 Welcome to the select board meeting of Monday, February 10th 2020. I am Diane and Mahan to my right your left John Herrod Joe Curell Steve DeCorsi Adam chaptering Doug Hyme Our colleague mr. Dunn unfortunately was hoping it feel better by the end of the day and Hasn't so I hope he feels better soon as well as Mrs. Cropel for our board administrator, but I know they're watching at home So we'll be on our best behavior First item on the agenda approval of sale of $200,000 sewer bond to the MWRA. We have our treasure and collector of taxes Ms. Marshall Good evening. Thank you. I'm here because in accordance with town meeting vote last April for our 61 authorizing the Participation in an MWRA grant loan program for $600,000 worth of grant and $200,000 bond for repair to inflow and infiltration of our sewer system and the grant is Substantial and the borrowing is $200,000 of interest-free loan that is payable over ten years I'm available for any questions you have it's for the design bid design bid construction and Flow tests to verify that we've made the improvements Thank you first is there a motion to approve by so much Mr. Carroll seconded by mr. Hurd any questions or comments by my colleagues if not on a motion by mr. Carroll seconded by mr. Hurd all those in favor say aye. I was opposed unanimous vote. Thank you for all your work on this Thank you very much for your approval. Thank you. Good evening and agenda item two for approval all into jazz festival banners. I Think we know who's gonna represent But if you can just say your name for the record, I'm David facts director of the jazz festival So we moved the date of it a little later this year to the middle weekend in May so our hopes is to have the two banners up on the west side of Route 60 By the beginning of April if possible or Any any date if it needs to be later is fine or any Part of mass have if that doesn't work so That's just my preference. I don't know if you Started the process again, but coordinate with the select board office in terms of what's available and when DPW you can okay Is there a motion to approve by some of mr. Carroll seconded by second mr. Decorsi Any questions or comments if not an emotion by mr. Carroll seconded by mr. Decorsi all those in favor say aye. I was opposed unanimous vote. Good luck. Thank you We now have our consent agenda minutes of meetings January 27th 2020 Patriots Day Committee events April 19th 2020 it just a raise of a hand to someone here from the Patriots Day Committee So I'll read the events then 56th the annual Patriots Day fund run at 845 a.m. Along mass av the monotony reenactment at 12 noon at the Jason Russell house The Patriots Day Parade at 3 p.m. And that's submitted on behalf of the Patriots Day Committee chair Christine Bongiorno We have reappointments board of youth services Laurie pescatory Library board of trustees Heather Galvin Jonathan Gates library board of trustees to correct term ending date Adam Dell Del Molino Amy Hampey request special one-day beer and wine license 3720 at the Robbins Memorial Town Hall for a private event Harris Diamond and Jessica Grant Request special one-day beer and wine license 314 20 at Leslie Ellis School for a private event Jeanette Keller on behalf of Leslie Ellis School and appointment of new election workers Dora, Miss Chela of Harvard Street Beverly Panitary on mass av Julie at a Furman Wolf of Grandview and Stanley F. Wolf also of Grandview first Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda by? Move approval sub to all conditions is set forth Seconded by mr. Herter is there anyone here for any items on the consent agenda? Any questions or comments from my colleagues if not an emotion by mr. Carol seconded by mr. Herter all those in favor say aye Opposed unanimous vote we now go a little bit after five minutes our 715 public hearings first We have Jackie Jacqueline Duffy supervisor rights and permits on behalf of ever source miss Duffy I'm good evening and star electric would like to install a hip guy on mass av and this is to support poll 847 over 29 on mass Sir a motion to approve by mr. Herter second seconded by mr. Carol subject to all conditions contained therein Public hearing is there anyone here to speak to ever source petition mass av Any further questions or comments by my colleague mr. DeCorsi, thank you madam chair. It's a question This is my first Approval of a hip guy. I'm doing wonder if you can Tell us what that is a hip guy. It kind of looks like almost like a chin up bar That's how I explained them and it just goes straight across and down that we know one will walk into it Okay, all right And it does it go across the sidewalk or is it on between the sidewalk in the street? It goes on at the back of the sidewalk. Okay brass. Okay. All right. Thank you Any further questions or comments if not on a motion by mr. Herter seconded by mr. Carol all those in favor say aye those opposed unanimous vote Thank you so much. So good to see you next we go to a national grid petition Browning Road I'm sure yeah, I'm gonna recuse myself from this item as I do work for national grid We'll just wait till he steps out one second the abundance of caution There's nothing untoward if you could just say your name and request good evening. I'm Barbara Kelleher I'm a representative from National Grid and the National Grid here by respectfully request your consent to install and maintain Approximately 25 feet more or less of 6 inch gas main in Browning Road Arlington from the existing gas main just past house 25 South westerly to house number 21 in order to provide a gas service to number 20 and number 21 Browning Road Is there a motion first by? Move approval subject to all conditions. Mr. Herter seconded by second. Mr. Cure. Oh, this is a public hearing Is there anyone here? Excuse me. I'm sorry national grid petition Browning Road Any further questions or comments from my colleagues? I just want to make sure the minutes do reflect that Mr. Decorsi stepped out prior to hearing this on a motion by mr. Heard seconded by mr. Cure all those in favor say aye those opposed unanimous vote three. Oh good to see you can I and The minutes can reflect that mr. Decorsi returned for a gender item 11. Thank you Gender item 11 for approval common vitro license happy belly eats of mass out Hello, I'm Jason Carter here for approval for the common Vic Taking over the former retro burger or still retro burger at the moment Is there anything else you'd like to say about it it's gonna basically sort of yeah, so are you gonna add my first My first one so it's gonna be a similar concept quick serve restaurant Kind of fun over the top burgers over the top Gourmet hot dogs really cool fried chicken sandwiches still offer some shakes Some over-the-top shakes as well that kind of have some fun cakes and desserts on top And yeah, that's really about it so quick serve 20 seats roughly Not much renovation just kind of beautifying