Board of Selectmen Meeting 10/19/26
0:04 Good evening everybody. It is now 6 pm and with the quorum being present like to call the free town board selecting meeting uh for October 19th, 2026 to order. This meeting will be recorded and posted on town's YouTube channel. Um at this point is this is there anybody else recording this meeting? I see none. We shall proceed. First order of business, let's all stand for the pledge of allegiance.0:29 [clears throat] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.0:41 All right.0:44 All right, everybody. Let's see here.0:46 Discussion one, vote whe to approve the minutes open session minutes from 105 2026. I reviewed them. I don't see any edits that have been done already.0:54 Gentlemen, any questions, concerns? All right, that being said, entertain the motion to approve the open session minutes from 105 2026. Mo motion made.1:02 Second.1:03 All in favor?1:04 I I.1:05 All right. Discussion and vote on the scope of the boiler replacement project for the Freetown Elementary School.1:11 All right. For those keeping track um over the years, I believe it was last year's uh a town meeting was I believe was the one I just June of 25.1:23 So last year is a so last year intel meeting that the board select presented an article to for a little over million dollars for the boiler replacement over at FES Fre Elementary School. I do see I have two distinguished guests here today with us from um school district. Um it looks like we're the budget came in a little bit under well not the budget the estimate came in a little bit under what we anticipated.1:49 So, so let's talk about it then.1:54 All right.1:55 Yes.1:56 So, we have one one million $250,000 that was allocated at the town meeting to be spent on the boiler um and incidentals there too. So, the boiler replacement, uh, we we had, uh, train go out and look at it, which works with the school, and it's around, depending on what you pick, around $880,000 for the boiler replacement, but there's other um work that kind of coincides with the boiler that can be2:28 funded with this with the funds that we have left over. And that's why I asked Mr. Higgins and um, Mr. a good one to come and at least maybe give you guys a little synopsis of each one of those and what the existing uh state is of the equipment and why we may or may not need the additional uh alternatives here.2:51 Okay, I'll start here Greg. U so to start there's two options relative to the scope of the boiler replacements.2:57 Option one is a concurrent boiler replacements. And then option two is phase boiler replacement. Phase boiler uh would be a would be um uh what we would hope that we'd be able to do uh because it would be able to move a little more quickly. We'd have a new boiler before the before the winter's over. Um otherwise we'd have to wait until the spring or in the summer and then they would do both boilers at the3:22 same time. Uh Mr. Mr. Goodwin can give you a little more detail, but both of the boilers that certainly the first one that would get replaced is really very close to its end of life. So being being able to replace that sooner rather than later, particularly when we're concerned about um a cold winter uh given what we had last winter, it's hard to tell, but we'd be we'd be worried about that. In3:42 addition to that, of course, the cost of heating oil is uh pretty significant at this point. So, uh, if we were to be able to move in in the middle of the winter and have a much more efficient boiler, we could bring down our costs for oiler in this in the current year.3:56 Um, in addition to that, so you you've seen that there are uh several items that are added to that. I think Mr.4:02 Goodwin would probably be better to reference the AHU replacements because I think that's a really important safety issue in our boiler room.4:10 Absolutely. So, going back uh to the replacement, the phase, we'll start with the phasing of the boilers. So upon startup, we were anticipating that everything would go as it should go. Uh like anything after about 3 days into running the boilers, uh after the 15th, the boiler in question uh started leaking pretty significantly. The tubes fracture inside of them. And what happens is is once they fracture, they4:35 start to leak out and then they pour onto the floor. So, we had the boiler company come out and we opened the boiler up the other day and the water was just spraying right out of the the tubes on the back of the boiler. Uh, so that just for that one tube that's fractured in there would be like a 7 to $10,000 repair on that boiler. So, that's one of the reasons why if they4:55 could phase them and they could said that they could get boilers in, it looks like they could do it by January, February break right in there to have us in with the boiler. That would really be a significant gain on that system over there in the building. and I'd recommend it uh strongly. Uh that way we'd have one new boiler. We've got we have one boiler running. It seems to be holding5:14 its own right now, but to take a chance as we get into the February temperatures, you know, that would be a problem. You know, if we only had one and something did happen, we wouldn't have that redundant boiler to pick that up. So, I think putting something in place sooner than later would be the best way to go with that. Yeah, relating the AHU relating to the other parts. The AHUS5:36 inside the boiler room. We have uh we have exhaust and fresh air intake on that. Those AHUs are failed. The actuators are worn in them. Uh we just lost a motor and one last year. So, the boiler room tends to hold a lot of uh basically exhaust from the boilers. It's the best way to describe it cuz it's not turning the air over quick enough in the room to get fresh air in. The cafeteria5:59 is right on one side of the boiler room.6:01 The teachers break rooms right on the other side of the boiler room. The other thing that's significant about this is the way that they position these units inside the boiler room. They kind of buried them in the ceiling. It sounds kind of weird, but they've got them they're underneath attached to the underneath of the ceiling and then they put all the electrical conduit underneath the units. So to get in there6:20 and work on them and to do anything is very hard cuz the boilers are in the way. You couldn't put a staging in there. It's very hard to to do anything with them. While these boilers are out, they can remove them. The other side of this is they put them on the roof. So this way now they're outside. They're on top of the roof. They're easy and accessible to service. You can take care6:40 of all your needs in them. Right now they're it's near impossible to work on them. This is the perfect time to do this for these AHU units. Uh you won't have this opportunity again to do this this way and they've aged out. That's the other part of them. They're beyond their life expectancy of service. So now is the time to really take care of that.6:58 The oil pump slid that's in there, I'll jump down one on number four. Those are those have been in there since prior to 78. You know, now's the time you're going to put new boilers in there, newer oil pumps to feed these boilers to keep everything working as it should is is definitely another way to go. And the other pump replacement would probably be for the circulator pumps on that to move7:18 the water throughout the building. The significance with that is is there'll be VFD drives on them. So there'll be variable frequency drives which will regulate the amount of electricity that goes in and out of these motors. So upon startup, they'll ramp up slowly, introduce the power to them instead of a one large hit of electricity. It will work on your energy savings. So between7:38 putting your new boilers in to regulate your fuel consumption as well if the as well as the VFDs with your new circulator pumps, you should see some gains as far as electric electricity savings as well as oil savings on that side.7:52 So you when you when you speak of a choose all the control valves and everything else on the roof the that area of the roof I know we just scanned it just was that area that's in the in the green like the red zone I should say that's we identify as being moist or I don't want to put something up there then we have to create some issue looking at I think that section wasn't8:11 too bad on that uh on that back section of the building more from what I could tell by looking at the scan quickly on there it appeared to be more over even the other section that was just done just beyond that going towards the front towards the road section on that building is where you saw most of