0:02

April 25th uh the select board has been an executive session since 5:00 P PM now we

0:10

are back in Open Session and Mr Quintel would you please um

0:18

read sure in accordance with chapter 138 of

0:23

the Massachusetts general laws as amended notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held up limit

0:30

Town Hall 26 courtt Street on Tuesday April 25th 2023 at 6:03 p.m. to consider

0:37

the application for a new farmer Brewery pouring permit from s not sorry Brewing

0:43

LLC doing business as s not Brewing uh sour not sorry Brewing 88 Court Street

0:51

Colin kotti manager description of premises is as follows one large room in

0:57

the basement of the building by bar with bar stools and tables restroom is on the same floor Brew tanks will be in a

1:05

separate part of the brewery dasht

1:11

room so I think we skipped ahead a little bit um and I was talking about the reading

1:19

of the um mgl at the beginning of the agenda and you may not have that part of

1:24

it but if you could read that as well I’m just going to put that on hold because I

1:30

do want to do the pledge yeah that’s fine I’m sorry I just I just went to that

1:35

automatic pursuing to chapter 2 the acts of 2023 act relative to Extended certain Co

1:42

19 measures adopted during the state of emergency signed into law on March 29th

1:48

2023 this meeting will be conducted via remote and means in person members of

1:54

the public who wish to watch the meeting May do so in the following manner tune in to TV government cable access channel

2:02

Comcast 15 Verizon 47 and watch the meet net is it is aired live or by watching

2:10

the meeting live on pack TV’s website members of the uh public who wish to

2:15

participate in the meeting May do so in the following manner in person the Great

2:20

Hall located on the second floor at Plymouth Town Hall 26 Court Street Plymouth Mass remote click the following

2:28

Zoom link to participate in the meeting remotely and it’s a big long

2:34

one all right thank you you’re welcome and now we’ll go to the pledge of of

2:39

Allegiance if you guys could join me please iedge allegiance to the flag of

2:46

the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation

2:52

under God indivisible with liberty and justice for

2:58

all thank you now that we had the first public hearing is there anyone that would like to speak in

3:09

favor sure sure no problem

3:18

[Music] awesome I’ll spare the trouble of uh hooking it up because I’m not too sure

3:24

have to that’s okay but I’ll just I’ll just go after is what’s that no one is okay that’s fine

3:31

hi my name is Colin crotti I the owner founder and Brewer of saour notari Brewing Massachusetts first sour beer

3:37

brewery located here in Plymouth Massachusetts uh just a little quick background about um who I am and where

3:45

I’ve come from uh since 2016 I’ve been in the craft beer industry I’ve worked for four different breweries I’ve worked

3:52

for Harpoon Mayflower Hopsters and up until the pandemic I was working for

3:57

shoveltown as one of the main Brewers uh for about 2 years um in 2018 I unfortunately was

4:06

diagnosed with uh stage2 Hotchkins Lymphoma uh I went through about six months of uh treatment at Dana Farber

4:13

cancer institution um and basically um they cured me super nice people and I’m

4:20

standing before you today because of that um and it’s allowed me to move on with my dreams and start it here today

4:28

um but also too on top of that um my nurse Hannah who was uh you know with me

4:35

through the entire treatment last summer uh she came down and she actually brewed a beer with me that was kind of her idea

4:42

and uh we sold it and uh you know and we’re going to be selling it again and

4:48

uh the proceeds code to uh um research in the Boston area as

4:53

well um just a little bit about what sour beer is really quick because not too many people know about it but it is

4:59

becoming very popular uh what sour beer is it’s a tart refreshing ale that tastes like sour candy in a glass um so

5:07

you know it comes like very fruity and refreshing and uh it’s really picked up popularity in the last few years it’s

5:13

made with a bacteria called lactobacillus which is uh fermented from uh yogurt and it drops the PH down and

5:20

makes it really tart and refreshing um back in uh December of

5:26

2021 I started a home occupancy uh business a nano brewery with the uh

5:32

help of my family my parents gave me a small plot of land in their backyard and we built a uh 10t X 12T shed basically

5:43

and uh we were able to brew beer for about a year um I have been the Brewer

5:49

I’ve been the delivery guy I’ve been the packager All That Jazz um and you know

5:55

our beer has really really become very popular in the last last year and it’s

6:00

really been kind of uh T taken off really I didn’t think I would be up here

6:06

for at least 3 years I’d say but because of the fact that you know uh we started

6:12

on a small scale it’s made uh hype in in increase because it’s very hard to come

6:18

buy our beer because we only can make about 31 gallons a week for about a year

6:23

so the as soon as people would hit the liquor stores it would be kind of out and uh you know they’d have to wait for

6:29

the next batch basically

6:36

um most of our beers have actually on untapped which is a beer uh rating app

6:42

out of five we’ve been basically at like four stars for almost every single beer we’ve produced so it’s kind of built up

6:49

that hype about um you know where the next location uh to pick up that beer

6:54

can be um so because of our hype because of our following uh we’ve been able to

7:02

move a little faster and to secure a spot in downtown Plymouth um just in

7:07

time for the nice weather too which is perfect for sour beer um so our new location is going to be at 8A Court

7:14

Street uh we have already been approved federally um and through uh about

7:20

another week through the state um and so that we can Brew there pretty soon um

7:25

we’d like to have a tap room with um board game uh we’d like to have uh you know like

7:32

bunch of new sour on we’re even going to have a non sour beer for uh people who uh aren’t very interested in anything

7:39

that’s tart I understand that if you’re with a group of uh your friends you and you’re the only one who doesn’t like

7:46

sour beer I don’t want you to feel kind of uh isolated so we will have a normal

7:51

IPA on draft uh we’re going to have live music we’re going to be able to which

7:56

I’m happy about uh increase production size because uh I’ve been brewing like

8:01

31 gallons at a time and now we’ll be able to brew about uh 180 gallons uh a

8:07

week um we’re also going to be doing barrel-aged wild sour which are we’re

8:12

going to put into wi uh wine barrels local wine barrels um and uh aged on

8:18

like raspberries or strawberries or all kinds of crazy stuff and we’re going to bottle package those as well there’s

8:24

also going to be a lot of murals and artwork and just a really cool spot to be um the cool thing about this location

8:31

is um just like Dicky Quintel said uh it’s actually downstairs underneath the

8:36

the building at 8 Court Street so it’s very it’s got like brick and it’s got Stone and there’s pipes everywhere I’m

8:44

sorry about that I got too excited um it’s got bricks Stones pipes everywhere just really cozy lighting um it’s got a

8:51

very good like Speak Easy Vibe so I think people will be really excited to stop by and uh see us and the fact that

8:57

we’re also going to be the only s Brewery in the state it also kind of draws people into the town of Plymouth

9:05

because you know we’re we’re kind of uh specializing in sour beers so um Most

9:10

states actually do have a sour Brewery Massachusetts is one of the only ones that have hasn’t got to that point yet

9:17

till now um I’m not only U by myself I am

9:23

supported by my family like I said before my parents are here uh my mom and

9:29

my dad are also owners because they’ve helped me out so much and I’m really appreciative and uh we want to make this

9:34

a family-owned business and we want to you know bring a good vibe to the community um I’m actually fifth

9:40

generation here in Plymouth and uh I really want to you know kind of put my chapter in here as

9:46

well um but yeah um but we’re hoping to open up as soon as uh we can and you

9:54

know we really want to invite the community to see what we’ve been working on and we really want to bring our

10:00

passion and our love of sour beer to the community here in Plymouth so thank you

10:05

great thank you for the explanation um anyone like to speak yeah I’d like to

10:11

I’d like to say something it’s good to see a local uh local young man do well

10:17

staying in Plymouth uh living his dream yeah thank and now we can say with the

10:23

Plymouth is the only uh town in the state to have a sour be Brewery so it’s

10:28

another going to be great for our downtown I feel and uh for our tourism

10:33

business oh thank you you know the tourists they love these kinds of things and uh also uh I think we become the

