Select Board: April 26, 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.

0:00 That happened very fast. Yes. Okay, everybody. We’ll bring that bring the meeting door. Hello. I’d like to bring this meeting to order please. We’re at seven o’clock right on the nose. I just want to announce that this meeting is being recorded and videotape via Zoom. We have a 22 item agenda tonight. So we’re gonna try to move through this quickly as possible item. Number one is a public hearing. A licensing to carry a public Beverages and this is a public hearing on an application for a carry in beverage license at 195 Pleasant Street. This hearing has been legally advertised and direct a Butters. Notified so I’d like to call the applicant to the table and

0:45 and to notify everybody that we are now in public meeting. Good evening. Good evening. Yes. Nice to see you, too. Can you go ahead and give us a little background, please? And like I’m clevis Grouse like you don’t know how far is restaurants in town? And we wanted to bring B&B y license back to the B&B. They had it before previously apply for it. So they have customers if requested so Said why? No, you know, so summer’s coming. We had someone outside your city over there and people can come and bring their own drinks so we know we know sailing it they can bring no one. Okay, and enjoy the meal. Actually, you know, so, you know, that’s what you’re gonna

1:31 do it for looking forward to see you guys also, but thank you. Well as part of the public hearing process I am required to ask does anybody wish to speak opposed to this application? either in public media or online I see nothing so And another question does anyone wish to speak in favor of this application?

1:58 All right. I’m going to take that as a no answer so I’m gonna close the public hearing now and take any questions comments from the board any discussion items. I think the motion is pretty self-explanatory. So I’m gonna go ahead and entertain a motion if I could to approve the application from A and D Clam Box 195 Pleasant Street manager at clevis curiosity for a carry in alcohol beverage license beer and wine subject to approval from police. Chief receipt of the required forms fees and departmental approvals and Cory approval such permit shall expire on an approval from the ABB ABC for any future transfer application of a liquor license tips or bat.

2:43 Trained person must be on the premises at all time. They carry in is allowed hours of operation for carrying our Monday through Sunday 11 am to 8 pm. And the seating capacity is 20 and we need to call for a roll call Vote for This. Thank you and a second. Thank you. In favor Miss singer. Okay is noon in favor. It’s deny in favor. It’s the greater in favor. Congratulations. Thank you for coming in. I see you. Thanks. All right, and now we have the pleasure of welcoming three candidates for the task force against discrimination. And what we usually do is we for for

3:31 one vacancy. So this is always a little bit painful for the board to select one out of three outstanding candidates, but we’re gonna proceed in alphabetical order and everybody can stay in the room. We’re basically gonna proceed with one question, which is basically tell us a little bit about your background and why you want to do that and if there any other follow-up questions from the from the board we’ll go ahead and and ask them. So if we could start with Mr. Arnold Cohen, please Welcome.

4:09 Appreciate you appreciate you volunteering is ready. Yeah, it’s very very good of you. And just if you could, you know, give us a little little of your background which we’ve read about but also, you know why you’re interested in the tradition. Well, my name is Ernie colon. I was born in Brooklyn, New York.

4:29 shortly before the beginning of World War Two and I experienced discrimination first hand anti-Semitism. I lived in a neighborhood where Jewish people were a small minority in general the parents in the neighborhood were very open and tolerant on the other hand their kids of my age. We’re not so much.

4:53 Also around the age of eight and a half. My attitudes were very much shaped by the Advent of a fellow by the name of Jackie Robinson. I was a rabid Dodger fan. And his character encouraged really influenced my attitudes toward discrimination for the rest of my life. skipping to a good number of years I was politically aware and politically active. But in 1964, I was a PhD candidate in chemistry at UCLA. And I attended a Goldwater rally just out of curiosity. And frankly a terrified me.

5:38 I approached my thesis professor. And said that I felt I had to do something and become active for that election. He’s now standing fellow by them Don. Kram. He said well, if you want to go do this do what you have to do. If you choose to come back after the election you can continue on a thesis project. If not, if you recommendations, you can find a job in the private sector. So as a footnote by the way, some years later, he won the Nobel Prize in chemistry.

6:16 So I went to it was a Beverly Hills Democratic Club at the time volunteering to do whatever I could do. And the only opening they had was for a Precinct Captain for a couple of precincts in Venice, California. Which then was not quite as Tony as Venice, California is today. I organized group of graduate students. We knocked on doors visited people in their homes drank a lot of coffee. And on Election Day we had a group of about eight or ten people driving the elderly to the polls and we did very well. I ultimately did not go back for the PHD went into the private sector worked.

7:04 For a shell chemical in their synthetic rubber plants that was out there. Got transferred back to my home in New York, which almost never happened. And went through various industrial opportunities. And my last real job was with digital Equipment Corporation. I retired from there about 20 odd years ago. volunteered for an outfit called score which is service for retired Executives on very quickly became ahead of the Haverhill chapter at the time. And then was asked to become head of the Northeast. chapter that encompasses started North

7:50 of Boston, basically on my attitudes and political activity continued brought my family. To help campaign and primaries in New Hampshire. And again the gating issue for my participation was generally the the candidates attitudes on discrimination particularly racial discrimination. What brings me here is what’s going on today? It is truly scary. And just as an example. I did some some lookups. Just about 90 years ago a May 10th of 1933.

