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Raynham Select Board 07/22/2025
(Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy)
Democracy wheels into motion in the small New England town of Raynham as the Board of Selectmen tackles issues that impact everyday life in meaningful ways. What begins as a routine meeting quickly transforms into a fascinating showcase of local governance, revealing how seemingly administrative decisions carry profound implications for community values and democratic principles.
The highlight of the meeting emerges during a joint session with the Planning Board, where the appointment of Matt Andrade as an associate member sparks passionate debate. Having recently lost an election for a regular board seat, Andrade's appointment raises challenging questions about honoring voter intent versus recognizing expertise and experience. The tension between electoral outcomes and appointment processes becomes palpable, with board member Kenny Collins expressing concern about public perception while Joseph Pachico defends consistency in appointment practices.
Infrastructure concerns take center stage with the emergency announcement that the South Street East Old Colony Bridge must close for repairs. The $465,000 temporary fix will disrupt traffic patterns for approximately 60 days, affecting school buses, commuters, and the connection between Rainham and Taunton. This unexpected development underscores the fragility of aging infrastructure and the difficult choices facing small-town administrators.
The meeting also showcases the human side of local governance through the posthumous recognition of Helen Lounsberry's 37 years as Town Clerk and Louis Bousquet's 20 years of service across multiple town committees. These tributes remind attendees that behind every administrative function stands individuals dedicating significant portions of their lives to community service.
As the meeting concludes with passionate public input, the evening serves as a compelling reminder that local government forms the foundation of American democracy—where neighbors address neighbors about their shared community, decisions have immediate and visible impacts, and the principles of democratic governance play out in real-time on issues both large and small.
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Okay, I'm going to call the meeting of the Rainham Board of Selectmen to order at 7 o'clock pm on Tuesday, july 22, 2025, here at 558 South Main Street, and announce this meeting is open to the public. It is also being broadcast live by the Rainham Channel on Comcast Channel 98 and Verizon Channel 34. It is also being recorded by Raycam for replay on the Rainham Channel. Thank you all for joining us. Please join us for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Again, thank you for joining us.
Speaker 2:Next on our agenda is our joint meeting with the Planning Board. Just to announce, I'm the'm the chair, obviously, of our select board riley. To my right is our vice chair, joseph pachico, and to my left is our clerk, kenny collins, and we have our planning board. Oh, also, of course, greg barnes is our town administrator and we have our planning board members here with us chris gallagher, brian O'Field, anthony Niccoli and Pamela Mincone. And I believe you have a quorum, mr Chairman, so do you want to call your meeting to order?
Speaker 3:Okay, I'd like to call the meeting to order. Joint meeting of the planning board and selectmen.
Speaker 2:I'm Chris Gallagher, chairman of the planning board, and to my left is Brian O'Field To his left is Anthony Niccolccauley, who's our clerk, and to his left and I understand, mr chairman, that mr burke fountain was not able to attend. All right, just um, for a little background. The reason that brings us here is that the annual town meeting on may 16 2022 adopted article 33, which stated to see if the town will vote to amend the radium zoning bylaws or take any action relative there too, by amending article 6 to add section 6.14 entitled associate members planning board. To create the position of an associate member of the Planning Board. To create the position of an associate member of the Planning Board as a special permit granting authority, in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws, chapter 40A, section 9, as follows Associate member of the Planning Board.
Speaker 2:Associate Planning Board members. A two-year position and shall be appointed by a joint vote of the Board of Selectmen and the Planning Board. The Chairman of the Planning Board must designate the Associate Member to sit on the Board for the purposes of acting on a special permit application or site plan approval. In the case of absence, inability to act or conflict of interest on the part of any member of the Planning Board, or in the event of a vacancy on the Board, any vacancy in the office of the Associate Member will be filled by a majority joint vote of the board of selectmen and the planning board and the term of an associate member. Your term of appointment shall be two years from the date of appointment. Any vacancy in the position of the associate member shall be filled for the balance of the term of the associate member when the position becomes vacant.
Speaker 2:That was submitted by the planning board and approved is on annual town report 2022, pages 76 and 77, and we received notice from the planning board back in may that you had an applicant for the associate member, so we as a board advertised the position for two weeks. We received four resumes, which we forwarded to your board and invited you to come this evening so we could have our little joint meeting. So I will turn it over at this point to you, mr Chairman.
Speaker 3:Okay, thank you, pat. Like you said, back in May we actually had two people put in letters of request to get appointed to the associate member. We held a vote in a similar fashion we did the last two times we did it and where we vote and then forward our results to the selectmen for their vote. At that time we had four members vote to appoint Matthew, andrea and one member would stay. In the meantime, the selectmen wanted to advertise the position. It should have been advertised. They subsequently did so and then they notified our board that they had four applicants that would like to invite us in tonight, and so we. That was put on our agenda Thursday. We got it a few days before that they get circulated through our members. When Thursday came, I asked if all members could be present here on Tuesday because I wanted the whole board. They couldn't be, so we decided to take a vote last Thursday. We did so and once again, we had four votes for Matthew and Ray, one vote no on the motion to recommend him and at the time um, you know a lot of you know respect for the selectmen and you know what that request was for the advertisement. We respected their request. We rescinded our original vote and then subsequently re-voted and at the time, and at the time based on experience and best performance, the majority of the board felt that Matt Andrews was a suitable candidate. We did have four strong applicants and my message at the meeting was I hope they all stay interested and you know, because I mean in 22 or 23 years we had two contested elections. So we, you know, never really historically had a lot of interest and that's why we voted back in May, because we had two interested in the next 21 months or so, less than two years, a year from April. Burke found it and said he's not here, but he said he's not going to run again and Burke's got many years and so he's going to be done next April.
Speaker 3:Brian Oldfield I can't speak for Brian, but if I I'm correct me, if I'm wrong, brian said he doesn't intend to run a year from April. I was going to step down at the last election but nobody stepped up, except if anyone was interested and I said it right in our meetings a few times but nobody stepped up. So I ran, otherwise I wasn't gonna. So I may stay. The longest I'll stay is so Brian leaves. So within 21 months there's going to be three openings on the planning board, and that's why the experience is a key factor in this election process. But, based on the resumes and the quality of the people that we have that are interested, I'd like to encourage them to keep abreast of what's going on and consider running for an election this coming April and the subsequent April. There'll be two openings at least, so that was how I left it and that was our decision, and so we'll pass it on to the selectmen for their vote.
