001I think Robin's got >> All right. Not really. I like >> nice start to make sure >> I know And you don't even want this. >> You don't have to do >> I do. >> Yep. That's it. >> Trying to remember who was missing. Sorry about that. >> No, totally fine. >> Sorry. I am [clears throat] >> drink. Okay. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> We can't wait. >> I'll put it in. >> All right. Good evening everyone. Welcome to the board of selectman's meeting today, Tuesday, April 28th. Um this evening we will begin proceeding. I'm going to call our meeting to order and we're going to begin with the moderator's meeting. So this evening I'm going to now turn it over to Jim Laetti, the town moderator. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh first let me just
002deal with a couple of preliminaries. There are some um proponents and opponents for articles that have asked for extra time. They're organized. I have agreed to give everybody who is an organized group in favor uh of promoting a particular article and those who are opposed 10 minutes. The blue book said 8 minutes. I've extended it to 10 minutes in the hope that that will make a more efficient meeting to allow people to coherently present their case and then allow people to make a reasoned decision based on the data that's been produced. We will hold you very strongly to that 10 minutes. Please make sure that you prepare your presentation ahead of time, rehearse it several times and because at 10 minutes, Kate Cany, my assistant town moderator, is not here tonight, she's out of town,
003will be ringing the bell, and I will ask you to stop at that point regardless of where you are. [snorts] So, very important that you um have rehearsed and be ready to stop at 10 minutes. In terms of the content of the presentation, [snorts] factual presentations are the most persuasive. It's very important that you present your case either for or against, citing facts, uh so that the attendees are able to make an intelligent decision. My job as the moderator is to make sure that the everybody has an opportunity to be heard, that both sides are presented, and that it's done in a way that's respectful and allows people to absorb the information that's being presented. I will not tolerate ad hominemum attacks on individuals or appeals to personalities. It has no place in our town.
004And as I always say at the beginning of town meeting, many people have died to give us this gift. This is the ultimate form of democracy. So um I want to make sure that we understand where we're coming from uh and where we're going to be going in this meeting. Any questions about this? Now I know some people haven't had a chance to present. Uh they've just decided that they wanted to present and they haven't had a chance to uh to provide a PowerPoint yet. Felicia, when would you like uh powerpoints to be invited for new groups? >> Well, I think we need them by Thursday at the latest, right? Because you've got to get some time to format onto slides, Suzanne. Yeah. >> Okay. So, Thursday is the drop deadad date for uh providing
005any powerpoints that you might want to present. Okay. Uh now what I'm going to do is proceed through the articles and uh talking about who's going to be making the presentation, who's uh who's going to be making a motion, who's going to be seconding the motion, and whether we're going to be having presentations from the town board. So let me start first with um which deals with a rule for the conduct of the meeting. Uh Woody, is Woody here? Oh, there you are. Okay, Woody, you'll be making the motion and Gavin will be seconding. Any questions or comments about the first? And by the way, there's u is everybody have a copy of the Okay, fine. Good. All right. So, then we'll proceed to the main article uh for the acceptance of the committee reports.
006Again, Woody, you'll be making a motion. Gavin will be seconding. That's pro- former. I'm not expecting that there's going to be much of a discussion on that. I'm moving to article three. Uh well, first let me stop there. After article one, Robin, you will state the uh give us a state of the union presentation. Okay, good. Moving to article three. Um for the revolving funds, are we going to try to do these as consent votes, uh Michael, or are we going to have them as separate motions? >> Uh so it's one motion for all the revolving funds as presented. >> All right, good. Um so uh article three will be one motion on a revolving funds. Um Gavin will be making a motion. And who will be seconding? Marty. >> Marty. Okay. >> Oh, really?
