001[Music] Good evening and welcome to the select board meeting of May 12th, 2025, 6 p.m. in room 3 at town hall. I will preface by saying we will not have an executive session this evening. I have a motion to sign the warrant. Uh motion, Mr. chair to sign the warrant of April 28, 2025. I second that and that is unanimous. We'll wait one moment for uh selectman Walsh. Good evening, Michael. Good evening, Michael. Good evening. Sorry, stop traffic. Second item uh this evening is the approval of the regular session minutes of April 28th, 2025. Motion, Mr. Chair, to approve the regular session minutes of April 28th, 2025. And I second that. And I am in agreement and that is unanimous. Do I have a motion to approve the executive session minutes 1st, 2025? Motion, Mr.
002chair to approve the executive session minutes of May 1st, 2025. And I would second that, Mr. Chairman, and I am in agreement. That is unanimous. We do not have any public hearings this evening. Schedule appointments. We have the human resources director with us this evening to discuss the social media policy for public bodies. Kristen, how are you? Good evening. How are you? Good. Thank you. Thank you. Excellent. Excellent. Uh so the social media policy actually we have a um a a more intensive policy that's um right now being examined by uh by Kate and all the unions. So it's going through that process. But I believe if Mr. George is there. He was the one to initially contact me and say, you know, could we carve out a social media policy for the committees, for
003the public bodies because, you know, uh that's an important segment and we could do that without um the part of the process that um you know is with the unions. And I said that sounds great. So, we found ourselves a template policy and uh we uh sent that over to um to Kate's office and um they um you know reviewed it and made some adjustments and sent it back to us. Uh which is I believe what you I I assume you have in front of you and you've had a chance to look at. Um Chris is actually a lot more involved on the uh ground on level with this. So if if he's here and he would like to speak to it, that would be great because he has to deal with this more than
004I do. Thanks. Good evening. I always love policies like that when you could pass it. So what do you have to say about Christian? I'm not dumb. So in in this day we have a lot of our um not only not only uh departments within the town but uh committees and trustees that are creating Facebook pages and right now there's no guideline there's no um there's no procedural path for them to take. Um, and we want to make sure that the messages that we're putting out to the public are consistent and clear. And we want to make sure that the guidelines help help our um, lay leaders and our uh, volunteers understand the goal, you know, the goal for the town, the goal for the community, and this policy will help guide them there. Good.
005Yeah, very comprehensive. I had read it. over the weekend. Um, any questions? Yeah, I just wanted a couple of comments, too. You know, cuz, you know, years ago, the newspaper was the only way we could get our message out to the uh public. Um, and it worked very well. Worked very well. It really did. Um and uh like I said through through the health department and whatnot, we got various regulations out, task force uh um um in in inspections out um a host of things that everybody understood and knew. Uh now of course again we're in the third decade of the 21st century and we have social media that took the place of newspapers, you know. So again, I and I appreciate these this this policy now because it keeps uh it gives us uh
006like I said, everybody a chance to be on the same page when they do put us something on Facebook because I know several committees and departments do have their Facebook page and and it's working well so far, but let's put everything so everybody's on the same page and a lot of departments with their Facebook pages are getting their messages out clearer and a lot easier. Right. So um the difference Paul is you know like Kristen and I are very uh well uh knowledged in our uh lists of goal our lists of policies and procedures we have to follow and our um leaders and our uh um think committees and trustees groups don't always know what Kristen and I know. Sure. So, we want to make sure that the messages they're getting they're giving to the
007community are consistent to the messages our select board and our administration have. That's excellent. Yeah. And that's the way to do it. And and I'm and I appreciate this. Um like I said, it it keeps everybody on the same page. It keeps residents involved and it keeps that uh unit of trust too that you know, we are uh transparent and and we're putting out what what what they should know too as well. The only question that I have would be on uh section five paragraph H and and and I'll read it and it says if a member is a contactctor directly by a reporter or any other member of the press or media outlet, he or she must immediately refer all questions to the town administrator. Again, I I know Ricky is a wealth of
008knowledge, but but I know uh people who are in that position, such as a committee that they have served on for so many years, would probably know the context of what a reporter wants to ask probably better than anybody else. You know, well, while we don't have a PR person for the town, the closest PR people we do have are Rick Fani and Brian. Yeah. And I know someone like Rick would actually refer that, you know, to the department head. I think the reason behind it is just for the initial uh ask by someone. Sure. To make sure it's something that we should be responding. Many times I and I appreciate that litigation. Uh it's a matter that is not open for public disclosure at this point. My goal there would be I'd have the