10:41

whether it’s good or bad I think we’re the pup C capital of uh Massachusetts just a bit you’ll be one of the you’ll

10:48

be a new stop for them so but I wish you well uh and uh uh thank you well thank

10:55

you thanks is there any oh Mr Mahoney

11:00

Colin um you did a great job on your uh presentation

11:06

so why are you the only sour beer brewer

11:12

in Massachusetts and now that you’ve or soon to be will become that only one is

11:18

there going to be now an influx following you are there others that you know of in the pipeline

11:24

and I mean it just sounds I don’t know that much about this

11:29

so it’s just looks like you have your Niche and you know is it are others

11:35

going to follow in your path yeah so the thing is uh in the craft beer industry

11:41

most breweries have like one sour beer on because uh the thing about lactobacillus which is that bacteria

11:47

that’s in yogurt um if it hits anything that’s like plastic or like uh you know

11:53

any part of like the Brewing like equipment it basically sticks to it and

11:58

and it’s very hard to get that lactobacillus off so in general I think

12:04

there’s kind of this stigma that these other breweries have where it’s um it’s

12:10

I don’t want to take on too many sour because then it might spread to the rest of my brew house and you might have kind

12:16

of sour um like KES or something like that you know so um but the nice thing about

12:23

s notari is is that um you know being a specialized Brewery I don’t really you

12:29

know the the risk of lactobacillus kind of going into our other beers is okay

12:34

because you know um most of our beers are sour anyway um but I will say that

12:40

uh there are other states that have like a couple different sour breweries so I can I can definitely see it becoming

12:47

kind of uh um more more abundant in the state but um yeah so um long story long

12:55

story uh yeah that’s that’s kind of what it is with sour great thank you

13:01

thanks is there any opposition well Colin I’m going to tell

13:07

John that the reason why you’re starting it is because Mom and Dad you know raised you to be Wicked

13:13

smart and um vote back to the

13:18

board motion to approve second motion to approve by Mr Quintel

13:25

seconded by Mr Mahoney all those in favor it’s unanimous congratulations

13:31

thank you thank you so much appreciate

13:36

it okay the next public hearing is change of location Cades Incorporated

13:43

doing businesses CAD Burger Bar in Plymouth Keith

13:48

E sorry Keith E steon the third manager from 38 Main Street Extension to 9 siset

13:57

Street we have anyone that wants to speak in favor any in

14:04

opposition discussion back to the board do we have a motion approve is

14:11

presented second motion by Mr quintal seconded by Mr Mahoney

14:18

discussion all those in favor

14:26

unanimous uh we have licenses um they we’re going to remove

14:34

we’re going to break down the administrative notes so at this moment I would like to call for a motion for the

14:41

mo uh licenses to move as a group I’ll make that motion I’ll second

14:48

motion from Mr bletzer seconded by Mr Helm

14:53

discussion all those in favor it’s unque

15:00

unanimous next are administrative notes and I’m going to uh break

15:07

down votes 2 to 7 or Notes 2 to 7 for uh

15:13

Beach AIS license we can move those um

15:18

we can move those as a group and I know Mr Helm has already stated to the chair

15:24

that he will be abstaining from such vote

15:30

do we have a motion ad do we have a

15:36

second second motion by Mr Mahoney seconded by

15:41

Mr Quintel all those in favor

15:47

opposed abstentions so four in favor and one AB

15:53

exstension by Mr Helm the next administrative note is the vote the

15:58

board will vote to approve and execute the amendments to the current personal bylaw which is enacted title personal

16:06

code effective immediately as presented in the agenda packet do I have a

16:12

motion motion to approve do I have a second second motion

16:19

by Mr bletzer seconded by Mr Mahoney

16:25

discussion all those in favor

16:30

unanimous okay next order of uh on the agenda is the arpa amendment request

16:38

flowers for 2023 outdoor dining Yep this is just a request for an

16:45

additional 10,000 remember about a month ago the board approved 25,000 for the setup with parklets 10,000 for the

16:52

flowers this request is for an additional 10,000 as the quotes came in for the flowers um just under 20,000

17:00

total so this request will make it whole and we’ll be able to maintain the flowers that were purchased last year

17:06

okay any discussion Mr Helm um is there an explanation for why

17:14

this came in at twice what it was last year no no we don’t um and and it was

17:22

the same organ it was the same company that provided them I do not know that for fact I think they reference that in

17:29

the material that you gave us the same quantity the bidder said that yes but I

17:35

still we I was not part of the organization last year when this purchase was made so I can’t fully

17:41

commit that that was the case Mr bler so I just want to get this

17:47

straight so we have nine Pockets so it’s over $2,000 per paclet for flowers

17:56

correct and they want to use a money correct 10,000 was already approved by the board at the last meeting and we

18:02

gave him 10,000 already correct okay and then next year what is it going to be

18:08

we’re not going to have oper money next year so we I think

18:13

uh this outdoor dining they the merchants had better be

18:20

prepared uh that we can’t keep doing this every year and it’s it’s

18:26

uh you know this this kind of money I just think it’s excessive uh

18:32

2,000 plus for for the flat and and how much are the parlets so the parklets

18:37

themselves Charlie I don’t I think you were um absent at the meeting we we took the vote on that the parklets themselves

18:43

cost us about 2500 for Renewal and 3500

18:48

for a um new parklet itself so this year for example we had eight renewals and

18:54

one new parklet the the cost for the businesses is 2,000 they pay us direct

19:00

for Renewal and 2500 so on average it’s roughly about $500 our cost that we’re

19:06

putting in for Renewal and $11,000 cost from us for a new park lip so we covered

19:14

that this year and now and now we’re going to cover an additional 20,000 for the

19:20

flowers exactly yep Y and we mentioned that to the board originally when we

19:25

this was approved that this is a long-term phase out that we’re covering this for one year and then next year

19:31

these guys are on their own if they choose to go forward next question do we have apple funds left for this uh yeah

19:37

we have 10,000 available yep so what what happens if we if we we

19:43

already gave them 10,000 and which is what they asked for

19:49

if we decide not to give them the additional 10,000 what happens it would go back to I’d have to get an updated

19:54

quote of what they would like for the 10,000 cap for the

20:02

flowers Mr um Brad just to follow up I’m looking at the MNT Services invoice yep

20:10

and several lines down towards the bottom it says we would suggest same as

20:17

last year we planted MH yeah um again okay so I’m assuming these guys we used

20:24

them last year I just was not part of I wasn’t part of the town yet when this was made last year so I can’t what

20:32

confirm I can find out we have less we have less parklets this year than

20:39

last and it’s costing us almost as double for the

20:46

flowers right correct we have less parklets than last year no I think you’re in the same

20:53

ballpark as last year we have nine parets this year I we have nine this year we have nine this year n and how

20:59

many did we have last year I want to say you had nine as well well I know that I know we’re missing one you are but you

21:05

got to remember K outdoor dining kkes yes but kkes and also sandies who counts

21:12

as an outdoor dining license so technically we’ve approved 11 outdoor dining licenses but realistically only

21:18

right now nine are going to use the parklets kkes is another piece they’re

21:23

requesting that we they but last year KK used a parklet correct so that’s 10 let’s say so now we’re down to nine okay

21:30

but there was a new one this year that was not accounted for last year obviously cuz there were were a new

21:36

parklet built so either it was nine last year or 10 last year okay so what there’s a new one that was not here La

21:42

was not on Brewster bar I believe is a new business that has a parklet now this year okay

