Select Board: October 12, 2022

Transcript captured from MHTV’s Vimeo auto-captioning. No speaker labels; proper names and dollar figures occasionally misheard. Click any timecode to jump to that moment in the source video.

0:00 and we would like to start with our first agenda item. If we could have helaine. And his Diana with you or Diane with you or no? I invited her and not remind her today. I’m sorry to say no. Well, thank you. It’s nice to be here before the pandemic. I’ve been in the building but not just back. I haven’t even seen the tables turned around. Well, it’s good to see you here really and very happy to be here again. So I think most of you know, I’m Helene Hazlet. Do I need to give my address? For the record, okay. So last March the lap and Foundation virtually

0:45 presented a summit on anti-semitism. And Mayors select board members of the community leaders were invited virtually to attend both Jackie belf Becker and I were in attendance. Just coincidentally by the way, but we were both there. At that time those in attendance were asked to bring back to the communities the suggestion of celebrating International. Holocaust Remembrance Day which was designated by the United Nations in 2005. So it’s been a while. As co-chair with Diane Gore who I’m sorry to say isn’t here tonight. We are co-chairs of the task force against discrimination, which you have appointed and a point every year. Thank you very much. I am here to request that Marblehead designates, January 27th.

1:34 Each year not I’m not coming back every year I’d like you to do this.

1:40 forever Holocaust International Holocaust Remembrance Day and to report to you that the task force has voted unanimous unanimously in favor, so I’m not here. On my own behalf. Because the laugh and Foundation asked me to come I’m here because the test was his asked so but I would like to read to you what international Holocaust Remembrance Day commemorates, and I’d like to also read the UN General Assembly resolution. You got a few minutes. Absolutely. Okay, cushy, the international Holocaust Remembrance Day is an international Memorial Day on the 27th of January that commemorates the victims of the Holocaust which resulted in the murder of 1/4. I’m sorry one-third of the Jewish people along

2:27 with countless members of other minorities between the years of 1933 in 1945 by Nazi, Germany. It was an attempt to implement their final solution to the Jewish question. January 27th was chosen to commemorate the date when the auction it’s the date when Auschwitz concentration camp was liberated by the Red Army in 1945.

2:53 The day remembers the killing of six million Jews two-thirds of Europe’s Jewish population in millions of others by the Nazi regime in its collaborators. It was designated by the United Nations General Assembly resolution resolution number 60 / 7 on November 1st 2005. The resolution came after special session was held earlier that year on January 24th to Mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps and the end of the Holocaust. The general assembly resolution 60-7 was established again at States January 27th as International Holocaust Remembrance Day urges everyone and I’m sorry urges every nation of the UN to honor the memory of

3:40 the Holocaust victim victims six million Jews. One third of the Jewish people along with countless members of other minorities. And encourages the development of educational programs about Holocaust history to help prevent future acts of genocide. It rejects any denial of the Holocaust as an event in condemns all manifestations of religious and tolerance incitement harassment of violence against persons are communities based on ethnic origin a religious belief. It also calls for actively preserving the Holocaust sites that served as the Nazi death camps concentration camps Force labor camps in prisons as well as establishing a un program of Outreach and mobilization of society for Holocaust Remembrance

4:25 in education resolution 60 days / 7 in the international Holocaust day was an initiative of the state of Israel the essence of the text lies and it’s two-fold approach one that deals with the memory in remembrance of those who are massacred during the Holocaust and the other with educating future generations of the Harvest. so I think that that really explains it and I really am pleased to present this after it’s been made of resolution since two in 2005 of the United Nations now, there are Many many countries that I’ve got four pages of them. I can quickly just tell you who celebrates.

5:14 International Holocaust Remembrance Day the azerbaijing and Community country, Australia Belgium, Bosnia

5:26 Some celebrate including Canada the yom-hashawa which is the date that Israel celebrates in. Either April and May depending on the Jewish calendar. But then I’ll go on with Croatia. This is all people now that you on the January 27th the check Republic Denmark Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece Island. Italy Luxembourg, Netherlands, Macedonia, Norway, Poland Portugal Romania, Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Taiwan the Ukraine and that’s what we have. It’s interesting to note. And I call the ADL today because I wanted to make sure that we were all on the same page the

6:12 United the United States celebrates eight days during the Israeli.

6:19 Commemoration on Yom, hashower the eight-day period from the Sunday before Yom hashoga to the following Sunday. And it’s that it’s their days of remembrance and that’s what they call it. ADL said that they celebrate both days. So we I feel that because we were asked. to do it by these the session that I went to and that all many communities around our area. I Know Dan was for one because the mayor spoke that day and other communities Peabody, I think. In Jackie was there she’ll fill it and fill in for me. And so I wanted to join our community the local communities and I think it’s

7:09 I just think that that was what we were asked to do and I think it’s more meaningful to do with the United Nations did for us. So also I’d like to when I spoke with Kyle earlier. a few days ago She gave me a proclamation that the form of water select man. Now you’re select board have read you have read a proclamation each year that’s been sent to you on the international Holocaust Remembrance Day. And you also have asked for us to celebrate a Holocaust Education Month. So you have been doing this but it really hasn’t been done throughout the community. And I think this is something that Task force would like to take on and hopefully others will do that. As a matter

7:56 of fact, I had an opportunity to speak with Rabbi David Maya today and I sadly was at a funeral that he was officiating it. So with the as we were walking off the Cemetery I was able to have a little chat with him and he said he would like to Be proud of this and and meet with with whomever is going to do a program. So I think we’ve we’re we have a little bit of a stat after we get this accepted. So I I will turn it over to you, but I have something to say after that also.

8:33 Well, thank you for that. That was really important to to remember. And does any does the board have anything to say I would like to say please? Thank you.

