Select Board: October 26, 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 We have a regular visitor General tonight. But it’s hard. With Dave Rogers if you would come up and tell us a little bit about Veterans Day Dave. Good evening. Good evening. Thanks.

0:24 Anyway, that’s that’s right. One second day proceed. Yeah. Sorry about that. You’re a speaker. I I did press it. Okay, so that’s right because we have thank you. Thank you so much, Mr. And I wasn’t spelled Becker present. It’s Noonan present. this singer present perfect present president and online present We were officially started. Thank you. Thanks guys. Thank you Badger. Go ahead. Dave Veterans Day November 11th is on Friday.

1:11 But prior to that on Wednesday the 9th, there’ll be a veterans breakfast at the Council on Aging. Amazing. It’s very good. It’s a great Gathering all veterans are invited and I heard somebody, you know, if they have somebody to bring with them. I guess that’s okay, too. But it would be nice if they called the Council on Aging. So they can get a chance to get a head count. Yeah, that’s the ninth the nine o’clock.

1:44 And it’s always a nice time. On Friday, we have our Veterans Day. The town’s Veterans Day commences it ten o’clock in the morning and there’ll be a shuttle service from the national Grand as always from 9:00 to about 9:45 will probably be the last trip. And the COA bus. Thank you Lisa

2:12 It’s always nice to pack there because the parking around at Hall is kind of tricky. and I would recommend it if you don’t want to walk too far. This year we have.

2:28 Tim Keeney VFW member will be the main speaker. And of course, we have a coral group. Or excellent always under the direction and scoaglio. and the VFW 2005 321 West Shore Drive always has coffee and Treats son and everyone is invited invited to come up. And it’s always a nice time. I would like to add that 11:30 Congressman Seth Moulton. Is coming back to Abbott Hall Auditorium for his Veterans Day Town Hall. It’s always a good take. I will add that Seth has been

3:14 a big advocate for VA Health Care.

3:20 Uses it himself and he’s always trying to make it the most efficient way veterans can get care. and including mental health, so I applaud him for being on the Crusade with the VA obviously is a veteran himself and Sometimes veterans let get left behind but Seth and some of his other constituents of done a good job. Thank you. Thank you very much David. It’s always a thank you. Always a very good very good event. Yeah, it’s always a good day. It’s a celebration day other than a Salem day like boiled. So, thank you. Thank you very much.

4:08 Okay next on our agenda.

4:13 Is the conditional offers of employment. I’m very very happy to say to Luke Marcus and Samuel rizos and chief. If you would please come up and and describe these

4:28 young officers to us good evening. Welcome. Thank you for having me. It is always. Great to be in this building. It’s always great to be here. But for the Department. To offer conditional officers of employment to potential candidates is a big day. We celebrated a ceremony here about a month back and I think that In our smaller town in our smaller Police Department. These are big decisions. So I’m respectfully requesting that the board offer conditional officer employment to Samuel Rizzo’s and Luke Marcus as permanent full-time police officers for the town of Marblehead.

5:13 A little bit about both of them. Sam rosos is a lifetime Marblehead resident graduate of Saint John’s prep class of 2018. He’s currently serves as an assistant Harbor Master in Marblehead, and he’s finishing up his Bachelor of Science degree at Endicott College. He has like four classes left, so he needs to get on that. Luke Marcus lifelong Marblehead resident graduate of Marblehead High class of 2019 Lucas also finishing up his Bachelor of Science degree at Southern New Hampshire University, and he runs his own service businesses business, and I just want to say that I’ve been here about 15 months. It does not amaze me that each time that I’ve

5:59 come before you that I’ve had Marblehead residents born here raised here and are committed to Civic engagement and serving their town and there’s something to be set about that and so in the interview in the backgrounds, you have two outstanding young men behind you that exemplify both that they grow up in this town. They’ve been nothing but servants in their own way already and so it really is a pleasure to be able to you know, Recommend such high quality young men. So the conditional offer as as always as conditioned on a number of things completion of a medical exam of psychological exam a Physical

6:46 Agility Test the completion of an academy and to be able to be certified as a police officer in Massachusetts all of which are really high standards. And so this conditional offer is something that would like to move forward with I have an anticipated Academy date a probably December 5th. So we work fast to get recruits into academies. It’s not an easy task. It’s very competitive. Sometimes that it seems that it moves very fast and it might seem very fast for all of you. But for me, we have to secure spots and so that’s why we do this timely and we move forward. Thank you very much Chafin and just for everybody’s understanding the conditional officers to really reserve a place at the Academy so that they can yes streamline that

7:32 process part of the process. Yes, okay. And you also have some very good news to share with us as well. I do did you want them to stand up first or do you want me to okay, so I’ll introduce and then I’ll talk about the accreditation. Thank you. Thank you. So Sam and Luke. Why don’t you guys just stand up and perhaps introduce yourself to the to the board? My name is Luke Marcus. I’m A wife as an office town. I love this town Jim and I have said multiple times the Greatest Town in America. I’m proud to serve this community building conditions to work here as a private citizen. I guess. I’ve I’ve gone on my way multiple times to help people I’ve seen in distress and it brings me a sense of joy and

8:18 product use of do it as a police officer and a professional fasting.

8:28 Great. Thank you. Great. results Also a lifelong resident. and most of my life for most recently as a assist power master, and I’m very excited for the opportunity to continue helping others. Hopefully as a police officer. outstanding really good. Thank you. Thanks guys. Thank you. And so those luck.

8:55 And so those standards I’m chair is something that we’re that you had talked about. Today’s a great day for the police department in that we were we are credited as a Massachusetts accredited agency. That’s by the Massachusetts police accreditation commission. So

9:18 What it means is we adhere to the best practices in policing. So from our Professional Standards to hiring to use a force to transparency. We have our Guided by 257 different standards that probably covers over 200 pages that identifies things that we need to do within our policies and procedures in our practices. It makes it so that you are as a department always up to date on what’s going on and cognizant of everything from the law to the community needs to what is the best per feet Professional Standards. So Lieutenant Dave austrovitz and officer, Dan Gagnon did all of the work I help out

10:04 in the ways that I can but as the accreditation manager and assistant manager, they really did put everything together and then it became a team effort amongst those in the department because am Those in the department you have such subject matter experts you have people that have to you know help with the with the standards and it really is a complete Department accomplishment. So it was great today to have Thatcher presence and the lieutenant and in the officer to receive this first time we accreditation so we were credited 2000 2019 and so now we’re credit. So I just I think as an acknowledgment to the department in Marblehead

10:49 that they’re joining and the expectations that I have for them are very high. Thank you Chief. You’re welcome. Yeah. right Please we’re very lucky. to be in this position agreed well, thank you for the hard work and for pointing to the to the team effort that made it happen, so It’s fantastic. You have a motion. We do have a motion and the motion is like to present motion to offer conditional offer some employment to Samuel Rizzo’s and Luke Marcus as permanent full-time police officers for the town of Marblehead subject to the successful completion of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts physical abilities test a complete physical examination and psychologically examination to be conducted by the

11:35 town’s physician and a psychiatrist psychologist of the towns choosing slow second all those in favor. Oh, we got it. We’re gonna actually do a whole. Yeah. So Ms. Beth Belcher I’ll get it right we both had a long day in favor. singer in favor Is Noonan in favor Mr. Knight in favor? Just a great in favor.

12:05 Gee, thank you very much. Thank you. Congratulations.

12:17 Thank you. Thank you.

12:21 All right second on our agenda is a Council on Aging interview appointment for Phyllis Smith. We received a really very thoughtful letter from Phyllis and you know if you would come up and and take the seat and and tell us tell us about your interest. We you’re not a stranger to this.

12:51 no, well, you know I’ve been in town 52 years I’ve taught in the system for 30 I guess then I was on the library board. I was trustee for 12 years and head of the board. And now I’m on the foundation and You can see I love this town and I get involved and I also I’m on the board for Wu mhd so I kind of think that all of that connection that I have will be a really good asset for counseling aging and as I’m aging and I think it’s a really important part of what the town offers. So I thinking is I can if I can help I would like to So well, thank you very much for for stepping up to do this volunteers. Thank you. Thank you. I

13:36 can’t think of a better person who could be unexpecting. Well, you’d be good too.

13:45 There you go.

13:49 Phyllis, well, listen, I’d like to entertain a motion if I could to a point Phyllis Smith to the Council on Aging with a term to expire in June 2025. Okay. And the second please second. Okay, let’s say sorry. favor Is blue in favor Mr. Knight in favor is Bill Becker in favor, Mr. Creator in favor. Congratulations. Thanks so much. Thank you.

14:22 Okay, and now we come to the finance committee interviews and appointments. I’d like to give a brief overview here. We do have five interviews that we’re going to be conducting tonight. For two vacancies one expires in June 2023 and the other in June 2025. Now we do have two candidates who are online and we’re going to take normally what we do is we take each candidate by alphabetical order. We’re going to put Mr. Jim ziston because he’s in a different time zone first, and then we’ll proceed with the rest by alphabetical order. And so you know with that

15:08 I’d like to say that we’re going to be asking a series of questions the same questions to each candidate, okay. And we’re going to go around the table to do that Alexa. You have your questions. I I assume yeah, awesome. Okay, we can hear you loud and clear. That’s great. I will ask all the other candidates to to be a company to be escorted by Kyle. into the next office

15:45 Yes, Larry. Are you could you wave to us there you are thumbs up. Okay, so

15:51 We’re gonna have to put you into the guest room when we conduct our first first interview, okay? Thank you. Thank you for waiting. We’ll be with you as soon as you come up into the lineup. the cone of silence

16:10 Okay.

16:14 Well, he’s in the corner silence already, but at the outside I want to thank all of you volunteers for stepping forward on this and Just to let you know, I’m not I’m not in the waiting room yet. Thank you. Yeah, well, thank you.

16:34 Thank you. Larry for giving us a heads up. We’ll we’ll take care of that.

16:43 He went off the screen, but he’s still with us.

