program that

1:01:49started actually um, after this contract

1:01:52started um that, uh, the DA's office and

1:01:56some underfunders support um, that's

1:01:58open to all Westboro first responders.

1:01:59And we, we have seen Westboro first

1:02:01responders take advantage of that. Um we

1:02:03have offered a number of groups um as

1:02:05discussed group attendance has been

1:02:08tricky um which is true across the board

1:02:10with a with a lot of different um

1:02:12entities and departments but we have um

1:02:14offered a number of groups. We provided

1:02:17QPR which is question persuade refer. I

1:02:21got it right. Question persuade refer uh

1:02:24suicide prevention training to the

1:02:26senior center. Um and this past year we

1:02:28also had a graduate intern at the senior

1:02:30center who also ran a social connections

1:02:33group social connections group um for

1:02:35the seniors.

1:02:40We also have a federal grant to do youth

1:02:42mental health first aid trainings and uh

1:02:44we've done that for staff at the

1:02:46burough's YMCA um also the Westboro Fire

1:02:49Department and in year one so this you

1:02:51know this caveat but in year one also

1:02:53the Westboro Police Department those are

1:02:55eight hour trainings if you've ever

1:02:57participated in they're very extensive

1:02:58and in-depth um and then just in terms

1:03:01of collaborations and community events

1:03:03um we were able to get a private grant

1:03:06uh this past year to have a part-time

1:03:07time licensed clinician um actually in

1:03:10the Westboro public schools at no cost

1:03:12to the schools um just you know funded

1:03:14by a third party u private grant. We

1:03:18collaborate a lot with Westboro connects

1:03:20um with Square One. We've participated

1:03:22in the fall for wellness. We will again

1:03:24this fall um participated in the main

1:03:26street trickor treat. I know these you

1:03:28know tend to seem like ancillary things

1:03:30but we want to be as involved in the

1:03:31community as we as we can be.

1:03:36Um and we will do you want to talk a

1:03:38little bit about this? We will be

1:03:39establishing having a graduate intern

1:03:41here based in Shrewsbury.

1:03:45>> Yeah. Hi everybody. So um we will be

1:03:47having um a graduate social work intern

1:03:50u based in Westboro this fall who is

1:03:52also bilingual Portuguese speaking. Um

1:03:55that's going to be happening hopefully

1:03:57sometime in the next few weeks. Um and

1:03:58that's someone who was able to stay in

1:04:00Westboro for roughly a year um as they

1:04:03just started their internship. So

1:04:04that'll continue through August. Um and

1:04:06so they'll have their own case load well

1:04:08as well there. Um we're all set up to

1:04:11participate in fall for wellness. We

1:04:13have one of our clinicians that's going

1:04:14to be um attending there. Um we have a

1:04:18group at the senior center that will be

1:04:21starting in October. Um we had just

1:04:23created the fire. It's around social

1:04:25connectedness and that's going to be run

1:04:26by one of the clinicians in addition to

1:04:28the support of an intern. Um we also

1:04:30have another virtual support group for

1:04:32parents that's coming up that's called

1:04:34uh big feelings better support that's uh

1:04:36really around um supporting parents with

1:04:38managing um child children's behaviors

1:04:41especially at the elementary level um

1:04:44and we uh will be is there any other

1:04:48things we are doing tonight? I think

1:04:50that's that's

1:04:51>> that's probably a good thing.

1:04:53>> Thank you.

1:04:54>> Um so you know one thing I wanted to to

1:04:57add obviously you heard already um that

1:05:00we did add in the past year uh to our

1:05:02board of directors and our board of

1:05:04directors is 10 people. So when we say

1:05:05board of directors it's not a huge

1:05:06number of people um but we did um add

1:05:09Moren Johnson from Westboro and in our

1:05:11nomination process currently um there's

1:05:13another resident from Westboro who's in

1:05:15our nomination process. you know, once

1:05:18you have people on the board, you know,

1:05:20you're going to get more integrated and

1:05:21make sure that you're hearing all

1:05:22perspectives. Um, now that we, you know,

1:05:24are truly across two towns. So, um, for

1:05:28us, for SFS, the two years has been

1:05:30really good and we've really learned how

1:05:32to do this really well, um, here in

1:05:34Westboro. And, you know, we're, uh,

1:05:37expect year three to, to serve even more

1:05:40people than we have, um, in the past two

1:05:42years. Uh, and hope that we can continue

1:05:44to work together.

1:05:47So happy to take any questions.

1:05:48>> Thank you very much. Can

1:05:49>> I just want to add one thing because I

1:05:51think um you know Kim obviously show

1:05:53outlined our goal of the program. But

1:05:55another benefit I think that we saw with

1:05:57this program is is their robust

1:05:59internship program and what that means

1:06:01in terms of um having a pipeline. Um and

1:06:04I and I believe that you actually did

1:06:06hire one of your interns that's working

1:06:08in Westboro. So, um, that, as you know,

1:06:11was something we were really challenged

1:06:12with when we were trying to replace

1:06:14folks, um, in the c the counselor space

1:06:17when we, um, were employing them

1:06:18directly. So, that's something that that

1:06:20we're also benefiting from.

1:06:22>> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very

1:06:24much. Um, questions

1:06:26from the board.

1:06:28Um do we have any um statistics on I I

1:06:32know Kim shared the uh financials on

1:06:36actual number of uh individuals serviced

1:06:39year-over-year. I think with was this

1:06:42year two data that you provided or is

1:06:45this a combined I guess is the question.

1:06:47>> So the this the 56 um individuals we

1:06:50served this past year are year two.

1:06:52>> Okay. and

1:06:5530 I have it on here but 38 or 37 or 38

1:06:59in year one.

1:07:00>> In year one the first couple of months

1:07:02we only had one clinician we were

1:07:03wrapping up.

1:07:06>> Great. Thank you.

1:07:07>> Thank you.

1:07:08>> Thank you.

1:07:10>> Any other questions?

1:07:11>> Well, yeah, just a follow on. Um, so

1:07:13beyond the 56, do you have capacity

1:07:16given your current staffing? I know we

1:07:18have an intern coming on or a graduate

1:07:20student, excuse me. Um is there

1:07:23additional capacity beyond the 56 and

1:07:25how much

1:07:26>> you want in terms of weight list?

1:07:28>> Yeah, so right now um we have

1:07:30approximately 17 people on our wait

1:07:32list. Um and one of our clinicians is

1:07:35currently in the process of reaching out

1:07:36and calling. Um so we highly anticipate

1:07:39that'll slowly start to get chipped away

1:07:41in addition with the intern starting in

1:07:43a few weeks as [clears throat] well.

1:07:44>> Okay. And could you remind me just when

1:07:47you say on your weight list, is there a

1:07:51um a parallel process where those

1:07:53individuals if they have means through

1:07:56their own health insurance, they're sort

1:07:58of being dyed or is that done upstream

1:08:03for individuals needing mental health

1:08:04services to determine kind of this is

1:08:07the best path for those say 17

1:08:10individuals?

1:08:12>> Yeah. So I I think um part of what we do

1:08:15at least with the referral process

1:08:16anyways is we do start by asking what

1:08:19their health insurance is and that for

1:08:21us is primarily like data information

1:08:24but also if we do want to refer them out

1:08:27for longer term services we have that

1:08:29information ahead of time um so that we

1:08:31can start looking ahead about what would

1:08:33be the best avenues for those

1:08:35individuals. Um so in terms of that

1:08:37clinical sort of case management where

1:08:39again it would be appropriate for the

1:08:40therapist to make the referral and

1:08:42connect them with the where they need to

1:08:43be um that's something that we try to

1:08:45actively collect and then assess sort of

1:08:47as time goes on when they're ready for

1:08:49that transition.

1:08:50>> Okay. But those in again just using the

1:08:5217 that are in waiting for a clinician.

1:08:56Right. So they've been assessed it's

1:08:57determined they're just waiting for a

1:08:58slot. Is that correct?

1:09:00>> So yes. So what what they do is they

1:09:02have called and made a referral. And our

1:09:04referral process entails that we sort of

1:09:06ask them like what it is that they're

1:09:07looking for and then we go through a

1:09:08series of of risk assessment questions.

1:09:11Um and based on the information that

1:09:13they give um you know we we either say

1:09:15you know again you know right now this

1:09:17is where you're on the wait list you

1:09:18know we'll periodically call in and

1:09:19check to see how you're doing. Um if

1:09:22there are some immediate clinical needs

1:09:24that don't require hospitalization we

1:09:26can offer them our weight list support

1:09:27services. And sometimes what that looks

1:09:30like is additional referrals and

1:09:31resources to help them out. Um, in

1:09:34addition to that, you know, once we do

1:09:35the intake and we have a better idea of

1:09:37what their true clinical needs are, um,

1:09:40again, we we assess based on diagnosis,

1:09:42uh, access, what what this family can

1:09:45reach, what's available in the state of

1:09:46Massachusetts, um, and try to connect

1:09:48them accordingly. Um, so again, so as

1:09:50far as we know, again, we periodically

1:09:52will call everybody in the wait list to

1:09:54just check in how they're doing. Have

1:09:55you been connected? Do you need

1:09:56additional support while you're waiting

1:09:58for us or even like are you all set at

1:10:00this time which periodically happens

1:10:02>> and so as part of the weight list

1:10:04process are you have are you helping

1:10:07people to connect with other counseling

1:10:10available resources outside of your

1:10:12offering.

1:10:13>> Yes. If they're interested in that.

1:10:14>> If they're interested. Okay.

1:10:16>> Some some people say they're they're

1:10:17comfortable continuing to wait. Some

1:10:19people say you know that we actually we

1:10:21found X Y andZ. We're all set but we

1:10:22will offer that if people are interested

1:10:24in it.

1:10:24>> Okay. Thank you.

1:10:26Um, the only other thing, Chris, I would

1:10:28just say just take a look at the um town

1:10:30I was just going out there because I was

1:10:32looking for some information. Looks like

1:10:34we've got to just update um our new

1:10:37clinical directors some information

1:10:38that's out there that's old. Okay.

1:10:41>> On the website.

1:10:42>> Yeah.

1:10:42>> Yra,

1:10:44what have you.