8:36 It was the first major book burning session in Nazi, Germany. And I look around at all over the country. I see people censoring books trying to destroy books closing down libraries if necessary. And once again the situation is truly scary. If I can do anything on the task force to help combat that and to help combat discrimination in general. I’d like to do it. Thank you very much. Ronnie any very nice any any questions comments?

9:12 Thank you very much. Thanks, see. Next is Kim googleman. Welcome. Thank you. Thank you for coming here. Great outstanding basically the same question, you know a little bit of your background and why you’re interested in doing this. So I’m a full-time mom full-time wife and a full-time employee at Northeastern University as I’ll start with my professional background and then go into my personal background to kind of talk about my interest in this role overall. So at Northeastern of those so sweet associate director of graduate student services, which means I manage a group of advisors for our grad students and beyond my regular day-to-day work in terms of managing and just making sure that our grad students

9:58 are supported overall. I do a lot of extra projects that concern diversity equity and inclusion. And the space is very important to the university the college and myself because it just you know, it promotes staff retention and it builds a team within a diversity of race diversity of thought and so many other things so I was given the opportunity by the dean to go on several committees where we discuss ways that we can retain staff especially during covid and you know, just just really find ways to offer the training that is needed and you know, just just in general like training such as you know for tea is teaching assistance. How do we make sure that our teaching assistants

10:44 are you know, inclusive and able to support students in the classroom and also staff training as well when needed so it’s a space that I thrive in because I’m very passionate about it and also being minority of myself. I feel like it’s such a great opportunity for me to not only represent my interest myself, but also rep. And you know others minorities because our program I’m in the College of computer science. So a majority of our students are Indian and Chinese International students. So it’s just important and I find myself being in a space where it just makes sense and I’m at the point in my life where I would love to give back especially to this, you know, great talent. I recently moved to I lived here almost for I’ve been living here for almost three years. So I’m starting to insert myself into spaces where I where I

11:31 find the passion and also it makes sense now that my kids are six and three they’re in this in the Glover Elementary School. I’m seeing a lot of you know other young families. Well, not young families with families with younger kids and the importance of just you know diversity and how that translates to the task force of you know, against discrimination. So again, you know, it’s it’s such a perfect timing when I saw this ad on the newspaper. I’m like, wow, I told my husband I really want to do this and he’s like, are you sure you have so many other things going on? But yes. That’s where I am right now. And I find it to be, you know, a calling of mine that makes sense for me to Italian my professional life my personal life as a mother as a wife as a, you know, professional in

12:16 general and also a giving back to the town. So that’s where I’m at. Thank you very much. That’s great. That’s great. Any questions from the Lord? Thank you. Yes, thank you. Thank you. And for our third candidate is you know, Rick Keller. Overcome hello. I apologize for doing on Zoom. I lost the video feed. I think I’m feeling below the weather. But um Rick sorry. Sorry to hear that and no worries, please we can hear you loud and clear. All right good. So yes, um, I’ve lived in Marblehead for 25 years. So I grew up my parents for very very liberal and you know,

13:02 really good parents so they had still a lot of morals and you know behavioral standards and so forth. And you know, I’m recently we tired I worked in financial services most of the best 25 years. I have the time to devote. I’ve always been kind of a civil rights person. I’ve had a lot of friendships with minorities over the years. I’ve witnessed, you know, racism different forms from being with them. I am, you know, obviously as the Gentleman mentioned the state of our country today with hate On The Rise anti-Semitism, you know everything and just what’s going on. I just have my time in my energy to vote. I mean,

13:50 I like working with people if immigrants, you know, ever settled to town help them get settled show them around help, you know, maybe set up, you know, utilities whatever whatever’s needed and the initiatives that are currently with the task force that might need assistance. I would be interested in hearing about those. I know you work with the public schools and the police and the in the racial Justice team and so it sounds like a good group of people involved. and you know, I I could go on and on but my mind is my brain is not a hundred percent. I you know volunteered for the NAACP. They are no short chapter just opened a

14:37 few years ago. I’m looking into a couple other volunteers in this immigration house and Lynn just because now I have the time I’m actually officially fully retired at the end of this month. So. whatever I can do to help, you know, it’s what I can bring to the table and you know, I have sympathy and empathy and you know, whatever you need me to do. You know I’d be willing to take on.

15:09 Rick thank you very much appreciate that your comments any questions from the board. That’s Okay, thank you. Yeah, thank you Rick. I hope you hope you feel better. Yeah, thank you. Everyone. Appreciate your time. Okay here free to stay stay on obviously and we now what I’ll do is I’ll put a entertain a motion to place all names into nomination second all those in favor. Okay, unanimous, and now we kind of come to the hard part and I’ll explain that. I know it’s it’s really difficult. But basically it’s it’s by a roll call vote and whoever gets the majority first is the you know becomes the nominee so

15:56 and Thatcher takes charge of that and we’ll just proceed a pace, okay. his singer

16:08 I feel like I always have to go first and we don’t have just a joke. It’s just kidding just on the tough ones. I know that maybe that’s where on the interviews maybe that’s it. Just kidding Kim gobbleman and apologies. I don’t say that. Is that correct on your list Google woman? Thank you.