21:51

all right so we’re basically the same number as last year and the costs are

21:56

double that’s right like everything

22:03

else one okay although I am going to um support

22:10

spending the $20,000 on these parklets I don’t know how many times I have to say

22:15

that we need to engage with the sheriff’s department um a million times uh M Mr

22:24

Quintel and I have had negotiations with them we’ve had conversations with them

22:29

they weren’t followed through previously by the DPW they had reserved an entire

22:36

Greenhouse just for the town of Plymouth and we

22:42

cannot ignore the savings that those folks would take CU they’re they’re

22:47

going to sell it to us as wholesale so um I’m I’m a little frustrated hearing

22:54

about all these other flowers and other organizations we have something we put something in

23:01

place and people aren’t using it and they need to be told to use it from this

23:06

point forward so Nick F reached out to them after we had that conversation and

23:12

um the sheriff’s department said it was too late in the year for that size of an order well of course it was because it was like a month

23:17

ago this we did this two years ago so again your we’re we we’re working to get

23:24

better every day I understand so anyway so I Mr Blitzer y so first of all I

23:32

don’t think the town should be in the flower business okay I I really I don’t think we should be doing

23:39

that I was at a meeting I got to the tail end of the meeting yesterday with the uh

23:45

downtown and they they gave me a list of uh the problems and one of them is their

23:50

their their sales are rough they’re struggling you know the start of this

23:56

year I think a lot of business business are so I’m going to support this because

24:01

of that co co this was started off of Co this

24:06

outdoor dining and I supported it because they the businesses they needed that to

24:12

survive and now here it is a couple years out I can support this this year

24:18

with the APPA funds but I I can say right now next year the the businesses

24:23

better be ready I mean we we’re losing parking down there we’re losing parking Reven we’re losing parking spaces it’s

24:30

it’s it’s it cost it’s costing the town now for the you know uh so the I just

24:37

think the businesses should be prepared it’s a cost of business to do that you’re getting an extra 30 seats and

24:43

it’s it’s added to your you know to to your seating some places are doubling

24:48

the size of their their restaurants with this outdoor seating so I think after this year they should be prepared to uh

24:55

to sustain uh you know whatever ever it cost they should pay the cost I believe that uh so but this year I’ll support it

25:03

I know they’re struggling a little bit and hopefully they have a great season and this Co is over and we we we do well

25:10

next year but I I will not support next year to spend that kind of money next year I just can’t do it thank

25:18

you and we have confirmation that it’s the same company that was used last year and I understand Charlie not

25:25

wanting to be into the flower business but we use a lot of flowers in this town

25:30

Brewster Garden all down Main Street you know I I mean so we need to find cost

25:37

savings where we can so yeah I’m not saying that we should be in a flower business but I I think the this new

25:44

downtown Business Association should get together and should purchase the flowers

25:51

okay okay as a group get a group discount purchase the flowers and uh but

25:57

we can still help them to we can help but we shouldn’t be every business in town has flowers we

26:05

there’s are we doing Sand’s flowers is that we’re not no but you know it’s a

26:12

cost of doing business I I understand that but I think having something like this in place it

26:19

gives these businesses the ability to not get gorged with you know gouged

26:25

gouged gorged actually someone’s gorging Gorge someone’s gorging with $20,000 of

26:32

flowers I mean you know a hanging PL is 29 bucks at the sh at the sheriff’s department in the gorgeous so but anyway

26:39

um what about watering the flowers don’t they water they they water their own flowers that’s on the

26:45

businesses now last year we yeah but it wasn’t it wasn’t last year last year we had a water of the flowers and we paid

26:50

for that so they are I know it’s it’s it’s not I don’t think that’s a big deal

26:56

should be doing that so so anyway that’s all I’m very supportive of the businesses everybody knows that so but I

27:03

just believe uh you know you get to pay your way a little bit so okay thanks Derek well I was just going to suggest

27:09

you know Katie’s here one of the members from the downtown Business Association and this is a conversation we can take

27:15

back to the committee to let them know that you know to your recommendation miss kavako that maybe they should be

27:22

calling the sheriff’s office today for next year and St planning for that and I

27:28

not that the town should have to be planning for flowers for the downtown businesses but that’s something we can

27:33

recommend that they pursue so after the flowers are in and everything’s looking good invite uh call the sheriff have him

27:40

send one of his people down Captain Santos or somebody from the from the green houses have them come down and

27:46

look at what you’re doing take some pictures and then give you a proposal for next year that’s that would work out

27:52

great they they love doing this kind of stuff so they do but and they’re proud of that big greenh hous is up there

27:58

they’re proud of their flowers so I get my flowers every year up there so

28:05

anyway do we have a motion I’ll make a motion second motion by Mr bletzer

28:11

seconded by Mr Mahoney all those in favor and where we have U Mr Quintel as

28:17

um remote we have to do a roll call vote on the votes um moving forward so Mr

28:26

bletzer yes Mr Helm no Mr Mahoney yes Mr

28:34

Quintel yes and myself yes it’s four to one Mrs Mr

28:40

jamman if I may um we might want to include in our list for the sheriff’s

28:46

department I think Nick would have it the list of the hanging parts for the downtown on the Water Street area right

28:53

so hopefully Derek you can have Nick reach out to them now now for next

29:00

year okay great all right so now um we did Skip

29:05

something so we’re going to go back to public comment Mr

29:17

ciri thank you Miss chairman and I’m Richard ciri Precinct two town meeting

29:24

member at this board’s meeting l last Tuesday night you Mr bletzer stated that the

29:32

proposed Town Charter was prepared by a quote unquote biased

29:37

commission that was led by a quote unquote biased chairman that language in my opinion was

29:45

uncalled for and only brings discredit to this board the charter Commissioners were

29:52

elected by the town’s people just as the members of this board were elected by the to Town’s people the charter

29:59

Commissioners voted to retain our representative town meeting form of government but to make significant

30:07

changes to our present Charter this board clearly feels

30:12

otherwise and because of that has repeatedly denigrated the work of the

30:17

charter commission throughout the nearly two-year period that the commission has been in

30:24

existence this board in its first ver to defeat the new Charter has claimed

30:31

without evidence that implementing it will cost the taxpayers $1.4

30:38

million the commission believes that that number is wildly inflated the Old Colony Memorial filed a

30:45

Freedom of Information Act request asking for supporting documentation used

30:51

to come up with this board’s cost estimates the response received states

30:58

that no such information is on file I’ll repeat that the response received

31:04

yesterday to the old colony’s Freedom of Information Act request asking for

31:09

supporting documentation used to come up with this board’s cost estimates states

31:16

that no such information is on file as just one example and I could

31:22

cite many others this board claims that the legal fees that the town will incur

31:29

under the new Charter in defending against open meeting law complaints will

31:34

increase markedly under the new Charter but the fact is that there is

31:39

nothing in the new Charter that will in and of itself generate more open meeting

31:46

law complaints and if this board and other boards simply stopped violating

31:52

the open meeting law the complaints would stop as as another example this board

31:59

claims that the cost of mandated compliance with the town’s master plan

32:04

will also increased marketly under the new Charter but the fact is that our

32:10

current Charter already calls for compliance with the master plan the new

32:15

Charter makes compliance mandatory to avoid the continuation of merely paying

32:21

lip service to the master plan only someone who cynically believes

32:27

that the master plan should be a pretty document and nothing more would object to this

32:34

finally I believe that the real reason for this board’s objection to the new Charter is the following provision and I

32:42

quote the daily administration of the Affairs of the Town shall be the

32:48

exclusive responsibility of the Town manager and no individual member of the

32:53

select board nor a majority of them shall shall at any time interfere in the

32:59

day-to-day administration of the Affairs of the town this provision will stop the

