This meeting is called to order at 7 o'clock this evening. We have the minutes of July 23rd 23rd 2018 available is there a motion I move the accept the minutes subject to modification second It's 2019 Forgive me, that's my fall for All second okay all in favor Any post okay first page page 2 page 3 any discussion All in favor One extension According to state statute and select board policy board must take time for public comment at each regular meeting members of public may comment on any topic Absolutely, mr. Mies, you're very welcome Moving on we'll hit the purchasing policy update Is that anything that Rick? We are funny. It's record will address this topic this evening I'm just gonna walk you through the highlights of the changes in the policy The adjep the objective changes for just to really more modernize the policy a lot of the wording is just different But covers this the same Objectives that were there before the under the general policies Some additions were just about invoices and what we expect for support multi-year obligations like this is a debt of course Need to go through a different process and then we added a reference to the conflict of interest policy and in regards to purchasing Which just represents References our current personnel policy and employee Conducting ethics policy we have now added a new section on credit purchases So that's when we go to a vendor and open a credit so they will bill us Which wasn't there before and just guidelines for departments The pricing guidelines we just Eric had actually pulled down several town purchasing policies and Did a little matrix of the different limits and so use those as a reference for updating The policy limits that don't require coat quotes or we need verbal quotes And then I took the total of the town general fund expenses Subtracted out those things like salaries and debt things that were not negotiable not purchased if you will to look at those limits as a percentage of those Spendable dollars and every one of them is still well below 1% of the budget. So still very reasonable The next section was we added a section on Seoul Purchases which wasn't there before but but there are times when we might Not even soul source, I'll give you an example like when we're purchasing computers We might want to stay with if we're purchasing Dell since we also use an outside vendor We might want to stay with the same Dell product line for efficiency in operation for both us internally and for our vendor So we would still look at pricing But if there wasn't a huge difference, we might just want to stay with the same product vendor to make our operations more efficient Sure For lack of better words picked up on this is it's the department head makes the decision and Does it make sense? I don't know the answer to this, but does it make sense for that decision to be checked? by the town manager or finance person by a second party who might you know Just be like well in this case. I'm not so sure you know that type of thing absolutely. We can add something Well, I post it more as a question than a demand I think it's a good point I think just to have somebody else looking at it and saying okay is this reasonable does is this really a soul Source purchase yep, absolutely One of the reasons for looking at the purchasing policy in the first place was based on the auditor's comment last year to raise our capitalization limit for our fixed assets, so hence the new section 12 addresses that and The other thing that came up with Rick and Eric and I were just we needed a section on emergency purchases should I'm sorry back to capital capitalization thresholds every year when we go through the budget Rick presents the capital budget and explains what is in the capital budget versus the operating budget I just want to make sure that what's here under section 12 is consistent With you know how we do our budget every year and what's in the capital budget first Well, does that question make sense? Absolutely it does So Rick and I haven't chatted about that yet, but but that is my From prior experiences that capitalization threshold would be what we would then use as the threshold for capital purchases And everything else under that would then be expensed and not capitalized. Good. Thank you enough said Okay the Last section we added was just about the documentation which which we Covers the retention period we quiet under the Vermont statutes just because we didn't have a response for that before I'm sorry. Can we go back to sorry emergency purchases? Yep It says the first sentence the select board may award and it's the select board again This is a question. Don't know the answer the appropriate entity or should that be the town manager? Particularly if it's an emergency Assemble the board to make it. Yeah, you know you're getting a bit to my point. Yes Well, maybe we need to reword a little bit because now go down to the paragraph Okay, says the town manager or designee shall approve all week rest for emergency purchases over 15,000 The town select board shall be notified of purchases under this section Within 48 hours, so maybe we need to reword that first sentence Not good that you need to reward but good. Thank you for yep Yeah, the select board do have to have a role in that That whole process, so I just well two things. I don't want us to be you know having as Gordon was saying having us be an impediment to making a decision when it really needs to be quick and The other piece is sort of at least my feeling is and I'm sure everybody else is trusting of staff, you know I breathe yep 100% that's it. That's it for me. Yep. Yeah Correct Rick we're white quite ahead of things, but are we all right to go on to the north wholston road speed table? Discussion So the select works an approach of resident petition backed advisory articles for consideration of town meeting over the years The idea of a formal select board policy or procedure covering these items was raised last winter I believe Jeff brought that up during the budget process The question before the board tonight is discuss the nature advisory of advisory articles And what if any formality the board want to put in place to dress in the future for example an operating policy? The select board with the exception of a few specific instances Not legally required to place an item as a question for town meeting from a petition Containing signatures from at least 5% of registered voters in town This current trot contrary to public perception regarding article petitions The public can have an expectation that an advisory article is binding when that is not the case so in the past the towns place these non-binding advisory articles On the town meeting warning most recently a couple years ago in 2018 with a state comprehensive energy plan question and in my memo that's including the packet goes through these Instances the last 20 years and the only one that was placed for Australian ballot was regard to the traffic Circle question right out outside here at a north wholston and Oak Hill Road so bring it to the board tonight if You want to move forward with perhaps a policy to consider in the future. It has some dialogue on this issue Staff's just looking for direction from the board There's any formality you want us to take and then the next step would be to put a draft policy together and bring it back to the board and included with your packets a number of Thank you very much for moving this to this stage I know when we have these requests to add Items to the warning I struggle with it even if I might agree with it. It's because they aren't I Don't know what the right words are they aren't about They aren't directly always directly tied or closely tied to what the select board is elected to do which is the business of the town and I feel a little bit like I'm playing This isn't a great analogy. It's the only one I can come up with right now playing God about yes this one gets on this one gets off and So I've come to the conclusion. I would rather the select boards role in allowing or not allowing non budgetary non, you know financial non-town business type articles to Basically a minimum and if I understand correctly, there's always a process to get items on the warning Which is the 5% of the voters sign a petition then it's Okay That that the board is not as I understand it and you can correct me if I wrong with the board is not obligated To put an item Even if it's 5% if it's not appropriate now, how do you define that it's a different matter, but So so I'm going to mend what I was just saying slightly. I think if we have a threshold that Residents have to cross and 5% might be the right threshold it might not If we set up a threshold, it's a it's a relatively It's a sizable threshold They have to go out and get 5% of voters to say yes, I want this on the ballot Then even if I might disagree with it, then I think we should allow it unless it's offensive or something like that. I Realize I'm not giving you a lot of help in terms of how to craft this. I'm just trying to express how I my dilemma with Warnings and I'm totally open to other comments suggestions Issue is not within the province of the town meeting to grant or refuse through a vote then The select board does not have to put it on the agenda for town meeting Conversely, if it is an issue that the town meeting does have the ability to grant or refuse You know budgetary things Town ordinances and such that are specific statutes that our memo talks about Then we have to put it on the the thing that I Again, I don't you know I'll just say I don't like advisory things that you know, we we hereby instruct our the legislature to do the following because You know, we don't have any power to instruct and and the wording it doesn't we can't change the diluted a bit when we're bringing something in In a meeting where it doesn't have anything to do with it And that that I think is at least I find it frustrating and I think a lot of people do If we want to talk about you know, whether Whether there should be a new pet ordinance that we had a couple of years ago That's fine because the town does something about that. But if we're going to be talking about You know UN resolution I don't want to be there for that That's my position So I don't think that we should and frankly I think if it ain't broke don't fix it I don't think we should have a policy on it. I Interested if there is a If there is an issue that comes up that is of such gravity, then we have the right The select board has the right to weigh in our own discretion whether to put that before the town and town meeting and if we don't Vote to put it before the town for a town meeting and people don't like it then at that same the next day after that town meeting They can vote you out of office On the other hand, you know, I don't see a lot of a lot of issues Coming up that I would not be germane to a town meeting that I would be in favor of putting out anyway Because you're going to get into all kinds of stuff They didn't one of the towns in Williston vote to issue an arrest warrant for President George W. Bush Wasn't it Bennington? I think somebody Brattleboro. Yeah. Yeah, so No I'm asking this as a question So if we choose not to have a policy about what can you know, what will entertain to be on the Warning or not Doesn't that mean any time the question comes up? We have to debate whether we want to allow it or not Is there a benefit to us? Making a decision Now or not now, but sometime making a decision that says no, this is our I would argue that we limit Our powers considerably by setting that out that policy say again I would argue that we're limiting our Our power is considerably by setting out a policy that way. I happen to agree with Ted on this one. I Think that you're better to look at it on a case-by-case Then you are to set a policy there that sets a bar that maybe too low or too high either way I'm not sure what a policy like that would look like. Well, I don't I'm not sure I do it's That's kind of where I'm coming from like going. I don't know how you'd word that Is this something historically that has come to Like the