 Good evening everyone and welcome to the Arlington Board of Selected Meeting for February 23rd 2015 It's a little past 715 and I do call this meeting to order I would like to remind everyone that ACMI is filming our meeting tonight. So please smile while on camera That being said we will jump right into it with a proclamation for white ribbon day Joe and Thank you very much for having me here this evening. I really appreciate it I've been an advocate in Arlington for many years for women who have been involved in domestic violence I think it's important work and it's part of my core a Couple of weeks ago. I saw a notice in the Arlington advocate about the Concord Rotary Club honoring Craig Norberg For co-founding and coordinating the white women ribbon campaign in Massachusetts I had heard of the campaign before and I knew it had something to do with men preventing violence against women I learned wanted to learn more The white ribbon campaign was created in 1991 in Montreal to speak out against violence against women It was on the second anniversary of one man's Massacre of 14 women. It has now spread to 60 countries It is the world's largest movement of men and boys Working to end violence against women and girls to promote gender equality Healthy relationships and a new view vision of masculinity When I spoke to Craig at the end of the forum He said he had discussed the campaign with none other than Joe Coro and Kim K. Holt. I don't know Kim, but I know she's right here But I was delighted that he was interested and I was very pleased that he has put forth a proclamation, which he will address later Men are a very important part of the solution to domestic violence I can talk until I'm blue in the face women about finding their voice and speaking up for themselves and taking care of themselves But if men aren't part of the equation, there will be no real solution. I Saw this great quote in the New York Times yesterday And it's by the basketball coach Who was much loved Dean Smith? He says there's a point in every contest when sitting on the sidelines is not an option Now domestic violence is not a contest, but it's a challenge and This is that point in our challenge. I Invite everyone especially the men of Allington to stand up and take the pledge to be part of the solution to ending violence against women The pledges from this day forward. I promise to be part of the solution and ending violence against women Pretty simple wouldn't it be nice if we all could say that There will be a state wide proclamation event at the State House on Thursday, March 5th at 1 o'clock The Boston Celtics will be hosting white ribbon night at their game on March 16 And they'll be distributing pledge cards and white ribbons on the corn course during the day During the game a forum is being planned and we will do that at the end of this month Sometimes the details have to be worked out So I will keep you all informed and hope I see many men there and Joe you have a proclamation I do and I want to thank you. Thank you to the board for supporting this and thank you Elaine for all of your work in Kim Kim Had first introduced me to Craig Norbert Baum who was actually a longtime Arlington resident and is the executive director of the men's initiative of Jane Doe, Inc. I think it was all it was you know brought home very poignantly to us that this The scourge of this issue when With Newland Road last year, but obviously it happens in much more Private way, shall we say and I think the first night I ever met Elaine was Was when you were honored by the Martin Luther King observance committee you and Mary Deist and Colleen was for the work that you've done so many years so the proclamation which Kim and and Elaine helped me with reads as follows Where as the impacts of domestic violence reach many segments of our community Regardless of gender identity age race ethnic origin sexual orientation or disability and Whereas the particularly pressing problem of violence against women sexual assault and domestic violence is recognized by both women and men in our community as a matter of deep concern and Whereas the town of Arlington our community safety and health and human services Professionals and our residents have exercised leadership and raising awareness about domestic violence Encouraging us all to be upstanders Supporting survivors and holding offenders accountable and whereas the white ribbon campaign was started in Canada in 1991 to urge men to speak out in opposition to violence against women and Whereas the white ribbon campaign has spread to 60 countries and garnered five million signatures support from concerned men and Whereas the white ribbon day pledge states from this day forward I promise to be part of the solution and ending violence against women and Whereas the white ribbon campaign has been endorsed by public officials and leaders in law enforcement business education health care and athletics From throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a means of supporting a comprehensive approach to domestic violence Now therefore be it resolved that the Board of Selectmen do hereby express support for efforts both local and beyond To combat the scourge of violence against women and be it further resolved that March 5th 2015 is proclaimed as white ribbon day in the town of Arlington and that all residents are encouraged to pay fitting observance thereof and be it further resolved that white ribbons along with a copy of the white ribbon day pledge will be available in the Selectmen's office during the week of white ribbon day for all municipal Officials and employees and members of the public who wish to express visible support. I do so move Second motion. I second all those in favor. Please say aye. I Would like to thank yes And as Joe's doing that I would like to thank Elaine and Kim for bringing this to our attention You certainly can write in one second. Thank you and This is obviously an easy one for all of us to support and it's such an important cause And I'm glad that we can play a role in it. That being said, I invite Kim to come on up and address us I want to thank Elaine for bringing this this year because I took on a new job this year And although Joe and I had met over the summer about making this happen I kind of lost track of it and let the ball drop But I wanted everyone to know that this is eight out of the last ten years that Arlington has actually passed a Proclamation for white ribbon day and that two years in the late 2000s we ran a small program at lunchtime at the high school Passing out pledge cards and getting pledge posters signed and giving out ribbons at lunchtime to high school students It was led by some athletic leader students at the high school under Charlie Skidmore's leadership And I'd really like to see us between now and next year Figure out a way to grow a program in Arlington around this not just to do a proclamation But to really do a program around this campaign So thank you for doing the proclamation and thank you so much Elaine and Joe. Thank you very much. Thanks Discussion from my colleagues Seeing none further discussion from the crowd Seeing none motion in a second week to vote. So thank you very much everyone Moving on for approval establishment of a veterans council Christine Bonjono and Jeffrey jungle Thank you both very much for being with us tonight. Good to see you very much. Good evening so as director of veteran services There was a memo sent forth that you have Outlining our request for The establishment of a veterans council So there are a number of issues that that I deal with on a regular basis that I Would like to see support from a independent council Number related to Potential financial involvement through grants for monuments Establishing some some policies and procedures for graves monuments flags, etc So the proposal was for a seven-person council The majority to be veterans or a relative of a veteran comprised of a mix of local business leaders Residents veterans from different service organizations if possible to come together to meet to To tackle the issues that were outlined in the memo Thank you very much Questions from the board then Thanks, I think the council makes a lot of sense and I definitely understand why you're trying to create it One of the issues do you listed as the short projects you wanted? I've just I'm not familiar with and that's the the dedication of the new undesignated veterans lot I'm just curious. What's the what's the what's that relate to? At Mount Pleasant Cemetery. There's a Undesignated veterans lot that has been a set a kind of established set aside for operation well starting from the Gulf War through all of our existing conflicts For Arlington veterans, so it's still unnamed and It's still undesignated So that would be one of the one of the projects for the council to come up with an appropriate name For this veterans lot because it it encompasses a lot of different military operations and periods in history Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you First I'd like to move approval second And secondly, I think this is a fantastic idea. I know when we march in parades and Memorial Day and the like We visit different areas and you know, I know I've taken stock of some as well as I know Arlington You have an untapped pool of resources when the Vietnam veterans Memorial was started and Eventually was placed in Mount Pleasant. It really came out of a group of veterans as well as I believe some classmates of Jack Herd's brother. I think it was David Williams and I was amazed by a group of probably eight No more than that that you know didn't have any official title Dennis Corbett was there Vietnam At what they were able to get done and they kind of just did it on their own on a wing and a prayer So now have formalizing this and having an entity that you know, the town's really putting its stamp on I think it's a fantastic idea. I look forward to any ideas that you have in terms of upkeep Anything new that needs to be established. I think it's another great way that us talking about this will get out for any veterans You know, whether they be from World War two all the way up to the current conflict my dad gets mad when I say conflict It's like I was in Korea. They were real bullets flying, but I Really commend you anything of course any of the board members can do and like I said I don't think it'll be hard for you to find Resources in the community in terms of getting people to volunteer for this and I want to thank you And thank you for your service and and thank you Christine once again. We see you Thank you very much for the discussion from the board Seeing none, I am I just want to say I think this is a tremendous idea as well, and I'm particularly excited about What this council comes up with for? revisions to the Monument Park. I think that's a really untapped asset in town And I look forward to expanding that and giving it the upkeep it deserves. I think Is with that being said is there any discussion from the crowd on this agenda? Seeing none, we have a motion a second all those in favor. Please say aye. Thank you very much. All right. Thank you very much for a time Moving forward we have the consent agenda minutes of meetings from the our February 12 2015 meeting and a reappointment to the Sarasdale and Art Museum Board of Trustees Dan Johnson motion Approval sorry. Thank you. We'll approval second second. Thank you Any discussion on this from the board anyone in the crowd here to discuss any of these items Me to burner with the Sarasdale and Art Museum, we're really excited to have Dan Johnson renew his appointment with our board He serves on our Non-profit board and is very involved in our upcoming our ongoing fundraising efforts But he's also with Gerald Jerry Tremblay serves on both our Our town board and our board of directors And I can speak to the next thing on the agenda. Excellent. Yeah, but just let us take a vote on that Further discussion seeing none all those in favor. Please say aye. All right post Moving on appointments to the Sarasdale and Art Museum Board of Trustees of Chris Costello Hello again we're exceptionally excited to recommend Christus Costello to the board of trustees for the Sarasdale and Art Museum with our recent strategic planning we reorganized the volunteers and and Put out a request for new members of the board and a number of new volunteers Chris was among the first to volunteer his time and has been exceptionally involved and helpful and his experience is Incredible and very relevant. I'd like to just introduce you to Chris Costello. Thank you very much Hey, Chris. Hello everyone. How are you? Thank you for being with us. Please tell us a little bit about yourself How you come to find out about the Sarasdale Art Museum. Yeah, well, I've we've been living in Arlington for about 10 years or so. I had taken a visit to the The Augustus St. Goddans Museum, which is their contemporaries Cyrus Stalin very impressed with the museum up there This is a New Hampshire and really shortly afterwards. I literally stumbled on the museum in the center I did not even know it existed and my wife and I were there and we took a tour and I was just Very excited about the works that were on display He's a very prominent sculptor for the turn of the century and I Was just very excited that this museum was here in Arlington my my own town and then I think you know a few years later the Opportunity arose in the Arlington advocate and as soon as I I saw it I wanted to extend my services volunteering and because I'm very interested in sculpture. I'm very interested in art I've been a graphic designer and illustrator artist for many years and I think this is a great opportunity just to There's a passion there that I a side of my current job as a senior designer This is a little bit more kind of it with my within my passion within my Desire to kind of promote the arts for one thing to be involved in some way to even as an artist to Use my abilities to promote the museum And I'm just excited about the opportunity of really moving it along possibly finding a new building a bigger space I mean, I'm excited about doing graphic design services, which was the original call But I mean anything else that I'm able to to give I'm also very excited to just just to further the mission of Bringing attention to this great artist Thank you very much. You're certainly Joining the board at a pretty exciting time Coming forward not that long ago, so thank you very much Joe Thank you very much. Mr. Chair. I'd say Chris is actually a neighbor and our girls have grown up together And I might embarrass him a little bit on this. He's been a great neighbor. He throws the best potluck dinners And although you can tell he's very humble he's actually done a lot in the community up until now He and his wife and I think a lot of us know Woody Geisman from Del Fuego's and right turn fame Had these stratton experienced the parents band which was Really one of the the best cover band this side of spy pond because I don't want to diss the hearty boy But excellent excellent and I know you're very active in one of our newest worship community Which is rejuvenating the Pleasant Street Church, which is another landmark in our linkedin Center but specifically I wanted to point out that Chris is very humble about this, but he shares something in common with Cyrus Dallin and that he has He has Created a number of pieces of art of great Americans in great places that have Won national attention. Some of you may be carrying his art in your pockets I'm sorry very I know we've discussed this before and I was so happy to find out which one it was Chris was the designer of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park quarter US quarter Which so in the National Park quarter series as well as a number of? Collectible coins Eleanor Roosevelt Edith Roosevelt and Native American which if any of you know Dallin's art That's very consistent with some of the themes of great Americans and the Native Americans and such and lastly of course I just wanted to say I know that the collectible silver dollar of the 2013 Girl Scouts of the USA Centennial. I just wanted to say Sierra will be delivering a cookie soon, so She has him in the living room, so thank you Chris for adding your Yeah, I'll take one of those $10 coins that