Agenda – Plymouth Select Board 4-26-22 Agenda

Official Minutes – Plymouth Select Board 4-26-22 Minutes

Please note this transcription is unofficial. If you find an error, use the contact page to notify Plymouth On The Record.

Dick Quintal:

Welcome to the Selectmen’s meeting Tuesday, April 26th, 2022. Please join the Board in the Pledge to the Flag.

All:

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Dick Quintal:

I’d like to call the meeting to order. Mrs. Cavacco?

Betty Cavacco:

In accordance with Section 2475, and pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021, this meeting will be conducted via remote means and in-person. Members of the public who wish to watch the meeting may do so in the following manner: tune into PACTV government cable access channels Comcast 15 or Verizon channel 47 and watch the meeting as it is aired live, or watch the meeting live on PACTV website at PACTV.org. Members of the public who wish to participate in the meeting may do so in the following manner:

In-person attendance: Plymouth Town Hall, 26 Court Street in the Great Hall.

Remote participation: Please go to the Town Website under the Select Board page and click on the Zoom Webinar Registration box.

Dick Quintal:

Thank you. Before we get started, I just like to welcome Mr. Brad Brothers, the Town of Plymouth new Assistant Town Manager. Welcome, Brad. And we have an award presentation. Roxanne?

Roxanne Whitbeck:

Thank you, Select Board for allowing me to take a little bit of time. I’d like to invite–

Dick Quintal:

Roxanne, is the mic on, the green light?

Roxanne Whitbeck:

I’d like to tell you guys a little bit about this amazing young lady. She single-handedly went out and canvassed around the Town of Plymouth to the various businesses and collected over $7500 for our Veteran’s Gift Account. And our Veteran’s Gift Account allows us to help veterans that need a hand up at any particular time in their life. Not only did she have the time to do that, but she’s a full-time student at Suffolk University. She just did a teen ties clothing drive. She’s a committee member for that as well. Hands for Hearts for the Homeless volunteers. She works part-time. She’s Miss Montana Collegiate America of 2022. She just participated in New York Fashion Week, and she also spends a lot of time with her family replacing the flags on the veteran’s graves in the cemetery. She comes from her grandfather is a veteran and her great grandfather is a veteran and I couldn’t be more proud of this young lady and everything that she’s accomplished for just our veterans gift account but what she does for veterans in the big picture. So, I just want to really give her a heartfelt thank you and I appreciate working with her. She’s fabulous. And thank you guys for taking the time to acknowledge her for me. I appreciate that so much.

So, presented by the Plymouth Board of Selectmen to Hanna Gleason, with a Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of our fundraising efforts and for raising over $7,000 for the Town of Plymouth’s Veterans Gift Account. Awarded today, the 26th day of April 2022. Thank you so much.

Hanna Gleason:

Thank you.

Roxanne Whitbeck:

Thank you so much.

Dick Quintal:

Thank you, Roxanne and thank you very much, Hanna. Good job.

I’m going to move on to a Public Hearing for Independent Fermentation. In accordance with Chapter 138 of the Massachusetts General Laws as amended, notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held remotely or in-person at Plymouth Town Hall, 26 Court Street, Plymouth, Massachusetts on Tuesday, April 26 at 6:00 pm to consider the application for an Alteration of Premises from the Independent Fermentation Brewing LLC, holder of a Farmer Brewery Pouring Permit, 127 Camelot Drive, Paul Nixon, manager.

[0:05:08]

Dick Quintal:

Descriptions of premises will be as follows: Suit 3 at 127 Camelot Drive in Plymouth; indoor area is divided into two rooms and a walk-in cooler totaling 1600 square feet, all on the ground level. Outside patio is approximately 160 square feet near the Main Door. Applicant seeks to remove the outdoor patio area between Building 127 and 125. They wish to add 55 x 25 feet outdoor area on the south side of the building 127. They also wish to add a 3400 square feet area to be used for special events four or five times a year. This area is in addition and adjacent to the 55 x 25-foot area. Anyone wishing to be heard on this matter, should plan to attend this meeting. I now declare this meeting open. Is there anyone here, Chris, for the application?

Chris Badot:

No, I don’t see any.

Dick Quintal:

Okay. Anyone wishing to speak in favor of this application? Anyone wishing to speak in opposition of this application?

Seeing none, I’ll bring it back to the board to close the hearing.

Betty Cavacco:

Motion to approve.

Patrick Flaherty:

I’ll second that.

Dick Quintal:

Second by Mr. Flaherty. Discussion? All in favor? Unanimous.

Wait a couple of minutes, 6:10. Okay. In accordance with Chapter 138 of the Massachusetts General Laws as amended, notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held remotely or in-person at the Plymouth Town Hall, 26 Court Street Plymouth, Massachusetts on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, at 6:05 pm to consider the application for an Annual All Alcohol Restaurant License from Gulsen [?] Incorporated d/b/a TrailsEnd Bistro, 1 Greenside Way, Suite 103, Son Gulsen, manager. Description of premises will be as follows: 1,050 square feet of kitchen, dining room, outside patio, two bathrooms, three entrances and exits. Anyone wishing to be heard on this matter, should plan to attend this meeting. I now declare this hearing open for TrailsEnd Bistro. Anybody here?

Chris Badot:

Yes, we have Mr. Gulsen on the monitor.

Son Gulsen:

Yes, sir.

Dick Quintal:

How are you doing? Can you hear me sir?

Son Gulsen:

Yes, I can. Can you hear me?

Dick Quintal:

Yes, we can.

Son Gulsen:

Hi, how are you all doing?

Dick Quintal:

Good, thank you. Is there anything you’d like to say on your application or?

Son Gulsen:

I was just very excited to be able to serve the public at large and this part of Plymouth definitely needs a business like this. It’s much needed, much wanted and that’s it.

Dick Quintal:

Okay. Anyone wishing to speak in favor of this application? Anyone wishing to speak in opposition? Seeing none, I’m going to close the hearing and bring it back to the Board.

Harry Helm:

Motion to approve.

Betty Cavacco:

Second.

Dick Quintal:

Second by Mrs. Cavacco. Discussion? All those in favor? Unanimous.

Son Gulsen:

Thanks.

Dick Quintal:

Thank you and good luck. We’re just a little early here. So, I have to wait until like 6:15 that’s when it’s posted, so. We’ll be here anyway, right? The party for the public hearing for the Aquaculture, you’re here, right? Doyle’s. Okay, I’m going to read it anyway.

[0:10:01]

Dick Quintal:

Well, we’re going to have a public hearing on the Aquaculture License for Beth Ann Doyle, excuse me. Is there anything you would like to say to this? Comment on it? No? If you could just and make sure the green light is on, ma’am.

Beth Ann Doyle:

Good evening. I just wanted to thank the members of the Select Board for taking a look at the application for this Aquaculture Lease and considering it.

Dick Quintal:

Okay. Any questions for Ms. Doyle while she’s up there?

Betty Cavacco:

No, but I’ll make a comment if you’d like.

Dick Quintal:

Absolutely.

Betty Cavacco:

So, this aquaculture license is for the Beth Doyle, and it was unanimously approved by The Harbor Committee.

Dick Quintal:

Thank you. Any other questions or comments from the Board? Awaiting the Board’s pleasure.

Betty Cavacco:

Motion to approve.

Charlie Bletzer:

Second.

Dick Quintal:

Second by Mr. Bletzer. All those in favor? Excuse me, discussion? All those in favor? Unanimous.

Beth Ann Doyle:

Thank you very much.

Betty Cavacco:

Congratulations.

Dick Quintal:

Thank you. Two Seven Plymouth’s here?

Male:

Yes, sir.

Dick Quintal:

Okay. We’re a little early, but this will probably take a few minutes anyway. Just so the public watching knows, there’s been a partnership change I believe, if I’m saying something wrong correct me, just jump right in, but it was CannaVana, then it was Kaleafa, and now it’s going to be Two Seven Plymouth.

Mr. Suda:

Two Seven Plymouth, correct, Mr. Chair.

Dick Quintal:

It’s mainly the partnership is–

Mr. Suda:

Yes.

Dick Quintal:

Okay. So, you want to talk to that a little bit so anybody that’s watching understands?

Mr. Suda:

Good evening, Chairman, members of the Board, thank you for having me I believe for the third time. Initially, our proposal back in September or August of last year was pushed. We received verbal approval for the HCA to move forward with recreational retail and cultivation manufacturing and processing. Up until December, we got the approval from the Select Board to move forward towards CBA. At that point, our partnership went different ways. There were some things, they had other opportunities, the previous entity. So, since I was the one leading everything, I decided to then just take it over. I am the president and founder of Two Seven Plymouth Inc. and everything’s mainly staying the same, just besides the ownership structure. We changed the layouts a little bit on the interior, exterior. Everything is remaining the same, really not much different, the renderings, everything, changing the site plan not much is different again just besides the ownership.

Dick Quintal:

Okay. So, we’re really just looking like for an approval really to move on to the HCA, Host Community Agreement, correct?

Mr. Suda:

Yes. So, yeah. I’ve been working closely with Miss Park and Mr. Badot. We believe that next week we should have an executed HCA. We’ve been going through some edits over the past few months, and then right before that, we do have CBA scheduled for 5/18.

Dick Quintal:

Okay. The only thing I would recommend if it’s possible is to get something from the original partnership that you’ve had, from the partners that are not there now signing something or making an agreement with you just so our legal counsel and Tiffany can work on that.

Mr. Suda:

So, I’ll provide the PDF document for that. My counsel did provide a video for you guys. We are–excuse me, we are finalizing discussions, but we’re basically done with the term sheet between one another. That was just on both parties to execute it.

Dick Quintal:

And this is for retail, sales, cultivation and manufacturing, correct?

Mr. Suda:

Yes, sir.

Dick Quintal:

Okay. So, I’m just going to touch a little on the Host Committee Agreement, and I ask that all and I probably said it to you before because you’re a regular and I like to see somebody, any business that comes in the community to support something in the community of your choice. We got food banks, we got Fourth of July, we got Thanksgiving, so I mean whatever, the shelters for men and women in Town.

Mr. Suda:

And Chairman, if I may interrupt, but what Roxanne was just stating that was one of the things that we did want to donate to was whoever leads up any veteran causes. Yeah, we’ll definitely want to allocate some capital to those.

Dick Quintal:

I’ll look favorably upon that.

Mr. Suda:

Awesome.

Dick Quintal:

Okay. Anybody else have anything to put in there? So, we’re just going to give them a nod, and you’ll be back. Yeah, Patrick? I’m sorry.

Patrick Flaherty:

No worries. So, understanding how it’s a new entity, and you mentioned that you are the one who’s been leading and are leading it now, the structure of the ownership was one thing we had talked about and the idea of keeping it local?

[0:15:13]

Mr. Suda:

Yes.

Patrick Flaherty:

Can you talk a little about how if you’ve maybe taken on other owners or if there’s sort of how that structure looks where it seemed to be very, very local before, and I think that was very positive?

Mr. Suda:

I am leading up the whole charge on that. Obviously, with any entity, I want to bring in the best team to make sure we execute on a very successful business. I am the president of the company, majority stakeholder in the company. With my partnership, I have known a few gentlemen throughout the years. I’ve been kind of part of the cannabis industry for the past three years, trying to get my feet wet in it. They will be moving here. One is California and New Jersey. They will be moving here and leading up operations with me, but they work for other companies. They’ve been in the cannabis industry for about seven years. So, they’re going to partner with me on that and make sure that we do have a successful business. I can’t run this fully on my own. So, with any business in this industry, there are multiple partners in it that have previous experience in the field.

Patrick Flaherty:

Thank you, and just one more question. In the memo, it talked about there’s some language it might be incorporated about if there’s any future sale or considerations that it would still have, we’ll call it like a local ownership. Is that something that you’re open to putting into the HCA?

Mr. Suda:

Yeah. With Mr. Badot and Miss Park, we have been discussing that just based off like the legal language that is something that we said we definitely, because I understand the PTSD that Plymouth has. There’s been a couple of changes of ownership with MSO, Multi-State Operators. We understand that. There is zero intention of doing that on our front. We’re going to get this business open and operated. So, the language that they’re working out we’re obviously open to keeping that and if there ever is an exit, which there’s no plan to do so, it would be local Massachusetts resident agents and companies, yes.

Patrick Flaherty:

Great. Thank you. Good luck.

Mr. Suda:

Thank you.

Dick Quintal:

Mr. Helm?

Harry Helm:

I have a question for Ms. Park’s. Tiffany, you’ve been working with this group through its various iterations.

Tiffany Park:

Yes, that’s correct.

Harry Helm:

Do you have any concerns about the changes as they may cause confusion or difficulties in the final constitution of this company, which is now known as Two Seven?

Tiffany Park:

So, I think one of the most important things and Chairman Quintal actually mentioned it is that we get some sort of confirmation from the previous partnership showing that there’s been a dissolution and that they understand that Mr. Suda [?] is pursuing a Host Community Agreement with the Town on his own or with new partners. So, I think that was probably one of the concerns that we had. We’ve asked him for that and Chairman Quintal reiterated that tonight. So, that would probably be one item that we would want to make sure that we check off our list before going forward.

The other piece would be that the Host Community Agreement that we’ve put together, we’ll be using this template for this agreement one with the botanist, which you may recall took over from Alfred’s Finest. We’re still working out the final details of that transition, and also with Healing Gardens, which is another one’s coming up soon. I’ve worked with Coleman and Page on what would be I believe the most comprehensive Host Community Agreement that we’ve put together to date. It covers a lot of different categories that I think would be important to the Board and the community. So, I believe that with the Host Community Agreement, we’ll have a very strong outline of expectations for this group or any other group that would come into town seeking a Host Community Agreement.

Harry Helm:

And one last question, in that new Host Community Agreement template, have you put in the aspect that previous agreements have had of a charitable contribution beyond what they are required to pay?

Tiffany Park:

Yeah. So, and we’ll work out the final details in the coming week or so. Excuse me, but there’s a section for that. There’s the Community Impact Fee, there’s an annual benefit payment that the organization could choose to offer to the Town of Plymouth and there’s also a section for Annual Charitable Contributions that they could choose to offer to the town. So, those three sections will be included in the agreement, and we’ll work out the details with Mr. Suda as to what they’ll be offering.

Harry Helm:

Super. Thanks, Tiffany.

Tiffany Park:

You’re welcome.

Dick Quintal:

Thank you. So, unless the Board has any questions, we’re going to let them move on for the Host Community Agreement.

Betty Cavacco:

Do you need a motion?

Dick Quintal:

No. All set, Charlie? Are you good?

Charlie Bletzer:

What’s that?

Dick Quintal:

Do you have any questions or comments?

[0:20:04]

Charlie Bletzer:

No, no.

Dick Quintal:

Okay. Then the recommendations that the Board asked and continue on.

Mr. Suda:

Awesome. I appreciate it. Thank you for your time.

Dick Quintal:

Thank you. Energy Committee Update would be Mr. Farah.

Patrick Farah:

Good evening, everyone. For the record, my name is Patrick Farah, Energy Officer for the Town. And I want to introduce the group to the Energy Committee Chair, Hollyce States. She will be starting off the presentation, and we’re going to be bouncing back and forth. Thank you.

Hollyce States:

Good evening, everyone. Can you hear me okay? Okay, good. As Patrick said, I’m Hollyce States. I’m the Chair of the Energy Committee, and we are joined tonight by not only Patrick Farah, our Energy Officer for the town and our liaison to the committee but also Everett Malaguti, who is Vice Chair of the Energy Committee and Jack Willett, who is one of our members and John Mills, who is one of our newest members. And watching from home, I believe, are Nate Fanning who is one of our newest members as well as Ron Dobrowski, and they were not able to join us tonight. Also, Margie Burgess was unable to join us tonight because she had a long scheduled previous commitment. So, we are very pleased to be able to be here tonight, and thank you for inviting us. We will be presenting an update of not only the Energy Committee’s work but also the energy savings initiatives for the town overall for about the past 10 years and those have been spearheaded by the town’s Energy Officer.

