2026-10-19 - Special Town Meeting

01:27Hallelujah.

02:18I know

04:21Hallelujah.

07:04What happened?

07:16Hollywood.

07:40Thank

07:49you.

09:08>> [music]

09:20>> Hallelujah.

09:58This is not

10:25So much better.

16:22I get extra. I'll call if we need.

16:25>> Yeah,

16:25>> I didn't put my name on there.

16:27>> Oh, yeah. Put your Yeah,

16:28>> you'll be heading. Good evening. Is that

16:32okay?

16:41>> You okay, Steve?

16:46Do you need me to angle the speaker?

16:48Thank you, Dexter.

16:57>> Do you want me to angle? All right.

16:58Okay.

17:01>> I can't here.

17:09>> Come quick.

17:18200.

17:20>> Okay,

17:26>> testing one, two. Just working out some

17:29audio questions.

17:32We're gonna

18:01Testing, testing, testing, testing,

18:03testing. You might have to angle that so

18:04it's not right at me.

18:06>> Turn it. Turn it to me. Turn it to me.

18:09>> Turn it.

18:14>> Angle it so it's not right at me. Yeah.

18:16Okay.

18:18No.

18:21Testing. Testing. Testing. Har. I'll be

18:24right back.

18:27I see.

18:31I think you might have to angle it. Hang

18:32on.

18:42Testing. Testing. Can everybody hear me?

18:44Getting closer. All right. I know it's

18:477:00. We're going to start in just a

18:48minute or so. There's a few people still

18:50waiting to check in. And our custom is

18:52to wait for people to check in uh who

18:55have gotten in line by 7:00, our

18:56official start time. So, we will be

18:58starting soon.

19:00No, aim it more toward the wall at me.

19:11Yeah.

19:12>> Okay. Thank you. Be right there.

19:17>> No. No.

19:30>> How's that? Is that any better? Hang on.

19:32I got to get over to where I'm really

19:33going to stand. Is that any better?

19:38Can you hear me?

19:41All righty.

19:44Test, test, test.

19:50Steve, do you want to run a test to see

19:52if the gym can hear us?

20:13All right. Just waiting for

20:14>> test. Test one.

20:16>> Let's go down and give him this test.

20:18One, two.

20:20>> Let's go.

21:06test.

21:07>> Test test test. Is that working?

21:09>> All right. Okay. Thank you. All right.

21:12Uh just waiting for the last few people

21:14to check in and then we'll get started.

21:15And also uh at some point we're going to

21:18check to see if the audio is working in

21:20the gym.

21:22If anybody in the gym can hear me, you

21:24can see I'm not sure if their

21:25microphones are on. Maybe you could

21:26check and see if they can talk back to

21:28us.

21:38All right.

21:49All right, I think just uh just another

21:52minute.

21:54Just going to go check and see if

21:55Westbrook TV is ready. Be right back.

22:09>> You ready, Aiden? You in here?

22:11>> You'll be all set. He'll be right back.

22:12>> He'll be right. All right. You all set?

22:13All right.

22:14>> Thank you.

22:37>> [sighs]

22:43>> Steve,

22:45do you think we're all uh

22:48you just nod? Yes or no? You think I'm

22:50all set?

22:51>> Not ready.

22:58>> We're just trying to get the audio.

23:43You're authentic.

23:55How long?

24:18Testing one, two. I I can't really hear

24:20myself. I'm not sure the audience can

24:22hear me either. Testing one, two. Oh,

24:25that's a little better. Now I can hear

24:26myself.

24:28Yes.

24:34All right,

24:37Steve. when you think we're all set. Do

24:39we need to do a test with the gym?

24:42Thank you for your patience, everyone. I

24:44appreciate it.

24:52>> Do we need to test with the gym, Steve?

24:53>> Sure.

24:54>> Yeah. You want to uh Good evening. I

24:57haven't started yet, so Esro TV doesn't

24:59have to cut over, but let's just see if

25:00we they can hear us and we can hear them

25:02from the gym.

25:04>> Okay. Is Ben in there? And can

25:08Okay. See if Ben has the microphone

25:10going on there. See if we can hear them.

25:17Aiden, you want to go see if Ben can get

25:19those mics going?

25:21Okay. Oh, okay.

25:24>> Testing. Testing. One, two, three.

25:26>> Now we can. Okay. Is that Is that the

25:28deputy moderator mic or is that the

25:29speaker's mic?

25:30>> This is the deputy moderator mic.

25:33>> Try the speaker mic now and then we'll

25:34get going.

25:39testing the speaker mic from the gym.

25:42>> So, I think we're all set. All right. Uh

25:44Westboro TV, if you want to uh cut over

25:47and we will begin.

25:51Good evening, everyone, and welcome to

25:53the October 19th, 2026 uh Westboro

25:55special town meeting. If you are able

25:57and willing, please rise and say with me

26:00the pledge of allegiance. The flag is to

26:01my right, your left.

26:04I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

26:07United States of America and to the

26:09republic for which it stands, one nation

26:13under God, indivisible, with liberty and

26:16justice for all. Thank you. You may be

26:19seated.

26:21As I said, it has passed the hour of

26:227:00. Um, we have uh for a town meeting

26:26here in Westboro, we need four things.

26:28We have we need a moderator. I am John

26:30Arnold, 251 West Main Street, your

26:32elected moderator. We need a clerk. We

26:34have your elected clerk, Deb Leoo, to my

26:36right. For the annual town meeting and

26:39for the October special town meeting, we

26:40have a quorum of zero. There are zero or

26:42more people here, so we have that. And

26:44then we have a warrant that was posted

26:47and delivered to me. Those are the four

26:49things that we need to constitute a town

26:51meeting. So, I now declare the October

26:5319th, 2026 special town meeting in

26:56session. Thank you for being here

26:58tonight. How many of you have never been

27:00to town meeting before?

27:02Thank you and welcome. I hope to see you

27:04again in the March or whenever the next

27:05one is, but I thank you and I'm going to

27:06try to teach you as we go. We have a lot

27:08to cover tonight. I think we all would

27:09like to do this deliberatively um but

27:12also not squander much time. Um

27:16so like to start off as you may or may

27:19not know within the past five or six

27:22weeks um two members of the community

27:25who have contributed a lot to town

27:27meeting have died. And I wanted to take

27:29at least a small uh moment of silence to

27:32honor and remember the the significant

27:34contributions to town meeting made by

27:36Joe Harrington who was my predecessor

27:38and served as 24 years as your moderator

27:40and also Jodie Hensley who served on the

27:42school committee and also on the

27:43advisory finance committee. So a brief

27:45moment of silence for their thanking

27:46them for their service please.

27:51Thank you. As I said we're going to try

27:53to keep things moving here uh because

27:55some of the feedback I got over the last

27:56town meetings. who want to move things

27:57as quickly as we can without losing the

27:59deliberative nature of town hall of town

28:01meeting. So we have down here to my

28:03right, your left, we have the select

28:04board, the town manager, town council,

28:06and some town department heads. We have

28:08a press section here. I will say that

28:09there's a there's one roving

28:11photographer who has promised to to me

28:13that she is going to be discreet and

28:14just stand over in this area or over

28:16that area and understands the rules of

28:18the road about that we have for

28:20photography. The planning board

28:21typically sits down here in front of me.

28:24We have the finance committee uh to my

28:26left, your right, and I believe we still

28:28have paper copies, although a Q there's

28:30a QR code if you'd rather read it on

28:32your phone. Um there are report and

28:34recommendations uh done by nine of your

28:36peers, nine people of the community that

28:38I appoint. They have done a deeper dive

28:40than many of you have probably been able

28:41to on the articles and their report and

28:43recommendation uh is worth following

28:46along on. So, I'm going to I'd also um

28:50like to uh thank you for being here. Um

28:52inside the finance committee booklet,

28:54there's a four-page brief guide to town

28:56meeting. You can insert your own joke

28:57about whether four pages is brief or

28:59not. Uh but there's some new stuff. Um

29:02and it's especially useful if you read

29:03that uh if you're new to town meeting.

29:06Um but I also and it also has thanks for

29:08some people I'm not going to be able to

29:10take the time now to to thank, but

29:12there's many people that go into making

29:14a town meeting other than the people

29:15here. you see school staff uh custodial

29:18staff here at the schools, many people

29:19in town hall or whatever. I believe we

29:22have child care uh offered by the

29:24National Honor Society till 8:45. If you

29:27take part of that, please pick your

29:28children up by 9:00. Um u but we'll talk

29:31about that in a little bit. For those of

29:34you who are wondering that this doesn't

29:36look like any sort of other public

29:37meeting you've been to, you'll notice

29:39that this is different here. We are the

29:42town's legislative body. So, we operate

29:44under the rules of a legislature. There

29:46is not a border committee that you're

29:48trying to sway to think your way. You

29:49are essentially trying to sway other

29:51voters to think your way. Here in

29:53Westboro, we have an open town meeting,

29:55which means that any registered voter in

29:57Westboro is welcome to come and

29:58participate as much or as little as they

30:00want in town meeting, and it's one

30:02person, one vote. Um, as you may have

30:05noticed, we're using two rooms today

30:06here in the auditorium, and we do have

30:08an overflow room in the gymnasium. uh we

30:10weren't sure how many people were going

30:12to show up, but I did want to mention

30:13one of the reasons why we're running

30:14that room is that another piece of

30:16feedback I heard is that there's some

30:18people whose children who parents who

30:20either don't want to or either don't

30:22want to or can't partake of the free

30:23child care here. And so, as an

30:26experiment this year based on uh some

30:28ideas from myself and other towns, we're

30:30letting parents with children sit in the

30:32overflow room for as long as the

30:33children and the grown-ups can remain

30:35relatively quiet. and we're not going to

30:37have the rule where only voters can sit

30:39in here. So, we're going to see how that

30:41goes. And all I ask is if anybody starts

30:43uh getting squirmy or making noise,

30:45please go out into the hallway until you

30:46can get it resolved. But people who are

30:48there um can vote, they can speak, and

30:51we'll try to see if we can get to them

30:52if there are any voters in there. And I

30:54will mention that because we are

30:55electronic voting system has two sort of

30:57private networks set up. If you're in

30:59the gym, your voting device should have

31:01like a little purple square up at the

31:03top next to the number. And if you're

31:04here in the auditorium, it should either

31:06have a white or a black square.

31:09So let's see. So first order of business

31:12after that, it's my job to nominate a

31:15deputy moderator. That's someone who

31:17will serve in the overflow room and also

31:19take over if I'm incapacitated or if I

31:22uh need to take leave of the meeting or

31:24if I want to address the meeting not as

31:25moderator. I have met in a past deputy

31:28moderator. We have Benjamin Gold of 19

31:30Blake Street who's currently supervising

31:32uh in the gymnasium. I am nominating him

31:35for that post. So, let's give our voting

31:37devices a test. I nominate Benjamin

31:40Gold, 19 Blake Street to be deputy

31:43moderator. If you agree and want to

31:45agree with this motion of nomination,

31:47press one. I'll But when the green light

31:49goes on here, right near me, the green

31:51light started. If you agree, press one.

31:54If you disagree, press two. And if you

31:56press the wrong button and want to

31:57change your mind, it's active until the

31:59green light goes off. We typically set

32:01the green light for about 15 seconds.

32:03Um, and when the green light goes off,

32:05voting will end. And I will report the

32:07vote.

32:08Voting has begun.

32:22Voting has ended.

32:25Oh, I can't. Can you? It came and then

32:28went.

32:31>> Sorry. Just tell me what it is.

32:34>> 392 to6. Mr. Gold, you've been elected

32:38um

32:39uh deputy moderator.

32:42Another thing way we keep this moving.

32:44Save your applause. Your superpower is

32:46your ability to vote. Mr. Gold, will you

32:47please please rise and I'll pretend that

32:48I can see you and raise your right hand.

32:50Do you solemnly swear that having been

32:52elected deputy moderator that you will

32:53faithfully and impartially perform the

32:54duties of this office? So help you God.

32:57>> I do.

32:57>> Thank you, Mr. Gold. Thank you for your

32:58willingness to serve. Um so the rules of

33:01town meeting indicate that there are

33:03those present in voting. Um we're going

33:05to hope so far we've got plenty of

33:07electronic voting devices and that will

33:08make things move along. If it ends that

33:11the system fails or if we end up with

33:12too many people, we're going to figure

33:14that out as we go. But I've gotten some

33:15volunteers who will help me count votes

33:17if necessary and we'll see how it goes.

33:20Um, so again, it's present in voting. If

33:23anyone sees anyone with two voting

33:25devices, uh, please bring it to my

33:27attention because that's not allowed.

33:28If, uh, you can't check in and then give

33:30your voting dice to someone else, that's

33:31sort of a felony, I think. Um, and what

33:34I and what we do say is because these

33:35things aren't free, uh, if you if you

33:38just stay in the area, go to the

33:39bathroom, you can keep your voting

33:40device, but if you have to leave, go

33:42outside, go home, or whatever, turn your

33:44voting device in where you got it, and

33:46then uh if you do come back, you can get

33:48a new one. So don't worry, it's just the

33:50way we keep track of these things. And

33:52again, let me know. Terms of speaking at

33:54the meeting, again, not like any meeting

33:56you've probably seen at work or not like

33:57you like the town halls you see on your

33:59favorite cable news show. One person

34:01speaks at a time. I decide who that is.

34:04Uh we have standing microphones back

34:06here to my left and your right. And I

34:08think we're going to try to have some

34:09roving microphones if we can. Um for

34:11anyone who can't get to the microphone,

34:14worst case, I'll carry mine down there

34:15if we have to. when you get recognized

34:17to speak um you have to say your show me

34:20your voting device just hold it up so we

34:21can see it and say your name and address

34:23for the record um so uh for those of you

34:28who are town meeting seasoned regulars

34:30there are a few changes so everyone

34:32should pay attention to this part I held

34:34some listening sessions in March about

34:35what people did and didn't like about

34:36town meeting what made made people come

34:39what made people not come and by o by

34:42far the most overwhelming comment was

34:43wow I really think I wish it moved

34:45faster and we could get more done. So, I

34:47spent the summer thinking about this,

34:48talking to people, getting ideas. So,

34:50we're going to try something different

34:51this time, and if it works, we'll keep

34:53doing it. Speeches, as always, will

34:55remain limited to two and a half minutes

34:57other than presentations that that

34:59essentially people have asked for me

35:00ahead of the meeting. Uh, but if you in

35:03your two and a half minutes, it used to

35:04be that I allowed sort of a

35:05cross-examination style where you could

35:07ask a question 30 seconds, get an

35:08answer, ask another one 30 seconds. And

35:10although the timers that we have here uh

35:13promised me that it's two and a half

35:14minutes. It seemed like it took a long

35:15time and it did. So this year we're

35:17going to have a rule that says ask all

35:19your questions up front. I've got a pen.

35:21I'm going to try to write notes. I'll

35:22then solicit answers to the questions if

35:24people want to answer them or address

35:26them. And then if you have time left in

35:28your in your two and a half minutes, I

35:29will give you one follow-up comment or

35:31one follow-up question and then we'll

35:32move to the next person. Another change

35:34is it used to be that I traditionally

35:36just called on people that the order

35:37that they went in the microphone. And of

35:39course, I have no idea if people are

35:40going to speak for or against or ask

35:42questions. And uh problem we had is that

35:44we would maybe go three or four people

35:46in a row being in favor or maybe three

35:48or four people in a row and opposed. And

35:49we didn't get a give and take to to

35:51understand what the issues voters had.

35:53And so I'm going to try something

35:54different this time. I'm going to

35:56randomly decide to start by asking who

35:59wants to speak in favor or maybe one

36:01time I'll start with who wants to speak

36:02opposed or maybe who just has questions

36:04and I'm going to cycle through those

36:06things those three things. anybody in

36:08any of those can make a motion to amend

36:10and if you get to the point you want to

36:12move to terminate debate you can do that

36:13too. Um but that way very quickly we'll

36:16get a sense of what the questions are

36:18and rather than waiting for 30 45

36:20minutes or an hour before I would

36:22entertain the question to terminate

36:24debate because we what because it would

36:26take time sometimes to figure out um if

36:29we'd heard adequate debate from both

36:30sides. After I've heard about three

36:32statements from both sides, I would most

36:35likely, unless there's some uh unusual

36:37circumstance, entertain a motion to

36:39debate. And if that happens, we just go

36:40straight to a vote on whether to

36:42terminate debate. We don't have to. It's

36:43up to you. It takes a two-thirds vote to

36:45terminate debate. And if we do, we go

36:47straight to the vote. Um, and so, uh,

36:51with that, I have two people. I have

36:53Allison Lindsay and Kristen Vincent who

36:56have volunteered to run our traffic

36:57lights. You want to turn all the lights

36:59on for people? um tradition we started a

37:01few years ago. Um and it's a little bit

37:04different than a traffic light because

37:06when when you're good to go 90 seconds

37:07or more, it's going to be green. When

37:09you've got under 90 seconds but more

37:10than 30, it's going to be yellow. When

37:12you've got 30 seconds or less in your

37:15two and a half minutes or your 10-minute

37:16presentation, it's going to go red. Red

37:19doesn't mean they have to stop. Red

37:20means they've got 30 seconds left. And

37:22then when their time is completely up,

37:23all the lights will go on. Um Kristen

37:26and Allison have sworn to me that they

37:28will impartially and faithfully try to

37:30do their best for timing. And so there

37:32we go. I have received requests from

37:36some non- voters who may wish to speak.

37:38I will emphasize that these are people

37:39who would like your permission to speak

37:41if they are called upon. It is not a

37:43guarantee that they will speak as you

37:45probably gathered from that previous uh

37:48terminating debate. I don't know. You

37:50don't know when when debate is going to

37:52end, but I have five people who've asked

37:54that if their time comes and they and I

37:56call on them to speak that they will be

37:58allowed to speak. So I have a Joe Record

38:01of 709 South Street in Shrewsbury and

38:04Brian James Ward of 721 South Street in

38:07Shrewsbury who are business partners and

38:09one of them is in a butter uh to 64 Otis

38:12Street um which will come under article

38:148 via property at 19 Gleon Street. They

38:17have requested the possibility that we

38:19allow them to speak under article 8. I

38:21have likewise received a request from

38:23Kevin Foy and Joanne, sorry, Joan Remfoy

38:26of 26 Sunset Drive in Northboro. They

38:29have also requested potentially the

38:31right to the ability to speak under

38:32article 8. And then I also have received

38:35a request from someone who is no longer

38:37a registered voter in Westboro, but who

38:39owns 10 Cottage Street in the downtown

38:41area. Uh, and she has requested

38:43permission to speak on Article 7. Again,

38:46this doesn't mean they're guaranteed the

38:47ability to speak. It just means that if

38:49I call on them u and you approve that

38:51they will be allowed to speak. No

38:53special privileges that they don't get

38:55to vote. It's just that they get to

38:56address the meeting. It's your decision,

38:58not mine. So, we get to try to test the

39:00electronic voting system. Again, when

39:02the green light goes on, it means you

39:04agree to allow these people to speak if

39:06they are called upon. If you don't want

39:08to allow that, you can press the number

39:10two button, vote no. When the green

39:12light goes on, voting will begin. And

39:14again, you can limit it to 15 seconds.

39:16One is a vote in favor of allowing them

39:18to speak. Two is a vote opposed. Voting

39:21has begun.

39:43Voting has ended again. You can leave

39:44that timer down to 15 seconds if you

39:46want. And again, I can't see the screen.