Speaker 2:Thank you, mr Chairman. It's a little unusual for us. Usually we appoint members to boards that are all appointed members and in that we try to follow that process. When we find out there's an opening on a board, we advertise the position, as we did in this case, and then we refer the resumes, the letters of interest, to that board and then that board comes back to us with a recommendation and then we appoint.
Speaker 2:At that point, obviously this is a little different because it calls for a joint vote. I guess it's the interpretation of what is a joint vote. I actually tried to call the Attorney General's office to get some qualification on that. We don't have any particular policies that says anything more than what the town meeting article, the bylaw, says, whether that means we voted one time, it's in one group or whether it's two separate groups. So I am under discussion, going to propose a policy to address it going forward. But if I hear you, mr chairman, you're telling us that you have a four to one vote for maddie andre yeah, correct, and I had suggested that in the future to alleviate confusion.
Speaker 3:If people want to put together and I had talked to the powers to be at the state level too and they didn't see anything that we did wrong in the first vote or the second vote they had suggested with a law, you have to be a little careful on how you modify a law. So it would be to us to have a written policy on how we proceed further, because this is relatively new. You know there is a possibility to you have a second. You know it would make sense to come up with a policy on how we proceed for the next time, associated comes up.
Speaker 2:I'm proposing this board of selectmen but ask the plan board to consider it also going forward.
Speaker 2:I'm sure you have your particular process of how you adopt policies we do also, so we'll put it on the agenda for our next meeting. But just to throw it out there as a proposed policy, that the associate member of the planning board should be appointed in the following minutes obviously would be going forward. When a vacancy occurs in the position of associate member of the planning board, the planning board will notify the board of selectmen and select a board within a 14-day period. Both boards will then advertise the position on the town's website and through any other methods deemed appropriate and accept letters of interest and resumes for a period of no less than two weeks. After both boards have had sufficient time to review the letters of interest resumes and give due consideration to the candidates, a joint meeting of the two boards will be scheduled, at which time the candidates will be discussed and a joint vote or joint ballot will be conducted. A majority of the voting members in attendance at the joint meeting will be determined by a joint vote the associate member of the planning board to serve for the two-year position in accordance with the town of radium.
Speaker 2:Zoning bylaws, article 6, section 614. And again, I just throw that out as a proposal you to take back and consider. We'll put it on our agenda for further discussion around, obviously you don't have that in place right now.
Speaker 2:So I think again talking to the journey general's office in open resolve, that I have some flexibility, so I think I can accept your vote. Mr chairman, is a four to one vote for matandre for our minutes to report from minutes, and that would be with members Brian Ophiel, anthony Nicole aountain and Chris Gallagher voting opposed and Mrs Pamela Marconi voting no, and I will turn it then to our board for a nomination. Basically. Well, I guess we would say that Matt Andrade has already been nominated, so I will ask are there any other nominations at this?
Speaker 6:time, mr Collins.
Speaker 2:So I don't have anybody particularly that I want to nominate, but I do have strong feelings about this that I would like to express. Let's hold that for discussion With no more nominations. I'll close the nominations and open it into discussion, Mr Collins.
Speaker 6:So first things first. I have a strong opinion opinion about this, but I want to be very clear that this is not in the end of life, mr Henry, not Henry. I have a couple of discussions with Matt. I think he's an incredibly smart person. I think he's an asset to the town. Quite frankly, I like him as a person. He's a good person.
Speaker 6:I have a very, very, very hard time with the way that this happened and it just looks like we're going against the vote of the people and I don't necessarily think that's what the planning board is doing. I I think these guys are all down to their best interest in heart. I think they know that Matt's a qualified guy, but it doesn't change the fact that we're we live in the democratic, the town voting, and it was clear as day and I just think it looks really bad. Like it looks really bad when, less than a week later, we turn around and put the person back on that board and give them the ability to vote. I just don't think it's a good flow. Again. This is nothing against Matt. I have the utmost respect for him. I hope he stays involved with town politics and runs again. I think he would get elected again. But there's just a right way and it's going, and it's things like this that stir up the distrust.
Speaker 7:You know, I just can't thank you, manager, just a couple things at the macro level before I dig in. I want to first thing all Florida, my candidates. I had a chance I'm sure everybody did to review and certainly, as Jim Gallagher said, for quality and qualified applicants, and I would also echo the chairman's comments and I hope all four of them stay involved. We, excuse me, struggle to get one or two people to step up for certain vacancies and we have four for this one position we also, and we're going to be dealing with this in a few weeks have four for this one position.
Speaker 7:We also and we're going to be dealing with this in a few weeks have four for two positions on the library board and I see that as a phenomenal thing for the town. So my sincere thanks to all of the panelists.
Speaker 7:I also want to thank the planning board for being willing to come in and participate in this process with us because, similar to Mr Collins earlier on, I had some concerns with the process as it deviated from how we've practiced in the past, recognizing, as I've always said, we have zero control over another elected body, and so I think a lot of credit goes to the planning board for being willing to hear our concerns on that and and stop this process over again, which I felt like alleviated a lot of the concerns that I had shared previously with Mr Collins. I want to talk specifically on a couple other things as well at the micro level. So for me, I think one of the most important things any elected official can do and can be is consistent, and so for me, over over 18 years now, I've always gone with the recommendation of the board where the person is going to say and that predated me, that philosophy was in place long before I got here and, generally speaking, I don't know what kind of us to deviate from, and so, for that reason, I will be joining with the planning board and some more supporting the majority vote over there. That vote does not speak to the qualifications, the integrity, the character or interest level of any of the other candidates. Again, I feel strongly that we're lucky to have four qualified candidates. But I believe it would set a bad precedent for me personally, individually, if I now break with my past practice Again, especially where in two weeks we're going to have four candidates for two seats of the library board of trustees.
Speaker 7:And then what am I supposed to do in that position and what am I supposed to tell everybody who I voted against in the past because we've had those recommendations? But I also want to acknowledge some of the calls and emails I got. I don't know if my colleagues got any. I got about a half dozen or so and one of the common themes was similar to what Mr Collins said, and that is well. He was voted out of office and I would just draw a few distinctions.
Speaker 7:This is a separate and distinct position. This is the associate member, it's not a full voting member. I'm very proud of the three of us that in the two and a half years we've all served together, none of us have missed a meeting. Madam chair, you've never missed a meeting in, I think, seven years. I've never missed a meeting in 18 years. The expectation of everybody should be that our elected officials are at the meetings and performing the functions and if that happens at the planning board, whoever the associate member is will never get to vote, because the people who are elected to do the job are doing the job.
