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The Raynham Channel
Board of Selectmen 1/21/2025
(Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy)
Get insights into the bustling activities of our fire department with Chief's year-end report, detailing everything from emergency runs to life-saving grants. Be prepared to learn about the new challenges as the health director, Paula, shares the latest updates on flu and COVID cases affecting our community. With vital discussions surrounding personnel changes and the adoption of significant health regulations, we ensure you're kept informed about the essential services and protections in place for our town.
Our episode also delves into the impactful changes being made to safeguard public health, such as the newly adopted tobacco regulations. Discover the thoughtful decisions regarding extensions for key positions like the fire chief and finance director, ensuring the town's leadership remains strong. Stay tuned as we unravel the MBTA Communities Act compliance efforts and celebrate the achievements recognized at the special town meeting. With these updates, you'll be equipped with a comprehensive understanding of the discussions shaping our community's future.
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All right, good evening. Call the meeting to order at 7 pm. Inform the public we'll be in both broadcast live and recorded by the Rainham Channel and I would ask those joining us today to join us in the pledge, please.
Speaker 2:I introduce you 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.
Speaker 1:Thank you, I will entertain a motion to accept the minutes from January 14th. Do you want to make that motion Second, All in favor? Aye, All in favor. Approved Department heads our flight chief, Brian Acevedo.
Speaker 3:Chief Good evening I had sent everybody the year-end fax which with our new computer system that has actually been running for a year now, we can pull out a lot of good data. I just want to kind of review something real quick. So last year we did 3,865 emergency runs. Of that, 2,678 were medical emergencies and motor vehicle crashes. You can see the others 552 false alarms and 59 were fire calls. And then I have to clarify this because now that I've read it a couple times, the 1,655 there were calls for non-emergency response.
Speaker 3:That's not figured into the 3865 as a standalone number just for emergencies, and the 1,655 is a standalone just for, basically, fire prevention activities throughout the course of the year. The unique thing about that is the town of Mansfield did 1,683 fire prevention calls with two guys and Deputy Johnson does a heck of a job. He did all those calls pretty much on his own. Last month we did 119 fire incidents, 230 medical calls and 178 fire prevention calls. Last year we were at 3828. This year we're at 3865, so that's 37 more than we did last year. The only thing I would say is just add those two numbers together and for the year we did 5,520 calls for service.
Speaker 1:And do you want to talk about the letter though yeah, if it's okay with the board, why the chiefs here? We have a couple items under new business. It would be specifically 9c and a piece of correspondence I'd like to take out of order for the chief correspondence first yeah so every year we apply for a grant through the Department of Fire Services for firefighter safety.
Speaker 3:We were able to buy equipment through that grant Last week. When I wrote the letter, we were one of only three communities in Bristol County that did not get the grant. After some support from the Statehouse and some other calls from various places, we were able to get that money. So $9,300 and some odd dollars will we get to buy some safety equipment for the fire department. Obviously, those grants are pretty important to us. It helps offset some of the costs to our budget throughout the course of the year and I think the only thing I would say is speculation that the MBTA Communities Act had something to do with that particular thing. We hadn't voted yet, so I'm not really sure how they can hold that against us, but maybe just something to think about in the future because other grants will probably be affected, uh, due to that particular piece of grant.
Speaker 3:Uh, do you want to do the other? Yeah, so in I wrote two letters. We had a resignation from the fire department, the uh. Uh. This particular firefighter has been here for a year and he has uh decided to move to south carolina with his family. So we took a red letter of resignation and I would like to replace that firefighter, with your permission, due to the july I forget when that was 2022 of a hiring freeze, but this is a replacement for him and we also, in August, lieutenant Brad Carr will be retiring from the department. It will be the first promotion in a long time and it's a lengthy process and we'll also have to replace him once August comes. So I would like permission to go ahead and handle everything, so there's a seamless transition as far as August comes and we're ready to go.
Speaker 1:So just to clarify for the board, the chief's asking, with these impeding vacancies, to fill two private positions and a lieutenant's position, all of which are existing in the budget and our workforce now. None of them are new positions. What's the board's pleasure, I'll make that motion to approve. All in favor. Aye, that's unanimous, thank you. Thank you, chief. Have a good night. Thank you, chief. All right, our health director is next Paula.
Speaker 4:Happy New Year. For the Board of Health update. I've just been informed by our town nurse that flu and COVID have spiked in town. So this is a reminder to the public that if you're feeling sick or any symptomatic symptoms at all, please stay home and wear a mask to help stop the spread.
