Select Board: January 18, 2023

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.

0:02 What have four? And from here, I’m so very much. Like what we did with the Marblehead like identical. So you basically give them before first. They talk. I’ll lay out the rule, you know, kind of how we’re gonna go here. We’re gonna go about it and do it and I just encourage people to be, you know, if they come in if he is brief as possible. But we’ve asked them to come up with four and then we’re gonna ask five or whatever. Okay, that makes sense we but we ask them to come up with their own.

0:42 Okay. Yep. We’re right on time here. Okay. Becky we all set. Okay, they’re not first over here. No, they’re not. You know, just you know what this yeah, that’s okay. Yeah, there’s not enough of here. Just just

1:18 third on the agenda

1:30 here. She’s the one with the program. No, that’s exact address. Okay, somebody else don’t.

1:41 So it’s another board member who really expect to be here, but hasn’t arrived. I just don’t want the high score. Nervous, but I don’t actually yes.

1:54 And then the old Barrel Hill we got two people.

2:01 I’ll get back today. It’s raised from pages.

2:06 So if you guys you know situation I’m ready. It’s really gonna separate everybody.

2:18 I know we’re not starting on time. All right. I think we’re all set. We all set here.

2:34 All right, like to bring this meeting to order a couple of minutes late here. Thank you for your patience. And we’d like to be able to get started here. We’d like to invite Helena tedesi. Up to the table please right here. It is for the student representative for the task force against discrimination and thank you very much for coming in. We really yeah welcome. so perhaps you could tell us a little bit about yourself so that we can you know who you are and you’re interested in this position voice. My name is Helena tedesi. I go to MHS and I’m a senior there. So starting off. I have this club that I’m in called team Harmony where we kinda talk about social and

3:21 racial Justice kind of just like talking about specifically racial justice as we see throughout like I specifically the pandemic we saw a lot of like and the movement of like the black lives matter movement or just any like particular minority group and I feel like that this club has get given me opportunity to I guess like give a voice to the people that don’t have one necessarily and yeah, okay. And that’s great. That’s great. And that’s the read main reason you want to be on the task force.

4:04 and I guess not only have my voices heard, but the people around me that because we I’m sorry. I’m just alone don’t know don’t you worry you’re doing great. It’s like Marblehead is not a diverse town, but we are just a tightness community and I think giving the right opportunity in the right person can definitely make a difference to feel it more inclusive and I’m hoping you know being on this tax for us can like give me the opportunity to do that outstanding. There’s the board have any any questions or For comments no questions. Just thank you for participating in in that and being here. Thank you for having me. Well, excellent. Well, thank you again Elena you can see and I would like to make a entertain

4:50 a motion to a point Helena to Desi to the task force against discrimination student representative. with the term to expire in June 2023 and the second all those in favor It’s unanimous. Thank you very much.

5:12 excellent You have a good evening. Thank you. Good. Thank you. Good luck. Will College. All right, next on our agenda is old Burial Hill and we have two vacancies and actually two potential appointments two candidates that are stepping up and hopefully they’re here Judy Gates. If you could come up first, please that would be great. Finally made it here. You finally made it finally made it. Yes to the to the old burial Hillary Clinton too tonight. I’m gonna be really well. You know, I think everybody everybody knows you

6:00 Judy. I know you had along agenda and I don’t want to waste your time. No, there are many who may not who are you know, who will be listening to this. So can you tell us a little bit about yourself and why you’re interested in well, I’ve Lived moved to Marblehead in 1965 basically and moved into the home where I live now, which is a directly across the street from Old Burial Hill. And therefore it and have always been interested in marbleheads history and done a lot of reading and talking to people and so forth and and as they say with old burial he’ll write there. I certainly have read about and sat on it and thwomped over it and my children have

6:46 been very absorbed in it. I’ve watched the history of that Hill since 1965 and seen the vandalism seen Stones torn down seen things fixed, etc. Etc. I’ve been involved with the Agnes project with the Marblehead racial Justice team for example, and have been on communities before that were involved with it with other people here in the town and continue to want to be a supporter of old Burial Hill and it is I’m sure you all know it’s one of the more visited places from a for people visiting and I’ve often talked with those people is You know pointing out things and so forth. So it’s a long time interest in it. And at

7:34 this point in my life, I’m not taking on a lot of new things but I would like to continue to support the committee and since there are the openings and you you know, they’re two of us and Two interested why I’m happy to answer any questions, but I think the interest is evidently there and I feel I’m capable. I know a lot of people in town and so forth. So I’d like to consider me again. Thank you Judy. Perfect segue. If does anybody have any questions?

8:11 Okay, and well, yeah. Well, you know, I think it’s a matter of procedure do we we should probably take the the two. Questions and then vote afterwards. I think you separate motions are one motion for both. However, that’s right.

8:30 Judy with that I know there’s no other additional questions, but please stay around. Thank you. And is Andrew gallucci here, there you are. Come on up Andrew welcome. Hello. Thanks for having me.

8:44 Like to ask you the same question, perhaps you could tell us a little bit about yourself and why you’re you’d like to be on this on this. So when I was in kindergarten my family moved here in 90, we lived here throughout the 90s and then my father his Works took us elsewhere in the country. But I after school I ended up relocating to the Boston area. I came up through Four Seasons hotel’s Mandarin Oriental. I have a background in Hospitality management. And then I transitioned into Property Management past five years or so. So, you know will Burial Hill is really been a magical place for me that I only just rediscovered when I move back to Marblehead in the middle of the pandemic in 2020, and I was with my nephew You know one Summer Morning up there and I had never been

9:31 there as a kid and there was kind of like this aura that was it was so quiet up there and all the history and I’m a big history guy. And so I recently started getting more involved with the town and part of the Conservancy Trail Breakers club and looking into Marblehead Museum. I’m a history guy, but it’s really a beautiful spot. I have a background in project management capital projects. I oversee 15 luxury condominium associations in Boston about 600 total units. So I definitely have experience in capital projects. I know you all have a plan that you have developed back and I think 2009 for the for the site, but I love to have the opportunity to contribute to a really neat Gem of the town.