1:10:44>> Yeah. I don't really have a question,

1:10:46just a couple of comments. as the

1:10:48husband of a grief counselor and uh

1:10:51somebody who knows personally I know

1:10:54personally somebody who's used your

1:10:55services I I play tremendous value in

1:10:58those and I I really impressed so far

1:11:01with the presentation and what you guys

1:11:03have done I guess the only question I

1:11:05would have and I don't even know if it's

1:11:07a question as we look forward to

1:11:08negotiate a successor contract um I

1:11:11would have liked to have heard from the

1:11:13youth commission just uh some type of

1:11:15support for that Um, and I don't know if

1:11:18that was just kind of

1:11:22taken for granted cuz they think you're

1:11:24doing a good job or not. So, I I I guess

1:11:27I you know, as a as the town's

1:11:30representative that probably interacts

1:11:32with you the most, I would have liked to

1:11:35have heard from them. So

1:11:37>> yeah, I think that so the youth

1:11:39commission sort of um you know they're

1:11:44joined sometimes or meetings are joined

1:11:45sometimes by somebody from SYFS but they

1:11:49don't SYFS doesn't report to them like

1:11:52you could hear from Kendra maybe would

1:11:55be appropriate as the senior services

1:11:57director.

1:11:59>> Okay, fair enough. Yeah, that would be

1:12:02great. Yeah.

1:12:04>> If you think that's a better person to

1:12:06hear from.

1:12:07>> I would I I believe so. I believe so. I

1:12:10don't know if anybody disagrees with

1:12:11that, but

1:12:12>> I could I could hear her both.

1:12:14>> Okay. And And she is here.

1:12:21>> Throw her support.

1:12:26>> Hello.

1:12:27>> Hello.

1:12:29>> Hi.

1:12:29>> Hi, Kendra. Again, I was just looking

1:12:31for feedback from a town representative,

1:12:34whether it be you or the youth

1:12:35commission as to

1:12:37>> yeah,

1:12:38>> you know, the eic efficacy of uh this

1:12:42transition.

1:12:43>> I can't speak totally to the model that

1:12:46was in place before I started. Um

1:12:48because when I started, Trusbury Youth

1:12:50and Family uh was already in place for

1:12:52about 6 months. Um, but as far as the

1:12:55feedback that I I've heard and what I

1:12:57understand was happening was that

1:12:59clients were coming in um and being

1:13:01served by the prior West Bro Youth and

1:13:03Family Services and they were sort of

1:13:06staying on for a very long periods of

1:13:08time. So there was really no movement in

1:13:11those lists. Um so you could be on the

1:13:13wait list for a very long time before

1:13:14there was enough turnover um for you to

1:13:17be seen. So, something that I've

1:13:19noticed, um, we had a couple of hiccups,

1:13:21but I think that we've really worked

1:13:22through a lot of those. And the feedback

1:13:24that I've gotten was that people are

1:13:26starting to move up and they're getting

1:13:28calls back about where they're where

1:13:30they're falling on the weight list. They

1:13:31have a better understanding of exactly

1:13:32why there is a weight list. Um, and I

1:13:35think, you know, as far as senior center

1:13:37goes, the biggest success has been that

1:13:39um, communication group. I can't

1:13:42remember the exact title of it. Um, but

1:13:44that was run with the intern uh that has

1:13:47now been hired by West uh Shrewsbury

1:13:49Youth and Family Services. Um, so she

1:13:51will be on board to run that support

1:13:54group for us. It's not not exactly a

1:13:56support group, but that conversation

1:13:57group for us on a permanent basis

1:13:59because she's now an employee, not just

1:14:01an intern who's there uh as sort of a

1:14:03flexible schedule. So, we're really

1:14:05looking forward to that. We had a lot of

1:14:06really positive feedback about that. Um,

1:14:09I think generally this has been a really

1:14:12great partnership. Um, I am very much so

1:14:15in support of the continuing to work

1:14:17with Shrewsbury Youth and Family

1:14:19Services. Um, and and making this

1:14:22partnership, you know, even stronger.

1:14:27>> Thank you very much.

1:14:31>> Thank you, Sean. Um, thank you for being

1:14:33here tonight. um uh very appreciative of

1:14:36all the work that you uh do for the town

1:14:38of Westboro. Um and uh you know it's

1:14:41it's a it's a service that I I don't

1:14:43think a lot of people in town are aware

1:14:45of. Um but it is incredibly vital

1:14:48service to the community for all the

1:14:49reasons that you mentioned previously.

1:14:50So thank you for the work that you do.

1:14:52Um my questions are and I apologize if

1:14:54you might have said this. I was kind of

1:14:55taking notes and trying to uh jostle

1:14:57some thoughts at the same time. But can

1:14:59you talk a little bit about your your

1:15:01bandwidth capability? you talked about,

1:15:03you know, the the age groups that you

1:15:04serve, etc. What is your a uh what is

1:15:07your bandwidth that you have now and how

1:15:09much expansion do you think based on

1:15:11your staff that you have now or do you

1:15:12think that there's going to be a need to

1:15:14be growing that um in a in you know the

1:15:18next contract time period?

1:15:21That's

1:15:23that's a great question. I think that

1:15:24we're we're at the capacity maximum.

1:15:28That's why we have the weight list right

1:15:29now. That said, having a small weight

1:15:33list is a fairly healthy thing for for

1:15:35these kinds of services so that we never

1:15:37end up with clinicians sort of waiting

1:15:38around is, you know, with with no one at

1:15:40the door, right? Metaphorically. Um and

1:15:43so [clears throat] you know I think that

1:15:46what we'll learn a lot in this year

1:15:47three is if the need keeps growing then

1:15:50to you know talk about that expansion of

1:15:53services potentially having the graduate

1:15:55intern here um will help mitigate that a

1:15:59little bit and so that'll give us a

1:16:01really good idea um Patrick on how you

1:16:04know where where that where that uh

1:16:08high capacity level sort of normally

1:16:12like averages out.

1:16:14>> Thank you. And then um also just noting

1:16:16that you know the the vast majority 63%

1:16:19of the residents that you serve are

1:16:21youth. Um can you talk a little bit

1:16:23about your interactions and partnership

1:16:25with the schools and how how does that

1:16:27work and are there opportunities there

1:16:29that you all see in that relationship?

1:16:32>> So I I'll just say in general um that

1:16:34the superintendent and I have been

1:16:36talking about increasing the

1:16:37relationship even more. But um in terms

1:16:39of that 63% um in our in our first two

1:16:42years, the entity that has referred the

1:16:45most clients our way is the Westboro

1:16:48public schools.

1:16:50You go ahead.

1:16:52>> Yeah, I I would even say like um I think

1:16:55the collaboration um between the schools

1:16:57has been great. So again, with having so

1:16:59uh many kiddos that we work with on our

1:17:01case loads, um Westboro Public Schools

1:17:04has been great in terms of communicating

1:17:05with clinicians, trying to work really

1:17:07collaboratively to make sure we're

1:17:09addressing the same needs. Um so we've

1:17:11been really happy with that. Um we have

1:17:13nothing but positive things to say and

1:17:15and we hope that that continues.

1:17:17>> Thank you.

1:17:20>> Thank you. Yeah. And I guess just sort

1:17:22of one comment uh to me for the folks

1:17:25who may be listening. So this contract

1:17:28runs through next June. So there there

1:17:31is still 10 months left in the contract.

1:17:33We are here today because um one to to

1:17:38thank you and and to for everyone to

1:17:39hear the great work you're doing, but

1:17:42also then as we look backwards from that

1:17:45date really, we have a budget process

1:17:48here. Town meeting is in March. We

1:17:52really try to produce the first version

1:17:54of our budget in December. So this being

1:17:57the second contract, both parties may

1:18:00want to make some minor changes to it.

1:18:04Well, so that's why we come back here to

1:18:06September to try and start this process

1:18:09so we can try and meet all those dates.

1:18:12Um,

1:18:13so and

1:18:16with that, does anybody have a motion?

1:18:20Sure. I'll move to authorize the town

1:18:23manager to negotiate a successor

1:18:24agreement with SYFS for clinical

1:18:26services subject to final review and

1:18:28approval by the board at a future date.

1:18:31>> Second.

1:18:32>> Second.

1:18:33>> Any further comments or questions?

1:18:36All those in favor?

1:18:39Board is 01 abstaining. Thank you both

1:18:41for being here today. Appreciate and

1:18:42thank you for your work for Westboro.

1:18:44>> Thank you,

1:18:48>> Ian. Welcome back.

1:18:50>> Thank you. [laughter]

1:18:51Okay.

1:18:56Okay. Item number seven, training

1:18:58requirements for liquor license holders

1:19:00and employees policy update.

1:19:04I I am going to recuse myself as I'm

1:19:07owner of a um local business that holds

1:19:11a liquor license and so probably

1:19:13shouldn't weigh in.

1:19:14>> Okay, fair enough. Thank you, Shelby.

1:19:20Um so as you're aware this was on your

1:19:22agenda at the August 18th meeting. Um

1:19:24Amanda presented it at the time she had

1:19:26identified that this policy was um was

1:19:29outdated or um based on you know her

1:19:33overseeing the liquor licensing. Um so

1:19:36she did take your feedback and it's um

1:19:39the updated policy is in your packet.

1:19:41Um, just so it's clear, the first policy

1:19:44that you see behind the agenda item form

1:19:46is the current policy. Um, and then it's

1:19:50um, uh, on page 87 of your packet is the

1:19:54updated uh, policy with your feedback

1:19:57included.

1:19:59>> Okay. Thank you, Christie. Any questions

1:20:02or comments?

1:20:06>> Sure. Oh, thank you.

1:20:08>> Uh, yeah, thank you, Sean. Um, so yeah,

1:20:10thank you. uh Christie and uh Amanda uh

1:20:14for working on this. Um I had provided a

1:20:16lot of feedback at our last discussion

1:20:18in regards to this and I'm happy to see

1:20:20the changes. They I think they correctly

1:20:23uh reflect my thoughts on how to more

1:20:27clearly succinctly write this policy. So

1:20:30thank you for doing that work.