33:06

present practice by the chair and other members of the board of micromanaging

33:11

the Affairs of the town for political purposes thereby bypassing the authority

33:17

of the Town manager last Tuesday night you miss

33:23

kavako stated that you found the position of the commissioners quote unquote very

33:28

offensive you stated that the new Charter is nothing more than a reflection of and I quote what is best

33:36

for the Commissioners close quote instead of quote what is best for the town close quote you’ve apparently never

33:44

gotten over the fact that the commission voted to retain our current form of

33:49

government you’re obviously free to criticize the new Charter but please don’t insult us

33:55

insult Us by equating your position with what’s best for the town and equating

34:01

the commission’s position as what’s best for the Commissioners thank

34:08

you Mr ciri if only the Commissioners would have listened to the town’s people

34:13

and gave them a choice and first of all if I I have my opinions but some of the

34:20

facts that you stated are simply untrue and this is the same diet tribe that you

34:26

f continue with this Charter and this conversation with the charter is over I

34:33

will leave office on March 16th and up until the day that I am out of office I

34:39

will give my opinion of what I believe is wrong with this Charter this has

34:45

nothing to do with the responsibilities of the town meeting it has everything to do with the

34:52

non-transparent effects that this Charter will have you are cons constantly criticizing this board as not

35:00

being transparent and doing this and doing that and it was personal this was

35:05

a personal attack you have in your mind convinced that this board especially me

35:12

would get in interfere in the daily uh assignments of town meeting or or our of

35:19

our employees and that is simply not true you have access to all the records

35:25

one of the charter Commission has 3,000 of my emails and you will see that there

35:31

was never any direction given to anyone it was common courtesy to send the town

35:37

manager an email and to send the department head an email and this conversation is over thank you you

35:45

stated that my statement was filled with inaccuracies what

35:52

would go ahead

35:58

don’t go away don’t go away Mr ciri I totally disagree with you

36:04

I’ve heard members of this board several times credit and give credit to the chatter commission uh being biased I

36:12

believe it because most of them ran on the position that they would keep this

36:18

chatter they would and one member came out and said I ran I get the most votes

36:24

I’m not voting for anything else except the chatter they would not even consider any other form of government uh

36:32

the other thing is this chter is a joke a bad joke but a

36:38

joke it’s stealing my rights I voted to have the moderator serve three years

36:45

that was my vote the same with the selectman now you’re going to take my you’re going to throw my vote away cuz

36:51

now they’re all going to have doing away with the moderator before his term is over you’re also getting uh of the

36:56

selectman they’re going to have to rerun their terms on over I says and then you figure that you got you know the fincom

37:05

fincom is going to be appointed by the new moderator who is appointed by town

37:10

meeting and town he’s going to appoint members town meeting is going to uh appoint members to the fincom and then

37:18

they’re going to re go over the Articles and report back to town meeting which they’re a part of and there’s no

37:23

conflict of interest cuz they’re not subject to the conflict of interest I said you know uh I’m really sorry that

37:30

it’s had to come to this but uh most of the members would not consider any other

37:36

form of government except the charter the charter they have now is so out of whack um their own Vice chair come out

37:44

and said we never considered the cost we never considered efficiency what the

37:51

hell did you do what the hell did you consider for two years you know no it’s not for the power no they don’t they

37:57

don’t have the power but they’re getting the control which is the same thing the precinct chairs are going to run this

38:04

town you know it’s it’s just going to expand our government more and more it’s going to

38:10

take more time to do anything three town meetings you know it’s a joke it’s a

38:18

joke sorry but it is anybody else under public

38:25

comment okay we’ll move on to the next order of business which is the proposed

38:32

aderan deak chair um and we know that there are some very

38:39

big chairs I just one chair after all that just one chair but they’re in other

38:46

areas after all that let’s have a deep breath that’s a tough act to follow so

38:52

yeah I’m not even going to touch that um I’m Katie there and I’m representing the downtown Waterfront District which I

38:58

think you’re all pretty familiar with we just started last year um one of our goals

39:04

for the organization is to help promote businesses um we want to get

39:09

businesses um that are slower and during their slow season help them out so um

39:15

during the winter time get people to the Waterfront and during the summertime get people up to the downtown area um last

39:22

year we did the light the night program which was huge success we’re going to do it again Brewster Garden um to help the

39:29

downtown area and the Waterfront obviously um that’s going to be even bigger and better this year so one day

39:36

back in February I was scrolling through Facebook surprise surprise and um came across these this artist who was making

39:42

these huge adarand chairs um he’s a local uh resident his name is Corey

39:48

corini and um he makes these beautiful 10ft tall adarac chairs they’re about

39:54

four feet wide um um and he was promoting them and I thought oh my gosh

40:00

what a great idea to get people up from the Waterfront to have a photo op um in

40:06

the downtown area to help the businesses because a lot of people think that downtown businesses are thriving in the summertime it’s actually our slowest

40:12

season um because everybody’s at the waterfront so um we came up with the idea of you know having a chair up here

40:20

we’ve um looked at a couple different locations um I think you guys all have packets in front of you um

40:27

so not really knowing what the protocol is to do this um kind of reached out to

40:33

a bunch of different organization C Plymouth is totally behind it I’ve reached out to um the historic

40:38

commission they’re behind it um Plymouth area Chamber of Commerce the planning department the town manager that sort of

40:45

thing everybody is very supportive um we’ve worked with DPW we’ve had a couple on-site meetings um where we proposed to

40:52

put the chair um The Village Market Place actually just bought one and put

40:57

it in so I’ve met with the engineer down there so we could see the chair um see how it might work so we would like to

41:05

propose um to have one chair in um we have three options for locations our

41:11

first choice would be Shirley Square um it’s a natural space that’s open um it’s

41:18

centrally located for all businesses to kind of Thrive off of the customer the

41:24

potential customers and tourists that are coming up to have their picture taken in this huge chair that we want to paint blue so it matches other Town

41:31

historic colors on our signs um and it would just say welcome to Plymouth

41:37

Massachusetts America’s Hometown so it’s all about Plymouth it’s not about anybody’s business um and so that’s why

41:45

we would like that location the best um second choice would be Town Hall um

41:50

we’ve talked to a couple people at Town Hall to see if that would be you know what are the pro pros and cons with that

41:56

and it sounds like they’ve said no to a bunch of other organizations so it might not be fair to say yes to us to put it

42:02

there um and then the third choice would be Town Square it’s over by the churches

42:08

personally I don’t like that location because I’m thinking of people that are crossing the street to get to the chair backing up to take a picture of it they

42:15

might fall into the street that sort of thing but it is an option um so would

42:21

love for you guys to consider the um the options see if it’s going to be

42:26

something that’s doable um we have talked to the DPW and um engineering and

42:34

they’ve given us six bullet points um of requirements that they would um have and

42:40

I I didn’t put it in this packet I should have unfortunately I printed it out on my way out the door and I was like oh I should have put it in there

42:46

but um they want to see the CH chair bolted down to the ground um which would

42:53

require concrete footing and proper anchoring the chair is 450 lb so it

42:59

would take a lot to move this chair but we’ll address that in a minute the other um bullet points are the proposed

43:05

location should not be over any underground utilities particularly the storm drain C catch Basin which needs to

43:10

be accessible for cleaning and maintenance um if we do put it in Shirley Square the place that I’ve kind

43:16

of mapped out is to the left of the drain so it would not impede that um the chair cannot be placed in an area that

43:22

would prevent pedestrian accessibility of the sidewalk um based on the location that would make the most sense next to

43:28

the clock there’s 10 feet of sidewalk space um behind it and about 10 feet in

43:34

front of it um the placement of the chair should not impede snow removal operation it’s my

43:41

understanding that the shirle square is not shoveled the businesses out front do the sidewalk so that wouldn’t make a