costs $1,800 on eBay Discussion Seeing none all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Thank you very much. Thank you Now moving on to our warrant article hearings So I'd like to Thank everyone for being here that has a role in our warrant article hearings As we prepare for our upcoming town meeting of course In thanking everybody that includes those who submit articles for consideration those who provide comments and of course our staff in the Board of Selectment Office Who perform quite a lot of work to enable this to take place and this wouldn't be able to Go on as smooth as it does without all their efforts For this year's hearing process We're going to have a few changes from previous years I'm going to ask that each presenter makes their presentation within 15 minutes At the 12-minute mark I will inform the speaker of the time and ask that you begin your concluding remarks Following your presentation. We will have a question-and-answer period For the board members and the presenter at the conclusion of that question-and-answer period I'll ask if any members of the audience would like to comment on the warrant before us and You will have five minutes to make your remarks, which will also be followed by questions from the board After all of the members of the public who want to speak are given the opportunity The board will deliberate and vote on the matter. I appreciate everyone's cooperation in this process and Look forward to getting this going our First warrant article is article 8 a by-law amendment limiting the speaking time for announcements and reports The lead sponsor is Mr. Schillichman What? Just 15 minutes I wanted to read to you the transcript of town meeting announcements from the 2014 annual town meeting. I can't do that in 15 minutes On a couple of nights last year we came perilously close to having the announcements bump up against the 930 break Members of Congress can pack a mighty punch in their one-minute statements Just one minute at the podium can point us to announcements and reports with more extensive text in email or on the web Literature can be placed on the seats of town hall Trust me. There are times when people need good reading material in town meeting More extensive reports and the Uncle Stam song could be taped at the acme studio from multiple joyous replays our bylaw Regulates speaking time on the business of the meeting But not on remarks with no relevance to the warrant seems kind of backwards to me, and I hope you agree One minute Thank you very much. Mr. Lickman if you could say at the microphone in case I we have any questions Questions from the board Just I Paul I I definitely understand the thrust of the argument. Did you have a specific recommendation in mind and? Well, I would recommend limiting non-relevant remarks to one minute, but it's up to the meeting to decide the number I'm just putting in place the article to make it possible Okay, so given that that I mean not done deal that article is on the warrant But this body has to make a recommendation on what we should put like for it as a motion Mm-hmm, and so your your thought is one minute. Yeah to amend it so that we add another sentence that would say Remarks that do not relate to Actionable items would be limited to one minute, and of course all of this is subject to the Vote of the meeting to extend it if they sue truce. Okay, do you mind if I keep going? so things like so for instance the Finance Committee report which is obviously significantly more lengthy but related to the Action of the you just think that that would be one minute, but mr. Tosti would ask for an extension is that well It's certainly something that's actionable as well So that when we come down to the budgets that he can certainly just do it do it then yeah Or you know point people to the written report, and I'm sure that if the town wanted to hear a summary of the The the budget the Finance Committee report earlier than that they could vote to give him five minutes. Thank you First I'd like to move approval and expand upon the conversation that mr. Dunn had I think this is a fantastic idea once again I said to Paul he always comes up with the ideas that I should have thought of and he puts it forth before town meeting I think it'll be a great conversation for town meeting to have I know last year I was sitting there the first two nights the first night was 912 Before we actually got to the business in the second night. It was like 928. It was just about at 930 That we were still on announcements. I Actually have a question To mr. Schlickman as well as to my colleagues There we did receive correspondence from the town moderator who indicated he was anticipating Putting forth a rule regulation with with his town moderator hat of up to four minutes And that perhaps this wasn't needed I I would like to in some form move favorable action because That's great that the current moderator will do that, but it won't carry over Until the future. So do you have any thoughts on the one minute versus four minute? I? Personally speaking. I think that you can do most anything in one minute. I mean Unless it was something totally dramatic that you need approval for if it has nothing to do the warrant The town meeting has become something of a captive audience And if I'm going to tell you that it's a wonderful time to go out to spy pond and clean out the weeds I could do that in a minute There's very few things that we do on the floor of town meeting that don't relate to the business at hand They can't be done in one minute now if the town meeting can very readily amend this to two or three or four or 17 whatever the meeting wants to do But what we're doing here is giving the meeting a forum for actually inserting this into the bylaw and Mr. Chairman through you would I be correct in that? Say the Board of Selection voted this We voted it for four minutes It passes through town meeting that that would be the governing rule versus the moderator and his I don't want to say power his Possibilities could he say no I'd prefer to go to one prefer to go to eight Once this goes through town meeting and is certified by the Attorney General is that the guy guiding? law That's generally correct so right now the town moderator has discretion This would be limiting that limiting that discretion to a certain degree Certainly feasible that the town moderator could rule certain things that are so far out of scope that they wouldn't even be eligible for that format I guess my motion would be trying to seek compromise as well as my personal opinion that I'm definitely in favor of this It would be for favorable action with the recommended for a minute From the town moderator with the caveat that he was saying you know perhaps this isn't necessary And I respect that but I'd like to so that would be my motion for now Thank you very much I'll second for discussion Kevin so You all know what I do for a living and One of the most important things I try and teach people is less is more But one minute is a little bit too less in my opinion Picture the chairman of the board of select man state of the town A one minute is a little restrictive You know I can tell you when I lasted mine It was ten minutes and I rehearse for three hours to try and get what I wanted to say and I did I did fit it within the Ten minutes I'm not saying it was good But I know how tough it was to get what I thought I wanted to say about you know The past the present and the future of the town of Arlington So I just want to say I would support Diane Mahan's motion that we approved We recommend favorable action with the four-minute limit if that's what the moderator feels that people can speak to You know last year we did a proclamation for Elizabeth Carr-Jones And Ed Star for their service to the town we have a unique group there and it's a it's an opportunity for announcements and for Proclamations and for You know doesn't go on too long. Yes. Are there speakers? I'd like to limit many Do I want to do people want to limit me? obviously But so anyhow, I just support the idea of doing this to be Consistent with town meeting, but I honestly think that a chairman should have more than four minutes to talk about the state of the town Mr. Greeley I might point out that the state of the town addresses in our by-law and is often an article so wouldn't be Covered by announcements or remarks. It's not a warrant It's covered elsewhere Yeah Is it your intention Paul that there be a mechanism here for the town meeting to suspend this because I'm not sure if town meeting can suspend this through a You know there were two-thirds vote unless we write that into the by-law We just piggyback it on the existing by-law which governs speaking time just add a sentence regarding non Relevant remarks and that part of the by-law does provide a provision for the permission of the meeting Yeah, okay I think I'm inclined to support the motion then for four minutes because I'd note that it wasn't just the moderator didn't pick that Number willy-nilly he actually polled the meeting at the end last year with the electronic voting and some came in three And some came in five and Basically it came down around four seemed to be the general tenor so I think I think it is reasonable to put that out and See what town meeting this year was just to do I am yeah, I'm inclined to agree with it as well Perhaps using the phrase, you know not to exceed four minutes and under the jurisdiction of the town moderator to limit further if need be something along those lines Yeah I'll support four minutes. I would also support a shorter time Thank you Would anyone else in the audience like to adjust this? Mart thank you, Bill Bill Hain a town meeting member. I think one of the most frustrating things is All these boards work very hard to produce phenomenal reports And then some of them get up there and read the entire report I think they do them themselves a disservice by people being turned off to it So I would ask you and I from what I see you are supporting this The reports are there for us to read and they're really good and again. Thank you Thank you much questions Seeing none Further discussion from the audience Seeing none we have a motion on the table and it is seconded. Is there any further discussion from the board? I'm seeing none all those in favor, please say aye Mr. Chairman yes one thing that I Found useful in the past is when doing warrant articles is confirming the town council that he had all the information that he needed Since he gets to do all the heavy lifting here. Thank you very much. You know, I actually had that written down and I Are you all set up? Thank you very much. I appreciate that and please um as this is my First time I'm chairing the Warren hearings. I would appreciate any feedback from my colleagues Moving on article 9 by law amendment for the Human Rights Commission Thank You, Marian I Even Harrington town meeting I just hold it like this, okay So I'm gonna give you a hypothetical Imagine if you had someone come in here that Ask for a reasonable accommodation Maybe they had a mobility issue And they wanted to be able to sit at a chair. Maybe they were in a wheelchair And maybe the board Decided they weren't gonna accommodate that issue that they weren't gonna accommodate that request and That's not what happened tonight you saw that Marianne was very willing to do that But it shouldn't have to be a request and maybe 18% of the population that is Will be challenged one out of five imagine one of you being challenged to stand up at a podium Or stand up with no way to rest their papers Who would take that complaint who could compel the board of select men to make this type of reasonable accommodation? Something that was standard didn't have to be requested It's the Human Rights Commission. And so if there was a Americans with disability act complaint The Human Rights Commission would be the one to do it. In fact What I'd call a muscular Human Rights Commission Would have watched as I have over the years that there are many people who appear here who are mobility challenged And maybe they don't know to ask for accommodation. You're the only board in town. I'm aware of That doesn't actually provide a place for someone to sit a Place for someone to rest their papers a place for someone to put their water down And so I'd like to see this Prominently shouldn't have just been done when I walked in the door and had to request it. You're all sitting down You should allow people To make it very comfortable for them to appear and so This anecdote is just represented of the great civil rights issue of our time and that is the de facto discrimination that is Carried out through policies and procedures of public entities Whether that's a policy of a school district Suspending minority students having suspension policies that have a disparate impact on them whether it's unequal justice in policies of stop and frisk whether it is a recalcitrant board that just is tone-deaf to that people have a right to be accommodated and I'd like to see a human rights commission that Proactively address those issues right now. I think we're all pretty aware that the human rights commission Doesn't really deal with that in fact In discussions, I just want to make sure that it's clear to the audience at home Before I came here, none of you really approached me about this warrant article and The only employees of the town that I've discussed with has really been at my initiative. We don't have the Executive director of the Human Rights Commission here. She was here earlier when I talked to both The executive director and the town council They told me pretty clearly that the Human Rights Commission didn't have jurisdiction over the school department Although it's somewhat in the bylaw and there's really no teeth. There's nothing to compel a public entity to comply with the laws and So I think that that's an important thing. You don't want to have the answer being that If you don't like the accommodations that we provide you File a federal lawsuit for an ADA complaint. You don't want to have The answer be if you don't like the policies of the school department File a lawsuit through the Justice Department I think what you want to have is that this is something that's handled within the town And that's really what this bylaw is about. It's about addressing de facto discrimination by public entities in a proactive way and in a way to make sure that those policies are addressed not just to talk about them and So really in this case is really three steps and I wish we could get you on the first step tonight But I don't think it's gonna happen. You have to acknowledge That this Maybe this could be this may in the future be an issue that you're gonna want to have a tool that can deal with it That's it Thank you, sir questions from the board Dan Similar to the question I had for mr. Schlichman Is there a specific like is there a specific proposal that you're looking for us to approve for the two What's the what's the motion you're seeking us to ask town meeting to approve are you asked me here I don't know what you want to do I mean for me you have to acknowledge and Kathy Bodie the superintendent of the schools Acknowledge publicly and to me privately and to other people that their policies do discriminate and They're trying to work towards it Now I have no idea what you want to do but acknowledgement Maybe you should take a vote to acknowledge it the fact or discrimination is an issue that this board cares about and That you'd like to see town meeting. It's a town meeting committee It's not a board of selection committee and that you'd like to see town meeting have an open and frank discussion about it to go from acknowledgement to understanding is a lot of work and You know, I'm not here to do that tonight Let's go from understanding to actually to come up with solutions That's what I'll be presenting to the town meeting. So you can take one of a vote I would recommend that you take a vote to acknowledge that this is an issue that you're concerned with Yeah I'm struggling with this mr. Harrington. I think that much of what you've said has has merit. It sounds great But I'm struggling with it Four years ago on your blog you characterized the Human Rights Commission as an Orwellian club and now you want to I think You're asking to