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The Raynham Channel
Board of Selectmen 4/1/2025
(Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy)
Many things unfold in America's small towns, where decisions about police services, school funding, and even the language of governance directly impact residents' lives. In Raynham, Massachusetts — a community approaching its 300th birthday — these realities played out dramatically during a recent Select Board meeting.
The proceedings opened with a police report highlighting extraordinary public service, including a dispatcher who stepped away from traffic duty to perform life-saving CPR. This powerful reminder of how local first responders make critical differences came alongside reports of successful coordination during dangerous pursuits and crash responses.
In a symbolic yet meaningful step, the Board unanimously voted to change their name from the centuries-old "Board of Selectmen" to the gender-neutral "Select Board." The change acknowledges that in nearly 300 years, only three women have served on the town's highest governing body, with the first woman not elected until 1989.
The meeting's most consequential discussion centered on an impending fiscal crisis. The regional school district has certified a budget requiring an increase in Raynham's assessment—more than town officials say is affordable. This stark reality means residents face a potential tax override that would increase the average homeowner's bill, beyond an already-approved increase for a public safety building.
Board members expressed earnest concern about what happens if voters reject the override but the school committee pursues alternative funding mechanisms that could force devastating cuts to police and fire services. The tension between adequately funding education while maintaining other essential services perfectly captures the difficult choices facing communities nationwide.
What happens in Raynham's upcoming town meeting on Monday May 19th will shape the community's priorities for years to come. Will you join your own local governance discussions? The decisions made in these meeting rooms affect your daily life far more than most realize.
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Good evening everybody.
Speaker 2:Call the meeting to order at 7pm. And so I talked about the time and everything.
Speaker 1:Call the meeting to order at 7pm. Inform the public we're being both broadcast live and recorded by the Rainham Channel and I would ask those with us to join us in the pledge of peace. I pledge allegiance 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. Thank you, all right. I'll entertain a motion to accept the minutes from March 25.
Speaker 2:A motion to accept the minutes as printed.
Speaker 1:All in favor? Aye, that's approved. The five in hand. Do we have a police chief, dave, with the plan Dave?
Speaker 4:Good evening. So for March the total number of calls was 2,179 calls. 433 of those were emergency 911 calls and of those 97 were emergency medical dispatch calls. There were seven arrests and several criminal summonses. So we had a few significant events in March.
Speaker 4:On March 4th police and fire responded to a business on Broadway For an unresponsive lady. I commend the responding officers and firefighters for their efforts, which saved the lady's life. I especially want to thank and congratulate dispatcher Ashley career, who was working a paid detail as a traffic control officer in the area. She overheard the radio transmission and she just immediately, upon her own, responded and she began CPR. It's an honor to have people like Ashley working at the police department and I'm sure her actions had a direct impact on saving the ladies life.
Speaker 4:On March 18th, members of Midnight Shift assisted the Mass State Police with a pursuit from Rhode Island reporting a man holding a woman at gunpoint. That ended in Rainham. Members of the Rainham Police Department located the vehicle in the Staples parking lot behind a building where a female and a small child exited the car before the operator fled again. After escaping, the vehicle became stuck at the end of South Street West and the operator fled on foot With the deployment of our K-9 by Sergeant Frankacheco and, as a result of a coordinated search of all those involved, the suspect was apprehended. I just want to say great job by all those that were involved and I commend their efforts. And then, lastly, on March 19th there was a serious motor vehicle crash involving a motorcycle on 44. The operator of the motorcycle and his passengers suffered life threatening and critical incident injuries. These calls are very tough on first responders. I want to thank all those involved in investigating the crash. Those officers came in on their own time to assist with all the firefighters involved, and currently there's one officer still on IOD.
Speaker 2:No questions but, chief, thank you for your reporting, for everything you and the members of the department do to keep us safe. Appreciate it.
Speaker 3:Thank you, mr Collins, I do say thank you. And one thing I'll touch on, chief, my plug for police on details. You said it was, you know, an honor to have people like actually Korea on your, your department's. Also honor, in my opinion, to have police officers working paid details on the street and it's a perfect example why, if and when we can get a certified CPR respondent, those minutes are crucial and not. So congratulations there and thank you all work you guys do. Thank you, thank you?