So, this is our agenda for tonight. I’m going to be talking about our mission and goals and the green community’s status. I think you’ll probably be interested to hear about that. And then Patrick is going to talk about EV charging stations, lighting and solar projects and 3rd party power supply purchasing, and I will be chiming in on that too. And then looking ahead, I’ll be talking about what we hope to be doing in the future and how we hope to be fitting in with the overall initiatives of the town.

So, the Energy Committee was first formed in 2004 by the Board of Selectmen. I guess, that’s what you were called then. And the initial reason was to consider having the town become a municipal light plant. That did not happen. It was deemed that it was not feasible at the time, but over the years, the Energy Committee has evolved into advising on energy policy overall not just for electric policy. We–could you do the next slide, please?

So, our mission is, and this has been approved by the Select Board last year, is to help the Town of Plymouth, its residents and its businesses reduce the amount of cost and carbon emissions of energy consumption. So, we do this in several ways. One is providing comprehensive oversight of energy use, analyzing and promoting renewable and alternative energy sources and educating residents and businesses about the resources and opportunities that are available to them.

We have several goals that were approved by this board in February 2021. We have short-term, midterm and long-term goals. Our short-term goals, one of the most important and the one that has been a priority for us for some time now, is to achieve Green Communities Designation. Another short-term goal is meeting with town staff to discuss ways to improve energy efficiencies at our buildings, our current buildings and as well as its future construction.

These two goals are related, and I want to talk a little about the Green Communities Designation status, because that has been, as I said, our primary focus for the last couple of years. Right now, we have achieved four of the five criteria that are necessary to apply for designation from the Department of Energy Resources. Just to review, we have achieved criteria 1 and 2 As-of-right siting and Expedited Permitting, and the Town achieved these several years ago when it first started looking at the Green Communities program.

[0:25:04]

Hollyce States:

This program started in 2010 and the town looked at it then, and I wasn’t around at the time, but my understanding is that the leadership decided not to pursue it. But at the time, the as-of-right siting and expedited permitting were both approved. The fourth criteria is Fuel-Efficient Vehicle Purchasing Policy. The Town approved that in 2011. However, the DOER wanted us to update the policy because it had been 10 years and their criteria had changed a little bit. So, we did that. We worked on that for quite a while. This Board approved the policy in February of 2021 and the Superintendent of Schools approved it as well. So, it’s for both the municipal and school vehicles. We worked with town staff to put together a comprehensive inventory of vehicles for both the school and the town, and we’re very grateful to the staff for putting in the time and resources to help us do that. What we discovered is that those pieces of information are dispersed among several different departments in town. So, that was a bigger challenge than we thought to put together that inventory, and it did take a substantial amount of time.

We finally did get a comprehensive inventory that had all of the different categories that we need to look at going forward, and that was achieved in August 2021. I’m going to skip to number five, the Stretch Energy Code Adoption, you probably remember that. That was approved by town meeting in August 2020 and then some language was updated and that was approved at fall town meeting 2021. So, the last criteria that we’re working on, and we have been for some time is number three and this is to establish an energy baseline as well as a 20% energy reduction plan. So, the town contracted with Horizon Energy Solutions to do an audit of all town buildings and facilities and identify the sources of energy and try to put together a baseline. And what that means is we need to be able to measure what our energy consumption is before we can establish a reduction plan. So, that took quite a bit of time. I won’t go into all the reasons for the delays, but part of it was COVID and the inability to enter some buildings, but there are several other delays.

We also have a technical assistance grant with Old Colony Planning Council, and they have been working with Horizon Solutions to take the data that has been collected and put it into what’s called the Mass Energy Insight System. It’s a free web-based tool that the state provides to communities and state agencies, and it uploads all of our energy information in it, and it enables the town to be able to track and monitor energy use to identify opportunities for improvement and also to identify anomalies. If a particular building seems to be using a lot of energy, then you can look into this tool and try to find out what’s going on. We didn’t have that before. Again, just like the vehicles, we had energy information in several different areas and again, we appreciate very much the town and school staff members who helped gather the information because it wasn’t that easy to find. And Brad will attest to that, because he was very helpful on the school side to gathering that information.

So, we are now–just before I leave that, we’re hoping that Old Colony Planning Council is still working to get that draft ready. When it is ready, which we hope will be in the next few weeks, it will need to be approved by the Select Board as well as the school superintendent. And once that happens, we will actually be able to apply for designation and then that will probably take a couple of months to approve. That’s what we’ve been focused on for quite a while now. And this Energy Committee is going to make it happen. We’re determined to do that.

So, we have some other short-term goals. One is to ramp up the Mass Awareness or the MassSave Program and help residents and businesses tap into the resources there. Another is to meet with the library and community resources director or staff to explore the possibility of an air curtain at the main entrance of the main library on South Street.

[0:30:13]

Hollyce States:

Our mid-term goals involve a lot of solar, looking at solar projects. So, one is looking at the potential of solar canopies on town and school parking lots, and we’re in discussions about that. We’re also looking at the potential of installing ground-mounted solar on the two landfills in town. So, we’ve also been exploring that. And one thing we still need to do is to try to ensure that the current contracts that the town and School have with other entities that we understand that all the details of those so that we don’t violate any of those agreements going forward and working on these projects. And we also are looking at providing updates to the ground-mounted solar bylaw as needed.

Another mid-term goal is to explore the possibility of acquiring streetlights. As I think you know a little about this initiative and if you want to ask us questions about that, you can ask now or at the end, but I think Patrick has talked to you before that Eversource had a program where the town could buy these streetlights for free and that program ended. So, now, if we can still go forward with it, the town administration decided not to do it. We can go forward with it, but it will now cost some money to do that. So, that’s something that we need to obviously talk to the town manager and to you about if you want to go forward on that.

And our long-term goal is to explore the possibility of becoming our own energy efficiency program much like Cape Light Compact has done for the Cape. So, this would be taking over the MassSave program type of programming and having Plymouth control it. And if people look at the bottom of their electric bill and see the energy efficiency charge, that charge goes to Eversource to conduct the programs and this is a long-term goal. It would take a while to do, but if Plymouth wanted to do that that money would come to Plymouth to then conduct those kinds of programs ourselves.

And Patrick’s going to talk about EV charging stations.

Patrick Farah:

Thanks, Holly. So, I wanted to just spend a few moments and give an overview of what the town has been doing over the last 10 years. We’ve underwent a few initiatives and the EV charging infrastructure that we have in town is definitely one successful initiative. Currently, we have 10 stations one unfortunately was removed down in Manomet, and we’re looking to relocate that but right now, we have 10 operating EV charging stations throughout the town. You can tell by the little red dots. And just wanted to give the group some statistics on actual usage. Back in 2000 late 2012 early 2013, we installed a single unit through a grant through the Office of Community Development, and we figured that well, maybe that unit would be used a dozen, two dozen times in a year’s time. And that first year, it was used almost 200. There were almost 200 charging sessions. Well, as you could tell as we added more units, so from March 2013 through the end of 2021, there’s been almost 20,000 charging sessions that occurred in the Town. Actually, Plymouth is fortunate to have more EV charging or the largest EV charging infrastructure on the South Shore South of Quincy.

And just for some context, during the lifespan through December of 21, over 87,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases have not gone into the atmosphere. So, that’s a huge number. So, this program has actually become very successful. The next thing I want to talk about are some lighting and solar projects we’ve been working on as a town.

[0:35:00]

Patrick Farah:

I provided the Select Board with a spreadsheet showing the different breakdown of the different projects. So, a number of 29 different installations and retrofits throughout the town such as ornamental streetlights and at the highway barn, some of the mechanics shop lighting as well as the outdoor and parking lot lights. You can see the list. Total grant funding for these 29 projects since 2012 almost $650,000. If you accumulated all the savings based on all the different projects large and small including the last three, which was at the South Street Library, the police headquarters as well as PCIS, we are anticipating or that our town will anticipate a rough of almost $175,000 in annual savings based on all these projects.

Let’s talk about some grants that have been secured, and I have to tell you, I know Tiffany’s not here right now, but I am very thankful for that position, and she’s going to be great in this position. There are a lot of grants out there, and I can’t track them all, so I’m looking forward to working with her in the future. However, over the last 10 years, we’ve secured over $1.1 million worth of grants, which included a couple for Anaerobic Digestion a feasibility study, also a lot of funding for electric vehicle charging stations through MassDEP. So, you could tell the town invested just over $200,000, and we received over $1.1 million. I think that’s a great return.

Also, the municipality kind of piggybacked with the school department regarding buying what’s called a renewable energy credit, solar renewable energy credits from facilities out in Wareham, Carver and used to be Freetown. I don’t think that they’re being used anymore. However, the school department actually took the majority of the renewable energy credits and the excess the municipality received. So, those renewable energy credits because obviously in Wareham, when you have a large ground-mounted solar project, we don’t buy the actual electrons. We just buy the credits that are generated off of that system. So, you could tell since fiscal year 2015, the municipality alone has received over $1.2 million in savings. So, while I was putting this presentation together and compiling the data, no one has really tracked the amount of residential and commercial rooftop solar projects. So, I asked and they gave. I contacted Inspectional Services and through April 1st, 2022 from I guess when they first started compiling the data through Munis, over 1547 residential rooftops and I think there’s one or two ground-mounted projects have been installed and/or permitted that are going through the installation process or construction process now in the town, and that was actually quite a large number.

Number of solar panels, almost 41,000. So, the industry, the solar industry calculates each state on what the average amount of daylight hours there are or sunlight hours in a day, and Massachusetts being up at this latitude only has 3.84 hours average throughout the year. So, you take that rated of 8.675 megawatts from those 1547 systems, you multiply it and that gives you the kilowatt-hour and in turn to megawatt hour. So, the estimated total annual energy production in town by residential rooftop projects is over 12 megawatt hours.

[0:40:07]

Patrick Farah:

Commercial – Roof Mounted Projects. There are currently 62 of them, almost 31,000 solar panels have been installed. And now, we’re looking at a total annual energy production of over 14 megawatt hours. Now, we look at the large ground mounted solar projects. There are 20, 19 of them have been installed. One is under permitting phase down in Hedges Pond Road. And you can see here on the bottom, almost 43,000 megawatt hours of generation. So, we put all these numbers together. We’re close to 70 megawatt hours annually generated. And I received data from our consultant, Colonial Power that gave us 2019 low data. This is for the entire town. This is municipal, commercial and residential of over 400,000 megawatt hours. So, we’re right around two percent is offset by solar. So, we have ways to go. We have started, but there is definitely room for improvement.

So, let’s talk about third-party power supply purchasing. There are two programs I’m going to kind of talk about briefly. One is through again, the municipality piggybacked with the school department. And you can tell from the fiscal year ‘15 through I think it’s like half of 2021, that’s the latest data that I could get, the municipality has saved over $366,000. The slide I know is a little fuzzy, but we’re going to talk about Plymouth’s community choice power supply program, which went through town meeting, went before this board several times. The program started or actually was commissioned in October of 2017.

In October of 2020, the previous town Manager signed a three-year contract and with a supply rate, a fixed supply rate of 9.807 cents per kilowatt-hour. This second contract was actually about a half a penny less than the first contract, which was I think a 10.3. What is really interesting about this second contract I helped negotiate, or I tried to negotiate with the consultant to look, and they were very successful in finding an optional 100% green product for supply, and that is at 9.897 cents per kilowatt-hour. So, we’re not talking about a large difference here for the average homeowner. Let me try to get here. So, Holly, if you want to talk about Energy Switch.

Hollyce States:

So, the Energy Committee worked with the town manager, the previous town manager to enable Plymouth, all of Plymouth’s electric supply options to be listed on this website. It’s called energyswitchma.gov, and it’s sponsored by the Mass Department of Public Utilities. This is also probably a little hard to read, but the two round seals represent Plymouth’s community power program. And if you see up at the top, Eversource, its rate is 15.7 cents per kilowatt-hour and this just went up about 50% in January. A couple of things that’s really great about our program is that it’s stable for three years, it doesn’t fluctuate, and it has, as Patrick mentioned, that 100% green energy option. And if you see the estimated monthly costs in the right-hand column, the difference between for the average customer choosing the 100% green energy option or not is 54 cents a month. So, we really want to try to emphasize to people that they can opt to support the development of clean energy and to get their sources from clean energy sources, if they would only opt for that. If they don’t opt for it, if someone does nothing, they are automatically enrolled in Plymouth’s program, but a lot of people have chosen to other suppliers.

[0:45:09]

Hollyce States:

And what I really want people to understand, what we really want people to understand is that a lot of those suppliers are sending people direct mail, they’re going door-to-door, and they’re trying to get people to switch. But if you look down at all of these other options, Plymouth’s program has the best rates and it’s stable over time and it offers that 100% clean energy option. So, people need to really look at their energy supplier. If it says Dynergy on the electric bill, they’re already enrolled. And if they want to do the hundred percent clean energy, they need to opt in, but they really need to try not to go with another supplier because it’s not a good deal for them.

Patrick Farah:

If I can add one thing?

Hollyce States:

Yup.

Patrick Farah:

Thanks. Also, there’s a thing called winter reliability charges. So, if we get pummeled with large winter storms, a lot of times the utility will provide this or put at this little winter reliability charge in that to cover the cost of the crews coming from different states to help fix our infrastructure. This is already incorporated in that cost. So, as long as Dynergy doesn’t go out of business, this is the rate. And right now, we have actually the best rates in the state. And this is good through the end of June of this year, because every six months, Eversource goes out shopping, and we don’t know what their summer rates will be at this point. Yes, sir?

Dick Quintal:

Excuse me for a minute. Do we have that chart on a town’s website anywhere? So, if I wasn’t watching the presentation tonight.

Patrick Farah:

Yes, it’s embedded deep in the town’s website.

Dick Quintal:

Maybe you could give us a simple version, send it to Chris and have him put it on our website.

Patrick Farah:

I would love to. Right now, it’s in under Boards and Committees – Energy Committee, but yeah, this would be really good to have on the town’s home page or so.

Dick Quintal:

If I may, for our seniors, has anybody reached out to Michelle Brady, maybe have somebody go in and do a presentation for our seniors and explain this to them to make sure that they’re getting the lowest cost energy. I think that’s one way. If we could help them out, it’d be really great. I mean, these are the things that get missed.

Patrick Farah:

Yeah. We’ve done this at the center already.

Dick Quintal:

You have?

Patrick Farah:

Yes.

Dick Quintal:

Okay, great.

Patrick Farah:

So, this is one of my favorite slides, should be everybody’s, I guess when you’re looking at costs. So, from October 2017 through the anticipated savings of through June of 2022, the Community–now, this is not for the municipality, this is for the community as a whole, all us taxpayers, residents have saved over $15.2 million just by going on the town’s program. Thank you.

Hollyce States:

So, we’re going to close with remarks about looking ahead and then of course, if you have any questions, we’d be happy to answer them at the end. So, looking ahead, the Town of Plymouth is well positioned to become a leader within the region when it comes to energy conservation, savings and climate change mitigation. We’re poised to become a designated green community, any day now, which will provide us with not only the grant funding that comes with it but also a road map to identify the projects that will save the most energy and costs. And once these projects are completed, of course, they’re energy savings and cost savings projects, so they’re going to provide ongoing savings to continue to reduce our energy costs and carbon emissions over time.

