Select Board - August 24, 2026

All right, I'm going to call the August 24th select board meeting to order. Uh, please join me in the pledge of allegiance.

I pledge algiance 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.

Under Mass General Law, chapter 30A section 20F, this meeting is being recorded. Um, tonight is we have a new chair for the evening. Uh, our our chair is uh traveling away on vacation. So, I have some help to my left who hopefully will get me through the procedural process um of this. So, hopefully it goes as smooth as possible. Um so first off we have some acknowledge acknowledgements and recognitions. Um

first off uh it's been three weeks since the last time we met as a select board.

So that a lot has happened over that 3-week time period. Uh first off was the uh police night out that was put on uh here in Westport which again was a great event. Uh great weather. Um, everyone was, you know, had had a great time with the, uh, food trucks and, uh, harbor master, marine services, fire department, police. It was it was a really well put together, uh, event with

a lot of, uh, vendors and and tables uh, there. So, it was was a great time and a great turnout. uh in the second second year. Um we also had uh the select board and through the town meeting had approved um police training or active shooter training that took place um on both August 10th and August 13th. uh I had the opportunity to attend one of the uh one of the um events and it was

really good to see the coordination between both fire and police and uh preparing for for that uh you know unfortunate situation that does occur all too often in the country but uh it it's it's good to get that training and get every everyone kind of on the same page and it was very very good to see the coordination in that that um just recently we had uh the shell stock event

on August 15th. That was a another wonderful event. Uh I was able had the opportunity to attend that as well. And uh it was a well attended event. Again, great weather for that as well. And uh just looking into the crowd, we also had the Shallop event uh down at Westport Point. Uh again, another another great event. Uh turnout was great. Uh saw some great videos and uh drone footage of the

Shallop both coming in and leaving. So, it was uh a great event and and thank you to both uh all those organizers and and Betty Slay and David Colola here. Um with respect to that, now we do have a little bit of a special recognition uh today as well to both as I mentioned Betty Slade and David Cole. Uh they've been active active participants here in our community for many many years. Uh

and they have decided to to move on uh from Westport. uh they're going to be heading I think everyone knows probably to Austin, Texas is uh where you're headed and uh you know we have a citation both recognizing uh Betty Slade and David Cole for their service uh for their professionalism, their integrity and kind of willingness to work with the community um and basically make Westport

a better place uh during their time here. So want to thank both Betty um and David for that. Um, you know, you're going to be very well missed when you uh head out head down south. So, I do have my boots on, so I don't think I think I don't You don't have boots on. So, you better get you better get a pair you better get a pair of those before you

get down there. You go to Allen's Boots in in Austin.

Um, would anyone like to say a few words about Betty and Sure. Well, I've had the privilege of knowing these this couple for a long time, not only in relation to politics, but as neighbors. So, we're we're neighbors at the point and we've seen each other at a lot of different events over the years. And uh on behalf of my wife and family, we wish you the best of luck in all your future activities and endeavors.

I I think that I'd like to recognize Dave and Betty for all the things that we're recognizing him for, but uh Betty is probably has [clears throat] one of the best institutional memories of elections and boards and and strategies and and when I took six years off from elective office um a couple of years ago and I came back um back into the fray of things and tried to resurrect all my old files um for

various things. Betty had better files than I did.

So, be thanks to Betty, I was able to um organize my campaign much more efficiently than I would have if I was just going on my memory. So, and and and and it's true. Well, you don't you don't go to a major Westport event without either one or both being there. And so, uh, they've been a tremendous, uh, uh, supporters of the town, contributors to the town, and and I, for one, will miss them.

I got I have your book in my flight bag.

I'm working my way through it. So, so even if you leave Westport, you'll still have a piece of Westport.

Thank you. Thanks. You guys do again. Appreciate it. We have we have these citations here. Obviously, Shauna's signature is missing, so I'm sure you would uh want to hold off before we take these citations home with you because I think Shauna has become very good friends with you as well and would probably want her signature on these citations as well. So, thank you.

Thank you again for everything you do.

Thank you very much.

Thank you. Um we'll miss all of you.

that would be Beverly Bish. I we have a citation here uh very similar recognizing your 11 years of outstanding service and commitment on behalf of the town of Westport and the residents and those at the council of aging that you've served over that uh long time frame. We appreciate everything you've done. Uh, as we've mentioned in the meetings and when we're hiring the new director of senior services, your shoes

will be very difficult to fill. I know today was uh day one uh with a little bit of overlap. So, we appreciate you spending a week and and and meeting with the with Lauren uh and basically showing her the ropes. and I don't think one week's enough time, but we appreciate everything you've done. Uh the grants you've brought into this town, the what you've built the Council of Aging into

has been uh exemplary. So, we really appreciate your professionalism and everything you've done over the past 11 years. And again, we uh recognize you today with the citation. So, thank you, Beverly.

Now, with the citation also gets you bumped up the in the agenda. So, so, so that will allow you to to go home early. It's a it's a part took 11 years.

It's a parting gift for you, Beverly.

So, uh, we're going to just move a few things out of order. Um, action item 6D, uh, which is a request to approve community transit grant program or CTGP and authorize the expenditures. So, Beverly, if you want to explain that to us and we can I hope I can get you home before dark.

Sure. I hope I can explain it. Sort of came up last minute and I was kind of like, oh, what do I have to explain? Um, I did this grant.

I believe it was 2025 and um it is for a brand new van. Um, it's either a 12 or 14 passenger. I'm not exactly sure. Was a little while ago. I'm not exactly sure which one it was. Um, but I did receive the grant.

Um, put everything together. Uh, the we have uh an estimate of $18,125, which would be our 15% match for the town. The last time I did a grant application for a van was for 2018, the Phoenix, and that van cost 70 maybe 72,000.

This new one is $122,200 and some odd dollars and that's since 2018. So, it's very expensive. We used to have to do a 20% match, but I think because of the cost that they the federal government said that we could do a 15%. So, I did just get the invoice today. Um it's 18,329 and they said 18,125 was our estimate.

So, we're right on target. I did um add two items for options. Um one of them was a cloth seat for the drivers and the vinyl seats for the um clients that come in. And we also ordered um walking back through by the vans, there's grab uh bars on the top of the seats because a lot of times the clients would just hold on. We like the grab bar because it

makes it's a lot steadier for people to walk. Um and those are the the only two things we ordered. anything else. Um I'm pretty sure we got an auto uh an automatic door, not a um manual door. Um that could have been part of it was $2,476.

So the total for the town for the match is $20,85.70 and I know we have 20,000 in our capital improvements. So we have to come up with $85.70.

I think we're pretty good with that though.

Um and uh [clears throat] um so it looks like they want to deliver that on Friday, August 28th.

Okay, great.

