Board of Selectmen - Regular Meeting

[Music] All right. Good evening everybody. It is Monday, October 6, 2025 at 6:01 p.m. With the quorum being present, I will call to order the free town board select meeting. Um, tonight's meeting will be on Zoom and it's also in person. This meeting will be recorded and will be available on our town's YouTube page. Um, so kick off agenda item one is discussion of vote whether to approve the event application from Patches Hill Farms for October 25th, 2025. Um, and this is for a um RC enthusiast event and I think this is at least the second year, maybe third that we've done this.

I haven't heard any problems with it. Has anybody? No. Um, and they've filed all the proper paperwork they need to. Yes, they have everything signed off. They've spoken with the board of health and I believe everyone else has signed. I think I might bring my sons. I think he'll love this. Not sure if Jacob He's on the um Zoom. Can you hear us?

Yes, I I can. Thank you. Yes. This is the uh third year that we have this going this year and it's our fall event. It's a little bit smaller event. So, we're excited to uh open up the farm once again and uh have the local hobbyist and uh the local community kind of come together for a fun day of uh remote control trucks on the farm. Sounds great. All right. Any questions or concerns? No, not at all. None at He's got a a good-look, trustworthy beard, so I'm good. All right. So, with that, I'll entertain a motion to approve the event application for Pastor Hill Farms for October 25th, 2025. Motion made. Second. All in favor? I. Plleman Lopes.

Yes. Fluffman Zagar. Yes. Matthews. Yes. Thank you, Jacob. Thank you very much for your time tonight. Maybe you'll see me down there. All right. Excellent. We invite everybody. come on out. We're looking forward to a great day. Perfect. Glad to hear it. Thank you. Okay, so uh moving on now to agenda item two. This is presentation on the Freetown Elementary School Boiler Project and we have a gentleman on the Zoom to give this presentation. Yep, we have it looks like Ben Miller. Good evening everybody. How are you? Great. How are you? Hey, Ben. Good, thank you.

All right, you kick it off whenever you'd like. Okay. Um, let me see if I can ask maybe John to turn it up a little bit. [Applause] Um, would you like me to share my screen? Yeah, sure. We have I think we all have the in the packet the presentation anyways, but I think it be it would be good to share it for the public for anyone that's watching or watching this record uh this video later on. L make you a co-host. So you can do that. Okay, you're a co-host now. So you should be able to go ahead and share your screen.

Okay. See, okay. Can everybody see that? Yep. Yes.

Okay. So, we worked with um my name is Ben Miller. I'm with GGD Consulting Engineers. We're in Dartmouth, Massachusetts. And we were tasked with doing a study with Habiba and Associates who's been doing some work in the town uh for doing a study on the existing boiler plant study at the Freetown Elementary School. So, we put together this report and this report includes uh a study of our initial findings, cost estimate and schematic drawings of what we're planning on having on the the proposed scope of work. So, just to go through it very quick because um like you said, you've all had a chance to go through the report. The school is currently heated by two Clever Burks fire tube boilers. Uh the boilers are from 1979. Uh they're well exceeded past their serviceable life expectancy. And um the last major renovation in the building was in 2001. Uh at that time some of the hydronic equipment was updated such as the hot water pumps, the expansion tank. Um there's an um fuel oil system which serves the boilers are number two heating home heating oil. There's a tank outside which um supplies that. Here's a picture up here of the pumps, the expansion tank in the back. These are all circa that 2001 renovation.

Down on the bottom corner we have the uh fuel oil pumps. And then in the lower side we have the um the tank. I actually have a slideshow that I can pull up larger pictures of later if we need to. Um, so just going through this, the school has recently gone through a controls upgrade, although the the boilers are not fully integrated into it yet. I think it has a very light um readout of what that can be done. But with a if we were to upgrade the central heating plant, you'd have more controls for alarm notification and adjustability through your building management system than you currently have now. Uh we coordinated with the facility staff while we were on site and there's no glycol currently utilized in the system. Glycol is a propyline glycol is a mixture that's added with the water to help freeze protection where you have uh hydronic systems, water systems running through your building. you mix glycol with it so you have a lower freezing point than 32 degrees just in case a valve gets stuck open or or something like that happens. So we would recommend glycol being put back into the system. And then uh this picture is just a picture of the boilers just to give you a proximity layout of the room.

And the picture in the front is actually just showing the common breaching exhaust header uh which ties into it actually runs to the back of the room and then goes out to a a standing boiler shaft uh breaching shaft. So, our recommendations would be to provide a hazardous materials uh test report. And again, we talked to facilities while we were out there. And they have up-to-date reports that we could further coordinate with them to make sure any abatement testing that needs to be performed, uh, we have a record of it. And then if there's any further testing before any demolition, so we try to uh negate or minimize anything unforeseen from coming up. That way we have full documentation. And then we would our recommendations are to remove the existing boilers, pumps, fuel oil pumps, fuel oil tank, piping controls and accessories. This is just limited to inside the boiler room. install two new oil fired boilers matching the capacity of the existing boilers. The boilers should be considered uh have energy saving features like package controls. Um they would probably be able to turn down uh um possibly even economizer control. So we would look into that from different manufacturers and see what we could do to maximize energy efficiency. Uh we would recommend two new base mount pumps with variable frequency drives so we could get uh turn down and increased

energy efficiency across your heating system not only in the the boiler plant but that would be recognized throughout the building and then um new fuel oil systems including oil pumps, tank monitoring systems, alarms and controls. the existing fuel tank should be replaced based on the age and observed conditions. There was some um some rust and some blistering of the tank that was noted. Tanks usually have an inner and an outer shell. Um we just did a visual inspection, but uh just the the exterior shell looks like it's starting to show signs of its age. And um so that's where these recommendations are coming from. Um one of the if the the tank uh you know we could further research the tank and um maybe it potentially could have some extended life expectancy if we were to uh sand it down and maybe provide a new coat of paint to it. I think in our cost estimate we owned um new tanks but um we can take a look through here. So we just have our base scope requirements, demolition, HVAC and plumbing work. And these are just how we're coming up with our trade bus electrical work.

And then we have um testing and balancing, setup and commissioning. And then we have a summarization of of the costs on page one and two. So overall, we're coming out with an approximate cost of 1,7,676. Um across the building, that's a cost of approximately uh $7.92. Okay. Um, and then just I thought I thought you all all set.

Nope. Um, just a just a final just schematic page. So, this is just kind of a a floor plan layout of what we had in the building. And these are your two boilers that would be coming out. Your domestic water system uh is also in that room, but that would be existing to remain. We would be replacing these are the two base mounted pumps and the air separator up there.

Okay. Sorry. Did you uh have a question? Yeah. No, just um and I'm not Thank you very much, by the way. This this was very helpful and um I think this was nice and clear. Uh it was, you know, easy to read presentation for someone who has no idea what they're looking at. So I appreciate that. Um my questions really come to what this doesn't cover, right? Which is the architectural and structural scope. So um and maybe you know I don't know if Deb you have an idea of of what kind of cost we're looking at for that part of of the work. And then also the hazardous materials testing and

yeah I don't know about the hazardous materials stuff that can be the the testing isn't expensive. It's obviously the abatement work and until we know what's there. So I'd have to probably speak with Greg Goodwin. probably have a better idea than the facilities manager.