39:48It's still coming in. Okay. Oh, there

39:49you go. Okay. We've got 3:45 in favor,

39:5264 opposed. Um, the motion carries if we

39:55[clears throat] get to those. Sorry, I

39:56got to bam this. Hold this up here. Um,

39:58so I've got 36 345 to 64. Those people

40:03will be allowed to speak if we get to

40:04the point and I call on them and

40:06recognize them. Okay, we're pretty much

40:09uh done that. Sorry that um with those

40:11new rules took me a little longer. Um

40:13turn off mute your cell phones. If you

40:14need to take a call, please quickly

40:16leave the hall and do it out in the

40:17lobby. So far it looks like we've got

40:19room for everybody. Um if there if an

40:22emergency uh like a fire alarm or

40:25something goes off, we have police. We

40:26have fire here. However, for our own

40:28safety, I would suggest if the alarm

40:29goes off, you quickly calmly gather up

40:32your things, we have exits to my left

40:34and right down here. We have exits uh

40:36where over here and then exits up the

40:39back where you came in. However, if we

40:41can find out that it's a false alarm,

40:42the police and fire will notify me and

40:44we'll see what's going on. We're going

40:45to do the best we can. If you see

40:47someone who needs assistance, please

40:49help. Please offer to help. Um, with

40:52that said, um, the finance committee is

40:55going to not is has waved their remarks.

40:58They will just say you either have

41:00online or hopefully a copy of their

41:02booklet. Um, it has the message to

41:04voters. It has their recommendations

41:05except for article 8. Uh, and they will

41:08make their recommendation on article 8

41:10uh later in the meeting. Um, and they

41:13just uh ask you to pay attention to

41:15that. And uh with that said, we

41:17typically provide a few moments for the

41:19town manager and the select board to

41:21sort of give an update on the state of

41:22the town finances. So with that said, I

41:25will uh recognize uh Ms. Williams, town

41:28manager, to just sort of set the stage

41:30for this special town meeting. When you

41:32have a moment, Miss Williams,

41:43>> can you hear me? Okay. Sorry. Um, good

41:46evening. My name is Christy Williams.

41:47I'm the town manager. Um, I'm going to

41:49be very brief. I just wanted to give an

41:51update about um the current expected uh

41:54tax increase for fiscal 27 and any

41:56articles tonight that we're going to um

41:59adjust what we had provided previously

42:01at the March Town meeting. Um, so this

42:04slide here shows the average single

42:06family value versus the tax bill. So the

42:08gray bar on each of these slides will

42:10indicate what we presented to you at the

42:12annual town meeting. The green is what

42:15we present at the budget summit which

42:17happens uh at the end of September. So

42:18just last month and then um and then you

42:21can see at the end there that's that

42:23last blue one is what we're representing

42:25tonight. So um there's a decrease in

42:27what we expect the average single family

42:30tax bill to be in fiscal 27 um from

42:33about 13,533

42:35down to 13,372.

42:39Um this here shows the average single

42:41family increase. So, at the annual town

42:44meeting, we were projecting or we were

42:46estimating that if everything was

42:48approved that we would be increasing the

42:50average single family tax bill by $633.

42:54Um, just last month we were expecting

42:57607, but tonight um we're expecting that

43:00even if everything is approved this

43:02evening that that would go down to $472

43:05increase in fiscal 27, which represents

43:08about a 3.6% increase from last year.

43:13um that means that we would grow our

43:15excess levy capacity. Um so this is an

43:18important slide showing that um there's

43:20only two times since 2008 that the town

43:23has used its excess levy capacity.

43:26Excess levy capacity as most of you know

43:28is um is money that the town could tax

43:31but does not. Um so in those two years

43:34where you see the red bar, if we did not

43:36have that capacity um we would be

43:38seeking an override. Um, and this year

43:41we anticipate growing our excess levy

43:43capacity, meaning that we're not taxing

43:45um to to the to the maximum that the

43:48state law allows.

43:52Um, there are no articles tonight for

43:54free cash. Um, so so that's something

43:56that we typically see. U tonight we have

43:58not closed out fiscal 26 so we have not

44:01certified our free cash but you will see

44:04us um using free cash or asking the town

44:06meeting to approve use of free cash at

44:08our meeting in March.

44:12And then these are the two articles

44:13tonight that will have an impact to your

44:15tax bill. So um so you can see here that

44:18that article number one has several

44:21budget adjustments. Um there's an

44:23increase for one additional student at

44:25Norfol Aggie. Um there's an increase in

44:28the IT department and then we have

44:31decreases in what we've what we had

44:33previously asked to raise and

44:34appropriate for both the cable TV

44:36enterprise fund and also the waste

44:39management fund. Um so article one

44:41represents a net decrease of about

44:43$41,000 or about $56 to the average

44:47single family. And then article two

44:50funds the fire department um labor

44:53contract which represents about $22 to

44:57the average single family but that net

44:59impact is $17. So again that $472

45:04increase I mentioned um is takes into

45:08account these passing

45:12and then this is my last slide just to

45:13remind you that we are in our fiscal 28

45:15budget process. Um so if anyone has

45:19input or wants to participate in that

45:20process, we have several meetings um

45:22with both the um capital planning

45:24committee, the select board and the

45:26advisory finance committee. Um we are

45:28already working to prepare that budget

45:30for you which would come to you at the

45:32March annual town meeting. Thank you.

45:35>> Thank you, Miss Williams.

45:37We now turn our attention to article

45:39one,

45:41Mr. Kio.

45:44Also, I forgot to mention if any if any

45:46voter has a question about the process

45:48at any point, you can holler out point

45:49of order and I will recognize you and

45:51we'll you can identify yourself and I'll

45:53answer to the best of my ability. But I

45:55think for those of you new to town

45:56meeting, you'll sort of see how it goes

45:57as we step through it. Mr. Ko,

46:01>> good evening. Thank you, Mr. Moderator.

46:02Sean Kio5 Yorkshire Circle. I move that

46:06the town vote to approve the article as

46:08printed in the in the warrant with the

46:10additional sum of $44,124

46:14raised and appropriated for the Norfolk

46:16County agricultural school expenses and

46:19the additional sum of $38,000 raised and

46:22appropriated for information technology

46:25expenses provided that the funding

46:27adjustments made in item C shall be to

46:30the fiscal 2027 cable TV enterprise fund

46:34budget.

46:36So, as described in the warrant, the

46:38town continues to review revenues and

46:40expenditures across all departments and

46:42enterprise funds. As a result of this

46:45review, this article proposes

46:47adjustments to the West Bro TV and waste

46:50management enterprise funds to reflect

46:52updated revenue and cost estimates,

46:55specifically Westro TV enterprise fund.

46:58The executed cable franchise agreement

47:01with charter has resulted in increased

47:03franchise fee revenue reducing the

47:06amount that needs to be raised through

47:08taxation.

47:09And for the wastewater enterprise fund,

47:12a review of recent monthly activity at

47:14the transfer station indicates lower

47:16than projected activity levels.

47:19Accordingly, the town recommends

47:20adjusting the budget to reflect the

47:22resulting reduction in costs. This

47:25article also adjusts the 2027 budget to

47:28cover the costs associated with one

47:31addition add additional student

47:33enrolling at Norfolk County Agricultural

47:35School. And then finally, the article

47:38provides partial funding for the

47:39replacement of the town's permitting

47:41software, which will no longer be

47:44supported after calendar year 2026.

47:48Overall, these adjustments are estimated

47:50to reduce the fiscal year 2027 average

47:53single family tax bill as stated by our

47:55town manager by approximately $56.

48:00Thank you, Mr.

48:01>> Thank you, Mr. Kio. Now, let's see if I

48:03can remember to do the new process I

48:04just promised you going to do. Is there

48:06anyone any voter who has any questions

48:07about article one?

48:12>> Seeing none, is it okay if we just go to

48:14a vote?

48:15>> Okay. In that case, your action comes on

48:18Mr. Kio's motion that is up on the

48:21screen. Uh, when the green light goes

48:23on, pressing one is a vote in favor of

48:25the motion. Pressing two is a vote in

48:27opposition. Voting is begun.

48:30[clears throat]

48:33Requires a majority vote.

48:51Voting has ended.

48:55We have 442 in favor

48:59and 20 opposed. The motion carries.

49:03Next, article two dealing with fire

49:06department union contract. Mr.

49:08Silverberg.

49:10>> Mark Silverberg, 7 Weld Street. Article

49:13two. Uh, I move that the town vote to

49:16raise and appropriate the additional sum

49:18of $182,575

49:21to increase the fiscal year 2027 fire

49:25department salary and wages for the

49:27purpose of the article as printed in the

49:29warrant.

49:31>> Mr. Silver,

49:33>> the town and the firefighter union have

49:36recently competed completed negotiations

49:38of a successor collective bargaining

49:40agreement for the period July 1st, 2026

49:43to June 30th, 2029.

49:46Implementation of the agreement is

49:48subject to the town meeting funding of

49:50the cost items contained in the contract

49:52at this town October special town

49:55meeting. The three-year agreement

49:57includes the following. Wage

50:00adjustments, annual cost of living wage

50:02adjustments of 2.5%

50:04in fiscal years 2027 and 2028 and 3% in

50:08fiscal year 2029 with additional step

50:11adjustments for the lieutenant and

50:13captain ranks based on market

50:15conditions.

50:16EMT stipens will increase by $250 in

50:20each contract year to $5,500 in fiscal

50:23year 2029.

50:26Paramedic stipens will increase by

50:28$1,000 per year to 15,000 in fiscal year

50:312029.

50:33The introduction of a $300 referral

50:35bonus for recruitment of new hires.

50:38Extra duty detail pay for third-party or

50:41private pay details will increase to $75

50:44an hour. And the agreement also

50:47introduces a voluntary wellness program

50:49through which members can earn sbatical

50:51time through participation in activities

50:54focusing on firefight firefight

50:57firefighters physical and mental

51:00well-being and reaching specific

51:02wellness goals

51:04which I need.

51:08That wasn't in the

51:09>> Is that it Mr. Silver?

51:11>> That is it.

51:11>> Okay. Um we'll try the new system again.

51:14Anybody uh have any questions about

51:16article 2?

51:19Anyone want to speak in favor or

51:20opposed? Do we want to go straight to

51:21the vote?

51:23Looks like you're ready to a vote. When

51:24the green light goes on, voting will

51:27begin.

51:29Voting has begun. A vote Pressing one is

51:31a vote in favor of Mr. Silverberg's

51:33motion. Pressing two is a vote in

51:35opposition. Voting has begun.

51:59Voting has ended.

52:02We have a vote of 440. 440 in favor and

52:0634 opposed. The motion carries. That is

52:09a majority vote.

52:11We now turn our attention to article

52:13three dealing with the 250th American

52:15Revolution Anniversary Committee. Mr.

52:17Johnson.

52:21Thank you, Mr. Moderator. Ian Johnson,

52:23Nurtus Adams Way.

52:26[clears throat]

52:28Excuse me. Please note this is this is a

52:31change from what's in your booklet, but

52:33I move that the town vote to transfer

52:34the sum of $9,626.84

52:3784 cents from the Westro 250th American

52:41Revolution anniversary gift account to

52:44the civic events gift account for the

52:45purpose of the article as printed in the

52:47warrant.

52:48>> Mr. Johnson,

52:49>> thank you. Um, last year the select

52:51board established a 250th American

52:54Revolutionary Revolution anniversary

52:56committee to organize celebratory events

52:59commemorating the 250th anniversary of

53:01the American Revolution. And I hope that

53:03many of you were able to attend uh those

53:06events.

53:07Um, in 2025, town meeting voted to

53:09transfer approximately $30,000 from the

53:12spirit committee gift account to a new

53:14gift account established for the 250th

53:16American Revolution Anniversary

53:18Committee. Uh, the committee

53:20subsequently received additional

53:21donations to support its planned events.

53:25On Friday, June 26, 2026, the committee

53:28partnered with the July 4th block party

53:29to celebrate America's birthday with a

53:32veterans parade, a reading of the

53:33Declaration of Independence, and of

53:36course, a beautiful fireworks display.

53:40With the 250th anniversary celebration

53:42concluded, this article proposes

53:45transferring the remaining balance of

53:47$9,626.84

53:4984 to a new civic events gift account to

53:53support future civic events. As noted in

53:56your in your booklets, that number was

53:58$3,11.89,

54:00but subsequent to this article um being

54:03put on here, we did receive an

54:05additional contribution uh received for

54:07the 250th. Um so we're including that in

54:11the transfer to this new civic events

54:13gift account. Thank you.

54:15>> Thank you, Mr. Johnson. Anyone want to

54:16speak about this article?

54:19or just go straight to the vote. I see

54:22no one.

54:24That case, when the green [snorts] light

54:25goes on, our action comes on Mr.

54:27Johnson's motion, as shown on the

54:29screen, to transfer funds from the 250th

54:32American Revolution Committee to the

54:33Civic Events Gift Committee anniversary

54:36gift blah blah blah. Pressing one is a

54:38vote in favor. I decided not to read it

54:40because it was just going to mess me up.

54:42Pressing one is a vote in favor of Mr.

54:44Johnson's motion. Pressing two is a vote

54:45in opposition. Voting obviously has

54:47begun.

55:04Voting has ended.

55:08We have 467

55:10467 in favor and nine opposed. The

55:13motion carries. That is also a majority

55:16vote. Next up, article four, dealing

55:19with a transfer to the affordable

55:21housing trust fund. Mr. Silverberg. Uh

55:23>> Mark Silverberg, 7 Weld Street. Uh I

55:26move that the town vote to transfer and

55:28appropriate the sum of $22,968.65

55:34from the stabilization fund mitigation

55:37for the purposes for the purpose stated

55:39in the article as printed in the

55:41warrant.

55:41>> Mr. Silverberg, uh

55:43>> I do have a short presentation.

55:46Okay, you have

55:50so a little bit of background. PY home,

55:55I'll get started. Uh, PY Homes uh, at

55:59Dell Webb Chanty Lake when they were

56:02approved, they requested a waiver of the

56:04affordable housing component from 20% to

56:0710%. And in return, the planning board

56:10at the time negotiated a $1.4 $4 million

56:13payment uh to be used specifically for

56:16the uh

56:18creation of affordable housing. Uh in a

56:22subsequent town meeting uh we approved

56:26the creation of the affordable housing

56:28trust. Next slide please.

56:33Uh that payment schedule on that 1.4 4

56:36million was 400,000 at 3 years and then

56:39200,000 annually for 5 years. Uh almost

56:43all of that has been paid. This article

56:45is the last payment uh of that 1.4

56:48million. Uh it's 200,000 plus interest,

56:51which is where that number came from in

56:53the motion. Mark,

56:57there's another slide. Okay, we're all

56:59set. Any questions?

57:01>> All right. Questions, comments?

57:04>> I'm sorry. Can I just make one more?

57:05>> Oh, sure.

57:06>> Mr. I forgot to mention the chair of the

57:09affordable housing trust and the vice

57:11chair of the affordable housing trust

57:13are both on traveling on business today.

57:16Uh send their apologies. So I got

57:18drafted into this uh

57:22>> I see no one who wishes to speak to this

57:25article. Therefore, when the green light

57:27goes on, our action will come on Mr.

57:29Silverberg's motion uh that was up on

57:31the screen to transfer and appropriate

57:332296865

57:35from the stabilization fund mitigation

57:37for the purpose stated in the article.

57:39As always, pressing one is a vote in

57:42favor of the motion. Pressing two is a

57:43vote in opposition. Voting has begun.

58:10Voting has ended.

58:14The vote is 456.456

58:17in favor, 26 opposed. The motion

58:19carries. That is a majority vote.

58:23Next on the warrant, which acts as our

58:25agenda, is a article five dealing with a

58:29revolving fund for police firearms

58:32training facility. Miss Marshall,

58:34>> Shelby Marshall, 7 Charles Street. Mr.

58:36Moderator.

58:37>> Miss Marshall,

58:38>> I move that the town vote to approve the

58:40article as printed in the warrant.

58:42>> Thank you, Miss Marshall. Any remarks?

58:44>> Uh, our police chief, Tom Manardi, will

58:46make the presentation.

58:47>> Thank you, Miss Marshall. Chief Manardi.

58:53Good evening. Tom Manardi, your police

58:55chief. Um, so basically all this is is

58:58creating an account. So if any outside

59:01agencies use our firearm training

59:04facility and we charge them a fee, the

59:07money goes back into the revolving

59:09account to be used specifically for the

59:12purpose of supporting the firearms

59:14training facility moving forward.

59:19>> Is that it? Okay. Thank you. Uh, anyone

59:22want to have questions? Uh, yes, if you

59:25could get to them. I don't Do we have

59:27any scouts here tonight with

59:28microphones? I think we if you if you

59:31could get the Here, tell you what. You

59:32want to come down here and I'll hand you

59:33the microphone.

59:40I'll get to play roving scout for a

59:42while. Oh, you want to do it?

59:43>> What? I No, that's mine right now.

59:45>> Oh, okay.

59:47>> Thank you. Wilford Seavoi, 41 Chestnut

59:51Street. I'd like to speak in favor of

59:53the article.

59:56U certainly we need a facility, a top

1:00:00rate facility for our officers to train

1:00:04uh using their weapons. I just would

1:00:06like to add to that the possibility of

1:00:11citizens of the community uh utilizing

1:00:14the facility

1:00:16um on a very limited basis. We've seen

1:00:21recently in Oregon where uh some uh a

1:00:26parent having to be in a facility at a

1:00:29school using his weapon prevented the

1:00:33death of [snorts] many young people. And

1:00:36so I think it's important that uh the

1:00:39citizenry of the town have access to

1:00:43this facility on a very limited basis,

1:00:45but I would encourage you to do that.

1:00:48And I know there's an insurance issue,

1:00:51but uh I'd like you to look into that as

1:00:53well. Thank you.

1:00:56>> Are you willing to address that?

1:00:58>> Yeah, I appreciate your comments. Um

1:01:03I I support firearms training for

1:01:05everybody. Obviously, there's there's a

1:01:07liability issue using uh town range. Uh

1:01:11we'd have to supply instructors and so

1:01:13forth. But I have heard from that I have

1:01:16heard about that from a number of

1:01:17citizens. It's it's and I understand the

1:01:20importance of firearms training. So it's

1:01:22something we can certainly you know look

1:01:24at but I appreciate your comments and

1:01:26your support. Thank you.

1:01:28>> Thank you Chief Manardi. Anyone else?

1:01:34Sorry I don't Okay. Could you stand up

1:01:37and go to the microphone if you're able,

1:01:39please back there and then uh introduce

1:01:42you just name and address and tell me if

1:01:44you're speaking for or against or

1:01:46questions.

1:01:48Oh, wait. We got to get the mic on.

1:01:51Ah, we have a volunteer. Could you try

1:01:53the microphone here, please? Thank you.

1:01:56We're working it up.

1:01:57>> Hello.

1:01:58>> Oh,

1:02:01>> I think Mr. Masterelli has to get back

1:02:03to the back the studio. There he is.

1:02:06Hang on just a moment.

1:02:10>> Try now.

1:02:12>> Hello.

1:02:12>> Yeah.

1:02:13>> Hello.

1:02:13>> Yep.

1:02:14>> Okay. Um, McKenzie Tinen, 25 West Main

1:02:17Street.

1:02:18>> Speaking in in favor or against?

1:02:19>> Uh, just questions.

1:02:20>> Question. Okay.

1:02:21>> Um, regarding uh what the funds could be

1:02:26used for in terms of operation,

1:02:27maintenance, repair, improvement, and

1:02:29equipping the facility. Would there be

1:02:32any um percentages allocated to any of

1:02:35those categories or a kind of oversight

1:02:38process for how the funds are used?

