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The Raynham Channel
Board of Selectmen 3/18/2025
(Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy)
A seemingly routine town meeting in Raynham transforms into a powerful showcase of democratic participation as officials and citizens grapple with difficult financial choices and their impact on education, public health, and community well-being.
The evening begins with practical updates from Board of Health Director Paula, who issues a timely warning about tick activity as temperatures reach 45 degrees. Her department continues processing permits for local businesses while preparing for pool inspections and managing public health complaints. Meanwhile, the opioid working group announces funding for emergency overdose supplies in public buildings and a middle school awareness program.
But the meeting's energy shifts dramatically when discussion turns to the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District's financial crisis. The proposed budget increase still falls short of what administrators believe is needed, creating a dilemma that could require substantial property tax increases through an override vote. Board members struggle with this reality, acknowledging both their support for education and their concern for taxpayers facing potential annual increases.
The most compelling moment comes when fifth-grader Carly approaches the microphone, describing firsthand the challenges of learning in overcrowded classrooms. "Large class sizes make it difficult for me to focus, get help from my teacher, and feel confident asking questions," she explains, adding that gym classes have swelled to 90 students. Her articulate testimony transforms abstract budget discussions into vivid reality.
Other residents highlight how school funding affects the entire community beyond families with children, impacting everything from the Memorial Day parade to property values. Some suggest exploring increased corporate taxation as an alternative funding source, while others call for improved communication between town officials and the school committee.
As the meeting adjourns, the weight of these decisions hangs in the balance. The board must now navigate opposing pressures—maintaining essential town services while addressing educational needs—all while ensuring taxpayers have a voice in determining their community's future priorities.
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Good evening. Call meeting to order at 7 pm. It's well in the public we're being both broadcast live and recorded by the Radio Union Channel, and I would ask those with us tonight to join us in the pledge of allegiance.
Speaker 3:We pledge allegiance to the flag to 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:I will entertain a motion to approve the minutes from October 11th, as well as the executive session minutes From the same date, those that are withheld from the resolution of this conference.
Speaker 4:I'll make a motion to accept the minutes as printed.
Speaker 1:All in favor, aye. All in favor, aye, all in favor, aye. All those in favor, clap your hands. Paula Robson. Five-hour health director, paula.
Speaker 3:Aye, good evening Vote. Let's see A little update from the Board of Health. Kim just finished processing permits for frozen desserts at the end of February. She's now beginning the stable and swine applications that are due by April 30th. Mike is in great shape with food inspections. Pool inspections are next. We currently have seven public pools to inspect. Mike and I will also be attending a pool training in Worcester this Thursday with training here toward inspectors at an actual pool instead of classrooms only style, so that will be great.
Speaker 3:To date we have successfully handled 20 complaints through our department. Lately we've been getting some trash complaints. Today we got a couple, and that's because we've had some high winds and so we're on it. It just will take us some time to track down where the trash is all coming from, because dumpsters sometimes overflow and they're not on it so quickly. A reminder to the public that ticks come out at 45 degrees, so please prepare now for the proper clothing and tick repellent, and I can attest to it myself that in two days I've had two ticks on me and my inspector had one. So they're here and they're very hungry.
Speaker 3:The town nurse, lindsay Miranda, will be busy attending a naloxone, which is an Arcan presentation to be given by the Rainham Fire Department at the Housing Authority on March 19th tomorrow on behalf of the Opioid Working Group and state funding. Once Lindsay has attended this presentation, she will be able to then go to the Council on Aging the library and other town buildings to train staff and then we'll set up the sandboxes at each location, which will contain emergency supplies relating to overdose issues that may be encountered hopefully not. The Opioid Working Group has agreed to pay for this year's Opioid Awareness Program presentation at the middle school this October for guest speaker Chris Herron, a former NBA player and Celtics alum. He did a great job in the past years and is well received by the middle school age children. And thank you to Mr Collins because you introduced me last year and it was a great presentation, so I'm looking forward to it again.