Speaker 1:no appointments too late, no hearings, excuse me, old business, miss Riley mr Collins right new business discussion and vote on supporting a town meeting an article to change the name of what of Selectmen to Select Board. Ms Riley, you had introduced this a while back and the language says to see if the town will vote to amend the general bylaws by changing the words Board of Selectmen and Selectmen to Select Board and members of the Select Board board, respectively, wherever they appear, and to make such other changes as are necessary to make any references to said board gender-neutral or take any action relative there to. And I will open up to the board for a comment.
Speaker 2:Thank you, mr chairman. I you know it was never an issue for me whether it was a board of selectmen or not, but it was brought to my attention by some of our local Girl Scouts and their leaders and some of the members of a women's panel that the Girl Scouts held last year and they asked why isn't it the select board? And then I noticed even the Massachusetts Association of the Massachusetts Municipal Association refers to the Massachusetts Association of Select Boards. So it's pretty much standard and I think most of the towns that have select people have call it the Board of Select, the select board. So that's. And actually one member of that women's panel had offered to come forward with a citizen's petition, but I thought it would be appropriate for it to come from this board. And I think it's especially appropriate for us to do it tonight because tomorrow happens to be the anniversary of the founding of Rainham.
Speaker 2:Rainham actually became a town on April 2nd 1731. So tomorrow we are officially 296 years old 294 years old, I'm sorry and in six years will be 300 years old and, as I said the other day, in 300. One of the first things the town did first town meeting was April 22nd 1731 was to establish a board of selectmen, a three-member board of selectmen. It was actually for those history buffs out there it was Ebenezer Robinson, john Staples and Samuel Leonard Sr were the first three and in the almost 300 years, we've had three women who have served, first being Marie Smith, who was elected in 1989 and served for a total of 18 years, and then, in 2015, karen Donahue, who served for three years. Mr chairman, you have the distinction of being the only member who served with two women on the board.
Speaker 1:No oh yes, and all three of you, and all three exactly so anyway.
Speaker 2:So I would like to bring that forward, that we forward it to the annual town meeting for a vote, with our support yeah, no, I I supported as well.
Speaker 1:I think you know Rainham has always valued its history, but I think and I hope we all agree, I think we'll all agree the electorate in Rainham has always judged people on their ability to serve and nothing else, and I think that's why this might not have come up earlier, but I agree with you.
Speaker 1:I think it's a fitting time for come up, but I appreciate you bringing it up and I support it as well. So I have a motion. Do I have a second? Yes, and all in favor. That's approved. Thank you, miss Riley. Ms Riley, thank you All. Right Discussion and vote. Fy26, coal is for our union employees in the following position Billing clerk, electrical inspector assistant. Electrical inspector, assistant, plumbing inspector, sailor at weights and measures, library assistant and volunteer coordinator, and the recommendation is 2%. What is the board's pleasure?
Speaker 2:I'll make that motion the board's pleasure.
Speaker 1:All in favor unanimously. And discussion and vote on increasing pay for seasonal employees. Again, the recommendation is 2% and these are non-benefited positions that assist our highway and cemetery departments during the summer months with grounds maintenance.
Speaker 2:I think that motion is consistent with what we've been doing with contracts all in favor, unanimously.
Speaker 5:any new business, miss Riley, mr Collins, all right time to ministry is report, mr Barnes yes, first of all, just to remind everyone, we're having a hearing on body works on 4-8-2025. So that's next week We'll be at the select board meeting on body works regulations and those will be new to the town. You can find a copy of the proposed body works regulations on the website. Secondly, this Thursday, april 3rd, just be aware that the planning board will be having a hearing on the article known as the MBTA communities act. This will be one of our major articles at the town meeting in May. So anyone who is interested in that issue this has to do with requirements from the state in terms of high density apartment housing. The hearing will be this Thursday. I believe it starts at is it 7 or 6? I'm not sure, but in any case you can go right on the website and and see that it will be it's at six so the meeting begins at six this Thursday okay and no questions.
