001I will just say Mr. >> I'm not sure. What I'm getting at details couldn't defend it if I had to write or something. So you need to do and this is what I plan to look if statements are made. So if you put your hand please statements should be That's quite frankly last Now 30 minutes. So it time I want to get >> Sorry. The room is not available. It was perfect. Can you hear us? So, we're going to move this along quickly. So, welcome to the board of selections meeting. So, first of all, are there any citizens comments? All right. There being none, we will move to um item 1.1 on the agenda. and it is going to be a discussion and a vote regarding the reclassification of the compensation study. And I'm going
002to turn it over to Robin Tino, our head of HR. And I think it was around last year this time, we talked about doing the study and now we have the results of that study. Not a surprise to me, but I turn it over to you and not steal your thunder. Um, well, thank you for having us today. >> Do you want to We don't bite. If you'd like to come sit, >> I believe Mike wanted to start off. Um, >> I mean, if I was I can I think Robin introduced it. Um, you know, I was just going to share this has been a many month progress. Uh, started with the personnel board and just want to thank Robin, HR Robin as we call her, um, for all her work working with the consultants
003that will speak tonight. Um, I really want to thank the consultants. They were excellent. I think you'll see that in their presentation. They were really great to work with. Um, but you know, as Robin said, uh, the personnel board did meet. Um, they've reviewed this over the course of many months and they did make a recommendation, um, to you as a selectman to adopt this study, uh, and the associated new wage schedule that's with here that's within here. Um, so if Robin wants to introduce our consultants, I think they'll give an overview and then we can provide a little more details and answer any questions. Thank you. >> Yeah. So, um I'd like to introduce Jen Thompson and Heather Lemieux from Capital Strategic Solutions. I have worked very closely with them since last October um
004to perform a comprehensive uh classification and compensation plan. um they were wonderful to work with and what they did because we had one done back in 21, they didn't need to do all our job descriptions um again and they didn't have to come in to interview everyone. So we provided them with the job descriptions, they reviewed them for um FLSA compliance. they review and they scored them and then they also created went from five grades to 10 grades to uh alleviate the compression that we had with the five grades. Um >> and and is that consistent with what most towns have more than five grades? >> The towns that I've worked for have more than five grades. Um Heather and Jen could probably um they work with many municipalities and they could probably um answer
005that question, but um yeah, I'd like to introduce them and you can do your presentation. >> That sounds great. I'm so sorry. I didn't hear the question answer now. So, so my question was Robin had mentioned that um we used to have five grades and we we increased it to 10 and I was asking if that was more standard than the five grades. >> Okay, great question. Um and we'll have to get into the details of why we did it, but yes, that is more common. I would say five is definitely less common. um we we typically get more closer attention about we'll talk about that a little bit too um when we get to that I do have a few slides I won't worry too much with poweroint because you have a report which
006is much more comprehensive but I just figured if there is you know anyone there in the audience or anyone at home that's watching the broadcast or me watching the broadcast I just wanted to give a brief overview um the work that we did and then Heather um I'll do a quick introduction and a few things and then um I will take a word. She really did the the work of the project. I think I have to someone let me share. Um >> while you're sharing I have a quick uh clarification if you could just explain to the public what a step and a lane what they are and what they do. >> Oh sure. So >> can you see that? Okay. >> Um not yet. There we go. Perfect. >> Okay, great. Perfect. So, just
007a little bit about uh who we are. Those of you that don't know us, many of our companies have strategies and solutions. Uh a lot of folks refer to us as CSS and we're a small municipal consulting firm based out of Hudson. Um most of us, including Heather and I, worked the majority of our careers in the public sector um for government or state government. And then uh retired I say that I retired but um or semi-retired or um I do this but in the field so our staff were very fortunate are a lot of former town administrators HR directors CFOs um DPW directors and fire chiefs police chiefs um so it's wonderful because we have extensive experience in doing things like class um on both sides Yes. So, we've done several like that as
008consultants, but we've also done them as um in many roles as your HR director. We've experienced other consultants coming in and doing them um as I can tell you for myself um as a town manager. I've had them done and most importantly probably I had them done as an employee um you know coming up through the ranks. So, I've seen them done well and I've seen them done not so well. So when we kind of build our model, we um really tried to customize it and and learn from the examples we've seen throughout our career. Um so thank for their next contest at the beginning. I would just say they have been such a joy to work with as well as the person on board. So it's a very collaborative process and we've absolutely loved
009working with just a quick introduction. My name again is Jennifer Thompson. I'm one of the partners of the firm and um prior to like I said working as a consultant I was um a town manager for seven years for the time of playing. Before that, I was the assistant town manager in what used to be a very large town and is now a city of Framingham. Um, and worked in many roles there before I was the assistant town manager, including um some HR work, some procurement work, some finance work um in various departments and I was there for 16 years total. also um was a former CFO of Newsville County Sheriff's Office and again um spent the majority of my career in the public sector before just recently um in the last four years moving
010over uh CSS and becoming a partner. I will just introduce you and give her background as well. >> Hello everyone, good evening. Um, as like Jen, I was the town manager previously. I wor in the town of River for close to 8 years as their town manager. Prior to that, I was a town administrator in Barry and um basically my whole career has been inspect uh similar to other work I did in my previous roles and again I really very thoroughly enjoy working with Robin in my project for great work and excellent work. >> Thanks. So just uh very quickly um just to give you a quick overview of what was the state of the slides. Um we'll do a quick introduction background which we just did. Um we'll tell you what the objectives were