They might be delivering it. They asked if um um I've never done this part of it before. This is sort of new. The last van that I got was a uh 2021 um Echoline. Uh, another company had gotten it during COVID and there were two eight passenger wheelchair accessible vans that um, the company didn't want. So, they put it out again and we didn't have it didn't cost us a

dime. So, we got those two and all I had to do was go to Attboro. The the company that had it was Amigo and Attboro and I just signed for them and brought it home. Um, and that was all I had to do.

There wasn't anything else to it because of the way it was transferred over. So um the van itself is leased by uh SERA.

You sign a lease with no payment. The um government the Massachusetts or the or the federal government holds on to the lease for 5 years or 100,000 miles. Once you have it for 5 years or 100,000 miles, it becomes the towns and because sometimes people don't use the van, they have to give it back. Um so if if you have to give, you know, if you have to give it back, we have to give it back.

Um, but uh for the most part we're going to use ours because we have a 2014 Elcart van which has 120ome thousand miles on it and that's on it's kind of on its last leg. Um, and we have a 2018 Ford Phoenix which is the both 14 passages. So, this one will replace one of those two. We have an eight passenger Econo Line, a U minivan, a Honda. Uh,

it's a 2014 and nobody will let me get rid of it because everybody loves that and it it's got only 64,000 miles on it and that'll last forever. So, um, we're going to keep that. And we have a Dodge Caravan which is wheelchair accessible.

Actually, that one came from Adaptive Mobility and it was um, somebody bought it and they couldn't use it so they sold it to us and our friends and we had extra money in capital improvement to pay for that van. um that van um a handicap driver with a wheelchair can slide right in behind the wheel and drive it. That's how that's how uh that one works. It's it's pretty cool. Not

that we have anybody that drives it, but um we could, you know, have somebody drive it. So, we've got quite a few quite a good fleet. Um we do take care of the fleet. We make sure that, you know, the oil's changed, the repairs are done. Um you know, people are pretty good drivers. You know, you get little bangs and bruises, but nothing nothing major. So, I don't think I need to say anything else. Do I?

I think we do.

Is there any questions you have, Chris?

Um, no. Just uh within your pack, you have a copy of the contract uh to be signed. Um the grant contract total before you this evening is 30,000. Uh and it's through the FY26 um community transit grant program. Um on the contract itself, the vote tonight would be um Oh, that's a Yeah. to approve the grant.

Two different Those are two different grants.

Yeah. So Oh. Oh, okay.

Yeah.

Oh, I didn't know which one you wanted me to. Okay.

Quite all right. Yeah. Say um same same grant. This one um I guess maybe for some clarity is uh transportation services. Yes.

From uh through the end of December 2027.

um which can be used for these type of activities.

Yes.

Um as well as additional just operational as well.

This is my first grant getting um I applied for 75,000 through DOT. I got 30 they asked if I'll take part of it. I said yeah. They gave us $30,000. Um I didn't think I they would do that because this is the first time I've gotten an operational grant from DOT because they weren't doing it in this area. So I got the 30,000. It runs from January of 26 to December of 27. We

haven't used any of it and it's a reimbursement grant so we have to put the money out first and then submit the reports to them. I wanted to wait till the new director started. Um I wasn't notifi notified until March anyway about this grant. So um this is a good time to be able to do it and that 30,000 can stretch over into um fiscal year 20 and

28. So we can we can use it that way. Um when I did my budget for this year, um we did increase significantly the drivers line item from 38,000 to 60,000 because I had gotten those on two other um operational grants that I had applied for. So because I wasn't sure what we would get. Um but that might that might come in handy because we'll have some overlap with um Lauren and myself. Um

and also some training and things that we're going to be doing. So, um, that wage amount, it won't go to waste, that's for sure. Um, and I put together a little little numbers for, uh, everybody likes my little charts and my little numbers that I put together this year. Our transportation expense line item for 2026 was $110,34581.

The revenue was $115,4757.

This is the first year we've had um excess the first year. Every other time we're in we're in um [clears throat] deficit. We had we used to be 10 $15,000 in deficit and no longer. We increased our uh van fees uh the donations from $5 to $750 and $15 round trip. Uh I increased them for um ARW uh the the foundation that supports my outreach. um we increased those and um I think with

that um we've been able to um manage uh the the the budget pretty reasonably for transportation. Um I do have this report which I can send out to everybody. Um but the van drivers last year the cost for them was $70,289.

So, it's significant with the drivers and that doesn't count the dispatcher, the vehicle repair, telephone, gas, and oil uh and office supplies and things like that. So, there's a lot involved um with transportation. It doesn't just come out of one line item. It comes out of quite a few. Um so, um I'm happy to say that we're in the black for that.

So, that was a good thing this year.

Thank you, Beverly. So Chris, the motion would be on the $30,000 uh 2026 community transit grant program to accept that.

Uh yes. So uh authorize me to sign on behalf of the town and authorize the expenditure.

Okay.

So moved.

Second.

So there's a motion and seconded by uh Dick Brewer. All those in favor? I opposed. It passes. Oh, excuse me. Go ahead. So Carlo, that was four in favor with one absent. Go ahead, Betty.

Since Beverly's talking about vans, um, in these very late days of her tenure, she drove the two the van on Saturday and Sunday both times to take people back and front the shallot and she did it voluntarily. I was amazed. She just said, "I'll do it."

Yeah.

That's Beverly.

We need We needed another van driver. So Nancy and I did it.

Is that why we need another van? That's why. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Did you hit something?

So, yeah. Actually, I drove the Econo line. I drove the eight passenger one because I hadn't driven one of the bigger ones. Um, you know, my background, I used to drive the 14 or 16 passenger one in, um, Boston. So, I figured if I can drive on Staro Drive, I can drive anywhere, you know, and through the hospital. So, um, but yeah.

So, and it was good. It was really funny because a lot of the people that came in come to the center and got on the van and they're like, "What are you doing here?" Like, I'm driving. said, "This is my swan song." So, I wanted to make sure that, you know, I go out with a bang and they would laugh and like you're too much. So, but it was, you know, very um

it was it was fun. It's a fun day, you know. It's a fun day. So, well, thank you, Beverly.

Appreciate it.

Thank you. Thank you. All set.

Thank you. Thank you very much. So, thank you. You can go now.

Thank you.

Um so, the next uh order of business on the agenda is license and permits. Uh, first one is a request from Frank Ray for a one-day wine and malt beverage liquor license for a wish come true incorporated at Holy Ghost Grounds, 171 Sodom Sodom Road on Saturday, September 12th and Sunday, September 13th from 12 to 7:00. Chris, do we have a police report on that?

Uh, we do. It's in your packet. Um, they have no concerns uh with recommending the approval. They just ask that there be a detail for both the days of the event.

Do I have a motion? Good. Great event. I move approval.

Second.

Uh that was both Craig and Dick. And those in favor I I opposed. Passes for in favor with one absent.

Uh next one we have appointments and resignations.

We have a request to appoint two select board representatives to the police sick leave bank committee. Chris.