007Okay. Oh, great. Thank you. Okay. Article four will be the operating budget. After the motion is made and after it's seconded, uh who will be making a presentation on behalf of the warrant committee? Uh Woody, will you be making a presentation on on behalf of the warrant committee? Okay. How long do you think it's going to take, Woody? Roughly. >> Five months. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Great. Good. >> We're going to use a solo wood. Great. Thank you. Um, article five, capital budget. Um, I'll be Now, we're going to Some of these are going to be separate motions. >> Yep. So, there there'll be three motions for article five. >> Okay. >> And they're laid out. >> Okay. Great. Okay. And um, very good. And I know that there's going to be a hold. Nicole,
008are you here? Nicole, you'll be you're all set for your presentation and your hold. Okay. >> So, just for Nicole to know, she doesn't have to hold. So, um the article for the fuel island is a separate motion. Okay. Great. >> And so, we've incorporated that. She will make that presentation. >> So, we'll have that motion, then we'll have the proponent of the motion make a presentation and then Nicole, you'll make the presentation in opposition and then we'll open it up for discussion. Okay. Great. Okay. Article six, the regional school. Meech will be making a main motion. Uh Sarah will be seconding. Um is anybody here tonight from the regional school committee? >> Um do we know how long a presentation they might want to make? To the best of my knowledge, I don't know
009they were planning a presentation. Okay. >> Yeah, we've not heard. >> All right. Good. Well, that would be great if there's no presentation. I think they they will be available to answer any questions. It's it's a roof replacement, >> right? By the way, the reason that we're being so such sticklers on time is that we really want to try to have the meeting in one night. The concern is that if we go to a second night, it's going to be really difficult to get a quorum and um and that would be a real problem for the town. So, um, you know, the I the idea is so far for the last 40 years since I've been in town, we've been able to get through in one night and, um, I'd like to continue that. It
010encourages people to come. They know that they're only going to have to put in three or four hours and it avoids the problem of having a quorum the second night. So, that's why we're being such uh, so difficult about the time requirements. really important that we get it through um in one night to in order to preserve um attendance at town meeting. Okay. Um Okay. Now we have consent articles 7 8 9 and 10. The unemployment compensation fund sick leave for road construction reconstruction and improvement and uh conservation fund. Meech Budro will be making a motion and Sarah Kenny will be uh seconding. I don't expect Have you heard anything? >> No. Yeah, these are pretty traditionally the consent items. Um if if if for some reason that doesn't the consent vote uh people don't
011agree to consent, then we do also list them individually on the following pages if necessary. Otherwise, you can just skip to article 11. >> Great. Thank And there's not going to be a presentation on the article 5 park and wreck. I know I'm behind. >> I had a question on that actually. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I mean I can I have slid. >> Okay. Cuz you're not here. I saw you. >> Um but yeah. So that's okay. I mean I know in the past I think you have speak an extra vote I believe. Oh, to allow him to speak, >> right? >> Jim can authorize that. Jim, >> yeah, you're a town employee. So, so as a town employee, you are permitted to speak. >> Yes. >> Okay. Okay. So, yeah. So, uh, >> right.