your wet surfaces and then over the kindergarten area we call it K-wing uh8:30 was where some of the other stuff was but over the boiler section I don't I don't believe there was that significant of of moisture in the top I'd have to look back at it to give you 100% but just from a quick look at that the new one that just came out I don't believe there was anything too too significant in that area over there and when they put that in when they cut those in8:48 they'll seal that roof right up to it, you know, so it'll all be they'll set on top of it. They'll build a curb which will set that on and they'll bring the sofa up and around and and seal it in.8:58 So if there is anything over that it would be time to take care of it, but the majority of that will be sealed around them new units in there.9:06 Look looking at it now, there is no areas identified other than roof F, which might be that little overhang on the other side of that area. So you should be fine there. the um I mean it it all sounds kind of no-brainer to me, right? We're at this point. Why are we going to do you know almost everything but not everything?9:27 The ahu unit replacement being outside will you're saying will also make it more efficient?9:34 It will.9:34 Yeah, it absolutely will.9:36 So I'm assuming if it's more efficient then it usually help you know uh life expectancy of the unit because it's outside versus in. So yeah.9:45 So, we don't have enough funding to do all of this.9:49 Okay.9:49 So, Oh, I thought we did.9:51 The total budget price is one and number four and and the phased approach. So, just keep that in mind. This is about um $110,000 more than what we have.10:04 We got 1.1.10:07 Uh we have 1.25.10:09 1.25.10:09 I believe it comes in at 90 over what?10:12 It's 90 over 90. If you if you voted 1.2 25 it's 1.34 for everything.10:19 Have have we checked if there's a asbestous yet?10:22 So from on that day when they done when they had done the renovation in 2001 a lot of abatement had been done on the building. So I can't speak 100% for that but I believe from the discussion we had when we did the site visit uh the items in question were uh gasketing materials breaching gasketing materials. there were no large significant areas of having to be abaded in there. So, and10:47 we've got a we did a three-year aera report on that. So, we have a recent report on that building of anything that's in there. And I don't believe if it was, it would be in their report and there was nothing flagged that came up on that. [clears throat] So, if we're able to pending approval from everyone, would it make sense then if we're roughly would you say 80,000 off?11:10 90. Well, pump replacement comes in at 95,000.11:15 Could we do would it make sense for us to do the add-on number one, 2, and four? And that would put us in like right at budget.11:26 Would that would that be counterintuitive counterintuitive for anything by not replacing those pumps?11:32 So, what I could say to that is if there was anything that you weren't going to do, I would say the pumps would get you by.11:39 Okay.11:40 Right. That would that would be the the lesser of all the things at this point that's going on there. Uh the only difference you would have is they're just direct drives. So there's no real energy savings on them right now. Them pumps are in working order, but they are older and and you know to the date of the system.11:56 So it would be something that I would consider doing you know a short time thereafter if you had funding to do it.12:01 We could go to another meet town meeting and and try and get additional funding at some point. Right. If we don't have the funding now.12:08 Yeah. Um, that was my question. What's the easiest thing to do later? Like you said, it's it's the the ah units are difficult to two and three are the easier to do after.12:20 Two and three.12:21 Yeah.12:22 I mean, we can talk about adding it back on the warrant. I took it off when it came under budget, but we can talk about adding additional funds back on the warrant.12:30 Yeah. I just don't want to do all this work then go back and touch it again down the road.12:35 I My concern is that something comes up while we're doing the project. So, we need to have some there needs to be a wiggle room.12:42 Yeah.12:42 So, do we go to the [clears throat] town and ask for 200,000 on top if you're worried about have I don't know what you want thinking about for a wiggle room, right? So, where I would say 50 grand. I mean, yeah. I don't know. I mean, the thing the you know, it's just a lot of procedural paperwork, right? we ask for an extra 50 grand, we don't spend it, then we have13:08 to go back to town meeting to reallocate it. Um maybe for the next meeting, I don't know that I can prepare it for this meeting because we're at the 11th hour with our warrant, is that we add to our stabilization fund and we get something passed that says we can utilize the school stabilization fund for any repairs and maintenance that arise throughout the year. That's that's like13:33 an emergency. You know what I mean? then we don't have to go to town meeting for appropriation. The town's already voted to put it in the school stabilization fund, so they know it's going to be used for the school. It's um I don't know if that's a thing. I have to check with town council, but that might make give us a little bit of uh leeway and we can even cap it up to13:54 $75,000 without appropriation. Something like that. I don't know. I'll have to go back to town council and ask them, but I just always worry because then we're putting it in and then we're taking it back. We have additional funds from the roof we didn't spend.14:08 So, we have the funding, but of course, we know we're going to do another phase of that roof leg. So, that's fine where it is. But that's all, but if we need it, I just want to make sure we don't cut ourselves so thin that we hit asbestous and it cost us 25 grand and we don't have the money, right? And that's my concern. It's been there all these years. We're going to14:25 find all sorts of things that the last person left behind, right? And I don't want to start a project and we can't finish all the way.14:34 Yeah.14:36 So right now to move on it, right? So we I mean at the end of the day I think we at least have to do the phased approach based on what they're saying. That only makes sense we have to do it that way. I don't see any other I mean I'm I'm one person but you know based on what we're being told, right?14:50 I say phased approach that ahu replacement sounds like it needs to be done. So then [clears throat] it's the question of the other three and based on what they're saying two and three would be the easiest to leave behind.15:02 So if that's the case, do we leave behind two and three to give us some flex?15:07 I would do that and then I will put that next meeting in next meeting. So then that doesn't cut us as close, right? So that gives us about 60ish grand.15:17 Y that's flex.15:19 Yeah. It's it's just procedural, right?15:21 So that we get get through this meeting.15:23 So base scope all two add one and four, right? And then come back for two and three at the next meeting.15:31 That makes sense for you guys.15:32 Absolutely.15:32 Like our goal is to get it all done at the same time.15:34 Sure. Right. Sure. And getting new boilers, whether we have all the pumps done the first time is we have new boilers. That'll be that'll be pretty great.15:42 Mhm.15:42 Oh, I agree. Um Yeah, I've been in that room. It's loud, steamy, and uh Yeah, it's a boiler room.15:49 It looks like It looks like something from the pit piece. It does. Sure does.15:54 But it's it's encouraging, right? We're moving forward.15:57 Absolutely.15:57 So hopefully we can probably benefit the building uh as well as the staff inside. There's a lot of positives out of it.16:04 Yeah.16:05 And forgive me for being naive with this because it's a phased approach. You're saying one boiler can run the whole school. Yes. Right. It's just the other ones there to kind of back it up when it gets real cold. So by doing it this time of year, having that one boiler will be fine. Everyone the temperature of the building will be okay.16:21 Yes. Okay. Yeah. And I rather not take it from the the school roof either because that's a project that's been ongoing over and we just continue with that. So leaving that money where it is is probably is the best.16:32 Yeah. Well, that that's what it was allocated for. So we couldn't even touch it. So yeah, we'd have to reallocate it at a town meeting, but we have we just got that scan. We're going to be looking at another phase of that project probably for this summer.16:43 