43:46

difference and hopefully won’t be get any know anyway um placement should also promote Gathering away from the roadway

43:53

there’s plenty of room for people to take the the picture and not get into the street um imp placement should not

43:59

block views of any direct abutter I don’t know how a 10 foot chair would not block of you

44:06

but um so those were their requirements um so we’re kind of at a at a point now

44:14

where we need to get permission to put the chair in hopefully from you guys and then the one kind of sticking point is

44:22

the concrete footing um we could get a concrete company when we had those

44:28

scallop shells um that Plymouth area Chamber of Commerce put together they made concrete footings um and they gave

44:35

me the name of the company that did it it would obviously add to the cost it would be a lot you’d have to get rebar

44:40

and the footprint of the chair is 4 feet wide by 7 feet deep so that’s a lot of

44:46

concrete [Music] um personally I don’t think it’s

44:52

necessary being 450b chair I see trash cans flower pots all that that are not

44:58

bolted down that are you know open to Shenanigans

45:04

but well who doesn’t love a good shenanigan right so um but I I know that I believe my

45:14

choice is um I think Shirley Square would be too cramped cuz I think once it’s there

45:22

I think there’s going to be a lot of people there I mean who doesn’t go to Ptown and take a picture in that big chair and sometimes there’s tons of

45:29

people around it so um my actual

45:35

recommendation and just mine would be at town hall because I would love I want to

45:41

be able to use our our areas a little bit more um Derek’s looking at me

45:49

funny so so with the the image is presenting

45:55

the ch would be on the lawn and so as you know we use that lawn for a lot of different purposes especially during the

46:01

summer months um and this chair is not going to be moved and especially now we

46:06

have the um the tree lighting Festival is also on the lawn now so I’m time to

46:12

think about all the different purposes we use that lawn for and having this share there that’s not if we can’t move it you know what

46:19

that’s going to pose for challenges okay uh Harry um in terms of

46:27

this is a great idea um everybody loves to get in one of these I hate them but I see everybody else seems to like to hurt

46:33

their backs and end up at a chiropractor but whatever um I actually went to Shirley Square to take a look at it with

46:40

this picture that you gave us and my concern with Shirley square is not that the location isn’t really super with

46:48

North Street coming up from the rock and all that from what I’m seeing with this

46:54

positioning um to what what uh the chair uh uh what Betty said um I think the

47:01

only place you can put it is that because there W it won’t just be the person in the chair and somebody taking

47:08

a photograph chances are there’s going to be a crowd of people waiting you’re going to block the the

47:13

crosswalk okay and that the crosswalk we don’t have enough crosswalks in town anyway and that’s a pro that is a

47:20

central crosswalk okay um and you know that you Crossing from one side of North

47:27

to the other you know I think I I sense that that would become a problem okay um

47:34

go ahead I just this afternoon went down and did my own measurements so not to

47:40

scale um but the the space from guilty Bakery to the street is about 33 feet um

47:50

and so the clock is right there in the middle so the space between guilty Bakery and the clock is 23 ft we’re

47:55

looking at a 4×7 chair that I’m thinking would be facing toward the

48:01

street um and so that’s kind of how it how it would look um and there is 24t

48:09

from this the crosswalk which is right up here and there’s a trash can there to the C Plymouth sign there so it would be

48:16

about halfway so we’re talking 12 feet away from the sidewalk okay yeah I was

48:22

going by the picture that you sent us which which indates that the chair would be really close to the crosswalk so so

48:29

it’s really hard to get like just a superimposed chair to be to scale and so I kind of put it in there and tried to

48:35

give it like how much height it would take but in terms of like like the depth of field you have from the picture that

48:42

it would it’s impossible to see so that’s why I kind of did this bird’s eye okay map gotcha gotcha and I’m happy to

48:49

give you a copy no no problem I can see it really well from here um the other option would be um

48:57

over here there’s there’s those the round um seats I guess is that what we

49:02

call them seats um there is a expended like a little bit more area between those under a tree and we could tuck it

49:09

in underneath there um it would be facing guilty back Bakery if we did that in New World

49:16

Tavern would be in the background yeah Mr BL yeah uh I surely

49:23

square is I mean uh Town Square is definitely out it’s too far away from everything and Shirley Square would be

49:30

ideal because it connects that downtown the Waterfront but if you think it’s too

49:36

cramped I mean I don’t know Town Hall Derek’s right we do a lot of a lot of things there on Town Hall so it might be

49:43

in the way and it can’t be moved I have a suggestion and uh what about D

49:49

Memorial Hall that’s already concrete I actually talked to Donna is it Donna at

49:54

Memorial Hall no oh I’m thinking P Museum sorry yeah CU I was thinking that as location too

50:00

but she doesn’t have but we we own the building it’s concrete there we uh I don’t know would that be an option

50:06

there’s a lot of room there I know they do a lot of events but there’s a there’s a big walkways I think it’s really out

50:12

of the way I think we want more of a draw down here and and Derek is right

50:18

and I didn’t even think of it because one of the things that we had talked about and I haven’t had the opportunity

50:24

to speak to the downtown businesses I’d love to see like you know local artists

50:30

on Town Hall green every weekend maybe one or two days so I think it would be a

50:37

little bit too cumbersome there but I think Derek maybe we can have um Nick

50:43

fella and Mr Downey go and take a hard look at Shirley Square because I think it’s a great idea I love the chairs I

50:50

wanted to get one for I know I think I saw it cuz you like the post they put them on a lot of college

50:56

campuses the best and there’re Shenanigans in college campuses and I asked the not the one I’m at well this

51:02

is true um I asked the artist I said out of all the chairs that you’ve now made because now they have them like

51:08

everywhere Seafood Sams and Falmouth has it um Dairy Twist and penbroke has it I said how many have been asked to bolt

51:14

down and you needed to bolt down and he said none he hasn’t bolted any of them down but he was willing to work with us

51:20

to figure out if we have to do that okay if if you could do that and yeah I

51:26

mean if the board is is would like Shirley Square to be the primary option we can look at it and I can even like go

51:34

out there with chalk and just outline we get Professionals for

51:40

that I just don’t want people to think like a you know a box died there or something I mean I I’ll I’ll make a

51:46

motion to have it at Shirley Square you know with your recommendation as for

51:53

placement do who recommendation dere I’ll second

51:59

that first by me second by Mr Helm discussion

52:08

John though Katie you indicated that you would ask if any of these were

52:13

bolted down to the artist yeah that would work and this individual said not

52:20

that he he may he he has not been asked or required to bolt any of them so they

52:25

weigh over 400 lb and they kind of take care of themselves it would take a 200 mph wind to move it okay are are any of

52:33

these seasonal they put up for four to six months and like if you get it to Halloween or November they they’re

52:39

removed and then put back in the spr there’s no yeah no they’re permanent they’re they’re

52:46

large I know they’re large enough they can be seasonal I mean if nobody likes it when we have it we can my question is

52:52

in the dead of winter bonfire somewhere in the dead of winter does it make sense post

52:58

Thanksgiving to have it sitting down there for four months that that would be on my only question I well Santa comes

53:05

then yeah I would if you’re asking me yeah I say yes it is because we have tourists year round and we want tourism

53:11

year round so okay we shouldn’t put everything away I I was in Florida a

53:16

couple of months ago got coaxed into taking some family photos around one of these I really didn’t know what I was

53:22

doing I didn’t realize that this was taking the country by it’s a thing but it’s a thing I get it

53:27

now I didn’t at the time and I certainly supportive of this but uh again location