012>> Um, I I did submit a few slides, so it's just four slide. I think it's five slides. >> Okay, great. Good. Thank you. Article 11, uh, stabilization fund. Sarah Kenny will be making a motion. Uh Nina Green will be seconding. Any uh any expectation that there'll be a lot of discussion on that? >> No, I mean that's a yearly article. >> Pretty regular. >> Okay. All right. Good. >> The only reason it's not consent is because it is a more significant amount of money, but >> it's pretty for the past few months. >> Okay. Article 12, the OPED stabilization fund. Sarah will be making a main motion. and Nina will be seconding. >> And that'll be actually to dismiss that article. >> Okay. Great. Okay. Uh, article 13, unpaid bills. Um, and we do
013have some four fifths vote, Nina. >> Mhm. >> Okay. So, that should go through pretty quickly. Article 14, supplemental appropriations. >> We're going to go to dismiss. >> Okay. [snorts] Okay. Article 15, revolving fund for electric vehicle charging station. Nina will be Nina Green will be making a motion. Kevin Bowman will be seconding. Um, how much is this going to require in terms of timing do you think? >> I think it'll be quick. Um, I think town meeting is pretty familiar with revolving funds. It doesn't require any budget funding. >> Um, so I I don't envision >> there'll be no presentation. >> Okay, great. >> Okay. Article 16, uh, climate action plan from the S sustainability committee. Kevin Bowman will be making a motion. Dick Malcolm will be seconding >> and there will be a
014presentation as you say. >> How long will that presentation be? I'm sorry. >> Anna Anna will be making the presentation. >> I don't want to use the whole time, but it's a planning document that's going to take over. >> Okay. >> And then Felicia, I think Dick's last name is spelled wrong here. >> Yeah, there's no L before the M. >> That's my fault. I'll fix that. Thank you. >> I've I've had probably wrong everywhere then. I think I copy and pasted. So, I'll fix that everywhere. [laughter] >> Okay. >> How long will your presentation be on? >> Um, it's eight hours, but I don't think it's going to take. >> Okay. All right. Good. Thank you. >> Okay. Article 17, appropriation for one-time projects, the Dober master plan. uh planning board Kevin Bowman will
015be making a presentation and Dick Malcin um who uh Carol will you be making a presentation on this over the town planner >> is going to be making a presentation >> okay >> but I would like to spend about 60 seconds introducing >> okay sure right okay article 18 U is the modification to the accessory dwelling unit. Kevin Bowman will be making the motion. Dick Malcolin will be seconding. And again, we'll have a planning board presentation on that as well. Okay, very good. Um, is anybody in opposition to that? I haven't heard anything >> to to Yeah. to um 18. >> It's bringing it up to state standards. This is just updating the state law. But no, I just want to make sure they Okay. All right. Just in terms of a loting time. Okay.
016All right. So, we haven't heard any opposition to that. Okay. Fine. Now, article 19, um, site plan review, uh, town planner will make the presentation on behalf. And I know there's a party that's going to be making a presentation in opposition. Both of you, uh, I'll be limiting you to 10 minutes. Okay. uh the party that's in opposition. Um if you could get your PowerPoint, if you're going to use one to full issue by Thursday, close of business, is that okay? That would be great. >> Are you are you going to have a presentation, do you think? >> I think slides. >> Okay. Great. Um and Jim on this one we after um some discussion I think the >> um proposal is to break up the um amendments into different sections into different motions. So
017there's going to be four separate motions that correspond with uh various sections of the bylaw that are being amended. >> Okay. So, um, so that you're not going to be able then to actually modify the main motion. You're going to have to is the main motion as it was printed. Um, right. I was just wondering if we can avoid having to go through an amendment process. This is the planning board amending its own motion. Right. >> The pling board is not amending its motion. It's it's separating the article into into four motions. >> Okay. >> So, it'll be four main motions. So the first motion will simply be I move that the town amend section 185-5 definitions of the zoning bylaw as shown in the document on file with the office of the town clerk.
