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The Raynham Channel
Board of Selectmen 06/24/2025
(Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy)
The scorching June 24th meeting of the Raynham Board of Selectmen offered a window into the machinery that keeps our town functioning, even as temperatures soared outside Veterans Memorial Town Hall.
After a solemn moment honoring recently deceased public servants Helen Lounsbury and Lou Bousquet, the Board dove into departmental updates. Health Director, Paula, reported on tobacco compliance inspections across town businesses, with most establishments adapting well to new regulations after education efforts. The department continues providing free overdose prevention kits through opioid settlement funds, addressing a crisis that affects communities nationwide.
Highway Superintendent Norm Sturtevant detailed his department's juggling act - completing critical road projects while operating with five fewer staff members than budgeted. Despite these limitations, they've managed to finish most of the Elm Street East mill and overlay project and prepare irrigation systems at Borden Colony just in time for the current heat wave. Plans for Mill Street reconstruction are now scheduled for July 21st, with additional projects lined up for fall implementation.
Perhaps most concerning was Library Director, Karen's, revelation about federal funding cuts to the Institute of Museum and Library Services. These cuts will eliminate fifteen databases, talking books for the blind, and other essential resources Raynham residents rely upon. Despite this challenge, the library completed its five-year strategic plan and prepares for summer reading with the theme "Level Up the Library," showcasing the resilience our community institutions demonstrate when faced with adversity.
The Board efficiently processed annual reappointments and contract approvals before authorizing the return of Raynham Community Day on September 28th at Borden Colony. They also recognized early voting efforts, which had already drawn 2,000 voters despite extreme heat, thanks to coordination between the Town Clerk, Fire Department, and Highway Department.
Want to witness local democracy in action? Join us for our next meeting on July 8th and see how decisions affecting your daily life unfold in real-time. Better yet, consider volunteering for one of our many boards and committees - Raynham thrives through citizen participation!
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I'm going to call the meeting to order of the Rainham Board of Selectmen here on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, here in Veterans Memorial Town Hall at 558 South Main Street in Rainham. This meeting is open to the public. It is also being broadcast live by RACAM on the Rainham Channel website and on Comcast Channel 98 or Verizon Channel 34. It is also being recorded by Ray Camp. We'll replay on the Rainham channel. Please join me for the Pledge of Allegiance and followed by a moment of silence for our former town clerk, Helen Lonsbury, and former member of the Historical Commission and other committees, Lou Bousquet. I pledge allegiance to the flag and our state of America committees. Thank you In the since our last meeting, Helen Lounsberry, who served as our town clerk for many, many years, and also Lou Bousquet, who was a member of the Uranium Historical Commission. He was an inspector, I think, in our conservation, in our health department, and served, I think, IN OUR CONSERVATION, IN OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND SERVED, I THINK, ON THE OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE, TAUNTON RIVER ALLIANCE COMMITTEE, AND JUST AN AWESOME CITIZEN WHO GOT INVOLVED IN MANY DIFFERENT CAPACITIES AND THEY BOTH PASSED AWAY OVER THERE SINCE OUR LAST MEETING. So WE SEND OUR CONDOLENCIES OUT TO THEIR FAMILIES, to their families.
Speaker 1:Our next item is the acceptance of the minutes our regular session of June 10th 2025, and executive session of June 10th 2025, with the executive session minutes withheld from public release at this time. Do we have a motion and a second Motion has been made and seconded. Hearing any discussion, any additions or corrections. Hearing none. All in favor, Any opposed. Those minutes are accepted as printed. Next we have our department head reports, and first our Paula Rossi-Klapp, our Health Director, on one of our hottest days we have ever had, I believe. Paula.
Speaker 2:Yes, I hope everybody's faring well, including the public. It's incredible out there. I'm happy to say I've been inside all day, though Just a little bit of a few updates from the Board of Health. I just wanted to update the board that all permitted tobacco businesses have been inspected by our health inspector under the new regulations. Out of 24 permits, five needed verbal warnings with some education and one received a fine. With ongoing education and moving forward, all the locations have a good understanding and a good rapport with our health inspector for working on becoming compliant with the new regulations.
