Raynham Special Town Meeting 11/17/2025

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

A full house, a stack of articles, and a community determined to balance urgent needs with long-term discipline. We open with clear ground rules and electronic voting, then move fast through essentials: ambulance funding, union agreements, PEG access supported by cable fees, and a prudent-investor standard that lets the town put trust funds to smarter work. Schools get a much-needed push on capital repairs, plus a shared, independent review of the regional district to tune operations and spending.

The night’s heartbeat is public safety. We green light critical upgrades—radio tower HVAC, surveillance cameras, rescue tools, a refurbished pumper, and advanced cardiac equipment—because response quality starts long before the call. Then the big one lands: whether to inject more free cash into a joint police–fire complex. Chiefs argue for co-location and central response; residents press on siting, scale, and avoiding a design that locks in constraints for decades. Our finance leaders lay out a path to keep funding the project with available cash to reduce future borrowing, with bids determining the true number. The vote adds 4.4 million and keeps momentum without foreclosing options.

Infrastructure and utilities get their due with road resurfacing, ADA improvements, a six-wheel dump truck, and sewer enterprise moves that fix aging equipment, share regional plant costs, and build a stabilization cushion. Procedural rigor shows up as we postpone two road acceptances until easements and punch lists are complete. Finally, we tackle governance: should the Planning Board’s associate seat be eliminated or elected? After robust debate, voters keep the position and keep it appointed, preserving a tool for quorums, conflicts, and training future members.

If local government is where values meet budgets, this meeting is the blueprint: invest in frontline capacity, verify with data, and keep leverage until the bids arrive. Subscribe, share with a neighbor who loves town meeting nights, and leave a review telling us—how would you fund a modern safety complex without losing sleep?

Transcript

Opening Formalities And Voting Tools

SPEAKER_02 0:16

To either of the constables of the town of Rainingham or the County of Bristol greeting in the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you're hereby directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of said town qualified to vote in elections and the town affairs to meet at the Rainingham Middle School in said Rainham on Monday, the 17th day of November 2025 at 7 o'clock in the evening, then and there to act on the following articles, of which there are 29. I voted the town and said town 14 days before the time of holding said meeting, given under our hands since the 28th day of October in the year of our Lord, 2025. It's signed by Churchy A. Riley, Chair of the Select Board, Joseph Arpachico, Vice Chair, Kevin Collins, Clerk. And pursuant to the win-in warrant, the constable did in fact notify and post and warn the inhabitants of the town of Right now by posting up to attested copies, posting up attested copies of the same at six place directed by vote of the town 14 days before the date of the meeting as to record. Everybody could please stand if you're able and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. Pledge of allegiance. Ted Peknick, our town council, Marsha Sylvia, Town Clerk, Brendan Loftus, Chair of our Capital Planning Committee, Gil Leechie, Chair of our Finance Committee, Linda and the rest of our finance committee, Linda DeMello, Dan McNally, Dr. Supremeowski, and Ted Sergeant and Ms. Familiar Anchor down way down there. I've asked for unanimous consent that non-resident department heads, town officials, and their designees or their designees be allowed to address the town meeting. Any objection? Hearing not so approved, I appreciate that. I'm going to go run real quickly through some logistical information. Do this every town meeting, but it bears going through over again. As I mentioned, there are 29 articles for consideration tonight, including some zoning bylaw changes in one citizen's petition. 23 of the articles are separate majority and six will require a two-thirds vote. I will construct town meeting when we get to the point of those articles that require a two-thirds vote. We will be utilizing electronic voting tonight. We defer to voice voting whenever possible, especially with majority votes. If in my opinion is moderator, if the voice vote is inconclusive, we will then utilize the electronic system. When you walk in the register tonight, you're all given a handheld clicker with three buttons. Well, it's actually five buttons, but three that matter. One, the green button is voting yes, two is no, and three is abstain. When I call for the vote, I'm going to go through this in a minute just so everybody's comfortable with it. When I call for the vote and open the voting window, simply submit your vote by pressing the correct key. You should see an okay in that small digital window when your vote has been recorded. As long as you see okay, that means your vote has been recorded. You can change your vote simply by pushing the correct button. So in other words, if you press yes, but you want to change your mind, or you pressed yes erroneously, just press no. And you can change as many times as you want up until the time that I close the vote, at which point your clicker will stop recording votes. You'll see behind me, we're going to run through this in a second, but your vote will be, it will not look like this. I'll show you what it looks like. Your vote will be shown on the screen, and then when I close it, you'll see the tally. So let's do two real quick uh test modes here. If you get your clicker in your hand and click any button to activate it, let's hope this works. Okay, so if you turn the clicker over, you'll see a number. I happen to be number 14. Uh just go ahead and click, just go ahead and click and make sure that your um your tile behind me lights up. Doesn't matter what you're voting. This isn't this is not a vote, obviously. You're just making sure your clickers are working. And I'm going to scroll over for those of you that are up 100 or higher in a second. Anyone on the within the range one through 100 in the audience that has voted, but their tile is not illuminated behind me. In the back. Amy? You see, raise your hand nice and high if you've yeah, we got one there, Amy. Anyone on the side? Everybody looks good over here, looks good over here. If you're one through a hundred on the back of your clicker, you're and you voted your tile should be eliminated. Okay, I think we're yeah, I'm gonna scroll a second, Joe. Let's do this again. Go ahead and vote. Especially those folks with the numbers above one hundred. You're really the ones we're paying attention to right now. Some far right. Anybody have a clicker above one hundred? The tile is not by ten.

unknown 11:04

Yeah, we we see you.

SPEAKER_02 11:11

Apologize for this, folks. Technology. But we do this so we make sure that we get an accurate vote. Raise your clicker high in the air if you're above a hundred and your tile is not. I think it's just down in the navy, I've got one up front too. Ted Sergeant. So that's done. We now know everybody's words. Okay. Apparently, if you vote yes or no, the only thing I'm recording up here is yes or no. So, folks, when we um we actually vote, this is what you'll see. Everybody remembers this from last time, right? Go ahead and vote. You'll see that number in the lower right-hand corner. We'll start to record votes. Then we will get to a point where I'll call for a last call. And I'll call for the last call and then I'll close the vote, you'll see the vote reflected. Pass a fail across the top. Oh, we have an optimistic group tonight. That's always good to see. So you'll see. Alright, so we're good with that, right? Excellent. Let's move move on from that part of the evening. So um the so-called uh rules of the road for town meeting. If any voter has a question, please approach one of the microphones, front left, front right in the room, state your name and address for the clerk's record. Uh voters must make their way to a microphone in the auditorium to be heard. Please bring your clicker or your voting card to the microphone. Don't leave it at your seat. Uh please keep all comments germane to the article on the floor. Debate must be contained to the article. Please refrain from addressing any of the voters directly. Indirect all comments through the chair. Count me is not a form where voters address one another or attribute comments directly to another voter. Lords are welcome to speak a second time on one article. Only when all of the speakers that wish to be heard have been heard. Please try to avoid repetitive comments. None of those are made. The moderator reserves the right to end debate when the commentary becomes repetitive. And finally, only registered re-hand voters are allowed to address town meeting, other than those folks that we mentioned earlier that you gave consent to speak, which are town officials for the most part. Finally, the expectation is that all town meeting members will be respectful of their neighbors, whether we agree with each other or not. Town meeting is the oldest form of local government in our nation, and its success depends on the collegial atmosphere. Response to comments you hear is expected and appreciated. While I will allow for feedback, I will not tolerate anything that is disrespectful. There is at all times an expectation of the quorum. Rainham has never faltered at this, and I'm sure we will remain above it tonight. So, before we get into the warrant, if we have any questions at all. Yep, we're good. Always nice to be safe. Close that town. Article one. To see if the town votes for appropriate and transfer the sum of five hundred and sixty-eight thousand four hundred and twenty-five dollars as detailed below from the ambulance receipts reserved for appropriation account to operate the ambulance service for the second half of fiscal year 2026. Any unused funds at the end of fiscal year 2026 to be returned to the ambulance receipts reserved for appropriation account. Personnel 389,971. Expenses 178,454 for a grant total of$568,425 to take any action relative there to. Motion has been made in second to approve Article 1. Discussion on Article 1. Seeing none, all those in favor of Article 1, please say aye. Aye. Opposed, no. Article 1 passes. Article 2 to see if the town will vote to implement the fiscal year 26 28 collective bargaining agreement entered into between the town and the International Association of Firefighters, local 2894, professional firefighters of ranking by raising and appropriating$84,697, and appropriating a transferring$28,418 from the ambulance receipts reserved for appropriation account to fund fiscal year 26, including retroactive payments and to concurrently authorize the finance director to make the adjustments within the fiscal 2026 general fund operating budget that are necessitated by this implementation and funding or take any action relative thereto. Motion that's remained second to approve Article 2 discussion on Article 2. Seeing none, all those in favor of Article 2, please say aye. Aye. Opposed no. Article 2 passes Article 3 to take the town vote to implement the fiscal year 2025-2027 collective bargaining agreement. If any attitude between the town and the ranking control the town and the ranking 911 signal 911 signal operators union by appropriating and transferring a sum of money from the stabilization fund for collective bargaining and raising and appropriating a sum of money to fund fiscal year 2025, fiscal year 2026, including retroactive payments, and to concurrently authorize the finance director to make the adjustments within the fiscal year 2026 general fund operating budget that are necessitated by this implementation and funding or take any action relative there too. She has been made and seconded to approve Article III, discussion on Article III. I would like to make a motion, Mr.

