Select Board - Regular Meeting

Select Board meeting on 04/06/2026, held in the Select Board Meeting Room at Middleborough Town Hall at 10 Nicholson Ave. We're being recorded by MCAM for broadcast on Verizon and Comcast. It is 07:00. I will call this meeting to order. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Thank you. I would like to start this meeting with the Select Board's reorganization. I will entertain a motion to nominate a member for the position of Chair of the Select Board. Mr. Pike?

I'd like to nominate Theresa Farley.

Do I have a second?

Second.

Okay. Is there a discussion on Theresa Farley?

Do we need three nominations Yes.

First call is a motion, a second discussion, and then first call again, motion, second discussion, and a second and a third call. I'll entertain any other motion or discussion? I

would like to nominate Brian Giovannoni from

Giovanni? Giovanni. Did

not accept it, but thank you anyway.

You're welcome. Okay. I don't have a second on mister Givinoni. Well, declined. He declined. Okay. A second call for chair of the select board. Third call for Chair of the Select Board. Okay, we have one nominee, Theresa Folly, take a roll call vote. Mr. William Pike. Aye. Mr. Brian Giovannoni. Aye. Mrs. Teresa Craig McGee. Tracy Craig McGee. It

sounds like my nana. Sorry. Aye.

Mrs. Tom White. Aye. Mrs. Teresa Folly.

Aye. Thank you.

When you get out of the cold door.

She gets away from the flick. Yeah.

There you go.

Quick, click, click. I've

been sitting over there for a while. It's been good.

You want your name tag?

Oh, yeah. Got you.

There you go.

Quick, click.

Congrats. Thank you.

Well, you. I appreciate the confidence in me from the Board and from the public. I hope to do right by Middleborough as always. I think my first pledge as chair is going to be that we come together as a town and that we pull the school committee and the fin com together and we continue to work towards a strong town meeting in April or May when or June whenever that may be. So thank you very much. I appreciate that. And first order of business this evening is a discussion.

How about General Vice President?

Oh, I'm so sorry. Yes. I'm so sorry. Announcements and recognitions, we do

do Vice have Chair? Oh Vice

gosh. See, I'm not used to this. I'm sorry. Nervous. The other the previous Board I was on was only a Chair. So I apologize for that. So I would need to take motions for a Vice Chair and we'll do a first call.

Madam Chair? Yes.

I nominate Tom White for Vice Chair.

Second. All right. And do I have a second call for Vice Chair? Any other nominations for second for Vice Chair? Not hearing any. Third call for a nomination for Vice Chair. Not hearing any, we have Mr. White, Mr. Thomas White, who has been nominated for Vice Chair. We'll do a roll call on that as well. Mr. Pike?

Aye.

Giovanni, aye.

Mr. White? Aye. Ms. Craig McGee? Aye. And the Chair votes aye. So thank you. Right. So as you all know, I'm probably going to make some mistakes. This will not be a perfect process, but I will do my best. So thank you for that, Brian. It's appreciated. Keep All me on my right. So next on that is going to be announcements and recognitions. And first, I would like to just welcome Ms. McGee. Craig McGee, you go, do you prefer Craig McGee?

You can just do McGee, that's fine.

It's too long. I'd like to welcome you to the board and thank you for your commitment to the town and also to thank Mr. Germain for his six years of service on this elect Board. Anyone else for announcements and recognition?

Mr. Chair? Yes. Is that a problem? Mr. Chair. Okay. I have I mentioned it last week, Mary Standish is going for the Deborah Sampson award. And with the help of Jim McKay here, I've formatted this letter. And this would be sent to the organization in her support.

And so if anybody wants to change it, whatever, let me know, but I'm gonna read it. Dear selection committee, it is a privilege to write this letter in support of Mary Standish for the Deborah Sampson Award. As a Vietnam era veteran, a distant relative of Deborah Sampson, and a pillar of the Middleborough veteran community, Mary's life of service perfectly reflects the spirit of this prestigious honor. Inspired by President Kennedy's call to service, Mary became the first female graduate upon high school to join the military. Serving in The United States Air Force during the Vietnam era, she earned the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.

Her early commitment to her country set the stage for a lifetime of advocacy. Mary has had made a tremendous impact on the veteran community in Massachusetts. For nearly three decades, she has been a cornerstone of the American Legion sixty four, currently serving as the finance officer excuse me, my tongue is not working tonight. An adjunct, her leadership extends to the district level as the district ten chaplain, where she meticulously coordinates the annual four Chaplain Service. Her dedication is best seen in her boots on the ground approach.

She is a member of the Middleborough Honor Guard participating in approximately 25 funeral ceremonies per year, ensuring fallen heroes receive the dignity they deserve. Mary is also a key member of the planning committee for Memorial Day and Veterans Day, ensuring these traditions thrive for future generations. Additionally, she oversees the post sixty four auxiliary group providing food, clothing, and gifts to veterans and first responders. Mary also personally distributes food baskets to veterans in need during the holidays. Mary has been instrumental in ensuring that the history of women in the military is never forgotten.