Speaker 2:I received the first weekly MDPH arbor virus surveillance report and they've started testing mosquitoes in Bristol County so I'll give updates throughout the season. As we progress with mosquito season, our town nurse Lindsay continues to keep me updated on any communicable diseases or trends of concerns. We're doing well, with no health concerns for rain ham or in Massachusetts. She held a lunch and learn presentation at the COA on June 3rd as part of our opioid naloxone education series and it was well attended. She answered many questions and gave free overdose prevention kits and sharps containers to anyone interested. And a note to the public we do have a supply of these overdose prevention kits and sharps containers. While supplies last, just stop by the Board of Health Office. These kits and sharps containers were purchased through the opioid funds, so we continue to support our public for the opioid crisis that we're having in any education we can provide.
Speaker 2:The health inspector, mike, has been busy with routine inspections. He's finishing up his six-month follow-ups and all food establishment isn't in the town. Along with food trucks are in compliance. Administrative assistant Kim is finishing up with the body art and tanning establishments. Permits are due. Assistant KIM IS FINISHING UP WITH THE BODY ART AND TANNING ESTABLISHMENTS. Permits ARE DUE BY JUNE 30TH AND, as OF TODAY'S DATE, there ARE NO OUTSTANDING COMPLAINTS IN THE DEPARTMENT AND ALL IS WELL.
Speaker 1:SOUNDS VERY GOOD. It LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE BEEN VERY BUSY. Any QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, MR PACHECO.
Speaker 3:THANK YOU M Madam Jayapala, can you tell us what the fine was for for the one establishment?
Speaker 2:So the fine, unfortunately, was for an overwhelming amount of products that should not be sold, and it's kind of been an ongoing problem with this particular Thank you. And so this was sort of like. We've had several verbal warnings and trainings with them and this was the last straw. They did question that they received the regulations and we made it a point of making sure that all the establishments signed off on receiving them and, as you, they had a 90 day time frame to get used to it and ask us any questions. So Mike's been really good with with the business owner and we feel as though that, moving forward, there won't be any more issues. So yeah absolutely.
Speaker 2:I mean at this point we're going out more often to this particular place and, as I said, the amount of products they were surprised at not knowing I guess Mainly the flavored issues, but there are so many constant products out there now changing he does. This particular person goes to a warehouse not in town, somewhere else, and Mike has been able to educate them on that. We're here for questions, so don't buy a whole lot of something. If you want, you can buy one product, bring it back, ask us and we'll steer you in the right direction for the state guidelines. So, yeah, we're doing very well with and the business owners are well receiving the education we're giving them and shifting.
Speaker 3:he asked to the opioid settlement Two pieces to it. I'm sure you're aware of the technical assistance that shifted to RISE. Have you experienced any difficulties during that transition? Have?
Speaker 2:not at all. I'm familiar with RISE and we're doing fine with what we've got. Our, our particular committee is well informed and we meet pretty much every month to go over what's happening. Uh, so we are spending the money with in accordance and continuing to receive the funds so and I trust you're aware that the new settlement was just reached with another pharmaceutical. Yeah, I'm gearing up for that disbursement as well, so good, thank you.
Speaker 1:Thank you, Mr.
Speaker 3:Collins no questions. Thank you very much. You, lindsay, mike and Kim, all you guys do appreciate it.
Speaker 1:Absolutely echo that definitely. Thank you. All right, Thank you, Okay.
Speaker 4:Next we have our highway superintendent Norm.
Speaker 1:Sturtevant Good evening. Good evening.
Speaker 4:Norm Norm. Some updates for the highway department for the month of June. Our road crews have been busy with the early vote. We did that set up for town hall, I think it was last week, and then we moved the operation over to the RMS, which is happening as we speak. Takedown will be for tomorrow. The crew got most of Elm Street East backed up a lumen seed after the mill and overlay took place last. Last month in May. We have about four to five house lengths left and that should wrap up that project. They've been busy cutting line-of-sight issues around town and continuing with edge of road cutting and let it pick back and grounds.
Speaker 4:I, along with a couple of new workers that came over from roads in the absence of a couple of folks that left us from the parking grounds division, turned on the wells at Borden colony and did the startup for the irrigation, made all necessary repairs as needed and I can say that's up and running now, which is great timing for this heat wave we have going. We also turn on the water at the Merrill complex and made those repairs as well and that's up and running as well. I want to give a special thanks to Tim McCray on a couple of different ends. Tim assisted us with the, with the turn on and also what it is is all the institutional knowledge is unfortunately left the highway department on the last. Tim ASSISTED US WITH THE, with THE TURN ON, and ALSO. What IT IS IS ALL THE INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGES UNFORTUNATELY LEFT THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT. I'm THE LAST ONE STANDING THE KNOWS OF PROCEDURES AND START.