Speaker 4:For the review of the annual statistics for the Board of Health, the town nurse reported through MAVEN that's our epidemiology reporting system that Rainham my parents used to live in Raymond, new Hampshire, and that's in my head Rainham had 263 COVID cases, 100 flu cases and 56 Lyme disease. As a reminder, these are only cases that were reported by hospitals and doctors. She also investigated 44 individual cases of other communicable diseases at the request of MDPH. A total of 406 permits were processed through the Board of Health Department. A total of 88 complaints were handled, 378 health inspections were done, a total of 44 address-specific public records requests were processed and the staff currently holds licensures and certificates as Title V inspector, soil evaluatorator, food protection manager, pool and spa inspector, housing inspector and allergen awareness. And I also lost 20 pounds in 2024 and all but just a few of them that found their way back so that is my report and I'll take any questions.
Speaker 2:Thank you, miss Riley. I have no questions, but I think is with the fire chiefs report here you can see that our departments are very busy and every year they get even busier. So thank you for the good work mr Collins.
Speaker 1:No questions, thank you, paul. Paul, if you want to stay up there, because we have no appointments and then we have public hearing, so I'll call the public hearing to order at 7 or 6 pm, and that is for the purposes of Any public input and any comments from you. Paula, for the book proposed Board of Health Tobacco regs for the public benefit. You brought these forward about a month ago to us. The board offered some requests, which I see have been incorporated into this document, including the re-lettering of points, and so the two things I think that are before us is whether or not we want to adopt these and then to set an effective date, correct, yes, okay, anything you want to add.
Speaker 4:No, I'm very pleased with the update to this new regulation. It's helped us stay in comparison to a lot of other towns that are doing the same, and also my health inspector is ready to hit the ground running and bring all of these personally, once you decide on the regs, to the store owners so that if there are any questions, we're going to personally handle those.
Speaker 1:Thank you, Ms Riley questions, comments.
Speaker 2:I have no questions, but I think it's important to point out, for the public's benefit, the rationale, the reason for this, the purpose. As it's stated here, there exists conclusive evidence that tobacco smoking causes cancer, respiratory and cardiac diseases, negative birth outcomes and irritation to the eyes, nose and the throat. The US Department of Health and Human Services has concluded that nicotine is as addictive as cocaine or heroin, and the Surgeon General has found that nicotine exposure during adolescence, a critical window for brain development, may have lasting adverse consequences for brain development. And lastly, it is addiction to nicotine that keeps youth smoking past adolescence. So certainly justification for taking this action.
Speaker 1:Thank you, Mr Collins.
Speaker 2:No questions.
Speaker 1:All right, and is it public hearing? Any members of the public wish to comment? All right, seeing none. As I said, it's about adopting this and then setting a date. We've always been critical of the state imposing rights and not giving a period of adaption, and so I would suggest that minimum 60 days before this takes effect, but my preference would be 90 days. That would allow the health department to distribute this and give our businesses a fair chance to adopt any changes that they might have.
Speaker 2:I'll make that motion for 90 days, any further discussion, seeing none all in favor.
Speaker 1:All right, that is approved unanimously and set for action 90 days from tonight and I will close the hearing at 7 o 9. Old business, miss Riley. New business we have a few items. The first is a discussion and a vote on a non-union employment agreement extension for our fire chief, brian LaCivita. The chief has agreed to term for a one-year contract extension through June 30th 2026, and it's a 2% increase, and this was voted on unanimously in exec and now we are reporting it out for a final vote here with a support motion with our appreciation to our fight you for the great job that he does all in favor as approved unanimously.
Speaker 1:B. It's a discussion and vote on the non-union employment agreement extension for Chris Lavalette, our finance director, town accountant. This is a three-year extension through june 30th 2028 and it's a two-year two percent increase in year one, a one percent increase in year two and a two percent increase in year three. Uh, and again, that would go through june 30th 2028. This was similarly voted unanimously in executive session and now we're putting it out for the final vote. What's the board's pleasure?
Speaker 2:I'll again make that motion with our appreciation to our finance director for the great job that he does.
Speaker 1:Second that motion All in favor Aye, also approved unanimously. Thank you both. Thanks. We've taken care of item C D. Tag day request Veterans of Far and War post 6-11 for May 22nd and 23rd. These dates are okay with us. The board's pleasure motion to approve all in favor. That is approved unanimously. And tag day request for supreme perfectionist May 17 and 18. July 19 and 20. Those dates are approved. What is the boys pleasure?
Speaker 2:motion to approve all in favor.
Speaker 1:That is approved unanimously and we have a tag day request Jim hot gymnastics April 18 and 19. Those dates are approved motion to approve all in favor. They're approved unanimously. Any other new business, miss Riley?
Speaker 5:mr Collins, all right time to ministrate his report, mr Barnes yes, as a result of the Milton case involving the MBT Communities Act, new regulations have been issued by the state whereas previously the compliance deadline was December 31st of 2024. It's now been extended to july 14th. If we submit a action plan to the state by february 13th, we will be doing that and our action plan is to go to town meeting in may uh for consideration by the uh community for for its approval.