16:32 Miss Noonan Kim googleman is tonight

16:43 difficult Kim

16:48 Last settle set congratulations, you’ll want to vote. No. Yeah. It depends sometimes I got to take the cues from my colleagues and

17:02 And and I’m the same so congratulations, but thank you Arnie for for coming in and see I hope you can find other volunteer opportunities. There are always openings say things turn over. Yeah, that’s right. Yeah for this as well. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you so much for coming in and Kim just to remind you to before you assume you’re your duties to to register with the with the clerk just to go in and get sworn in and not tonight, but it’s right down Clark’s office town clerk’s office is right there, right? So right so you just just doing it today. Well, congratulations and Well, we live on it in this

17:49 town. It’s very important. Yeah, very clearly and Rick. Thank you very much as well. Okay, before you go on could I just congratulate everybody? It’s Elaine Hazlett on Elaine. Please go right ahead. I’d just like to congratulate all those people they’re all very qualified. I an opportunity to speak to one of them and I would like to also mention there’s a meeting tomorrow night via Zoom at 7pm if the candidates want to show up and see what we’re doing. That’s fine. If Kim wants to join us, even if she’s not sworn in she won’t be able to vote and but she certainly leaving if she

18:35 Tonight’s Wednesday night. Are they open or either closed already? I’m sorry. Yeah. Well, they’re open during the day you can take the day off. Is that what you mean?

18:45 Elaine thank you for for letting us good update 7pm. She can get the zoom right out in the lobby. Yeah or on her on her computer. Thank you you can you better Lane. Thank you very much. Okay good hearing from you. Okay. Is it? Town Clerk and then go to the meeting tomorrow night if you if you can do it. Where is it located? It’s online. It’s all it’s a it’s a zoom. So yeah. So Kyle will get your email and send you the zoom link.

19:22 All right with that let’s move on to our third agenda item. And that is the pride you bet. That’s wonderful. Thank you for volunteering. Okay, so this is This this is the the pride pride flag raising event at Abbott Hall. And I guess what is this the third fourth year? I think third I believe I think it’s the third but the motion the motion is very self-explanatory, and I’m like to entertain a motion to request from restalberg Member Marblehead Pride 2023 committee to use Abbott Hall on Saturday

20:09 June 3rd, 2023 at 3pm rain date is Sunday, June 11th, 2023 subject to the usual rules regulations and fees second. I was in favor. It is unanimous number four. Disabilities commission. This is a re– This is a an appointment that we are administratively fixing from from our last meeting and it’s an entertain. I’d like to entertain a motion to a point Brigitte Duffy to the disabilities commission with the term to expire in June 2025 removed second. Okay all in favor. And seconded with my hand. I know that’s okay. No, I saw I saw what was that? I don’t know just the people we interviewed. We yes a couple weeks. Yes. We

20:57 interviewed Brigitte. Right. Okay. So again item five is a one-day liquor license from the bentwater Brewing at at Lee mansion and like dinner motion requests from John Connell on behalf of bentwater Brewing Co company for one day liquor license for Marblehead spring celebration event on Saturday, May 13th, 2023 from 9:30 to 2:30 pm at the Jeremiah Lee Mansion 161 Washington Street subject to the Fallen conditions delivery and receipt delivery of and receipt by the licensing authority of the required theme fifty dollars delivery and receipt of by the licensing authority of proof that alcohol we purchase from an authorized Source proof that the applicant can receive proper delivery

21:44 provide proper storage and Disposal beverage purchase all on accordance with the requirements of general laws section 138 alcohol will be purchased from bent water Distributing LLC. This is a pulled photo. I have a second. Yes. Yes. Okay, let’s learn it in favor. It’s tonight in favor. This belt Becker in favor Miss singer in favor, Mr. Greater outstanding in favor. Okay agenda item number six. is reappointment motion Daniel prelix So the motion like energy and motion to reappoint Daniel perlitz inspector of animals with a term to expire April 30th. 2024 some of second all those in favor.

22:33 Okay, unanimous item number seven is

22:40 the open meeting law complaint emanating from Mr. Allen Waller and we this is part of a corrective action. Which you can see in your package here to revise the minutes to to address. A public public comment. So I think the motion is pretty self-explanatory. It’s emotional approve the revised minutes on May 18th 2022 public comment as presented and to send notification to the Office of the Attorney General in response to oml 2023. 56 99 22 complaint filed by Alan Waller. so much second holes in favor

23:25 Okay. Okay number eight is a wedding at Hall. wonderful that we can host these types of things and and to make good use of our historic structures motion self-explanatory to entertain a request from Spencer Andrews and Tiffany Blanchette to use Abbott Hall select boards meeting room on Friday May 12 2023 for a wedding ceremony subject to the usual rules regulations fees and receipt of the required Certificate of Insurance.

