Town Council - Regular Meeting

I'd like to call to order the town Wintertown Council meeting for January 20th, 2026. It's 6:30. Well, it's 6:45 right now. We are in the hobby hearing room. Call the meeting to order. Roll call, please. Councelor Costan here. Council Taser here. Council Mal here. Council Dimes present. Council Romano here. Councilor Rearen here. Vice President Spoke President Lati

here. Thank you. Seeing any qu we will stand ask everyone to stand for the pledge and I ask you to remain standing for moment to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. And please stay standing. Um the town lost uh Virginia Wilder this past week. Oh, too bad.

Virginia uh Jenna um spent a lot of time in this building. Uh gave a lot of service to this town in various capacities. She was a grant administrator. Started back in 77. Um she got cut with um budget cuts in the 80s but came back uh was the executive secretary for the select board for a number of years and became the chief administrative officer for the town uh pretty much up until the time we changed the form of government. Um Jenna then went on to be the first town administrator in the town of Toppsfield. Uh Jenna was a lifelong winter president. uh passed after a lengthy battle at all times. I wish her and her family many prayers and ask for a moment of silence.

Thank you. [clears throat and cough] Okay, we have minutes from the December 16th meeting which have been circulated for new counselors. If you have read the minutes and you understand the minutes, you are welcome to vote on these even though you were not present at the meeting. If you have not read the minutes and do not understand them, please excuse yourself from voting. Is there a motion to approve?

Motion to approve. Motion by councelor Dy, second by councelor Pataryi. Any further discussion? I'll ask for uh well those in favor say I. I opposed. None. Abstensions. None. Thank you. Passed. General information recommendation. I'd like to take a few minutes if we have the we have the January 6 too. Oh, we also have minutes from the January 6 which was the first meeting we had after the swimming in ceremony. Those have also been circulated. Is there a motion to approve by councelor

uh Romano? Second by councelor Dimes. Any discussion on those meeting minutes? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. I. Oppos? No. The eyes have it. Those minutes have been passed. [clears throat] Um we now go on to general information recommendation. We have a short video, a short clip. Um these are one of our town departments. This is happens to be the public works department and director Steve Keller. Um these spotlights are very interesting. It gives the town a different perspective like a a couple minute view of what goes on uh in certain department. So we would like to start that video.

[clears throat]

community. It's constantly improving. There's still a lot of things to do, but I'm proud of the things that we've been able to accomplish. We're a small department with a multitude of responsibilities. Everything from street maintenance, sidewalks, sewer manes, storm drains, keeping all of our municipal buildings clean and safe, cemetery operations. There's four cemeteries in town. In the summertime, Yo Beach and Dun Beach are maintained by the Department of Public Works. All of our parks, all of our green space, we cut over 52 acres of grass on a weekly basis. There's heavy rains. We have a situation of flooding. We're out pumping or blocking roads off. We're currently working to engineer storm drain improvements. [music] We pride ourselves on being effective and continuing to move ahead. We've done approximately 12 mi of water main replacement, which uh for a system that's got um 46 mi of pipe, that's quite an accomplishment. Yeah. Surfaced about 40 roads over the last 5 years. totally rebuilt all the parks in Woodro. I couldn't be more thankful for the staff that we have. Works a lot. Always glorious. We're often called out in the dead and night um below, you know, zero temperatures and uh and we show up and and we get it done. [music] [applause] DPW does an unbelievable job. Thank you um to Director Callum, but I'm sure he would revert most of the praise to his staff because they do a tremendous job. And um wasn't thrilled to get a text at 2:30 in the morning the other day to say that the parking ban is lifted, but I appreciate the text, but that's [laughter] that's what you have in this

winter. That's that's what you have during the winter. They're they're 247 and uh you know they're out there whether it be sanding or plowing or whatever and we do thank you tremendously for the work and like you said your staff really deserves the credit. So thank you. [sighs] Public hearings we have none. We will have our first round of public comments. Yes sir. Okay. Um, can I just grab a quick little sip of water?

Absolutely. Thank you uh for your patience. Just your name and precinct and 3 minutes is yours.