Speaker 7:And I also want to say that you'll have an opportunity to speak, but it's not right now, which is a statement of the current president. Again, you'll have your opportunity. I also want to say that there's countless people at the local, regional, state and federal level who've lost an election and then been able to go back and serve. Our existing president lost an election and came back. Our immediate past president, joe Biden, lost an election and came back to serve. At the state level, governor Baker, who was one of the most popular governors in the nation, lost an election and came back to serve. And locally, john Donahue, marie Smith and Chivo all lost elections and came back to serve. And locally, marie Smith and Chivo all lost elections and came back to serve. And I don't believe simply losing an election disqualifies you from being able to serve, and so those are my positions. I appreciate, madam chair, you indulging me, as I was a little off-winded, but that's where I'm at.
Speaker 2:Thank you, mr Pacheco. It is the difficult one. I know there's been controversy around this, but I think one thing I have to point out, obviously, is that I agree with the consistency and for the seven years I've been here, we've never gone against the recommendation of the board on which the individual is going to serve. But also, I know I've heard the comments he was voted out of office. I look at it and I've got the election results Matt Andre received 304 votes. Pam Lincone 544 votes. I don't look at that. I look at that as people wanted Mrs Lincone to serve on the board, not that they necessarily didn't want Mr Andre to serve on the board.
Speaker 2:It is an gee. Mrs nikoni received more votes but over 300 people wanted matt in that position. So, um, I I don't subscribe to the philosophy that he was just fully out of office. He didn't win the election, but I also went through the planning board minutes for the last few years and never saw anything that Matt did that was not in sync with the other board members and obviously you know he was instrumental in our proposal for the MHEA law, which really hopefully, if that's approved by the Attorney General's office, that's going to save us from having another huge development. So so, yeah, I again, we don't have a policy in place. I would ask seriously that we consider this policy going forward and it doesn't have to be that we have this meeting here and it's for selectmen. We could have a separate meeting, you know, thursday. We meet on Tuesday on a Wednesday night when we come together. It doesn't have to be under the auspices of a board of selectmen.
Speaker 7:Then, chip, I could. In terms of the policy I neglected to bring it up. I would support this as proposed, but I would also toss a wrench in your proposal and ask the board to consider entertaining having town council explore the option of the associate member being elected in the future. So in the city of time, for example, they have associate members that are elected by virtue of their ranking on the ballot and I think this would take away any of the complications at all. Uh, as you had it correctly said, this was something that the planning board, at their discretion, put forward a few years ago, I think very well intentioned, to make sure that business could be conducted, but that there's an opportunity to improve, and I think that could be, and I would submit to the board and the planning board to consider looking at making an elective in the future.
Speaker 2:If history, my memory is definitely correctly, I believe I originally stood up against that article because I didn't like the idea of an elected position being appointed, but and I would definitely consider that any further discussion and I will call for a roll call vote of our board.
Speaker 2:mr pachica, uh, hi for andrea. Yeah, it is the only nomination on the floor, isn't that andrea? Mr Collins Votes no. The chair will vote. Yes, that will give us four to one and two and one, so it is six to two in favor of Matt Andrew being appointed as the associate member. Any further discussion? Hearing none. Thank you very much for coming, unless you have something else you want to bring before us.
Speaker 3:Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you everyone at this attorney.
Speaker 7:Yeah, do you want to?
Speaker 3:join your meeting um, okay, make an, entertain a motion to adjourn, so move second all right, second aye thank you.
Speaker 2:Thank you, good evening. The joint meeting is officially closed. Next item on our agenda is the acceptance of the minutes of the regular session of July 8th 2025. Do we have a motion to accept the minutes as printed? So moved? Any discussion hearing none. All in favor, any opposed, any still voted? Next we have department head reports Paula Lossie-Kemp, our health director we will help you follow up.
Speaker 1:Good evening, and I apologize because I read my little report and it was a little shorter than I thought. I did a typo and duplicated a bullet point, so I apologize for the confusion.
Speaker 1:My report for July is the Board Health and Body Work Regulations of the Faction on July 7th. We're in process of committing four locations. All businesses that qualified under the Body Work Reg have been very understanding and compliant with everything we've asked of them, been very understanding and compliant with everything we've asked of them. The latest report from Massachusetts Department of Public Health has listed Bristol County in a low risk category for both West Nile virus and the triple E. So we're still doing fine where the mosquitoes are concerned. Public health nurse Lindsay Miranda continues to hold her monthly blood pressure clinics at the Senior Center. She regularly monitors MAVEN as well, which is a communication system through Department of Public Health on any communicable and foodborne diseases. Nothing notable to report at this time.
Speaker 1:July began our six-month inspection rounds for food establishments. Mike, our health inspector, has been out getting as many done that he can. Before he leaves, I'll take over his inspectional duties until a replacement is found. So there will be no lapse with our public services and I realize that the board is going to address this later on, but I wanted to take this opportunity to just mention to the public that Michael Soares has been a a great asset to the town of Rainham in the Board of Health Department. He has been professional and just a really hard worker.
Speaker 1:I was very fortunate to I want to say inherit him from from Allen. I was lucky enough to be able to take over from there and he has just grown in so many ways and he will be so missed but HAS JUST GROWN IN SO MANY WAYS. He WILL BE SO MISSED, but I'M SO HAPPY FOR HIS OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE ON PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY. But THE TOWN OF RAINHAM WILL MISS HIM IN THE BOARD OF HEALTH. But HE'S GOT BIG SHOES FOR ME TO FILL FOR HIM, so I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT.
Speaker 2:THANK YOU VERY MUCH, paul, mr Pacheco.
Speaker 7:Thank you. A question and a comment. The question Paula, I know we're in the low risk for West Nile and Tripoli, but just for the public's benefit, bristol Mosquito Control is still doing the free road spraying correct.
Speaker 1:Correct, you just call their number, bristol Mosquito Control, and they will set it up so that they will come and spray your area on the street, yep. So, and again, if you don't want them to spray although it does move, but you can have it so that they stop at your house they don't spray in your yard, so Good, thank you.