17:07 See, is he going to be on? Yeah, he’ll be online as well. Okay, so we start with jamming them over Michael Eric.

17:22 Okay, so Larry presumably he can’t hear us. Okay, Mr. Mr. Jason, you have our undivided attention and I think you pretty much know the know the drill here. Yep. Going to start with a number of Questions. I’m going to start by asking you to tell us a little bit about your background and your experience and how that prepares you for this role in town government with the emphasis on your financial and budgeting perspective that will help the town run within the confines of its budget. Okay about your background. Okay, great and thank you for letting EZGO first because it’s actually

18:07 118 in Milan where I am, so it’s good morning or child want, you know, but anyhow, my background I’m an engineer by train and have a Bachelors in Masters and Engineering but I also have a graduate certificate in business. So, you know, I know what a debit and credit is and balance sheet and income statement, perhaps more importantly my day job. I run a lot of large projects. So I do a lot of budgeting. in Staffing and you know right now where Staffing up for 2023 amid Italy we do the Staffing across five or six countries. So I’ve got

18:56 I think that piece. It my day job and then I think the other big part is I’ve long been active in town of fears both in Salem in Prior actually prior and Salem and now in Marblehead. I’m a regular town meeting including, you know, I’ve introduced articles before so that whole process is not new.

19:21 I’m proud to say I’ve been to the exception of the cemetery commission. I’ve been to every board meeting in town at least once many of them more than once my experience the Brown School building committee. I felt was very valuable. I was on the value engineering committee, which is basically Help set the budget and I think it was a 20 member committee, but I was a very active member of the committee watching. budget items when I did live in Salem, I was on the Salem housing authority and it was actually treasurer of the housing authority and

20:01 I think a few weeks ago Kathy Hogue from the Marblehead Housing Authority in Salem housing authority came in and that Authority it’s a big operation. It’s about 800 homes. affordable homes and homes for seniors and I think the biggest takeaway from there is governmental financing versus private financing versus my day job financing and by that, I mean when you’re in in the case of the Salem housing authority had a mix of federal and state money in the twain shall never meet in there’s a lot of that in municipal government and you have to be very careful about that. That’s very different than I would say. Private Finance. So I think you know

20:47 a lot of those things are prepared me other things. I’ve done just for instance. I see hopefully the chief is still here, but I took the citizens Police Academy and learned a lot about not only the police department but the dispatchers in the fire department along the way and how they work in the important things they do for the community and I’d like to just keep involved my commitment to the brown school committee is coming to a close and I just want to keep involved and I I think I’ve got a background. I’m familiar with the town and I think I’ve got an educational. In professional background, that would be a good match.

21:31 Okay, go ahead. Check it a few. Hi Jim. Hi Jackie. How are you? What tired? It’s a beautiful city. It is. Sometimes the finance committee has to make tough choices, which may not be popular. Are you prepared to articulate and to make those types of choices? And can you point to an example where you have had to do this before? Sure. Thank you. You know, I think anyone that knew me on the brown school committee is

22:07 we didn’t always agree with you know different people or but I always looked at it as a committee and then you know, you have your certain opinion on one thing and then you know, you move on and we like to joke about it now, but there’s the famous red bricks on the school and the architect wanted to put a more expensive different kind of brick and it was a big debate, but we ended up saving about $50,000 by going with the red I was One of the big advocates for that but you know, you still talk to the people and it’s it’s not the end of the world. I think Aaron Newman was an advocate for the other Colerain, you know, we still get along so, you know, you just have to work through those issues. So not always popular but come up with your argument and you’re

22:55 on a committee and at the end of the day go with what the committee decides. Thank you. And how would you describe the role and scope of work of the finance committee in town government? Okay. I think there’s several things I think. There’s the liaison part which is very important where a member is a liaison with. Oh you good specific. I think that someone that’s not you weighs on with a specific department. And I think it’s also You know working sort of with the overall, I guess Direction. From the select board and you know, which direction they want to go in working back and forth, but

23:42 I think it’s a really important. Glue connecting all all the different departments. So and you know, it’s really setting the budget. I know the chair of the finance committee. Said at the last town meeting that there may be an operational override coming up. That’s an important thing if that comes to pass in the other thing I keep thinking of is I know in my day job. It’s important it certainly important in the town is Inflation that’s just going to be a big big issue for all cities and towns within the restraints of crop two and a half. So, thanks Jim. Jim welcome Jim finance committee members are assigned to specific Town departments as a liaison.

24:27 Are there any areas of the town government programs or departments that you have a greater interest in than any other if so, could you tell us why they are why you have an interest there? Okay, I would say.

24:44 As a junior member take what I would could get if you will, you know, I did say for instance. I took the police academy. Departments, I would have interest in would be police and fire. Also, you know Highway might be another one that would I think suit my talents but again as a junior member I’d be glad to work with anyone. I’ve I think I’ve taken a walk yet, you know, whether it be park and rec or You know the senior center. I’ve got a good take on what the different departments do. So I I wouldn’t I wouldn’t I would take anything that’s offered. Thank you Alexa, if you

25:32 could yeah, can you guys hear me? Okay. Okay, great. So, oh it just made my Amazon device go off. Sorry. Um what Jim what was your primary motivation in deciding to apply for this position? So I’ve always been interested in in actually. I had the honor on the building Committee of serving with two past fincong. Cheers David Harris and Ben Berman and I often talked. With them about the role of the fincar. So I’ve always had in my mind to do what I think it’s an important role in the town. And also I’ve

26:15 talked with a few of the active members over the years as well. So it’s something I’ve really always wanted to do and there’s two openings. So now is the time in as we know you can only serve on the fin common nothing else and I didn’t want to give up the Brown School building committee either so Thanks. That sounds great. Earth Hey, Jim. Well this two parts. How did you prepare a specifically for this interview? And then explain any volunteer experience you’ve had with the town. I know you’ve already mentioned your participation on the Brown School building committee and

27:02 would be feasibility study. Anyway, I just want didn’t want you to forget anything if you wanted to or any more volunteer experience than Town than you had mentioned before. Well, okay. So the two questions, how did I prepare? Yes, sorry. And what are my other experiences? Yeah, what are your volunteer experiences? Okay. So the way I prepared is a spent all day at getting a helicopter ready for flight test and then got back here about eight o’clock and set my alarm clock so for for midnight and but no I I think my preparation has been a long. Preparation I’ve been I thinking about it for a long time. I you know, I’ve gone to I think

27:50 Harry Christian said if Christensen used to ask have you ever been to a fincore meeting before and the answer is yes many and you know, I’ve just watched the process every year through town meeting and you know as far as the near term preparation. you know, I went through and looked at, you know, some of the the most recent dad are and so forth and other things I’ve done I have been on over the past 30 years a bunch of

28:24 Bunch of different committees. I served on the board of the Y. I served on the board of the Salem Academy Charter School.

28:34 when I was in Salem, I was also on the Personnel Board which would be known as the Human Resource Board, which I think is made perhaps a good background for

28:47 a position like this because I think a lot of it comes down sitting with department managers and understanding Staffing and so forth. so Okay. Jim could you tell us about your knowledge of the Town finances in. and its budget process Okay. Yeah, so I in big numbers Jim. I look at it as You know roughly a hundred million. I just kind of round it about half goes to the schools and then about half is to the town side the process. begins

29:31 towards the end of the year right right about now, I would say and then usually is sort of a bit of a Mad scramble right up to town meeting that has been my observation but That’s that’s life. That’s what my day job is like too. It’s a mad scramble putting the numbers together and you know, there’s a lot of A lot of give and take involved and you know, one of the big things that has been a big issue over the past several years. Yeah, I think of free cash that’s been declining. So that’s an issue that’s got to be. Dealt with and I think I remember. Steve polios just as an aside given a presentation last year and I thought he

30:18 said Massachusetts is the only state that uses the free cash. System I may have misunderstood that but anyhow, you know, that’s the process will be so a bit of advancement between now and time meeting. Thank you Alexa. Hi, so Jim, my next question is if you are.

30:47 Stop. Okay. Sorry, it says is a Sorry, if you’re aware of the time commitment Jim which you did actually touch on and outline what that time commitment is so you were pretty clear about you know, obviously we’re in the meetings are and you also touched on the second part of my question, which was if you’ve attended a finance committee, which I know you’ve been very active and participating in a lot of the boards and committees and also obviously my third question which you answered was town meeting so which follow them you’ve been very active in participating and so my question is now going straight to Aaron because I already have all the answers. So thank you. I did want to say about the time commitment having

31:35 I know the past 30 or so years served on. Various nonprofit and in public boards is is I understand. It’s a time commitment. I’m not the type of person that you know. Says oh Jeepers. Is it this meeting Thursday and look at the agenda, you know in and find out I people that know me from the building committee know I do a lot of work between meetings. I I think some people know that we have a new grass field going behind. The brown school it’s being replaced. And you know, I had a big hand in that. I just I was helping out on the brown school this past year with the organic beds and in the spring. I took one look at that field.

32:21 and I said there’s something very wrong and we worked with the Project team in the OAC and got it replaced and that’s just the type of person I am. So, yes, absolutely. Thank you so much. Last question, can you tell us about any interactions you have had with any Town departments while living in town and whether those interactions have been positive or negative?

32:50 Yeah, I I would say. They’ve been positive. I’ve had some interactions with the police department, but those have all been good. That’s been the police academy with. Lieutenant’s, oh and Dennis King and Matt Freeman the whole gang down there and you know little things I think of Doran covid. The fire department if you recall the fire department was doing the birthday drive-bys. And you know, that was a good thing. I have some few friends on the fire department, but what had happened is

33:28 We had asked for one o’clock drive by in the fire department being fire department have to deal with emergencies. They had a change it to 11 at the last minute. And my wife and I during covid decided to go out for the first bike ride during covid at 11 o’clock. We said, oh well go before the fire department. I’m so my daughter’s were sitting in the house in a ladder pulls in front of house. And of course, mommy and daddy were gone. But no that was a good interaction. We had a lot of that so All right Jim. That’s thank you very much Jim. Listen, you know, you’re welcome to stay on but it’s late in Milan. So you you know, yes, I can’t be ready to call it call it quits. But yeah, and I do appreciate I’m gonna stay

34:13 on for bit, but I do appreciate you letting me go first as I’m a z, so, thank you very much. Thank you Jim. Thanks for stepping up. Thank you.