1:02:43>> Chief,

1:02:46>> um there's no percentage breakdown. It's

1:02:50I don't see this as being a a large

1:02:52revenue generator for the town. This is

1:02:55just something in discussions with um

1:02:58our town leaders over making

1:03:00improvements to the range that we've

1:03:02done uh mostly through the Westboro

1:03:05Police Foundation. We had discussions

1:03:07about charging outside organizations and

1:03:10how that money could be allocated in the

1:03:13future to help support the range moving

1:03:15forward. So that you know maybe would

1:03:17reduce a capital request in the future.

1:03:20But there's no specific breakdown on you

1:03:24know whether it was maintenance or

1:03:26replacing a piece of equipment or adding

1:03:28a piece of equipment. It's just how we

1:03:31view what the range is getting used for

1:03:33and what we might be able to use the

1:03:35money for in the future.

1:03:37>> Thank you, Chief. Quick followup. Are

1:03:38you all set?

1:03:39>> All set. Thank you.

1:03:40>> Thank you very much. We've had one in

1:03:41favor, one question. Anyone want to

1:03:42speak in opposition?

1:03:47Okay, everybody ready for the vote? All

1:03:50right, when the green light goes on,

1:03:51your action comes on Ms. Marshall's

1:03:54motion to approve the article as printed

1:03:56in the warrant. Voting has started.

1:03:58Pressing one is a vote in favor.

1:03:59Pressing two is a vote in opposition.

1:04:01Voting has begun.

1:04:29Voting has ended.

1:04:33We have a vote of 462.462

1:04:37in favor and 32 opposed. The motion

1:04:40carries. That is a majority vote.

1:04:43Turning our attention to article six.

1:04:45Article six is a request for an

1:04:47authorization of select board for a home

1:04:49rule petition. Mr. Welch.

1:04:52>> Mr. Moderator. Thank you. Patrick Welch,

1:04:5415 Chanty Circle.

1:04:56>> I move that the town vote to approve

1:04:58this article as printed in the warrant.

1:04:59>> Thank you, Mr. Welch. Any remarks?

1:05:01>> Yes. Thank you, Mr. Moderator. Per state

1:05:04statute, petitions may be submitted

1:05:06placed to place articles on the town

1:05:08meeting warrant, provided they include

1:05:09signatures of registered voters. For a

1:05:12special town meeting, a petition must be

1:05:15signed by 100 registered voters. For an

1:05:18annual town meeting, a petition must be

1:05:19signed by 10 registered voters. In

1:05:22response to concerns about the low

1:05:24signature requirements for annual town

1:05:25meeting

1:05:27town meeting petitions, the select board

1:05:29brought forward a warrant article at the

1:05:312025 special town meeting to increase

1:05:33that the required number of signatures

1:05:35from 10 to 50. Although the article was

1:05:38approved at town meeting, a review by

1:05:40the legislature identified unintended

1:05:41language that would remove the select

1:05:43board's legal authority to exercise

1:05:45discretion when placing articles on the

1:05:47warrant. The board therefore decided to

1:05:50bring the article back to town meeting

1:05:51to correct the language and preser

1:05:53preserve their authority. This article

1:05:55further amends section 28 of the charter

1:05:58to revise the deadlines for bylaw

1:06:00submissions to align with the newly

1:06:02created deadline for citizen petition

1:06:04submissions.

1:06:06>> Is that it?

1:06:07>> Y thank you m

1:06:08>> Thank you. Uh anyone want to speak in

1:06:11favor of article six? I guess I should

1:06:13just ask anyone want to speak about

1:06:14article six.

1:06:16Yes, we're I'm I'm learning as we go, as

1:06:19you are. Uh, yes, if you could get to

1:06:21the microphone in the back and name,

1:06:23address or hand the microphone up. Yeah.

1:06:25Name, address, and then let me know if

1:06:26you're speaking for, against, or asking

1:06:28questions.

1:06:29>> Thank you.

1:06:31>> Robert Gilmore, 35 Water Street. This is

1:06:35my understanding that this is something

1:06:37we approved what, a year ago, and we're

1:06:41tweaking the language to satisfy the

1:06:43requirements of the state. Is that

1:06:46correct?

1:06:48>> Um, that is correct. The state

1:06:49identified this flaw in what we had

1:06:52written a year ago.

1:06:53>> Okay. So, thank you. So,

1:06:55>> sorry. I I would just

1:06:56>> Mr. Ko I

1:06:58>> I would just add so the original

1:07:00language allowed for any appointed

1:07:03committee to place an article on town

1:07:06warrants. That was not our intent with

1:07:09the article. So we have rewarded the

1:07:12article that any appointed committee

1:07:14still needs to request their article go

1:07:17on town warrant through the select

1:07:18board. That is the significant change

1:07:22from what was passed last time.

1:07:25>> Thank you. So in light of those uh that

1:07:28clarification, I wholeheartedly support

1:07:30this this uh petition. Thank you.

1:07:33>> Thank you very much. We've had a

1:07:36question that turned into support.

1:07:37Anyone want to speak against?

1:07:39>> Thank you.

1:07:43Seeing none,

1:07:45when the green light goes on, your

1:07:47action comes on Mr. Welch's motion to

1:07:49approve the article as printed in the

1:07:51warrant. Voting has begun. Pressing one

1:07:53is a vote in favor. Pressing two is a

1:07:54vote in opposition.

1:07:57As I said, voting has begun.

1:08:25Voting has ended.

1:08:29We have a vote of 476.476

1:08:33in favor and 22 opposed. The motion

1:08:36carries. That is a unanim uh sorry that

1:08:38is a majority vote. Um next on the

1:08:41warrant article seven dealing uh article

1:08:45from the planning board dealing with

1:08:47amending the zoning bylaw uh with the

1:08:49downtown business district. Mr. Gelich.

1:08:52>> Uh John Gelich, vice chair of the

1:08:55planning board, 50 Church Street. I move

1:08:57that the town vote to approve the

1:08:58article is printed in the warrant.

1:09:00>> Thank you. Mr. Gelchic. Any report on

1:09:02hearings and things like that that we

1:09:03need to read?

1:09:04>> Yes. Uh we do have a oh a report of the

1:09:06different committees.

1:09:07>> Oh the whatever I think typically with a

1:09:09zoning article we have a report of your

1:09:12hearing sorry public hearings.

1:09:13>> Yes.

1:09:14>> Okay.

1:09:14>> Do we have that information?

1:09:16>> We have no planning staff here today so

1:09:18we don't have that information.

1:09:19>> Okay.

1:09:21[clears throat]

1:09:22>> Do we know if anyone else has that?

1:09:25>> No. All right.

1:09:32the select board voted 5 in favor.

1:09:37>> Thank you.

1:09:38Thank you. All right. So now, Mr.

1:09:40Yelch's presentation.

1:09:42>> Sure.

1:09:42>> Thank you.

1:09:43>> All right. So, this is a presentation

1:09:44that we've given a couple times already,

1:09:46so I want to kind of go through quickly

1:09:47so people can either get home or ask

1:09:50their questions. Uh, so we are proposing

1:09:52to amend the downtown zoning district.

1:09:55Uh, this went before last annual town

1:09:57meeting and was passed. However, we had

1:09:59an administrative error where the

1:10:00advertisement for the planning board

1:10:02hearing was not advertised in the town

1:10:04clerk's office for two weeks at it was

1:10:06only advertised for one week. And so,

1:10:08right now, this article is before the

1:10:10attorney general in Massachusetts who's

1:10:12looking at whether that is uh an issue.

1:10:15And we just figured it would be easier

1:10:17to put it on this town meeting, see if

1:10:19we can pass it uh properly with all the

1:10:21notifications done, and then we don't

1:10:22have to worry about the attorney general

1:10:24uh making any kind of decision. So

1:10:26that's where we are with this. So we can

1:10:28do next slide.

1:10:32So we had several plans that led to

1:10:34this. The strategic plan, the master

1:10:35plan, and the downtown plan. And all the

1:10:38the result of those three plans along

1:10:40with other activities that the planning

1:10:42board has done um helped us find changes

1:10:46to the downtown business district that

1:10:48uh we're presenting to you now.

1:10:53This is a review process. Uh this has

1:10:55been a long time in the process. We

1:10:56started back in 2024. Um and now we have

1:10:59had numerous outreach uh meetings,

1:11:03surveys. Um [snorts] planning staff has

1:11:05gone to downtown businesses. We've gone

1:11:08to um the farmers markets and we

1:11:10presented at fall town meeting uh annual

1:11:13town meeting. Um and we've had planning

1:11:14board hearings throughout this whole

1:11:16process.

1:11:18So this is the downtown uh that we're

1:11:21looking at and the summary of changes is

1:11:23it provides one clear downtown district.

1:11:25Right now we have downtown planning

1:11:27overlay district, the downtown business

1:11:28district and the industrial a district

1:11:30all in the downtown area. This would

1:11:32kind of put them all together into one

1:11:34district. Uh standardize the uses. It

1:11:36removes the outdated industrial zoning

1:11:38that's downtown. Um and then we also

1:11:41looked at the present uses and buildings

1:11:43and tried to match the zoning to what's

1:11:45already there. Um, and yep, sorry. Let

1:11:48me just go back real quick. Uh, and so

1:11:51one of the things that we wanted to

1:11:52point out was this. One of the main

1:11:54goals is to allow for more investment

1:11:56uh, opportunities for downtown business

1:11:58owners, property owners, uh, create more

1:12:00uses that are allowed by rights. So the

1:12:02the permitting is more um, streamlined

1:12:04and easier for everybody. Uh, and to

1:12:07have fewer non-conforming parcels.

1:12:09Non-conforming parcels are parcels that

1:12:10exist that don't conform to zoning. Uh,

1:12:12we have a ton of them in downtown. So

1:12:14this is just making those uh become

1:12:16conforming.

1:12:19So what is not changing as part of the

1:12:20zoning? We are uh not really changing

1:12:22the dimensional requirements. Um we are

1:12:25not allowing for taller buildings. The

1:12:27building height is uh of what was

1:12:29allowed in the existing zoning. Um we're

1:12:33not changing the requirements for

1:12:34review. Planning board is still review

1:12:36for some of them. We're actually making

1:12:36the requirements more stringent so the

1:12:38planning board has a little bit more

1:12:39control over those uses. Um, and the

1:12:42exist existing zoning requirements

1:12:44remain in place for a lot of the uses.

1:12:48So, uh, I'll just let you look at this.

1:12:51I'm not going to go through it. Pretty

1:12:52much, uh, mentioned all that already,

1:12:53but we're really trying to simplify the

1:12:55zoning. Sorry. We're really trying to

1:12:57simplify the zoning. Oh,

1:13:00simplify the zoning, make it easier for

1:13:02people to read, uh, and encourage

1:13:04reinvestment in the downtown. And I'm

1:13:06also supposed to report that the

1:13:07planning board voted to approve this

1:13:08change five to nothing.

1:13:10Sorry, town moderator.

1:13:13So, this is the current zoning. You can

1:13:15see the downtown playing overlay is in

1:13:17the hatched, the industrial is in the

1:13:19gray and sorry, in the purple. And then

1:13:22the business zoning is in the red.

1:13:24Residential is in yellow and parks and

1:13:27open space are green.

1:13:32So, this just shows how the building

1:13:33scales are not increasing. Everything is

1:13:35staying relatively the same. Existing

1:13:37downtown business is what we're just

1:13:38merging everything into.

1:13:40the next one. Uh and then this is

1:13:43aligning with existing um uses. So there

1:13:46has been concerns with the single family

1:13:49uh buildings that are in this district

1:13:52um that they could potentially be used

1:13:53for commercial properties, be torn down.

1:13:55Um and I just want to reiterate that

1:13:59those historic properties um are

1:14:02historic. They've been identified

1:14:03historic. They're listed on the

1:14:04Massachusetts Register. They're listed

1:14:06on the National Register. uh historic

1:14:08commission has the authority to put a

1:14:10demo delay on them and then not allow

1:14:12for their demolition. So, they are

1:14:14protected and zoning is not really going

1:14:16to change that. Um we're not looking to

1:14:19change their uses. We're not looking to

1:14:20change their exterior. We're just trying

1:14:22to give the downtown businesses and the

1:14:24downtown property owners a little bit

1:14:26more flexibility and and simplify the

1:14:28zoning.

1:14:33Uh, so things that are, we've been over

1:14:35this a couple times, but just for the

1:14:36people who might not be familiar with

1:14:38it, um, certain things that are

1:14:39non-conforming uses, uh, we've talked

1:14:41about the autoor oriented uses downtown.

1:14:44Those are not presently allowed in the

1:14:45zoning. They would not be allowed in the

1:14:47zoning that we're looking to pass, but

1:14:48they already exist. So, they can stay

1:14:50there until they either go out of

1:14:52business, sell their business, or change

1:14:54uses. Uh, they are not required to

1:14:57change anything they're doing. um they

1:14:59are a legally non-conforming use and so

1:15:02they are protected under zoning.

1:15:08Thank you.

1:15:10Um this is a little bit in the weeds. I

1:15:13don't want to get into this. I know

1:15:14people are uh itch itching to get to the

1:15:16next article. Um but this is just the

1:15:18general process. It's not changing.

1:15:19Planning board still has oversight.

1:15:20Design review board still has oversight.

1:15:22Inclusionary zoning requirements are

1:15:24still in place. Um the downtown design

1:15:26standards are not changing. and building

1:15:28permits are all still going to be

1:15:29required.

1:15:32And then these are some of the uses that

1:15:33we've um we've taken some uses that were

1:15:36more general in nature and split them up

1:15:37into more specific uses that would

1:15:40identify uh potential opportunities for

1:15:42business owners or anybody looking to

1:15:44move into West Bro and say, "Hey, this

1:15:45is a use that's allowed by right. I

1:15:47don't have to get any special permitting

1:15:48for it." Um, and some of those things

1:15:50are breweries and uh I'm blanking now,

1:15:53but some of these are more specific uses

1:15:56that are already allowed. We're just

1:15:58defining them a little bit more clearly.

1:16:04This is just some of the um

1:16:08existing properties downtown.

1:16:10Go to the next one.

1:16:13Same thing.

1:16:18And this is also getting into the weeds.

1:16:19What's a special permit versus site

1:16:21plan? Uh, one of the concerns in one of

1:16:23the previous iterations was the parking

1:16:25requirement and we've changed that. And

1:16:26that's another thing I should mention.

1:16:27The amendments that were made in the

1:16:29previous iteration at town meeting have

1:16:31been carried through for this. So that

1:16:32was making town houses a used by special

1:16:35permit that is now in here. Um, one of

1:16:37the other changes was a community

1:16:38development director found some errors

1:16:40in the naming of the district. So we

1:16:41corrected that. Uh so some of those

1:16:43smaller changes but everything that was

1:16:45before town meeting in annual town

1:16:46meeting is in here and then everything

1:16:48that was changed at annual town meeting

1:16:50has been carried through.

1:16:54This is just going into the the um

1:16:57height of the buildings and in the

1:16:59zoning it's done by stories versus feet.

1:17:01And so this is just a comparison of the

1:17:03downtown existing buildings and how they

1:17:05would meet the zoning criteria.

1:17:18Okay. Um, and then just two more points.

1:17:21And how much time do I have? Am I good?

1:17:24All right. Um, I'm sorry.

1:17:26>> 90 seconds. All right. I can make it in

1:17:2790 seconds. Um, so some of the other

1:17:29issues I had brought up the historic

1:17:31homes as a concern. We I feel like we've

1:17:33addressed that and are concerned about

1:17:35it as well. So, we're trying to make

1:17:36sure that those are protected. Uh,

1:17:38another concern is that this is related

1:17:40to the proposed rotary changes and it's

1:17:42not. Um, I think that mis

1:17:45misunderstanding comes from the preamble

1:17:47of this zoning which if I had it in

1:17:50front of me says uh, downtown business

1:17:54district is to promote greater

1:17:55flexibility, encourage creative

1:17:56highquality design for the redevelopment

1:17:58of retail, office, res, restaurant,

1:17:59residential and open space uses. It is

1:18:01further intended to promote and

1:18:02facilitate the redevelopment of key

1:18:04portions of downtown Westboro. Uh that

1:18:06is language that is already in the

1:18:07zoning. It's just carried forward from

1:18:09the depot. So that's not new language.

1:18:11It's not meant to indicate that this is

1:18:12related to the Rotary. It's not related

1:18:14to the Rotary at all. This is

1:18:15essentially changing the uses downtown.

1:18:17The Rotary is infrastructure and

1:18:18roadways. It's not controlled by zoning.

1:18:21Um so they're not linked at all. Um and

1:18:23I just wanted to clear up that potential

1:18:25misconception. Um, and then the final

1:18:27thing that I wanted to mention is uh

1:18:30important because it's something for the

1:18:32next article, but the um airport use is

1:18:36a use that's allowed in the industrial A

1:18:38district, which is currently downtown.

1:18:40This would remove the industrial A

1:18:41district from the downtown, change it to

1:18:42a downtown business where airport uses

1:18:44are not allowed. And um the uses that

1:18:47data centers are usually commonly

1:18:49defined under, it would be more

1:18:51restrictive under the BB district than

1:18:53the industrial district. uh some of them

1:18:55would not be allowed, other ones would

1:18:56be allowed by special permit. It's a

1:18:58more general um category. So there's

1:19:01other things that aren't data centers

1:19:02that would fit in there. So you don't

1:19:03want to let it completely

1:19:04[clears throat] be um prohibited, but

1:19:06there is more control under the downtown

1:19:07business versus the industrial A which

1:19:09is part of this change as well. And that

1:19:11was not part of this. It's just happy

1:19:12accident.

1:19:13>> Thank you, Mr. Gelchicitch. Um

1:19:16there are people standing here if uh if

1:19:18you want there are seats if you just

1:19:20want to come down and quietly do it. Um,

1:19:22so as you may know, if you're an

1:19:24old-timer, part of our tradition is that

1:19:26when an a proponent makes a 10-minute

1:19:28presentation, if people contact me ahead

1:19:31of time and say they would like to speak

1:19:32in opposition, I give them the same

1:19:34amount of 10 minutes. So, I believe we

1:19:36have a presentation from the opponents

1:19:39um who will also get their 10 minutes

1:19:41and then we will open it up for general

1:19:43discussion for, against, and otherwise.

1:19:45Um, so introduce yourself and then your

1:19:4810 minutes will begin.

1:19:50>> Thank you, Mr. Thank you, Mr. Roderator.

1:19:52Gary Saninerio, 208 Ruggle Street.

1:19:57As for whether or not the zoning bylaw

1:20:00has anything to do with the downtown

1:20:02rotary plan,

1:20:05I have a different take on that and my

1:20:07comments will be specific to how the

1:20:10zoning amendment relates to the downtown

1:20:12Rotary plan. It's fortunate that the

1:20:15amendment is again being presented

1:20:17before the town meeting. Even though

1:20:19this was passed previously, the proposed

1:20:21zoning amendment requires our strict

1:20:23scrutiny because new information really

1:20:25has come to light since the last town

1:20:28meeting.

1:20:29What new information? The downtown

1:20:32Rotary Peanut Plan.

1:20:35Next slide, please. This amendment would

1:20:38help to facilitate and implement the

1:20:40downtown plan. I don't think this was

1:20:42fully understood when this was presented

1:20:44at the last town meeting because zoning

1:20:47bylaws are quite complicated and

1:20:49difficult to understand

1:20:51even for attorneys.

1:20:53I say this as a real estate attorney

1:20:55practicing for over 40 years, but it is

1:20:59obvious to me now.