Speaker 7:And then the comment just to echo Paula's on Mr SAW'S. I KNOW WHEN WE HIRED HIM HE WAS A LITTLE GREEN BUT I LIKE TO THINK IN RAINHAM WE'VE TAKEN CHANCES ON FOLKS WHO WE SAW A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY IN, and SO I SHARE PAUL'S CONGRATULATIONS TO HIM. He's HEADING TO A DIFFERENT COMMUNITY TO BE A I THINK IT JUST REALLY VALIDATES THE DECISION THAT WE MADE, and ALSO A CREDIT TO HIM FOR THE GOOD WORK HE WAS ABLE TO PUT IN TO ADVANCE HIS CAREER IN THE FIELD OF HIS CHOOSING.
Speaker 2:ABSOLUTELY, MR COLLINS. I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS. Thank YOU, PAUL.
Speaker 6:FOR EARNING THE REGULATIONS, the MIC IS UP.
Speaker 2:THANK YOU with water, dip water and to be cautious, limiting your drinking water, and I believe North Rainey and Water District also sent out some kind of advisory. Did the board of health get notified so?
Speaker 1:I do get not notified and we have that set up so that if we do any, get any phone calls regarding the water issue, we can explain it to people. But also the water water department does have it publicly on their website and they're more than happy to answer any questions. I didn't bring it to the board because I felt as though it was the water department's topic, but, yes, they explained it to me that they're telling people if they are of concern to boil their water. But on the flip side, they said that although it's at a high level for this particular it's MDPH or something level different from PFAS that there isn't a real high level of danger for the community and they're working on that Right excellent, okay, very good.
Speaker 2:Thank you, powell. Okay, nextely. Okay, very GOOD. Thank YOU, powell. Okay, NEXT ON OUR AGENDA. We HAVE DEPARTMENT HEAD, our FIRE CHIEF BRIAN LASIEVETTER. Welcome CHIEF. Good EVENING, good EVENING.
Speaker 9:I WILL GIVE YOU THE REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE WE agencies and 164 inspectional service calls. Last year we were at 291 runs. This year we're at 334, so that's 43 more than last year. I can tell you we're pretty busy and I just wanted to take an opportunity. It's the end of the fiscal year was the end of the fiscal year and Sally Gordon she's an unsung hero of that fire department and June can be a extremely crazy month because of the the the end of it. That's the last month of the fiscal year and between expenses and I THINK THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION I THINK THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I THINK THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I THINK THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I THINK THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I THINK THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I THINK THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I THINK THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I THINK THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I THINK THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I THINK THAT'S A GRE. She's fantastic all the time, but she really steps up in the month of June every year that she's been here.
Speaker 2:Terrific. Thank you, mr Pacheco.
Speaker 9:Nothing. Thank you, Chief no questions.
Speaker 2:Thanks, chief, yeah, and thank you, to you and all the members of the department for everything you do.
Speaker 5:Thank you, keeping us safe. We appreciate it, thank you.
Speaker 2:Okay, next we have a constable reappointment of Louis Barasa, reappointment as a constable, and I believe this has been approved by our police chief. It should be to whom it comes to us Motion to approve.
Speaker 2:Second Motion has been made and seconded Any discussion Hearing. None all in favor, any opposed, so voted. Next we have a hearing on application of alteration of premises. Beacon Wine and Spirits, tapan Patel manager, at 748 New State Highway, reno, massachusetts, 02767. I will call the open the public meeting at 728 pm and ask the petitioner to or someone someone for the petitioner. Please give us your name and address for the minutes.
Speaker 5:Good evening Madam Chair, members of the board. My name is Tom Miller from the Garmick, quilty, miller, hanley in Boston, on behalf of the licensee, Beacon Wine Spirits. I'm joined tonight by Tappan Patel, one of its owners. As stated, this is an application to alter the license premise from what was previously approved. As STATED, this IS AN APPLICATION TO ALTER THE LICENSE PREMISE FROM WHAT WAS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED TO INCLUDE WHAT WAS A PROPOSED OFFICE SPACE FOR THE EXISTING GEICO INSURANCE OFFICES AT THAT LOCATION. Just IN THE MATERIALS I PROVIDED TO YOU, YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND. Just in the materials I provided to you, you can see that there was a little bit of background on what the board approved last year for this location in this package store it is.
Speaker 5:Beacon is a destination gourmet provision store. Here the focus is on high quality food, meats, cheeses and items of the like, along with food, spirits, along with spirits, spirits, wine and beer in a clean and inviting environment. The alteration here will is created out of the opportunity from Geico choosing to move to a different office location and relocate. It does a lot of happen in his team to utilize the full structure as opposed to just a portion of it to create this larger facility in general, which will allow for a greater selection of food and beverages and a dedicated tasting area, which will allow them to better educate and provide amenities and services for their customers in the Rainham community in general, provide AMENITIES AND SERVICES FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS IN THE RAYNHAM COMMUNITY IN GENERAL. As YOU CAN SEE, there ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF THE FINISHES. These ARE FROM SIMILAR STORES WITH A SIMILAR AESTHETIC AND A SIMILAR PRODUCT LINE. It IS A. It WILL BE BUILT OUT IN A MANNER THAT FITS WITH THE MODEL AND WITH THE PREMISE. It'll be built in a manner that fits with the model and with the, with the, with the premise, high-end finishes and materials, which is a creates a good home and environment for their high quality food, wine and spirits.
Speaker 5:As I said, this is going to incorporate the small section of the premise that was going to be the shrunk Geico office space. While it is a larger space, is still moderately sized compared to others in the area. It's not creating a massive liquor store. This isn't going to be total wine or one of the other section, this section of Walmart or other ones like that. This is still a combined store in a moderate size.
Speaker 5:It better utilizes the building for a single use as opposed to multiple uses creates a more cohesive street feel, and it's appropriately located in this commercial area in a high-traffic environment. This will allow them to provide an increased selection of food, wine and spirits and beer for their customers. It presents the products better and highlights the unique offerings in a better environment. It creates a better flow for customers coming through the area to better see what there is, what the offerings are, and make better selections. It also allows for the addition of a dedicated tasting area that allows for more tasting, pairing events, something that they do to provide their customers with a way to learn about new items and new ways to use those items and a better experience, which is what I keep going back to. This will create a better experience for their customers in a larger, more appropriate space. The operation will be what the board approved.