SPEAKER_00 18:22

Moderator. I would like to make a motion, Mr. Moderator, to amend Article 3 to read that the town vote to implement the fiscal year 2025 to fiscal year 2027. Electric bargaining agreement introduced between the town and the remaining control and city by appropriating transferring$178,104 from the stabilization fund for electric bargaining, and raising and paid the sum of$414,600 to fund fiscal year$2025 and fiscal year$2026, including retroactive payments, and also the time to implement fiscal year 2025 electric marketing between the town and the reading of 911 signal operating$17,800 to the civilization fund for the collective party and raising and paid in the sum of$18,000 to fund fiscal year 2025 to fiscal year 2026, including retroactive payments, and you can currently authorize the finance director to make the adjustments within the fiscal year 2026 general fund operating budget that are necessitated by this implementation and funding.

Financial Mechanisms And Tax Relief Votes

SPEAKER_02 19:48

Motion has been made and second to amend the article as read by Chair Riley. I'm not going to reread that. Essentially, what we're doing here or what is being proposed to be done is providing you, the town meeting members, with the actual numbers that are being asked to be approved to solve or to settle these collective bargaining agreements. Mr. Barnes, I have that correct, I assume, or any other changes that are pertinent to this or no? Just providing the numbers, correct? These are the numbers. On the motion to amend Article 3, any discussion? Carrying none, all those in favor of amending article three, please say aye. Aye. Opposed, no.

unknown 20:37

We are amending.

SPEAKER_16 20:41

Motion to approve it.

SPEAKER_02 20:44

Second. And motion second to approve Article 3 as amended. Discussion on Article 3 as amended. I will notify town meeting that this will require a two-thirds majority vote due to the fact that we are pulling some funds. Any discussion on Article 3 as amended? Hearing the gets your clickers out because of the two-third vote. We would ask you all to vote at your leisure. Yes or no. Again, folks, the note of the way to know that you've actually voted and your vote has been recorded. If you look in that little digital screen, you should see a small okay. And you should also see a number that corresponds with your vote. So you should see an okay and a one if you voted yes and a two if you voted no. Okay, I'm gonna close the vote. Madam Clerk, Article 3 passes 120, yay, 6 nay. Two-thirds majority being carried in. Article 4 to see if the town vote to raise or appropriate a sum for the purpose of supplementing the stabilization fund for collective bargaining pursuant to the mass charter laws chapter 40, section 5B. Said if the fund is expanded expanded in the intended scope to set aside monies to cover the incremental cost for fiscal year 2026 of collective bargaining agreements, if any, to be entered into between the town and the Rainham Patrolments Union and/or the town and the Rainham 911 Signal Operators Union. Appropriations from this fund are subject to approval at a future town meeting or take any action relative thereto. Motion to approve. Motion has been made and seconded to approve Article 4. Discussion on Article 4. Mr.

SPEAKER_00 23:00

Town Moderator, I'd like to make a motion to amend Article 4 to read that the town vote to raise and appropriate the sum of$18,500 for the purpose of supplementing the stabilization fund for collective bargaining Massachusetts, Chapter 3, Section 5B. Savings and funds that aside monies to cover the incremental costs for fiscal year 2026 of collective bargaining agreements, if any, to be entered into between the town and the rehab 911 Signal Operators Union. Appropriations for this fund is subject to approval at a future town meeting.

SPEAKER_02 23:43

Essentially providing you folks with a number that is being proposed to be uh supplemented into the stabilization fund of 18,500. Discussion on the motion to amend Article 4. Seeing none, all those in favor of amending article four, please say aye. Aye. Opposed no. Article 4 is amended.

SPEAKER_19 24:04

A motion to approve as amended.

SPEAKER_02 24:06

Motion has been maintenance executive to approve article four as amended. Discussion on the motion to approve article four as amended. Seeing none, all those in favor of Article 4, please say aye. Opposed no. Article 4 passes Article 5 to see if the town will reaccept the provisions of the mass general laws, Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause 56, previously approved by a prior town meeting, but which expires after two fiscal years, which allows the Board of Assessors to grant real and personal property tax abandonments up to 100% of the total tax assessed to members of the Massachusetts National Guard and to reserve it's on active duty in foreign countries for the fiscal year they perform such services subject to an eligibility criteria to be established by the Board of Assessors or take any action relative thereto. Motion has obtained second to approve Article 5. Discussion on Article 5. Seeing none, all those in favor of Article 5, please say aye. Aye. Opposed no. Article 5 passes Article 6 to see if the town will vote to appropriate and transfer the sum of$191,644 from the PEG Access and Cable Related Fund for the purposes of funding the public access station Ringham Community Access Media, Ray Camp, which provides public educational and government access television to citizens of Rainham. And said funds are paid by Comcast and Verizon to the town for local programming operations pursuant to mass journal laws, chapter 44, section 53F and three-quarters, or take any action relative there too.

SPEAKER_19 25:45

Motion to approve.

SPEAKER_02 25:46

Motion has been made and seconded to approve Article 6. Discussion on Article 6.

unknown 25:51

Mr.

SPEAKER_00 25:51

Monarch here, I'd like to make a motion to amend Article 6 by strike in the amount of proposed$191,644, and replacing with the model$243,926.

SPEAKER_02 26:06

Motion has been made and seconded to amend Article 6, striking the sum 191-644, replacing with 243-926 discussion on the motion to amend Article 6. Please come to the mic, please.

SPEAKER_10 26:30

For the record, James DuPont 118. Could you just a procedure question moderator? Whereas that amount is greater than the amount printed on the warrant. Is that beyond the scope of the article and as such as is appropriate for the vote?

SPEAKER_02 26:44

I don't believe it's out of scope. That's a good question. Um I don't believe it's out of scope, uh, seeing as these monies are not raised for taxation. You're welcome. Further discussion on Article 6. By the way, these these monies come to the town from Verizon and Comcast. So this is not through taxation or raising appropriate. Further discussion on Article 6. Seeing none, all those in favor of Article 6, please say aye. Aye. Opposed, no. Article 6 passes. Article 7. Let's see if the town vote to accept the provisions of Mass General Laws Chapter 44, Section 54B to allow the town's trust funds to be invested in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 203C, the so-called prudent investment rule. Take any action relative thereto.

unknown 27:34

Motion to approve that.

Schools, PEG Access, And Trust Investment

SPEAKER_02 27:36

Seconded to approve Article 7. Discussion on Article 7. Seeing none, all those in favor of Article 7, please say aye. Aye. Opposed, no. Article 7 passes Article 8 to see if the town votes appropriate and transfer the sum of$60,000 from free cash for the sewer betterment reserve fund. Within the sewer enterprise fund, set them out as part of a 12-year agreement to reimburse the sewer enterprise fund for sewer betterment revenue that have been deposited into the general fund or take any action relative there too. Motion has been maintenance seconded to approve Article 8. Discussion on Article 8. Seeing none, all those in favor of Article 8, please say aye. Opposed, no. Article 8 passes. Article 9, to see if the town will appropriate transfer the sum of$457,413 from free cash for the purpose of purchasing capital items and repair and renovation projects at the Liberty Elementary School, Merrill Elementary School, and Ringham Middle School, as well as the towns and share of district-wide capital items and repair and renovation projects at the Bridgeworth Ringham Regional High School, all as follows, as laid out in the warrant. I'm not going to read them all, but I will pause and give you folks a minute to review on your own or take any action relative there to. Motion has been made and seconded to approve Article 9. Discussion on Article 9. And I'll again I'll pause for a minute here to give you folks time to review each line item at your convenience. All those in favor of Article 9, please say aye. Opposed no. Article 9 passes. Article 10 to see if the town will vote to appropriate and transfer the sum of$25,000 from Free Cash for an independent operational and financial review of the Bridgewater Rainbow Regional School District. Full cost which will be shared with the town of Bridgewater or take any action relative thereto. Motion has been made and seconded to approve Article 10. Discussion on Article 10. Seeing none. All those in favor of Article 10, please say aye. Aye. Opposed, no. Article 10 passes. Article 11 to see if the town will vote to appropriate transfer. The sum of$29,000 from free cash for the purchase and replacement of the H-track system within the radio tower as utilized by police, fire, and highway departments are taking the action relative there too. Motion to approve. Motion has been made and seconded to approve Article 11. Discussion on Article 11. Seeing none, all those in favor of Article 11, please say aye. Opposed, no. Article 11 passes Article 12 to see if the title will vote to appropriate and transfer the sum of$15,280 from free cash for the purchase and replacement of four surveillance cameras utilized by the police department. Take any action relative there too. Motion is approved. Motion has made it. Seconded to approve Article 12. Discussion on Article 12. Seeing none, all those in favor of Article 12, please say aye. Opposed, no. Article 12 passes. Article 13. The seat at the top of vote to appropriate and transfer the sum of$45,720 from free cash for the purchase and replacement of rescue tool equipment used in firefighting. Or take any action relative thereto. Seconded to approve article 13. Discussion on Article 13. Seeing none, all those in favor of Article 13, please say aye. Aye. Opposed no. Article 13 passes. Article 14 to see if the town votes for appropriate transfer the sum of$345,400 from free cash for the refurbishment, including new equipment for the engine three fire pumper truck. Or take any action relative there too.

unknown 32:25

Motion to approve.

