The Raynham Channel

Raynham Select Board 01/06/2026

• Raynham

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(Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy)

A packed night at Veterans Memorial Town Hall shows how small-town decisions carry real weight. We start with the numbers: Raynham’s police handled 2,661 calls in December and more than 28,000 calls across the year, a 13% jump from 2024. Compliance checks brought zero violations, the Santa ride and toy drive highlighted community spirit, and the board thanked officers who show up during the hardest shifts of the year. From there, we focus on process and accountability: reappointing constables, pausing public hearings due to a notice timing mismatch, and insisting that new managers appear in person before any vote is taken.

Staffing and policy take center stage as we approve hiring a part-time dispatcher to keep 911 coverage strong and adopt a clear vacancy policy for appointed boards and committees. We unpack a draft that defines how an associate planning board member will be chosen, laying out a joint review and vote with the planning board. Infrastructure gets a sober update: a change order for the Pine Street culvert over Bassett Brook, reflecting expanded engineering needs on a complex project. We also renew an amusement device license, contingent on building and fire inspections, reinforcing basic safeguards.

Then we widen the lens. The administrator outlines budget and grant season, while the board looks ahead to a policy that exempts nonprofits from licensing fees, honoring longstanding practice. Raynham Park’s temporary closure raises stakes for local jobs and revenue, and we propose a letter to the state gaming commission and legislative delegation about a still-unrealized sports betting license that was supported by law four years ago. Community pride shines through with big thanks to the Crimson and Maple Street holiday lights effort and the Lions Club’s volunteer repairs—plus shoutouts to supporters who made the work possible.

Resident voices drive the final stretch. A letter about Route 138’s rough condition and failing tennis courts prompts action with state leaders and parks and recreation. Retiree health insurance concerns are addressed head-on: premiums drove a shift back to Blue Cross through the regional health group, cards are delayed, and we share a direct contact to access temporary coverage codes. It’s a candid look at how we course-correct, communicate, and keep services moving. Subscribe, share with a neighbor, and leave a review to help more residents stay informed about the choices that shape daily life in Raynham.

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SPEAKER_01:

Good evening. I'm going to call the meeting to order of the Rainham Select Board at 7 o'clock p.m. here at 558 South Main Street in Veterans Memorial Town Hall. Call the meeting to order and welcome everybody. This meeting is open to the public. It is also being broadcast live on the Rainham Channel through Comcast Channel 98 and Verizon Channel 34. It is also being recorded by Ray Cam for replay on the Rainham Channel. Please join us for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pleaded the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America. Thank you. Our next agenda item is the acceptance of the minutes of our last meeting on December 23rd, 2025. Do we have a motion to accept the minutes as printed? So moved.

SPEAKER_05:

Second.

SPEAKER_01:

Motion is made and seconded. Any discussion? Hearing then all in favor? Aye. Any opposed? So voted. Next we have our department head reports, and this evening we have our police chief, David LePlant. Welcome, Chief.

SPEAKER_02:

Good evening.

SPEAKER_01:

Good evening.

SPEAKER_02:

So for the month of December, we had a total of uh 2,661 calls. 514 of those were 911 calls. And of those, 126 were emergency medical dispatch calls. We had 18 arrests and uh several criminal summonses. Um the total calls for service for 2025 were 28,097, up from 24,813 in 2024. Uh that's just over a 13% increase just in one year. Um there were no significant incidents last month. Our detective unit conducted alcohol compliance checks at all our liquor establishments throughout Rainham, and we had no violations. Um for community service. On December 6th and 7th, members of the Rainham Fire and Police Departments completed the annual Santa ride throughout the entire town. I want to thank everyone who volunteered their time for this event. And on December 13th, uh members of the Rainham Fire and Police uh spent four hours at Walmart on Broadway collecting toys for their annual toy drive. Uh, once again, I'd like to thank all those who volunteered their time for this uh charity event. Uh we have one person out on IOD still.

SPEAKER_01:

Thank you, Chief. Great report and uh excellent community service there. Um questions, comments, Mr. Pacify?

SPEAKER_04:

No, no questions, but thank you for doing the compliance checks and uh glad to see that uh we had no violation. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01:

Mr. Collins.

