Town of Seekonk Meetings
Search and subscribe to town meeting topics that impact you
← Back to video
Select Board Meeting — April 29, 2026
−
Fit
+
IN
0:00
OUT
0:00
Length
0:00
▶ Play selection
Export clip
Keyboard:
I
set in,
O
set out,
←
/
→
nudge playhead 5s.
1:18
Okay, good evening everyone and welcome to the April 29th, 2020 26th select board meeting here at Town Hall.
In
Out
1:28
Uh, Mass General Law Chapter 30A, Section 20F requires any person recording must notify chair at the beginning of the meeting.
In
Out
1:35
All select board meetings are recorded via audio and video and are broadcast live on Seacock Channel 96.
In
Out
1:44
Would you all please join me and rise and, uh, with a salute to the flag and a moment of silence.
In
Out
1:49
I pledge allegiance 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.
In
Out
2:10
Thank you.
In
Out
2:14
Okay, board and committee openings.
In
Out
2:16
Somebody like to read them?
In
Out
2:17
Sure.
In
Out
2:20
Volunteers are needed on the Capital Improvement Committee, 3 select board, 3 from moderator.
In
Out
2:25
Commission on Disability, 6 select board.
In
Out
2:29
Cultural Council, 1 select board.
In
Out
2:31
Economic Development Committee, 5 select board.
In
Out
2:35
Energy Committee, 3 from the select board.
In
Out
2:38
Finance Committee, 1 from the moderator.
In
Out
2:40
Historical Commission, 2 from select board.
In
Out
2:42
Human Services Council, 1 from the select board.
In
Out
2:46
And Recycling Committee, 1 from the select board.
In
Out
2:50
Okay, thank you.
In
Out
2:52
Priority matters.
In
Out
2:53
Uh, the first item is our new moderator, Mr. Michael Durkay, who would like to discuss with us in, in the town, uh, some changes and new ideas he has to make town meeting better.
In
Out
3:06
So I'll turn it over to you, Michael.
In
Out
3:08
Thank you, Mr. Sagar.
In
Out
3:09
Um, we met 2 weeks ago, and it was Mr. Sagar's recommendation that I come in just to say to you what I said to him.
In
Out
3:19
Um, and the, the rationale for me making these suggestions is to make for a more efficient town meeting and to make for a shorter town meeting.
In
Out
3:33
In the run-up to the election, I spoke with a lot of people, and I think one of the biggest concerns that was voiced was, geez, it just takes too long.
In
Out
3:41
It's taking way too long.
In
Out
3:43
And If it deserves it, it deserves it, but I'm trying to cut out any kind of time wastes that occur so that we don't, you know, sit around twiddling our thumbs while we're waiting for something.
In
Out
3:55
So the first suggestion that I had was I received from Ms. Testa earlier this afternoon a listing of all the employees who may speak.
In
Out
4:08
It's 22 of them.
In
Out
4:10
And to count— to list those probably consumes I don't know how many minutes.
In
Out
4:15
My recommendation or my suggestion is simply that we say that any town employee can speak and get the approval of the town meeting at that time because the bylaws indicate that if you're not a resident, you can't speak.
In
Out
4:28
So that would get past that.
In
Out
4:31
The second thing I'd like to do is to waive reading each article.
In
Out
4:36
We have 18 articles which are followed immediately by a motion, which is in essence what is written in the article.
In
Out
4:46
So rather than repeat it, it's going to be present in the warrant that everyone receives when they come in.
In
Out
4:53
They'll be able to read it.
In
Out
4:55
I'm going to move right from just stating which article we're discussing to asking for the proper motion.
In
Out
5:03
So it'll bypass that with 18 articles.
In
Out
5:06
I mean, that'll be 10 to 15 minutes that just goes away that we won't have to listen to me ramble on with what the article is.
In
Out
5:13
So those are the 2 changes at the beginning.
In
Out
5:19
Required by our bylaws is that the first article on the warrant be a report from town committees and that that report be written and it be provided at each town meeting.
In
Out
5:30
We've seemed to have gotten out of that habit.
In
Out
5:33
And again, in speaking with townspeople prior to the election, a lot of people said, gee, we'd just like to know what's going on.
In
Out
5:44
I know one of the residents last select board meeting indicated that they'd like to see an accounting of where things stand in terms of spending.
In
Out
5:52
I wasn't as concerned about that, but that is an addition that I think probably would would help, but definitely a report from whatever standing committees there are, even if it's just a 1-minute overview of what occurred in the prior 6 months.
In
Out
6:09
The townspeople know that they've voted to establish these committees.
In
Out
6:12
They should be aware of what is happening on those committees when it comes to making the motions.
In
Out
6:22
And this is pretty much what we followed all along.
In
Out
6:25
Select board member will make— or the responsible party for that particular motion will make the motion, and then I would hope that they would wait for the second and then immediately go into the reason why that motion exists and why they're supporting that motion.
In
Out
6:44
Of more importance, and I think that's really critical, is that should we have any articles that show dissenting votes from either the select board or the FinCom, we hear from a representative of those dissenting votes as to why they're opposed to the, the article.
In
Out
7:05
Um, it's fantastic that on a 3-2 vote, 3 people said yes, we should do it.
In
Out
7:10
Why didn't the 2 people think it was a good idea?
In
Out
7:12
It's just another piece of information that I think townspeople should have when they're deciding and they're making the vote.
In
Out
7:20
Um, finally, there's a— I'm not trying to make us into Yelp by any means, but people have good ideas, people have complaints.
In
Out
7:33
It's good to get those things out.
In
Out
7:35
So at the end of the warrant this time, there's going to be a QR code that people will be able to scan at the end of the meeting and simply take a I think it's a 5-question survey that says what went well, what went bad, what would you suggest to make improvements.
In
Out
7:52
It'll all be collated in a document on the cloud, and then we can all take a look at it afterwards to see if people were satisfied or if they weren't satisfied.
In
Out
8:01
If it proves to be a bust, fine, we stop it.
In
Out
8:05
But I think it's a good idea to give people— because I, I was not shocked, but I was surprised at the number of people who did say, well, you know, we should do this, we should do that, we should do that.
In
Out
8:14
Okay, well, let's see if that's just one person or is that 50 people that think that's what should happen.
In
Out
8:22
So, um, Chris, if you want to— that's, that's just the sample of what it's going to be.
In
Out
8:26
And again, rather than hand out hard copies and cut down trees and then worry about collecting them and worry about collating— no, they'll just put it on online survey.
In
Out
8:37
That way it calculates and tabulates automatically, so we'll know right away.
In
Out
8:43
And that's it.
In
Out
8:44
I appreciate you putting me first on the meeting.
In
Out
8:46
I do have another appointment later tonight, so if you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer.
In
Out
8:52
And again, thank you for the opportunity.
In
Out
8:55
Okay, and just another reminder to everybody, it's 6 PM.
In
Out
8:59
6 PM.
In
Out
9:01
6 PM.
In
Out
9:01
The The straw poll that took place last meeting at the first item to test the clickers was, do we change from 6 to 7 to 6?
In
Out
9:12
Changed to 6.
In
Out
9:13
So we'll see you there at 6 PM.
In
Out
9:15
Okay.
In
Out
9:15
Anybody have any questions for the moderator?
In
Out
9:18
I don't.
In
Out
9:19
You do?
In
Out
9:21
I don't.
In
Out
9:21
I do.
In
Out
9:23
I think you and I had spoken at the library one time about doing meetings prior to— I know we're getting up against town meeting— doing meetings for residents for the town earlier and explaining the warrant articles.
In
Out
9:35
Yep.
In
Out
9:35
So they were— they had an educated, educated approach when they got there, um, to save time as well.
In
Out
9:43
Now people are going to think we're in collusion, but we're not.
In
Out
9:46
Um, Mr. Kadeem and I are taping something for cable tomorrow that's going to be a warrant review And then on Saturday, 10 o'clock at the senior center, there's going to be an in-person review that I'll be holding for anybody that wants to come to the senior center that day for exactly what you just said, to go through all of the articles.
In
Out
10:09
Good.
In
Out
10:09
I think that would make a, a good initial step toward getting more people involved.
In
Out
10:15
Absolutely.
In
Out
10:16
And that's— I, I did hold last week, I had 2 sessions, one at the library, one at the town— at the senior center— a primer on town meeting, just explaining what it is, how it works, what the motions are, why we do it the way we do it, some historical references.
In
Out
10:33
We had acceptable attendance at both meetings.
In
Out
10:41
What disappointed me was that practically 95% of the people that were there were people that I recognized from previous town meetings.
In
Out
10:48
So they've already been through it.
In
Out
10:49
They just wanted to hear other things perhaps that they weren't clear about, you know, like when is it a 2/3 as opposed to a 50/50 or majority vote.
In
Out
10:58
Um, I would have liked to have seen obviously new residents, but perhaps that was the timing.
In
Out
11:04
The first one last week also was recorded, however, so that's out on cable that residents can take a look at.
In
Out
11:11
If they want to get introduced to town meeting and the concepts behind it.
In
Out
11:18
Okay.
In
Out
11:18
Okay.
In
Out
11:19
Thank you very much, Mr. Dickey.
In
Out
11:20
Thank you for the opportunity.
In
Out
11:21
Yep.
In
Out
11:22
See you in a week and a half.
In
Out
11:23
Okay.
In
Out
11:24
Okay.
In
Out
11:26
This is the replacement for number 2.
In
Out
11:30
No, no, he just has the motion.
In
Out
11:31
There's a specific motion.
In
Out
11:33
Oh yeah, that's the one.
In
Out
11:34
That's the person.
In
Out
11:36
Uh, It's not on the agenda.
In
Out
11:38
Oh, that's the one that's not on the agenda.
In
Out
11:39
This is the one we're doing.
In
Out
11:40
No, the one that's— oh, so we're not doing that.
In
Out
11:45
You can have that then.
In
Out
11:46
Okay, we are doing this one, correct?
In
Out
11:49
Devin?
In
Out
11:49
Yes.
In
Out
11:49
Yeah.
In
Out
11:50
Okay.
In
Out
11:51
All right, next item is— no, consider the conditional offer of employment to Devin Allen for the position of emergency telecommunication dispatcher.
In
Out
12:05
Good evening.
In
Out
12:07
For the record, you are?
In
Out
12:09
Yes, sir.
In
Out
12:09
Who you are?
In
Out
12:11
Okay, Devin Allen.
In
Out
12:12
Okay, and we have Director Wanchell.
In
Out
12:15
Director Wanchell.
In
Out
12:16
Yes, uh, good evening.
In
Out
12:20
Uh, on April 13th, myself and Mr. Cadime held 2 interviews.
In
Out
12:28
The interview panel was obviously just the two of us, uh, and Devin had been working full-time since 2018, which demonstrates his work longevity.
In
Out
12:38
His evaluation after working for 4 months as a state police dispatcher, uh, Devin quickly demonstrated that he possessed a genuine interest in emergency communications and recognized his desire to pursue dispatching as a long-term career.
In
Out
12:53
Although he was required to step away from the position to assist with an important family situation.
In
Out
12:58
His time in the role left a lasting impression.
In
Out
13:01
Devin recalls experiencing a strong sense of pride in his work and consistently feeling a sense of accomplishment at the end of each shift, reflecting that the level of satisfaction and purpose he found in serving the public.
In
Out
13:12
These experiences highlight Devin's reliability, strong personal motivation, and his readiness to return to dispatching with the maturity, dedication, and professionalism necessary to succeed in a demanding public safety environment.
In
Out
13:25
I am requesting at this time through you, Mr. Cadime, Devin Allen be considered an offer of conditional employment for the full-time emergency telecommunicator dispatch with the Seacong Public Safety.
In
Out
13:36
Mr. Chairman, I support Director Wunschel's recommendation.
In
Out
13:39
Okay, any questions of the board?
In
Out
13:42
Okay, if not, I entertain a motion to offer the conditional offer of employment to Mr. Devin Allen for the position of emergency telecommunications dispatcher.
In
Out
13:55
Move that the select board appoint— good.
In
Out
13:58
Move the select board appoint Devin Allen to the position of emergency telecommunications dispatcher, subject to and conditioned upon successful passage, as determined by the town administrator, of a pre-employment background and CORI check.
In
Out
14:12
Physical exam, drug screening, psychological evaluation, completion of all pre-employment paperwork, and successful completion of all required certifications to be a 911 telecommunicator for the town.
In
Out
14:27
Is there a second?
In
Out
14:28
Second.
In
Out
14:28
Okay, moved and seconded.
In
Out
14:30
Any discussion?
In
Out
14:32
All in favor?
In
Out
14:33
Aye.
In
Out
14:33
Opposed?
In
Out
14:35
The board has voted 5 in favor, none opposed.
In
Out
14:37
Thank you.
In
Out
14:38
Congratulations.
In
Out
14:39
Thank you very much, guys.
In
Out
14:39
I appreciate you.
In
Out
14:42
Okay, next we have consider the appointment of Thomas Jones to the Economic Development Committee, term to expire 2018.
In
Out
14:50
Mr. Chairman, Mr. Jones isn't here today.
In
Out
14:53
We appointed him last week to another committee, and we inadvertently left him off the Economic Development Committee.
In
Out
14:59
So my recommendation is that Thomas Jones be appointed to the Economic Development Committee to a term to expire in 2028, and he's the— would be the first person on that committee.
In
Out
15:11
Okay, so the chair would entertain a motion to appoint Thomas Jones to the Economic Development Committee, term to expire 2028.
In
Out
15:18
So moved.
In
Out
15:18
Second.
In
Out
15:19
Moved and seconded.
In
Out
15:20
All in favor?
In
Out
15:21
Aye.
In
Out
15:21
Opposed?
In
Out
15:22
So voted.
In
Out
15:23
Next is the recognition of the Seekonk Little League on their 74th season.
In
Out
15:31
So we have a couple of people here.
In
Out
15:33
Hi.
In
Out
15:34
Just identify yourself for the record, please.
In
Out
15:36
My name is Lindsay Nichols.
In
Out
15:38
My name is Scott Stackalack.
In
Out
15:39
Okay, and you are?
In
Out
15:42
I'm part of the Seekonk Little League board.
In
Out
15:44
Uh, I am the head of coaches right now.
In
Out
15:47
Last year I was the head of umpires.
In
Out
15:50
Uh, I live at 745 Ledge Road.
In
Out
15:52
I'm a resident here.
In
Out
15:53
I don't know what else you need.
In
Out
15:55
And your position on the On the board of directors?
In
Out
15:57
I am the fundraising manager as well as the summer director.
In
Out
16:00
So you're the money girl.
In
Out
16:01
Yeah, the money girl.
In
Out
16:04
So, you know, I spent a lot of time on those fields.
In
Out
16:07
I helped build the last field that was built there.
In
Out
16:11
Bob's coached there also.
In
Out
16:12
And so when we talk about Little League and baseball, 74 years, in 1952 when the town got their first Little League charter, And so we just wanted to— the opening day is Saturday.
In
Out
16:26
Opening day is Saturday, 9 o'clock.
In
Out
16:29
And 7:45, the major league kids arrive.
In
Out
16:34
And then for the minors, and, you know, because unfortunately a lot of the older kids play travel baseball, so we started early so they can go.
In
Out
16:43
But this year, it's, you know, the 9 o'clock is usually the big thing for the younger kids.
In
Out
16:49
You know, can I tell them about your meeting with the mayor?
In
Out
16:52
Okay, so when they built the Little League fields, let's go back many, many years, as everybody knows that's ever played there, part of the outfields are in East Providence, and that's just been something that's been known and everybody just accepted it.
In
Out
17:09
But I know there's an effort potentially to put some lighting up, and we can't be putting lights in East Providence.
In
Out
17:16
So Mr. Gadeem met with the mayor of East Providence, Mr. Silva, right?
In
Out
17:20
Mayor Silva.
In
Out
17:21
And they agreed— okay, they agreed they're going to provide an easement to the town for the land that we're using, right?
In
Out
17:30
And if we need it for the— for the lights, for the lighting and everything.
In
Out
17:34
So they're being a good neighbor, so that's a great thing.
In
Out
17:36
Yep.
In
Out
17:37
And maybe, uh, I was told that the lighting— I had a conversation with some of the officials last year.
In
Out
17:45
I said the first thing you're going to need is an engineered plan, and I'm told you have that.
