Board of Selectmen 2/04/2025

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

Join us as our Police Chief reviews January’s emergency response activities, including inspiring heroics. With heart-stopping rescues and crucial teamwork, these officers remind us of the bravery and dedication inherent in our local heroes. We also hear about an ongoing investigation into a significant motor vehicle accident, underscoring the tireless efforts of the police and fire departments to keep our community safe.

Beyond law enforcement updates, tune in for important community matters from a proposed slaughterhouse to changes in local business licenses, it’s shaping up to be a busy day for community decisions. Join us for an episode brimming with updates, gratitude, and the relentless spirit of our local community.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:04

All right, good evening. Call the meeting to order at 7 pm. Inform the public we're being both broadcast live and recorded by the Radio Channel and I would ask those with us tonight to join us in the pledge, please.

Speaker 2: 0:16

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Speaker 1: 0:27

Thank you. I will entertain a motion to accept the minutes from last week, January 28th.

Speaker 3: 0:33

I'll make a motion to accept as printed. Second All in favor.

Speaker 1: 0:36

Aye, those are approved. The time ahead is our Police Chief, dable Plant Chief.

Speaker 4: 0:43

Good evening, good evening, chief. Good evening Chief, good evening. So for January's activity report, the total calls were 2,051. 487 of those were emergency 911 calls and there were 130 emergency medical dispatch calls. There were three arrests and several criminal summonses. We had a few significant events. I'll just go through them real quick.

Speaker 4: 1:08

On January 4th, patrolman Amanda Wong responded to a Cava Street address for a person in cardiac arrest. She was first on scene and began CPR. She utilized the AED she brought with her into the residence and delivered two shocks. I'm happy to say that the patient was alert and breathing when they were transported to the hospital by Rainham Fire. I want to acknowledge the great work from communications clerk Megan Hinault, patrolwoman Wong and members of the fire department who responded to that incident. On the next night, patrolman Daniel Fitch responded to a medical call and overlooked drive for difficulty breathing. During that time Patrolman Fitch assisted members of the fire department with CPR. The patient was transported by Rainham fire personnel to the hospital. I commend the actions of patrolman Fitch and members of the fire department for saving the person's lives.

Speaker 4: 2:14

On January 25th, the Rainham police and fire responded to a serious motor vehicle accident on Route 44 in front of the Jockey Club and involved in a motor vehicle and a motorcycle. The motorcycle has suffered serious bodily injuries and, I think, in front of the Jockey Club, involving a motor vehicle and a motorcycle. The motorcycle has suffered serious bodily injuries and I think those who responded, our accident reconstruction team and the detectives are still investigating the crash. We currently have one officer out on IOD.

Speaker 1: 2:40

Thank you, mr Eilert. Questions comments.

Speaker 3: 2:42

Thank you, I have no questions, chief, but as always, thank you and the members of your department for everything you do to keep us safe thank you no questions.

Speaker 5: 2:50

I'm overly impressed in that incident. On the January reports much I don't like to see anybody going to cardiac arrests. Every police officers dreams to bring somebody back that's awesome and I also like that you were thought to mention the clerk, because that communication on the way to that call I'm sure is paramount. But awesome job by even the department, thank you thank you thank you chief thank you right appointment?

Speaker 1: 3:11

tonight we have one. It's the reappointment of jose thomas's constable, and it's been signed by the chief. What's the what's pleasure? Motion to reappoint second all in favor, aye unanimously it's approved unanimously. No hearings this evening. All in business, ms Riley. I have none, mr Collins.

Speaker 5: 3:27

I have no business All right.

Speaker 1: 3:28

New business Set hearing date for proposed slaughterhouse at 1128 Broadway. Greg, are you aware of any vacations with Paula on the week of the 18th? Because that school vacation week that's when we would have this here she will be there and we were talking the 18th.

Speaker 2: 3:47

Okay, we would prefer the 18, okay motion to set the date the 18th.

Speaker 3: 3:52

All in favor, aye that is set.