009uh reporter reach out to me and also have the committee member reach out to me and say this is what I'm being asked exactly and I can give advice andor a town council. Okay. But you're probably right. Nine out of 10 times it might be something and I and I'm satisfied with that answer that it cleared it up for me because I didn't get that just from reading. The last thing you want is a media tugof-war between who they've interviewed and the Yeah. No, absolutely. And and I just want to know just like I cuz sometimes let's say if the wrong information got out you know what I'm trying to say and again I appreciate that and and again I'm sure Ricky would get the department head involved or whoever would know more of that
010particular subject than anybody. Thank you. Thanks Mr. Chairman. Michael. Thank you Mr. Chairman. Um my first question Chris and Kristen um and I it kind of get answered when I reviewed this but the first thing I said to myself is why would a committee or a trustee of the town be setting up their own Facebook page without it going through our IT department? I'm going to answer that with as few words as possible. Um, it didn't start managing social media until a couple years ago. Okay. And by then, a lot of departments and committees had already created their pages. And as David, my systems administrator, now takes over the moderation and overall management of each page as we try to bring them in. Um, we're just trying to get everybody down to make sure that
011their messages are the same messages the town's putting out. Well, that's what I'm saying. So this is going to address that question. Correct. This is going to address and and and to Paul's and there are many there are many committees that have more than one page because there's just Mhm. Yeah. And the and again the reason I I I asked that question is that I was at an event at Louisa Lake a couple of weeks ago and and you know behind me was a conversation about some activity that's going on in the town and I could tell that all the information they were talking about was coming from Facebook and I finally had enough of it and I walked up to the gentlemen that were there and I said I can't really get into it
012with you but I can tell you that what you're talking about is not accurate. I can tell you that you're getting it from Facebook and you know, you know, this is kind of what's going on. But it's clearly, you know, inaccurate information. And that was my concern when I started reading this. I said, "Well, wait a minute. They've got their own Facebook pages. Who's monitoring what they're putting on there and and and their accuracy and their legality?" You know, so this, you know, you know, I mean, ju just from that coming along, the three of you or actually the four of you know, a misworded phrase can mean everything, especially Tom in in winning a case and losing a case. So you want to make sure that that message that committee is putting out is
013the message clear the first time. That way whatever's transpired over Facebook is at least coming from the clear first message. Sure. Right. Right. And and and not to pick on Facebook, but social media as a whole. Social media as a whole. Yes. Yeah. And and I think honestly and I I agree. I think it should you know it should go through you know it should start somewhere whether it's yourself or the town administrator everything should be reviewed by somebody before and then you know if that is not being adhered to on the policy then you know the town administrator or yourself will bring content content we currently moderate. If we have questions on the content, I'll bring it to Rick and if needed, I'll bring it to Brian just so the and then I let
014them bring it to that committee if need be. Yeah. And if action needed to be taken, we could take appropriate action. Right. It's not, you know, some people would listen to that statement say, "Oh, it's a control thing." It's not a control. It's just trying to make sure the information that's getting to you is, you know, out on the public sector is accurate information. We want to be transparent. We just want the transparency to be accurate. Correct. Exactly. Absolutely. So, thank you both very, very much for this being proactive once again. Well, Chris started it, but I'm glad he did because the the idea behind this is is to be consistent across the board and and also to give them guidelines. You have no idea how many times we're asked for why doesn't somebody just
015tell us what the rules are and and that's it's huge to have that. It's all and it's the same for everybody. So it's really big and you'll see a many many elements that are in front of you will be in the other bigger policy um that applies to all the employees. Thank you. Thank you. Um I just have a couple of questions Chris uh and and Kristen when I look at paragraph five and for instance one that was already um discussed well I'll start with F. Um, members shall not disclose conversations that take place between officials outside of meetings. Um, you could take that a couple ways. Yeah. And that's that's some of the issue. I mean, are we in the position to tell an elected official that they don't have the ability to comment