In
Out
17:50
Yes.
In
Out
17:51
Okay, so we've been trying for this for the last 3 years since I've been on the board, um, and I was the one, Mr. Kadeem, that went to Bob DeSilva.
In
Out
18:01
I do a ton of work in East Providence, and I got the letter because I want to put kids first.
In
Out
18:07
That's what's important out there.
In
Out
18:11
And for some reason, we keep getting stuck.
In
Out
18:15
So I'm not a guy who likes things getting stuck.
In
Out
18:17
I'm a doer.
In
Out
18:18
I'll go and get whatever we need to get done.
In
Out
18:20
A lot of these things— I don't know if anybody knows this, but we're trying to get all these lights donated at no cost to the town.
In
Out
18:27
Um, so it's like, it should be almost like a shoo-in if we get the proper permitting Everything done correctly, they should go up.
In
Out
18:35
I mean, Bob DeSilva just did lights in his, in his town, in his city, and they're beautiful.
In
Out
18:40
I mean, we should have them for our kids.
In
Out
18:41
We're driving to Taunton to play Seekonk on Seekonk because we don't have lights in the fall.
In
Out
18:46
It's not fair to our kids, the development of our kids.
In
Out
18:49
And that's what it's about.
In
Out
18:50
We don't have a big draw in our town.
In
Out
18:53
The, the, the number of kids we have right now in the major league level, we only have 3 teams.
In
Out
18:58
We had 5 last year.
In
Out
19:00
You know, it's sad.
In
Out
19:01
We want development.
In
Out
19:03
We want the kids to grow.
In
Out
19:04
You know, you guys have coached on the field, built fields.
In
Out
19:08
That's awesome.
In
Out
19:09
We want to have them here for another 100 years.
In
Out
19:11
And the best part about the lights is they're almost temporary.
In
Out
19:14
If we decide down the road we're going to put a school in the back, we pull them down.
In
Out
19:17
They're reusable.
In
Out
19:18
They don't throw them away.
In
Out
19:19
We put them someplace safe.
In
Out
19:21
And, and it's, it's a— it's not like it's a, a lost cause or it's money that that's going to get thrown down the drain, we're going to donate it as the league.
In
Out
19:29
We just want to know where we need to start, get our fundraising in place.
In
Out
19:34
Past meetings, I had a pole barn with plans that were brought up and they got passed, but then it was something about if we spend more than $10,000, we need to put it out to bid.
In
Out
19:46
Well, I reached out to Tri-County and they were going to build them like they did the dugouts over at the softball field, and all the material I'm trying to get donated for free so that it doesn't cost the town any money.
In
Out
19:57
So everything I'm doing down there and the, and the board is doing, we're doing it all for free.
In
Out
20:01
It's— we, we're there for the kids.
In
Out
20:02
That's all we care about, you know.
In
Out
20:05
I feel like we should have some transparency when we come to the table and say, hey, this is what we want to do.
In
Out
20:10
As long as it doesn't cost the town, the people in the town understand that.
In
Out
20:14
I mean, I don't see— it's not like we're trying to do anything illegal where everything's above board.
In
Out
20:19
You know, um, I will say your prior board tried to get lights right after COVID, but the material had gone up so, so much that they said forget about it.
In
Out
20:29
Yeah, and I think that was before— trying for a while, but I agree, it went way, way up.
In
Out
20:33
But we don't— we, we can't allow— we can't even start a fundraiser until we know what the cost is so we can say it's— it can't be just towards lights, it has to be towards the whole league itself, which is fine, but we need to know a starting point.
In
Out
20:45
We need to— all right.
In
Out
20:45
I get— I'm just saying that they tried a while ago, but the cost was way too much.
In
Out
20:49
Yeah, well, Mr. Cadime reaching out to the mayor and then providing us with an easement is a great first start for anything.
In
Out
20:56
Absolutely, absolutely.
In
Out
20:58
Yeah, and I appreciate that, you know.
In
Out
21:00
And if you have a full set of plans that are stamped by— stamped by an engineer, I'll get the plans stamped by the engineer.
In
Out
21:08
The problem is, is that the engineer that wants to stamp it wants to make sure the project goes through him, and I need to know where we stand with that.
In
Out
21:15
Nobody's going to stamp a set of plans until we say, hey, listen, we have approval from the town to say we can move forth with this.
In
Out
21:22
That's what's— that's what we really need.
In
Out
21:24
I need the town to step up and go, hey, we're all set, we're ready to go.
In
Out
21:27
You get the proper plans, we're ready to move forward.
In
Out
21:30
We'll start the fundraising.
In
Out
21:32
I can get the plans for you.
In
Out
21:33
I'll have them here.
In
Out
21:35
I'd like to suggest, if those are drawn by electrical engineer, yes, even if they're not stamped submit them to the town and let the electrical inspector review them, right, to make sure that they're compliant with what— because I know I've already had, I've already had people look at it.
In
Out
21:50
I know we have to bring in more power, which National Grid, uh, I know a few people there.
In
Out
21:55
Uh, it's all for the community, it's for the kids.
In
Out
21:57
There's— that's, that's a huge— it's a huge outreach.
In
Out
21:59
And, and to get that for the kids is what really what we're all here for.
In
Out
22:04
I mean, so Where do we go from here?
In
Out
22:08
Yeah, so, so we just can't erect the lights because it's not our property.
In
Out
22:11
So the first thing we need is, um, the easement from East Providence.
In
Out
22:15
So we're in the process of doing that.
In
Out
22:19
Uh, city— the City of East Providence attorney is going to be drafting the easement with the documentation with the director of DBW.
In
Out
22:24
They'll be then sending it to the city council for approval.
In
Out
22:26
So it's ultimately the East Providence City Council that has to approve the easement.
In
Out
22:31
Once we get that, then we can talk about that we have the use of the, the property to be able to erect the lights.
In
Out
22:36
And then from that standpoint, I think we can start talking about where the locations are going to be.
In
Out
22:41
Um, but if you do have drawings, we can, we can send it to the electric, uh, electrical engineer so he can start to review them.
In
Out
22:47
And I'll drop them Friday.
In
Out
22:49
No, you won't.
In
Out
22:51
Oh, you guys are closed?
In
Out
22:53
All right, I'll drop them tomorrow.
In
Out
22:56
You have 36 major league kids now?
In
Out
22:59
No, we only had— yes, major, major kids, majors.
In
Out
23:02
We're trying to get a Babe Ruth League going right now because we lost that, and we're working with that to try to grow.
In
Out
23:09
Yeah, it's, it's tough, and the development at the lower level is very, very poor and weak.
In
Out
23:17
I was one of the directors of the leagues years ago because my 4 boys played baseball here.
In
Out
23:22
Like Gary was saying, we spent My wife will tell you, hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of hours there over the years.
In
Out
23:28
And just out of, you know, for a point of perspective, in 2008 maybe is the last time my kids played there in the majors.
In
Out
23:37
We had 162 kids.
In
Out
23:39
We had 13 major teams.
In
Out
23:41
Yeah, yeah, it was packed.
In
Out
23:44
Right now we have drifted outside of Seekonk and we're kind of playing— we're playing with Rumford Uh, you know, uh, Central East Providence, uh, Fox Point, uh, and Pawtucket.
In
Out
23:56
Yeah, to try to get the, the talent, the better talent, be a little more competitive because we're only playing our— we can only play our team so many times.
In
Out
24:03
3— we have 3 major league teams.
In
Out
24:05
It's tough, you know.
In
Out
24:07
So we're thinking outside the box.
In
Out
24:08
But the other thing is, is I hate to say it, field hockey, uh, lacrosse has taken some of our thunder.
In
Out
24:14
Soccer, uh, I mean There's no doubt when you look at the— not to get too far off track— when you look at the data and the census data for the town, we have a little over 13,000 people in the town.
In
Out
24:24
In the year 2000, we had close to 2,400 kids in the public school here.
In
Out
24:30
This year we have 16,200 people in the town and we have only 2,009 kids in the public school.
In
Out
24:38
And it's not all going to private and charter and everywhere else.
In
Out
24:41
It's the age level, the census of the people in town, we're getting much older and we're having less children.
In
Out
24:47
Population is kind of exploding, but the amount of kids, yeah, is decreasing.
In
Out
24:51
So I mean, you've got that working against you to try to do these teams, but you also have the competition for lacrosse and everything else and multiple soccer teams, you know.
In
Out
25:01
Yeah, you know, there's a, there's a lot of other things that we can do with the lights, you know, playing like we play.
In
Out
25:06
We stopped playing in Rumford at 6 o'clock.
In
Out
25:09
We have to play down here at 5:30.
In
Out
25:11
A half hour makes a difference, especially with, you know, in going towards the fall.
In
Out
25:15
Springtime it's easy, but when it's the fall time, you just get cut short.
In
Out
25:19
And it's, you know, you— it's not fair to the development of the children.
In
Out
25:22
No, I get that.
In
Out
25:23
I can hear a little bit of frustration in your voice.
In
Out
25:25
And Gary remembers because you were there for so many years.
In
Out
25:30
Gary got people in to build the dugouts.
In
Out
25:33
We got sprinkler systems put in when I was there.
In
Out
25:36
We got Orthodontic Associates that donate those scoreboards you see there.
In
Out
25:40
Yeah.
In
Out
25:40
And it could be frustrating, but it's a process that you have to go through.
In
Out
25:45
And it might be frustrating as we waited years to get those things in, but you have to go through the process to make sure it's done right.
In
Out
25:51
So I know it's frustrating, and it was frustrating for us as well.
In
Out
25:53
But I, I understand.
In
Out
25:54
I just want to see positive movement.
In
Out
25:57
It's like I've been on, you know, the board like I said said 3 years, and it's like I always get stonewalled.
In
Out
26:02
It's like nobody has an answer.
In
Out
26:03
So let's come to the meeting, and this is the best forum that you can talk upon.
In
Out
26:09
And yeah, you know, especially— and the other thing is they put a well down there.
In
Out
26:12
I don't know what that well is doing.
In
Out
26:14
Is that for the ball fields?
In
Out
26:17
Because I know we, we've had some— we spend all this money on— I talked to the DPW director, great guy, assistant director, and great guy, and he was telling me about his budget that he has for all the ball fields in town.
In
Out
26:29
And we're spending all this money and we have sprinklers, but we have pictures that will show you that in the middle of the summer these fields are just burning up.
In
Out
26:37
We're wasting money.
In
Out
26:38
I know there was a new well that was put down there.
In
Out
26:40
I don't know what the deal is with it, but if you know— it's a work in progress.
In
Out
26:47
Okay, so, so yeah, drop those engineered plans off so the electrical inspector can review it, and we'll wait to hear from East Providence.
In
Out
26:55
But at least we're seeing some momentum.
In
Out
26:59
Perfect.
In
Out
26:59
Thank you.
In
Out
27:00
Thank you very much.
In
Out
27:01
Good luck.
In
Out
27:01
To a good season.
In
Out
27:02
All right, thank you.
In
Out
27:09
Okay, recognition of International Firefighters Day, which is May 4th.
In
Out
27:20
Chief, good evening.
In
Out
27:23
Good evening, Mr.
In
Out
27:23
Chair, select board members, and, uh, Mr. Khadim.
In
Out
27:27
Uh, come before you this evening, um, just to identify that May 4th is recognized, uh, internet— as the International Firefighters Day.
In
Out
27:37
It's a day to honor our firefighters worldwide, uh, to remember those who gave their lives, uh, in active duty.
In
Out
27:43
And also to recognize those still doing the job today.
In
Out
27:45
Our work is done 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in conditions that most people choose to avoid, but our firefighters show up anyways to all types of fires, emergency medical calls, storms, and everything in between.
In
Out
27:59
So tonight I just ask that we recognize the firefighters who have given the ultimate sacrifice, the firefighters still performing the job today, and also the families who stand by behind alongside our active firefighters.
In
Out
28:12
So again, on behalf of the Seekonk Fire Department, I thank you for your continued support, and I just ask that we recognize May 4th as International Firefighters Day in the Town of Seekonk.
In
Out
28:22
Okay, and I have a proclamation from the town in recognition of International Firefighters Day, May 4th, 2026.
In
Out
28:30
Whereas International Firefighters Day serves as a global tribute to both fallen firefighters and those actively serving communities, highlighting their bravery, commitment, and essential role in public safety; and whereas, this day emphasizes the physical and emotional challenges firefighters endure, while raising awareness about fire safety and the importance of supporting emergency services; and whereas, International Firefighters Day unites communities worldwide in gratitude, reflection, and support of those who risk their lives to protect others, and whereas Seacock firefighters face these risks daily to protect our community and environment from fires, we honor those who summon courage in crisis and bring discipline and professionalism to the job every day.
In
Out
29:12
And now therefore be proclaimed that the Seacock Select Board does hereby proclaim our appreciation to the Seacock firefighters and honor May 4th, 2026 as International Firefighters Day.
In
Out
29:25
Thank you.
In
Out
29:25
Thank you very much.
In
Out
29:35
This guy back there.
In
Out
29:36
Thank you.
In
Out
29:36
Thank you very much.
In
Out
29:37
Leaving you hanging.
In
Out
29:38
Thank you very much.
In
Out
29:39
I did.
In
Out
29:39
You all saw that.
In
Out
29:40
I saw that.
In
Out
29:40
I saw that.
In
Out
29:44
All right, moving right along.
In
Out
29:49
Chief.
In
Out
29:51
You're next also.
In
Out
29:52
Good evening again.
In
Out
29:54
I wasn't sure on the agenda schedule post-town meeting, so I figured I'd just get on the agenda now, kind of get ahead of it.
In
Out
30:00
But we did have a meeting May 13th, I think, tentatively scheduled, so we could have done it then, but we're here now today.
In
Out
30:06
So again, I come before you this evening just to recognize EMS Week, which stands for Emergency Medical Services Week.
In
Out
30:14
That week historically— well, this year it's May 17th to the 23rd of 2026.
In
Out
30:20
Again, it's a national, a national recognition of the EMS professionals and the critical care they provide every day.
In
Out
30:27
This year's theme is Improving Outcomes Together, and that's exactly what EMS does under pressure, from the first call placed to 911 until they hand off to hospital staff.
In
Out
30:38
Outcomes are driven by coordination, training, and the ability, and the ability to make the right decisions when it matters the most.
In
Out
30:45
So here in Seekonk, our firefighter paramedics and EMTs deliver that care 24 hours a day, and they're often the first port of contact in someone's worst moments.
In
Out
30:53
They bring the skill, composure, and compassion when it's needed the most.
In
Out
30:57
So tonight I ask that we recognize the EMS professionals who serve the community every day, the system, which is you guys that support our, our staff every day, and the role the board plays in ensuring the system remains strong.
In
Out
31:10
So again, thank you very much for your continued support, and I ask that we in the town of Seekonk, through the Board of Selectmen, recognize May 17th to the 23rd as EMS Week here in Seekonk.
In
Out
31:20
Okay, and I also have a proclamation to read.
In
Out
31:23
Proclamation, Town of Seekonk, Massachusetts, in recognition of National Emergency Medical Services.
In
Out
31:31
Whereas May 17th to the 23rd, 2026 marks the 50th second annual celebration to honor those who dedicate their lives to provide day-to-day life-saving care to those in need, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and whereas this year's campaign theme, Improving Outcomes Together, highlights the collective responsibility of investing in and honoring all EMS professionals.
In
Out
31:54
In addition to life-saving care, emergency medical services are a vital public service which provides quality emergency care and that dramatically improves the survival and recovery rate of those who experience sudden illness or injury, and whereas emergency medical services consist of first responders, emergency medical dispatchers, emergency medical technicians, emergency nurses, emergency physicians, prehospital nurses, paramedics, firefighters, police officers, administrators, educators, trained members of the public, and other out-of-hospital medical care providers, and now therefore Be it resolved that the town administrator and select board proclaim the week of May 17th to the 23rd, 2026, as Emergency Medical Services Week.
In
Out
32:36
We take this opportunity to thank and recognize all our EMS professionals.
In
Out
32:41
So thank you.
In
Out
32:42
Congratulations to you all.
In
Out
32:43
Thank you very much.
In
Out
32:44
I appreciate the recognition and the citations.
In
Out
32:46
Thank you very much.