53:33

location location no you got little ones you it’ll it’ll

53:41

happen so we have a motion by The Chair seconded

53:47

by Mr Helm in discussion do we call for a

53:53

vote although those in favor Mr bletzer yes Mr Helm yes Mr Mahoney yes Mr

54:03

Quintel yes and myself yesk it’s unanimous

54:10

congratulations okay next is the Fresh Pond uh recreational area discussion and

54:19

I actually sent this to the town manager um I was uh a president reached

54:25

out that frequents Fresh Pond quite a bit and there’s a little playground

54:31

there and it’s very very old and Rusty and

54:37

dangerous and I would like to um have

54:42

Nick fiela go down there and I’d also like to be able to use arpa funds to

54:47

upgrade that facility for our children in

54:54

town question did we just uh didn’t we just improve uh the man Rec Center which is

55:01

right there isn’t that right next door Derek no did we do some improvements down didn’t we put the

55:07

manent recreation area was just completed last year and how close is

55:12

that to this it’s about two and a half miles away oh it’s that far okay so what

55:17

do we have for equipment down swing and a in a little slide and it’s all old and

55:24

Rusty nasty so we should take it out immediately because it’s a liability right now and uh is there a need to have

55:31

a yeah for there yeah a lot of kids go to the a lot of families go to that pond

55:37

so I mean kids don’t always want to be in the water um not my kids but you know

55:43

I I think it’s a great little area there there’s picnic benches and you know I

55:48

think I think we have to hopefully continue our focus on services for our

55:56

kids now what uh so how long has that uh has it been

56:01

there that Recreation as far as I can remember

56:07

yeah P yeah it’s fresh pond it’s like right now if we don’t do if we don’t do

56:13

anything else right now we we should remove it and clean up the area so

56:18

nobody gets hurt cut down there if it’s all rusted so immediately we should do

56:24

this and then figure out come up with a plan to see what the needs are I don’t

56:29

want to take forever to come up figure out a plan because it seems like forever

56:36

is is something that we do and I think it’s

56:42

important to have something in place Honestly by Memorial Day weekend when the season opens Mr

56:49

Helm I totally agree with you that uh

56:55

this um playground area it needs serious updating um I’m just going to have a

57:02

problem voting to okay arpa funds without knowing how much arpa funds I’m

57:08

okaying so you know I mean it did not take Nick long to come up with a

57:16

proposal drawings cost for the Allerton Park so would that be a solution

57:25

is to have the town manager talk to Mr Fel and next week come back with a

57:32

proposal yeah could we put this back on the agenda for next week with a price yeah so we can talk to uh Mr Fela to now

57:39

again we’re talking about a swing set it’s not it’s nothing more than a swing set it’s no slide it’s nothing else from

57:44

what what’s been reported to me it’s in very poor condition and it’s um often

57:50

it’s often vandalized so right now there’s actually a missing swing on the swing set uh because it from what I’ve

57:58

been informed of um continues to get stolen the swing sets down there so so

58:05

just so folks are clear what we what we now does the rec department have any uh recommendations Recreation Department

58:11

Parks uh they would they would recommend not to build a playground um because of

58:17

it becomes um an attraction and it’s been problematic in the past they did

58:22

say that the again the ex swing set is old and it’s Rusty and it’s serving its

58:29

current purpose yes God forbid we do something for the kids go ahead well

58:36

just interestingly enough when I saw this arrive as an agenda item I

58:42

immediately thought we were going to talk about the behavior the traffic the the illegal parking and all that stuff I

58:50

didn’t think we were going to be talking about a swing set so I’m absolutely not surprised to hear you say that there are

58:56

problems there with something being vandalized okay I mean I I’m bringing

59:01

that up as part of what we need to figure out

59:09

with Fresh Pond is what is going on down there and how are we going to stop

59:15

it I mean that’s you know I think that’s that’s you know part I mean in a longer

59:22

term than the swing set or whatever but also I mean I know that it’s just a

59:27

swing set but it’s it’s funny how from the time that was put in and um the Ada

59:36

act what actually might have to be put in its place instead of just a

59:42

replacement of the swing sets there so I won’t be surprised by what Mr fiela

59:47

tells us next week right and and to that point about the the issues we

59:53

experienced last summer with Fresh Pond uh we have been meeting on a regular basis to talk about more and po because

59:58

that’s how it all started and so next Tuesday there will be an agenda item with a proposed sener recommendations on

1:00:04

how to respond to some of those issues at Morton Park Fresh Pond will

1:00:09

follow I mean Fresh Pond I think we had already had the discussion about the no parking on the street on Bartlett Road

1:00:16

and things like that and those are the things that would help Rectify that

1:00:21

situation because it’s not an easy there’s really no place to park to be able to walk in where there is like like

1:00:29

um Morton park that’s right right

1:00:36

okay are we do we do you want a motion on that Derek or is the no that’s fine

1:00:42

we we we will reach out to Mr fella and bring back to the board a recommendation

1:00:47

great next is the town manager report okay um so I know there’s been um some

1:00:55

discussions I know a number of our board members have brought to my attention the question about what’s going on with all

1:01:01

the opioid settlement dollars um there’s been some um Fanfare across the state

1:01:08

that cities and towns have um received settlement dollars from the class action

1:01:16

lawsuit um against Johnson and Johnson and other opor um

1:01:22

manufacturers so just to bring the brought up to date as to where we are so this past year we received approximately

1:01:29

$240,000 through the settlement uh it didn’t come as a grant it came as um a

1:01:34

revenue and so because it came as Revenue we had to deposit into the general fund So the plan right now is

1:01:41

those dollars that have been deposited into the general fund will be certified as free cash uh after July 1st uh and

1:01:48

then we plan to to go to the fall time meeting um with an article to reappropriate that same sum of money so

1:01:55

again $240,000 um and then at that point we can distribute those dollars in a very

1:02:01

fair in equal Manner and how do we plan on doing that um we’re talking internally to set up a committee um of

1:02:09

town officials that will be Bas basically a review panel um that will um

1:02:16

issue a a request for applications and then review those applications and then

1:02:23

distribute dollars based upon that process so that’s where we see right now we do expect there will be additional

1:02:29

dollars from from other manufactures like CVS Walgreens and others um so that

1:02:36

$240,000 will rise over the period of the next um approximately 15

1:02:42

years so again more to come on that but I know you all have been getting questions and we have

1:02:48

too um a couple other things that have come up in the last few days and I just kind

1:02:53

of wanted to make a statement publicly um there have been brought to our

1:02:58

attention political signs I mean I know it’s political campaigning season um that have been placed in the public way

1:03:05

in many areas so just I wanted to say to the board and to those folks listening at home that any political signs that

1:03:12

are in public space so in our streets in our medians will be removed by

1:03:17

inspectional services and return back to the rightful owner uh and we’ve already removed some

1:03:23

of those in the past couple couple days um select Mahoney had asked a

1:03:28

question last week about uh the status of the four CPC articles that went to the fall um Tom meeting so um we were

1:03:37

able to work with the council and get an update on those so just to bring the board up to speed on where they’ll stand

1:03:43

uh the camp Norse property which was Article 9A I believe we actually have a closing schedule for next week uh so

1:03:49

executed pns or the closing schedule next week the the pns itself actually will be in front of the the board on

1:03:54

Tuesday uh for approval the Spire Center as you know

1:04:00

was about $2.4 million um construction costs uh we had to sign a grant

1:04:05

agreement with the Spire that’s been executed as of last week um so we would

1:04:11

imagine that we’ll see construction probably within the next 30 days across the street um there’s an internal

1:04:16

meeting with the contractor over there there’s some issues that still have to be ironed out like Ada access for

1:04:21

example U so more to come on that but that agreement has been executed and uh

1:04:26

we do expect to see construction starting in the near term

1:04:32

um the Stevens Lane Estuary um so we’re running into what I

1:04:38

would say some challenges um it’s been brought to our attention that um the pro existing