Okay. My name is uh Bill Demo. I'm in uh precinct uh five, I believe. Um, and uh I uh just wanted to uh say that uh I uh wrote a letter to the win transcript that got uh published last week uh reflecting my concerns about the makeup of the new council and it did to the dog that chases the car. Um if you haven't seen it, I'll leave a copy with the clerk and she can circulate it if necessary. So, uh, the question is what happens, uh, when the dog catches the car? Will the dog bite the tire or will it choose a more prudent outcome? That's the dilemma facing the new council. Although, I recognize that I have no idea what the executive session was about, but since it was a legal matter, it could well render a lot of this moot, but who knows? Uh, so that, as I said, that's the dilemma facing the new council. Will it continue to be anti3A or will join the vast majority of communities that have signed on avoiding likely very negative consequences for the town? As a relative newcomer, I have to say I love winter. I think it's unique and is to be treasured. But I didn't recognize the fears that were reflected by some of the candidates that stated so emphatically that we need to quote keep Winthrop Winthrop. I had no doubt that there was [snorts] no question that uh it's uh you know its identity was at risk. Um not to put a fine point on it but there's a larger political context in which to view these kinds of assertions and I'd just like to say something about that because the question is do they contribute or not to uh civic betterment.

Let me make a personal observation by saying being an early boomer and you can see, you know, I've been around for a while. I've lived a long life and seen a lot of history, a lot of which was incredibly traumatic as we all know. But never before have I been as alarmed as I am now by what's [snorts] happening politically in this country and what's at stake for our democracy. Too much of our politics has become public performance based on glib rhetoric that exploits fear and stokes anger and is ultimately a dead end if we don't change it. To quote Benjamin Franklin, who's my favorite uh founder, uh quote, only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become more corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters. I for one don't want more masters. He also said when asked uh what kind of a government are we he said we are a republic but he also said looking at the ages down the road if we can keep it I'd like to see our politics be become more openhearted and thoughtful and focused on how we can solve real problems together not by triggering emotions but by doing the honest and good faith work that's required and I hope that's how our new council sees its work ahead. Thank you very much.

Thank you. [applause] Yes.

Uh Karen Chavez, precinct 2. Um mine are just statements to the town manager, not meant to criticize, just questions. On 11525, I requested an evaluation of the health insurance and I'm just wondering has that progressed at all? Also, I asked about progress on a on a chief information officer and I want to know if there's any progress on that. My last thing is um because I was laid up for three weeks, I was able to uh look at last year's budget or what the budget we're in right now, FY26. And I wonder if we could have a review of the capital plan. Um I noticed in the capital plan that was presented, there was a lot of things that were funded and I just don't know what has been done [cough and clears throat] and what hasn't been done. So maybe down the line you could just, you know, review the capital plan and tell us what has been done and what hasn't been done. And if it's not going to be done, could that money be directed in another direction?

Thank you, [cough and clears throat]

Tom Darian. Briefing three and your beloved tree warden. I have I have two things. One's good and one's bad. First, the bad one uh is all the ash trees in town are infected with the emerald ashbor bora and they're if they're not dead already, they will be. The second is a good thing. We uh a group of citizens have collected some money. Uh I think the figure is 1,200 uh for trees for spring planting. Uh so I'm grateful for that and I want to urge others uh uh to make a similar contribution uh so we can um [clears throat] well Winthre that has had big trees for a long time uh and [snorts] some of them are uh diminishing uh so I want to work with everyone to make Winthre green again.

Thank you.

Thank you. Aaron Barcel 365. Um I again want to invite any of the um members of the council um and the general public to join us on Saturdays on the bridge 10 to 12 um in our standout. Um we're standing out for many different reasons. Um it doesn't need to be something specific. Um there's people that stand out just for overall due justice, which is very important, right? Um, that also being said, what is the and I I'm not asking a question to be answered. I'm asking a question to just put it out there. What is the town council doing? What is the town manager doing? What is the police department doing? What is the fire department doing? What is the school committee doing to help to ensure felt safety for all residents in this town? Um, I don't know if anyone talks to people, but I will tell you that there is a lot of people that do not feel safe no matter status. There are people that were born here that grew up born in win grew up in winter, don't feel safe. There are [clears throat] people that may or may not be documented. I don't ask questions. There's residents in our community that do not feel safe and do not feel that they can trust our government in town to protect them. So, just want to leave that out there. Thank you.

Thank you. One of two

Lisa Plotnik, you on mute, Lisa? Hello everybody. Um this is Lisa Plot, precinct 6, uh daily bus rider as many of you know. Um again this isn't a question. Um I mean yeah this isn't a question. I know that you can't answer questions now. Um well, I remember a couple of months ago, um town manager and assistant town manager started conversations with the MBTA about the cuts in our bus service, both frequency and the loss of the loop um and um bus shelters for for one thing. Um just would um like at some point an update on how that's going. One of the reasons that I ask is because the the tit they changed our schedule uh to um to add a stop for the ferry when the December schedules came out. There have been no changes back. Um and as we all know the ferry is not operating um because it's seasonal. So, uh just a comment there that um you know whenever we have an update that would uh be great.