1:21:01Next slide, please. The downtown plan

1:21:04recommended the complete reconstruction

1:21:06of the rotary in a peanut shape. the

1:21:09alteration of the rotary gathering space

1:21:12and the removal and relocation of

1:21:14parking spaces in order to construct

1:21:17bike paths among other measures.

1:21:20The proposed plan was largely rejected

1:21:22by the public, especially downtown

1:21:25businesses.

1:21:27The bylaw would help facilitate the

1:21:29downtown plan. How does it do that? By

1:21:33creating uses that the plan is trying to

1:21:35encourage.

1:21:37The amendment can be used as an

1:21:39implementation tool. This could result

1:21:41in a full reconstruction of our historic

1:21:43downtown or be used as a means to

1:21:46accomplish that by implementing

1:21:49incremental changes over time.

1:21:53I have a number of just provisions that

1:21:55I'd like to point out that I feel are

1:21:57concerning

1:21:58and with the limited time um we'll just

1:22:01go to the next slide number four.

1:22:04The purpose

1:22:06um as was stated by the previous um pres

1:22:11in the previous presentation

1:22:13uh seeks to create an imaginative design

1:22:18that promotes redevelopment of major

1:22:20portions of downtown Westbrook. The key

1:22:23is redevelopment.

1:22:25This supports the downtown

1:22:26reconstruction plan of the current

1:22:28Rotary.

1:22:30[clears throat] Next slide, please.

1:22:33There's a number of other uh provisions

1:22:35in the bylaw uh that I'd like to point

1:22:37out. Section 4.7

1:22:40G, parking and bicycle requirements. The

1:22:44plan proposes parking changes and bike

1:22:46paths. The zoning amendment creates a

1:22:49parking facility use which could be a

1:22:52parking garage available to the public

1:22:55with or without a fee. The definitions

1:22:58of these are shown in your materials.

1:23:00They're on page 32, you'll see a

1:23:02definition for a parking facility, which

1:23:05could be a garage for which we could

1:23:09potentially have to pay to park at some

1:23:11point, as if, you know, we're in a city

1:23:14or we're in downtown Boston.

1:23:20The amendment also requires bicycle

1:23:22racks and covered bicycle storage spaces

1:23:24for some uses. These provisions could

1:23:27help accommodate the planned shift in

1:23:29how downtown space serves cars and

1:23:32bikes.

1:23:34Next slide, please.

1:23:37Parklets are also referenced in there

1:23:40again on that same page 32 in the

1:23:42definitions of the zoning bylaw. A

1:23:45public space in a curbside parking area.

1:23:47In general usage, parklets convert

1:23:49curbside parking spaces into seating or

1:23:52community space.

1:23:54That might sound nice, but it could be

1:23:57semi-permanent and again could be used

1:23:59to restrict or take away downtown

1:24:01parking spaces. This is another example

1:24:04of how the proposed bylaw changes would

1:24:06be used to facilitate the downtown

1:24:08improvement plan.

1:24:11Next slide, please.

1:24:15Shared transport stations. This would

1:24:18allow the rental of bikes, scooters,

1:24:21mopeds, and ebikes as part of a business

1:24:23operating a pickup and return station.

1:24:27Station definition and use rules could

1:24:29help put this part of the plan into

1:24:31effect. If you can just imagine how that

1:24:33would be in the downtown around our

1:24:36rotary, the highest area of traffic in

1:24:39the town. This would pose a danger and a

1:24:41nuisance for vehicular traffic and

1:24:44pedestrians alike.

1:24:47So, the downtown plan draws the

1:24:48blueprint for what an outside consultant

1:24:50recommended that our downtown should

1:24:52become. The zoning amendment adds

1:24:55various uses so that implementation of

1:24:58the plan can more easily turn the

1:25:00blueprint into reality.

1:25:04At one contentious meeting, the former

1:25:07town planner informed a shocked public

1:25:09that if government grants or other

1:25:11outside funding could be obtained, a

1:25:14town meeting vote would not be required

1:25:16to implement the plan.

1:25:19This might be your only opportunity to

1:25:20vote against that plan. I strongly

1:25:23recommend a no vote on this article.

1:25:26Thank you very much for your attention.

1:25:29Is that the is that? Now we move to the

1:25:31next part of this presentation. So it's

1:25:33still part of the 10-minute

1:25:34presentation. Allison. Okay,

1:25:36>> next slide.

1:25:37>> Name and address, please.

1:25:38>> Joanne Aramini, 7 Meadow Road.

1:25:40>> Thank you, Miss Armeni.

1:25:41>> We have been told these zoning changes

1:25:43are separate and distinct from the

1:25:44downtown project and the proposed Rotary

1:25:47changes. I don't believe they are. They

1:25:50are linked together, and the town's own

1:25:52downtown improvement plan tells us why.

1:25:55The final downtown improvement plan

1:25:57dated June 2026 states on page 48, the

1:26:01downtown improvement plan will require

1:26:03updates to land use and zoning

1:26:06regulations. Then on page 49, the report

1:26:09identifies the zoning strategies needed

1:26:12to accomplish the downtown plan. Those

1:26:14same strategies are in this zoning

1:26:16amendment. So let's be honest about what

1:26:18we're voting on. These zoning changes

1:26:20help create the framework for the

1:26:22downtown project which includes

1:26:24destruction of the Rotary. They are not

1:26:27unrelated. And that leads to what I

1:26:29believe is the most important issue

1:26:31here. By development. After attending

1:26:34and following planning board meetings

1:26:36for the past couple years, I've learned

1:26:38that by development are important words

1:26:41to understand. When something is allowed

1:26:43by right, it means if the developer

1:26:45meets the zoning requirements, the

1:26:47project can proceed. The planning board

1:26:49essentially has to allow the project

1:26:51even if it's not good for Westbro and

1:26:54even if the public doesn't want it. So

1:26:56that means every time we expand what is

1:26:59allowed by right, we reduce the ability

1:27:01of the town and the residents, us to say

1:27:04no to a project. We lose our voice. This

1:27:08zoning amendment increases and allows

1:27:10more by right uses. Look at all the

1:27:13zoning districts and the uses, the added

1:27:15uses on pages 22 to 26 in your warrant.

1:27:19There are a lot of W's there, which

1:27:21means all those noted uses within that

1:27:24district, including the many new uses

1:27:27can now be allowed by right if the

1:27:30applicable requirements are met. We are

1:27:32allowing by right development for new

1:27:34uses when we don't even know what those

1:27:36uses are all about or how they operate.

1:27:39And once, let me tell you, once we put

1:27:41those rights by rights into our zoning

1:27:44bylaws, it's very difficult to take them

1:27:46back. I've also learned about waiverss,

1:27:48another important word. If zoning

1:27:51requirements are not met by a right by a

1:27:54byite situation, the developer can still

1:27:56submit plans and ask the planning board

1:27:59for what is called a ra a waiver from

1:28:01any of the requirements. The developer

1:28:03could request a a waiver for greater

1:28:05building height, more density, whatever

1:28:08they need to make the project more

1:28:10profitable for them. And it's the

1:28:11planning board's job to either approve

1:28:13or deny those waivers. They don't have

1:28:15to approve them. We've already seen what

1:28:17can happen when developers request

1:28:19waivers when with zoning requirements.

1:28:22Recently, a developer requested about

1:28:24six or seven waivers for a nearly 400

1:28:27unit apartment complex. The planning

1:28:29board approved every single one of them.

1:28:32And now we're looking at a massive

1:28:33apartment complex at a complicated

1:28:36intersection at routes 9 and 135 with no

1:28:41traffic mitigation beforehand. How is

1:28:44that good for Westbrook? That should

1:28:45concern every one of us. Some of the

1:28:48uses in the zoning districts are noted

1:28:50as requiring a special permit such as um

1:28:53automotive businesses, row houses, and a

1:28:56parking facility. A special permit means

1:28:58a use is not automatically allowed by

1:29:01right. With a special permit is a public

1:29:03hearing and an opportunity for residents

1:29:06to voice concerns on the impact of a

1:29:08project. The planning board again can

1:29:10either approve or deny a special permit.

1:29:13They're not required to approve it. The

1:29:16special permit process is no guarantee

1:29:19the people's voices will be heard or

1:29:21listened to. Ask the residents on Park

1:29:23Street and the Walker Meadows community.

1:29:26They opposed the recent Starbucks

1:29:28drive-thru at 210 Turnpike Road. They

1:29:30showed up and spoke at every single

1:29:32public hearing on how they believed the

1:29:34project would affect the quality of

1:29:35their life. The special permit was still

1:29:38granted. This too should concern every

1:29:40one of us. This is about how much

1:29:43control we the voters of Westro want to

1:29:46have and keep over the future of West

1:29:48Bro. Town meeting has an opportunity

1:29:50tonight to protect our voice. This is

1:29:52not simply a technical zoning update and

1:29:55to simplify things. Zoning determines

1:29:57what can be buil built, where it can be

1:30:00built, and how much control we have over

1:30:02the future development of our town.

1:30:04Decisions today impact us for years to

1:30:06come. We've seen with the Amazon drone

1:30:08situation how today's zoning decisions

1:30:11and word interpretation, word

1:30:13interpretation on one word can become

1:30:16tomorrow's problems that impact our

1:30:18town. Please vote no note on this

1:30:20article and protect our right and our

1:30:21voice.

1:30:22>> Thank you. Thank you, Miss Armeni. Uh

1:30:25the 10 minutes is up, so I will make it

1:30:27clear. Um we have at least one person

1:30:29who want uh you can speak as a regular

1:30:31speaker when I get to you because the 10

1:30:33minutes is up. I let each of them run a

1:30:35little bit long. Um just to recap for

1:30:37those of you especially new to town

1:30:38meeting. So we've heard 10 minutes in

1:30:40favor, 10 minutes opposed. Um Mr.

1:30:42Gelchic indicated that the planning

1:30:44board voted five to nothing in support.

1:30:46So far, I've heard that the select board

1:30:48has voted five to nothing to support. I

1:30:51believe the finance committee voted

1:30:53seven nothing to support, but we've

1:30:55heard both sides. And now we go to you,

1:30:57the voters, to deliberate. So I see a

1:31:00woman standing at this microphone. Why

1:31:02don't you name, address, and are you

1:31:03speaking for against or asking

1:31:05questions?

1:31:05>> I look for 11 Central Street. I have a

1:31:08procedure question.

1:31:09>> A procedural question. Yes. So my

1:31:11understanding is this the previous uh

1:31:14text is in front has been flagged by the

1:31:16AG and is and we're waiting for her

1:31:18ruling. My question is

1:31:23which vote takes precedence when her

1:31:26ruling comes out if she rules for it. Is

1:31:29it the previous one that comes or is it

1:31:32today's?

1:31:33>> I will defer to town council because my

1:31:35answer

1:31:35>> and why are we not waiting for the AG

1:31:37ruling is the second question. Town

1:31:39Council. Would you like to address the

1:31:40question

1:31:40>> through you, Mr. Moderator?

1:31:42>> Yes.

1:31:42>> Good evening. Roger Smaridge from KP Law

1:31:44Town Council. Um, so the attorney

1:31:46general's office, their review of the uh

1:31:50article that was approved at the annual

1:31:52town meeting uh was um so what the with

1:31:57zoning what the attorney general does is

1:32:00review both the procedure uh and the

1:32:02substance of the article. and the

1:32:05attorney general flagged a procedural

1:32:07issue with the notice of the public

1:32:09hearing uh for the annual town meeting

1:32:12article and that was what they uh held

1:32:15the article for. Uh I have spoken with

1:32:18the assistant attorney general and they

1:32:20have reviewed the substance of what town

1:32:22meeting uh voted on and adopted uh at

1:32:26the annual town meeting and have not

1:32:28flagged any substantive issues uh and

1:32:31therefore aside from the procedural

1:32:33defect uh would have uh approved the

1:32:37bylaw that town meeting uh adopted back

1:32:41in March. So the only reason for that

1:32:44hold as I said is a procedural issue

1:32:46with the uh public hearing notice. It

1:32:49was not uh published the requisite 14

1:32:52days before the public hearing that the

1:32:54planning board held. Uh the attorney

1:32:57general is currently holding its

1:32:59decision uh on the annual article uh

1:33:03while you uh debate and decide how to uh

1:33:08move forward on the article tonight. And

1:33:11then once uh you vote tonight, if you

1:33:14approve the article here again tonight,

1:33:17uh the town will submit the uh forms and

1:33:21the bylaw to the attorney general for

1:33:24approval. They have represented to me

1:33:26that they will do an expedited uh review

1:33:29and presumably if there are no changes

1:33:32to the substance of the bylaw amendments

1:33:35and approval of them and the prior uh

1:33:40vote from the annual town meeting will

1:33:43technically get a disapproval for the

1:33:45procedural defect, but the town would

1:33:47obtain both decisions from the attorney

1:33:49general's office at the same time. one

1:33:52uh disapproving the annual town meeting

1:33:54action for the procedural defect and one

1:33:56approving tonight's action again

1:33:59assuming the town meeting adopts the

1:34:02same bylaw that it did uh the same

1:34:04amendments that it did back in March if

1:34:06there's any further substantive changes

1:34:08the attorney general's office would have

1:34:10to review those further does that answer

1:34:12your question

1:34:13>> so basically today takes proceedings

1:34:15>> yes today the question I asked

1:34:18>> sorry [laughter] for the legal

1:34:19explanation but yes today's will Troll.

1:34:23Thank you. Um,

1:34:26name, address, and are you speaking for,

1:34:28against, or asking questions? Uh, woman

1:34:30over here. We'll start here. Yeah.

1:34:32>> Karen Nunes, nine Boardman Street. I

1:34:34have two questions.

1:34:35>> What was your address again?

1:34:36>> Nine Boardman Street.

1:34:38>> Okay. Thank you. [clears throat] You

1:34:39have questions?

1:34:40>> Yes, two questions. How does this the

1:34:42bylaws change on the U affect the actual

1:34:46parking in the downtown area?

1:34:50And your second question,

1:34:51>> uh, what will these changes do to

1:34:54correct our the railroad underpass and

1:34:58what is town doing to correct that?

1:35:01>> Thank you. All right. So, you'll have

1:35:03All right. So, does anyone want to

1:35:04address how this zoning change affects

1:35:07parking? Mr. Yelch.

1:35:11>> So, there's a John Gelich, 50 Church

1:35:14Street. Um, there is a requirement for

1:35:15parking. So, it's going to require

1:35:17parking and that was one of the

1:35:18discussions we had at annual town

1:35:19meeting is that for certain uses there

1:35:21was no minimum parking. Now, there is

1:35:23and to wave that would be a special

1:35:24permit. Um, the under the under the

1:35:28train tracks issue is an MBTA issue and

1:35:30a mass issue that

1:35:31>> No, it's not an MBTA.

1:35:32>> Okay. No, please no back and forth.

1:35:34Let's let him answer and then I'll give

1:35:35you your followup.

1:35:36>> Thank you, Mr.

1:35:37>> I can't I can't answer if it's not an

1:35:39MBTA issue. So, um I assumed it was but

1:35:41it might not be. So I can't speak with

1:35:43authority.

1:35:43>> My question was how how are these bylaw

1:35:46changes going to or do they at all

1:35:48address address that that underpass? I'm

1:35:52not talking about the MBTA. What is

1:35:54>> these these bylaw changes are more

1:35:57focused on the uses

1:35:59>> and so they don't get into changing

1:36:02roadways. They don't deal with that at

1:36:05all.

1:36:06>> Okay.

1:36:07>> That's not what I would Okay. And I so I

1:36:10thank you for answering those questions.

1:36:12I hope everybody takes those into

1:36:14consideration and I respectfully ask

1:36:17that people would consider voting no for

1:36:19this. Thank you very much.

1:36:22>> All right. Do we have somebody know?

1:36:23Anybody want to speak in favor?

1:36:26Um we'll go over here the woman with the

1:36:29hand raised hand. Remember we're doing

1:36:31this a little differently this year. So

1:36:32we're going to go now. We're going to

1:36:33speak in favor.

1:36:35>> My name is Amy Dwire. Uh my business

1:36:37partner Dan Pierce and I own 10 uh

1:36:40Cottage Street and we live on 15 Blake

1:36:42Street. Uh I am in support of the

1:36:46changes. Uh it's a yes vote on article

1:36:497. Uh we've owned this property for

1:36:52about 10 years and we have tried to

1:36:54build on it countless times and the

1:36:57rules keep changing. So for us, we're

1:37:00looking for clarity on what can be

1:37:01built, how it can be built and how we

1:37:04get there. uh we have spent I don't know

1:37:07how much money trying to get there and

1:37:09again the rules keep changing which is

1:37:11very frustrating. We're not Toll

1:37:13Brothers, we're not PY, we're two

1:37:15hardworking people. Um just looking to

1:37:17add and beautify the downtown community.

1:37:19So we are asking for a yes vote in

1:37:21support of this um so we can add some

1:37:24residential housing to it.

1:37:26>> Thank you.

1:37:26>> Thank you. Um now I guess we'll go for

1:37:29uh anybody want to speak in opposition?

1:37:32I just have a question.

1:37:33>> The gentleman here, do you want to speak

1:37:35in opposition?

1:37:35>> I have a question.

1:37:36>> We have a question. Can I get the

1:37:37opposition, then I'll go to you?

1:37:39>> Thank you. Again, we're all learning

1:37:40this new process. Uh, M. Spring, would

1:37:42you like to go or would you like to

1:37:44>> It's either M or Mrs. Smith.

1:37:45>> I'm sorry.

1:37:46>> Thank you. One of us.

1:37:47>> Okay. Whichever one of you would like to

1:37:48go. I'll let

1:37:49>> You want me to go?

1:37:52>> Okay. Can somebody help lower the

1:37:54microphone for Miss Spring, please?

1:37:55Thank you.

1:37:57>> Even lower. There we go. That's great.

1:37:59Thank you.

1:38:01Okay.

1:38:07So, I wrote out what I I wrote out what

1:38:10I'm going to say.

1:38:10>> Okay. Your time begins now.

1:38:12>> I'm asking you to vote no to this

1:38:14article. On its face, it seems to be a

1:38:16housekeeping cleanup downtown zoning,

1:38:18but it's not. I'm personally glad that

1:38:20we have another chance to look at it.

1:38:21I'll confess I did not really look at it

1:38:23last spring. Um, it's much more

1:38:28than real not just a few little things

1:38:30buried in there that have nothing to do

1:38:32with cleaning up zoning.

1:38:35I want to talk about specifically

1:38:37parking and specifically the removal of

1:38:39parking. 20% of the town is a 60 or

1:38:43older and then you've got additional

1:38:44people who are mobility impaired and

1:38:46disabled and handicapped. The bylaw

1:38:49allows for a parking garage for

1:38:50parkletits and shared transport

1:38:52stations. All of these are hidden within

1:38:55that um by in the zoning bylaw and

1:38:59they're also buried items in the peanut

1:39:01rotary redesign.

1:39:03Parklets are outside sitting areas which

1:39:05work well in a nice warm climate but not

1:39:07in New England with only maybe four

1:39:09months we can sit outside and these

1:39:11parklets take up parking spots. We

1:39:12already have like Red Barn has their

1:39:14nice tables that are out there in the

1:39:15nice weather you can go sit down. Shared

1:39:17transport stations also take up more

1:39:19parking spots where you can get the

1:39:20ebike or scooter.