In addition, the 2020 Climate Ready Healthy Plymouth Report funded by the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Planning Grant recommended several action steps that the town can take to mitigate climate change and impacts including reducing energy use and expanding renewable energy. An MVP action grant currently is funding education and research into salt water intrusion. In the past year, Plymouth’s leadership, you, have adopted a climate emergency declaration, you’ve established a climate action net-zero action plan advisory committee, approved a local civic agricultural program and created a Climate Resiliency Officer position for the Town.

[0:50:12]

Hollyce States:

All of these initiatives working in concert will help make Plymouth lower energy costs, reduce carbon emission and make the community a healthier, more resilient one. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has established a goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. It’s imperative that every city and town in the state, take the actions necessary to support this goal. And Plymouth is well on its way to doing so. The Energy Committee and energy officer look forward to working with the town’s leadership and being an integral part of this effort. Thank you, and please let us know if you have any questions.

Dick Quintal:

Thank you both. Any questions from Board Members? Charlie, Mr. Bletzer?

Charlie Bletzer:

I just have a comment I’d like to make to Patrick very quickly.

Patrick Farah:

Yes, sir.

Charlie Bletzer:

Patrick, no pun intended, I love your renegade, and I know when I was on the PDGC, I loved when you came before us and you introduced the charging stations with your help and some solar lighting and LED lighting and some of the lamps downtown in the parking lot. So, you’re really doing your job and I appreciated all the money and saving for the Town of Plymouth. I just want to give you a pat on the back for your great work. Please keep it up with your committee. Thank you.

Patrick Farah:

Thank you very much.

Dick Quintal:

I’d like to thank you both and your committee for all the hard work you do in the community, and I am very interested in any information you can provide in the future about taking over the street lighting, but it brings me to the next thing with how many of them are actually out?

Patrick Farah:

Of the utility owned ones?

Dick Quintal:

Yes.

Patrick Farah:

So, as a courtesy through our department, residents can call the Planning Office or DPW and there is a form, a streetlight repair form that is vetted through me. I contact Eversource because sometimes getting all the utility can be challenging. And I also keep a spreadsheet, which I also provide that update of how many streetlights repair requests have gone through the town on an annual basis, and it’s in the annual report.

Dick Quintal:

Okay. Any other comments from the Board? Thank you again and if you could start gathering information on that, if you need to on the streetlight program and what programs they might have on that.

Patrick Farah:

Yeah, right now nothing as of December, but I will take direction.

Dick Quintal:

Okay. Thank you. White Horse Beach Restrooms – Update. Oh, there he is. Welcome, Mr. Beder. We can’t hear you. Are you muted?

Jonathan Beder:

Good evening, Mr. Chairman, sorry about that.

Dick Quintal:

There you go.

Jonathan Beder:

Good to see everybody. Jonathan Beder, Director of Public Works. We’re here to talk about the White Horse Beach portable restroom trailer. We’re seeking your approval this evening to utilize the American Rescue Plan Act funding that we currently have some remaining dollars from previous requests to purchase a restroom trailer, a portable trailer that we could use down at Taylor Avenue, for White Horse Beach this season. And again, we could utilize this every season from this point forward. We think it’s a really good request. It’s a little bit more accommodating, the Porta Potties that we use. We have worked with the Procurement Officer; we could get a bid out next week. Hopefully, we could have a unit there available in place probably sometime in June. We’re happy to answer any questions. It’s a pretty straightforward request at this time. There are a lot of different models of trailers, a lot of different types of communities utilize these. We have to run the water service in off the Taylor Avenue, which is pretty straightforward and provide power. But again, it’d be two units: a male and a female plus an ADA bathroom. We think this would be an extremely great convenience for the beach goers down at White Horse. So, again, we’re happy to answer any questions. So, thank you.

[0:55:12]

Dick Quintal:

Thank you. Any questions from Board Members? Mr. Helm?

Harry Helm:

Hey, JB.

Jonathan Beder:

Hey, Harry.

Harry Helm:

Beyond the purchase price of approximately $100,000, what do you anticipate the annual maintenance cost to be?

Jonathan Beder:

Yeah, great question, Harry. Yeah, one is we have the routine with compost. we have to use the sewer vacuum truck to pump this. We’re not sure what the flows would be. That’s all depending on usage, so we’d have to kind of watch that closely. I would think pretty much weekly, especially if we have great weather during the weekends. And then just typical cleaning. It’s something we’d like to offer our custodians. If not, we have to utilize our cleaning company, but I don’t think it would be excessive in terms of cost because I think most of the stuff can be done in-house. The only thing we’d watch is for any type of vandalism, but we need to kind of work with PD on that. But very low cost in terms of sump pumping. That would be something that water current can do and dispose of the plant, so there’d really be no cost of that. So, just an annual cleaning cost. And if that was in-house, probably a couple of hundred dollars a week just to run this facility.

Harry Helm:

Okay. So, you’re anticipating using in-house maintenance cleaning resources rather than an outside company, correct?

Jonathan Beder:

Yeah. That’s correct.

Harry Helm:

Cool. So, what are we currently paying for basically a number of months every year for the Porta John’s that we’ve been using for the past few years?

Jonathan Beder:

Yeah. I don’t have that number with me. I mean, we have those Porta Potties set to go mid-May and they usually run through the weekend after Labor Day. I want to tell you, they’re at least a few thousand dollars and those two will be paid for cleaning and pumping, all as part of that purchase price.

Harry Helm:

Okay.

Dick Quintal:

Betty, do you have an answer for that?

Betty Cavacco:

No, I just had a comment after you’re done.

Harry Helm:

Well, yeah, I was just kind of wondering what we’re currently paying versus what we will be paying. So, anyway, and I know that the Porta Johns are highly problematic in terms of the fact that they get knocked over on almost a weekly basis. So, anyway go-ahead, Betty, sorry.

Betty Cavacco:

Well, I haven’t seen them actually knocked over in quite some time especially since we have our enforcement that’s down there. But one of the things that folks also need to realize is that, we’re going to be able to use this in the off season; like the Thanksgiving Day parade, any events that we’ll have after that Memorial Day time frame. And as people know yet Porta Potties are kind of disgusting. They are disgusting not kind of, and this is like a regular running water, so it’ll be a much better fit for the community, and it’s going to be really hard to knock over a trailer, so.

Jonathan Beder:

I do have the answer to Mr. Helm’s question. It’s $1600 per unit we pay for the season.

Dick Quintal:

Any other questions or comments from Board Members? Betty?

Betty Cavacco:

I do have a letter to read from the Manomet Village Steering Committee, and it says:

Dear Chairman Dick Quintal and Select Board members,

The Manomet Village Steering Committee had their monthly meeting on January 27, 2022 by remote virtual Zoom. On the agenda was the MVSC Master Plan to discuss the actions, policies and goals. As an advisory body with the primary functions being to assist in the implementation of the Manomet Village Master Plan and to advocate for the needs of the area, we discussed several issues from the master plan regarding accomplishments and how we would move forward to implement those that were not.

The Taylor Ave. Bath House was one of the issues that was discussed and unfortunately, the members did not see moving forward in supporting the building of a bath house at 54 Taylor Ave. They see this as a delayed issue year after year and the concerns of several reasons why this project has been delayed for such a very long time. The members of the Manomet Village Steering Committee did make a motion to move forward by sending a letter to the Select Board and Planning Board expressing their support for a mobile comfort station. The committee members see this is the better solution for the residents now especially where it will only be used in the summer months. Thank you for your time and consideration of this matter.

Sincerely,

Alice Baker – Chairman

Ed Alusow – Vice Chair

Nancy Kenyon – Clerk

Lou Cabana

David Golden

Janet Kelly; and

Denise MacFarlane

[1:00:22]

Dick Quintal:

Thank you. Any other questions from the Board?

Betty Cavacco:

Yes. I’d like to make a motion to approve using ARPA funds for the comfort station for White Horse Beach as proposed in our packet.

Harry Helm:

I’ll second that.

Dick Quintal:

Second by Mr. Helm. Discussion? All those in favor? Unanimous.

PILOT Language, Article 7. Mr. Brindisi?

Derek Brindisi:

As you all know, we had a special town meeting back on April 2nd. Town meeting approved the article to submit special legislation for a payment in lieu of taxes authority to enter into an agreement with Holtec. So, we’ve since we’ve been working with special counsel and working with Muratore’s office on submitting this home rule petition. During that process, we’ve identified a few minor modifications to the special legislation that under the article that was approved allows for the Select Board to make any amendments. So, what’s before you today if I could just read to you the amendment within the article, on the very end of this article after as shown on the Town of Plymouth’s assessors map, we would like to include including spent fuel pools and dry cast storage systems in which nuclear fuel is stored in is pending further or final disposal from a nuclear-powered electric generation facility following the permanent cessation of power operations of such facility. And again, the reason why we need to add that language because it will give us the ability to go ahead and tax the spent fuel pools and dry cast storage systems as potentially personal property.

Dick Quintal:

Thank you. Questions from the Board? Okay. Would you like a vote on that, Derek?

Derek Brindisi:

Yes, please.

Betty Cavacco:

I’ll make a motion.

Dick Quintal:

Motion. Do I have a second?

Charlie Bletzer:

Second.

Dick Quintal:

Second, Mr. Bletzer. Discussion? All those in favor? Unanimous.

Derek Brindisi:

Thank you.

Dick Quintal:

Special Town Meeting – 46 Sandwich Street. I’m going to touch on this briefly because there are a lot of details that still need to be explained with it, but I’m going to give you the version of what I saw happened. In negotiations with Holtec, we, the town was quoted for the Chiltonville site, $7 million. At that time, we the town thought that was a little exorbitant, if you will, and we just left it there and so on and so forth. Then I heard later on, maybe a month ago or so at a chamber dinner that Holtec had sold the property to Mr. Vayo for $2.3 million. Upon hearing that news, I took it upon myself to see if one of the employees or spokespeople for the company happened to be at the same event I was at, and he was. So, I went over to him as calmly as I could and said, “Could I speak with you in the hallway?” And we had a colorful conversation. That being said, I reached out to Mr. Vayo immediately and asked him to please come to Town Hall to talk about this acquisition. I must say, honestly, I’ve never met Mr. Vayo.

[1:05:03]

Dick Quintal:

This is the first time, and he’s in the room. He handled himself like a gentleman, and he did come to Town Hall, and we talked, and we came to an agreement and that’s why we are calling a Special Town Meeting. And for no other reason, I’m hearing rumors and I don’t know, they’re out there, but this is why we are calling a Town Meeting because this transaction has to take place for our other party on June 30th. I believe the sale price is 3.775, Mr. Brindisi?

Derek Brindisi:

3.75.

Dick Quintal:

3.75, and that was very understandable considering what he has put into it and what naturally he could have. I don’t want to use the word made but off the property, the success of the project. Ever since I’ve been negotiating, I’ve always said it maybe I shouldn’t have in public that when I talk about the power plant and decommission, I’ve always talked about Chiltonville. It’s very important to me and I think a lot of people in the town. It’s a quaint area and I believe it needs to stay that way.

So, I, as a Select Board put this together with Mr. Vayo’s help, Mr. Brindisi and the board and I don’t know if I’m saying too much here, but I just want the facts to be correct and right. So, we’ve called a town meeting. It’s for this exact reason, and it has to be by June 30th as to the seller, and we went for a site visit. So, it has a lot of possibilities, and the Boards when they’re here and whenever the town decides to do it, I don’t know they’ll be sitting here, but they’ll have a nice project. I know we have a couple million dollars plus in free cash, but you know what, I’m going to leave that to the Finance Director to recommend how she wants to move forward with this. But I took it upon myself to reach out to Mr. Keohan at the CPC and asked him if the town needed a little help, would he be willing to consider buying a remainder of that property and put it in conservation? Now, naturally Bill can’t say yes to me. I mean, you have to fill out an application and just like everybody else, but he definitely showed interest. He thought it was a very good idea as to that point. So, that’s where we’re at. And also, years before I was here, the town did a study where the new fire station, which will eventually replace central station, station 1 and that’s one of the areas that they have chosen. So, it’s going to cost a little money, but the town can also put their public safety building there. The town’s also looking for space for a cemetery. And most of all, will save Chiltonville and that one from my heart to Wedgie and Dr. Rushworth. And I’ve kept Chuck Bramhall and Mark Whittington in my conversations all the way through this. This is what’s going on. And the reason everybody kind of got going last, was it Friday? I guess, they put the announcement in the newspaper. So, if town meeting was to turn this down then he would move forward putting in, I believe 62 units. So, that’s what that was. It’s real, and again, he’s here in the audience. And I say thank you to you for working with the town because you didn’t have to, by no means, and you did, you understood. And he was not happy when he heard, when I told him the whole story. I mean, they never said anything to him. They actually reached out to him. So, if that tells you what this town is dealing with them and why we have special counsel, and it’s going to be a very slow move with these people. And I don’t want to say too much, because they can hear everything I’m saying. So, I’m just going to say they’re tough. We got it back. We’re going to town meeting and we hope that town meeting supports it. I believe they will. I also reached out to Katherine Holmes on Sunday, because I wanted her to reach out to Precinct Chairs so that they could get the information tonight and not jump, if you will. And we had a nice conversation, she appreciated the call, and she’ll educate her members. There’ll be more information as we move forward.

[1:10:02]

Dick Quintal:

I can tell you that we have a clean 21E already and Mr. Vayo provided that with us and Mr. Bettis [?] is a different gentleman now because he’s retired. I spoke with him and the title came back clean, the last 15 years. And Betty, myself and Derek and both chiefs visited the site. Is it Friday? Friday, we did a walk through with Mr. Vayo. It’s a beautiful building. It’s a little ugly on the outside, but nothing a little love can’t fix, but there’s a lot of opportunity there, and I believe that the town meeting will save Chiltonville. So, I don’t know if anybody else has any comment. There’s going to be–we can’t answer. I really don’t want to answer too much stuff tonight on it because what I’ve told you is what I have, we have. And as we progress further, we will have more information for you like the appraisal has been audited, but we don’t have the appraisal. So, we will by town meeting.

Betty Cavacco:

Can I?

Dick Quintal:

Yes, go ahead, and then I’m going to let Mr. Serkey.

Betty Cavacco:

You can go first, Mr. Serkey, if you’d like.

Richard Serkey:

I’m wondering whether you’re contemplating purchasing this property from Mr. Vayo once he takes title from Holtec on the one hand or whether you’ve considered eminent domain against Holtec as an alternative? Because if you purchase it from Vayo, you’re purchasing it at the retail price with a $1.45 million markup. Whereas, if you take it by eminent domain from the town, you’d be presumably purchasing it at $2.3 million, which was the value that Mr. Vayo said that he has agreed to pay to Holtec. So, that’s my question.

Dick Quintal:

We took this under advisement with our counsel, and counsel advised us not to go this route. There were too many things that were unsure.

Richard Serkey:

I’ll wait to hear more. It puzzles me. It baffles me, because if you have a legitimate public purpose, and you’ve mentioned the fire station, cemetery, open space, all of which are legitimate public purposes, I don’t understand, why you would–

Dick Quintal:

Well, I really don’t want to discuss it here tonight, because the other side is watching. I can tell you we ran this by our counsel and this is the advice that they gave us. This is more of a friendly eminent domain than a regular eminent domain, so.

Betty Cavacco:

So, one of the things about the training center and Mr. Serkey, I can tell you, we did explore eminent domain quite vigorously, because I thought that was the way to go until our special counsel told us that there are different options. The property is assessed at $3.6?

Harry Helm:

3.466.

Betty Cavacco:

It’s 2.4?

Derek Brindisi:

3.466 is the assessed value.