011for the project um scope of work, the methodology that we used for the project and then we'll um go through some of the key findings as well as our recommendations and talk about next steps. So just as an introduction um as you know uh and again this is more for folks that may be watching this or learning about it for the first time we're engaged by the town to evaluate the classification and compensation structure. The major goals of this were to evaluate and make recommendations regarding internal equity between your positions, market competitiveness, making sure you're competitive um with your uh comparable communities and building some long-term sustainability for your employees and for the system that you'll have in place um because you'll have this model, you own it, and you'll be able to use it
012going forward. Um the study included 52 non-un positions and again we'll talk about this a little bit more but um your current system had five grades and we proposed for fiscal year 27 changing that to 10 and I'm going to go ahead. >> Thank you. This study was designed to make sure the town's classification and compensation system is fair, competitive, and sustainable. We looked at whether positions are aligned appropriately based on responsibilities, how do compares with similar communities, and whether the overall structure remains practical in the town moving forward. To do that, we review town positions across the organization. We looked at job descriptions and their responsibilities, evaluated how positions relate to one another internally. And we also compared diverse paid structure to similar municipalities and use that information to develop an updated compensation classification
013plan for FY27. The study followed a straightforward process. We began by meeting the town administration to confirm an also project. From there we identified comparable communities review positions using an objective evaluation system and combine that with market data to develop recommendations. >> So can I ask a question here? When when you look at market data, do you adjust it for the fact that we're a smaller town than some of the other towns or does that not come into play? Again, I'm trying to figure out how you determine um what is a fair and equitable level of compensation. The market data does not take into account um size of community, but the comparable committees are ones um that do feels are in their regional um salary um market data position based like data. >> So, so
014it's demographics and um sometimes budget wise there's similar budgets and sky. So, so it's really communities that we would be competing with for open position, >> correct? Yes. >> So, it's a true market assessment of compensation then, >> right? You know, we we've talked about before. Um, do is very special. We say that all the time, >> right? Well, we know that >> and and part of that being special is we are very small in a very large uh surrounded by very large communities. There's not a lot of very similar communities. So, you know, are we directly comparable to need them or native? No, we're not. Right. >> Um, you know, is uh are they on our list? Yes, they are because we do compete with them. But we understand we're not a need them.
015Um, and that's why, you know, I think they'll talk about later. We're also not aiming to match those high salaries, right? We're aiming for like a 60th percentile kind of match to help account for some of those differences. >> Right. But I think you know what we've seen as we've been out in the market is to get good qualified candidates we've had to go to the top end of our range to bring people in. So I think you know so certainly the results of this comp study not to cut to the chase reflected that but I was just curious as to you know how they evaluated what market was because they did give us a peak at the next slide and you could see that you know some of the towns are a lot larger
016than us >> question that's very slower market engine compared to 10 similar Massachusetts communities. Those communities were selected based on factors like size, location, staffing structure, and the services they provide. It gives a strong basis for understanding diverse compensation levels, how they compare regionally. We also use a point factor evaluation system to review positions internally and consistently. That means positions were evaluated using the same criteria such as knowledge required, level of responsibility, decision making, supervision and complexity of work. This helps ensure internal equity and a fairation structure. At a high level in the study, we found that many different positions fall low market levels when compared to similar communities. We also found that the current five grade structure limits differentiation between roles and can create compression in certain areas. There were also opportunities to update
017some job descriptions and classifications. Based on those find items, we recommend modernizing your current structure. That includes expanding the pay grade system, creating more consistency within the salary schedule, and positioning compensation closer to the competitive market. We also recommend updating certain job descriptions and maintaining the system through regular review. Is this a good time just to ask that for again the public that >> if you would please just describe uh or explain what the steps are, what lanes are uh and all the terminology that we all live in but the general public won't understand >> and maybe differentiate between non-union grades >> grades and steps steps. >> Okay. So greed um is basically the level of responsibility and authority and um it describes how the position fits within the organization from a hierarchy perspective. So
018a grade one position is um would be the lowest level of responsibility and um their task in the overall organization compared to a grade 10 position which would be um in ouration DW director or assistant town administrator. Do you know what? Sorry. Go ahead. I don't know if why do we have only five versus more >> that it was done during the last study. It was the consultant's decision to compress the grades from 15 grades um down to five. >> That's what I somewhere in the back of my head. I was like, we used to have a lot more and now we're down to five. >> Right. >> And we're saying that didn't work. We're going back to 10, >> right? >> Maybe 15 was too many, but I think 10 is a >> You
019went too far the other way. >> Yeah, >> we tried it. >> Yeah, right. >> Thank you. Go ahead. >> Yes. Go to Indiana on that that causes compression issues when you have too few grades to separate their roles within hierarchy. We have overlap with um positions within an organization um with the reporting structure and positions within departments that could cause overlap and therefore compression with regard to status. that is the incremental increases employees receive each year as um the number of years that they're in the organization in in the town and as their years of service go on they get a higher rate of pay >> and and I think it's important to me overall benefit is a compensation system that's more equitable competitive and easier to manage over time. It supports recruitment and