018>> Okay. >> So then you'll vote the changes on section five. >> Okay. >> And then it'll go to sections 9 and 10 will be voted together and then section and section 40. >> Okay. the language in section 36. Um the amendment there will be updated slightly to make one change to the um document that's on file with the town clerk. >> Okay. >> But we've drafted that already. >> Okay. And um after each of these motions, we'll have discussion. And now which motion in particular Carol did you want to are you going to present on all on all all of them together or are you are you going to talk to each separately or >> so to present >> I'm sorry to present the entire >> Okay okay okay so [clears throat] >> okay
019you say that again >> I'm sorry John >> I can't hear it >> okay >> the plan is to make one presentation by the town planner >> for for all the four motions >> and then do them separately. >> Yeah. Now, John, which motion are you in opposition to? >> All of them. >> Let's do this. >> Okay. So, if you're in opposition to all of them. So, after >> No. [clears throat] No. No. I'm kidding. That was No. >> Okay. My question for you was you have three planning articles for 400,000, >> right? >> Are you the moderator going to put those together in any order? What's your plan for those three separate >> to consider each article separately? >> Right. >> Okay. and the way they are there >> the way that that
020they're drafted and then the motions if we're going to have separate motions will have first motion will be made the presentation from the planning board the town planner it sounds like it's going to be pertaining to all of the motions so after that presentation if somebody if your group is in opposition I would ask you to then present your opposition it might be that you're only going to be focusing on one of the motions. >> So, I think it's 185-36 is the one. >> Yeah. Which which uh in particular are you um you're not sure? Okay. Okay. So, let's plan then, John, that the after the town planner makes her presentation, your group will make their presentation and then we'll go to a consideration of each of the motions separately. Okay. Uh uh question. Can
021I ask why we're having four votes on four separate motions as part of article 19? Why why does that happen? >> Sure. I I think in consultation with the planning staff, we thought that it was um uh more appropriate to separate out the various changes that are being presented in article 19. So, article 19 includes changes to five separate sections of the zoning bylaw. Um, instead of having five separate articles, they put them in one article. Um, this is the the separate motions on one article are just to tease out the ones that make sense to group together. So, changes to the definitions will be together, >> etc. >> Okay. where where can we find the uh the individual motions and the changes to >> So I I the motion language is just as I've
022read it. It's it's there's no there's no change, but the I'm sure the you can get the motion language from Felicia later this week if you want to see what >> my office the motion that they're what they're proposing is on file in my office. You're more than welcome to come and look at it. >> Right. So, if you're looking for the actual proposed change to the bylaw, that's what's on file in Felicia's. No, what I'm looking for is is is how these motions were being ordered. I I wasn't aware of that until tonight. Uh and then you referenced a minute or so ago a minor change in one of them and I I just wanted to see >> Yeah. So that um Michael Blanchard has that language now. I'm assuming that motion document will
023be finalized tomorrow and available at the town clerk. >> Okay. >> I can I can tell you the change right now. It's a change from 30 days to 45 days as far as how long the zoning board has to review applications. >> Okay. Um any other questions about this before we move on? Okay. Let's go on to the next motion then. Um next article >> article 20 uh acceptance of uh trail easements. Um Dick Malcolm will make the motion. Gavin Coop was second. Now Tara, are you here? >> I guess nobody from Con was able to come here. Um >> open space. >> Yeah, they open space has assured me it will be five minutes. >> They have I know they have some slides, but I think it's four or five slides. >> Yeah, that's
024what they they told me five minutes. So we we should be able to breeze through that. And they have contacted the owners um where the easements are located. So hopefully this will go through pretty quickly. Um, article >> 21 drainage easement termination for Whiting Road. Dick Malin will make the motion. Nina Green will second. Um, if there are any questions on this, who should they go to? >> Um, I could answer them. Um, I don't this this just for background. This is um a homeowner's request to uh dissolve an existing drainage that we were meant to use um and it's impacting their property. >> So no cost to the town. >> Okay. And uh same thing with article 22 >> correct >> for tbreak. Okay. and article 23, we're going to um there's going to
025be consideration of an associate member for the board of health and um questions will be forwarded to UK. Is that right? Okay. Very good. >> K. Are you going to make a presentation or >> I don't think so. >> Okay. It's pretty straightforward. Okay. >> Good. All right. And then lastly, um, free cash. How are we looking for that? Are we going to be doing calculations during the meeting or >> already certified? [laughter] >> Okay. All right. Very good. Okay. >> A month ago. Really? Yeah. >> We always have to do calculations because if things don't pass. >> Yeah. >> That will be some adjustments. Okay. And then uh the last one will be the uh motion to adjourn the meeting. >> Okay. >> My favorite. >> All right. So, um >> at 10 p.m.