Police And Fire Capital Needs

SPEAKER_02 32:27

Motion has been moved, moved, and seconded to approve Article 14. Discussion on Article 14. Seeing not all those in favor of Article 14, please say aye. Aye. Opposed no. Article 14 passes. Article 15 to see if the town will vote to appropriate and transfer the sum of$101,630 from the ambulance receipts reserved for appropriation account for the purchase and replacement of a cardiac monitor and a CPR Lucas machine, which assists the paramedic EMTs in providing emergency cardiac care. Any unused funds not needed for those purposes to be returned to the ambulance receipts reserved for appropriation account. Motion has been made and seconded to approve Article 15. Discussion on Article 15. Seeing none, all those in favor of Article 15, please say aye. Aye. Opposed, no? Article 15. Folks, I realize I'm moving through these fairly quickly. Not because I'm in a hurry, but no, no one's got anything to say. So just know that it's perfectly acceptable to come down to these microphones if you have a question or a comment. Not moving quickly to disengage anybody from discussion. That's what you want. Article 16, to see if the town will vote to appropriate and transfer the sum of$16,000 from free cash for the purchase of a mulch and leaf collection mower system for the Secretary Department. Take any action relative thereto. Motion to approve. Motion as a made it. Seconded to approve Article 16. Discussion on Article 16. Aye. Opposed, no. Article 16 passes Article 17 to see if the town will vote to appropriate and transfer. The sum of$750,000 from free cash for the purpose of supplementing Chapter 90 funds for the repair and maintenance or reconstruction of various infrastructure projects, including roadway resurfacing and reconstruction, sideway construction, ADA compliance, and improvements to bridges, culverts, drainage, intersections, signage, traffic signals, and guardrails or taking the action relative there too. Motion has been made second to approve Article 17. Discussion on Article 17. Seeing not, all those in favor of Article 17, please say aye. Aye. Opposed, no. Article 17 passes. Article 18. Let's see if the town will vote to appropriate and transfer the sum of$348,900 from free cash for the purchase of a six-wheel dump truck, including a plow and salt spreader, to replace an older vehicle or take any action relative thereto. Motion to approve second. Motion has been made and seconded to approve Article 18. Discussion on Article 18. Seeing none, all those in favor of Article 18, please say aye. Aye. Opposed no. Article 18 passes. Article 19. To see if the town will vote to appropriate transfer the sum of$16,000 from free cash for the purchase of a pickup truck, including plow and other equipment for the highway department to replace an older vehicle said some supplements$60,000 approved, I'm sorry, appropriated at a previous town meeting or take any action relative to approved that. Motion has been made and seconded to approve Article 19. Discussion Article 19. Seeing no all those in favor of Article 19, please say aye. Aye. Opposed no. Article 19 passes. Also, folks, if you're in a seat and you can't get down to a microphone, we have this within the last couple of cycles, we've got these wonderful new wireless microphones. We can get a microphone up to you if uh you cannot get down to the to the microphone. Article 20, receive the town will vote to appropriate and transfer the sum of$4,400,000 from free cash to the public safety building capital project fund. Set sum supplement$6,805,411 already in the fund, which is the remaining balance that was appropriated to this fund at previous town meetings. This excludes any bond authorization. So we'll take any action relative there too. Motion has been made and seconded to approve article 20. Discussion on Article 20. Chief LePlan, I see you at the mic.

unknown 36:58

I uh good evening.

SPEAKER_02 37:00

Oh, Chief, I'm sorry, we turned them off to save the battery. Can you click that on? Is it on the bottom? I think it might be on.

unknown 37:09

No?

SPEAKER_02 37:12

Mike?

SPEAKER_19 37:14

There you go.

Roads, Trucks, And Infrastructure Spending

SPEAKER_03 37:17

Um so I just want to uh we have to take a few minutes to clear up some misinformation that I recently appeared on social media. Uh sorry. I'm gonna need to decide. Uh but first I want to reiterate what all she proceeded us a cheap percent. After all, this is how the method I understand that every citizen has a regular role on the question on this item, and I respect that. However, this is how I recorded the research post on social media. I don't think I respect their choice, but the forces are real citizen and disinformation. The first time I heard there was opposition to continue. And what we know is how I want to be on the level for me. I also want to add that over the course of history, we had multiple meetings which were open to the public with little to no interest on the public. I agree with you on that. This project is not the main setback. But I can assure you, you know, seven tonight, remain committed to ensuring that the facility as it is designed with sufficiently support our staff and citizens on the day. There's a little practical actual justification of continuing the house of mainland police in the same building. There are many reasons to keep the fire and police together. The fact of the matter is by the police response is a very different police appointment is open above the town. And then go up and community. The department being centrally located is what is best for our staff in the house. When police are in the minimum staff, you would put the water staff will respond to all. When other watches are visiting, it's best that they respond from a central location. Which are now in the same building, you should say that. I think you have to find the police together. When we have an arrest that needs medical attention, which happens on the parent is right next to us. I think you may more reason about limiting my time. On the stage world, you have an already limited space at which you're giving now is a time for anyone to separate its two primary emergency modules. And then build a new facility that will allow changes on how you need to grow this hand as a time to continue to run. Today I just started my 30th year of the remote. I was high in 1996. I was a twenty-fourth officer. We now have a staff of twenty-nine losses. An increase of five to twenty-nine years. The reason it's not location is because we eliminated two other locations. I'm telling you what the best of the catching. And then moving to my free up space apply on EMS. I believe I provide plenty of information and do it. There's no need to separate the two. But if you could either part of the settlement or reducing the size, the size of the building to make this project work. I suggest maintaining the mind quality building. But also bringing the host of other bandits on what I say.

SPEAKER_14 44:01

I just want to give my opinion as well there to use my resting. In September of 2019, we've been working towards a new public safety building that's our aging facility. Over the past six years, the project has made several obstacles and we've looked at several possible sites, including our own property. When the project started, the plans can call for a main building two hundred structures, which we need roughly six attending plan. After using several sites, we focused on Kill Street because it seemed to operate for a clear and one area. However, the land was needed as agricultural and had to be reclassified before it reused. After almost six years, the land was finally approved for transfer. During that waiting period, the town board did support of moving the building project forward while we waited. But we scaled back our work on that on that unfortunately site to avoid investing in land that might not ever become detailed the right way. Once the transfer was complete, we continued to have due diligence and scale new weapon classifications that made the site uns unbuildable. At that point, we need a new plan. By removing the auxiliary building from the design, we reduce the land needed and we re-evaluated our current site. After a thorough review, we confirm that the main building design will fit on the existing project. We'll be tired, sure, but we can make that work. And also the project, and it allows the project to move forward without compromising the building's design, which allows for future growth. This funding will ensure the project proceeds without interruption or any more delays or reinforced reductions and so forth. It also reduces the long-term operating costs and supports clear and unified communication. Something all departments have relied on since the first share of the building in 1957.

SPEAKER_04 46:23

Is there anyone here tonight that can tell me what the total cost of this project is going to be? I I've heard that it started probably a little over thirty million dollars or now who has it as fifty million dollars.

SPEAKER_08 47:16

We won't know the actual costs until we go out to bed. So that's very important. We can make estimates, but until we actually go out to bed, it is accurate. But the estimated costs are most recent estimates have been the high 40s and early 50s. Originally, I know we didn't try to budget about 30.5 million, but the initial estimate for our consultant. So it has gone up. But given all the inflation that has occurred, I would expect that. So we're still in the process of determining that we're hopeful that it will be lower than it would be using.

SPEAKER_04 48:22

So we assume it's in the city of$50 million, and we have a monitoring of$30.5 million, and we've already transferred, I guess, a free cash hash uh 6.8 million, and I could also transfer another$4.4 million. That still leaves us about$8.2 million short. Where's that money going from?

SPEAKER_08 48:52

Well, we're going to continue to try to set aside available funds. I expect the majority of free cash next year will probably go for this project. Additionally, there is a possibility of looking at borrowing from other items like we have in this project, so I knew we would try to get free cash control.

SPEAKER_04 49:20

It comes mostly from the other standard appropriations, and your revenue does it not. It's a surplus revenue from the euro. At the rate you're going, it's going to take another couple years. It's going to take another couple years just to amass the$50 million we need. By then the project's going to escalate the cost of even higher, is it not?

SPEAKER_08 50:13

Our focus is to move ahead as quickly as possible, uh, not to delay it. We're hopeful that given the site has less issues, uh, that we can move forward expeditious looking at uh possibly going out to the issue.