Speaker 5:It's not just another liquor convenience store. It is a combined provisions market providing high quality, focusing on high quality, providing HIGH QUALITY, focusing ON HIGH QUALITY, gourmet FOODS AND SPIRITS, and ALSO PROVIDING EDUCATION TO THEIR CUSTOMERS. They ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE COMMITTED TO SAFE OPERATIONS AND SECURITY AND WE'RE NOT, you KNOW, no NIPS. That HASN'T CHANGED OVERALL. I CAN KEEP GOING, but YOU GUYS HAVE PLENTY. Overall. I can keep going, but you guys have plenty on your agenda, so I will stop there and I'll be happy to answer any questions you have thank you, I'll go first to the board for questions thank you, uh, no, no questions.
Speaker 7:I just want to note my appreciation. Uh, as you indicated, council, you included all the stipulations we had approved and you kept to your word about investing in town and putting together what appears to be something that will be a very nice product. So I just want to say thank you, because it's not infrequent that folks try to smoke the fats when bias I don't think that would work with this, mr Barnes.
Speaker 2:I assume that department has reviewed this and there are no issues. Yes, I'll open up to the public because it is a public hearing. Does anyone wish to speak? Hearing none, I will go back to the board for any further comments or evokes motion to approve as presented.
Speaker 7:Second that motion.
Speaker 2:Any further discussion? Hearing that all in favor, any Aye, any opposed, it is so voted. Thank you and welcome and good luck to you. Good luck, okay. Next on our agenda we have, under completion of order, continuing business, just notification when everyone, to be sure they know that our next meeting, which is Tuesday, august 5th 2025, there will be a special town meeting. This will be held at the Rainham Middle School, starting at 7 o'clock pm. The ADDITIONAL SUM OF $158,341 REQUIRED TO FULLY FUND THE ASSESSED SHARE OF THE BRIDGEWATER-RAINHAM REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT OPERATING BUDGET FOR 2026 AND THEREBY APPROVE THE DISTRICT'S OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE YEAR OR TAKE ANY ACTION RELATIVE THERE TOO. Mr BARNES, could YOU JUST BRI, not THE OLD, has NOTHING TO DO WITH THE OVERRIDE. That THE VOTE IS REJECTED. This IS NOT GOING TO INCREASE TAXES. It IS WITHIN OUR OPERATING BUDGET.
Speaker 8:YES. After, the VOTERS DISAPPROVED THE OVERRIDE, the SCHOOLS WENT BACK AND RECERTIFIED THEIR BUDGET. They ARE ASKING FOR a hundred and fifty eight thousand three hundred and forty one dollars more than what we budgeted for their operating budget. We do have available monies in the form of tax levy to to pay for that, so this vote would be to bring us to their new certified number. It should be stated that well, we did vote two hundred and fifty eight thousand nine hundred and forty nine for capital. They are still seeking an additional four hundred and fifty seven, four one, three four hundred and fifty seven thousand four hundred and thirteen dollars.
Speaker 8:That will be addressed in the fall as part of the capital plan for the fall so this is only to address the operating component of the budget again to bring the town in line with their new certified number, which will combine with what Bridgewater does, avoid the need for a district-wide meeting, and I we realize this isn't what the schools wanted, but it is. We have funded a significantly greater amount this year than well over a million dollars for the schools.
Speaker 2:Very good, thank you. Any questions, mr Pacheco? No, mr Collins, I did have the opportunity to talk to our town moderator, mr Donoghue. He could not be here this evening. He just wanted to emphasize that people don't really expect a large turnout, but we never know. So he would request people probably get there by 630 to check in. Which is just the one article. It should be a fairly quick and focused town meeting. We do have a selectman's meeting, so we, with the board's approval, we will be meeting at 6 o'clock instead of our normal 7 o'clock time and we will meet right there in the auditorium. I think that's the easiest way to do it Prior to the town meeting. We'll start at 6. If, by chance, our meeting is not over by 645, we will just recess the meeting and make way for the town meeting. Any further questions? All right, we're good. Next agenda item is next, or do you have?
Speaker 2:any further business. No Other new business. We go to discussion and vote on Rainham Recognition Award. I brought this up at our last meeting and we have before us. We HAVE BEFORE US NOMINATIONS. As YOU KNOW, our RAINHAM RECOGNITION AWARD CAN BE ANYONE WITHIN OUR TOWN CAN PROPOSE BUT THIS IS ACTUALLY COMING FROM OUR BOARD TO NOMINATE MS HELEN LOUNSBERRY AND MR LOUIS BUSQUET TO BE RECOGNIZED POSTUMOUSLY WITH THE RAINHAM RECOGNITION AWARD, ms LOUNSBERRY, began WOR Lounsberry and Mr Louis Bousquet to be recognized posthumously with the Rainham Recognition Award.
Speaker 2:Mrs Lounsberry began work in the Rainham Town Clerk's office in May of 1966. She became town clerk in 1974 and held that position for 37 years until her retirement in 2011. In addition to that office, she served as clerk of the Board of Registrars, as of the Peace corresponding secretary for the Taunton Quarter Club and as a member of the Morton Hospital Auxiliary. When the Board of Selectmen dedicated the 1995 annual town report to her and her husband Al Lounsbury, who served in the premium planning board for 25 years, it was noted that almost everyone in town had met town clerk Helen Lounsberry at one time or another, whether registering to vote, answering the census or licensing one's dog. Meeting mrs lounsbury in the town clerk's office was just the way to go. Moreover, the town clerk's office, under helen's direction, had compiled the annual town report for 22 years at the time of the dedication of the annual town report in 1995, establishing the tradition that continues today. The overwhelming number of those attending the memorial services held for Mrs Lounsbury at her passing in June served as testament to the impact she had on so many.
Speaker 2:And also Mr Louis Bousquet served over the course of 20 years as a member of five different commissions or committees for the town of Rainham. He served as an appointed member of the Rainham Historical Commission for 20 years. From 2002, he SERVED AS A COMMISSIONER FOR FIVE DIFFERENT COMMISSIONS OR COMMITTEES FOR THE TOWN OF RAINHAM. He SERVED AS AN APPOINTED MEMBER OF THE RAINHAM HISTORICAL COMMISSION FOR 20 YEARS, from 2002 UNTIL 2022. He SERVED AS AN APPOINTED MEMBER OF THE BORDEN, the Route 138 Study Committee and the Town's Open Space Committee, as well as an elected member of the Cemetery Commission from 2004 to 2009. He also served as health inspector in the Health Department. Prior to his community service, mr Busque served in the United States Air Force. The overwhelming number of those who attended the memorial services held after his passing in June also served as a testament to the legacy he leaves behind of service to country and to community. The MEMORIAL SERVICES HELD AFTER HIS PASSING IN JUNE ALSO SERVED AS A TESTAMENT TO THE LEGACY HE LEAVES BEHIND OF SERVICE TO COUNTRY AND TO COMMUNITY. Do WE HAVE?