1:20:31>> Okay. Well then would you care to make

1:20:33the motion?

1:20:34>> If there's no other discussion I guess

1:20:36so. Sure.

1:20:39They can address what we

1:20:40>> I agree with Patrick. Okay.

1:20:43>> I move to move, excuse me. I move to

1:20:45approve the amended policy on training

1:20:47requirements for liquor license holders

1:20:49and employees as presented.

1:20:51>> Second.

1:20:52>> Okay. Any further comment? All those in

1:20:55favor? Four to zero. Four being present.

1:20:58>> Just one real quick question. Will we

1:20:59update the uh the revised date on this

1:21:02as well?

1:21:02>> Yeah, we just didn't know when you were

1:21:03going to approve it.

1:21:04>> Okay. Yep. Thank you. [clears throat]

1:21:06>> Okay. That's September 8th. [laughter]

1:21:10Okay.

1:21:12All right. Welcome back.

1:21:15Okay. Item number eight

1:21:21is the uh proposed amendment to section

1:21:242-8 of the town charter.

1:21:27>> Uh yeah, so this was on your agenda last

1:21:29time, but I think that the board wanted

1:21:31some additional time to consider um how

1:21:33you would move forward. So again, in

1:21:35October last year, the town meeting

1:21:38approved a warrant article to change

1:21:41charter uh language to require 50

1:21:44signatures um for a petition article to

1:21:46be submitted uh for annual town meeting.

1:21:49Um and so that they would both be 50

1:21:52signatures. Um when we submitted it to

1:21:55the general court, there was a question

1:21:58um just about clarif a clarifying

1:22:00question uh that was asked, but when

1:22:02that was asked, it was identified that

1:22:04there were some some unintended

1:22:05consequences of the new language. Um

1:22:08that changed kind of more than that 50

1:22:10signature requirement. Um it removed the

1:22:13board's ability to really set the

1:22:15warrant, which is one of the things that

1:22:16you're you have the authority to do

1:22:18under uh general laws. Um, so there is a

1:22:21memo in here that gives uh sort of the

1:22:23history and then um what your options

1:22:26were at the time because at the time you

1:22:28could have submitted um you [snorts]

1:22:31could have submitted to the general

1:22:32court an amendment. Uh the board decided

1:22:35to just bring it to bring it back to

1:22:37town meeting so you could be really

1:22:38clear about what the language should be

1:22:40um and be clear with the voters about

1:22:42how it was going to move forward. Um I

1:22:44would just add that uh I don't think you

1:22:46need to wordsmith the article tonight. I

1:22:49think if you just want to tell me what

1:22:50your intent is, I can work with council

1:22:53to put an article together which you

1:22:54would review before you close the

1:22:56warrant on the 22nd.

1:22:59>> Thank you, Christie. Um, any comments?

1:23:03>> Yes. Um, and not worse with what was in

1:23:06our package. Um,

1:23:09I'm actually okay with

1:23:12um

1:23:14allowing what was kind of proposed at at

1:23:17the time, which is really elected town

1:23:19board, elected

1:23:21officials, and then the 50 signatures.

1:23:25Um, reason for that is yes, we have

1:23:27authority over that, but I think that if

1:23:30an elected town board, say a school

1:23:32committee, planning board, library

1:23:35trustees,

1:23:39moderator,

1:23:40>> town moderator, town clerk.

1:23:42>> Um, put that in front of us. I think as

1:23:44an elected official like us, we should

1:23:47um place those on there. And I think if

1:23:48we have um questions or disagreements or

1:23:53whatever that we should have that with

1:23:54that elected um board or elected

1:23:57official. Um, I think what we were

1:23:59really trying to get at was um the uh a

1:24:04was the citizens petition and raising

1:24:05that from 10 to 50, but also as we've

1:24:08seen before, the ability for us to set

1:24:11warrants if something um comes to us

1:24:14from a committee that we appoint um that

1:24:16we think is being covered someplace else

1:24:18is um happened last time. Uh so I am

1:24:22fine with kind of that type of proposal

1:24:25but um I think the way it was presented

1:24:28the last time at Tommy the way we

1:24:30thought it was being presented was all

1:24:32we were changing was 10 to 50 and um was

1:24:35I understood it it was when we said

1:24:36accordance with the law that was where

1:24:38it kind of got caught up in the general

1:24:40court but

1:24:43for me if we change it to um allowing

1:24:46for

1:24:48um kind of elected boards and officials

1:24:52um that we basically take those on and

1:24:54then um everything else um still stays

1:24:57under control but we raise the position

1:24:59up to 50.

1:25:01>> So the housing authority

1:25:04>> but it's elected

1:25:06>> state rep

1:25:10not not an elected town official.

1:25:11>> Okay. I'm sorry. I just don't know how

1:25:13much we have to define

1:25:14>> elected town official.

1:25:15>> Elected town official.

1:25:16>> Okay.

1:25:18>> Yeah. Ian, I appreciate that uh comment

1:25:20and uh I think this does clean it up a

1:25:22bit, but just for the sake of the

1:25:23community um the way that it's written

1:25:26uh in the proposed um statement in our

1:25:28packet is the select board shall place

1:25:29on the warrant for annual town meeting

1:25:31any article requested in writing by one

1:25:34a vote of any elected or appointed town

1:25:36board, two any elected town officer, or

1:25:39three by not less than 50 registered

1:25:41voters of the town. Um, I think this

1:25:43does clarify it and certainly my

1:25:45expectation and it's the way we've

1:25:46operated in the past is that any any um

1:25:50appointed board or elected official,

1:25:52anybody who puts wants something on the

1:25:53warrant does come and talk to us if we

1:25:55request them to talk to us before the

1:25:57warrant is closed. So, we have an

1:25:58opportunity to voice our concerns, our

1:26:01questions, etc. Um, when placing that

1:26:04article on the warrant. Yeah, my take

1:26:06was that was what had been proposed by

1:26:09the general court and I think why we

1:26:11brought this back is um

1:26:15for me it was elected boards removing

1:26:18the appointed town boards.

1:26:20>> It's in the middle of that.

1:26:21>> So just the second test. So what I had

1:26:23was a select board to place on the

1:26:24warrant for annual town meeting any

1:26:26article requested in writing by one a

1:26:30vote of any elected town board, two an

1:26:32elected town officer, or three by not

1:26:34less than 50 registered voters of the

1:26:36town.

1:26:39So Sean, I again I agree. We don't need

1:26:42to work Smith this now, but I agree with

1:26:44Ian's point about I think elected boards

1:26:49and officials

1:26:50should be able to put a warrant article

1:26:52on, but any other boards should be

1:26:57required to submit it to the select

1:26:58board for approval or I guess their

1:27:02governing board. So, if it's a school

1:27:03committee subcommittee that wants to

1:27:06propose an article, it would have to go

1:27:08through school committee or or so on

1:27:10planning board, whatever. I guess I'm

1:27:13I'm I'm okay with that as well. I mean,

1:27:15the appointed piece of it, I would

1:27:16expect the board appointed committee

1:27:18appointed by us would bring it forward

1:27:19through us, and I would think that they

1:27:21would be less inclined to make a request

1:27:24of something on the warrant if this

1:27:26board wasn't supportive of it. Um, so I

1:27:28think it forms a conversation there, but

1:27:30I'm I'm okay with, you know, making it

1:27:33even simpler.

1:27:34>> Yeah. Well, I think with that one is if

1:27:36you went with what had come back from

1:27:39the general court, that would basically

1:27:41take our authority away from basically

1:27:43everything would get on.

1:27:46>> Um, citizen position would get on with

1:27:4850 or more signatures.

1:27:52um elected or appointed town boards or

1:27:55committees would basically

1:27:57>> could b would so everything would so we

1:27:59would basically have no authority to not

1:28:02allow anything on the warrant if it

1:28:03passed.

1:28:05>> We're just really striking the point

1:28:06>> we accepted that language.

1:28:08>> No, I I get I get where it's coming

1:28:09from. I'm I'm okay with what you're what

1:28:11you're suggesting. I mean the original

1:28:12intent here was really all around the

1:28:1350.

1:28:14>> All around the 50. Yeah. So, I I yeah,

1:28:17we caused a little bit of a mixup there,

1:28:20but that's fine.

1:28:21>> Um, can I just ask the I just don't

1:28:24remember unelected town officer. So, is

1:28:27that intended to be like the clerk and

1:28:29>> moderator?

1:28:31Okay.

1:28:34So, I'm I'm in fine just to echo um the

1:28:37language that Ian read as um a

1:28:40modification of the you know what came

1:28:42back as a recommendation from the

1:28:44Senate. [snorts]

1:28:46>> Well, again, we're just recoming an

1:28:48intent.

1:28:49>> We're not voting on anything.

1:28:51>> Okay. So, reminder

1:28:54at our next meeting,

1:28:56we are most likely closing the war.

1:28:59So unless we have some sort of

1:29:02>> we don't get it done and we have to fit

1:29:04in another meeting shortly after that. Y

1:29:07>> So if you use one of these options, it's

1:29:11it it's yeah simple to put it into the

1:29:13Warren article. Um the current version

1:29:16actually has [clears throat] the old

1:29:17Warren article but just has deleted the

1:29:20change. Um so we would just sort of plug

1:29:22in the change with what's here. Um, just

1:29:25to just to clarify, the general court

1:29:28sent it back because they wanted it to I

1:29:30think they wanted it to say any town

1:29:32elected or appointed board, which then

1:29:34raised the flag with with us and town

1:29:36council that it was took out the in

1:29:39accordance with the law. So, I I don't

1:29:40think that the general court is trying

1:29:42to direct or advise the town. It was

1:29:44just at that time they were offering

1:29:47what they would be willing to accept if

1:29:50you were making the change without going

1:29:51back to town meeting.

1:29:54>> Okay.

1:29:54>> Yeah. I I think the clarification I mean

1:29:56the the vagueness of in accordance with

1:30:00the law I don't know requires someone to

1:30:02go look somewhere else. I think this

1:30:04language is very clear and I that the

1:30:08language that Ian read.

1:30:09>> Okay. So this doesn't require a vote or

1:30:12anything. We'll be voting on it at our

1:30:13next meeting when we finalize the

1:30:15warrant. So but everybody's comfortable

1:30:17with that general language.