She served on the committee that designed and placed the Women's Veterans Memorial Monument in Middleborough Veterans Memorial Park and is a chartered member of the Military Women's Memorial Museum in Washington DC. As a member of the American Legion Department oh my goodness, I apologize, executive committee, she serves as a vital voice sharing critical information pertaining to women's veterans across the state. In a remarkable historical parallel, Mary is a distant relative of Deborah Sampson and has portrayed her in multiple parades and events. Beyond this ancestral link, Mary captures Sampson's ingenuity and heart through her personal hobbies. Her nationally recognized birdhouses are sold with a 100% of the proceeds donated to veterans charities.

Mary Standish does not just participate in veterans organizations, she leads them, sustains them and embodies their mission. She has spent her life answering the question of what she can do for her country. I can think of no one more deserving of the Deborah Sampson award than Mary Standish. Sincerely, the Middleborough Select Board. If we all agree on it.

Very nice.

Madam Chair.

Yes.

I would move that we put it on letterhead, get it signed and get it out to them as soon as possible. That's a fantastic thing. I always say to myself, what have I done lately? What have I done lately? She has done in all.

Second. Second.

Discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor?

Aye. Thank you all.

Thank you. Great letter. All right. On to new business tonight. I as you can see, the agenda was amended. I was the one who had asked for a discussion on the Bridgewater water interconnection. So I'll share my reasons as to why I wanted to have it discussed and then we can discuss as a Board. I had asked for this because I received several messages over the weekend from people in Bridgewater who were concerned that there was a town council meeting on Tuesday night in Bridgewater and there was no vote expected. And so I'm not sure what to do about that if there is anything we do need to do. I don't know if anyone has heard from Bridgewater.

Mr. Perkins, have you heard from Bridgewater?

I have not.

How's it going be?

Mr. Was that last Tuesday or tomorrow?

It's tomorrow night.

Tomorrow night.

And there's no vote expected. Yes.

There is a vote expected. Is. Expect to vote.

Okay. And how do you know that?

When you talk to the President of the Bridgewater Council, and he asked me some questions, and they're expecting to vote. So I know that that's their expectations. But I the way it sits right now is if they weren't to take a vote and not do anything on October on April 13, they would have no water. Exactly. That's how it stands. So it's up to them.

It is. And I just wanted to make sure that we were as a Board clear that Sunday is the twelfth and Monday morning it's shut off and I would not listen, I was the no vote, I get it, but I wouldn't want that to happen. I wouldn't want to see it happen that way. So I'm hoping that they do have a vote tomorrow night and that will be informed of that so that we know. But in my eyes, no communication means no water as of next week.

So if anyone is here from Bridgewater, I would encourage you to speak to people on the council. Let them know that we are ready and willing to keep it on if as long as that agreement is still in place. And the understanding is that there is it would be a moratorium on the water or connections, no usage of water and that Mr. Bumpus, our water superintendent would have last call as to turn it off if he felt it was necessary in any time. As a Water Commission, if Mr. Bumpus reached out, we could do that. But we were giving him that authority.

Madam Chair.

Yes.

Do we know the time of this Bridgewater

I believe it's meeting 7PM.

7PM? Yep. Okay. They'll have a chance to amend it for a vote rather than just a discussion. We hope.

I mean I believe you can technically do that but people

should could make a motion to make a vote.

They should be ready for it. Just for the fact that people were concerned just concerned me because we typically do that on our agendas where people know if we're going to vote or not on something. That was the only reason why. I don't know. Ms. McGee, did you have any input, Mr. Delight?

No, agree. I'm Paul.

Anyone from the public wanted to speak on it? I know Jerry had stood up and then okay.

I just wanted to make sure that it was Yep. It was moratorium.

Yeah. Exactly. Yeah. So it stands as the vote from last Monday. Last Monday. Bridgewater knows. We just wanted to be sure that we're all having a conversation on the same page.

Mhmm.

And that any communication should be either sent to mister Perkins or to this Board. Board. Okay. Or even Mr. Bumpass, I'm fine with that as long as we know.

No, it should go to Joe actually. The only reason why I was called because they asked the question because I had made the motion, so I wanted to be able to answer the question because it was an easy quick question to answer. Sure.

Fair enough.

And then I asked the question, are they going to vote on it? And they said yes.

Okay. Great. Thank you very much. Appreciate that. All right. That was all for me. I just wanted to make sure we're on the same page. Next item on the agenda is a discussion vote on Class II automobile dealer license for Imperium Motors. And that is a new it's not, it's a, it's a same address. It's just

new owner. It's just a new owner.

Okay. Welcome. Can you just let us know your name?

I'm Susan Ferris. 1186 Washington Street, Kitten, Mass.

Thank you.

I'm sorry, I didn't hear that.

1186 Washington Street, Kitten, Mass.

Thank you for being here.