give them additional powers Excuse me, sir. I'm sorry. Mr. Harrington. You will not interrupt when he said So now I'm not clear what you're asking Typically with a 10 registered voter article You come with a proposal that you would like us to take action on and I don't see a specific proposal here. I Think I hear you saying that you want the Human Rights Commission to have additional powers. I Think that's what I hear you saying But they haven't asked for them. I Don't know that they really need them and the commissioners. I've talked to don't want them a Core part of that and I think my colleagues know I was on the Human Rights Commission for several years I was a town manager appointee and and approved by this board and part of the by-law talks about cooperatively working with the town agencies towards Towards solutions, you'll know that a lot of Human Rights Commissions in other towns are actually referred to as the Human Relations Commission And so through several decades of work The Human Rights Commission in this town has built up a cooperative relationship with the police department. I think chief Ryan We're very lucky to have him still here. He often used the the commission to make referrals of issues that arose And vice versa when there were issues that really were outside the realm of what the commission could reasonably do referrals were made were made to the To the the police department themselves Over the decades a liaison structure has been built up with the the school department as well And so there is an issue and I think it's been acknowledged as a real issue at the school department It was brought by the proponent to the Human Rights Commission My understanding is that there's now there's a joint committee of the school department and the Human Rights Commission Which are jointly looking at this problem. This is long hard work and What I hear is seeking some kind of a legal cudgel to be to be added to the to the toolbox of the Human Rights Commission that You know seeks an easy solution for something that takes a long time and a long hard work Resolve so sort the question. I'm sorry. You don't ask the Q&A session, right? Yeah, and we will get what you will not direct that Mr. Harrington. Well, what's the question? I'm sorry You will not direct that. What's the question? Oh, please start Joe what is the action that you're asking for this is a citizen Karo I Never wrote the word well, and I just searched. I just searched. There's no word of well, Ian So I take offense At that tactic of your second, you're not asking any question I did ask you a question and third. What are you seeking to do Mr. Harrington? Let me respond. I understand that you were part of the Human Rights Commission. That's correct Was there an executive director At that time the health and human human services director de facto served as the effective director Were they there about do they ever attend a meeting? Yes in the meeting minutes. How come I don't see the name? I invited Christine Bonjono when she was well she was Christine Connelly when she was appointed as the health and human services director in 2011 you were on the school committee Is that correct? That is correct Yes, yeah, my question is what are you asking us? What are you asking as action question refer to me sir? Okay, thank you. Thank you, Joe fan I just want to say One of the things which doesn't totally apply here that would really frustrate me as a selectman and My current colleagues in some former is that you know, we would call for warrant article hearing sometimes Reschedule the proponent would never show up So we'd vote no action and then we'd get down to town meeting where the first time ever the presentation was made and In a handful of cases what we actually heard for the first time in town meeting. It was something that we would have been in favor of However, the proponent chose, you know not to come and Tell the board what it is they wanted to accomplish and how they wanted to accomplish it so we could join the minute I do appreciate the fact that mr. Harrington did come here tonight and You know presented sort of the basis the root of His warrant article proposal, however, I will stop there. This is a matter of great imports I respect your right that you do have a plan and you don't want to tell us that that's something you want to do But I am extremely uncomfortable on such an important issue That being asked to sort of blanket endorse some something that I have no idea what the action steps are I don't have any Recommendations or opinions from town council. I don't have any guidance From the town manager in terms of if it's a one two three four step Recommendation I'm just using up to the number four What it recommendations mr. Chapter Lane would have whether that those were accomplishable goals It don't have anything from the police department Police chief or any other law enforcement official that says Yes, this is something you can do legally No, it's not Yes, this is something but it's a bit you know extreme or perhaps it's not enough So I really think it's unfair that it but it's mr. Harrington's right that he wants to present a warrant article He doesn't want to recommend What it is he is proposing to do in terms of effectuating that and and the last piece that I would like to hear would have Like to appear from if we had the information Presented before us I think we've taken yeoman task to make our agendas and any materials available to everyone I know a town manager and a previous piece of course upon and cited that he was at MMA or somewhere that where they Highlighted the steps we've taken to be open and transparent and share information. Mr. Harrington has chosen not to do that Which is his right, but on a matter of such great import Where I don't know what it is what tools were being asked to employ and Anything else related to that and to sort of Take a quote from my town council where saying, you know additional tools may be needed May be helpful But they need to be carefully examined to ensure they're consistent with the limitations of a local government commission in both enforceability and scope and I think that the quote from town council attorney hind Sort of more articulately and shorter encapsulates my remarks in terms of this warrant article I Would I would vote at this time since there's nothing before me except for maybe vote for an idea I would make a motion of no action second So no question. So is this I'm confused you are not asked you do not ask the question Well, I'm asking you mr. Chair. Yes, I'm confused about the guidelines that you yes So what are you put forth that you were going to have a Q&A session? Yes, and As well and we will deliberate so we will deliberate then after Before you've heard from the audience well, we can change it anytime Right What it is is you're available in case we do have any questions from the question that was posed to you and you're refused it to answer it I answered mr. Dunn excuse me, sir I have no questions for you because I have nothing to follow up on. Thank you. Thank you So mr. Harrington, I will be the fourth person to ask you What is the action you're asking us to vote on I want you to vote that you acknowledge The de facto discrimination is an issue that the town of Ellington Wants to take seriously and wants town meeting to relook at the 1993 bylaw that established the Human Rights Commission and make what changes sir. Oh Well, that'll be up to town meeting. It's a town Yes, sir, you asked me what no changes. Do you want us to make to that by law? You don't have the understanding yet. How can you even decide what policy changes? We have an excellent Human Rights Commission. We if someone has special needs, we will bend over backwards I am handicapped mr. Harrington asked for a chair a table and a microphone. He received those tonight I'm quite comfortable with how we proceed and given nothing to vote on and this tape will be shown at town meeting if He does come up with something new that four of the members of this board asked him What specifically are you asking us to change to do differently? What action and he has answered four of us the same way There's nothing for us to vote on. I definitely support no action recommend. No action. Thank you, mr. Greeley Thank you, mr. Harrington. Thank you board. Thank you. Is anyone else here to speak? Yes, please come forward I'm not gold side. I'm a current Human Rights Commissioner I don't have any remarks in direct Response to that because I'm not as Everyone else not really sure what happened But I will say that the Commission is investigating the issues raised in the warrants and we're preparing a thoughtful response before the town meeting For instance, we're still gathering information on how HRC cases Against towns are handled in other towns of our size If you'd like we're happy to come back and speak with you again after our next meeting, which is in mid-March Just if you have any specific questions, we're happy to look into it before then. Thank you very much Any questions? Yes, stay in um if I'm sorry, didn't get your name Mel. I'm not sure if Mel if you already have this In if it will help in your deliberations. I think what's very helpful to me What's been provided and that's one of my checklists of who I would want to hear from so you're ahead of me if perhaps we could provide Mel and She can take to the Human Rights Commission I think the comments and summation based on the very limited amount of information that we had from the proponent the town council provided Just another thing for you to consider So you have the same information that we have unless you've already logged on through the NOAA's agenda have gotten that But I want you to make aware of that document. I think it might be useful in some capacity That would be great. Thank you very much. If you could contact the select man's office at your convenience. Is that all right town council? Thank you further questions Seeing none. Is anyone else here to speak on this warrant article? Seeing none further discussion from the board. So are you sure? She's already Is there any further discussion on the board that I think we had a pretty robust discussion earlier? That being said, there was a motion of no action and it was seconded all those in favor. Please say aye aye post Doug are you a Sorry, I will Working on asking you before I Forgot about two-thirds of the time last year Happy to hear that Moving on Article 10 bylaw amendment description of the Malcobolo Crescent Hill district. I think Attorney hi, I'm just gonna take the lead on this one so very briefly members of the board I spoke with Steve Macalca who's the chair of the Historic District Commission and the Essential motion that they're asking for is what's actually in the substance have worn article itself It's to basically correct it administer what they're calling a typographical error Which essentially was revealed when they did a review of the GIS map that what's contained in the bylaws Is not in fact the actual parameters of the Historic District? Thanks, I was limited to this one district and It's a very straightforward administrative matter that to be on the safe side. They're asking to have Changed the town meeting I believe also mr. Warden Reviewed and helped prepare this particular article. Thank you very much questions Town council this seems yeah, I'll just note that in reading the prep work. I this bylaw has the longest sentence I've ever seen in my life. I think was three pages long Do we have a motion? Yes, just one question. Yeah, please If it's something that's really herculean task Doesn't need to be done. I did go through the reference material that we all have we all have gone through it If in the future and it if it's really hard to do no big deal That we could sort of had something highlighted a talus eyes bold that shows us or a light strike out That actually shows the correction or That's a good. I'm sorry miss pond. That's a good point I'll make sure to do that in the future So it's all that much easier to read what's a very very long single sentence because I did read all of that And I couldn't even begin to pinpoint if the south westerly in the cell and like I didn't know what was changed And I'm it's just a grammatical correction and totally so if it can be done with technology That's not an arduous task. That's great. If not no big deal I should have taken the time to call and say what is the correction? It's not at all and I'll make sure to do that in the future Yeah, of course. Thank you very much Further discussion from the audience regarding this warrants article Seeing none, we have a motion is there a second second For discussion from the board seeing none all those in favor, please say aye. All right post Thank you Moving on article 11 the bylaw amendment to establish the community preservation committee So members of the board what you have before you is some background information as well as a draft motion that codifies the specifics of what a Preservation committee would be composed of how they're select not only how they're selected, but their terms and other Important matters to basically set forth as you may recall the CPC is necessary to expand any CPA funds that will begin collecting in fiscal year 2016 the law requires Five specific members so we have no choice in that we're given discretion to have as many as nine members and To select where those nine members will come from how they'll be appointed There's a fairly wide range of options that are available To communities in terms of how they could construct this committee with those additional four members I consulted with the town manager proponents of the original CPA article last year reviewed other towns CPC bylaws to develop this base model which addresses the majority I think of Arlington specific concerns as well as Take some of the valuable ideas that have come up since other communities past the CPA revise their CPC bylaws to anticipate certain issues that come up There was a fair amount of discussion among some stakeholders of how to best account for the other bodies that would need to weigh in on important matters of the CPA especially given town meetings vote Last year and a lot of the discussion around it. And so you'll see that there's incorporated in here some mechanisms for important bodies like this one the finance committee to have Some opportunity to speak on the projects and presentations of projects that The CPC will develop as well as their Administrative budget and be happy to answer any specific questions that you have about it But I think for the most part the memo in the bylaw speaks for itself Thank you very much Questions for Doug Do you want to go for you want to go first? I want me to I have like six things. So you might take one of them off the table Yes, that sounds excellent. Mine's not a small thing. So We'll see what the board feels So Yeah, and I know we've had a brief discussion on this before But I'm looking at under the vote voted that the town here by a men's title to etc section one establishment and membership in a and At the very bottom and for at-large members appointed by the town manager subject to approval by the board of selectsmen I Feel that first of all I have a million percent confidence in our town manager This is not a statement related to him at all He's done an excellent job with all the appointments. He's made and has an excellent process But this is what this is now using taxpayers money 1.5% on the property and it's a surcharge on the property and If we look at the goals of this open space historic preservation housing Recreational activities They are directly in line with a lot of our goals and objectives as a board of selectmen And I would like to feel that the four members that are appointed Are going to reflect that and be aware of things like let's take housing if a $50,000 housing grant work were to come from the community preservation committee That would affect in my opinion what we now decide to do with our CDBG funding or vice versa What we do with our CDBG funding? I certainly hope would be considered by the community preservation committee in terms of that which they also would award I agree with the manager and others. It should be a nine-person committee the more the better I agree with all the goals and regulations. I