10:17 Thank you. That’s really great. Thank you for stepping up. Any any questions from the board comments sounds great and thank you very much for volunteering. It’s much appreciated and we’re gonna go ahead if you would mind taking a seat back. Yes, we’ll proceed.

10:35 Okay, I think we can make the any discussion You know, okay. Well with that, I’d like to make a emotion to a point both Judy Gates and Andrew gallucci to the old Burial Hill committee with a term to expire in June 2023 for both for both of you.

10:59 in a second all those in favor Right. It’s unanimous. Thank you very much.

11:07 And if I could remind all of you Judy and Andrew if I could remind you to get sworn in in the office as soon as possible before you assume your your position, thank you. Thank you. Thanks for volunteering. Yeah. Okay, and now we come to our joint meeting with the housing authority and your seated in place already? So that’s great. Okay now I’d like to go ahead and just conduct this as we normally do with any joint committee. So I think you have to come, you know, call a meeting to order so that you can

11:59 Gene to make sure I do it right. I’d like to call to water. I’m joint meeting with the selectment of the Marblehead Housing Authority on January 18th, 20203. Okay in favor my favorite outstanding thank you very much. And the purpose of this joint meeting is to interview with appointment for the vacancy created by the resignation of Joan Cutler. The appointment expires in June 2023 and this is an elected position. So this is a temp. This is a an appointment until further election. And the applicant is Teresa, Toro Terry. Are you where are you, please come on up.

12:45 Welcome. Thank you. Thanks for having me. Thank you for coming and I think you know the art the typical typically the way we like to to approach this is to go and have the the sponsoring committee going or board go ahead and start with the questioning. So if you could start I think you’ve got Four questions that you’d like to ask, okay.

13:13 Fine and and Madam chair if you want to proceed, you know with your group the way you’d like to that would be great. Thank you. Can you speak in the microphone for the people at home? Okay, that’s what James just came in to tell us it’s awkward.

13:31 Okay. have some questions and we do have this one vacancy which as the chair said is going until the next election May or June. I guess, it’s June of 2023. So my first question and we have you know, the other two board members. We will. Each have a question for you. Okay. So my first the first question is how do you see your role on our board and What do you think you’d like to accomplish? Well, I grew up in public housing here in Marblehead on Barnard Hawks Court. I’m a lifelong Marvel

14:17 header when I was I I just recently ran for State Rep as well and during the election. I knocked on all the public housing doors all the senior housing doors, and I talked to so many tenants and residents in town. I think that my role on the Housing Authority. I’m hoping to be sort of a bridge. I’m somebody who doesn’t live in public housing now, but I did grow up there. So I think I have a lot of empathy for the tenants as well as the fact that me and my all my siblings, you know, we’re able to to get out and use that as leg up. So I have a soft spot for public housing because it helped me and my

15:02 family Um, I think that what I would like to accomplish is to my main goal when I was knocking doors was talking to seniors and I want to make sure that the residents of Marblehead and residents from other parts of the state. Are they are allowed to retire with dignity? They’re in a safe place a healthy place. So I’m hoping that I can be of service to all of you. Thank you. I think that’s why the rest of us decided to step forward to but I do want to make one thing clear for the audience and everybody. Our name is Marblehead Housing Authority, but we’re a state agency and not too many people know that

15:50 and the one right that was given to the select board was to be in on the interviews and to vote in any. members of the board except for one that state appointed and that You know, generally it would be nice if they know somebody in politics to get the name to the governor because he’s the one actually or she would be. Yeah, so that’s something that I think a lot of people don’t understand all the housing authorities take the name of the city that they were in of the town that they were in but they’re actually regulated by the state. Dhcd so, right. There’s not a lot

16:37 of leeway. We have a lot of rules and regulations State hands down and everything that we do pretty much has to be passed through them. So there are some limitations and the job, right? Um, you have any questions of me and what I just said, no, I’ve been I’ve been looking into the housing authority and I know that I know what the purview is and yeah, and I do know it’s a state agency. So okay. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you, Jean You’re Next Gen Eldridge for people who may not know.

17:14 This question is a little bit lengthy. Okay, and when I get through that if you want to ask me. To repeat any of it just do so.

17:27 What are the challenges of seeing running the Marblehead Housing Authority given the diversity in the housing population budget and Staffing constraints? complicated and management structure aging infrastructure in any other things that you might think of what ideas do you have to address them? in particular how have you taken initiative and worked creatively to address concerns despite? constraints Okay, so the challenges and the problems and with management, it’s all money the way I look at it is it’s funding and I think that you know,

18:13 I’ve been I’ve actually signed up to take a grant writing course and a couple of weeks which and I have helped in my job with the Harbor Master. I’ve helped him right grants and gain grants and FEMA money. And so I know my way around that to a degree I’d like to get better at it and I’m hoping that I can. I think that that’s really the future of the Housing Authority in Marblehead all the Aging structure. We need funds to to you know to make sure that everything is brought into the century, you know, maybe solar solar panels. I mean all kinds of things all of that stuff has to have money. So, you know, I think that that is the main that would

19:00 be my main goal is to just make sure that there was enough funding and that we could put systems in place or policies that would help streamline the processes and make things easier for the maintenance Crews and the management and the Housing Authority itself. So that would be that would be my number one goal and concern about what we have to do with the Housing Authority at this point. Have you had a chance to look at our budget at all? I briefly looked at it. It’s it’s that will help explain a lot of things where the money comes from and what we do with it and all that. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Jen

19:47 Oh, sorry. Hey Terry. How are you? I’m Jen. Jaffner. I’m actually the governor appointed position on the Housing Authority. So thanks for stepping forward. We appreciate it 90 my glasses here. How do you see your responsibility to tenants in terms of communication and responsiveness to concerns and maybe give some examples of how you might put your philosophy into practice? I think that that it’s I’m also on the union president here in Marblehead for the municipal Union employees. And I find that talking to the people on the ground whether it be the tenants that actually live there or the workers that are in the office that’s always the most the best information to get the most valuable information. I