In
Out
32:47
Thank you.
In
Out
32:58
Next we have, uh, accept the resignation, resignation of Michael Antunes from the position of local building inspector effective May 2nd, 2026.
In
Out
33:13
So moved.
In
Out
33:13
Second.
In
Out
33:14
All in favor?
In
Out
33:15
Aye.
In
Out
33:16
Opposed?
In
Out
33:17
So ordered.
In
Out
33:19
Next we have accept the resignation of Jennifer Loomis from the position of kennel worker.
In
Out
33:26
So moved.
In
Out
33:27
Is there a second?
In
Out
33:28
Moved and seconded.
In
Out
33:29
All in favor?
In
Out
33:30
Aye.
In
Out
33:31
Opposed?
In
Out
33:31
So voted.
In
Out
33:33
Community speaks.
In
Out
33:35
Anybody want to speak?
In
Out
33:43
Yes.
In
Out
33:44
Michelle Hines, Ricard Street.
In
Out
33:46
Um, I was wondering if we you have received any kind of information from the Board of Health or Conservation on the wastewater dumping from Attleboro?
In
Out
33:57
Yeah, um, so Brian was aware of it.
In
Out
33:58
He was going to call them and confirm with me, but I haven't gotten a report back on that.
In
Out
34:03
So, okay, so you have nothing.
In
Out
34:05
I get it.
In
Out
34:06
Okay.
In
Out
34:07
Also, I'd like to point out, under your general business, you have a discussion regarding the Madeira's Farm Committee and appointments.
In
Out
34:14
And I know this has been an issue from several, several people as we have gone forward, and, um, whatever is decided is decided.
In
Out
34:24
But I wanted to remind everybody that an appointment on a board or a commission is by people who actually want to be on that board and want— are in favor of the project and want to go forward and do what the town meeting floor basically basically ask them to do.
In
Out
34:41
We don't want to put somebody on that committee that is going to be— that has already voiced their opposition to it and have already voiced that not only they're opposed to it, that— but it's actually a detriment to the value of their house and property, which is a financial, financial attack on, on their property, which to me makes a conflict of interest.
In
Out
35:07
So if, if you do decide to make an appointment or unappointment, whatever, I would hope that you would keep this in mind.
In
Out
35:15
May I speak?
In
Out
35:17
You'd like to?
In
Out
35:17
Sure.
In
Out
35:18
Okay.
In
Out
35:18
I brought the appointments up because— no, I'd like to explain.
In
Out
35:23
Only 2 have been appointed by this board, and I got up here when— before I was a member of this board in February and brought that up, that things need to be done in accordance with the charter and the bylaw.
In
Out
35:35
And I brought it up to talk about appointing the members so they will be officially appointed.
In
Out
35:41
I'm the one who expressed interest on sitting on the committee.
In
Out
35:45
So I don't live near there, I don't have property near there.
In
Out
35:49
I just— again, I'm just going to put this out there— the neighborhoods I walked, the residents want transparency, and they feel that there has been not exactly transparency with this, with this project.
In
Out
36:05
So I'm not saying— I just expressed interest.
In
Out
36:09
I have the minutes from the initial meeting where the intent was to have a select board member on, and then 2 years later it was no, it can be somebody appointed.
In
Out
36:20
Regardless, I'm questioning you.
In
Out
36:21
No, no, but I'm just putting it out there.
In
Out
36:22
I'm the one who brought it up because some of the members have not been appointed by this board, and I want to see them be appointed by the board.
In
Out
36:29
That's all.
In
Out
36:31
I just want things done by the book.
In
Out
36:32
That's all.
In
Out
36:33
Okay.
In
Out
36:35
Anybody else for community speaks?
In
Out
36:39
Seeing none.
In
Out
36:41
Okay.
In
Out
36:42
Someone had his hand up.
In
Out
36:43
Did you?
In
Out
36:44
Oh, I'm sorry, sir.
In
Out
36:45
Come forward, please.
In
Out
36:46
I'm not sure if this is the right time or not, but they didn't tell me.
In
Out
36:49
I'll let you know.
In
Out
36:52
So I'm Sean Smith, pastor of Stone Coast Community Church and owner of Four Echoes.
In
Out
36:56
And we are— we applied for a one-day liquor license.
In
Out
37:00
And so I just wanted to be proactive in that.
In
Out
37:03
And so I didn't know if we need to be here or not, but like I said, just wanted to be proactive.
In
Out
37:07
I know it's checked off all the boxes except for here.
In
Out
37:12
So we have a Heroes Dinner to honor our policemen and firemen, women, and policemen and women on May 30th.
In
Out
37:18
And then we have a wedding on June 5th, which is my son's wedding, so I'm excited about that.
In
Out
37:24
So we'll be having those events on our property.
In
Out
37:27
And so I just wanted to get before you guys and make sure that passes before we get too far into it and we have to scramble.
In
Out
37:34
You have applied?
In
Out
37:35
Yes.
In
Out
37:35
Yeah.
In
Out
37:36
So you'll have to come back.
In
Out
37:37
It's gonna be double duty for you.
In
Out
37:39
So, okay, it's in the office, so it's probably gonna be the next meeting.
In
Out
37:42
Yeah, probably May Probably May 13th, we were told today.
In
Out
37:46
Okay, I didn't want to wait too long in case something happened.
In
Out
37:50
So come back on May 13th?
In
Out
37:52
I believe that'll be— we'll notify you when it's on the agenda.
In
Out
37:54
Okay, perfect.
In
Out
37:55
Thank you very much, appreciate it.
In
Out
37:57
Thank you.
In
Out
37:58
Have a good night.
In
Out
37:58
All right, anyone else?
In
Out
38:03
Okay, moving right along.
In
Out
38:05
License hearing.
In
Out
38:07
Consider the request for a Class 2 motor vehicle license for Elite Auto Rentals, doing business as Elite Auto, 1629 Fore River Avenue.
In
Out
38:16
Antonio Gulat is manager.
In
Out
38:19
Is Mr. Gulat here?
In
Out
38:21
I'm his partner.
In
Out
38:23
His partner, okay.
In
Out
38:24
Would you come down please?
In
Out
38:29
For the record, your name?
In
Out
38:31
My name's Steve Cortnero.
In
Out
38:33
Address?
In
Out
38:34
29 Martin Street, Rehoboth, Mass.
In
Out
38:37
Okay, so tell us a little bit about Elite Auto Rentals.
In
Out
38:46
Yeah, so we're— we have a business now in Rhode Island where we do auto rentals in Rhode Island, but we're looking to do auto sales in the town of Seekonk on Fall River Avenue.
In
Out
38:58
Nothing big.
In
Out
39:00
I think up to 16 or 17 cars.
In
Out
39:04
Okay, is what the, uh, the plan is.
In
Out
39:09
So Elite Auto Rental is the name of the business, but for permitting purposes, it's going to be Elite Auto.
In
Out
39:15
Elite Auto.
In
Out
39:16
Okay.
In
Out
39:19
And what is on that site now?
In
Out
39:24
I didn't have an opportunity to Uh, right now it looks like it's just like mixed use with like residential.
In
Out
39:30
That's it.
In
Out
39:31
So it's a mixed use.
In
Out
39:32
It is commercial also.
In
Out
39:34
Okay, there's no commercial use there now, I believe.
In
Out
39:39
It's not now.
In
Out
39:40
No, they have an old storefront on the bottom of the residence.
In
Out
39:43
Yeah, it used to be like a Four Seasons sunroom, a shed place or something.
In
Out
39:47
Yeah, they used to do like, uh, season rooms.
In
Out
39:51
Okay.
In
Out
39:52
Yeah, yep.
In
Out
39:53
600 square feet.
In
Out
39:54
Yeah, it's a pretty small footprint.
In
Out
39:55
Yeah, right by the Hamilton Diner, right?
In
Out
39:58
Yeah.
In
Out
40:01
Okay, so we— have you been to the planning board for site plan approval?
In
Out
40:05
Yeah, everything's been approved.
In
Out
40:07
How many cars did they authorize you?
In
Out
40:10
Uh, I believe it's up to 17 cars.
In
Out
40:12
Up to 17?
In
Out
40:13
Yeah.
In
Out
40:14
Okay.
In
Out
40:15
All right.
In
Out
40:16
Any questions of any of the board members?
In
Out
40:19
I have none.
In
Out
40:20
No, I'm good.
In
Out
40:22
I'm good.
In
Out
40:23
All set, Bob?
In
Out
40:24
All set?
In
Out
40:25
Good.
In
Out
40:25
Okay, entertain a motion on the license.
In
Out
40:28
So moved to approve.
In
Out
40:31
You want to approve?
In
Out
40:31
Second?
In
Out
40:32
Yes.
In
Out
40:32
Moved and seconded.
In
Out
40:33
All in favor?
In
Out
40:33
Aye.
In
Out
40:34
Opposed?
In
Out
40:35
So voted.
In
Out
40:36
Okay, sir, we've voted 5 in favor and none opposed to issue the license.
In
Out
40:41
All right, thank you so much.
In
Out
40:42
Okay, thank you.
In
Out
40:44
Thank you.
In
Out
40:45
Okay, next, uh, excuse me, consider accepting the donation from Doreen Taylor in the amount of $1,000 in memory of Robert DeFontes and in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Secaucus Veterans Memorial Park dedication, to be deposited in the veterans gift account.
In
Out
41:08
Hi, I'm Jim Laflamme, the Veterans Services Officer for the Town of Seekonk, and on behalf of the Veterans Council, I will gladly accept this donation.
In
Out
41:18
Bob passed in 2018.
In
Out
41:20
He was on the original committee to build the park, and he was the impetus for the Gold Star Walkway and helped Mark with the design.
In
Out
41:31
And we were having actually The, uh, it's a 10-year anniversary, so we're going to have the, the original committee members, at least the surviving members, come and, and be recognized at the ceremony.
In
Out
41:43
Okay.
In
Out
41:45
And, uh, I'd like to extend condolences to the town and your families.
In
Out
41:52
Yeah, your dad.
In
Out
41:53
I, I appreciate it.
In
Out
41:54
I mean, it was a week after his 97th birthday, so it was a good run.
In
Out
41:58
He was a Korean War veteran on an aircraft carrier in the Navy, and and then had a 25-year break in service and then joined the Army National Guard.
In
Out
42:05
I don't think a lot of people can, can say that.
In
Out
42:08
He actually had to go at the age of 60 to get his 20 years, uh, to qualify for retirement.
In
Out
42:13
So I, I appreciate that.
In
Out
42:15
If I could just ask you one question not relative to this.
In
Out
42:18
I had spoken with you a year or two ago about getting the town designated as a Purple Heart town.
In
Out
42:24
Has there been any more work on that?
In
Out
42:26
Yeah, one of our committee members is in talks with— there is a guy out in Springfield.
In
Out
42:32
There is a lot of cost involved, and some of that could be curtailed from, like, you know, having DPW install.
In
Out
42:39
But, like, it's a lot of, like, maintenance issues and things like that.
In
Out
42:42
You have to decide how many signs you have to put up because then you have to purchase all of them.
In
Out
42:47
So, all right, very good.
In
Out
42:50
Okay.
In
Out
42:51
All right, so on the request Request to accept the donation in memory of Robert DeFonse in the amount of $1,000 from his daughter Doreen.
In
Out
43:02
What's the pleasure of the board?
In
Out
43:03
So moved.
In
Out
43:04
There's a second.
In
Out
43:06
Second.
In
Out
43:07
All in favor?
In
Out
43:08
Aye.
In
Out
43:08
Opposed?
In
Out
43:09
So voted.
In
Out
43:09
Thank you.
In
Out
43:10
That's great.
In
Out
43:10
We're actually meeting at 7, so unless they read the agenda, they don't know.
In
Out
43:14
So I'm going to let them know as soon as I get over to the senior center.
In
Out
43:17
Thank you.
In
Out
43:17
Thank you.
In
Out
43:18
Okay.
In
Out
43:19
Presentation of the Breyer Company compliance engine for the fire department.
In
Out
43:24
Chief.
In
Out
43:25
Good evening again, Mr.
In
Out
43:36
Chair, Select Board, and Mr. Cadime.
In
Out
43:39
Come before you this evening just to have a general discussion and, uh, just get the information out to the Select Board We've been doing some research in entertaining a company called Bricer.
In
Out
43:50
Bricer is a software platform that tracks and enforces annual required fire alarm inspections, sprinkler reports, and whole suppression systems.
In
Out
44:01
Area fire departments that use this Bricer platform are North Attleboro and Fall River.
In
Out
44:05
They're the closest ones.
In
Out
44:07
I know they're actively looking to get New Bedford online as well, but this is a a free platform to the community.
In
Out
44:16
And I'll just say right now, annual testing compliance depends heavily on manual follow-up in the form of in-person inspections and site visits.
In
Out
44:25
This can sometimes create gaps in either licensing by either missed or having to reschedule inspections, the delay of inspection reports, or even along, along the lines of potential loss of revenue.
In
Out
44:38
We feel that the Bricer platform closes these gaps by directly connecting with the fire alarm and sprinkler technicians that are actively doing their annual testing by helping flag the deficiencies in real time.
In
Out
44:51
Currently, we don't have anything to do that in real time, and this also ensures that the inspections are being completed and documented and available for our inspectors when they go for the annual license renewals or even just the commercial life safety inspections.
In
Out
45:05
So from a safety standpoint, it really strengthens the compliance with state fire and building codes and ensures that the systems meant to design to save lives are actually in fact working.
In
Out
45:16
So, and then also from a financial standpoint, it also matters to us because it captures those missed or late inspections, which translate into recovered permit inspection fees.
In
Out
45:25
I mean, it also reduces our staff time spent chasing paperwork and just requiring they upload it to our platform, which again allows us to focus on a higher value project, if you will.
In
Out
45:38
So overall, you know, we reduce some staff time spent chasing that paperwork, will help improve code compliance and documentation, and then also we ensure systems designed to protect lives are also, you know, designed in protecting lives.
In
Out
45:51
So I ask for you tonight just to allow us to enter into those discussions and potentially into an agreement with the Bryson platform as a solution for us to improve both life safety and hopefully financial performance within the fire department.
In
Out
46:04
Again, this is a zero cost to the community.
In
Out
46:06
All the information added to their system and software is proprietary to us.
In
Out
46:10
It will stay with us.
In
Out
46:11
So as soon as we cancel contract, if we find that it's not a benefit to us, that gets all turned over.
In
Out
46:17
And I guess so really what— I'll leave it open for discussion, but I won't go down a path unless you have questions about the product or the software.
In
Out
46:28
I have a question.
In
Out
46:31
So who, who is paying for this?
In
Out
46:33
Who's supporting this?
In
Out
46:34
It's free to us, but ultimately, right?
In
Out
46:37
So my, my concern, obviously, when we started researching this would be, you know, is it an impact to the, the business owner, right?
In
Out
46:43
So we're obviously business-centric.
In
Out
46:45
We want to make sure that businesses aren't feeling an impact.
In
Out
46:48
From what we're able to gather is that most fire alarm and sprinkler companies already have the reporting fee built into their annual inspections, even though they're not required to report out to SEACONC.
In
Out
46:57
They are required to provide that documentation only upon our request.
In
Out
47:02
So there are the companies, small mom-and-pop stores, whoever they are, up to all the big box stores already being charged most likely the fee, and the company is not reporting out to us.
In
Out
47:13
Because let's take for example— I don't want to use— so we'll use XYZ Sprinkler Company does an annual life safety inspection on the sprinkler system.
In
Out
47:23
They're charging that fee to that company and they're just not reporting out the documentation to us now.
In
Out
47:28
And so that, again, when we go out for the annual commercial life safety inspections or the licensing, we have to now track down that company, get them to supply the documentation, because more often than not— they're not supplying it to us in our OpenGov platform.
In
Out
47:41
So when we go back through and do the man-hours to make sure that everybody's compliant, to renew their license or just for the commercial life safety inspection, that's us doing that work.
In
Out
47:50
So now what they do is the Bryson company makes contact with them and they upload that information to the Bryson platform and they report out to us quarterly.
In
Out
47:59
And they send the reminders, hey, your sprinkler system hasn't been inspected.
In
Out
48:03
Before we even get there.
In
Out
48:04
So they're tracking that, they're helping us navigate those, uh, those waters, if you will, prior to our inspections.