020retention and creates clearer progression between roles and provides more transparent framework for compensation decisions. Implementation can be approached in a way that works in the town. That may include budgeting over multiple years, updating position descriptions, aligning internal policies, and communicating clearly with staff throughout the process. In summary, this study gives the town a road map for updating its classification compensation system. It identifies where the current structure can be improved and provides practical recommendations to strengthen competitiveness, internal equity, and long-term sustainability. We appreciate the opportunity to work with the town and be happy to answer any questions at this time. >> So, I appreciate, you know, the work that was done. The report was really comprehensive and I actually um had sent a couple of questions ahead of time that I was interested in understanding. Um
021and and I understand town meeting is next week. So I had said in my email, you don't feel as though you need to answer my questions today. But um you know the one question which is answered here is I wanted to understand the budgetary impact um and and what our approach was because clearly we have many positions that are below market and I wasn't surprised by this finding based upon what we had to do to hire qualified candidates for oppositions. So I think we all expected the town would have to overhaul somewhat the the um the um >> compensation. Uh you know one of the questions I did have because we are we are facing budgetary pressure >> recording in progress >> from all ends. So I was asking you know do we have is
022it is it difficult for us to hire people without um you know without without increasing salaries and and also and then I was wondering what percentage of our employees leave because their compensation is below Do you want me to start to answer that a little bit? So, um, Robin and I appreciate Robin Hunter bringing to our attention. Robin and I met to kind of go over them. The one is um you know the personnel board as part of their discussions as you said was very clear we were below market but being cognizant of our budget they made a conservative decision which was not to make a major market adjustment all at once and instead to move every employee um to the new proposed pay scale but only at the next highest step. So for every
023employee that could be different. For some employees it could be five cents an hour. For some employees it could be multiple dollars an hour. Just depends on how how much of an adjustment there was. But that was the most conservative way to move people to the new program. Um and that results in an impact this year of approximately $64,000. So you know again in the certainly that's not nothing but in the scheme of our budget that's a pretty reasonable amount to get everybody on this new track. and and we had already anticipated some some amount and we put that already in the budget. Cor >> correct. So we do have a salary set aside which is made up of of the potential for this study um as well as our two ongoing new negotiations as
024well. That's right. Um and then just to be a little more specific on your previous uh comment and question about we're having a hard time. It is true. So our last three department head positions, we've had to bring those employees in at top step or in one case above top step in order to attract a candidate. So we knew without this study we had a problem, but this study certainly backed it up. Um the other ongoing issue we have is we've been trying very hard and I think Kevin's still here um to hire a town engineer. um we've had some really excellent candidates um but even at top step uh they would not accept the position. Um so again just more data to say you know even before this study we knew we had a
025a problem computing in the market. So, if we've hired somebody at high steps um and we're going to transfer them across to somewhere to another another um grouping um to to give them a market um uh salary. How how do do these people progress then through through the steps in that next one? That means they still haven't got much room to progress. Is that right? >> It's a great question. So, it depends. It really depends on the employee. Um, so you're right, everyone would move to this new grade and then move to the next closest step. So, so many employees were on top step. They will now have room to grow. Some it could be um could be as many as 5 years. Some, you're right, could be closer. So, it could only be a
026year or two. >> Um, so they will, you know, eventually again hit that top step, but at least now we can be confident and say at that top step we are being competitive. Yeah. Um and again those employees who are in top step would continue to receive a cost of living adjustment as is voted each year by the personnel going to select to adjust >> and and I think we discussed there there also other reasons people may want to come to do and I think we found that going to the 4 day week which I want to make clear is not working fewer hours it's working a full week in four days versus five days. I I believe that I I know from some of the candidates that was attractive to them. >> Correct. Very
027very much so. Yeah. And I'm also very pleased to say, you know, now that um so to work those four hours, we reopen late tonight on Tuesday. Um and we are finding more and more residents are taking advantage of that. Um so you know the certainly was a benefit to current and potential employees but we hope also a benefit to the public to be available you know after their working hours when they can come to the townhouse to conduct business and we found that certainly it's been beneficial >> and it's not so much the um right now I haven't seen any uh employees leaving due to the pay um well maybe a couple but they're in the union uh but for the most part they're um they're staying and now they're ha you know they're
028happier the morale is increased they feel they're if they're applying for positions they realize that do is um being paid fair and equitable the 4-day work week there's a lot of benefits to working in do >> right and and you know I think it's important to make clear to citizens of do just because we're a smaller town doesn't mean there's less work as as a matter of fact, you're actually going to be doing more. So, it takes a special type of person that wants to see more in their role than just a small sliver in a larger town. >> Correct. we have to take care of our own employees and uh with all the hiring that has happened over the last two years, this is not only not a surprise, it's like yeah, no kidding.