34:37 here

34:56 Oh my God. Welcome have a seat you.

35:01 Well in advance thank you very much for for volunteering and you know to step up as much appreciated by the by the whole board. I can I can certainly speak on everybody’s behalf there. Now, we’re gonna go through a series of questions that we’re asking all the all the candidates. And I’ll just start by asking you. Can you give us a little sense of your background and experience the prepares you for the position that you’re contemplating with specific reference to to budgeting in particular. Thank you. Thank you to the community for the opportunity. My background has been in finance for the last 30 plus years. So I’ve worked exclusively in financial positions for 30 years mostly in the role not financing a sense of a CPA but as a portfolio manager for endowments including town

35:49 of Newton in a couple of other municipalities, so I’ve worked directly with committees like yourself on Town finances. And been doing it for over three years. Thank you, Jackie. Hello. Hello?

36:07 Sometimes the fin com has to make Tufts tough choices, which may not be popular. Are you prepared to articulate and to make those types of choices? And can you point to an example where you have had to do this before? Sure thank you. Yeah, that’s that’s almost absolutely I would be happy to do that. I think that’s one of the primary roles are the primary functions of this role is to act as a bowark for the select man. And so yes, I can do that have done that did it today as a matter of fact with an investment committee that was

36:47 You know the they had well, I don’t know how detailed you navigate but this was an endowment that had money that was gifted to the endowment. They’re worried about the markets right now. Should we go in not go in the charity investment committee did not want to go in right now and wanted to something else and I said, well, that’s Market timing. That’s not a prudent way to invest the money. We should invest all cost average in and convince the rest of the committee that that was the right thing to do. So that was going against the chair wasn’t a popular position but the investment rationale sound and so that happened just good example who would apply right? How would you describe the role and scope of work of the finance committee in town government? So I’ll speak from my understanding which is

37:34 not complete. But my understanding is to help the select men with the individual budgets of the different departments. So Parks and Rec water department Etc review the budgets with them directly with them make sure everything looks healthy sound and according to the practices and then report back the sacrament. On the finding n, you know, raise any issues if you find them. Thank you. Okay, finance committee members are assigned to specific Town departments as a liaison. Are there any areas of town government that you may have a greater interest in than any other?

38:19 In terms of in terms of Departments of programs. Yeah. Sure. I would think I definitely have an interest in the Waterfront and having been a voter in town. So, you know, if I don’t know if the Harbor Master is under your auspices, but I think that would be one area that I would like to work with also utilities water overall utilities, you know the area. I might find interesting. Three. Thank you Alexa. Yeah. Hi. Thank you so much for being here. So my first question for you is you know, what was your primary motivation for applying to this position? You know, how did you end up here tonight? Basically, I’ve actually had a long-standing interest in the position but demands

39:05 of work family didn’t allow this kind of extra work but since covid I’m not driving into Boston, you know, so that’s two hours. Sometimes three hours of my life that I have back every day. So that’s offered me the opportunity and again given my background and finance my great. Love frankly for the town and wanting to give back to the town. So the timing was right and again with my background. I thought this was a good place to add some value for the town. Hey, thank you. Hey Michael. Um, how did you prepare for this interview? And can you explain any volunteer experience you’ve had within the

39:50 town? Okay, great. I prepared by you know looking at the town website looking at the different departments trying to get a better picture. I did work a volunteered earlier in one of my kids are in schools the wrong graduating. But so I worked for the Glover School in the

40:12 I forget the name of the committee, but it was overseeing the budget of in the day-to-day of the Glover School.

40:21 I don’t remember the name of the community, but there’s an oversight committee. Yeah for the school. I also not in Marblehead, but I also did volunteer work with nonprofit and as well. Thank you. Great, Jim. Can you tell us about your knowledge of the Town finances and its budget process? Frankly pretty Limited at this point. Just what I read in the newspaper and can catch online. I see this is an opportunity to dig in more and again use my experience background to help the town have sound fiscal management and have know that extra layer of oversight for the board. wait, thank you, very Alexa

41:09 Hi, so next question Michael is and if you’re aware, first of all, are you aware of the time commitment for the position have you have the opportunity, you know to attend any of the meetings or just take a look at what that time commitment is I know you mentioned, you know, luckily. You’re not making the Boston commute. But obviously this is a committee that we really need attendance because it is a shorter type of crunched condensed timeline. Yes, I did do a little research around the time. Actually. That was the first question I asked was what the time commitment was and I felt now again with the greater opportunity that I have that I could make that time commitment to the town and to the fin fun. Okay, great and have you had the opportunity, you know

41:57 at any time in the past historically to attend any of the finance committee meetings? No, I haven’t. Okay. And do you attend town meeting regularly any of the other boards are committees? town meeting

42:15 but none of the other meetings.

42:18 Great. Thank you. I think. Last question for you. Can you tell us about any interactions you have had with any Town departments while living in Marblehead and whether the interactions have been positive or negative?

42:41 Just routine. I haven’t had any. You know any significant experiences one way or the other so nothing jumps out just routine. Yeah. Michael thank you very much this brings our questions to an end and you’re welcome to the standby for the rest of the the interviews. You can eat or you know depart at your at your choice, but thank you very much for coming in. We really we really appreciate it. The decision time frame is what it’s tonight. Yeah, so we will be we’ll be voting tonight. Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

43:18 Not to leave what you can say if you want Michael. Oh, yeah. Yeah, please. Yes, right. No.

43:28 Please Mr. Knight, and yes have have a seat in the proverbial hot seat. Thank you very much for coming in. Always appreciate your I know you’re a volunteer of many great causes and we very much appreciate your standing up tonight. So Mr. Chairman, you know that we as I mentioned before we’re gonna go through a series of questions. We ask the same questions of all the candidates, and I’d like to start by asking you to tell us a little bit about your background and your experience and How It prepares you for the current role that we’re interviewing you for certainly I’ve just retired after approximately 26 years service with the inspector General’s office in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. I’ve also worked for seven years with the state ethics Commission.

44:16 So I have a fairly extensive background in the public Integrity Realm. I have an MBA. I’ve also served as a treasure for several nonprofits including the Marblehead Festival of Arts and I felt that bringing that experience and knowledge skills ability that I’ve gained working for the Commonwealth. I wanted to bring it back here to town and see if I could in some way contribute to this wonderful town that we all love so much. Thank you.

44:52 Good evening. How are you? Good evening. Sometimes the finance committee has to make tough choices, which may not be popular. Are you prepared to articulate and to make those types of choices? And can you point to an example where you have had to do this before? Yes in answer to your question certainly in my career at the inspector. General’s office. Most of which time was spent doing civil and criminal investigations into allegations of fraud involving public monies and funds I have had to interview a number of public officials and many times. They have been accused of doing something and it would

45:38 be my responsibility to gather all the evidence available evaluate it and then make recommendation to my superiors as to whether the allegations were substantiated or not was some form of a corrective report required as opposed to referral for prosecution for some violation. And so getting to the Truth of the matter evaluating all known evidence and being able to make a recommendation based on the facts. Is something that I have spent my entire career doing I I do not like or try not to

46:25 be influenced by emotion to try to get the facts and then come to the best conclusion after rigorous analysis. Thank you. And how would you describe the role and scope of work of the finance committee in town government? Well based on the reading that I’ve done to prepare for this evening. It seems that the finance committee is an advisory panel. I know that properly budgeting and allocation of funds resides within the town meeting and the selectment and finance committee from my research seems to take a lot of that research load. Off of the selectment evaluate each of the warrant items and make a Rec

47:12 make recommendations where appropriate many times warrant items and not appropriate from the finance committee to recommend make a recommendation on. And so it seems that working with the finance department We Gather all again all available information and then make those recommendations to the proper decision makers. Thank you. Okay, Jim welcome Eric finance committee members are assigned to specific Town departments as Liaisons. Are there any areas of town government either programs or departments that you have greater interest in than any other if so, could you tell us what that

47:58 is and why certainly I think certainly my background in law enforcement. I was sworn officer in various capacities for almost 25 years. I could and my former affiliation with Marblehead Police Department and I voluntary or part-time capacity. I feel that I could very easily liaise with the police department or any of the public say safety agencies. I also very very strong background in it. I was the it manager for the Operations and it manager for the inspector General’s office for the last 10 years that I worked there full time of a very strong it background. So I felt

48:43 that either of those areas would definitely play to my strengths. I was also certified secondary ed teacher and social studies and history and although I know the school department has their own budgeting process. I don’t know if there’s some for liaison between the finance committee and the school department, but that might also be an area where I have some stories Excellent, right Alexa. Yes. Hi welcome. I’m sorry. I’m not there to see you in person. I what was your primary motivation in deciding to apply for the finance committee? I know you just done it briefly, but just wanted to see if you had anything else you wanted to share with us this evening. Certainly what

49:30 I retired last year continued to work for my former agency. Part-time. I did start thinking about what I wanted to do going forward in this next phase of my life and I have been very carefully evaluating. Where I could make the greatest contributions where my knowledge strengths and abilities would have the greatest impact and what would mean the most to me and when I saw that there was a vacancy on the finance committee. I thought again about my strengths and I thought that I had could bring a lot to the table. I know you have some excellent candidates some of the

50:17 serving members of the finance committee have incredible resumes, and I thought that I could be evaluated there. Okay. Thank you. Great, Eric. Yes. So how did you prepare specifically for this interview? And can you explain any volunteer experience you’ve had with the town? I don’t think you have enough time for me to finish that last part, but I did certainly go on the website. I read about the finance committee. I looked at the members. I consulted social media. For those of the members of the finance committee. I could find saw their backgrounds. I read the last year’s record of finance committee,

51:03 which opened my eyes to a number of things and the complications thereof. I also looked over the town budget. I did not read all 295 pages. I believe it was but I did peruse it in some depth and learned the town budgets approximately 90 million dollars and I saw the revenue streams and the Strategic plan, which I loved seeing as part of the Town budget and how each item folded back into these strategic goals. I thought that was excellent. So that’s how I prepared for this meeting volunteering. Let’s see. I was a special auxiliary police

51:49 officer for the town back in the early to mid 80s. I have certainly been involved with Cub Scouts. We blows Boy Scouts in town a lot of projects for the town when we were there. I’ve been involved with the Marblehead Festival of the Arts for over 20 years.