the place a little bit and redoing the kitchen a little to to make it Good with the health department My family is One way they like their onion rings made if I don't make them at home the hand battered pain And so i'm not telling you have to keep them the same or whatever, but I just want to know we've talked about it I think I think that's a staple that's Should be on a menu so yeah, we can't find it anywhere else in ollington. Oh, yeah But it's your business and your Menu in thinking in consideration. I promise uh first is there a motion to approve Motion to approve subterranean conditions are set forth by mr. Cures or second second Mr. Heard any questions? This is an important one for my decision. Of course. Are you keeping the jukebox? Uh, so bill is taking that He he wrote it in he has to take it. It's his pride and joy I'm not well. Well, my boys do like playing with that What's this? I'll I'll provide like a little iPad. We can we can play with some music would be good I wish I could eat it though So you got onion rings and stuff for the kids to play with there we go. That's a And you're going to be where retro burger is currently i'm sorry You're going to be where retro burger is kind of i just want to make sure because people actually do watch this Oh, they do On a motion any further questions or comments mr. Curell just want to what are you hoping to open? Uh, probably mid to late april Best case scenario worst case scenario first week in may great fantastic. Thank you. We'll look forward looking forward to it Yeah, any further questions or comments on a motion by mr. Curell seconded by mr. Heard all those in favor say aye. I suppose you name them spoke. Good luck. Good luck. Thank you We now will start our warrant article hearings. We have Three they are not as yet numbered because we still have the draft warrant if that's been compiled and it'll be finalized soon First we have bylaw amendment regulation of outdoor lighting up Lighting Is anyone here for that? I would anticipate mr. Schlickman would have been here. Do you think he's coming maybe and i'll You don't think so Okay, know what i'll do is maybe i'll move on to the other two Oh council has something. Oh, it's journey. Hi Thank you, madam chair if you like I think it's a relatively straightforward matter But I can also understand the board's practice in this matter is is not always to proceed if The citizen petitioners a resident petitioner is not present But if you like i'm i'm prepared to talk about it, but i'm going to ask you to do that I'm just going to take the other two just in case he comes Uh, if that's okay with my college Only because I know he posted about it on facebook and things i'm dreaming Bylaw amendment minute man bikeway hours Mr. Chapter lane did you want to speak to that or who is there anyone here to speak to the minute man Bikeway hours as the proponent If you yes, please hello, christopher tonkin Precinct 20 chairman and alton bicycle advisory committee Adam mcneill was actually going to present but he got delayed and we didn't anticipate the Schedule going quite so far. So I'm the default For many years we've felt it's been a kind of an acronym that the bikeway has official hours that the same as the standard park hours in arlington whereas lexington lexington and bedford do not And many of the users of the bikeway, especially in the east part of the town Um arrive from alewife and walk up or cycle up the bikeway Therefore breaking the law. So we wanted to try and bring this more into sort of Harmony with the other two towns in the bikeway and also, you know in in with practice so we held concentrations with the police and We came up with a suggestion that we changed the hours as stated So as I didn't wasn't totally prepared to talk I continued with the house all about checking what you've got there But that's what we've done. That's what we're proposing. That's what we're looking for I think we have support from the apd on this We had consultations with them the planning department's also supportive of this and That's where I want to leave it for now. I think Anyone else want to I would just verify what christopher just mentioned that After they're back and forth. I believe with the police department I think they had a very good dialogue and the police department is supportive of their proposal As is the planning department and I think the only thing I would add and I I don't think this is a hindrance at all Is these discussions will likely lead to people in the community talking about lighting the bike path In some shape or form and I think those discussions are those are things that people talk about in the community Anyway, but I think this might spur it a little more. It's not something we currently have in the capital plan It's something we are interested in potentially studying. So I I don't offer that for any action, but just for the board's information that With approving this we should expect a discussion in the future about lighting if probably not all but portions of the bike way Yes, if I can add It's one of the suggestions we get most frequently when we talk to people is why don't you have it lit at night it is pretty dark and a bit foreboding at times and Some people find a little scary, but people still use it. The other thing I wanted to mention which I didn't that The apw was quite We'd be happy to review how it's been working after six months or so A year and I have a sort of either extend the hours to longer or abolish them totally Depending how how it goes when we had the verbal discussions with them. I haven't seen the written Letter that the acting chief sent I'm not sure yet and I think this is excellent and I don't know if it's still a venue or a source of recourse, but When we got the lights Up on the pierce field Yeah, it was not only to light pierce field, but also illumination of the bike path in that area Yes, I don't know if that's still an opportunity that's available, but I'm sure you all will explore that Um, I'm not you know, even if it's we can only get it in one or two areas to me It's one or two more that you know And I think one of the things that helped to get it through was that it was sort of a dual use It was illuminating the high school field, but also Secondary illumination to the bike side. I've come along there at night and coming along that path It's you can see where you're going. You can see people coming the other way And it's there are other parts where it just you get past there and it goes into darkness again Purse is there a motion? Okay, is there anyone else who wanted to speak? Well, I'm just going to get the motion on the table Well, I want to you want to I want to I want to actually discuss it discuss The motion I wanted to ask a question before I make a motion. No, no, that's fine. That's possible. Okay. Yeah Mr. Curell. Yeah, sure sure um, I I spoke to mr. McNeil about this the other night and I and I think