Speaker 4:UP AND CLOSURE FOR THESE SYSTEMS. So TIM WANTED TO YOU KNOW WITNESS IT AND KIND OF GET UP TO SPEED ON IT IN CASE SOMETHING. You KNOW EVER, aris, that I'm not available. Also, he helps with us on mowing on the board and colony complex, which is our biggest complex, almost every Wednesday, you know, whenever you can. So we appreciate that well, with a little shorthanded Day, one of the early summer fertilizing that happened today, that was with the insect control and that will continue tomorrow and Thursday if needed. Parks and grounds foreman. I just touched upon a little bit left us a couple of weeks ago. I do have one individual interested and it has been filling in for that kind of acting as a lead role and he's been doing very well and showed some interest and possibly applying for the job when it comes up. So I'll keep you folks up to speed on that when it happens.
Speaker 4:We had some high winds on Friday, kind of out of the normal food, especially if what's going on the last couple days here. We had some moderate damage on Fair Lane. Some Bradford pairs had broke there's several down there. They fell into the street and blocked the road. So I Ron call man, cut that up on Friday and that debris was removed today. Solid waste division our solar panel company sent their subcontractor down and completed all the mowing on that closed landfill and around the solar panels. That's one of possibly three cuts.
Speaker 4:At least two, possibly three projects update line striping is complete on and Street, robinson Street, paul, elm and Thrasher. That includes stop bars, double yellow fog lines etc. And those were the roads that we resurfaced back in May. Mill Street update we're still waiting on a couple of wires and poles to be plucked out. So we have a new date. We think we can stick to it this time and that's going to be on Monday, july 21st, and I'll update the board as we get closer. Signs will go out and we'll update the website as well. Before that happens, the other side of Elm Street that is scheduled for the second half of that mill and overlay project that would be from a Hickory Drive to 104. I just want to see what's going on with the bridges and culverts for another month or so and some Chapter 90s monies that we'll eat in fraud deposit next week. But that looks like we're going to be able to complete that in September, october and that is all I have.
Speaker 3:Thank you, thanks, norm.
Speaker 5:I have no questions.
Speaker 3:Actually one thing, but I'll have to follow up with you tomorrow because I forget the address A resident called us to go to repair in front of their house. They didn't tell me they were here to drive, but I'll leave the address tomorrow Sure peace to you.
Speaker 1:Thank you, Norm. How are we doing with staffing? I know you've been down. You're not at your full complement. You've been trying to recruit some people. Are we still down?
Speaker 4:We're still down. We're still down five. One is, uh, still on a military tour in poland. Uh, so with that person gone, we're down five. So what we did was we took we had four. We're supposed to have five on the roads. We have two. We had four. We had to take two off roads and put them in the box. Um, we have two in the transfer, we're supposed to have three and we're supposed to have three in the box, and we have two that we stole from the road. We're supposed to have three and we're supposed to have three parks and we have two that we stole from road. We'll get things done. It's it's a challenge every day, but we're working, uh through things. Uh, we have trouble finishing a project like ellen street. We have to get taken off of our borders and things like that to come up. I will say that we have a good summer staff this year, so they're kind of filling in the gaps and that's helped us a lot.
Speaker 1:Thank you and we are members of the department for the good we do. Thank you, appreciate it All right. Next we have Karen O'Brien, our library director, for a quarterly report Always things happening at our library, always things happening at the library.
Speaker 5:Good evening everybody. I realize that the last few reports that I've given I didn't really give you an overview of what I've been taking care of as far as housekeeping issues. So, in the effort to be fully transparent in what I do, I do want you all to know that I do attend monthly director meetings. We do not operate the library in a bubble by any stretch of the imagination. I attend monthly director meetings informally. Formally I go to monthly sales meetings.
Speaker 4:The Sales Library.
Speaker 5:Network helps run our library in this consortium and I also serve on the Executive Board of the Sales Committee representing libraries under 15,000. So just recently we also have monthly staff meetings. I have a monthly trustee meeting. During those trustee meetings I report our financials. Every month we go over staff issues, anything having to do with programming the staff is. All those notes are compiled and shared with the staff.