SPEAKER_05:

Thank you to the men and members of the department for their uh volunteering. And I think I mentioned it before last minute chief, but if I didn't, just thank you to them again for you know everything they do this time of year, especially the holidays are tough on all of us, but especially law enforcement having to go to work and work those crazy shifts as well as thank you to everybody.

SPEAKER_01:

Thank you, thank you again, and thank you, Chief, to you and the members of the department for everything you do.

SPEAKER_02:

Thank you.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay, next we have appointments. We have an appointment of a constable, reappointment actually, of Matthew T. Pollocks. And I believe we have the uh recommendation to approve from our police chief.

SPEAKER_04:

So moved and seconded.

SPEAKER_01:

Motion is made and seconded. Any discussion? Hearing on all in favor, any opposed, it is so voted. We also have a constable reappointment of Matthew Pollux Jr. And again, we have the recommendation to approve from our police chief. So moved and seconded. Motion is made and seconded. Any discussion? Hearing on all in favor, any opposed? So voted. Next we have public hearings, and first we have the Board of Selecting will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, January 6th at 7.05 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Town Hall on the apply application of Shaw's supermarkets, doing business as Shaw's for a change of officer, directors, and change of manager at 300 New State Highway. I'll call the public hearing to order at 704.

SPEAKER_04:

If I could, yes, I just noted on the notice it says 705, and that might explain why nobody is here. So it's not on our agenda, but for some reason it's on this. Okay. So I would advise that we hold, go back, you know, skip to another item and um we can do that.

SPEAKER_01:

It's 704, but yes, we want to hold on that. So um we can just hold and go to our second public hearing, which is a for a change of manager. Um, and this is Board of Selectmen will hold a public hearing at Veterans Memorial Town Hall on the application of facility management corporation, Rainham Iceplex for a change of manager at 1568 Broadway in Rainham. And I will call the meet public hearing to order at 7.05 p.m. Is there anyone here for the petitioner? Don't see anyone, so I'll go to our board, Mr. Pachico.

SPEAKER_04:

No, madam chair, I wouldn't be prepared to act on this without somebody here representing them. We always like to get eyes on the new manager, so if nobody is here, um I'm not opposed to um suspending the hearing and we can revisit it at the end, and if they haven't, we can um postpone indefinitely as opposed to closing it now because then we can't reopen it.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay, all right. So we're going to kind of put that in abundance at this time, right? Yes, as well. Okay, and so then we will leave that for the time being and go on to completion of older continuing business. Do you have anything for us, Mr. Pacifica?

SPEAKER_04:

I do not, ma'am, chair.

SPEAKER_01:

Uh Mr. Collins?

SPEAKER_04:

Old business.

SPEAKER_01:

Um, Mr. Barnes, do you have any old business for us?

SPEAKER_03:

Uh we do not.

SPEAKER_01:

All right, then we go to new business and discussion and vote on filling a part-time communication clerk. This is a dispatcher position, and I believe we have something here from our police chief. Do you want to comment on that, Chief?

SPEAKER_02:

So this is just to uh fill a position of someone that's um gonna be leaving to take a full-time position somewhere else. So we won't be adding any additional dispatches.

SPEAKER_01:

And yet it's a critical position that you need to have.

SPEAKER_02:

Yes, just because it takes so long to train them.

SPEAKER_01:

Sure. Motion to approve. Motion is made executive. Thank you, Chief. Thank you. Any discussion? Hearing on all in favor? All right. Any opposed? It is so voted. Next, we have discussion and vote on policy on filling a vacancy on appointed boards and committees. We have reviewed this previously, and now we're uh at the point of making a final vote on this. It is a new, and actually it's not all that new, it's just finalizing and and codifying what we have been doing. Basically, it's when a vacancy occurs on an appointed ton of rehum board, commission, or committee. It is the authority and responsibility of the select board to fill the vacancy by making an appointment in those instances. It is the policy of the select board to announce the vacancy, post appropriate notification on the town website, and accept letters of interest accompanied by resumes for a stated period of time that will be no less than two weeks. When the specified application period is closed, the board will forward the letters of interest and resumes to the chair of the particular board, commission, or committee, who will then schedule a meeting within 30 days if a meeting is not already scheduled within that time. At the aforementioned public meeting, whether it is a regularly scheduled or a special meeting, the board, commission, or committee shall review the application or applications and at its discretion interview any applicant or applicants considered to be qualified. After due consideration, the board, commission, or committee should determine by a majority vote also at a public meeting the applicant it wishes to recommend and then forward the decision to the select board. If the particular board, commissioner, or committee cannot agree by majority vote on an applicant, it should notify the select board that it recommends the position be readvertised. Once the select board has received the board commissioner committee's recommendation, it will be considered at a subsequent meeting, and the select board, at its sole discretion, will vote to accept or deny the recommendation. If within 45 days the select board has not received from the particular board commissioner committee a recommendation for a particular applicant or a recommendation to re-avertise, then the select board may choose to move forward and appoint an applicant it considers to be an appropriate choice or vote to re-avertise. It should be noted that the final decision rests with the select board. This policy does not apply to a vacancy on an elected board where a joint vote is required. It also does not apply to filling the position of associate member on the planning board where a joint vote of the planning board and the select board is required.