24:03 in favor unanimous Okay, we have a slight modification here to see the approval of the minutes. We’re going to approve the March minutes this time. So I’d like to entertain a motion to to approve the minutes of March 17 2023, March 22, 2023 and March 31 2023. all in favor Except Mike, March 22nd, I wasn’t here. You were not. Okay, so we’ll have a hold on that.

24:40 All right. Okay, so contract pavement management.

24:50 So this is for K5 Corporation. Is there any background on this? I I think that’s funny Amy. Amosie. That’s why I wasn’t sure Amy. You’re making any move to you know, that’s why I deferred to Patrick. There’s no page there. I turned to Amy understood but I wouldn’t mind. But the first contract yeah, so this is for the pavement markings cases for baby marketing. That’s right. You’re lining all the striping on the street. So it went out to bid. It was advertised on March and forget the date on March 23rd. I think bids were open on April 13th. We received two bids one did

25:36 not acknowledge addendum. So it was dropped and K5 who actually was a little bit. Is the company that we’d like to awarded to? So this will be going to send them the contract and go through the whole review when signage. Okay, and so the the amount covers what?

25:57 It covers just Marty for remarking all of the yellow double yellow lines and the crosswalks throughout town except for what we’re Paving this year. Okay come after is it extra thick pain or right?

26:17 Okay.

26:20 Can you confirm the dollar amount because 4265 or 48? 625? I think it’s 625. Hold on. Okay, well waiting in 1980 and 81. This was part of my summer job for the Selectmen Department took care of all the roads and walls and Marblehead, really and yeah it’s with Charlie Del Ferro was our boss. Huh? Yeah. Well schedule it was it was it was? Yeah, we went out of five in the morning for the intersections. Not very traffic. How long does it take to drive? They’re pretty quick to try you guys right away. Yeah.

27:11 48 625 48 625 so the the numeric representation is be corrected on the most. All right, 25. Okay. We got that Kyle you got that. Okay, the written out amount is correct in the number, okay. So with that I’d like to entertain a motion to war the contract for town-wide pavement markings to K5 Corporation of Rockland, Mass and the amount of 48,600. And 25 for year one and authorized chair to sign the contract on behalf of the board almost second. I was in favor. All right. Yeah. Thank you very much. I think. Are you staying around for the next one? I think so you get a string of that. Yeah, we’ve got yeah, please. Yeah. Yeah,

27:59 this is for the yeah speaking Street Extension if you can give us a little background, so this is actually an extension of the stormwater system it is Going to the work is physically going to happen on Pleasant Street, but it’s extension of the best drain runs down Bessemer street. So it’ll include two catch basins and then two lines that run up so that we can connect some pumps which are in four or five properties extremely wet there on the corner of lesson between Bessemer Village. That’s right. So we’ll be a budding the work that just was finished on Village Street. So, okay, and this also went out to bid we had three

28:46 well two people who believe in a little bit or was angry nation’s Sons.

28:54 Okay, standing any any other questions from the board? Okay. Like entertain a motion to Ward the contract. For the bessem and Beacon storm sewer extension to North greneza to and grenissi and Sons Inc of Salem Mass in the amount of 299,000. 64 dollars and seventy cents and authorized this s*** the chair to sign contract on behalf of the board second always in favor. All right, and the next one Amy is the cash Basin cleaning.

29:36 Hi, it’s a three year. It’s a three-year contract one one year and then two options just two option years. This is one of the option years. We’d like to just extend it Railway maintenance has been in town for probably six years and they attempt to reach every catch Basin we have it’s part of our ms4 permit also. You confirm the amount again. It was that 107,500. or 107,000 even

30:14 sorry.

30:27 Okay.

30:41 And taking that here we go. Actually keep them all together in case we are 107. 500 that’s okay five. Thank you. Thank you. The numbers right? We just have to clean up there. Okay, um pretty straightforward motion like an emotion award option year two for catch Basin cleaning contract roadway maintenance services. Ankle Plymouth math in the amount of 100 7,000 500. And authorize the chair to sign on behalf of the board.

31:20 So much second, it’s 13. Yeah. I know. I know. I know I had a doll and I said dollar too so letters I was hoping nobody would notice what you did this one. Sorry. Yeah. Yeah only just yeah, okay. So with it all those in favor. Thank you.

31:39 PW request for Street

31:44 Yeah, so that it just specifies specific days pretty explains word. What’s these days in the area that we worked in? Okay, so this is become.