SPEAKER_04 50:32

Well, to move quicker, would it be more expeditious to have another bond issue? In other words, putting the voters uh a question on the ballot to approve the difference that you need and hopefully get it debt excluded and move this thing along so it doesn't languish over a couple years.

SPEAKER_08 50:55

That's ultimately a political question. I am doing whatever I can as administrator to uh cover it within the budget. Um that is something that we looked at, but again, um our goal is to try and cover it with the budget. I do recall we already have a$30.5 million debt solution that has been uh pulled by the holders, which is which is currently not reflected in the way of the taxes moderator?

unknown 51:30

Mr.

SPEAKER_02 51:30

Pacini, good if he goes, or you have the floor. Oh sure. Mr.

SPEAKER_16 51:34

Pacini, if I could just add again, we're we're speculating as the total cost, we're not going to know the actual value until we go out to bid. We have had delays that were outside of our control because we had to go to the legislature and get subsequent approval by the governor for the land. Since that land has no longer been deemed viable through the wetlands issues, we've pivoted to a portion street, which we presently own, and are in a position to move forward with. So I don't foresee additional delays. I think the question your the speaker is asking is one must answer after we go out to bed and see what the delta is. We obviously can't move forward with the project if we don't have the funding that's required to be spent on the project. But I personally think it's premature to have the taxpayers for more money in less than until we know we need it. If you look at some of our assisted communities, Todd included, they are public safety projects that have come in under budget, and so there is that opportunity as well. So again, when the administrative talks about the$45 to$50 million range, we cannot emphasize enough that it's very speculative at this point and we just don't know.

SPEAKER_10 52:44

Uh through you, Mr. Moderator, to uh the town administrator, the town account. By putting aside money from free cash by this vote and the previous vote, would that not arguably result in the town having to borrow less at the end of the day when we discover the final figure?

SPEAKER_16 53:01

It's possible, yes. And that is the intent behind us doing this so that hopefully we do not have to ask the taxpayers for additional money, yes.

SPEAKER_10 53:09

So, Mr. Modori threw you to this chico Joe, as I understand that we've previously appropriated money at previous town meetings specifically for the purpose of offsetting how much the town will ultimately have to borrow once a final figure is determined by bid.

SPEAKER_16 53:24

That's correct. And if we have future years where free cash is high, again, if we want to talk in potentials and hypotheticals, we could appropriate enough from free cash where we don't have to spend the entire debt school that's passed. So we're getting into a lot of hypotheticals, but we're trying to do everything we can. Our departments are working with us to make sure our funds are not being spent that are not needed to turn them into free cash to offset the total project costs.

SPEAKER_02 53:48

Thanks very much. Thank you. Sir, anything further?

SPEAKER_04 53:52

Well, I just want to say I find it disappointing that we started talking about this project four years ago, and even now we can't even define how much it's gonna cost us at this point without going off the bid. I I don't and once we go off the bid, I'm sure we're even before we bond this project, we're gonna have uh at least a year or two worth of uh construction progress going on. So we'll have to do some short-term borrowing besides, possibly in the form of bond anticipation notes.

SPEAKER_02 54:26

Well, it's fairly typical to use a ban as you until you go to find a bond year.

SPEAKER_04 54:30

And isn't there interest payable on the ban that you come do every year? Sure. And are we going to capitalize that interest and move it as part of the project cost and include it in the overall bond issue, thereby reducing the cost of the project?

SPEAKER_02 54:50

That's quite a bit down the road.

SPEAKER_09 54:55

It's always a possibility, but I don't see where capitalizing the interest on the ban affects the total project cost.

SPEAKER_04 55:02

Well, if you don't capitalize it uh and include it in the bond issue, then you're gonna have to fund the short-term interest borrowing out of the general fund.

SPEAKER_09 55:12

You would have to fund that interest regardless of whether we added it to the bond issue or not. Either we would take the interest on the ban on tax fees and appropriating, or we borrow, but we're gonna borrow, we're not gonna borrow money to pay off interest, I don't think, right? I mean, sorry. I mean we don't want to borrow money to pay off interest on a ban.

SPEAKER_02 55:35

Anything further? I I think that's enough for that. Thank you. Good questions. Any further discussion or questions on Article 20?

unknown 55:55

Mr.

SPEAKER_02 55:56

DuPont. This will be a majority vote, folks, by the way. Money coming out of the stabilization fund down the road will it require a two-thirds majority vote?

SPEAKER_10 56:08

Thank you, Mr. Moderator. I just want to state for the record that I know that countless hours have been put into this by public safety chiefs for whom I have the highest regard for the job they do and how they set about spending my money and yours to protect our lives. Are we clear? If you're not clear on that point, we need to have a further discussion after today. I prepared some remarks on this, and so you'll know by preparing them, they're a little short. The moderator thanked me in advance. I'm urging you to vote no tonight on more funds for the proposed Joint Fire Police Public Safety Facility. This project has been proceeding in a somewhat halting manner for several years, but not for lack of due diligence on the part of the chiefs and the rest of the people who are working on it. And they had many meetings. I attended two of them. I believe it is now the time to re-evaluate this before any more money is spent or set aside for it. Let's be clear. The no vote eliminates neither the funding nor the need for rainhand to upgrade its public safety departments. You are not saving any money by voting no on this. You are not denying the police and the fire department the expansion of the needed expansion of their facilities. That need must still be met, and we will absolutely have to spend more money to do so. This is not saving money by voting no. The sole question tonight is whether or not more funds will now be allocated in order to build a reduced-size joint fire employees facility at their current Orchard Street location. The way I see it, and I thank the chief for looking at my article, Chief, thank you for taking the time to read it. The way I see it, there's a little practical or actual justification for continuing to house rain ham and fire police units in the same building. I came to that conclusion after looking at other area towns. It's already been established, and we've just spent a couple of years telling this town why we needed to vacate Orchard Street. It's already been established and clearly stated by the town officials who have been in charge of this task that the Orchard Street is inadequate for the current needs of Rainham's fire and police departments. The Orchard Street location, while it's optimal for fire response, is not necessarily the best location for the police department. In fact, that structure was built, when it was built, was primarily designed to meet Rainham's emergency response needs as they were then in the early 1960s. The bulk of that structure was then and is now dedicated to fire and EMS response, and we should continue to base that function there. To that end, I believe now is the time for Branham to consider separating its emergency response groups and relocate the police department to a better location and build facilities plural that will allow for both the police and fire departments to grow and expand as the town continues to evolve and grow. I want the best for the police and fire departments, as well as the people and the taxpayers are bringing. We're talking about saving lives here, not money. Whether you vote yes or no tonight, the need for more money, the need for more money to enable our fire and police departments to meet your public safety needs in mine, will still be there, and we need more money to meet that need. New state-of-the-art, modern, updated police station is what I as a taxpayer and resident want for myself, my neighbors, and most of all for my police department. Not, as I put it, and this is a word that I chose carefully, a shoehorn reduced scale section of a new structure that has to be shared with another town department. I go back to the days when the police department was two offices at the end of the hall, and the rest of the building was the fire department, except about a 30 by 40 foot section. Now, when other towns like Greenham need to expand their emergency response facilities, and the chief alluded to this, they decided to relocate their police department to a new up-to-date standalone better located facility. They did not decide to do a combined one. Not one. I don't think there's anybody here tonight or anything. Take as much time as you want and show me a town that moved their firing police into a sickle structure, going from standalones. Now, I think doing that accomplished several major things for them. The same can be done here in Rainham. Number one, let's provide the police department with a facility specifically designed to go locate what the police need to best protect the public and also enable future expansion. This would then free up space at Orchard Street for expansion by rain-hands, fire, and EMSQs. The neighborhood around Orchard Street, the location there, King Street, South Main Street, and of course Orchard Street itself. They delivered newspapers to that station. This will unduly burden the ever-increasing volume of public safety and related vehicles 24-7, 365 days a year. Asking that neighborhood to absorb and adjust to a continual increase in public safety responses for both the fireplace is simply unreasonable and unfair to them. We wouldn't allow a grandfathered non-conforming use of business to do this in a residential neighborhood, to just increase the number of vehicles, the size and scope of their operation. Why should we let the town do it? Staffing our police and fire departments and stuffing them into a site already established is insufficient for current much less future needs to me is simply a bad idea. Where will Ray Hand be in 20 years? I've been in this town meeting now since 1971, and there was always a question about when we went to expand something, what were they thinking when they did the previous plan? Will we be regretting the decision to stop our public safety departments into a site that was inadequate from day one? Well, 20 years from now there'd be a town meeting here that says, what were they thinking when they built this structure there at Orchard Street? Will we again be hearing how the town needed to borrow millions of dollars in order to upgrade a cramped facility when there was little if any room for expansion? I want the very best for our emergency response departments. I live here too after. And I myself have personally called the fire and police department, and I was amazed at their swift arrival, their methodical, comprehensive handling of my emergency, of saving my life and my property. I don't want, you can do what you want, you vote how you want. I don't want this is good enough for now, this is all we can afford. The story, the comparison used to be made that a child sitting in a public school was the same as a NASA space shuttle astronaut. They were both riding in something built by the low bidder. Is that what you want when you're asking people to save your life? The low bidder? I don't want. Let's stop now. Rethink, reassess, recalculate before we make what could very likely be the biggest, most short-sighted decision this town has ever made. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. DuPoint.