016publicly about something that was said to them? You know, we don't have that, right? So, I I think we have to take a look at some of the wording there. Um, and and and as well as with some of the other areas, and I'll touch on just a couple that jumped out at me. um paragraph H from if I'm contacted directly and we already discussed this from the media that I should send them to the town administrator. Um I I have a couple questions. One, are any of the board members here, you know, then obligated to follow that protocol? And even further, are we as a board, if we adopt this policy, in the position to tell other elected officials that if the media contacts them that they have to go to the town administrator
017before it goes out? And I I think that in some cases it could be extremely burdensome. Um the example I'll give you is the um town surveyor. to me times does he get a phone call about roads being closed, roads that are going to be repaired, you know, from the media, um, etc. If you had to feel through Rick every single time the media contacted, if we look at departments, the police department, um, then we should hire someone to handle media because, uh, it's going to be a full-time job. Um, and then I do have concerns. Are we in the position to tell for instance elected members of the parks department who get a contact about what's taking place now at town park um that they have to go to the town administrator or else
018I I yeah I understand what you're saying by the wording because the wording does restrict a bit. Um, I know the purpose of the wording was to even with the elected officials to help give them guidelines to keep them on a track, but at the same time, we we'll get to the guideline part next. Um, if we look at number eight, paragraph 8, which is meetings of town public bodies via social media prohibited. Um, And you and you come down. It says members are prohibited from using their personal or town social media accounts to communicate directly with a quorum. That makes sense. You ought not do that. But that's governed by law, right? Open meeting laws. So we know that. But then it goes on to say, "Or friending or following members of your public
019body." Um, so if I have a Facebook account and I have Paul on as a friend and I have Mike on as a friend, I'm in violation of this policy, even if I never communicate with them through that particular social media simply because they're friended. and they may have been friended before I ever became a member of a board. And when we take this across all of the boards, um I dare say if if we took a look for instance at the school committee and the number of employees that the school department has um or the number of board members, it's vast. It's right, you know, and is the town in the position to tell me who I can communicate by way of just having them as a friend? They can tell me not to
020communicate town matters. Correct. I ought not do that. That's an open meeting violation. But personal matters, we can't dictate. Correct. You know, messaging or responding to a comment or posted by members of your public body, it's very broad. It's not commenting. I mean, in this case, there's three members. If I'm commenting, then I'm in a discussion with them. And if it's something related to the town government, again, it's open meeting law. But you could have school committee members that are communicating, and there's no quorum there, and they're communicating on something personally that's of interest to the community generally. Um, and that's where I get to the sanctions, which is paragraph nine. violations of this policy will be subject to discipline up to included termination. Um, well, I don't know that you're on section. I'm looking
021for paragraph 9. Sorry. Go ahead. Is it section nine? Okay, I'll call it section N because the paragraphs were all lettered. Yeah. So, that's why I called it. Gotcha. But in any event, uh, number nine, violations, and it's saying to even elected officials that you're subject to discipline. Well, the only discipline I think we're subject to is if we violate the open meeting law, we're subject to discipline through the state. Through the state. Correct. Um, if we violate an ethics law, we're we're, you know, subject to discipline through um the ethics commission. other than that was subject to discipline through the ballot box. Um so up to and including termination I'm not quite sure who's going to terminate volunteer the chairperson of whatever committee y um the committee themselves don't have that authority u as
022we've learned in other circumstances to remove someone um Kristen I think a couple of these we're going to have to and then to suggest that if someone does post something in their official capacity that they are solely liable for any damages, losses, etc. Well, that can't be right either. I can guarantee you it's not right. They're going to get sued if they defame someone. Yes. But if it's related to their position in the town as as a member of town government, um you can better believe that the town is going to be named. Um, and I don't know that the town without an indemnification from every single board member and every single official that falls under this policy uh, indemnifies. I I think you have trouble getting people to run for boards. Um, you already