Mhmm.

So it is a change in ownership?

Yes. Okay. A new name. It was ES Motors.

And nothing would change on the application? No.

And I went through zoning and everything

for that. Buying and selling used vehicles. You're a recognized agent. No, you're not. Okay. Have you signed a contract? No. Is there anybody on the board that sees anything that would be

Madam Chair. Yes. I have just a concern about the amount of cars that you

We're keeping it exactly the same as it was for ES Motors. I was actually here when ES Motors got approved back in

Okay. It's just on our backup here. It has it angled differently than they had it previously.

Yes. We're definitely keeping it under I think we had talked about under 30 cars, that's what I had told them.

Well, there's 20 to be sold and the rest are? Yeah. Excuse me. Correct. 20 to be sold.

I think that's what we were approved for last year. Yes. Okay.

Parking for one to six is for customers, seven to 13 would be the workers, the employees.

There's only going be one employee, but yes.

But the remaining 20 would be for cars. So there'd be no more than 20 cars.

That's correct.

There'd be no repairs of cars on

the No repairs at all. Repairs are done in store.

Oh, you may want to put a handicap stall in there somewhere.

Okay.

And the only reason why is it didn't show on the plan. Like Stall Number 2, if you put a symbol on it becomes a handicap stall.

Okay. I can do that.

Just something.

Yep. No problem. A sign.

Mister

Asheville? Yes. I just wanna make sure that you understand the reason there's no work to be performed. It's because of the proximity to the river and we take it very very seriously.

We know. Like I said, I was fully involved with the ES motors so.

Madam Chair? Yep.

Can I ask through you? So you said the repair is gonna be done in Stoughton? Yeah. And do you have an agreement with this place in Stoughton in this They own the same place.

They own it. Huggers and Ewing, yes. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. A different name, but same people.

That's where

you find me.

Any more questions from Ms. Farris? No. Any comments from the public? Behind you. Ms. Kefalis? Hi,

Nancy Kefalis, just a concerned citizen. I looked over the documents that you guys had on your website. I noticed something on the plan which may be considered contradicting. There is a note near the middle of the plan which reads the repairing vehicles would not be allowed on-site. In the lower left, there is another note, principal use minimum number of parking spaces, number automotive repair or other repair, three bay or 150 square foot floor area and one per employee.

In my opinion, the plan wording should be amended. The middle should have an of added to read the repairing of vehicles would not be allowed on-site. And the lower left should have the words for automotive repair or other repair three per bay of one fifty square 100 foot for area eliminated. But this is your choice. Thank you.

I like it.

Thank you. No

problem. This is the same exact plan that I had for ES Motors. So I didn't change anything,

we apologize. But we want to make sure that there's no repairs being done.

They're all done in Stoughton.

Okay.

Absolutely none. That was one thing I expressed to them hugely because I'm the one who was here for ES voters so.

And we do have the police come by periodically to make sure that there's only 20.

There would be none.

My question would be have there been any violations of that? No. Is anyone aware of anything? I'm not aware of any violations. Okay. All right. Unless there's anything else to ask, I would entertain a motion.

Mr. Chair? Yes. I will forward a motion to approve this Class II license for Imperium Motors based on all the information we have discussed.

Do I have a second?

Second.

Discussion on the board? Madam chair. Yes.

I think it would be helpful if the license itself does have a note on it that there is no repair of vehicles to be performed on-site. Fine. Do

we see that on there?

When we sign it, we'll.

Yeah. On the actual license. Yeah. Yeah, no, saying. That's fine.

So we have a motion to approve.

Public comment.

As presented to us. Yeah, we can do that. And to highlight repairs.

20 cars for sale and no repairs. All

right. Any further comments from the public regarding the motion? Seeing, hearing none, all those in favor? Aye. Motion passes unanimously.

You.

Jim, could you take that? Thank Congratulations

to the new owner, and I hope they do well.

Thank you.

On to new business letter C, vote to approve a one day beer and wine liquor licenses for the bartending service of New England for the following dates at the Alley Theater 133 Center Street, May 1 from 6PM to 9PM, May 2 from 12:30PM to 3PM, May 3 from 02:30 p. M. To six p. M. May 9, 10:15 a. M. To two p. M. And May 30 from 10:15 a. M. To two p. M.

Mr. Chair?

Yes.

I move that we approve this on the wording as presented. Second. And we have we do have all the signed documentation.

Second. Second. Discussion on the board?

Madam Chair. Yes, Mr. Just a note, the applications do have an error on them under the address of property to be licensed. They're listing the license of the business of the bartending service of New England, but it's actually 133 Center Street. So I just think in the future we need to make sure that that's properly filled out because according to these applications we're issuing a one day liquor license for 31 Vine Street.

Address of applicant.

No, on the next

Next section.

The next part. Address of property to be licensed and they've got their business address of the bartending service of New England.