Betty Cavacco:

3.46, I can’t read. So, that was one of the guidelines that our special counsel gave us. And like I said, Friday was really the first time I had ever met with Mr. Vayo. I had been in the building before. Obviously, people know that I worked there for 30 years. It is a very large building, and I know one of the commitments of this town, of this Board is to be able to allow some open space, which is why we asked Mr. Keohan if he could help out. So, I believe it’s a good purchase for the town. It has 24.6 acres that goes along with it. It’s a very large building. If we decide or if the town decides that we’re going to do additional, we could put training facilities in there. Our police, I mean, there are a lot of options, but eminent domain was definitely on the table and our special counsel strongly advised against it.

Richard Serkey:

Yeah, I’m not questioning the desire to make the property the property of the town.

[1:15:04]

Richard Serkey:

I’m just questioning the means by which the town would acquire it, because I anticipate there’ll be a lot of questions at town meeting as to why we’re paying 1.45 million more than Mr. Vayo is paying. And usually, in eminent domain cases, there’s a significant issue about valuation, whether the price was right. In this particular case, you’ve got a purchase and sale agreement apparently for $2.3 million in valuation, that’s the best evidence of what the property is worth, what the seller is willing to pay for it or sell it for and what a buyer is willing to pay for it. So, I don’t know why eminent domain would be so difficult, but I’ll await further information through you from town counsel, but it seems to me like it’s the way to go.

Betty Cavacco:

I’m not going to say anything more.

Dick Quintal:

No, don’t. Mr. Vayo?

Rick Vayo:

So, I just want to address a couple of things about the eminent domain and the appraisal and whatnot. So, I guess, I couldn’t disagree more with that. If it were to go eminent domain, it would not go through at the purchase and sale price that I negotiated, because I was willing to close quick or without contingencies or whatever else might be involved in that. It would go through at a minimum of the assessed price, but in all likelihood and if you look at eminent domain cases over the last 50 years, it’s going to go through at an appraised value of what the property could be used for. That appraised value will come back at 5 to 6 million. So, if we’d like to wait for eminent domain, I’ll be more than happy to buy it and go through that, but I don’t think that’s the best route of the town. I think the price that was negotiated by the board and myself is very fair considering what’s been put into it, what the potential use is, and what we are giving up in opportunity costs for the betterment of Plymouth when the Select Board asked us to do so. So, I know concur with the Board that it’s absolutely the best road to go.

Dick Quintal:

Thank you. Patrick?

Patrick Flaherty:

Thank you. And I guess, I have a couple questions but first about just the process tonight to opening the warrant is the price something that we’re talking about tonight that we’re going to be putting into that. I guess on the warrant or is that something that happens later between now and next week?

Derek Brindisi:

Through the chair, so the technical process is we’ll open the warrant, we’ll set a date to a closer warrant. That gives an opportunity for folks to submit articles. I don’t expect to get a number of articles in the administration. We’ll go ahead and prepare the warrant, we’ll send that draft warrant to the Board and to the Advisory and Finance Committee and then at some time in the future, the Board will discuss each article that is before them for the potential June 21st date.

Patrick Flaherty:

Because I have to ask, the price that was negotiated with the Board, what does that mean? Because it was negotiated with parts of the Board, but not the whole Board. So, where are we at with that and do we have a say or a vote on what that price will be as a Board for that recommended article?

Dick Quintal:

I’m sure, but yeah, I think you’re at the same executive session we were all at. We haven’t signed the document with Mr. Vayo, because if we did then we could be liable for it if the town meeting was to vote against it, they could work against us that way also.

Patrick Flaherty:

I was at that executive session, but I didn’t think we had come to an agreement on the price. I thought the next steps were a couple other things before we’re going to talk about price. One was going to be the appraisal, and we haven’t–

Dick Quintal:

The appraisal’s been ordered. It’ll be within six weeks.

Patrick Flaherty:

Right, the results of the appraisal, so.

Dick Quintal:

You know what I’m saying, we’re going as fast as we can with an appraisal.

Patrick Flaherty:

No.

Dick Quintal:

Bill and I worked, Mr. Keohan and I worked with Mr. Vayo to up with several companies, at least six, and we got one that could do it within I believe was six weeks.

Patrick Flaherty:

Understood. And I say I agree that getting this property back for the town is a big win. I see the assessed value as something that I think would be more palatable to town meeting and looking at the whole situation.

[1:20:01]

Patrick Flaherty:

We haven’t seen the purchase and sale, so I can’t really comment on that. I don’t want to comment on that, but that assessed value I think it’s hard to shake a stick at from town meeting because it’s our own assessed value. We’re getting the property back. Once we go over that, that’s where I personally have some reservations, I just want to say that.

Dick Quintal:

Well, I don’t think there’s a resident in this room that sold the house for assessed value. I mean, I wouldn’t sell any of my property for it, just saying.

Patrick Flaherty:

Well, okay, so.

Dick Quintal:

You know what, let’s not argue about it. We haven’t got to that point yet. Let’s get the appraisal.

Patrick Flaherty:

But it sounds like we’re putting an article forward that’s going to have a price on it.

Dick Quintal:

We don’t have to put the price in today. What we have to do is call for a special town meeting. That’s what we’re doing today. We’ll have that appraisal as soon as if it’s next week, we’ll have it on two weeks, I’m going to say probably more like three weeks, but in order to have that date and to me the June 30th deadline, that’s why we’re discussing it tonight. No other reason. And I apologize, I know that we don’t have all the–some things you can’t control, but I did say that in the opening statement. We do not have everything before us but in order to call a town meeting, you have to do it so many days in advance. That’s what we’re doing.

Patrick Flaherty:

Understood. And I get that part–

Dick Quintal:

I mean, that’s the only reason. If it wasn’t for that then we wouldn’t even be talking about. We had all that stuff.

Patrick Flaherty:

Totally understand that. I think my comment is more about the price itself, less the price of getting to the town meeting.

Dick Quintal:

We’ll get to that before town meeting. I don’t know if you’ll be here but if the appraisals then you will be. Mr. Helm?

Harry Helm:

Yeah, I’d just like to point out that the reason that we’re here tonight is not necessarily to vote on an offer price that will be part of the warrant article. That will come before the warrant article is constructed, and then the residents of Plymouth will be able through their town meeting representatives to vote on whether they agree to the purchase price or not. It’s not going to be the Board of Selectmen that is going to end up agreeing to the purchase price. It will be town meeting members. That’s how it works, that’s how our form of government works.

The article will be put forward, it will go in front of town meeting and you all town meeting members will have the ability to debate it, discuss it going in, precinct caucuses, if there are precinct caucuses just like a normal one. It will be a special town meeting. This is one of the reasons special town meetings should be called and that’s what this process is tonight. What the eventual purchase price is will be or offered, will be totally up to town meeting. There will be one on the warrant, but like any budgetary request, I’m sure that if town meeting feels the need and after investigating the assessed value versus the appraisal, versus what Mr. Vayo paid for it, if town meeting decides it doesn’t like that purchase price, that’s how it works in the Town of Plymouth in town meetings. So, that’s kind of what we’re doing here tonight is to get the ball rolling so the town meeting can vote on this. Because basically, if we don’t start moving forward it puts the possibility that town meeting won’t get a vote on it. That this will not be potentially acquired by the Town and that MEGRYCO will continue with their process. I feel pretty confident and Mr. Vayo can confirm this, he is still going to have the meeting on May 4th or whenever it was in front of the Planning Board. He’s moving forward while we move forward. MEGRYCO is not going to stop their process to wait for us to come to a decision and we’ve been informed that the decision point that we as a town must make is June 30th. We need to do what we can to make that date, which requires us to call a special town meeting which is what we’re doing. So, I just wanted to clarify that.

[1:25:01]

Harry Helm:

Also, Derek, would you–we had a conversation today, would you please explain that opening a warrant doesn’t just mean that this would be the only thing on that warrant? Can you talk a little bit about that?

Derek Brindisi:

Yeah, absolutely! So, through the Chair, anytime we open the warrant, it provides the opportunity for departments, boards and committees to submit placeholder articles for consideration. It also gives the community an opportunity to submit citizen’s petitions as well. Given that this is a short turnaround a special town meeting, this warrant period is only open for a week, but we think that’s a fair opportunity for it to be opened and transparent for individuals to consider additional articles. If this was an annual town meeting or the fall town meeting, it’s open for a six to eight weeks period. Potentially, there could be other articles that are submitted to the administration that we will put on the draft warrant for consideration.

Dick Quintal:

Mr. Bletzer?

Charlie Bletzer:

Yes. I just want to give you my perspective and what I know about this. We talked about this 26 acres being sold and to Mr. Vayo, and we talked about it, and we agreed. And I even said that Mr. Vayo because I was involved with the Santander Bank with PGDC and I found Mr. Vayo to be very reasonable once you talk to him, and we ended up negotiating with him. He actually stepped away from the Santander and let the PGDC purchase that through the town. So, I had success with him and I had suggested that why don’t we approach him because if this is a piece of land that we really want and oh by the way, I’ve got more calls on these 26 acres probably more than I’ve gotten on the horse race issue. So, all the neighbors are very concerned about having units here, having housing units, and they all said to me, they would love to see this public safety facility. So, Chairman Quintal negotiated and talked to him, and we agreed. When the price came back, we knocked them down a little bit, but there were negotiations and everybody was wanting to purchase the land. Did we want to pay a million dollars more than what he did? No, but he’s a businessman, and he had the property, and he’s got engineering; he’s got a lot of things into this property but we negotiated with him and came up with a price. Did we vote on it finally? No, I thought it was something we were going to do tonight. But that being the case, I know Chairman Quintal wants to get it. We need a special town meeting. We have to get it done tonight, because it’s going to be, I’m not sure the date, but it’s going to be before the 30th. So, anyway, knowing about all this, I was at an event with a representative for Holtec and I asked that gentleman, “What’s going on? How could you sell that to a private developer when you know the town wants it?” And he said to me and this is what he said, you can quote me on it, but he said that he offered it to the town manager at the time, the former town manager and for a year didn’t hear anything back. And that’s when he approached Mr. Vayo. That’s what he said. Okay? Whether it’s true or not. So, if anybody fumbled the ball, it was our former town manager. I’m not blaming her. I’m just telling you what he said. So, as far as I’m concerned, yes, we’re saving I think we’re saving this property. Yeah, we’re going to pay a little bit more money than we probably would have, but it’s a hell of a lot less than seven million dollars. And when the appraisal comes in, I guarantee you, it’s going to be a lot more than 3.75 million. So, as far as the price goes, I think the price should go at $3.7 million, go to town meeting with it, and hopefully they see the value that we see the value. Because for us to try and change this price, now we’re not negotiating in good faith with Mr. Vayo. And as far as the eminent domain goes, time and money. I don’t know how long he could hold us up with how long it would take and how much money would it take.

[1:30:06]

Charlie Bletzer:

I’m sure it’d be several hundred thousand dollars I’d bet to fight them. So, you can add that to the price too. So, tonight, I was prepared tonight to vote $3.75 million, send it to our special town meeting and hopefully they–and they have the final say. They’re the legislators. They’re the ones that appropriate the money and tell us we can do it. But hopefully, they see the value as we see the value. And I think the neighbors, they’re going to be delayed and a lot of them are watching this meeting tonight, and they would love to see a public safety buffered by open space, okay? And that’s what I’d love to see there too. So, hopefully, Mr. Serkey that you get what we’re trying to do here. We paid a little more money probably than Mr. Vayo did, but I think we’re still going to get a good value and we’re saving that neighborhood. Thank you.

Dick Quintal:

Thank you. The date is June 21st and the reason it’s the 21^st is because June 20th, I believe is a Monday and June 19th I believe falls on the weekend. So, the Monday is considered a holiday and that’s why we’re to the 21st of June. And one part I didn’t touch on if it is used for a fire facility for station 1, station 1 will eventually have to come down and that’ll be for another time. But it definitely needs it. We’ve outgrown it and if you walk through it, you’ll see what we’re talking about. And if it was to come down, you could make that part of Stevens Field. So, really, it’s a win all the way around in my eyes. So, yeah. I see a hand up.

Patrick Flaherty:

Just a question for Derek. So, when we’re opening the warrant tonight–

Derek Brindisi:

That’s correct.

Patrick Flaherty:

We’ll close it next week, between now and then, we’ll draft an article and do you anticipate having the article have the purchase price in the article?

Derek Brindisi:

No, I do not, not in the article. The purchase price would be derived from the purchase and sale agreement, which the board is going to have to approve.

Patrick Flaherty:

What will the town meeting be voting on?

Derek Brindisi:

The purchase price at some point because again, this is a draft article can be included in the article or can be included in the motion. So, I could put a $3.75 million purchase price in there, but we don’t have an executed P&S.

Patrick Flaherty:

I’m just trying to understand the process. I’ve got four meetings left. This is in the four meetings that I’m going to be asked to vote on this. So, when I wanted to find out for tonight like what we were going to be asked to do, I didn’t know. I didn’t know what we’re going to be asked to do tonight. So, it’s just knowing when we’re going to put our vote on a price, that’s just important to me to know when that will happen if it will happen. And if it’s more than four meetings from now then go nuts.

Derek Brindisi:

Right. So, looking at the timeline and again not having an appraisal and not having executed P&S, I mean, I’ll defer it to the Chair, but I don’t think the warrant review will take place next Tuesday. This is in my opinion. There’s just not enough information, because I’m looking at the crowd and there’s a lot of people here that have a lot of questions that without all the information such as an appraisal, such as a purchase and sale agreement, such as what the contribution will be from CPC, I honestly don’t believe we’ll have all of those questions answered in 7 days. And I know that in order for you as a Board Member and the other Board Members, in order to make an informed decision, you’re going to want the answers to the questions that I just came off the top of my head.

Patrick Flaherty:

Yeah, fair enough, I understand. We’ve all been sitting in the same meeting, so I understand, but you get where I’m concerned about how this feels like it’s already done.

Dick Quintal:

Mr. Vayo and then you ma’am. Will you please make sure the mic is on? Thank you.

Richard Vayo:

So, I just felt compelled to talk about the price a little bit.

[1:35:02]

Richard Vayo:

So, when I was asked to come in and discuss this property, Chairman Quintal and the town manager after some lengthy discussions had said, “Will you put a price on what you’d be willing to part with the property for?” I put a price on it that I thought was fair considering what we had into it and what we will give up in passing on this property, which is what we do for a living. Chairman Quintal then negotiated that price down further. And I guess, I would say tentatively agreed on that’s the number I can live with. Realistically, we’re not living with a number lower than that. I came back with a number originally that was what I would term as my bottom line with the best interest of Plymouth at heart. Giving up what I would say is several million dollars in operating revenue to do so. And I’m not looking for pat on the back for that. I was happy to do it and then brought that number down even further. So, I think that’s our bottom line is what we could walk away for. To me, it would make sense to put that number in and if the appraisal doesn’t work, if CPC doesn’t come through, if town meeting members decide that’s too much money, we don’t have to proceed with that obviously. There are a lot of factors that would have to fall into place to make that come together, but if they do, then we know what the number is.

Dick Quintal:

And I just want to say that that is the number we agreed to, and I’ll stand by it regardless. Mrs. Cavacco?

Betty Cavacco:

I think the point that people need to understand is Mr. Vayo didn’t have to do this.

Dick Quintal:

No.

Betty Cavacco:

He could have just walked merrily away and built his 64 units and made millions of dollars, and we would have had to listen to all of our residents complaining once again that it’s our fault that there’s so much building going on. So, when we were in the executive session not that I want to talk about that much, that was the ballpark of the conversation. The ballpark was somewhere around the assessed value. So, I’m not sure why it could be a surprise to anyone because I certainly wasn’t surprised. But like I said, just so people know Mr. Vayo didn’t have to do this. He did it because he does business in town, he’s a resident in town, he’s done a lot of projects in town. Like I said, I don’t even know him. I didn’t even recognize him when I saw him the first time. So, I think people need to realize that this really was done to help the residents in Plymouth, so.