just feel we the board of selectmen Should have a little stronger connection to those four appointments So I would like to move that we change that section to read that the manager With one selectman, I'd recommend that be the chairman but we can discuss that but as we do with CDBG those two Conduct the interviews etc and those two bring before this board with the manager also having a vote in the same way We do that with CDBG and We with the manager appoint make the actual appointment of these four individuals So that's my motion. Maybe not clearly stated but questions or arguments I have had some sort of impromptu conversations only with one member of the board today, but also with town officials and citizens and town meeting members I Am in support of what mr. Greeley is putting forth in the sense of I'm looking at the process and trying to think of a way Which mr. Greeley is already outlined that it works the best Most expeditiously, I think it would be a benefit Where this board was and is so tied to the Community Preservation Act And it would be an aid to have a chairman and or his or her designee at the initial stages With the town manager on such an important decision that does affect the community We've done similar models in the past It's worked very well including looking for a town manager, and I think it will aid in terms of Having two people there somebody from the board of select men and the town manager in terms of exactly what mr. Greeley spoke about There may be a goal or mission or something that we voted and I don't Expect but it has come to fruition that the town manager knows every single one of the things that are really important to us And what we've said it as goals and things that we've highlighted. It's sort of like a Check imbalance To have a member of the board sitting there And again the end process still the same the town manager And if this is successful town manager along with the representative from the board of select men presents names to the board for approval But I feel like it's the process is less cold if we have a select man Involved in the beginning with the town manager It's so we're really not changing the end result in my opinion and anybody please disagree which is a Recommendation comes before us under mr. Greeley's model It would come before us from the town manager and the designated select men chairman or otherwise But ultimately we still have the final approval, so I'm really inclined to support this Thank you, Diane then it's Interesting idea because and I You know I've spent I've done a lot of conversations a lot of people about the structure of the board and this is not One of the models that I thought about it all so you know And I you know I tried to reach it today. Sorry The So I had actually started like you know if you'd asked me the day after town meeting What should the board look like my answer was four members appointed by the like the five obviously and four members appointed by the board of select men, but I came around to To appointing by the town manager because I think the so much of the budget Functionally is the manager's document and so the manager has this you know, he put forward the draft He put forward the capital according to capital planning committee. He's as you said the capital CDBG like every aspect of the budget one way or another the man is so like all the lots of people tug and push But he's got the budget and he carries it in the end You know through town finance committee up to town meeting who of course has the final say and and That was what moved me from the board of selectmen should appoint to the town manager should appoint and now you've come up Now you've thrown me a curveball and you said it should be both and pretty and so you just you're saying the manager and Chair whatever do interviews the chair and the manager make a recommendation of these four and on a rotating basis annual And then you're saying six votes six votes six votes So we actually a point not approved And he's bored no question about it Could I make one more point no no shut up please continue your you thought I also feel We represent the community more than anybody else in this community More than anybody else in this community So I don't know I guess I just want more say in it. I guess is what I'm what I'm trying to do and People want to perceive that's grabbing power or whatever. It's I'm trying to align and I think you're absolutely right But when it went what about the day this guy isn't sitting in that chair We'll never get someone is good Is Andrew available right now But but I'm it's the You know I Want those four members to know what we want and the people put us in these seats to try and set that vision He understands it and we'll defend it and do a better job of articulating it and budgeting it. I agree with you But Perfect, sorry, thank you, Mr. Cure. I Think I'm moving Towards this I had been thinking along the lines of a town manager appointee proved by the board of suck because I was thinking a lot About these issues because of an upcoming warrant article that we're hearing tonight And looking at all the various committees and the structures that are used for appointments And and I would note that you know to your point about making sure that we we have input at each stage of this process that The draft language that mr. Heim has put together does go Quite a measure beyond what a lot of other communities do by specifically calling out the board of select and the finance committee and the capital planning committee is having liaisons to the CPC as well as requiring that the CPC Present the recommendations for comments to our board Fincom and capital planning before they before they Give final approval to make sure that that connection is there That having been said it does occur to me that many of the types of appointments that we do get from from the manager a lot of times It's a committee or a commission that has a Connection in some in some way to to another department in town And so there's some screening is often done by the director of that department before before the Applicants are sent on to to the manager and so it it doesn't hurt to have two two sets of eyes And I think the the suggestion of having a six Having that the manager is a sixth vote in these appointment decisions. I like it. I think I'm gonna support it Thank you For other questions from the board before we ask the audience for input Do you if you have something to say first pass? I don't know. We just have one more in an effort to Do you have another comment about this actual issue or is it? Go ahead the town manager on the spot I was just wondering if you had any stronger version or any red flags bells going up that This is not a good idea or something. I'm Mr. Grill. Can I can well? I understand but I just want to make one point I think it might be only fair that we tabled this since it's all come up today basically And people are saying, you know, I'm just thinking about it for the first time That may also hold true for the how the manager answers this question that Diane It seems like you might have Well, yeah before we go on the table it but Diane No red flags are going off for me save Curiosity with the town council's opinion would be on having the six votes Having shared responsibility between myself and a board member to do the screening and I make the recommendation I think is a fine idea, but I'm curious about that six vote structure The CPC doesn't provide a specific prohibition or allowance for this. It's really Just a matter of how you arrive at those four at large members so On a technical level, there's there's not necessarily an issue with Deciding to restructure it instead of having the town man or manager You know a point with the consent of the select and which is basically in function a similar process But with two stages to doing it the same way we do this the CDBG So I don't have a concern that there's nothing that I could think of at this very moment that would preclude that type of structure because all you're doing is making the appointment It's not messing around with the total number of members on the CPC. It's Changing how you arrive at those four at large members Thank you very much further questions from the board Anyone from the audience would like to address us Clarissa Mr. Harrington you weren't called up Clarissa row here is a citizen I also happen to be the chair of the community preservation Coalition and have been for 15 years While I usually agree with my esteemed colleagues one of the things that has worked very well in the other 157 communities throughout the state that have adopted this is to have this committee be Instead of a top-down committee, which is kind of what you're talking about have it be a bottom-up committee and One of the things we talked about over the summer with Adam was trying to get some new people involved in this committee Younger town meeting members and people that Haven't been involved as much. I would like to see that openness I Have no trouble with what you're suggesting Kevin. I think it's fine. I think it's Important for a nuke. I mean I have no trouble as you know all as you know dealing with the finance committee or the capital planning committee, but I'm tougher than most people and And of course I love working with you all but I think you have to think about those Nine new people that are trying to do something that's complicated. They will get some training, but I think it Since you're not taking this up tonight. I would think about it If you have any questions, you can call Stuart Sagan or who's the executive director of the coalition and they're basically They're like a trade committee They deal with 158 communities they help Doug write this bylaw for you They know where communities have gone awry and where they've succeeded and where they've succeeded The best is when it comes up from the bottom and not down from the top But whatever you all decide is fine. Thank you very much. Are there any questions for Yes, one question, please so Please tell me that you intend to serve on this committee or intend to apply to serve on this committee I might You really won't commit that you're going to apply I You know, this is something that's very dear to my heart. Yeah 15 years Yeah, well more than that extra about 20 I Want to make sure it's done, right and my ego is big enough so that if I think it's not being done, right I will definitely apply for the committee Because I don't want it to be all newbies myself, but thank you No, I understand that and I think one of the things that happens is there's a very strong staffing From the planning department that helps us So I think that the people that are doing the work on the ground the planning department the Budget people that Adams working with will know about CBDG and you know where How we can share The pot of money that's ever diminishing so I think that there needs to be coordination and I see that Possibly as a staffing issue as well Back here though Further questions seeing on anyone else from the public would like to speak on this. Yes, Mr. No, it shouldn't be my chair it should be the chair for all residents so Stephen Harrington town meeting number. I just like to say to the board that if you're gonna appoint people that you really should have a schedule For when you appoint them and when their terms expire and stick to it If you look at the history of this board and their appointments that really hasn't been done and So I urge you if you're gonna take the authority to appoint more people That you have a schedule and you stick to it. Thank you. Thank you much questions from Mr. Harrington Seeing none, but anyone else like to speak on this warrant Nope Further discussion from the board on this motion. Yes on the motion in front of us, right? So To mr. Harrington, that's delineated in the Warren article to Clarissa who I don't like to disagree with either. We're not changing anything any new town meeting member Anybody can apply for this and it's something I would look for in those who are that provider We have Clarissa's and a few others of her type on the board out of nine that we have some veterans But and I certainly would like to get new individuals as well But I do believe there's a difference between and I understand what you're saying in terms of the select men, you know You know trying to be too strong or whatever. I want to be strong. I want to lead this community I want to have a say in how we historically preserve and and use open space and outside Recreation and housing we do that through CDBG through our budget every year. I love her, but I disagree with her I really believe we should do this process that I recommend So I guess I'm the only one wasn't really expressed my opinions on this thus far I did speak with mr. Greeley earlier on this issue and I Guess I just I don't feel like it's particularly necessary I think that the Process set forth enough. They weren't in front of us Does give us authority It gives us, you know after Adam who has done a terrific job in the past Screens the candidates. I think that there is there has been a pretty professional screening process There were at least my time on the board with everyone who was recommended to us for our approval and I don't I've never felt like I've been handcuffed by those recommendations either I've been happy to support them and and if I did feel like perhaps someone Wasn't the right fit. I would still be happy enough to You know tell Adam that or voice that at a meeting and That's why I think that this is a pretty professional process when that we're all Familiar with and one that's really done us plenty of justice in the past so I'd be inclined to You know keep it as is but I also know arithmetic and I kind of see where this is going But that's how I feel so further discussion with the board. May I ask her would the board like more time? I mean, I've thought about it a lot to be honest. I'm ready, but I don't want to be unfair to my board members So I would prefer the language proposed by Doug As opposed to your proposal, but the same time When it comes to what do we recommend to town meeting? I'm happy to support what your As in I really think that we should we should do this but we should do a bylaw I would do the bylaw the way it's written now as opposed to the way that you're suggesting it but so I don't know exactly how the chairman is planning and conducting the vote But if you know if the if we were if we were to structure it as a vote of do we accept Mr. Greeley's proposed change to the language I would vote no on that But then I'd lose and then there would be a vote on do we propose recommend this bylaw to town meeting and I Vote yes on that so however you want to do it. I think that that's probably the most straightforward process Mr. I don't think you're I don't think your suggestion is Is bad it's interest. I like it. It does. It has a lot of merit to it. I just I'm I Don't feel the same need that you do I don't think that the process is improved by having this board weigh in as strongly as you think I like Leaving it in the town manager's hands I'm really unclear so what sorry what what is about what I'm thinking. Yeah, you're saying you want to vote for this But you agree with me You're changing you don't agree with me. I don't agree with you But at the same but it's like it's not like a I think you're You know what I'm trying to say is you're not suggesting something that I think is a terrible idea There's an absolute that is absolutely not what I'm saying. I'm saying given these two choices I prefer the one that's written right now Okay, so You want to just last ditch effort just to If I misspeak on behalf of anyone, please let me know Like to get Mr. Greeley's recommendation This is a draft document and we have the flexibility to change it what I heard from the town manager is that He's willing to work with this process. He has no strong aversion to it doesn't feel it stopped me anywhere If I'm incorrect it would handicap him and he's willing to do it and again We're talking about the process and the titles. We're not talking about Mr.. Chapter lane and mr. Greeley So your comfort level in the future whether any of us are here what I heard from is row is that Her main emphasis was really getting some new people Involved so that