The Raynham Channel
Welcome to Raynham Community Access & Media (RAYCAM), where we engage, learn, and create community access media. We are dedicated to providing a platform for all voices to be heard and shared. Join us in creating a vibrant and inclusive media community.
The Raynham Channel
Board of Selectmen 2/18/2025
(Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy)
Discover the latest updates from the town’s Parks and Recreation Department, led by our passionate director, Tim McRae. Promising a window into our thriving basketball program, Tim also shares plans for the much-loved annual Easter Egg Hunt and preparations for summer program registrations. Alongside him, Health Director Paula provides crucial updates on free COVID test availability and her team's work on permitting processes, all while gearing up for an important USDA-related hearing. Plus, Rob Lombardi unpacks his journey to becoming the sole owner of Regret Distillery, shedding light on the transition from a partnership.
But that’s not all — unravel the intriguing story behind a local farm's transformation into a small-scale slaughterhouse for lamb and deer, operating under USDA oversight but with a custom exemption. We also spotlight community happenings, from town property being repurposed for tree work to the exciting 28th annual Read Across America program in Raynham, featuring notable guests like State Representative Dennis Gallagher. As we celebrate Lucas Toste’s Eagle Court of Honor and express gratitude to outgoing cultural council members, there's a lot to appreciate and look forward to. Join us in honoring achievements and gearing up for future events that make our community truly special.
https://www.raynhaminfo.com/
Copyright RAYCAM INC. 2024
All right, good evening. I will call the meeting to order at 7 pm and inform the public. We're being both broadcast live and recorded by the Rainham Channel and I would ask those with us in the audience to join us in the pledge.
Speaker 4:Thank you.
Speaker 1:I will entertain a motion to approve the minutes from February 11.
Speaker 3:Motion to accept the minutes as printed.
Speaker 1:Second All in favor, aye. So approved Department heads are first up Tim McRae, our Park and Rec Director, tim.
Speaker 5:Good evening. It's good to see you all appreciate everything. I just want to give you a quick update on what we have going on and what we have been doing over the past few months. I just want you know our basketball program is in full swing. We have a great attendance this year, especially in our younger grades. Believe it or not, we only have two weeks left before we make a switch over to spring, which I'm sure we all are ready for with this lovely weather. We were recently re-licensed at Liberty for our child care for the next two years, so that is good to go. I am actually in the process right now of re-licensing Merrill and hopefully by the middle of April that should be all squared away. So we're good there. Hopefully by the middle of April. That should be all squared away. So we're good there. Our program is full, so anybody that is interested in getting on our waitlist can reach out to the office and ask for Bethany totally and get on that waitlist with us.
Speaker 5:We had our fall and winter community events trunk a treat. I want to thank Greg and Pat for joining us for trunk a treat. It was a wonderful event we had this year, biggest we've had so far. We've also had a great Christmas tree lighting and Santa's calling was a blast. This year as well. We will be starting field prep in March, getting everything ready for the spring. I do wanna thank Norm and his crew for everything they've done for us in the past. The fields have always been some of the best around, so we can't ask for a greater team to work with. Help us keep that going. So thank you to Norman his crew again.
Speaker 5:We have some great after-school activity programs going on right now, especially our drama kids in Lego Club and more becoming out later on this spring. Currently we have a February vacation club running. We are completely full with that as well. We're doing Tuesday, wednesday, thursday. This week. We've had the video game truck there today. We're going roller skating tomorrow and then off to Gillette Stadium to the movies on Thursday. So a lot of fun, and we will be doing the same in April and those details be coming out sometime in mid March. We also have our annual Easter egg hunt coming up on April 12th. That Liberty. Anybody like to join us? We'd love to have you there.
Speaker 5:We get on the football fields like a vacuum cleaner eggs get picked up in less than five minutes and the big question that we've been getting a lot lately is summer registration. Our program fills up very fast every year. We'll be getting that information out in mid-march but we start registrations in early April. We have a max of about 120 kids, so we do the best we can to get everybody in. But with field trips and things like that, we do have to set a limit on our programs. So it's very successful and we're going to be doing seven weeks this year because of the way the school year falls, starting on June 30th. And finally, I just like to give a big thanks to my entire staff, especially my full-time staff, heather Nix, bethany Tolley and Sammy Sturdivant. They do everything in the office. They do deserve the credit for everything that we do, so I'm greatly appreciative for all they do. That's it for me. Any questions I can answer for you. Thank you, tim, ms Riley.