Speaker 3:And I just wanted to mention real quick because, joe, you had sent me something on the Massachusetts well drillers and we will be updating our permit application to conform with the Mast DEP well driller regulation 310, cmr 46 and provide us that, provides us with a Mast DEP well driller certificate. We never had that before, so we're going to ask for that now. And that is the end of my monthly report.
Speaker 4:I have no questions. But, paula, I'm glad to hear that the working group is going to be sponsoring that presentation and it's always very well received. Yes, absolutely.
Speaker 3:And thank you for your time. Any questions? Great thanks, thanks.
Speaker 1:Paula.
Speaker 1:No appointments this evening no public hearings. Full business. Ms Riley, I have none, mr Collins. New business. Request for Memorial Day parade permanent rave Saturday, may 25th. We have correspondence from rave on behalf of the board of directors of rave and rave's Salute to Our Veterans Committee. We wish to request a parade permit for our 11th annual Memorial Day Parade, which will be on Saturday, may 24th, stepping off at 10 am through Merrill and La Liberty Schools on Pleasant Street and ending at the Gazebo Park on Pink Phillip Street, where the traditional Memorial Day ceremony will be held.
Speaker 1:Rave decided in June of 2012 to expand their efforts to take on two new projects our Red, white and Blue project decorating the center of town with American flags, and our Memorial Day commemoration project, sponsoring our first Memorial Day parade in 2013.
Speaker 1:With that involvement of many individuals from our community, including community leaders and veterans, and the support of so many residents and businesses, we have been able to raise the funds each year necessary to purchase flags and sponsor Rainham's Memorial Day Parade.
Speaker 1:We would particularly like to acknowledge the efforts of the Highway Department in setting up the flags for our patriotic holidays each year, and the Fire Department for watching over them and then taking them in and packing them away. We also want to acknowledge Rainham Police and Fire for their assistance they provide each year in American Legion post 405. Every year the parade gets bigger and better, and last year's effort was the best. Yet we're hoping the trend continues, with professional bands and many local school sports and community groups involved. We're also hoping that as many town departments as possible will join us this year. Of course, we also want to extend an invitation to the board and other community leaders to join us for the celebration of Rainham as well as Memorial Day, and that's from Robin Burns, the Reagan president, and Becky George, the volunteer coordinator. What is the board's pleasure?
Speaker 1:motions will please second motion all favor unanimously, excuse mecussion and vote polling hours for our annual election. We have the election coming up on Saturday, April 26th. The town clerk had came upon a bylaw from 1978 that said the hour should be at least from 10 am to 5 pm. For the past many years we've done 10 am to 8 pm. For the past many years we've done 10 am to 8 pm and the clerk is looking for us to set the time of the election that polls will be opened. What is the board's pleasure on that?
Speaker 4:I'll make a motion that we continue what we've been doing the 10 to 8. I would like to possibly ask the town clerk to consider in the future. I think Saturday morning at 10 o'clock is sometimes a little bit late. Many people are off if it's a nice day, going wherever, and I know between 6 and 8 in Saturday evening there's very, very few people that vote during those that time. I'm thinking that maybe 8 in the morning until 6 at night. It's the same number of hours, but I think the time might be more convenient for people. I know our sister community and Bridgewater. They vote, I think, from 7 am to 8 pm, which is a long day. But so I would just maybe ask keep it the same for this time, but ask the time clerk if she wants to uh, consider or look into the possibility of an alternating time works for me.
Speaker 1:Mr collins, I will second her motion to keep it the same, but I I'm not totally opposed to changing the hours, just not this year.
Speaker 5:In the short notice I just feel like it's too too soon and when it doesn't give us enough time. But I am NOT opposed to it, especially if they can just show us some supporting numbers that they after this. You know after five o'clock we're averaging five or ten people. But again, not opposed to it, but this year's there too soon. So I would second your motion to keep it as is yeah, look at, perfect, all right.