52:11 I’m also talking to Lisa Hooper about possibly doing a series of seminars to teach seniors how to navigate this digital world. We find ourselves in with a little more security. I’m also talking to Sarah Ewing at The JCC about doing a similar program with them and I think that’s I think I’ll stop there. We mentioned a couple earlier. Can you tell us the way you know the town finances and its budget process? Okay. Well, you’re almost a 90 million dollar budget. The funding source has come from a variety of places. I had no idea. They were quite that many streams. I know

52:58 you’ve got Capital plan and capital monies monies that come from the state and that you’ve and some free cash that you’ve got moving over. They’re budgeting processes. I understand it is and probably my weakest area of knowledge to be honest. It seems that the finance committee meets at the beginning of the year and their Liaisons to each of the Departments each liaison works with that department head on their budget and then reports back to the finance committee, the finance committee discusses all the different requests that come to it. And then

53:45 there’s a public hearing or a series of public hearings, I guess depending on Whether or not they get all the business done, and then from there I believe recommendation is made to the Selectmen and then eventually the warrants prepared and the finance committee reviews the warrant carefully and respond gives its recommendations.

54:11 Great. Alexa yeah, thank you so much.

54:16 Oh just in relation to the responsibility of the position. Are you aware of the time commitment and prepared to you know participate in that obviously, you know, it’s kind of heavy in that January to June time frame and obviously town as you noted that you paid attention to and I appreciate that the town budget process is very different than like, you know business financial situation. Well, I did look over the schedule for the finance committee for last year. Well this year last physically. Yeah, I’m still thinking the state fiscal year term. So and it I I feel that I do have a pretty good understanding of the time commitments that are involved. I’m

55:03 retired now, I do volunteer in a number of organizations still but yes, I believe that I can make that time commitment.

55:15 historically Passed to attend the finance committee meeting just see how they work. I have not attended to finance committee meeting. No. Are you regular attendee at town meeting do particularly, you know, usually participate? I would say I’m a regular attendee but I have been to town meetings when there was an issue that specifically interested me. Then that’s right registered voter in town. Thank you, Mr. Knight. I have the last question for you. It’s been great to learn more about your background and you’re involvement in our town. Can you tell us about any interactions that you’ve had with Town departments and whether those

56:01 Interactions and stand out as positive or negative. Well, I’ve certainly dealt with a lot of down departments in my time here whether it be the board of Selectmen or the police department. I certainly have friends who have worked for the town for many years or have or holding elected positions. Now, I think we have a wonderful town. I don’t have anything negative to say about anybody that I have dealt with in a town position whether they be the people taking my money at the transfer station or the fine members of the board here. Everyone seems to really have

56:47 the best interests of the town at heart that I’ve dealt with. Right. Thank you so much that wraps up our okay that brings our our questioning to an end. Thank you. Eric very much. It was gonna be hot see well you always so calm Eric usually thank you for that. You’re welcome to stay. We will vote tonight on on our two vacancy choices. Okay. Well, thank you. Thank you.

57:18 Thank you. Thanks, Eric.

57:23 Welcome. Hello, good evening. Good evening.

57:31 First of all, thank you very much for volunteering and be willing to go through this process. It’s reasonably later to be here. Well, that’s great honor. Really please really please. Well, thank you. And we’re gonna ask you a series of questions. We’re gonna go around the board that we’re asking of all the candidates and I’d like to start simply by asking you a more general question about your background and experience and how it you know, how It prepares you for the current role that we’re interviewing for. Okay. I have actually quite a bit of experience I was well, my profession is I am a financial advisor have been for the last 20 years have my own business at this point and about to Move on from that so looking for things and

58:18 I have always had a long dedication to serving the communities, hence. I would love to get involved in this. I was on the finance committee in the town of Essex. Moved on from that to the board of Selectmen. I have served on numerous Finance committees and Treasures of many organizations that glinner could School in Beverly Farms where my son went to school. I was on the finance committee and treasurer for that. I was on the finance committee and treasurer for the Boston club and organization in Boston that promotes. Women promotes women learning and it’s a kind of a club and cause and the cause was to get women on more corporate boards. What other Finance Finance committees

59:06 I have been on?

59:10 Let’s see and while I’m on the finance committee for the rotary, I’m the treasurer for the rotary. Jim knows assistant treasure because I’m not allowed to be the treasurer because my job won’t let me but So again, that’s plenty unless you can think of a couple more. You know why I have been on there’s a scholarship run through the rotary and we call it. It’s the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor enhanced scholarship trust and I’ve been the treasurer and now president of that for the past five years. So running that scholarship and we have a separate from that manages it to keep it all and the idea is to build up the fund so that we don’t have to be raising money every year just for

59:57 scholarship. So we want to build that up. So we’ve built it up very well and very proud of that and this past year in the rotary didn’t have Many funds because fundraising was down we were able to give out scholarships. From our fund that was before so congratulations. Yeah, that’s outstand. We achieved our goal. Well, thank you. Yeah, Jackie. Thanks most. Sometimes the finance committee has to make tough choices, which may not be popular. Are you prepared to articulate and to make those types of choices? And can you point to an example where you’ve had to do this before? It sounds like you I have while being on the finance committee in the town of Essex. We had to make some tough choices, and I think I took over as chair.

1:00:42 just when the state came in and said okay, everybody have got to cut back your budgets by X number of dollars and it was very hard and a lot of the finance committee. It was it was a tough decision on you know, you don’t want to cut back on the police through the fire and but so you look at maybe what are what other services can we cut and I got a lot of flack shall we say for suggesting that maybe we cut back on the library services, but when it comes to police or fire and library, but if you have to make those decisions and I try to get a consensus from the committee.

1:01:22 And talk to the people around town and then make the decision that way. Thank you. And how would you describe the role and scope of work for the finance committee in town government? I think it’s very important. I mean there have been on a planner obviously from my job. But you have to plan plan and you have to know that the money is there and you have to so you have to it all it’s got to come together the finances and the plan and you can’t spend more money than you have. So that’s that’s the big thing. You really got to take a look at that picture as a whole and and what the important things to spend on. Yeah. Thank you. All right. Jim finance committee members are scientists specific departments as a liaison.

1:02:08 are there any areas of town government either programs or departments that you have a greater interest in than any other and if so, could you tell us why that is

1:02:22 what I have any particular interest I think. Well, I’m a sailor. So I would have interest on what’s going on in the harbor.

1:02:32 That would be that would yeah.

1:02:37 I have an interest in just how it all works and

1:02:42 And keeping it in line with what is needed and and sometimes you have to make like you said hard decisions and sometimes. A police chief. I’m sorry. I should probably somebody a department head they want something that’s you know, maybe we can afford. so Thank you. All right Alexa.

1:03:06 Hi, can you hear me? Alexa yes I can. Okay. Great. Thanks for being here. You covered your background a lot. And I think that probably might answer this question. But if you have anything else you’d like to add just in regards to your primary motivation for applying for this position this evening and what brought you here and wanting to do this work again. I know that you had mentioned that you had, you know, previously worked in the finance committees it You know just curious of what brought you back to that interest for us this evening, but it’s been a long time interest of mine. And as I said my business is now winding down. So I want to get more involved in the community. And help out where I can and this is what I

1:03:52 do. So, yeah, like I might be good here. Yeah, great. Thank you so much.

1:03:59 Hello. How did you prepare for the interview for this interview tonight and explain can you explain any volunteer experience you’ve had with the town? I know you’d mentioned the rotary but is there if you’d want to elaborate on any of that? How did I prepare? that’s a tough one because you know, it’s it’s I’ve done this a lot. So just refreshed my memory on the things that I’ve done on the finance committee is how I prepare and been on the Rotary. In the scholar being involved in the scholarship fund that as I mentioned and running a business has been pretty much taking up a lot of my time. So All right good.

1:04:46 Can you tell us about your knowledge of the town’s finances and it’s budget process? in the budget process and

1:04:57 I know a bigger than ethics. the town of 3,000 but the budget process is is understanding what the town departments are asking for and are there increases are the what’s going on there trying to understand exactly where they are what they’re requesting on their budgets and deciding is it going to fit within the town’s budget? in the overall picture

1:05:30 All right Alexa.

1:05:33 Can you hear me? Okay.

1:05:38 So question just is in regards which you know having the experience prior. I’m not sure what how Essex handle it, but just about the time commitment. Typically, you know, we ramp up from January to June and obviously attending the meeting is really important. So just wanted to make sure you were aware of that time commitment and then secondly just if you’ve been able to participate in any Finance committees here in normal any meetings just to be clear. Sorry. I have not had a chance to do that. Okay, but I am aware of the time commitment. And I’m certainly willing to give it this time. Right. Thank you. Awesome. Great. Sure. Okay. So I have the

1:06:25 last question. Can you tell us about any interactions you’ve had with any Town departments while living in Marblehead and whether the interactions were positive or negative?

1:06:36 I had a very positive experience with the police department.

1:06:42 It was strange someone broke into my house in the middle of the night. It was pretty scary. I was sound asleep and I felt this little tap in my arm. There’s somebody there the police were just terrific they caught the guy and

1:07:00 I just I love the police department for that. They were just really terrific my other experience of the Town Department was I had a neighbor complain about my bushes. to the Whoever they complain to about my bushes, and I was just wanted to know why they didn’t complain to me first, so I did have to ask for her name, but I haven’t done anything with that information. Okay. Thank you. Well, thank you very much this brings our questions to an end, and we really appreciate you sitting here before us much appreciated and you’re welcome to stay. We will take a decision tonight by a vote. So, all right. Thank you very much. Again. Thank you. Thank you. Stay right in stay here.