20:33 I would like to have an open door type of policy where tenants could speak to me. I’m I know there are rules and regulations about how much interaction we can have but I would like to make it a welcoming a welcoming situation a safe place for tenants to talk maybe at meetings or you know, maybe hold some forums Town Hall type style forums with different people from the town health inspector, you know building inspectors things like that just to give people an idea of who they Can go to if they’re if they’re having any issues, I’d also love to see you know, some some education for the tenants on how to fill out the paperwork because

21:21 I looked at the paperwork and I mean you have to have a master’s degree in fill it out. It’s crazy the state just giving us that Template yes exactly. It’s it’s like, you know, I looked at trying to fill out something for MassHealth. Look at that applications. It’s extensive. So that’s I would like to I would like to be in a position to to help the tenants through situations. And like I said before I grew up in public housing and I was I was blessed to have wonderful parents. But all five of us came out of there. We all have good jobs. We run businesses. We’ve raised families. We’ve bought homes. I would like to see that be the norm.

22:07 For family housing and that’s that is my goal to try to do anything. I can to help that along. It’s it’s about the people.

22:20 Would you like to feel another question or?

22:25 Thank you. You’ve built not here, right? Okay. So yes, I have one one additional question. How do you think that you might be able to improve the living conditions at the Housing Authority? That would be money again. I mean, unfortunately, I hate to sound like a broken record. But you know, I think that by I I also think by making it a you know a situation where people feel welcome and safe to talk about what they need. And I think that that right there will improve, you know, maybe some Outreach or some building some sense of community. You know that’s always helpful. But the bottom line is we need money. One of the problems

23:11 is we have been stymied by covid like every other boarding commission. I’m trying to do the right thing. I mean I at as of now people who enter into a contract Elise nothing is done on the inside of their Apartments until they leave and we’re trying to prep it for the next family to come in and I think personally that we should do something different than that and you know, maybe after five years refresh with paint or something. So it is complicated and as I said, everything has to go through the state but So but that’s a challenge it is it’s definitely one of our challenges.

23:57 Does anybody? Any other questions Jean?

24:06 No, okay. Thank you Mr. Chair with that. I’d like to see if the board has a couple of questions jackets. Thank you. Hi, Terry. Hi Jackie. How would you encourage tenant engagement with management and the board and what would be your experience doing something, but you speak up we can’t hear you when this direction. She said I heard that so I think that you know what? I was just speaking about maybe trying to hold some sort of educational forums some help for the tenants filling out paperwork and knowing when they’re deadlines are for things and trying to build a sense of community. Like now that covid is over. Maybe

24:51 we can have, you know, little meetings socials things like that a few times a year, you know, I’d be happy to volunteer extra time above and beyond meeting times to go in and just Try to meet with people and have them meet each other. And I don’t know I think I think what’s missing in especially in the time of covid is a sense of community. And I know that that it was when I was there. It was a strong sense of community because we had all moved in and it was mostly veterans at that time. So in that Community started to break down, you know as as the veterans were leaving in different people coming in and out because there was no, you know, there was no there was no way for us to all interact together. So I

25:38 think together the tenants altogether as well as the tenants and the board and management. So thank you. One thing I would like to add is that we do have a full-time social worker. And that answers some of the problems that direct Commissioners. They’re not supposed to deal directly with the tenants. So hiring the full-time social work has been a big boom for a lot of our tenants and it eases the transition from private housing to public housing and the other way from public to private because that happens as well. So Terry McDonald, oh, she’s great. She’s really is she is yeah.

26:27 Great. Well, thank you. Any other questions. Yeah. Hi Terry. Um, my question is what kind of working relationships would you like to develop with the town and state officials? And now I know note that one of them is here in the audience in Broad beautiful letter of support to you. So you’re off to a good start but just going forward. How do you look to build relationships with town and other state officials? I am while I was running for State Rep. I met so many people and I developed relationships with a lot of a lot of the politicians. We were all kind of thrown into these same, you know, Democratic town committee picnics and in all these different events. So we spent a lot of time together and I’ve kept in touch with all of

27:13 them. So I think that I’ve already I’m already developing relationships with State authorities, which is always great because you can pick up a phone and or text somebody and ask a quick question. The other thing that I do, Have in my wheelhouse is that I’m on the North Shore labor council’s executive board which which enables me to reach out to the buildings and trades commission, you know trades unions. I can pick up the phone call Rich Marlin and ask a question about about you know construction if we’re all at a meeting and everyone’s going what’s that? I don’t even know what this is. I can pick up the phone and call somebody so I have a lot of a lot of different people that I’ve developed relations ships

28:00 with over the years even just Town employees for Highway Water and Sewer. They’re all my union members. So to be able to ask questions of them and you know, I don’t know how far the Housing Authority in the town really work together. I know that it’s like you said it’s a state agency, but I think there’s always room for more of that. I mean Well, remember we have to work through. Dhcd absolutely yeah. That’s where it all comes from. Right, right. and they have their own attorneys and their own people that we have to hire actually interview the higher sure the certain things. I think in the old days and this is

28:46 after World War Two when Broken Road and family housing was built a veterans right things were a lot different in the town had a lot of involvement. But even before I get on this board, there was a switch from local Administration to the state, you know, it went from federal to State. Yeah, so that made it big difference so that we can still have some sort of relationship. We’re still always sorry. That would be my Hope anyway,

29:19 say I think you know Jim I don’t think you have a question. I know my questions have been answered with your very thorough responses. So appreciate it. And I think you know what we’d like to do. I’d like to entertain a motion and we will vote going around you’re starting with you and all the way all the way through and I think It’s not a polled vote. So we’ll just you know proceed accordingly. So the I’d like to understand the motion to a point Teresa Taro to the Housing Authority with the term to expire in June 2023.