Speaker 4:All in favor, all right approved unanimously.
Speaker 1:Greg. Can you let the clerk's office know?
Speaker 5:yes, thank you all right, next up.
Speaker 1:Paula, your discussion and preliminary review of the draft body works regulations and subsequently a vote to set the hearing date. I know, that those are were distributed to us, I think about a week ago. Anything you want to highlight, florence Paula?
Speaker 3:I don't. It's just that I just wanted to let the board know that this regulation is a combination of one, two, three, four, five, six towns that also have this regulation, so we didn't reinvent the wheel and it's very detailed, but it's a combination of Board of Health and police support on this. So if the board has any questions or concerns, I will certainly look into it.
Speaker 5:change anything great questions, questions, yeah, yeah everything looked good to me.
Speaker 2:I didn't note, though, a few grammatical errors in it so I would just ask you for the air and you take a quick look at that, because in a policy like that, grammatical errors can change the intent of the language.
Speaker 1:When does the board want to schedule this for a hearing? We have April 1st April, 8th April 1. April 1. April 1.
Speaker 5:April 1. Do we really want to?
Speaker 4:have a hearing on April 1?.
Speaker 3:I'll make the motion April 8.
Speaker 7:Give it a extra week April 8.
Speaker 4:Okay, and if we, could just put something on the website. I don't think we have to put the regulations, but just if anyone wants the regulations how they can access them? Okay.
Speaker 3:I will work with Deb on that and also get it on the Board of Health webpage. Thank you, do I have a second with the motion? All in favor? Aye, all in favor.
Speaker 1:That's unanimous. Thank you, any other new business, ms Riley? I have none, mr Collins, no, sir, all right Time to administrate his report, mr Barnes.
Speaker 8:Yes, a few quick things. First of all, I had noted the board supported us filing a community grant with the Tonkin River Stewardship Council. We did that last week in the amount of $25,000. Regarding a proposed Riverside Park near the South Street East Old Colony area where the Old Colony South Street East Bridge is. So that's been filed and we're hoping to hear soon as to whether or not they'll support it. They'll support it.
Speaker 8:The second thing is I had mentioned that we were hoping that work would go quickly in terms of the new bathrooms. There was a delay in the contractor being able to begin the job, but he has given us official notice. He will be starting next week. So as of next week they will begin the renovation of the bathrooms at the senior center and what they'll be doing is making them. They'll be completely renovated and made to be ADA compliant. So we're excited about that. We are still going to be able to use the senior center. There's going to be a porter potty, but we are fortunate in that we are not going to have to shut down the senior center. They will be continuing to have activities, but they will obviously not be able to use the bathroom within the senior center. Is that right and just? I had put this on the desk for everyone to see, but the sewer employees union has given notification they'd like to start negotiations.
Speaker 9:Questions no, no, no.
Speaker 1:Questions All right select members of the board Ms Ryan.
Speaker 4:Yeah, I do have a little bit of a report statement here and I apologize for reading it but, believe it or not, I do get nervous speaking and I'll lose my train of thought. First, I want to thank all of the teachers, parents and other interested citizens who have emailed me about their concerns regarding the Bridgewater-Rainham Regional School District, especially regarding class sizes and the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget. I, as well as my fellow board members, have been wrestling with this and trying to determine what is the best and most appropriate course of action. I am speaking now as one member of the board, but also as the board's liaison to the school committee. Having served previously on our school committee for 12 years, I, as well as our time administrator, finance director and finance committee member, dr Susan Susan pre windows key, attended last Wednesday night's public hearing on the proposed budget for the district. Other than commenting last week prior to that hearing that obviously all of us on this board support our schools and want what's best for our school students, I hadn't commented on the budget because we had only seen the superintendent's proposed budget for what he believes the district really needs to be operating at an optimal level. The budget proposed by the school committee last week definitely indicates that we, the district and the two towns that support it financially, are in a very difficult situation to think that the level services budget they discussed last week reflects more than an $11 million increase, raising the budget from about $97 million to over $108 million, and we have no assurance that it would do anything to improve class size, program offerings or anything else. And it still is $6 million more than what the two towns have indicated they can afford without negatively impacting town services, and the town's financial stability is devastating. Now I have some specific questions about the budget, which I will be raising when I, along with Dr Pruendowski, represent the town and the working group subcommittee that the school committee has created. But regardless of whether, for example, that 20% increase in health insurance cost is out of line with anything anywhere else in the state, the town's increase being less than 10% or anything else, the district still falls far short of what it needs.