1:39:26And then we're going to have a parking

1:39:27garage, which you can be assured that we

1:39:29will be charged to park at because

1:39:31they're taking away parking spots. We

1:39:32still need places to park. So that means

1:39:35someone like me who's going to have to

1:39:36park in a parking garage so I can go get

1:39:38my cup of coffee or get some flowers,

1:39:40hairdresser, and and you know, they have

1:39:41that nice little dog store downtown now,

1:39:43too. I'm now going to have to park my

1:39:45car in the parking garage. And oh, by

1:39:47the way, while I'm walking on the

1:39:48street, on the sidewalk, I've now got to

1:39:50watch out for these ebikes and scooters

1:39:51whizzing by. Now, my daughter-in-law was

1:39:54walking to work in Boston. She's a

1:39:57nurse. She was walking to the hospital

1:39:59to be a night nurse, and one of these

1:40:01ebikes scooted by her, knocked her over,

1:40:03and she was hurt. Did that to one of us,

1:40:06one of these one of us older people. I'm

1:40:08on the ground with a broken hip or or a

1:40:10head cracked open. Sorry. So, all I'm

1:40:14saying is there are things hidden within

1:40:16this bylaw. I respectfully am asking the

1:40:19planning board if you really want to do

1:40:20a cleanup of zoning, do a cleanup of

1:40:22zoning. Don't have these other other

1:40:24things buried in there. And so, for that

1:40:26reason, I'm asking everybody to vote no

1:40:28on this article. let the planning board

1:40:30come back at the next town meeting with

1:40:31just a specific clean up the zoning

1:40:33downtown town so that the person that

1:40:36spoke before me who needs, you know,

1:40:38permission to be able to build, she can

1:40:40get that in a new zoning bylaw, but this

1:40:43is not the one that's going to do that.

1:40:44Thank you.

1:40:45>> Thank you, Miss P. I forgot to ask for

1:40:46your address.

1:40:47>> Oh, 12 years later.

1:40:48>> Thank you. All right, that was a that

1:40:50was a no. Now we'll go to a yes. Mr.

1:40:52Silverberg, were you going to speak in

1:40:53favor?

1:40:54>> Uh, there was a gentleman who had

1:40:55>> Oh, right. The questions. Sorry, I told

1:40:56Where was the person with the questions?

1:41:00He left. Okay. I hope it wasn't me.

1:41:04Okay. Uh if he comes back, we'll see

1:41:06him. If anybody wants to grab him,

1:41:08present it back in. Mr. Silverberg.

1:41:09We'll go to Yes, Mr. Silverberg.

1:41:10>> Mark Silverberg, 7 Weld Street. Uh I

1:41:13stand here as an individual, not a

1:41:15member of the select board. Uh I am

1:41:18disappointed that um certain people have

1:41:20decided to turn this into a referendum

1:41:22on the peanut or distractions

1:41:26related to the post road development or

1:41:28the Starbucks development. I mean I

1:41:31could I spent 16 years on the planning

1:41:34board so I know exactly what this zoning

1:41:36article does and it does not take

1:41:38control of the streets or the parking

1:41:40away from the select board. It does not

1:41:45make it any more likely that the peanut

1:41:49concept goes into effect.

1:41:52So, please don't confuse the two. What

1:41:55it does is it takes an overlay that was

1:41:57voted on 20 years ago, right? I was on

1:42:00the board when it was there, probably 15

1:42:03years ago.

1:42:05Right now, you have business zoning and

1:42:08you have industrial zoning. You can't

1:42:09put you can't put any residential

1:42:13uses into downtown unless you use the

1:42:16overlay, right? It takes the overlay.

1:42:19Since the overlay was passed, we've had

1:42:22three projects go through. One was a uh

1:42:25building where uh Chacha Beans is and

1:42:29two were the other two were really

1:42:31small. Let me put an apartment above an

1:42:34existing storefront. Right? What it does

1:42:37is it takes that overlay, makes it by

1:42:40right instead of special permit.

1:42:43It gets rid of the industrial zone,

1:42:46which I don't think we want any

1:42:47industrial uses downtown. Uh if someone

1:42:50can think of one, please let me know.

1:42:53Uh and it and it makes it more likely

1:42:56that a a commercial

1:42:59redevelopment

1:43:00happen because right now all you can put

1:43:02in is office buildings, right? And who

1:43:05wants an office building in this market,

1:43:07right? But now, but this zoning would

1:43:09make it easier and more understandable

1:43:12for a developer or a current land owner

1:43:14to do something on their property that

1:43:16would actually build value for the town,

1:43:20improve the streetscape, right? It's

1:43:23only going to affect private land

1:43:27owners. the planning board can make all

1:43:29the recommendations they want on the

1:43:32peanut or whether we should build a

1:43:34garage. You can't do any of that without

1:43:36coming to town meeting for funding. And

1:43:38the idea that we're going to get a grant

1:43:42that's going to pay for everything so we

1:43:44don't have to come to town meeting.

1:43:45Well, let me tell you, we're going to

1:43:47have to get if that peanut concept ever

1:43:51got through, you'd have to get easements

1:43:52and those would come to town meeting.

1:43:54Please conclude your remarks.

1:43:55>> You have your chance to comment and to

1:43:57vote. So don't confuse this zoning.

1:44:00Please vote for this zoning because it's

1:44:02a good change. I

1:44:04>> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Silver. The

1:44:06gentleman who uh who wanted the

1:44:08questions, did you want to ask your

1:44:09questions?

1:44:12If you can get to the microphone. Yeah.

1:44:13Can you just She's got a microphone. So,

1:44:15sorry I skipped you and then you had

1:44:17gone. So, yeah. Name, address, and

1:44:18you're have questions, right? Ask all

1:44:20your questions at once, please. Thank

1:44:21you.

1:44:21>> Uh Jacob Clap 11 Chanty Circle. I just

1:44:24wanted to know the the parking structure

1:44:26and some of those definitions. What of

1:44:28those definitions are already in our

1:44:30zoning bylaws and what are being added

1:44:33new?

1:44:34>> Is that your only question?

1:44:35>> That is my only question. Yes,

1:44:37>> Mr. Galchurn from Planning Board. Would

1:44:38you like to address that?

1:44:43>> Thank you.

1:44:44>> John Ger, 50 Church Street. Uh so in the

1:44:47booklet that you have the changes are uh

1:44:50marked in bold and in striketh through I

1:44:54believe in italics. So at the beginning

1:44:56of the article it says sorry if I'm

1:44:58making a lot of noise here.

1:45:01So at the beginning it says um deletions

1:45:05are shown in bold strikeout and addition

1:45:06in bold italics. So the definitions that

1:45:09are added and new are in bold italics

1:45:12and everything else that's not in bold

1:45:14is existing. Does that answer your

1:45:16question? Ready to go. Y

1:45:18>> thank you, Mr. Gilchic. Okay, so we've

1:45:20had one yes, one no, one question. Um I

1:45:24guess two questions now. Um we'll go

1:45:26back. Anyone want to speak against the

1:45:28motion?

1:45:31>> I do.

1:45:31>> Uh oh, right. Thank you. Sorry, Mr.

1:45:34Matthew. I forgot that you were on

1:45:35there. Thank you for getting my

1:45:36attention, Mr. Matthew.

1:45:37>> Thank [clears throat] you.

1:45:40Mike Matthew, 20 Andrews Road. With all

1:45:42due respect, Mark, I disagree with you

1:45:44wholeheartedly. With over 50 years of

1:45:47real estate sales and marketing

1:45:48experience specializing in Westbrow, my

1:45:51topic is zoning. And maybe Mark, you can

1:45:54bring that up, please. And its effect on

1:45:57property values. One of the many

1:45:58deterrents that negatively affects the

1:46:01value of a single family home is having

1:46:03an abuing or nearby property changed

1:46:05from residential use to business use.

1:46:08This factor alone can alter a a once

1:46:12very desirable neighborhood community

1:46:14into a less desirable one, therefore

1:46:17depre depreciating its appeal and market

1:46:19value.

1:46:20>> Yes. Wait a second. Point of order. Yes.

1:46:22Name, address, and what's your point?

1:46:25>> Yeah.

1:46:26>> Yeah.

1:46:34Uh I I I don't think seeing his slides

1:46:38is going to make an significant sign

1:46:40significant difference. So I'm going to

1:46:41give him his two and a half minutes.

1:46:43>> Thank you.

1:46:43>> Yeah.

1:46:44>> Article 7 is 20 pages long,

1:46:48[clears throat]

1:46:49similar to what was presented at the

1:46:50Marchtown meeting. I understand the

1:46:53various zoning uses very well. It's

1:46:55inherent as part of my profession, but I

1:46:58must say a person has to be a

1:46:59Philadelphia lawyer to make sense of

1:47:01this proposed resoning article. How can

1:47:04an individual with very little real

1:47:05estate or legal background understand

1:47:08the true full meaning of this proposed

1:47:10downtown resoning change? If there are

1:47:13two or three specific properties that

1:47:15contain current zoning issues, let's fix

1:47:18those individual properties instead of

1:47:20this proposed massive change to our

1:47:23beautiful and desirable downtown. By

1:47:25now, no matter what you've been told in

1:47:28the past, I believe everyone is well

1:47:30aware of the connection between the

1:47:32downtown resoning and the peanut Rotary.

1:47:34I propose we bury the idea of the Peanut

1:47:37Rotary for good. In closing, and to set

1:47:40the record straight, demand for small to

1:47:43medium-siz office or retail space in

1:47:45Westbrook, which I define as 7,500

1:47:47square feet or less, has been high, as

1:47:49evidenced by the very low vacancy rate

1:47:52for this type of space. Westbrow has a

1:47:54variety of businesses downtown, which

1:47:57appear stable and doing well. So, why

1:47:59change anything? Thank you. Vote no,

1:48:02please.

1:48:03>> Thank you, Mr. Matthew. Since you uh

1:48:05mentioned uh Mr. Silverberg by name. I'm

1:48:07just going to give him a moment to uh to

1:48:09make a rebuttal and then we'll go back

1:48:10to our standard discussion. Mr.

1:48:13Silverberg,

1:48:14>> is this on? Okay. Mark Silverberg, 7

1:48:16Weld Street. Just as a followup, I I

1:48:18have been appraising real estate for 34

1:48:21years, and I would say, what would you

1:48:24rather have next to your residential

1:48:26building? A gas station, a building with

1:48:29cell phone towers, or a nice mixeduse

1:48:32residential property? I I think you need

1:48:35to think about the specific location of

1:48:38these lots and what uses are there now

1:48:42and what could be there that would be

1:48:44better for downtown.

1:48:46>> Thank you, Mr. Silverberg. Looking for

1:48:48someone who'd like to speak in favor

1:48:49now. Anyone like to speak in favor? Uh,

1:48:53this gentleman's been in line longer.

1:48:54Uh,

1:48:56>> oh, are you you in favor? Oh, sorry, I

1:48:58didn't see you raise your hand. Yes.

1:48:59Name, address, and remarks in favor,

1:49:00please.

1:49:01>> Hi. Yes. Um, I am in favor. I do also

1:49:03have a couple questions.

1:49:04>> Uh name name and address.

1:49:05>> Mackenzie Tinen, 25 West Main Street. Um

1:49:08I'm going to try to get through this

1:49:09quickly. I have worked for a couple um

1:49:12planning board, zoning board um town

1:49:14halls. Um I know the difficulty of

1:49:16getting zoning passed and having

1:49:18specific language as clear as possible.

1:49:20Um it is very difficult to get zoning

1:49:23passed in general. Um however, this is

1:49:26in favor, but just questions. Um this is

1:49:29regarding a business district. Um I I do

1:49:32recognize and appreciate that there are

1:49:34historical properties downtown in

1:49:37residential zoning. Um but this does

1:49:39allow for zoning by right in the as a

1:49:43single family dwelling. Um so that would

1:49:46be question number one is uh what was

1:49:49the thinking regarding allowing that by

1:49:51right? Um

1:49:53uh I um also have looked at the previous

1:49:57zoning and recognized that the um the

1:50:00parking requirements are actually more

1:50:02stringent than what is shown in the

1:50:03current zoning. Um this requires multif

1:50:06family and mixeduse um off uh parking.

1:50:10Um I do have a question regarding the

1:50:13waiver for parking within 20.25 miles of

1:50:16the property. um this seems pretty broad

1:50:19and uh just regarding the um the

1:50:24downtown parking ban in the wintertime,

1:50:26I could see a potential impact there um

1:50:30as a waiver. Um in general though, I I

1:50:34understand the difficulties of small

1:50:36businesses being able to get into

1:50:37downtown and the more stringent we make

1:50:40things for small businesses, the more

1:50:42difficulty we actually get in having

1:50:44them in town. um allowing for some

1:50:47flexibility typically allows for these

1:50:48smaller businesses to build. I

1:50:50understand that there is also um a

1:50:52possibility that this means larger

1:50:54commercial buildings are added. Um but

1:50:56where vacant space is and it goes

1:50:58through a special permit process, I

1:51:00think that some oversight there is is

1:51:02valid. Um

1:51:04I know my time is up, but just

1:51:06>> do you want me to have them address

1:51:07those questions and then use your

1:51:09remaining 30 seconds for follow-up?

1:51:11>> Yes, please.

1:51:11>> Okay. Yeah, that's how we're trying to

1:51:13work. All right. So does first question

1:51:14had to do with what was the thinking

1:51:16behind allowing single family residences

1:51:18by right. Mr. Gelchicitch

1:51:20>> John Gich 50 Church Street. Uh so that

1:51:22was a use that was allowed by right

1:51:23already and we just didn't change it. So

1:51:25it's it's just left as is.

1:51:28>> Thank you. And then the next question

1:51:29had to do just with parking in general

1:51:31about the waiverss for parking and uh

1:51:34impact of downtown parking ban and I

1:51:36guess there's a distance required for

1:51:37parking. Any reflections on on uh the

1:51:40decision about the parking that's in the

1:51:41proposal? That's regarding the winter

1:51:44parking.

1:51:44>> Regarding winter parking. Okay. Thank

1:51:46you.

1:51:46>> So, actually that that prompts me to

1:51:47have a question to the DPW director if

1:51:49the um uh line spaces on streets are

1:51:54subject to winter parking bans.

1:51:58>> Yes.

1:51:59So, yeah. So, that so that I mean it

1:52:02would be treated the same way as any

1:52:03other parking on Main Street um if there

1:52:06was parking on the street. But what we

1:52:08have in the in the zoning is the and I

1:52:11think what you're referencing is the

1:52:12second paragraph that says in

1:52:15section G uh the planning board may wave

1:52:17this requirement in whole or in part

1:52:19upon a finding that the existing supply

1:52:20of publicly available parking is that

1:52:21what you're referencing?

1:52:22>> Yes.

1:52:22>> Yeah. So that was um done because there

1:52:25is parking downtown. Uh we do have on

1:52:28street parking. Whether it's sufficient

1:52:30or not, this requires the planning board

1:52:32to make a finding. And in in the permit

1:52:34process, a finding is basically a

1:52:36determination of facts that the planning

1:52:38board says we find that this is true.

1:52:40And so they have to make a finding and

1:52:42make a statement saying we find that the

1:52:44publicly available parking and justify

1:52:46it is sufficient to cover this. If they

1:52:49can't make that finding, they can't give

1:52:50that waiver. And so it has to be backed

1:52:52up with facts and it has to be backed up

1:52:53with evidence. And so in the situation

1:52:55where there is enough publicly available

1:52:57parking that maybe a new apartment that

1:52:59only requires two or three on on street

1:53:01parking spaces could utilize those

1:53:03spaces. That could be a situation where

1:53:04a waiver is granted. But if you had a

1:53:06larger multif family development that

1:53:08needed more spaces and it would take

1:53:10away from the existing on street parking

1:53:12spaces so that people couldn't just park

1:53:13there and they would be filled up all

1:53:15the time then that would not be that

1:53:16waiver would not be granted in that

1:53:18situation. Does that clarify?

1:53:20>> Okay. Miss Tin any would you 30 seconds

1:53:22for follow-up remarks or questions? Yep.

1:53:24Um, point of order. Yeah. If if I was

1:53:27looking to just make a recommendation to

1:53:29the town for changes to

1:53:33this article, is that possible?

1:53:35>> Uh, do you are do you want to make an

1:53:37amendment right now or are you going to

1:53:38make a suggestion that they come back

1:53:39and do something different? I'm curious

1:53:41to know.

1:53:42>> Um, I don't think I would have the

1:53:44proper language for on the spot. Okay.

1:53:47>> Um, but I would like to make a

1:53:49suggestion for

1:53:50>> Yes. your remarks, you can say what a

1:53:51suggestion would be, but if you don't

1:53:52have an amendment in writing that would

1:53:54be easy to implement, why don't we leave

1:53:55it as suggestions for further

1:53:57improvement?

1:53:58>> Okay. Thank you.

1:53:58>> No, we do can make those. Yeah. So, make

1:54:00those remarks now as quickly as

1:54:01possible, please.

1:54:01>> Yep. So, I would suggest the waiver of

1:54:05strict compliance to um dimensional or

1:54:08parking requirements in section 4.7,

1:54:13special permit authority and criteria.

1:54:16Um, I would recommend um in the

1:54:19definition section of parking facility

1:54:22to remove the language that would uh

1:54:24that says public at large with or

1:54:27without a fee. I would remove with um

1:54:30fee to make it without fee parking

1:54:33facility. Um and then the last

1:54:36recommendation would be for uh uh zoning

1:54:41uses single family dwelling to change

1:54:43that to no um in with a exception there

1:54:48being where um single family is

1:54:50pre-existing and or protected by any

1:54:52historic preservation district or

1:54:55otherwise historic preservation um

1:54:58objectives. Thank you, Miss Tin. And

1:55:00just as a procedural thing, I that was a

1:55:02lot of information. It was useful

1:55:03information. I would, if I were you, I

1:55:05would follow up with a letter to the

1:55:06planning board with what those details

1:55:08were just so they don't get lost in the

1:55:09shuffle.

1:55:10>> Okay. Thank you.

1:55:10>> Thank you. Um, okay. We've had uh I

1:55:12think three in favor. Anybody want to

1:55:14speak against of the people standing in

1:55:16line over here? Against or in favor

1:55:18questions or

1:55:20>> I just have a in point of information.

1:55:23>> Point of information. Yes. Name,

1:55:24address, and point, please.

1:55:26>> Pete Dunbeck, 8 Wayside Road. There was

1:55:28an earlier question about what the

1:55:31relationship of this vote to the

1:55:32previous vote and I don't think town

1:55:35council answered a negative vote

1:55:37tonight. What happens to the previous

1:55:40vote on a negative vote tonight?

1:55:41>> Okay. Thank you. Uh I I thought the town

1:55:43council said if a negative vote happens

1:55:45tonight that that's the end of it. But I

1:55:46will let him say if I interpreted it

1:55:48correctly or not. Mr. Smeaggel.

1:55:52>> Through you Mr. Moderator. Yeah. Uh if

1:55:55the body tonight votes uh no on this

1:56:00article, nothing new will get submitted

1:56:02to the attorney general and they will

1:56:04issue their decision disapproving the

1:56:07annual town meeting action for the

1:56:09procedural defect. So there would be no

1:56:12amendment to the zoning bylaw as a

1:56:14result.

1:56:16>> Thank you. Uh were you I know you've

1:56:18been waiting. Were you speaking of

1:56:20against?

1:56:21>> Against but uh Lauren's first though.

1:56:22>> Oh, were you there first? Ah, okay. Yes.

1:56:24Sorry, I didn't see you there. Name,

1:56:26address, and speaking against, please.

1:56:28>> Lauren Smith, 29 Church Street. Um, I'm

1:56:31opposed to the passage of this article.

1:56:33As a downtown resident, I'm very

1:56:34concerned that there are a number of

1:56:37residential properties in this in this

1:56:40revision, this resoning, um, that are

1:56:44being reszoned business. I'm not sure

1:56:46why. There's about 20 of them. Eight of

1:56:49them are single family homes that are

1:56:51not currently being used as any type of

1:56:52business. As far as I can tell, nobody

1:56:55has asked for them to be reszoned.