Speaker 7:A MOTION. Yeah, madam CHAIR, I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BOTH OF THESE AND FOLLOW THE NORMAL CLUSTS THEREAFTER. Thank YOU.
Speaker 2:ANY FURTH, any opposed so voted. We will notify the families of Mrs Lounsbury and Mr Bousquet and invite them to come to a future meeting for the presentation Next on our agenda, which some of you have lost in my you want my information. I only have like three copies of it, you're welcome. You're welcome. Next we have TMLP and Verizon New England request for one new joint poll location, el25.5 on South Street East.
Speaker 7:Madam Chair set the hearing date for August 5.
Speaker 2:And that comes as a motion. Do we have a second? Second Any further discussion Hearing? None all in favor. Aye, any opposed so voted. Next we have a tag day request for Operation Dance for September 14th, september 28th, october 5th and October 19th 2025. So moved. Second Motion made and seconded Any further discussion Hearing. None all in favor. Aye, any opposed so voted. Next we have discussion and vote on filling the health inspector position and I'll turn that to you. Mr Barnes, anything you want to explain relative to that?
Speaker 8:well. As has been referenced, our health inspector, who we will all miss, has resigned to take on the department head position for the Board of health in another community. I enjoyed working with him. The board needs to make a decision as to whether or not to fill the position. It is a very important position for the town. It is a very important position for the town. As you know, we have numerous restaurants and food establishments in town all sorts of alcohol, other types of institutions that require regular inspections, and his role played a very, very key link in ensuring those inspections.
Speaker 2:Thank, you, Mr Barnes. When it comes to the end of the year and we're signing all of the renewals, it is amazing for a community of our size how many restaurants and food establishments and liquor establishments we have in town. So it is a huge responsibility.
Speaker 7:I agree and I think again, these aren't luxury type of positions. These are what I would call required positions, and so I have a motion to approve filling the vacancy.
Speaker 9:I agree and I'll second that motion.
Speaker 2:We have a motion and second Any discussion Hearing. None all in favor, aye Any opposed. It is so voted. Next we have discussion on closing of traffic on South Street, east Old Colony Bridge.
Speaker 8:Mr Barnes, tell us about this yes, unfortunately, as many of you know, we have long-term plans to, with time, to replace the South Street East old colony bridge, which obviously goes from rain home to taught in their time to rain them over the Taunton River that the state, based on a recent inspection review, has rendered the bridge to be in poor condition regarding some of the beams and is recommending that we close the bridge to vehicle traffic. We have had this memo came to us on Friday and since that time we've had three meetings with Taunton. What we wish to do is to do a temporary repair until the permanent repair. It will be many years before the permanent repair can occur and we may have monetary issues that may even extend that into the future. The estimated cost of the temporary repair is $465,000. I think it's $465,000. $465,000. In any case, we would be as we are with the permanent bridge. The expectation would be the town would cover half the cost.
Speaker 8:It will take about 60 days for the repair to occur and I am afraid that we will have to have the bridge down during that period. So this is to inform the board a we we need to close the bridge down and to to ask for the board for approval to Enter into an agreement with Taunton for its repair. The vendor will be HMM Lopes, who is already Contracted with the town. So this has already been City. I should say this has already been procured, based on how they have already procured their services. So I'm asking the board for that authority to move forward on that proposal with Taunton and also informing the board that unfortunately we will have to shut the bridge down during that repair yeah, no, I mean I support moving forward with the temporary fix while the permitting and bidding for the permanent replacement takes place.
Speaker 7:I just want to highlight a couple things, because Greg's report was more focused on the immediate, but this has been something we've been working on for a few years now and prior inspections did not show it at a place where it was close to failing. This really did epitomize the saying out of left field. So I think it's important for folks to understand that this was not in line with past inspections and I'm not criticizing past inspections and I'm grateful that they caught it now, because the other option would have potentially been a travesty, but I want to make sure people are aware of that and.
Speaker 7:I did talk to the highway superintendent because I'm mindful of Sandy Hill, which is a dead end in tight streets, and so I've asked him to make sure he wanted science state and it's not up through Street for folks who get down there realize they can't make it into East Todd and try to bypass it through Sandy Hill, because those residents don't deserve more of an impact than they're already going to experience. But with that I'd motion to approve.
Speaker 2:Okay, do you have a second? I second Any discussion.
Speaker 6:No.
Speaker 2:I would just add also, too, that if we can ask our highway superintendent to put notices up in advance so that people can plan to take alternate routes because that is going to affect a lot of people.
Speaker 8:We are working with Taunton again three meetings in three days. We're working with Taunton and that includes discussions on detours and signage and you know we will be, for example, in town utilizing our message board that the police department has, will also be putting signs throughout where where our detours are likely to be.
Speaker 2:Church Street is a likely possibility, route 24 is another likely possibility, because this also affects our schools, because school buses both for Bristol-Plymouth and for Bridgewater-Ray Norm informed all the school districts and I myself gave a note to Ryan again.
Speaker 8:The hope is with this temporary repair we will actually be able to continue to take the buses. But again there you need to get on the bridge to do the repair and the most expeditious practical way to do that is to shut the bridge down this is safety, it's true, so we don't really have a choice.
Speaker 2:Yeah, all right. Um, all in favor, any opposed? So voted. Next on our agenda we have discussion. Vote of approval of fiscal year 2026 renewal with openGov for permit licensing services. Mr Barnes.
Speaker 8:We have a contract with OpenGov for our permit licensing services. Every year we have to renew that. This will renew that. We are currently reviewing our long-term options for permitting licensing, but we still need to approve this contract, so moved.
Speaker 2:Motion made and seconded. All in favor, aye Opposed, so voted. Next we have discussion and vote on approval of fiscal year 2026, renewal with VADAR for financial management software. Mr Barnes, this is your recommendation.
Speaker 8:Yes, our major financial software in town really the glue to all our billing and accounting is VADAR, and this is just the yearly renewal for that.