Dick Quintal:

Let me stop. This lady first because her hand was up and then Steve and the other gentleman behind Everett. Just identify yourself for the record and there should be a green light on, ma’am, just push on the button.

Clare Montanari:

There it is. Can you hear me? I’m Claire Montanari, and I am a town meeting member, precinct 4, and the thing that’s been going through my mind with respect to Mr. Vayo’s proposal is are there any zoning issues as well in this area? This is a density and I may be mistaken, but I thought the area was zoned as rural residential. So, if there is a zoning issue, wouldn’t that have to come to town meeting as well for zoning change? That was–

Dick Quintal:

I really don’t know the answer to that. Well, this is a Select Board. That’d really be the Planning Board but Mr. Serkey’s shaking his head no. I believe these were–is it right to say as a right or in the zone? Sure, please. I mean–

Richard Vayo:

So, just to clarify, are you asking would it come for a rezoning for what we were proposing or for what the board? So, for what we were proposing, there are a number of things that could go there. The existing building could be used as a commercial facility and house a couple of hundred people, I’m guessing per day on multiple shifts. The building could be torn down, and a residential subdivision built 20 lots approximately by right. Even if the Planning Board voted it down, it would have to be signed by the state. It would just be a by-right subdivision conforming to exactly what R40 has for its zoning bylaws. That would be a no-brainer.

[1:40:09]

Richard Vayo:

It would also develop the entire piece of property, 25 acres all the way to the end. What we were proposing was under an RDD, which is basically like a VOSD and other zones in town, which basically condenses your development in a smaller area. You’re allowed potentially greater density, but you have to leave at least 40% of the open space. We had actually proposed 50% or slightly higher open space. So, we were going beyond what the RDD had proposed. Now, ultimately with the Planning Board, and a member of the Planning Board is here tonight, there are things to be discussed, negotiated back and forth, how is this working, how is that working, but all of what I just described is potential for the site within the normal parameters of going to the Planning Board for approvals. So, I don’t know if that answers everything.

Clare Montanari:

Answered.

Dick Quintal:

Thank you. Mr. Lydon and the other gentleman behind you.

Steve Lydon:

Steve Lydon. I understand Mr. Vayo paid for the property, but you also have to understand he is a businessman. He has a company. He knows what he put into this property, whether it’s engineering, lawyer fees, all these things they come in that cost him money. He’s in business to make money. He’s not the town that’s looking for open space and conservation land, he’s here to make money. He’s agreed to make a deal with the town to save this property. If you look at Mr. Vayo and everything he’s done in this town, you can’t ask for anybody better. He’s like Redbrook, he’s like Pinehills. His reputation stands for itself. I think he’s given up a lot of the potential of the money that he could make. He’s given up. So, the appraisal is what’s the land worth: the trees, the dirt. It’s not worth what he can do and what he can make out of it. I think that has to be considered. You just can’t tell a guy, you forget it, we’re not going to give it to you because it has value. Everything he’s done has value. His future, his plans have value and that should go into the price of the property. I know if I sell my property, if I have a shed, I’m going to put that in there. If I have a pool, I’m going to put that in there. Those are all things that I’ve invested in my property and I want back if I sell, and he’s not any different from anybody else. Thank you.

Dick Quintal:

I want to keep the comments on for town meeting after this. We’re not here to debate the price, we’re not here to debate the zoning, we’re here to vote for a town meeting date. But with that said, please identify yourself for the record.

Peter Balboni:

Thank you. Peter Balboni, 60 Rio Sandwich Road, represented Balboni Trust also which is our late Dennis Balboni. We’re the third-largest landowner in Chiltonville next to the Chiltonville Trust, and the Wellington’s Trust. We have 50 acres next to us that is open space. Myself and my family have lived in Plymouth our whole lives. And on our 20 acres, we have one house. I have two children. We have no plans on developing, but I didn’t build in the middle of the woods to be next to 64 houses. So, I think the town should be very careful of what precedent they set and develop in such a remote, not remote but such a nature preserves as in Chiltonville because we have a lot of values there, a lot of wildlife and there’s a lot of land still there, but it doesn’t always have to be there. So, thank you for taking this under consideration.

Dick Quintal:

Thank you. Mr. Russell, then Mr. Malaguti.

Ed Russell:

Hi, Ed Russell precinct 12 town meeting. I know you can’t say now what the possible uses of this land would be because this is all a big new thing, but in order to get this past town meeting, a very skeptical town meeting spending money, you really better do some thinking quickly so that you have a good story. So, that you have some good ideas because other than that, I’m not sure people are going to want to spend a lot of money. There’s a real feeling in town, let’s not let taxes go out, let’s save money. So, that’s just a little bit of advice.

[1:45:00]

Dick Quintal:

We have over two million dollars alone in free cash. So, I think we thought about that, but I don’t want to speak for the Finance Director. And it’s really simple, if town meeting doesn’t want to purchase the property, that’s town meeting’s right. But I believe that town meeting does the right thing.

Everett Malaguti:

Everett Malaguti, Precinct 1. I’m just going to speak that while we are talking about money, and I’m not talking about the purchase price or anything at all, but if we want to actually talk about money and controlling costs and everything, I think this is an actual pertinent thing that we need to do not just for the actual expenses that will incur if a development goes in that we’ll have to pay for fire, DPW, police, etc. but we’re also looking at the actual cost that it’s going to be to procure land that they needed for a public safety building, a cemetery, other open space whether it be recreational facilities or etc., that would be needed further down the line. If we’re looking at controlling cost, this is going to be one of the best ways to actually control cost. As we looked at just two years ago during our August 2020 town meeting, we were looking at two articles proposing either a renovation or rebuilding of fire station 1 and the location that was being bulked out constantly for the Long Pond area, even though that we owned that, it was going to cost millions of dollars just to build the facility. If we look at this, we have much other potential investments for this community, not that would be burdening on the taxpayer that other developments would possibly bring. Plus, to control the cost as well too if we do go that row of public safety in this area, which I touted heavily for this spot during the 2020 meetings that we also have the other two parcels when we combine it, that will be back on the tax rolls potentially which will also give the town money not just in tax roll but also when we sell the building. So, I think this is going to be a very beneficial project for the town to go forward in purchasing this. I do not like spending money period as anyone can attest when I’m at town meeting, but this one I can attest to actually spending for a noble cause. Thank you.

Dick Quintal:

Thank you. Anyone else wishing to speak that hasn’t spoken? One second, sir, I’m sorry. Mrs. DeStasio, can you hear us?

Susan DeStasio:

Hi! Yes, I can. Thank you very much. So, good evening, my name is Susan DeStasio. I’m a nearby resident on Sandwich Road. I want to say thank you first off to Mr. Quintal for really identifying this opportunity to conserve Chiltonville. And I understand, as Betty mentioned earlier, that the Board is proposing the property to also be prospectively use for police and fire training. So, well, obviously, as a resident, the town use sounds far better initially than a large development. My only initial concern is that it seems that the Plymouth police may not presently have a dedicated shooting range that they presently schedule the use of the Plymouth Rod and Gun Club over by the airport for use of their range. So, on the topic of preserving Chiltonville, if this property does become a location that is used for police training purposes, can you confirm that it won’t be or really if it’s not decided as it seems pretty high level in details defined at this point, that you’d support on the residents’ behalf that this location would not be enabled to have an active shooting range on site?

Dick Quintal:

I would be able to support that. I can’t speak for the whole board, but if any other board members want to speak to that, but I’m fine with that. Betty is. Charlie?

Betty Cavacco:

I think it’s hard to give details right now, because we keep kind of going around. And Susie, I know exactly how you feel. I certainly wouldn’t want outdoor gun range in my backyard either, but there are other options. I mean, you can have a gun range indoors. And I think that’s what the police do at the Rod and Gun Club. I mean, I understand what you’re saying. It’s not something if we were going to be doing any kind of project like that, it’s going to come back to the residents again anyway. But I agree, I wouldn’t want to see that in that area.

Susan DeStasio:

Excellent. I appreciate that. It would just be a very large noise concern, and I’m a member of Plymouth Rod and Gun, I’ve seen them schedule there and fully support that. I just as a resident wouldn’t necessarily want to hear consistent gunfire. So, thank you all for your support.

[1:50:10]

Dick Quintal:

Thank you.

Richard Serkey:

Thank you very much. I’ll be very brief. Richard Serkey, Precinct 2. I agree with Mr. Vayo that there would be no rezoning needed. What would be needed would be special permits from the Planning Board.

Dick Quintal:

I really don’t want to get into that. That’s not what this is about tonight. I’m not the Planning Board. He’s sitting right there, and he’s not on session.

Richard Serkey:

When you word the article for the special town meeting, I would ask that you not use the word purchase but use the word acquire so that a discussion if some people want it about the alternative of eminent domain would not be out of order. I think that the question with respect to eminent domain is whether the–

Dick Quintal:

Mr. Serkey, I’ve answered you on the eminent domain with all due respect, and that is not going to be part of this motion. I will not accept it. We have our counsel. I know you want to be the town counsel, but we with all due respect, we have a very good counsel that works with us almost every day. I, as myself, have no interest in eminent domain. I can’t speak for the others. If they want to make a motion to that, that’s fine, but I’m up on that.

Betty Cavacco:

And I’m right there with you.

Dick Quintal:

That’s 2, only because what we’ve been told. So, this gentleman over here sat down three times, would you like to come up? You need to come up to the microphone though. Just identify yourself for the record, please.

Male:
I don’t. I just want to comment when you have general comments and I think now after walking in, I realize this is about–

Dick Quintal:

This is different, great. Okay. All right, thank you. I saw Mrs. Davis and then the gentleman in the back.

Jenny Davis:

Jenny Davis, Precinct 4 rep. This is more just a humane thing. I just resented the fact that you as a Board made the comment that they said Holtec had approached the town a year ago to the manager and nothing had been done. I’m not sure if that’s it, but I don’t think it’s really right to dump on the manager that isn’t here to defend herself or say what went on. That’s all. Thank you.

Dick Quintal:

Thank you.

Charlie Bletzer:

Mr. Chairman, can I respond to her?

Dick Quintal:

No. Please.

John O’Connor:

How you doing? John O’Connor, 40 Sandwich Road. I think as this town grows, I mean, we have over 2,000 rental units going on in this town as we speak. The town infrastructure is getting strained. In about 12 to 10 years, we’re going to be wishing we looked at this project and got it for the price that we’re looking at it for. You can look up the town records on the police department, how many times they go into these apartments that are being filled into this town of all renters. I get it, but they’re everywhere over 2,000 units. So, I think this would be something that we should really look into. It would be an investment for the town of the future acquiring or however the heck it’s going to work. It’s definitely something this town will be wishing and glad they did 10 years down the road, so.

Dick Quintal:

Anyone else wishing to speak on the subject? Anyone in the queue, Chris?

Chris Badot:

No, sir.

Dick Quintal:

Okay.

Betty Cavacco:

Mr. Chairman, I’d like to make a motion to hold a special town meeting on June 21st of 2022 for the purchase of 46 Sandwich Street in Plymouth.

Dick Quintal:

Did you want to put the price in? I mean, it’s not going to change.

Betty Cavacco:

For the purchase price of $3.75 million.

Dick Quintal:

Do we have a second?

Harry Helm:

I’ll second for discussion.

Dick Quintal:

Second, Mr. Helm. Discussion? Mr. Helm?

Harry Helm:

Derek, do we need to set a price tonight for this motion?

Derek Brindisi:

Not for tonight. I think it’s very clear from this discussion that the acquisition price will be $3.75 million.

[1:55:11]

Derek Brindisi:

I can certainly write that into the article. So, when this Board deliberates like they would normally do for all articles, it’ll be very clear to the public what the acquisition prices will be. I hesitated in saying that earlier just because we don’t have a purchase of sale in hand.

Harry Helm:

What are the consequences of not having a–you’ve mentioned on a couple occasions not having a purchase and sale before we set a price, what are the consequences of that?

Derek Brindisi:

Well, there’s a bunch of contingencies or legal contingencies terms in the purchase and sale agreement. I’m questioning the conversation that has taken place in the past about what percentage of the land will be open space and set aside for conservation. So, not having a legal document in hand just as a possible concern.

Harry Helm:

Do you see negative consequences if we do set a price in the language tonight that would carry into the warrant article? And am I correct in believing that on the floor of town meeting, should they determine to do so, the representatives of town meeting could change that purchase price?

Derek Brindisi:

So, it’s been my—so, I don’t see any drawbacks or negative consequence of including that in your motion tonight, the purchase price. Your second question relates to town meeting, in my experience town meeting always has the ability to amend the motion to a sum of money less than what’s listed within the article.

Harry Helm:

But they do not have the ability to amend an article for more than the amount?

Derek Brindisi:

In my experience, I would say, no to that and that’s just my experience. I don’t know if there’s a legal definition around that that would prevent such a thing, but typically the warrant is to warn the inhabitants of what’s going to be voted on. And so, I would defer to our moderator to answer that question, but moderators most often choose not to allow the expansion of an article rather more of a reduction of the article.

Harry Helm:

Okay. So, if we do move ahead with three million whatever it was, town meeting could modify that after their deliberations if they felt they wanted to do that, correct?

Derek Brindisi:

I would say to reduce the number, yes.

Harry Helm:

Okay.

Dick Quintal:

And they’d also have to understand that that would be a dealbreaker.

Harry Helm:

Well, that’s not—well—

Dick Quintal:

Well, I want you just to put it out there that.

Harry Helm:

No, no, no. I’m not putting that out there, because here’s the deal, we’re here to vote on whether we go forward with a warrant. The town meeting members and representatives and the citizens will argue the details, and they’ll make that determination. And we’ve spent an hour now going into, for lack of a better word, the weeds of the discussion of people’s feelings about this, and we need to just take it back to the level we’re at today, which is passing the vote to open a warrant. Okay? And in this case, we’re also not just opening a warrant because there are the possibilities of citizen positions being added to the warrant. Okay? And there is also another item out there that could likely find its way, and I’ll just mention that right now, a home rule petition for a hybrid town meeting. The attempt to get the state legislature to approve hybrid town meetings for the entire state is not going to happen per Representative Muratori. So, one of the things that may find its way on there is the alternative, which would be for Plymouth town meeting to ask for a home rule petition for a hybrid meeting. Okay? That would be specific to Plymouth, not the entire state.

[2:00:00]

Harry Helm:

So, this is a vote to open a warrant. Okay? We’re also going to vote on your part of opening that warrant is about 46 Sandwich Road, but there are other things that could be on that warrant and I would just like to be clear about that.

Betty Cavacco:

I mean, I think putting the price on–I made the motion with the purchase price and I think it’s clear. Well, hopefully, it’ll be clear and if we need to attend caucuses and do all that then I don’t have any problem doing it, but we can’t negotiate a purchase price on town meeting floor. So, that’s one of the reasons why I wanted to put the purchase price in there because this is what it is. It’s $3.7 million and if town meeting shoots it down, Mr. Vayo is going to go along his merry way and build 64 units and that’s the end of the story. There’s no negotiating a purchase price with a resident/developer whatever you want to call them on the town meeting floor. So, that’s the reason why I want the purchase price in there myself, so.

Dick Quintal:

Mr. Flaherty?

Patrick Flaherty:

Just two questions, would you be open, Mr. Chairman of doing two separate votes? One to open the warrant and then one for the price? Because the administrative note just says to open the warrant and if you entertain that, I’d appreciate it.

Betty Cavacco:

Sure.

