001Good evening. Welcome to select board meeting of November 17th, 2025, 6 p.m. in room 3 at town hall. The first matter on the agenda is the signing of the warrant. >> Motion, Mr. Chair, to sign the warrant, please. >> I would second that, Mr. Chairman. >> That is unanimous. Next is the approval of regular session minutes November 3rd, 2025. >> A motion to approve regular session minutes November 3rd, 2025. >> And I would second that, Mr. Chairman. >> And that is unanimous. We have public hearings uh this evening. Four different hearings. The first one, first three are National Grid and Verizon New England concerning poll locations. Are they on Rebecca? >> Okay. Hi Rebecca. >> Hasn't requested to speak. >> Good evening Rebecca. >> Hi. Good evening. >> Good evening. >> Even Rebecca. The first
002item we on the agenda Rebecca is the pole location at 83 Camp Street. >> What can you tell us? >> Uh we are just installing a new uh 40 uh class 3 pole with an anchor. Um, this pole I believe is being installed for a new customer that is um replacing a pole at 81 Camp Street. So, we just need to put that pole into um I think the poles are pretty old on that street. So, they're just going to add that one for proper dying of the pole line. >> Any questions, gentlemen? >> I don't uh Mr. Chair, I reviewed this myself and I didn't have any questions at all. This is something that we've been doing many of times in the past. >> We have a motion. A motion, Mr. Chair, to approve
003uh the petition from Mass Electric doing business as National Grid uh Ver in Verizon, New England to install one J pole on Camp Street beginning at approximately 25 ft northwest of the center line of the intersection of Camp Street. Uh National Grid also uh uh opposes to install a 40 foot class 3 pole uh 40 pole 45 anchor and guide. Um and they're also requesting permission to lay and um connect um underground laterals and cables for the purpose of making connections uh with such poles and buildings for the distribution purposes. >> I would I would second [clears throat] that, Mr. Chairman. >> Unanimous. The next item is um installation of a pole located at 6466 Dillis Street. You're on Rebecca. All right. So I believe uh Dillis Street was just an anchor in Guy. Well,
004I don't think there was a poll on that one. I believe that one is just an anchor on poll 23. >> Okay, Mr. chair. We >> So, there's already the existing pole that's there. We just need to add a guy wire on town property to proper um >> guy the [clears throat] pole line that feeds uh house 68. >> Excuse me, Paul. Given that this is a public hearing, is there anyone that would like to speak to the poll at 83 Cam Street? >> Seeing no one indicating that they want to speak, we're back to 64 to 66 Diller Street. I'll do a motion. >> Yes. a motion, Mr. Chair, uh to for um to uh approve the petition of Mass Electric doing business as National Grid uh and Verizon uh to install only uh
005uh permission to lay I'm sorry, permission to install anchor and guide wire at pole 23. >> I would second that, Mr. Chairman. >> And that's unanimous. The next item is to install a poll at one. >> No one present again. Just >> is there anyone that would like to speak to that poll at 64 to 66 Diller Street? Seeing no one indicating that they want to speak, we'll move on to the poll at 117 Salt Main Street. >> So, this is a new customer coming in. So, we just need to add a poll uh 33-50. um uh about 75 ft from Pole 33 uh to feed the new customer at 117 South Main Street. >> Okay. Uh I have no uh questions or concerns right now, Mr. Chair. Both Chris. So therefore, I'd make a
006motion to approve the petition for Mass Electric Doing Business as National Grid in Verizon, uh, New England, uh, to install a pole at 30, uh,-50 on South Main Street, approximately 75 ft from pole 33 on South Main Street. >> I would second that, Mr. Chairman. >> And is there anyone else that would like to speak to the poll at 117 South Main Street? Seeing no one, that is unanimous. Thank you, Rebecca. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Have a great night. >> You too. Thank you. As well. >> You're up. Yeah. Next item on the agenda is um a on premises liquor license and entertainment license, 140 Bar and Grill, Inc. doing business as the 140 Grill at 194 West Street, Sweet 12. I am not going to participate in this particular discussion as
007my law partner attorney uh Ernest Horn is representing the applicant. Um so Mr. Walsh will conduct. >> Thank you very much Mr. Chairman. So this evening, as the chairman has stated, we have before us in public hearing a license application from 140 Byron Grill Incorporated doing business as 140 Grill looking seeking a common vicular wine and malt beverage license. And with us tonight is attorney Horn representing >> Carlos Benjamin and >> Carlos. >> Okay. >> Good evening. Uh sir uh yes they they plan to do business the 140 Bar and Grill Incorporated um and uh their DBA will be 140 Grill. Uh the applicants Carlos Gonzalez uh Carlos Benjamin um they're seeking a license for the wine malt with cordials. Um and uh I think they're also looking for an entertainment license as well with