Yeah.16:44 And I know it's bigger than the one we just did. So, we're in excess of a million dollars, which is why on the warrant I put a half a million dollars in stabilization as long as you guys approve that because that'll get us that much closer to that leg of the school roof.16:59 Mhm.17:01 Seems like every time you do a scan, there's more moisture, right? Like those recent one had about 15 areas of moisture.17:08 At some point, I want to see less than double digits or zero is my is my goal.17:13 All right, any other questions? Uh questions for me for me too. No.17:19 All right. So I looks like we're going to go with space scope alt two adding one and four. Um all right. Let me do the math real quick so that way in case I get I think that's what they propose on there.17:32 Is it the 1.195? Oh four. Okay. Oh, perfect. Thank you for doing the math for me. All right. That being said, I intend a motion to approve the boiler replacement project for the Fretown Elementary School subject to approval.17:45 Incidentals for base alt base scope alt two boiler replacements for tune of 880,000 plus addition of uh one add one a2 replacements for 285,000 and add four uh oil pump replacements for the tune of 30,000 for a grand total of 1,195,000.18:04 I will make that motion.18:05 Second.18:06 All in favor?18:07 I I All right.18:11 Thank you, gentlemen.18:11 We'll add number two and three to the next uh meeting. Sounds great.18:15 Thanks a lot. Problem appreciate the time.18:17 Thanks for the information.18:20 All right, it's that time of the day.18:22 Discussion vote whe to open, add, remove articles, review, make recommendations, finalize, and close the special town meeting warrant for 119 2026. Before we begin, I motion to open the special town meeting warrant article for 119 2026.18:36 I will make that motion.18:38 Second.18:38 All in favor? I I.18:40 All right, let's get into it.18:44 All right, article one. Let's see.18:48 Going through them all. We'll we'll quickly look at them. All right. Article one, fun new fire truck, new command truck for the fire department. About $100,000 submitted by the fire chief.18:57 Okay, straightforward. The 2018 that the deputies driving around has got some miles on it. Uh time for an update.19:04 Article two, fun purchase for truck for the highway department. Uh about $325,000.19:11 It's a new Freightlininer 114 SD. All right. Uh submitted by the highway surveyor.19:16 So, I just want to say on those first two articles, those requests came in for the at the annual town meeting uh for the budget, but I did not have the funding at that time. So, I asked them if they could wait until we had free cash. So, just so you know, these were asked for. This is the second request for each one of those.19:36 Absolutely.19:38 Thank you, Debbie. Article three, it's an increase for funding for the tree war warden's budget. Um the request submitted by the tree wardens for $5,000 supplement the budget of the tree warden to take action there too.19:52 These funds will allow for additional work to be cleaned to be completed by a higher tree service.19:59 How does that make sense? Make that make sense for me. because he is in charge of saying that certain trees need to be removed from the sides of the road. But he's not going to remove them.20:10 He has to hide.20:11 Who's hiring up?20:12 He hires bonds. I'm going to change I'm going to change the title on that to supplementary warden's budget instead of increase funding.20:20 Yeah, that might make more sense. At first reading this top of my head, you're looking at going does he is he looking for a raise looking for person?20:27 Right. That's what it kind of sounds like. You go through it. Okay, that makes more sense. Yeah, and trees come down. So, it's one of those things. All right. Article four, increase funding for water and sewer commission budget.20:39 See if the town will transfer from the water enterprise fund earnings the sum of $33,000 to supplement the budget of the water and sewer commission. Okay.20:49 Necessary equipment to outfit the second truck.20:52 All right.20:54 All right. All right. Article five, matching funds uh for $1 million EPA grant for water line extension. See if the town will vote to transfer the available funds. Uh $250,000 for EPA grant for the town community engineering permitting to extend the water line to the transfer station.21:12 Yeah.21:14 Okay.21:16 Uh number six, a supplement for economic development grant $25,000 supplement the MDI economic development grant award to the town of Freetown which is I'm assuming it's a matching grant.21:28 This is not a matching grant. So the EPA is a matching grant. So let me tell you about that one. We got a million dollars. Uh this was from um Congressman Aenloss from a congressional earmark.21:39 It's a million dollars. You have to match it with 20%. And so when you add their the 250,000 20% of that, you know, that's they take the total. That grant never goes away.21:50 So we can use it for permitting and the uh engineering and permitting the water line up to the transfer station.22:00 That rough right now the quote is around $750,000.22:04 The additional money that grant like they're not going to take the grant back. They'll just let you repurpose it.22:10 In other words, if as long as it's the same thing for the water line, I can use the extra money to actually start construction of the water line or I can use it or the town can use it to further um the extension of the water line. So, that's permanent. We're going to have that money. It's not going to be taken back. The economic development grant, we put in a grant application for uh22:30 $90,000 for economic development planning. We did not get that. We got awarded $20,000. We think there was there might have been some confusion because we were listed as MBTA conditional for very very long time until Nancy reached out to them and said, "Hey, you haven't updated our uh compliance model." And so I think once they did that, they said, "Oh, you do qualify, but this is all we have left."22:53 I'm totally speculating on all of that, but um so $20,000 is not enough for us to accomplish anything in an economic development plan. So, I'm asking for the town to supplement that grant with $25,000 so we can get started and actually do something that's worthwhile.23:10 Yeah.23:11 So, it's not a matching grant. It's sort of supplementing. And I I hope it reads that way. Um Well, it makes sense based on what you just said. It literally says supplement there.23:19 Yeah. Right there.23:22 So, and and and Nancy was that was a grant she wrote and she was able to get that grant. So, thank you Nancy for that. Um yeah, that makes sense. I think you're right. $20,000 won't go very far.23:33 No, it doesn't go very far. Even, you know, 45,000, but at least I think that gives us time to get another funding round to get some more funds. And I've asked the representatives to help us also supplement this. So, I think over the next six months or so, I'll be able to get some more funding, but it we can get started anyways if if this gets passed by uh town meeting.23:56 All right. our article 7 uh standard one here. It's a paying prior year prior fiscal year invoices. Looks like we have one from both from highway. One's for 2173 and the other one's for $268.24:09 Oh, we like to pay our bills on. So, this is good to get off our books.24:13 Well, one of those was because the vendor didn't give us paperwork timely.24:19 Article 8 is funding our other post-employment benefits or other otherwise known as OPED uh for $250,000.24:27 Um this is for our offset future cost for retiree benefits. So So this is one that I generally like to I like to fund the OPED every year based on our actual service needs. I we get a we get a a chart that tells us. So they're close to a half a million dollars. We could not do that with the annual budget. Again, we were we were a little bit tight. So, I did $250,000 at24:52 the annual meeting. This is supplementing that with another $250,000.25:00 Absolutely. Makes sense. Absolutely.25:03 Article 9, authorize the board of health to expend opioid settlement funding. Uh currently there's about a little bit over $39,000 in this account for opiate funds. Uh which is of course the settlements from the states. Um this allows the board of health to um use those funds as needed for like things like different organizations or programs here in town. Um of course this um would resend the existing opiate25:31 settlement stabilization fund allow board of health to use such funds for without appropriation without further appropriation. So it just makes it a little bit cleaner instead of going back and forth who approves