Board of Selectmen 1/14/2025

(Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy)

Join us for a comprehensive town meeting where we celebrate the collaborative spirit of our local leadership. Through roll call votes, contract amendments, and heartfelt tributes, we highlight the decisions shaping our infrastructure and honoring the legacy of cherished community members whose dedication to the veterans department leaves a lasting imprint.

Get ready to engage with Raynham's future as we announce the upcoming CERT training program, offering residents critical skills in community service and disaster preparedness. From mastering fire safety to search and rescue, this training is an essential opportunity to protect loved ones and neighbors when it matters most. Whether it's contributing to community events like the Memorial Day Parade or preparing for emergencies, this episode is packed with ways you can actively participate in making Raynham a safer and more resilient place. Listen in for inspiring stories and essential updates that define our community's present and future.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:07

All right, good evening. Call the meeting to order at 6.15 pm. As a reminder, we are meeting early this evening because we have a special town meeting following us at 7 pm in the middle school and so we are also not live this evening. This meeting is being recorded by the Rainham Channel. This meeting is being recorded by the Rainham Channel and at this time I would entertain a motion to accept the minutes from our January 7th meeting and our executive session, which are being withheld from public release at this time.

Speaker 2: 0:33

Ms, I'll make that motion to accept those minutes as printed. The President, mr Second, mr All in favor. Ms Aye, mr it's approved unanimously.

Speaker 1: 0:41

We have no department head appointments. We have one, a special police officer, richard Pacheco. We received a request from the chief that the governor had signed Senate Bill 2983 on January 1st that had been previously passed at town meeting in May, which allows retired police officers service specials to the age of 70. The chief is requesting this to refill our special police officer list that are post-certified. What is the board's pleasure? I'm going to make that motion second. Uh and uh. We're going to do a roll call because I'm going to recuse myself, miss riley all right mr paul and the chair recuses himself.

Speaker 1: 1:15

So I abstain and that passes. No other appointments this evening. No hearings old business, miss riley, I have none. New business we have the discussion and vote on a contract amendment with gpi. No hearings Old business, ms Riley, I have none. Mr Mullen, no sir, all right. New business. We have the discussion and vote on a contract amendment with GPI for the design and permitting services regarding the Godness Street Bridge, kings Pond Dam. This is an amendment based upon additional findings as the work has proceeded. Our highway superintendent and town administrator recommend this, greg. Anything you want to add?

Speaker 3: 1:45

The score 43,370. What is the board's pleasure? And 6,500 in expenses, for a total of 49,870.

Speaker 2: 1:58

I'll make that motion.

Speaker 1: 1:59

I'll second All in favor. Aye, that is approved unanimously. Any other new business, ms Riley? I have none. Mr Collins, no Time to administrate his report, mr Barnes.

Speaker 3: 2:12

I'd just like to pay my greatest respects to Pat Togano, who recently passed away and was a very valued person in my office and worked for the veterans department. I love Ms O'Reilly.

Speaker 1: 2:33

Thank you very much. Selecting to call Ms Riley.

Speaker 2: 2:36

Thank you, mr Chairman. I would echo Mr Barnes' comment. I think Mrs Montagano probably worked for the town and for veterans her entire adult life as the secretary to her husband who was the veterans agent, and then, after he passed, she continued working for our new veterans agent and certainly was a sweetheart and one of the nicest people you could possibly meet. And other than that, I just want to mention an announcement that we have the community, our community emergency response team, cert, has announced the next opportunity for basic training will take place on Thursday evenings from 630 to 9 o'clock, beginning in March and continuing for a total of eight weeks. The schedule is subject to change due to guest instructor availability, but will mainly be Thursday evenings.

Speaker 2: 3:30

Anyone who is interested in joining Rainham's volunteer CERT can contact our CERT director, kevin Marrera, for more information at rainhamscert at gmailcom. It's an opportunity to learn the skills needed to help protect your family, your neighborhood and the community at large when disaster strikes. Training includes disaster preparedness, fire safety and suppression, search and rescue, first aid and CPR, incident command, disaster psychology and communications, hazmat safety, safety and terrorism and emergency preparedness. And it isn't just to help in times of crisis. They also help the community in so many ways. They've been a huge help for our Rainham Memorial Day parade and Rainham Community Celebration Day. So anyone who's interested contact Kevin about that. Thank you.

Speaker 1: 4:22

Mr President, I would like to express my condolences to my family. I will join my colleagues in my condolences to Pat's family. John was a consummate professional, served as well and Pat was the same there. John's son, pat's stepson I think. He's just retired. He was a deputy chief of police down in Florida. So a long history of family public and I'm sure it comes as no surprise to all of us because Pat Expoused public service. So she will be daily missed. We are grateful for the chance to have known her.

Speaker 1: 4:59

The only other piece I have the state has issued their initial Predictions for tax revenue for FY 26 and they have predicted only 2.2 percent increases, and so, whether it's directly passed through to us from the state or through our own local receipts, 2.2% obviously doesn't keep up with the two and a half percent. So it's going to be, as we've all been aware for some time, of challenging FY 26, which just continues to become more focused for all of us. Us more information becomes available. So I wanted to just make sure I shared that with the board. We have no correspondence this evening, no press time, emergency business of duties and strives. I just report that I am reviewing and signing off on those for this date of January 14th, thank you At this time.

Speaker 1: 5:58

I'll entertain a motion to adjourn and we will all be heading down to the auditorium shortly for a special time meeting.

Speaker 2: 6:04

I'll make that motion. All in favor, aye.

Speaker 1: 6:06

We are adjourned, thank you.