we don't have a person who's on seven eight other committees unless that's a person that we want But basically what I heard is say to us is if this is something that this board wants to do She again didn't have any strong aversion to it. So Just in an attempt to and I understand what you're saying I don't want to vote no, but then if this language gets down to town meeting, you know, I'd like them to consider it This is the only way it gets down right now So that's my last ditch effort for them. I may have been I've said since from what was the mohan said in the in some of the screen said I Absolutely am supporting Like I expect the the select ones report is going to read 5-0 because I support Creation of this committee in either form Okay, because we will have to vote the first for mr. Greeley's motion the second for So, okay, so why don't we make that? Why don't we have that vote? We have a motion on the table He's number three, I think all like I think yeah, I know thanks I mean my my instinct initially is to just go with the process that we've that we've used for other other committees I'm intrigued by your proposal because it is It's intrigued It is interesting it is interesting But now as I'm thinking forward to future two discussions and we're gonna have in a few minutes I think for internal consistency for myself. I think I'm gonna have to Mr. Dunn and mr. Burn on this So I'd like to announce I'm stepping down So we have a motion on the table we have a motion a second all those and that is mr. Greeley's to be clear Which is a great idea it is. No, it's intriguing. Then interesting So We have a motion a second all those in favor, please say aye Oh, wait, sorry, whoa. Oh, no, get that gavel stop. Yeah, I apologize, mr. Chairman I was already thinking ahead to the future and I was not thinking clearly about the vote that you just called for if you Would call again. I suspect I will vote differently and I apologize. So we will retract that last vote and go again On mr. Greeley's Motion all those in favor, please say aye opposed vote Now we will have a vote on The bylaw the establishment of the CPC. Yes, I still you have. Oh, you have more questions Yeah, yes, I have some although I'm a little scared right now Some that I think are really just procedural dry And bear with me because this is I don't know if in the future In terms of you know, when we have this online and I type out comments and I have paid references I'm trying to do this so I'm not wasting everybody's time. I still have to jump back and forth Especially on this agenda item and I'm just saying this is information Where there are seven different reference materials? And some of the comments are two or three different reference. So I don't know if there's any way either a And I do not use any of this at home Business nothing. This is purely select one. I don't go email on this I don't print from this but what would help me in the future in terms of coordinating my five comments to Reference materials is either if a there was a way that I could somehow Hit something from here and they could be printed out Perhaps in the select ones. Perhaps we can discuss novice changes at a different time Okay, I'll go to my changes then I was kind of prefacing that white This is gonna look silly when I go back and forth Okay, for this I think this is sort of minor on page seven. I would ask town council on your memo 225 Just in terms and this I think is really small in terms of continuity Where you have such member If and this is in sort of comport with other by-laws and warrant articles if we could change it to said member just In terms of form and looking at other things when we use the word such in other by-laws It's such authority such regulation such it refers to That sort of universe and then when we refer to members and other by-laws we change it to the word said is do you have any aversion to that No, no miss one. I don't know if that's that's fine. That would be mine So that's sort of procedural then my second would no don't go back again Sorry, I apologize. I have to get into my comments comments Okay, then my second one point would be and I did discuss this with the town manager And miss row to see if there were any red flags on the same 225 correspondence on page 8 I Sighted two places where what I wanted to do is you know when we went out with the community preservation Sighted all the different things that we could do and then in reading this document. I know it's inherently applied that This also benefits senior projects and and senior housing Community housing inherently says, you know means senior housing, but there's really nowhere in the document that we Out and out state that and highlight that so I posed to the town manager Into miss row. I Looked at two possible areas One was under 2a where we designate we say that the Community Preservation committee shall meet with groups including and then we list I can't pull it up now because my things gone down I'm gonna waste your time. It says board of select minutes as finance committee. It says school committee pox and rec I asked if We could get the same senior Sort of ownership if we could include the council on aging in there And is that something? Through the chair of mr. Towne manager Yeah, so based on that prior conversation we had if it was the board's prerogative I can certainly include council on aging as a Municipal body or board to be consulted and then the second place that I saw that maybe could go in I'm just trying to make sure everyone has a Visual buy-in. I thought under perhaps to be where it says community housing We could put the language senior, but the town manager and town council I'm gonna invite. I think you told me that that's really structured. It should stay in my yeah I bet then I'll let town council speak for himself, but that be is primarily taken right from the statute So I think altering that would be not I think Unfortunately, it would be a little bit go a little bit too far in suggesting an additional purpose outside of Outside of what the law specifically says now obviously community housing is going to include that But I would just I think it's it's wise to take a conservative approach And this is essentially taken directly from the law. So my request would be under 2a. Could we just add the council on aging, okay? then On page 9, I don't know. I might be stepping into Kevin territory here Just to put before my colleagues for discussion on page 9 two things it's its sites And I can't pull it up. So you're gonna have to help me with my misspeak 45 days After I believe Process goes through in the attorney general section sex. Yeah, my two thing was to to be very clear what the numbers of days were and then I'm gonna ask you to entertain changing that to 30 but my first thing would be I think it Might be more tight if we put either 45 or 30 calendar days 45 or 30 business days Just so we're very clear So first thing I would like to make sure is maybe we put after whatever that number is if we mean calendar or business Whatever that number is I would advocate for business I'm also advocating for 30 versus 45 the reason for that is, you know, if you think of the timing town meeting this goes through Attorney general We can get it anywhere the first to third week back from the attorney general in September 30 days From then I'd like to see this committee up and running, you know a month later versus a month and a half I don't know. I did not pose this question to the town manager and I don't know miss row I don't want to put her on the spot But my thing would be I'd like to hear from the two of them and I totally off my rocker with this But that that that's my proposal. Let's define calendar versus business and I'd like to change it to 30 We'll start with Adam or Doug, please. So My immediate response would be 30 days is not enough time for it certainly would be enough time for the five Independent the commission appointing authorities. I'm sure to schedule a meeting and appoint someone from within their membership If we're going to follow the same process that the town manager currently follows for soliciting citizen participation We post for two weeks then we go through an interview process Then we give the board notice of intent at one meeting followed by a two-week lag and then actual Request to confirm an appointment. So that alone right there probably is 45 days So I think, you know a robust sort of deliberate process and in that regard would be Warranted and I don't think 45 days is too long. I think we could get it done in that 45 days But I I'd be afraid 30 days just wouldn't be practical to get done And do you think give do you have any particular feelings on calendar versus business in those 45 days? How do we interpret how do you interpret by-law now as so typically unless it's stated otherwise Once something goes past say 10 days. I usually assume that it's calendar days Unless there's some clear indication otherwise I'm not sure what the I'm sorry. I'm not a Good arithmetic in my head. I'm not sure what the with the how many days difference it is 45 I'm sorry 30 calendar days versus 45 I'm sorry 30 business days versus 45 calendar days. It's probably about the same Typically the time of year if we have young Kapoor Dave at home Whatever you do you close it do you have any further thoughts? The only reason that I thought a shorter time period was better is once the committee is in place They are you're gonna get some money next November They have to have a real series of a lot of public meetings before They are making any recommendations and putting them on the warrant and you all have added a lot of layers of Review by capital planning review by finance committee review by council on aging review by review by and review by I think it would be great. You know the Attorney General doesn't usually get the warrants back until the end of the summer Maybe you know doing some of the advertising even though we don't have the warrant back do it in the Summer so you're you're you as soon as it comes back you're interviewing I just think you want to give the committee especially in the first year Enough time to really go out to the public to really hear what they want us what what people Want to talk about you know, what are the housing problems the first year is really an inventory and it's to look at You know what what's what do we need to spend money on and preservation? What do we need to spend money on in housing? What do we need to spend money on in? Parks and and open space We pretty much know already. It's the other two where we haven't you know with the CBDG stuff the funds getting more and more reduced where you know where are the Programs that you've had to turn down in the past on CBDG That now could be funded by this so I think it's that's the only reason I think trying to compress it some is important because the first year is a lot of inventory and Required by statute quite a bit of public meeting. So are you a 30 or 45? I'm a 30 And I'm 30. I'm a 30 calendar days Kevin well, I was going to make that point. I mean the Most the time when people are most I believe interested in in applying to serve on this We'll be shortly after town meeting Understand it has to be approved the warrant has to be approved first But as long as we are communicating clearly that we are waiting for that step It doesn't seem likely to me that we're not going to be approved for this since 157 other communities have already been approved I think people should be ready for those appointments the day it does come back that it has been approved And they've already done all the interviewing now the screening But all applicants should understand there is a final step, but is there anything illegal to that I? Would caution to give you sir to town council. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Really. I would caution strongly against Not allowing at least that 30-day period There's there's nothing that I can think of that would per se be problematic about starting to do some pre-screening while the bylaw is Being reviewed by the Attorney General considering that most of these provisions have already been approved by the Attorney General explicitly in some other community, so I think a certain amount of Preliminary work can be done, but There's a lot of unknowns here And I think it would be valuable to make sure that we've got at least that 30-day period to make sure that if anything Goes wrong, we have a severability provision in here that we wouldn't ordinarily include in every single bylaw That would allow this bylaw to sort of proceed if the Attorney General struck a certain provision so that also gives us a little bit more security, but just as a matter of Being protecting our interests in this to make sure that we're getting it right I just wouldn't want to have a window that in the bylaw We would be setting ourselves up for a violation by not at least giving us ourselves that 30-day period and I think the town Manager can articulate better the administrative challenges as well as all of you But but I would keep that period in there and if you want to do some Preliminary screening with the understanding that the Attorney General's approval is absolutely necessary before any of these appointments can really be made Or any of the processes in this bylaw are required to be followed I guess I can't register an objection to that Thank you very much. So thank you Joe No, that was actually the point that I was going to ask but also what are we going to start the process before it came back? We can start it early. I mean, I think 30 would be fine If we can start it early Mr. Chairman, I just I just want to be clear on what you're doing what you're not you don't have a bylaw So you're basically collecting a pool of people that you believe Would be a valuable addition if this bylaw were ever passed and you had a community preservation committee so I Just I don't want to necessarily frame it as We can do whatever we want before a bylaw is approved by the Attorney General I think you're just basically getting some of the legwork and the town manager could speak better than I could do that as to how Feasible that is without a without a bylaw action in place and how aware the public will be of These positions being available. Thank you very much. Thank you. Do you want to add anything on I? Guess that my only thought would be if we did get that early start that the timeline would then become far less important If you did get it. Yeah, okay Yeah I'm sold on 30 days and in particular. I'm thinking so sometimes the Attorney General even comes back August And if they do come back in August I actually is gonna that would Like so as let's imagine the Attorney General says August 10 now we have, you know Three weeks of August the end of August to get all these committees together to make their appointments labor day and then 10 And that one doesn't thrill me so part of me is like 30 days or September 30th, you know, whichever is No, whichever is later actually is what I'm saying and But you see what I'm doing you see what I'm getting at I'm Let me say I'm on board with doing it expeditiously. I'm on board with this getting this committee meeting as quickly as possible I'm not excited about doing a mid-August sprint. And so Anything along that solves those problems. I'm totally on board with To my memory, I don't recall Anything coming back from the Attorney General. I think we're happy if it comes back the first or second week of September Has there ever been an August? I couldn't say for I mean if you go with the Attorney General themselves They have a 45 day Clock yeah, we're lucky. We have to call our legislators to get something out that first September week of September And it's usually special legislation that we've been there all the other stuff comes much later So I would still be a proponent of the 30 and I if the majority or all the board agrees with me on 30 I would leave it to the chairman and town council just where we have everything out there and everything is looked at so Scrupulously and I appreciate people taking the time on that if we take the excerpt added step of putting whether it's 30 or 45 calendar days so So I guess I see Obviously where this is going, but I I'd like the 45 days quite frankly I think that we just had a pretty robust discussion