Speaker 1:But just to amplify what mr Barnes said and to clarify as well this is a public hearing as required by Mass General Laws. It's appearing before the Planning Board, not us, because it's within their purview and the only decision that would be made at the planning board is to either recommend and not recommend the article. The ultimate decision, as we've all said all along, will be made by town meeting on May 19th. So folks going and thinking that a decision will be made at the hearing, it's not happening. It's May 19th. We've been transparent and consistent about that all along. So I just want to reemphasize that. Selectman's report, ms Riley.
Speaker 2:Thank you, I do have a little bit of report. As you mentioned, annual town meeting and everyone please mark your calendars. It's Monday, may, may 19th, beginning at 7 o'clock in the evening and the auditorium at the rating middle school. It is going to be an extremely important time meeting and we need as many concerned citizens as possible to attend. Please also note that the town will not be mailing out copies of the warrant as we have in the past. Between the cost of the paper and the printing and the cost of the mailing, it had become extremely expensive and they're much more efficient and economical ways to spread the news. As soon as it is ready, the warrant will be printed in full on the website. Copies will be available at the Rainham Library, at the Senior Center and at Town Hall. And, best of all, everyone can sign up to be on the town's email list and have it emailed to your inbox along with other town news and announcements. You can sign up for that on the website or call the Selectman's office for assistance at 508-824-2707. If none of those options work for you, call the Selectman's office anyway and a copy can be mailed to your home. But taking this action of not doing a mass mailing avoids the huge waste of paper and the even larger expense of printing and mailing copies. A couple of room. Another reminder in addition to that planning board meeting, the Economic and Business Development Commission will present their annual Community Pride Awards at their monthly meeting, which is this coming Monday, next Monday, beginning at 5 o'clock in the evening here in the Municipal Meeting Room at Town Hall. The meeting is open to the public and all are welcome.
Speaker 2:And also just a little report. The Bridgewater Rainium Regional District School Committee held its regular meeting last Wednesday, at which time they voted to certify a budget. Regional DISTRICT SCHOOL COMMITTEE HELD ITS REGULAR MEETING LAST WEDNESDAY, at WHICH TIME THEY VOTED TO CERTIFY A BUDGET THAT WAS LESS THAN THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REQUESTED IDEAL BUDGET BUT MORE THAN THE LEVEL SERVICES BUDGET THAT WAS PRESENTED AT THE PUBLIC HEARING ON MARCH 12TH. The $106,20 $49 BUDGET CERTIFIED BY THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE REFLECTS A 17% OR $15,448,990 INCREASE OVER THIS YEAR'S BUDGET FOR RAINHAM. That IS APPROXIMATELY A 21.76% OR $4,567,714 INCREASE OVER THIS YEAR'S ASSESSMENT. That IS APPROXIMATELY and I hope I'm getting these numbers right, mr Barnes $3,938,017 more than what our town administrator and finance director have said. The town can afford.
Speaker 2:So, as we have been saying all along, that would require a Proposition 2.5 override to fund, or we would be looking at the potential of either gutting our reserves that we need for other obligations and critical needs and or widespread layoffs, including our essential public safety, which would include, obviously, our police and fire. For those that are keeping track, that level of override to fund the school budget, as certified by the school committee, would increase the average single family tax bill in Rainham by approximately $650. And we have to be transparent. Our taxpayers deserve no less. That does not include the tax increase of approximately $300 for the debt exclusion that was passed for the public safety building that hasn't been charged to taxpayers yet, increase OF APPROXIMATELY $300 FOR THE DEBT EXCLUSION THAT WAS PASSED FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING THAT HASN'T BEEN CHARGED TO TAXPAYERS YET. So IT WILL BE A VERY IMPORTANT AND, for SOME, a VERY DIFFICULT DECISION TO MAKE.