1:07:46 Okay. And we are now prepared to take Larry out of a there. You are Larry. Thank you, Portland. Good evening. And thank you for spending so much time in the Kona silence you I didn’t start off the evening in a different time zone, but it may be in one now. We really appreciate it. And as I mentioned at the outset, we do have a set of a set of questions that we’re asking all the candidates and I’m going to go ahead and start with With the opener and basically ask you about your background in your experience and how that prepares you for this role, you know with respect to budgeting and and finance. Yeah, absolutely. So

1:08:32 I began my professional career as a trial attorney, but that lasted about it a decade when I got tired of sitting in the library and I worked for five years doing some major real estate development work and then the last 32 years. I’ve been in higher education. So the first 15 of that I was the chief operating officer of Swarthmore College where I ran about a hundred million dollar budget and was in charge of all the operations facilities and things like that and then 15 years after that. I was the president of Oglethorpe University, which is a small liberal arts college in Atlanta about a it’s about a 20 million dollar budget when I came in but we doubled our

1:09:19 enrollment and ended up being about a 40 million dollar budget. So very involved in creating budgets having budgets approved by the board and and so the most especially in Executing and operations then two and a half years ago. I came up to New England. I run the New England Commission of higher education. We printed all the colleges and universities across New England as well as but it doesn’t abroad and right now about five outside of New England. And one of our main responsibilities is helping institutions. be financially healthy, so I meet with Boards of whenever institutions are Commission of has oversight over there over their

1:10:06 finances, so I would say that sort of my my sweet spot is both finance and operations.

1:10:16 All right. Great. Thank you. Larry Jackie. Hi, Larry. Thank you for being there.

1:10:24 Sometimes the finance committee has to make tough choices, which may not be popular. Are you prepared to articulate and to make those types of choices? And can you point to an example where you’ve had to do this before? Thank you. Yeah. Well I had to do this more than I more than I would like. So in my current role we actually shut down colleges because of their financial instability, but probably most particularly when I was at over for it. I came in we had a we were spending 22 million dollars and we’re bringing in about 17 million in Revenue. So it’s a five million dollar operating Surplus. Tapped at our line of credit so actually in my first year I had to ask all faculty

1:11:09 and staff to tear up their contracts spend ancient contributions.

1:11:15 I mean we were able to intern oglethorp from a school at about 700 students into a store with 1,500. running three and four million dollars surpluses year after year, so Had to make a lot of tough decisions. That’s probably the toughest one is to ask people to tear up their contract. Take favorite pay reductions suspend their pension contributions in order to create a healthy place. So not fun, but done it a lot. Thank you. And how would you describe the role and scope of work of the finance committee and town government? So I think it’s one of the most, you know important committees in in town. It’s tomorrow. I’ll just extraordinary place. That I think you know, I one of the things I’ll say

1:12:03 is I sort of come into this without. Only been in town two and a half years. I don’t have sort of preconceived ideas about.

1:12:13 Any of the financial issues whether that’s Safety and Security or school? or things like that, so I think I’ll be able to Take a very objective. Look at what we’re spending how we spend it, you know, whether there’s a need for increased Revenue whether our opportunities to spend less money in particular places, but it’s you know, I think one of the things that attracts all of us to Marblehead is that it’s

1:12:43 it’s an amazing place that I think has deferred some of the money that it probably ought to have spent over time.

1:12:55 In a surprisingly low real estate burden on homeowners. We have a house in Atlanta. It’s a about the same value. I pay twice in taxes. What I do in marbleheads, I think it is one of the things that attracts people here, but we’ve got to make sure that we’re spending money wisely at the schools are in good shape that the roads and streets are in good safe at public safeties and in a good place. Um, these are all complicated decisions. Thank you. Jim thanks. Welcome Larry the finance committee members are assigned to specific Town departments as liaison’s are there any areas of town government pre the programs or departments that you

1:13:41 have a greater interest in than any other if if so could you tell us why that is

1:13:49 Yeah, that’s a really good question.

1:13:54 Yeah, so I you know, I would say operations and in a broadly defined ways is something I’ve I’ve I’ve spent a lot of time and had a lot of experience in I ran. A local, you know a security police forces both at both institutions.

1:14:12 But yeah, I would say.

1:14:16 You know, I’m interested in school things, but my experience is is on the operation side. I I know how.

1:14:27 organizations can run healthy inefficient operations Thank you. All right Alexa. Hi. Thanks so much for being here tonight and volunteering. And first question was just what your primary motivation was in applying for the position tonight. What brought you here?

1:14:52 Yeah, so, you know we live in Old Town.

1:14:57 I think it’s really critical that that citizens getting engaged and involved in sounds like this. And so it’s you know, it’s not a particular. I don’t have a you know particular agenda around any any issue. I know like the school issues a hot one, but it you know, I don’t come with any any particular agenda. I think I given my background I can. I can be really I could be a valuable voice in helping the town Around Talent manages. It’s money. Okay. Thank you. Aaron Eric Larry, can you tell us about how you prepared for the for this interview and also?

1:15:42 Speak to any volunteer experience you’ve had in the town.

1:15:52 In my main sort of preparation. Camp Staples is a is a friend in college. So Kim and I bought him lunch. Yeah, so we I think we had a good conversation about About how the how this commission worked committee worked.

1:16:13 So volunteer in town. I mean, I’m still working. I’m a busy person. I did put my name in the Hat to one of those a year year and a half ago in Olden to start. commission as we live in Old Town and didn’t I’m not I’m not I didn’t get voted in.

1:16:37 My wife’s very involved in.

1:16:40 Square in the garden Garden Club and and some other things but well, this would be my first major. to effort in town Thank you. Jim can you tell us about your knowledge of the town’s finances and its budget process?

1:17:02 I miss the miss the first part of what you said there. Sorry, you tell us about your knowledge of the town’s finances and its budget process. Yeah, so I’d say my main knowledge comes from attending the annual tonight of the annual meeting at the middle school and sort of watching that and watching how that How that happens and the role of the finance committee there. And how many difficult and complex issues? came up last year, so

1:17:33 That’s that’s my main understanding from from observing those two long nights. Thank you Alexa. Yeah. Hi. Just wanted to know if you had a chance to look at the time commitment or get any of that information, you know, typically a really schools up between January in June and this is one of the Committees that attendance is obviously really important as we work through this process on a tight timeline. That’s right.

1:18:08 And that’s the one of the major conversations I have with Cam about the you know about his participation. I have a pretty flexible. I mean, I I have a busy job and I have a pretty flexible job and and we don’t.

1:18:25 We spent spend a little time in Atlanta, but it’s not like I go to Florida right after year or anything like that. So and I’ve served on the camp County Board of Ethics. I shared that committee and down in Georgia for a year or two. It was a heavy commitment. I the and of our 330 unit Condo Association the chair that committee for five years I

1:18:53 When I volunteer for something, I understand that. showing up support Okay, thank you. Thank you Aaron. Um and the last question and it’s just if you have had any interactions with any Town departments that stand out to you as positive or negative.

1:19:17 sanitation is a We love our attention. I think that you know that that’s just efficient friendly.

1:19:31 Kind of think if we’ve had certainly haven’t had any. Any bad ones? We are November 15th going in front of the start to do a little work on the outside of our house. They’ve been good so far, but they haven’t they have enrolled. So no, I mean it’s we’ve been we’ve been very happy here very very impressed with with a town with the services with the friendliness of people. It’s a very special place. Thank you. Thank you for volunteering and your time tonight. Thank you, Larry. This brings our our questions to an end. And for those of you before we proceed to a vote as I’ve described earlier.

1:20:18 I just want to say that one of the hardest part of our jobs is having to make tough choices between truly outstanding candidates and I don’t think we can express enough our gratitude for everybody standing up to to do that. There’s lots of complex variables that go into a decision, but our town our town completely depends on volunteers like yourselves that step up. So if you’re not selected tonight, we just strongly encourage you to maintain your interest in the town and and we’d be delighted to find other ways to to employ Your Enthusiasm So with that.

1:21:00 I’d like to take a motion to place all candidates names into nomination to serve on the finance committee. And the first person to reach majority vote will be appointed to term to a turn to the term expiring in June 2025. And the second person to reach majority vote appointed will be appointed to term expiring in June 2023. So this is a pulled vote. And the Town Administrator will lead us through that someone first and second. Okay, and we have any any deliberation Celebrate but I’d like to Echo Excuse me. Yes, please or you would say it’s

1:21:46 Pick all five that would be all excellent candidates and and it it truly is a difficult position that we were spoiled with a wealth of talent that comes forward and it’s very difficult and heart-wrenching to have to choose. So that is true. Yeah, it’s true. But guard are we gonna I know Jim it’s that we’re going to do one name first and then do a second round. That’s cool. We’re putting them all. Okay, that’s right. And basically we’ll go around the table and Go ahead and put the person the candidates name that you want to vote for in the first one to reach majority and we’ll go around again if we don’t achieve it on the first and for sure.

1:22:34 I can yes, go ahead. I just wanted to add to you know, I just think it’s important to put this out there that you know these positions do turn over and people step off and you know, so if someone has You come forward tonight and perhaps, you know isn’t selected. But I guess that every single one of these applicants is very well qualified for this position that I just want to put that out there again, like please, you know, don’t hesitate and we really respect just coming forward and volunteering and that they’re you know is definitely A place for you to be a part of you know a volunteering here. I just want to value that commitment. Thank you Alexa. That’s that’s exactly right. What well

1:23:19 said there. Okay. So let’s go ahead and proceed with this for clarification. Yes. The rounds because there’s a three-year term, you know one another one year term effect. Yeah, that’s effectively that’s so which one is going first will be that will be the three year. Okay, we’ll go first. Okay, so expiring into that in 2025 in the second round would be the to fill the remainder of the letter. Okay. That’s right two candidate well ones for once for three and one’s for one. Right? Right, but you’re doing the three year one. This this first rounds the three year. That’s correct. Okay, that’s correct. Okay, that’s fine. Yeah, okay. So if we’re ready, well you still need to vote on putting them all into we just had a motion and second. We haven’t that’s right.