you went about it Just exactly the right way going and talking to the police department. I'm fully supportive also of the idea Extending the hours I do have one question. I think for you and for the manager Something for my colleagues to to to consider when you mention that conditions are different in different parts of the bikeway That's certainly after starters But also, you know the bikeway when we have other decisions come before us around the bikeway All other aspects of the bikeway are in the jurisdiction of the manager So when we have to do a temporary closure for a road race or whatnot, we're deferring to the manager and I'm wondering Does it make more sense for our board to to Make the change such that the jurisdiction over the hours of squarely and with the manager To to be able to have that that discretion so that if there is this pilot and there is a decision that Maybe we we should lengthen it short and it or whatnot. You have that flexibility to do that and you also have the flexibility to actually Handle different parts of the bikeway differently, which would be kind of difficult in a by-law situation So I don't know if you and I probably should have talked to you about this beforehand But I don't know if you have any thoughts about that I mean, I think it needs to be a warrant article to change the by-law to change it for sure But but I you I hadn't thought about it before you just asked But I think like in in some situations it would removing it from the by-law Would allow it administrative flexibility right so that we wouldn't if we wanted to change it next year We wouldn't have to come back to town meeting again to make a change. So I mean Responding first blush. I think that would be appropriate to consider And our understanding I think would be that you are you are on board with the proposal as it's been been presented for the hours That that have been proposed initially, correct? Yeah, I would say if it was the prerogative of the board to take a vote like you just described I would certainly accompany that vote with saying that I would set the hours at 5 a.m to 11 p.m With revisions to be made as necessary similar to the action that's being requested Okay, with that I would like to make a motion to change the the relevant by-law such that the jurisdiction over the the Hours of the minute man bikeway are given to the town manager Second Motion by mr. Carroll seconded by mr. Hurd Attorney hind I'm sorry, madam chair. I'm just not sure whether that's within the scope of the warrant article So the warrant article reads To see if the town will vote to amend title 3 article 1 section 10 of the town by-laws to extend the operating hours of the Bikeway are taking action related to I would want to get some I would want to be able to confer with the moderator to ensure that he would consider that vote within the scope because I'm sorry, it's my understanding that you are basically Hoping to extend the hours by the motion and also confer on mr On the manager the ability to modify those Correct. I would I would like to I'd like to have the same impact of of actually writing it in but but give greater Flexibility to the manager to adjust just as he has jurisdiction over all other matters relating to the bikeway I see mr. McNeil just walked in There seems to be a consensus up here that we're we're on board through the chair that we're on board with With the idea, but the thought is that perhaps we should give the discretion to the manager to be able to administratively Adjust the hours Okay, so why don't we take that as the motion? And then town council when he gets back with our final research draft final votes and comments if it's something that's beyond the scope It'll reflect in there and if not it will be included. Yes, ma'am sure. Mr. Hard. Did you? No, I mean that's fine. I was just gonna say can't we just confirm This article with the addition that future changes will be in the discretion of the town manager, but We'll defer to the final Mr. McNeil, would you or anyone else like to speak to this warrant article? Adam McNeil on 19 Melver street I'm gonna guess that Christopher covered most everything but it sounds like everyone's in consensus here but if you guys had any questions for me about the origin of this or Any any other things? We've had a pretty good discussion about it. Excellent. Thank you very much. Thank you for following up on this Okay, on a motion by mr. Carroll seconded by mr. Heard all those in favor say aye I was opposed and the attorney hind will draft up our final votes and comments appropriately. Yes, ma'am sure We'll know the second part Mr. Schluckman, I'm gonna take one more because I put yours on hold because I assumed you would be here Um, so Yeah, uh, hello, who's chit normally hello board. I think I'm only getting um Next is vote appropriation school committee member stipends Is anyone here to speak in favor of that? Your discretion. I can read her remarks. Sure. I want to pull the microphone down Just as a directional. Thank you so much. I can read her remarks. So this is uh, christa keller's words and her position I'm representing Uh members of the slack board Thank you for your consideration of the article I submitted to offer stipends to school committee members My professional work christas involves studying inclusion and equity in electoral leadership at all levels in Massachusetts I care deeply about promoting gender and racial equality and political leadership And addressing institutional barriers to both seeking and serving in office I had two goals in mind when filling the article in collaboration with me jennifer seuss Ensure that all of our instance public servants are valued and that the concept of equity is realized in our policies and practices Strengthen access to key leadership positions for all who may be interested in serving I'd like to outline three reasons why it's important to take action now to establish stipends for school committee First it is imperative to value and respect the incredibly significant contributions made by school committee members Offering compensation acknowledges the vital public public service performed By individuals to take on the responsibility related to a range of complex educational policies in town Including the school budget With the education of children traditionally considered the purview of women and tied to motherhood Local school boards have benefited greatly from women's active participation over the centuries Perhaps not surprisingly most of that work has historically gone uncompensated So the idea is basically the reason historically that school committees haven't been paid and slack boards have traditionally been paid Is very much gendered is sort of the argument um School committee members in massachusetts have tended to have more women serving them on them relative to governing bias such as city councils and slack boards By is there much more likely to