023have that. Yeah, maybe we could finetune in some aspects of it. We can find a thing going through the town administrator. I think what Tom is saying, a routine announcement by the park commissioner to the press that they're going to have an event on a certain night should not have to come through me. So maybe we can uh maybe throw some exceptions there and then work from there. For example, that would I think I think in in the in the paragraphs that that Tom has mentioned and Paul has mentioned um it just instead of leaving it broad, we're going to have to really you're going to have to be much more specific. We have to be more specific. We can the way to be specific I would say when it comes to social media for
024instance like I'm also a commissioner on the mosquito board for the state. Okay. There's times I get the call first if there's a triple E uh m uh mosquito pool or a West Nile virus mosquito pool that they found in in Milford. The press needs to know that now. Yes they do. Radio needs to know that now. I'm not going to say go call Rick cuz now public health is is in jeopardy. Okay. We need to close practices after 5:00. We needs to uh the area that they were found in. We need to have sprayed people to close their windows and and be prepared, you know, cuz time is of the essence there. So again, I can tell you right now if this I have to I will defy it, you know. I wouldn't say
025call Rick. I'll answer myself unless somebody yell at me later. But I I think there's there's a broader discussion as to boards and committees as to how they're governed in general. I mean you have water commissioners who are their own correct and they make a lot of decisions for the water department that we don't I mean should should should this board you know is the town administrator right is an employee of this board are we in the position to overrule the water commission is they're going to issue something about the quality of water No, no, no. And if the media contacts them and they speak to the media, if if they're and I'm not saying they've ever been incorrect. I I let me paraphrase it this way. If any board issues information that ultimately turns
026out to be wholly inaccurate, as I said, if they're elected officials, they're going to be held accountable at the next election. if they're appointed, then they're going to be held accountable by the board that appoints. Again, no one no one knows how to respond better than those that are on that board. That's why defining a social media policy for a public body is even harder than defining one for staff, right? But there have to be guidelines that they know they have to go by. Yes. We we want to have clear when it comes to social media, but but if just to talk to the press about an emergency or about something, you need to get out to them. That's not that's not social media. you know, you're talking to the milit news or the patch.
027We're talking about something, you know, we're talking about. So, you're not putting something on uh Facebook, but it just, you know, I mean, there I just think there are some things I I'm not saying it's not wise. I I think that it's an issue of really looking at it and we're trying to define their personal accounts, you know, rather than define personal and town accounts to say you're dealing with the town's official business and whether or not they have the ability to put that out there. Social media is the media communication today. Yeah, without a question. So, um, you know, I mean, it's the old thing, you know, a lie is already around the world before the truth puts its boots on. Correct. Right. So, but the fact is is no information is bad. Misinformation,
028right? You know, that's misinformation and and that could hurt us as much as anything else. I I I just and as I said, you know, when you take a look and you're saying, well, there's punishment there, I think then you get held to account because you don't have the ability to do that which you said you would do. Um, given the comments, Chris and Kristen, no, you have enough to go now. I think I've got enough from them. Another run at it. And obviously you can bring Kate in. Uh some of the questions on the legality of can we or can we not do it, you know, or if we need to. We're, you know, I mean Kate's dealing more with the employee side of it. Correct. I would say to bring, you know, town
029counsel Brian Murray and uh you know, Jerry Moody, you know, based on his experience as well, um just simply to say, you know, is this legally sound? Is it overly broad so it means nothing? Um, and is it something that is viable? I mean, such as the punishment section. Mhm. It's just, you know, the town found out in one instance the hard way that you can't just remove someone from a board. So, I uh those are my comments. Other than that, Kristen, I'm gonna pick through this and uh in light of Paul, Mike's, and Tom's comments, I'm gonna make a couple edits and we'll we'll discuss discuss them. Okay. Yeah. We can bring it back before you again. Okay. Sure. For another review. Sure. Thank you very much. At some point, I want to get
030it right. It's a difficult Yeah. It's got to get It's got to be difficult concept to deal with, especially for me. Um so, okay. And if we could get a look, I know you said Kristen's working with the unions. If we could get a look at the draft of what's out there right now, in other words, what is what are we working off of in talking to the unions, whoever is talking directly to them. Um, so that we have an idea of what's being discussed with them. And again, so we don't walk kind of into the same situation. Yeah. Of telling them. Sure. We'll have some collective bargaining sessions soon and maybe we can wrap that in there without Yeah. I might not be something I want to put on you want to put on.