They might be doing something already for testing, right? they they're supposed to. Um, so there should be something and then something else that we need then I'm sorry I didn't mean to cut you off but um obviously kind of my wheelhouse a little bit and you know is us looking at Bruce um you didn't say much about the is there how does the pad look is that the tanks are sitting on is it up to date um with compliance or will there need to be a new pad put down for where those tanks are? Do you know? where the oil tank is or where the boilers are.

Uh where the oil tank is because if we're talking about doing um testing outside on all the soils and everything and uh removal of everything, does it make sense to do the pad at the same time? I don't know what the pad's shape is and if it's up to date compliance wise. So, um I didn't notice anything in the pad that uh of concern or that that gave me any indication that it wouldn't be fit for reuse. Um, I think what we would need to do is, uh, typically in my experience when we've had to do replacement tanks, we give them this the size of the original tank and we just try to match that up.

Mhm. Um, so it's going back in the same location. I would I would think unless there's some kind of breaching that we would know about, and I didn't see any signs of anything. I don't know if your facilities director would know if you had anything, but I would assume those alarms would have gone off where you know someone would know if there was some kind of containment breaching. Great. So, as far as the OPM and the architect, I mean, by law, we don't have to have an OPM under $1.5 million.

Mhm. That being said, we need somebody to oversee the project because it's not my wheelhouse either.

And the abatement piece, if there is hazardous materials, you know, is expensive. So, my guesstimate, if I were to say, let's fund this, I'd be looking at 1 uh 1,250,000 to make sure we have enough to cover everything that we need. We still need to do some of that testing, which like I said, I could work with um Greg Goodwin to see what's been done and what he thinks because he'll have a good he'll have a good idea and I'll be able to get that more solidified. Um and then figure out who will oversee the project in terms of replacing the boiler.

Yep, that makes sense. So, you know, I know that what there was a question about possibly what would you do with, you know, the new buildings that we're building, they're all electric and they're all heat pumps or mini splits. So, there was a question about do we do that here? Do we switch everything over? And that was one of the reasons why I wanted to have um the the uh Habib come in to answer that question because I can't answer that. So, I'm not sure that that's something that you've has been looked at or has it only been to replace the existing boilers that are there.

So, um we haven't studied it specifically in this instance, but we do a lot of electrification changeover projects. Um, typically what it is is a shift from whatever fuel, in this case it would be oil to um a pretty substantial electrical upgrade. So you have the provisions for that. Um, with that infrastructure, not only is it just the electrical upgrade component, but then you have condensing units uh that need to either go on your roof or um somewhere, you know, we have to find a home for on the site. Uh, and if typically they're on the roof, so they're away from um, you know, people that you don't want around there or fenced off or anything like that. But if they're on the roof, then there's structural provisions that need to be looked at and um, items like that. I don't know how that would compare to just the boiler replacement upgrade. Uh, I think it would be substantially more right now because in the with a boiler it's it's a central plant upgrade instead of uh throughout your building and that cost of going um to literally each room because you would have to update each piece of equipment in every room to be able to do that. It would no longer be served by a hot water system. That feels expensive.

Mhm. Just I'm just thinking about how many rooms there are, right? Yes. That's a long window of saying yes, it would be expensive.

Uh Mr. Middle, what's the time frame? Let's say this gets approved at town meeting, then we move forward with it. Um you guys I know it's a lot of steel for those boilers. Any issues with getting the parts we need for this project? And if so, if well, if not, what's the time frame? Are we looking at Is this a summer project that we do? Is this a two-eek project? What do you estimate?

Yeah. So, um, we'd want to coordinate that with Habib and Associates as far as like our bidding schedule and where we would get it out. Um when we were working on pricing for this, we checked on equipment availability and it's 12 to 14 weeks from proof submitts. So that's the equipment is not that much of a long lead time. Um, it would be how quick we could get it into a full design, get it on the streets, uh, get it through a proper bidding, um, sequence, and then contractors would have to get their contracts worked out with the town. So, could it be done this summer? I'm not I'm I'm not really positive. I'd have to confirm that with the architect,

but it could be done in a summer, right? It could be done in a summer. Okay. Most of the replacements are done. Yes,

Miller. Other than regular factory warranties over the years, the town has, you know, built this building and then learned everything about jockey pumps and HVAC units and everything else. Is there any warranty beyond the factory manufacturers's warranty for these parts? Something that either your company provides or a you know industry standard for these type of things. Uh typically the warranty is not provided through by the consulting engineer. It would be provided by the contractor and typically it's it's uh 12 months. So through one full season, um you can build in extending the warranties, but it does make the contractor's bid increase because the the longevity in service.

Thank you, Mr. Miller. Yeah, nobody wants to be holding the bag, right? That makes sense. It does. But someone's going to ask me, might as well get ahead of it and ask the question so we know the answer. So yeah. No, I think it comes down to if we've learned anything, it's preventative maintenance, right? Like whe and that wouldn't be through warranty. That would be, you know, a third party and us doing something having maintenance schedule maintenance guys that are doing regularly, you know, regularly scheduled stuff to keep up with the systems. That's really

one of our So, so sorry on that point. Um when the contractor does do the installation, they'll be required to do like a um they'll do a um a training session with whoever the the proper personnel is named by the town and they video record that and then they turn over either a USB or some kind of digital copy of the recording so you have that on record. So you not only will you get all the submitt package, all the on and um physical copies, but you also get that electronic package as well. So it helps you with your service and

yeah, that's very helpful.

So once these boilers are in, right, I can I can already foresee questions coming in from either public parents or teachers. Well, listening right now, the Cleveland the Cleaver Brooks are getting 80% efficiency. They were built in the 70s when things were built, you know, still with metal and some good parts. Uh I expect or should we suspect that the parts today are the same all metal or cuz we have hard water in that area, right? You mentioned some sediment in the water. More than likely, it's probably maganese like the rest of the town and other other similar compounds. Do you guys use like glass line boilers? Is this what this has? It's ready for hard sediment areas.

Yes. So, um this is a little bit of um a different type of the Cleaver Brooks boiler uh of the the fire tube application, but essentially this is still um about an 80 82 80 under 85% efficient boiler because that's just a byproduct of using number two heating oil. So um with when you're using oil, you can't have those low temperature condensing applications which maximizes your efficiencies that you have with either gas or propane. So uh this is um basically a you know a cast iron steel boiler. It does have uh a little bit better electronics and programming. Definitely better than the 1979 electronics that are running those two. But um through programming, it should be able to modulate its efficiency better.

Good stuff. Yeah. All right. Last question, I promise. Cyber security is your is are these new systems that are coming online connected to the net or is that maintenance performed on onsite? I'm just thinking about future threats that a lot of municipalities tend to have with their HVAC systems, electrical systems and everything else.

Sure. So, what we typically do in our HVAC systems is it's a separate connection. So it's available, it's web accessible from anywhere, but it's not tied into like your the same com. You can access it from your from any computer in the building, but it's not necessarily connected to like your office administration computers uh per se. So, this will bring you to a homepage for the building management system where you would have a pull down and I think you already have this at some of the other schools in the region. Um, I'm not sure if it's train controls that you guys are operating in the remainder of your buildings, but you have a front-end control system in that dashboard. Allows you to go to where you want to, and you'd be able to see alarms, notifications. You'd be able to set your your schedules, see what your water temperatures are, leaving coming.