Speaker 4:It is obvious that both for Rainham and for Bridgewater, whether we're talking about the superintendents budget or the level services budget or some compromise somewhere in between, funding would need an override vote contingent upon making taxes, raising taxes to cover the cost. Personally, I believe such an important decision should go before the voters to decide and, make no mistake, it is a difficult decision to make because we are talking about a lot of money for many people, and not just senior citizens, who are likely on a fixed income, but also for young families or young adults just trying to make, just starting out, who are struggling right now and trying to make ends meet and are in sticker shock every time they go to the grocery store. Even an override vote for the level services budget would cost more than $400 for the average household in Rainham and the superintendent's proposed budget would probably be close to, or approximately a $1,000 increase annually. Close to or approximately a $1,000 increase annually. If we were to decide to forward the override question to the voters and historically no member of this board has said they would oppose that, but we are not not there yet because we don't have the final figures from the school community and we won't until they vote to finalize that budget next week. But if we were to go that route, a contingency override question would have to go first to our annual time meeting, which will take place on Monday, may 19, and then to the ballot box for a special election.
Speaker 4:But it is complicated.
Speaker 4:If Raynham should take that action and Bridgewater not, there's a problem if both communities go to the ballot box and it passes in one community and not the other. That's another problem and it's only part of the complications. I do recall that years ago when I was on the school committee, we had an override vote that passed in Rainham and didn't pass in Bridgewood. It all came up with the funding. They had some devastating off people. They had to close their library and then cut back on the hours of the senior citizen. So it's a very complicated and very difficult question to resolve, the correct way to go about this to accomplish what we want to accomplish Then again. So as one member of the board, but but again as the liaison to the school committee, I just want to assure our constituents that we are considering all options, that we are very concerned and we are working with the school committee and the town of bridgewater to hopefully choose the right course, not only for the district but also for our towns, our school students and our taxpayers thank you, mr Collins.
Speaker 1:I do not have a prepared statement, but I do second, just about everything Pat said.
Speaker 5:I speak only for myself, not the rest of the board. I will support an override but again, we don't have exact numbers right now. So it's hard. We're still waiting for those from the school committee. Whatever the school committee does put forward, you know I have no problem at all getting it on the ballot. But it's just a tricky situation of how much do we ask for and still be comfortable that we get a yes answer. But again, that's all to the school committee. We're waiting for that number to come back. Most importantly, what I would like to see is how it affects the classroom size directly. I mean, we asked for that, I think, three or four weeks ago and we still haven't got it. So we're waiting for that.
Speaker 5:I would be much more comfortable me personally voting for an override if I knew a x amount of dollars ensured that you know and I'm making numbers up maybe third, fifth grade have the two largest class sizes, if they said, hey, we ensure that no class will be over 27, you know people, or 26 people. If you come up with this amount of money. I just need more numbers like that. I'm not saying I'm not supporting over, right, I will, but I I'm one person in radio I want me, if we put it all right out there, one of the past and I think in order for the past we need more concrete numbers in a better pitch.
