Select Board: May 22, 2024

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 All right. Are you all set? Okay. Um, I’d like to call this meeting to order. Today is Wednesday, May 22nd, and it is, um, seven o’clock. And it’s nice to see so many faces here and a full house here. Um, as we have a special recognition for, uh, member Jim Nye. Uh, it’s 19 years of service at the end of our meeting. Um, okay. So, um, we’ll get right into it. We don’t have too much on the agenda. Uh, we have some minutes. Um, we need to approve from May 9th and May 15th. So, um, could somebody make, uh, the motion So moved. Uh, motion to approve the minutes of May 9th and May 15th. Yeah. So moved. So, okay. And a second. And all in favor? Okay. Motion carries. Next we have surplus equipment.

0:50 Um, we have, it’s a, this, a Hewlett Packard, this design jet, like, looks like a printer. It’s 17 years old. Simple, clean cleaning of house. Um, we need a motion to declare the following item as surplus and no longer needed for municipal purpose, so that it may be disposed of in accordance with the town’s policy on surplus equipment. So, moved. Second. All in favor? Okay. Motion Carries. And, um, next, we need to open the warrant for the annual town election. So I need a motion to open the warrant for the town election on June, for, to be held on June 11th, 2024. So Moved. Second. Okay. And, um, we need a motion that the select board seeks at the annual town election to be held on June 11th, 2024. The following named town elected officers

1:36 to be listed on the warrant. Select board. Vote for five. Moderator. Vote for one assessor. Vote for one cemetery. Vote for one board of health. Vote for one. Housing authority. Vote for two. Library trustee. Vote for two. Municipal light commissioner, vote for two. Planning board. Vote for two. Rec, uh, recreation and park commission. Vote for five. School committee. Vote for one. Water and sewer commission, vote for one. So moved. And second. All in favor? And I need to vote on the first one too. Oh, we did? I thought we did. We had a second. Just had a second. We didn’t vote on the act, the opening yet. Yeah, we just, uh, sorry. I think we voted the opening closing Most. No, I know we have to do the next one. No, we didn’t. It’s A separate. There was a second, but

2:21 there was no vote on the first One. Oh, okay. Um, so, uh, all in favor of opening the warrant on June 11th. Okay. Uh, now we need a motion that the warrant for the annual town election be held on June 11th. 2024 is closed. So moved second. All in favor. Okay.

2:44 Um, July 4th, bell ringing. Uh, Our annual, uh, motion to, um, the motion, uh, to request that church bells throughout the town be rung on Wednesday, July 4th, 2024 at the usual holiday hours. 7:30 AM to 8:00 AM 12 noon to 12:30 PM 6:00 PM to 6:30 PM

3:10 So moved. Second. All in favor? Motion carries. Okay. Um, okay. So these are, um, contracts this, uh, um, for the rail trail and red’s pond. Um, so, uh, Thatcher, do you wanna talk to us about, um, the first of the contracts? Yeah, just real quick. So this is, um, contract repair to, uh, for Red’s pond accessibility improvements, which will include design bid documents and estimated construction costs for rehabilitation of the pond wall, the pond walkway and water quality improvements to the pond itself.

3:51 And looks like the funding is coming from arpa. This is Our, uh, it’s a common, uh, partially from arpa. We, we fund it as well as, uh, representative Armini, uh, got an earmark through the legislature. So that’s the other portion for this project. That’s great. Okay. So this is the design Yeah. And, and construction costs. So when the work is complete, we’ll know, we’ll have to go out to bid for the actual work, but we will have solid price proposals and such. Okay. Oh, that’s good. Okay. This is Okay. Yeah. Any questions? Comments? It’s great to see this happening. It’s definitely a local treasure. Wrong overdue. Yeah. It’s a, it’s a, it’s a landmark here. Um, it’s time to, it needs some care. So, um, let’s see.

4:41 Uh, can I have, um, a motion to award a contrast for the development of a Marblehead Reds pond accessibility improvement plan to pair corporation of Foxborough Mass in the amount of $87,500? And authorize the chair to sign the contract on behalf of the board. So Moved till second. A All in favor? Aye. Motion carries. Um, next is, um, a contract for the development and design of the rail trail from Salem to West Shore Drive. Um, anything you’d like to add about it? It’s all so Just very similar. This is the next step in the process. So it, uh, the purpose of this is for the design, final design, engineering, um, and, uh, construction costs for, uh, the portion from the Salem line, uh, as,