31:56 a new request that has to happen because we don’t have Austria parking so

32:02 Attempt this year to get it done without off street parking without requesting it and we can’t do it. Yeah, we kind of notice that yeah. Yeah. It’s difficult difficult difficult. So there is a set area. We’ll put that out on the website. So people will see what it is. Basically a temporary parking ban, right so parallels the snow emergency band so they fall in the same protocols. So everyone should be familiar. Yeah, so

32:29 That’s great. Okay, so let me entertain a motion to approve the request from aiming the queue DPW director for an override overnight parking ban on the following days to allow the DPW to facilitate the annual street cleaning in the area of downtown old town and the shipyard districts as follows. Wednesday May 3rd 2023 Thursday May 4 2023 and Friday May 5 2023 during the hours of 12:01 am until seven am consistent with the snow emergency band. Residents will be notified via temporary signs targeted flying website updates coded notification and updates on the Marblehead Police Facebook pages.

33:16 So moved and a second, please second all those in favor. Thank you. I think that’s it. No, no trickery really. Yeah, one more what doesn’t what doesn’t come under your view. Oh, they’re all on the same one. No, they’re on the same. Yeah, I’m joking. So this is a

33:40 question of square. Yeah. Yeah three closures on Washington Square inheritage way for tree maintenance. Okay, that’s pretty self-explanatory. So we have contractor who has donated time to do pruning around Washington Square outside of our everyday outstanding. Yeah, three Morning has done a great job with that. So that is we’re requesting one day that we don’t park around here so we can equipment in and they can do the tree pruning that is rain or shine. And the next one is Heritage way that’s going to be done by our tree department and that has a rain date. So there is a reindeer and I think I see them in the in the motion. So with that I’d like to make an entertain a motion to approve

34:26 the request from aiming the qdpw director for a temporary. No parking slash tow Zone area for the following dates the facilitate public tree maintenance as follows, Washington Square, May 12th, 2023 from Seven am to 3 pm. Inheritage way may tend 2023 from 7 AM to 3 pm and the rain date is May 11th 2023 from 7 AM to 3pm someone. second all those in favor All right. Could you give a plug to the to the company donating the service? Yeah. It’s mayor tree services. Thank you. very helpful Okay, so next. Thank you. Amy and Nexus National

35:12 Prayer day. I don’t feel free to go.

35:15 Okay, this is a request from Don Warren which he does every year. And much appreciated his attention to this. It’s an entertain to emotion entertain the request from dawn or Donald orn to ring Avatar’s Bell at noon on Thursday, May 4th 2023 for five minutes directly following the noon regular ringing for National Prayer day and to meet briefly in the select boards meeting room to pray and mediate is one unified group. This event is open to the public.

35:53 And second place second all those in favor. Okay. Thank you, Donald.

36:02 Okay. So this next one is a police department donation. It’s great to do it’s just an FYI. I know I just an FYI. Okay, so basically Donation from the Clifton Improvement Association caretakers of Beach Bluff Park at Preston Beach and the amount of a 4,000. Wow to purchase a solar powered rapid flashing Beacon system for the crosswalk and Atlantic Ave by Seaview. Okay. So that’s been kind of gone through the approval processor. Yeah and work with the police and DBW do the installation on the existing polls. So it’s just existing crosswalk, but it’s adding the flashing. Yeah lights to notify vehicles and that’s really makes a big difference. It’s a really is in the summer. It’s oh they

36:50 do that right really great. Yeah, and the crosswalk is on is on our side, isn’t it? It’s right there.

37:00 Just trying to remember who’s watch outside. Okay, that’s information. Thank you appointment of interim Building Commissioner is next on our agenda. and

37:17 it’s a simple motion. So that I need yep. Yes. I’ll give the background on that as You know, so the current Building Commissioner when you hire Building Commissioner, they have to be a already certified local inspector. Which are Building Commissioner is and then if they’re pointed to the building commission to position they have one year. To complete three tasks to be certified as as a Building Commissioner. They’re allowed extensions and during covid there were plenty of extensions. So the building commission was giving a six-month extension. To complete the three tests which expires on

38:02 April 30th. So our commission has not He scheduled for the test but hasn’t completed the test. So after April 30th cannot serve as Building Commissioner. So we are we are going to need to appoint interim Building Commissioner. So Bob Ives has stepped up. To take on that additional duty for for a period of time as we work our way through settling, you know settling really commissioner issue. going forward so I mean no, okay. Like to entertain a motion to a point Robert Ives interim Building Commissioner effective May

38:50 1 2023. So moved second. Okay all those in favor. Thank you.

39:00 This is an award of a contract Healthcare review and consulting services. So.

39:07 This is a contract with risk strategies to assist us in the process of reviewing our health plans as part of the as I described with the contract with the employees group is expiring for our health plans. We also have a December 1 2023 deadline to notify the GIC if we intend to continue using the GIC or to give notice that we’re intend to leave and go to another plant. So there are those deadlines. To make those choices. So risk strategies is a is a private insurance brokerage and risk management advisor.