8:47 The impact of the Holocaust is always with me. I lost most of my parents immediate family members accept one person. And fortunately my parents managed to be among the survivors of the atrocities in Europe. I’m fully aware of what seems to be a rekindling of the horrific mindset that led to the Holocaust we have to be more Vigilant in educating the public about the consequences of the spread of hateful activities in our society Thank you. Jackie I’ve known that about you and I always am amazed how you can carry yourself. Throughout your life with what’s what’s has happened in your family. Thank you.

9:33 Thank you so much to the task force for doing the work and bringing it to us and hosting the lap and Society or perhaps they hosted us I do remember there was a really good turnout for that online event. It was all so timely with everything that was going on in the community at the time. I didn’t know that Jackie. Thank you for sharing that. That’s really remarkable.

9:59 Yeah, I just also like to say, you know, Jackie reminds me that it’s you know, absolutely essential to remember our history, you know, especially the the horrific ones. I think there was a Russian dissident who said that the line between good and evil runs right through the middle of our heart and I actually Believe that, you know, especially in as concerns Jackie’s concern about our own society. And you know, I think it’s vital that our society and our country remain ever Vigilant and encourage the better angels of our nature, especially of our children and thank you for doing that. Well, you know. As as the survivors of the Holocaust die off in their dying every day every day multiple people are dying every day.

10:45 I reminded of the fact that Elie Wiesel once said when I spoke I when I said he spoke and I was there at Boston University. I’ll never forget what he what he said. He said I don’t wish to be the last person to survived the Holocaust because they’ll never believe me. So we need to keep the memories alive and as as he has said and many people said after him, never forget.

11:16 All right. I think we would in that vein if anybody any other comments and that being we’d like to entertain a notion and I made a note. You like to do it on a continual language basis. And so I think what I’d like to do is modify the the proclamation Kyle

11:39 And the motion reads a motion to Proclaim January 27th 2023, and I’d like to insert and on a continual annual basis Holocaust remembers Remembrance Day and to sign the proclamation as prepared.

11:58 Is that some of discussion? second can’t just write motion of claim January 27. Probably classroom now all classroom Remembrance Day. Well, I’m wondering if it falls on any particular day of the week. That was my only It’s always the 27th. It’s always a 27 okay here when I read the list of other countries some do with the Sunday following some do it. Most of them would do it just on the 27th or 27, so don’t even put a day a year. Yeah. No, that’s a good correction. Okay. so let’s entertain this motion then emotion to Proclaim January 27th Holocaust Remembrance Day and to sign the proclamation as prepared.

12:43 all those in favor Unanimous, thank you very much. Thank you. So I do want to say two things one that we do realize this that are anti-Semitism throughout the world is rising would you certainly is related to and also

13:07 the other groups that have come before you like Juneteenth and pride day and Indigenous people’s day. I hope that maybe in your as budget season is is Approaching that maybe you’d be able to put a line in for those programs that remember. our community in our fellow mankind I should be more.

13:37 accepting of people kind I guess I should say but I think that it would be wonderful if we could have a small budget for that because we’ve been going out to the banks as Jim knows to various other places to raise money and

13:56 I’m a little tired of doing the streets.

14:00 They think it would be it would be nice if there would be some of money for those programs. Thank you. Thank you. Have a good evening. Thanks, Mike. Enjoy your next stop. I know where you’re going.

14:21 Okay, the next item on our agenda is the arpa discussion followed by a vote and there’s a little bit of a setup to this motion. This motion is to ask for or to to approve the allocation of arpa monies for specific projects, but we’d like to take this opportunity to run through a presentation. That explains how the arpa spending plan has been developed. And so with that I’ll turn the presentation which looks like it’s working and it’s hooked up. Over to Thatcher and we’re gonna we’re gonna do some swapping back and forth as we go through some of these slides with Moses. So purpose of this presentation is

15:08 to sort of give a a brief on the process that was developed the tools that we’re using and Sort of an update of the status of funding what’s funded what’s on the list as of today? The the workbook that we use the tool is a living document it gets updated on a continuous basis as we get more information and do some more analysis. So so specifically have a date on it the, you know the items on the list the order and those sort of things will change over time as we work through this program. So starting with what is

15:54 Opera? So Opera is the American Rescue plan Act. Those passed by the federal government the specifically for public health and economic impacts as a result of covid. So this is federal money that has flowed down to the local communities.

16:18 They were there were two trenches of funding that cities and towns have received and each of these tranches have basically two channels. So a trans is just two different allotments in which the the federal government released the funding and what they did is they they had a formula and determined how much funding should go directly to cities and towns and so Marblehead and all other communities received that allocation based on the formula. And then the federal government allocated out to the states funding for counties. And whereas in Massachusetts, we pretty much eliminated counties as a functional part of part of government. So

17:04 what the Commonwealth did is turned around and allocated the county money out to the cities and town. So for each tranche we got two different alignments that came in at different times. Um, in fact here is the the funding that we’re expected to get the total amount to be received is the 6.16,144,030. Um, we’ll see July 6 2021 received, you know, the first tranche direct City and town on August 13th, the county allocation of the first tranche that came in right now. Are you oil exporting countries in the OPAC bus cartel?

17:49 So August 18th, we received the most recent funding and there were pending on the county allocation, which will give us the full amount that’s been allocated for model that.

18:03 Okay, this is where I jump in and I mainly jumping in because the arpa working group is formed before before Thatcher’s arrival. So I’ve got a little bit of sense of the background but the working group was formed to do exactly what Thatcher said at the beginning in terms of the figure out how to identify projects and then deploy money for the federal money that’s coming our way. So we formed a working group of eight members which included a select board member the Town Administrator the town planner the health director the superintendent of schools the finance director a fin calm member and a resident at large. So we got we canvas of very very broad group to help us with the with the preparation of the of the arpa funding.