Thank you. Thank you.

All right. Correspondence Denise I did not receive anything.

All right. school department. School department did meet last Monday. Um they were discussing math and reading benchmark testing has been done uh usually done the second week in January and that is for K uh grades K through five to get benchmarks on the students. Also access testing is underway now which happens every January for all ML students also given benchmarks. Um fiscal 26 budget going through December is is right on course. So that's good news. Uh fiscal 27 budget process is underway now and each uh school principal is involved with that as well as the superintendent and they are looking over the budget with a fine tooth comb to see [clears throat] making sure everything should be good for next year. And again thank you tremendous thanks goes to the citizens of the town override last year which has helped this year and will continue to help next year. also discussions ongoing on negotiation between the WTA and the W school committee. Um no progress as of yet. No determinations have been done as of yet. Um there are multiple union cohorts that have to come to [snorts] agreements with the with the school department. That has not happened. But again, these negotiations are public. They are open to the public. They're usually at the high school library. So I encourage you to take a look at the calendar. So, thank you for that. Um, let's see. Okay, let's go. Uh, committee reports. Um, firehouse building committee. Um, there was a meeting last week as well. Uh, you could see the progress. We guess we don't have to talk about it. It is in the town manager report a little bit, which we'll go over a little later. But, um, I guess this report would be more

visual. All you have to do is drive by the middle school and you could see uh the demolition is well underway. Um you know I I drove by tonight on the way here and you can see the front stairs to what most of us say is the middle school which some of us maybe more senior [snorts] would say is the high school or the old high school. But to look and just see the stairs are going nowhere right now. It's just a a you know set of uh concrete stairs leading to nowhere. But uh most of the middle school main building seems to be coming down quite easily and and thank uh the demolition company for the job they're doing. They seem to be keeping the dust down. They seem to be keeping uh pest control, you know, uh manageable. Um, and as much as they're taken down, there will be probably two weeks after you see anything down that it's going to take for them to, uh, basically truck everything off site. So, uh, but you can see the progress going there. Everything else is going well. So, thank them for their efforts and thank Dan Potter and Q3 [clears throat] for, uh, managing a really good project so far. Update on policymaking committees. The following cases have been continued until January 22nd, 2026 board of appeals meeting. 158 Highland A, 44 Bowden Street, 990 Shirley Street, and 210 Winthur Street. The planning board, 210 Winth Street. There was an approval of an ANR plan requested from attorney Delahanty. The applicant does not need relief from the ZBA for a parking variance due to the oversized lot size and the parcel is adjacent to the residential district. The only variance the applicant requesting was for

building height specifically an additional half story. The applicant is seeking a sign off uh to the ANR from the planning board. So, uh, that has not come in yet, a decision. Um, town manager report has been circulated. Um, anyone has it. I'll give Tony the opportunity to just go over it briefly and then ask a couple questions if we have.

Yep. Just a little more on the fire station. Now, we do have seismic monitors in place. I know we've had a couple of emails to the council and myself with regard to some concerns of the vibration. We've contacted them, talked to them, explained that nothing's set off the seismic monitors beyond anything. you know, we even shaking drywall. So, I mean, it's well within standard. So, I mean, you're going to feel a little bit no more than you would, you know, unfortunately planes go overhead and things like that, but we have talked to them and everything's sort of in in line right now. Um, I did submit a form, send a letter around to the council members that I sent in to the executive office of administration finance requesting that the two budget earer marks for the fire station be funded. Um, I'll put that up on the website as well uh tomorrow, but I wanted to let everybody know we did submit it. Um, so we'll wait to hear. Um it's basically an earmark for $2 million [laughter] under the affordable homes act for um uh infrastructure improvements and demolition. And then uh there was also a mass leads earmark for a million dollars um that was for um infrastructure improvements as well. So both could be used towards the uh fire station. So we'll hope to get um some action on that. Certainly I have forwarded it to Senator Edwards and uh Representative Turo to ask them for their support as well. So I'll see what happens there. And then just we continue to work on the budget. We'll get into the budgets uh department head budgets in and we'll start compiling everything and seeing how much we're money we need and uh we'll start balancing the budget. So I'll certainly ask any questions from the council.