Speaker 5:I'm in constant contact with the friends so everybody sort of knows what everybody else is doing. And over the past three years I've been building our we run off Google, the Google suite, at the sales library network and I've been building basically a database of everything that we do in the library, making sure that all the tasks are covered by more than one person. So this was a huge problem. When I came on board, only this one computer and this one person knew this one thing. So let us finally come to fruition and I think that this full transparency model that we've put forth over these past two years has really helped with communication and getting everybody on the same page and knowing what everybody else is doing.
Speaker 5:And it's saved us a lot of time and money with training and what have you. So it's really been great and the staff has been awesome about it. I can't say enough nice things about the staff. So just getting back to the sales library network for a moment, so just last week I was actually voted in. As I said, I've been serving on the executive board for a year, so I was appointed as the vice president. So that term will be starting now and I'll be serving for a year, and it's important to stay in contact with the sales network because they do provide a tremendous amount of services to us. Which leads me to my next thing, which you may or may not be aware of.
Speaker 5:The current president in administration has cut the endless funding behind MLS funding across the country. That tiny, tiny branch that takes a very small percentage of the federal budget has basically been wiped out and everyone was fired. So how is that going to affect the public library here in random? So this happened back in March and there's been a lot of chaos, as you can imagine march, april, may, june. To where we are now. What it's essentially come down to is um, there's a bunch of services and funding that has been cut. We are going to lose a bunch of databases. As of july 1st I supplemented with a. One of the most popular ones was a language one, so I've supplemented with that. So the town still has access to a current language database, but the talking books for the blind is gone. A bunch of e-resources are gone. Fifteen databases are gone. The organization, the Mass Board of Library Commissioners, that basically runs the money and funds the state aid is partially federally funded, so they're waiting to see if their jobs are going to be gone forever. The giant state aid grant that I apply for every year, that I actually attended training for this morning, we think is going to happen, but we don't know, so we're sort of just waiting. So I just wanted you all to be aware that that is currently in the works and, as you know, it changes all of it. So that's, if anybody wants current information on what's happening with the Institute of Museum and Library Signals, called the Endless, you can go to the Mass Board of Library Commissioners and that's where the most updated information from the state is being distributed to all the public libraries. So a little bit of sad news there, but um, the good news.
Speaker 5:Moving on to our lovely trustee board, which we had just completed and signed off on our five-year strategic plan. So, um, this is the original copy. I'm happy to read the copy. With greg. They have fairly strict guidelines about how this gets written. There's many elements that have to be included, so, together with the trustees, it took us almost a year to complete it, but five years to complete the plan, and it also includes two years of action plans for this fiscal year and the following fiscal year. So, thank you, thank you to all the trustees' time and energy that they helped me complete that incredibly huge project and energy that they helped me complete that incredibly huge project.
Speaker 5:We are all aware that we have two vacancies on the board of library trustees, so, for any of you out there that are interested in serving the public library, we only meet once a month. We have a lovely group and, with two vacancies, we hope to get those filled in the coming weeks. All is well with the staff. Everybody's doing great.
Speaker 5:We are gearing up for summer reading and this past March we had a very successful book sale with the friends of the library that continue to supplement our budget With the money that they got from the book sale and money that they had saved. They were able to give us just about $5,000, which covers the cost of our museum passes. Those museum passes are very expensive but they provide able to give us just about $5,000, which covers the cost of our museum passes. Those museum passes are very expensive but they provide discounts to museums parks. In fact, that DCR pass we bought too because it's so popular, which will get you into beach parking if you want to start by the library and reserve your beach parking pass. You know, camping, the aquarium, the, the aquarium, the zoos, all that sort of thing. So thank you to the Friends for funding our museum passes.
Speaker 5:Again, as Greg had mentioned, I've been helping him out with a little bit of social media, which I'm happy to do at any time. It looks like a lot of that stuff has been shared, so I'm glad to see that the word is out. John Donahue was also kind enough to come over to the library and do a program with all the questions and concerns people had about town meeting. So John spent an hour and a half with us and answered every question that everyone had. So we were super grateful to him. And, last but not least, it is that time again. It is time for summer reading, so summer reading 2025 is here.