it at all meeting at at board selected meeting. So that makes complete sense. Article 10 is amend the zoning bylaw to recognize craftsman tradesmen bay as a distinct use.25:54 Uh I I believe you brought this forward with the planning board.25:57 Yeah. This is just to uh make a bylaw.26:00 So, uh, again, I'll do the short version so we don't have dance studios and contract debates and stuff of that nature and make them do it the right way.26:09 Take it. And looks like 11 and 12 will also be uh number 12 is the men's zone by create data center overlay district regulations. This is just a piggyback from the conversation we just had at the annual town meeting. Yeah. Right.26:22 Yeah. We did an open hearing uh public hearing on it with the planning board on the 6th. Um, no one came, but we still did it.26:32 Sounds about this is uh [clears throat] it's about data centers. They're obviously uh talked about a lot and this is to protect the town this bylaw here.26:43 Right.26:43 So, right. And again, I think the idea is is to get something in place before we get higher guidance in so this protects us long term similar to what we did with our overlay district.26:53 Um, absolutely. And the MBTA. I'm sure this is the one that I'll be up there talking about the most at town meeting.27:00 I bet. And then article 12 um addition of employment positions uh to bylaws to see if the town would amend bylaws chapter 48 section 48.8 personnel classification compensation plans by adding the list of positions contained therein which is we're adding the library assistant and then the public administration intern uh both of which we are moving forward with or have moved forward with. So this just makes it um27:27 part of our laws. Article 13 is a fund the free elementary school maintenance stabilization fund um to see if the the town will transfer from available funds uh the tune of $500,000 for maintenance and stabilization of the our property over at FES. Um, again, we just talked about roof repairs and and boilers and everything else. And it's just one of those things as the bill gets older, a maintenance will will kick27:55 in and save us some some um some money.27:59 This also includes possibly doors and windows and doors. Correct.28:02 We're going to need uh doors and windows. I think we're going to uh the plan is to work with the the school the school committee to apply for an MSBA loan for the doors and windows at the school.28:14 um don't know that we'll get it. I I I want to say roughly, please don't hold me to it, but the doors and windows might be about $8 million. The town, if we got a grant, would be responsible for roughly 50% of that. So, we're looking My plan or my thought when I'm doing budgets is $4 million that we're going to need to have to do doors and windows.28:37 And we we might not get that an MSBA grant the first goound and they come every two years. So we might be four years down the road before we're we're doing this project. So I'd like to continue to fund to the best of our ability something in the stabilization fund every year so that when and if we were able to get that and can do that project the town will have a good amount29:02 of funds available to do that. So, um obviously things change quickly, right? Budgets, um economies, right? Interest rates are going up, the economy is um getting tighter. So, I don't know. But as long as we can, that's what I that's what I'd like to see happen um for to to keep putting some money into that stabilization fund.29:26 Absolutely. And I believe at the previous school committee meeting, they they talked about applying for all three MSBA. They're applying for not a school committee meeting, but yeah, they're they're applying for three MSBA, one one for FES, one for AES, and one for possibly the roof, I believe. So, I I don't know. Um those don't go out until early next year, I think. So, I I think that I29:52 don't know. I can't speak for what the plan is for the school, but keep an eye on it and we'll communicate with them.29:59 Um All right. Yep. It's uh further discussion on that. And in article 14, uh once again, paying prior fiscal year invoices for the water and sewer commission. Uh and there's four different ones. One is as low as $632 and one as high as $10,145.30:15 So, um pretty straightforward. And then article 15, fund the capitalization the capitalization stabilization fund to see if the town will transfer from bail of funds $1 million the purpose of supplementing capital stabilization. Um, this is something we do yearly. So, that's what we'll keep the time moving along in the background for anything that comes up. All right, gentlemen. Questions, concerns,30:41 additions omissions nothing.30:46 I mean, about everything we needed to Deb, did we miss anything before we close these?30:53 We have to um I don't think so. I think that is the final warrant. Um, we will need to approve all of our changes. So, um, all right. I will All right, let's see here. I will motion to close the discussion on the warrant articles for the special town meeting for 119, 2026. I think you need to vote to to add the articles and remove the articles before you close it.31:27 All right. So, we got to remove them.31:30 Add them and then the changes, right?31:33 All right.31:33 That's what I would do.31:34 Okay. I think I have it all right here.31:38 I don't know that you necessarily need to do the changes because you as long as you approve the warrant as is, but you need to remove the ones and then add the other ones.31:46 All right. Um, I entertain a motion to remove the following items from the draft special town meeting warrant for 119 2026. Uh, the we're going to remove additional funding for the Freetown Elementary School Boiler. Remove the and accept the personnel bylaw updates. Uh, fund training and equipment for in-house ways and measures, acceptance of Alexandria Drive, and fund park improvements.32:15 Items added to the special time meeting warrant is the appropriation appropriation of matching funds for the economic development grant. We added whitewater invoice and sum of $10,145 and in city of fall river in the sum of $63246 to the article paying prior fiscal year invoices. We added fund the park improvements to Long Pond fuel complex.32:37 Uh we also added funding oped other no we shouldn't that shouldn't that fund part I add to the removal portion of the funding improvements the long field complex uh but we will add funding OPED other post-employment benefits and we'll add fund the elementary free telemetry school maintenance stabilization fund all right um I'll make that motion second all in favor I I All right. Um, and I obtain a motion to33:10 approve the town meeting warrant article, special town meeting warrant article as is with the changes. And those changes include amending the free town zoning bylaws to create regulate craftsman tradesman bay development. We also amended the free town zoning bylaws to create regulate data center facilities. And we also added separated the prior fiscal year bills article into two separate articles based on two33:31 separate funding sources. free cash and water, sewer, retain earnings, and highway invoices separately.33:37 And we're going to change the word in article three. Instead of increase funding, it's going to be supplement tree warnings budget. I know number three, right? And we're going to change article three, changing the wording from gosh, increase funding, increase funding to supplement to supplement on the header.33:55 All right, I will make that motion.33:58 Second.33:58 All in favor? I I thank you gentlemen. Thank you Lynn for this cheat sheet.34:07 It makes life a lot easier. All right.34:11 So that was item discussion number four.34:13 Nope, sorry, that was number three.34:14 Discussion number four, discussion and vote whe to to mail a postcard to each household for a special town meeting on 119 2026. So, as we know for those that live here and watching at home, uh you receive this um one page long folded sometimes color, sometimes not u letting you know what all the articles are and what the time and day and location of the special town meeting or annual time34:36 meeting. This is proposing doing the same.34:39 Uh in my opinion, I I believe it's um it's a great way of getting information out there.34:45 I I agree. Um, I think we've done it in the past and to to pull it away now would be a disservice to our residents.34:54 So, I think I should 100% do it. So, looking at this, it looks like we have KLA Printing, Moonlight Design, right? I'm assuming that's a two, correct?35:08 Yep. And looks like KL Printing, right? I'm just trying to look over here. Let's see here. 6x5 by9 black