1:56:57They've just been lumped together in

1:56:59this new BB district downtown business.

1:57:03Um, I understand the need to clear

1:57:05things up and clean things up and get

1:57:06rid of the clarify the downtown overlay,

1:57:09but most of the properties in downtown

1:57:11Overlay are already business. They're

1:57:13already zoned business, downtown

1:57:15business, that BB designation. Um, so I

1:57:18don't understand the need to put in all

1:57:20these these other residential

1:57:21properties. I would ask that people vote

1:57:24against this uh this article and um that

1:57:27I would also ask that the um that the

1:57:29zoning or that the planning board revise

1:57:32uh any future language and remove the

1:57:35residential properties from business.

1:57:37And if if the purpose is to clean up and

1:57:40clarify language, then do that, but

1:57:42leave the residential properties alone.

1:57:45Thank you.

1:57:46>> Thank you, Miss Smith. All right. So,

1:57:47we've had at least three in favor, three

1:57:49opposed. Is there anyone who just has

1:57:52any questions?

1:57:54Uh, yes, Mr. Tajin. Question, name,

1:57:57address, and question, please.

1:57:58>> James Tasten, 225 West Main Street. My

1:58:01question relates to the planning board

1:58:04hearing. Was it announced at the meeting

1:58:06um when the those meetings were held and

1:58:09the dates of the votes? I think that's

1:58:11required that it be part of the record

1:58:13and I just want to clarify that.

1:58:15>> Thank you, Mr. Tajin. Uh, I asked and

1:58:17they said there wasn't anyone from the

1:58:19planning board staff to do that. So,

1:58:20they reported their recommendation. Can

1:58:22you report the dates of your hearings in

1:58:25case it's required so we don't have

1:58:26another procedural problem? Thank you,

1:58:28Mr. Tajin. [clears throat]

1:58:30Mr. Gelchic,

1:58:33>> yeah, I'd have to go through my calendar

1:58:34and just see when we did it. I don't

1:58:35have it at the top of my

1:58:37>> I don't I'd have to go through my

1:58:38calendar and see when we have it. I

1:58:39don't have it at the top.

1:58:39>> All right. Could you look that up while

1:58:41we let other people speak and then we'll

1:58:43see if we can get that on the record.

1:58:44Um, so I guess we'll go back. Uh, we

1:58:47heard somebody opposed. Anyone in favor

1:58:49of the people say? Yes, sir. Name,

1:58:51address, and your point, please.

1:58:53>> Yes. Good evening. My name is Eric Wait,

1:58:557 Franklin A. If you recall, about 10

1:58:58years ago, we um turned down the idea of

1:59:00spending $50,000 to tear down the house

1:59:03across from the library because we need

1:59:05more parking. I've been coming to town

1:59:07meeting for 25 years. We have done

1:59:09parking studies. There is ample parking

1:59:12downtown. I want you to reflect in your

1:59:14own lives. When's the last time you

1:59:16tried to go downtown and you had to turn

1:59:18around because you couldn't find a spot?

1:59:21I go to uh Red Barn sometimes and I'm

1:59:23the only customer there and there are

1:59:25three cars parked out front. I biked Red

1:59:28Barn. Those three cars are the employees

1:59:30of Red Barn or someone nearby. If

1:59:33parking was so intense, I imagine

1:59:35there'd be some conversation between the

1:59:38owners and the employees to could you

1:59:40park a little further away and walk the

1:59:4280 or 100 yards or feet. Right? So there

1:59:45is this is a this is a boogeyman. The

1:59:47idea that um parking is free is also a

1:59:50fallacy. If I were to take two couches

1:59:52from my home and drag them onto the

1:59:54street in front of my house and leave

1:59:55them there, people [clears throat] be

1:59:56what are you doing putting that on the

1:59:58street? We all pay for this on street

2:00:00parking. You pay by building the tar,

2:00:03plowing it, cleaning it, fixing it.

2:00:06Right. If down the road there ever is a

2:00:08parking garage, I imagine it'd be

2:00:10something that they have in downtown

2:00:12Marboro. They've got two garages not far

2:00:14apart and there is no fee for those

2:00:17parking garages and I'd say that some of

2:00:20the businesses there benefit from those.

2:00:22[clears throat] So, if it's just about

2:00:23parking, if that's the only thing that's

2:00:25going to have you say no to this, right?

2:00:28Again, think deeply about the last time

2:00:30you went downtown and you couldn't find

2:00:31a spot. I'm not talking about the

2:00:33closest spot to where you're going.

2:00:35Talking about a spot in the vicinity of

2:00:37where you want to go. I rise in support

2:00:39of this. Thank you.

2:00:40>> Thank you, Mr. Wait. Um, anyone of the

2:00:43people standing want to speak against?

2:00:46Yes. You, Mr. Barry?

2:00:48>> Yes.

2:00:48>> Yeah. Name, address, and your remarks,

2:00:50please.

2:00:50>> Sure. Uh Kevin Barry, 8 Indian Pond

2:00:52Road. Mark, can you bring up the last

2:00:54slide on that opposition um presentation

2:00:56that we had, please? I'll use at the

2:00:59end. Um I am speaking up uh against uh

2:01:02this uh proposed zoning bylaw change and

2:01:04just reiterating what um the opposition

2:01:06uh presentation gave to you. Um in

2:01:08essence, this is not just simply

2:01:10simplifying the downtown uh area. It is

2:01:12making some good progress, but it's

2:01:14expanding. And that's what kind of it

2:01:16comes down to. And I think two things

2:01:18come into equation. some some phrases

2:01:20are this is basically a wolf in sheep's

2:01:22clothing as uh Carolyn had brought to

2:01:24attention and mentioned and kind of

2:01:26chicken before the egg. In essence,

2:01:28these plans or the the the zoning bylaws

2:01:31are basically in in essence bringing a

2:01:34more increased development of the

2:01:36downtown area and importantly increasing

2:01:38a higher density of housing within the

2:01:40Rotary area as well as the gateways. Um

2:01:43the very last slide that has actually

2:01:44the there's a map I think there you go

2:01:46kind of a little small to see. I'll I'll

2:01:48refer to that. So in essence, think of

2:01:49if you've been driving around, you

2:01:50notice Framingham, you see Marorrow, you

2:01:52see Welsley, you see these behemoth uh

2:01:55multif family developments. That is what

2:01:57this is bringing forth in the long game.

2:01:59Bottom line, um it's results from two

2:02:02different um studies that were done.

2:02:04There was a downtown development plan,

2:02:05which the town spent $110,000 for. This

2:02:07is the crux of what this was for, and as

2:02:09well as a downtown improvement plan that

2:02:11we just went through, the peanut design

2:02:13that was $384,000.

2:02:14So, you're talking over $500,000, no

2:02:17shovel to ground for this and for

2:02:18paperwork and for stuff. Um, again, this

2:02:22the essence of this bylaw changes was

2:02:24pushed by a former planning director.

2:02:26Someone didn't live in this town has

2:02:28moved on. So, we in essence feel the

2:02:30long-lasting implications that are

2:02:31driven by this. So in essence, what's

2:02:34happening is it's increasing the byright

2:02:36development and reduces the ability of

2:02:38us for special permits for us to object

2:02:40if it's something that we see that's in

2:02:42deference to detrimental to downtown

2:02:44whether it be town officials or

2:02:45neighbors that we can't bring this

2:02:46forth. So if you notice on that map, all

2:02:48those orange buildings are all the new.

2:02:50So when it was made reference that um

2:02:52maybe you don't like to see one or two

2:02:54uh different automotive places, well

2:02:56guess what? All 12 of the existing

2:02:58locations are out of this picture. All

2:03:00those orange buildings are multif family

2:03:02housing development and some retail. So

2:03:04what's going to happen is this gets

2:03:05increased more housing and development.

2:03:08What happens? More traffic. Again, I

2:03:10reference Framingham. I reference

2:03:11Needam. I reference other towns. What

2:03:13happens then is traffic. And what goes

2:03:16next is the fall of the rotary. So it

2:03:18starts with this and moves to that. So

2:03:20it does it is related. No matter what

2:03:22they say, that's what's going to happen.

2:03:23So please vote uh in defense of this,

2:03:27please. Thanks.

2:03:28>> Thank you, Mr. Gelich. Would you like to

2:03:30report on the hearings?

2:03:31>> Yes. Uh, so we had the public hearing on

2:03:33October 6th and I needed to look up the

2:03:35uh notification in the paper dates and

2:03:37it was advertised in the Worcester

2:03:39Telegram and Gazette on September 11th

2:03:41and September 18th.

2:03:45>> Is that it? That that is that all the

2:03:48hearing information?

2:03:49>> Yes.

2:03:49>> Okay, great. Thank you. Uh, okay. Thank

2:03:51you very much. Um,

2:03:54uh, you're waving your hand here. Uh,

2:03:56it's time to hear. Uh, what do you want

2:03:58in favor against her?

2:03:59>> Move the question.

2:04:01>> Okay. Name and address, please.

2:04:03>> Richmond.

2:04:05>> Dell Richmond has moved the question.

2:04:07And those for you newcomers, the moving

2:04:09the question means it's a motion to

2:04:11terminate debate. That in and of itself

2:04:13is not debatable. But I will tell you,

2:04:15we're going to vote now, but we're not

2:04:17voting on we're not voting on this. We

2:04:20are going to vote simply on whether you

2:04:22want to hear continued debate. So, if

2:04:25you think you've heard all the questions

2:04:26raised, you've heard an equal amount or

2:04:28so of pro and con, if you want to

2:04:30terminate debate and move straight to a

2:04:32vote on the question, this requires a

2:04:34twothirds vote. So, we're not voting on

2:04:36that. We're voting just on whether you

2:04:38want to hear more deliberation.

2:04:40Got it?

2:04:42>> All right. So, all right. So, Mark, to

2:04:44make it easier, could you turn that off?

2:04:48Okay. We're voting on whether we're

2:04:50terminating debate, which means that

2:04:52we're going to go straight to voting on

2:04:53the question. But this is just to

2:04:55whether you want me to call on another

2:04:56person to talk or not. Okay.

2:05:02>> What?

2:05:03>> Yes. I will explain. So when the light

2:05:05goes green, pressing one is a vote in

2:05:08favor of terminating debate. Pressing

2:05:11two is a vote in opposition. And if

2:05:13twothirds of you say press one, we will

2:05:16go straight to the main motion. Got it?

2:05:20>> Okay. When the light goes on, we are now

2:05:22acting on Mr. Richmond's motion to

2:05:24terminate debate. Pressing one is a vote

2:05:27to stop debate. Pressing two is to

2:05:29continue debate. Voting has begun.

2:05:52Voting has ended.

2:05:57Oh, you're just calculating.

2:06:00Okay, we have 496 in favor and 56

2:06:04opposed. That is more than a twothirds

2:06:06vote. Debate has been terminated.

2:06:08Please, no clapping. Let's keep going.

2:06:10Mark, please put the motion back on.

2:06:12Okay, we now are acting on Mr. Gelchic's

2:06:15main motion. This is a zoning article.

2:06:18Mr. Gelchic moved to approve the article

2:06:21as printed in the warrant. It's a zoning

2:06:23article. It requires a twothirds vote.

2:06:25Pressing one is in favor of Mr.

2:06:28Gelchic's motion, which is to make those

2:06:30changes in the booklet. Voting two is a

2:06:33vote in opposition. It requires

2:06:35twothirds of you voting yes. When the

2:06:38green when they've reset the system and

2:06:39the green light goes back on, voting

2:06:41will begin. So, voting is begun.

2:06:43Pressing one is in favor of Mr.

2:06:45Gelchic's motion, which was to make the

2:06:47changes printed in the booklet. Voting

2:06:50two is in opposition. It requires a

2:06:53twothirds vote. Voting has begun.

2:07:15Voting has ended.

2:07:18We have 212 in favor and 329 opposed.

2:07:23The motion is defeated.

2:07:26[applause]

2:07:28Thank you. We now move to the final

2:07:30article on tonight's warrant, article 8,

2:07:33dealing with amending the general bylaws

2:07:35by adding an article 34.

2:07:37>> Mr. moderator, I have a procedural

2:07:39question. Perhaps

2:07:39>> procedural question. Yeah, just a

2:07:41second. Name and address, please.

2:07:43>> Robert Gilmore, 355 Water Street.

2:07:45>> Mr. Gilmore.

2:07:46>> Yes. Um, so dur during all I'm trying to

2:07:49figure out I'm trying to negotiate our

2:07:51way through these new procedures and um

2:07:54if so, for example, if someone has a

2:07:57question like, oh, I want I want to move

2:07:59the question.

2:07:59>> Mhm.

2:08:00>> And you're asking for, oh, okay, I want

2:08:03to hear people in favor. I want to hear

2:08:05people opposed. I want to hear people

2:08:07who have questions. I I appreciate that.

2:08:09I get that. But when are we permitted to

2:08:14do things like move the question?

2:08:15>> Okay. I thought I mentioned it briefly,

2:08:17but I know I was speaking fast and I may

2:08:18have forgotten. Any of the speakers in

2:08:20any of the categories may choose to make

2:08:23an amendment or to move the question.

2:08:24The only thing special about moving the

2:08:26question is you can't do it after a

2:08:28speech. So, if I recognize you and it's

2:08:30the only thing you do and if I determine

2:08:32there's been sign sufficient debate, we

2:08:33can move the question. I will try to

2:08:35clarify that next time.

2:08:36>> Okay. Thank you.

2:08:37>> Thank you. With that said, back to

2:08:40article nine, Mr. Kio.

2:08:43>> Sorry, article eight. Sorry,

2:08:47I was not trying to agitate all of you

2:08:49who are here for article 8. That was a

2:08:52legitimate mistake because I was looking

2:08:54at a different piece of paper. Article

2:08:56eight dealing with dealing with amending

2:08:59the general buys laws article adding an

2:09:01article 34 aircraft on man. Mr. Kio.

2:09:04Okay.

2:09:05>> Thank you, Mr. Moderator. Does everybody

2:09:06have the print out? From upfront, it has

2:09:09the details of the bylaws. We are going

2:09:12to discuss them tonight.

2:09:14I mention it because the motion makes

2:09:18one small amendment to what is in your

2:09:20hand.

2:09:24Uh Sean Kio5 Yorkshire Circle. I move

2:09:27that the town vote to amend the general

2:09:29bylaws to add a new article 34 that

2:09:32regulates unmanned aircraft and unmanned

2:09:35aircraft systems as set forth in the

2:09:38handout entitled proposed article 8

2:09:41general bylaw article 34 unmanned

2:09:44aircraft systems select board October

2:09:4719th 2026 version provided however that

2:09:53the term public UAS and definition

2:09:57thereof in section two of such handout

2:10:01shall be stricken.

2:10:03So partway down the first page here it

2:10:06is the one the fifth comment in section

2:10:10two where it references public UAS. We

2:10:13had previously removed

2:10:15uh references to that in the rest of the

2:10:17document. So that definition is no

2:10:19longer necessary. Okay. So that is the

2:10:22one amendment proposed.

2:10:25The intent of this bylaw is to regulate

2:10:27unmanned aircraft in Westboro subject to

2:10:31review by the attorney general and the

2:10:33mass do. A yes vote will establish

2:10:37regulations for unmanned aircraft while

2:10:40a no vote will leave the bylaws

2:10:42unchanged with no regulations specific

2:10:46to unmanned aircraft. The outcome of

2:10:49this vote will not directly determine

2:10:51whether any permitting application, site

2:10:54plan application, or zoning appeal

2:10:56currently pending may be granted or

2:10:59denied by the applicable town official

2:11:01or board.

2:11:03The town previously posted a draft dated

2:11:06October 16th, 2026.

2:11:09Please note that the motion refers to

2:11:11the handout dated today which has been

2:11:14updated primarily to correct grammatical

2:11:17errors and numbering inconsistencies.

2:11:21And with this our town manager will

2:11:24present on this article.

2:11:27>> Thank you Mr. Kio. Allison and Kristen

2:11:29you can start the 10 minutes for and

2:11:31Christy starts. Okay. Thank you.

2:11:49Thank you. [clears throat] Um the

2:11:51purpose of the presentation is to just

2:11:53talk about the content of the bylaw in

2:11:55general and also the process um for its

2:11:58review.

2:12:01What we wanted to start out by doing is

2:12:02to talk about the difference between

2:12:04general bylaws, which is what's before

2:12:06you tonight, and zoning bylaws, as we

2:12:08just discussed under article 7. Uh, a

2:12:10general bylaw is governed under broader

2:12:13constitutional home rule than a uh

2:12:15zoning bylaw, which governs land use. A

2:12:19zoning bylaw divides the town into

2:12:21specific districts. So, when we're

2:12:23talking today, we're not talking about

2:12:26allowing drones in certain districts or

2:12:28certain areas because we're we're using

2:12:30the general bylaws uh to govern unmanned

2:12:33aircraft. Uh general bylaws have to be

2:12:36approved by the attorney general and

2:12:38they don't go into effect until until

2:12:40that approval. um this particular bylaw

2:12:43because it has to do with um with

2:12:46aircraft, it actually is also needs to

2:12:48be approved by the mass aeronautics

2:12:50division which we'll talk a little bit

2:12:52more about. A general bylaw does not

2:12:54have grandfathering provisions. So it's

2:12:57applicable to everyone. Um though there

2:12:59it may be vulnerable to regulatory

2:13:01taking claims. That's different than a

2:13:03zoning bylaw. Um which is which allows

2:13:06uh existing uses to be grandfathered

2:13:09under a zoning bylaw. And then the

2:13:11general bylaw requires a majority vote

2:13:13as opposed to the zoning bylaw which

2:13:15requires the twothirds majority vote on

2:13:17most zoning bylaw changes.

2:13:22Uh there's also um there's also

2:13:25authority under the FAA. Uh so there's a

2:13:28federal preeemption. The FAA regulates

2:13:30airspace. So when you're looking through

2:13:32the bylaw, you'll note that we're

2:13:34focusing more on um the ground level

2:13:36operations of drones. We're not uh

2:13:39regulating airspace because we know that

2:13:41that is under the FAA, under federal

2:13:43regulation, is not something that

2:13:44locally we can regulate or control. Um

2:13:48we cannot control flight paths or air

2:13:50traffic rules and um we can but we do

2:13:54have the general bylaws and we also have

2:13:56the ability to uh regulate privacy under

2:13:59applicable laws and nuisance rules under

2:14:02applicable laws.

2:14:07No, she's not done yet.

2:14:08>> Um, this slide here shows the process to

2:14:11date. So, as most of you probably know,

2:14:14on August 18th, this uh the prime air

2:14:17application was presented to the select

2:14:19board. Um, and then it moved to the

2:14:21planning board for a site plan review

2:14:23process. There was an appeal of the

2:14:26zoning enforcement officer's decision on

2:14:28made on September 25th which has stopped

2:14:32the um site plan application at this

2:14:34point and is moving it to the zoning

2:14:36board of appeals um for them to make a

2:14:38determination on that appeal. If the

2:14:40zoning board of appeals um decides to

2:14:43overturn the decision of the zoning

2:14:45enforcement officer then the process for

2:14:48that application would go through the

2:14:50zoning board of appeals for a special

2:14:52permit.

2:14:54The select board has uh the select board

2:14:57has no authority under those local land

2:15:00use boards. However, has offered comment

2:15:02to the planning board as well as the

2:15:04zoning board of appeals. Um they have

2:15:06also been working to put this general

2:15:08bylaw together in front of you for the

2:15:10town meeting um and been working with

2:15:13Mass Blue Skies which is a local group

2:15:15who is also concerned about this issue.