1:04:46

property owner um wanted in the the purchas and sale agreement um the town’s

1:04:53

commitment to allow the property owner to connect to the Sewer main what we

1:04:59

found out is this closest sewer connection would be approximately 350 ft away which would mean that the only way

1:05:07

to connect is we’d have to extend the sewer um which would be South on um Main

1:05:14

Street Extension UMO that approximate length at a cost of about

1:05:20

[Music] $200,000 so we’ll be talking to the proper and see if there’s a way that we

1:05:25

can come to an agreements but you know from a cost benefit analysis it doesn’t to to us it doesn’t make sense unless

1:05:32

the board disagrees uh to combust $200,000 of taxpayers dollars to extend

1:05:38

the seain um for one connection so again more to come on that so there’s been no

1:05:44

pns executor on that one and the last one is the the foundre marina uh on

1:05:49

Union Street uh we’re meeting internally um next week with um the contractors uh

1:05:57

and the developer to look at their application they just submitted their applications this past week last week

1:06:02

actually um so we’re going to look at what they’ve submitted to the inspectional services department uh and

1:06:08

then uh assuming things are moving along we then execute a agreement with them as

1:06:14

well um their plans right now would be if everything’s go goes well would be to

1:06:20

demolish the the back portion of that structure do fall and preserve the

1:06:28

facade uh which is right on Water Street assuming everything goes well so that’s

1:06:33

the update and that update’s been communicated to uh the chairman of CPC and and the other CPC members as

1:06:41

well um just to kind of shift pivot a little bit on um some of our electric

1:06:46

vehicles so as as you may remember um the board through Opera approved the

1:06:52

acquisition of uh three electric vehicles last fall um we uh purchasing a

1:07:00

couple more and then by July 1 with the new budget uh an additional three to four so we’ll have up to upwards of nine

1:07:07

electric vehicles in our Fleet going to replace a lot of the very old what they call d d Vehicles which are the ones

1:07:14

that our inspectional services department drives around those are some of them are 12 or 13 years old uh so

1:07:19

those will be replaced with electric vehicles Mach rail a climate resiliency plan of this past week at the Hamin Run

1:07:25

Festival brought out the pickup truck uh was that the lightning um the Ford Lightning and um I

1:07:33

guess it received a lot of attention to the point where the two bands that were playing were using the Ford Lightning to

1:07:41

Electrify um this sound system so interesting use of an electric

1:07:47

vehicle um so again we’ll present more on what’s going on with some of our uh

1:07:52

green energy work on the May 16th meeting uh just as just an update the

1:07:58

SIMS house RFP has been extended to May 12th so we’ll have a few more uh weeks

1:08:03

before we can report back to the board on that one and then uh you know every year

1:08:09

during this time we do get complaints um that folks haven’t received their excise

1:08:15

bills or they haven’t received their water or sewer bills and so they get these demand notices um and so that’s

1:08:22

difficult to try to unravel um but one thing we are doing to try to remedy that in the future is that

1:08:27

there’s going to be this new auto signup um system set up uh through the

1:08:34

website in the next couple of months where individuals who get typically their excise taxes and their water and

1:08:39

sewer bills or or even their real estate bills they can go online they can sign up to get an automatic uh paperless bill

1:08:47

so those individuals who for whatever reason are not getting their paper bills meil directly to them uh they can get

1:08:53

electronically so we hope over time that’ll mitigate you know some of those complaints we get every

1:09:00

spring um and then um Beach stias as well so in the past it would take

1:09:06

upwards of two weeks to get a beach sticka and part of that was because of the the system we were using with this

1:09:13

um uh City Hall systems they would do the fulfillments to determine whether or not an individual actually um met the

1:09:20

criteria that fulfillment is going to be taking place in-house now so we expecting that we could turn these

1:09:25

around within a couple days versus what was happening in the past in a couple weeks so again a couple U new programs

1:09:31

that are coming out of the treasure collector’s office just to try to be more customer service friendly to our residents and then the last item I just

1:09:38

want to talk about as I’m trying to do is try to give regular updates regarding the sewera Interceptor project um we

1:09:44

continue to work with the engineers a whole team of Engineers are looking at this uh right now the status of that

1:09:50

project um is that the engineers must get the water level um under control

1:09:58

before they can restart construction um right now there within the

1:10:03

specifications I think has to be 2 feet uh below the construction um um level in

1:10:10

order for them to to restart that they haven’t been able to do that just yet we are expecting to get more information

1:10:17

this week regarding that I do believe that it’s either going to be they can

1:10:22

get under the control they can’t get it under control and if they say that they can get it under control then we’re

1:10:28

going to have to we’ll be at a decision Point whether or not we allow them to move forward if they say they can’t get

1:10:33

it under the control I think what’s going to happen is that they’re just going to fold up shop um and at that

1:10:39

point the the project will cease and you know we’ll have to determine what would be the next steps thereafter if they can

1:10:47

get under control um we’re going to have to talk about what that really means you know if

1:10:53

they restart the project how long can they go before the tourism season hits um will they come back if they stop

1:11:01

before tourism season these are the questions that we’re we’re having internally as far as um this project I

1:11:08

can tell you I attended the downtown Business Association meeting yesterday and um they would report last year um

1:11:16

especially the retailers they were down about 20% um in the revenues from this

1:11:21

was last year in 2022 and they’re saying that they’re down 30 30 to 35% this year so if you go back

1:11:29

two years ago they down almost 50% on the retail space um and the con and so

1:11:35

we’ve heard those concerns and we’re paying very close attention to those concerns and and I don’t think certainly

1:11:40

construction is not helping this at all um I don’t know if anybody’s driven downtown on a Friday afternoon like I

1:11:46

did last Friday and it was very difficult to navigate Court Street and Main Street because of what’s going on

1:11:52

on water stream so we are paying very close attention to that I know the businesses are frustrated um and we’re

1:11:58

all kind of at a wait and see point at this period of time and hopefully you know I would say next week we’ll

1:12:05

hopefully have more information but I think within two weeks we’ll we’ll know whether or not if this project is going

1:12:11

to proceed so pending any questions that’s all I have for this

1:12:18

evening Mr Mahoney then Mr hel

1:12:24

so Derek on the sewer Interceptor Pro uh project so you you anticipate the

1:12:30

question being answered any day now on whether or not they can proceed

1:12:35

or not and the water’s under control we were expecting today to get a report we haven’t received that report as of yet

1:12:43

but the plan was by Friday we would know whether or not this project was

1:12:50

going to move forward okay that was our that was our internal deadline this Friday to know

1:12:57

so I would suggest because it is imperative that

1:13:02

once that information comes in this Board needs to make a decision because these business owners need to know what’s going on right so I would just

1:13:11

suggest through the chair as a backup plan that it is put on next Tuesday or

1:13:17

the both every subsequent Tuesday for the month of May until we have to have the data to make the

1:13:24

decision because if the information doesn’t come in by Friday if it comes in Monday I want to be able to

1:13:31

vote Tuesday night you follow me I want that backup plan so we can cover

1:13:37

ourselves under the open meeting requirements I don’t want to sit here and not have it on for May 2nd the

1:13:43

information comes in May Monday or Tuesday and we have to wait until the 9th gotcha right so we can put it on the

1:13:49

agenda and if we don’t have the information we can just table it for the the chair

1:14:04

approval yes um a question going back to the CPC

1:14:14

articles the Stevens Lane property

1:14:19

um I don’t recall all the detail details of it were we aware that the owner of

1:14:28

that property was going to ask us besides the money that was that he was

1:14:34

going to ask us to improve his other property by hooking it up I mean I don’t

1:14:39

I don’t remember all the details were we aware that this was going to happen or

1:14:44

not well I can tell you that um from what I know no Town officials were in

1:14:52

those conversations and negotiations with the property owner we were made aware of it when Council got involved