and white $883. Colors at a couple hundred more for $1,87 with postage $1,55.60.35:30 We can go a little higher. An 8x5 by 11 with one wafer black and white $12.82 color 1559 with po and again add postage for $1,55. So, well, in in the past we were doing um 8 and 1 half by 11, right? We did we were doing 8 and 1 half by 11 and we were doing color, but we had a lot of right MBTA.35:52 We had a lot of MBTA. We had the the COA building.35:56 I don't think that this one warrants color.35:58 I don't have half the number of articles that we had in June on this one.36:03 Yeah, I think that the smaller one would probably fit.36:06 Think so as well.36:07 And black and white. And black and white.36:09 Black and white.36:10 Okay.36:11 Yeah, I like I like cheap cheaper.36:13 I think so, too. Black and white. Um, folded, no wafers, right? No wafers, no folds. So, black and white with postage.36:22 Yeah, it's a 6 in uh 6 1/2 by 9 card.36:25 So, that it doesn't need to be folded or anything. Yeah. So, it's 883 bucks. And then Yeah. Unless you want it in color.36:31 No.36:32 I'd rather save a couple hundred myself.36:35 All right. Um, I enter maintain motion to vote yes to mail a postcard to each household for special time meeting 119 2026 uh for the 6.5 by9 card black and white for $883 as well as postage for $1,55.60.36:52 I would just call out from KLA from KL Printing.36:55 Uh I will make that motion.36:57 Second.36:57 All in favor?36:58 I I removes you need to go back and close the warrant.37:03 I thought I did that. No. All right. I think we finalized it all. I'm not sure that we technically closed it. I didn't hear you say close. So, no worries. We'll go back and do it. Um, I motion going back to items item agenda number three. I entertain the motion to close the special time meeting warrant for 119 2026.37:21 All right, we'll make that motion.37:22 Second.37:23 All in favor?37:24 I.37:25 Sorry about that.37:26 No, no, I'd rather do it here.37:27 No. Yeah.37:28 Rather do it here than uh go out of time. All right. Thank you for that. Uh number five discussion vote whether to select the vendor to utilize a special town meeting postal card uh postcard for 11926. We just did that. We chose KL KLA printing uh for again the black and white 6 and 12 by9 card for $883 plus postage of $1,5560.37:55 Entertain that motion.37:56 I'll make that motion.37:58 Second. All in favor?37:59 I possibly skipped one and then just doubled up another one. We're doing good.38:04 It's all right. Listen, after a while, I just We're going to do everyone twice today.38:08 Like it. I like it. That way we're transparent and and efficient.38:13 All right. Number six, discussion of vote with to approve the the agreement between the town of Freetown and the division of weights and measures for calendar year 2027.38:23 So we discussed way um I think we're to continue the way the idea is to continue as is right until we get additional information as far as how we'll tackle it in the next coming year. So so yeah this is done by the state the towns pay it or the not the towns the businesses pay for it. So it's so the town pays for it and we allocate it in our budget and then we build the38:48 the businesses.38:50 [clears throat and cough] Some of the issue is the state has changed its contract like three times in a row. It used to be around $4,000 and now it's up around $9,000.38:59 Like four years ago it was four and then it went to 62 26 and now it's like 98 or something.39:05 But what happens is they don't they haven't in the past given us the bill until like March or April. They do the work like now this time of year. they send us a bill in March or April and in order for us to change the fees to the business owners, we have to go to town meeting. So if we want to if if they send us a bill for $10,000 and we need39:25 to increase our fees to collect that, we have to go to town meeting in June. So we're in essence back billing the the residents or the businesses for work that's already been done. Um and that's raised some concerns. So in the future, I think that that we need to look at a different approach to this and possibly do our own weights and measures inhouse. This year it's just not enough39:48 time to get that uh done right now. So we need to kind of sign this contract with the state because it's time for those uh weights and measures to get done. But I think in the future you're going to see more conversations about this, especially since the cost is just going up. It might make sense to have somebody in house doing so that they're trained and we have the right back in the day40:11 that's how it was done in house.40:13 Mhm.40:13 So yeah, we have to buy the equipment and whatnot.40:16 Okay.40:18 Session for another time, right?40:20 So this current contract is going to bill us by the hour for real.40:24 We we have like where I mean they're saying not to exceed. Is there a not to exceed?40:28 It was like a not I'm looking for that right now in here.40:32 Exceed like92 $200, but like I said, every year it's changed. So, it's hard for us to predict and tell residents or businesses what we're going to be billing them, which is interesting. So, if new businesses opened up in town and we were at that, they're just going to throw us out there and not that this is happening. Five new gas stations opened up, right? And they had to go out and do40:55 this and we were already at that cap that would theoretically be free of charge.40:59 Yeah. I like I said, I think that they're probably struggling with their own logistics and trying to change M um so it's that's that it's clunky. I'm going to say that.41:12 And per the agreement here, the max contract price for each one is $9,683 for the total contract.41:20 Yeah.41:20 Yeah.41:22 All right. I entertain a motion to approve the agreement between the town of Freetown and Division of Weights and Measures for calendar year 2027.41:28 I'll make that motion.41:29 Second.41:29 All in favor?41:30 I. Item seven, acknowledge donation from our superstar Suzanne Simo in the sum of $50 in the support of Council of Aging.41:43 You know, Suzanne, I would love to meet you. Come on down. If you're hearing this, we'd love to do this in person next time. Um, thank you once again. I know the Council of Asia appreciates it.41:52 The town of Freetown appreciates it. And I know all our selectment and town administration definitely appreciate it.41:57 So, we thank you.41:58 Yes. Thank you again. Amazing. Number eight, acknowledge the anonymous donation to fund a veterans bench at the Council of Aging in the sum of $1,000.42:08 So, uh, this came up. Uh, someone wants to donate some money to match, uh, similar benches we have down at Hathaway Park, um, in support of veterans at Council of Aging as a veteran.42:18 Absolutely. I love it. That's just great people here in Freetown.42:22 Absolutely. How do you say no?42:24 It's amazing.42:26 You know, people are have huge hearts here in town. I I love it. Absolutely love it. I entertain the motion to accept the donations to fund the veterans bench at the council of aging in the sum of $1,000. Oh, it's it's acknowled42:44 to approve the closing on the Council of Aging at 11:00 a.m. on December 15th, 2026 to attend sponsored annual holiday party for seniors.42:54 So, for those keeping track, you know, with the bingo card, uh, we set essentially do this often every year.43:00 Um, for that time of year, we I think we've done the last couple years at the very minimal. Um, they go over to the VFW and, um, I believe Senator Rodri is one of the the folks that are the main supporter there. And all the seniors go and and enjoy and break bread and and tell stories. It's it's a great event.43:18 and our staff assists with the party.43:20 So, they're going to help um not only go to enjoy themselves, but they're going to help absolutely make it happen for the seniors.43:30 I love it. I entertain a motion to approve the closing of the council of aging at 11:00 a.m. on December 15th, 2026 to attend a sponsored annual holiday party for the seniors.43:39 I will make that motion.43:40 Second.43:41 All in favor? I I item number 10 discussion vote where to approve the scope of work from the UMass Collins Center for Human Resource Policy and Procedure Review. Well, this goes right to our heart. Over the years, if anybody looks at our town page, you'll see a lot of these policies have been updated, right? A lot of internally, a lot of done by individuals here at this table as well as our lake um um Carlton44:04 Abbott. Uh but one of the things that is is kind of not a heavy lift but complicated is the personnel bylaw. So this is going to be a great a great way to update and adjust and