SPEAKER_03 1:04:59

Chief. So I don't want to go back through my statement that I just made, but um, just in case everybody didn't hear, we have not reduced the size of either department to keep it combined. We got rid of two outbuildings. That enabled us to use the site that we're currently on. Alright? And to uh the fact that um other departments haven't uh combined, that's not true. West Bridgewater, Easton's currently combining, they never were combined, they're in the process of doing it now. Taunton, who we've been compared to, that we were trying to uh uh copy, they've never been combined. They're getting ready to open their building up uh this this fall, late this fall. They're combined. Uh Seacon is combined, Somerset is combined. There's there's a lot of others I can go down the list, but I'm not gonna stay up here, I'm like and continue. Trying to reply to what uh is in a lot of misinformation. Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 1:06:06

I think uh your next we're gonna go to Chair Riley's.

SPEAKER_00 1:06:10

Thank you. I just I only have one vote, but I am voting yes because I'm going to go along with the recommendation of the building committee that's been working on this for six years, and which includes our police chief, our police captain, our fire chief, our fire department, uh deputy chief, our fire department lieutenant, among others. And they are recommending going forward with this. Again, this appropriation is just to go into the fund for a new public safety building. I don't care if Lakeville or Taunton or Middlebore or anyone else has separate facilities. We like to do the team approach here in Radiant. It works. I think we have the best police and fire departments anyway. They do the job, and I think we need to support them so they continue to do that. Thank you.

Sewer Enterprise Appropriations

SPEAKER_02 1:06:58

Thank you. Sure. Hey, the address for the record?

SPEAKER_20 1:07:02

John Lamarlo, 25 Gamma board. Uh at Lucif already actually had some of the statements I was going to make, but I'll just add on to it. So you brought it in, as well as Tap Hang is another example of it. Eight previously separated public safety agencies that they went combined. The new facility thing is actually gorgeous. He's beautiful. It's probably the best kind of public safety facility I've seen in a long time. One of the things that the gentleman we failed to mention, however, is when we look at public safety, we also have to consider the fact that this is where the 911 call is originating and being dispersed out to the corporate agencies. So there is infrastructure that coincides with that function, meaning that you call 911, that 911 call must need to be routed to those specific agencies. If it's not co-located in the same building, it must then be routed to that public safety agency if it's in another facility through some means that costs money, that's an additional structured fund. So I was speaking with the fire chief earlier. I personally, as a resident, actually was less than enthused about the King Philip property. I felt it was a little bit less than centralized, and although I was disappointed here that it wasn't going to work out, I was actually somewhat elated at the fact that it was going to remain in a centrally located area. I feel that that's most important for the town to speak to the police department aspect of things. I think we all think that they're just constantly on the road and they're just always available and they're just everywhere and they're omnipresent at all times. But I think everyone should understand that that's not the truth because they have to come back to the station at some point to either, I don't know, go home or maybe do paperwork, or maybe they have to book somebody. It's not something where they're just constantly everywhere. They do have to go back to an area, so it makes sense for them to come back to a centralized locating facility in addition to just uh the teamwork approach and all that stuff, right? That's all that's all wonderful as well. But I fully agree that this should be located in the the the area that's currently being proposed to.

unknown 1:09:05

Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 1:09:06

Thank you.

unknown 1:09:07

Sure.

SPEAKER_12 1:09:08

Josh O'Brien wants to also uh control supervisor and the patient's rank use department on 11 years and the supervisor of the training program. Uh I just want to speak on our tandem relationship with the fire department and how imperative it is to the service of the town. Uh one of our core values for the random use department is service. You've seen it, I know people on the stage have seen us work in tandem. And all that comes from the influence relationships we build informally amongst each other together at that part. If you split that up, we don't have those relationships. It just becomes a formal training here and there, but it is built on all the communication that we've had over the years, and then as a trainer, you can use a camera. I don't want anyone else's eyes to gloss over, so uh thank you, sir.

Street Acceptances And Procedural Postponements

SPEAKER_05 1:10:26

We're talking about you want money for everything. If you uh relate to this children, you have to do it. It doesn't matter overnight. It's a big investment. Forty percent is a hundred and twenty thousand. You think they can save that in here? So they sit down and they plan on forty money decides to be able to buy that. What are we doing here? Five or six years ago, we decided we need a word again. We need a policy safety code. We should provide a police and fire. We need an expansion, they needed more room, they needed more facilities to do the job. They've been doing such a good job for so many years, we figure they can still live in the barn and get the job done. This is 2025. It's not 1963 when I moved into Rainham, and the alarm would go off, and everybody in a vicinity of Archon, Sultan, Nottane, and Pleasant vacated their house, ran across the street, got in the fire trucks, and ran to where the fire was. I don't know. Four thousand people maybe six thousand people. This is a long time. The first request was a train. And they found the building. So the I was the big thing that puts the money away from ASAP. Whatever it takes. We did these schools in uh nineteen ninety-nine and nineteen twenty. We had one money. As an example, over two hundred thousand dollars worth of Smashes in the school building, which wasn't seen, it wasn't funny, but it had to do a rule that wasn't in the budget that town found away. So I think four point four million dollars, I would put a flop on it. Give up the money, put a flyer under the group to get a final design and get a number, and come back and say it's fifty-two million dollars, we've got 48, we're gonna go up to mid, we're gonna have to figure out a won the balance or guarantee the money. Because in most cases, anybody with their good common sense, which maybe lost, knows if you don't start a project if you don't have the knowledge, if you have the wherewithal and needs to pay. So it's uh should we do it? Shouldn't we do it? Five years ago we said it was a great idea. Let's continue to fund it and get it started. ASAP, it really should have been started yesterday.

SPEAKER_02 1:17:13

Thank you, Joe. Anyone else? I think we're getting close to voting here, folks. Seeing no other questions or comments, nobody in the microphone. All those in favor of Article 20, please say aye. Opposed, no. Article 20 passes. Article 21. See if the town votes appropriate and transfer the sum of$275,000 for the steward enterprise and can earn for the repair, including procurement services of the older steward medical within the range of steward system or take any action road to do. All those in favor of Article 21, please say aye. Aye vote no. Article 21 passes article 22 to see if the town will vote. The appropriate trip to the sum of$800,000 from Stewart Enterprise contained earnings for projected payments to be due for reinhams care of capital improvements to the City of Taunton's wastewater treatment plant and make a competition per intervention that's called the previous town is responsible for 15.48% of project costs, set sub supplements$1,315,09 appropriated to previous town meetings to take any reaction relative thereto. Motion estimated executed to approve article 22 discussion on article 22. Seeing not all those in favor of Article 22, please say aye. Aye. Opposed no. Article 22 passes. Article 23 to take the town vote to appropriate to rent for the sum of$370,000 from sewer enterprise retained arrangements for the stabilization to the stabilization fund for sewer department capital expenses for sewer domestic laws, chapter 40, section 5B, or take any action relative to their made it second to approve article 23 discussion on Article 23. Aye. Opposed, no. Article 23 passes Article 24. Section 3D, which authorizes the creation of an elderly and disabled taxation aid fund in Rank. That fund will allow taxpayers in Rayham to voluntarily check off, donate, and collect an amount not less than one dollar that shall increase the amount otherwise to funds of which will be used for the purpose of defraying the real estate taxes of elderly and disabled persons of low income. A taxation aid committee shall be appointed by the select board consisting of the chair of the board of assessors, the town treasurer, and three residents to carry out the provisions of this article and to identify recipients of such a particular action relative there to motion as second to approve article 24 discussion of Article 24. Aye. To accept as public ways, the roadway situated in the subdivision commonly known as Rainham Preserve. Looks like Goldfinch, Barrow Way, Blue Chain Lane, and then there's a um bunch of uh locuses and deep recordings uh for your review or take any action uh relative to it further. Sorry, further authorized the board selectment to accept my conveyance and fee from the owner of set weights at no cost to the town. Set public weights be used for all purposes for which public weights are used of the town or take any action relative to it. Nothing on the floor. I need a motion before we start talking. Motion has been made and seconded to postpone indefinitely Article 25. Comments or discussion on the motion to postpone indefinitely article 25. We will begin with a report of the planning board.

Planning Board Associate Seat: Repeal Or Elect?

SPEAKER_15 1:21:51

Article 25, the board recommends acceptance of Goldframes Drives, Star Way, and UJ Way subject to all issues of both highway department and super department letters being addressed, including outstanding funds, easy net directions, and all these needs being transferred to the town prior to have meeting by order 3 recommended and two closer.

SPEAKER_02 1:22:11

Thank you, sir.