1:14:59

with their attorney and their attorney brought to our attention that they wanted language in the pns that allowed

1:15:06

them to connect to the sua which then we start asking questions about what does this mean as far as the sewer connection

1:15:12

because if it’s running in front of your property it’s a no-brainer he can connect to the Sewer you don’t need permission to do that um so was was

1:15:19

we’re trying to starting to uncover a little of

1:15:28

this well no just to followup question I’d be interested in knowing um did we

1:15:35

the collective we or any part of the collective we were we aware that this

1:15:40

was going to be part of the deal not to my knowledge I I I can only speak for

1:15:46

myself and town staff no they weren’t I know we would have asked the question how much I know we didn’t know know I

1:15:54

know Derek and town Administration John as the CPC Lea

1:15:59

on this was never a variable that was discussed ahead of this article this was

1:16:06

just always a simple you know almost 20 years ago you took the uh the Finny the

1:16:14

DPW building that was there with the incremental 3 acres that was included there was a purchase a few

1:16:21

years ago on the acreage on the front of Sandwich Street and this is just a 20 to

1:16:27

$30,000 investment increasing the footprint of Stevens Field by about

1:16:32

another half an acre or so this variable was never

1:16:38

discussed so um the what raises a a real immediate

1:16:44

issue for me is you guys weren’t in negotiations

1:16:50

with the owner who

1:16:56

was who I would think it was the chair of

1:17:03

the CPC at the time and correct me if I’m wrong is that really

1:17:11

something that we should be allowing for the chairman of a committee to be in

1:17:18

negotiations without Town staff it’s always been my position that any type of

1:17:25

acquisition or or dealings that the town will have

1:17:30

to be involved in that we have uh professional staff involved in those

1:17:36

conversations to provide advice and counsel during those conversations and

1:17:42

can we put a letter write a letter forward to the CPC and the committee

1:17:48

saying that I mean we should require Town staff this is this is a big surprise for this

1:17:56

board for the administration I’m sure for the liais on so also for the CP and maybe for the CPC

1:18:04

we can’t have people that you know committee members

1:18:09

negotiating these deals on behalf of the town with the town not involved so it

1:18:14

has to stop so if you would please and I will be more than happy to sign the

1:18:21

letter if I need to okay moving right

1:18:30

along we have oh is Miss

1:18:37

Davis okay yes yes um I’m really startled by this too having uh I attend

1:18:44

all of CPC meetings uh from The Observer Corps of the legal Women Voters and also

1:18:50

as a town meeting member when we voted on this I I think we voted on it for 30,000 so I think in respect to Bill

1:18:57

cohain he should be like called in I I cannot imagine him agreeing to the bill

1:19:05

of the sewer connection for that land I so I think I don’t know where the Mis

1:19:12

miscommunication or the communication broke down but I think Bill goane should be a part of this in respect to him as

1:19:19

jamman because you know he’s usually very um diligent about what it’s going to cost

1:19:26

the town that’s all thank you correct Mr Brandy could you have Mr Cohan here for

1:19:32

the next meeting uh I can invite him sure thank

1:19:38

you anyone else okay select board are we all done

1:19:46

with the town manager I mean not done with them but you

1:19:51

know

1:19:58

um next on select board open discussion new business letters old business

1:20:04

Charlie I I have some new business it’s kind of an announcement I think it’s a very important announcement it involves

1:20:13

autism uh if anybody has a family member friend neighbor anybody you know with

1:20:20

autism uh there’s a screening especially non-speaking autistic uh folks there’s a

1:20:28

screening Sunday April 30th at 3 p.m. at the Plymouth cinema at the Plymouth par

1:20:35

Texas and I I want to invite uh people to come there it’s $15 a ticket there’s

1:20:41

going to be a panel Afters afterwards that we’ll speak about this there’s people that’ll be Chris cop is going to

1:20:47

be there with Mar and Leon Leon they had a special needs SU

1:20:52

that he’s passed away but so I know they’re going to be there and uh it’s a

1:20:58

film it’s a it’s a it’s a private screening of a documentary this documentary run won best documentary at

1:21:05

the Phoenix Film Festival Festival it’s going to be screened worldwide wide not

1:21:10

just in Plymouth and it’s it’s a documentary called spellers it’s inspired by the book

1:21:20

underestimated this book challenges the conventional wisdom regarding a

1:21:26

group relegated to society’s uh margins that non-speakers with

1:21:33

autism uh who most people believe are cognitively disabled that it’s not the

1:21:40

case this film the opening of this film asks what if we’re

1:21:47

wrong and you will you’re going to hear stories of eight non-speakers aah Eva Sid Maddie Jamie

1:21:54

Vince Kate and Elizabeth they all found their voice through this miraculous

1:22:00

process and believe me this is a life-changing uh process of using a letter board to communicate their

1:22:07

thought and feelings as jimie will say in this this documentary we think feel

1:22:13

and learn just like everyone else a friend of mine who lives in

1:22:19

Plymouth he has a second home here in Plymouth from New Hampshire I got involved in autism 30 years ago

1:22:26

when his two-year-old son was diagnosed and we knew nothing about autism back then it was it was but I

1:22:35

saw you know my nil and lry how they handled things you know they were taken

1:22:40

back for a while and really struggled with trying to figure out what this was all about and you know what was going to

1:22:47

happen with their child and then they then they said you know we’re going to do something about this and they started

1:22:54

to get involved with artistic uh families and they started off in their house having meetings they formed the

1:23:00

group called parents assisting special education and the first fundraiser I

1:23:06

remember being part of it we raised $5,000 and we use that money just for

1:23:13

informational uh pamphlets that we that they put out at doctor’s offices and so

1:23:19

parents when they get diagnosed they were handed some information that they could read about that’s how it started

1:23:25

well it went on to provide audiovisual equipment for schools they they went

1:23:31

into the schools what do you need the schools were skeptical about what what are they doing they they fenced in

1:23:38

playgrounds they uh mentors I mean they were raising six figures every year to

1:23:43

to help this cause as their son get out of the mainstream out of the schools he

1:23:49

then started working on uh estate planning for special needs kids because

1:23:54

the biggest and I’ve seen my friend Neil I’ve seen him emotional uh and thinking about what’s

1:24:02

going to happen to Craig you know after I die and so he he set in a state got

1:24:08

into estate planning he set up for life he now lives in transitioned into a group home he’s 32 years old

1:24:16

today and I can tell you all the work that Neil and lry did for 30 for 32

1:24:24

years they never heard the words until recently because he was on the L’s been

1:24:32

working and training him on the spitter board and they he heard Neil heard the words recently I love you

1:24:39

Daddy okay and it just it it it it’s it hits home for for a guy that’s got three

1:24:46

healthy children and I I see this lifechanging uh uh event this process

1:24:53

it’s amazing so I just want to let the public and if anybody’s watching or if you know anybody please this Sunday

1:25:00

there’s still tickets available at the Plymouth Port texit the Plymouth Cinema it’s called Uh the screening is called

1:25:08

spellers and it’s by a book it’s inspired by the book underestimated thank you very

1:25:17

much anyone else and I will Mr Bry do we need to go

1:25:25

back into executive yeah so you need to take a vote to go back into executive session no you’re not going to return

1:25:32

back to open session okay so we will um I’ll take a motion to go back into

1:25:37

executive session and not return into open session so motion second motion by Mr Helm um

1:25:46

seconded by Mr bletzer a roll call vote Mr bletzer yes Mr helm yes Mr Mahoney

1:25:54

yes Mr Quintel yes and myself yes so we

1:26:00

will adjourn to a executive

1:26:06

session