Speaker 3:I have no questions, Tim, but just thank you and your staff. You do a great job.
Speaker 5:Thank you very much.
Speaker 1:Ms Collins. No questions, tim.
Speaker 5:Thank you very much. Good seeing you. Likewise, thank you, tim. You guys are doing great work. Good to see you as All right.
Speaker 1:Next up is our health director, Paula Rossiclap. Paula.
Speaker 6:Hi, good evening. I have a quick report this evening and just to let everybody know that we do have free COVID tests in the office. If the public wants to come, they can come down. There's five tests per box and you're more than welcome to take them home. Five tests per box and you're more than welcome to take them home. The staff in the office has been busy with the permitting process and that's Kim and Mike's out doing his annual inspections. So we're busy, going steady, but nothing really out of the ordinary to report, and I've been busy this last month educating myself on USDA and Board of Health responsibilities for the hearing we're going to have tonight. So just busy as usual this time of year and hope everybody stay warm. So that's all I got for you.
Speaker 3:Again, no questions, just Paula.
Speaker 1:Thank you for all the great work you do you, paul, all right, all right appointments. Animal specter mr Barnes, do you have a recommendation?
Speaker 2:let's table that for now, okay, motion to table all in favor.
Speaker 1:I mean that is tabled no other appointments hearings. I will call to order. Regret distillery change of manager, 1377 Broadway at 7.05 pm. Is there anybody here to speak on behalf of the applicant? If you could just state your name and address for the record, please.
Speaker 4:Rob Lombardi, 1377 Broadway. Thank you.
Speaker 1:Mr Lombardi for coming in. I appreciate it. Anything you want to note? For us, this is, as it says, just a change of a change of owner manager. You are open and operational now, but is there anything you want to add? Before I open it up to my boy?
Speaker 4:no, we started off as a partnership, didn't work too well and now I'm 100% owner and that's.
Speaker 1:That's it no, I have no questions all right, it is a public hearing anybody from from the public Seeing none, I will entertain a motion.
Speaker 3:I'll make a motion to approve.
Speaker 1:Second All in favor. Aye, that's approved unanimously and the hearing is closed at 7.06. Thank you.
Speaker 4:Thank you, have a good night. Thank you too.
Speaker 1:All right. Next hearing change of name on a Class 1 license McGee Chevrolet to McKay Chevrolet TO MCKAY-CHIVERLAY, 1455 NEW STATE HIGHWAY. I'll CALL THAT TO ORDER AT 706. And I SEE MR MCKAY IS WITH US. Good EVENING HOW.
Speaker 5:ARE YOU, JOE GOOD HOW ABOUT YOURSELF?
Speaker 4:EXCELLENT.
Speaker 1:GOOD. Thank YOU FOR COMING IN.
Speaker 2:THIS IS AGAIN.
Speaker 1:PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD. Anything YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO BEFORE I time and you know anything. We ever needed anything. You guys always back us and the McCain name is a new name on the building, but it's the same people, mr Riley question any questions?
Speaker 3:motion to approve. Let me just go to the home side.
Speaker 1:Hey, anybody from the public seeing none no, I'll make that all right seconded. All favor, thank you. Anything else for us tonight, mr McKay?
Speaker 2:thank you congratulations.
Speaker 1:All right, and that is closed at 7 0 7. Next up is the proposed slaughterhouse at 1128 Broadway. I will call that hearing to order at 7 0 7 pm. And if you could just identify yourself, name and address, please.
Speaker 4:John Hammett. 11, 28 Pleasant Street. Gamut hammett hammett.
Speaker 1:Sorry, okay if you could, if you want to just walk us through your proposal I have a business plan.
Speaker 4:I don't see it at all, or I, I don't if you do.
Speaker 3:You want to see no, if you just can explain, yes, you won't just walk us through the basics.