1:24:06 Yeah, okay.

1:24:10 of the time this is belt Becker in favor singer in favor. Is Noonan in favor Mr. Greater in favor?

1:24:24 Okay. LS track where I was. Okay. So for the three-year vote. I did Mark down here. so for the the round Europe here up next so Miss Newton. This is really a luxury of riches. So this you know like Alexis said any one of these candidates would be lucky to have I’m going to put Jim ziston’s name forward. I just stands out to me as a long time volunteer in the in the town and I just know that I know that his he’s been well respected on the communities he’s worked in and he stood out to me as somebody who read who mentioned the

1:25:11 projections and Trends and the declining free cash. I know that he’s been it. Finance committee meetings and town meetings and he’s a real asset to the Committees that he serves on and his background makes him well suited. So I again in putting gyms this and forward

1:25:35 guess I should keep track.

1:25:42 Where am I? Just deny. Michael jenko

1:25:51 Miss belt Becker, you can call me Jackie and Michael. Jenko.

1:26:02 Miss singer Jim zizen

1:26:10 and

1:26:13 That’s me. It’s a great I’ve lost I I can’t keep track of where I am on the circle. Normally. It’s racist Michael Jacob. Okay, so majority is is Jacob. Okay. three Django to Susan Thank you. Anyways, we’re ready to move to the to the one year. Okay. So for the one year, so it’s deny. Iraq night

1:26:43 Is Belle Becker? Eric Knight

1:26:49 Miss singer Rebecca, Lionheart

1:26:55 this Noonan Rebecca line her Mr. Greater Eric Knight three for night two for Linhart Okay, that was very very tough.

1:27:14 Thank you for coming forward. It’s much much appreciated. And with that that brings the finance committee agenda to an end and we’d really like to welcome a very very patient John Berry who’s with Crowley wind Services who’s going to bring us an update on the very exciting Salem offshore wind terminal project. And oh, yes, I’m sorry. We just congratulate them. Yes. I know you’re late. I understand and before we do that. Eric and Michael we’d like to congratulate you on this office and thank you for coming through this very difficult process. It’s much appreciated Jackie if you yeah, yes,

1:28:02 were you bet and what you need to do is is go to the

1:28:10 Um the office next door here and swear in as as a newly appointed income member at your earliest convenience. Okay. Thank you. I won’t John, I think unless anyway, if anybody else would Jax we’re ready for it. Thank you. Please come forward. Thank you very much for this. No, no, nothing much appreciated. Thanks for your time. And thank you for the opportunity. It’s been pretty exciting. Actually. I’ve enjoyed the experience. I’ve been watching town government. It’s off of Jenner. So, you know, it’s actually generous very interesting. Yeah, I’ll just get right into it and I’ll try to be brief just because in The consideration of time so I’m

1:28:56 John Berry. I’m with Crowley wind Services the Marine of the terminal operations manager for offshore wind and heading up the project that at Salem Harbor at the wind Port. So just a little bit about myself. My background is is in Marine transportation in terminals in particular. I’m a graduate of Mass Maritime Academy and I served 14 years in the US Merchant Marine and was working for 18 years 19 years now in ports and terminals most of that with the Massachusetts Port Authority in the port of Boston. So relatively new here with Crowley and just a little bit about Crowley Crowley is a is a hundred and thirty year old Maritime Transportation Company their headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, so not

1:29:44 real familiar up here in the Northeast, but very very well known and respected in the maritime Transportation field they own and operate over. 20 Marine terminals they have over 200 vessels under the Crowley flag and they are the largest Jones act employer of us Merchant Mariners in the United States so big big company and you know really making a lot of big moves in this off-show in space Crowley wind Services is actually the fifth business unit under Crowley Holdings, and some of those other interested crowlier handles is and it’s all under a maritime experience. They handle Logistics. They

1:30:30 handle a fuel company. They they are involved with government services and

1:30:38 They’re involved in Government Solutions as well. So big big company. And again, this is a brand new experience for Crowley to be involved in you in offshore wind us offshore wind. I should say we’re very very excited to be the very new owners of the Salem windport across the Harbor from your beautiful town and we are we just closed on that property the end of last month in preparation for that closing and for this development of the offshore win martial import there. We’ve been working with AECOM. That’s our design engineering firm and we’re also working with Tetra Tech here in Boston and they’re in international firm as

1:31:26 well or national firm that is helping us with our permanent Consulting. So that process is actually just beginning because we just got psych control at that facility. There will be Any more public meetings that will be coming up around this project. We’ve already socialized this project to the public and the big thing that I want to make sure that that I communicate here today is that the Crowley is really interested in being a multiple neighbor in this in this community and I talk about this a lot when I get the opportunity to speak about it in Salem and I would like to say the same thing here in Marvel head, you know, we really want to impress upon the community that we had to be a neighbor that wants to work with the community. So again

1:32:12 a little bit more about what’s happening at the Port we are looking at Starting construction next summer in June or July of next year that construction process will be a relatively quick one right now. We’re looking to have all construction complete by the end of 2025 and we’re looking to go up operational at that facility in 2026 will be at this point supporting first tenant, which will be having grid which is a big offshore wind developer. And we there will be supporting them with their New England win project and then behind that

1:32:59 the other partner is a Copenhagen infrastructure partners and will be supporting them with their projects coming up in US offshore wind. So again, this this project that we’re doing is is really to support renewable energy here in the Commonwealth. So I think that you know Crowley’s really working very hard to be leaders in this space and we’re really working hard to become very well respected in this field. This renewable energy space is something that we all should be paying attention to it’s going to be something that’s going to be a huge field and a lot of room for opportunity for the community and I think

1:33:47 that you hopefully be very happy with with what you’re seeing going on across the harbor again just a little bit about what’s happening at the marshalling Port what we will be doing there is we’ll be receiving components from overseas in the initial projects because all these components will be manufactured and Europe we’re offshore wind is a mature industry. So those those components Will be received at the yard namely those will be what they call in the cells which are the turbine generators and the blades that the windmill blades and then the tower sections as well. So those three components will be staged into the yard. And once we build up a certain level of inventory, we

1:34:32 will look to what they call feedering in US offshore wind is a little bit different than than European offshore wind. There’s a turbine installation vessel. That is a jackup type vessel, which we don’t really have available here in the US Merchant Marine. So because of the Jones act and you to service this industry, we’re going to try this this new method of development. It’s called feedering and this isn’t a real New Concept but it is going to be new to Offshore wind. We done feeding in the Gulf of Mexico for oil and gas projects for many many years. But so once those Products come into the port to get laid down and then they will be staged on these feeding vessels and

1:35:20 be taken out to the offshore Wind Farm area. The turbine installation vessel will be the vessel that will build the windmill offshore. So it’s it’s a It’s pretty huge project. And and I like to talk about it as a project that’s done at a production level. So these components are actually very very large. But I think that you know, one of the things that I want to make sure I impress upon everyone here and especially because you we have a very good view of the port from from your West Shore is that you know, that that this is is really clean work. And we’re going to be replacing, you know all of this.

1:36:07 Dirty energy that that is that has been unfortunately her and our environment. So we’re excited. You know again, I kind of want to be brief here tonight, and I just give you an opportunity to ask me any questions.

1:36:24 What can you give us a it sounds like it’s it’s gonna be mainly a staging area correct for your partial production and it’s gonna be very light on the production level. There’ll be what what again these components will come to the port pretty well assembled the yes, they will be a pre-assembly of the tawa sections. They’ll be inspections that will happen on all these components because again, once they go out to the field they want to make sure that they can very quickly put these components together and build a turbine. So there will be you know, I think you’ll see the incoming vessels have you left-type vessels which I think we haven’t really seen here in Salem Harbor

1:37:10 from for a few years. So that would be a new experience in these these feedering vessels are going to be small hugs and barges. So the barges are a 400 foot long by a hundred foot wide and again the will be one set of components that will be loaded onto each barge. They’ll be two or three barges in service to each wind installation. So they’ll more or less act as a conveyor. Taking components in and then and then and then inspecting them getting them ready for installation and then they’ll head out to the wind farm. So very very little and it’ll be mostly the inspections and they’ll

1:37:55 be some pre-assembly for the tower sections.

1:38:01 Anybody else have any questions it really is impressive question. Yeah. so

1:38:12 Um like so I guess when you’re talking about s*** the shipments starting to come in over the summer. That’ll be from construction next summer for the credit. So they’ll be it. You may see some Maritime activity happening then next summer just with respect to maybe some components as far as like the steel pilings or the steel sheets that will be used to do the construction of the key side because the the key side itself is it has to be reinforced to support these very heavy components. So but as far as activity, you won’t really see any activity in service to the offshore wind farms until late probably early 2026. Okay, so that’s the tugs and barges right coming in 2026. It’ll be heavy lift

1:39:00 vessels coming in for for Receiving of these components and tugs and barges going up and is that during a certain amount of time of the like of a year for the construction of the wind farmer? It’s a great question. I think you know, that’s some of the stuff that we’re actually going to try to just we’ll be discovering that as I’m sure everybody here in model head is is very familiar with the sea and how how difficult it can be during the the winter time. So there is obviously it’s going to be limitations on the level of sea that will be able to do these installations in however that there will be probably components being received into the terminal in those in those heavier

1:39:47 weather windows, but there will be likely less activity overall. So like just that it’s a busy Harbor in the summer and it’s like the frequency of the tugs and barges. Do you see that being like a weekly occurrence a daily occurrence? I think it’s it. You know, it’s really an over. What time frame well, so this first project is the planning on a three year time span. So, you know the time period is is in that three years. I think that you’re going to see you know, roughly.