pay those who serve on them? This brings me to my second point here in onton service on the school committee School board slack board allows for a three thousand dollar stipend for each member and three thousand five hundred for chairs You guys know In addition, there are some other elected public services positions in town There are forwarded compensations such as a three member board of assessors that offers 4900 to each individual serving on it And several appointed positions in town also come with compensation such as the retirement board Which provides four thousand five hundred per member. We should note that not everyone who is offered stipend takes one The argument here basically is that i'm sorry i'm reading her remarks my remarks. I don't have to read from is that Arlington should lead on this issue and acknowledge that the existing disparity between the two main policy bodies The slack board and school committee needs to be remedied Finally opportunities to serve should be open to all including those for whom even a relatively small stipend might make a difference I think about those for with limited income Single parents young adults just gaining financial independence Individuals with non-traditional work hours person caring for special needs children young children or elders The level of compensation sought through the article admittedly minimal of a manual measures Might help cover child care costs associated with meeting Participation or balance. Hi chris. I'm reading your words. You want to finish? Sorry might help Meeting participation or balance out lost paid incomes to those who don't have significant caregiving needs in their family Such stipend might make it more possible for them to commit the time needed for school committee So actually just as a personal note when I joined the school committee I could do so at the time I did only because I could leave my kids alone for an hour I couldn't have done it a few years earlier right because my Partner didn't come home in time, you know, and so so had I wanted to serve a few years earlier I would have had to hire a babysitter We are very fortunate that we could have accommodated that not everyone Could easily take a volunteered non-paid position and also then pay for something like child care um Chris you want me to rest? Okay, uh, so do you want to I'm up to the school committee compensation and other communities Okay, thank you Krista kella her from precinct five in the town meeting member Sorry to be running late today So what do we know about school committee compensation in other massachusetts communities? I don't think we know enough, but we know something So we wanted to offer a few data points to put this $3,000 stipend request into context So for town meeting a town manager 12 communities three municipalities that we know of offer stipends ranging from 4500 That's water town to 10,800. That's mudford nine do not According to the information we have available from the mass association of school committees 16 towns currently offer compensation to school committee members Well, this is an incomplete list because it's self reported data. We don't have a complete list We'd love to get one. Maybe we can get our hands on one But we know that there's a range of communities that offer compensation with varying stipend levels And some of those communities offer travel reimbursements some of them offer health insurance buy-in and other Kinds of compensation. So we know that the range between the lists we have is 200 10,800 with an average of about 3,020 So the provision of a $3,000 stipend to the seven members of the school committee would obviously be $21,000 annually And we obviously need to find a feasible funding source for this But we I feel and I know jennifer shares my concern to Hope to remedy a long-standing Inequity so as a community that places tremendous value on an inclusive town governance system and engage civic leaders We want to uphold the values of respect respect equity and access And hope to find a funding source for these stipends. Thank you so much And jennifer is going to speak a little bit to the funding source that we think would be most appropriate So So I have some remarks about how hard we work, but I don't think I need to belabor that because I think you guys know that We have long meetings. We have many subcommittee meetings. We have But another thing that makes our work especially Hard and long is that the school committee is responsible for the budget And so that means that not only do we hold budget hearings and talk to do community outreach But we also sorry, but we also Serve in negotiating committees So last year I had the pleasure of serving two negotiating committees The first one was relatively straightforward only four meetings eight and a half hours The second was a little more complicated 13 meetings 45 hours total including one long friday night And the final contract was concluded at 1 30 in the morning on a thursday. I think it was Mr. Slickman was here was in that meetings as well So Because we serve because the budget is ours We need to vote on the budget every year now a lot of the budgetary work is done by the administration But it's still the school committee's budget and school committee still does and can Argued to move things around right? So it presents an inherent conflict of interest if the money is coming from The school budget so on what the one hand school budget is large 21,000 is the cost of a ta we can maybe not fund a large class ta and and sort of fit that in the budget On the other hand it presents this conflict of interest It also presents a practical conflict Because we very many times we have people come to us to argue for increases in something like a large class size ta Or some sort of program and one of the things we say to them is So the budget's really tight. We're still about five percent less than the town manager 12 communities Which we compare ourselves to per pupil So if we add this thing that you're advocating for what do we cut? And now if it were in the school committee budget, the natural thing to say is Well, just cut your stipends, right? I mean, I want this ta the ta is about the cost of your stipends That's a natural thing to do I also want to say that school committee members who care passionately about kids. Obviously, they're that's why they're there When times are tough like they were in 2010 would feel a lot of internal sort of Desire to maybe not take their stipends or not vote for the stipends or you have to shift them in that budget So what I'd like to argue is that the money should come from they warrant money Which is somewhat flexible Doesn't you know, it does obviously it affects the long-term Financial five-year plan, but it doesn't affect any particular budget, right? So it doesn't you're not saying let's take it from the police or a buyer, which we certainly don't want to do Um, so I'd like to make