026>> I'm sorry. >> At 10 p.m. [laughter] >> at 10 p.m. Somebody said we can only hope. Okay. Um any questions about the procedure? Now dur during the meeting if there if somebody has questions one thing that came up last meeting we have some very competent lawyers in town and and they're very skilled at cross-examination. Um town meeting is not the place for crossexamination. uh skilled lawyers can convert their cross-examination question into a declarative statement and uh that's what I would like to see rather than and if there are any questions please present them to me and I'll direct them to the appropriate person but in terms of asking pointed questions town meeting is not the place for that make the declarative statement and uh make your point and then move on Um it it's
027uh it's more congenial. It's more respectful. People who are being asked questions do not have the privilege of having representation by their own counsel. I am acting as the moderator. I cannot act as their counsel. So I much prefer that when we're proceeding if you have questions that are really rhetorical in nature make the statement and direct the questions to me if you do have questions. [clears throat] Okay. So, are we all on board on this? Should be. Yeah. John, >> Jim, two two questions. Michael, do you have a a slide on the free cash that shows what free cash was a [clears throat] year ago, two years ago, this year, there's been a lot of use of cash over the past two or three years. Can you speak to that? We have that slide.
028>> We We don't currently have a slide. Uh we certainly could or we could just present that. >> Well, it was it was part of the Warren Committee. We could turn that into a slide. >> Okay. Yeah. Yeah, we could do that. >> And so that Thank you. And then Jim, the my question earlier has to do with the three motions, the three articles that are studies. You have three separate study articles. >> They total $400,000. Are you going to keep the order of which they appear here for those three study articles? >> Is there a reason that we shouldn't, John? >> No. In the past, in your opinion to make things move faster, >> we have put articles of like kind, >> right? >> And we >> these are three study articles. >> Yeah.
029And I think there will be there's going to be a lot of redundant questions, >> okay, >> in the auditorium to make your life and the and the >> John, are you are you suggesting that maybe we should do them as a consent a consent motion, do you think? Or >> Yeah. I I'm sorry. I'm Are you suggesting that we do it as a consent motion? Maybe do you consider all three together or >> I it it would make sense if you had three motions of similar >> Yeah. >> study, >> right? >> Well, we we spent a lot >> put them together. >> Okay. >> You to take them out of order to move the process along. >> Yeah, that's an interesting idea. Let me let me ask the other people here to see
030what their perspective is. What? I'm sorry, Robin, you were going to suggest that there. >> Well, a lot of thought went into >> Okay. >> the the warrant and how we were going to group things together. So, prior to coming up with the warrant, we spoke to the various committees and the approach that we have put in the warrant and the blue book was based upon discussions with with everybody and we thought this would make the meeting flow best. Okay. >> You know, we could certainly take a look at it again. >> All right. >> But the objective was not to make changes. We got feedback that it people found it confusing. So, we tried so we worked with all boards and committees. Okay. >> Prior to putting the warrants out. >> Yeah. John, I
031do I do remember that after the open hearing, there was some discussion that people found the the uh the various studies as a little bit confusing and I and and Robin is saying that was one of the reasons that they decided to keep them separate rather than um put them all together. So, but they said they would reconsider. I'm happy to do whatever the collective group here wants me to do. >> Well, they are different. Yes, they're studies, but their their purposes are are quite different. That's right. >> And therefore, uh we wouldn't want to uh put at risk two of them because one is being defeated. So, keeping them separate. >> I'm David, I'm not saying separate them. I'm saying in the flow of the meeting. >> So, you're saying run them all three
032together, one after the other, John, is what you're trying to suggest, right? Okay. >> So, if Mr. M, if I may, I appreciate John's thought. I think uh just add another clarification. So two of the studies are together. So the climate action plan and the master plan, the building study is with the other capital items. We felt that it's a it's the appropriate place for that to live. So that's why they're not all three backto-back. Two are back toback. >> Okay. >> Uh but we thought capital should stay with the capital items. >> Okay. Well, why don't we keep it the way it is? Okay. >> Okay. >> All right. Any other questions or comments? Yes, sir. You know, I took your comment earlier and I'm going to ask a pointed question here rather than