Speaker 1: 3:55

So the hearing date for regret distillery change of manager ownership 1377 Broadway. I had again proposed a 218 date motion to set February 18th. All in favor, aye unanimously and said hearing date for change of name on a class 1 license McGee Chevy to McKay Chevy, 1455 New State Highway, again 218. What's the boys?

Speaker 3: 4:17

gonna be busy. Yes, set that up me hearing date for Tuesday, tuesday, february 18th, as approved discussion and vote.

Speaker 1: 4:28

The 35th annual Rodman ride for kids May 17th. Greg, I'm assuming that that has received the approvals from police and fire, or should we do it contingent upon approvals?

Speaker 3: 4:40

I would make it contingent on okay motion to approve, contingent upon the approval of the police and fire second all in favor aye.

Speaker 1: 4:49

It's approved unanimously. Discussion and vote on awarding contract with Buckley elevator for elevated maintenance. My understanding is this contracts being recommended by the town administrator and comes with a significant savings over the cost from a previous vendor to Maintain and test our elevator here at Town Hall. What is the board's pleasure?

Speaker 3: 5:11

based on the recommendation of the town minister, I'd vote to approve so all in favor, as approved unanimously.

Speaker 1: 5:18

And Item F discussion and vote on the four corners, intersection route 104, pleasant Street and Orchard Street project. I think the board is appropriately aware of that project, but I see our highway superintendent here norm or so anything you want to add before we hop into it okay, great all right, I will open it up to the board miss. Riley and.

Speaker 3: 5:39

I would vote. I would make a motion that we take the report that has been done and file it and take no action at this time. I think, based on all of the much more needy projects that we have before us at this time, spending any money on this I just could not support. And you know, if it at some point in the future the board wants to consider that, then you know the report, what's been done, is there. Personally, if we are voting on it tonight, I would not vote for it.

Speaker 3: 6:15

I think that that for chronic intersection is one of our safest intersections in town and I question the report that was done because, based on the fact that in a five-year period there were 38 reportable crashes, I would want to know the nature of those crashes because I think, from what I know, those are all usually minor crashes at that intersection and I fail to see how putting traffic signals in there would improve. I think it would make the intersection more dangerous because right now what's good is a four-way stop. Usually everyone stops Once in a while, someone doesn't, but everybody usually slows down. If you put traffic signals there, people are going to try to rush through to catch the green light or beat the red light and you're going to have cars going faster. I think that that makes it more less safe, so I would. I would not vote, but if I know I don't think that you're totally in favor of just voting it down at this point, so I would make a motion to table.

Speaker 5: 7:17

I can't agree more what everything you said is it. Does the intersection back up and is it congested? Yeah, certainly is. There's a lot of people in town, people coming through now, but we have way too many other pressing issues on our hands right now and I just can't see it being beneficial to exhaust any more time or resources into that intersection. Again, what we have done we don't have to get rid of.

Speaker 1: 7:44

We can keep it for future references, but I don't think it makes any sense to spend any money right now on that no, I agree as well and I think compromise miss Riley tabling it and allows us to potentially explore for an opportunities come along to further subsidize the Earliest stages of that project at some point. But I would agree with my two colleagues that our dollars are better spent in what priority areas right now. So with that a motion has been made and seconded to table what is all in favor. That is unanimous, thank you, any other?

Speaker 3: 8:19

new business miss.

Speaker 1: 8:20

Riley, I have none, mr Collins.

Speaker 2: 8:22

Sir, all right time in this rate is report, mr Barnes yes, I had the Totten River watershed Alliance come to look at potential recreational sites in town for a canoe kayak fishing landing. We actually had seven of them show up, so they were quite excited about the concept of assisting with this. They have access to grants up to $25,000 that would allow us to do a feasibility study. So my plan assuming the board is supportive is to apply for one of those grants in March. It doesn't mean we'll get it, but nevertheless I think with eight miles of river, there's a lot more than we could do. We I did mention there's a site right now being built at Riverview Meadows, believe it or not, I was told I didn't realize how far away. It's about three to three to four miles away from the South Street east bridge, at old colony bridge, where we're. We're looking at a a very favorable site.