Council D. Um I just had a quick question probably [clears throat] um can answer this for me about um approximate cubic yards of material that's being hauled out of Fisherman's Ben. Yeah, their their initial estimate was between 3 and 500 yards. Okay. Three and 500. Okay. So, and then we're hauling that off. We're going to haul it back to our yard and then we'll be trucking it out to a landfill. Okay. All right. Thank you.

Council, too. We try to keep comments on town managers report specific to the town manager report. Um, vice president manager, Mr. Town Manager, could we get when you you I know you mentioned a couple of grants that you you're looking at. Do you think we could get a running uh doc document so that we know here's what we applied for, here's what happened to it? Yep. Our assistant town manager has that. I can certainly get that out to the council. And also, just to be clear, what we asked for the state isn't a grant. It's an earmark. So, this money that was aotted that would be very helpful. Yep. If we had it. Absolutely. We have that because so we know what the state

and I'll list the ones that we can apply for as well. I'll put those on there. Yes. or the state with what they're doing to us. You got it. Okay, that would be helpful. And that's it. Councelor Tesser, thank you, Council President. [laughter and clears throat] Oh, I got a couple things actually. Thank you very much, uh, manager Marino for and your office for submitting that letter for the request for the $2 million air mark and the $1 million mark. Please keep uh keep that $10 million air mark in your in your line of sights because that I think I mean I don't know where we stand right now with the budget. It's a little too early to tell on on the firehouse, but um if we can reduce the cost that we have to borrow y

it's a it's a big win for the taxpayers of the town. Um thank you Director K for the hard work of your your department did this this whole snowstorms. Great job keeping up with that. Um, I did hear from a bunch of people that they got an automated call about the snow parking van, but we also had a complaint about someone who got a ticket cuz they didn't receive a call. They didn't know the parking van was um, how do you sign up for that list? Cuz I didn't get a call, but there's like there was a I I talked to at least a dozen people who was like, "Oh, that was a great call. We got thanks for the heads up."

There's several things I actually want to comment on that as well. We're in the process of um updating our reverse 911 system. So, we moved over and I think the deputy chief's we moved over about 20,000 names, but there are a bunch that maybe didn't get moved over. So, if you go [snorts] online and check, the link is right up in our news and announcements. You can go in there and sign back up for that service. So, as we do a parking ban, we can put out a reverse 911 and people will get alerts there. You also get it if you signed up on our website because a lot of emails went out to people letting them know about that. So, there's several ways you can get notified. In fact, the gentle um the gentleman that sent in the email, I responded to him and I double checked the list. He is on the email list. So, I don't know if it went to a spam or whatnot, but it is there. And the other concern we got was the fact that the new service wasn't putting town of Winthre, you know, so it came in and looked like it could have been a spam call. So, we want to make sure we address that and so coming from, you know, town of Winthre, you know, emergency communication system, whatever. So, people understand that it's coming from us. So, we're working on all that stuff. But anybody just go in and double check, maybe resign up, but the link is right up on our website, front and center under news and announcements.

And and just to clarify, that's not going to get us to 2:30 a.m. text that the parking ban is off, right? No. Just going to put the parking ban on and that's it. Yeah. No, thank you. You can check the website to find out when it's been lifted. Yeah. Thank you very much. Can I just add one thing to that? Yes. So, so we also put the blue lights up there. you know that that's and we've add we actually added a location down at Del's Corner. Great. So those blue lights we put on about 4 hours before the actual band is going to go into effect. Y

uh and then the band itself is posted on WCAT. It's on the town web and this time it did go out in the reverse 911. Um also worth noting is by ordinance any time during the winter months that there's a forecast of snow a parking band is essentially in effect. They they you know the order I don't know the exact language but you're supposed to remove your vehicles from the street on any impending snowstorm whether it's called a parking ban or not. I always call one you know when needed but people should bear that in mind you know if you weather's coming in expect to have to move your car especially if it's forecasted for 3 in or more. Thank you. That's a great update. Thank you

cons. Yeah thank you Mr. President. Uh just a couple of thank yous. the crosswalk lights down at McGee's Corner. Uh already a couple of great calls. Uh they were automatically uh you know defaulting over to pedestrians. So everyone seems to be happy. People who I get calls from last year at this time uh have changed their view 180%. So thank you Mallerie and Tom Maner. And then secondly, the telephone pole at the bottom of Buchanan and River Rogue uh which was, you know, pretzled uh that's been supported and uh I guess going to be replaced shortly, but uh that's always been an eyesore, let alone a uh a risk for, you know, a power outage with a heavy snowstorm. So, thank you uh town manager for uh shoring that up. Appreciate it.