In
Out
48:12
And it's contractual, there's no way we lose that data, that data wasn't sold, correct?
In
Out
48:19
That's all ours.
In
Out
48:19
Yep.
In
Out
48:20
And all the data that we currently have now is ours, so we have to provide them with the contact information, the store location, so they would have access to our OpenGov platform, which provide them with the business owners, the contacts, emails that we have, and that's how they move forward with that.
In
Out
48:34
And then any of the documentation that's supplemental, or that's supplemental to that address, if we cancel at any time, that all comes back to us.
In
Out
48:41
They don't retain it.
In
Out
48:43
They obviously would back it up if we needed it, but it's all proprietary to the Town of Seekonk.
In
Out
48:48
So I was doing some research on earlier, so all these items— fire alarms, sprinklers, suppression, even paint, paint spray, your backflow, your elevators.
In
Out
49:01
A lot of that's done through contractors.
In
Out
49:04
And they input that information manually to you guys when they do these.
In
Out
49:08
But once this system's in place, they're not going to report to you.
In
Out
49:11
They're only going to report to Brycer.
In
Out
49:13
And you can retrieve the data.
In
Out
49:14
So you won't have that— it'll be on you to go into the system and see what's done.
In
Out
49:20
They report out.
In
Out
49:21
As soon as that information is added in, we get the notification that that documentation has been added.
In
Out
49:26
So we would just have to go on that website that we would have access to.
In
Out
49:29
So it's like real-time streaming.
In
Out
49:31
We would get the notification, then we just upload it into our OpenGov platform onto the site file, if that helps you through that.
In
Out
49:40
Yeah, yeah, I just— you don't think you're going to lose any control doing it this way?
In
Out
49:45
No, no, I've reached out to the budding chiefs of Fall River, Chief Bacon, and also Chief Coleman from North Attleboro.
In
Out
49:53
North Attleboro is a little bit larger than us and obviously Fall River is much larger.
In
Out
49:58
They both love the platform and they've not lost any control.
In
Out
50:00
It actually helps them ensure that, like I said, all the systems are active and actually engaging when they're supposed to be.
In
Out
50:10
Training and all that is covered, no cost?
In
Out
50:13
With— it's no cost to the community.
In
Out
50:16
No, they would just come in and sit down with our fire prevention people, myself, the deputy chief, that would ultimately have the access to it, lead us through what we would need for access to the, the software platform, and then it would just be a simple file upload to our database in OpenGov.
In
Out
50:33
Okay, the site file.
In
Out
50:35
And again, you know, this is just to open the discussion to potentially enter in If we want to have another meeting once we kind of start those negotiations, I have no problem coming back.
In
Out
50:45
Just before I started the talks, I wanted to make sure that— It seems like a no-brainer.
In
Out
50:47
I mean, I don't know.
In
Out
50:50
To me it does.
In
Out
50:51
Pretty good then.
In
Out
50:54
Recommendation?
In
Out
50:55
No, no, the chief and I talked about this, so I'm supportive of it.
In
Out
50:58
I think it just gives us a better ability to make sure that we're doing these inspections.
In
Out
51:05
Chief said it really is just downloading the information from Bryson into OpenGov.
In
Out
51:11
Are we missing a lot?
In
Out
51:12
Do we miss quite a few?
In
Out
51:14
As far as the documentation standpoint, yeah, yeah.
In
Out
51:17
Every time we go out for annual commercial license inspection or annual license renewal, we're tracking, we're chasing people down for the documentation.
In
Out
51:27
So consensus, we're good?
In
Out
51:30
Yes.
In
Out
51:30
Let them pursue it and then come back and give us an update.
In
Out
51:34
Okay.
In
Out
51:34
Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
In
Out
51:36
Great.
In
Out
51:36
Thank you very much.
In
Out
51:36
Appreciate it.
In
Out
51:38
Chief, you sticking around?
In
Out
51:40
I am, sir.
In
Out
51:41
Yes.
In
Out
51:41
Okay, good, because— okay.
In
Out
51:46
D, consider amending warrant Article 14, the amount of $100,000 from funding the 3rd phase of the updated door locks to the Dr. Kevin M. Hurley Middle School to provide funding for office improvements at the new DPW office at 911 Taunton Avenue.
In
Out
52:03
All right, this originated by us receiving— our administrator did a letter or an email or whatever from our state senator that initially said that they had secured $100,000 in the supplemental state budget for the Wachusett to Hurley Middle School.
In
Out
52:23
So when someone uses the word secure, that tells me it's a done deal, right?
In
Out
52:30
Well, we were in the company of the state senator, and I said on Friday, and I said to her, so how secure is it?
In
Out
52:37
She said, oh, probably 90%.
In
Out
52:39
So there's still that window that may not happen, okay?
In
Out
52:45
And still, even if it gets passed by the legislature, it's up to the, uh, governor.
In
Out
52:50
The governor.
In
Out
52:52
And we've already been down this road once because when we opened up the Public Safety Center, the blinking light that was out on 44 would only blink yellow, and it did that for 10 years.
In
Out
53:05
And it's a state road, so it was the state that was supposed to come and provide the follow-up equipment.
In
Out
53:10
It was put in the budget, it was taken out.
In
Out
53:12
But us, our reps senators did it, and in the end, the only way we got it to function was in 2015 when we appropriated money at town meeting.
In
Out
53:21
So, I mean, is it your opinion that we abandoned this idea?
In
Out
53:28
No, we— yeah, abandoned the changing or amending it on town floor.
In
Out
53:31
Yes.
In
Out
53:32
So the post from the senator was $750,000, so there was no allocation.
In
Out
53:36
There was a number of communities that were on there, so I did follow up with the senator.
In
Out
53:40
So what they had put in the budget is $50,000.
In
Out
53:43
So if the only thing we could potentially get is $50,000, so half of the cost.
In
Out
53:47
So my suggestion is not to change the warrant article as presented.
In
Out
53:51
Uh, if approved at town meeting, the school department would have the $100,000, and then if we get this in and it's released, and then $50,000 would be sent back to the stabilization fund.
In
Out
54:01
So it's still in conference committee?
In
Out
54:02
It's in, it's in conference committee even if it gets out of budget.
In
Out
54:06
Earmarks do not have to be released by the governor, so sometimes they hold them back depending on how they feel the budget's gonna go and the economics.
In
Out
54:14
So it may, even though it's there, it may not be released.
In
Out
54:17
So, but typically we'll know early on.
In
Out
54:19
We'll get a real good census either in July or August if it's gonna be released.
In
Out
54:24
Yes.
In
Out
54:25
So I see the superintendent and a couple school committee members.
In
Out
54:28
Is that your purpose for being here, for that warrant article?
In
Out
54:31
Okay, do you want to speak to it, or we good?
In
Out
54:33
We're good.
In
Out
54:37
Okay, I thought they were here just to be with us.
In
Out
54:43
We really just enjoy hanging out with you all.
In
Out
54:45
I just wanted to share that, uh, to Mr. Kadeem's point that it, um, they may be released in July or August, that's exactly when we're doing the door lock work.
In
Out
54:53
So the intention is to, um, if it's the will of the town meeting appropriated in May so that the work can be done over the summer before school starts in the fall.
In
Out
55:02
So I just want to reassure that again, if that earmark does come through, this committee and my office were the ones who advocated to Senator Doudna's office that this would really benefit the town.
In
Out
55:13
Our intent would be to turn any remaining money either through that earmark or through just having completed the project and hopefully come in under budget return that at the November town meeting.
In
Out
55:25
So you'll have your answer in just a couple months, but please don't change it now because we'd like to get the work done this summer.
In
Out
55:30
Well, you know, and again, we said secure.
In
Out
55:34
Well, if something's secure, it's pretty, pretty definite, right?
In
Out
55:38
We are hoping for sure, sir.
In
Out
55:40
We would like the classrooms to be secure, the money to be secure.
In
Out
55:43
Let's go.
In
Out
55:44
We're just hoping the locks are gonna be more secure.
In
Out
55:46
Yes.
In
Out
55:47
Thank you.
In
Out
55:49
But you're welcome, thank you.
In
Out
55:50
Thank you.
In
Out
55:51
Okay, discussion on submitting a letter from the select board to the state legislature in support of the state auditor to perform an audit of the legislature.
In
Out
56:02
This was sent to me initially by Ms. Taylor.
In
Out
56:07
Do you wanna speak to this at all, Doreen?
In
Out
56:09
Just a moment, thank you.
In
Out
56:11
Okay, and I thank you for that initiative.
In
Out
56:16
Doreen Taylor, 101 Firth Heights.
In
Out
56:19
I wrote to the, um, the auditor's office to ask what other communities, if any, have submitted their, their resolutions to support, and I was told that the town of Norton has done it and the town of Reading has done it right now.
In
Out
56:38
They've received calls from other communities, but not in writing as yet.
In
Out
56:45
I'm hoping if you all bless it and plan on sending the letter, then I might lobby Rehoboth, Dayton, Somerset, Swansea.
In
Out
56:58
I've already talked to somebody from Attleboro who thinks it's a great idea.
In
Out
57:06
Um, it's, it's good to let Boston or remind Boston that we're here.
In
Out
57:11
And just the background on this, the vote is— the vote is 72% of Massachusetts voters support the audit of the legislature to be conducted by the state auditor, and it has been blocked, delayed, and She goes about her business.
In
Out
57:33
She meaning the, the state auditor.
In
Out
57:35
She's, she's doing her audit of nearly every other department, but she can't get through to the legislature because they keep blocking it, and they're using the AG's office to do it as well.
In
Out
57:47
Yeah, the governor did speak yesterday, yesterday morning, and was in full support of the audit as well.
In
Out
57:54
Well, it's election year, of course.
In
Out
57:55
Yeah, yeah, she said, she says that now, but she's, she's been putting up a fight for access.
In
Out
58:01
So a news account that Massachusetts is the only state that does not audit their legislature.
In
Out
58:07
So imagine that.
In
Out
58:10
So Mr. Kadeem did a very nice job writing a letter on our behalf.
In
Out
58:17
Everybody got a copy of it?
In
Out
58:18
Yes.
In
Out
58:19
Yep.
In
Out
58:19
And I'm glad we— you have me as the signature on it, but I, I like to see everybody sign it.
In
Out
58:25
Okay, it just— I just think it gives a bigger impression.
In
Out
58:28
So if we're good with the letter, then, uh, we'll just change the signature page and we can all sign it and forward what he wrote.
In
Out
58:37
That's very good.
In
Out
58:37
Thank you very much for doing that.
In
Out
58:39
Yeah, thank you.
In
Out
58:39
Yep.
In
Out
58:40
So if we can just take a formal vote and then— yes.
In
Out
58:45
So, all right, so the chair would entertain a motion to submit A letter from the Select Board to the state legislature in support of the state auditor to perform an audit of the legislature.
In
Out
58:58
So moved.
In
Out
58:58
So moved.
In
Out
58:59
Do I have a second?
In
Out
59:00
Second.
In
Out
59:01
All in favor?
In
Out
59:01
Aye.
In
Out
59:02
Opposed?
In
Out
59:03
So voted.
In
Out
59:04
Thank you again.
In
Out
59:04
Mr. Sagar, can I please ask if I can have a copy of that letter that I can, with your permission, include with correspondence to neighboring communities.
In
Out
59:16
Sure, it just doesn't have the letter block who we're sending it to.
In
Out
59:18
It's just the draft of the body.
In
Out
59:20
But okay, that— it's okay as long as I can show them, yes, you guys agreed to do it, then maybe it'll give them a little push to do it as well.
In
Out
59:28
Okay, I hope so.
In
Out
59:29
Thank you.
In
Out
59:29
It's about time Boston knows about Southeastern Massachusetts anyway, right?
In
Out
59:33
They've heard of us.
In
Out
59:35
They get our tax revenue.
In
Out
59:37
All right.
In
Out
59:41
Next, we have discussion to update the recycling policy.
In
Out
59:48
It's not here.
In
Out
59:50
Okay, so good evening.
In
Out
1:00:06
I'm the DPW director, and I have with me tonight Christine, our recycling coordinator.
In
Out
1:00:12
So we're here today to go over this update which is required by MassDEP.
In
Out
1:00:18
We have our sustainable purchasing policy, admin policy number 35, which is dated 12/17/1997.
In
Out
1:00:26
Annually, usually in January, Sean has provided a memo indicating that that is still goal.
In
Out
1:00:33
We've been doing that for a number of years.
In
Out
1:00:35
This last year they approved it with the indication that this coming year, before June 30th of this year I believe the date is, we need to update this policy to their policy.
In
Out
1:00:47
So MassDEP is requiring that this update occur in order to continue receiving our grant funds.
In
Out
1:00:54
The actual template was provided by MassDEP, which we have before you tonight modified for the town of Seekonk and, uh, to replace our old admin policy number 35.
In
Out
1:01:06
It's the same information, same goals as before, the process being streamlined through the use of the internet.
In
Out
1:01:12
They'll keep their updates through the internet, and this is an internal policy.
In
Out
1:01:17
It's the same procedures we'll be following as we have in the past per that annual memo that Mr. Dean used to provide, and memo updates will no longer be needed.
In
Out
1:01:29
So in a nutshell, that's what I have.
In
Out
1:01:31
If you have specific questions, Christine knows a lot more.
In
Out
1:01:38
This is— from what I said, this has been updated a long time.
In
Out
1:01:42
'97, wasn't it?
In
Out
1:01:43
1997.
In
Out
1:01:45
Yeah, yeah, I think we're due.
In
Out
1:01:47
Yeah.
In
Out
1:01:49
Yeah, so the format is obviously pretty old and the language is a little bit outdated.
In
Out
1:01:53
So MassDEP's push was really modernization of some language that we got around by adding the memo, you know, adding that sustainability and the revolving, you know, supporting recycling as a circle.
In
Out
1:02:06
So adding that memo each year, we were able to get around updating the policy, but this year was full stop on our regular grant that we get every year and then any possibility of other grants.
In
Out
1:02:16
We would not be able to apply for anything going forward without doing this.
In
Out
1:02:22
Okay, any other questions of the board?
In
Out
1:02:26
Okay, I'd entertain a motion that we adopt the, uh, amended Administrative Policy 35, uh, as submitted by the town administrator.
In
Out
1:02:37
So moved.
In
Out
1:02:38
Second.
In
Out
1:02:39
Second.
In
Out
1:02:39
All in favor?
In
Out
1:02:40
Aye.
In
Out
1:02:40
Opposed?
In
Out
1:02:41
So voted.
In
Out
1:02:42
Thank you.
In
Out
1:02:43
Thank you very much.
In
Out
1:02:43
Good job.
In
Out
1:02:44
Thank you.
In
Out
1:02:46
All right, good.
In
Out
1:02:47
97.
In
Out
1:02:48
That's, that's good stuff.
In
Out
1:02:50
Third quarter budget review.
In
Out
1:02:53
Mr. Kadeem.
In
Out
1:03:00
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
In
Out
1:03:01
Um, so fiscal year '26 third quarter budget continues to remain balanced with no major issues.
In
Out
1:03:09
Salaries continue to trend below budgeted forecast, and then our expenses are trending below the target for quarter 3 as well.
In
Out
1:03:17
Our revenues, if you go back to quarter 2, were slightly below our target, but they've rebounded nicely for quarter 3 and now trending above budget projections.
In
Out
1:03:27
And I'll get into that a little bit later.
In
Out
1:03:31
From the assessor's office, we just have the Uh, no new changes here, just really the FY26 residential value.
In
Out
1:03:38
Uh, just to remind folks that, uh, our average single-family home value is $558,474.
In
Out
1:03:45
Uh, that was a 7% increase from fiscal year '25.
In
Out
1:03:49
Um, average single-family tax bill is $6,852, uh, with, with 5,117 single-family parcels.
In
Out
1:04:00
The C-Conc income per capita dropped slightly from last year to $47,093.
In
Out
1:04:10
And then in comparison, looking at our state average single-family tax bill to the state average was $8,110.
In
Out
1:04:23
For the Treasurer's Office regarding debt, We continued— we submitted our continuing disclosure form that was updated to reflect the financial data that helps us remain compliant with the SEC reporting regulations and requirements with regard to our bonding.