Thank you, sir. You're welcome. All right. Any other questions? All right. All right. Well, thank you very much. I appreciate your time. You're welcome. Thanks, man. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Thanks for meeting with you. Take care. All right. So, agenda item three is discussion of whether to add the Freetown Elementary School Boiler Project to the next town meeting.

Subject to funding, I would say. Um, I don't have available funds at this point. Usually right around now they'll start to come out free cash and whatnot. So I think that we will have to wait for funding to determine whether we can put that on town meeting or not. Okay. And whether and I don't know what I'm going to have for competing needs at this point. You know what I mean? But it's certainly something that we need to address before it's a emergency. Yeah. Yeah. before and then we know we're gonna we're like probably a we know how long these things take. Even if it goes best case scenario, it's still probably

my my goal is if we have free cash and we don't have some other um pending need that's bigger is to fund this at the next town meeting in January. Um that would be my goal, but I think as of tonight I don't have enough information to tell you whether we even have that kind of funds available in free cash. Okay. So, and I can't a January meeting I won't be able to use tax levy. So, I can't we can't really um make that decision tonight because I don't have all of the necessary information, but it's something that we know last year there was an issue with the boiler. I mean, it needs to be addressed. Yeah. Yeah. We're on borrowed time.

Yeah. You know the my question with the HVAC was, you know, I know some of the teachers and I'm sure students, parents, it's cold or warm different parts of the building at different parts parts of the day. To me, HVAC or the heat pumps gives you a more clear consistent heat and cooling throughout the building. Shortterm, yeah, it's probably more money. Longterm is that we save money, right? Not having 12,000 gallons of oil sitting in the back in the back parking lot. Yeah, especially if you pair it with like solar panels, right? Did he Did he Did he indicate how much more it would might cost? He said he said more, but he didn't I don't substantially more because obviously it would be the whole entire building.

Yeah, I think you and it's like a different type of estimate, right? Cuz like there's like actual physical construction going on in every single building, right? So like like and then the structural part of it like whether the roof can handle it or not. But I mean, if it was easy, I'd say that makes a lot of sense to me if we could I can ask them if they can do any kind of work. Um, just to, you know, I can try to find out like how far how much more, how how is it, is it, is it reasonable or is it just out of our realm. I mean, the problem we have is we've got this million dollar net, which is actually creeping up to be a million and a quart, you know? Yeah. Quarter million and then we have the roof coming, right? So, we know we've got two to3 million dollars we have to spend on the roof. So,

yeah, we have to plan for that, too. So, and windows. Yeah, the windows and doors are I'm hoping that they'll put in for the um grant and uh and we'll get that 50% paid for, but we're paying for the roof and we're pay so we've got substantial spendings that we have to do over there in a relatively short period of time. So if it may be that it has to be this million dollars because something different will be three, four, five million that we just don't have because we've got to do the roof which is at its life's end as well. I think that really major things haven't been done in over 20 years at the school. Probably 2001 isn't that what he said? He said 2001 was the update on this which is probably in line with

right now. Right. So we're going on 25 years. So that that's that's my you know that's why all these things are coming now and we need to we need to start addressing them before we have major issues. So I might have been I might have been a student there [Laughter] probably 2000 I think I was so I would say we're going to pass on that question. I will bring it back when I have um some more funding numbers.

Okay, sounds good. So pass on four then uh three sorry and then now um agenda item four discussion on the civil uh fingerprinting policy with the chief please chief thanks for joining us. Uh so you want to just give us the high level I mean it's somewhat self-explanatory but maybe just kind of the the genesis of this.

Sure. So, uh, most recent inspection by the state, uh, flagged us on, uh, not having a civil fingerprinting policy for the department. And currently, the police department was following, uh, state statute and civil fingerprinting. And what that means is whenever we have a new employee in the department, whether it's police or communications, and they have access to Corey, they're required by statute to be fingerprinted and a background check is performed. Additionally, the other function uh we were used by statute is fingerprinting ice cream vendors. However, the statute was lacking. So, the statute regarding ice cream vendors identified that local law enforcement fingerprint, but it was lacking in the direction that we could use that fingerprinting to submit for Corey. M so uh up to this present day we have been uh whenever we did have an applicant for ice cream vendors we'd fingerprint keep the fingerprints on file but not support it with background checking uh from from this inspection just let led me down this rabbit hole to see that there are the communities out there that have accepted a a general law that was passed back in 2012 uh mass general law chapter 6 section 172b and a half basically was an IOR Cory um a Corey reform that was passed during that time and it basically gave uh the ability to local law enforcement to assist uh cities and town administration in um their processing of licensing and permits and the direction of that was basically identified to deal with vulnerable populations and positions of public trust. And I'm not really sure if you had the abil um seen the draft policy that I originally submitted, but it identified five or six

different types of um permits that these cities and towns that were uh identified like dealer of secondhand articles, hackne drivers, taxi drivers, hawking and pedalling, uh door-to-door salespersons permits, ice cream and food vendor trucks, motor vehicle dealers, and pond dealers. So, in order to e um be able to use this mass general law, it has to be approved by the town at a town vote and then the town would have to create a bylaw identifying the um the process of the civil fingerprinting bylaw. Now, currently the police department does not assist the town at all with any of the permits and the background checking. So, uh, for what I understand, the town does its own I Corey check, which is very limited. You don't have the same, um, access that the local law enforcement has. And, um, on top of that, it's prone to vulnerability because you only have limited information regarding the permit. someone submits an application, there's a chance that the identity of the person might not be true or there might be other information to support um who that person really is.

Yeah. So, uh it's limited and um by having the police department available to assist with this, it's no more than a um a recommendation that would be supported to the appointing authority or the uh the licensing authority for that permit. So, um it's the police department's not the endall for these permits. It's no more than advisory after a thorough background check and the identity is confirmed of the applicant of the permitting process.

That makes sense. One just thing I just thought about when looking through this like so say if if I'm an ice street ice cream truck vendor and I go and I get my I go through this I submit my fingerprints it goes out but I actually have somebody else who works for me driving and you know so that interaction with the with the vulnerable population could like so do we also require that for employees or is it just the you know I believe with that they supposed to have the the ice cream vendor is supposed to have their um picture posted inside of the ice cream vendor's vehicle to match the person that Okay, that makes sense. So, it's like a Yeah. a self. Yeah. Yeah. Cuz something I never really thought about until like I read this. I was like, "Yeah, like it's you know,

but currently there's not a mechanism in place for law enforcement to assist the town and its entities in the permitting process." So, this is just no more than a better tool for um local government to make sure not only one that you're dealing with the right person and two that they're actually suitable for the permit that they're requesting. Makes sense.