Jim, Mr. McCoy, could I ask that you we can look back and just double check that this is being done properly. I know Michelle's back on Wednesday, but we can just double check because it is a good point. We want to make sure that the correct address is being licensed for this. We can easily make a quick amendment to it if necessary. But thank you, Ms. McGee, I appreciate that.

I'm not sure that that's wrong, but

I know I'm not either. That's why I think we should just double So check that information is we have a motion on the table. Is there any comments from the public regarding this motion? Seeing none, all those in favor? Aye. Motion passes unanimously. New business letter D, vote to approve one day beer and wine liquor licenses for the bartending service of New England for an event to be held on the Town Hall Lawn on the following date, May 30 from 3PM to 6PM.

So moved. Second.

Discussion? Looks like the same. We bid. Same company, same concern about the address, make sure that we're properly filling it out. Any comments from the public?

It's not a big deal, but if you're going to correct things, you hit this one, too.

Yes.

That

does not say who it's for. It looks like the bartending service is going to run a bar out here. And it doesn't say who it's for. And if you look at the application, it doesn't say it there either. So they're missing a spot.

Middleborough Lawn. Middleborough Town Town but you're right, it doesn't say what the event is. Yes. It's just Okay.

It says Town Hall Lawn.

Do we Madam Chair, do we know what this event is?

It's a just one flight.

Is it a sip and stroll or is it a

Sip and stroll. Thank you. Sip and stroll.

Okay. Alright. So we just need to do some clerical edits in conversation with

On the license.

With the bartending service just to make sure that everyone's on the same page. Easily fixed but appreciated. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor? Aye. Passes unanimously. All right, and new business letter F. Mr. Perkins, I'll defer to you on the town manager search.

We have E.

We need E.

Oh, I'm sorry. I missed E. There's another one. There's more. Okay. Vote to approve one day beer and wine liquor license for the bartending service of New England for the following date, May 31 from 12PM to 6PM at Reed's Archery, 121 Wood Street.

So moved. Second.

Do we have that? Similar Similar information. So I think this is just a little bit of a training thing, make sure that they're clear on what they need to be putting on that form. Any further discussion from the public? Hearing none, all those in favor?

Aye.

All right. Now, Tower Manager Search update, Mr. Perkins.

So the RFP went out. It's on COMMBUYS. It's being advertised in the mascot week. In addition to that, Tara reached out to six vendors in the state that do recruiting for municipal executives, encouraging them to bid or submit a proposal under the RFP. So we're just waiting on that to come back.

Do we have any ideas on timeline on that?

It's a two week posting. Everyone gets to submit the deadline and then there's an opening and Tara will open those and I believe we'll present them to you, the Board, after we go through them.

Great.

Yes. So

we would be looking at two weeks.

Two weeks.

As the advertisements out for two weeks, they'll be in a value to process when they come in internally. And then the evaluation tallies will go to Mr. Perkins and then he will present a recommendation to the Board in regards to that evaluation. So we're looking at

the twentieth or the twenty seventh?

Twenty ninth. Seventh.

Twentieth is

Patriot's Day.

Yeah. It

would be the twenty seventh.

Okay. Which should have been town meeting but

Madam Chair.

Town meeting will present. Exactly. Town meeting.

Yes, this is for Jim. Jim, does it need to also be advertised in the Namaskan news?

It is.

It will be. Timing the same?

The timing is a little different because by the time you get the advertisement into the new mascot, it will be in the new mascot longer than it has to be as far as the advertisement is concerned. So two weeks immediately once it's published it goes on COMMBUYS. It's an immediate publishment there. It's on the website, our website and then it will appear in the next two versions of the Namaskit. So that gives us the window it needs to be as far as the advertisement is concerned.

Yes, it needs to be legally.

Those covers us that covers advertisement legalities for an RFP.

Thank you.

You. Any more comments from the Board? Comments from the public? Seeing, hearing none, we will move on to Letter G, the budget update.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I have a few items to update the Board and the public with. As I mentioned in the operational and correctional plan budget operational correction plan, one of the issues that we wanted to do moving forward was to provide an updated or a revised budget book. We put that up Friday. We left the old one on there.

So it can be used as a reference guide. The new updated budget book revised, it will be sleeker, less content. I believe we're not going to duplicate some of the other charts and graphs and different definitions and things that are in the 186 page document. The updated version or revised version that's on there now is just what they call the front half of the book. It does not have the operational expenditures or the operational budgets for each department in them yet.

This is the starting point to recognize and realize what the numbers are beginning with taking the number from the old budget, what was proposed to be expended versus what we had. And that demonstrates the shortfall of $3,375,000 So that's the only part that's up. It will be updated and revised with each new posting of or update from the states from the DLS website from the state on so called cherry sheet. And then as we move through the process of addressing the shortfall, eventually all the budgets will be put up after they're presented to the board, select board and finance Committee at a joint presentation. This is just the town side, not talking about the school side, although the school budget is reflected with the old number in the new updated version.

Okay. Any questions on that? I did see some comments when the town posted on the website that where is the rest of

it?