031Just knowing what the proposal is, what what are we discussing with them with the uh employees at this point? Those that are, you know, represented. Yep. Makes sense. Um, and then we also have to keep in mind that there are a number of employees that aren't in those represented pools, right? So, okay, good. Okay, Kristen, anything else at this point? No, no, we've got a handful of of those policies out there with the with the unions. It's social media and three or four others, I think. Um, so you know, we'll they've already been reviewed by council, but that now they're out to the unions, but you can certainly see them in advance and you know, we can go at it from all sides at once. Why not? Yeah. It's just a thought, you know, you
032may eliminate some of the uh the fight, you know. Indeed. Try. Yeah. No, thank you. Thank you both. No. Good. Excellent. Yeah. Thank you. Very good. Thank you, Chris. Thank you, Kristen. Um, the next item is a town administrator's report. Yes, just one item tonight. Um, happy to report. I've been informed by Representative Brian Murray. He has submitted an earmark in the fiscal year 26 budget that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for upgrades to a pedestrian crossing at the Milford Youth Center and to include other renovations or improvements. There has been some concern about the safety of this crossing with student pickups. uh the volume of traffic. Um so uh I thank Brian for doing that. As you know, the budget will now proceed to the Senate, eventually to conference committee before getting
033to the governor for final approval. Brian did say he's somewhat optimistic that the earmark will remain and survive uh conference committee. But all of you, I'm sure, are very aware of where we're talking about basically from where the parking lot is across the street crosses to the steps at the uh senior center. Again, not sure what upgrades and what would be involved. Obviously, we'd have to study that. Um, so I want to thank Brian for doing that. That's all I have for town ministry. Thank you tonight. Good. Thank you, Rick. Old business. We do not have any items on the agenda. Moving on to new business. Uh, Veterans Department, a permit to obstruct for the Memorial Day parade. Do I have a motion? Motion, Mr. chair to uh approve the um request from the Veterans
034Department to obstruct for the Memorial Day parade as he uh described in the uh application. I would second that Mr. Chairman and I would agree and that's unanimous. Second item is Preso Grill and Bar, an amendment to the common victual license, all alcoholic beverages. Um, and a change of hours. So, they're adding, it just appears they're adding live entertainment, right? Yes. Uh right now they're looking to add on uh the change of hours is Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. And then the second there's I guess we kind of separated them. Uh the second item, the next item on your agenda is for the entertainment. And that's Wednesday and Thursday, 5 to 9. Basically, it's live music, one person being maybe two people. Uh so right now that's uh so it' be two separate items uh F2
035and F3 in front of you. So, are they seeking a license for the entertainment? Yes, that would be a new license. They presently do not have one. Okay. Correct. Yes. Do So, we would have to do that as a motion to Yes. And then as far as the hours go, um I mean the hours are within the statute. Do they have different hours on the license itself? I think they do. They are within They still would be within the right statute as you well know. They actually have different hours on the license. I believe so they do and I think that's the need to to issue the new license. I I should say the amended license. Mhm. Live entertainment is to be inside. Correct. Not out of the strictly inside. Correct. Correct. Yep. Mike. Yeah.
036Do I have a motion? Motion, Mr. here uh to approve the um common uh uh amendment to this common vict license in regards to change of hours as um described on their application which would be Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 1 uh a.m. Friday 11:30 a.m. uh to 1:00 a.m. and Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. And all paperwork is in order from what I understand it is. I'm going to second that, Mr. Chairman. And I would agree that's unanimous. Um, do I have a motion as it relates to the issuance of a live entertainment license? Yeah, a motion, Mr. Chair, to approve the live entertainment uh application. Um, and I believe they're going to have it on um according to their application Wednesday and Thursday only from 5 to 900 p.m. Uh, and live music.