5:29 uh, to West Shore Drive. And this is also an arpa. This is, uh, fund fully Funding fully funded by arpa. Yep. Okay. Um, can I have a motion to award a contract for the development of design and construction documents for rail trail improvements from the Salem line to West Shore Drive to tool design of Boston Mass in the amount of $378,000, 680, sorry, $378,684. And authorize the chair to sign the contract on behalf of the board. So moved. Second. All in favor? Great. Um, and the same, um, is this for the same area? This is for the rail trail. So Swamp Scott to Smith Street Swamp. Scott to Smith Street. And this is the preliminary preliminary design. So it’s sort of the first phase of the design work, uh,

6:17 permitting, uh, wetlands delineation. So it’s all the preparatory work. Um, Yep. And this is from, um, a federal earmark right on the, Uh, part of Boston Border Rail Trail office. Yep. Got an earmark federal earmark. This is part of the Boston to Border Rail trail effort. Thanks to, uh, our Congressman Seth Moulton’s office. Um, as I’d like a motion to award a contract for the project start to preliminary design of rail trail improvements from the swamp Scott line to Smith Street to tool design of Boston Mass, the amount of not to exceed $162,000 and authorize the chair to sign the contract on behalf of the board. So Moved. Second. All in favor? Great. Okay.

7:06 Um, this is, uh, I guess a, a proposal for an the elevator in Mary Alley. So this is for the medical building at one Widget Road. We are, we’re the owner of the building. They’re the tenant. So as part of the lease, they have to have our permission to do significant work in the building. So they, they tended to, to do work on the elevator systems, so they’re paying for it, but they need our permission. So this would give them permission to do upgrades to the elevators. Okay. It’s expensive. Yeah. Glad we’re not paying for that. Yeah. Um, okay. So I need a motion to approve the request from Diana Lombard Real Estate Manager, Salem Hospital, to perform necessary work to upgrade the elevator at one Widger Road.

7:54 All in accordance with section 17 alteration and installation equipment as stated on the lease between the town of Marblehead and North Shore Medical Center dated March 6th, 2023. So Second. All in favor wait. Motion carries. Um, and then, uh, one day liquor license request from, um, for the Church of St. Andrews. So, um, this is our standard, uh, um, ask for a motion for a one day liquor license, um, to approve the request from Reverend c Clyde, ed El El Elledge St. Andrews Church for a one day liquor license for Saturday June 29th, 2024 at 135 Lafayette Street, 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM subject to the following conditions, delivery of and receipt of the licensing authority of the required fee of $50, delivery of,

8:40 and receipt of the licensing authority of proof, the alcohol we purchased from an orig authorized source. Proof that the applicant can receive proper delivery proper and provide proper storage and dispo disposal of all alcoholic beverages purchased in accordance with the requirements of general law Chapter 1 38, and authorized distributor to be determined before the license is released. And this is a polled vote. So, can I have a motion? So moved. Thank you. Second. Anybody second? Okay. Mr. Nye In favor, Ms. Singer? In favor, Mr. Murray? In favor, Mr. Grader? In favor, Ms. Nunan In favor, Madam Chair. Can we also send a letter, uh, of congratulations for a hundred years, a hundred year anniversary of St. Andrews? Oh, of, of the church? Yes. Okay. Um, do we have a motion to, uh, to send a letter, um, of,

9:26 um, celebrate Congratulating celebration and there Centennial. So moved. So Second. Okay. All in favor?

9:38 Um, indigenous People’s Day next fall. Um, this is, uh, we have a request from the Marblehead Museum Director. Um, we need a motion to approve this request from Lauren McCormick, executive Director Marblehead Museum, to use Abbott Hall on Monday, October 14th, 2024 for 2024 is Indigenous People’s Day event from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM subject to the usual rules, regulations, fees, and receipt of the required certificate of insurance, and to waive the rental fee for this event. So Moved. Second. Second. All in favor? Great. And that brings us to, um, uh, lemme see, um, public comment, um,

10:25 any regular public comment. Okay. Um, town Administrator update. Sure. I’ll be very quick. So just letting you know in your books are a number of reports. First is the quarterly report to the select board from the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee, as the bylaw requires a a quarterly report to the board. So I’ll present it to you for your, your purview. And obviously if you have any questions, you can reach out to me or the chair, uh, on that, so meets that requirement. Secondly, um, I have I think, five draft Human Resources policies. Now that we have a Human Resources director, he’s requiring us to be compliant, which is a good thing.