008that. Uh uh they want this to be an all alcohol license. Um my understanding this will be a Brazilian steakhouse. It'll be probably similar to what you've seen around the state, a buffet style where they bring bring the food to the table. >> Um I understand that the the facility will has about 3,000 square ft and it'll uh has a seating capacity of about 125 people. Um Carlos, the gentleman all the way to my left here. Um, uh, General Construction, LR General Construction, lived in Milford, located here for more than 30 years. >> Yeah. >> Um, Carlos, who's the gentleman closest to me to my left, uh, he currently holds an alcohol license, an all alcohol license. Uh, EMZ Mart LLC DBA is Isabel's, which is up by the hospital, uh, 335 and a half
009Main Street. No issues, been in business for more than 20 years. Um this was properly advertised uh in the uh newspaper I believe on November 7th. Um the application was completed. Proper notice of payment to the ABCC uh was provided to the town administrator. Um and we'd be happy to answer any questions that the board might have and we would ask that you um ultimately grant that license. Paul, do you have any question? I >> I really don't. Uh Michael um I know uh Carlos uh when he had Isabella's in in and his character as well. Um checking the application has done very well. Uh thanks to attorney horn. Uh also to all the um department heads have no objections and of course you work well with the help with the health department because you
010have a a kitchen for for the completion and whatnot. Other than that, Mr. Chair, I have I mean Michael, I have no other questions. >> Okay. Before us we have the department head review form which is always done. Building commissioner couple of notes but building is accessible. Um document load capacity is 125. Town planner as a result no amendment site is required. Treasurer no concerns. Fire chief no objections. Police chief has approved it. Uh the board of health kitchen is still under construction. Can't sign off on that until after it's completed. So once it's completed, if you let the board of health know. Um this being a public hearing, is there anybody here or online that would like to speak to this? There is nobody. Seeing nobody. Okay. With that, I'll take a motion. >>
011Motion, Mr. Chair. I move that the select board approve the application of 140 Grill located at 194 West Street for a common victual uh wine and malt uh license with cordials, a common victual license, and and we'll do both at the same time. Correct. Okay. >> Yes. in the live entertainment license contingent upon completion of the board of health inspection following finalization of kitchen construction. The hours of the um entertainment license will be uh Monday to through Saturday uh 5:00 p.m. to midnight. And with that, with no objections, I would gladly second that. >> Good luck. >> Congratulations and good luck. >> Thank you for investing in our community. >> Thank you. See you in the morning. >> Thank you. Good seeing you. >> Next item on the agenda is scheduled appointments. Uh the human
012resources director uh concerning retirey uh medical rates uh for 2026. Uh Kristen, you're on. Chris. >> Yep. Hi everyone. How are you? >> Good evening. How are you? >> Good. Good. Um, so [snorts] this is something that we've had to kick around a little bit. It should have been at the last meeting, so I apologize. It's a little bit late. Um, the IA held a meeting to uh look over the renewal rates for the retirees. Um, it's for calendar year 2026 and there are two blue cross plans on it as you know. You've got the memo and there's one from TUS. Uh TUS is pretty easy. They had a a reasonable increase of about 4.63%. >> However, the two Blue Cross plans um these are not negotiable rates. None of them are anyway, but uh
013the Freedom RX came in very high. Obviously, the increase was almost 21%. And you know, this this is an advantage plan has lots of features. It's all-incclusive. uh it's supported by a per capita reimbursement uh that is determined by the government by county. Um there are fewer government reimbursements and so the shift of the cost is to the retiree. Um the other plan that they have is the MedX plan which is a two-part plan. So we actually get two rates and we combine them. Uh the one of the rates is the prescriptions and the other one covers everything else. So uh unfortunately well let's get to the good news first. The good news is all the other coverages were only 4.8% increase. The bad news is the prescriptions came in very high. They came in
014at almost 18% increase. The there's two problems with this. One is that it's not negotiable. This this particular benefit schedule is not negotiable. And the second problem that we have with it is that uh it's not something that we can unbundle. So when we saw this rate, we went to the assurance advisory committee to entertain a proposal from a place called Benastar. They're a pharmacy benefit manager organization and they came uh with positive feedback and references and they were re recommended by the broker. Um their cost for the upcoming plan year, this is just for the prescriptions was 220 per month whereas Blue Cross was $250 per month. And so the savings for the town retirees was going to be upwards of $173,000. It was going to be very big. They voted it in, but