2:15:19On November 2nd, the zoning board of

2:15:21appeals will hear the uh the appeal

2:15:24application.

2:15:28So, the purpose of the proposed bylaw is

2:15:29to establish rules to protect public

2:15:31safety, privacy, and quality of life.

2:15:34It's to address noise and nuisance and

2:15:36property use concerns, establish rules

2:15:38for commercial drone ground operations,

2:15:41and then also define local authority

2:15:43within state and federal law.

2:15:45As you can see here, there are multiple

2:15:48uh aspects of this general bylaw. The

2:15:50select board uh has has heard your

2:15:52concerns about privacy, um about a

2:15:55drone's potential ability to record or

2:15:58take photographs,

2:16:00um about harassment. So, there are

2:16:03several items within these general

2:16:04bylaws that speak to that. It addresses

2:16:07noise and nuisance, uh neighborhood

2:16:09impacts, emergency response. So, we do

2:16:13use emergency response drones through

2:16:15our police and fire departments and so

2:16:17there's an ability to continue to do

2:16:18that under this bylaw. Um, and then

2:16:21there also creates a employee and

2:16:23pedestrian safety

2:16:25150 foot buffer around parking areas.

2:16:32Some exceptions. Um, it is allowing

2:16:35drones to continue to do inspections.

2:16:38Um, we know that the drones are used

2:16:40often in real estate, for example, um,

2:16:43to look at roofs for maintenance and do

2:16:45other photography. So, that is still

2:16:46permitted under the spy law. It also

2:16:50permits specified authorized municipal

2:16:52and community media activities. So, an

2:16:54example of that is Westboro TV that

2:16:56often will use a drone to receive

2:16:58footage of the town. And it sets

2:17:00conditions for drone activity on town

2:17:02property, which is fully available to

2:17:04the select board to regulate under the

2:17:06general bylaws. And it also recognizes

2:17:09limits on local regulation of aviation.

2:17:11So, as we were creating this bylaw,

2:17:13understanding there could be federal

2:17:15preeemption, trying to um to make sure

2:17:17that we're putting uh rules together

2:17:20that are allowed under the FAA.

2:17:24The enforcement of the bylaw is by the

2:17:25select board or police department or an

2:17:27authorized agent. The proposed penalty

2:17:30is $300 per offense, which is the most

2:17:33that we can find per the law. Um, it

2:17:36also allows the select board to set up

2:17:38complaint procedures and law enforcement

2:17:41mechanisms and then focus on local

2:17:43conduct, property use, and community

2:17:45impacts.

2:17:47As I mentioned earlier, this bylaw, if

2:17:50it's approved tonight, has to go through

2:17:52a two-step process in at the state

2:17:54level. So, one is the attorney general

2:17:56review. Uh, they look to see if it's if

2:17:59there's any restriction, if there's

2:18:01anything within the regulations that

2:18:02conflicts with Mass General law or the

2:18:04constitution. and then the mass

2:18:06aeronautics division will consider

2:18:08whether or not the bylaw conflicts with

2:18:09those state or federal aeronautics laws.

2:18:12Um this bylaw will not become effective

2:18:14until both of those review processes

2:18:16happen and both the attorney general and

2:18:19mast u issue their decision of approval.

2:18:22Um, we have had bylaws in the past that

2:18:25have not been fully approved by the

2:18:27attorney general's office and so it is

2:18:29possible that they would ref they would

2:18:30approve only portions of the bylaw and

2:18:33that did not require it to come back to

2:18:35town meeting. It would just be stricken

2:18:36from the final bylaw.

2:18:39And with that, um, I guess we'll take

2:18:42>> Thank you, Miss Williams. Um

2:18:44before we move on to uh deliberation, um

2:18:47you'll note in your booklet that the

2:18:49select board and the finance committee

2:18:50said they were going to withhold their

2:18:52recommendation until uh the town

2:18:54meeting. I'm going to start with asking

2:18:56the finance committee if they've taken a

2:18:57vote on recommendation yet.

2:19:00>> You want to report on it or you want

2:19:01tell it me and I'll you haven't taken it

2:19:03yet.

2:19:04>> You want to listen to

2:19:05>> You're going to listen. Okay. All right.

2:19:07All right. So, they're going to listen

2:19:08to the discussion and then take a vote.

2:19:10Has the select board taken a vote yet

2:19:11that they'd like to report on?

2:19:16>> The select board. I'd like to report out

2:19:18uh the select has voted 5-0 in support.

2:19:21>> 5-0. Thank you. Um and we'll wait to

2:19:23finance committee get my attention once

2:19:25you uh decide if you want to take a

2:19:26vote. Okay. Um so at at this point I'm

2:19:29going to uh recognize Raj Jane to speak

2:19:32in favor and then we're going to look

2:19:34for either opposition or questions and

2:19:36we'll see how it goes. I just want to

2:19:37let you know before Mr. Janeos, the

2:19:39reason we're not hearing an opposition

2:19:40presentation is I was not approached by

2:19:42any group that wanted to give one. So,

2:19:43it's not that they're being left out.

2:19:45It's that I didn't get requested for

2:19:47one. Mr. Jana name moderator Ro Jane 17

2:19:51Piccadilly Way. I'm speaking tonight on

2:19:54behalf of Mass Blue Skies, a grassroots

2:19:57coalition of many hundreds of Westboro

2:19:59residents growing by the day opposed to

2:20:02commercial delivery drones in Westboro.

2:20:05First, I want to thank the select board

2:20:07for their active collaboration with Mass

2:20:09Blue Skies to develop article 8 bylaw

2:20:12that is robust and has teeth and has a

2:20:15real chance at stopping commercial

2:20:17delivery drones in Westboro.

2:20:20For those who attended the select board

2:20:22meeting a couple of weeks ago at Mil

2:20:23Pond School, you know that it was a

2:20:25pivotal moment. More than 200 people

2:20:28packed the auditorium and spoke

2:20:29passionately, articulately, and

2:20:32universally in opposition to delivery

2:20:34drones. To the chairman's credit, he let

2:20:37every single one of them speak. At the

2:20:40end of the meeting, the select board let

2:20:41us know that they heard us loud and

2:20:43clear, and their actions since then have

2:20:45backed that up. So, on behalf of the

2:20:48town and the mass blue skies, thank you

2:20:51to the select board.

2:20:53There is no question where Westboro

2:20:55residents stand on this issue. Online

2:20:57surveys, not scientific, show more than

2:21:0090% in opposition. The reasons are many:

2:21:03noise, safety, public nuisance,

2:21:05disruption, visual blight, privacy, on

2:21:09and on. I want to describe the actual

2:21:12experience of the drone proposal made by

2:21:15Amazon.

2:21:16a five foot and a half by five foot

2:21:19drone weighing 80 pounds with six

2:21:21rotors. 1,000 round trips per day.

2:21:25That's 2,000 trips over Westboro. One

2:21:27outgoing, one incoming. Meaning 2,000

2:21:31takeoffs and landings combined per day.

2:21:36That comes out to three landings or

2:21:39takeoffs per minute during daylight

2:21:42hours. These 80 lb vehicles go

2:21:44vertically up to 200 feet and speed more

2:21:47than 70 mph over rooftops. When it

2:21:50reaches the destination property, it

2:21:52hovers and slowly descends to 13 ft

2:21:55above the property at your neighbor.

2:21:57Then it drops a package of up to 5 lbs

2:22:01onto the ground. As we all know, yards

2:22:03run together. As we all know, children

2:22:05and pets run between yards. The thought

2:22:08of this is inherently unsafe.

2:22:11And what about the impact to a

2:22:13buttersis? Cold Harbor Brewing Company

2:22:15with its outdoor dining area, the sights

2:22:18and sounds of three takeoffs or landings

2:22:20per minute. Park Westboro apartment with

2:22:23over 250 residents, balconies, and

2:22:26outdoor playground. Three times a

2:22:28minute, the sights and sounds of drones

2:22:31landing or taking off. My wife Sandra

2:22:34and I have lived in Westboro for 33

2:22:36years. Like most of you, uh, we love

2:22:38this town and we don't want to see it

2:22:41turned on its head by accepting a very

2:22:43bad idea that will irreversibly change

2:22:46this town for the worst forever. We are

2:22:49the stewards of the town's character,

2:22:51and we want to turn it over to the next

2:22:53generation in better shape than we found

2:22:55it. Please vote yes to support Article

2:22:588.

2:22:59>> Thank you, Mr. Jana.

2:23:02All right. We've heard anyone here like

2:23:04to speak in opposition.

2:23:09>> Okay. Um I heard someone during Miss

2:23:11Williams presentation say they had a

2:23:13question. If you'd like to approach the

2:23:14microphone and ask your question, you

2:23:15may. Um other than that, I'll assume we

2:23:18want to go to a vote or uh yes. Are you

2:23:22speaking in favor or question or

2:23:23against?

2:23:24>> Question.

2:23:24>> You have a question? Yes. Question,

2:23:26please.

2:23:26>> Uh Kathy Grim, Six Long Meadow Road.

2:23:28>> I'm sorry, I didn't get your address.

2:23:29Six Long Meadow Road.

2:23:30>> Six Long Meadow. Thank you.

2:23:32>> So, in section four, um C, it says

2:23:37ground operations of a commercial, um

2:23:39UAS, and it it's referring to a budding

2:23:44pro, um private and public properties.

2:23:46It just seems like that section is

2:23:48written a little bit um directed toward

2:23:52toward an older time. So, not really

2:23:55addressing the problem of these uh

2:23:57drones flying overhead. We're kind of

2:24:00all the butters when you think about it.

2:24:02Um, this isn't just the properties

2:24:03immediately adjacent to the property.

2:24:06And I'm wondering if that section of the

2:24:08bylaw can be strengthened.

2:24:11>> Can be strengthened. Is that what you

2:24:12said?

2:24:12>> Yeah. So that so that it acknowledges

2:24:15that we are all abutters in town and

2:24:18it's not just the properties right next

2:24:20to the facility.

2:24:22>> Okay. Is that your only question? Is

2:24:23that your private question?

2:24:24>> That was it.

2:24:25>> Okay. Mr. Kio.

2:24:26>> Yeah. Sean Kio, five Yorkshire Circle. I

2:24:29I think that the line we're trying to

2:24:32thread here is that we can't control

2:24:36airspace,

2:24:37right? And if we talk about the entire

2:24:40town collectively, then are we really

2:24:43talking about the airspace? So making

2:24:45specific comments here about a Butters

2:24:49um is sort of trying to to thread that

2:24:52line, I would say. Um, but I would

2:24:56accept additional comments related to

2:24:57that as well.

2:25:00>> All right. Uh, four against your

2:25:02questions.

2:25:02>> I have a question.

2:25:03>> Questions? Yes. Name, address, and your

2:25:06question, please.

2:25:06>> Paula Le, 7 Blake Street. Um, my

2:25:11question is of the bylaw or the zoning

2:25:17law, which holds the the biggest amount

2:25:21of teeth that the attorney general

2:25:24cannot overturn? What did North Reading

2:25:28do in their town in order to have this

2:25:32be a a dead issue? I think we need to

2:25:36look at I mean I I would like to know

2:25:38that because if we vote for one and the

2:25:42attorney general says well no and let's

2:25:44let's face it Amazon has very expensive

2:25:48very clever lawyers and lobbyists and

2:25:52they can push and push and push and find

2:25:55a loophole if it's not done ironclad.

2:26:01So, I'm asking the question, which which

2:26:04did North Reading do? Did they do a

2:26:07bylaw change or did they do a zoning

2:26:10change? And which holds the the biggest

2:26:13amount of clout?

2:26:15>> Thank you, Miss Les. So, we'll defer to

2:26:16town council, Mr. Smeaggel.

2:26:19>> Through you, Mr. Moderator? Rogers, town

2:26:21council. Um, so both general and zoning

2:26:25bylaws have the same legal effect. uh

2:26:28and they are both reviewed and approved

2:26:30by the attorney general in the same

2:26:31manner. Um North Reading did uh adopt in

2:26:362017 a general bylaw that uh does not

2:26:42restrict the use of unmanned aircraft

2:26:46throughout the whole town. Um the as uh

2:26:50Mr. Kio mentioned the FAA regulates

2:26:53airspace and uh anything that interferes

2:26:58with that regulation of airspace will be

2:27:01in all likelihood preempted by that

2:27:03federal law. Uh the

2:27:07>> question

2:27:07>> the select board uh started their work

2:27:10as I understand it with the uh version

2:27:13of the bylaw that North Reading adopted

2:27:16and went from there in uh reaching what

2:27:20they have presented to you tonight.

2:27:23>> It's my followup followup miss.

2:27:25>> Yes. My understanding is that the FAA

2:27:28only can control

2:27:30>> [clears throat]

2:27:30>> um above a certain level off the ground.

2:27:33That's correct. That is incorrect.

2:27:36>> Okay. Well, what is it?

2:27:39>> It's anything above the ground.

2:27:41>> Okay.

2:27:42>> Airspace literally comes down to the

2:27:44ground under the federal definition.

2:27:46>> Okay. Uh let's see. We've heard

2:27:49questions. We've had one in favor. I'm

2:27:51going to keep asking. Anyone in

2:27:52opposition?

2:27:55>> Because I know a lot of you want to

2:27:57speak in favor, but if we want to go to

2:27:58a vote, if we

2:27:59>> I have another question. Uh,

2:28:02you have a question you want to speak

2:28:03against?

2:28:04>> Question.

2:28:06>> You have a question at the microphone.

2:28:07Name, address, and your question,

2:28:08please.

2:28:09>> Mitri Tyl, 25 Charles Street. I have a

2:28:13question about the item 4D.

2:28:17So, it says, "No person shall establish,

2:28:19utilize or operate any ground level,

2:28:21rooftop, staging point, launch or

2:28:24landing pad areas, nesting grid or

2:28:27property endpoint. So this looks to me

2:28:31like um a part of this proposal that

2:28:36prohibits commercial UAS activity in

2:28:40town. And then if I go to section six

2:28:44item A, it then talks about uh launch

2:28:49pad or area, landing pad or area and

2:28:53then certain limits um like linear

2:28:57distance of 150 ft from any designated

2:29:00parking area. So uh to me these two

2:29:04items do not connect. If 4 D looks like

2:29:08it prohibits commercial US activity,

2:29:11then why do we need 6A or am I missing

2:29:16something about 4D? This is the

2:29:18question.

2:29:19>> Thank you, Mr. K.

2:29:20>> No, no, thank you for that. Sean Kio,

2:29:22five Yorkshire circle. We have been

2:29:25redundant in this bylaw and part of the

2:29:28reason for that is we are unsure of what

2:29:31components of this bylaw will actually

2:29:34get past the attorney general. So we

2:29:37have put in in cases something that

2:29:41completely prohibits something and then

2:29:43a second amendment that you know may

2:29:45only restrict something right in case

2:29:48that original component gets removed and

2:29:52is found to be um you know in violation

2:29:55of some FAA or state ruling. So we are

2:30:01sort of what we put forth here has not

2:30:03been done. We started with North

2:30:05Reading's

2:30:07um bylaw and realized it wasn't going to

2:30:10accomplish what we were hoping to do.

2:30:12So, we have added quite a bit to that

2:30:16bylaw in order to get the teeth into

2:30:18this that we wanted. And um and so, you

2:30:23know, we'll see, but we're we're

2:30:24hopeful. But that's the reason you may

2:30:26see things in here that do appear

2:30:28redundant. And it's because we're hoping

2:30:30if A doesn't make it in that B stays and

2:30:33it's still strong enough that we're all

2:30:36comfortable that we have made an impact

2:30:39on on this on this bylaw. So, thank you

2:30:42for your question.

2:30:43>> Thank you. So, did I interpret 4D

2:30:46correctly that it's intended to

2:30:47completely prohibit land activity? Oh,

2:30:50okay. Great.

2:30:51>> D would be great.

2:30:54>> Thank you.

2:30:56>> All right. I'm going to keep asking.

2:30:57Anyone want to speak in opposition to

2:30:59the motion?

2:31:00>> Yeah. Wait a second. You want to speak

2:31:02in opposition?

2:31:03>> Well, I'm convinced.

2:31:05>> Well, hang on a second then. Hang on.

2:31:06See, you have a question. All right.

2:31:08Hang a sec. Finance committee want to

2:31:09report out.

2:31:10>> Okay. Give me a second. You want to go

2:31:11to the microphone? We'll be right there.

2:31:13Finance committee. Pan.

2:31:15>> Yes.

2:31:15>> Good evening, residents. So, the finance

2:31:18committee is ready with their votes. We

2:31:19have voted 900 in favor of this bylaw.

2:31:24Thank you.

2:31:25>> Thank you, Pashan. All right. uh name,

2:31:27address, and your questions

2:31:29slashindecision.

2:31:31>> Kurt Kashvski, 1211 Windsor Ridge Drive.

2:31:36Um my first question has to do with why

2:31:40there is no mention of air rights.

2:31:44Air rights are not the same thing as

2:31:46navigable airspace.

2:31:49And if anyone has a history knows the

2:31:53history of Boston air rights, which is

2:31:56the ability of a land owner to control

2:31:59what goes over

2:32:02that lot, um, if anything, and they can

2:32:07be very valuable. I don't see that that

2:32:10was ever considered in preparing this

2:32:13bylaw. I have some amendments to offer

2:32:16that would include it, but I frankly

2:32:19outright disagree with town council's

2:32:22view that navigable airspace starts one

2:32:25inch off of the grass.

2:32:28So, you want to take that question up

2:32:30first?

2:32:30>> Okay, sure. Uh, yeah. How many questions

2:32:33do you have? Is it is the other one just

2:32:35your amendments or is it

2:32:36>> um

2:32:38I have about eight amendments differing.

2:32:42I don't want to have to go through them

2:32:44one by one if there's another way to

2:32:46>> okay get around it.

2:32:48>> Let's just see where we go. Uh town

2:32:50councelor

2:32:51>> through you Mr. Moderator. Uh the issue

2:32:54of air rights is one of uh

2:32:56constructibility and how much building

2:32:59you can construct. That's what air

2:33:01rights are intended to protect. The

2:33:03navigable airspace starts above whatever

2:33:06is constructed. So if there's a building

2:33:09that's 10 feet high, navigable airspace

2:33:12comes down to that rooftop. If the

2:33:15building is 100 feet high, navigable

2:33:17airspace comes down to that. And

2:33:19navigable airspace under FAA regulations

2:33:21is aircraft dependent, meaning that each

2:33:24category of aircraft can operate

2:33:27differently and have different

2:33:29application of navigable airspace. So a

2:33:33747

2:33:34is considered different than a drone or

2:33:37an unmanned aircraft from a navigable

2:33:39airspace standpoint. And so the lowest

2:33:42minimum descent altitude for a unmanned

2:33:45aircraft aka drone is going to be

2:33:48significantly lower. And the FAA has

2:33:50considered that essentially anything

2:33:53above what exists or is built in the

2:33:56future is navigable for a drone device.

2:33:59Why do you concede

2:34:01that preeemption

2:34:04covers all of this as opposed to

2:34:07disagreeing with the FAA's

2:34:08interpretation here? Because we're

2:34:10talking about

2:34:12>> we're talking about

2:34:13>> Wait, one at a time, please. Mr.

2:34:15Shuzvki, continue.

2:34:17>> I'm sorry. I thought that was a

2:34:18question.

2:34:18>> Yeah. Well, he wasn't I don't think he

2:34:19was done yet. That's fine.