29:54 second second, right and in favor, okay in favor in favor in favor, I just want to say I the theme that I took out of everything that you were saying was really trying to develop that sense of trust and I think that filters into Community filters into a sense of belonging a sense of respect and a sense of allowing every resident to feel even if they’re in a state program that they feel like they’re a part of something bigger, and that’s really the message that I got and I appreciate it here. So definitely. Thank you. In favor, and I just wanted to say that I know I mean I heard you speaking of your experience in housing on the campaign Trail when you’re out and it was

30:41 very impressed, you know, just kind of paying attention. You know how well you communicated and interacted and and determined, you know you were and I don’t think there was a door you didn’t know to reach out to people. I think your experience speaks, you know perfectly to the role and you know, I thought you submitted a really really beautiful letter of interest. Thank you. In favor. Thank you in favor, and I’m in favor as well. So congratulations. Congratulations. Thank you and don’t forget to and I guess. The square swearing in occurs at at the clerk’s office. Thank you very much. Thank you Jeff and with that you can resume your

31:28 seats. Thank you very much. Oh, yeah. Thanks, Jen. Thanks Gene. Thank you very much.

31:43 You know, I am before we go on to next agenda item. I am really remiss because we have our state representative in our presence Jenny Armenia if I could acknowledge your presence. Thank you very much. Thank you very much for coming. and congratulations

32:03 All right. Thank you. Okay, so next on our agenda. Is lot is a lodging house license for the hotel Marblehead 264 Pleasant Street is Julius, Julius you’re here doing thank you. How are you doing? Welcome. Thanks for it. Thanks for coming in. We appreciate it.

32:26 If you could just give us a little background sure so.

32:34 The address salutes me. I’m Pleasant 264 Pleasant Street Hotel Marblehead. So we’re here the renew the lodging license.

32:47 So about it perfect now. Yeah, if all our agenda items for that concise get out of here real quick. Appreciate it. Yeah. Appreciate everything’s going well. Everything’s going great there. Very good stuff. Yeah. Yeah, I think with the great year. Yeah, it’s past year. So try to keep the momentum going keep up with the upkeep so Any comments discussion from the board? With that I’d like to entertain a motion to approve the application for a lodging house license as presented to the hotel Marblehead 264 Pleasant Street subject to receive all application fees and sign-offs. Someone a second all those in favor. Unanimous. Thank you very much. Everybody coming in

33:32 beautiful place. Thank you. I just wanted my life. Hope to keep it that way. Yeah. Okay, so Marblehead Retirement Board, Bob Peck is here. Hello Bob. Hi, folks. How are you? Come on, welcome getting a lot of use. Yeah.

33:54 like the layout s he gives a little background on your on your whole closer here. Oh. as you know, I come to town meeting every year or the Retirement Board comes to town meeting every year and announces the date time and place of our cost of living increase hearing public hearing. Which we did and we had it and we approved the cost of living for our active retirees of three three percent and that’s 3% of 12,000 dollars were maxed out at 12,000. The average retirement pension in Marblehead right now is about 29,000. But only the first 12,000. Gets cost of living. So if you match that up to Social Security for instance, people are

34:40 really only getting the average is getting maybe one and a half percent. So with the inflation that’s been going on special legislation was enacted and passed in November of this year authorizing local retirement boards with the approval of the executive Authority in the municipality which in this case as you folks Board of Selectmen select boards rather old habits die hard select boards. Are the the executive Authority Under this particular statute? And so the legislation allows for this year only. It’s a one-time hit instead of a 3% maximum. It can be a 5% maximum. And the Retirement Board unanimously voted to

35:28 Grant the additional two percent which is $240 a year per retiree with inflation somewhere around seven eight or nine percent right now. So we felt that that was the appropriate thing to do this year and we’re asking the select board to join with us in that vote. Assuming that you vote in favor. It will be retroactive to July 1st and it’ll cover the entire fiscal year. Okay. Very clear. Any any questions from the board. How much is that? Totally say 240 per person so we have 314 Eligible retirees and so 75,360 would be the

36:15 total additional cost.

36:18 And that will stay of course with any cost of living that becomes their new country basis.

36:28 Any other comments questions? I think this is addressing the reality of this in this inflationary environment that we’re in and you know, I think we’ll be lucky if 5% can keep up with it, but we’ll see what happens. We’ll see what happens, but I think You know if I have no more questions, I’d like yeah a factory yet working on budget. What’s yeah, what do you think? this is

37:00 so whatever the incremental cost so there’s already a commitment to the 3% level and so this is adding another two percent. So it’s an incremental increase. I don’t have the And it’s still only on the $12,000 base.

37:18 Yeah.

37:24 They try and figure a long-term liability. So it may impact that at some point. Okay.

37:34 So the 240 that you’re quoting is that is the 2% number or the it. Well the vote is to is to 500 but it’s an additional two percent. Yes. That’s right. per year just for this year I get okay. Just for this year. so retroactive to July yeah, okay. Yeah state state law right as it’s written right now has a cap of 3% right? So this allowed a one-time change from that.

38:09 So I did hear someone say that it’s not reflect. It’s the town is not I mean is not immediate is what you’re saying, but ultimately it’s going to enter into the budget not this year. But right again under the current. Acme up or correct me whatever, you know under the current retirement system most employees are self-funding because they’re paying 9% plus 2% over 30,000. So that’s you know under the current system and then compared to Social Security. I think they got an eight Social Security is about eight percent. At least I think was 8.75 something like 8.75% And the last point I’ll make just add to the conversation from testimony heard in the past.

38:55 The cost to Massachusetts taxpayers are paying into the state, you know helping to fund the State Retirement System. Is more cost-effective than if the employees were in the social security system. That’s the presentation I’ve had. So so it is a more cost-effective. retirement system then if the employees were in Social Security

39:21 I’ll leave to somebody else to back up those remarks that I’ve heard that testimony.

39:27 Okay, don’t answer your question. Okay. Anybody else? Okay well with that I would like now to entertain a motion. To adopt a cola increase as Allowed by chapter 269 of the acts of 2022. On recommendation of the Retirement Board and as presented. Second I was in favor. Unanimous? Thank you much appreciated. Well, I think our our retirees will appreciate it as well 100% Thank you Bob. Thank you. Thank you for coming in.