SPEAKER_04:

Motion to approve.

SPEAKER_01:

Motion is made and seconded. Any discussion? Anyone and all in favor? Aye. Any opposed? It is so voted. Next on our agenda under new business, we have discussion and vote. No, I'm sorry, discussion and review of draft policy on appointment of planning board associate member. And this, the draft reads, Town of Rainham, policy on appointment of planning board associate member. The associate member of the planning board shall be appointed in the following manner. When a vacancy occurs in the position of associate member, the planning board will notify the select 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, interview applicants at each board's discretion, and give due consideration to the candidates. A joint meeting of the two boards will be scheduled. At the joint meeting, 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 determine by a joint vote the associate member of the planning board to serve for the two-year position in accordance with the town of Rainham zoning bylaws, Section 350-615, Associate Member of Planning Board.

SPEAKER_04:

Mr. Pachico. And I would just make a formal motion to refer it to the planning board for their review and hopefully adopt it. And then at that point it would be, I think, most appropriate for us.

SPEAKER_01:

Thank you, Mr. Pachico. Second, Mr. Chico. Okay. Any further discussion? Hearing none. So Mr. Barnes, we will refer that to the planning board. All in favor? Any opposed? So voted. Okay, next on our agenda, we have automatic um I'm sorry, automatic amusement device license renewal contingent upon building and fire inspections. This is for first reinam corporation doing business as Ryan family amusement.

SPEAKER_04:

Motion to approve.

SPEAKER_01:

Any discussion? Hearing on all in favor? Any opposed? So voted. Okay. Um let's see. Next we have discussion and vote on change order number two with Greenman Peterson Incorporated for design and permitting of culvert replacement at Pine Street over Bassett Brook. Mr. Barnes, what can you tell us?

SPEAKER_03:

This is a change order of a current contract we have regarding the Pine Street culvert. As you may uh recall, that is proving to be quite a major project, and uh the uh highway superintendent wanted certain things done that weren't in the original scope involving the engineering and design.

SPEAKER_01:

Thank you, Mr. Buck, Mr. Pachin.

SPEAKER_03:

Motion to approve.

SPEAKER_01:

Mr. Collins? Second. Any further discussion? Hearing on all in favor? Any opposed? So voted. Um it's come to my attention that we are not certain that the managers um were actually notified of the public hearings.

SPEAKER_04:

So maybe we should table or continue them with the what I would say that what I would suggest is yeah, to well, I think table both of them, and um I would essentially leave the the hearings open-ended then so that they can pick uh where it was our mistake. And I'm sure they want to move swiftly.

SPEAKER_01:

So sure. Okay, so just uh motion then to table. Let's take one at a time. The first Pasha's. Second any discussion, hearing not all in favor, any opposed, so voted. And the second one for ring and icebergs uh motion to table and second that motion. Any discussion? Hearing not all in favor, he so voted, and Mr. Barnes, the office will notify um the individual.

SPEAKER_03:

We will definitely make sure that is done. Thank you.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay, do you have any other new business, Mr. Pacico? Mr. Collins? Town administrators report, Mr. Barnes?

SPEAKER_03:

Uh we uh are uh currently in budget and grant season. The highway director is uh submitting for several grants as you saw in a memo that I had written you, one involving uh Pine Street. Um also we are working on the budgets and consistent with the desire of the board, we will hopefully within the next meeting or two bring forth the sheet uh the budget message that the board would like to review before we actually put the budgets out uh to all the departments.