Speaker 2:Thank you. Motion to approve. Motion is made and seconded Any discussion Hearing none. All in favor, Any opposed, so voted.
Speaker 8:Discussion and vote on change order with Greenman Peterson Incorporated for Wetland Delineation Services for Board and Colony Land Disposition Mr Barnes as you know, we have been having to do additional services regarding to regarding wetlands, involving board and colony, and this is a change order to allow for further analysis in that regard okay.
Speaker 2:Do we have a vote. Motion second any further. To approve Motion second Any further discussion Hearing. None all in favor, Any opposed? It is voted.
Speaker 2:Next we have a resignation letter received from Rainham Cable Advisory Committee member Jerry Gibbs. Mr Gibbs writes I wanted to alert you that Suzanne and I have moved from Rainham following my retirement and I can no longer serve on the Rainham Cable Advisory Committee. Thanks, it has been a pleasure working on the committee and negotiating the Comcast and Verizon contracts over the past couple of decades. So we look for a motion to accept the resignation with regret and to forward notification to the cable, the rainium cable advisory committee. A further discussion hearing then. All in favor, any opposed? So voted. And we also have another letter of resignation that I should have brought up when we were talking about our health inspectors position. It was addressed to m Pazza, Paula Rossi, CLAP and the Board of Selectmen from Mr Michael Soares. Please accept this letter as formal notice of my resignation from my position as health inspector with the town of Rainham Board of Health Department, effective August 1 2025.
Speaker 2:This was not an easy decision, as it has been an incredible honor to serve the town of Rainham. I am sincerely grateful for the opportunity to represent the Board of Health in the field, working with restaurant owners, local businesses, septic installers and the public, especially during the critical post-COVID period. I am proud of the certifications I have earned, the inspections I have conducted and the professional growth I have experienced here. I will truly miss the collaboration with staff across Town Hall, including the Sewer Department, Building Department, Veterans Office, members of the Police and Fire Departments. Rainham is the unique spirit of teamwork that made every day rewarding. Being able to adopt my cat, thanks to our Animal Control Team, is just one of my many moments that made this more than just a job To the Board of Health. Specifically, I will miss our close-knit working environment.
Speaker 2:The late great Alan Perry brought me on and believed in me. Paula has supported me from day one and helped me lay a foundation for long-term success, showing me how to build connections across departments. Kim is the heart of the department, resourceful, reliable and someone I am grateful to have worked closely with. Our communication and teamwork made this feel like family. I will also miss the daily check-ins with from town hall staff, especially Scott, Kelly, Greg, Erin, Bob and Dorothy. I want to name everyone, but please know that every interaction I had here was meaningful and appreciated. Looking ahead, I've accepted a position as the house agent for the town of East Bridgewater and plan to grow a private inspection company focused on food safety consultation, home inspections and sanitation services. Thank you all for everything. I will always value the relationships and experiences I gained here. Sincerely, Michael Swartz. What a nice letter. Yes, absolutely.
Speaker 7:Motion to accept it for a grant.
Speaker 2:Motion is made and second it all in favor. Any opposed? So voted. And if I can also revert to designation, resignation letter from the Cable Advisory Committee. Jerry Gibson asked for a motion to advertise the opening on our website for a period of no less than two weeks. For any people interested, letters send letters of interest and resumes to us in our normal procedure. We will then forward them to the Cable Advisory Committee Motion.
Speaker 7:So moved Second.
Speaker 2:All in favor? Aye, any, thank you.
Speaker 8:and then that brings us to our town administrators report, mr Barnes well, first of all, we recently had our second online auction since I've been here. I'm happy to report that the town netted 51 558 dollars. Some of that goes to the general fund. Um, another amount goes to the sewer fund. Uh, what was sold is uh highway equipment, cemetery equipment and uh sewer generators. So cemetery equipment and sewer generators.
Speaker 8:So we had an auction last year where we netted 129,000 233 so it's one-time monies but every little bit counts and you know there are benefits beyond just the money we take in. We're taking equipment that's no longer being utilized and taking it off our insurance rolls and and putting it to someone else. You know, one man's junk is another one's treasure, or one person's so also. You may recall that a few years back we received a community planning grant for 138. That study is now in the advanced stages. There was was presentation given at the last planning board. There will meeting. There will. They're working on a site that can be assessed by the public. The grant component of that has now been with the state, has now been completed. So, if all well, we will be taking the results of the study and actualizing it in the form of some proposed zoning bylaw changes at the fall town meeting.
Speaker 2:Thank you, mr Barnes. Any questions or comments? No questions. We move to Selectman's report, mr Pacheco.
Speaker 7:Thank you, Madam Chair. Just one quick item. As I always do, I've been following the state budget and recently the governor put in a request to the legislature to expand her 9C authority, which is essentially the unilateral ability to cut spending if revenue does not keep pace with expenditures.
Speaker 7:They haven't acted on that yet. The last time I can recall this happening was under Deval Patrick and then, prior to that, mitt Romney. So it's been quite some time since the state has taken this, but it's never a sign of healthy finances. So I just as I think we all want to continue to monitor this because it could impact locally. It could impact chapter 70, chapter 90 or a host of other programs that the state funds TACT, chapter 70, chapter 90, or A HOST OF OTHER PROGRAMS THAT THE STATE FUNDS, that THE TOWN PROPER OR ITS RESIDENTS RECEIVE AND BENEFIT FROM.
Speaker 2:THANK YOU, mr PACHECO, mr QUALM, I JUST HAVE A COUPLE QUICK THINGS FOLLOW-UP TO OUR LAST MEETING. I DID DRAFT A LETTER, as DIRECTED BY THE BOARD, to THE RAIN did draft a letter, as directed by the board, to the Rainham Bridgewater regional school committee, supporting the Bridgewater Town Council's request that the school committee go forward with a an independent review, operational and financial review of the school district and that we formally join the Bridgewater Town Council in making that request, emphasizing obviously that it's not an audit, it is a an independent operation and financial review and that we're fully committed to working alongside Bridgewater. I give you a copy of that for your records. We did receive a spot response from a chairperson, rachel King, who indicated that she has put it on the agenda for the school committee's meeting next week. So to take AND WE'LL HAVE A RESPONSE FROM CHAIRPERSON RACHEL KING, who INDICATED THAT SHE HAS PUT IT ON THE AGENDA FOR THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S MEETING NEXT WEEK. So TAKE THAT UP.