fix and whatever adjective or pronoun you want to use for that. It's it needs to get done. It's outdated, right?44:23 Oh, it's so outdated in some I think what you're doing to here is you're having an outside firm look in right. So you're not we're not and don't take this as disrespectful quite the opposite. We're not asking Debbie to create something from working within. I think having outsiders do it who have done it who can make changes based on criteria that we give them um is a no-brainer honestly right like they44:51 there was something about it like being and I say changes like alakat right like we could ask them to kind of critique it based on certain things. So the Col the Collins Center is a is a division of UMass. Um so first of all there's no procurement involved because they are another they're a state agency. But second of all they do a lot with municipalities. They did our organizational study back in 2022. So45:14 they deal with all of the a lot of towns, right? That's what they do. So they see the town's uh personnel uh policies and so they can say, "Well, do you want to give this benefit or this benefit?" you know, and this is what we've done in this town, and you just basically tell them and direct them. I also think they probably will have an opportunity to meet with the the bylaw45:36 employees to to touch base with them.45:39 Um, I have the money within my budget, so not asking for the town to fund additional funds. I'm, you know, Carlton was working on this when he passed away.45:49 So, I'm excited about moving this forward. Um, I I'm really excited about it. So, I'm hoping they can get it done sooner than later and we can be that it's a town bylaw, so it'll have to be at the next town meeting, but I'm So, my goal is to get it on for the next town meeting so it can get approved. So, I'm excited about this actually.46:08 Yeah. To Carlos point, this has been kind of a gap, right, with any bylaws and stuff. So, I think this is a huge one. We see the big hurdle for us to get over.46:16 And keep in mind, we also updated the how we looked at bylaws over the years, right, with Cheryl and everything else in that committee uh to make sure that they're accessible. And this was just one of those that kind of looked it kind of not stuck out, but again, it needed outside looking in to make sure that we're doing it right compared to other municipalities and everything else. So, this46:36 long time coming. I love it. It's this is a good idea.46:39 Right. Well, every town meeting just like this one, we're adding positions.46:44 We're always making changes at the town meetings, but they and they get put in there, but it's clunky a little bit because there's been so many changes throughout the year. It really does need a complete revamp. Um, so yeah. No, absolutely.46:59 All right. I entertain a motion to approve the scope of work from the UMass Collins Center for Human Resources Policy and Procedure Review.47:05 I will make that motion.47:06 Second.47:07 All in favor?47:07 I.47:08 All right. Item agenda number 11.47:11 Uh, our favorite subject every year, insurance rates. All right.47:16 Uh this agenda is a discussion vote where to approve the health insurance rates for retirees for 2027.47:22 All right. So looking at my little sheet here, our current rates are let's say 2467 for MedX 2. Blue Medex RX is 262 for a total of 508.89.47:39 I assume that's bi-weekly.47:41 Um that's monthly.47:42 Monthly. Okay. So that's a monthly.47:44 That's not That's not bad. And the new rates with those same two items would be $53,557.47:53 About a 5 and a/4% increase.47:57 Um, all right. And then that's for MedX 2. Manage Blue for seniors. It goes from 46746 to 47745.48:07 That's actually not too bad. Uh well, it's 1% is too high, but at 2% 2.14% higher, that's not too bad. And then, of course, the Medicare PO Freedom RX uh Medicare Advantage uh current rates $53025.48:25 It looks like it's going up to 566.33, which is a 6.80% increase.48:34 All right.48:36 Yeah. So those are the the rates. The recommendation from the insurance advisory committee is to accept the rates. I am going to just put you you know on caution that um while these raised about 6% our health insurance rates are double digits increase right and these are for retirees that have reached the age of 65 and are on Medicare Medicaid. um not not retirees that are under age 65 because they're49:06 still on the the Blue Cross Blue Shield plans. We of course are paying 9010, right? We've talked about this. We voted that anybody retiring after June 30th of 27 will be on the same rate as their uh active employee rate.49:24 I I think the time's going to come where we're going to have to put all the retirees at 7525 or 7030. This has gone up exponentially, not so much this year, but in the last few years. Uh, insurance is still a very large expense. Um, it's my I have the school budget. The PD budget competes with the health insurance budget if you can believe that. So, when I tell you it's one of my49:50 largest budgets, it's big. and a double-digit increase this year for active employees is is just a it's going to be, you know, we're at $2.3 million budget. So, if we're talking about a 15% increase or 12% increase on that budget, we're talking about another quarter of a million. So, um it's probably a 300,000 or $400,000 increase in where we're at.50:18 So, we're talking about a $2.7 million increase. So, it might surpass the police department budget. And um so I'm just putting that out there because I think it's something you need to be aware of. You need to know how what the impact is on our uh our budget and just understand like these 12% increases are are again I'll say it not sustainable for the town. So, I think we made some strides with the unions and50:48 that they agreed to go 7030 for new hires and and they've agreed to work with us and the new plan isn't as rich as the old plan was. I don't it's not going to be enough. At some point, there is going to be some drastic changes that need to happen. So, I'm I'm putting you on notice as I have. Um, I will continue to look for ways to not that that we can save money that's not51:11 detrimental to the retirees or the employees because that's the last thing I'm I'm looking to do or or any of us are trying to do. Um, so I'm not planning any changes in the near future, but it's it's the budget might outgrow what we can afford to do. So I just want to put you on notice with that.51:28 And like anything else in the state, it's a growing trend. A lot of municipalities. A lot of municipalities are shifting away from that 7030 and they're going they're they're going towards the 50/50.51:38 Yeah.51:39 Right. So standby. That's going to that's going to be a very heavy conversation for all unions that's coming up. Um including our retirees. Um so that's a discussion for another time.51:52 But yeah, that's [clears throat] where the trend is going. And we can't chase colas. We can't chase insurance premiums. We just can't unless we're getting thousands of more residents to kind of keep up with that and I don't see that happening.52:04 Yeah. So, I'm not recommending that in the near future, but I'm just saying like I will look for ways other ways. Um Yeah.52:13 Yeah. No, I agree.52:14 I have a couple of ideas. I do. Um but I just want you to be, you know, understand that, you know, when our budgets can only increase 2 and a half% and our health insurance increases 12%.52:27 It's hard. it it creates a problem and we've we've been lucky and we're good and I don't want to alarm any employees because we're not talking I I I wasn't proposing anything in this union negotiation rounds with them because we just got them to agree to 7030 and I I think it's not fair to come back to them right now. Um I'll be looking for other alternatives. Uh a plan maybe with a52:51 high deductible that we supplement. I'm not sure. I will continue to work on it and bring it before the board. Yeah, I I agree. I I think we need to think about it more, get more information, um do our homework a little bit more, but that's the trend from other towns.53:07 So, it is the it is I mean, it's like the school budgets, right? Every town is struggling with the schools, every town is struggling with the health insurance.53:14 It's um that being said, it doesn't help just to say that everybody's in the same boat. I have to try to come up with a solution.53:22 So, but it's good to get the conversation out to get it started in case people are listening at home. This is something that we're we're it's giving us heartburn about, right? Because we don't want to do that to the employees, but at the same time, we have the responsibility to the town itself, right? So, it's it's a tough conversation to have in the future, but for for now, I'm not proposing any changes right now.53:40 I mean, we have wonderful health insurance. It's it's it's really good and our employees are here be a lot of them because of it. So, that's why I'm not proposing any changes and I don't want to alarm anybody. I just want you to understand in perspective of our whole budget where this lies.53:56 I agree. All right. Any questions, comments? All right. I entertain the motion to where am I? To approve the health insurance rates for retirees for 2027.54:08 Medex 2 is the increase of 5.24, manage blue for seniors 2 is 2.14, and the Medicare PO of 6.80.54:18 All right, we'll make that motion.54:19 Second.54:20 All in favor? I I.54:22 All right. All right. All right. Item 12, discussion and vote where to approve exclusive access to the band stand to the cultural council for the annual tree lighting setup on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:31, 2026 through 12 12:5 2026 from 2:00 p.m. 