18:51 So the group basically solicited town-wide projects and was going to prioritize the spending plan in the office fun in the art of funds. The first thing the working group did was develop a set of criteria to develop the decision-making process for the use of funds and we spent a lot of time discussing that and we ended up approving and Publishing a prior to a prioritization criteria list from the select board. So this was this criteria list was published before we set to work and the whole purpose of publishing that list was to let everybody know that we were going to go through a very systematic process in looking at each of these in each

19:39 of these requests. So we went out and solicited from the department heads and residents at large to determine what kind of Town Projects could qualify for the Arkham Knight money. So we basically cast a very wide net across the town we decided this is the way we wanted to go. We wanted to really understand kind of where the needs were and then Match those needs to you know to to money appropriately. We also launched the community survey which canvas I think they’re about 344 participants in the survey and you know got their thoughts as well in terms of what their priorities were for for money. That would be spent from

20:26 the arpa funding source. So all these Imports were correlated collated and a scoring mechanism scoring mechanism using the prioritize Asian criteria. It was developed to rank all the requests and we want to kind of underscore that if you can move to the next slide, this is basically verbatim from the prioritization criteria that the select board published is upward of a year and a half ago right now, but the arpa funding is tbu strategically to recover from covid. It’ll it’ll it will adhere to the US Treasury interim’s final rule requirements for the expenditures under arpa. And the art since the arpa funds are non-recurring.

21:14 It was very important that there used to be applied to non-recurring expenditures and one-time Capital expenditures from the highest to lowest priority as you can see in the one through five designation there. So the top projects that were related to public health and safety received the top score. Number two if there was any replenishing of reserves due to covid losses. That would be the next highest priority. The third priority would be economic recovery programs and initiatives associated with criteria because we are very very aware that they would be economic Fallout from this from this crisis. The fourth criteria was investment in infrastructure.

22:01 And the fifth were temporary operating deficits caused by covid-19. So there were period there were deficits in in the budget that That were temporary due to covid that could be addressed with this money. So we stuck by a pretty strict rule which basically says that no new programs hiring new staff or add-ons to existing programs would be undertaken that require an ongoing Financial commitment. So once again, this is a recognition that this is a, you know, one time allocation of money and you know, we were determined to be fairly strict around making sure that we were not embedding additional line item expenses into our operating budget.

22:48 The next slide pretty much kind of encapsulates the results of our process. So as I mentioned before one of the things the working group did was do project Outreach and and you know for the generation of of leads across the entire town we ended up with 72 projects. Now that has increased a little bit since the time that we did the survey. So I just want to throw that in as a caveat and you’ll see that later on in our project list when we go through it. Um, so we did the resident survey preference. And there we ranked 65 projects through through a questionnaire a methodology and the

23:34 arpa working group also used the criteria to rank the 72 projects. And we looked in each case. We looked at the top 30 projects from the resident survey and we locked it looked at the top 30 projects for the that the working group did. and we saw that there was a 60% overlap between those projects that the resident survey preferred and the ones that the arpa group Committed to so it amounted to about the total about 30 projects amounted to roughly seven million dollars similar to the top 30 projects from the resident survey. So that was a fairly strong alignment between the survey preference and the the ranking methodology that

24:21 we use. So we’re very very pleased to see that it was 60% the other 40% represents projects that were either funded from other sources or simply didn’t qualify on a covid basis. So, you know, we feel very good. There’s alignment between the, you know, the broad working group and the and the resident survey. So this next slide just kind of reiterates that you know, a lot of what I said that what I what I’d really highlight here is that the the criteria priority ratings each project is rated between zero and two. So and they’re rated across all six criteria.

25:03 And and they’re scored accordingly. So basically projects are ranked one through seven one being the best and most fitted for the covid use and seven being the worst. Okay, and we did the same thing with the with the with the survey ranking and basically got the alignment that I spoke about the overlap between the raw scores. So this is just to let you know that we have we had we really took seriously the process the ranking process making sure that we had alignment by the way with the working group. We we ranked each of the projects individually alone. So and and then those individual rankings were assembled.

25:49 And then compared to the the exercise that the entire working group went through to rank all the projects. So we had kind of tested that and there was a very close alignment between what the individuals thought and what the group ranking ended up being. So we added that in there as an example of kind of trying to make our process test our process a little bit and make it more robust. Okay, and I think with that I’ll hand it back over to Thatcher who has you know, put together a project workbook which is expanded on the early work of the of the working group. Okay. Thanks Moses. So what this slide is just it’s not intended for you to read the content. But to explain how we’re using the

26:36 tool so it is a it is a large spreadsheet. So it’s very long and it’s very wide. So this is just representing sort of the first set of columns. The what appears to be two sheets torn apart at the top part is sort of the top of the the those that are ranked at the top and all what I want to explain here. Is that as we build the worksheet as new projects come in and get scored as additional information comes in and these projects are ranked and and move around. We color code so projects that are already been funded show up in green projects that are being proposed as in the ones for Tonight Show in

27:22 yellow. So that’s up the top half of the the child the bottom half of the spreadsheet at some point. There’s a column here where we keep a cumulative dollar amount. Of all the projects and so at some point it gets to where the cumulative dollar amount exceeds the amount of dollars available and that’s when they gray on the list. So again, it’s a working too. Now what it allows us to do as we get new information and there may be a project. That’s that’s ranked up higher on the list. that we determine that there’s other funding available to to fund the project so we don’t need to use Opera that’ll get Coded to go to the bottom, which will then some

28:08 of the gray at the at the on the list. Will then have you know, we’ll have available dollars to add those projects to the list. So like I said, it’s a living document. It’s it keeps moving as we we do the analysis. So just that’s the explanation of the color coding and how we’re using the tool.

28:28 So this one is based on the current status of the workbook. So this shows the first 33 projects that are ranked. And again, you’ll see the the color coding as to what’s already been funded and and what’s being proposed. I will if you’re at some point looking at closely at the detail level. You will see that there’s a line item. Like call it, you know first certain type project like the rail Trails for example, and it had a dollar amount to it. But some actions have been taken to expend some of the funds relative to the project like we there’s two real Trail items that have moved forward as funded.