015then we found out that Blue Cross, even though they've given this to Worcester and Greenfield, didn't want to give it to Milford. So they must be negotiating with Greenfield and Worcester or there must be some other reason why they they are not allowing us to unbundle it. So, uh, we came back into another meeting, which is why this got kicked to tonight, and [clears throat] we had to vote. They voted on accepting the Blue Cross proposal. Um, they swallowed hard to do to that because because the rate was so high, but again, you can't negotiate this. So, even though they accepted these three rates, they did want to go back into the market and see what else is out there. They're getting a little bit unenamored of Blue Cross [clears throat] and um this you
016know I know change is difficult so I don't know how far this will go but for tonight they voted in these three rates and then we will see if there's anything else in the market where we can maybe you know get a plan that's like Medex I don't know if it's going to be United or Pilgrim or some other thing um where we could pull it apart and take advantage of those savings because kind of limited in what we can do. But I wanted you to understand, you know, where all these came from. And I also included a little narrative, excuse me, on the memo about uh what happened with this year because there had been a switch at the beginning of the year. There are no other changes. It's just just rate increases. >>
017Yeah. Okay. Um, so Kristen, president I, for instance, example, I have the Blue Cross Blue Shield, the PO. Is that which one of those three is that plan? Well, I Which of the two? >> That's the Freedom RX. That's the one with the big leap from 439, 530 25. Do we have a comparison sheet for the employees or the retirees, excuse me, right? >> That we can show them the benefits they receive under the three programs so that they can do a comparison. >> Yes. >> Yeah. We publish that. We we put it online. You know, we have stuff that's written for them, whatever they need. A lot of the people who take that, they really like the extra benefits and and for some they seem to think that it's it's a big value to
018them. They they like the extra dental and the extra vision, so they take it to especially as you get older. >> Paul, do you have any questions? >> Yeah. No, just the um just to let you that that this is this [clears throat] increase does reflect, you know, the broader health care needs as well as the higher uh provider charges, prescription charges and and all that. And it's not just um and it to me just by reading and in and hearing the news Christian it affects every municipality not not just Milford you know so it's something that we have to we have to live with today is the sign of the times and that's something that we said as you mentioned a couple of times too it's not negotiable if you want to help today.
019So, uh, that's all I have in >> these these these plans, I'm sorry. These plans are are I mean they're very comprehensive, but the it's really we've been talking about unsustainable for years and it's here, you know, >> it's very expensive. Y >> and we're hands are kind of tied a little bit. >> Yeah. Kristen, it's interesting that I was in a meeting the other day at the hospital and to hear it from the other side, I guess, is the way to describe it in the hospital explaining, you know, the situation they're in with, you know, the health care companies and what's covered, what isn't covered, what they pay, what they don't pay, how much they do pay. And it's really to to uh Paul's point, it's and as we know, watching the news, it's
020a serious serious problem in this country of ours. And uh so first of all, I want to commend you and the board for the the hard work you do every single year working on our insurance rates and you know your continued efforts. You know, we're we have three plans in front of us tonight to approve, but you're going to continue to go back out there and for the employees and for the retirees, you know, find what is best for them, which I, you know, I should say all of us greatly appreciate that. So, thank you. Thank you very much. >> Right. Well, thank you for saying so. I um I also want to remind everybody because I think this can sometimes get lost. We don't we've I don't think we've ever done it before. We
021are not u beholden to them for the entire contract. If we give a 30-day notice, we can go if we want. If all of a sudden we come up with the absolute perfect plan or we're going to save a whole lot of money and everybody's excited about it and wants to vote it in, we can do that at any time. So, if we come up with something in the near future, um, you know, and they want to move on it, we'll bring it forward. >> Great. Thank you. >> Good. That's good to know. >> Do we need a vote on this? No. >> Okay. Motion, Mr. Chair, if that's okay. >> Motion, Mr. Chair, that I um that the select board approve the um renewal of retirey uh medical rates as presented by HR Director
022Kristen. Uh we also thank as Michael said the HR director as well as the insurance advisory committee for their hard work on this as well. >> Absolutely. >> I would second that Mr. Chairman. >> That is unanimous. >> The next item is uh again with uh Chris and HR. Um two policies uh that are being brought back before the board. Um the first one acceptable technology use policy and pregnant workers fairness act policy. Yeah. Um, so we actually have both of those right now. These are updates. Um, and there one the pregnancy workers uh was updated by law. So we had to keep up with that. And then the other one, the IT accessible use, we've had that for a while, but the old policy, which we currently have, was also addressed the school. That's
