Raynham Select Board 06/02/2026

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

A routine agenda turns into a surprisingly rich snapshot of how a town actually runs. We start with the nuts and bolts of governance, including why the meeting is recorded instead of broadcast live, then move quickly into the month’s public safety picture with clear numbers and real-world incidents that shaped May in Raynham, Massachusetts. The police report covers calls for service, arrests, and two standout cases: a shoplifting suspect who drops a backpack with a loaded handgun during a foot chase, and a convenience store robbery where the weapon looks real in the moment even though it later turns out not to be. 

From there, we hear the fire department’s run totals for fire and EMS, a reminder that medical calls drive a huge part of local response, plus updates on fire prevention work and training in vacant buildings slated for demolition. We also take votes that keep core services staffed, including part-time communications clerks and additional part-time call firefighters used to recruit and evaluate future full-time candidates. 

The conversation then shifts to town operations and accountability: creating a consistent process to acknowledge retirees with a letter from the board, and refining public comment language so residents can be heard while the board stays compliant with Massachusetts Open Meeting Law and avoids debating topics that are not posted on the agenda. We wrap with key approvals tied to HR coverage, insurance renewal, public safety building change orders, Pine Street culvert design and permitting over Bassett Brook, a MassWorks grant application for complete streets work on Paramount Drive, and community highlights like Girl Scouts Silver Award projects focused on children’s hospitals, CPR education, and cyberbullying prevention. If you value practical local government updates, subscribe, share this with a neighbor, and leave a review with the topic you want us to dig into next.

Transcript

Call To Order And Minutes

SPEAKER_04 0:00

All right, good evening. Call the meeting to order at seven PM. Inform the public that this particular meeting is being recorded only due to a tech failure, uh and therefore we're not uh uh able to broadcast live, but we've been assured by our partners at Raycam will be posted uh for public consumption as soon as they are able to do that. Normally we'd be on Comcast 98 and Verizon 34. I'd ask those with us to join us in the pledge, please. Pledge later to the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands on nation and uh individual with opportunity to justice for us. All right. Next up is the acceptance of the minutes, a special session on May 18, regular session of May 19, and executive session of May 19, with those being withheld from public release.

SPEAKER_02 0:53

I make a motion to accept those minutes as printed.

SPEAKER_04 0:56

Seconded. All in favor, aye. Those are approved. Department heads first up is the police chief Dave O'Plan, Dave.

Police Calls And Major Incidents

SPEAKER_00 1:06

So the uh activity report for the month of May for the police department. We had 2,582 calls for service. Uh 448 of those were emergency 911 calls, and of those, 103 were emergency medical dispatch calls. Uh we had 15 arrests and several criminal summonses. So we had a couple notable incidents last month. On uh May 12th, officers from the day shift responded to Walmart for a reported shoplifter. While being escorted by an officer to lost prevention, the uh suspect fled from the store. The suspect ran south on Paramount Drive, dropping a backpack and a loaded handgun. Massachusetts state police responded to the scene and assisted in the surge, providing a canine and airwing support. Um they did not locate the suspect. Um, as a result of a thorough investigation by the involved patrol officers in our detective unit, an 18-year-old male from Rhode Island was identified. A warrant was helped for the suspect, and he was later arrested and charged with droplifting carrying a firearm without a license and possession of ammunition. On May 17th, members of the day shift responded to quick stop on Broadway for a reported arm robbery. An investigation revealed that the suspect approached the counter and asked for several $50 scratch tickets, and then placed what appeared to be a handgun on the counter while threatening the clerk. Um it was quickly learned that it was not a real uh handgun by any of the officers that arrived at the scene. Um at the conclusion of the investigation, Iranian police identified a 53-year-old Iranian man and obtained an arrest warrant. Um served a warrant for arm robbery uh with a firearm and arrested. And I'd also like to just acknowledge the uh the detectives Pat Leahy and Jared Jurgetton for their involvement in a lengthy multi-agency drug investigation in Mansfield. As a result of that investigation, uh search warrant was executed as a res at a residence in Mansfield yielding 63 grams of what is believed to be cocaine, $48,961 in cash, two handguns, and three high capacity magazines. Um Anson, a 26-year-old Mansfield man, was arrested and charged with uh several drug and firearm charges. I just want they they don't get a lot of credit, they do a ton of work, and a lot of this stuff is uh is really we don't want to advertise it to the public, but they do a great job, and I just wanted to give them kudos for for what they did. Um so for community service, I want to thank everyone in our department uh for their involvement in the Memorial Day Parade. I appreciate all their dedication uh to the community, and I hope it continues uh I'd also like to thank the firefighters and police officers who accepted an invitation from the uh Rainham Babe Ruth All-Stars to play them in a softball game on uh this past Sunday. Um, although the Babe Ruth team won by a lot, um I was told everyone had a great time. So I just want to thank all the people that went and uh participated, and then there was a bunch of people that showed up just to watch and support. That's all I got.