Yes. Uh so as part of our collective bargaining agreement with uh the police brotherhood um there is uh a sickly bank committee um that forms in the case of uh if someone is out and they have exhausted their sick time they can go to this committee. Um it is comprised of two representatives of the town and two representatives of the union. Um we haven't had any um requests come to that

committee. However, uh the town did receive one recently and so we are trying to reconstitute it. Um historically um from what was told of me, uh the select board representatives were the town administrator and the police chief. Um if the board uh is satisfied with that um both myself and the chief are um happy to continue serving in the capacity or if you want to have two other representatives um we

just ask that those appointments be made tonight.

It makes sense that the two of you continue in that role. Um, so I would move that we uh appoint the town administrator and the police chief to be our representatives on the police sick leave bank committee.

Second.

Second, Mr. Chair.

Any discussion?

All those in favor?

I opposed. Carla passes forward. Uh, in favor, one absent.

Next is a request to appoint Tim Ford to the infrastructure oversight committee.

Uh we actually have a uh letter of support uh from Mory May and then one that uh Mr. Ford sent to us as well. Do you have any anything other than that?

No other comments.

All right. Uh do we have a motion to appoint Tim Ford to the infrastructure oversight committee?

I Craig Duch move u appoint uh Mr. Ford to the sick leave I'm sorry to the infrastructure oversight committee.

Reading the wrong line.

Second Mr. Chair.

Any further discussion?

If not all those in favor? opposed.

Carler passes four in favor. Uh one absent.

Uh action item 6A, request to approve the warrant for the September 1st, 2026 state primary. Chris, can you give a background on that one?

Certainly. Uh so this is a request from our town clerk's office. Um so the warrant it's essentially its purpose is to call the election and to um provide notice to voters of the date, voting hours, precinct locations um and the offices that are going to appear on the ballot. Um this is a procedural action by the board um to make that announcement.

Just a quick question on that. Um Chris, I know you're saying it's a procedural for the primary which would happen on September 1st. That does not impact anything with respect to early voting that started here in the town hall on Saturday.

No, it does not.

Okay, perfect.

Are we going to post it in the usual places in the community?

Uh we are. Yes. And I will note just on that topic of early voting. Uh so for people coming into town hall this week, uh I believe it's for the uh duration of the whole week. Early vote is actually going to take place up here on the second floor uh at the end of the hall in a small room.

Okay.

All right. Do we have a motion to uh approve the warrant?

So moved, Mr. Chair.

Second.

Any further discussion? All those in favor?

I.

Any opposed? So it's passes Carla four in favor one absent.

Next action item is consideration and vote on side letter of agreement with the team's 251.

Yes. Uh so this was a matter prior to the open session that was discussed in executive session. Um and with approval uh this would provide the town some additional flexibility and capacity to support our health department. [snorts] So Chris, I know obviously um the board of health has been dealing with backlog with respect to perk tests and uh septic inspections and various other things. So

this would be um to help alleviate those concerns or That's correct.

Okay. And is this uh to hire external consultants to do that work or is it Yeah. So, um you know, following the approval tonight, if the board sees fit, um this would allow the town to engage outside consultants to help us uh with our current backlog and try to um uh clear the cash, if you will.

My only further question is that is there a limit as to, you know, per hour fees or how how is that working? Where is that coming from? or is that coming out of the board of health account or Yeah. So, I'm working with the director right now on some funding sources. Um, and obviously the funding [clears throat] within his line item obviously because that uh one of the positions or a couple of the positions

within the department are vacant. Um, there is dollars available um from savings um from employees. So, that's one of the sources that we're looking at for these service fees.

I appreciate you looking into that. I've gotten some feedback from others with concerns with obviously what we talked about with septic inspections, perk testing, and various other things. So, any way we can alleviate that and make it easier for everyone in town, I think that that's a great move forward. So, thank you. Uh, do we have a motion?

I'll make a motion to effect.

Second.

All right. Any further discussions?

All those Oh, excuse me. Sorry.

Um, thank you um uh for your anticipated support. I was just um wondering um you indicated a couple of positions that were vacant.

Are you anticipating that we would use the town nurse salary to pay for this as well or because the contractor would be fees would be much higher than what the septic this health agent line item could support?

Yeah. So, I know working uh with our health director, Matt, um we have developed our preliminary scope of services to send out to prospective consultants to get pricing back. I think based off of what we get back in terms of pricing uh from those consultants, we would determine again the scale and the funding source um for these temporary services.

Okay? because the um we're still trying to hire an agent and so I'm just curious about what your strategy is for that.

Yeah. So um obviously as time goes on, you know, two months into the fiscal year, we do have those savings for the last couple months. Um the town does have the flexibility to move money in within the department. Um, but as I get more information working with the director, certainly if additional funds need to be applied, I would certainly come back to the board and that would be a follow-up conversation.

Okay. Thank you. You're welcome.

And just for those that we we had discussed this obviously in earlier executive session prior to the open session. Um, so that's where we came uh to a conclusion on that. So what was uh we need a vote on that one? We had a sec a second on that.

Motion made and seconded. Yes, we have a vote. All those in favor? I opposed. So it passes. Four in favor with one absent.

Uh the next action item is request to approve shared inspectional services clerk job description and authorize the job posting.

Chris.

Yes. So as members recall, uh the town recently posted for a principal clerk position within the building department as well as a part-time clerk within the health department. Um after discussing it with both the department heads uh an opportunity presented itself uh to uh amend the job descriptions uh to have it uh convert into a shared inspectional services clerk position. So, the idea

would be uh rather than having uh potentially two part-time positions, uh this would provide a little bit more cross trainining and coverage for both departments and be able to again adjust their time depending on the type of year or the time of year and the demand of each department. So, um this will uh save the town uh one half of a full-time position uh in savings um which uh you

know there is the potential to be able to use that elsewhere as needed um this year within the budget. Um I will also note that um because that principal clerk position uh within the building department is a union position. This is something that we did uh engage with the union on already uh and they already have approved the job description that's before you this evening.

So uh Chris, I appreciate you kind of looking into this. I think this is something that's a positive both for the town and and uh the residents that will be impacted because I think getting cross department efficiencies is important. And I know we discussed this last week with kind of the cross trainining and efficiencies and I think it works out perfectly with the building department and the health department to

uh hopefully maybe a difficult fit to find the right person for that but I think um it'll it'll work out well if if it if it uh if it comes to fruition. So appreciate you looking into this and trying to make it easier on both departments who are having obviously staffing issues at this point. So, anything else?

And we had also discussed this prior to uh an executive session as well. Do we have a motion to motion to approve the shared inspection on clerk job description to authorize a job posting?

Do we have a second?

Second.

Any further discussion?

All those in favor? I I opposed. Carl, it's four in favor with one absent.

Uh, we did already did that one. Uh, Chief Baldwin, you're up. Uh, 6E is a request to accept donation of safety trailer from the city of Taton Fire Department to the Westport Fire Department.

Sure, you you can come to the table and then just we'll since you're here, we're going to move up your discussion. Um, you're here. We can move it up and and you know, should be clear.