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.54:38 for setup. And on December 6th, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. to 10 p.m. So every year four corners get gets lit up a lot of Christmas themes and lights. This is just another year of doing it.54:51 I love Christmas, so nothing quite says happy Halloween like giving them exclusive use for Christmas lights. And I love it.55:00 Although I do have a segue to this when I was reading this the other day, right as I drive by the Christmas tree they have there with the It's looking a little little thin. You know, I like a burly I like a burly Christmas tree about it. There's a whole backstory behind because I've asked about it because there's the box on the bottom to kind of cover up and so Yep. So, yeah.55:21 Yeah, I like a burly tree. I'm a burly kind of guy for Christmas. All right. I entertain a motion to approve uh the tree lighting setup for Saturdays and Sundays from 10:31 to 12 125 from 12 12:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. for setup and then of course on December 6th, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. to 10 p.m.55:37 I'll make that motion.55:38 Second.55:39 All in favor?55:39 I I Item 13 discussion vote. We have to approve the disclosure from Mary E.55:45 Rosenes Brown for historic village schoolhouse feasibility study. So Mary uh she she's been a town reser for many years um and been on many committees. So she's just doing the right thing. She's disclosing that her nephew is a part owner of one of the companies that bid on u or proposed their bid for the physibility study for the schoolhouse.56:06 So just a general acknowledgement. Um so thank you for letting us know. Um pretty straightforward.56:13 All right. I entertain the motion to approve the disclosure from Mary Reendes Brown for historic village school houses building Study.56:19 I'll make that motion.56:20 Second.56:21 All in favor?56:21 I.56:23 All right. Thank you again, Mary. Um All right. And item number 14, discussion and vote on awarding the invitation to bid for installation of salt shed at the highway department. All right.56:37 So [clears throat] once again at annual town meeting the residents grace graciously approved a salt shed uh so that we can save some money while we purchase that salt for this shed. All right. Uh we have a company Iron Horse Structures for $249,000 uh for the installation of the salt shed at the highway department. Pretty straightforward. Um so been moving along quite graciously which57:01 is great. Here we are. Let's get her built.57:04 All right. only needs to be done.57:06 All right. I maintain a motion to award the invitation for bid installation associate at the highway department.57:13 I will make that motion.57:14 Second.57:15 All in favor?57:15 I.57:16 I. And then as a segue discussion vote whether to authorize the power to sign all documents for the installation of s shed salt shed at the department.57:26 Yeah. Uh once again, Debbie is our signer and reviewer of such things and we appreciate her and truly [snorts] thankful for her future.57:35 Yeah, the documents just weren't ready and the time is of the essence. We're trying to get the salt shed up so that Chuck can bring the salt in for the winter.57:41 Right. I agree. Absolutely. Winter's coming.57:45 Oh yeah. And it's hard to get salt. So having it there and early as possible is is huge.57:52 Yeah. Reading a report that it was snowing in Maine already.57:55 Yeah. couple days ago in Vermont over the weekend.57:58 So everyone out there, get your skis sharpened and boots ready.58:03 The state gets the salt first and as the salt's having a harder time getting here, it makes it that much harder. So we become second in line to getting it.58:13 So that's why it makes it harder and then even if we get it, it's more expensive. So this will hopefully help Chuck get it in a little earlier, maybe save a little bit of money, right?58:22 And yeah, I'll take the savings. Absolutely.58:26 I entertain a motion to approve and authorize the town administrator to sign all documents for the installation of associate at the highway department.58:34 I will make that motion.58:35 Second.58:35 All in favor?58:36 I.58:36 I.58:37 All right. Spoken Cavalo personnel board.58:40 All right. Item 16, discussion vote whether to approve the recommendation um including starting at step three for conditional offer of employment as regular full-time patrolman probationary uh to Ruie Martin Jr. and Chief Rose is here.59:08 Good evening everyone. Good evening. Hey chief, how we doing?59:11 Hanging in there. [clears throat] So, so as you know, we did a interview.59:16 It was me, uh, Deb and the chief was the final interview. Before that, he went through a panel of sergeants.59:23 Um, and he came out, Mr. Martin came out on top of both interviews and was recommended by the police chief. And I guess the floor is yours, sir, if you want.59:35 Okay. Um, so, uh, recently we have an open vacancy here with the Freetown Police Department. Uh, through our current advertisement, uh, process, uh, the applications that were, uh, submitted were reviewed. Uh, well over 30 applicants had applied, uh, most recently with the, um, the announcements that we had made in the spring. Um out of that uh aotment of new applicants, uh it was well over 30 applications that we1:00:07 had received. Um out of those applications, I believe only eight of them were actually certified officers.1:00:14 And what that means is these candidates that applied already were police officers and they are um currently working in other communities.1:00:24 Um after looking at the applicants, a number of those applicants were sent uh um requests for the interview process.1:00:35 Out of um the eight, only three responded back um potentially to do the interview. Uh the first interview with the sergeants. Um once uh that interview process was set up only two of those three candidates actually came in to do the interview process. Uh once that phase of the interview process was completed it then went on to an administrative uh interview process between myself uh the1:01:05 town administrator and uh selectman uh Kabalo. Uh both were rated. Um both were actually interviewed fairly well. It was really close. Um but the the candidate uh you know Mr. Ru Martins Jr. came out on top and uh definitely holds my uh recommendation for the board for consider of that conditional offer of employment.1:01:31 And also he has four years experience with the another police department.1:01:36 That's correct. He's got over four years of experience and from the last agreement that was um negotiated between the CBA and the town that uh the town can recognize and award uh credit for those years of service which uh the floor's years of service that the recommendation that I made uh step three would go in line with the current uh CBA contract of the police department. Um any officer that has that amount of1:02:04 experience would definitely benefit this town um going forward.1:02:09 So how long will the the training process shall I say and I use that term loose because obviously he doesn't need training on being a police officer but rather our department. How long will all that take chief? So if you can imagine um different departments have different practices and policies and that would all have to be addressed in a training platform that we have here with an FTO1:02:29 program um at a minimum it would be 12 weeks and depending on how well he receives it um should get him up and running within you know some months.1:02:39 Mhm.1:02:40 So versus um someone that we would hire that didn't