023how old it is. So we had to pull out some of that. Uh, we actually had this from Chris George. He he started the um the new policy and then we sent it over to the Collins Center. They compared it with the templates that they have, gave it back to us. We sent it to legal legal then sent it to unions and here we are. So, um, a lot of people looked at it. Hopefully, it uh covers us what we need. It it seems very comprehensive. >> There are no questions. Any questions? >> No, Mr. Chair. Just that I think these two policies do reflect MIA's commitment to our responsibility to the fairness, especially when it comes to technology and protection of our systems. Uh while the pregnant workers policy of course ensures uh equity
024and compliance with federal law uh like Kristen was mentioning too, I have no other further questions. If you need a motion, please. >> Michael J. >> I do not. >> I could have a motion, please. >> Therefore, uh Mr. Chair, we can make a motion on both. I I make a motion uh that the uh uh select board approve the um um acceptable technology um uh policy as presented by HR. And I also make a motion that the select board approved the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act policy as presented. >> I would second that, Mr. Chairman. >> And that is unanimous. Thanks, Kristen. >> Thank you, Kristen. >> Thank you very much, guys. >> We don't see it. Have a nice Thanksgiving. >> Have a nice Thanksgiving. >> Thanksgiving is right. >> You too. See, too.
025>> Yep. >> Do you have any old business, [snorts] gentlemen? >> I skip Rick all the time. >> That's all right. >> Time administrators report. Sorry, Rick. >> That's all right. Just one item tonight. Uh, Mr. Chair and the board. Um, just want to mention on the subsidized housing inventory, the 40B inventory. We've been informed by Secretary Augustus and the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities that based on the 2025 bianial update to the Commonwealth's subsidized housing inventory, Milford now exceeds the 10% statutory minimum for subsidized housing under chapter 40B. He stated that this milestone reflects the town's continued commitment to expanding housing opportunities for residents of all incomes. By reaching this benchmark, we join the growing number of communities across Massachusetts that have achieved or surpassed the 10% threshold, an important indicator of
026local progress toward the Commonwealth's housing goals. So, we have reached that 10%. Um, great statutory minimum. Very good. >> That's all I have tonight, Mr. Chair. >> Good. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. >> That's enough. >> Now, old business. Any old business, gentlemen? Okay. I do not, Mr. Chairman. We'll move on to new business. Um, from the Milford Commission on Disability, acceptance of a gift from Imperial Motors is donating $500 donation to uh assist the uh commission with decorating a vehicle um which they're going to loan them for the uh Santa parade this year. Mhm. >> So, the $500 they will invest in decorating that vehicle and they'll participate uh in an event that's really big in this community. >> Sure is. Yep. >> Sure is. >> So, could I have a motion to
027accept the gift? motion to accept a uh donation for $500 which will be used toward decorations for the Santa parade and also thank you too for Imperial for that and also for providing a truck for use of the parade as well. >> That's correct. >> I'd second that, Mr. Chairman. >> That's unanimous. Uh the next item is from the Milford Council on Aging. It's a letter of resignation from Joan Matus. Um Joan is unable to attend the uh meetings as they are scheduled at this point in time. So um she is going to open that seat to uh allow someone else that can attend to uh do so. >> Got a motion a motion to accept Joan Matus' resignation. Just a little note to her. Uh Joan and her husband Ed were a credit to
028the um uh senior center and um we would thank them for their service. Uh and um really appreciate all that they've done. >> Yeah. Very committed to this community. Very I would second that Mr. Chairman. >> That's unanimous. [clears throat] Absolutely. I mean fixtures see >> always look forward to seeing Joan's smiley face. >> Yeah. She never let you go by without telling you she was from Charles Town. [laughter] >> The um is it Milford Council on Aging and Appointment? >> Mhm. >> Uh Council on Aging is asking us to appoint um excuse me, Janet Aavelli uh to the Council on Aging. Do I have a motion? >> A motion. Just a quick note to Mr. chair and Janet uh the board of health uh she was at the VNA uh years ago to for
029a few years uh when the um senior center said that you know they would like to have a nurse from the BNA at least go down there and help them out with you know questions with prescriptions and various uh illnesses that they may have. So the board of health does provide the nurse all the time especially today and Janet was our first nurse there and she did a fantastic job and she'd be a tremendous member of this committee as well where she is so well known so welll liked and and and I think it it's a it'll be a great appointment. So I highly um uh make a motion to approve her appointment. >> Yeah. on writing Dino's letter he put she had been a nurse for the senior center for many years providing valuable