board's attention where it is in need of having something written down as a policy or is this a case-by-case basis was Part of it is I struggled with it. Well, no, I mean it's because even though I might agree with or I might disagree With what they're what they would like to have on on the warning as a you know about either a ballad I were to discuss at the town meeting is I Just don't know if it's our role that put that on the warning Wouldn't that be easier and Rick? I do want to hear your comment Wouldn't that be easier to vet amongst the sitting select board as opposed to trying to create a policy that sets that bar? And that is a valid point. I mean right now. You've got an extremely. Yeah, you've got an extremely reasonable select board I'd like to think that that continues where you've got no matter what everybody seems to be considerate and listening to views Ricky we're going to make a comment two things first a policy is subject to change by any time by the select board to begin with So it doesn't carry a whole lot of weight. It's certainly nowhere near the weight that ordinance would carry and secondly if the board tends to be inconsistent in allowing certain types of Issues to come before To be voted on either a town meeting or by Australian ballot and not other issues and these are discretionary items I'm talking about then you increasingly are subject to challenge in court If you're consistent one way the other Inconsistent that creates problems So would a policy help us be consistent or? Not As much of an impact role with the other okay Any further discussion? No, it's it's it what I what I'm gleaning is there's there's some concerns about having a policy and I don't think there's support for it. So no, I know I mean I'm happy to happy to kind of go through. No, what I just it My my goal here was I angst over this when it comes, you know We get sometimes their friends in the audience, you know looking at me expecting or hoping that I will Vote in favor and and if I could eliminate that by taking this this Action now to have a policy I would find that helpful but what I'm hearing there's more liabilities to a policy than their benefits So best stay away from it. Are we appropriate now to go back to the speed table discussion? Thank you for putting together the information. Yeah, thank you. I appreciate it still it's at 735, but it's 725 since Everybody all right Bruce who you don't mind coming forward. We'd love to hear what you have to say about speed table, please and thank you No, yes, please thank you Bruce is relieved So I prepared a well we do have a memo from Also prepared Report for the board on this and I want to start off by Providing you with our recommendation, which is that the table the speed table that has been placed Down on North Wilson Road just south of Fay Lane Should be removed before the end of October that speed table was installed as a temporary table to begin with and And We so we would be probably wanting to remove it any way before winter Into I'm going to recommend that it not be reinstalled even after the winter is over And then we can talk about what the options are and what we do next after that the table that we Installed was as I said a temporary speed table was installed towards the end of July right around July 22nd I'm not sure the exact date and this installation was part of a general recommendation that the select board approved in May of 2018 and And so that was a unanimous vote by the select board approved a group of Preferred alternatives That decision had been preceded by a number of public comments or public Hearings there were three separate public hearings starting in May of 2017 there was another one December 2017 and the third one in February 2018 and then of course the board had a detailed discussion on this in May 2018 before they voted and As part of that vote there was a whole range of different improvements that the board had approved some were kind of more short-term low expense items including a Which a centerline rumble strip as you remember we had some issues of that when it was installed Some chevron signs at the corner of north Winston row where there's that sharp curve as you're heading north Before you go down the hill The speed tables of course is part of it some pedestrian cross signals at the intersection of the most mountain view and Separate decision but related was a stop sign at that same intersection Almost immediately upon installation of the speed table we started getting complaints Obviously we had complaints from nearby neighbors, but we also got complaints from numerous notars And I list some of a host of the various complaints that were received We also I should say to be fair received a couple positive comments as well. I would say the majority were negative When the staff had presented its recommendation in May of 2018 We had recommended I believe up to four speed tables along Northwestern Road, I think the consultant had potentially much higher number. I think I heard the number 11 So that that's that would be kind of absurd to put that many even if they were truly effective in the way They were intended to be effective but in any case the Table one of the complaints about table is that it wasn't An asphalt one would have been better and I think That's partially true. I went over just incidentally a speed table in Essex Junction That was the exact same proportions of the one we have and You felt it when you went over if you're going too fast for sure But it felt a little different What didn't it feel is imposing And that's important when you hear some of the things that have been happening there The it's kind of black and it looks very different than the asphalt because it is different The effect when you go over it's the same as an assault speed table But it looks very different. And so what you're having is cars are coming up to it some cars and Coming to almost a complete stop and then going over it other cars see it as a challenge and speed up and some cars go over it and Let our go and then get they're angry that it's there and will burn rubber After they have gone over it It's shown a lot of bad behavior Bad practices which are happening regardless of whether there's a speed table or not, but certainly it's bringing out the showing the worst Unsecured loads and trucks Unsecured trailers of people not paying attention. We had an accident there. I think it was last week The cars came to a close to a stop and the cars behind it weren't paying attention And we're following too closely and there was a three-car pile up because of bad behavior and improper driving techniques and You know the speed table was certainly part of that mix Let's see so as I said my recommendation is to be removed and I don't believe that We should at any place along Wilson Road North Wilson Road, I should say Put in another temporary speed table I think we need to evaluate The recommendations of speed tables and have another discussion Once we get some additional information about speed we have been measuring speed during the time period. It's been there I just today got a report from the police I do not have the report from the regional planning which also put out some speed tubes I don't they're gonna have to redo it because their speed data was Not good they I guess one of the tubes got removed by someone or somehow and So the data was lost for that time period was removed. So That study will have to be redone But as I said, I am of our recommendations to not put any more temporary tables We the board has options of Putting maybe replacing the temporary tables with permanent ones maybe in different locations That may have some of the same problems I know it will have the same problems of temporary one. It won't When you're visually it'll have a very different look and Or you could modify the speed table for a higher speed. I don't know if that's even a possibility, but You know, there's or try other techniques other than speed tables, but I think we need some additional information And it may be that the changes have already made If we do the speed studies Well, I actually the ones we do now are tainted by the fact that we have a table The upper part of our say well upper the southern part of North Ulster Road near Mountain View Perhaps that speed data will indicate whether We even need a speed table there or not. But anyway, that's that's a quick summary of What I found in my research and I don't know if Bruce wants to add anything Is the lowest The bump in the road of some sort It's only three inches high. They can be three or four inches in height Depending on the different speeds. So that one to be purchased It's a little bit more abrupt than an asphalt one because Add to the bump a little bit more initially as you go over it But it is a manufactured speed table Designed by a professional engineer. So it meets all the criteria of a speed table Steve was there anything you wish to Well, first of all, and if you reckon that and others for if you please identify yourself for the For the first shot, Steve me so that the 2361 was most around Right adjacent to the speed table I guess I want to thank Rick for the report and the board for Feels like very quick action I You know, I feel like just having lived with it and watched the exams away last week So I missed the three-car accident, but I've seen you know I guess I agree with what Rick has said in this report and I The only thing I would disagree with is that having it removed by the end of October, I would encourage you to remove it immediately I mean, I don't see why having two more months of potential accidents Continued noise in our neighborhood and just enraging drivers on the road serves any purpose so that would be my Major message that I've written to the board in the town twice now You know detailed observations and suggestions Any questions? Why is it the end of October as a time? That's the time we plan to move it to me with As I said, it's a temporary table. It was never intended to the permanent fixture there And I one thing I didn't mention is we did that intentionally because we know that these things are controversial and While it costs more up front to purchase that and install it it's gonna It'll be easier to remove than an asphalt table and we can use it in another place And I would suggest if we do use another place it'd be in a neighborhood where there's lower speed There was a deadline initially from the start because it was temporary anyways Well, the deadline is you want to get removed before winter No October was the deadline that was there anyways or am I not hearing that? Oh, that's what that's We could take it out So so if it were the recommendation on the part of the board that it be out as soon as possible That's doable like say within a month we Am I correct in saying it would be the case of the board that we'd like to see this done as soon as practical All right as soon as it's practical that you can get it out Please and thank you Wilson We appreciate everything you do and get that done. Thank you very much. We will be coming back to the board at some point with a another report What? The statuses of north-east and out as far as speed and maybe come up with some other options for the board to look at Because right at this point, we will not be installing any more temporary or or even permanent Speedtables even though that was part of an approved plan by the select board. So it's just clear We won't we're putting that part of it on hold Yes, yes That will be a town road eventually yeah Permanent ones that are going in there by the developer Crosswalks, which we found we're having some problems made at 88 quarter minutes So they've turned in the more speed tables, but I was at the road We're gonna be in front of somebody's house regardless of where they're at. Yeah, so I just want to make sure No questions just a couple of thoughts is my big and I'll wait for them. I'm sorry No, no, I'd rather you know, please. Sorry.   It's amazing.  