Some of but some of these things like I look at dealer of secondhand articles or you know things like that. There was um you know does that include car dealers, right? If we have a car dealership in town and they have multiple employees, kind of to what you know, SL Matthews just said, like we could have something like that might have a higher turnover rate and then posting their employees pictures and it's just the the whole thing sounds bizarre. So, how towns is there many towns that you know of that have

um when I did my research, there's only a couple towns within Bristol County that have adopted this statute. more of the cities and towns that are closer to Boston, which kind of makes sense. They probably have more fluctuation of these type of permits and whatnot. Um, but um, yeah, I don't want to confuse like the permitting process with some of the requirements for ice cream uh, vendors, right? The part of the statute is that they're required to, you know, post their picture, but the other vendors

might not have to do that, right? They just basically are getting a a background check and I confirming their identity for the permit. That's it. Right. So, um just want to be clear on on that. Yeah. Well, I guess because to his point is if I'm if I own one of these other businesses and it's me, I go through this thorough background check, but then I hire Carlos, then this is going to be no different. And it seems like we're doing extra work. And uh you know that that's definitely a solid bring up and uh you know something to think about as we think about this whole Yeah. But yeah, but I think this is a step in the right direction either way. I think it does make sense like if we're going to you know

I think a lot of cities and towns are not adopting this because it's a process. you have to put it down the town floor and have it voted on and then the and that's going to be tough because you're going to look at a town with people who are very big on their freedom and I don't know but at the end of the day if the town does not accept this then I still have to stay in compliance with sieges and what what does that mean then I have to pivot and uh readjust a policy that identifies the fingerprinting civily with those entities that I'm currently dealing with. So, this is not the end all. Yeah.

I'm offering a service from law enforcement to assist you folks in making good decisions. I'm not I'm not attacking. I'm just thinking of it into how this could be spun and you know why people will think of this as infringing on their privacy, right? And um so that that might be might be an issue. It's it's tough but then but we also I mean our one you know not us your number one job is to protect our our writers yourself and your residents right so um so that that's the the reason and I can also appreciate that

but I think uh things have fallen through the cracks in the past um with the former chief he expressed an incident that took place where someone was granted a permit and probably shouldn't have and he got questioned by another uh local law enforce enforcement official and basically his response was he didn't have any assistance with that permitting process. Yeah. And that's no fault of the board at the time because they just didn't have the tools and the means to have a valid

review of the applicant at the time. So, but this type of process solidifies that where at least you have that information and dealing with the current public and the current people that have these licenses. If they've been in good standing and there haven't been any issues, then a current background check probably wouldn't even affect them. It's the new applicants that are coming in that we're we're really concerned about. I have a I have a question. So, you're talking about taking existing businesses and doing background checks on them? Not at all. If they have to reapply for uh one of these licenses because I'm not really sure if there's a time frame on them.

You're going to you they have to come in and be fingerprinted to get their license renewed. Is that what you're saying? Well, it would have to fall in suit with whatever the bylaw would be. So, you just mentioned that there was something fell through the cracks with one of these businesses. Uh I don't know the specifics. It was just described to me as like one of the permitting processes that the town for one of these types of businesses or for the ice cream truck which is a totally different sort of animal. Yeah, I don't have all the details to

where did you get these businesses? How did you handpick these businesses as opposed to any business in town? Are these more likely to be um criminal in nature? Do you find a lot of crime in these types of businesses? These businesses right here were identified in another uh community's policy and when I looked at them I thought they to be relevant to our community even though we don't have any taxi drivers but as population grows is there a chance that we could have a taxi business in town? Absolutely. And whatever businesses that are identified it's at the you know direction of the community. Maybe you only want half of these. Maybe you only want to have one of them. That's up that's up to the town in regarding with the bylaw. But all these uh types of permits and dealerships could be potentially in our community like pawn dealership right now. Do we have a pawn dealership in town?

I don't think so. Is it possible somebody could move into town and create have a pawn dealership license? It makes sense. Like so if someone like the Croy check comes back and they've been arrested for stealing selling you know counterfeit goods a pond dealer or if someone's a working with children and there's some kind of uh you know child abuse on their record like I I get the the ethos here but um I think my concern is hawk hawking and paddling doortodoor sales. If your intent is to commit a crime you're not pulling a permit and getting fingerprinting. You're just going door to door with taxi drivers right? like we're saying taxi drivers. So if I'm not going to use the name cuz I'm concern myself in trouble for using a business's name, but

there's a lot of online tools of people use right apps to get picked up doortodoor now. So how do we include those drivers where would it be any different than a business that physically places itself in Freetown?

Yeah, I think I think it's an anti-b businessiness clause and it concerns me. It concerns me for a lot of reasons because it just opens up a lot of um subjectiveness if you do a background check and then the board is presented with that information. So somebody has an arrest on their record but not hasn't been convicted. Depending on the board will depend on whether they get their license or not because it'll be subjective to this board on how they how they handle that information. I also I mean and what if somebody was arrested and convicted and served their time and was rehabilitated 20 years ago. They got something done when they were 18 and now they're 35 and they want to open a business in the town of Freetown, but you've got to be fingerprinted and cory checked. I just I can I'm concerned about where this begins and ends. You bring in taxi drivers but not Uber or Lift drivers. You bring in used uh secondhand dealers but not brand new dealers. I mean, it's random to in my opinion of where these businesses came from. It's it's, you know, I I'm concerned. I'm concerned about violating people's constitutional rights and not and then steer steering businesses away from Freetown, but that's just my personal opinion. So, I think there's a lot of questions to be answered about how we get how we do that. But I mean, I just

I just think I businesses like I've never been fingerprinted to run a business. Yeah. You'd have to have a very I think a pretty clear policy. Right. Like Yeah, because you're right. It get it can get murky waters, right? If someone got a DUI, you know, 10 years ago, do like would we prevent them from being able to drive now drive an ice cream truck? Maybe there's an argument for that, but at the same time, it's like, you know, people make mistakes like uh and that's a felony, right? I mean, so I think one one of the the the key issues here is verification of the individual, the applicant. That's and match that that's that's a that's different and that's important, I think. Right. So, it's matching the fingerprints to the person with the light like you know, if they're in the database

because I think the current system right now is you you have an applicant that's on paper. Yeah. I'm not really sure how the town handles it from there. Do they provide a driver's license and a photo ID confirming their identity to the applicant? And then on top of that, the second, you know, part of the identification process for the police department is the fingerprinting. The fingerprints is a biometric form of identification along with their information and their driver's license and their photo and all that other stuff.

So, and at the end of the day, this is more advisory. I mean, you you talk about an OUI 20 years ago and there's no issues between 20 years ago and the current applicant date of the application. I'm pretty sure the board is going to use reason and not deny the person the permit because of a 20-year-old

um OUI. So, but it's more ad advisory and it gives the board discretion and it just it'll avoid those issues slipping through the cracks on things that you don't see right now. Like right now, you don't see anything out of state. You're only looking at Massachusetts. Is it possible someone moves from Rhode Island into an our community and wants to be an ice cream vendor and has some serious

violent convictions? But the ice cream vendor is a state state law that you have to comply with. So I can understand that one because it there's something else that dictates that has to be done. It's the other businesses that get randomly added that concern me because because I want to know why you picked those businesses because everybody in town that has a mobile food vendor license upon renewal is now going to have to be fingerprinted and background checked. I I I it just concerns me.