029>> So, um I mean I don't have any questions on it because you know, >> you know, I thought that these were important questions. We know the answers to them, but people listening should under should understand, >> right? Absolutely. So, with that, I think I'm going to move to adopt the town of Dover's classification and compensation study report dated February 2026 as recommended by the personnel board. >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> I >> We can say it together. And I'd like to thank Robin and Mike and I'm sure Chris and the >> Jennifer >> C CSS for for all your work. And >> I know you can't let studies like these sit on the back burner for five years. They're fluid five or 10 years. So I'm sure we'll be reaching back
030out at some point. So thank you. Very, very thorough presentation. >> Thank you so much. Thank you. >> Thanks. >> Have a good day. Thank you. >> All right. So, the next item on the agenda, which is item 1.2, is to award a bid for the townwide landscaping island maintenance to zero Kbonian Sons. I hope I didn't butcher their names. of Newtonville, Massachusetts. And Kevin is going to give us um some information. >> Yeah. So, as you summarize, looking for the board's approval tonight for our townwide uh landscaping bid. Um this uh it was actually probably my most soughtafter contract. We had 29 plan holders, but surprisingly only four bids. Um this is work we've done forever. Um it's just we uh exceeded the contract threshold um that we needed a contract and so it
031was just a little housekeeping that we did to to actually memorialize and put a contract um put it out to bid. Um Cairo car bones and Sons the reviews came back excellent. Um they actually do the per uh the marathon route in Newton. So that's kind of like the so so um uh and the contract is three-year renewable option. also seeking the board's approval for the contract in the subsequent years. Uh in similar to my tree contract, they actually held pricing for all three years, which is um >> and yeah, so um if there's any questions with that, >> I always wondered who took care of the Highlands and as I was reading through the packet, I'm like, well, oh, I thought there were some garden clubs that I I show. >> Yeah. So, in
032in the bid, there's 11 locations. So, actually one of them we're going to um take out um which is uh Claybrook in Center Street. So, until the day that that stops being maintained, but it'll be covered uh in this bid. Um so, I believe Garden Consortium out of Medfield uh is the one that does that. But any of the other garden clubs, they they don't do anything on these islands. So, um Park and Wreck used to do a few and then we, you know, and then we would uh we had a local contractor maintain them. Um, and then we just kind of put them all under our umbrella. And >> so they're going to get weeded, they're going to get some flowers, they're gonna be maintained. And um, Mark, I know you're really really upset
033that you're going to be losing this work, but um, I just want to add to I appreciate uh, Kevin, this was a legal thing we had to do now that we've exceeded the threshold, but um, well, it's always nice to see some of the local this fine savings over what we have been doing. Correct. >> Yeah. So, um, basically the last two fiscal years, uh, was around 42,38 the year fiscal year prior to that. So, it'll be around a $14,000 operational savings. So, that's >> Yeah, >> we had to do it, but it's also a nice side benefit. >> We'll take it. But >> I was surprised we had so many islands. >> Well, I was looking at the list and I'm like, that's right. There, too. So, yes, they're check. They're all there. Uh
034>> yeah. So with your approval tonight, we're uh uh Bob Toss has been in contact with them. So uh we're hoping that they'll they'll gear up and come to town and and you know, you'll see those the spring refresh, if you will, at at the townwide island. So that's great. >> Next as early as next week. >> All right. So I'm going to move to award the bid for townwide landscaping island maintenance. Okay. How do you say that? Kira, >> I believe so. Yes. >> Hiro Carboni and Sons of Newtonville, Mass for the first year of a renewable three-year contract at a cost of $28,765. >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> I love this. >> We should leave together. >> All right, hold on. Let me >> Now we can't advance on our
035computers. >> I know this is really hard. I was trying to be discreet about this. All right, here it is. >> There were a lot of islands. >> All right. >> Yeah. >> All right. So, now I'm going to turn this over to Mr. >> We are going to approve a scope of services between Dober and Tech for the Chering Elementary School pedestrian assessment. >> Oh, correct. So we've um any I haven't found the the point yet trying to work out what it is. >> Okay, you can use my >> Yeah, thank you. Um so so the um the working group public the transport safety working group um has been meeting to discuss various options in the way we can improve the safety around the schools. Uh and that schools is generic. It's not just
036um chering, but we're also uh taking a look at what at the middle school, >> the regional school campus. >> Yeah, the regional school campus as well because there has been some concern about the safety uh of the pedestrian crossings there as well. Um and um there has been some suggestions that we start making some changes immediately and Kevin has come up with a proposal instead to do an assessment of actually what the need is. Um that makes sense >> and get that get that clarified first uh before we start just willy-nilly making changes >> that could be wrong or the wrong >> that could be. Yeah. Um and um so we think that that this is the appropriate um path to follow. Um Mike, I don't know whether you've got any other other comments
037you wanted to add on. >> No, I I think you you hit it. Um, you know, I think it's it's a good representation of the working group from uh DBW, public safety planning, um, the schools, also some um, area residents, and um, you know, this again in the scheme of things, this is not a huge ticket item, but we are going to work with the schools to see if we might be able to do some shared costs for this. Uh, but we're asking your approval that if if we do need to pick up the whole cost, we want to do that because we do think this is important um, to move forward. So, >> well, I think I really commend this suggestion, Kevin, because you know, we tend to do things in a vacuum without