037It'll be a oneperson band, sometimes a twoperson band. I would second that, Mr. Chairman, and I agree. So, that is unanimous. There was no other items, Rick, that I not for presos. Those were the only two. Uh, Mr. Chairman. Yep. Um, and then we have Preso amendment comments that we already did the entertainment license. Very good. Um, fourth item is Council on Aging, two new handicap accessible parking spaces at the senior center. Um, yeah. So I received information from Dino Deep. That's the request. Yes. And the senior center is busting. It seems no question. I don't know if anybody else sees that. You I mean they're parked on the street. So I guess there's a number of people who do have disabilities and if they're forced to park that far away, uh creates difficulties for
038them. So, they're looking to take two existing spaces and make sure those uh handicap. There are a number already. Yeah, we do have a number already. Yeah, there's a whole row there um to the right of the building as you head towards the bike path. Right. So, there's probably in the framework of six or so believe six or to eight maybe in the tops. Yeah. Okay. Fencing there. Right. So, they're looking to add too. Yes. Um if you gentlemen have any questions. No, Mr. Chair, if if no one has any questions, I'd like to make a motion to approve it because accessessibility is very crucial um uh in in ensuring that residents that have a mobility uh challenge uh have access to the important facilities such as the um senior center. So, I think this
039a good idea to have it. and Scott says he'll take care of all the um what has to be done such as painting of the uh uh handicap uh lines and whatnot. So I I make a motion to approve this request. I would second that, Mr. Chairman. And I'm in agreement. So that is unanimous. The town administrator concerning town planner appointment process. Yeah, just basically as you know uh Larry Duncan has announced his retirement. longtime planner going to be sorely missed. Um I would like to start the process uh with the board's permission. Uh I've spoken with Kristen uh on it. She is going to assist me with the various uh public notices and publications. Uh I also would like to uh and I have reached out to the planning board chair to uh add
040uh someone to assist me to help interview or whittle down the applications. Also um I looked at how it was done last time. U we had someone from the concom also again those are the two boards that work primarily with this position. So, uh, with the bullet permission, I'd like to start that process as soon as possible. Larry has indicated he's retiring, I believe, I want to say the end of August if possible. I think budgetary it will possible to maybe hire someone with a slight overlap because it's a fairly technical difficult position and we have and Larry's been here I think 17 18 years roughly. So, with the board's permission, we can talk more about the process as we go along as to how the board would like to make the final appointment. Um,
041August 29th. Is it 29th? That correct? I know it was somewhere in the end of Yeah. Thank you. Um, we could talk more about that as to how the final position would be, final interviews before this board. However you want, we can deal with that. Um, but for now, I really would like to get the process publicized, start the applications coming in. Usually we do it on a royal basis and I would like to uh add a planning board member and a concom member to assist me and I think Kristen will also sit in for the interviews also if that's okay. I think Larry actually uh started the year before I started with the PD. So that'll be 2001. I think that's it was even longer than I did 2001. the early 2000s. He was
042in his letter, Mike. I think it was so December 3rd, 2001. Memory. Yeah, great memory. Wasn't none of us none of us were here then. So, uh, so it's been longer than that. 24 years. This is my sixth town plan. We were saying Yeah. Yeah. Hopefully this next one will be your last. Yeah, I know. I know it. Anyway, they I'd like to get the process going. Yeah. uh report back to the board as we go and again for the final selection obviously the board's prerogative as to how you would like to accomplish that right in and excuse me Mr. Just a comment to Rick where I did appreciate the u in in your description you put the candidate should have u um basic knowledge and experience re requirements because again as you know this
043position is a c is a crucial role in shaping communities as the town planner and again it's good to see a good education and and experience in the background because we like to see someone that's here with the town like Milford with the zoning regulations we have the uh projects that in developments that we have that we need someone to hit the ground running and not having someone that just has to learn the roles. I'd like if I can I'd like to work some overlap with town planner Duncan if possible. If it's not I was going to say I would hope that if you have a committee Larry would sit on uh Larry is going to help me with the applications and he Yes, he will be involved. Correct. Good. Yep. Thank you. Thank you.
044Thank you. Do you need an approval of that? I I don't long as I have a consensus from the board that you're in agreement with me. act the process and obviously we're reporting back to you. Great. Um there's no one in the audience for invitation to speak. Chris, anyone online? There's no one online. No one online. So there's no one for invitation to speak. Um I do not have correspondence uh on Mazelli. No, I don't. Mr. Chairman Michael, I do not chairman. And I already indicated that we will not be going into executive session. So do I have a motion to adjurnn? Motion to adjourn. Mr. Chair, I would second that, Mr. Chairman. That is unanimous. And we thank you all who tuned in and we hope that it was informative and we look forward
045to seeing you at our next meeting. Have a great weekend. Thank you. Good job.