We're on bikes. We bike over the Field near our house and we crossed the road for the first time and didn't have to like You know, I didn't feel like we were risking our lives trying to go and it's I mean, we're just crossing the road We're not riding on the road It changed my life And it feels personal because it really is First of all, thank you because I think you hit the nail on the head, which is the trouble with north willistan road and I remember when the Consultants were here and they made the point that it's one of the few crossings of the musky river And because of that it is going to get a lot of traffic So we have this issue with regional traffic wanting to make it into a connector in the town wanting to The town I shouldn't say the town Some people in the town's preference that it stays more of a rural neighborhood type road and how do we resolve that conflict I don't have an answer for that. I was hoping that the traffic calming measures that were being Recommended would work Now we're hearing concerns about one of them that it may be working in a sense But it's certainly not working in other senses and I mean, I guess I'm just saying I'm frustrated at the situation of We have that we're in between with kind of no good answers and the one answer We thought that might work is suddenly sounding like maybe it won't I drove over the speed bump You know with bikes on the cars and you know the car having some people and and I didn't find it obnoxious But I also don't live there The the point the other point I wanted to make is I mean hats off to whoever thought of getting a temporary speed pump because I mean, what a great thing we have to test test, you know, where should we put it and what are what happens when you put it somewhere Um, in fact, if you're looking for recommendations for a new place to put it I've got one for you And um So I don't know what else to add and thank you because you you stated it very eloquently as did steve So yes, people are slowing down and they go over it that they're speeding up coming out of it And they're speeding up going the other way out of it. So unless there's it's a speed zone You know, you're really it's a zone where they're slowing down. It's not really in my mind. It's not really Functioning to its intended purpose. Maybe we should ask Bruce if you would remove the pavement and turn it back into a dirt road It creates a whole other Dust Jeff we're on the right track you deterred there a little bit, but that's okay with the dirt road I said you were on the right track for a little bit, but then I deviated too far a little bit Again, yes. So thank you. It's it's a this is a hard one. I mean I I went down I don't try live on old killer road, but you know, I travel often and it's it's a it's a foreign barrier for sure It's not one that I don't think you see a lot of But it's it's kind of a catch 22 you want to slow the traffic down But you also want something that's going to be functional to move traffic as well So I see both sides of this I you know, certainly think being reevaluated and looking at what are some other alternatives But I I certainly would be on board with you know I think I'm not going to speak for the board but getting that, you know removed and Looking again to see what are the alternatives to put something there or is that the correct location? I don't know I need more information myself. And I'm not opposed to trying to Trying the same temporary speed bump on a different location on north willison road Different locations. Let me make that plural Say I I'm very sympathetic to what you're saying and I'm sympathetic to steve too I mean that was I've been over it enough times It's loud and it's cumbersome and I certainly wouldn't want it outside my front porch But on likely on the other hand, I wouldn't want anything. I wouldn't want nothing So I I totally get that there's got to be something that can be Found that can help in that Any other comments discussions If folks are on board with With the board then they can incur with the recommendation my following motion suggested Modified a little and said Move the select board instruct staff to remove the temporary speed tables As soon as practicable and reevaluate the placement of speed tables and other traffic calming measures on north willison road sir second I'm quick. Thank you all second discussion All in favor Thank you, thank you Usually goes on your list of I can't give you a specific day. We'll try to We won't push it too far out. I we do need to do a little research to and And fit it in with the board schedule There's there's a standard you have to use and it's Oddly enough, it's based on the current speed the cars are going And so we have to be careful about measuring that because it could indicate we need to raise the speed limit rather than lower it So I'd rather keep it the way it is because I know it's not going to be a speed Studies aren't going to indicate And we have it it's a standard and that we If you don't follow it then your subject all kinds of other To a certain extent but We have only so many officers. We're short Several officers to begin with and and it that's never a permanent solution enforcement. It's a temporary fix That has to be combined with other things like Traffic calming measures Moving on to the charter change discussion. We've got a memo from eric. Eric if you're going to walk us through that please I'll have the highlights here So we've identified two possible town charter amendments to consider the town meeting 2020 I guess it's time to start thinking about that I might recall the town charter amendment process we went to last year There's multiple steps as described in state statute multiple public hearings publications warning periods So this is the time of year to start thinking if that process is won the board wants to follow and and if so we jump into it Rather soon So in the memo describes two I'm going to jump to the more straightforward issue first a second one of my memo Um Right now we're preparing for a hiring new library director And it was discovered as we were preparing for this process the town charter's contradictory about hiring authority for this position Between the town manager and the library trustees The charter gives a town manager authority authority to hire department heads library director being one of them The charter also outlines the role of library trustees It states the trustees have full power to manage the library as allowed under state law One of the powers allowed for under state law is the trustees may hire a director. So there's a conflict in language there Both parties have worked well together in the past hiring a director But formalizing the roles in the charter would be advisable Just so there's some clarity there Um, I can go on to the second point now or if the board wants to discuss this one first, uh, whatever you prefer Questions for eric on that one Go ahead please. Thanks. I'll tackle the second one here So earlier this year the vermont legislator passed act 61 This amended the vermont labor relations act and this mandated that whenever a contract impasse exists between a municipality And the bargaining unit for any public safety employees This would be a police fire rescue union If this impasse exists for 20 days after a find a fact finder makes this report public Then the impasse must be resolved through binding arbitration This addition and state statute was made late in the session The vermont legacies and towns alerted our municipal association about that They lobbied against it, but there was little time for municipalities to testify on this So the significance of this this act 61 will now require towns to undergo binding arbitration as a final step to settle a Pro long contract impasse with these unions If this event occurred arbitration would make the final decision on how local taxpayer dollars will be spent for a bark and employment agreement So in the past the towns worked to settle a contract negotiation impasse with these unions through mediation If that was successful then going to fact finding and additional mediation rick told me that In the town's history, they've only gone back to a second round of mediation twice before the impasse was resolved Before the adoption of act 61 Proceeding to an arbitration panel would have been a voluntary decision by the select board as a deciding entity Or an arbitration procedure for these circumstances could be adopted by ballot item by the voters here And one one piece I don't have complete clarity on when trying to get some resolution from vlct The law described the voluntary arbitration as a three-member panel in the past including Someone from the town the bargaining unit a third person that the other two parties would select It's unclear if that same procedure has carried forward after with act 61 I couldn't find it called out in language, but vlct was checking on it I'm sorry. Can you go over that again the the arbitration panel would be three people Somebody from the town somebody from the union and a third person that both parties selected Yeah, and if they couldn't agree on a person in the superior court with a point that third person act as the chair of the arbitration panel Yeah, that's fairly common The reason I differed with that is because The last state I worked in was Connecticut and that is how it was set up Three person panels and it was binding arbitration in in in Connecticut. I guess Okay, thank you No, no, I will say in Connecticut the they had a panel of arbitrators the panel was appointed by the governor and The democratic governors why I shouldn't say parties, but Anyway governors tended to Appoint I don't want to say this People who are sympathetic to unions Because as a party favor For supporting their candidacy. Yeah, so that's one of the concerns that we had in Connecticut and But that that's just one of the concerns So that was that was the prior practice and I'm unclear by reviewing the former language and the current language and the act as adopted if that panel Procedure would still take place or it would just be one independent arbitrator And talking with vlct. It sounds like as this was passed at the end of the session A lot of those procedural details were necessarily worked out and there was some gray area So that that's the the framing of the issue and the policy consideration for the select board to to think about In means of the town charter is This is an issue the board wants to put to the voters about how this would be handled A charter amendment could be considered the charter amendment would ask Whether they agree with this requirement of back 61 by Disagree with it rather if the town should not use binding arbitration to settle a prolonged contract negotiation in pass If the voters approved, however, that question was phrased a better way than I just phrased it The legislature would essentially have three way I thought of three decision points they could make The voters have approved the charter amendment so it goes to the legislature starts in health's government operations The legislation could accept that charter amendment that's voters supported And be something for different than wilson that is adopted in state law and The second piece is they can reject the charter amendment Third this could reopen this binding arbitration issue for municipal leads to consider. I know that might be more of a stretch But the other thing we were thinking about is, you know, if wilson Puts this to voters we could reach out to some of our other colleagues and other municipalities They were to have a charter amendment too And it brings more of a coalition approach that this is an issue that municipalities feel strongly about to the legislature to think about I reach out to the town attorney on this to see does Anything any issues he foresees with this right now He didn't see anything that would cause him concern at this time He'll let us know if he thinks anything else, but the question of select board is knowing this issue One of my concerns is is this is a very nuanced question. We'll be asking the voters Which one? More about the binding arbitration versus Mediation than I think the library director But that one could be, you know A nuanced type question also and so My concern there is I just