have the certification, we'd have to send them to the academy for 6 months and then come out of the academy and train them through the similar FTO program, but probably a lot longer because they don't have the experience as these candidates that already have their certification.1:02:59 So, um it's very enticing when these uh candidates are available from uh other communities that want to come into our department and um my opinion is I think this candidate would be a good fit for our department.1:03:15 Yeah. Yeah. Honestly, and I I don't want to clog this but it makes me happy that you know you said sergeants, right? So, it's not just not just administration saying this is how we feel. um having fellow officers who are going to be working side by side with them are saying, you know, this they felt like he was a good fit. Um years of experience is great and I think this is all a no-brainer to me.1:03:38 Yeah. Um now for him, is this a race for him? Is this a is he right where he's at now in his current position or It's a personal decision. I did not ask that, but obviously that's something that he would have to consider depending on his current work status. So, but I just would say that we are open and transparent what we offer here from the town of Freetown in the Freetown Police Department.1:04:03 Yep. It's worked out well for the town in past hires. So, uh hopefully it keeps going. So, yeah, I think both candidates were really good. I I I I thought they were great. This one was just I think a little bit um scored just a little bit higher, but they were both great. Um, I do I do think he'll be a great fit with the department. Um, so I think we're1:04:29 lucky if if he chooses to come to work here. I agree. Um, it is a little bit of luck that comes. You know, you never know what's going to come in those doors to for the interview. But, um, put me at ease and very comfortable with these both these candidates. But again, uh, Mr. Martins, uh, shined just a little bit brighter.1:04:50 Yeah, Ruby's a good name, too. I got a cousin name Ruy.1:04:54 You don't see those names very often.1:04:56 No.1:04:57 All right.1:04:58 All right. Anything else? No.1:05:00 All right. So, I will um entertain a motion to uh to offer Ruie Martins Jr. uh conditional offer of employment as a regular full-time patrolman, probationary. And that will be starting at step three.1:05:22 I will make that motion.1:05:23 I second.1:05:24 All in favor?1:05:24 I I thank you very much for your time.1:05:30 Appreciate it as always.1:05:31 Two.1:05:33 All right. Then we'll move down the 17th discussion vote on whether to approve the following appointments. And we have a Aaron Rosendis to the cultural council effective 101726 until 101629.1:05:54 B. Samantha Gomes to the cultural council effective 101726 until 20 101629.1:06:07 C we have Kimberly uh fails uh to health insurance advisory committee retirees rep effective 102026 and D we have Patricia Deancha Danche Danche as uh council on agent board effective of 102026.1:06:41 Any questions on those?1:06:43 No. No.1:06:43 All right.1:06:44 All three people.1:06:45 I will instain a motion to uh appoint A through D.1:06:52 I will make that motion.1:06:53 I second.1:06:54 All in favor?1:06:55 I.1:06:57 All right.1:06:58 Well, that's all I got today. Back to you.1:07:00 Well, thank you. Thank you, SLO. Um well we'll do some signing and do we have anything from boards of parks? Uh okay administrative report anything that um just kind of talk while while we get signatures and tell you what's going on in our department. Y obviously the last couple weeks have been work working on the warrant um which is uh always evolving and changing. even until the five minutes1:07:25 before we we got here tonight. We were making changes, right? Um we try to get it to all the department heads and take their input and change it. So that's uh the the bulk of our time. Obviously, I've been working on grant management before it uh with oper. So we're winding up oper. Uh the last project is of course the ambulance that I'm hoping to get in the time frame that we need,1:07:49 which is the end of next month. um and doing those reporting and and getting these new grants and working through um what we're doing. The EPA is a is is a big grant and a lot of work. So that's basically what we're working on in our department and in our day-to-day operations. Um so looking forward to getting town meeting behind us and we're going to start our budget. We have a new1:08:14 budget software package, so we're going to be working with that.1:08:19 I'm super excited to get that done and work with that this year. Although it's a learning curve, right? It's going to slow us down to some extent, but we have the intern that's working with us, Isabelle. So, I've gave her some projects. So, that's exciting. Um, a lot of good stuff happening. We have a great team.1:08:36 Um, you know, I can't say it enough. We really do have a great team. We have great employees. Without the staff that we have, we wouldn't be able to do all the work that we've got going on. And we have a lot going on. So that software that you were talking about, did they give you any training or are they going to support you with any training?1:08:54 Yeah, they're going to they're going to help us. Um, right now we're just trying to get it set up with the existing budgets and all the history so that when we give it to everything, it seems fairly simple like I'm excited because the department heads have to utilize it as well. So that'll be rolling out I'm hoping by the end of the year and we'll be working formally within it in January1:09:15 was my goal. um cuz that's sort of when I start the budget process in terms of formalizing it. Obviously, I do my preliminary budgets internally, but I do them. I don't ask the department heads.1:09:24 I just I wait till like January for them to give me that.1:09:28 I've sent out requests to the unions to start negotiating because of course I I that's a big we have four unions this year. So, that's going to we're not going to know budget numbers until those unions are negotiated. So that's always a difficult time to prepare budgets if you don't have numbers. So I'm going to send out a reminder again and that we need to start negotiating unions. I I I1:09:54 need numbers and it takes some time to negotiate the contracts.1:09:57 Does I have one employee? No, I think I have two employee contracts that I need to negotiate. So we'll start working on uh with myself and so uh but we're okay.1:10:08 We're, you know, we're down a little bit of staff in the highway department, but interviews are this week coming. So, I think we'll be fully staffed. As far as I know, we're on budget. Um, not no red flags as of yet.1:10:22 So, everything's looking okay right now.1:10:26 We'll take it while we can.1:10:28 Absolutely.1:10:30 Take it. Yeah. U Yeah. Now, as far as meetings for next time, do we have a meeting before the annual the special time meeting or we doing it right before the meeting? Do we think we'll get one in before meeting the sec the second?1:10:43 You have one November 2nd, right?1:10:46 You'll have one November 9th and we'll we'll see if we need one on the 16th. It's scheduled currently. Um did we put a public hearing on that date?1:10:57 Ask me to go on the town meeting.1:10:59 Yeah. Okay. Um, so we'll the 16th will be depending on if we need it or not. We might I also have to look at how far before we have another meeting, right?1:11:07 Because it's hard to go three weeks without a meeting. Um, so uh town meeting, they should be quick. I I never know. We don't know. Like right now we have nothing but over the next few days it just keeps coming.1:11:20 Yeah, it just adds up.1:11:22 Yeah. Good. But it' be nice to get through town meeting and I I not anticipating any issues.1:11:30 It just comes so fast, right? Don't we feel like we just had town meeting?1:11:32 Yeah, it does. So it feels that's it. I got nothing unless you you need anything from me. Is there anything that any of you need need to be working on already working on?1:11:42 No, I think we are all aware of everything going on. And this is this is this is it, right? Nice and nice. Not easy, but it's calm, right? which is nice and calm [snorts] if you keep telling yourself.1:11:54 I know sometime I wouldn't use that. I know with our own said calm I we use a couple of other adjectives but sure.1:12:05 Sure.1:12:05 Absolutely. Call in the box. All right.1:12:08 All right. All right. It being 7:12 p.m.1:12:11 I entertain motion to adjourn for the evening.1:12:13 I'll make that motion. Second. All in favor? Bye. Hi.
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