1:30:19>> Yep.

1:30:20>> Okay. I'm nodding my head.

1:30:22>> Yep.

1:30:22>> Okay. All right. Excellent.

1:30:26Um, item number nine, uh, financial

1:30:29update from our finance director.

1:30:35>> Good evening.

1:30:36>> Good evening all.

1:31:00John Steinberg, finance director. Uh,

1:31:03thank you for having me tonight. Purpose

1:31:05tonight is sort of to bring you uh, up

1:31:07to date on the fiscal 25 audit, which

1:31:09recently closed. Um, I know you've all

1:31:11had it in front of you and I just want

1:31:13to review some of the results from the

1:31:15audit and how that will go forward into

1:31:18uh October town meeting. Uh, some items

1:31:21of notative audit results. There was a

1:31:24variance between the treasures records

1:31:25and the accountants ledger um with

1:31:28missing documentation. some of the

1:31:30receivables did not reconcile relative

1:31:32to ledger balances where revenues

1:31:34weren't posted to proper accounts and

1:31:37year-end ledger incumbrances did not

1:31:39match departmental submissions and

1:31:41missing carryover items. One of the

1:31:43things I'll emphasize just with this a

1:31:45couple things. First, this is the fiscal

1:31:4725 audit. So, it's year ending June 30th

1:31:51um of that date is wrong of 25. So it

1:31:55doesn't include uh it doesn't include

1:31:59fiscal 26 which is July 1st of 25 to

1:32:02June 30th of 26. So we're just getting

1:32:05this now which obviously won't apply to

1:32:09what is 2026 which we have not closed

1:32:12out yet. Okay. So this again is fiscal

1:32:1525. It took some time to get done

1:32:18because of some of these issues. Um

1:32:21nothing was found to be questionable

1:32:23relative to our fundamentals and our

1:32:26finances. This is not a qualified audit

1:32:29relative to what our fundamental

1:32:31finances are and how stable the

1:32:33accounting and um and the stability of

1:32:37the financial situation within the town.

1:32:41So we've taken many actions uh right

1:32:43away to respond to this. Um, one of the

1:32:46things that the board has acted on

1:32:48already that you're aware of was the

1:32:50reinstatement of the part-time

1:32:51administrative position in the

1:32:52collector's office. Uh, you've recently

1:32:55facilitated the restructuring of the

1:32:56positions and responsibilities within

1:32:59the accounting office. We have new staff

1:33:01in the accounting office. I think one of

1:33:03the true causes of a lot of this was the

1:33:06turnover. During the course of fiscal

1:33:0925, we were without an accountant in the

1:33:12beginning of it. So some of this was

1:33:14carryover from 24. We also went through

1:33:17a period in 24 where we were without a

1:33:19treasure collector and we were still

1:33:21carrying some of that. So a lot of this

1:33:24is sort of continuing that hopefully

1:33:26with some stability in the treasure

1:33:28collector's office and now uh we will be

1:33:31bringing in new staff into the town

1:33:32accountants office. We look forward to

1:33:34an opportunity to rebuild that office

1:33:37and uh and go forward in a more stable

1:33:39environment. Uh I would welcome the

1:33:42opportunity to have some more stability

1:33:44in finance. Um we've implemented some

1:33:46new processes as well recognizing where

1:33:49some of these shortcomings fell. Uh

1:33:51we've put in place a new process of how

1:33:54to uh post our cash to facilitate the

1:33:57monthly reconciliation between the

1:33:59treasur collector and the town account.

1:34:01There's a new process for the turnover

1:34:03of funds. Any funds that come into

1:34:05departments get turned over to the

1:34:07treasur collector. We've streamlined

1:34:09that process. So, we've removed a big

1:34:12step between the treasur collector and

1:34:13the accounting office where it goes

1:34:15right into the treasur collector's

1:34:16office into the general ledger where it

1:34:18can then be reconciled at the end of the

1:34:20month. The goal of streamlining this

1:34:22process of removing some of the paper

1:34:25that's been in place in the town for a

1:34:27long time. Um, we've put put in place

1:34:30new procedure for the timely entrance of

1:34:32the encumbrances. So at the end of the

1:34:35fiscal year, this really ties to or

1:34:37after a town meeting when those are

1:34:38entered into the general ledger as well

1:34:41as into gateway uh so that those will be

1:34:43done in a more timely fashion which will

1:34:45help with the close out of the fiscal

1:34:47year. That was one of the challenges is

1:34:49when we closed out of fiscal 25 it was

1:34:53those incumbrances from 25 to 26 that

1:34:56was June of 2025 those incumbrances that

1:35:00weren't entered and carried over. Same

1:35:03thing with the articles. It was the

1:35:04articles from that period again over a

1:35:07year ago that weren't encumbered and

1:35:10carried over. Um, we've pursued we're

1:35:14pursuing additional education for

1:35:15existing staff and we've identified uh

1:35:18opportunities to bring in a consultant

1:35:21to support both the fiscal 2026

1:35:24closeout and further process

1:35:26improvement. I think one of the things

1:35:28that I'll emphasize on the next slide is

1:35:30we really want to make sure that as we

1:35:32go to close out 2026, we catch all this

1:35:36stuff. It's done before we do that close

1:35:38out. And now is the opportunity that we

1:35:41have time to do that. And so we've

1:35:43identified a scope of work, a contractor

1:35:46who can assist with this and going to

1:35:48walk through the process with patience,

1:35:51perseverance, and attention to detail.

1:35:54So this will take two phases. The first

1:35:56is the as I just mentioned the assisting

1:35:58of the fiscal 26 closeup. We really want

1:36:01to be very deliberate in this process.

1:36:04[clears throat] We have a good staff

1:36:05now. We have opportunity to recognize

1:36:08some of this stuff. I want to we can

1:36:10really thank our auditors. I don't know

1:36:11how many people ever thank auditors,

1:36:13right? Um they did a great job of

1:36:15working with us. I mean the task was

1:36:17find everything you can so we can fix it

1:36:19and they did a good job of that and

1:36:21they've agreed to continue to work

1:36:22closely with us. This is an auditing

1:36:24firm that the town has used for many

1:36:26years. So, they're familiar with the ins

1:36:28and outs of Wester. Okay. And so, we're

1:36:31very fortunate that they'll continue to

1:36:33work with us and help us to make sure

1:36:35that when we close out fiscal 26, we can

1:36:37avoid these things, recognize them, and

1:36:40make sure that they are addressed before

1:36:41the year-end close out. And then the

1:36:44second phase of this is to review all of

1:36:45the existing policies, practices, and

1:36:48procedures, internal controls, and

1:36:50things that have been in place in town

1:36:51for a very long time.

1:36:54There's really opportunity here to bring

1:36:56things to a place. As you know, with our

1:36:59chart of accounts, we're going forward

1:37:01with our chart of account revision.

1:37:02We've already had the kickoff meeting.

1:37:04This will tie right into that to have a

1:37:06consultant come in to help identify

1:37:09where the weaknesses are in the

1:37:11accountability in the process, in the

1:37:14manuals and procedures, in our

1:37:16protocols, and bring in put into place

1:37:18best practices in line with what the

1:37:21current norms are. and have that

1:37:23stability going forward. So, this

1:37:26consultant will not only examine where

1:37:28we're at and where we come from, but

1:37:30where we should go to and then assist in

1:37:32implementing that, not just give us a

1:37:34manual and say, "Here you go." They were

1:37:37there, I expect to provide tools to

1:37:40better

1:37:41operate with greater efficiency and more

1:37:44accuracy between the departments. And

1:37:46that's one of the greatest challenges is

1:37:48you have to have your checks and

1:37:49balances between the accounting office

1:37:51and the treasurer collector's office.

1:37:53And we want to make sure that we

1:37:54maintain that. And as I said, um, one of

1:37:58the, if I could say comforting things

1:38:01about this, uh, I'll say is that it was

1:38:03a lot of it was about procedure. It was

1:38:06about accurate posting of things. Um, it

1:38:09wasn't about things not being there. It

1:38:12was about them being in the right place.

1:38:14And unfortunately they weren't and they

1:38:16weren't fixed before the close out. We

1:38:19can identify something that happens to

1:38:21get posted to a wrong account and make

1:38:23that adjustment before the close out.

1:38:25Once we've closed out the year, we can't

1:38:27make those changes. It's done. And so

1:38:30what impact will that have? Um in order

1:38:33to complete this action, as I mentioned,

1:38:36we want to do it right. Uh we've

1:38:38committed to have our closeout done by

1:38:40December 1st so that we can incorporate

1:38:42it into our fiscal planning for our

1:38:45fiscal 2028 budget. Um so that we can

1:38:48have accurate free cash and retained

1:38:50earnings at least submitted to the state

1:38:52and we'll know where our numbers are

1:38:54given the time of year. We've met with

1:38:56the state. They're aware of what's going

1:38:57on with us. Uh it's a difficult time of

1:39:00year for them because of course they're

1:39:02doing tax classification hearings for

1:39:04351 communities at that time. But uh we

1:39:07have a very good relationship with our

1:39:09um our do representatives. They've been

1:39:13working with us. They're in the loop and

1:39:14very supportive and uh will be so along

1:39:17the way. Um there were some articles

1:39:20that were being brought forward um that

1:39:23will be impacted by this because we will

1:39:25not have retained earnings or free cash

1:39:26for October town meeting. One of them is

1:39:29the permitting software as I think has

1:39:31been mentioned. Permit Pro, the online

1:39:33permitting that we have built and

1:39:34developed is no longer going to be

1:39:36supported. So, they've been in the

1:39:38process of finalizing a company that we

1:39:41will transition to. Uh this is going to

1:39:44be funded um through various department

1:39:47budgets looking at budgets that use the

1:39:49permitting software. We'll support part

1:39:51of this to make the implementation and

1:39:54conversion over to it as well as through

1:39:56the IT department where typically you'd

1:39:59find software uh licenses and everything

1:40:02going forward. So that will come uh

1:40:05through those processes through the

1:40:07budgeting versus anything that would be

1:40:09free cash otherwise. uh the electrical

1:40:12vehicle charging stations that were

1:40:13previous on there. Those will be

1:40:15deferred to a future town meeting as

1:40:17well as the water system improvements.