Speaker 2:On THE OTHER THING, we HAD OUR FIRST MEETING OF OUR PLANNING MEETING FOR OUR RAINY COMMUNITY DAY CELEBRATION 2025. As YOU KNOW, the D's set Sunday, september 28th, 12 to 4 pm, gazebo Park and at the Senior Center and the area in between. It's shaping up to be another great event, public, family-friendly event. I think we pretty much all of the paid professional entertainment that we had last year we've already contracted with. The pony rides will be there, the petting zoo, the band concert with our Bridgewater Antifinal Brass Society band will actually kick things off at 1130 before things officially open at 12. And they'll give a 90-minute performance and they are awesome. So everything is looking good. Our next meeting will be in two weeks, on Monday, august 4th, and anyone who's interested in helping coordinate the event plan the event, who wants to be part of the event or would like to volunteer, is welcome to attend.
Speaker 2:I did get one suggestion that I just want to throw out there. We had obviously representatives last night from Iranian police, iranian fire. Kevin Marrera, our search leader, was also there, in addition to some other individuals. Kevin came up with the idea that he thought, as a fundraiser for Community Day, we might want to consider having a dump tank with some. He said we could put it next to the fire department so that they could fill the tank up when needed and that we could. If we could draft some volunteers who wanted to participate, we could promote it in advance and maybe charge a dollar for three tries to dunk somebody. So if anybody wants to volunteer, I'll let me know. I'll just throw that out for consideration. That's all I have everyone's looking at me all right, anyway, that's our selectmen's report.
Speaker 2:Under correspondence, we received a citizens request for enhanced coordination. Laurie Flynn wrote this very long and very thoughtful letter to us asking for better actually coordination and perhaps some joint meetings and so forth. As you said, it was a very well thought out letter. We want to thank her for her input and I would look for a motion actually to table that take it under consideration. So moved Second All in favor, aye, any opposed. So voted, and with that we come to press time. We don't see anyone here from the press Emergency business. Mr Pacheco None. Mr Collins no, I have none. Citizen and community input. Anyone wish to address us? Just please name and address for the minutes.
Speaker 4:Okay, my name is Paul Bollier, 722 King Street, ranham Mass. So the thing I wanted to speak about was, you know, dealt with at the top of the meeting the complete impropriety of the way that that was handled from May to and including tonight off in. In my opinion, and I think what you'll find is echoed through many of the town people's opinion, while you may say that the election was not a person getting voted off, it was another person getting voted on, it is both so, when elections have consequences and they're supposed to, and while to mr Pacheco's point, yes, many people have been voted off and then voted back on, that's not what happened here. Somebody was voted off by the public and then appointed on by the people who he was voted off to separate them from. Now, this isn't as echoed by Mr Collins's statement. This does not reflect on Matt. I think Matt's awesome In the election. I personally voted for Matt so clearly for that. However, because he lost is why I put my resume in for this particular position. I will be formally pulling papers in January to run against the vice chair, who is up for up in 2026, and you know I had planned on doing that anyways wasn't really planning on coming in 2025.
Speaker 4:But when this happened, it just was such a an ethical problem for me that I felt you know what. I have to do it now and now. I heard the board talk about how they reviewed all the applicants and, while they were good applicants and they didn't speak to any of them, they didn't invite us in. They had that vote on Thursday night. They announced it Tuesday. I didn't know about it until I got a call from my mother, who got calls from her friends saying you know, they just were talking about your son last night and I'm like really I would have gone to that meeting if I knew that they were going to be holding a vote at that meeting, right? I mean, I know personally, I've been presenting before planning boards since Matt was in high school, so I can't imagine that it's experience which is the code word that was banded around. Now I haven't served on the Rainham Planning Board before as a person who's moved to Rainham.
Speaker 4:I moved to Rainham 11 years ago and once I got acclimated to the town, I volunteered to serve on the zoning board, and you know I like Rainham, volunteered to serve on the zoning board, and you know I like rain him, but I don't know how you guys who have been here your whole lives, here the general public, talk this we have a integrity problem, in reputation. I don't think that's real. I don't think there are people who have bad integrity in our town, but I think we do a lot of things that make us look bad and make it look like we struggle with that and I mean we need to do better, even if it's not just, you know, in technical merit, also in appearances. You know again, I in appearances, you know again, I think that's gonna do a great job and we thank you.
Speaker 2:We hear you, mr Beaulieu. We thank you for your input. We've suggested a couple of options of how to address this. I think the policy that I proposed tonight would streamline the process going forward, and mr Pacheco mentioned even the possibility of both considering it being an elected position both recommendations were excellent.
Speaker 4:I think I applaud both of them. They were very good and well thought-out. I just know that even the law that we approved in town meeting called for this to be a vote at a combined meeting, when, when the majority of the members come with their vote in their pocket, is it really a vote? Um, and I would also. I would also challenge one of the perspectives that you might have is if you're gonna vote, if you're gonna always do something because you've always done something, then then that's not really no, but because if you're always going to support the member that the board brings up to you just because that's what you've always done, then you guys aren't doing your part of the equation either well, I think, as you mentioned, it's not nothing to do with mr andre.
Speaker 4:I thousand times like we were voting. I absolutely think mr Andrade was isa fantastic choice, had he not just been heading, not like like the votes weren't even certain ratified yet and he got appointed back into the position he got voted out of. Had that not happened, we wouldn't even have in this conversation, because I think that's a great candidate we hear you.
Speaker 2:We appreciate your comments. Anyone else wish to comment? Okay, then let's see on our agenda next. That takes us to performance of administrative duties. Just want to report that I have reviewed and signed the premium invoice and insurance, both for last week and for. I WANT TO REPORT THAT I HAVE REVIEWED AND SIGNED THE RENUME INVOICE AND PROOF CORE FOR LAST WEEK AND FOR THOSE WITH TODAY'S DATE OF JULY 22, 2025. With THAT, actually, we ARE GOING TO LOOK FOR A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION IN ACCORDANCE WITH MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL LAWS, chapter 38, sec, 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, specifically non-union positions. I'll ask for that vote at 8.07 pm, with the understanding that we will return to open session only for the purpose of adjourning, with no additional business to be committed.
Speaker 7:So moved.
Speaker 2:And roll call vote. Mr Bichette Aye. Mr Collins Aye. Chair votes aye, it is so voted. We are going into executive session. Thank you all for joining us this evening.