Well, I'm not really sure. Maybe you can give me an idea on some of these permits. Are there expiration dates on them or do they once they get them they're in place? The dealer of secondhand articles that would be Excel, right? That's that's one they every single year. And is that the only one we have? No. All of the liquor licenses, all of the um those are two liquor license is not on here. They're all Yeah. Yeah. You know the the hawkers and peddler the hawkers hawkers and peddlers, right? That that's like for the 4th of July, right? the 4th of July. Oh, and those are those already done yearly, right? Do every year.

And I I can understand those, like I said, but I I can understand the hawkers and peddlers and the door to door sales. My concern is that the people that are really interested in committing crimes and are coming to pull a permit and get fingerprinted. Well, I think this is this is a a template. It's up for whatever the town decides to do. And these permits, you can exclude three of them. You can exclude you can only have if you want to put one of them on there the ice cream vendor that would assist me in my process because right now if this if I don't have anything in place I can't submit the fingerprints

right that's the one that the state laws dictate that you have you have to do so that one I understand why it's on here and I understand the intent behind it. My concern is when you leave things up to subjectivity, then the waters get murky for me because like I said, depending on the board that's making the decision, you could be putting people out of business and that concerns me. Um, for things that might not rise to a level that this board would think is is um actionable, but a future board might. And it's just it's just subjective, right? Like this board might say, "Oh, a 10-year-old DUI is fine." The next board might say, "No, nuh-uh. Not doing it. My son was killed by a drunk driver and any DUI, you're no good. You're not getting a license." It concerns me, that's all.

That's fair. Mr.

Chief, in your report, you state that the suitability will be determined. I assume like the federal government, like for instance, personal experience, I have my background done every 5 years, right? For for my clearance. So every five years they come and talk to me, my neighbors, my friends, colleagues, everything, right? It's uncomfortable, but we get through it and it's good for another five years, right? Some people are 10 years, which is great. But the information pulled, they use what's called the Douglas factors, right? Which is determines suitability based on an aggregation of data, right? So instead of the one issue that they had 20 years ago where they had multiple issues that then gives you a different conclusion at the end of the the background. Well, all that information is pretty sensitive. Do we have the current capacity right to store the information as needed in our servers or whatnot or I know it's a very low light load based on just what we have here today as far as the information as far as fingerprints uh like I know it's all digitally stored. I just want to make sure that let's say this goes forward now we don't have to come back next time meeting and say hey I got to increase my I got to go from four terabytes to 10 terabytes for potential backgrounds. So regarding the Corey check, that's all database and cloud driven with. So there's no really expense or requirement for our data with here within the police department other than our own CAD system. I guess that does create data into our CAD system, but we're maintaining that now. We're dealing that with that type of information on a daily basis,

right? So I don't think there's really a concern for the data that we're dealing with. Um but regarding suitability, yes, it's there's time and energy when we, you know, potentially could be doing these uh fingerprinting and background checks. Um, if I had to guess, you know, give you a time frame, how much that takes, maybe 20, 30 minutes of you physically doing the fingerprint checks and then checking the online data with through Corey per individual, per permit. Um, but I see that as well worth it if it provides better safety to the community, right? So, that's the overall goal here to make sure that, you know, we're not creating more of an issue out in the community in the permit.

Now, how do you foresee the fingerprinting, right? I'm assuming they come in. I'm assuming use like a guardian type system, right, that we have and and use for digital fingerprints, right? Which is pretty standard, but how far online like the Cy process is the the beginning? Is there going to be or potentially be an online portion first for them to fill out once they get through that? Almost like the firearm licensing permits, right? So once um you know what I envision is when someone applies for the town uh for a certain type of permit that's in one of the categories that's identified in the bylaw, they'll be directed to the police department to um complete a form regarding the the Corey check. And in that form, they would be have a thorough understanding that they're consenting to the fingerprinting process and that um normally the communities are uh identifying a fee. The statute requires that $30 be directed to a state entity of an account and then the towns can allot another fee for the town's processing. Um, I've seen towns range from $100 to $150 per um process, but they would be required to fill out a form of consent. Uh, they have to pay the fee and then they go through that process of getting fingerprinted and then the background check. Um, and then a report would be submitted to the the authority of a recommendation. And again, it's it's a only a recommendation from the police department to the board and they are the deciding factor.

As a curveball to this to this, do you foresee this general law expanding for all employees for hiring process, hiring, maintenance, not maintenance, but um yearly checks on our employees, make sure they're doing well. This Corey um uh re uh reform has been in place since 2012 and here we are coming up on 2026 and there's there hasn't been any signs of change to that. So I I can't foresee the future, but here we are for third, you know, see 13 years later and it hasn't been changed.

And the current 2012 law, it states that as a reciprocal yearly background check for all public employees, is that what it states now as far as let's say we have police, fire, we have town employees, right? Um are they going to be are we proposing that they're also going to be corey checked every year fingerprinted every year? So regarding the police and communications we're required to do it once every five years. Okay. We have to because of Corey the other town employees. I don't know that's I don't know what what you guys do regarding uh background checks on your own employees.

Just it's just the initial hire. just the initial we're just working right now on some new um to implement some new background checks for anybody working with vulnerable populations but I don't believe those policies have been adopted yet which would be seniors and yeah like I'm thinking like people who drive around C like for the COA stuff like that we're working on those um to do a Corey and a story because we don't do that which is a a sex offender I just we I remember we just learned about that recently. I always assume that they're one and the same, but there there's

So, we're working on those policy changes for the vulnerable population. But yeah, you just get the um Corey. We're also working on the vehicle policy, which would be your driving record for anybody that drives a town vehicle. So, there's those changes that we are working on that if we have an issue with the things that I think would affect your ability to do your job, um, we'll be able to see those things, but not a full Core and background check after you're hired. Yeah. Okay.

I like this on surface. It's just I do think some of it, the reasons we've talked about tonight need some tightening up, but I like the idea of protecting our people, right? like it's it's a no-brainer when you talk about an ice cream truck where kids are running over to it sometimes without their parents, right? They hear it, they're running out there and

Yeah, it's Yeah, I think it's akin to like having a rotary, right? I remember the conversations when the the rotary on East Freetown, right, was was built. Everyone was up in arms and probably still people still are, right? But over time, they've gotten used to the rotary and come to love it, right? Because it it makes sense. Background checks are the sim similar thing. Once you go through it the first time, it feels raw, right? Because it's like you need what from me, right? It's a lot of information you're going to need to make a suitable determination on your on yourself, right? But after a while, like again, I go through it every few years and it's it's part of doing business, right? It goes pretty quick. A lot of the questions are the same over and over again unless something's happened, right? Um so I don't know. Yeah, it's like like you said uh select and um Zerger is like on the surface it I like it then we have to make sure we iron it out.

Well the only other mechanism I didn't mention part of it is if you know if there's a report and a reflection regarding uh suitability there's also a process for the individual to appeal or question what they think you know the report says. So that's But I mean I'm not I mean the police department deals with it on a regular basis when we deal license to carry and and FID cards and I everybody here understands the safety level in regards to that. So I'm dealing with suitability on a regular basis. Mhm.