Speaker 1:We have, generally speaking, a handle on it. We've been briefed by staff, just in your words, for the benefit of the public, we've been a farm for a while from mostly vegetables, dairy cheese, but lately that's changed.
Speaker 4:We're not we're not doing a lot of anyone. We are doing vegetables, but I still have the structure. For a while now we've been swatter on our own animals but, especially over the last couple of years, a lot of people have approached us with, you know, hunters that want their deers processed Mostly smaller animals. Right now we are prepared to do smaller animals. We'd have to be USDA certified but this is a first step. So that's mostly what we start off with is smaller animals.
Speaker 4:I mean, someday we'd like to increase and have the structure that's tall enough to do beef, but right now it's mostly lamb, sheep processing deer. It'd be custom meats, not USDA certified but USDA inspect. So they would come once a year and inspect facility, make sure that we're obeying rules, keeping proper records and doing everything we're supposed to do. So that would mean that people could bring their own animals or we could have animals that we could sell, or people could bring their own game from hunting um. We couldn't sell by the pound or anything like that. So it'd be more of a on a personal basis and probably mostly small um on a smaller scale, because we are running a farm with vegetables and and everything like that also.
Speaker 1:so that's about it thank you, miss riley questions well I have questions I don't know from our town administrator.
Speaker 3:Do we have anything from our building inspector or health directors?
Speaker 1:okay, other than that. That's my questions. Okay, anything for the applicant first. Okay, good, paula, do you want to come up and anything please?
Speaker 6:so I've spent the last month really researching what the Board of Health is responsible for and at the local level, and I met with John and REALLY RESEARCHING WHAT THE BOARD OF HEALTH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. And I MET WITH JOHN AND SPOKE TO HIM SEVERAL TIMES, got A LOT OF INFORMATION. The BUILDING DEPARTMENT IS FINE WITH IT BECAUSE HE IS A FARM. The BUILDING IS LOCATED WAY OUT BACK IN THE WOODS. There ARE NO REAL CLOSE NEIGHBORS AT THIS POINT AND THE USDA IS MAINLY INVOLVED. He WILL BE DOING, john WILL BE DOING WHAT'S CALLED A CUSTOM EXEMPTION, so THEY WILL HAVE USDA OVERSIGHT, which WILL COME OUT ONCE A YEAR TO DO AN INSPECTION.
Speaker 6:The ONLY TIME THAT THE BOARD OF HEALTH IS REALLY INVOLVED WITH THAT IS IF THERE IS ANY ISSUE THAT THE. The only time that the Board of Health is really involved with that is if there is any issue that the USDA may find. But I mean, I've talked with John extensively and he has all the understanding of what he needs to do. He needs to produce water reports to the USDA. They're let's see, they're on their own well. So there's no issues with sewer and water, no issues with animal control and as far as I'm concerned, with this hearing. He's doing everything above and board and what he needs to do to have a small local slaughterhouse that, as he said, people will bring in their animals and it's not for resale and you'll have to stamp that when all the packages go out. So, yes, whatever I haven't answered, I'm sure I've got somewhere in here because I know way more than I ever did about slaughterhouses.
Speaker 3:No, I have no more questions, mr Collins.
Speaker 4:No, I don't have any questions.
Speaker 1:Paula, you spoke to the USDA inspections. Do you do inspections as well?
Speaker 6:No, we will not be in that particular site. It's completely overseen by USDA. I was told that the only time I would have to go in there is if they went in and saw a blatant violation or uncleanliness or a freezer or refrigeration problem or a sewer problem, septic problem, rather so, unless complaints from you know neighbors. But, as I said, he's very well protected out there and so, no, we won't be doing an annual inspection. This is the board involvement and the approval of the board that he needs to move forward with the next step with USDA.
Speaker 1:So just you would not like you would our regular establishments do an inspection. But you said if you've got a complaint then you do an inspection.
Speaker 6:We would be. It depends on the complaint. If it's a noise complaint, a nuisance complaint and an odor complaint, those are what we would go out for and investigate to see if there's any validity to those concerns. But other than that, we are not required by law to go out and inspect the premises. As a matter of fact, we may not see, you know, that's just not our jurisdiction.