And on that, one of the things I'll just throw in is there's been a lot of concern [clears throat] over the years with other prior counselors on, you know, double polls. So they'll come in and put a pole in and then leave the old pole. Uh we are working on that. There was some emergency notification wire that had to be pulled down. I know our fire department DPW has been going around taking that wire down. So once that's down, then the National Grid will come in and start and Verizon will start to come in and address those polls. So we're going to see some traction on that I think in the upcoming, you know, once the weather breaks. Excellent. Thank you. You're welcome.

Thank you. [laughter] Old business update on precinct 6. We still have an opening for free and sticks. We'll still be taking uh letters of interest up until probably the first or second week in February. Uh right now we do have two letters of interest. Uh one is by uh Marty [clears throat] Finn who is actually here in the audience with us and the other one [snorts] is from Danny Floyd. Um, so I encourage people if they if they would like to put a letter in, we are still accepting letters of interest and uh we will hopefully be coming full circle and having a full uh nine member council by the uh middle of February. So, thank you for that. Um, new business. There was a request to put on the the agenda uh discussion on an NBTA 3A exemption case status and I will get the Florida council uh vice president. There there is a case in court based upon density that to exempt from 3A and um since we are very extremely dense community that makes a big difference to us. The question here is we I hope that the town will agree to sign on to the exemption. It's not that's it. It's just the exception. the exception nothing else about density. So I move the town council [clears throat] um ask that to join the town of Winthreal case seeking to exempt the town from the MBTA Communities Act.

Okay. So there's a motion and a second just for clarification here. Um we cannot discuss this motion in open session uh because it could potentially have a detrimental effect uh in the future. So, uh, the motion's been made by Vice President Swope. It's been seconded by Council Cost again. I will open discussion. Council Dimes. Um, I would like to use my council privilege to lay the current motion on the table. I have unanswered questions. I need additional information before I can vote confidently. Um, thank you.

Okay. Council D has um invoked a council privilege. Uh so this will be discussion will end and this will go on to next uh February 1st to take that off the table. It's there's been a motion made that council which takes exception

2026 town council subcommittees. Um I'll be asking at the first meeting in February for a consolidation of subcommittees. Um, in the past we've, um, you know, we've had up to eight subcommittees and eight subcommittees, three members on a committee, 24 members, uh, eight [laughter] members of the council participating, [clears throat] which would be three committees, and we've had some not we've had some attendance issues and we've had definitely had some meeting minute issues. Um so I'm going to be asking the council the next meeting to consolidate basically keeping the committees uh and having four commit four council subcommittees. One would be a committee on finance. One would be a committee on um pol rules and procedures rules and ordinance. A third would be a combined committee of public health, public safety and public works. [snorts] And a fourth would be a combined committee with capital assets, economic development, and committee on committees. Uh this would have four subcommittees. This would have 12 spots. So you'd have four counselors with a couple of committees and four counselors with one committee. Part of that also, which I said at our first meeting, is I'd like to create uh and I would not appoint this. I would ask volunteers to create a liaison from the council to any policymaking committee. So, board of health, board of appeals, uh, [clears throat] planning board, conservation. This way, um, it's taken some work off the plate of our town clerk who has to go around and try to get me some notes for updates of my policymaking committees. Uh, but it gives the counselors a chance to learn more about what's going on in the town, attend a meeting. They would not be voting members of the committee. They would not be uh making participation in the committee, but they're basically taking notes for themselves to then come

to the next council meeting. and then specifically make a report from [cough] the [clears throat] planning board meeting from a prior meeting. So, um that will free up council time on off weeks and stuff to to possibly be a liaison. So, those committees will be coming out. The committees um once the committees are set, I will, you know, just send out the appointments. [snorts] Uh once they are sent out, they will immediately be on the town website. Um, as far as appointments for other boards, I have a few appointments to make tonight. Um, I have a motion and and we've had uh applicants come in. Everybody seen um applications for all of these appointments are the few making tonight. Uh, one is a motion that the town council approves the appointment made by council president Latia of Landon Leaport to the conservation commission for a term ending June 29, June 30th, 2029. Is there a motion? Motion by councelor D, second by councelor Tess.