40:01 okay, we move on next item is the fair housing committee composition I think is really What we’re talking about here and this has been a long reorganizational effort Thatcher. You’re that. You’re the chair of the fair housing committee. What do any comments? Yes, so at a previous meeting

40:24 Select board did that sort of reorganization of the membership. So there are a number. Of appointees that are on the committee based on that that vote in that structure. So what? What then happened at a I forget to take but at the last fair housing committee meeting was discussion where where it’s now structured where there are three.

40:47 Full members and then there are three alternate members to the board. So it was to sort out the interest level of who who wants to, you know, be on the the full appointment and who’s willing to take the alternate and so what’s presented here to be voted is to affirm. The three additional members as labeled here and the three ultimate members of the committee which are same existing folks. Just putting them into the appropriate categories. pretty straightforward Let’s come to pass error. It’s great. Yeah, that’s great. Okay. No, if I’ve no discussion, I’d like to entertain a motion to appoint the following members of the fair housing Committee in accordance with a vote of the select board on November 16 2022. The required members are

41:35 the tanned administrator who’s the chair of the committee the town planner member of the select board Aaron Noonan Marblehead of Thor’s Authority Marvel, excuse me, Marblehead Housing Authority representative, Terry McDonough disabilities commission representative Katie Farrell task force against discrimination representative Joe Whipple, and there are three additional members. They have three year terms and they’re staggered Dirk is Branson expiring June 2023 Deborah Larkin expiring June 2024 Mimi Hollister expiring June 2025. And we also have three alternate members that can fill in case there’s not a quorum and they have a seat at the table non-voting if there’s a quorum three year term staggered

42:20 Frank Evans expiring June. 2023 Bob news expiring you June 2024 and Kurt James expiring June 2020 So moved second. I was in favor. The Nationals. Thank you. Okay, awesome. Okay. Next is the approval of minutes for December 21 2022 in January 5th, 2020 three motion to approve. Don’t move second all those in favor and president January 5th president for January 5th. Yeah, same for 21 for the 21st. Yeah. Okay. Thank you.

43:03 Um Okay, and the next item is a contract. I think this is a contract to be signed.

43:17 Okay, it’s a license agreement between the town and Bill Auto Clinic of Salem, Massachusetts. And I think this has to do. with Thatcher with you if you could give us a debrief on that agreement so that in a snow emergency. For those who do not move. the appropriate time that the vehicles will be towed and they will originally be towed to the transfer station for stores has been coordination with the health department in that and then after a period of time, I think it’s about 72 hours after the end of The Declaration of emergency. If the if the cars are not recovered it would then go to their facility in Salem would have

44:02 to So we treat their vehicles there. So this is part of the arrangement to make sure the streets are cleared in a snow emergency so that our Public Works and Public Safety Vehicles can can do their jobs during during those conditions. Any questions comments? Okay, and with that like to make an entertain a motion to approve the license agreement between the town and Bill’s Auto Clinic of Salem, Massachusetts as presented and authorized the chair to sign on behalf of the board second all those in favor. unanimous

44:40 Okay, we’re now moving to the arpa discussion and I think that we have that available. Yeah, it might be.

44:54 Here we have it. So if you could give us a verbal rundown on that, that’d be great as discussed before we you know, we have the priority list and we’ve been

45:09 As part of the Opera working group meeting and going through the projects and vetting and so forth and proposing projects as they ripen on the vine to move them forward to the board for for approval of funding so it but this mean we have one project to put forth It’s A literacy curriculum adoption implementation for 400,000. So this is an opportunity for the Marblehead Public Schools. To create a I guess my words a unified or a comprehensive literacy curriculum in the elementary schools. much like I talked about what we develop plans on the municipal side for for projects and things that we do this is their way of

45:58 planning the curriculum across the elementary schools to have a unified plan. So this pays for

46:08 periodic review and establishment of a literacy plan. So this I think if I recall correctly, we’ll cover for the next five years and then they will then do another assessment and adjust the program as as necessary at that time. So those pays for So the next five years of this program.

46:32 Okay. Now it is, you know, this received a very high ranking particularly because a coincides with the whole covid recovery effort and it’s it’s something that really augments the capacity of the schools to you know to bring bring the kids up to speed. So yeah. you know, that’s why ranked high on the criteria is I remember and then with this approval they would be 3,453,100 remaining in our profiles. Okay any discussion comments?

47:15 That meets the criteria right? It’s about every five years they’ll do the update. So this is for that this gives them that piece of it, okay. So make sure I understand what you said.

47:27 Yeah, it’s a good it’s a totally. You know, perfect use of what these funds are are for. I know that the superintendent and assistant superintendent reached out her colleagues. in in other towns that it had also used arpa funding and had have started out the same curriculum. And so there’s the curriculum can be really expensive. As a one-time cost, so that’s great.

47:56 Do we have a written motion anywhere? I’m gonna go ahead and motion to expend $400,000 for literacy curriculum adoption and implementation. I thank you so much second.

48:12 I don’t know from but no. No, I’m just right. Well, I was about to say yeah. Well just I think we can play the recording so we know what the actual motion is all those in favor. It’s unanimous. Thank you that I understand. I understand. You can’t keep me in line God. Okay, the next one is the mouth for Mary five k which is happily coming in early this year for as it does every year and it’s the motion is self-expants explanatory to approve the license agreement for private connection. Whoops. I’m in the wrong.