39:54 So it’s a $25,000 contract for them to assist us in the process. They the project plan includes getting the bid solicitations from all the insurance carriers evaluating the doing the plan valuations basically costing out all of the plans options such as the pricing the comparisons the plan designs the plan Administration all those factors that need to be evaluated as far as the best option and then looking at the funding Arrangement plan designs for comparisons. So they’re gonna look at our full medical and Pharmacy plans are look at analyzing self-insurance

40:41 plans stop loss plans as well as plans for our active employees and retiring place. So they do all that analysis for us to make the best decision. This work will be in conjunction with the the public employees committee, which is the the group that has Union representatives from the different unions as well as retirees because it affects the retirees plans. As part of the negotiation so that this this group is on our side meaning the towns Marblehead side to do the analysis because all the insurance carriers are going to be coming in. Doing their presentations and pitches as to

41:28 why we should go to them. This is our representative to help us do the evaluations and make the make the best decisions. Now the good news is it’s a $25,000 contract. It is eligible. The cost is eligible for a community compact Grant which we will apply for which gives up to 25,000 for Best Practices. So if we’re successful in that endeavor, this will be free to us. All right. Well, good luck with that. Yes. That’s true. That makes sense to have a third party doing this kind of work, right especially with a bright with the brothers. No way. No other way to do it. Yeah, that’s the way to do it. Percent India just generally how many plans step forward typically and they what they

42:16 listed as potential plans is one two, three, four, five six seven or carriers eight plus other regionalized purchasing Arrangements. So, you know, you have the Blue Cross Blue Shield Harvard Tufts always Health Aetna Signum Maya GIC. So so all of those carriers that they will solicit them to submit proposals and then analyze them for us.

42:44 We need to vote on this. Yes. So before it’s the contract any other any other questions thoughts just one quick.

42:55 Reputational yeah, it’s exempt. So Alicia reached out and and

43:05 I know she at least she talked to a couple different options. I don’t have the details of full extent but that

43:23 chose the cheapest one and I worked with part of the past and performs excellence.

43:31 Okay. All right. Thanks. You know, so the office I hope. I am

43:42 thank you. Thank you very much, Alicia. All right.

43:48 The questions and I’d like to entertain a motion to vote to award a contract for healthcare review and Consulting Services. To risk management company in the amount of $25,000 and authorize the chair to sign the contract on behalf of the board all those in favor. getting unanimous 19

44:13 Records management fire department. Can we get a little sure on that and we got lots of car ready? Oh look. Okay. Yeah, please have a seat. Welcome. Thanks for thanks for coming Grandma Blossom Captain prevention. So our prices a third party compliance engine and they will manage the notifications for systems and buildings and need annual inspections quarterly inspections. The reports will be submitted to down the upload them online all of a portal access where I can go in see what’s the fish and What needs follow up what passes that’s buildings become more complex. There’s more systems and it’s basically moving away from paper-based reports coming in all the time and going online and have an access to them law communities around here have gone to them Beverly Danvers Linfield. It’s a

44:58 three-year contract the zero cost to the town. outstanding

45:04 consistent with our efforts of it’s just applications and do the work for us here right and finding free stuff. Yeah. So all these inspections are third party testing so they will manage the link between the owners of the buildings and the third party companies and take all the reports and upload them online.

45:26 And okay any other questions comments in the board seems like pretty yeah, no brainer straightforward. I’m standing. All right. So I like it entertain a motion to approve the contract between the town and brycer LLC for records management of Fire and Building Inspections, and no cost to the town and authorized the chair to sign on behalf of the board second. I was in favor. Unanimous, thank you. Appreciate you waiting. Appreciate you waiting. Yeah.

45:56 Okay, and I think we are now at our public comment period and we have a couple of A couple of folks online I think. somebody in the audience that might want to speak and anybody’s hands up. It’d be great.

46:15 comment done. All right. Well, we have no public comments. So let’s turn now to the Town Administrator update. Badger if you could jump so I’ll just cover three things. Tell me Tell meeting Tell Me Maybe. Yeah, that’s good where we heard that that’s been the focus. Lots of folks all focused on and gearing up to be be prepared for town meeting. Obviously There Was You know, the the tremendous work by Kyle and many others as far as pulling together the warrant articles having the warrant ready, you know posted get that ready. There’s also a lot of just pure Logistics

47:00 work that needs to be done for the meeting itself. So the chief Robin and click the Clark Jack at Ridge who’s owns the meaning the folks over at the schools prepping the pack getting it ready. So we’ve been doing a lot of a lot of work to make sure that the The venue is set up that we have an overflow room. That’ll be ready. Should that that be needed so that’s been a lot of the work during the course of the week working with the fin Comm. Alicia has been doing a tremendous amount of work working with the fin-com to finalize the fendcom book get that

47:46 completed and then making that available online as well as getting to the printers with all of the fin comms recommendations. So that’s what we’ve been getting ready for.