SPEAKER_13 1:22:18

Uh the reason why we should dismiss these two articles is because it's not 100% finished. There's a lot of outstanding for easement and all that. That is why it should be dismissed indefinite until it's a hundred percent. Taxpayers shouldn't have to pick up unless it's a hundred percent. Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 1:22:46

Thank you. Further discussion on Article 25, the motion to postpone indefinitely, which is considered a negative motion, folks. Not that any of you really probably care about that, but parlance of town meeting protocol. Positive motions, motion to approve, and there are negative motions, motion to postpone indefinitely is one of them requires a simple majority vote. If we're choosing to postpone indefinitely, as opposed to dismiss. Technically nothing. The question was what's the difference between dismissing and postponing indefinitely? Um, whereas there was action taken by the planning board, um it's better to postpone indefinitely and allow this to come back up at a date acceptable to the proponent and to the planning board. So you could dismiss it. Postponing it is, in my opinion, a better way to do it. Um that's the same effect. This article doesn't go anywhere, it's essentially laid on the table, no action taken. Mr. Kimono.

SPEAKER_10 1:24:31

Point of order, I believe, is a procedural motion, it's not subject to debate, but I believe is the result of it, Mr. Monterey, that it wouldn't have to appear on the subsequent town meeting warrant.

SPEAKER_02 1:24:41

Postponing definitely. It could come back. It would, but it would definitely have to come back if they if they want to accept the subdivision, it's going to have to come back here. It would require we post on our future warrant. Only town meeting can approve a subdivision. Thank you. Yep, you are correct. So it will be back here. This is not a this is not a means to circumvent town meeting. Any further discussion on the motion to um postpone indefinitely article 25? Seeing none, all those in favor of postponing indefinitely article 25, please say aye. Opposed no. Article 25 is postponed indefinitely. The option to postponing it definitely is postponing to a specific date. We don't have that date because we don't know when the proponent will have these uh shortcomings of the article itself. So we could say postpone until the annual town meeting of 2026, but then that becomes a definite way must date until postponing it definitely gives gives the planning board um a little bit more time to uh to come to a conclusion with the proponent. Article 26. If the town of vote perspoke the mass journal law, chapter 82, section 23 to accept as public ways or roadways situated in the subdivision currently known as rain emperor east. Again, I won't read uh the entire locations, but these are Bayberry Road, Mulberry Road, um, yeah, rain emperor east. Um further to authorize the board selectment to accept back and pay into the fee from the owner of subway to no cost to the town, and set public ways to be used for all purposes to which public ways to be used in the town or take any action relative to that. Motion has to be expected to postpone indefinitely article 26. Discussion on the motion to postpone indefinitely article 26. Aye. Opposed no. Article 26 to postpone indefinitely. Article 27, please tell the vote to amend the stomach bylaw to rename the board selected as the select board by striking out in every instance in which the words board selected and selected appear and certain place thereof the word select board referred to authorizes not substitutive. What should ask for me in a second? To approve Article 27, we will begin with a report from the planning board on Article 27.

SPEAKER_15 1:27:31

Maybe we shouldn't use it next time. Uh by the end of the board recommends acceptance. Thank you, sir.

SPEAKER_02 1:27:46

Got discussion part of the 27. Seeing none. Does everybody that wishes to vote have an opportunity to vote? Take a look at your clicker, make sure it says okay, and the vote number corresponds with your desired vote. Does anybody here need more time? Seeing nobody, I'm gonna close the vote. Article. Okay, we've got two left, folks. I'm gonna pause here for a second and kind of lay the groundwork here for what we're gonna do. Um kind of go off script here. We're gonna do something that we don't normally do and allow discussion on two articles at the same time. So we have uh in the town of Brainham a zoning bylaw, by zoning bylaw that um provides for an associate member of the planning board, and it's currently an appointed petition, appointed by a joint meeting of the planning board and the board selected the police. Well, if I take it wrong, just to get my attention. Um I've studied a lot on this over the last couple days. I think I've got it. Um there is a petition article, article 29, that proposes to eliminate um the uh associate member position, essentially repealing, if you will, a vote of um town meeting that took place at 2022. There's also an article sponsored by the board select with article 28, which proposes to maintain the position of associate member but make it the elected position for a two-year term. So there are three potential outcomes here tonight. Outcome number one would be articles 28 and 29 both fail. By the way, both are going to give a two-thirds vote, two-thirds quorum because we are amending, two-thirds quantum because we are amending proposing to amend the Sonic bylaws. Outcome number one would be Article 28 and Article 29 failing and maintaining the status quo of the associate member being appointed by the board in a joint meeting with the Board of Selectmen, I'm sorry, the Select Board and the Planning Board. Um potential outcome number two is that Article 29, the article to repeal passes by two-thirds vote majority, and there's no longer the associate member position. Article 29 fails, article 28 passes, and then you've got you maintain the associate member, but it now becomes an elected position. I would assume that the next, it's a proposal at the next um town election in April. So the issue that we have here, not issue, another is probably a better word, is the order of which to take Articles 28 and 29, because if Article 28 were to pass, then Article 29 refers to a bylaw that no longer exists because it's been amended by Article 28. If Article 29 passes, then Article 28 more or less becomes a boot, right? So we're gonna do two things here. Number one, once it gets onto the floor for debate, I'm gonna allow discussion on the entire issue globally. I'm not gonna limit discussion on Article 29 just to repealing or eliminating the member. I will allow discussion on whether or not it makes more sense to go to an elected position. Um secondarily, what I'm going to do, I think this is the path of least resistance, is to take up Article 29 first. So we'll put Article 29 on the floor via motion in the second here. I assume that there's going to be a fair amount of discussion from the citizen petitioner and other people that support Article 29, there'll also be discussion over the two from either members of the planning board or the board selecting. So I've got a lot of latitude on discussion here. We always talk about the four corners of the article. Given the nature of these two competing articles, I think I have to allow us to get a little bit outside of that. So before I do that, anybody have any questions with regards to the process that I'm intending to use that I Mr.

SPEAKER_10 1:33:48

DuPont as a point of order, Mr. Meyer. Article 29 prior to Article 28. Would that be would that motion be in order we could take it take article 29? I'm gonna do it anyway. I mean, so you can make a motion if you'd like, but if it fails, I'm still gonna do it. I would move that the uh town meeting uh considering article 29 prior to voice. I have a second.

SPEAKER_02 1:34:19

Motion is debated second to take article 29 out of order. All those in favor of taking article 29 out of order, please say aye. Opposed no. Okay. Try to keep it, you know, keep it in the guidelines. Um, try not to be repetitive, try to be uh economical with your comments if we possibly can. Um and yeah, we'll go from there. So uh Article 29. If nobody has any further questions. Article 29, give the town vote to amend the 25 by deleting the entire section of the byline titled subsection 350 6.15, associate member of planning board as has been voted in article 33 of the annual town meeting of May 16th, 2022. We're taking action relative there too. Motion has been made and seconded to uh approve article 29. Again, folks, this will require a two-thirds majority vote. We will begin with a report of the plan.

SPEAKER_15 1:35:38

Uh the board voted against recommending the proposed amendment with a vote of four against the leading subsection 350-615, uh, and one in favor of the leading. And that was at a public hearing, isn't it?

SPEAKER_02 1:35:52

Okay, discussion on the motion to approve Article 29. Mr. I. Frady, you're gonna have to raise that mic, I think. Get right up next to it, Bob.

Final Votes And Closing Instructions

SPEAKER_01 1:36:14

Good evening. Uh my name is Bob I. Frady. I'm the building commissioner and the planning coordinator. I've uh had a few comments, so if you'll mind me, I'm gonna read them to you. Uh as a planning coordinator, I help applicants through the planning and submittal process, and I attend planning board meetings to answer any questions that the members may have regarding these submissions. And I also take on some projects that the planning board want to pursue, uh like creating an associate member bylaw, which we did about five years ago. So that being said, five years ago, I was asked to start working on a bylaw to create an associate member. Uh, they did this because on more than a few occasions a city member having a conflict with an application would have to recuse themselves, leaving the applicant with sometimes not enough members to vote, or not enough needed for a quorum. A quorum, sorry. So after lots of effort and lots of guidance from the town council, uh Article 356-5.15 was passed about three and a half years ago that created the position of associate member of the planning board. The language in the article basically mimics a few other local towns that have a similar bylaw. The appointing process is also the same as other towns, and actually the same as Rainem has in place now when they appoint people to the ZBA, the Conservation Commission, and other boards. Recently, I think it was last year, the Planning Board made all of its site plan approvals, a special permit process. This means that in order to get approval, a supermajority vote is required. That's four out of five votes, or four out of four. There's only four city members. This was enacted by Town Meeting Vote, like we said, last year, I believe, or the year before last. This now allows for appropriate conditions of approval to be attached to any approval made by the planning board. And those conditions cannot be challenged, and proper mitigation efforts could be required. With potential conflicts, the associate member could be activated to sit on these applications. These applications require, like I said, four for a quorum. Without proper board representation, sometimes you have automatic approvals with no appeals process for the town. It should be noted that serving on the planning board involves the need to be somewhat informed and familiar with the process. Serving as an associate member should be a stepping stone to service as a full member. With a two-year tenure as an associate, you can gain the knowledge of the processes and the rules and regulations that are required to be a full member. That person can then fill a vacancy or move on to a full board position through the town's election process. Service at this level allows for new members to gain the necessary knowledge to make important decisions on any submittal that comes before the planning board. So in the early part of the century, I know it sounds like a long time ago, but uh, I served as the Planning Board Associate Member of the Town of Brickwater. I started the associate as the associate, I got educated, got some confidence, and I ran for the position. Even though my wife begged me not to. I served for a full term, eventually sitting here as a chairman on the last year. I look at that and I look at Anthony Nicoli, who did the same thing as a prime example of what I am talking about. He started as the associate as a member, gained some confidence and knowledge, and now as a sitting member with insight and the best interest of the town when he looks at applications account before. So eliminating this position makes no sense at all. If you're influenced by social media posts, please don't be influenced. This is what the associate member brings to the table. So if you want knowledgeable people to serve on these proofs of positions, you need an associate member. Anyone wishing to serve is afforded in education, I'll still be involved, be involved in the process. The process works as it was as it was designed. And that's what I have for you. Thank you very much.