Speaker 5:Our theme is level up the library. It's all about gaming. We're going to be doing our very popular scribble theme. So for kids of all ages and adults that want to participate in summer reading, they can swing by the library, read a little bit, get a scribble tile and they can make a letter on the wall. If they get a letter, they win a prize. And there's a basket and, of course, we'll be continuing our tradition of having a ice cream truck for the summer reading grand finale, also funded by friends of lawbury sounds great questions comments promise thank you very much for everything that you do appreciate thank you
Speaker 1:you too. That concludes our department head reports. Under appointments, we have a constable reappointment of David A Descenzo. I believe that this is a constable for one year term and I believe the police chief has signed off on this motion to approve and second any discussion hearing. Not all in favor, opposed, so voted. Next we have our yearly reappointments. Um, we're going to read through this very quickly um, finance committee, theater sergeant and superior lindowski over 2028. Zoning board of appeals, john te Texera, charles Carey and Robert Costa, all associate members, and that's a term until 2028. Emergency management director, brian LeSibeneau until 2026. It's a one-year.
Speaker 1:Town constables, and these are all one year. David LaPlante, norm Sturdivant, kevin Barrera, robert I Abrey and Peter Beatrice, animal control officer, until 2026. Justin matthew, a sailor, avoid submissions. Paul farrow that's also 2026. Town council take peter to the 2026. Forest warden brian was submitted. That's a three year. To the 2028. Electrical inspector, robert bassett 2026. That's the expiration date. Assistant Electrical Inspector, william Butler one year, until 2026. Assistant Plumbing Inspector, kevin Boyle 2026. On-call Building Inspector, brandon Maroney 2026. Conservation Commission, riley Mincone and William Campbell, both until 2023. Cert Coordinator, kevin Mararaera that's for one year, 2026.
Speaker 1:Council on Aging, and these are three years Carol Storer Ware, cheryl Bowen and Pepe Connor as associates. Historical Commission, maggie Sylvia Maggie Sylvia, excuse me. And Karen Jackson, three year. College Road Council, also three-year. Richard White and Kim Mahoney. Cable TV Advisory Committee, jerome Gibbons, also three-year. Economic and Business Development Commission these are also termed until 2028. Beatrice Scannell, russell Matarana and Kenneth Bolin, mobile Home Park Rent Control Board, gordon Francis, also 2028. Open Space Plan Committee and thisANCIS, also 2028. Open SPACE PLAN COMMITTEE, and THIS IS FOR ONE YEAR, until 2026,.
Speaker 1:Author BEN DINELLI, timothy MCCRAY, paul DOOLEY, john CHASE AND ROBERT IAFREDI, ex OFFICIO, and GREGORY BARNES, ex OFFICIO, capital PLANNING COMMITTEE, also A ONE. Finance Committee Theater Sergeant, citizen. Peter Schoendecker, board of Repeals. Bill Lewis, economic and Business Development Commission, gregory Barnes, ex Officio, robert Iafredi, ex Officio and Jessica Thomas, ex Officio. Save Committee, also one-year terms John Tixera, erin Medeiros, aj Andrews and Jessica Thomas, permanent Building Committee, three-year. Robert I Afredi, building Commissioner, tax Increment Finance Board, and these are one-year appointments Jennifer Oldfield, assessors. Carol Sullivan, economic and Business Development Commission. Russell Driscoll, planning Board. Gil Aligi, finance Committee, joseph Pachico, selectman. Brendan Loftus, citizen. Jessica Thomas, treasurer collector, and Robert, I afraid, a ex-officio. Board of Overseers, also one year. Brendan Loftus, capital planning. Jennifer Oldfield, tif board. Carol Sullivan, economic and business development Commission, russell Driscoll, planning board and Joseph Pacheco, selectmenmen. Senior Center Renovation Committee also one year. Gregory Barnes, robert A Frady, aaron Medeiros, john Tixera and John Cocorianis Do we have a motion, motion to approve Any in second Motion has been made and seconded Any discussion Hearing.
Speaker 1:None all in favor, aye Any opposed, so voted. Next we have a LLC at 115 New State Highway. I will open the public hearing at 7.24 pm and ask is there anyone representing the applicant? If so, please come to the podium and give us your name and address for the minutes, if you would please.
Speaker 7:Sure, Good evening everybody. My name is Mike Rossi, I'm an attorney with Concavena at 1 Federal Street in Boston and I'm here on behalf of Ryan Family Amusements.
Speaker 1:Thank you for coming. Is there anything that you want to tell us?
Speaker 7:Just very briefly. This is a very simple change. All we're doing is changing the structure of the entity from a corporation to an LLC. That requires a change in the name, because it's now known as Ryan Family Amusements LLC. We've done I was speaking to Ms Dooney today we've done several of these applications in other towns and the commission, the ABCC, asked us to use a different form to also apply for a change of officers, directors and LLC managers, for the reason only that, even though the owners are not changing, their titles are changing in a way they're going to be LLC managers or some component of that, as opposed to corporate officers. So just today I substituted that form. I just want to be sure, if we can, that the form that this board will consider and, I hope, approve is the same form that we submitted today. It's just called application for multiple amendments and then three boxes are checked.