Speaker 1:So okay, and so if somebody had a concern with the preparation you would refer that complaint to the USDA. Correct, okay, correct and hopefully it IF.
Speaker 6:SOMEBODY HAD A CONCERN WITH THE PREPARATION YOU WOULD REFER.
Speaker 1:THAT COMPLAINT TO THE USDA CORRECT, okay, correct AND HOPEFULLY, it DOESN'T HAPPEN BUT IN THE EVENT THAT AN ANIMAL-BORN ILLNESS OCCURRED. What DOES THAT PROCESS LOOK LIKE?
Speaker 6:SO HE HAS EVERYTHING DOCUMENTED THROUGH THE USDA AND knowing where the products are going back to. As I said, being labeled, not for resale, this is going back to the, to the owner of the animal and consumed by the owner and their family, so that that's an easy traceable if there is an issue. But it should not become a public issue that's what I've been informed by, because it's such a small scale and the USDA would be notified in that situation. That's A PUBLIC ISSUE.
Speaker 1:THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN INFORMED BY, BECAUSE IT'S AT SUCH A SMALL SCALE AND THE USDA WOULD BE NOTIFIED IN THAT SITUATION AS WELL.
Speaker 6:CORRECT.
Speaker 4:YES, they REQUIRE REAL DETAIL, policy, intersections AND SO ON. So THERE'S A WHOLE LIST, if SOMETHING WANTS TO HAPPEN happened this person.
Speaker 1:You go down the list, okay, but any other questions, all right. It is a public hearing. I'll open it up. Anybody from the public seeing none. What's the board's pleasure?
Speaker 3:I'll make a motion to approve all in favor.
Speaker 1:It's approved unanimously in. The hearing is closed at 714. Good luck, right. Thank you. Old business, mr Riley. I have mr Collins. New business we have a discussion and vote on the Sirs HDPW services award that comes with the town administrators. Recommendation what is the board's pleasure motion? To approve favor is approved. Discussion of vote. Contract addendum with GZA geo environmental link for engineering services. This is work on and around the old landfill on King Phillip Street and again similarly both with the highway superintendent and time in the Stratus recommendation. What's the boys pleasure?
Speaker 3:based on the recommendation, I will motion to approve all in favor.
Speaker 1:It's approved unanimously. Discussion and vote. 34th annual Rainham KFC charity five miler road race. Greg, do you know if this has already been approved by police and fire, or should we do it pending police? What is the board's pleasure?
Speaker 3:Motion to make that approval pending the approval of the police and fire.
Speaker 1:All in favor. Aye, that is approved. Tag day request for Todd and Youth Football and Chair for a host of dates that are okayed. What is the board's pleasure Motion to approve? Second All in favor. Aye, that's approved unanimously. Tag day request American Legion, post 75425. It's unanimously tag day request.
Speaker 3:American Legion post 7, 5, 4, 25.
Speaker 1:It's been okayed what's the board's pleasure? Motion to approve all in favor. It's approved unanimously. Tag day request disabled American vets 426, 5, 10, 5, 31 and 614. And those dates have been approved. All in favor. It's approved. Set closing date articles for the annual town meeting. Mr Barnes, unless it's changed again, my understanding is you are recommending April 14th at 4 30 pm. That is correct. Motion to approve all in favor. It's approved unanimously. Our final item is a request for temporary use of town property. There's a private residence on Pine Tree Lane that is looking to have some tree work done and a request has come in to allow the tree company to stage at the old South School to complete that tree work. Mr bombs Barnes informs me that the necessary documents to protect the town from liability into a damage at the property will be secured prior to execution and that comes with his recommendation.
Speaker 3:I'll make a motion to approve and also add that the Ray can be notified when it's going to happen out of courtesy.
Speaker 1:All in favor. It's approved unanimously with that additional request. Any other new business?
Speaker 2:miss Riley, mr Collins, right time to ministrate his report, mr Barnes yes, within the next week or two the work will start on the restrooms at the CUA Center. It turns out that they can accommodate keeping the building open. Well, that work is done. It will necessitate, however, some sort of port-a-potty. The plan is to get something heated if possible, but we are shortly going to start to see the work, and that will go on for a number of weeks. But in return for that, the patients were going to have brand new renovated, ad a compliant bathrooms any questions?