That's the processes. How do we meet that deficit? So the rest of it will come once we address the deficit.

So what you'd say is you put the revenue side of it up already. Correct. And that's the adjusted revenue side. Correct. Now you're to work on the other part. Correct.

Yes. Makes sense. Especially given that

Again, it will be updated and revised and it isn't something that I can just go in and do. We have a vendor that does it off-site. So there's a little bit of a process trying to put those numbers in and get them checked and corrected before they were actually published on the website.

Madam Chair? Yes. Have you heard from most of the departments? I

will talk about the process in a minute, yes, to answer your question, but I will get into that a little more. I just want to make sure we're clear. There seem to be some confusion with that new document that's up there. It's I'm putting up as much as I can and I believe I said it in the two previous presentations when I know the town will know. Okay. And that's what I'm trying to do. We're to move on or you ready? I don't know how you want

Yes. No, say unless there are specific questions about what you just shared, would say continue.

Okay.

Yes, unless I'm no one objects to that.

Okay.

I met with Finance Committee on Thursday. I discussed the process for addressing the shortfall. In other words, how are we going to meet it through potential layoffs and there was a process that was discussed with HR and town council. I explained to the finance committee what the town needed to do to make sure that this was done the proper way. And the proper way includes once we look at the numbers and I speak with the department heads and we realize what the numbers are and how they pertain to the departments, we identify potential or possible cuts.

Once that's done, we then need to meet with each of the unions and we need to impact bargain. We need to notify the union that their members are potentially facing a layoff. So that's the first meeting with each union. And they have an opportunity to meet, discuss and come back and meet with the town with a counter proposal or possible concessions. And the town will reconsider that and then we have a third meeting and that's the acknowledgment meeting and we discuss what the possibilities are and then how we the town intends to move forward after we impact Bargain.

Let them know what is the potential cut, their response to it and then the acknowledgment mean them possibly what's going to happen. So again, mass label law and collective bargaining dictate this is the process. So as I mentioned to the finance committee the other night, I believe I was being a little optimistic originally when I was looking for a path on moving forward when we first identified the shortfall. My intention was obviously a very collaborative effort on this and being able to work and get as much input as we can. Didn't really foresee the forgot about the label loss.

So I addressed it with them. I don't think they had any questions. They understood. I think the finance committee's role, knowing the numbers, looking at the numbers, weighing in on the numbers, and that's it, numbers. The other side of it is HR and the town and making sure that we are following established labor law and collective bargaining agreements. We do not want the union to file unfair labor practice if we don't do it the right way. So that's the process. With that being said, we have notified all of the unions, I believe about twenty minutes ago, the HR Director was sending out the emails, they're aware. We're going to start those impact bargaining sessions Wednesday. There will be some on Thursday and I'm not sure about Friday.

So that process has started. With all that, we need to figure out the timeline and the timeline is we need to figure out when town meeting is because I need dates to work the timeline.

We did.

You all you requested high school availability. I reached out to Paul Brannigan, principal at the high school. He provided me with all the dates. I don't know if I was sent it to you that was last week.

You did.

I'm talking to Ms. McGee. I don't know if I included.

Oh, sorry.

No. Okay. I

don't think I sent it out Friday. So prior to.

I was going to pull it up. Let's see.

In Town Council, availability.

Their lawyers, we pay them, they should be there.

Send somebody else. Yeah. I

believe that he had said May there were a couple in May that Town Council had some struggles with, but if it was going to be June, he would be okay. And I know that June 1 had come up as something we were all really kind of wanted to work for and that does work.

Does the high school is available June 1?

It works. So I

think we should And again, I could, that's hopefully going to it may possibly give us two more updates on the Cherry sheet. So the next one should come out in April, the one after that should come out in May, the final doesn't come out in June, but it's the state. Wouldn't go out of breath, but any help will help. So again, it's something that we can update that numbers continuously. It's like hitting a moving target.

I'm trying to nail it down, look at it. There's a lot of cause and effect involved when looking at it as far as fringe benefit fringe benefits and unemployment impacts. So the number is literally, I look at one thing and I say, we do this, this could happen. If I do this, this is going to happen. We're looking at a lot of shared services.

Again, this is a lot of hypotheticals and then ultimately is we have to come up with a list of possibilities and I need unions to understand these are possibles because we're the numbers moving back and forth and there's a lot of what ifs at play, but we need to do it right. And so we need to notify people potentially you could be looking Okay. At a

That puts us eight weeks from tonight. Do you realistically feel like that's the time when you can work?

So I would take the eight weeks and then I would go back two weeks because you need the warrant published for two weeks. In that two weeks, so those two weeks you need to consider and then we also have two Mondays that are holidays, Memorial Day and Patriots Day. I have to present you a budget, a joint meeting between Finance Committee and Select And we also need to go over the warrant. And I don't think doing a budget presentation and a warrant and all the other business that we have can get done at the same time. So you'd need probably two weeks for that.