want to make sure when voters vote They have a clear understanding of what they're voting on what yes means what no This might be a case where my question whether they you know, the average voter will Yeah be able to understand the issue That'll take some care and direct crafting the wording of this for sure I selling it. I to me seems pretty easy. You just say All right, do you want the town to make these decisions? Do you want some outside independent party that has nothing to do with the town of wills to make those decisions? And the other point is we've never got to that point That I guess that are going to cut can cut both ways But um, I think that in my mind it tilts the playing field a little bit towards the union Which is why the unions supported this right from the start and the towns didn't But it's a charter change. It would have to be approved by the legislature anyway. Yes Right, that's the a little bit of the rub that eric was just talking about So the the issue with finding arbitration is that It tends to Well as you use the term tilts the playing field I might say it tends to favor one side over the other, which is Not what it's not the outcome You want you want the outcome to be fair to support neither side or support both sides equally or support neither side equally Plus it jumps it jumps arbitration much center, right And you have 20 days after Fact-finding report is issued and and last we've only once did we get to fact-finding and we After the report was issued we went into back to mediation That takes a little time to set that up and and it takes a little time to read the report and Digest it and figure out what you're going to do. So 20 days is not a whole lot of time The next step it sounds like more wants to further pursue this We can prepare what that language would look like For these items Didn't go into library director specifically So let me know if there's a different direction you want to go there But we can prepare this language then the board would need to review the language And in the case of the library director is will you work with the library board Uh friends of the library or to come up with what what the approach should be or will you Is it more that no we're going to suggest for instance the town manager because of his role as hiring department heads With input from I'm certainly going to have some sort of discussion with the library trustees. I'm meeting with them on a regular basis Of course you are so uh You know now's in a way is a good time because we're going through the process right now But yes, I I will be definitely talking to them in some form or another whether I give them a proposal or just talk about it and come up I don't know exactly how that's going to look like Okay Seemed to have consensus. Okay moving on then we'll go on to the manager's report rick. Be still kind Well, uh, I see our finance director has stayed. I don't know if You're um prepared to give a Quick overview on our financial report. Um, I will say that this Report covers the last fiscal year because the report for this fiscal year would be pretty meaningless. I um, I will also say and preface Surely I'm sure would say it as well This is pre-audit. So these are not final numbers that you're seeing here They're likely will be adjustments But this does give you a fairly good idea of how we ended the fiscal year right I think um Rick And read my narrative. So I won't repeat it unless you have questions, but um, and I think rick has said it I mean there's a few Significant entries. I would say are not posted like the year-end payroll accrual. We don't have the last Local options tax payment. I don't know what that is yet. So that will you know have an impact on revenue but if I think about the things that Haven't been posted that I'm aware of because I'm still working through the year-end process and not sure of everything That's in front of me still but I would guess that the um, even though the general fund is showing um net expenditures, um, I think we'll probably see that turn around um, and water sewer storm water are have excess um Net revenue over expenses, and I don't expect that will change much even though I still have to do their payroll accrual and and look at the receivable balances To determine any year-end entries, but but I think we um Have used a little of the fund balance For the cat amount purchase in the numbers right now. So, you know that Possibly might be subject to change by the time I get done year-end But I don't think we're going to use all of the reserves that were in the budget to begin with I don't even think we'll come close to it It's all good news. It's actually gonna have some decisions to make when we get into the budget about the fund balance again, and We'll have to maybe think a little differently Because we we're not bringing that down like we had hoped to bring it down Which is not a bad thing, so especially What a bad problem to have But you know like there's some things we can You don't want to become reliant on that as a revenue source So if you're going to apply it to one time expenses Then that's And one of the options might be to um, you know, we've The town approved the purchase of a couple new fire trucks Maybe we don't have to borrow for all that As an example Another items unless there's anything on the financial I um included with in your packet the quarterly report. Um, so if there's any questions, I'll be happy to answer them I I'm going to turn the floor over to um Eric and I'm all up, but there's a couple items I want to touch on I am working with the library trustees for the Selection of our new library director. We have the first round of interviews this coming Friday. We have six people And there will be interviewing I'm optimistic. We have a pretty good group And so, um, we'll see where that goes We're right on schedule as far as the schedule we had set out at the beginning of this process So so far so good And Surely mentioned the local options tax. We hope to get that report in a day or so Normally, it's right around the 15th of the month following the close And so it's coming on so we're Looking in our inboxes copies of that report And Next month's report We have hired a new Stonewater coordinator and she will be starting Early september at least She's from colorado Next month Which is I say next month Um And so the other two items I'm going to look for you for some Discussion and guidance So another item I put in your packet was an outline for the select board retreat this fall So this is a draft outline Fits the vision you have for the evening, um, I can walk you through it briefly if you like The first part would be a panel discussion on preparing for economic resiliency downturn in the economy And I recently this week in the news. There's been some talk is a recession coming Kind of goes back and forth there This panel can discuss what policy considerations to take under advisement With some expertise from a number of stakeholders from different areas of economics And help inform future policy decisions the town could make now with its current financial position So I've listed four or five possible panelists here. I've heard back from everyone except Professor latosky at st. Michael's Jeff car dominant cloud jeff davis and jeff nick I'm all said they'd be be happy to sit in our panel off the board would Like them to to be in attendance for this The kind of the moving goalpost right now is when's it going to be to kind of nail down all board members schedules potential panelists schedules and Anyone else that needs to be involved that evening So the the panel discussion Can take place in a number of different ways one way I put on the paper here to structure it could have some opening remarks from each Person involved kind of bringing their area of expertise and their lens on the topic Maybe 10 15 minutes or so could have someone serve as a moderator with some questions for the group Or just can just really be an open round table whatever the board's looking for to use that time The second piece of the evening Um thinking another round table discussion and the topic of retail cannabis sales and what local policy considerations to Be aware of I know the legislature is likely going to take this up again the second half the biennium um Matt blanche are planning directors been in touch with vlct on these issues at the end of the session and I've spoken with Gwynne at vlct and and Karen horn and both of them are willing to We're appreciative of a possible invite if should the board be interested having them attend that evening just without the According to their schedules as well They have a a depth of experience being in the state house every day and can Speak to these issues well and kind of give a a barometer where policy may be trending and how the town can help influence that and also some things for the town to think locally to to be aware of some steps to take before legislative action on some of these items so just Looking for any feedback the board has on this outline any edits That's them trying to figure out a potential day and I know chairs I I like both of those I um I would I think that I'm really happy with the the concepts on both of them the The devil's going to be in the details How productive they're going to be though because I mean if there's a panel of people saying well, they're Maybe a downturn and well gosh the town's going to have to really be careful Okay It's not going to help very much But if you know these people are going to come in and say, you know Something you might want to consider is you know keeping your your your fund Higher and not not using it to reduce Property tax rate for a for a given year to see what's coming next You know Then that would be something I'd be more interested in so like concrete stuff And the reasons behind that concrete stuff. I think would be something I'd really push for On the cannabis stuff I think that's a great idea. I just want to make sure that we I'm I'm a lawyer and I'm still not sure what we're going to be able to do and not do Relative to ordinances and policies and such so that's that's that have to be the foundation starting point for the panel for if If I had my two cents, so just want to throw those things out My point basically ditto in terms of the the first part the other piece I'd like help And there's no answer and there never really will be an answer, but Their perspective maybe a little bit of guidance or thoughts on What is the right amount of commercial growth or economic growth in willis then And you know, how do you maybe match that against? Residential growth or you know the town's ability to provide services or you know I've I've always struggled with We we regulate the amount of new housing development that occurs in town through our our ordinances commercial we've always sort of The only regulation is is through the subdivision approval process and I've struggled with that question. Maybe that's the right answer. Maybe it isn't maybe we should have more Input on how much Commercial growth has maybe we should be out there avocating for more commercial growth. I just would like help answering Uh that question and this panel looks like they might be very good at helping provide perspective I think it would be a little bit one-sided on the perspective, but Jeff Carr certainly I think would be good at addressing that question I'm not sure the manager for St. Albans town or city or other would be Because he's got a different perspective. He he was st. Albans. He tried to boost up their economic The vitality of their city and so that you know, he had a little bit different issue It is and willison has been very fortunate, but you know, it's still it's I actually thought dominic would be good um It's you know, and I'm not to pick on Jeff Jeff Davis and Jeff Nick, but it's their perspective that I think would maybe Their perspective understandably will be the most for lack of better words. Don't take this negatively. It will be biased, you know But I you know, I certainly wouldn't mind listening to them. Okay. That was my next question if you feel that the bias would be