SPEAKER_01:

Thank you. Mr. Pacico, any questions for Mr. Bones? Yes, Mr. Collins, and that takes us to Select Board's report, Mr. Pachico.

SPEAKER_04:

Thank you, Madam Chair. Two items. Um the first is I know the administrator is working on um updating our local liquor licensing policies as a result of uh a host of different variables, but um whether or not that policy can get before us for action, what I would request on our agenda next week is a policy to exempt nonprofits from the licensing fee. Um this policy was put in place, and since that time, at least one nonprofit has been charged the fee, and it's always been our practice to waive those fees for nonprofits. So if the administrator can bring that whole policy forward next week, great. If not, I want a specific policy to uh have us take a vote on exempting nonprofits.

SPEAKER_01:

So absolutely. Um thank you, Mr. Pichico.

SPEAKER_04:

And then my second item is Rainham Park. Uh hopefully the two of you have read the news. Um they have a temporary closure going on. They're hopeful they'll be able to reopen, but uh I I don't know how um likely that is. Uh that will further uh harm the town of Rainham. There's about a hundred employees there. Uh most of those will be losing their job if they haven't already. And we continue to get one-tenth of one percent of the revenue generated from there, so that at least during the period of temporary closure and possibly permanent closure, would be lost from our bottom line. Uh, and so I would like on the agenda for next week the board to consider sending a letter to the gaming commission and the legislative delegation asking them to get involved. Four years ago, legislation was passed that specifically provided for Rainham Park to get a sports betting license. Four years later, Rainham Park still does not have a sports betting license. Uh, and we in Rainham continue to be the victims of state politics. So um, I would like that on next week's agenda.

SPEAKER_01:

Thank you, Mr. Pacheco. Mr. Collins, do you have anything for us? I have just a couple things. Um, I want to send out congratulations to all of our property owners who did such a great job with their holiday decorations. I particularly want to give a shout out to the Crimson and Maple Street neighborhood for the most beautiful neighborhood display of holiday lights and decorations you will find anywhere. It is simply spectacular. And not only do they provide an awesome experience for anyone who drives or walks through the neighborhood, but they have also coupled it with a fundraising effort to provide donations to Boston's Children's Hospital. Each year they offer a QR code and a lockbox to accept donations. And since they started the fundraising effort in 2021, they've raised well over$9,000. The effort is organized by all of the Maple and Crimson Street neighbors to support the Every Child Fund with a campaign directly on Boston's Children's Hospital website. If you missed it this year, make sure you put it on your to-do-do list next year because it really is something to see. Also, just a shout out to the Rainham Lions Club. On Saturday, December 13th, a group of club members got together to begin repairing their community building. Their first project involved the demolition and repair of the decking at the clubhouse. The lower ramp and platform were targeted for the first repair. They completed repairs on the lower ramp and the platform, and the rest of the ramp and decking will be repaired next, weather permitting. The Lions Club, which is the oldest service organization in the town, would like to thank Home Depot in Taunton for providing the lumber and the deck screws for the repair work. They also send special thanks to Lions Mike Freitas, Benny De Broom, Jerry LeVeck, Patty and Glenn Hayward, Dee Augusto, Kara Kuzniski, Ken Olson, Jim Burns, and Steve Powe. And I would like to thank the buzz around Rainham Online News Service for sharing such good news about the town of Rainham. Just for upcoming events, also next week, Rainham Council on Aging members and community service director Aaron Madeiras will be joining our meeting for our presentation of the Rainham Recognition Award to Erin, who was nominated by the Council on Aging for her efforts on behalf of our Rainham seniors. And that's all that I have for that. Oh, correspondence, we did receive a letter from a resident. And I will just read that. Dear members of the Rainham Select Board, I wanted to commend the town and the recent improvements to Mill Street. It looks great and is a noticeable upgrade for the area. I'm writing to ask about plans for Route 138, Broadway. The road is in rough shape with a lot of potholes and wear, and it could really use repaving. Are there any upcoming projects scheduled for this? Additionally, the four town tennis courts are in even worse condition. Will the town ever be able to redo or repair those courts? Thank you for your time and for all the work you do for Rainham. Sincerely, Josh Freemant. We thank Josh for his letter, and I'm not sure. We have notified our local highway division about 138. We've notified our local state representative. Senators, you probably the only thing we haven't done is send a letter to the governor. I suppose we could try that with copies to our state rep and state senator. Um because yeah, it is um it is frustrating for residents and anyone traveling along Route 138 for sure. And as far as the tennis courts, maybe we could refer this to our park and recreation.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah, I think we had done this when Mr. Freeman corresponded with us previously, so that's what I was going to suggest is uh if the administrator wants uh do some uh follow-up uh by telephone.