SPEAKER_02 4:42

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think it's important to emphasize, Chief, that even though that robbery was not a real gun, it still is considered armed robbery.

SPEAKER_00 4:51

Right, it is because um it wasn't learned till after.

SPEAKER_02 4:56

Right. And the the victim or whatever did not thought it was right, exactly. And obviously, as you said, those detectives do amazing work. I know those cases involve many, many hours of painstaking work, and and we're so fortunate to have them, and all the members of the department do a great job, and special thanks obviously for such great support for our Rain A Memorial Day Parade for all the members of the department that participated, and you as well, Chief. I mean, helping carry a banner is really going a little above and beyond, and we appreciate it.

SPEAKER_00 5:26

Thank you.

SPEAKER_05 5:28

Um great police work, obviously, as always. Um, being able to apprehend all the suspects that were at large. I mean, that's great police work, but nothing but the best. I was able to attend the baseball game, that was fun. I showed up for a little bit, my daughter had a soccer game, and then I stopped over. It was it was a good time. Everyone was having fun, so it's awesome to do things like that.

SPEAKER_00 5:54

Unfortunately, I had to miss it.

SPEAKER_04 5:55

Yeah, sorry, it was good. Thank you. Before you leave,

Approving Part-Time Dispatch Hiring

SPEAKER_04 5:59

if there's no objection from the board, um there's a request from the chief item 9C on the new business. I'd like to take it out of order, no objection. No object. Um the chief is requesting the ability to hire two part-time communications clerks positions. These positions are created as a result of uh two part-time clerks being promoted to full-time positions. Uh, there's no additional cost to the budget as they're replacing the positions and the non-benefited. Any questions or comments?

SPEAKER_02 6:25

No, I'll make a motion to approve.

SPEAKER_04 6:28

All in favor? Approved. Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 6:29

Thank you.

SPEAKER_04 6:30

Thank you, Chief.

Fire Department Activity And Training

SPEAKER_04 6:31

All right, next up is our fire chief Brian Simeter. Brian. Good evening.

SPEAKER_03 6:35

I have the report for the fire pound for the month of May. We did uh 84 fire calls, 229 medical emergencies, and 175 uh fire prevention activities. Uh I do have to make an amendment. Um last year we were at 1599 for calls, and this year we're at 1635, making it uh 36 runs higher for that month. I'd also like to thank uh RK Plazas. As you probably know, party city is being torn down. Um sometimes we get an opportunity to use that building, uh we use vacant buildings to uh to conduct some training. Um we were able to uh go out there last night and uh and do some fire training before they tore that down. And and the dog track had also um allowed us to do the same thing uh a little earlier in the month. So I want to thank them. And again, I would just be reiterating what Chiefville planned said, but we've been involved in a lot of community activities between the parade, some school uh activities uh where they're kind of winding down between field day and a touch a truck and uh various things like that. Guys always step up to do those things, so it's it's always good to be involved in the community like that. His wake was tonight, which we were a lot of us were just at. So if you just keep his family in there, Noah was a long time firefighter, retired a little bit ago, and unfortunately uh unexpectedly passed away.

SPEAKER_02 7:52

Um firefighter my rat. And again, thank you, Chief, for all your support and the members of the department for our parade. That was great turnout, and thank you for taking care of our flats. A lot of them got a little bit beat up on Saturday. So that was a tough one there. Yeah, so uh your members of your department picked them up on Sunday. That was great, thank you.

SPEAKER_05 8:12

Um I mean, great great big firework as usual. I mean, calls are on the uptick. I mean it seems to be a common trend. So I'm assuming that they'll keep in that trajectory year over year, unfortunately. And um, but aside from that, I nothing else. Good, thank you.