That's fine. Thank you, Chief.

How you doing? Thank you. Thank you for having me. Um the safety trailer is a 2003 trailer. Um it is used primarily for educational purposes within the school system geared towards uh elementary uh age students. Um as you know we have a pretty aggressive um education program and senior program throughout town. We visit uh numerous uh schools including preschools. Um we've talked about a safety trailer in the

past and looking for grant money but that never really came to be. um Taton Fire is moving on from their program or evolving it into a different uh manner.

So they offered it out to um members of the Bristol County Fire Chiefs Association. Uh myself and CCON were interested. Um we ended up for whatever reason being the their option to to offer it to. Uh it's a 2003. It's in excellent shape. Um it does need to be releted on the outside. Obviously it says Totten. Um they had some uh financial institutions, some banks that had sponsored it. So their their logos

are on the side. Uh we're going to also seek to do the same. See if we can get some donations. Uh it's watertight. It's weathertight. It has like a mock kitchen inside a second floor bedroom. Um it's primarily used to discuss kitchen safety and smoke alarm sounds and evacuating safely. We can fill it with, you know, like fake smoke fog and the kids can can practice getting out. We usually

actually borrow one from Farova for safety day and things like that elementary school. So, um, the explorers are, um, into it, you know, as far as helping maintain it and get it up and running, as well as the firefighters.

Um, came to us free of charge. Again, some some minor lettering on the outside. Does need a couple new batteries. Um, otherwise, it's in very good shape. And I would just ask for your permission to accept the donation from the city of Ton.

Thank you, Chief. Anything further, Chris? No, it just I had a conversation with the chief about this um prior to the meeting and I think it's uh a nice asset, a nice addition to the town.

Perfect. Yeah.

Uh do we have a motion to accept the donation of the safety trail from the city of Taton?

So moved.

Second.

Any further discussion? All those in favor?

I opposed. Carlo, it's four in favor with one absent. And thank you. Since you're at the table, we will move your discussion item uh 7A up, which is fire station one, tree planting plan.

Sure. Um so, as many of you have probably been in the cemetery, visited the cemetery, uh attended um Memorial Day, Veterans Day ceremonies, which I have done numerous times over the last 30 years or so. Uh, personally, one of the things that's kind of always bothered me is the the view from the cemetery of the back of the fire station, in particular, the training pad, um, which you can see on your

screen there, the top picture. Uh, it houses um, trailers such as the safety trailer. Um, state vehicles, for example, this week there are some, um, the mowing that you've been seeing on the side 88, those vehicles are being kept in our facility. Um, speed trailers from the police department, the mass D oil spill trailer, etc. It's it's not the most attractive view. Um, and I've kind of always had that thought in the

back of my mind. Of course, money is the other, you know, factor in this. And what can we do? Um, we also have three vehicles back there right now that are used for vehicle extrication training.

So, they're they're damaged. They were involved in collisions. Um, and what kind of prompted me to move forward with this thought was we received an email back in June from uh a resident who visits the cemetery and commented on in a in a in a polite way but commented on the you know the view um and in particular the the vehicles um you know we we train on those vehicles to keep

people safe and and it's necessary um but I I do understand how that could affect uh maybe somebody visiting the cemetery who had somebody involved in a crash and now they have to kind of relive it, right? So, I said um to myself, well, what can we do to to to put some kind of screen so it's not so so visible? I thought about a fence and then with a fence, you know, you're at

least $10,000, I would assume at least.

Um and that there's a lot more involved than that. There's maintenance, upkeep.

So, I went to um Silvin and we had a discussion with them about trees. Um they offered us a very very good price on trees. They gave me some recommendations. uh they're aware that it's a there are deer. There's a lot of deer that run through the through our fire fire station. So, um they recommend the green giant eperites. They grow extremely fast in both height and width.

Um they recommended that they be spaced 10 ft apart, which is good because it's less trees that we need. Um as you can see my my little text box there, that's an AI generated image. Um as intelligent as AI is, it couldn't it couldn't thin out the trees for me. So, there's there's much more trees there than what we're actually looking for. It's about 23. We'll probably end up with 25, but I

actually spaced it out and we we mocked the ground. Um spoke with the highway department as as as they always are.

They're always willing to help us out.

Um so they're going to um help digging, you know, digging the holes. Um recommended a September October planting. Um there's three different So that we're in we're in like $1,000 for one type 1,200 maybe for one type of tree, 3,200 for another size, and then the biggest size, which I don't think is necessary, um which put us a little over five. So, after talking with Silvin, we had thought that the best the best plan

would be for the $3,000 range. Um, which my budget can absorb. I'll probably just put some trim work that we had planned on at station 2 um on the back burner for now. Um, so I think this is kind of important. Um, so we're [clears throat] looking at right around $3,600 to get these trees planted. They're basically maintenancefree. And then a recommendation that um Silvin had, which

I I actually like. I think it's a good idea. Um, if you see in the picture there, you see some uh dog woods and and Japanese maples just offset that green that green wall. And what I was thinking, you know, we could offer those plantings out to the public and they could plant a tree like in memory of, you know, you plant a tree, we can work on a stone. It'd be a side project. Um,

but I think it would I think it would it would really, you know, finish it out um landscaping wise. Um, and so I thought this was a pretty, you know, the fire department's responsible for our building maintenance and our grounds, but this is obviously a pretty substantial project and I just thought it would be most appropriate to bring it before the board um to get your input and any suggestions you might have. Um,

but I think it's I think it's definitely needed and I think it I think it would improve the not only the appearance of the the fire station, but obviously the cemetery and then the town as a whole really. I mean, any kind of upkeep we can do to make the town look, you know, better, I think is a plus. Um, so I'm just looking for your permission to to move forward.

I appreciate come before us, Chief. So, thank you. Um, looks great. I think I agree with you. I think that that uh that's a necessity. I think it needs to go there. So, I I appreciate you taking the time to to look into this and and what I tell people in town is obviously, you know, people make comments and complain about stuff that's happening or not happening in town, but obviously you

took someone's concerns and and went with it. And appreciate you working kind of with the highway department with with getting that done. My only question is um half jokingly obviously water uh who will be who will be caring and maintaining and watering that on the front end.

We'll take care of that. I talked with Silvin about that and that's something that we we do have to focus on for the initial planting for months after but that won't we have we have some water there I think so no it shouldn't be a problem we'll do we'll do some practice out back but uh no that definitely talked about that and we will we will ensure that they're awarded so that way they take appreciate

it thank you that we appropriate $3,400 for the purchase of our uh as a barrier for the fire station you say 3600 3400 36 I think you said 36 It would be a little of a 36, but does Can we do it?

I was just going to say, you know, this is a discussion item. Okay.

So, I don't necessarily know if the board needs to act. I think it just, you know, if there's input, maybe with the fire chief on the proposal.

Okay.

And I I think from my understanding, it could be absorbed within the departmental budget.