038looking at it holistically and then sometimes what you did was absolutely not the right thing to do. >> Sure. >> And you know, and I think also that sidewalk was the citizens petition that we had for two years was trying to solve just a portion of the problem. >> Right. Exactly. Correct. And then that in and of itself created a bigger problem. Right. >> So this is and and this is why we formed this committee to look at it holistically >> in a comprehensive way. Yeah. >> Um and we did start considering potential changes uh on the Chering school campus uh and then felt that u maybe we're putting the cart before the horse and that we should really do an assessment of the need. And uh this way we we're talking from real data
039as opposed to um um suppositions and um um and pre preconceptions. >> I'm sure the schools want to do that as well, right? I mean it's their campus. So we to get onto their campus and start dictating. >> That said, the schools have have been somewhat skeptical about um making changes. they feel that the need is much smaller than some people have portrayed. Um and um they're doing that every day. So one one needs to listen to them. On the other hand um I'm somewhat concerned that if we do have some an accident there and a child is injured then uh we're going to be facing some some challenges and we need to look at it seriously. Look at it from all sides. get do a numbersbased assessment and then we can make some decisions
040on the basis of that. >> It makes sense to me. Let's think before we act and study before we act. >> Yeah. >> Great. And make sure that the need is real >> because maybe schools are right and maybe the citizens are right. >> Exactly. >> Yeah. And this takes all the subjectivity out of it from all parties. It's a non-biased professional organization that's going to do the traffic counts. They're going to look at movement throughout the entire parking lot and make those suggestions back to us. >> Speed and traffic. >> Yeah. And then the committee will take that back and if that's something we want to adopt and obviously in conjunction with the schools then then that'll be phase two for implementation. >> Right. >> So to ask an obvious question the schools are
041all on board. >> Okay. Just want to make sure. >> Good question. >> Well, >> right. So then I'm going to move to approve the scope of service between Dover and Tech for a Chering. Well, it's for a schoolwide, right? >> It's the study >> for Okay. >> Yeah. So if I can add some Madam Chair some to add something on on the regional schools >> context. So this is specifically for the Chering findings. Uh currently we have a grant submission in to actually address the uh crossing at Donley to Farm Street and actually put a ADA compliant sidewalk into the campus. Um so uh DOT at a conference I was at last week indicated we know by the end of April. So within the days I should we should know if we have the
042funding for that. Um so that'll be construction funds to build that. >> Right. So that'll be construction funds for that project um to put a rapid flash beacon. So a pedestrian indicated light versus the flashing constant flashing lights that are out there that kind of blend in and become white noise over time. >> Start ignoring them after a while. >> Yeah. >> And and actually that's that's exactly what they have in Medfield at the rail trail. They have those, you know, >> you hit the button, >> right? And it's it's on Forest Street right by Dober. So I think people should be accustomed to it. It works rather well. >> Yeah. >> All right. So I will continue. So I'm going to move to approve the scope of services between Dober and Tech for Chering
043Elementary School pedestrian assessment at a cost of $5,900. Second. >> All in favor? I >> I thank you. >> All right. >> It is a little bit more convenient even, >> right? >> So, the next item is the um a vote to declare surplus surplus surplus police department gear um or to to declare police department gear as surplus. And this is an annual item or just an ongoing item. You can't get rid of things unless the board of selectmen declares them a surplus. And getting rid of them is not throwing them in the trash. A lot of times they get sold at auction, but this cannot get done without the board of selectments. >> In this case, particularly in the trash, >> right, this is this is, you know, spring cleanup uh after some recent
044retirements. Um so yeah, pretty standard request. >> So I'm sure this is going to be sold on the government website. >> Uh yeah. Well, this one is actually um they uh get a credit with a dealer. Um >> Oh, great. So, they can purchase a new firearm for new officers and or firearm as well. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> So, I'm going to move to deem a Glock 25 firearm serial number VZ235 as a surplus item. >> Second. >> All in favor? I. >> I. >> All right. So then the next item is board of selectmen um updates. When did we meet last? Cuz I feel like I don't have a lot of updates other than >> other other than trying to prepare for town meeting. Um Dave, do you have any? >> Uh most
045of what I will share is going to be an executive. So I'm just going to defer. >> Um I've been sort of try looking at a few different issues. Um I my attention was drawn to the the community preservation act. Um and uh I was curious as to why we we weren't taking advantage of it. and um and then I discovered um that um voted down there was a history uh to this that I I wasn't uh familiar with um but I still would like to sort of work out whether it might make sense to run out of it again sometime in the next uh couple of years um because it does seem to offer some opportunities for us to benefit from um from state funds um in certain programs. just another way of of