48:48 section apologies 10 here we go. Got it. Thank you. Motion to approve the request from Bill from William H Park to hold the annual miles from Mary Memorial 5K run walk to support the brain cancer research on Saturday, October 14th, 2023 from 8:30 to 12 noon subject to approval from police and fire Recreation and Parks Department received of the required Certificate of Insurance and police details. No permanent markings should be made on the streets and any temporary marketing she’ll be removed at the conclusion of the event second all those in favor. Okay, unanimous complete streets committee approval of minutes. This is a administrative

49:37 action here. And the motion is to approve the complete streets committee minutes of February 19th, 2019 and March and 2019 March 2019 and November 19 2019. So this is this is basically so there are formal catch up. There should be actually three sets. Yeah. Yeah, that’s what that’s what I read. Yes that we talked on the table. so it would be February 19th minute you Have one. Yeah on your table. Oh, I found out. Yeah, I got it. I got it. Okay, see, that’s correct. I read them kind of Blended together, February 19th, 2019 March 2019. Just one of the day. So you need to add that? March 20 if that’s right. It doesn’t.

50:23 March 20

50:27 some okay. Let’s go motion has been made second. any questions, um, I just had

50:39 it’s the I mean, I know we’re still active on the website. Like when was the last time we met like is this a committee that’s going regularly?

50:50 What’d you say? It’s 2019 was kind of that. I mean, I know we did the Public Presentation in 2019, but I didn’t know if

51:01 we’re doing the new sidewalk, you know. I was kind of the sidewalks renovation. If this is part of that or if there I understand actually with that or no, my understanding is that the folks that were on the committee have left and we have not replaced the committee as my understanding. So that’s something that was your committee, right Jim. Wasn’t that you completely straights was you like your committee? No, okay. Yeah, Judy’s Judy. Judy was Judy was doing yeah. Okay, so okay, but it scared me. No, I didn’t. Okay, I think they Put you on please streets as a specific grant program, right which involves it. Purpose of complete streets is to interconnect different modes of transportation.

51:46 Yes. No, I remember the whole plan and the priority of that right? So we were doing sidewalk projects, but they’re not necessarily completely project. So these are specific set of projects presumably if we were to get another round of complete Street Grant and presumably this would be reactivated to manage that yes. That was my question. I just didn’t know if that is something that is still With something we could apply for or if that is that is not really still out there man. I remember there was you know, like a amount of funding that you had to qualify and there were several rounds of that that we were looking back in 2019, but with looking at the more holistic project, I didn’t know what this was kind of a subcategory of that discussion or just where we were

52:34 with it just because this came up so just maybe yes, it’s a good team program, but it’s to apply and receive the words as specific criteria that right. So to do that any upcoming projects. that are contemplated would qualify for complete streets and From my experience what I’ve seen most times you you supplement an existing project you’re going to do anyways with a complete streets Grant because it’s met it’s met that criteria, right? Well, that’s what it kind of it made me think about. Oh it is there is there potentially any overlap? Like I said, I haven’t done a deep dive in it to know if there is or isn’t but as we’re looking at that it just was curious if this was something that we should

53:20 Look at you know revitalizing if if it would fit any of that criteria, that’s all. Yeah, I think as a matter, of course on any any projects we’re doing is to peruse all of the Funding opportunities that are right. Yeah, it’s I believe I mean, I remember I’m rolling numbers, but I think it was several hundred thousand dollars of these projects as a municipality is the maximize your dollars to it, right? As much state for other people’s money to do products. Yeah streets is, you know if we can make it. the criteria meet Right. Yeah. Okay. Just curious. Thanks. And Becky, you know before Thatcher’s arrival has been kind of monitoring that and kind of running right. So there’s been there’s been

54:07 a continual hand on the on the complete streets projects and yeah immigrant making process. Yeah, we can we can yeah, we can certainly delve into that in more detail. Yeah. and as a final note, and I think quickly the state prefers that you’ve completed, you know the grant programs that you have before you apply for the next available fun. So until all the Projects, please stream projects are completed, right? They you know, right then you yes. Yeah. Just looking at like future. Yeah Outlook. Yeah great. So If we were to, you know receive like a second round of that complete streets funding is there a need to have the complete streets committee at this point or is

54:54 it? Just that I’m I know this predates you and I’m looking at you like you have the answer. Maybe it’s something to follow up with on Becky if it’s something that we would. You know really going forward is even something that would be relevant because it seems like there’s a like an item list and priorities and maybe it’s just a matter of now. It’s kind of like plugging in and taking its own. So yeah.

55:21 anyway to well, let’s go. Let’s continue that discussion. I think we can get more hesitate to answer on. Oh, yeah, it’s just before making this behalf and All right. So thank you. I think we have a I think I think we have not voted. We have a motion and a second. So if I could have a show of hands, so this predates our tenure on the board. That’s cool. Yes. That so should we stand?

55:55 This is to complete the records. So the reason this board is voting on it is because the members of the compensation committee are so as the appointing authority of that board. You are just doing the task of accepting the minutes, right? Okay, and we can do that and in lieu of the complete streets committee, so that’s so we’re just yeah, it’s an administrative cleanup. So, okay great. All right. So can I have a vocally or can I have a show of hands? I wasn’t pay all those in favor. That’s what I’m supposed to say. Okay here. I don’t know. Okay, let’s go now to. The next item within the motion is self-explanatory. It’s the hold

56:41 another race and the entertaining the motion to approve a request from Carol Mayer the YMCA of the North Shore to hold the head of the Hill 5K road race on Sunday, May 21st, 2023 at 9:00 am subject to approval from police and fire police details and receding the required Certificate of Insurance. No permanent markings are allowed on the streets and All Temporary markings Shelby removed at the conclusion of the event the event will start at the end of and and at the Lynch van offer Lou YMCA second.

57:15 okay, unanimous This is the Bell. This is an annual ritual again emotion to entertain that the bells of Abbott Hall and all the churches in Marblehead be wrong on Washington’s birthday, Wednesday, February 22nd, 2023 at the usual holiday hours from 7:30 AM to 8 am 12. No, 12:30 pm 6PM to 6:30 pm and as has been the custom in the past seconds. Okay, unanimous number 14. This is a license agreement for private connection to a town drainage system. Battery of background on this that you’d like to additional information that comes through.

58:02 118 Pleasant one 18 Pleasant, yeah.