In
Out
1:04:43
Our bond rating review, as the board is aware, was conducted in April for the notes that would be renewed, and all those will be— have been gone out to bid and signed by the board in April.
In
Out
1:04:55
And just as a reminder, that was for the South End Fire Station in the amount of $283,333, DPW $1,062,500, and then 324 Rav, which is Firefly, $6,970,000.
In
Out
1:05:13
For payroll, the office reported all the premium overtime on the W-2s in compliance with new federal requirements.
In
Out
1:05:20
They've also processed all the W-2s, 280 for the town, 500 for school employees.
In
Out
1:05:27
And then we also process the 1095-C forms, 187 coming from the town and then 370 for the schools.
In
Out
1:05:35
And then we have 48 for retirees on active plans.
In
Out
1:05:39
And then tailings, we transferred $17,623 to the general fund from uncashed checks from 2024.
In
Out
1:05:47
And that's essentially— for those that are not familiar with tailings, that's just claiming back those uncashed checks.
In
Out
1:05:55
So we've got to wait a minimum of 1 year before we can turn those back.
In
Out
1:05:59
So we did all the advertising and the requirements that are required by Massachusetts General Law.
In
Out
1:06:07
Tax title— this slide only modified slightly.
In
Out
1:06:12
So our parcels in tax title are now 38.
In
Out
1:06:15
That's down 1 from quarter 2.
In
Out
1:06:19
The installment agreements continue to be at 2, and then the foreclosure cases in Land Court are still at 18.
In
Out
1:06:27
So for our revenue— so as I mentioned before, all our revenue is either on target or ahead of target.
In
Out
1:06:33
So our real estate for quarter 2 was below target and is now at 74 4.7%.
In
Out
1:06:38
So as I continue to remind folks that are not aware of this, we budget 100% of real estate tax coming in, but rule of thumb is 98% is usually paid.
In
Out
1:06:49
2% goes through that tax title process which we just talked about.
In
Out
1:06:52
So we do eventually collect all of the taxes on that.
In
Out
1:06:57
Personal property continued to be ahead of target at 78.6%, with the year-to-date receipts coming at $1.9 million.
In
Out
1:07:05
And then our motor vehicle excise rebound nicely as well.
In
Out
1:07:09
It was below target for quarter 2.
In
Out
1:07:12
Our big commitment is in February, so with that February commitment coming in, in the, in the payment, we're at 88.7%, which is above our forecasted target.
In
Out
1:07:23
Local receipts, our commitment at $1.8 million, year to date we've received $1.5 million, so we're at 82 2.3%.
In
Out
1:07:33
So all that is coming in.
In
Out
1:07:34
A lot of that is additional fines being received, and then building permits and other permits are higher than anticipated, which is, which is a good thing.
In
Out
1:07:47
For the meals tax, that is ahead of target, 78.8%.
In
Out
1:07:53
So our commitment there was $690,000.
In
Out
1:07:55
We're at $543,000.
In
Out
1:07:58
Our hotel tax, while it's ahead of target, this actually slowed from quarter 2.
In
Out
1:08:04
So if you go back to the quarter 2 report, we were reporting 61.3%.
In
Out
1:08:10
So we're now at 78.4%.
In
Out
1:08:13
So that's slightly slowed down when you're looking at the trend analysis there.
In
Out
1:08:18
But with Darling's new hotel, that will be reflected in quarter 4, right?
In
Out
1:08:23
Uh, just opened.
In
Out
1:08:24
Yeah, yeah, it'll be— we'll catch it in quarter 4.
In
Out
1:08:26
Yeah.
In
Out
1:08:27
Okay.
In
Out
1:08:29
Marijuana tax, uh, 80.2%, uh, that also, uh, grew.
In
Out
1:08:34
We were below target on that.
In
Out
1:08:37
We were at 47% for quarter 2.
In
Out
1:08:39
Our commitment is $810,000 and we've received, uh, year to date $649,436.
In
Out
1:08:45
That jumped up a lot since the last— it Good.
In
Out
1:08:48
There's the new cannabis law.
In
Out
1:08:51
Are you familiar with it?
In
Out
1:08:52
Uh, which, which part?
In
Out
1:08:53
I just— on the social consumption?
In
Out
1:08:56
Well, the permitting.
In
Out
1:08:58
They can now do cannabis cafes.
In
Out
1:09:01
Yeah, the social consumption.
In
Out
1:09:02
Yeah.
In
Out
1:09:03
And when we have this for everyone— and I know Chris had talked before about whether there's some outstanding issues with a lot of them.
In
Out
1:09:11
We do.
In
Out
1:09:11
We'll have— well, there's 2 of them, so we've got one that most likely, hopefully, either the next meeting or the meeting after that will be an executive session and talk about that.
In
Out
1:09:20
Okay.
In
Out
1:09:20
But the social consumption, uh, as it stands now, there's— we don't have a right in SEACONC for social consumption.
In
Out
1:09:27
You'd have to change the bylaw to allow— you have to opt into the social consumption.
In
Out
1:09:31
Okay.
In
Out
1:09:32
So that just went up compared to last— yeah, maybe it was the weather.
In
Out
1:09:36
I'm not— I'm not sure.
In
Out
1:09:39
Could be hibernation.
In
Out
1:09:40
Yeah, right.
In
Out
1:09:42
It was— typically we don't see that jump.
In
Out
1:09:44
It's pretty consistent.
In
Out
1:09:45
So I'm not sure what was driving that.
In
Out
1:09:49
So the liquor industry will tell you it's cost them 10%.
In
Out
1:09:53
And that would have been because of legalization.
In
Out
1:09:56
10%.
In
Out
1:09:56
10% at least.
In
Out
1:09:58
Yeah.
In
Out
1:09:58
Well, they've had the market for how long now?
In
Out
1:10:02
And it's still cheaper.
In
Out
1:10:04
Yeah.
In
Out
1:10:05
From a budget summary, just all the expenses were on target.
In
Out
1:10:09
For salaries, we're at 68.1%, so again, below target there, 75.9%.
In
Out
1:10:15
The only 2 items that I would highlight in red is the education.
In
Out
1:10:19
The driving force there is we paid our assessment 100% for Bristol Aggie, so that's obviously driving that percentage up.
In
Out
1:10:26
And then for other fixed costs, both our pension and liability insurance was paid 100%.
In
Out
1:10:34
In the first quarter.
In
Out
1:10:39
So— for quarterly update, budgeted salaries, forecasted at $12.2 million is where we were targeting to be for the quarter.
In
Out
1:10:52
Then coming in at actual is $11.1 million, so 68.1% expended, with a salary surplus of the $1.1 million for quarter 3.
In
Out
1:11:02
What's really driving that is just 16 vacancies that we currently have through a number of departments.
In
Out
1:11:07
But then also we have our per diem inspectors, so our gas, plumbing, and electrical inspectors, with the number of permits coming in is a lot lower, so they're, they're only paid when they go out for inspection.
In
Out
1:11:19
So those 3 line items are at hovering around 56% for each of those So that's kind of driving that surplus there.
In
Out
1:11:30
In terms of budgeted expenses, expectation for quarter 3 was $19.5 million.
In
Out
1:11:35
We came in at $18.4 million.
In
Out
1:11:38
So we're at 75.9% expended, $1.1 million surplus.
In
Out
1:11:44
I anticipate this to shrink significantly.
In
Out
1:11:47
We still have some significant expenses outstanding that are probably going to be paid for in the 4th quarter.
In
Out
1:11:54
We have the financial audit that hasn't been paid.
In
Out
1:11:56
We have DPW that will be doing all their construction, road work, catch basin work that'll be taking place.
In
Out
1:12:04
Parks and Rec with the field and fertilizer, that's all going to be captured in the 4th quarter.
In
Out
1:12:10
And then we also have some stormwater infrastructure work that hasn't been done yet that will be taking place in quarter 4.
In
Out
1:12:16
So Um, I anticipating obviously a surplus, but not to the, to the tune of the 1.1.
In
Out
1:12:23
And that's all I have.
In
Out
1:12:27
All right, any questions?
In
Out
1:12:28
No, it's all good.
In
Out
1:12:30
Very good.
In
Out
1:12:30
Yeah, very good.
In
Out
1:12:33
Cranston wishes they were in as good a shape as this.
In
Out
1:12:38
Okay, next we have Discussion regarding the Madeira Farm Committee and appointments.
In
Out
1:12:47
I want to jump in here.
In
Out
1:12:48
Oh, you could?
In
Out
1:12:49
Sure.
In
Out
1:13:04
Yeah, so I'll start out by saying Um, the full transparency and being responsible on this board.
In
Out
1:13:15
A lot of work's gone into making sure that we're acting ethically and there won't be conflicts of interest, because many people look at this, as they should be, to make sure things are done right.
In
Out
1:13:29
And that's the way we want to do it.
In
Out
1:13:31
So I am in a butter to my dearest farm property.
In
Out
1:13:36
Okay, so therefore we worked with legal counsel, town administrator, to make sure we got a legal opinion from KP Law on this, which I will read.
In
Out
1:13:49
It's all public documents, everyone has access to them.
In
Out
1:13:54
And not only that, it went from there to the Ethics Department, the state of Massachusetts, where they rendered their opinion as well.
In
Out
1:14:05
I'll read that as well.
In
Out
1:14:07
And I also filed with a clerk a required 23B document whenever a board member is going to speak on an issue which may show as a conflict to a rational person listening to the conversation.
In
Out
1:14:24
So All those things were done.
In
Out
1:14:26
So let me start with the, with the decision.
In
Out
1:14:29
And KP Law did a good job crafting this, and they broke it down.
In
Out
1:14:36
Please bear with me and hear it all out because they broke it down for the Medeiros Farm into a couple sections.
In
Out
1:14:44
They broke it down as A, the property, my actions as a board member, as of butter with a potential conflict as voting on procurement of property, doing things with the actual piece of property.
In
Out
1:15:01
And they broke it down to a second piece as my actions taken, uh, appointing members to the committee.
In
Out
1:15:11
So it's in 2 different pieces.
In
Out
1:15:13
So I'll, I'll read the piece on the property where if I was going to go in there and vote to purchase and do different things.
In
Out
1:15:24
The State Ethics Commission does recognize in particular circumstances a presumption may be inappropriate, and in that regard has found that a municipal official may rebut the presumption providing a bona fide appraisal demonstrating the matter at issue will not impact the value of their property interest.
In
Out
1:15:41
In the advisory the commission states that the appraisal must include such things as credentials of appraiser, sufficient detail about the property, the appraisal, and description of the basis of the opinion.
In
Out
1:15:52
While, in my opinion, it's unlikely that the direct rebuttal would prevail in overcoming the presumption of financial interest, it is important that you are aware of this process.
In
Out
1:16:01
Note that the bona fide appraisal can sometimes be consuming.
In
Out
1:16:04
In the meantime, you may not, in my opinion, participate in matters involving the property.
In
Out
1:16:09
Okay, they go on to the committee, which is the part we're going to talk about tonight, which was the part that I had the biggest interest in because we're talking about a committee tonight.
In
Out
1:16:21
On the Medeiros Farm Committee, notwithstanding the foregoing, in my opinion, General Law 268A-19, which is what we've been talking about, would not prohibit you from participating in discussion or votes concerning the appointment of members to the Medeiros Farm Committee.
In
Out
1:16:38
My understanding is that while the committee is charged with overseeing and advising the select board, the select board and/or town administrator make the decisions concerning the farm, including but not limited to procurement, hiring, purchasing, project approval.
In
Out
1:16:53
Thus, regardless of who is appointed to that committee, whether and how that committee reports to or advises the select board and any actions the select board may take in response can only be seen as speculative in nature, in my opinion, and therefore would not serve to preclude you from participating in the appointments.
In
Out
1:17:13
Conclusion: be further aware that there are matters in which you do not have a financial interest as the term is defined for purposes of the conflict of interest law, but where a reasonable person might think you would act or fail to act for a reason other than in the best interest of the town, you may wish to consider filing a disclosure under the provisions of GL 268A-23B, which I did file with the clerk.
In
Out
1:17:38
Disclosure of the relevant facts renders unreasonable the conclusion that you would act or fail to act for some other reason, such as result of kinship, rank, position, or undue influence.
In
Out
1:17:49
As an example, if you choose to participate in a discussion of vote on an appointment of members to the Medeiros Farm Committee, by filing that disclosure, the 23B, of your financial interest, which I have, that you are a director of Butter, you would render unreasonable the conclusion that your actions were taken for personal reasons rather than in the best interest of the town.
In
Out
1:18:09
I have enclosed that form for such purposes, which was filed.
In
Out
1:18:16
Okay, so from there, their opinion went to the State of Massachusetts Ethics, and it went to Mr.
In
Out
1:18:24
Fear, that it was forwarded to me.
In
Out
1:18:25
Pursuant to the Commission's Municipal Advisory Opinion Regulation 930 CMR 1.033, I have reviewed your opinion to Robert Archambeau dated April 15, 2026.
In
Out
1:18:37
I concur with the conclusions contained in your opinion, except that before Mr. Archambeau acts in a matter that would create an appearance of conflict of interest under 23, he must file a disclosure.
In
Out
1:18:48
In other words, if his actions as a select board member would cause a reasonable person having knowledge of the relevant circumstances to conclude that any person can improperly influence or unduly enjoy his favor in the performance of his official duties, or that he's likely to act— fail to act as a result of kinship, rank, position, undue influence on other parties or person, he should file a 23.
In
Out
1:19:10
Disclosure before he acts.
In
Out
1:19:12
That has been done.
In
Out
1:19:13
I agree that Mr. Oshaba should file the 23B before he participates.
In
Out
1:19:18
And that was from Eve Slattery, General Counsel, State Ethics Commission, Massachusetts.
In
Out
1:19:25
Okay, so you filed that with the clerk?
In
Out
1:19:27
It's been filed.
In
Out
1:19:29
Okay, so we're done with that.
In
Out
1:19:34
Done with that.
In
Out
1:19:35
I can't vote and participate according to the state of Massachusetts in the appointing of members to the Madeira Farm Committee.
In
Out
1:19:43
Okay, so on, uh, Item H, discussion regarding the Madeira Farm Committee and appointments.
In
Out
1:19:51
I know there's been some discussion.
In
Out
1:19:52
Uh, Mr.
In
Out
1:19:53
Chair, do you, do you want— I put the list together.
In
Out
1:19:55
I know I sent an email.
In
Out
1:19:56
Do you, do you folks need that?
In
Out
1:19:57
Yeah, why not?
In
Out
1:20:00
Just so they have it.
In
Out
1:20:01
Oh, you want one for everybody?
In
Out
1:20:03
I do, yeah.
In
Out
1:20:03
Oh, okay.
In
Out
1:20:04
Yeah, thank you.
In
Out
1:20:07
So, well, I had brought that up a couple of weeks ago to put on the agenda, and thank you.
In
Out
1:20:16
And, um, my intention behind doing that was in, in looking at the committee members themselves and to seek consistency with the appointments by this board, and only 2 members have been officially appointed by this board.
In
Out
1:20:34
And I just, like I said, want to see consistency and compliance with the charter and bylaws and officially appoint them.
In
Out
1:20:42
And I did express an interest in serving on the committee as well.
In
Out
1:20:46
But I think as far as the appointments, that was my intention, just for the consistency consistency.
In
Out
1:20:54
Okay.
In
Out
1:20:55
Yeah, I agree there was a lot of confusion.
In
Out
1:20:57
Yeah, there has been.
In
Out
1:20:59
All the time about the appointments.
In
Out
1:21:00
Yeah, for each— from each of these, per the warrant article for May 8th of '23, they were appointed from their individual committees, but not— they didn't all come before the board.
In
Out
1:21:12
I went through as many of the board meeting minutes as I could.
In
Out
1:21:17
I could not see— it wasn't done in a wholesale fashion at all where you could point to a certain meeting and say that they were appointed.
In
Out
1:21:25
Okay, so I think it would be proper to, to not reshuffle anything.
In
Out
1:21:30
The committee is the committee, um, but just vote on them and appoint them tonight, put it into the record.
In
Out
1:21:38
Okay, do you agree?
In
Out
1:21:41
Um, yeah, but we do have to discuss this select board appointee, the intent behind either the article or the board itself.
In
Out
1:21:51
I mean, we can— I don't know where the board stands with that, if they want to leave that part, you know, 2 weeks from now.