1:40:18We've met with the department heads uh

1:40:21that are um that we're bringing those

1:40:24forward. They're in agreement and

1:40:26they're understanding and have said that

1:40:28uh pushing those off uh for a future

1:40:30town meeting is not a problem.

1:40:33>> I'm happy to answer any questions.

1:40:38>> Yes. So, just to be clear, um,

1:40:42it basically what we're saying here is

1:40:43the free c because we don't have the

1:40:44close out, we won't have free cash and

1:40:46retained earnings, but it's not like we

1:40:48don't have free cash and retained

1:40:49earnings. It's just a delay in when that

1:40:51gets certified.

1:40:52>> Correct. Until it's certified, we can't

1:40:54spend it.

1:40:54>> Right. So, that we should get it

1:40:56certified sometime after December 1st.

1:40:58>> Yes.

1:40:59>> There's We'd like to get it certified

1:41:00before December 1st. Uh, it's just about

1:41:03timing and their availability.

1:41:05>> Perfect. So, we've routinely closed out

1:41:07um prior to the transition that John

1:41:09talked about, we routinely close out in

1:41:11by a in sometime in August. Um last

1:41:14year, as you might remember, we actually

1:41:16didn't close until February. Um and so

1:41:19the funds that we had available to us in

1:41:21October were was not free cash or

1:41:23retained earnings at that time. It was

1:41:25um overly surplus that we were able to

1:41:27use. But to your point, um we have to

1:41:30reertify our free cash every year. So

1:41:32there's always a period where it's not

1:41:34available for appropriation until you

1:41:36close out.

1:41:38>> Thank you.

1:41:41>> Yes.

1:41:41>> Uh John, what's the budget for the

1:41:44consultant phase one and two and where

1:41:46are those funds coming from in the

1:41:47budget?

1:41:48>> So that's a good question. So the

1:41:50expected budget for those is going to be

1:41:52$75,000. We're going to fund uh 10,000

1:41:56through our finance uh department

1:41:59professional services and we'll on

1:42:01Thursday be going to the uh advisory

1:42:03finance committees who request a

1:42:05transfer for those.

1:42:06>> So 65 from uh

1:42:09>> correct

1:42:10>> the reserve fund reserve fund draft.

1:42:12Yeah.

1:42:13>> Okay. And that will fund um phase one

1:42:16and two.

1:42:16>> Correct.

1:42:17>> And who's the consultant we're working

1:42:18with?

1:42:19>> Clifton Larson.

1:42:20>> Oh, Clifton Larson. Right. Yeah. Okay.

1:42:22Thanks.

1:42:23>> [snorts]

1:42:26>> questions.

1:42:30Um John, you you mentioned I think it

1:42:32was on your previous slide, you

1:42:33mentioned um

1:42:36maybe one more slide back. Sorry.

1:42:39The second bullet down the restructure

1:42:41of the positions and responsibilities

1:42:42within the county uh department. Um, am

1:42:46I correct in thinking that we will go

1:42:47through a round when I hear restructure

1:42:50and responsibility changes that we'll be

1:42:52going through a round of of uh job

1:42:54description updates?

1:42:55>> You've already done that for the f for

1:42:57specifically for that department. You've

1:42:59already um we had the two assistant town

1:43:01accountants and now we have the

1:43:02assistant town accountant and the

1:43:03finance assistant. Those have been

1:43:04posted and we're currently in the

1:43:06process of interviewing.

1:43:07>> So those were the consideration of

1:43:09correct understand. So

1:43:10>> these are things that we've already

1:43:11done. Yeah. Okay. Yep.

1:43:15>> And then um I assume the auditor would

1:43:18take some review of this plan and has

1:43:20approved the plan that you've put

1:43:21forward here.

1:43:22>> Yeah. So what happens is when this comes

1:43:24out, we file responses to it and we've

1:43:27reviewed all that with the auditor and

1:43:29they're in very much in support of it.

1:43:32Okay.

1:43:33>> Um Christie, do you have any idea of the

1:43:36impact? John mentioned on his last

1:43:37slide, water system improvements would

1:43:39be impacted. What those improvements

1:43:41were? I I don't remember.

1:43:43>> Um so they they're they have a project

1:43:46going now where they're looking at uh

1:43:48fire hydrants and so I it was really a

1:43:51contingency um for if they identified um

1:43:54issues that they needed to fix. Um this

1:43:57funding would be available for that. Um

1:43:59but they'll defer that to March.

1:44:01>> Thank you. Do

1:44:02>> you have anything else to add?

1:44:03>> No, they're still working on the study.

1:44:05So it was really about timing there, but

1:44:07Chris is very comfortable with this

1:44:08timing.

1:44:10Thank you.

1:44:13>> I don't really have a question. I just

1:44:15uh John, you know, I think you're pretty

1:44:16capable, very capable. Uh and I know

1:44:19that this is a strong area for both Kim

1:44:22and Christie. So, I I just expect you

1:44:24guys to get this sorted out and cleaned

1:44:26up because I I think it's probably uh

1:44:30uh frustrating you more than it's

1:44:33frustrating me. So,

1:44:35>> I appreciate that. All right. I'm sure

1:44:37it is.

1:44:39questions. Um, so when they go back and

1:44:42do the review, is there any chance that

1:44:44fiscal year 2025 cash changes?

1:44:48>> No.

1:44:49>> No. Okay. All right. Thank you. Okay.

1:44:53Any other?

1:44:54>> Nope.

1:44:54>> Questions.

1:44:57>> Get done.

1:44:59>> Thank you for coming before us.

1:45:00>> Yep. Thanks, John.

1:45:05>> Okay. Um item 10, the October town

1:45:09meeting draft warrant.

1:45:12>> Um so you have in your packet the um

1:45:15version two um the October 10 meeting

1:45:18warrant. Um we just completed that right

1:45:21before the meeting. So that'll get on

1:45:23the website uh tomorrow morning. Um but

1:45:26we're looking at eight um eight

1:45:28potential articles

1:45:31um

1:45:46[clears throat]

1:45:48do it.

1:45:50>> Yeah. Oh, there it is. Never mind. Thank

1:45:53you.

1:45:56Um yeah, so the first article is the um

1:46:00revolving fund for the police firearms

1:46:02and training facility which we talked

1:46:04about last time. Um

1:46:07the second article is a fiscal year

1:46:10budget adjustments. Um so you'll see

1:46:12here this [clears throat] might change a

1:46:14little bit but uh essentially we have an

1:46:16additional student going to Norfolk

1:46:18Aggie. Um so there's an additional cost

1:46:20of about $44,000.

1:46:23the information technology expenses.

1:46:25That's the intent to fund permit probe.

1:46:27Um but as uh but we actually because

1:46:30we're going to be pulling from other

1:46:32departmental budgets, we expect this to

1:46:33go down to just under 50,000 that

1:46:36number. Um [clears throat] and then

1:46:38Westboro TV um because we settled

1:46:41contracts after the um town meeting and

1:46:44is actually receiving more uh franchise

1:46:46fees than we anticipated, there's going

1:46:48to be a reduction there. That number

1:46:50again is uh being refined. Um and then

1:46:53the waste management enterprise fund

1:46:54because of the use of that uh uh program

1:46:57has changed from what we had

1:46:59anticipated. We're going to see a

1:47:00reduction in in cost there. Uh

1:47:03specifically with Westboro TV and the

1:47:05Waste Management Enterprise funds. Um as

1:47:07you know, we fund that partially with uh

1:47:10fees and then we fund it partially with

1:47:12um uh through taxes. Um, so this

1:47:17actually might have to separate into a

1:47:18different article just to be really

1:47:20clear about the fees we're we're

1:47:22expecting, if they're changing, and then

1:47:24um what we're expecting to have to

1:47:26impact uh the tax base. Um, but we do

1:47:28they will be reductions. Um, we just

1:47:30have to clarify how that how that will

1:47:33work within the article with town

1:47:34council. Um, but this is a good table to

1:47:36show that we expect this is sort of a

1:47:39minimum of a $6,000 decrease in the

1:47:41budget. Um, again, because we know the

1:47:44information technology is gonna is going

1:47:46to go down, which should be closer to

1:47:47$25,000

1:47:49a decrease.

1:47:52>> Oh, yes.

1:47:53>> Can I just ask a question on that? So,

1:47:55um,

1:47:57because this was originally if this was

1:47:59like a one-time expense. Is that

1:48:01correct? So, therefore,

1:48:02>> the permit pro.

1:48:04>> Yeah.

1:48:04>> Yes.

1:48:05>> So, while we're putting it in through

1:48:07the budget, we should expect that

1:48:10>> it would come out next year.

1:48:10>> It would come out next year. Okay.

1:48:12>> Yep.

1:48:12>> So, we'll keep our eye on that.

1:48:14>> That's right.

1:48:14>> Okay. Yeah. Thank you.

1:48:15>> You should.

1:48:17>> Um, article [snorts] three is also has

1:48:20an impact on the budget. This is because

1:48:22the fire union contract was amended. Um,

1:48:24we we pulled that out as a separate

1:48:26article to be really clear about what

1:48:28that's about and um to just identify

1:48:30that that we're funding that first year.

1:48:32Um, so it's about uh just under or just

1:48:35over $180,000 uh increase to the fire

1:48:38department budget for the uh first year

1:48:40of the contract. Again, that was settled

1:48:42after town meeting, so that's why it

1:48:43wasn't included in the budget.

1:48:46Um, the 250th anniversary committee,

1:48:49this is a transfer uh to the block party

1:48:51of just over $3,000. That's what is

1:48:54remaining uh in the gift account. Um, so

1:48:56that would be closed out after this town

1:48:58meeting.

1:49:00Um, that transferred to the affordable

1:49:01housing trust is funds that we've

1:49:03received um through the mitigation stab

1:49:06stabilization fund. This is a pretty

1:49:08routine article that we've seen over the

1:49:10years as we've received money um from PY

1:49:13related to the Delaware Chanty Lake

1:49:15property. Um and again this this money

1:49:18is specific to the waiver that was

1:49:20granted um by the planning board um

1:49:25for related to affordable housing. Uh

1:49:28and it doesn't go directly to the trust

1:49:29at the time the trust wasn't set up at

1:49:31that time.