Yeah, we have a building maintenance line which also funnels down into the landscaping portion, I think.

And I would use that. Rick has a you have so I apologize in advance but I've developed an arborist level education of the green giant trees in the last two months.

Okay.

So what size trees are they uh are they quoting five to seven?

You're doing five to sevens.

Yeah that's what was the price quotes for the other sizes?

So let's see here. The 3 to 5 foot uh size number seven was 8350 per tree. 5 to six size number 15 was 159 per tree. And then 6 to 7 ft um seeing how you are schooled on this the uh in the bundle like the burlap sack um was 219 a piece.

Okay. And which one are you going towards?

Uh after discussing with Silvin they thought the best option probably the five to six.

Okay.

Get away from the burlap um bag for whatever reason.

You don't want the burlap bag.

Yeah. Okay. And that they they expressed that um again a little bit of savings.

Um you know cuts the price down by about $1,500.

um more manageable probably too to get in the ground and plant. Um and and again because they grow fast in both height and width. I think it's a great option.

Yeah.

Again going by Silvin and they're I'm not sure if you've been there but they're they're really good.

My only thoughts that you can have is the smaller the tree is the less chance of transplant shock which means that a smaller tree has a less likelihood of failing and they grow 3 to 5 feet a year. So, okay, those cost savings from the smaller tree is actually like a it's beneficial in regards to like more trees are probably going to live and they grow so fast it's not going to matter anyway.

Well, you can always go back to and review it with Silvin and see.

Well, I think the size you picked is fine. That's I got five to sixes and seven to eights in my house.

And then the 10 foot spacing um I did six. Six is like the smallest you can do. The concern with 10 is you end up the way green giants grow is they grow like a Christmas tree versus a traditional arborite grow straight up.

But you have to use green giants here because the deer will eat anything else.

So 10 feet might not give you a very good um aesthetic. You might want to do like an eight foot spacing or seven foot spacing.

Yeah. I'll review it with Silvin and and uh measure it out again. We're about 100 ft by 100 ft give or take. Um we could always bump it in too a little bit, you know, um if we if money becomes Yeah. And they have a very high failure rate, too. If you don't put a drip line down, it's like a like like a 30% failure rate without a drip line. They

take three gallons of water a day in the first year.

Yeah, they emphasize the watering which um again they they sounded like they were more than willing to to work with us on making sure that we do this.

I think this will look great though.

Correct. But I I think it would look good nice. Yes, I agree.

Thank you, R.

Thank you.

Any anyone else here?

I don't know if your motion was seconded. I'll second.

Uh we don't I don't think we need to make a motion on that because we're not we don't have to approve any funds on that since that's why with Tanya um I think it's a wonderful idea. I just had a suggestion um given the um recent recognition of Betty and David. Betty, as you know, was such an advocate around um the cemeteries in town that if the town um could find some funds to do an

tree, one of those maples or or dogwoods in honor of Betty and David, I think that would be a really nice touch.

Okay. Thank you. All right. Thank you, Chief. and we'll work on that in memory of in a relay it back.

Okay.

While I'm here, can I just mention one thing? Sure. Real quick. Um I will put out a formal announcement and a formal um invite via our social media pages, but the fire department will be hosting a September 11th uh ceremony uh Friday, September 11th. It it will stop promptly at 8:30 and it should last about 40 minutes, but we'll send out something formal, but I I figured while I was here

and I had the mic, I would announce You have it already? Yep.

Thank you.

Yes. Um but it'll go out to the public as well. Okay.

Appreciate you. Thank you.

Thank you, Chief.

Have a good evening. Thank you.

Have a good night.

Action item 6F, request to approve the following grant agreements and authorize expenditures. Fiscal year 2027 training grant, Mass State 911 Department, fiscical year 2027 emergency medical dispatch grant, Mass State 911 Department, and fiscal year 2027 support and incentive grant from the Mass State 911 Department. Chris, yes. Uh so these are three annual grants that our police department receives. Um

they're non-matching grants through uh the state 911 department. Uh the total of the three grants together is just over 70,000. Um you know, this is something where uh because we're already in FY27, uh I know um our police chief has conveyed a strong interest in getting these signed and ratified with the state. so we are in good standing and start spending it down. Um, if the board

uh sees fit, the motion would be to uh approve the grant agreements and authorize the expenditures.

Do I have a motion to that effect?

Move.

Second.

So, we have a motion from uh Craig, seconded by Dick. All those in uh any further discussion?

All those in favor?

Opposed? Pass four to one. uh four to zero, excuse me, one with one absent.

All right, Danny, you've been waiting patiently. Request from recreation director Dana Stewart to accept accept a donation in the amount of $379.16 from Richard Mundy for discretionary use by the recreation department.

Do you have a motion?

Move motion to approve acceptance of the grant from Richard Mundy to the recreation department to be used I guess at the discretion of the department.

Second, Mr. Chair.

Any discussion? All those in favor?

I opposed.

It passes. Uh, four in favor with one absent. Another request from uh, recreation director Dana Stewart to accept a donation in the amount of 2500 from Senator Michael Rodri's on behalf of South Coast Community Foundation for the recreation department's discretionary use.

Do you have a motion?

I move that we uh, do that.

Subject to the subject to the recreation director's discretion to reuse it.

Second, Mr. Chair.

Uh, any further discussion?

Did you want to want to come up and talk?

Do you want me to stand here or you can go to the table if you want?

I just wanted to come in person just to say I'm so grateful for uh the donations to our department and in honor of the rec recognition of the good work we do.

Um we work hard to make positive recreation programs for our community members um wonderful special events and also renovating our parks. So, it means a lot that um uh both Richard Mundy and um Senator Michael Rodri the South Coast Community Foundation are making these donations. So, it's very much appreciated.

Well, while you're here, Dana, before we take a vote, um do you want to discuss the Gford Road playground? I know there's ongoing questions online whether it's open, not open, can I use it, can I not use it?

Sure. and I can appreciate uh the public's eagerness to use the new playground. It looks beautiful out there. Um so, um I still am trying to set up an appointment with our playground rep through MRC Game Time to do a final walkthrough of the playground to make sure everything is safe, that everything uh is done according to the way it should be. Um and so the assumption that it is right now. Um, but

little things like if a bolt is rusted or things of that nature, I want to make sure we catch now before we give them that final payment. Um, also the highway department um helped us out with um uh bringing some dirt and soil and spreading that out around the perimeter of the playground to make sure the ground was even. Um, so I believe there's still a few piles out there, so

I have to check in with them to see if that's going to stay there or be removed. And I'm also investigating um with three different companies to um start get a quote so we can start work on doing a paved walking path around the perimeter of the whole playground and intersecting. Um that paved walking path is going to be great for people with um uh you know special needs. If they are

in a wheelchair, we want to make sure it's ADA compliant, at least five foot wide for the path. Um, also maybe parents, you know, in their strollers with their young children. Um, so it's going to be a great feature because we don't have a lot of that in town. I want to make sure it's done right. Um, and then also, um, I have some quotes, but we have to, um, move forward with making

a decision on the new fencing that's going to go in the front, as well as I'd like to improve the parking spaces there. Um, right now there's no lines for the parking spaces. there's no uh wheelchair uh handicapped uh spot. So those are some of the items that I am working on next. Now the question is whether we can open have like a soft opening with the playground what once

that is finally um deemed uh safe and usable. Um and and that's something I'll I can discuss with the town administrator and maybe we could do a soft opening and then a grand opening later when those other features come into play.