In
Out
1:21:58
I don't know.
In
Out
1:21:59
My intent was to address the appointment of the members.
In
Out
1:22:05
And you have expressed an interest in being the select board appointee?
In
Out
1:22:09
I have.
In
Out
1:22:10
So in order for you to take that role, the existing member, Mr. Sullivan, would have to be removed.
In
Out
1:22:17
Okay.
In
Out
1:22:18
Okay.
In
Out
1:22:18
And by our charter, uh, he has to be notified in writing.
In
Out
1:22:23
Okay.
In
Out
1:22:24
And has the opportunity to come before us and have a hearing.
In
Out
1:22:27
Absolutely.
In
Out
1:22:28
You agree with that, Sean?
In
Out
1:22:29
I do.
In
Out
1:22:29
That's correct.
In
Out
1:22:30
That's— so I say we follow every rule we have to.
In
Out
1:22:34
Absolutely.
In
Out
1:22:35
Absolutely.
In
Out
1:22:35
So that only becomes necessary if the majority of this board wants to remove them and appoint you.
In
Out
1:22:43
Okay.
In
Out
1:22:44
All right.
In
Out
1:22:45
So can we do it by consensus?
In
Out
1:22:48
Uh, well, I guess what, what we should do— I think if it's the board appointee, that's the only issue.
In
Out
1:22:53
If we can, I guess, vote on all the other members.
In
Out
1:22:55
Yep.
In
Out
1:22:56
And take that so that that issue is already resolved, and then we can just talk about the board selection.
In
Out
1:23:00
Okay, now typically also board and committee meeting members go for 3 years, right?
In
Out
1:23:07
Uh, with the exception of building committees.
In
Out
1:23:09
So the building committees stay to the, um, I guess the end of the— so you consider this a building committee?
In
Out
1:23:16
Correct.
In
Out
1:23:16
Yeah.
In
Out
1:23:16
So there wouldn't be any time?
In
Out
1:23:18
No, no.
In
Out
1:23:19
Okay, so along those lines Do you want me to make the motion for the current members?
In
Out
1:23:30
Um, yeah, 6 of them.
In
Out
1:23:31
Yes, make a motion for, um, Willett Mason, Andrea, uh, Rooster, Nathan Sosha, Nicole LeMay, David Sullivan, and Paul Medeiros to be appointed to the Medeiros Farm Committee.
In
Out
1:23:45
Yes.
In
Out
1:23:46
And, uh, number 2 is Andrea.
In
Out
1:23:50
Yeah, I'm looking at him like, what?
In
Out
1:23:53
Okay, that's your motion.
In
Out
1:23:56
Is there a second?
In
Out
1:23:57
Second.
In
Out
1:23:58
Okay, any discussion?
In
Out
1:23:59
I just have a question.
In
Out
1:24:01
Sean, when this came up at town meeting, I thought that was part of the appointment process.
In
Out
1:24:06
You thought what was planned when town meeting voted to do it for each mem— for each individual committee to appoint someone?
In
Out
1:24:15
I thought that was the proper thing.
In
Out
1:24:17
That's why it never came in front of us individually to So what you guys are trying to do now, I thought that was already— we had already done that through the process, through town meeting, right?
In
Out
1:24:26
So, so we had a conversation— when we had a conversation with, with town council, it was, it was, um, form over substance is what he said.
In
Out
1:24:34
So the board is essentially acknowledging that those individuals were being appointed without actually taking, um, taking a vote on it.
In
Out
1:24:43
So however, if recall, prior to the election, we were even going to have this— we were going to have this vote anyways to just reconfirm and take the issue— just remove the issue and just reaffirm the individuals.
In
Out
1:24:56
Then this— and that was my intent, right?
In
Out
1:24:57
Yeah.
In
Out
1:24:58
And then the second question, wouldn't you include Mr. Sullivan?
In
Out
1:25:01
Has— we have not informed him in writing of any action.
In
Out
1:25:04
Well, we, we're going to have that conversation.
In
Out
1:25:05
I just want to separate it because that seems to be the only— oh, okay.
In
Out
1:25:08
That was the only issue.
In
Out
1:25:09
I didn't include his name.
In
Out
1:25:11
I just said the others, right?
In
Out
1:25:12
To just, yeah, confirm their appointment.
In
Out
1:25:15
And right, any other comments?
In
Out
1:25:18
Do you have anything, Mike?
In
Out
1:25:19
Do we just want to add in your motion what committee they actually come from so people know what committee they actually come from?
In
Out
1:25:27
I can do that if you like.
In
Out
1:25:28
Okay, um, we submit a motion for Willett Mason from CPC, Andrea Rossiter from the Historical Um, uh, committee.
In
Out
1:25:39
Nathan Sosha from Conservation, Nicole LeMay from Parks and Recreation, David Sullivan from Planning, and Paul Medeiros from the Medeiros family.
In
Out
1:25:46
Okay, is there a second?
In
Out
1:25:48
Second.
In
Out
1:25:49
Okay, any further discussion?
In
Out
1:25:52
All in favor?
In
Out
1:25:53
Aye.
In
Out
1:25:53
Opposed?
In
Out
1:25:56
So voted.
In
Out
1:25:57
Okay, that's done.
In
Out
1:25:58
Okay, that's good.
In
Out
1:25:59
And now, as far as Your interest in Elizabeth being the select board's appointee, is that your intent?
In
Out
1:26:11
Yes.
In
Out
1:26:11
Okay, so there is somebody in that position, was just Mr. Justin Sullivan.
In
Out
1:26:17
So if the majority of the board wants to take that action, yes, Mr. Sullivan must be notified.
In
Out
1:26:22
Absolutely.
In
Out
1:26:23
And he has a right to request a hearing before this board.
In
Out
1:26:27
Okay, I agree.
In
Out
1:26:29
So shall we take a vote or do it by consensus?
In
Out
1:26:32
Uh, what's— no, I wouldn't make a formal vote.
In
Out
1:26:35
Okay, on what the board wants to do.
In
Out
1:26:37
Okay, so do we have a motion?
In
Out
1:26:41
Yes.
In
Out
1:26:42
Okay, and that would be— that would be to notify Justin.
In
Out
1:26:47
We're gonna do a motion to notify.
In
Out
1:26:48
We're gonna do a motion to notify for What would you say for removal?
In
Out
1:26:55
For removal, if that, if that's the intent, I would make a motion to notify Mr. Sullivan of the board's intent to remove him from the committee.
In
Out
1:27:02
That would be the motion.
In
Out
1:27:03
Is that your motion, Mr. Archambault?
In
Out
1:27:05
Yes, it is.
In
Out
1:27:05
Okay, I'll second that.
In
Out
1:27:07
Is there any discussion?
In
Out
1:27:13
And, uh, the chart is silent on how much notice he needs, so if you could just send him an email or whatever.
In
Out
1:27:19
Yeah, I'll send a notification for the next meeting.
In
Out
1:27:22
Yep.
In
Out
1:27:22
Okay.
In
Out
1:27:22
Okay.
In
Out
1:27:23
What would be acceptable timeline?
In
Out
1:27:26
Well, if there's no— nothing in the charter that says how much time you're going to give them.
In
Out
1:27:33
Well, I, I put a date that he would— we're looking for a response obviously by the next board meeting.
In
Out
1:27:39
Yeah, by the next board meeting.
In
Out
1:27:40
Yeah.
In
Out
1:27:40
Okay.
In
Out
1:27:41
Which should be, if we do it the way we've been doing it, we'd be 2 days after town meeting, which would be the 13th, right?
In
Out
1:27:47
Right.
In
Out
1:27:47
Yep, that's what's on the schedule.
In
Out
1:27:49
All right, so it's been moved and seconded.
In
Out
1:27:53
Uh, all in favor?
In
Out
1:27:54
Aye.
In
Out
1:27:55
Opposed?
In
Out
1:27:56
Aye.
In
Out
1:27:59
So voted.
In
Out
1:28:01
Okay, next we have— oh, discussion of select board summer meeting schedule.
In
Out
1:28:10
Uh, I didn't do a formal schedule because Michael reminded me that a lot of times people going away on vacation, if we have— if I knew those dates in advance in the summertime, just to make sure we'd have a quorum.
In
Out
1:28:24
But what I'd like to do, and I'll tie this all in, uh, we used to do this all the time, and I think because of something that happened last night, I want to meet before town meeting at the high school.
In
Out
1:28:39
And I want to invite the Finance Committee and the fire chief.
In
Out
1:28:45
And should we make it 5 o'clock, Sean, or make it 5:30?
In
Out
1:28:51
I would say 5 o'clock.
In
Out
1:28:53
I don't know how long the discussion is going to be.
In
Out
1:28:54
Yeah, I just— I guess 5 o'clock.
In
Out
1:28:56
I'm not sure with the change of people's availability.
In
Out
1:29:00
That's, that's the only reason I hesitated.
In
Out
1:29:02
Okay, so 5 o'clock, and they'll reserve a room typically.
In
Out
1:29:06
Okay, and then that'll be on 5 o'clock on the 11th, and then we'll be back here on the 13th, 2 days after.
In
Out
1:29:16
And then in for the month of May, 2 weeks after that, which I think is— yeah, the 26th, 27th.
In
Out
1:29:25
Yep, you're right.
In
Out
1:29:26
Thank you.
In
Out
1:29:27
All right, is that agreeable with everybody?
In
Out
1:29:33
Yes.
In
Out
1:29:35
Okay.
In
Out
1:29:36
All right, uh, we're going to skip over item K, correct?
In
Out
1:29:40
Okay, discussion of Old Town Hall.
In
Out
1:29:46
Okay, so before we brought Old Town Hall before the town meeting, and by a 2-to-1 margin, they basically said no.
In
Out
1:30:00
Okay, but subsequent to that, uh, at one of our meetings here, our former chairperson toured it and thought that the building was in worse shape than what she had anticipated.
In
Out
1:30:11
Now, the only time it seems like we get any comments or any interest is when we talk about maybe getting rid of it.
In
Out
1:30:18
But there's got to reach a point in time when enough is enough.
In
Out
1:30:22
Because even hypothetically, if you sold that building for a dollar and it went on the tax rolls and somebody else renovated it, we— that's a win.
In
Out
1:30:32
If not, at some point in time, that building will cost you $75,000 or $100,000 to tear down.
In
Out
1:30:37
I mean, it's a real part of our history.
In
Out
1:30:39
I'd love to see something be done with it, but how much longer are we going get it the latest and just keep going and going and going.
In
Out
1:30:45
So I would like to put a challenge out, if you will, to the public that from, from May, this town meeting, to the fall was like 6 months.
In
Out
1:30:54
If somebody's interested in doing something, have some ideas, let's try to do something.
In
Out
1:31:00
And otherwise, I will recommend that we put it back on the warrant to dispose of it.
In
Out
1:31:06
So do you have any thoughts, Michael?
In
Out
1:31:09
I mean, we've kicked the can down the road with that building for how long?
In
Out
1:31:12
Yeah, but then the people, people voted to keep it.
In
Out
1:31:16
Um, I mean, it is in tough shape.
In
Out
1:31:17
I mean, if we're going to use it, we're going to use it.
In
Out
1:31:19
I've said since day one, if we ever decide to get rid of it, and when any money that we get, I believe they— we owe $100,000 to the roof, for the roof, back to the people who put it up, who fixed the roof.
In
Out
1:31:32
So, um, I mean, if there's something we can use it Well, that'd be great.
In
Out
1:31:36
Um, you know, those 2 buildings we've had for how long just sitting there empty and they're just rotten away?
In
Out
1:31:44
Because we're going to discuss the next one in a minute.
In
Out
1:31:45
So yeah, so that's fine.
In
Out
1:31:48
Anybody have any comments, any thoughts?
In
Out
1:31:51
Yes, if you'd like to.
In
Out
1:31:53
May I?
In
Out
1:31:54
Yes, yes.
In
Out
1:31:56
No, no, I'd be surprised if you didn't say something.
In
Out
1:32:00
Mr. Alves on this subject.
In
Out
1:32:06
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
In
Out
1:32:07
John Alves, 25 River Street.
In
Out
1:32:12
As most of you may know, I am absolutely in favor of keeping Old Town Hall and utilizing it.
In
Out
1:32:20
The chairman has suggested coming up with ideas.
In
Out
1:32:24
Let me Let me list some things that have happened that may discourage anybody from attempting it.
In
Out
1:32:34
There was a committee appointed by the selectmen to look at it, and lots of information was passed to the selectmen.
In
Out
1:32:44
No action taken.
In
Out
1:32:47
Habitat for Humanity looked at that building twice.
In
Out
1:32:52
They would basically discourage by indicating that somebody else had, had an interest in that building.
In
Out
1:32:58
So basically no action taken.
In
Out
1:33:02
Several times, uh, town meeting has rejected selling the property.
In
Out
1:33:07
Several times, um, we have supplied the select board with information as to what a similar situation in Barrington, an old building, old fire barn there, and how they cared for that building instead of tearing it down and throwing it in the trash heap.
In
Out
1:33:30
The last thing is I find it a bit disingenuous when you include a picture of Old Town Hall, when you say, All they come work for the town of Seekonk.
In
Out
1:33:46
These are the good town.
In
Out
1:33:48
These are the good things that make Seekonk good.
In
Out
1:33:51
In the meantime, there's a lovely picture of Old Town Hall.
In
Out
1:33:55
So it's a bit disingenuous, I think, to include that in a recruiting pamphlet that you put out to say, come visit in, in, and work for us because we care.
In
Out
1:34:12
What— in, in this case, you're simply going to throw Old Town Hall on the trash dump and say thanks a lot.
In
Out
1:34:19
History doesn't mean a thing.
In
Out
1:34:21
May I speak?
In
Out
1:34:22
Sure.
In
Out
1:34:22
Okay.
In
Out
1:34:23
Um, I think the building would serve well as a cultural center and a historical, maybe, museum.
In
Out
1:34:31
Um, after discussions on Friday with the people at the groundbreaking ceremony.
In
Out
1:34:39
We would have to do some fundraising activities, or fundraising to find funds to renovate, but I think that would be— I think that would be a great idea.
In
Out
1:34:49
Maybe a cultural center slash museum, if we could get the funding to do it.
In
Out
1:34:57
Certainly don't disagree.
In
Out
1:34:59
It's all about money and people to do it.
In
Out
1:35:02
I, I told you I would take the lead on that.
In
Out
1:35:05
I don't have a problem with it.
In
Out
1:35:07
Yeah, on Friday at the, uh, the groundbreaking Bristol County Savings Bank, they're very committed to investing in the community.
In
Out
1:35:14
Yeah, we, we spoke to some people who, um, who not only work for the bank but are associated with the bank that invest in cultural, uh, type projects, and it was very encouraging.
In
Out
1:35:30
And I have their business cards, and I'd be more than happy to reach out to them and have another conversation.
In
Out
1:35:36
But first, we would need to decide what direction we would want to go in with the building.
In
Out
1:35:40
But I mean, I don't know, do you think a cultural historical museum would be— you can find a use.
In
Out
1:35:48
Okay, perfect.
In
Out
1:35:49
Okay, all right.
In
Out
1:35:50
But I just don't want to sitting here for— no, I agree.
In
Out
1:35:53
Same conversation.
In
Out
1:35:54
I agree.
In
Out
1:35:54
It deteriorates every, every day it sits there.
In
Out
1:35:57
No, I agree.
In
Out
1:35:58
Would you be willing to work with Ms. Ovation on that, Mr. Chairman?
In
Out
1:36:03
I'd work with the devil himself if necessary to save this building.
In
Out
1:36:08
Or herself.
In
Out
1:36:08
The devil herself or himself.
In
Out
1:36:11
Oh wow.
In
Out
1:36:12
Wow.
In
Out
1:36:13
So you met with— yeah, we did, at the library.
In
Out
1:36:18
Yeah, the business economy savings bank— just say one more thing there.
In
Out
1:36:23
When a business comes into town, economic development, when they win, we win, and vice versa.
In
Out
1:36:28
And they— Jeff Bradley's their point man there, and he, he spent a great deal of time talking with us because it's in their interest to showcase their new bank coming up this fall.
In
Out
1:36:39
So he said, and you can look online You know, I looked at it last year and this year again, they're committing 10% of the net operating income.