29:14 So what we’ve done is we sort of made a sub line item and drawn from it. So so for rail trail the big number that was originally allocated. It was two point something million, I think as we actually move forward pieces of those projects, we just deduct from the the top number but we represented all here on the worksheet. So if you take a closer look you’ll you’ll notice. Yeah, if I could just emphasize as well Thatcher the yeah, I think one of the key takeaways from this slide is you can see that this is the actual workbook that the arpa working group uses to rank to rate each project. Okay. So if you look across the top I know it’s kind of hard to see but if you you can see that there’s an estimated cost item. There’s a

30:01 cumulative cost and then the cry to each of the criteria are listed. So there’s the public health and safety replenishing reserves economic recovery infrastructure investment temporary deficits. And then the last one is is unsustainable other funding or not arpa. Okay, so based on what criteria Are are applied to the project is how it is scored quantitatively. Okay, so the group got together and and we said listen I give you an example, you know, you can say the mental health treatment resources and support right? That’s for two hundred thousand dollars requested by the Board of Health that it got a one for public health and safety. It got

30:48 a zero for replenishing reserves, right? It got a point six for economic recovery. Okay, so that one point six raw score put it gave it a ranking of two. Okay, so it puts it very high on the list. Principally because it gets that very high Public Safety score. So just imagine we did that with every project and came to a consensus over what we thought were the most appropriate application the criteria. That’s why we’re damaging your eyes with this detail because on one hand we want to be comprehensive in you know in in showing you but at the same time, you know this list and and again, I I do

31:33 want to emphasize that As new projects come on, we’ll do the will do the ranking in the same way and it may push others out of the top 33, you know at that funding cutoff. You see there’s a funding cut off down there. That’s at six million. Okay, and you can see the ranking cut off there is a point six score raw score or a six ranking. Okay. So any project currently that falls below 6 or 0.6 on Raw score basis is not you know is currently not included in the funding. Okay, and that kind of leads us to the next slide.

32:13 So these are the projects that are below the funding availability cutoff on the list. But what you’ll also note is that the very bottom in the in the red box those projects have been identified as having funding from other sources. So we just put in a code of 20 on the ranking code just to drive it to the bottom. We wanted to maintain those items on the list from a historic. Perspective to know all that was considered but but those projects have been sorted at the bottom as having other funding sources or other reasons why you know, they’re not eligible for funding in this program.

33:04 and that was That was the last time no we should have we have a couple more right? Yeah, I think we need to. signatures today Thanks managers today.

33:22 That’s it.

33:34 Maybe can you? if you can pull that you can you pull it down from the

33:45 we’re gonna have a momentary pause here.

33:59 It’s there. It doesn’t want to show it.

34:10 There you go. Then you just had it. That it is. It’s not large. Yeah, that’s interesting. What? Okay. Hold on did not. They were left his hidden. Oh, yeah.

34:28 Just my screen is so small.

34:36 You see? Yeah.

34:47 So the last slides were hidden they shouldn’t have been.

35:03 This will be posted right?

35:09 Okay. Oh website.

35:16 It’s the taking a second a week. Thank you for your patience everybody. we get through our technical. Issues here the present the most interesting part of the presentation is about to yeah, it’s coming.

35:35 It’s very strange this.

35:39 There you okay.

35:43 That’s the proposal you need to go back one, I think. Right, no see a missing that page. Because it’s in. Yeah, right as the other one hidden now.

36:18 All right. Is that though? That’s the right way. That’s right. All right, the screen was big enough. I could see the unhide button good. Okay, so this is but this slide is showing out the expenditures to date. Of our funding which totals 296,476. Um, and then on the bottom graph, which is the same list of items. I just represents the ranking the ranking representation on that. So these are all the Opera funds to date that have already have been expended. Some are projects. Some are

37:04 for example part of the requirements for Opera funding is having the auditing firm. To oversee the funding so powers and Sullivan. So the you know that expenditure is coming out of the Opera funds to cover that requirements. So that’s where we stand now and those these just by a little color, you know before Thatcher came these were but, you know approved earlier because they were expenditures that needed to be undertaken quickly to respond specifically to covid-related stuff. Yeah.

37:40 and then finally they slide of these are the items that are In proposed for for approval tonight and then in your book would be detail of each of these items background details on each of these project items. So this totals 949,453 dollars and again on that bottom chart. You’ll see the rankings on that. And if the board approves moving forward with these items the remaining our profunds will be five million 46,153. So there’s still more to go on our profiles.

38:25 Badger thank you. Any any discussion thoughts from the board there as a thatcher said there is a detailed description of each of the proposed expenditures in your in your packet.

38:47 This is something obviously that will. That we can make available. I’m assuming here. It’s in Tab 2. It’s in Tab 2. Yeah. Flip the first page, you know, okay. Yes, please. Go ahead. So. When we voted for the this prioritization criteria, it was under the interim the treasurer’s interim Rule and then April 1st, they had the final rule was adopted which greatly expanded. You know, we now now under the priority number one, we can include you can include like an affordable housing sustainability projects and like learning loss. We’re all considered to be, you know under that

39:33 priority number one public health and safety. so did that get Did you have to go back and recalculate based on that, you know different different reprioritize some of the projects like I think there was like an energy assessment of the public buildings when they had the final rule adopted did the algorithm change at all or to be I I do have an answer that the main thing that changed was the calculation of the revenue replacement formula. So it basically expanded it and liberalized it and we decided to stay with the existing formula which which gave us a number as you can see about a half a million dollars and we can pretty much

40:21 use that the way we see fit for, you know for some of the projects you may be considering but I think I don’t know that You know when we canvas the whole town, I mean, I think it was all projects basically where and it included sustainability and and green, you know possibilities as well. And you know, we did not carve out any of those specific projects a lot of it really depends whether it’s you know, kind of a one-time use of money. So that’s that’s the area where I could see projects like that being more challenging and I think there’s a great allowance made for example for the school nurse, right? There’s a school nurse.