58:23 Okay. So the emotion again is self-explanatory a motion to approve the license agreement for private connection to town drainage system between the town and Jay Stratton Moore Neptune Realty LLC 118 Pleasant Street as presented and authorized the chair to sign on behalf of the board some more second. in favor right

58:51 You know.

58:54 All right.

58:59 Okay, we have a public employees committee. agreement and this is basically to delegate the The Town Administrator to negotiate on about the motion is that the select board designate Thatcher W keys or the third Town Administrator as boards as the boards representative to enter into negotiations pursuant to Massachusetts general laws chapter 32b section 19 with the town’s Public Employee committee PEC regarding the regarding successor agreement effective, June 30th, 2018.

59:40 All right. Thank you badger.

59:45 Okay. We do have a request for a dangerous dog hearing. Pickwick Road, these are always. tough and and sad

1:00:00 I’m very pleased you know, the the motion is self-explanatory. Do we have any any commentary? Natural on this I’ve done this before. Yeah the places and okay. Okay, fortunately we have to yeah, okay, so I’m gonna just go ahead and and read and make entertain a motion to a point the Town Administrator to investigate and hold a public hearing on a request from the police chief for a dangerous dog hearing and a dog residing on a dog residing at 45 Pickwick Road and to report his findings back to the board 10 days written notice of the public hearing. She’ll be provided to the dog owner.

1:00:49 Animal control officer. Was there a resident that also petitioned or I have the ecos report. I I in this case. It’s the police chief.

1:01:02 as Right. So the police she’s bringing forward. There’s not an ACO report. I’ve I’ve purposely at this point. Held off same reading until I sit down and do it as part of the process. So yeah. Okay.

1:01:26 I think we need to vote though. Don’t we should we take about I don’t think we took a vote on this all those in favor. Okay, unanimous, did you read the motion?

1:01:49 Yeah, well, we’ll work the I always refer to as work the calendar magic to get all the various participants to we’ll get a date. Scheduled because we’ll want to have be able to give notice and do that part of the process. I mean, yeah. Yeah, and I have to say so there’s a process that we have to go through. So yeah.

1:02:21 Yeah, I think it’s actually but yeah all that information. The whole idea is advertise it, you know post it and then have all the parties involved be able to present the relevant facts and then make a determination from there which In my role is to make a recommendation back to the board based on on the hearing. Yeah.

1:02:44 And I really need to be able to hear your calendar. When should we be hearing?

1:02:51 Yeah, I’m sure well, we’ll

1:02:54 Yeah.

1:02:57 Multiple people afford me of course. Yeah. Yeah, so and I just a second point of information so involved over in process and waiting Are there some obligations on the dog owners to restrain the dogs? Because we had December 30. Yeah that My sense would be that would be a discussion for the ACO in the chief at this stage as to what would be the appropriate action until there’s a hearing in a determination. So

1:03:34 I’ll have to check with the chief tomorrow as to what what has been done or what what considerations they have. So Thank you. Okay. Thank you.

1:03:49 Okay. Thanks knowledge. Agenda is the Marblehead Youth Baseball opening day parade in April, and the motion is self-explanatory to approve the request from Kimberly Leventhal Marblehead Youth Baseball to hold their annual opening day parade on Saturday, April 29th, 2023 at 9 am 72 approved from the police and fire schools Recreation and part police details and receipt of the required Certificate of Insurance. No permanent markings are allowed on the streets and All Temporary marketing shall be removed from illusion of the event. The event will start behind veterans Middle School and and getchell’s park second all those in favor of spring unanimous. Yeah, it is awesome. We have correspondence at this point. We have a letter of interest from Meredith Reardon

1:04:35 and we have one vacancy that to which she’s looking to on the Marblehead forever committee. um We have one vacancy. I think that’s what we’ll take that under advisement and why people look to perhaps put some dates out in our next meeting. potentially Okay. correspondence again compensation committee annual report fantastic Thank you for putting it together. It’s great to have it all in one place. That’s really appreciate it. Do you? I don’t know actually that under. chapter 43 the bylaws that the beauty report and

1:05:22 Before I put it together, I I learned something new every day. And so that’s a requirement to be met and yeah, and encapsulates all the actions and all I’ve listened just the actions that we’re taking, you know, they’re discussion items and things but this is the actions taking as part of the compensation committee. That’s great. Very good.

1:05:50 Marjorie Norman would like to be considered for an open position on the Marblehead cultural Council on the oralhead council Council. Okay, like Marblehead forever, and this was called. Thank you. Thank you for that. Thank you, Kyle. Yeah, and you had you have you have that in on record, right? Yeah.

1:06:17 All right, so I think we now are in a period of public comment if anybody. would like to

1:06:25 anybody online with light would anybody like to Speak now is the time to do it.

1:06:37 Oh, dear. And we can we can hear you. Terrific, I’m sorry. I I thought there was no public comment today. I was just watching I’d appreciate it easier. If you go back and review the complete Street policy. It has nothing to do with a funding stream as the way down to a philosophies design and the street design philosophy says, it’s not just about cars. It’s about public transit users. It’s about bicyclists. It’s about pedestrians. It’s about people of different abilities. I I I don’t know. I assume you haven’t read the policy. I apologize. I know I often come on here and

1:07:24 I talk like so this all arose because the Superior Court asked you guys to come up to the meeting minutes for meetings that we don’t even know if they happen meeting minutes. We’re not collected. We were supposed to create a complete streets committee so that we would keep doing complete streets. Basically. It’s like we raise our right hand and we’re said we’re gonna do this and what I’m seeing is a town that kind of raise their right hand with their fingers crossed behind their back. My wife said, you know, there’s that is the month. They’re taking State money, and they’re not doing what they’re supposed to be. So, I’m sorry that sounds hard. I apologize. I’m done. I’m just kind of flabbergasted. So thank you

1:08:11 very much. Thank you, Mr. Robert. Your comments are noted. Thank you. If there are no more if there’s no more public comment, is there anybody else online? All right. Then we shall move to the town Administration administrator everybody in the audience. I think we’ve already

1:08:33 And what if I get?

1:08:36 I made eye contact with all of them. You said you know.