11:13 Um, so there are a, a a whole range of policies that we need to be either updating if they exist or they don’t exist, we need to be implementing. So we’re gonna, we’re gonna roll ‘em out on a, on a batch basis. So I provided five. Um, we will look to put this on probably the next meeting agenda. So it’s an opportunity between now and then to, to look at the draft documents, become familiar with them. Um, we may make some additional edits, um, but the, the ones we’re, we’re first rolling out are the ones that we need to do for compliance purposes, uh, for federal compliance. So I have, um, the Family and Medical Leave Act, uh, sexual harassment policy,

12:00 which is an update. Um, anti-discrimination, anti-harassment policy, employee conduct and discipline policy, um, and the Parental Leave Act policy. So this is the start of a number of hr. As you know, we’ve, we’ve been doing financial policies and we’ve put through a whole batch, but we’ll have more. Um, so we’re, we’re trying to go through all of our policies and, and at least starting with the ones that were required to have in place, either by state or federal, uh, requirements, as well as the ones we should have, uh, in place of running an organization of, of this size. So with that, Are these built into the, um,

12:47 collective bargaining agreements in any way? Or just reference? So what will happen is a, any, any of these policies that ha are, are a change or an impact on the collective bargaining, then that gets presented. If it, if it’s a change to working conditions, then there it would have some impact bargaining, uh, requirements. So some of these are an update of existing policies. Um, so we, we will comb through to figure out which ones Yeah. Are really do have an impact. Okay. So you’d like us to take this up at our next regular meeting? Hope to, um, and it may not be all five. Yep. Um, but Okay. We’ll, obviously we’ll figure it out in setting the agenda, decide whether this next meeting or all five or, or, or a portion of them. Okay.

13:33 All right. Great. Um, okay. So I’d like to just open it up, um, for, uh, comments and, um, uh, remarks and, um, for the man of the hour. Mr. I, um, I know I, for one, Jim, have really enjoyed working with you, um, over the past three years, I think, um, I’ve learned a lot, uh, from you, and I think one of those being listen more, talk less,

14:14 and also, um, you know, people think sometimes if we’re on the other side of an issue that you know, that there’s any kind of discord or anything. It’s, I actually really enjoy your perspective because I think that you represent thousands of people in this town that you know, that you’re, you’re in, you’re their ear. And it’s important for all of us to hear that. And you’ve just given so much to this community. Marblehead is such a better place because of you, just all the hours that you’ve spent, um, Wednesday nights and beyond, we know it’s more than that. And, um, it’s really, uh, uh, been a, you’ve been quite an asset to the town. Thank you. And we know where to find you, so yes. You’re not gonna be a stranger.

15:01 Yeah. Thank you. Thanks, Aaron. Anybody else? Well, I’ve already sung, uh, Jim, he did Jim praises and, and he accuses me. And so does this man over here accuses me of being a little bit too loquacious, you know, so to speak. Where’s your, where’s your a big word? I just, I just wanna say, Jim, uh, it’s been an honor for you to become my friend. I respect you, very sad that you’re leaving, and, uh, yeah. But I’m happy for you at the same time, and I know you’re not far away. Thank you.

15:41 Yeah, and I’d encourage anybody if you wanted to. Um, I’ll say something too, just, uh, Kyle said before she couldn’t hear me, which is typically not something I hear in my life, but, uh, I just wanted to say thank you too. It’s been an honor and a great experience, and I think that I, you know, I still remember talking to you before I even ran. And what I took away from that conversation is very similar to what I would say I’d still feel today, that I think in order to do this work, and we’re all volunteers, and you’re spending a lot of your time because it’s important to be able to hear what other people have to say and that you felt drawn to do this work as to be a voice

16:26 for the people that came to you and that you heard from. And that spoke so much to me. And I think to my own, you know, reasons for being here. And I, you know, I just, I appreciate hearing your different opinion, and I think a lot of times, you know, when we would be here and we would be having these dialogues, that was so important to me. Like, okay, what, what do you think? You know, because sometimes you don’t know and you only have what your small frame of references. And that is the premise of the whole idea of government by committee is that there has, when there are five, it’s because somebody else might be bringing something to the table that you might not have ever thought of. And I think that’s what makes it special, which makes the last three years of learning great.

17:12 And you’ve been so valued and just, you know, a level of professionalism and decorum that I think really carries in being supportive. So thank you. It’s been an honor. Very nice. Thank you. Yes. And, and having served with you now seven, you know, seven years, Jim, it’s just, just to see you and just your work here, you work in all your other adventures around town and committees, and it’s just, I’m just impressed how much you give back to this town. And, and, but more than anything else, I, I just remember marching in the parade with your daughters, you know, they seemed to drop off. I think Ashley was the last one. I think your older daughters got a little embarrassed, but in the praise when we first, but it was always great. And, and, and I think for me as a, you know, as a father with young children, you, you always put your,

17:58 your family first, you know, and that was one of the things you always said to us, you know, family first select board second. And, um, so it’s, you know, I’m gonna miss serving with you. It, it really has been an honor and, and I agree with what the other colleagues here have said, so Thank you. Very kind. Just on that, Jeff Shridman told me that on one of my very first meetings, uh, on the select board, and, uh, not to embarrass my daughter Alyssa, but we were getting a text and she, uh, hit a walk off home, run against Swamp Scott, uh, to win as a 12-year-old. And Jeff looked, looked at me, and I told him, he said, what are you doing here? He said, your family’s always first. The town will keep running. But thank you, Jeff.