41:06 Proposal to fund and that’s really related to kind of covid, you know the kind of the Fallout from covid and that’s that’s the way we view that or the connections say that you know, the the working group use that so to answer, you know to really answer your question. No, we did not kind of change the algorithm as a matter of fact, we made it a point to kind of keep the funnel alive because they basically opened it up, you know, we just decide to keep the criteria the same and to have the revenue replacement number remain as it was for the original formula. Okay, which is a half a million dollars. So I think the easy part is the revenue replacement. Yes. That’s an easy number to just get well they just fight exactly if we for now and this is what’s so hard about this is because it’s very fluid and I

41:53 can imagine that you know, five months from now, they’ll be a project that would qualify and so it’s I guess you know, maybe just if you could elaborate on how often we’re reprioritizing or running that algorithm because I know the whole idea is that it’s you know, a lot of time is spent to be very conscientious that this these are this is objective way to allocate this money as as most scientifically as we can. So it’s not a matter of any one particular. Person, you know members subjective, you know wait to something so I know a lot of the time went into that. So we’re still getting we’re there some requests in on a lot of requests coming but we’re we have gotten a few additional requests. So to run through the

42:39 process and part of the reason, you know, not to just run in and allocate six million dollars and and be done with it. Was to give time for other considerations circumstances to change to you know, maximize the use of the dollars. However on the other end there is a there is a time limit as to when we need to commit the funds and and then a further date that we need to expend the fund. So we need to be mindful of that. So we’re all the projects. you know not these long multi-year projects because They have to be expended and allocated an expended by the 20 24. So not like at three year long project that would be proposed. These are in a tight window. I mean

43:26 tight in the sense of your you know, government type a couple years a couple years two years. Yeah. so so if mentioned the school nurse so, you know the pandemics kind of evolved and that was sort of one of the reasons why in the final rule after in that comment period the treasury had received, you know, just feedback that municipalities were spending the money because it was so so restrictive and towns and cities were hesitant to to you know, expand or Take Liberty with interpreting. You know, what is broadband technology. Is that software or is it you know or public health and

44:08 So with like for example learning loss, let’s say like the schools come and say that they wanted something around learning loss at this point. That would under the final rule fall under Priority One. Is that how we would wait it? You just run it again under as a public safety under the priority of one like I think that’s right. I mean What Thatcher’s enemy that’s I think was the intent was to develop a methodology that was relatively easy to explain in a ranking system. And I think you know to your point. I think what that forces the working group to do is to apply consistent methodology, you know over and over again now that doesn’t mean that some projects become less

44:54 relevant or you know, we’re loath to go back and re-rate a project that we’ve already rated. Even though we let’s just say that the maybe some emergency covid considerations that would put it very high on a public safety basis. For example, you know no longer exist. We were thinking we’re talking about that but I think we’re lows to kind of, you know change the the rankings that we’ve already made but we’re certainly entertaining, you know, any new projects that come in, you know, and I think that was the whole design and the other thing we have to be mindful of is we have to do reporting and all this. So if we’re we make it too complicated to Diverse there’s a whole record-keeping challenge to go with it to report back. So I mean

45:42 I think you know, we undertook to go through. We you know, I think a lot of so like boards and and Mayors kind of, you know are just basically spending the money on big chunks, right because it is a challenge to Canvas the whole town and to do this because you’re gonna displease some people whose projects end up not getting funded right? So the only way we but we were very adamant. I think about little slight board was very adamant about Can but you know really casting a wide net for all the projects out there even smaller ones that have you know, it’s permanent smaller ones that were not getting the attention they needed. So I think what we’re looking at you’ll see from this project list. There’s a lot of small projects in there and that’s good. We think you know

46:27 it you know, but I think we’re We really have to you know, we’re very mindful of the Integrity of our process. And and that’s that’s what we’re super focused on. Yeah and just around the economic recovery and programs and initiatives is a lot of that come out of the local rapid recovery suggestions. and so the chamber maybe canvas the chamber for that or Yeah, yes. I mean, I think I don’t know if the chamber put in. A project request I can’t I mean it’s gonna put a lot of recommendations. I don’t yeah, we have a lot of recommendations in that local rapid recovery presentation, right? So that’s okay. Well that is that is a criteria this High only right on the list.

47:16 And yeah, I mean look, I think we’re going to make this presentation available online and so people can and it will be a date stamped presentation and people need to understand that you know, there is the potential that it can move when new when new projects come in. That’s that’s just we want to keep on underscoring that But it’s predicated on a very. tight methodology that we’re going to adhere to so any other any any questions concerning the specific projects that are in the in the package from the from the board that we’re going tonight? Yes that we’re voting tonight. Yes. Yes, please Alexa.

48:04 Thank you. He’s at the presentation. Oh, yeah. proposed expenditures so administrative arpa implementation Staffing support

48:25 Community Thatcher a referred to that earlier on and you know, you can speak to that so then so the if I’m clear hearing yeah, the administrative Opera implementation Staffing support request, except when yes, so 150,000 for for a temporary two-year position. Um to help implement the rapid recovery program. This is some number of cities and towns are doing or using the funds for so there is the the lrp and it’s the half the Staffing support to to make those things happen to move projects to

49:12 to manage.