030services nursing counseling and a listening ear to many seniors in our disabled who are disabled in our community kind person I would second that Mr. Jeremy, >> that is unanimous. Yeah, she's always been available at the senior center and >> I don't think they do a lot of the fitness there. >> You know, she's been very helpful in helping seniors, you know, design a workout program >> to fit their particular >> Sure. >> conditions. So, >> I just came by. I don't know what's going on down there tonight, but it's jammed. Jam senior center >> always. Not sure what's busy place. >> Yeah. Next item is a uh amendment to a common victual all alcoholic beverage license from Ibahi Inc. PBA Castle Brazil at 112 Main Street. uh they want to add uh live entertainment
031and uh they did cite the hours Friday and Saturday from 8 to midnight uh one or two performers uh singing and playing the a guitar. So duet type of thing. Um any comments chairman? >> I don't have any at all Mr. chair, but I everything is approved by department heads and whatnot and it's an amendment to the common evictions license. If uh Michael, >> I would second that, Mr. Chairman. >> Yeah, and that is unanimous. There you go. >> Next item on the agenda is the trustees of the Vernon Grove Cemetery. It's a request for funds from fund 8243, the Vernon Avis Pond Expendable Trust, and this is to purchase back um two plots, I believe. Yes. >> Yes. Two plots. So, it's a motion. Yeah. Motion, Mr. chair uh that the select board approved
032the request from the trustees of Vernon Grove Cemetery to release $800 from the Apes Pond interest account fund 8243 uh for the purpose of purchasing two unused graves and >> I would second that Mr. Chairman >> and that is unanimous. Next item on the agenda is the uh police department uh chief through officer Edward Pokeriki. Um, they want to sell a uh 2004 Mercedes E20 color gray. Uh, it has 123,000 miles. It's a vehicle that was taken in forfeite. Uh, we're on a drug investigation. The once it is sold, the funds will uh they're saying that the approximate trade in value is 1,900. Uh, it'll be on municip. use a company to do the bidding, >> right? Um [snorts] so the vehicle so whatever proceeds forfeiture fund least about this isn't your cruiser right [laughter]
033>> I was actually the chief when we took that vehicle >> they were not very happy >> but we got good use out of it. Um, do I have a motion? >> A motion, Mr. Mot, Mr. Chair, that the select board declare the 2004 Mercedes vehicle as surplus property and authorize the police department to auction the vehicle through municip >> right >> and I would second that, Mr. Chairman. >> That's unanimous. The next item on the agenda is correspondence from the Milford Youth Center, the director advising of uh activities, scholarship awardies, as well as uh the numerous donations that they've received over the past several months. Um as you'll note on the last page that people uh the generosity >> Mhm. >> in the uh youth center function and uh they continue to come through
034u making a difference in in the lives of the young people in this community. Any comments? Uh >> yeah, just like you just said, Mr. share too that these contributions reflect a strong uh [snorts] community uh commitment uh to support our youth at this um center. And also uh um shout out to Jen Ward and also the gener the generous donors uh that uh proved their support for the our young uh residents. >> Something that stuck out to me, Mr. chairman only because I was involved as both of you know with the youth center for a long time and you know again thank you to you know all the the donors on the back page that have in the past and continue to give generously for the youth center but I also noticed $103,000 grant
035we received from the state of Massachusetts >> for the uh to run an income eligible based program you know for the youth and it goes on to explain the different job, you know, that they had over the summer. Just it's it's it's actually gone to a whole another level and hopefully, you know, it'll continue to grow and and go in the right direction. And with that, you made a motion, Paul. >> Yes. >> And I would second that motion, Mr. Chairman. >> That's unanimous. Uh thanks to Jen for sending the information to our attention. I know she sends us the newsletters. >> Yes. Periodically as well. Um, I did skip over invitation to speak. Invitation to speak. Is there anyone online? There's no one online. I see no one in the audience asking to speak.
036We will be going into executive session uh to discuss whether to schedule a special town meeting to consider the purchase of property located at Six Park Terrace Milford, Massachusetts, as well as to discuss the town administrator's contract, personal contract. We will not be coming back into regular session. Do I have a motion to go into executive session? >> A motion, Mr. Chair, to go into executive session. >> I would second that, Mr. Chairman, >> I am in favor. Roll call. >> I We'll be going into executive session. Have a good evening and happy Thanksgiving to all. >> Happy Thanksgiving. Goodbye.