Speaker 5:Right now we don't have a pitch, we have nothing to throw out of the tape, we're broken, we need money and that's not going to work. We can get a more hard numbers from the school committee to present to the people. I think will be beneficial. But again, I'm here to help support the schools, the teachers, the students. I think we all are, but we still are beginning stages. We need better at the beginning stages of that. We need better numbers to have better sales. Thank you, mr.
Speaker 1:Collins, I think my two colleagues eloquently said it. I don't know that I could add anything earth shattering to the table, so I would just echo the sentiments of my two colleagues on that. One other quick update, greg, it's been quite a bit of time since our director, community services, has been in for a report. Aaron, yeah, I specifically like a report on the safe program, so if you can work to get that scheduled, I'd appreciate that.
Speaker 1:We used to have around a quarterly rotation somewhere. I think it fell off the schedule. Thank you, no correspondence, any members of the press? I'll make sure that we set that up. Thank you, no correspondence Any members of the press here? Emergency business. Ms Riley, I have none. Mr Collins, I have none All right.
Speaker 1:Citizen and community input. I know a few of you expressed an interest in speaking. We don't have a cap, like the school committee does, on the amount of time for public input. We do have guardrails. I I would ask to keep the comments to three minutes and you state your name and your address before you begin speaking. Those are the parameters that we have. Otherwise, we'll be here as long as we need to to make sure anybody who decides to speak has that opportunity. And if no objection from the board, I'm gonna let Carly come up first. She's been very patient goody.
Speaker 9:Thanks to look for it. Thank you for having us here. We first want to start by saying thank you so much for all the advocacy that you're doing. We really appreciate it. So, as a parent and an educator and a district close by, I could say a lot about why we need schools, why we support our schools, but I know we need much more. Coming from one of the students were directly impacted. So instead of hearing from me, you'll be hearing from my daughter, carly, tonight. She she's a bright, hardworking young lady who, like many of her classmates, deserves the best education we can provide. We are respectfully advocating for all who will listen to consider putting an override on a ballot for our community members to decide. I hope you'll take a moment to listen to her perspective.
Speaker 1:Thank, you, jen. Can I just have your perspective? Thank you, I'm so sorry.
Speaker 2:Jennifer hunter, 22 Jade Drive thank you hi, my name is Carly hunter and I am a fifth grade student at Rainham middle school. I promise I won't take too much out of your time. Luckily, you get to hear from me instead of my mom. Trust me, you're getting the better deal. I know I am NOT a taxpayer yet unless you count my allowance, which just appears pretty fast but I do know that investing in schools now makes our town stronger in the future when kids like me get a great education.
Speaker 2:We grew up to be awesome workers, smart business owners and even community leaders, just like you. And let's be real strong schools also keep property values high, which is a fancy way of saying your houses are worth more when schools are great sounds like a win-win, but right now, learning in a class of over 30 students every day is challenging. It might seem fun to have so many classmates, but in reality it can make school so much harder. Large class sizes make it difficult for me to focus, get help from my teacher and feel confident asking questions in front of everyone. And it's not just our regular classes. Our gym classes have 90 students. That's not a gym class, that's a full-blown sports arena.
Speaker 2:With so many kids, it's hard to stay safe, get exercise or even have enough equipment for everyone. Plus, because of budget issues, we don't get to learn fun languages like Spanish. Other schools offer these classes, but we miss out because there aren't enough teachers or resources. So please help my friends and me by working on a plan to increase school funding. We love learning, but we also love having class sizes that don't feel like a traffic jam. Thank you for your time and support. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 6:Thank you. Anybody else Hi? Is this on? Yes, okay, great, lisa Borgini, 11 Titicote Road, rainham.
Speaker 6:So I heard today you mentioned a couple of things that as you're going through your daily business report. You talked about Memorial Day Par, you talked about voting, and while those things may not seem like they directly impact the schools, they do. Who is in the marching band that goes to the Memorial Day parade? Richard rain home high school. The rainwater players also march in the parade, and if we don't have adequate school funding, the instruments are falling apart. There won't be drums to play, there won't be instruments to play, there won't be rainham players to be in the floats. Likewise, the school can't have maintenance if we don't have funding for it. And then where are we going to go vote? So it may seem like normal, everyday. People who don't have kids in the schools might think who cares? I don't have kids in the schools, but it affects our entire community when we don't have funding, and so I want to posit.