Patrick Flaherty:

Well, okay. All right. And additionally, I just need to remind my colleagues that we each hold the same standing on this Board. We have a Chair, we have a Vice Chair for organizational purposes. However, it’s very disheartening to hear one member of the Board have a negotiation and say, “This is the deal. This will be the deal. I’m going to stand by it as one member of the Board.” When we have an executive session and discuss, because we’ve all now talked about what in the executive session happened. In the executive session, we talked about prices, we talked about the process. We ended that executive session very specifically saying we’re going to go get an appraisal, we voted to have an appraisal done. We did not vote about price. I understand for the reasons, and I’m not–I don’t blame Mr. Vayo at all. This is his living, but what I do want to say is that this is the amount of information I had to set a price. We have–coming to me. I asked the town manager; can you send me everything that you have before this meeting? And I got an email that had the septic and a notice to our attorney that said, “Hey, what’s going on here? Can you clue me in from April 4th?” I’m being asked to endorse a price and I have no information to go on it, and I’m a member of this board just like everyone else’s. So, when I hear things like someone’s going to unilaterally set something and not have it be a vote of the board and there’s no changing it, I hear from Charlie, it’s a bad faith negotiation at this point if we change it. There’s been no negotiation with the board. There’s been members of the board that have negotiated things, not the board, and that’s why I’m frustrated that this is the process. I think this would be a fantastic property for the town to get, but again, the process of how we got here was not the board.

Dick Quintal:

Go ahead, Mr. Vayo, make my night.

Rick Vayo:

So, just for a little clarity on that. I was asked to come in. I had a discussion with Mr. Quintal and the town manager on it. Again, I put out a price, that price was beaten down a bit over a couple of days or whenever it was. And I said, I would accept that price. You are a 100% correct that the Board did not negotiate a price, but nor did Chairman Quintal agree to a price. We just agreed on the fact that I would accept that price, I would enter into a purchase and sale agreement on that price. I have no prior problem with the purchase and sale agreement being contingent upon the appraisal. I’m not saying if the appraisal came in at a million dollars, I’m going to sell it for a million dollars, but I will say it can be contingent on the appraisal. So, if it comes in less and the Board or the Town says we don’t want to do it, it’s valued at less than that, that’s fine, everyone can walk away. So, no one from the Board either individual or certainly not the board as a whole ever agreed to the price.

[2:05:04]

Rick Vayo:

I just agreed I would sell it to that, and now, it’s up to the board to say, “Do we want to agree to enter into a purchase and sale agreement contingent upon an appraisal and contingent upon the town meeting members approving it? Do we want to agree to that?” That’s where we stand. Just for the record, no one told me I am agreeing to this price in any way, shape or form. But to be perfectly clear, that is the price from our side, and that’s where we are, and I think I’ve brought it down as far as I can. So, it’s now up to the board, the appraisal, town meeting to decide if they want it for that number.

Dick Quintal:

Mr. Brindisi?

Derek Brindisi:

Yes, Mr. Chair, since we’re all talking about process.

Dick Quintal:

There is a motion on the floor, we don’t take any more comments.

Derek Brindisi:

Just so we’re all talking about process, and which is why I keep going back to the purchase and sale agreement. I cannot execute the purchase and sale agreement. This Board executes a purchase and sale agreement. We don’t have a ready P&S in order for that discussion that Selectman Flaherty has referred to. So, a lot of the discussion this evening in my opinion is premature because we don’t have a purchase and sale agreement. The purchase and sale is a legal binding document with contingencies, if this is a contingency that agreed upon that we would then execute the warrant article on. So, if the article reads $3.75 million that is because that’s what the person’s sale agreement reads $3.75 million. If the town meeting decides to vote a sum of money less, they just need to understand that Mr. Vayo doesn’t have to accept that because he’s signed a purchase and sale agreement for a sum of money that this Board at some point in the future will have to sign. It’s going to have five signatures on it or less. So, I’m just trying to let folks understand the process, because I feel like we’re getting caught up in the process. And to the Chairman’s point, tonight’s discussion was just to open the warrant so that we could have the discussion you’re having this evening down the road. Because again, I keep going back. We don’t have an appraisal, we don’t have a P&S, and it’s very difficult to answer the questions that you’re all bringing up this evening without those instruments in front of us. Thank you.

Harry Helm:

So, Mr. Brindisi, are you saying that we could open the warrant without any mention of the possible acquisition of 46 Sandwich Road, and we could put the language together for that prior to the special town meeting, and what would our time frame be for that?

Derek Brindisi:

So, the motion would be that we open the warrant this evening for a special town meeting on June 21st with the warrant closing, I think it’s May 2nd, May 3rd, next Tuesday at close of business. During that seven-day period, we, the administration will accept all requests for articles, whether they’re citizens petitions, whether they’re Board of Committee members, whether they are departments. Selectman Helm, you have touched on a few that we may see in the draft warrant. During that period, we’ll build the warrant, we’ll distribute that to the Board, we’ll distribute that to the Advisory and Finance and then deliberations take place whether that’s through the Advisory and Finance, through COPC and through the caucuses. But again, this board, you, the Select Board has full control over the warrant. It’s your legal responsibility to decide what goes on or what comes off the warrant. And so, again, you will have that opportunity when the Chairman decides, we have the answers to have a full-length informed discussion specifically on this issue here.

Harry Helm:

So, are you saying that if we open the warrant tonight, we could discuss the language for 46 Sandwich Road next Tuesday?

Derek Brindisi:

You certainly could. I mean, it would—well, it would be closing next Tuesday close of business, so the warrant will not be prepared by Friday, which is when we have to post it. So, in theory you could have the discussion any time 48 hours after next week. So, anytime beginning on next Thursday.

Dick Quintal:

Mr. Bletzer?

[2:10:05]

Charlie Bletzer:

Mr. Brindisi, and then in the meantime, we can make that motion we can get and, in the meantime, somebody works with Mr. Vayo to put the P&S together with the contingencies that he brought up, which I think is pretty generous contingent upon appraisal coming in and also the town meeting agreeing to it. That could be in the contingencies of the P&S.

Dick Quintal:

When I spoke with counsel and Bob at his office, he said, he really didn’t recommend signing a purchase and sale because if town meeting votes against it, then we’ll be in default. So, I think we need to check that out with our town counsel before. So, a lot of things have been checked out to this point, I opened this saying to use where we were and why we’re here tonight. In normal circumstances, I agree, we would have the appraisal. We would have this, we would have that, but because the time is of the essence, we’re not there. This is the way we have to do it. And at the end, on June 21st, if town meeting doesn’t want it then vote against it and accept the housing. It’s really that simple. The two things that we do have is a clear title back 15 years and a clean 21E, which the town does have. So, we have a motion, we have a second, we’ve had a lot of discussion. All those in favor?

Harry Helm:

May I ask that the motion that we’re voting on be repeated to see what it contains. Does it contain a purchase price?

Dick Quintal:

Yes, it does, the asking price, the agreed price.

Patrick Flaherty:

I make a motion to amend to take it separately so that the purchase price is separate from opening the warrant.

Harry Helm:

I second that. I think we have to have a vote on the yes or no, on the amendment.

Dick Quintal:

All those in favor of the amendment?

Betty Cavacco:

The amendment is to separate?

Patrick Flaherty:

That’s right, correct.

Betty Cavacco:

Wait a minute. So, we’re going to separate it to open a special town meeting and then we’re going to make another motion for the purchase price?

Patrick Flaherty:

Exactly.

Harry Helm:

For more discussion or more detail around the particular article. So, one would be to just open the warrant without any details. The next one would be about the article 446 Sandwich Road. Rather than saying open the warrant and one of the articles will be $3.75 million for 46. It’s separating it.

Betty Cavacco:

But it’s the same thing.

Dick Quintal:

But what’s the purpose of separating it? If you don’t mind me asking.

Patrick Flaherty:

Because I want to vote yes on the meeting and no on the thing.

Dick Quintal:

I’m talking to Mr. Helm.

Harry Helm:

Well, I’m kind of where Patrick is on this. I think my personal opinion is if we open the warrant, my personal opinion is we need to talk about and have our ducks in a row to create an article that is logical and not quick overly quickly. We still have to work quickly, and it may take an executive meeting before early on Tuesday so that we can make the end of the day deadline. But I do think that one of the members has brought up some questions and I think we as a board should work to answer them, so that we all are on the same page and the residents can trust that we all discussed this and we agreed. And I understand what Mr. Vayo is saying. I’m in real estate, so I know exactly what he’s saying. But I think that for moving something forward like this, which the board does agree on purchasing this land. None of us disagree about that. We’re all on board with that. Okay? And I do–

[2:15:02]

Dick Quintal:

I only support it at the price proposed in the first amendment, just so you know. I’m out.

Harry Helm:

Okay.

Betty Cavacco:

So why don’t we make this easier.

Dick Quintal:

I’m all for easy.

Betty Cavacco:

I will withdraw my motion. You withdraw your second?

Harry Helm:

I withdraw my second.

Betty Cavacco:

Then we will–I want to make a motion to open a special town meeting and then the next motion, I will make after that, and we can take the vote separately to put the article forward for 46 Sandwich Street at $3.75 million. How’s that?

Dick Quintal:

That’s fine.

Harry Helm:

I’ll second the first motion to open the warrant for a special town meeting to be held on June 21st, 6:00 pm.

Dick Quintal:

Do we have a second?

Betty Cavacco:

Second.

Dick Quintal:

Second. Discussion? All those in favor? Warrant is open.

Betty Cavacco:

Okay. Now, I would like to make a motion for the purchase price of $3.75 million for 46 Sandwich Street, Plymouth Road.

Dick Quintal:

Do I have a second?

Charlie Bletzer:

I second.

Dick Quintal:

Second by Mr. Bletzer. Discussion? Go ahead, Mr. Helm.

Harry Helm:

I just want to make it clear in this that my reasons for how I will vote on this have nothing to do with the eventual purchase price that is being suggested. I understand the bottom line for Mr. Vayo. Okay? I understand that. He’s a smart businessman, he’s done his calculations, and he is doing a good deed for the Town of Plymouth, he really is. But I do feel that we as a group should talk about it, the purchase price, and have a vote on it. And I do believe that could be done, Derek, correct me if I’m wrong in executive session.

Derek Brindisi:

That is correct.

Harry Helm:

So, I mean, I’m amenable to showing up Tuesday morning at 8 o’clock in Town Hall for an executive session. I mean, I just think that we as a Board need to sit down and be all be on the same page with the purchase price. And I don’t sense that we are right now. Even if it’s just one member, as a board, we have one member who has questions. Do I believe that the one member will agree in that executive session for the purchase price as Mr. Vayo wants? I think that will be the case, but we do need to take into account that we are a Board with a number of members. I mean, it’s important that we follow this process so that when we go forward with the actual warrant, that it’s all the Board members who are on board with it, and that’s why I feel that way. Not necessarily that the price request that the seller has made to us is something out of line or that we shouldn’t understand that basically that’s what he wants and also understand that if that’s what we put forward, town meeting has every ability to modify that. Okay? I just would like the board to be unified in the warrant article that we put forward. That’s my opinion.

Betty Cavacco:

But that’s–you can’t guarantee that.

Harry Helm:

Can’t guarantee? No, I can’t guarantee that, and then we won’t be unified, but this gives us the opportunity to be unified. That’s all I’m asking. I mean, we don’t need to do this particular thing tonight. We need to do it by close of business day Tuesday. This is what we’re here for and sometimes we need to call a special session for ourselves, and sit down and hash it out.

[2:20:12]

Harry Helm:

No, I can’t guarantee anything. I mean, I can’t even guarantee that I’ll be alive next Tuesday morning. Nobody can.

Betty Cavacco:

God forbid.

Harry Helm:

Some people might have a different opinion at this point.

Betty Cavacco:

I think that would be me.

Harry Helm:

Yeah, well, that might be you but I’m sorry that’s just how I feel about process. That’s how I feel.

Dick Quintal:

Mr. Bletzer?

Charlie Bletzer:

Harry, what more information do we need? We have these executive sessions, and we get accused of not being transparent.

Dick Quintal:

There you go.

Charlie Bletzer:

Now, we’re in an open meeting and we’re discussing this, and what more information do you need besides an appraisal, which you’re not going to have in a week? We know the assessed price, you’re a realtor, is $3.5 million. You know as well as I do, that it’s going to come in well over $3.75 million. I mean, knowing what I know about real estate. But we’re an open, any questions that Patrick has, he can ask right now in an open meeting, I think. I don’t know what other information. Patrick, what more information do you need? It’s a question. I don’t know what else you need.

Patrick Flaherty:

Through the Chair, this is what I had coming in today. That’s why I–

Charlie Bletzer:

It’s the same that I have, Patrick. Same thing that I have. We talked about it.

Patrick Flaherty:

And I’m not saying that anyone should accept that. So, we’ve heard some–we had great points by Everett tonight. I’ve heard for the first time from Mr. Vayo about this tonight and that this is the floor. I came in today, I tried before the meeting on Friday, minutes after this came out to get more information about what was going to happen tonight. Would there be a vote? Was there a price? So, what was going to be asked of tonight? I didn’t know what was going to happen tonight. And so–

Charlie Bletzer:

Did you know the bottom what he said—you have it. It was a lot more than what we settled for, and we talked about three and a half. I mean, I don’t want to get into what we said, but it’s not like it’s the first you’re hearing this?

Patrick Flaherty:

No, and respectfully Charlie, this is–we’re going to town meeting. Town meeting has to approve it. I know that there’s negotiations. I haven’t had an opportunity to have negotiations, nor would I have, but I don’t want to go on and belabor this anymore besides the fact that town meeting has to approve it. I’ll say that I think in town meeting, it’d be very, very, very hard to say no to the assessed value, which is a little bit less. I think there might be a risk that this doesn’t get approved if this goes for that much higher than the assessed value. So, that’s why I think there’s a risk and I would–there’s not an opportunity because there’s a self-imposed deadline so quick to not have the information. That’s where I’m coming up short on this one.

Charlie Bletzer:

No, but Rick said the appraisal comes in below. Okay? He only can renegotiate, but we know it’s not coming, and I’m just saying to you that of articles, I’ve never seen an article go to town meeting with the number on it. And all of a sudden, they negotiate the price, knock the price. I think that go to town meeting with the numbers on it, and they either vote to fund it or not fund it. And as Dickie said, if they don’t fund it, and it goes right back to Rick and he does his residential thing, which none of the neighbors want. I know that for fact. So, we want this land, Mr. Vayo negotiate it with us. And now, all of a sudden tonight, it’s like–I wouldn’t be surprised if Rick walked away from this after this meeting how confusing this goes tonight. I don’t get what’s going on here. So, I’m ready to vote for both of those motions, and hopefully we get through town meeting because we’re doing a great service for Plymouth.

Dick Quintal:

This is on the amount, right? Yeah, this one’s on the amount. We already opened the warrant, Mr. Bletzer.

Charlie Bletzer:

Okay.

Dick Quintal:

All those in favor? 3 in favor, 2 in opposition, motion carries.

[2:25:01]

Dick Quintal:

Town Manager’s Report. Right after the Town Manager’s report, we have public comment. You can speak, sure. Just give us one second.

Derek Brindisi:

Okay. So, I just have a few announcements for this evening. As the Chairman reported in the opening of tonight’s meeting, Mr. Brad Brothers is our new Assistant Town Manager. Brad was formerly the Business Agent for the school district and brings over a decade experience working in municipal government so specifically in municipal finance. So, happy to have Brad, and so you’ll be seeing Brad moving forward working on a lot of different projects along with assisting the Board with some of the things that they need.