that point that argument Thank you Is there anyone else here to speak to? the appropriation school committee member stipends Mr. Attorney Hyme Madam chair, I just want to add something just so the public is sort of aware of the scope of the board's role in this This article has sort of two facets to it Which is why it has a somewhat unusual title It says vote and then it says appropriation The select board is only responsible for Or not responsible for but the select board can only sort of be responsive to the idea of a vote As you see on the memo, there's a specific process that has to be undertaken to provide school committee members Compensation under the general laws It's really only that portion that's before the select board the actual appropriation has to go before the finance committee Thank you I don't know mr. Dacorsi or Attorney Hyme our town manager of chapter lane Is it appropriate for this board to take our vote first before fiddlin calm has had their hearing? I know sometimes in the past it that we've kind of run a stray on that Mr. Dacorsi, yeah, thank you madam chair and well, I actually if attorney hyme if you want to Comment first. I have a couple of thoughts on this but I'll defer to you if you want to Well in this particular circumstance, I'm sure thank you I don't I do think that if the board is is so inclined it certainly may Vote tonight on the matter. I think the board may also decide it would like the Input from the finance committee with respect to how it expects to finance this position I do want to let folks know this is part of the memo But I think it's an important part of the discussion that really more focuses perhaps on the true cost This type of stipend wouldn't render school committee members eligible for Either retirement or health insurance So it's just important to understand the scope of what we're talking about. It's truly the proposed Dollar value of whatever whatever this stipend is. I know that the manager also had some I'm sorry I mean very quickly I Given your question madam chair. I mean I would feel like that The board should feel very comfortable Taking a vote on policy which this would be and then the finance committee can have their discussion about Funding and that policy if there was a disconnect between the two then obviously It would likely the board would want to talk about it again, but I don't think there's any legal matter or legal reason why the board wouldn't be able to discuss this first just Yeah, thank you, madam chair and and before you even get into that. I just have a question From miss fellow here and dr. Seuss that the warrant article actually talks about the stipend going into effect In fiscal year 2022. Is that still your intent? Okay, because that raises a question in my mind We can support this but it's subject to an appropriation every year. So Really what you're Coming to us here early or coming to fincom a year early on the appropriation because it it really would be nothing to Put before town meeting for the fiscal 2021 budget So I I think speaking Personally, I I understand that Dr. Seuss and I've talked about this in the past and in the concerns about school committee members not being compensated for the for the work they do and personally I Support your your effort, but I I think as a body one I think the the finance committee should Be the the body that determines what what that amount is and I certainly could support Going to town meeting And and recommending compensation, but that compensation I think should be determined by the finance committee and you've laid out reasons why The amount shouldn't be included in the school budget and that's something that Some communities it is some someone is and and of course if it is included in the school budget Once the overall budget number is determined you can as a school committee can spend it No, the school department can spend it any way that they see fit So I I think you know whether we vote after or do you have a hearing scheduled with the finance committee? Okay, but I I do think for town council. It's the We can't this year's town meeting can't bind The fiscal 22 town meeting. So I'm just wondering what any recommendation would do under the article is written If I thank you manager So the way the general law is written essentially Requires a vote of town meeting to take a certain action To approve giving school committee members compensation and then set that compensation and when that compensation will begin I think This year's town meeting can take an action to say That We want the school committee to receive compensation and that would set the table if the intention is To go forward in 2022 and it may be that the finance committees vote on the quote-unquote appropriation is really more Of an endorsement of a future expenditure, but of course you're correct Each budget is an individual budget and because the school budget is sort of a special budget Doesn't operate the same way that everything else does if it ended up in the school budget The finance committee would essentially be making a commitment although not a Firm one that is legally binding to begin funding this in 2022 Does that make sense? Mr. Chapter lane the mr. Curel I just listening to this I would add, you know, sometimes there's an inherent awkwardness of We within the fact that we submit a budget by january 15th and then warrant articles come forward from residents sometimes seeking funding um, and this sort of is that case although I actually think there is a Inappropriateness to it in that town meeting could be asked this year Whether or not they want to approve of just compensation in general for school committee members And if that is approved then that could become part of next year's budget planning cycle such that the car and the horse are in The right order Mr. Curel So I have a question and then I have a comment. So my question is just just for clarification. This is not Traditional acceptance legislation where we just take a straight vote as town meeting to accept mgl 71 section 52 And then in future years we're able to make appropriations. It's it's actually an appropriation that's made every year pursuant well I'm sorry So what the law says it's a little bit um Unusual in the sense that it says that town meeting has to vote on a Uh to provide compensation and to say what the amount of such compensation will be So it's a little bit awkward In the sense that town meeting would essentially be voting to provide compensation For the school committee members and it would be voting on what that number would be now in theory You could say we're voting to provide school committee members compensation at an amount to be set at the 20 um 21 annual town meeting You could certainly do that But it does Require a more votive town meeting both to provide that compensation and to set what that compensation would be In some ways, it's making it sound a little bit more