In
Out
1:36:50
Last year was about $2.4 million to within the communities with those 16 branches they have.
In
Out
1:36:55
So it's a significant amount of money.
In
Out
1:36:58
And some of the ideas we, you know, asked them, what do you do for charitable giving?
In
Out
1:37:02
And they kind of checked some of these boxes.
In
Out
1:37:05
You went over a lot of things they've done in the other communities.
In
Out
1:37:07
So, so yeah, without, without a doubt.
In
Out
1:37:10
Um, I mean, that this branch isn't going to open until, um, the fall, but they anticipate this branch to be one of two of their most, uh, successful, successful and pro— you know.
In
Out
1:37:23
So if you would like, I can reach out to him, we can set up a meeting, and the three, you know, whoever on their end wants to meet, and I can get in touch with you and we can communicate as far as a day and time and bounce around some ideas.
In
Out
1:37:37
We'd be delighted, Mr. Chairman.
In
Out
1:37:40
And as a reminder, the committee that this select board appointed came up with multiple ideas of a use for the building.
In
Out
1:37:51
Multiple ideas.
In
Out
1:37:53
Not just one, but a good number of them.
In
Out
1:37:56
Good.
In
Out
1:37:57
Well, let's hope we can do something.
In
Out
1:37:59
That'd be great.
In
Out
1:38:00
Thank you very much, Mr. Stiles.
In
Out
1:38:03
Thank you.
In
Out
1:38:03
And Liz, thank you.
In
Out
1:38:04
I'll leave my pitchfork at home.
In
Out
1:38:06
All right, next, uh, discussion of County Street Fire Station 179 and vote to consider placing the property up for sale.
In
Out
1:38:18
We received approval from town meeting to dispose of it.
In
Out
1:38:25
That was 6 months ago, so why don't we list it?
In
Out
1:38:29
And I don't know how we want to list it.
In
Out
1:38:30
Any suggestions?
In
Out
1:38:32
So we were waiting because we had interest from Habitat on Humanity and a couple other things.
In
Out
1:38:37
That's why we haven't listed it.
In
Out
1:38:39
Has it been appraised?
In
Out
1:38:42
No.
In
Out
1:38:43
Okay.
In
Out
1:38:43
I mean, I think this has got private sale.
In
Out
1:38:46
You can't— it has to go out to bid, so you— we can't just get whatever you think market value is, like you'd sell your house.
In
Out
1:38:53
No, I was just wondering if it's ever been done.
In
Out
1:38:55
I see, Michelle, you have your hand— yep, come on up if you like.
In
Out
1:39:00
Print out the determination.
In
Out
1:39:02
Do you want it?
In
Out
1:39:03
The other thing with county street property, you have to do a test on the contamination of the soil because it was a fire department before you can put it up for sale or anything.
In
Out
1:39:15
Yeah, and basically I think a municipality has to get fair market value or more.
In
Out
1:39:22
You can't sell anything for a dollar just to get the tax money.
In
Out
1:39:28
And as far as 624 Taunton Avenue, I just want to ask you, uh, one question.
In
Out
1:39:33
Besides myself and Mr. Kadeem, who else has been in that building?
In
Out
1:39:38
Oh, you have recently.
In
Out
1:39:40
Were you in there when we went in there?
In
Out
1:39:42
No, it's part of the library committee.
In
Out
1:39:44
We went in to figure maybe we could use— I was at that meeting.
In
Out
1:39:48
We could use it as a temporary, temporary spot for the library.
In
Out
1:39:54
And I almost cried when I saw the inside of that building.
In
Out
1:39:58
It's destroyed.
In
Out
1:40:00
It's seriously— have you been in?
In
Out
1:40:02
Please go in.
In
Out
1:40:02
I haven't been in.
In
Out
1:40:03
Please go in and see it.
In
Out
1:40:05
It's I worked in that building for many years before we came down here, and since then, for other reasons, that building is destroyed.
In
Out
1:40:16
And it, it's a shame.
In
Out
1:40:17
It is a shame.
In
Out
1:40:18
And if anybody uses it— and I always voted to keep that because a town doesn't usually like to get rid of their town-owned property— go take a look at it.
In
Out
1:40:30
I've changed.
In
Out
1:40:31
I've totally changed my mind about the property.
In
Out
1:40:33
Mr. Alves and I are on opposite sides now.
In
Out
1:40:36
So you, you're in a— your position is the same as it was at the last meeting, that it should be torn down?
In
Out
1:40:43
Uh, sold.
In
Out
1:40:44
Sold.
In
Out
1:40:45
Okay.
In
Out
1:40:45
Yeah.
In
Out
1:40:46
Okay.
In
Out
1:40:46
Well, you tear it, tear it down if the town's going to keep it.
In
Out
1:40:49
Yeah, because it's also been vandalized and you don't need any more vandalization in the building.
In
Out
1:40:57
Yeah.
In
Out
1:40:57
So, okay.
In
Out
1:40:59
I was going to say talk to Mr. Alves because— oh yeah, he already knows you're on opposite sides now.
In
Out
1:41:06
Yeah, that's okay.
In
Out
1:41:09
So, so we're both devils?
In
Out
1:41:12
That's all right, I'm clear.
In
Out
1:41:13
It's all good.
In
Out
1:41:14
Okay, who cares?
In
Out
1:41:15
But County Street, they need to do a— yeah, the soil contamination before it goes up.
In
Out
1:41:20
That makes sense.
In
Out
1:41:22
Thank you.
In
Out
1:41:24
So we get a zoning determination and You could, if you had the room, you could do an ADU on the site.
In
Out
1:41:34
So, if there's any— we don't have any money to do this, do we, to get it ready for sale if we've got to do inspections for contamination?
In
Out
1:41:45
We could potentially just use— SERPAD has phase 1, money for phase 1, so we could potentially target that and see what they have for, uh, funding.
In
Out
1:41:54
They may not have funding until next fiscal year, which is just around the corner, but we can, we can get there.
In
Out
1:41:59
So should we direct the town administrator to start the process?
In
Out
1:42:02
Sure.
In
Out
1:42:02
Yes.
In
Out
1:42:02
Question, would we raise the building?
In
Out
1:42:06
We would.
In
Out
1:42:07
I would, I was, I would say if we're going to sell it, not— I wouldn't spend money raising it.
In
Out
1:42:11
Yeah, yeah.
In
Out
1:42:12
So that all the soil testing can be done right there.
In
Out
1:42:16
Yeah.
In
Out
1:42:17
I think— yep, so we're in agreement.
In
Out
1:42:19
So I didn't obtain a motion that we instruct the town administrator to prepare it for sale.
In
Out
1:42:26
Yes, so moved and seconded.
In
Out
1:42:28
Okay, all in favor?
In
Out
1:42:30
Aye.
In
Out
1:42:30
Opposed?
In
Out
1:42:31
So voted.
In
Out
1:42:36
Are we looking— um, just for clarification, are we looking to have just a general out to bid, this is a property that we're looking to dispose of?
In
Out
1:42:45
Or, uh, to Mr. Zorro's point, are we looking to get it to Habitat for Humanity?
In
Out
1:42:49
Because if that's the case, we might want to just change how we go out to bid.
In
Out
1:42:54
And Habitat for Humanity, when they were here, they said they'd probably tear it down, and then they want variances of special permits to put a couple of small buildings.
In
Out
1:43:05
They ain't going to want to spend the money to tear it down.
In
Out
1:43:07
No.
In
Out
1:43:08
Right.
In
Out
1:43:08
And I think the building's worth much more to sell.
In
Out
1:43:10
I think so too.
In
Out
1:43:11
Yeah.
In
Out
1:43:11
Well, so just general, just general, I would say.
In
Out
1:43:15
Yep.
In
Out
1:43:16
Everybody agree?
In
Out
1:43:17
Doesn't stop them from submitting a bid.
In
Out
1:43:19
Oh yeah, absolutely.
In
Out
1:43:21
Okay, then we have open session minutes.
In
Out
1:43:26
My glasses broke, so it's open session minutes of March 18th, 2026.
In
Out
1:43:33
April 1st, 2026.
In
Out
1:43:37
Pleasure of the board.
In
Out
1:43:38
So moved to approve.
In
Out
1:43:40
Second.
In
Out
1:43:40
Second.
In
Out
1:43:41
All in favor?
In
Out
1:43:42
Aye.
In
Out
1:43:43
Opposed?
In
Out
1:43:44
So voted.
In
Out
1:43:45
Community Speaks.
In
Out
1:43:49
Anybody for Community Speaks?
In
Out
1:43:54
Seeing none.
In
Out
1:43:57
Other business.
In
Out
1:43:58
Discuss other topics not reasonably anticipated by the chair 48 hours before the meeting.
In
Out
1:44:04
And I'm going to use, if you will, that privilege from an event that happened last evening.
In
Out
1:44:11
I asked the fire chief— Chief Whalen, could you come up here please?
In
Out
1:44:25
Uh, last evening I was told you attended the Finance Committee meeting.
In
Out
1:44:30
That is correct.
In
Out
1:44:31
Okay, and they voted to remove the 4 firefighters from the mid-year hire?
In
Out
1:44:38
Uh, not in my presence, but I have learned that that was the vote taken after my dismissal from the meeting.
In
Out
1:44:44
Okay.
In
Out
1:44:45
Have you had a lot of interactions with the Finance Committee on this?
In
Out
1:44:48
Um, no, sir, that was the first, uh, interaction had last night on your budget in general, correct?
In
Out
1:44:54
I mean, I've had meetings with administration but not directly with the finance committee.
In
Out
1:44:58
No, sir.
In
Out
1:44:59
Well, that's sad.
In
Out
1:45:01
Well, I, I don't understand the thought process.
In
Out
1:45:06
I mean, it's been a known fact that the select board years ago, manning for the fire department was a priority, right?
In
Out
1:45:16
And you've tried for years, and now you finally find a way where you at least 4 guys mid-year hire, and they cancel it.
In
Out
1:45:24
It makes no sense to me.
In
Out
1:45:27
Well, the good thing is it happened after the warrant was closed, right?
In
Out
1:45:32
So your budget stands as presented.
In
Out
1:45:34
It would have stood as presented.
In
Out
1:45:36
They just— they don't have their column listed, so they would still have to make an amendment.
In
Out
1:45:40
They would have to make an amendment to 84, right?
In
Out
1:45:42
Good luck.
In
Out
1:45:43
It was just a recommendation, though, right?
In
Out
1:45:45
Correct.
In
Out
1:45:46
Correct.
In
Out
1:45:46
We take action on the Boris Luckman budget.
In
Out
1:45:48
Exactly.
In
Out
1:45:50
But I do— you know, the chief was there to talk about exactly the staffing levels and the commitment that was made by this board and previous boards to get to the level.
In
Out
1:46:01
When I was at Finance Committee, we also talked about— you know, there were some concerns about the staffing level, and rightfully so, that some members did their research, comparing us to other communities and wanted really to have that conversation.
In
Out
1:46:13
I had reminded them that what we have in the budget right now is only getting us to 11 firefighters per shift.
In
Out
1:46:18
The original commitment going back to 2023, I think it was, I forget the exact year, was to get to 12 firefighters per shift.
In
Out
1:46:27
Then the chief came on board.
In
Out
1:46:29
He upped that to 13 firefighters per shift.
In
Out
1:46:33
So part of the conversation I had was that what's in the current budget is what was needed, and we could still— if there was concern about getting to 12 or to 13, there was still time to have those conversations either at the upcoming Quad Board or just having— scheduling some meetings.
In
Out
1:46:48
And I think the chief kind of, based on conversations I had with him— and I don't want to put words in your mouth because I wasn't there— but essentially had some similar conversations in terms of where it was.
In
Out
1:46:58
So even if there's concerns about the number that we're looking to target, I think there was still some room room for discussion.
In
Out
1:47:05
I think my only concern was— is that what we've seen in the past, anytime there's been a reduction, it's been for a specific purpose, to either reallocate it to a different department.
In
Out
1:47:16
In this instance, we're removing 4 firefighters and just essentially freeing up revenue.
In
Out
1:47:21
It's not going to the schools, it's not going to another department, it's just reducing the revenue— the use of revenue.
In
Out
1:47:30
From my standpoint, obviously my commitment is still to the fire department.
In
Out
1:47:33
That's what the commitment of, of the board was.
In
Out
1:47:35
So I would say that obviously going to town meeting fully supporting it, it's just, um, you know, I don't, I don't know why we would reduce it, especially mid-year hires, and if there's no need to put it into another department.
In
Out
1:47:46
That's, that's just my stance.
In
Out
1:47:48
Well, the one of the— I'm told, I wasn't there— one of the, uh, Finance Committee people who made the motion.
In
Out
1:47:56
I won't mention his name, but that same person appeared here on January 7th.
In
Out
1:48:04
The gentleman said he was present to discuss firefighting staffing.
In
Out
1:48:08
He noted at last year's Springtown meeting he voted in favor of the South End fire station, and it was evident from the town administrator's report that the development in the South End was imminent.
In
Out
1:48:19
The gentleman stated that He later realized current staffing levels would mean 6 firefighters spread across 3 stations, which was concerning to him.
In
Out
1:48:28
However, when this issue was raised in September, a board member indicated that efforts would be made to increase staffing, and based on that assurance, the gentleman again voted in favor.
In
Out
1:48:39
Following the court board meeting, after reviewing how tight the budget is, this gentleman expressed concern about how staffing increases will be accomplished.
In
Out
1:48:48
He stated that he hopes the board can determine what this will look like, noting that most options require the governing body to decide appropriate staffing levels.
In
Out
1:48:57
He emphasized that he does not want a 3rd station constructed without adequate staffing in place and reiterated that his primary concern is seeing the staffing issue addressed.
In
Out
1:49:07
And then he leads the charge to reduce it by 4.
In
Out
1:49:11
So that's why I want to meet at 5 o'clock.
In
Out
1:49:14
Uh, and would you invite the Finance Committee?
In
Out
1:49:19
Okay.
In
Out
1:49:20
And we, uh, I believe we are in full support of the budget as submitted and approved.
In
Out
1:49:29
Do I have that understanding?
In
Out
1:49:31
Yes.
In
Out
1:49:32
Michael?
In
Out
1:49:33
Okay.
In
Out
1:49:33
Yep.
In
Out
1:49:34
Chris?
In
Out
1:49:35
Yep.
In
Out
1:49:36
Yeah.
In
Out
1:49:37
Chief, do you have anything you want to add?
In
Out
1:49:39
I've updated my calendar to reflect 5 PM.
In
Out
1:49:44
Very good.
In
Out
1:49:46
Might want to make it 4:40.
In
Out
1:49:49
Okay, Doreen, you had a comment?
In
Out
1:49:57
Yes, again, Doreen Taylor, 101 Forsyth.
In
Out
1:50:00
I find it troubling what I just heard, and I just want to make sure that I heard it correctly.
In
Out
1:50:07
The Finance Committee voted to reduce the fire department's budget by the 4 hires after the chief was dismissed from the room?
In
Out
1:50:19
Well, meaning that my presentation was presented and I was no longer requested to be at the meeting.
In
Out
1:50:26
Not that they told me to leave the meeting, but there was no other— you thought they were done?
In
Out
1:50:30
You didn't know they were going to vote?
In
Out
1:50:32
Um, no, ma'am.
In
Out
1:50:34
That's— that is horrible.
In
Out
1:50:38
In all my experiences on the Finance Committee, that has never been done.
In
Out
1:50:44
Okay.
In
Out
1:50:45
And I think it's backdoor.
In
Out
1:50:47
And I hope you let them really, really know what you're thinking, Mr. Sagar and Mr. Healey and anybody else here who's had experiences with Finance Committee.
In
Out
1:50:59
That is horrible.
In
Out
1:51:03
And there was, there was one member that voted against that, just to be clear, not to throw everyone under the bus.
In
Out
1:51:09
It does, it doesn't matter.
In
Out
1:51:11
That one member, that still taking a vote like that that affects this man's department after he has left the room, whenever, without him being, is completely unprofessional.
In
Out
1:51:23
Professional.
In
Out
1:51:24
And it, it— in hindsight, I would, I would be livid if I was the chairman of this board.
In
Out
1:51:32
I would be in touch with the chairman of that board, Toot Sweet, and I'd be like, how can you do that to the man?