Moving on, I have talked a lot about my desire to do a better job communicating with the public on all the things that are happening here with all of our various departments. So, I always say to folks that there’s a story to tell, and our departments do great work. So, I’m putting together a communications plan. Inside of that communication plan, I’m working with PACTV on something, a show that we’re going to air. We’re going to record every Monday, probably aired on Tuesdays called “This Week in Plymouth” and so this is going to be one of first of many iterations of the program, but more importantly of a community-wide communications program where myself and other department heads and hopefully Board Members will join me to talk about again all the great things that are happening. So, the program is called This Week in Plymouth, and we’ll talk about each week the day-to-day business of the town.

I wanted to bring to folks’ attention that Congressman Markey is going to be here in Town Hall on May 6th. We’re going to be posting this information on the town’s website, so folks are aware what’s going on. He’s going to be holding a US Senate field hearing. This is the Committee on Environment in Public Works subcommittee focus on clean air, climate and nuclear safety. So, this is going to be held at 10:00 am. It’s going to be in the courtroom. Primarily, that’s where the committee members will be held. There’ll be an overflow section here as well in this room for individuals who’d like to attend. His focus is going to be focusing on the decommissioning process for nuclear plants such as Pilgrim. Topics to be covered will be the nuclear safety and security issues and state and local community stakeholder engagement. So, again, we’re going to post all this information on the website. They are asking folks to RSVP. There’s an Eventbrite link that folks can sign up and get on the waiting list to attend this meeting.

So, a few more updates. So, as we move towards a June 21st special town meeting, I have been working with our Moderator on what that’s going to look like. Is that going to be in-person? Again, these are questions that have come up. Is that going to be virtual? But I can tell you that our Moderator is going to be meeting with the Board of Health in the next couple of weeks to have that conversation of what is a safe town meeting to have. I can tell you though a report I received this morning suggests that our COVID cases are declining. And as I’ve reported in the past, we are now sampling the waste water to determine whether or not we see an increase in the number of viruses, the viral load in the wastewater. And I can tell you though, we had an increase earlier this month, but we’re starting to see a decrease in the viral load on the wastewater sampling. So, things are pointing in the right direction as far as the number of COVID cases here in the community.

I just want to mention that our Department of Environmental Management did a great job this past week over at Bootleg Pond and Bootleg Brook. They pulled out some really large items out of the pond in the Brook, picnic tables and chairs and things of that nature. So, I’m happy to report that they did a great job in trying to clean up that area.

[2:30:00]

Derek Brindisi:

Unfortunately, what I’m not happy to report is that we received the demolition application for the Smokestack over at Cordage Park. Right now, the building commissioner has reported to me that that Smokestack is currently scheduled to be torn down in the week of May 9th. We are asking the property owner to give us a 24-hour notice before the actual demolition takes place. So, again, we’ll continue to keep the Board abreast of what’s going on there.

Kudos to the Select Board and their priority this past winter to really focus on our employees. And so, I’m thankful to the town meeting to support those collective bargaining agreements and the change in the personal bylaw that provided pay equity across all of our different departments. Because of that effort, the Human Resources Department reported to me today that they are seeing a higher number of applicants than they’ve ever seen in the past five years. They attribute the increased applicant pool because of the work that the board had led with our collective bargaining union. So, again, more to come out of that, but we’re seeing some early fruits of that labor.

And then the Emergency Paid Sick Leave, happy to report that we’ve received $300,000 worth of reimbursement from the state through that program which has now ended. I think I talked about it on March 15th, but it’s always good to report when we receive those dollars.

The public restrooms, thank you to Mr. Lydon, the Chairman from VSB who worked with the VSB Board to provide an additional $10,000 to the town to open up our public restrooms. The restrooms right outside here at Town Hall started opening this past weekend April 21st, so that’s going to continue through April through May and then all up until Thanksgiving time period. So, the opening of those days will be on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. So, again thank you to Mr. Lydon for his efforts on spearheading that effort.

And then last, I’d like to report that Public Works Day will be Friday, May 20th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm over at Camelot Drive, the DPW facility, and we’ll continue to talk more about that. We’ll post that far and wide on our social media platforms, so families can enjoy it.

Pending any questions, that’s all I have for this evening.

Dick Quintal:

Thank you. Any questions for Mr. Brindisi? Comments? Seeing none, that’s good to hear with the workforce. Have we filled any positions? I know we had 57 more vacancies.

Derek Brindisi:

We filled a number of positions most recently. We offered a position to a couple craftsmen, so we’ve had vacancies there for a while. We did some great interviews today for a position that’s been vacant for two years. They said there was a great applicant that they interviewed today. Again, this is a position that was vacant for two years. So, we’re really excited about some of the applications that we’re starting to see.

Dick Quintal:

So, it’s working.

Derek Brindisi:

It’s absolutely working, yes.

Dick Quintal:

Thank you. Okay. Public comment. Ma’am, you’ve had your hand up. Yes?

Clare Montanari

Clare Montanari, Precinct 4 Chair. Okay. What did I do? Can you hear me now? Clare Montanari, Precinct 4 Chair. We’ve been referring to this property as 46 Sandwich Street and that’s not correct. It’s 46 Sandwich Road. I don’t know whether or not, we have to go back and change our motions because our motions were made for street. Don’t want to get into any trouble. I don’t want you folks to get into any trouble. Sandwich Street does exist. It goes from Water Street up to Brimhall’s Corner. At Brimhall’s Corner, we split River Street goes to the left, Sandwich Road goes to the right, and there’s a distinction. A lot of people don’t know that, but I know it’s been interchanged and it shouldn’t be. So, just want to bring that to your attention. Thank you.

Dick Quintal:

Thank you very much, Mrs. Cavacco?

Betty Cavacco:

I just wanted to say that it was changed on the agenda, and I don’t believe my motion said street.

Clare Montanari:

Your motion did say street.

Betty Cavacco:

Did it? Okay. Then if it did, it was road.

Dick Quintal:

Right after Jenny, I’ll let you speak, all right?

[2:35:07]

Jenny Davis:

Jenny Davis, Precinct 4. Can you hear me? I think what I just want to refer to, this is something that came up before, but I think what Mr. Flaherty was referring to Mr. Bletzer was process. The same type of issues came up with the Horse Track. People were sitting there, and they had not been presented and had a chance to go over a lot of the information, and then you were supposed to vote on it. You had empty folders. So, it’s called the process. Everybody should be in on it. If you’re on a committee, you get to read all the information, you may even get to talk about it before you have to come in public. That’s not easy to do if you haven’t gone over it. So, that’s what I think, it’s about, Mr. Bletzer, it’s called process. Thank you.

Steve Lydon:

Steve Lydon. Since we’re giving out kudos tonight. I’d like to give kudos to our new Town Manager because without him, without his work and his help, those bathrooms wouldn’t be opened. It’s something that’s been wanting by the Business and the Chamber and See Plymouth for a long time. So, Derek, thank you very much for all your help and assistance to get that done. Thank you.

Dick Quintal:

The gentleman that’s had a lot of patience.

Steve Bjorklund:

I’m used to it. Steve Bjorklund, 861 Main Street, Norwell, Massachusetts. As you know, I came in front of you a couple of weeks ago, I don’t know if it was your last meeting or not, and we discussed some issues as far as Conservation Commission Rules and Regulations. And I finished my review of what had been done before. There were a tremendous amount of changes that I came up with and I will say that I gave them to the Chair of the Board last Friday. He actually went through them. They are this evening going through a lot of that stuff. I had to step into this meeting, but I believe they passed the new rules and regulations tonight. I think that was their goal. And I brought up two issues and that’s all I want to talk about right now. I haven’t had time to review their entire finished document. I didn’t get that chance. I think they just passed it and said, “We’ll deal with it later. This is what we’re going to have for rules and regulations.” So, I just want to let you know that the Selectmen got kind of involved in this because they have a section called Special Flood Hazard Regulations, and it revolved around title 5 septic systems. And what they had proposed was a section that says, “To ensure protection of all other interests in the bylaw, no new septic systems and no enlarged septic systems in footprint shall be allowed in velocity zones, VE zones, flood ways where there’s actively shifting sand, barrier beaches and dunes.”

We’ve gone back and forth since 2021. The commission had taken a vote to take out footprint and say that you couldn’t enlarge the system based on the flow that was going into the system. So, if somebody had a three-bedroom home, you could repair that system under Title 5, and you were allowed to do that basically as a matter of right and what the regulation was written.

In December, that got changed back again and they had the words “in footprint” in there again, which again, I believe is absolutely wrong because I think it’s going to prevent Title 5 systems without a special permission from the Conservation Commission. So, in fighting that again, the Board decided that they would take out the words in footprint in that particular regulation. So, right now, it says, “and no enlarged septic systems shall be allowed.” I asked them tonight what the definition of enlarged was, they don’t know. So, it can be footprint, it can be flow, it can be whatever they want it to be. So, it’s wrong to have that regulation in. And if the Commission’s watching, I apologize, but I’m really adamant about this. This is not good for the citizens that are on the beach with existing homes, and it’s over burdensome for them to be going asking for special permission to put a new Title 5 septic system in, and I think that the Board of Selectmen should somehow try and get this corrected.

The second issue has to do again with people on the beach, and it refers to performance standards for a dune. And it now basically says, “That you cannot disturb any vegetative cover on a dune.” So, anybody that’s out there on the dune, if they have grass out there, again, they have to ask to change one blade of grass to put a Title 5 septic system in. But the Commission can give them a waiver if they choose to do so. That’s not a position to put the citizens in Plymouth into.

[2:40:07]

Steve Bjorklund:

They should absolutely be allowed to put title five septic systems in whether they live on the beach or they live in the middle of town. It should not be a special permission thing. And again, most of the changes that I had come up with, I applaud the Commission. They made a ton of those changes, but these were two critical items that we’ve been working on for a year and I think some of you know the amount of time I’ve spent going through this. I know the Commission does, and I’m not doing this to be against the Commission. I’m doing it so that the citizens are treated properly in the town. And the response that I got was, “We’re going to go with this, and we’ll look at changing it again in the future.” I just think that that’s wrong, and I think the Selectmen should know that. That’s all. Thank you.

Dick Quintal:

Would you be as kind as to send that on to Chris Badot when you have a chance, those two articles that you’re concerned with, so we can take a look?

Steve Bjorklund:

Sure. Okay.

Dick Quintal:

Thank you. Anyone else wishing to speak on a public comment?

Chris Badot:

We have Mr. Zupperoli on the monitor.

Dick Quintal:

Okay, good evening.

Robert Zupperoli:

Good evening. Thank you for this opportunity. My name is Robert Zupperoli. I’m a resident of precinct 1. And as many of you know, I’m also a member of the Advisory and Finance Committee, but I want to be clear tonight I’m addressing you as a resident of the town not as a member of Advisory and Finance. For several weeks, the residents of Plymouth and the Select Board have been engaged in a conversation regarding the development of the County Wood Lot. We have sat through hours of conversation, listening to the back and forth between the Board, a third party and the residents. This conversation began when a would-be tailor promised a would-be emperor a new set of clothes. This in the form of new revenue, growth, development and opportunity. The tailor, Boston South and its agents, the emperor, the Town of Plymouth, and we all know how that story ends. The emperor parades naked through the town, the tailor makes off with the emperor’s treasure. The pied piper promises made that night opened a Pandora’s box of issues. Issues that are continuing to spread. In these stories, the piper was paid with the town’s legacy and their future was lost. A box was opened, unleashing unforeseen problems onto a community, all in an attempt to provide a quick fix to a long-standing problem.

We tell cautionary tales and I referenced them here because they teach important lessons. The lessons of the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen and classical mythology are not lost on the Wood Lot project. The development of the Wood Lot into a gaming, sports, racetrack, entertainment facility in the way that Boston South proposes and proposes to deliver empty promises and fantasies that will leave Plymouth and the residents wanting, and bring greater problems into the town. The neighborhood near the Wood Lot is zoned residential. There is a school in the area. The town does not have the infrastructure or amenities to support this project. Currently, public health and safety services would struggle to address the issues this endeavor could create. Plymouth simply cannot handle this.

The board has been addressed several times and been asked to take action in the form of a motion and vote not to support this type of development. While the community has been placated with words, words are empty when there is not concrete action to give them form and substance. The picture that Boston South paints is a lovely image of a castle in the sky, but this is only a picture. There is no foundation to support the structure. So, tonight, I add my voice to the others who have spoken and written on this. The cautionary tales written for children apply here. I have taught them for years. They have merits for adults as well. Having said this, I join my fellow Plymouthians and ask this Board to put words into action and give them body. I am asking tonight that a motion be made and a vote taken definitively stating you will not support a gaming, racing, sports, entertainment complex on the lots in and around the Wood Lot.

[2:45:13]

Robert Zupperoli:

Do not allow yourselves or Plymouth to get caught as the emperor did or as the Town of Hamlin did. Do not unleash a Pandora’s box onto Plymouth. Send a clear message to Boston South ahead of zoning, any zoning and bylaw changes that may be acquired or ahead of a drawn-out debate at town meeting. Do not allow. Please do not allow this piper to play in Plymouth. Make a definitive motion with a concrete vote proving to the residents that your words are more than a tale of empty promise. Thank you for your time.

Dick Quintal:

Thank you. Anyone else wishing to speak on the public comment? Moving on to Licenses and Administrative Notes.

Mayflower Brewing Company, 12 Resnik Road, is requesting One Day Wine and Malt Licenses from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Hedge House for the following dates in 2022: 5/27, 5/28, 6/3, 6/4, 6/10, 6/11, 6/17, 6/18, 6/24, 6/25, 7/1, 7/2, 7/8, 7/9, 7/15, 7/16, 7/22, 7/23, 7/29, 7/30, 8/5.

Betty Cavacco:

We don’t have that.

Dick Quintal:

Yeah, I know you don’t. It’s in your packet. 8/6, 8/12, 8/13, 8/19, 8/20, 8/26, 8/27, 9/2, and 9/3. Yeah, it’s in the regular packet, not on that one. Awaiting a motion.

Patrick Flaherty:

So moved.

Betty Cavacco:

Second.

Dick Quintal:

Second by Mrs. Cavacco. Discussion? All those in favor? Okay. While you were all here, I’m going to move down to Mayflower Brewing under Amplified Music. It’s at the Hedge House also. The dates are exactly the same as I just read, from 3:00 to 8:00 pm.

Patrick Flaherty:

So moved.

Harry Helm:

Second.

Dick Quintal:

Discussion? All in favor? Unanimous. Now, we’re going to go back to the Area Chamber is requesting a One Day Wine and Malt License for 5/7 from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm. at Nelson Park.

Betty Cavacco:

Motion.

Harry Helm:

Second.

Dick Quintal:

Second by Mr. Helm. Discussion? All those in favor? Unanimous.

Wildlands Trust, One Day Wine and Malt license for 5/1/22 from 12:00 to 4:00 pm.

Betty Cavacco:

Motion.

Harry Helm:

Second.

Dick Quintal:

Second by Mr. Helm. Discussion? All those in favor? Unanimous.

Plymouth Center for the Arts, One Day Wine and Malt license for 5/1/22 from 3:00 to 6:00 -6 p.pm.

Betty Cavacco:

Motion.

Patrick Flaherty:

Second.

Dick Quintal:

Second, Mr. Flaherty. Discussion? All those in favor. Unanimous.

Plymouth Patuxet Museum, One Day All Alcohol License for 5/13 from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm.

Betty Cavacco:

Motion.

Patrick Flaherty:

Second.

Dick Quintal:

Discussion? All those in favor? Unanimous.

Plymouth Patuxet Museum, One Day All Alcohol License for 6/11/22 from 5:00 to 8:30 pm.

Betty Cavacco:

Motion.

Patrick Flaherty:

Second.