Is June 15 open?

Friday. Madam Chair?

Yes.

We might need to entertain the idea of meeting Tuesday on the holiday Mondays.

I agree. Anybody on the board have objections to potentially having a Tuesday meeting? If that's what we need to Madam chair.

Yes. If you're talking about the twenty first, the planning board has a meeting that night. Okay. And they usually meet in here.

What about a Wednesday? Would a Wednesday potentially work?

Make it work.

For the board members.

Make it work.

I just want to make sure that if we that we don't handcuff Mr. Perkins too much on this because we're not going to do any good if we don't have it April 27 and have it June 8 and June 1 and we're still not ready. So I think June

Is June 8 and June 15 available? Those were

tougher dates.

They were tougher dates. The availability of the high school auditorium was not June 8.

Was going to to do a lot of work to make it. I think I

believe it's that's an attainment going on and Okay.

All right. So I think June 1 with the understanding that we need to be a little flexible a couple of weeks there with the Monday nights and try to make it work so that we can give you all as much time as possible to get this done. Okay. Any further discussion on the Board? No. Comments from the public?

Back to the budget deficit, having more mixed use zoning that's higher density could help longer term since there would be more taxable value would also help with the housing problem.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Always appreciate you, Jack.

Diane Faye, 8309 Oak Point Drive. Just in your time frame, Madam Chair, to you through to the interim, town manager through you. In your time frame, I know you said the unions were notified this evening and that you have to have the three things. That's At

least three at least three. Yeah. That's the minimum. You need to notify.

They need to respond. One fifty e. Yes. Out there, which is public sector bargaining law. But do they already have layoff language should it come to that in their contract that's already negotiated?

They they have their unions, the collective bargaining agreements with the town, they have their language and how they recognize

cuts A lay

or what their process is for it.

Yeah. No.

That's We're just telling them that these are the positions and the people that hold the that could potentially and I can't keep it potentially face a layoff.

Yes. I just wanted if they didn't have the language, it draws it out a little more while they negotiate that into agreement.

Correct.

So you're not having to add more on. Correct. Thank you.

Thank you.

Good evening Paula Fey, 8309 Oak Point Drive through you Ms. Volle to Mr. Perkins. June 1 is a date that you've been given. Is June 2 also available should June 1 come to the witching hour of 12:00 and it's not done? Because you always have to think about that too. What happens if you got that somebody gets up and reads. Mr.

Manninger did, he did say that. Mentioned. Yeah, he mentioned that he would need to know which date we chose that he could make sure that

the Tuesday Madam was the Chair, I'm looking at Paul Brannigan's June 16 would be okay with him too. That's a Thursday. So if needed, we could move it to that date maybe. That's up to Joe and what happens.

That's up to you.

Up to us. But it could be moved to the sixteenth, that is an available date.

My concern would be a Thursday night. Yeah, if we go into a Friday it could be.

Madam Chair, do we know when school is out?

June 26.

Okay. So families wouldn't be planning vacation that early?

Well, they might, but Well,

you didn't get the Yes.

Oh, I do. Yes. June 26, it was changed from the thirtieth.

No, the sixteenth is a Tuesday.

Okay. Thought you said it was a Thursday, I'm sorry.

I might have, but it's a Tuesday.

No, okay. But then again, would the Wednesday be available? Yes,

is sixteenth and seventeenth. Okay.

Then I'm going to ask you, would you prefer that we make a decision tonight?

I would only because it would help with the timeline and being able

to I agree.

Because the union is going to want to answer. So I don't want to tell them that it's still up in the air. I want to give them as much definitive information as I can.

Madam Chair, we could always use the June 1 date. And if we get to the end of June 1, be prepared to use the June 16 date as the second day of town meeting and then the June 17 date of the third day of town meeting if we had to and just prepare if we had to.

So moved.

That a motion? So

that's 06/01/2026, 7PM at the high school. Okay.

Do have a second? Second. Okay. Any further discussion on June 1 being the meeting date for town meeting twenty twenty six? Comments from the public? Seeing none, all those in favor?

Aye.

All right. You have your date.

Thank you.

Thank you.

That's it for the budget update, unless anyone has any questions about anything else.

All right. We do not have any hearings, meetings or licenses this evening. So we're moving on to town manager's report.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The first item is the Fire Chief Interim Fire Chiefs contract. He signed it. It's been reviewed by Labor Council. The draft was approved on both sides. It's just it's ready for signature. Because it was signed this morning, I didn't get it on the agenda, so I'd put it in my budget report. Coffees will be available to the public as soon as you sign.

And how much an hour is it? Does it mean just basically? That's what everyone wants to know.

Dollars 70 an hour.

That's it? I'm sorry. No. Sorry. Thank you for the person who's doing this.

Thank you to Dana Fonte. Absolutely. Gentlemen. Yes. All right. Thank you.