Um people have LTC's and uh an issue comes up and I have to make a decision regarding suitability and giving them a suspension until you know they can prove to be fit or whatnot. So anyways, but that's obviously a lot different than some of these other permitting. It's not at the same safety level as license to carry, but there is a process for review and rebuttal of the report. Okay, makes sense. Yeah. All right. Thank you. Hopefully that was helpful. That was very helpful. Thank you. I appreciate it. It's it's an interesting topic. So,

well, whatever the decision the board just please let me know because I have to make adjustments within the department regarding Corey. I have to draft some type of um civil fingerprinting policy that reflects the agency. And if the town doesn't want to go in that direction of, you know, what I'm proposing here, that's fine. Then I'm just going to have to deal with a policy that deals with um license to carry uh employees here for the town and ice cream vendors. Okay. And and we Yeah, we I don't think we have anything in the agenda to vote on this anyways tonight, right? To have to go to town meeting. So, it's really it's going to come when we put the the agenda together for town meeting, right? The warrants. Does that make sense? Whatever you Yeah. Just Yeah.

I mean, I have a draft um policy for the town. Uh Colton was able to help us out with that. He also drafted up the uh possible article for the uh for the meeting. So, he was very helpful on that. That's great. But uh I guess you guys need to really think about it and and decide as a board where you want to go. Absolutely. Yeah. All right. Appreciate it, Chief. Yeah. Thank you, Chief. All right. So, moving on to agenda item five. This is for ambulance abatements and write-offs. So for what period is this? Is this going to be se September? Correct.

Wow. Can't talk. For September 2025, the total in abatements write offs is 141,62483. It's a lot. Um we collected 41,000 or about 42,000. Mhm. Um, so with that, I'll entertain a motion to approve July 2025 or sorry, September 2025 abatements. Motion made. Second. All in favor? I. I. Selectman Lope. Yes. Selectman Zer. Yes. Selectman Matthews.

Yes. All right. Agenda item six. This is discussion of vote whether to approve the following request from the community uh program director. Uh so these are for dates for different events. So first one be the holiday concert at the VFW on 125 2025. Then we have Paint and Sip at VFW Hall on 16 2026. And then we have a comedy night at the V VFW Hall on 26 2026. And then the final one is a holiday home decoration contest in December 2025. Exact dates to be determined. I have no problem. This is awesome.

Is the stuff is the fun stuff to approve? questions or concerns? No. I've been to every one of those. They were fun. So, I look forward to seeing them again. All right. So, with that, I'll entertain a motion uh to approve the requested dates from the community program director in the agenda. A motion made. Second. All in favor? I. I. Sleekman Loop. Yes. Slman Zer. Yes. Suckman Matthews. Yes. Agenda item seven, discussion of vote, whether approved, providing a $50 gift card for um winner of the holiday home decoration contest request from the program community program director on this. I think it has to come out of donations. It can't come out of tax levy. Yeah.

So, she just I don't know. I I meant to check to see if she has a a donation account, which I I think she does have, but it cannot come out of tax levy. Okay. I'll donate the 50 bucks for Yeah. Oh, me too. Same here. Why don't we match? We'll make it. Yeah, I'll match you. I'll match you with that because I look at it like this. I do decorations in one reel of lights is like 50 bucks, right? So, if we're trying to encourage people to go out and decorate their homes, let's let's up the ante a little bit. You know, I think last year what, six, seven houses got selected for it. So, you already went for 50. Absolutely. Let's do it.

Let's do it. So, I'll entertain a motion to um approve providing a $150 gift card to the winning winner winners of the holiday home decoration contest request from the uh community program director and those donations will come from the the board. Okay, great. And just hit us just remind us that we owe you that. Yes. We'll have to do uh so we'll have to do another motion at some point to accept those donations from ourselves. Okay. So, do I have uh motion made? Second. All in favor? I I Suckman Lopes. Yes. Suckman Zer. Yes. Suckman Matthews. Yes. Your call was

all right. Uh agenda item eight, discussion of vote whether to accept $300 donation from the Plymouth part uh from Plymouth Party in support of the summer concert series. Oh, that's great. Plymouth Party. What is that? I think they were the ice cream vendor from that they headed the concert series. Awesome. Well, we appreciate it. Plymouth Party. Thank you very much. And uh so without entertain a motion to accept the $300 donation from Plymouth Party in support of the summer concert series. Motion made. Second. All in favor? I. Sleman Lo. Yes. Sleman Zagar. Yes. Suckman Matthews. Yes. Maybe we could send him a nice letter or something. Sure. Great. Thank you.

All right. Now I'm going to kick it over to select Zerger for the board and parks commission.

Thank you sir. Uh agenda item number nine discussion on fencing and cameras at Long Pond Football Field. Um so recently, you know, they uh Long Pond, they there's been a lot of upgrades um and and we've we fielded in some concerns. So we decided that we should, you know, kind of talk about it. um two different things that have come up uh to us is one the fencing around the field um and then also some cameras that were put up. U the first part the fencing um I think the fencing was put up for the right reason. My only caveat is that I don't believe that it should be locked off. Um I do think however that if chemicals have been applied um that it's okay to lock it but it would also then need to be they I don't know the mechanism whether or not we notify the town have them notify the town or we we think that um just having signage up for how long it's going to be closed is is sufficient. But um for obvious reasons at that point I'm okay with um the field being locked off for a safety concern. Uh the cameras uh the real concerns that were brought to our attention based on the cameras was uh two was that they were worried about uh cameras pointing at homes. U we've been reassured that the cameras are not pointing anyone's homes. There's there's no issue with privacy there. And then as well as the they were worried about the structurability the structure of screwing into a telephone pole that doesn't belong to them. Um my real concern is that um it really has nothing to do with us. Uh we don't own those polls, right? Um Verizon more than likely owns those polls. So they would really have to take

it up with Verizon in my opinion. But um this is a discussion for a reason. So, um, you know, just just my two cents on, um, kind of a little bit of background and why this is on the agenda. Yeah, it's it's a tough situation, right? It's public land, right? But then we have it for the children to use, right? They have a pretty good program, actually, not pretty good, a great program for football and cheerleading, right? Can't forget the cheerleaders. They're great.

But also, you have to also balance that with the private with the respect of the of the public land, right? So, how it got here over the years, um, it's, you know, animals running on the field, pets, all right, not wild animals. You can't control wild animals, whether they fly in from Canada or migrate up from Florida. Two different things, right? The human pet humans, well, humans, pet waste is the concern. And over the years, we've had they've had anything from dogs running out of the onto the field, whether they're spectators or whether they're uh from the neighbors. Can't determine that, right? But jumping on players, chasing them around, and not to mention never a good day when a football player gets back up and they're covered in feces.

Yeah. Right. And I and I've witnessed both sides of that over the years and a lot a lot more recently. So I can see how football, right, and chair want to protect their assets, right? Now they put what three buildings there now from a concession stand to the the announcement tower and everything else and then upgraded their fencing so they can do grass and things like that. And to answer your question from earlier or your comment was regarding the notification. So they notify the town and they also they put signs. So they do both. Okay. Right. And they also post it on on social media and everything else. So, it should that should suffice, but I'm sure there's a better way of doing it as we think about it.