Speaker 1: 9:47

Thank you this much, mr riley questions comments no questions no questions. Thanks the same and I would just say I I would support exploring grant opportunities for todd river. I had worked a long time to get that access at riverview meadows. I think anything we can do to open up some recreational access points, because uh todd river is uh a beautiful river for recreational activities, so do we want to vote to support for that?

Speaker 3: 10:11

that would be great, sure, sure, I'll make that motion all favor.

Speaker 1: 10:13

Aye, that is approved unanimously. Thank you, selectively report, miss riley uh, just a couple things.

Speaker 3: 10:18

I did attend, as did mr collins and I know you were ill mr pachico and our town administrator, the school committee's meeting last week in which the superintendent presented his budget. Just a couple important dates for the community, anyone that wants to comment? The school committee will have their budget hearing, their public hearing, on March 12th and then they will have their meeting, which they actually vote on that budget, on March 26th. And also just a couple for our seniors out there, a couple of important dates coming up. A lot of great activities going on over at the senior center. A couple of their most popular events Lunch and Singo. That happens on Wednesday, february 19th at 11 am. You need to sign up by February 12th. Seniors Also, their monthly breakfast, a popular event on February 26th that's a Wednesday, and you need to sign up for that by February 19th. Both of those are like $5. Where can you get a better?

Speaker 3: 11:19

deal than that All kinds of great things going on over at a senior center. That's all I have thank you.

Speaker 5: 11:29

I to attended the presentation by mr powers. I thought he gave a great presentation. I would highly encourage everybody to educate themselves and see what you have in front. I don't think he was asking for too much. Quite frankly, a lot of what he was asking for was stuff that was taken away in the past. So I think it's important that everybody do as much research as you can and get as much information as you can and attend some of those school committee meetings and just educate yourselves as best you can. Another note related to the schools. I would like to give a tip of the cap to Bristol Plymouth. Yesterday they did have an incident there and I had to go pick up my daughter and they handled handled it what I thought was incredibly professionally at the time it came in as a chemical spill from the biotech lab.

Speaker 5: 12:12

God only knows what that could be but um. I got there. There's people everywhere, but they had it organized very neatly. The police escort everybody in. They had ambulances there. I couldn't be more impressed. It reminded me somewhat of the incident we had in Rainham with the middle school.

Speaker 5: 12:28

You don't realize how many bodies are in one of those schools until you have to get them all out when there's an emergency. So you're getting kids to come out and people coming at the same time. It could have been a very chaotic situation. I thought they handled flawlessly, so thank you to the BP and their staff.

Speaker 1: 12:40

I just wanted to comment. I wanted to take a look at the construction project and, I'm sure you'll agree, it's moving along quite nice. It looks to be an impressive structure and they continue to maintain that they are ahead of schedule and under budget, which is certainly both positive news Correspondence. We do not have any this evening. We have no press time Emergency business, ms Riley.

Speaker 3: 13:07

I have none, mr.

Speaker 1: 13:08

Collins no, sir. Citizens and community input no. Okay, Ms Riley. Performance of the administrative duties.

Speaker 3: 13:15

Just a report that I reviewed and assigned the town of Rainham invoice and payroll warrants for today's date, Tuesday February 4th.

Speaker 1: 13:23

Thank, you At this time. I'll entertain a motion for adjournment. So we will go into executive session under Mass General Laws, chapter 38, section 21A3 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body and the chair so declares. On three matters the police, opiu and a workers' comp settlement will return to public session for the singular purpose of adjournment, but no business thereafter.

Speaker 3: 13:50

I'll make that motion.

Speaker 1: 13:51

Second Roll call Ms Riley Aye. Mr Collins Aye. Chair votes aye, we are heading into executive session. Have a good evening.