It's just because you know, they're obviously going to advocate for more I shouldn't say for more, you know, their business is Retail development And that that's a concern I have in any economy that relies too heavily on One type of business retail or or IBM like like we used to Now it's global foundry, but um Certainly we don't rely on that business as much as we used to But that that was a huge concern if because if that one business goes under what are we left with? Or if the economy quickly changes away from retail, um, you know retail big box stores Then we got another issue It is changing, but it's not as quickly and and some of the big box stores are adapting somewhat So There's a question about the future Vitality or viability of that model So Sound like you're gluing on the right track. Okay. That's very helpful. Um, thank you Is there um, this makes sense to look at calendar right now and think of any potential dates or I should We'll do a survey We'll pick a bunch of dates and try to narrow it down Oh, and I had one other quick thing Information technology update We've been working with our new managers as provider open approach since july 1st Um, um report a good partner to work with so far. We're really taking a close look at our network Upgrading some hardware security Taking a look just kind of future planning with the assets and security measures One thing we have invested in recently is a software package called no before it was recommended by vlct And what this software does it it allows us to send Spoof phishing emails to staff A phishing email is something where it tries to get you to click on it for Bullish a software to be installed. So it's pretty sophisticated what what we're doing I've ran a couple tests once to get a baseline I think our average is maybe about 20 of the staff I sent it to just in these two buildings So start clicked on it, but they take kind of the most Common phishing attempts the last couple weeks and they they craft their spoof emails from it So all staff are getting different emails at different times And one was saying like your fedex package was delivered to the wrong address with fedex logo and it looks very legitimate Others saying your airline tickets on united you need to update your seat information or something So it's it's a lot of social engineering going into these scams now and we're aware in the news a lot of Municipalities in the country falling victim to these ransomware attacks. So The information talks about really training your staff as the really the first and last line of defense in some of these things Where they need to be aware of what it is what they're clicking on. So we're trying to take a real proactive approach there It also has training built into the software. So we can see if people are Clicking on these I can follow up with kind of a training video to kind of reiterate the things to watch out for so We'll get some data on this You can You can make it you can spoof your name, but the the thing to make it so they're not completely fooled is you change the domain That it's coming from. So even if you move your mouse cursor over the link or over the The two from address they can see it comes from bogus company one two three or whatever But separate from what we're doing we have received some of your staff has received some emails In fact one of them Well, I started two were from me two other well supposedly from me two other employees asking for some information And uh, both employees saw right through it fortunately One of the companies he worked for wasn't that one but almost got taken for For millions of dollars because Somebody had enough information from the finance department to email somebody else about Things and there was a there was a law firm in Real estate law firm in south brilington about five years ago that sent Wired money after a closing To say that's this is our the world we live in where yeah friend of mine lost 130 grand Yeah, and that's uh, yeah, and that that was because that was because the the thieves had had been monitoring the the the sellers Emails so they knew enough to fool people and the latest one that I called it two years ago That's happening is now fake mortgage payoffs So in other words you request one you get it and then two or three days before closing you get an updated payoff That's usually for a lower amount, but the wire instructions have changed So it's just incredibly sophisticated Any other business on that note Having no other business we have a motion to adjourn Second no second any discussion All in favor All right, I boast We are adjourned Good job It's very efficient leadership


We're at the Robert Lee YMCA in downtown Vancouver with an announcement of two million dollars from the province of British Columbia for the Canadian Men's Health Foundation. This is an initiative started right here in British Columbia by Dr. Larry Goldenberg and it's to talk to men across Canada about their health, about their wellness. They've got applications like Don't Change Much, which is a web-based application that allows you to learn little things that you can do to make your fitness, your health a little bit better without changing your whole lifestyle completely. Today the British Columbia government has reinforced our program with an additional two million dollars of funding that's going to go to drive tens of thousands of more British Columbia men participating in our campaign called Don't Change Much, which is all about making small steps to improve your long-term health outlook. This is not this monumental, enormous task, we're saying make these small changes to change the direction in which your health is headed. This is all about our commitment to healthy living. Our Healthy Families BC initiative includes a number of different things that help British Columbians learn how to live healthier lifestyles. We know that keeps people healthy, increases their quality of life and reduces the burden on the healthcare system as well.


Superintendent Lauren Evans and in fact she's been charged with misdemeanor but recently got a diversion agreement which will allow the charges to be dismissed if she pays for the signs. What strikes me is that so you know this group was opposing the bond measure they didn't want their taxes to go up they didn't support it. The superintendent who you know is going out in the cloak of darkness to do this and and I and in genius they put up trail cameras amazing and they catch a woman fitting her description and then as you say he put grease on the signs and they found the grease in her truck and on her clothing and then here she sits in a courtroom she's a superintendent of the school district


Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, Mike Stevens, visits the Ford-deployed port of Fleet Activities Yacowska as part of his 2015 overseas tour. I wish I could get back here on a more frequent basis, but that's really not possible. So we get here when we can, and it feels really good to be back in Japan. McFawn Stevens spoke about his mission and his priorities for sailors. Well, Teresa and I are here in Japan to listen to sailors. We need to hear what's on their minds. We need to know what the concerns and issues are, as well as the great things that they're doing. He also collected feedback and knowledge on the status of the fleet from enlisted sailors. It was nice to actually have all that information instead of just reading the Navy Times, hearing it from the source, who can actually go back and give his opinion. It was a great experience. McFawn Stevens' tour will continue on to other bases in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. Petty Officer Jacob Allison, Yacowska Naval Base, Japan.


All right. So at this time, I'd like to call the May 23rd meeting of the town of Wellington redevelopment board to order. My name is Rachel Zemmary. I'm the chair. This open meeting of the redevelopment board is being conducted remotely for the governor's extension of the remote meeting provisions. This executive order of March 12, 2020, due to the COVID-19 virus. For this meeting, the ARB is convening via Zoom, as posted on the town's website, identifying how the public may join. Please note that this meeting is being recorded and that some attendees are participating via video conference. Accordingly, please be aware that other people may be able to see you and take care not to screen share your computer. Anything you broadcast may be captured by the meeting, by the recording, excuse me. We'll go ahead and take a roll call, starting with Kim Lau. Presence. Jean Benson. Present. Melissa Tentacolas. Not with us yet. And Steve Revolac. Present. Fantastic. And then we have two members of the Department of Planning and Community Development joining us this evening, Director Jenny Rait. Present. And Assistant Director Kelly Linema. Present. All right. So at this time, we'll move right into our first agenda item. And that is a discussion around the transition for the Director of Planning and Community Development and the ARB Secretary ex-officio position. And I will kick it over to Jenny, who we are so sad to see leaving. We want to thank you for everything you've done for the town and for the board. It's been such a pleasure working with you for the whole time that I've been on the board. So thank you so much. Thank you, Rachel. I have something prepared if it's OK. I'll just read from that and then we can kind of talk or I can answer questions. OK. All right. Well, this month, obviously I shared with the Arlington community that I would be leaving my position as Director of Planning and Community Development this month, actually June 3rd. As that date approaches, it's bittersweet as Arlington has been my sort of home for the past six plus years. While I don't live there, I very much feel a part of the community. I want to share my appreciation as well as my encouragement for what I see in the future with the community. Arlington has been a place where I have had a tremendous privilege of leading the department and guiding this board and many other committees, working groups and commissions. And I've appreciated working with numerous community volunteers over the years. I can't even count how many actually I tried to and that I gave up so many, so much volunteer energy in Arlington. And it's really something to be proud of. That level of engagement is actually unique and is something that I think is very important to the planning and community development work that we want to achieve. During my time here, I have been humbled by a community committed to ensuring progress on implementing its comprehensive plan and moving forward with key initiatives in land use and zoning, transportation, housing and community development, economic development, arts, history and culture and the environment and conservation and climate. This team has been united with that purpose, in my opinion. And this role allowed me to grow both professionally and personally in many ways. Even though my last day is on the horizon, I will remain a stalwart supporter and admirer of Arlington. I think we have accomplished a great deal, including launching the master plan implementation process, including development of five working groups, adopting a recodified zoning bylaw and numerous substantive zoning amendments, bringing new voices into community development and planning initiatives, creating advisory groups with which brought an engagement, diversified committees and led to new leadership, adopting many plans, including Connect Arlington, the long range transportation plan, the net zero action plan, two housing production plans, and a fair housing action plan today, just some of them. Development of the Mass Ave reconstruction phase two, including sidewalk reconstruction and the redesign of public plazas and parks in and around Arlington Center, spearheading the bus rapid transit pilot, which led to permanent installation of bus priority and now working on the bus network redesign, completing many reviews which led to the creation or the planned production of affordable homes, establishing the Arlington affordable housing