18:46 I no, always, but thank you. People come up And Yes. Yeah, please welcome anybody to, um, if they wanna have any remarks. This isn’t like a Brady Roast, is it? I know it’s Table tv. No smile. It is, it’s Don’t let Tgy on the phone. Is It? Is it on? I just wanna say that it was a pleasure dealing with you for 18 years. You’re a wonderful person, and now you need to get on your boat. Thank you. You’re here. I’d like to thank Jim for all his hard work, very thoughtful deliberations in the way you always put Marblehead first. Um, I think we should all look to Jim, uh,

19:33 the way he carried himself through difficult times as a guiding light towards decorum. Thank you, Jim. Thank you, bill. Thank you. Oh, Thanks. On behalf of the, uh, firefighters Union, you’ve always been there for us. You’re always at our events. You always seek us out, so we really appreciate it. And, uh, look forward to your retirement. Thank you honor. Uh,

20:01 How many years? 19. Not as long as you,

20:07 I’ve always been very supportive of me and my department in all departments, really. And I’m sorry to see you go, but it’s not always easy to make time to sit on these boards. And you’re a person of integrity, and I respect that. And I respect you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

20:29 Here we go. Good evening, everybody. Um, I, I just, you know, real quick, didn’t plan anything, just wanted to come up and, uh, without getting choked up, just wanna say thank you for all you do. And I love you like a father.

20:48 He’s that old.

20:52 He, he is that old. Um, I’ve known Jim for a long, long time. I’ve known him for his beginning of his career, and, uh, now we’re in the twilight of a careers. But Jim can be summed up in, he’s all about God, family, country, maybe marble head before country, and always trying to do the right thing. Thank you, Jim. Thank you.

21:26 Glad I didn’t have to follow Matt Martin, so that’s good. Jim, I just wanted to thank you. I’ve, uh, gotten to know you a little bit in the last four or five weeks, and you’ve been super gracious. Give me a ton of advice. Tell me not to miss my daughter’s softball game is the first thing you told me. And I hope that in the event I am elected that I can, uh, I can honor your seat. So thank you. Thank you.

21:48 Just a few words

21:51 And I’ll leave the microphone right here if that’s okay.

21:57 Um, to one of my best friends and family, faith and town have, have been what you’re rooted in. And the town has been very fortunate for your service, but I also know you’re not going far. So thanks for your service, Jim. Thank you, Jackie. Okay, Just quickly, I’d like to recognize my mom, Suzanne Nye at present.

22:28 Many of you may or may not know, my mom and dad came to Marblehead, uh, right after their honeymoon, uh, and, uh, through General Electric and, uh, never left. So my brothers and sisters and I were all born right at Mary Alley. And, uh, so thank you for bringing us to this beautiful town. Thank you. And my, uh, beautiful daughter is Abigail, Alyssa, and Ashley,

23:01 Thank you for sharing your dad.

23:04 Thank you. Oh, Here we go. My, my selectman mentor. This room’s awful familiar, Jim. Um, it’s just, it’s easy to say thank you for all the years that you’ve served. You take knocks, didn’t bother you. You did a great job. So good luck in the future. Good luck to Buckeye. We’ll see you out, hopefully see you out there. And, um, just my best. Thank you. Thanks Bill. By the way, we to drink when we were there, we had to go to a bubbler. We didn’t get bottled water.

23:51 This was special For tonight,

23:54 Just for Jim. Um, so Jim, we’d like, um, to present you with this gift, uh, in recognition of your service to the town, um, on behalf of the town. And, um, something to, uh, you know, um, for you to now relax, take home with you. So thank You. Yeah. We need move it on camera.

24:53 Of Course. The red and black Color. You guys want to get around chair? Oh yeah. Get her money. I actually did. I told you. You should have got the rocking.

25:09 Um, There’s something where it’s allowed. It’s perfect. Yeah.

25:24 Looking good. Me. Thanks.

25:32 Now I do feel like,

25:36 so Jim, yes. Some people use the word retirement. It’s not retirement, it’s referred to as post accomplishment. Good, thank you. Yeah. So, Yeah. Um, we have some, some cake. Um, you want, should we adjourn now? Okay, so we should adjourn. Oh yeah. Adjourn all.

26:23 Alright.

26:30 Put some music. I know.

26:39 And if anybody wants to go to a cafe Italian after, oh, I like it, Doug. The tree with the tree.