complicated than it really is because our town meeting always Votes on Appropriations as recommended by the finance committee. It's just a little bit odd because of the timing that we've already discussed okay, and then my my comment and I think um Dr. Seuss actually addressed a lot of it. I feel like I'm kind of a unique position here having served in both of these These roles You know I Dr. Seuss is on her way off the school committee. I don't I don't think you'll ever find a sitting school committee member come up looking for A stipend just like us. We don't do this for the stipends. I know that the school committee members don't do it for the For the stipends. Um, I think that dr. Seuss actually covered a lot of the the particular Areas, I mean there's a difference between the two jobs, so we tend here We tend to work with a very large Variety of constituencies and as such we tend to also be Invited to a lot of events a lot of out-of-pocket expenses come with that And I think that that's I know that myself that's that's where a lot of the stipend comes into And working with so many constituencies. We also deal with a lot of written correspondence There's a lot of written correspondence the school committee too, but we we have correspondents from a lot of different areas I think the speaker addressed appropriately though that the type of Work that school committees have The budgeting is very real the subcommittees are very real and the and the the negotiations direct negotiations What we were able we have the luxury of delegating that to the manager are very real I'll one up you I mean I was on a negotiation that went I think 33 sessions And they were like two or three hours a piece at least so that was It was a lot of time and Although we do sometimes have select board members like mr. Hurd who have young young children It tends to be more common on the school committee where you have School committee members and a lot of times moms with with young children And I've been at some committee meetings where members have had to actually bring their children and have them You know sit in the the corner or whatnot. I think that having the stipend to to help enable things like Baby sitting expenses and such it is appropriate You know So I completely support this in principle It does sound like we have a lot of mechanics That that have to be taken but I I would feel comfortable, you know moving Uh that that this board, you know express its support for the proposition of of Compensating school committee members under The provisions of mgl chapter 71 section 52 You know subject to annual appropriation as You know jointly determined by the the finance committee and the school committee Mr. Hurd Did you say when I first read this article to me it was a no brainer Because I've never I know the school committee puts in a ton of work and often has meetings that are quite longer than ours And I've never really been able to wrap my head around why we got the stipend other than it's just historically been The case and school committee didn't my first Inclination was to say tonight that I thought it'd be more appropriate to Hear from the finance committee because it fell out of order But I mean as we talked this through You know, I'm more than comfortable if the vote's going to be To support the the notion that the school committee should get paid and even that that's the number Is fine with me Just to the extent that We're not endorsing a funding source because it's just not I think it's premature to talk about that With this board before it's gone through the appropriate avenues, but i'm comfortable You know endorsing The idea that the school committee should get paid and you know, this is the number put forth and That number will have to go to town meeting for approval. So Okay, I guess I what I'd say is I'm going to be um and mr. Schlickman is next in the queue. I apologize I'm very uncomfortable and I guess I would ask in the future any joint Select board and finance committee articles. I'd like finance committee Unless for some reason they say Select board go ahead because we've kind of traditionally done that in the past because when I first got on the board That wasn't happening and I think it created A non-issue that didn't need to so I I guess I mean I was going to say I'd I'd prefer to wait until finance committee But I'm I'm happy to go along with the majority But I'd maybe make sure any other joint ones that finance committee And that's not to say that if this had gone to finance committee and they didn't support it That I would say with then I'm not supporting it either because I do I do support this, you know 100 percent Um, you know when I first ran for Then board of selectmen now select board. I assumed it was like school committee When I got on and I'm like we get paid and I'm like I just assumed since the school committee who works just as hard and More times often than not harder labor intensive wise Um, then the then board of selectmen now select board. It just Always baffled me why there was the disparity. So um, I guess I'm going to take that just moment hard question for clarification when this goes to the finance committee Are they going to just approve based on the wording of the The article or are they going to have to Discuss funding sources ma'am chair I think what the finance committee will essentially be voting on I I want to let you know that I have discussed the matter with the Chair of the finance committee I think that what essentially will have me is sort of like an approval of a concept Right that you're basically the finance committee would give its endorsement to finding $3,000 per member in 2022 And that the scope of their vote would essentially be that the amount Is feasible and appropriate? Um And they would probably have some discussion of what that funding sources be although I don't know that has to be in the vote for This specific town meeting and if the board would like it to come back You know after that happens. I think that that that would be appropriate Mr. Chapter just out of an abundance of clarity Uh, the the finance committee it would always be the body that determines where funds are to be raised from so um Probably not this year because it's not being asked for in fy 21 But next year if they disagreed with dr. Seuss's recommendation They but but agreed with paying school committee members They could put it into the school budget and adopt a school budget that was $21,000 higher Or they could say it should come out of the select board's budget, right? And and included in in that document or as dr. Seuss recommended They could say this standalone warrant article which includes $21,000 for school committee pay Is just that a standalone warrant article, but it would it will run through the finance committee one way or the other I'm just wondering I Are we gonna have to redo this process again next year? Unlike is it we're not