Speaker 2:Thank you, Greg. Ms Riley, questions or comments? I have no questions. Just thank you for following up on that, Mr Barnes.
Speaker 1:No questions. And just to reiterate what the administrator said, the public will still be voting on this, as we've previously discussed and disclosed at our annual Maytown meeting, which is always the third Monday in May. So nothing has changed there, other than the fact that the deadlines have changed as a result of the MBTA Community Act, milton ruling. Anything else, greg.
Speaker 5:That will be May 19th, my birthday We'll bring cake.
Speaker 2:No, he wants pie.
Speaker 1:So I can report Ms Riley.
Speaker 2:Just a couple of things. You want a ring cake? No, he wants pie, so I can report, ms Riley. Just a couple of things. First, I'd like to thank those citizens who attended the special town meeting last Tuesday night for giving us the quorum we needed to conduct business. Thank Mr Barnes, our town administrator, the planning board and Mr Iafredi, our building commissioner and planning consultant, for preparing the articles and the information regarding them, as well as town moderator john donahue for conducting the meeting and town clerk marcia sylvia and her office for assisting.
Speaker 2:Last week, the rave board of directors held its second meeting of the 2024-2025 school year and I'd like to take the opportunity periodically to report for public disclosure that I do serve on the board in two capacities as secretary and as this board's liaison to the RAVE board. At the meeting, the board elected a new. We're thrilled to elect a new community member, rainham's new school resource officer, jen Lang, who now joins our police chief, david LaPlante, on the board, and it was great to hear the three Rainham principals who serve on the board report how much they and the students have welcomed Officer Lang into our schools. A teacher at LaLiberty report how excited the students are to see her and to hear Officer Lang report how much she is enjoying her new role. In her report, volunteer Coordinator Becky George reported on the success of Ray's two fundraisers the pie cookie dough sale in November and the annual holiday craft fair in December, and she thanks all in the community who supported that. The next big event coming up is Read Across America week, so be prepared, selectmen, to get a call and maybe we'll draft our town administrator this year too to be among our celebrity guests.
Speaker 2:Lastly, our superintendent, mr Ryan Powers, reported at the meeting that the district is having a caregiver information night tomorrow night, that's January 22nd, beginning at 6 o'clock pm in the high school auditorium. The purpose of the meeting is to in the high school auditorium. The purpose of the meeting is to review how the school budget is built, explain where the funding comes from and the sources of the district's major expenditures, in order to provide context and background information to better understand the district's preliminary fiscal year 26 budget, which he will be presenting to the school committee and the community at the school committee's meeting on Wednesday, january 29th, beginning at 7 o'clock at the high school. Both of those meetings are open to the public, thank you. Thank you, ms.
Speaker 1:Riley, mr Collin, go for it. All right. Just two things To echo your comments on the town meeting appreciate everybody's participation to help us get those done, and also recognition to Norm and our highway department. This was his biggest storm since he became superintendent. I spoke to him over the weekend. Everything went well, a few minor issues that they were able to resolve and the roads look great. So appreciation again to him and his team. No correspondence this evening. No press time. Emergency business. Ms Riley, I have none. Mr Collins, nope.
Speaker 6:Citizen and community input. Thank you, mellon, 147 Carroll Drive. I have a question for you too, mr Barnes, about the MBTA community. We have our meeting in May and then it's due by the end of July. Will there be time? What do we do in the meantime of the 90-day with the Attorney General? Does that kind of put a stay on that or give time for them to?
Speaker 5:I don't believe that should have an issue as long as we have a positive vote in May. But again that's up to the voters as to whether they wish to support it or not.
Speaker 1:Okay, great, Thank you. Just so you know the AG's office, as I understand it, is also offering to proof the articles before they go forward as kind of a preemptive strike to make sure that nothing jumps out to them as well, Right?
Speaker 6:so if it's approved, they'll more than likely yes, it'd be more of a pro forma type of thing.
Speaker 1:Yeah, okay, I should stress.
Speaker 5:This whole thing is being reviewed by CERPID's legal counsel, our regional planning agent, and they're using a very specialized zoning lawyer who is very versed in the MBTA Communities Act and what's necessary for compliance.
Speaker 1:Thank, you Good question. No other citizens present? Performance of administrative duties.
Speaker 2:Ms Riley, I just report, having reviewed and signed the uranium invoice and payroll warrants for the state.
Speaker 1:Great Thank you. At this time I'll entertain a motion to go into executive session Master General Laws, chapter 38, section 21A2, to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with non-union personnel or to conduct collective bargaining sessions or contract negotiations with non-union personnel. Non-union employees. We will reconvene in public session for the singular purpose of adjournment, with no other business to be conducted thereafter. What is the board's pleasure?
Speaker 2:A motion to go into executive session.
Speaker 1:Second and roll call Ms Riley Aye. Mr Collins Aye. Chair votes aye, we are heading into executive session. Have a good evening.