on making sure that the right people are picked for this And I think that what we heard Was that there's a pretty serious process that goes into ensuring that and you know, I don't think that 15 days is worth potentially disrupting the Selection of the right candidates So I'm not going to agree with the 30 days, but I'll see we I think I have a feeling of how that's going to go But then further Actually, my next two questions are on another article, so that would be my last that's your last one. Okay, so The motion that we have is with Diane's recommendations of adding council on the aging changing a word for said and Doing the 45 moving 45 days to 30 days and I guess I'm tempted toward doing this in I Guess it will eventually be three separate votes the first of which Although so the first four said We have a motion on that Do we have a second on second we have a motion a second all those in favor, please say aye That's unanimous vote we have a motion on adding Council on aging in section to a Do we have a second second? We have a motion a second all those in favor, please say aye That's a unanimous vote and Finally in section six We have a motion to change 45 days to 30 days So we have a second second Mr. Chairman can't just go by 30 calendar days, correct? Yes We have a thank you, Doug So we have a motion a second all those in favor, please say aye Opposed nay for the one Thank you very much And before we vote on me Final By law amendment is there any further discussion? Seeing none, so we can reconsider Move that we recommend favorable action We have a motion second we have a motion a second all those in favor, please say aye. Hi Thank you very much that was a Robust discussion and a helpful one Excuse me Moving forward Article 15 a home rule petition pertaining to board of assessors Changes, mr. Chairman. Yes, I have to I'm going to recuse myself from this discussion. My brother is On the board of assessors. He's Unopposed running for reelection Running foot to fulfill the one-year term And Doug having speed spoken with the ethics Commission We're using a very conservative interpretation It's a very great area, but to remove any question. I'm going to Recuse myself and know I can trust on the wise judgment of my colleagues Thank you very much, mr. Greeley Um, miss Lurie. How are you? Thank you for being here. Um, please Chris Loretty 56 Adams Street Article 15 as you've numbered it makes a couple changes to the way Arlington's board of assessors is organized and The first of the changes is to make the director of assessments Which is currently appointed by the board of directors to make that position an appointment of the town manager instead And the second change is to change the way the board itself comes into office Instead of being elected. They would become an appointed board And I would see that as an appointed board of the town manager subject to the approval of the board of selectment I believe the first of these changes is the most important one and I'll speak about that first and They're greater length than the other one And I based that my feeling on two premises first is that when there is an opening that needs to be filled And I would say it's about any opening the town should have the largest pool of candidates possible to choose from and the second Is that for positions like this? It really should be a professional appointment rather than a political appointment And it seems to me that the actions last year when the board of assessors You know forced out the previous assessor and hired a new one shows that that really isn't happening And it seems to me that it's really in the best interest of the town to make this a professional appointment I'd like you to consider a few numbers Last year the town received a salary survey Across all departments, I believe and I think one thing it showed is that in general the town pays its senior managers and department heads Very well and in particular in the case of the director of assessments Arlington's salary range for the director of assessments It tops out at a figure that is higher than any of the other towns that were surveyed So what that says is among the dozen towns if you're looking for the highest salary Arlington is the place you want to be Yet when you look at the number of of applicants the town got for the first round And the first time the assessors tried to fill the opening last year They only received 14 applicants in the second round they only received six I would argue that we should be seeing five to ten times that many on the order of 30 to 60 applicants For a town like Arlington when we are the highest paid You know we're offering the higher salary among our peers And I think that raises a question of just what's going on here. What's wrong with Arlington? We get such a such a low turnout. I Think the principles involved last summer perhaps gave the best answers and one of the members of the Board of Assessors Himself was quoted in the Arlington Advocate is saying that the fact that people knew there was an in-house applicant may have deterred people Well really I mean what did they expect if you're going to hire your friends and family if you're going to make it an inside job You really can't expect to go to get a broad pool of candidates applying now after the Assessors failed to appoint one of their own to the Director of Assessments position You know you would have thought that it was an open Competition and there might have been a much greater number of people applying that wasn't the case as I said only six people applied Now one of the candidates who applied the first time and made the top three He didn't bother to apply and he was quoted in your Arlington news outlet as saying the problem You know speaking of the board itself. He says the problem of its politics is too deep and Systemic and then he goes on to disparage one of the board members and talks about skeletons in the closet now Whether there's any accuracy to those claims or not about skeletons or anything else I think it shows that there is that perception and because that there is that perception Arlington's not getting a broad as broad and deeper response to its You know to its apple to its employment process for the director of assessments as it should be so you know regardless of anything, you know the This particular person may have said it seems pretty clear to me that the town is much better served Having a directive assessments who was hired by the town manager who was obligated under the town manager act To hire on the basis of merit and fitness alone Rather than to have that appointment made by a political body And I'd also like to emphasize that this there's really nothing unusual about the way this is done Other towns do it that way having the town manager Approve or or actually make the appointment for the director of assessments and I'd suggest It's also the normal way that department heads are appointed in Arlington Even when the departments interact with either elected or appointed boards, and I would you know give as examples the redevelopment board in which you have a planning director who is You know appointed by the town manager and also, but you also have an appointed board with which in this case She works with same thing happens with the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Recreation director I would also argue that this change benefits the board of assessors itself Because it takes away from them the obligations to get involved in You know human resource matters Administrative matters that are more like human resource Actions that really aren't part of their expertise and that they really aren't well equipped to handle so I would see the The director of assessments being an appointment of the town manager as I said just like any other Department had appointment and he would hire subject to the requirements of the town meeting a town manager acts. Excuse me so the second part of the warrant article deals with the Board of Assessors itself and I believe the time would be better served if the Board of Assessors was appointed and some of the reasons for that are given in the Department of Revenue report You know that came out a couple years ago and that report makes the point that the Policy discretion of the Board of Assessors is really very limited. It's limited by state law It's limited by the Department of Revenue's own regulations You know after proposition two and a half pass it requires all properties to be valued at a hundred percent of their full market value That takes away any discretion from the Board of Assessors as to how the property should be valued The the DOR report does cite one exception that being the hardship exemption, but those are very rarely given Another point it makes and this is one of the key activities of the Board of Assessors is granting abatements But those it's you know as the report says should be determined based on the facts and the information at hand And they're really more of an administrative adjustment than they are a policy decision the other thing I would note is that Generally, there's a lack of competition in the assessor's races now you know as it has an appointed board I'm sorry as an elected board. I've lived in town About 21 years and I can aside from mr. Harrington this year and to throw up a few years ago I can't think of any other contested Board of Assessor races and you know that's going to be the way things continue then that's no choice, you know and Clearly we have more opportunities for putting people on the board if it's appointed And then if it's elected if this is the way things are going to continue and it also gives the I think the town in and by extension the public a greater Ability to vet Who the members of the board are again if you don't have you only have a one candidate running you have no choice and And lastly I would argue would also present an opportunity to save some money The board of assessors in Arlington is the most generally compensated board in the town if you include the I'm sorry the insurance benefits they receive and assuming they're getting the family benefits We're talking on the order of 18 to 20 thousand dollars a year for a member for a board that may only meet a couple times a month or for a couple hours a month and That would be another reason I think would benefit the town to make them an appointed board without those benefits So what am I asking of you? I would actually like to see two votes come before town meeting One would be to make the and I've mentioned this because I realize there are a lot of people in town who? Who are very strongly attached to having as many positions in town elected as possible and Because I think the first part of this warrant article is the most important one I'd like to have two separate votes and that again the first one would be to make the The director of assessments and appointment of the town manager as I described and to take you know Whatever actions necessary through home rule legislation to affect that and then the second would be to make the board of assessors the Appointed board rather than the elected board So I'll answer any questions at this point. Thank you. Thank you very much. I'm sorry to questions from the board Diane I Appreciate that the proponent Initially saw this as a one more an article to action plan And I was going to ask if you could separate out the two it but you've already had the foresight to do that So I do appreciate that Statement and then a question through the chair to the town manager and I'm not sure if I will have one for the proponent 22 ideas came out of that report from D. O. R. A lot of time and effort went into it We had an initial pass that sort of Passing it in total You know, but then we had the school and town side I do not agree with all 22 and this is just me personally all 22 Recommendations in there, but I do feel there really were some good viable recommendations a as well as B I Think where people Weren't comfortable Whether it was the town side of the school side Embracing all 22 and hit the ground running with all 22. I I would appreciate appreciate the opportunity if my colleagues agreed on Taking some positive action on some of those 22 recommendations Mr. Loretty has already outlined this and I just I have had a conversation with the town manager on this first because I Wanted to make sure, you know, this is something I should even put forth before my colleagues But I do think to me the most tantamount issue is the appointment of the director of Assessors I think a much better process And my memory is from when we had the joint meeting when we were appointing someone temporarily when the board of Assessors was here Oh, no the one the board of Assessors came in on this particular report They spoke to keeping in an elected board But what I heard from the members and they're not here to speak tonight They were saying if it was the will of the board to make the director of Assessors Attentions selectman a town manager appointee and fall under as well as day-to-day administrative reporting as well as oversight That that go under the town manager. So what I would like to do first is make a motion To approve On page 23 of the do our recommendations item number 3 That the director of assessing be an appointment of the town manager So that would be my motion second and if I could ask the town manager, whatever comments. He wants to share on that I don't want to repeat Mr.. Repeat a conversation we had Just yeah very generally. I think that having Any day-to-day professional administrative position be accountable to a day-to-day management Personnel so in this situation of the director of assessing being appointed and managed by the town manager would be in appropriate action Thank you, and thank you miss Mahan I actually agree with a lot of what you said The do our process really it included a lot of recommendations and there was a lot of time and effort put into it I think I was I believe I was one of the people interviewed during that process and I really supported the spirit of it which Which included a lot of things the core of it as we know was the creation of a municipal finance department and Unfortunately, I think a lot of the focus Was directed towards the treasurer's position and Unfortunately, I think we lost momentum As a result of that I also for the record I supported, you know looking at the consolidated school School town finance department as well. I think I've missed a chapter lanes Leadership, I think we have very good coordination right now, but I thought it was an idea worthy of Putting forward we've never really asked town meeting though about this particular This this this particular aspect of of the report and of the do our recommendations My only question I think to you miss Mahan is that in recommendation number three page 23. It actually sets out several options So it's it says That some towns have addressed the problem by creating a dual reporting relationship Where the board protects provides a director with general direction But the director receives direct day-to-day supervision from the manager and other cases towns have established an appointment process with the assessor Screen and check the credentials of potential applicants to recommend one or more choices to the manager So there's a set of choices even here within within that recommendation that I think that if we're going to put something Before town meeting we have to be very clear about what we're asking them to consider and I'd say further. I think legally we Well, this this requires amendments to the town manager act Anyway, I I have to say that I kind of liked the suggestion that town council had in his memo to us of actually Packaging the two pieces as one home rule petition that would then go back to the voters for the for the change lock stock and barrel I I Feel like The changes work very well hand-in-hand of all I can I can be convinced otherwise Are you talking about both of the changes? Both of the recommended changes here? I know we're just discussing the so you would like the board of assessors to become an appointed board I would like it to go to the voters for them to I'd like to go to the voters and I guess I would say to that That's not the process that we're in right now Yeah, I would like to get if I have majority or unanimous