Great. Thank you.

Anything else you want to cover in the rec department while you're here?

I'd love to. I just want to say we just finished a successful summer camp season. Um we had a lot of kids in our camps this summer that all had a wonderful time. Some wonderful camp counselors. Um also we just had our outdoor movie night this past Saturday and we had a really good showing of the Super Mario movie and our next movie will be on Saturday, September 12th.

We're going to show the original Foot Loose movie. Um so that's always like a nice thing in the summer and when the weather is nice to be outside. Um we are finishing up our Westport summer concert series. Our last concert is this Thursday um August 27th from 6:00 to 8 and Jukebox Heroes Band is going to play. So come on out. That all happens behind the annex. And um we have some

afterchool programs that we're planning uh for this fall with the start of school coming in play. And then we also have two of our bigger events for the town. Our Halloween happening event will be on Sunday, October 18th from 12 to 2.

And our holiday treelighting event will be on Sunday uh December 6 from 3:00 to 5:00. And we do those two events in partnership with the Westport Land Conservation Trust. Um and we do those events there at Westport Woods uh conservation park. So it's there's really fun, nice events. So um but that's about it. So thank you very much.

Thank you, Dana.

Thank you.

So, we have a uh motion on the table and a second and uh to accept the donation from Senator Michael Rodri. All those in favor? I opposed.

Carlo passes. Obviously, four in favor, one absent.

Uh item I, request to accept a donation in the amount of $200 from Richard Brewer for the Commission on Disabilities Discretionary use. Do we have a motion?

I move we accept the donation the amount of $200 from uh Richard Brewer for the Commission on Disabilities Discretionary Use.

Seconded.

Any further discussion?

All those in favor?

Opposed? It passes for in favor with one absent.

Okay. waiting patiently as our friends from marine services request to approve a notice of intent application for the east branch of the Westport River Oyster Restoration Project. Rick,

Mr. Chair, members of the board, Mr.

Vitali, um thank you for having us tonight.

Um, with me is a familiar face to all of us is Dan Glette from the Nature Conservancy who has been working tirelessly to bring this pro project to fruition. Um, as stated, Mr. Chair, um, we're here with the hope that you will the board will approve the signature on a notice of intent for the east branch of the river to get our project, continue our project moving forward.

Just a couple of things before I turn it over to um Dan is that uh we've already been to the Koncom on this. It's been approved. Um they are working as partners with us on this and we have a 21-day period uh to get this NOI signed um a 21-day period will bring us to 98.

But one of the important things we want to stress is that by the town taking ownership of the notice of intent, it gives the town of Westport control. uh much like is happening um in neighboring towns like Fair Haven and down Cape and Mashby um to great success of those programs down there. So um as you know we're working with the Nature Conservancy, we're working with Division

of Marine Services from the state um our own um division of marine services right here in the town of Westport. who have committed a lot of time and energy into making our river um hopefully um making our river cleaner, more productive, and that way we'll be able to at the end of this project generate income into the community um as the end as the program comes to fruition. Uh hopefully we'll be able to

generate a fair amount of income for the community in the oyster business. So, I'd like to turn it over to um Dan Gullette if you'd like to talk a little bit about it. Maybe Dan Gulard, uh, coastal project manager with the Nature Conservancy. Um, this project proposes to restore 10 acres of shellfish resources in the East Branch of the Westport River. Um, we've seen a 95% decline in wild oyster population statewide.

And oysters require shell in order to regenerate. And that shell no longer exists in many of our in our our estuary. So, this project proposes to distribute shell on the bottom of the east branch of the Westport River and then follow that with uh locally purchased oysters from Westport growers and spat on shell to regenerate oyster populations. Um and then TNC and the Mass Divi Division of Marine Fisheries

um in partnership with the Westport River Wershed Alliance will adaptively manage and continue to monitor that project over the course of five years.

Um as uh Rick said, this project has already been before the board twice. Uh we came before the board in uh the early winter of this year to uh provide visibility and to gain approval to conduct further data collection in the east branch of the Westport River and to um conduct public meetings to get public input on the project. and we've conducted five public meetings um at the town library, at the Kokit Club, at the

Westport River Wershed Alliance um and have re received overwhelmingly positive feedback from Westport residents. Um where there were concerns, I feel like we went out and we met people where they are. um including going all the way out to Liz Farley's house on Cadman's neck um walking out on the dock with her and making sure she was comfortable with the proximity of these reefs to her personal

dock. Um there hasn't been uh a single person who at these meetings has stood up and continued to oppose. I think there's really strong public support for uh the oyster restoration. and it will bring significant ecological benefits to the town of Westport uh that include enhanced fisheries habitat um water filtration and improved water quality and uh oyster reefs also help to lock in

sediments and prevent erosion. Um, we're working with the Westport town planning board and uh, Mass Autobond to potentially utilize oysters in the future in the east branch of the Westport River to stabilize eroding salt marshes. Um, so I think this project will lay the foundation for that and hopefully lay the foundation for additional restoration um, in the east branch and maybe even going into the

west branch. So under Mass General law, we have uh the conservation commission has 21 days from the date of the hearing to issue the order of conditions. Um, I think that they took the hearing and closed the hearing on the assumption that this meeting would uh provide a vote that would uh authorize the town administrator to sign on behalf of the town as the permit holder. And as Rick

said, I think that is really the best position for the town to be in. Um, there's no fiscal or obligation to proceed with the project that comes with signing the notice of intent and issuing the order of conditions. All of that responsibility for funding the project, implementing the project, and maintaining it really does fall to the Nature Conservancy, the Mass Division of Marine Fisheries

with the support of the town and the Westport River Wershed Alliance. So, um, you know, I would make a request to the board to consider making a motion to take on the permit as the permit holder um, and authorize the the town administration administrator to sign on behalf of the town so that we can move this for project forward u beyond the order of conditions and toward the chapter 91, the mast water quality

certificate and the army corps of engineers national permit. All of which require the order of conditions to be in place in order to proceed.

Appreciate that.

Yeah.

So, um both Dan and Rick have been before us a few times as you mentioned earlier and then also with the conservation commission. I want to thank them for kind of their community outreach as Dan had pointed out. Um there were concerns on conservation or at least from my standpoint on with my conservation commission hat on with respect to you know how is it going to be marked or is it going to impact uh

you know uh obviously the waterways on the river and they've addressed all those uh and continue to make a valiant effort to move this thing forward and I think this is a great project uh with respect to that I just want to make sure that we make and with through Chris that we make the correct motion on this because last thing we want to have as any impact to you guys because it didn't

didn't go accordingly. We have another 3-w week uh window before we meet again.