Speaker 6:I want to appreciate the fact that you're putting forward the idea of an override as an option, but I also want to posit the idea that we should also increase our corporate tax rate. We have one of the lowest corporate tax rates and I know people are afraid corporations are going to leave, but I don't see Walmart pulling up its you know stakes and moving to another town. They've got a building here. We have a lot of businesses in town. We should start asking them to pull their weight. Our students and our graduates work at those businesses and they're going to want strong employees.
Speaker 6:So I would like the selectmen to also consider increasing our corporate tax rate. Even by 1% would do a lot to help our budget. And the last thing I want to say is I want to really advocate the idea that you know, strong schools make really strong communities and I'm really excited to see so many people coming together, because we are in crisis and, just as in when you have a poor budget, you might be tempted to go to a payday loan. That's really what we're doing. If we level fund, we're doing a pay loan to try to put things together, but we're not going to actually increase the strength of the school unless we really invest in it. So thank you very much for your time.
Speaker 7:Anybody else? Hi, leslie Cola, 121 Cardinal Circle. I had written something, because I get very nervous coming up here, but I've been to two meetings tonight since I've written this and things have changed. I started by saying you know, I really want to ask for your transparency and communication and your communication tonight was pretty much everything I was wondering. So thank you and thank you. I would love to hear more from you. I know you said you agree with them, so I'm wondering if that is for an override. So I just really appreciate that.
Speaker 7:I also just went to the budget subcommittee meeting, so that's four people from school committee and the superintendent and some other of his business office and it sounds like two different stories, because they aren't hearing that we are interested in possibly putting forth an override, are interested in possibly putting forth an override, and so they feel kind of stuck with what they're doing with their budget because they haven't heard if you will do an override. So there was a lot of back and forth with what they can put together for a budget and they were school committee. The four members were trying to be so respectful of what the towns can afford and what you have said to them. They are hearing you, but really I want them to be respectful of these students and what they deserve. That's who I want the respect to be shown to in this situation. I want them to. They are going to. It sounds like they're going to go up in what they asked for. So there needs to be more communication, I think between the town of Rainham and the town of Bridgewater and school committee and Ryan, I know you're doing that working group but even more, it sounds like there's still some gaps in the communication. It sounds like there's still some gaps in the communication.
Speaker 7:I look back and there just wasn't enough information with the BP builds. You know, I came out and I voted to build the new BP school, but I wasn't around the day of the vote for us to pass. I didn't hear any. I really didn't know what the consequences were. I had no idea and that's my own fault for not looking into it. But also I think if there was more communication, if you don't vote to have a what is it called debt exclusion for BP, then it's going to fall in the towns. I don't think we knew that. I don't think enough people knew that, that it would put us in such a bad position. So the communication from this office, I feel like, could, could be bigger, greater, especially around this. I want all parts of this town to be the best they can be the schools, the safety and fire, the senior center, the roads, the parks, the library. I am, I'm ready to show up, so thank you well, thank you all.
Speaker 1:Similar to the school committee public comment, we can't respond to it. So please don't take the lack of response from us as anything more than we're limited as to what we can do. And as Ms Riley said and Mr Collins said, we've all been getting emails and I think I'm personally caught up, but we all have day jobs as well, so if it takes a little bit for us to get back to you, please give us the benefit of the doubt on that as well.
Speaker 1:We are not doing this 24 7, so it might take a little time to get back to you, but I know we all endeavor to do that, so thank you for coming out tonight at Carly amazing job all right, the administrative duties March 18th 2025, great and I will entertain a motion to adjourn. All in favor, we are adjourned, thank you.