Adding Part-Time Call Firefighters

SPEAKER_04 8:30

Uh again, if no objection from the board, I'd like to take 9D out of order, uh, which is a repression chief, to hire three additional part-time called firefighters. The department for as long as I've been around has used this kind of as a triple-A uh league to recruit and um train and evaluate uh potential uh employees for full-time employment later on, the non-benefited positions, but it's the board's pleasure.

SPEAKER_02 8:54

One motion to approve.

SPEAKER_04 8:56

Second, all in favor. I approve, thank you. Thank you.

SPEAKER_03 9:00

Um it says to hire three put through some life changes and uh different things people are leaving, so it may not even really increase what we have. So okay thank you. Perfect, thank you.

SPEAKER_04 9:10

All right, uh, no appointments this evening, no hearings. All business, Miss Riley.

SPEAKER_02 9:15

I have none, thank you. All right, Mr.

SPEAKER_04 9:18

Andrade. No, great. Uh next up, new business.

Retiree Recognition Letter Process

SPEAKER_04 9:22

Um, this was an item I had asked, and I apologize to my colleagues. I put a few items on this agenda. Um, it's a discussion and a vote on a process for uploading retiree. So from time to time, uh stuff gets brought to the town's attention as to where we can improve um processes and efficiencies. Uh, and one of them that was brought up was making sure when an employee uh, regardless of where they um uh work uh retire that they're getting some type of acknowledgement from the town. Uh and so, regardless of what that department head chooses to do, assuming it's not a department head retiring, uh what I'm proposing to the board as part of our policies is a letter goes out from this board uh thanking that any employee who retires for their service and wishing them well.

SPEAKER_02 10:06

I think that's a great idea, Mr. Chairman. I would volunteer to work with Mr. Barnes on drafting something and bring it back to the board, but certainly I would make that motion to approve.

SPEAKER_04 10:15

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm second that. All right, any other discussion? Seeing none all in favor? That is approved. Greg, you and Kathleen and Miss Riley can work on that moving forward. Thank you.

Clarifying Public Comment Under Law

SPEAKER_04 10:25

Uh next up, excuse me, another item I asked for uh revising standing agenda language. You all should have a copy of this. Um, Ms. Riley, you'll recall Mr. Andre, you I know watched our meetings, but you were not on the board. Back in 2024, we formalized the existing practice for public comment at our meetings. Um, not looking to change that. What I'm looking to do is make it clearer for folks coming before us. And so I want to emphasize that this board has always and will continue to uh not only offer but welcome public input at all of our meetings, it's always a standing item, but there's from time to time confusion when somebody comes before us and is addressing us on an issue that's not on our agenda. And so what I'm proposing is language that is using other um public agendas uh and it's a product of KP law to clarify that folks can come forward and speak, but that we will not engage them if the topic is not on our agenda. So the proposed language would be the open meeting law discourages public bodies from discussing topics not on the agenda. The public should therefore not expect the board to respond to questions or statements made during the public comment portion of their meeting. All questions directed to town officials should be submitted in writing to the town administrator. And so again, I just want to underscore the fact this is not meant to curtail or otherwise limit um public comment. Rather, it's a protection for everybody involved, including the town, uh, to make sure that we stay on the right side of the open meeting law. So I'll open it up to the board for questions, comments.

SPEAKER_02 11:54

Um I'll make a motion uh for discussion, Mr. Pachigo. Mr. Chairman, the only thing that I have um reading it over again is all questions directed to town officials should be submitted in writing to the town administrator. I mean, obviously if someone can do that, it's great, but I wouldn't want to curtail people for just watching a meeting, being at a meeting and suddenly have a question and be able to do that. So um maybe if we could maybe if we could just table it and rewrite it a little bit, reword it a little bit for our next meeting.

SPEAKER_04 12:28

What I would just ask then is if we want to table it, because this came from an attorney, that we set run it by town council, because I don't want to deviate too much from what's on the books, but I'm open to any interpretation. So if anybody has edits, I would just suggest we get them to Mr. Barnes so he can get them to our town council to vet uh for potential action at the next meeting.

SPEAKER_02 12:49

Sure, sure. The school committee has a nice um uh statement that they read also, so we may want to just flip that over a little bit. So I'll just make a motion that we, as you said, table it till the next meeting.