So, we want to make sure that uh this is correct and we're doing all the right stuff. So, Chris, do you have any recommendations with respect to that?

Yeah. So, my recommendation, you know, on the agenda tonight is um obviously the request uh to approve the application authorized me to sign on behalf of the board. Um because I know this is one of a few different permits that need to be signed off of. uh if you want to include that as well as um any additional restoration permit applications. Okay. Give me that authorization.

Okay.

Just so that they don't have to come back to the board.

Definitely.

Okay.

So, I I'll move the language in item K with the addition of any subsequent permits that may be necessary to fulfill this project.

J said item K, right?

It J. Is it okay J? [snorts] Yeah, it's item J. Actually, not K.

It's okay. So, the motion on the table is obviously uh for the TA to sign on behalf of the town of Westport and also sign on behalf of the town of Westport any further permitting process or permits needed uh both federal and state permits. Uh do I have a second to that?

Second, Mr. Chair.

Any further discussion?

Nothing. I had two questions.

Yes.

My education. So, uh, if you look at the, um, notice of intent, you got the prohibited area on the north end of the Westport River. Is it just because that's not not enough salinity in the river for oysters to grow? Is there anything else driving that?

Are you talking about the designated shellfish area that's prohibited? Right now, under uh, mass DMF shellfish planting guidelines, we're not allowed to plant in prohibited areas because they see it as a potential public health nuisance if someone goes in and harvests those. We are working to change that because we think that's where the greatest need for oysters might be. We can get oysters into some of these

areas. Um they can clean up that water.

Um and then maybe it goes from prohibited to conditional.

And assuming everything goes well, how many years until the oyster beds are self-sufficient to where they're seating their own beds elsewhere in the river?

Yeah. I mean, we have um roughly two to three acres of existing wild oyster beds um just north of the Hicks Bridge and right by Lakes Island. Um, we think that with the addition of some shell substrate that's suitable for laral settlement and then two to three years of adding spaton shell and more breeding biostock, which means large adult oysters that spawn. um we will see uh the reefs start to take off and um you

know we would love to see these reefs just be spawning sanctuaries and then in the future we could just add shell around them and that would enable all that larae to start setting and you could actually expand these reefs significantly.

That sounds great. Thank you.

So does that motion work for you guys?

Absolutely.

Okay. All right. So, uh, we have a motion on the table and a seconded. Uh, all those in favor?

I opposed. Passes. Cara, four in favor, one absent.

Appreciate it.

Thank you very much.

Anything nailed from marine services while you're here.

We've just had a busy summer, but we're wrapping it up and we've had a very successful summer. Um, thanks, Dan.

Um, two weeks. Very successful.

Two weeks. Two weeks to Labor Day.

Two weeks to Labor Day. But I'm not keeping track either. No, I know that.

But but um you know, it's been I I will say this on behalf of the division, behalf of the director that you know, we're very pleased with the support we've had around the town. Um both politically here as well as with our partners with fire, uh police department, u highway department.

They've been tremendous. Um everybody's worked really well with us. So, we've had a pretty successful year and we're we look to build off of that going forward. So, and we thank you for your support.

Thank you, Rick. Okay.

Have a good evening.

All right. Good night. Thank you so much.

All right. Uh, action item K, request to execute project completion notification document for the PJ Keating Company contract and one-year warranty period for the 2025 phase 1 paving improvements project. Chris, do you have any background on that?

Yes. Uh, so the warranty period for the 2025 paving project uh is officially over. Uh the project covered 10 roadways and I believe there's a breakdown within your packet from our highway department of those roads uh totaling just under 30,000 linear feet. Um this uh action before you this evening is to approve and execute this notification to send off to the contractor.

Thank you Kristen. And just for clarification, this is obviously the projects that we get through chapter 90 grant money. This has nothing to do with um the water project on the north end that there there's a separate contract and obviously a separate contractor. So this one of the larger paving projects that Keading did this last year was the main road section I believe from Charlotte White towards the old high

school uh that stretch among others among the other nine roads that they did work on. So uh do we have a motion to uh execute the project completion notification document?

So move.

Second. Any further discussion? All those in favor? I opposed. Passes.

Carla. Four in favor. One absent.

Uh action item L consideration and vote to approve the first amendment to the director of public health employment agreement and authorize its execution.

Yes. This matter uh was discussed in executive session. Um, and now it is on the open session for the board's consideration. Uh, and I do recommend approval.

Thank you, Chris. Uh, do we have a motion to approve the amendment to the director of public health employment agreement and authorized execution?

Motion approved.

Second.

That was one uh voted in I mean motion made and one seconded. Uh, all those in favor?

I opposed. It passes. Carla, four in favor, one absent.

Uh discussion section we covered with Chief Baldwin. Uh next is the town administrator report.

Thank you. Uh just a couple things for me. Um on August 11th, uh the town experienced a phone outage which affected a few of our different departments uh and buildings. Our IT team working with our vendors were able to restore service uh later on that afternoon.

uh our IT department has been putting together an afteraction uh which was actually submitted a little bit earlier today uh which I intend to review and uh we'll certainly follow with the board um you know obviously with the goal of minimizing any outages in the future. So um taking as a learning opportunity but uh we do apologize for the inconvenience and we appreciate residents patience as

we work to get our phones back up and running. Um, just following up on what you said earlier in the meeting, I also had the pleasure of attending the police night out, uh, which was hosted over at the high school. Um, I had the pleasure of, uh, attending as an observer with my family. Uh, and it was, uh, really, you know, a great relaxed environment. Um, I I think it was just great turnout,

great to see some positive interactions.

So, um, really hats off to the whole team that put that together. Um, we had, uh, town representatives meet with representatives from FEMA and DCR on August 19th. Um, they're reviewing our flood plane permitting process. Um, they were reviewing building permit records and our internal procedures as part of that and we continue to work with them um, again with the goal of staying in good standing with the

National Flood Insurance Program. So that effort's ongoing and certainly I'll keep the board a prize if there's anything that comes from their review.

Uh this past week uh I had the pleasure of representing the town at the ribbon cutting ceremony in Fall River for the new Diamond uh regional high school. Um I also u did see our senator and representative there as well as our superintendent uh and had the opportunity to peek down a couple of the hallways. Uh so uh it was a good turnout. Uh lastly, it was also mentioned earlier this meeting, but uh

today was the first day for our new director of senior services. So she's going to be um working with Bev this week on the transition. [clears throat] Um and I know that there is a lot of ground to cover, but they're off to a good start. So uh also there is one other thing uh that is not on my report.

Uh we have officially published the select board appointed board and committee handbook uh that had previously gone before the board. There were a few appendices that we wanted to add prior to its release um which have now been added and a copy that has been I believe sent out. So uh I do plan on posting it to the website as well to make it available for people. Um, and we are also asking that the chairs of

individual committees make sure that their members receive a copy. So, um, if you're looking for it, it is out. So, that's it for me.