trust fund, including through the support of this board, and sending it with inclusionary and seating it rather with inclusionary and CPA funds, hopefully reorganizing various governance structures, including one for the arts and culture organizations to create an umbrella policy funding and advocacy organization for the arts in Arlington, creating many, many programs throughout the COVID pandemic through CARES Act and now through ARPA and developing a framework for affordable housing, economic development and social programs with those programs, managing capital projects, including those of in our historic buildings that this board technically manages, including the expansion of our community center and applying for and securing and managing that many competitive grant programs that totaled over $5 million in the six plus years that I've been on board. As many of you now know, I am officially joining the Northern Middlesex Council of Governments to serve as the regional planning agency's executive director. I am equally parts excited and humbled by this new role that agency has an incomparable track record of impact in transportation, economic development and environmental initiatives at the regional level. Very excited to be part of the organization's next chapter. But since announcing my departure, I have been working as quickly as possible with the town manager, the human resources director, the DPCD team, and Rachel as the chair of the ARB to ensure a smooth transition. This includes reviewing work in progress and what I think is anticipated in the next six to nine months. For example, there will be follow up from town meeting to assist the clerk in filing paperwork with the attorney general's office. There are also a number of new special permit applications that will be before the board over the next three to four months. The board's rules and regulations will need an update. The open space recreation plan needs to be reviewed. The town council will be following up with the board regarding our executive session discussion about urban renewal. There will be changes to the urban renewal fund and its properties. And lastly, there will be new projects and plans in the months ahead. For those plans and projects, I've tried to set the stage with funding to support these initiatives, including funding design standards and the start of a master plan update. The MBTA community's final guidelines will likely be issued later this summer with follow up required by the town and for which staff is trying to identify funding to support the design of this initiative. And of course, there's many more projects happening in the Department of Planning and Community Development. With my departure, I anticipate that Kelly will be the board's point person for the interim. The position is of course posted. And we're in the midst of securing professional services from people who can assist with various department tasks that need to be shifted due to this personnel change, including housing monitoring, permit reviews, and certificates of completion and a stewardship program related with Conservation Commission. So with that, lastly, I'm grateful for the support over these years from former and current board and staff members, particularly Rachel, Sam Berry, Adam Chaptolaine, Kelly Lanema, and in the past, Andrew Bonnell, and Aaron Swarco, and the collaborative approach of Mike Champa, and others in the building real estate and design communities. A collaborative approach is the only way to move this community forward with community development and planning initiatives. The future success of Arlington is inexorably intertwined with the investments we make in planning and our quality of life, and in engaging people in that work. I remain deeply committed to this success. Even in my new position, I'll still be thinking of Arlington. I'll just be changing my vantage point back to original level. Please know that you can always call on me in service, even while I'm away with gratitude. Thank you. Thank you, Jenny. I really appreciate it. And I'd love to open it up to the board members. Jean, you have your hand up first. For any questions or comments that you'd like to make. Go ahead, Jean. I was mostly clapping. Oh, okay, we're clapping. I'll say something anyhow. I was mostly clapping, both for all of the great work, Jenny, that you did during the time that you were here. And also for your future and what you're going to do in the North Middlesex County of government. So, you know, a big congratulations for your accomplishments and for the road ahead. So thank you very much. Thank you, Jean. Steve, I don't know if that was clapping or a hand up to Well, actually, that was a hand up. That was actually a hand. Okay, eyes. My first experience working with Jenny was in the Zoting Recodification Working Group. And I would like to thank her for being an excellent mentor over the last couple of years. I've learned a lot from you. You have done a lot for this town. And I wish you well in in your new position. Thanks, Steve. Okay. Well, I think I've known you for the longest, Jenny. And I really appreciate the work you've done to Tarlington. You always had the best in mind for them. And I really appreciate the fact that, you know, how you overcome some of these hurdles that came along the ways. You know, and how you stuck through it. I gave you a lot of credit for what you've done and what you had to endure. And really proud of you and glad you're moving on into us. And wish the best of luck to you. Thank you. And I'll just add it's been wonderful, even in the time that I've been on the board, seeing how the department has grown under your leadership and the way that we're focused on sustainability. And then the addition of a transportation planner, the, you know, the more comprehensive way that we're looking to solve the very complex, the very complex, I won't call them issues, but set of circumstances that we have given the way that the town has grown over the years. And I think it to your point about a collaborative approach. I think that bringing the type of expertise, including Kelly and others who are currently in the department is, it has is really wonderful to have seen. And I think that that will certainly help during the transition to know what great, what a great talent, talent Kelly and so many of the other planners who are in the department are that you've pulled together. So thank you for leaving Arlington in such good hands by being thoughtful enough to create those such a such a well rounded group within the department. And Allie and all the others, I don't want to leave anyone out. They're all wonderful. Well, thank you. Thank you all. I appreciate all those all those best wishes and comments. I greatly have enjoyed working with you. Thank you. Jenny and Kelly is there. Let me just sorry. I normally have two screens. I have one right now while I'm traveling. So let me just move over. I think what I'd like the Jenny and I have had the opportunity and Kelly to talk a little bit about the transition. And I'd love to open it up to the board to see if you have any questions about items in progress or you know, things that you'd like to see us focus on. Obviously, the MBTA communities, rolling is something that we are going to need to, to really look at in probably during the time of the search for the new torture planning will be ongoing. And I know that we had a lot of a lot of goals from our goal setting meeting that, you know, in some ways are dependent on that ruling, as well as potentially some things from the housing production plan. So knowing that there's a lot in flux, I'd love to give some some time over to the board for any of your thoughts or questions on the transition or thoughts on things that you'd like us to see focus on during the time of the transition. And just to share that I think once the new planning director is in place, I think, you know, hopefully that'll be soon after Labor Day, if not before that that's when I was thinking we could schedule our next retreat, but love to open it up and can maybe we can start with you on some of your thoughts or questions that you might have for Kelly and Jenny. Jenny. Well, I think Kelly and Jenny left less than a real good strong shape here. The only thing I might want to follow up on is at one time, I think it was maybe during the middle of the pandemic or the beginning of the pandemic, we had started this 3D model sketch up along Mass Ave and Broadway that's sort of been put aside for a while. I like to maybe resumed maybe a little bit of that more to it would help maybe dispel some of the myths about what we're trying to do or make people more understanding what we're trying to do. As far as some of these zoning changes we may be looking at and we use that as a tool. I think I would like to maybe pick that up a bit more. But I do understand why we sort of it's been a rough time with the pandemic at all and all these issues coming up. But you know, that's something I wouldn't mind picking up on. And I think we started at our last tree talking about more attention toward the industrial zone and the business zone and how we can do more mixed use. I like to see how we can focus a little bit more on that. A lot of that has been done on housing. I think rightly so because the majority of Arlington is there. But I'd like to be focused to see what we can do about maybe building that up a little bit more. That's my tenure for now. Great. Thanks, Ken. Jean, any thoughts, questions for Jenny or Kelly on the transition or your hopes for focus for the board during the transition? Just a few things and maybe in a different place than everyone else on this. I would hope that the new planning director will be chosen after the new town manager is chosen so that the new town manager has a role in choosing a planning director. I would be concerned if we had a new planning director in place. And then we got a new town manager and it turned out they were not particularly sympathical in ways. So I don't know what the town's plan is for that. But that would be my recommendation. It might mean that we would not have a planning director for a little bit longer depending on how long it takes to get a new town manager. But in terms of transition, I think that would be a better way to go than choosing a new planning director just as the town manager is leaving or has left. So I have a couple other things, but I'll stop and see if people want to comment on that. Sure, Jenny. I know that you've shared with me the timing which perhaps you could share with Gene what the town's current timing is slated to be. Or the director. Yeah. I mean, it's posted right now. And I mean, typically, it takes sometimes like three, four months for hiring. But that doesn't necessarily mean it will dovetail with the town manager posting, which is not up yet, of course, because that's going through a different executive recruitment process and hiring process. I don't know what the intention would be of whether or not they'll wait to hire the town manager before they would hire the director. But I think that the director, there will be applicants to review and people to interview likely before the town manager is the new town managers on board. So there will be a deputy town manager serving in the acting role. And that might be the person who would participate in this hiring process, as well as other people, including, you know, probably Rachel from the board and others in the community the same way they conducted the last interview, a pretty rigorous interview process for hiring the next director. Does that help, Rachel? I don't have any other answers right now. I mean, I can give the feedback to the human resources department. I don't know what the sense of the board is. I think it's the sense of the board is that it makes sense to wait until a new town manager is in place before the new planning director is chosen. And maybe no one on the board thinks that other than me. But if we do, then I think we should inform the select board that the sense of this board is that it's important to have a new town manager in place and that person