As far as the locking it, yeah, it's a tough one, right? Uh it's like how different is it in your opinion from a bull ramp or a the the pond, right? We lock it off season. So is there is there a middle of the road common sense approach to give them their autonomy because they do have a lease for five for another five years right they've had one for years and before that they had one for years u because you have to look at it you look at baseball and soccer or sorry softball at KR and little Fenway they don't have any locks on their fields

right so there's a balance there I just I need to we need to find that balance I can see both sides I can see the children want to plant a clean field and and grow and I can see I can see residents wanting to use public land. Mhm. I I I get both. So, how do we solve it? So, there is do we go down the road and say, "Hey, during football season, they can do as needed for three for three months because it's only three months, August, September, a October." Really?

I just don't know how you would police that as well as that. Is that really going to make a difference as far as the dogs and the the other animals getting on there and someone I I mean I I still at the end of the day think that residents who pay taxes pay for the property, you know, have the land to use. And although we have an agreement with football, it doesn't give them exclusivity to to the property. It doesn't make it private property. It's still public land. So, um, I would argue the same thing with baseball and and obviously I'm very pro sports, you know, and and the kids and want I mean, at the end of the day, what it comes down to is a respect thing that people need to clean up after themselves and their pets and and really then we wouldn't have to have this conversation.

Well, yeah. You know, um, yeah. Well, I agree. I 100% cuz what's happened in the past just few months alone, the wells been damaged once again, brand new fencing, uprooted and and bent and everything else. So all those had to be replaced. Not to mention the time, energy to get it all fixed and track it all down and go through the process of it all. It's they're just trying to play football and in cheerleading. But again, I understand the concerns of the residents. It's got to be but but you you kind of said it before that you don't lock

any of the other fields, right? no matter when it is, even if there's a big tournament going on over at Little Fenway ahead of it, you're not locking the field off. Um, so it's kind of tough to say that they should do that over there, but not over here. Um, so I mean, I just I'm just trying to think of what's fair. And like I said, at the end of the day, it's just it's a respect issue. And I know that we can't police that, but yeah, people need to respect the property they're going on. you want to let your dog run. I mean, technically you're not supposed to, but if they do, you would hope that they would at least clean up after it,

right? And and I think they have I know baseball and KR or little fairway with KR have signs. I believe football does as well that the towns either provided or provided the language working with the uh the acco, right? I know I remember reaching out to Lisa and asking her for language. Um it, you know, no dogs are allowed on the fields. It's we don't have dog parks and I know people don't love that. Everyone wants a dog park and I I can as a dog owner, a former dog owner, I get it, but we don't. As of right now, we don't. So, we have to follow the laws what we do have. So, how do we It's a tough one. It It really is. Yeah. Is there a gate on the fence now?

There is. There's a gate on the So, there's a gate as you walk in where the concession stand is right next to our next to the light we just put up for safety reasons. And there's one in the back gate near Long Pond. All right. So there's there's gates, there's there's latches that they they lock them in. People It's only a 4ft gate of fence all the way around. If you want to get in, you can. Yeah. The dogs can't. Um just the dogs can't get in.

Just can't. I don't I mean, I think the gates can be closed but not locked. I mean, if somebody wants to walk in there, they can. And they have if they're there with their dog, they'll clean up after their dog. It might be just the dogs that are running through the neighborhood that are running all over the field and pooping and the the owners are not with them. So, if the gates are shut, I think maybe at least maybe it will keep the dogs off the fields. Like I said, I think I mean most owners of dogs generally clean up after their dogs, right? Um you just threatened that we're going to do DNA testing on the dog poop.

Wouldn't be the first time that's come up. But and so, you know, football does agree that people should be able to use it. The the the biggest thing is it's it's the dog feces and like having dogs run up on players, right? They're governed by certain rules through the state and through the the sports league that they're in, OC YFL, right? So, they have their own rules and regulations regarding no pets and everything else. And so, when it happens and coaches, opposing players, referees, officials see it, they they probably come down the league pretty hard, right? So to keep their certification and m and maint maintenance for that league, you know, I'm all for letting the dog run around where it's where it can, right? Get get some exercise, but there's also a beach right down the road. That's pretty easily accessible.

Oh, absolutely. But then we, you know, they don't they shouldn't be down there doing the same thing, right? Like, you know, cuz then the resident who's going to go lay down on the beach is now going to deal with it as well. So there's no Right. Once again, I'm going to circle back to Yeah. People just need to respect and respect the property and clean up after their pet. I don't have a problem with the fencing. And I I think Debbie brought up a great point that if you know someone that lives up the road, their dog comes running down and the gates closed now, they can't get on to the field and go to the bathroom, you would hope that at least someone would that would mean they that person would be in there with their dog and see what their dog has done and you would hope that they clean up after it. I also don't think that there's any reason a, you know, 12-year-old kid should be worried about stepping in it, rolling in it. I I I agree. It's gross on every level. And

I don't blame football for trying to take the actions they trying to think of what makes the most sense and us doing what's right for the town as a whole. Yeah. And I think what it has to the problem as well is it's like one, it's a secluded area, right? Doesn't it gets used but not as much use as it can potentially have, right? I know we discussed park improvements with Long Pond, everything else. I think once the lights go on to the street, it'll change some of that look and feel, right? Because it's so dark there, it's so easy to go do whatever you want, right? Um, and that's why lights are not just a safety thing, but it'll be aesthetically pleasing. And maybe it does give you opportunity to be able to walk your dog on the side of the road or something like that because now you can see where you're going, right?

So, yeah. Yeah. All right. Well, I mean, we don't have anything to vote on, but I guess it would just be my recommendation that they don't lock the gates unless they, you know, and I mean, you guys say how you feel, but it's that's just my my personal feeling on it. Yeah. And as far as the cameras, I just want to clarify one thing as far as the cameras. um when there are cameras on on public property, right? The expectation of privacy in public property is zero. Yeah.

Right. So, let's say it it doesn't happen, right? The cameras are not pointing anything other than the field concession stand, the towers, the building structures that are there. However, if they were, unfortunately, by law, very limited things we can do, take action on because their privacy because you don't have privacy in public. It's like us. It's like us taking right. It's like us going out in public and talking to somebody and someone's taking our photo. We don't have any rights to say don't take my photo. No. And that's why I was saying it's not pointing at anyone's house anyone's private property. The fact that you have cameras that are there that are wherever that's that's completely okay. So correct.

That's I I I 100% agree. So we're on camera a lot more than we like to admit, you know, throughout the course of every every given day. So

So yeah. So um All right. So I think that's that was good good discussion there. Uh and agenda item number 10 discussion on conducting a feasibility study on town parks and open spaces. Uh so recently last town meeting uh you know we we received some funding from the town um and really uh to make some improvements to these places. You know, one of the things uh select Wolves just brought up, right? We talked about lighting and stuff and we have another source of hopefully getting the lighting there, but um you know, there's a lot of things that need to happen. And really the the the first thing is obviously like everything else, it's really doing a feasibility study to discuss um what the actionable steps are to do at these locations. And when I say these locations, I really mean Long Pond and Haway Park. Um, in in our packets, you'll see that we've received some stuff with some feasibility stuff in. So, it's, you know, I guess this is more so that we can kind of see this is not a a cheap thing to do. The feasibility studies are pretty expensive. Um, so this one was really pointed at doing both of them at the same time. And and although I appreciate that, I think it makes more sense to do one at a time. I think it really makes sense for us to take our money, put it towards one area, start with it, and then that way we can start making actionable steps. I don't what what I'm scared of is us doing a feasibility study and then having it sit around for 10 years. We didn't do anything with it. We did very little with it. it's talked about, it's referenced, but nothing's ever done with it. And then a board down the road decides, "Yeah, we need to do something." And then they have to go out

and get this thing updated. And we know that because we've done it, right? And and so it's I'm speaking on experience. Um but my personal opinion I'm going to give um is I think that Long Pond at this point would make the most sense. Um, yeah.