In
Out
1:51:40
That is totally disrespectful to our fire department and our fire chief.
In
Out
1:51:47
And I know I— and without you even having to go any further.
In
Out
1:51:52
I, I think the individual who voted against this has not enough knowledge of the budget and how it works.
In
Out
1:52:00
5 people on the Finance Committee voted against it.
In
Out
1:52:04
It was unanimous.
In
Out
1:52:05
Mr. Zorro just said 5 voted in favor.
In
Out
1:52:09
One, one person voted 5 to 1.
In
Out
1:52:11
5 to 1.
In
Out
1:52:12
5 to 1.
In
Out
1:52:12
So they all did.
In
Out
1:52:13
Yeah, there's one vacancy.
In
Out
1:52:14
5 yeses, 1 no.
In
Out
1:52:17
Yeah, so that's why I want to say it wasn't everyone that voted, right, right, to do what you're saying, throw the chief from his budget.
In
Out
1:52:24
Most of those people, I'm sorry, are rookies, and I would question their knowledge on how the budget actually works.
In
Out
1:52:30
Well, we want to collaborate with them, and so collaboration's one thing, but they slapped this man in the face, and I don't think that's proper.
In
Out
1:52:40
I agree with you, but The mission is to get the cuts restored if they in fact have been cut.
In
Out
1:52:47
It's just their recommendation.
In
Out
1:52:48
Yeah, it's their recommendation.
In
Out
1:52:50
And I, I think town meeting would more than support the 4 firefighters, I hope anyways.
In
Out
1:52:56
Michael, you want to say something?
In
Out
1:52:58
I, I don't think we really have to argue about this too much.
In
Out
1:53:00
It's a recommendation from them.
In
Out
1:53:02
We don't, we don't have to listen to it, right?
In
Out
1:53:04
In my opinion, we go forward with the total administrators presented budget.
In
Out
1:53:08
It is our budget to present.
In
Out
1:53:10
That's what the townspeople vote on.
In
Out
1:53:11
They can make any recommendation they want.
In
Out
1:53:14
To me, I'll leave it up to the voters at town meeting.
In
Out
1:53:16
I'm sure they're going to do the right thing.
In
Out
1:53:17
Excuse me, but I think if they do that at town meeting and they speak against, they better have a written report as to why, and it goes on record with the town moderator and the town clerk.
In
Out
1:53:29
Well, that's why I want to meet with them before, and hopefully Yeah, thank you.
In
Out
1:53:36
Get some sense into them if you want.
In
Out
1:53:38
Okay, Town Administrator's report.
In
Out
1:53:43
Thank you, Mr.
In
Out
1:53:44
Chair.
In
Out
1:53:44
Uh, regarding town meeting, I know it's been said, I just wanted to remind people while we have the forum here, town meeting is scheduled for May 11th, which is just 12 days away.
In
Out
1:53:55
Uh, just noting again the time change from 7 o'clock to 6 o'clock.
In
Out
1:53:59
So it's an hour earlier than usual.
In
Out
1:54:01
And as Mr. Durkee had mentioned, I'll be taping a show with the moderator tomorrow to review and discuss the Warren articles ahead of town meeting so that that can play on TV9.
In
Out
1:54:13
Just an update for 911 Taunton Ave.
In
Out
1:54:16
So as I mentioned to the board, I believe at the last meeting, the owner has secured a lease that begins on July 1st.
In
Out
1:54:23
Under the terms of the P&S, the closing is scheduled for July 18th, which was 120 days from the effective date.
In
Out
1:54:32
So we're currently in good shape with the closing documents, working with KP Law.
In
Out
1:54:37
We received the title report last week, and we're trying to work with the seller to determine whether there is an interest to advance the closing prior to July 18th.
In
Out
1:54:46
So I'll keep the board up to date.
In
Out
1:54:48
If not, we're targeting the July 18th close date.
In
Out
1:54:53
In terms of the library, a couple of updates.
In
Out
1:54:56
I know we bypassed the OPM contract.
In
Out
1:55:00
We're still working in negotiation with CHA for the OPM services.
In
Out
1:55:06
So without getting too far into the specifics publicly, because we're doing the negotiations, their initial proposal came extremely higher than we anticipated.
In
Out
1:55:16
We were going back and forth.
In
Out
1:55:17
CHA is currently reviewing and revisiting the proposal to identify potential adjustments and cost reductions.
In
Out
1:55:23
So I'm hoping we have some movement before the next meeting.
In
Out
1:55:29
Just continuing with the library, the Library Board of Trustees has worked through several offers with a number of candidates declining and withdrawing during the process.
In
Out
1:55:39
But the board is pleased to announce that Elise LaForge has accepted the position.
In
Out
1:55:45
So she's currently completing the onboarding process.
In
Out
1:55:48
She's not official yet, but the Library of Trustees is excited to finally have somebody on board.
In
Out
1:55:55
So that's— that will put that hiring process to bed.
In
Out
1:55:58
So we want to welcome Ms. LaForge, and we look forward to working with her.
In
Out
1:56:04
And then finally, just on the update for the Medeiros Farm, I know we just reappointed the members.
In
Out
1:56:10
But we are still working with KCM, who is the OPM of record on that project, trying to negotiate with the designer services, who also happens to be CHA.
In
Out
1:56:20
Not the same individuals.
In
Out
1:56:24
So in this process, they did something a little bit different.
In
Out
1:56:27
They wanted to work on the scope of services and get to an agreement on that and then build up a fee proposal based on those scopes of services.
In
Out
1:56:35
So we, we have finally agreed on what the services look like, and now they're— I'm just waiting for fee proposals to see what that looks like.
In
Out
1:56:45
So that's all I have.
In
Out
1:56:46
Okay, thank you.
In
Out
1:56:48
Okay, select board liaison reports and comments.
In
Out
1:56:52
The accounts payable warrant we took care of.
In
Out
1:56:55
TV9 liaison report.
In
Out
1:56:59
Uh, new Bristol County Advisory Board member, uh, anything to report?
In
Out
1:57:04
Nothing to report yet.
In
Out
1:57:05
Okay, so we'll keep you posted.
In
Out
1:57:08
Okay, go around the room.
In
Out
1:57:11
Chris, do you have anything?
In
Out
1:57:12
Uh, you brought up earlier about the marijuana.
In
Out
1:57:14
Was it pertaining to the 3rd license?
In
Out
1:57:17
No, the 2 current licenses we have.
In
Out
1:57:19
We still have not heard back from Mr. Bransky about that 3rd license, if they're gonna— no, so it's, it's expired.
In
Out
1:57:24
We've, we've We've reached out to them, uh, there's no response.
In
Out
1:57:26
So they would— so technically another— they'd have to— another company can come in and it's available.
In
Out
1:57:31
Okay.
In
Out
1:57:32
I don't know anyone, but if anyone does, let them know we have them.
In
Out
1:57:37
Michael?
In
Out
1:57:38
Uh, nothing.
In
Out
1:57:39
I mean, Liz?
In
Out
1:57:39
Nothing.
In
Out
1:57:40
Bob?
In
Out
1:57:41
So with the library, there's— at this point, there's no plan.
In
Out
1:57:46
It's too premature for where things will be moved.
In
Out
1:57:50
Once this project gets going?
In
Out
1:57:51
The library?
In
Out
1:57:52
Yeah.
In
Out
1:57:52
Yeah, so we don't have a location right now.
In
Out
1:57:54
So that's, that's part of the, uh, services.
In
Out
1:57:56
We, we've been looking at a couple locations, um, but the OPM also has services in there to help us.
In
Out
1:58:03
Uh, so there's some discussion.
In
Out
1:58:05
We're just waiting for the library director to come on, on board.
In
Out
1:58:07
So we, we realize that we've got to scope down the services that we're providing, but also, uh, talking with the schools, there may be some interest in doing some services in the schools so we can offset some of maybe children's programs and things like that.
In
Out
1:58:20
Um, but in terms of identifying a location, we, we haven't secured one.
In
Out
1:58:24
We've looked at a couple, um, and they're obviously— if they're commercial space, they're, they're pretty high in rent.
In
Out
1:58:30
So I bet— I've heard in other instances, and I'm, I'm sure the committee's probably already talked about it, when things are stored for a length of time, if they have to be stored in large containers, it usually doesn't go well unless you've had a preset humidified location, which is extremely expensive.
In
Out
1:58:52
It just— if it comes down to that, hopefully we're very careful with the things we put in there that we don't end up damaging them if we do end up storing things.
In
Out
1:59:00
Yeah, so for the books, they're going to be— there's specific companies out there that deal with just moving the books, so it's all temperature control for for the books.
In
Out
1:59:08
So we're going to make sure for any of the artwork or books that we're not taking over that are not going to be in temperature-controlled space that it would be with that company.
In
Out
1:59:15
So we would obviously have to go out to bid for that service.
In
Out
1:59:18
But that's the plan moving forward.
In
Out
1:59:20
We're just trying to figure out how much needs to go into storage versus how much we can actually use in the space that we get.
In
Out
1:59:29
Don't you use the trailer for one of the libraries?
In
Out
1:59:32
Out of for, I believe, 2 years while they renovated theirs.
In
Out
1:59:35
Not ideal, but yeah, you have to do what you have to do sometimes, right?
In
Out
1:59:39
Oh, like a double-wide trailer, something like that?
In
Out
1:59:40
Just like an office trailer, most likely you have on the schools, like additional classes.
In
Out
1:59:45
Office trailers here, job sites.
In
Out
1:59:47
They ran a— I don't know if their books were all stored there, but that's all they ran their library out of.
In
Out
1:59:52
Okay, uh, I have just a couple of things.
In
Out
1:59:56
Uh, this is from the town planner.
In
Out
1:59:58
Wanted me to read this attached.
In
Out
2:00:01
Please sign a flyer announcing the above-referenced roundtable discussion being held by the Seekonk Planning Board on May 19th, 2026 at 5 PM at the Seekonk Senior Center.
In
Out
2:00:11
The purpose of the roundtable discussion is to review these 2 master plan elements as currently adopted and convene a discussion on appropriate goals, objectives, and strategies regarding the town's public services and facilities, as well as transportation issues, challenges, opportunities, and future needs.
In
Out
2:00:31
The planning board will be extending invites to all relevant town boards and commissions, as well as the town's professional staff via the technical review committee.
In
Out
2:00:41
The public is encouraged to participate as well.
In
Out
2:00:44
To that end, planning board would respectfully request that the select board announce the round table during the public announcement portion of their upcoming agendas as they may see appropriate.
In
Out
2:00:55
A memo may be forthcoming summarizing the planning board's legislative charge in regard to the development and adoption of community master plans, current goals and objectives of each element, as well as outlining further issues, concerns, opportunities, and challenges that are currently present or may day lie ahead.
In
Out
2:01:16
Thank you, Mr. Orton.
In
Out
2:01:19
7 PM on the 19th at the Senior Center.
In
Out
2:01:27
Okay, um, let me see.
In
Out
2:01:30
Our next— we'll meet before the town meeting on the 11th, then we'll back here in 2 days on the 13th, and then if we keep with the 2-week schedule, we'd be here on the 27th.
In
Out
2:01:44
So I'd like everybody to think about this, and on the 27th, bring in your goals and objectives that you'd like to see this board pursue in the next year.
In
Out
2:01:54
Okay, uh, let me see.
In
Out
2:02:00
We being Bob, Liz, and myself, along with the treasurer of assistant treasurer attended the groundbreaking ceremony for Bristol County Savings Bank.
In
Out
2:02:11
And I have to say, we were very, very well received by them, and they were very well received by us.
In
Out
2:02:18
And I made, made it a point to publicly thank them for their $50,000 donation for a new set of Jaws of Life.
In
Out
2:02:29
And they said they typically would wait and do that at the ribbon cutting, but they recognized how valuable those jaws are and to save a life.
In
Out
2:02:37
So the president said hopefully when they have their ribbon cutting sometime in the fall, they could have a fire truck there with the jaws on display.
In
Out
2:02:45
And I said, I think we, we can accommodate that.
In
Out
2:02:48
I think so.
In
Out
2:02:49
We might be able to procure a damaged car as well to be able to showcase it.
In
Out
2:02:58
Water cannons.
In
Out
2:03:01
So yeah, they were very nice.
In
Out
2:03:02
And you know, it's funny, you go there and you, you thank them for the $50,000, and the last thing you say, wow, geez, they just gave us 50 grand, maybe we'll wait a while before we hit them again, right?
In
Out
2:03:12
And, and that was— that $50,000 was through Mr. Habib's effort working with the foundation, right?
In
Out
2:03:18
Yeah, charitable foundation.
In
Out
2:03:19
And we were having a light lunch, and we had the chair— the president They come over, they couldn't wait to engage us about other opportunities.
In
Out
2:03:27
Oh yeah, we didn't— we did not wait.
In
Out
2:03:30
I didn't wait.
In
Out
2:03:31
I've got them on the hook for a few things.
In
Out
2:03:32
Yeah.
In
Out
2:03:33
So I will say they were wonderful.
In
Out
2:03:35
Yeah, they really were.
In
Out
2:03:36
And not because they just gave us the $50,000, but Bristol County Savings Banks is by far head and shoulders amongst any community bank in terms of the donations that they give back to the community.
In
Out
2:03:45
Amazing.
In
Out
2:03:46
And they're sincere about it.
In
Out
2:03:48
And, you know, there's the reinvestment, Community Reinvestment Act that all banks need to give back.
In
Out
2:03:52
But a lot of times what you'll see is to the same organizations.
In
Out
2:03:55
So, you know, the Boys and Girls Club, which are all great organizations, the YMCA, things of that nature.
In
Out
2:04:01
But Bristol County Savings is really committed to making sure they give back to the community and to the municipalities.
In
Out
2:04:08
So I thank them for everything.
In
Out
2:04:09
I've been working with them for a long time.
In
Out
2:04:11
They are fantastic by far.
In
Out
2:04:13
Our tree lighting ceremony.
In
Out
2:04:15
I heard he discussed it.
In
Out
2:04:19
Okay, if there's nothing else, a chair would entertain a motion.
In
Out
2:04:26
I don't know if you want to make an announcement on the Memorial Day Parade.
In
Out
2:04:30
Oh, sure.
In
Out
2:04:31
That's a good one.
In
Out
2:04:32
I don't have the date.
In
Out
2:04:33
I think it's the 28th, right?
In
Out
2:04:35
New time?
In
Out
2:04:36
Oh, we have— yeah, we have time.
In
Out
2:04:37
We got another meeting.
In
Out
2:04:38
Yeah, we got a couple more meetings.
In
Out
2:04:40
Well, thank you.
In
Out
2:04:41
It's the end of April, not the end of May.
In
Out
2:04:42
Yeah.
In
Out
2:04:44
Okay, so I then entertain a motion to adjourn from open session to enter into executive session to reconvene in open session for potential contract approval.
In
Out
2:04:59
And, uh, my glasses broke.
In
Out
2:05:02
Michael, would you read that for me please?
In
Out
2:05:04
Oh, Item A, to act under the authority of Open Meeting Law, General Laws Chapter 38, subsection 21— uh, 22F and 22G, to review and approve the executive session minutes of February 16, 2022, for their possible release pursuant to General Law Chapter 38, Section 21A, uh, 7B, to conduct strategy sessions with respect to negotiations with the Deputy Police Chief per Mass General Law Chapter 38, subsection 21A2, as having the discussion in open session will detrimental to litigation or bargaining position of the town.
In
Out
2:05:34
And C, consider the approval of executive session minutes of March 18th, 2026 and April 1st, 2026.
In
Out
2:05:42
And we entered executive session at, uh, 8:05.
In
Out
2:05:46
Okay, thank you folks.
In
Out
2:05:48
So moved, Crisara.
In
Out
2:05:50
Second, Whiteley.
In
Out
2:05:52
Okay, roll call.
In
Out
2:05:53
Crisara, aye.
In
Out
2:05:54
Gary Segar, aye.
In
Out
2:05:55
Whiteley, aye.
In
Out
2:05:56
Elizabeth Dalmatian, aye.
In
Out
2:05:57
Robert Archambault, aye.
In
Out
2:05:59
All right, why don't we take a 5-minute recess if anybody has to get some water?
In
Out
2:06:03
Do you have any water, Mr.—
In
Out