49:15 the managed some of those items so it’s a temporary position. So it’s consistent with the criteria of not creating a permanent position. Yeah, and look. I mean, I think it’s to address specifically the The Fallout from covid, you know, and I think we would you know from an economic recovery point of view. So, you know, I think that’s where we could you know, we could use the expertise. I think we need, you know, we would like to understand how we can do better with the You know with the with the businesses in town and it would work hand in hand with the chamber where we’re getting it with the chamber. Yeah. Imitation Staffing support person the art that person would work with the chamber. Yeah. So if you look on that box that’s right out of the report as to

50:01 what the the functions of that would be performed. So it’s in you. Okay, you have to attitude on the second page flip a couple pages in and so Okay.

50:19 Great. So your local rapid recovery planning program? And so this that language is taken right out of that and that would be the the focus of the individual. Yeah, and we don’t have a you know, a designated Economic Development persons. And this was recommended. This was actually part of the report. The name of the report is actually Escaped me right now. But this is one of the big recommendations that came out of that report was. for economic gosh, why can I not think about this was not think of the name of the report? Yeah the whole report. Yes. This was one of the big recommendations. Thank you. Thank you for the name. I can see the whole report in my head. I just couldn’t think of the name. Okay. So this is I

51:07 just want to verify that this is what I think that was so this was one of the this was this was the recommendation for taking all of those things that were said to say. Okay. This is how we help our businesses. This is how we help our local economy. This is how we execute this. These are the recommended steps and we recommend you have someone help you make that happen. So that’s what this is the make that happen person. Yes to support those recommendations to get things going through to have the staff resource to make it happen Okay, do we envision? This is a full-time. position each year Well, we did this is to cover for two years two years my time of Opera. Is this like a Consulting type role or is it are we can

51:55 thinking 20 hours a week or is this a 40 hour like a full-time how many ounces okay.

52:10 Covered is that it? they can also leverage other art of funds which you know what we have on some of these things because there’s a lot of other our pops out there that aren’t specifically given right, but they can literally That’s that’s great. Because yeah, it is becoming its own specialized Boutique kind of subject matter. expertise, but the question whether it’s permit, that’s a decision to be made somewhere. No, I just was trying to Envision how much of how much in terms of the is it 150 is like the max we would go up to because that’s what we’re voting tonight. But it possibly the structure of what this looks like.

52:56 Could be you know a consultant type or a part-time. two-thirds time right to be figured out and then as Becky’s referring to you know, the potential is the other Opera funding that that is in support of these efforts and there’s also

53:18 like fun, so that would be under that would be their administrative duties as well.

53:26 No, I think this is very nice. I think it’s important just for the public to understand too that this was. kind of that analysis of where They’re what industries what areas were hit the most and the takeaway. I think I got from that was. In order to put in place the things that we need to help them that it is imperative to have someone organize that process. So I think that’s really important to make it happen, basically, so no, that’s great. Thank you for clarifying.

53:59 Any any other questions comments? about I just wanted I think that the mental health treatment piece. I’m so glad that we can vote on that tonight because I know that that’ll make a big difference in the 400 or so.

54:17 waitlisted clients at the Counseling Center early request from the Board of Health. Yeah, that’s very Timely. Okay. So with that I’d like to entertain a motion to formally approve the use of federal arpa funds for the following purposes and amounts. administrative arpa implementation Staffing support $150,000 equipped meeting spaces with hybrid technology schools for 5700 mental health treatment resources supports for $200,000 reduction in Revenue amount funding

55:02 584,000 142 dollars. So let me read the reread that that’s just 584,142. And again that was for the amount. That was the revenue replacement. And administrative arpa implementation Staffing report which we support support which we just discussed for $150,000 a second all those in favor. Okay, that’s unanimous. Thank you very much.

55:36 Okay, the next on our items as a motion to approve the minutes of September 28th, 2022 a second all those in favor. Thank you.

55:50 The next on our agenda item is a license agreement for for private connection to town drainage at 45 Lincoln Ave. Which requires a vote. Can we get a little background on this Thatcher? I think I don’t know if we’ve seen this before we have with other properties for sure, but I think it’s it. Looks like a pretty standard licensing agreement for a private connection to the to the town drainage system. So and I look I think the motion is pretty. self-explanatory

56:29 Yeah, okay. So entertain a motion to approve the license agreement for a private connection to town drainage system between the town and Margaret strage 45 Lincoln Avenue as presented and authorized the chair to sign on behalf of the board motion second all those in favor. Okay, unanimous. Thank you. The next is a vote for the Rotary Club of Marblehead a gift to the town is being a proposed. And the gift is a clock.

57:08 So I’ll read a part of the letter that was that I received from Nancy Gwen. Who was the co-president of the Rotary Club? The Rotary Club of Marblehead is celebrating their 100th anniversary on April 2023 as part of their centennial celebration and as a way to commemorate our connection to our beautiful town, we would like to make a gift to the town of Marblehead of a beautiful Community clock a ten and a half foot two dial Howard clock or similar model that would include a plaque from the Rotary Club. The clock is made by the electric time Street clocks a Massachusetts based company making clocks since 1918. they made the clocks at Disney World and there is a

57:54 there is a sample attached. It’s a really, you know, magnificent magnificent. piece and

58:05 You know, I think we I’d like to entertain a motion that I think is. Self-explanatory to accept this clock is a gift to the town. So yeah, well, let me read it. It’s you know to it emotion and entertain a motion to exactly you’re ahead of me. Jimmy always are. An entertain a motion to accept as a gift to the town a two dial Hancock clock from the Rotary Club of Marblehead in honor of their hundredth anniversary in April 2023 and have the Town Administrator coordinate with departments the location and installation. So second second all those in favor. Unanimous? All right. Thank you. Thank you very much Rotary Club. wonderful

58:51 Okay, and the sixth item we had a motion to thank the rotor Club. I thought I think I think we should we should that’s a great idea Jim and also to Entertain a motion to provide a letter thanking the Rotary Club for their very generous gift second. I was in favor. Okay.

59:14 The next is the use of Abbott hall for The Artisans fair in December of this year.