SPEAKER_04 13:00

I'll second that's all in favor? Aye. That is approved for tabling. Uh next up, C and D have been taken care of. Item

HR Coverage And Contract Approvals

SPEAKER_04 13:10

E, our uh as we had previously announced, our HR coordinator is um moving on, uh, but she's graciously agreed to stay on part-time until such time as the permanent position has been filled, and uh in our packets is the uh temporary terms of her agreement, which provide for approximately up to 21 hours a week at a rate of $50 an hour with no benefits. What is the board's pleasure?

SPEAKER_02 13:34

Um I'll make a motion to approve.

SPEAKER_04 13:36

Seconded. All in favor? Aye. That is approved unanimously. Next up is a junk dealer's license uh for Ali Doolis. This is going in Shah's Plaza. What is the board's pleasure?

SPEAKER_02 13:46

Motion to approve.

SPEAKER_04 13:47

Seconded. All in favor? Aye. It's approved. Next is discussion and vote on the renewal of the injured on duty 111F insurance to the ref be insure. This comes with the recommendation of the town administrator. Uh it's a simple renewal that covers our policy for the next year. What's the board's pleasure?

SPEAKER_02 14:03

Motion to approve. Seconded.

SPEAKER_04 14:05

All in favor. Aye. That is approved. Next is uh change order uh number 11 with Doran Whittier for additional geotechnical services. This is related to the public safety building again with the town administrator's recommendation. What is the board's pleasure?

SPEAKER_02 14:19

Uh motion to approve. Seconded.

SPEAKER_04 14:22

All in favor, aye. Aye, that is unanimous. Uh item I, discussion and vote on change order number three with GPI for design and permitting of the culvert replacement at Pine Street over Bassett Brook. And that is with the approval of the town administrator and highway superintendent.

SPEAKER_02 14:39

Motion to approve. Seconded.

SPEAKER_04 14:41

All in favor? Aye. Aye. That is approved. Next is discussion and vote of carryover of a remaining FY26 vacation time for the town administrator. Uh, in the town administrator's contract, which is a little unique, we allow him to request carryover uh given the nature of his position. Uh, he and I have had some conversations and to try to prevent this from happening in the future. Uh he has put together a proposed schedule uh of time off to ensure that he utilizes all this time so this is not again an annual request from him, and with that I uh would have no objections to it, but I open it up to any questions, comments from the board.

SPEAKER_02 15:18

Yeah, I'll have a motion to approve.

SPEAKER_04 15:20

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 15:20

Second.

SPEAKER_04 15:21

All in favor? Aye. Aye. That is approved unanimously.

Grant Push And Staff Resignation

SPEAKER_04 15:24

Uh time to minister's report, Mr. Barnes.

SPEAKER_01 15:30

Yes, uh tomorrow tomorrow uh is the application deadline for MassWorks, and we will be uh we applied for this last year, unfortunately did not get it, but try try again uh for um a complete streets uh for uh Paramount Drive. So we're applying for a $500,000 grant. There is a $50,000 matching component, but that is expected through the Commerce Association. Um we're hoping uh being persistent, we will we will be able to uh eventually obtain that grant.

SPEAKER_04 16:13

That's how you have Greg.

SPEAKER_01 16:15

Um we also I did uh email the board. We received that the uh word that the uh health uh director will be resigning sooner than her original resignation letter.

SPEAKER_04 16:29

Any questions for Mr. Barnes? No, Mr. Andre?

Girl Scouts Projects And School Highlights

SPEAKER_04 16:33

Okay. Uh select board report, Miss Riley.