SPEAKER_02 1:40:47

Thank you, sir. All right, that is that's wireless. If you want to sit with your speaker, you're welcome to say version of. Just so they can yeah, get real close to that microphone.

SPEAKER_07 1:41:09

Uh the associate board number was established in May of 2022. 13 months later, I think 13 months, the first appointment was making in August of 2023. It sat taken another 15 months later until it was going again this year after the election and 2025. So it was a very important position because I think 13 months at first time and 15 months the second time, and it was 13 months at the time. In all four instances, a four of the walls are still present without including the only. The position has never been advertised also during the vacancies until this year, after we feel election of the incumbent. And that was only when the new member asked about why it was never advertised. Um it's been said that the position is a great chance, and this is why you should say that again right now. It's a great chance for people to get experience and see what the planning board is all about before they commit to running for the seat. It's been said it's a good opportunity to train people. However, this is not really being done. There were four applicants this summer that the board only chose the letter they did because of their experience. So, yeah, where's the training experience by being the associate? There's uh no meaning or application that's been delayed, but by default, that's a radical I might be in the sound. Uh, members now on the training would have a legal ability. So attending means we only. So non-attendance isn't even a big issue. And then the event of potential conflict, a method conflict, potentially, and we sometimes allow members to participate. Um I I just don't feel that this position is necessary at all. I think that the sat empty prior to the C's election in April, and then not even a week later, that defeated candidate was made as something like five days later instead right after the candidate won the race. I I thought that was that's why I saw his petition. I thought I was such an adjustment. And you know, Randy always tried to solve on getting things done in the last. We don't need anything, we need to be less about that. Thank you.

SPEAKER_19 1:44:11

Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 1:44:15

Any further comment on Article 29? Mr. Gallagher? No, you're not, sir. Not many of us are.

SPEAKER_11 1:45:26

Okay. Yeah, yeah, perfect. Um, here it comes from the landlord of Ryan has traditionally been composed of a cross-section ranging from professionally professionals in various fields to average citizens, all with a common goal of making life better for the citizens of Iranian. Um by using the guidelines, the past general laws, the local rules, the town, all designed to make our lives more pleasant. The current board consisted of a lawyer, a realtor, an engineer, and several percent citizens who are ready and willing to listen to the ideas and good suggestions others may present. It was determined some time ago that from time to time a member may have to miss a meeting due to illness, family, or business obligations are such that it may be of benefit to the board and the people and alternate members or associate members, and we call that many times followed. Many boards follow this plan and proves to save time and in short for war. We have found this to be true, and it is a better functioning board. We highly recommend the sufficient practice be continued. Um basically to reiterate, we are found by Nass General Law, Chapter 41, Section 81, Subdivision Control Law, NASA only laws, and our local subdivision zoning and planning laws. Our board consists of five members that are elected, and one alternate member. Five members that are elected can vote on anything that comes in front of the board. Any business subdivisions, site plans, uh zoning amendments that we'll voted on through the town meeting report tonight. Um so they have four amendments and they're all elected. The alternate member, on the other hand, you can't vote on hardly anything. They're donating their time for free. The only thing the alternate member can vote on is special permits. Recently we made site plans by special permit, just this past January. And as Mr. Ifrady pointed out, you need a supermajority on a site plan, which is four out of five members. You also need a supermajority just to have a court on a site plan. Now, we've done site plans in the past, they weren't done problem. We had to make them by special permit like they are in most every other town because there's no real appeal. For instance, when the Walmart appeal, all the years have gone by and in front of the judge, and judge says, You are appealing. So permit you have a way to discount. This enables the medicine appeal and the town to have teeth on the approval, then also the applicant as well. So now we need a supermajority. So if someone doesn't buy as they're set, they're not going to attend a meeting. Someone has an obligation for their daughter's graduation. They can have over a planning board meeting. I think you know the daughter will win every time. Um so there's a lot of different ways that can happen. Say we have a planning board on the member of the flooded industrial commercial property, only 300 feet per property. And I think we do have something to do about that. They can't participate on anything that moves on that property. You should only vote. So now you need four out of five. One person falls out, you're dead in the water. And if you wretched your deadline, this person gets the applicant gets approved by default. So you can have a plan that gets approved by default. That's hours of operation, lighting, everything shown on the plan as presented without our input. And the approval can't be appealed. So you have no recourse on that approval. All because you didn't have the associate member to fall in for the fourth player. It's a tool that can sit in your shed for years and you might not use it, but it's nice to have when you need it. And to throw it away makes absolutely no sense. To take it away is that's nothing but negatives. To keep it is nothing but positives. And it just makes absolutely no sense. Well, we haven't used it much in the past year or so. Well, now we're going to have a special permit that's required on all site plans. Most of the land in town's been built on. So most of our work now is commercial site plans, when something is done, redone, certain size additions, parking law changes, it all has to come through by special permit now. That is what I see as the majority of our work right now is subdivision where it's really drying up because most of the land has been built on. The amount of subdivisions that come through here was years ago is nothing. So we really need this position. And the funny thing is, we're arguing over one associate member on a board of five. The zoning board has five associate members on a board of three. So just about every zoning board meeting, they need three out of three votes. So just about every zoning board meeting, they use all their members, and some of their meetings they use three all their members. The reason this is being attacked is as of who we appointed. That's irrelevant. We're here debating the animal on the position, not who's in the position on how we got there. We had applicants, we followed a procedure. People didn't like it. We sent an article, advertised it, we did the procedure. Came up with who we thought was a good candidate. Who actually you're familiar with the META zoning and the 3A zoning? This particular candidate. And then we chose said, well, wait a second, this guy's getting a large day. I gotta look into this. He took it upon himself, found a way to stop that. Make the walk's zone. I don't know how we came up with it. The walk came up with this on we did it with the building commissioner, the town administrator, so like man. And the attorney general just passed that. So we just dodged the bullet of what could have been the biggest development this town's seen in years. I think the guy was involved up. But that's not even the point. The point is the position itself is so necessary. And just such a good thing to have, and having it cost you nothing, and not having it cost you healing.

unknown 1:53:35

And that's all that we've found. Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 1:53:40

This is what I'm saying. Just a clarification, um, the select board proposed Article 28 as a compromise, basically. So that is the town moderator mentioned you have three options. If you support what four of the five planning board members are saying that they need this position and you think it's fine the way it is, is an appointed position, then you can vote no on both articles. If that happens, we have proposed a policy that would streamline the process because there was a little controversy last time, and I believe the planning board supports it as does the select board. So going forward, we would adopt that policy. The compromise on Article 28 is if you believe that the position is valid, again, as four of the five planning board members have indicated, but you think it would be more appropriate to have that position elected rather than appointed, then you can vote for Article 28. If you think there is no need for the position, then you vote for Article 29. I would just mention it hasn't been alluded to the fact that we do appoint members, and that's true. We appoint members to the Conservation Commission, to the Appeals Board, but the difference here is that those are appointed positions. The entire board is appointed. In this case, Planning Board members are elected, which could be an argument why not have the associate member elected as well. Two years, which is what it is right now, versus the five years, which is a very long time to commit to. So basically, again, we just propose Article 28 as a compromise if you support what the majority of the planning board is saying. It's an important position that you think would be more appropriate to have the voters select who serves in that position, then Article 28 is the number one.

SPEAKER_02 1:55:33

Thank you.

unknown 1:55:34

Thank you. Ms. Jack, can you have to come up to the back? I think I don't need to be here after what she said, but I came all this way. So I thought the planning board was elected. And now we have an appointment. So why don't we have these on the board members?

SPEAKER_06 1:55:56

And then you could apply money. So if you need more, so you have a warning. Let's just elect more next time. That's all I'm gonna say.

SPEAKER_02 1:56:09

Thank you. Anyone else on our again? We're out of order here. We're going on article 20. Yes, 29.