1:08:44 So, all right. So in the update I provided two items first. Sort of the heads up of what’s coming in regard to the Village Street Bridge replacement project. My understanding this has been an issue for quite some time the 1939 Bridge.

1:09:07 You know the history I’ve heard is in the 1990s was deemed it needed to be replaced and there it stands. So what we’ve done is

1:09:22 Or the the objective is to get it on the state’s Transportation Improvement plan or the tip and again the decisions for Marblehead projects and projects in the region are part of the Boston region Metropolitan planning organization, which makes the decision on what projects get funded. So the goal is to get on their list and and go through that process so that the project is funded by state and federal funds basically gas taxes that are collected at the pump go up to the feds allocated down to the States broken out to the regions. And then the regions the Boston region in Po in this case then would Make decisions to fund these so

1:10:10 that that’s the goal however for any projects to to get to that process the design work is the responsibility of the municipality. So what is coming soon as a contract for GPI, which is an engineering firm design firm to do basically have a contract to get us to 25% design and to help facilitate the process of getting getting us on to the tip program. We’ve already achieved the first step in the in this whole journey of getting a project number from Mass DOT. So so it’s a recognized project on their list. And then so now it’s for us to do the design work

1:10:55 to replace the bridge. The concept that we’re looking at is to replace it. Not as a bridge to replace it as a tunnel basically formed cement structure that you take the bridge out you put the form structure in and then you you know, basically put the Road Connections back up. And the reason for that it is much more cost effective much easier to engineer and you know less maintenance and such going on for the project we’ve done these in fact, one of the idea for this came from a project that was done in Amesbury an outstanding mayor who so

1:11:41 So as far as our costs, so the estimated costs are slightly under 400,000 is the latest numbers. We just got got in. To do the for the contract Our intention is to use our chapter 90 funds the already available funds that that we have that would allow us to immediately engage in the process the timeline to go through the entire process design is September 2024. I think is the get to the 25% design and then it would go through the process given the fact that you know, the the town approved the additional funding for roads and sidewalk projects allow the flexibility to

1:12:26 use the chapter 90 funds to get this project moving forward immediately. So again for for big items like this and interest items because the Village Street Bridge has been an issue and the fire chief. It’s a big issue because the bridges rated with a limit of of weight Which is far less than what the weight of the fire trucks are and that’s a major route for the fire engines. So it is a also a public safety concern the condition of that bridge. So we want to get this project done. So it’ll probably be a not the next meeting joined meaning but probably the next meeting that will be prepared to bring forth the contract for your approval for the 25% design work. so I won’t make you all aware, but I

1:13:14 think it’s getting a major project done. That’s long overdue. So we have a path forward in the second item. Ada self-evaluation transition plan survey, so this is a reminder to everybody. That on our website, we want residents and everyone and Bob to to go on the website and find the survey. I think the best places to go in the little search go on the website go in the search Ada survey and should take you right to the link, but the purpose this is part of our program with the Collins Center to update our transition plan and part of that is to get public input as to you know, sort of a self-evaluation what the public think the

1:14:02 needs are in order to meet ADA compliance issues. So there’s more of a public announcement to remind people there’s not a set in date for this, but we would like to collect this information sooner rather than later so that the the Colon Center can move forward with the rest of the the project with this information including and that’s pending any questions and we could send out to people who are you know, I’ve opted in for like email distribution. Could we send it out via that? We are in general do it again tomorrow. It was all done. Right when it first went out the news flash. I think emails different departments.

1:14:49 COA Library, so we’re going to do the blast again tomorrow as they asked us today to do good. And I you know, when you’re getting ready to close it, I always feel like anytime you put that last chance. Yeah, then people like oh, yeah, I can do it now. Yeah. Yeah just to get that that response last chance Last Chance last chance.

1:15:13 Yeah, just a quick question about the survey. Is that something that was put together by the Collins center, or is that like a survey that they proposed? So if somebody wanted to self identify and you know and themselves as you know disabled in living in town because I took the survey and I don’t know that there was places to really expound on any answer. It was kind of like I found it a little hard to answer sometimes because if you weren’t. if you if you were filling it out as a it I don’t know what the proper terminology is somebody who actually with disabilities or but or not if you’re like able person, you know, if you’re feeling it out. It’s hard to say like, you know, do you find like the you know

1:15:58 the crosswalks? To be appropriately placed or whatever, but I wouldn’t necessarily know. You know what I mean, like how to answer that because it wouldn’t be something I would. Like I found it hard to answer that and then they’re also wasn’t any kind of like place to like. Input like a narrative so somebody wanted was who like I know a couple people in town. That would be really valuable to like tap into for this. But if they wanted to like reach out to Kyle and offer, you know more of a narrative or relived experience. So so there was some email correspondence that or some very similar question in the answer from the Collins Center is that the survey it’s it has a specific intention as to

1:16:43 the information as collected and that they’re using various means of Outreach. So so it’s it’s not necessarily intended to And and they can articulate better than I can but it’s not intended to to be able to separate people with disabilities responses compared to those not there are different methods of Outreach that they use as part of this project. To collect the the information that they need for this. For this report, so I can’t I can’t give this busy with yeah specifics but there was a some email correspondence that I was cc’d on that where they address that and said, well that’s not the purpose of the survey. There are other ways that we go out and we can we can get that type of information. This is

1:17:29 certainly there, you know bread and butter. I just I was kind of curious because I was hard I like it was kind of awkward to answer it as you know without the really lived experience to speak to it, you know. the surveys are more of a statistical kind of standardized set of Saturday they haven’t they’ve been doing this for why they have a methodology that seems to work as to how they they gathered this information some

1:17:59 say okay. Let’s say anybody on the select board any public events.

1:18:11 Alexa no, just wanted to acknowledge Martin Luther King’s I’m holiday and everyone had a chance to celebrate it Erin. I don’t have anything tonight.

1:18:30 We’ll go ahead and and bring this motion to return to adjourn. Okay. All right all those in favor. Thank you, very much meeting is adjourned.