agreement. Yeah I Fear if we tie both of them together take up on this then they both feel and that's what happened That's what got us in this boat anyways And to your second question in terms of My recommendation is what that first line is underlined saying that the board director of assessors be appointed by the town manager And I guess what I would leave in terms of what the process of that would be I would leave it Didn't tell me if I shouldn't do this. I would leave it to the town manager to either follow in conformity with other Appointments that he makes in the process that he has set up like I I don't feel Qualified a competent to define and if you all do and you better qualify than me to direct the town manager How to do that? I feel like you know what I'm asking him to do is to not only make this appointment Consistent with what he's done with other appointments department heads and otherwise I'm also asking him and I think it helps the board of assessors as well as the director of assessor that he also be there as the day to day managerial Administrator overseeing this person and I think it helps the current and future director of assessors that they do have that You know go to person when they're in town hall So if you could mr. Kira, I would I would like to keep as I said I could be convinced Okay, so I follow up on my point though I Think to miss my hunts point I think mr. Loretty raised a couple of examples of some of the boards that we have in town I spent a lot of time combing our bylaws on the town's website in the town manager act this weekend and I must have come up with a list of 20 or 30 boards and commissions and committees of various levels of responsibility in town that have Town manager involvement in the appointment of the board and the associated professional staff is generally Appointed by the town manager. I think the redevelopment board is the most obvious example They have a lot of fiduciary responsibility board of health is a big obvious example as well. They have a big Responsibility big impact, but they follow follow this last year. We had a discussion on the cemetery commission I think we all decided that it was You know it was best Keeping it as is as it was changed in the it was actually changed in the town manager act to an appointed board So if I'm not putting on the spot mr. Chapter, and I know that every board and commission is different, but some of the More visible boards with a lot of fiduciary responsibility Could you generally outline the process that you that you do to and I understand you haven't had that many Opportunities to appoint directors yet, but your kind of philosophy on on an appointment process Yeah, so in in very recent history the library board of trustees had a seat at the table for the recent library director search The AYCC board or the youth services board though Not one of those higher responsibility boards that you laid out had one representative as part of the screening for the AYCC director and I Inquired prior to my time here in Arlington It's my understanding that a member of the redevelopment board also sat on the screening committee for the most recent appointment of a planning and Community development director, so I think practice has been and I would certainly you know I very much believe in the practice of including some form of board or commission input in a screening process where You know the manager has the appointment authority, but there is a relationship with with the board And what is the role of the human resources department? So the human resources department I think in all of those examples would be both the administrative role and then also serve as Part of any screening and review an interview and help Make a recommendation and final decision for hiring Okay, thank you very much Dan, I Apologize if this is it in the packet and I missed it or it's been and have the board of assessors weighed in Have we received any correspondence from them? No, we have not have it wasn't in my packet Have we received not in the packet? I did I did reach out Okay, but we haven't heard from them yet. I know okay everything that We reach out to most departments for all of them. This is all we've gotten back for all of the one I was just double-checking that I hadn't missed it like I So I I think what I would probably like us to do is to I I don't think I can support the Proposing a change without hearing from the board of assessors more directly. So perhaps a tabling at some point of this Is in order but But specifically let me articulate a little bit about why that is so there's a lot of stuff in the DOR report But I think we should do and I fought really hard to get it To like I thought one of the things that we just trying to create like the grand bargain in the government committee The government redesign committee and stuff like that I thought we could come up with something where we would change a bunch of institutions in Arlington for the better and Unfortunately, we're unable to get to a consensus and that's why when we look at the last time the board revisited this issue You know kind of heavy hearts. We recommended no action and my thinking on that hasn't changed like there's no even if I Like so like if even if this is the actual right choice, which I think it probably is I don't think that the If the board of assessors isn't on board the fight and the cost of that fight to us as a town and the acrobony and In the pain is not worth the improvement that we get So if the board of assessors as you you know is amenable to the change Then I think of it. Yes, we should absolutely work with them and we should make it happen If they're not amenable It's not a fight. I want to pick I'm happy to table it and I'm just going from my memory of our discussion when we have the DOR report But I don't want to say 100% Equivocally that's that's still their position today. So I'm happy to table it and let the chairman determine. Well, thank you I'm going to take more comments from the audience. Mr. Harrington Stephen Harrington Candidate for board of assessor One thing you'll notice about a lot of these warrant article hearings. There's not many this year. Is it None of the people who are affected actually show So the comment that the board of assessors isn't here. You wonder why When I had my thing there was no one from the Human Rights Commission that was the executive director and employee of the town so I think that it's important that You consider this very carefully. I looked at the last two years of What the board of assessors have done in preparation for my own candidacy? And what I noticed is they sent out a third of their time on personnel issues About a third of their time in executive sessions for abatements exemptions and appellate tax board meetings And about a third of their time on other random things and that personnel time This isn't like the treasurer hiring people in his department. He's a full-time employee The board of assessors is part-time board. It would be like you guys hiring someone and they spend Literally months Going through because their meetings are so infrequent going through the decision to buy back vacation time or sick time or Get rid of a copy lease and That's not really a good function So I urge you to support and you should consider it tonight to put it out there to allow People to respond to it because if you don't put it out there, no one's going to respond to it That you actually make it the change and I'd like I see a hybrid where the director and all the employees I'm hired by the manager with approval of the board of assessors And I think that's an important component of it. So it's collaborative that everyone agrees to who they're hiring, but I think that In anyone's mind certainly in any role that I would choose I would love to see that personnel component off the shoulders of a part-time Elected board and so I think that's very important on the second part. I completely disagree with mr. Already, I think that it's important that the town does have an elected board for that position not just because of my own selfish running for candidacy but the difference between the board of assessors and most of the other things in the town that they decide on the tax policies and While it may seem that you know, it's all coded because it's a hundred percent valuation It's actually an impossible optimization problem to get the valuations exactly right is literally Mathematically impossible and so there's going to be mistakes. There's going to be people coming and asking for an abatement. There's going to be Decisions to be made on settling cases in front of the appellate tax board those tax Things should belong to an elected board and so that citizens feel that they have a Place to go that they have someone who can act on their behalf And I think that's a very key part of an elected board that they listen to citizens and do The right thing a lot of times when the computer program may not and Yes, the board of assessors should be more Data science oriented that the job is not the way it was 30 years ago. It's more towards understanding how to actually sift through massive amounts of information and coming up with fair valuations and It's not something that you can buy from petri properties and they do rather a poor job at it 1970s technology and so I think that if you split this vote and that you actually Move forward tonight and put it out there that Okay, maybe the board of assessors will come here and explain it, but if you don't I don't think they'll be here. Thank you Thank you questions Seeing none, I Don't is would anyone else in the audience like to speak on this one? I'm seeing none again So There is a motion the table and I believe it was seconded by Mr. Hunt. I And I Have the understanding that they will be a separated vote when the time comes. I like the idea of Hearing back from the board of assessors on this on that being said right now I do I Do not agree with either of the proposals as set forth That's For a myriad of reasons the first is that I agree with the previous speaker actually that it just should be an elected board it has a Direct impact on every single homeowner and I do think that holding Being able to hold them Accountable during the election seasons is very important And then when it comes down to the director of assessments one of the I think main arguments that we heard tonight is that the board doesn't have the you know, I don't let's say the capabilities to hire a Director of assessments that they don't have the HR experience and you know, that's why they use The town's HR department as well as the town manager's office in the hiring process You know there at the town manager is currently involved in doing that and as is HR And I think that there's a really good working relationship in making sure that the right people are hired for that role and Going back to the DOR report. I am You know, I I agree with a lot of what the DOR report said I was on the Consol the consolidator finance working group for When I first was elected to this board and I fought tooth and nail for those changes and I felt really passionate about it And I liked them because there was a whole fleet of changes that we could implement together and if we are going to look at addressing You know addressing the professionalization of a finance department. I don't think it should be done one at a time I think it should be done with a having everyone involved and having everyone at the table and Proceeding in that fashion so that being said there's a motion the table and I'll support that But I'm gonna need some pretty serious convincing otherwise Is there any further discussion from my colleagues then I just could you clarify what motion is it that you're To table. Oh, okay. All right the entire thing or just You know, I was under the impression I'm gonna leave it to you all what I was under the impression that you were tempted to I actually hadn't formally made the motion because I wanted to hear what other people had said. I'm sorry Yeah, but I moved that I would table my motion which was the first part to Vote for a roll-action to have the director of assessors be appointed by the town manager until we can hear from the board of assessor So I pulled that off the table. So the second part of it, which is the elected versus appointed I'm gonna keep my mouth shut and see what somebody else. I don't want to monopolize. I have a motion But I want to see what you all I'm gonna suggest it in that case if you're a member just withdraw all motions and move to table I want to article until the board of assessors is able to appear before us Yeah through the chair, I don't know whether they need to appear or not or submit testimony I'm just looking for their opinion submit testimony Do the chair of course now And you would like that and this board would like that on both considerations both on the whole article because I yeah You know, I'd be comfortable moving forward with the elected part of this this warrant article and then waving to you back on the Director appointment, but if the board feels otherwise, I mean I would have a motion on that, but I So I can say my sorry my position on both of these is no unless the assessors are interested So if your answer is if you're about to put forward a motion of no that in the perhaps a bit board of assessors will surprise us Then I would but I would move no action on recommending that the board of assessor be changed from an elected Committee to appointed second a motion a second further discussion from the board I Would I would make a motion of no action That the board of assessors Go from an elected Commission committee to appointed is that yes Second we have a motion a second all those in favor, please say aye opposed that's a three-to-one vote and A motion to table the other recommendation Is on the table? Do we have a second? Second, we have a motion and a second all those in favor, please say aye. Aye opposed unanimous Thank you very much moving on acceptance of Legislation for the complete streets program Lara Laura Wiener assistant director of planning I was here before you a few weeks ago to tell you about a new state program That the legislature. Oh, I'm sorry. Can we go get Kevin, please? He's sitting there overnight Somebody better get that ACMI How we've missed you finally Pleasure to have you back mr. Gray I'm sorry Laura Laura Wiener assistant director of planning I was here before you earlier in the month on a new state program called complete streets That is being run out of mass dot. It's a going to expect it to be about ten million dollars a year for construction and design of Complete streets, which is defined as streets that accommodate pedestrians bicyclists vehicles transit and freight The In order to get funding a town or city has to be certified by mass dot and one of the requirements is that this The town or city accept the legislation and that is what this warrant article is about today For town meeting to accept the legislation so that the town can move forward to become Certified as a complete streets community and then apply for funding for street design or construction Some of the other things that will follow are the board will have to adopt a policy on What complete streets will look like here how and when and where we will? Apply the policy we have to set a mode shift goal and a couple of other small things tack has Has created a working group to Work on some of the nuts and bolts of the policy and we'll be bringing that before you in the next couple of months But for right now, we're just really dealing with the warrant article to accept the legislation No, thank you very much on questions from the board Yes, Sam second two questions The first one sort of just rhetorical I think I already know the answer, but I just want to say it so we show that you know, we're having the conversation When I went through the memo provided by town council of February 20th 2015 And especially around page 37 where it's talking about parameters of complete streets and Where there's no specific verbiage there, you know, there is for bicycling and and walking and things like that. It's inherently Understood that also in that are any handicapped accessible Improvements, I mean, I know there's a federal law, but I just kind of wanted to get that out