1:49:33Um, this article six is again, this is

1:49:35that home rule petition we were talking

1:49:36about earlier tonight. Um, this is

1:49:38exactly what we had in here last year.

1:49:40This is really just for a placeholder,

1:49:42but if you look at the first paragraph

1:49:44on the second page with that um that

1:49:47dash line, that's where we'll fit in the

1:49:49new language that's being proposed. Um,

1:49:51so we can look more closely at this

1:49:53article next time.

1:49:56Um, and then article seven is the

1:49:59downtown business district zoning. Um

1:50:01the planning board voted uh last week to

1:50:04place this back on the warrant because

1:50:05they had a procedural defect um in the

1:50:08posting last time. Um so that's here and

1:50:11um I will go through several pages. Um

1:50:14this is all the downtown improvement

1:50:17um zoning.

1:50:20Oh, sorry that's my packet. Um the last

1:50:24article is article 8 and it is um it's a

1:50:29placeholder for uh roadway acceptance um

1:50:32which we're we're waiting to confirm

1:50:34whether or not that's needed. Um so that

1:50:36would potentially come off.

1:50:40>> So I guess my question for you this

1:50:42evening would be um are there any

1:50:44articles that you would want to have

1:50:47folks come and present to you? We can

1:50:49talk a little more um about the budget

1:50:53adjustment article as that changes. Um

1:50:55but if there's anyone that you would be

1:50:57looking to have come before you. So the

1:51:01p uh public works potentially the

1:51:03planning board.

1:51:04>> Yeah. The planning board article.

1:51:06>> Planning board. Okay.

1:51:07>> Just to understand so give the public

1:51:09more time to hear about it.

1:51:11>> Okay. And then we can also have it come

1:51:13and talk about the permitting software.

1:51:15>> And not to be too picky, but to be

1:51:17consistent, at the end of all of our

1:51:19names, it says selectman of Westboro

1:51:21should say select board.

1:51:26>> Okay.

1:51:27>> And I would say if you mentioned DPW,

1:51:30that would be if we have that last

1:51:31article, right?

1:51:34>> Okay.

1:51:36Do you need to see the police department

1:51:38related to the revolving account?

1:51:41I don't

1:51:44>> if someone I don't

1:51:46>> No, I I mean I

1:51:49I'm familiar with what it is and it's a

1:51:51revolving account.

1:51:53>> Okay.

1:51:58Just going back through

1:52:02affordable housing trust. I assume you

1:52:04don't need to see.

1:52:06>> Yeah.

1:52:06>> And then I think most of the rest of

1:52:07them are yours. So, okay, great.

1:52:12>> All right, Christie, thank you.

1:52:14>> Thanks.

1:52:16>> Um, all right, item 11.

1:52:22So, we have two appointments to consider

1:52:25here. uh one on the Council of Aging

1:52:28where there is one candidate

1:52:32and then my understanding is currently

1:52:35one for the Economic Development

1:52:38Committee with potentially a second.

1:52:43>> Yes, there is a second. There is a

1:52:45second. So, um so we did I did update

1:52:48your packet um just this afternoon um

1:52:51that there's three vacancies currently

1:52:52on the EDC. One of them is specifically

1:52:55the director of planning. So that would

1:52:57not get filled until um if someone is

1:52:59hired for that position. So there are

1:53:01two select board appointment positions

1:53:03available.

1:53:04>> Okay. And so we have three candidates

1:53:09for those two positions.

1:53:12Um I think George Banan had been before

1:53:16us previously. we considered him um at

1:53:19that time had had sort of um not

1:53:24considered him for the slot. Um but now

1:53:26there are two available positions and

1:53:30along with him we have Amy Moer Barry

1:53:34and Christine Pitman who have put

1:53:37themselves forward for the economic

1:53:39development committee as well.

1:53:43Um I guess first if we want to consider

1:53:48uh Mr. Wales for the Council on Aging.

1:53:52>> Yeah. So um I would move to appoint Doug

1:53:55Wales to the Council on Aging.

1:53:57>> Seconded.

1:53:58>> Term ending June 30th, 2029.

1:54:00>> Yes.

1:54:01>> Seconded.

1:54:02>> Okay. Uh any discussion?

1:54:05>> Um I would just say um I've had several

1:54:08conversations with Mr. Wales over the

1:54:10years about his interest in the Council

1:54:11on Aging, his interest in the community

1:54:14center um as an intergenerational space.

1:54:18Um he's involved with many activities

1:54:21that are are at senior center and just

1:54:25in the community and I think he'll be a

1:54:27great addition. He's got a lot of

1:54:28organizational experience. I think it'll

1:54:30be a real asset to that that um that

1:54:33board.

1:54:34>> Thank you very much.

1:54:35>> Yeah.

1:54:36>> Okay. So motion and second. All those in

1:54:38favor?

1:54:40Five to zero. Great. Thank you, Mr.

1:54:43Wales.

1:54:45Okay. Now, three individuals for the

1:54:48economic [snorts] development committee.

1:54:51Um,

1:54:56check. I know. So, um, can I just just

1:55:00in general before we kind of take a

1:55:02vote, one of the things that, um, I've

1:55:04seen in particular, and I'm closest to

1:55:06the EDC right now as the board's

1:55:08representative there is, um, it's

1:55:11interesting to me that none of the

1:55:13individuals, according to their

1:55:15application and according to my

1:55:17knowledge of the past handful of

1:55:19meetings, none of them have actually

1:55:21attended an EDC meeting.

1:55:24We don't make that a requirement to my

1:55:26knowledge of other boards and

1:55:28committees. But

1:55:31you know I I feel like going forward I

1:55:34think this board should really think

1:55:36about is that a minimum requirement for

1:55:39someone who is applying to be part of

1:55:41this that they can speak to yes I did

1:55:45this is what I found of interest. the in

1:55:48particular um you know it's one of our

1:55:52goals as a board to look at the economic

1:55:54development uh kind of committee and and

1:55:56you know approach um and and what is its

1:56:00mission um candidly this is a committee

1:56:03that's

1:56:04um that has struggled over the past

1:56:08several years and just I feel like

1:56:11doesn't have its way. So I'm not opposed

1:56:13to adding new members at this point. we

1:56:16sort of need them in some ways as a as a

1:56:18quorum or to achieve that. Um but my

1:56:24hesitation is is sort of this um you

1:56:28know people that are submitting interest

1:56:30in particular to this committee who have

1:56:32never attended and one individual who at

1:56:36least according to the pack that I saw

1:56:38you know didn't even include like a CV

1:56:40gave us a paragraph. So, you know, um

1:56:47you know, I'm always grateful for

1:56:50individuals who want to step up and and

1:56:53participate. I think we all are. Um, and

1:56:57I I don't mean to place this committee

1:56:59with some sort of different level of

1:57:01importance, but um, knowing what is or

1:57:04isn't being discussed at the committee

1:57:06level, I just I have concerns kind of

1:57:09about where where we're at with that

1:57:12committee and kind of its future. So,

1:57:14I'll leave it at that.

1:57:18>> Thanks, Shelby.

1:57:19>> Yep.

1:57:20>> Um, other thoughts from the board? Well,

1:57:24I just related to that. I I understand

1:57:27your point, but I'm not sure that, you

1:57:29know, the question doesn't say, "Have

1:57:31you watched any meetings?" So,

1:57:34>> a fair point.

1:57:34>> You know, I would say that's not

1:57:36necessarily fair to the applicants to

1:57:38say, well, the question says, "Have you

1:57:40attended?" And they answered no. But I

1:57:43would hope that they're doing some

1:57:45homework and you know, but to that

1:57:47effect, I'm disappointed that no one's

1:57:49here to kind of address us and

1:57:52>> yeah,

1:57:52>> comment. My in my leaning on this is um

1:57:56you know, I thought all three were were

1:57:58good candidates. I you know, based upon

1:58:01the information I have here, I'm leaning

1:58:04towards the two residents, but um but I

1:58:08would like more information, I guess.

1:58:10So,

1:58:10>> so I I I guess I would um um So, I again

1:58:15want to be clear, we're not going to

1:58:17change the rules midway, right? So, I'm

1:58:19just saying I think that the board

1:58:20should think about maybe even and to

1:58:22your point, Mark, we have Westbrook TV

1:58:23obviously we should however we want to

1:58:25phrase that. Um but really kind of like

1:58:28what's your real interest here? Um

1:58:30sometimes I just don't get a sense. Um

1:58:33and and I do think that this particular

1:58:35committee has some nuances to it that

1:58:37are different than

1:58:39you know I'm I'm interested in being on

1:58:42the cultural council and and again not

1:58:45prioritizing one over the other just the

1:58:47complexities of the EDC sometimes I

1:58:49think are are maybe not appreciated in

1:58:51the application. That said um I was

1:58:55previously not in favor of Mr. uh B is

1:58:58it Banan or Bannon?

1:59:01>> Banan. Thank you. Um,

1:59:03>> okay. Well, we'll hope that I said that

1:59:05right. And if not, Ian, you said it

1:59:06wrong. No. [laughter]

1:59:08>> Um, I do think that um his role um and

1:59:15his experience in um economic

1:59:18development at a much higher level than

1:59:20sort of small business downtown, which

1:59:23right now our committee has a lot of

1:59:25focus on that. Like, and I look small

1:59:28business owner like I get it, right?

1:59:31um I think could be uh a healthy

1:59:34addition uh to that committee. So that

1:59:37is a change in my position uh from prior

1:59:40that I want to share with the board. Um

1:59:42and then um in terms of uh the other two

1:59:46individuals again I just um I don't have

1:59:49enough information about one of them so

1:59:51it would make it difficult for me to

1:59:53recommend that person going forward. Um,

1:59:55so

1:59:59I can be brief because I have the exact

2:00:01same thing. Um, we had one which was

2:00:04basically

2:00:06wrote a paragraph and just experience,

2:00:08but I'm not sure what it actually

2:00:11and not I just don't without a CV I

2:00:14don't know what the roles are versus

2:00:17just putting down that that this was

2:00:19there. And as I read through it, I

2:00:21wanted to see more um but without seeing

2:00:25it, I I just compared to what we

2:00:27received from the others, I feel um

2:00:31the the two that I think um for my side

2:00:34at least

2:00:35um was uh a Mosher Barry and George Bonn

2:00:41similar.