Speaker 1:Any questions comments mister Chico, no, just well.
Speaker 3:just one question, just to clarify the day to day operations in the radiant location is not changing. It's not, it's just the end.
Speaker 1:Yeah, thank you. Okay, mr Collins. Okay, since it is a public hearing, do we have anyone in the public that wishes to comment? I'm not seeing anyone. Mr Pachinko, I have a motion and a second. Any discussion Hearing none? All in favor, any opposed? Is there a vote? Any in favor? Thank you very much. Thank you, sir, and I will close the public hearing at 7.26 pm. Next on our agenda we have completion of old continuing business. Do you have anything, mr Pachinko? I do not, thank you.
Speaker 3:Mr Collins I do not.
Speaker 1:I have nothing Under new business. First we have discussion and vote of contract for general engineering consulting services with Greenman Peterson, Incorporated for the highway department. Mr Barnes, do you want to comment on that?
Speaker 6:a year of engineer as needed engineering services with GPI it's for a hundred thousand dollars, and this comes with your recommendation, obviously, mr Sturdivant.
Speaker 1:correct questions, comments, motion mr Pacheco second we have a motion and a second to approve any Any discussion Hearing none. All in favor, Any opposed. It is so voted. Next we have discussion and vote of contract for Johnson Pond Management Program with Water and Wetland, Mr Barnes.
Speaker 6:You may recall, you already voted a light item transfer along with the FinCom for this item. Transfer ALONG WITH THE FINCOM FOR THIS ITEM. This IS A POND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, basically TO TAKE OUT THE USE HERBICIDES AND SUCH TO GET RID OF THE WEEDS IN THE POND.
Speaker 1:THANK YOU, and IT'S FOR A TOTAL OF $5,400, I believe, okay. Do we have a motion or any questions? Mr Pacheco, motion is made and seconded to approve Any discussion, hearing none, all in favor, any opposed. It is so voted. Next we have discussion and vote to allow annual Rainium Community Day at Borden Colony, sunday September 28, 2025, with a rain date of Sunday October 5th 2025.
Speaker 1:We have a letter from the random Association of Volunteers for Education. The members of the board. On behalf of the board of directors of the random Association of volunteers for education, we wish to request permission to all the annual random community celebration at the gazebo Park on the Borden Colony property on Sunday September 28th, with a rain date of Sunday October 5th. And obviously, as we aware, this traditional event took place for many years thanks to the efforts of Kevin and Shirley Ellis and three years ago, after you, two-year hey hiatus, rave took on the project and we have checked.
Speaker 1:Rave has checked with the park and Recreation Department director Tim McCray to make sure that the gazebo park AND WE HAVE CHECKED. Rave HAS CHECKED WITH THE PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR TIM MCCRAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE GAZEEBO PARK IS AVAILABLE ON THOSE DATES AND RAVE IS ALSO REQUESTING PERMISSION FROM THE PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION THAT WILL GO BEFORE THEIR COMMISSION, their BOARD MEETING NEXT TUESDAY. As WITH OUR OTH, with our other community projects, rave will work closely with our Rainham police and fire departments, as well as our highway department. With the board's permission, we're hoping to make Rainham Community Day 2025 a wonderful celebration of Rainham and showcase many of the wonderful groups and organizations, as well as town departments and individuals that make Rainham such a great place to live, work and enjoy life so moved.
Speaker 3:And second.
Speaker 1:Motion has been made and seconded Any discussion Hearing none all in favor, any opposed. It is so voted. Next we have discussion and vote on fiscal year 2026 DPW supply contract through SERSage, which is the Southeastern Regional Service Group, and this is just an annual contract.
Speaker 6:I believe, mr Barnes yes, it's just all sorts of EPW supplies, many other related items all right, very good.
Speaker 1:Do we have any questions or motion?
Speaker 1:Motion has been made to approve and a second any discussion hearing. None all in favor, any opposed. It is so voted. We also have discussion and vote on fiscal year 2025 paper contract through surceage, which is again the similar contract. Motion has been made seconded any discussion hearing. None all in favor, any opposed. It is so voted. Discussion and vote on fiscal year 2026 to 2027 office supply contract through SERSIG. Motion is made and seconded Discussion Hearing none all in favor, any opposed. It is a vote.