Speaker 2:So WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Now IT GOES TO THIS BOARD AND THE BRIDGEWATER TOWN CO board. We would need to ask our town administrator to draft an article for the annual town meeting that would raise and appropriate the additional funds the school committee is requesting and that would be clearly stated that the appropriation would be contingent upon passage of a proposition two and a half override question at a special town election. If that passes at town meeting, that would then come back to this board to determine if and when to hold the special town election. Before we do any of that, however, I would really like to receive some confirmation from a vote of the school committee that they would accept the decision of the voters at such a special town election that is held and accept the result of the override question if it fails as well as if it passes, and that if it should fail, they will not exercise the option they have to call for a joint town meeting. In other words, they would commit to taking that option, which in my opinion would be extremely undemocratic and basically undermine the decision of the voters that they commit to taking that option off the table.
Speaker 2:The reason I say that is that if that should ever happen, that an override question fails and the committee calls for a joint town meeting where Rainham with fewer numbers would be at a disadvantage, and if that should then pass at this joint town meeting, the town would have to come up with the funds which at that point we wouldn't have if it failed at an override vote, and that potentially would be to come up with the funds which at that point we wouldn't have if it failed at an override vote, and that potentially would be devastating for the town, either decimating our reserves and or resulting in unthinkable layoffs to our police and fire.
Speaker 2:I have heard different members of the school committee state that they would never want that to happen, and Member Jessica Davenport made the statement at the school community meeting that she would hope the committee would accept the decision of the voters. But those of us on this board have to be concerned, and not only about our school budget and supporting the needs of our schools, but of the rest of the town as well. So I don't think it's asking too much for a public commitment from the school committee. The school committee's working subcommittee on the budget that Finance Committee member dr Susan pre-windows key and I serve on, along with two Bridgewater representatives of the council and two school committee members, will be meeting on Thursday evening and I plan to bring this up at that meeting as well.
Speaker 2:And lastly, I always like to end on a positive note. It's time to start planning our 11th annual Memorial Day Parade. Our Rave Parade Planning Committee has set a date for our first meeting and that will be next Wednesday, a week from tomorrow, at 6.30 here in the Municipal Meeting Room. Anybody who's interested in participating in the parade or finding out more about the parade, please come. We need lots of volunteers to make that happen, and that's all I have, mr Chairman.
Speaker 1:Thank you, ms Riley. Mr Collins, a couple things for me. First, I agree completely with your position, ms Riley, and would hope that the school committee would be more than happy to take that vote. I think it sends the positive message and the message that they've been asking for, which is partnership. A few reminders for folks this Saturday is our spring has to this waste day at the highway department. That is free of charge, but they do ask for proof of residency, so a license bail, something of that sort, and then our brush pile also opens this weekend, which is also free, no residency requirement.
Speaker 1:On that, and back to the topic of overrides for a minute, I had sent and directed the town administrator and finance director to start developing a page on our website. Assist. The community of ours, in my opinion, did a phenomenal job when they went forward with an override recently, creating an info center with the QA and just laying out the facts, the different scenarios, because we keep talking about the impact on the average house, but there's folks who own houses that are outside of the average, both above and below the average, and, as you said, miss Riley, folks deserve transparency, and so the average house in Rainham, I believe, is about five hundred and seventy thousand give or take, but there's a lot between those numbers on both sides, so we want to make sure that those folks are getting the information as well, and I know Greg and Chris are getting started on that. But again, I think they did a great job. I am big on not reinventing the whale, so there's a template out there that I think gets the job done and I'm eager to see what they produce on that correspondence.
Speaker 1:We do not have any press Press time, dan. Real quick, tom Gazette. Regarding the article with whether or not to change the name from selectman to select board, has this ever been brought up before in front of the board or even voted on a town meeting? No, we've had, I would say, one or two discussions on this in the past, but it's never been brought forward to town meeting before. And Ms Riley just walked you through kind of a sequence of how we got tonight Sounds good, thank you, thanks, dan. All right emergency business, ms Riley, I have none. Mr Collins, citizen and community input no, all right performance of the administrative duties.
Speaker 2:I Just to report that I have reviewed and signed the rating invoice and payroll allowance dated today, april 1st 2025.
Speaker 1:Thank, you and at this time I'll entertain a motion to recess into executive session under 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. Police chief and interim veterans agent. We will return to open session for the singular purpose of adjournment. What is the board's pleasure? I will make that motion and roll call. Ms Riley Aye. Mr Collins Aye. Chair votes aye. Thank you, have a good evening.