SPEAKER_15 1:56:25

Uh so I'm Nickley. Um clerk of the planning board of the under year and a half now, officially. Um I served as the first official alternate of the new rule. I served as the I served as the first official alternate under the new rule. During that time, as Bob mentioned, it's about too hard for me now. Um I realized that the unplay won't be something I really wanted to pursue. So I decided to take the next step and officially run to you. Uh I understand there's been quite a bit of controversy around the current uh appointment for the current associate's appointment. Um I definitely get my results uh current associate has got it's other value uh equity to the board as we calculate. Even a very limited role, but the associate is a very limited role. It does go against the other factor. It's a very growing role. Based on the pull of candidates, we decided that associate was in the so uh conditioned uh the optic position was created when it was changed. Um statistics usefulness. That's a quite helpful story. Uh because it's a needed much. Uh but because it hasn't needed much because it's why we have such a work. It's a pork. It's a subject. It's a bringing up the capital. It cost the count. I'd like to tell my kids uh whether it's a break like a jacket or it's a cup of shoe somewhere, it's better to have it and not eat it than to eat it and not have it. By deleting this section tonight, uh correctly from this will not affect the current associate's term. Um he will stay on until the end of his term. But it will deleting it tonight will prevent other residents from having this opportunity to participate, learn, and contribute in the future. Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 1:58:53

Thank you, sir. We don't need to apparently.

unknown 1:59:00

Mr.

SPEAKER_02 1:59:01

DuPont.

SPEAKER_13 1:59:06

I'll put my back up for Bob after this.

SPEAKER_10 1:59:10

Um, through you, uh Mr. Moderator, to building inspectors and on the planning board. The question that I have in my mind, as I mentioned the other night at the selections meeting when you went through these articles, is I was reminded how Larry Bird was asked about Dennis Johnson. Do you consider him a cutting guard, a shooting guard, uh a point guard? Larry Byrd says, if you got a guard, you get a card. And I'm looking at this article and most respectful of the people with the fine board. I think the question that is in my mind is why would we not simply elect another full member? As they say, a camel looks like a horse designed by a committee, and that's what I see here. There seems to be an attempt by the board of selecting respectfully to seek some compromise on this, to give the pine board the latitude. And also the strength of having enough members to take certain votes. If they have more than one member present and they need a four four votes, they've only got three there. I think one of the arguments that I'm trying to get an answer to is why wouldn't we not simply elect another full member? Thank you, Mr. Member. Thank you.

SPEAKER_15 2:00:28

Okay. If we have six members, would that not be a supermajority?

SPEAKER_02 2:00:36

Your majority raises, it's the majority of the elected members. Chris, you uh if I might John, I could answer that, Jim.

SPEAKER_11 2:00:47

Um what uh what happens is that changes, if you if you bring in more elected members, it changes the chemistry and the core requirements. The associate member is dictated by mass general law, whereas the associate member specifically can only act on special permits when allowed by the chairman when there is an opening because of a conflict. That's the only time an associate member can act, and that's by mass general law. And if you read the article to the associate member, it directly mimics what's Mass General Law debate. Um, if you add to a six-member board or a seven-member board, now you need a supermajority on things that you just need a majority board. Um six to a seven, if you went to a six-member board, now you need four votes, anyway. With five, it's three out of five for a simple majority, four or a couple for a supermajority. So we had another member who changed the chemistry structure on that.

SPEAKER_07 2:02:06

Yes, I just wanted to say that uh someone had remarked that um, you know, people don't like the person that the planning board kept. That this has never been about a person. This was about the position. And this position has only been here, as we said, since 2022. It sat empty for 13 months, it sat empty again for 15 months. So how important really is it? And when they on the in the three and a half years uh that they needed the associate member to vote, they only voted four times, and it was not needed because they had a four of a home. And but this has never been about a person, but the position. And 143 registered verified voters did not sign the census petition because they like someone. And I just wanted that to go on the record. Thank you. Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 2:02:58

Any further discussion on Article 29? So let me just summarize your vote and how you all individually want this to go. Or on Article 29, if you want the associate member structure decision to completely go away, you would vote yes on Article 29. If you don't want it to go away, regardless of whether you want to then talk about Article 28 with it being elected as opposed to being appointed, you would vote no on Article 29. If you want to leave it in status quo, you would vote no on Article 29. If you want it to be appointed, I'm sorry, if you want it to be elected as opposed to appointed, you would vote no on Article 29. So yes on Article 29 completely eliminates the position. I just want to make sure everybody's clear so there's no confusion. Everybody's clear on what they're voting on. Very good. I'm gonna. I don't see anybody approaching the microphone. Are we done up here as well? All right, on Article 29, get your clickers out, and I will open voting. And again, this takes a two-thirds majority to pass. Go ahead. And you should see the number that corresponds with your desired vote. Anyone have any issues with their code? Has everybody had an opportunity to vote? Last chance to change your vote, last chance to vote. Okay, closing the vote. Article twenty-nine is defeated. Reverting back to Article Twenty-eight. To see if the town will vote to amend the section of the zoning bylaw or title subsection three fifty-six point one five associate member of the planning board by deleting the entirety of three fifty-six one fifty six point one five, accepting only the title and reflecting with the following. Associate member of the planning board. The associate member of the planning board shall be elected every two years at the annual town election, beginning with the next annual town election. The chair of the planning board must have taken the subject member to click on the board for the purposes of acting on a special permit application or site by approval absence of inability to act for conflict of interest on the part of any member of the planning board or any of the vacancy on the board. The term of the position shall be two-year. Any vacancy in the position shall be filled with the next annual town election for a two-year term or take any action relative thereto. Okay, second to approve article twenty-eight, we will start with a report of the planning board.

SPEAKER_15 2:06:53

The board recommends acceptance of the amendment as opposed by a vote of three in favor to recommend and two abstentions.

SPEAKER_02 2:07:01

Three in favor, two abstentions. Thank you. Discussion on Article 28.

SPEAKER_06 2:07:19

Um, also 3393. Um, I'd like to acknowledge that I think this is a bit of a time because we're trying to indicate that this will put us back in the same problem as we have now. Um I believe in the past 30 years there were only three contested board races. Each time there was a contested race with a reason to have a situation where the boards went through that square one we are in this case, and I think that might be the same problem that we have tonight. You're going to have 27 years after 30, where there's a no way to make the position. So the failure to elect, according to this dialogue, we have the failure to elect, the decision remains vacant, it's a mass election. There's no pointing. It just remains vacant. One, two, three people, it could work. It just has to support, and I think we have to have the details. It might even be a little bit more dangerous because you do not have the ability to point in such a time.

SPEAKER_02 2:10:00

Put that up a little bit.

SPEAKER_11 2:10:02

Oh, yeah, I forgot for short versus. Correct me if I'm wrong on that. Oh, it is? Okay. So I stayed correct on that. Um, I think we should just leave Long and leave it as it is, and leave it as an appointed member. I'm not sure. I did not really understand Pan that if someone ran and lost, would they become the associate member? I don't think that's true. We should run for this specific position. But um I was not one of the three to vote in favor of this because I think we'd be better off just leaving well enough alone and letting women heal to our social media and just meeting about each other. But that's the way I feel I'm a little old school.

SPEAKER_02 2:11:15

Thank you, Chris. You don't have anything? Just fixing the money? Appreciate that. Further discussion on Article 28. I hear somebody. Oh, Mr. DuPont. You sitting over in the side is completely confusing me, Mr. Dubon. I'm used to you being over there.

SPEAKER_10 2:11:41

Some people think I'm on the left now.

SPEAKER_02 2:11:44

I don't think anybody's gonna think of that.

SPEAKER_10 2:11:46

I heard that. I know you all. Uh I guess my question, Mr. Moderator, is in the event that uh the article passes on an associate member position is created by By election of the voters. If the person were to resign for the term presented, it would not be filled by an appointment until the next election. But it would remain vacant until the next election. At which time a new associate member could be elected for a full two-year term. In other words, there would be no interim member by someone who had been duly elected.

SPEAKER_02 2:12:24

That is my reading. According to uh term B of Article 28, any vacancy in the position shall be filled in the next annual town election. So there's no provision for appointing an interim.

SPEAKER_10 2:12:36

If I may miss more, I refer you to plan where do I understand correctly if a fully elected member resigns, then that position remains vacant until the next regularly scheduled election? That's the way I read it.

SPEAKER_02 2:12:50

Yep, according to town council, you are reading it correctly. Thanks very much. Thank you. Further questions, comments, Article 28. Seeing none, so just to remind everybody what you're voting for here. Um a yes vote. If it has two, if it carries via two-thirds vote, a yes vote on Article 28. You are saying that you want the associate member position to be elected. No vote, you are saying that you wish to remain appointed. Everybody got that? So the associate member position has survived for tonight. Now it's just a matter of elected, yes on 28. Appointed, no on 28. We're clear? I'm gonna open up voting. Article 28. Again, this requires a two-thirds majority vote to carry. Now while I have your attention, because I know you're all gonna get up when I call this vote, please don't go home with these. Please drop them at the front door on your way out to Amy and her team. They're they look cheap, right? They're not. They're expensive. And we've had to backfill a few of them, and it's it's um it's not a good spot to be in. So I would ask you that you'd be diligent and drop these off on your way out tonight when you leave. Has everybody had an opportunity to vote? Does everybody look down at this screen? See that okay, and see the number in the screen that corresponds with your desired vote. Take that as an affirmative. I'm gonna close the vote. Article 28 fails. So to summarize Article 28 and 29, no change to the associated member of the planning board. Folks, thank you so much for moving this level. Thank you so much for everything that you've done tonight. Um, it's coming.