Yes. Um, any discussion on the motion? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. Oppos? No. The eyes have it.

Second. I have a motion that the town council approve the appointment made by town council president Lary of Wendy Mala Page to the Firehouse Reuse Committee. Motion by councelor Dime, second by councelor Romano. Any discussion on the motion? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. No. The eyes have it. Congratulations. And that committee um just so everybody aware I think that's three members of that committee. We're still looking for two more. Um and that is for both fire houses, the Shirley Street and the Pauline Street. Um President, I have to

one abstension on that. Seven. Yes. One abstension. And then the town council approved the appointment made by councelor Lati of Debbie Chavez to the board of registars for a term ending June 30th, 2029. Motion by councelor Dimes. Second. Second by councelor Terry. Any discussion on the motion? Seeing none, all those in favor discussion. Yes. Yeah. Vice President.

Yeah. I um although Debbie, both of our candidates I think are are very good and I'm glad that that people have applied. I do think on this one I'm hoping that whatever happens here that that everybody is ready to really work on voting to make sure that we feel confident that whatever however the voting takes place that it's fair and there are no problems in the election. Um I do think because it's it's Miss Bens has kind of experience legal experience on that. I do hope that if if since she wasn't appointed that I do hope that our council takes very cautious and and and overseas this election process since we've had so many questions about it nationally. I just want to make sure that it's done properly here and that we none no one in town has any questions about how it's been conducted. Did you have something?

Can we do a roll call? We we will. Um, okay. I I I would just like to say that I am have 100% confidence in the board of registars that we've had and the town clerk and the running of all the elections we've had. I think they've been impeccably run. I think the results come out in a very timely manner. Um, so I have the utmost confidence in the staff we have and I'm sure any new staff will continue that excellent tradition we have. Uh, roll call, please. Council call again. And I'm sorry, what is what is the uh what is the uh motion on the appointment of Demi Chavis to the voting regist and and we have another candidate looking to also get on.

Council President has made an appointment. You can vote on the appointment. No. Council Tassinary. Yes. Council Mal, yes. Councilor Dimes, yes. Council Romano, no. Councelor Wen, no. Vice President Spoke, no. President Latutiary, yes.

Okay. When I have another um applicant that I deem worth, I will bring it forward. as of now we will go with two um [clears throat] let's see climate commission summation we have had and it was there was comment at our last meeting uh from the last committee and there was a there was a um email sent from the climate commission to the council And um we have looked at that. We have gone over it with town manager. Um it's been sent to all the consulates on the website. I [clears throat] just want to thank the climate commission was active for 16 months. They had meetings consistently every month. Um went over a lot of stuff and gave us a lot of feedback and potentially I I'll read a little of the letter that was sent to us. Um the as we concluded our hearings this year, we realized that there is [snorts] we are out of options for external funding and grants despite our efforts. Meanwhile, vulnerable residents of Winth continue to suffer from the face of existential threat of losing their homes. We've also concluded that many fixes needed in Winth are on town property, not here in our uh homeowner land. Therefore, the town of Winth is responsible for these repairs, many of which we have known about for decades. To that end, we unanimously pass the following recommendation at our December 2025 hearing to the town council. uh their recommendation that the citizens advisory commission on climate recommended the town council approved spending $5 million on storm water drainage uh and so replacement construction on Morton Street as

[clears throat] depicted on page 18 of the win of climate action plan. We recommend uh only addressing the storm water systems at this time and not installing a burm or similar construction since replacing the storm water pipes uh installing a backflow valve to stop the high tides from coming up through the catch basin is urgently needed to protect over 70 vulnerable homes in the area in this area of winter. We have further determined that the um commission on climate is only as effective as our recommendations are able to be fulfilled by the town. Therefore, we need to suspend our operations until we have indication from the town council and town management on plans to execute on our recommendation from Morton Street, the most vulnerable hotspot identified in our climate action plan. Again, I thank the committee. accept their suspension of the committee and and we will get back to them when uh we uh requiring of services. Uh we are going to take their recommendation. Right now we're focusing on uh Tilestone, Girdlestone and FICO. We have made that promise and we're going to keep that promise. Uh there are things um you know including backflow valves that we are going to look at and I'm going to make uh specific requests especially in the uh capital plan for fiscal 27 to address those issues because there are definitely issues that we can address now. Uh we hope to continue to apply for whatever grants we can and hopefully in the in the future we'll be successful in that. We understand that there are issues down there and we take them seriously [clears throat] and we will address them. But right now we're focusing on what we had promised which is Tyson go. Uh we are going to try to put plans in place because of this and because of the work that we've done as a town uh to help with the backflow uh bells and other issues um that we will address in the capital plan. Um, again, anything after that in terms of money right now