Yes. Uh, I was hoping that we would have a report on the old high school and the progress uh, therein. U, I wonder if you have any comments for us this evening to I do. Yes. Uh so uh I guess as a followup to our last meeting uh I have sat with the firm uh and I reviewed their initial concepts of the building configuration. Uh there was some feedback that I provided to them.

Uh I do believe at the next meeting they plan to come before the board uh with our concept just to make sure we're going down the right track. Um and so that um in addition to that, following that board meeting, we do plan on also meeting with the stakeholders of those departments to get um consensus again that the square footage being proposed and the configuration meets the needs.

So um I I did have that meeting this past week as well and I apologize that wasn't in the report.

What's progress? Good. Thank you.

Appreciate that, Chris. And um Dick, we Rick and myself did a tour with uh Chris and the uh consultant and uh couple of members from the uh Council of Aging board. Um and in my opinion, obviously, uh not a professional engineer, but the the the school is in very good shape. I think you know it's all going to come down to obviously what impacts we have to do with restrooms for accessibility

and uh various you know where's the entrances going to be and various things with respect to fire safety but uh all in all I was pretty impressed with uh the bones of the building the in inside of the building and uh basically the quality of of what was still in there. So uh hopefully that is helpful when it comes to rolling out a plan. So, it was uh very helpful helpful to to see that and

to see that kind of firsthand when we were able to walk through that.

Anything else, Chris?

That's it for me.

All right. Thank you. Um, next is approve the minutes. First, uh, June 29th 2026.

Motion to approve the minutes from June 29th 2026.

Do we have a second?

Second.

Any further discussion? All those in favor?

I opposed. It's four in favor, one absent. Motion to approve the minutes from August 3rd, 2026.

Second.

And all those in favor?

I opposed. It's four in favor, one absent.

Uh we have a report on the bill Warren from Dick.

Mr. Chair, there were two since the last meeting of the select board. The first one of which ended the week of August the 7th and the latest one uh August 21st. They were both in the 2 million plus which is a lot uh of money but it still at is a lot less than what we saw recently if you recall at at year end or year beginning year fiscal year beginning there was some big ones

that I enumerated at the last uh meeting. So these all met u the protocol and were all done properly all in order.

So uh we don't take a vote on this. This isformational only.

Thank you.

Uh, next item on the agenda is select board committee reports for any meetings that we've had uh over the past, I guess, three weeks. Start with Craig.

Uh, both of my committees met last week.

Um, the OPI settlement committee met um actually had a pretty good attendance there. We had a guest speaker from um another community um again looking at best practices. Uh, one of the things that we did do is we voted uh and that we will be coming back before this committee fairly shortly, but we are recommending a project coordinator slashoutreach worker that would do outreach for the various uh programs and

projects as well as some of the groups that um and populations in town that may need the services of uh organizations working in that space. and that is a opioid prevention, treatment and um uh post postrehab care.

Um and uh that that probably the biggest thing in that one. The affordable housing trust also met. Uh we approved several grants for uh rehab projects.

These are projects to um uh improve houses that keep the um the house as part of the affordable housing stock as well as maintaining the value of the house. And um we also have been following and uh the the project with the high school as you as I've said on several occasions we're keeping our eyes focused on the potential for uh any housing as well as a um mixed use that a combination of

housing as well as services for special populations should that be possible.

Um we um did and we are on the distribution list for the consulting that is working on this and so we've been in we've been uh a we're kept in the loop and b we're we've been contributing to that discussion.

Thank you.

And the committee um uh we it took a little bit of moving around this afternoon but we only have one vacancy now.

Okay. Uh we we brought in two new members um last month. Well, actually the first meeting was last week and um we're now up to eight members of a potential nine member committee.

Great.

Thank you, Dick, Mr. Chair. A couple of things. Uh I attended council on aging meeting and that was the introduction to the council on aging advisory board uh to for Lauren to meet them and the first time Chris was there as well. Um the commission on disabilities met today. We discussed rout routine items primarily.

Um the one meeting that was of some consequence was the Bristol County uh commissioners advisory board. Um so the every year at about this time they pass the budget for the Bristol County uh buildings, courouses and sheriff's offices and so on and so forth. And most importantly for us is Bristol Aggie. Um, I was happy to I sent this to the finance committee, but there have been

some really big increases because of the capital project and the the squellle to that in over the last two years, but this year got back to a more normal 3% 3.4% I think it was. Um, so that's uh that's good news for for all. Um, action is not required on the part of the board and everything is in order.

That was I've got other meetings coming up soon, but we can talk about them when the time is right.

Thank you. Uh the only update I have uh I sit on the offshore wind or chair the offshore wind advisory committee. Um we actually had a very productive meeting last week um with respect to addressing impacts from let's say a disaster plan uh for the town of Westport. Obviously we have a fair amount of shoreline that could be impacted. Obviously, there are six, seven or eight different uh

offshore wind companies out there. So, uh we actually had Captain Bill Chase from Marine Services uh provide uh kind of some background. Obviously, they do some stuff with hazard mitigation with respect to oil spills and and various other chemical spills. Uh so we're trying to see if we can maybe put a doc document together uh to kind of address that and maybe do it from the standpoint

of there's a Buzzards Bay task force uh where others may want to be involved in that. Uh at the end of the day, you can agree or disagree with the offshore wind, but I think we need to look at it from a committee standpoint as to how we can fix it if something were to go wrong here or out out to sea uh that would impact uh like a blade failure that

happened two years ago. Um, you know, there was a a lull or a lack of communication from the developers and the state and the federal government and I was out picking up fiberglass with uh trash bags and bare hands while they're over on the state beach in hazmat suits.

So, I'm not I'm not entirely sure if if I was doing something wrong or not, but uh it was I was more than more concerned with getting our shoreline cleaned up rather than uh rather than waiting for the federal uh government or, you know, vineyard wind to to make a decision. So, we want to try to have something in place that will allow us to kind of act a little bit faster um if if

the need arises in the future, which it may. So, that was the only uh meeting I had over the past couple weeks.

Rick, all I've got is I got a lot of positive feedback from residents in the last week about the highway department clearing off um the roadways to improve visibility as far as overbrush and stuff. So, that's a big attic.

Thank you, Rick.

Um any comments or statements?

Uh the only other issue we always want to bring up um at each meeting there are continued vacancies on boards, committees and commissions. You can always uh reach out to us or take a look at the website there to see the list of the vacancies that are out there. And uh always looking for volunteers to fill some of those roles.

Last but not least, uh any topics unanticipated 48 hours in advance of the meeting Chris?

Nope. We're good.

We're good. Uh with that, do I have a motion to adjurnn?

So moved.

Second.

All those in favor? I opposed.

All right. And we have it. We are adjourned. Four in favor. One absent.