And and I would encapsulate not only the fields but the pond. I think that there's a lot of room for improvement um on that side of town for on on that park that can happen and we could help a lot of different people over there between football, between you know other sports between the beach and I just think that we can do a lot of different things over there where it really makes sense in my eyes to start there. Yeah, I agree. Um

yeah there's some things that the town can do right based on if you look at the 2019 2020 uh open space committee right we did a survey with SERD right we even did presentations and everything else so the study exists right well a baseline study through Serpent and everything else you know I was there this weekend during homecoming and my observation is this right I can see how the neighbors people live in that area are frustrated with football I can see that not not football themselves but let's say I'm trying to take my boat out and I noticed this and I was behind somebody leaving the properties with the boat and trailer and they couldn't get through the street because the cars were parked on the side of the road,

right? And they just couldn't get out. We had to call the police. The police had to move people. It turned into an ordeal and the guys just probably want to go fishing, right? Last day of the season. I'm all for it. I'm all for going and using your public road to get in and out of your property. It's not fair to them. So, there are things like lighting for one, expanding the parking lot where it is now. We have hundreds of feet back. Let's let's get that going. we have milling sitting in the playground and in the playground Chuck's playground uh the in the highway garden right so there are things we can do go back 100 feet add another 50 100 rows of parking and they wouldn't change the aesthetics at all right to make that the neighbors less not not say they're angry less frustrated with the situation during those times so there's things we can do yeah uh gosh that's the only park we have in town that doesn't have a swing set

right there there's been very little things done to that area even putting a bathroom there would be beneficial icial to both football as well as the residents going to use the uh the facilities. When I was there this weekend, I wanted to go use the beach. Somebody wanted to go fishing this weekend. I watched them. I'm in my chair rolling down and I look at the little kid had his fishing pole. He's like, "Where do I park?" Where parents like, "Where do I park?" It was full. Great for football using it and it's what it's there for. But now the residents can't enjoy it. So there's again there are different things we can do to help lessen the strain on both ends. And it's some easy things to do. we can do it tomorrow and be done pretty quickly, right, without very with very little money because we have all the materials and the equipment.

And and I think that selfishly the three of us, well, four out of the five of us sitting up here live on the assa side of town, right? So, we have more stuff over there. I do think that this side of town lacks some of that stuff. To your point, we don't have a playground over here. So we can we can do things like adding a playground and it just makes sense to start there in my eyes really go out get some quotes get a feasibility study get it moving get yourself some framework

and and Hathway Parks already got some love recently right it has the you know it has the racks for the for the kayaks it has the pickle ball/baskball court it has the playground you know and it's like it's in good shape Yeah, I I go there. More benches. More benches everywhere. That's the electricity and the lighting. Yeah, which is We did get a grant from Repullette to help with electricity to bring down that down to the beach, which will change that whole area. But but you know, the feasibility study will ensure that we don't do this and then realize, oh, we shouldn't have done this here because now we want to do this.

Well, I agree. It needs a lot of love. It's it's one of the original fields for this town. It's been used for everything, right? Time to put some love back into it, right? And again, taking our needs and keep expanding, right? There's more people trying to use the area. Let's make it usable cuz right now it looks like if it doesn't get cut every few weeks, it's so much overbrush and it it looks abandoned. So, if it looks abandoned, of course, you're going to have all the the nonsense that goes with it. So yeah, I think we need some, you know, lighting and then some security stuff on there. 100% concur. So is there a vote we can take on this right now?

Uh, no. I don't have a vote on there. We're just I just needed some direction. I will bring stuff back to the board um to get I'll probably put out an RFP for a feasibility study for that park over there and get some prices and then bring them back. I think we have consensus. I think that'll make sense. Yeah. Well, one thing we can do is let's see if Chuck is able to go go out there and look at the uh the parking lot, maybe get with Mike, the assessor's office, make sure we know where the boundary lines are and expand that parking lot. Right. It's I believe there's 200 feet back there that they can use. Yeah, but we got to be I do it right way. Do it the right way.

Yeah. And there's wetlands down that drops off and it's probably wet down bottom. So, you have buffer zones. So I I mean I don't want I don't want to try and send him out there to try and hurry up and cut into stuff and Oh, absolutely. You know, we we could do it the right way, but I I think there's I think on the right side on along the road as you're right, it drops off. I think towards the back as soon as the beginning of it pretty solid and then then it's what property lines. So I don't want to try and rush into something that we could end up getting more damage down the road. So, the good news is their their last home game was this past weekend,

right? They had home come uh rally. It was it was great. So, there's time. So, now we have the offseason to kind of fix it before they start back up in the spring. Mhm. So, perfect. Good. All right. You good? Good. Yeah. Uh so, Debb, anything you want to talk about before we No, I think u you know, I've just come back, so I don't I'm not quite in the swing of things yet, but I will be. Um, don't forget October 19th is the open house at the fire station for to to show off the new addition. And I think it's they're going to have their equipment there and October 19th everybody can go and touch a truck, I guess. Touch a truck.

Did they install a fiber pole? I don't know. Climb up it. So, the addition is substantially complete. We'll call it that. So that's that's pretty it's really nice. So if you get a chance to go look at it, you should go. Yeah, for sure. Oh, they did a great job. Should we uh go there and cook them a meal? Three seleions, put on some aprons and take a fiveminute meal. See how we see how we do. You do not want I might burn the place down. Actually, they cook better than all of us. You should just go by there at lunchtime. All right, that's it. That's all I got for you guys. All right, great. Thank you. Let's sign. Shouldn't be that much today. Might be might be a world record.

Wow. England today. Look at us. We had we had backto-back meetings, right? That that always Yeah, we had a meeting last week. That always helps. But, you know, it's just a little bit of a quieter time, but it's going to ramp back up. It's going to be budget season before we know it. And town, we got to get ready for the ne the town meeting. So yeah, always a town meeting actually. And then you know you got the holidays mixed in there. We got to start. Yep. Holidays are coming fast. My wife has this uh yearly calendar. She lives up the entire year. How many days left for Christmas? We're like in like under 100 now. Yeah. It's crazy. So,

but then so we're this is probably the end of the law. We're going to get busy. All right. Well, we'll do what we got to do. Yeah. So we get paid the medium bucks. Yep. All right. All right. So with that, I'll enter a motion to adjurnn. Motion made. Second. All in favor? I. Yes. Yes. Matthew. Yes. All right. [Music]