would revolve to either um, you know, either potentially looking into a storm water fee that that we could adopt to create a fund for storm water issues or we could look at potentially, you know, uh, having funding through the water and so fund, which nobody I don't think is interested in raising their rates right now, but and also through a debt exclusion, but we We'll look at all that but right now we are again focusing on Tylen Pico. Uh and we are going to look at our capital plan for fiscal 27 to look at addressing some of the issues that we can address on Martin Street including the back doors. Uh so again thank you for all your work. It's very much appreciated. Um appointment climate commission dedication to Charlie Dominico. Um, this is a request from uh, veterans director Phil Ronin for Engleside Park Baseball Diamond. This was something that was done years ago and Mr. Deto is incredibly deserving of keeping his name on that and we will be doing a dedication for that um, in the spring when it's more appropriate to do a dedication for a baseball diamond. Uh, but that is a new dedication. Uh, and um, we thank again our veterans officer Phil Ronin is incredibly diligent on all these matters. um for our veterans and all the stuff he does day in day out. It's incredibly well appreciated.

Public comment. Celeste,

Celest, precinct one. Um [clears throat] so just to dovtail off of your recent conversation about the climate commission and uh our request. Um we remain concerned about the impacts on [snorts] Morton Street. We remain concerned about the lack of um funding set aside to address Morton Street and other areas in town. And I would be concerned for the town about repercussions from residents who have been waiting for decades to have their issues addressed in a way that's been substantial and removes them from harm. I have commented before both in the climate commission and I think in this venue. We are in a place in time in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts where this is going to be quantifiable, right? So homeowners when they're seeking to sell their homes, they're now going to be required to disclose any flooding history and that's going to have a monetary impact on them far above the expenses that they incur at each incident. I think that that puts us in a very precarious position. I also think that my own interest aside, which is only to serve the town, um setting aside the climate commission or the work of anybody seeking to address the ongoing increasing concerns in town is probably not an ideal situation for a coastal community like ours. Um so, thank you for your consideration. I look forward to the opportunity where you folks take this um you know as as a task to earnestly set about addressing these concerns. Thank you.

Thank you. Missed it.

The jacked out precinct full. There was an alarm uh uh demonstrated tonight by a person in this room that uh people don't feel safe in this town. I feel completely safe with the services that uh are accorded to us. I feel safe about the streets which Mr. Kell takes care of every day. I feel safe about the fire department, which Steve and his crew uh uh give all their time and effort and and and with the police, too. Every time I've had an incident or some something's happened to me, uh if I go to the police station, uh I get good information and I feel confident that there will be followup with the information they give them. So, uh, in my opinion, uh, and it's been on national international news, uh, in the last couple of weeks that the people, uh, that are demonstrating for whatever reason they want to demonstrate in the streets are in harm's way. And that includes the people that stand on the bridge. uh anytime you have a crowd of people uh standing in one place, you're going to have a another uh system of people that really don't like them standing in the same place every Saturday. And so the alarm is that one person in one car could do a lot of damage to the people standing at that bridge. I wish they wouldn't do it for their own sake. We saw it happen in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and other places that the people in the streets uh and certainly the one woman that was killed for her her interest in in in being in a political uh group, she was killed for that reason. And so, uh I I don't appreciate the person coming into this

meeting and saying they don't feel safe in this town. This town is a very safe place. I'm confident that it will remain a safe place. Thank you.

Thank you. Hi, Aaron Barcelis precinct 5. Um, so just to address my comment in the first public comment, when I was stating that there are people in this community that do not feel safe, I was not talking about the white people that stand on the bridge. We feel safe. We have a great relationship with the with the police department. We have people from the community that come to the bridge. We don't feel unsafe. We're not asking for protection. We have our own set of rules. we follow the ordinances, we don't feel unsafe. What I'm saying is that there are people in this community who live here who do not feel safe. Right? So, it's not about people that are protesting as what people are saying. Um, it's the people that have to live daytoday feeling like they don't know what's going to happen because [clears throat] of shades of their skin, because of an accent they speak with, because of so many different things. And I know a lot of people would like to come here to the town council, but a lot of times it's not welcoming for certain things that people are wearing to meetings mostly. Um, so I just want to make that very clear that my comment [snorts] in the first public comment had nothing to do with the safety of the people on the bridge. Um, and if anyone wants to talk to me about anything that goes on in the bridge, feel free. I am am always down to talk. Come talk to me. Um, I'll I'll talk about what's going on. So, just want to make that very clear. Um, also, how many how much time I left? Um, okay, cool. Just to segue completely opposite. Um, I just want to just speak to my support for the teachers in this town. Um, and