033town meeting. Um, I'm going to be honest. Every time I hear you say the goal is to finish in one meeting or by 10:00 or whatever it is, I cringe a little bit because it seems to me this is the one opportunity we have as a town. And that's not exactly true because the planning board and others set up public hearings and so forth leading up to and the select and the war committee have public hearings. So there are other opportunities, but the town meeting is really the largest gathering of everybody. And um if you said what I thought you said, which in 40 years we haven't gone into a second night, I got to believe we missed something or something got brushed over. Is is there anything that other towns are doing that we
034aren't doing other than having multiple night meetings? Uh are they limiting the number of articles? Are they having maybe two town meetings every 6 months apart? Are there other things we can consider uh in the case of of expanding the forum? >> We have done that and uh you How long have you been is are you Mr. Savage? >> Yes. >> Hi, nice to meet you. [laughter] >> Nice to meet you. >> Uh the we have had um I've been the moderator 14 years now. And in the 14 years, I would say at least 10 of them, we've had special town meetings in addition to the annual town meetings. And that's been our way to try to spread things out and and avoid going into two nights one week after the other. You know, from
035attending town meetings that very often we're scrging to try to meet our quorum requirements. uh we're on our cell phones calling people, asking people to arrive. One of the problems that we have is very often the quorum doesn't happen till 7:30, which frankly drives me crazy. You know, I want to start at 7:00 so we can move and get people out of there by 11:00. And um but we're on the phone calling people, asking people to come. If we go into a second night and it's the same warrant, there's a real concern that we're not going to have a quarrel. And uh and that's why we try. It may be this might be the night that we're going to have to go twice. I hope not. But uh the way we have tried to deal
036with in the past is by having special town meetings. Now, it might be that in hindsight, we should have thought about having a special town meeting for some of the items that are presented here because it turned out that there is some controversy involved, but the warrant has gone out, so we'll deal with it. [snorts] But, um, if you have any ideas about how to expedite it, let me know. >> Can you limit the number of >> No. Okay. >> We cannot. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, I wish we could. Um, I wish we could. Yes, sir. Point of >> order. It often seems that we barely get form, right? >> I'm sorry. >> It often seems that we start the meeting late because, as you said, we we need to >> get form and
037then people leave, right? And sometimes significant number of people leave because they have one issue they're trying or whatever. Right. >> Um then you don't have really form anymore. >> Right. have that I mean I've never seen them address that. >> Yeah. Under the rules of for Massachusetts town meetings until somebody challenges the quorum we we're able to proceed. So if somebody were to raise their hand and say we challenge the presence of a quorum at that point we would have to stop do a count to see if we still have a quorum. If we don't have a quorum at that point we would have to recess to a a later date. I think that um you know people uh have been pretty kind in not questioning the presence of a quorum. Um but yeah
038it's it's a certain it's everybody's right somebody could do it. >> Okay. >> And I think that's why you always tell people motions can be reconsidered. So stay till the end. >> Yeah. One of the things you'll note in my prefer my opening remarks um I'll mention that every motion can be reconsidered until we adjourn the town meeting. which is by the way another problem if we end up going into a separate night because technically the second night is a continuation of the first night. So everything that was voted on the first night can be brought up for reconsideration the second night. and and frequently I've been told from people in other towns that have gone into other nights that there isn't a significant overlap in the attendees and sometimes something that carried with a
039large majority the first night is overturned the second night because there's a different crowd present. So that's another reason to try to get some finality for the decisions. Any other questions or comments? Thank you. Well, let me thank you. Thank you for coming. Thank you for participating. Um, if anybody has any other questions or comments, feel free to contact me. Um, it's the my, uh, John has my email. I think Mr. Sage, do you have my email address now? Um, also you can call me at home 1056. Um, happy to talk to you. Okay. All right. Thank you. meeting is adjourned.