2:00:42>> Thank you,

2:00:47Patrick. No comment. Okay.

2:00:50Okay. Um would you then like to put

2:00:53forward a motion?

2:00:55>> Sure. So I would move to appoint uh Amy

2:01:00Moer Barry um and uh George Bannon

2:01:06um for

2:01:09a term to expire. Sorry, I'm looking for

2:01:11it. Someone help me.

2:01:12>> June 30th, 2029.

2:01:14>> Thank you. There it is. June 30, 2029.

2:01:16So, and sorry,

2:01:17>> the economic development committee.

2:01:19>> Okay. So, so these are um rolling

2:01:23appointments. Are they both through

2:01:252029?

2:01:27>> Just double check. Thank you. Good

2:01:29catch, Sean. I did

2:01:36>> not. Um the current So, um the the most

2:01:40recent uh vacancy is actually through

2:01:42June 30th, 2027.

2:01:44>> Okay. So,

2:01:47one half dozen other. So I would I would

2:01:49move to appoint George Bonan to the econ

2:01:53economic development committee for a

2:01:55term to expire June 30, 2027.

2:01:58>> Second

2:02:00do one at a time.

2:02:01>> Yeah.

2:02:01>> All right. Um all those in favor

2:02:05to zero. And then I would move to

2:02:08approve appoint Amy Moer Barry to the

2:02:11economic development committee for a

2:02:13term to expire June 30, 2029.

2:02:15>> Second

2:02:17comments. All those in favor

2:02:20to zero.

2:02:21>> Okay. Thank you to all three um

2:02:25candidates are reaching out

2:02:26>> and and I would I would ask that the

2:02:29other um applicant, Miss Pitman, if

2:02:31she's interested, I would love to have a

2:02:32conversation. I have her contact

2:02:34information. I will reach out. just

2:02:36explore what she's interested, but she

2:02:38can feel free to do that for any one of

2:02:40us.

2:02:40>> Got it. Thank you, Shelby.

2:02:42>> Yep.

2:02:44>> Okay. Um item number 12, request to

2:02:47approve the meeting minutes of August

2:02:4918th and August 26, 2026.

2:02:53>> So moved.

2:02:54>> Second.

2:02:55>> Okay. Any comments, questions?

2:02:58>> Thank you for getting them out.

2:02:59>> Yep. All those in favor?

2:03:02Um so I was not present so I'll abstain

2:03:05though I did watch the meeting so

2:03:06>> okay four to zero one abstension

2:03:08>> y

2:03:09>> okay

2:03:11all right um item number 13 our town

2:03:14manager report

2:03:18>> um we held our first formal public

2:03:21engagement meeting at the senior center

2:03:23uh for the community center um it was u

2:03:25myself uh our assistant town manager our

2:03:28senior and social services director

2:03:30recreation director and design team

2:03:31hosted this um we had several attendees.

2:03:34Uh West Bro TV was pres present to film

2:03:36the meeting. Um so you can see that on

2:03:38West Bro TV. Um there was I say there

2:03:41was broad support from the majority of

2:03:43attendees, not all um but the majority

2:03:45because one one um attendee actually

2:03:48asked folks to raise their hands if they

2:03:50were um in favor of the second elevator

2:03:53uh in the lower level and it was

2:03:55suggested that that be included in the

2:03:57base project bid rather than held out as

2:03:59an alternative. So, that just came out

2:04:00of that meeting. Um, the Metro West

2:04:04Regional Communication Center met last

2:04:06week, the board met last week, and we

2:04:07voted to move forward with the borrow of

2:04:09$12.5 million to fund the renovation

2:04:11project. Um, those that service costs,

2:04:14as a reminder, are reimbursible by the

2:04:16state 1 grant. State one um is under uh

2:04:21representatives have continued to

2:04:22participate in these meetings and are

2:04:23aware of the strategy and we expect the

2:04:26project bid to be going out in the

2:04:28coming weeks.

2:04:29And then the planning director search

2:04:31committee met last week to review

2:04:32applications. Um we're meeting tomorrow

2:04:35evening to hold the initial round of

2:04:37interviews.

2:04:38>> Chrissy, could you remind us who's part

2:04:40of that search committee, please?

2:04:42>> Um so it's myself, um Mark as your

2:04:46representative, uh Hazel Nurse, and John

2:04:50Galsuch from the planning board. Um Todd

2:04:53Alexander and Bill Lenine as um

2:04:58>> members of the public appointed by the

2:04:59planning board. Chris Pant uh public

2:05:02works director

2:05:03>> and Fred Lonardo community development.

2:05:06>> Appreciate that.

2:05:08>> Um

2:05:10for department updates uh I think we

2:05:13mentioned last time about the school

2:05:14backpack drive was a great success. Uh,

2:05:16additionally, John Klinganstein, who's

2:05:18our program and engagement coordinator,

2:05:20and Kendra Falda, who's our director,

2:05:22hosted a district meeting with Westboro

2:05:24counterparts um from surrounding

2:05:26communities to discuss best practices

2:05:28and strengthen collaboration. Um, the

2:05:31senior center is holding a flu clinic on

2:05:33September 22nd from 10 to 12 um by the

2:05:37greater burough's public health nurse.

2:05:39Registration is required. So, there's a

2:05:41link on the my town manager report which

2:05:43will go out and then uh there's also a

2:05:46flyer attached which has a QR code so

2:05:48people can can register a couple

2:05:50different ways. Um [clears throat] under

2:05:52recreation, the golf course has had a

2:05:54strong year in fiscal 27. Um July was a

2:05:58good month. In August, uh the course was

2:06:01up 10% in green fees revenue compared to

2:06:03the previous year.

2:06:06the board of health um in May of 26 um

2:06:11they voted to ban the sale ofratom

2:06:13throughout Westboro. Uratom has growing

2:06:16concerns about potential health and

2:06:18safety risks including reports of

2:06:20overdoses and other serious adverse

2:06:22effects. There's actually a fact sheet

2:06:24also attached to the town manager

2:06:26report.

2:06:28Um in August the Mass Department of

2:06:30Public Health took statewide action

2:06:32regarding temporarily placing it in one

2:06:35so restricting it sale throughout

2:06:36Massachusetts. Um and then uh finally

2:06:40the library um has provided their um

2:06:45their transition plan from their

2:06:47temporary space to their new space. Um,

2:06:49so there's a lot of information in here

2:06:50which I would encourage folks to read,

2:06:52but essentially from September 9th to

2:06:55the 23rd, there's going to be limited

2:06:57services at the temporary space because

2:06:58they're beginning to move things back

2:06:59into the new library. Um, the last day

2:07:02in the temporary space is going to be

2:07:04September 23rd. They're when they close

2:07:06at 5:00. Um, and then they're going to

2:07:08be closed until early November. Um, so

2:07:10the first week in November is when

2:07:12they're planning to reopen at 55 West

2:07:13Main. Um, and that will give them time

2:07:16to move back into the building, become

2:07:18familiar with new systems, and do

2:07:19training with staff uh to prepare for

2:07:21that reopening. Um, but there's also

2:07:23information on here about how you can

2:07:25stay engaged with the library, other

2:07:26opportunities, um, how you can li you

2:07:29can access library services.

2:07:33That's it.

2:07:36>> All right. Thank you, Christie.

2:07:40>> Oops.

2:07:41>> You can just the first one.

2:07:44session. Oh, sorry.

2:07:47>> Um, issues and correspondence of the

2:07:49board. Who would like to begin?

2:07:52>> Oh, Ian. Yes,

2:07:53>> I actually have stuff tonight. So,

2:07:55>> all right. Um, I just want to uh for

2:07:58upcoming events echo what came before us

2:08:01at uh at open forum, but to remind folks

2:08:04of the 911 event occurring at the fire

2:08:06station at the 911 memorial, 8:45 a.m.

2:08:11Um, and hope people do attend uh that

2:08:14event on the 25th.

2:08:16>> 9:45 9:45

2:08:18>> 9:45, sorry. 9:45 a.m.

2:08:22>> The flyer we got today says 9:45. Yeah,

2:08:24I think he uh edit edited it. There was

2:08:27a correction to it.

2:08:28>> Yep. Sorry. 9:45.

2:08:31Thank you. Um uh along with that, I I

2:08:35did want to thank the fire foundation.

2:08:37Um if folks have gone by, they have um

2:08:41basically done a number of plantings and

2:08:44and kind of refurbishment of that

2:08:45memorial. So if you get a chance to go

2:08:47and look by um from the foundation which

2:08:50has funded uh that and also provided all

2:08:52of the um uh kind of the work along with

2:08:58um other residents who help with pouring

2:08:59concrete, putting benches in etc. So um

2:09:02be great for those that turn out but it

2:09:04uh it really looks uh nice. I went by

2:09:06that today. Um reminder again of um the

2:09:10retirement party on September 27th at

2:09:14our Turos for our retired fire chief Pat

2:09:18PCEL and tickets for that can be

2:09:19purchased that's on a Sunday. Tickets on

2:09:22that can be purchased on the fire

2:09:23foundation uh website. Um and then the

2:09:29last one is October 13th is the police

2:09:31foundation is their annual golf

2:09:33tournament at Hopington Country Club.

2:09:35Um, and you can register for that on the

2:09:38police foundation uh website. That's

2:09:40what I had.

2:09:42>> All right. Thank you, Ian.

2:09:45Anybody else?

2:09:47Go ahead there, Mark.

2:09:49>> Sure. You want me to go next?

2:09:50>> Sure.

2:09:51>> Okay. Um, well, my first thing was an

2:09:54issue. Uh we had changed the parking um

2:09:59uh

2:10:01restrictions on West Street to

2:10:03accommodate school pickup at Armstrong.