1:40:24 20 receiving vessels coming in over the over the three-year period and then you’ll have You know. Probably close to 75 or maybe even a hundred different excursions of the feedering operation. So it’ll definitely be something that will be new here in the harbor. But you know, we’ve actually been in contact with the bobblehead. Have a master as well as the Salem Harbor Master. So, you know, we’re doing everything we can to communicate this new activity to the voters and we’ll be doing more Outreach with that with the voters in the area as well. Okay, it’s really important project. I think I read that a baker was spending like

1:41:10 a hundred dedicated 100 million dollars to yeah to win farming and off Massachusetts, right? No, it’s it’s really big and I think the Commonwealth Massachusetts is really, you know in the industry because I’m all over the country with this with this offshore wind and you know, the whole country is looking at the Commonwealth Massachusetts in Salem in this New England area, as you know real leaders in this industry, and I think it’s a great opportunity for us to really show what we can do. It’s it’s gonna be new for us and this is gonna be a new experience up here in Salem, but I think we’re all up to the channel and I think we’re gonna be able to We show the rest of the country in the world what we can do. And just really quick one last question when Once the

1:41:58 wind farm is is established created, you know down the road. Does that mean that the port and the construction like across from Marblehead side over by It is that become. Unnecessary, does that go away or does that well? I mean it stay for maintenance. I think I think yeah. Well that’s those are some of the things that we’re we’re really sort of I think right now we’re planning on approximately 10 to 15 year period of this installation and then I think it’s going to be you know. Probably there could be you know a repowering of some of these units some of the older units it sort of such a

1:42:43 new industry that we really haven’t you had a chance to look that far down the road. But you know, I think that you’ll see for the foreseeable future, you know these Components being received and shipped out and I think that eventually it will become very routine many of these marshmallowing yards are in communities very similar to Marblehead in Salem in Europe and they have a very Cooperative experience. So I’m hopeful that we know we can do a lot of Outreach here in the community and hopefully be able to take advantage of some of the workforce in the communities to you know, help us complete that project sometime. All right. Thank you. Welcome.

1:43:30 Good anybody. Yeah, I do a couple things one. We met however many weeks ago right? I remember and that’s important and I just want to say I appreciate that. I know as you say you’re coming in as a significant industry coming in and it’s great doing the Outreach in communicating with the municipality. So not not all Industries or companies figure that out until you know too late still is too late. And so I appreciate the proactive approach. So my question you I think you touched on a little bit as best as you can tell basically experience what type of I’m looking at the Economic Opportunity what type of Trades and professions will you see an increased demand for the region that’s an opportunity

1:44:16 for for us and others around the area. That’s it again. I mean, we I actually sat on a Workforce Development panel for American clean power last week down in Providence. And that’s a Big group conference talking about these these very complicated projects that we’re going to try to accomplish. So Workforce Development is a huge piece of this industry because the fact of the matter is we don’t have a lot of these folks trained up and what they call gwo global wind organization training. So we’re actually partnered with Massachusetts Maritime Academy and some of the other academies to start to implement with our partner rely on new tech in Mass

1:45:03 Maritime to train everyone or train a group of these Mariners in This Global offshore winds that they can participate in this field. So again, they’ll be a merchant Merit a component to this which we’re going to be leaning on the Maritime Academy school, but there’s also going to be a lot of Building Trades that are going to be working at the Port the other one is going to be long-term and it’ll be doing the unloading and load. Know the vessels crane operators welders painters finishers electricians. So it really sort of runs the gamut and that’s just the actual work part of it. There’s a lot of planning and I and I it was it was really interesting to hear everyone’s background, you know,

1:45:49 but a lot of planning engineering project management these it really is going to run the whole gamut. So I think that it’s gonna be a very big opportunity and you know for people that I normally having to go to other areas to take advantage of these opportunities, they’ll be able to hopefully stay in their hometowns and work on John that’s really good news. And again, I’d like to Echo with Thatcher said and really appreciate your your outrage that’s very important to us. And and that we can continue the discussion of my question is you also have a website that a project thank you website. It might be able to presentation but but I didn’t

1:46:35 want to torture everybody. No, thank you. Yes, we do have a website and and it’s a Salem offshore wind. That’s the the website and what I’ll do is I’ll I’ll try to communicate with Kylie to make sure that we get all those details. We do have a website. We are going to be having another public meeting coming up in mid November. I don’t think the date has been exactly set yet. But we’ll do we’ll do our best to make sure that we communicated over here tomorrow we’ll head as well so that we can get some of the residents and hopefully some of the other folks that might be interested again, you know, I’m Welcoming this opportunity. I’m actually you know, I’m from I’m from Winchester originally a town sort of similar to Marblehead. So I’m really

1:47:23 excited to be taking and taken apart in these in these opportunities that I think is is really gonna

1:47:33 You know promote the Commonwealth Massachusetts and all of these these communities as a as a strong leader in this industry over the world. I mean, there’s there’s a lot of people watching what’s happening and a little bit of pressure but we can handle it. I know we’re gonna do a great job in and again, I want to make sure that you know, it gets communicated that Crowley is here to be a good neighbor in the community. That’s that’s our role in Crowley is going to be the long-term operator at that point. It’s very exciting and thank you again for your patience and coming in. Thank you time. Thank you.

1:48:14 Okay. With that, let’s go into to approval of the minutes for October 12 2022 motion to approve almost. Second and we’re gonna go around the table. No, Becca. Is singer in favor? Is Noonan in favor? Just deny and there Mr. Greater in favor. Next on our agenda is the overnight parking band for winter snow emergencies. The motion is self-explanatory and long. I’ll read it. Entertain a motion to sit to suspend town of marbleheads Article 5 Section 8 known as the current quote all night parking ban unquote and to implement in its places. No emergency response to snow events on an as needed basis.

1:49:00 Declared snow emergencies will prohibit on street parking starting at midnight the day of the anticipated snowstorm on street parking will be allowed the following morning starting at 7:00. Am during a declared snow emergency. If the duration of any snow emergency is more than a day on street parking will be prohibited on each day of the snow emergency from Midnight to 7am. Any vehicles that violate the provisions of this motion or subject to the issuance of parking tickets and towing notification of a declared snow emergency shall be done through the town website code red automated system Town managed social media accounts mhtv and any other outlets the town has available. This vote is revocable upon the determination of the police chief fire chief Town Administrator Department

1:49:46 of Public Works or their designees. That is that it is negatively impacting Public public health and safety second, please second. Okay, this singer in favor. Ms. Noonan in favor, Mr. And I in favor Ms. Gulf Becker in favor, Mr. Greater in favor next on our agenda is a police indemnification vote. Received a letter from from the police chief and the motion is to I to identify Lieutenant Lunt. For injury sustained while on duty October to 2022 unfortunately. So I have a motion, please and a second second.

1:50:32 Miss noon in favor just tonight in favor is Bill belth Becker in favor his singer in favor. Mr. Greater in favor The next is a emotion to extend the date and scope of a DPW contract. Again. The motion is explanatory entertain a motion to amend the contract between the town and bowbrick engineering and Construction LLC of Danvers, Massachusetts for engineering design Services by extending the time to December 31 2023 and to expand the current scope of work to include Engineering Services and assessments related to town roadways sidewalks walls fences and other Town infrastructure

1:51:20 with no increase to the contact contract amount and authorize the chair to sign on behalf of the board second, please second I will state with this allows is for Red’s Pond work as well as Lee Street and not the sea walls, but on the walls at least street, so thank you for that. Yeah expanding the scope. It’s necessary. We’re getting things done. Yes, that’s great. All right, Mr. Tonight in favor, Ms. Belt Becker in favor, Ms. Singer in favor. Ms. Noonan in favor, Mr. Greater in favor Okay, unanimous. The next is today liquor licenses for the Marblehead Museum. What’s that one day?

1:52:07 One day. Mm-hmm. Oh, yeah, two one-day license two one day. Sorry. You’re both right? That’s okay. It’s okay. I may have gotten read that, you know done that a little too quickly. And again the motion to self-explanatory. I’d like to enter an emotion to record to entertain a request from James Murphy marble at our associations for one day liquor license on Friday, October 28th, 2022 7pm to 10 pm at the king Hooper Mansion eight Hooper Street for fundraising events subject to the following conditions delivery oven receipt by the licensing authority of the required fee, which is $50 delivery of a receipt by the licensing authority of proof that the alcohol will be purchase from the authorized Source proof that the applicant can receive proper delivery provide proper storage and Disposal all alcoholic beverages purchased all the accordance with the requirement of

1:52:55 General law section 138 alcohol be purchased from Cappy’s importing. So moved and second second. Nature if you could round is belt Becca in favor is singer in favor. This Noonan in favor just tonight in favor. Just a greater in favor. Okay, unanimous, and we have a second motion or to entertain a request from Elise Bustamante Marblehead Arts Association for one day liquor license on Thursday, November 17th, 2022 7pm to 10 pm at the king Hoover mention eight Hooper Street for fundraising event subject to the following conditions delivery of and received by the licensing Authority report to keep fee of

1:53:42 50 dollars delivery of and received by the licensing authority of proof that the alcohol be purchase from an authorized Source proof proof that the applicant can receive proper delivery storage and Disposal beverages purchase all in accordance with the requirements of General law section 138 alcohol will be purchased from Cappy’s importing please second. Miss singer in favor Ms. Noonan in favor Mr. Nye in favor, Ms. Bill Becker, Mr. Greater in favor Okay, this is something we do every year. It’s for holiday hours for Abbott Hall in the Mary Ali. and I think this is a

1:54:30 is this a vote? No just information. It’s just information. Okay, I’ll just go ahead and read these out. So it’s for holiday hours for Abbot Hall and Mary Ali. And will be observed at Abbot Hall in the Mary Ali building Veterans Day week of November 7th to 11. 2022 Monday November 7 2022 8am to five PM Tuesday, November 8th, 2022 8am to five PM Wednesday, November 9th 8am to 6 PM Thursday, November 10 8am to 12:30, Friday, November 11th, 2022 will be closed on November 11th, and Veterans Day ceremony will be held at Avid Hall at 10 AM Thanksgiving week of November 21 through 25. 2022 Monday, November 21 8

1:55:18 AM to 5:00 pm Tuesday, November 22 a.m. To 5:00 pm Wednesday, November 23 8am to 2:30 p.m. Thursday November 24th closed Friday, November 25th closed

1:55:34 Okay. this next budget I item is just a notification purely from the board of retirement which basically notifies us of their annual budget submission as required by Massachusetts General Law chapter 32 section 22 and

1:55:57 and that’s basically a letter that’s been submitted To Us by Linda Linda Gifford. retirement administrator of the Marblehead Board of retirement And it’s accompanied by an annual budget. You can see on that. It’s been submitted to us on the on the second page. okay, the next is

1:56:24 A letter from Judy Gates of Pond Street Marblehead would like to be considered to become a member of the old Burial Hill committee where she lives right next door on Pond Street there. and there is an opening due to To Betty Lautner’s a stepping down recently and she would like to express her interest to to fill the opening on the committee to openings. There’s actually two. Oh, yes, but I think

1:56:58 Oh, there’s Betty hunt as well. I

1:57:03 I only have the one letter from Judy my apologies on that. Okay. So that is just I think the letter is accepted and received from both of them. Okay?