Right, right. I think you know as with the mass every built It's a requirement of the funding that it become handicapped accessible So we're putting in new ramps everywhere It's just as I went through reading the language, you know Kind of again with the senior and the COA not seeing the actual words knowing they were applied inherently but now we've had this conversation and And then my second part and I did have a somewhat detailed conversation with the town manager on this today to try to circumvent some of this It's on the correspondence we received from the director of planning It was just a one-page memo sort of outlining. I actually want to go to it sort of outlining what this process is and I Anticipate that this is just to get it on the table, but we'll be setting the policy and Other things once it gets to town meeting and the legislation tell me to adopt it in the legislation The only thing that I would have want I would want future details on and if anybody the town manager Ms. Weiner feels there's something you can add tonight real quick was Item number five Where we talk about establishing and this is going to be a tongue-twist of the second part a municipal mode share goal and Then it speaks to that the state's mode shift goal is to triple walking biking Etc. And it says though the town does not have to be so ambitious. So the Conversation I had with the manager is first a we're not determining What that goal is right now? We're talking about the process, but When we do determine that and I kind of like to put my two cents in and if anyone has comment if not, that's fine Similar to some of the other conversations that we've had it would be my hope if a majority of all of the board agreed That when we do set the Arlington's mode shift goal that the parameter would be the town manager working in concert With the redevelopment board would then put forth Ultimately I'm not expressing it the way I want to I think I think I know may I yes, please Any mode share goal as I sit here would have to be approved by this board of select them The board is has the authority over public ways authority over all traffic rules and orders So I think this is the appropriate body to adopt any mode share goal that we would thoroughly that that we would Research see what's financially reasonable what's sort of practically reasonable within our existing infrastructure and then have this board vet and approve Any mode share goal that we would try to achieve I? Think I've just add the role of the ARB and in this is only on private development that comes before it So I think that redevelopment board would wait until you created a goal. I mean a policy and then would Look at how to apply that on the projects that come before it like the Brigham's Development for instance not public streets at all. Thank you very much for the questions from the board I Guess the one question I have so This I guess I'm just trying to simplify this so We'll do these steps that are outlined. We'll establish a municipal Mode share goal and after we hit that that is when we will when we hit that goal. That's when we'll be You know able to get some of this funding Potentially no, no, we just have to just set this you said to set it. Oh Wow Okay, great Thank you very much They help pay for you to reach it. Yeah, that's nice of them Okay further Questions from the crowd I'm seeing a further discussion from the board. Yes, Dan I think so I'm happy to support this. I think that this is going to be an article that where the Selectments report is going to be really important in that how it Communicates this so I mean definitely I get the memo, but I think if you But you know town town meeting is Appropriately leery of things that constrain over constrain us and this I'm Happy to support this because we it doesn't really constrain us I mean it says you really have to talk about this and you really have to set a goal and I'm okay like that's good I'm totally on board with that, but if we don't say that clearly in our report That's I guess what I'm saying is that I'm going to be really picky about The final language rightfully so okay. Thank you further discussion from the board I believe we have a motion on the table and I do believe it was seconded. Yes All those in favor, please say aye. I post Yes, oh, I'm sorry, I keep forgetting to ask if you have enough Mr. Dunn, would you like to basically parse out each one of the Requirements set forth under chapter 90 I With a brief narration of what that means in the Selectments report. I I suspect that's probably too dense. I probably am more I think my comments are more about the summary and the The thesis I think the you know the first 200 words are the ones that Set what the so I don't know exactly what the motion like I mean I don't know exactly what the motion is do you have in mind or if you have a motion in mind yet About like literally what is it? I mean is the time is time being going to say we adopt 90 I period, you know so moved that or is it going to So that's that's all that would be required Yeah By the statute great and the rest of it's really in the explanation of what that means and that explanation is what I'm most Concerned about understood. Okay. Thank you. So also Mr. Really which is a Statement a clear statement that this board intends on setting such policy It's even actually more about I So if you frankly if you told if you when you tell me like for the exact question that Steve had just a minute ago It's like so when do you get the money and the answer is as soon as you set the goal You then you start getting some money like that is not intuitive And so that's the type of thing that we have to be really clear about so that people understand and the other thing is You know like okay, you know you only or maybe the money gets penalized if you we just have to be really clear about what the benefits What what is it that we're actually committing to What is it? What are the benefits that we're going to get and when do we get them? Thank you much, and I agree with that Mr. Chairman Yes, Adam just for what it's worth Adam Oster was at the last boys meeting or maybe the one prior to Address this when Laura was first here to mention the warrant article And he likened this program with a similarity to the green communities Yeah, and the town's participation as a green community I think maybe either as part of the selectors comment or some other presentation Likening the two does make some sense because the green communities act really was very similar It had five different criteria you had to met some of them were promises and goals that you had to set Looking out five years out with them giving you grant money up front The most similar one was that promise to reduce energy use by 20% five years after your designation Wish the town did achieve but you certainly were given funding to help achieve that goal as part of the green communities act So I maybe that's something we can use as a comparable to explain Sounds reasonable. Thank you Moving on Correspondents received FY 2015 CDB GL Set to our limit on the Robbins library Whatever more Robbins house parking lots and parking on the west side of mill street. I'd recommend that the parking issue We received from ed star is sent to tech and I'd also like to note that It's a bit funny. Ed is sending work to his previous committee so quickly But other than that, I think just other the others being received as appropriate Are you sure that we want this so I Suspect that the reason was to start send it to us is because the cars that he's upset about our cars that aren't moving It's funny. I guess I was tempted to send it to tech Because he was on tech for so long and Okay, I take it back. Yeah, and because I was I thought that at first but It's chairman I withdraw my concern. Thank you. And can I just say I did have a conversation with the manager because With the pet within the past eight months Mike Radamaka was in here And we were talking about that particular intersection and there were some statements that night that perhaps the town had some plans a Recommendation by the bowlers to you know paint a designated Straight or left as well as a designated right and perhaps What I'm wondering is to see if perhaps the town has done some of that work and we're already ahead of it Or are you still looking into that? Yeah, so I'll have to talk to the DPW director I know he was before the board laid out that whole center striping plan that included the striping you're talking about So I guess whatever you find out from that you threw to the chair just to save tack If there's any work to be saved so they don't have to Revisit seven not issues if three have already been planned and are in the works, but I will send it to tack tenetive on DPW's recommendation Yes, Marian The second is going to be sent to tack no the third the third is going to be sent to tack the second is just can be moved Received I just want to be sure in the third that we send that the letters from Ed star Who is one of the first that informed us about the overload of work? Which he has now retired and is sending more jobs to the Tack, but I love them. Sounds appropriate to me. He may be just timing it to arrive on April 1st That being said do we have a motion I believe we do Yes Thank you, do we have a second second all those in favor, please say aye. Thank you new business No, no business Very quickly brief snow removal update We still have crews working on snow removal both internal crews and external crews We had overnight work last week some board members might have seen some of those efforts We do not have an overnight operation planned tonight We presume to be able to pick up an overnight operation again tomorrow night Focused further on mystic Street chestnut Street and Pleasant Street And following that we'll begin to consider what we may be able to do down on some of the side streets in Capitol Square As the board knows every time we've made some progress. It's continued to snow this weekend. I think we dodged a bullet Thankfully there isn't anything in the forecast. So hopefully we will start to feel like there's a little bit of catch-up being done We didn't send out a snow operations email update today. We should have one ready for tomorrow But just wanted to give that brief update to the board. Thank you very much, Adam. Mr. Greeley. No, no business, sir Just three things first. I want to commend the tail manager and Joan Roman and DPW and everybody else I think we've all commented on the size and the volume and the number of storms are not in concert with the amount of complaints and I Got more praise and thanks in terms of how this was Handled and I think a lot of it. I tell people, you know, misery loves company if everybody knows what's coming and they're In there so informed. So I think you've really done not only the board of select men and your staff But also the town citizens and businesses a great service and I can't see you You know first time we've ever dealt with this kind of volume You've I have to give you five out of five ten out of ten whatever it is for that The second thing is an issue and I'm just hoping that maybe somebody who sits here I actually know someone I Had discussed this with the town manager. Also, it's kind of around snow I had gotten a couple of cheerleaders and basketball players and Music students say that, you know walking to the high school You know, you walk in front of first batches. It's shoveled you walk in front of the house that sit back It's not and it's really and then you get to CVS high school It's shoveled and then I got contacted by Mary Flynn a former cheerleader She lives on Newman Way who's 25 who said she was running for the bus and fell and took a picture and showed me I guess that's what you do. So and in this so I contacted the town manager He and the police department and now Marie are aware There have been attempts and this has happened in the past and we have been successful But it's always with a little bit of prodding poking Because that's such a well traversed between the school and the bus stop I don't know if anybody knows the owners. I think it's Hodgdon or noise or one of the two I know the town manager in the selectments office is doing everything that they can And Hopefully that but that will get resolved in the future I'm hoping if anybody at home is listening to this and knows the owner of the of that property Might want to give them a call and say hey, can you kind of pick away at that? So not just the kids, but you know seniors and everyone going to Whole Foods and whatever can have a clear traverse. So and then my last thing in is which is fantastic Boys basketball team 19 and one My cheerleaders love to cheer for them as well as every other sport we cheer for but they're 19 for 1 they gained a seed Which means they got a pass from the first round Their first tournament game will be this Friday night at 7 o'clock down At the high school in the red gym and they will be playing Tonight's winner either Wilmington or Mamba head and in the division Arlington was the first seed was Danvers 18 and 0 or 18 oh and 1 second was Arlington 19 and 1 Love to see everyone come down especially when you get into tournaments I mean it gets bigger and more exciting and I want to say hats off to coach bowler for you know working with these Kids young men and as well as conditioning them and you know In plus they're really a great group of young men in terms of what they do for the community as they do in other sports As well as other activities, you know music and drama So really come down Friday night. It's really exciting and I know I get into it too much But that's the time I get to go and I kind of forget about this hat and love to wear that hat and that's all my new business Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you Only one small thing I happened to notice when I was looking at the police plotter this week That the very day after we had our discussion about the Minuteman bikeway and Lake Street that a driver actually self-reported having struck a pedestrian going across the That area so I know that the last time we had lengthy discussion on this and We're going to get just a little bit more information about the support that could be provided to the designer view team, but I'm ready to act when Just very quickly I had a very productive meeting with several members of tacking follow If not, but good bless you very very soon I should have an update on what our proposed next steps I should note that the according to police plot of the pedestrian wasn't seriously injured or anything Still it just was a stark reminder Thank you, Joe So I guess I do have one piece new business and I know that we've talked quite a lot at the past few meetings about our snowmobile and how grateful we are for the efforts of Everyone who has been involved in that but One thing I don't know one part of this whole process that I don't want to be overlooked and as some of you may know it's it's I Don't want to say it hits home to me, but it's a little personal pride is The efforts that have gone into making sure our town buildings are structurally sound and safe during this storm and I think in office of inspectional services as well as DPW Really put in a quite a lot of effort and they deserve our gratitude for doing that So I am I just wanted to note that and with that I guess there's no other new business Have any names in particular there? Actually, I wanted to name I wanted to say I Contacted the town manager over the weekend When I saw that DCI was closing five of its skating rinks and I thought about our rink which was kind of built at the same time And he promptly had a conversation with the building inspector for a pain in about my hand Who which that's my characterization asked this quick question on the weekend But they didn't cover the story and got right back to me that a we had snow guards in place so that the issue with the Simeone Simeone with snow came down and buried everyone that that has been averted and thought of as well as he went down And I hope he wasn't too mad at me And you know has been consistently checking that and many other structures and gave me the thumbs up through the town manager So I do want to say thank you Move to adjourn. Yes Second all those in favor, please say I Thank you, okay, Marie