2:10:06And I was just hoping that maybe at a

2:10:07future meeting we could get an update

2:10:09from either the principal or somebody at

2:10:13the school department as to whether

2:10:15those are working. Um I've been by there

2:10:19a few times. One of the signs does not

2:10:21seem to be placed appropriately. it it's

2:10:25all the way at the end of the tennis

2:10:26court and I thought the restriction was

2:10:28only to the crosswalk.

2:10:30So, that was one of my concerns with

2:10:33with how that was implemented. Uh but I

2:10:36guess mainly I'm just concerned that

2:10:38it's it's working. Um and it's obviously

2:10:42too early in the school year to know,

2:10:43but uh I don't want it to, you know, get

2:10:46into January and find out there's a

2:10:49problem. Um,

2:10:52we have a bunch of good events coming up

2:10:55uh that I wanted to highlight. Saturday,

2:10:57September 12th is National Battery

2:10:59Takeback Day at Harvey. So, you can

2:11:03return all your uh all your batteries

2:11:05and get those recycled. Uh, which also

2:11:08leads me to the hazardous H. Unlike Ian,

2:11:11I don't usually announce events that I

2:11:13can announce at our future meetings, but

2:11:16the uh hazardous house the household

2:11:19hazardous waste day does require some

2:11:22advanced preparation and that's on

2:11:24Tuesday, September 29th. Uh at from 4:00

2:11:27to 8:00 p.m. at DPW.

2:11:30Um so start collecting all your

2:11:32hazardous waste. Friday, uh there's live

2:11:36music at Nurse Farm that's free to the

2:11:38public. Um,

2:11:41and uh, in addition, if that's not

2:11:43enough music, on uh, uh, September 19th

2:11:48is PorchFest,

2:11:49which I'm extremely excited about. It's

2:11:52a cultural council uh, activity that

2:11:55will have live music at uh, 1 2 3 4 5 6

2:12:007 8 nine different locations

2:12:04uh, from uh, 1:00 to 4:00. Uh, I would

2:12:08encourage you to go to the cultural

2:12:09council website to uh determine which

2:12:13band you want to see. Uh, that coincides

2:12:16with one of the locations is the food

2:12:18pantry and they're having an open house

2:12:20from 2 to 5. Um, [snorts] so I would say

2:12:23no matter what band you go see, see if

2:12:25you can stop by the open house and drop

2:12:28off some donations,

2:12:30uh, a check, whatever you are inclined

2:12:34to do, uh, to support our food pantry.

2:12:37And I think, um, last, is that the last

2:12:42one? Oh, yeah. Uh, I don't know who's

2:12:45here from West Bro TV. Is Aiden in the

2:12:48>> Aiden's in the room?

2:12:50Uh, that's too bad. T in the room?

2:12:53>> No, we should bring them before us,

2:12:55actually.

2:12:55>> Well, we should because they won for the

2:12:57second year, second in consecutive year,

2:12:59won the hometown media award for overall

2:13:02excellence in public access. Um, we

2:13:06should be very proud of the job that

2:13:08that uh that our TV station does on a

2:13:12limited budget uh for as a service to

2:13:15this town. and they took home several

2:13:17other awards. So, it would be great to

2:13:18bring them and acknowledge that.

2:13:20>> Yeah.

2:13:21>> Yeah.

2:13:22>> All right. That's all I had.

2:13:24>> All right. Thank you, Richard.

2:13:26>> Uh, sure. Uh, one item and then one

2:13:29comment. So, uh, I just like to share

2:13:31with the community that uh, uh, the EVU

2:13:35Expo uh, is Sunday, September 20th. Uh,

2:13:38the rain date is Sunday, September 27th.

2:13:41It's 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Amazon

2:13:43Robotics parking lot at 50 Otis Street.

2:13:45Uh we hope to see folks there. Uh I

2:13:47believe gonna have a couple of dozen

2:13:50different vehicles there. So it'd be

2:13:51great to see some of the newest uh EV

2:13:53vehicles out there and the different

2:13:54technologies. Um then I just finally a

2:13:57comment since my name was brought up in

2:13:58open meeting uh by Mr. Barry. I think

2:14:00it's um I just make a comment that I

2:14:02don't feel it's appropriate that uh I

2:14:05myself as a select board member uh and

2:14:07this board does not have oversight over

2:14:08the planning board to set their policy

2:14:10for me to make any comments uh other

2:14:13than one thing is that I did sit in the

2:14:15meeting uh last week and I was surprised

2:14:18that uh the planning board had altered

2:14:22their open meeting um cadence I'll call

2:14:25it uh in a policy they had just

2:14:27established. So, it was a little bit of

2:14:28a surprise there, especially considering

2:14:30the topics that were before them. So,

2:14:33that's all I'll say.

2:14:36>> Thank you.

2:14:36>> Okay, great. Um,

2:14:39so, um,

2:14:42my

2:14:43one question sort of to the board, just

2:14:45the cadence and, um, I actually had

2:14:47reached out to Sean beforehand, but I

2:14:49want to bring it forward tonight. um is

2:14:52just that we do need to

2:14:55um I was very upset a couple meetings

2:14:58ago u when we got an update from our DPW

2:15:02director on the amazing uh tip project

2:15:05on um East Main Street and then the

2:15:09comments that were in the packet um by a

2:15:11member of the ATSC that being Don Burn.

2:15:13So that matter does need to be addressed

2:15:16by this board and um um I want to do so

2:15:22in a in a way that is um you know

2:15:25appropriate and thoughtful um but I I

2:15:28don't want to lose sight of that. Okay.

2:15:30So um through you Mr. Chair um working

2:15:34with Christie about the timing. I I

2:15:37think I'm hearing I'm seeing nods. We've

2:15:39got to address that. Okay.

2:15:42Um,

2:15:45this one I might just need a reminder of

2:15:49the downtown improvement plan final plan

2:15:53that we all received

2:15:56from the consultant and then

2:15:59the maybe you have an update.

2:16:02>> Well, I don't know if Christy has an

2:16:03update, but I can certainly give one.

2:16:04>> Well, where I was going was where where

2:16:06is that in the next iteration? Because I

2:16:08understood that the planning board were

2:16:10they were going to review it. I know we

2:16:12don't have a planning director right

2:16:13now. And then there was going to be I

2:16:15thought some further conversation

2:16:17because as I'm sure this board is aware

2:16:19the I continue to get questions about

2:16:23when is this board going to make a

2:16:24decision about the peanut not the

2:16:26peanut. So

2:16:26>> sure. So I'll just give you my

2:16:28interpretation of the discussion that

2:16:29the planning board had last week. Um uh

2:16:32they um had a good conversation around

2:16:35what items each one of those board

2:16:37members thought were important in the

2:16:39report. Uh, and their action item was to

2:16:41take that back, actually provide a list

2:16:43back uh, to Kristen uh, so that the

2:16:45planning board can have a full

2:16:47discussion on what they think the

2:16:48priorities are coming out of that report

2:16:51um, so that they can make a

2:16:52recommendation to us. That's my my

2:16:54understanding of their next step.

2:16:56>> Okay.

2:16:59[clears throat]

2:16:59>> Okay. That's

2:17:00>> I mean that's the that was the process

2:17:03that the board agreed to at the joint

2:17:04meeting. Um, so they received it and my

2:17:07understanding is that that that meeting

2:17:08last week was the first time that they

2:17:10had talked about it.

2:17:11>> Okay. Okay. All right. We'll just track

2:17:12that then. Um, that those are my two

2:17:16items. Thank you.

2:17:18>> All right. Thank you, Shelby. Um, I

2:17:21would just, um, I guess the only thing I

2:17:23have is that if you were here for our

2:17:26discussion about,

2:17:28um, Amazon and potentially, uh, using

2:17:32drones from their facility in Westboro,

2:17:34they are doing a community meeting

2:17:37September 23rd at the Double Tree. It

2:17:41begins at um 5:00 pm and I believe you

2:17:45can reach out under prime air community

2:17:49meeting to uh get further details and

2:17:53potentially RSVP.

2:17:56>> Can I can I just have I'm sorry, one

2:17:58thing. Um there was a comment made at a

2:18:01meeting I was not it was on the 18th.

2:18:03Um, I just want to be clear that the

2:18:06school committee has long-standing um

2:18:09use of open forum. Uh, they don't call

2:18:11it that. It's uh community I think it's

2:18:14community comments or whatever,

2:18:16community feedback, but that's always

2:18:18been part of their meetings. It used to

2:18:20be sort of in the middle. It looks like

2:18:21since I've looked at some recent

2:18:23agendas, it's now at the forefront of

2:18:24their meeting. I I think the concern was

2:18:27around they have had subcommittee

2:18:29meetings recently which

2:18:31>> oh

2:18:32>> have not had

2:18:33>> okay yeah that that I'm not aware but I

2:18:36just I wanted to be clear because I've

2:18:37been to many of those and and they've

2:18:39been some pretty lively ones over the

2:18:41past couple years. So

2:18:42>> Okay,

2:18:43>> great.

2:18:43>> All right. Um so for executive session

2:18:48um

2:18:49>> just the first one

2:18:50>> just just item one.

2:18:54>> Okay. Uh, I would like to move the the

2:18:59board enter executive session under Mass

2:19:01General Law, chapter 38, section 21 A2

2:19:05to conduct strategy sessions in

2:19:07preparation for negotiations and

2:19:09contract negotiations with non-UN

2:19:11personnel Daniel Hair, Patrick PCEL, and

2:19:14Christy Williams if the chair determines

2:19:16that an open meeting would have a

2:19:17detrimental effect on the town's

2:19:19negotiating position.

2:19:23Uh, pardon me. Yes, I believe that uh

2:19:27this would have a detrimental effect on

2:19:29the town's negotiating position. Um, we

2:19:32will not be returning to open session

2:19:34after executive session. Can I get a

2:19:36second? [clears throat]

2:19:37>> Second.

2:19:38>> Roll call vote.

2:19:39>> Marshall, yes. [snorts]

2:19:41>> Johnson, yes.

2:19:43>> Welch, yes.

2:19:44>> Silverberg, yes.

2:19:45>> And Kio, yes. Thank you, Westbrow TV.

2:19:47And congratulations.