how I understand that there's not a lot of money. I get that there's not money anywhere. But this town deserves good teachers and there if we want to be able to educate the youth in this town, we don't want to have a revolving door of teachers. So that's all I just want to give my support for the teachers. That's all. Thank you. Thank you. Uh Diane Sans, can you hear us? Hello. Can you hear me? Yes.

Hi. Um couple of things. The big thing tonight was I don't believe you voted on the exemption case which is of the utmost importance. Um as we know December 31st came and went assuming that something will come up about us being in not in compliance. We have a very good exemption case and the town has to join it. uh we stand to lose if we don't. It's important that we do you join it and it's of the utmost importance that you know about it. Um it's I don't know I have a few comments on that but I hope that you will vote as soon as possible and maybe reconsider tonight. Um that's number one. Um the other thing a couple of other things. Um, I'm [snorts] hoping that I I know the that Jim said he had the utmost important the respect for our voting and I do too. I think it's done very well except I collect signatures a lot and I know that they are not accurate. A lot of the people that come, they have different addresses, they haven't changed, they don't want to change or they've moved, they're out of town and it happens a lot. I have the book so I check everything um and I have an updated book as well. So I just thought that's one thing I would like to look at has nothing to do with incompetence has totally to do with just checking things. Um the other thing, let's see. Um the the uh people at the at the bridge are doing this because they want to. Um and that's fine. And I think we're pretty much informed of what the

issues are. So we don't need to like go and ask questions. We know what it is. Um there was a comment that shades of skin these people are afraid. I think it's more a legal issue and I want to make that point. Um I don't think it's so much shades of skin. Shades of skin happen to go along with the illegality. So that's a correction. I think that's all. But I want to stress we need to vote on the exception. It's a beautifully done job. It's a wonderful everybody should read it. Um, it was written by Michael Walsh and Diana Benz and signed by a lot of the people that were working on not 3A. So that's it. Hope it hope something happens. I appreciate it. Thank you.

Thank you, Colleen Murphy. Hi. Um, hi. How are you? Good. Can you hear me? Yes.

Um, on a lighter on a lighter note. Um, there's a beautiful tree in front of the old middle school that was donated to in memory of a young man that passed away many, many years ago. And I know there's been a lot of chatter um about what's to be called that beautiful tree. We've already lost a beautiful tree that was donated by another family in French Square. Um, but there's one minute we're told that the tree is going to be replanted maybe down at Saluchi Field and the plaque is the plaque still there. So, I know you can't answer my question, but there's a lot of chatter about what's going to become of that tree that was dedicated in Michael's memory. Thank you.

Thank you. That's it. Hi, Aaron Marcelus, precinct 5. Um, my name is Sorry, is somebody else going? No.

Okay. Um, I just Again, want to clarify my first and second comment. When I speak of people having shades of different shades of colors that have fear in this town, I'm not saying that that is my experience. I'm saying that is their experience. So, we can't hear their experiences because they have fear to come to these things. That's all. So, talk to people. That's all. Thank you. Oh my god. Right. Um, public relations, we still have some openings on, uh, board of appeals, um, the nautical aviation committee, um, as well as other

board of license. Board of license. No, the registr still open. And again, these openings would be on the town website if you wish to go there. Anything on motion? Yes.

I just wanted to announce that I don't know how this is going to work out, but at the last Wednesday of every month in this room from 6:00 to 7, I'm going to have what I call a listening post. And I'd love to hear what people would like to do to think that they might be able to do something that might be helpful to the town. I'd like your suggestions. I'd really like to hear comments from people that definitely did don't agree with me so that we can have more of an open discussion about it. This is not a place for me to talk. It's a place for you to talk. I can [clears throat] find information. If you if you ask me and I don't know the answer, if I can get back to you, I I will or I will bring it to um the town council for an issue. So just thought that it I'm I'm increasing for but anybody can show up at 6:00 to 7 the last Wednesday of every month from now to May. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Motion to adjurnn. Motion. Motion by councelor Mala, second by councelor. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. No.