48:02 Jack address and I and myself did a presentation at the Council on Aging about Tom meeting and the warrant articles in the override votes and lots of good questions. What I like to do is maybe add some clarification or simplify sort of the biggest question that hit as well as reading some of the headlines in the in the different papers is to the override question is how much is the override so depending which headline you got you got different numbers, so to help clarify should You or anyone one question? So so there were two numbers presented one 322.10 as the cost the override that number

48:49 is based on the average household price. Now what that includes is there. A few homes that are of very high value that brings up the overall average. So that’s just a mathematical average which comes to little for a million dollars. So if you’re you’re home is worth a million 30,000. That’s about the number probably a little bit better calculation is the median price, which is the most prominent. Um number or average of homes, which is around 800 and 7,000 and that’s the 252 dollar figure, right? So that that’s probably much more the typical the

49:36 easiest simplest way for anybody to figure out what their cost may be is to take their assessed value, which is from the assesses office. And multiply it by by 31 cents per thousand. So if I was to run an example, if your home was six hundred thousand dollars, you just multiply 600 times 31 cents. And that will proximate what the cost of the over I would be now some folks who have some knowledge on this will say well next year. Values are going to increase so would it be more and the answer is not really because the way prop two and a half and I’m not going to explain the math,

50:24 but all else being equal if the values increase the rate drops. So using this calculation at 31 cents should be probably a very accurate way. It’s 31 cents per thousand. So make sure you decimal point is in the right place. but that was you know part of the conversation the other part of the conversation. That we got into is talking about the difference between capital debt exclusions for capital projects. And what is being proposed as a general override and in the difference being the capital project, which Marblehead is done numerous overrides for capital is that the taxes are

51:12 increased to pay for The Debt Service on the projects. when the debt Services paid off the The increased the taxes returned back to the to the normal level on a general override. Which is which is designed to support the annual ongoing costs of operations. It will adjust by 2.4. Whatever that not right just under 2.5 million it’ll increase our Levy from the 74. I think somewhere 74 million dollars. It’ll increase it by the 2.4 whatever million dollars which will cause this bump. And then it will from that point on

51:59 Prop 2 and after then that will increase by two and a half. As part of the base so it increases the base Levy. By the override it makes sense because capital projects you you do the task. You get it complete you no longer have the obligations of tax goes down what we’re trying to address. Is the operating budget deficit? Which which again our operations are annual every year. So this is an adjustment on the levy. To be able to support those ongoing operations every year now. I had a question.

52:40 somebody called in is it one time or annual and depends on what they mean by the question, but it’s a one-time bump. And then that additional amount will grow by two and a half just like the rest of by two and a half. So it’s it’s a one-time bump that you feel it if you approve it and then it’s just part of the base on going if that makes sense to people but no the conversation at the CEO. It’s very good very good questions. And those were like, the the biggies that came out of that conversation. That’s a really good conversation to have right because I think we presume most people know these things but it’s really good to have that Clarity around that yeah Municipal government’s not 100% obvious all

53:27 the time.

53:31 Thank you. So depending any other questions.

53:37 I guess kind of the other kind of question is is summarizing. If you could briefly what the impact of the you know of the reduce reduced, you know matching the budget is I know I know we can you know speak from the municipal side for sure. Yeah, so on the municipal side, so primarily the biggest changes were the the elimination of funding for three firefighter positions two police officer position a heavy equipment operator and DPW and then hitting the benefits line items. Somewhat reluctantly, but that you know, we do projections on what those benefit costs are.

54:24 If it’s a reduced budget if there’s no override there will be reductions on the school side. And as I’ve explained the benefit the cost of the benefits are on the town side. So there’s some relationship between sort of reductions on the benefits side as part of the reduced budget, but those are the biggie. So please fire Public Works in the benefits took the biggest. Hits now, there was what I call haircuts throughout. The budget in numerous areas, there were some departments where no cuts at all. And as I’ve explained to as an example, the engineering department consists of two people in office supplies, we’d have to shut down if we were to make any any

55:12 kind of significant cut there. So there there’s certain areas that that didn’t but

55:18 So the positions on the town side they were vacant. We would rather go out and hire but given the decisions they had to be made to to reduce again. The goal was to minimize the impact on Town Services by making the cuts and as I explained at the at the session and and other communities, you know, sometimes the strategy to convince people to vote for an override is to pick off people’s favorite programs and let the screaming and yelling and and, you know create a crisis so people support it. And as I said that we chose not to do that. We the path we took was having a very responsible budget

56:05 that if we have to operate on that we can and we will

56:14 it makes things even tighter. It makes our free cash. Generation shrink even more it’ll accelerate the the shrinking of the free cash by keeping, you know Tighter and Tighter but we feel you know, we made responsible decisions as to how we came to a reduced budget and then we can articulate where the funding would be restored should should the override pass which brings us back to the level services that that we have in America the overage mirror image of the right. right So any other thoughts questions? and I mean I just

57:02 I think and maybe suggest that. at town meeting I think it’s helpful for people to understand, you know, the the vacant positions particularly in the police and fire department what that looks like for the help, you know how the hiring process is protracted for those departments and you know what that how you know, do you defunding those spots effects our ability to hire and and like the time how that pushes that time frame out and then I think and then just you know should be override not pass.