2:34:21>> Yeah. You do you have more to say on

2:34:24that particular matter, Mr. Shuzvki?

2:34:27If not, I'm going to let town council

2:34:28answer.

2:34:30>> Did you have more to say about why did

2:34:32they concede or do you want me to let

2:34:33him answer that?

2:34:34>> You know, air rights exist. Um, if you

2:34:37Google them, you will see it is

2:34:39different than navigable airspace. I

2:34:42understand the point about drones having

2:34:45essentially a navigable airspace down to

2:34:48the ground, but I think the FAA is

2:34:51taking an an overly broad concept of

2:34:54preeemption here and not taking into I

2:34:58mean drones and similar unmanned

2:35:00aircraft did not exist when the FAA

2:35:05determined its policy about navigable

2:35:08airspace.

2:35:09>> Okay. Through through Mr. Yeah, I I

2:35:11agree wholeheartedly, sir. The FAA is

2:35:13taking an incredibly broad view of its

2:35:16regulatory authority with respect to

2:35:18unmanned aircraft, but that's its

2:35:21prerogative and it's this body and this

2:35:24town's prerogative whether it wants to

2:35:26uh adopt a bylaw that uh attempts to

2:35:30challenge that. Uh and I don't I use the

2:35:33word challenge because that's the only

2:35:34word that comes to mind. Um, but the FAA

2:35:37has already promagated last year new

2:35:40rules for drone delivery that are set to

2:35:45come into effect in December. Uh, and

2:35:48would specifically address things like

2:35:50operation of drone delivery beyond

2:35:53what's called visual line of sight and

2:35:54things like that. The FAA is pushing its

2:35:58[snorts]

2:35:58uh authority with respect to drone

2:36:01commercial drone use as far as it

2:36:04believes is statutoily granted to them

2:36:07by Congress. What the what the courts

2:36:10and you know ultimately decide the line

2:36:14falls remains to be seen. My job is to

2:36:16advise the select board and the town you

2:36:20all as a whole what the possible

2:36:21preeemption risks are. And so that's

2:36:24just why I've identified when it comes

2:36:26to drones flying overhead as opposed to

2:36:30uh specifically where takeoff and

2:36:32landing spots may uh exist. The FAA has

2:36:36said other you know takeoff and landing

2:36:39locations. That's something that may be

2:36:40regulated at the local level. Once these

2:36:42drones are up in the air FAA has

2:36:45complete control. That's the FAA's

2:36:46position.

2:36:48>> So you're telling you have less than 30

2:36:50seconds your final remarks please and

2:36:51then we'll move on.

2:36:53All right.

2:36:55On the provision, uh, it's section 12B,

2:37:00enforcement,

2:37:02there's no language that addresses

2:37:05repeat violators. And I see that there's

2:37:08a high risk of repeat violations,

2:37:11especially from a business owner of of

2:37:16the bylaw. So, I have an amendment to

2:37:20provide that the fine will go up in

2:37:23increments of $300 for each subsequent

2:37:27violation

2:37:29and that up if there are three or more

2:37:33violations that it also

2:37:36creates uh essentially a primacia case

2:37:39for injunctive relief to shut them down.

2:37:42>> All right. Are you making that

2:37:43amendment?

2:37:44>> I'm offering that amendment. you're

2:37:46offering that amendment. I'll need it in

2:37:47writing and if you could bring it down

2:37:48here, that would be great. Then we'll

2:37:50I'll see if we can get it typed up or

2:37:52whatever. Um

2:37:53>> through you, Mr.

2:37:54>> Yes. Yes.

2:37:56>> through you, Mr. Moderator.

2:37:56>> Yes, town council.

2:37:57>> Uh I just have to advise town meeting

2:38:00that the fine uh that the bylaw

2:38:02contemplates is the fine that is

2:38:05authorized under what is called the

2:38:06noncriminal disposition statute of the

2:38:09general laws. The maximum fine that that

2:38:12statute allows is $300 per offense.

2:38:16Unless there is some other statute,

2:38:18which there is not one here, the town

2:38:21cannot impose a higher fine in my

2:38:23opinion.

2:38:25>> Okay, hang on,

2:38:27>> John. We have uh questions from the gym

2:38:29if possible.

2:38:30>> Okay. Yeah, just a moment, please. Hang

2:38:31on. I got a couple of people trying to

2:38:33talk to me right now. So, I just want to

2:38:35make sure. So, the town council has just

2:38:36said, and I'll repeat this, that the

2:38:37town is not authorized to uh to

2:38:40essentially have a higher violation.

2:38:42That's what's in there. Is that what I

2:38:44heard when I was trying to take my

2:38:45notes?

2:38:45>> Yeah, I was going to say

2:38:47>> we're going to put it.

2:38:48>> Okay. So, town council said town can't

2:38:51assess higher than $300. Just give me a

2:38:53second.

2:38:54>> That's not what my amendment does. What

2:38:57it says is that the

2:38:59>> No, sorry. Your time your time was up.

2:39:01I'm sorry. Uh Mr. gold. Uh uh is the

2:39:05speak I'm trying to manage this now. Is

2:39:08the speaker in the gym for or against or

2:39:10have a question?

2:39:12>> It's a question, but the also the uh

2:39:14question mic needs to be turned back on

2:39:17again by the audio. Only the I can bring

2:39:19them up to this desktop. Uh

2:39:20>> yeah, why don't you do that and then um

2:39:22we're going to bring this up. All right.

2:39:25So uh so go to the gym. Thank you, Mr.

2:39:28Gold. So why don't we have the question,

2:39:31>> John? Sorry.

2:39:32>> Yes, Mr. While we're while we're doing

2:39:33that, Mr. Kio,

2:39:34>> yeah, quick comment. Sean Kio5,

2:39:36Yorkshire Circle. So, we've listed $300

2:39:39because that is the maximum amount

2:39:41currently allowed. We've also mentioned

2:39:43here that uh the select board may adopt

2:39:46reasonable rules and fee schedules. The

2:39:48expectation being if that amount ever is

2:39:51raised by the state, then the select

2:39:53board would take appropriate action to

2:39:55then match whatever that maximum is.

2:39:57>> Okay. So, Mr. Kio is saying

2:39:59>> and further. Yes. Thank you. Thank you.

2:40:01and further define what occurrence is.

2:40:03Right now, I think my expectation is

2:40:05it's every time it happens, not days or

2:40:08anything, but

2:40:09>> but we will come back with that.

2:40:11>> One person at a time.

2:40:15>> Okay, hang on. We're pulling this

2:40:17together now. Um

2:40:18>> and and no, that's not in 12b. That's in

2:40:22and in 11B it does reference injunctive

2:40:25relief. So, I think that was brought up

2:40:27as well. Pardon me,

2:40:30>> Ms. Williams. Do you have a copy of the

2:40:32proposed amendment that you would like

2:40:33to see if uh you folks can type in? It's

2:40:36the thing at the bottom of the page.

2:40:38Thank you. While we see if we can get

2:40:41the uh I will read the amendment if it

2:40:44can't get typed in so we can talk about

2:40:45it. Um

2:40:48>> Mr. Gold, are we ready in the gym?

2:40:51>> Yes, sir.

2:40:52>> Okay. Name, address, and your question,

2:40:54please.

2:40:55>> Uh Kevin Foy, 26 Sunset Drive, North.

2:40:58Okay.

2:40:58>> I I have two questions. one on section

2:41:01five noise and nuisance and one safety

2:41:03for us all. On noise and nuisance, um

2:41:07Amazon had presented to us the liftoff

2:41:10DB levels at the airport in um on Otus.

2:41:16What they did not give to us was the

2:41:20drop off DB levels 13 ft above the land

2:41:24and also the takeoff from that 13t

2:41:27level. So my question is was that

2:41:30considered within this noise and

2:41:32nuisance section five. The second

2:41:35question safety to us all. My

2:41:38engineering background has always the

2:41:40question is did the committee consider

2:41:44the reliability

2:41:46and the potential design prevention of

2:41:51catastrophic failure on these drones?

2:41:54Was that considered in this process too?

2:41:56Thank you. Thank you. I'll see if I can

2:41:59handle that. Um, first question was, do

2:42:01we know if the return the essentially

2:42:06the drop off the hovering and the return

2:42:09uh decibb at the drop off site? Do we

2:42:12know those? And would they be inside

2:42:14this noise and nuisance? Do we know

2:42:16that? Mr. Welch.

2:42:18>> Patrick Welch, 15 Chanty Circle. Um,

2:42:21I'll try to remember what Amazon stated

2:42:24as far as what the drop off uh uh

2:42:26decibbels were. I believe it was 67 dB

2:42:29on takeoff and descent at the 13t

2:42:34height off your property.

2:42:37>> 67. Okay. Thank you. And then the second

2:42:39question doesn't have to be you, Mr.

2:42:40Welch. And I would also just um remind

2:42:43folks that in our current zoning bylaws,

2:42:45section 83A of our current zoning bylaws

2:42:48literally states that no noise is

2:42:50permitted on an industrial property

2:42:52within 400 ft of the property line.

2:42:56No noise, not even a single decibel.

2:43:00>> Okay. And then I don't know who wants to

2:43:02try to answer the second question that

2:43:03had to do when drafting the uh the rest

2:43:06of the bylaw. Was there a consideration

2:43:09about any I guess limitations uh on

2:43:12liability or the design prevention for

2:43:16cat catastrophic failure being mentioned

2:43:17in the bylaw? I don't know if that's

2:43:21something that can be readily addressed.

2:43:22Again, Mr. Welch.

2:43:27>> Yeah, we have contemplated that. Again,

2:43:29we're trying to get [clears throat] a a

2:43:30version um that we feel will not invoke

2:43:33the federal preeemption. Um we certainly

2:43:35um with the help of Master Blue Skies

2:43:37did a lot of work in regards to safety

2:43:40um in in around any areas. Um I don't I

2:43:45don't know if that answers the question

2:43:47fully though.

2:43:47>> It well it might be the best we can do.

2:43:49So yeah that's okay.

2:43:53>> All right. Is uh is what's up there the

2:43:56the amendment? Okay. So why don't we uh

2:43:59turn our attention to the amendment for

2:44:00a few moments. Uh uh Mr. Trishesky, is

2:44:04that the is that the amendment? Okay.

2:44:06So, um, so we've heard that town council

2:44:10says that the town is limited to a fine

2:44:13of an instance of being $300.

2:44:16Um,

2:44:17and then Mr. Chessk's uh, amendment is

2:44:21suggesting that the 300 per offense be

2:44:23changed to $300 for the first violation.

2:44:26Second and subsequent violations shall

2:44:28increase the fine by another 300 per

2:44:30violation. A third violation shall also

2:44:32be deemed primapasy evidence to support

2:44:34a petition for injunctive relief. Um so

2:44:38I guess um why don't we try to focus for

2:44:41a moment people who want to talk about

2:44:43the amendment.

2:44:45>> Yes. Point of information name, address,

2:44:47and your point please.

2:44:50>> Can you go to the microphone or make it

2:44:51so I can hear you better and I'll repeat

2:44:53your point

2:44:54>> if you just say it loud enough. I'll

2:44:55repeat it. Caroline.

2:45:00Okay.

2:45:02>> Yeah. You just tell me the question.

2:45:03I'll relay it.

2:45:05>> Yeah.

2:45:08>> Okay. Well, that I think that's I think

2:45:10that's what the question is. You say the

2:45:12amendment. You mean for the town?

2:45:20>> Yeah. Well, I think that's I

2:45:24>> All right. Yeah. All right. Thank you.

2:45:27Um, Miss Spring's point of information

2:45:29is she wanted to hear clarification uh

2:45:31that according to town council is this

2:45:33amendment something that uh there's

2:45:35relative certainty that the town can't

2:45:37do

2:45:38>> through you Mr. moderator in my opinion

2:45:41this motion does propose something that

2:45:43is contrary to chapter 40 section 21D

2:45:46and while town meeting can adopt it in

2:45:49all likelihood this would in my opinion

2:45:52uh not get approved by the attorney

2:45:54general.

2:45:56>> Okay. Thank you. Uh, hang on,

2:45:58>> Mr. Moderator.

2:45:59>> Uh, just a moment. I'm taking some

2:46:01notes.

2:46:04>> Uh, yeah, Mr. Welch.

2:46:06>> Thank you, Mr. Moderator. Patrick Welch,

2:46:0715 Chanty Circle. Um, I will just, uh, I

2:46:10think

2:46:12the board actually had a conversation

2:46:13about this and the expectation I got

2:46:15took away from that conversation was

2:46:17that every instance of a drone taking

2:46:19off would be a violation. So if there's

2:46:21a thousand a day offense, excuse me,

2:46:24there's a thousand a day and there's a

2:46:27thousand offenses. Okay. Now, under

2:46:30section 12, I believe it is um

2:46:33enforcement and violations. This is up

2:46:35to the select board at that time to

2:46:36enforce it. So it would be up to the

2:46:39determination of that select board at

2:46:41that point in time.

2:46:43>> Thank you, Mr. Welch. I'd like to focus

2:46:45our attention just on the amendment.

2:46:46Now, is there anyone who would like to

2:46:48speak in favor of the amendment?

2:46:52Anyone who'd like to speak in opposition

2:46:54to the amendment? Yes, sir.

2:46:56>> Yes. Great. Raised hand, please.

2:46:58>> Dan Klein, 177 Ruggle Street. I'd like

2:47:00to table all the move to table all

2:47:02amendments and go to vote.

2:47:04>> Okay. Uh,

2:47:06okay. Hang on.

2:47:09Move to table amendments. Hang on.

2:47:11That's going to require me to do a

2:47:12little digging now.

2:47:14>> [laughter]

2:47:15>> Uh, first of all,

2:47:18uh, I only allow moving to a vote when

2:47:20there's no other statement. You actually

2:47:21made another motion, so I'm not going to

2:47:23get to that. So, I would like to ask if

2:47:25you'd like to, uh, essentially revoke

2:47:28your tableabling the amendment and just

2:47:31move to a vote, but I will note that

2:47:33since an amendment is on the uh, table,

2:47:36we would vote for the amendment directly

2:47:38and then we would vote for the uh, for

2:47:41the main motion. I was going with table

2:47:43the amendment and then we can go to the

2:47:44next one. So,

2:47:45>> all right.

2:47:45>> I want to talk about the

2:47:46>> All right. So, I'm just looking here.

2:47:49Uh, hang on. Give me a second.

2:47:52Looking at my thing.

2:47:55>> This doesn't happen very often at town

2:47:56meetings. So, let's just see what we

2:47:58got. Yes. I'm going to talk to town

2:48:00council.

2:48:02>> Everybody knows that.

2:48:02>> I know that. But they're going to vote

2:48:04it down in a second.

2:48:06>> They can't move the question at that

2:48:08point in time. Okay.

2:48:12Yeah.

2:48:14>> All right. So, verified my

2:48:18>> Right.

2:48:19>> So, we have a motion to table the

2:48:22amendment which I've luckily our town

2:48:24council also a member of the

2:48:26Massachusetts moderators association.

2:48:28So, luck lucky me I can we can share the

2:48:31blame. Uh so, a motion to lay on the

2:48:34table is not debatable.

2:48:37uh it's not amendable and it requires a

2:48:39twothirds vote. So, our action to table

2:48:42the amendment essentially means

2:48:45virtually we've got a piece of paper,

2:48:47we're just going to go and move it off

2:48:49to the side, not take action on it, and

2:48:52then we'll go back to discussing the

2:48:54main motion. Okay? So, since we have a

2:48:57motion to table the amendment, uh when

2:48:59the green light goes on, pressing one

2:49:02essentially says, do we want to just not

2:49:05talk about the amendment now? That'll be

2:49:07left for another day. Pressing two means

2:49:10you want to keep talking about the

2:49:11amendment when the green light goes on.

2:49:14Yes. Hang on. Uh, yes.

2:49:18>> Gone for good.

2:49:19>> It's gone for good from this particular

2:49:21meeting unless somebody Yeah. Unless

2:49:22it's brought up. Yes. Sorry. So, let

2:49:24leave the leave. So, tableabling the

2:49:26amendment means we're not going to take

2:49:27action on it tonight on the amendment.

2:49:30We're then going to go back to the main

2:49:31motion. So, pressing one means you want

2:49:33to not talk about the amendment. You

2:49:35want to just get back to the main motion

2:49:37made by Mr. Kio? Pressing two means

2:49:40you'd like to continue talking about the

2:49:41amendment.

2:50:07Okay, voting has ended.

2:50:10We have 490 in favor. 49018

2:50:14opposed. The amendment is tabled. That

2:50:17means we return to talking about the uh

2:50:20the main motion. I'm still waiting for

2:50:22someone to essentially say they want to

2:50:24speak against it because I think we may

2:50:25be ready for a vote. Do you want to

2:50:27speak against it?

2:50:30>> Question. Ah, name and address, please.

2:50:35>> 57 Adams. Okay. Um, woman from 57 Adam

2:50:40Street has moved the question. As we're

2:50:42learning, for those of us new here, the

2:50:44purpose of which is to terminate debate.

2:50:46Um, it also is not debatable.

2:50:49And so once they've reset the system,

2:50:51we're going to get to vote again. Again,

2:50:54it takes a twothirds vote. And what this

2:50:56means is if you want to stop talking

2:50:59about it and just go and act on the main

2:51:01motion, you vote yes, which is pressing

2:51:03one. If you want to continue discussing,

2:51:06you vote two. So this is a motion to

2:51:08terminate debate. Voting has started.

2:51:22See, you're all becoming excellent

2:51:23parliamentarians through this. I see.

2:51:26So,

2:51:28never know. I'm going to be too old for

2:51:30this job someday.

2:51:33So,

2:51:39voting has ended.

2:51:42We have 502 in favor and 17 opposed.

2:51:47Debate is terminated. We now turn our

2:51:49attention to the main motion made by Mr.

2:51:52Kio, which was to approve the October

2:51:5519th, 2006 draft of the new article 34

2:52:00with the provision that provided,

2:52:02however, that the term public UAS and

2:52:04the definition thereof in section two of

2:52:06such handout shall be stricken. So

2:52:09that's the motion. Once this voting

2:52:12system is reset, we are now voting on

2:52:14Mr. PO's motion, which is to amend the

2:52:16general bylaws by adding the new article

2:52:1834 with the exception of the definition

2:52:21of public UAS. If you are in favor,

2:52:24please press one. If you are against,

2:52:26please press two. Our action requires a

2:52:29majority vote. Voting has begun.

2:52:45If you're leaving, please don't think

2:52:46it's going to be close.

2:52:49If you're leaving, please return your

2:52:50voting devices. Just like everything

2:52:52else in life, they're not free.

2:52:56Voting has ended. We have a vote of 510

2:53:00in favor and 13 opposed. The motion

2:53:04carries. That is a majority vote.

2:53:07Mr. Kio

2:53:11>> Sean Kio5 Yorkshire Circle. I move that

2:53:13we dissolve the October 19th, 2026

2:53:17special town meeting.

2:53:18>> We have a motion to dissolve the town

2:53:20meeting having acted on all articles on

2:53:22the warrant. All those in favor, please

2:53:24press one. All those opposed, please

2:53:27press two. Voting is started

2:53:36again. Thank you for coming. If this is

2:53:38your first town meeting or or your

2:53:40hundth, I appreciate you coming. I hope

2:53:42you learned something and thank you for

2:53:44participating in Westboro's legislature.

2:53:53Voting has ended.

2:53:56We have vote of 297 in favor, four

2:53:59opposed. The town meeting is dissolved.

2:54:02Thank you very much. Good night. Please

2:54:04drive carefully.

2:54:17>> [music]

2:54:36>> How are you?

2:55:36>> [music]