Second item, there was a apparently the town does a newsletter from the town manager's office and that's released. I was aware of that a newsletter was going out. I did not personally prepare anything for newsletter, but apparently I was quoted in several instances in that newsletter. I ordered them to take it down. I did not preview it first.

I do not know the information that was out. I don't have time to write a letter. So I believe that there was some information in there that wasn't was quoted by me that I didn't support or believe in. So that was brought back to off the website. I just wanted the people to know that I did not know that there was information that I was quoted in that newsletter.

I would I have no problem putting my name on something if I write it or I say it, but this was not my work. So I ordered it taken down. An update the third item, update on the forensic audit. We were advised that an RFP for a forensic audit is not required. Audit is exempt from the RFP process.

As a result of that, Tara Paglia put out an e mail off the state bid list. There are several vendors that are approved on the state bid list that do forensic audits. She is compiling a contact list in an email asking them to present numbers to her. This may take a little bit of a time period, but that is the update on the that particular request. So I think we can just rephrase it. The title of an RFP for our forensic audit, it's just we're looking at the costs of So forensic we're not doing an RFP.

Okay. Yes.

I was going say that. Madam Chair?

Mr. Giuliani?

Is there anything?

I have nothing else.

Motion to approve the contract with Mr. Dana Fontaine. Second.

Discussion? So as Mr. Giuliani said, it would be $70 per hour and we appreciate that you were able to get that done so quickly Mr. Perkins.

You for being such a gentleman about it.

And Madam G. A, do we have a time? Do we know long?

Tomorrow morning. Start right away.

He'll be there in the morning. Do

we have an ending date? June 30. June 30. Okay.

So we got to get on that. Comments from the public?

There is if people want around a short date, there is a section in there that agrees that both parties do agree if they want to extend the interim contract they could. But again, information on where we'll be on June 30 is limited at this time. It's just a matter of getting somebody in there

as soon as possible.

So again, we don't can't foresee the future.

Right.

No, I just wanted to realize that.

Okay. And then the other piece was his ability to give notice or our Yes. Ability

Seven day notice either way.

Yeah. Perfect.

Okay.

All right. Seeing none, did you have any comments?

This is a public comment now, Reg.

No, no.

One minute. Give me one sec. Thank you. All right. Seeing none on this, we will we've got a motion and a second. So all those in favor of approving the contract as before us.

Aye. None I will abstain. Thank you.

Okay. Now, got to wait a little bit longer. Committee, commission and boards, anybody have anything that they would like to say from the board regarding committees and No. Comments from the public?

Hi, I'm Adam Chan, it's a Kefalis, concerned citizen. Does anyone know how many training presentations are included per year in the fees by KP Law?

I'm sorry, could you repeat that?

So I want to find out how many training presentations are including are included in each year's fees with KP Law. If there was one, two, if anyone knows.

Jim, would you mind finding out? Thank

you. Reason I ask is because over the past year, I've really struggled to bring this up but I've noticed how often boards struggle with conflict. I believe we all understand there are differences of opinion and we need to have productive communication to get everyone's point across. The community is watching and they want leadership that can agree to disagree and work together without unnecessary disagreements. They gave us the elected positions we hold and we are here to represent them.

If you would be willing to ask KPLar if they could do a presentation on conflict and resolution, I believe many Board members would appreciate it. I understand that not all Board members may attend for various reasons, but those who do, I hope they strategies to help our meetings run more smoothly and encourage healthy conflict and solution focused communication. I'm not asking for a discussion tonight, just to consider this request and perhaps bring it back for a future meeting if the board agrees to do so. And if you remember when I got elected last year, I brought it up as one of the webinars that I had watched. So I just wanted to make that point again. I've struggled with bringing it up again. It's been

a whole year. Thank you.

Thank you.

The webinar, was that the MMA webinar? Yes. Yes. So

Jim will ask or find out for us, help us kind of do that and then we can

discuss. All right. Thank you.

Thank you.

Yes. Few actually a month and a half, two months ago, we actually talked about bringing them in for a discussion on open meeting law and public records too. It's a couple of things.

Always a good value to that information. All right. Anybody else on committee, commission and boards from the public? Seeing none. Next item is correspondence. Anybody under the correspondence?

I have nothing.

I'm good. Good.

Ms. Nagy? All set. All right. And I'm all set as well. All right. Moving on to public comment. Thanks for being so patient.

You're welcome. So I've noticed the Larder because blowing through the crosswalks downtown.

So

why don't you add some speed limit bike and raised crosswalks.

Bumps You're talking about the speed table where there's a bump, like almost like a speed bump, but as I you go up and think they're wonderful. I've put them in many locations. If you hit them too fast, it'll knock your fillings out. And Oh, it's it's it can be jarring at times if you try to go over at 30 miles an hour. Have have

you tried that?

Oh, if you

Oh, you have made a speed bump you didn't know was that?

Drive Route 6A towards the courthouse in Barnstable and you hit that first speed table coming out of the traffic lights too fast, it will there's a lot of gouges on it already because people hit it way too fast.