59:28 And I think the motion is fairly self-explanatory. It is a request from the Festival of Arts to use Abbott hall for their annual Artisans Marketplace on the following days and to use the proper grounds the upper ground. Sorry of Abbott Hall to display five ice sculptures all in accordance with the usual rules regulations fees and receipts of their required Certificate of Insurance. On the following dates Friday December 2 2022 5:30 to 8:30 PM Saturday December 3 2022 7 AM to 5:30 pm and Sunday, December 4th, 2022 9 am to 6 PM emotions and the second all those in favor.

1:00:14 Okay, unanimous

1:00:18 the next is a vote to award the contract for the lead Mills rail trail project to Tool design of Boston, Massachusetts. And the amount of $150,000 and 850. 150,800 and authorize the chair to sign the contract on behalf of the board. And there’s a little bit of background to that back. I don’t know if you want to. do you want to fill us in on that really quickly rather than

1:00:55 yeah.

1:01:25 Specifications in the master plan. Yeah, we did and Tool design is actually the engineering company that did the master plan because they’re going to do all the permitting and design so it would be ready to bend right now. Thanks for thanks for that for that background. And so the amount is for the amount requests tonight is for 150,000. 800 okay, and the second all those in favor? right Okay, and I think the last well one of the last items is a appointment of a hearing officer. Thatcher and the motion is also self-explanatory. I’d like to entertain a motion on on advice from

1:02:12 Town Council to appoint Town Administrator Thatcher Keyser hearing officer as it relates to pending disciplinary matters, involving officer Christopher gallo, and to report his findings back to the board. Second I wasn’t in favor. Okay. Thank you very much. Yes, please. Go ahead you need to request if we can? to a corrective vote for the Harper funding Okay caught a I guess a typo we written out in the motion. Okay, we doubled the administrative upper and we left off the visitor Booth upgrade supplement. So, okay. So if we were to retake the boat. Yeah, so so it would

1:02:59 what got left off was the visitor Booth upgrade for 6,311?

1:03:07 And we had for how much for 6,311.

1:03:13 Okay, and what and that’s what we left off. It was left on WE doubled the administrative upper implementing was written in in the motion twice. It should have been once okay in the booth. Yeah, okay. So I suggest just so vote on the visitor Booth. Uh, okay, or I can include it as a last item on the on the list. Yeah, we can do that. Okay. So again, like the entertainment revoted a motion to formally approve the use of federal Opera funds for the following purposes and amounts administrative arpa implementation Staffing support 150,000 equipped meeting spaces with Hyper technology for the schools 5700 mental health treatment resources supports 200,000 reduction in Revenue amount funding 584 142 administrative arpa

1:04:00 and delete that delete that one off. Yeah, visitor Booth upgrade. Thank you. Okay, visitor Booth upgrade 6,311. That’s thank you.

1:04:17 all those in favor Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for your patience that brings us to a public comment period if anybody Jacks here, so it’s always anything to say wisdom, Maybe

1:04:38 you do online. Okay, very good.

1:04:45 Are we? Are we supposed to speak up or excuse me? Yes Sky talk. Oh, yeah, I sorry. That’s the name of my computer. I’m Dan Albert 58 Lester Road. I just want to make a public comment about a decade ago the town had a plan to reduce the speed limit on Lakeville Road to 25 miles an hour. It was associated with the building of the YMCA the town meeting at the recommendation of the Town board overwhelmingly adopted the rule that would allow the town to have control over the speed limits on our roads, including 25 mile an hour zones as well as school safety zones, so

1:05:31 Currently unlike all the other schools in town. The YMCA is not considered a school. But of course it is it has a state registered preschool not to mention all kinds of after-school programs. So it’s obvious that that should be done. But here’s what I really want to say. This is something Jason Silva said we were going to do Jason Silva in response to the very angry and upset parents along legs Hill Road said, absolutely we completely agree. That’s what we’re going to do. And your original plans that you guys signed off on said that’s what we’re gonna do. So, is it possible? I just want a very quickly share my screen. Is that okay? Just because I want to know.

1:06:18 Sure, you’re setting precedent here. Right. It’s like Hill Road. And yeah.

1:06:30 Most of most importantly the police department sign budget money which by the way, the chief of police Mr. King said to me was a concern if you’ll notice there in the center of the screen a 30 mile an hour speed limit sign as well as what’s called an advisory sign and you can see it’s blurred out but there’s a solar panel there. Well that hasn’t worked in years years. Okay, so it does know it does no good. So he’s supposed to out of his sign budget replace that well those things are very expensive. Here’s what’s fascinating. The posted speed limit on legs Hill Road until you get to that last half walk is 25 miles an hour so we can say the police a little money. Simply take down the 30 sign take down

1:07:17 the electronic sign and his sign budgets clear set up your school safety zone where you said you were going to and and I will be stopping there other than to say. My comments are after a lot of time spent researching this issue making public records requests and and trying really hard to get this history in this information. You know, our current Town manager hasn’t been here long. The last two we went through the them we’ve turned over police Chiefs, but the people who have been here all along and are proud to say they’ve been here. Have the only institutional memory

1:08:02 in town and so I would ask all of you to step up and not just turn over our plans to say tool design. Or stantech who did the new intersections but come back to those companies and say, okay. What is this look like what are we doing? Okay, because you know that and this is my last comment. There’s the movie The Spy Who shagged me. Where Dr. Evil? Is going to send away our hero, you know the James Bond character and he says take him to the Shark Tank. And his son says well, wait a minute, aren’t you gonna go follow up and go to the Shark Tank and make sure he dies the way he’s supposed to and Dr. Edel says, oh no, no. No, I’m sure it’ll all

1:08:48 go according to plan. Well just like a James Bond movie. Of course he escapes. That’s what we’re doing. We’re simply putting together documents and sending them out to these professionals and then saying Oh, we’re sure it’s all going to go to plan. It hasn’t gone to plan and the only way it’s going to go to planets if this board starts. You know making this a priority. Thank you very much. I will go away. And thank you very much for registering your your observations. It’s it’s actually appreciated and you know, there can be slippers between lip and cup and I think you know, I think I think that you’ve registered well tonight. Thank you very much. I do have someone else anybody. Yes, please.