046getting state funds to um to support it. I know that both Robin and Carol were somewhat burnt by the process last time um and >> and George Chime he he championed it. It was unbelievable that so you know we can go back and look at town meeting and look at the presentations. I don't I I put it out of my mind because I was just I'll >> take a look at not believe that it got turned down. >> Um yeah, I would I would just like to take a further look at that. >> And you could talk to George He may remember I mean he really championed it that that's how I met him. >> Okay. Yeah. >> Good. Um the other one, another one on the sort of con conservation side of things. Um
047uh the town resident um pointed out to me that um the Claybrook Road um um Calbertt is is now uh starting to attract beavers to uh to start blocking it up again. Um and uh >> as he is a beaver, >> we have a new exactly >> surplus and and and knowing that we've invested quite a lot of money in into that, not just our money, but state money uh into into that project, I'd like to see some way of trying to sustain that without getting flooding on on Clay Rock again. Um, and so it looks like we've got the choice of either sending um our uh DPW staff in to clean it out, which isn't exactly an easy chore. And it's not without its risks if they've got to go into the culvert and
048and pull out um sticks that have been poked in there uh by the beavers. And um so that's one option. Um, and another one would be to follow what the trustees have done in Noanet and put in one of these beaver the deceivers that evidently can be done with very short money. Basically, the idea is to get rid of the the flowing water sound because that's what really attracts u the beavers and so that if they can't hear the water flowing through it then they then they don't try and stop the flow. Um so um I I I would like to explore that as as a possibility and I think I'll follow up with Kevin. The question was um that this um fronts onto uh land trust property and there we've got a little bit
049of a of a potential conflict because um the land trust is quite happy to have the beavers doing their their thing because they like to keep the the the water there and and you know attracting the beavers. Um although I I have had a a chat with Amy Moot and she has said that she would be open to the idea of the the town doing something. It might probably we're talking about two and a half to $5,000 to do this. It's not an an enormous amount of money. Uh but uh they would they would allow allow the the um the town to do that, but they wouldn't be particularly keen on doing it themselves. So, it's huge amusing, but um I found it an interesting little little issue. >> The only other way is to
050go to the state um uh wildlife animal control officer. I can't think of the right term, but there is a unit that will remove and relocate beavers. Yeah. >> Especially if they're doing damage to public property. >> Yeah. Although I think that um the land trust wouldn't be very happy about that. Um, so I I think there's probably a middle ground where where we can coexist with the beavers. >> It sounds like these new technology if it >> the do a do a a search on YouTube uh for beaver deceiver and and uh you'll find it quite interesting. The other last one that's also um conservation related is the question of um uh the Charles River and its total lack of navigability at times in uh uh that part of in in dova and um
051again res some residents have said well excuse me some residents have said well um you know we're prepared to um um to clear the waters in front of our house, but our neighbors aren't doing it. And so, um, it it it sort of obiates the need for for for people to to try and do it. So, long story short, I've I'm I'm going to have a chat with Josh Taski on Friday to work out what the state's uh authority and obligations are to maintain the navigability of the river because um if it gets blocked up u which it well could do with trees falling into it and beavers doing their thing. Um that's going to have impact right down river as well. So, it's not something that's exclusively a do >> it's up river as
052well. That's if the beavers get into it. >> Yeah. Right. So anyway, it's it's I'm I'm just exploring that. >> It's fascinating. Let us know what Josh says. >> Yeah. Exactly. >> This is this is the danger of putting me on on these um open space committees in Hong Kong as I started drilling into things that deceiver I've never even thought of before. >> So there we are. That's that's my report. >> All right. Thank you. And so next I'll turn it over to you, Mike. >> I'm sure you've been doing much. >> Yeah, it's not mostly all all things meeting. Um just trying to you know, I think all of us, all of our staff, all the boards, you know, just trying to catch air as we can. U but it's been good. Um
053the only I just want to mention three things. One was we did hold our information session last night on the town fuel island project. Appreciate the the residents particularly the butters that attended. Uh we I think at the peak we might have had about 27 people um viewing the the presentation and um you know again it was you know certainly um >> seven in this room. >> Right. Right. Right. um you know understand the the position of the utters but you know trying to um help help uh explain the process our thought process of why uh we do believe this is a critical project and even though we do disagree uh with the abutters why we do hope town meeting will will support this. So uh again it was a good good night uh to
054to have people be heard and to hear the feedback. >> Um the other two >> you did a nice job moderating that. So just want to >> Oh, thank you. Appreciate that. >> But you know, certainly people are passionate about their position. >> Um but but at the end of the day, it's a town garage and where else would you put a field? You know, that's I I'm that's sort of where I'm at. >> Yeah. I mean, I think that's the real difficulty. Um, you know, I think there were there were some uh very specific suggestions which, you know, I think is important. I'll bring up a host of different reason. I mean, the cemetery was a suggestion that was made last night. Carol Park um was a suggestion that was made um transfer station.