Speaker 1:We have letter of interest for the historical commission by Ted Hutchinson. He would like to indicate his interest in volunteering or helping with the Rainham Historical Commission in some capacity, and members are appointed by the select board of Rainham, so I think we could make a motion to refer this to the Historical Commission. So moved. Second and a motion has been made and seconded Any discussion Hearing none all in favor, any opposed, so voted. Next we have a tag day request full house all-star cheer. All-star cheer for July 3rd, july 11th, july 26th and July 27th. Made in seconded Any discussion Hearing. None all in favor. Aye, any opposed. It is so voted. Tag day request Cub Scout Pack 49. Tag day request for September 7th, september 13th, september 20th and September 21st. So moved. Motion made and seconded Any discussion Hearing. None all in favor, aye Any opposed. So voted. Discussion and vote of highway department contract for 2025 to 2026. It is for fertilizer, weeds and insect control services and the recommendation is to award it to True Green Commercial. Motion is made. This comes with your recommendation, mr.
Speaker 6:Barnes. It comes with my recommendation, along with mine, and also Mr Sturdivant. Okay, so motion is made. Second comes with your recommendation, mr Barnes. It comes with my recommendation, along with Mr.
Speaker 1:Sturdivant and also Mr Sturdivant. Okay, so motion is made Seconded Any discussion Hearing. None all in favor. Aye, any opposed. It is so voted. Next we have discussion and vote on FY2026 merit pay for David LaPlante, chief of Police, in accordance with the contractual agreement. Our police laplante, chief of police. In accordance with the contractual agreement, our police chief's contract states that he is eligible for a one percent merit pay increase on july 1st 2025 if a performance review supports that. Based on the board's vote at our last meeting, I did come up with an evaluation form and represent the board in conducting that evaluation, along with our town administrator, mr Barnes, and I will sit down with Chief LaPlante and review the details of that and I can report to you that, based on our findings, mr Barnes and I recommend the merit pay for Chief LaPlante effective July 1st. Do we have any questions, comments or a motion so moved. Motion is made and seconded Any discussion Hearing. None all in favor Aye, any opposed. So voted. And, mr Barnes, if you can set a meeting for you and I to meet with the chief for that? Yes, thank you. Okay.
Speaker 1:Next we have moving along here. Discussion and action on filling up to seven positions for Iranian police reserve list from the current civil service list. This is just names to go on the reserve list. It is not any appointments, so moved. Motion made Second Seconded Any discussion Hearing. None all in favor. Aye, any opposed list is not any appointments. Motion made seconded any discussion hearing. None all in favor, any opposed, so voted. Next we have discussion and vote of carryover a remaining fiscal year 2025 vacation time for town administrator to be used no later than July 31st 2025, in accordance with the contractual agreements. Obviously we always love to get these vacation days done by June 30th, but I understand mr Barnes has a plan going forward so that we work you so hard you'll try to take your vacation time on a little more timely basis. Do we have any comments? Discussion motion she has been made and seconded any discussion hearing that. All in favor, any opposed. It is so voted. Town administrators report mr Barnes.
Speaker 1:I have nothing for today all right, we know you've been working hard, mr Barnes. Thank you. Selectmen's report. Mr Pacheco.
Speaker 3:I had the opportunity to attend last week the Lions Club annual scholarship dinner and, for the organization, alexis Amarillo and Evan Bray were our two recipients. Very impressive students heading to Endicott and Northeastern respectively. Certainly a positive sign for Rainham. I also learned that our Lions Club was voted best club by Lions, the Lions organization, and our videographer, sammy, was inducted as new.
Speaker 1:Lion. Oh fantastic, yes, yeah. So congratulations to her as well could we send a letter of congratulations to the lines yes yes, and then on voting today.
Speaker 3:First of all this 26 minutes left. If somebody has devoted yet, they can do so, as I'm sure the board will agree. Much appreciation to Marcia and her team for putting this on. We've all heard early voting stabs over 600 people last week. That was only in four days of voting and I think last time I knew we were at about 1,900, 2,000 with hours still going. So glad to see that turn up. Hope people take advantage of the remaining time and I also just want to take a minute to thank the fire department. So the town clerk and I were talking over the weekend about the heat today, and the clerk had some real concerns, obviously, and so we were able to coordinate with Brian over the weekend to have a firefighter station there with the Mystic Head, which which I think, as I understand the guts of you. So I just wanted to recognize Brian, his team as well, putting that together. I'm sure notice.