Speaker 1:no, excellent, mr Collins.
Speaker 3:All right, select ministry point, miss Riley yeah, I just have a little report on. Plans have been finalized for the 28th annual Kathleen Roberts read across America program for the town of Rainham, sponsored by RAVE, the Rainham Association of Volunteers for Education, in partnership with the Bridgewater Rainham Regional School District and the Rainham Public Library. This year's theme is celebrating America a land of heroes and special celebrity guest readers and classroom visitors, escorted by RAave hosts and hostesses, will be visiting students in kindergarten through eighth grade to share stories about some of America's heroes and offer a glimpse into how important reading has been in their own lives and careers. Visits will take place for kindergarten and first graders at our Merrill Elementary School on Friday February 28th, for second through fourth graders at the La Liberty Elementary School on Tuesday March 4th and for fifth through eighth graders at the Raina Middle School on Thursday March 6th. Our special celebrity guests this year include State Representative Dennis Gallagher, our members of the Board of Selectmen, school committee members and school administrators, including Superintendent Ryan Powers and Bridgewater Rainham High School Principal Angela Watson, Rainham Police Chief David LaPlante, School Resource Officer Jennifer Lang and Patrolman Nicholas Pullen, Assistant Town Clerk Amy Canepa and many retired teachers, among others.
Speaker 3:Rainham was among the very first communities to celebrate Reader Across America. Starting in 1997, when the National Education Association kicked off the program, Our dear friend Kathleen Roberts was the NEA's Massachusetts chairman of the event, which actually kicked off nationally honoring Massachusetts native Dr Theodore Zeus Geisel, actually known as Dr Seuss, with a parade on Mulberry Street in Springfield that was led by Raynham's own Kathleen Roberts Heading the way. Of course, Kathleen immediately got Rave involved that very first year and with the exception of the year COVID closed, our schools, Raynham through Rave, has conducted the program each and every year since Rave. Coordinator Becky George and her committee have been very busy recruiting the special celebrity guest readers and classroom visitors and Rave volunteers. Rave board members Jennifer Rodriguez and Katrina Fisher are co-chairing the event this year, and that is all I have.
Speaker 1:Thank you, ms Riley. Mr Collins, all right, just one quick item for me. I had the opportunity to go to Lucas Toste's Eagle Court of Honor this weekend. We all know Lucas he's the one who did the beautiful patio in front of the library 17 years old and I learned well two things from him. One was not a surprise, but one was he exceeded the amount of badges he needed to get it. And while I learned that, it was not surprising to me he was the top wreath salesman in the troop by tenfold, which was not surprising because when he was selling chocolate bars I thought about $40, which is not easy to do.
Speaker 1:So it was a great event and congratulations to Lucas. So correspondence. We have a letter of resignation from Lee Kozak for the cultural council. Please accept this letter of resignation from the Rainham cultural council. I've proudly served in the council for many years but feel that it is now time for me to focus my attentions on other activities. Lee Kozak, I would entertain a motion to accept with regret.
Speaker 3:I'll make that motion and could we send a letter of appreciation for her service please?
Speaker 1:all in favor and another a letter of resignation from Jane Kelleher, also on the cultural council. She has to officially resign from the council do board due to other obligations that interfere with my presence and ability to give a hundred percent.
Speaker 3:I'd entertain again a motion to accept with regret and again, if we could send a letter of appreciation for her service all in favor.
Speaker 1:Aye, it's approved unanimously. Press time none emergency business. Miss Riley, I have known mr Collins citizen. The community input. Performance of the administrative duties, miss Ms Riley.
Speaker 3:Yep, just to mention that I've reviewed and signed the payroll and invoice forms dated today, February 18th.
Speaker 1:Thank you, and at that time I will entertain a motion to adjourn.
Speaker 3:I'll make that motion I will second.
Speaker 1:All in favor. Aye, we are adjourned. Have a good evening. 7-23,. I'm not.