055>> The transfer station >> which which belongs primarily to Hail Res. We don't know. >> Correct. Correct. Correct. We have a very small plot there. >> Right. And Right. And and you know also the cost of moving it. It's not just taking the 1.2 million and moving it to a new site. There's no infrastructure there. You would have to pave roads. You would have to put storm order. >> There is no safety. You have got to take the amount of time. It it sounds minuscule but if you take five minutes >> on every trip of every police officer, every fire engine and every DVW truck, it adds up. Right. And then >> Right. And and it's not like the town has excess properties like schools we're not using or we could put this in there.
056We don't, you know, and >> but >> 80% of the trucks are at the town garage. So where where else would you >> I I know it sounds flip flip. >> It's not being flipped. It's we're being serious. We've got a job to do, which is provide the town of Dover with the necessary equipment to do the job of being a town. I mean, it's that that simple. And we need fuel to do that. And uh the tough part here is you you want to listen and address and help every one of the neighbors concerns. And we have done a lot of that. I've been working on a draft here and I got a hold of Kevin. So, I'm going to get my my facts all checked and ready to go. But the bottom line
057is we need a fuel island and you just well, you know, even if we put it on Carol Park, you know, you brought up the new well over there, the soils are the exact same. So, that is simple. >> But you have no infrastructure. >> Agreed. Put roads in there. You have to put storm water system, >> all the protective systems, >> right? It's not 1.2 million anymore. It's 2 point probably 3.2 >> exactly. And then a lot of people also suggested that we just pick up and move the entire highway garage. Um >> so that's a $10 million endeavor. Not to mention we don't have a piece of land. It's like 3.3 acres. So we would have to find another 3.3 acres in town where we could put it. We would most likely have
058to buy it. The town doesn't own 3.3 acres anywhere else, >> right? So, it's, you know, it it's it's somewhat upsetting because we were accused of not having community engagement and I don't know how much more engagement we could have had. I, you know, this has been going on for close to three years. >> Three years. It's been through the planning board. It's been through concoming, right? So, there's been a tremendous amount of community engagement and I understand it's upsetting when the decision that's being made isn't necessarily a decision that you support, but that's not lack of engagement, >> right? The other thing which is quite ironic is a lot of the neighbors have raised a lot of safety concerns and some of them are really valid. the new tanks are the only thing that
059will solve all those problems, right? I mean, the there's concern about the ball of gases coming off. Well, the new tanks have a system to capture that gas when it's being filled and dispensed. The current tanks do not. And we can go right on down the list, >> right? They have automatic shut offs. They have alarms if there is a leak. and you know and now >> in in physical containment for smaller leaks. So if someone does a bone head move and a gallon goes onto the ground, it will be contained. It won't go into the ground. Right now it would go into the ground and we can go right on down the list. Right. So I've been following this um for you know for the three years it's been going on and and and
060my position in the beginning was I was skeptical about the need for this. Um, I was asking questions about alternatives. Um, asking questions about uh could could we extend the life of this one until such times as um uh electric vehicles start to take over and the demand for fossil fuels in the town uh gets reduced. I mean we we explored so many different options and and again in the warrant committee this year we had the same sorts of skepticism about it and questions about it. Um and ultimately everybody sort of after thinking about it for some time and listening to all all the the different uh um issues and and and coming up to a to a sort of a mindset on them. they concluded that this is the only real practical solution. Um,
061and I I think it's one thing to reject a particular solution, but if there isn't another alternative to it, you have to have pretty persuasive arguments as to not to to continue with this. So that's that's going to be from my perspective the issue that we need to make very clear at our meeting. >> Right. So I I think you know from the comments that were made it's less an issue of the need of the fuel island. It's more of a location but what people are refusing to to recognize is that the current fuel island is in an AT&T easement. We can't put it where it is today. So we have to move it. And when you move it, it makes it harder to maneuver vehicles that are just getting bigger. Not because we're buying