Speaker 1:Thank, you excellent. Thank you, yes, I went into both early at 10 o'clock and this station was that captain. Captain was there along with his two firefighters sons and they were ready to help out anyone that needed assistance. Jeff and his firefighter sons. For that, yes.
Speaker 3:I'd like to give a special thanks to Marcia and her team for all they've done. It's been a blessing for them. It's no easy task to set up for this between her and the Highway Department and the fire. It takes a lot of coordination between the different departments.
Speaker 6:So thank you to all of them for that effort, absolutely Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 1:Yeah, also I want to echo that for our time with Clark and certainly a huge effort to make that happen, and also our Highway Department for setting that up for us here. Taking everything down and moving everything that's a lot of work too, so we appreciate that. I know there are a lot of questions around the override issue and what happens next, since Bridgewater voters in their town election on Saturday rejected the override. Of course, a lot will depend on the results of our vote here in Rainham. Regardless of the results, however, the next step is that the regional school committee will meet tomorrow night beginning at seven o'clock at the rain in middle school. Um, and because of bridgewater's no vote, they don't currently have a certified budget for fiscal year 2026, which they must have by june 30th since the new fiscal year begins on july 1st. So that will be their decision to assume what actually going to take to my name will always stay tuned for that.
Speaker 1:I did have the opportunity to attend an open house and ribbon cutting for the honey farms market on Route 138 last last week. I will say that we certainly know how to party. It was a huge turnout. They had a huge. They had a radio station from Boston broadcasting and really a huge turnout and they have lots of samples of some delicious sandwiches and treats. It's designed to be a neighborhood type market focusing on locally grown or locally made products. They mentioned they love to get involved in the community and support the community and if anybody has any specially crafted items that they want to sell, they look for those sorts of things. The CEO of the company was on site and explained that the radium stores the fourth of several that are planned across New England and it's designed to be a destination market. That's on Route 138, right across from the arrows and boards.
Speaker 1:Also recently and I know you had mentioned this previously, mr Collins that I attended a ribbon-cutting and open house for the rain ham barbershop. There was a great front page article in our top David Gazette. Chris Kennedy, a 23 year old Raynham resident graduate of Iranian schools in Bridgewater Union, has achieved his dream of having a business of his own. His parents, with his proud parents, were there along with family members and it's just awesome to see somebody that grew up in town and has some at such a young age taken on such a huge responsibility and I understand so far he's doing great in the short time he's been open for spring he's had a couple of patriots players.
Speaker 1:That's great, so I'm wishing the very the very best. And, of course, fourth of july is coming up, so wish everybody a very happy and healthy, and certainly safe for the july holiday. Our next meeting, if I'm not mistaken, will be tuesday, july 8th. Is that correct? All right, so with that? Um, that concludes my report. We have no correspondence. Um, we have no one here from the press, so I don't. We have any press time. Emergency business Um, we have no one here from the press, so I don't. We have any press time Emergency business. No, no, we do have one item called emergency business. Mr Barnes, do you want to explain about that please?
Speaker 6:Uh, yes, as you are aware, brian Glattman, our longstanding tree warden, is retiring from that duty as of June 30th. Unexpectedly, he was approached by a contractor yesterday, about, I guess about every five years the TMLP clears along the utility lines. It turns out they have plans to do that now, but that had never been conveyed to the town until literally yesterday. It does require a permit from the tree warden. Typically in the past we have given this for a year period through June 30th. As Brian is retiring, he did not feel comfortable signing off on the permit and we are seeking a long-term solution right now as to how to address the tree warden. But in the meantime, I think it is important to get this permit out and I'm recommending that you appoint me as the interim hopefully very short-term interim tree warden so I can, working with Brian, complete this permit and sign off on it again, allowing for the tree cutting by this contractor along the utility motion made by Mr Pachinko, seconded by Mr Collins.
Speaker 1:Any discussion Hearing none. All in favor. Aye, opposed. It is so voting. Did it include any inputs? If we don't see anyone, they're all at the polls voting. Performance of administrative duties. Just to report that I reviewed and assigned the uranium invoice and payroll warrants both dated June 17th for last week and June 24th for this week, and with that I am looking for a motion for chair. So moved. Second Motion is made and seconded All in favor Aye, we are adjourned at 7.43 pm. Thank you so much.