SPEAKER_02 16:43

It's very impressive. We have over 125 Girl Scouts from uh Daisies to Brownies to cadets all the way up through high school. Um so it was very impressive. A lot of people involved. And um our Troop 82256 received the Silver Award from Girl Scouts, which is the second highest award, second only to the Gold Award. And um they, in order to do that, they had to do some projects, and they were um projects were, I think, noteworthy, very impressive. Casey Mulcahy and Addison Callerin created a focused coloring book for children who stay overnight in children's hospitals with the goal of providing an outlet of joy and positivity in an otherwise emotionally difficult time in their lives. They created versions of their book in print form, which were distributed to Children's Hospital in Boston and the children's unit at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester. They also created a digital version of the book that can be utilized whenever needed by these and many other children's hospitals. Olivia Rollins, Ava Pereira, Amelia Lombardo, and Amber Fitch focused their award on CPR education and awareness. They organized a class with the help of local professionals, particularly the Iranium Fire Department, to obtain official CPR certification for themselves and their fellow troop members. They then presented two educational meetings for community members on the life-saving benefits of CPR, introducing them to CPR techniques and encouraging the attendees to become certified. And lastly, Cara Conrad, Lily Hastings, Macy Kamara, and Aubrey Shaw's Silver Project focused on addressing the problem of cyber bullying in a middle school environment. They created a digitally enhanced video to be used by others in the community to provide education and insight into the negative effects that can result from cyberbullying in our community. Their video encourages their viewers to resist and stand up to the problem. So kudos to our Girl Scouts for their efforts on that. Just want to thank everybody for the piss participating, either watching or participating in our Rainham Memorial Day parade, another successful effort, and the weather was amazing considering what the next day Sunday was and the following Saturday was. We we left out once again. Also had the opportunity to attend last week the Bridgewater Rainem Regional High School's Senior Scholarship Night, and it's just impressive how many um community organizations, individuals donate um money for scholarships for our high school seniors that are graduating. And the impressive schools that our high school students are going to, some of the best schools, not only in New England or Massachusetts, but in the country. So we've got some great students and uh they do a great job. And also attended last Friday evening the BR class of 2026 graduation. They're worried about the weather. They moved it from six till four, four o'clock as it started, so did the rain. Um, but it didn't stop anybody. There were umbrellas that people pulled out, and our graduates just, JDG just, they just went on with it. And it was it was a great ceremony. As also, congratulations to everybody involved in that, particularly our high school principal, who always does a great job, who always does a great job, Angela Watson. And if anyone hasn't heard, she is going to be our new, or she are now is our new assistant superintendent for the Ridgewater Ranium Regional School District. And I'm sure Angela will do a great job because she always does. And that's all I have to study. Thank you, Ms.

SPEAKER_05 20:18

Riley, Mr. Gamber.

Permit Fee Review And New Business Spotlight

SPEAKER_05 20:20

Um, just to echo what Pat said the memorial they've breaked was awesome. I mean, it was a great, great day. Everyone, it was well coordinated, the weather held off, it was a lot of fun. Everyone I spoke to had an awesome time. Um, one other thing to bring to the attention would be if we can possibly put on one of the agendas upcoming discussion on some uh permit fees for um building department. I had a chance to speak with Bob. He had put together a list, I'll send it to you, Greg, um, of different permit fees per town. Our permit fees haven't been updated since rocking 2019. So I had just um spoke to Bob. I got plumbing inspector, electro inspector, they compare this in comparison a work with Jason Towns to kind of look at where we were at with permitting fees. Um, you know, we can also reach out to Bob, maybe have him come in when we're gonna have that discussion for Wayne to kind of give his opinion on it. Um but I think that, you know, the time to stop looking at this stuff, it's now just considering 2019 was a different world. Um other than that, that's all I have to say.

SPEAKER_04 21:31

Thank you, Mr. Andrew. Uh just one quick item. I had a chance uh to attend Brickstone Brew Houses, uh, ribbon cutting a few about two weeks ago. They're officially open after almost a three year old yes. They did a phenomenal job, I would say. We had no expense. Uh food is of similar quality uh and variety to just the restaurant barrels and boards, and uh, I think a welcome addition to the town, so we certainly wish them well. Uh correspondence, we have none. Press time, we have none. No emergency businesses in the community input. Performance of the administrative duties uh to report our time finding structure with time of reading and invoice and payroll

Motion To Enter Executive Session

SPEAKER_04 22:10

warrants. At this time, I will entertain a motion to go into executive session. So things for the purpose of adjournment with no other business. Executive session will be NAS General Law, Chapter 38, section 2182 and 3. Conduct general session of preparations and negotiations with non-union personnel, or conduct the collective bargaining session, a contract negotiations with non-union personnel, and to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining and litigating position of the public body and the chance of the playance. I would superintendent by the chief of police captain. Second roll call, Mr. Hiley, Mr. Andrew, I chair books. I we have a churn. Thank you, everybody.