062bigger trucks, but because the designs are getting bigger. And so, you know, we may not have had accidents today, but it's going to become more and more difficult. Not to mention, if I understand this correctly, a bunch of the trucks have to back in. So, you get the the those alarms because you're backing in, which is really noisy. With the new design, you can go around. So, it should be less noisy. It's It's also It's not that we're expanding services. We're not going to have more trucks. It's the exact same volume that you're having today. So, how how is this going to increase the noise? When we were building Chering or trying to get Chering built, there was the concern of the neighbors that there were going to be uh much more bus noise and
063twice as many buses because there's twice as many grades and they didn't realize that it's the same number of buses with the same number of children >> because they would just drop they would go to both schools. >> Exactly. So um this is similar where you know again it is the exact same operations that we're doing today but it's going to be done in a much safer manner. >> That's the irony. >> It's unfortunate. I mean I understand people are sort of concerned about this change. I mean change always causes some skepticism for some people. uh and clearly if it's in your backyard then you are most inclined to say not in my backyard. I understand that but the question but I as I look at it we've had five fuel stations in in on
064this site in the history of of the DBW >> and all those houses have been there >> and and the houses have been there um and >> the five state >> and um and so why is this one so particularly concerning? I I I just have real troubles in understanding that. >> Well, >> and then you come into the broader context of where else do we put it or or how else can we fuel uh our town vehicles especially in an emergency. Um we come up null, this is the only place we can practically do it. >> The cemetery, Carol Park, the transfer station. >> Yeah. They're hail Marys by people who have been kind of worked up into a frenzy. Um, also the benzene was brought up. Um, so I looked that up online.
065There was one study in Italy done about 11 years ago um on childhood leukemia. Uh, that study has now been quoted in every other article, but no other study has been done that I can find. And uh what is so interesting is again the old tanks right now allow all these benzene and everything else to be in the neighborhood and uh likely at unsafe levels but the the vapor recapture >> will significantly mitigate if not eliminate the issue. >> Right. It's it's the new technology. >> Yeah. So, um, yeah, these are my the yellows are facts that I want to check with Kevin and get nailed down, but, um, we also at some point we're going to need to figure out who's going to speak on what article to defend at town meeting. >> Um,
066the only other two things I wanted to mention, and I'll I'll send an email so you have these in your calendar, but there's two veterans related events. Um, the first is the Legion is going to be marking Armed Forces Day on Saturday, May 16th. um at 2 p.m. And as part of that, uh you may recall one of our uh goals and objectives is to become a Purple Heart community. Um at your next meeting, uh we'll be asking you to adopt a Purple Heart proclamation. And as part of that, we will ask you to sign an accompanying letter to what to the best of our knowledge is do's um uh per only Purple Heart recipient, couple resident, Glenn Blackburn is a resident of Walpole uh Street. Um, and he'll be honored at that event. Um,
067so you know, if you're available to attend, I'm sure that would be greatly appreciated. >> Uh, Jimmy, can you send those dates? >> I will. I'll send those dates. Yep. >> May 16th, I'm out of the country. >> Fair enough. Just just sharing it in case attention wherever you are. >> Um, and then the other is uh, as I'm sure the the board very much knows, but for the public's benefit, um, we we joked earlier, do special and different. So, we we don't do regular Memorial Day. We do traditional Memorial Day here, which is May 30th every year. Um, so that's a Saturday this year. So we'll have our Memorial Day ceremony on Saturday, May 30th at 400 p.m. Uh, it'll begin here at the the townhouse. So, >> and that's all I have. >>
068And that is one of the best experiences of Americana had. >> Agreed. >> So, it's neat >> indeed. Yeah. So, I'm somewhat disappointed I can't be here for for memorial. >> Well, you shouldn't go on vacation. >> That'll teach you. >> All right. So, the next item of business is our consent agenda. And um the consent agenda consists of the following items. approve approval of a 2026 1-day special liquor license for June 1st and then to approve the board of selectments open session meeting minutes for November 9th 15th 21st 30th and December 14th 23 and February 22nd March 1st June 5th 2024 and December 9th 2025. So I move to approve the consent agenda as presented. >> Second. >> I >> All right. >> Hey Mona, >> I need >> It's already signed. >> Oh,
069>> here actually. >> So we have Do you want each of us to sign our own? >> No. No. I'm actually going to give you this one. >> Okay. Yeah. All right. And so >> confusion here. >> Okay. So now I am going to to move that the board enter into executive session not to return to open session under purpose two of mass general law chapter 38 section 21.