we're getting some work done. Okay, mr. Schlickman Good evening manager members of the committee I don't want to take a position on the article per se As a school committee member, but I just want to underline A very correct statement the dr. Seuss made In that school committee members are not employees of the school district. We are officers of the town So the funding of this should town meeting Choose to do so Is a townside obligation in my view and should not be on in a school budget and that's all I have to say Okay, um first I need a and I think we're clear on Select board and finance committee articles traditionally they go for us There's been the rare occasion where it's been more of a policy decision than a Appropriations decision where finance committee chair has asked The then board of selectmen. I don't think it's happened as a select board. So is there a second mr. Carroll's motion? second Seconded by mr. Hurd any further questions? Yeah, I'm sorry madam chair. Thank you and I just wanted Make sure I think we're all on the same page here. But mr. Curie was talking about supporting Compensation, but we're not Taking a vote on the amount of the compensation. I didn't put it in my motion. I didn't put it right a number Because I do think I think that policy question It's appropriate not to have the amount and you know finance committee can have the discussion and then This will play out this year as well as next year Okay Any further questions or comments? If not on a motion by mr. Curie or seconded by mr. Hurd all those in favor say aye I will oppose unanimous vote. Thank you so much and we I hope you got the message that this should have happened Many years ago Okay, we will now return to bylaw amendment regulation of outdoor lighting up lighting Thank you, madam chair members of the board When we presented the outdoor lighting ordinance last year there was a last minute amendment to change the up lighting This I believe has an unintended consequence and as a result I want to bring it back before town meeting Not as an advocate for a position But as an advocate for the town meetings ability to Think about this and make a decision on their own as you know a lot of the lighting that we banned in The warrant article last year as we Admitted the bylaw are these large flat panel sodium vapor lights that are used for architectural lighting including basically Mostly funeral homes and churches We have now taken away their ability to Do architectural lighting through that means and by not allowing them to up light. We're taking we're taking away another opportunity for them to To impose architectural lighting on their facilities. So the question is to town meeting Is that their intent? Do they not want to allow up lighting for architectural purposes on businesses and churches? Or do they want to prohibit it? And that's why the article is here to give town meeting a chance to clarify the vote from last year I'm happy regardless of the way the town meeting votes But I think the town meeting deserves the opportunity to think about this and make a decision on this little element of the bylaw I agree in terms of unintended consequences Any Is anyone else here to speak on this warrant article? No Mr. Dacosta, thank you madam chair. I was a question on that the proposed language Use structures And I'm just wondering There's no definition of structure In the bylaw that concerns up lighting But there is a definition of structures in the town zoning bylaw, which is very very broad And I'm just wondering Was your intent To deal with Buildings because buildings is a much narrower definition in the zoning bylaw and it I'm just concerned with the definition of structures that that could include a fence that can include a pole Would building Maybe be more precise in what you are looking at because the picture you sent to us was of a of a church Yeah, ultimately I'm interested in the building. Okay Um I as I said, I'm I'm somewhat agnostic on this But I think that the town meeting should have a right to decide it So I wrote the warrant article to give sufficient scope to allow for Uh, the buildings to be lit and uh, recommended vote that restricts us to building Is totally appropriate. Okay. Thank you Any other questions or comments from mr. Hurd? so Now that among the exceptions will be Structures for commercial purposes. So for the most part do you just envision that the bylaw will cover residential properties? Uh, yeah, I mean you wouldn't apply to residential property under the terms of the bylaw Uh, there really aren't any residential properties right now that are lit and manners that were changed by the imposition of the new bylaw So basically we're looking at businesses and churches that have been impacted by The new law Okay, okay At this point uh motion By one of my colleagues whole favorable action Read by mr. Carons or a seconded by mr. Hurd any further questions, mr. I'd like to offer an amendment to The proposed vote substituting building for structures and in both of the Exceptions because I just think that structures is too broad And the exceptions will overtake the uh, what what you're looking to do. So in the two instances that are added Rather than structures used for religious purposes and structures used for commercial purposes. I'd propose that buildings Is substituted in both instances I would draw my motion and i'll make a new motion that uses substitutes the word building for structures Still seconded by mr. Hard Attorney heim madam chair if I could just clarify something Is it just for the purpose of the comments piece piece of this? Is it the board's perspective that you're recommending favorable action? Because you concur that this conversation should be at town meeting or is it that you Are urging town meeting to adopt This change My personal feeling would be Um for what this was presented for that we're encouraging the conversation for town meeting Was this an unattended consequence or was it not? But I do my colleagues agree with that. I agree with that. Yeah, and thank you for clarifying that. I didn't So um with that Um on a motion by mr. Carroll seconded by mr. Hurd all those in favor say I I suppose unanimous vote. Thank you. Thank you so much Um At the point of new business which is pretty much the end of our meeting Um, this gentleman. Were you here for anything? Okay, that's fine. No, I just feel bad if you were okay Of course you were here to sit and enjoy the whole meeting. Uh new business mismar Attorney heim no new business. I'll manage a chapter lane just two pieces of new business one I think as the board knows we are coming close to concluding our police chief Search and recruitment process. We actually did the final interviews today. It was two Maybe three weeks ago now We did an assessment center for the three candidates Last thursday We held interviews with a group of community stakeholders that had been outlined to the board in