Ms. Cheff? Yes. Through you to interim town manager, your experience as a Chief of Police, Joe, do you have any comments?

We don't have any in Millboro. No. But one of the strangest things I've seen it was in Canton. They have them on their side roads. And I never understood how they could put it on a public way, but they did in Canton. So I don't know. That's a question for Chris Peck. I do believe that there are requirements and guidelines from the state that you have to follow and implement. I think you have to have a traffic study. The cost has to the cost of that, the town will bear that burden. I don't know how much money we have to do traffic studies, but it is something that we can consider in the future.

And Madam Chair, it's part of that Safer Streets program where they do all these bump outs, the plow drivers really, really love. Unfortunately, that's part of that whole safer streets program. But like you said, it starts off with a full study. And after they study it, then they have to figure out how to fund it. And usually, it's not just put speed bumps in, it's a lot more. But I appreciate what Jasper is saying because I saw it. I was the Chart Oak this weekend. I saw somebody just walk trying to walk across and people just don't pay attention.

What about those the middle there's a thing in the middle that says

Pedestrian.

Crosswalk or pedestrian or something. What about those maybe?

Yeah. Those don't always wear

No. I'm sure. But it needs to It's something. Something, right.

To start with.

Yeah.

Still better than nothing. Exactly.

Right. You are right, Jason. You take your life in your hands when you come out of an establishment on Center Street these days.

It's crazy. It's scary.

Madam chair. Yeah. I also think I've been noticing that residents are not using the blinking lights. So many people are coming out and they don't press the button and they don't wait for the button. They are just walking out into the crosswalk and I thought that was the reason that we put the blinking lights on was to improve safety. So I would urge the residents when you're downtown, please take thirty seconds, wait for the blinking lights. It makes you so much safer. I also would like to have a future conversation about safety traffic safety downtown. I'm not sure who owns that alleyway between Santander and the old Honeydew.

I know that because we had a problem with parking there and I believe it's I forgot, but I do. It's Jim, did you get me that? Yeah. Believe it on I think it's Honeydews, but I'm not sure.

One of the issues there is now with the bump outs and the parking and now the crosswalk that's right there with the yellow lights, people are coming out of the alley Mhmm. And they cannot see to the left or the right because there are cars parked right there. So people are pulling out right into the middle of the intersection, and I saw a person in the crosswalk walking, and they almost got hit because the driver coming out of that alleyway could not see them. So I think that it might be a great idea if we talk to whoever we need to talk to.

I believe we I believe we own that alley now. It just came back to me. I'm quite sure we own.

I think we should really talk to Chief Ferreira and maybe

I believe

it's about Andy. Making that a one way only in because it's dangerous having a crosswalk that close to an area where cars are exiting.

Madam Chair, Santander Bank owns that property. They own it right up to the face of the Honeydew Building. That's their property. They have their setup for a left side drive up window, which is part of the problem. We go European there as I call it, because people try to come out.

I completely agree that if we can get them to agree to a one way, I believe that was part of one of the parking plans as well as blocking one of the other alleyways that people try to sneak out. I think next to Gregory Scott Jewellers, they try to sneak out there. There's going to be bollards there, so people can't come out that way because it's extremely dangerous. All I can think of is pulling out of a parking garage in San Francisco and they literally had a big buzzer like that went off to let people know, don't be careful, someone's coming out. Because I was surprised, but yeah, you're absolutely right.

It's completely blind and people should go out either School Street or down to Center Street if they can out of that parking lot. It'd be nice to put a do not enter on the back of near the back of that building if Santander gave us permission or gave Chris permission.

I have to be honest, I never even tried to go out that way because it didn't feel safe.

Mr. Chair, through you to Brian. The reason I say it was ours is because I talked to our previous town manager about it one day because people use it as a parking lot when they go into going into Honeydew. And we talked about it getting a no parking sign. It was and it was Jay that told me we owned it, but maybe he's wrong. I don't

know. Yes. We had permission from Santander to do some work on it. They had given us permission. Several of these buildings had given permission to us to do the parking work when we were doing the parking plan because it only works if we all get together

and do

a parking plan. So we had permission to do certain things with it. Do we own it? No, but we have permission.

Right away. Thank Okay.

Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you.

One more thing. Since I nearly got hit at the stoplight right over at that intersection over there a few times, well crossing. Could you guys also make a note right turn on red?

Right here, right at the four corners over here.

Over there. By windows?

By Town Hall Building?

Yeah. Let's look at that too. Okay. Thanks.

You. I

know what he's saying because when people make that turn it's

Where the annex is? Is that what where the annex okay. Do we have we can do that in in for Middleborough Street? Yeah.

Yep.

Okay.

We could.

We could sign up, take it down, put it

up to take. Yeah. Well, I just I'm thinking of the January. Okay. Any other comments from the public? Seeing none.

Motion to adjourn.

Second.

All those in favor? Aye. Thank you.

Good job, Theresa.