1:09:35 South Fox

1:09:40 Sarah Fox can you

1:09:44 Hi. Yes. Thank you to the board. I just wanted to speak on the matter of the arpa funding. I with the the repriors station that came out in April in learning loss being well. We’re seeing at least in the schools to be the number one, you know outcome with the social emotional and the learning loss. Those are our biggest issues right now. I Just want to urge the board, you know, as we move forward through more prioritizations and more approvals that. That we that we look at to what other towns are doing and use those as benchmarks and exemplars of how we

1:10:29 can partner together the schools and the town with this art for money to really serve our Our Youth and combat learning loss.

1:10:41 Thank you my Sarah.

1:10:44 Any any other comments?

1:10:51 All right.

1:10:54 You know before we do the town administer updates, I would like to just briefly note that we are currently in discussions with the fair housing committee. to redesign that committee and we are currently taking feedback from the existing fair housing committee members and And also people who would be involved in really just empowering the fair housing committee and kind of putting it front and center. And enclosed connection to the you know to the select board. So just want to let you know that we this is kind of a heads up for the next meeting when we will propose emotion to restructure the fair housing committee at our next at our next meeting. So you want

1:11:40 to give everybody a heads up. That’s what we’re doing. Thank you.

1:11:45 and That sure if you have anything, yeah. If we go through some updates one item Finance director search. So we’ve wrapped up interviews. We’ll look into make a recommendation to the select board after checking references. So we are hopeful to be able to fill that Billet and feel a critical role in the community. Um also as far as onboarding and the e-plus technician is now on board Leandro L Cantera has joined us and I’ve lost track of my week since I missed the last meeting but I think it was last week he started so his

1:12:31 function is helping with the desktop support network support. So this is a follow-on action item for the eplus contract that that was approved here. In addition to that. The migration of the network applications is ongoing as well as the Office 365 migration is Staff and ongoing bringing more and more staff on to the Office 365 which what it does is it puts everybody on current software and it also provides some more capabilities than what we’ve had in Standalone software application. So those are all big improvements. That are coming. Also we’ll

1:13:18 be kicking off the Ada transition Plan update. So our Marblehead received a community compact Grant and with that Contracting with the Collins Center, so I have a kickoff meeting with individual from the Collins Center sitting down with all the department heads that our next full department head meeting and a couple weeks to kick off that process. So it’s an important. Ada transition plan is important item for communities. And so it’s been some time for Marblehead and many other communities to to bring those plans up to date which will also, you know, help tie into our Capital Improvement

1:14:03 plan a lot of what the Ada updates require our physical improvements, but it’s also policies and procedures improvements too. And so it’s not just physical items being updated but our practices and our documentation and those type of things so they will assist us in that effort. And finally just a couple projects of Interest one Pleasant and Village Street project. I know it’s had quite an impact over the summer. I think we’re over the worst of the disruptions on that project. The next step is concrete pouring

1:14:50 for the sidewalk. So that’ll be done over the next I think few weeks. So the project is expected to be completed in November. Don’t want to say a specific date because that you know, there are factors that change that but but the expectation is November, but the result of all this would be a much safer crosswalk in that area. And also, I mean the project also did significant upgrades to the water. Was it Water and Sewer. I just water. Just water improvements in that area. Okay, so gas had been done in the past. So as I’ve explained to to people over the years in this business when you’re making improvements

1:15:37 like that you want to fix what’s under the street before you put a brand new Street on top. Otherwise, you just gonna be cutting it up sometime soon to do emergency repairs. So so despite the significant interruptions, you know, once this is wrapped up and done it’ll be it’ll be very much a worthwhile project. So so it’s ongoing and then finally reads Pond the walkway. I know it did some reading this has been kicking around for quite some time. So working with Amy with you she’s working on. Putting together a temporary fixed strategy to make it actually easier to keep filling the whole as material underneath keeps falling out. So rather than just throw an asphalt down there to make it

1:16:23 easier to bias time to do a more permanent fix which is going to actually take some engineering and some some funding to do a real permanent fix to that. It’s not an easy fix. Given the structure and everything that’s underneath that but just letting you know that it it is being worked in pursued to both through a temporary fix to make it safe and then move forward on a project that will permanently fix that issue. How is the temporary fix? You know better than what we’ve done before? I’m curious. Is there a technique Amy that is being used. It’s different.

1:17:04 Over it. I see and then as your fill underneath is slowly finding its way along. As you’re not where it’s going. Now you have just payment over an enemy camera. Oh seriously you Need to fill those right? Yeah, so my and I’ll be working with it. It’s all tomorrow. more fun my idea is to any other problem is it’s very So equipment is going to be a problem getting down there the wall the Integrity of the wall is questionable areas. So another reason to watch what type of equipment we put down there. So a lot of it might be

1:17:49 Done by but it’s basically removing the asphalt where we know there are issues because you can see the whole and then fill out fabric a stone and a stone dust. And then we can watch this phone does go down and keep filling it what’s going on? So it won’t be a surprise to someone. I mean, you’ll see it as you’re walking right now you walk on the beach. You’ve got no idea exactly. Yes. not well, thank thanks for putting some thought into that because it’s been a an issue for a while. It’s such a jewel there. It’s a shame that we can’t. Find a find a face. Yeah, it will yeah.

1:18:39 That’s my update pending any questions. All right. You want to go around anybody any any other thoughts? comments If not, I got the most. If not, I’d like a motion to to bring this. Meeting to a close second all those in favor.