play a role in selecting the new planning director. That's why I'm interested in what other members of the board have to say about that. Kim, go ahead. I would agree with Eugene. I think Jenny and Adam is a good example of what you're saying. I think they have a good alignment and work well together. And I think we should be a little more patient. I'm sure Kelly can handle some very comfortable in her feeling the big shoes that Jenny here. But we can wait a little bit longer because, you know, I don't think rushing solves anything. So I agree with you, Gene. It's a good point you bring up. So I'll say that I don't disagree, Kim and Gene, that that would certainly be ideal. I also see the list of in-process work that we have and knowing that Kelly will be doing not only her job, but also taking over. I mean, in moving into the interim director role, my understanding is that there's a lot that's going to be falling on Kelly's plate, including what she's already doing and what she's going to be covering while Jenny is out. So I want to be mindful of the pull-on on Kelly's time as well. And I don't know what the timeline for the time manager selection process is. So that's something that I think we can find out. You know, I'd be happy to reach out to the select board and find out what their current thinking is on timing. We can see how closely that does not align. And if it's significantly out of alignment, then I think for me that would skew my preference towards trying to fill this position ahead of the time manager position so that we can continue moving forward with all of the things that we need to as a town. But if it's closely aligned, then perhaps ensuring that the time manager selection is complete first would make a certain amount of sense. But unless we know what that projected timing is, I think it's hard to weigh in personally. Steve, your thoughts? I agree with you, Madam Chair. I mean, I think the town, my impression is that the town manager and the planning director are probably two positions that will have to work together and collaborate quite a bit. That seemed to work fairly well with Ms. Rated and Mr. Chaptilane. But I think the schedule, the realities of scheduling and timelines also do play a role. Thanks. Melissa, any thoughts on timing since Jean has put that question to the board? Not really. I mean, I think conceptually I disagree with the thinking on what Steve and you said, Rachel, I mean alignment with kind of the town manager in this case. It sets the tone, you know, the person and their kind of priorities. So it's helpful to have some alignment. But that said, you know, I've seen many operations that kind of have done it differently and there still can be success. So I think finding the right candidate will be important going forward. That's how they're doing it. So Jean, what I can do is I'm happy to follow up with the select board chair and see if I can get more information on the timing and report back on the timing for the time manager search. Yeah, the only thing that I would add to what's been said is I would think it's more important to slow down some of the things that can be slowed down. So if there is alignment between the hiring rather than going ahead on some projects that could wait. Producer Jenny? I was just trying to check on the sort of timeline piece. So the board, you know, they voted to name Sandy Pooler as the town manager once Adam Chapter Lane leaves as town manager. And the timeline for a permanent replacement has not been determined just yet for the town manager. So based on timing alone, the new DPCD director would definitely not be hired in that immediate timeline that we're talking about. That's likely impossible. But Sandy would be the person working to hire my successor. That is the current plan of action. Great, thanks Jenny. So we can certainly, like I mentioned, I'm happy to follow up with Sandy and with the select board and just trying to get a little bit more clarity around their their thoughts for for timing. So the second item I wanted to bring up was the MBTA communities, housing choices. I think, I don't know what the final guidelines would be. I thought the draft guidelines were probably ultraviries the law itself and were subject to an interesting and maybe successful legal challenge. So I would want us, depending what the final guidelines look like when they come out, to take a look at that and maybe have an executive session with town council to discuss and get his take on whether they are challenging, especially if we don't like them in any way or if it looks like they're going to be challenged in court by some other places. So I'm not saying we should end up going to court because we don't know what they're going to look like. We don't know what town council will think and the pros and cons. But I do think we should leave that as an option to consider when the guidelines are final and come out. Otherwise we'll see what they say and decide what we're going to do about implementations if we decide that they're not going to be challenged. Sure. So I think that the timing, Jenny and Kelly, correct me if I'm wrong, for those would be, the expectation is that those would be released towards the end of the summer, July, August. Probably more like August, September. August, September. And then I'm sure that Kelly and her colleagues will need a little time to parse through that and then make a presentation to the board as to the initial interpretation. And I think at that time, Jean, that would be a great, great moment for us to then decide whether or not we could even plan following that a discussion with Town Council following the presentation to explore some of the questions around any potential for legal challenges that he sees or has heard of from other communities. Well, maybe we should ask Town Council now what the filing deadline would be. Because it may be pretty quick after the guidelines come out to file to challenge. I'm not sure. I haven't researched it. I'm not trying to practice law about this. But if we wait, it may be too late. It might be a 30 day window. I don't know. So I don't know that that would come out until after their, Kelly or Jenny, do you know that? I'm sure that would be identified when they come out. They're not going to say in the guidelines. We would have to ask Town Council maybe ask them now. If there were going to be a challenge to the guidelines, what is our filing deadline? And if so, what would that be after the guidelines come out? Okay, it's a little bit confusing to me because they're technically not regulations. If they were regulations, you'd look at a certain chapter of the mass general laws to see what the deadline is. But they're not regulations. They're guidelines. And I'm not sure they fall into the same category in terms of timing to file. So I think it would be helpful to get Town Councils take on how long did we have after they come out if the town chose to file litigation about them. Sure, we can certainly find that out. We haven't talked about obviously going down any path like that based on the preliminary, but we can certainly have all the information at our hands before they come out. Yeah, we should know that. Thank you. Okay. Steve, any questions for Jenny and Kelly regarding the transition? No questions at this time, but in terms of things that we might want to consider over the next or during the transition period, I think the MBTA community requirements are definitely among them. I would hope that we could have that once we know what the final guidance is that we might be able to sit down with the select board and get their opinion on it as they're the sort of elected political body in town. The other thing I was hoping we would have time to do during the summer and maybe it just has to wait, but I was hoping that we could invite the Arlington Chamber of Commerce to just talk about business and what would benefit the business community in Arlington. Thank you, Steve. We did have that on our agenda and Kelly, is that some hope? Go ahead, Jenny, sorry. Yeah, I did follow up on that with Beth Locke. So I can, I just made a note that it was something to pick up after a town meeting when you first asked me about it, Steve, which was maybe a month ago or something.  We can do whatever you're ready, that is. Yeah, I think what we can do, again, following Tom meeting is Kelly, perhaps we can look at our summer agenda and find a good meeting date to see if Beth is able to join us if that works for you. Absolutely. Great. All right, Melissa, any questions about the transition or items that you'd like us to ensure that we're focusing on in the interim period before the new director is selected? Yeah, no specific questions.  And I know Jenny, I haven't been on the board that long, but it's been great to work with you and, you know, I just see your impact over the years here in Arlington and really appreciate all your work.  So thank you. And then Kelly, thank you for taking the interim step. So I at this point, I mean, I think Steve, you know, I don't know if I heard that you had asked about the chamber coming to our board, but I think that's a great idea in terms of just looking at, you know, the business community and really trying to seek out, you know, what would make a difference for them. And maybe Allie could be part of that if she's available. It'd be nice to have that discussion. Thank you, Melissa. Great. Any other questions or thoughts on the transition before we move to the NASFORG screen application letter? Jenny, go ahead. Just one follow up item, what can raised about the 3D model, the SketchUp model? I mean, I think possibly that will come in handy when you do the design standards. You know, I didn't, we didn't give it a little quick update, but town meeting actually did vote to approve the appropriation for design standards. The commercial, like the update, well, really the new design standards. So that that could be something that you use alongside that, you know, that other design process. So it definitely was a great, I think, starting point and with all of Kelly's work, of course, it'll be a great place to kind of expand upon. But I do think that the two are related. And then the other thing I was going to say is it's totally reasonable to try to figure out a way to scale back, you know, for some interim period of time during, you know, the upcoming transition, but I will absolutely leave that to Kelly and others to figure out what they want to change or scale back. And then they'll need to communicate that to the appropriate funders or committees and boards and such we work with because we, you know, the work in the department is tied to many other things. It's a it's a very big and we coexist with many, many people in our network. So we can't just immediately change a scope or a schedule or the work product and outline when we're in the middle of it. So we'll have to figure out how to adjust, but I will leave that to Kelly and work with her as I can in the next couple of weeks to make those considerations. Great. Thank you, Jenny. And you also brought up a good point in terms of an update from from town meeting. So for those of you who haven't been on town meeting, we have not yet gotten to the zoning warrant articles. Hoping to hoping to by Wednesday evening. So we will certainly continue to give updates as those are heard. There were, you know, have my spreadsheet right in front of me, but I think that there were only three that were approved through the consent agenda. So the rest will be heard. I tell you. All right. Any questions on that update? Just a quick Rachel that three at special town meeting were approved. Thank you very much for the clarification. Jean, yes, all of the three articles in special town meeting were approved. Thank you. Okay, so let's go ahead and move to agenda item number two, which is the mass works grant application letter of support and Jenny will turn it back over to you. Thanks, Rachel. So this is we are in the midst of putting together an application for funding that would support the Mass Ave Appleton corridor project. It's basically a safety and corridor update