1:57:18 And I think that brings us.

1:57:25 Um

1:57:27 yes to another letter that we that we received from the acting chair of the marble at a thousand Housing Authority basically announcing the resign the resignation of Joan Cutler on September 15th from the From the Marblehead housing authority and the request was that we that we advertise and notice of the board of a vacancy on the Marblehead Housing Authority. They’re eager to fill the position and we should go ahead and and make that announcement. and I think that brings our agenda to a close.

1:58:08 Thatcher do you have any? Dip any updates for us?

1:58:16 Press update. We’re still searching for a financial director. We we had a pool that we interviewed. We had a lot of good candidates. We unfortunately lost a couple of very strong candidates that withdrawn. For various reasons, so we’re going to keep it open and we’re going to keep searching the pool. It is a tough Marketplace or municipalities as I talk to some of my colleagues. So we Are Gonna Keep The Search open and and look for the exact right person that we we want here in Marblehead. So yeah the African continues

1:58:59 A couple good news announcements for the fire department side Chief and his staff working on the grants. So we received a 44,580 grant for the purchase and installation of a backup generator, which will be at the community center. So where that’ll help us for cooling centers and situations such as that to allow that facility to be part of our inventory of Of you know keeping people safe. And then also we see the 5,100 grant which is going for a ballistic best and helmets. So fire departments if there is some type of bad incident shooter

1:59:45 incident, obviously the police are the ones who go in and deal with it the fire come in in order to take care of casualties and such. So, you know, there’s a Hot Zone a warm Zone and a cool Zone this egg provides some additional protection for the firefighters that are going to be close to the hot zones so they can be immediately available to provide, you know, medical assistance and such so Grant To provide equipment for firefighters for those situations. So great work by the department to pursue pursue those opportunities and then finally a number of DPW updates on number of projects that are interested to the board and to the public at large Pleasant Village

2:00:32 in Vine right now. They’re working on the the finishing up the crosswalks and sidewalks. So the the work they’re doing right now is pouring of sidewalks in and I think there were three separate scheduled pourings to be done on that.

2:00:51 So it looks like maybe a fourth concrete Porter complete all areas. So so four of them and then Paving will be set for November that will be the final stages. No set date as to which day but in the month of November should be final Paving on that project and again you we’ve talked about a lot of disruptions, but it will be worth it when it’s over it’ll be safe for people to cross and shiny new curbs and sidewalks and things of that sort. Next Humphrey Street, DPW is working with the gas company to confirm that they’ve completed all the upgrades up and down Humphrey Street, which means they have to dig into the streets trenches.

2:01:38 You patch them and it takes a while to settle as such so I’ve received calls from residents about all of that the good news and depending on how complete the gas company is a contractor is going to start at the end of next week milling and Paving those areas of Humphrey Street if all the gas is done. Maybe the entirety of Humphrey Street or at least if they’re not done as much of the areas that the gas is completed to it’ll be curbed to curb. Yes. Yeah and melon means, you know grinding it down. There’ll be a period of time where all the infrastructure will be sticking up with the orange paint markings. So everyone

2:02:24 will have to be aware that’ll take about I think it’s about a three week Paving process whether dependent is as usual. So another main throw fear that we’ll have some disruption, but at the end of the day much improve Elm Street again gas company is working that area that we working into January. National Grid schedule completes some trench Paving this week. Elm Street is scheduled for full width Paving in the spring of 2023. What is what she Elm Street and yeah full with Paving. So again, it’s it’s a situation where you have worked. In the ground with the gas companies other utilities and then once they’re done and things settled,

2:03:11 then we can do final Pro Paving there. And then as one Orange Street and Beacon from zero Beacon to 29 Beacon National Grid scheduled to pay in November. So so lots of Paving to be done and it’s not unusual in municipalities at this time of year. You do all your pay because you do all your other work up front and before the plants close down. This is when you get your Paving done, finally Red’s Pond as we mentioned expanding the scope for the engineering DPW Rex and parks and Cemetery town engineer to complete a temporary fix for walkway on one side of Redd’s pond. So I I was out there with others looking at it. So the concern there is

2:03:59 there’s erosion going on and in what happens. The erosion is underneath the pavement. So the pavement stays everything under erodes. So the temporary fixes the pull out the pavement put Stone and then stone dust there so that As a as it continues to erode at least it’s visible and open and it’s easy for DPW folks or parks and recs, which there was gonna actually have the crews out there. It’s easier to patch and maintain and then through the engineering work to come up with a permanent solution to that that area so lots of work going on responding to some of the critical issues but overall lots of improvements being

2:04:46 done. That’s really great. I do have a quick question, and I’m I think the idea that once work is done and there’s been trenching. One of my big bugaboo’s is a you know, we build roads and a lot of that’s just planning and then we trench and it really, you know ends up kind of compromising the road is curb to curb resurfacing kind of part of an a long-term plan to kind of fix the fix the roads. Is that something that we can Yeah, I mean average somehow so you have a whole payment strategy. You only resources dollars understand and and there are more there are more issues than there are dollars. So it depends. As to how far you need to stretch how the problems are and that’s big part of the the pavement study.

2:05:34 Having that done gives, you know sort of a experts providing the exact strategy based on your resources based on the condition of the roads to maximize. You know optimize I think is a better word to optimize your dollars. In your coverage to get things done. So, you know, I understand. Yeah, I just wondering is there anyway to get the utilities to commit to a to effects that way so perfect Amy well That’s always been I I several years ago. I found legislation to enforce utility companies to do that. And that’s something we should take up with our with our State Rep. Yes, and and I won’t get a details, but it’s a challenging issue everywhere.

2:06:20 Amy McHugh has is already communicating with all the utility companies setting up meetings for everyone to sit down and and give their

2:06:34 To really take a concerted effort to coordinate. the work of all the utility companies in the municipality so that we’re doing things in the right order and not not wasting money having to repatch Brand New Roads because they got I got up again. Thank you. That’s great, Ricky. The rest Pond yeah, so was there there was money in the was there money and wine item for that in our budget that this year? So that came up and I don’t think I mean trying to figure out all the capital dolls are out there. I don’t think it was approved. I think it’s a project that’s been kicking around but Amy that that’s part of

2:07:20 well, one of the one of the efforts we’re doing, you know working with Amy because a lot of capital projects and and Rickson Parks is to have a very well-defined combined. Capital Improvement list and identify the dollars that are existing those that are requested.

2:07:40 To better better answer those questions and manage what we have were you ever able to connect and follow back up with the gentleman who spoke to the issue? He was with us out at the sun. Oh great. Okay. Absolutely. That’s great it every day. The fact that we were out there seemed to have drawn a crowd people notice, you know some guy with a shirt in the tie, you know, very prominent out. Yeah, and you know, and then and then, you know DPW director Parks and Rec director engineer. We were outdated drew a crowd so we had lots of good conversation. I think part of it not getting the direct funding right away is because there was no study on kind of how to address that what it would take. So I think that’s what we’re addressing. Yeah. Well in the money that was proposed was for the study.

2:08:29 That’s right. That’s right. Okay, anybody around the table? and Good. They just have a good question about the repair. Can you hear me Thatcher? And what you were talking about with the stone, and I know Amy had touched on this. With is that then gonna have like some sort of asphalt overlay until we can you know, get the study and take a look at things more, you know to get something that’s more structurally sound. I’m just thinking about accessibility. I mean obviously right now there’s not accessibility because of the dips and things of that nature but is this going to be you know up to the top like the idea would be like a stone type

2:09:15 overlay or is this, you know, something underneath which is what I had envisioned Amy was referencing with an asphalt overlay. So and this is where time I just the temporary situation. Yeah, no. Exactly. There’s a engineered. Design, so so the idea is this to take out the payment put in the larger Stone overlay with with the Keystone or something of that type of grade. So under Ada so long as you have a fishing level of compaction on the stone, you’re still ADA Compliant even with stone. Okay, it’s based on compaction. So again, the first order is the safety factor is the asphalt covers the holes so you don’t know what danger you’re

2:10:03 in, right? And then and then, you know compact the stone to a level where it is still accessible even with wheelchair, right? Yes, no that addresses the safety issue, but too that’s right. I was just concerned about that. So that’s great. Okay. Thank you. With that I think like to understand a motion to it. Oh, yep. We have public comments still. Yeah. Thank you. Yes, if anybody we are in a period of public comment if anybody has comments questions We’re entertaining the public.

2:10:40 He was the land. Okay. I have a motion to return second, please elsewhere Lee motion to adjourned has been okay moved and second. You didn’t say okay Miss Noonan in favor Mr. Tonight. Okay, this belt Becker in favor. That’s the greater in favor. Get everybody. Me oh singer in favor. Thank you guys. Good night. We’re here by a journey. I just round number. 5,100 is like 5,000 80