the memo outlining the process Several months ago And then today did final panel interviews with myself the deputy town manager the human resources director and the police chief from Chelsea massachusetts Who's a well respected chief both in the region and statewide? And we'll uh, hopefully be making a decision within the next day or two and be publicly announcing that but I just want to let the board know very very soon. We'll have a permanent police chief in place So we're excited about that And then next I just wanted to mention to the board. We've um town council and I both have received some inquiries from parties that have Secured properties and would like to have a chance at proposing to the board opening the the third Recreational marijuana dispensary that would be allowed under the board's three licenses So with the board's approval at a future meeting we'll bring back a draft rfp for the board to put out four applicants to apply If the board's not opposed to that Okay That sounds good. Thank you for forming us. Mr. Dacorsi. Yes, thank you, madam chair I just wanted to mention last thursday I had the pleasure of going to the badge pinning ceremony at the fire station there six new firefighters Two firefighters were promoted to lieutenant two firefighters promoted to captain and went to chief and um you talk about Both police and fire having to be ready on day one of the job So the two new firefighters one of them a firefighter michael flinn Delivered her baby on his first day on the job and firefighter negara Was in group two and uh fought the fire at 12 boden street, which was last tuesday and and uh That that was a very serious situation and um I want to commend the fire department because it was uh, I actually came back into arlington just after it had started and it It was raging so I just want to point that out congratulate the new firefighters and commend the firefighters for for all the work that they do for the town Absolutely. Yes. Thank you. I felt bad. I couldn't make that. Um, mr. Hard. Yep Sorry, I was sick this week. So I was trying to get this on the agenda, but I A couple weeks ago. I attended a meeting with select board members from lincoln lexington bedford and conquered to start talking about the semi Quincentennial celebration in april of 2025, which seems Far away, so I'll put this on a future agenda to go into the details and what we have to do, but Believe it or not, we have to start getting ready for uh, the events that will be around, you know, patris day in 2025 They spoke of such things as the then president of the united states Attending or someone some surrogate from the white house. So that'll be on a future agenda, but it was very interesting talk to say the least Thank you. Mr. Kiro. You can all learn to say semi quincentennial Semi quincentennial. Got it Semi quincentennial celebration Uh, mr. Kiro, uh, no new business. Thank you. Uh, just a few people have asked me Within the past week It's sort of along the lines of the request coming in for the third Medical medical recreational marijuana shop with the prime butcher Relinquishing their license Is it that The board has to make a decision to announce that that license Is available and or where it is available? geographically Or is it similar to the previous request that this board takes it up if and when? A business establishment in allington expresses an interest And if it's there's no answer tonight, we can let us know on an email I mean, I was I think it's the board's prerogative Right, it's it's purely within the board's discretion Um, I think that the circumstances are so different that it probably merits a discussion about how you Would prefer to do that? Because the last Time to my understanding. I don't think I was I don't think I was here the last time there was a competitive process for a license If i'm not mistaken Was there a competitive process for the last Six years, I think that goes all the way back before dug when You're saying when the all alcohol when we had like four or five Remember when there was two new licenses and johnny's food master came in and right but you came in we had like that the first initial Um, I don't want to say onslaught but applications. Uh, there were more than sure. Yeah I'd be happy to research the matter though and if you could but what i'm Basically what i've been telling people and I said I would check back with my colleagues on the board and town council and the town manager um of the mind that, um Unfortunately that business Going if not gone out of business and that until something comes Some sort of communication request consideration Comes to the select board That then myself or whoever is the chair when it comes in will discuss with the select board, you know, how they want to proceed Which would be You know Yes, we want to offer it. Let's open it up and open the process No, we don't want to or whatever So I think because it is kind of an iffy thing. It could be done either way So is that okay with everybody in terms of I didn't consider One business asked me You know sort of as a generality and I said, um I said the process isn't really defined so That I would check into it, but you know I just basically said if that's something they wanted to explore go ahead and you know, and that's why I raise it now if that particular business Avails themselves of the opportunity and or any others. Um, Mr. Herd Has the license come back to us yet? Just because the business closed because I assume if they paid the fee for the year But they don't own the license they can't I don't to to my recollection there has not I guess do we have the ability to Over it up now Just because the store is closed And ashen, do you know if they renewed it in general? They did They did renew in january. She just yeah, because for a year wouldn't they So chose be able to You know try to Kept all the business I'm sure I just I don't want to get too far fields. Yeah new business Of the open media line or new business, but just as a point of information I think that the board has always taken the position in arlington that the license is not transferable Via sale without a very explicit series of things Happening the most recent transfer was as part of a Sale of the business at the same location Um, so I'd be happy to detail that further which I mean Put off a discussion. I guess yeah until but just so you can have the background material So if and when we have that discussion we can explore that and if anything Email from the town manager attorney heim if any of us think of anything else that would be an additional question We'll contact you individually and ask you to comment on that Should the needs arise and that would be my only new business. So I want a motion to adjourn by So moved. Mr. Curel sets that by mr. Heard all those in favor say aye. I are those pose unanimous vote our next meeting will be Monday, February 24th 2020 at 7 15 p.m. Thank you