that includes the, you know, streetscape, sidewalks, crosswalks, probably new traffic lights and other sorts of facilities in the area that goes between this is all along Mass Ave, but from about Quinn Road to Richardson. So it's a pretty big area and it would accommodate three different developments that are happening in that immediate area. Some are in progress and some are planned or known. So the ones in progress include for the Myrack Development, as it's called, 1165 are Mass Ave, which is a 40B comprehensive permit Kelly's bringing up hopefully a map addresses and such, you know, best to look at a map when speaking of places. So 1165 are under construction now. I mean, well, it started construction. And then this board permitted a hotel and restaurant that is at the corner of Mass Ave and Clark. And I am looking at an update on that project from the owner of the property in the next few days. So I'll get a sense of where that stands. But it is, of course, still in the pipeline, technically. And then the last one is at the, but this is a very, this property owner, the church owns a lot of parcels. Pretty much everything in this whole area is for the most part owned by the church, except for one small amount of that parcel closest to Acton Street, which is owned by the town. And they're in the process of seeking developers for one or two of the parcels. One of them is currently a former rectory at the corner of, I think it's Appleton and Appleton, right? Appleton and Appleton. And the other one is at the corner of Appleton and Acton, which is a portion of a very large driveway, a parking lot, rather. And into an area, right, right adjacent to that. So that's, that is, we're aware of it. It's in progress. And with these developments, it does position the town to be able to request funds for a mass works grant, which would basically enable us to address a lot of safety concerns that we've tried to temporarily address through various temporary sort of materials and, you know, I would say programs and initiatives, like having the police temporarily be out there certain times a day, changing some of the lighting, adding some signage, creating sort of a temporary lane for bike passage, safer bike passage, but there's things that we want to do permanently, as well as additional community engagement and outreach. And the only way to do that is through applying for these funds. We do have some funds through the town that have supported us to be able to hire a firm called Stantec, who is helping us with not just this corridor project, but also a smaller project related to Chestnut Street. Both of these intersections and areas have had, unfortunately, deaths occur as a result of cars killing individuals either in a crosswalk or on a bicycle. So there's real safety concerns associated with them. And then also just other enhancements that could be made to accommodate safer passage for all. So with that in mind, while we have some funds, we need funds to get us through sort of this both sort of easement process and then process that follows the design, the 100% design that we anticipate completing to get to construction. And we would apply for mass works for construction funds eventually, but this grant is just to get us to that middle part. It's, I don't have the exact amount right in front of me actually, but we're looking for this board support in order to just apply for the grant. And in the spirit of a good, you know, good planning process, something that aligns with Connect Arlington, our master plan goals. We thought that it would be best to ask you if you'd be willing to sign on to something like that. We can share a template letter through Kelly. And, you know, we're glad to answer any questions if you have them. There's, there is also a committee of people who are part of this Mass Ave. Appleton project. I think they're actually having meeting tomorrow night. Come to think of it. So if you're interested in engaging more in this project, you know, not just as a board member, but because maybe you live in the area, then I would encourage you to also drop by that meeting or others in the future. That with it. Thanks, Rachel. Thank you, Jenny. So I'll take questions for Jenny and Kelly from the board, starting with Ken. No, I have no questions for Kelly or Jenny, but I do support this and I would encourage that we follow through on this. That intersection is really nasty, especially in the afternoon when the lights are setting and you can't see up that hill. I think some of the temporary measures help, but I think we should put a permanent a permanent design to that. So I'm supporter of this whole thing. Great. Thank you, Ken. Jean. I agree with everything Ken said. Can you tell us how much the grant application will be for and what percentage of project cost that would be? Looks like Jenny and Kelly are looking for that. I know. Well, I brought up the template letter and then I don't see the number in the one that I have up in front of me right now, Kelly. The amount is roughly 140,000. I don't have the precise number because we're still working with SCAN Tech on estimating that. But we're looking at roughly 140,000 dollars, but then this would lead into another MassWorks grant application in the future for actual construction funding, which would be much more substantial. So the 140,000 is just from MassWorks to do the planning? It's for MassWorks to help fund the planning and the basically 25% through 100% design and then the permitting and any easements and sort of the interim period as we head into. We're trying to look at the overall timeline and make sure that we have the funding now so that when we get to the point where we would also need to apply for construction funding, which is going to be much more substantial, will be fully set up to apply for that funding and know how much funding we're looking to receive at that point. So we kind of need to pursue the grant now for the design portion of it and then we'll also pursue the grant and the future for the actual construction fund which is going to be much more substantial. So you could almost estimate that the design portion of it is going to be roughly 10% of the overall construction cost. And the MassWorks one is one that will be eligible for if we comply with whatever the MBTA communities grant turns out to be? Yes, not a meet. Well, not a meeting. Not now, but maybe not. And not necessarily next year, either, because by the end of this year, you have to have an action plan for how you're going to comply. And then it's by the end of next year, you're looking at full compliance. So the what Kelly was just talking about was that second round of money. And I think I want to put words in your mouth now, Kelly, but was that next year? Yes. So we need to I'm thinking the timeline is December of 2023 is having the action plan in place. Now I'm getting all my dates confused. Sorry. It's right now in the draft guidelines. And so again, these are all draft guidelines. We don't have the final guidelines, so we don't know the final timelines. In the original draft guidelines, the regulations or the vote in order to change the zoning to comply with MBTA communities had to be by December of 2023. We don't know if that's going to remain the play remain the same when they issued the final guidelines. And so right now we just want to make sure that we're moving ahead so that no matter what the draft whether the final guidelines are the same as the draft guidelines, they're different. We're set up to continue to move forward. And if compliance, you know, we don't know again what these final guidelines are going to say, but we don't want to delay the process when we actually know that we need the improvements. Good. Thanks. I don't want to take up any more time. Yes. I think we're ready at 7.45. So thank you. Yeah, I'm supportive of this. Thanks, Gene. Steve, any questions or comments? No, I am supportive of the effort. I think that making roadway improvements to high crash intersections, particularly ones where fatalities have occurred, it should be an important priority. I've also been hit in the intersection of Mass Ave and Appleton while riding a bicycle. So yeah, I would like to see see that intersection improved. Thank you. Thank you, Steve. Melissa. 100% support moving this forward. Just one question. In terms of our team, is our team looking at also some of the federal grant programs that I've heard about, maybe Safe Streets for All or Reconnecting Communities? Gene? Yeah, well, yes. In short, yes. We've been looking at all opportunities, including earmarks and other leveraging additional ARPA funds from the state. There's a bunch of shared streets funding that we actually we just learned today that we're going to be receiving for other projects. So I think, yeah, I mean, there's so many, there's so many different funding sources right now and more to come as those programs are developed and launched. So certainly this project, once it's fully planned and ready to go and shut, you know, the shovel ready and close, I think it will be competitive for those other funding sources as well. It's a good point, Melissa. Great, I'm also supportive. The only question I have is around kind of the scope and maybe this is something that I can, you know, find out more about on Tuesday. But I know that there has been to talk around looking at the intersection with Appleton and also Park and Paul Revere and Park, which are also challenging intersections. And since that's one kind of although the massive section is one quarter, it all is contributed from what happens up at the top of the hill. So I wasn't sure if that was also in this scope for this particular project or if it was only specific to Mass App. It's something that is still under review by TAC, the Transportation Advisory Committee, what you're talking about. And, you know, I think that we've asked Stantec to potentially look at that intersection and at least review some designs that had been developed by our town engineer. But I think that it will be handled more directly by TAC and not necessarily through this process. Although there is sort of a relationship between that intersection and this one, I don't think it's going to go that far, you know, the actual improvements. But it's certainly something that you can suggest through, you know, the process is still is very open and something to be considered. Great. Thanks, Jenny. And just in terms of the ask, would you like an official vote of support from the from the board? But that's what I was thinking. And then we could provide maybe a draft letter. We can circulate it. And if you want to, you know, individually provide any edits or feedback, we can sort of shape it up. And we'll have it signed, perhaps by Rachel. If that works. Sure. Yeah. Yeah. So that's that's good for me. Are there any questions about the process before I look for a motion of support for the MassWorks grant letter related to the Mass and Appleton streetscape? All right. Is there someone who would like to make that motion? I moved to motion that. Okay. And again, that's the ARB support of the MassWorks grant letter at the Mass Avenue and Appleton street streetscape. So I second that. Thanks. We'll take a vote. Ken. Yes. Jean. Yes. Melissa. Yes. Steve. Yes. And I'm the yes as well. So we will follow up then with once we have that letter drafted, see if there are any comments. And then I'm happy to sign on behalf of the board. All right. As we're at 751, is there are there any other questions before we take a motion to adjourn? We will be adjourning to town meeting, correct? Yes. We'll be adjourning to town meeting. Yes. So is there a motion? But if there's no questions, is there a motion to adjourn to town meeting? A motion to adjourn to town meeting. Great. Is there a second? I'll second that. We'll take a vote. Ken. Yes. Jean. Yes. Steve. Yes. Melissa. Yes. And I'm the yes as well. Thank you so much, Jenny. Thanks, this is your last ARB meeting. We've appreciated everything you've done. Thank you. Thank you, everybody. It's a great night. I hope to see you again. Absolutely. Have a good night. Good night. Good night.