SPEAKER_01:

And I know um the park and recreation commission is that is on their radar. It's just a question of the timing to actually and the funding to get it done. All right, thank you. Um let's see, press time. I don't see anyone here from the press. Emergency business, Mr. Vachi? Mr. Collins? I have none. Citizen and community inputs, yes, please. The first one in the new year.

SPEAKER_00:

Good evening, and thank you for uh letting me come up here. We're not on the agenda, Linda and I. But um, this is concerning the retirees insurance. Today's January 6th, and we've been calling human resources right along for the whole month of December. They changed the retirees insurance again. The last time they changed it, we went from Blue Cross to Aetna, we had a meeting at the senior center. Aetna was wonderful, they explained everything to us, nothing was going to change, they gave us all kinds of numbers to call, da-da-da. Smooth sailing. Now we're going from Aetna, the retirees, back to Blue Cross. I don't really know why. And um, because no one told us anything. We're totally in the dock. And like I said, we've been calling him a resource. We don't have our insurance cards for 20 uh 2026. And um, like today, I went to get some prescriptions this morning. I've never paid$63. I just went and got another one before I came here tonight.$30, that's$90. The retirement check went down monthly,$98. So there goes that money. In addition to the increase in the Social Security, the Medicare ate that right up. So, but we don't even have our insurance cards to go to our doctors. And you know, we we don't even know who to call beyond human resource because she seems to be as much on the doctor as we are. And we'd also like to know who decides who picks these uh insurance programs for the retirees. I mean, is there any way we could have input? Maybe like if we've been offered a chance to stay with that now, we might have wanted to. I mean, I don't know. It's just a lot of questions. And we have no where to seek information, it seems. So we didn't know if maybe you guys could help us. Hopefully, maybe you can, or put a bug in someone's ear or something. I I don't know.

SPEAKER_01:

Mr. Barnes. Yeah, I can Yeah, Mr. Barnes, I think, can respond.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah, so uh first of all, I will I'm I'm uh assuming that she's talking about town towns. Yeah, so to be clear, this is only relevant to uh retirees of the town government. So let's let's just be clear there. But uh we are part of the Southeastern Mass Health Group, and they had to leave Aetna because Aetna raised the premium an extreme amount. I think it was about 40 percent. And so they went back to MedX. This is for the supplemental. Uh the human resource coordinator is extremely aware of the issue, which there has been a delay in the cards going out. Uh, my understanding in talking to the human resource director is those letters have gone out and are in the process of being received by the retirees. Um we weren't responsible for sending out those letters. It was done through the Southeastern Mass Health Group. And if anyone needs their code number in the meantime, they can just call up Kelly Usher and she can give you the code. Um but again, they have been mailed out and uh we're very aware of the issue.

SPEAKER_01:

All right, thank you, um Mr. Barnes. And I'm sure Mrs. Usher can uh can assist with that with our residence. Anything else? Okay, um Mr. Could you call anything else? No. Okay, so um then that brings us the performance of administrative duties. Just to report that I, along with our finance um director, have reviewed and signed off on the payroll and um in the invoice and payroll warrants with today's date, January 6, 2026. And we are now going to go into executive session in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 38, Section 21A2, to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with non-union personnel, or to conduct collective bargaining sessions or contract negotiations with non-union personnel specifically regarding our police chiefs contract. And we will return to open session with nothing to report, only to no additional business just to adjourn.

SPEAKER_04:

So moved. Second.

SPEAKER_01:

And roll call vote with aye. Mr. Collins, Chair votes aye. We are going into executive session. Thank you for joining us. We will see you here next week.