Dick Quintal:

Second by Mr. Flaherty. Discussion? All those in favor? Okay. We did Mayflower for the Amplified Music. Amplified Music, Plymouth Area Chamber, Amplified Music Permit for 5/7/22 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Betty Cavacco:

Motion.

Patrick Flaherty:

Second.

Dick Quintal:

Second by Mr. Flaherty. Discussion? All those in favor? Unanimous.

[2:50:06]

Dick Quintal:

Plymouth Philharmonic, Amplified Music Permit, July 4th ‘22 from 7:30 pm to 9:15 p.m.

Betty Cavacco:

Motion.

Patrick Flaherty:

Second.

Dick Quintal:

Second by Mr. Flaherty. Discussion? All those in favor? Unanimous.

See Plymouth is requesting an Outdoor Amplified Music Permit from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm starting on May 6 and continuing every Friday through September 30th to be held on The Porch at 4 North. The first Friday of each month 5/6 through 10/7 is for the first Friday events. All other Fridays will just be music for See Plymouth.

Betty Cavacco:

Motion.

Patrick Flaherty:

Second.

Dick Quintal:

Second by Mr. Flaherty. Discussion? All those in favor? Unanimous.

Change of Manager, Liquor Cold Spring Athletic Club, change from Charles Gibbons to Steve Finnegan.

Betty Cavacco:

Motion.

Patrick Flaherty:

Second.

Dick Quintal:

Discussion? All those in favor? Unanimous.

Change of Officers, Cold Spring Athletic Club, the list of the officers should be in your packets. There’s a list in the packet with its proposed officers.

Betty Cavacco:

Motion.

Patrick Flaherty:

Second.

Dick Quintal:

Second by Mr. Flaherty. Discussion? All those in favor? Unanimous.

Did you want to look at this, Betty? Did you find it?

Betty Cavacco:

No.

Dick Quintal:

Okay. Administrative Notes.

Betty Cavacco:

I’d like to make a motion to move the administrative notes as a group, a note one through seven.

Patrick Flaherty:

Second.

Dick Quintal:

Discussion? All those in favor? Unanimous.

Committee Liaison/Designee update. Mr. Flaherty?

Patrick Flaherty:

Just wanted to share that the Climate Action Net Zero Committee had its first meeting, and it’s getting going on the process to start that long process of drafting that report working alongside groups like the Energy Committee and some of the town staff. So, thank you to those committee members who volunteered for that and I look forward to their work.

Dick Quintal:

Anyone else. Mrs. Cavacco?

Betty Cavacco:

Just to let people know that the handicap access mat is going to be down tomorrow at the White Horse Beach, beach entrance.

Dick Quintal:

Mr. Helm? No, nothing, Harry? Okay.

Old business? Always a favorite. Mrs. Cavacco?

Betty Cavacco:

So, as I think the Board knows that we’ve received quite a few complaints about our excise tax demands. I promised a few people that I would bring that up this evening, because I understand that there were 12,000 demands sent out this year, but there can’t be 12,000 people lying and saying that they didn’t get their first bill. So, I understand that our demands are governed by the state, but I believe that this town has to do something to offset those demands because some of these are our seniors, and it’s $15 or $25 or whatever the demand is, but it happens every single time we send out a bill. So, I know Brad had sent us in some information today, but I think at this point, we have to do something to help the residents whether we try to get the fee waived or whatever it is that we have to do, because we have to figure out something moving forward because every time we send out a bill, it’s the same thing. So, I don’t know where the disconnect is. I don’t know if it’s the post. They’ve been told it’s the post office. It’s not the post office. I mean, it’s just hard to decipher, and I think there’s something that we have to do.

Derek Brindisi:

Yeah, I’m happy to respond to that. So, to your point, well, let me start by saying there was 60,000 excise bills that were sent out. Of the 60,000, 12,000 demands were then sent out. Of the 12,000 demands, you’re right, we have probably received somewhere around 12 to 15 residents who have called to state to us that they’ve never received the original um notice.

[2:55:18]

Derek Brindisi:

And so, as Brad in his first week, he has been working with the Treasure Collector’s Office to try to unpack all that and to try to determine where the source of the problem is. Some of them could simply that they didn’t receive it through the post office, maybe some of them misplaced it. But to your point, I think there’s something, and Mr. Brothers had even made a recommendation today that maybe we meet with them individually, these residents, give them the opportunity to waive that one-time fee. And he has some suggestions of there’s a notice on the town website that actually describes when these bills go out. So, to give them that information so that next year if this were to happen, they already know these bills are going to go out, and it’s going to be incumbent upon them to kind of keep an eye on that as you would any other bill that you receive for your personal expenses.

Betty Cavacco:

Okay. I’m not so sure that someone is going to want to take some time off from whatever they’re doing to come in and fight a $15 demand fee, but it puts a bad taste in their mouth and it really kind of is a black mark on the town. So, I don’t want residents thinking that this is our way to make a little extra revenue because trust me, it’s out there and I know that’s not the case, but still.

Dick Quintal:

We have the right to dismiss the fee. We just can’t or don’t we? I know this happened years ago, and we could–I don’t know if it was the interest we could or the fee we could, but we can do something like that because if that’s the case, and we see extreme high number as opposed to other years, I’m very much interested. This very jacket I went to get this weekend, the lady said, “Oh, what’s this for?” I said, “Well, I’m a selectman.” She said, “Oh, what town?” I said, “Oh, no. Why? Where do you live?” She said “Plymouth.” I said, “That’d be me.” And she said about her excise tax, and she went as far to write her name down and I turned it over to you and I believe the lady. She says, “I’ve never been late.” And so, I took her number and I gave it to Derek, but I mean, I got another letter here from Mr. Curly and I did respond. I said, “Well, I’ll send it to the town manager,” but I do think that something’s not right. I mean, I was a selectman before for years and I have never seen this happen like this. So, if there is something we can do and make a motion to take the demand or whatever, I don’t know what the right word is, the interest off or the late fee then I would very much like to hear about that.

Derek Brindisi:

Yeah. So, that’s something we did talk about. Again, Brad had mentioned using this as a potential solution until we can figure out the source of the problem. But we have to–what we’re doing right now is looking at the statute. So, sometimes some fees, some fines, we aren’t allowed to waive. So, we don’t know that answer just yet. So, certainly, we can take the Board’s direction and if that’s what you want us to do, if we’re able to do that, we’ll certainly move in that direction.

Dick Quintal:

Okay. Well, if you could check it out and report back to us and let us know if we have options.

Derek Brindisi:

Sure.

Dick Quintal:

Okay, thank you. Anything else under old business?

Betty Cavacco:

I’m going to bring this up under old business, because I have brought it up before. One of the things that I know the board in the town, in general, is always talking about how can we get people out to vote? And I think it’s time that this board really takes consideration and maybe put it as an agenda item to have discussions about actually changing our election days to November when the state does their votes. I know it’s something new, but what else do we do? I mean, they keep looking to us like how do we get more people engaged? I mean, I know that a Saturday on a nice sunny May Day, I mean, people that only have weekends off, they have kids, they’re at sports, they’re at this, they’re at that. So, State Elections are very well known. They’re advertised well. I’m not saying that we aren’t, but we kind of aren’t. So, I think it’s time that we have a discussion about the possibility of moving elections to November.

[3:00:13]

Dick Quintal:

Do you want Mr. Brindisi to check into that?

Betty Cavacco:

Please.

Dick Quintal:

Okay.

Derek Brindisi:

Yeah, no. We’re happy to take a look at that. A lot of municipalities don’t hold their elections on weekends. They actually hold it during the work day. So, I’m sure there was a formed decision that was made years ago to have it on Saturdays, but yeah, we’re certainly looking to relocating on the election day.

Dick Quintal:

Okay. Anything under letters? I only had the one. New business? Come on up.

Richie Garrison:

I was encouraged to speak to you tonight by Donna Curtin. I’m Richie Garrison, I’m Professor Emeritus of History from the University of Delaware and my wife and I own a house here in Plymouth on the shores of Jenny Pond. I’ve got three short issues that I wanted to brief you on this evening. One is I’m the Chair of the Steering Committee for the Vernacular Architecture Forum, which has scheduled a major academic conference to meet here in Plymouth in 2023, in May of 2023. And as part of that conference, we always undertake tours of some of the historic architecture and properties in the communities we visit. This year, it’s San Antonio, next year, it’s Plymouth. And one of the things we want to do next year is to visit this Town Hall formerly the Courthouse of 1820, and it’s gone through various iterations. Because you are the Board, I understand I need your permission to open the Historic Courtroom to visits from our attendees which would number in the vicinity of 200 on May 19th of 2023, and that’s my request of you to get permission from you to open parts of the building so that people can tour it. And the second is the simple logistics, do I work with the town manager? Do I work with somebody else within the Town Hall in order to make that happen pending your approval, of course? That’s it.

Betty Cavacco:

Well, I just had 10 girl scouts. So, you know I’d be happy to bring you through.

Richie Garrison:

That would be great. The way the tour is set up is a little more complicated than that, and you all should know that this is going to include some of the major architectural historians from the entire country as well as people from the National Park Service, people in the fields of Historic Preservation. We’re already working closely with Anne Mason and Donna Curtin and people from the Mayflower Society, and we’ve been planning this really for three years. Two of them postponed because of the pandemic, but I guess I should work—

Betty Cavacco:

Yeah, our town manager. He’ll be more than happy to help you.

Richie Garrison:

With the town manager? Yes, thank you for that. Do I have your approval to pursue this with town manager?

Betty Cavacco:

Sure.

Dick Quintal:

Absolutely.

Richie Garrison:

All right. Thank you.

Betty Cavacco:

This is your building, you’re a taxpayer.

Richie Garrison:

Yes, indeed.

Dick Quintal:

Thank you. Yeah. New business? I see Mr. Keohan out there, and this would be a–Bill, if you could just touch a little bit on the conversation we had on Sandwich Road with the CPC, and what the process would be for that, a little bit I suppose. I should ask you before, but I didn’t see you, so I do apologize.

Bill Keohan:

No need. Bill Keohan with the Community Preservation Committee. I think you covered it as the system that we have in place is an application process. You’ve served on the Community Preservation Committee, Betty served on the Community Preservation Committee, and the application process is available for everyone. Everybody has the opportunity to apply for those funds. We will do our due diligence. We’ve begun the appraisal process. The committee will start to compile this information, they’ll make a decision what to recommend on to town meeting and eventually town meeting makes the decision. But we have an application process that we’d like to keep as open so that anyone can apply, whether it’s the town or the average citizen, the funds are available and everybody gets treated equally.

Dick Quintal:

Okay. No, it’s so fast because I was going to bring up on the—no, I’m good with that, but I just wanted people to hear that.

[3:05:06]

Dick Quintal:

I just wanted to ask you about historical because I know you know quite a bit about it, and all that’s going on in the size of the town, we have the 1749 Courthouse, the Historical Commission. I mean, it goes on and on.

Bill Keohan:

Yes, I think that I have–I’m kind of like the guy that slept at the best Weston who thinks he’s a historian. I’ve only served on the Community Preservation Committee and in that capacity, over 20 years, I have encountered the different efforts the town does when it comes to preservation. And I’ve often mentioned this that in those 20 years that we’ve had the Community Preservation Act in Plymouth, it has come to my attention that it is at a certain point we should start thinking about creating a Department of Preservation for the Town of Plymouth. Plymouth has been here for 400 years. We have just celebrated our 400-year celebration. You’ve had your Community Preservation Act around for 20 years now. In that capacity, I’ve noticed all these different departments working on preservation efforts going after preservation grants. The town has an archivist and an archive that are quite extensive. We have the 1749 Courthouse, which is owned by the Town of Plymouth. You have all of these amenities as a community and as a town, and we should start exploring that.

Right now, the Charter Commission has looking at their new form of government, what the charter might look like. So, I know that I’ve brought it up at different times that we should start exploring that. So, someday in the future, this could be how we administer not only the Community Preservation Act but other preservation efforts of the town and coordinating those historical resources that the town has. So, I’ve brought this conversation up with previous town managers, and I’m discussing with the current town manager and I hope over the next several months come up with some sort of idea that would embrace this concept.

Dick Quintal:

Yeah, I’m very interested in doing that because if you just look around town, Water Street, for example, the Old Shiretown Ford Building Golden or formerly Brewers Marine, and now it’s–what is it? Safe Harbors, was it? The new company that bought it and the facade to that building and I know the neighborhood’s been meeting regularly trying to save that, and they reached out to you, and you’re all working together on it and I hear there’s good things coming out of that. With this preservation look over our historical actual like say just for instance the stack, that building there or any other buildings in town or properties, do we have any kind of list or anything?

Bill Cohen:

Yes, the Historical Commission, Massachusetts Historical has identified buildings and architecture and different amenities here in the town. There are a number of historical entities from the Antiquarian Society, to Pilgrim Hall, to Mayflower Society, there are numerous museums that have archives and resources and information. And that’s why a Department of Preservation by the Town of Plymouth could not only coordinate what we have internally as a town, because we do have the significant amount of historical documents but also working with the other historical entities in the community.

So, yes, we’re having good conversations with on the Bradford Street Area Commission in terms of what might happen on Water Street and Union Street, and we are working with the Cordage to come up with a solution to what is scheduled for May 9th.

Dick Quintal:

Okay. So, if you could maybe stop by again in a month or so with some recommendations and we’ll talk about it as a Board and maybe move forward from there. So, schedule a docket item. I know we have a resident here in the audience that’s very good with architecture.

Bill Keohan:

Yeah, those are the real historians. They’re the real historians. Very good, thank you.

Dick Quintal:

Thanks, Bill.

Anything else under new business? No? I just have one more suggestion for the Board and the Town Manager. The 1500 acres that Holtec currently owns at least as of today, I’d like to put together an internal group or get your thoughts on that. And I say internal because I think if we make a group or a committee out there then its public documents and then the tiger sees the bait.

[3:10:08]

Dick Quintal:

So, I’d like to get your thoughts on that. Derek, maybe put something together under your supervision. And it would be the job of this group, the internal working group on the 1500 acres to see what’s valuable, what’s buildable, what makes good trails, what the possibilities could be. So, when the time comes for whoever’s negotiating, you’re ready to go. Whoever it is, is not going to say, “Okay. Let’s start negotiating now and try to figure out the 1500 acres.” Let’s be proactive when we see how they behave and start putting together that group, but I think it’s better that you head that group and put that group together and lay out. We can talk about it some more, but I think it’s something that’d be ready to go push button, so when they’re ready we’re going to be ready.

Derek Brindisi:

Yeah, Mr. chairman, I think that’s a great idea. While you’re talking, I’m just thinking of representation, certainly somebody from Economic Development, some from Planning, someone to represent the open space needs.

Dick Quintal:

Right, open space, conservation, sure.

Derek Brindisi:

Yeah, I think that’s a great idea and I think to your point, we should have a strategy in place for when that opportunity.

Dick Quintal:

Because all of us sitting here we know it’s 1500 acres, but we don’t know what’s good for what. Maybe it all goes in conservation. Who knows? We’ll see.

Betty Cavacco:

Let’s hope we have the opportunity.

Dick Quintal:

Well, yes exactly, but you know what, it’s better to be ready or at least half ready than not ready.

Betty Cavacco:

See what just happened with Chiltonville, right?

Dick Quintal:

Well, that’s what I meant, yeah, let’s start doing it now before this. The town still has a few years, I hope. So, anything else under new business? Seeing none, motion to adjourn?

Betty Cavacco:

Motion.

Dick Quintal:

Okay. Thank you for watching. Have a good evening. We’ll see you next week. Thank you. Keep Ukraine in your thoughts and prayers as well as the rest of the world.