57:49 Or accelerating just to be able to show what that looks like neck the following year in terms of the free cash compounding so, you know, and so if if the town decides not to pass the override, where where are we at next year? Like I remember the slide from the state of the Town showing that kind of like rapid. kind of incur. Yeah. Increase in the deficit how quickly that goes. Yes to your second Point as far as you know, where would be next year with or without the override and I was asked but you know about the option of you know, can we hold off till next year to do it over I’d

58:34 try to get through this year and and my response and I shared this at the COA my responses and this is my my judgment on this is we are better off to do the override this year and try to get through next year without one because to do the opposite makes the deaf and structural deficit that much bigger in the numbers that much bigger to try to fill that Gap that you know, and in my experience and other situations where we’ve had mid-year state aid cuts. Financially the sooner you take action to fix a financial problem the less costly it is if you delay to fix the problem. The cost just get bigger and it makes it harder to

59:22 solve. So so the preferences you do the override this year and then, you know will work on the strategy to see where we are. Can’t you know not going to say one way the other finish you but but it would be easier to get through next year if we did the override this year and try to get by people can appreciate that and understand that just the way you know, you just presented it right there, right and to your first point as far as the high impressed for Public Safety. I mean, they both fire and please it is a process. It’s a civil service process it’s list, but it’s also academies getting new recruits into slots in the academy getting through those programs and then bringing them back and then getting them on the

1:00:10 job training to be fully qualified to be, you know, fully qualified either firefighters or police officers it it Takes you know on the Fireside. Yeah a good year. from hiring to when they are fully able to operate as full firefighters or patrolman So again, that’s another one where when you have vacancies you want to be able to. Move quickly and get them in the academy slots as soon as you can. Yeah. I think those two are the biggest I think just My opinion I think that those are really important points to hit on and they always loved the cup of coffee a day. Right? Like was it 70 cents or something? I’m not.

1:00:56 You know, I did some. Particulation if you pay quarterly, yeah.

1:01:04 I mean, I don’t even know what a couple coffee costs these days. I’m going to be coffee drinker, but you know if the average home it’s about 20 dollars a month and you pay quarterly. So yeah, right so you do the math. Or is it something that Alicia presenting at town meeting or are you presenting it? We we’re gonna just other we’re just gonna be sitting side by side and and depending on what’s still here smile now, yeah. Yeah. Yeah Patrick’s definitely driving. I’ll be spinning right next to him. But I I absolutely agree. I mean the 31 cents definitely grow very fast, especially with the contracts that are going to be coming up for negotiations on the school side in the town side. You got your health insurance that goes on at

1:01:52 the same time. I inflation. So I think the amount of money that we projected is the correct amount and with the time it could help us get through. A little bit longer versus waiting and I think the impact would be a lot larger and a lot of the people to swallow.

1:02:14 Another thing. I think that’s we were more aggressive with our Revenue estimates. So instead of trying to build out free cash. We were trying to change that structure and do it the properly the way that the Department of Revenue and the government financed office. Just Association recommend. Which is be truly transparent with our Revenue. Work through that but by doing that that means that less free cashing people built. So if you’re relying on cash, it’s not going to be there to Reliable. And we may not have the choice investigating arbitrary thoughts. We may have to cut people and that’s what we really don’t.

1:02:58 Thank you, Alicia. Thank you. I would just say the same thing. I think it’s important to highlight that we’ve identified the deficit and then secondly that we’re addressing it and this is effective management strategy to say this is the problem. We’ve identified it and we are looking to address it with the understanding that it will the problem will increase so and the impact of the cuts that we are looking at. They it’s not just a simple as you know, you just highlighted with the training and those types of things. It’s not just as simple as though that position is unfilled there’s many layers to that. So it has many more implications from that and I think it’s important to highlight that as well as that we’ve identified this deficit and then we’re taking the step which is bringing this forward but also to highlight that we’re also

1:03:46 taking many other steps to which we have done a lot of that work already with consolidating departments and analyzing those types of things and bringing in all the software and all the tools that we have gotten on board in order to put ourselves in a place. We can try to maximize our resources as much as possible and put the load on our department heads and our you know, just start. Stuff in general to be able to do their work as effectively as possible and all of those things and it’s not just we’re looking at this from one level that we’re looking at this from many different ways. And this is just one of many strategies that we’re taking to address this problem and move it forward. So I think it’s important that everyone understands that this is one one

1:04:31 aspect of this and we’re doing a lot of other things as well. But the important part is if there’s a decision to not support that one aspect of it. It doesn’t stop there it then we come back and those implications on our departments that we just discuss with training and all those other things that just starts to compound. So it doesn’t it doesn’t just end there. so Thanks.

1:05:03 Thank you. questions

1:05:09 any we are now to our next agenda item any select board announcements. besides what we’ve been talking about just just I wanted to acknowledge Alicia. I’m sure we all do really appreciate the long hours and that Thatcher has been putting in and Kyle’s always with her administrative support that she brings so I know it, you know, we know you have all been working. extra extra we sure don’t take it for bread. Yeah, so marble had to preach it. Appreciate it really don’t. Especially with such confidence. You know, it’s great.

1:05:50 All right. Okay. So with that motion to adjourn. So secondly second all those in favor right here by your journey. See you Monday. See you Monday.

1:06:03 That’s am taking vacation here. Yeah birthday with